Winemaker Notes
Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Syrah, 4% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A spirited red, with generous black cherry, mocha and bay leaf flavors that glide on the supple finish. Drink now through 2027. 3,972 cases made.
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Wine Spectator
A spirited red, with generous black cherry, mocha and bay leaf flavors that glide on the supple finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made with splashes of Syrah and Merlot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon has a juicy nose with dark red fruits, a soft mineral and oaky essence and hints of black cherry skin and plum blossom. Medium to full-bodied, the wine shows a dusty frame with firm tannins that will remain food-friendly for the next few years.
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.