H3 Cabernet Sauvignon
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–7 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, portobello mushrooms
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The 'H3' designation pays homage to Washington State's spectacular Horse Heaven Hills AVA, a terroir steeped in local lore. Legend has it that in 1857, pioneer James Kinney gazed upon the wind-swept, bunchgrass-covered ridges and declared it 'horse heaven.' Today, this rugged landscape, framed by the Columbia River, provides a dramatic home for Cabernet Sauvignon. The region's relentless winds thicken the grape skins, yielding wines of deep color and robust structure, while the sandy loam soils and intense solar radiation create concentrated dark fruit flavors. Columbia Crest crafts this Cabernet to showcase the wild, powerful spirit of the hills, balancing bold tannins with a velvety, approachable texture derived from careful oak aging.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1983 in Paterson, Washington, along the banks of the Columbia River, Columbia Crest is one of the Pacific Northwest's most significant and celebrated wineries. Owned by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the winery operates a state-of-the-art facility in the Columbia Valley, combining modern gravity-flow techniques with traditional oak barrel aging. Columbia Crest is renowned for delivering exceptional quality and value, showcasing the region's unique terroir through its Grand Estates, H3, and Two Vines series. Their signature expressions include robust Cabernet Sauvignon, velvety Merlot, and the prestigious Walter Clore Private Reserve, which honors the pioneer of Washington viticulture. This dedication to craft has cemented their reputation as a benchmark producer of Washington State wine on the global stage.