Columbia Composition [Blend]
This one is danger, in some respects. Let’s examine those. Firstly, it passes the Marissa Ross test quite handily. This is definitely one of the few reds that could be considered “open & chug”. While it does much better with a touch of air time, it is silky smooth right out of the gate. I’ve had much lighter wines that were considerably less smooth than this and it really is quite amazing for a red. There is little to no bite to this, which I found especially interesting. Taste is also spectacular. The blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, so some big, bold bruisers of grapes, with the Syrah, one of my favorites, doing most of the heavy lifting here. The Cabernet is the largest percentage, but it definitely tastes and feels a bit smoother than the Cabs tend to be. There are also elements of Malbec and Petit Verdot to round things out. This entry is clearly meant to show the artistry of blending, which is done to great effect here. Varied vintages are also utilized.
The vast majority of the HSC List is from California. I don’t think it is more than everything else put together (as of this writing, there are 61 wines total on the list, 27 of which are from CA), but it is by far the single-biggest region represented on this list. It is in no danger of being surpassed, but it often overshadows another stellar U.S. entry and that of Washington, which has a lot to offer. Seeing more and more entries like this will definitely do much to get the name out there, I think, though, of course, quite a few people are already in the know.
While I wouldn’t put this quite at my overall favorite, I loved it from the first sip, right out of the gate and my appreciation has only grown since then. It is clearly a Standard, as I have bought it repeatedly, regardless of being on SPA or not (I honestly have not noticed) and the price is moderate enough that I will happily do so. This is also one of those few wines I would suggest to people who are unsure or don’t think the like either wines or reds. Very accessible.
