2020 Abeja, Merlot, $54

Winery info: Founded in 2002 by Ken and Ginger Harrison along with winemaker John Abbott and Molly Galt, with a goal of producing estate-grown Cabernet of the highest standards.    

The winery soon joined the ranks of the top tier wineries in the state, especially acclaimed for their award-winning Cabs, Chards, and Merlots. In 2015 Daniel Wampfler, former winemaker at Dunham Cellars, took over winemaking along with his wife and co-winemaker, Amy Alvarez-Wampfler. Abeja continues to produce consistently stunning and sought after wines.

Winemaker: Daniel Wampfler and Amy Alvarez-Wampfler

Grapes: 99% Merlot, with 1% Cab Sauv, aged 22 months in French oak 34% new, 66% “experienced.”

Vineyards: Abeja Estate, Mill Creek, Bacchus, Dionysus, and Weinbau vineyards.

Flavor profile: The winery notes that the 2020 growing season, with its hot summer and long hang time in the fall, produced wines with intense aromatics and concentrated flavors. This Merlot is elegant and refined, with velvety texture, soft, well-integrated tannins, and seamless structure. It has savory notes of dark red fruit and hints of cocoa, spice, and dusty herbs.

Availability: 820 cases made. This vintage is almost gone.

Drinking Window: Delicious now or over the next three or four years.

Food pairing: Try it with lamb chops and couscous, or perhaps a gourmet grilled burger.

2019 Hightower Cellars, Red Willow, Cabernet Franc, $37

Winery info: Founded in 1997 in Woodinville by Tim and Kelly Hightower with the simple winemaking philosophy: “Get the best grapes and don’t screw them up.” They moved to Benton City in 2002 when they had an opportunity to purchase a 15-acre site on Yakima’s coveted Red Mountain. Today they farm ten acres planted to Bordeaux varietals. They also source fruit from other carefully chosen, skillfully managed vineyards. Their aim is to produce wines with character that let the terroir speak for itself.

Winemaker: Tim and Kelly Hightower

Grapes: 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 50% French oak and 25% each American and European, half new and half neutral.

Vineyard: Red Willow, one of the oldest vineyards in the state, located at the western edge of the Yakima Valley AVA. The Cab Franc comes from a 1989 planting, situated at a relatively high elevation between 1,100 to 1,300 feet, with calcareous, volcanic soils, influenced by ancient riverbeds.

Flavor profile: Very elegant and aromatic, with red fruit flavors and notes of savory spice. Tim and Kelly note that the majority Cab Franc component adds a rich fruitiness and underlying herbal notes to the firm tannins and juicy fruitiness of the Cab Sauv.

Availability: 198 cases produced. This wine is still in decent supply.

Drinking Window: Enjoy anytime over the next few years.

Food Pairing: Lighter meat fare, such as filet mignon or flank steak, or perhaps lamb dishes.