Few could have gotten into the vineyards that helped Michael Ruhland and Matías Kúsulas to achieve immediate acclaim for their young Valo project. Conner Lee, a comparatively cooler site near the Columbia Basin town of Othello, Wash., was planted in 1980 under the auspices of the late Walter Clore, and this bottling represents the vineyard’s second vintage under the ownership … [Read more...] about Valo 2020 Conner Lee Vineyard Right Bank, Columbia Valley, $50
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Dineen Vineyards 2021 Estate Vintner’s Blend Red Wine, Yakima Valley $25
This second-generation vineyard in the upper reaches of the Yakima Valley north of Zillah is one of the early adopters of the Sustainable WA program, and the 2021 vintage brought a different set of challenges via the "heat dome" event in late June when the Dineen family as the temperature in the vines reached 112. Their charming Bordeaux-driven blend of Malbec (21%), Cabernet … [Read more...] about Dineen Vineyards 2021 Estate Vintner’s Blend Red Wine, Yakima Valley $25
Cristom Vineyards 2021 Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills $45
The Gerrie family and longtime winemaker Steve Doerner used Chardonnay to help launch Cristom Vineyards in 1992, and this flagship expression of Chardonnay remains emblematic of the Eola-Amity Hills, starting with the melange from eight vineyards — each within the American Viticultural Area and harvested by hand. Von Oehsen and Eola Springs make up nearly two-thirds of this … [Read more...] about Cristom Vineyards 2021 Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills $45
Pike Road Wines 2021 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton $50
It makes sense that one of the Northwest’s most famous sites for Pinot Noir helped Austrailian winemaker Heather Perkin, the Campbell family and Pike Road Wines to earn a rare double gold and one of the highest scores for any wine last fall at the Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition. Until the Campbells created the Pike Road brand, fruit from Shea was dedicated to the … [Read more...] about Pike Road Wines 2021 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton $50
Day Wines 2022 Vin de Days Rouge, Willamette Valley $27
From her Day Camp facility near Dundee, Ore., Brianne Day creates this crowd-pleasing blend that’s primarily Pinot Noir with some of the flash that Pinot Meunier (8%) offers. The fanciful nose of raspberry, pomegranate and black pepper includes a bit of brown sugar and pork belly. Those are joined on the palate with a theme of bright cherry flavors that's easy to appreciate … [Read more...] about Day Wines 2022 Vin de Days Rouge, Willamette Valley $27