Expensive wine 152: 10000 Hours Red Blend 2018

This Washington state red blend shines on several levels, and especially when it comes to value

The Wine Curmudgeon drank this wine with someone who dislikes too big, over-hyped, over-made and over-done wines even more than I do. And her conclusion: “Put this on the blog!”

So the 10000 Hours Red Blend 2018 ($30, sample, 14.5%) is here, and not only because it’s well made and speaks to its Washington state terroir, but because it offers terrific value. How often do we find a $30 wine that will age for a decade?

Because the 10000 Hours, more cabernet sauvignon than anything else, will. It’s a big wine, but not so big that you need to take a nap after a couple of glasses. It holds its high alcohol quite well, and is much more balanced than I expected.

Having said that, it’s not especially subtle, but rich, direct and full. That means lots and lots of berry fruit (the winery’s tasting notes say preserves), a bit of spice and oak, enough tannins to remind you they’re there, and some nice green herbs on the finish. It’s a food wine, certainly – big red meat, as well as stews.

And, for those of you who keep track of these things, the exact blend: 56 percent cabernet, 32 percent merlot, 7 percent petit verdot, 3 percent malbec, and 2 percent cabernet franc.