The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon “Indian Wells” comes from the warmer Wahluke Slope AVA. It was aged for 18-20 months in American oak, 54% new. Purple-colored, it reveals an attractive perfume of cedar, tobacco, spice box, black currant and blackberry liqueur. This leads to a medium-bodied Cabernet with ample ripe black fruit flavors, decent depth, and moderate length. It should evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2020. Tel. (425) 415-3300; www.ste-michelle.com

Here at last are the flavors that have been missing from Ste. Michelle Cabs for some time. This is crisply structured, varietally spot-on Cabernet. The ripe—but not jammy—fruit flavors of blackberry and black plum are amplified with spicy cinnamon from aging in American oak. There is a hint of chalkiness in the way the acids hit the palate, but otherwise this is picture-perfect, with well-delineated tannins and some delicious Asian spices on the finish.——P.G.(8/1/2007)—— 89