This Woodinville cult winery is the brainchild of Daniel and Helen Ferrelli, Patrick Smith, and Kevin and Angela Taylor — the first letters of their last names form F-S-T. Red Mountain serves as the site for two of EFESTĒ’s three estate vineyards, and Taylor Mag is dedicated to red Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. This vintage marked Peter … [Read more...] about EFESTĒ 2013 Taylor Mag Vineyard Estate Petit Verdot, Red Mountain, $50
Washington
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2015 Horse Heaven Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills, $18
For the second straight vintage, David Rosenthal, who heads up Bob Bertheau’s white wine squad, has earned our top rating for his work with Sauvignon Blanc from 40-year-old vines. They’ve continued the program for the stellar 2014 vintage, which included 32% of the lot aged on the lees in neutral French oak to build a complex mouth feel. Gorgeous aromas of gooseberry pie and … [Read more...] about Chateau Ste. Michelle 2015 Horse Heaven Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills, $18
Martinez & Martinez Winery 2015 Tudor Hills Vineyard Viognier, Yakima Valley, $16
Some of Washington’s oldest vineyards serve as neighbors for Mark and Tom Tudor’s vines near Grandview, and while they sell to some of the state’s largest wineries, here they work Prosser winemaker Andrew Martinez. The nose of lemon meringue pie, nectarine and spearmint include lamb's wool and lanolin. On the palate, it takes a tropical turn with Mandarin orange and honeydew … [Read more...] about Martinez & Martinez Winery 2015 Tudor Hills Vineyard Viognier, Yakima Valley, $16
TruthTeller Winery 2014 The Cynic Syrah, Columbia Valley, $40
Chris Loeliger, a product of South Seattle Community College’s Northwest Wine Academy, makes a splash in Woodinville with this fruit-forward Syrah from Dineen Vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills and Patina Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. The even contributions of those vineyards after 20 months of aging in four neutral French oak barrels allows for aromas of blackberry jam, … [Read more...] about TruthTeller Winery 2014 The Cynic Syrah, Columbia Valley, $40
Milbrandt Vineyards 2015 Evergreen Vineyard Traditions Riesling, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, $13
Best Buy! Evergreen Vineyard, one of Washington state’s premier sites for cool-climate whites, shines yet again with this bargain Riesling. This planting not far from Jerry Milbrandt’s home saw Riesling for this program begin to get pulled on Oct. 16, and winemaker Emily Haines presents it in a dry, but not a geeky style. Amazing aromas include cotton candy, jasmine, Jolly … [Read more...] about Milbrandt Vineyards 2015 Evergreen Vineyard Traditions Riesling, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, $13