If you savor elegant, smooth and complex wines, you’ll take pleasure in these Top Wine Picks from our Washington vs. The World series. Below we feature four styles of Washington wine: Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling and Cotes du Rhône.
GRENACHE » Try if you enjoy spicy, berry-driven reds such as those from Sardinia, Italy
What You Should Know: Wines from the Italian island of Sardinia labeled “Cannonau di Sardinia D.O.C.” are made from Grenache. Grown on high elevation, mountainous slopes, the name for the Cannonau grape literally translates to Grenache. Today this grape is one of the most largely planted in the world. It’s recognized in blind tastings for its distinctive red berry and white pepper spice notes and soft tannins. Top shelf bottlings like these below are becoming ever popular in Washington.
L’Ecole Nº 41 2014 Stone Tree Vineyard Grenache, $36
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
This single-vineyard version from the meticulously farmed Stone Tree Vineyard is elegant, silky and focused, wrapped in a blanket of steeped raspberry, red plum and strawberry fruit flavors backed by enchanting nuances of anise, warm stone and mineral spice that echo on the earthy finish.
www.lecole.com
K Vintners 2014 “The Boy” Grenache, $50
Editor’s Choice – Extraordinary (96-100 pts.)
Fermented with 100% whole cluster fruit and aged in neutral oak. Supple and pure, there’s a transcendent lush core of red berries and currants that meld with dried sage, bay leaf, tobacco, olive, white pepper and loam. The immense depth on the mid-palate carries through the long finish, extended by light iron underpinnings.
www.kvintners.com
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2012 Estate Grenache, $42
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
Crafted from premium fruit grown at Ambassador Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA. Loaded with spice, white pepper and sage, the bright notes of dried strawberry, cherry and blueberry mingle with cedar shavings and undertones of light caramel that carry through the juicy, spice-laden finish.
www.ambassadorwinery.com
Milbrandt Vineyards 2012 Grenache Vineyard Series, $28
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
A stand-out from the winery’s Vineyard Series collection. Pure and regal, with rich raspberry, blackberry and strawberry fruit layered with caramel, dark chocolate and savory elements of leather, white pepper and dried herbs on the complex finish.
www.milbrandtvineyards.com
CABERNET SAUVIGNON » Try if you enjoy elegant and powerfully-structured reds such as those from Bordeaux
What You Should Know: Grown around the world, the origins of Cabernet traces to the Bordeaux wine region of France. Often hailed as “the king” of wine grapes, this major component of Bordeaux wine is a treasured commodity. In Washington, Cabernet is the most widely planted red grape variety. It is commonly blended with small amounts of one or more Bordeaux varietals such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot for added depth and skillful balance. These top picks from Washington producers easily rival some of Bordeaux’s finest.
Upchurch Vineyard 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, $70
Editor’s Choice – Extraordinary (96-100 pts.)
From DeLille Cellars’ veteran winemaker, Chris Upchurch, comes this rich and pure version under his own eponymous label. Generous structure and fresh acidity pulsate with gravelly tinged flavors of cassis, blackberry, raspberry, violet, anise, sweet tobacco and earth. Firm, stylish tannins wade through the focused, long finish.
www.upchurchvineyard.com
Alta Cellars 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, $42
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
Aged 36 months in French oak, the fruit for this fine Cabernet came from Sagemoor and Weinbau vineyards. Muscular and textural, with bold tannins, powerful acidity and red fruit running through flavors of savory herbs of rosemary, sage, and thyme, notes of blackberry, cassis and tobacco round out the finish.
www.altacellarswinery.com
Dunham Cellars 2012 Lewis Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, $75
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
The label on this Artist Series is graced with original artwork by Eric Dunham. Strikingly refined, regal and polished, delivering juicy flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, mint, cocoa and rose water backed by dried herbs and leather on the savory finish.
www.dunhamcellars.com
Structure Cellars 2014 “Foundation” Cabernet Sauvignon, $38
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
Aged in seasoned French oak, this reserve Cabernet is rich and silky, abounding with lush seamless dark fruit flavors of black cherry, raspberry, cassis and pomegranate highlighted with tobacco leaf, sage, and glossy tannins that play out on the extended finish.
www.structurewines.com
RHÔNE VARIETAL BLENDS » Try if you enjoy reds with complex berry and savory notes like Côtes du Rhône-Villages
What You Should Know: As the appellation’s name implies, Côtes du Rhône-Villages are a handful of villages dotting the southern Rhône region of France that adhere to strict winemaking criteria to achieve high quality wines. The wines are red blends of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre as well as smaller amounts of varieties like Counoise and Cinsault. These varieties perform outstandingly in Washington, where winemakers are producing tasty world-class versions.
Cairdeas Winery 2014 Caislén an Pápa, $45
Editor’s Choice – Extraordinary (96-100 pts.)
This Grenache-forward blend is the winery’s take on a Chateauneuf du Pape version. Lush, solidly built and generous, with a briary edge to the dense flavors of strawberry and cherry bearing savory notes of white pepper, bay leaf, tar and crushed pebbles. Pillowy tannins grace the long, complex finish.
www.cairdeaswinery.com
Walter Dacon 2012 GSM, $38
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
A rich and engaging blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre aged in oak barrels for three years. Supple and pure, with immaculate black cherry fruit framed with cigar box, licorice and dried savory herbs. This polished red wine finishes smooth and balanced, with satiny tannins that prolong the elegant finish.
www.walterdaconwines.com
Tenet Wines 2014 “Tenet” GSM, $70
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
Well-packed, brimming with solidly-ripe flavors of dense blackberry and black cherry paste enlivened by fresh acidity coursing through brambly underpinnings of tobacco, graphite, olive and savory herbs. Powerful, yet smooth and elegant with iron notes and sweet tannins cascading through the finish.
www.tenetwines.com
Kevin White Winery 2014 La Fraternité, $28
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
An exciting blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah sourced from three top vineyards in the Yakima Valley. Lustrous, showing purity of fruit and compelling flavors of macerated raspberry, wild strawberry, black cherry and rose petal. Loamy earth notes mingle on the juicy, long finish.
www.kevinwhitewinery.com
RIESLING » Try if you enjoy enjoy aromatic, crisp whites such as those from Mosel, Germany
What You Should Know: As the appellation’s name implies, Côtes du Rhône-Villages are a handful of villages dotting the southern Rhône region of France that adhere to strict winemaking criteria to achieve high quality wines. The wines are red blends of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre as well as smaller amounts of varieties like Counoise and Cinsault. These varieties perform outstandingly in Washington, where winemakers are producing tasty world-class versions.
Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2015 Riesling, $10
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (86-90 pts.)
Latah Creek has made Riesling for 34 years and this one is an incredible value. This medium sweet version opens with appealing flavors of ripe apple, baked pear, ginger, honey and a spritz of effervescence behind the crisp, minerally-driven finish.
www.latahcreek.com
Silvara Vineyards 2014 Riesling, $22
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
Leavenworth is home to the winery, and fruit for this Riesling was sourced from Cruz Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. Refreshing and crisp with aromas of limestone and peach that opens to flavors of apple, lemon-lime and orange blossom with mineral notes lingering on the zesty yet fine-tuned finish.
www.silvarawine.com
Rocky Pond 2014 Clos CheValle Vineyard Riesling, $19
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (86-90 pts.)
Vibrant and crisp-bodied, with tantalizing aromas of honeycomb, lemon chiffon, melon and crushed pebbles. Core flavors of lemon tart and Granny Smith apple, on a light and refreshing frame, lead to a juicy mouthwatering finish with hints of lime zest and minerality.
www.rockypondwinery.com
AntoLin Cellars 2012 Estate Riesling, $15
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
AntoLin Cellars estate vineyard grapes went into this well-balanced German style Riesling. Full and textured on the palate, there’s a streak of flinty minerality and succulent flavors of lemon-lime citrus, pineapple, peach, white melon and honeysuckle.
www.antolincellars.com