Aquilini Brands USA owns more than 1,100 acres of vineyards in Washington state, and more than a third of those are in the Horse Heaven Hills. Before long, Dixie & Bass might be the most recognizable of the seven brands they’ve launched recently. The juice spent four months in stainless steel tanks with French oak staves, which led to a fascinating nose of rum cake and vanilla cream behind notes of lime, passion fruit and cotton candy. Lime juice and lime zest dominate the palate at the beginning and end, yet there’s more spice cake in between, creating intrigue and balance. Suggested pairings include creamy goat cheese and bitter greens, a tangy pesto risotto, a halibut tostada with yogurt lime sauce or macaroni and cheese. These wines are available at Northwest retailers such as Whole Foods, QFC, Total Wine, Fred Meyer, PCC Markets, Haggen, Thriftway and King’s Market.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 2,420 cases
Alcohol: 13%
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