Basel Cellars Estate Winery

In 2004, the winery’s estate vineyards were frozen out, so different grape sources had to be found. Washington’s Big Kahuna, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, stepped into the breach and held out a generous helping hand to Basel and many other boutiques. This is one result: pure, unblended Cabernet from Ste. Michelle’s exceptional Cold Creek vineyard. Cold Creek, located off the beaten track in the northern Yakima Valley, is one of the state’s warmest sites, and owns some of the oldest Cabernet vines in the country, since phylloxera is still unknown in Washington.

True to the vineyard’s proven capabilities, this is a firm, solid, muscular wine made in an exceptionally clean, pure, varietally focused style. The flavors are youthful and fresh, but also display the definition and supple muscularity of Cold Creek’s older vines. Tight black cherry/blackberry fruit holds the center, with nicely woven streaks of smoke and earth and licorice. This is delicious already, and as the layers of fruit smooth out the relatively stiff tannins, the wine’s dark, earthy streak flavors should continue to evolve. (580 cases produced)

Reviewed January 31, 2007 by Paul Gregutt.

Other Awards & Accolades

90 POINTS -- Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
"Deep ruby-red. Focused aromas of red berries, flowers, licorice, minerals and musky smoke. Shapely and nicely restrained on the palate, with a tight core of dark berry fruit complicated by mocha and earth. Suave and seamless wine, but firmly structured for positive evolution in the bottle."