Owners Anne and Terry Harrison use the services of winemaker Anke Wildman to produce some of the best wines coming out of the Zillah area of the Yakima Valley. The grapes for this wine were sourced from StoneTree Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope (which, not coincidentally, is owned and operated by Anke's husband, Tedd Wildman). This luscious Mourvèdre offers aromas of thyme, … [Read more...] about Knight Hill Winery 2010 Mourvèdre, Wahluke Slope, $24
Latest wine reviews
Native Sun 2009 Petit Verdot, Red Mountain, $50
Kyle Johnson, winemaker for the now-defunct Olsen Estate, now has his own gig with Purple Star and Native Sun. Johnson used grapes from the pioneering Kiona Vineyards on Red Mountain for this delicious but rarely made 100% Petit Verdot. It opens with aromas of chocolate, black licorice, walnut and black cherry. On the palate, it offers flavors of chocolate-covered blueberry, … [Read more...] about Native Sun 2009 Petit Verdot, Red Mountain, $50
Erath Winery 2010 Estate Collection Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $34
Gary Horner blended lots from five favorite vineyards, with the majority coming from Prince Hill and Battle Creek, along with smaller percentages from Knight's Gambit, Tuenge and Niederberger. It's a stunning with from first whiff through the lingering finish. It opens with aromas of sweet oak spices, strawberry jam, cherry vanilla cola, clove and red currant. It's a rich yet … [Read more...] about Erath Winery 2010 Estate Collection Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $34
Pacific Rim Winemakers 2011 Gewürztraminer, Columbia Valley, $11
Best Buy! Pacific Rim near Washington's Red Mountain focuses on Riesling, but this is one of the rare non-Rielsing wines it produces. The connection to this German variety is obvious, and Pacific Rim consistently produces one of the tastier Gewürztraminers we review each year. This is a classic with aromas of lychee, grapefruit, clove and lemon custard, followed by flavors of … [Read more...] about Pacific Rim Winemakers 2011 Gewürztraminer, Columbia Valley, $11
Tsillan Cellars 2010 Estate Malbec, Lake Chelan, $28
Tsillan Cellars on the south shore of Lake Chelan is one of the most beautiful wineries in the Pacific Northwest and offers one of the prettiest views anywhere in Washington wine country. The wines are pretty special, too, relying on estate grapes planted where some of the world's best Red Delicious apples once were planted. This plush Malbec opens with aromas of flannel, dusty … [Read more...] about Tsillan Cellars 2010 Estate Malbec, Lake Chelan, $28