For decades, this almost-forgotten variety from the Medoc region of Bordeaux largely was believed to be lost to the world after phylloxera devastated European vineyards in the later half of the 1800s. However, the grape was discovered in Chile during the 1990s and slowly made its way to the Pacific Northwest. It’s nowhere near the popularity of Malbec, thanks in part to … [Read more...] about Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2012 Phinny Hill Vineyard Carménère, Washington, $28
Idaho
Fujishin Family Cellars 2012 Late Harvest Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $20
Aside from the Okanagan Valley, few folks in the Pacific Northwest produce Chardonnay in a dessert style, but Idaho winemaker Martin Fujishin continues to his deal out a delicious late harvest. And while he produced a bit less of it compared with his 2011 vintage, he keeps it dialed in at 6% residual sugar. The aromas bring hints of pineapple, dried apricot, tutti frutti, … [Read more...] about Fujishin Family Cellars 2012 Late Harvest Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $20
Koenig Vineyards NV Two Barrel Reserve Red Wine Port-style, Snake River Valley, $21
Idaho winemaker Greg Koenig ranks as one of the Northwest top producers of dessert wines, while his brother Andrew is a master distiller. Here’s a collaboration from both sides of their operation on the Sunnyslope near Caldwell. Greg produced a single barrel of Port-style wine in 2005 using Merlot and his brother’s brandy. The other barrel was a fortified Syrah from the 2006 … [Read more...] about Koenig Vineyards NV Two Barrel Reserve Red Wine Port-style, Snake River Valley, $21
Cinder Wines 2011 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley, $28
Rhône varieties and this Iberian red are specialties of homegrown winemaker Melanie Krause, and this Temp ranks among the most approachable produced in the Pacific Northwest. She sources from the Snake River Valley’s first site for the grape — Sawtooth Vineyard — as well as Rocky Fence Vineyard near the Payette River and Martin Brothers Vineyard on the Oregon side of the AVA. … [Read more...] about Cinder Wines 2011 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley, $28
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2012 Merlot, Idaho, $25
The husband/wife team of Karl and Coco Umiker do it all between the team of them in Lewiston, Idaho, buoyed by his education in chemistry (Arkansas) and soil science (Idaho) and her doctorate in food science from Washington State University. Their own Umiker Vineyard supplied 80% of the fruit for this, but there’s also support from Rock n’ J Vineyard in Rogersburg — the … [Read more...] about Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2012 Merlot, Idaho, $25