This vintage marked the 10th harvest in Idaho for proud Washington State University grads Melanie Krause and Joe Schnerr, and they’ve kept the focus on the fruit they pulled in from sweeping Sawtooth Vineyard. Only 10% of their barrel program was new, and they aged the juice on the lees for eight months. As a result, it’s showy yet smooth in the nose with gooseberry, Key lime … [Read more...] about Cinder Wines 2015 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $18
King Estate 2015 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $19
Perhaps no wine serves as the ambassador of the Oregon wine industry more than King Estate’s flagship Pinot Gris. This vintage marked the 25th anniversary of the Ed King III scouting out the land for his future winery, and the winemaking tandem of Spencer Spetnagel and Brent Stone make this predictably delicious. King Estate grapes form 56% of the blend, and 100% of the wine … [Read more...] about King Estate 2015 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $19
Pepper Bridge Winery 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Walla Walla Valley, $36
This latest release of Salmon Safe-farmed Sauvignon Blanc by Jean-François Pellet from the entirely estate program of Seven Hills (63%) and Les Collines vineyards is 100 percent deliciously intense. He’s eliminated his use of stainless steel fermentation in recent years, so here the program was neutral French oak (60%) with juice from concrete egg (40%). That builds brisk … [Read more...] about Pepper Bridge Winery 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Walla Walla Valley, $36
Stoller Family Estate 2015 Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, $25
Land for the largest contiguous vineyard in the Dundee Hills has been Bill Stoller’s family since 1943, and the successful tandem of winemaker Melissa Burr and viticulturist Robert Schultz has helped pave the way for the remarkable fruit-forward production of estate Chardonnay to triple from the 2014 — without losing a step and holding steady in terms of pricing. Gorgeous … [Read more...] about Stoller Family Estate 2015 Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, $25
Yamhill Valley Vineyards 2014 Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, $22
McMinnville’s oldest winery and winemaker Stephen Cary view Pinot Blanc as their favorite white wine to craft, this release exemplifies their well-placed passion for this often-unappreciated Burgundy grape. The cooling influence of the Van Duzer Corridor effect across Yamhill Valley Vineyard's Casa and Mainfield blocks allows Cary to capture the stunning acidity that’s the … [Read more...] about Yamhill Valley Vineyards 2014 Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, $22