A number of the Pacific Northwest's top wineries feature a husband growing the grapes for a winemaking wife, and such is the case with Mike Pearson and Melissa Sanborn of Colter's Creek in the tiny town of Juliaetta, Idaho. Pearson established these clone 07 vines in the Arrow Junction block of his family's vineyard, a section planted in 2015 near the banks of the Clearwater … [Read more...] about Colter’s Creek Winery 2017 Estate Syrah, Lewis-Clark Valley $20
Wine of the Week
INTRINSIC Wine Co. 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $22
With its flamboyant label that’s reminiscent of street art, INTRINSIC has quickly built a reputation for showy red wines, which its 2017 vintage will only augment. One of the recent labels created by the wizards within Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, INTRINSIC is now crafted in Paterson, Wash., by Katie Nelson, who followed the template created by Juan Muñoz Oca and continues to … [Read more...] about INTRINSIC Wine Co. 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $22
Penner-Ash Wine Cellars 2018 Viognier, Oregon $30
Lynn Penner-Ash continued her impeccable work with Viognier with this bottling, yet another example of the famed Oregon winemaker's versatility that stretches beyond Pinot Noir. And the North Willamette Valley producer again relies on Southern Oregon sites Crater View Vineyard (45%), RoxyAnn Vineyard (32%), Sundown Vineyard (18%) and Power Block Vineyard. It is 100% Viognier … [Read more...] about Penner-Ash Wine Cellars 2018 Viognier, Oregon $30
Jones of Washington 2018 Estate Vineyards Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope, $14
Best Buy! Victor Palencia, who grew up in Prosser, Wash., continues to prove that he’s one of the leading Chardonnay producers in the Pacific Northwest. His winemaking talents and Jones family fruit combined to earn this fresh 2018 release best of class at the Invite. This opens with classic aromas of apple and lemon/lime en route to delivering a clean mouthful of bright lemon, … [Read more...] about Jones of Washington 2018 Estate Vineyards Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope, $14
Argyle Winery 2017 Grower Series Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $27
The flagship Pinot Noir for Argyle Winery includes a subtle reference to how the project began under founding winemaker Rollin Soles, that of "grower first." In 1987, the Texan joined forces with Australian vintner Brian Croser and Oregon viticulturist Allen Holstein to grow Burgundian varieties for the purpose of creating sparkling wine. Argyle soon set the standard in the … [Read more...] about Argyle Winery 2017 Grower Series Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $27