Best Buy! This is one of the least-expensive Washington wines we've run across in recent months - and it's also one of the best. This Chardonnday from Precept Wine shows just enough oak to let you know it's there, yet not so much that it gets in the way of some terrific fruit. This opens with aromas of melon, citrus, butterscotch and pear. Bright acidity highlights the palate … [Read more...] about Pine & Post 2010 Chardonnay, Washington, $7
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Pacific Rim Winemakers NV Framboise, Washington, $14
Best Buy! The folks at Pacific Rim focus on Riesling, but they also make one of the most stunning fruit wines we've come across, and it is insanely delicious. Using raspberries from Washington's Skagit Valley, Pacific Rim is able to craft a fortified dessert wine that smells and tastes more like raspberries than raspberries do. This opens with aromas of, you guessed it, … [Read more...] about Pacific Rim Winemakers NV Framboise, Washington, $14
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2012 Harvest Select Riesling, Columbia Valley, $10
Best Buy! This is the sweetest of Ste. Michelle's mainline Rieslings, and at 4.71 percent residual sugar, it is not shy in that department. Yet the outrageously low pH of 2.92 keeps everything in check. It opens with aromas of peach, apricot, apple and Thompson seedless grape, followed by beautifully balanced flavors of pear and nectarine. The acidity offers a bright lemon-lime … [Read more...] about Chateau Ste. Michelle 2012 Harvest Select Riesling, Columbia Valley, $10
Pacific Rim Winemakers 2011 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $11
Best Buy! This white wine from one of the Northwest's top Riesling producers combines modest alcohol with pretty fruit. It opens with aromas of rose water, lime and slate, followed by flavors of pear, pineapple cake and spices. There's a bit of residual sugar that is expertly balanced with bright acidity. The result is a wine with a rich, round midpalate and a yummy finish. … [Read more...] about Pacific Rim Winemakers 2011 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $11
Sagelands Vineyard 2011 Freddie’s Blend, Columbia Valley, $10
Best Buy! The origin of this wine's name goes back to Frederique Spencer, the French-born winemaker who was Sagelands' longtime winemaker before Precept bought the winery in 2011. It is a blend that includes plenty of Cabernet Sauvignon (61%), along with Merlot (22%), Syrah (16%) and a touch of Tempranillo. The result is a delicious and affordable red with youthful aromas of … [Read more...] about Sagelands Vineyard 2011 Freddie’s Blend, Columbia Valley, $10