Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Board Track Racer Cabernet Sauvignon (formerly known as The Chief) checks in at 77% Cabernet Sauvignon with a blend of Merlot, Malbec, and a splash of Petit Verdot. Dark, dense flavors including blackberry and blueberry compote present on the nose and carry onto the palate. Integrated oak characteristics develop mid-palate with cocoa and vanilla, and mingle with cherry and more dark fruits that lead into a lengthy finish.
Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
Over a decade later, Mark Ryan Winery has grown in size, earned acclaim from wine-lovers and critics alike, and garnered respect from the state's elite producers. The goal, however, remains the same. Make delicious wines that represent the vineyard from which they come, making every vintage better than the last.
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.