2016 Cougar Crest Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla 750 ml

The 2016 Cougar Crest Estate Cab, from one of Wine Spectator’s Top 20 Washington Cabernet producers, will turn the heads of both Napa purists and Bordeaux fanatics, flexing Walla Walla’s standout Cab-growing terroir in a wholly unique and sophisticated wine.

Entirely estate-grown, this Cab is an expressive pageant of aromas—violet, raspberry, cherry, and graphite—showcasing the intriguing complexity that we love about Washington Cabernets. 2016’s long, warm ripening season allowed this wine to develop power and concentration which manifest as a tug-of-war stalemate between red fruit and spice with silky tannins throughout. 

This is an impressive torch-bearer with the same excellent balance and grace that has earned Cougar Crest a spot among Wine Spectator’s top recommended Washington Cab producers, alongside icons like Quilceda Creek ($199), Leonetti Cellar ($121), and Betz Family Winery ($78).

The 2016’s try-it-again intricacy, a unique combination of New World fruit and Old World structure, is exactly what led Wine Enthusiast to ask “Is Cabernet Sauvignon Washington’s Premier Grape?” among the state’s more than 70 varieties. After a glass, you’ll be nodding your head in fervent response, just like we were.

Cougar Crest’s Cabernet Sauvignon vines began as cuttings from the original Seven Hills Vineyard. Seven Hills is one of Walla Walla’s oldest sites, a vineyard that went on to earn “Ten Great Vineyards of the World'' honors from Wine & Spirits while inspiring extraordinary wines from icons like Wine Access favorite L'Ecole N° 41 and 100-point Leonetti. 

These vines are all own-rooted and sit on a north-facing slope for optimal sunlight during the summer, which encourages consistent ripening and concentration. The vineyard’s soil is a complex assortment of Ritzville loam, gravel, river rock, and ash, which translate to a finely balanced palate and rich aromatics.  

To protect the vines from frosts, Cougar Creek has installed wind machines that help regulate the vineyard’s temperature, ensuring longevity and vineyard health. In the winter, they have to brave the cold and sleep-deprivation, making midnight vineyard visits to turn them on. But that’s the relentless, tireless attention that Cougar Crest pays to their Cabernet Sauvignon, and it’s immediately apparent in the 2016’s thoughtful structure and impressive poise. 

Aged in 40% new French and American oak, the 81% Cabernet Sauvignon—with touches of Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot—develops its deeply enthralling spice notes and a depth that will continue evolving in the coming years.