Italy is in David Volmut's blood, so the focus of his winery in the Olympic Peninsula rain shadow is on Italian styles and varieties. This off-dry approach with Orange Muscat from Lonesome Spring Ranch has a broad appeal, starting with enticing aromas of fresh-peeled lychee nut, peach, rosewater, jasmine and verbena. The drink comes across as clean and elegant with orange oil, … [Read more...] about Wind Rose Cellars 2012 Muscato, Yakima Valley, $10
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Coiled Wines 2012 Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley, $17
Leslie Preston's thirst for this noble white grape inspired her this summer to be a part of the international Riesling Rendezvous conference in Seattle, and this wine deserved to be showcased alongside some of the planet's best. She took eight tons from Skyline Vineyard on Oct. 5 and turned it into a gorgeous nose of orange oil, Gala apple, tropical fruit and clove. It explodes … [Read more...] about Coiled Wines 2012 Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley, $17
Northstar Winery 2009 Premier Merlot, Columbia Valley, $85
Behold the brightest jewel in the Northstar crown by Dave Merfeld, the Merlot maestro of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Despite the "game over" freeze event of Oct. 10, 2009, "Merf" bottled a stunning example of Merlot from a 24-year-old block at acclaimed Cold Creek Vineyard overlooking the Columbia River. The nose carries raspberry sauce, spiced cherry, Belgian chocolate and … [Read more...] about Northstar Winery 2009 Premier Merlot, Columbia Valley, $85
Artisanal Wine Cellars 2010 Dukes Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, $34
This bottling marked the fifth vintage for Sherwood, Ore., vintner Tom Fuller, who tapped into this Walnut Hill site to produce a stunning Pinot Noir. There's a lot to like, starting with the nose of strawberry pie, Van cherries, raspberry sauce, cherry tomato paste, sweet herbs, forest floor and porcini mushrooms. The delivery to the palate is bold and bright with flavors of … [Read more...] about Artisanal Wine Cellars 2010 Dukes Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, $34
Gamache Vintners 2012 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $18
Red Mountain vintner Charlie Hoppes makes very little white wine for his own Fidelitas brand, but he turns out tasty Riesling for his longtime friends Bob and Roger Gamache. Its tantalizing aromas feature apricot, pink grapefruit, lime, butter rum candy and verbena. There's some pleasing frontal sweetness and roundness to the flavors of passionfruit and yellow grapefruit, … [Read more...] about Gamache Vintners 2012 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $18