The first commercial vintage for Jackson Family Wines after its purchase of Zena Crown Vineyard west of Salem, Ore., is a collaboration of winemakers Tony Rynders and Shane Moore, and they use the sigma sign to designate mathematical symbol of “the sum.” Indeed, this is deep dark red fruited Pinot Noir is a reflection of the sum of Zena East blocks 4, 5 and 12, and Moore’s … [Read more...] about Zena Crown Vineyard 2013 Σ The Sum Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, $75
L’Ecole No. 41 2015 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Luminesce White Wine, Walla Walla Valley, $22
Marty Clubb and Mike Sharon continue to shine with white Bordeaux varieties, whether it be standalone bottlings of Sèmillon or its iconic Luminesce, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc with Sèmillon. Their work begins in Oregon at Seven Hills Vineyard, planted in 1981, and continues with several months of surlie aging in tight-grained French oak barrels. Aromas of Lemonhead candy, … [Read more...] about L’Ecole No. 41 2015 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Luminesce White Wine, Walla Walla Valley, $22
Ryan Patrick Vineyards 2015 Rock Island Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $20
Jeremy Santo created this new Chardonnay for the rapidly growing Ryan Patrick Vineyards brand, and it incorporates fruit from some of the region’s most mature sites — Sagemoor, Newhouse on Snipes Mountain, French Creek in the Yakima Valley and Charbonneau in Walla Walla County. The use of 18% new American oak for six months imparts aromas of dried banana, Red Delicious apple, … [Read more...] about Ryan Patrick Vineyards 2015 Rock Island Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $20
EFESTĒ 2013 Taylor Mag Vineyard Estate Petit Verdot, Red Mountain, $50
This Woodinville cult winery is the brainchild of Daniel and Helen Ferrelli, Patrick Smith, and Kevin and Angela Taylor — the first letters of their last names form F-S-T. Red Mountain serves as the site for two of EFESTĒ’s three estate vineyards, and Taylor Mag is dedicated to red Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. This vintage marked Peter … [Read more...] about EFESTĒ 2013 Taylor Mag Vineyard Estate Petit Verdot, Red Mountain, $50
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2015 Horse Heaven Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills, $18
For the second straight vintage, David Rosenthal, who heads up Bob Bertheau’s white wine squad, has earned our top rating for his work with Sauvignon Blanc from 40-year-old vines. They’ve continued the program for the stellar 2014 vintage, which included 32% of the lot aged on the lees in neutral French oak to build a complex mouth feel. Gorgeous aromas of gooseberry pie and … [Read more...] about Chateau Ste. Michelle 2015 Horse Heaven Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills, $18