I’ll make this suggestion about WA state cab and see if you guys agree. It tends to be lighter fruit, heavy oak, yet still green and vegetal on the nose. Next time you open one of the Columbia Crest bottles, pour a glass into a nice big glass let it breathe for a few minutes before drinking and see if you can detect that. Generally speaking green bell pepper is NOT a hallmark of good cab. Not all have it, nor does a certain cab have it every year, but in general WA cabs have it very strongly, seconded by Sonoma.
Some folks don’t mind that smell. It didn’t bother me in the past, but now does. Then again, I’m a snob.
Josh