Best Buy! This northern Willamette Valley winery near Forest Grove, Ore., has crafted a delicious wine that stays true to owner Alfredo Apolloni's Italian heritage. It opens with aromas of ambrosia salad, cotton candy, apple and pear, followed by deliciously round flavors of Golden Delicious apple, lemon slices and quice, all backed with nice richness throughout. Pair with … [Read more...] about Apolloni Vineyards 2011 Pinot Grigio, Willamette Valley, $15
Smasne Cellars 2010 Upland Vineyard Tempranillo, Snipes Mountain, $36
Robert Smasne knows the vines at Upland Vineyard on Snipes Mountain with a fair bit of intimacy. First of all, he grew up not far away in the Yakima Valley town of Grandview. Additionally, he makes the wine for historic Upland Estate, and he makes a large number of Upland-designated wines. This delicious Tempranillo reveals aromas of baked brownie, cinnamon, pomegranate and … [Read more...] about Smasne Cellars 2010 Upland Vineyard Tempranillo, Snipes Mountain, $36
Two Mountain Winery 2009 Copeland Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley, $30
Two brothers have been running this winery in the Rattlesnake Hills area of the Yakima Valley for more than a decade. This tasty Cab Franc opens with aromas of blueberry jam, lime zest and raspberry, followed by rich flavors of red-toned fruit such as pomegranate, cranberry and rapsberry, along with a sprinkle of cocoa powder. It has a rich mouth feel and a solid … [Read more...] about Two Mountain Winery 2009 Copeland Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley, $30
Woodinville Wine Cellars 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $18
Sean Boyd has been crafting the wines for Woodinville Wine Cellars for more than a decade. Sean, whose father, Gerald, is one of America's pre-eminent wine writers, grew up around fine wine and cuisine, and this deep experience shows in his winemaking style. This delicious Sauvignon Blanc opens with aromas of gooseberry, dusty orange, lime zest and lemongrass, followed by … [Read more...] about Woodinville Wine Cellars 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $18
JoieFarm 2011 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, $24
While this superb Naramata Bench winery tends to focus on world-class white wines, it also dabbles in delicious, food-friendly reds. This Pinot Noir is one of JoieFarm's finest efforts to date, and it points to the fact that the Okanagan can be a great place for the variety. Not only does it have cooler pockets that favor Pinot Noir, but it also enjoys dry harvests that put … [Read more...] about JoieFarm 2011 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, $24