Welcome to Washington Tasting Room Magazine’s 2024 list of the “Best 75 Wines of the Year” as published in the Winter 2024/2025 print issue.
The editors of Washington Tasting Room Magazine carefully narrowed down the selection for our list of “Best 75 Wines” from among hundreds of releases we have sampled in the past year from around the state. These wines span an array of established producers to emerging labels; each one stands out for exhibiting a certain remarkable and noteworthy quality that seized our full and undivided attention. In short, the best of the best.
Our selection criteria includes quality-to-price ratio, availability (mail list-only labels, few as they are, were not included because their lines are not readily accessible to the public). Additionally, selections were limited to just one per producer to provide readers with a broad range of stellar offerings.
It’s worth noting many wines are made in finite quantities and frequently replaced by newer vintages. Consider this list a blueprint to inspiring wineries to keep track of now and in the future.
– John Vitale
#1. Figgins Estate Red Wine Walla Walla Valley
Vintage: 2020
Score: 98 pts.
Price: $95
A show-stopper from master winemaker Chris Figgins. Seductive, with an ethereal structure that unfurls with pure expressions of red and black fruit buoyed by fresh acidity, inlaid by ultra-nuanced violet, cedar and vanilla hints. A lean yet powerful matrix of fine-grained tannins draws all the elements together midpalate and releases them once more on the ever-expanding finish.
#2. Pepper Bridge Winery Pepper Bridge Vineyard
Vintage: 2020
Score: 97 pts.
Price: $70
Jean-François Pellet knows how to craft a Bordeaux-varietal red filled with poise and finesse without sacrificing an ounce of the graceful power that drives the midpalate. Decant well to allow ample time for the purity of the red, black and blue fruit flavors to open. Incredibly focused, with finely-sculpted structure and a minerally-infused embrace on the long lasting and scintillating finish.
#3. Maryhill Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietor’s Reserve
Vintage: 2019
Score: 96 pts.
Price: $55
The Leuthold’s team backed by veteran winemaker Richard Batchelor delivers a striking blend of three vineyards from renowned AVAs: Horse Heaven Hills, Walla Walla and Red Mountain. This surges with dark black fruit, revealing cassis and wild blackberry infused with a dusting of cocoa powder and stony slate. A sinewy backstop of ultra-fine tannins relays a muscle-bound boost to the lingering finish.
#4. Tsillan Cellars Estate Sangiovese Lake Chelan
Vintage: 2022
Score: 96 pts.
Price: $44
Dr. Bob Jankelson first planted Sangiovese grapes on the South shore of Lake Chelan in 2003. This estate red entices with floral notes packed with vivid expressions of pie cherry, Italian plum and cranberry shaded with violet, cocoa powder, baking spice and tobacco. Youthful, with a tight and compact structure that unwinds with steadfast purpose on the dense midpalate, joined by a sheen of firm tannins that create an indelible impression on the seemingly endless finish.
#5. Mark Ryan Winery “Lonely Heart” Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2020
Score: 97 pts.
Price: $100
Mike Macmorran and Mark Ryan McNeilly’s team created a singular version. Exceptionally fresh and ebullient, this multi-clone red blend from Quintessence Vineyard brings a harmonious coalescence of dense, jammy blackberry, cherry paste, crushed granite, and savory herbs and spices to the fore. Snowflake-like tannins widen in concentric circles on the lasting finish, signaling underlying strength, power and finesse behind this wine.
#6. Fidélitas Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2020
Score: 97 pts.
Price: $80
Charlie Hoppes has been making this single-vineyard release since 2006 and it includes some original 1975 old vine plantings. Ethereal and Old World in style, marked by elevated structure and silky tannins that glide through a polished matrix of black plum, cassis, dark cherry, worn cedar and dusky spice. An idyllic trifecta of Red Mountain power, elegance and complexity.
#7. Adams Bench Red Willow Vineyard Sangiovese “Ursula”
Vintage: 2018
Score: 96 pts.
Price: $58
Tim Blue and Erica Peavy Blue crafted this red from old vines planted in 1994. Exudes elegance and a powerful structure with sculpted tannins that glide through the velvet mouthfeel, unveiling pitch-black cherry, espresso, crushed rock and graphite. Hints of black olive grace the prolonged, silky finish.
#8. Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards Burning Desire Estate Cabernet Franc
Vintage: 2021
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $59
Head winemaker Julian Shaver used the estate’s seven best barrels from Glacial Gravels Vineyard. A concentrated beam of cassis and steeped blackberry is framed by violet and anise, tempered by graphite and crushed stone. Ends with a flourish of warm earth and briary undertones embedded in firm tannins that wrap around the structured finish.
#9. Lone Point Cellars Last Point Reserve
Vintage: 2019
Score: 96 pts.
Price: $75
Rich, concentrated and equally as complex, this Red Mountain AVA red from Jim and Dana Divis offers an irresistible profile of jammy raspberry, blackberry and cassis deftly layered with crushed rock, cocoa and dried herbs. The depth is cavernous, with beguiling agility and freshness, cut with an elegant yet powerful grip of fine-grained tannins that pummel the finish with formidable length.
#10. C.R. Sandidge Triumph Red Blend
Vintage: 2021
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $55
Graceful and fluid, yet punctuated with underlying power, this rich Bordeaux-style blend from Ray Sandidge is sourced from StoneTree and Purtteman Estate vineyards. The mesmerizing structure delivers a veil of crushed black fruit, dark cherry and raspberry that work in concert, draped over layers of vanilla bean, coconut, dried herbs and coffee bean accents. Finessed with well-buffed tannins, this is a world-class, food-friendly wine but completely satisfying all on its own.
#11. Brian Carter Cellars Boushey Vineyard Sangiovese
Vintage: 2015
Score: 96 pts.
Price: $65
Brian Carter crafted this single-varietal, single-vineyard red for his exceptional ONE wine series. Velvety smooth, yet ultra-structured and full of energy, inlaid with floral and dark fruit character running through a complex range of black cherry, plum, violet, olives, leather, graphite and dried herbs. A sheen of dusky tannins entwines the juicy finish, with stellar length.
#12. Mercer Estates Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2019
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $45
Sourced from Rob and Brenda Mercer’s renowned Cavalie Vineyard, this red shows cavernous depth and range behind the suave dark expressions of black currant preserves, black cherry and blackberry. Powerfully built yet equally graceful in structure, a core of persuasively firm tannins ride along the interminable finish accented by refined cedar, mineral, coffee and bay leaf notes.
#13. Caprio Cellars Sanitella Reserve Red
Vintage: 2020
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $88
There’s fine depth to the undiluted flavors of this Walla Walla Valley estate red wine from premium producer Dennis Murphy, ranging from black cherry paste, red currant and licorice intermingled with violet, pencil shavings, cocoa powder and savory dried herbs. Classy, with a distinctive appeal and exceptional focus on the well-structured finish.
#14. Cairdeas Caisléan an Pápa Red Wine
Vintage: 2021
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $56
Graceful, yet humming with depth and immaculate structure, this Rhône-style red from Charlie and Lacey Lybecker is fronted with aromas of violet, loam, charcuterie, blackberry, plum, baking spice and white pepper. The palate is balanced and silky, flowing with black and blue-tinged fruits, tapenade, garrigue and energetic minerality that carry long onto the satisfying finish.
#15. Tinte Cellars Viognier
Vintage: 2022
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $38
Loaded with gorgeous typicity, this is a brilliant example of this varietal from dynamic duo Tim Gamble and Teresa Spellman Gamble. Fermented in concrete and stainless vessels, this appeals with heady aromatics of honeysuckle, white peach and distinct rocky minerality. The structure is invigorating, leading with citrus zest-infused acidity and a textural mouthfeel that fills the palate with engaging tropical flavors of lively grapefruit, pear and starfruit.
#16. Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2016
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $80
Tightly focused with a racy streak, this blend from master winemaker Rob Newsom of nine distinctive vineyards shows expressive aromas of blackberry and red currant, violet, tobacco and graphite. Streaming with cassis, plum and anise inlaid with fine tannins, accents of bay leaf, black pepper, loam and minerality mark the finish.
#17. Muret-Gaston Rouge Red Wine
Vintage: 2017
Score: 96 pts.
Price: $50
Kyle and Amy Johnson rank high among the Yakima Valley’s foremost winemaking teams. Impeccably structured, this beguiling dark blend of Syrah and Cinsault rolls along the palate with elegant texture, densely packed with steeped blackberry and black currant fruit harmoniously infused with blue plum and boysenberry accents. Bay leaf and graphite notes lean in to a vein of fine tannins that give ample grip to the seemingly endless finish.
#18. Whitman Hill Captain Block Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2020
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $50
Scott and Denise Whitman chose their finest block of Cabernet grapes for this impeccably balanced estate red. It demonstrates a distinct sense of place with aromas of dark fruit, earthy loam, tobacco and pencil lead. Elegant in feel with firm, sweet tannins wrapped around silky flavors of cassis, boysenberry and black cherry that glide along the long finish.
#19. Coyote Canyon H/H Estates Bozak Red
Vintage: 2019
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $49
The Andrews family grows the fruit for this streamlined red, built with a rich toastiness backing the ripe, juicy and robust-flavored red and blue fruit. The theme continues on the midpalate with mocha, worn cedar and savory cracked pepper that align with red cherry and wild blueberry expressions driving the fresh finish.
#20. K Vintners The Boy Grenache
Vintage: 2020
Score: 96 pts.
Price: $50
Laser focused, with a sensational beam of wild strawberry and crushed cherry at the forefront, picking up wonderful floral notes of rose petal, star anise, dried thyme and brightly-cut powdery tannins with a dusting of cocoa on the lengthy, minerally-cut finish. All from Clone 363 planted in 2012 at Powerline Estate Vineyard in the heart of the Walla Walla Valley, located at over 1200-feet elevation.
#21. Kiona Vineyards Red Mountain Reserve
Vintage: 2021
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $65
Pillowy in structure, with good grip from a sheen of powder-fine sweet tannins fronted by ethereal black cherry and blueberry expressions. An underlay of clay and loam add earthen character to the purity of fruit, with dusty sage, bay leaf and tobacco notes on the far reaches of the lingering finish.
#22. Chandler Reach Yakima Valley Merlot
Vintage: 2019
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $35
This show-stopping red from Len Parris highlights a matrix of lively acidity that elevates the flavors of dark cherry and blue plum matched with a mix of earthiness and savory cedar expressions. The energy builds on the deepening finish, ending with moderate tannins that carry inflections of spice, graham and cocoa powder.
#23. Woodward Canyon Washington State Chardonnay
Vintage: 2022
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $45
One of Walla Walla’s iconic founding wineries, this luscious white wine is upscale and regal, driven by a rich feel and lasting vibrancy driving the balanced flavors of peach, pineapple, lemon, vanilla and blanched silvered almond. Ends with a minerally embellishment on the satisfying finish.
#24. Pursued by Bear Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2019
Score: 96 pts.
Price: $70
Elegant and pure yet densely concentrated, built with a finely-etched structure matching the modestly-weighted, burnished tannins rippling with blackberry and blueberry fruit. Savory layers of French roast coffee, herbs de Provence, plum and cherry details cascade effortlessly through the highly expressive finish.
#25. Kinhaven Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Vintage: 2021
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $80
A praiseworthy version by the Davenport family in Walla Walla. Lush, with mesmerizing powdery tannins that pull you into an earthy ensemble of violet, leather and tobacco leaf, streaming with compact blackberry, plum and red currant notes. The concentrated finish is deep, inlaid with crushed rock hints.
#26. Mellisoni Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2021
Score: 96 pts.
Price: $85
Towering in structure, this sleek and concentrated red builds upon a core of black currant reduction, boysenberry and dark cherry, underscored with violet, cocoa, fig and juniper berry. Plush, mouthcoating tannins and fresh underlying acidity generate a runway for the extended finish, accented with spice and tobacco.
#27. Owen Roe Union Gap Vineyard Red Wine
Vintage: 2017
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $89
Black currant, juicy blackberry and crushed cherry weave along the sinewy structure supported by vivid acidity and firmly-entrenched tannins. Complementary accents of forest floor, tobacco leaf and peppercorn meld effortlessly on the saturated finish.
#28. Love That Red Bold Ruler Red Blend
Vintage: 2017
Score: 96 pts.
Price: $60
This premium Cabernet-forward red by Terry Wells radiates underlying power and elegance, bursting with crushed ripe blackberry, cassis, fig and black raspberry preserves framed by pencil lead, warm cedar spice and cocoa. Finishes with pronounced firmness and polished tannins that resound with the echoing flavors on the prolonged aftertaste.
#29. Two Vintners “Claire” Grenache
Vintage: 2021
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $45
A complex and concentrated mix of fruity and savory, marked by ripe wild blackberry, plump currants and lively black raspberry punctuated by an underlayment of briny salinity and stony minerality. The elements unfold in unison on the finish, while building power and momentum on the firm, spice-filled mouthfeel.
#30. Va Piano Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2020
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $60
This estate blend is sophisticated and artistic, offering a plush mouthfeel that reveals a firm backstop of fine-grained tannins. Seamless expressions of blackberry and black plum are accented with raspberry notes and a light dusting of cocoa powder, gravel, sage and bay leaf. Finishes with superb length.
#31. Jacob Williams Chardonnay Columbia Gorge AVA
Vintage: 2022
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $45
Winemaker Peter Cushman used grapes from volcanic soils on Underwood Mountain, imparting polished minerality. Supple in structure, offering smooth expressions of tropical pineapple, peach, apple and lemon crème fraiche that flow with nimble elegance. Custard and light toffee notes canvas the captivating finish.
#32. Hightower Cellars Red Mountain Reserve
Vintage: 2019
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $60
Tim and Kelly Hightower crafted this fine version, cascading with classic Red Mountain minerality and structure. This full-flavored red delivers ripe blackberry, dried violet, and dark cocoa backed by hints of blue fruit, vanilla and wood spice framed by firm, gripping tannins that hold true through the satisfying finish.
#33. Latta Wines Cabernet/Syrah
Vintage: 2019
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $60
Co-fermented with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah this is deftly structured, with a lithe and scintillating profile of blackberry, dark cherry and jammy black raspberry draped over savory details of black olive, tar and graphite. The elements fall into a syncopated rhythm on the long, vibrant finish.
#34. Long Shadows Vintners Pirouette
Vintage: 2019
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $70
Suave and dark, this Bordeaux-blend displays a dominant savory loamy influence leaning toward mesquite, tobacco, cedar and roasted espresso entwined with lush black currant, roasted plum and baker’s chocolate. Bay and sage merge with a backstop of gripping, fine tannins that take hold on the prolonged ending.
#35. Obelisco Estate Red Mountain Electrum
Vintage: 2019
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $85
Regal, with towering structure encircled by firm refined tannins, this red offers superb depth and character. Macerated blackberry flavors tinged with blue fruit and vanilla accents are proportionately backed by a sheen of crushed pebbles, graphite, tea leaf and dried herbs. Spice notes linger on the bold finish.
#36. Vagabond Nomad Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2018
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $50
Emerging vintner Ryan Lowell delivers a top-notch version that is elegantly rendered, with a mineral edge running amid polished blackberry and dark cherry expressions underscored by cocoa, coffee bean, tobacco and dried herbs. Powdery tannins frame the dry, earth-tinged finish.
#37. Orr Wines Grenache Royal Slope
Vintage: 2022
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $30
A lively and fruity version by talented winemaker Erica Orr. Crushed ripe strawberry and red currant coat the fresh and brightly-lit palate, accented with floral and orange peel notes. Mineral and loamy spices surface on the firm and vibrant finish.
#38. Bosma Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2018
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $42
Winegrape growers Steve and Julie Bosma present a blend of four different clones in this multi-dimensional Cab. Broad and concentrated, with aromas of dark berries and sweet oak, the palate is suave with cassis, rich blackberry and distant red cherry tethered to the smooth finish by nuances of vanilla and coconut.
#39. Callan Cellars Grenache Boushey Vineyard
Vintage: 2021
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $38
This version by talent Lisa Callan displays a beam of dark cherry with fruit-forward notes of macerated black fruit, crushed rose, warm spice and tarry edges. There’s notable concentration, balance and length in good proportions, with eucalyptus and pebble notes that play out on the firm, gripping finish.
#40. El Mochuelo Vinedo Estate Merlot
Vintage: 2021
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $42
Growers and vintners Grant McDonald and Cheryl Imperatori crafted this sophisticated and elegant red from two French clones of estate Merlot. Steeped blackberry and dark cherry are accented by refined cola and pencil shavings, lending a well-sculpted feel to the impeccably smooth structure. Ends long and seamless.
#41. Rolling Bay Winery Upland Vineyard Graciano
Vintage: 2019
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $45
An exotic varietal from veteran winemaker Alphonse de Klerk, this offers brightly lit aromas and flavors of herbal violet and earthen undertones, enveloped by a dense core of blackberry and cassis with good tannic grip. Light on its feet, this retains fresh vibrancy throughout, picking up peppercorn notes toward the graceful finish.
#42. Camaraderie Cellars Grenache
Vintage: 2020
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $32
Don and Vicki Corson founded this gem of a winery over three decades ago. Richly smooth, delivering a refreshing core of plump red plum, currant and rhubarb layered with gentle spice. Fine tannins add a deft balance to the polished finish, which resonates long after the last sip.
#43. Prospice BDX Columbia Valley
Vintage: 2020
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $65
Leading with tantalizing red berries and dusty cinnamon spice aromas, the uber-smooth entry reveals a synergistic trio of cherry, plum and cassis expressively layered with cacao bean, fresh herbs, crushed rock and spice details. An elegant presentation front to back. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
#44. Nefarious Cellars Estate Syrah Defiance Vineyard
Vintage: 2021
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $42
Showcasing an energetic structure, this gushes with deep red and black fruit infused with cured black olive, garrigue and violet notes mingled with crushed pebbles. An undertow of fresh acidity enlivens the savory-edged finish.
#45. Five Star Cellars Stellar Walla Walla Valley
Vintage: 2017
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $64
Ultra-smooth on the entry, packed with a solidly built core of ripe blackberry and blueberry accented by dark chocolate and coconut shavings. Notable mineral spice drives a racy graphite undertow that shows fine tension. Persistent, with excellent length.
#46. DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate
Vintage: 2020
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $90
This Bordeaux-varietal red wine is a blend of two Yakima Valley AVA vineyards, Ciel du Cheval and Dubrul. Supple, rich and balanced, offering aromas of raspberry, plum, violet and dusty baking spice. The elegant structure shows refined mineral-driven tannins framed by ripe cherry and red berries that meld with nuanced touches of warm oak and peppercorn mélange.
#47. Browne Family Vineyards Bitner Estate Tribute Red Blend
Vintage: 2020
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $38
Abundant dark red cherry, cassis and dusty spice on the nose lead into the firm, silky-coated palate, harmonizing with cacao bean, tea leaf and a tincture of fine minerality that flow effortlessly through a sheen of fresh acidity that graces the concentrated finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc
#48. Prohibition Cellars Red Willow Vineyard Merlot
Vintage: 2020
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $70
The structure is commanding, yet filled with poise, balanced with crushed-velvet tannins wrapped tightly around a gorgeous seam of silky acidity. Black cherry, dark plum and cocoa powder mingle effortlessly, almost as if defying gravity, revealing mineral and spice notes on the long finish.
#49. Efeste Feral Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2022
Score: 92 pts.
Price: $25
This crisp-cut white sourced from Evergreen Vineyard pulls its weight with an energetic front of lemon citrus mingled with zesty lime, draped over fine details of early-picked pineapple, green melon and chalky caliche. Racy citrus and mineral notes weave along the saline-tinted finish with impressive clarity.
#50. Cedergreen Cellars Grenache
Vintage: 2019
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $31
Refreshing and lighter in body overall, yet with appealing fullness to the crisp, nuanced profile of bright red and black currants, pomegranate and earthen spice notes. Fine-grained tannins show persistence on the firm, dry finish.
#51. The Walls Vineyards Bellamy Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2020
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $75
Earthen aromas of red and black fruit, juniper berry and salinity lead to a polished palate filled with concentrated black currant and dark plum trailing with ripe boysenberry and anise. Fresh acidity undercuts lasting layers of graphite, smoke and stone-like minerality on the highly expressive finish.
#52. Thurston Wolfe Upland Vineyard “Conglomerate” Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2020
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $30
Wade Wolfe sourced these grapes from a small block planted in 1989 on Snipes Mountain. Highly expressive, the tightly coiled structure displays savory black currant, blackberry and cranberry mingled with tobacco, mineral and herbal details that build toward lasting fine tannins. A super price for this upper-end quality.
#53. Parker Family Wine Yakima Valley Malbec
Vintage: 2018
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $58
Sharply focused, this concrete-aged red is made from organically-grown fruit. Structured with minerally-propelled elegance, the palate flows with unadulterated blackberry and boysenberry gilded with a pretty floral edge. Escalating hints of mineral and loam permeate the extremely well-balanced finish.
#54. Seven Hills Winery Ciel Du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine
Vintage: 2020
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $65
Firm, with chiseled tannins and nicely-cut acidity showing expressions of boysenberry, black cherry and violet that mingle with dusty spice, sage and tobacco. As it opens, raspberry preserves, mineral and white pepper notes rise on the long finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
#55. Dineen Vineyards Heritage Red Blend Yakima Valley
Vintage: 2021
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $42
Second-generation vineyard and winery owner Marissa Dineen produces this proprietary Bordeaux-style blend. Earthy, with a sophisticated feel, showing good depth to the vibrant cherry and plum flavors mingled with dark cocoa and loam. An edge of refined yet firm tannins roll across the midpalate, extending the finish.
#56. Adrice Wines Voyagers Viognier
Vintage: 2023
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $32
Well structured, with aromas of pear, white peach and vanilla wafer that waft across the tropical-scented nose and echo on the firm and textural palate. Honey and yellow grapefruit expressions add complexity, mingling with warm earth, shaved almonds and spice notes on the long, dry finish. A real treat by winemaker Pam Adkins.
#57. Darby Reserve Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2020
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $58
Ultra-refined, with notable satiny structure that flows with dense cassis and dark stone fruit draped over an expressive array of rawhide, tobacco leaf and cedar that contribute an earthen character to the generous finish dusted with fine tannins.
#58. Andrew Januik Lady Hawk Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2020
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $55
Andrew Januik is the only winery that receives grapes from Lady Hawk Vineyard, operated by growers Judy and Paul Champoux. The piercing structure is marked by firm tannins and striking minerality that weave seamlessly through mouthfilling flavors of cassis, black raspberry, baking cocoa and dark loamy earth on the lasting finish.
#59. Smasne Cellars Verhey Vineyard Syrah
Vintage: 2019
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $44
Polished, with a snappy feel, this medium-bodied red highlights earthy tones of mulberry with fruity red plum and licorice. Light hints of coffee, caramel and dried herbs flank the supple finish with a suspended textural quality that adds great dimension. An artistic and unique release from longtime winemaker Robert Smasne.
#60. Chateau Faire Le Pont Grenache
Vintage: 2019
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $46
Lush in feel, with cocoa-edged steeped cherry and ripe red berries, augmented by savory shadings of cigar wrapper, black licorice and molasses. Hints of warm clove and cedar fill in the smooth finish, proportionately weighted with firm yet refined tannins interwoven with nice acidity.
#61. Barrage Cellars Boushey Vineyard “Nuclear Blonde” Chardonnay
Vintage: 2020
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $30
Creamy and elegantly textured, this white wine from Woodinville stalwart Kevin Correll offers terrific balance between the flowing rich layers of peach, pineapple and butterscotch flavors supported by restrained notes of Fuji apple, lemon essence, baking spice and blanched almond.
#62. Lantz Cellars Red Mountain Crown & Corset Red Wine
Vintage: 2020
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $48
Aromatic and distinctive, this Merlot-dominant red from vintner Kevin Lantz starts with a burst of steeped cherry and high-toned raspberry supported by an undertow of dark cocoa. Vibrant on the taut finish, with fine tannins and exuberant acidity that linger on the mineral-infused aftertaste.
#63. Virtue Cellars Loyalty Reserve Syrah Royal Slope AVA
Vintage: 2020
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $45
A sense of pure refinement informs the ultra-lush palate, delivering a rich profile of boysenberry coulis and vanilla that meld with distinctive savory notes of crushed stone, dried herbs and barrel spice. Supple, focused and finessed, an ever-widening arc of textural spice leaves an indelible impression on the expansive finish.
#64. Valdemar Estates Blue Mountain Vineyard Syrah
Vintage: 2020
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $75
Exuberant in a polished manner, this delivers a concentrated beam of fresh blueberry, acai berry, purple flowers and spice details. A high-arching spine of minerally-intoned acidity flexes with top notes of cranberry anchored by blackberry, cacao bean and lingering florality. Ends with sensational length and focus.
#65. Otis Kenyon Walla Walla Valley Backdraft
Vintage: 2018
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $80
Sourced from a trio of vineyards, Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and Les Collines, this silky red streams multi-layered expressions of forest floor, tobacco leaf, red plum and blueberry, radiating with violet, scented spices and dark chocolate details that weave through a maze of firm tannins.
#66. Convergence Zone Cellars Mistral Grenache
Vintage: 2021
Score: 95
Price: $33
Made with free-run juice from Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. Dreamy black raspberry, strawberry and licorice are shaded with cocoa. Distant soundings of crème de cassis, lavender, dried anise and crushed rock echo on the mesmerizing finish.
#67. Tildio Winery Estate Cabernet Franc Lake Chelan
Vintage: 2020
Score: 95 pts.
Price: $53
Aged 30 months in French oak, this complex and brooding estate red gushes with black fruit, earthy graham, cocoa, pencil shavings, rosemary, Sweet Crimson peppers and crushed stone. Sinewy tannins fortify the lengthy finish.
#68. Castle & Crown Blue Mountain Cabernet Franc
Vintage: 2021
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $36
Winemaker Stephen Lesefko uses low intervention winemaking to let the purity of fruit shine through magnificently, displaying well-sculpted structure and a long, plush mouthfeel. Blackberry, blueberry and currants align with vanilla bean and pencil shavings to form a concentrated core backed by firm, well-burnished tannins and sustained freshness on the finish. A new winery to watch.
#69. Pondera Winery Stillwater Creek Vineyard Stiletto
Vintage: 2019
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $42
Shane Howard crafts a prolific number of Bordeaux varietal wines. This is sleek and finely balanced, with a core of black cherry and red plum upheld by firm tannins and good acidity, driven on the long finish by savory notes of tobacco, dark chocolate and coconut shavings. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot
#70. Long Cellars JAMANKA Premium Red Wine Blend
Vintage: 2020
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $54
Rich, with an opulent touch without being overly weighty, this is loaded with a near-seamless profile of olive, black cherry, blackberry, shaved chocolate and graphite. Finishes with an expansive feel, with deepening sage and wood spice accents. Sourced from Boushey and Quintessence vineyards. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
#71. Lagana Cellars Eritage Vineyard Malbec
Vintage: 2019
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $46
Uplifting structure and freshness are entrenched on the fore of this polished red from vintners Jason Fox and Todd Bernave. A rich merger of black fruit, cherry and blueberry are layered with black pepper, dark chocolate, loam, dried herbs and a dose of high-tone minerality that surfaces on the finish with an extended textural feel.
#72. Elephant Seven Grenache Blue Mountain Vineyard
Vintage: 2021
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $42
Co-fermented with 10% Syrah, this red offers intriguing expressions of red berries, rose water, bergamot and briary herbs. Accents of blue fruit, grapefruit and iron minerality surface, ending with a gorgeous uplift of balanced acidity that ripples on the finish.
#73. Spoiled Dog Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir Puget Sound AVA
Vintage: 2020
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $42
Rich umami details of loam and forest floor back the well-spiced profile of cranberry, lively cherry and dried rose petal in this field blend of Pommard and five other Pinot Noir clones. Mineral notes fill in the open-textured finish with hints of tea and cola.
#74. Three Rivers Winery Artz Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
Vintage: 2021
Score: 93 pts.
Price: $42
Winemaker Holly Turner used two-parts Sauvignon Blanc and one-part Semillon for this crisp white. It has a viscous feel, nice weight and a palate framed by white flowers, apricot, ripe pear and lemon oil. A smart dash of limestone minerality adds a dash of panache on the upbeat finish.
#75. Gilbert Cellars Alder Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Franc
Vintage: 2020
Score: 94 pts.
Price: $40
An elegant red with sleek tannins and fresh-cut acidity that glide along the seamless, medium-bodied frame. The poised structure balances black plum, crushed rock, tobacco, dried flowers and tapenade hints. Mineral and spice details stretch out on the lush finish.