Best Buy! Mike McClure’s blend from a stellar vintage off Idaho's Arena Valley and Williamson vineyards using Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Merlot (38%), Petit Verdot (9%) and Malbec has rounded into form quite beautifully. On first whiff, there is a lovely pinch of herbs de Provence leading to dark cherry, blackberry and plum with chocolate, spice and forest floor earthiness. That … [Read more...] about Indian Creek Farm Winery 2012 Star Garnet Red Blend, Snake River Valley, $14
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Del Rio Vineyards 2015 Estate Rosé, Rogue Valley, $15
Best Buy! Place fruit from one of Oregon’s top sources for red Rhône varieties into the hands of Jean-Michel Jussiaume and the result is an ebullient, low alcohol and food-friendly rosé of Grenache (60%) and Syrah. The charming color comes with a beautiful nose of Ruby Red grapefruit, Rainier cherry, strawberry, peach and rose petals. It is presented bone-dry yet with ripe … [Read more...] about Del Rio Vineyards 2015 Estate Rosé, Rogue Valley, $15
Columbia Crest 2013 Grand Estates Unoaked Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! The Grand Estates program represents more than 800,000 cases at Columbia Crest, and all eight of the recently released wines by Juan Muñoz Oca and his team at Washington's third-largest winery are remarkable. Harvest began in late September - after the rains that plagued growers on the western slopes of the Cascades - and just a tiny minority of these Chardonnay lots … [Read more...] about Columbia Crest 2013 Grand Estates Unoaked Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12
Waterbrook Winery 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! Two of Precept’s largest estate vineyards — Canyon Vineyard Ranch in the Yakima Valley and The Benches in the Horse Heaven Hills - contribute to this large-scale Chardonnay bottling by John Freeman. His program of 40 percent stainless steel fermentation with the rest in 20 percent new American oak barrels sets the table with aromas of dusty Gala apple, peach and lemon … [Read more...] about Waterbrook Winery 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12
Schultz Wines 2013 Steelhead Run Vineyard Grace Pinot Gris, Rogue Valley, $14
Best Buy! Greg Schultz spent three decades in chemical engineering after graduating from the University of Tennessee before moving to Southern Oregon and entering the wine industry. While developing his own 6-acre vineyard, he’s working with small lots from from sustainably farmed sites such as Steelhead Run. His Pinot Gris shows the influence of seven months on the lees in … [Read more...] about Schultz Wines 2013 Steelhead Run Vineyard Grace Pinot Gris, Rogue Valley, $14