Washington Wine of the Week – Selections for Fall, 2022

For the week of December 18, 2022: Liberty Lake Wine Cellars 2019 Heritage Reserve – Winemaker Mark Lathrop is absolutely crushing it right now, sourcing grapes for many of his award-winning wines from the Red Mountain AVA, including this outstanding red blend. Comprised of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah from the region’s Red Heaven Vineyard, this wine is loaded with layers of aromatics and flavors that strike a wonderfully contemplative balance between sweet and savory. Chocolate, espresso, basil, and sweet cherries on the nose lead to a mouthful of strawberry, cherry pie, and grape jelly fruit; then an underlying layer of smoked meats, black-strap molasses, tobacco, and toasted oak carries on through the finish. Gold medalist at this year’s Bellingham Northwest Wine Competition. The winery is located east of Spokane, just a couple of miles from the Washington/Idaho border.

For the week of December 11, 2022: Lagana Cellars 2018 Eritage Vineyard Malbec – This multi-gold, multi-90+ point awarded wine from Walla Walla winemaker Jason Fox is showing beautifully and should be on your list of must-try Washington Malbecs. There’s great depth at the center of this wine, with a base of chocolate/cherry cordial, blackberries, and black currant followed by a trace of earthiness, minerality, and graphite on a velvety, lingering finish. The enticing, lead-off aromatics suggest beeswax, red cherries, pipe tobacco, and sweet cedar and the flavors and character that follow will most certainly leave you satiated. Available on the winery web site at laganacellars.com.

For the week of December 4, 2022: Aluel Cellars 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon – Owner/winemakers Alex Oh and Samuel Hilbert have crafted a gem of a Cabernet, which pulls together all the characters you’d expect from the grape – big, bold, concentrated fruits and plenty of structure – while adding lovely touches of floral aromatics and a splash of acidity to round out the package. Fragrant notes of violets, along with toast and sandalwood start you off, with a beautiful mid-palate of black plum and blackberry cobbler flavors topped with a dusting of cocoa powder. The finish initially pops with brighter cranberry and raspberry fruit before gliding into a final stanza with beautifully integrated tannins. The winery features two tasting rooms in Seattle; one in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, the other in Ballard.

For the week of November 27, 2022: Westport Winery “Courage” 2018 Sagrantino – Sagrantino is a red varietal with Italian origins that’s edging its way into the Pacific Northwest, and with big tannins and inky dark fruits, this is definitely a varietal that’s not for the faint of heart. This particular wine from the Aberdeen, Washington winery is absolutely amazing, with perfume-like peppermint aromatics and gobs of super dense, concentrated currant and cherry fruit. Yes, this is a huge wine, but it’s been crafted in a manner that the blockbuster tannins have been framed with touches of licorice and jammy fruit, lifting it into the “bold yet elegant” category.

For the week of November 20, 2022: Brian Carter Cellars 2015 Trentenaire – Here’s one more stellar blend from winemaker Brian Carter, this one a red wine featuring 55% Petit Verdot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Malbec. There simply aren’t enough superlatives to describe this gorgeous wine, and the balance of fruit, acidity, and bigger texture of the Petit Verdot is seamless. Intoxicating violet aromatics fill the glass, and the palate is packed with lush blackberry and black cherry fruit along with a silky finish of sweet cedar and nicely integrated tannins. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that this is a seven-year-old wine, and it should continue to age gracefully for several years to come. Currently still available for purchase on the winery web site, and the 2016 vintage will be forthcoming shortly.

For the week of November 13, 2022: Brian Carter Cellars 2021 Oriana – The ‘Prince of Blends,’ Brian Carter keeps coming up with beautifully crafted wines that combine varietals and result in a finished product that is truly greater than the some of its parts. This white wine trio of Viognier, Roussanne, and Riesling is a stunner, with aromas and flavors of apricot, Bartlett pear, and Golden Delicious apple. The finish suggests orange citrus, with crisp accents from the Riesling that nicely balance out the full-bodied characteristics of the Viognier and Roussanne. This is an extremely versatile food-paring wine, and it could easily go with everything from spicier foods to that upcoming Thanksgiving turkey.

For the week of November 6, 2022: Maryhill Winery 2019 Classic Zinfandel – Start off with inviting aromas of campfire and toasted marshmallow and then prepare yourself for a core of dried cherry fruit with added flavors of brown sugar, maple nut, and toasted walnut. Spicy accents of nutmeg, clove, and allspice linger in the background, with a hint of chocolate on a mile-long finish. This is the type of wine that Zinfandel lovers dream about and, better yet, should easily be able to find priced in the extremely reasonable $20 to $25-a-bottle range.

For the week of October 30, 2022: Amos Rome Vineyards 2021 Cabernet Franc Rose’ – Chelan winemaker Travis Clark loves working with Cabernet Franc and his latest iteration of Rose’ using estate-grown grapes really hits the bullseye. Nicely complex aromas and flavors of sweet peas, mandarin orange, and wild strawberries fill the glass, with finishing touches of crushed herbs and snappy acidity. A great choice to serve with everything from shrimp to scallops to roasted chicken. Double Gold medal winner at the 2021 Bellingham Northwest Wine Competition. 275 cases produced.

For the week of October 23, 2022: Kiona Vineyards Non-Vintage Red Mountain “Big Kiona” – This wine has all the makings of a big, brash, fruit-bomb, and yet it carries a (gasp!) almost elegant quality. It all boils down to excellent winemaking that keep the fruit, acidity, and eye-popping 15.9% alcohol content in balance. Dried fruits of black currant and red plum lead off, with brighter notes of pomegranate and red currant to follow. Terroir-driven, Red Mountain AVA traits of slate and minerality come through on the finish, which shows no sign of hotness along with supple tannins. Comprised of 58% Zinfandel and 42% Petite Sirah, this wine is a natural to pair with charbroiled burgers. Delicious!

For the week of October 16, 2022: Nocking Point Wines “The Real HouseWhite” Sauvignon Blanc – Yes, yes this a totally mainstream wine, without a vintage date and strictly designed for the masses. But the $14 price tag and easy-to-drink persona it carries is hard to resist as a “drink it now” selection (and it also makes for a late-in-the-evening bottle you can open guilt-free without any “why did I do that?” next-day reservations). Explosive kiwi, green melon, and citrus flavors grab you from the start, with a big, bracing finish of lemon drop and key lime pie. Sourced from Yakima Valley AVA fruit. The winery tasting room is located in downtown Walla Walla.

For the week of October 9, 2022: Coyote Canyon Winery 2017 Tres Cruces – This 60/20/20 Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre blend from Prosser winemaker Justin Michaud is truly greater than the sum of its parts, with multiple layers of flavors that give it thought-provoking character. It opens with aromatics of rum raisin followed by a base of dried cherry, blueberry, and black olive, then elegantly glides into a finish with deft touches of chocolate, toasted walnut, orange zest, and allspice. It’s bold enough to hold its own with Mediterranean-style dishes and is also perfect for by-the-glass sipping.

For the week of October 2, 2022: Dusted Valley 2021 Olsen Vineyard Chardonnay – Chardonnay can be a safe, perhaps even pedestrian choice on some winery’s tasting menus, but there’s no chance of this happening with this Yakima Valley-sourced gem. The bright, golden color shimmers in the glass, with lovely aromatics of brioche and field grasses and generous flavors of pineapple, white peach, and Golden Delicious apple. There’s a rich, elegant quality to this wine, with a gentle touch of acidity to keep things in balance. Simply put, it’s a gorgeous wine from start to finish. Available on line and at the winery’s three tasting rooms in Walla Walla, Woodinville, and Edmonds, Washington.

For the week of September 25, 2022: XOBC Cellars Proud Sparkling Rose’ – One of XOBC’s founding partners is singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile, and together with three other women (as well as Rotie Cellars’ winemaker Sean Boyd), they’ve collaborated to form a socially conscious winery that’s also turning out some stunning wines.

This absolutely delicious sparkling wine is comprised of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre, and displays fragrant stone fruit aromas followed by lead-off flavors of fresh strawberry and raspberry. The crisp, clean finish unmistakably carries a smack of mouth-watering, ruby red grapefruit. Even with a relatively low 11.8% alcohol content, it comes across as a fairly heady, full-bodied sparkler. One sip will almost certainly leave you smiling and anticipating a second glass. The Seattle-based winery does not have a tasting room, but all wines can be ordered on line at www.xobccellars.com.