Probably a stupid question...but

As you are probably aware, Wine Spectator declared the 2005 Columbia Crest Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve the "Wine of the Year".

Now, without getting into the whole politics of ratings, WS etc, let's just say....this is probably a very good wine.

Now, of course, it is unavailable anywhere online and locally for me...although some places online I have seen are asking 5x original purchase price...sorry, not doing it.

So to my question, would it be somewhat safe to assume the 2006 vintage will end up being a very good wine as well? Not wine of the year, or even top 50...but historically, when a winery's vintage does this well, and the folllowing season appears to be favorable in terms of weather, growing conditions, etc, should the results be favorable as well?

I know this question is probably unanswerable (is that a word?)...but some input would be appreciated..

Thanks!

-Mike

Mike,

I know NOTHING about this wine but let me answer it this way: a wine with a long track record of excellence (e.g., Ridge Monte Bello, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Yquem) will almost certainly be excellent in a vintage with favorable weather/growing conditions. I have no idea if this wine fits the description of "long track record of excellence".

The WS list is apparently particularly focused on value this year - which makes this 5 x retail exploitation (and the people that feed it) even more crazy than before.

I suppose the risk in relation to your question, is that maybe others think the same and whilst the price of the 2005 goes up by 300-400%, maybe the 2006 goes up by 10-15% as the label becomes more sought after with the major 'gong' to it's name.

One to watch out for.

regards

Ian

maybe the 2006 goes up by 10-15% as the label becomes more sought after with the major 'gong' to it's name.

One to watch out for.

regards

Ian

I believe this is already occuring. I gave up searching for the 2005 vintage, and focused on the 2006. While the prices were in line ($20 - $24), most are sold out of the 06 as well. I found one store that had a case at $27.99 per bottle. I bit, and bought 4 bottles to put away....yes it's a gamble, but worst case I will drink them someday and have a story to tell LOL...

Columbia Crest wines tend to be good QPR wines (good quality in relation to the price.) When the wines are inflated in price by sudden demand, they are no longer good QPR. Some other suggestions for Cabernet Sauvignon are Artesa, Avalon, Hess Selection.

maybe the 2006 goes up by 10-15% as the label becomes more sought after with the major 'gong' to it's name.

One to watch out for.

regards

Ian

I believe this is already occuring. I gave up searching for the 2005 vintage, and focused on the 2006. While the prices were in line ($20 - $24), most are sold out of the 06 as well. I found one store that had a case at $27.99 per bottle. I bit, and bought 4 bottles to put away....yes it's a gamble, but worst case I will drink them someday and have a story to tell LOL...

Mike
That said, if it's a regular contender for 'good QPR', then paying 15-20% over the odds might still mean it's reasonable value, which is where I guess you came from in the 1st instance.
regards
Ian

[David M. Bueker]

NOTE: This is not a wine to put away. It is a wine to drink when you receive it.

NOTE: This is not a wine to put away. It is a wine to drink when you receive it.

Not even for a year?

[David M. Bueker]

Oh a year is ok, probably even 2. When you said put away I figured something much longer.

Oh a year is ok, probably even 2. When you said put away I figured something much longer.

LOL..oh sorry....what I meant was, put away until next year, then address the drinking window at that time.....thanks David!

[Jenise]

Mike, from what I understand of your taste in wine, I would direct you past the 05 or 06 CC Reserve cab and to the Columbia Crest bottling known as the "Walter Clore". The wines (both a cabernet and merlot are made) are a blend made from the best barrels of the best vineyards as an hommage to one of the pioneers of commercial winemaking in Washington, and are typically priced in the mid-$20's. Not for the oak-averse (and that's not you), they're big, concentrated and quite plush. A lot, LOT more wine than you expect for the money.

Jenise,

Thanks for the suggestion! I will most definitely look into "Walter Clore"...I love this place

I would find it very hard to believe that Columbia Crest's 2005 Cab could be better than any of a dozen others from the US west coast--the 2005 Chateau Montelena Estate, for example.

If they are talking QPR instead of simply what tastes the best, I could well believe Columbia Crest Cab as the top choice. In my experience CC has always given good performance for the money.

-Paul W.

As you are probably aware, Wine Spectator declared the 2005 Columbia Crest Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve the "Wine of the Year".

Now, without getting into the whole politics of ratings, WS etc, let's just say....this is probably a very good wine...

Mike,

This is doubtless a good wine if you find you usually agree with the WS ratings. I very rarely agree with their ratings, because of a fundamental difference in style preference, so #1 would practically be a warning, for me.

The Italian wines in the top 100 this year are a particularly telling reinforcement of this (I import Italian wines for a living)...

Oliver, If you see this, who are the producers of Brunellos that you import?

JC,

Oddly enough I don't import a single Tuscan wine, which may explain my bemusement at the WS 'Top 100' Italian entries, mostly Tuscan*.

I used to import La Gerla, which is an excellent traditionally made Brunello that I highly recommend. I love Brunello when it is genuine, and I love the very best traditional Chiantis, but there are very few wines in either category. IMO Sangiovese is like Pinot Noir in that it makes very few really great wines, although those few exceptions are memorable.

*mostly Tuscan, and not a single wine from south of Tuscany, which given the brilliance of Campanian wine these days is absurd...only 2 Piedmontese wines, and 2 from Arezzo alone, ye gods....for a detailed exposition go to

http://vinowire.simplicissimus.it/2009/ ... -100-list/

Thanks for your reply, Oliver.

Mike, from what I understand of your taste in wine, I would direct you past the 05 or 06 CC Reserve cab and to the Columbia Crest bottling known as the "Walter Clore". The wines (both a cabernet and merlot are made) are a blend made from the best barrels of the best vineyards as an hommage to one of the pioneers of commercial winemaking in Washington, and are typically priced in the mid-$20's. Not for the oak-averse (and that's not you), they're big, concentrated and quite plush. A lot, LOT more wine than you expect for the money.

Jenise, so I found this online: 2005 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve Proprietary Blend (750), for $22.99 per bottle at JJ Buckley Fine Wines. Shipping for (4) bottles is $11.00. It's apparantly a pre-order, estimated to ship in December.

Any experience with this retailer?

Thanks!

-Mike

[Jenise]

Mike, from what I understand of your taste in wine, I would direct you past the 05 or 06 CC Reserve cab and to the Columbia Crest bottling known as the "Walter Clore". The wines (both a cabernet and merlot are made) are a blend made from the best barrels of the best vineyards as an hommage to one of the pioneers of commercial winemaking in Washington, and are typically priced in the mid-$20's. Not for the oak-averse (and that's not you), they're big, concentrated and quite plush. A lot, LOT more wine than you expect for the money.

Jenise, so I found this online: 2005 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve Proprietary Blend (750), for $22.99 per bottle at JJ Buckley Fine Wines. Shipping for (4) bottles is $11.00. It's apparantly a pre-order, estimated to ship in December.

Any experience with this retailer?

Thanks!

-Mike

Good score. And yes, I buy from them all the time. Ask for Geoff Binder, and tell him I sent you.

I would certainly agree about the comments on the Walter Clore. I certainly find it more interesting and complex. I have also seen the Walter Clore at Costco for $20. I remember going to a ttrade lunch years ago when they were introducing their Grand Estate series wines as well as these reserve wines with their winemaker, Doug Gore. It was the Walter Clore that really stood out to me.

[Jenise]

JC,

Oddly enough I don't import a single Tuscan wine, which may explain my bemusement at the WS 'Top 100' Italian entries, mostly Tuscan*.

Suckling lives in Tuscany, doesn't he?

[Jenise]

I would certainly agree about the comments on the Walter Clore. I certainly find it more interesting and complex. I have also seen the Walter Clore at Costco for $20. I remember going to a ttrade lunch years ago when they were introducing their Grand Estate series wines as well as these reserve wines with their winemaker, Doug Gore. It was the Walter Clore that really stood out to me.

That's where I am too, Michael. Haven't had the Reserve cab, but I've never had any Columbia Crest that surpasses the Clore and I can't imagine how one would.

JC,

Oddly enough I don't import a single Tuscan wine, which may explain my bemusement at the WS 'Top 100' Italian entries, mostly Tuscan*.

Suckling lives in Tuscany, doesn't he?

Apparently so.