Scores

A GSM blend with a silky texture with refined tannins for long lasting finish. Smooth, approachable, with good balance and dark blue fruits, hint of black cherry, and cigar humidor. Everyone thought is was more expensive than it was, so the $28 price point bumped up the score to 94! The Wine Panel expected to pay $35 or more.

Fruit forward and enjoyable, lots of zing & tang, this fun light-bodied Rhone style blend needs a little time to open up - so use your aerator or decanter - it will be worth it! A zesty spicy wine in the $25-$35 Category

A delicious take on Viognier, with a rich texture that leads to a long finish. Juicy with nice minerality with low or no oak, subtle notes of butterscotch, vanilla, Asian pear and honeysuckle. A rare find for such a well-made Viognier in Washington. 92 Points in the $25-$35 Category.

Made from 100% Viognier grapes from the 15 year old Clos Chevalle Vineyard in Lake Chelan, this wine has a great acid balance, is easy to drink and wasn't overly floral or fruity. Expect slight floral & mineral notes with subtle flavors of lychee and melon. No oak, all stainless fermentation leads to a clean fresh style of Viognier. 90 Points in $15-25 Category

A delicious GSM Rhone style blend made from 58% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 12% Mourvèdre, all sourced from Weinbau, Stillwater Creek, Stone Tree, Wahluke and Royal Slope! Aged in 25% new, 25% one year American and 50% new French oak barrels. Medium acid and firm tannins, this is a good candidate for aeration or decanting as it needed air to express itself. Dark blueberry and blackberry notes balanced the wine - good weight and texture. Only 150 cases made. 90 Points in the $25-$35 Category.

A gorgeous Viognier, classic in style, with subtle mango and apricot flavors. Aromatically expect tropical & floral notes. This wine was picked early to preserve acid and pressed as whole clusters, fermented in stainless steel with no malolactic fermentation. Only 223 cases produced. 93 Points in the $15-$25 Category

This wine had all the classic markers of Viognier, along with notes of lemon custard, banana and subtle floral hints. Low acid, good texture, fun to drink! Very well priced at only $22. 90 Points in $15-$25 Category

Expect a very nicely balanced Syrah, with hints of vanilla, smoke, dark licorice and layers of bold black fruits. A classic expression of Washington Syrah, deep in color and flavor with a rich silky texture. 92 Points in the $35-$45 Category.

Classic Washington style Syrah, not restrained and very toasty oak, yet polished and gorgeous.

Loved the creamy silky texture. Concentrated with layers of complexity and very balanced.

A big mouthful of rich silky Syrah. Great balance with dark plum and bit of sarsparilla and just the right amount of oak and not overly extracted. Grapes sourced from Stillwater Creek, Wallula, and Red Willow Vineyards and only 200 cases made. 91 Points in the $35-45 Category.

All it takes is one tiny sniff to know this is Syrah. Big time dark fruits with blueberry and bacon. Wines made using all French oak barrels with 40% New French, 40% Second Fill, and 20% Neutral French. A rich velvety syrah that way over delivers for the price. 92 Points in the $25-$35 Category.

A zesty crisp dry Rose made in the Southern French style. Expect a very dry refreshing summer sipper with a splash of rhubarb and grapefruit. 90 Points in the Under $15 Category - The Wine Panel

A bone dry rosé made from grapes grown on the Wahluke Slope, this wine is lean and clean and high acid. Expect notes of starfruit, rhubarb and grapefruit. Light in color, very refreshing when served cold!

Very classic style for Grenache, with savory notes of sage, touch of cigar box cedar and tobacco on nose. A great value for the $25-$35 Category

A classic Provence style dry rosé with pear and apple notes, lively, crisp, and refreshing. 91 Points in the $15-$15 Category - The Wine Panel

A silky smooth, full bodied Syrah with a classic Syrah nose and toasty oak. Expect flavors of ripe blueberry and a touch of bacon. 90 Points in the $35-$45 Category - The Wine Panel

Classy wine with great balance. A creamy rich texture. Reminiscent of fresh blackberry pie!

This Syrah tasted like a well-made old world wine from theNorthern Rhone Valley of France. A bit rustic with smokynotes and very ripe dark cherry. 90 Points in the $35-$45 Category.

This would be a great wedding wine, meaning a large group could all enjoy this wine! Green tea, peach, and aromas of white flowers. Balanced, dry but fruity, and just a touch of acid. $18 is a great price. 91 Points in the $15-$25 category.

A delicious, fun dry rosé from Yakima Valley with a crisp clean finish. This lighter style rosé has a hint of watermelon and would be a crowd pleaser for a large group and affordable at $20. 90 Points in the $15-$25 category.

A syrah to lay down to age for a few years as the wine has significant tannin. However if you can't wait, we suggest enjoying with food and/or decanting for a couple of hours first. A lovely rich texture with savory notes of sage, tobacco, spice and dark fruits. The Wine Panel expects a lot for wines in the $45+ category, and this wine delivers and earned 91 Points at $63.

This is not your momma's Viognier. Expect a racy acidity that makes this one of the most atypical and refreshing Viognier's we've tasted. The team loved this wine from Kurt and Vicki Schlicker, who've been hard at work in Walla Walla since 2000. Subtle notes of white peach and pear. Well constructed! 91 Points in the $25-$35 Category

An unusual dry rosé with grapes sourced from River Rock Vineyard.A fun, quaffable porch wine with hints of mineral and sour cherry with a medium high acidity for a crisp clean finish. 91 Points in the $15-$25 Category

Hard to believe this Syrah is 7 years old and still will benefit from a few more years of aging! We suggest laying it down a few more years, or if you can't wait, aerating/decanting or serving with meats. This delicious beast of a Syrah has flavors reminiscent of dark cherry, nutmeg and clove and is spicy and structured. 91 Points in the $25-$35 Category

Very balanced and well made, this outstanding Cab was produced from the Summit View, Les Collines, and 7 Hills vineyards in Walla Walla AVA. Touch of vanilla, blackberry, pepper, and dark fruits with an elegant, long finish. Only 378 cases produced. 90 Points in the $45+ Category

This balanced Cabernet has low acid with moderate tannins and is a solid Cabernet that is a good value at the $28 price point. Expect a touch of blackcurrant on back palette and a creamy approachable texture. $25-$35 Category

Very few Petite Syrahs are produced in Washington, and this delicious wine leaves one wondering why? Usually Petites aren't Petite when it comes to tannin, but this wine had a very good balance and just a little dry tannin. Expect a spicy, savory wine with bramble notes, dried fruit, and berry cobbler. Nice wine for the $25-$35 category.

This Chardonnay had just the right balance between subtle oak and a creamy texture without being heavy handed. Grapes were sourced from the notable Stillwater Creek Vineyards in the Columbia Valley. The result is a very pretty and balanced Chardonnay with flavors of lemon, pear, and citrus. A great deal at only $22. 91 Points in the $15-$25 Category

With grapes sourced from Antoine Creek Vineyards, this Viognier has more acid than most Viognier, giving it a cleaner, more crisp finish. White peach and apricot flavors lead to classic Viognier flavors and aromas, but the acid makes it more refreshing than most Viognier. 90 Points in the $25-$35 Category

A intriguing white blend with layers of fruit, minerality and good balance. Notes of pear, peach, white flowers, honeysuckle and apricot, this wine has a rich but light texture and a long finish. 91 Points in the $25-$35 Category

This first release from the new Cavelero Hill Cellars is a fun, light blend of Carmenere, Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. Expect notes of black cherry, allspice and espresso and finishes a little peppery.

A very clean, bright, and fresh dry rosé similar to a Southern French style. This rosé is made from Horse Heaven Hills Cab and is zesty and crisp!

A tangy rosé made from Syrah and Cab. Expect a hint of rhubarb and dried strawberry notes from Domaine Sainte Croix roséphine, a small winery in the very South of France on the border between the Languedoc and the Roussillon, owned and run by the English husband and wife team of Jon and Elizabeth Bowe. Very light, crisp, and refreshing!

It's hard to find 100% Viognier from France, but this delicious wine is a great example of what we'd like New World wineries to do with this grape. Not oaky, tart, or overly floral. 20% of the juice was aged in new oak for 9 months, then blended with 80% from stainless tanks. Notes of honey and white peach with juicy fresh acid. Well made!

Sourced from the windy slopes of Horse Heaven Hills by Red Mountain, this Left Bank release from Yakima's Gilbert Cellars is very much a blend similar to France's Left Bank Bordeaux blends. A blend of 48% Cabernet, 43% Merlot, 5% Malbec and 4% of Petit Verdot, the wine abounds in dark fruit and structure. At $22 this wine over delivers and easily scored 90 Points by the Wine Panel in the $15-$25 category. The perfect candidate for using your aerator.

The latest edition of the Long Cellars non-vintage red blend is a mystery as to its composition, but over delivers with good texture and balance. Nice ripe black and blue fruits bursts thru and an elegant use of oak. Made with Connor Lee Vineyard Cabernet and Dineen Vineyard Malbec. This wine over delivers for a wine in the $15-$25 range.

A well made, solid Right Bank Bordeaux style wine from 74% Merlot and 25% Cabernet. One of Woodinville's newcomers, winemaker Steven Carmody nailed this wine with enough structure without going too far to achieve good balance and complexity and a long dusty finish. 90 Points in the $25-$35 Category

This GSM is actually more of a Northern Rhone style blend with 67% Syrah and 33% Mourvèdre and no Grenache. The result is a rich, sexy wine that is very polished with smoked meat nuances and fantastic balance. A delicious wine from Chelan/ Wapato's Sin Banderas, which means without flags, as it was cultivated by a Mexican, vinified by a Texan, cellared by a Frenchman, and distributed by a Washingtonian.

A solid Bordeaux style blend from Woodinville's TruthTeller. The grapes all are sourced from the famous Red Mountain, with 60% Cabernet, 24% Merlot, 12% Cab Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. This gives the wine great depth and layers but also structure, lending the wine to aeration before drinking or cellaring for a few more years.

Bold Faced Lie is a second label to TruthTeller Winery under the name Miscreant Project. The 2017 is 60% Cabernet and 40% Merlot, and has very toasty and smokey notes and a lot of dark fruits. The Wine Panel liked the texture, concentration and balance - very deserving of 92 Points at $16 as it way over delivers for a wine in the $15-$25 range.

A delicious well-balanced wine from newcomer Virtue Cellars. This blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre is light on its feet, with hints of tea and blackberry. A very pretty and fun Southern Rhone style GSM.

Nice rich wine with structure and balance. Deep dark fruit with currants, anise, and touch of smoke. This wine would benefit from decanting, aerating, or aging - or enjoy with food now. 90 Points in $35-$45 Category - The Wine Panel

Dried cherry notes complimented by the nice soft dusty tannins. This wine has a rich texture - polished and elegant, and way over delivers for $25. 91 Points in $15-$15 Category - The Wine Panel

A balanced Walla Walla blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. Soft and sexy with a creamy light texture. Very polished and elegant. 91 Points in $25-$35 Category - The Wine Panel

A bold deep Malbec with dusty tannins and hint of herbal aromas. Expect dark cherry, violets, white flowers - very juicy. Only 25% new oak, sourced from Dineen Vineyards. Nice rich texture. 90 Points in $25-$35 Category - The Wine Panel

Big dark fruit, violets and spice in this gorgeous Reserve Malbec made from Boushey vineyard grapes. Aged in 75% Hungarian oak, the wine has good balance, nice silky texture. 92 Points in $35-$45 Category - The Wine Panel

Expect a spicy Merlot with a splash of Cab Franc to add a zestiness to this well made wine. Notes of black current, tar, and ripe dark plums. Good depth and nice elegant long finish. 92 Points in $35-$45 Category - The Wine Panel

A fun, spicy unfiltered wine made with grapes sourced from Heart of the Hill Vineyard on Red Mountain. Its lush with red fruits and spice and savory notes, with a zesty acid to keep it light on it's feet. Only 75 cases produced. 90 Points in $25-$35 Category.

Definitely a New World version of this varietal, with less tannin and spiciness than those of Spain. But the wine is fun to drink, with notes of cola, cocoa, and bright cherry and a smooth, soft, silky finish. 90 Points in $25-$35 Category - The Wine Panel

A gorgeous Syrah with a silky texture and soft, long finish. Hints of baked apple and savory notes of sage. 90 Points in $35-$45 Category.

This is a great example of what Merlot can be. Elegant, medium bodied and balanced, with a zesty finish. Expect subtle notes of cherry and vanilla. Classy wine for the price. 90 Points in $15-$25 Category - The Wine Panel

A juicy, vibrant Syrah with notes of cola and blueberry with subtle spice and anise. A great wine for the price, with a smooth rich texture. 90 Points in $15-$25 Category - The Wine Panel

Very pretty Grenache, with a light, soft texture, subtle aroma of violets and bright notes of cherry. This is a good example of what may very well be Washington's answer to Oregon's Pinot Noir. 90 Points in $15-25 Category - The Wine Panel

A delicious small production Malbec with good depth and rich black and blue fruit flavors. Very fresh with a little zing, this is a solid, well-made wine that over delivers for $24. 91 Points in $15-$25 Category - The Wine Panel

Good depth and power for this winery's red blend. This wine has firm tannins that will soften with time, but if you can't wait, use your aerator or decant for an hour before serving. Dark in color with notes of olive, plum and tobacco. 90 Points in the $15-$25 Category.

A classic styled Albariño, with bracing acidity yet with a creamy texture. The notes of rose petal, lemon grass and kafir lime are fun aromas that play well with the flavors of pear and apricot. The wine is complex and worth the money for an intriguing example of a little known Spanish varietal grown in Washington. Only 2 barrels produced. 90 Points in the $25-$35 Category.

A smokey, tangy Syrah with a bit of bacon and blueberry on the palette, with good depth and structure. Subtle notes of clove and cola with a long lasting finish. A bit on the expensive side for Washington Syrah, but with only 2 barrels produced this rich Walla Walla AVA Syrah will easily sell out and delivers for the money. 90 Points in the $45 + Category.

A Super Tuscan style wine with a few years of aging that is comprised of 50% Sangiovese, 37% Cabernet and 13% Merlot, this wine is medium-bodied and a solid representation of a classic Italian Super Tuscan blend. Bright notes of cherry on the palette with a bit of vanilla and cigar box in the nose. 90 Points in the $35-$45 Category.

A Burgundian style Chardonnay that is very light in texture, color and oak, this is nicely balanced Chardonnay that is clean and balanced, perfect for those who find Chardonnay to be too heavy handed with oak. Expect a wine that is fresh with notes of red and yellow apples and wisp of vanilla. 90 Points in The $5-$15 Category.

Expect a medium bodied red blend that is very balanced with a touch of dusty tannins. This wine exhibits subtle notes of black currant and blueberry and touch of savory herbs aromatically. A blend made from all of Kiona's Red Mountain vineyards of mostly Cabernet with a touch of Syrah, Merlot, ad Sangiovese, this actually tastes like real wine compared to most wines at this price point which usually seem manipulated with artificial flavors. Decanting suggested. A great value for only $15! 91 Points in the $5-$15 range.

This wine has both a creamy richness and acidity with a 85% Semillon and the balance Sauv. Blanc. Expect a touch of oak with notes of baked apple, brown butter and savory sage. For the price this wine way over-delivers for those who want something light bodied that has a lot of character and is still refreshing and interesting. 90 Points in the $15-$25 Category.

There's very little of this varietal from Northern Spain grown in Washington, and what is grown tends to be a little expensive since it is so hard to get. But this Albariño is worth the money with it's complexity and intriguing character. We enjoyed the floral notes with flavors of apples and honey. Bone dry and medium bodied in texture. 90 Points in the $15-$25 Category

A big, dark Cabernet with slightly smoky undertones. Expect hints of soy, fermented black bean, and olive, with plum and cassis. Solid Cabernet for the money, drink now with roasted meats or age for a few years - it can handle it. 90 Points in the $25-$35 Category.

A great balanced white, with zestiness and crisp clean finish. Expect notes of white peach and citrus elements, and just a kiss of oak. It's dynamic with racy acidity and perfect for a hot summer day. 93 Points in The $15-$25 Category

A Red Bordeaux style blend with incredible finesse and polish. John Abbott, formerly of Abeja, did a masterful job combining the power of Cabernet from Bacchus, Sagemoor and Dionysus and finished with 8% Merlot from Weinbau Vineyards for a soft elegant finish. Dried rosemary and thyme, dark chocolate notes, caramel, dried cherries and cedar cigar box. 90 Points in the $45 + Category.

A well-crafted blend of Semillon from Dionysys Vineyard that integrates well with Sauvignon Blanc from Gamache and Bacchus Vineyards. Crisp and clean with a lemony finish. Expect flavors of starfruit, nectarine, and minerality with spicy apple notes. A great example of a Northwest white Bordeaux style blend. 90 Points in the $$25-$35 Category.

No mistaking this for anything but Cabernet. A hearty Cabernet with very firm tannins, this wine would benefit from cellaring or decanting if drinking now. Grapes sourced from Destiny Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, aged in French oak (50% new) for 20 months. Dark fruit and plum flavors with very dark chocolate and dried currant and amaro flavors, with a hint of vanilla and cola as well. 90 Points in the $35-$45 Category.

A more Rhone-style Syrah than many Washington versions, this wine is a little lighter in color and texture than most. Good structure with finer, integrated tannins, this wine has savory and meaty notes with a zesty red currant finish. Nice polish and elegance for this Naches Heights AVA Syrah. 90 Points in the $25-35 Category.

This new world style of Chenin is very crisp and clean and bone dry. While there are notes of white peach and honey, its mouth watering acidity leaves a Meyer lemon finish. Truly sunshine in a glass! 90 Points in the $5-$15 Category.

Very clean and fresh Pinot Gris, with flavors of yellow apple, white candied peach, and asian pear. This wine is very balanced and with a zesty white grapefruit and lemon finish. 90 Points in the $15-$25 Category.

A little more complex than many rosés, this wine is medium-bodied and richer than most, with dried orange peel, watermelon, and rhubarb notes. Expect subtle floral notes with currant and raw honey flavors in the finish. 90 Points in the $15-$25 Category.

A semi-dry version of Riesling, this wine has a nice balance between sweet and tart. Think honey and lime, with notes of pear and white peach. For a fruity wine it finishes clean with a racy acidity. 90 Points in the $5-$15 Category.

Zesty and refreshing, this well-balanced rosé made from Oregon Pinot Noir was fermented from the free run juice of uncrushed whole grape clusters. This wine has subtle mineral notes with hints of rhubarb and dried strawberry. Very light in body and color and bone dry and slightly tart, this wine is clean and fresh. 90 Points in the $15-$25 Category.

This Cabernet Franc, produced from Wilridge's Estate vineyards in the Naches Heights AVA, has subtle savory herbal notes along with dry cocoa and caramel on the palate. While the acid and tannin are balanced, we suggest cellaring this for a few years or decanting for a few hours and enjoying with cheeses or meats. 90 Points in the $25-$35 Category.

A classic varietal from Portugal but rarely found anywhere else, this unusual varietal is powerful and anything but subtle. One judge mistakenly said it should be eaten with food, which given it's chewy and slightly abrupt tannins, isn't far from the truth. Yet the wine has gorgeous floral aromatics with a bit of fennel, and a dark fruit depth that is both enjoyable and intriguing. 90 Points in the $45+ Category.

A nice roasty toasty new world version of Tempranillo, with earth & brambly notes and a hint of cigar box juxtaposed with fresh dark fruits like blackberry and plum and a little cola. Nice balance with some dusty dry tannins for a long finish. 91 Points in the $25-$35 Category.

While Zweigelt may not be easily found outside of its native Austria, we suggest you find some from the 2018 vintage from Wilridge. This unusual red grape produced a truly fun wine that all the judges loved. It's big and juicy with toasty notes and a little sasparilla and licorice in the finish. Nice balance and structure. 91 Points in the $25-$35 Category.

This is not your mama's Merlot - big structure and hearty tannins leave the impression of a Cabernet not a Merlot. aged 18 months in new French oak barrels, this massive Merlot would benefit from cellaring, decanting, or both. Notes of vanilla and bitter dark chocolate and a hint of white pepper. 90 Points in the $25-$35 Category.