Greg Koenig has won best of show at the Idaho Wine Competition twice in the past four years, both times by skillfully crafting Riesling into a beautiful ice wine, however his bold reds also earn him regional acclaim. This Zinfandel, a grape rarely found in Idaho, opens with lush red fruit and dried rosemary. The palate is unexpectedly fresh given its hedonism, full of … [Read more...] about Koenig Vineyards 2016 The Devil’s Bedstead Zinfandel, Snake River Valley, $30
Idaho
Colter’s Creek Winery 2017 Estate Rocinante Red Wine, Lewis-Clark Valley, $35
The 2015 debut of this Spanish-themed red is driven by Tempranillo. However, Mike Pearson's plantings of Graciano not far from the Clearwater River are hitting their stride, and his winemaking wife — Melissa Sanborn — used the perfumy grape native to Rioja to share the spotlight Mourvèdre (46%) and Malbec (8%). Cherry candy, raspberries and other red fruits rule in this smooth … [Read more...] about Colter’s Creek Winery 2017 Estate Rocinante Red Wine, Lewis-Clark Valley, $35
Ste. Chapelle 2016 Panoramic Idaho Malbec, Snake River Valley, $28
Vineyards in Idaho's Snake River Valley tickle 3,000 feet in elevation, and Malbec thrives at that altitude, which begins to explain why Argentina's Mendoza region has become famous for this red Bordeaux grape. Winemakers in Idaho also are earning a reputation for delicious Malbec, and homegrown Meredith Smith is among the leaders. She pulls it from Sawtooth Vineyard, and as … [Read more...] about Ste. Chapelle 2016 Panoramic Idaho Malbec, Snake River Valley, $28
Sawtooth Winery 2018 Classic Fly Series Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley, $18
Idaho excels with many varieties and styles of wine, and Riesling has been the constant. When she took over at Ste. Chapelle in 2016, Meredith Smith became the state's leading producer of Riesling, and she still shows the flair with it now that she's in charge of both Ste. Chapelle and Sawtooth. Skyline Vineyard, the breadbasket for many Gem State producers, is the birthplace … [Read more...] about Sawtooth Winery 2018 Classic Fly Series Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley, $18
Coiled Wines 2017 Black Mamba Red Wine, Snake River Valley $32
It's an all-star list of Idaho winemakers who've worked with Sawtooth Vineyard fruit, Leslie Preston strokes another home run with this blend that could be labeled as Petit Verdot at 95%. However, that Block 64 fruit picked up some influence from Syrah (5%) off nearby Block 46. The end result is another example of why a growing number of Idaho producers are bullish on Petit … [Read more...] about Coiled Wines 2017 Black Mamba Red Wine, Snake River Valley $32