Dick and Larry Olsen were feted as the honorary growers during the 2014 Auction of Washington Wines, nearly then 25 years after they established their vineyard northeast of Prosser, and Dusted Valley has made it the centerpiece of its Chardonnay program — as have several other acclaimed wineries. Two clones factor into this bottling, 96 and the California-developed Wente. And … [Read more...] about Dusted Valley Vintners 2018 Olsen Vineyard Chardonnay, Yakima Valley $29
Outstanding
Henry Earl Estates 2016 Shaw Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $48
Dick and Wendy Shaw's namesake site along the western shoulders of Red Mountain produced the top wine of Wine Press Northwest's 2019 Platinum Judging — a Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2015 vintage. Here, the Legends of Washington Wine Hall of Fame inductees kept some of that prized Cab for their own wine project and tasting room in Walla Walla, and they named it after their … [Read more...] about Henry Earl Estates 2016 Shaw Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $48
Chicken Dinner Wines 2019 White Wine, Snake River Valley, $16
Gregg and Mary Alger launched Huston Vineyards near Idaho's Sunnyslope in 2011, and perhaps their biggest stroke of marketing genius was to develop a second label named for the Canyon County road their farm is along — Chicken Dinner Road. The white wine they produce from Sawtooth Vineyard and nearby Williamson Vineyard starts with a variety that the Snake River Valley excels … [Read more...] about Chicken Dinner Wines 2019 White Wine, Snake River Valley, $16
Dazzle Cellars 2020 Julia’s Dazzle Rosé, Columbia Valley, $18
Long Shadows Vintners founder Allen Shoup and his director of winemaking, Gilles Nicault, waited more than a decade before producing their first rosé together, and they continue to serve as the Pacific Northwest's leaders when it comes to Pinot Gris rosé. They launched it in 2014 with Horse Heaven Hills fruit as the focus, but since shifted much of it to Headquarters Vineyard, … [Read more...] about Dazzle Cellars 2020 Julia’s Dazzle Rosé, Columbia Valley, $18
Gård Vintners 2017 Lawrence Estate Wines Thunderstone, Columbia Valley, $45
The versatility of the Royal Slope as a growing region will be more apparent as result of the federal government's establishment last year of this American Viticultural Area championed in large part by the Lawrence family, but winemakers across the Northwest and international critics have long appreciated the fruit this region north of the Wahluke Slope. Josh and Lisa Lawrence … [Read more...] about Gård Vintners 2017 Lawrence Estate Wines Thunderstone, Columbia Valley, $45