This understated Cab was just named WINE OF THE WEEK by the San Francisco Chronicle!

Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon receives awards and press plaudits every years as one of Washington State's best value wines. It has rich, inviting aromas of vanilla, elegant blackberries and hints of mocha and well-balanced flavors of ripe fruit, chocolate and black tea. Its silky texture is backed up with plenty of acidity.

2006 Vintage Tasting Notes

2006 review from Wine Press NW:

The previous vintage earned a Double Platinum for owner/winemaker Rob Griffin, and this has a similar feel to it. Beautiful oak ushers in hints of cherries, vanilla, chocolate and sarsaparilla. Awaiting is a nice blend of cherries and brambleberries with a juiciness that stretches out into an exploding midpalate of smoooooth boysenberries and wild blackberries, then finishes with rich dark chocolate. Rated "Outstanding" by Wine Press Northwest magazine.

From Wine Press NW: "It's great for the consumer when a winery's everyday wine wins a top award. Showing a drink-now approachability, this cab offers rich inviting aromas of vanilla, berries and mocha. Favors include a silky texture of more berries, milk chocolate and black tea."

Winemakers Notes:

Sensory: The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon has dark, rich aromas of cherries and cassis with rich vanilla undertones. The mouth feel is superb with depth of flavors and a wonderfully concentrated chocolate and cinnamon finish.

Vineyards and Growing Season: The 2001 growing season was hot with good ripening fruit that gave us wines of excellent structure and depth. The color extract was well developed and gave us a deep garnet Cab. Vineyards that were again stressed for water in the later parts of the growing cycle showed Cabernet with good weight.

Here is the breakdown of Barnard Griffin's Cabernet vineyard sources: Champoux Vineyard Columbia Valley/Alderdale Sargent Vineyard Columbia Valley/Wahluke Slope Crawford Vineyard Yakima Valley Caroway Vineyard Columbia Valley/Columbia River