With Fall Release Weekends coming up, we are going to see more red wines from the 2013 vintage coming out. The cycle for the 2012's (see the 15 March blog posting) has passed its peak, and the 2013's are coming through the pipeline.

The 2013 vintage comes from an uneven year weatherwise. After a cool spring, weather warmed up in the summer, with some periodic heat waves, and was followed by a cool autumn that saw occasional rain showers, which, fortunately, were brief enough to let the grapes dry out. The harvest progressed from mid-September to late October, one of those down to the wire vintages. The result were supple, fruit-forward yet structured wines. Vicky McClellan (Seven Hills Winery) described the 2013's as being "friendly wines," and I agree.

So far, I have tasted 2013's from Balboa, Barrister, Flying Trout, Mark Ryan, Owen Roe, Seven Hills, Long Shadows and others. Among the varietals, the Syrahs and Malbecs are particularly appealing, as well as some Grenaches and Petit Verdots. Here are some particularly noteworthy 2013's already reviewed.

2013 Mark Ryan "Wild Eyed" Syrah, Red Mountain (reviewed July - 19+/20 points)

2013 Mark Ryan "Crazy Mary" Mourvedre, Red Mountain (July - 19 points)

2013 Rasa Vineyards "In the Limelight" Petit Verdot (July - 19+ points)

2013 Owen Roe Syrah, Yakima Valley, Union Gap Vineyard (August - 19+ points)

2013 Owen Roe Syrah, Yakima Valley, Red Willow Vinryard (August - 19+ points)

2013 Seven Hills Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley, McClellan Vineyard (September - 19 points)

2013 Seven Hills Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, Seven Hills Vineyard (September - 19 points)

2013 Long Shadows "Saggi" Red Wine, Columbia Valley (September - 19.5 points)

2013 Long Shadows "Sequel" Syrah, Columbia Valley (September - 19.5 points)

2013 Barrister Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley (October - 19 points)

2013 Balboa Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, Eidolon Vineyard (October - 19 points)

2013 Balboa Grenache, Walla Walla Valley, Summit View Vineyard (October - 19+ points)

2013 Balboa "Pandemonium" Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley (October - 19 points)

2013 Flying Trout Malbec, Rattlesnake Hills, Konnowac Vineyard (Ooctober - 19 points)

To be reviewed in the November issue of the Review of Washington Wins are:

2013 Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, Seven Hills Vineyard (November - 19+ points)

2013 Seven Hills Vintage Red Wine, Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard (November - 19+ points)

2013 Isenhower Cellars "Jongleur" Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley (November - 19 points)

2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Grenache, Wahluke Slope, Stone Tree Vineyard (November - 19 points)

2013 Kontos Cellars Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, Summit View Vineyard (November - 19 points)

Over the next few yays, I will be tasting more 2013's from Sleight of Hand, Mark Ryan, Frichette (Red Mountain), Walla Walla Vintners, Forgeron, and àMaurice. I expect more exceptional wines.