Wines of Substance Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Washington’s mad scientist of wine has done it again!
Charles Smith has zigged when the wine world has zagged, and he continually beats everyone to the finish line when it comes to quality juice at an affordable price.
Relationships are key, and given he absolutely loves his home state of Washington, it’s no surprise he continues to sing its praises by producing superlative wine that is accessible to all.
The original idea was to make one wine done right. Traditional winemaking, natural fermentations, barrel aging, and delivering to market a well-priced wine that outdoes its competition every day of the week.
100% unadulterated Cabernet Sauvignon, rooted in a core philosophy of sourcing great fruit to make a great wine. It’s not that difficult in the end, and if anyone could pull it off, it's Charles Smith.
The 2019 vintage in Washington was cool to start, but evolved marvelously throughout the rest of the year and into harvest. The fruit was picked in late October, allowing full maturity on the vine, yielding some truly fantastic flavors with incredible balance and character.
A mixture of black and blue fruits come out of the gate swinging, only to be backed up by an array of dried violets, pipe tobacco, currants, toasted walnuts, graphite, and fruit-laden tannins that provide structure and depth.
Don’t be fooled… just because this wine is inexpensive does not mean it’s not spectacular, and given we’re sharpening the pencil even further, you’d be crazy not to dive in and see what all the fuss is about. This is a perfect everyday drinking Cab for those seeking exceptional juice at an unbelievable price.
Charles Smith didn’t get here by accident… he’s always been willing to go against the grain and do his things his way.
And we’re so lucky he did.
Cheers to you, Charles!
And cheers to you for digging in and going a little Cab crazy with us!
Jeb Dunnuck
Juicy blue fruits, leafy tobacco, violets, and orange blossom notes all emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Cs and it's medium to full-bodied, has a beautifully balanced, fruit-forward style, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's no simple fruit bomb and has notable structure, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It reminds me of a top Cru Bourgeois from Bordeaux and represents a stunning value. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.
James Suckling
Currants, flowers and walnuts on the nose. Medium-bodied with a pretty core of fruit and fine tannins and a crisp finish. Lead pencil. Fresh. Compact. Delicate and delicious. Enjoy. Drink or hold.