N x NW Cabernet Sauvignon

North by Northwest (NxNW) Cabernet Sauvignon (750ML)

North by Northwest (NxNW) Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold, structured red wine that represents a unique cross-state winemaking philosophy. The brand was established by the King family, the visionary founders of the legendary King Estate Winery in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Known globally as a powerhouse master of cool-climate Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, the King family launched the NxNW project specifically to explore the warmer, sun-drenched terroir of the inland Columbia River Basin.

Because western Oregon is too cold and damp to reliably ripen thick-skinned Bordeaux varietals, NxNW crosses the state line into Washington's Columbia Valley AVA. The fruit is sourced from an elite collection of highly prized, high-altitude desert vineyards, including The Benches and Alder Ridge in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, alongside Seven Hills and Les Collines in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. The wine is primarily composed of roughly 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, rounded out with small blending percentages of Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot to flesh out the mid-palate and deepen the color. The liquid undergoes an extensive 16-month aging program in a combination of French and American oak barrels.

Technical Product Specs

• Size: 750ML Standard Format Glass Bottle

• ABV: ~13.5% to 14.5% (Vintage Dependent)

• Wine Type: Bold, Structured Red Blend (85%+ Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot)

• Appellation: Columbia Valley, Washington State

• Aging Program: 16 Months in French and American Oak Barrels

• Production Techniques: Cold soaking, manual punch-downs, structural pump-overs, and extended maceration

• Critical Pedigree: Regularly secure 89 to 91-point accolades from major publications like Wine Enthusiast and Wine & Spirits.

Tasting Notes: Flavor and Aroma Profile

The intense daytime heat of eastern Washington’s desert slopes thickens the grape skins, driving a deeply extracted, dark-fruited wine with a characteristically dusty old-world finish.

• Aroma (Nose): Bright, expressive, and highly aromatic. The bouquet opens with a dominant wave of ripe black cherries, cassis (black currant), and wild blackberries, beautifully supported by secondary top notes of toasted cocoa powder, eucalyptus, wet leather, and a clear, sweet thread of vanilla and baking spices.

• Palate (Taste): Medium-to-full-bodied, silky, and balanced. The entry coats the tongue with a rich arrival of dark plum, stewed prunes, and dark chocolate. Across the mid-palate, the mountain fruit tannins step forward, unrolling complex, savory layers of tobacco leaf, ground coffee beans, clove, and star anise.

• Finish: Long, structured, and dry. The initial sweet dark fruit notes taper off into a deeply savory close highlighted by fine-grained, dusty tannins, a faint hint of wood smoke, and an earthy line of graphite backed by a refreshing pop of food-friendly acidity.

Service and Decanting Rituals

• Give it a Brief Decant: Because this wine pulls fruit from the wind-swept, intense soils of Walla Walla and the Horse Heaven Hills, it can start off tightly wound or show a heavier oak-to-fruit ratio immediately after uncorking. Pour it into a decanter or a wide-bowled glass for 20 to 30 minutes before sipping. The sudden exposure to oxygen breaks down the tight tannins, coaxing out the hidden chocolate, eucalyptus, and spice notes.

• Target the Cellar Temperature: Avoid serving this wine at warm room temperature, which will cause the alcohol to mask the delicate baking spices and herbal complexities. Aim for a perfect European cellar temperature of 60°F to 65°F (15°C to 18°C).

Food Pairings

NxNW Cabernet’s combination of bold blackberry extract, firm wood oak tannins, and a clean mineral graphite line makes it an exceptional partner for heavily seasoned fats and flame-broiled proteins.

• Flame-Broiled Steaks: An absolute companion to a charcoal-grilled ribeye steak with garlic-herb butter, prime strip loins, or peppercorn-crusted filet mignon. The robust Cabernet tannins dissolve dense beef fats flawlessly.

• Slow-Roasted Comfort Foods: The wine's cocoa and baking spice notes create a natural flavor mirror when served alongside slow-braised beef short ribs, smoked brisket, or roasted lamb chops infused with rosemary and thyme.

• Savory & Earthy Platters: Pair a glass next to a charcuterie board showcasing aged sharp Cheddar, smoked Gouda, or earthy Gruyère, dark kalamata olives, and roasted walnuts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is North by Northwest Cabernet Sauvignon sweet or dry?

This is a completely bone-dry red table wine containing zero residual sugar. However, because the Columbia Valley grapes achieve great sugar and fruit concentration under the uninhibited desert sun, the wine delivers a very plush, juicy, and sweet fruit sensation on the tip of your tongue before drying down into an oak and mineral finish.

What do the other Bordeaux grapes bring to the blend?

Winemakers use small blending percentages of Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot to round out the natural angularity of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape:

• Merlot (~10%): Standardly acts as a plush cushion, softening the entry and plumping up the mid-palate with rich plum textures.

• Malbec (~4%): Injects a bright pop of dark wild berry fruit and balances the acidity.

• Petit Verdot (~1%): Behave like an intense seasoning agent, adding an inky dark color, floral violet notes, and firming up the final tannin structure.

How long can I keep an unopened bottle?

While this Cabernet possesses the natural fruit concentration, balanced acidity, and wood oak tannins required to safely evolve in a cool cellar for 5 to 7 years past its vintage date, it is intentionally crafted by the winemaking team with accessibility in mind. Thanks to its smooth, integrated tannin matrix, it is completely open and ready to be enjoyed tonight. (Note: Older vintages will naturally develop a significant amount of fine sediment at the bottom of the bottle; decanting through a fine mesh strainer is highly recommended for bottles aged past 5 years).