Food and Wine Senior Wine Editor Ray Isle tasted 105 Washington state reds and discovered that choosing 20 top wines was one of the most difficult selections he's ever had to make. Across the board, quality was remarkable high--a testimony to how exciting Washington state wines are right now.

Syrah Division
2004 DUNHAM CELLARS COLUMBIA VALLEY SYRAH ($45)
Eric Dunham, a Walla Walla native, sources grapes from the Lewis Estate vineyard, at the base of Rattlesnake Ridge, to make this powerful, black-fruited Syrah.