Vinous

• By Stephen Tanzer
  Washington: Various Shades of Hot (Oct 2017), 10/1/2017 (link)

  (Efesté Cabernet Sauvignon Taylor Mag Vineyard Washington Red) Subscribe to see review text.

Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull Efeste Estate, 7/2/2017

  (Efeste Taylor Mag Cabernet Sauvignon) Hello friends. After Efeste’s founding winemaker Brennon Leighton was recruited to Team Charles Smith, Peter Devison took over command at one of Woodinville’s finest and has managed to continue the house style while still adding his own, personal stamp on things. The act of simultaneously preserving and growing—that is an impressive feat. Today we have a pair of wines in varying shades of red – one rosé, one Cabernet Sauvignon. Both relatively new to the lineup, they hold the same thoughtful nature as the classic offerings that have made Efeste so well-loved. Both wines display what makes this winery so great: considerate fruit sourcing paired with winemaking dedicated to the expression of place. Taylor Mag Vineyard is an estate vineyard for Efeste that sits atop Red Mountain. Named for owner Kevin Taylor’s maternal and fraternal family names, Taylor and Magnuson, Taylor Mag Vineyard utilizes a thoughtful system of high-density planting and single cordon trellising, which work together to create greater flavor concentration in fruit—specifically in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Efeste’s ownership of this vineyard allows them to offer a ridiculously good bottle of Red Mountain Cab at a price that isn’t usually seen on single vineyard, single varietal wines from this AVA. Their goal: to make the best Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon under $30 in the state. This Taylor Mag Cabernet is produced with all the same practices that are used for the winery’s top tier wines—specifically, the use of indigenous yeast for fermentation, no acid additives, and keeping the wine unfined and unfiltered. The goal—especially when attempting to make the greatest Red Mountain Cab in the state–is to use as little manipulation as possible to allow the vintage, varietal, and vineyard to shine through. And without fail, Efeste’s time-tested practices have worked wonders, because this Cabernet shines exactly like Cab should. It has a nose full of strong, classic traits—including cassis, black cherry, violet, dirt, earth, and leafy green herbs. The typicity continues through the palate, which exhibits legitimate Cabernet character in both flavor and texture. Dark fruit, anise, and vanilla make their way across the tongue and a medium plus body feels substantial with serious tannins and dark elements. This is a Cabernet to introduce people to Cabernet, to Washington, and to Red Mountain. It would be paired well with a gooey, medium-rare cheeseburger topped with sauteed mushrooms; a pink-in-the-middle ribeye served with a peppery, arugula salad; or an hearty, grilled vegetable tart.