The State of Washington
2023 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Barnard Griffin)
Sale Price $15.99 – $163.10 case of twelve
Scan our American wine wall and you’ll find tons from California and a good amount from Oregon, but scant few from Washington State, the third-ranked state in production by volume. Much of that is from the behemoth winery Chateau Ste. Michelle, so we went on a mission to find some new options from smaller family-owned wineries. The consistent dry and sunny climate in Washington’s Columbia Valley makes it an excellent location for quality wine production, so it wasn’t too difficult to find good options at good prices. Barnard Griffin’s Cabernet Sauvignon (actually 80% Cab rounded out with Merlot, Syrah, Petit Sirah, and Petit Verdot) makes a nice complement to the numerous California Cabs we have. The palate is rich with juicy blueberry and black plum fruit backed by dark chocolate, fine tannins, and a lively dry finish. A great companion for burgers with blue cheese.

Dr. Heyden
2022 Oppenheimer Sackträger Spätlese (Dr. Heyden)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
Dr. Heyden is back with a mouthwatering off-dry Riesling. The ripe 2022 vintage in the Sackträger vineyard yielded delicious apricot and peach fruit and soft acidity. Have this lovely white with a fish curry.

Petit Chablis
2022 Petit Chablis (Roland Lavantureux)
Sale Price $27.99 – $285.50 case of twelve
Petit Chablis is not an inferior version of Chablis. But the French appellation system wants every amateur geologist to know that Petit Chablis comes from vineyards that have Portlandian limestone instead of the Kimmeridgian limestone that dominates the rest of Chablis. In the more-than-capable hands of the Lavantureux family, a Petit Chablis in a ripe year is a creamy and minerally Chardonnay. Their 2022 is a deep, fresh, and mature white that will match well with a broiled swordfish.

Washington State
2023 Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc ‘Métier’ (DeLille Cellars)
Sale Price $15.99 – $163.10 case of twelve
Located across the street from Chateau Ste. Michelle’s winery in Woodinville, DeLille Cellars has a broad lineup: different grape varieties, bottled as both varietal wines and blends, from a number of different sub-AVAs, plus a few pricier single-vineyard bottles at the top. There’s undoubtedly a lot to explore within the large and diverse Columbia Valley, but it can be overwhelming if you are just starting out. So, they recently launched the Métier label with just three wines to offer an easy introduction to the region. The red blend is very good, but we especially liked their Sauvignon Blanc, which tastes distinct from the many we already have on offer from California, France, and New Zealand. The fruit profile is a ripe blend of melon, lemon curd, and pineapple while the grape’s vegetal pyrazines are moderated. Lees stirring and use of neutral oak barrels add a creamy element, but Sauvignon Blanc’s signature acidity provides ample vibrancy and freshness.

Margaux Superieur
2022 Margaux Cru Bourgeois (Château Deyrem Valentin)
Sale Price $37.99 – $387.50 case of twelve
Margaux is fertile ground. Beyond the eponymous First Growth there are 20 more Grand Cru Classés plus another 25 Cru Bourgeois. We are big fans of several of the Cru Bourgeois. Châteaux Siran and d’Arsac continue to impress, and now we have the 2022 Deyrem Valentin, a great value in a great vintage. This wine is packed with dark fruit yet retains a fresh floral aroma. The Cabernet Sauvignon (56%) ensures tannic structure and longevity while the Merlot provides the charm. This wine is easy to drink now but will gain depth and complexity for another 5 years.

Delicious Is Never Out of Season
Chiaretto
2024 Bardolino Chiaretto ‘Ròdon’ (Le Fraghe)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
Toscana
2024 Casole Rosé (I Fabbri)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
Remember that charming pink wine you drank on the terrace overlooking Lake Garda? Or that surprising glass you enjoyed on that hot day in Tuscany? Well, they are readily available here year round, and now for less than you would pay during the peak tourist season. Le Fraghe’s Ròdon is a charming zesty Chiaretto with peach and pepper flavor. Try this with crab risotto. The I Fabbri is a polished Sangiovese that drinks more like a light red than a rosé. This will be delicious with lamb chops along with rosemary potatoes.

Cool Gamay
2024 Vin de France Gamay (Pauline Guyomard)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Pauline Guyomard is a bit of a mystery. She has a non-existent online presence which is at odds with today's emphasis on self-promotion. We do know that she and her husband Yohan Lardy make serious cru Beaujolais under both of their names. And we also know that their Vin de France is absolutely delicious.

 

Because of their access to grapes from prized areas in Beaujolais, we can only surmise that they have chosen to give this wine the humble Vin de France label to allow themselves freedom from overbearing AOC restrictions. Like its understated label, this organic VdF is a quietly elegant expression of the Gamay grape. Its nose of fresh flowers and strawberries is absolutely gorgeous and its palate of violets, raspberries, and damp earth is equally charming. This is one of the prettiest Gamays we've tasted in a while. As such, it's a little too easy to drink on its own but luckily it's also a graceful partner to favorites like roast chicken, poached salmon, and mushroom risotto.