Next-gen winemaker Megan Hughes spearheads the white wine program at her family’s Barnard Griffin Winery, and her work here with Albariño adds more acclaim for Crawford Vineyard, a relatively cool site along the Roza in the Yakima Valley near Prosser. There’s no oak involved in the winemaking, which keeps the spotlight on the blend of green apple, lime, peach and tropical notes … [Read more...] about Barnard Griffin Winery 2021 Albariño, Columbia Valley • $25
Washington
Wautoma Springs Wines 2021 Albariño, Columbia Valley • $25
A year ago, Jessica Munnell’s aromatic Sauvignon Blanc emerged as best of class at the Cascadia International. This summer, she turned young plantings of Albariño managed by business partner Tom Merkle into one of our judging’s most distinctive and delicious entries. The fruit source was JMST Vineyard, which is just west of Wautoma Spring’s namesake vines and near historic Cold … [Read more...] about Wautoma Springs Wines 2021 Albariño, Columbia Valley • $25
Thurston Wolfe Winery 2021 Crawford Vineyard Albariño, Yakima Valley • $22
Wade Wolfe has earned three Platinum Awards in recent years for his Albariño program, and he’s got another qualifier for this fall after the lofty showing for his latest effort from the Crawford family’s vineyard. Its bright and fruity structure includes aromas of sliced Key lime, lemon juice and some grassiness. Those notes are matched on a palate where there’s great … [Read more...] about Thurston Wolfe Winery 2021 Crawford Vineyard Albariño, Yakima Valley • $22
Palencia Wine Co. 2021 Albariño, Columbia Valley • $22
It was no surprise that one of the top expressions of Northwest Albariño, and one of its largest productions, also ranked among the best in this tasting. A key component is the role that Evergreen Vineyard in the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley has historically played in Victor Palencia’s work as an ambassador of this Spanish grape. (His smaller bottling of Albariño is under … [Read more...] about Palencia Wine Co. 2021 Albariño, Columbia Valley • $22
A56 Wines 2019 Red Blend, Red Mountain, $60
The Aquilini family uses this new brand to pay tribute to the year - 1956 — patriarch Luigi Aquilini moved from Italy to Canada and began a new life that led to him receiving the Order of British Columbia in 2011. This is the youngest of seven wine brands under the Aquilini Beverage Group, and here's a Right Bank Bordeaux-inspired assemblage of Merlot (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon … [Read more...] about A56 Wines 2019 Red Blend, Red Mountain, $60