Day 13: Five Washington Wines You Need In Your Cellar

I’m just back from a week in Washington state. I combined my favorite things, food and wine and together with a good friend who lives there, we managed to have plenty of both and lots of fun.

Being most familiar with California varieties, well actually only those I enjoy, I was in no mans land so I tasted as much Washington wine as I could.

We actually visited Woodinville which was just 30 minutes outside of Seattle. If you go plan to do a day of tasting rooms.

All of the Washington wines I tasted were red, my wine of choice. I prefer big and bold so these are either cabs or there were several red blends I loved.

Here are five of my favorite Washington reds. Enjoy!

1.Sharecropper’s Cabernet Sauvignon 

Columbia Valley

Hints of blueberry, herbs and yes, tire rubber. It’s delish!

2. Watchdog Cabernet Sauvignon

Columbia Valley

Jam and cola, it’s a great smooth sip!

3. NXNW Cabernet Sauvignon

Northwest Columbia Valley

Big and dry, hint of raspberry, and smoke, with Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot it has lots of  structure

I love that the winemakers subscribe to a sustainable farming ethic.

4. Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon Chateau St. Michelle

Wahluke Slope Region

Dark fruit, jammy but rich with flavor making this a full bodied wine

5. 2011 Chaos Red Blend by Darby

Columbia Valley

This wine comes from a boutique winery in Woodinville. They produce just 3,000 case a year.

Currant, blackberry, spice, so silky

2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 22% Petite Verdot, 18% Cabernet Franc