Walla Walla winemaker Brett Isenhower shines here with three Syrah clones from a trio of Washington vineyards - Sara Lee off Wallula Vineyard (58%), 877 from Olsen Ranch (34%) and Phelps from Dutchman Vineyard, a higher elevation site in the Yakima Valley. Sweet aromas of blackberry and dark plum include lavender and anise with cured meat notes. There’s are blackberry and plum … [Read more...] about Isenhower Cellars 2013 River Beauty Syrah, Columbia Valley, $34
Lagana Cellars bucks trends in Walla Walla wine country
WALLA WALLA, Wash. - Jason Fox is a trend-bucker at heart, and it’s not just his tats, piercings and hip ear jewelry. How many people do you know who started out studying astrophysics, got a degree in anthropology, and were winemakers for two wineries simultaneously by the age of 31? In 2011 with a strong background in science from Indiana University, Fox left a stressful … [Read more...] about Lagana Cellars bucks trends in Walla Walla wine country
Lone Birch Winery 2015 Rosé, Yakima Valley, $12
Best Buy! The Miller family of Airfield Estates acclaim grows more than 20 grape varieties across its 950-acre vineyard near Prosser, Wash., and four of those varieties are blended for this serious and dry rosé. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese from the warmest vintage on record make for fruity aromas of strawberry-rhubarb compote, watermelon, raspberry and … [Read more...] about Lone Birch Winery 2015 Rosé, Yakima Valley, $12
Lauren Ashton Cellars 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $25
Puget Sound dentist Kit Singh and his wife, Riinu, named their winery to honor their children Ashley Lauren and Ashton Troy, and this bottling of Chardonnay from Harker Vineyard marks the sixth commercial vintage for their Woodinville brand. Only a small selction of their lot spent time in new French oak, and the partial malolactic fermentation builds a rounded midpalate. … [Read more...] about Lauren Ashton Cellars 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $25
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2014 Phinny Hill Vineyard Carménère, Washington, $28
Karl and Coco Umiker were competitive cyclists at the University of Idaho when they struck up a friendship with another rider, Dick Beightol. Little did they know they it would blossom into a grower/winemaker relationship that has helped Clearwater Canyon earn West Coast acclaim for its work with this obscure Bordeaux variety. Beightol’s Phinny Hill Vineyard in Washington's … [Read more...] about Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2014 Phinny Hill Vineyard Carménère, Washington, $28