80. Grantwood Winery 2010 Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley, $18 Much of the fruit for this boutique Walla Walla winery operated by Joe Grant and Doris Wood comes from Les Collines in the foothills south of town, and their handling of this single barrel is intense. The aromas are reminiscent of cordial cherries, smoky blackberry, cloves and black pepper, Douglas fir tea, … [Read more...] about Great Northwest Wine top 100 wines of 2013: 80-71
Archives for 2013
Milbrandt Vineyards 2011 Traditions Merlot, Columbia Valley, $16
The Milbrandts didn't reach far from their Wahluke Wine Company facility in Mattawa, Wash., for these grapes — Clifton, Clifton Hill, Talcott and Wahluke Slope vineyards — and the results showcase dark purple fruit from beginning to end. Aromas include Chukar Cherry, maple syrup, toffee and bay rum, followed by flavors of boysenberry, cordial cherry, French roast coffee and … [Read more...] about Milbrandt Vineyards 2011 Traditions Merlot, Columbia Valley, $16
Vino La Monarcha 2012 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $15
Best Buy! Victor Palencia shows the potential of often-overlooked Frenchman Hills Vineyard near Royal City, Wash., with this stunningly beautiful and reasonably priced Chardonnay. The nose is clean and bright with lemon, Golden Delicious apple, butterscotch, larch needle and inviting herbal notes. It's delicious, lively and loaded with tropical flavors of pineapple, mango and … [Read more...] about Vino La Monarcha 2012 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $15
Great Northwest Wine top 100 wines of 2013: 90-81
90. Camaraderie Cellars 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $40 Don and Vicki Corson are the folks behind this beautiful winery nestled in the forest of the Olympic Peninsula just a few minutes from downtown Port Angeles, Wash. Don, the winemaker, uses grapes from across the state in the arid Columbia Valley. This superb Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromas of … [Read more...] about Great Northwest Wine top 100 wines of 2013: 90-81
Cloudlift Cellars 2011 Halcyon Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $28
Seattle winemaker Tom Stangeland's bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon shows its pedigree with the balance so often found in wines from the Horse Heaven Hills. The nose opens with a fistful of tree-ripened cherries, chocolate, horehound, toasted walnut and minerality. There's a smooth entry of fresh blueberry juice, boysenberry and dark cherries, backed by solid tannins and a lengthy … [Read more...] about Cloudlift Cellars 2011 Halcyon Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $28