Washington 2018 reds: top-value wines worth seeking out

It is no secret that Washington State has been synonymous with value in the world of wine. Washington has a bounty of well-priced red wines that over-deliver for the price.

Washington 2018 red wines: full report and top-scoring wines

COMING SOON

Individual analysis by AVA:

Columbia Valley| Horse Heaven Hills | Red Mountain | Walla Walla Valley | Yakima Valley

Compared to the Napa Valley land prices are quite reasonable which helps keep prices relatively low.

Large landowners like Chateau Ste Michelle also are able to lower prices due to land ownership and vineyard contracts, which make their wines some of the best value in the US.

Many of the growing locations are quite remote and not close to cities which also help mitigate lower prices in the wines. Washington is one of the few places in the US that crafts some seriously good Bordeaux-style red wines for under $20.

Wines of the vintage

100 points Quilceda Creek, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 | Quilceda Creek, Galitzine, 2018

99 points

Leonetti Cellar, Reserve, 2018 | Force Majeure, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018

The knockout 2018 vintage in Washington saw outstanding growing conditions that spanned each AVA.

Out of the Columbia Valley, look to the new 2018 Efeste Final Final Red which offers some really good quality for around $30.

Dunham Cellars has always brought value to the Washington wine scene, and its highly complex 2018 Syrah – also from the Columbia Valley – comes in at $45, showing beautiful aromatic and flavours.

The 2018 Avennia Gravura Red shows the classic sagebrush and dark fruit profile of this region for $40 dollars.

At a lower price point, the 2018 Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Red Wine is a deep and concentrated, yet very balanced effort from this fabulous vintage.

Columbia Crest’s H3 series of wines from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA have yielded long-standing value since their inception more than a decade ago. The 2018 H3 Cabernet Sauvignon has great flavour density and a silky texture.

One might not typically find red wines from the Walla Walla Valley posing consistent value but wait until you try the next-level blend of Petit Verdot and Merlot by Figgins. Its 2018 Figlia is a knockout effort that beautifully exemplifies the potential for Washington Petit Verdot with its herbal undertones and massive core of black and blue fruits.

Washington 2018: best-value red wine buys

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