The Soldier Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 750ml

$29.99

King Estate is Oregon's biodynamic pioneer, known for Willamette Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, but The Soldier is their trip east: fruit pulled from top Columbia Valley sites in Walla Walla and Red Mountain. The 2018 blends 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a splash of Tempranillo. It drinks like a wine twice its price, built for people who want a serious Washington red without the serious markup. Steak night, poker night, doesn't matter. It holds up.

Garnet in the glass, with chocolate, roasted coffee and blackberry on the nose. Round and medium-to-full bodied, red currant and plum on the palate, chewy medium tannins, a warming finish with a light touch of oak.

Classic matches for Cabernet Sauvignon: Ribeye off the grill, lamb chops, aged cheddar, a rainy night and a good movie.

Fruit comes from five vineyard sites across the Columbia Valley AVA, spanning the Walla Walla Valley and Red Mountain sub-AVAs, though the wine is made at King Estate's home base in Eugene, Oregon.