Possibly the best Walter Clore to date, this is firm, with substantial dark-fruit flavors swathed in swirls of loam, blood, sweet tomato and red licorice. The relative coolness of the vintage seems to have allowed extra details to emerge, and the barrel aging has been handled sensitively.——P.G.(4/1/2012)—— 91

The purple-colored 2007 Walter Clore Private Reserve Red Wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc that spent 30 months in barrel. Toasty oak, mineral, violets, spice box, herbs, and assorted black fruits set the stage for a concentrated, dense, flavorful blend that will evolve for 2-3 years and offer peak drinking from 2014 to 2022, perhaps longer. Columbia Crest, part of the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, is Washington's largest winery. It produces mammoth amounts of wine (2,000,000+ cases) at a remarkably high level of quality. A visit to the cellars reveals brilliant organization, high morale, and a sense of personal involvement by the staff that undoubtedly adds value to the finished wine.www.columbia-crest.com