Dundee vintner Joe Dobbes creates a beautiful Pinot Noir worthy of its namesake, his wife Patricia, and the winemaking starts with a barrel program of 60% new French oak. The lively aromatic profile hints at cherry-led fruit punch, joined by fresh lavender and mint with cedar, cocoa powder and lavender. It’s an acid lover’s dream on the inside as red cherry and pink raspberry … [Read more...] about Dobbes Family Estate 2013 Patricia’s Cuvée Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $55
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Wit Cellars 2015 Chardonnay, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, $22
The hits keep coming from Wit Cellars, an exciting new winery in Prosser, Wash., that features winemakers Flint Nelson and Carolina Warwick. They combined forces at Kestrel Vintners before launching their own brand, and their connections within the industry granted them access to prized Evergreen Vineyard for many of their white wines, including this fruit-forward Chardonnay. … [Read more...] about Wit Cellars 2015 Chardonnay, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, $22
Claar Cellars 2013 White Bluffs Merlot, Columbia Valley, $22
The Claar-Whitelatch family seized upon the early opportunity to harvest its Merlot during warm 2013 vintage, picking from its Salmon-Safe and estate White Bluffs Vineyard on Sept. 5. Barrel aging for 18 months makes for a dense nose of dusty blueberry and Marionberry with brown sugar, black pepper, Graham cracker and a whiff of wild game. Inside, it’s definitely a Washington … [Read more...] about Claar Cellars 2013 White Bluffs Merlot, Columbia Valley, $22
Seven of Hearts 2014 Vigna Giovanni Vineyard Riesling, Yamhill-Carlton, $21
Willamette Valley winemaker Byron Dooley takes a complex approach to this age-worthy Riesling, starting with Vigna Giovanni Vineyard - a site southeast of the town of Yamhill and established in 1983. His use of 60% neutral French barrels for the Oct. 11 harvest helps create aromas of baked apple and dried apricot with talcum powder and nuttiness. Chemistry geeks will know … [Read more...] about Seven of Hearts 2014 Vigna Giovanni Vineyard Riesling, Yamhill-Carlton, $21
Airfield Estates 2013 Reserve Merlot, Yakima Valley, $25
One of the oldest vineyard plantings in Washington state is at the Miller family’s historic Airport Ranch site along the foothills of the Rattlesnake Hills, and their work with Merlot stems back to the late 1970s as an early grower for Ste. Michelle. This release from the first of three hot vintages opens with aromas of pomegranate syrup and cherry taffy backed by chalkboard … [Read more...] about Airfield Estates 2013 Reserve Merlot, Yakima Valley, $25