Winemaker Notes
Blend: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard has a splendid perfume of toasty oak, Asian spices, incense, cassis, black cherry, and black currant. Already with considerable complexity, this plush, nearly voluptuous Cabernet has layers of spicy, succulent fruit, well-concealed tannin, and a lengthy, pure finish. It will offer prime drinking from 2013 to 2026.
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Wine Spectator
Supple and broad, offering a plush mouthful of mineral-accented plum, currant and peppery spice flavors that linger on the juicy, poised finish. A big wine with refinement.
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.