Selections by Sagemoor 2015 Limited Release Stars in a Row Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $65

After five decades of producing grapes for others, historic Sagemoor Farms decided to launch its own label – the Wines of Sagemoor – and general manager Kent Waliser enlisted Walla Walla’s John Abbott to craft the red wines. Familiar with the fruit from his days at Abeja, the Devona winemaker worked with a few select rows of Cabernet Sauvignon from Bacchus and Dionysus vineyards for “Stars in a Row.” This lives up to its name and shows why Sagemoor has been a perennial source of grapes for Washington’s finest reds, launching with refined oak, herbs, dark cherry and blackberry notes, followed by black cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate and smooth tannins on the palate. It was a standout at last summer’s Cascadia International Wine Competition.

Rating: Outstanding!

Production: 300 cases

Alcohol: 14.8

Winery’s website