Guide to Wine Scores

Chandler Reach Vineyards' founder Len Parris aged grapes grown on Block 5 of his estate vineyards for up to two years in mostly neutral French and American oak barrels to achieve this smith and richly textured red wine.  Nose: Black and red fruit, mint, vanilla bean and dusty cedar notes. Taste: Dense and concentrated with smooth round tannins and generous flavors of … [Read more...] about Parris 2012 Estate Reserve Yakima Valley Cabernet Franc, $41

Jody Elsom founded her eponymous label in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood, relocated the winery to her hometown of Woodinville in early 2010, and after a five-year run has now returned.  The 3,500-square-foot winery and tasting room is in the Gateway Complex next to a tour operator and outdoor recreation outfitter. “We are excited for our return to SoDo.  With our new tasting … [Read more...] about Three Exciting Releases From Elsom Cellars

Charles Smith's inaugural vintage of Sixto, the long anticipated Chardonnay-only label that doesn't disappoint.  This serious white is bursting with complex expressions and unerring accuracy that pays homage to the varietal and would surely rival any Burgundian counterpart. Nose: Bright aromas of lemon citrus, apple, beeswax, baked brioche and fresh minerality. Taste: … [Read more...] about Sixto 2012 Frenchman Hills Chardonnay, $55

Winemaker John Little sourced fruit for this Pinot Noir from his neighbor at Antoine Creek Vineyards (less than a mile from Rio Vista's winery in the Lake Chelan area) and patiently aged this wine for two years in French oak.  Pinot Noir is scarce in Washington State, and the lovely aromatics and earthy flavors make this one a gem.  Only 50 cases were made. Nose: Dark red … [Read more...] about Rio Vista 2011 Pinot Noir, $42

Hailing from several generations of French winemakers (it’s said his family estate in Alsace, France has been producing wine since 1579), Jean Claude Beck of Woodhouse Wine Estates in Woodinville has a knack for coaxing beautiful aromas, textures and flavors from Washington-grown Riesling grapes. We recently tasted through a vertical series of Yakima Valley single-vineyard … [Read more...] about Riesling Vertical from Woodhouse Wine Estates

Before launching Kerloo Cellars, Ryan Crane’s life was a whirlwind—taking classes at the Enology & Viticulture Program at Walla Walla Community College, working wine gigs while juggling a family, and working nights at Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen.  After serving a stint at Forgeron Cellars, and an assistant winemaker position at Va Piano Vineyards, Crane released his first … [Read more...] about Five New Releases from Kerloo Cellars

Chi va piano va sano y va lontano: He who goes slowly goes safely and goes far. In 1995, Justin Wylie, owner and winemaker of Va Piano Vineyards had an experience that changed his life.  The fourth generation Walla Wallan and Gonzaga University student spent his senior year in Florence, Italy studying under the tutelage of artist Bruno Segatta. After falling in love with … [Read more...] about Va Piano 2012 Les Collines Vineyard Syrah & 2014 Rosé

Hailing from New Orleans and having been exposed as a child to the unique indigenous foods of the Big Easy, Doug McCrea spent many a morning whiling away time in the cavernous kitchen of Commanders Palace in the Garden District while his grandfather visited with the owners as they consumed beignets and black chicory coffee. At an early age, he gleaned a fount of knowledge of … [Read more...] about Salida Wines Focuses On Spanish Varietals

Under the expertise of winemaker Jamie Brown, Waters Winery has achieved well-earned acclaim for its wines, particularly for the single-vineyard Syrahs.  “I’ve always had a specific idea of what a wine I wanted to make should be, well before I started the process of even choosing a vineyard,” Brown tells Washington Tasting Room magazine.  "Yes, wine is made in the vineyard, but … [Read more...] about Waters 2012 Old Stones Vineyard Estate Syrah, $50

The absence of pretension reflects Tom Waliser’s long-time farming roots. He was born and raised on the family farm in the Walla Walla Valley.  “Beresan” refers to German communities outside of Odessa, Ukraine, where his ancestors once farmed.  His story is a combination of pragmatism and a go-with-the-flow attitude. “I’ve never had a plan in my life, but a door always … [Read more...] about Beresan Winery 2010 Walla Walla Valley Stone River & 2010 Yellow Jacket Buzz

During retirement, John Little studied winemaking and viticulture at Wenatchee Valley College, honing his skills working with well-known Chelan winemaker Ray Sandidge and grape grower Miguel Martinez.  The Littles began planting wine grapes in 2000 that now total seven acres.  Eventually Rio Vista will be 100% estate grown. Their son (also John), a graduate of the wine … [Read more...] about Rio Vista 2012 Malbec, $32

Flying Trout winemaker Ashley Trout has been a part of the Walla Walla wine industry since age 18.  In 1999, she took a job punching down grapes during crush and has been hooked on winemaking ever since.  In 2004, Ashley started travelling to Argentina during the late winter months to double up on annual harvests (she recently finished her 18th harvest). The Flying Trout … [Read more...] about Flying Trout 2012 Windrow Vineyard Mary’s Block Malbec, $45

Trey Busch’s sure hand in wine garnered attention early on—without an enology and viticulture degree, but through luck, hard work and some chance meetings with the right people. His first act, however, was as a buyer for Nordstrom in Seattle until he eventually sought a lifestyle change.  On a visit to Walla Walla, he became fast friends with the late Eric Dunham at a dinner … [Read more...] about Sleight of Hand 2013 Psychedelic Syrah & 2013 The Conjurer Red Blend

Columbia Winery was a champion of Red Willow Vineyard for many years.  Their early winemaker, David Lake, produced the state’s first vineyard designated Red Willow Cabernet in 1981 and went on to produce Red Willow's first designate Syrah in 1988. This is a truly melodious wine. Columbia Winery 2009 Red Willow Syrah Nose: Dazzling dark fruit, cocoa powder and crushed … [Read more...] about Columbia Winery 2009 Red Willow Syrah, $38

Rich Funk, owner and winemaker of Saviah Cellars is a case of re-invention. A microbiology and chemistry major from Montana State University, this Big Sky Country native was originally more interested in fermenting grains than grapes: Rich and his wife, Anita, had their sights set on starting a microbrewery. Instead, the Funks moved to Walla Walla in 1991, where he worked as an … [Read more...] about Saviah Cellars 2011 The Stones Speak Syrah & 2011 Cabernet Franc

Former Seattle bartender turned golf-pro, Tom Glase moved to Walla Walla for the “L” word: lifestyle.  Marriage and starting a family didn’t mesh with the urban bar scene. “Winemakers came out to play golf. There weren’t many of them then, and they’d bring some wine,” says Glase of his time at the Walla Walla Country Club.  “They were very generous.  That’s how I got … [Read more...] about Balboa 2012 Mith & 2014 Rosé of Syrah

Pondera Winery is a family-run winery in Woodinville's Warehouse Winery District with a deep focus on Bordeaux varietal blends and single red varietals.  Dan and Pat Howard and their son, winemaker Shane Howard, launched the brand in 2005.  This newly released red blend, Livin' the Dream, commemorates the winery's 10th anniversary, a blend using all five classic Bordeaux … [Read more...] about Pondera 2012 LTD Livin’ the Dream Red Wine, $42

Entrepreneurs and owners Paul and Susan McBride find inspiration for their wines from some of the world’s finest vineyards from Cote Rotie, Hermitage, Cornas, Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Bordeaux.  Guided by the belief that great wine begins in the vineyard, they spared little expense in the care and planting of a steep hillside vineyard on Red Mountain. In 2014, management of … [Read more...] about Force Majeure Vineyard 2012 Cabernet & 2012 Syrah

Fielding Hills winery owner Mike Wade is also the CEO of Columbia Fruit Packers, a worldwide purveyor of apples and cherries.  In 1998, he pulled out an orchard of Red Delicious apple trees on family land in the Wahluke Slope AVA and planted Riverbend Vineyard. All Fielding Hills wines are sourced from this single vineyard, an excellent site with southern exposure in one of … [Read more...] about Fielding Hills 2009 Riverbend Vineyard Tribute, $32

Third-generation farmers Doug and Sandy Rowell have spent their lives farming together in the Horse Heaven Hills with two of Sandy’s brothers, Rob and Scott Andrews.  In 1980, the family started growing grapes, continuing to add vineyard blocks over the years.  “Having the fourth generation start farming with us allowed me to get off the tractor and try something new,” says … [Read more...] about McKinley Springs: 2011 Viognier, Estate Red Blend & 2014 Rose

Coyote Canyon was founded in 2006 chiefly as a means for grower Mike Andrews and his family to showcase the quality of the grape varieties that Andrews started growing on his Horse Heaven Hills vineyard over two decades ago.  In 1994 he started with 20 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, and today Coyote Canyon Vineyard grows an astonishing 25 grape varieties, all with outstanding … [Read more...] about Coyote Canyon 2013 Albarino, 2010 Reserve Cabernet & 2010 Reserve Mourvedre

Walla Walla natives Jody Middleton and Jeremy Petty covered each other’s backs from the beginning, and the friendship that started on the football field in middle school continues today in business as winemakers and co-owners of J&J Vintners. Both men are graduates of the Walla Walla Community College Enology and Viticulture program.  During their first year of the … [Read more...] about J&J Vintners 2012 Les Collines Syrah, $30