Best Buy! Boise native Meredith Smith continues her impressive work in Idaho’s Snake River Valley with this beautiful Chardonnay. The viticulturist-turned-winemaker started her work in the vineyard that surrounds the picturesque tasting room, and the wine spent 15 months in a program including 20% new American oak. That imparts aromas of sweet toast, cotton candy, caramel apple … [Read more...] about Sawtooth Estate Winery 2013 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $12
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Waterbrook Winery 2014 Mélange Founder’s White Blend, Columbia Valley, $13
Best Buy! John Freeman’s aromatic blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Viognier, Chardonnnay, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat spent 10 months with just a touch of barrel and malolactic fermentation, and both aspects come through nicely. Gentle oak imparts light butter with caramel apple, vanilla and cotton candy aromas, followed by flavors of Gala apple, Asian pear and … [Read more...] about Waterbrook Winery 2014 Mélange Founder’s White Blend, Columbia Valley, $13
Ryan Patrick 2015 Rosé, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! This Milbrandt brothers/Flanagan family project bills its 2015 rosé as Rhône-styled, which fits because its 80% Syrah. Made from grapes grown in the Columbia Valley, it displays aromas of pomegranate and ruby grapefruit, then offers flavors of strawberry, rhubarb and more grapefruit. It's a delightful warm-weather sipper perfect for a weekend on the deck. This earned … [Read more...] about Ryan Patrick 2015 Rosé, Columbia Valley, $12
Barnard Griffin 2014 Rob’s Red Blend, Washington, $14
Best Buy! Rob Griffin takes the credit for stitching together this remarkably approachable blend of Merlot (53%), Cabernet Sauvignon (33%), Syrah (8%) and Malbec (6%) that’s loaded with milk chocolate, black cherry, dark plum and vanilla bean aromas. Cherry juice and chocolate-covered almonds begin to describe the flavors, backed by a structure of easy tannins that slowly build … [Read more...] about Barnard Griffin 2014 Rob’s Red Blend, Washington, $14
Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2014 The Expedition Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills, $15
Best Buy! Canoe Ridge Vineyard has given "The Expedition" title to its wines, playing off the ridgetop site named by Lewis and Clark after they noted in 1805 that it looked like an overturned canoe. The winery's 2014 Merlot from the Horse Heaven Hills offers a hint of pepper, then blackberries and mint in its nose. On the tongue, flavors of blackberries and black currants … [Read more...] about Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2014 The Expedition Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills, $15