Columbia Crest 2013 H3 Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $15
Best Buy! The middle tier for one of Washington’s largest wineries routinely represents remarkable value, and this latest vintage of “King Cab” by Juan Muñoz Oca’s red wine team furthers that tradition. It also serves to spotlight the quality of fruit from the Horse Heaven Hills. It opens with pinches of leaf and black pepper in the nose, which readily picks up barrel notes of mocha and caramel with ripe dark plum and dusty black currant. Inside, it’s rich upfront and loaded with cherries, blueberries and dark chocolate. The tannins grow slowly all the way through the finish of mocha and lingering acidity to provide remarkable length. Suggested pairings range from Pasta Bolognese, braised lamb shank, beef pot roast to pungent cheeses.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 198,000 cases
Alcohol: 14.5%
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