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WINE REVIEWS & RATINGS

washington state Reds

1990 to 2002

2003 & Beyond

Washington State Facts

2003 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington (3/4/2010)
Dark purple. Nose reveals plum, earth, pencil lead and cherry. A super complex palate with pencil lead, plum, cherries, spice and black pepper. A multi layered finish and over a minute. It also reveals a buttery quality in the finish. Decanted 10 hours and I will revisit this wine in a few years. (97 pts.)

Washington State Learning Center

History

*The first grapes were planted in 1825 at Fort Vancouver by the Hudson’s Bay Company

*1860 grapes were planted in Walla Walla

*The early 20th Century saw large growth

*1960s showed the first major growth by Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Winery

*Andre Tchelistcheff was brought in by Chateau Ste. Michelle to transform the winery

*In 1999 the Washington Wine Commission created a body to control the industry called

the Washington State Quality Alliance

*Today wineries in Washington State are a $3 billion dollar industry and offer world

class wines

*In 1987 46,000 tons of grapes were harvested to 2006 when 120,000 tons were

harvested.

The Regions

Columbia Valley- the largest

*An AVA in 1984

*The land mass of the Columbia Valley Region is one third of all of Washington State

*99% of all wine is from this region

*The Columbia Valley contains the following AVAs: Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, Walla Walla, Horse Heaven Hills, Rattlesnake Hills and Wahluke Slope

The 2 AVAs not in this massive land mass are Columbia Gorge and Puget Sound

*A lot of wine is label Columbia Valley

Walla Walla

*An AVA in 1984

*1850s first vines came in the region from Italian immigrants

*1950 the first bonded winery after prohibition was founded by the Pesciallo family called Blue Mountain Vineyards

*1977 Leonetti was bonded and is one of the top producers in Washington

*In 2008 there were 100 wineries and over 1,800 acres of vines (small area)

*Wineries: Cayuse, L’Ecole 41, Leonetti, Spring Valley Vineyards, Waterbrook Winery, Tamarack Cellars, Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge Winery

Yakima Valley

*An AVA in 1983 (the states first)

*60 wineries and 12,000 vineyard acres

*Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are the main grapes

*On average only 8 inches a rain a year

*Wineries include Cote Bonneville, Kestrel, Kiona, Meek Family Estates, Sheridan Vineyards, Sagelands, Snoqualmie, Wineglass (not related)

*DuBrul Vineyard is one of the best vineyard sites in Washington

Horse Heaven Hills

*An AVA in 2005

*In 1972 Don and Linda Mercer planted the first vines

*9,000 acres (one third of all acres in Washington)

*27 different vineyards

*2005 Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year in 2009 and sourced from the region

*Main grape are Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon

*Best vineyards are Champoux, Alder Ridge, Horse Heaven Hills Vineyard, Canoe Ridge and

*Only six wineries called the AVA home

Red Mountain

*An AVA in 2001

*700 acres of vines

*15 wineries with the appellation

*Grapes are Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec

*Dessert like with only 5 inches of rain a year

*The source of grapes for the 100 point Quilceda Creek was (2002, 2003, and 2005) are from the vineyards: Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, Taptiel and one site from Horse Heaven Hills

*Vineyards include Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, Taptiel, Kiona, Grand Reve

Wahluke Slope

*An AVA in 2006

*5,200 acres of vines

*Vineyards Indian Wells (Chateau Ste. Michelle) is the most famous

*Not a top AVA

*Grapes are Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling and Chardonnay

Rattlesnake Hills

*An AVA in the Yakima Valley

Puget Sound

*An AVA in 1995

*1,600 acres