The Fries family of Duck Pond Cellars fame in Oregon built Desert Wind Winery a decade ago in Prosser as a platform for its extensive plantings on the Wahluke Slope and a showpiece wine country inn for the Yakima Valley. Ruah is their flagship bottling, a proprietary red blend they first created in 1997 as a Left Bank Bordeaux-style from their young estate plantings. With this … [Read more...] about Desert Wind Winery 2015 Estate Ruah Proprietary Red Wine, Wahluke Slope, $20
Wine of the Week
Drumheller Wines 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! This young, value brand by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, spearheaded by winemaker Tim Jones, is on the rise. Named for the Drumheller Channels created during the Ice Age Floods near Othello, Wash., it focuses on fruit from the Wahluke Slope. As a product of a record-hot growing year, this is redolent with aromas and flavors of black currant, black cherry and blackberry, … [Read more...] about Drumheller Wines 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $12
Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2014 The Explorer Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills, $22
Downtown Walla Walla winemaker Bill Murray pulls from beyond Canoe Ridge Vineyard for this Syrah-dominant blend with Cabernet Franc (27%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (24%), yet he stays within Precept’s other vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills as Wallula and Alder Ridge combine to supply most of the fruit. Nearly 18 months in a barrel program of nearly 50% new French oak produces … [Read more...] about Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2014 The Explorer Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills, $22
William Church Winery 2014 Reagan’s Vintage 2 Spires Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $38
This Woodinville winery operated by grads of Washington State University has shined with Syrah soon after opening in the Warehouse District in 2005, and that luscious Rhône red paves the way to this blend with Cabernet Sauvignon (32%). Opulent use of new French oak makes for aromas of plum jam and toast with blackberry, cured meat and a touch of minerality. There’s beautiful … [Read more...] about William Church Winery 2014 Reagan’s Vintage 2 Spires Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $38
Waterbrook Winery 2015 Reserve Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $16
John Freeman’s approach to this reserve Chardonnay began before Labor Day with harvests from Canyon Vineyard Ranch in the Yakima Valley and stately Sagemoor Vineyard along the Columbia River. His employment of 30% new French oak and 10% new American oak for 11 months creates classic aromas - lifted a bit by Viognier (5%) - of toast, facial powder, dusty orchard fruit and … [Read more...] about Waterbrook Winery 2015 Reserve Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $16