2004 Robert Karl Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Mission Codename: North By Northwest

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Explore the Columbia Valley AVA for a spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Robert Karl Cellars

Wine Subject: 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker: Joe Gunselman

Backgrounder: The Columbia Valley AVA is the largest appellation in Washington state and is located just east of Seattle. Being inland from the coast, the Columbia Valley actually enjoys more days of sunshine than Napa Valley and is quite dry with regard to rainfall. Within the Columbia Valley are the Yakima Valley AVA and Walla Walla Valley. The bulk of the wine production in the region is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark purple in color with a medium inky quality and purple edges. The legs on this wine are thick and slow indicative of a fuller-bodied wine.

Smell – Medium intensity of nose with subtly balanced red fruit, oak and floral rose petals. As this wine opens up a distinct aroma of fresh sweet figs emerges.

Feel – Dry but very smooth and full-bodied with solid tannic structure that doesn’t overpower the layered flavors.

Taste – Subtle red and black fruits, including ripe cherries and blackberries with a hint of oak, black pepper and bay leaf. As this wine opens up, hints of cocoa emerges

Finish – A fantastic long and smooth finish with its composite flavors slowly fading with a touch of cinnamon.

Conclusion – This is a delicious Cab that belongs on your personal wine list. The Wine Spies loved the 2003 vintage of this same wine and during the review, we compared the two. The 2004 is quite different from the 2003, showing increased sophistication and elegance in its flavor and presentation. This wine is fully worthy of its awards and accolades, and personally, we would rate this wine higher.

Guest Review by Agent Baco Noir:

This Columbia Valley Cabernet blend is gentle on the fruit, where blackberry and cinnamon aromas predominate. Overtones of rose, asparagus and bay leaf linger and a top note of oak hints at the use of new French barrels, but does not distract from the overall fragrance. On the palate, tannins and acidity appear only on the long dry finish where flavors of cocoa, black pepper and dried fig linger. This is an excellent wine to be sipped and explored.

Mission Report:

Given the world situation as of recent, we haven’t had that luxury and we are always having to counter the O.D.S.W. (Only Drink Supermarket Wines – our arch nemesis in the wine world) This has kept us busy mostly in California, but also in France and Italy.

When H.Q. suggested I visit Spokane to investigate the latest vintages of from the Columbia Valley I jumped at the opportunity. Finally, a mission that I could let my guard down for a few minutes to enjoy the wine… and perhaps a nice bike ride through the rolling hills outside of Spokane. It would be the perfect opportunity to see the terroir up close and personal while blowing off a little stress.

A few miles southwest of town, I hit some vineyards. The scenery was terrific. Most folks don’t realize that the Columbia Valley area gets less rain than Napa with an almost perfect growing climate. I was lost in the moment, pure joy, outside surrounded by freshly harvested vines, cool clean air. Perfect, or so I thought.

Why just then I decided to look back at the road from which I came, I can’t say. Call it intuition, or perhaps luck. Bearing down on me was a pack of cyclists, wearing all black. It wasn’t until they got closer that I saw the O.D.S.W. logos. Instinctively knowing this was going to turn out bad, I quickly sprinted off and rode as hard and fast I could.

Coming across another cyclist, as I speed away, he indicated to follow him. Skeptical, but under severe pressure of the O.D.S.W. peloton behind me, we worked together and paced ourselves away in a solid breakaway.

It was not until we were long clear of the O.D.S.W. that I realized I was saved by Dr. Joseph Gunselman from Robert Karl Cellars. Dr. Joe was familiar with the O.D.S.W. for his great wines are the antidote to the boring and always less than spectacular wines that are commonly available.

After tasting the 2004 vintage of the Robert Karl Cabernet Sauvignon, I can’t see how anyone would be satisfied by lesser wines. This is a fantastic wine, even better, in this spies opinion than the amazing 2003.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Robert Karl tasting room in Spokane Washington can be seen in this satellite photo.