Italian reds have captured the imagination of owner Brad Sherman and co-winemaker Jared Whelchel, and StoneTree Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope has been a prized resource for these varieties. Brambleberries, candied apple and sagebrush aromas lead to a firecracker of a palate, exploding with cranberry, pomegranate cinnamon and ginger, capped by a lick of barbecued meat. This … [Read more...] about Michael Florentino Cellars 2014 Primitivo, Wahluke Slope $28
Wine of the Week
Camaraderie Cellars 2018 Dionysus Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $45
Olympic Peninsula winemaker Don Corson has won at least one Platinum for his Cabernet Sauvignon program in each of the past three years, and this effort from Sagemoor’s historic Dionysus Vineyard stood atop our judging as the highest-ranking Cab. This work from a site established in 1971 exudes endless layers of dark fruit akin to black currant, black cherry and dried … [Read more...] about Camaraderie Cellars 2018 Dionysus Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $45
Pike Road Wines 2020 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $18
Best Buy! The Campbell family and their longtime associate winemaker, Heather Perkin, began Pike Road Wines as they achieved their long-held dream of turning acclaimed Elk Cove Vineyards into a label that bottled only wines from estate vineyards. Chardonnay from Dr. Robert Matteri's eponymous vineyard near Pike Road is among the handful of sites Perkin works with on this … [Read more...] about Pike Road Wines 2020 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $18
Kiona Vineyards 2021 Estate Sage Advice White Wine, Red Mountain, $35
Heir apparent Tyler Williams assumed the lead winemaking duties at this three-generation estate winery on Red Mountain in 2019, and the Washington State University product has devoted some precious energy to creating thoughtful, rather than cookie-cutter, white blends. His two releases of Artemisia lean toward Bordeaux, while this newly created Sage Advice is Rhône-inspired … [Read more...] about Kiona Vineyards 2021 Estate Sage Advice White Wine, Red Mountain, $35
Ken Wright Cellars 2021 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $38
The Wright family creates this Chardonnay from two of their estate sites — Haakon Lenai Vineyard, a Dundee Hills site owned by Cody and Marque Wright, with Savoya Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton owned by founder Ken Wright and his soccer-coaching wife, Karen. Both vineyards are certified organic, and clone 548, which has found a home at each site, forms the foundation of this 50/50 … [Read more...] about Ken Wright Cellars 2021 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $38