Washington Wine Wins Top Spot on Wine Spectator's Top 100

Woot! Washington Wines kick mother-fracking ass! Read the following release from the Washington Wine Commission about how much our wines fracking ROCK:

"Wine Spectator’s prestigious Top 100, a list of the best wines of the year from around the world, has awarded a Washington State wine the number one spot for the first time. The 2005 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Reserve ($27) beat 17,000 wines to become “wine of the year” for 2009. Criteria for deciding the ranking are a combination of score, value, availability, and excitement. Aside from winning wine of the year, Washington State also received more spots on the list than in any year past. In total, nine wines from Washington made the Top 100.“Washington State consistently produces high quality wine for great value. Being acknowledged as having the wine of the year by Wine Spectator is a great honor. Seeing more Washington wine on the list than ever before also proves this is no one-hit wonder, but that Washington truly stands out among the wine regions of the world,” said Robin Pollard, executive director of the Washington Wine Commission. Indeed, domestic powerhouse region California secured 21 spots on the list, while global benchmark France landed just 17 spots. These results further highlight Washington’s achievement, given its relatively small size. For example, Washington State’s vineyard acreage is just 6 percent of California’s.

Here is the complete list of Washington State wines, and respective rankings, in the Top 100 list:

1. Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon CV Reserve 2005 95pts $27

26. Cayuse Syrah Walla Walla Valley Cailloux Vineyard 2006 95pts $65

33. Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2006 92pts $25

36. Efeste Syrah Red Mountain Ceidleigh 2006 93pts $29

38. Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet HHH Canoe Ridge Estate 2006 92pts $28

60. Spring Valley Uriah Walla Walla Valley 2006 93pts $50

66. Barnard Griffin Riesling Columbia Valley 2008 90pts $8

72. The Magnificent Wine Company Syrah Columbia Valley 2006 91pts $20

74. Waterbrook Cabernet Sauvignon CV Reserve 2006 91pts $22"

What's the hub-bub all about? If you've never tried a Washington State wine, I think it's about time you did and you'll find out what all the shoutin' is about. You can thank me later. Speaking of Washington State wines - I'm sipping on a Patterson Cellar's Malbec right now and it's dee-lish! Patterson Cellars is in the Woodinville Warehouse District right across from Darby Winery so get out there!