Overview
Washington's finest AVA. High desert plateau at 300–450m with sandy loam soils over caliche rock. Long summer days (17 hours of sunlight at midsummer), cold nights, and near-zero disease pressure produce Cabernet of extraordinary concentration and longevity — darker and more structured than Napa, with a signature minty-herb note.
In The Glass
- Colour
- Deep purple
- Nose
- Cassis, Black cherry, Dark plum, Mint and Cedar.
- Palate
- Washington's powerhouse — dark, structured, mint-cedar Cabernet. Generally very full-bodied, crisp acidity, firm tannins, dry, with a very long finish.
Tasting Profile
Body Very Full5/5
Tannins Firm4/5
Acidity Crisp4/5
Sweetness Bone Dry1/5
Alcohol High4/5
Grapes
Cabernet SauvignonSyrahMerlotCabernet Franc
Aromas And Notes
CassisBlack cherryDark plumBlueberryMintCedarDark chocolateTobaccoCoffeeLeatherGraphite
Terroir
High desert continental — intense sun, cold nights, almost no disease pressure. Irrigation essential.
Sandy loam over calicheSilt loamVolcanic cobbles
Food Pairings
Walla Walla onion steakElkSmoked lambAged Tillamook Cheddar
Notable Producers
- Leonetti Cellar, founded 1977 - Leonetti Reserve
- L'Ecole No 41, founded 1983 - Walla Walla Estate Cabernet
- Cayuse Vineyards, founded 1997 - God Only Knows Syrah