Napa Valley maverick Randy Dunn and Walla Walla’s Gilles Nicault target historic Sagemoor sites Dionysus and Weinbau for this Cab that closes out 2023 as one of Washington state’s most acclaimed in recent years — including a spotlight from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. There’s opulence to the dark and inky nose of blackberry jam, black cherry, pencil shavings and Tahitian vanilla. Big, broad and sweet plum-skin tannins, enhanced by the barrel program of 85% new French oak, ride alongside those black fruit flavors. Dunn’s thumbprint of herbaceousness that’s woven into his Howell Mountain Cabs carries over here, and the influence of gravel dust reveals some influence of the Horse Heaven Hills, too. Butter cream and nutmeg also meet up in the spicy, long and delicious finish. Qualifying awards: Great Northwest Invitational (best of class/gold), Cascadia International (double gold)
Rating: Platinum • 91 points
Production: 3,840 cases
Alcohol: 14.8%
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