Best Buy! The late-ripening vintage of 2022 set the stage for winemaker Joe Hudon’s Oct. 10 harvest of Phelps clone Syrah off Kamiak Vineyard that was destined for this rosé program. There’s a hint of Provence with the salmon color that brings aromas of pink strawberry, Rainier cherry, hibiscus and a cedar-lined chest of drawers. Dusty cherry and white strawberry flavors are … [Read more...] about Gordon Estate 2022 Rosé, Columbia Valley $20
Argyle Winery 2018 Spirit Hill Vineyard Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine, Eola-Amity Hills, $60
Those wanting to know if a restaurant is serious about their wine list can quickly figure that out by seeing if Argyle’s storied sparkling wine program is represented. The team surrounding Nate Klostermann, in his second decade as head winemaker at the Dundee, Ore., landmark, playfully refers to this sparkling Chardonnay as a “Baby Extended Tirage” because it is aged on the … [Read more...] about Argyle Winery 2018 Spirit Hill Vineyard Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine, Eola-Amity Hills, $60
Kindred Vineyards & Winery 2021 Mamas Merlot, Snake River Valley $36
Owner/winemaker Craig Davis was inspired to enter the Idaho wine industry after a trip to Italy, which also helps explain the menu of wood-fired pizza that he offers to his by-appointment visitors each weekend at his Sunnyslope estate along Frost Road west of Ste. Chapelle. Beyond his Sangiovese program - which earned best-of-class acclaim at the 2023 Cascadia International - … [Read more...] about Kindred Vineyards & Winery 2021 Mamas Merlot, Snake River Valley $36
Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2022 Estate Selection Hefeabzug Grüner Veltliner, Umpqua Valley $34
Stephen Reustle’s expression of Grüner Veltliner that spends time on the lees — hefeabzug translates to yeast-aged — offers scents of sea breeze, crushed oyster shells, timothy hay and Mandarin orange peel, leading to a palate filled with a melange of citrus, slate and Granny Smith apple. Reustle’s success in the vineyard and the following for his program has paved the way for … [Read more...] about Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2022 Estate Selection Hefeabzug Grüner Veltliner, Umpqua Valley $34
Sigillo Cellars 2020 Carménère, Wahluke Slope $40
The Seal family has earned five Platinum Awards in the past four years, each for a red wine. Here, they work with historic Weinbau Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope for Carménère, and there’s some Cabernet Sauvignon for added texture. Aromas range from dried cherries and figs to mild baking spices, a hint of vanilla and a slice of bell pepper. On the palate, it’s plummy with a … [Read more...] about Sigillo Cellars 2020 Carménère, Wahluke Slope $40