Best Buy! Despite the scale of this production, the Campbell family and Heather Perkin — their winemaker for Pike Road — rely on hand-harvesting across the dozen or so vineyards they source this Pinot Gris from. Those include Dr. Robert Matteri’s plantings in Yamhill-Carlton near Campbell-owned Mount Richmond. There’s no oak involved, allowing for Intense aromas of sweet … [Read more...] about Pike Road Wines 2022 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $17
Barrister Winery 2019 Summit View Vineyard Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, $43
This vintage signaled the start of Tyler Walters’ second decade of winemaking in Spokane's Davenport Arts District alongside barristers Greg Lipsker and Michael White, and the effort with this higher-elevation site on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley is artful. Summit View, part of the famed SeVein project, is between Ferguson and Seven Hills Vineyard. There’s also … [Read more...] about Barrister Winery 2019 Summit View Vineyard Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, $43
DANCIN Vineyards 2021 Alto Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley $42
Southern Oregon’s climate lends itself to Pinot Noir that’s often fruit-forward and compelling, and the Marca family also has the benefit of growing at nearly 2,000 feet elevation to help create balance. Their winemaker since 2018, Chemeketa-trained Chris Jiron, released this stunning blend with Dijon clone 777 (60%) and Pommard, discretely accented by a barrel program of 15% … [Read more...] about DANCIN Vineyards 2021 Alto Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley $42
Boomtown by Dusted Valley 2022 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $18.99
Best Buy! Vintage after vintage, Dusted Valley Vintners shines with its Yakima Valley Chardonnay program from the Olsen family, so it makes sense that their Boomtown line - which also pulls Chardonnay from the Yakima Valley - would over-deliver at this price point. The use of neutral oak allows the fruit profile to emerge on the aromas and on the palate, ranging from starfruit, … [Read more...] about Boomtown by Dusted Valley 2022 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $18.99
Mosquito Fleet Winery 2020 S.G. Simpson Zinfandel, Rattlesnake Hills $50
History buff Brian Petersen uses his first bottling of Zinfandel to pay tribute to the Solomon Grout Simpson, a 115-foot sternwheeler that operated from Olympia to Shelton during the first quarter of the 20th century. The Kitsap Peninsula winemaker pulled the Zinfandel from historic Portteus Vineyard and blended Petite Sirah (6%) from Lonesome Spring Ranch ahead of a barrel … [Read more...] about Mosquito Fleet Winery 2020 S.G. Simpson Zinfandel, Rattlesnake Hills $50