2008 Abeja Columbia Valley, Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

About This Wine

What’s in a name? When the name is Abeja, plenty.

Spanish for bee, and pronounced ah-BAY-ha, this winery in Washington’s Columbia Valley provides a reminder of times past — when farming implied a respect for the environment. The owners take great care to respect the special land they are privileged to farm.

And it shows through in the quality of their wines, including the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. “What I really like is how this wine combines the bright red and blue fruit and lingering mouthfeel of Washington State Cabernet with the nice, old-world Bordeaux characters of saddle leather, cedar and tar,” says winemaker John Abbott.

And there was a new twist to the 2008 vintage. Says Abbott: “It’s the first Cabernet we have released with a bit of Petit Verdot in the blend, which really drives the fruit and structure in the wine.” You could say that, in crafting this wine, Abbott was busy as a bee.

About Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep color and richness with the potential to age a long time, and better still if aged in oak before bottling. Classic flavors blackcurrant, plum, cherry and spice. The most popular varietal of red wine in America.

Tasting Notes

• Grape Composition:90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc
• Grape Source:Columbia Valley, Washington
• Aromas & Flavors:Boysenberry, Blackberry, Plum, Soy and Minerals
• Aging Vessels:French Oak Barrels (60% First Use) for 25 Months
• When to Drink:Now Through 2015
• Food Pairing Suggestionpulled pork and fresh steamer clams in a spicy red sauce.

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Recipes.

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  Pork Tenderloin With Tart Cherry Port And Caraway Sauce This delicious recipe from Sonoma County's J. Fritz Winery matches beautifully with almost any red wine. It makes 4 to 6 servings. Get The Recipe
  

  Cote De Boeuf For Two When you want a special dish to serve with a special red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon or a rich Rhone blend, try this recipe. As its name indicates, it makes 2 servings. Cote de Boeuf for Two Get The Recipe
  

  Beef Roast With Winter Fruit This recipe is ideal for the chilly evenings of winter, and matches beautifully with Cabernet Sauvignon or red Bordeaux. It makes 12 servings. Get The Recipe
  

  Stuffed Flank Steak With Sonoma Sausage Spinach And Pine Nuts Cabernet Sauvignon calls for hearty food, and this recipe is an ideal match. It serves 6... Get The Recipe
  

  Tuscan Style Roasted Game Hens If you're looking for a change from turkey or ham this holiday season, try this easy-to-prepare dish that matches well with both white and red wines. It serves 6... Get The Recipe
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  Beef Rib Eye With Sweet Onion Topping This dish pairs beautifully with Syrah (a.k.a. Shiraz), as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and red blends. This recipe makes 4 servings Get The Recipe
  

  Radicchio Risotto Try this dish with a big red wine such as Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon. It makes 4 servings. Get The Recipe
  

  Mustard Crusted Rack Of Lamb Try this tasty recipe, which serves 4 or more, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or a red blend containing any of the aforementioned varieties... Get The Recipe
  

  Smoked Salmon Penne Pasta In a world of "anything goes" food-and-wine pairing, we're always on the lookout for recipes that match well with either white or red wines. This is one such recipe, and it makes two servings... Get The Recipe
  

  Pan Fried Lamb Chops This recipe, which makes 4 servings, features flavors that can be enjoyed with virtually any red wine. Turn it into a complete meal with a side dish jasmine rice. Get The Recipe
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  Red Wine Bundt Cake It's not easy to match Cabernet Sauvignon with dessert. Not easy...but not impossible. Try this recipe with your favorite . . . Get The Recipe
  

  Cabernet Sauvignon Ice Cream Our friends at Alexander Valley Vineyards came up with this wonderful recipe a few years ago. We've tried it with Cabernet Sauvignon (as the recipe calls for), as well as Merlot, Primitivo, Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel... and every time, it turns out delicious! It's best made with an ice cream maker, and if you have such a machine, it's extremely easy to assemble. Enjoy! Get The Recipe
  

  Maytag Bleu T Bone Steaks We decided to tap the "Born to Grill" cookbook for this amazingly flavorful recipe for the summer. It serves 4. Get The Recipe
  

  Tomato Pesto Pasta A wonderful match with Cabernet Sauvignon, this recipe helps bring out the fruitful quality of the wine. It also matches nicely with other red wines, and serves 4. Get The Recipe
  

  Sausage Jambalaya This recipe makes a great meal, especially on a cold day. Try it with Syrah, Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon. And if you'd like to save a few fat grams, substitute turkey sausage for the beef. This recipe makes 8 servings. Get The Recipe