Washington Wines Provide Good Quality at Reasonable Prices

From one side of Washington State to the other, there are good wines – and good wine bargains – to be had. The 2004 whites have been hitting the shelves in full force and both the 2005 reds and whites have started to creep into the market; although most of the reds won’t be released until the spring of next year.

2005 may well be the benchmark for future production in the state. Quantities were plentiful and quality is said to be outstanding. And with the demand for Washington wines as high as ever, don’t look for a drop in prices anytime soon.

nullThat doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of good deals available. I recently tried the Samson Estates 2004 Chardonnay, a great little wine for only about $11. Winemaker Rob Dhaliwal has really done a nice job with this wine, allowing it to ferment in stainless steel rather than oak.

The result is a very crisp, clean wine with lots of green apple flavors and a touch of citrus. The wine has just the slightest whisper of sweetness and the mouth-feel of a full-bodied white. Find Samson Estates wines at local grocers and wine shops or at the winery tasting room located at 1861 Van Dyk Road in Lynden.

On the eastern side of Washington, another well-priced wine that has just been released is the Lone Canary 2005 Barbera (about $15), the latest offering from Spokane winemaker Mike Scott, who continues to amaze by producing red wines that are both tasty and affordable.

His Barbera is packed with bright, red fruit flavors – particularly cranberry and currant – and is balanced by precisely the right amount of acidity. Production was limited to just slightly over 300 cases. Lone Canary wines are available locally at the Fairhaven Market and Barkley Village Haggen or can be ordered online at www.lonecanary.com.

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