Best Buy! In 1982, Spokane winemaker Mike Conway used Muscat Canelli to help launch Latah Creek. Now, it’s his daughter, Natalie Barnes, heading up the program and using Hyatt Vineyards in the Yakima Valley. This grape remains Mike’s favorite, and it’s easy to see why - starting with its early arrival (Aug. 30) into the winery. Beautiful aromas include lychee nut, Bartlett … [Read more...] about Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2015 Hyatt Vineyards Muscat Canelli, Rattlesnake Hills, $11
Beginner’s Luck 2011 Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $11
Best Buy! The Claar Wine Group is a small, multi-generation company north of Pasco, Wash., with a large Salmon Safe estate vineyard behind it. Its farming practices overlooking the Columbia River, combined with the work of veteran winemaker Joe Hudon, allows it to produce award-winning wines at a variety of price points, including their Beginner’s Luck brand. This blend of … [Read more...] about Beginner’s Luck 2011 Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $11
Fullerton Wines 2014 Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville, $55
Moe Momtazi purchased his 540 acres in the McMinnville American Viticultural Area back in 1997, and the abandoned wheat ranch soon became one of the most important biodynamic vineyards in the Pacific Northwest wine industry. Alex Fullerton’s work with these 16 barrels — two of which were brand new French oak — includes a program of 25% whole cluster fermentation. The cooling … [Read more...] about Fullerton Wines 2014 Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville, $55
Fujishin Family Cellars 2015 Gewürztraminer, Snake River Valley, $16
Snake River Valley native Martin Fujishin continues to champion Gewürztraminer grown at Skyline Vineyard, Idaho’s largest, and he does so in a dry style tribute to the cool-climate grape from Germany. Its theme is tropical, led by lychee nut with vanilla, clove and lightly toasted almond. There’s also the variety’s classic grapefruit pith to balance what little sugar is left … [Read more...] about Fujishin Family Cellars 2015 Gewürztraminer, Snake River Valley, $16
‘Drink Me Now: 150 Cocktails for Any Emergency’ packs a punch
I’m usually generally disappointed with cocktail recipe books. They typically have a handful of useful recipes that a person would actually make, and the rest of the recipes either require obscure ingredients or components that you must Google before you can begin to shop for them. Drink Me Now is different. Consider it your cocktail assistant, no matter how new or … [Read more...] about ‘Drink Me Now: 150 Cocktails for Any Emergency’ packs a punch