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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2014 and 2016 (based on 132 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 88.5 pts. and median of 89 pts. in 537 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Bluecollar on 1/30/2021 & rated 92 points: Finally reaching it's real potential. Big mouthful of ripe dark fruits, currants, and a bit of anise. Tannins hold it together but are a bit subdued at first, but then propel it to a long, lingering, slightly mouth drying finish.
Will certainly outperform most $50 cabs (1607 views) | | | Tasted by esuelflow on 8/9/2020: Let it sit for an hour, then enjoy. (1628 views) | | | Tasted by Lenora on 12/31/2019: Dark fruits currents earthy with cocoa finish great with dinner or post meal dessert (496 views) | | | Tasted by raparsons83@outlook.com on 4/15/2019 & rated 90 points: Great all around cabernet; well in its window, with at least 2-3 years of life remaining (2533 views) | | | Tasted by TeddyTed on 2/21/2019 & rated 90 points: Cellar tracker suggested this wine needed to be consumed. It's a great bottle that will lay down for at least a couple of years. (2401 views) | | | Tasted by S190ud on 2/11/2019 & rated 92 points: I drank this 2012 vintage every other year since it was released. It's just gotten better, and it was a steal under $20. Washington cabs are finally getting the recognition they deserve. I love the style, aromas, and finish on this vintage. (2181 views) | | | Tasted by Alaskawino on 2/9/2019 & rated 90 points: Still quaffing nicely. On day two the cocoa and sweet cherry drive the palate. (1404 views) | | | Tasted by raparsons83@outlook.com on 9/27/2018 & rated 90 points: This bottle was first rate; well balanced now with enough tannin and acidity to last another couple of years. (1477 views) | | | Tasted by Pour Boy on 9/9/2018: This tasted very cough syrupy to me tonight... still not seeing why WS gave this a 92. (1147 views) | | | Tasted by CranBurgundy on 8/9/2018 & rated 89 points: A little dough on the nose upon pulling the cork, with wonderful dark red and black fruit, very mild tannin, and a hint of spice. After 10 or 15 minutes in the glass, a hint of herbs comes into the mix - just enough to make it a little more enjoyable. Insane QPR! This is bordering on excellent, and I'd give it an 89.9 if decimal points were allowed in the scoring box. I'm glad I was silly enough to stash 6 bottles away for a few years. Chalking this experiment up as a win. (1432 views) | | | Tasted by Angle Gold on 7/15/2018 & rated 90 points: Rich, green pepper, dark fruit (1296 views) | | | Tasted by Alaskawino on 4/11/2018 & rated 90 points: Medium to dark purple with medium rim. Spice and cherry with a hint of cedar and herbaceous notes. Pallet is smooth dark cherry and cassis with the herbaceous notes. Nice long finish to the smooth. One of the best Pizza Wines available at this price. (1622 views) | | | Tasted by dalemosier on 1/24/2018 & rated 89 points: Very pleasant drinking before dinner. nice balance - I think I preferred last year - hard to tell. (1715 views) | | | Tasted by Scamber on 1/6/2018 & rated 90 points: Wonderful value wine that punches above its class. Fig, stewed plum, blackberry, black pepper, and alder make for enticing nose, slightly layered palate, and long finish that doesn’t evolve, just fades. Cocoa tannins add texture but are fully integrated; I don’t expect this to get much better.
Contrasted with another tasting several years ago, this certainly tastes older but no better and not much more interesting. (1632 views) | | | Tasted by Angle Gold on 12/24/2017 & rated 91 points: Delicious, well integrated, mild pepper, good red and black fruit. (1489 views) | | | Tasted by WineMedic on 12/5/2017 & rated 92 points: Absolutely superb after 5 years. Smoother, balanced with mature fruits and earthiness. I wouldnt let it go any further (1791 views) | | | Tasted by Alaskawino on 11/26/2017 & rated 89 points: Medium to dark purple. Black cherry and Nice earthy finish. A classic Washington Hills cab. Still drinking fine. (1436 views) | | | Tasted by redz on 11/16/2017 & rated 87 points: amicable drinker (1402 views) | | | Tasted by Pour Boy on 8/22/2017 & rated 89 points: This has evolved into a soft, fruity Cab. More like a Merlot. (2105 views) | | | Tasted by guzmana on 7/27/2017 & rated 91 points: This is an awesome value for a Cab. Perfect balance with silky tannins and nice length. It is not muscular but rather smooth and sophisticated. (2166 views) | | | Tasted by OscarWineVino on 4/16/2017 & rated 89 points: Very well balanced wine, including fruit (cherry, blackberry) and subtle wood (3095 views) | | | Tasted by Dionysusx on 3/26/2017 & rated 92 points: No need for extended decanting. Tannins have softened; dark raspberry and blueberry notes supported by coffee and chocolate build to a silky finish. After having decanted for an hour the wine is noticeably brighter and milk chocolate flavor is more prominent. Excellent value. (2832 views) | | | Tasted by jeginmt on 3/26/2017 & rated 89 points: Still nice, but the tannins have faded since my last tasting. Plenty of fruit flavor. The structure has softened. (2712 views) | | | Tasted by tomoem on 3/5/2017 & rated 91 points: I was really taken back by how well this wine has improved since 2014. Wonderful balance with lighter flavors of blackberries and some small amount of graphite. Medium length finish of blackberry. I think I paid like $11.00 ..... awesome value. (2504 views) | | | Tasted by tmhouse on 2/25/2017 & rated 89 points: Needs some time. A little hard on the edge but smooths out some with air. Worth $10 or $12 to me. (2542 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Columbia Crest Producer websiteCabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet SauvignonUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Horse Heaven Hills About AVA (Wikipedia) |
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