Best Buy! Gordon Taylor builds two distinctly different styles of Riesling from the vines of Patricia O'Brien in Prosser at nearby VineHeart Winery. This lot harvested the day before Halloween, and he finished it essentially bone dry at 0.1% residual sugar with the pH at a brisk 3.02. The nose suggests fresh-pressed apple juice, ripe Bartlett pear, jasmine, lime and celery. The … [Read more...] about Daven Lore Winery 2012 Dry Riesling, Yakima Valley, $15
Open Road Wine Company 2011 Barbera, Wahluke Slope, $28
When the Papanikolaous launched their tiny winery in Bothell, Wash., they quickly zeroed in on the Wahluke Slope for their fruit. One of that region's oldest vineyards is Rosebud, and the hand-picked clusters from this Italian variety shine. It opens with rich boysenberry and chocolate aromas that also show hints of rose hips, lime and nutmeg. The fruit-forward palate offers … [Read more...] about Open Road Wine Company 2011 Barbera, Wahluke Slope, $28
Koenig Vineyards 2010 Three Vineyard Cuvée Syrah, Snake River Valley, $20
Greg Koenig, the man behind many of Idaho's best wines, creates this Syrah from three neighboring sites — Bitner, Hells Canyon and Williamson vineyards. The blend allowed him to develop aromas of sweet toasted oak with blueberry, plum, dark cherry and boysenberry. On the palate, it's loaded with blackberry, plum and cassis, which are surrounded by dark chocolate. Behind comes … [Read more...] about Koenig Vineyards 2010 Three Vineyard Cuvée Syrah, Snake River Valley, $20
Cathedral Ridge Winery 2009 Rock Star Red, Columbia Valley, $48
One of the top wineries in the Columbia Gorge, owner Robb Bell recently opened a tasting room in Dundee, Ore., and this suave blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) and Syrah offers a pleasant change of pace for those Pinot Noir tourists. The nose carries a theme of blackberry, Belgian chocolate and espresso, and that brambleberry flavor leads the entry. The midpalate features … [Read more...] about Cathedral Ridge Winery 2009 Rock Star Red, Columbia Valley, $48
Walla Walla Vintners 2009 Bello Rosso, Columbia Valley, $32
How did Myles Anderson celebrate his latest retirement from Walla Walla Community College's viticulture and enology program? With a summer trip to Italy. That's one example of the love he and co-owner Gordy Venneri have for Italian-themed wines and cuisine, and their Super Tuscan-style blend of Sangiovese (50%) from Kiona and Dwelley vineyards with Cabernet Sauvignon from … [Read more...] about Walla Walla Vintners 2009 Bello Rosso, Columbia Valley, $32