2004 columbia crest grand estates cabernet sauvignon

http://www.columbia-crest.com/



the bottom line - a nice, balanced cab with rich fruit on the nose, nice acidity on the mid-palate, and a lingering finish of oak, fruit and tannins. this wine is a consistently great value although some with find the high degree of oak off-putting. i liked both the 2003 and 2004 although the 2004 generally gets better press.




alcohol - 13.5%
total acid - 0.56%
final pH - 3.68

aroma - vanilla, coconut
flavor - medium bodied, balanced - fruit forward cherry and green apple. nice vanilla, oak finish.
price - $8.99
verdict - 89, WS87

2004 14 hands cabernet sauvignon

http://www.14hands.com

the bottom line - a nice label but the wine is wimpy, wimpy, wimpy! This is possibly the weakest cab i have ever experienced. This wine left me wanting my $9.56 back and wondering why they made the effort to slide the 1% merlot into the mix. this wine is an embarrassment to the state of washington.

alcohol - 13.5%
residual sugar - n/a
total acid - .60 g/100 ml
final pH - 3.70
blend - 99% cabernet sauvignon, 1% merlot

aroma - oaky, cherry nose
flavor -watery mouth feel with hints of cocoa. an all too brief finish of oak, chocolate, watery fruit and unripe tannins.
price - $9.56
verdict - 78

2004 chateau ste michelle indian wells cabernet sauvignon

http://www.ste-michelle.com/

the bottom line - the indian wells series is produced from fruit sourced from vineyards throughout the wahluke slope in washington state including chateau ste michelle's own indian wells vineyard. I found this cab lacking in complexity, with little up front to balance the overly tannic finish.

alcohol - 14.0%
residual sugar - n/a
total acid - .59 g/100 ml
final pH - 3.68
blend - 91% cabernet sauvignon, 9% merlot

aroma - strawberry, cherry, pepper
flavor -fruity medium bodied somewhat flat on the mid pallet. the fruit battles vanilla oak and moderate unripe tannins through a long finish.
price - $16.00
verdict - 84, WS85

2004 powers columbia valley cabernet sauvignon

http://powerswinery.com

the bottom line - i could not find specific release details on the 2003 vintage, but their website indicates that the 2004 vintage "once again" includes a measure of syrah in the blend. this wine is moderate in body, has some nice flavors but falls apart a bit on the finish where some unripe tannins take over.

alcohol - 13.5%
residual sugar - n/a
total acid - n/a
final pH - n/a
blend - n/a

aroma - raspberry, chocolate, woody spice
flavor -fruity, nice raspberry, chocolate with and acidic spine on the mid-pallet. the finish is overly oaky and tannic.
price - $13.29
verdict - 84

2004 red diamond cabernet sauvignon washington state

http://www.reddiamondwine.com/

the bottom line - washington state cabernet blend. unchallenging and uncomplicated, but very drinkable.

alcohol - 13.8%
residual sugar - n/a
total acid - .58/100 ml
final pH - 3.30
blend - 93% cabernet sauvignon, 3% merlot, 2% petit verdot, 1% cabernet franc

aroma - cherry, fruity, spice, leather
flavor -fruity cherry soda with a smoky, earthy mild tannic finish. Slight bitterness.
price - $8.49
punt - 19 mm
verdict - 84

2004 nelms road columbia valley cabernet sauvignon

http://www.woodwardcanyon.com

the bottom line - nelms road is the second label of the woodward canyon winery. nelms road releases are young vineyard production or wines that didn't quite rate the woodward canyon label. I found this wine unobjectionable but too sweet for my taste and lacking in complexity.


alcohol - 14.4 %
residual sugar - n/a
total acid - n/a
final pH - n/a
blend - 98% cabernet sauvignon and 02% syrah
production - 4410 cases


aroma - fruity
flavor -sweet. blackberry, raspberry, cherry, one dimensional
price - $16.99
punt - 35 mm
verdict - 85

2004 bridgman cabernet sauvignon

http://www.apexcellars.com/wines.php

the bottom line - A little north of $10 and you will likely have to search it out (2046 cases produced). this is an awesome and interesting young washington state wine. available at total wine on the east coast.


alcohol - 13.0 %
residual sugar - 0.2 %
total acid - 0.75%
final pH - 3.67
blend - 83% cabernet sauvignon and 17% merlot from outlook and cervantes vineyards.


aroma - blueberry, coffee, chocolate
flavor -light, sweet. fruit forward, medium body, very well balanced, smooth long finish
price - $12.99
punt - 30 mm
verdict - 91

2003 chateau ste michelle columbia valley

http://www.ste-michelle.com/


the bottom line - washington state cabernet. somewhat light and sweet up front with a moderate balanced finish.


alcohol - 13.8%
residual sugar - n/a
total acid - .57/100 ml
final pH - 3.63
blend - 82% cabernet, 7% syrah, 5% sangiovese, 3% merlot, 3% cabernet franc

aroma - apple, coffee
flavor -light, sweet. fruit forward, lacking in body, balanced finish
price - $14.00
punt - 25 mm
verdict - 85, WS84

2003 snoqualmie cabernet merlot whistle stop red

http://www.snoqualmie.com/


the bottom line - columbia valley blend - 70% cabernet sauvignon 30% merlot. an average wine with real problems on the finish.




alcohol - 13.9%
appearance - light red - clear
aroma - fruity, oaky nose
flavor -thin - raspberry, cherry. light tannin finish. woody - over-oaked
price - $8.99
punt - 19 mm
verdict - 79, WS85

2003 columbia crest grand estates cabernet sauvignon

http://www.columbia-crest.com/



the bottom line - very nice, well balanced medium bodied washington state cabernet.




alcohol - 13.5%
total acid - 0.57%
final pH - 3.74

appearance - dark reddish - clear
aroma - vanilla, sawdust
flavor - medium bodied, balanced - fruit forward apple. light tannin structure - nice balanced vanilla, oak finish
price - $9.99
punt - 19 mm
verdict - 89, WS83