Cabernet Sauvignon

2022
Cabernet Sauvignon

This dark and vibrant Cabernet Sauvignon offers a concentrated nose of Crème de Cassis, pipe tobacco, and ripe cherries. The palate is rich and layered, showcasing mocha, black walnut, and wild mountain blackberry. Silky tannins and pleasing freshness lead to a decadent, fruit-filled finish of berries and spices.

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Vintages

Labeled Appellation

Columbia Valley

Varietal(s)

94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc

Vinification

Fermented in 100% stainless steel. Cellared for 26 months.

Alcohol

14.9

Cases Produced

9,994

Vintage Notes

Nine vineyards, three appellations, and the longest harvest we've ever run.

The 2022 Matthews Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is comprised of several small vineyard parcels within the greater Columbia Valley, with key vineyard sites in Horse Heaven Hills, Red Mountain, and Royal Slope AVA’s as well as the famed Conner Lee Vineyard. This wine truly represents the broad flavor and aromatic expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon from the diverse terroirs of Washington State.

Our new winemaking team worked with our vineyard managers to update our viticultural practices, reducing yields (on average) by 30% for each site. These restricted yields created small, concentrated berries. Further vineyard dedication meant we were able to harvest between 3-6 weeks later than previous vintages. This allowed each site to fully develop the proper ripeness and flavor profile we were looking for.

Each vineyard was hand-harvested in the early mornings between late September & late October, culminating on November 1st for our last pick. Upon arriving at the winery, each vineyard parcel was hand-sorted, de-stemmed, and berry-sorted. The grapes were placed in tank and cold soaked for 2 days, before undergoing a 14 day fermentation and an additional 14 days of extended maceration, for a total of 32 days in tank for maximum phenolic extraction and integrated, polished tannins. The wine was cellared for 26 months in new French oak (40%) and used French oak (60%). In the spring of 2023, we selected 400 barrels to be carefully selected and blended. The wine was bottled in January 2025, producing only 9,994 cases.

Eleven separate clones were included in the final blend (Cabernet Sauvignon: 8, 191, 4, 2, 6, 21, 31 Merlot: 2, 15 Cabernet Franc: 214, 327).

Customer Reviews

  • Danielle R., Seattle

    Decanted it for about an hour and it just kept opening up all night. You can feel how concentrated the fruit is. Found a bit of sediment in the last pour, which for me is a good sign they didn't strip anything out of it.

    Jordan K., Seattle

    Don't usually spend this much on one bottle but split it with friends and everyone was asking what it was. Smooth but not boring, a lot going on in there. Read the notes afterward and went down a whole rabbit hole about the nine vineyards thing, kinda sick honestly.

    Marcus T., Seattle

    Opened this for our anniversary with a grilled ribeye and it was perfect — velvety but with real structure behind it. My husband usually only buys Napa and even he admitted this beat bottles twice the price. The dark berry with that little pepper kick is what got me.

  • Alex P., Portland

    Picked this up at the tasting room after a visit. Held its own against much pricier bottles in a blind lineup we did at home. Will buy again.

    Expert Reviews & Scores

    • Clive Pursehouse, Decanter

      95 / 100

      With sourcing from Royal Slope, Red Mountain and HHH, this is truly a Columbia Valley presentation; the regions are about 1/3 each. There’s some old vine fruit here, and it's got tremendous savoury depth, elegance and a touch of austerity as herbaceous character and minerality. Elegance abounds, black fruits and spice finish, but there's great acidity to bring in the finish.

      Paul Gregutt, Northwest Wine Guide

      95 / 100

      A blend of fruit from six vineyards scattered around the Columbia Valley, this is 94% Cabernet with a bit of Merlot added. It’s a classy, classic style that captures the vitality, acid, power and tannic ripeness of this state’s Cabs. There’s a focused core of blackberry, black cherry and graphite, leading into trailing tannins with grip and accents of anise, coffee and tobacco. Hard to ask for more at this price, and thoughts of grilled steak or even burgers come through as I write these notes.

      Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast

      94 / 100

      This tangy delight fires a shot across the bow with its aromas of pomegranate seeds, boysenberries and saline. A blaze of acidity lights the palate as flavors of dark plums, fig paste, orange zest, clove and Turkish coffee do a jitterbug on the palate. EDITOR’S CHOICE

    • Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

      94 / 100

      In the glass, it shows a deep, opaque purple center haloed by a vivid violet rim. Aromas of crushed blackcurrant, blueberry skin, and sweet pipe tobacco rise alongside hints of clove, cedar resin, and toasted spice. The palate is bold and structured, with tightly wound tannins and brisk acidity supporting a core of dark plum, roasted coffee bean, and bitter chocolate. There's a vibrant edge to the fruit that keeps the wine lifted despite its full-bodied weight. As it finishes, notes of black licorice and cocoa powder linger with grip and precision.

      Eric Guido, Vinous

      93 / 100

      It is refined with a European flair as polished red and black fruits wash across the palate, underscored by a tactile core of crisp minerality. A cascade of inner florals resonates over a coating of sweet tannins, offset by a pleasantly bitter tinge as the 2022 slowly recedes. The value here is undeniable.

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