Reviews of seven distinctive categories from select Washington wineries: Sparkling Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Rosé, Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc
» Try these Bubblies if you like to sip Prosecco, Cava or Champagne
The lowdown: Sparkling wines are beloved for their mouth-tingling fine bubbles, called mousse. Depending on individual preferences, they can range from bone dry to sweet, usually with a low level of alcohol and lighter body. They are produced by making “still” wine (non-carbonated) and then adding another fermentation phase that results in those delicate bubbles. The oldest and most traditional method used by American and European vintners is known as Méthode Champenoise.
Canoe Ridge Limited Edition Brut Bubbles
91 pts.
This refreshing sparkler offers a foamy mousse with extra-fine bubbles and citrus-laced acidity framed with festive notes of Bartlett pear, Fuji apple and restrained quince accents in the distance. Refreshing with an approachable, fruity touch. $26
Daybreak Cellars 2016 Yacolt Valley Vineyard Sparkling Pinot Noir
93 pts.
This distinctive Brut Rosé has aged with elegance, enticing with a lightly chalky feel amid mature flavors of dried currant, wild strawberry, cranberry and mushroom. Hints of thyme, moist earth and leesy citrus meld with the lively bead on the well-cut, high-toned finish. $38
Castillo de Feliciana 2020 Brillánte Sparkling Wine
93 pts.
Produced from 100% Albariño, this “brilliant” bubbly has a creamy feel with crisp acidity balanced with a dose of residual sugar. Aromatic, with floral honeysuckle, glazed pear, Fuji apple and lemon custard that meet in unison with a finely detailed mousse. $41
Treveri Cellars Brut Blanc de Blancs
91 pts.
Made in the classic French Champagne method, this Chardonnay grape blend is crisp and refreshing, with just a hint of heirloom apple and pear aromas. Framed with tiny bubbles, the palate evokes yeasty, clean citrusy notes and crushed oyster shell that finishes on the drier side. $16
» Try these bold Cabernets if you gravitate toward firm, structured reds
The lowdown: Many vintners choose to blend in small amounts of Merlot or other Bordeaux grapes into their Cabernet Sauvignon for balance, while others use 100% Cabernet grapes. Some might even blend different clones together to keep it interesting. Either way, to be listed as a single varietal on the label it must contain at least 75% of that grape. This dry, bold red wine is often a prime candidate for cellar aging due to its prevalent acidity and firm tannic structure that mellow over time.
Succession 2020 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
94 pts.
Built with a combination of power and finesse that showcases firm tannins on the mineral-flecked structure. Well-meshed blackberry, black raspberry and licorice flavors ripple through the extended finish with underlying spice and bittersweet chocolate details. $60
J.B. Neufeld 2020 Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
94 pts.
The plush texture is woven with a sinewy thread of powder-fine tannins framed by a compact core of blackberry, dark cherry and crushed pomegranate. Blue fruit hints curl around the finish with palatial structure infused with spice, thyme and ever-deepening concentration of gorgeous dark fruits. $35
Matthews Winery 2019 Royal Slope Cabernet Sauvignon
94 pts.
There’s a purity to the free-run flavors of fresh blueberry and blackberry, supported by a swath of uplifting acidity streaked with tobacco leaf, cocoa powder and herbal notes. The high-tone structure is framed by ultra-fine tannins adding ethereal tension to the long-lasting finish. $60
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2018 Red Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
94 pts.
Aromas of cedar and mint introduce this tensile red, girded with stony minerality that weaves through a solid structure of cassis and blackberry supported by herbaceous notes. A constant stream of silky tannins lend grip on the concentrated finish. $50
» Try these elegant Chardonnays if you are fond of balanced, fruity whites
The lowdown: This grape can be extremely versatile depending on how it is individually treated by each winemaker during elevage—the process of nurturing the wine from fermentation to barrel to bottling. For example, it can take on a rich, fuller-bodied and buttery mouthfeel, or crafted on the opposite end of the winemaking spectrum in a much leaner, crisper style often called “nude,” meaning the wine was fermented and aged without any use of oak whatsoever. There are fans of every style!
Maryhill Winery 2020 Proprietor’s Reserve Tudor Hills Vineyard Chardonnay
95 pts.
Elegance and purity shine through with aromas of tropical fruit, white flower blossoms, cedar and butterscotch. The satiny feel is enriched with a spectrum of Fuji apple, peach, mango and pineapple that percolate with sensational minerality on the satisfying, long finish. $36
Tsillan Cellars 2021 Estate Reserve Chardonnay
95 pts.
Enchanting florality of honeysuckle and citrus blossom frame this creamy estate-grown white, delivering lush tiers of white peach, golden apple and melon highlighted with lemon curd, vanilla bean, Macadamia nut and butterscotch. A thread of fine acidity rounds out the unctuous finish. $42
Mercer Estates 2020 Horse Heaven Hills Reserve Chardonnay
95 pts.
Creamy, rich and suave, this estate-grown version evokes poached pear, golden apple and delicate lemon chiffon layered with mango, pineapple and light butterscotch notes. A beam of fresh acidity wraps around the prolonged and graceful finish. $35
Sightglass Cellars 2022 Conner Lee Vineyard Chardonnay
92 pts.
Steely, driven with well-cut structure and old-vine minerality from 1989 plantings, this non-oaked version pulsates with an energetic core of green apple, Anjou pear and melon accentuated by zesty lime details that linger on the finish. $22
» Try these rich, supple Malbecs if you enjoy Argentinian reds
The lowdown: Known as one of the six official Bordeaux blending grapes, this grape has seen a surge in recent years from Washington vintners who are bottling some of their finest barrels as an ultra-luxe single varietal. Although the variety can still be hard to find because they are not mass produced like most Malbec imported from Argentina. The grape’s black skin gives it an inky dark hue and strapping tannins, with a seductive aromatic bouquet of violets, spice and dark fruits.
Hamilton Cellars 2018 Estate Malbec
95 pts.
A pure, complex and concentrated wine from the Red Mountain AVA, this striking red is framed with vivid flavors of blackberry, cherry, raspberry, floral violet and black pepper accentuated with anise, sage, tarragon and dusty baking spices. Ends with a loamy edge and firm grip on the extended satisfying finish. $48
Desert Wind Winery 2018 Wahluke Slope AVA Malbec
92 pts.
A svelte red offering a harmonious mix of blackberry, currants, plum and spice layered with cherry, violet, bay leaf and hints of dark chocolate. The structure builds on the midpalate, gaining weight and depth that carry momentum onto the surprisingly long finish. $35
Frichette 2020 Red Mountain AVA Malbec
95 pts.
Polished in every way, delivering standout structure swirling with inky black fruit of cassis and blackberry flecked with raspberry, blueberry, espresso and silky toffee hints. This red shows regal balance and sharp focus throughout the concentrated, lengthy finish. $48
Bunnell Family Cellar 2019 Artist Series Malbec
94 pts.
This single-vineyard version from Painted Hills Vineyard is refined with a vibrant edge, displaying well-meshed acidity and firm supportive structure touting clove-infused blackberry and boysenberry accented with barrel spice and caramel details that draw out on the earthy finish. $46
» Try these refreshing Rosés for lighter wines in any Shade of Pink
The lowdown: Rosé is unique in that is not considered red or white wine. It is possibly the world’s oldest known type of wine due to its straightforward process of the juice making skin contact with red grapes for a very brief amount of time. (This process is known as maceration, which is extended to extract deeper color and flavors when making red wine.) The pinkish hues come from a color compound found only in red grapes, which is why it can’t be made from white grapes.
Echolands 2022 Walla Walla Valley AVA Grenache Rosé
92 pts.
Vivacious and bone dry this conveys a sense of purity, marked by a vein of brisk acidity that runs through fresh strawberry and mineral notes with a pleasing touch of spice. Made from Blue Mountain Vineyard grapes, a cooler elevated site in the Walla Walla Valley. $26
Adrice Wines 2022 Dekker’s Nectar Cabernet Franc Rosé
92 pts.
Another winner by vintner Pam Adkins, the glistening texture serves up engaging acidity that unites strawberry and raspberry with tropical peach and mango, flanked by lime and dried herbs. Made from a single varietal grown at Lodmell Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. $31
Ryan Patrick Wines Columbia Valley 2022 Rosé
90 pts.
Known for their approachable wines with a distinctive edge, this offers floral aromas of white flowers and cherry on the nose, backed with refreshing flavors of strawberry, pink grapefruit and wet stone integrated with juicy acidity. $16
Two Mountain Winery 2022 Rosé
90 pts.
refreshing Rosé from brothers Matt and Patrick Rawn. Lovely peach, raspberry and white cherry are surrounded by underpinnings of citrusy acidity on the rounded texture. Made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Caberrnet Franc from two Yakima Valley vineyards, Copeland and Portteus. $18
» Try these earthy Sangioveses if you find bliss in Chianti Reserva
The lowdown: Washington winemakers are producing Sangiovese on an ultra-premium level compared to most Italian-made versions of Chianti Classico Riserva. In Tuscany, the Reserva, or Reserve classification requires at least 24 months of aging, with at least three of those months in bottle. And 80% of the grapes must be Sangiovese, with the rest coming from varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. These four bottlings hit it out of the park.
Adams Bench 2018 Red Willow Vineyard Sangiovese “Ursula”
96 pts.
Crafted from old vines planted in 1994, this red exudes elegance, yet is powerfully structured with well-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. $58
Genoa Cellars 2017 Traveler Sangiovese
94 pts.
This Sangiovese-dominant red is the wine that launched the winery in 2011. Polished and rich, with earthen overtones and a harmonious blend of cherry, blackberry and strawberry layered with rose petal, espresso, moist earth and dried herbs. Exceptionally structured with firm tannins and mineral notes that linger on the finish. $34
Kiona 2021 Estate Red Mountain AVA Sangiovese
93 pts.
Plushly textured, yet undercut with nimble acidity that underscores energetic red cherry and blackberry accented with leather, tar and anise. Rocky minerality adds striking resonance to the long finish. Mostly Sangiovese blended with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. $34
Mazzacano Cellars 2019 Sangiovese “Capriccio”
93 pts.
Concentrated and firm, with brooding aromas of toasty cedar and blackberry that lead to maturing flavors of cherry, grilled plum, cola and baking spice. Dense, fine tannins meld with an undercut of bright acidity. Ends with duration, joined by smoke and spice notes. $48
» Try these clean-cut Sauvignon Blancs for fruity acidity & dry finish
The lowdown: This popular grape variety thrives here as well as in far-off places like New Zealand, France’s Loire Valley, Chile and South Africa. The name translates to ‘wild white,’ derived from the French term for ‘sauvage blanc.’ One of our favorite aspects about this easily approachable white wine is its versatility with many different foods. And not just seafood and soft cheeses; it can accompany certain pasta and chicken dishes, even steak depending on your taste buds.
EFESTE 2022 Feral Sauvignon Blanc
92 pts.
This crisply-cut white culled 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. $25
Silver Bell 2021 Rosebud Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
91 pts.
This family-owned winery in Chelan delivers with this snappy version, built over a light juicy frame studded with lemon citrus and dried pineapple infused with green herbal notes and earthy-toned stony minerality. Sourced from Rosebud Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA. $27
Cedergreen Cellars 2019 Lux Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
92 pts.
Barrel fermented and aged six months on the lees, conjuring aromas of starfruit and lightly blanched almond, joined on the clean minerally-backed palate with fresh lemon citrus, grapefruit, clover and a hint of lanolin. A single-vineyard version from Meek Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. $28
Airfield Estates 2022 Yakima Valley Sauvignon Blanc
90 pts.
Leading with zesty and floral aromatics of grapefruit, lime blossom and lemongrass, this estate-grown white offers plenty of zip with a lighter-bodied mouthfeel. A bold spear of bright acidity runs through the lively finish with notes of pineapple and gooseberry. $17