Cabernet Franc is grown at two of Cecil Zerba's three vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley, Dad's Vineyard near the winery in The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, Ore., and the higher-elevation Cockburn Vineyard - the breadbasket for Zerba Cellars. Brent Roberts, a graduate of Washington State University’s winemaking program, presents a layered and complex version of Cabernet … [Read more...] about Zerba Cellars 2016 Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley $36
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Sagelands Vineyard 2017 Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, $11
Best Buy! One of Washington state's longest-lived brands - bonded in 1984 - pulls from some well-established vineyards in the Yakima Valley such as Willow Crest and Canyon Vineyard Ranch for its Pinot Gris program. The 2017 vintage marked the first year for Cesar Cuellar, longtime assistant winemaker for Waterbrook, as the head winemaker for Sagelands, and he immediately hit … [Read more...] about Sagelands Vineyard 2017 Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, $11
H/H Estates 2014 Coyote Canyon Vineyard Big John Cab Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $42
Rancher-turned-grower Mike Andrews established Cabernet Sauvignon on his family's land in 1995, so these vines are reaching peak maturity. His winemaker, Justin Michaud, folded in some Malbec (18%), which adds a youthful and blue note in the background. There's some maturity reflected in the color as it sits the glass, leading to notes of black cherry, allspice, cola and cedar. … [Read more...] about H/H Estates 2014 Coyote Canyon Vineyard Big John Cab Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $42
Dumas Station Wines 2016 Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley, $36
Bordeaux-inspired wines remain the focus of Dumas Station, the lone winery in Columbia County and historic Dayton, Wash. Founder/winemaker Jay Dewitt, a fourth-generation farmer, works with both Birch Creek and Minnick Hills vineyards to craft these eight barrels of Cabernet Franc, which flashes very little new oak. That allows the elegance of the wine to shine with ripe purple … [Read more...] about Dumas Station Wines 2016 Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley, $36
Tamarack Cellars 2013 Emerald Release 20th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $100
Oregon State University grad Danny Gordon joined Tamarack Cellars founder Ron Coleman in 1999, so the timing of this Emerald Release lines up with his 20th anniversary of working at Tamarack. The gemstone for a 20th anniversary is the emerald, and this background of this special release goes beyond the etched bottle. It is the product of four vineyard-designate reserve programs … [Read more...] about Tamarack Cellars 2013 Emerald Release 20th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $100