Wine Reviews

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Columbia Valley Red Wine opens to a dusty and dark-fruited nose with herbal and peppery tones and complex expressions of baked earth and dusty red flower petals. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is just-ripe and turns slightly tart across the mid-palate with defined flavors of green bell pepper that sway with blackberry essence and dusty dark cherries. It has a balanced structure and sticky tannins followed up by evolving flavors of bitter dark chocolate and plum skin on the long, winding finish.

This opaque and very dark ruby colored blend opens with an interesting black cherry and toasted coconut bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and approachable. The flavor profile is a ripe black cherry with notes of minerality and green olive. The toasted coconut also showed up at the end. The finish is dry and its tingly acidity and mild tannins fade away nicely.

Sleek and discreet, with harmonious blackberry, cumin and black tea flavors that take on structure toward refined tannins.

Gold Medal

This comes from a Washington label for Cakebread. Plentiful, appealing aromas of herbs, red cherry, fresh tobacco, graphite, coffee and gun smoke are followed by pretty, light and airy fruit flavors. A lovely sense of acidity brightens it. The intensity is dialed back, but the balance is spot-on.