As any of my blog readers must know by now, I favor Washington State red wines over California because I believe they provide a better Q.P.R. (Quality to Price Ratio) for the consumer. During the past holiday season I had a chance to demonstrate this to my guests.

During the holiday season, many people come in looking for California “heavy hitters”—the big Napa Cabernets that can run between $60 and $100 per bottle. They’re impressive wines, which is why people buy them—they know that giving a gift of a “big” Napa Cab in that price range will be greatly appreciated by the recipient.

I happened to have a bottle open of the new 2008 Fall Line Yakima Valley 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, rated 91 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Fall Line Winery is owned and operated by winemaker Tim Sorenson and his wife, Nancy Rivenburgh. They are both retired college professors now focusing 100% on wine. They only produce 2,000 cases of this particular wine.

I was testing the wine for my own personal review and thought I’d do some “real world” testing to see how it stood up to more expensive California Cabernets to someone besides me. In previous vintages Fall Line Cabs required lots of decanting before you can approach them. This 2008 had aromas of lavender, black berry fruits and Asian spices. On the palate the wine was silky, fruit driven and the tannins were ripe. This was a beauty.

I poured my guests a sample of the Fall Line, but I told them it was an $80 Napa Cabernet. They tasted it and each one had the same response: "Wow, that's a steal for only $80. That's better than any Napa Cab I have ever tasted and I will take a bottle." I then revealed the truth: it wasn't a Napa Cab but a 2008 100% Cabernet, with no blending, from Washington State, and told them the price--$27.99 a bottle.  

Their jaws dropped. They said "That wine is only $27.99?" I replied "Now you know why I stand on my soap box every day and tout Washington State wines." Some took six bottles, some took a case and will be back for more. Their final goodbye was: "In all my years of buying Big Napa Cabs, I never thought you can get a wine of that quality and elegance for under $80 a bottle." 

I love being right.

Guest blogger Larry Baker is the wine consultant at our Pembroke Pines store.