The Latest on the 2005 Harvest

The more I chat with Washington winemakers, the better things sound for the 2005 harvest.

Initial reactions during the harvest were guardedly optimistic. Then as the calendar year came to a close, word began to circulate that it was going to be a banner year.

Now that the grapes have had a bit more time to progress, I’ve heard nothing but good things about the 2005 crop. At a recent dinner at the Oyster Creek Inn on Chuckanut Drive, I spoke with Basel Cellars winemaker Trey Busch. He feels that the 2005 reds are going to rival those produced in 1998 and 2002 – considered by some to be two of the best years in Washington red wine production.

Caleb Foster, winemaker for Buty Winery in Walla Walla agrees. “The 2005 vintage was a smash hit, especially for Cabernet Sauvignons. It is a vintage for the pop-charts of the numbers magazines,” meaning you can expect to see some highly rated 2005 Washington wines when they’re reviewed by publications such as Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast and Wine Press Northwest.

With predictions like these, it appears that we should look for the 2005 vintages with high expectations. The only problem is that it will probably be another two to three years before we see any of these wines on the shelves. So make a mental note of 2005 releases, eagerly anticipate their arrival and remember that in the world of wine, good things come to those who wait.