Winemaker Notes
The 2004 vintage resulted in wines that have stunning aromas, flavors and texture. Juicy blueberries, blackberries, violets, cocoa, and minerals coat the palate with complex layers adding notes of wood smoke and Asian spice. This wine will mature nicely over the next 7-8 years and continue to age gracefully for at least another 10-20 years thereafter.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Becoming tertiary and slightly funky with dried black fruit aromas, the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon also has dusty plum and elements of dried herbs with sweet oak essences on the nose. The wine also wilted violets and lilac elements with notions of high-toned dark red fruit flavors of black raspberry, wild strawberry, currants and crème de cassis. With a full body and elements of tree bark and forest floor on the palate, this wine shows oddly more appealing than the 2005 at their current states. This 2004 is performing beautifully for its age and is among the highlights of the 20-year vertical. Remaining incredibly stable, I believe the 2004 will last longer than the 2005 bottling. Completely stellar and surprising! Bravo!
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a spectacular effort. Cascading flavors of black cherry, plum and cassis are drenched in caramel, mocha and buttery barrel flavors. Although the wine lists at a hefty 14.9% alcohol, it does not sacrifice elegance, nor does it substitute power for polish. The rush of blueberry, blackberry, black cherry and currant fruit, the layers of smoke and graphite, and the immense barrel flavors just keep on rolling through the palate. It will probably age quite well, but why wait?
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Wine Spectator
Velvety and generous. A supple, insinuating style, with coffee and bittersweet chocolate accents around a beautifully contained core of ripe currant, plum and cherry fruit. Has great presence, balance and harmony. The finish expands impressively against a veil of firm tannins and well-integrated oak flavors. Best from 2010 through 2020.
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.