Luke Wahluke Slope Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

#82 Top 100, 2020. Aromas of fresh raspberry, bittersweet chocolate and dried herb pop on the nose. The palate is ripe, delicious, fruit filled and lip-smacking, displaying a lot of density, intensity and texture. Give this beauty a short decant if drinking in the near term.

A snappy and vibrant Cabernet, with blackberry, fresh basil and espresso accents that build toward the zesty finish. Drink now through 2027. 13,702 cases made.

More dark fruits and leafy herb notes emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, another value-priced effort with medium-bodied richness, impeccable balance, light tannins, and loads of charm. I don't think it's going to make old bones, but it will certainly have a solid 4-6 years of prime drinking.

The nose of the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is pleasurable with aromas of dusty black fruits, minerally plums, bitter dark chocolate, blackberry jus and dust-covered violets. Medium to full-bodied, the tannins take over across the mid-palate, and the wine ends with a firm tannic grip and drying finish. It is food-friendly now. My initial thought was that they had pressed the grapes a touch harder this vintage than last since this year's bottling shows grainier tannins.