The Sestina is an ancient form of poetry from Medieval France. Just as a modern poet can fill this form with new expressions, we use the traditional Bordeaux blend to express Washington. Sestina is our vision for an old vine, complex blend where all of the components complement each other. This wine is designed for the cellar, so the emphasis is on structure, balance, and complexity.
Winemaker's notes: "Beautiful and complex aromas of plum, cherry, blackberry, mocha, fresh savory herbs, with lead pencil and earthy notes lead off this wine. It is bright, deep, and firm on the palate, featuring focused red and black fruits, mountain flowers, vanilla, bitter chocolate and cigar box. This wine should really be singing in 2-3 years, and hit age fifteen in great shape." - Chris Peterson
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| Item Number | Unit | Units/Case | Type | UPC - bottle | SCC - case | SRP/Unit |
| W0EE327014BLL | 750ml | 12 | Glass | 8 58793 00402 2 | 1 08 58793 00402 9 | $55.00 |
Vineyards:
30% Red Willow Cabernet Sauvignon
30% Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
10% Bacchus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
15% Red Willow Merlot
5% Boushey Vineyard Merlot
10% Bacchus Vineyard Cabernet Franc
"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Sestina checks in as 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that will spend 20 months in 60% new French oak. This is the first year this will cuvée be labeled as a Cabernet Sauvignon. Blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, iodine, and hints of olive all give way to a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet elegant wine that's going to age for 20+ years.."
- Jeb Dunnuck (April 2018), 93-95 pts
"The 2015 Sestina is showing very well, offering up a rich, more exuberant bouquet than the 2014 rendition. This emphasizes notes of cassis, black plums, dark chocolate, espresso roast and a subtle framing of new oak. On the palate, it's full-bodied and lavish but controlled, with an ample, more sun-kissed core of fruit and fine-grained structuring tannins. Like the 2014, it's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. While the 2014 and 2015 are quite different in style, it's hard to choose between them qualitatively. While it needs a few years in the cellar, I suspect the 2015 will hit its peak sooner. - William Kelley"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 237, June 29th 2018), 96 pts
- Jeb Dunnuck (April 2018), 95+ pts
"This delicious blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc hails from the Red Willow, Dionysus and Bacchus Vineyards. It's locked-up on first pour, opening to reveal bittersweet chocolate, graphite, raspberry, blackberry and dried herb notes. The palate is soft and smooth yet dense, showing sophistication, structure and impressive length. Best from 2023–2029. - Sean P Sullivan"
- Wine Enthusiast Magazine (August 1st 2018), 93 pts + Top 100 Cellar Selections for 2018 (#93)
"(bottled in June; from a 1997 planting; 60% new oak): Bright medium ruby. Very expressive, perfumed scents of cassis, violet and cocoa powder. At once large-scaled and brisk, showing captivating Cabernet Franc floral lift to its flavors of black fruits, espresso and minerals. A juicy, energetic midweight with serious rising length, this beauty delivers excellent palate coverage without any impression of weightiness. Stands out now for its flashy 2015 fruit but this wine should settle down in bottle and mature gracefully. - Stephen Tanzer"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (October 2017), 93 pts
"The Left Bank-style/Cabernet-dominated wine is the 2014 Sestina, and in 2014 it's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Cassis, licorice, violets, lead pencil shavings and hints of herbs all give way to a layered, full-bodied, multi-dimensional wine that has sweet tannin and a great finish. It's about as voluptuous and sexy a wine as Chris has ever made. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #231, June 2017), 95 pts
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2016), 93 pts
"Coming from older vine plantings at Dionysus, Red Willow, Boushey and Bacchus vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) takes the lead, with the rest Merlot (20%) and Cabernet Franc. Aromas of graphite, savory herb and red and black fruit are followed by refined fruit flavors. It shows a sophisticated sensibility, bringing a sense of texture and vibrancy, along with a lingering finish."
- Wine Enthusiast (August 2017), 91 pts
"Head winemaker, Chris Peterson, has crafted another stunner with this new 'Sestina' bottling. This wine is a blend of 73% Cabernet, 18% Merlot and 9% Cab Franc. The wine opens with gorgeous aromas of black cherry, black olive, blackberry preserves and dark chocolate. There is a real Bordelaise feel to this wine. The wine has flavors of crushed wild flowers, Turkish coffee, black olive, blackberry preserves, graphite, and an exceedingly long finish. There is a wonderful range of flavors and aromatics at play to this exceptional bottling. Try to wait at least another year before consuming. (Best 2017-2030).- OB"
- International Wine Report (October 2016), 94 pts
- Wine Enthusiast (July 2016), 93 pts
"The 2013 Sestina checks in as a mix of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc, and sees native fermentation followed by aging in 70% new French oak. Gorgeously elegant and rounded, with the approachable style of the vintage, it gives up a classic notes of black currants, crushed rocks, leafy herbs and tobacco in a medium to full-bodied, impeccably made style. It will have two decades of longevity."
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #225, June 2016), 93 pts
"Bright medium ruby. Aromas of black cherry, mocha and licorice pastille. Attractive, tactile and sweet, with notes of chocolate and mocha but less fruit concentration than the 2012. Finishes with serious ripe tannins and lovely length. - Stephen Tanzer"
- Vinous (November 2015), 92 pts
Winemaker Chris Peterson calls 2012 an "Iconic vintage," adding that there were no heat spikes and that it's as good as, if not better than, 2007. I'm in complete agreement with him and loved these latest releases. Chris's wines always have firm, savory characters, yet back it up with serious mid-palate depth and concentration. These are all wines I can't wait to taste when they're at full maturity."
- Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 219, June 2015), 95 pts
"More concentrated and structured, the 2012 Sestina is notable. Comprised of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc that will see 20 months in 70% new French oak, this knockout barrel-sample exhibits classic blackberry and currant-styled fruit, graphite, crushed rock and smoke to go with a savory, chewy and full-bodied feel on the palate. Staying fresh and lively, with high tannin, it will benefit from short-term cellaring and have upward of two decades of longevity."
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 213, June 2014), 94-96 pts
"Firm in texture, with expressive layers of toasty, sassafras-infused cherry and coffee flavors, lingering against powdery tannins. Has all the pieces in an elegant package. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2016. -HS"
Wine Spectator's insider (May 20th 2015), 93 pts
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 213, June 2014), 93+ pts
- Wine Spectator (August 2014), 93 pts
Wine Enthusiast (June 1st 2013), 93 pts + Cellar Selection
Founded by Chris Peterson (winemaker and formerly of DeLille Cellars) and Marty Taucher, and releasing their first vintage in 2010, this Woodinville-based operation needs to be on everyone’s radar. The wines are superb across the board and while they have solid fruit, they stress purity and elegance, with vibrant cores of acidity. The 2011 reds are also superb across the board. Slightly less concentrated than the 2010s, they have excellent mid-palate depth, ripe tannin structure and plenty of texture."
- Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 207, June 2013), 93 pts
"Focused, expressive and generous, with cedary blackberry and curry spice flavors that linger on the polished finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2018. 200 cases made. -HS"
Wine Spectator (May 31st 2013), 92 pts
Go To Avennia Sestina Red Blend Columbia Valley
"(all from older vines, including a lot of 1972 Bacchus cabernet sauvignon; 73% cabernet, 18% merlot and 9% cabernet franc; aged in 70% new oak): Good full, dark red. Enticing aromas of redcurrant and sandalwood. Generous, pliant and rich, with sweet black raspberry fruit nicely lifted by strong minerality. The sweetest, roundest and fullest of these 2010s, more opulent than the Gravura and impressively broad on the back end. The tannins are serious but sweet on the very broad finish. This was the best set of new wines I tasted in Washington in July, but given their pedigree this should not come as a surprise."
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Nov/Dec 2012), 91 pts
Go To Avennia Sestina Red Blend Columbia Valley
