Winemaker Notes
Showcasing a classic Cabernet profile, this expressive wine reveals a rich core of dark fruit – black cherry and black plum – interwoven with mocha, mint, pencil lead, and herbal nuances laced with eucalyptus. Floral accents of violet and lavender add aromatic lift. On the palate, layers of blackberry, cassis, and graphite unfold, supported by fine, powdery tannins and a supple structure that leads to a long, flavorful finish.
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
This pure cabernet sauvignon has aromas of blackcurrants, bay leaves, walnuts and nutmeg. It’s full-bodied, supple and very drinkable, with fine-grained tannins and a creamy texture. Drink or hold.
-
Vinous
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley is savory in the glass, with a brooding mix of crushed blackberries, pencil shavings and ashen stone. It’s silken in feel with polished red and black fruits, all guided by a core of juicy acidity. This 2022 tapers off refined and long, leaving a staining of primary concentration and sweet tannins as hints of licorice fade.
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.