Best Buy! Prosser winemaker Gordon Taylor and his wife, soil scientist Joan Davenport, created this label at the start of the “Great Recession,” and it continues to be a remarkable bottling from one of the Washington state’s most overlooked boutique wineries. Their latest lot is 2011 Merlot (72%) from Upland Vineyard on Snipes Mountain, but there’s enough 2011 Syrah (14%) and 2010 Malbec (14%) off the Horse Heaven Hills to pick up that region’s telltale minerality and graphite tones. The aromas offer hints of blackberry, blueberry, pie cherry, vanilla and cigar tobacco, along with a whiff of Syrah gaminess. There’s a match on the darkly textured palate, backed by spice, pomegranate acidity and managed tannins. Taylor refers to this as his “pizza wine,” but they also pair it with grilled pork chops, salmon and Quiche Lorraine.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 99 cases
Alcohol: 14.5%
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