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2017 Northstar Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

May 12, 2024 - $27

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RATINGS

92The Wine Advocate

...silky red and black-fruited essence...aromas of black cherry, cassis and currant before showing bitter dark chocolate notions, baked earth, hints of dried herbs and elegant baking spices. Medium to full-bodied...expressive on the palate, showing a mineral tension, a balanced structure and a subtle flavor of cinnamon...long, winding finish, ending with the perfect amount of tannins...

92Wine Spectator

Refined and well-structured, with polished black cherry, espresso and toasty spice flavors that build richness toward fine-grained tannins.

92James Suckling

Dried-flower, walnut and some cedar and berry character on the nose. Medium body. Firm, creamy tannin texture and a juicy finish.

91Stephen Tanzer

...currant, black plum, black tea and subtle peppery herbs. Plush, savory and pliant, with lovely inner-mouth floral lift and brisk acidity framing and lifting its cassis, plum and licorice flavors. Serious energy and vinosity...palate-dusting tannins arrive late, allowing the fruit to expand.

PRODUCER

Northstar

Northstar Winery is in Walla Walla. Its debut wine was a 1994 Merlot. The estate was started by Chateau Ste. Michelle, the Northwest’s largest winemaker, to create Merlot-based premium wines in the style of right bank Bordeaux. Northstar specializes Merlot, though it also makes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Malbec and a white blend of Semillon and Muscadelle. Grapes are sourced Columbia Valley in Eastern Washington. Northstar Premier, a 100% Merlot, is the estate’s flagship wine.

REGION

United States, Washington, Walla Walla Valley

Walla Walla Valley AVA likes to call itself the Napa Valley of Washington, and given the concentration of well-reviewed wineries in the appellation, the comparison is understandable. The Walla Walla appellation is comprised of 340,000 acres, of which 1,200 acres are vineyards. Walla Walla is located in the southeastern corner of Washington and it extends slightly into northeastern Oregon. It is named after the Walla Walla River Valley, and the city of Walla Walla is the commercial center of Washington’s wine industry. The city was founded in the 1840s by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post, but as early as the 1850s farmers were planting grapes for winemaking. Prohibition shuttered winemaking in the early 20th century, but a winemaking renaissance started in the 1970s when Leonetti Cellars, still one of the state’s most acclaimed wineries, started producing acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon. Walla Walla’s AVA status was awarded in 1984 and today there are more than 100 wineries. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most frequently planted grape, followed by Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese Chardonnay and Viognier.

TYPE

Red Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.