White Wine Bargains for 2017

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Written by Rand Sealey

Published: 12 January 2017

It is no secret that white wine grapes command lower prices than red wine grapes. It is simply a matter of supply and demand. Red wines get more respect than white ones. But there are "noble" white varieties that can offer as much complexity as red ones. These can be terrific values as well. Here's a selection of such white wines that have been recently reviewed. 

Riesling - This is the "noble" grape of Germany and Alsace. There are sone very fine Washington versions for around $20 or less. Here are a few examples.

2015 Long Shadows "Poet' Leap" Riesling, Columbia Valley ($20) - 19/20 points - October 2016

2014 Chateau Ste. Michelle-Dr. Loosen "Eroica" Riesling, Columbia Valley ($22) - 19/20 points - October

2015 Nine Hats Riesling, Columbia Valley ($12) - 18.5/20 points - To be reviewed March

Pinot Gris - Most Washington Pinot Gris is made more in an Alsatian than an Italian style, dry and crisp, yet ripe. 

2015 Nine Hats Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley ($14) 18.5/20 points - To be reviewed March

Semillon - This Bordeaux variety is highly undervalued, some offering much complexity at ridiculously low prices.

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Semillon, Columbia Valley ($14) - Not yet reviewed, but offers fresh, ripe aromatics and a typical varietal creaminess. 18+/20 points.

Sauvignon Blanc - This is the other white grape originating in Bordeaux. There are two styles, "BDX" and the crisp Sancerre-like version. 

2015 Browne Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley ($18) - 18.5/20 points - October - Sancerre-like.

2015 Seven Hills Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley ($19) - 18.5/20 points - October - Blended with 18% Semillon.

2015 Barrister SauvignonBlanc, Red Mountain ($19) 18.5/20 points - December - From vine planted in 1982.

Chenin Blanc - Originating from the Loire Valley, this grape produces wonderfully fragrant wines. Many of the vines in Washington State were planted in the 1980's.

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley ($14) - 18.5/20 points - June

Waitsburg Cellars also makes a couple of fine Chenin Blancs. The 2015s will be reviewed in March.

Rhone White Varietals - Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc offer full flavored wines that can be excellent values.

2015 Nefarious Cellars Viognier, Lake Chelan, Defiance Vineyard ($20) - 18.5/20 points - September

2015 Bunnell Family Cellar Viognier ($24) - 18.5/20 points - To be in the February 2017 issue.

2015 Zerba Cellars Roussanne, Walla Walla Valley, Cockburn Vineyard ($24) - 18.5/20 points - February 2017

2015 Cairdeas Grenache Blanc, Yakima Valley, Boushey Vineyard ($24) - 18.5/20 points - September

2015 Bunnell Family Cellar Grenache Blanc, Yakima Valley ($24) -19/20 points - February 2017 - This is a steal.

Chardonnay - In the consumers' minds, at least, this is the Washington white varietal that has the greatest claim to being "noble." 

2015 Eight Bells Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, Boushey Vineyard ($25) 18.5/20 points - November

2015 Westport "Shorebird" Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Conner-Lee Vineyard ($26) - 18.5/20 points - November - From a premier vineyard for Chardonnay.

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley ($24) - 18.5/20 points - November

 

No Review Blog Next Week

On Saturday, we will be leaving Walla Walla for the warmer climes of San Diego and Pasadena, returning January 23rd. The next blog will be on Wednesday, January 25, along with the February issue of the Review of Washington Wines.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Developments in the Wine Industry

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Written by Rand Sealey

Published: 05 January 2017

For the new year, there have been new developments in the wine industry that are significant. Here are some of them. More developments will be reported in the future,  as they become public knowledge.

Heather Unwin now New Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance Director

January 3rd was Heather Unwin's first day as the new Director of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, an organization representing most of the wineries in the valley. She was picked after a search which took nearly six months after the death of the previous Director, Duane Wollmuth, from a heart attack on July 11. Heather's previous experience has been Executive Director of the Red Mountain AVA Alliance for three and a half years. She also has taught wine marketing at the Walla Walla Community College's Institute for Viticulture and Enology. The selection of Heather Unwin as Director will be a great fit. A few years ago, I participated in a wine evaluation group with her and found her to be astute and knowledgable about wine.

Co Dinn Winery Building a New Facility in Sunnyside

Coman - "Co" - Dinn started work on his new winemaking facility at a historic building in Sunnyside. His winery has been producing wine at the Yakima Valley Community College's Enology School in Grandview. The new winery will be opened this Spring. See the July 2016 issue of the Review of Washington Wines for reviews of the Co Dinn wines.

Bouchon Park Development Taking Shape in Walla Walla

Last Fall, at an open house, Michael Corliss (Corliss and Tranche Wineries) previewed Bouchon Park, his new pair of wine warehouses and production spaces, comprising 84,000 and 140,000 square feet, on Middle Waitsburg Road, north of Walla Walla. There will be spaces for wine storage, shipping docks, barrel storage, and winemaking. One lead tenant is the Mark Ryan Winery which will lease warehouse space. Other tenants are being lined up and will announced as time goes on. The facilities are state of the art, with rigid insulation to combat moisture, an enemy of winemaking cleanliness. 

Neil Johnston New Winemaker at Dumas Station

Late last summer, Neil Johnston, a graduate of the Walla Walla Community College's Institute for Viticulture and Enology, found a new job at the Dumas Station Winery, a few miles south of Dayton. After a job search as far away as Wenatchee, he found the perfect place right near his home in Dayton. He is working with winery owners, Jay DeWitt and Doug Harvey. Current releases will be reviewed in the March issue of the Review of Washington  Wines.

Marcus Rafanelli Now Teaching at the Walla Walla Community College

Another Institute for Viticulture and Enology, Marcus Rafanelli, has come back to Walla Walla as an enology instructor at WWCC. After winemaking and exploration stints around the world - Woodinville (at William Church) California, Australia, Germany, Italy - Marcus has gone full circle. Asked by the Enology department director, Tim Donahue, to take on the teaching position, Marcus called it his "dream job." We are sure it will be.

More later!

 

 

 

Looking Ahead to 2017

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Written by Rand Sealey

Published: 29 December 2016

After a record 2016 grape harvest, what's ahead for the Washington wine industry for 2017? Some changes have already taken place, some will be announced in the new year. These will be the topic of next week's blog.

Now, here are my predictions for 2017:

More Consolidation and Ownership Changes

The buyout of the McClellans' Seven Hills Winery by the Crimson Wine Group of California signaled a growing interest by outside investors in Washington wineries. There will be more investments and mergers ahead in the future.

More Small Wineries

This year saw the launching of new wineries such as The Walls and Aluvé in Walla Walla, Tetrahedron in the Columbia Gorge, Co Dinn in the Yakima Valley and others. More will be on the way.

More New AVAs

In the past couple of years, we've seen new American Viticultural Areas come into being - The Rocks of Milton-Freewater, Ancient Lakes and the Lewis-Clark Valley. Candidates for new AVAs include the Frenchman Hills near Othello, The Royal Slope near Royal City, and the South Ridge of the Walla Walla Valley, from the Ferguson Vineyard (L'Ecole No. 41) to Southwind (Cadaretta) to McQueen (Doubleback) whose basaltic wind blown terroir is highly distinctive. 

More Growth in Seattle Wineries

South Seattle has become a Mecca for wineries and tasting rooms, a boom that has been propelled by Charles Smith's large new facility in Georgetown. There will be more to come as wineries explore new opportunities.

More Respect for Washington Wines

Last, but not least, of these predictions is more press and interest in Washington wines. Articles such as the Wine Spectator write-up on Cayuse is evidence of this. Watch for increasing interest in Washington state wines and ones from the contiguous cross border AVAs.

More Later! Happy New Year!

 

 

 

Best Wine Buys of 2016

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Written by Rand Sealey

Published: 21 December 2016

Listed below are the wines reviewed in 2016 scoring 19/20 points for $40 a bottle or less and wines scoring 18.5/20 points for $25 a bottle or less. They are listed in the order in which they were reviewed. This is the largest listing of Best Buys yet, a testimony to the increasing number of exceptional Washington wines which are excellent values as well. Some wines listed are sold out.

Wines Scoring 19/20 Points for $40 or Less

2014 Basel Cellars Semillon, Walla Walla Valley, Double River Vineyard ($32) - January

2012 Basel Cellars Carmenère, Columbia Valley ($36) - January

2009 Basel Cellars "Inspired" Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($40) - January

2013 Kerloo Cellars Malbec, Wahluke Slope, Stone Tree Vineyard ($40) - January

2013 Kerloo Cellars Grenache, Wehluke Slope, Upland Vineyard ($40) - January

2012 Three Rivers Syrah, Walla Walla Valley $39) - January

2012 Three Rivers Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Bacchus Vineyard ($39) - January

2013 Eight Bells Cellars Syrah, Yakima Valley, Red Willow Vineyard ($35) - January

2012 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Cold Creek Vineyard ($32) - January

2012 Nota Bene Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, Heart of the Hill Vineyard ($40) - February

2011 Tranche Cellars Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley, Blue Mountain Vineyard ($40) - February

2011 Tranche Cellars Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Blue Mountain Vineyard ($40) - February

2012 Canoe Ridge Malbec, Wahluke Slope, Doval Vineyard ($40) - February

2013 Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain ($40) - February

2012 Baer "Ursa" Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($39) - February

2009 Barnard Griffin Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley ($40) - March

2013 Bookwalter Double Plot Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Conner Lee Vineyard ($38) - March

2012 Nota Bene Cellars Red Wine, Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard ($40) - March

2012 Nota Bene Cellars Syrah, Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard ($40) - March

2013 Mansion Creek Cellars Field Blend, Red Mountain ($34) - March

2013 Cadaretta Syrah, Columbia Valley ($35) - March

2011 Cadaretta Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley ($40) - March

2013 Structure Cellars "Foundation" Syrah, Columbia Valley ($38) - April

2012 Tertulia Cellars Carmenère, Horse Heaven Hills, Phinny Hill Vineyard ($40) - April

2013 El Corazon "Veni Vidi Vici" Mourvèdre, Walla Walla Valley, Birch Creek Vineyard ($40) - April

2013 Isenhower Syrah, Yakima Valley, Dutchman Vineyard ($34) - April

2014 Ardor Cellara Mourvedre, Yakima Valley, Boushey Vineyard ($40) - April

2014 Numbskull "GSM" Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley ($32) - April

2014 Numbskull "BDX" Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley ($38) - April

2013 Walla Faces "Fusion" Red Blend, Columbia Valley ($40) - April

2013 Avennia "Justine" Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($40) - May

2013 Walla Walla Vintners "Bello Rosso" Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($38) - May

2013 Kerloo Cellars Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Les Collines Vineyard ($40) - May

2013 Otis Kenyon Malbec, Washington, Phinny Hill Vineyard ($40) - May

2013 Otis Kenyon Careener, Washington, Phinny Hill Vineyard ($40) - May

2013 Convergence Zone "Mistral" Grenache, Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard ($29) - May

2014 Domaine J. Mauret "Le Pacte" Chardonnay, Columbia Gorge, Jewett Creek Vineyard ($30) - May

2014 Domaine J. Meuret "Clos Pierre" Chardonnay, Columbia Gorge, White Salmon Vineyard ($35) - May

2013 Domaine J. Meuret "Les Chenes" Pinot Noir, Oregon, Phelps Creek Vineyard ($40) - May

2013 Maison Bleue "Voyageur" Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ($40) - May

2013 Maison Bleue "Coureur de Bois" Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($40) - May

2013 Maison Bleue "Bourgeois" Grenache, Columbia Valley ($40) - May

2013 Tero Estates "ST" Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($38) - May

2013 Waters "Tremolo" Red Wine, Washington ($40) - May

2013 Helix "SoRho" Red Wine, Wahluke Slope, Stone Tree Vineyard ($40) - June

2014 àMaurice Cellars Grenache, Columbia Valley, Boushey Vineyard ($38) - June

2014 Clearwater Canyon Estate Syrah, Lewis-Clark Valley, Umiker Vineyard ($28) - June

2013 Clearwater Canyon "Selway" Red Wine, Lewis-Clark Valley ($38) - June

2013 DeLille Cellars Doyenne "AIX" Red Wine, Red Mountain ($39) - July

2012 Guardian Cellars "The Alibi" Red Wine, Red Mountain ($39) - July

2013 Gifford Hirlinger Estate Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley ($38) - July

2014 Annalema Gewurztramier, Columbia Gorge, Atavus Vineyard ($27) - August

2014 Annalema Gewurtztraminer, Columbia Gorge, Oak Ridge Vineyard ($27) - August

2013 Annalema Chardonnay, Columbia Gorge, Oak Ridge Vineyard ($36) - August

2012 Lauren Ashton "Estelle" Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($40) - August

2013 Cuillin Hills "Instigator" Syrah, Columbia Valley ($40) - August

2014 Savage Grace Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, Red Willow Vineyard ($38ers) - August

2013 Foundry Vineyards Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley ($36) - August

2015 Rotie Cellars Southern White, Washington ($32) - August

2013 Nefarious Cellars Estate Syrah, Lake Chelan, Defiance Vineyard ($35) - September

2013 Fidelitas Red Mountain Malbec ($40) - September

2015 Mark Ryan Viognier, Columbia Valley ($30) - September

2014 Mark Ryan "Dissident" Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($38) - September

2015 Rotie Cellars Northern White Marsanne, Washington ($32) - September

2015 Rotie Cellars Grenache Blanc, Washington ($32) - September

2014 L'Ecole No. 41 Grenache, Wahluke Slope, Stone Tree Vineyard ($36) - October

2013 Three Rivers Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ($39) - October

2013 Tero Estates "DC3" Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley ($38) - October

2014 March Cellars Chardonnay, Columbia Valley ($30) - October

2014 Nefarious Cellars Estate Malbec, Lake Chelan, Defiance Vineyard ($35) - October

2012 Eight Bells "David's Block" Red Wine, Yakima Valley, Red Willow Vineyard ($35) - October

2012 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Cold Creek Vineyard ($36) - October

2015 Avennia "Silane" Sauvignon Blanc, Yakima Valley ($28) - November

2013 Camaraderie Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Dionysus Vineyard ($40) - November

2013 Camaraderie Cellars Grâce Reserve Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($37.50) - November

2015 àMaurice Cellars Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Conner Lee Vineyard ($32) - November

2014 àMaurice Cellars Malbec, Columbia Valley, Gamache Vineyard ($38) - November

2013 Balboa Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, Eidolon Vineyard ($40) - November

2012 Robert Karl Cellars "The Phinny" Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills ($36) - December

2012 Robert Karl Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, Gunselman Bench Vineyard ($36) - December

2013 Barrister Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Bacchus Vineyard ($35) - December

N/V Barrister "Barrister's Block" Red Blend, Columbia Valley ($39) - December

2013 Walla Walla Vintners Carmenere, Red Mountain, Heart of the Hill Vineyard ($38) - December

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Chardonnay, Ancient Lakes, Evergreen Vineyard ($35) - December

2014 Seven Hills Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley, McClellan Vineyard ($35) - December

2014 Isenhower Cellars Syrah, Yakima Valley, Dutchman Vineyard ($34) - December

2014 Corvus Cellars Petit Verdot, Red Mountain ($35) - December

2014 Corvus Cellars Estate Malbec, Red Mountain ($40) - December

2014 The Walls "Lip Stinger" Grenache Blanc, Yakima Valley, French Creek Vineyard ($38) - December

 

Wines Scoring 18.5/20 Points for $25 or Less

2011 Eight Bells Merlot, Red Mountain ($25) - January

2012 Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills, Canoe Ridge Vineyard ($24) - January

2014 Nine Hats Riesling, Columbia Valley ($24) - January

2013 Nine Hats Syrah, Columbia Valley ($25) - January

2013 Nine Hats Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley ($25) - January

2013 Nine Hats Malbec, Columbia Valley ($25) - January

2014 Seven Hills "Old Vines" Riesling, Columbia Valley ($15) - January

2014 Chateau Ste.  Michelle Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills ($28) - January

2013 Chateau St. Michelle Riesling, Columbia Valley, Cold Creek Vineyard ($18) - January

2012 Nota Bene Cellars Syrah, Columbia Valley ($25) - February

2012 Nota Bene Cellars Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley ($25) - February

2014 Gilbert Cellars Riesling, Yakima Valley ($20) - February

2014 Gilbert Cellars Gewurtztraminer, Yakima Valley ($20) - February

2014 Barnard Griffin Roussanne, Columbia Valley ($20) - March

2014 Barnard Griffin Reserve Chardonnay, Columbia Valley ($23) - March

2014 Alexandria Nicole "Shepherd's Mark" White Wine, Horse Heaven Hills ($24) - March

2013 Clearwater Canyon Cellars "Renaissance" Red Wine, Washington-Idaho ($23) - March

2012 Chateau Ste. Michelle "Indian Wells" Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($20) - March

2014 Northwest Wine Academy Chardonnay, Yakima Valley ($19) - May

2013 Northwest Wine Academy Red Wine, Red Mountain ($24) - May

2015 Northwest Wine Academy Riesling, Columbia Valley ($19) - May

2014 Kevin White Red Wine, Yakima Valley ($19) - May

2014 Walla Walla Vintners Dolcetto, Walla Walla Valley, Dwelley Vineyard ($24) - May

2014 Walla Walla Vintners Sangiovese, Columbia Valley ($25) - May

2014 Convergence Zone "Dewpoint" Riesling, Columbia Valley ($17) - May

2014 Convergence Zine "Drizzle" Pinot Gris, Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard ($19) - May

2014 Convergence Zine "Sunbreak" Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley ($19) - May

2015 Kerloo Cellars Grenache Blanc, Walla Walla Valley, Blue Mountain Vineyard ($20) - June

2015 Kerloo Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Yakima Valley, Boushey Vineyard ($22) - June

2015 Ardor Cellars White Blend, Columbia Valley, Lawrence Vineyard ($25) - June

2015 Ardor Cellars White Blend, Walla Walla Valley, Los Oidos Vineyard ($25) - June

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 "Old Vine" Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley ($14) - June

2012 Gamache Vintners Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley ($25) - July

2014 Forgeron Cellars Façon Blanc, Columbia Valley ($25) - July

2015 Savage Grace Sauvignon Blanc, Yakima Valley, Red Willow Vineyard ($25) - August

2015 Hard Row to Hoe "Rumors" White Wine, Lake Chelan ($25) - September

2015 Cairdeas Grenache Blanc, Yakima Valley, Bouhshey Vineyard ($24) - September

2015 Amavi Cellars Semillon, Walla Walla Valley ($24) - September

2015 Nefarious Cellars Pinot Grigio, Lake Chelan, Peterson Vineyard ($20)- September

2015 Nefarious Cellars Viognier, Lake Chelan, Defiance Vineyard ($20) - September

2015 Nefarious Cellars Riesling, Columbia Valley, Rocky Mother Vineyard ($20) - September 

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Semillon, Columbia Valley, Stillwater Creek Vineyard ($21) - October

2015 Hard Row to Hoe White Heritage, Lake Chelan ($25) -October

2015 Hard Row to Hoe Gewürztraminer, Lake Chelan ($25) - October

2014 Chateau Ste. Michelle- Dr. Loosen "Erioca" Riesling, Columbia Valley ($22) - October

2015 Long Shadows "Poet's Leap" Riesling, Columbia Valley ($20) - October

2015 Wind Rose Cellars Primitivo, Columbia Valley, Stone Tree Vineyard ($25) - November

2015 Buty Semillon-Sauvignon-Muscadelle, Columbia Valley ($25) - November

2015 Eight Bells Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, Boushey Vineyard ($25) - November

2015 Eight Bells Marquette, Yakima Valley, Red Willow Vineyard ($25) - November

2015 Eight Bells Merlot, Yakima Valley, Red Willow Vineyard ($25) - November

2014 Avennia "Les Trouvés" Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($25) - November

2015 Barrister Sauvignon Blanc, Red Mountain, Klipsun Vineyard ($19) - December

2013 Robert Karl Cellars "Claret" Red Wine, Horse Heaven Hills ($22) - December

N/V Treveri Blanc de Noirs Brut Sparkling Wine, Columbia Valley ($20) - December