The 2005 Red Table Wine is composed of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. It also spent 27 months in new French and American oak. The 2005 vintage contains more Red Mountain fruit which may be why it is more structured and powerful; it’s also the case that 2005 is a superior vintage. The wine is purple-colored with notes of wood smoke, mineral, spice box, black currant and blackberry. On the palate, it is full-bodied and layered with the tannins well concealed. Reminiscent of a top level Pauillac, it will evolve for 5-7 years and provide pleasure through 2030.Col Solare is a partnership between Tuscany’s Marchesi Piero Antinori and Chateau Ste-Michelle which started in 1995. Curiously, the one wine produced uses only traditional Bordeaux grapes. The winery moved into a splendid new winery in Benton City (one hour west of Walla Walla) near Red Mountain in time for the 2006 crush and it now appears to be fully completed. Current production is 4000 cases but the winery has the capacity to handle 18,000 cases. In 2007 Col Solare planted a 28 acre vineyard.Tel. (509) 588-6806; www.colsolare.com

Twenty percent of the fruit in this 2005 comes from Red Mountain grapes—though not yet from the newly planted estate vineyard. Rich, ripe, smooth and supple, this nicely styled blend is packed with good dark fruits and sweet berry jam flavors. It’s supple and muscular, with well-modulated tannins, and layered flavors of earth, soy and black tea.——P.G.(12/31/2008)—— 92