This vintage marked the 30th anniversary of the Gordon brothers’ first wine produced from their estate overlooking the Snake River, and it features a blend of fruit and barrel notes, starting with aromas of Spanish almond, butter and toast that also include caramel apple, grapefruit pith and lemon pepper. There’s less influence of oak on the acid-driven palate, which brings a … [Read more...] about Gordon Estate 2015 Estate Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $22
Valley View Winery NV Rogue White, Oregon, $12
Best Buy! This second-generation operation, with a historical footprint that includes becoming the Rogue Valley’s first bonded winery created after Prohibition, creates an easy-drinking white using seven grapes, including Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer. The Wisnovskys bill Lot 25 as “semi-dry,” and it opens with aromas of Asian pear, dusty Jonagold apple, caramel, almond and … [Read more...] about Valley View Winery NV Rogue White, Oregon, $12
Novelty Hill 2013 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Grenache, Columbia Valley, $28
This juicy red Rhône variety is returning to prominence in Washington, but its scarce plantings explain why last year it was — on average — the most expensive grape to purchase by the ton statewide. Woodinville vintner Tom Alberg’s Stillwater Creek Vineyard, the estate site across the Cascades near the Frenchman Hills in the Columbia Basin, offers one of the largest bottlings … [Read more...] about Novelty Hill 2013 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Grenache, Columbia Valley, $28
Luminous Hills 2015 Aura Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $28
Seven of Hearts winemaker Byron Dooley stays close to home with his Luminous Hills brand, a lineup that spotlights his estate 12-acre vineyard northwest of McMinnville, Ore. This three-barrel lot from his L.I.V.E.-certified and Salmon Safe site spent eight months in neutral French oak and emerged bone-dry and fruity with a beautiful wardrobe. Aromas of dried cherry, white … [Read more...] about Luminous Hills 2015 Aura Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $28
Kestrel Vintners 2015 Falcon Series Estate Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, $21
While much of Oregon has embraced Dijon clone fruit for its Chardonnay, Kestrel Vintners in Prosser, Wash., remains committed to the Wente clone. And now Justin Michaud gets to work with what is widely believed to be the oldest Chardonnay planting in the state. This marks his debut vintage at Kestrel working with some vines that began life in 1972, and he sent those lots … [Read more...] about Kestrel Vintners 2015 Falcon Series Estate Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, $21