3 Horse Ranch Vineyards, Eagle, Idaho
2008 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards
Pinot Gris: $14.00
Made from estate vineyard grapes that are certified organic, this wine offers heady aromas of soft citrus, melon and light apricot. It’s vibrant with sweet apple, mango and blood orange on the palate with a nice touch of lemon zest on the finish.
2008 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards
Vivacious: $16.00
The name for this blend of Viognier and Rousanne has been trademarked by the winery. But it’s a blend you’ll find throughout the Rhône Valley in France and it works beautifully here in Idaho. Lots of peach and melon aromas with crisp lemon and lime flavors melding nicely with ripe peach. Touch of lemon zest comes through on the finish.
2008 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards
Syrah Mourvèdre: $25.00
Opens with an appealing array of aromas including cherry, plum, pomegranate and a pleasant touch of dill. Big and meaty in the mouth, earthy, dark fruit flavors play against tart cherry and strawberry rhubarb. Big but not overblown, with a long, smooth finish.
Cinder Wines, Garden City, Idaho
2009 Cinder Viognier,
$17.00
Winemaker Melanie Krause crafts a beautifully unctuous take on this Rhône variety filled with the characteristic peach, melon and honeysuckle aromas. Ripe and round in the mouth, nice peach and juicy cantaloupe flavors abound.
2009 Cinder Rosé,
$14.00
A dry pink wine made with Syrah, it offers lovely aromas of strawberry and rose petal. Crisp and refreshing—the flavors are marked by soft rhubarb, cherry and crisp stone fruit. Utterly charming.
2008 Cinder Syrah,
$27.00
Smoky meat and dark berry aromas are punctuated by soft oak. Big and bold, earthy overtones highlight the robust berry and cherry fruit. Smooth tannins come through on the lingering finish.
Coiled Wines, Napa, CA
2008 Coiled Syrah,
$27.00
An enology graduate with a Masters from UC Davis, Leslie Preston makes her home in Napa, California, but has Idaho roots. So when it came time to strike out on her own she decided to source fruit from the promising Snake River AVA. The result is an elegant delight with deep berry fruit aromas, a velvety texture and supple cherry and red berry fruit flavors. Good length with soft tannins and seamless acidity.
Davis Creek Cellars, Marsing, ID
2008 Tempranillo,
$22.00
Light smoky oak, smooth cherry and sweet strawberry rhubarb on the nose. Red berry, light cherry and mocha on the palate. Just their second vintage of this variety with very limited production.
2008 Davis Creek Cellars Syrah,
$22.00
A nice vein of oak backs the sweet cherry liqueur aromas. Ripe and round red fruits in the mouth along with blackberry, chocolate and smooth tannins on the finish.
2009 Davis Creek Cellars UP A CREEK! Syrah,
$17.00
A delightfully, lightly sweet late harvest Syrah where winemaker Gina Davis wisely opted for a little residual sugar over dizzyingly high alcohol levels. The complexity of Syrah in a crowd pleasing style with big sweet, cherry chocolate flavors that are completely enticing.
Frenchman's Gulch, Ketchum, ID
2006 Frenchman’s Gulch Winery
Chardonnay: $13.00
An Idaho winery with a twist. They source grapes from top Washington State vineyards, then craft the wines in Ketchum, where the high-altitude fermentation puts a unique stamp on the wine. This is a lovely, un-oaked Chardonnay where the wood doesn’t get in the way. You won’t miss it. Crisp lemon and lime flavors play against sweet tropical fruit in this refreshing take on a classic white.
2005 Frenchman’s Gulch Winery
Syrah: $19.50
With a few years of bottle age, this wine has evolved nicely. Surprisingly fresh fruit marked by blackberry, lightly tart cherry and plum. Nicely resolved, smooth tannins mark the persistent finish.
2005 Frenchman’s Gulch
Winery Ketchum Cuvée: $19.50
A blend of three different Bordeaux grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc) result in a silky smooth wine with round and ripe cherry fruit flavors. Nicely balanced with a food-friendly hint of acidity on the finish.
Koenig Winery & Distillery, Caldwell, ID
2008 Koenig Vineyards
Viognier, $15.00
Greg Koenig has been making some of the finest wines in the Northwest and continues to do so. His Viognier offers the classic peach and honeysuckle aromas. It's clean and dry in the mouth with bright fruit flavors highlighted by just ripe peach. A rich but refreshing wine.
2008 Koenig Vineyards
Ice Wine Riesling, $20.00, (375 ml.)
Satisfy your sweet tooth with silky peach and apricot flavors balanced by ample acidity that cleanses on the finish. A complex but satisfying wine with bright citrus, blood orange and slices of candied lemon. A definite bargain considering half-bottles of most ice wines go for double or more.
2007 Koenig Vineyards
Cabernet-Syrah, $25.00
Very limited production, this wine gains structure from the Cab and a velvety smoothness and spice from the Syrah. Red fruit flavors (cherry and plum) from the Cabernet: dark fruit (blackberry and plum) from the Syrah. An exceptional wine.
Snake River Winery, Boise, ID
2008 Snake River Winery
Touriga, $17.00
At their Arena Valley Vineyard, Snake River Winery is exploring an intriguing and unusual variety of wines. The Touriga Nacional grape, native to Portugal, has found a home their vineyard. The aromas are a combination of chocolate covered cherries with a side of espresso. Definitely fruit forward, it’s an explosion of strawberry and sweet cranberry flavors. A great choice for summer barbecues.
2007 Snake River Winery
Zweigelt, $14.00
This Austrian transplant works well in Idaho, creating a wine that's a fruit bomb of sweet berry and tart cherry fruit—so user friendly. Charming and delicious, it's another great choice for a barbecue and would work well lightly chilled.
Vale Wine Co., Caldwell, ID
2008 Vale Wine Company
Chardonnay, $16.99
A user friendly style with baked apple pie aromas (touch of cinnamon and nutmeg). The soft pear fruit flavors are colored by just the lightest touch of oak. This balanced wine finishes with a refreshing bit of citrus.
2008 Vale Wine Company
Syrah, $27.00
A remarkably smooth wine that captures the essence of Syrah in a style that is rich but not overwhelming. Beautiful cherry and berry flavors are backed by seamless, lightly toasted oak, spice, anise and bitter sweet chocolate. From what I've taste in barrel, this is just the first in what promises to be a line-up of great Syrahs.
Williamson Vineyards, Caldwell, ID
2007 Williamson Vineyards
Riesling: $10.00
Floral aromas of cherry blossom and ripe peach on the nose. A bit of residual sugar brings out the sweet stone fruit flavors, but these are balanced by crisp citrus. Should appeal to a wide spectrum of wine drinkers.
2006 Williamson Vineyards
Syrah: $18.00
A dark, almost brooding wine with deep berry aromas backed by touches of meat and tar. Coats the palate with creamy cherry and berry fruit flavors and a spicy element of mocha, espresso and roasted red pepper.
2004 Williamson Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon: $27.00
Classic Cabernet nose that offers bramble berry fruit with the lightest hint of tangy bell pepper. Six years after the harvest, this wine is still tightly wound with a good core of dark cherry fruit and cassis wrapped up in ripe tannins and bright acidity. Approachable now, but give it a few more years.
