Best Buy! James Nederend of Koenig Vineyards also crafts the wines for the Williamson family, who earned a double gold medal at the 2023 Great Northwest Invitational in early October for the Grüner they grow, so it makes sense that judges would think so highly of the Grüner under his own label. The Williamsons picked it Oct. 7 at nearly 23 Brix, and it’s a classic example of … [Read more...] about SCORIA Vineyards 2022 Grüner Veltliner, Snake River Valley $18
Idaho
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2021 Phinny Hill Vineyard Coco’s Reserve Spice Market, Washington $38
The Queen of the Platinum — Coco Umiker — has spotlighted the Beightol family’s Phinny Hill Vineyard in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills for nine of her 46 career Platinums. Her latest is for this stunning Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Carménère (42%) and Merlot. It’s heady stuff with aromas of dark cherry, cigar box and leather precede a palate of fig, strawberry … [Read more...] about Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2021 Phinny Hill Vineyard Coco’s Reserve Spice Market, Washington $38
Clearwater Canyon Cellars NV Waha IV Red Wine, Washington $28
For the second straight year, Coco Umiker’s fascinating Waha program has received a Platinum, and here is her first Double Platinum for the multi-vintage blend. Its legacy harkens back to when she held back several barrels of red wine from the 2015 vintage. Later, she sent wine from those selected barrels through fresh lees from some 2016 reds and returned that wine to barrel. … [Read more...] about Clearwater Canyon Cellars NV Waha IV Red Wine, Washington $28
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2021 Heritage Series Louis Delsol Cabernet Sauvignon, Lewis-Clark Valley $36
The story of Louis Delsol, the Frenchman who established the Lewis-Clark Valley’s first vineyard in 1872, continues to be retold in delicious fashion by the Umikers. Coco Umiker works with Cabernet Sauvignon grown by her husband, Karl, as well as two other L-C Valley sites — Arnett Vineyard and Rock n’ J Vineyard. Its theme of blackberry cobbler, muscovado sugar, forest floor, … [Read more...] about Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2021 Heritage Series Louis Delsol Cabernet Sauvignon, Lewis-Clark Valley $36
Cinder Wines 2022 Emerald Slope Vineyard Verdejo, Snake River Valley $28
When Melanie Krause’s work with this Spanish white grape made international headlines, officials in Texas correctly credited it as an Oregon wine. That’s because the Martin family’s Emerald Slope Vineyard is on the Oregon side of the Snake River near the town of Adrian. Early aromas of thyme, lemongrass and oregon are quickly overtaken by hints of luscious tropical and stone … [Read more...] about Cinder Wines 2022 Emerald Slope Vineyard Verdejo, Snake River Valley $28