Last night (June 13), Lynn and I put together a tasting of wines from wineries from the West side of the mountains for friends in Walla Walla. Most of the wineries were in Woodinville, but two were from the Pamplin Family Winery in Dundee, Oregon, but made entirely from Washington grapes. The preferences of many of the tasters seemed to be personal. For instance, of the two Betz Family wines, those who like Grenache preferred the Besoleil Blend while Syrah lovers favored the La Cote Rousse. Likewise, Merlot aficionados preferred the Merlot-dominated Pamplin Family JRG Blend to the Cabernet-dominated Proprietary Red, and vice versa. Here are my favorites and evaluations:

2009 Betz Family "Besoleil" Red, Columbia Valley

This is a superb expression of Grenache-dominated (67%, with 14% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and 9% Counoise) Rhone-style red. It displayed ripe raspberry, cassis and orange peel aromas, with scents of Provencal herbs and exotic perfumes. The flavors were supple and expansive, with notes of licorice, cocoa powder and roast coffee, followed by a lightly spiced, lingering sweet-dry tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2008 Betz Family "La Cote Rousse" Syrah, Red Mountain

This wine showed a seductive wild berry character with scents of lavender and violets. The flavors were thick and meaty, yet refined with multi-layered dark fruits, that were wrapped around a deep core. The back revealed notes of macerated berries, intermixed with licorice, bittersweet chocolare and roasted nuts. The intensity continued through the long, spiced sweet-dry finish. 19.5/20 points.

2009 Pamplin Family "JRG" Red Blend, Columbia Valley

Composed of 75% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot and 10% Malbec, this wine showed ripe aromas of raspberry, cherry and cassis, with scents of black roses, orange peel, sandalwood and a hint of mint. The medium-full bodied flavors showed the typical minerality of merlot, tempered by a supple texture and a chewy tannin finish. 19/20 points. (See the June Review of Washington Wines issue for a full review).

2008 Pamplin Family Proprietary Red, Columbia Valley

This wine (89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot) offered rich aromas of blackberries, black cherries, sandalwood, dried roses and eucalyptus. The dark fruit flavors were mouth-filling and solidly structured, with a deep core, intermixed with roasted berries, dried cherries and minerally earth. The wine glided through a seamless back palate, leading effortlessly into a long, well-integrated finish. 19.5/20 points. (Reviewed April, 2012).

2008 Adams Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, Mays Discovery Vineyard

This wine showed a seductive nose of raspberry, cherry, cassis, dried rose petals, cigar box and spiced incense. The mouth-encompassing flavors showe superb equipoise throughout, like a seamless tapestry of dark fruits, licorice, chocolate and French roast, followed by touches of creme brulée and gently squeezed berries on a long, toasty oak laced finish. 19.5/20 points. (Reviewed September, 2011).

2008 Adams Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, Red Willow Vineyard

Deep ruby colored, this vintage exhibited a seductive, exotic aromas of wild berries, cassis, mulberry, attar of rose and spiced oriental incense. On the palate, the dark fruit flavors drilled into a deep, full bore core and spreaded out with interlayings of Swiss chocolate, licorice, French roast and Missoula Flood minerals. The gamut of nuanced flavors were completed on the back with notes of gently macerated berries, roasted nuts, creme brulée, mocha, orange peel, followed integrated oak, superb fruit acid balance and fine-grained tannins on the long, long finish. 20/20 points. (Reviewed May, 2011. - In that review, I gave it 19.5+/20 points, and subsequently the winemaker, Erica Blue, predicted it would surpass the 2007 vintage. The 2008 Red Willow has evolved to the point where its score is now equal to that of its predecessor).

2005 JM Cellars Founder's Reserve Red Wine, Red Mountain

Doug Roskelley (Tero Estates) supplied this wine. It displayed a deep ruby color and a rich, peppery nose of raspberry, cherry and cassis, with scents of dried roses and sandalwood. The palate was thick, chewy and pervasive, intertwining dark fruits, chocolate and roasted coffee beans with Red Mountain scorched earth and minerals. The vigor continued on the back with notes of macerated berries, mocha and pain grille, leading into a deep, direct flavorful finish. 19/20 points.