Wine of the Week

Three generations of the Gunkel family have raised crops near the Maryhill Museum of Art, and their grape vines at the eastern edge of the Columbia Gorge near the Columbia River have led to acclaim for a number of Northwest winemakers. Rich Cushman's work with Barbera from the 2018 vintage ranks among the most decorated wines in the past two years. In 2021, this bottling won a … [Read more...] about Mt. Hood Winery 2018 Gunkel Vineyard Barbera, Columbia Valley $38

Boise-area winemaker Hailey Minder turned some of Idaho's oldest Chardonnay — Bitner Vineyards — into one of the Pacific Northwest's best interpretations of Champagne. “Whitewater” is the title she and her husband, a former river guide, gave to their blanc de blanc made using traditional methods. It’s an appropriate name, considering the abundant bubbles of its mousse. It opens … [Read more...] about 3100 Cellars 2017 Whitewater Sparkling Wine, Snake River Valley, $36

Last fall, Rob and Donna Mellison were awarded five Platinums during Great Northwest Wine's annual judging of gold-medal winners. Their 2018 Malbec from Ed Kelly's vineyard was among those winners, so it's no surprise to see the follow-up vintage showing so well so early. And here's another example of this juicy Bordeaux variety growing so deliciously in the Royal Slope. The … [Read more...] about Mellisoni Vineyards 2019 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Malbec, Royal Slope, $65

One of the Northwest's rare three-generation wineries teamed up to produce a Malbec that ranks among the best in region. Founding winemaker Cal Schmidt, his daughter Rene Brons and grandson Duncan Brons took fruit from their Southern Oregon estate and turned it into a double gold at last fall's Great Northwest Invitational — a wine one judge described as "the belle of the … [Read more...] about Schmidt Family Vineyards 2018 Reserve Malbec, Applegate Valley $40

DeLille founding winemaker Chris Upchurch toasted the 10th vintage of his eponymous vineyard in 2021, and while Cabernet Sauvignon is king on Red Mountain, his skill with Merlot off the 18-acre site that Dick Boushey manages for him should not go overlooked. While the CounterPart project off the Upchurch estate tends to leans Right Bank, he could have labeled the 2019 as a … [Read more...] about Upchurch Vineyard 2019 CounterPart Red Wine, Red Mountain, $50