Washington State Cabernets

from Acclaimed Winemaker

Todd Alexander

Up to 98+ Points

“stunning” & “phenomenal”

 2019 Force Majeure Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mtn. Estate

98+ JD / 97 VM

$149.89 (750ML) In Stock - Buy Now 

2019 The Walls Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Curiositas

98 JD

$74.89 (750ML) In Stock - Buy Now 

Force Majeure has skyrocketed to the top of the pyramid in Washington State, in no small part due to their talented winemaker, Todd Alexander...Anyone doubting the quality coming from Washington State these days owes it to themselves to try these wines.

An up-and-coming estate that readers need to try is The Walls, which was created by Mike Martin, with the wines made by Todd Alexander. - Jeb Dunnuck

The Red Mountain AVA was formed by the repeated ice-age flooding of Glacial Lake Missoula over 10,000 years ago. The flood waters redesigned the landscape, configuring the soft mountain slopes and depositing nutrient rich top soils over sand, silt and gravel – as if to anticipate the introduction of wine grapes to the region. The smallest AVA in Washington State, but densely planted, the fruit from Red Mountain keeps finding itself in the best bottles coming out of the Pacific Northwest. Warm, dry and with 2 more hours of sunlight than you would get in Napa, it’s no wonder that top winemakers are drawn to its bounty.

Todd Alexander is one of a select few 100-point winemakers in Washington State, who began his winemaking career in the Napa Valley at such esteemed wineries as Cade and PlumpJack, later becoming the winemaker at cult cabernet producer Bryant Family Vineyard. Todd has been in the Pacific Northwest for the past six vintages, crafting highly-rated and regarded wines at Force Majeure Vineyards from estate fruit grown on Red Mountain. His involvement with The Walls allows him to take the lead in crafting wines from a variety of Pacific Northwest AVAs, further showcasing his talent.

2019 Force Majeure Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate

$149.89 (750ML) In Stock- Buy Now

98+ JD / 97 VM

Another gem is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate, a deep, concentrated, powerful Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that I suspect will be up there with the legendary wines from this terroir. Beautiful cassis, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and damp earth notes give way to a full-bodied effort that has a liqueur of rocks-like minerality, flawless balance, building yet polished tannins, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 4-5 years, and it will evolve for 25-30 years if properly stored.—Jeb Dunnuck

A stunning bottling from Red Mountain, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon shows incredible flavor density and tension from this cooler vintage. On the nose, it shows off exotic spices that mingle with tar, anise, crème de cassis and violets. The palate is plush and jam-packed full of dark fruits, tobacco leaf, huckleberry coulis and mocha; refined tannins hold everything in place. Astonishingly good in its youth, this has at least onother 20 years ahead of it. Be sure to give it at least a two-hour decant if enjoying young.- Owen Bargreen, Vinous Media

2019 The Walls Cabernet Sauvignon Curiositas

$74.89 (750ML) In Stock- Buy Now

98 JD

Lastly, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Curiositas is 100% varietal and comes from a handful of top sites on Red Mountain. Aged in 75% new French oak, it sports a dense ruby/purple hue to go with a brilliant bouquet of cassis and blackberry-like fruits as well as spicy oak, chalky mineral, spice box, and smoked tobacco. It's purity of fruit is spot on, it has full-bodied richness, a balanced, layered mouthfeel, ample textbook Red Mountain tannins, and obvious structure. I’d put this beauty up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Hide bottles for 3-4 years if you can, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this evolve for well over two decades.—Jeb Dunnuck

Also from Todd Alexander:

2019 Force Majeure Epinette Red Mountain

$93.89 (750ML) In Stock- Buy Now

97 JD / 95 VM

Currants, lead pencil, black cherries, chocolate, and chalky minerality all define the 2019 Epinette, a Saint-Emilion look-alike offering medium to full-bodied richness, a balanced, seamless mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. You could put this in a blind lineup with the best of Bordeaux and it would do just fine.—Jeb Dunnuck

The 2019 Red Wine Épinette is a sensational blend of 57% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and a splash of Petit Verdot. On the tightly wound palate, silky tonnins linea beautiful core of dark fruits, Turkish coffee and scorched earth. Densely packed, with great weight, this beautiful wine has 20 years or more to go.- Owen Bargreen, Vinous Media