23rd Annual Retrospective of Northwest Wines Competition Announced

Recently, Ray’s Boathouse Restaurant on Shilshole Bay in Seattle, conducted its 23rd Retrospective of Northwest Wines Competition. On January 5th and 6th, Ray’s wine director Richard Kelsey assembled a panel of judges consisting of sommeliers, wine writers and local wine experts (including WINO’s Dave Bender) to blind-taste Northwest wines released in 2009. The wines were submitted for judging by the winemakers and their distributors, and all Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia wineries that produce grape-based wines were eligible to participate.

This year, 479 wines were submitted in twelve categories. During the blind-tasting, the judges meticulously evaluated the wines for characteristics such as flavor, texture, aroma and finish. Each judge assigned a numerical score based on their evaluation, and the wines with the highest combined scores won.

The second half of the Retrospective event is the dinner. On January 29, the top-scoring wines will be artfully paired with a menu created by Ray’s Executive Chef Peter Birk and presented in Ray’s waterfront banquet room with the winning winemakers in attendance (information below).

“OK, OK, tell us the winners already!” All right, without further ado, here are the top five wines in each category:

Chardonnay

WINNER Dusted Valley Vintners Old Vine Chardonnay, Yakima Valley 2008
2. Barrage Cellars Conner Lee Vineyard Nuclear Blonde Chardonnay, Washington 2007
3. Cave B Estate Winery Sage Cliffe Chardonnay, Washington 2008
4. Hogue Cellars Genesis Chardonnay, Washington 2008
5. Phelps Creek Vineyards Chardonnay, Oregon 2008

Pinot Gris

WINNER Panther Creek Cellars Pinot Gris, Oregon 2008
2. Benton-Lane Winery Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2008
3. Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2008
4. Mercer Estates Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2008
5. Bishop Creek Cellars Pinot Gris, Oregon 2007

White Blends

WINNER Westport Winery Bordello Blonde, Washington 2008
2. Red Sky Winery White, Washington 2008
3. Airfield Estates Lightning, Washington 2008
4. Hogue Cellars Terroir White Table Wine, Washington 2008
5. Viento Verona Allegre Vineyard, Columbia Gorge 2007

Dry Whites

WINNER Hogue Cellars Genesis Viognier, Columbia Valley 2008
2. Amity Vineyards Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2007
3. WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2008
4. Cave B Estate Winery Viognier, Washington 2008
5. Poet’s Leap Riesling, Columbia Valley 2008

Aromatic Whites

WINNER Brandborg Winery Gewürztraminer, Umpqua Valley 2008
2. Elk Cove Vineyards Estate Riesling, Oregon 2007
3. Gilbert Cellars Estate Gewürztraminer, Ahtanum Valley 2008
4. Valley View Winery Anna Maria Viognier, Applegate Valley 2008
5. Latah Creek Wine Cellars Riesling, Washington 2008

Dessert

WINNER Gilbert Cellars Grenache Ice Wine, Columbia Valley 2008
2. Hyatt Vineyards Winter Harvest, Washington 2008
3. Adelsheim Vineyard Deglacé, Oregon 2007
4. Naches Heights Vineyard Late Harvest Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley
5. Parejas Cellars Late Harvest Pinot Gris, Yakima Valley 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon

WINNER Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2006
2. Forgeron Cellars Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills 2004
3. L’Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2006
4. Tamarack Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2006
5. Whitman Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2005

Merlot

WINNER Barrage Cellars Trifecta Merlot, Columbia Valley 2007
2. Northstar Winery Merlot, Walla Walla Valley 2006
3. Kontos Cellars Merlot, Columbia Valley 2006
4. Jones of Washington Winery Estate Vineyards Merlot, Wahluke Slope 2006
5. Columbia Crest Winery Grand Estates Merlot, Washington 2007

Pinot Noir

WINNER Stoller Vineyards SV Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2006
2. Anne Amie Vineyards Winemaker’s Selection Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2006
3. Antica Terra Winery Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2007
4. Duck Pond Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2008
5. Pheasant Valley Winery Reserve Pinot Noir, Oregon 2006

Red Blends

WINNER Whitman Cellars Narcissa Red, Walla Walla Valley 2005
2. Va Piano Vineyards Bruno’s Blend V, Columbia Valley
3. Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series Meritage, Washington 2006
4. Palouse Winery Eclipse Red Blend, Washington 2005
5. Yellow Hawk Cellar Solstice, Washington 2006

Syrah

WINNER Powers Winery Cougar Vineyard Reserve Syrah, Wahluke Slope 2006
2. Alexandria Nicole Cellars Syrah, Washington 2007
3. Lone Canary Winery Syrah, Washington 2007
4. Chateau Ste. Michelle Ethos Syrah, Washington 2006
5. Dusted Valley Vintners Stained Tooth Syrah, Columbia Valley 2007

Single Varietal Reds

WINNER Pend d’Oreille Winery Primitivo, Coyote Canyon, Washington 2007
2. Parejas Cellars Coyote Canyon Vineyard Mourvedre, Horse Heaven Hills 2007
3. Thurston Wolfe Petite Sirah, Washington 2007
4. Mercer Estates Spice Cabinet Vineyard Sangiovese, Horse Heaven Hills 2007
5. Mount Baker Vineyards Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley 2006

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The 23rd annual Retrospective Dinner will be held on Friday, January 29, 2010, beginning at 6:30 PM. The dinner is open to the public. Cost is $125.00 per person, includes tax and gratuity. For reservations, please call (206) 789-6309.