History continues to smile upon this vineyard near the state line between Oregon and Washington, site of the Walla Walla Valley’s original planting of Merlot by the McClellan and Hendricks families. The effort and excitement sparked Casey McClellan to matriculate to the University of California-Davis and become the valley’s first classically trained winemaker, and this bottling … [Read more...] about Seven Hills Winery 2019 SHW Founding Vineyard Merlot, Walla Walla Valley $50.00
walla walla wine
Neher Family Wines 2019 Principal Red, Columbia Valley $32.00
Two of the Walla Walla Valley’s most respected winemakers — Roger Cockerline of Bunchgrass fame and Walla Walla Vintners co-founder Gordy Venneri — work in tandem on this ultra-boutique label for the Neher family. Labeled as a tribute to the late Richard Neher, a longtime high school principal, the proprietary name would indicate that this is a red blend. However, in this … [Read more...] about Neher Family Wines 2019 Principal Red, Columbia Valley $32.00
Abeja 2019 Merlot, Columbia Valley $50.00
One of the Pacific Northwest’s first destination wineries continues to prove the bottlings from this bucolic property in Walla Walla are worth seeking out as the husband/wife winemaking team of Daniel Wampfler and Amy Alvarez-Wampfler produced our tasting’s most delicious example of Merlot. While there’s significant influence from Abeja’s estate vineyards (26%), the major … [Read more...] about Abeja 2019 Merlot, Columbia Valley $50.00
Henry Earl Estates 2015 1st & Main Red Wine, Columbia Valley $28
The 2018 Washington Wine Hall of Famers, Dick and Wendy Shaw, named this proprietary blend simply for the street corner where they have their Walla Walla tasting room in the Kennedy Building. Wine Boss winemaker Mitch Venohr takes this on a delicious turn with Malbec (52%) as the underpinning element, layering Cabernet Sauvignon (39%) and Merlot on top. Notes of blackcurrant, … [Read more...] about Henry Earl Estates 2015 1st & Main Red Wine, Columbia Valley $28