Much of Shane Howard's production comes from the newly established Royal Slope American Viticultural Area, but he pulled in near Crow Butte and the Columbia River for this remarkable Cabernet Sauvignon from Discovery Vineyard. There's richness, power and balance framed within the Woodinville winemaker's work with May family fruit. Lovely black and dark red fruit tones come with … [Read more...] about Pondera Winery 2016 Discovery Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills $55
Outstanding
Northwest Cellars 2015 Kiona Vineyard Carménère, Red Mountain, $48
In the past, Robert Delf has made this fascinating red Bordeaux variety an important part of his Cadenza program. With this lot of Carménère from the Williams family's Kiona Vineyard, Northwest Cellars has rightfully showcased a handful of barrels as a vineyard-designated expression of Carm. Half of the barrels were new French oak, which appear to have been for texture because … [Read more...] about Northwest Cellars 2015 Kiona Vineyard Carménère, Red Mountain, $48
Coyote Canyon Winery 2019 Coyote Canyon Vineyard El Chispear Albariño, Horse Heaven Hills $32
The Andrews family can take credit for being the first in Washington state to establish Albariño, and they've been crafting a sparkling version of the white Spanish grape since 2014, using the Spanish verb "to sparkle" as the moniker. This lot is harvested three weeks earlier than those grapes used to produce the still table wine, and Justin Michaud shows that he has the … [Read more...] about Coyote Canyon Winery 2019 Coyote Canyon Vineyard El Chispear Albariño, Horse Heaven Hills $32
Be Human Wines 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé, Horse Heaven Hills $18
The Aquilini team made a cannonball splash in the fall of 2013 when it purchased 559 acres of land on Red Mountain, but there's an even larger footprint in the Horse Heaven Hills, too. There they own 1,121 acres, with 463 of it under vine near Tule Canyon, and Ivy League-trained winemaker Joshua Maloney has used some of that Cabernet Sauvignon to produce one of the Northwest's … [Read more...] about Be Human Wines 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé, Horse Heaven Hills $18
Camas Prairie Winery 2019 Raspberry Mead, Idaho, $14
Best Buy! The beat goes on for Jeremy Ritter, who burnishes the history surrounding this Idaho Panhandle producer as perhaps the Northwest's leader for mead. He continues to follow the delectable tradition established in 1983 by founder Stuart Scott, and the work with berry-influenced honey wine remains stellar. The latest example with raspberry brings a big nose of hard … [Read more...] about Camas Prairie Winery 2019 Raspberry Mead, Idaho, $14