Washington Wine of the Week – Selections for Summer, 2025

For the week of September 21, 2025: Kontos Cellars 2021 Tate Syrah – This Double Gold medal Syrah from winemaker Cameron Kontos was described by the Pacific Northwest Wine Competition judges as both “vibrant and voluptuous.” Roasted coffee aromatics lead to big, extracted fruits of black cherry and blueberry that are balanced by racy acidity. The finish suggests black licorice and ginger root, along with a pleasant, viscous mouthfeel. Bonus selection: the Kontos Cellars 2022 Malbec, which is packed with blackberry and black olive flavors, and framed by touches of Earl Grey tea, lavender, and mineral notes. It’s muscular and full-bodied, and if you don’t plan on serving it with anything beef today, it will easily cellar for another five to seven years.

For the week of September 14, 2025: Wind Rose Cellars 2017 Malbec – Sequim, Washington winemaker David Volmut does a superb job with this still-available Malbec, which is right in the sweet spot of optimum drinkability. Part of the reason for the wine’s late release is an astounding 36 months of aging in French oak barrels, 50% of which were new. Beautiful, fragrant baking spices are prevalent on the nose and the palate, with velvety, jammy flavors of blueberry, blackberry, and spiced plum. There’s also a slice of rhubarb pie tucked in, which gives the wine a bit of brightness on the finish. It’s absolutely scrummy. 78 cases produced, and the wine is available for purchase at both the tasting room and online at windrosecellars.com.

For the week of September 7, 2025: Drink Washington State 2022 Reserve Chardonnay – Owner/Winemaker Brad Binko is a non-stop machine when it comes to promoting his wines. He recently moved his Eternal Wines tasting room from Walla Walla to Milton-Freewater, Oregon, expanded his space, and turned his winery into an unabashed sports bar with wine tasting options. His second label, Drink Washington State, has featured some absolutely delicious wines, and this Double Gold-winning Chardonnay is no exception. It’s warm, sunshiny, and loaded with beautiful baked apple flavors. Although the wine spent nearly two years in French oak, the toastiness of the barrels is more subtle on the palate, balanced with nice acidity and great mouthfeel. Only 50 cases produced.

For the week of August 31, 2025: 4 Whistles Winery 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon – 4 Whistles’ winemaker Samuel Dailey struck gold with this very-last-received entry in the 2025 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition (it was hand-delivered to the competition in Walla Walla by his parents, Phil and Jane). It’s cram-packed with concentrated dark fruits along with overtones of black coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and saddle leather. Give this robust, full-bodied red plenty of aeration time to open up; or better yet, pop it into your cellar for another seven to 10 years and prepare for more magic with additional aging. Sourced from Stone Pillars Vineyard in the tiny hamlet of Eltopia, located about 20 minutes north of the Tri-Cities. The winery also features a tasting room in downtown Kennewick.

For the week of August 24, 2025: Cloudlift Cellars 2023 Chardonnay – Seattle’s Tom Stangeland has been making wines at Cloudlift Cellars since 2008, and, in his case, the “better with age” saying most definitely applies. For those who shy away from stainless steel Chards and prefer a good measure of oak, Stangeland has you covered with this gem, sourced from the Roza Hills Vineyard in Washington’s Rattlesnake Hills AVA. Caramel popcorn, lemon curd, and apple butter flavors are capped with – what else? – a deftly crafted touch of toasted oak that melds with the flavors without being overbearing. Double Gold medalist at the 2025 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition.

For the week of August 17, 2025: August Forest 2024 Carousel Vineyard Viognier – August Forest owner/winemakers C. J. Augustine and Forrest Rogers-Phillips entered just this one wine in the 2025 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition, and it came away with a Double Gold medal and high praise from the judging panel. The nose carries a pleasant riverbed/wet stone and fresh peach fragrance and the flavor profile includes delicious layers of lemon citrus, pineapple, pink grapefruit, and nectarine. The perfectly balanced finish displays both bright acidity and a gentle creaminess. Augustine and Rogers-Phillips will be opening their first tasting room in the spring of 2026 near the Walla Walla airport as part of a collective known as the “Incubator Wineries.”

For the week of August 10, 2025: Alluvium Cellars 2024 Aeris Rosé Blend – Great any time of year, but perfect for the summer, this Double Gold medalist is a lovely blend of 67% Grenache and 33% Syrah. Unmistakably floral, it displays aromatics of pink roses and honeysuckle, with strawberry, peach, kiwi, and mild mango flavors. The bone-dry finish highlights the wine’s fresh-fruit personna without a hint of sweetness – and that makes it an excellent choice as a starter wine with light appetizers or shellfish.

The winery’s tasting room is located in North Seattle in the Kenmore district at the northern tip of Lake Washington. Bonus selection: Alluvium’s 2024 Apricity White Blend, a stunning combination of Northern Rhone’s top three white varietals: Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne. The Apricity also scored Double Gold along with a 95-point score at the 2025 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition.

For the week of August 3, 2025: 10,000 Hours 2021 Red Mountain Syrah – Syrah lovers should go ballistic for this “checks all the boxes” Syrah from Washington’s Red Mountain AVA. There’s a hint of earthiness and fresh-brewed coffee on the nose, with over-the-top flavors of bell pepper, black olive, bacon, and Dr. Pepper. The voluptuous, textured finish is generously topped with a spritz of black pepper. There’s nothing timid about this Syrah, and that makes it an easy-peasy pairing partner with rack of lamb, beef stew, or practically anything off the barbeque. 93 points and Double Gold medalist at the 2025 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition.

For the week of July 27, 2025: Brian Carter Cellars 2021 Solesce – Is it any surprise that master blender Brian Carter took home the prize for the inaugural Best Red Bordeaux Blend award at the 2025 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition? His 95-point, 2021 Solesce is a delicious blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot 14% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot, and 6% Malbec. The intoxicating nose of flower petals and French vanilla is backed by cola, plum and blueberry fruit, along with juicy acidity. The judges’ notes included comments about how beautifully balanced the wine showed, as well as one who simply called the wine, “fabulous!”

For the week of July 20, 2025: Succession Wines 2024 Rosé – Since her husband Brock’s passing nearly two years ago, Erica Lindsay has continued to turn out some gorgeous wines at Succession, including this 96-point stunner that earned Best Rosé at the 2025 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition.

Crafted from 67% Syrah and 33% Grenache, this heady yet refreshing Rosé hits all the right notes: lovely bouquet of honeysuckle and rose petals, generous Rainier cherry flavors throughout, and a crisp/zesty finish with just the faintest suggestion of sweetness. 387 cases produced.

Succession Wines is located on the northern side of Lake Chelan and a stop at the tasting room during your visit to the area is a must. Open every day of the week, with live music performances on Sunday afternoons. Reservations are highly recommended.

For the week of July 13, 2025: Mellisoni Vineyards 2024 Pinot Grigio – Rob and Donna Mellison have always done a superior job with their Lake Chelan AVA Pinot Gris, and this vintage was no exception, earning them a Double Gold medal, 96 points, and shared honors as the 2025 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition Best White Wine. Termed by one judge as “an easy-sipping, classic Pinot Gris,” it opens with gorgeous white flower aromatics and nuances of wet stone and lemon citrus. The palate displays notes of sugar-snap peas, powdered ginger and a bright, lemondrop finish. A top-of-the-list selection for your summertime wine list. Only 136 cases produced.

For the week of July 6, 2025: DeLille Cellars 2023 Chaleur Blanc – This spectacular blend of 69% Sauvignon Blanc and 31% Semillon is a perennial favorite at the Woodinville, Washington winery, and it tied for Best White Wine honors at the 2025 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition. Popped corn, lemon curd, apple, lime, and honey are just a few of the descriptors the judges used, while noting its layering and complexity. The finish suggests a touch of caramel, minerality and salinity, adding to its intriguing character and begging you to savor every sip. A Double Gold, 96-point winner at the Competition.

For the week of June 30, 2025: Aviam Cellars 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon – Micro-boutique Aviam Cellars, located on Washington’s Red Mountain and owned by Aaron and Ashley Myers, earned Best in Show honors at the 10th Annual Pacific Northwest Wine Competition with this gem of a Cab, which also earned 97 points and a Double Gold medal.

Sourced from grapes from Taptiel West and Aviam’s estate vineyards, this is just the kind of Cabernet Sauvignon you’d expect from the Red Mountain AVA, with plenty of character, complexity, and as one judge noted, “great ageability.”

It opens with lovely aromatics of rosemary oil and black fruits, followed by a juicy palate of raspberry, cherry, and boysenberry fruit. Gentle touches of cinnamon, cola, and baking spices frame the ultra-long finish, while picture-perfect acidity and textured tannins complete the package.

Aviam Cellars currently operates just a vineyard/winery, and the Myers hope to open a tasting room in late summer/early fall of 2025. Shipping is currently available and pick-ups are also an option through the winery’s online webstore.