Washington Wines Earn Top 100 Cellar Selections Spots

Several wines from the Columbia Valley AVA earned high marks on the 2026 Wine Enthusiast list.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Wine

Screen-print poster illustration of wine decanters in front of rolling valley hills, reflecting the premium wine region of Columbia Valley. — Multiple wines from Washington state's Columbia Valley were recognized in the 2026 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Cellar Selections list. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Wine Enthusiast recently published its 2026 Top 100 Cellar Selections, highlighting multiple premium labels produced in Washington state. The list features high-scoring bottles sourced from the Columbia Valley AVA.

Why it matters

These rankings provide visibility for the Columbia Valley region, which covers approximately one-third of Washington state. The recognition helps consumers identify bottles with significant aging potential and high-quality sensory characteristics.

Cimento secured the 4th spot with a 98-point Malbec, while Dossier Wine Collective ranked 13th with a 98-point red. Passing Time and DeLille Cellars also earned rankings for their respective 97-point and 94-point red wines.

The players

Dossier Wine Collective

This winery is owned by Sidney Rice and Tim Lenihan.

Passing Time

This winery is owned by former professional athletes Damon Huard and Dan Marino.

DeLille Cellars

The winery is a noted producer of Bordeaux-style red blends in Washington.

Cimento

This winery produced a highly rated Malbec that placed in the top five of the list.

Wine Enthusiast

This organization samples approximately 25,000 wines annually to rate their quality.

The details

Selected wines are evaluated by judges based on their sensory traits and ability to age. The featured bottles from Washington hail from specific growing areas including the Red Mountain, Walla Walla, and Milton-Freewater regions.

2026: Wine Enthusiast published its Top 100 Cellar Selections list.
2027-2042: Suggested drinking window for the DeLille 2023 red blend.
2040: End of the suggested drinking window for the Passing Time Cabernet.
2040 or later: Suggested drinking window for the Dossier 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon.
2045: Suggested drinking window for the Cimento 2022 Malbec.

Culture Shift

The prominence of these wines signals a continued upward trend for the Columbia Valley AVA in the global fine wine market. This success reflects a move away from legacy European dominance as regional American appellations increasingly gain favor among critics.

Wine enthusiasts should note the long-term aging windows for these bottles, which are expected to remain drinkable for up to two decades. Collectors can use these ratings to guide future purchases, though availability for limited-production bottles may vary.

The takeaway

These rankings highlight the long-term cellaring potential of high-end wines from the Columbia Valley. Readers interested in aging their own collections should prioritize storage conditions that align with these extended drinking windows.