For more than 25 years Ben Smith (http://owenbargreen.com/benjamin-smith-cadence) together with his wife Gaye McNutt have been making exceptional bottlings from some of the state’s great sites. I have seen the aging potential in Cadence wines, several times tasting wines that are 20 years or more of age. These are some of the most age worthy wines in Washington. Years back Cadence planted an estate vineyard on Red Mountain, the Cara Mia Vineyard, where most of their wines come from.
Cadence has a knack for producing great wines in tough vintages such as 2019 and 2020 vintages. I adored the new 2021 Cadence ‘Bel Canto’ Red Wine (OB, 97) which is amongst the finest that I have tasted from this house. This beautifully balanced wine is a total stunner. Learn more about this great winery at cadencewinery.com and here are my reviews of the the beautiful new wines by Cadence.
2021 Cadence ‘Camerata’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Camerata’ combines 80% Cabernet Sauvignon with equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the Cara Mia Vineyard on Red Mountain. This is wonderfully herbal and soft with garrgiue notes alongside red bell pepper, tar, mocha and allspice notes. Medium to full-bodied with beautiful freshness and great loamy soil accents, enjoy over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 95
2021 Cadence ‘Bel Canto’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Bel Canto’ combines nearly all Cabernet Franc (89%) with 8% Merlot and the remainder Petit Verdot. The noise is delightfully Bordelaise wth Right-bank inspired wet gravel with red bell pepper alongside boysenberry compote and shades of coffee grounds. Everything is in clockwork balance in terms of weight, acidity and finish. For my palate, this is truly one of the great ‘Bel Canto’ wines ever produced. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2024-2044- 97
2023 Cadence ‘Coccinelle Bis Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2023 ‘Coccinelle Bis Vineyard’ Syrah is a limited production (70 cases) bottling that was stored for 11 months in French oak prior to bottling. This wine was sourced from a new site owned by Christophe Baron who stated in a generous move that ‘all the profits must go to charity, mostly to the Walla Walla Food Bank.’ The tension here is world-class as smoldering stone and iodine notes combine with umami, charcuterie and milk chocolate combine with wild blackberry notes. The level of mouth-watering acidity here is stunning. Kudos to Ben Smith and the Cadence team for producing a world-class wine that is absolutely going to dazzle you. No need to cellar this mineral-laden beauty. Drink 2024-2031- 96