2007 Corliss Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley $58.98 ST95 AG97  Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, Nov/Oct 11 (blended with 15% merlot):  Deep ruby-red.  Explosive nose offers boysenberry, redcurrant, cherry, tobacco, graphite and sandalwood.  Wonderfully silky and concentrated, with outstanding lift to its almost painfully intense berry, spice, earth and mineral flavors.  The pliant middle yields to a gripping, mineral-driven, very long finish.  A beauty, but the 2008 may well surpass it in the long run. 95 points

Tasting note – Possessing even greater depth of flavor and length than it did 9 months ago, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from Michael & Lauri Corliss is simply jaw dropping and raises the quality bar for the top red wines being produced in the Columbia Valley. Boasting an impenetrable opaque purple-color the 2007 Corliss Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a superb perfume of black currants, and blueberries, notes of grilled bread, green olive and espresso. This wines formidable core is bursting with gorgeous, perfectly ripened flavors of crème de cassis, black plum, blueberries and mineral infused chocolate that grabs the palate with force yet remains light on its feet given the level of freshness that pulls together the flawless finish. In a word, this is a near-perfect wine from passionate folks who simply will not settle for second place. Give this powerful wine 4-6 years of additional bottle age and drink it through 2030. 97 points