This young winery just west of downtown Walla Walla is operated by a pair of retirees, and the time they devote to their tiny lots of wine is obvious. The nose rings with freshly cracked black pepper, blackberry, blueberry, red cherry, raspberry and vanilla extract. On the palate, those notes explode like a water balloon, making this Zin attractive, complex, long and lush. … [Read more...] about Grantwood Winery 2010 Zinfandel, Walla Walla Valley, $19
Alder Ridge 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $24
Ron Bunnell served as Chateau Ste. Michelle's top winemaker before creating his own winery in Prosser, Wash. He joined the Precept Wine team last year, and his responsibilities include wines made from this 800-acre site in the Horse Heaven Hills. This region has gained a reputation for creating wines of balance, and this one exemplifies that. Aromas of black plum, black cherry, … [Read more...] about Alder Ridge 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $24
Ghost Hill Cellars 2010 Bayliss-Bower Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $42
Showy and elegant, this Pommard-based Pinot Noir from estate vines stands on the precipice of greatness. The complex nose offers hints of dark cherry, loganberry, smoky blueberry, black olive, graphite, fresh cedar and rose petal. It strikes a breezy balance of blueberry and boysenberry with Bing cherry flavors, combined with juicy acidity and modest tannins that carry into … [Read more...] about Ghost Hill Cellars 2010 Bayliss-Bower Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $42
Oak Knoll Winery 2008 Red Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon, $24
Red Hill of Douglas County stands as a unique American Viticultural Area in the Pacific Northwest because the sub-AVA of the Umpqua Valley is dominated by a single vineyard — a 250-acre planting that began with Pinot Noir in 1970. Some of Oregon's most flavorful Pinot Noir bottlings are juiced up the inclusion of fruit from some of the warmer sections of the Umpqua Valley, and … [Read more...] about Oak Knoll Winery 2008 Red Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon, $24
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, peppermint and saddle leather. Flavors take in hints of blackberry and … [Read more...] about Grantwood Winery 2010 Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley, $18