2020Cuvée
2020Cuvée
The 2020 Matthews Cuvée comes from several small vineyard parcels within Columbia Valley, namely key sites in Horse Heaven Hills, White Bluffs, and the Royal Slope. Harvested in the early fall mornings of 2020, it was sorted and fermented in the winery using both concrete and stainless steel. The wine was cellared in French oak barrels for an average of 18 months. Carefully blended by the winemaking team, only 20 barrels were selected, and finally bottled in May of 2022.
Concentrated strawberry and herbs, dried currant and caramelized sugar. Swirling the glass adds layers of raspberry, plum skin, subtle spice and lightly roasted coffee. The palate has great finesse with fresh red fruits, textural polish, and is buffered by incredibly tactile tannins that release at the right moment. A merlot-dominant blend we love making each year, and 2020 was no exception.
80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot
Awards & Accolades
"Blackberries, tobacco leaves, bitter chocolate and green espresso beans on the nose. Full-bodied, with dusty tannins and a dark, ashy note. 80% merlot, 10% cabernet franc, 5% malbec and 5% petit verdot. Drink now."
- 89 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
AVAs
Royal Slope
Royal Slope
- Designated
- 2020
- Vineyards
- 1,900 acres (768 hectares)
- Top Varieties
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc
- Average Annual Precipitation
- 6-8 inches
- Soil
- Sandy loam, soil
- Average Vine Age
- 14yrs
