Gravel Bar, Red Mountain (Columbia Valley, Washington) Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

 I don’t hesitate to jump at a Red Mountain wine priced in the mid-$20 range.  The quality of wines coming from this small Columbia Valley AVA have always impressed me.  Red Mountain wines are known for power and this Cabernet Sauvignon shows powerful red and black fruit with rich milk chocolate, tobacco, cedar, and vanilla notes.  Gravel Bar has been in the Washington wine scene for almost forty years and is able to use their network of connections to source high-quality fruit while simultaneously avoiding the high start-up costs that many newer wineries face.