Top 100 Washington wines

THIS IS the fifth year that The Seattle Times is publishing a list of the Top 100 Washington wines I have tasted in the past 12 months. I offer it with these caveats. First, I have not tasted every Washington wine released in the past year. Even my time-tested tongue takes a break now and again! Second, a few of these wines are sourced from vineyards in Oregon. Nonetheless, if the winery is bonded in Washington, I consider it a Washington winery.

Finally, quite a few new releases are coming out just after this goes to press, and so may either be absent from the list or represented by a vintage now out of date. All that said, it's a fun list to compile, and based on reader comments from past years, a fun list to read and argue over.

The methodology is simple. I look through a year's worth of tasting notes and select one wine from each of 100 wineries for inclusion. All but three of these wines scored 91 points or higher (out of 100) in my reviews for a national wine publication. They are ranked first according to their score and within each scoring category by price. Among all 93-point wines, for example, the least expensive will rank highest, and the most expensive lowest. The original suggested retail price is also listed.

Why just one wine per winery? With roughly 670 wineries in the state, it is a better way to showcase the breadth and depth of the industry's offerings. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed compiling it.

1. Cayuse 2007 En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah ($65)

2. Charles Smith 2007 Royal City Stoneridge Vineyard Syrah ($120)

3. Buty 2007 Champoux Vineyard Red Wine ($55)

4. Betz Family 2007 Père de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon ($60)

5. Abeja 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($85)

6. Leonetti Cellar 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($85)

7. Rulo 2007 Syrah ($20)

8. Woodward Canyon 2009 Chardonnay ($39)

9. Andrew Will 2007 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine ($53)

10. Grand Rêve 2007 Ciel Du Cheval Vineyard Reserve ($75)

11. Quilceda Creek 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($125)

12. Poet's Leap 2009 Riesling ($20)

13. Sineann 2008 Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Franc ($40)

14. Fielding Hills 2008 RiverBend Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($42)

15. J Bookwalter 2007 Conner Lee Vineyard 'Conflict' Red ($50)

16. Mark Ryan 2007 Lonely Heart Cabernet Sauvignon ($75)

17. Doubleback 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($82)

18. Forgeron 2008 Late Harvest Sémillon ($14)

19. Dowsett Family 2009 Celilo Vineyard Gewürztraminer ($22)

20. Januik 2008 Cold Creek Vineyard Chardonnay ($25)

21. Tranche 2008 Viognier-Roussanne ($30)

22. DeLille Cellars 2008 Chaleur Estate Blanc ($34)

23. K Vintners 2007 Northridge Syrah ($35)

24. àMaurice 2007 Red Blend ($35)

25. Stevens 2007 XY Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($42)

26. Efesté 2007 Big Papa Old Block Cabernet Sauvignon ($45)

27. Sparkman 2007 Darkness Syrah ($50)

28. Northstar 2007 Walla Walla Valley Merlot ($50)

29. Olsen Estates 2008 Golden Berry Select ($55)

30. Pepper Bridge 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($55)

31. Dumas Station 2006 Minnick Hills Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($60)

32. Gorman 2008 The Evil Twin Red ($60)

33. Col Solare 2007 Red ($70)

34. O• S Winery 2009 Champoux Vineyard Riesling ($15)

35. Syncline 2009 Coyote Canyon Vineyard Viognier ($20)

36. Dunham Cellars 2008 Lewis Vineyard Riesling ($22)

37. Novelty Hill 2008 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Chardonnay ($22)

38. Southard 2007 The Whipping Boy Cabernet Sauvignon ($25)

39. Pacific Rim 2008 Solstice Vineyard Riesling ($25)

40. Barrister 2008 Cabernet Franc ($27)

41. Seven Hills 2007 Klipsun Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($32)

42. JM Cellars 2008 Chardonnay ($32)

43. Amavi Cellars 2008 Les Collines Vineyard Syrah ($34)

44. Brian Carter Cellars 2007 Corrida Red ($35)

45. Reasons 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($35)

46. Reininger 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($38)

47. L'Ecole No 41 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)

48. Doyenne 2007 Syrah ($40)

49. Bunnell Family 2007 Clifton Hill Vineyard Syrah ($42)

50. Dusted Valley 2007 Reserve Syrah ($45)

51. Tamarack Cellars 2007 DuBrul Vineyard Reserve Red ($45)

52. Robert Karl 2006 Inspiration Reserve Red ($45)

53. Cadence 2007 Tapteil Red Wine ($45)

54. Tero Estates 2007 Windrow Vineyards Windrow Red ($45)

55. Walla Walla Vintners 2007 Vineyard Select Cabernet Sauvignon ($48)

56. Sequel 2007 Syrah ($55)

57. Feather 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($60)

58. Corliss Estates 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon ($75)

59. Arbor Crest 2008 Conner Lee Vineyard Cabernet Franc ($18)

60. Nefarious Cellars 2009 Stone's Throw Vineyard Riesling ($18)

61. Upland Estates 2008 Sauvignon Blanc ($18)

62. Gamache Vintners 2008 Estate Riesling ($18)

63. Silver Lake 2008 Late Harvest Reserve Sauvignon Blanc ($19)

64. Darby 2009 Le Deuce Viognier-Roussanne ($22)

65. Maison Bleue 2008 La Montagnette Grenache ($25)

66. Watermill 2007 Estate Petit Verdot ($28)

67. SYZYGY 2007 Syrah ($33)

68. Zerba Cellars 2007 Petit Verdot ($38)

69. Boudreaux Cellars 2006 Merlot ($40)

70. Sleight of Hand 2007 The Illusionist Red ($40)

71. Gramercy Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($42)

72. Spring Valley Vineyard 2007 Uriah Red ($50)

73. Chester Kidder 2006 Red ($50)

74. Walter Dacon 2007 Boushey Vineyard Appanage Syrah ($50)

75. Pedestal 2007 Merlot ($55)

76. Pirouette 2007 Red ($55)

77. Caterina 2008 Willard Family Vineyard Viognier ($15)

78. Tempus Cellars 2009 Evergreen Vineyard Riesling ($16)

79. DaMa 2007 Syrah ($18)

80. Alexandria Nicole 2008 Quarry Butte Red ($20)

81. Davenport Cellars 2007 Syrah ($20)

82. Powers 2006 Coyote Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($25)

83. McCrea 2008 Grenache ($28)

84. Trust Cellars 2007 Syrah ($28)

85. Saviah 2007 Malbec ($30)

86. Hogue 2006 Reserve Merlot ($30)

87. Gordon Brothers 2007 Tradition Red ($30)

88. Ch. Ste. Michelle 2007 Ethos Chardonnay ($32)

89. Rôtie Cellars 2008 Southern Blend Red ($35)

90. Columbia Crest 2007 Stone Tree Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($35)

91. Guardian Cellars 2007 Gun Metal Red ($37)

92. Cadaretta 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)

93. Waters 2007 Loess Vineyard Syrah ($40)

94. Woodinville Wine Cellars 2007 Indomitable Red ($40)

95. Sinclair Estate Vineyards 2007 Vixen Red ($45)

96. Milbrandt 2007 Northridge Sentinel Red ($55)

97. Fidélitas 2007 Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon ($55)

98. Willow Crest 2009 Pinot Gris ($12)

99. Barnard Griffin 2009 Chardonnay ($14)

100. Thurston Wolfe 2009 PGV White Wine ($16)

The revised second edition of Paul Gregutt's "Washington Wines & Wineries" is now in print. His blog is www.paulgregutt.com. E-mail: paulgwine@me.com. Susan Jouflas is assistant art director for News Features at The Seattle Times.