West Coast winemaker Jim Sanders, known in Oregon primarily for his work under the Le Cadeau Vineyard brand and his Aubichon Cellars label, creates a variety of reds and aromatic whites from California and the Willamette Valley under the Joleté label. His latest Pinot Gris is off Olenik Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains and Lazy River in Yamhill-Carlton, and he presents it in … [Read more...] about Joleté Wines 2015 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $20
Coyote Canyon Winery 2014 Coyote Canyon Vineyard Roussanne, Horse Heaven Hills, $22
This bottling marks Justin Michaud’s second vintage of working with Mike Andrews’ fruit and making the wine for the Horse Heaven Hills grower. Fortunately, the focus remains on this not-so-common white Rhône grape as the production did not involve any oak. Aromas of lime juice, gooseberry and pineapple lead to a slaty and acid-driven drink of gooseberry, grapefruit and lime … [Read more...] about Coyote Canyon Winery 2014 Coyote Canyon Vineyard Roussanne, Horse Heaven Hills, $22
Great Northwest Wine guide to Bainbridge Island wineries
From downtown Seattle, it’s easy see the Bainbridge Island ferry making its frequent runs across Puget Sound. But what you can’t see is how the island is another world. Hop on that ferry and you’ll be transported - in a mere 35 minutes - to an oasis of green calm, of towering trees and lapping waves, and friendly faces everywhere you look. Once there, you may find you want … [Read more...] about Great Northwest Wine guide to Bainbridge Island wineries
Kiona Vineyards & Winery 2013 Reserve Estate Red Wine, Red Mountain, $42
The Williams family’s three generations of vintners work proudly with more than 240 acres of vineyards across Washington's most famous growing region, including prime sites Heart of the Hill and Kiona Estate on Red Mountain. Decades of visionary work afford them the luxury of working with all six Bordeaux varieties for this Meritage-style effort, a high-end blend of Cabernet … [Read more...] about Kiona Vineyards & Winery 2013 Reserve Estate Red Wine, Red Mountain, $42
L’Ecole No. 41 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $40
The maturity and diversity of vineyards in the Walla Walla Walla Valley is displayed in this 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon as winemaker Mike Sharon sources from seven sites. They range from the fascinating fractured basalt of the young estate Ferguson Vineyard to river rock of Stone Valley and Yellow Jacket to Ice Age flood silts of Pepper Bridge and Va Piano to the wind-blown … [Read more...] about L’Ecole No. 41 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $40