Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 15,000-case production 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is about as good a value in Cabernet as you're likely to find. Coming from sites spread throughout the Columbia Valley and aged in barrel, it offers terrific notes of currants, black raspberry, wild herbs, graphite and toast to go with a medium to full-bodied, ripe, concentrated and balanced style on the palate. While it's hard to resist now, it's no simple fruit bomb and has the depth and class to evolve nicely for at least 4-5 years, and most likely longer.
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.