One of the top spots in the Northwest for Malbec is farmed near Union Gap in the Rattlesnake Hills by the Verhey family. Totem Lake vintner Robert Delf uses that fruit for this bottling that features watercolor artist Laura Olsen's interpretation of Mount Rainier. The total package is beautiful, starting with aromas of dark toast, dusty Bing cherry and blueberry. Inside, these … [Read more...] about Northwest Cellars 2014 Verhey Vineyard Malbec, Yakima Valley, $28
Outstanding
Argyle Winery 2015 Artisan Series Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $40
Argyle's two estate vineyards in the cooler Eola-Amity Hills - Spirit Hill and Lone Star - make up two thirds of this reserve Pinot Noir, with backing by Knudsen Vineyard in the Dundee Hills just north of Nate Klostermann's winery. Harvest for this bottling was wrapped up by Sept. 27 with Spirit Hill, and while many Pinot Noirs from the Willamette Valley have taken on a bigger … [Read more...] about Argyle Winery 2015 Artisan Series Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $40
Alexana Winery 2016 Revana Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $49
Texas cardiologist Madaiah Revana's pursuit of Pinot Noir continues to flourish and mature in Oregon's Dundee Hills, and his flagship Pinot Noir represents an overview his 46 acres in vineyard. So this spans 18 soil types and 10 clones, which include the historical Coury clone and La Tâche, the latter with a heritage tied to the Grand Cru vineyard in Cote de Nuits. Alexana … [Read more...] about Alexana Winery 2016 Revana Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $49
Radix Winery 2015 Laevus Syrah – Petite Sirah, Red Mountain, $48
Columbia Valley endocrinologist Marco De Santis launched his brand in Richland, Wash., named it after the Latin word for "root," and hired one of the state's biggest talents with red wine - Joshua Maloney - to create this delicious Rhone-influenced blend. Both the Syrah and Petite Sirah (31%) were pulled from young Red Heaven Vineyard in the heart of Red Mountain, and the … [Read more...] about Radix Winery 2015 Laevus Syrah – Petite Sirah, Red Mountain, $48
Kriselle Cellars 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Rogue Valley, $24
Retired bridge engineer Scott Steingraber continues to build a following for the Sauvignon Blanc program off his Buxton Ranch property near Medford, Ore. In sticking with his tradition, his Sauvignon Blanc undergoes mostly stainless-steel fermentation, and in 2016 nearly 40% of the lots spent time in neutral French oak barrels. That keeps the focus on the crystalline fruit, … [Read more...] about Kriselle Cellars 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Rogue Valley, $24