Best Buy! The Miller family and their winemaker, Travis Maple, used fruit from their historic 800-acre vineyard to produce two of the tastiest bargains in the 23rd annual Platinum. Their expression with this Italian red is bursting with aromas and flavors and does so in uber-dry fashion. Raspberry, cherry and watermelon provide beautiful layers as sensations of tangerine, … [Read more...] about Airfield Estates Winery 2021 Sangiovese Rosé, Yakima Valley $18
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Cavatappi Winery 2021 Pinot Grigio, Columbia Valley, $15.99
Best Buy! The 2022 vintage marked the 35th anniversary of Seattle restaurateur Peter Dow’s Cavatappi label, which Precept Wine continues to shepherd via its Walla Walla winemakers. Precept’s Willow Crest Vineyard in the Yakima Valley dominates this bottling, but there’s some Horse Heaven Hills influence with Wallula Gap Vineyard (20%). It’s a food-friendly, citrusy and orchard … [Read more...] about Cavatappi Winery 2021 Pinot Grigio, Columbia Valley, $15.99
Washington Hills Winery 2021 Dry Riesling, Washington State, $10
Best Buy! Seattle-based Precept Wine sold Wallula Vineyards to Prudential in 2020, but director of winemaking Hal Landvoigt continues to source grapes from this spectacular site that’s now depicted on the Washington State Department of Licensing’s "Washington Wine" specialty license plate that raises funds for Washington state tourism. California iconoclast Randall Grahm used … [Read more...] about Washington Hills Winery 2021 Dry Riesling, Washington State, $10
Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2020 Expedition Malbec, Horse Heaven Hills, $17
Haydn Mouat's third vintage at this Walla Walla winery produced a bottling of Malbec that features purity of fruit, part of the variety's charm and why it's helped raise the profile of Argentina's wine industry. Plum, black cherry and boysenberry dominate the aromas and flavors as the oak influence is minimal. It's bright but not tart, with nicely managed tannins. It could … [Read more...] about Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2020 Expedition Malbec, Horse Heaven Hills, $17
Trella Vineyards 2016 Pinot Gris, Umpqua Valley $16
Best Buy! Terry Brandborg in Elkton, Ore., has been quietly behind a number of Southern Oregon’s top wines — including those of Trella Vineyards, selected as the 2020 Oregon Winery to Watch by Great Northwest Wine’s editorial team. Owners/physicians Stephen and Susan Williams grow the 7 acres of grapes that they hire Brandborg to vinify. He turned three wines from the 2016 … [Read more...] about Trella Vineyards 2016 Pinot Gris, Umpqua Valley $16