Hogue Cellars Caberent Reserve 2006- Washington Cabernet at its finest $21.95

Since making a trip to Seattle last week, where I  indulged in some of the state’s fine wine, I’ve been on a mission to find a great Washington Cabernet at a reasonable price.  It appears that I hit it on my first try because The Hogue Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Wahluke Slope Reserve is awesome for the price.

Traditionally, I’ve had two issues with Washington Cabernet and Bordeaux blends:

1. They tend to be very tight upon opening requiring extended bottle aging to reach their true potential.  This isn’t necessarily a deal killer, but I hadn’t drunk many Washington Cabernets at their peak until last week when I had an ’04 that was drinking very well.

2. Washington Cabernet and blends have weird names that make them hard to remember.

This wine takes care of the first point and although it misses on the second (how am I supposed to remember Wahluke Slope?).  I can probably get over that point with the help of some flash cards.  This wine is drinking great right now especially on the second day when it displays fantastic aromas of cedar and a rich palate of vanilla and dark fruit.  The finish lingers for what seems like an eternity, making for an all around great example of a Washington Cabernet.

Unfortunately this wine sits in a funny price point and optimally I would like to see it come in under that magic $20 number.  But saying a wine has to be under $20 is totally arbitrary and the two extra bucks neither excludes it from the value category nor does it make it a value.  What does make it a value is the quality at the price point and with that criteria, this is an indisputable value.  Watch for more Washington Cabernets and Bordeaux blends on Nickel and Dime Wine as I explore this emerging region.

Update from day 4 (the wine has been pumped when not being drunk): This wine became super chocolaty and even more rich the longer it was exposed to air.  After four days it went from a great value to a must buy.

Buy Here: Hogue Cellars 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve $21.95

Wine Advocate 90 points

“The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is purple/black in color with a nose of toasty oak, mineral, Asian spices, incense, black currant, and blackberry. Medium to full-bodied, dense, and ripe on the palate, this lengthy offering has enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years although it can be approached now.

The Hogue Cellars appears to be in a renaissance of sorts. The last time I tasted their wines I was unable to recommend any of them; times have obviously changed. It is Washington’s third largest producer (600,000 cases) and the vineyards (but not the winery) are still owned by the Hogue family.”