es

on the cusp of unbridled excellence, but since it's cims' second wine it has its limitations. it's a bit woody and needs to broaden out with time in bottle, but even now the licorice, mineral and ripe plum/prune flavors are delightful. and the oak-driven finish of mocha and coffee seals the package.

us

there's a firm, clean minerality to this chardonnay, like a lick of cold granite, that shines through the citrus and tropical fruit flavors. a touch of oak brings buttered toast. it's an elegant, food-friendly wine at a price that won't break the bank.

us

sourced from red willow, olsen and les collines, this is the finest effort yet from gramercy cellars and one of the greatest syrahs ever produced in washington state. think hermitage with brighter fruit. it's intensely aromatic, dense and seamless, stacked with rich flavors of mixed berries, layers of smoke, earth and herb, and punctuated by citrusy acidity. highlights of oranges and tangerines sneak into the finish, which lingers for an astonishingly long time. exceptional in every way.

it

this opens with aromas of butterscotch, lemon cream pie and ripe stone fruit. the palate starts off with rich apricot, apple and peach flavors, but it has a very warm palate that's dominated by evident alcohol sensations. it finishes on a bitter almond note.

at

this vineyard, the “way to the church,” gives a full, rounded wine with very pure, direct fruit, and a green structure. this is an impressive wine that offers minerality as well as big fruit.

ar

foxy red-berry aromas suggest animal hide and wet fur. this feels raw, wiry and scratchy due to sharp acidity and rough tannins. foxy herbal plum and currant flavors finish with an abrasive scour, mild heat and salty notes.

us

while quite ripe and fruity, this wine is also dry, nicely tannic and firmly textured, so it will pair beautifully with rich proteins. aged 18 months in oak, mostly french, it has concentrated dark fruit aromas, and a layered array of flavors that recalls blueberry, dark chocolate and blackberry syrup. bright acidity keeps everything in balance.

it

here's a new producer from southern it who presents a very interesting blend of pallagrello (70%), aglianico and casavecchia. the wine opens with warm aromas of leather, smoked meat and black fruit and delivers a unique mouthfeel that is firm but rich at the same time.

us

a medium-bodied bordeaux blend with sweet aromas of cherry pie and a hint of fresh sage and tarragon. simple and straightforward with a ripe, red cherry palate, it's a touch soft with a slight green undertone, but there's nice bright acidity and soft tannins that carry through the finish.

us

the blend is 70% pinot gris and 30% viognier. the gris provides the fruit base, with pear/apple flavors; the viognier adds some light lemon and citrus blossom accents. this is a big wine, bone dry.

us

the signature cuvée opens on a floral note, a pretty and beguiling blend of roses and orchids. the midpalate is substantial and textured, offering spicy plum, strawberry and raspberry preserves and firm acids. the fruit flavors persist even as the tannins and barrel notes kick in, offering cocoa, ground coffee and walnut. all in all, an elegant and complex effort that should also age nicely for up to a decade.

us

small in production and clearly defined from carneros, this blanc de noirs blends 92% pinot noir with 8% chardonnay to great effect. pretty in peach color, the intense flavors are a combination of fresh-cut herb and strawberry kirsch.

us

lilacs and violets meet with black raspberries, blackberry pie and savory sage on the nose of this 42% grenache, 38% syrah and 20% mourvèdre blend. the palate leans very savory, with tar, salt, anise and burned ends of roast beef combining for a hearty sipper.

it

despite being an extra dry prosecco superiore, this shows more dryness than it does sweetness. the finish is tonic and firm, with notes of white flower, peach and honey.

us

this is 100% syrah, grown in the highly regarded stolpman vineyard. the wine itself is lush with complex raspberry, cherry, mocha and sweet oak flavors. the acidity is strikingly brisk. drink up.

fr

a sweet wine, but lively, touched by honey, its acidity coming through as delicious final fruit and spice.

us

this full-bodied wine smells like black currants and blackberries, tastes ripe, and is lightly tannic to give it a little grip. bring on the beef or pork tenderloin.

at

the nose is almost closed but the palate paints a subtle picture of toned-down intensity. a savory core is made mellow with lees and a slight oak influence that becomes more apparent on the finish. fruit—pear and yellow plum—plays second fiddle to the yeasty midpalate.

at

caramel and soft berry fruits characterize this pleasant and fresh wine. it has flavors of red berries along with vanilla to round it out. easy pinot, drink now.

es

crisp clean white-fruit aromas come with a hint of clover. this is mellow and mature on the palate, with nothing aggressive or edgy. dry, peppery, yeasty flavors show little overt fruit, while this offers a hint of green melon on a dry complex finish.