Double Gold

NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON

AWARDS

Cabernet Sauvignon Errant Cellars 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $24 (68 cases)

Judges’ comments: Any time someone earns a best-ofclass award with Cabernet Sauvignon, the most important variety in Washington, it commands attention. Megan Couture deserves that for her work with this Cab off the Wahluke Slope that received a unanimous vote for gold among the judging panel. The nose of blackberry and blackcurrant includes pinches of violet and white pepper. Pleasing herbs and spices come through on the palate behind those blackberries and mocha. It’s well-balanced, delicious and complex. For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 15 B St. SE, Quincy (509) 794-2030 errantcellars.com Chardonnay Benson Vineyards 2019 Chardonnay, Lake Chelan, $21 (370 cases) Judges’ comments: One of the state’s most picturesque vineyards is home to one of the region’s top expressions of America’s most popular grape variety. There’s amazing freshness to the nose of fruit cocktail with orange, pineapple, pear and lime, and the light approach of oak and low profile of alcohol lifts the beautiful flavors of nectarine, Bosc pear and pineapple, making for a stellar example of Northwest Chardonnay.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 754 Winesap Ave., Manson (509) 687-0313, Ext. 106 bensonvineyards.com Chenin Blanc Ancestry Cellars 2019 Le Cortège Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley, $22 (121 cases) Judges’ comments: Early on, this grape native to the Loire Valley in France played a significant role in the Washington wine industry. Thanks to efforts such as this one by Manson winemaker Jason Morin, Chenin is making a comeback. A change in sourcing to Riverview Vineyard near Desert Aire has been integral, allowing him to capture charming accents of white peach, jasmine and white pepper. Perfect acidity and a fascinating sense of minerality lead to a bright finish of Asian pear.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 50 Wapato Way, Suite B, Manson (509) 741-9006

19510 144th Ave. NE, Suite C-1, Woodinville (206) 607-9115 ancestrycellars.com

Other Reds Martin-Scott Winery 2017 Grace’s Graciano, Horse Heaven Hills, $36 (75 cases) Judges’ comments: Spanish grapes continue to make inroads across the Washington wine industry, and this Rioja variety traditionally blended with Tempranillo is one of the few that owner/grower/winemaker Mike Scott doesn’t source from his own scenic vineyard in East Wenatchee, but he names this for his granddaughter Grace. The 2015 vintage of this wine came back from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition wearing a double gold medal, so its brilliance here was no surprise. Deep blackcurrant, blackberry and thyme aromas are carried across the silky palate with a trail of chocolate syrup and a balancing injection of pomegranate. Enjoy with stuffed peppers and hearty stews.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 3400 10th St. SE, East Wenatchee (509) 885-5485 martinscottwinery.com Other Reds Martin-Scott Winery 2017 Montepulciano, Columbia Valley, $31 (70 cases) Judges’ comments: In many instances throughout Italy, Montepulciano is blended with Sangiovese. Mike Scott doesn’t do that with his, which he grows next to Tempranillo on his Needlerock Vineyard overlooking the Columbia River, just upstream from Rock Island Dam. Charming notes of cherries and plum include violets and rosewood. It turns to black and blue fruit on the palate where its delicious structure comes with a long finish of blood orange, making it a remarkable interpretation of the variety. Suggested pairings range from poultry, lasagna, couscous with beef, veggie pizza and gyros. Cheeses that the Scott family enjoys Montepulciano with include Crottin, Edam, Havarti, Manchego and Pecorino. At Visconti’s restaurant, they pair it with a ribeye, linguine in a pomodoro sauce and roasted potatoes.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 3400 10th St. SE, East Wenatchee (509) 885-5485 martinscottwinery.com Red Blend Crayelle Cellars 2018 Gabriel’s Horn, Columbia Valley, $31 (165 cases) Judges’ comments: Ivy League product Craig Mitrakul, a Cornell grad, shines again with his proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (59%) and Syrah (41%) that ranks among the most delicious of its kind currently on the market in Washington. There’s a never-ending explosion of blackberry, huckleberry and blueberry, backed by tannins akin to Baker’s chocolate and stitched together with a boysenberry finish that’s stupendous. One judge gave it a “gold plus,” meaning it ranked among the best wines they’d ever tasted.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 15 N. Second St., Suite 103, Wenatchee (509) 393-1996 crayellecellars.com

Double GolD

NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON

AWARDS

Riesling Stemilt Creek Winery 2019 Sweet Adelaide Riesling, Columbia Valley, $15 (293 cases) Judges’ comments: Last year, the Mathison family brought on Seth Cohen from Appalachian State University to oversee their winemaking operation, and this shows that he’s hit the ground running in Washington state where the standards for Riesling are world-class. This example is akin to walking through a Wenatchee Valley orchard as gorgeous peach and Bosc pear aromas are joined by orange blossom and pineapple. Those are carried through onto the palate where the brilliant brightness of Mandarin orange acidity balances the sugar of this off-dry example.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 110 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee (509) 665-3485 stemiltcreek.com Sauvignon Blanc Malaga Springs 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $20 (100 cases) Judges’ comments: He’s spent much of his life as a commercial fisherman in Alaska’s Bristol Bay, but after sampling this Sauvignon Blanc, one might wonder if Al Mathews has been taking trips to New Zealand, too. It brings an array of descriptors, ranging from anise and gooseberry to apricot and pineapple amid an elegant structure that’s balanced and lovely. He’s earned multiple gold medals in this judging previously, so this is not a lucky cast into a cloudy bay.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 3450 Cathedral Rock Road, Malaga (509) 679-0152 malagaspringswinery.com Tempranillo Sigillo Cellars 2018 Tempranillo, Wahluke Slope, $38 (195 cases) Judges’ comments: This two-generation winery down the road from Snoqualmie Falls recently opened a satellite tasting room on the other side of the Cascades near the south shore of Lake Chelan. The Seals source their spicy Tempranillo from historic Rosebud Vineyard, one of the oldest sites on the Wahluke Slope and first planted in 1979. Classic aromas of leather, blueberry, ground savory and chocolate become a drink of medium body featuring blackberry, Earl Grey tea and lingonberry that’s finished with a dash of pepper.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 2037 W. Woodin Ave., Chelan (509) 888-5713

8086 Railroad Ave., Snoqualmie (425) 292-0754 sigillocellars.com

White Blend Errant Cellars 2019 Patio White, Columbia Valley, $18 (110 cases) Judges’ comments: She will admit that this off-white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc is not a personal favorite, yet Quincy winemaker Megan Couture still turned this into a unanimous selection for gold by judges. Its exotic and tropical aromatics don’t disappoint as flavors, which also pick up ripe Redhaven peach and a bit of honeycomb, but a squirt of Meyer lemon provides just enough acidity to balance the lingering sweetness (1.2% residual sugar). In the past, Patio White has been a blend of Riesling and Sèmillon. This formula is truly golden.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 15 B St. SE, Quincy (509) 794-2030 errantcellars.com

Meet the Judges

JUDGING MANAGER Eric

Degerman is a wine author and journalist. He was managing editor of Wine Press Northwest for 15 years before launching Great Northwest Wine, a news and information company.

MODERATORS

Sean Flaherty is publisher of The Wenatchee World and Foothills Magazine. He previously worked at the Tri-City Herald.

Marco Martinez

is editor of Foothills Magazine. He enjoys learning about the regional wine industry through his work for Foothills.

JUDGES

Ken Robertson

is a retired newspaper editor with more than 35 years of wine-writing experience. He is a professional wine judge and longtime wine columnist for Wine Press Northwest.

Gordy Venneri

is one of Walla Walla’s pioneering winemakers. He co-founded Walla Walla Vintners in 1995, retiring in 2017. He is a member of the Great Northwest Wine tasting panel.

Gregg McConnell

is the editor of Wine Press Northwest magazine. He has judged a number of regional wine competitions. Mike Rader is a financial consultant and longtime wine enthusiast. He judges wine throughout the Pacific Northwest and is a member of the Great Northwest Wine tasting panel.

Richard Larsen is the research winemaker for Washington State University. He runs winemaking operations at the St. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center in Richland. He’s a member of the Great Northwest tasting panel.

Kent FitzGerald

makes his home in Walla Walla. He’s devoted a lifetime to the wine business. He has sat on all sides of the table as a small retailer, corporate retailer, importer, wholesale distributor, wine producer and now winery consultant.