Washington's Grays Harbor County produces some of the continent’s best cranberries, and Westport winemaker Dana Roberts uses those to create one of the Pacific Northwest's easiest-to-like wines. Given a blindfold, you mind think there's more cranberry in store with hints of raspberry and blood orange. There’s no mistaking that it's cranberry wine because of the purity of fruit. … [Read more...] about Westport Winery NV Rapture of the Deep Sparkling Cranberry, Washington, $28
Washington
Daven Lore Winery 2013 Durif, Horse Heaven Hills, $29
Yakima Valley winemaker Gordon Taylor hangs his hat on this loud and intense red grape from the Rhône Valley otherwise known as Petite Sirah - a cross of Peloursin and Syrah developed in France by 19th century botanist François Durif. Taylor pulled from Zephyr Ridge Vineyard on Sept. 27 for the P.S., which constitutes the legal minimum 75 percent of the blend as required by the … [Read more...] about Daven Lore Winery 2013 Durif, Horse Heaven Hills, $29
Renegade Wine Co. 2015 Rosé, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! Aside from the blend of red Rhône grapes, this is not really a renegade in the rosé class. It’s light and bright, with centered fruit complicated with earthy notes, which, come to think of it, does make this pink something of a renegade. This is produced by Sleight of Hands Cellars south of downtown Walla Walla, orchestrated by winemaker/Pearl Jam devotee Trey Busch … [Read more...] about Renegade Wine Co. 2015 Rosé, Columbia Valley, $12
Martin-Scott Winery 2013 Needlerock Vineyard Tempranillo, Columbia Valley, $24
Wenatchee Valley grower/winemaker Mike Scott allow his estate-grown Tempranillo to be what the variety is known for — a profile featuring robust tannins and bright acidity that presents food applications in the short term while being cellar-worthy, too. His latest release, which saw him trade Balkan oak for more traditional French and American barrels, comes with a dense nose … [Read more...] about Martin-Scott Winery 2013 Needlerock Vineyard Tempranillo, Columbia Valley, $24
Pacific Rim Winemakers 2015 Twin Vineyards Gewürztraminer, Yakima Valley, $16
This Gewürztraminer by bi-state vintner Nicolas Quillé is shrinking violet here, a product of two vineyards on opposite of the Yakima River. It’s more like a bouquet of rose petals in the aroma and a bowl of unadulterated lychee nuts on the palate, finishing with the varietal's perky spice and stimulating acidity to easily balance the residual sugar of 1.5%. Quillé - a Master … [Read more...] about Pacific Rim Winemakers 2015 Twin Vineyards Gewürztraminer, Yakima Valley, $16