Columbia Winery 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $16
Cab is king in the Columbia Valley, and Sean Hails capitalizes on a second straight hot vintage and merits our top rating for his Cabernet Sauvignon for the second consecutive year. The Canadian and then-associate winemaker Heather Nenow developed a thoughtful and wide-ranging final blend with Mourvèdre (8%), Syrah (7%), Merlot (7%), Cabernet Franc (2%) and Malbec (1%). Black currant, smoked cherry and strawberry taffy aromas include chalkboard dust, pink peppercorns and toast. Opulent flavors of ripe currant, blackberry and bittersweet chocolate combine with nicely managed tannins for a long finish of coffee bean. Through Aug. 31, Columbia Winery will donate $4 per case of wine sold in Oregon and Washington to Seattle Children’s Hospital as part of its fundraising for the Auction of Washington Wines.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 109,000 cases
Alcohol: 13.7%
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