The labels and the brand material for Luke, created by husband-and-wife team Thomas and Kristin Vogele look like something fit for a Western flick: a lone, perhaps forlorn, man on dusty, desert terrain. Cleverly, "The Companion" label, is not only a red blend but also includes a dog striding beside him. 

The Luke wines hail from the Wahluke Slope, the warmest and driest of Washington's AVAs. (Yes, the brand name is derived from the place.) Wahluke is a Native American word for "watering place", as it lies beside the Columbia River. 

The Luke wines are very approachable, with youthful, boisterous fruit and smooth palates. With SRPs from $20-25, it will likely be possible to find the wines at gentler prices at some retailers. There is good value here, and there is a lot to like in these muscular, Wahluke Slope wines. It's unfortunate that the short corks are agglomerates with disks; they downgrade the packaging.

91
Luke 2018 Merlot Wahluke Slope 14.7% $25
Black plums, briar patch and a touch of asphalt blend on the nose for a dynamic start. Lush and inviting, this youthful Merlot with 4% Cabernet Franc explodes with supremely ripe fruit balanced by graceful, lifting acidity and suave, well-heeled tannins. Ganache and a hint of coffee slip into the mid-palate. It's a bit too warm on the palate, but that shouldn't be noticed too much if served at cellar temperature.
Drink: 2021-24 

89
Luke 2018 Red Blend Wahluke Slope 14.2% $20
This red's dynamic nose shows a dynamic array of fruits: Goji berry, black plum and sloe. There's spice rack and pipe tobacco, too. The palate is drier than the Merlot with tannins that are dusty and soft. A nice acidic inflection gives this pleasant drinkability. Alas, and again, this chunky, overt and fruit-driven wine is a bit warm in alcohol. This is Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% each of Merlot and Syrah.
Drink: 2021-23

88
Luke 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 14.4% $25
Though being the middling wine in alcohol, this is mercifully the one of the trio that doesn't feel heady in abv. Vibrant aromas are followed by fleshy, magnanimous fruit with decent concentration and a modest finish. Pomegranate, sloe and earth mix on the nose while blueberry chimes in on the palate. Both the acidity and the rather light tannins are very measured. It's perfectly pleasant, but it's not quite as polished as the other two. This includes 3% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot.
Drink: 2021-23