Paul Gregutt

Pacific Northwest Editor

In addition to reviewing Pacific Northwest wines for Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Seattle-based Contributing Editor Paul Gregutt writes about wine for the Seattle Times. Gregutt's book, Washington Wines & Wineries: the Essential Guide, is now in its second edition and has been released in both paperback and e-book formats. In addition to his work for print, Gregutt writes a well-read blog at www.paulgregutt.com. He and his wife Karen also operate Waitsburg Cottages, vacation rentals in Walla Walla wine country.

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Cote Bonneville 2010 DuBrul Vineyard Syrah (Yakima Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $65

This is Syrah with great purity of fruit, especially blueberry. The fruit is thick and tongue-coating, though well positioned with supporting acidity. It’s a rich, supple wine with tannins and acids that are refined and in perfect proportion. — P.G. (6/1/2013)

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Ken Wright 2011 Canary Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir (Eola-Amity Hills)

Cellar Selection

Price $60

Canary Hill Shines in this new vintage, with mixed and juicy fruit flavors of cranberry, raspberry and cherry. It has good grip and a well-balanced herbal note, finishing with hints of green tea. — P.G. (6/1/2013)

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Ermisch Family Cellars 2010 Eréndira Pinot Noir

Editors' Choice

Price $35

Robert Brittan oversees this project. This first release is a cuvée assembled from a selection of barrels he had vinted at the Carlton Winemakers Studio. Silky and dappled with details of underbrush, bramble, black cherry, cassis, smoke and clean earth, this is a lovely blend with elegance to spare. The low alcohol in no way means this is a thin or shallow wine. — P.G. (6/1/2013)

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Seven Hills 2010 Seven Hills Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley (OR))

Cellar Selection

Price $38

Crafted from the oldest vines in one of the oldest vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley, this displays lovely aromatics of leaf, herb, earth and wild berry. Tight and contained, it opens into a focused, lively wine with great acidity. It has the potential to age well for a decade or more. — P.G. (6/1/2013)

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Bunnell Family Cellar 2009 Grenache (Columbia Valley (WA))

Price $34

Spicy and floral, with pretty cherry fruit concentrated at the core, this inviting Grenache combines grace and power. The flavors are complex and concentrated, with hints of green tea, cut tobacco, and a finishing streak of espresso and cocoa. — P.G. (6/1/2013)

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Market Vineyards 2009 Benchmark Merlot (Columbia Valley (WA))

Editors' Choice

Price $29

This is done in an open, palate-friendly style, with rich, generous black fruits accented with cocoa, coffee and caramel. There’s a streak of vanilla custard also, and the fruit has enough depth and mass to hold up through a satisfying finish. — P.G. (6/1/2013)

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Market Vineyards 2009 Arbitrage Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA))

Cellar Selection

Price $35

This needs more time in the bottle to unfold, but right away you can see there is substantial fruit and plenty of barrel flavors to go with it. Cassis, smoke, toffee and tobacco are all in play, and as the wine breathes it begins slowly unwrapping more and more detail. — P.G. (6/1/2013)

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Market Vineyards 2009 Merval Malbec (Columbia Valley (WA))

Price $35

Market Vineyards wines take their names from the financial world, which leads to the question... Merval? Turns out it’s the common name for the Argentine stock exchange (not a blend of Merlot and Valium). This is a fine, Washington-style Malbec, the tannins ripe and slightly grainy, with fruit flavors of strawberry compote, cassis and blueberry. Ground coffee… — P.G. (6/1/2013)

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2010 Westerly

Give this brisk, young Pinot 5–6 years in the cellar to mellow. It’s…

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