Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 is a 750ml, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley, Washington, bottled at approximately 14.5% ABV. This vintage earned 92 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and a separate 92-point score from Wine & Spirits, along with a Gold Medal at the Denver International Wine Competition — placing it among the most decorated releases in the Reserve program's history.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.5%  |  Origin: Columbia Valley, Washington  |  Vintage: 2012  |  Winery: Columbia Crest (Ste. Michelle Wine Estates)

Production & Heritage

Columbia Crest, founded in 1983 and located in Paterson, Washington, operates under the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates umbrella. The 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from three premier vineyard sites — Beverly, Shaw, and Stone Tree — all within the greater Columbia Valley AVA. Aged primarily in French oak with a small portion of American oak, the wine was produced in the winery's Petit Chai, a dedicated facility described as a "winery within a winery" where less than one percent of grape yields qualify for the Reserve tier. Only 4,200 cases were produced.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with graphite and violet before unfolding into ripe blueberry, black currant, and barrel-driven caramel. A subtle spice-box complexity emerges alongside hints of chocolate as the wine breathes.

Taste: The palate entry is saturated and concentrated, with black currant and plum fruit dominating the early stages. Mid-palate, dark chocolate and baking spice layer in, supported by firm but resolved tannins from the extended oak aging. There is real density here without heaviness.

Finish: The finish is long and textured, tapering with notes of mocha, dried cherry, and a lingering graphite minerality. The oak integration is seamless, with barrel spice receding into the fruit rather than overriding it.

How to Drink the 2012 Reserve

This wine is at its best served neat in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass at 60–65°F; decanting for 30–60 minutes will open the more reticent aromatics of a wine now over a decade in bottle. While primarily a sipping wine, its structure and dark fruit profile make it suitable for a few cocktail-adjacent preparations: a classic Sangria built with dark stone fruit and citrus plays well with the cherry and plum notes; a Mulled Wine during colder months benefits from the existing spice-box character; and a simple Red Wine Spritzer with sparkling water can highlight the fruit without masking the oak complexity.

Best For

• Gifting a Washington State wine enthusiast with a critically acclaimed vintage
• Anchoring a vertical tasting of Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet vintages
• Pairing with a bone-in ribeye or braised short rib dinner
• Cellaring as part of a curated Pacific Northwest wine collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 2012 Reserve taste like? It leads with concentrated black currant and plum, layered with dark chocolate, graphite, and barrel spice, finishing with mocha and dried cherry on a firm tannic frame.

How does the 2012 Reserve compare to Chateau Ste. Michelle Reserve Cabernet? Both wines originate from Columbia Valley and share the same parent company, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, but Columbia Crest's Reserve program draws from a smaller pool — less than one percent of yields — and ages in a dedicated Petit Chai facility. Chateau Ste. Michelle's Reserve Cabernet tends toward a slightly more restrained, Bordeaux-leaning style, while the Columbia Crest Reserve often shows greater fruit saturation and oak richness.

Is the 2012 Reserve good for sipping neat? Absolutely — it was built for it. With 92-point critical acclaim and over a decade of bottle age, this is a wine that rewards patient, undistracted attention in the glass.

Where is the 2012 Reserve made? It is produced by Columbia Crest in Paterson, Washington, using fruit from the Beverly, Shaw, and Stone Tree vineyards within the Columbia Valley AVA.

What foods pair well with the 2012 Reserve? Grilled lamb chops benefit from the wine's graphite and spice; aged cheddar mirrors the tannic structure; braised short ribs match the dark fruit intensity; dark chocolate desserts echo the mocha finish; and roasted portobello mushrooms complement the earthy undertones.

What sizes does the 2012 Reserve come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is the 2012 Reserve worth the price? It positions as a premium Reserve-tier wine from Washington State, and dual 92-point scores from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and Wine & Spirits, combined with limited 4,200-case production, represent strong value within the broader landscape of similarly rated Cabernet Sauvignons.

Why the 2012 Reserve?

The 2012 vintage is widely regarded as one of the stronger recent years in Columbia Valley, and this wine's dual 92-point scores and Denver International Wine Competition Gold Medal reinforce that standing. Produced from less than one percent of Columbia Crest's total grape yields and aged in a dedicated small-lot facility, the Reserve program represents the winery's most selective work. At just 4,200 cases, supply has thinned considerably over the past decade, making remaining bottles increasingly scarce. For collectors and enthusiasts of Washington Cabernet Sauvignon, this bottling stands as a benchmark of what Columbia Valley fruit can achieve with rigorous selection and thoughtful oak treatment.