Year in and year out, a case can be made for Walla Walla Valley icon Woodward Canyon as home to the top Chardonnay in Washington. Its roots start with founder Rick Small, whose first wine as a hobby winemaker was Chardonnay. His passion for the noble white of Burgundy also is reflected by that fact that he first established Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard in 1977 by planting … [Read more...] about Woodward Canyon Winery 2018 Chardonnay, Washington State $44
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Barili Cellars 2017 Red’ Ass Red Wine, Columbia Valley $20
For the second straight year and with the second consecutive vintage, Spokane vintners Gary Hustad and Russ Feist spun their Malbec-based proprietary blend into a gold medal at the Cascadia International Wine Competition. Legally, they could have labeled this at Malbec (80%), and they sourced from both Red Mountain and the Royal Slope regions. In contrast to the name of the … [Read more...] about Barili Cellars 2017 Red’ Ass Red Wine, Columbia Valley $20
Wind Rose Cellars 2015 Dolcetto, Yakima Valley $20
David Volmut, a product of the Yakima Valley College wine program, shows his penchant for Italian varieties in delicious fashion with this Dolcetto from Lonesome Spring Ranch. There's no oak involved, which explains the fruit-forward and charming nose of plum juice and blueberry. On the palate, it's rather brazen with its texture of plum skin and pomegranate, and while it's … [Read more...] about Wind Rose Cellars 2015 Dolcetto, Yakima Valley $20
Dusted Valley Vintners 2016 Stained Tooth Syrah, Columbia Valley $36
Legend has it that Dusted Valley Vintners winemaker Chad Johnson's father, a dentist, subscribes to the notion that “Life is too short to stain your teeth on cheap wine.” Well, there are many Syrahs that are more expensive that the Stained Tooth, but few are its equal. And it starts with two prized sites - StoneTree Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope and the Stoney Vine Vineyard … [Read more...] about Dusted Valley Vintners 2016 Stained Tooth Syrah, Columbia Valley $36
Wines of Sagemoor 2016 Weinbau Vineyard Miguel the Man Limited Release Merlot/Cabernet Franc, Wahluke Slope, $50
Avennia/Passing Time winemaker Chris Peterson has been working with storied Sagemoor fruit since 2010, but Miguel Rodriguez has been tending Merlot and Cabernet Franc blocks at Weinbau Vineyard dating to 1997. Kent Waliser, director of vineyard operations for Sagemoor Farms, collaborated with Peterson on this Right Bank-inspired blend of Merlot (70%) and Cab Franc for the … [Read more...] about Wines of Sagemoor 2016 Weinbau Vineyard Miguel the Man Limited Release Merlot/Cabernet Franc, Wahluke Slope, $50