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Owen Bargreen

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Will Wiles serves as head winemaker for Columbia Crest.

Columbia Crest

May 30, 2023

It has now been more than 20 years that I started noticing the incredible value that Columbia Crest offers. Time after time I would go to the grocery store or wine shop and purchase these wines with continually over-delivered for the price. I also experimented with aging the wines, as they held marvelously for 8 plus years. One of the outstanding value Washington producers, Columbia Crest is the only Washington winery to have their wine appear at #1 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list.

Founded in 1982, Columbia Crest is one of the longer-serving Washington wineries as their first wine release was back in 1987. Juan Munoz-Oca presided over these wines beginning in 2011 and then in 2018 Katie Nelson was named new Columbia Crest winemaker as she today serves as head winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle. Katie did a marvelous work with her wines and today Will Wiles has been at the Columbia Crest helm since 2021. I have known Will for many years and admired his work as assistant winemaker at Col Solare. Will has a Washington State University degree in Horticulture with an emphasis in Viticulture and Enology. In his post-college years, he has worked for a range of wineries before being named as head winemaker in 2021.

His new wines were really outstanding across the board. Don’t sleep on the awesome new 2021 Columbia Crest ‘Grand Estates’ Chardonnay (OB, 90) which is one of the best value Chardonnays out of Washington that you will find. I am enamored by the 2018 Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Reserve’ Red Wine (OB, 93) which has tremendous depth and concentration with a silky mouthfeel.Learn more about these outstanding values at columbiacrest.com Here are some of the great new wines by Columbia Crest.

2021 Columbia Crest ‘Grand Estates’ Chardonnay- You would be hard-pressed to find a better domestic Chardonnay at this price. Very smooth upon entry, the 2021 Columbia Crest ‘Grand Estates’ Chardonnay offers serious bang for the buck with buttered praline, juicy peach and kiwi tones alongside a smooth texture. Enjoy now. Drink 2023-2028- 90

2020 Columbia Crest ‘Red Blend Gold’ Red WIne- The 2020 ‘Red Blend Gold’ is smooth and soft on the mouth with juicy red currants, black raspberry and tar notes on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2023-2027- 90

2020 Columbia Crest ‘Grand Estates’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Another really good value, the 2020 Columbia Crest ‘Grand Estates’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows a soft texture with layers of loganberry, creosote and chocolate cake on the palate. Drink 2023-2027- 90

2018 Columbia Crest ‘Walter Clore Reserve’ Red Wine- Years ago I would purchase cases of this wine, particularly the incredible 2002 and 2004 editions. Flash forward now, this wine has been produced for more than 20 years. The 2018 edition is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (53%) with a large portion of Merlot (32%) and the remainder Cabernet Franc. It is poised, silky and elegant on the mouth, reveling in its black plum, cocoa dusted black cherry, dark currant and loamy soil flavors. An outstanding value, this is one to buy by the case for any lover of top Washington State Bordeaux blends. Drink 2023-2035- 93

2019 Columbia Crest ‘Reserve Heart of The Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This is the first edition of this wine that I have tasted from this site high atop on Red Mountain. The 2019 ‘Heart of The Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers good concentration and a smooth mouthfeel on the palate. Layers of kirsch cordial, scorched earth, black licorice, tar and creme de cassis all parade on the palate. Seriously good, this is a gorgeous effort in a somewhat challenging vintage for Bordeaux varietals. Drink 2023-2035- 94

← ElentoneInterview with Stephanie Cohen, Winemaker at Col Solare →
 

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