K&L Washington Tasting

An interesting tasting of some Washington wines.

Both decent, but nothing spectacular.

• 2009 L'Ecole No. 41 Chardonnay 83 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Fresh nose, buttery; palate medium-bodied, buttery, a bit hollow but decent, simple. 83

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

• 2010 Buty Chardonnay Conner-Lee Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  More complexity on the nose; balanced, CA-style, but good, full-bodied; pleasant finish with good acidity. 88-89

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

I thought most of these were just average to good and were perhaps a bit overpriced compared to what you could find in certain European regions (Loire, Alsace, Hungary, etc). I did think that the Andrew Will and the Reynvaan Syrah were both excellent and worth the tariff.

• 2004 Quilceda Creek Red Wine Columbia Valley 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Nose a bit ripe, red fruits; palate has decent ripe fruit but lacks acidity and freshness/vivacity... a bit flabby overall. Poor value.

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

• 2009 Buty Merlot/Cabernet Franc 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Aromatic nose with some floral, red fruits, perfumed; palate a tad flabby but good fruit, red, raspberry, strawberry; short-medium finish. 89-90

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

• 2009 L'Ecole No. 41 Red Wine Columbia Valley 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Nose is subtle but fruity; big wine, structured tannins, could use a few years but may not have the fruit to last. 86-87

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

• 2008 Spring Valley Vineyard Uriah 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Nice complexity with hints of smoke, good fruit; structured but plush, approachable, good balance and fruit.

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

• 2008 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Lower East 91 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Complex, strawberry, spice/anise, nice lift; great balance, fruit, structured but not too much, fresh and medium-bodied; finish medium-length. Excellent. 91

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

• 2008 Andrew Will Two Blondes Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Floral, spicy, fruity; dense, full-bodied, structured but plush, excellent balance and fruit. 92

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

• 2009 Descendants Liegeois Dupont Cuvée Marcel Dupont Flawed

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Some VA, spicy red fruit. Structured, not enough fruit on the palate?, Hard to evaluate, seems at least slightly flawed, otherwise 83-84 points.

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

• 2009 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah In the Rocks 92 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Fabulous nose, jumps out of the glass, but of brett/funk, but then fades relatively quickly; excellent complexity on the palate, very nice overall. 91-92

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

This is the second time I've had this. A very good wine that I would drink, but it doesn't pass the threshold for me, which is whether this wine is more pleasurable or significantly cheaper than good sauternes.

• 2008 Kiona Yakima Valley Ice Wine 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Pear, white fruits, nice; good acidity but lacks complexity and density of fruit common in Canadian icewines, lacks piercing acidity present in german wines; finish is very short, overall a bit sugary and lacking complexity. 87-88

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

Interesting overall, but Washington is not a region that I will be investing heavily, at least for now.