Past vintage review: 90 from Jeb Dunnuck

All Cabernet Sauvignon from the Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Hightower Red Willow Vineyard has a bright, juicy, fruit-forward, medium-bodied style to go with solid cassis and strawberry fruit, some spice, floral nuances, soft tannins, and a charming, front end-loaded style that will drink well for 7-8 years.

Yakima Valley AVA 100%

Red Willow Vineyard 100%

With the first plantings completed in 1971, Red Willow is one of the oldest and most respected vineyards in Washington State. Now multi-generational grape farmers, the Sauer family’s experience has led to a reputation for outstanding fruit quality and dedication to doing it right, which pairs perfectly with Hightower Cellars’ commitment to quality and excellence. 

Red Willow is the western most vineyard within the Yakima Valley AVA, planted at a relatively high elevation of 1,100 to 1,300 feet. The parcel is underlain by Calcareous, volcanic soils with an influence of ancient riverbeds.

Tim & Kelly Hightower

Tim and Kelly Hightower founded Hightower Cellars in 1997 in Woodinville, Washington with a simple philosophy: "Get the best grapes and don't screw them up." With their grape supply primarily coming from Red Mountain, the husband and wife co-winemaking team set out to make high quality wine, beginning with their first vintage: 221 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Today Tim and Kelly aim to make wine that lets the powerful, concentrated fruit from Red Mountain speak for itself, producing wine with great character, that’s naturally beautiful and free from pretense. The result is a collection of well-balanced, nuanced wines that reveal something new and interesting each time you open a bottle. We like to think they’re wines with character through and through – in how they were made, how they taste, and in the connections they inspire.