Another year gone by, another 52 weeks of driving up to the wineries and picking up wines for our customers, another 365 days of figuring out what people would like to read about NW wines, trying to guess what'll be the next really hot wine and buy some before everyone else finds out. 2003 was, in many ways, a very tough year for Avalon and for many wineries. The economy was tough, and there's lots of competition. But OR and WA wineries moved forward with increased quality and lower prices. 2003 was a great year for NW wine lovers, and 2004 looks to be even better.

Here's my somewhat rambling lists of trends and wines and wineries, offering a sense of the high points of the world of wine, Pacific Northwest style.

Top Ten Hottest Selling
NW Wines of 2003

What people coveted the most:

1. Leonetti Cab and Merlot
2. Quilceda Creek Cab 98
3. Patricia Green Cellars Balcombe 1B Pinot noir 01/02*
4. L'Ecole #41 Apogee 00/01 *
5. Spring Valley "Uriah" 01
6. Townshend Cabernet Sauvignon 98 *
7. Cougar Crest Cabernet Sauvignon 01 *
8. Andrew Will "Champoux" Red 01 *
9. Bergstrom PN Arcus 01/02 *
10. Owen Roe Dubrul Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot 01

What People BOUGHT the most of:

1. Owen Roe Abbot's Table 2001 *
2. Patricia Green Cellars Pinot noir Shea 2001 *
3. L'Ecole #41 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla 2000
4. Bergstrom Pinot noir 2001 and 2002
5. Shea Wine Cellars "Homer" Pinot noir 2001
6. Jezebel Pinot noir 2002 *
7. Cuneo Bordeaux Blend "Two Rivers" 99/00 *
8. Fielding Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 and 2001 *
9. Kiona Chenin Blanc Ice Wine 01/02 *
10. McKinlay Pinot noir 2001

Top Ten Northwest Cabernet Sauvignon of 2003
Avalon's choice of what we had to sell, does not include wines
such as Leonetti and Quilceda, wines that are so limited
we did not get to taste them. This list is of wines you could
purchase from Avalon in 2003.

1. Dunham VI 00 $46 *
2. Fielding Hills 00 $30 *
3. Barnard Griffin 2001 $19
4. Kiona Estate Reserve 01 $34 *
5. Owen Roe Dubrul 01 $73
6. Reininger 2000 $32 *
7. Woodward Old Vine 00 $65
8. Seven Hills Klipsun 00 $30
9. Cougar Crest Cabernet Sauvignon 01 $34 *
10. Walla Walla Vintners "Vineyard Select" 2001 $50 *

Top Ten Northwest Meritage Style Blended Red Wines of 2003
Avalon's choice, same consideration as with the Cabs, above.

1. Andrew Will "Champoux" 2001 $50 *
2. Basel Cellars "Merriment" $75 *
3. Columbia Crest "Walter Clore" 99 $40
4. Cuneo Canas Feast Red Mtn 2000 $34 *
5. Fidelitas Meritage $45 *
6. L'Ecole #41 Apogee $46
7. Owen Roe Yakima Red 2002 $40 *
8. Sheridan Vineyard Red Wine 00 $40 *
9. Spring Valley "Uriah" 2001 $55
10. Woodward Canyon "Charbonneau Red 99 $53 *

Top Ten Up-and-Coming Wineries - Oregon

1. Bergstrom
2. Cuneo
3. Hamacher
4. Laurel Ridge
5. Maysara Winery
6. Penner Ash
7. Shea Wine Cellars
8. Territorial Vineyards
9. Gypsy Dancer Estates
10. Domaine Meriwether

Top Ten Up-and-Coming-Wineries -
Washington & Idaho

1. Reininger
2. Basel Cellars
3. Canon de Sol
4. Fielding Hills
5. Fidelitas
6. Lattitude 46
7. Hells Canyon
8. Badger Mountain
9. Snoqualamie
10. Kestrel

The Big Trends - Jean's Perspective

1. Really good Pinot noir
priced under $20
from great wineries-
A year ago, we did not have a section of the store labeled "Great Pinot noirs under $20". They just did not exist- I mean, there have always been a few wineries whose wines are priced so reasonably that they stand out from the pack- wineries like Evesham Wood, Laurel Ridge, McKinlay, Eola Hills, Academy have made some great values year after year. But 2003 was a breakthrough year for Oregon Pinot noir pricing.

The first, and perhaps greatest success, was Mike Hatcher, Cheryl Francis, and Sam Tannahill's A to Z Pinot noir $19.99. When it was released early last year, it was a huge price breakthrough. Little did I know that there would be a dozen excellent Pinots under $20 by August!

Here are the wines we keep in the Under $20 section of the store:

Great Under $20 Pinot noirs
1. Griffin Creek Pinot noir 99 $16.99 *
This wine was originally $36.99- excellent value that the winery is clearing out. So OR fruit, made by Joe Dobbes.
2. Evesham Wood Pinot noir 2002 $15.99 *
Super super value, Russ's wines are always best buys
3. Ce Soir Pinot noir 01 $19.99 *
Tiny tiny winery, made by Peter Rossback of Sineann.
4. Jezebel Pinot noir 02 $19.99 *
Joint effort of Peter Rossback and Pam Walden, typical Sineann style huge and gushing fruit flavors.
5. A to Z Pinot noir 2002 $19.99 *
Mike Hatcher, Cheryl Francis, and Sam Tannahill blend this wine from vineyards across Oregon.
6. Bergstrom Pinot noir 02 $19.99 *
Oregon's biggest success story for 2003, Josh's wines are meticulously produced, with his tremendous attention to his vineyards evident even in this value priced wine. Highly recommended.
7. Chehalem Pinot noir 3 Vineyards 01 $19.99 *
Highly approachable, extremely popular, we have had many many re-orders of this wine as people stock their cellars with an under $20 pinot from Chehalem.
8. Carabella Pinot noir "La Mere" 01 $18 *
A "virtual" winery whose Pinot noirs have received some high ratings. They have now released this lower priced Pinot with with some great flavors.
9. La Bete Pinot noir 02 $18.99 *
A tiny winery whose "Brunker Hall" Pinot noir has attracted lots of national attention, this new release has great richness and ageability.

2. Really Good Pinot noir
priced under $15
from great wineries

And then, around July of 2003, came the "Great Pinot noirs Under $15!" section of the store! Yes, suddenly, a new price point - really quite nice Pinot noir under $15. A little harder to find, and it came and went quickly, but the bargains were big. First among the group was McKinlay's Pinot noir 01 $10.99. Just excellent wine, and the 2002, just released, is even better. (It went up to $13.99).

Here are the under $15 Pinots we keep on the wall at the store:

Great Under $15 Pinot noirs
1. McKinlay Pinot noir 2002 $13.99 *
Previous vintage was just so popular. Amazingly so. Matt's pricing rocks.
2. Laurel Ridge Pinot noir 01 $10.99 *
New winemaker from Sonoma has quietly created some of the best deals in the Yamhill Valley. Some backbone, some spice, sippable but best with food. Nicely structured and stylish. This guy knows what he is doing.
3. Wallace Brook Pinot noir 00/01 $13.99 *
Adelsheim Vineyard's second label, they are justifiably proud of this excellent value. Made very much in their characteristic style, with nice spicy, earthy notes.
4. Patricia Green Cellars "Sign of the Times" 01 $12.99 *
Made from single vineyard Temperance Hill fruit, this is a steal. All Patty's skills in a super value package. Drink now and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
5. Cooper Mountain Pinot noir Estate 01/02 $13.99

3. Really Dense, Intense Syrahs, and lots of them!
Syrah production is skyrocketing in Washington State, as the grape proves to make a rich, juicy, instantly gratifying red wine that is attracting new affectionadoes by the day. As more grape vines mature and the availability of Syrah grapes increases, prices have fallen. While a few wineries still maintain $50-$60 and up prices for Syrah, there were Syrahs for all pocketbooks in 2003. The most popular and best deals were:

1. Dunham Syrah 01 $50 *
Wine Spectator 92 points, Double Platinum from Wine Press NW. Absolutely decadently delicious.
2. Kestrel Syrah 00 $29.99 *
Wine Spectator 90 points, big juicy, plump and distinctive. From the heart of Yakima.
3. Reininger Syrah Walla Walla 00/01 $31.99 *
Wine Spectator 92 points, Chuck Reininger's Syrah is only exceeded by his Cab.
4. L'Ecole #41 Syrah 01
Wine Spectator 92 points, "Best of Show" out of 700 NW wines at NW WIne Summit 2003. Long sold out. Watch for 2002. I dream about this wine.
5. Seven Hills Syrah 01 Columbia Valley $18.99
Spectacularly good deal, very easy drinking and juicy. Nice and ripe.
6. Powers Syrah 00 $14.99 *
Really great deal, fruit is sources from several vineyards whose fruit is usually found in much higher priced wines. Lovely value.
7. Penner Ash Syrah 2001 $35 *
Lynn and Ron Penner Ash are best known for their Pinot noirs but this is a stand out among Oregon's small number of Syrahs. They let the grapes ripen and dehydrate for that wonderful rich, chewy quality we love, blackberry and plum flavors. Shows what can be done with Syrah by an Oregon winemaker,

4. Organic Wines- lots more, and they taste great!

The original small group of Oregon and Washington wines that were made using organic methods and without additional sulfites were decent, but left one wanting a little more. That is no longer the case! Wineries like Cooper Mountain, Badger Mountain, Amity, and Evesham Wood are turning out Organic and no added sulfite wines that compare well to the best at their price points. Check out the big reds of Badger Mountain, and their wonderful sulfite free Port. Cooper Mountain's Pinot noirs give everything you could want to those of us with sulfite sensitivity- no more red face and sweat when enjoying Pinot noir!

5. So Many Really Good New Washington Red Wines!

Walla Walla has gone from 15 wineries 3 years ago to over 60 as of January

2004, and the Yakima, Puget Sound, Wennatchee, and Spokane areas have also seen the arrival of new and expanded wineries. Wow! Lots of great wines, especially big red wines, at prices significantly lower than California wines of the same quality. The Top Ten Up and Coming Wineries of Washington (listed at the beginning of this article) shows some of the most exciting new wineries.

Ten Trend Setting Washington Red Wines
Wines that set trends and standards for WA reds in 2003

1. McCrea Syrah Cuvee Orleans 01 $55
Doug McCrea was a pioneer in Washington State, making Syrah years before most other winemakers, and his wines show the maturity and sophistication of years of experience with this sometimes difficult grape. Cuvee Orleans, named for his home town, New Orleans, gave us a chance to see what can be done with Syrah grapes in WA.

2. Reininger Cabernet Sauvignon 00 $32
Of all the new wineries of Walla Walla, this one produced the big reds that stood out from the crowd in blind tastings by Wine Press NW. His Cab, Merlot, and Syrah shows sophisticated flavors and a level of winemaking skill that bodes well for the future.

3. Fielding Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 00 $32 First vintage from this East Wenatchee winery, from young vines, wtill garnered 91 points from Wine Spectator and kudoes from the industry. This wine opened up the area east of Wenatchee, along the gorge between the river and the mountains, to new vineyard development and the organization of a new wine region for Washington. Whether it's beginners luck, just incredibly good growing conditions, good winemaking, or some combination thereof, the wine shows a ton of promise for the area.

4. Andrew Will "Champoux" Red 01 $50
Chris Camarda changed his wines this vintage, producing Meritage style blends from a few single vineyards. The "Champoux" blend sets a standard and defines a trend among the states best wineries towards complex blends of several varietals that strive to show a vineyard's terroir, going beyond varietal character to reach for something more. Other wines that fall into this category include"

5. Fidelitas Meritage $45 from Charles Hoppes, one of WA's most talented and ubiquitous winemakers,

6. Seven Hills Winery Pentad 01 $55, Casey McClellan's blend of the best grapes from his vineyards, less specific vineyard, more regional terroir.

7. L'Ecole #41 Apogee 00 and 01 $46, Marty Clubb's big, masculine blend of cuvees from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard shows his experience and mastery of the vagarities of winemaking in Walla Walla.

8. Cayuse Camaspello 00 $75 Christophe was perhaps WA's most talked about winemaker in 2003, and any wine he made could be included on this list. His stony, dry, biodynamically farmed vineyards produces some of the most interesting wines released in 2003. The Camaspelo is particularly interesting - it is not a syrah, the varietal that is most associated with Christophe, but is a Meritage style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc from his now famous En Cerise and Callous vineyards.

9. Spring Valley "Uriah" 01 $55 Number 13 in Wine Spectator's 2003 Top 100 Wines of the World, this is the second vintage from this incredibly successful winery. The vineyard is already producing spectacular grapes, and as it matures, the wines that come from it will be eagerly awaited by a world wide audience. A blend of Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, and Merlot, this vineyard, along with the Fielding Hills vineyards in Wenatchee, are shockingly good for such young vines. Great grapes from young vines will grow....

10. Kiona Chenin Blanc Ice Wine 02 $22 Year after year this wine fascinates, with remarkably comcentrated flavors and good acidity. This wine, along with the Covey Run Riesling Ice Wine $22, are favorites across the US, and to sweet wine lovers, have put Washington State on their map.

Christina Kelly's
2004
Wine Resolutions

Cole Danehower's
Oregon Wine
Top Ten Highlights
of 2003