“…a no-brainer.” – Vinous

Can you imagine being lucky enough to stumble upon a wine like Quilceda Creek, one of the great wines of the Pacific Northwest ($275+ per bottle for their Columbia Valley Cabernet), before they caught fire?

Stop imagining.

Enter Piolet. This 96-point Cabernet is simply an unimaginable deal. When we popped this bottle, we found a wine loaded with plum and black fruit, cocoa, and spice complemented by flourishes of graphite and violets – its concentrated, powerful core and supple tannins took us all by surprise at HQ.

We confess, we didn’t know the wine when we opened it, but now we needed to find out more…

It turned out we had stumbled on the next great producer from Washington. Relying only on word-of-mouth, they remain a best kept secret. Until now.

As Vinous put it, “It’s difficult to call Piolet an up-and-comer because the quality of the portfolio gives me the impression that they have already arrived – it’s just that consumers haven’t quite caught on yet.” Jeb Dunnuck has caught on, praising them as, “A relatively new label that readers should jump on… brilliant, ripe, full-throttle beauties that stay flawlessly balanced,” bestowing massive scores on these “new” wines.”

So… who are they? Focusing on only small lots from some of the best vineyards in the area, Piolet is a partnership between Andy Ferguson and Alex Stewart. Friends who enjoy mountaineering (hence the name, an ice climbing tool), they also happen to have vast winemaking experience. Andy previously crafted some of the top wines in the Chateau Ste. Michelle portfolio. And Alex, before Piolet, he spent 17 years working his way up to Head Winemaker at cult classic Quilceda Creek, helping craft too many 100-point wines to count!

Their 2021 Columbia Valley Cabernet is a refined blend of Red Mountain and Horse Heaven Hills fruit from the vintage. Dunnuck hails it as “An undeniably terrific vintage for the region.” A hot summer led to thick skins and more concentration and structure than usual, while the cooler weather during harvest allowed the wine to retain its freshness and vibrancy. What it all led to is that telltale balance between intensity and grace.

Today, at a mind-blowing 60% off, this really is the ultimate no-brainer. The only downside? As Jeb said, “quantities are tiny, so don’t miss out.” Stock up now or regret later!

96 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “A relatively new label that readers should jump on, Piolet is a collaboration between former Quilceda Creek winemaker Alex Stewart (who is now at Matthews) and Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Andy Ferguson. These are brilliant, ripe, full-throttle beauties that stay flawlessly balanced. Quantities are tiny, so don’t miss out. Based on 100% Clone 8 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is ruby/plum-hued and has a terrific bouquet of cassis and ripe redcurrants as well as smoked tobacco, spicy oak, lead pencil, and dried flowers. This beauty is ripe, expansive, full-bodied, and straight-up sexy on the palate, with velvety tannins and a great finish. I’d be thrilled to drink a bottle any time over the coming two decades. Drink 2024-2044.”

94 Points – Vinous “I was very happy to discover Piolet on this trip. Piolet is a passion project collaboration between two long-time friends who both cut their teeth at very respectable wineries in Washington State: Alex Stewart (of Matthews and formerly Quilceda Creek) and Andy Ferguson (formerly of Chateau Ste. Michelle and Quilceda Creek). It’s difficult to call Piolet an up-and-comer because the quality of the portfolio gives me the impression that they have already arrived - it’s just that consumers haven’t quite caught on yet. This duo excels with Cabernet Sauvignon, reminiscent of Stewart’s work at Quilceda Creek. The Piolet Cabernet is not a carbon copy of the Quilceda style, but if you loved the wines Stewart was crafting there, these are a no-brainer. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and intense, with a burst of black raspberries and currants elevated by dusty sage and hints of foreign spice. This possesses a balanced inner sweetness that pleases the senses: silken textures carry tart wild berry fruits across the palate, taking on a slight balsamic tinge toward the close. It tapers off long and staining, with airs of candied violet and blackberry that linger over a bed of fine tannins. In a word, Fantastic. This is a blend of Horse Heaven Hills and Red Mountain fruit refined in 90% new oak. Drink 2027-2040.”