Best Buy! Argentina fútbol supporter/winemaker Juan Muñoz Oca and his team in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills strike a winning combination by pulling fruit primarily from the steamy Wahluke Slope, co-fermenting with Viognier (5%) for a week, then sending the juice into a barrel program of 35% French oak for 16 months. It makes for a fruity yet complex nose of blackberry jam, … [Read more...] about Columbia Crest 2013 Grand Estates Syrah, Columbia Valley, $12
Search Results for: Grand Estates
Columbia Crest 2012 Grand Estates Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! Syrah continues to make a comeback as a standalone varietal wine, but a growing number of winemakers in Washington state are putting it to great use as a blending component. Winemaker Juan Muñoz Oca and his team at Columbia Crest provide a superb example with this, a blend of Syrah (57%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) that also receives a healthy boost from Viognier … [Read more...] about Columbia Crest 2012 Grand Estates Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $12
Columbia Crest 2013 Grand Estates Merlot, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! As more vines come into production in Washington state, consumers can expect more bargains akin to this remarkable work with Merlot on a grand scale. And while this entry tier doesn’t spend time in Columbia Crest’s “petit chai” production area, the quality of the juice is utterly remarkable, despite the work by Juan Muñoz Oca’s team to more than doubled production of … [Read more...] about Columbia Crest 2013 Grand Estates Merlot, Columbia Valley, $12
Columbia Crest 2013 Grand Estates Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! Juan Muñoz Oca’s team in Washington state's Horse Heaven Hills continues to follow its game plan with this style of Chardonnay, which offers astounding layers - regardless of the price point. Nearly 80 percent of these huge lots spent nine months in a variety of barrels, with weekly hand-stirring of the lees. The nose is quite giving with vanilla, apple blossom and … [Read more...] about Columbia Crest 2013 Grand Estates Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12
Columbia Crest 2013 Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! Cab remains the king of wines and the wine of kings, but you don’t need to pay a king’s ransom for one of Washington state’s easiest drinking - and widely available - examples of Cabernet Sauvignon. Alluring aromas of smoky and dusty oak run alongside black currant, pomegranate, tar, coffee and black pepper. On the pour, there’s remarkable balance with black cherry, … [Read more...] about Columbia Crest 2013 Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $12