2004
Columbia Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon

        The 2004 vintage was somewhat unpredictable; influenced by 2 winter events. A sudden freeze occurred in October, followed in February by a very deep freeze of –20° temperatures for three days. This was the first deep freeze we had experienced in our blocks and we were concerned our vines may have been damage and need to be pruned back to the ground. Thankfully, our vines didn’t sustain any damage due in large part to the good cold drainage down to the Columbia River. The vines cropped heavier than we expected; maybe a natural phenomena resulting from the shock of the sudden and severe cold. The summer ripening season held no surprises and harvesting occurred at an average time. We also noted darker than usual color in the fermenting wines.

        The 2004 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc,
4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Malbec. The fruit was sourced from Andrews Horse Heaven Ranch, Gunselman Bench, McKinley Springs and Phinny Hill vineyards. It was aged in 75% new French and 25% American oak for 24 months. The alcohol by volume is 14.6%. It was bottled January 19, 2007.

Price: $30.00
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AWARDS
Gold Medal, NorthWest Wine Summit
Double Gold Medal Wine Press NW

REVIEWS

91 Wine Enthusiast
Supple and juicy, this young, purple, berry-loaded Cab includes small amounts of the other four Bordeaux grapes in the blend. It’s a masterful blending achievement, with each grape seeming to contribute something to the nose, the mouthfeel, the length and the overall focus. Flavors are tightly woven- purple fruits, butterscotch, mocha, moist earth and baking spices- but nothing is overwrought. This will need considerable breathing time to unwrap, and years in the bottle to soften some of the hard edges.-P.G.

Wine Press NW Joe Gunselman reaches into four vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills for this big red wine that is mostly Cab but also blends in a bit of the four other main red Bordeaux grapes. It opens with complex aromas of sweet herbs, black olives, dark fruit and a whisper of smoke, followed by broad flavors of ripe plums, blackberries and a touch of toastiness. A well balanced, well crafted wine.

2003 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2002 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2001 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2000 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
1999 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon