Washington

Country: US / Artz Vineyard Variety: Bordeaux-style Red Blend Washington Winery: Fall Line / Red Mountain This wine is Cabernet Franc and Merlot with just a smidgeon (4%) of Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. It provides aromas of earth, high-toned dried herbs, licorice, black cherry and crushed granite. The dark fruit flavors are densely packed, surrounded […]

Country: US / 8 Clones Red Willow Vineyard Variety: Syrah Washington Winery: Eight Bells / Yakima Valley Blended with 4% Viognier and 1% Grenache, this fragrant offering displays aromas of fresh flowers, herbs, green olive, huckleberry and smoked meat. The palate is ripe and fruit-forward, a bit balled up in the middle right now but […]

Country: US / Emmy Variety: Rhône-style Red Blend Washington Winery: Efeste / Wahluke Slope Mourvèdre (81%) makes up the majority of this blend with Grenache (12%) and Syrah filling it out. It leans into savory notes, with aromas of sage, dried herbs, white pepper and mineral. The flavors are plush and palate-coating, bringing a slightly […]

Country: US / Columbia Rediviva Phinny Hill Vineyard Variety: Red Blend Washington Winery: Buty / Horse Heaven Hills Made from 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Syrah, this up-front wine offers aromas of herbs, dried cherry and woodspice. The dark fruit flavors are rich, layered and focused, with the tannins tightly wound, seeming to need more […]

Country: US / Variety: Cabernet Franc Washington Winery: Barrister / Columbia Valley (WA) The flagship bottling for this winery, this brings aromas of dried herbs, dark chocolate, espresso bean, black currant and cherry. The dark fruit flavors are rich and concentrated, possessing a layered mouthfeel that captures the attention.

Country: US / Ursa Variety: Bordeaux-style Red Blend Washington Winery: Baer / Columbia Valley (WA) Equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc (40% each) with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this Stillwater Creek Vineyard wine has aromas of graphite, fresh herbs, dark coffee and cherry. It has palate-coating, layered chocolate and cherry flavors plus abundant […]

Country: US / Pheasant Run Vineyard Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon Washington Winery: Basel Cellars / Walla Walla Valley (WA) The straightforward Cabernet fruit is immersed in new oak, so the dominant flavors of smoke, toast, chocolate and espresso all seem to emanate from the barrel aging. Otherwise it is a simple and perfectly pleasant, no-frills red.

Country: US / Reserve Variety: Merlot Washington Winery: Snoqualmie / Columbia Valley (WA) Although it’s just a guess, it seems clear that Snoqualmie was the loser in 2004, when so many small wineries were helped out by Chateau Ste. Michelle, which provided them grapes during a bad freeze year. Snoqualmie probably should not have made […]

Country: US / Elise Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir Washington Winery: History / Columbia Gorge (WA) This wine comes from a new project from winemaker Melissa Burr (Stoller Estate), focusing on old-vine vineyards. This bottling comes from vines planted in 1968. The aromas are light, with notes of cherry, cigar box, dried leaf and earth. The […]

Country: US / Boushey Vineyard Variety: Grenache Blanc Washington Winery: Callan / Yakima Valley This is an impressive wine from a new producer. It’s aromatically expressive in notes of ripe apple, star fruit and pear, with lemon-pith accents. The melon and citrus flavors are rounded, fresh and clean, offering a great balance of acidity.

Country: US / Cold Creek Vineyard Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon Washington Winery: Chateau Ste. Michelle / Columbia Valley (WA) This workhorse vineyard supplies grapes to a wide variety of wines across the entire Ste. Michelle portfolio, but the vineyard-designated wines are much more limited, and they’re often the best of show. As the alcohol reaches 15.5%, […]

Country: US / Coda Variety: Bordeaux-style Red Blend Washington Winery: Cadence / Red Mountain This Coda displays fresh and bright raspberry fruit. The acids come with a crisp snap, and there’s an overall juiciness that makes it especially quaffable.