55+ wines reviewed below and in the database, including the latest from Andrew Januik, Cimento, Cloudlift, Dahlman, Dusted Valley, Ethos, Idilico, Januik, La Biblioteca, Long Shadows, LucidWild. North Valley, Novelty Hill, Pomum, Real Wine, Samā, Sex, Walla Walla Vintners, and WeatherEye.
The 2024 Novelty Hill Maidenhair is unlike anything that the winery has done to date. A blend of Sémillon (57%) and Sauvignon Blanc from Stillwater Creek and Boushey vineyards, it was aged in cocciopesto egg. This brings components of both concrete and amphora. “Everybody on the winemaking team has been excited about this project for years,” says winemaker Andrew Januik.
The reviews below include an exceptional set of wines from Cimento. The micro-producer is located in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater.
WeatherEye’s estate offerings continue to impress. The wines are currently very well-priced relative to their level of quality.
Samā is a new producer focusing on Rhône varieties. The wines are well-worth a look. For those in the western Washington area, check out Samā’s tasting room in Redmond.
At $25, the Walla Walla Vintners 2023 Woven Fields Red Blend is definitely on the list of best Northwest values right now. Another would be the North Valley 2023 Classic Chardonnay Willamette Valley ($35). See other wines I recently noted here.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. If you’re looking for a consistently delicious bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, look no further than Januik’s Columbia Valley offering. Januik’s Cold Creek Vineyard Chardonnay, meanwhile, continues to be a benchmark for this variety from the Columbia Valley.
Without further ado.
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At Northwest Wine Report, all scores come from blind tastings in varietal/style sets. Read more about this site’s process for rating and reviewing wines. See the Northwest Wine Report rating system and special designations. Read about how to interpret scores. See a list of recently reviewed producers.
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Sean,
You are an important voice for Washington State wines, perhaps just as important as the Commission itself.
I sincerely hope that everyone reading your Northwest Wine Report will subscribe and/or resubscribe with auto renewal.
We do not want to see your publication suffer the same fate as many local newspapers and other worthwhile media outlets.
I’m writing this because it’s always better to have other people make your case rather than you having to solicit support.
I hope that other subscribers will do the same.
Keep on writing !
Andrew Harris
Andrew, thanks so much for the kind words and for the support! Both mean a great deal to me.
Ah! So Cimento was another Todd Alexander project!
Hi Hazel, Todd Alexander did indeed serve as winemaker at Cimento for their inaugural wines. However, he is no longer involved with the winery as of earlier this year (pre-harvest). I’ll have more to say about Cimento in a subsequent article.