Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

This stellar wine has aromas and flavors of blackberry and black raspberry, with a touch of spice and cedar in the finish.

February 25, 2013

Bruce May,

Sometimes I’m asked to pick my favorite wine I’ve tasted throughout the year. Normally, it’s difficult because I taste many delicious kinds — and I like all types. But this time was easy because I was completely blown away by the 2008 Bevan Cellars Red Wine – Oakville, Showket Vineyard, Double E’s Cuvee, which I tried while in Las Vegas.

Though that wine is perfection, only 202 cases were produced. So I’d like to offer my pick for another, more widely available (and stellar) wine: the Columbia Crest Grand Estates cabernet sauvignon ($13.99; PLCB code: 4133).

The Columbia Crest Grand Estates wines have impressed me with their overall good quality and reasonable prices. I’ve rated the cabernet sauvignon at 89 — and with a $13.99 price tag, it represents a great value.

The wine has aromas and flavors of blackberry and black raspberry, with a touch of spice and cedar in the finish. It has a nice balance of acid and tannins with a velvety structure.