Wine Press Northwest's reigning Oregon Winery of the Year proves its versatility once again with this Côte Rotie-style Syrah, and while Andrew Wenzl celebrates his 10th anniversary at Abacela this year, the 2009 vintage marked just his second harvest as Earl & Hilda Jones' head winemaker. He created for them a plummy and smoky nose that includes touches of Aussie black … [Read more...] about Abacela 2009 Estate Syrah, Southern Oregon, $30
Oak Knoll Winery 2010 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $15
Best Buy! Jeff Herinckx, winemaker for this historic Hillsboro, Ore., winery, worked with crop levels ranging from 1.5 to 1.75 tons per acre from Dion, Tuenge and Sheppard vineyards, and yet he was still able to produce Pinot Noir of this quality and scale at such a friendly price. There are a lot of pleasing things to sort through in the nose, starting with plums, Bing … [Read more...] about Oak Knoll Winery 2010 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $15
San Juan Vineyards 2012 Estate Madeleine Angevine, Puget Sound, $17
A fascinating white variety, Madeleine Angevine is a cross of Madeleine Royale and Precoce de Malingre. It's also a parent to Siegerrebe, and one reason both "Mad Ange" and Siegerrebe excel near Friday Harbor is because of the cool climate. For example, when it reaches into the mid-80s in Seattle, the temperature in Friday Harbor often will just touch 70 degrees. The nose of … [Read more...] about San Juan Vineyards 2012 Estate Madeleine Angevine, Puget Sound, $17
Chester-Kidder 2009 Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $50
Allen Shoup collaborates with several world-famous winemakers for his renowned project, but this red blend — named for his grandfather and grandmother — tends to be our favorite Long Shadows release year after year. His long-time friend and lieutenant in Walla Walla, French-born winemaker Gilles Nicault, casts a spotlight on Candy Mountain near Richland, Wash., for much of the … [Read more...] about Chester-Kidder 2009 Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $50
Pendulum 2011 Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $18
This mid-tier brand is part of Precept's Vineyards & Estates program and stitched together by Waterbrook winemaker John Freeman. The profile built upon Cabernet Sauvignon (68%) and Merlot (25%) hits on notes of blueberry shake and a rhubarb-raspberry jam with bittersweet chocolate, making for a juicy, straight-forward wine with late tannins that add to its … [Read more...] about Pendulum 2011 Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $18