Columbia Winery Rolls Out New Label, New Wines

Woodinville’s Columbia Winery has a new label and four nicely priced wines produced by winemaker Sean Hails that have recently been released.

Hails is an Ontario, Canada native who gained experience in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley and California before moving to Columbia in 2012.

Here are my tasting notes on the wines, each of which retails for about $14:

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon: This approachable, flavorful cab is filled with beautiful dark, black fruit aromas and flavors including cherry, berry, and currant. It’s a natural to pair with almost anything beef.

2012 Chardonnay: Do you like your Chardonnays big, buttery and full-bodied? This one easily has you covered with a mouthful of pineapple, baked apple and tropical fruits. The finish is round and lengthy with accents of toasted coconut and vanilla.

Non-Vintage Composition: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and a handful of other varietals join forces to produce this bold, hefty red wine blend. Aromas of coffee bean and chocolate lead off, with somewhat brighter red fruits of cherry, cranberry and raspberry on the palate.

2012 Merlot: Lovely blueberry and floral aromatics along with cranberry and pomegranate flavors highlight this Columbia Valley Merlot. The wine carries a bit of the plush, classic Merlot character you’d expect with just a bit of an edgy finish to provide it with a bit of lift.