The Jug's Washington Tasting

• 2006 Barnard Griffin Fumé Blanc 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Bright and full of sitrus fruit. Medium bodied. A little fuller then many SB's. Well done, and a great price

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• 2006 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  This was an extremely rich wine. Great fruit supporting all the richness and oak though, and fine acidity. Very nice. 90-92

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• 2003 Kiona Lemberger 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  3/1/08: This was much fuller then I remember it being a month ago. Actually quite enjoyable, and easily worth the $15 price tag. 86
  
  1/26/08Maybe I just don't like Lemberger... This wine seems to be made well, but I still don't like it. Solid nose, with bright red fruits. Lots of cranberries, and tart acidity, on the palate. Maybe a little residual sugar. It's both too sour and too sweet. But maybe that's just lemberger. I am not seeing the 95 points. 83

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• 2006 Hedges Family Estate CMS 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  I'm always impressed with the woderful purity of fruit in these wines, and the juicy acidity. This wine continues in that tradition, with a medium body. The price has been creeping up though. While it's still worth the price, it's no longer the screaming by the case buy it once was.

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• 2005 Hightower Cellars Murray Cuvée 83 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  This was very tight upon opening, but I'm not sure it's going to flesh out. Light-medium bodied, with small red fruits. I'm not a huge fan of these wines, but they are quite popular here. I think it has more to do with the dog. 82-85

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2003 Ethos merlot began this flight, and was not that impressive compared to these two.

• 2003 Whitman Cellars Merlot 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  A year later, and this wine is going strong. Great dark fruits, nice structure, and a full mouthfeel. Outshone the Ethos.

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• 2005 DeLille Cellars Syrah Doyenne 93 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Upon opening this was extremely tight and muted. So I double decanted the sucker, and let it rest in its bottle for a few hours. Good decision. Later that night, the nose was gorgeous on this, with black and blue fruits, a little smoke and some spice. On the palate, this wine was big and beefy, with a huge mouthfeel but very little tannins. Incredibly smooth. Had a beef componant on the mid palate. An excellet wine.

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All these wines double decanted prior to event

• 2005 Soos Creek Artist Series 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Much more fruit forward then I remember the '04. Very nice wine, that held its own with the other wines of this flight. 90-91

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• 2004 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series 91 Points

  USA, Washington

  Huge amounts of fruit and oak. Fantastic nose. This is a big massive wine. 91-93

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• 2005 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills

  This seemed like the best bet to be better in five years. Bristling with power, the Will wasn't busting at the seems like the woodward. Almost refined right now, but plenty enjoyable. 91-94

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