This is the second wine in a series of Washington State wines that I will be tasting through. The 1999 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve was the first (TN's posted last week).

The 1999 Cadence Tapteil Vineyard red table wine is a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 21% Cabernet Franc. I decanted this wine and consumed it over 4 hours in Vinum Bordeaux stems. Dark purple/ruby showing a slight opaque clarity. The nose is very fragrant with violets, mountain fruit and black/blue berries. In tasting this full bodied beauty I was offered penetrating flavors of Black fruits, plum, cherry, chocolate, a gravely essence (minerals), finishing with some subtle peppery licorice flavors lending to a focused and moderately lengthy finish. I was reminded of the 1995 Phelps Insignia on a lesser scale. This wine has gripping tannins that coat the mouth and will require some cellar time to mellow out. Focused, and still young the Tapteil should evolve into a magnificent red wine.
Score 90 points, with room to improve.

I've been looking for the '00 Cadence wines. Are they out yet? Anyone seen them in N. Ca. at reasonable prices?

Seek,
Agree with the assessment, especially with the improvement over time. Think Ben's wines need to cellar for several years before they really reveal what's in the bottle. We're holding all of ours for another couple of years, minimum.
Patience will be rewarded.

I met Ben early this summer on a trip to Seattle - nice man, and he was kind enough to share his Cheval and Tapteil. To say these wines are stunning is an extreme understatement. My only regret is not buying more, but duty and airport restrictions made this impossible. I only hope some day he will market in my area.
Cris