Milt's Cabernet Sauvignon

2023
Milt's Cabernet Sauvignon

Saturated dark garnet with a pale rim, this elegant Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a high-toned nose of graphite, yarrow, dried flowers, and subtle cigar shavings. The palate delivers sour cherry, black currant, vanilla bean paste, and sweet pie filling. Medium-bodied and impeccably balanced, its suave, broad tannins and lively acidity lead into a vibrant finish marked by red plum, warm spices, and a touch of candied ginger. Classic Horse Heaven Hills finesse.

Buy Now $145

Varietal(s)

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Vinification

Fermented for 14 days in 100% oak barrels, followed by 30 days of extended contact with the grape skins. Aged for 23 months in 100% oak barrels.

Alcohol

14.8%

Cases Produced

71

Vintage Notes

The Elegant Side of Cabernet

The 2023 Tenor Milt’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon shows off the more elegant side of Cabernet. Saturated dark garnet in the glass, it opens with graphite, candied sage, dried flowers, and cigar shavings, followed by sour cherry, black currant, and vanilla bean. Medium-bodied, aromatic, and precise, it’s proof that Cabernet doesn’t have to throw its weight around to get your attention.

After four vintages with their fair share of drama, 2023 was a welcome return to normal. Typical timing. Typical yields. Typical harvest dates. Boring? Maybe. We loved every minute of it. A steady growing season and cooler finish gave the fruit plenty of time to develop flavor, tannin, and freshness without being rushed. For us in the cellar, the consistency was a gift—great wine was simply easier to make.

Milt’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was fermented entirely in oak barrels for 14 days, then spent a total of 30 days in contact with the grape skins to build depth, texture, and structure. The wine then spent 23 months aging entirely in oak barrels, bringing polish and dimension while preserving the vineyard’s aromatic character and natural freshness.

The result is a suave, beautifully balanced Cabernet with broad, refined tannins and precise acidity, finishing with red plum, warm spices, and candied ginger. Graceful, expressive, and effortlessly composed.

Just 71 cases were produced. Milt’s is Cabernet with the volume turned down and the finesse turned way up.

Expert Reviews & Scores

Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

96 / 100

“Displaying a concentrated, opaque ruby core that lightens slightly at the edge, the 2023 Tenor Milt's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, prioritizes non-fruit complexity through an aromatic profile steeped in blackberry, dried lavender, cedary herbs, and pulverized wet shale. The architecture of this wine is remarkably sturdy, featuring a midpalate that feels tightly coiled and weighty, reflecting the intensity of its riverside site. This full-bodied frame carries immense power, driving toward a persistent and commanding exit that lingers with structural authority. Such density and depth find their ideal companion in a charred wagyu ribeye served with a marrow-based reduction, where the wine's significant extract cuts through the richness of the beef while the stony finish complements the sear's crust.”

Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com

95 / 100

From a tight-spaced site, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Milts offers a compelling powdery texture and a wealth of red and orange fruit. Full-bodied yet plush, there’s plenty of freshness to complement the elegance and elongated tannins.

Courntey Humiston, jamessuckling.com

95 / 100

A very savory nose of dried violets and crushed rocks. Full-bodied with a dense and compact mid-palate and a long finish.

Trade Materials