The Washington wine industry continues to surge: new wineries are opening almost daily (at last count, the number is over 900) and vineyard planting is on the rise as well. You can easily see newly planted vines dotting the Red Mountain landscape as well as expansion in the Walla Walla Valley. Perhaps the most ambitious project in the latter area is Éritage Vineyards, spearheaded by Justin Wylie from Va Piano Vineyards.
The following are some of the standout wines from my tastings last month.
B. Leighton Gratitude Red Wine Yakima Valley 2013 $45
Mourvèdre (70%) takes the lead on this GSM blend which puts a premium on purity. It’s loaded with mesmerizing aromas and flavors of cranberry, black pepper, orange peel and dried herbs, showing - a flat out stunner.
Block Wines Golden Block Grenache Boushey Vineyard Yakima Valley Washington 2014 $35
It’s impossible to drink Grenache from Boushey Vineyard and not think about how he once swore never to plant the variety due to its notorious cold tenderness. Grenache clearly excels there, as shown by this lush, pure offering, which comes from Full Pull Wines.
B. Leighton Gratitude Red Wine Yakima Valley 2013 $45
Mourvèdre (70%) takes the lead on this GSM blend which puts a premium on purity. It’s loaded with mesmerizing aromas and flavors of cranberry, black pepper, orange peel and dried herbs, showing - a flat out stunner.
Block Wines Golden Block Grenache Boushey Vineyard Yakima Valley Washington 2014 $35
It’s impossible to drink Grenache from Boushey Vineyard and not think about how he once swore never to plant the variety due to its notorious cold tenderness. Grenache clearly excels there, as shown by this lush, pure offering, which comes from Full Pull Wines.
Below are my Wine Enthusiast reviews for July 2016. Wines are listed alphabetically by winery. Read additional information on how I review wines here. All of these reviews are freely available on-line at the Wine Enthusiast Buying Guide. There is also a freely available Wine Enthusiast Tasting Guide app. See previous Wine Enthusiast reviews re-published in this space here. Search Wine Enthusiast's on-line database here.The July issue contains a strong set of releases from Gramercy Cellars. While the winery’s Rhone-style wines always dazzle (Gramercy 2013 The Third Man Grenache Columbia Valley $42, 92 points; Gramercy 2013 The Deuce Syrah Walla Walla Valley $54, 93 points), its Cabernet Sauvignon (Gramercy 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley $48, 93 points) is impossible to ignore. Additionally, some of the best values out there can be found in the winery’s Lower East series (Gramercy 2013 Lower East Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley $28, 92 points; Gramercy 2013 Lower East Syrah Columbia Valley $28, 93 points).
A round-up of stories on Northwest wine from June 1st to 7th 2016. Read previous round-ups here.
From around the country…
Wine Spectator writes that Oregon homes in on Chardonnay.
From the blogosphere…
Great Northwest wine writes that 2016 tracks ahead of 2015. They also write that wineries hope to restore glory to Sunnyside, Syrah playing a vital role in Northwest blends, and Amelia Wynn finding a home on Bainbridge Island.
From around the country…
Wine Spectator writes that Oregon homes in on Chardonnay.
From the blogosphere…
Great Northwest wine writes that 2016 tracks ahead of 2015. They also write that wineries hope to restore glory to Sunnyside, Syrah playing a vital role in Northwest blends, and Amelia Wynn finding a home on Bainbridge Island.
A round-up of stories on Northwest wine from May 22nd to May 31st 2016. Read previous round-ups here.
From around the country…
Wine Enthusiast writes that Willamette Valley moves in to Walla Walla.
Orange Coast magazine writes that there is more to love in Oregon than Pinot Noir.
Journal Review (Indiana) writes about white wine.
From around the country…
Wine Enthusiast writes that Willamette Valley moves in to Walla Walla.
Orange Coast magazine writes that there is more to love in Oregon than Pinot Noir.
Journal Review (Indiana) writes about white wine.
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Sean P. Sullivan is the founder and editor of Northwest Wine Report. He has been writing about and reviewing Northwest wine since 2004. Read a full biography on the About page. All articles written by Sullivan unless otherwise indicated.