Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine Vertical Tasting

One of the great value wine bottlings in Washington, Columbia Crest named their top red wine blend after eminent Washington wine pioneer, Walter Clore. Born in 1911, Walter Clore moved to Washington, attending Washington State University (WSU) to study horticulture. He and his wife Irene, arrived in Pullman with only $5 in their pockets. In 1937, he was hired as the fourth faculty member to staff the WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research Extension Center in Prosser, WA and began work with small fruits and vegetables, including grapes. Dr. Clore would stay there for another forty years, studying how to best cultivate wine varietals. 

Over the years I can remember some special times with the ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve.’ There was a great dinner I had in Palm Springs back in 2007 when I ordered a bottle of the 2004 ‘Walter Clore Reserve’ that was absolutely singing. More recently I have had the opportunity to revisit these wines and see how they are showing at an older age. The wines are typically aged in barrel for 19 or more months. Older renditions of the ‘Walter Clore’ show more new oak tones than more recent vintages. 

One thing is clear from this retrospective — these wines all age gracefully, regardless of vintage. The 2006 Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine (WWB, 91) is really good right now and still has a few years of life left. The downright classy texture really adds to the drinking enjoyment. I absolutely adored there 2012 Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine (WWB, 92) which has wonderful richness and layers of toasty oak that mingle with the chocolate tones. This vicious wine is truly singing right now. Here are my tasting notes from my Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine vertical tasting. 

2006 Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2006 Columbia Crest ‘ ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine is showing marvelously from this warm vintage in Washington State. Aromatically this is highly perfumed right out of the gate with its forward dark fruits, graphite and mocha aromas that meld in the glass. The texture of the wine is downright classy, as deep kirsch, espresso bean, and tar flavors come together. Enjoy this beauty now. Drink 2019-2023- 91

2008 Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2008 ‘Walter Close Private Reserve’ is fantastic at now the eleven year mark. Not needing a decant, the wine shows off medium to full-bodied blackberry pie and baking spice flavors with sagebrush and milk chocolate undertones. Generous and showing good length, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2026- 91

2012 Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine- Taken from a very classic vintage in Washington with moderate temperatures and a long growing season, the 2012 Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine is in a fantastic place right now. A blend of 80% Merlot with 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 6% Malbec, the wine really needs an hour decant to be fully expressive. Once aroused this begins with a bouquet of chocolate covered cherry with shades of baking spices and mocha that all meld in the glass. The soft texture and wonderful mouthfeel brings you back to the glass for more. A deep core of dark fruits and espresso bean collide with toasty oak and chocolate covered coconut. While fantastic now, this still has many years to go. This is a seriously good effort from former winemaker Juan Munoz Oca. Drink 2019-2027- 92

2013 Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2013 Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine was taken from a warm growing season that was a significant departure from the previous three vintages. The wine is a blend of mainly Merlot (64%) with 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and small portions Malbec and Cabernet Franc. The dense aromatics excite with tar and graphite colliding with espresso bean and blackberry pie. Lightly tannic, the mouthfeel and texture of the wine wonderfully dances with the bright sense of minerality. Mocha, tar, anise, creme de cassis and blackberry cordial flavors all sing in unison. Fantastic now, this dense treat will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2014 Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine- Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (46%) and Merlot (36%) the 2014 Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Private Reserve’ Red Wine is a gorgeous wine that is showing marvelously at five years of age. Coming from an exceedingly warm vintage in Washington, the spicy tones and deep core of dark fruit aromas mingle nicely in the glass. Generous and showing a plush texture, this has wonderful length with blackberry pie, cigar box, anise, Turkish coffee and shades of blueberry compote. The long finish lingers. Spectacular now, this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93