93pts Wine & Spirits

A dark and heady wine, all crushed berries and dark spices, this cabernet marries sumptuous oak spice with deep, powerful fruit. A big and burly classic from Red Mountain, this wine’s tannins feel powerful and balanced at once.

92pts James Suckling

Blackcurrants, brambleberries, toasted walnuts, spice box, sandalwood and dried flowers on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Structured and precise with tight layers of dark fruit and spice. Focused.

91pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2018 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon starts with a firm, dusty and juicy nose with aromas of tasty black cherry, wilted lavender and roses with elements of redcurrants and crème de cassis. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is juicy and features dusty tannins, with flavors of black plum and juicy black Raspberry skin across the mid-palate. The Cabernet concludes with firm, tannic edge and a lingering flavor of crème de violette. This rested for 20 months in French oak, 40% new, and represents a great value for the price.

91pts Wine Spectator

Structured yet supple, with vibrant black cherry, toasty mocha and spice flavors that finish with polished tannins.

90pts Wine Enthusiast

This wine shows some reduction out of the gate. Behind that are notes of cassis, anise and herbs. The palate is flavorful with red and black fruit notes but has a reserved sensibility to it. There's plenty of structure around it all. A warm finish caps it off.

Winemaker Notes

Tantalizing aromas of ripe strawberry, Bing cherry and grenadine leap from the glass, followed by suggestions of blueberry and huckleberry, as well as subtle oak tones of slivered almond and hazelnut. The saturated red fruit layers are echoed on the delightfully supple palate, where they mingle with dynamic flavors of red licorice, orange zest and candied grape, and darker hints of black plum, cocoa, berry pie and baking spices.

About the Winery

To create wines that are as complex as they are captivating, Canvasback is following the model established decades ago by Duckhorn Vineyards, and will ultimately combine grapes from top growers with fruit from Canvasback's own estate vineyard.

The Canvasback team has already established great relationships with the growers who farm some of the appellation's most esteemed vineyards, including Klipsun, La Coye, Shaw and Quintessence. In 2013, Canvasback put down roots on Red Mountain when it acquired a 20-acre unplanted vineyard site. Located near the top of the mountain, above the frost zone at an elevation of approximately 1,100 to 1,300 feet, the site was widely recognized as the most coveted uncultivated site of the mountain. Guided by Washington winegrowing legend and Canvasback vineyard manager Dick Boushey, and founding winemaker Brian Rudin, Canvasback began planting its Red Mountain vineyard predominantly to Cabernet Sauvignon in 2014.

In both the vineyard and winery, Brian embraces the challenge of making a richly compelling wine that shows the complexity and structure of great Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. "Red Mountain is one of the best places on earth to grow Cabernet," says Brian. "The desert environment, with its long days, cold nights and mineral-rich soils produce epic Cabernet Sauvignons."

Blend: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Syrah, 1% Malbec