It is my pleasure to share the extraordinary wines of FIGGINS, founded by Leonetti proprietor Chris Figgins. What began more than a decades ago, FIGGINS has a gorgeous, brand new winery facility outside of Walla Walla up Mill Creek road. They give you world class hospitality at this scenic location. The caves underneath the winery are incredibly expansive and an architectural marvel. Many years in the making, the winery is one of the great spots in the Pacific Northwest to taste, with expansive views of the entire valley. It is one of my favorite spots in Washington to taste and take in the views.
Over the past decade the Estate Red Wine has continued to improve. The wine initially needed a ton of time to be approached. Now their Estate Red Wine can be more utilized in its youth and has emerged as a fleshier, more full-throttle powerhouse. Depending on the vintage, it tends to be primarily Cabernet Sauvignon from this high elevation site set on loess soils. Over the years Figgins has been adding more Petit Verdot into this blend — simply because the PV from this site is otherworldly. It has a chocolate and herbal edge that really adds to the wine.
Unlike last year’s wine, the 2023 FIGGINS Estate Red Wine (OB, 98) can be approached now. It is a stunning wine that has amazing power and underlying tension. Now in its second edition, I was totally blown away with the 2023 ‘Caves’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is once again a perfect wine made by Chris Figgins. Here are my reviews of the new 2026 fall releases by FIGGINS.
2024 TOIL ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Reserve’ by TOIL is a barrel selection wine made by Chris Figgins and his winemaking team. This brilliantly shows off the warm of the vintage. Standing dark in the glass, it immediately gratifies with its aromatics reminiscent of Asian spices, red rose petal and red currants that all dance in the glass. The palate is seamless throughout the drinking experience, with an opulent texture and great salty minerality. Soft and inviting in its heady youth, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 96
2023 FIGGINS Red Wine- The 2023 FIGGINS Red Wine is a dazzling blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot which were all sourced from the Figgins Estate Vineyard, outside the town of Walla Walla. Once on the nose this takes on dried sage and wintergreen aromas that parade with green bell pepper, dark chocolate shavings and shades of blackberry compote. The palate is deep, layered and lush, with its unctuous texture and vibrant tension that flows through the veins of this beauty. Finishing long with loads of stony minerals and intense black fruits, with Turkish coffee accents, enjoy this stunning wine now and over the next twenty plus years. This is definitely on par with the dazzling ’22 edition, displaying slightly less stony minerality and showing up more overt with slightly better flavor density. Unlike the ’22, it can be approached right now. However, be sure to give it several hours in the decanter if savoring now. Drink 2026-2050- 98
2023 FIGGINS ‘Caves’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This is now the second edition of the ‘Caves’ — a Cabernet Sauvignon made from only three barrels which were sourced from the Figgins Estate Vineyard. It stands jet black in the glass. Once on the mouth it has marvelous viscosity, flavor density and underlying verve. It is unctuous on the tongue, also being considerably less initially reticent than the ’22 ‘Caves.’ It has sensational power and stony character, offering cigar ash and Black Forest cake notes that combine with anise, creme de violette and scorched earth. With more air the herbal accents — freshly rolled Cuban cigar — emerges on the palate. This is novel and exquisite but also extremely novel for Washington. If you must open this wine, give it 3-4 hours in the decanter. Try to resist this world-class wine for at least another year. Drink 2027-2054- 100