With the increased number of exceptional wines being reviewed recently, there has been less space for "Best Buys." So, here, I am listing some wines recently tasted that offer exceptional value.

2011 Ch. Ste Michelle Riesling, Columbia Valley, Cold Creek Vineyard ($13.99 at Esquin)

Riesling continues to offer some of the best values in Washington wine. This one offers a brilliant gold color and a fresh nose of pear, peach and grapefruit, with scents of honeysuckle, jasmine and clover. The fruit compote flavors are fresh and lively, underlain with peach stone, old vine character, and stony minerals. The back picks up notes of melon rind, Poire William liqueur and a squeeze of grapefruit juice on the lingering medium-dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2009 Gamache Cellars Boulder Red, Columbia Valley ($15.99 at Esquin)

A blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Syrah, 16% Malbec and 8% Merlot, this wine exhibits a deep purplish color and attractive aromas of blackberries, cherries, plums, mulberry and incense. The flavors are deliciously ripe and chewy, with admixtures of chocolate, cola and roast coffee. The richness continues on the back with notes of macerated berries, mocha, dried cherries and a dash of spice on the moderate acid and tannin finish. 18/20 points.

2011 Tempus Cellars Riesling, Columbia Valley, Evergreen Vineyard ($15.99 at Esquin)

This comes from Washington's newest AVA, Ancient Lakes, near Quincy. It displays a brilliant gold color and an intriguing nose of Bosc pear, white peach, apricot, jasmine and clover. The white fruit flavors are crisp and lively, accented by notes of wet stone, peach pit and old vine penetration. The vibrance continues on the back with a squeeze of lime juice and persistent minerality. 18.5/20 points.

2011 Lost River Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley ($13.99 at Total Wine)

This Winthrop winery has turned out a fine rendition of this variety. Fermented in stainless steel, it shows a brilliant gold color and an intriguing nose of pear, white peach, melon, grapefruit and a hint of anise. The white fruit flavors are crisp and vibrant, imbued with stony minerals, peach pit and melon rind, followed by tones of grapefruit peel and wet stone on a faintly honeyed finish. 18/20 points.

2011 Ch. Ste. Michelle-Dr. Loosen "Eroica" Riesling, Columbia Valley ($15.99 at Total Wine)

Iridescent gold colored, this wine offers a perfumed nose of pear, white peach, Crenshaw melon, honeysuckle, jasmine and clover. The white fruit compote flavors are fresh and vibrant, imbued with stony minerals, peach stone and melon rind. The back picks up notes of squeezed ruby grapefruit juice and lemon zest on the lingering, lightly spiced off-dry low alcohol (11%) finish, all making for a lovely Mosel-like Riesling. 18.5+/20 points.

2009 Ch. Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot, Columbia Valley ($12.97 net at Total Wine)

Sourced mostly from the Wahluke Slope, this Merlot offers a deep ruby color and true to variety aromas of black cherries, cassis, black roses, tobacco and sandalwood. The flavors are plush and accessible, yet deep, marked by notes of chocolate, mocha, roast coffee and minerally earth, along with a toasty, chewy back. Moderate tannins give this wine easy drinkability, yet it possesses enough acid to give it structure. 18/20 points.

2011 Barnard-Griffin Fume Blanc, Columbia Valley ($9.99 at Thriftway)

This is my go-to wine when I have lunch at Anthony's Home Port at the Sea-Tac airport before my afternoon Horizon Air flight to Walla Walla. This vintage shows a brilliant straw color and fresh aromas of melon, citrus, lilac, lemongrass and a hint of fig. The white fruit flavors are crisp and lively, yet well textured, with notes of melon rind, grapefruit peel and grapeskin on a lingering, zesty finish. 18/20 points.

2010 Blacksmith Syrah, Columbia Valley ($14.99 at Thriftway)

Blacksmith is a second label for Forgeron Cellars. This Syrah displays a brilliant purplish ruby color and a ripe nose of raspberry, blueberry, pomegranate, black roses and anise. The flavors are well focused, with the dark fruits intermixed with licorice, cocoa and earthy minerals. The penetration continues on the back with notes of roasted berries and nuts, blueberry juice and dried orange peel on a chewy moderate tannin and acid finish. 18/20 points.

The November Issue Goes Online October 29th

Since the November Review of Washington Wines includes a Walla Walla Fall Release preview, that issue will go online a few days early. This will help readers who will be making the trip to Walla Walla plan ahead. Next week's Review Blog also will include recommendations of wineries to visit.