On June 14, I attended the Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine - The World of Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Panel Presentation & Tastings at the Marcus Whitman Hotel. This was the latest of of a succession of annual events which alternate with Merlot and Syrah as the Walla Walla Valley's signature grape varieties. This year's panel consisted of Moderator Owen Bargreen of the International Wine Report, Daniel Wampfler, winemaker at Abeja, JJ Menozzi of Aluvé and Josh McDaniels of Doubleback in the Walla Walla Valley. From the Napa Valley were Elizabeth Vianna of Chimney Rock and Christopher Tynan of Cliff Lede. Rounding out the panel was Nicolò D'Affilitto of Frescobaldi in Tuscany, Italy. Six wines were tasted, one from each of the six winemakers on the panel. Here are the wines tasted with my notes and scores. 

2015 Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, Heather Hill Vineyard ($68) - This 100% varietal wine showed a deep ruby color and enticing aromas of sweet fruits - blackberries, cherries, plums, currants - with scents of crushed roses, tobacco, sweet pea flowers, rosemary, sage and wood smoke. The flavors were deep and full bore, with layers of dark fruits intermixed with licorice, cacao, French roast and silty minerals. On the back, the wine gained intensity with roasted berries and nuts, integrated oak (70% new French) and touches of kidskin and graphite followed by a lingering opulent yet firm finish. 19.5/20 points.

2014 Aluvé Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, Menozzi Vineyard ($52) - Composed of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon with 7% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, this show an inky ruby color and an intense nose of blackberry, cherry, plum, roses, tobacco, sandalwood, olive, vanillin and incense. The flavors were thick and opulent, yet deep and focused, marked by licorice, dark cocoa, roasted coffee beans and silty earth. The wine firmed up a bit on the back with notes of roasted berries and nuts, graphite and moderate oak (40% new French) followed by a long finish. 19+/20 points.

2016 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley ($85) - This blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot offered a deep ruby-crimson color and a perfumed nose of wild blackberries, blueberries, cherries, plums, black roses, pipe tobacco, cedar, violets and incense. The flavors were bold and structured, underlain with licorice, 85% cacao, French roast and silt and basalt minerals. The penetration continued on the back with roasted berries and walnuts, mocha, toffee, integrated oak (85% new French) and pencil shavings, followed by a lingering firm yet sweetish tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2016 Chimney Rock Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($100) - From the Stag's Leap District, this 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot combination showed a deep ruby-crimson color and a rich, smoky nose of blackberry, cherry, Damson plum, black roses, sweet tobacco, cedar, sandalwood, a hint of mint, and oriental incense. The flavors were well framed, marked by notes of licorice, bittersweet chocolate, French press and compact earth. The intensity continued on the back with sensations of roasted berries and nuts, mocha, touches of vanilla oak (50% new French) and leather, and burnt charcoal, followed by a long, firm yet ripe tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2015 Cliff Lede Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($98) - Also from the Stag's Leap District, this blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec, 7% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc offered a deep ruby-crimson color and rich aromas of wild fruits - blackberries, huckleberries, cherries, plums - with scents of crushed roses, sweet tobacco, violets and incense. The flavors were bold yet velvety, with notes of black licorice, dark cocoa, French roast and earth. On the back, the wine firmed up a bit, yet stayed velvety, with notes of roasted berries and walnuts, mocha, fine grained oak (80% new French) all leading seamlessly into a long satiny tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2015 Frescobaldi Mormoreto Rosso Toscana, Castello Nipozzano ($90) - Composed largely of Cabernet Sauvignon, with Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese and a touch of Petit Verdot, this showed a deep ruby color and an  opulent nose of blackberry, cherry, plum, currant, black roses, sweet tobacco, cedar and sweet incense. The flavors, as well, were opulent, yet authoritative, with notes of licorice, dark cocoa, Italian roast, and rocky hillside minerals. The back picked up roasted berries and hazelnuts, mocha, toffee and graphite, followed by a long dry yet rich finish, all conveying a sense of Tuscan elegance. 19.5/20 points.

All the wines were qualitatively nearly equal. The only differences were structural and stylistic, each reflecting a distinct terroir and varietal character.