Write for Wine: It's Wine O'Clock Somewhere!

For years, we’ve said if you only go to one Washington state wine event each year, Taste Washington is it. This year was no exception. We had a lovely day sipping our way through some of the best wines that Washington state has to offer. (We also spilled a lot, which is quite acceptable, along with spitting, at wine tastings.)

Every wine we tasted was a stand-out. But two were stellar to our palates: 09 Cabernet Franc from Barrister Winery and 07 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Boudreaux Cellars.

The other stand-outs were:

• Viognier: William Church Winery 2011 Viognier; Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2010 Crawford Viognier
• 2010 Sauvignon Blanc: Lodmell Cellars
• Cabernet Sauvignon: Va Piano 08 Cab Sauv; Fidelitas 09 Ciel de Cheval;  Barrage Cellars 08 Double Barrel; Otis Kenyon 08 Cab Sauv
• Cabernet Franc: Barrage Cellars 08 Outcast; Bartholomew 08 Cab Franc; Hard Row to Hoe 09 Estate Cab Franc
• Bordeaux Blend: Figgins 08 Estate Red; Long Shadows 07 Chester-Kidder Red Blend; Betz 09 Clos de Betz; Forgeron Cellars 07 Vinfinity
• Barbera: Heaven’s Cave 09 Two Degrees
• Tempranillo: Fall Line 09 El Otro
• Syrah: Efeste 09 Ceidleigh

And while all the food we tasted was delicious too, the winner (in our opinion) was Tulalip’s fried chocolate bread pudding with a bourbon carmel-vanilla milkshake. Sigh.

Cheers to the Washington Wine Commission and cheers to Washington state’s 730+ wineries!