Washington 2018 reds: top-scoring wines from Columbia Valley
Columbia Valley is Washington's largest AVA and produces some of its most well-known and revered wines. Dr Owen Bargreen takes a detailed look at the region and selects his best Columbia Valley 2018 red wines.
Washington’s largest wine growing region, at 4.45 million hectares, is known for its continental high desert climate with hot summer days promoting slow, even ripening, while the cool nights ensure that grapes retain their natural acidity.
This region includes a whopping 99% of wine grapes grown in Washington State, at 23,971 hectares under vine.
Scroll down for the top-scoring Columbia Valley 2018 red wines
The Columbia Valley contains the American Viticultural Regions of Red Mountain, Yakima and Walla Walla Valleys, Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills, Horse Heaven Hills, Snipes Mountain, Lake Chelan, Naches Heights and Ancient Lakes within its borders.
Washington 2018 red wines: full report and top-scoring wines
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Individual analysis by AVA:
Horse Heaven Hills | Red Mountain | Walla Walla Valley | Yakima Valley
Plus: Top-value Washington 2018 reds – the best to buy
With the exception of Lewis-Clark Valley, Puget Sound and Columbia Gorge, all other growing regions in Washington are sub-appellations of the Columbia Valley.
Vineyards are typically planted on predominately south-facing slopes, increasing solar radiation in summer and promoting air drainage in winter.
Riesling, Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon are the most widely planted varieties but more than 30 vinifera varieties are currently planted in this region.
It has a warm, arid climate with a typical growing season of 180 to 200 days with an annual rainfall averaging 15-20cm.
Soil types include silt and sand as well as with wind-blown loess.
Many red wines show typical sagebrush undertones, from the millions of sagebrush plants, alongside dark fruits for Bordeaux varietals.
While typical Bordeaux grapes might be the most popular plantings, Syrah can fare beautifully here as well, many times showing smoky and savoury tones with ripe black fruits.
Overall, this region has produced a range of beautiful wines and a number that provide exceptional value, where Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon have performed particularly well.
These are wines that offer good flavour density and concentration but also evoke the lighter herbal tones that are directly related to the plants grown throughout this large growing region.
Wines from this large AVA might be a touch softer than those grown on Red Mountain, as well as some warmer and less high-elevation sites in the Walla Walla Valley.
Top Columbia Valley producers:
- Quilceda Creek
- Dunham
- Avennia
- Abeja
- Long Shadows
- Chateau Ste Michelle
The top-scoring Columbia Valley 2018 red wines
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Quilceda Creek, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
This is as good as it gets for Washington Cabernet Sauvignon. Right away the gorgeous crème de violette and crème de cassis tones join blackberry...
2018
Quilceda CreekColumbia Valley
Long Shadows, Pedestal Merlot, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
An utterly spectacular showing from this exciting vintage. 82% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, this revels in its Turkish coffee aromas with...
2018
Long ShadowsColumbia Valley
Long Shadows, Pirouette Red Wine, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Hauntingly good, this a stunning new bottling by Philippe Melka. Dense and chewy, once in the month, this takes on a glorious range of flavours...
2018
Long ShadowsColumbia Valley
Long Shadows, Feather Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Roughly half sourced from The Benches vineyard and the Weinbau vineyard the 2018 Feather is just singing even at the three year mark. This displays...
2018
Long ShadowsColumbia Valley
Corliss Estate, Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Chewy, dense and expressing a hedonistic bent, the 2018 Corliss Syrah reveals a plush mouthfeel with outstanding flavour range from bacon fat and smoked brisket...
2018
Corliss EstateColumbia Valley
Rasa Vineyards, Principia Reserve, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Deep and inky in the glass, this Syrah is a dense and refined effort that really could benefit from another year in the bottle. Given...
2018
Rasa VineyardsColumbia Valley
Woodward Canyon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Sourced from their estate vineyard as well as Sagemoor and Champoux Vineyards, this opens with a beautiful bouquet of violets and mocha tones that combine...
2018
Woodward CanyonColumbia Valley
Abeja, Merlot, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Soft and very approachable even after three years, the 2018 Abeja Merlot unveils a silky texture and fantastic sense of mouthfeel. Firm tannins hold in...
2018
AbejaColumbia Valley
Abeja, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
The pure varietal character is evident as sagebrush flavours are deftly woven together with tar, black liquorice and blackberry cordial. Seamless and rich through the...
2018
AbejaColumbia Valley
Avennia, Sestina, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
This outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine reveals anise and sagebrush aromatic tones alongside dark currant jelly and shades of black cherry syrup that all meld together....
2018
AvenniaColumbia Valley
Betz Family, Père de Famille, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Dark fruits march with anise, crème de cassis and tobacco leaf with tar accents on this gorgeous nose. The palate is rich and marvelously viscous...
2018
Betz FamilyColumbia Valley
Efeste, Big Papa, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
The ‘Big Papa’ is an homage to Russell Salvatore Ferrelli, who brought his family from Chicago to Seattle in hopes to make wine. The 2018...
2018
EfesteColumbia Valley
Sleight of Hand Cellars, The Illusionist Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
An outstanding blend of 52% Cabernet Franc with 48% Merlot, done in a very Right Bank style. The aromatics are heady and show serious range...
2018
Sleight of Hand CellarsColumbia Valley
Sleight of Hand Cellars, The Archimage Reserve Red Blend, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Right away the green bell pepper tones scream Petit Verdot, with dark chocolate shavings, anise and crème de cassis aromatics all singing in unison. The...
2018
Sleight of Hand CellarsColumbia Valley
Avennia, Gravura, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Arousing dark florals collide with boysenberry cordial and smoke with herbal undertones on the nose. The palate is lithe and fresh with a pillowy texture...
2018
AvenniaColumbia Valley
DeLille Cellars, D2, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Once on the nose this takes on layers of toasty oak that connect with black cherry cough syrup, blackberry compote, mocha and tar that all...
2018
DeLille CellarsColumbia Valley
Dunham Cellars, Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
A sinfully good Syrah for the price. Smoked meat mingles with milk chocolate, dried herbs and shades of iron on this evocative bouquet. The palate...
2018
Dunham CellarsColumbia Valley
J Bookwalter, Protagonist, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
This utterly sensational Cabernet Sauvignon has small parts Syrah and Petit Verdot blended in (5% each). Just a hint of bell pepper from the Petit...
2018
J BookwalterColumbia Valley
J Bookwalter, Conflict, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Sourced from a host of Columbia Valley vineyards this is Merlot dominant with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon (35%) a just a touch of Petit Verdot...
2018
J BookwalterColumbia Valley
J Bookwalter, Suspense, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Displaying great mid-palate ripeness with a silky mouthfeel, ripe cassis and blackberry compote flavours collide with minerals, red bell pepper and smoky undertones on the...
2018
J BookwalterColumbia Valley
Januik, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Once on the mouth the freshness and finesse beautifully compliment the core of espresso grounds, huckleberry pie and shades of Black Forest cake flavours. This...
2018
JanuikColumbia Valley
L'Ecole No 41, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
A glorious 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, you are immediately struck by the rich sagebrush and anise tones on the nose, with a great wall of dark...
2018
L'Ecole No 41Columbia Valley
L'Ecole No 41, Merlot, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Ripe black plum and chocolate covered dark kirsch aromas dance with baking spices. The palate is refined and elegant with a terrific mouthfeel and outstanding...
2018
L'Ecole No 41Columbia Valley
Rasa Vineyards, Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
One of the great wines made this vintage by Billow Naravane, MW. Needing about an hour to be fully expressive, once aroused this takes on...
2018
Rasa VineyardsColumbia Valley
Two Vintners, Zinfandel, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
This Zinfandel immediately captures heady stewed strawberry and red raspberry cordial tones alongside dried herbs and shades of cloves on the nose. The palate is...
2018
Two VintnersColumbia Valley
Dunham Cellars, Trutina, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
A blend of 52% Merlot which is higher than most vintages, with 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and small parts Petit Verdot and Malbec. Toasty oak and...
2018
Dunham CellarsColumbia Valley
Efeste, Final Final, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
A blend of 55% Syrah and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon that over-delivers for the price. The smoky aromatics from the Syrah really entice as bright red...
2018
EfesteColumbia Valley
Mark Ryan, Long Haul, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
72% Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot. The palate is soft and round, with a silky texture. Layers of...
2018
Mark RyanColumbia Valley
Sparkman Cellars, Holler Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
On the nose the sagebrush and tobacco leaf tones meld nicely with a dusting of cocoa powder and blackberry compote that all sing in unison....
2018
Sparkman CellarsColumbia Valley
Columbia Crest, Grand Estates Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
A good value wine from the Columbia Crest portfolio, the 2018 ‘Grand Estates’ Syrah revels in its smoky tones with ripe blackberry and mocha flavours....
2018
Columbia CrestColumbia Valley
Matthews, Claret, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Showing good brightness with ripe red and dark fruits that connect with gravel and milk chocolate tones on the palate. Enjoy this over the next...
2018
MatthewsColumbia Valley
Matthews, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Firm tannins hold together cassis, wild blackberry and huckleberry flavours on the palate. The coffee ground and damp earthy undertones add to the complexity.
2018
MatthewsColumbia Valley
Chateau Ste Michelle, Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Polished and rich with layers of cassis, tobacco leaf, blackberry and anise on the palate. Medium to full-bodied.
2018
Chateau Ste MichelleColumbia Valley
Chateau Ste Michelle, Borne of Fire Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
This Cabernet Sauvignon unveils ripe and slightly sweet dark currents that mingle with coffee grounds and blackberry tones. Medium-bodied, enjoy this good value wine now.
2018
Chateau Ste MichelleColumbia Valley
Columbia Crest, Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
A great value Cabernet Sauvignon that reveals medium to full-bodied dark cherry, black raspberry and chocolate tones on the palate.
2018
Columbia CrestColumbia Valley
Chateau Ste Michelle, 14 Hands Merlot, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
Overly sweet with black cherry and ripe fig flavours. Drink over the next several years.
2018
Chateau Ste MichelleColumbia Valley
Chateau Ste Michelle, 14 Hands Stampede Red Blend, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
The ‘Stampede’ blend reveals sweetened blackcurrant and blackberry flavours with a touch of chocolate. Enjoy in the short-term.
2018
Chateau Ste MichelleColumbia Valley
Chateau Ste Michelle, 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
This comes across as overly sweet, with forward dark fruits and little in terms of flavour depth or complexity.
2018
Chateau Ste MichelleColumbia Valley
