Washington

Country: US / Variety: Merlot Washington Winery: Helix by Reininger / Columbia Valley (WA) This 100% Merlot is full bodied and juicy, and it offers a sappy red-berry flavor. There’s a nice dash of spice, and it demonstrates good balance overall. It needs an hour or so of airing before it really opens up.

Country: US / Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon Washington Winery: Acre Twenty-one / Columbia Valley (WA) The plum and blue fruit aromas and flavors don’t seem entirely varietal but this still offers plenty of appeal. It’s lightly sweet with a squeeze of tannins.

Country: US / Variety: Chardonnay Washington Winery: Tamarack Cellars / Columbia Valley (WA) Aromatic for the variety, this wine shows notes of apple and pear. It’s lightly spritzy with an almost unctuous feel.

Country: US / Variety: Chardonnay Washington Winery: DaMa / Columbia Valley (WA) A full, fruity, slightly hot Chardonnay. The barrel aging—all French, 60% new—brings the expected toastiness. This is a solidly made, fruit-forward style, immediately ready for drinking.

Country: US / Mélange Blanc Variety: White Blend Washington Winery: Waterbrook / Columbia Valley (WA) Off-dry with a candied orange character, this is indeed a mélange, including portions of seven different white wine grapes. It’s an interesting wine, though might prove a bit challenging to match to food. Perhaps a curry?

Country: US / Variety: Sauvignon Blanc Washington Winery: Hogue / Columbia Valley (WA) A dry, slightly washed-out Sauvignon Blanc, with varietally correct flavors of apple and herb. Thins out quickly, but a decent quaffer at this price.

Country: US / Blanc de Blancs Variety: Sparkling Blend Washington Winery: Domaine Ste. Michelle / Columbia Valley (WA) Yeasty and noticeably sweet, with frothing bubbles. Nice package; simple flavors.

Country: US / Traditions Variety: Merlot Washington Winery: Milbrandt / Washington There’s lots of flavor going on here for a modest price. It starts with sharp, well-defined red fruit, tight and acidic, but interesting and nuanced. There’s a pretty fair streak of vanilla, which suggests some sort of oak chip treatment, but it fills out […]

Country: US / Collaboration Series Variety: Viognier Washington Winery: Force Majeure / Red Mountain Made in the rich, ripe, over-the-top style that winemaker Mark McNeilly uses for his own Mark Ryan Viogniers, this is a superconcentrated wine with more than a passing resemblance to limoncello. Along with that comes notes of Key lime, candied pineapple […]

Country: US / Tribute Red Variety: Red Blend Washington Winery: Kestrel / Yakima Valley This blend of Merlot and Mourvèdre melds fruit from the Kestrel View and Olsen Vineyards. Bursting with mixed plum and cherry flavors, it’s accented by a spice note and a streak of nougat.

Country: US / Variety: Merlot Washington Winery: Januik / Columbia Valley (WA) Cocoa, plum and spice aromas are followed by lush blue-fruit flavors. Vanilla notes are speckled throughout.

Country: US / Variety: Sauvignon Blanc Washington Winery: Ded.Reckoning / Columbia Valley (WA) This wine comes from Woodinville Wine Cellars. It displays aromas of lemongrass, custard and tropical fruit. The flavors are ripe and full bodied, lingering on the finish.