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Washington

Washington State, with 59,000 vineyard acres, is the second largest producer of wine in the United States. Wine was made in the state as early as the mid-19th century, but Prohibition and, later, restrictive state laws killed the wine making business in the 20th century until the 1960s, when laws changed and large and small producers started making wines. An influential horticulturalist and agriculture professor name Walter J. Clore studied various grape clones in the 1960s to find the best ones for Washington, and by the 1970s Yakima Valley, Walla Walla and Columbia Valley had all become important grape growing areas. The best vineyards in the state are east of the Cascade Mountain range, where hot dry summers and cold winters are conducive to successful viticulture. Numerous grape varieties are grown, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc at the head of the list.

2018 Quilceda Creek Palengat Red

WA  97   
JD  97   
JS  96   
WE  96   

2005 Cayuse Armada Syrah

Lightly elevated cork

WS  92   

2005 Cayuse Armada Vineyard God Only Knows

Lightly depressed cork; light label condition issue

WA  96   
ST  92   

2016 Cayuse Armada Vineyard God Only Knows

Label condition issue

JD  96   
WA  95+    
JS  95   
WS  94   
ST  94   
CT  92.6   

2000 Cayuse Cailloux Vineyard Syrah

Lightly depressed cork

WS  92   

2001 Cayuse Cailloux Vineyard Syrah

Capsule condition issue

WS  93   
ST  91   

2001 Cayuse Cailloux Vineyard Syrah

Light capsule condition issue

WS  93   
ST  91   

2005 Cayuse Cailloux Vineyard Syrah

Lightly elevated cork

WA  97   
ST  94   
WS  93   

2006 Cayuse En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah

Lightly elevated cork

WA  98   
WS  93   
ST  92+    

2008 Cayuse En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah

Lightly depressed cork

WA  98   
WS  94   

2020 Cayuse En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah

Light label condition issue

JS  95   

2006 Cayuse En Chamberlin Vineyard The Widowmaker Cabernet Sauvignon

WA  98   
ST  92   

2014 Cayuse En Chamberlin Vineyard The Widowmaker Cabernet Sauvignon

WA  96-98   

2012 Horsepower Vineyards Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache

WA  97-99   

2005 Leonetti Cellar Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Light label condition issue

WS  92   

1998 Leonetti Cellar Walla Walla Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

WA  96   
ST  93   
WS  92   

1998 Leonetti Cellar Walla Walla Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Very top shoulder fill

WA  96   
ST  93   
WS  92   

2006 Leonetti Cellar Walla Walla Reserve Red

WA  97   
ST  95+    
WS  93   

2006 Leonetti Cellar Walla Walla Reserve Red

Lightly elevated cork

WA  97   
ST  95+    
WS  93   

2008 Leonetti Cellar Walla Walla Reserve Red

Lightly elevated cork

WA  97   
ST  94   
WS  93   

2018 Betz Family Winery Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon

WA  96+    
JD  94-96+    

2016 Delille Cellars Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon

JD  97   
WA  96   
ST  95   

2012 Abeja Merlot

3-bottle Lot

2005 Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

WS  95   
WS  #1 of 2009   

2005 Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

WS  95   
WS  #1 of 2009