2016 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla
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Tasting notes
Bright ruby-red. A bit deeper-pitched and more brooding on the nose than the Seven Hills Vineyard blend, with aromas of black raspberry, huckleberry, tobacco leaf, leather, coffee and licorice accented by peppery herbs; in comparison, the Seven Hills wine is spicier. Then vinous and rather tightly wound on the palate, with its raspberry and tobacco leaf flavors complemented by blueberry and licorice notes that may come from the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot components. Showing little easy sweetness and fairly dusty tannins, this very youthful, persistent wine calls for patience. Incidentally, winemaker Pellet uses seven coopers for this wine but the core of the blend is Boutes, Taransaud and Sylvain.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Fran and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon opens to a dark-fruited nose with a dusty and slightly tart expression. The medium to full-bodied wine has a pleasing but simple palate that leaves me wanting more complexity for the price tag. But it does have a balanced expression and lingering finish with notes of blackberry and dusty river rock. 1,904 cases produced.
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot) is darker and meatier, with lots of cassis, graphite, and crushed rock aromas, medium to full body, beautiful depth of fruit, and sweet tannins. It too is polished, sweetly fruited, and incredibly charming. It’s a seriously good Washington State Cabernet to drink over the coming 15-20 years.