Skip to main content

McKinley Springs, Horse Heaven Hills

Taste Washington! Recommended Wines.

The children and spouses of Louise and Bob Andrews, established McKinley Springs Winery in 2002 with a goal of producing balanced, flavorful wines offering excellent value. Rob Andrews, Grower, tends to the vineyards and Doug Rowell, Winemaker, oversees production at McKinley Springs. Together they make 10 wines, focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chenin Blanc.

McKinley Springs Winemaker Doug Rowell.

All of the McKinley Springs wines I tasted were very good. These wines are at very affordable price points too. What are you waiting for? Go buy some McKinley Springs, they ship too.

The Wines:

McKinley Springs 2009 Chenin Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills.
Chenin Blanc, 2009 – Planted in 1981, crisp, lovely. Once widely planted, today, little Chenin Blanc is produced in Washington – this Chenin is at an affordable price too. Case production 546, retail price $12. Recommended.

McKinley Springs 2008 Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills.
* Favorite: 2008 Syrah - Great nose, wow, my speed, vibrant, just right good fruit. Retail price $18.


McKinley Springs 2008 Malbec, Horse Heaven Hills.
* Favorite: 2008 Malbec - Quite good. Production 84 cases,retail price $24.


* Favorite 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon - New release, like the subtle nose, tannins, grip, teeth squeak, spritz on tongue, good finish, bright, cherry, like. Tastes like a Cabernet Sauvignon. Retail price $18.


McKinley Springs 2008 Petit Verdot, Horse Heaven Hills.
* Favorite: Petit Verdot - Cola, fruit, like so many good wines, like style. Great finish. Not blended away. Retail price $24.

Wines listed here are the wines I liked and recommend. My favorite wines appealed to me because they expressed unique characteristics and quality, they are indicated by an “*” and are in italics.

McKinley Springs Winery
Tasting Room is open Memorial Day Weekend – Labor Day Weekend.
1201 Alderdale Road
Prosser, WA 99350
509-894-4528

www.mckinleysprings.com
twitter: @mckinleysprings

Horse Heaven Hills AVA Location.
Related Posts:

Popular posts from this blog

Spirit Review: Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine White Lightnin' @OleSmoky

Today I have crossed the line from wine to spirits. At 100 proof the Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine is definitely turning up the volume (ABV 50%). "Moonshine, white lightning, mountain dew, hooch, and Tennessee white whiskey are terms used to describe high-proof distilled spirits, generally produced illicitly...The word "moonshine" is believed to derive from the term "moonrakers" used for early English smugglers and the clandestine (i.e., by the light of the moon) nature of the operations of illegal Appalachian distillers who produced and distributed whiskey." Source Wikipedia My family is no stranger to Moonshine.  That is, my great-grandfather and grandfather were not strangers. Evidently the family occasionally produced their own spirits on their Oregon ranch. My grandfather told me about his younger brother getting into his dads stash with predictable results. Grandmother also told me stories about midnight runs and secretive deliveries d...

Review: Sho Chiku Bai, Unfiltered Sake

Last month in Seattle, I purchased a bottle of Nigori sake at Uwajimaya. Uwajimaya is one of the largest Asian grocery retailers in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been visiting Uwajimaya for almost 40 years. When I was much younger, I’d buy model ship and plane kits, Japanese comic books (manga) and I never left without at least one steaming Humbow in hand. Today I buy the manga for my son; while I still enjoy the tasty steamed Humbows, now I never leave without at least one bottle of Sake in hand. Uwajimaya has a terrific selection of imported sake. This most recent visit, I left with a bottle of Sho Chiku Bai Nigori sake. Nigori sake is generally the sweetest of all sakes, with a fruity nose and a mild flavor, making a great drink to complement spicy foods or as a dessert wine. Typical sake is usually filtered to remove grain solids left behind after the fermentation process; however Nigori sake remains unfiltered, resulting in a cloudier beverage. Before serving, the bottle ...

Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon. The style has changed.

“There is something special going on at Col Solare." In mid-June 2022, I began working for Col Solare winery on the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state. The Red Mountain AVA and Col Solare are famous for stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. That I knew going in.  We are not here to make more wine... We are here to showcase place. At the end of June 2022, Col Solare winemaker Darel Allwine retired. Darel had been winemaker since 2013. Prior, he had been Col Solare assistant winemaker for Marcus Notaro. Marcus had been Col Solare winemaker when the Red Mountain facility opened and was winemaker before we had our Red Mountain facility.  On July 1, 2022, Col Solare assistant winemaker, Stephanie Cohen, was promoted to Col Solare winemaker. I was present for this change. It was the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Col Solare is the third winery I have worked for. I chose well.  Often, I am asked by Col Solare guests, as I was last week, “Tell me about Col Solare. Wh...