Well I appreciate getting some comped events for Taste Washington Weekend. While that does not influence my reviews of the wines or the venues it is nice to get some benefit with the 40 hours of time writing up notes, attending events, etc.
The notebook fell apart.
Friday Night: Taste Washington New Vintage. This was a well run event with good food overall however not enough wineries attended. Hosted by the Lotte Hotel Seattle this was a very impressive property with a nice layout for the event. It was more of a party crowd than a serious wine geek crowd and that is fine however some really good wines at this event with the highlight being Nine Hats. Other than Gravel Bar I did not find a better value at the whole week I was in Washington. Grade: B.
Saturday Morning: The Seminars. Well I personally hate listening to people talk for two hours so I went to all 3 and sampled the wines. The best was The Shape of Syrah followed by the one I signed up for The Wines That Inspired Us and a distant last was The Fresh Factor which I would be upset if I paid $20 to attend it. Grade: A to D-
Top Wines from the 3 Seminars were all from Syrah & Inspired Us
- 2021 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah Foothills Reserve – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Glasvin Universal. One of the best wines I tasted today and that would be well over 100. Funk, rocks, white pepper, earth, minerals and tar. Classic Reynvaan style and love it! At the Shape of Syrah Event at Taste of Washington. (95 pts.) Syrah - 2022 Saviah Cellars Syrah The Funk Estate – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Glasvin Universal. This was showing really well today with some funk, spices, tar, black pepper, dust and floral notes. Medium finish. Like it a lot. The Shape of Syrah at Taste Washington. (94 pts.) Syrah - 2018 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Glasvin universal. Wow! Honey, apricots, flint, spice, dried oranges and flowers. Medium plus. Outstanding and seek and find. (94 pts.) Inspired - 2022 Dusted Valley Vintners Syrah Tall Tales Stoney Vine Vineyard Walla Walla Valley – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Glasvin universal. Smoked meats, black pepper, spices, rock, blueberries and tar. Medium plus finish and really flavorful. (93 pts.) Inspired - 2017 Cadence Bel Canto Cara Mia Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
Glasvin universal. Solid again. Bramble, cherry, earth, rose petals, pepper and blue currants. Medium plus finish. Holding up well. (93 pts.) Inspired - 2021 Liminal Winery Syrah High Canyon Series WeatherEye Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
Glasvin Universal. This was showing really well at the shape of Syrah seminar in Seattle. Dark currants, dust, earth, tar, minerals and spices. Medium plus finish. Bigger style for sure but I like it. (93 pts.) Syrah - 2022 Damsel Cellars Syrah Medusa Discovery Vineyard – USA, Washington
Glasvin Universal. White pepper, spices, blueberries, earth, tar and underbrush. Very nice showing at the Taste of Washington the Seminars. The Shape of Syrah. (93 pts.) Syrah
Saturday Afternoon: Grand Tasting Day 1
Well both Grand Tasting days were outstanding and well worth the money. The VIP Lounge upstairs was a nice touch and some really good wines including the 2020 Quilceda Creek Cabernet which was outstanding and balanced unlike the 2021 the next day. Here is the entire day 1. Grade A-
Sunday Afternoon: Grand Tasting Day 2
Well the weather both days was perfect and sunny which was better than earlier in the week. Day 2 was even better than day 2 with many wineries offering wines not on the listing. Amazing event and loved every minute. Worth the $280 I paid on the final day! Grade A+
Top 10 from both weekend days.
2009 Saviah Cellars Syrah The Funk Estate – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (3/22/2026) Taste Washington Grand Tasting Day 2 (Lumen Field, Seattle): Glasvin Universal. Revisited this wine later in the day and declared wine of the Taste Washington Event. While not quite 97 for me it is really close. Stone, white pepper, underbrush, funk, roasted meats, blueberries, cherry and violets. This is a showstopper and what Walla Walla Syrah is all about. 96.5 (96 points) 2022 Pášxa Syrah River Rock Vineyard – USA, Oregon, The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater (3/22/2026) Taste Washington Grand Tasting Day 2 (Lumen Field, Seattle): Glasvin Universal. Top 3 wines at Taste Washington for sure. Wow! Rocks, white pepper, tar, roasted meat, flowers, earth and minerals. Medium plus finish. Outstanding quality. (96 points) 2023 Rôtie Cellars Northern Blend – USA, Oregon, The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater (3/22/2026) Taste Washington Grand Tasting Day 2 (Lumen Field, Seattle): Glasvin Universal. Top 10 alert at Taste of Washington. This is on of the best vintages of this wine I have tasted. Savory wine with stone, tar, black pepper, dark currants, floral and roasted meats. Medium to long finish. Highly recommend. (95 points) 2006 Côte Bonneville DuBrul Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley (3/21/2026) Taste Washington Grand Tasting Day 1 (Lumen Field, Seattle): Glasvin Universal. Top 10 at Taste Washington! Congrats. Funk, earth, spices, blue currants, coffee beans and minerals. Wow has this aged beautifully. Love it! 95+ (95 points) 2021 Sleight of Hand Syrah Spiders from Mars – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (3/21/2026) Taste Washington Grand Tasting Day 1 (Lumen Field, Seattle): Glasvin Universal. Top 10 Taste of Washington Award winner from 3 Day. This was rocking and features, stone, tar, white pepper, roasted meats, cherry and dark currants. A touch of smoke on the medium plus finish. Outstanding effort and I am not a label guy but this one rocks! (95 points) 2021 Watermill Winery Syrah Hallowed Stones Syrah – USA, Oregon, The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater (3/21/2026) Taste Washington Grand Tasting Day 1 (Lumen Field, Seattle): Glasvin Universal. Top 3 wines tasted today at Taste Washington. Black pepper, spices, earth, floral, stone and tar. Medium plus finish. Need to buy some of these for sure! (95 points) 2014 Betz Family Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (3/22/2026) Taste Washington Grand Tasting Day 2 (Lumen Field, Seattle): Glasvin Universal. Well thank you Betz for the under the table at Taste Washington Event. Showing beautifully. Cherry, plum, spices, wood, earth, minerals and dust. So elegant and drinking well. Awesome. (94 points) 2023 Dossier Wine Collective Index – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (3/22/2026) Taste Washington Grand Tasting Day 2 (Lumen Field, Seattle): Glasvin Universal. Excellent with cassis, earth, floral, cherry, dust and gravel. Medium plus finish. Outstanding quality for sure. (94 points) 2022 Pášxa Grenache River Rock Vineyard – USA, Oregon, The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater (3/21/2026) Taste Washington Grand Tasting Day 1 (Lumen Field, Seattle): Glasvin Universal. Wow is this good and would even better over time. Raspberries, perfume, white pepper, dust, violets, earth and smoke on the finish. Long and love this wine. 94+ (94 points) 2023 Dusted Valley Vintners Syrah Tall Tales Stoney Vine Vineyard Walla Walla Valley – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (3/21/2026) Taste Washington Grand Tasting Day 1 (Lumen Field, Seattle): Glasvin Universal. Even better than the 22. With menthol, roasted meats, stone, earth, dust and blue currants. Medium finish. Get some. (94 points) Posted from CellarTracker |
Well thanks to Taste Washington and vacation timing for my real job to be able to attend this. Will for sure be back next year.
