Wine Name/Vineyard: Columbia Crest 2015 Limited Release Gold

Wine Category: Red Blend

Grape blend: 66% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 6% Petite Sirah, 6% Zinfandel, 1% Other Red Varietals

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Columbia Valley

State or country: Washington

Price: $10

ABV: 13.8%

Cases produced:

The Barrel Cellar Score:  89 points

Review date: May 12, 2019

About the Winemaker:  Columbia Crest Wines are widely distributed.  Prior to making a trip out with some friends I didn’t know much about them other than I had seen their wines on my local supermarket shelf.  My friend Kevin O’Niell fortunately had put this on our agenda for wine tasting.  They were familiar with Columbia crests wines and the exceptional value some of them provide. The tasting room had a variety of releases I hadn’t known of before, and many were very good.  The “Gold” was one of my favorites.  The tasting room sits on a beautiful piece of property overlooking the Columbia river.  In one of the best wine regions in the country.

Color:  Deep Purple with a vivid auburn rim

Nose:  Mild vanilla notes.

Taste:  Dark fruit, blackberry, fig, vanilla Finish: oak.

Assessment:   This is a wine with an amazing value.  It has a beautiful tannic presence and has a silky-smooth full body. Well balanced with more tannic than acidic presence.  Ready to drink now.

This wine is one of the wine world’s best kept secrets – hiding in plain sight.  Priced at $10-$12 a bottle, it could easily compete with wines that are priced more than twice that.  I bought a case of the limited-edition Gold and intend to do so for vintages going forward.  You won’t be disappointed if you do as well.  You can buy this wine on Columbia Crest’s website.  I’ve personally never seen the limited-edition Gold in a local store.

Pairing recommendation:  Pair with aged cheese, grilled meat, or dark chocolate.

Columbia Valley Limited Edition Gold is a very good wine and a very good value.  89 points

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