The Walls Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Curiositas 2020 750ml

Made with 7% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Curiositas Cabernet Sauvignon is dense, dark and red-fruited with juicy blackberry tones that sway with focus and power before revealing a rocky mineral essence and wilted red flowers. Full-bodied and firmly mineral, the wine is dense and chewy on the palate and will remain food-friendly for over 15 years. The wine ends with a tannic and firm finish that either needs food now or time in the cellar. Be patient. The wine rested for 20 months in 75% new oak barrels. Bravo! This is delightful. Just under 7,000 bottles were made.

Based on 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Cabernet Franc raised in 80% new French oak, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Curiositas has a textbook Cabernet nose of pure crème de cassis, redcurrants, crushed stone, and lead pencil shavings, with some background, building minerality. Full-bodied on the palate, it has a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, good mid-palate depth, and a clean finish. Like many 2020s, it's more streamlined and narrow on the palate and finish but is clearly an outstanding bottle of wine.

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Curiositas lifts up with peppery florals, savory grilled herbs and dusty red currant tones. This is silky and refined, with a savory core of tart wild berry fruits. Fine tannins frame the finish as this tapers off long and spicy, leaving a bitter tinge that puckers the cheeks.

Philosopher Thomas Hobbs once stated that “curiosity is the lust of the mind,” an idea that imagination and divergent thinking are a sought after experience, something that required inspiration. Here at The Walls, our inspiration is the goal of making curious wine, and that is consistently achieved with each vintage of the Curiositas. Situated in the very middle of the Red Mountain AVA, and planted on steep slopes and rocky soils, we turn to Heart of the Hill and Quintessence Vineyards to produce a deep and assertive, yet balanced and structured Cabernet Sauvignon. Those who enjoy Red Mountain Cabernet are expecting structured tannins and bold fruit, which is what we strive to deliver in the Curiositas. This wine provides a nice contrast to our Walla Walla Valley Cabernet, Bellamy, which is more feminine and floral on the nose and palate. A prime bottle for any Red Mountain Cabernet lover to add to their to cellar. An undeniable heavy-hitter, the Curiositas announces its presence as soon as the cork is popped, with heady aromas of super-ripe black cherry, damson plum, cocoa powder, black tea and toasted hazelnuts exploding out of the glass. The texture is rich, round, opulent and uber-mouth-coating, with a twist: its intense tannins and powerful, minutes-long finish.