Gary Dunbar grew up near Mount St. Helens but moved to California’s historic Santa Clara Valley several years before the volcano returned to life in deadly fashion. He grew grapes and learned winemaking in Central California and brought that knowledge back home with him a decade ago. He’s having fun, and his successes include this fortified Syrah. It carries aromas of black … [Read more...] about Mount St Helens Cellars NV A Hot Piece of Ash Syrah Dessert Wine, Yakima Valley, $18
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Mosquito Fleet Winery 2013 Reserve 34 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $90
Kitsap Peninsula winemaker Brian Petersen invested time and money in this two-barrel lot of Cabernet Sauvignon from famed Pepper Bridge Vineyard, a planting managed by Tom Waliser that celebrated its 25th birthday in 2016. A remarkable term of 34 months in new Taransaud barrels — hence the Reserve 34 name — develops beautiful aromas of dark chocolate, blackberry and strawberry … [Read more...] about Mosquito Fleet Winery 2013 Reserve 34 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $90
Milbrandt Vineyards 2014 Ravenscliff Vineyard Single Vineyard Series Malbec, Wahluke Slope, $42
Before her departure to California, Eastern Washington University grad Emily Haines crafted this stunning Malbec from Butch and Lisa Milbrandt's vineyard on the warm Wahluke Slope near Sentinel Gap. It’s a rich, complex effort with aromas of bacon, chocolate, purple plum and smoked meat, followed by flavors of red fruit and boysenberry. Thanks to incredibly balanced acidity, … [Read more...] about Milbrandt Vineyards 2014 Ravenscliff Vineyard Single Vineyard Series Malbec, Wahluke Slope, $42
Underwood 2016 Rosé, Oregon, $14
Best Buy! Willamette Valley winemaker JP Caldcleugh heads up one of the largest productions of rosé in the Pacific Northwest, and a sizable amount of the release by the prolific Union Wine Co., will be coming out in 375-milliliter cans. It’s more of a pink wine than rosé because Pinot Noir and Syrah are very minor components behind the base blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris and … [Read more...] about Underwood 2016 Rosé, Oregon, $14
Wind Rose Cellars 2016 Rosato, Yakima Valley, $17
Olympic Peninsula winemaker David Volmut, a product of Yakima Valley College’s winemaking program, stays true to his Italian-themed program with this rosé of Dolcetto from the Yakima Valley. The whole-cluster press and six-week ferment captures red cherry and rose petal aromatics, followed by watermelon, Montmorency cherry and cranberry flavors, making for an acid-driven … [Read more...] about Wind Rose Cellars 2016 Rosato, Yakima Valley, $17