For more than 30 years, Peter Dow, founder of Cavatappi Winery, has been a significant driver behind Washington-grown Italian wine grape varieties. His latest accomplishment, the Cavatappi 2014 Sangiovese, landed a #79 spot on Great Northwest Wine’s Top 100 of 2015. At just $12-13 around the Pacific Northwest, the wine not only sings alongside spicy, tomato-sauced dishes, it’s priced to over-deliver in a big way.
Great Northwest Wine founders Andy Perdue and Eric Degerman published this praise:
“Best Buy! Seattle restaurateur Peter Dow continues to champion Italian varieties grown in Washington, a project made possible by vineyard managers such as Mike Sauer at Red Willow Vineyard and Dick Boushey. Here’s one of the more fascinating red wines released this year, an extremely youthful offering that hints at carbonic maceration with its nose of blueberry jam, dusty strawberry, Red Vines licorice, cherry-rhubarb pie and sweet oak. Inside, it’s packed with cherry jam, dark currant and raspberry, backed by toasted oak. Pleasing tartness and managed tannins from Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) give it a bit of a Super Tuscan feel with its medium structure and a long finish. This vintage marked the first full year of Dow’s partnership with Precept Wine, and the marriage seems to be off to a great start. Rating: Outstanding!”
See an expanded list of the regional Top 100 here.