Milbrandt Vineyards 2011 Traditions Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $16
Here marks Joshua Maloney’s first vintage under the employment of the Milbrandt brothers. And while the appellation reads “Columbia Valley,” the five vineyards that went into the making of this wine — Clifton, Clifton Bluff, Katherine Leone, Northridge and Wahluke Slope — are from the Wahluke Slope region and were picked Oct. 12. The use of American barrels, not French, help account for aroms of dark plum, black currant, black cherry, dark chocolate and vanilla bean, with a hint of herbaceousness. Inside is a big and dark entry of blackberry, boysenberry and molasses. There’s decent grip to the structure, backed by nice minerality and a finish of lime peel.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 16,000 cases
Alcohol: 13.5%
Leave a Reply