Fresh Press for Aug. 15, 2011

Aug. 15, 2011

FRESHPRESS Hundreds of bottles are queued up to be judged during this summer’s inaugural North Central Washington Wine Awards competition, put on by Wine Press Northwest and Foothills magazines.

(Photo by Andy Perdue/Wine Press Northwest)

Fresh Press is a weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest magazine. In each edition, we review recently released wines from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho. Feel free to forward to your wine-loving friends and family. For more information on our tasting methods and review process, please go to the last page.

A weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest • Vol. 1, No. 14 • © 2011

FRESHPRESS Aug. 15, 2011

Spotlight: North Central Washington Washington's most exciting new wine region also is one of its oldest.

The state's first two operating wineries were in East Wenatchee (1874) and Wenatchee (1875), and grape growing on Lake Chelan flourished in the 1890s.

So it makes perfect sense that North Central Washington — with its rich, deep agricultural history — is blossoming in the state's explosive wine industry.

For the past decade, we have been monitoring the growing quality of wines from North Central Washington with great interest and delight. The Wahluke Slope has emerged as one of Washington's most important grape-growing areas, and the Royal Slope and Ancient Lakes regions also are coming into their own.

Though Lake Chelan's modern viticultural history dates back only to 1998, it is making monumental strides in a hurry. In large part, this is a result of the area's dedication to other agricultural pursuits — apples and cherries. Undoubtedly, the apple industry's difficulties for the past decade have forced the hand of many orchardists to turn toward vitis vinifera, but turning proverbial lemons into actual Riesling, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon could well end up being much more lucrative than most thought possible.

But it's not all about winemaking. Creating memorable experiences is a key component to success as a wine region.

Chelan and Leavenworth have long been tourism destinations for Washingtonians. Lake Chelan has been a summer magnet for Puget Sound residents for the better part of a century, and Leavenworth's Bavarian makeover a half-century ago has made it a year-round destination for tourists throughout the Pacific Northwest. Both of these communities have relied on tourism for so long, they know how to treat visitors, and this gives them a huge advantage over more traditional wine-producing regions in Washington that do not have natural affinities for amenities.

Adding wineries has not only extended tourist season by several months per year, but it also is attracting an entirely different group of visitors. Serious wine travelers don't usually need special events or excuses to attract them to an area, and they tend to spend more money that typical tourists.

In late June, Wine Press Northwest and Foothills magazines put on the inaugural North Central

Washington Wine Awards, a competition meant to provide a comprehensive look at the region. In its first year, the judging drew more than 240 entries, and about two-thirds of the wineries in the region chose to participate. We were pleased with that kind of turnout and expect it to continue to grow in the years to come.

We brought in eight professional judges from Washington and British Columbia to review and rate each wine under blind conditions — meaning the judges did not know which wineries made a particular wine. In other words, the wines spoke for themselves.

In this competition, the wines spoke volumes to us.

In particular, Syrahs and red blends showed extremely well, winning 14 of the 30 gold and double gold medals.

One of the joys of a blind judging is being able to spot trends and discover new stars. In the latter case, the eye-opener was Beaumont Cellars, a previously unknown (to us) winery whose 2009 Syrah won the award for best wine of the competition. Owner/ winemaker Pete Beaumont also won a gold medal for his 2009 Sangiovese, proving his prowess with red varieties is no fluke.

In addition, Chateau Faire Le Pont, a Wenatchee winery, earned five gold medals in the judging, all for red wines.

Jones of Washington continues its superb year in competitions, winning best white wine for its 2010 Sauvignon Blanc. Winemaker Victor Palencia has won multiple gold medals and best-of-category awards in 2011, so his effort in this competition should have been no surprise.

This week’s issue of Fresh Press is a dedicated look at the competition, with reviews of every wine that won a gold medal or better.

A weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest • Vol. 1, No. 14 • © 2011

FRESHPRESS Aug. 15, 2011

Spotlight: North Central Washington Best in show/Best red/Double gold

Best dessert/gold

Beaumont Cellars 2009 Syrah, Wahluke Slope, $20.

Pete Beaumont owns and operates his eponymous winery near the Columbia Basin town of Quincy. He turned to winemaking as a hobby, and this is just his second commercial release. That he has crafted such a blockbuster of a wine so early in his professional career speaks volumes about his potential. This gorgeous red opens with aromas of blueberries, boysenberries and coffee, followed by flavors of cloves, bittersweet chocolate and creamy blackberries. It’s rich on the palate and offers just enough acidity to bring the whole package together.

(124 cases)

Cave B 2008 Semillon Ice Wine, Columbia Valley, $35. Freddy Arredondo has raised the profile of this Columbia Basin winery since his ascension to head winemaker. Trained at Walla Walla Community College’s famed V&E program, Arredondo shows remarkable skills with a wide variety of wine styles.

This rare dessert wine uses grapes frozen on the vine near Geoge, Wash. It is plush and luscious from first whiff through the lengthy finish. It reminds us of pineapple upside-down cake dripping with honey and rosewater and topped with tropical flowers. (280 cases)

Best white/gold

Jones Of Washington 2006 Barrel Select, Wahluke Slope, $25. Victor Palencia shows his versatility and genius by crafting a stunning red blend — in fact the best in this crowded category. This is a fascinating blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, and it provides aromas and flavors of boysenberries, blackberries, strawberries, caramel and a whisper of smokiness. It’s a big wine with plenty of depth and well-integrated tannins. This wine has a master’s touch to it. (380 cases) C.R. Sandidge 2007 Whistle Punk, Columbia Valley, $20. Ray Sandidge showed his talents in the Yakima Valley with Kestrel before heading out on his

Jones Of Washington 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $17. Winemaker Victor Palencia is having a great year. He’s won multiple gold medals and earned “best white” and “best rosé” at the Northwest Wine Summit. He’s showing it’s no fluke with another “best white” award here.This superb Sauvignon Blanc opens with floral and tropical fruit aromas, followed by dandy flavors of tangerines and limes. Bright acidity backs up all the fruit, making this perfect for grilled halibut with a mango salsa or a variety of shellfish. (179 cases)

Double gold

A weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest • Vol. 1, No. 14 • © 2011

FRESHPRESS Aug. 15, 2011

Spotlight: North Central Washington own in Lake Chelan. He remains one of the state’s finest winemakers and continues to impress us with every release. This red blend shows off complex aromas and flavors of dark fruit, mocha and mint, all backed with lingering tannins and a lengthy finish. Pair this with braised or grilled meats. (395 cases) Best Buy! Martin-Scott Winery 2010 Viognier, Columbia Valley, $12. This East Wenatchee producer has been an up-and-comer for the past few years and has been producing delicious red wines. Here, it shows its versatility with a white grape that can be hard to handle. It’s easy to love Viognier when it’s made this well, and Martin-Scott’s version is classic Washington style. It opens with aromas of orange zest and creamsicles, followed by flavors of citrus and cantaloupe. This captures the elegance of the variety.

(140 cases)

Gold La Toscana Winery 2007 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $18. The tiny Cascade Foothills town of Cashmere is wine central, with several tasting rooms, a brewery and a distillery. Warren Moyles is the owner/winemaker of one of the oldest wineries in this emerging region, and he continues to craft small lots of superb wines. This opens with enticing dusty purple fruit aromas, including blueberries and boysenberries, all backed with a whiff of smoke and cedar. Flavors of blue fruit push through on the plate and allow this Merlot to stand out because of its superb structure and thin veil of tannins and pleasing acidity. (48 cases) Chateau Faire Le Pont 2008 Pinot Noir, Columbia Valley, $30. If there is a Pinot Noir region in Washington, it might just be the Wenatchee-Chelan region, which makes a bunch. Faire Le Pont in Wenatchee has been making delicious Pinot Noirs for a number of years, and this shows winemaker Doug Brazil’s ability with the most fickle of grapes. This red

opens with aromas that include a touch of cedar, cherries and mint. On the palate, this reveals juicy cherry cola flavors, balanced with notes of black licorice. It is a seamless wine with nice weight on the mouth and mild tannins. (220 cases) Beaumont Cellars 2009 Sangiovese, Wahluke Slope, $20. Sangiovese has had a difficult history outside of Tuscany, but with the right care and handling, Washington Sangio can be a charmer. This seems to be a Super Tuscan style, with bright, clean fruit along with something bold and rich backing it up. It opens with aromas of fresh-ground coffee beans and blackberries, followed by balanced flavors of ripe, juicy black fruit. (76 cases) Eagle Creek Winery 2009 Gewürztraminer, Columbia Valley, $18. This winery near Leavenworth also offers a mountain cottage retreat that can handle three couples at a time. Owner/winemaker Ed Rutlege shows a deft touch with this classic example of the German variety. It opens with inviting aromas of rosewater, orange zest and grapefruit, followed by bright, light flavors of citrus, lychee and tropical fruit.

(110 cases) Benson Vineyards 2007 Syrah, Lake Chelan, $26.

On the north shore of Lake Chelan is this beautiful winery that began operation in 1999. In short order, the Bensons have turned their winery into one of the emerging region’s best producers. This opulent Syrah opens with aromas of alder smoke, blackberries and peppercorns, followed by flavors of juicy berries, spiced meat and boysenberries. It reveals a rich midpalate that leads to a balanced and memorable finish. (246 cases) Chateau Faire Le Pont 2007 Syrah, Wahluke Slope, $25. This Wenatchee winery earned five gold medals in our first comprehensive judging of the North Central Washington region, which is nothing short of

A weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest • Vol. 1, No. 14 • © 2011

FRESHPRESS Aug. 15, 2011

Spotlight: North Central Washington astonishing. Many Syrahs are in-your-face red wines.

This one, thankfully, takes a more subtle and elegant approach. It opens with aromas of new leather, shaved dark chocolate and ripe raspberries, followed by beautiful flavors of blueberry jam and a hint of toastiness. (240 cases) Dutch John's Private Reserve 2007 Syrah, Washington, $17. John Galler opened the state’s first official winery in 1874. He also was the first settler in the Wenatchee Valley and lived to be 108 years old.

George Valison, who has been a big part of the region’s wine industry the past few years, honors Galler with this label. And this wine is a plush and complex Syrah that opens with aromas of blackberries, strawberry candy and a touch of mint. On the palate, it reveals a solid core of dark fruit, all backed with great structure and character. The big finish is memorable. (100 cases) Tsillan Cellars 2008 Reserve Syrah, Lake Chelan, $28. Bob Jankelson is the visionary behind this Italianinspired destination winery on the south shore of Lake Chelan. He moved to Chelan in 1994, established Tsillan in 2000 and opened its doors in 2004. This beautifully balanced Syrah reveals beautiful aromas of cedar, cinnamon and blackberries, followed by elegant flavors that include espresso, violets, lavender and dark fruit. It’s all backed by expertly handled tannins that give way to an approachable red wine. (411 cases) Chateau Faire Le Pont 2007 Reserve Syrah, Wahluke Slope, $30. Chateau Faire Le Pont is one of the first wineries in Washington to open an on-site restaurant, an idea that has spread with great success.

This intriguing Syrah seemingly has everything. It opens with aromas of oak, crushed walnuts, mocha, blueberries and mint, followed by flavors of chocolate, smoke and big, jammy black fruit. Its fruit, tannin and acidity are beautifully balanced from first sip through the memorable finish. (120 cases) Horan Estates Winery 2006 CWM Syrah, Columbia Valley, $22. We’ve had our eye on the Frenchman Hills north of the Wahluke Slope for a number of years, and the quality of grapes coming from this region are impressive. Doug McDougall planted organic apples and wine grapes in the Frenchman Hills in 2000, and they are now his sole source of fruit because of their quality. This Syrah earned an Outstanding from us last winter, and it repeated the feat in our judging. Opening with aromas of blueberries, slate and grilled beets, this gorgeous and complex red then gives way to flavors of rich, lush blackberries, raspberries and black pepper. It is beautifully balanced through the expressive finish.

(255 cases) St. Laurent Estate Winery 2006 Cabernet Sauvigon, Wahluke Slope, $28. The Mracheks have established themselves as owners of one of Washington’s brightest young producers. They use estate fruit from the warm Wahluke Slope for this plush Cab. Opening with aromas of black currants, cranberries and raspberries, it is superb. It packs plenty of elegant fruit on the

palate, including cassis, black raspberries and dark plums. Its chewy tannins provide primo balance to the loads of fruit. (860 cases) Vin du Lac 2008 Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $35. Our 2010 Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year is on the north shore of Lake Chelan, just minutes from downtown. Owner/ winemaker Larry Lehmbecker has another winner here, crafting a Cabernet Sauvignon with aromas of coffee, leather, cedar and dark fruit, followed by seamless flavors of blackberries, black cherries and spices. The tannins are round and supple, making this a wine that is easy to love — and easy to drink. (290 cases) Chateau Faire Le Pont 2007 Tre Amore, Columbia Valley, $39. This is one of three red blends crafted by owner/winemaker Doug Brazil in his Wenatchee winery.

It opens with fascinating aromas of complex spices and mocha characteristics. On the palate, it’s a big, juicy wine with notes of mint, chocolate and sweet herbs.

(290 cases) Dutch John's Private Reserve 2006 Great Northern Red, Washington, $22. This winery is moving its tasting room from Wenatchee to the nearby community of Cashmere, where several tasting rooms have located to create a fun destination for wine lovers. This red blend already has some good age on it, and it will continue to gain complexity in the next few years. It reveals aromas of spicy oak, caramel and red fruit, followed by easy-drinking flavors of cocoa powder, black cherries and spices, all backed with elegant tannins. (100 cases) Rock Wall Cellars NV Stampede Red, Washington, $24. Rock Wall is a young winery in Okanogan County, where we have been seeing a bit of winemaking action the past few years. Rock Wall is in Omak, home to the famous Omak Stampede rodeo, which this blend of Cab, Syrah, Merlot and a bit of Marechal Foch pays tribute to. It is a superb red that opens with aromas of dusty blueberries and boysenberries, followed by flavors of blackberries and ripe plums. Lively acidity backs up all the fruit. (150 cases) Ginkgo Forest Winery 2009 Wildwood Blend, Wahluke Slope, $24. Ginkgo Forest Winery is along the highway near the town of Mattawa and has easy access to the important Wahluke Slope appellation.

The winery is named for the nearby Ginkgo Petrified Forest, which was unearthed in the 1930s. There’s a lot to love in this red blend, with aromas of blueberries, boysenberries and cassis, followed by rich, dense flavors of black fruit backed with rich tannins and terrific length. (205 cases) Martin-Scott Winery 2008 Raven Ridge Red, Columbia Valley, $23. Owner/winemaker Mike Scott brought in Cabernet Sauvignon (61%) and Syrah from Jones Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope for this luscious red blend, which seems to have it all. It reveals aromas of leather, plums, mint and something that reminds us of black olive tapenade. The palate is loaded with big,

A weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest • Vol. 1, No. 14 • © 2011

FRESHPRESS Aug. 15, 2011

Spotlight: North Central Washington juicy flavors that include ripe dark fruit, chocolate and even a hint of orange rind. (234 cases) Napeequa Vintners 2007 SLR, Columbia Valley, $28.

Dave Morris owns this winery in the tiny town of Plain, north of Leavenworth, and named it after the breathtaking Napeequa River Valley in the Wenatchee National Forest. The name for this wine stands for “Sexy Little Red,” and it sure is. It’s a blend of Merlot, Cab and Malbec, but one would swear it has a bit of Sangiovese in it. This is loaded with aromas and flavors that include boysenberries, pomegranates, cherries, coffee and chocolate, with just a bit of saddle leather that rides off onto a memorable finish. (127 cases) Dry Falls Cellars 2009 Semillon Traditionelle, Wahluke Slope, $18. Based in Moses Lake, this winery pays tribute to perhaps the greatest waterfall on Earth, which helped reveal the Ice Age Floods that occurred more than 10,000 years ago and helped shape Eastern Washington and the Columbia Valley.

Semillon is a rare grape outside of Bordeaux. A few examples can be found in Washington, and this is one of the best we’ve seen. It opens with aromas of almonds, apples and fresh figs. On the palate, it is perfectly weighted with superb viscosity backed with right-on acidity. (30 cases) Wedge Mountain Winery 2007 Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $28. Charlie McKee is the owner and winemaker at this small winery that has entered its second decade in business in the tiny community of Peshastin, not far from Leavenworth. Cabernet Franc, often thought of as Cabernet Sauvignon’s “little brother,” takes center stage in this superb bottling. It opens with complex aromas of cedar, spices, cranberries and chocolate, followed by balanced flavors of rhubarb compote, fig jam and ripe raspberries with a hint of smoke. The supple, well-integrated tannins put this wine in a league of its own. (45 cases)

Chateau Faire Le Pont 2007 Malbec, Horse Heaven Hills, $40. Owner/winemaker Doug Brazil has shown a particularly deft touch with red wines, and here is another great example. In the past three years, Malbec has become the new red wine darling of Washington, and Brazil’s version is superb, thanks to aromas of cedar, pomegranates and pink peppercorns. On the palate, it shows off ripe fruit that includes marionberries and pomegranates, all backed with dense tannins. (95 cases) Wedge Mountain Winery NV Roses and Rubies, Washington, $25. This fortified dessert wine is made with raspberries — and it shouts this fact from the glass. It’s already won best dessert wine at the Capital Food & Wine Festival this year in Lacey, Wash., and now it’s racked up another gold medal. Huge raspberry and blood orange aromas make way for full-on flavors of raspberries and orange pekoe tea in the finish. This is a high-alcohol wine by design, but that fact is disguised by the wine’s wealth of acidity and flavor.

(168 cases) Swakane Winery 2010 Late Harvest Riesling, Columbia Valley, $18. Owner Mike Franks learned the winemaking craft on Lake Chelan while working at Tildio, and now he has opened his own boutique operation in Wenatchee (with a tasting room in Leavenworth). One judge described this bottling as baklava in a glass. It is an amazing dessert wine with a lot going on, including aromas and flavors of fresh citrus, lemon-lime, hazelnuts and honeycomb. It has a lot going on and is plenty sweet without being cloying.

(120 cases) Esther Bricques Winery 2005 Ice Riesling, Washington, $45. This young winery just south of Oroville in Washington’s Okanogan County is off to a strong start with this luscious dessert wine. It opens with aromas of honey and almonds that lead to smooth flavors of apple crumble. The hard part to making great ice wine is retaining all-important acidity to balance the sweetness, and this wine nails it. (50 cases)

A weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest • Vol. 1, No. 14 • © 2011

FRESHPRESS Aug. 15, 2011

Northwest wine regions Multi-state appellations Columbia Valley: This multi-state appellation is 11 million acres in size and takes up a third of Washington.

Established in 1984.

Columbia Gorge: This multi-state appellation begins around the town of Lyle and heads west to Husum on the Washington side of the Columbia River. It was established in 2004.

Walla Walla Valley: Walla Walla Valley: This multi-state appellation is in the southeast corner of Washington and around Milton-Freewater, Ore. Established in 1984.

Snake River Valley: This is in southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon. It covers 8,263 square miles and was established in 2007.

Washington Yakima Valley: The Northwest’s oldest appellation (established in 1983) stretches past Wapato in the west to Benton City in the east and includes Red Mountain, Rattlesnake Hills and Snipes Mountain.

Red Mountain: Washington’s smallest appellation is a ridge in the eastern Yakima Valley. It is 4,040 acres in size.

Established in 2001.

Horse Heaven Hills: This large appellation — 570,000 acres — is south of the Yakima Valley and stretches to the Oregon border. It was established in 2005.

Wahluke Slope: Approved in early 2006, this huge landform north of the Yakima Valley is an 81,000-acre gravel bar created by the Ice Age Floods. It is one of the warmest regions in the entire Pacific Northwest. Established in 2006.

Rattlesnake Hills: This appellation is in the western Yakima Valley north of the towns of Zillah, Granger and Outlook.The appellation is 68,500 acres in size with about 1,300 acres of vineyards. It was established in 2006.

Puget Sound: This sprawling appellation is in Western Washington. It stretches from the Olympia area to the Canadian border north of Bellingham. It also sweeps through the San Juan Islands and to Port Angeles. Established in 1995.

Snipes Mountain: This is one of Washington’s oldest wine-growing regions. At 4,145 acres in size, it is the state’s second-smallest AVA. Grapes have been grown on Snipes Mountain and at the adjacent Harrison Hill (also part of the AVA) since 1914. This AVA is within the Yakima Valley appellation and was approved in 2009.

Lake Chelan: This area in north-central Washington is almost entirely within the Columbia Valley. It is a young area, with the oldest vines dating to 1998. About 250 acres are planted here. It was approved in 2009.

Ribbon Ridge: This is the Northwest’s smallest appellation at 3,350 acres. It is best known for its Pinot Noir and is within the Chehalem Mountains AVA. It was established in 2005.

Yamhill-Carlton: This is a horseshoe-shaped appellation that surrounds the towns of Yamhill and Carlton. It was established in 2005. The “District” was dropped in 2011.

Chehalem Mountains: This is the largest within the Willamette Valley. This 62,100-acre appellation is northeast of the Dundee Hills. It was established in 2006.

Dundee Hills: Many of Oregon’s pioneer wineries are in the Dundee Hills within Oregon’s Yamhill County. The appellation is 6,490 acres in size. It was established in 2005.

Eola-Amity Hills: This important region stretches from the town of Amity in the north to the capital city of Salem in the southeast. It is 37,900 acres in size. It was established in 2006.

McMinnville: The hills south and west of the Yamhill County city of McMinnville are more than 40,000 acres in size.

It was established in 2005.

Umpqua Valley: This Southern Oregon appellation surrounds the city of Roseburg north of the Rogue Valley. It can produce Pinot Noir as well as warm-climate grapes. It was established in 1984.

Rogue Valley: The Northwest’s southern-most appellation surrounds the cities of Medford and Ashland, just north of the California border. It is known for its warm growing conditions. Established in 2001.

Applegate Valley: This small valley within the Rogue Valley is known for a multitude of microclimates that can result in wines of distinction and complexity. Established in 2004.

Southern Oregon: This AVA encompasses the Umpqua, Rogue and Applegate valleys and Red Hill Douglas County. It was established in 2005.

Red Hill Douglas County: This tiny appellation — just 5,500 acres — is within the Umpqua Valley. Fewer than 200 acres of wine grapes, primarily Pinot Noir, are grown here.

Established in 2005.

British Columbia

Okanagan Valley: In the province’s interior, this 100mile valley stretches from the border in Osoyoos to Salmon Arm in the north. Most wineries are near Oliver, Penticton and Kelowna. It was established in 1990.

Similkameen Valley: This warm valley is west of the southern Okanagan Valley. It was established in 1990.

Vancouver Island: This marine-influenced appellation is in the southwest part of the province. Established in 1990.

Fraser Valley: This farming area is in the Lower Mainland, south of Vancouver. Established in 1990.

Oregon Gulf Islands: This appellation includes approximately Willamette Valley: Oregon’s largest appellation stretches 100 islands spread out between Vancouver Island and the roughly from Portland to Eugene. Established in 1984. southern mainland. Established in 2005.

A weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest • Vol. 1, No. 14 • © 2011

FRESHPRESS Aug. 15, 2011

About us Wine Press Northwest is a quarterly consumer magazine that focuses on the wine regions of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho.

Annual subscriptions are $20. Click to subscribe.

Editor-in-chief: Andy Perdue editor@winepressnw.com Managing editor: Eric Degerman edegerman@winepressnw.com Advertising inquiries: Parker Hodge phodge@tricityherald.com © 2011

Tasting methods Recent Releases are evaluated under strict conditions to ensure objectivity. Northwest wineries submit wines to Wine Press Northwest for evaluation by Wine Press Northwest’s tasting panel. After wines are received, they are stored for at least two weeks and a third party serves them “blind,” meaning the tasting panelists do not know the producer. In addition, the panelists are served glasses of wine and are not able to view the bottles or their shapes prior to tasting. Wines are stored in temperature-controlled conditions, allowing them to be served at perfect cellar temperatures.

Price is not a consideration in these evaluations, nor is a winery’s advertising activity with Wine Press Northwest, as the magazine’s editorial/wine evaluation activities and advertising/ marketing efforts are kept strictly separate.

The panel has a combination of technical and consumer palates. If at least three of the four panelists consider a wine technically sound and commercially acceptable, it is included here as “Recommended.” The panel may also vote the wine as “Excellent” or “Outstanding,” our top rating. Wines considered

unacceptable by the panel are rejected and not included.

Reviews are grouped by variety or style and listed alphabetically by winery. Prices listed are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

To ensure we maintain an international perspective, our tasting panelists judge thousands of wines annually at various competitions, including: Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition, Riverside International Wine Competition, Dallas Morning News Wine Competition, Indy International Wine Competition, Virginia Governor’s Cup, Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Grand Harvest Awards, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru, Washington State Wine Competition, Seattle Wine Awards, Northwest Wine Summit, British Columbia Wine Awards, New York Wine and Grape Foundation Competition, Tri-Cities Wine Festival, Capital Food & Wine Fest and Idaho Wine Competition.

A weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest • Vol. 1, No. 14 • © 2011