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The 2016 Washington Wine-Buying List
Here are the award-winning wines you should be buying now
This article originally appeared in the August 2016 issue of Seattle magazine.
RED WINES
Red Wine of the Year
Winner: Two Vintners 2013 Some Days Are Stones Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Stoney Vine Vineyard, $45
Merlot, $20 or less
Winner: Waterbrook 2014 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $15
Finalists: Boomtown by Dusted Valley 2013 Merlot, Columbia
Valley, $19
Milbrandt 2014 Traditions Merlot, Columbia Valley, $17
House of Independent Producers (HIP) 2012 Merlot, Columbia Valley, Bacchus Vineyard, $13
Merlot, $20–$40
Winner: L’Ecole Nº 41 2013 Estate Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $36
Finalists: Two Vintners 2012 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, Pepper Bridge Vineyard, $32
Walla Walla Vintners 2013 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $30
Seven Hills 2013 Merlot,
Walla Walla Valley, Seven Hills Vineyard, $38
Merlot, $40 or more
Winner: Pepper Bridge 2013 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $50
Finalists: Northstar 2012 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $41
Fidelitas 2013 Merlot, Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, $50
Red Blend, $20 or less
Winner: Tamarack 2014 Firehouse Red, Columbia Valley, $18
Finalists: Newsprint 2013 Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $18
Soos Creek 2012 Sundance Red, Columbia Valley, $20
SoDo Cellars 2014 Wingman Red, Washington State, $15
Red Blend, $20–40
Winner: Kevin White 2013 La Fraternité Rhône Red, Yakima Valley, $28
Finalists: Avennia 2013 Gravura Bordeaux Red, Columbia Valley, $35
Cadence 2013 Coda Bordeaux Red, Red Mountain, $25
Avennia 2013 Justine Red,
Columbia Valley, $40
Red Blend, more than $40
Winner: L’Ecole Nº 41 2013 Ferguson Bordeaux Red, Walla Walla Valley, Ferguson Vineyard, $60
Finalists: Avennia 2013 Sestina Red, Columbia Valley, $65
Cadence 2012 Bel Canto Bordeaux Red, Red Mountain, Cara Mia
Vineyard, $60
Cadence 2012 Bordeaux Blend, Red Mountain, Tapteil Vineyard, $45
Syrah, $20 or less
Winner: Purple Star 2012 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $18
Finalists: Nathan Gray 2014 Syrah, Yakima Valley, Den Hoed Vineyard, $18
Kiona 2012 Syrah, Red Mountain, $25
For a Song 2013 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $14
Syrah, $20–$40
Winner: Two Vintners 2013 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $21
Finalists: Kerloo 2013 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Les Collines Vineyard, $40
Amavi 2013 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $33
W.T. Vintners 2013 Gorgeous Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills, Destiny Ridge Vineyard, $30
Syrah, more than $40
Winner: Two Vintners 2013 Some Days Are Stones Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Stoney Vine Vineyard, $45
Finalists: Saviah 2012 The Stones Speak Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $55
Avennia 2013 Arnaut Syrah, Yakima Valley, Boushey Vineyards, $50
Waters 2012 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Forgotten Hills Vineyard, $60
Cabernet Sauvignon, $25 or less
Winner: Secret Squirrel 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $25
Finalists: Wines of Substance 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $25
Woodward Canyon 2014
Nelms Road Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State, $25
Ross Andrew 2013 Glaze Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $15
Cabernet Sauvignon, $25–$65
Winner: Woodward Canyon 2013 Artist Series No. 22 Cabernet
Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $59
Finalists: Canvasback 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $40
Long Shadows 2013 Feather Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $65
Andrew Will 2013 May’s Discovery Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $52
Sparkman 2013 Holler Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $32
Cabernet Sauvignon,
$65 or more
Winner: Upchurch Vineyard 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, Estate Vineyard, $68
Finalists: Passing Time Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $75
Woodward Canyon 2013 Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State, $99
Corliss 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $85
WHITE WINES
White Wine of the Year
Winner: Long Shadows 2014 Poet’s Leap Riesling, Columbia Valley, $20
Sauvignon Blanc, $20 or less
Winner: Novelty Hill 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, Stillwater Creek Vineyard, $20
Finalists: Savage Grace 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Yakima Valley, Red Willow Vineyard, $20
Efestē 2014 Feral Sauvignon Blanc, Ancient Lakes, Evergreen Vineyard, $20
Guardian 2014 Angel Sauvignon Blanc, Red Mountain, Klipsun
Vineyard, $20
Sauvignon Blanc, more than $20
Winner: Sparkman 2014 Pearl
Sauvignon Blanc, Yakima Valley, $22
Finalists: Avennia 2014 Oliane Sauvignon Blanc, Yakima Valley, $28
Matthews 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $25
Chardonnay, $15 or less
Winner: Milbrandt 2014 Traditions Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $13
Finalists: Airfield 2014 Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, $15
Waterbrook 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12
Charles Smith 2014 Eve
Chardonnay, Washington State, $12
Chardonnay, $15–$40
Winner: Ashan 2014 Barrel-fermented Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $25
Finalists: Carter Lamour 2012 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $30
Savage Grace 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Gorge, Celilo Vineyard, $28
Chardonnay, more than $40
Winner: Côte Bonneville 2013 Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, DuBrul Vineyard, $50
Finalists: Woodward Canyon 2014 Chardonnay, Washington State, $44
Buty 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Conner Lee Vineyards, $42
Tranche 2013 Chardonnay,
Columbia Gorge, Celilo Vineyard, $45
Riesling, $15 or less
Winner: Chateau Ste. Michelle 2014 Harvest Select Riesling, Columbia Valley, $10
Finalists: For a Song 2014
Riesling, Ancient Lakes, Caliche
Lake Vineyard, $15
Saviah 2014 The Jack Riesling, Columbia Valley, $15
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2014 Dry Riesling, Columbia Valley, $10
Riesling, more than $15
Winner: Long Shadows 2014 Poet’s Leap Riesling, Columbia Valley, $20
Finalists: Côte Bonneville 2014 Riesling, Yakima Valley, DuBrul Vineyard, $22
Savage Grace 2015 Riesling,
Columbia Gorge, Underwood Mountain Vineyards, $21
Sparkman 2014 Birdie Riesling, Columbia Valley, $18
SPARKLING WINE
Winner: Domaine Ste. Michelle Michelle NV Brut Méthode
Champenoise, Columbia Valley, $13
Finalists: 14 Hands NV Brut Méthode Champenoise, Columbia Valley, $15
Domaine Ste. Michelle Michelle NV Brut Rosé Méthode Champenoise, Columbia Valley, $13
Mount Baker Vineyards & Winery 2014 Brut Estate Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris Méthode Champenoise, $40
ROSÉ
Winner: Renegade Wine Company 2015 Rosé, Columbia Valley, $10
Finalists: Tranche 2015 Pink Pape Rosé, Yakima Valley, Blackrock Estate Vineyard, $18
College Cellars of Walla Walla 2015 Rosé of Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, Reed Vineyard, $15
Kerloo Cellars 2015 Grenache Rosé, Columbia Valley, Painted Hills Vineyard, Block 14A, $22
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