Entrust winemaker Victor Palencia with grapes from the Ancient Lakes and it seems certain to be a winner. Here, he wrings out aromatics that include perfumy grapefruit and guava, which then lead into flavors of live, guava and even a bit of papaya. All that fruit hangs on for a long finish of crisp acidity that calls for another sip. This wine earned a gold medal at both the … [Read more...] about Vino la Monarcha Winery 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, $18
Wine of the Week
Telaya Wine Co. 2016 Turas Red Blend, Snake River Valley, $32
This marks the ninth bottling of the flagship wine for Earl and Carrie Sullivan at Telaya Wine Co., and the Garden City brand used this Syrah-based blend to win best red wine at the 2018 Idaho Wine Competition. Aside from the Syrah (63%) from Sawtooth Vineyard and Skyline Vineyard's Block 46, it's supported by Malbec and Merlot from Scoria and Daniel vineyard. The youthful red … [Read more...] about Telaya Wine Co. 2016 Turas Red Blend, Snake River Valley, $32
Stoller Family Estate 2017 Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, $25
Bill Stoller and his VP of winemaking, Melissa Burr, are among those embracing Chablis-inspired Chardonnay in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Their unoaked example spent nine months in stainless steel to better represent the three Dijon clones, 76, 95 and 96, planted across the 398-acre estate. An incredibly charming nose of Ambrosia salad, honeydew melon and banana leads to a … [Read more...] about Stoller Family Estate 2017 Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, $25
Sawtooth Estate Winery 2015 Trout Trilogy Syrah, Snake River Valley, $35
Sawtooth Vineyard is not the largest vineyard in Idaho, but Brad Pintler's 70-acre planting that he started in 1982 could be argued as the state's most important test plot. In recent years, winemaker Meredith Smith has helped take it to the next level, and her Trout Trilogy Series continues to serve as a hook for out-of-state media, sommeliers and her club members. It is … [Read more...] about Sawtooth Estate Winery 2015 Trout Trilogy Syrah, Snake River Valley, $35
Nine Hats Wines 2017 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $14
Best Buy! Rather than using the road map created by German vintner Armin Diel for the Poet's Leap brand, Long Shadows conductor Gilles Nicault follows his own course with the Nine Hats Riesling. And for the second straight vintage, this wine earned a gold medal at the 2018 Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition, which serves as a scholarship fundraiser for Walla Walla Community … [Read more...] about Nine Hats Wines 2017 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $14