The People
In the late 1970s, Mike and Carolyn Januik owned a wine shop in Ashland, Oregon, that piqued Mike’s interest in winemaking. Sons Donald and Andrew were born shortly after that, and both have early memories of long afternoons in the cellar with their dad.
When the Januiks started their own winery in 1999, the boys were in high school, working summers in the cellar. Fast-forward twenty years. Now, Mike can no longer imagine harvesting without them. And Carolyn, who’s worn every hat at the winery except winemaking, keeps them on course.
The Juice
One of the advantages of having made wine in the Columbia Valley since the mid-1980s is the opportunity it has given the Januiks to work with some of the most dedicated growers in the industry. The wines from the Columbia Valley region are made from a short list of vineyards that owner and winemaker Mike considers among the state’s best. The 2019 Januik Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon comprises 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc and was developed utilizing New French Oak barrels.
The Dirt
The 2019 Januik Cabernet Sauvignon includes grapes from Weinbau, Shaw, Obelisco, and Quintessence vineyards, all located within Columbia Valley, WA. The diversity of these vineyards – representing many of the most mature, carefully managed sites in Washington – provides for a full range of fruit expression that allows Mike to craft complex, multi-layered wines true to Columbia Valley terroir, as well as the varietal character of the grapes.
The Taste
This supple, rich Cabernet Sauvignon is packed with cassis and black cherry flavors and raspberries, chocolate, and vanilla notes in the nose. Its texture is quite refined and shows great structure throughout the mouth, imparting a long, luxurious finish.
