Winemaker Notes
The focus of this particular vintage of Pursued By Bear is on Cabernet. Sourcing from exceptional vineyards located in Yakima, Red Mountain and Walla Walla Valley, each bring unique aromas and flavors creating a layered complexity in the finished wine. Flavors of black cherry and currant, lavender and blueberry are
supported by the elegant structure of Taransaud barrels. A powerful wine with firm, textured tannins and a long, refined finish that brings to the forefront the full potential of Cabernet from Washington state.
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Precise and firm at this point in its development, but with a bright future ahead, showing expressive blackberry, savory spice and espresso flavors that build complexity toward broad-shouldered tannins. Best from 2020 through 2026.
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Wine Enthusiast
The aromas offer notes of vanilla, cherry, coconut, cinnamon and baking spice. Fruit and barrel flavors intertwine on the palate, which displays a lovely sense of texture. Vanilla, coconut and cherry notes linger on the long finish. The barrel influence is quite prominent, but it shows a lovely sense of nuance.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Aged 32 months in new barrels, the 2014 Pursued by Bear Cabernet Sauvignon has a lot of oak in its buttered popcorn, vanilla, and caramelized red and black fruit-driven aromatics yet shows a beautiful voluptuousness and seamless texture on the palate that gives me hope for where it is headed. Full-bodied, seductive, and concentrated, yet with its obnoxious oak always beating you on the head, give bottles 2-3 years, at which point it will be clear where this is going.
Rating: 90+
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.