The top of the line for Columbia Crest, this powerful, classy blend is a very polished effort. It leads with rich, textured scents of ripe red and black fruits, accented with toast and vanilla. There are some lovely spices—pepper and fines herbes—that add welcome interest. Overall it’s lush and mouth-filling, built to age but delicious right away. ——P.G.(12/31/2001)—— 92

The blend here is 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc. The wine is dark, dense, what some call “brooding.” It is firm and tart up front, but stuffed with layers of oak and herb and cherry/berry flavor. It’s too clean to be Bordeaux, too tart to be Californian; it’s a classic, Columbia Valley style Washington Cabernet, built to last.——P.G.(6/1/2001)—— 90