New Releases from Washington State

Two thousand seven is also quite different in character from recent hot years like 2005 and 2003, and I was particularly impressed by the freshness of the white wines I tasted—not just viogniers but rieslings, sauvignon/semillon blends and even chardonnays. Early evidence is that 2007 is an exceptional vintage for Washington’s white wines. But with no burst of heat at the end, it was a challenge to get the cabernet fruit fully ripe in some sites, especially where crop loads were too heavy.

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At a time when some of Washington’s most thoughtful winemakers are considering how they might make ripe, satisfying wines at lower alcohol levels, recent vintages have brought a return to more normal conditions following the 2003-2005 trio of very warm years