2022 Pollard Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Pollard Vineyard sits 1,100–1,300 feet above the Yakima River on gravelly, basalt-speckled loam—prime terroir for structured yet vibrant Cabernet Sauvignon.
Estate vines, planted in 1998, bask in long Eastern-Washington days yet cool rapidly after sunset, preserving pitch-perfect acidity. 2022 saw a warm, even growing season; berries ripened slowly, harvesting the first week of October with compact clusters and thick skins.
Hand-sorted fruit fermented on native yeasts in small stainless tanks; twice-daily pulse-air cap management teased out color and supple tannin without over-extraction. Free-run wine aged 18 months in 25 % new French barrels from Taransaud and François Frères, gaining cedar perfume and silk-glove texture while keeping fruit purity front and center.
The finished cuvée shows classic Yakima Valley poise: dense blackcurrant, plum, and kirsch layered with dried sage, graphite, and a dusting of cocoa. Medium-plus body (14.1 % abv) rides brisk acidity and fine, river-stone tannins to a long, dry, mineral-lined finish. Decant 30 minutes for immediate pleasure or cellar 5–7 years for savory breadth.