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Columbia Valley Wines

Spanning across the central and southern areas of Washington State lies the Columbia Valley Wine Region. It is the state’s largest AVA, covering nearly one-third of the state’s landmass. The wines of the region have been described as having the potential to combine the structure and finesse of the Old world wines with the approachable fruit and ripeness of the New World style. Our Columbia Valley Wine Ratings illustrate the improvement in quality of these wines over the last decade or so. The main white grape varietals grown in the region are Chardonnay and Riesling which are discernible by their vibrant fruit and crisp acidity. The red varietals are predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a recent increase in Syrah particularly in the Columbia Valley sub region Walla Walla. It was the Merlot craze of the 1990s that sparked the growth of the Columbia Valley; however, it is the lush texture and concentrated berry fruit of all the red wines that have sustained its success according to our Columbia Valley Wine Reviews.

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Charles Smith 2006 Royal City Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))

Price $80

In 2005 Charles Smith introduced three high-end Syrahs. In 2006 Smith has made a wine better than each of these, by combining them into a single wine—Royal City Syrah. Rich scents of purple fruit, smoked meat, cedar, lead pencil, moist earth and so on proclaim a wine with genuine gravitas. There is nothing missing, from the first sniff to the last sip, the wine… — P.G. (12/1/2009)

Cayuse 2008 Bionic Frog Syrah (Walla Walla Valley)

Price $80

Score Chasers: USA 2011

Initially a rather subdued Frog; as if it has been tamed down. Then, suddenly, There’s a plush core of blackberry fruit, and the classic Cayuse funkiness is there, drenched in liquid rocks and cured meat and drying tannins. It’s all in proportion and a fine reflection of the steely vintage. As it opens gracefully you discover that it is a stunningly refined Frog… — P.G. (11/1/2011)

Charles Smith 2007 Royal City Stoneridge Vineyard Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))

Cellar Selection
Online Exclusive

Price $140

Top 100 Cellar Selections 2011

Score Chasers: USA 2011

Depth and texture dominate; it’s all whole-cluster fruit, aged in new barriques. This fine follow-up to the 2006 features a little more delicacy, with a lovely floral component and some earth. The depth is astonishing in the weight and texture and the way the wine plays out across the palate. The finish never ends: a glorious mix of black cherry, earth, herb, spice… — P.G. (2/1/2011)

Quilceda Creek 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA))

Editors' Choice

Price $125

The flagship wine from Quilceda Creek offers exotic scents of plum, cassis, loam, coffee and pine sap, a rich and evocative blend. The wine delivers all that is promised and more; it is deep and dense with flavor, polished, focused and persistent. Vanilla, espresso, fine tannins, luscious acids and cascading fruits. — P.G. (2/1/2012)

Pirouette 2008 Red Wine (Columbia Valley (WA))

Cellar Selection

Price $50

A stunning Pirouette—63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 9% Cab Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Full and magnificently rich, it is loaded with dense and thrilling fruit flavors of black cherry and cassis. A streak of iron and a hint of citrus keep the wine evolving through a long, beautifully balanced finish. Retasted after being open for 24 hours, the wine was as fresh… — P.G. (2/1/2012)

Leonetti Cellar 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley (WA))

Editors' Choice
Online Exclusive

Price $85

Enthusiast 100 2011

Score Chasers: USA 2011

Dense, aromatic, layered and rich, this wine explodes from the glass with scents and flavors of concentrated berries, cassis, black cherry, and more. The vines have reached a mature stage that amplifies the fruit and keeps the generous barrel flavors in perfect balance. The barrel notes roll on in a chorus of toasty accents, and the finish is as good in the last… — P.G. (9/1/2011)

Cayuse 2008 En Cerise Vineyard Syrah (Walla Walla Valley)

Online Exclusive

Price $70

A subtle, complex, utterly distinctive mix of flavors, with opening streaks of butter cookie, then mushroom broth, tightly wound berry fruit, earthy coffee grounds and even darker streaks of espresso and smoke and licorice. It is deeply layered with flavors that just keep piling on. Amazing wine. — P.G. (11/1/2011)

Charles Smith 2007 Heart Stoneridge Vineyard Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))

Cellar Selection
Online Exclusive

Price $120

This initially tastes like young fruit, herbal, with a lot of stem and flower flavors, but with some heat at 16% alcohol. Nonetheless it’s delicious, compact, enormously fruity, focused and flat out amazing. A perfect mix of flesh, fruit, earth, and typicity from this unique vineyard. — P.G. (2/1/2011)

Most Reviewed Sub Regions [All]

Columbia & Walla Walla Valleys Columbia Valley (WA) Horse Heaven Hills Lake Chelan Rattlesnake Hills Red Mountain Snipes Mountain District Wahluke Slope Walla Walla Valley Walla Walla Valley (WA) Yakima Valley

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2008 John Tyler Bacigalupi Vineyard

A wonderful wine that’s rich and delicious. The raspberry and cherry…

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