Cold Creek Vineyard is a funny place. There's no creek (except on rare occasions in the spring), and the region is anything but cold. The vineyard was planted in the 1970s, and its location north of the Yakima Valley on a warm, south-facing slope would seem to be an odd place to grow Riesling. But it works here, thanks to 30-year-old vines that are able to carry a fairly high … [Read more...] about Chateau Ste. Michelle 2012 Cold Creek Vineyard Riesling, Columbia Valley, $18
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Sagelands Vineyard 2011 Freddie’s Blend, Columbia Valley, $10
Best Buy! The origin of this wine's name goes back to Frederique Spencer, the French-born winemaker who was Sagelands' longtime winemaker before Precept bought the winery in 2011. It is a blend that includes plenty of Cabernet Sauvignon (61%), along with Merlot (22%), Syrah (16%) and a touch of Tempranillo. The result is a delicious and affordable red with youthful aromas of … [Read more...] about Sagelands Vineyard 2011 Freddie’s Blend, Columbia Valley, $10
Pacific Rim Winemakers 2011 Sweet Riesling, Columbia Valley, $11
Best Buy! This is one of the largest-production Rieslings in the United States, and it is delicious. It's a low-alcohol wine with a high dose of sweetness (6.9%) that is tempered by bright acidity (3.03 pH). The result is a bright, balanced wine with aromas of fresh-cut yellow rose, green apple, orange zest and nutmeg. On the palate, it offers pleasing flavors of peach, pear, … [Read more...] about Pacific Rim Winemakers 2011 Sweet Riesling, Columbia Valley, $11
Erath Winery 2010 Dion Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $50
This is a new addition to winemaker Gary Horner's impressive lineup of vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs. The two-decade-old Dion Vineyard is an early ripening site of the northern Willamette Valley. We can see why Horner wanted to single out this wine, as it is one of the finest efforts we've tasted from the challenging 2010 vintage. This opens with complex layers of aromas, … [Read more...] about Erath Winery 2010 Dion Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $50
Convergence Zone Cellars 2010 Mistral, Red Mountain, $28
The mistral is a strong winter wind that howls through the Rhône Valley of France. This red blend is inspired by the region, as it comprises Grenache (67%), Mourvédrè (22%) and Syrah from two top Red Mountain vineyards: Ciel du Cheval and Read Heaven. This opens with aromas of wintergreen, pie cherry, cinnamon and vanilla, followed by a delicious palate that shows off flavors … [Read more...] about Convergence Zone Cellars 2010 Mistral, Red Mountain, $28