The Wright family creates this Chardonnay from two of their estate sites — Haakon Lenai Vineyard, a Dundee Hills site owned by Cody and Marque Wright, with Savoya Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton owned by founder Ken Wright and his soccer-coaching wife, Karen. Both vineyards are certified organic, and clone 548, which has found a home at each site, forms the foundation of this 50/50 … [Read more...] about Ken Wright Cellars 2021 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $38
Wine of the Week
Mt. Hood Winery 2018 Gunkel Vineyard Barbera, Columbia Valley $38
Three generations of the Gunkel family have raised crops near the Maryhill Museum of Art, and their grape vines at the eastern edge of the Columbia Gorge near the Columbia River have led to acclaim for a number of Northwest winemakers. Rich Cushman's work with Barbera from the 2018 vintage ranks among the most decorated wines in the past two years. In 2021, this bottling won a … [Read more...] about Mt. Hood Winery 2018 Gunkel Vineyard Barbera, Columbia Valley $38
3100 Cellars 2017 Whitewater Sparkling Wine, Snake River Valley, $36
Boise-area winemaker Hailey Minder turned some of Idaho's oldest Chardonnay — Bitner Vineyards — into one of the Pacific Northwest's best interpretations of Champagne. “Whitewater” is the title she and her husband, a former river guide, gave to their blanc de blanc made using traditional methods. It’s an appropriate name, considering the abundant bubbles of its mousse. It opens … [Read more...] about 3100 Cellars 2017 Whitewater Sparkling Wine, Snake River Valley, $36
Mellisoni Vineyards 2019 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Malbec, Royal Slope, $65
Last fall, Rob and Donna Mellison were awarded five Platinums during Great Northwest Wine's annual judging of gold-medal winners. Their 2018 Malbec from Ed Kelly's vineyard was among those winners, so it's no surprise to see the follow-up vintage showing so well so early. And here's another example of this juicy Bordeaux variety growing so deliciously in the Royal Slope. The … [Read more...] about Mellisoni Vineyards 2019 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Malbec, Royal Slope, $65
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2018 Reserve Malbec, Applegate Valley $40
One of the Northwest's rare three-generation wineries teamed up to produce a Malbec that ranks among the best in region. Founding winemaker Cal Schmidt, his daughter Rene Brons and grandson Duncan Brons took fruit from their Southern Oregon estate and turned it into a double gold at last fall's Great Northwest Invitational — a wine one judge described as "the belle of the … [Read more...] about Schmidt Family Vineyards 2018 Reserve Malbec, Applegate Valley $40