Another Successful, Fun and Educational Taste Washington

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Congratulations to the Washington State Wine Commission and Visit Seattle for another successful Taste Washington on March 28-31, 2019.

Voted one of USA Today’s 10 Best Wine Festivals, Taste Washington featured four full days of wine and food events with Seattle’s hottest chefs and acclaimed Washington winemakers.

Of note, thousands of people participated in the annual celebration of the excellent wine made in this state. We attended the Grand Tasting, and had a most excellent time.

Appreciate Washington Wine

Every year, we hope that attendees did more than taste the fine wine of Washington. Most importantly, we hope they appreciated it, and the hard work by people in our state’s wine industry – farmers, vineyard managers, 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.

Because 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!)

2019 Taste Washington Standouts (to us)

Most noteworthy, the standouts to us this year were 2012 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, DeLille Cellars 2016 Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon (and under the table, 2014 Grand Ciel), and Two Vintners 2016 Some Days are Diamonds.

 

 

 

 

 

And a special shoutout to Kevin Correll, winemaker of Barrage Cellars, whose new release from The Rocks, 2014 Stone & Vine, was amazing.

Full List of our 2019 Favorites

Not surprisingly, we had a total of 25 favorites, since we are major cheerleaders of Washington state wine. Unfortunately, we could not visit every table, because there were so many other wonderful wineries represented there.

Also, as you can see in this list, we focused our tasting this year on reds — Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Syrah and blends (in alphabetical order).

  • Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2016 Jet Black Syrah ($26)
  • Andrew Will 2016 Cabernet Franc ($35)
  • Avennia 2016 Sestina Cabernet Sauvignon ($75)
  • Barrage Cellars 2014 Stone & Vine Syrah ($60)
  • Barrister Winery 2016 Cabernet Franc ($31)
  • Bartholomew Winery 2015 Couvee Rouge Red Blend ($32)
  • Bledsoe Winery 2016 Flying B Cabernet Sauvignon ($48)
  • Boudreaux Cellars 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($75)
  • DeLille Cellars 2016 Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon ($68)
  • Double Canyon 2016 Horse Heaven Hills Cab Sauvignon ($65)
  • Dunham Cellars 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon XXI ($45)
  • Efeste 2016 Big Papa Cabernet Sauvignon ($62)
  • Eight Bells Winery 2014 David’s Block Red Blend ($38)
  • Fidelitas 2016 Optu Red Bordeaux Blend ($60)
  • Figgins 2015 Estate Red Blend ($85)
  • Hard Row to Hoe 2016 Cabernet Franc ($55)
  • JM Cellars 2016 Cabernet Franc (48)
  • L’Ecole 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
  • Long Shadows 2015 Chester-Kidder Red Blend ($60)
  • Quilceda Creek 2016 CVR Red Blend ($70)
  • Sleight of Hands 2016 The Psychedelic Syrah ($60)
  • Sol Stone 2016 Grateful Red ($32)
  • Two Vintners 2016 Some Days Are Diamonds Syrah ($50)
  • The Walls 2016 Mahana (under the table, new release)
  • Woodward Canyon 2015 Artist Series Cab Sauvignon ($59)

Food, Glorious Food

In addition to pours from more than 235 wineries, tasty bites were served by 65 restaurants. Our favorites (in alphabetical order) were:

  • Almond Roca Dark Chocolate
  • Blazing Bagels Schmears and Lox
  • Blenditarian’s The Deluxe Blended Burger with Mushrooms
  • Castle’s Horse Heaven Hills Banh Mi Tacos
  • Chukar Cherries Chocolate Cabernet Cherries
  • Marcus Whitman Hotel Cream Brûlée with Crab
  • Mt. Townsend Creamery Cheeses

Recommendation

Furthermore, we recommend that you mark your calendars now, so you’ll be sure to experience Taste Washington 2020, and take in the magic of magnificent Washington wines.

Cheers!
Margot and Dave