Winemaker Notes
The 2020 Truth Be Told Cabernet Sauvignon comes out of the gate roaring. An intoxicating nose of vividly bright fruits, wet stone and hints of tobacco notes all leap from the glass. A well-structured wine with juicy acidity is balanced by tiers of rich ripe berries, plum and licorice. A touch of new oak adds texture while layers of shaved chocolate and ripe tannins meld together to create a long, luxurious finish.
Blend: 88% Cabernet, 7% Merlot, 5% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Juicy and fruit-forward with aromas of red and black currants, strawberries and vanilla. It’s full-bodied, creamy and tasty with medium tannins. Easy and enjoyable.
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.