Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Columbia Valley, Washington

“Ripe and concentrated, with enticing aromas of dark black fruit and a delicate core of cedar. On the palate, flavorful layers of black cherry, cassis and juicy plum mingle with refined tannins to create a textured, concentrated impression. This is a classic Washington Cab, true to its varietal character, and with a finish that lasts.” – Mike Januik, winemaker. The Columbia Valley is a diverse growing region that produces a wide range of fruit expressions, and few Washington winemakers know the vineyards as well as veteran vintner Mike Januik. Like previous vintages of this wine, Mike relies on Novelty Hill’s estate vineyard Stillwater Creek on the Royal Slope of the Frenchman Hills to build the base for the wine, then blends in layered complexity by using grapes from a small selection of top Red Mountain, Wahluke Slope and the Columbia Valley sites to further enhance flavors and mouthfeel. Winemaking: Gentle pump overs during the early stages of fermentation extract color and flavors without imparting harsh tannins. Gravity racked every 5 months to soften and clarify the wine. Aged 21 months in 65% French, 35% American oak barrels; 40% new. Blend: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec.