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Showcasing the best of
northwest wines and
the awareness of pacific
northwest wine regions.
Showcasing the best of northwest
wines and the awareness of pacific
northwest wine regions.
 
20 Northwest Cabernet Sauvignons That Blew us Away in 2020

20 Northwest Cabernet Sauvignons That Blew us Away in 2020


Wines from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia were all represented on the list of our favorite Cabernet Sauvignons from 2020. Washington's Mercer Wines placed three wines on our list and Milbrandt Vineyards had two of our favorites. Five of the wines came from Horse Heaven Hills and five came from the wider Columbia Valley AVA. Three wines each came from Wahluke Slope and Red Mountain. Two Southern Oregon wines made our list along with one wine from British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. The list includes wines ranging from $16 to $75. Here are our favorites with tasting notes:

Desert Wind Winery 2016 Sandstorm Series Cabernet Sauvignon


Our 2020 Best of Class Cabernet Sauvignon was tasted side by side with all of our Gold Medal wines and this one rose to the top. It is seamless, beautifully structured and balanced. Lovely aromas are complex with notes of dark berry jam, cedar, sweet tobacco, black peppercorn, Allspice and dried herbs. It offers a luscious mouthfeel with flavors of black raspberry displaying lively acidity before revealing notes of finely ground espresso and a lengthy finish with flavors alluding to cocoa, baking spice and just a hint of graphite. It actually just squeaks over the bar as a Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with 19% Merlot and small amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec. AVA: Wahluke Slope, Washington JUDGES SCORE: 96 Points PRICE: $75

Chaberton Estate Winery 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon


Here's proof that British Columbia wines can compete with the best of the Northwest. This Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas of blackberry cobbler, with notes of bell pepper, black peppercorn, cedar and sweet dried herbs. On the palate, it's juicy with flavors of blueberry that give way to notes of cocoa powder and a spiciness alluding to black pepper on an elegant finish. Langley, British Columbia's Chaberton Estate used grapes from Okanagan Valley for this wine. AVA: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia JUDGES SCORE: 96 Points PRICE: $25

Mercer Family Vineyards 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon


Our favorite of the three Mercer Estates wines to make our list, this Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas of blackberry cobbler, cedar, pipe tobacco, mocha and Allspice. On the palate, flavors of black plums are balanced by notes of dark chocolate covered espresso bean before a finish showing baking spices, cocoa powder and a hint of graphite. The wine qualifies as Cabernet Sauvignon with 77% Cabernet blended with Syrah, Merlot and Petit Verdot. AVA: Horse Heaven Hills, Washington JUDGES SCORE: 96 Points PRICE: $20

TruthTeller 2016 The Confidante Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon


This Cabernet Sauvignon from Woodinville, Washington's TruthTeller is an elegantly balanced showcase of Red Mountain fruit. Enticing aromas mix Allspice, new leather, black peppercorn and a hint of vanilla, all wrapped around notes of berry jam. On the palate, flavors of black cherry and cocoa and find a nice balance before a lovely finish that shows textured tannins alluding to violet and a dusting of espresso. AVA: Red Mountain, Washington JUDGES SCORE: 95 Points PRICE: $55

Fly Rod Cellars 2016 Stimulator Cabernet Sauvignon


Fly Rod Cellars is an occasional project of Convergence Zone Cellars' assistant winemaker Troy Mandeville and cellarmaster John Richardson. This Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon shows a deep ruby and offers forward sweet and spicy aromas of jammy black fruit and black peppercorn with notes of smoked cedar and sweet tobacco. Nicely structured on the palate, it presents flavors of tart black cherry balanced with textured tannins that display notes of cocoa and earthy, aromatic hints of graphite and dried herbs. AVA: Columbia Valley JUDGES SCORE: 93 Points PRICE: $35

Convergence Zone Cellars 2016 Squall Line Cabernet Sauvignon


North Bend, Washington's Convergence Zone Cellars used Horse Heaven Hill fruit for this Cabernet Sauvignon that offers aromas of black fruit, leather, dried herbs and Allspice. On the palate, it's juicy with flavors of black cherry and blackberry balanced by peppery spice, earthy violet and a finish hinting at coffee dusted dark chocolate. AVA: Horse Heaven Hills, Washington JUDGES SCORE: 92 Points PRICE: $35

Mercer Estates Winery 2017 Mercer Bros Cabernet Sauvignon


Mercer's second appearance on this list is a juicy, fruit forward Cabernet from Washington's Horse Heaven Hills. It presents inviting aromas of ripe plum, pipe tobacco, Allspice and a hint of dried herbs. On the palate: rich flavors of dark berry sauce are balanced with notes of chocolate covered espresso bean with lively hints of baking spice on the lingering juicy finish. AVA: Horse Heaven Hills, Washington JUDGES SCORE: 92 Points PRICE: $20

Mercer Estates Winery 2017 Subsoil Cabernet Sauvignon


The Subsoil label Cabernet Sauvignon from Prosser, Washington's Mercer Estates offers rich aromas of ripe fig with prominent clove spice, dried mint, violet and herbes de Provence. On the palate, juicy flavors of black cherry and black raspberry show nice acidity and are balanced by notes of, cocoa powder, peppery spice and a finish that shows black licorice and an elegant earthy minerality. AVA: Horse Heaven Hills, Washington JUDGES SCORE: 91 Points PRICE: $20

Milbrandt 2017 Clifton Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon


One of two wines to make our list from Milbrandt, this Cabernet Sauvignon used grapes from Washington's Wahluke Slope for this single vineyard wine offering bold aromas of berry jam and prominent notes of cedar, vanilla, Allspice and black peppercorn. On the palate, flavors of black cherry and juicy Boysenberry are balanced by textured tannins alluding to a dusting of cocoa and ground espresso with lingering notes of baking spice on the finish. AVA: Wahluke Slope, Washington JUDGES SCORE: 92 Points PRICE: $45

Rellik Winery 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon


One of two Southern Oregon wines to make our list, this Cabernet from Rellik Winery is rich and aromatic on the nose with notes of dried cherry, cedar, black peppercorn, pipe tobacco and a hint of vanilla. On the palate, it's rounded and juicy with upfront flavors of black cherry and Boysenberry balanced by firm tannins on the midpalate offering earthy hints of graphite and clay dust, finishing with notes of baking spice and bell pepper. AVA: Rogue Valley, Oregon JUDGES SCORE: 92 Points PRICE: $35

Three of Cups 2015 Le Bateleur Cabernet Sauvignon Heart of the Hill Vineyard


This Cabernet Sauvignon from Woodinville, Washington's Three of Cups uses grapes from Red Mountain. On the nose are complex aromas of rich berry jam, black peppercorn, sweet tobacco, cedar, baking spices and fresh spearmint. On the palate, it delivers flavors of black cherry and plum nicely balanced with earthy, textured notes of cocoa powder that linger, leading to a refined finish with hints of clove spiciness. AVA: Red Mountain, Washington JUDGES SCORE: 92 Points PRICE: $35

DAMA Wines 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon


This Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla's DAMA Wines presents aromas of dried cherries mixed with notes of dried herbs, cigar box, black peppercorn and baking spices. On the palate, it opens with black plum wrapped around earthy notes of ground espresso, dark chocolate and clay dust with peppery spice and hints of graphite lingering on the finish. AVA: Walla Walla Valley JUDGES SCORE: 91 Points PRICE: $55

Elsom Cellars 2016 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon


This Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon from Seattle's Elsom Cellars offers inviting and complex aromas that include prominent notes of cedar mixed with a sauce of dark berries, baking spices and a hint of dried oregano. On the palate, lively flavors alluding to black cherry and Boysenberry show a nice acid structure and firm tannins carry notes of cocoa powder leading to a finish hinting at pencil lead with a delightful lingering spiciness. AVA: Horse Heaven Hills, Washington JUDGES SCORE: 91 Points PRICE: $40

Lady Hill Winery 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon


This Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Paul, Oregon's Lady Hill Winery offers aromas of berry jam, cedar, pipe tobacco, Allspice and dried oregano. On the palate, it's juicy, spicy and earthy with flavors of black plum, violet and baking spices with dried herbs and hints of clay dust on a dry finish. AVA: Columbia Valley JUDGES SCORE: 91 Points PRICE: $38

Milbrandt 2017 The Estates Cabernet Sauvignon


This aromatic Cabernet from Mattawa, Washington's Milbrandt Vineyards shows a sophisticated balance of fruit and earth. There's a lot on the nose including notes of dark berry jam, black peppercorn, Allspice, new leather and thyme. On the palate, it shows black cherry and Boysenberry that are elegantly balanced with earthy notes alluding to violet, a dusting of espresso and clay dust. AVA: Wahluke Slope, Washington JUDGES SCORE: 91 Points PRICE: $27

Port Townsend Vineyards 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon


Western Washington's Port Townsend Vineyards used Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for this wine that offers bold and complex aromas including blackberry jam, black pepper, baking spices, cedar, pipe tobacco and a hint of tarragon. On the palate, it's rounded and mouth filling with flavors of dark berry sauce with prominent notes of baking spice and chocolate with some textured tannins that nicely balance the bold fruit and spice on a lingering finish. AVA: Columbia Valley JUDGES SCORE: 91 Points PRICE: $35

Ryan Patrick 2016 Rock Island Cabernet Sauvignon


This Cabernet Sauvignon from Ryan Patrick Wines offers aromas of blackberry jam with notes of cedar, sweet tobacco, black peppercorn and dried herbs. Rich and rounded on the palate, flavors allude to dark berries mixed with chocolate and hints of bell pepper and baking spice. AVA: Columbia Valley JUDGES SCORE: 91 Points PRICE: $25

Three Rivers Winery 2018 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon


This Cabernet Sauvignon from Benton, Washington's Three Rivers Winery offers aromas of fresh blackberry, black peppercorn and dried herbs. On the palate, black cherry and a prominent plum skin acidity give way to an earthy midpalate hinting at ground espresso and a finish of candied violet with a dash of baking spice. AVA: Columbia Valley JUDGES SCORE: 91 Points PRICE: $16

Liberty Lake Wine Cellars 2017 Scooteney Flats Cabernet Sauvignon


This is a bold and textured Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington's Red Mountain. It's deep purple in color with intense aromas of jammy black fruit that mix with spicy and herbal notes of black peppercorn, coffee, dried herbs and baking spice. On the palate, it opens juicy and bright with black cherry and raspberry balanced with chewy tannins that allude to espresso and cocoa before a finish with lingering spice and a hint of dusty earth. AVA: Red Mountain, Washington JUDGES SCORE: 90 Points PRICE: $35

Schmidt Family Vineyards 2016 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon


This Southern Oregon Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby in color, though it shows lighter on the palate. Aromas allude to jammy red and black fruits with notes of cedar, mint, black peppercorn and dried herbs. On the palate, it delivers a beam of black cherry and blueberry balanced by a midpalate revealing structured tannins that hint at dark chocolate and graphite followed by a dry balanced finish with some baking spice liveliness. AVA: Applegate Valley, Oregon JUDGES SCORE: 90 Points PRICE:$40