KYSELA PERE ET FILS, LTD.

"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

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"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

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"The flagship 2015 Sestina checks in as 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in 60% new French oak. Gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, black cherries, graphite, wet river rock, and leafy herbs all emerge from this beautifully balanced, fresh, classic wine that's still tight and backward. It's not a blockbuster but has building richness and tannin, as well as a great finish. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following 10-15."
- Jeb Dunnuck (April 2018), 95+ pts

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"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)

Go To Avennia Sestina Red Blend Columbia Valley

"(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

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"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

Go To Avennia Sestina Red Blend Columbia Valley

"Bright ruby-red. Aromas of plum, dark berries, bitter chocolate, graphite and earth. Compellingly sweet, plush, suave wine with intense dark fruit and spice flavors clarified and enlivened by excellent integrated acidity. Really superb brambly New World fruit leads to a brisk, gripping back end featuring serious but fine-grained mouthcoating tannins and terrific length and lift. I retasted the 2013 bottling next to this beauty and its tannins were less pliant and refined. - Stephen Tanzer"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2016), 93 pts

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"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

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"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

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"More brains than brawn, the focus on this understated Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend is on old vines, with fruit coming mostly from early '70s and '80s Dionysus, Bacchus and Red Willow vineyard plantings. The earth, black cherry, peppercorn, currant and dried herb aromas start out tightly coiled. The flavors have laser-focused purity and a compelling sense of balance, with plenty of subtleties. It's all about nuance."
- Wine Enthusiast (July 2016), 93 pts

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"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

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"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

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"The top Bordeaux blend of the estate, the 2012 Sestina (72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, aged 20 months in 70% new French oak) is a serious, age-worthy effort that will need a decade to hit full maturity. Exhibiting notes of black fruits, smoke tobacco, scorched earth and graphite, it’s full-bodied, structured and concentrated, with a great finish. It opens up nicely in the glass, and will still be kicking on its 20th birthday.
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

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"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

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"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

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"More firm and structured, the 2011 Sestina is one of the few 2011s that will benefit from short-term cellaring. Made from a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc that saw 20 months in 70% new French oak, it offers medium to full-bodied richness, a stacked mid-palate and integrated acidity to go with plenty of currant, blackberry, charcoal and smoked-earth aromas and flavors. Give it another 2-3 years and plan on drinking bottles through 2026. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 213, June 2014), 93+ pts

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"Fine, powdery tannins surround a glowing core of blackberry, currant, licorice and dried sage flavors that pulse enticingly through a long and vivid finish. Elegant and almost approachable now, but give this time. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2016 through 2022. 250 cases made."
- Wine Spectator (August 2014), 93 pts

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"Sestina is the bigger sister to the winery’s Gravura; again Cabernet Sauvignon takes front and center, with Merlot (18%) and Cabernet Franc (9%) filling in the rest. 70% of the French oak used was new, and the wine has more toast, smoke and barrel depth than its companion, though less of the luscious red fruit is showing. Espresso, cacao and other dark, roasted flavors wrap around black cherry cola and milk chocolate; the finish thoroughly delicious."

Wine Enthusiast (June 1st 2013), 93 pts + Cellar Selection

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"More toasty, rich and muscular, the 2010 Sestina has more Cabernet in the blend (73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc) and saw 70% new oak for 20 months. Coming from both Bacchus and Red Willow Vineyards, it offers up a serious bouquet of black raspberries, graphite, grilled toast, chocolate and wild herbs that flows to a full-bodied, concentrated and powerful 2010 that has outstanding purity of fruit and burly back-end structure that will take some time to integrate. Less approachable at present than the Gravura, it needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will have 15+ years or more of total longevity. Drink 2016-2025+.
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

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"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

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