Best Buy! One of the Northwest’s premier Pinot Gris vineyards is along British Columbia’s Golden Mile Bench, where the Gehringer family has earned five Platinums for its work with this white grape from Burgundy. Aromas of peach blossom, honeysuckle and clover honey lead to luscious flavors of grapefruit, starfruit and lime juice. Its energizing acidity makes this an ideal foil … [Read more...] about Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2021 Private Reserve Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley $15.99
British Columbia
Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2019 King’s Ransom Chardonnay, Okanagan Falls $50
Okanagan Valley winemaker Benoit Gauthier has the benefit of sourcing this Chardonnay from estate vines with Dijon clones 76 and 95, and the interest and investment in this program includes a barrel program of 100% new French oak. Yet this Chardonnay doesn’t come across as overoaked. Among the fun notes for this wine were fresh churros — the deep-fried Mexican pastry with … [Read more...] about Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2019 King’s Ransom Chardonnay, Okanagan Falls $50
Hester Creek Estate Winery 2019 Estate Old Vine Brut, Golden Mile Bench $34.99
Veteran winemaker Mark Hopley has the wine program humming along at this showpiece property between Oliver, British Columbia, and Oroville, Wash., and this is a classic methode Champenoise approach with Pinot Blanc. There’s pleasing yeastiness and Granny Smith apple in the nose, and skillfully created mousse brings along nectarine and lemons for a long, bone-dry finish. Ask for … [Read more...] about Hester Creek Estate Winery 2019 Estate Old Vine Brut, Golden Mile Bench $34.99
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2021 Old Vines Auxerrois, Golden Mile Bench $15.99
Best Buy! Of the Gehringers’ 97 career Platinums, 11 have been with this remarkable but obscure white variety from Alsace that is sometimes labeled in that region as Pinot Blanc. While it is often sublime, Walter and Gordon Gehringer create a magical setting, starting with remarkable florals of cherry blossom, apricot and sliced Asian pear. The approach to the palate is clean … [Read more...] about Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2021 Old Vines Auxerrois, Golden Mile Bench $15.99
Black Hills Estate Winery 2018 Carménère, Okanagan Valley, $64
One of the cult producers of Canada offers British Columbia's rare example of Carménère only to club members, and this Andrew Peller gem along the Black Sage Bench can boast of 4 acres of the fascinating red Bordeaux grape in its two vineyards. Those plantings represent about a quarter of the Carm in the province, and it's worth noting Cabernet Franc, not Carménère, factors … [Read more...] about Black Hills Estate Winery 2018 Carménère, Okanagan Valley, $64