Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Aged for nearly two years in 100% new French oak, this baby is going to need air, time or both to unwind. Cool earth and black raspberry aromas are punctuated by notes of blueberry fruit leather and brownie mix batter. An earthy elderberry flavor is joined by lemon zest, espresso shots and cedar.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines is a smaller production release and is based on 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Malbec raised all in 100% new French oak barrels. It has a tight, reserved, yet incredibly promising style in its smoky black fruits, truffly earth, iron, and tobacco-driven aromas and flavors. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with a stacked mid-palate and ripe, building tannins. It needs air to show at its best today, and this beauty deserves 4-5 years of bottle age. I wouldn't be surprised to see it have over two decades of overall longevity. Rating: 95+
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Vinous
Notes of sweet sage and cedar elevate a dark mélange of mocha and plum sauce as the alluring 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines grumbles up from the glass. This tricks the palate with its soothing textures, juicy personality and ripe red and black fruits. Gritty tannins slowly mount toward the close. The 2021 clamps down hard through the finale, youthfully structured and intense yet incredibly long. A bump of residual acidity adds unexpected freshness. This will require patience, but it will be worth the wait. Rating: 94+
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James Suckling
A compact and flavorful cabernet showing roasted herbs, charred bark and blackberry fruit on the nose. Some walnuts and espresso. It’s full-bodied and dense with broad tannins.
As Washington’s leading grape variety, Cabernet Sauvignon covers more vineyard acreage than any other variety in the state and continues to attract well-deserved notoriety and praise from critics and consumers alike. This popular variety finds a natural home in Washington’s eastern side, where an arid, continental climate and diverse soils of sandy loess and basalt give Cabernet its distinctly intense, Washington character. Concentrated in black currant, black cherry, forest floor and cocoa qualities, Washington’s best Cabernet Sauvignons have a bold richness, seamless texture and great longevity.
Cabernet leads the way in Washington’s Walla Walla, home to some of the state’s oldest wineries. Along the Columbia River Gorge, Horse Heaven Hills remains the source of some of Washington’s highest desired Cabernet Sauvignons. Yakima Valley, on the northern border of Horse Heaven Hills, includes Washington’s oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines while the Wahluke Slope has one of the hottest and driest climates where strong summer winds blow, ensuring both smaller leaf size and grape clusters. The result is top quality wines with great concentration, phenolic ripeness and body.