November 4, 2012 - Plum and cherry. light tobacco. shallow tannins.
December 27, 2010 - Did not like this at all....very vegative taste, like bell peppers......did not improve with time. Next day, only slightly better. Will not buy this again.
December 3, 2009 - Rich flavor like a zin but not to fruity. Very yummy. Safe bet
October 20, 2008 - I usually enjoy wines from Hogue. Not this one... This wine has an overpowering toasted aroma and taste. Very one dementional with an extremely HOT finish. Not a good wine even at this price point.
August 21, 2008 - Plums on the nose. Very soft mouthfeel, tastes like cherry, plums, and dark berries, with a nice surprise of vanilla on the finish. Very pleasant and a good value.
July 31, 2008 - After reading two favorable professional reviews of this wine, I was expecting to discover a great "everyday" Washington Cab. I was a bit disappointed. This wine is all stewed plums on the nose, followed by brisk flavors of blackberries and toast with a firm backbone of acidity. It's not really "juicy" as some have described, but is rather a classic example of the "SSS" syndrome -- simple, shallow, and short. It's fairly pleasant for a fleeting second, but there's no depth, the flavors disappearing on the palate in the blink of an eye. It reminds me of another well-rated value-priced Washington Cab that I had high hopes for -- and which disappointed me for the same reasons -- Snoqualmie's Whistlestop Red. Columbia Crest's Grand Estates line still reigns superior in this price segment.
July 18, 2008 - plum, dark fruit, young tannins with good acidity. I liked this a lot for 8 bucks.
June 29, 2008 - Unimpressed. Not a wine I would buy again.