Taste Washington New Vintage

March 21, 2026

At the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seattle. Very nice event. More of a party than a serious tasting. Some good wines but question some of the wines brought to the event.

Cascade Cliffs

Wines were ok and interesting lineup with Barbera.

  • 2023 Cascade Cliffs Barbera Blood Red – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
    Wood, plum, red currants, spices, cherry and earth. The best of the 3 Cascade wines. (89 pts.)

Mckinley Springs

Another solid Malbec from Washington State.

  • 2024 Mckinley Springs Chenin Blanc – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
    Glasvin Universal. Nothing special with grass, minerals and lemon. A touch of floral notes on the finish. (88 pts.)
  • 2023 Mckinley Springs Malbec – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
    Glasvin Universal. Good overall with cherry, red berries, minerals, dust and earth. Been impressed with Malbecs from Washington this trip. (90 pts.)

Valemar Estates

Clear cut best table with all wines 90 or higher.

  • 2022 Valdemar Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
    Glasvin Universal. Only table with all 91 points or higher. Cherry, wood, plum, chocolate, spices and earth. Very nice terroir driven wine. Love it. (93 pts.)

Fidelitas

Second best table at the event. No bad wines here.

  • 2024 Fidelitas Optu White – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
    Glasvin Universal. Good wine overall. Spice, chalk, lemon, orange peel and minerals. Like it. (90 pts.)
  • 2022 Fidelitas Red Wine – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
    Glasvin Universal. Minerals, earth, spices, blueberries, dust and floral notes. Like this a lot and medium finish. (92 pts.)
  • 2021 Fidelitas Cabernet Sauvignon Blackwood Canyon – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
    Glasvin Universal. Best wine at the tasting. Funk, oak, coffee beans, earth, floral and dark berries. Concentrated wine and complex indeed. 94+ (94 pts.)

Wines of Sagemoor

Big fan of their wines but serve the sparkler warmer.

  • 2021 Wines of Sagemoor Cabernet Sauvignon Southwind Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
    This was very good overall. Wood, earth, cassis, minerals, floral and dark chocolate. Rich wine and nice concentration. Recommended. 92+ (92 pts.)
  • 2022 sagemoor Blanc de Blancs Sagemoor Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
    Glasvin Universal. Served too cold and not very good. Chalk, minerals and floral notes. Lacks fruit and sharpness. Easy pass. (83 pts.)
  • 2021 Wines of Sagemoor Codebreaker – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
    Glasvin Universal. Stick to what you guys do best and that is red wine. Cherry, earth, floral, mint and raspberries. Fruit forward style but not too much. (91 pts.)

Nine Hats

Also all 90 or higher and I like these maybe better than the big brother Long Shadows.

  • N.V. Long Shadows Wineries Chardonnay Nine Hats Blanc de Blancs Brut – USA, Washington
    Glasvin Universal. Ok this reminds me a lot of Roederer Anderson Valley Brut and that is a massive complement and about the same price point. Apple, chalk, spices, lemon, floral and dough. Medium plus finish and good acidity. A real winner in my opinion. (92 pts.)
  • 2021 Long Shadows Wineries Sangiovese Nine Hats – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
    Glasvin Universal. Actually like their second label better than the Long Shadow wines. Dialed back. Cherry, plum, spices, earth and minerals. Medium finish. Solid wine. (90 pts.)

Col Solare

Air matters.

  • 2021 Col Solare – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
    Glasvin Universal. They should have decanted this so two notes on this one. One right away was a bit ripe and featured plum, cherry, spices and earth. Sweetness overload for me which took away several points. (88 pts.)
  • 2021 Col Solare – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
    Glasvin Universal. The power of some air. Cherry, plum, floral, chocolate, spices, earth, wood and minerals. More in balance. Got over an hour of air. Why don’t these producers decant these wines prior to attendees arriving. (91 pts.)

Pursued by Bear

Not my cup of tea.

  • 2024 Pursued by Bear Chardonnay – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
    Glasvin Universal. The pourer asked for honest feedback and I gave it. This wine is boring and flat. Washington does not make good Chardonnay. Boring wine that lacks any obvious fruit along with dust and spice. Short finish. Stick to Rhone Whites and Bordeaux Blancs is my advice. (82 pts.)
  • 2022 Pursued by Bear Syrah Baby Bear – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
    This was a little better than the Chardonnay but not much. Dust, earth, light fruit and spice. Short finish. (84 pts.)

Delille

Great wines in the Cab and Bordeaux White department.

  • 2022 DeLille Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
    Glasvin Universal. Wood, cassis, earth, floral, plum and minerals. Medium plus finish. Very good. (92 pts.)
  • 2023 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
    Glasvin Universal. Probably the most on tracker on these wines by a landslide. Another solid showing and the best white wine at this tasting. Orange peel, lemon, spices, white flowers, lime and dust. Medium plus finish. (93 pts.)
  • 2022 DeLille Cellars Syrah Signature – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
    Glasvin Universal. Simple stuff with light pepper, earth, raspberries and minerals. Shorter finish. (88 pts.)
  • 2014 DeLille Cellars D2 – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
    Glasvin Universal. Ok wine with sour cherries, earth, minerals, dust and floral notes. Probably should have been consumed. (87 pts.)
  • N.V. DeLille Cellars Forget-Me-Not – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
    Glasvin Universal. No offense as love Delille but forget making a sparkling wine and stick to the Chaleur Blanc. Light and not much going on. Spice, light fruit and some chalk. Short finish. (80 pts.)

Passing Time

Passing on another Washington State Chardonnay but the Cab was the star.

  • 2024 Passing Time Chardonnay – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
    Glasvin Universal. Again Washington stop with the Chardonnay. Oregon way better! While acidity was there the fruit was weak. Apple, spices, white flowers and a touch of minerality. Short finish. (85 pts.)
  • 2022 Passing Time Red Wine – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
    Glasvin Universal. Good overall with cassis, plum, earth, and dust. A fun wine overall. (90 pts.)
  • 2023 Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
    Glasvin Universal. Solid wine indeed. Top 3 at this tasting. Plum, Cassis, earth, minerals, baking chocolate and red floral notes. Medium plus finish. Not sure I would pay $100 however. (93 pts.)

AniChe

Interesting wines but I have to pass.

  • 2021 AniChe Cellars Titania – USA, Oregon/Washington, Columbia Gorge
    Glasvin Universal. What a strange sparkler. Floral, dust and earth. Easy pass as not enjoyable at all. (80 pts.)
  • 2022 AniChe Cellars Orlando – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
    Glasvin Universal. Not much going on here. Light fruits, spices and floral notes. Short finish. Some interesting wines for sure. (82 pts.)

Estival

Tucked in the corner of the ballroom and maybe by design.

  • 2024 Estival Sauvignon Blanc – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
    Glasvin Universal. Way in the corner of this tasting. Maybe by design. Boring stuff with mineral water, spice and floral notes. Short finish. (75 pts.)