The top red wines from Washington state seem to sit on the fence these days, straddling the border of Bordeaux and Rhone. On one side, there are benchmark cabernet sauvignons showing real structure, subtlety and class. Supple and fruity merlot, fresh and racy cabernet francs and layered, complex Bordeaux blends are also more common propositions. On the other side, you can see Rhone's clout, with a significant cut in the vineyards.
The quality of syrah and southern Rhone varieties and blends in the state has been rising rapidly over the last decade. The spicy, vividly tangy characters from the best of these wines also tick the box on transparent purity, flavor essentials and texture rather than extraction and heftiness, providing consumers with opportunities to pursue authenticity and drinkability from the glass.
This year, we have rated close to 500 wines from Washington, and the report will be published very soon. Cabernet sauvignon and syrah once again top our ratings list, with some grenache and Rhone varietals following closely. Cabernet franc and malbec are showing very well, too. For the white, riesling, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc are the most significant varietals in terms of the plantation, although it’s still difficult to pick an absolute favorite varietal in a region where the dry growing season is flooded with sunlight. The cool nights also give it a wide diurnal temperature fluctuation, helping retain freshness and acidity in the final wine. With around 23,000 hectares of vines covering at least 70 varietals statewide, Washington's diversity is the real deal.
