You can add this Castle Rock Cabernet to the growing list of value Cabs from Washington state. Dark, earthy and tannic, it compensates for the rusticity with black cherry, black tea and black licorice streaks. Just the ticket for a burger or flank steak. ——P.G.(4/1/2011)—— 87

This is a slip of a wine, offering light plum and tart berry and firm acids. The tannins are proportionate and the wine neither reaches too far nor falls short on flavor. Cabernet at this price is generally thin, green and weedy; this one isn’t.——P.G.(12/31/2008)—— 87

Though Castle Rock is a California winery, this is a Columbia Valley wine; they purchase the juice in Washington and bottle in California. Despite the generic feel to the package, this is the real deal: Smooth and appealing plum and pie cherry fruit is distinctly marked with cinnamon and light cocoa. Substantive and seamless, it carries well into a lingering finish of fine-grained tannins.——P.G.(4/1/2006)—— 88