As a lifelong Washington resident, Im glad to see the wines bringing some thunder. Although you didnt seem to be blown away, you were at least giving them some praise, and I have to be happy for that. Im planning on doing a wine trip to Walla Walla or Yakima with my parents this year, so that should be some good times. QOTD: As I am still new to getting into wines and such, I havent tried a ton from this area. I do really like the Chateau St. Michelle Muscat Canelli though.

first comment. live in seattle love the washington wines. love the show as well; keep it up

QOTD - Right now, the Harlequin 2004 Minick Vinyard Syrah is my all-time favorite Washington Wine. A close second would be the Wilridge 2004 Syrah.

QOTD: Sequel!

Gary, please make this episode a classic! Mott, link it up on the sidebar! This is my 2nd time watching this episode, and I think it's a great example of the freshness that GV brings to the table AND a great little peak at what's going on in Washington. As a Seattelite, I LOVE WASHINGTON WINE! Please, vayniacs, give a few a try if you haven't already done so!

Best I had in 2007...? K Vitners Cougar Mountain Syrahhhhhhhhh. For 35 US dollars it was amazing. I'm also a huge fan of Fielding Hills Syrahhhhs. A small boutique with a massive fast growing reputation. Fall Line Red Mountain meritage blends are outstanding. And, of course if you can get a Quilceda Creek, damn,...that is the S!
Syrahhhhhhhhh

Loved the episode, I have to agree with the Chatter creek (their syrah is better). I have many favorites, but if pressed, I would have to say 2001 Northstar Merlot. I adore Sineann Pinot Noir (the vino-seals they use are very elegant) and so is the wine. For big reds- Leonetti (not very affordable anymore).

Best Washington wine has got to be Facelli 2005 Lemberger. Wonderful nose and long tast.

im a viticulture student at washington state university tri city campus. Had a seminar from the head winemaker at pepperbridege(Jean Francois Pellet) last wednesday. He grew up in a swiss family his father a winemaker. He's produced wine in Switzerland, bordeoux, Napa Valley, and Washington presently. New school meets old school Vaynerchuk! Your good people and for the record I agree with the tom Brady referance. We are located in the heart of the columbia valley and wanna give props for washington wine country! I wanna see an episode on cheap columbia valley cabs. bernard Griffin, pepperbridge, seth ryan, hedges (CMS), terra blanca, tamarack cellers (fire house red is fantasticand my future best man is an intern doin the dirty work in the vineyard and cellar). These are the $10-$15 columbia cabs. Synopsis: Visit Washington Wine Country (Via Tri-City) and enjoy life as a vayniac!

Best Washington State merlot and best merlot maker in America is Andrew Will. Try Andrew Will Ciel Du Cheval merlot. It's quite expensive at any where from $60 - $95 a bottle.

My favorite Washington wine is Matthews.
Matthews makes a high end wine that I only know as "Red".
They also make a lower end wine named "Claret".

It is a traditional Bordeaux Blend - or Meritage.

Try it - the 2000 and 2001 blew me away!

You lost me w/the poop - sorry! Anyway, too bad about Chad last weekend. Hopefully he'll be up to playing next week, if not tomorrow. Rutgers 59-0 today.....

QOTD - i dont remember names!!!! jeez. but i dated a guy that went to about 9 years of school at oregon state. lucky i even remember his name....

Big ups for WA state!!! I have a bottle of the L'Ecole '04 Walla Walla Cabernet. I've tasted it before and thought it was quite nice. I guess I didn't know about the frost. But still, I thought it was better than the Columbia Valley. Which is still very good.

QOTD: Long Shadows Feather (oh so good)

Thanks for calling out WA wines. They do indeed rock.

QOTD: As others have said, there are some killers under the radar. Buy them now.

Stevens 424

Stevens BlackTongue Syrah

Anything from Boudreaux Cellars

Watermill Winery

Spring Valley Vineyards (Uriah and Frederick)

Northstar merlots

Bunnell Family Cellars -- Rhone specialist

Sheridan Vineyards L'Orage

Sheridan Syrah

Anything from Owen Roe

But the absolute showstopper is Sineann Block One Cab. Sineann is an Oregon producer that makes this wine from a single block sourced from the Champoux Vineyard in WA State. Ethereal!

Washington wines rock!!! Although I have had great wines form many wineries, the two producers that I buyfutures from every year for the last five are Cayuse and K Vintners. Although there are great Cab Sauvs. & Merlots, this place shines regarding Syrah! Chekc out last month's Wine Spectator for an article onthe region.

Gary, excellent show. I am glad you finally did a Washington State wine show - but you didn't do the wines I sent you months ago (Mark Ryan, Stevens, Boudreaux)! Where is the love, bro? Any way, I got a bottle of the Doyenne a while back and it knocked my socks off! What an interesting and delicious wine!

QOTD: 2004 Mark Ryan Dead Horse and 2001 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

I can dig the Washington State wines, Gary. I have tasted some good stuff coming out of there, but you are right, it is hard to find out here in the Southeast. Great show!

QOTD: Novelty Hill 2004 Syrah.

My favorite WA wine is Andrew Will's 2003 Sorella. We visited the winery today for presentation of new Reds. The Champoux Vineyard 2005 is alreay great, but can't say much for Two Blondes.

It's aittle funny how you're doin this episode on Washington wines and all of us Washingtonians are digging but as of right now Wine Library can not ship out to me any more. I want to buy more G. Help a brotha out.

QOTD: Haven't had many but I did have one killer Sineann Merlot. And Eroica is always good. Great show.

Favorite WA wine of the moment is the Abeja Cellars Reserve Cabernet. Amazing wine.

QOTD: Tyrus Evan Syrah Del Rio Vineyard 2002

My favorite Washington state wine is Chateau Ste Michelle 1999 Meritage-Artisan Series. Puts many similiar California wines to shame, both is price and flavor.

If you like Pepper Bridge for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, definitely try their sister winery Amavi Cellars - they share the same winemaker and also have access to all the estate vineyards, but release a tremendous line of wines.

QOTD: '03 Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon is really stellar (Vanilla Coffee nose). Watch for the Abeja '05 Syrah, liquid candy! Carriage House Cab - any year. '04 Steven's 424. Soo's Creek Artist Series (any year). '04 Bear Ursa (Lance Bear passed earlier this year, really a loss to the Washington Wine Industry). Anything made by DeLille (any year). '03 Whitman Narcissa. Can anyone really pick just one?

Hysterical episode. I have had a few Washington wines over the years but since I've been paying attention about six months ago, the only one I've had is the '06 Chateau St Michelle Dry Rose that Gary tasted on ep. 270. Serious bang for the buck there.

I'm a recent transplant from the midwest to the Columbia valley area. Ok so Washington state is #2 in the U.S. in wine production & 90% of you people never knew about this stuff. I dont know why it's such a secret. I'm the guy in love with dessert wines always looking for German Eiwein. So to answer the QOTD it would be #2 Tera Blanca chenin blanc ice wine and #1 is 2004 Siegerrebe from Bainbridge Island Winery. sweet golden honey my friend.

QOTD - 2008 Poopy Diaper Cab Franc

I'm not really sure what I'm waiting for. I'll get on it.

QOTD

2002 DUNHAM, CABERNET SAUVIGNON (PURCHASED FROM WL)

QOTD: I havta go with Columbia Crest - their 2 vines Merlots and Chardonnays are cheap, but I luv em.

QOTD: Chateau Ste. Michelle Orphelin, Kestrel Co-Ferment Syrah

What Steve B said:

The three "F's" - Frederick, Feather and Forgeron Chardonnay are some of the very best in Washington state.

QOTD: Springl Valley "Uriah" and "Frederick" (Right Bank and Left Bank style blends, respectively), both absolutely magnificent. Also Long Shadows "Feather" (made by Randy Dunn) and Forgeron Chardonnay, a really clean white.

I haven't seen the show yet, I think your server or mine is down. I have read all the comments. Nice to see Matthews and Whitman mentioned. I can't believe how many folks get to taste Quilceda, Leonetti, and Cayuse! Awesome! I would like to mention a couple of wines from Oregon that are in the Walla Walla AVA. One is Le Ecole's Seven Hills 2002 Syrah. Seven Hills is a fantastic vinyard located in Oregon, the other is Zerba an Oregon producer who grows and makes his own Syrah. I suggest his 2003 Estate Syrah. Put your hat on backwards before trying these!

I'm so tired of over-oaked washington red blends!

GV, another great episode.
QOTD - K Vintners "The Creator", first time I had it I was speaking in tongues.
Nick - it is a 60/40 Syrah/Cab

Thanks for doing my home state. My favorite is the Andrake X-Merlot made right here in O-town. Gary, have you heard of this?

I was invited to a comparative tasting of some of Washington's NorthStar Merlots against some of the Prestige Cru wines from St Emilion and Pomerol. As such, I decided to hold off commenting until after the tasting.

I'm not a professional by any stretch of the imagination. I was invited by a friend who had taken a position at St Michelle Wine Estates, the parent company of Northstar, and was one of the only non-industry people there.

The three flights that we tasted were:

1st Flight
2003 NorthStar Columbia Valley Merlot
2003 Chateau Bellevue Mondotte
2003 Chateau Clos Fourtet
2003 Chateau L'Evangile
2003 Chateau Pavie

2nd Flight
2003 NorthStar Walla Walla Valley Merlot
2003 Chateau Cheval Blanc
2003 Chateau La Gomerie
2003 Chateau Magrez-Fombrauge
2003 Chateau Pavie Macquin

3rd Flight
2004 NorthStar Columbia Valley Merlot
2004 Chateau Bellevue Mondotte
2004 Chateau LaFleur Pomerol
2004 Chateau L'Evangile
2004 Chateau Pavie

The tasting was done double blind, and the 2003 and 2004 Columbia Valley Merlot was chosen by the group over the rest. It was definitely made in the old world style, and would have taken someone expecting a fruit bomb by surprise.

The other interesting thing was that in these wines, the aromas and flavors that neophyte oenophiles (including myself) sometimes struggle were amazingly obvious.

QOTD: 2003 NorthStar Columbia Valley Merlot

QOTD- Matthews Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon- expensive but very good

Can't lurk when you're doing my home state.

QOTD: The '03 Chateau St. Michelle Syrah Reserve that we had at our wedding reception last year.