Washington

Some of Washington state’s oldest plantings — first established in 1980 by Jeff Gordon above the Snake River near Pasco — factor into this blend of varieties native to Rhône, Bordeaux and Rioja. Syrah (36%), Merlot (26%) and Tempranillo (18%) lead the way, while the deft blending by Joe Hudon of Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec brings subtle complexity. It’s a wine … [Read more...] about Gordon Estate 2020 Mega Red Red Wine, Columbia Valley $30

Founder/owner David Dufenhorst established his Double D planting in 2013, and the site that’s a stone’s throw from the Columbia River upstream from Wenatchee continues to serve as a showcase for red Bordeaux varieties. The “heat dome” vintage of 2021 led to this delicious and straightforward blend of Malbec (51%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (49%) that spent nearly two years in a … [Read more...] about Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2021 Double D Vineyard 11 Dams Red Wine, Rocky Reach, $48

Brett Brockmeyer’s previous vintage earned a spot in last year’s Platinum Awards with a gold medal at the Sunset International. This bottling from the 2023 vintage is made again with grapes from this historic vineyard near Grandview, Wash., farmed by the Tudor family. The collaboration resulted in one of the highest-scoring white wines of the 2024 Cascadia International, and it … [Read more...] about Brockmeyer Family Wines 2023 Otis Vineyard Albariño. Yakima Valley $21

Rachael Horn and her winemaking daughter Anaïs Mera, both products of Washington State University’s program, created this Italian-inspired effort from Red Mountain grapes that proved to be one of the top red wines of the 2024 Cascadia International. Previously, this Columbia Gorge family bottled Arachne has 100% Nebbiolo from historic Klipsun Vineyard on Red Mountain. For this … [Read more...] about AniChe Cellars 2021 Arachne Red Wine, Red Mountain $44

Few could have gotten into the vineyards that helped Michael Ruhland and Matías Kúsulas to achieve immediate acclaim for their young Valo project. Conner Lee, a comparatively cooler site near the Columbia Basin town of Othello, Wash., was planted in 1980 under the auspices of the late Walter Clore, and this bottling represents the vineyard’s second vintage under the ownership … [Read more...] about Valo 2020 Conner Lee Vineyard Right Bank, Columbia Valley, $50