Luke, Columbia Valley (Washington) 2020

 I think a lot about winegrowers like Luke who make very good red table wines that have to compete in that under-$30 range when many wines over $50 are similar or only marginally better.  Years ago, when I was filling out my first and second cellars (after the first one was drunk down), I looked for wines like this Luke red that are well-balanced and drinking well, and socked them away to drink 10, 20 even 30 years later.  I have not been disappointed.  If I were starting up a third cellar, a case of Luke would be a good addition.  The wine is one of those dark-fruit wines (Bing cherries) with savory, leathery notes around the edges – perfect with red meats and red-sauce pastas and a combo that never disappoints by being too fruit-forward.