Editor’s note: Judges for the 2022 North Central Washington Wine Awards competition awarded Gold medal status to both of these wines.
Skagit Cellars 2018 Barbera
World photo/Don Seabrook
Skagit Cellars
2018 Barbera, Columbia Valley, $37 (141 cases)
92 points
Judges’ comments: Success and acclaim for Mark Hulst’s program led this Puget Sound winemaker to open a satellite tasting room in downtown Manson on Wapato Way. And during his 10 years as a commercial winemaker, he’s shown his savvy by sourcing from a number of up-and-coming vineyards around Lake Chelan and to the north. Veranda Beach — divided by an international border — is a planting near Lake Osoyoos, that famed Canadian viticulturist Richard Cleve and Manson winemaking talent Katy Perry helped establish. Hulst takes advantage of this warm site to produce a perfumy and delicious red. Whiffs of boysenberry, toast from 30 months of barrel aging, lilac and rose petal lead to pleasing brightness from flavors of cherry compote, strawberry licorice and blackberry that combine for great weight and length.
Call the winery or visit its website for current tasting room hours.
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