New Release: 2013 Lauren Ashton Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on Oct 3, 2016


One of the early interviews we did at AdVINEtures was with Kit Singh, winemaker and proprietor of Lauren Ashton wines in Washington State. We were immediately captivated by his wine and have been following the winery ever since. His style is everything we look for in a great wine: powerful yet balanced, complex and age able, yet always drinking beautifully upon release.

That balance of power and finesse is difficult to achieve on a consistent basis but somehow Kit manages to do it routinely across the board whether it’s his Roussane or one of his various Cuvées. Our reviews of his wine have never ranked lower than “Excellent” and his 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is no different. In the same vein as the 2012, the 2013 is big and bold with enough tannin to tell you it has time to evolve but not so overpowering that you can’t enjoy it now. We thoroughly enjoyed this wine as it evolved in the glass but also see fantastic potential if you were able to be patient enough to let it sit in your cellar for a few years.

2013 Lauren Ashton Cabernet SauvignonTasting Note

Very dark purple in colour, almost black. The nose is full of ripe black cherry and black currants. The currants follow on to the palate where they are joined by blackberry, earth and baking spices. Already complex this wine will only develop more nuance as time in the bottle allows things to integrate more. There is a great mouthfeel that shows definite power but it is aligned with a sense of proportion that creates great balance. Tannins are definitely present but they are not at all raspy. The structure is bolstered by a good acidity which helps the finish linger for at least half a minute. At this early stage the wine is dominated by the ripe black fruits but the secondary notes are able to poke through and indicate the potential for future development. Bold, powerful and youthful, this deserves an hour’s decant to help elevate those secondary notes. We would guess this wine will still be on the upswing over the next 5 to 8 years and has the potential to remain strong for another decade after that. Have one now and enjoy its beautiful fruit but hide a few more in the back of your cellar as this is serious Cab that will definitely reward patience.

Excellent (USD$50 at their tasting room)

2 Comments

  1. attylantz@yahoo.com'

    Wonderful review. Just took a case to Indiana to share with friends and wine collectors. They all had the same reaction to the 2013 Cab Sauvignon. I also took the 2012 Arlette (Kit’ Right Bank style Bordeaux) and the 2012 Proprietor (Kit’s Left Bank style Bordeaux) both of which received rave reviews. Hope you can come and try the Bordeaux blends also. Jeff lantz

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    • We have tried all Lauren Ashton wines and have never even been slightly disappointed. The Arlette & Proprietor are particular favourites–can’t wait until all of Kit’s wines are available in Canada! Cheers Jeff!

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