About this Year's Lists

This year, I have put the two wines scoring 20/20 points at the top, followed by The Next Top Twenty which consists of all wines scoring 19.5 points plus a few particularly memorable 19+ points ones. The following list, The Best of the Rest consists of outstanding wines that are highly recommended. The Best Buys for $25 or Less are wines scoring 18.5 points, or close to that, making them outstanding values. Some wines may be sold out at the winery, but are worth looking for at retail stores. This year, instead of listing the wines alphabetically, as I did last year, they are listed in the order in which they were reviewed, from January to December 2010. Omissions from this list do not necessarily mean that certain wines lack merit. There is not enough space to list all of them here or in my Review of Washington Wines. Also, with the hundreds of wineries now in operation around the state, it is impossible to cover all of them. And I intentionally have left out wines which are allocated, or unavailable in the general market.

 

The Two Wines of the Year - 20/20 Points

 

2007 Adams Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, Red Willow Vineyard (March) - sold out

2007 Rasa Vineyards "Principia" Reserve Syrah, Columbia Valley (June) - $85

 

The Next Top Twenty - 19.5/20 Points

 

2006 DeLille Cellars Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain (January) - $135

2007 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Red, Columbia Valley (February) - $75

2007 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard Red, Horse Heaven Hills (February) - $56

2007 DeLille Cellars Harrison Hill Red, Yakima Valley (March) - $75

2007 Buty Rediviva of the Stones Red, Walla Walla Valley (May) - sold out

2007 Woodward Canyon "Old Vines" Cabernet Sauvignon, Dedication Series #27 (June) - $79

2007 Cadence "Camerata" Red Mountain, Cara Mia Vineyard (June) - $55

2006 Cadaretta Springboard Red, Columbia Valley (July) - $50

2008 Goedhart Family Syrah, Red Mountain, Bel Villa Vineyard (July) - $50

2007 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red, Red Mountain (August) - $57

2008 Walla Faces "Winnie" Riesling Ice Wine, Columbia Valley, Lawrence Vineyard (Sept.) $25 (375 ml.)

2009 Maison Bleue "Petite Joie" Marsanne, Yakima Valley, Boushey Vineyard (September) - $32

2006 TL Cellars "Release No. Six" Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley (September) - $65

2008 Sparkman Cellars "Darkness" Syrah, Columbia Valley, Boushey Vineyard (Sept.) - $56

2008 Kerloo Cellars Tempranillo, Columbia Valley (October) - sold out

2007 Col Solare Red, Columbia Valley (October) - $75

2008 Flying Trout Malbec, Columbia Valley (November) - $35

2007 Tero Estates Windrow Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley (November) - $45

2008 Gramercy Cellars "The Third Man" Red (December) - $45

2008 Reynvaan Family Vineyards "In the Rocks" Syrah, Walla Walla Valley (December) - $50

 

The Best of the Rest - 19/20 Points

 

2007 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley Artist's Series #16 (January) - $50

2007 Spring Valley Vineyard "Nina Lee" Syrah, Walla Walla Valley (February) - sold out

2007 Adams Bench "The V" Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley (February) - $42

2004 TL Cellars "Release No. One" Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley (February) - $50

2007 JM Cellars "Tre Faniculli" Red, Columbia Valley (March) - $42

2007 O'Shea Scarbrough "Stand Alone" Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills (March) - $55

2007 Seven Hills Vintage Red, Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard (April) - $32

2008 Maison Bleue "Liberte" Syrah, Yakima Valley, Boushey Vineyard (April) - $39

2007 Bunnell Family Cellar Syrah, Wahluke Slope, Clifton Vineyard (April) - $43

2007 Spring Valley Vineyard "Uriah" Red, Walla Walla Valley (April) - $50

2007 Rasa Vineyards "Vox Populi" Mourvedre, Yakima Valley, Minick Vineyard (April) - $45

2007 Brian Carter Cellars "Corrida" Red, Columbia Valley (May) - $36

2007 Waters Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Forgotten Hills Vineyard (May) - sold out

2007 Waters Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Pepper Bridge Vineyard (May) - $40

2008 Buty Merlot-Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley (May) - $40

2007 Betz Family "Clos de Betz" Red, Columbia Valley (May) - $48

2007 Efeste "Big Papa" Cabernet Sauvigno, Columbia Valley (May) - sold out

2008 McCrea Cellars Counoise, Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard (June) - $32

2006 McCrea Cellars "Amerique" Syrah, Yakima Valley (June) - $34

2009 Rasa Vineyards "The Composer" Riesling, Columbia Valley, Sagemoor Vineyards (June) - $30

2007 Sinclair Estates "Pentatonic" Red, Columbia Valley (June) - $55

2007 Cadence "Bel Canto" Red Mountain, Cara Mia Vineyard (June) - $55

2007 Cadaretta "Windthrow" Red, Columbia Valley (July) - $50

2007 Cadaretta "Highclimber" Sangiovese, Columbia Valley (July) - $50

2007 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley (July) - $45

2007 Waters Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley (July) - $50

2007 Fidelitas Red Mountain Red Wine (July) - $50

2007 Fidelitas Boushey Vineyard Red, Yakima Valley (July) - $50

2007 Long Shadows Sequel Syrah, Columbia Valley (July) - $50

2007 Grand Reve Collaboration Series II Red Wine, Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard (August) - $55

2007 Grand Reve Collaboration Series III Syrah, Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard (August) - $55

2007 L'Ecole No. 41 "Apogee" Red, Walla Walla Valley, Pepper Bridge Vineyard (August) - $49

2007 L'Ecole No. 41 "Perigee" Red, Walla Walla Valley, Seven Hills Estate Vineyard (August) - $49

2007 Pepper Bridge Merlot, Walla Walla Valley (August) - $50

2007 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley (August) - $55

2006 Dunham Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon XII, Columbia Valley (August) - $45

2007 aMaurice Cellars "The Horiuchi" Red Bend, Columbia Valley (September) - $35

2007 Saviah Cerllars Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley (September) - $35

2009 Maison Bleue "Au Contraire" Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, French Creek Vineyard (September) - $20

2009 Maison Bleue "Soleil" Roussanne, Yakima Valley, Olsen Vineyard (September) - $32

2008 TL Cellars "Release No. Five" Grenache, Columbia Valley (September) - $65

2007 Kerloo Cellars Syrah, Walla Walla Valley (October) - $32

2007 Kerloo Cellars Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Les Collines Vineyard (October) - $32

2008 O'Shea Scarborough "Black Cask" Syrah, Yakima Valley (October) - $35

2008 Mark Ryan "Wild Eyed" Syrah, Red Mountain (October) - $45

2008 Mark Ryan "Lost Soul" Syrah, Yakima Valley, Les Vignes de Marcoux (October) - $48

2007 :Nota Bene Ciel du Cheval Red, Red Mountain (November) - $35

2008 Fielding Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, Riverbend Vineyard (November - Note: this was rated 18.5+ points in this issue; in retasting recently, it has advanced to 19 points.) - $42

2008 Flying Trout "The Brook Blend" Horse Heaven Hills (December) - $33

2008 Buty "BEAST" Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills, Phinny Hill Vineyard (December) - $40

2008 Sleight of Hand "Levitation" Syrah, Columbia Valley (December) - $40

2008 Gramercy Cellars "Inigo Montoya Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley (December) - $45

2008 Reynvaan Family Vineyards "The Unnamed" Syrah, Walla Walla Valley (December) - $45

2007 SYZYGY Saros 154 Red Blend, Columbia Valley (December) - $45

 

Best Buys for $25 or Less - 18.5/20 Points or More

 

2007 Davenport Cellars "R.H.D." Red, Columbia Valley (February) - $24

2007 Davenport Cellars Continuity Red, Columbia Valley (February) - $24

2007 Waterbrook Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley (March) - $22

2007 Waterbrook Reserve Syrah, Columbia Valley (March) - $22

2008 Maison Bleue "La Roque" Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills (April) - $25

2009 Robison Ranch Cellars Viognier, Walla Walla Valley (May) - $19

2008 McCrea Cellars Sirocco Blanc, Yakima Valley, Boushey Vineyard (May) - $25

2008 McCrea Cellars Grenache Blanc, Yakima Valley, Boushey Vineyard (June) - $25

2008 McCrea Cellars Syrah, Yakima Valley (June) - $25

2009 Bergevin Lane Vineyards Viognier, Columbia Valley (July) - $25

2009 Maison Bleue "Jaja" White, Yakima Valley (September) - $17

2009 Maison Bleue "Au Contraire" Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, French Creek Vineyard (Sept.) - $20

2009 William Church Viognier, Columbia Valley (September) - $21

2009 Long Shadows Poet's Leap Riesling, Columbia Valley (September) - $20

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling, Columbia Valley, Cold Creek Vineyard (Sept.) - $17

2009 Tempus Cellars Riesling, Columbia Valley (October) - $16

2008 Fidelitas Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley (October) - $25

2009 Nefarious Cellars Riesling, Columbia Valley, Stone's Throw Vineyard (October) - $18

2007 Lost River Cellars Syrah, Walla Walla Valley (October) - $24

2009 El Corazon "Supernova" Malbec, Horse Heaven Hills (November) - $23

2007 Tero Estates Tero Red, Walla Walla Valley (November) - $24

2007 Nicholas Cole Cellars "Gra Eagle Red Wing," Walla Walla Valley (December) - $25

 

Top New Wineries of 2010

 

Barrage Cellars, Woodinville - Kevin Correll

Goedhart Family, Red Mountain - Brent and Sarah Goedhart

Hard Row to Hoe, Chelan - Don and Judy Phelps

Hestia Cellars, Woodinville - Shannon and Angie Jones

JB Neufeld, Yakima - Justin and Brooke Neufeld

Laurelhurst Cellars, Seattle - Gabe Warner, Dave Halbgewachs and Greg Smallwood

Locati Cellars, Walla Walla - Michael and Penne Locati

Mackey Vineyards, Walla Walla - Philip and Roger Mackey

Reynvaan Family Vineyards, Walla Walla - Mike & Gale Reynvaan and Matt Reynvaan

Robison Ranch Cellars, Walla Walla - Jim & Jane Robison and Brad & Ruth Riordan

Sinclair Estate Vineyards, Walla Walla - Tim and Kathy Sinclair

Sweet Valley Wines, Walla Walla - Josh McDaniels and family & friends

Tempus Cellars, Walla Walla - Joe Forest

Tero Estates, Walla Walla - Doug & Jan Roskelley and Mike & Jude Tembruell

Walla Faces, Walla Walla - Rick and Debbie Johnson

Two more newcomers to be reviewed in January:

Obelisco Estates - Woodinville - Doug Long, Paul Kaltnick and Dick Shaw

Reasons Winery, Walla Walla - Ned and Suzie Morris

 

Coming Next: Predictions for 2011 and Wineries to Watch in 2011