Best Buy! Stainless steel fermentation with a bit of oak and eight months on the lees results in this fruity, butterscotchy and refreshing Chardonnay from historic Columbia Winery. Aromas also include Bosc pear, Jonagold apple and a hint of sweetened lemon, which come through on the dry and crisp palate. Touches of melon, hazelnut and pineapple add complexity. The Woodinville … [Read more...] about Columbia Winery 2013 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $14
Ross Andrew Winery 2015 Celilo Vineyard Pinot Gris, Columbia Gorge, $21
One of the Pacific Northwest’s top sites for crisp whites is Celilo Vineyard, a prized high-elevation site in Columbia Gorge near the town of Underwood, Wash. Most of this lot came from a Pinot Gris block planted in 1975, harvested at 22 Brix on Oct. 6 at nearly 1,400 feet elevation. Ross Andrew Mickel’s winemaking allows for a fascinating theme of both tropical and citrus … [Read more...] about Ross Andrew Winery 2015 Celilo Vineyard Pinot Gris, Columbia Gorge, $21
La Crema Winery 2014 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $30
Jackson Family Wines invested in the Willamette Valley to create cool-climate Pinot Noir, and here’s another delicious example from a warm vintage in the Pacific Northwest. Elizabeth Grant-Douglas collaborated with eight vineyards, primarily in the Yamhill-Carlton and Eola-Amity Hills growing regions for this deliciously balanced, fruit-forward Pinot Noir. Her reliance on only … [Read more...] about La Crema Winery 2014 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $30
Novelty Hill 2013 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Malbec, Columbia Valley, $28
One of Washington’s most storied winemakers, Mike Januik, continues to showcase Tom Alberg’s acclaimed site on the Royal Slope and its work with one of the state’s hottest varieties. A 20-month program with French and American barrels, 43% of them new, account for a pleasing aromatic profile of dark toast, black cherry and blueberry backed by vanilla, chocolate, coffee and wet … [Read more...] about Novelty Hill 2013 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Malbec, Columbia Valley, $28
Marcus Rafanelli returns to College Cellars as instructor
WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Marcus Rafanelli, born and raised in Seattle, recently was hired as Walla Walla Community College’s newest vintage winemaker. He grew up on Beacon Hill in a big Italian family, whose scions had made their way from the Veneto region of Italy and around Pisa. Although his family reveled in big family dinners where wine was always served, he never … [Read more...] about Marcus Rafanelli returns to College Cellars as instructor