Best Buy! These pioneers on British Columbia’s Naramata Bench have now earned 24 career Platinums from our panels, and a whopping nine of those have been of the unanimous variety. Remarkably, this is only the second time that the Martin family has received a Platinum for Riesling. They planted Freedom 75 across the road from their winery in 2011, and clone 21B is credited to … [Read more...] about LA FRENZ Winery 2022 Freedom 75 Vineyard Estate Riesling 21B, Naramata Bench $21.50
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Basalt Cellars 2020 Rick’s Red Wine, Washington State $30
Of his 25 career Platinums from Great Northwest Wine, five of those earned by Rick Wasem have been in the past seven years for GSM Rhône blends, including this formulation of Grenache 50%, Syrah 30% and Mourvèdre. This example by the Clarkston, Wash., producer offers delicate aromas of blackberry, cranberry and tomato leaf, followed by a rich reward of black currant, … [Read more...] about Basalt Cellars 2020 Rick’s Red Wine, Washington State $30
Rising Star: Stephanie Cohen shines atop Red Mountain at Col Solare
BENTON CITY, Wash. — Stephanie Cohen had a sense back in eighth grade that her career would be tied to fermentation. She remembers thinking during a tour of a Belgian brewery that the brewing process was “the coolest thing.” It led to thoughts of becoming a winemaker and starting down the path that’s taken her near the top of Red Mountain. That vision as a teen growing up … [Read more...] about Rising Star: Stephanie Cohen shines atop Red Mountain at Col Solare
The Wines that Made Us: Charlie Hoppes, Wine Boss and a 1980s Kiona Cab
RICHLAND, Wash. — The Charlie Hoppes we all know now, the one who soared through the ranks at Château Ste. Michelle, who started Fidélitas, the Wine Boss … was nearly Boeing-engineer Charlie Hoppes. A Plane Boss, at best. He majored in economics, with a minor in accounting at Eastern Washington University, determined to become a Charlie Hoppes you’d trust with your money, … [Read more...] about The Wines that Made Us: Charlie Hoppes, Wine Boss and a 1980s Kiona Cab
In memoriam: A toast to some we lost during 2023 vintage
Richard Henry “Dick” Shaw, who felt most comfortable in the boardroom or riding in a farm truck, was behind some of Washington’s top-scoring wines and its best values with his 3,500 acres of vineyards. The Tacoma native saw the 2023 vintage come to a close before he died Oct. 27 at age 84 in Richland of congestive heart failure, with his wife, Wendy, by his side. The Shaws … [Read more...] about In memoriam: A toast to some we lost during 2023 vintage