Vinous

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

  (Baer Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Arctos Washington Red) Subscribe to see review text.

Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull Arctos, 8/30/2018

  (Baer Arctos) Hello friends. We have fantastic pricing today on a list-favorite wine from Baer Winery. It took a combination of several factors—our willingness to commit to a significant quantity, the desire to push our TPU discount a bit deeper than normal—to hit the tag today. We think our list members will be enormously pleased.(For a good primer on Baer, whose story is one of tragedy and renewal, I highly recommend Andy Perdue’s article in Great Northwest Wine.) This wine is normally offered at its $43 release price. For the last few years, we’ve been offered one shot each year at considerably better pricing if we’re willing to commit to a sizeable parcel. Which we are (that’s about as easy as “Yes” gets for us). All Baer wines are 100% sourced from Stillwater Creek Vineyard, a fantastic site whose grapes are used by wineries like Corliss, Saviah, and Rotie. Planted in 2000, the vineyard’s 235 acres sit southward facing on the Royal Slope of the Frenchman Hills. Arctos, Baer’s left-bank Bordeaux blend, is crafted from Stillwater’s Cabernet Sauvignon, (81%), Petit Verdot (15%), and Merlot (4%). The wine spent nearly two years in French oak—the Cabernet in some new barrels—before bottling in summer 2016. It has now had another two years to mature in bottle. Listed alc is 14.8%, and this begins with a nose combining black plum and cherry fruit with touches of violet, earth, spice (clove and anise), and dark chocolate. How wonderfully Washington Cabernet. It’s a downright supple, palate-staining wine that elegantly straddles brute strength and balance. A silky attack and robust mid-palate emerge, all with a dark brooding core of fruit, and it finishes long and vibrant with black-tea tannins and graphite minerality. International Wine Report (Owen Bargreen): “This wine is a fantastic blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot. Needing more than a two hour decant, this wine emerges from its slumber with aromas of black tar, black currant, creme de cassis and mocha aromatics. With a lovely minerality and polished tannins, this silky Cabernet wine glides along the mid-palate, leading to a long, dark fruit and mineral driven finish. Try to resist this beauty for at least another year. Drink 2018-2030. 93pts.” As you can see, Mr. Bargreen suggests waiting another year at least to drinks this wine. His review was written in June 2017, so we have hit that mark and then some. His suggestion makes sense—even still, the brooding nature of the fruit and the prominence of the powerful tannins both suggest a wine whose best years are ahead. Still, this wine is already balanced, classy, and well-proportioned. For list members whose usual buying ceiling is $20, this is a wine to consider a splurge on. Those extra ten bucks get you a wine that drinks every bit like its $43 release price.