Best Buy! Bellingham winemakers Paxton Rembert and Scott Whitman operate a downtown tasting room in Fairhaven’s Rustic Coffee + Wine Bar, but the concept for this blend of Yakima Valley fruit was developed in Rembert’s garage. Understandably, they named this non-vintage blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%) and Merlot as a tribute to those beginnings. It’s a nicely balanced and … [Read more...] about Coach House Cellars NV Garage Red Wine Blend, Columbia Valley, $13
Washington
Cedar River Cellars 2014 Mormor Riesling, Yakima Valley, $18
Renton, Wash., winemaker Micah Nasarow continues his work with the Miller family’s 900-acre Airfield Ranches site near Prosser, and he take an off-dry approach with this Riesling. Complex aromas of Granny Smith apple, lychee and petrol fly into an explosion of flavors that include nectarine, honey and golden raisin. Mouthwatering lemon-lime acidity and river rock combine to … [Read more...] about Cedar River Cellars 2014 Mormor Riesling, Yakima Valley, $18
Skyfall Vineyard 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! International wine conglomerate Deutsch Family launched this brand with the 2012 vintage, and it’s a collaboration with Yakima Valley grower/vintner David Minick of Precept. While the brand is named for the expanding Skyfall Vineyard between Red Mountain and the Horse Heaven Hills, fruit for this Chardonnay goes beyond the vines near Benton City. This Chardonnay is … [Read more...] about Skyfall Vineyard 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12
Cadaretta 2013 Southwind Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley, $75
Wenatchee native Brian Rudin’s final vintage with the Middleton family brand in Walla Walla is marked by the debut bottling of Southwind, the first wine from the family’s Southwind Vineyard - the easternmost block within the 2,700-acre SeVein project near Milton-Freewater, Ore. It’s a Left Bank Bordeaux-style blend that leads with Cabernet Sauvignon (71%) as Malbec (23%), Petit … [Read more...] about Cadaretta 2013 Southwind Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley, $75
Nefarious Cellars 2012 Rocky Mother Vineyard Estate Syrah, Columbia Valley, $45
Columbia Basin native Dean Neff established his first vineyard near the river town of Pateros, Wash., and half of those original 5 acres are home to this Syrah - which ends up being made on the south shore of Lake Chelan and overlooking the water. This classic vintage for Washington carries a theme of toast, dark chocolate and coffee with fruit hinting at blackberry and … [Read more...] about Nefarious Cellars 2012 Rocky Mother Vineyard Estate Syrah, Columbia Valley, $45