Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$20
• Must be widely available

Chateau Ste. Michelle is Washington State’s founding winery with its roots dating back to the repeal of Prohibition. In 1976, Ste. Michelle built a French-style chateau in Woodinville, just northeast of Seattle. While all of their white wines are made in Woodinville, all of their red wines are made at Canoe Ridge Estate in eastern Washington. The fruit for this Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from vineyards in the Columbia Valley including Cold Creek, Canoe Ridge Estate, and Indian Wells.

“Our goal with the Columbia Valley Cabernet is to highlight concentrated Washington red fruit in an accessible style. This is our inviting Cab with plenty of complexity and structure with silky tannins. It’s also very versatile with food—try it with beef, pork or pasta.” –Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 3% Syrah, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Dark red in color. Aromatic with red fruit, earth, and smoked meat on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, smooth tannins, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $16; Available elsewhere, $10 to $18

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$20
• Must be widely available

Rodney Strong founded Rodney Strong Vineyards, located in Healdsburg, California, in 1959. It was Sonoma County’s 13th bonded winery. Current owner Tom Klein and the Klein family purchased the winery in 1989. Zinfandel vines have been thriving in Sonoma County for the last three centuries. When Rodney Strong acquired vineyard acreage on the west side of the Russian River, he became the proud owner of 15 acres of old, gnarled Zinfandel vines that had been growing there since 1904. The winery still harvests Zinfandel from those old vines in addition to farming vineyards in the Alexander Valley.

“Fresh, bright berry fruit from our heritage Russian River vineyard combined with the ripe peppery jamminess from our Alexander Valley vineyards make for wonderful diversity of flavor showcasing the best that zinfandel can offer in one wine.” –Winemaker Rick Sayre

2009 Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel (Northern Sonoma, California): Deep ruby red in color. Aromatic with strawberry and cinnamon on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced with a very long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $18.50; Available elsewhere, $14 to $22

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$20
• Must be widely available

Columbia Crest, located in Paterson, Washington, has been one of our favorite sources of value wines for many years. Last year, Juan Munoz Oca took over as head winemaker from Ray Einberger. Einberger had been at the helm since 2002 when he took the reins from Doug Gore who had been the winemaker since Columbia Crest was founded in 1983. The Columbia Crest winemaking team has produced more 90+ scoring bottles of wine than any other winery in the world. For those of us who live in Washington State, it is nice to have such a consistent, affordable producer in our own backyard.

“This complex red exhibits layer flavors of blackberries and plums with a subtle spiciness and silky mouthfeel that leads to a long, elegant finish.” –Winemaker Juan Munoz Oca

2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Amitage Red Blend (Columbia Valley, Washington): 64% Merlot, 19% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Malbec, and 5.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark red. Aromatic with creosote, black fruit, and smoke on the nose. More black fruit and smoke as well as leather come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, and medium to high, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $7 to $13

A Wine for Tonight: 2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Amitage Red Blend was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$20*
• Must be widely available

Saviah Cellars is a family-owned winery located south of downtown Walla Walla, Washington, near the Oregon state line in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Owner/winemaker Richard Funk and his wife Anita, both natives of Montana, moved to Walla Walla in 1991. Rich became acquainted with a number of the area wineries while working as an Environmental Health Specialist with the Walla Walla County Health Department. Through his work at the Health Department on water quality and wastewater issues, he got a firsthand look at the vineyards in the area and developed a relationship with a number of local winemakers who helped him get his start in the industry. Saviah Cellars was founded in 2000 and currently produces about 9,500 cases per year. The name Saviah is a family name from Anita’s great-grandmother. Saviah Cellars consistently produces high-quality wines. The Jack is a value line in the Saviah portfolio produced with declassified fruit.

“The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon is a winner! Classic aromas of mint, black cherry, cassis and barrel spice are present in spades. Delicious flavors, beautiful balance, and a long smooth finish. Enjoy!” –Owner/winemaker Rich Funk

2010 Saviah Cellars The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with caramel and black cherry aromas. Caramel, blackcurrant, and spice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $18; Available elsewhere, $14 to $18

*We have expanded the price tag criteria for this “A Wine for Tonight” series to include wines less than or equal to $20.

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Saviah Cellars The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Wine Out West wines are produced by Mercer Estates. The Mercer and Hogue families founded Mercer Estates, located in Prosser, Washington, in 2006. Rob and Brenda Mercer of Mercer Canyons in the Horse Heaven Hills and Ron and Barb Harle of Hogue Ranches in the Yakima Valley lead the partnership. Both families have long histories in the Washington wine industry. Mercer Estates’ vineyards are located in the Horse Heaven Hills and the Yakima Valley. David Forsyth, who has over 25 years experience working in the Columbia Valley, leads the winemaking team for Mercer Estates but will be leaving in May to focus on his own winery. The Wine Out West labels feature the artwork of Diane Whitehead, a native of eastern Washington whose boldly colored oil paintings express the beauty of the west.

“Brimming with fresh fruit, our Wine Out West 2010 Riesling displays fresh peach and tangerine, with a hint of beeswax and good minerality. Crisp, fresh, and semi-dry in style, the palate begins with peach and stone fruit which lead to honey, lingering with floral accents.” –Winemaker David Forsyth

2010 Wine Out West Gone Fishin’ Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington State): 99% Riesling and 1% Pinot Gris. Pale, greenish yellow. Nice nose with white peach and floral aromas. White peach, apricot, and a hint of lime come through on the palate. Off-dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Residual Sugar: 1.8%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12.99; Available elsewhere, $14

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Wine Out West Gone Fishin’ Riesling was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Brian Carter has over thirty years of winemaking experience in California and Washington. He arrived in Washington State in 1980 to be winemaker for Paul Thomas Winery and has since founded Apex Winery and served as consulting winemaker for a number of other wineries. He officially opened his own namesake winery, Brian Carter Cellars, in Woodinville in 2006. Brian Carter focuses on European-style blends. He admittedly buys more fruit than he needs to craft his primary Brian Carter wines in order to give him the most flexibility during blending. The leftovers go into this value-priced Abracadabra blend.

“Abracadabra is a blend which uses the same great red varietals and aged in quality oak barrels used in Brian Carter Cellars wines. However the blend varies each year depending on the ‘Magic’ of the harvest. While using traditional grape varieties, Abracadabra is anything but traditional in its final blend. Instead it is a bit unpredictable, curious, mysterious and amazingly delicious. Dark in color, the wine’s aroma has witches hats full of cherries, cedar and tobacco with pinches of anise, bacon and spice. Big flavors show soft, well-integrated tannins and food friendly acidity.” –Brian Carter, owner/winemaker

2009 Brian Carter Cellars Abracadabra Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 19% Sangiovese, 17% Merlot, 13% Syrah, 11% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 9% Tempranillo, 7% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cinsault, and 2% Counoise. Deep, purplish red. Aromatic with bright red fruit, spice, and creosote on both the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $15

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Brian Carter Cellars Abracadabra Red Wine was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

The Crusher is produced by Don Sebastiani & Sons. The Sebastiani name has been synonymous with quality winemaking in California for over 115 years. Sourced from Merwin Vineyard in the Clarksburg AVA, The Crusher is a tribute to the fundamental relationship between the grower and the winemaker. Winemaker Greg Kitchens joined Don Sebastiani & Sons in 2001.

“100% sourced from the Merwin Vineyard in the heart of the up and coming Clarksburg appellation, our 2011 Rosé of Pinot Noir is rose petal pink in the glass, displaying a fragrant bouquet of wild strawberry, apricot and rose hips notes. A nicely balanced mélange of tangerine, strawberry and subtle Key Lime flavors follow, leading to a crisp palate cleansing finish. Vibrant, racy acidity and a light to medium body make this a wonderfully versatile food wine as well as a great summertime sipper.” –Greg Kitchens, winemaker

2011 The Crusher Rosé of Pinot Noir (Merwin Vineyard, Clarksburg, California): Pale pink. Aromatic with watermelon, raspberry, and strawberry on both the nose and palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long, refreshing finish. A nice wine to enjoy on the porch as the weather gets warmer.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $10.99; Available elsewhere, $9 to $14

A Wine for Tonight: 2011 The Crusher Rosé of Pinot Noir was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Campo Viejo was founded in 1959 by two winemakers from La Rioja, Beristain and Ortigüela. After 50 years, Campo Viejo is still going strong, producing accessible and approachable wines in Rioja. In 2001, Campo Viejo built a new state-of-the-art winery.

“We designed the winery ageing room in dark colors with indirect light, prioritizing a dark, restful atmosphere. I wanted to imprint this character on Campo Viejo Crianza and elaborate a wine which can be defined in two words: velvety and elegant.” –Elena Adell, Campo Viejo Winemaker

2010 Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo (Rioja, Spain): Deep red in color. Aromatic with molasses, cedar, and herbaceous notes on the nose. More molasses and cedar as well as blackberry and cherry cola come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $10; Available elsewhere, $9 to $12

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

The Mercer and Hogue families founded Mercer Estates, located in Prosser, Washington, in 2006. Rob and Brenda Mercer of Mercer Canyons in the Horse Heaven Hills and Ron and Barb Harle of Hogue Ranches in the Yakima Valley lead the partnership. Both families have long histories in the Washington wine industry. Mercer Estates’ vineyards are located in the Horse Heaven Hills and the Yakima Valley. David Forsyth, who has over 25 years experience working in the Columbia Valley, leads the winemaking team for Mercer Estates.

“A nose full of ripe honeydew melon and pear continues on the palate complimented by racy green apple and nice minerality. A slight herbal note, reminiscent of fresh mown hay, adds complexity to the flavor profile. The mouth is broad and filling with good acidity and a refreshing finish; pairs well with seafood, especially mussels or clams.” –Winemaker David Forsyth

2010 Mercer Estates Pinot Gris (Columbia Valley, Washington State): 100% Pinot Gris. Pale straw yellow. Pleasant nose with lime and floral aromas. Lime and peach as well as a touch of minerality come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with very crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12.99; Available elsewhere, $12 to $15

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Mercer Estates Pinot Gris was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Columbia Crest, located in Paterson, Washington, has been one of our favorite sources of value wines for many years. Last year, Juan Munoz Oca took over as head winemaker from Ray Einberger. Einberger had been at the helm since 2002 when he took the reins from Doug Gore who had been the winemaker since Columbia Crest was founded in 1983. The Columbia Crest winemaking team has produced more 90+ scoring bottles of wine than any other winery in the world. For those of us who live in Washington State, it is nice to have such a consistent, affordable producer in our own backyard.

“Aromas of vanilla bean, coffee bean, and mocha introduce this classic Merlot. Dark chocolate covered cherries, caramel and nutmeg flavors meld with silky tannins and create a long and elegant finish.” –Winemaker Juan Munoz Oca

2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot (Columbia Valley, Washington): 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark red. Nose is a bit tight at first and then aromas of black plum, earth, and cocoa emerge. More black fruit, earth, and cocoa as well as a hint of smoked meat and black pepper come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium, dry tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $7 to $14

A Wine for Tonight: 2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.