The Andrews and Rowell family has been growing wine grapes in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills since 1980, and Robert Ramsay Harris began buying fruit from the McKinley Springs folks since 2005. Harris focused much of his efforts on Rhone varieties, and that is on full display with this Mourvèdre. Leaping out of the glass are aromas of Bing cherry, Red Vines licorice, sandy … [Read more...] about Robert Ramsay Cellars 2012 McKinley Springs Mourvèdre, Horse Heaven Hills, $35
Baer Winery 2013 Ursa Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $43
This storied project in Woodinville continues to produce wines that would have made the late Lance Baer proud, and here’s its flagship bottling - a Right Bank-style blend of Merlot (42%), Cabernet Franc (42%), Cabernet Sauvignon (14%) and Petit Verdot all off Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Frenchman Hills. Erica Orr and the Baers invested 22 months in a barrel program of 53% … [Read more...] about Baer Winery 2013 Ursa Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $43
Silvan Ridge Winery 2015 Semi-Sparkling Early Muscat, Willamette Valley, $16
A panel with Masters of Wine awarded this a gold medal at the 2016 Oregon Wine Competition, and it’s easy to see why. Argentine winemaker Juan Pablo Valot continues to produce this Oregon classic in a delightful and fun fashion with a delicately creamy effervescence. Fanciful aromas and flavors of honeysuckle, rosewater, dusty apricot, Sugarfina rosé gummy bears and Sweet … [Read more...] about Silvan Ridge Winery 2015 Semi-Sparkling Early Muscat, Willamette Valley, $16
ded.reckoning Wine Co. 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $14
Best Buy! Regionally renowned wine merchant Doug Charles of Compass Wines in Anacortes, Wash., goes negoçiant for this collaboration with Sean Boyd, formerly of Woodinville Wine Cellars. They achieved their goal of developing a Sauvignon Blanc specifically for Dungeness crab and other Salish Sea delicacies by using Artz Vineyard on Red Mountain and Stillwater Creek Vineyard in … [Read more...] about ded.reckoning Wine Co. 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $14
Youngberg Hill Vineyards 2013 Jordan Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $50
The Baileys farm this cooler, 4-acre block on their picturesque estate near McMinnville to create a bold and bright Pinot Noir, harvesting the 25-year-old Pommard and Wadenswil clones at about 21 Brix. As a result, the aromas offer hints of pie cherry and orange zest with underlying earthiness, tar and a brush of denim. Its flavor profile of strawberry-rhubarb compote, … [Read more...] about Youngberg Hill Vineyards 2013 Jordan Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $50