The Flanagan family and winemaker Jeremy Santo set out to create a reserve style Chardonnay, and they worked with some of the oldest plantings in Washington to achieve their goal. Following the Sept. 14 harvest, a seven-month fermentation in 30% new French oak sets the stage for aromas of dusty orchard fruit, toast, butterscotch, pine forest and citrus. Those lead to flavors of … [Read more...] about Ryan Patrick Vineyards 2014 Bacchus Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $30
Washington
Novelty Hill 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $26
Most, but not all, of the fruit for this large-production Cab by Washington veteran winemaker Mike Januik was pulled off Frenchman Hills site Stillwater Creek Vineyard - the estate planting for Tom Alberg Jr.'s showpiece winery in Woodinville. It’s loaded with dark plum, fig and cherry aromas, joined by white chocolate, tar and saddle leather. Inside, the rounded mouth feel … [Read more...] about Novelty Hill 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $26
Côtes de Ciel 2012 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Flagship Reserve Red Wine, Red Mountain, $49
The Holmes family produced 53 barrels of wine from the inaugural 2012 vintage for its Côtes de Ciel brand. Of the top 12 barrels, they selected six for this Meritage-style blend of Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (33%) and Cabernet Franc. These six were all new French oak, and the 22 months in them leads to sweet oak aromas of vanilla and chocolate that pick up elderberry, … [Read more...] about Côtes de Ciel 2012 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Flagship Reserve Red Wine, Red Mountain, $49
L’Ecole No. 41 2015 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Luminesce White Wine, Walla Walla Valley, $22
Marty Clubb and Mike Sharon continue to shine with white Bordeaux varieties, whether it be standalone bottlings of Sèmillon or its iconic Luminesce, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc with Sèmillon. Their work begins in Oregon at Seven Hills Vineyard, planted in 1981, and continues with several months of surlie aging in tight-grained French oak barrels. Aromas of Lemonhead candy, … [Read more...] about L’Ecole No. 41 2015 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Luminesce White Wine, Walla Walla Valley, $22
Ryan Patrick Vineyards 2015 Rock Island Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $20
Jeremy Santo created this new Chardonnay for the rapidly growing Ryan Patrick Vineyards brand, and it incorporates fruit from some of the region’s most mature sites — Sagemoor, Newhouse on Snipes Mountain, French Creek in the Yakima Valley and Charbonneau in Walla Walla County. The use of 18% new American oak for six months imparts aromas of dried banana, Red Delicious apple, … [Read more...] about Ryan Patrick Vineyards 2015 Rock Island Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $20