Best Buy! Charles Smith created this consumer-minded brand prior to selling his Magnificent Wine Co. to Precept Wine in 2007. Now, it's winemaker Hal Landvoigt who keeps the focus on the fruit with this Chardonnay, boosting the aromatics and acidity with Sauvignon Blanc (5%) and Riesling (5%). The nose offers gooseberry, lime peel and light straw with tropical hints of cocoa … [Read more...] about House Wine 2013 Chardonnay, American, $10
Washington
Coyote Canyon Winery 2014 LOL White Wine Fun, Horse Heaven Hills, $13
Best Buy! Prosser vintner Mike Andrews grows 25 grape varieties across his 1,125 acres in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills, and he’s been among the state’s early champions for Albariño. That Spanish white grape forms the base of this blend with Rhône varieties Roussanne and Viognier, all of which were picked Sept. 15. It’s a fruit-forward and engaging wine with floral and … [Read more...] about Coyote Canyon Winery 2014 LOL White Wine Fun, Horse Heaven Hills, $13
Jones of Washington 2012 Estate Vineyards Barrel Select Red Wine, Wahluke Slope, $25
The Jones family owns and operates nearly a dozen vineyard sites in Washingt’s Columbia Basin, and eight of those are on the Wahluke Slope. Among those is Big River Vineyard, the source for this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Carméneère (22%) and Syrah. A barrel program involving 18 months in new French oak leads to aromas of black currant, blueberry and plum skins with … [Read more...] about Jones of Washington 2012 Estate Vineyards Barrel Select Red Wine, Wahluke Slope, $25
Daven Lore Winery 2012 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $29
While it is labeled as Syrah, those grapes from Alder Ridge Vineyard and Newhouse Family Vineyards account for 77 percent of the wine. There also are contributions of Mourvèdre (10%), Petit Verdot (5%), Grenache (5%) and Petite Sirah, which create marvelous complexity. They combine for a pleasing profile of dark purple fruit, outside and inside. Dusty and dried blueberry aromas … [Read more...] about Daven Lore Winery 2012 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $29
Dance Cellars 2014 Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills, $37
The official Chardonnay of Long Shadows Vintners, Gilles Nicault employs one of his prized French egg-shaped concrete tanks for half of this lot from Kaiser Vineyard at The Benches. For the rest, the nine-month fermentation takes place in French oak, but just 20 percent of those are new barrels. There’s a beautiful aromatic blend of French bread crust, Gala apple, lemon and … [Read more...] about Dance Cellars 2014 Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills, $37