Columbia Crest
Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Reserve 2005
95 points / $27
5,000 cases made
Washington
Columbia Crest, founded in 1978, is part of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, which accounts for more than half the wine produced in Washington. The winery’s ability to combine quality and value has earned it 14 spots in our Top 100. But it has reached new heights this year.
The Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve has an enviable track record: four out of its seven most recent vintages scored 92 points or higher. With an excellent growing season in 2005, winemaker Ray Einberger, who worked at Château Mouton-Rothschild and Napa’s Opus One, crafted an exceptional wine. He used grapes from six low-yielding vineyards to create a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 5 percent Merlot and 4 percent Cabernet Franc. This wine belongs in the company of the world’s great Cabernets and, with its low price and significant production, earns our 2009 Wine of the Year.
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