The following are standout wines from recent tastings.
Aluvé Primo Volo Walla Walla Valley 2012 $48
This is the inaugural release from this winery, and this Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend impresses with aromas and flavors of poblano pepper, spice, vanilla and cherry.
Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard Red Wine Horse Heaven Hills 2013 $74
Merlot and Cabernet Franc make up the bulk of this wine, which displays aromas, and flavors of earth, flowers, black plum, and green herb along with a sense of texture that captivates.
Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine Red Mountain 2013 $64
This blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc brings aromas of huckleberry, green herbs and light barrel accents. The flavors are rich and dense with chewy tannins providing support.
Animale Reserve Petite Sirah Yakima Valley 2013 $26
This wine is a brooder, with purple fruit and flower aromas that lead to pure, well-balanced tannins and acid. Put it on the dinner table to see it at its best.
Avennia Arnaut Syrah Boushey Vineyard Yakima Valley 2014 $50
High toned aromas of herb, raspberry and iron lead to a fresh, layered palate that brings a sense of vibrancy.
Brian Carter Cellars Le Coursier Red Wine Blend Columbia Valley 2012 $38
Merlot takes the lead on this Bordeaux-style blend, which opens with aromas of cocoa, dark cherry, and savory herbs. The red and black fruit flavors are well balanced with a finish that sails.
Brian Carter Cellars Solesce Red Wine Columbia Valley 2012 $65
Cabernet Sauvignon is out front on this Bordeaux-style blend. It’s tight as a drum at present, with aromas and flavors of spice, dark cherry and coffee. One for the cellar.
EFESTE Final-Final Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Columbia Valley 2013 $30
There’s a whole lot of wine packed into this bottle for this price. Generous aromas of blue and purple fruit intermingle with cherry and herb. It’s full and palate coating in feel.
EFESTE Big Papa Old Block Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2013 $60
This wine offers a medley of herb and dark fruit aromas and flavors, with lifted floral accents. One for the cellar.
Force Majeure Estate Grown Syrah Red Mountain 2014 $70
This winery’s estate vineyard is starting to stretch its legs, as shown on this bold, full bodied wine. Aromas of wildflowers and black fruit are followed by a rich, full-bodied palate with concentrated flavors.
GĂĄrd Grand Klasse Reserve Syrah Lawrence Vineyards Columbia Valley 2013 $50
The flavors of huckleberry, orange peel and flowers are full bodied and palate coating. It pulls no punches.
Gramercy Cellars Syrah Columbia Valley 2013 $40
Aromatically complex notes of violets, herb, olive, and earth lead to a supremely textured palate that is all about elegance. It lingers on the finish.
Gramercy Cellars Syrah Forgotten Hills Vineyard Walla Walla Valley 2013 $60
This wine starts out with restrained flower and raspberry aromas, with herb and smoked meat becoming more prominent over time. The palate is elegant yet layered and intense, brightened by vibrant acidity.
Kerloo Cellars Majestic Columbia Valley 2014 $24
This blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah hails from Upland, Boushey and Blue Mountain vineyards. The pure aromas of violets, raspberry, herb and purple fruit give way to plump, pure fruit flavors. It’s a steal at this price.
Rotie Cellars Northern Blend Washington State 2014 $48
This wine is a big time winner from Rotie. Aromas of green olive, flowers, blue fruit and earth are followed by rich fruit and earth flavors. It’s as much about feel as flavor.
Rotie Cellars Southern Blend Washington State 2014 $48
Grenaches is out front on this GSM blend. It offers aromas of green herbs and raspberries that lead to ripe, dazzlingly pure fruit and herb flavors.
And now for some value wines…
Chateau Ste Michelle Dry Riesling Columbia Valley 2015 $9
This wine is a consistent winner from Ste. Michelle and the 2015 vintage does not disappoint. It offers generous aromas of pear, peach, and honeysuckle followed by a dry, full palate backed by tart acidity.
Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling Columbia Valley 2015 $9
Perhaps the largest Riesling by production in the world, this wine brings the goods. Aromas of white peach, lime leaf, and flowers lead to an off-dry palate that lingers.
Chateau Ste Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2014 $15
Jammy black fruit aromas lead to full, rich dark fruit flavors. It’s a quality-to-price ratio winner.
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2014 $12
Milk chocolate, spice and cherry aromas are followed by silky, smooth fruit flavors, mixing fruit and barrel.
Helix Pomatia Columbia Valley 2013 $21
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc brings aromas of raspberries, flowers, and baking spice that lead to generous red and blue fruit flavors.
Popular Posts
-
On December 30th, Walla Walla Valley’s Basel Cellars was purchased by a group of local businessmen. The group includes individuals who fou...
-
When Kevin and Kathryn Mueller launched Virtue Cellars in 2017, they eschewed the popular winery locations of Woodinville and SoDo. Instea...
-
Another year, another challenge. Each year for these Washington wine challenges, I’ve focused on an underappreciated grape variety that ...
-
Catching up on Wine Enthusiast scores, I’ll start with the December 31st issue and move backward as quickly as I can. 111 wines reviewed in ...

Editor

Sean P. Sullivan is the editor of Washington Wine Report and a contributing editor at Wine Enthusiast magazine, covering Washington and Idaho. He has been writing about and reviewing Washington wine since 2005.


Labels Cloud
14 Hands
2010 Initiatives
Abbey Page
Abeja
Adams Bench
Airfield Estates
Alder Ridge
Alexandria Nicole
Alternative Closures
aMaurice Cellars
Amavi
Ambassador
Ancestry
Ancient Lakes
Andrew Januik
Andrew Will
Anelare
Angel Vine
AntoLin
Apex Cellars
Ardor
Arlington Road Cellars
Array
Ash Hollow
Ashan
Auclair
Avennia
Baer Winery
Balboa
Barnard Griffin
Barons V
Barrage
Barrister
Beresan
Bergevin Lane
Betz Family Winery
Board Track Racer
Bonair Winery
Bookwalter
Boomtown
Boudreaux Cellars
Brian Carter
Bridgman
Bunchgrass Winery
Bunnell Family
Buried Cane
Buty
Cadaretta
Cadence
Cairdeas
Cana's Feast
Candy Mountain
Canoe Ridge
Canon del Sol
Cartel Wine Group
Cascade Valley Wineries
Castillo de Feliciana
Castle Rock Winery
Cave B
CAVU
Cayuse Vineyards
Cedergreen Cellars
Charles and Charles
Charles Smith Wines
Chateau Rollat
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Chelan Estate
Chelan Ridge
Chinook
City Limits
Cloudlift Cellars
Clubhouse Cellars
Co Dinn
Col Solare
College Cellars
Columbia Crest
Columbia Gorge
Columbia Winery
Concentric Wine Project
Cooper Wine Company
Corked Counter
Corked Wines
Corliss Estates
Corvidae
Corvus Cellars
Cote Bonneville
Cougar Crest
Covey Run
Covington Cellars
Crayelle Cellars
Cuneo Cellars
CZ Cellars
Darby
Daven Lore
DeLille
Delmas
Desert Wind
Distant Bay
DiStefano
Domaine Pouillon
Domaine Ste Michelle
Donedei
Double Canyon
Doubleback
Dowsett Family Winery
DuBrul Vineyard
Duck Pond Cellars
Duckhorn
Dumas Station
Dunham
Dusted Valley
Dynasty Cellars
Efeste
Eight Bells
El Corazon
Eliseo Silva
Elsom Cellars
Ensemble Cellars
Envious Cellars
Erath
Eritage
Estrin Estates
Eyrie
Fall Line
Falling Rain
Fidelitas Winery
Fielding Hills WInery
Figgins
Five Star Cellars
Fjellene
Flying Dreams
Flying Trout
For a Song
Force Majeure
Forgeron
Full Pull Wines
Furion Cellars
Gard Vintners
Giant Wine Co
Gifford-Hirlinger
Gilbert
Glencorrie
Goedhart
Golden Ridge
Goose Ridge
Gordon Brothers
Gorman
Gramercy Cellars
Grand RĂŞve
Grosgrain
Guardian
Hard Row
Harvest 2010
Harvest 2011
Harvest 2012
Harvest 2013
Harvest 2014
Harvest 2015
Harvest 2016
Harvest 2017
Harvest 2018
Harvest 2019
Hawks View
Haystack Needle
Heaven's Cave
Hedges Family Estate
Helix
Hestia Cellars
Hogue Cellars
Hoodsport
Hors Catégorie
Horse Heaven Hills
Horsepower Vineyards
Hyatt Vineyards
Idilico
Intrinsic
Isenhower Cellars
Januik Winery
JB Neufeld
JM Cellars
Jones of Washington
Juliette's Dazzle
K Vintners
Kaella Winery
Kerloo
Kevin White
Kiona
Kontos Cellars
Kyra Wines
L'Ecole
Lake Chelan AVA
Lantz Cellars
Latitude 46 North
Laurelhurst Cellars
Lauren Ashton
Lawrelin
Leonetti Cellar
Liberty Bay Cellars
Lobo Hills
Locati Cellars
Lodmell Cellars
Lone Birch
Lone Canary
Long Shadows
Lost River Winery
Magnificent Wine Company
Maison Bleue
Manu Propia
Mark Ryan Winery
Maryhill
Matthews Estate
McCrea Cellars
McKinley Springs
Mercer Estates
Michael Florentino
Milbrandt Vineyards
Modern Wine Project
Monesia's Song
Morrison Lane
Mosquito Fleet
Mountain Dome
Naches Heights
Naches Heights AVA
Napeequa Vintners
Native Sun
Nefarious
Nelms Road
Nicholas Cole Cellars
No Girls
Nodland
Northstar
Northwest Wine Round-up
Nota Bene
Novelty Hill
NW Totem Cellars
NW VIne Project
NxNW
Obelisco Estate
Olsen Estates
OS Winery
Otis Kenyon
Ott and Murphy
Owen Roe
Pacific Rim
Palencia
Palouse
Pamplin
Pandora
Parejas
Passion
Patterson
Paul Gregutt
Pendulum
Pepper Bridge
Phylloxera
Pic of the Vine
Plumb Cellars
Pomum Cellars
Pondera
Portteus
Pour Me
Powers
Proletariat Wine Company
Proper
Prospice
Puget Sound
Purple Star
Quilceda Creek
Ramseyer Vineyards
Randall Harris
Rasa Vineyards
Red Diamond
Red Mountain
Red Willow
Reininger
Renegade
Result of a Crush
Rex Hill
Reynvaan Family Vineyards
RiverAerie
Riverhaven Cellars
RMV Cellars
Robert Ramsay
Robison Ranch Cellars
Ross Andrew
Rotie
Royal Slope
Rulo Winery
Russell Creek WInery
Rusty Grape Vineyard
Ryan Messer
Ryan Patrick
Sageland Vineyards
Saint Laurent
Salida Wines
Salmon Harbor
San Juan Vineyards
Sandhill
Sapolil Cellars
Savage Grace
Saviah Cellars
Scarborough
Screwcaps
Seattle Area Wineries
Seufert
Seven Hills Winery
Shady Grove Winery
Sheridan
Silvara
Silver Bell
Silver Lake Winery
Sineann
Six Prong
Skylite Cellars
Sleight of Hand
Smasne Cellars
Snipes Gap Vineyards
Snipes Mountain
Snoqualmie
Sockeye
Sodovino
Sol Stone
somme de parties
sonoris
Soos Creek
Sparkman Cellars
Spindrift
Spokane Area
Spring Valley
Steele Wines
Stella Fino
Stevens Winery
Stomani Cellars
Stonecap
Stottle
SuLei Cellars
Sweet Valley Winery
Swiftwater
Syncline Cellars
Syrah
SYZYGY
Tagaris
Tamarack Cellars
Tefft
Tempus
Tenor Wines
Tero Estates
Terra Blanca Winery
The Burn of Columbia Valley
The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater
Three Rivers Winery
Thurston Wolfe
Tildio
Townshend Cellar
Tranche
Treveri
Trust
Tulpen Cellars
Two Mountain
Two Vintners
Upland Estates
Va Piano Vineyards
Valdemar Estates
Viento Wines
Vin du Lac
Vinyl Wines
Virtual tasting
W.T. Vintners
Wahluke Slope
Walla Walla Valley
Walla Walla Vintners
Walter Dacon
Washington Hills
Waterbrook
Waters
Waving Tree
White Bluffs
Whitestone
Whitman Cellars
William Church
Willow Crest
Wilridge Winery
Wind Rose Cellars
Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthusiast Scores
WineGirl Wines
Wines of Substance
Woodhouse Wine Estates
Woodinville Wine Cellars
Woodinville WIneries
Woodward Canyon Winery
Yakima Valley
Yellow Hawk Cellar
Zerba Cellars
Zero One Vintners

Blog Archive
-
▼
2016
(73)
-
▼
October
(7)
- Pic of the Vine - October 2016
- Wines of the Month - October 2016
- Northwest Wine Roundup October 15th to 21st 2016
- Northwest Wine Round-up October 8th to 14th 2016
- Northwest Wine Round-up October 1st to 7th 2016
- Northwest Wine Round-up September 22nd 30th 2016
- A look at the first six weeks of Washington's harvest
-
▼
October
(7)

No comments:
Post a Comment
Your comment will be published after it has been moderated.