The Walla Walla airport complex is home to a variety of quality producers, including Doug Simmons’ quaint Eleganté Cellars. He remains committed to Les Collines Vineyard in the Blue Mountain foothills south of town for his Syrah, a low-alcohol, food-friendly drink with distinctive, savory and brambly tones of blueberry, red currants, earthiness and truffles. Bright acidity and … [Read more...] about Eleganté Cellars 2011 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $35
Washington
Balancing Act 2014 Chardonnay, Washington, $12
Best Buy! The Chardonnay portion of this second label for Tamarack Cellars in Walla Walla is unoaked and fruit-forward as it blends Ron Coleman’s grape sourcing and Danny Gordon’s skill with blending. Expressive aromatics instill thoughts of honey, dried pineapple, candied apricot, white peach, canned corn and lemon juice. There’s a touch of creaminess on the rich entry as … [Read more...] about Balancing Act 2014 Chardonnay, Washington, $12
Mercer Estates 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills, $13
Best Buy! Some of the best Sauvignon Blanc produced in Washington state hails from the Horse Heaven Hills, and the Mercer family reaches into its 525-acre Princeton Vineyard for its first HHH release of this white Bordeaux grape. The nose hints at ripe Golden Delicious apple, baked pear with cinnamon and a touch of toffee. Inside, the fluid is fruit-forward brisk with Asian … [Read more...] about Mercer Estates 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills, $13
Tamarack Cellars 2015 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $15
Best Buy! Here’s an example of Walla Walla winery that’s serious about Chardonnay, and founding winemaker Ron Coleman makes sure his impression is approachable in structure and price. Grapes from six vineyards - Lewis and Olsen Brothers in the Yakima Valley, Bacchus, Sagemoor and Gamache in the Columbia Basin, and Alderbanks in the Walla Walla Valley - were fermented mostly in … [Read more...] about Tamarack Cellars 2015 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $15
Lauren Ashton Cellars 2012 Proprietor’s Cuvée Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $65
Kit Singh’s latest version of a Left Bank Bordeaux blend ranks right alongside the best efforts of the Woodinville dentist’s young winemaking career. It began in some of Washington’s top vineyards - Ambassador and Quintessence on Red Mountain, Upland on Snipes Mountain, Dineen in the Rattlesnake Hills and Stillwater Creek along the Royal Slope. He took a Meritage-style approach … [Read more...] about Lauren Ashton Cellars 2012 Proprietor’s Cuvée Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $65