Winemaker Notes
The 2020 Pursued by Bear Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep, darkly colored wine offering generous notes of wild blackberry, cocoa powder, and warm vanilla spice. Undertones of black plums and ripe, dark cherries build layered complexity on the palate with the wine’s fine-grained tannins and balanced acidity creating a generous and richly textured mouthfeel that gives way to a long, expressive finish.
From a vintage that will be remembered for producing beautiful wines displaying outstanding aromatics, concentrated flavors and fresh vibrancy, this classic Washington Cab shows an ideal mix of lush, pure New World fruit and Old World structure.
Blend: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Pursued By Bear has a healthy ruby/purple hue to go with attractive aromatics of earthy red and black fruits, leather, and spicy herbs. It’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, has a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and clean, ripe tannins. A beautiful wine in the lineup, it appears to have escaped any of the smoky traces that can mar many of the wines.
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James Suckling
Robust and firmly tannic, this muscular wine offers black cherry and black pepper flavors on a rather tight texture that needs a rich protein dish for pairing.
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Wine Spectator
Tightly focused and loaded with tension, this red offers handsome flavors of blackberry, tobacco and spices that build toward broad-shouldered tannins. Best from 2025 through 2031. 490 cases made.
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.