Mullan Road Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon “Royal Slope” 2019 (Columbia Valley) shows cassis, blackberry, black cherry, plum, graphite, cedar, tobacco and baking spice.
Medium to full-bodied with firm, polished tannins and balanced acidity, it is structured yet plush, reflecting Washington’s ripe but fresh style. The palate is layered with dark fruit, subtle oak integration and a long, savory, mineral-tinged finish.
Professional ratings
- 93–95 pts – James Suckling: notes dense black fruit, structure and finesse
- 92–94 pts – Wine Advocate: praises balance, depth and aging potential
- 92–93 pts – Vinous: highlights richness, polish and clarity
- 92–93 pts – Decanter: commends concentration, freshness and value
Overall, it is rated around 92–95 points, a polished, age-worthy Columbia Valley Cabernet with strong structure and ripe fruit intensity.
Mullan Road Cellars was founded in 2012 by Dennis Cakebread of the renowned Cakebread Cellars winery in Napa Valley. A 40-year veteran of the wine trade, Dennis embarked on a mission to make a world-class Washington State wine embodying the rich history and terroir of the Northwest. Mullan Road Cellars is named for Lieutenant John Mullan, a 19th-century pioneer who built the first wagon road into eastern Washington. Its winemaker is Aryn Morrell, a Washington native who spent years making wine in Napa Valley with prestigious wineries such as Silver Oak Cellars, Joseph Phelps, Quintessa and Chappellet before returning to Washington in 2007. The grapes for Mullan Road Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon come from several outstanding, low-yielding vineyards in the Columbia Valley, including the famed Seven Hills Vineyard, as well as Stillwater Creek Vineyard and the Corfu Crossing Vineyard outside Royal City, in the newly designated Royal Slope appellation.
