The 2015 debut of this Spanish-themed red is driven by Tempranillo. However, Mike Pearson's plantings of Graciano not far from the Clearwater River are hitting their stride, and his winemaking wife — Melissa Sanborn — used the perfumy grape native to Rioja to share the spotlight Mourvèdre (46%) and Malbec (8%). Cherry candy, raspberries and other red fruits rule in this smooth … [Read more...] about Colter’s Creek Winery 2017 Estate Rocinante Red Wine, Lewis-Clark Valley, $35
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Ste. Chapelle 2016 Panoramic Idaho Malbec, Snake River Valley, $28
Vineyards in Idaho's Snake River Valley tickle 3,000 feet in elevation, and Malbec thrives at that altitude, which begins to explain why Argentina's Mendoza region has become famous for this red Bordeaux grape. Winemakers in Idaho also are earning a reputation for delicious Malbec, and homegrown Meredith Smith is among the leaders. She pulls it from Sawtooth Vineyard, and as … [Read more...] about Ste. Chapelle 2016 Panoramic Idaho Malbec, Snake River Valley, $28
Valcan Cellars 2017 Chardonnay Pièce, Willamette Valley, $18
J.P. Valot continues to nurture his young Valcan Cellars brand while making the wine for historic Silvan Ridge Winery in Eugene, Ore. The source for the affable Argentine's own Chardonnay is Houston Vineyard, and 2020 marks the 40th anniversary of Steve Houston planting his namesake sit soon after graduating from the University of California-Davis's viticulture program. Valot … [Read more...] about Valcan Cellars 2017 Chardonnay Pièce, Willamette Valley, $18
Waterbrook Winery 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $24
Place estate fruit from this historically hot vintage in the hands of longtime Waterbrook winemaker John Freeman, and the results from Precept talisman are predictably bewitching. He worked Waterbrook Estate Vineyard as well as Mirage, Blackrock and Summit View, and there's some deft yet telling blending with Cabernet Franc (8%) and Petit Verdot (2%). The dense nose of … [Read more...] about Waterbrook Winery 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $24
Open Claim Vineyards 2016 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $75
Famed Oregon winemaker Tony Rynders continues to make his followers and his clients happy. In this case, that would be vineyard owners Marnie & Brett Wall. While former Abacela viticulturist Alex Cabrera oversees eight young clonal blocks of Pinot Noir at Open Claim, Rynders spun this into a blend of just three — Dijon clones 667 and 777 with Swiss clone Wädenswil. … [Read more...] about Open Claim Vineyards 2016 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $75