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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2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon100DECAs good as it gets for Washington Cabernet Sauvignon. Massive blue fruit and milk chocolate aromas leap from the glass to join more savoury tomato and sage notes, with brighter blu..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $399.00
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2014 B. Leighton Petit Verdot Olsen's Brothers Vineyard95RPWhat I think of as the top cuvee of the estate (although the new Mourvèdre Gratitude cuvee is just about as good), the 2014 Petit Verdot Olsen Vineyard is 100% Petit Verdot,..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $29.95
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2015 B. Leighton Petit Verdot Olsen Brothers Vineyard95JDThe flagship cuvée of this label, the 2015 Petit Verdot is all varietal and saw an extended maceration of close to 40 days and was aged in 40% new French oak. It has beautif..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $29.95
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2015 Andrew Will Sorella Champoux Vineyard98RPThe 2015 Sorella is superb, unwinding in the glass with a youthful but already complex bouquet of crushed cassis, cherries, pencil shavings, subtle cigar smoke and espresso roast. ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $84.95
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2016 Sixto (Charles Smith) Chardonnay Moxee94JDThe 2016 Chardonnay Moxee comes from more limestone soils and 50-year-old vines planted on the northeastern edge of the Yakima Valley. It’s classic Chardonnay offering beauti..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $28.99
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2016 K Vintners Syrah The Cattle King97+JDThe 2016 Syrah Cattle King Upland Vineyard comes from Snipes Mountain and has a singular, pretty, fresh style with more obvious acidity as well as tannins, yet it still stays in th..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $45.99
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2016 Andrew Will Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley92JDBlueberry, violets, blood orange, and candied orange peel all emerge from the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon. It's beautifully pure, fresh, and elegant, yet also has terrific concentratio..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $28.99
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2016 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine98+JDFrom a site on Red Mountain, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine is a deeper, richer, more mineral-laced red and has a huge nose of dark chocolate, smoked earth, graphite, black ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $165.00
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2016 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve96RPThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, instantly commands the attention of the drinker. It is generous on the nose, showcasing a dens..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $95.00
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2016 Leonetti Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon98JDThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, and 2% Merlot that spent 22 months in 75% new French oak. Its deep ruby/pur..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $249.00
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2016 K Vintners Syrah Milbrandt93JDFrom a site on the Wahluke Slope, the 2016 Syrah Milbrandt reveals a ruby/plum color as well as evolved, Graves-like aromas of tobacco, earth, iron, and asphalt, with plenty of ear..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $28.95
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2017 Sixto (Charles Smith) Chardonnay Roza Hills95JDThe 2017 Chardonnay Roza Hills comes from more chalk soils and 50-year-old Wente clones and was brought up in a mix of concrete and French oak. This is another rich, powerful effor..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $31.99
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2017 Sixto (Charles Smith) Chardonnay Frenchman Hills94+JDFrom more basalt soils, the 2017 Chardonnay Frenchman Hills is another beautiful wine from this team that was fermented in a mix of puncheons and concrete and aged all in barrel. L..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $29.99
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2017 K Vintners Grenache The Boy Powerline Vineyard96JDMade from 100% Powerline Vineyard (since 2015), the 2017 Grenache The Boy Powerline Vineyard sports a lighter ruby hue as well as Rayas-like notes of decayed flowers, kirsch liqueu..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $34.99
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2017 Cayuse Syrah Armada Vineyard97+JDThe Armada Vineyard Syrah always reminds me of the Horsepower releases, as it’s a more masculine, earthy style of Syrah. Deep plum/purple-colored with an incredible bouquet o..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $165.00
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2017 Quilceda Creek CVR Columbia Valley Red Wine95JDThe 2017 Columbia Valley CVR is smoking stuff. Based on 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc sourced from the Champoux, Galitzine, Palengat, and Wallula Vineyar..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $61.99
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2017 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon97JDThe flagship 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley is all Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in new barrels (mostly Taransaud and Darnajou). Beautiful crème de cassis, graphite..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $179.00
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2018 Abeja Chardonnay93VMMusky apricot pit, peach and spicy vanillin oak on the nose. Densely packed but quite suave and fine-grained in spite of its saline thrust. A very sappy, refined midweight with lov..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $39.99