Charlie's Top Vintages for Washington

This fall, we will toast Charlie as he celebrates his 25th harvest in Washington state.  One can only imagine the changes he has seen in the past quarter century.  Next time you see him, be sure to ask the story of his Walla Walla vineyard tour with pretty much every current winemaker in one van...

According to the Washington Wine Commisson, there were 46,000 tons of grapes harvested and less than 50 licensed wineries in 1988.  In the 2010 harvest, more than 120,000 tons were harvested and we are nearing 800 licensed wineries in Washington.  My, how far we've come.

During this time of reflection, we asked Charlie to think back on some of his favorite vintages.  Below is his response: 

"These, of course, are my opinion:

1. 2005 - Right now for me the best wines we have made for Fidelitas since we started and the best vintage I have been affiliated in Washington since my first vintage in 1988. Rating - 96

2. 2009 - Wonderful wines that have great potential for aging. Warm vintage and very ripe fruit. Rating - 94

3. 2007 - Beautiful wines with incredible balance. Maybe not quite the same ripeness as 2009 but close. Rating - 94

4.1999 - Very interesting vintage in that everything seemed to get ripe but also retained incredibly high acids. Very old world with high natural acids. 2010 could be very much like this vintage. we shall see. Rating - 93

5.1994 - I worked at Chateau Ste. Michelle at the time and we were really starting to figure things out in our new facility at Canoe Ridge. First vintage of Col Solare made with the Antinori's - Rating 93

Special Note: The 2010 vintage as we taste it now, after a year in barrel, is rounding into a very nice vintage and could be very much like the 1999 vintage from Washington.

Other Great Ones - 2001, 1995 & 1989.

Best Vintage That I Tasted But Did Not Make: 1983. Considered by many as one of the greatest vintages ever from Washington. I had the opportunity to taste a vertical of all Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon, Old Vines in or around 2000. The 1983 Cabernet Sauvignon from Woodward Canyon stood high above the rest."