Best Buy! The Milbrandt brothers’ winemaker Joshua Maloney, despite a record hot vintage, creates a complex and affordable Chardonnay using fruit from the Wahluke Slope and renowned Evergreen Vineyard in the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley. It spent six months in a program that featured 25% new American oak, which accounts for aromas of wood spice backed by Mandarin orange, … [Read more...] about Milbrandt Vineyards 2014 Traditions Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $13
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Strange Folk Wines NV La Bohéme White Wine, Snake River Valley, $12
Best Buy! Split Rail winemaker Jed Glavin embarks on an untraditional path in Idaho’s Treasure Valley by offering Riesling from Sawtooth Vineyard in a 375-millilter can. (He’s not the first in the Pacific Northwest do work with this portable, recyclable format.) His invitation to "Pull Tabs, Not Corks" leads to a blast of gooseberry, sweet lime juice, lemon balm and a whiff of … [Read more...] about Strange Folk Wines NV La Bohéme White Wine, Snake River Valley, $12
Sagelands Vineyard 2013 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $10
Best Buy! Walla Walla winemaker Mike Prout, a product of the Walla Walla Community College wine program, served a decade in the Air Force. One assignment led him to Afghanistan where he was stationed with the Italian army, and his association with them inspired his interest in wine. This 2013 vintage marked his first with Precept, who put him in charge of its Sagelands … [Read more...] about Sagelands Vineyard 2013 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $10
14 Hands Winery 2014 Pinot Gris, Washington, $10
Best Buy! Keith Kenison rode herd for years on the white program at Columbia Crest, which makes it easy to understand why 14 Hands continues to build a reputation beyond its wildly successful red wines. Rather than tropical tones, this goes down the trail of orchard fruit and melon, opening with aromas of peach, apricot, dusty lemon, cantaloupe and fresh-cut jicama. It’s an … [Read more...] about 14 Hands Winery 2014 Pinot Gris, Washington, $10
Maryhill Winery 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $14
Best Buy! In recent years, almost every wine Maryhill winemaker Richard Batchelor creates seems to turn into a precious commodity — regardless of its price. His latest Chardonnay from Milbrandt Vineyards (74%) and Tudor Hills Vineyards (26%) in the Yakima Valley, influence by 20% new French oak, led to a gold medal at the 2015 Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition. A … [Read more...] about Maryhill Winery 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $14