Andrew Will Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Andrew Will Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is a 100% varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington's Columbia Valley, bottled at 13.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Sourced entirely from the legendary Champoux Vineyard—widely regarded as one of the finest Cabernet sites in Washington State—this vintage showcases the precision and restraint that have defined Andrew Will's vineyard-designate program for decades.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: Columbia Valley, Washington  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Vineyard: Champoux  |  Producer: Andrew Will Winery

Production & Heritage

Andrew Will Winery is one of Washington State's most respected producers, with a long track record of single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings from the Columbia Valley's top sites. Champoux Vineyard, in which Andrew Will holds a co-ownership stake alongside Quilceda Creek, Powers, and Woodward Canyon, sits in the Horse Heaven Hills and has supplied fruit to some of the state's most acclaimed wines for generations. For the 2018 vintage, grapes were hand-harvested and destemmed, then fermented with wild yeast in stainless steel tanks. The wine aged for 22 months in French oak, with 25% new barrels, and was bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve the full character of the vineyard.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Red currant leads the way, followed by layered impressions of mulberry and dark plum. Deeper in the glass, subtle notes of tobacco leaf, cedar, and red flowers emerge alongside hints of brown baking spices.

Taste: Medium-bodied on entry, the wine moves with a juicy, youthful energy before compressing on the mid-palate to reveal its complexity. Ripe black cherry skin, dusty black raspberry, and crème de cassis mingle with bright, succulent acidity. Fine-grained tannins provide structure without heaviness, keeping everything taut and precise.

Finish: Clean and defined, with lingering echoes of leafy tobacco, cedar, and earthy dark fruit. The acidity carries through to the close, leaving a fresh, mineral impression that invites another sip.

How to Serve Andrew Will 2018

This Cabernet is best enjoyed at cellar temperature, around 60–65°F. Decanting for 30 to 45 minutes helps open the more reticent aromatics and lets the tannins soften. Given its medium body, bright acid structure, and layered complexity, this is a wine built for the dinner table rather than cocktail mixing. It pairs naturally with grilled or roasted red meats, braised dishes, and aged cheeses where its tannin structure and fruit intensity can shine.

Best For

• Pairing with a prime dry-aged ribeye or rack of lamb
• Gifting a serious Washington State wine collector
• Cellaring for mid-term aging (drink now through 2030)
• Featuring in a comparative tasting of top Columbia Valley Cabernets

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Andrew Will 2018 Cabernet taste like? It is a medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon dominated by ripe dark cherry, mulberry, and plum, balanced by bright acidity, fine-grained tannins, and undercurrents of tobacco, cedar, and earth.

How does Andrew Will 2018 compare to Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon? Both wines source fruit from the acclaimed Champoux Vineyard in Washington's Horse Heaven Hills, and the two wineries are co-owners of the site. Where Quilceda Creek typically produces a richer, more powerfully structured Cabernet, Andrew Will's 2018 leans toward medium body, bright acidity, and a more restrained, terroir-driven expression of the vineyard.

Is Andrew Will 2018 good for cellaring? Yes—its firm tannin backbone, bright acidity, and concentrated fruit suggest it will develop nicely over the next several years, though it is already expressive and enjoyable when decanted today.

Where is Andrew Will Cabernet made? Andrew Will Winery is based in Washington State, and this Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from grapes grown exclusively in Champoux Vineyard, located within the Columbia Valley AVA.

What foods pair well with Andrew Will 2018? Grilled lamb chops work well against the wine's cedar and earthy notes. Braised short ribs complement its dark fruit depth. A charcuterie board with aged Comté or Gruyère picks up on the baking-spice nuances. Mushroom risotto highlights the earthy, savory side of the palate. Herb-crusted beef tenderloin mirrors the wine's tobacco-leaf aromatics.

What sizes does Andrew Will 2018 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Andrew Will 2018 worth the price? Andrew Will positions as a premium Washington Cabernet producer, and the 2018 Champoux Vineyard bottling sits firmly in the upper tier of the state's single-vineyard wines—competitive in quality with offerings that often command significantly higher prices.

Why Andrew Will 2018?

The defining advantage of this wine is its vineyard source. Champoux is arguably the most storied Cabernet site in Washington State, and Andrew Will's status as co-owner ensures direct control over viticulture and fruit selection. The decision to ferment with wild yeast and bottle without fining or filtration preserves a transparent sense of place that many competitors in the region sacrifice for polish. At 13.5% ABV, this is a Cabernet that favors balance and tension over extraction—a profile that stands apart in a market where higher-alcohol, fruit-forward wines dominate. For collectors and enthusiasts tracking Washington's best vineyard-designate Cabernets, the 2018 vintage represents a focused, age-worthy snapshot of Champoux at its most precise.