WTN: BC loser, Walla Walla loser, Seattle winner

[Jenise]

2012 Tantalus Vineyards Chardonnay
Ridiculously extracted in both color and flavor; huge acids, huge butterscotch, huge everything. Want Mountain Dew chardonnay? Got it right here for ya. Bought at the VQA store in Penticton untried on the strength of a gorgeous reisling Bill Spohn once poured for me--not sure which one was the fluke, but I won't take a chance on this winery again.

2009 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Pinot Noir Puget Sound
At five years old, this wine from a vineyard on the outskirts of Seattle is only just entering middle age. Doesn't really show any secondary nuances yet, but the initially reticent cherry, tomato skin and French basil flavors have deepened and sweetened. Lovely flavors and balance. I'm very sorry this was our only bottle!

2009 Watermill Winery Cabernet Franc Walla Walla Valley
Good body and balanced, but there's oak here and it detrimentally smooths over the spice and herbs that would make the wine more interesting. Loire Valley it's not.

Wow. I had no idea that they even attempted to grow wine grapes near Seattle!

Although my sister informs me that Skagit County has several wineries, some of which make fruit wines, though!

I only ever buy the Tantalus Riesling, after a pal visited there I was warned to stay clear of anything else.

Steve Snyder, the owner of Hollywood Hills, posts frequently on a website for wine makers that I frequent. I'd like to try his wines one of these days. http://www.hollywoodhillvineyards.com/

[Jenise]

Brian, Hollywood is the only case I know of in the Seattle area (the vineyard/winery/estate is actually in Woodinville), though there might be a few others. They also make wine from Eastern Washington grapes.

Yes, some in Skagit. Challenger Ridge is the best known--not up to your or my standards though. And some in Whatcom county, Skagit's neighbor to the north (and where I live). Only vines that do well over here are pinot in some years and some of the Swiss-style whites like siguerrebbe and madeline angevine.

There's vineyards of long standing on the Peninsula. Bainbridge Island has been there for a while. That area produced some "outliers"---Siegereber and Huxelrebe as I recall. And yes, some fruit wines.

I vaguely recall Muller-Thurgau as well. For a while it was really popular over in Eastern WA/Yakima too.