While some have fled the Chenin Blanc market, owner/managing winemaker Marty Clubb and L'Ecole No. 41 remain dedicated to the Vouvray style of this variety that's native to the Loire Valley since 1987. A couple of decades ago, Chenin in Washington often would be presented as off-dry, but Clubb and his winemaker, Mike Sharon, keep theirs floral, bright and succulent with … [Read more...] about L’Ecole No. 41 2017 Old Vines Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley, $16
Wine of the Week
Grantwood Winery 2016 Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley, $22
More winemakers in Washington state are helping to bring this lesser-known red Bordeaux variety out of the shadows, and Joe Grant of tiny Grantwood Winery in Walla Walla is among those. This wine represents two barrels of Petit Verdot from stately Les Collines Vineyard in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, and it offers big shoulders with dense notes of plum, black cherry and … [Read more...] about Grantwood Winery 2016 Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley, $22
Coeur de Terre Vineyard 2015 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $22
Scott Neal and his GM/wife Lisa Neal, who are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their Willamette Valley dream west of McMinnville, have produced another stunning example of Oregon Pinot Noir that's approachable for its structure as well as its price point. Its nose displays cherries, spice and a bit of cedar, which transition to lush cherries, spice and spot-on acidity amid … [Read more...] about Coeur de Terre Vineyard 2015 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $22
Seven Falls Cellars 2015 Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope, $18
Ste. Michelle executive Doug Gore, the 2017 inductee into the Washington Wine Hall of Fame, uses Chardonnay grown on the Wahluke Slope not far from the site of a now-inundated but series of seven falls that drained into the Columbia River below the Wahluke Slope. This latest release, which spent nine months in primarily French oak, offers aromas of sweet apple, lime and a touch … [Read more...] about Seven Falls Cellars 2015 Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope, $18
Mt. Hood Winery 2015 Scorched Earth Vineyard Grenache, Columbia Valley, $28
The McDermott family collaborates with acclaimed vineyard manager Lonnie Wright on Scorched Earth Vineyard in Dallesport, Wash., and Hood River winemaker Rich Cushman crafts the wine for the Bickford family's Mt. Hood Winery project. Bright and fresh aromas of cherry and strawberry include an enticing hint of cedar that supports the fruit. The palate is silky smooth, offering a … [Read more...] about Mt. Hood Winery 2015 Scorched Earth Vineyard Grenache, Columbia Valley, $28