From robust to smooth reds, fruity to dry whites, lip-smacking sparklers and a range of Rosé styles, this assortment of incredible wines are guaranteed to bring pleasure to every gathering
Exotic Beauties
» Recommended listening: You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
Maryhill Winery 2016 Kiona Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, 94 pts.
A sumptuous expression that combines power and concentration with finesse. Defined flavors of cassis, steeped blackberry, dates and crushed rock align with a matrix of dense tannins and hints of dried blueberry that perpetuate the rich, captivating finish. $53
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Rack of lamb with blueberry compote; appetizer of bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese
Pášxa 2018 River Rock Grenache, 96 pts.
Ethereal and finessed, with a pure beam of wild raspberry, strawberry and cherry backed by gorgeous umami expressions of crushed rock and distinctive minerality. Equal parts fruit and Mother Earth, with unfaltering focus and elegant intensity that lingers afterwards. $85
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Ahi tuna burgers; tarte flambée topped with Raclette cheese and Bayonne ham
Mercer Estates 2017 Ode to Brothers Reserve Red Blend, 94 pts.
Masterfully structured, this Syrah-dominant red Rhône blend is nimble yet full-flavored. Offering savory expressions of bacon fat, black olive, cacao nib, blueberry and forest floor, streaked with pretty lavender. There’s excellent grip and ample acidity too, ending in a long resonating aftertaste. $42
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Grilled steak and lobster; this GSM is super versatile and complementary to many dishes.
Adams Bench 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon “the V”, 95 pts.
Creamy and plush in style, featuring polished tannins and dominant flavors of jammy blackberry and dried black cherry. The structure is flawless, stretching out with panache on the muscular finish, detailed with mocha and baking spice. $58
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Grilled salmon with beurre blanc sauce; tagliatelle pasta Bolognese
Smooth Sailing
» Recommended listening: Summer Breeze – Seals & Croft
Camaraderie Cellars 2017 Grâce, 93 pts.
Supple, graceful and elegant, this Bordeaux varietal red offers a lovely range of espresso, savory herb and bay leaf details that complement blackberry, cherry and currant flavors. Balanced acidity and pristine structure let the elements ripple nicely through the long finish. A beauty. $45
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Seared pork tenderloin with cherry jam/red wine reduction; steak Diane
Browne Family Vineyards 2017 Bacchus Vineyard Chardonnay, 92 pts.
Smooth as silk ribbon, offering a luxurious rounded feel that reveals a toasty edge to the rich core of apple, vanilla, baking spice and warm oak expressions. Balanced, with fine acidity and lemony accents that settle into the lingering finish. $35
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Smoked trout salad; chicken in a spring vegetable and cream sauce
Eternal Discovery 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, 93 pts.
Sourced from Discovery Vineyards, offering silky structure backed with cedary tannins, leading with black fruit aromas and pencil shavings. Dark plum, red cherry and black olive flavors mingle with red currant and dried coconut accents that leave a lasting impression on the long, smooth finish. $59
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Grilled steak or pork kebabs with peppers and onion; grilled steak Caesar salad
Chateau Faire Le Pont 2017 Confluence, 93 pts.
This reserve Bordeaux style red is dense and powerfully structured, with black cherry, red and black currants, baker’s chocolate and dried herb draped over a frame of cedary oak, crushed rock and a backbone of grippy tannins. $59
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Beef tenderloin, mushrooms and truffle potatoes with blue cheese butter and red wine reduction
Pretty in Pink
» Recommended listening: Pink Cadillac – Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Jacob Williams 2020 Rosé of Cabernet Franc, 91 pts.
Lively and refreshing with aromas and flavors of strawberry and melon backed by red grapefruit and limestone. There’s wonderful tension between the fruit and mineral elements that keep it all sharply focused from start to finish. $28
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Crostini with tangy goat cheese, mint and fresh strawberry preserve
W.T. Vintners 2019 Rainmaker Pinot Noir Rosé, 91 pts.
Sommelier/winemaker Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen crafts this Loire Valley-inspired version that hits all the classic notes of red berries, cherry, lovely dried herbs and spice meshed with fine-tuned acidity. The rich fruit and complex structure meld beautifully on the finish. $22
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Penn Cove mussels cooked in white wine with fresh herbs, shallots and garlic
SMAK Wines 2020 Summer Rosé, 90 pts.
This single-vineyard, pale-hued version is made from Pinot Gris sourced from Gamache Vineyards, exuding aromas of pear, apple and lemon grass that echo on the crisp mouthfeel. Firm-cut acidity merges with mineral spice that carries on to the refreshing finish. $18
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Asian cuisine; barbecued or grilled meats and fish; spicy foods and shellfish
Tapteil Vineyard 2019 Rosé, 91 pts.
Crafted in a bolder style, with estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvédre that lend prominent spice details and full flavors of raspberry, cherry and cranberry, beautifully supported by fresh citrusy notes that keep all the elements aloft on the clean, supple finish. $18
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Delicious with corn and tomato salad; Margherita pizza
Bubbly Personality
» Recommended listening: Champagne Night – Lady Antebellum
Treveri Cellars Sparkling Demi-Sec Gewürztraminer, 91 pts.
With pretty floral and spice aromas, this pale gold sparkling Gewürztraminer is finely balanced. True to the varietal, the satiny mousse and delicate acidity frame a harmonious range of lychee, apricot and nectarine flavors. A must-try from this talented sparkling producer. $17
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Balsamic-glazed duck legs; Thai red curry mussels; seafood stew with coconut and tomato
Glacier View Cellars 2020 Blanca Lake Petillant Naturel, 92 pts.
This Orange Muscat Pét-Nat offers aromas of orange blossom, melon, dried herbs and salinity. Dry, floral and tangy, with refreshing frizzante and a fusion of yeasty grapefruit, orange peel, heirloom apple, herbal tea and persistent spice notes. Clean cut, an impressive effort. $28
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Trumpet mushroom “scallops” with linguine; castelvetrano olives; citrus vinaigrette salad
House of Smith POPUP 2019 Sparkling Chardonnay, 90 pts.
Winemaker Charles Smith’s latest endeavor, pressed from whole grape clusters and fermented with wild yeast for added texture. Bursting with fresh lemon, green apple and creamy bubbles backed with juicy acidity, grape seeds and caliche minerality. $17
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Pasta fettucine; cracked lobster with a squeeze of fresh lemon
Pét Project 2020 Riesling Pét-Nat, 90 pts.
This sparkling wine was made from organic grapes grown in the Columbia Gorge AVA. Distinctive petrol notes (in a good way), pear, yellow apple and honey flavors are wrapped around mineral-driven acidity and lemon-lime citrus that pierce the frizzante finish. $29
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Pad Thai; yellow curry; sushi
Backyard Grillin’
» Recommended listening: Heat Wave – Linda Ronstadt
Love That Red 2016 Bold Ruler Red Blend, 93 pts.
Aged 46 months in oak, this vibrant and powerful Cabernet-dominant red boasts a muscular structure supported by generous spice, wild herbs and pipe tobacco draped over layers of dried cherry, steeped blackberry, currants and espresso. Chewy tannins carry with extended length on the compact finish. $55
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Grilled beef tenderloin with seared-in blue cheese, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus and grilled Texas cheese toast
Tinte Cellars 2017 Bishops Blend, 92 pts.
Muscular and earthy in character, with taut tannins and a seamless structure interwoven with polished blackberry and dark plum expressions. Cured black olive, saline minerality, forest floor and black pepper notes embrace the long, firm finish. $28
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Grilled portabella mushrooms and/or ribs
Winescape 2017 Merlot, 94 pts.
Silky, grounded with a gorgeous beam of black cherry and hints of blueberry, this version is paved with firm tannins that carry it to the next level. Abundant spice, crushed rock and mocha accents underpin the long-lasting finish. A superb version that showcases this magnificent varietal. $30
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Blue cheese burger or grilled pork loin; apricot pork tenderloin
Longship Cellars 2018 Lady Wolf Malbec, 92 pts.
Cloaked in dark enchanting fruit of blackberry, grilled plum and jammy raspberry with expressive notes of orange peel, vanilla and tobacco spice. Dense tannins gather on the lengthy finish with a plush texture and great structure. $38
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Beef brisket, spicy short ribs or bacon cheeseburgers with blue cheese crumbles
Seafood Bliss
» Recommended listening: Somewhere Beyond The Sea – Frank Sinatra
Two Vintners 2019 Weather Eye Grenache Blanc, 93 pts.
Lusciously textured, there’s a distinct mineral note that hums with gooseberry acidity, showing plenty of structure to the white peach, green melon and pear flavors. Overtones of almond blossom and limestone chime in on the saline-filled finish. $40
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Grilled halibut tacos with roasted corn and jalapeno salsa
Barrage Cellars 2017 Nuclear Blonde Chardonnay, 92 pts.
Lush and creamy, exuding cedar and tropical fruit aromas and flavors shaded by butterscotch, baked pear and citrus elements that unfold in an elegant and sophisticated style. Gentle leesy spice notes accompany the tiered finish. $30
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Hazelnut crusted halibut; grilled tarragon Dijon chicken; crab cakes
Warr-King 2019 Fleur Riesling, Wahluke Slope AVA, 91 pts.
Crafted in a French Alsatian style, offering dry yet fruity flavors of apple, yellow peach and white cherry generously cut with fresh lemon, lime and wet stone expressions. Fine spice notes liven up the bright, minerally -driven finish. $24
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Thai food; spiced roasted duck; oysters on the half shell
Abeja 2019 Washington State Chardonnay, 92 pts.
This creamy version features roasted aromas of pineapple and citrus. Well structured, with shadings of toasty oak and wet stone minerality that frame regal flavors of peach, green apple and lemon oil on the long saline-tinged finish. $45
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Seared scallops with corn and chorizo succotash; grilled halibut tacos with roasted tomatillo salsa verde
Chillin’ On The Porch
» Recommended listening: Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding
Latah Creek 2020 Yakima Valley Orange Moscato, 90 pts.
This delightful white is light bodied, with aromas of jasmine and orange blossom. A tang of pretty minerality underscores sweet juicy ripe peach, mandarin orange, apricot and honeysuckle flavors that meld harmoniously on the ultra-creamy finish. $16
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Fruit and cheese platter; mushroom tart
Olympic Cellars 2019 Dungeness White Riesling, 90 pts.
Open-textured and semi-sweet, this Riesling bursts with white peach, ripe pear and apricot matched with orange citrus and floral honeysuckle. Finishes with crisp acidity and light spice that race neatly underneath the tropical fruit flavors. $20
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Fresh-caught Neah Bay sablefish and quince cider reduction with fresh ginger and melted leeks
Stemilt Creek 2019 Sweet Adelaide Riesling, 89 pts.
A complex blend of semi-sweet and dry Rieslings and small amounts of Semillon, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer and Muscat Canelli. Aromatic with crisp acidity supporting semi-sweet flavors of orange meringue, honey blossom, sweet sunset apricot, poached pear and sungold kiwi that gives this broad appeal. $15
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Blackened salmon with a roasted corn and fresh fruit salsa on baby arugula; Pad Thai with crispy tofu
Kana Winery 2020 Katie Mae Riesling, 89 pts.
Smooth and appealing with floral aromas of tropical fruit that converge on the palate with crisp acidity and fruit flavors of peach, pear, melon and mango. White flowers, key lime and wet stone details emerge on the minerally finish. $16
Vintner’s Suggested Pairing: Thai or Indian food, especially chicken or pork red curry