2017 Va Piano Black Cabernet Sauvignon Rosebud
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Tasting notes
Deep ruby-red. Cassis, blackberry, sage, licorice, bitter chocolate and herbs on the rather pungent, slightly porty nose. Deeper and richer than the Walla Walla Cabernet but equally herbal. Dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors show a rather inky, medicinal quality, and firm tannins call for a couple years of patience. Slightly herbal but rather seamless wine.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
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The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosebud Vineyard comes from a site on the Wahluke Slope and is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc aged 22 months in 50% new oak. With terrific purity of fruit as well as full-bodied aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, black raspberries, spring flowers, toasted spice, and hints of loamy soils, it bucks the vintage profile and offers a rocking sense of opulence and sexiness that's rarely found in 2017. Despite loads of up-front fruit, it's balanced and has a great mid-palate as well as enough structure and length to evolve for 20-25 years or more.