Best Buy! Charles Smith created this consumer-minded brand prior to selling his Magnificent Wine Co. to Precept Wine in 2007. Now, it's winemaker Hal Landvoigt who keeps the focus on the fruit with this Chardonnay, boosting the aromatics and acidity with Sauvignon Blanc (5%) and Riesling (5%). The nose offers gooseberry, lime peel and light straw with tropical hints of cocoa … [Read more...] about House Wine 2013 Chardonnay, American, $10
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Pike Road Wines 2015 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $15
Best Buy! The Elk Cove Vineyards tandem of Heather Perkin and second-generation winemaker Adam Campbell combine on this new sister project, and this Pinot Gris benefits from a broad base of fruit sources throughout the Willamette Valley, including 30-year-old plantings at their Estate Vineyard that rank among the oldest in Oregon. Clean aromas of melon and lychee include talcum … [Read more...] about Pike Road Wines 2015 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $15
Coyote Canyon Winery 2014 LOL White Wine Fun, Horse Heaven Hills, $13
Best Buy! Prosser vintner Mike Andrews grows 25 grape varieties across his 1,125 acres in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills, and he’s been among the state’s early champions for Albariño. That Spanish white grape forms the base of this blend with Rhône varieties Roussanne and Viognier, all of which were picked Sept. 15. It’s a fruit-forward and engaging wine with floral and … [Read more...] about Coyote Canyon Winery 2014 LOL White Wine Fun, Horse Heaven Hills, $13
Sawtooth Winery 2015 Estate Pinot Gris, Snake River Valley, $12
Best Buy! One of Idaho’s premier vineyards leads to one of the state’s largest productions of Pinot Gris year after year. Fruit-forward aromas of pear butter, Golden Delicious apple, gooseberry and lime peel are mirrored on the palate. The pleasing mouth feel offers roundness of Spanish almond before the cleansing blast of citrusy acidity and Bosc pear skin creates a dry … [Read more...] about Sawtooth Winery 2015 Estate Pinot Gris, Snake River Valley, $12
Diversion Wine 2014 Chardonnay, Washington, $15
Best Buy! The sister brand of California’s Mad Housewife label continues to roll out delicious, everyday Chardonnay thanks in large part to the relationship between Seattle negoçiant Damian Davis and the Milbrandt-owned Wahluke Wine Co. Nuances of baked apple, butterscotch, ginger, lemon rind and minerality expand into a drink of Asian pear and honeydew melon on the rounded … [Read more...] about Diversion Wine 2014 Chardonnay, Washington, $15