FRESHPRESS. May 23, Raptor Ridge Winery in Oregon s Chehalem Mountains launched in 1995 and produces superb Pinot Noirs.

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1 FRESHPRESS May 23, 2012 Raptor Ridge Winery in Oregon s Chehalem Mountains launched in 1995 and produces superb Pinot Noirs. (Photo courtesy of CWK Photography) Fresh Press is a weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest magazine. In each edition, we review recently released wines from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho. Feel free to forward to your wine-loving friends and family. For more information on our tasting methods and review process, please go to the last page.

2 Spotlight: Raptor Ridge Winery SW Hillsboro Highway, Newberg, OR Scott Shull jokes about holding down three full-time jobs, and those who open any bottle of Raptor Ridge may believe he does nothing but focus all his attention on his Newberg, Ore., winery. In reality, the 54-year-old from Kentucky might not be counting a job or two. His high-profile occupation is Raptor Ridge, which he and wife Annie launched in 1995 and grew to 7,500 cases with the 2011 vintage. But he also continues to perform satisfying work in the field of ecotechnology for Intel Labs. He s based in Hillsboro but travels overseas. Don t tell them that I d probably do that work for nothing, he said with a chuckle. There s also the serious conservation work he s conducting on the 12 acres he and Annie live on. That parcel is a 2-mile tractor drive from the winery and estate vineyard, and while his residence doesn t offer the spectacular panoramic view snow-capped Cascade peaks that winery guests see Shull cherishes the ability to create habitat for raptors. I like taking care of the property, he said. It s a old forest with walking trails, and I m part of the Cascade bluebird recovery program. I also have my own nesting boxes for owls and other raptors. So I manage the entire property, not just the vines, and I enjoy taking a step back to look at the whole ecosystem. It makes for more pleasant walking. The Shulls named their winery for the vineyard property they share with raptors such as red-tailed hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, kestrels and owls. Ironically, Shull also makes the wines for Atticus which features an owl on its label in nearby Yamhill. He participates in the Le Cadeau Vineyard project as Tom Mortimer s winemaker for the Diversité Pinot Noir, and he consults with Jim Sanders on Mortimer s Aubichon Cellars and Jolete wines. All of that is made at Raptor Ridge, which accounts for 2,500 cases, so our winery, which we built on our estate two years ago, is almost at capacity at 10,000 cases, Shull said. They are all really quality producers who own their own vineyards and are focused on vine quality, which makes for fruit quality. Scott Shull is the winemaker at Raptor Ridge Winery in Oregon s Chehalem Mountains. (CWK Photography) The fruit is not a sow s ear but almost a silk purse by the time it comes in the door. That appears to be the case for the Raptor Ridge portfolio, too. His sources include Northern Willamette vineyards Arbre Vert, Bellevue Cross, Gran Moraine, Harbinger, Meredith Mitchell, Olenik, Shaw Mountain and Shea. Shull made his name with Pinot Noir, so his estate vineyard is dominated by the Burgundy variety, choosing clones 114, 115, 677, 777, Pommard and Wadenswil. His winemaking style seems to be modeled after some of his early influences Willamette Valley viticulturalist Betty Wahle, the late David Lett and the Ponzi family. David was always quite willing to share his opinion, and my neighbors, the Ponzis, have always been very generous with their time, their opinions and their insight on growing in Laurelwood soils the loess soils that I have on my property, Shull said. Raptor Ridge wines traditionally spotlight fruit, rather than barrel, but not always, he said. It varies by the vintage, and I don t have a recipe, but I do try to have a light hand on new French oak, Shull said. Typically, I don t use more than 30 percent new French oak, and in the case of some vintages, like 2010, I might back way off that. The wood should serve the wine. The wood shouldn t make the wine. One of his favorite vineyards, Meredith Mitchell, can handle more French oak than others. Some years,

3 Spotlight: Raptor Ridge Winery his wines from the McMinnville site produce Pinot Noir masquerading as Syrah, he said. It s a naturally low crop yield because that soil is more rock than dirt, Shull said. The fruit needs a scaffolding to support it, so in some cases I ll go more than 50 percent new oak, but the wine can handle that, so it s still consistent with our stylistic approach. His white wines steer clear of any oak, and they also shine with acidity, including his latest passion the Austrian variety Grüner Veltliner. My wife and I were on a marketing trip about 10 years ago in Chicago, and at the end of the day, we went to a high-end Thai restaurant that carries our wine, Shull recalled. The wine list had five pages of this variety that I couldn t pronounce. An investment of $50 in one bottle of Austrian white wine created a transcendent experience, Shull said. He began researching soil types in Austria and learned the grape excels when grown in loess soils, which also are found on the northern slopes of the Chehalem Mountains. I thought, What the heck. I ve an acre remaining in vineyard, Shull said. So in 2005, he joined the ranks of Bethel Heights, Chehalem Wines and Ilahee to grow Grüner in the Willamette Valley, following the lead of Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards in the Umpqua Valley. The wines tend to be very austere, with notes of white flowers and citrus peel less about fruit and more about minerality, flint and limestone, Shull said. I took it to the Oregon Wine Symposium awards dinner, and an Austrian winemaker had come to the symposium, so I rushed a glass to him. It was difficult to understand him, but he did say, It is varietally correct. Shull added with a chuckle. The wines are being very well received around the nation. Not that we made a lot (250 cases), but we chose to put some into distribution so that we could share it beyond the tasting room. This current release of Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Gris are prime examples of a testing year. The 2011 vintage particularly speaks to the brightness in the fruit, Shull said. It was a late season to start and late to finish, and we were picking grapes as late as the 14th of November. Things were slow to ripen, and it s a lean year, which is great for the white wines. And the reds will show themselves, but it will take some time. Hard work and farming are second nature for Shull. My parents would ship me back to work on my uncle s farm in Kansas every summer, Shull said. I tell them, I guess I ve back-slid because here I am working in the dirt. And so it seems as if Shull has been destined for his passions. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a master s in electrical engineering and a minor in business. He met Annie while both were working in the high-tech industry. I enticed her to join me in the winery in 2001 and work for sweat equity, he said. She s been working full time on the marketing and sales development side of the winery for the past 11 years, and now we re in 28 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Sometimes, if I want to see her, I have to fly out and meet her midstream on one of those marketing trips. Their new tasting room proved to be another sacrifice. They built it to provide views of the Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams. On a clear day, Rainier is available, and on that rare day, the tip of Mount Baker can be seen. We invested in the tasting room to provide the best view we could offer, Shull said. It s 8 feet from the first row of vines. It s as if you are in a little treehouse ensconced in the middle of the vineyard. In two years, the Shulls will celebrate their 20th commercial vintage. The winery business has just been a privilege to be a part of, he said. By then, perhaps he ll considering giving up one of his responsibilities, but he already wants to add another job. I m hoping to get back into beekeeping, he said. I really like taking care of our property. Spotlight: Raptor Ridge Winery Outstanding! Raptor Ridge Winery 2009 Adolfo's Block Estate Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $35. The Shulls named their 18-acre estate planting near Newberg, Ore., Tuscowallame Vineyard, a reference to a tribal word for place where the owls dwell. They go a step further and personalize each block by honoring the foreman who planted it. It s proven to be a sweet spot for Pinot Noir, exemplified by this masterful release. Black currant, black cherry, strawberry, moist earth, saddle leather and a hint of barrel toast show in the nose. Those same fruit flavors run through from start to finish and pick up vanilla bean, but it's the pleasing texture and great balance that elevates this Pinot Noir. (192 cases, 14% alc.)

4 Spotlight: Raptor Ridge Winery Outstanding! Raptor Ridge Winery 2010 Olenik Vineyard Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $38. This rocky site belonging to John Olenik is a new for Raptor Ridge, but it impressed Scott Shull to the point that he quickly created a vineyard-designated Pinot Noir from it. Hedonistic aromas of black currant jam, dark strawberry, Cherry Garcia ice cream and Hermiston watermelon include a pinch of black pepper. There s no disappointment to the drink as those same flavors are presented with a seamless, albeit lighter, approach that s accented by lingering acidity of sweetenened pie cherries. (100 cases, 13% alc.) Excellent. Raptor Ridge Winery 2010 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $45. Scott Shull makes the call to pick his block in Dick Shea s renowned planting earlier than some in order to retain the amount of acidity he prefers. That explains why this his 14th vintage with Shea might be the most food-friendly Pinot Noir in his lineup. It shows off aromas of strawberry, pie cherry, lime, fresh-picked green bean and moist earth. The low level of oak shows again on the palate of Montmorency cherry and pomegranate with just a bit of milk chocolate in the finish. (300 cases, 13% alc.) Excellent. Raptor Ridge Winery 2011 Pinot Gris, Oregon, $18. For years, a number of prominent producers in Oregon incorporated oak, sometimes too much, into their Pinot Gris programs. Scott Shull keeps the focus on the fruit. Here he blends from his estate site in the Chehalem Mountains with famed Temperance Hill in the Eola-Amity Hills for a remarkably citrusy creation. The nose hints at Squirt soda and Granny Smith apple with just a whiff of toasted wheat bread. On the palate, it s loaded with apricot, apple, mouthwatering lemon and gooseberry. Enjoy with a plate of oysters. (1,900 cases, 13% alc.) Excellent. Raptor Ridge Winery 2011 Estate Grüner Veltliner, Chehalem Mountains, $20. The Shulls were inspired to work with this grape after dining at a Thai restaurant in Chicago. They began their plans for this Austrian variety in 2005 by planting it to their remaining acre of open vineyard, and this marks their second commercial bottling off their estate. In the glass, it presents a rather pale color and aromas of lime, lemongrass, white pepper and chalkboard dust. The drink carries the sense of austerity inherent to the grape with a continuation of lime, dried apple and a texture of minerality. It s quite dry yet somewhat fleshy as the acidity builds well into the finish. One winemaker on our panel said, This is how I would expect a Grüner from Austria to taste. (250 cases, 13% alc.) New releases we ve tasted Cabernet Sauvignon Recommended. Frenchman's Gulch 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, $25. Steve McCarthy continues to make wine in Sun Valley, Idaho, and he loves Columbia Valley fruit. In this case, he sources from Phinny Hill in the Horse Heaven Hills to produce a big Cab that brings tones of dark cherry juice, red currant, coffee, pipe tobacco and cedar. (420 cases, 14.5% alc.) Excellent. Maryhill Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $27. Richard Batchelor arrived at this destination winery in the Columbia Wine ratings All wines reviewed here are tasted blind after being submitted by producers. They are rated Outstanding, Excellent and Recommended by a tasting panel. Outstanding: These wines have superior characteristics and should be highly sought after. Excellent: Top-notch wines with particularly high qualities. Gorge just two months before this harvest, and here s a product of his first vintage for owners Craig and Vicki Leuthold. The native of New Zealand went light on the oak, allowing for the notes of blackberry and silky black cherry to take center stage. Savory hints of oregano and mint, combined with broad tannins and chocolaty notes, no doubt make this a favorite at the 3,000-square-foot tasting room just downstream from the famed museum. (2,914 cases, 13.6% alc.) Excellent. McKinley Springs Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $18. One of the largest family-owned vineyards in the Northwest sells Recommended: Delicious, well-made wines with true varietal characteristics. Best Buy: A wine that is $15 or less. Priced are suggested retail and should be used as guidelines. Prices are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

5 New releases we ve tasted to more than 20 wineries, and winemaker Doug Rowell continues to develop a reputation for creating value at the tasting room on this estate in the middle of Washington s Horse Heaven Hills. Fresh fruit aromas of plums and pomegranate pick up notes of red pepper flakes, moist clay and light toast. Inside is a delicious presentation of blackberry jam, red currant and cherry pie filling. There s plenty of tannin, followed by notes of licorice and fennel. (805 cases, 14.1% alc.) Outstanding! Pepper Bridge Winery 2008 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $55. There s justification why this bottle loads at the top on the home page of Norm McKibben s winery as winemaker Jean-François Pellet seemingly has burnished all flaws from the blend of Seven Hills (58%) and Pepper Bridge vineyards. It carries classic Cab scents of black cherry, cocoa powder, coffee and finely ground black pepper, but there s also blackberry and boysenberry. Inside, there s depth to the flavors of black currant and black cherry, which carries along chocolate-covered pomegranate and licorice. Its bold structure and blend of anise with licorice make for a finish that seems to hang elegantly. (2,386 cases, 14.1% alc.) Pinot Noir Recommended. Lake Chelan Winery 2009 Pinot Noir, Columbia Valley, $32. This Washington winery wouldn t be able to label this Pinot Noir in Oregon because it makes up 79% of the blend, which explains why the components of Cabernet Sauvignon (13%), Malbec (4%) and Merlot give this a structure not unlike a smooth-drinking Merlot. The black fruit theme is based on black cherry, plum, cola and mince meat with some smokiness in the background and cassis in the finish. Suggested fare includes grilled meats, and the on-premise restaurant offers some of the best barbecue in Central Washington. (498 cases, 13.7% alc.) Recommended. Red Door Cellars 2010 Pinot Noir, Oregon, $18. This Precept Wine label is the product of Gran Moraine Vineyard east of Carlton, Ore., and Battle Creek Vineyard near Salem. It s a solid example of Pinot Noir with tones of white strawberry, cassis, black pepper and coffee. There s a spiciness to its acidity and hints of oregano, which should lend this nicely to salmon grilled with lemon or chicken in a tomato and herb sauce. (4,000 cases, 13.5% alc.) Merlot Recommended. Best Buy! Covey Run Winery 2010 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $9. One of Washington s top value wineries produces an expressive, foodfriendly Tuesday night Merlot. It opens with spicy red currant aromas, backed by Marionberry, blueberry, cracked black pepper, minerality and fresh dill. Boysenberry and Marionberry flavors swirl through with some chalkiness and Assam tea tones. Suggested fare includes grilled pork chops or gnocchi in red sauce. (28,000 cases, 13.5% alc.) Recommended. Wapato Point Cellars 2008 Cougar Ridge Reserve Merlot, Lake Chelan, $36. This vineyard on the north shore of Lake Chelan captures more heat than most sites in the young appellation, and the wine received an abundant amount of barrel treatment. That shows in its greeting of cocoa powder and buttered popcorn in the nose, followed by black currant, cordial cherry and black pepper. It s a very cherry drink from beginning to end, showing pleasing leafiness, fine-grained tannins and cherry skin in the finish. (225 cases, 13.8% alc.) Syrah Recommended. Frenchman's Gulch 2008 Syrah, Washington, $25. Lewis Vineyard is one of the higher sites in the Yakima Valley, but the elevation at Sun Valley, Idaho, is about four times that at 5,900 feet, which is where Steve Mac McCarthy makes his wines. He offers a high-acid, food-friendly Syrah with a theme of blueberry, boysenberry, blackberry fruit leather and thyme. (145 cases, 13.7% alc.) Malbec Recommended. Wapato Point Cellars 2009 Malbec, Columbia Valley, $32. The Kludt clan owns and operates two wineries on the north side of Washington s Lake Chelan, and both include restaurants. This wine made by their son, Jonathon, deserves a spot on the dinner table at the Winemaker's Grill with its accents of red currant, Rainier cherry, blueberry, mint and sage. The theme of bright acidity, reduced oak and crushed herbs notes should pair nicely with lamb shanks. (400 cases, 13.7% alc.) Petit Verdot Excellent. McKinley Springs Winery 2008 Petit Verdot, Horse Heaven Hills, $24. Rob Andrews grows 20 varieties at this massive and historic planting south of Prosser, Wash., and this lesserknown Bordeaux variety shows that it deserves a place in the future. Aromatics of blackberry, red currant, violet, cedar frond, chalkboard dust and spiced coffee expand into flavors of blackberry jam, plums and bittersweet chocolate. The tannin structure shows a remarkable amount of refinement for the variety, and the drink is finished with a pinch of licorice. (90 cases, 14.2% alc.)

6 New releases we ve tasted Petite Sirah Excellent. Jones of Washington 2008 Estate Vineyards Reserve Petite Sirah, Wahluke Slope, $30. One expects macho grape Petite Sirah to make a big entrance, and this doesn t disappoint. Aromas open as if you d stuck your nose in a bag of cherry pipe tobacco, then walked into a kitchen where blueberries are bubbling on the stove and bread dough is rising. There s also a spice cabinet of juniper berry and cardamom. Once inside, the drink doesn t pack the typical uppercut of tannin, but there s a continuation of blueberry and boysenberry, joined by more tobacco and finished with pomegranate. (69 cases, 14.3% alc.) Red blends Excellent. Baer Winery 2009 Arctos, Columbia Valley, $43. Lance Baer became an early supporter of the Woodinville wine scene. Alas, he died suddenly in 2007 just as the region was about to explode. His family keeps the brand and the winery alive, and they fashioned this blend with the masculinity that Lance intended. It s Cabernet Sauvignon (64%), Petit Verdot (17%), Cabernet Franc (13%) and Merlot, and it delivers aromatics of blueberry, lime peel, tobacco, chalkboard dust and fresh mint. Boysenberry and blueberry flavors are met by assertive tannins and fresh-picked marjoram. (391 cases, 14.5% alc.) Recommended. Baer Winery 2009 Star, Columbia Valley, $27. Technically, this could be labeled Merlot (77%), and it packs the firmness that Washington Merlot often features. There s assertion from big extraction of blackberry and black cherry, backed by tones of sage, tarragon and toast. Enjoy with duck confit or pork ribs. (273 cases, 14.5% alc.) Outstanding! Baer Winery 2009 Ursa, Columbia Valley, $39. The 2008 version of this blend earned a lofty international ranking, and winemaker Erica Orr s latest edition for the Baer family a blend of Cabernet Franc (44%), Merlot (38%), Cabernet Sauvignon (9%) and Malbec would seem to be on par with that. It all comes off Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Frenchman Hills overlooking Royal City, Wash., and the gorgeous nose brings hints of blueberry cobbler, dried cranberry, violet and sweet oak tones of tobacco and black pepper. The drink is dang delicious with its theme of inky blue fruit, bittersweet chocolate and Aussie black licorice. (981 cases, 14.5% alc.) Recommended. Best Buy! McKinley Springs Winery 2009 Bombing Range Red, Horse Heaven Hills, $12. At 2,000 acres, McKinley Springs operates one of the Northwest s largest vineyards. That affords the tools to create fun project such as this screwcapped second label. The blend of Syrah (52%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Malbec (4%) and Petit Verdot might be a bit outside the mainstream, but winemaker Doug Rowell makes it work, starting with a big, bold blue fruit nose. It carries blackberry, Marionberry, huckleberry and cherry, along with smoked meat and a hint of coffee. It s not shy when it comes to acid, bringing lots of blueberry, cranberry and pie cherry flavors. The finish includes notes of plums, Liquid Smoke, roasted meat and more coffee. (1,726 cases, 14.6% alc.) Excellent. Southard Winery 2010 Lawrence Vineyard Red, Columbia Valley, $22. Yakima Valley winemaker Steve Southard creates a deliciously fruitforward blend of Grenache (90%) and Syrah that smells as fresh as a barrel sample with hints of Hostess cherry pie, strawberry, cola, allspice and mint. The approach to the palate brings bright acidity and low tannin, offering fleshy flavors of boysenberry and blueberry. (116 cases, 14.5% alc.) Outstanding! Southard Winery 2010 Sugarloaf Vineyard Red, Yakima Valley, $20. Steve Southard helped Kana Winery in Yakima, Wash., stand out in the valley for some remarkable work with blends of Rhône varieties. His blend of Grenache (61%), Mourvèdre (18%), Cinsault (12%) and Counoise from Joe Hattrup s young vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills smells of whole-berry cranberry sauce, bubble gum, cloves, toffee, cedar and saddle leather. There s an even flow to the flavors of boysenberry, blueberry and Western serviceberry, bringing tantalizing acidity, minimal tannins and a bit of leafiness in the finish. (206 cases, 14.5% alc.) Recommended. Telaya Wine Co Turas, Columbia Valley, $32. A decade ago, Midwest natives Earl and Carrie Sullivan moved to Idaho for business. Now, they ve decided to raise their family in the Treasure Valley and develop a winery in the Boise suburb of Garden City. They combined references to the Grand Tetons and the Spanish word for beach (playa) into their name tuh-lie-ya and their debut bottling is a blend of Syrah (50%), Merlot (25%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (25%). It s a massive wine, starting with big notes of mocha, freshly ground cinnamon, blackberry and minerality. Flavors of black cherry, bittersweet chocolate and blackberry with a bite of the seed fill the mouth. It s finished with notes of horehound and a pleasing amount of acidity that should help this age or pair now with richly flavored meats. (56 cases, 14.3% alc.) Excellent. Telaya Wine Co Turas, Columbia Valley, $32. Here s the second commercial vintage for the Sullivans, who met as collegians studying tropical

7 New releases we ve tasted ecology in the Galapago Islands. Their science backgrounds have driven them to enter the wine industry, and they ve hired Columbia Valley winemaker Victor Cruz to produce their first wines, a proprietary red that references the Irish term for journey. The second vintage of their Syrah-based blend relies on fruit from Gamache Vineyard, and it offers more fruit and less oak. Boysenberry, black cherry, vanilla bean, coffee and cedar aromas include crushed walnut and a whiff of meatiness. There s remarkable intensity and depth showing on the round palate of black cherry and boysenberry with more coffee in the background and a finish of blueberry. (224 cases, 13.9% alc.) Pinot Gris Excellent. Best Buy! Blue Pirate 2010 Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, $12. Here s one of several Oregon labels under the Precept Wine umbrella, and this is a fruit-forward expression of four vineyards in the Yakima Valley Canyon Ranch, Phil Church, A&R and Willow Crest that contribute Sauvignon Blanc (16%) and Roussanne (9%) There s no sign of oak in the nose, which features hints of fresh pear, Golden Delicious apple, lemon, pineapple, Mister Lincoln rose and minerality. The palate offers enjoyable leanness and notes of Granny Smith apple and Asian pear, with undertones of peach and grapefruit with a finish if lemon peel and slate. (1,000 cases, 13.5% alc.) Excellent. Best Buy! Jones of Washington 2011 Estate Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, $12. It shouldn t be much longer until the appellation for this wine a product of the Two Gun Vineyard near Quincy, Wash. can fall under the pending Ancient Lakes American Viticultural Area. One might confuse this for a Riesling with a bit of Muscat blended in because of its fascinating floral notes of lychee, jasmine, fruit cocktail and diesel. Flavors also gather up delicious hints of white peach, sweetened lime and spearmint. A remarkable bit of spritzy acidity helps balance the residual sugar (1.5%), and serving it cold will accent that acidity even more. (502 cases, 13.4% alc.) Excellent. Schmidt Family Vineyard 2011 Pinot Gris, Southern Oregon, $22. In 2000, Cal Schmidt purchased a ranch on the Kubli Bench in Oregon s Applegate Valley, and neither he nor his family has slowed down. This comes with aromas of dusty Fuji apple, banana, lime candy, fresh-cut celery and slate, followed by flavors of more apple, kumquat and lime oil. On the label is an artist s drawing of dill, which the family presents as a theme for food-pairing ideas for that wine, and this should pair deliciously with the vegetarian flatbread or hummus platter served during afternoons at the winery. (216 cases, 14.44% alc.) Sauvignon Blanc Recommended. Best Buy! Claar Cellars 2011 White Bluffs Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $15. The Claar family harvested this lot on Sept. 28, and it hints at grilled peach, dried apple and pear with hints of honeycomb and toast. There s a bit of weight to the drink and frothy acidity that takes it virtually bone dry. (677 cases, 13.4% alc.) Excellent. Best Buy! Jones of Washington 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $15. Estate plantings on the Wahluke Slope give winemaker Victor Palencia control of the end product, which releases wide-ranging aromas of jasmine, lychee, lime, gooseberry, Wrigley s Spearmint Gum, celery and slate. Despite being fermented in new Hungarian oak, it s loaded with fruity flavors of lemon, lime and kiwi. The combination of delicious acidity and a slightly savory finish of fresh-cut celery counteracts the bit of sugar (0.9%) (346 cases, 13.3% alc.) Siegerrebe Recommended. Lopez Island Vineyard & Winery 2011 Estate Organically Grown Siegerrebe, Puget Sound, $25. Winemaker/grower Brent Charnley dotes on these vines, which have a German heritage and the result of crossing Gewürztraminer with Madeleine Angevine, another variety that succeeds in the Puget Sound. Its fruity and perfumy nose hints at a lateharvest wine with notes of apricot marmalade, candy corn, burnt caramel, honeycomb and a whiff of botrytis. Those descriptors ply their way onto the palate, which includes fresh Bartlett pear, Red Delicious apple, sweet lime, canteloupe and Honeycomb breakfast cereal. Its residual sugar is 2%, and this should pair nicely with spicy Asian cuisine. (112 cases, 12% alc.) Rosé Excellent. Best Buy! Jones of Washington 2011 Rosé of Syrah, Columbia Valley, $12. One of the most brilliant sights at last year s Rosé Revival at Ray s Boathouse in Seattle was Victor Palencia s pink wine. His latest edition is just as showy. Aromas are reminiscent of cherry vanilla ice cream with hints of apricot, burnt caramel and a bit of meatiness that one often gets from this Rhône variety. It s a fun, off-dry drink of strawberries, cherry lemonade and Jolly Rancher watermelon candy that gets just enough of a boost from mouthwatering acidity to deal with the residual sugar (1.7%). The 10th annual Rosé Revival is scheduled for Wednesday, June 13. For more information, go to (236 cases, 11.3% alc.

8 Northwest wine regions Multi-state appellations Columbia Valley: This multi-state appellation is 11 million acres in size and takes up a third of Washington. Established in Columbia Gorge: This multi-state appellation begins around the town of Lyle and heads west to Husum on the Washington side of the Columbia River. It was established in Walla Walla Valley: Walla Walla Valley: This multi-state appellation is in the southeast corner of Washington and around Milton-Freewater, Ore. Established in Snake River Valley: This is in southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon. It covers 8,263 square miles and was established in Washington Yakima Valley: The Northwest s oldest appellation (established in 1983) stretches past Wapato in the west to Benton City in the east and includes Red Mountain, Rattlesnake Hills and Snipes Mountain. Red Mountain: Washington s smallest appellation is a ridge in the eastern Yakima Valley. It is 4,040 acres in size. Established in Horse Heaven Hills: This large appellation 570,000 acres is south of the Yakima Valley and stretches to the Oregon border. It was established in Wahluke Slope: Approved in early 2006, this huge landform north of the Yakima Valley is an 81,000-acre gravel bar created by the Ice Age Floods. It is one of the warmest regions in the entire Pacific Northwest. Established in Rattlesnake Hills: This appellation is in the western Yakima Valley north of the towns of Zillah, Granger and Outlook. The appellation is 68,500 acres in size with about 1,300 acres of vineyards. It was established in Puget Sound: This sprawling appellation is in Western Washington. It stretches from the Olympia area to the Canadian border north of Bellingham. It also sweeps through the San Juan Islands and to Port Angeles. Established in Snipes Mountain: This is one of Washington s oldest wine-growing regions. At 4,145 acres in size, it is the state s second-smallest AVA. Grapes have been grown on Snipes Mountain and at the adjacent Harrison Hill (also part of the AVA) since This AVA was approved in Lake Chelan: This area in north-central Washington is almost entirely within the Columbia Valley. It is a young area, with the oldest vines dating to About 250 acres are planted here. It was approved in Naches Heights: Approved in 2011, this area near the city of Yakima has fewer than 50 acres of grapes planted. Oregon Willamette Valley: Oregon s largest appellation stretches roughly from Portland to Eugene. Established in Ribbon Ridge: This is the Northwest s smallest appellation at 3,350 acres. It is best known for its Pinot Noir and is within the Chehalem Mountains AVA. It was established in Yamhill-Carlton: This is a horseshoe-shaped appellation that surrounds the towns of Yamhill and Carlton. It was established in The District was dropped in Chehalem Mountains: This is the largest within the Willamette Valley. This 62,100-acre appellation is northeast of the Dundee Hills. It was established in Dundee Hills: Many of Oregon s pioneer wineries are in the Dundee Hills within Oregon s Yamhill County. The appellation is 6,490 acres in size. It was established in Eola-Amity Hills: This important region stretches from the town of Amity in the north to the capital city of Salem in the southeast. It is 37,900 acres in size. It was established in McMinnville: The hills south and west of the Yamhill County city of McMinnville are more than 40,000 acres in size. It was established in Umpqua Valley: This Southern Oregon appellation surrounds the city of Roseburg north of the Rogue Valley. It can produce Pinot Noir as well as warm-climate grapes. It was established in Rogue Valley: The Northwest s southern-most appellation surrounds the cities of Medford and Ashland, just north of the California border. It is known for its warm growing conditions. Established in Applegate Valley: This small valley within the Rogue Valley is known for a multitude of microclimates that can result in wines of distinction and complexity. Established in Southern Oregon: This AVA encompasses the Umpqua, Rogue and Applegate valleys and Red Hill Douglas County. It was established in Red Hill Douglas County: This tiny appellation just 5,500 acres is within the Umpqua Valley. Fewer than 200 acres of wine grapes, primarily Pinot Noir, are grown here. Established in British Columbia Okanagan Valley: In the province s interior, this 100- mile valley stretches from the border in Osoyoos to Salmon Arm in the north. Most wineries are near Oliver, Penticton and Kelowna. It was established in Similkameen Valley: This warm valley is west of the southern Okanagan Valley. It was established in Vancouver Island: This marine-influenced appellation is in the southwest part of the province. Established in Fraser Valley: This farming area is in the Lower Mainland, south of Vancouver. Established in Gulf Islands: This appellation includes approximately 100 islands spread out between Vancouver Island and the southern mainland. Established in 2005.

9 About us Wine Press Northwest is a quarterly consumer magazine that focuses on the wine regions of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho. Annual subscriptions are $20. Click to subscribe. Editor-in-chief: Andy Perdue editor@winepressnw.com Managing editor: Eric Degerman edegerman@winepressnw.com Advertising inquiries: Parker Hodge phodge@tricityherald.com 2012 Tasting methods Recent Releases are evaluated under strict conditions to ensure objectivity. Northwest wineries submit wines to Wine Press Northwest for evaluation by Wine Press Northwest s tasting panel. After wines are received, they are stored for at least two weeks and a third party serves them blind, meaning the tasting panelists do not know the producer. In addition, the panelists are served glasses of wine and are not able to view the bottles or their shapes prior to tasting. Wines are stored in temperature-controlled conditions, allowing them to be served at perfect cellar temperatures. Price is not a consideration in these evaluations, nor is a winery s advertising activity with Wine Press Northwest, as the magazine s editorial/wine evaluation activities and advertising/ marketing efforts are kept strictly separate. The panel has a combination of technical and consumer palates. If at least three of the four panelists consider a wine technically sound and commercially acceptable, it is included here as Recommended. The panel may also vote the wine as Excellent or Outstanding, our top rating. Wines considered unacceptable by the panel are rejected and not included. Reviews are grouped by variety or style and listed alphabetically by winery. Prices listed are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. To ensure we maintain an international perspective, our tasting panelists judge thousands of wines annually at various competitions, including: Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition, Riverside International Wine Competition, Dallas Morning News Wine Competition, Indy International Wine Competition, Virginia Governor s Cup, Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Grand Harvest Awards, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru, Washington State Wine Competition, Seattle Wine Awards, Northwest Wine Summit, British Columbia Wine Awards, New York Wine and Grape Foundation Competition, Tri-Cities Wine Festival, Capital Food & Wine Fest, North Central Washington Wine Awards and Idaho Wine Competition.