Much better than previous bottles. As before, lots of oak here but also plenty of dark fruit and subtle hint of green. Tannins no longer front and center and acidity is balanced. Great now but I don't think this has any room for improvement.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mini-vertical of the 06 and the 12. Decanted 45 mins. Clear, deep purple with medium garnet meniscus. His viscosity. No sediment in the 2006 but bottle sediment in the 2012. 06 was noticeably more garnet and had a larger meniscus. Cherry, blueberry and blackberry on the nose, with smoke, vanilla and soil. Nose on the 06 definitely showed both more fruit on both the nose and the palate. Palate was both cherry and blueberry, along with vanilla, slate and gravel. Full bodied, balanced with fine medium tannins and a great finish. This is still drinking well - and I believe the 2012 has a long time in front of it. We enjoyed with lamb chops.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Holding up well. Plenty of intensity and structure. Opened up nicely with chocolate, currants, toasty oak, modest tannins and nice finish. Still have 2 bottles left. Not in any rush. Enough structure to age for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purchased after the 2005 version made WS Wine of the year. Been sitting in a controlled environment since then. This wine was one of those that you will remember for the rest of your life. It has aged to perfection. The bouquet upon opening was still as powerful as any wine. The tannins are smooth and well integrated and the wine has come together and is still completely in balance. The finish is perfect and leaves you wanting more. This wine has held up amazingly well. Kudos to Ray Einberger and the team that put this together.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright nose with red fruits dominating when first popped. Dramatic change over an hour with much darker fruits taking prominence, supported by dark baking cocoa, campfire, and vanilla. Medium + nose. Full body. Just a bit of tannin left on the mid palate and finish. All-in-all, very smooth and silky. Some acidity on the long finish leaves my mouth watering for more. Just a hint of charcoal taste at very end. Very enjoyable. Should hold for a few more years. www.vincrush.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Paired this with a market steak. Very nice berry and cigar box nose with good mid depth and a long finish. Everything you'd expect from a Washington cab. Great value. Where did they all go?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Incredible balance. Very nicely done. More earthy and vegetal tones that match the climate - this is not a jammy Napa cab but respectable and very well made.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for about 1 hour. Dark purple color. Lots of bell pepper, licorice, and blackberry aromas. Those same flavors carry over to the palate with the addition of cassis. Wonderful balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity. Long finish. This wine is drinking at its peak right now. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slow ox'd for 3 hrs decanted half the bottle and let air for 30 mins. Soy sauce and red fruits on the nose. Silky tannins. Cassis blackberry and coffee flavours. Elegant finish. Has improved since last tasted 3+ years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was closed down in the nose and the palate. The nose had very limited cassis and leather. The palate is angular and a bit austere with an unbalanced weight of oak in the wine. The fruit is masked by the oak, and finesse and integration with the palate seems to be lacking. The finish falls off sharply with only the oak residue behind. The fruit is in absentia, and this was not an elegant or graceful bottle. Very disappointing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Day 2. Bouquet/Aroma: Smoke, earth, dried dark berry, dark cherry Palate: Medium, more elegant than their other labels. Flavor: Intense red cherry, smoke, roast coffee, finishes with red currant and chocolate. Comment: Still, quite young. Potential 92-3. Day 3. Bouquet/Aroma: Dried black currant, Smoke, Palate: Medium, more elegant than their other labels. Flavor: Intense black currant, smoke, roast coffee, finishes with chocolate and dark berry. Comment: Opened up now and has come together. Very nice. Great balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 30 minutes. This was a nice cab. Mixture of red and black fruits with some nice chocolate/mocha. Not terribly complex but drank very nicely, and paired beautifully with grilled sirloin. Just a great pairing with a juicy steak. Sadly my last bottle, but makes me think I should buy some of the 07 and/or 08
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well structured with blend of dark cherry, rich chocolate and oak. Medium bodied. Soft, elegant and smooth tannins. A bit more fruit forward than expected.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
pop 'n pour 3rd bottle of the night. soft, garnet/purple hue in the glass. feminine and inviting nose of plums, black cherries, baker's chocolate, and mocha. tasty and graceful (rather than powerful) black and red fruits in the mouth, with a finish that was eminently enjoyable with no real surprises. this is drinking beautifully; no reason to hold any longer. very well balanced and a great qpr. if scoring, 89-91.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and poured for another night of wrapping. My gosh that's A LOT OF WRAPPING. I was surprised at how this wine has changed. It has become much lighter than my previous bottle, more Pinot than Cab. The nose is outstanding of black cherry, plum, herbs. Well balanced dark fruits, vanilla, with good secondary notes. Good finish. Overall strong wine though I do not see any upside here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very good wine but I think Ray has tossed in a bit too much oak. Elegant berry/cherry nose along with lots of oak. Oak dominated body with cassis and cranberry fruit and a hint of olive. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 1hr and served with steak. Solid performing Washington Cab. Medium bodied and elegant with silky smooth tannins and nice fruit... should drink well over 3-5 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP and continues to smooth out nicely. Still plenty of oak, but much more integrated than it was 6-12 months ago. Medium bodied with a delicious mouthfeel. Cocoa, cherries, and just a hint of terroir...should continue to develop nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 2 hours. Dark and aromatic, with earthy and ripe notes. Light yet 14.2% alc, very nice accompaniment with steak and potato meal. Savor this one. Disagree about comment on the oak, not too evident.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow..what a difference from last summer....this has mellowed out so nicely...a great lush feeling in the mouth, so soft on the finish, yet full of flavor...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Visual: Limpio - Medio Transpartente - Rojo Rubi con notas Granate - Consistente Olfativo: Medio Intenso - Medio Complejo - Fino - Blackberry, Black Cherry, Especias, Pimienta Negra, Chocolate Gusto - Olfativo: Seco - Medio Alcoholico - Suave / Fresco - Medio Tanico (Suaves y Agradables) - Poco Mineral / De Cuerpo / Equilibrado / Medio Intenso - Persistente - Fino/ Listo / Medio Armónico AIS 82
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Way too much oak initially, but this mostly integrated after an hour. Day 2 was much better with velvety tannins and a smooth mocha finish. Decent QPR - I'll try again in a year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It was one of those nights where I had no idea what we wanted to drink so I was down in the cellar and would pull out a bottle, then put it back until I ended up with this one. It was a really good choice. This was drinking very well with ripe cab flavors with some mocha and just the right amount of oak to give it some backbone. My wife really enjoyed this bottle as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A deep ruby color with a medium clarity. A nose of black currant, blackberry, sandalwood, and hints of black pepper. Silky red currant and cherry notes lead into deeper notes of espresso, tea, and cedar as it moves mid-palate. Nicely layered flavors transition into lingering wood tannins of dusty spice on the finish. This has the pretty silky fruit and depth that I like in Washington cabs. I'm not sure that the tannins or acid is sturdy enough to keep this stitched together as it matures, but I like it a lot for a nice red to drink with dinner over the short term. Did not decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We drank the '02, '05 and '06 tonight. All 3 wines were great, but the '05 clearly stood out with more depth and richness than the other two. The '02 while drinking well has held up surprisingly well. If I had another bottle, I'd wait another 4 years to drink it as I think it would mature up nicely. The '06 was very similar in style to the '02, but at a very young stage right now. The '05 was amazing. It's a very well made wine which can be drank young, but will realy reward the patient ones.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was not very good right out of the bottle. So I vaccuume sealed it and let it sit for two days. Very hot and disjointed, lots of alcohol that didn't dissipate. Pretty good fruit with firm tannins. I will wait a year to open another.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
pop and pour, consumed over two days. translucent ruby. day one offered soft mocha and cherries. the palate showed the same with a dash of cocoa powder. easy-going, 15-second finish that was enjoyable without being too heady. day 2 this had pretty much fallen apart, but was still drinkable over a game of cards with family and friends. all in all, enjoyable, but could stand to be less expensive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened one bottle and drank it that night w/o decanting. Not at all impressed. Even at $21 it was nothing but an inoffensive cab. Nose was all over the place, but dark purple blue color hinted at massive extraction and the potential for...something. Eventually opened a second bottle and decanted well in advance of drinking - 4 hours or so. Drank half, poured the rest back in the bottle. Drank it the second day. Wow. Okay, THIS is what WS was talking about. Going back to buy more tomorrow. Impressive, very impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
this is a future/potential rating....as this is a bit shut down. When you first open it...floral, violet nose. delicate flowers with a bit of vibriant kiwi and blueberry fruits....very Quilceda like. Then it shuts down a bit and gets a bit candied. Takes hours to show anything. reminds me of young QC.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light garnet color. After a few minutes there was an off note, almost like decaying meat along with prune and candied dark fruit with a fair amount of wood. Light to medium body, tannins pretty well integrated a truly spicy black pepper taste. 30 second finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
good. grab for $27 at Wine Theives after reading the WS 100 best wines of the year. They had the 2006 and I grabbed it for fun. Probably the only Washington Cab we have had. Young. Decanted and had over an hour or so as we made home made pizza with kids. Not an over powering aroma. But opended up over time to reveal black fruit and some smoky/meaty smells. Tasted smooth and drinkable. Medium long finish. Solid if not overwhelming.
c-3 a - 12 f - 16 0 - 7
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bit tight at first opening. Decanted for an hour or so and really opened up. Hints of pepper and spice on nose. Dark purple in color. Ready to drink now with decanting but could use some time. Not quite as good as 05
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cassis and sage aroma with tocuh of cedar, vanilla and smoke. Tight with cassis cranberry flavours smoke and vanilla. A little light but still has great flavour. Well balanced. A little youg. Great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted this up against the 2005 which is unfair but shows just how great the 05 is...this is a solid WA cab and I'm looking forward to it aging a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby. Quite intense, pleasant nose dominated by black fruits. Medium-bodied on the palate, with low acidity and medium sweet tannins. Assorted black fruits and spices provide the bulk of the flavors. The texture is just a bit thin but the finish is medium-length and quite smooth. This is a hard wine not to like...a definite crowd-pleaser, albeit a bit one-dimensional. Drink now-12/14.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very good. Typical Columbia Crest Reserve flavor profile with flavors of coffee dusted chocolate cherries, vanilla, and cream. A nice, fairly interesting wine with consistently high quality and low prices. Not exactly wine of the year material, though...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very good. Typical Columbia Crest Reserve flavor profile with flavors of coffee dusted chocolate cherries, vanilla, and cream. A nice, fairly interesting wine with consistently high quality and low prices. Not exactly wine of the year material, though...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Already at least two sheets by the time I popped this, so no score given. Remember it being light weight in the glass and on the palate, with chocolate and watery red fruit. Everything else is too hazy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good, but not great. 05 was number one wine of the year. this was not as well developed as expected. Simple but good with cocoa and vanilla notes. Lots of fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Creamy chocolate and dark fruits with sweet tannin. Medium to full body. Slightly hollow mid palate followed by a short finish. Somewhat disappointing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
After a 30 minute decant this was surprisingly approachable. Nice nose of dark cherry, vanilla oak and a little mint. Medium bodied and smooth in the mouth with good dark fruit flavor and notes of chocolate and oak leading to a moderate finish with soft tannins. This appears to be a fruit forward wine which can be enjoyed now. Don't think this is one for the long haul. Not in the same class as some of the past vintages of the CC Reserve but really quite good and worth the $25 price tag.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/18/2023 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is still holding on strong. Loads of oak, loads of dark bright fruit, loads of enjoyment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2021 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much better than previous bottles. As before, lots of oak here but also plenty of dark fruit and subtle hint of green. Tannins no longer front and center and acidity is balanced. Great now but I don't think this has any room for improvement.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2020 - caroleandjay Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mini-vertical of the 06 and the 12. Decanted 45 mins.
Clear, deep purple with medium garnet meniscus. His viscosity. No sediment in the 2006 but bottle sediment in the 2012.
06 was noticeably more garnet and had a larger meniscus.
Cherry, blueberry and blackberry on the nose, with smoke, vanilla and soil. Nose on the 06 definitely showed both more fruit on both the nose and the palate.
Palate was both cherry and blueberry, along with vanilla, slate and gravel.
Full bodied, balanced with fine medium tannins and a great finish. This is still drinking well - and I believe the 2012 has a long time in front of it. We enjoyed with lamb chops.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2020 - Castle Peak wrote: 92 Points
Holding up well. Plenty of intensity and structure. Opened up nicely with chocolate, currants, toasty oak, modest tannins and nice finish. Still have 2 bottles left. Not in any rush. Enough structure to age for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2018 - ibglowin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Purchased after the 2005 version made WS Wine of the year. Been sitting in a controlled environment since then. This wine was one of those that you will remember for the rest of your life. It has aged to perfection. The bouquet upon opening was still as powerful as any wine. The tannins are smooth and well integrated and the wine has come together and is still completely in balance. The finish is perfect and leaves you wanting more. This wine has held up amazingly well. Kudos to Ray Einberger and the team that put this together.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2018 - golfhawk Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Another year and still not much here. I may have needed to drink it younger.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2017 - JSolo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still holding up well, but needs to be consumed soon. Very soft on the tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2017 - VinCrush Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright nose with red fruits dominating when first popped. Dramatic change over an hour with much darker fruits taking prominence, supported by dark baking cocoa, campfire, and vanilla. Medium + nose. Full body. Just a bit of tannin left on the mid palate and finish. All-in-all, very smooth and silky. Some acidity on the long finish leaves my mouth watering for more. Just a hint of charcoal taste at very end. Very enjoyable. Should hold for a few more years. www.vincrush.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2017 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Like a previous bottle on 11/20/11, this wine is packing lots of oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2017 - Castle Peak wrote: 94 Points
Amazing balance, structure and purity of flavors. A beautiful wine. Ours has been resting at 58 degrees since it was bottled.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2017 - golfhawk Likes this wine: 87 Points
A nice wine but not anything memorable
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2016 - juiced Likes this wine: 92 Points
Paired this with a market steak. Very nice berry and cigar box nose with good mid depth and a long finish. Everything you'd expect from a Washington cab. Great value. Where did they all go?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2015 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Incredible balance. Very nicely done. More earthy and vegetal tones that match the climate - this is not a jammy Napa cab but respectable and very well made.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2015 - brooklynJ&O wrote: 94 Points
fantastic. great balance. short decant (20 mins)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2014 - JSolo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good. May be at its prime now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2014 - gjv115 Likes this wine:
Pnp. It was good, but we probably drank it too fast. It was still improving when we finished it off.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2014 - Halfeel wrote: 93 Points
Really exceptionally good - Drinking in its prime right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2014 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 91 Points
Much improved from my tasting a couple of years ago. Nice balance, integration and proportion. This wine has benefited from a little time on its side.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2013 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for about 1 hour. Dark purple color. Lots of bell pepper, licorice, and blackberry aromas. Those same flavors carry over to the palate with the addition of cassis. Wonderful balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity. Long finish. This wine is drinking at its peak right now. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2013 - twain wrote: 92 Points
Very nicely integrated tannins, acidity and savory fruit. Drink now or hold a year or two longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2013 - df1962 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Slow ox'd for 3 hrs decanted half the bottle and let air for 30 mins. Soy sauce and red fruits on the nose. Silky tannins. Cassis blackberry and coffee flavours. Elegant finish. Has improved since last tasted 3+ years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2013 - COWineLover wrote: 85 Points
This bottle was closed down in the nose and the palate. The nose had very limited cassis and leather. The palate is angular and a bit austere with an unbalanced weight of oak in the wine. The fruit is masked by the oak, and finesse and integration with the palate seems to be lacking. The finish falls off sharply with only the oak residue behind. The fruit is in absentia, and this was not an elegant or graceful bottle. Very disappointing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2012 - folsomarndt wrote: 91 Points
Elegant with silky smooth tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2012 - khmark7 wrote: 89 Points
A pleasant expression of balanced and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. A really nice wine for the price, and a nice wine without being overripe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2012 - wombat wrote: 91 Points
Day 2.
Bouquet/Aroma: Smoke, earth, dried dark berry, dark cherry
Palate: Medium, more elegant than their other labels.
Flavor: Intense red cherry, smoke, roast coffee, finishes with red currant and chocolate.
Comment: Still, quite young. Potential 92-3.
Day 3.
Bouquet/Aroma: Dried black currant, Smoke,
Palate: Medium, more elegant than their other labels.
Flavor: Intense black currant, smoke, roast coffee, finishes with chocolate and dark berry.
Comment: Opened up now and has come together. Very nice. Great balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2012 - Max Power wrote: 90 Points
Really nice wine. Good qpr and I would buy again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2012 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. This was a nice cab. Mixture of red and black fruits with some nice chocolate/mocha. Not terribly complex but drank very nicely, and paired beautifully with grilled sirloin. Just a great pairing with a juicy steak. Sadly my last bottle, but makes me think I should buy some of the 07 and/or 08
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2012 - suburbanfrog wrote: 93 Points
Nice fruit that balances the the chocolate and oak notes with appropriate tannin structure to create a nice balanced wine. Great QPR for a good cab!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2012 - WinePrincess wrote: 90 Points
Well structured with blend of dark cherry, rich chocolate and oak. Medium bodied. Soft, elegant and smooth tannins. A bit more fruit forward than expected.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2012 - hpardilla wrote: 92 Points
Visual: Limpio - Medio Transparente - Medio Consistente - Rojo Rubí
Olfativo: Medio Intenso - Medio Complejo (+) - Fino - Blackberry, Especies, Notas Etereas, toque madera
Gusto-olfativo: Seco - Medio Alcoholico - Suave / Fresco - Tanico - Poco Mineral/ De Cuerpo / Equilibrado / Medio Intenso - Medio Persistente- Fino-Listo-Medio Armónico
AIS: 81
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2012 - caeleric Likes this wine:
pop 'n pour 3rd bottle of the night. soft, garnet/purple hue in the glass. feminine and inviting nose of plums, black cherries, baker's chocolate, and mocha. tasty and graceful (rather than powerful) black and red fruits in the mouth, with a finish that was eminently enjoyable with no real surprises. this is drinking beautifully; no reason to hold any longer. very well balanced and a great qpr. if scoring, 89-91.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2012 - folsomarndt wrote: 90 Points
Solid performing Washington Cab. Medium bodied and elegant with silky smooth tannins and nice fruit. Held up well on day 2.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote: 91 Points
Chocolate covered cherries with oak...in a surprisingly good way...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2012 - Castle Peak wrote: 92 Points
Well balanced and nice blend of berries, currants, chocolate, dry earth and oak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2012 - pinoteer wrote: 90 Points
No tasting notes. Very good, though, and in its prime drinking window. First of 6 bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2011 - memphishusky wrote: 91 Points
Solid flavor and solid core of fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2011 - Steve in St Cloud wrote:
Really nice. Time to drink up
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2011 - HOS Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted and poured for another night of wrapping. My gosh that's A LOT OF WRAPPING. I was surprised at how this wine has changed. It has become much lighter than my previous bottle, more Pinot than Cab. The nose is outstanding of black cherry, plum, herbs. Well balanced dark fruits, vanilla, with good secondary notes. Good finish. Overall strong wine though I do not see any upside here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2011 - gjv115 wrote: 90 Points
Declicious. Drinking well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2011 - pdadams66 wrote: 89 Points
Smooth, creamy cabernet. Drinking well now but will probably improve over the next two or three years (some slightly angular edges).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2011 - Racer117 wrote: 90 Points
A very good wine but I think Ray has tossed in a bit too much oak. Elegant berry/cherry nose along with lots of oak. Oak dominated body with cassis and cranberry fruit and a hint of olive. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2011 - folsomarndt wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 1hr and served with steak. Solid performing Washington Cab. Medium bodied and elegant with silky smooth tannins and nice fruit... should drink well over 3-5 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2011 - Grayvino wrote: 90 Points
- Garnet color.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2011 - spretzer wrote: 90 Points
rock solid mid priced washington cab
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2011 - Tiderunner22 wrote: 91 Points
Fine example of a medium bodied Washington Cabernet. Hint of cocoa with just enough oak to round out the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2011 - Grayvino wrote: 91 Points
- Brick color.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2011 - Philly NQ King wrote: 91 Points
PnP and continues to smooth out nicely. Still plenty of oak, but much more integrated than it was 6-12 months ago. Medium bodied with a delicious mouthfeel. Cocoa, cherries, and just a hint of terroir...should continue to develop nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2011 - gfavarato wrote: 92 Points
good solid washington cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2011 - The Big Z wrote: 90 Points
Tasted better than when I tried it a year ago. Definitely needed the bottle time. Very rounded, velvety tannins. Violet and rich black fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2011 - winetennis wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Dark and aromatic, with earthy and ripe notes. Light yet 14.2% alc, very nice accompaniment with steak and potato meal. Savor this one. Disagree about comment on the oak, not too evident.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2011 - mikev101 wrote: 93 Points
Wow..what a difference from last summer....this has mellowed out so nicely...a great lush feeling in the mouth, so soft on the finish, yet full of flavor...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2011 - hpardilla wrote: 92 Points
Visual: Limpio - Medio Transpartente - Rojo Rubi con notas Granate - Consistente
Olfativo: Medio Intenso - Medio Complejo - Fino - Blackberry, Black Cherry, Especias, Pimienta Negra, Chocolate
Gusto - Olfativo: Seco - Medio Alcoholico - Suave / Fresco - Medio Tanico (Suaves y Agradables) - Poco Mineral / De Cuerpo / Equilibrado / Medio Intenso - Persistente - Fino/ Listo / Medio Armónico
AIS 82
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2011 - Philly NQ King wrote: 91 Points
Way too much oak initially, but this mostly integrated after an hour. Day 2 was much better with velvety tannins and a smooth mocha finish. Decent QPR - I'll try again in a year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2011 - Arch57 wrote: 91 Points
It was one of those nights where I had no idea what we wanted to drink so I was down in the cellar and would pull out a bottle, then put it back until I ended up with this one. It was a really good choice. This was drinking very well with ripe cab flavors with some mocha and just the right amount of oak to give it some backbone. My wife really enjoyed this bottle as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2011 - HOS wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for 1/2 hour. Chocolate covered cherry. Medium bodied. Nice finish. Not quite outstanding. Good QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2011 - bonedoc wrote: 90 Points
A bit heavy on the oak
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2010 - frielander wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding, especially for the price. Smooth on the palate, with nice complexity
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2010 - MattMauldin wrote: 90 Points
A deep ruby color with a medium clarity. A nose of black currant, blackberry, sandalwood, and hints of black pepper. Silky red currant and cherry notes lead into deeper notes of espresso, tea, and cedar as it moves mid-palate. Nicely layered flavors transition into lingering wood tannins of dusty spice on the finish. This has the pretty silky fruit and depth that I like in Washington cabs. I'm not sure that the tannins or acid is sturdy enough to keep this stitched together as it matures, but I like it a lot for a nice red to drink with dinner over the short term. Did not decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2010 - louisl wrote: 92 Points
We drank the '02, '05 and '06 tonight. All 3 wines were great, but the '05 clearly stood out with more depth and richness than the other two. The '02 while drinking well has held up surprisingly well. If I had another bottle, I'd wait another 4 years to drink it as I think it would mature up nicely. The '06 was very similar in style to the '02, but at a very young stage right now. The '05 was amazing. It's a very well made wine which can be drank young, but will realy reward the patient ones.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2010 - team-blackburn wrote: 85 Points
This was not very good right out of the bottle. So I vaccuume sealed it and let it sit for two days. Very hot and disjointed, lots of alcohol that didn't dissipate. Pretty good fruit with firm tannins. I will wait a year to open another.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2010 - caeleric wrote: 90 Points
pop and pour, consumed over two days. translucent ruby. day one offered soft mocha and cherries. the palate showed the same with a dash of cocoa powder. easy-going, 15-second finish that was enjoyable without being too heady. day 2 this had pretty much fallen apart, but was still drinkable over a game of cards with family and friends. all in all, enjoyable, but could stand to be less expensive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2010 - mikev101 wrote: 88 Points
very good, not great...decanted for 3 hours....can find much better Cabs for less $$
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2010 - wbaccus wrote: 90 Points
Slightly floral bouqet, with some light oak, a nicely balanced cabernet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2010 - ews3 wrote: 88 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tour 2010 (Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, Washington DC): plum, coconut nose, light body, med(-) finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2010 - CTSV157 wrote: 87 Points
Dark purple ,light oak nose , flavors are tightly packaged with dark fruits , vanilla and cocoa. Needs time to develop
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2010 - novicedave wrote: 88 Points
This is good, but slightly disjointed. Lots of black fruit. Needs more time in the bottle. Will try again in another year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2010 - j3w wrote:
Opened one bottle and drank it that night w/o decanting. Not at all impressed. Even at $21 it was nothing but an inoffensive cab. Nose was all over the place, but dark purple blue color hinted at massive extraction and the potential for...something. Eventually opened a second bottle and decanted well in advance of drinking - 4 hours or so. Drank half, poured the rest back in the bottle. Drank it the second day. Wow. Okay, THIS is what WS was talking about. Going back to buy more tomorrow. Impressive, very impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2010 - DesMarteau wrote: 93 Points
this is a future/potential rating....as this is a bit shut down. When you first open it...floral, violet nose. delicate flowers with a bit of vibriant kiwi and blueberry fruits....very Quilceda like. Then it shuts down a bit and gets a bit candied. Takes hours to show anything. reminds me of young QC.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2010 - subir wrote: 84 Points
Light garnet color. After a few minutes there was an off note, almost like decaying meat along with prune and candied dark fruit with a fair amount of wood. Light to medium body, tannins pretty well integrated a truly spicy black pepper taste. 30 second finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2010 - schnittle wrote: 88 Points
good. grab for $27 at Wine Theives after reading the WS 100 best wines of the year. They had the 2006 and I grabbed it for fun. Probably the only Washington Cab we have had. Young. Decanted and had over an hour or so as we made home made pizza with kids. Not an over powering aroma. But opended up over time to reveal black fruit and some smoky/meaty smells. Tasted smooth and drinkable. Medium long finish. Solid if not overwhelming.
c-3
a - 12
f - 16
0 - 7
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2009 - jawegs wrote: 93 Points
Silky smooth. One of the best I have consumed. Can't even imagine how good the 05 must be.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2009 - JAT wrote: 90 Points
Lots of vanilla with some dark chocolate and dark fruit. Good wine, but more oak than fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2009 - Wbradford wrote: 90 Points
A bit tight at first opening. Decanted for an hour or so and really opened up. Hints of pepper and spice on nose. Dark purple in color. Ready to drink now with decanting but could use some time. Not quite as good as 05
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2009 - df1962 wrote: 90 Points
Cassis and sage aroma with tocuh of cedar, vanilla and smoke. Tight with cassis cranberry flavours smoke and vanilla. A little light but still has great flavour. Well balanced. A little youg. Great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2009 - salsipuedes wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with 10/27/2009
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2009 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 90 Points
Tasted this up against the 2005 which is unfair but shows just how great the 05 is...this is a solid WA cab and I'm looking forward to it aging a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2009 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 88 Points
Deep ruby. Quite intense, pleasant nose dominated by black fruits. Medium-bodied on the palate, with low acidity and medium sweet tannins. Assorted black fruits and spices provide the bulk of the flavors. The texture is just a bit thin but the finish is medium-length and quite smooth. This is a hard wine not to like...a definite crowd-pleaser, albeit a bit one-dimensional. Drink now-12/14.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2009 - jeffm_fla wrote: 91 Points
Very good. Typical Columbia Crest Reserve flavor profile with flavors of coffee dusted chocolate cherries, vanilla, and cream. A nice, fairly interesting wine with consistently high quality and low prices. Not exactly wine of the year material, though...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2009 - jeffm_fla wrote: 91 Points
Very good. Typical Columbia Crest Reserve flavor profile with flavors of coffee dusted chocolate cherries, vanilla, and cream. A nice, fairly interesting wine with consistently high quality and low prices. Not exactly wine of the year material, though...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2009 - caeleric wrote:
Already at least two sheets by the time I popped this, so no score given. Remember it being light weight in the glass and on the palate, with chocolate and watery red fruit. Everything else is too hazy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2009 - msilver wrote: 88 Points
Good, but not great. 05 was number one wine of the year. this was not as well developed as expected. Simple but good with cocoa and vanilla notes. Lots of fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2009 - mikev101 wrote: 88 Points
I enjoyed this Washington State Cab, but a little too tannic right now....needs some time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2009 - rho wrote: 86 Points
Creamy chocolate and dark fruits with sweet tannin. Medium to full body. Slightly hollow mid palate followed by a short finish. Somewhat disappointing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2009 - jcbrand wrote: 88 Points
approachable but thin compared to the 2005
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2009 - Yamadori wrote: 88 Points
After a 30 minute decant this was surprisingly approachable. Nice nose of dark cherry, vanilla oak and a little mint. Medium bodied and smooth in the mouth with good dark fruit flavor and notes of chocolate and oak leading to a moderate finish with soft tannins. This appears to be a fruit forward wine which can be enjoyed now. Don't think this is one for the long haul. Not in the same class as some of the past vintages of the CC Reserve but really quite good and worth the $25 price tag.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2009 - Blue Shorts wrote: 88 Points
50+5+10+15+8
Another Columbia Crest Reserve that needs tons of time and air. I'll re-visit this in about two years or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment