Rockcliffe Family 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - ~$11

I often find Cabernet Sauvignons from Washington state leaning toward the leaner side of the flavor profile, which can be a good thing in that it allows these Cabs to bring some of them more subtle varietal characteristics to the fore. Fresh & Easy's 2006 Rockcliffe Family Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley doesn't quite manage to pull this trick off.

The nose is a pleasant mixture of chocolate and toasted cinnamon spice, but the palate is rather austere, offering some cherry and blackberry set against moderate, somewhat rough tannins.

Not a bad wine, but not, as the back label proclaims, "a classic Washington State Cabernet." For that I'd stick to something like Columbia Crest's ubiquitous and very affordable Grand Estates bottling.


Score

Drinkability: 6.5/10
Price: 4/5
Total value: 10.5/15