A few days ago, I ran across an interesting article in Tom Lee's Zinfandel Chronicles (zinfandelchronicles.com) about Washington Whites. In it, he noted that the Cayuse, Leonetti, Quilceda Creek and Betz wineries had one thing in comon: they do not make white wines. A reader would suppose that iconic wineries don't do whites. Lee goes on to classify the makers of the Great Whites of Washington:

old guard: Woodward Canyon (Chardonnay), Ch. Ste. Michelle (Erioica Riesling) DeLille (Chaleur Estate White).

new guard: Efeste (Lola Chardonnay) Sleight of Hand and Maison Bleue (French Creek Chardonnay) Guardian (Angel Sauvignon Blanc) and others.

Along these lines, here are some noteworthy Great Whites of Washington, all more in the new guard style rather than the old.

Array Wines: this winery makes only Chardonnay and the 2011 Washington State, Dijon Clone and Conner Lee bottlings are excellent (reviewed in the March issue of the Review of Washington Wines). New guard.

Buty: Caleb Foster makes two remarkable whites: a Semillon-Sauvignon-Muscadelle and a Conner-Lee Chardonnay. He uses a combination of barrel fermentation and aging in concrete tanks, a new guard approach.

Tenor Wines: Aryn Morell makes a striking Sauvignon Blanc, barrel fermented and very intense. See the February issue for a review of the 2011.

Waters: The 2012 "Prelude" Roussanne-Viognier is a delicious white. I was going to review it in May, but was told it would get even better, so I will wait until the June issue.

Dowsett: No one, I think, makes Gewurztraminer better than Chris Dowsett. The 2011 Celilo Vineyard is excellent (August 2012) and will be reviewing the 2012 in the next few months.

Waitsburg Cellars: Paul Gregutt has turned out a quartet of "The Aromatics" from the Pinot Gris, Chenin Blanc and Riesling grapes. They are amazingly good for their price points ($15 and $17). They have qualities that seem to embrace both old and new world styles. Watch for the May issue (on line on April 29) for reviews of these wines.

Sleight of Hand and Maison Bleue: Both make intense Chardonnays from the French Creek vineyard (see above). Jon Meuret also makes superb Rhone-style whites at Maison Bleue.

Finally, in this connection, I should mention that Brennon Leighton, maker of Efesté's "Lola" Chardonnay, is now working for Charles Smith Wines in Walla Walla, making Chardonnays. Starting with the 2012 vintage, we should be seeing additions to the Great Whites of Washington.