Brooks

Today we share all things Willamette Valley Riesling. Brooks producers some of the finest New World Riesling that can rival some of the greats out of Germany. One of the finest producers of Riesling in Oregon, Brooks was founded by Jimi Brooks, a Portland native who came to wine through his passion for history and philosophy. Jimi previously worked in Beaujolais, and eventually returned to Oregon to focus on crafting great Riesling and Pinot Noir. Brooks farms twenty acres in the Eola-Amity Hills, a sub-region of the Willamette Valley characterized by higher altitudes and the ocean winds that blow through the Van Duzer Corridor. Head winemaker Claire Jarreau took over for Chris Williams in 2024. Jarreau has been with Brooks since 2014.  I loved the new wines and they make a truly novel 2019 Brooks ‘Extended Tirage’ Riesling Sparkling Wine (OB, 93) which is rich and viscous with great tension and salty nuances. Check out the new 2023 Brooks ‘Ara’ Riesling (OB, 94) which is one of the great rReslings I have tasted from the Pacific Northwest in the past year. Learn about this fantastic new lineup at https://www.brookswine.com/ Here are the outstanding new wines by Brooks. 

2019 Brooks ‘Extended Tirage’ Sparkling Riesling- Coming rom this slightly cooler vintage, the 2019 ‘Extended Tirage’ Sparkling Riesling is a truly one of a kind wine that could only come from Oregon. Barrel fermented for 54 months before disgorgement, this stands golden in the glass, offering white tea and star jasmine aromatics that combine with ripe pear, honeydew melon and nutty accents. The palate is concentrated and very refined with serious weight and salinity, alongside loads of citrus and melon fruits. This is the real deal and the finest edition of this wine that I have tasted yet. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2024 Brooks ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Blanc- The 2024 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Blanc offers a fleshy texture and smooth sense of mouthfeel, with peaches and nectarines alongside bright pear and nutty accents on the palate. Silky and elegant, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2024 Brooks ‘Amycas’ White Wine- The 2024 ‘Amycas’ is a kitchen sink blend of mainly Riesling and Muscat, as well as Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. This is fresh and lithe stuff with a gorgeous mouthfeel and loads of citrus and melon fruits. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 Brooks ‘Willamette Valley’ Riesling- A seriously good wine at the entry level, the 2023 ‘Willamette Valley’ Riesling offers baked pear and lychee notes alongside hints of kerosene. Neatly-textured, and made in the Trocken style, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 Brooks ‘Orchard Fold Vineyard’ Riesling- The 2023 ‘Orchard Fold Vineyard’ comes off with a kiss of sweetness and is from this site planted back in 2007. Star jasmine water and Japanese pear flavors combine with shades of papaya on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 Brooks ‘Hyland Vineyard’ Riesling- Coming from this site planted on Jory soils, the 2023 Brooks ‘Hyland Vineyard’ Riesling is made in the Kabinette to Spatlase style. Dense peaches and juicy kiwi flavors combine with shades of white rose water on the palate.This is seriously good stuff, with loads of body and tension. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2023 Brooks ‘Bois Joli Vineyard’ Riesling- The 2023 ‘Bois Joli’ Riesling comes from this location set on Willakenzie soils. Refreshing and neatly-textured, this offers loads of nectarine and pineapple flavors on the palate, with petrol and stony accents. Impossible to put down once opened, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2023 Brooks ‘Lone Star Vineyard’ Riesling- The 2023 ‘Lone Star Vineyard’ comes from this location in the Eola-Amity Hills that is set on ancient volcanic soils. Green apple, green papaya and shades of sour mango all combine on the palate, with flinty accents. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Brooks ‘Royer Vineyard’ Riesling- The 2023 ‘Royer Vineyard’ Riesling comes from this acclaimed site in the Eola-Amity Hills, farmed by Mark Royer. Bone-dry and made in the trocken style, this offers green herbs and freshly cut limes on the palate, with wet stone accents with serious underlying freshness. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2023 Brooks ‘Ara’ Riesling- The 2023 ‘Ara’ is a halb-trocken style bottling that comes from a range of soil types throughout the Willamette Valley. It is big, round and beautifully-textured stuff that has some serious cellaring potential. White peach and shades of guava parade alongside Meyer lemon zest and sourdough bread accents on the palate. A stunning wine, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2023 Brooks ‘Cahiers’ Riesling- The 2023 ‘Cahiers’ is French for Notebooks or Journals in remembrance and honor of Jimi Brooks, who loved to read and write. This is a beautifully-balanced riesling with plenty of verve and texture alongside citrus and orchard fruits. A touch of sweetness combines with copious minerals, creating a mouth-watering effect. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2024 Brooks ‘Willamette Valley’ Rose- The 2024 Brooks ‘Willamette Valley’ Rose is sourced from a range of sites utilizing Pinot Noir grapes. It is soft and very mineral-laden with delicate guava and strawberry fruit flavors alongside kumquat zest. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2024 Brooks ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir delivers a soft mouthfeel with straightforward and juicy red fruits alongside salty soils on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2023 Brooks ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir is a fresh and also nicely dense bottling. Red florals lift the nose alongside Mandarin orange rind and shades of guava puree. The palate is soft and wonderfully salty with a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 Brooks ‘Temperance Hill’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Temperance Hill’ Pinot Noir comes from this location set on rocky soils. This is loaded with texture and bright red and dark fruits that parade with shades of sea salt dusted blood orange zest on the palate. Viscous and soft on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Brooks ‘Sunny Mountain’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Sunny Mountain’ comes from this location set on Bellpine and Ritner soils, planted in 2005. This is a generous and rich bottling, loaded with bright red fruits alongside citrus zest and stony minerals on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Brooks ‘Crannell’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Crannell’ comes from this location set on Jory and Nekkia soils, farmed by Richard Crannell. This comes off wonderfully stony on the nose with beautiful red rose petals and potpourri notes alongside bright red fruits. The palate mirrors the nose and is also delicate and downright sexy in its core of red fruits. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2023 Brooks ‘Muska’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Muska’ come from this location in the Eola-Amity Hills, set on Gelderman and Jory soils and farmed by Carl Muska. Damp earth and wafts of dark truffle shavings mark the palate alongside peat moss, boysenberry compote and shades of stony minerals on the palate. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2023 Brooks ‘Eola Springs’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Eola Springs’ Pinot Noir comes from this location planted back in 2006. This is dense and chewy on the mouth with a smooth mouthfeel. Loaded with bright citrus zest flavors, this combines salty nuances with bright cranberry and guava fruits. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Brooks ‘Janus’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Brooks ‘Janus’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection wine from several sites in the Willamette Valley. Refined red and dark fruits mark the palate alongside fresh sage, wet rock and shades of damp earth on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Brooks ‘Cahiers’ Pinot Noir- Made in memory of Jimmy Brooks, the 2023 ‘Cahiers’ Pinot Noir is a choice, dense and elegant bottling from this warmer vintage. It comes off wonderfully rocky and salty, with a smooth mouthfeel and loads of texture. Smoldering stones combine with bright loganberry compote and red licorice notes alongside Satsuma orange zest. This is seriously good. Drink 2025-2038 -94

2023 Brooks ‘Rastaban’ Pinot Noir- Coming from the Brooks Estate Vineyard’ the 2023 ‘Rastaban’ offers great flavor density and a silky mouthfeel upon entry. Heady Bing cherry and nectarine flavors mingle well with black raspberry, peat moss and shades of wild mushroom on the palate. Showing outstanding flavor range, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

Soter

It was truly a pleasure to taste side by side with winemaker Chris Fladwood. Soter was founded by Tony and Michelle Soter more than a decade ago. The Soter Vineyard is certified biodynamic and was planted to 15 acres of Pinot Noir in 2002 and 2003, and an additional 15 acres in 2006. Two acres of Chardonnay were included in the 2006 plantings which are used for their sparkling wine production. Small extension blocks have been added over the years to grow their total production to 40 acres. They are making some of the most elegant and nuanced sparkling wines that you will taste in North America.

Fladwood has a fantastic career in wine. After serving our country in the US Army, Fladwood worked harvests in New Zealand as well as Bordeaux. He became Soter cellar master in 2009 and has worked his way to the winemaker position. “I try to make nuanced wine” said Fladwood. He certainly does, even in more overt vintages such as 2021. These are wines with excellent poise but also good mid-palate depth and concentration. They age exceedingly well.

I was totally enamored by the 2016 Soter ‘Mineral Springs Blanc de Noirs Micha’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 97) which is a tribute to the late Michelle Soter. This wine has so much flavor complexity and is the best Oregon Sparkling Wine I have tasted in the past year. Learn more about this famed Oregon producer at http://sotervineyards.com/ Here are the beautiful new wines by Soter Vineyard

2023 Planet Oregon Rose Sparkling Wine- The 2023 Planet Oregon Rose Sparkling Wine is a bit at only 23 bucks retail. Sourced from a range of organically farmed vineyards, this delivers salted red fruits alongside kumquat rind on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 Planet Oregon Pinot Noir- The 2023 Planet Oregon Pinot Noir is a forward and juicy wine with bright Bing cherry and strawberry notes alongside salty soils and light peat moss notes. Drink 2025-2030- 90

MV Soter ‘Estates Brut Reserve 1st edition’ Sparkling Wine- The MV Soter ‘Estates Brut Reserve 1st edition’ Sparkling Wine has some reserve wines from 2011 as well as 2012 and 2013 blended in. This is a big and dense edition of this wine, showing loads of orchard fruits alongside lemon rind and suggestions of pastry crust on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 94

MV Soter ‘Estates Brut Reserve 4th edition’ Sparkling Wine- This has a 202i0 vintage base, as well as reserve wines. This has a silky mousse, offering Meyer lemon rind and suggestions of white peach alongside salty nuances on the palate. Refined and elegant, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2017 Soter ‘Mineral Springs Blanc de Blancs’ Sparking Wine- The 2017 Soter ‘Mineral Springs Blanc de Blancs’ Sparking Wine is rich and layered, showing great kumquat and lemon rind flavors with salty/nutty nuance alongside green apple flavors. Elegant and smooth throughout the drinking experience, this is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2016 Soter ‘Mineral Springs Blanc de Noirs Micha’ Sparkling Wine- A totally dazzling wine that is amongst the finest you will taste in Oregon, the 2016 ‘Micha’ is a tribute wine to Oregon wine pioneer Michelle Soter. A mesmerizing wine, this sat on the less for eight years prior to disgorgement in February 2025. This is weightless and smooth throughout the drinking experience, with serious texture and yeasty character from the less exposure. Toasted walnut combines with orange zest and dense melon fruits. Drink 2025-2038- 97

2021 Soter ‘Mineral Springs’ Brut Rose- A crazy good new sparkling wine, the 2021 Soter ‘Mineral Springs’ Brut Rose is lush and rich on the mouth with a silky mousse. This is loaded with minerality, yet is silky on the mid-palate. Mandarin orange zest and shades of cranberry with Yakima cherry all combine on the palate. Very complex and delicious, with a bright sense of tension and salinity, this is a marvelous effort that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2019 Soter ‘Estates’ Chardonnay- The brilliant 2019 Soter ‘Estates’ Chardonnay is a stunning wine that is showing brilliantly right now. Rich melon and citrus fruits combine with sourdough bread and suggestions of toasted hazelnut on the palate. Dense and rich with serous tension, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Soter ‘Estates’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Estates’ has fruit from both the X Novo and Mineral Springs Ranch blended in. The reduction from the X Novo is really showing brilliantly right now. Crushed wet rock and rich melon fruits combine with shades of lemon rind on the nose. The palate is lush and rich on the tongue, with serious texture and underling tension. The wine has gobs of mouth-watering acidity and has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2021 Soter ‘Mineral Springs White Label’ Chardonnay- The 2021 Soter ‘Mineral Springs White Label’ Chardonnay is a rich and beautifully-textured wine that has a long life ahead of it. Key lime and salted nectarine flavors combine with nutty nuances on the palate. Very nuanced and geeky, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2018 Soter ‘Estates’ Pinot Noir- A library selection, the 2018 ‘Estates’ Pinot Noir is salty and savory — still quite primary in its evolution. Bright guava and raspberry notes combine with shades of salty soils and damp earth on the palate. Beautifully-textured, with plenty of tension and weight, this is in a great spot right now. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2023 Soter ‘Estates’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from their three estate vineyards, the 2023 ‘Estates’ Pinot Noir opens with great red florals on the nose alongside kumquat zest and shades of cardamom. The palate is dense and lush with a silky mouthfeel and plenty of verve. This is going to age gracefully for decades. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Soter ‘Tarren’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2023 Soter ‘Tarren’ Pinot Noir comes from vines set on rocky Nekkia soils. This has marvelous non-fruit character wth crushed wet rock alongside wild blackberry and boysenberry notes. Beautifully-textured and stony, with loads of nuance and salinity, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2015 Soter ‘Mineral Springs Ranch’ Pinot Noir- A joy to consume now, the 2015 Soter ‘Mineral Springs Ranch’ Pinot Noir shows gorgeous red and dark florals on the nose. The flavor density is outstanding, as this is loaded with dense red and dark fruits alongside a bright sense of salinity and tension. Still quite primary despite its age, this has at least another decade in front of it. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2023 Soter ‘Mineral Springs Ranch’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Soter ‘Mineral Springs Ranch’ Pinot Noir is a lush, generous and also very nervy wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. On the nose this takes on gorgeous red florals that combines with orange zest, scorched earth and shades of bergamot. The palate is dense and refined as this glides throughout the drinking experience. A gorgeous wine from a great vintage, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 96

Liberty Lake

One of the boutique wineries from Red Mountain, Liberty Lake has been producing some excellent wines since 2007. Mark and Sarah Lathrop took over the operation in January 2016 with the intent of focusing on full-bodied red wines. They did a really good job in the highly challenging 2020 vintage.

The owners met back in 2005 at Eastern Washington University’s MBA program and they both found a love of wine together. The new wines were very consistent. I really enjoy the 2022 Liberty Lake Cellars Petit Verdot (OB, 91) which has some really nice flavor density and weight. Learn more about this exciting winery at http://www.libertylakewinecellars.com Here are the new wines by Liberty Lake.

2024 Tahija Chardonnay-  Coming from Red Mountain, this 2024 Chardonnay offers sweet peach and buttercream notes, missing some mid-palate depth. Drink 2025-2029- 89

2023 Liberty Lake Gewurtztraminer- This 2023 Gewurtz is leaner, mineral-laden stuff with peach and pear notes. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2028- 88

2022 Tahija Sangiovese- Sourced from Candy Mountain Vineyard, this 2022 Sangiovese offers light juicy red fruits that mingle well with refined tannins and damp earth tones on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2029- 89

2022 Liberty Lake Merlot- The 2022 Liberty Lake Merlot was sourced from Red Mountain and stored in 50% French-American hybrid barrels before bottling. It comes off soft and appealing on the mouth with a smooth texture. Medium bodied red fruits mingle with fresh sage and chocolate on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2022 Liberty Lake Tempranillo- Also coming from Red Mountain (Red Haven Vineyard) this 2022 Tempranillo delivers dusty soils on the palate with good earthy notes alongside red currants and shades of cassis. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2022 Liberty Lake Zinfandel- The 2022 Zinfandel comes from the Red Haven Vineyard on Red Mountain. Lighter bodied red fruits mingle well with herbal accents on the palate. Drink 2025-2030- 89

2022 Liberty Lake Carmenere- The 2022 Carmenere comes from the acclaimed Heart of the Hill Vineyard, managed by Kiona. Dusty tannins mingle well with green herbs, black currants and shades of blackberry compote on the palate. This is delicious stuff that will impress over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 91

2022 Liberty Lake Cabernet Franc- The 2022 Liberty Lake Cabernet Franc offers red bell pepper alongside medium bodied red fruits and dusty soils on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2022 Liberty Lake Petit Verdot- A unique bottling and inky in the glass, this 2022 Petit Verdot delivers good concentration with pencil lead and anise notes alongside dark chocolate shavings and blackberry compote on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 91

2022 Liberty Lake Malbec- The 2022 Malbec comes off juicy with bright acidity on the mouth. Black and blue fruits combine with suggestions of chocolate pie on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Liberty Lake ‘Heritage’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Heritage’ is soft and approachable on the mouth. Medium bodied red and dark fruits parade with chocolate and sagebrush accents on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Liberty Lake ‘Reserve’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Reserve’ Syrah has nice smoky accents on the nose with sage and dark fruits. The palate is forward and approachable with black fruits and a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2022 Liberty Lake ‘Reserve’ Touriga Nacional- A unique wine from Red Mountain, the 2022 Liberty Lake ‘Reserve’ Touriga Nacional was stored in mainly new American-French hybrid barrels before bottling. This is soft and approachable on the mouth, brimming with juicy red and dark fruits on the palate alongside chocolate and green herbs. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Liberty Lake ‘Path of the Gods Reserve’ Red Wine- Coming from the Yakima Valley, the 2022 Liberty Lake ‘Path of the Gods Reserve’ Red Wine offers tobacco leaf with dark currents and shades of milk chocolate on the nose. This comes off a touch lean and angular with lighter black fruits. Drink 2025-2030- 89

2022 Liberty Lake ‘Somm Select Reserve’ Red Wine- Sourced from Red Mountain, the 2022 Liberty Lake ‘Somm Select Reserve’ Red Wine is soft on the mouth. Milk chocolate, sagebrush and dark cherry notes combine with shades of scorched earth on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Liberty Lake ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Liberty Lake ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes off approachable on the tongue with good freshness. Red and dark fruits collide with dusty tannins and a chocolate edge on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 91

Lingua Franca

It was such a great time catching up in person a few days ago with Lingua Franca winemaker Thomas Savre.“2023 was a great vintage” said Savre. “It reminds me of 2019, I think the flavor profile and concentration as well as the pure acidity in the wine.” Lingua Franca is located in the Eola-Amity Hills which produces really hot days and cold nights. “What is very interesting is the shift of temperature because of the cold wind that comes from the ocean” said Savre. “Tonight is going to be 50, and it is almost 100 during the day. That has a huge impact in the acidity in the wines.”

Lingua Franca has long been one of the outstanding producers of Oregon wine. Founded by Larry Stone and David Honig, Lingua Franca crafts their wines from a highly acclaimed estate vineyard as well as a few choice sites in the Willamette Valley. This is one of the finest producers of Chardonnay on the West Coast and they have recently gotten their wine into the United Airlines First Class Cabin as well as the United Polaris Lounge. I think the 2023 wines have massive potential and they are also drinking beautifully now.

Check out the gorgeous 2023 Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is such a steal at less than 40 bucks USD. Even better is the stunning 2023 Lingua Franca ‘Inspiras’ Chardonnay (OB, 97)  which is one of the great white wines from the Pacific Northwest that I have tasted this year. Learn more about Lingua Franca at https://www.linguafranca.wine Here are the beautiful new releases by Lingua Franca.

2023 Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Avni’ comes from a range of vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA as well as the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Flinty tones alongside peaches and shades of lime zest on the nose. The palate is rich and layered with serious tension and a smooth texture. Drinking beautifully right now, watch this evolve over the next eight to ten years to come. Over ten thousand cases made! Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Lingua Franca ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2023 Lingua Franca ‘Estate’ Chardonnay comes from this location in the Eola-Amity Hills, set on Jory and Gelderman soils and planted back in 2012. West stone mark the nose alongside juicy nectarine, starfruit and shades of pineapple. The palate is super seamless with a silky mouthfeel and incredible sense of elegance and finesse. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2023 Lingua Franca ‘Bunker Hill’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Bunker Hill’ comes from this site in south Salem that was planted in 1995. Serious reduction marks the nose alongside gunmetal and white florals alongside poached pear and pastry crust. The palate is dense and nervy with a waxy texture and a bright sense of minerality. Gorgeous now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2023 Lingua Franca ‘Sisters’ Chardonnay- A barrel-selection wine, the 2023 ‘Sisters’ is named after Larry Stone’s sisters who were separated during a war. Beautiful reduction and white rose petals combine on the nose. The palate is silky and refined with serious weight and underlying finesse. Powerful citrus and lemon fruits combine with sea salt dusted French bread on the palate. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2023 Lingua Franca ‘Inspiras’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Inspiras’ comes from one barrel of Bunker Hill and from their Lingua Franca Estate. This is dense, unctuous and very textural stuff with incredible weight and length. A stunning wine, offering pie crust and baking spices laced with mango and shades of white peach on the palate. This is amongst the finest you will taste on the West Coast. Drink 2025-2042- 97

2023 Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Avni’ Pinot Noir comes from roughly 20 different sites throughout the Willamette Valley. This saw a small amount of whole cluster feermentation. Orange zest combines with salted cranberry and shades of volcanic soils on the nose. The palate is round and big on the mouth with serious texture and reminded tannins. Generous and round, enjoy this outstanding bottling over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Lingua Franca ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir comes from this site set on both Jory and Gelderman soils. Crushed wet rock and tart red fruits mark the nose alongside Satsuma orange zest. The palate is lush and round on the mouth with serious texture and great stony/salty nuances. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Lingua Franca ‘The Plow’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Lingua Franca ‘The Plow’ Pinot Noir is all 777 clonal selection from the top of the estate vineyard. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth mouthfeel. Rich red fruits combine with stony essence and shades of kumquat rind on the palate. Ripe and fat on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Lingua Franca ‘La Belle’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Lingua Franca ‘La Belle’ Pinot Noir comes from the a parcel in the estate vineyard. Delicate red florals mark the nose alongside pretty strawberry and guava fruits. The palate is stony and salty with serious texture and a refined mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Lingua Franca ‘Petit Geant’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Lingua Franca ‘Petit Geant’ Pinot Noir is made in a bigger style. Dense red and dark fruits parade with stony accents and shades of black truffle shaving son the palate. Seriously heady with fabulous volume and salty nuances, enjoy over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Lingua Franca ‘Mimi’s Mind’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Mimi’s Mind’ is a stunning new edition of this wine that comes from the Lingua Franca Estate vineyard. The tension of this wine is stunning, as this has serious power and concentration, loaded with red and dark fruit flavors with gorgeous red florals. Complex and very nervy, with damp earthy accents, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 96

2023 Lingua Franca ‘Novo Vino’ Pinot Noir- A stunning new edition of this wine, the 2023 ‘Novo Vino’ is a barrel selection wine coming from the Lingua Franca estate vineyard. The reduction and aromatic complexity from the whole cluster fermentation, this wine utilizes clone 943 that was stored in 50% new French oak before bottling. This is powerful, very seamless stuff that is built to age. Drink 2025-2042- 97

J. Bookwalter

A great house in Washington wine, the Bookwalter family spans ten generations in American agriculture. Jerry Bookwalter, generation nine and father of current company president John Bookwalter, decided to venture into viticulture. A UC-Davis grad, Jerry spent 13 years farming in California’s San Joaquin Valley before moving his family in 1976 to the Tri-Cities in Washington State. From 1976 through 1982, Jerry helped manage the plantings of three famed Washington vineyards – Sagemoor, Bacchus and Dionysus. He eventually became vineyard manager of the Conner Lee Vineyard and in 1982, he started J. Bookwalter Winery. John Bookwalter had a 10-year sales and marketing career with E&J Gallo, Winterbrook Beverage Group and Coors Brewing Co before returning to Richland in 1997 to focus on his family winery.

Winemaker Cameron Parry serves s director of winemaking and viticulture who has been formerly with Corliss and also was director of winemaking at famed Napa house Groth for many years. Prior to that he was winemaker at Chateau Montelena. Parry has been spending a lot of his time in the vineyards. Check out the glorious 2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Chapter 13’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is dense and delicious stuff from the esteemed Connor Lee Vineyard. Learn more about this historic Washington winery at https://www.bookwalterwines.com Here are my reviews of the beautiful new J. Bookwalter wines. 

2023 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Sauvignon Blanc- Stored in stainless steel, and sourced from the Yakima Valley, the 2023 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Sauvignon Blanc offers honeysuckle and kiwi notes alongside freshly cut limes on the nose. The texture is really nice as is the freshness as this saw some extended less stirring. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2024 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Riesling- Made in the Kabinette style, this 2024 Riesling saw 17G/L. Coming from a range of sites in the Yakima Valley and Horse Heaven Hills, this delivers serious texture with honeysuckle water and kiwi alongside bright peach on the palate. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2024 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘Readers’ Chardonnay has a touch of Viognier blended in and comes nearly all from the Gamache Vineyard. This is also nicely textured stuff with kiwi and pear notes alongside pastry crust on the palate. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Merlot- The 2022 ‘Readers’ Merlot has 10% Malbec and 5% Syrah blended in. Mainly stored in neutral oak barrels, this delivers black plum and a dusting of cocoa powder on the nose alongside blackberry compote. The palate is neatly structured, with good weight and balance. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Red Wine- The 2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Red Wine is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (68%) with 13% Syrah, 10% Malbec and the remainder Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This is soft and approachable wine that mainly comes from the 2021 vintage. Juicy black fruits and chocolate meld together with dried herbs on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Syrah- The 2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Syrah offers white peppercorns and shades of fresh sage alongside Black Forest cake on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with good richness. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Readers’ Cabernet Sauvignon has a large amount of Syrah blended in. This is chewy and delicious stuff with black currants alongside tar and tobacco leaf on the palate. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2024 J. Bookwalter ‘Double Plot’ Chardonnay- Bottled in May 2025, the 2025 ‘Double Plot’ comes from the Connor Lee Vineyard. Stored in 21% new French oak this delivers cantaloupe and pie crust on the nose alongside shades of butterscotch and suggestions of white peach. The palate is big, round and generous with bright acidity and a smooth texture. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Foreshadow’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Foreshadow’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers black tea and Middle Eastern spice on the nose alongside heady dark fruits. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Conflict’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Conflict’ is a Merlot-dominant wine (67%) with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon and a splash of Malbec. Cocoa powder and garrigue notes mark the nose alongside espresso bean and shades of blackberry pie. The palate is silky and refined with good elegance, structure and richness. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2023 J. Bookwalter ‘Suspense’ Cabernet Franc- The 2023 J. Bookwalter ‘Suspense’ Cabernet Franc comes from this warmer vintage, as the wine has 17% Cabernet Sauvignon blended in.  Mainly coming from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this is fresh and rich stuff with lovely herbal notes on the nose alongside tar and black currants. Gorgeous now, with a savory edge, watch this evolve over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2023 J. Bookwalter ‘Antagonist’ Syrah- The 2023 ‘Antagonist’ nearly all comes from the Connor Lee Vineyard. Very juicy and earthy, this has dark raspberry notes alongside dried herbs, orange peel and shades of bulls blood on the palate. Savory and rich, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Volume Twelve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from the Dionysus Vineyards in the White Bluffs AVA, this 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a barrel selection wine that spent 20 months in mainly new French oak before bottling. This is seamless, elegant and stunning wine that is a joy to drink right now. Dense dark fruits mingle well with chocolate pie, fresh sage and dusty earth on the palate. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Chapter 13’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from the Connor Lee Vineyard, the 2022 ‘Chapter 13’ has a little bit of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot blended in. This is silky and refined stuff that is drinking marvelously now. Dense fig and cassis notes combine with savory herbs and chocolate on the palate. A stunning wine, this has a ton of stuffing and freshness to cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

Domaine Serene 2012 Retrospective

Sitting across from winemaker Carl Formaker, we stared at our tasing — a really novel comparison between wines of 2012 and 2022. “2012 was a banner year, my second favorite vintage to 2005” said Formaker.  “It was like a second calling of 2005 and I can see it, it has the power and intensity of fruit without being overripe and pruny. Also this growing season reminds me much of what I see in 2025. Drier in the spring, not much rain this year but we had a warm flower and fruit set and that caused the berries to be smaller.”

Formaker said “I am looking at these clusters and we have all these small berries and big berries and we have a chance to have a very special vintage.” Good things to come based on what he is experiencing in the vineyard.

It was interesting revisiting wines from 2022 which is the current release for Domaine Serene. ‘22 was cool and needed no rain or no freeze in October in order for the grapes to reach phenolic ripeness. “They got a really warm October and got ripeness where they wanted. I think that the wines have a lush tenure and silkiness. Fruit is not desiccated or overripe. This was my first time blending and bottling here, learning about the vineyards and trying to capture that freshness” said Formaker.

The wines from 2012 really shined. I love the 2012 ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 98) which is a total masterclass from this vintage and is really only now starting to come into its own. As far as the new wines go, I love where the 2022 ‘Triple S Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) is showing right now. This is dense and chewy stuff that is downright delicious to enjoy now. Don’t be afraid to crack this beauty open. Learn more at domaineserene.com and here are my reviews from an unforgettable 2012 Retrospective tasting with Domaine Serene winemaker Carl Formaker.

2012 Domaine Serene ‘Triple S’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 Domaine Serene ‘Triple S’ Pinot Noir was stored for 11 months in 66% new French oak before bottling.  This site sits near the Grace Vineyard. The tertiary notes are rocking here with black truffle shavings and shades of peat moss that combine with wild blackberry. This is soft and seamless to enjoy right now, with great concentration and underlying finesse, with rocky nuances. This will easily cellar for another ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 96

2022 Domaine Serene ‘Triple S Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Triple S Vineyard’ comes from this location owned by Sue and Steve Schneider that is set on a southern aspect, planted to Pommard and Dijon clonal selection Pinot Noir. Rocky aromatics fill the glass alongside beautiful red florals, citrus rind, tobacco and shades of Middle Eastern spices. The palate is deep and rich as this has a gorgeous core of red fruits that greet you alongside Satsuma orange zest and cardamom dusted pie crust on the palate. Full-bodied and very delicious now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2012 Domaine Serene ‘Two Barns’ Pinot Noir- Planted in 2000, the ‘Two Barns’ is a 35 acres planted to Pinot Noir on both marine sedimentary and Jory soils. The site was purchased by the Evenstads in the late 2000s. Gorgeous red florals mark the nose alongside red currants and shades of menthol on the nose. The palate is dense and deep with remarkable concentration and underlying tension and salty nuance. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Domaine Serene ‘Two Barns’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Domaine Serene ‘Two Barns’ Pinot Noir come from this location set on both volcanic and marine sedimentary soils. The palate is deep and polished with a refined mouthfeel and loads of texture. A glorious melange of red and dark fruits mingle well with freshly tilled soils on the palate. This has a long life in front of it. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2012 Domaine Serene ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The sensational 2012 Domaine Serene ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a glorious showing now at the thirteen year mark. Red rose petals and tobacco leaf mark the nose alongside stony soils and shades of red licorice on the nose. The palate is utterly seamless throughout the drinking experience, with a massive amount of tension and flavor density. Drink 2025-2040- 98

2022 Domaine Serene ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The sensational 2022 Domaine Serene ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a total stunner that has a long life ahead of it. Gorgeous red florals mark the nose alongside Satsuma orange zest, wet rock and a dusting of white pepper. The palate is dense and seamless, with concentrated red and dark fruits. This is a total stunner that is only slowly coming into its own. Give this at least another year or two in the cellar. Drink 2027-2050- 98

2012 Domaine Serene ‘Cote Sud’ Pinot Noir- A bolder side of 2012, the 2012 Domaine Serene ‘Cote Sud’ Pinot Noir comes from what is probably the warmest part of the estate vineyard. On the nose this takes on gorgeous red florals that combines with suggestions of Cuban cigar, tar, anise seed and suggestions of freshly tilled salty soils. This is silky, elegant and has absolutely sensational flavor density. Drink 2025-2033- 97

2022 Domaine Serene ‘Cote Sud’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Cote Sud’ is a rich and polished new Pinot Noir that was stored for 15 months in 55% new French oak before bottling. This is a heady edition of this wine from a slightly cooler vintage. The palate is dense and plush with refined tannins and a great sense of elegance. A generous core of volcanic soil dusted red fruits greet you alongside black raspberry, and hints of menthol on the palate. Drink 2025-2042- 96

Massalto

Today we share one of the bigger styles of winemaking that you will see in the Pacific Northwest, led by Chilean born winemaker Matias Kusulas. Michael Ruhland, and winemaker Kusulas have founded this project that is now has been running for several years. The first wines were not as good as what is currently released — these have improved considerably since the winery’s inception.

Matias sources from some top sites in the Royal Slope AVA, including the Thunderstone and Stoneridge Vineyards. The wines have big, bold flavors and loads of texture — yet maintain good underlying freshness.

I love the new 2021 ‘Facade’ White Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is a stunning wine with loads of flavor range made from Pinot Noir grapes. Learn more about these beautiful new wines at massalto.com and here are my reviews of the new Massalto wines.

2021 Massalto ‘Sauvalanche’ White Wine- The 2021 Massalto ‘Sauvalanche’ White Wine is a decadent combination of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. Mango, passion fruit and creme brûlée notes combine with shades of juicy starfruit and baking spices on the nose. The palate is dense and layered with great sweetness and underlying finesse, with salty nuances. This is delicious. Drink 2025-2031- 94

2021 Massalto ‘Irreverant’ Viognier- 100% Viognier, the 2021 ‘Irreverant’ shows rich melon and tropical fruits on the nose alongside pie crust and cardamom. The palate is heady and rich with terrific mouthfeel and underlying tension. This is just a joy to drink right now. Drink 2025-2032- 94

2021 Masalto ‘Facade’ White Pinot Noir- Coming from the Solaksen Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA, this spent 22 months in 30% new French oak before bottling. Salted peach, pie crust, kumquat zest and Yakima cherry flavors mingle well with nutty and stony accents on the palate. Dense and rich with an unctuous texture, this is absolutely stunning that has both the weight and finesse to cellar well for another ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2021 Masalto ‘Interstellar’ Mourvedre- This 2021 Mourvèdre comes from the Thunderstone Vineyard and saw all whole cluster fermentation. This was carbonic macerated, offering orange peel and red currants alongside wild strawberry notes on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2021 Massalto ‘System Instability’ Tempranillo- The 2021 Massalto ‘System Instability’ Tempranillo comes from the Stoneridge Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA. This is rich, dark and layered with hoisin sauce, oyster mushrooms and shades of blackberry compote and black olives alongside smoked meats on the palate. A gorgeous wine that is showing brilliantly right now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 94

2021 Massalto ‘Artisan’ Malbec- The 2021 ‘Artisan’ comes from the Royal Slope AVA and was stored in neutral oak barrels before bottling. Inky in the glass, this delivers juicy purple flowers and chocolate on the power with graphite, tar and cuban cigar. Dense and rich with good finesse, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 94

2021 Masalto ‘The Point of No Return’ Grenache- The 2021 ‘The Point of No Return’ was stored for 22 months in 30% new French oak and comes from the Thunderstone Vineyard. This is gorgeous and pleasurable wine with a terrific combination of red and dark fruits that mingle well with baking spices and Satsuma orange zest. This is just drinking brilliantly right now. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2021 Masalto ‘Side Effect’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘Side Effect’ Syrah is a dense, decadent and layered effort that is showing brilliantly right now. Black Forest cake mingles well with orange peel, sweet pipe tobacco and shades of blackberry compote on the palate. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

Gård Vintners

Happy Labor Day to you all. Gård was founded by brothers Sandy and John Lawrence, who have farmed the Royal Slope for more than 50 years, along with John’s son Josh, who joined the operation in 2002. The winery is managed by Josh and his wife, Lisa, who oversees sales and marketing, while Josh oversees the vineyard and other farm and orchard operations. Josh and Lisa are some of the nicest people in the wine business.

I have been so impressed with the talents of winemaker Matías Kúsulas of Chile who has served as head winemaker since 2021. It is pretty impressive that he boats three masters degrees and is a former Marine. The new wines are beautifully textured and exude value.

I love the new Gård Vintners wines.Check out the new 2023 Gård Vintners ‘Grand Klasse’ Rose (OB, 92) which shows a smooth mouthfeel and offers very pretty red fruits. I am enamored by the 2022 Gard Ice Wine (OB, 95) which has over 200 G/L residual sugar and is a sumptuous, very heady bottling that will surely satisfy any lover of top dessert wine. Learn more about these great wines at gardvintners.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Gård Vintners.

2022 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Riesling- This 2022 Riesling was aged for several years in Austrian and Hungarian oak. Golden in the glass, this delivers petrol and nutty tones on the nose alongside shades of lychee. The palate is big and bold with serious tension, weight and length. This is a simply stunning nervy, dense and rich bottling that is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2024 Gard ‘Franc Blanc’ White Wine- The ‘Franc Blanc’ is 100% Cabernet Franc from the Stoneridge Vineyard. They have made this wine since the ’22 vintage. Wet stone and shades of salted walnut mingle well with tangerine peel and shades of starfruit and hay on the nose. The palate is big and round with great volume, texture and freshness. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 Gard Albarino- This 2023 Albarino is the second edition of this wine, sourced from the Lawrence Vineyard,. The wine was barrel fermented and saw a few days on the skins. This is rich and concentrated with loads of melon fruits with suggestions of passion fruit and salted mixed nuts. This has amazing flavor density and tension, with a great salinity. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2024 Gard ‘Freyja’ White Wine- This 2024 ‘Freyja’ combines Viognier (62%) with the remainder Roussanne. Golden in the glass, the wine shows juicy starfruit and nutty tones on the palate, alongside a smooth mouthfeel and great underlying verve. Dense and chewy on the mouth, with kiwi accents, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2022 Gard ‘Tigre’ Pinot Gris- A skin-contact Pinot Gris, the 2022 ‘Tigre’ offers terrific body and layers on the palate. A great combination of delicate red fruits combine with green melon and cashew nuts flavors on the palate. Barrel-fermented, enjoy this beauty now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2024 Gard ‘Grand Klasse Reserve’ Rose- This 2024 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Rose delivers a smooth mouthfeel with serous texture and lip-smacking acidity. Bright red fruits collide with citrus peel and copious minerals on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2022 Gard ‘BDX Blanc’ White Wine- The ’22 BDX Blanc comes from the Connor Lee and La Reyna Vineyards. This is a Bordeaux inspired blend of near equal parts Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, this was stored in large format barrels  Golden in the glass, this delivers salted chaser nut alongside lychee, nectarine and shades of green papaya on the nose. The palate is exceptionally well-balanced with great texture and underlying freshness. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2022 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Chardonnay- This vintage there was no ‘Winemaker Select’ as the 2022 ‘Grand Klasse’ mainly was sourced from the Solaksen Vineyard as well as the La Reyna Vineyard. Stored in large format French oak this delivers pastry crust and suggestions of marzipan and pineapple notes on the nose. The palate is deep and concentrated with good verve and underlying salinity. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2023 Gard ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Grenache Blanc- Grenache Blanc was grafted over Cabernet Sauvignon at this site. Stored in neutral oak, this was given a lot of lees stirring before release. Peach and shades of gooseberry combine with shades of green papaya on the palate. Gorgeous and rich, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2022 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Viognier- The 2022 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Viognier was stored in roughly 60% new French oak before bottling. This has terrific volume and underlying acidity as rich peach and starfruit flavors combine with nutty underpinnings. Fresh and vibrant with terrific body, enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2022 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Roussanne- The 2022 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Roussanne was stored in equal parts neutral and new French oak before bottling. This delivers sumptuous honeydew melon and shades of salted macadamia nut and papaya notes on the palate. Dense and rich with great finesse, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. The finish just doesn’t quit. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2023 Gard Grenache Blanc- This is a natural wine made with Grenache Blanc grapes. Unfined and unfiltered, this 2023 saw extended maceration offering nutmeg and nutty accents on the nose alongside bright Japanese pear and cantaloupe. Fresh and concerted, this is fantastic stuff to consume now. Drink 2024-2028- 92

2022 Gard ‘Boneyard’ Syrah- This 2021 ‘Boneyard’ was sourced from this newer site in the Royal Slope AVA. This is showing beautifully right now with its herbal accents that parade with bright red and dark fruits with tar and tobacco leaf notes. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Gard ‘The Don’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2022 ‘The Don’ has Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% Syrah blended in. Sourced from the Royal Slope AVA, this offers good concentration with black tea and black raspberry notes on the palate, with salty soil accents. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2022 Gard Pinot Noir- The 2022 Gard Pinot Noir comes from the Solaksen Vineyard and saw extended maceration (3 months on skins) and was stored in 50% new French oak before bottling. This is very fresh and fragrant with beautiful orange peel and tobacco notes on the nose alongside bright red fruits and red rose petals. Dense and chewy, with a soft mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Gard Malbec- The 2021 100% varietal Malbec comes from the Scarline and Stoneridge Vineyards. This was stored in 40% new French oak before bottling. Tar, espresso grounds and rich dark fruits mark the palate alongside a smooth texture. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2022 Gard Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Gard Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal and comes from a range of sites and was stored in half new French oak before bottling. Dark currants mingle well with dark chocolate shavings and pencil lead on the nose. This is seriously good, as this comes off smooth and round on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2022 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning new edition of this wine that was mainly stored in new French oak (70%) before bottling. Sourced from the Connor Lee Vineyard in the Columbia Valley,  this opens with a gorgeous bouquet of black florals and espresso grounds alongside loamy soils and shades of dark currants. The palate is lush and round on the mouth with a terrific mouthfeel and good sense of length. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Gard Cabernet Franc- Sourced from the Connor Lee Vineyard, the 2022 Cabernet Franc is 100% varietal that was stored in a combination of new and neutral French oak before bottling. This shows marvelous herbal notes on the palate alongside cherry tomato, coffee grounds and milk chocolate tones. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2022 Gard Merlot- This 2022 Merlot was sourced from the Connor Lee and Scarline Vineyards and was stored in mainly neutral oak barrels before bottling. This is lush and round on the mouth with terrific texture and refined tannins. Kirsch and chocolate notes parade with bay leaf and shades of baking spices on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Gard ‘Vaucluse’ Red Wine- The 2021 Gard ‘Vaucluse’ Red Wine is a fabulous melange of mainly Syrah (45%) with the remainder Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier. A dash of white pepper hits the nose alongside hoisin sauce, wild blackberry and shades of fresh sage. The palate has good concentration and richness with a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Gard ‘Kvasir’ Red Wine- Nearly all Mourvèdre, this 2022 ‘Kvasir’ was stored in large format oak barrels before bottling. White pepper, potpourri and smoked meats all combine on the nose. The palate is lifted and elegant with a smooth mouthfeel with bright acidity. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2022 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Grenache- This 2022 Grenache comes from the Corfu Crossing and Thunderstone Vineyards. Orange blossom and beautiful red florals mark the nose alongside thyme and salty soils with guava fruits. This drivers a opulent purity of fruit with a seamless texture and great salinity, with serious tension. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Syrah- This 2022 ‘Grand Klasse’ Syrah is a barrel selection wine that was stored in mainly new French oak barrels (70% new) before bottling. Mainly coming from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this offers creme de violette and tar notes on the nose alongside garrigue and blackberry compote. Roughly a third stem inclusion on this beauty. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Gard ‘Winemaker Select’ Syrah- The ’22 ‘Winemaker Select’ Syrah was stored in nearly all new French oak and spent 30 months in barrel before bottling. Smoky and savory notes fill the nose alongside heady black and blue fruits. The palate shows gorgeous flavor density with bright underlying acidity and salty nuances. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Gard ‘Reverance’ Red Wine- This 2022 ‘Reverance’ combines mainly Grenache (60%) with the remainder Syrah and a touch of Mourvèdre. Stored in mainly new French oak barrels, this delivers smoky and ash notes on the nose alongside creosote, bacon fat and dense dark fruits. The palate is rich and savory with terrific freshness. Fat and rich on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2022 Gard ‘Thunderstone’ Syrah- Coming from the Scarline Vineyard, the 2022 ‘Thunderstone’ underwent all whole cluster fermentation. Iodine and tar mark the nose alongside charcuterie and salted orange. This is impeccably balanced stuff with great weight and tension. The flavor range is truly outstanding. Only 13.9% alcohol but this packs a punch with serious stuffing and weight. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2022 Gard ‘Toro’ Red Wine- A gorgeous wine, the 2022 ‘Toro’ combines 60% Grenache with the remainder Tempranillo that was stored in American oak barrels for 30 months prior to bottling. Coconut and orange rind flavors mingle well with a gorgeous core of red fruits and a seamless texture on the palate. A stunning wine, with great weight and freshness, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2021 Gard ‘Winemaker Select’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The sensational 2022 Gard ‘Winemaker Select’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a barrel selection wine that was stored in new French oak before bottling. This is heady and intense on the mouth with serious texture and good stuffing. Fresh sage and chocolate flavors mingle well with sweet pipe tobacco leaf and loamy soil character on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2022 Gard ‘Stoneridge’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Stoneridge’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. Beautiful dark florals mark the nose alongside iodine, tar and sweet pipe tobacco. The palate is fresh with beautiful floral and stony character, with a light dusting of salinity. Vibrant and intense, with refined tannins, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2022 Gard ‘Connor Lee’ Red Wine- A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this is a barrel selection wine that comes from the Connor Lee Vineyard. It is rich and velvety with a seamless texture on the mouth. Loads of espresso ground and freshness greet you with chocolate covered cherry and shades of tar on the palate. Delicious and dense, with bright underlying acidity, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Gard ‘Solaksen’ Red Wine- The 2022 Gard ‘Solaksen’ Red Wine is a barrel selection wine that combines near equal parts Syrah and Malbec. Inky in the glass, this delivers concentrated black and blue fruits that mingle well with tar, anise and creme de violette on the palate. Rich and layered, with good freshness, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Gard ‘Scarline’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Scarline’ is a barrel selection wine composed of 65% Syrah with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. This is heady, dense and delicious with terrific flavor density and a beautiful sense of weight. Dark florals and wild mushroom notes combine with loamy soils and heady dark fruits on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 95

Domaine Serene

Happy Weekend to you all! Today we share the glorious new wines from Domaine Serene. It has been more than twenty years since I first set foot at Domaine Serene. I will never forget how impressive that inaugural tasting was. Dundee Hills pioneers Grace and Ken Evenstad found this incredible parcel of land high atop the Dundee Hills, and planted their vines on ancient volcanic soils. This is a magical place to visit with sweeping views of the valley and a really attentive staff that know Oregon wine and can help guide you through your tasting.

Michael Fay continues to make world-class wines at Domaine Serene.  I love the new 2023 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is deeply textured and shows fabulous concentration and texture. Check out the stunning 2023 Domaine Serene ‘Cote Sud’ Chardonnay (OB, 97) which is a total masterclass from this slightly warmer site in the Dundee Hills. Learn more about this famed Oregon estate at http://domaineserene.com/ Here are the incredible new release wines by Domaine Serene.

2023 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay- A glorious and dense bottling from this slightly warmer vintage, the 2023 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay was stored for 14 months in mainly neutral French oak barrels before bottling. Brioche and lemon rind flavors combine with suggestions of salty and stony soils alongside hints of gingerbread on the palate. A delight to savor in its heady youth, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Domaine Serene ‘Triple Crown’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Triple Crown’ comes from this location in the Dundee Hills, set on 750-900 feet elevation. This location is dry-farmed and set on Jory soils. This is very rocky on the nose, with smoldering stones alongside white peach, pastry crust and suggestions of baking spice laced banana. The palate is plush and very mineral-laden with fabulous freshness and depth. A gorgeous wine to enjoy now, savor this salty and stony, very mineral-laden bottling now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2023 Domaine Serene ‘Cote Sud’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Cote Sud’ Chardonnay comes from this southern-facing location that is set on ancient rocky soils. Meyer lemon meringue and shades of bright starfruit fill the palate alongside crushed wet rock, salted nectarine and suggestions of basil leaf on the palate. Highly complex and delicious, with a vibrant sense of tension, this has a really long life in front of it. Drink 2025-2040- 97

2022 Domaine Serene ‘Winery Hill’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Winery Hill’ comes from the 20-acre, dry-farmed location in the Dundee Hills, set on Jory soils. Vines were planted all the way back in 2000. Red rose petals mark the nose alongside rocky soils, loganberry preserves, fresh sage and suggestions of exotic spices. The palate is soft and seamless with a terrific sense of both texture and verve. Glorious now in its dense and heady youth, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. But why wait? Drink 2025-2040- 96

2022 Domaine Serene ‘Jerusalem Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The sinfully good 2022 Domaine Serene ‘Jerusalem Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a lower elevation site that is set in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. This has a bevy of plush red fruits on the palate, with guava puree and bright strawberry alongside sensational texture and salty nuance with orange zest flavors. Full-bodied and delicious, watch this evolve over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2022 Domaine Serene ‘Triple S Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Triple S Vineyard’ comes from this location owned by Sue and Steve Schneider that is set on a southern aspect, planted to Pommard and Dijon clonal selection Pinot Noir. Rocky aromatics fill the glass alongside beautiful red florals, citrus rind, tobacco and shades of Middle Eastern spices. The palate is deep and rich as this has a gorgeous core of red fruits that greet you alongside Satsuma orange zest and cardamom dusted pie crust on the palate. Full-bodied and very delicious now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 96

Avennia

I feel like I just wrote an article on this winery; but yet again, I taste a winery’s offerings and immediately need to write about how sensational they are. The consistency exhibited from Avennia has been nothing short of magical since this winery’s inception. Avennia is a joint venture between former Microsoft exec Marty Taucher and winemaker Chris Peterson. These wines are incredibly consistent and extremely well-made.

Former DeLille Cellars Winemaker Chris Peterson crafts some beautiful, concentrated and well-structured wines for Avennia. The wines have amazing poise and balance, as well as typicity. I adored the new 2022 Avennia ‘Estate Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon  (OB, 97) which has amazing flavor density and a seamless nature from this slightly cooler vintage. Learn more about these special wines at avennia.com Here are my reviews of the new future fall release Avennia wines. 

2023 Avennia ‘Justine’ Red Wine- The amazing 2022 ‘Justine’ combines mainly Upland Vineyard Grenache with smaller parts Mourvèdre and Syrah. Garrigue and mandarin orange rind fill the nose alongside wet stone and shades of smoked meats. The palate is soft, complex and absolutely delicious, with its delightful core of bright red fruits, alongside citrus zest and red rose water. This will surely live on for another decade. Drink 2025-2037- 95

2023 Avennia ‘Arnaut’ Syrah- The totally dazzling 2032 ‘Arnaut’ Syrah comes from the Boushey Vineyard and is 100% varietal and native yeast fermented. The wine was stored in nearly all neutral French oak before bottling. It can benefit from a one hour decant and once aroused this exudes class with bacon fat and green peppercorns on the nose alongside tar, Cuban cigar and shades of black licorice. The palate is silky and refined with serious texture and underlying verve. Dense and rich, as well as very savory, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2022 Avennia ‘Estate Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet comes from the Avennia Estate Vineyard. It comes off very seamless throughout the drinking experience. Wild herbs and shades of scorched earth combine with boysenberry compote, black tea and Middle Eastern spices on the palate. The combination of weightlessness, flavor density and underlying tension really makes this thing sing. A singular, stunning example of Red Mountain Cabernet, this will surely live on for another two decades. Don’t be afraid to open this beauty now. Drink 2025-2045- 97

Knudsen Vineyards

For years I have admired the consistency of Knudsen Vineyards — one of Oregon’s historic vineyards. Knudsen Vineyards was founded by Oregon wine pioneers Cal and Julia Lee Knudsen in 1971. Located centrally in the Dundee Hills AVA, the Knudsen family has grown grapes at this location for 45 years. I have long admired the Argyle wines sourced from this great vineyard as these grapes have helped produce some of the top sparkling wines made in North America. After the passing of Cal Knudsen in 2009, his children, each of whom had followed individual pursuits in business and finance, were compelled to return to the vineyard and then start Knudsen Vineyards winery in 2014 with the help of Argyle winemaker Nate Klostermann, and with the assistance of Rollin Soles.

The new wines were electric. I love the 2021 Knudsen Vineyards ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which has amazing flavor density and range at this price point. Learn more about these fantastic wines at http://knudsenvineyards.com Here are the fantastic new Pinot Noir release by Knudsen Vineyards. 

2022 Knudsen ‘Founder’s Series Julia Lee Knudsen’ Chardonnay- Named after one of the founders, the 2022 Knudsen ‘Founder’s Series Julia Lee Knudsen’ Chardonnay is a rich, bright and beautifully-textured bottling that is singing right now. Brioche and lemon zest flavors combine with copious minerals and shades of mango on the palate. Really good now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Knudsen ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- A killer entry level bottling, the 2023 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir offers bright guava and loganberry fruit flavors alongside good tension and salty minerals on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2021 Knudsen Vineyards ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2021Knudsen Vineyards ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir is concentrated and delicious stuff that is drinking beautifully in its vibrant youth. Rich red fruits parade with wet stone, cigar ash, Satsuma orange zest and shades of bergamot on the palate. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2022 Knudsen Vineyards ‘Backstory’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Backstory’ comes from Block 6 in the Knudsen Vineyard. This location is a 1.5 acre site that was planted to Pommard clonal selection Pinot Noir back in 2007. It is wonderfully as the clonal selection usually is, showing damp earth and peat moss notes that combine with mountain black raspberry and fresh sage on the palate. Gorgeous now, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Knudsen Vineyards ‘Snapshot’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Snapshot’ comes from blocks 12 and 13 in the estate vineyard, as this utilizes Dijon clones 820 and 667. This is fresh, viscous and lithe stuff that is hard to resist right now. Bright red and dark fruits collide on the palate alongside volcanic soils and shades of wintergreen on the palate. This is a beauty that will live on for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Knudsen Vineyards ‘Founders Series Carl Knudsen’ Pinot Noir- Named after the patriarch of this location, the 2022 Knudsen Vineyards ‘Founders Series Carl Knudsen’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection wine that is rich and inviting in its heady youth. On the nose this takes on smoldering wet stone and rose petals alongside shades of tobacco leaf and dense dark fruits. The palate is plush with a terrific mouthfeel and bright sense of tension. Inviting to enjoy now, savor this beauty over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 94

Fullerton

Today we share the wines of Fullerton. Head winemaker and founder Alex Fullerton produces a wide range of wines that have now expanded into Washington State. Alex has a longstanding industry history, formerly working for Penner-Ash, as well as Drylands in New Zealand, Alex began making his own wine out of his garage in 2011.

I love the great value, 2024 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Gris (OB, 90) which packs a punch for the price. Another serious value is the 2023 Fullerton ‘Five Faces’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is an amazing new Chard for the price Learn more about these wines at http://www.fullertonwines.com Here are the great new releases from Fullerton Wines:

2024 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Gris- A killer value, the 2024 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Gris shows kiwi and gooseberry on the nose alongside green apple notes. The palate is polished with a smooth mouthfeel and vibrant acidity. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2024 Fullerton ‘Hvid’ White Wine- A kitchen sink blend of mainly Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, this delivers good depth with citrus and melon fruits alongside nutty accents on the palate. This is really intriguing and complex stuff. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Three Otters’ Chardonnay offers starfruit and pear notes on the nose alongside shades of salted walnut. The palate is fresh and viscous with a smooth texture. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2024 Fullerton ‘Three Otters Amber’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2024 ‘Amber’ is a skin-contact Sauvignon Blanc. It is round and smooth on the mouth, showing peach pit and citrus fruit flavors alongside grassy accents. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 Fullerton ‘Five Faces’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Five Faces’ comes from a range of clonal selection Chardonnay planted on several different soil types. This is round and generous with rich pastry crust notes alongside baking spices, banana, papaya and shades of salted Macadamia nut. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2024 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Rose- Made from a combination of Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, the 2024 ‘Three Otters’ Rose delivers juicy pear and strawberry notes alongside excellent tension and salty nuances. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2023 Fullerton ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- A really nice value, the 2023 Fullerton ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir offers plenty of forward and ripe red fruits that mingle well with fresh sage and stony accents on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2024 Fullerton ‘Cuvee d’ Oregon’ Pinot Noir- Coming from several sites in the Willamette Valley, the 2024 Fullerton ‘Cuvee d’ Oregon’ Pinot Noir offers fleshy black and red fruits that collide with wet stone, dried herbs and suggestions of kumquat rind. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 Fullerton ‘Five Faces’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Fullerton ‘Five Faces’ Pinot Noir comes from a range of sites across the Willamette Valley. This is smooth and generous upon entry, loaded with orange zest alongside bright red fruits with salty/stony soil accents. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2021 Fullerton ‘Dupee Vineyard’ White Pinot Noir- Coming from the Dupee Vineyard in the McMinnville AVA, this white Pinot Noir opens with walnut notes alongside bright pear, starfruit and strawberry notes. The palate is soft and mineral-laden with a smooth texture. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2021 Fullerton ‘Johan Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Johan Vineyard is set in the Van Duzer Corridor as this 2021 Pinot Noir utilizes clonal selections 667 and 943. This is deeply concentrated stuff with serious tension and racy acidity. Rich and tart red and black fruits parade with salty and stony soils, tobacco and worn leather notes. The earthy tones make you think of a top notch Barolo. Drink 2024-2038- 94

2023 Fullerton ‘Lichtenwalter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Lichtenwalter Vineyard’ was sourced from this southern facing spot in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. This is delicious stuff with rich red fruits that collide with salted stone, pipe tobacco and shades of orange rind. Polished and layered, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 93

2023 Fullerton ‘Nicholas Family Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the Dundee Hills AVA, the 2023 Fullerton ‘Nicholas Family Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes off fleshy and dense on the mouth with tart red fruits that parade with sea salt, bergamot and shades of mandarin orange rind. Drink 2025-2036- 93

2023 Fullerton ‘Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Coming from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the 2023 Fullerton ‘Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir delivers some solid flavor density with red raspberry and pomegranate seed flavors alongside salty nuances on the palate. Lush and ripe, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 93

2021 Fullerton ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA the Fir Crest Vineyard was planted on ancient Willakenzie soils. This offers a beautiful core of black and red florals alongside orange peel, salty soils and shades of baking spices on the nose. The palate is rich and dense with a fantastic underlying freshness, with gobs of mouth-watering acidity. This is already really nicely evolved. Full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2021 Fullerton ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Momtazi Vineyard is a truly unique hillside spot that has both volcanic and marine sedimentary soils. This 2021 Pinot Noir utilizes Dijon clonal selections 114 and 777. It offers sea salt drenched red fruits on the palate, alongside baking spices, black tea and suggestions of kumquat zest.  Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2038- 94

2021 Fullerton ‘Arborbrook Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The beautiful 2021 Fullerton ‘Arborbrook Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from the Chehalem Mountains AVA as vines are set on Dupree soils. Juicy and rich, this offers a polished texture with black raspberry and black cherry flavors alongside shades of cola. Full-throttle and forward, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next twelve years. Drink 2024-2036- 93

2021 Fullerton ‘Apollini Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Appolini Vineyard is located in the Tualatin Hills AVA in the northwestern corner of the Willamette Valley. This outstanding wine is 100% Pommard clonal selection Pinot Noir. A deep core of black and red fruits greet you on the palate alongside allspice, orange peel and shades of salty marine soils. Full-bodied, and beautifully poised and textured, this is a total stunner that is drinking so well now. Drink 2024-2038- 94

2021 Fullerton ‘Brvtvs Pinot Noir- The 2021 ’Brvtvs’ comes form the Fir Crest Vineyard and is named after the rebel and leader that took down Julius Ceasar. This Pommard selection wine underwent 100% whole cluster fermentation. It is big, bold and juicy, loaded with tart pomegranate seed and Linzer torte flavors alongside a silky texture and good sense of weight. Fresh and smooth on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 94

2021 Fullerton ‘Clavdivs’ Pinot Noir- Named after the Roman emperor, this 2021 Pinot Noir utilizes clone 943 from the Arbor Brook Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. The palate is lush and rich, showing a gorgeous combination of wild boysenberry, black currants, ripe strawberry and freshly tilled salty soils. Full-bodied and showing good tension and texture, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 94

2021 Fullerton ‘Yellowjacket Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘Yellowjacket Vineyard’ Syrah is sourced from this site in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. Inky in the glass, this delivers umami and hoisin sauce alongside milk chocolate, beef drippings and tar with menthol notes on the palate. Complex and delicious, enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Fullerton ‘Summit View Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Summit View Vineyard which is a high elevation site in the Walla Walla Valley.  This is inky in the glass, offering anise and dark currants alongside black cherry compote on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

Clos Lointain

Clos Lointain (pronounced cloh lwan-tahn) translates to “Distant Enclosure” or “Faraway Vineyard.” It suggests a quiet, hidden place—tucked away from the noise of the world—where something special is grown with care. In wine terms, a “clos” is a walled vineyard, traditionally protected and set apart. “Lointain” evokes distance, mystery, and the sense of a far-off land you dream about.

The wines from this house are set on ancient schist soils. It was back in 2022 that Todd and Carrie Alexander acquired two 60 to 80-year-old vineyards in the Roussillon region of southeastern France.These dry-farmed vineyards are set in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains. These old vines are grown on hillsides in schist and slate soils, dry farmed and farmed organically. They are currently growing Grenache Noir, Grenache Gris, Carignan, and Macabeo at these sites. Regional partners are Jean-Roger and Marie Calvet of Thunevin-Calvet in the village of Maury.

The wines were utterly sensational. There is something so wild and imaginative in the wines, as a range of herbs grow amongst the vines including thyme and sage. Garrigue flows through the veins of these beauties. The best wine I tasted was the otherworldly 2023 Clos Lointain ‘The Specta’ Grenache (OB, 98) which is an ultra-pure expression of red fruits with a velvety texture and brilliant flavor range. This is amongst the finest Grenache that I have ever tasted from this region. I think that if you tasted Clos de Papes alongside this wine, both bottlings would stand neck and neck. Try it for yourself. . . I think you are going to be immensely impressed with these wines. Learn more at https://www.closlointain.com/ and here are my reviews of the inaugural Clos Lointain wines.

2023 Clos Lointain ‘Meditations’ White Wine- The 2023 ‘Meditations’ is a stunning new white wine made from Grenache Gris and Macabeo grapes sourced from the La Coumo Estate Vineyard in the Catalan foothills. This shows incredibly complex aromatics with banana and salted peach alongside toasted hazelnuts and shades of pie crust on the nose. The palate is elegant and refined with serious tension and weight alongside salty nuances. Drink 2025-2035- 96

2023 Clos Lointain ‘The Spectra’ Grenache- The fabulous 2023 Clos Lointain ‘The Spectra’ Grenache comes from their La Coumo Estate Vineyard, where 70–90-year-old vines that are set on fractured black schist in the Catalan hills. This was all de-stemmed and come from a north facing slope, with 5% Grenache Gris blended in. Ultra-pure red fruits combine with shades of Mandarin orange rind, garrigue and suggestions of scorched earth. The palate is powerful and intense with serious tension, weight and texture. This is loaded with mouth-watering acidity. Full-bodied, heady and intense, this is a totally stunning wine that will rival any top CDP. Drink 2025-2039- 98

2023 Clos Lointain ‘The Signal’ Grenache- The 2023 ‘The Signal’ combines 92% Grenache and equal parts Macabeo and Grenache Gris. The wine comes from 60 and 80 years old vines on a south-facing slope as this was stored for 14 months in neutral French oak before bottling. This saw partial whole cluster fermentation. Dense red and dark fruits mark the nose alongside beautiful red florals and fresh sage. The palate is silky and refined with serious texture and weight. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2039- 96

Open Soul

Today we share a new winery out of Oregon (PHOTO by Alba Betancourt and Nate Watters). Open Soul was started by Oregon native Jordan Hostetter who has worked a range of jobs including general manager at several top Washington spots. Hostetter has completed the Walla Walla Community College program in winemaking and enology and wanted to start his own project, focusing on his Oregon roots.
Wines were sourced from both the Willamette valley and the Columbia Gorge. Kate Payne Brown has served as consulting winemaker. In Jordan Hostetter’s wine journey he has been most drawn to the incredible wines of Burgundy and those with an old-world soul. He sought to focus on limited production wines that emulate the wines that have inspired him. The new wines were very good and very consistent. I really enjoy the 2024 Open Soul ‘Mistral White’ White Wine (OB, 91) which is fresh and vibrant, showing a great salinity. I think this winery has some serious potential based on the first set of wines. Learn more about this exciting project at https://opensoul.wine/ and here are my reviews of the inaugural releases by Open Soul and Jordan Hostetter.

2024 Open Soul ‘Mistral White’ White Wine- A Southern Rhone-inspired blend from the Columbia Gorge AVA, the 2024 Open Soul ‘Mistral White’ White Wine is fresh and beautifully-textured stuff. Gooseberry and salted pear notes combine with hints of apricot on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2024 Open Soul Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, the 2024 Open Soul Rose offers vibrant acidity and a smooth mouthfeel upon entry. Tart red fruits collide with kumquat rind, damp earth and copious minerals on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 Open Soul ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Open Soul ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir was stored in mainly neutral French oak before bottling. It delivers plenty of crunchy red fruits that mingle well with orange zest, salty soils and bergamot notes. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

Soos Creek

If you want a great bottle of wine for the price, read this article. Soos Creek is a Washington outpost that is built on producing quality wines that exude both class and value. Starting back in in 1989, David and Cecile Larsen started to make wine in the Boeing Wine Club (and even blackberry wine). They originally modeled their winery after Quilceda Creek, producing only one Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Over the years he has expanded his lineup. He sources from some of the great sites in the state including Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun in Red Mountain, David makes roughly 2,000 cases each year focusing on high quality red wines. 

I love the wines especially for the price. Check out the 2023 Soos Creek ‘Commander Comet’ Syrah (OB, 93) which is dense, chewy and plush, with a smooth mouthfeel. Learn more about this great boutique winery at http://www.sooscreekwine.com Here are the excellent new wines by Soos Creek.

2023 Soos Creek ‘Commander Comet’ Syrah- Sourced from the Horse Heaven Hills, the 2023 ‘Commander Comet’ offers juicy dark currants and figs on the palate alongside fabulous viscosity and verve. Bright and delicious with a smooth mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Soos Creek ‘King Cab’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘King Cab’ delivers straightforward chocolate and juicy dark fruits on the palate, with a light tobacco edge. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

MV Soos Creek ‘The Pugilist at Rest’ Red Wine- The MV Soos Creek ‘The Pugilist at Rest’ Red Wine combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot with a dash of Syrah. It is very herbal with dark currants, chocolate and graphite notes with firm tannins on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 91

2023 Soos Creek ‘Phinny Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Phinny Hill Vineyard’ comes from this location in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. This comes off smooth throughout the drinking experience as Cuban cigar and cassis notes collide with smoky accents and molten chocolate on the palate. This is really elegant stuff, with some good agent potential. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Soos Creek ‘Soliel’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Soliel’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon (67%) with the remainder Merlot. Medium-bodied dark fruits parade with tar and black licorice alongside graphite notes on the palate. Brimming with bright acidity, this is already nicely defined stuff. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2023 Soos Creek ‘Sazon’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Sazon’ is a Bordeaux-inspired blend from the Columbia Valley and comes off inky in the glass. Violets, tar and espresso bean mark the nose alongside juicy dark fruits. The palate is plush with great volume and tension as heady dark fruits parade with stony minerals, sagebrush and chocolate on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Soos Creek ‘Southwind Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Soos Creek ‘Southwind Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this windswept site in the Walla Walla Valley set on Loess soils. This is fresh with great energy on the palate, reveling in its core of crushed blackberry compote, wet stone, tobacco leaf and shades of pencil lead. Seriously good now in its heady youth, watch this evolve over the next decade to come. Drink 2025-2035- 93

Chateau Ste. Michelle

It is my pleasure to present Washington State’s founding winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle. I have enjoyed tasting and purchasing these wines for decades. The winery has had changes in recent years but continues to make an incredible array of wines at a fair price.

Winemaker Katie Nelson has Riesling dialed in. She has a longstanding history in the industry formerly with Charles Smith and also head winemaker at Columbia Crest. I love the new 2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Dry’ Riesling (OB, 90) which is a steal and impresses with bright minerality and good flavor range. Even better is the sensational 2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling (OB, 93) which is dense and also nervy with lovely texture. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.ste-michelle.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Chateau Ste. Michelle.

2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Dry’ Riesling- Floral and showing vibrant peach tones, the 2023 ‘Dry’ Riesling offers juicy pear and starfruit notes with light petrol accents. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling- The 2023 ‘Eroica’ Riesling is made in the Kabinette style. This comes off fat on the tongue. Nectarine, oyster shell and passion fruit tones combine with lemon rind and kerosene on the palate. This is really good stuff that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2024 Estival Sauvignon Blanc- Entirely sourced from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, the 2024 ‘Estival’ is brilliantly textured stuff with serious stuffing and freshness. Kiwi and gooseberry notes combine with freshly cut salted limes on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Chardonnay offers a killer nose with brioche and starfruit alongside honeydew melon. The palate is deep and concentrated with serious acidity and richness, alongside glorious length. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2022 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous new effort from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Tar, anise and tobacco leaf, chocolate and dried herbs meld well with red bell pepper and dense dark fruits on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2022 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Artist Series’ is a unique blend for this wine, utilizing 49% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Cabernet Franc. Inky in the glass, this comes up fat, round and juicy on the palate, with impeccable balance and serious weight and length. Chocolate covered kirsch and loganberry fruit flavors collide with graphite, sandalwood and shades of pencil lead on the palate. Drink 2025-2039- 94

Spring Valley

For years I have admired the wines by Spring Valley, that for decades have received accolades by wine critics across the globe. What was farmland for roughly 100 years, Shari and Dean Derby planted vines on the land and made their first vintage in 1999. The Derbys’ son Devin Corkrum Derby served as winemaker until his passing in 2004.

Devin’s assistant and friend Serge Laville took over as winemaker and has been crafting some beautiful wines for many years. A few years back Kate Derby, a sixth-generation family farmer and winemaker, took over the help at Spring Valley Vineyard. She has worked at Spring Valley Vineyard for much of her life. Growing up she spent summers hoeing the vineyard rows with her grandfather and racking wine with Spring Valley’s first winemaker, her uncle Devin Derby. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she began her full time career with Spring Valley in the tasting room, then on the road representing the brand across the country and finally joining the winemaking team in 2011. Check out the 2022 Spring Valley ‘Fredrick’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is downright delicious and deftly captures the art of blending. Just as good is the soft and approachable 2022 Spring Valley ‘Uriah’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which has fabulous flavor range considering the coolness of the vintage. Learn more about these outstanding wines at springvalleyvineyard.com Here are my reviews of the fantastic new Spring Valley wines.

2022 Spring Valley ‘Uriah’ Red Wine- The 2022 Spring Valley ‘Uriah’ Red Wine was stored for 19 months in all new French oak. The wine combines 50% Cabernet Franc with 49% Merlot and a dash of Malbec. This is silky, dense and delicious wine, with red bell pepper alongside heady dark fruits and espresso grounds. Medium to full-bodied, and fresh, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2039- 94

2022 Spring Valley ‘Katherine Corkrum’ Cabernet Franc- Wonderfully herbal and 10% varietal, the 2022 Spring Valley ‘Katherine Corkrum’ Cabernet Franc offers dense chocolate and Arabica bean flavors that mingle well with red bell pepper on the palate. Heady and rich, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2039- 94

2022 Spring Valley ‘Fredrick’ Red Wine The 2022 Spring Valley ‘Fredrick’ combines 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 2% Malbec. Stored in all new French oak this delivers rich roasted fig and tobacco leaf flavors alongside beautiful tension and blackberry compote on the palate. Delicious now, with great finesse, watch this evolve over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2039- 94

2022 Spring Valley ‘Nina Lee’ Syrah- The really good 2022 Spring Valley ‘Nina Lee’ Syrah shows toasty oak flavors alongside bulls blood, iodine, orange peel and heady dark fruits on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 93

Northstar

Washington Merlot definitely deserves its spot on the world stage. Those wines exude class with their sagebrush and chocolate profiles with coffee and black fruits. I have long admired the Northstar Merlot bottlings and these wines have been a pillar of consistency over the past twenty years. You will also find these on the shelves of wine shops across the country.

Even in tough vintages Northstar has made brilliant wines. Check out the 2022 Northstar ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot (OB, 93) which is a sensational and fresh bottling for the price. Learn more about these great wines at northstarwinery.com and here are my reviews of the latest releases by Northstar.

2022 Northstar ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2022 Northstar ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Red Wine is pillowy and soft on the mouth with a lush mouthfeel. Black licorice and anise seed combine with red bell pepper and shades of dark chocolate shavings on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2022 Northstar ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot- A generous and broad-shouldered Merlot despite the coolness of the vintage, the 2022 Northstar ‘Columbia Valley’ is concatenated, delicious stuff that is already neatly evolved. Blackberry compote, black cherry and milk chocolate flavors mingle with fresh sage and suggestions of tar on the palate. A really good wine for the price, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Northstar ‘Premier’ Merlot- The 2022 Northstar ‘Premier’ Merlot is a dense, well-structured and viscous effort that has a long way to go in the cellar. Dense dark fruits mingle well with sweet pipe tobacco, chocolate pie and shades of black licorice on the palate. Round, broad-shouldered and heady, this really shines with a bright acid backbone and luxurious viscosity. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Northstar ‘Premier’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Northstar ‘Premier’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers roasted figs and dried herbs on the nose alongside rocky nuances. Silky and refined on the mouth, with good tension, this is drinking beautifully right now with its generous core of dark fruits and espresso bean flavors. Drink 2025-2035- 93

Dineen

One of the great sites in the Yakima Valley Pat and Lanie Dineen founded Dineen Vineyrds which was originally a 12-acre apple orchard back in 2001. The trees were removed and the first Dineen vines were planted in what is now known as Catherine’s vineyard, named after Pat’s mother.

They made a much larger investment in 2002, acquiring a 80-acre parcel was purchased becoming the second vineyard in the portfolio and home to the Dineen Vineyards tasting room. All of the blocks at this site are named for members of our immediate family.

The new wines were very consistent. I really enjoy the 2022 Dineen Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 91) which is fresh and well-structured from this cooler vintage. earn more about theses wines at dineenvineyards.com and here are my reviews of the new Dineen wines.

2024 Dineen Semillon- The 2024 Dineen Semillon is soft and mineral-laden on the tongue. Kiwi and juicy melon flavors combine with shades of starfruit on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 90.

2024 Dineen ‘Condriesque’ White Wine- The 2024 Dineen ‘Condriesque’ White Wine delivers passion fruit and peaches on the palate, with a smooth mouthfeel. This is smooth throughout the drinking experience and is best enjoyed over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2022 Dineen ‘Heritage Blend’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Heritage Blend’ is a combination of 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 28% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 14% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. This is well-poised with good mid-palate density. Rich dark fig and boysenberry flavors meld well with milk chocolate on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 91

2022 Dineen Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Dineen Cabernet Sauvignon is a fresher style of wine that shows the coolness of the vintage. Right away this shows off red bell pepper with dried herbs and shades of wild blackberry on the nose. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2032- 91

Stonestreet

Today we share one of the outstanding producers out of Sonoma. Stonestreet sits on a 5500 acre mountain estate that towers high above the Alexander Valley in the Mayacamas Mountain Range. Jess Stonestreet Jackson and Barbara Banke established the estate in 1995, and their son Christopher Jackson and his wife Ariel continue the legacy today. I had a beautiful visit to this winery last spring and was once again reminded of the consistency of the Chardonnay wines that they produce. At the helm is winemaker Kristina Shideler, who has a longstanding history in the industry. She is former head winemaker at Arrowood before rejoining Stonestreet — first being a part of their winemaking team back in 2012.

I love the new wines that they produce. The marvelous 2022 Stonestreet ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) has gobs of tension and great weight fro this warm vintage. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.stonestreetwines.com/ and here are my reviews of the beautiful new releases by Stonestreet.

2022 Stonestreet ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2022 Stonestreet ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is a rich, viscous and also very fresh effort that comes from this hot vintage. Buttercream and mango notes parade with cardamom dusted pastry crust and juicy lemon with a dash of sea salt on the palate. Very complex and nicely weighted, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2019 Stonestreet ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2019 Stonestreet ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. Rich cassis notes combine with green bell pepper, pipe tobacco and shades of boysenberry cordial on the palate. Dense and delicious with a refined mouthfeel and good earthy elegance, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93