TN: 2005 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (USA, Washington, Columbia Valley)

mike_pobega · June 20, 2009, 9:00pm

2005 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (6/20/2009)
A dark crimson color with purple tinges edges. The nose is all pure sweet cassis, camphor, and black cherries with a touch of earthiness–very nice indeed. The palate has a beautifully balanced medium mouth feel with a lush under-current. A wonderful, elegant & pure wine which is firing on all cylinders right now. Great red-cassis, sweet black cherries, with some crème de kirsch notes. This is really a very complete wine at this stage (depending on your idea of complete ). The tannins are still young and toothy and the acidity hovers in the background. A super long finish that goes for 2 minutes. I have always been a fan of this bottling. Should drink swimingly for the next 5-8 years, but oh so yummy now. (93 pts.)

Jason_Hagen · June 20, 2009, 9:07pm

Thanks for the note. I haven’t bought this wine recently but it does seem to bring a lot of bang for the buck. Obviously not for an oak hater.

Jason

Bill_Tex_Landreth · June 20, 2009, 9:46pm

I got lucky and scored a case on release at Costco for $20 a bottle. Two consumed with similar notes.

craig_dods · June 21, 2009, 2:03am

ever since ws gave this a 95 i have been trying to track this wine down, to no avail. glad some of you guys found it and its (almost) as good as advertised…

Tim_Corliss · June 21, 2009, 4:58pm

Just had a lower tier cab from them (grand reserve). very impressed with the quality for the price. would love to see how well this one drinks.

they seem to be a solid go to source for quality at lower prices.

Bill_Tex_Landreth · June 21, 2009, 9:25pm

I got lucky as the wine distributor that handles this wine was in Costco and was unpacking it the day it got the score. I got it still in the six pack cardboard cases.

Jose_A_Rodriguez · June 21, 2009, 11:29pm

I also bougth several 6 packs for ~$20 per bottle here in one of the Houston’s COSTCOS.

I bought this wine before tasting it after I saw your post in e-Bob raving about this wine (if I recall correctly, you wrote that it was not a 95 pointer, but it was certainly a 92-93 pt wine).

Normally, I would’ve hesitated before purchasing solely on H. Steinman’s recommendation and would’ve only bought one bottle to taste before commiting to buying more. In retrostpective, if I hadn’t seen your (i.e. Bill’s) post in e-Bob, I’m sure the wine would’ve been sold out by the time that I would’ve come back for more. Thanks Bill for posting that tasting note. You’re [ok.gif].

Didn’t this kind of thing happened to you with the 2005 WineMaker’s Collection (i.e. coming back for more and not finding it in Costco)?

I already had three bottles of the 2005 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve and I agree with Mike’s and Bill’s impression on this wine…

Joel_Pulver · June 22, 2009, 1:33am

Good luck finding it on the internet now. I just spent 4 hours looking and it doesn’t exist. I guess I will have to go with the Januik instead.

Bob_Wood · June 22, 2009, 1:42am

If this is like the rest of the CC reds, it’s not for the oak averse. What say y’all about the oak?

mike_pobega · June 22, 2009, 12:18pm

Bob, it was nicely balanced and NOT like the others in the line-up at all.
This and the Walter Clore are the two best go-to CC reds.

Bob_Wood · June 22, 2009, 12:37pm

Good to hear, because the “regular” CC cabernet is a poster child for excessive use of fresh sawdust.

mike_pobega · November 16, 2009, 3:16pm

I think this just made the spectator WOTY.

Bill_Tex_Landreth · November 16, 2009, 3:19pm

Tee-Hee. I bought a case of it last year at Costco for under $25 a bottle.