Synopsis, Our Opinion: Bold West Coast fruit flavors at a grocery store price.
Producer/Winery: Columbia Crest Winery; Paterson, Washington.
Grape Variety: Merlot.
Geographic Appellation: Columbia Valley, Washington.
Vintage: 2013
Price: Unknown
Purchased From: Unknown, it was probably a gift.
Paired With: Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, roasted cauliflower with lots of garlic.
Tasting:
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He said: Opened 45-minutes before drinking. Clear, garnet/purple color with a brick red tint and a lighter rim. Lots of alcohol in the aroma (on every pour) with hints of dark fruit. Bold fruity flavored entry with hints of chocolate, but at mid-palate it developed a harshness. Medium body, off dry and very flabby acidity. All this continued through a medium length finish that goes on and on with an aftertaste that leaves a syrupy medicinal taste in the mouth. We don’t know where we got this or how much it cost and we haven’t had Columbia Crest red wine in several years. If I had to sum it up I’d say it’s biggest flaws were the lack of acidity and the abundance of sugar. The positives were the bold West Coast fruit flavors and a grocery store price. We used to like Columbia Crest wines and often drank them, but we have moved on and recommend people try European wines at the same price point…they really are a better value!!!
Several years ago we reviewed a 2009 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet and commented…Columbia Crest Grand Estates wines are always consistent…they are never memorable; but typically very drinkable and usually inexpensive. And, that still pretty much sums it up.
She said: Opaque, dark ruby red color, lots of evenly spaced thin, rapidly moving legs. What a surprise to find a bottle of Columbia Crest Merlot in our North Carolina wine cellar. It is not one of the wines we would buy while living on the East Coast, but more like a selection we might find when living on the West coast as we do sometimes buy domestic wines in the grocery store when living in California. Open it way ahead because the aroma was definitely heavy on alcohol, although it did mellow. The mouth feel was full of robust flavors as expected in a New World Merlot. The sweet fruit taste carried over into the long finish, but does not compensate for the harshness that hits the back of the palate. The meatball sauce needed more acidity from the wine, but the sweetness and flavors in the wine complemented a piece of dark chocolate for desert. At between $8 – $10 it’s a decent grocery store value, but is too sweet for my taste buds.
Photo from Columbia Crest Winery.
See how our tastes have evolved by reading our review of the 2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot.
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Closure: Cork.
UPC Code: 0 88586 40284
Imported by: NA