Scott Greenberg’s touch with Rhône varieties from the 2021 vintage continues to be proven in regional competitions, and it starts with his investment in top-shelf grapes. Here it is the Holmes family’s historic Ciel du Cheval Vineyard near Red Mountain’s Sunset Road, a harvest of Grenache on Oct. 7. Its light, brickish color carries aromas of potpourri, pomegranate and orange … [Read more...] about Convergence Zone Cellars 2021 Mistral Grenache, Red Mountain $33
Pike Road Wines 2022 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $17
Best Buy! Despite the scale of this production, the Campbell family and Heather Perkin — their winemaker for Pike Road — rely on hand-harvesting across the dozen or so vineyards they source this Pinot Gris from. Those include Dr. Robert Matteri’s plantings in Yamhill-Carlton near Campbell-owned Mount Richmond. There’s no oak involved, allowing for Intense aromas of sweet … [Read more...] about Pike Road Wines 2022 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $17
Barrister Winery 2019 Summit View Vineyard Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, $43
This vintage signaled the start of Tyler Walters’ second decade of winemaking in Spokane's Davenport Arts District alongside barristers Greg Lipsker and Michael White, and the effort with this higher-elevation site on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley is artful. Summit View, part of the famed SeVein project, is between Ferguson and Seven Hills Vineyard. There’s also … [Read more...] about Barrister Winery 2019 Summit View Vineyard Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, $43
DANCIN Vineyards 2021 Alto Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley $42
Southern Oregon’s climate lends itself to Pinot Noir that’s often fruit-forward and compelling, and the Marca family also has the benefit of growing at nearly 2,000 feet elevation to help create balance. Their winemaker since 2018, Chemeketa-trained Chris Jiron, released this stunning blend with Dijon clone 777 (60%) and Pommard, discretely accented by a barrel program of 15% … [Read more...] about DANCIN Vineyards 2021 Alto Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley $42
Boomtown by Dusted Valley 2022 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $18.99
Best Buy! Vintage after vintage, Dusted Valley Vintners shines with its Yakima Valley Chardonnay program from the Olsen family, so it makes sense that their Boomtown line - which also pulls Chardonnay from the Yakima Valley - would over-deliver at this price point. The use of neutral oak allows the fruit profile to emerge on the aromas and on the palate, ranging from starfruit, … [Read more...] about Boomtown by Dusted Valley 2022 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $18.99