Wine from Columbia Valley

Wine Spectator, 95 points: Impressive for its structure and polish, a wine that seamlessly marries Cabernet and Syrah while retaining the best of both, with blackberry, black olive, smoky cured meat and lots of cracked pepper flavors. Cabernet...

jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: (97+ points) The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate is much more dense, tannic, backward wine compared to the Walla Walla Estate release. Its deep purple/plum color is followed by a masculine bouquet of crushed...

jebdunnuck.com, 92 points: The 2016 Chardonnay Uncovered is another rich, medium to full-bodied effort from this team that has ample toast and orchard fruit-like aromas, a fleshy, supple texture, good acidity, and a clean finish. It’s well worth...

jamessuckling.com, 96 points: Blackberry, blackcurrant, tobacco leaf, dried herb, walnut and mocha on the nose. Some roasted-coffee notes. It’s full-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins. Flavorful with fresh acidity and a supple texture. Delicious...

jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: The 2018 Epinette is the Merlot-dominated release from this team, and it's 79% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, all from the estate vineyard on Red Mountain. Lots of smoky black...

jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: A cuvée made for winemaker Brennen Leighton's wife and a field blend of 70% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, and 5% Syrah, the 2017 Gratitude ranks with the finest Mourvèdres to come from the state. Awesome notes of black...

jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: One of the finest examples of this cuvée I’ve tasted is the 2016 Champoux Vineyard, which comes from one of the top terroirs in the state and is in the slightly cooler Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The blend in 2016 is 50%...

jamessuckling.com, 93 points: This has the wonderful, dark-fruit and olive character of a ripe cabernet sauvignon, but the polished tannins fold over the wine. It’s full-bodied, yet agile and focused at the finish. Real wine for the money. Drink now.

jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: The 2017 Tapteil is 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, and as with all these releases from Ben Smith, there's not much to go around, with just 350 cases produced. Ripe black and blue fruits...

Wine Enthusiast, 93 points: Cabernet Franc (42%) is in the lead on this wine, with Cabernet Sauvignon (33%), Petit Verdot (17%) and Merlot following. Brooding aromas of black currant, anise, dried and fresh herb, scorched earth and boysenberry lead...

jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: Another finest to date is the 2016 Two Blondes Vineyard, which is 60% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Malbec, all aged 18 months in 25% new barrels. This full-bodied, incredibly elegant...

jebdunnuck.com, 98 points: Winemaker Chris Figgins has produced one of the wines of the vintage and his 2016 Estate Red Wine checks in as a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot that spent 23 months in 50% new French oak. It offers...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Made from a co-fermented blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Syrah, the 2017 The Creator opens with opulent blackberry, dusty plum, a firm oak backbone and elements of caramel, cardamom and crème brûlée. Full-bodied...

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: This is a complex and subtle red with chocolate, spice and walnut aromas and flavors. Medium-to full-bodied. Tile and iron undertones. Juicy and flavorful on the finish. A beautiful, balanced red. Very fine, polished...

Wine Spectator, 93 points: Polished and refined, with vibrant cherry and blueberry flavors accented by lead pencil and licorice notes, building complexity toward fine-grained tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Drink now through...

jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: Deep purple-colored, the 2015 Petit Verdot Olsen Brother's Vineyard is 100% varietal that spent 22 months in 40% new French oak. It's a beautiful wine loaded with notions of blueberries, leafy herbs, hints of wet stone...

jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: (94+ points) The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series is a gem and well worth seeking out. Based on 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Syrah, brought up in 28% new oak, it offers an...

jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: The 2016 Chester Kidder is an interesting blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, and the rest Petit Verdot, all aged 30 months in 85% new French oak. Jammy blackberries, cassis, graphite, scorched earth, and crushed...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: 93+ The 2016 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, begins with a red-fruited nose with dusty core of mineral-rich earth and red, floral bouquet wafts. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, the wine...

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: Very pure, focused cabernet with bright cassis and purple-cherry aromas. Gentle mint and herbal notes, too. The palate has an elegant edge of bright, lithe and juicy cassis as well as cherries. Slick, balanced, supreme...

jamessuckling.com, 93 points: This has a forest-like nose with bracken, leaves, red berries, juniper and herbs, all interwoven. The palate has a sleek, graphite-like edge and dark berries are cast in forthright, muscular and intense tannins that hold...