2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bacchus Vineyard

The vintage of 2020 was generally a warm year with a fairly consistent growing season. There were two unusual weather events, but neither had any impact on the harvest and quality of the fruit, although they had our attention! The first was in mid September, when a ten day stint of wildfire smoke came in from Oregon and blanketed much of the region. Luckily, the smoke didn’t penetrate the fruit but rather acted as a cloud layer that briefly paused ripening. The second event, a significant freeze, brought harvest to a close on October 25th. At that point, all of our fruit was already in the winery, so the impact was not an issue for us.

We have worked with Bacchus Vineyard for more vintages than any other vineyard in the state, and it has always been a pillar of our Bordeaux varieties. These old vines deliver consistent quality and expressiveness from start to finish in every vintage. This classic Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is the reason we love the old vines at Bacchus Vineyard.

The style of this wine is like the velvet glove of our Cabernets. It is lush and expressive, generous and enveloping. It completely wraps your palate in a rich, round, soft blanket of flavor. The nose starts off with just the slightest hint of fresh evergreen, which gives a brightness to abundant Marion berry and sweet plum. Both dark purple and red fruits are represented in the berries and the plums, and a touch of shiny pomegranate slips in. A brown dried herb quality adds to the complexity and gives a warmth to the combination of flavors. Tannins, acid, and wood are all in perfect balance, and the finish is like a long, velvet glove.

A side note about the 2020 vintage: as long ago as it seems now, we all remember what it was like to experience a pandemic. And while we complained about the challenges of working hard while wearing a mask, we were very fortunate in all ways during that difficult time.