Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesAromas of cedar, tilled earth, coffee, black cherry, herb and spice lead to an explosion of fruit flavors. The palate is intense but possesses compelling freshness. There's a whole lot of tannic heft behind it. Give it time in cellar or an extended decant. Best After 2028. Cellar Selection
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 11% Malbec, and the rest Cabernet Franc that’s from a mix of sites outside of Walla Walla. Aged 22 months in 57% new French oak, its deep purple hue is followed by a great nose of ripe cassis, graphite, spring flowers, and spicy oak. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully balanced with ripe tannins, this is a terrific Cabernet readers will love. It will benefit from just a few years in the cellar and keep for 15-20 years. Best After 2024
Dark magenta in the glass, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is broad and generously layered with a dense core of dark red and black fruit essences. Full-bodied, the wine is juicy yet firm with fine-grained tannins that grip the gumline before lingering long over the spicy, focused finish. It’s a broad-shouldered wine that will drink better with additional time in the bottle. The wine rested for 18 months in barrel, 50% new French oak, and will please Napa Cabernet drinkers.
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and rich in the glass, with a deeply alluring mix of blueberry and cherry sauce complemented by hints of mocha and tobacco leaf. While ripe in style and fruit-centric, this boasts a core of stimulating acidity and minerals that balances out the style beautifully, as exotic inner florals cascade throughout. The 2019 leaves a web of sweet tannins to linger while finishing remarkably fresh, as echoes of violet pastille and spiced citrus fade. This is a wonderfully balanced blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 11% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc, where each variety really adds to the final result. Well done.
IN 2007, after Drew's retirement from the NFL the Bledsoe family planted their first vineyard, McQueen, and shortly after launched Doubleback, an estate focused winery that produces world-class Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley, Drew’s hometown. It has now been more than ten years since Drew and Maura set out on this immensely rewarding adventure. Throughout those years they patiently cultivated their vision for the future. In their unwavering enthusiasm for the Walla Walla Valley, they have made the decision to create Bledsoe Family Winery – a sister project to Doubleback.
During their time in Walla Walla, they strategically developed four estate vineyards – McQueen, Bob Healy, Lefore, and most recently, Flying B — each with its own exceptional set of characteristics. At the same time, they have established long-term sources from some of the valley’s oldest and most revered blocks of vines.
For these reasons, they are compelled to push the boundaries to realize new wine varietals and to expand upon the standard of high-level wine growing and winemaking they have become known for. The Bledsoe family has been blessed with a rich history of which their labels reference, incredibly loyal and supportive customers, and an extremely talented and dedicated team – led by Winemaker Josh McDaniels. As with Doubleback, they welcome and invite you to be a part of the family by enjoying the wines of Bledsoe Family Winery.
Responsible for some of Washington’s most highly acclaimed wines, the Walla Walla Valley has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years and is home to both historic wineries and younger, up-and-coming producers.
The Walla Walla Valley, a Native American name meaning “many waters,” is located in southeastern Washington; part of the appellation actually extends into Oregon. Soils here are well-drained, sandy loess over Missoula Flood deposits and fractured basalt.
It is a region perfectly suited to Rhône-inspired Syrahs, distinguished by savory notes of red berry, black olive, smoke and fresh earth. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot create a range of styles from smooth and supple to robust and well-structured. White varieties are rare but some producers blend Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon, resulting in a rich and round style, and plantings of Viognier, while minimal, are often quite successful.
Of note within Walla Walla, is one new and very peculiar appellation, called the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. This is the only AVA in the U.S. whose boundaries are totally defined by the soil type. Soils here look a bit like those in the acclaimed Rhône region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but are large, ancient, basalt cobblestones. These stones work in the same way as they do in Chateauneuf, absorbing and then radiating the sun's heat up to enhance the ripening of grape clusters. The Rocks District is within the part of Walla Walla that spills over into Oregon and naturally excels in the production of Rhône varieties like Syrah, as well as the Bordeaux varieties.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.