Columbia Gorge

This vineyard's Pinots keep getting better and better.   Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  A nice nose with black cherries, cherries and baking spices.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, plenty of cherries and black cherries.  This is drinking well now and should continue to for another ten to fifteen years.  It is nice on its own and will work nicely with pork chops.  

This continues to be a delightful take on Gruner from the Pacific Northwwest.  Light golden with green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has granny smith apples, limes and minerality. Medium bodied.  Good acidity. On the palate, apples and limes.  Nice finish.  This is an easy drinking wine that is nice on its own but a bit better with food.  Lighter foods such as chicken or tuna salad will work nicely.  Drink over the next three to five years.

Deep rub y in color, clear and bright.  The nose has nice cherry fruit with some baking spices.  With air, black cherry fruit emerges.  Full bodied (especially for a Pinot Noir).  On the palate, cherries and black cherries.  Some depth.  It keeps opening with more and more air.  Light tannins.  This is accessible now but should continue to mature and evolve for the next fifteen years.  It just depends on how you like your Pinot Noir.  Great on its own, this would work great with roasted duck or chicken (or turkey).  A really nice value in Pinot Noir.  

Sineann makes some great whites in addition to their more well known Reds.  This is a dynamite Riesling from the Columbia Gorge, one of the few AVA's that cross state lines.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with pineapples, slight honey and minerals.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, just the slightest perception of sweetness.  Minerals, peaches with slight tropical fruit notes.  Good finish.  A different drink than a European Riesling, but this hits the spot on a warm summer evening.  Drink over the next ten years.  It drinks very well on its own but will work with

Saying this is my favorite Washington (or even Domestic) Gruner Veltliner is faint praise given the paucity of producers.  Let's just say this is an excellent white wine and a terrific value.  Light gold/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with granny smith apples, slight lime and lots of minerality.  Maybe a bit of a floral note, too.  Medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, apples and limes.  This goes down easy.  Good energy and balance.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with lighter foo

An excellent take on Gruner but very distinct.  Light golden in color.  The nose has lots of minerality with slight granny smith apples and maybe a hint of lime.  Medium bodied with a slightly oily texture.  On the palate, the minerality comes thru with a touch of lime.  Long finish.  This should be consumed over the next three to five years.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  

This is a great take on Gruner.  Very different from the Austrian versions but every bit as good.  Pale silvery green/gold in color.  The nose has apples, slight lemon peel and slight white pepper.  On the palate, this has just a hint of sweetness to it.  Nicely balanced with acidity but there is still some green apple fruit.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own especially outside on a hot day.  It works nicely with lighter foods.  It probably should be consumed in the next three to five years.  

This is really drinking in a great place right now.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has sour cherries, slight spice, slight cherries and just a bit of earthiness.  On the palate, this  is juicy with a smooth texture.  Layers of sour cherries and cherries with a bit of earthiness.  Long finish.  This is probably at peak but should easily be at this level for another five to seven years before slowly going downhill.  A great match with roasted fowl but drinks well on its own too.  

Peter Rosback will occasionally pull a barrel that is at a higher level and bottle it as a Reserve.  Such is the case with this bottle.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is great with sour cherries, black cherries, baking spices and slight cedar.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Lush, yet with plenty of vibrancy.  Juicy sour cherry fruit over some earthiness with a bit of char.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This should continue to improve for five to seven years and be good for a decade or two after that.  It will work well with fowl or heartier sea food dishes.  

Sineann lost a couple of it's best vineyard sources but this vineyard seems better than ever.  Of course, this is a reserve bottling.  Medium/dark ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, sour cherries, baking spices, and cedar.  A slight dry earthiness comes out with air.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Sour cherries and cherries over spices with slight char.  Good finish.  This is a delicious wine.  It has a nice depth but will need to be aged a bit to show some delineations.  It will continue to get better for the next five years or so and be good for ten to fifteen after th