Puget Sound Cabs

Puget Sound Cabs? You can't grow Cabernet Sauvignon in the Puget Sound region, but you can truck grapes over from Eastern Washington AVAs such as Red Mountain. Some of the best Cabs in the state are made here in the Seattle area. First and foremost is Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, awarded "100" point scores for two years in a row by Robert Parker, the Pied Piper of wine by the numbers, but truly an excellent wine. Not to be outdone by Quilceda Creek, DeLille is going for the gold with its Grand Ciel wine from its new Red Mountain vineyard. Their current offerings, such as the Harrison, are excellent. Ross Andrew made an intense Cab that should prove to be superb with a few years in the cellar. Staying in Woodinville and the Eastside, new wineries such as Red Sky and Edmonds have been making very good Cabernets, too. Mike Januik is truly a master winemaker as proven by the Cabernet under his own label and the Novelty Hill moniker. Bob Betz rounds out the leaders here. John Bell at Willis Hall makes excellent wines. In Seattle's industrial area we find outstanding blends from the South Seattle Artisanal Wineries (SSAW) including Cadence, Fall Line, OS, and Note Bene. Over on Vashon Island, Chris Carmada continues to turn out excellent vineyard specific Cab blends. Up in Port Townsend, Sorensen winery produces an outstanding Cab from Ciel du Cheval fruit. Farther out on the Peninsula, Don Corson makes a really good Cab at Cameraderie. On Whidbey Island, Blooms Winery made a very good Cab from the family vineyard in Mendocino. Quite an interesting selection of Cabs made right here in Puget Sound.