FRESHPRESS. Jan. 9, 2012

Transcription

1 FRESHPRESS Jan. 9, 2012 Glasses are lined up in preparation for the final tasting of top wines last week at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition in Cloverdale, Calif. It is the largest wine judging of American wines. (Andy Perdue/ Wine Press Northwest) Fresh Press is a weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest magazine. In each edition, we review recently released wines from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho. Feel free to forward to your wine-loving friends and family. For more information on our tasting methods and review process, please go to the last page.

2 Spotlight: S.F. Chronicle Wine Competition The largest judging of American wines and the largest wine judging of any kind in the United States just keeps getting bigger and better. Last week, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition took place in Cloverdale, Calif., where it has been held for nearly 30 years. About 60 professional wine judges blind tasted 5,675 wines from 25 states during a four-day period. On Friday morning, judges gathered to taste the best of the wines, more than 80 best-of-class winners selected the prior three days. From Washington, Barnard Griffin s 2011 Rosé of Sangiovese won the sweepstakes award for best pink wine. This is the second straight year for the Richland winery to win this category. Astonishingly, it is the seventh consecutive year this wine has won a gold or better at the Chronicle competition. Upon hearing the news, owner/winemaker Rob Griffin expresses surprise because winter damage caused him to change vineyard sources from the wines that had won the prior six years. In all, Northwest wines won eight best-of-class awards, as well as nine nine unanimous double golds and 51 gold medals. The judging started in 1983 as the Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition, which was restricted to wines from the region around northern Sonoma County. In 2000, the San Francisco Chronicle joined with the competition as the naming sponsor, and the partnership with that publication has helped raise the profile of the judging. During that time, it has gone from a California-only competition to including the Pacific Northwest and now the entire United States. This year, four judges came from the Pacific Northwest, double the number of past years. This is partly because of the increase in total entries, as well as a 30 percent jump from Washington and Oregon. In fact, Washington, Oregon and Idaho were all amid the top 10 states submitting wines to the Chronicle judging. The competition is run by the father-son team of Bob and Scott Foster and Ray Johnson. This year s judging included a memorable dinner at The Hess Collection in Napa Valley. Among the judges were wine industry luminaries such as Dan Berger, wine writer from Santa Rosa; Jon Bonné, wine editor for the San Francisco Chronicle; Mike Dunne, retired wine columnist for the Sacramento Bee; Bob Foster of San Diego; Dan Kosta of Kosta Brown Winery in Sebastopol, Calif.; Richard Peterson, longtime Napa Valley winemaker, and Ron Washam, the HoseMaster of Wine from Healdsburg, Calif. In addition to the judging, there also is a public tasting, which is Feb. 18 at Fort Mason in San Francisco, near the Golden Gate Bridge. For complete results from the competition and more information on the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, go to Three members of the Wine Press Northwest tasting panel were judges this year: Editor Andy Perdue, Managing Editor Eric Degerman and Winnie Alberg, whose family grows wine grapes in Washington s Frenchman Hills. After the competition, each of us went through the results to find some of the top Northwest wines our panels tasted under blind conditions and have reviewed them here.

3 Spotlight: S.F. Chronicle Wine Competition Cabernet Sauvignon Excellent. Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2009 Destiny Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $39. Our 2011 Washington Winery of the Year has tasting room locations in the Yakima Valley town of Prosser as well as the Seattle suburb of Woodinville. Its gorgeous estate vineyard, Destiny Ridge, is in the Horse Heaven Hills overlooking the majestic Columbia River. This rich Cab shows off aromas of chocolate, oak and bold, dark fruit, followed by flavors of rich dark berries, sweet spices and a hint of toast. Outstanding! Basel Cellars 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $36. South of Walla Walla, Wash., is Basel Cellars, a winery in a former mansion on a hill overlooking the southern valley and estate vines. This is a classic Cab with aromas of black currants and elegant, spicy oak, followed by flavors of delicious dark fruit. It is beautifully structured all the way through to the memorable finish. (783 cases, 14.6% alc.) Outstanding! Best Buy! Columbia Crest 2009 H3 Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $15. This elegant Cabernet Sauvignon from the Horse Heaven Hills doesn't hold back. The wine opens with inviting aromas of dense blackberries and a hint of eucalyptus, followed by rich and bold tannins intertwined with dense black fruit, raspberries and a hint of chalky tannins. Great structure and pleasantly lingering finish. (69,000 cases, 14.5% alc.) Outstanding! Best Buy! Roza Ridge 2008 Roza Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Rattlesnake Hills, $12. A product of Hyatt Vineyards, it's as tasty as it is affordable. Aromas of blackberry, cassis and leather abound, backed up on the palate by cassis, cranberry and raspberry underlain by subtle leather and tobacco notes. (464 cases, 13.9% alc.) Outstanding! Watermill Winery 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $24. Watermill is part of a growing group of wineries that have located on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley near the town of Milton-Freewater. Andrew Brown is the winemaker for this family operation, and he has crafted a stunning Cab. It opens with aromas of dark fruit, chocolate and just the right amount of oak, followed by rich, dark, delicious flavors of chocolate, black currants and ripe plums. (250 cases, 14.9% alc.) Pinot Noir Excellent. Archery Summit Winery 2009 Premier Cuvée Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $48. A blend of five estate vineyards from the Dundee Hills and tiny Ribbon Ridge, it shows mouthwatering aromas leading with blueberry and dark raspberry, which are backed by cedar and minerality. What helps this wine standout are its flavors of blueberry milkshake and pleasing acidity. (4,008 cases, 14.5% alc.) Outstanding! Stoller Vineyards 2008 Stoller Vineyards SV Estate, Dundee Hills, $40. It s rare to get an entire panel of wine judges to agree on that a Pinot Noir is worthy of gold, but this blend of Melissa Burr's best barrels made a double gold an easy sell. The expressive nose shows black cherry, plum and violets, while the palate presents remarkable balance with flavors of Chukar Cherry and more plums, backed with citrusy acidity and a late tightening from tannin. It came within a whisker to becoming best of class in the $40-$49.99 category. (3,500 cases, 13.6% alc.) Excellent. The Four Graces 2009 Black Family Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $45. Those with a fondness for the high-toned red fruit of Pinot Noir from the Dundee Hills will definitely appreciate this beauty. While the color leans toward brickish red, the aromas and flavors sing of Montmorency cherries, raspberries and rose hips. Its bright acidity, light toast and Burgundian tone will make it delicious at the dinner table. (195 cases, 14.8% alc.) Excellent. Willamette Valley Vineyards 2009 Tualatin Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $45. The nose is loaded with aromas of lavender, clover, Bing cherries and white strawberries. The flavors from this nearly 40- year-old site bring more cherries, riper strawberries and cherry-skin tannins. (500 cases, 14.4% alc.) Merlot Excellent Northstar 2008 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $50. Ste. Michelle Wine Estate's Merlot master David Merfeld shows a skillful hand with balanced oak, which makes for inviting aromas of blueberry, allspice and tobacco leaf. Black cherry, blueberry jam, Wine ratings All wines reviewed here are tasted blind after being submitted by producers. They are rated Outstanding, Excellent and Recommended by a tasting panel. Outstanding: These wines have superior characteristics and should be highly sought after. Excellent: Top-notch wines with particularly high qualities. Recommended: Delicious, well-made wines with true varietal characteristics. Best Buy: A wine that is $15 or less. Priced are suggested retail and should be used as guidelines. Prices are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

4 Spotlight: S.F. Chronicle Wine Competition more tobacco qualities stretch beyond the midpalate, where there's a pinch of white pepper waiting in the finish. (1,100 cases, 14.7% alc.) Excellent. Best Buy! Ridge Crest 2009 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $13. This second label for Claar Cellars in Pasco, Wash., showed quite nicely alongside the $ Merlots, bringing hints of red currant, raspberry, pink peppercorns and cedar. The structure offered juicy acidity and taut tannins. (240 cases, 13.5% alc.) Syrah Outstanding! Barnard Griffin 2010 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $17. While Rob Griffin continued his reign in the rosé category, he also shined with a gold medal in the $19.99-and-under category for Syrah. It's an easy drink, primarily from Desert Aire Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope, that features boysenberry, Marionberry and black cherry tones throughout. This wine appears in the "tulip" label and often is found around $12 in grocery stores and state liquor stories for not much longer. Suggested fare includes lamb or a hearty stew. (4,700 cases, 13.8% alc.) Excellent. Blooms Winery 2009 Syrah, Rattlesnake Hills, $19. The Bloom family on Whidbey Island relies on the Bosma Vineyard in the Yakima Valley for Syrah grapes that go into not only this bottling, but also its prized blend called Poetry. Aromas are reminiscent of a fresh-baked brownie drizzled with raspberry sauce and topped by a sprig of mint. The palate yields flavors of juicy boysenberry and nice plumminess. Excellent. College Cellars 2009 Sagemoor Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley, $16. Tim Donahue and his students at Walla Walla Community College get access to some prestigious vineyards, and they earned high marks for this Syrah off one of the state's oldest sites. The dark appearance in the glass doesn't mislead, and the nose shows Belgian chocolate and blackberry. That theme transcends between the lips with a balance of tannin, fruit and acidity that makes it easy to drink. (50 cases, 14.4% alc.) Excellent. Best Buy! Duck Pond Cellars 2009 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $12. One of the Fries family's sites on the Wahluke Slope is Sacagawea Vineyard, and this bottling showcases that block near the town of Desert Aire, Wash. Not much oak gets in the way, as it spent just eight months in barrel. That allows for accents of fresh blueberry jam, rich blackberries, pomegranate and a pinch of furikake. This would be ideal with duck breast served with a berry compote. (4,177 cases, 14.5% alc.) Excellent. Best Buy! Hyatt Vineyards 2009 Syrah, Rattlesnake Hills, $10. Andy Gamache started this wine, and Steve Hovanes took over at the Zillah, Wash., winery last spring. There's a theme of chocolate and it's crafted in a zingy style, President plum loaded with blueberry and boysenberry. It is backed by minerality and big acidity. And at $10, it was one of the best bargains in its class. (1,254 cases, 13.7% alc.) Outstanding! Maryhill Winery 2009 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $17. Our 2009 Washington Winery of the Year got this year off to a grand start with a gold medal for this Syrah. The gathering of five vineyards Bailey, Milbrandt, Tudor Hills, Gunkel and Alder Ridge comes with a robust nose of coffee, vanilla bean and brambleberries. Rich flavors carry hints of blackberry and boysenberry with a finish that hints at a Moroccan coffee. (1,235 cases, 14.3% alc.) Excellent. Waters Winery 2009 Loess Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $45. This vineyard designate Syrah is anything but shy. It opens with aromas of cassis, blackberries and leather, followed by a hint of poached plum. There's an explosion of black fruit on the palate, intertwined with dusty leather and rich tannins. (180 cases, 14.1% alc.) Petite Sirah Excellent. Zerba Cellars 2009 Petite Sirah, Walla Walla Valley, $50. Petite Sirah is a Rhône variety that is primarily grown in a number of areas in California, but it has begun to catch on in the Pacific Northwest in the past few years much to our delight. This is a fairly new variety for winemaker Doug Nierman, and even with fruit from young vines, he is crafting a delicious wine. It opens with aromas of bold black fruit, including blackberries and plums. On the palate, it shows off rich, dark flavors of boysenberries and Baker's chocolate, all backed with intimate tannins. (49 cases, 14.8% alc.) Tempranillo Excellent. RoxyAnn Winery 2008 Estate Tempranillo, Rogue Valley, $30. This Medford, Ore., winery is making a lot of noise with the quality of its wines from Southern Oregon. This is an expressive red with aromas of red berries and spices, leading to an elegant entry that gives way to flavors of huckleberries and Marionberries. (289 cases, 14.4% alc.) Excellent. Schmidt Family Vineyards 2009 Tempranillo, Southern Oregon, $32. Located in Southern Oregon's Applegate Valley, Schmidt Family Vineyards began planting grapes in 2001 and making wine in This Tempranillo opens with aromas of

5 Spotlight: S.F. Chronicle Wine Competition plums, dark berries and toast, followed by rich, smooth flavors of blackberries and hints of vanilla. (231 cases, 14.3% alc.) Outstanding! Zerba Cellars 2009 Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley, $38. Our 2011 Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year continues to produce superb wines, and winemaker Doug Nierman is especially adept with red varieties. Tempranillo is a fairly new grape for the Walla Walla Valley and Zerba, and Nierman already has zeroed in on how to handle the Spanish red. This is a big, dark, rustic wine with aromas and flavors of rich black fruit and wellintegrated tannins. (184 cases, 14.4% alc.) Lemberger Outstanding! Best Buy! Kiona Vineyards Winery 2009 Lemberger, Red Mountain, $12. For the third time in the past six vintages, Scott Williams' Lemberger has earned best of category at a major California wine competition. The beautiful nose brings expressive aromas of sweet oak with cinnamon, rose hips and dark strawberry. On the palate, it's assertive with its cherries and strawberries, finishing with great acidity and bold tannins. Its gold medal also qualifies it for Wine Press Northwest's 2012 Platinum Competition. Last year, the 2008 edition of this wine earned a Double Platinum and voted the best red wine of the judging regardless of the price. Buy a case or two now, and enjoy all summer long with grilled meats. (3,000 cases, 13.8% alc.) Red blends Excellent. Cedergreen Cellars 2008 Thuja, Columbia Valley, $25. Kevin Cedergreen left a career in landscape architecture for the world of wine, but he pays tribute to his past by naming this blend of Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Sauvignon for a Latin name for cedar trees. The pronunciation rhymes with "sue yah" and the fruit from Conner Lee, Clifton Hill and Klipsun vineyards produced notes of black cherry and cassis with rewarding acidity and a hint of would ya believe Tennessee red cedar? (330 cases, 13.8% alc.) Outstanding! Convergence Zone Cellars 2009 Storm Front, Red Mountain, $28. Last month, the Wine Press Northwest tasting panel gave this wine its top rating, and it continues to improve, standing out in a category that was largely unimpressive.the blend of Merlot (39%), Cabernet Sauvignon (26%), Cabernet Franc (20%) and Malbec shows off heady aromas of black cherry, cinnamon and milk chocolate and the palate follows through with pleasing balance. (120 cases, 14.6% alc.) Excellent. Otis Kenyon 2008 Matchless Red, Walla Walla Valley, $23. A product of Seven Hills and the estate Stellar vineyards, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (53%) and Merlot (47%) shows maturity with classic notes of black cherry, cassis and chocolate, tied together inside a solid structure. (984 cases, 14.4% alc.) Outstanding! Revelry Vintners 2009 The Reveler, Columbia Valley, $20. Walla Walla winemaker Jared Burns spun this blend of Cabernet Franc (36%), Merlot (36%) and Cabernet Sauvignon into a double gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and this came in at the lowest end of the $20-$29.99 Bordeaux blend category. It carries notes of dark chocolate, black cherries, Marionberries, allspice and licorice from start to delicious finish. (2,200 cases, 13.9% alc.) Excellent. Spangler Vineyards 2008 Claret, Southern Oregon, $25. Patrick Spangler prides himself on low-alcohol, age-worthy wines, and this melange of the six primary Bordeaux varieties should stand the test of time. It brings aromas and flavors of cassis, cranberry, a pinch of oregano, food-friendly acidity and firm tannin. (154 cases, 14.2% alc.) Chardonnay Excellent. Willamette Valley Vineyards 2009 Estate Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $35. The late Forrest Klaffke created a superbly full-bodied and bold fruit style of Chardonnay. It opens with aromas of apricots, grapefruit and a hint of lemon peel followed by layered flavors of peach, apricot and a hint of green apple on the finish. The wealth of acidity makes it a tremendous food wine. (301 cases, 14.4% alc.) White blends Excellent. Ardiri Winery & Vineyards 2010 Chehalem Gold, Willamette Valley, $25. Located in the Chehalem Mountains, Ardiri is unusual for Oregon producers because it crafts wines both from the Willamette Valley as well as California's Napa Valley. This wine is a blend of Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc from estate vineyards. It exhibits aromas of pears, peaches and tropical fruit, followed by plush flavors of Golden Delicious apples, pineapples and mangoes. Pair with a shrimp salad or grilled chicken. (225 cases, 12.5% alc.) Outstanding! Best Buy! Nicola's Redmark 2009 White, Columbia Valley, $10. This label for Le Chateau Winery in Walla Walla is named for family patriarch Nicola Metrione, who emigrated from Naples, Italy, to the Bronx, N.Y., in the late 1800s. His ancestors settled out west and ultimately got into the wine biz. Apparently, "Papa Nic" would mark his tools

6 Spotlight: with a red mark, hence the name of this blend of Chardonnay (60%) and Riesling. It is a delicious wine with aromas of slate, pears, apples and herbs, followed by tasty flavors of orchard fruit and minerals. Pair this with grilled seafood or a cobb salad. (1,645 cases, 13.3% alc.) Excellent. Sokol Blosser NV Evolution 15th Edition, Oregon, $17. This blend of nine white grapes has been a mainstay for this pioneer Dundee Hills winery for many years and is seemingly omnipresent on restaurant wine lists throughout the Pacific Northwest. This version opens with aromas of sweet herbs, citrus and ripe Asian pears. A clean, bright entry leads to flavors of pears, apples and oranges. It is off-dry at 1.23% residual sugar, and this should pair nicely with everything from grilled halibut topped with a fruit salsa to spicy Asian cuisine. (55,000 cases, 12% alc.) Sauvignon Blanc Excellent. Best Buy! Cedergreen Cellars 2010 Spring Creek Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $14. Kevin Cedergreen devotes much of his retail efforts to Puget Sound restaurants, and you'll find this white a delicious match with seafood and Asianinfluenced cuisine. His expression with Spring Creek Vineyard fruit from near Benton City, Wash., opens with aromas of green apple, vanilla and spice. What follows are flavors of papaya, apple and a touch of lemon on the crisp and lingering finish. (1,042 cases, 13.8% alc.) Excellent. Kestrel Vintners 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $17. Kestrel Vintners has established itself as one of the top producers in the Yakima Valley, and it brought in the grapes for this classic Sauvignon Blanc from the Smith-Cerne Vineyard near The Dalles, Ore., which happens to be part of the vast Columbia Valley. It opens with elegant aromas of sweet herbs, fresh hay, lemons and limes, followed by bright flavors of citrus and fresh herbs, all backed with lovely acidity. (501 cases, 13.8% alc.)

7 Northwest wine regions Multi-state appellations Columbia Valley: This multi-state appellation is 11 million acres in size and takes up a third of Washington. Established in Columbia Gorge: This multi-state appellation begins around the town of Lyle and heads west to Husum on the Washington side of the Columbia River. It was established in Walla Walla Valley: Walla Walla Valley: This multi-state appellation is in the southeast corner of Washington and around Milton-Freewater, Ore. Established in Snake River Valley: This is in southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon. It covers 8,263 square miles and was established in Washington Yakima Valley: The Northwest s oldest appellation (established in 1983) stretches past Wapato in the west to Benton City in the east and includes Red Mountain, Rattlesnake Hills and Snipes Mountain. Red Mountain: Washington s smallest appellation is a ridge in the eastern Yakima Valley. It is 4,040 acres in size. Established in Horse Heaven Hills: This large appellation 570,000 acres is south of the Yakima Valley and stretches to the Oregon border. It was established in Wahluke Slope: Approved in early 2006, this huge landform north of the Yakima Valley is an 81,000-acre gravel bar created by the Ice Age Floods. It is one of the warmest regions in the entire Pacific Northwest. Established in Rattlesnake Hills: This appellation is in the western Yakima Valley north of the towns of Zillah, Granger and Outlook. The appellation is 68,500 acres in size with about 1,300 acres of vineyards. It was established in Puget Sound: This sprawling appellation is in Western Washington. It stretches from the Olympia area to the Canadian border north of Bellingham. It also sweeps through the San Juan Islands and to Port Angeles. Established in Snipes Mountain: This is one of Washington s oldest wine-growing regions. At 4,145 acres in size, it is the state s second-smallest AVA. Grapes have been grown on Snipes Mountain and at the adjacent Harrison Hill (also part of the AVA) since This AVAwas approved in Lake Chelan: This area in north-central Washington is almost entirely within the Columbia Valley. It is a young area, with the oldest vines dating to About 250 acres are planted here. It was approved in Naches Heights: Approved in 2011, this area near the city of Yakima has fewer than 50 acres of grapes planted. Oregon Willamette Valley: Oregon s largest appellation stretches roughly from Portland to Eugene. Established in Ribbon Ridge: This is the Northwest s smallest appellation at 3,350 acres. It is best known for its Pinot Noir and is within the Chehalem Mountains AVA. It was established in Yamhill-Carlton: This is a horseshoe-shaped appellation that surrounds the towns of Yamhill and Carlton. It was established in The District was dropped in Chehalem Mountains: This is the largest within the Willamette Valley. This 62,100-acre appellation is northeast of the Dundee Hills. It was established in Dundee Hills: Many of Oregon s pioneer wineries are in the Dundee Hills within Oregon s Yamhill County. The appellation is 6,490 acres in size. It was established in Eola-Amity Hills: This important region stretches from the town of Amity in the north to the capital city of Salem in the southeast. It is 37,900 acres in size. It was established in McMinnville: The hills south and west of the Yamhill County city of McMinnville are more than 40,000 acres in size. It was established in Umpqua Valley: This Southern Oregon appellation surrounds the city of Roseburg north of the Rogue Valley. It can produce Pinot Noir as well as warm-climate grapes. It was established in Rogue Valley: The Northwest s southern-most appellation surrounds the cities of Medford and Ashland, just north of the California border. It is known for its warm growing conditions. Established in Applegate Valley: This small valley within the Rogue Valley is known for a multitude of microclimates that can result in wines of distinction and complexity. Established in Southern Oregon: This AVA encompasses the Umpqua, Rogue and Applegate valleys and Red Hill Douglas County. It was established in Red Hill Douglas County: This tiny appellation just 5,500 acres is within the Umpqua Valley. Fewer than 200 acres of wine grapes, primarily Pinot Noir, are grown here. Established in British Columbia Okanagan Valley: In the province s interior, this 100- mile valley stretches from the border in Osoyoos to Salmon Arm in the north. Most wineries are near Oliver, Penticton and Kelowna. It was established in Similkameen Valley: This warm valley is west of the southern Okanagan Valley. It was established in Vancouver Island: This marine-influenced appellation is in the southwest part of the province. Established in Fraser Valley: This farming area is in the Lower Mainland, south of Vancouver. Established in Gulf Islands: This appellation includes approximately 100 islands spread out between Vancouver Island and the southern mainland. Established in 2005.

8 About us Wine Press Northwest is a quarterly consumer magazine that focuses on the wine regions of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho. Annual subscriptions are $20. Click to subscribe. Editor-in-chief: Andy Perdue editor@winepressnw.com Managing editor: Eric Degerman edegerman@winepressnw.com Advertising inquiries: Parker Hodge phodge@tricityherald.com 2011 Tasting methods Recent Releases are evaluated under strict conditions to ensure objectivity. Northwest wineries submit wines to Wine Press Northwest for evaluation by Wine Press Northwest s tasting panel. After wines are received, they are stored for at least two weeks and a third party serves them blind, meaning the tasting panelists do not know the producer. In addition, the panelists are served glasses of wine and are not able to view the bottles or their shapes prior to tasting. Wines are stored in temperature-controlled conditions, allowing them to be served at perfect cellar temperatures. Price is not a consideration in these evaluations, nor is a winery s advertising activity with Wine Press Northwest, as the magazine s editorial/wine evaluation activities and advertising/ marketing efforts are kept strictly separate. The panel has a combination of technical and consumer palates. If at least three of the four panelists consider a wine technically sound and commercially acceptable, it is included here as Recommended. The panel may also vote the wine as Excellent or Outstanding, our top rating. Wines considered unacceptable by the panel are rejected and not included. Reviews are grouped by variety or style and listed alphabetically by winery. Prices listed are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. To ensure we maintain an international perspective, our tasting panelists judge thousands of wines annually at various competitions, including: Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition, Riverside International Wine Competition, Dallas Morning News Wine Competition, Indy International Wine Competition, Virginia Governor s Cup, Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Grand Harvest Awards, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru, Washington State Wine Competition, Seattle Wine Awards, Northwest Wine Summit, British Columbia Wine Awards, New York Wine and Grape Foundation Competition, Tri-Cities Wine Festival, Capital Food & Wine Fest, North Central Washington Wine Awards and Idaho Wine Competition.