Here are the Best Buy wines ($15 and under) reviewed in our Recent Releases section of the Summer 2009 issue of Wine Press Northwest.
Reds
Abacela Vineyards & Winery NV Vintner's Blend No. 9, Southern Oregon, 1,927 cases, 14.1% alc., $15
Recommended. This edition, which comes in screwcap, features 14 varieties off six vineyards - Syrah (42%), Tempranillo (19%), Merlot (9%), Dolcetto (7%), Graciano (5%), Petit Verdot (5%), Nebbiolo (5%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and less than 1% of Grenache, Muscat, Viognier, Tannat, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Black cherries, blueberries, vanilla bean and cocoa powder form a lush drink on its own. Or enjoy it with a plate of ribs, thanks to the Syrah's influence.
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 2006 Merlot, Columbia Valley, 2,300 cases, 13.3% alc., $15
Recommended. A nose of pomegranate, white strawberry, cherry, cedar and vanilla evolve into more cherries and brambleberries on the palate with assertive tannins and a lengthy finish of more boysenberries and blackberries.
Cayalla 2005 Red Wine, Columbia Valley, 25,500 cases, 13% alc., $12
Excellent. Firesteed is showing consistency with this brand, matching our rating from its debut vintage of 2004. It's a blend of Syrah (45%), Merlot (35%) and Cab Sauv that's fruit-forward in every direction with aromas of light cherries, strawberries, root beer and Graham cracker. Its flavors are reminiscent of a cherry cola with a juicy structure and ample tannins. The more you get into this, the better it gets.
Columbia Crest Winery 2006 Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, 200,000 cases, 13.5% alc., $11
Excellent.The term "grand" could refer to both the scale of production and the value provided by the duo of Ray Einberger and Juan Muñoz Oca. Black currants, black cherries and black pepper aromas are joined by hints of a Swisher Sweets cigar. The gorgeously luscious entry also is focused on a structure of softened cherries and milk chocolate for an easy drinking wine.
Columbia Crest Winery 2006 Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, 225,000 cases, 13.5% alc., $8
Outstanding! Do a Web search for "youtube einberger wine" and you'll get a flavor for how chief winemaker Ray Einberger and his team create this. Here's a wave of black cherry, cinnamon, nutmeg, green peppercorn and citrus peel aromas. And there's no disappointment for those into hedonism. It's a silky and juicy quaffer with more black cherries, milk chocolate and cinnamon bark in the finish.
Columbia Crest Winery 2006 Grand Estates Merlot, Columbia Valley, 285,000 cases, 13.5% alc., $11
Outstanding! Anyone who encounters this wine on a regular basis knows it doesn't need celeb chef Bobby Flay as a pitchman. Blackberries, strawberry fruit leather, cinnamon, brown sugar and baker's chocolate should be in Flay's pantry of aromatic notes. Sweet blackberries and cherries arrive early in the mouth and stay smooth well past closing time, making this gathering of Horse Heaven Hills and Wahluke Slope fruit an annual crowd pleaser.
Columbia Crest Winery 2004 Two Vines Merlot, Washington, 375,000 cases, 13.5% alc., $8
Outstanding! Utterly amazing are the scope and price. Chukar cherrries, red plums and artichoke aromas are followed by more red cherries on the palate. It's smooth and tasty with warm oak and a finish of sweets from a box of Seattle Chocolates. Enjoy this as a "Tuesday night, I'm home" wine with spaghetti and meatballs.
Columbia Crest Winery 2006 Two Vines Merlot-Cabernet, Washington, 134,000 cases, 13.5% alc., $8
Outstanding! There's logic to the name because it's Merlot (75%), Cabernet Franc (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%), a blend eliciting aromas of strawberries, plums, violets, pink peppercorns and a whiff of prosciutto. A tilt draws in juicy plums and black cherries in a petite approach that turns plush and lengthy with dusty tannins.
Columbia Crest Winery 2005 Two Vines Shiraz, Washington, 135,000 cases, 13.5% alc., $8
Outstanding! "Sugar Ray" Einberger goes after some Aussie "tail" both in style and price, achieved in part with only half of the juice being aged in oak barrels. Ripe strawberries, Bing cherries, milk chocolate, spearmint, pencil shavings and black pepper aromas lead to more Bing cherries and milk chocoalte on the flavors. It's velvety and balanced with sweet tannins.
Columbia Crest Winery 2006 Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine, Washington, 30,000 cases, 13.5% alc., $8
Excellent. There's an expansive view of the Columbia River and into Eastern Oregon from Vineyard 10 in Paterson, Wash., the namesake for this blend of Syrah, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Barbera, Mourvèdre and Dolcetto. Whiffs of cherry cola, brown sugar, vanilla and chocolate give way to explosive flavors of the same in mouth-coating fashion. Credit for the food-friendly acidity belongs to those Italian varieties.
Desert Wind Winery 2006 Desert Wind Vineyard Cabernet Sauvingon, Wahluke Slope, 5,236 cases, 14.5% alc., $15
Excellent. This area along the Columbia River continues to burnish its reputation for growing big reds, and here's another example. Dusty cherries, strawberries, canned plums, mint leaf and cigar tobacco aromas brush into flavors of cherry juice and chocolate, with green peppercorns and sturdy tannins.
Desert Wind Winery 2006 Desert Wind Vineyard Merlot, Wahluke Slope, 3,129 cases, 14.5% alc., $15
Excellent. Winery patriarch Doug Fries enjoys living near his 500 acres of vines in Mattawa, Wash., and that abundant planting allows his scions to produce quality wines at consumer prices. Black cherries, leather, mint and cedar fill the nose. The jammy palate is loaded with sweet cherries and blackberries, a pinch of Muscovado sugar, and is backed by coffee and chocolate.
Duck Pond Cellars 2004 Desert Wind Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, 8,140 cases, 14.5% alc., $12
Excellent. The Fries family has been known for years as a Pinot Noir producer in the Willamette Valley, but its holdings also include a trendy winery/resort/restaurant in Prosser, Wash. Fruit off their Sacagawea and Desert Wind blocks produced a wine that - five years later - is showing a bouquet of black cherries, plums, smoke, celery leaf and brown sugar. It's sweet, silky, juicy and balanced on the palate with bright cherries and rich chocolate and dusty tannins.
Duck Pond Cellars 2006 Wahluke Slope Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley, 1,796 cases, 15% alc., $12
Excellent. It's rare to find a wine made from this Rhône variety selling at this price, and you can smell the ripeness of the fruit. Black cherry jam, tar, furniture polish, chalkboard dust and espresso aromas prepare you for a mouthful of Black Forest cake. It's rich with cherries, chocolate and vanilla.
Dusted Valley Vintners 2006 Boomtown Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, 5,000 cases, 14.2% alc., $15
Excellent. This lower-priced label for DVV comes in screwcap, and it has plenty of spunk with aromas of blueberries, black cherries, toasted sesame seed, coffee and black pepper. There's a rush of flavors on the creamy palate, leading with Bing cherry cobbler ala mode, blueberries with a bit of the seed, a cup of espresso and a finish of NECCO wafer and Oreo cookie. Look for this at wine shops and grocery stores because it's not sold at the winery.
Dusted Valley Vintners 2006 Boomtown Syrah, Columbia Valley, 1,700 cases, 14.6% alc., $15
Excellent. Here's the last wine from these Wisconsin refugees that's bottled with cork. It's a rather heavy and plush drink - think of relaxing in a supple leather couch - with hints of ripe Bing cherries, chocolate cake and a quick grab of blackberries that included a bit of leaf.
Magnificent Wine Co. 2007 Steak House Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, 5,000 cases, 13.5% alc., $10
Excellent. One of the most recognizable of the Precept Brands, it's not unusual to find this wine - credited to Charles Smith of K Vintners fame - on restaurant wine lists. Rainier cherries, raspberries with the leaf, celery and wintergreen tones outside and in make this splendid for grilled lamb or a slab of meatloaf.
Maryhill Winery 2007 Winemaker's Red, Columbia Valley, 20,292 cases, 13.8% alc., $14
Recommended. New winemaker Garry Penner arrived in time to put his signature on the label of this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. The results are notes of black cherries, Wheat Thins cracker, leaf tobacco, blackboard chalk and firm tannins.
Mount Baker Vineyards 2005 Barrel Select Merlot, Yakima Valley, 218 cases, 15.1% alc., $14
Recommended. Several prized sites - Crawford, Kiona and Portteus - helped this Western Washington winery produce a consumer-minded and easy-to-drink offering of cherries, vanilla and Jolly Rancher grape candy. A bit of citrus and ample acidity keep the sweetness of the fruit in check.
Revelry Vintners 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, 3,000 cases, 13.6% alc., $15
Outstanding! Issaquah, Wash., entreprenuer Jared Burns continues to expand his young operation, which includes taking over the winemaking space at the Walla Walla airport formerly used by the dissolving of Colvin Vineyard. It's valued priced despite the use of 100% French oak. Huge black fruit spotlights the blackberries and chocolate in this smooth and balanced drink with beveled edges. The dash of Cabernet Franc (5%) explains the tobacco leaf tones in the background.
Revelry Vintners 2006 Merlot, Columbia Valley, 3,200 cases, 13.9% alc., $15
Outstanding! The Wahluke Slope continues to grow its reputation for big reds, and here's a Merlot at a marvelous price from Jones and Milbrandt fruit. Ripe cherries, blueberriers and chalkboard dust aromas transition into a complex and layered palate of sweet blackberries, currants and mocha. The structure is one of bright acidity and smooth, yet dusty, tannins.
Sawtooth Winery 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, 1,500 cases, 14.% alc., $15
Excellent. This Corus Estates property was among the first in the Northwest to deploy screwcaps for nonreserve wines, so Stelvin makes it even easier to get at this, which got backing from Merlot (10%), Petit Verdot (7%), Malbec (4%) and Cab Franc. Nosing it brings in big oak aromas along with black cherry and green pepper. There's a quaffable blend of cherries, chocolate and plums with tea bag tannin on the palate and purple blackberry in the finish. Enjoy this with a meat lasagna or artisan pizza that includes peppers.
Sawtooth Winery 2005 Merlot, Snake River Valley, 1,100 cases, 14.1% alc., $15
Outstanding! Power, depth and complexity start the discussion here. It gets some claret-style backing from Petit Verdot (5%), Malbec (4%), Cabernet Sauvignon (3%) and Cab Franc (2%). The influence of small casks might be too much for some as black cherry, plum sauce and green tobacco aromas include teriyaki sauce, tar, cedar and crushed almond. The interior though is hugely dark, almost ponderous, but remarkably smooth, which sometimes isn't that easy to find in a Merlot.
Sawtooth Winery 2005 Syrah, Snake River Valley, 1,500 cases, 14.7% alc., $15
Recommended. A backing of other Rhône varieties - Cinsault (7%), Mourvèdre (6%) and Grenache - makes this worthy of research. Nice cherry aromas include tobacco leaf, tar and green bean, then it turns dark cherries and plums on the palate with big barrel notes of anise, chocolate and espresso. It's bound by an abundance of tannins.
Scatter Creek Winery NV Daves Rajin' Red Wine, Washington, 150 cases, 13.8% alc., $15
Excellent. A new operation in the Olympia, Wash., suburb of Tenino leaves a favorable impression on your palate without putting a dent on the wallet as a result of its blend of Syrah (60%), Merlot (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of dusty cherries, rose petals, black cap raspberries and fine sand transcend into more raspberry flavors with strawberries in a sweet and hedonistic fashion.
Three Rivers Winery 2007 River's Red, Columbia Valley, 3,386 cases, 13.6% alc., $15
Outstanding! While many Walla Walla wineries raise their demands, Holly Turner still manages to turn out Saturday-night wines at Tuesday-night prices. This Syrah-led blend (48%) with Malbec, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, Cab Sauv, Carménère and Tempranillo shows youthfulness in the nose with blueberries, Chukar cherries, moist earth and teriyaki. There's a match on the creamy entry, which turns juicy on the midpalate with lots of acidity. Great balance hangs in the finish of beets and blueberries.
Whitestone Vineyard & Winery NV Version 4.11 Pieces of Red Wine, Columbia Valley, 500 cases, 14.4% alc., $15
Outstanding! Lake Roosevelt - the portion of Columbia River slowed by Grand Coulee Dam - is home to this winery that uses a renovated gas station in Wilbur, Wash. The proprietary blend offers up aromas of dusty cherries, milk chocolate, strawberry/rhubarb jam, cola and plums rolled in sugar. Inside are juicy blueberries, cherries and boysenberries with a bit of the leaf. Acidity arrives early and the tannins late to create a beautifully long finish.
Whites
Abiqua Wind Vineyard 2007 Caleb Knorr Pinot Gris, Williamette Valley, 300 cases, 13.5% alc., $15
Outstanding! If there's a family name associated with a Pete Buffington wine, then it's likely to be a worthy wine. Dusty apple, citrus and cotton candy aromas drizzle into fresh-squeezed orange juice and grapefruit flavors with charming sweetness and a pleasing structure.
Capstone Cellars 2008 Viognier, Yakima Valley, 75 cases, 12.9% alc., $14
Recommended. Fruit from the Northwest's oldest appellation has been central to the success of this Longview, Wash., winery. Here's an offering that's fruit-forward with peach, apricots and dusty apples notes. Bright acidity and tart gooseberries in the finish make for a delicious food wine.
Challenger Ridge Vineyard & Cellars 2007 Viognier, Yakima Valley, 182 cases, 14.2% alc., $13
Recommended. Granny Smith apples, gooseberry, hints of Limeade Juice and just a touch of residual sugar (0.9%) give this a bit more food-friendly zip than many Viogniers.
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2007 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, 407,950 cases, 13.7% alc., $13
Recommended. So you think people don't drink Chardonnay any longer? These folks wouldn't make this much if they don't sell it, and they should have no trouble with this presentation of Golden Delicious apple, apricot, lemon peppe and zesty lime sendoff.
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2008 Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, 100,000 cases, 13% alc., $13
Outstanding! Here's arguably the best effort ever with this variety by the Northwest's industry leader. Bob Bertheau used Viognier (7%) to accent lively aromas of tangerine, Mandarin orange, fresh-cut apple and lemon meringue pie. Inside is yellow unsweetened grapefruit and that slice of lemon meringue pie with lots of citrusy acidity. Next comes a touch of butterscotch and a finish of lemon yogurt. Enjoy with halibut topped by a cream or lemon sauce.
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2007 Horse Heaven Vineyard Sauvingon Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills, 9,500 cases, 13.3% alc., $15
Recommended. Estate fruit gives off aromas of starfruit, dusty apple, pineapple, petrol and some minerality. It's more apples and Mandarin oranges in the flavor with some lime in the finish. Suggested fare includes mussels, halibut or light dishes incorporating goat chese.
Columbia Crest 2007 Grand Estates Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, 160,000 cases, 13.5% alc., $11
Recommended. It's speaks to the devotion of this operation that each barrel in this massive production was stirred by hand. The results are delicate scents of dusty apple, peach blossoms and candy corn, followed by flavors of pear, starfruit, pineapple and citrus - both juice and the pith. The real sense of the neutral oak shows with the vanilla cream in the finish.
Columbia Crest Winery 2007 Grand Estates Riesling, Columbia Valley, 40,000 cases, 12% alc., $11
Recommended. Notes of sweet pineapples, home-canned Bartlett pears and apricots are presented in an off-dry style (2% residual sugar) that will be greeted at summer picnics and Sunday brunch.
Columbia Crest Winery 2007 Two Vines Vineyard 10 White Wine, Columbia Valley, 30,000 cases, 13% alc., $8
Excellent. This blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and friends tickles the nose with a flora sensation of honeysuckle, jasmine, lavender and rose petals as well as orchard fruit and fresh corn on the cob. It's akin to Applets and Cotlets on the palate with more jasmine, shaved almond and a bit of residual sugar (1.2%). The winemaking skills are apparent as neither the oak nor alcohol stands out in the smooth structure.
David Hill Vineyards & Winery 2007 Estate Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, 171 cases, 12.4% alc., $15
Outstanding! Some debate the merits of this grape in Oregon, but these vines - planted in 1965 - are provide a defense. Jason Bull helped create aromas of canned pineapple and pears, limes, Thompson seedless grapes and a hint of grassiness. There's a concentrated orange peel character throughout the palate and provides the acidity to balance the ambrosia salad flavors and the nice viscous feel.
David Hill Vineyards & Winery 2007 Estate Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, 588 cases, 12.4% alc., $15
Excellent. This historic property in Forest Grove, Ore., now regularly is showing up on our radar for quality. Yellow grapefruit, Golden Delicious apple, gooseberry, orange, lemongrass and mineral aromas don't mislead. Bright citrus notes continue in the mouth to include orange bitters and orange peel with plenty of acidity and pronounced minerality in the background.
David Hill Vineyards & Winery 2007 Estate Riesling, Willamette Valley, 211 cases, 13.1% alc., $14
Excellent. Oregon winemakers continue to succeed with this German variety, and Jason Bull made this in a slightly off-dry style. The bouquet features jasmine, diesel, petrol and ReaLemon juice aromas, followed by flavors of apples and more jasmine and bit of lemon zest in the finish to balance the sugar (1.8%).
Desert Wind Winery 2008 Desert Wind Vineyard Viognier, Wahluke Slope, 512 cases, 15% alc., $15
Excellent. Estate fruit helped produce a remarkably aromatic wine that's peachy with other sweet notes of grapefruit, orange blossom and cotton candy, and yet there's a whiff of buttery and vanilla notes - the sign of a mere 3% of the blend that lived 3 months in new French oak. Yellow grapefruit, lime, a bit of butterscotch, citrus pith and mouthwatering acidity make this screwcapped wine delicious with herbed chicken or grilled shrimp.
Duck Pond Cellars 2007 Desert Wind Vineyard Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope, 19,665 cases, 15.0% alc., $12
Recommended. Here's a case where a little oak goes a long way with aromas of fresh-cut alder, crisp asparagus and river rock with lively flavors of citrus, Asian pear, starfruit and some toasted oak for a package that should reward a bowl of steamed mussels.
Dusted Valley Vintners 2007 Boomtown Unoaked Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, 1,300 cases, 13.7% alc., $13
Excellent. It didn't take long for these transplanted Wisconsin winemakers to build a cult following in Walla Walla, Wash., but this consumer-priced line also makes this a winery for the masses. There's little in the way of oak showing in the nose of Mandarin orange, apricots, apples and cotton candy. Tangerines, yellow grapefruit, apple and pears impart a pleasant mouthfeel, and a dash of Sauvignon Blanc (4%) brightens the acidity before a strip of apple peal shows in the finish.
Dusted Valley Vintners 2007 Boomtown Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, 1,300 cases, 12.5% alc., $13
Excellent. You can look hard for oak influence, but it doesn't seem to be there, and that's a good thing. The absence allows for starfruit, apple, pineapple, gooseberry, lime and mineral notes to share the stage. It's clean on the entry, medium-bodied and racy on the flavors with lingering tartness, suggesting a meal of linguine with clams or alfredo sauce, scallops, halibut or ling cod.
Heymann Whinery NV Apricot Wine, Washington, 80 cases, 12% alc., $14
Outstanding! If you've never tried a fruit wine but you enjoy apricots, you'll love this one, which was judged as Best of Show at the Capital Food & Wine Festival by Wine Press Northwest. Unmistakable apricot aromas are joined by a scoop of vanilla ice cream. There's delicious delivery of the same on the palate in a juicy and fruity, but not sweet, fashion with dried apricots and a bit of pineapple rind on the finish for balance. Enjoy this as a brunch wine, over a bowl of sliced fruit or simply by itself.
Heymann Whinery NV Cranberry Wine, Washington, 120 cases, 12% alc., $14
Outstanding! Wonderment over this wine begins at first sight with its marvelous color in the glass. A whiff brings in thoughts of whole berry cranberry sauce, a bit of sea mist, some raspberry and peppermint. It's full-on cranberry across the tongue, akin to slurping a frozen fruit bar with a bit of cinnamon. The natural tartness of the berry provides the acidity to keep it from being cloying and makes for a great accompaniment with Cornish game hens.
Lopez Island Vineyards 2007 Crawford Vineyard Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, 210 cases, 14% alc., $14
Recommended. Pear, apple and fresh salt-water taffy aromas pull you into the entry that's sweet with pineapples and canned pears with a tinge of oak in the soft finish.
Magnificent Wine Co. 2007 House White Wine , Columbia Valley, 22,000 cases, 13.5% alc., $10
Recommended. Notes from the Chardonnay (85%) come across with the notes of starfruit, butterscotch and oak, but the drizzle of Riesling (10%) shows off in hints of orchard fruit, mineral, river rock and diesel tones. It's got light acidity and shows itself as dry.
Maryhill Winery 2007 Winemaker's White, Columbia Valley, 5,537 cases, 13.5% alc., $12
Recommended. This blend of Chardonnay (49%), Sauvignon Blanc (36%), Semillon (11%) and Viognier from Coventry Vale, Milbrandt and Gunkel vineyards features exotic aromas of jasmine, apple blossoms, Thompson seedless grapes and tropical fruit. The drink zeroes in on flavors of pineapples and apples with citrusy acidity to provide delicious balance.
Mission Hill Family Estate 2007 Five Vineyards Pinot Blanc, Okanagan Valley, 12.5% alc., $14 CDN
Excellent. The Okanagan Valley can make a case for crafting much of the best Pinot Blanc in the Northwest, and here's a quality example from vineyards in Oliver, the Naramata Bench, Kelowna and Osoyoos. There's amazing complexity with apples, vanilla ice cream, gooseberry, river rock, lime and Orange Peanut candy aromas. Tasty frontal acidity runs all the way through, carrying the pears and citrus from start to finish. Suggested fare includes oysters or steamed mussels in a light butter sauce.
Mount Baker Vineyards & Winery 2007 Barrel Select Pinot Gris, Yakima Valley, 85 cases, 13.3% alc., $13
Recommended. Crawford Vineyards produced the Pinot Gris, but estate Siegerrebe (10%) with a dash of Gewürztraminer from Red Mountain's Kiona Vineyard spent time in barrel, which explains the aromatics of toasted bread, crushed walnut, coconut milk and sweet alyssum blossom. There's a lot of fruit on the palate though, led by canteloupe on the entry, pineapple with river rock on the midpalate and citrus pith in the finish.
Revelry Vintners 2006 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, 7,000 cases, 13.9% alc., $12
Excellent. This young Woodinville winery is known for its "bag in a cask," but the wines are just as good from a bottle. Jared Burns and Co., harnesses aromas of ambrosia fruit salad with a whiff of oak in the background, followed by more pineapples and fresh pear in the mouth. Nice acidity and a rich finish make it balanced and a food-friendly wine. Suggested pairings include delicate seafood and gazpacho.
San Juan Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, 209 cases, 14.1% alc., $15
Recommended. A combination of Kestrel Vineyard fruit and oak resulted in an expression of pineapple, baking spices and tanning butter that's enhanced by nice midpalate acidity and can be enjoyed with buttered clams, mussles or stand on its own.
Scatter Creek Winery 2006 Valley de Bon Blanco, Yakima Valley, 100 cases, 12% alc., $13
Outstanding! Judged as "best white" at the Capital Food & Wine Festival by Wine Press Northwest, the off-dry Gewürztraminer from Realm Ridge is handled a bit differently by this Tenino, Wash., winery. It's aged with elderberry blossoms, which add to its nosefull of floral grapefruit and fresh-cut oranges. Mouthwatering citrus fruit fills the mouth with delicious flavors of tangerine, grapefruit and candy corn. Amazing acidity comes with a flurrying on the finish and is akin to sucking on a lime.
Snake River Winery 2007 Cobble Hill Block Arena Valley Vineyard Estate Riesling, Idaho, 110 cases, 11.4% alc., $14
Recommended. Vines planted in 1983 contributed to inviting aromas of lemon meringue pie, Orange Peanut candy and orchard blossoms. They pour into baked apple flavors with sweetened lemon, making this an off-dry offering (2.95% residual sugar) that will be easy summer sipper.
Stella Fino 2007 Pinot Gris, Oregon, 90 cases, 14.2% alc., $14
Recommended. Grapes from the Willamette Valley and the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley allow this young Milton-Freewater winery to make a fruit-forward and straight-forward drink focused on dusty apples, pineapple, candy corn and a complex blend of orange and lemon citrus.
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