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What We Say 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
RARE WINE ALERT! GREAT WINE ALERT!
This highly-rated Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is sold out at the winery and Agent Red was very lucky to get his hands on a few cases for you.
Ahhh, we spies love big, bold and beautiful Cabs and this hand-crafted premium wine is a wonderful surprise. It is dark plum in color and has an initial nose of oak, leather, gravel, blackberry and fruit juice with sharp tannins. After it airs out a bit, the flavors mellow and open up to become more balanced and fresh tasting.
Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the McKinley Springs and Phinny Hill vineyards, this exceptional cab was aged in 100% new French oak for 24 months.
The vines were planted by the Andrews family on McKinley Springs and the Beightol family at Phinny Hill. For younger vines they produced amazing fruit with a concentration of flavor.
REVIEWS It’s not easy to make 100% Cabernet such as this; the fruit must be perfect. Winemaker Joseph Gunselman is up to the challenge. This tight, sappy, clean, wine expresses a marvelous purity of fruit, tightly wrapped, but dense and ripe. Decant, or cellar for 10 years. Score: 91. *The Wine Enthusiast —Paul Gregutt, October 01, 2006. *
A very generous wine, this is rich and deep, dark fruit amplified with an irresistible dollop of sweet oak. The intensity lasts through the smoky finish. Score: 91 *Wine & Spirits *
Joseph Gunselman is devoted to the Horse Heaven Hills, and this is 100% Caberent Sauvignon from McKinley Springs and Phinny Hill. Hugh extraction and 24 months in new French oak create aromas of vanilla, cedar, leather, blackberry, moist earth and a piece of Jolly Rancher grape candy, followed by a mouthful of density from blackberries, black cherries, black olives and a send off of anise extract. Excellent Wine Press NW
What the Winery Says
Robert Karl Cellars
Although Joe Gunselman is a physician by day, his passion is winemaking. He views winemaking as an art but draws on his science background and applies it to winemaking science. Joe is a self taught winemaker but continues his education through classes at Walla Walla Institute for Enology & Viticulture and UC Davis. Joe makes every effort to preserve the varietal flavors in his wine. When young, the classical flavors beam through. As the wine matures in the cellar, the flavors of cedar, tobacco, and leather will develop.
Dr. Gunselman chose Washington because he believes the terrior, with the variable of irrigation, combines to give one of the best (if not THE BEST) places in the world to grow vitis vinifera. He feels there are 4 major components to the terrior. The first is the number of sunny days coupled with the length of the day, the second is the unique east-west ridges of the Columbia Valley which provides an excellent south facing slope. Third is an ideal diurnal variation (night to day temperature variations) and the 4th is our unique soil composition.
