Congratulations to the Washington State Wine Commission and Visit Seattle for another successful Taste Washington March 22-25, 2018. Thousands of people participated in the annual celebration of the excellent wine made in this state — at the Grand Tasting, educational seminars, lunches on local farms, and other events.

Every year, we hope that people did more than taste the fine wine of Washington. We hope they appreciated it, and the hard work by people in our state’s wine industry – from farmers to vineyard managers to those in the production facilities, winemakers, distributors, tasting room staff and more. In particular, we applaud the workers in the vineyards who toil over the grapes and the terroir; the winemakers who balance creativity and science in every barrel and bottle; and their families who support this extreme effort. We definitely appreciated every taste that was poured for us at the Grand Tasting. Our top 25 favorites are listed below. ((Note, some were “under the table” pours!)

The standouts to us this year were 2008 Boudreaux Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Saviah Cellars The Funk Syrah, and Va Piano 2015 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon.

We had a total of 25 favorites — not surprisingly, since we are major cheerleaders of Washington state wine — listed here in alphabetical order. (There were so many other wonderful wineries, but we unfortunately could not visit every table.)

• • • • Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2016 Jet Black Syrah ($28)
      • Avennia 2015 Sestina Red Bordeaux Blend ($65)
      • Barrister Winery 2014 Cabernet Franc ($31)
      • Boudreaux Cellars 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon ($75)
      • Co Dinn Cellars 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($50)
      • College Cellars 2017 Sauvignon Blanc ($18)
      • DeLille Cellars 2015 D2 Bordeaux Blend ($45)
      • Efeste 2014 Big Papa Cabernet Sauvignon ($60)
      • Fidelitas 2015 Optu Red Bordeaux Blend ($55)
      • Figgins 2014 Estate Red Bordeaux Blend ($85)
      • Forgeron Cellars Facon Rouge Red Rhone Blend (35)
      • L’Ecole 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
      • Lauren Ashton Cellars 2017 Rosé ($21)
      • Long Shadows 2015 Saggi Red Blend ($55
      • Obelisco 2014 Electrum Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($70)
      • Otis Kenyon 2014 Matchless Red Blend ($29)
      • Radix 2015 Red Rhone Blend ($55)
      • Saviah Cellars 2014 “The Stones Speak” Syrah ($55)
      • Secret Squirrel 2014 Red Bordeaux Blend ($25)
      • Stevens 2014 XY Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($45)
      • Upchurch 2015 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($75)
      • Va Piano 2015 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon ($95)
      • The Walls 2015 Lip Stinger Grenache Blanc ($39)
      • William Church 2015 Keystone Reserve Syrah ($55)
      • The Woodhouse Wine Estates 2014 Kennedy Shah Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($55)

We were also very happy to see some of our friends in this state’s wine industry:

Pictured here:
Top row from left to right: Rob Newsom and his daughter Keely of Boudreaux Cellars; Marie-Eve Gilla of Forgeron Cellars and Gilles Nicault of Long Shadows

Bottom row: Ali Boyle of Alexandria Nicole Cellars; Kit Singh of Lauren Ashton Cellars and Sam Mosman of Lonesome Spring Ranch Vineyard

We believe that every month is a good time to celebrate Washington state wine.

Cheers!
Margot and Dave