A few times a month we hope to offer our opinion on some wines that you may or may not be familiar with. The more we drink the more wines we’ll be able to tell you about, so we're going to drink…we're going to drink a lot…and we're going to do it all for you! We hope you find these reviews informative and useful when choosing your next bottle of wine.

Winery: Snoqualmie - Prosser, WA
Wine: 2006 Nearly Naked Gewürztraminer
Region: Columbia Valley
Price: $10.00

From the Industry: Orange blossom and spice aromas are complimented by a refreshingly crisp and juicy mouthful of fruit flavor. This wine has decidedly pure impressions of fully mature Gewürztraminer grapes with slight mineral characters of the terroir. -Joy Andersen, Winemaker

What We Say: Have you ever found yourself saying, “There’s nothing like a good Gewürztraminer!” No? Well then, here’s a good place to start. Not as spicy as some traditional Gewürztraminers, this offering shows plenty of soft fruit and floral notes, which makes for a very drinkable alternative. Especially for those just starting to experiment with new varietals. With a nose full of zesty citrus, sweet apricot, golden apples and fresh cut grass it’s about as close as you can come to bottling Spring. Similar refreshing flavors follow with juicy layers of citrus, apricot, apple, and orange, which glide smoothly over the tongue. The finish is clean and crisp with a lingering flavor of candied lemon drops.

Winery: Snoqualmie - Prosser, WA
Wine: 2006 Naked Riesling
Region: Columbia Valley
Price: $10.00

From the Industry: This Riesling offers fresh aromas of spicy apple and pear, followed by juicy fruit flavors on the palate and a lingering spice and honey finish. -Joy Andersen, Winemaker

What We Say: Floral aromas of sweet lemon and pear lead into a mouth-watering mixture of honeydew melon, pink grapefruit, and apricot. But don’t get too comfortable with the smooth, lush texture of this “Naked” wine because there’s a surprise zing of acidity on the finish, as if to make sure you’re still paying attention!

Winery: Snoqualmie - Prosser, WA
Wine: 2006 Naked Chardonnay
Region: Columbia Valley
Price: $12.00

From the Industry: This Chardonnay offers fresh pure aromas of chardonnay fruit characters with nuances of citrus and pear followed by natural juicy fruit flavors on the palate and a balanced clean finish. -Joy Andersen, Winemaker

What We Say: Refreshing pear and floral aromas lead into a creamy collection of pear, melon, apricot and a hint of fresh “sustainable” hay. A light and fruity Chardonnay with a smooth texture and clean finish this wine definitely lives up to its namesake – “Naked” delicious! Is that weird?!!?

Winery: Mark Ryan - Woodinville, WA
Wine: 2005 The Dissident
Region: Columbia Valley
Price: $26.00

From the Industry: First impressions are everything, and the nose on The Dissident doesn’t disappoint. Big black and red fruit, cocoa, bacon smoke, licorice, baking spices, and roasted coffee waft from the wine. The flavors are robust and bursting with red and black cherries, black raspberries and plums. Nice and silky, just like you want, with smooth and long finish. - AvalonWine.com

What We Say: This affordable red blend from popular Mark Ryan Winery uses fruit from some great Washington sites to produce this everyday drinker. The nose starts with an octane kick but quickly opens up to fruit filled aromas of black cherry, blueberry and other red berries, along with spicy pepper and licorice. In the mouth the flavors are surprisingly smooth with additional blueberry, black cherry and plum. Don’t relax too much however, and let your guard down, because the deceivingly silky finish can also include a slight tannin sucker punch, but nothing that’s going to knock you off your feat.

Winery: Barrister Winery - Spokane, WA
Wine: 2005 Cabernet Franc
Region: Columbia Valley
Price: $25.00

From the Industry: Another gorgeous Cab Franc from the magical Chelle den Pleasant and Sagemoor’s Wienbau Vineyards blended with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon from Pepperbridge, Seven Hills, and Bacchus vineyards. The wine has soft tannins, a rich berry nose wrapped in layers of toast, mouth-filling flavors and a long, long finish. 800 cases produced. - BarristerWinery.com

What We Say: At first whiff you’ll know that this is a cab franc to be reckoned with. Behind the initial hit of alcohol you’ll find powerful aromas of deep red and black fruit, including candied blackberry, strawberry, and raspberry preserves spread across toast. The same rich, dark fruit carries over into your mouth with the addition of dark currant and cinnamon spices that leave the tongue tingling. The texture is very smooth and creamy but the flavors bold, with just enough bite to keep you on your toes. Air this one out for a pleasant drinker, or throw caution to the wind and dive right in.

Winery: Walla Walla Vintners - Walla Walla, WA
Wine: 2005 Columbia Valley Cabernet Franc
Region: Columbia Valley
Price: $25.00

From the Industry: This signature Cabernet Franc is composed of grapes from six vineyards, each contributing to the complexity in this compelling wine. It contains 76% Cabernet Franc from Cordon Grove, Dwelley, Sagemoor Farms and Weinbau Vineyards. The addition of 24% Merlot from Cordon Grove, Killian and Spring Creek Vineyards elevates the fruit in this magical blend. The nose reminds us of the perfume you smell while torching the sugar crust for a Crème Brûlée. The midpalate oozes with the flavor of toffee in a Heath Bar and has a lingering finish of dark chocolate covered Bing cherries. Sautéed boneless chicken breast with tarragon cream sauce or sautéed halibut steaks with hollandaise sauce served with fresh peas, shallots and porcini mushrooms with steamed Chinese black rice will pair well with this Franc. 800 cases produced.

What We Say: The nose on this popular Cab Franc is bright and fragrant with light perfume and spring floral notes wrapped around sweet red fruit, including fresh cherries and ripe raspberries. With a little air the wine really opens up offering flavors matching that of a cherry, raspberry and blueberry cream parfait. The mouth feel is silky smooth with a nice balance of acidity and tannins. The finish offers a little spice and additional flavors of strawberries dipped in dark chocolate. This wine pairs perfectly with a nice dinner for two or a night out with friends.

Winery: Walla Walla Vintners - Walla Walla, WA
Wine: 2005 Columbia Valley Sangiovese
Region: Columbia Valley
Price: $22.00

From the Industry: This is the delectable Sangiovese that everyone has been asking for since the 2004 sold out. It contains 83% Sangiovese from Dwelley, Kiona, Walla Walla’s Sundance and Watkins vineyards. To give it that Super-Tuscan mouthfeel and richness, we added 9% Malbec from Dwelley and Pepper Bridge vineyards and 8% Syrah from Goose Ridge Vineyard. This smooth, balanced, and rounded wine has a cedar nose, sweet Oregon ripe cranberry midpalate and a lingering cherry finish. A perfect union for this Sangiovese is a well-crafted Bolognese ragu tossed with homemade tagliatelle, sweet butter and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. 850 cases produced.

What We Say: This young wine puts off a fairly strong dose of alcohol when first opened so make sure to decant for 30 minutes to an hour in order to burn off some of that vapor. Once the wine is allowed to breath a little, you’ll be able to smell the fruity cherry and blackberry aromas with hints of cedar, currant, and chocolate. Upon first taste you might get a little of that alcohol burn but again that will pass with a little air, allowing some of the other flavors to show through. Leading the way are the sweetly tart flavors of cranberry and pomegranate, followed by a mix of red and black fruit and a little pepper. The finish, which is really the best part, offers a nice dose of black cherry. The peppery mixture of tart and sweet fruit backed by strong acidity and tannins make this a great wine to serve alongside a tray of cured meats and cheeses.

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