95 Points - Owen Bargreen: The brilliant 2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate Clone 191' Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a northern block of the estate vineyard. Stored in 60% new French and Hungarian oak, this offers fresh herbs and blackberry compote on the nose with shades of creosote and Black Forest cake. The palate is fresh and polished, just slightly more reticent than the ‘Clone 4' but showing some great aging potential with its poise and body. Try to hold this beauty for another year. Drink 2025-2040
100% Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard: Planted in 1977, Woodward Canyon is the westernmost vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA, roughly 15 miles west of Walla Walla, Washington. There are 41 vineyard acres planted and several more acres of green belts that support native species such as western juniper, ponderosa pine, western sagebrush, arrowleaf, balsamroot, and perennial wildflowers. Ritzville silt loam over fractured basalt, slope 15-18%, 750-850ft elevation. Managed by Woodward Canyon. All grapes are Salmon Safe certified, as is the wine. Clone 191: 2.23 acres on 3'x9' spacing, planted on rootstock in 2011 at 850' elevation (our highest elevation Cabernet Sauvignon block); among the highest-rated clones in Bordeaux, France The plant material for this clone was originally sourced from Bordeaux, and came to the US through the ENTAV program in France; we sourced our material from a certified nursery in California. Observation from Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard: Slightly smaller cluster and smaller berry size; stunning cassis - black fruit character with great balance at lower levels of ripeness. We're incredibly optimistic about this clone!
