92 Wine Enthusiast

"Pure varietal, this captures the house style perfectly, with a ripe blend of brambly berries set against crisp natural acids. Almond candy and chocolate graham cracker flavors appear, reflecting 28 months in 75% new oak barrels. The transition to the silky finish brings a refreshing minerality." 92 Points - Wine Enthusiast

WINE:
"2006 was a beautiful vintage in Washington. A cool and wet spring led into a classic growing season. Plenty of summer heat produced grapes with wonderful intensity, natural acidity and great balance."

"The 2006 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit was sourced from Gunselman Bench, McKinley Springs and Phinny Hill vineyards. It was aged in 95% French and 5% American oak, 75% new for 28 months. The alcohol by volume is 14.2%, 500 cases produced, bottled April 7, 2009. -Winemaker

WINEMAKER:
"Although Joe Gunselman is a physician by day, his passion is winemaking. He views winemaking as an art but draws on his science background and applies it to winemaking science. Joe is a self taught winemaker but continues his education through classes at Walla Walla Institute for Enology & Viticulture and UC Davis. Joe makes every effort to preserve the varietal flavors in his wine. When young, the classical flavors beam through. As the wine matures in the cellar, the flavors of cedar, tobacco, and leather will develop."

"Dr. Gunselman chose Washington because he believes the terrior, with the variable of irrigation, combines to give one of the best (if not THE BEST) places in the world to grow vitis vinifera. He feels there are 4 major components to the terrior. The first is the number of sunny days coupled with the length of the day, the second is the unique east-west ridges of the Columbia Valley which provides an excellent south facing slope. Third is an ideal diurnal variation (night to day temperature variations) and the 4th is our unique soil composition." -Winery

This wine was also scored 89 Points by the Wine Advocate.