Best Buy! This white wine from one of the Northwest's top Riesling producers combines modest alcohol with pretty fruit. It opens with aromas of rose water, lime and slate, followed by flavors of pear, pineapple cake and spices. There's a bit of residual sugar that is expertly balanced with bright acidity. The result is a wine with a rich, round midpalate and a yummy finish. … [Read more...] about Pacific Rim Winemakers 2011 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $11
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Raptor Ridge Winery 2010 Meredith Mitchell Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville, $38
Susan Meredith and Frank Mitchell own this vineyard planted in 1988 in the McMinnville AVA, a region that is renowned for producing darker and somewhat brooding Pinot Noirs. This example from Raptor Ridge in Newberg opens with what can only be described as Burgundian aromas of minerally earth, saddle leather, forest floor and black truffle. On the palate, it reveals flavors of … [Read more...] about Raptor Ridge Winery 2010 Meredith Mitchell Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville, $38
Holmes Harbor Cellars 2009 Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, $35
This winery in tiny Greenbank, Wash., on Whidbey Island is run by Greg and Theresa Martinez, and they are turning some heads with the quality of their wines. They went to the Walla Walla Valley for the grapes for this Malbec. It's a delicious effort with aromas of thyme, a whisper of smoke, poached cherries and black pepper. On the palate, it offers rich, round flavors of black … [Read more...] about Holmes Harbor Cellars 2009 Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, $35
Erath Winery 2010 Bishop Creek Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $50
Yamhill-Carlton is one of the most interesting AVAs in the six small northern Willamette Valley growing areas. Like nearby AVAs, it is based primarily on elevation. But instead of focusing on a particular landform (such as the Dundee Hills, McMinnville and Eola-Amity Hills AVAs are), Yamhill-Carlton has a low-lying island in the middle that is not in the appellation. Thus, the … [Read more...] about Erath Winery 2010 Bishop Creek Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $50
Walla Walla Vintners 2010 Malbec, Columbia Valley, $30
Winemaker William vonMetzger used grapes from famed Sagemoor Vineyards in the Columbia Basin for this delicious Malbec. It offers classic Washington Malbec notes, inlcuding aromas of blackberry jam on light toast, black pepper and minerality. On the palate, it reveals rich flavors of boysenberry, juicy blueberry and black cherry, all backed with mouth-filling tannins and a … [Read more...] about Walla Walla Vintners 2010 Malbec, Columbia Valley, $30