Best Buy! Steven Sealock doesn’t need to range far from his West Richland, Wash., winery to source this Austrian grape, and little-known Spring Creek Vineyard near Benton City has a reputation of shining with crisp white varieties. The nose is fruit-forward with hints of tangerine, apricot and pineapple and peach. There’s nice firm acidity up front with grapefruit and lime … [Read more...] about Pacific Rim Winemakers 2014 Spring Creek Vineyard Grüner Veltliner, Yakima Valley, $14
Best Buy
Lone Birch 2013 Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, $12
Best Buy! This second label for Airfield Estates remains an estate program for Marcus Miller, whose family farms nearly 1,000 acres near their hometown of Prosser, Wash. Here’s a fruit-forward, unoaked Chardonnay with aromas of pineapple, apricot, pear, Meyer lemon and powdered sugar. The pour brings flavors of white peach, apricot and jicama, finished with lemony acidity and … [Read more...] about Lone Birch 2013 Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, $12
Airfield Estates 2014 Flygirl White, Yakima Valley, $15
Best Buy! This year, Marcus Miller’s flagship white wine is an aromatic blend of Pinot Gris (53%), Viognier (22%), Gewürztraminer (13%) and Roussanne from the family’s Black Rock and Runway vineyards. It’s an attractive nose of cantaloupe and honeydew melon with pear, orange zest, powdered sugar and minerality. For the flavors, think of a fruit cocktail that’s not sweet, … [Read more...] about Airfield Estates 2014 Flygirl White, Yakima Valley, $15
Strange Folk Wines NV Le Commandante Red Wine, Idaho, $14
Best Buy! Per capita, Idaho may have more mavericks in its wine industry than most, and Jed Glavin of Split Rail Winery in the Boise suburb of Garden City continues to push out new ideas. His red version from the Gem State's first wine-in-a-can program uses Rhône varieties, which makes perfect sense for the Snake River Valley, offering a GSM-style blend with Syrah (60%), … [Read more...] about Strange Folk Wines NV Le Commandante Red Wine, Idaho, $14
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $15
Best Buy! Ray McKee was asked to increase production by 20,000 cases for this vintage, and he managed that with aplomb thanks to the bounty of Cold Creek, Canoe Ridge Estate and Indian Wells vineyards. Aromas begin with a stroll through a Middle Eastern spice market and past an espresso shop as it leads to hints of Hostess Berry Pie, Graham cracker and lime peel. On the pour, … [Read more...] about Chateau Ste. Michelle 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $15