This sparkling rosé made with Syrah from Bitner Vineyards was still on the lees when Wine Press Northwest named 3100 Cellars as its Idaho Winery to Watch in 2018. The 21-month project is about as hands-on and local as possible, starting with hand-harvested fruit from Ron & Mary Bitner's vineyard in the Sunnyslope Wine District, then riddled and disgorged by hand by … [Read more...] about 3100 Cellars 2016 Runoff Rosé Sparkling Wine, Snake River Valley, $36
Idaho
Cinder Wines 2018 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $23
Melanie Krause's career at Chateau Ste. Michelle trained her to produce both small lots as well as wines of scale, and her work here with Chardonnay is the largest in Idaho by a family-owned producer. It also ranks among the best in the Northwest. She pulls it in from Sawtooth Vineyard and ages 70% of the lot in wood, an eight-month program that includes a fascinating angle … [Read more...] about Cinder Wines 2018 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $23
Vale Wine Co. 2018 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $21
Tim Harless of Hat Ranch Winery added the Vale Wine Company label to his holdings in 2013, and the retired Air Force pilot focuses on standalone varieties under this brand. His work with Chardonnay from Sawtooth Vineyard just west of Lake Lowell has brought him back gold medals from international competitions, and this is on par with those. It's bright and all about the fruit, … [Read more...] about Vale Wine Co. 2018 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $21
Hells Canyon Winery 2017 Heritage Series Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $30
Steve Robertson, a chef and restaurateur who trained at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, helped pioneer the modern Idaho wine industry when he returned home and planted vineyards at 2,700 feet elevation on the Sunnyslope west of Caldwell in 1981. His Old World approach resonates with Cabernet Franc, and Robertsons winemaking daughters give him full credit for the … [Read more...] about Hells Canyon Winery 2017 Heritage Series Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $30
Ste. Chapelle 2016 Panoramic Idaho Syrah, Snake River Valley, $25
Boise native Meredith Smith took over the winemaking duties at Idaho's largest winery ahead of veraison in 2016, and her love of Syrah shows with this expression from her first vintage at Ste. Chapelle. Pulled during September from Sawtooth and Skyline vineyards, she poured it into all French oak barrels, 30% new, for 20 months. Yet, it opens with whiffs of game meat and … [Read more...] about Ste. Chapelle 2016 Panoramic Idaho Syrah, Snake River Valley, $25