2004 Chateau Ste. Michelle 92 points

Cold Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley (WA), $26


Bold and concentrated from one of Washington’s oldest vineyards. Cold Creek gets really hot, and its grapes are scattered throughout many of the Ste. Michelle brands, often providing the core fruit. Here is the deal, this wine takes it's sweet time to open up, but has structure and concentration if you take the time to let it blossom. Dense blackcherry and cassis fruit is tightly wound with hints of tobacco and cedar while balancing acids. The use of new oak is restrained, but sufficient, put this one in the cellar for 5 years to mellow out a bit.