Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon 1990: Drink soon
A year which produced supple and delicious wines with good varietal character
Weather Conditions
At the time this was one of the warmest vintages on record. The early spring was mild but in May, during the bloom period, the weather began by being cool and dry only to experience intense heat, moderate rain, and finally cooler weather. July set a record for hot weather, and after a normal August, September saw a return to fairly intense warmth. The harvest was early, and completed by the first week of October.
Best Appellations
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Best Producers
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Quilceda Creek, Leonetti, Hogue, L’Ecole #41.
The reds are rich, ripe, with a few tending toward the over-ripe and overly tannic side. With ageing, the Cabernets in particular have held up surprisingly well. The ’90 Cabernet from Quilceda Creek was its best since ’87, and Chateau Ste. Michelle served up a bevy of ripe, polished Cabernets.
