Part of a vertical tasting of the 2014–2018 vintages, the 2018 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was blended with 10% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. The nose is juicy and firm with red and black fruit tones at its core that sway with hints of oak spice. Still primary, the wine displays a balanced and complex aroma profile before offering essences of dusty flower petals and sweet oak spice. Medium to full-bodied, it is still tight on the palate, and I can see this being better after another year or two of bottle aging. The wine ends with elements of graphite and pencil shavings over the lingering finish that resonates with flavors of dark cherry skin. Enjoy with food now, or drink it over the next 10-plus years. This Cabernet rested for just under two years in 40% new French oak barrels.

Set in a vertical tasting of the 2014–2018 vintages, I was expecting this 2017 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to be my favorite of the lineup. The nose is focused, lifted and complex, wafting with dark red and black fruit tones, compounded by brown baking spices and a burst of red and purple flower notions. Medium to full-bodied, the wine unpacks across the mid-palate, displaying balance before slightly compressing in the mouth. It will remain a crowd-pleaser for years to come, but my favorite of the vertical is the 2016 vintage.

Set in a vertical tasting of the 2014–2018 vintages, the 2016 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers a more floral and focused nose than previous vintages and is marked with refinement and purity of fruit. 2016 was the first year the estate implemented an optical sorter, and the wine displays gobs of black cherry, dusty blackberry and roasted plum in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is balanced and offers fine-grained tannins that will continue to evolve with elegance and precision. This lovely Cabernet glides to a delightfully lingering finish and promises to drink well for years to come. Give it a try!

Set in a vertical tasting of the 2014–2018 vintages, the 2015 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is darker and more robust, showing the intensity of the hot vintage. The palate shows a full-bodied and firm wine that is in a lovely point in its lifespan and reveals its tannins beginning to soften. The wine concludes with an intense, fruit-forward finish.

Set in a vertical tasting of the 2014–2018 vintages, the 2014 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is focused, fresh and ripe with layers of black fruits and oaks essence. Medium to full-bodied, the wine reveals layers of wilted flowers, preserved plums and a delightful dusty essence that shines from shedding its baby fat. The Cabernet concludes with an elegant finish that will drink well for the next 6 to 7 years.