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THE WASHINGTON WINE REPORT September 2026 
Last month I went on an incredible trip to Washington wine country in search of a deeper understanding of the wines coming from Walla Walla and beyond. It was my first time back since before the pandemic, and the trip was long overdue. Four days were packed with insightful vineyard walks, winery visits, large-scale tastings, and more intimate dinners with library wines. It was a wonderful opportunity to check in on some old favorites while also seeking out new producers pushing the boundaries of the current Washington wine scene. Below is everything I brought back: new producers pushing the boundaries, the icons still holding court, the singular wines of The Rocks District, a vineyard on Red Mountain that shouldn't work but absolutely does, and a winery I'd never heard of six months ago making a 97-point Cabernet Sauvignon for $24.95. — Ryan Woodhouse, K&L Domestic Wine Buyer
Itä wines was founded in 2019 by Kelsey Albro Itämeri. EXPLORING WASHINGTON… FINALLY!Last month I went on an incredible trip to Washington wine country in search of a deeper understanding of the wines coming from Walla Walla and beyond. Four days were packed with insightful vineyard walks, winery visits, large-scale tastings, and more intimate dinners with library wines. It was a wonderful opportunity to check in on some old favorites while also seeking out new producers pushing the boundaries of the current Washington wine scene.
The overall quality really impressed me, but the diversity of grape varieties and styles being produced was equally noteworthy. There's a palpable energy in Washington, where regions and producers don't seem bound to any one dominant grape or winemaking style. Read Ryan's full Washington trip report On The Trail.
Champoux Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills WASHINGTON'S OLD GUARD STILL HOLDING COURTWhile it was a lot of fun exploring wines from new producers on the trip, it was equally rewarding to revisit some old favorites and taste new releases from the iconic wineries that helped elevate Washington wine onto the world stage in the first place. Here are a few of the crème de la crème wines I was lucky enough to taste — and secure small allocations of for our shelves. Read Ryan's take on Washington's iconic estates On The Trail.
Cayuse Vineyards, Walla Walla Valley IN THE ROCKSWhile technically sitting just across the state line in northern Oregon, the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater is a sub-AVA of Walla Walla that produces some of the most distinctive wines in the world. That's not an exaggeration. The wines from the Rocks District are so incredibly distinctive that the expression of place is often more recognizable than the grape variety itself. The vines here grow in 300 feet of pure river gravel laid down by the Walla Walla River. Many vineyards look remarkably similar to the famed vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, their surfaces covered almost entirely with rounded river pebbles. The wines have a gamey, savory, meaty character reminiscent of Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, and Saint-Joseph — and yet the Rocks has a complex “funk” that is entirely its own. Read Ryan's writeup on the Rocks District, Cayuse, and Christophe Baron On The Trail. - Cayuse New 2023 Arrivals -
- Also From The Rocks -
WeatherEye Vineyard, Red Mountain AVA WEATHEREYEWhile the primary focus of my trip was Walla Walla, I decided to extend my visit and check out a vineyard I've wanted to see for many years: WeatherEye. This incredible site on the upper slopes and ridgeline of Red Mountain is one of the most exciting vineyard developments of the past decade anywhere in the USA, and seeing it with my own eyes was truly mind-blowing. This exposed, windy, rocky ridge was once considered virtually unplantable due to its extreme growing conditions and exceptionally rocky soils. Ten years later, it has become one of the most sought-after and critically acclaimed vineyards in the region. Read Ryan's walk through WeatherEye with vineyard manager Ryan Johnson On The Trail.
Patrick and Matthew Rawn of Two Mountain Winery A NEW FIND: TWO MOUNTAIN WINERYA few months back, an old friend in the wine business turned me on to the wines of Two Mountain. Previously unknown to me, I trusted his palate and sent a request for samples. Shortly afterward, I tasted through the range and was immediately impressed by both the quality and the exceptional value for money. Two Mountain is run by two brothers from a multi-generational farming family in the Yakima Valley. The wines have a distinctive Old World feel — structure, modest alcohol, savory varietal expression, tobacco, cedar, leather, and stony, earthy components. After tasting them with the K&L staff, we felt they'd appeal just as much to Bordeaux drinkers as to folks who gravitate toward the more polished wines of Napa or Paso Robles. Then, right after my initial order shipped, James Suckling published a report on Washington and dropped a bunch of huge scores on the Two Mountain lineup — for many of the very same reasons I'd been so excited about them. Read Ryan on finding Two Mountain On The Trail.
K Vintners—Walla Walla, Washington MORE WASHINGTON ON OUR SHELVES
The ancient vines of Pagani Ranch Vineyards, near Kenwood in Sonoma Valley MEANWHILE, BACK IN CALIFORNIAWhile I was off in Washington, a few things landed here that deserve a mention. Three new Anonymous Wine Collective releases, one very welcome return, and a Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet a lot of you bought by the case last fall. - New from Anonymous Wine Collective -
- Back in Stock -
Au Bon Climat, Santa Maria Valley THE SPIDER AND THE PIP
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| Item Name | Retail | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Clendenen Family Vineyards "The Pip" Santa Maria Valley Nebbiolo (Winery Direct Library Release) (Previously $25) | $12.95 | View |
K&L WINE CLUBS
Thoughtfully Selected and Delivered
Curated by the same team behind every bottle above
Thursday, September 10th – Blind Tasting (All Locations)
Friday, September 11th – TBD (All Locations)
Saturday, September 12th – Bordeaux (All Locations)
Thursday, September 17th – Beer (San Francisco and Redwood City)
Friday, September 18th – TBD (All Locations)
Saturday, September 19th – Domestic (All Locations)
Thursday, September 24th – Wine School (All Locations)
Friday, September 25th – Italy (All Locations)
Saturday, September 26th – Rhône (All Locations)
Thursday, October 1st – Wine Club (All Locations)
Friday, October 2nd – Domestic (All Locations)
Saturday, October 3rd – Spain/Portugal (All Locations)
Sunday, October 9th – Chappellet (All Locations)
Saturday, October 10th – Champagne (All Locations)
K&L Culver City
K&L Hollywood
K&L San Francisco
K&L Redwood City
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