Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Herersquo;s why a lot of Washington winemakers got excited about the rsquo;98 vintage. When Ste. Michellersquo;s basic Cabernet can be this explosively ripe, this tightly structured, this firmly balanced in its freshness, you know a lot of growers must have hit it right. The wine tastes like juice drawn out of a ripe plum skin, out of cherry skin as well; the tannins add a dark soil character, but the final taste remains with the juice. Itrsquo;s not complex, just delicious. Buy it by the case.

A polished Washington Cab thatrsquo;s generous with its spicy blueberry and currant flavors. swirling in some pepper and cola notes for added dimension on the slightly chewy finish. Tannins can use until 1999 to 2000 to soften.

On first blush, this is a big, honkinrsquo; Cabernet, all fruit, a simple blast made to please a crowd. But on closer inspection, therersquo;s harmony to the wine, cool and temperate, not at all overripe, with a structure that will benefit from development over time.

In an outstanding vintage, even the basic wines from good producers can be dazzling. The combination of price and availability on this one is too good to pass up. Itrsquo;s a seductive Cabernet, polished and plump in texture, with ripe blueberry, plum and currant flavors wrapped together with spicy oak notes. Drink it through 2005.

One of Washington Statersquo;s rare Excellent values in red wines, the medium to dark ruby-colored 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon offers a delicate blackberry-scented bouquet. This juicy, medium-bodied Cabernet reveals appealing depth to its dark fruit and fresh herb-flavored character. A structured, well-balanced, firm effort, it will be its finest between 2002ndash;2006.

More mature than one might expect from an rsquo;88. It has lovely plum and smoke flavors that continue into a long finish, suggesting that it might continue to improve through 1993 to rsquo;96, though itrsquo;s drinkable now.

This just sneaks in as varietal Cabernet Sauvignon; there is 15% Syrah, 6% Merlot, and 3% Malbec in the blend. 2007 is a fine vintage for Washington reds, and this pulls together black cherry and cassis, thick, ripe tannins, and a steely, iron ore streak that puts a spine down the middle. Good grip and concentration.