Two years ago, owner/winemaker John Little won best of show in the North Central Washington Wine Awards for the 2013 vintage of this delicious white wine, and he’s proving that was no fluke. It’s an elegant wine with aromas of tropical fruit, honey and grapefruit, followed by flavors of pineapple and orange. The rich midpalate is backed by surprisingly bright acidity that leads … [Read more...] about Rio Vista Wines 2015 Antoine Creek Vineyard Viognier, Columbia Valley, $25
Washington
Forsyth Brio 2008 Desert Wind Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $50
David Forysth oversees one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest winemaking facilities in Prosser, and yet he continues to produce and release some of the region’s most overlooked wines as part of his young Forsyth Brio brand. For this one-barrel project, he pulled from Desert Wind Vineyard, which is managed by Doug Fries of Duck Pond Cellars acclaim. The vines were 15-years-old … [Read more...] about Forsyth Brio 2008 Desert Wind Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $50
Robert Karl Cellars 2012 The Phinny Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $36
Spokane vintner Joseph Gunselman focuses his attention on the Horse Heaven Hills, and he had the foresight to establish Gunselman Bench Vineyard in this now-famous region. With this bottling, however, he pulls from nearby Phinny Hill Vineyard, and the results from a crop load of 3.5 tons per acre are predictably stunning. He invested 23 months in two barrels of new French oak, … [Read more...] about Robert Karl Cellars 2012 The Phinny Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $36
Idilico 2013 Monastrell, Yakima Valley, $20
Javier Alfonso developed this sister brand of Pomum Cellars in order to highlight wines made with grapes native to the Iberian Peninsula and his roots of Spain’s Ribera del Duero. In this case, he uses the region’s reference to Mourvèdre, and his fruit sources feature two of the state’s top vineyard managers — Todd Newhouse at Upland and Patrick Rawn at Marcela. The nose opens … [Read more...] about Idilico 2013 Monastrell, Yakima Valley, $20
Wit Cellars 2014 Riesling, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, $18
The veteran winemaking duo of Flint Nelson and Cat Warwick pull from one of Washington state’s premier plantings of Riesling — Evergreen Vineyard — for this stunningly fascinating bottling under their new brand. Crisp and complex aromas of pear, lemon and gooseberry pick up hints of ginger and alfalfa. Inside, the flavors are elegant and reminiscent of Ginger Gold apple and an … [Read more...] about Wit Cellars 2014 Riesling, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, $18