The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley is dark ruby with an expressive nose of cedar, spice box, scorched earth, cassis and black currants. This leads to a medium-bodied wine which is slightly lean and compact albeit with good flavors and moderate length. This is a Cabernet to drink over the next 4-6 years. Tel. (425) 481-8317; www.noveltyhillwines.com

A dark and spicy wine, with streaks of mineral and herb buried within very tart, acidic black fruit. This is complex, quite youthful and tightly woven. I think it will require some years to pull itself together, but the balance is here, in a medium-bodied style, showing some herb, some citrus and plenty of muscle. Tasted over many hours after being decanted, it showed itself to be a wonderful wine that developed multiple layers of flavor.——P.G.(12/1/2007)—— 93