In 1999, when Dr. Bob Jankelson seriously considered wine grapes for his property above the south shore of Lake Chelan, one expert warned him only Riesling and Gewürztraminer would survive. A quarter of a century later, Tsillan Cellars has won 36 Platinum Awards. Five of those have been Riesling, including the highest-ranked Riesling of the tasting. Aromas of dried apricot, … [Read more...] about Tsillan Cellars 2021 Estate Dry Riesling, Lake Chelan $28
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Siren Song Winery 2019 Auberge, Washington State $46
Inspiration for this blend of Syrah (75%) and Grenache by Lake Chelan winemaker Kevin Brown and his wife/chef, Holly, stems from time at a Provence farmhouse kitchen — an auberge in French. They pulled these Rhône varieties from the Wahluke Slope, where ripeness is never a problem, resulting in aromas of macerated Bing cherries and brewed coffee. They lead to hedonistic flavors … [Read more...] about Siren Song Winery 2019 Auberge, Washington State $46
Mellisoni Vineyards 2022 Chardonnay, Royal Slope $55
Rob and Donna Mellison have now earned four Platinums for their work with Chardonnay, and here is their first Double Platinum with the white Burgundy grape. White rose petals, lemon meringue pie and tropical fruit nuances are allowed to flourish because of the stainless steel fermentation for the grapes they get from their friend Ed Kelly, the longtime viticulturist at … [Read more...] about Mellisoni Vineyards 2022 Chardonnay, Royal Slope $55
Lagrioth Winery 2022 Riverview Vineyard Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope, $36
A number of Chelan-area winemakers pull Chardonnay from this warm 5-acre site near the Columbia River west of Mattawa that was established in 2016 by the Wade family. Lagrioth's Jeana Steiner used the University of California-Davis clone 38 - imported Champagne clone 95 - for this bottling that provides a tasting room experience to compare with the example from young estate … [Read more...] about Lagrioth Winery 2022 Riverview Vineyard Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope, $36
Lagrioth Winery at Chelan Valley Farms 2022 Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Lake Chelan, $32
Two years ago, Chelan Valley winemaker Jeana Steiner used Mourvèdre grown on the south shore of Lake Chelan to win the award for Best Rosé at the Great Northwest Invitational. This spring, her work with a 2021 Pinot Noir from the same site — Clos CheValle — merited a gold medal at the Cascadia International. She takes a regenerative approach to farming her vineyard … [Read more...] about Lagrioth Winery at Chelan Valley Farms 2022 Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Lake Chelan, $32