Washington Wine of the Week – Selections for Winter, 2025

For the week of March 16, 2025: Red wine selections from Dumas Station Wines. The tasting room at Dumas Station Wines, located in Southeastern Washington, may be considered a bit off the beaten path, but a visit to this small, family-owned winery is well worth the trip.

For several recommendations of the winery’s red wine current releases, check out the post under “Heard Through the Grapevine.”

For the week of March 9, 2025: Dumas Station Wines 2022 Pinot Gris – This must-try-to-be-appreciated Pinot Gris is big on texture, big on flavor, and big on color, displaying an eye-catching burnt orange hue. Orange zest and white flowers on the nose, luscious peach and pear flavors on the palate, and a long, viscous finish add up to one amazing wine. Dayton, Washington tasting room manager Stephanie Jones recommends a to-die-for food pairing with lobster fettuccine, and fresh crab in clarified butter comes to mind as another potentially great choice. Sourced from Breezy Slope Vineyard, located near the foot of the Blue Mountains; only 102 cases produced.

For the week of March 2, 2025: Wines from Sagemoor Estates – Check out this week’s post under “Heard Through the Grapevine” for a full complement of red and white wine recommendations from Washington’s Sagemoor Estates.

For the week of February 23, 2025: De La Luz Wines 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon – Walla Walla’s Victor De La Luz is crafting some truly memorable wines, including this 2018 Cab that is currently in the ‘sweet spot’ for opening and enjoying now. Dark and purple fruits of cherry and plum fill the glass, and then all sorts of wonderful stuff – baker’s chocolate, caramel, sweet tobacco, and savory herbs to name a few – come through on the finish. This is one of those Cabernets that’s perfect for sipping and savoring any time of year, but especially so on a cold winter’s day in the company of good friends.

For the week of February 16, 2025: Long Shadows Vintners ‘Dance’ 2022 Chardonnay – For years, winemaker Gilles Nicault has earned a stellar reputation for producing some of the best Riesling in Washington State (and his 2023 Poet’s Leap is no exception – an incredible value at only $20). But he’s also had a hand in a number of other varietals, including this drop-dead gorgeous Chardonnay. Where do you start with the list of descriptors? Banana nut bread, Cosmic Crisp apple, pineapple, lemon crème, and fresh peach flavors top the list, with a lengthy finish that comes across as yeasty, appley, and both bright and creamy on the palate. This must-try wine is absolutely dreamy.

For the week of February 9, 2025: Henry Earl Estates 2022 Merlot – Here’s a sneak preview of an upcoming new release from the popular Walla Walla-based winery. Intriguing aromas of mint, menthol, alfalfa, and vanilla start you off, with plump, luscious black plum and blackberry flavors and a touch of cassis liqueur on the extreme finish. This is a beautiful Red Mountain Merlot, displaying an overall silky quality along with seamlessly integrated tannins that add just the right amount of texture.

For the week of February 2, 2025: J Bookwater Winery 2022 Notebook Red – We’ve all been there: you opened that really nice bottle of wine late in the evening (after a few others) and then kicked yourself the next day for not being able to taste and enjoy it properly. So here’s the perfect wine for guilt-free, late-night sipping…as well as your everyday spaghetti wine. Priced at only about $14 (and much lower if on sale at retail outlets), this red blend from the Richland-based winery is an easy-to-drink combination of Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. Lots of ripe plum, cherry, and blackberry aromas and flavors start you off, with a hint of green herbs on a soft, somewhat savory finish. There’s probably not a lot of extended cellaring time for this wine, but who cares? Your out-of-pocket cost in low, it drinks perfectly fine, and you won’t have a hint of remorse for opening it when the party is starting to wind down.

For the week of January 26, 2025: Palencia Winery 2024 Estate Sparkling Counoise – Victor Palencia’s first estate wine is a winner on all fronts with a stunning light ruby color, deliciously complex flavors, and the vibrant finishing acidity you’d expect from a sparkling wine. Generous watermelon and raspberry aromatics and flavors are accentuated with a slice of strawberry shortcake and micro-fine bubbles, giving the wine a lovely, slightly creamy middle stanza. The finish is crisp and tangy, with flavors of kumquat, watermelon rind, and blood orange.

For the week of January 19, 2025: Grammercy Cellars 2020 Mourvèdre L’Idiot du Village – This super-yummy selection from Greg Harrington is really hitting the sweet spot on its “best enjoyed from” years. The grapes were sourced entirely from Olsen Vineyard, located at the far eastern end of the Yakima Valley. The wine is packed with amazing aromatics and layers of flavors, beginning with fragrant lavender, violets, and Chinese five spice and a palate of ultra-dark currant and plum, Dr. Pepper, and pipe tobacco. With ample aeration, the finish turns velvety soft, with a whisper of chocolate and white pepper accents.

For the week of January 12, 2025: Hoquetus Wine Company 2022 Dry Riesling, Les Collines Vineyard – This super-fresh, super-delicious Riesling demonstrates how multi-dimensional and versatile this white varietal can be. Lovely white flower and honeysuckle aromatics are followed by a full range of citrus and lime flavors. The vibrant finish is highlighted with a splash of lemongrass, lime zest, and minerality. Hoquetus winemaker Robert Gomez notes that the wine should show more petrol notes as the wine matures, and that makes it an excellent candidate for additional cellaring to allow it to develop character and even more depth on the flavor profile. Exceptional!

For the week of January 5, 2025: Tasting Room Magazine Best 75 Wines of the Year – As we dive it 2025, Tasting Room Magazine has just released its top Washington wines they tasted in 2024. They limited the selections to a single wine per winery to allow the broadest possible range of choices for consumers. It’s notable that of the 75 wineries on the list, nearly one-third, 24, came from those that entered wines in the Pacific Northwest Wine Competition over the past two years.

Personal favorites that made the list include the Hard Row to Hoe 2021 Burning Desire Estate Cabernet Franc, the Callan Cellars 2021 Boushay Vineyard Grenache, the Five Star Cellars 2017 Stellar, the Lagana Cellars 2019 Malbec, the Thurston Wolfe 2020 Conglomerate Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Hightower Cellars 2019 Red Mountain Reserve.

For wine enthusiasts planning to venture out to visit the state’s hundreds of wineries, Tasting Room Magazine is an invaluable reference for travel ideas, winemaker backstories, and wine recommendations. Complete information at washingtontastingroom.com.

For the week of December 29, 2024: Capital Call Vintners 2021 Windhorse Zinfandel – Zinfandel is one of those Washington varietals that sits quietly in the background and isn’t always easy to find. But with a little searching out, you can track down some truly delicious options produced by several of the state’s wineries including Thurston Wolfe, Forgeron Cellars, Martinez & Martinez, and this gem from Capital Call Vintners. Sourced from the Windhorse Vineyard in Washington’s Columbia Gorge AVA, it leads off with copious raspberry and blackberry aromas and flavors, followed by subtle touches of black peppercorn and cocoa nibs. An ultra-long finish carries a pleasant splash of acidity along with pliable tannins. The wine was aged 21 months in 25% new American oak, which contributes a nice, toasty quality to the finish as well.

For the week of December 22, 2024: The wines of Maison Bleue Winery – Everything on the current tasting room menu at Maison Bleue in Walla Walla is drinking absolutely beautifully. You will be hard-pressed to find wines of this caliber, top to bottom, that are practically flawless in every respect. The common thread is terrior-driven wines with understated fruit flavors, nicely integrated tannins, and a gorgeous, silky quality throughout. Some top recommendations: the 2023 Voltiguer Viognier, a Rocks District stunner, with voluptuous tropical and Bartlett pear fruit framed with a trace of minerality; both the Frontiere and Voyageur Syrahs (with pre-2020 vintages still available), and the 2021 Métis, a five varietal red wine blend sourced from the Walla Walla Valley. Be sure to ask for Tasting Room Manager Joe Solis, who will ensure you receive first-class service during your tasting room visit.