Novelty Hill by Januik Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
(Columbia Valley, Washington) - [JS 92] [DM 92]

This full-bodied, aromatic Cabernet Sauvignon offers expressive layers of ripe plum, black currant and wild blackberries. A textured, mouth-filling wine true to its varietal character with a balanced, refined finish.

Like previous vintages of this wine, winemaker Mike Januik relies on Novelty Hill's estate vineyard Stillwater Creek on the Royal Slope of the Frenchman Hills to build the base for the wine, then blends in layered complexity by using grapes from a small selection of top Red Mountain and Wahluke Slope sites to further enhance flavors and mouthfeel.

Production: 6,136 cases
Blend: 99% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Merlot
Aging: Aged 20 months in 25% new French oak and 15% new American oak barrels
Alcohol: 14.4%

92 Points - James Suckling:
Dark cherries, currants, sweet spices, nut shell and moist earth. Medium- to full-bodied, firm and chocolaty on the palate with a chewy grip of tannins and juicy dark-fruited core. Spiced finish with sweet fruity notes.

92 Points - Decanter:
A blend of estate Stillwater Creek Cabernet with vineyards across the Columbia Valley gives a wine that delivers wonderful aromas of black tea leaves, tobacco and ripe bing cherries. The palate is balanced with savoury notes of stone and earth intertwined with red and blue berry fruits, cinnamon spice and white pepper—a well-priced, nicely representative Washington Cabernet.