The story of Louis Delsol, the Frenchman who established the Lewis-Clark Valley’s first vineyard in 1872, continues to be retold in delicious fashion by the Umikers. Coco Umiker works with Cabernet Sauvignon grown by her husband, Karl, as well as two other L-C Valley sites — Arnett Vineyard and Rock n’ J Vineyard. Its theme of blackberry cobbler, muscovado sugar, forest floor, … [Read more...] about Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2021 Heritage Series Louis Delsol Cabernet Sauvignon, Lewis-Clark Valley $36
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Cinder Wines 2022 Emerald Slope Vineyard Verdejo, Snake River Valley $28
When Melanie Krause’s work with this Spanish white grape made international headlines, officials in Texas correctly credited it as an Oregon wine. That’s because the Martin family’s Emerald Slope Vineyard is on the Oregon side of the Snake River near the town of Adrian. Early aromas of thyme, lemongrass and oregon are quickly overtaken by hints of luscious tropical and stone … [Read more...] about Cinder Wines 2022 Emerald Slope Vineyard Verdejo, Snake River Valley $28
Spoiled Dog Winery 2021 Carménère, Yakima Valley $30
Second-generation winemaker Jake Krug and his mother, Karen, the founding winemaker, won a Platinum two years ago for their 2018 Carménère, which featured Hattrup-farmed Sugarloaf Vineyard. This vintage went Double Platinum, ranking among the best in the Northwest. Classic notes of cassis, tobacco leaf, green pepper, oregano and prosciutto are presented with a full-bodied … [Read more...] about Spoiled Dog Winery 2021 Carménère, Yakima Valley $30
College Cellars of Walla Walla 2020 Cockburn Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley $30
Walla Walla Community College’s winemaking school used one of Cecil Zerba’s estate vineyards to earn its seventh career Platinum Award, and it’s not surprising, considering Zerba Cellars has earned three Platinums for its GSM program. This Grenache is an enticing wine with notes of juicy red bramble fruit, violets, maplewood smoke and English Breakfast tea, capped by pinches of … [Read more...] about College Cellars of Walla Walla 2020 Cockburn Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley $30
JM Cellars 2020 Boushey Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley $85
One of the Northwest’s premier plantings of Rhône varieties helped set the table for John Bigelow’s expression with Syrah, which includes co-fermentation with Viognier (3%). Classic aromas of saddle leather, braised beef, black pepper, tobacco and oregano transition to a fruit-focused and full-bodied drink of plummy black fruits, backed by bittersweet chocolaty tannins, more … [Read more...] about JM Cellars 2020 Boushey Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley $85