Wautoma Springs Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted leg of lamb, aged cheddar
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted as part of Columbia Crest's prestigious Reserve program, this single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon showcases the exceptional terroir of the Wautoma Springs Vineyard. Planted in 1999 by acclaimed grower Tom Merkle in a warm, wind-swept corner of the Columbia Valley, the vineyard is defined by its quick-draining gravelly soils and harsh, arid climate. These challenging conditions force the vines to dig deep, producing tiny, highly concentrated berries with thick skins. Columbia Crest coaxes the maximum expression from this fruit through meticulous small-lot fermentation and extended aging in select French oak barrels. The resulting wine is a monumental Washington Cabernet, celebrated for its deep complexity, structural integrity, and seamless integration of dark fruit and savory earth tones.
🍾 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