Every time we travel to Manson, in WA’s Lake Chelan AVA, we always visit Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards for excellent wines and notorious stories. It is a must-stop, because of the wines and because of the friendly and knowledgeable co-owners, Judy and Don Phelps, and Julian Shaver. During our trip last month, we were delighted that Judy joined us. And we toasted the winery’s 20th anniversary. She and our tasting room hostess Becca kindly poured us five impressive wines. Their website proclaims “Exceptional Wines and Notorious Stories from Lake Chelan.” That is exactly right. Read on for details.
Category Archives: Sémillon
L’Ecole Perennial Favorites
L’Ecole 41 released a number of remarkable new white and red wines in the last few months, including two of our perennial favorites, 2022 Apogee and Perigee. Other impressive 2022 reds released recently: two Cabernet Sauvignons and Ferguson Estate. In addition, two whites enhanced the warm days, as well as the crab season here: Luminesce 2024 and Chardonnay 2024 Stillwater Creek. Meanwhile, L’Ecole will release Chardonnay 2024 Columbia Valley in January. Each of these eight wines, crafted by talented winemaker Marcus Rafanelli, is outstanding. And they continue the trend of captivating wines from the historic schoolhouse in Walla Walla. Continue reading
Vitiarium Collection
San Felice, an historic estate in the heart of Chianti Classico, has launched its new Vitiarium Collection – four wines championing nearly extinct ancient Tuscan grape varieties. We sampled these remarkable wines: In Avane 2023 Chardonnay Toscana IGT; Borgo 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG; La Pieve 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione; and Pugnitello 2021 Toscana IGT. Read on for details.
L’Ecole Spring Releases
What an abundance of riches! L’Ecole Spring Releases include five appealing reds from the 2022 vintage, a consistently excellent 2024 Rosé, and the second vintage of their classic 2024 Sauvignon Blanc. Not surprisingly, the 2024 white and rosé are stellar, and somehow even better than previous vintages. Meanwhile, talented winemaker Marcus Rafanelli told us recently that the 2022 vintage in Washington is exceptional, and these L’Ecole reds demonstrate it.
- 2022 Merlot Estate, Walla Walla Valley
- 2022 Syrah, Estate Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
- 2022 Cabernet Franc / Merlot, Estate, Walla Walla Valley
- 2022 Malbec, Walla Walla Valley
- 2022 GSM, Estate Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley