Taste Washington III - New Wineries

As I said, I tried to get to as many new wineries as possible. Still, I missed Stemilt Creek and Stinas Cellars and for some nefarious reason, I never got to Nefarious Winery. From the Puget Sound area, I got to Blooms Winery which has been around for a while and tasted their 2005 Blooms Semillon which was dry, crisp, fresh and citrusy. Eagle Haven from the Sedro Woolley area made a good Madeline Angevine. Samson Estates from the Bellingham area, made a classic bony dry Riesling reminiscent of the Washington State Rieslings of the 1970s when the wine industry here was just in it's infancy. Walter Dacon Wines were all excellent. I finally got to Cedargreen Winery which has been around for a while. Their wines were delightful in a light easy style. From the Lake Chelan area, I tasted 2006 Balsomroot Unoaked Chardonnay which tasted like a delicate green apple and 2006 Riesling which was dry, fresh and refreshing. Tildio wines were mostly light in style with an interesting Syrah co-fermented with Viognier skins. Cayalla from Walla Walla made a blend called RTW. Amaurice produced an elegant 2005 Chardonnay with a fresh fruity nose and a somewhat French style. Benke Cellars in the Columbia Gorge region made a Pinot Noir and Sangiovese. Sangiovese seemed to be the grape of the day. I tasted examples from Benke, Wilridge, Walter Dacon, Waving Tree, Yellow Hawk, Yakima Cellars, Willow Crest, and several others. They were all good. Every year produces a new crop of wineries in Washington and you never know what you will find. Exciting stuff!