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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Koenig Vineyards 2022 Williamson Vineyard Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley $18
Best Buy! The Williamson family was a strong supporter of Ste. Michelle’s Riesling Rendezvous, and their time surrounded by many of the world’s top Riesling producers prompted the family to take their program into a drier style. That has led James and Sydney Nederend of Koenig Vineyards to do the same, and it resulted in one of the best Rieslings of this year’s Platinum. Aromas … [Read more...] about Koenig Vineyards 2022 Williamson Vineyard Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley $18
Jones of Washington 2022 Pinot Gris, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley $14.99
Best Buy! For the fifth time, the Jones family has been awarded a Platinum for their Pinot Gris program, spotlighting grapes they grow at their acclaimed Two Gun Vineyard in the Beezley Hills outside of Quincy, Wash. Hints of fingered citron and fresh gardenia precede a charming and complex palate that brings layers of Rainier cherry, lemongrass, sliced white button mushroom … [Read more...] about Jones of Washington 2022 Pinot Gris, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley $14.99
Milbrandt Family Wines 2022 Simply Riesling, Washington State $11
Best Buy! Riesling hasn’t played a prominent role within the profile of Butch and Lisa Milbrandt’s portfolio over the years, but the combination of winemaker Kendall Mix and Ancient Lakes Vineyard has made an immediate impression on West Coast judges within their new Simply brand. Golden Delicious apple and lemon zest aromas include whiffs of Ancient Lakes minerality, beeswax … [Read more...] about Milbrandt Family Wines 2022 Simply Riesling, Washington State $11
Milbrandt Family Wines 2021 Family Grown Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $16
Best Buy! Canadian-born winemaker Kendall Mix worked for producers large and small before agreeing to take over the winemaking for the Milbrandts in Mattawa, Wash. His deliciously balanced Chardonnay for this Butch Milbrandt-owned value brand features grapes from three growing regions — Purple Sage and old-vine Rosebud (Wahluke Slope), Newhouse (Yakima Valley) and storied … [Read more...] about Milbrandt Family Wines 2021 Family Grown Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $16