The 2016 Washington Wine-Buying List
Here are the award-winning wines you should be buying now
By Seattle magazine staff July 21, 2016
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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