Last week, I announced our imminent move full time to Walla Walla. Presently, we are in the throes of packing and cleaning in preparation for that move in February. We, however, have managed to find time to eat and to drink wine. Lately, we have been concentrating on diminishing our stock of wine at our Seattle home and sampling new releases for review in the upcoming February issue of the Review of Washington Wines. Here's a rundown on some of the wines recently tried.

2009 Baer "Callisto" Red Blend, Columbia Valley - This is a well-focused, tasty combination of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot and 3% Merlot. (Reviewed in the January issue - 19/20 points.) It paired nicely wth grilled filet mignon and baked potatoes.

2011 DeLille Cellars "Doyenne" Winemaker's Reserve Roussanne, Yakima Valley - This was a limited reserve bottling available only at the winery. We had it with melted raclette cheese on fingerling potatoes, the wine's richness matched the nutty-creamy quality of the cheese.

2010 Balboa Syrah, Walla Walla Valley - I wrote, "If you like a front and back kick in a Syrah, this is for you." (To be reviewed in the February issue.) We had it with meat loaf from Metropolitan Market after a busy day, getting kitchenwares organized for packing.

2010 Memaloose Estate Cabernet Franc, Columbia Gorge, Idiot's Grace Vineyard - We had this with a quick dinner of sauted beef tenderloin and potatoes. (Reviewed in the December issue, 18.5/20 points).

2007 Cadaretta Syrah, Columbia Valley - This was purchased back in 2010 when it was released. It was drinking nicely, still a bit young, with smoldering aromas and thick, dark fruits,, coated with black licorice and bittersweet chocolate, followed by roasted berries and nutmeats. Tannins rounding out - could go a few more years. 18.5+/20 points.

2010 Pamplin Family Winery "JRG" Red Wine, Columbia Valley - Drunk with another take-out dinner, rotisserie chicken. (To be reviewed in the February issue).

2009 Upland Estates "Old Vine" Cabernet Sauvignon, Snipes Mountain - This was accompanied by grilled lamb chops and roasted potatoes. (To be reviewed in February.)

N/V Flying Trout Malbec, Columbia Valley - This is one of the first wines we bought from Ashley Trout. It had evolved into a rich, aromatic wine, suggestive of forest carpet, and dark, brooding flavors reminiscent of the "black wine" (also Malbec) of Cahors in France's Lot Valley. 18.5+/20 points.

2011 Domaine Huet "Le Haut Lieu" Vouvray - For a change, we had this Loire white (Chenin Blanc) from one of Vouvray's best producers. Richly fruited and aromatic, with an essential minerality, it paired nicely with fresh cracked Dungeness crab. 19/20 points.

2006 Reininger "Cima" Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley - We had this "Super Tuscan" blend of 50% Sangiovese and 25% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, with raclette cheese and potatoes (winter comfort food). Kudos to Chuck Reininger for this lovely, aromatic supple wine that provided a lot of pleasure for us and our guests (reviewed November, 2012). 19+/20 points.