Tim Harless studied enology in Teaxs at Grayson College north of Dallas prior to moving to Idaho's Snake River Valley and launching Hat Ranch Winery in 2011. This bottling reflects the first commercial harvest of Sauvignon Blanc off his estate along Plum Road in the Sunnyslope Wine District. He processed six tons from this 1.5-acre block, and it never saw any oak, allowing for … [Read more...] about Hat Ranch Winery 2016 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Snake River Valley, $17
Idaho
Ste. Chapelle Winery 2015 Panoramic Idaho Malbec, Snake River Valley, $27
These reserve-tier wines fall under the purview of Meredith Smith, whose talents at Sawtooth Winery made it an easy choice for Precept Wine to promote her into role of winemaker at Idaho's most largest winery. Here, she worked with a vineyard she knows better than nearly anyone else, Sawtooth, to produce a Malbec loaded with purple fruit tones of Marionberry, blueberry and … [Read more...] about Ste. Chapelle Winery 2015 Panoramic Idaho Malbec, Snake River Valley, $27
Vale Wine Co. 2016 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $18
Pilot-turned-vintner Tim Harless lives in Idaho's Sunnyslope Wine District and pulls from Block 39 of acclaimed Sawtooth Vineyard south of Lake Lowell and east of the Snake River. It never saw oak, and leaving it to explode with fun aromas of banana taffy, piña colada and gooseberry. The lovely texture brings in peach and more tropical flavors with green banana and lychee, … [Read more...] about Vale Wine Co. 2016 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $18
Hat Ranch Winery 2014 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley, $29
Young wineries and vineyards throughout the Snake River Valley, which includes both Idaho and Oregon, continue to explore Tempranillo. Sawtooth Vineyard, established by in the 1980s, introduced the Spanish grape to Idaho and it has found a home in Tim Harless's program at Hat Ranch Winery. The 20 months in barrel develops notes of mocha, coconut and toffee to join the red … [Read more...] about Hat Ranch Winery 2014 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley, $29
Syringa Winery 2012 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley, $27
Boise's Mike Crowley, one of the Northwest most underrated winemaking talents and a product of Walla Walla's College Cellars, has shown a particular flair with Spanish varieties - Tempranillo in particular. His work as the winemaker for Vizcaya Winery has given him access to Windy Ridge Vineyard near the Boise suburb of Meridian. He helped the Hansens win a double gold medal at … [Read more...] about Syringa Winery 2012 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley, $27