Wautoma Springs Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 2
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from vintage release
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, rosemary-infused venison
✨ Technical Specifications
Columbia Crest's Reserve program showcases the pinnacle of Washington State viticulture by highlighting exceptional single-vineyard sites. The Wautoma Springs Vineyard, situated on a south-facing slope in the Columbia Valley, is highly regarded for its quick-draining, gravelly soils and desert microclimate. Planted in 1999, this vineyard experiences hot, sunny days followed by cool nights, a diurnal shift that preserves natural acidity while allowing the grapes to reach optimal phenolic ripeness. The Clone 2 selection of Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly prized for its small, thick-skinned berries, which yield wines of intense color, concentrated dark fruit flavors, and a powerful, age-worthy tannin structure. Aged in select French oak barrels, this reserve bottling represents a sophisticated expression of Washington terroir, balancing bold power with refined elegance.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1982 by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Columbia Crest was the pioneer winery founded within what is now the acclaimed Horse Heaven Hills AVA of eastern Washington. Situated along the benchlands above the Columbia River, the estate takes full advantage of a semi-arid, rain-shadowed microclimate marked by intense summer sunshine, constant river breezes that deter frost and pests, and fast-draining, wind-blown Warden silt loam soils. Initial plantings in 1978 and early winemaking under founding cellar master Doug Gore established the winery's benchmark status for reliable varietal purity and commercial scale. The production regimen bridges large-scale precision with small-lot barrel fermentation and French and American oak aging. Columbia Crest cemented its reputation when its 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon won Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year. Today, the estate produces tiered selections ranging from the everyday Two Vines and Grand Estates labels to vineyard-driven Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay expressions.
🍇 Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon