All posts by Great Northwest Wine

About Great Northwest Wine

Articles authored by Great Northwest Wine are co-authored by Eric Degerman and Andy Perdue. In most cases, these are wine reviews that are judged blind by the Great Northwest Wine tasting panel.
  • Cadaretta 2014 Windthrow Red Wine, Columbia Valley $50

    The Middleton family uses its Windthrow as a Rhône-inspired wine for its Cadaretta brand in Walla Walla. In the 2014 edition, the sources for this Syrah-heavy blend with Mourvèdre (15%) and Grenache (9%) go beyond the Middleton’s...

    • Posted November 14, 2018
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  • Ponzi Vineyards 2015 Aurora Vineyard Chardonnay, Chehalem Mountains $63

    The Ponzi family doesn’t brand this vineyard-designate Chardonnay as reserve, but second-generation talent Luisa Ponzi crafts this 100 percent French barrel-fermented with a deliciously balanced approach. Nearly a third of the barrels used were new oak, and...

    • Posted November 14, 2018
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  • Stemilt Creek Winery 2014 Ascent Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $48

    The Mathison family spans four generations as orchardists and farmers in Washington’s Wenatchee Valley. Their vines are well into their second decade of existence, and with the guidance of winemaker Richard Hood, a graduate of University of...

    • Posted November 14, 2018
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  • Kriselle Cellars 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Rogue Valley, $24

    Retired bridge engineer Scott Steingraber continues to build a following for the Sauvignon Blanc program off his Buxton Ranch property near Medford, Ore. In sticking with his tradition, his Sauvignon Blanc undergoes mostly stainless-steel fermentation, and in...

    • Posted November 14, 2018
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  • Elephant Seven 2017 Blue Mountain Vineyard Viognier, Walla Walla Valley, $20

    Joshua West fled the life of an investment banker and plunged himself in the Walla Walla Valley wine community. Earlier this year, the College Cellars product opened his own tasting room downtown to more properly showcase his...

    • Posted November 14, 2018
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  • Ryan Patrick Wines 2017 Olsen Brothers Vineyard Riesling, Yakima Valley, $12

    Best Buy! Winery owner Butch Milbrandt welcomed acclaimed Kendall Mix as his winemaker in the summer of 2017. The transition appears rather seamless because this marks the third consecutive vintage for Ryan Patrick’s Riesling from the Olsen...

    • Posted November 13, 2018
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  • Aubichon Cellars 2016 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $35

    Chehalem Mountains vineyard owner Tom Mortimer reached out to Jim Sanders back in 2007 to served as the winemaker for Aubichon Cellars, and the synergy continues a decade later. Their latest Willamette Valley cuveé pulls from Menefee...

    • Posted November 13, 2018
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  • Mercer Estates 2016 Sharp Sisters Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills, $20

    The Mercer family named this Syrah-based blend after Carma Sharp Mercer and her sisters, and it’s among the rambunctious wines from the Jessica Munnell winemaking era. Indeed, there’s some bustiness in the structure from Bordeaux varieties Merlot...

    • Posted November 13, 2018
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  • Alexana Winery 2017 Revana Vineyard Riesling, Dundee Hills $32

    This marked the first vintage in which Oregon State grad Bryan Weil took over the head winemaking duties from renowned Lynn Penner-Ash. The Dundee Hills are famous for Pinot Noir, but Weil, whose résumé includes Constellation’s Columbia...

    • Posted November 13, 2018
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  • Dunham Cellars 2015 Lewis Estate Vineyard Riesling, Columbia Valley, $19.50

    One of the Walla Walla Valley’s most popular wineries might be best known for suave red, but their work with Riesling from historic Lewis Vineyard in the Yakima Valley has been stellar for years. The aromas on...

    • Posted November 13, 2018
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