Secret Crush

23 wineries from Yakima Valley showed at this event. I only tasted 20.

Started at the end and worked backwards. Did not taste any white wines. Prosser Wine Company not present.

• 2005 Wilridge Nebbiolo di Klipsun Klipsun Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Pinot noir with a bite! I like this light Italian red. Strawberry, earth and some pepper.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Wilridge Syrah Elephant Mountain Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Rattlesnake Hills

  WOW! Spicey and firm tannins. Black currant with serious pepper and spice. Nose is incredible! Best wine they have here.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Wilridge Merlot Klipsun Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Amazing Merlot. Spicy almost like a WA Syrah. Excellent integration, with blackberry, coffee and pepper. Never had a Merlot like this before.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• NV Wineglass Cellars Capizimo 82 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Smooth but obviously a mix of varietals and vineyards. Fruit forward. Tasty, but not my style.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Wineglass Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elerding Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Amazing Cab. Smooth with nice tannin integration. Other wines from this winery not so smooth.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• NV Two Mountain Winery Hidden Horse Red Table Wine 82 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Easy drinking red, but a bit on the jammy side. Surprisingly integrated, but too much fruit for me. Like drinking fruit juice instead of wine...

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Two Mountain Winery Syrah 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Spicy! Amazing terroir, with plenty of spice and heat. Integrated perfectly, so you don't even notice the alcohol. Nice, but needs some time.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2006 Thurston Wolfe Dr. Wolfe's Family Red 82 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Young and very very fruity. Not representative of the Yakima Valley, from what I've tasted. Easy drinking, but not alone. Needs pizza or easy-eating beef.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2006 Thurston Wolfe Zinfandel Howling Wolfe 92 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills

  Wow! Not a Zin. At all. More spicy Syrah than Zin, IMO. Great flavor, without the jammy fruit of a typical Zin.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Tefft Cellars Merlot 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Huge tannins for a Merlot. Very dry. Smooth on the palate however, with nice raspberry fruit.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Terra Blanca Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Intense, big tannins, but smooth and very well integrated. Nose of flowers and cherry, with a bit of wood. Black currant, and rich cherry flavors on the palate with a long long finish of fruit and chocolate. This is good stuff!

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Terra Blanca Syrah 91 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Rich, luscious, mouth-coating, with deep dark fruit and pepper. Spicy nose, big fruit on the palate and a long finish of chocolate and blackberry.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Terra Blanca Malbec 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Spicy with lots of fruit. Not a huge Malbec fan, so this one wasn't as special to me. Interesting pairing at tasting event: Peppercorn Chocolate. Yowza!

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Sagelands Merlot Four Corners 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Nice nose of chocolate and spice, raspberry fruit on the palate with a bit of bitterness on the finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Sagelands Cabernet Sauvignon Four Corners 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Great fruit - cherries and blueberries. Some caramel and/or vanilla in the finish. Smooth drinking.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Sagelands Malbec Columbia Valley 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Decently spicy, smooth tannins, ample fruit. Again, not a fan of Malbec on its own, but an enjoyable wine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Milbrandt Vineyards Merlot Traditions 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Very sweet, dense Merot. Decent fruit on the palate: blackberry and blueberry are most prevalent. One of the biggest Merlots I've tasted.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Milbrandt Vineyards Syrah 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Pepper, spice, dark, dark berry, and a hint of coffee and chocolate. Very nice.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Milbrandt Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Very nice integration of fruit, alcohol, acidity and tannins. Black cherry with a bit of pepper on the nose, with nice cherry flavors attacking the palate. Smooth drinking, with a bit of tannic dryness on the finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Kiona Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Red Mountain 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Excellent cab! Nice cherry on the nose, with a hint of spice (cinnamon?). Deep black cherry flavors, and a long finish with a touch of heat. Tannins bounce around the tongue, adding a bit of dryness.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Kiona Sangiovese Estate Reserve 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Sweet red. Smooth, deep flavors of strawberry and violets.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Kiona Syrah Red Mountain 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Nice nose of black pepper, coffee and blueberry fruit. Palate is attacked by big peppery berries. Finish is sligtly bitter, with coffee and chocolate.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Côte Bonneville Carriage House DuBrul Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Nose of black cherry, a hint of spice. Black currant and berry fruit flavors with a smooth finish that is quite long and enjoyable. No heat.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Côte Bonneville DuBrul Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Amazing integration! Everything worked in this cab. The nose was sweet berries with some toffee and spice. Flavors of blackberry, blueberry and chocolate. Incredibly long finish that made me want to take another sip. Spices, coffee and chocolate with just a hint of heat. Lovely! Wine of the Tasting for me.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Kestrel Merlot 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  BIG Merlot! Flavors of cherries and tobacco, some spiciness that was quite unexpected, and a decent finish with smooth tannins.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Kestrel Syrah 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  White pepper and chocolate on the nose, with flavors of cola, pepper, and blueberry. Finish was spicy and short, with a bit of heat. Nice wine however, and I wanted more.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Kestrel Cabernet Franc Winemaker's Select Olsen Estate Vineyard 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Smooth, nice integration, ample fruit. Nice nose, but too much heat. Fruit is definitely blackberries, with some coffee.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Had some food and then attacked the A-K section of the tasting. Did not taste any white wines. Barnard Griffin Winery and Chandler Reach Vineyard not present.

• 2005 Kana Workingman's Red 80 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Very jammy, too much fruit. Smells like grape Koolaid. Next!

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Kana Dark Star 83 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  BIG tannins. Needs serious time in a decanter, or big food to tone down the tannins. Maybe another year or three in the bottle would help too. Nice fruit, but the tannins made me feel like I took a mouthfull of alum. Too young, needs time.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Kana Syrah Ciel du Cheval Vineyard 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Young Syrah. Needs more time, but showing nicely already. This could be a great wine in a couple years. Blackberry and pepper with some chocolate on the palate. Already coats the mouth. Tannins were a bit oppressive, but not too bad. Was a freshly opened bottle, so that could have something to do with it.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Kana Ciel du Cheval Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Nice Bordeaux blend, with raspberry and cherry flavors. Smooth tannins made it very easy to drink.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Hogue Cellars Merlot Genesis 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Nice wine, with well-integrated tannins, flavors of black cherry and wood, and a semi-long finish of blueberry pie and chocolate.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Hogue Cellars Syrah Terroir 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Nice and spicy! I love Yakima Valley Syrahs. Pepper and chocolate mix with blueberry, currant and oak.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Hightower Cellars Merlot 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Coffee and fruit on the nose, with some strawberry, coffee and apple(!) flavors. Finish is decent, and mostly mineral and berry with a touch of alcohol heat.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Hightower Cellars Murray Cuvée 82 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Interesting nose of green peppers and fig. Somewhat sweet berries with a hint of spice and a finish that is rather short, and ripe with green.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Goose Ridge Vineyards Syrah 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Very spicy. Lots of pepper and earth here. Nice integration with tannins at the edge of drying your mouth. Big black cherry notes, with some chocolate and cola on the finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Goose Ridge Vineyards Vireo 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Very nice wine! Fruit-forward, but not jammy. I like the black pepper and chocolate hints on the nose. Fruit hits you with blackberry, black currant and blueberry pie. I need to buy a bottle or two of this.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Fidelitas Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  A big wine that could use some food to tame it. Tannins are well-integrated, but dry the mouth a bit. A hint of spice and chocolate on the nose, with some serious cherry and blackberry fruit. Finish is nice, a bit dry, yet making my mouth water for another taste.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Fidelitas Optu Columbia Valley 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Finely integrated Bordeaux blend. Tannins are impressively smooth, with no hint of alcohol heat on the nose or finish. Fruit is all cherry. Finish has some wood, I'm thinking cedar or pine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Eaton Hill Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Konnowac Vineyard 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Black currant, fig, a hint of pepper. Smooth tannins, nice integration, decent finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Eaton Hill Winery Cabernet Franc 82 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Not as nice as their Cab Sauv. Lacking the character and integration. Fruity, but not overly so. Spicy, but again, not overly so. Meh.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Desert Wind Vineyard RUAH 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope

  This bottle had been open most of the night. Much better than my first try 4 months ago. Decently integrated tannins, backed by strong blackberry and black cherry fruit.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Desert Wind Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope

  I like this better than the Ruah. Plenty of tannins but not overdrying. A hint of spiciness, with black currant fruit on the palate. Finish is nice, but not very long.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Desert Wind Vineyard Syrah Desert Wind Vineyard 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope

  Young. Needs some time to settle down, I think. A bit green, and too much spice to really get a lot of fruit. Maybe a year or two in the bottle will make a difference.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2006 Chinook Wines Cabernet Franc 81 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Definitely not my style of wine. Decent fruit, but just not what I look for in a wine. My palate was shot by this point anyway...

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• NV Chinook Wines Red Table Wine 83 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Light body, smooth drinking red blend. Couldn't get the mix of varietals, but it sure went down easy. This would have been a good wine to end the night on, but I had one more winery...

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• NV Airfield Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Runway Vineyard 80 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  The first Non-Vintage Cabernet I've tried. Not bad, but not that good either. Last winery of the night, palate is shot...

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2006 Airfield Estates Syrah Reserve 83 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Just bottled. Obviously needs some time. Decent spice and flavor, but still disjointed. Flavors were not integrated enough to be enjoyable, but this has some promise with time.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Palate is shot at this point. Not enough food or chocolate to satisfy all tasters.