Washington

• Columbia Valley
• Horse Heaven Hills
• Red Mountain
• Wahluke Slope
• Walla Walla
• Yakima Valley

This is a very nice Cab Franc from Washington.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, tobacco and slight bell pepper.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity.  Good fruits black cherries and cherries with underlying herbal notes.  Good finish.  Slight tannins.  This works better with foods and went well with a home made pizza.  It seems still young and might get better but should easily last another 5 to ten years.  

This is an inexpensive Pinot Grigio from Washington state.  It costs about $10 which is fair.  Light white gold/copper in color.  The nose is light but mostly minerals.  Easy drinking although it finishes bitter.  Has some acidity.  If this is the option at a party, it is fine.  Drink now.  

This is a great value in Washington Cab.  Originally from younger vines in the Champoux vineyard, these wine have been made for 20+ years now.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, sandalwood, slight bell pepper.  On the palate, this has nice cassis fruit with an underlying char.  Full bodied.  A nice complexity, it takes some time (about an hour) to fully open up.  Firm tannins.  Juicy acidity.  In style, this is somewhere less ripe than Napa and more than Bordeaux.  It easily has a decade or more left.  Works great on its own or with bigger foods.  

This is doing quite well at 11 years from vintage.  It is a Washington state Cab Franc that in its youth was boisterous and ripe but has calmed down, picked up some funk and is drinking well.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, slight tobacco and baking spice.  On the palate, this has wispy tannins.  Good juicy black cherry fruit with underlying char and a bit of forest floor.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Works well on its own or with some bigger or medium foods especially roast.  

Sineann is an Oregon producer but they make wines in many places.  The vines for this wine are almost one hundred years old and are just inside the Washington border.  It is an excellent Zin, that is not full throttle but not shy either.  It ages nicely too.  Purple in color.  The nose has some spice, plenty of cherries and a bit of plums.  On the palate, there is a nice gravelly quality underneath some nice cherry fruit.  It is young and exuberant at the moment but if you prefer a more claret style, this should cruise into that in another ten years.  It will work with meats and peppery foo

One of the best Cabs from Sineann I have had.  This is classic Washington Cab.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  The nose is great with black cherries, slight fresh rubber and tarragon.  On the palate, this is deep and intense.  Black cherry fruit over spice.  It unwinds in the glass.  Firm tannins.  Drank over three nights and it was best on night three.  Long finish.  This will work with a wide variety of foods.  Probably needs about five to seven years and then should be good for fifteen after that.  If opening now, decant for six to eight hours.   

Looking for a nice value in dessert wines?  This one retails for around $15 and is nice.  Golden in color.  The nose has nice pineapple fruit, with a bit of lychee and peach.  On the palate, the pineapple carries thru.  This is sweet.  A bit of honey.  Nice to have a couple of ounces on its own.  

This is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Syrah from Cayuse Vineyard in Washington.  At eleven years from vintage it is rolling along just fine.  Pop and pour and it was drinking quite well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black cherries, slight burnt rubber/iron and a bit of a slight green herbal note (tarragon?).  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Juicy, black raspberries, black cherries with slight char underneath.  Good finish.  Worked well with roasted mushrooms.  Should have another decade left if well stored but I doubt it

Purple in color.  The nose is ok with cherries and dust.  On the palate, this is easy drinking.  Cherries with some underling spice.  Nice texture.  Nothing wrong but nothing exciting either except the price.  This is around $15 which is a nice price for a party.  

This is their basic Cabernet from a winery that makes both Washington and Oregon wines.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, sandalwood and fresh cut lumber.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  There is a fair amount of oak, but also plenty of cassis fruit.  Easy drinking.  Good finish.  For a $30 Cab, this is a nice value.  Some depth.  Needs a couple of years and drink over the next five to seven after that.