On Thanksgiving Day, November 26, I read an article in the Walla Walla Union Bulletin about the Pepper Bridge Winery's program to help restaurants out during the COVID-19 crisis. Of course, wineries have a symbiotic relationship with restaurants. Much of the wine produced by wineries is consumed at restaurants. So the Pepper Bridge Winery figured out a way to help struggling restaurants. The promotion is simple: buy a certain amount of wine and get a gift card to any chosen restaurant, not just ones with Pepper Bridge wines on their lists. And the offer is open for Western Washington restaurants as well. So here's the deal: buy six bottles from the winery, get a $50 gift card, buy 12, get a $100 gift card or two $50 ones, and so on, $50 for each six bottles purchased. You go to the winery website, www.pepperbridge.com and place your order and name the restaurants you want gift cards for. The winery will take care of the rest.

I have just finished tasting the new releases from Pepper Bridge for the January 2021 issue of the Review of Washington Wines. Here are my condensed reviews (full reviews to be in the January issue which goes on line December 23).

2019 Pepper Bridge Sauvignon Blanc, Walla Walla Valley ($36) - This steers a mid-course between the crisp and tropical styles. It possesses lovely aromas of pear-apple, quince, melon, apple blossoms, meadow flowers and white incense, with beautifully delineated flavors and notes of poor William, hazelnut and lime zest, followed by a lingering finely fruited finish. 19+/20 points.

2018 Pepper Bridge Merlot, Walla Walla Valley ($55) - This Merlot emits sultry aromas of red fruits, mulberry, truffles and oriental incense. The flavors are strikingly Pomerol-like with lavish, deep-cored red fruits and sensations of macerated fruits, pecans, mocha, followed by a lingering smooth tannin finish. 19+/20 points.

2017 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley ($65) - This Cabernet shows intoxicating aromas of blackberries, cherries, huckleberries, wild roses, sandalwood and sultry oriental incense. The flavors are lavish and almost massive, with layers of deep black and blue fruits. On the back, the wine intensifies yet remains rich and savory with a lingering spice and herb dusted finish. 19.5/20 points.

2017 Pepper Bridge Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley ($65) - This blend of 52% Merlot, 23% Malbec, 13% Petit Verdot and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a deep ruby color and a seductive nose of blackberries, cherries, black currants, black roses, sagebrush and oriental incense. The flavors are simultaneously lavish and muscular and leads into a lingering almost decadent finish. 19.5/20 points.

2017 Pepper Bridge Seven Hills Vineyard Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley ($65) - This blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot, 11% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot offers a deep ruby color and intoxicating aromas of raspberry, blackberry, cherry, huckleberry, black roses, fennel and incense. The flavors are ample yet deep and focused and on the back turns velvety yet structured. 19.5/20 points.

2017 Pepper Bridge "Trine" Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley ($70) - Composed of 42% Cabernet Franc, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 9% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, this offers a ruby-crimson color and lovely perfumed aromas of wild fruits, crushed roses, mulberry, sagebrush and incense. The flavors are lavish and deep cored and takes an authoritative turn on the back, followed by a satiny sweet-dry tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.