2021 Matthews Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Precise and expressive, with handsome flavors of blackberry, bay leaf and espresso that build richness and structure toward refined tannins.— 93 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
Cabernet Sauvignon remains the most recognized and widely planted wine grape on earth, a benchmark of power, structure, and longevity. Born in Bordeaux’s Left Bank, where gravelly soils nurtured wines of depth and endurance, the varietal found a second home in California, where sunshine and craft transformed it into a modern icon. In Washington State, Cabernet Sauvignon has found its third great expression, one defined by balance, purity, and an unmistakable sense of place.
In the Columbia Valley, Cabernet thrives under a rhythm unlike any other, with long summer days, cool desert nights, and the moderating influence of the Columbia River. Ancient flood soils, diverse elevations, and varying exposures across AVAs like Horse Heaven Hills, Royal Slope, and the storied Conner Lee Vineyard provide a remarkable range of expression. These conditions allow winemakers to craft Cabernets that combine richness with restraint, wines that are both approachable in youth and capable of graceful aging.
Vintage Overview
The 2021 vintage in Washington was one of extremes, a year defined by resilience, patience, and precision. Following a dry winter and an early bud break in late March, the growing season advanced quickly into a hot and windy bloom in late May and early June. These challenging conditions resulted in small berries, compact clusters, and naturally low yields.
Then came the now-famous heat dome event of late June, which shattered temperature records across the Pacific Northwest. While sugar accumulation accelerated rapidly, flavor and phenolic development lagged, and acidity levels dropped below historical averages. For those who waited, however, the season turned in their favor as a cool, steady autumn allowed flavor maturity to catch up as sugars plateaued. The result was fruit of exceptional concentration, purity, and structural integrity, a hallmark of the vintage’s best wines.
Red wines from 2021 are deeply colored, with pronounced varietal typicity, firm tannic backbones, and ageworthy structure.
Harvest and Farming Practices
The 2021 Matthews Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from several small, carefully selected vineyard parcels across the Columbia Valley, primarily in the Horse Heaven Hills, Royal Slope, and Red Mountain. During bloom, erratic weather led to considerable shatter, further reducing yields but enhancing concentration.
Growers adapted with resilient vineyard practices during the heat dome, employing increased canopy coverage to protect fruit from direct sunlight and maintaining steady drip irrigation to preserve vine health. Despite the stress, the vines proved remarkably robust, producing fruit of striking intensity and balance.
The winemaking team’s philosophy of extended hang time was pivotal in 2021. By allowing fruit to ripen well into October, the team achieved complete phenolic maturity without excessive sugar accumulation. All fruit was hand-harvested in the cool mornings of early fall, arriving at the winery in pristine condition, ready for meticulous sorting.
Vinification
Each vineyard lot was handled independently to showcase its unique contribution to the final blend. Fruit was hand-sorted, de-stemmed, and berry-sorted, then cold-soaked for approximately 48 hours to enhance color extraction and aromatic complexity.
Fermentation began with a non-saccharomyces yeast inoculation, building depth and texture before introducing a selected Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain to complete fermentation under controlled temperatures. Twice-daily cap management through pump-overs, punch-downs, and pulsed air techniques ensured optimal extraction and tannin refinement.
After roughly two weeks of primary fermentation, the wine remained on skins for an additional 30 days of extended maceration, deepening color, structure, and integration. The young wines were then pressed and transferred into French oak barrels, 25 percent new and 75 percent once-used, for 19 months of cellaring, undergoing malolactic fermentation in barrel to soften acidity and enhance mouthfeel.
Blending took place in spring 2022, selecting from 302 barrels to craft the final expression, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot representing 22 distinct clones. The wine was bottled unfined and minimally filtered in June 2023, ensuring a pure and vibrant reflection of vineyard and vintage.
Composition
76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
Cabernet Sauvignon Clones: 2, 4, 6, 8, 15, 21, 31, 169, 191, 337, 338
Merlot Clones: 2, 3, 6, 15, 18, 181
Cabernet Franc Clones: 1, 214, 327
Malbec Clones: 4
Petit Verdot Clones: 1
Winemaker Tasting Note
“Spiced black plum and cocoa nib aromas lead to flavors of dark berries and cedar. Ripe tannins frame the luxuriously broad and balanced palate and the finish is long and quenching.” -Alex Stewart, Winemaker
PRAISE FOR THE 2021 MATTHEWS COLUMBIA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
“Coming out strong out of the gate, the 2021 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is nearly all varietal. Dark chocolate shavings, baking spices and anise come together on the nose. The palate is beautifully balanced with a seamless texture and great sense of weight, with heady roasted date and black currant flavors. Generous and rich, this is a gorgeous showing from 2021. This is a serious value to purchase by the case.”
94 points, Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
“Precise and expressive, with handsome flavors of blackberry, bay leaf and espresso that build richness and structure toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2031. 7,364 cases made.”
93 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley is spicy, showing off a gentle peppery tinge and dusty rose tones that give way to dried black cherries. This is wonderfully crisp and refined, with silky textures and depths of dark red fruit propelled by juicy acidity. It tapers off long and structured, yet the tannins are quite sweet. The 2021 finishes with a pleasant crunch and a lingering licorice tinge.”
93 points, Eric Guido, Vinous
“The 2021 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon by Matthews is a melange of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec that is aged for 19 months in 25% new French oak. Deep purple core with a neon purple rim in the glass, it boasts a beautiful nose of blackberries, mountain herbs, black rose, espresso powder, leather, and dark chocolate. Tannins are crunchy, acid is elevated, and the black-fruit finish tops things off.”
93 points, Jeremy Young, International Wine Report