2011 Corliss Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Nuances of shaved cedar and dusty black cherries form a perfumed bouquet as the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon slowly evolves in the glass. Built on energy, it's remarkably fresh yet potent, with tart wild berries and nervous acids adding tension throughout. Grippy and long, the 2011 falls a bit short on fruit through the finish, tapering off with medium length.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Eric Guido, Vinous
More reviews and scores
I was sorely disappointed in the 2011 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and what I thought would be one of the top wines of the vintage from barrel last year now shows a heavy handed, chunky oak profile, with overt wood, scorched earth, licorice and smoked black fruits on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it still has good mid-palate concentration, as well as good purity to its fruit, but it’s currently overwhelmed by new oak, and I’m not convinced the fruit will win this battle. I’m hoping I caught these 2011s on an off day (nevertheless, I still rated them all outstanding, just a fair click below their barrel scores), but give them a year or two in the cellar, at which point it will be much more obvious if they’re integrating the oak and will improve, or if they’ll need consumed sooner rather than later.
(aged in 70% new oak for 28 months): Bright ruby-red. High-pitched, vibrant aromas of cassis, blackberry and licorice, with less obvious oak showing today than in the Red Wine blend. Very broad, creamy and dry, boasting terrific verve and grip to its sappy black fruit, violet, licorice, bitter chocolate and mineral flavors. Very densely packed and primary today, with the very firm but noble tannins to support a long and glorious evolution in bottle. Winemaker Andrew Trio told me that he has been working hard to “bring back the aromatic qualities” of these splendid wines during their long élevage, noting that they are racked only three times in total.
The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon could possibly be the wine of the vintage. A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that will see roughly 30 months in French oak, is possesses a rock star bouquet of creme de cassis, black raspberry, graphite, chocolate, toast and underlying floral qualities to go with a full-bodied, concentrated and structured palate. Showing the hallmark textural richness of the estate, as well as gorgeous purity of fruit and masses of sweet tannin, it’s a serious effort that will have upwards of two decades of longevity. Drink now-2031. Tel.(509) 526-4400; www.corlissestates.com