2014 Vintage
Tasted: Feb 2022
When to drink: 2022
to 2030
This 2014 edition of ‘Big Papa’ came from the Bacchus, Kiona, Klipsun, Sagemoor and Red Willow Vineyards. Deep and brooding in the glass, this offers intense dark fruits on the nose with tar, tobacco leaf and shades of black truffle. The secondary notes here are really exceptional, as are the black floral tones. The palate is deep and dense with refined tannins that hold in place a core of black raspberry, cardamom dusted blackberry, coffee grounds and tar notes. This is a delight to savor right now, so why wait?
2018 Vintage
Tasted: Feb 2022
When to drink: 2022
to 2034
2018 was Mark Fiore’s first full vintage making wine for EFESTĒ, as this was sourced from Bacchus, Sagemoor, Klipsun and Kiona Vineyards. Aged in roughly 60% new French oak, this delivers ripe black currant flavors alongside tar, tobacco leaf and dark chocolate shavings with scorched earth undertones on the palate. Finishing very long, this is really good to enjoy right now, but will also cellar well over the next twelve years.
2017 Vintage
Tasted: Apr 2020
Aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, walnuts and dried rose petals . Medium-to full-bodied with firm, lightly chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. A little lean, but fresh and delicious. Drink or hold.
2016 Vintage
Tasted: Oct 2019
Coming from vines with at least 30 years of age, the aromas are perfumed with notes of macerated cherry, fresh flowers, black licorice, thyme, green herbs and black fruit. Full-bodied, action-packed fruit and herb flavors follow, with enough acidity and tannin structure to go the distance and a sense of freshness that ups the interest. Sean P. Sullivan
2016 Vintage
Tasted: Apr 2019
Attractive violet and blue-fruit perfume makes for an attractive, fruit-focused nose that leads to a supple, round and flavorful palate with a fresh, elegant and stylish feel. Structure and balance are on point here. Drink or hold.
2014 Vintage
Tasted: Mar 2018
Very ripe plum and stony notes as well as violets, terracotta and roasting herbs. The palate has a fluid core of blueberry and plum flavors and nicely arranged, layered tannins. Easygoing and approachable. Drink in next 5 years.
2014 Vintage
Tasted: Jan 2018
This wine is a blend of fruit from Klipsun, Kiona, Bacchus, Red Willow and Sagemoor vineyards. Aged in half-new French oak, it offers aromas of dried leaf, cocoa, cigar box and barrel spice that lead to focused, slightly compact cherry flavors. Firm, tightly wound tannins provide support. It needs time in the cellar to stretch its legs, and will be best after 2021.
2013 Vintage
Tasted: Apr 2017
When to drink: 2017
to 2030
- This dense Cabernet wine is primarily sourced from 74% Red Mountain (74%) with some Red Willow Vineyard fruit as well. Fermented in 70% neutral French oak for 20 months, this dense and deep colored wine begins with aromatics of creme de cassis, milk chocolate, blueberry compote, black cherry, creosote, and sagebrush. There are intense flavors of creme de cassis, anise, blackberry pie, milk chocolate, blueberry pie and sagebrush with moderate tannins. Massive and broad shouldered, this is simply gorgeous. Try to give this another year to further develop in the bottle. This intense Cabernet wine will have an exceedingly long life and is nearly impossible to resist right now.
2013 Vintage
Tasted: Jan 2017
This is the first vintage of this wine to include estate fruit, along with fruit from Klipsun, Bacchus and Red Willow. A complex medley of herb and spice aromas accented by purple flowers is followed by bold yet still refined dark-fruit flavors that linger on the finish. It has the tannin to go the distance. Best after 2020.
2012 Vintage
Tasted: Jan 2016
All varietal, this wine is mostly Klipsun and Bacchus vineyards, with Kiona and Red Willow rounding it out. The aromas bring immediate appeal, with pure notes of black cherry, fresh and dried savory herbs and crushed granite, showing pleasing complexities. The palate is tightly wound, showing a fine sense of depth that is balanced by bright acid and firm tannins. The finish lingers. It's a compelling example of the variety.
2011 Vintage
Tasted: Jan 2015
Thisvarietal comes from older plantings at Klipsun, Bacchus, Sagemoor and Kiona vineyards. It displays notes of black and green olive, dried herbs and brooding barrel spices. Mouthwatering, supple and flavorful, it has firm tannins that need some time in the cellar to lengthen their stride. Best after 2017.
2010 Vintage
Tasted: Oct 2014
2010 Vintage
Tasted: Jan 2014
The old blocks referenced in this pure Cabernet Sauvignon are sourced from a perfect pantheon of Washington's finest vineyards: Klipsun, Bacchus, Sagemoor, Kiona and Red Willow. The wine has a charming delicacy, fragrant with tobacco and cherry, yet thick on the tongue with black cherry, cassis and cola. It finishes balanced, lively and deep.
2009 Vintage
Tasted: Jan 2012
This is pure Cabernet that was sourced from four vineyards, with vines averaging 31 years. True noninterventionist winemaking is in play to make this chewy, tight and dark effort.This is grainy and dense, with notes of cassis, coffee and cacao. A thread of smoke and a touch of gravel contribute further to the concentrated finish.
2008 Vintage
Tasted: Jan 2011
An immense wine, inky purple, packed with black and purple fruits, laced with smoke and espresso, and finished with fine-grained, substantial tannins. This Cab lives up to its name––it's a Big Muthah as well as Papa, and should be cellared for optimal expression.
2007 Vintage
Tasted: Jan 2010
This pure Cabernet is almost jet black in color, displaying full-on aromatics of bramble and berry, suffused with earth and herb. Tannins are muscular and beautifully honed. Decant and let it breathe a few hours; the fruit expands with lush flavors of wild blackberries and cassis, dappled with light herb, and moving into a rich finish of clove, chocolate and espresso.
Where more than 24 Critics scores exist, only the first 24 are displayed.
For completeness we may include critic scores in our aggregation that we do not display.