Barnard Griffin

2000 Columbia Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon
After tasting this wine and knowing that it sells for only $17 a bottle I immediately had the following scenario play through my mind, and I call it “If I worked at the Barnard Griffin tasting room”.


Scene 1:
Me: “Hey folks, welcome to our tasting room, I’m going to be pouring our 2000 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon today”.

Guests: “Oh great, very nice. Thank you.”

Me: “Little for you, yep let me get you some, of course I won’t forget you down on the end.”

Guests: “Hey pretty good, nice aroma, awesome black cherry flavors.”

Me: “Yep you all love it don’t you? Of course you do, it’s pleasing juice that combines some thick pumped up fruit with a mild and pleasant smoky finish. Now guess how much it cost.”

Guests: “Well maybe $24. I’ll say $29-$30.”

Me: “NO!! It’s $17, Ha-ha. That’s right, great juice for $17. Now give me your orders right now, pick up a case or get the HELL out of my tasting room. This stuff isn’t going to last forever. Get. Yea you sissies, run. All right you nice 8 folks that stayed, I have your cases right over here, step up and make it quick. I have more thirsty guests waiting outside, speed it up”.

Well I guess that is why I don’t work there. I would really have a hard time keeping things under control when tasting this Cab around potential customers.

I love the price tag. I love the Columbia Valley region, and I have loved Barnard Griffin wines in the past and now I love the 2000 Cab. That’s a lot of love folks, but I’m sure you can handle it.

This was a joyride of a soft Cabernet to get wrapped up in. The medium body and bright forward dark fruit shows off its blackberry and currant flavors encompassed by a balanced acidity and a soft, but coating, mouthfeel. All these nice components mix well to give this Cab some serious charm. Lite dusty oak can be found intertwined through out this bottle and the fruit ends on the finish with a soft plum and smoky finish.

This wine is meant to drink now but could handle a few years lying down if you want to let your case have some time to relax in the cellar. I would max out the cellar time to 2-3 years though. The tannins are mild and balanced right now.

Winemaker Rob Griffin has been making Cabernet in Washington for 20+ years and has done a nice service to us all in presenting this 2000 Cab for about $17. Barnard Griffin winery is located in eastern Washington just a bit east of the Yakima Valley AVA, and is making its mark with many of their wines. They definitely make a mark on me whenever I pick up one of their bottles.

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