Northridge Vineyard is one of nine Milbrandt sites in Washington state’s Columbia Basin and perhaps the most prized among the company’s six plantings on the Wahluke Slope. Joshua Maloney allowed this lot of Malbec to hang until Oct. 22, and the barrel program of 18 months in neutral oak explains why the dark blue fruit tones of plum, pomegranate and black cherry remain at the … [Read more...] about Milbrandt Vineyards 2013 Northridge Vineyard The Estates Malbec, Wahluke Slope, $45
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Silvan Ridge Winery 2014 Malbec, Rogue Valley, $26
Juan Pablo Valot’s instinctive touch for Malbec is revealed again as the Argentine pulls from the Rogue Valley. This marks the fourth vintage of Malbec for this Eugene, Ore., property, and the Mendoza native produces greatness from Gold Vineyard near Talent. Dark purple fruit tones of black currant and dark plum pick up boysenberry acidity, savory black olive notes and … [Read more...] about Silvan Ridge Winery 2014 Malbec, Rogue Valley, $26
Telaya Wine Co. 2014 Petit Verdot, Snake River Valley, $35
Boise winemaker Earl Sullivan relies on famed growers in Washington state for much of his Cabernet Sauvignon, but he enjoys working with scenic Sawtooth Vineyard and viticulturist Dale Jeffers for this Petit Verdot — a Bordeaux grape that’s traditionally a blender and not easy to balance for a standalone bottling. These four barrels of Petit Verdot from Idaho's Snake River … [Read more...] about Telaya Wine Co. 2014 Petit Verdot, Snake River Valley, $35
Ross Andrew Winery 2014 The Huntsman Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $17
Ross Andrew Mickel worked at iconic Seattle restaurant Canlis and two of Woodinville’s top wineries, DeLille Cellars and Betz Family Winery, before launching his own label in 1999. Those relationships and his talents have helped him gain access to some of the state’s top vineyards. He created a remarkable balancing act with this Huntsman Cab, pulling from vines in the Yakima … [Read more...] about Ross Andrew Winery 2014 The Huntsman Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $17
Chateau Ste Michelle 2014 Indian Wells Merlot, Columbia Valley, $18
Chateau Ste. Michelle enjoyed so much success with the fruit-forward style of wines — red and white — from its Indian Wells Vineyard and surrounding vineyards on the Wahluke Slope, that the company created a separate tier and priced them in the teens. That vineyard near the Columbia River between the towns of Desert Aire and Mattawa plays a sizable role in this Merlot, and so … [Read more...] about Chateau Ste Michelle 2014 Indian Wells Merlot, Columbia Valley, $18