Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesBlended with 2% Merlot and aged for 22 months in all French oak barrels, half new, the 2017 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe, rich and round, opening with aromas of fresh blackberry, dusty dark plum, cherry skin, elements of dried sage and nuances of vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is open and accessible, with a brilliant frame, balanced structure, lifting acidity and buttressing tannins. A rare find to see this quality at this price. It’s delicious, so give it a try.
Washington produces so many exciting wines, and that definitely includes Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. With over 10,000 acres under vine, Cabernet Sauvignon is now the most widely-grown varietal in the state. Terrific examples hail from sub-appellations like Red Mountain, Wahluke Slope, Horse Heaven Hills and Walla Walla Valley. One of the fascinations of these Columbia Valley Cabs is that they so often seem to have one foot in the New World and one in the Old. Representing the former are characteristics like the ripe, forward fruit that results from long sunny days during the growing season (up to two hours longer than in much of California). Old World similarities include an undeniable brightness from acidity, as well as notes of herbs, graphite and a dusty, sometimes gravelly minerality.
Whether you’re looking for a budget bottle for everyday enjoyment, or a stellar, world-class wine with tremendous aging potential, Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines can deliver the goods! Among the many fine options are bottles from Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle, L’ecole #41, Quilceda Creek and Leonetti.