Woodinville vintner Terry Wells sources from Clifton Hill on the Wahluke Slope and Patina Vineyard, a tiny 20-year-old site in the Walla Walla Valley, for this juicy, 100% Syrah tribute to the sport of kings. Bright purple fruit tones of Bing cherry and blueberry include boysenberry, cured meat and some dusty minerality. Down the stretch, it’s big yet soft as black currant and … [Read more...] about Love That Red Winery 2014 Deadheat Syrah, Columbia Valley, $32
Washington
Robert Ramsay Cellars 2012 McKinley Springs Mourvèdre, Horse Heaven Hills, $35
The Andrews and Rowell family has been growing wine grapes in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills since 1980, and Robert Ramsay Harris began buying fruit from the McKinley Springs folks since 2005. Harris focused much of his efforts on Rhone varieties, and that is on full display with this Mourvèdre. Leaping out of the glass are aromas of Bing cherry, Red Vines licorice, sandy … [Read more...] about Robert Ramsay Cellars 2012 McKinley Springs Mourvèdre, Horse Heaven Hills, $35
Baer Winery 2013 Ursa Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $43
This storied project in Woodinville continues to produce wines that would have made the late Lance Baer proud, and here’s its flagship bottling - a Right Bank-style blend of Merlot (42%), Cabernet Franc (42%), Cabernet Sauvignon (14%) and Petit Verdot all off Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Frenchman Hills. Erica Orr and the Baers invested 22 months in a barrel program of 53% … [Read more...] about Baer Winery 2013 Ursa Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $43
ded.reckoning Wine Co. 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $14
Best Buy! Regionally renowned wine merchant Doug Charles of Compass Wines in Anacortes, Wash., goes negoçiant for this collaboration with Sean Boyd, formerly of Woodinville Wine Cellars. They achieved their goal of developing a Sauvignon Blanc specifically for Dungeness crab and other Salish Sea delicacies by using Artz Vineyard on Red Mountain and Stillwater Creek Vineyard in … [Read more...] about ded.reckoning Wine Co. 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $14
Buty Winery 2014 Sèmillon-Sauvignon-Muscadelle, Columbia Valley, $25
Walla Walla vintner Nina Buty continues to gain an audience for her expression of white Bordeaux that 10 years ago may not have been widely appreciated in our corner of the New World. And she doesn’t stray far from the winning formula of Sèmillon (60%) from historic Rosebud Ranch and Boushey Vineyard with Sauvignon Blanc (22%) and Muscadelle off Lonesome Spring Ranch. Why mess … [Read more...] about Buty Winery 2014 Sèmillon-Sauvignon-Muscadelle, Columbia Valley, $25