Substance Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Tasting notes

Tasting Notes by Winemaker Charles Smith

It’s not polite to point, but that is CAB! Cassis, black berry, suede, and No. 2 pencil shavings. Smooth as can be.

Terroir

Vineyards: 17% Sportfisher, 16% Painted Hills, 13% Badger Mountain, 10% Coyote, 9% Frenchman Hills, 8% Rosebud, 8% Goose Ridge, 7% Mrachek, 7% Golden West, 5% Northridge

Vintage Notes

2022 was a unique year for wine grapes in Washington State. A slow start due to a late spring eventually balanced out into an even and warm summer, ultimately leading to one of the longest falls we have ever experienced. Our vineyards, which produce great grapes year in and year out, harvested fruit that lent itself to extremely special wines this year. Wines that are firm, bright, and beautiful, with lovely aromas. We’re excited to watch them continue to develop and provide enjoyment for years to come!

Vinification

• 3.7 tons per acre, native yeast, 100% whole berry fermentation
• 10 months barrel-aged on lees in 15% new French oak barriques

Winery Description

The original thought was to be a one wine brand, with a single minded vision to produce the best value-priced Cabernet Sauvignon in America. How do you go about this? Traditional winemaking. Natural fermentations. Barrel-aging. Plus, bottling unfiltered and unfined. In essence, making the wines in small batch winemaking integrity, but doing so on a larger scale. The wine is black. The label definitively says, "This is Cabernet Sauvignon." And also, with the CS, you know who made this wine: Charles Smith.