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August/September
2008
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Wine Review Archive -
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends
($40). Noticeably riper and lusher than
the 2004. The '05 vintage was cooler,
but here the winery blended in touches
of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Syrah, and
the results are appealing. Smooth black
cherry and berry fruit is accented with
dark chocolate, warm spices and sweet,
smoky tobacco notes that linger on the
finish. Ready to drink now and over
the next three or four years. (Weekend
Wine 08/08) Locate
this wine online or in your area.
($40). Pencil lead and mineral notes may
be a little overbearing here, with the
blackberry fruit struggling to get in
front. Some dried mint and anise accents
emerge on the dusty finish. Needs food.
Ready to drink now and over the next two
or three years. (Weekend Wine 08/08) Locate
this wine online or in your area.
($20). Meaty red cherry
and blackberry fruit, with tar, mint and
cedary oak accents that persist on the
finish. Needs food - great with grilled
steak! Ready to drink now and over the
next five or six years. (Robyn's Picks
12/05)
($17). Easy to fall
for, with ripe, smooth black cherry
and berry flavors laced with subtle
tobacco and cedar notes. Ready to drink
now and over the next two or three years.
(Weekend Wine 08/06)
($33). Intensely flavored and structured,
with deep black currant, blackberry,
espresso, licorice and spicy, vanillin
oak all supported by tightly integrated
tannins. Awfully good now (with a little
decanting!) and over the next 6-8 years.
(Weekend Wine, 10/04)
($14). The 1998 vintage of this perennial
favorite has just been released. Expect
it to be every bit as flavorful as the
1997 – with shades of sweet oak
and spice accenting the ripe berry fruit.
Drink now and over the next three or
four years. (Wine Tasting Party, 02/01)
($20). I found
this Cabernet somewhat different in
texture and richness than typical "big"
California cabs. It sits almost velvet-like
on your palate. Very polished. Its intensity
is somewhat subdued, but clearly full
of flavor. The tannins are noticeable
but do not overpower the solid cherry
and plum flavors. I found the finish
to be on the short side, but smooth.
A little more cellar time may enhance
the overall experience, but this wine
is certainly drinkable now -- very enjoyable
and controlled. Those who like their
reds a little reserved, may find that
this beauty from Washington State hits
the spot. (Splurge Wine, 06/00)
($16). This was unquestionably one of
the winery’s best wines released
late last year. A wonderful smoky note
accents the concentrated berry and black
cherry fruit, with layers of toasty
oak and herbs. Just now beginning to
hit its stride. Drink now and over the
next six years. (Wine Tasting Party,
02/01)
($20). I was pleased with
the firm berry and plum flavors, although
this was not really a heavy, dark berry
wine. It has a medium finish with similar
flavors. As smooth as it was, another
year or two in the cellar may enhance
the overall presentation. (Weekend Wine,
09/00)
($21). This easy-drinking Bordeaux blend
offers fragrant, sweet berry and dark
chocolate notes that are repeated on
the medium-bodied palate, along with
coffee bean and fresh herbal accents.
Soft tannins support a lush finish.
Ready to drink now and over the next
2-3 years.
($26). Very nice - deep and fragrant and
lush, with cassis, plum, milk chocolate,
floral and vanilla oak flavors mingling
on a nicely structured frame. Big, lingering
finish. Ready to drink now and over the
next 5-6 years.
($36).
A big Bordeaux blend, with smooth plum
and blackberry flavors and aromas accented
with pretty spices and smoky vanilla.
Long, lush finish. An elegant wine. Ready
to drink now and over the next 3-4 years.
($45). Beautiful stuff here
- worth the splurge pricetag! Focused,
rich blackberry and plum flavors and aromas
are laced with sage, cedar, cigar box,
toast and warm spices. Lovely, lingering
finish. Ready to drink now and over the
next five or six years. (Robyn's Picks
12/05)
($30). Medium-bodied
blackberry and meaty plum flavors are
nearly overshadowed by the cedar and
tannins, but not quite. Needs food -
something like a well-marbled steak
would be just the ticket. Ready to drink
now and over the next three or four
years. (Winery Spotlight 12/06)
($16). Intense and concentrated, with
zingy black currant and blackberry flavors
accented with coffee bean and rich spices.
Offers a nice burst of mouthwatering
acidity on the generous finish. Ready
to drink now and over the next two or
three years. (Weekend Wine 08/06)
($17). Spicy black fruit, smoky oak,
tobacco and anise aromas and flavors
are still tightly wound and a bit closed.
Big tannic structure lurking beneath.
Tempting now -- but decant it! -- and
through the next seven or eight years.
(Weekend Wine 01/05)
($30). Spectacularly good, with rich,
smooth red cherry and berry fruit laced
with cedar, wet earth and seemlessly
integrated vanillin oak. Complex, lingering
finish. Delicious now, but should improve
even more as it ages -- say seven or
eight years. (Weekend Wine, 09/04)
($17). Full-bodied, with rich black
cherry and plum fruit layered with tobacco,
roasted herbs and spicy vanilla. Ready
to drink now and over the next two or
three years.
($10). Excellent bang for the buck here!
Full of deep, concentrated dark plum
and black cherry fruit and flavors,
with dill and earth notes. Good tannic
structure. Lingering, lush finish. Very
good now and can even age a few years.
(ETFOFW, 02/02)
($15). The 1998 version
of this wine is every bit as flavorful
and delicious as the 1997. Buy either
one! You’ll find berry and currant
fruit accented with rosemary and a touch
of dark chocolate. Nice body and structure,
yummy finish. Heck of a deal. (Wine
Tasting Party, 02/01)
($37). Seems like this winery's offerings
are always good! With rich, concentrated
blackberry and currant flavors that
are beautifully integrated with aromatic
tobacco, cedar and delicate vanilla.
Complex, long finish. Delicious now
and over the next 10+ years. (Robyn's
Picks 12/05)
($34). Sophisticated layers of black cherry
and berry fruit with accents that include
nutmeg, mocha, and vanilla oak. The velvety
long finish is wonderful. Drink now and
over the next five years. (Wine Tasting
Party, 02/01)
($50). Pretty black cherry
and berry flavors are laced with smoky
oak, black olive and black pepper notes.
Nice length on the finish, with dusty
tannins emerging. Decanting now smoothes
the tannins and opens up the fruit a bit.
Should age nicely for at least five or
six years. (Robyn's Picks 12/05)
($12). Smooth and
supple, with pretty red cherry and plum
flavors mingling with toasty oak, subtle
baking spices and a touch of vanilla.
Lush finish. Ready to drink now and over
the next five or six years. Outstanding
value here! (Weekend Wine 12/05)
($23). Distinct
earth and game aromas and accents to
the firm black currant and plum fruit
make this one unusual - and not for
everyone. Meaty tannins, too. Smoothes
out with a bit of decanting now and
over the next three or four years. (Robyn's
Picks 12/05)
($15). Shows some nice
complexity at this price, with supple
red and blackberry fruit accented with
cedar, dried herbs and briar notes. Best
with food. Ready to drink now. (Robyn's
Picks 12/05)
($18). A new offering from a new Washington
winery, this is sleek, medium-bodied
and concentrated with pretty blackberry,
tobacco leaf and mocha notes that linger
on the focused finish. Ready to drink
now and over the next two or three years.
Nice value, too! Paired nicely with
a rich, marbled ribeye -- naturally...
(Weekend Wine 05/08)
($39). A lovely, elegant Bordeaux blend
(Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec),
offering aromatic wild plum and blackberry
fruit laced with rose petal, exotic spices,
espresso and a touch of bittersweet chocolate.
Long, complex finish. Ready to drink now
and over the next five or six years. (Robyn's
Picks 12/05)
($33). Intense
red fruit is integrated and woven with
fennel, earth, oak, and a touch of custard
on the long, smooth finish. Drink now
and over the next five or six years. (Wine
Tasting Party, 02/01)
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