Brian Carter Cellars Red Le Coursier Columbia Valley 2015

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Washington is the wine world’s next big thing! If you didn’t know, Columbia Valley is one of the major wine regions of the Pacific Northwest state, and the wines coming out of here are hashtag fire. 

This Brian Carter Cellars Red Le Coursier is a blend of all five Bordeaux varieties: merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec, and petit verdot. Le Coursier is powerful, complex, and nuanced without being overwhelming. It’s teeming with blue and black fruits, rich cocoa powder, and polished vanilla aromas. For 50% off, it’s almost too good to be true!
While many of Brian’s peers were partying, he was studying microbiology at Oregon State University and developing an appreciation for the locally-made wines. Then, he spent two years at UC Davis before winemaking stints at California’s Mount Eden Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, followed by a stint at Napa’s legendary Chateau Montelena. Yet, he felt a calling to return to the Pacific Northwest and eventually joined early Washington pioneer, Paul Thomas Winery, where his skills earned him the reputation of a winemaker to watch. Brian’s 1983 Paul Thomas cabernet took first place at a wine competition in New York City, and the competition included wine luminaries Quilceda Creek and Chateau Lafite-Rothschild. 

Brian’s success grew as his wines continued to win awards and accolades, helping him to pursue a career as a consulting winemaker for several young wineries, including Hedges Family Cellars, McCrea Cellars, Soos Creek, Silver Lake, and more. He finally created his own brand in 1997, Solesce, at Apex Winery where he resided as co-owner and winemaker. Quickly, his wines flew off the shelves, and soon Brian Carter Cellars was born.
“Le Coursier” translates from French to “courier,” which checks out. Heavily inspired by European-style blends, Brian acts as a messenger from Bordeaux to the weather-worn hills of Columbia Valley, bringing all the robust, pure, fruit-forward juiciness we love in those French blends into this Washington State wine. The 2015 Le Coursier is not for the shy – it explodes with a big, purple pool of goodness that’s chock full of flavors of blueberry pie, blackberry preserves, crushed red flowers, Amarena cherries, and undertones of warm baking spices, vanilla, and vivid cocoa. It’s too damn good, ultra-smooth and layered, and for an under $20 price tag, it’s seriously too easy to drink. It’s a behemoth of a Bordeaux red. This is a no-brainer to stock up on today!