The Portland Wine Company’s reserve-style dry Riesling continues to focus on four-decade-old Brooks Vineyard in the cooler Eola-Amity Hills, but this vintage debuts an inclusion from Sunnyside Vineyard, an even older site planted in 1971. Matt Berson's expression from the 2012 vintage continues with the residual sugar at (0.6%), and here there's a great presentation of acidity. … [Read more...] about Love & Squalor 2012 Antsy Pants Riesling, Willamette Valley, $28
Wine of the Week
Tsillan Cellars 2013 Estate Syrah, Lake Chelan, $30
Shane Collins is the longtime winemaker at this showcase winery above the south shore of Lake Chelan, where he works exclusively with estate grapes. This provides him with the opportunity to know exactly what he’s getting each harvest and provides a level of focus and control. The results are obvious with this delicious Syrah, which opens with aromas of blueberry, juniper, sage … [Read more...] about Tsillan Cellars 2013 Estate Syrah, Lake Chelan, $30
Smasne Cellars 2012 Three Vineyard Reserve Malbec, Columbia Valley, $44
Among the vineyards Robert Smasne pulls from for his acclaimed work with Malbec are Phinny Hill (Horse Heaven Hills), Upland (Snipes Mountain) and Verhey (Yakima Valley), and this lot - the equivalent of two barrels - ranks with his best efforts. Inviting aromas of black plum and black currant also offer up black pepper, tar and minerality. There’s great density to the … [Read more...] about Smasne Cellars 2012 Three Vineyard Reserve Malbec, Columbia Valley, $44
Smasne Cellars 2012 Three Vineyard Reserve Malbec, Columbia Valley, $44
Among the vineyards Robert Smasne pulls from for his acclaimed work with Malbec are Phinny Hill (Horse Heaven Hills), Upland (Snipes Mountain) and Verhey (Yakima Valley), and this lot - the equivalent of two barrels - ranks with his best efforts. Inviting aromas of black plum and black currant also offer up black pepper, tar and minerality. There’s great density to the … [Read more...] about Smasne Cellars 2012 Three Vineyard Reserve Malbec, Columbia Valley, $44
Basalt Cellars 2013 G • S • M, Columbia Valley, $36
Pharmacist/winemaker Rick Wasem in Clarkston, Wash., shows his knowledge of chemistry with this blend of Grenache (36%) and Mourvèdre (32%) from Gilbert Cellars’ 24K Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope with Syrah not far downstream off Sagemoor’s historic Bacchus Vineyard. Enticing herbal aromas of thyme, California peppercorns and crushed oregano also offer black licorice, raspberry … [Read more...] about Basalt Cellars 2013 G • S • M, Columbia Valley, $36