An early marker of Marcus Rafanelli's first vintage making wine for the Clubb family, this rosé displays some of the skill that the erstwhile instructor at Walla Walla Community College developed at William Church in Woodinville. At L'Ecole brought in the lot from this storied site on Sept. 8 at nearly 25 Brix, a few days ahead of the wildfire smoke. Produced in a Provencal … [Read more...] about L’Ecole N° 41 Winery 2020 Alder Ridge Vineyard Grenache Rosé, Horse Heaven Hills $21
Outstanding
Caprio Cellars 2016 Estate Sanitella Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley, $88
If there seems to be some stylistic inspiration provided by nearby Pepper Bridge Winery, that makes sense because Caprio Cellars owner/winemaker Dennis Murphy recently invested in the historic Walla Walla brand launched by Norm McKibben and Jean-François Pellet. However, Murphy owns both of the vineyards that factor into this Left Bank-Bordeaux blend from the fracture-basalt … [Read more...] about Caprio Cellars 2016 Estate Sanitella Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley, $88
DeLille Cellars 2018 Harrison Hill 25th Vintage Red Wine, Snipes Mountain, $105
In 1972, the Newhouse family took over farming this 5-acre site established a century ago by W.B. Bridgman within the city limits of Sunnyside, Wash. The prized component has been the acre of Cabernet Sauvignon that was established in 1962 and is a living piece of the state's wine history. They've since planted Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, DeLille began producing a … [Read more...] about DeLille Cellars 2018 Harrison Hill 25th Vintage Red Wine, Snipes Mountain, $105
Domaine Serene 2018 Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $80
The lineage for Evenstad Reserve stems from its inaugural vintage in 1990 and the brand launched by famed winemaker Ken Wright for Grace Evenstad and her late husband, Ken. The Minnesotans named their project for their daughter, Serene, and their laser-focus on two varieties — Chardonnay and Pinot Noir — planted across six estate vineyards in three appellations is evident year … [Read more...] about Domaine Serene 2018 Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $80
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2020 Le Rosé, Columbia Valley $25
Two decades ago, Lacey Steffey was a first-grade teacher in California's San Joaquin Valley. Today, the University of California-Davis grad's responsibilities for Chateau Ste. Michelle include producing one of the Northwest's top examples of rosé. And she accomplished it beautifully not with a fashionable variety such as Grenache, Counoise or Pinot Noir but a blend of Cabernet … [Read more...] about Chateau Ste. Michelle 2020 Le Rosé, Columbia Valley $25