Ex Libris Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2008

This is hallowed territory, the home of Baron Roy, who created the 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape appellation, the first in France. His family still possesses the 25-acre property, and makes great wines. This 2003 is traditional in style, with dark tannins over spicy, jammy fruit and ripeness. This, as is usual from Fortia, a wine that will age well.

A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec, the wine tastes like a very good Bordeaux. It is extremely French in style, with some hints of spicy oak, cedar, unsmoked high-quality cigar tobacco, black currant, and cherry. The wine is medium-bodied, displays good acidity, plenty of depth and a fleshy finish.

Latin for ldquo;from the library,rdquo; Ex-Libris is the first vintage of a Washington state project developed by New York wine importer Doug Polaner. A gentle swirl in the glass reveals a warm mist of alcohol hovering over an opulent pool of cassis that is multi-layered with vibrant currents of dark chocolate, cedar and potpourri. On the palate, velvety fruit is harmoniously balanced with polished acids and ultra-fine tannins that finish seamlessly with a lush, kirsch-like quality. This is art in a bottle, a portrait where ldquo;true soulrdquo; in a wine is unveiled. Cheers!

This is hallowed territory, the home of Baron Roy, who created the 2003

Reminiscent of a hypothetical blend of a top-notch Bordeaux and a Washington state Cabernet Sauvignon, this 2007 (78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 5.5% Malbec, and the rest Cabernet Franc) possesses more obvious structure than one generally finds in California Cabernets as well as copious amounts of creme de cassis, cedarwood, and lavender intermixed with hints of earth and oak. It is a rich, medium to full-bodied, delicious effort with a surprising personality for a wine in this price range. Drink it over the next 3-4 years, although my instincts suggest it may last longer.

The palate is full, with broad, concentrated fruit and a Bordelais structure that is often found in the Northwestrsquo;s best Cabernets. The pedigree of these great vineyards comes through clearly in this superb value Cabernet.