Washington Wines

Washington Wines
It’s far too easy to forget about other parts of the United States when California refuses to stop hogging the spotlight, but don’t be fooled – Washington and certain other regions can be just as profound and impressive as a place like Napa Valley. In less recent times, Washington was focused almost exclusively on creating delicious, refreshing whites, but their repertoire has since incorporated some classic French varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Today, the region offers a diverse and compelling selection of fine wines, perfect for any curious soul or experienced collector.
One of the most interesting parts of Washington wine culture is how various producers fight the weather and provide a stable environment for their grapes. From special irrigation methods to “dry farming” techniques and the use of wind turbines, they’ve gone to some impressive lengths to deal with what would otherwise ruin almost every harvest. Every successful vintage is a testament to their tenacity and passion, and you can definitely feel it in the wine itself.
The flavor notes and aromatic traces are too numerous to list off, but you can expect to encounter a mixture of lush, juicy raspberries, blackberries, potent cherries and toasted oak with earthy undertones in many of their reds. Other notable factors include a somewhat high level of acidity and bright, vibrant structures. With enough aging potential to last a decade or so at least, these wines are becoming more and more popular among investors and collectors, so make sure you stock up while supplies hold!
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2001 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon97RPA smidge more evolved than the 2002, the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, mostly from the famed Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Hea..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $229.00
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2002 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon98RPAlmost as good as the 2003, the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc that spent 22 months in 100% new French oak. Its youth..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $249.00
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2004 Cayuse Camaspelo94WEThis Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cab Franc blend is drinking very well at three plus years of age, with plenty of sweet fruit wrapped around the herbs. Bay leaf, complex herbs, ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $165.00
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2006 Cayuse Camaspelo95RPThe Bordeaux-styled reds begin with the 2006 Camaspelo. It is made up of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. The already complex perfume reveals mineral, gra..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $165.00
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2006 Cayuse Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vyd97RPThe Rhone reds begin with the 2006 Grenache God Only Knows. Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits a sensational bouquet of mineral, underbrush, mushroom, bright cherry and raspberry aroma..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $179.00
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2006 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard98RPThe deepest colored of the lineup, as well as the most powerful and concentrated, the 2006 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard is Hermitage-like with its dark, meaty core of fruit, iodine, cho..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $165.00
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2008 Cayuse Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vyd97RPThe Rhone-style wines begin with the 2008 God Only Knows Grenache, a wine raised in neutral oak puncheons. Fragrant cherries, garrigue, lavender, and exotic spices inform the nose ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $179.00
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2011 Cayuse Camaspelo95RPMore Cabernet Sauvignon dominated, the 2011 Camaspelo incorporates 20% Merlot and was aged in 50-60% new French oak. One of the few 2011s that has some upside, it offers up a smoke..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $119.00
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2011 Cayuse Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vyd96RPThe 2011 Grenache God Only Knows is shockingly good in the vintage. Sporting a big, masculine profile, with notions of lite gunpowder, ground pepper, herbs and wild strawberry and ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $125.00
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2011 Cayuse Syrah en Cerise98WEThe immediate impression is of savory umami aromas pierced with pine needle and sage highlights. Red and black licorice, along with sweet cured meats, bring complexity to fruit fla..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $135.00
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2011 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah The Tribe Vineyard98RPThe 2011 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, which comes from a vineyard close to the En Chamberlin Vineyard, offers a classic northern Rhone-like profile of blackberry and black currant fru..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $175.00
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2012 Cayuse Camaspelo97RPA blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot, the 2012 Camaspelo is more refined and elegant than the Lovers release, showing a seamless, elegant profile to go with lots of dar..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $169.00
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2012 Cayuse Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vyd96RPStructured and backward, the 2012 Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vineyard offers lots of framboise, black cherries, bouquet garni and spice to go with a full-bodied, seamless, eleg..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $155.00
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2012 Cayuse Syrah en Cerise97RPAlways coming from a small 2.5-acre block inside the En Cerise vineyard, the 2012 Syrah en Cerise is a fabulously complex, seamless and elegant Syrah that exhibits notes of dried c..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $169.00
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2012 Cayuse Syrah en Chamberlin Vineyard96RPThe dark ruby, opaque 2012 Syrah en Chamberlin Vineyard is a classic example of this vineyard. Gamy, complex and nuanced, with lots of olive tapenade, ground herbs, charcoal and wo..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $155.00
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2012 Horsepower Vineyards Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard97WEDespite its lighter color, this wine explodes from the glass with a complex, near-endless list of aromas that include sea breeze, crushed flowers, peat, green olive, fire pit, smok..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $145.00
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2012 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard97RPAnother wine I was able to taste multiple times, the 2012 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard is the most voluptuous, sexy and textured of the lineup. Giving up classic, Old World Syrah not..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $139.00
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2012 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah The Tribe Vineyard97RPMore gamy, bloody and meaty than the Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah, the 2012 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard is a full-bodied, elegant, concentrated and structured effort that gives up compl..." Learn MoreAs low as $135.00
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2013 Cayuse Syrah en Cerise95+RPBrought up in a scant 15% new puncheons, the 2013 Syrah en Cerise is a beautifully layered, elegant, yet focused and concentrated Syrah that really needs 2-3 years of bottle age to..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $135.00
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2013 Cayuse Syrah en Chamberlin Vineyard96RPA wine that continued to change and develop in the glass was the 2013 Syrah en Chamberlin Vineyard, which is the smallest production cuvee of the 2013 single vineyard releases (the..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $145.00
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2013 Horsepower Vineyards Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard95+RPThe medium ruby colored 2013 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard offers lots of savoriness in its red and black fruits, herbes de Provence, cured meats, and dried violet aromas and flavo..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $119.00
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2013 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard95RPAnother beautiful wine in the vintage is the 2013 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard. Lighter in color than the 2014, it gives up distinctly northern Rhone-like aromas and flavors of salte..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $119.00
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2013 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah The Tribe Vineyard96RPJust ever so slightly richer and more textured than the Sur Echalas Vineyard, the 2013 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard is a blockbuster effort that is up there with the crème de la..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $425.00
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2014 Cayuse Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vyd97RPThere are 533 cases of the 2014 Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vineyard, and as always, it's an unknown blend that's dominated by Grenache (reportedly from vine cuttings from Rayas..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $125.00
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2014 Horsepower Vineyards Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard99RPReminding me of a hypothetical mix of blood and herbs (blood sausage?), with notes of earth, mushrooms, rose petal and strawberries, the 2014 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard is full-..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $159.00