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Columbia Crest Wines

Following the completion of its winery and guest center, Columbia Crest released its first wine in 1985: a medium-dry blend of Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Muscat Canelli from the 1984 vintage. In 1988, the winery released its first Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varietal wines produced from the 1984 vintage. Columbia Crest Winery is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Columbia Crest’s vineyard holdings consist of approximately 2,500 acres planted with a variety of grapes, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling and Syrah. Today, Columbia Crest’s portfolio of wine is produced by Winemaker Juan Muñoz Oca and includes Grand Estates, H3, Reserve and Two Vines. Previous Columbia Crest reviews have demonstrated the winery’s great reputation, including Wine Enthusiast Magazine conferring its Editors’ Choice designation on the 1998 Reserve Red Blend, 1998 Reserve Chardonnay and 2006 Reserve Syrah. Wine Enthusiast also gave the 2002 Grand Estate Shiraz the number-one best buy on its Top 100 Best Buys of 2006 list.

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Columbia Crest 1999 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA))

Price $28

The nose is big, fat and forward, showing plenty of plush vanilla and sweet cream, matched with ripe black cherry fruit. Oodles of rich fruit, fat, creamy, buttery oak and a silky, unctuous mouthfeel coat the palate. This is a consumer-friendly, forward, ripe and luscious style of wine. —P.G. — P.G. (9/1/2002)

Columbia Crest 1998 Reserve Red Wine (Columbia Valley (WA))

Editors' Choice

Price $32

The top of the line for Columbia Crest, this powerful, classy blend is a very polished effort. It leads with rich, textured scents of ripe red and black fruits, accented with toast and vanilla. There are some lovely spices—pepper and fines herbes—that add welcome interest. Overall it’s lush and mouth-filling, built to age but delicious right away. — P.G. (12/31/2001)

Columbia Crest 1996 Reserve Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))

Price $20

Rich, dark and plummy black fruit, accented with smoke and pepper. No rough edges; it’s polished, smooth and seamlessly complete. — P.G. (9/1/2000)

Columbia Crest 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (Columbia Valley (WA))

Price $30

It’s made from small lots, cordoned off in the winery and ultimately selected for the final blend, in this year 51% Cabernet and 49% Merlot. The nose has a pleasing texture; along with the fruit, there are hints of mineral, sandalwood, anise and a suggestion of cilantro. Seamless and surprisingly soft, it’s back-loaded with fruit flavor and plenty of oak. —P.G. — P.G. (9/1/2002)

Columbia Crest 1998 Reserve Ice Wine Sémillon (Columbia Valley (WA))

Price $28

Thick, viscous wine, with a rich butterscotch center and layers of tropical fruit. Rich, ripe, hot and heavy; a stunning success. — P.G. (6/1/2000)

Columbia Crest 2002 Reserve Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))

Price $30

Dense, deep and delicious. Among a fine group of CC reserves, this gets my vote for the best of all. Inky, tannic yet beautifully, classically varietal. Really dense, it delivers concentrated boysenberry and black fruit flavors, and the co-fermentation with viognier adds aromatic orange peel/citrus rind notes. Lively, perfumed and complex. — P.G. (4/1/2005)

Columbia Crest 2001 Reserve Merlot (Columbia Valley (WA))

Price $30

Tight, dry, and tannic, the flavor mixes good, clean, well-ripened fruit and lots of woodsy, leafy nuances. There are some darker streaks of smoke and char, and beautiful tannin integration. — P.G. (4/1/2005)

Columbia Crest 1998 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA))

Price $28

The price to quality quotient of this winery never fails to amaze. Here is top of the line treatment for a mid-level price. Supple, silky and delicious, the wine smells and tastes of mint, chocolate and vanilla, wrapped around seamless red fruit. Spicy and crisply defined, it is long and satisfying. — P.G. (12/31/2001)

Most Reviewed Varietals [All]

Bordeaux-style Red Blend Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Gewürztraminer Malbec Merlot Pinot Grigio/Gris Red Blend Riesling Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon Shiraz/Syrah Tempranillo White Blend Zinfandel

Most Reviewed Regions

Columbia Valley (WA) Horse Heaven Hills Wahluke Slope

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