Slap a $60 price tag on this and it would still knock out plenty of competitors at that price. We'll say it again: you can't mess with old vines from undoubtedly one of Washington's best vineyards, done in a more classic than massive style, showing off the gorgeous purity and sophistication possible in Washington Cabernet-driven blends. It has a noble stature defined by its wonderfully seamless, velvety texture and by its outstanding balance. You'll enjoy it when you open it now and having spent four days with a bottle, you'll enjoy it at every stage of its evolution if you cellar it. -Marcus
93 points Owen Bargreen (Vinous, Decanter): "The densely packed 2018 Soos Creek Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine is an awesome wine even at the three-year mark. Exotic spices, scorched earth, tobacco, and gobs of dark fruits greet you on the nose. The palate is fresh and polished with good tension and a light dusting of salinity that falls upon the core of dark fruits and espresso bean tones. Gorgeous to enjoy now, this has another fifteen years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035."
2016 vintage notes
A phenomenal achievement in a winemaking career that remains so ridiculously under-the-radar, 2016 is the single most attractive Soos Creek Ciel du Cheval I have tasted, and that spans a lot of vintages! On day one (yesterday) it's so wonderfully luscious and velvety smooth, rolling out a telltale (and delicious!) combo of dark raspberry, black cherry and black currant with a pinch of dark chocolate; it's so good! Day two (today, yup, this morning) the gorgeous fruit purity is all there, plus accents of graphite, Red Mountain soil, and subtle tannins. It has a kingly stature defined by its balance, not by its bigness. We have only 7 cases so maybe I shouldn't gush so much but what the hell, the wine deserves it.
Ciel du Cheval Vineyard is, without question, one of the actual handful of best vineyards in Washington. 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, entirely from coveted 1982 block, plus 5% Merlot. - Marcus