Review: McKinley Springs 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon

An honest expression of Washington terroir.

It's a pleasure to enjoy a bottle of red wine that tastes like you expect it to taste and compliments your meal. Is it odd to tell you that the McKinley Springs Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like and drinks like a Washington Cabernet Sauvignon? It does and I enjoyed it.

Color: Deep garnet
Nose: Cherry, vanilla, chocolate, green tea, hint of mint.
Palate: Lots of fresh cherry, followed by vanilla and chocolate, fresh on the palate, pleasantly dry, cherry, vanilla, cranberry and coffee on the medium finish. With some air time a wonderful back of palate sensation and flavors. Out of the gate this was a tasty wine.

I suspect this wine will continue to show off. Buy a case and open a bottle a year for the next 12 years. That would be a wonderful way to appreciate this wine. The McKinley Springs Cabernet Sauvignon was enjoyed with slow cooked boneless beef ribs. The savory, tender beef was a perfect match to the McKinley Springs 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon. A good pairing. Recommended.

AVA: Horse Heaven Hills, Estate vineyard
Blend: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot
Aging: 18 months 33% new oak
ABV 13.5%
Closure: Natural cork
Paid: $18.99
Cases produced: 1255

This wine was a blend of the original "old block" planted in 1980 and the newer block 17 on their 2000 acre estate vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA.

McKinley Springs Winery
Tasting Room is open Memorial Day Weekend – Labor Day Weekend.
1201 Alderdale Road
Prosser, WA 99350
509-894-4528
www.mckinleysprings.com
twitter: @mckinleysprings

About McKinley Springs

The children and spouses of Louise and Bob Andrews, established McKinley Springs Winery in 2002 with a goal of producing balanced, flavorful wines offering excellent value. Rob Andrews, Grower, tends to the vineyards and Doug Rowell, Winemaker, oversees production at McKinley Springs. Together they make wines, focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chenin Blanc.

McKinley Springs grows over 20 varietals on its 2000 acre estate vineyard in the southern part of Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills. McKinley Springs also supplies 25 noted area wineries with grapes, including Andrew Rich, Northstar, Syncline, Hogue and Columbia Crest. The Horse Heaven Hills AVA is bordered in the north by Yakima Hill, to the south by the Columbia River, and surrounded by the larger Columbia Valley appellation. The winds from the Columbia River protect against vine diseases and provide a cooling effect that concentrates fruit flavors, while the south facing slopes provide optimum growing conditions.

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