Doug H.
Yelp
I'm going to avoid using the term "gifted" to winemaker Leslie Preston, not because it doesn't apply, but because it understates the hard work she pours into it. This is full-bore, hands-on winemaking. Anyone who thinks this is easy need only spend a while with Leslie and her crew during the "busy season" (which from my observation appears to be about 11 months of the year). It's not a job, it's a mission.
No matter how savvy and experienced a wine drinker you are, you'll probably learn some new things here, but you may first have to abandon some of your assumptions. One is that riesling is sweet, or at best off-dry. Not here. Dry means dry. Another is that "serious" wine only comes in bottles with corks. Nope. These use screwcaps. All except the sparkling wine Rizza, for which you will need - yes - a beer-bottle opener! Oh, and that Rizza is of course made with riesling, not chardonnay or pinot. And I hear some wines may not even come in bottles at all.
Anyway, what matters is what's in the glass, not how it got there. Leslie's riesling has won many legitimate awards, including Idaho Wine of the Year. She makes a syrah that nods more to France than Australia and which rewards a few years aging, if you can wait that long. The Black Mamba can be a big purple monster when young, but the underlying fruit is plush and when the tannins soften a bit, this should be a glorious wine. (I hope so, because we're stocking up!)
The downside is that Coiled doesn't make a lot of wine and they tend to sell out, especially the reds. Get on the mailing list so you don't miss out. Spring and fall are good times to visit, after the new wines are released and before they're gone.
Other reviewers have remarked on the collegial atmosphere of the 44th Street Wineries and tasting room, which houses Telaya and Cinder as well as Coiled. As long as you're not expecting beautiful, romantic views of hillside vineyards, it's a great way to spend an hour or so sampling some of the Pacific NW's finest wines. The pourers are unfailingly cheerful, knowledgeable, and seem to be having as much fun as you are.
You should consider joining at least one or two of the wine clubs. You'll get discounts, free tastings, and access to special events and club-only releases. There's no cost to join, and Telaya & Coiled especially have very modest annual purchase commitments that allow you to choose your own wines.