JamesSuckling.com

• By James Suckling
  3/18/2018 (link)

  (Cadence Red Mountain Tapteil Vineyard, Red, United States) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

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

  (Cadence Winery Red Wine Tapteil Vineyard Washington Red) Subscribe to see review text.

Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull First Call Last Call, 2/5/2018

  (Cadence Tapteil Vineyard) Hello friends. In an industry where trends ebb and flow, vintage conditions affect available grapes, and staff changes can mean reinvention, it can be hard for wineries to nail down a house style. Even though a well-executed house style is integral to success in this business, there are hundreds of reasons why a winery might find themselves without a consistent vision. In our corner of the world, a house style sets wineries apart in a sea of stand-out Washington wines; it allows consumers to purchase wine with confidence, knowing exactly what to expect from a bottle they haven’t tasted. Ben Smith has mastered the art of a house style with Cadence, creating a vineyard-focused bordeaux lineup that is consistent year in and year out. His house style focuses on three components: textural elegance, carefully-tended structure, and finely-tuned balance. This style allows Cadence to hyper focus on creating high-quality, delightfully ageable wines from three vineyards on Red Mountain. Today we’re offering wines from two of those vineyards—Ciel du Cheval and Tapteil. The winery has given us a heads-up that it’s already last-call time for these two; there will most likely be no reorder potential for either of these bottles.Though Tapteil is a bit lesser known on Red Mountain than sites like Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun, it is a stunning vineyard that boasts the oldest vines Cadence works with. The high winds on the mountain force the Cabernet berries that grow at Tapteil to build up thicker-than-usual skins, leading to increased tannin structure. As we’ve said before, with many winemakers, this might be a scary prospect. However, with Ben at the helm, you can pretty much guarantee a beautifully handled wine with toothsome grip, awesome minerality, and deep blue and black fruit. The 2014 Tapteil doesn’t disappoint. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Franc with a listed alcohol of 14.4%, this wine opens with oompfh. Dark fruit, leafy greens, crushed stone, black licorice, and cocoa powder. This is a nose for all lovers of Cab and Cab Franc. The palate dances around its fruit, landing a touch more savory than fruity, with robust, chewy tannins. This is not a shy wine—it is a concentrated, brawny example of Tapteil. After a few years (and up to decades) in the cellar, or a few hours in the decanter, this bottle will be as perfect a steak pairing as you’ll find in Washington. Vinous: Copyrighted material withheld.