Best Buy! The sister brand of California’s Mad Housewife label continues to roll out delicious, everyday Chardonnay thanks in large part to the relationship between Seattle negoçiant Damian Davis and the Milbrandt-owned Wahluke Wine Co. Nuances of baked apple, butterscotch, ginger, lemon rind and minerality expand into a drink of Asian pear and honeydew melon on the rounded … [Read more...] about Diversion Wine 2014 Chardonnay, Washington, $15
Smasne Cellars 2012 Three Vineyard Reserve Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley, $38
Robert Smasne, a new inhabitant of the Vintners Village in Prosser, Wash., produces this 100 percent Petit Verdot as a melange of three growing regions within an hour’s drive of his new winery. Phinny Hill in the Horse Heaven Hills, Roskamp on Snipes Mountain and Scooteney Flats on Red Mountain combine to produce mild aromas of black cherry, dried blueberry and vanilla. The … [Read more...] about Smasne Cellars 2012 Three Vineyard Reserve Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley, $38
Browne Family Vineyards 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $18
Walla Walla winemaker John Freeman continues to build his reputation with Sauvignon Blanc, and he focuses his attention on Yakima Valley for this white Bordeaux variety under the brand owned by Precept CEO Andrew Browne. In this case, he grabbed from Willard Farms on Sept. 11 for a distinctive drink. It brings classic aromas of gooseberry, lime and grapefruit zest with tropical … [Read more...] about Browne Family Vineyards 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $18
Columbia Crest 2014 CrowdSourced Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $30
Columbia Crest honcho Juan Muñoz Oca officially lists himself as the “co-winemaker” for this bottling because consumers offered suggestions online throughout the process for this inaugural CrowdSourced Cabernet Sauvignon from Crest’s Block 10. (Work on the 2015 vintage continues). The focus is on hand-picked, nocturnally harvested Cabernet Sauvignon (87%) with contributions of … [Read more...] about Columbia Crest 2014 CrowdSourced Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $30
Dumas Station 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $38
Why mess with success? Jay Dewitt continues to focus on Minnick Hills and Birch Creek vineyards for this rich and round Cabernet Sauvignon that follows up on his remarkable Cab from the cooler 2011 vintage. Alluring fruity aromas of blackberry and plum blend nicely with dark chocolate, spice rub and black tea. The entry to the palate is both rich and bold with more blackberry, … [Read more...] about Dumas Station 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $38