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Alexandria Nicole 2010 Destiny Ridge Vineyard Quarry Butte, Horse Heaven Hills, $25

By Andy Perdue on March 8, 2013

Owner/winemaker Jarrod Boyle was working for Hogue Cellars when he happened upon a stretch of land in the southern Horse Heaven Hills that was slated to become a rock quarry. He envisioned a vineyard and partnered with the Mercer family to plant Destiny Ridge Vineyard, now one of the most beautiful plantings in Washington. This red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot honors the vineyard and what could have been its fate. it opens with aromas of cedar, strawberry jam, vanilla, mint and toasted oak, followed by beautiful flavors of blueberry, black cherry, Marionberry and chocolate. It’s a balanced, complex wine with ample structure to back up the bold flavors. This wine calls for a thick steak or a hearty stew.

Rating: Excellent

Production: 1,411 cases

Alcohol: 14.5%

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About Andy Perdue

Andy Perdue is the editor and publisher of Great Northwest Wine. He is a third-generation journalist who has worked at newspapers since the mid-1980s and has been writing about wine since 1998. He co-founded Wine Press Northwest magazine with Eric Degerman and served as its editor-in-chief for 15 years. He is a frequent judge at international wine competitions. He is the author of "The Northwest Wine Guide: A Buyer's Handbook" (Sasquatch, 2003) and has contributed to four other books. He writes about wine for The Seattle Times. You can find him on Twitter and Google+.