B-21 Top Recommendation
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Described as “one of the best places to find value in Washington State” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Sean Sullivan, Columbia Valley’s rich and powerful 94 pt. 2020 J. Bookwalter Conflict and 94 pt. 2020 J. Bookwalter Protagonist rank among the region’s highest scoring red wines, a duo of exceptional Bordeaux style reds priced at a fraction of their higher profile peers and both outstanding values to reach for over the next decade.
Moving to eastern Washington from California wine country in the early 1970’s, founder Jerry Bookwalter managed the state’s first large-scale wine grape vineyard named Sagemoor, growing Cabernet Sauvignon on the southwest-facing slopes of the steep Columbia River Gorge and planting the Bacchus and Dionysus Vineyards nearby in the White Bluffs AVA, the high-altitude parcels supplying grapes for some of the Valley’s longtime iconic producers including DeLille. While managing the renowned Conner Lee Vineyard in Columbia Valley, Jerry took notice of the success of the elite wineries they were selling grapes to including Leonetti Cellar and established his own label in Pasco in 1983, the Richland winery now run by his son John. Sourced from the Dionysus and Conner Lee vineyards, the rich and aromatic 94 pt. J. Bookwalter Conflict is a blend of 56% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc aged in 50% new French oak for 18 months, yielding “luxuriously ripe wild berry fruits motivated by juicy acidity” according to Eric Guido of Vinous with substantial tannins promising longevity. Described as “brooding at the core but generous and expressive” by the Wine Spectator’s Tim Fish, the powerful 94 pt. 2020 J. Bookwalter Protagonist is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon from Conner Lee with small amounts of Syrah and Petit Verdot offering rich, earthy dark fruit hinting of graphite with “silky tannins and crisp acidity” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Michael Alberty, its lush and lingering finish layered with tannins built to evolve over the next decade and beyond.
From a warmer, low-yielding 2020 vintage creating structured red wines “balancing elegance and power” according to Decanter’s Clive Pursehouse, the impressive 94 pt. duo of 2020 J. Bookwalter Conflict and 2020 J. Bookwalter Protagonist are top picks for collectors of robust Washington state wines and fans of bold reds seeking a great deal, two delicious and impeccably crafted wines from the region’s top vineyards priced to over deliver value for years to come. | 
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