Alexana

Today we share the beautiful wines of eminent cardiologist, Dr. Madaiah Revana. He founded Alexana in the Dundee Hills AVA many years back. The winery has expensive views of the Dundee Hills and they are a modern facility that utilizes both gravity flow and is certified Gold LEED. Tresider Burns handles winemaking, formerly being head winemaker at White Rose. I love the wines that he makes, as I tasted with him several weeks ago.

I adored the 2024 Alexana ‘Signature’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is a deep and powerful wine that is already neatly defined. which is another gorgeous edition of this wine.  I love the 2024 Alexana ‘Landslide Blocks’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is sourced from both volcanic and marine sedimentary soils at their estate vineyard. It has an amazing push/pull between stony and salty nuance. Learn more about this outstanding Oregon winery at http://www.alexanawinery.com Here are the great new release wines by Alexana. 

2025 Alexana ‘Hillsides’ Pinot Gris- The 2025 ‘Hillsides’ comes mainly from the Alexana estate vineyard as well as a vineyard in West Linn that was planted back in 1980.This is neatly-textured stuff with juicy pear and baked apple alongside starfruit tones. Fresh and lithe with great minerality, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Mainly barrel-fermented, this is drinking marvelously and don’t serve this neatly-textured beauty too cold! Drink 2026-2034- 93

2025 Alexana ‘Estate Vineyard’ Riesling- The 2025 Alexana ‘Estate Vineyard’ Riesling is made in the Trocken style, with no perception residual sugar. Petrol and star jasmine water combine with mandarin oranges peel and Key lime on the palate. Showing awesome tension, enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2026-2032- 93

2024 Alexana ‘Signature’ Chardonnay- This 2024 Alexana ‘Signature’ Chardonnay was stored in roughly 30% new French oak before bottling. This has some fruit from the Gran Moraine blended in. Meyer lemon zest combine with shades of honeydew melon and pink grapefruit blossom on the nose. The palate is lush and round with terrific mouthfeel and loads of salty tension. Enjoy over the next decade, as this shows better at a warmer temperature. Drink 2026-2036- 94

2024 Revana ‘Eola-Amity Hills Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay-  The 2024 Alexana ‘Eola-Amity Hills Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay comes off marvelously reductive on the nose with freshly cut limes, green melon and rocky soils. The palate is plush and seamless throughout the drinking experience. Rich and layered, with amazing flavor range, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2038- 95

2024 Alexana ‘Mosaic’ Pinot Noir- Coming from their two estate vineyards, the 2024 ‘Mosaic’ Pinot Noir offers beautiful red florals on the nose alongside shades of red licorice and rocky notes. The palate has terrific depth and nerve for the price. Loaded with bright red fruits and citrus zest, with salty and rocky soil character. This is exceedingly good stuff for under 50 bucks. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2024 Alexana ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Estate’ was sourced from their two estate vineyards located in the Dundee Hills AVA. Right away this opens with wet rock and shades of wild blackberry with beautiful red florals. The palate is complex and rich with terrific acidity and a silky mouthfeel. This is just an infant and has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2026-2038- 94

2024 Alexana ‘Kinney Ranch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-  The 2024 Alexana ‘Kinney Ranch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes off big and rich with a gorgeous melange of red and dark fruits on the nose with red rose petals. The palate is plush and shows outstanding flavor density and power. Very laden with minerality, this is gorgeous to consume in its heady youth. Roughly 75% whole cluster fermented. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2024 Alexana ‘Lava Lands’ Pinot Noir- Coming from volcanic soils located at the Alexana estate in the Dundee Hills, the 2024 ‘Lava Lands’ Pinot Noir shows off smoldering stone and bright red fruits alongside shades of exotic spice. The palate is wonderfully rocky with serious texture and tension. A glorious core of red and dark fruits greet you alongside great diatom character. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2024 Alexana ‘Landslide’ Pinot Noir- A truly unique wine made from both volcanic and marine sedimentary soils, the 2024 ‘Landslide’ offers loganberry and red currants that combine with orange blossom notes. The palate is wonderfully salty and rocky with a terrific mouthfeel and bright acidity the runs through the core of largely red fruits. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2024 Alexana ‘Marine Ridge’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Marine Ridge’ comes from soil types rarely found in the Dundee Hills. This is very nervy and salty with sea salt dusted red fruits alongside kumquat zest and loads of stony minerals. Refined and elegant, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2041- 94

2024 Alexana ‘Madiah’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Madiah’ underwent all whole cluster fermentation. This wine is Pommard clone from marine sedimentary soils at the estate vineyard. Once on the nose this shows beautiful red florals alongside orange peel and bergamot notes. The palate is wonderfully salty with serious finesse and a pretty core of red fruits. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2024 Alexana ‘Heritage Clones’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 Alexana ‘Heritage Clones’ Pinot Noir is a dense and chewy bottling that has amazing texture and flavor density. Elegant throughout the drinking experience, this offers serious tension and salty nuance. Bright red cherry and red raspberry fruits combine with kumquat zest notes and salty minerals on the palate. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2024 Alexana ‘Best Block’ Estate Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Best Block’ comes from Block 7 Pinot Noir vines which are Pommard selection. Black rose petals mingle well with boysenberry and dried herbs. The palate is plush and rich with a great melange of red and dark fruits alongside Earl Grey tea notes. This is brilliant now and will go on for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2024 Alexana ‘Zena Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-The 2024 Alexana ‘Zena Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was given roughly 50% whole cluster fermentation. Beautiful red rose petals mark the nose alongside Asian spice alongside orange blossom and shades of red licorice. The palate is lush and very mineral-laden with terrific verve. Offering outstanding weight and length, with its pretty core of red fruits, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2023 Alexana ‘Fennwood Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Fenwood Vineyard’ was sourced from this location in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Aged in primarily natural oak, this offers wet rock and black truffle shavings on the nose with pretty black florals. This comes off neatly-textured with a smooth mouthfeel and loads of black fruits alongside great damp earth tones. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2024 Alexana ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Very impressive in its youth the 2024 Alexana ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is brimming with bright acidity with terrific freshness. It is loaded with a gorgeous melange of black and red fruits alongside exotic spice, Mandarin orange zest and salty minerals. Chewy, with refined texture, this saw roughly 15% whole cluster fermentation. Drink 2026-2041- 95

Lange

It is my pleasure to share the wines from one of the historic locations in Oregon. It was back in 1987 that Don and Wendy Lange bought a massive property in the Dundee Hills, with sweeping views of the valley. For many years Don crafted his namesake wines for and then his son, Jesse, transitioned into their head winemaker, taking over for his father. Jesse’s formal winemaking training occurred at New Zealand’s Lincoln University while on a student exchange scholarship from Oregon State in 1999. Jesse made world-class wines for years.

The new 2024 wines were sensational across the board. I love the 2024 Lange ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is big and well-structured with amazing aging potential. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.langewinery.com/ and here are my reviews of the Lange wines.

2025 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris- Stored in all neutral French oak puncheons, the 2025 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris offers nutmeg drenched pastry crust and pear notes on the nose with tangerine blossom. The palate is soft and mineral-laden with terrific freshness. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2024 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Chardonnay- A blend of their estate vineyard, as well as Nine Bark, and Freedom Hill Vineyards, the 2024 ‘Three Hills’ Chardonnay shows off buttercream and shades of white peach alongside juicy limes. The palate is soft and inviting with bright acidity and loads of melon and citrus fruits. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2024 Lange ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2024 Lange ‘Estate’ Chardonnay comes from old blocks that date back to 1998. This has terrific body, weight and length on the palate. Meyer lemon rind and nectarine combine with shades of buttered French bread on the palate. Don’t serve too cold! Drink 2026-2036- 94

2024 Lange ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2024 Lange ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay comes from old plantings (Clone 76) at this location. Stored in roughly 33% new French oak, this shows off flinty and stony nuances on the nose with freshly cut limes, starfruit and toasty brioche. The palate offers racy minerality with outstanding length. Drink 2026-2038- 95

2024 Lange ‘Classique’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Classique’ comes mainly from the Estate and Lucky River Vineyards. Brimming with juicy red fruits on the nose this comes off soft and round on the mouth. This offers strawberry and red cherry compote on the palate alongside salty minerals. Easy-drinking, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2032- 91

2024 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Reserve’ mainly comes from the Estate and Lucky River Vineyards. A great melange of red and dark fruits greet you on the nose alongside shades of pine needles and peat moss. The palate is lush and round on the mouth with terrific tension, coming off seamless throughout the drinking experience. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2024 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from three separate vineyard locations, the 2024 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir shows off orange rind and bergamot on the nose alongside damp earth and wild blackberry. The palate is soft and neatly-textured, loaded with red and dark fruits alongside damp earthy undertones. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2024 Lange ‘Yamhill-Carlton Assemblage’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from Hirschy Vineyard, the 2024 ‘Yamhill-Carlton Assemblage’ is all 777 clonal selection Pinot Noir. This shows mainly pretty red raspberry and strawberry fruits alongside salty soils and shades of orange blossom water. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2024 Lange ‘Lucky River’ Pinot Noir- Coming from this estate location, the 2024 Lange ‘Lucky River’ Pinot Noir comes from this location that lies roughly five miles from the Freedom Hill Vineyard. Potpourri and sandalwood tones combine with shades of red licorice on the nose. The palate is lush and inviting with a seamless texture, with outstanding weight and verve. This is pretty, downright sexy Oregon Pinot Noir that is built to age. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2024 Lange ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 Lange ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir comes off big and burly with bright acidity. Black tea and exotic spices combine with lush dark fruits on the palate.Soft and beautifully-textured, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2024 Lange ‘LIberty Bell’ Pinot Noir-Mainly coming from the Freedom Hill Vineyard, the Lange family has worked with the Freedom Hill Vineyard since 1990. This is loaded with rich red fruits alongside shades of red licorice and salty minerals on the palate. Drink 2026-2034- 92

2024 Lange ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2024 Lange ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this location set on ancient marine sedimentary soils. This is seamless throughout the drinking experience with outstanding underlying finesse. A terrific combination of red and dark fruits combine with Earl Grey tea notes and salty soils on the palate. Drink 2026-2041- 95

Walter Scott

Today we share the world-class wines of Walter Scott, founded by Erica Landon and Ken Pahlow. Walter Scott honors two integral men in Ken’s life: Walter, Ken's grandfather, who was a flight engineer for Trans World Airlines and Scott, and Ken's nephew who passed away young and reminded both Ken and Erica that life can be exceedingly short. Their first vintage was produced in 2009 at Patricia Green Cellars and in 2011 Walter Scott began making Chardonnay, which was met immediately with seriously good critical acclaim. I have really enjoyed these from my personal cellar and they age so gracefully.

The’22s and ‘23s were incredible. Each were done with a different style with the ‘22s a touch more mineral-laden. 2024 Walter Scott wines have amazing texture and stability. They are going to be exceedingly long-lasting wines. For my money one of the great Chardonnays made in North America, the 2024 Walter Scott ‘X Novo Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 98) has flat out fabulous reduction and flavor range. It is a dazzling new Chardonnay that is a must-buy for any serious collector of Oregon wine. Learn more at https://www.walterscottwine.com Here are my tasting notes from the beautiful new lineup of Walter Scott wines. 

2024 Walter Scott Bracken Vineyard’ Aligote + Chardonnay- A new wine for me, the 2024 ‘Bracken Vineyard’ combines both Aligote and Chardonnay. Walter Scott Aligote shows off its matchstick and wild mushroom notes on the nose alongside rich melon and orange blossom tones. It comes off marvelously nutty with Macadamia and salted peanut notes that combine with dense melon and citrus blossom water tones on the palate. The stony character here is outstanding. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2024 Walter Scott ‘Cuvee Anne’ Chardonnay- A sensational edition of this wine, the 2024’Cuvee Anne’ is a killer value that was sourced from a range of sites spanning the Willamette Valley. It is light on its feet with terrific texture. Sourdough bread and salted peach flavors combine with shades of wet gravel and pastry crust on the palate. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2024 Walter Scott ‘Koosah Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Coming from this location set on stony soils, the 2024 ’Koosah Vineyard’Chardonnay offers amazing aromatic range. In the glass this shows off honeysuckle and Meyer lemon zest tones that combine with shades of banana and salted mixed nuts. The palate is lithe and beautifully-textured, with a great push-pull in terms of weight and finesse. The diatom and stony nuances add to the enjoyment. Complex and delicious toe enjoy in its heady youth, watch this evolve over the next ten plus years to come. Bravo! Drink 2026-2041- 96

2024 Walter Scott ‘Justice Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘Justice Vineyard’ comes from this location owned by the Casteel family, set on ancient marine sedimentary soils. Once on the nose this takes on lemon rind and nectarine tones that combine with kumquat blossom and green herbs with stony nuances on the nose. The palate is vibrant and very nervy with terrific flavor density. Drinking marvelously now, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 96

2024 Walter Scott ‘Hyland Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2024 ‘Hyland Vineyard’ comes from a single block of 1979-planted Chardonnay. Aged 35% new French oak before bottling, this shows green apple and freshly cut lime flavors that meld well with rich melon fruits and wet rock with toasty brioche notes on the palate. A big, bold and dense bottling that brilliantly shows the warmth of the vintage, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2026-2041- 96

2024 Walter Scott ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- This 2024 ‘Freedom Hill' Chardonnay was sourced from this location set on marine sedimentary, uplifted seabed. The wine was aged in roughly 50% new French oak prior to bottling, as this slowly unveils aromatics of crushed wet gravel, diatom and tangerine blossom alongside shades of salted French bread. The palate has terrific nerve and texture, as the finesse and flavor density really entices — as does the near minute-long finish. Drink 2026-2041- 96

2024 Walter Scott ‘X Novo Vineyard’ Chardonnay- A standout Oregon Chardonnay, the 2024 ‘X Novo Vineyard’ is a heart-thumping joyride that goes from beginning, middle to end. It is weighty and dense but has flat out fabulous nerve with serious reduction and stony essence. A terrific melange of citrus and melon fruits greets you on the palate, pushing tropical tons of papaya and mango. Finishing for nearly an entire minute, this is a resounding success that will live on for at least another fifteen years. This is clearly one of the finest new world Chardonnays that I have tasted in the past year. Drink 2026-2041- 98

2024 Walter Scott ‘Witness Tree Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2024 Walter Scott ‘Witness Tree Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a stunning wine that has a long life in front of it. Saline drenched melon and peaches combine with shades of toasted hazelnut and brioche bread on the palate. Finishing very long, with copious stony minerals, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 96

2024 Walter Scott ‘Sojeau Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The incredible 2024 ‘Sojeau Vineyard’ Chardonnay shows off fig and mango on the nose with shades of roasted pineapple and pastry crust. The palate has terrific weight and flavor density, with a great push/pull between stony and salty nuances. The near minute-long finish accentuates this beauty the has a long way to. go in the cellar. Drink 2026-2041- 96

2023 Walter Scott ‘Lucile’ Chardonnay- The stunning 2023 ‘Lucille’ was sourced from the Mt. Pisqah AVA and old vine plantings from the famed Freedom Hill Vineyard. It is weighty and has incredible depth and power. Nutty and stony nuances combine with shades of white peach, Japanese pear and kiwi on the palate. Finishing for nearly a minute long, this is a head-turning, very mineral-laden bottling that has a long life in front of it. Give it about 30 minutes of air if consuming now. Drink 2026-2043- 97

2024 Walter Scott ‘Cuvee Ruth’ Pinot Noir- Another awesome edition of this wine, the 2024 ‘Cuvee Ruth’ comes from a range of Willamette Valley locations. It shows salty soils alongside a generous melange of red and dark fruits on the palate, with tobacco leaf and hints of peat moss. Gorgeous now, with awesome verve, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 94

2024 Walter Scott ‘Koosah Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Koosah Vineyard’ is owned by Resonance winery and set 55 miles from the Pacific Ocean, with strong breezy impact from the coast. The wine shows off tart red fruits with orange blossom, wintergreen and hints of red florals on the nose. The palate is dense and chewy with refined tannins and terrific flavor density. Chewy and round throughout the drinking experience, with a terrific combination of red and dark fruits alongside earthy and stony nuance, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2026-2042- 96

2024 Walter Scott ‘Sojeau Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Sojeau Vineyard’ hails from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA as vines are set on volcanic soils. Aged 15 months in 35% new French oak, this opens with a beautiful bouquet of black and red florals alongside pipe tobacco, wet rock and shades of red licorice. The palate is plush with serious tension and salty/stony character. Big and robust, with vibrant acidity, this is going to be a twenty year wine — but it is irresistible in its heady youth. Drink 2026-2042- 96

2024 Walter Scott ‘Witness Tree Vineyards’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2024 ‘Witness Tree’ Pinot Noir is sourced this site set in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Seaweed and wet rock combine with tart red fruits and red florals on the nose. The palate is mineral-laden and fresh with medium-bodied red raspberry and crushed mint flavors that collide with copious stony minerals. Drink 2026-2041- 96

2024 Walter Scott ‘X Novo Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- A stunner from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the 2024 ‘X Novo’ Pinot Noir opens with a gorgeous combination of black roses and oud. The palate is soft and inviting on the mouth with great tension and stony nuances. Seamless throughout the drinking experience, with a core of tart red and dark fruits alongside sage and forest floor notes, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2044- 97

2024 Walter Scott ‘Justice Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Justice Vineyard’ comes from this 40-acre site farmed by the Casteel family set on volcanic clay soils. Crushed wet gravel and black florals fill the nose alongside dried herbs and wild blackberry. The palate is soft and seamless with a terrific mouthfeel and lots of stony tension. Dense and rich, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2026-2045- 96

2024 Walter Scott ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 Walter Scott ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from old Pinot Noir plantings in Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Stored in primarily neutral French oak, this shows off tangerine zest and red florals on the nose with wet gravel and shades of red licorice. The palate is lush and elegant with serious verve and stony/salty character. Glorious now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen plus years to come. Try to give this an our of air if opening now. Drink 2026-2042- 96

2024 Walter Scott ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The very nervy 2024 ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was sourced from vines that were planted all the way back in 1981. This drinks almost like a 2019 or 2022 in terms of fabulous tension, alongside medium-bodied tart red and dark fruits, with orange rind and tobacco leaf nuances. It is really just an infant but is thrilling to consume in its mineral-laden youth. Brilliant! Give this at least 30 minutes of air if consuming now. Drink 2026-2043- 96

2024 Walter Scott ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- One of the great Oregon Pinot Noirs I’ve had in the past year, the otherworldly 2024 ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ comes from this famed Ribbon Ridge AVA site, planted between 2012-2014. It is brimming with tension, concentration and salty minerality, as pure red and dark fruits collide with wafts of dark truffle shavings and peat moss undertones on the palate. It is marvelous to consume now in its heady youth but has a long life in front of it. Drink 2026-2046- 97

Merryvale

Today we share one of the longstanding houses in Napa. Merryvale’s historic building was the first winery built in the Napa Valley after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933 and has become a favorite destination for visitors to the valley. This is a beautiful wine country setting, surrounded by French oak barrels and casks. I’ve enjoyed visiting this beautiful property many times and the surrounding serene vineyards. The property is owned by the Schlatter family. They have been making their ‘Profile’ red blend for many years and this years edition for my palate was the finest one yet!

They have produced a brilliant range of wines and I adore the 2021 Merryvale ‘Profile’ Red Wine (OB, 97) which is a stunning wine from this warm vintage. This one even eclipses the incredible ’19 bottling. Learn more at https://www.merryvale.com and here are the beautiful new wines by Merryvale.

2022 Merryvale ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay underwent full malolactic fermentation. It is better than first tasted. Loads of lemon zest and tropical fruits fill the palate with brioche and shades of cardamom. Gorgeous now enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2026-2033- 93

2023 Merryvale ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Merryvale ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir offers red cherry compote and cola on the nose with shades of stony minerals. The palate is dense and delicious with a sensational texture and great sense of weight. Cran-cola and sandy soils comine with shades of red licorice on the palate. This is refined and delicious Pinot that will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2021 Merryvale ‘Profile’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Profile’ is an ebullient combination of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. This comes off exceedingly exotic on the nose with Asian spices and graphite that combine with sandalwood and shades of creme de violette.  The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is powerful, concentrated and filled with stony minerals and underlying finesse. This is even better than the sinfully good 2019. Give this at least an hour in the decanter of savoring in its heady youth. Drink 2026-2050- 97

Avennia and Liminal

It is my pleasure to share the incredible wines of Avennia and Liminal, both partnerships between famed winemaker Chris Peterson and former Microsoft exec Marty Taucher. They now have two lines of wines, from their estate vineyard on Red Mountain as well as wines from choice sites throughout the Columbia Valley. They are making some of the best Sauvignon Blanc and Rose in Washington State. The Liminal wines are entirely sourced from the famed WeatherEye Vineyard on the north slope of Red Mountain.

I love the new wines by these wineries. I adored the 2024 Avennia ‘Arnaut’ Syrah (OB, 97) which is a total stunner that is arguably the finest edition of this wine. Learn more about Avennia at https://avennia.com and Liminal at https://www.liminalwine.com/ here are my reviews of the glorious new wines by Avennia and Liminal.

2024 Lydian White Wine- A blend of manly Sauvignon Blanc (80%) with the remainder Semillon, this offers kiwi and gooseberry flavors that mingle well with nutty and hay nuances on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2026-2031- 91

2023 Lydian Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Lydian Cabernet Sauvignon is soft on the mouth with lighter to medium-bodied red and dark fruits with Arabica bean notes. Drink 2026-2032- 90

2024 Liminal ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Viognier- This beautiful Viognier comes off beautifully aromatic offering yarrow and white peach. The palate is rich and viscous with terrific tension and vibrant minerality alongside loads of salty and stony minerals. Drink 2026-2036- 95

2023 Lydian ‘GSM’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘GSM’ Red Wine offers red currants and red rose petals on the nose with orange peel notes. The palate is nicely-balanced with a smooth mouthfeel, as this is brimming with bright acidity and lush red fruits. A killer value, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2024 Liminal ‘High Canyon’ Grenache- The 2024 ‘High Canyon’ Grenache is a gorgeous, round and generous Grenache that is showing marvelously in its heady youth. Once on the nose this offers Provencale herbs that combine with white pepper dusted bacon, green olives and Parma ham notes. The palate is lush and round with a generous mouthfeel and great sense of viscosity. Seriously good in its powerful youth this has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2026-2041- 96

2024 Liminal ‘The Barbarous Heart’ Red Wine- A knockout sGSM-inspired blend, the 2024 ‘The Barbarous Heart’ is mainly Grenache with smaller parts Syrah and Mourvèdre. Wild herbs and violets mark the nose alongside shades of dark currants and hints of smoked meats with bay leaf. The palate is rich and viscous with a terrific stony and herbal edge. Drink 2026-2038- 96

2024 Liminal ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2024 Liminal ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Syrah offers a beguiling nose with cassis, smoked pork shoulder, tar and anise seed. The palate is powerful and viscous with loads of white pepper and beef brisket tones alongside green olive tapenade. Refined on the mouth with a luxurious texture, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2038- 97

2024 Avennia ‘Justine’ Red Wine- The gorgeous 2024 ‘Justine’ combines 60% Grenache with 26% Mourvèdre and the remainder Syrah. Beautiful red florals mark the nose alongside shades of venison and red licorice. The palate is fresh and lithe with terrific texture and verve alongside a brilliant core of red fruits with orange zest notes. Drink 2026-2041- 96

2024 Avennia ‘Arnaut’ Syrah- All coming from the Boushey Vineyard, the 2024 ‘Arnaut’ offers a cornucopia of aromatics from white pepper dusted bacon to black olives and green herbs alongside shades of Hoisin sauce. The palate is impeccably balanced with serious finesse and weight. A glorious bottling that is up there with the finest ‘Arnaut’ bottlings yet, enjoy this stunner now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2044- 97

2023 Avennia ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2023 ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes entirely from the Avennia Estate Vineyard. This comes off marvelously floral with red and black rose petals alongside tar, sandalwood, anise and creme de cassis notes. The palate is exceedingly delicious with terrific mouthfeel, weight and verve. The tension and scorched earth notes really impress. Drink 2026-2042- 96

Big Table Farm

Many years back Big Table Farm was founded by Clare Carver and Brian Marcy — two of the great people in Oregon wine. For years Marcy served as winemaker at Neyers in Napa. Claire and Brian have their home and working farm in the Willamette Valley and will soon make estate wines from their fruit.

I adore the range of wines that they produced in 2024. Check out the amazing 2025 Big Table Farm Pinot Gris (OB, 94) which is an orange wine and one of the finest of its kind that you will taste in Oregon, with sensational aromatic and flavor range. Learn more about Big Table Farm at http://www.bigtablefarm.com/ Here are the fantastic new release wines by Big Table Farm.

2025 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Gris- Always an orange wine that saw extended skin contact, the 2025 Pinot Gris displays amazing flavor density with outstanding range. Pink Lady apple, bergamot, damp earth and rich melon fruits all combine on the palate, alongside excellent tension and texture. This is going to age gracefully for at least another eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2024 Big Table Farm ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ shows off white florals and peaches on the nose alongside cardamom-laced pastry crust notes. The palate is lush and round with terrific mouthfeel and excellent length. The core of melon and citrus fruits, combines with plenty of stony minerals on the palate. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2024 Big Table Farm ‘Eola Amity Hills’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2024 Big Table Farm ‘Eola Amity Hills’ Chardonnay is a limited production (120 cases) bottling from both the Bieze and X Omni vineyards. Starfruit and hay notes combine with shades of pink grapefruit blossom on the nose. The palate is beautifully-weighted, with amazing verve and mouth-watering acidity. A phenomenal bottling from two famed sites, enjoy this beauty over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 95

2024 Big Table Farm ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 Big Table Farm ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir was sourced from the Coats and Whitney, Yamhill Vineyard and Yates Conwill Vineyards. It is rich and polished with terrific volume and salty minerality. Rich red fruits parade with orange peel and shades of peat moss on the palate. A joy to consume now, watch this evolve over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 94

2024 BIg Table Farm ‘Cattrall Brothers Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Cattrall Brothers’ Pinot Noir has been made by Big Table Farm since the 2009 vintage. Translucent in the glass, this shows off heady aromatics of tilled compost, black raspberry and cedar notes with blackberry compote. The palate is silky and soft with an elegant mouthfeel and loads of salty tension. Finishing exceedingly long, enjoy this polished beauty now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 96

2024 Big Table Farm ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2024 Big Table Farm ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from 55 year old vines at this site. It comes off big and rich with a gorgeous core of black and red fruits alongside wet rocky nuances. WIth more air the Shiitake mushroom and soy sauce notes evolve, as this is quite dense and mineral-laden in its heady youth. Drink 2026-2041- 95

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Today we share the wines from Washington State’s founding winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle. I have long loved enjoying and purchasing these wines for decades. They continue to make wines that offer sensational value. Winemaker Katie Nelson has a longstanding history in our industry. She does a glorious job with producing everything from inky Cabernet to crisp, mineral-filled Riesling wines. She has former stops at Charles Smith and head winemaker at Columbia Crest.

I love the new 2025 Estival Chenin Blanc (OB, 92) which shows sensational texture and finesse. Even better was the 2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Impetus’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is a barrel selection wine that has at least a decade of life in front of it. 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.

2025 Estival Chenin Blanc- Sourced from several Columbia Valley sites, the 2025 Estival is bright and mineral-laden the palate. Kiwi and cantalope flavors collide with copious stony minerals on the palate. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2025 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Dry’ Riesling- The great value 2025 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Dry’ Riesling offers peaches and pear notes on the palate with flinty undertones on the palate. Drink 2026-2031- 89

2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Evergreen Vineyard’ Riesling- Sourced from this stronghold in he Ancient Lakes AVA, the 2024 ‘Evergreen Vineyard’ Riesling offers orange blossom and petrol on the nose with pretty white flowers. The palate is bone-dry with great texture and overall tension from this hot vintage. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2024 Columbia Crest ‘Grand Estates’ Chardonnay- I’ve probably tasted every vintage of this wine for 20 years. The 2024 ‘Grand Estates’ Chardonnay. This is open, approachable stuff with buttered brioche and pear notes alongside shades of honeycomb on the palate. This is classy stuff for the price. Drink 2026-2031- 90

2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay- Straightforward and delicious, the 2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay offers pink lady apple and sourdough bread notes alongside good freshness considering the warmth of the vintage. Enjoy now. Drink 2026-2030- 90

2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Impetus’ Chardonnay- A barrel selection wine, the 2024 ‘Impetus’ Chardonnay was stored in all French oak before bottling. The palate is rich and powerful with great tension. Layers of melon and tropical fruits combine with citrus blossom water on the palate. The flavor range here is outstanding, as is the weight and bright acidity. Drink 2026-2036- 94

2024 Columbia Crest ‘Grand Estates’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A really nice wine for the price, the 2024 Columbia Crest ‘Grand Estates’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows sandalwood and dark currents on the nose with a chocolate edge. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth mouthfeel. A killer value, enjoy now. Drink 2026-2031- 91

2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Red Blend’ Red Wine- The 2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Red Blend’ Red Wine comes off soft on the mouth. Mocha and tar flavors mingle well with stony minerals on the palate. This is a terrific value that is best enjoyed now. Drink 2026-2031- 90

2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is juicy and delicious stuff that is drinking marvelously right now. Creme de cassis and wet rock combine with shades of Cuban cigar on the palate. A fabulous wine for the price, showing outstanding texture and weight, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Artist Series’ Red Wine- The beautiful 2023 ‘Artist Series’ combines Merlot (44%) with Cabernet Franc (36%) and the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. Dried herbs and red florals combine with shades of red bell pepper and a dusting of black pepper with blackberry compote on the nose. The palate is beautifully balanced with serious poise and a silky texture. This is just a delicious glass of wine that is already neatly-evolved. Drink 2026-2041- 94

2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Impetus’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Impetus’ Red Wine is an inspired blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon with 22% Syrah and the remainder Malbec. Jet black in the glass, this delivers terrific flavor density on the mid-palate. Mocha, tar, anise and creme de violette flavors parade with stony minerals on the palate. Powerful and dense, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2026-2043- 95

VIADER

One of the timeless Napa wines, VIADER is all about hard work and dedication. Delia Viader only made one wine for years, a Bordeaux style blend, which she first crafted all the way back in 1986. She achieved a a PhD from Sorbonne University in Paris, and founding winemaker Delia Viader found her beautiful wines in top Michelin star restaurants across the globe.

Her son, Alan, is making some incredible wines now that all come from their estate site on Howell Mountain. This location is on a rocky hillside and has amazing stony character in the wines.

I have tasted these wines for more than 20 plus years. I tried their new ‘DARE’ wines which have novel varietals grown at this stony location. I love the 2024 VIADER ‘DARE’ Grenache (OB, 94) which is stony and floral with amazing novelty. I don’t think there is anything quite like this in Napa. Learn more about this storied Napa winery at https://viader.com Here are the beautiful new wines by VIADER.

2024 VIADER ‘DARE’ Touriga Nacional- The 2024 ‘DARE’ Touriga Nacional comes from this rocky site set at 1200 feet. Black florals and wet gravel mark the nose with shades of cassis. The palate is structured and concentrated with refined tannins and great weight and length. This has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2026-2040- 94

2024 VIADER ‘DARE’ Tempranillo- One of the only Tempranillo bottlings from Napa that I have tasted, the 2024 ‘DARE’ shows smoky and savory herbal notes on the nose with shades of milk chocolate. The palate is juicy and delicious with a refined mouthfeel and terrific texture, with faint orange peel and red raspberry notes. Drink 2026-2040- 94

2024 VIADER ‘DARE’ Grenache- An outstanding Napa Grenache, the 2024 ‘DARE’ offers pretty red florals, dill and Nori notes on the nose with Satsuma orange zest. The palate is well-structured and refined with a terrific mouthfeel and great acid backbone. The rocky soil nuance here is really novel. Drink 2026-2040- 94

Diamond Creek

An amazing Napa house, Diamond Creek was actually the first single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wine as well as the first $100 bottle of wine from Napa. This was unique at the time and Diamond Creek proprietors the Brounsteins created three different wines to show each individual soil type in the vineyard which were all produced separately. At the time thee was nothing close to this made in the Napa Valley.

The wines were exceptional in 2022. They were even better in 2023. I adored the 2023 Diamond Creek ‘Volcanic Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) which is a dizzying bottling that flirts with perfection. These retail around $300 USD. They are collectors item that would be perfect for a special occasion. Learn more about this famed estate at https://www.diamondcreekvineyards.com and here are my notes on the new 2023 Diamond Creek releases.

2023 Diamond Creek ‘Three Vineyard Blend’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Diamond Creek ‘Three Vineyard Blend’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows rocky soils and violets as well as asphalt tones that combine on the nose. The palate is refined and elegant with a silky mouthfeel and great sense of weight and verve. Concentrated and powerful, yet light on its feet, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2026-2042- 96

2023 Diamond Creek ‘Volcanic Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The knockout 2023 ‘Volcanic Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon really needs about an hour in the decanter before enjoying. Once on the nose this takes on layers of volcanic rock, anise and creme de cassis with shades of creme de violette and tar. The palate is impeccably balanced, and undeniably rocky. A silky combination of black and blue fruits greet you alongside sensational terroir in the glass. Elegant with a serious mineral backbone and refined tannins, enjoy now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2026-2046- 99

2023 Diamond Creek ‘Gravelly Meadow’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Diamond Creek ‘Gravelly Meadow’ Cabernet Sauvignon icomes from this estate vineyard set on small pebbles. Espresso grounds and blueberry compote combine with fresh sage and shades of wet rock all combine on the nose. The palate is plush and elegant with a serious weight and tension on the mouth, alongside pretty blue fruits and dark florals. This is a stunning wine that has many decades in front of it. Drink 2026-2046- 99

2023 Diamond Creek ‘Red Rock Terrace’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The dizzying 2023 Diamond Creek ‘Red Rock Terrace’ was sourced from this seven acre vineyard set on comes from this seven acre site with steep, iron-rich soils. Anise, scorched earth and dried herbs all mark the nose alongside crushed wet gravel on the nose. The palate has amazing power and verve, alongside a core of silky black and blue fruits with Turkish coffee notes. A stunning wine that has a long life in front of it, enjoy now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2026-2046- 99

Champagne Bollinger

Today we share the storied Champagne house, Bollinger. What began back in 1829 in Ay by Hennequin de Villermont, Paul Renaudin and Jacques Bollinger, at the present day the house continues to be run by members of the Bollinger family. The winery is very popular in Britain as Bollinger Champagnes have been come to be known as “Bolly”. We can find the first roots back in 1585 when the Hennequins, one of the Bollinger founding families, owned land nearby. Before the Bollinger house was founded, in the 18th century the Villermont family made wine and then 1750, Villermont settled in the location 16 rue Jules Lobet, which would eventually become the head office for Bollinger.

After the death of Jacques Bollinger in 1941, Lily Bollinger managed the brand and expanded production considerably. Since 1994, Ghislain de Mongolfier has managed Bollinger. A great-grandson of the founder, Mongolfier has also served as president of the Association Viticole Champenoise since 2004, after leading the Commission of Champagne for 10 years. I love the range of Bollinger Champagnes and they are probably best known for their ‘Special Cuvee’ Champagne that is Pinot Noir dominant and includes reserve wines that are up to fifteen years of age.

I am enamored by the new Champagne Bollinger PN AYC21 (OB, 96) which is gorgeous, round and generous stuff. This Pinot Noir based stunner is based on the 2021 vintage. Learn more about this famed Champagne house at https://www.champagne-bollinger.com Here is my review of the beautiful new release by Champagne Bollinger.

Champagne Bollinger ‘PN TX20’ Champagne- The ‘PN TX20’ Champagne by Bollinger mainly comes from Tauxières terroir, as this utilizes a 2020 base year. It is golden in the glass, as 2008 and 2012 vintage wines make up more than 25% of the blend. It has an incredibly soft mousse, with a fat and unctuous mouthfeel. Starfruit and papaya fruits mingle well with ginger, and salted green melon on the palate, with cashew nut accents. Extremely complex and dense, enjoy this heady and delightful Champagne now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2026-2040- 95

Champagne Bollinger PN AYC21- The Champagne Bollinger ‘PN AYC21’ Champagne is made of wine from the 2021 as a base, including 51% reserve wines from years such as 2012, 2013, and 2014. It comes from Aÿ, as well as parcels from Tauxières and Mutigny and was given 8G/L dosage. It is a big, round and generous wine that really needs to be served in a larger vessel. Pretty guava and red cherry fruits combine with shades of orange blossom on the nose. The palate is heady and decadent with a tremendous lift from what is most likely more mineral-laden vintages (E.G. 2013). The refined mousse really entices as this is drinking brilliantly now and has another fifteen years to go in the cellar. Drink 2026-2041- 96

2018 Champagne Bollinger ‘La Grande Annee’ Champagne- The brilliant 2018 Champagne Bollinger ‘La Grande Annee’ Champagne really needs half an hour of air before consuming. The wine comes off very reminiscent of the 2015 in terms of its warmth and flavor density. It is a world-class blend of 66% Pinot Noir, with 34% Chardonnay that was aged on the lees for more than five years before disgorgement in March 2025. Given 7G/L dosage, this slowly unveils layers of marzipan and salted melon fruit aromatics that collide with nectarine skin. The palate comes off big, round and dense with a refined mousse and fabulous texture. Drinking marvelously now with its nutty and stony mineral nuances, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 96

Review: Ritz-Carlton Portland, A 5 Star Hotel Showing Both Greatness and Major Flaws

Founded back in 2024, I had been waiting to finally stay at the Ritz-Carlton Portland hotel. We had a four night stay there for some rest and relaxation. This was the first actual week off I had experienced all year and the stay had some definite highs and lows. In some ways this hotel is considerably better than The Nines, another great downtown hotel. But in other ways our experience at the Ritz-Carlton was actually worse than what we experience at The Nines. Considering The Nines is half the price and sometimes more than half the price, this doesn’t exactly exude value in being at the Ritz-Carlton Portland. Check-in was excellent and quick. You expect that at any Ritz-Carlton. Service downstairs was thoughtful and excellent throughout our stay. The valet which we utilized was also excellent.
We checked in and then made our way to our room, located on the 12th floor. I decided to upgrade our room to a suite for an extra 200 bucks. We had already booked a room with Club Lounge access. It was a special weekend for my wife’s birthday. The downstairs staff definitely tried to make it special, albeit not always succeeding.

The suite had a big living room with great views of the city. The beds were remarkably comfortable. The bathroom was large and spacious with Dipthyque products. This was a really nice touch. All of the roughly 900 square feet were well-appointed and well-cleaned. There was an espresso machine which made great coffee. The feel of the room was spacious and has terrific floor to ceiling windows.

Bathrooms have both a tub and shower which was really nice for bathing our three year old. Overall the rooms are everything you would expect at a 5 star hotel. People answered the phone when you asked for something which is something you should absolutely expect at any Ritz-Carlton.

The room view was incredible and the nicest I have seen in Portland. The bed itself was incredibly comfortable and brand new. We slept really well. Temperatures in the room were easy to control. It was great having the extra space for our three year old especially during nap time. The room was not loud and the noise levels in the hotel generally were very good. You can tell that the hotel was well-constructed with a lot of steel and concrete.

The room and the service downstairs was the clear highlight. There were a few challenges with the downstairs staff getting something for my wife for her birthday as she did not initially receive her dessert or card that we signed and had staff also include. This was fixed and they were apologetic.

Now to the less than savory aspects of my stay.

CLUB LOUNGE REVIEW:

I have never stayed at a more disappointing Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge. This was a major distraction for our stay and I will go into greater detail in a minute. There are positive aspects of the lounge, and it was not purely doom and gloom.

The main positives in the Club Lounge were the food and wine, particularly the wine. The views were also good. Breakfasts particularly on the weekend with the omelette bar were particularly outstanding. This is not a cheap lounge as my friends paid $275.00 a day to have the access. Lunches were not as good in terms of food quality as breakfasts. The same is true with the small bites before dinner.

The wine selection had several decent Rose bottlings including Whispering Angel and the better option, Chateau Miraval Rose, which retails for about 25 bucks a bottle. Even better is the vintage Argyle ‘Brut Rose’ that they have on hand for you. It retails for 32 dollars a bottle. We enjoyed several glasses with friends with stunning views of Portland. Elk Cove, a local winery and their new 2023 Pinot Noir was a really nice option to have in the lounge as well, as I regularly review their beautiful wines.

This is what the hotel website says about the Ritz-Carlton Portland Club Lounge: “Often referred to as a “hotel within a hotel,” Club enhances your entire stay by providing a dedicated Concierge, a private Club Lounge, unique in-room amenities, and exclusive experiences that immerse you in the best of the destination.”

Nothing like this happened for us at the Club Lounge.There was no concierge there. There was nobody there that really wanted to do anything for you or make your stay special. Requests were poorly responded to. I even told the lead lounge attendant that it was my wife’s birthday and she did not think to try to do anything or make our stay special.

While the views, ambience and wine at the Club Lounge were excellent, the service was nothing short of abysmal. It was by far the least attentive I have ever experienced at any Ritz-Carlton. The lounge service was as if they were doing you a massive favor if you asked them for anything. Sometimes it took ten minutes for them to bring you something.

The first moment I arrived in the Club Lounge I felt uncomfortable. I went to grab some food and was immediately reprimanded for not using tongs to put chips on my plate. It was nearly physically impossible to use tongs in this way and the lounge attendant said that it was a “hygiene issue.” This did not really make sense as there was literally no-one else eating the chips.

Immediately after this we had another issue. I opened a bottle of wine that I was going serve to friends the following day. The main lounge supervisor, forgetting her name, came up to me and said that I could not do that and I could not open the wine. I explained to her that I was going to open the wine to serve to my friends the next day and she then said that I can do that but I can’t pour any wine for myself in the lounge. I explained to her that I am a wine critic and that the wine is not for current personal consumption. I have no idea why she presented with such a poor attitude throughout our four night stay. Service was also so bad that I didn’t consider bring my local friend there for wine. That was really disappointing.

Throughout the four days of our stay the service by the lead lounge attendant was so bad and brusque that we decided several times not to use the lounge and instead have some wine in our rooms. This shows you how bad the service actually was. Service was not only brusque but was disingenuous as at times the servers would say something under their breaths after you asked for a request. We travelled wth our three year old so we did have several requests for food, etc and this was met with a really poor attitude. It is my hope that the hotel eventually makes serious changes to the staffing at the lounge. This was a huge contrast to how good the service was on the main floor and during check-in and check-out.

RESTAURANT BELLPINE REVIEW:

We had a really poor meal at the Ritz-Carlton Portland and it was so poor and so ridiculously priced that we did not go back. Our first night we decided to check out Bellpine and it was massively disappointing. The CACAO-RUBBED WAGYU COULOTTE for 62 bucks was particularly tiny and made me have to eat half of my wife’s entree. The Halibut for 48 bucks was a paltry portion and was massively overcooked. They serve a 45 OZ PRIME TOMAHAWK RIBEYE for 300 bucks. I guess that pricing tells you almost everything.

Wine was also very poorly priced on the wine list. Our cocktails were adequate but not good for a 25 dollar old fashioned. The first one was so bad that I had to send it back, their Olive Oil Old Fashioned.

You expect your cocktails to be world-class in such a great foodie town but they were very disappointing. Want a 40 dollar bottle of Moet Champagne? That will cost you 180 bucks at this restaurant! We had some great food in Portland but it was definitely not served at the Ritz-Carlton which is a totally wasted opportunity by them. For my palate I find that the food and drinks at Urban Farmer Portland at The Nines is so much better. Service was not bad at Bellpine but the cocktail and food quality/value as well as the wine pricing was extremely poor. There are so many better options in the city. We had a world-class meal at Canard the next day.

The pool at the Ritz-Carlton Portland was one of the best parts of our stay. Our kiddo was constantly in the pool and the views from the pool were amazing. They also have a large hot-tub there. The pool was as major reason why we chose this hotel and it did not disappoint.

BOTTOM LINE:

The Ritz-Carlton Portland is a 5 star hotel that has some major highs and lows. We were there for four days so we really got to know the property. The room itself was big and spacious. It was incredibly relaxing being there. The Club Lounge was really such a disappointment and other than the wine selection and the views (which you also have in your room) I can’t recommend spending the extra money to use that. They have to change their staffing there who were cold and brusque — unfortunately unlike any Club Lounge I have ever experienced at any Ritz-Carlton. The service there definitely made this a less-fun stay and marred my wife’s birthday weekend. Fortunately, the service at anyplace other than the Club Lounge was exemplary, particularly the extremely friendly and helpful concierge.

Fidelitas

One of the great houses on Red Mountain, Fidelitas began with legendary Washington winemaker Charlie Hoppes and his vision to focus on making red wines from this famed AVA. Hoppes formerly served as former head winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle. A University of California, Davis grad, he had a brief job in Walla Walla in 1990 at Waterbrook Winery, and later began working with Mike Januik as a member of the winemaking team at Ste. Michelle in Woodinville. In 1993, he became the Head Red Winemaker and managed Ste. Michelle’s newest facility at the time, Canoe Ridge near Paterson, Washington. Hoppes had the pleasure of making the first vintages of Col Solare, from 1995-1998. Hoppes finally decided to purchase some land on Red Mountain, founding Fidelitas in 2000 -- and has produced fantastic reds and whites since that time. Fidelitas is known for their red and white Bordeaux blends, as well as their rich Cabernets. 

I love the new wines and what he does with Malbec in particular. Do not miss out on the 2023 ‘Estate’ Malbec (OB, 95) which is clearly one of the finest Malbecs you will find in Washington State. Learn more about the great Fidelitas lineup at http://www.fidelitaswines.com/ Here are the great new wine releases from Fidelitas.

2023 Fidelitas ’4040’ Red Wine- Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (79%), the ’4040’ opens with a beautiful bouquet of espresso  grounds, scorched earth and green herbs. The palate is medium to full-bodied with terrific weight and length. This is beautifully-balanced stuff that is already neatly-evolved. Open 30 minutes before enjoying. Drink 2026-2040- 94

2023 Fidélitas Estate Merlot- A limited production, 200 case wine, the 2023 ‘Estate’ Merlot was stored for 22 months in 44% new French oak as well as 22% new American oak before bottling. Tar, Cuban cigar and shades of anise with black florals all mark the nose. The palate is luxurious and refined with amazing weight and length. A glorious bottling that is already drinking marvelously, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2023 Fidélitas Estate Malbec- The outstanding 2023 ‘Estate’ Malbec was also stored in a fairly large portion of American oak (28% new) before bottling. It opens with heady aromatics of blueberry compote, creme de cassis and violet rose petals that all meld in the glass. The palate is deep and concentrated with amazing depth and richness. Glorious now, enjoy this well-structured beauty now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2023 Fidélitas Estate Petit Verdot- Inky in the glass, the knockout 2023 ‘Estate’ Petit Verdot is one of the best bottlings of its kind in the state. Only 180 cases made, this was stored in 38% new French oak before bottling. Green bell pepper and black currant cordial combine with shades of Turkish coffee on the nose. The palate is silky and delicious with refined tannins and powerful core of back and blue fruits alongside graphite and Earl Grey tea notes. Drink 2026-2042- 95

2023 Fidélitas Estate Cabernet Sauvignon- The silky and rich 2023 Fidélitas Estate Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this location on Red Mountain and was stored for 34 months in nearly all new French oak before bottling. Dried herbs and purple rose petals combine with Arabica bean notes on the nose. The power and tension here, with salty minerals, all entice on the palate. Glorious now, with refined tannins, enjoy now and over the next fifteen pus years. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2023 Fidélitas Estate ‘Clone 169’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Less than 100 cases were made of the outstanding 2023 Fidélitas Estate ‘Clone 169’ Cabernet Sauvignon which saw all new French oak for 34 months before bottling. It stands jet black in the glass, reveling in its violet flower aromatics alongside dark chocolate shavings, and shades of black licorice. The palate is deep and concentrated with serious depth and finesse. Enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen to twenty years to come. Drink 2026-2046- 96

2023 Fidelitas ‘Estate Clone 412’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A heady and rich bottling, the 2023 ‘Clone 412’ was also stored in new French oak prior to bottling. Sandalwood and espresso bean notes combine with black florals on the nose. The palate is rich and concentrated with refined tannins and a smooth mouthful. Generous and broad-shouldered, with lighter walnut and salty soil tones, enjoy now and over the next fifteen to twenty years to come.  Drink 2026-2041- 94

Cellar Selection: 2020 Bibi Graetz 'Testamatta' [1.5L'

One of my favorite Tuscan houses is Bibi Graetz. I had an unforgettable visit there last year (https://owenbargreen.com/blog/2025/7/7/bibi-graetz). A total renegade in his region, Bibi has transformed the wines made in Tuscany. Since his inaugural release 25 years ago Graetz has become one of Tuscany’s cult winemakers without having any formal training in winemaking. The Testamatta and Colore bottling have made him an international success as these wines have been revered by critics across the globe. 

Bibi sources from old vines in Tuscany as well as old vines from the Isola del Giglio which is a remote island that has ancient indigenous vines planted. His wines are crafted from traditional varieties of Sangiovese, Colorino, and Canaiolo for the reds and the indigenous varieties of Ansonica and Vermentino for his whites wines.

2020 was a warm vintage but Bibi did such a great job with these wines. The wine shows warmth of the vintage but also amazing salty tension. This beauty has such a long time to go in the cellar. The 2020 ‘Testamatta’ (OB, 95) is in a glorious place right now. This thing really needed a day of air and I lifted the cork fully after 24 hours to show beautiful florals and concentration. This is one that I picked up to enjoy with friends on my holiday — and the wine continued to delver on the second day. Learn more about this famed winery at http://www.bibigraetz.com  and here is my review of the 2020 1.5L of ‘Testamatta.’

2020 Bibi Graetz ‘Testamatta’ [1.5L]- A stunning wine out of magnum, I recently picked up several bottles of the 2020 ‘Testamatta.’ In large format it really needs a day of air to fully be aroused. Red rose petals and potpourri notes combine with sandalwood, amaro and shades of red raspberry puree on the nose. The palate is big, rich and bold with serious texture and salty minerality. A gorgeous wine to enjoy now, this has at least another fifteen years in front of it. Drink 2026-2041- 95

Valette

Today we share the magical wines of Chef Dustin Valette. Valette is a limited-production wine brand crafted by star winemakers such as Jesse Katz, Tom Rochioli and David Ramey.

One of the famed Sonoma chefs, Valette formerly was at Thomas Keller’s one-Michelin-star Bouchon in the Napa Valley and later worked at Michelin-starred Aqua in San Francisco, finally as executive sous chef under Laurent Manrique. Back in 2015 he opened his own restaurant, Valette in Healdsburg. The cuisine here is focused on modern American with a French twist. I recently visited both Valette and his other outpost, The Matheson, and was floored by the food quality and service.

I love this brand of wines. Katz and his fellow winemaker Hillary Sjolund have a knockout new wine, the 2023 Valette Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is sinfully good right now. I am so enamored by this wine that is very nervy from this slightly cooler vintage. So without further adieu here are my reviews of the new releases by Valette. Learn more at https://www.valettewines.com/

2025 Valette Rose- Sourced from the Russian River Valley, this 2025 Valette Rose offers wild mushroom and red rose petals on the nose. The palate is rich and viscous with terrific length and weight. 100% Pinot Noir. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2024 Valette ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ Chardonnay- All sourced from this famed site, this 2024 Chardonnay utilizes three clones of Chardonnay from the River Block.  Golden in the glass, this offers heady tropical and nutmeg laced melon fruits with buttered sourdough bread. The palate is rich and viscous with tremendous salty minerality. Drink 2026-2036- 96

2022 Valette ‘Bush Crispo’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this location in the Russian River Valley, the 2022 Valette ‘Bush Crispo’ Pinot Noir offers cola, sassafras and rich strawberry notes on the nose. Despite the heat of the vintage, this shows serious tension alongside ripe red fruits with orange peel accents and suggestions of bergamot. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2023 Valette ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from four separate locations in the Sonoma Coast AVA, the 2023 Valette ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir offers cola, red currants and salty minerals alongside orange peel tones on the palate. Showing great length and freshness, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2023 Valette ‘Bush Crispo’ Pinot Noir- The outtanding 2023 Valette ‘Bush Crispo’ Pinot Noir derives black truffle, black cherry compote and shades of eucaloyus on the nose. The palate is dense and nervy with plenty of salty tension and weight. Finishing very long with sea salt dusted red fruits and peat moss accents, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2040- 95

2023 Valette ‘Sonoma County’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from several locations in the Sonoma Valley, the 2023 ‘Sonoma County’ opens with cassis and dark currants alongside pencil lead and violets. The palate has incredible volume and tension as this glides throughout the drinking experience. This offers some serious value at 85 bucks retail and is irresistible to enjoy now. Drink 2026-2036- 95

2023 Valette ‘Skellenger Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Valette ‘Skellenger Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a knockout, weightless bottling that is showing incredibly well. This is impeccably balanced, with incredible verve and tension with salty minerality. Creme de violette, tar, tobacco, with amazing loamy soil character. A complete wine, with tremendous richness and nerve, enjoy over the next two decades to come. Drink 2026-2046- 100

2023 Valette ‘Pocket Peak’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the Pocket Peak AVA the 2023 stands inky in the glass. This location is set at 2300 feet, as this has marvelous astringency and chalky minerality. The palate is intense and highly nervy with amazing viscosity and flavor density. A world-class wine, coming from rocky soils that bleeds through the core of the wine, enjoy over the next two decades. This wine leaves no doubt that it is a perfect wine. Drink 2026-2046- 100

Quilceda Creek

It is my great pleasure to share one of the world’s great producers of Cabernet Sauvignon. Yesterday marked my yearly pilgrimage to Quilceda Creek to review their pre-release 2024 wines [release date Spring 2027]. I had the chance to visit for the first time their 2024‘CVR’ Red Wine which along with the ’23 is one of the finest, if not the finest’CVRs’ made. Sitting with director of winemaking Paul Golitzin he explained how bullish he is on the 2024 vintage. “The consistency of the Columbia Valley is remarkable. A viticultural paradise in 2024” he explained.

“We see the 2024 vintage like the ’18 vintage on steroids” said Paul Golitzin. “We missed out on the freeze and some people were wiped out in some lower areas but this was a beautiful, clean vintage.” The wines themselves shined with ebullient black and even blue fruit profiles. 2024 was a warm vintage with few heat spikes like 2023. Most wines that I have already visited from this vintage show amazing depth and power. They might have a touch less tension than the ‘22s, but show much better weight and flavor density. While I love the wines made in 2018, the ‘24s that I have tasted so far have serious promise.

While no Merlot was produced at Quilceda Creek for their ’23 vintage, they have a new Merlot in their ’24 vintage, their ‘Sasha’ who is named after Paul’s father. The Merlot is unlike anything made in Washington State with a very Pomerol feel and great soil character. A small amount of Merlot was also blended into their 2024 ‘CVR.’

Paul Golitzin is one of the great North American winemakers, taking over for his father decades ago. Mark Kaigas joined their team from Colgin and has been a revelation. He works closely with President and Director of Winemaking Paul Golitzin and Vineyard Manager Dan Nickolaus.

Do not miss out on the 2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is a knockout new bottling that is pillowy and soft, with exceptional smoothness and flavor density. Definitely more towards power than the ‘Columbia Valley’ the 2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) is a decadent treat to consume in its heady youth. This beauty has decades of life in front of it. Learn more about these incredible wines at quilcedacreek.com and here are my reviews of the sensational 2023 pre-release Cabernet Sauvignon wines by Quilceda Creek.

2025 Quilceda Creek ‘Quilceda Blanc’ White Wine- The 2025 ‘Quilceda Blanc’ is all Sauvignon Blanc from a site that neighbors the Champoux Vineyard. The wine was farmed at a meagre 1.25 tons an acre and only 215 cases were produced. Mostly stored in new French oak puncheons, the wine takes on amazing aromatic range that pushes melon, citrus and tropical fruits.  It comes off silky and elegant on the mouth and stands extremely bright in the glass. The palate is powerful and deep on the tongue with amazing weight and length, brimming with mouth-watering acidity. A stunning wine that has a long life in front of it, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2026-2040- 98

2024 Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine- The 2024 ‘CVR’ Red Wine is primarily all Cabernet Sauvignon (90%) with small parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot blended in, both coming from the Champoux Vineyard. Showing off an inky core this opens with toffee and mocha tones that combine with red and black florals alongside creme de cassis notes. The palate is deep and voluptuous on the mid-palate, with terrific volume and underlying finesse. A complex, hedonistic treat to enjoy now, savor this beauty over the next decade. Drink 2026-2036- 95

2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Sasha’ Merlot- The 2024 ‘Sasha’ combines 79% Merlot with 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Cabernet Franc. The nose shows toasted walnut and gorgeous red florals that combine with fresh sage and shades of Turkish coffee. The palate is dense, plush and elegant with a silky texture, good salty character, and refined tannins. Mocha, tar, milk chocolate coated black cherry and cassis flavors mingle well with shades of black licorice on the palate, with stony soil nuance. Lush and round on the mouth, with incredible length, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2026-2044- 99

2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes nearly all from the Champoux Vineyard (90%) with the remainder sourced from the Mach One Vineyard.The wine was aged in all new French oak barrels before bottling. The nose is mesmerizing with a hedonistic bouquet of black rose petals, oud and dark currants that mingle well with sagebrush, creme de violette and anise. The palate is seamless throughout the drinking experience as this effortlessly glides through the mid-palate. A total stunner, enjoy this heavyhitter now and over the next twenty years. This is nothing short of perfection in the bottle. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink 2026-2046- 100

2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Palengat’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2024 ‘Palengat’ is entirely comprised of Clone 685 Cabernet Sauvignon. Purple florals and wet stone mark the nose alongside scorched earth and fresh sage notes on the nose. The palate is silky and opulent throughout the drinking experience. It offers a glorious core of Arabica bean, dark chocolate shavings and black currant cordial flavors that connect with a bright beam of tension. A stunning wine that is already beautifully evolved, savor this beauty over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2026-2046- 100

2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Tchelistcheff’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The otherworldly 2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Tchelistcheff’ Cabernet Sauvignon was entirely sourced from the Mach One Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Aged in all new French oak barrels, this delivers tar, anise and creme de cassis on the nose with roasted date notes. The seductive nose brings you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is pillowy and deep with a massive core of black and blue fruits. The salty minerality and concentration creates an amazing perception of mouth-watering acidity on the mid-palate. Gorgeous now, enjoy this heady beauty and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2026-2046- 100

2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The next-level 2024 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a total masterclass that is your quintessential iron fist in a velvet glove. Cedar wood and blackberry blossom meld with dark chocolate shavings on the nose. It is velvety and soft on the approach. A glorious combination of black and blue fruits fill the palate alongside a graphite edge and refined tannins. This is a polished masterpiece that has many decades of life in front of it. Drink 2026-2050- 100

Tamber Bey

Today we share the great wines of Tamber Bey. Named after the Arabian horses at the estate, Tamber Bey began back in1999 and is a family-owned business, with Barry and Jennifer managing operations and marketing, and Barry's daughter, Kendra, managing the wine club. The winery is located in Calistoga and focuses on estate-grown wines at their Sundance Ranch, a functioning 22-acre equestrian facility.

The new wines were seriously good. Sally Johnson Blum crafts an outstanding lineup and I adored her 2024 UV Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is deep and concentrated with amazing soil character. Learn more about these great wines at https://tamberbey.com/ and here are my reviews of the outstanding new Tamber Bey wines.

2024 Tamber Bey Sauvignon Blanc- Sourced from Lake County, this 2024 Sauvignon Blanc offers pear and gooseberry notes alongside stony minerals on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2026-2030- 90

2024 Tamber Bey ‘UV Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 Tamber Bey ‘UV Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is smooth and voluptuous with a terrific mouthfeel and texture. Smooth throughout the drinking experience, this offers cran-cola, sassafras and dried herbs that mingle well with wet clay on the palate. The soil character is outstanding. Salty, beautifully balanced and very savory with its bay leaf tones, enjoy this outstanding bottling now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2024 Tamber Bey ‘Hallberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 Tamber Bey ‘Hallberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is juicy, broad-shouldered Pinot Noir that is drinking marvelously now. Dark rose petals and cardamom dusted red fruits mark the nose alongside orange peel tones. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth mouthful and lovely salty soil character. Drink 2026-2041- 94

2023 Tamber Bey ‘Oakville Estate Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Tamber Bey ‘Oakville Estate Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal, offering loamy soils, dark currants and tar on the nose alongside shades of wet rock. The palate is dense and delicious with a terrific mouthfeel and great loamy soil character. The sense of place is awesome. Drink 2026-2041- 95

Spring Valley

It is my pleasure sharing the wines of Spring Valley, founded by Shari and Dean Derby. They 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. Serge Laville took over as winemaker and transformed the wine program.

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. She did a great job with the 2022 wines. The 2023 wines are even more consistent. I love the 2023 Spring Valley ‘Fredrick’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is smooth and silky throughout the drinking experience. Learn more about these outstanding wines at springvalleyvineyard.com Here are my reviews of the fantastic new Spring Valley wines.

2023 Spring Valley ‘Uriah’ Red Wine- A gorgeous new wine, the 2023 Spring Valley ‘Uriah’ is unique to this vintage, as the ’22 was near equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Tihis vintage is 60% Cabernet Franc, and 40% Merlot. The Cabernet Franc has the upper hand right now with its Earl Grey tones alongside red bell pepper, dark currants and dark chocolate shavings on the palate. Neatly-textured and full-bodied, this is dense and delicious stuff that is already drinking beautifully. Drink 2026-2040- 94

2023 Spring Valley ‘Katherine Corkrum’ Cabernet Franc- Another sensational bottling of this wine, the 2023 Spring Valley ‘Katherine Corkrum’ Cabernet Franc shows off orange bell pepper and thyme on the nose with heady dark fruits. The palate is lush and inviting with good freshness and flavor density. Glorious now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 94

2023 Spring Valley ‘30th Anniversary’ Merlot- Sourced from their estate vineyard, the 2023 ‘30th Anniversary’ Merlot is brimming with juicy dark fruits on the nose with shades of violets, cedar and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied and chewy with a terrific mouthfeel, and refined tannins, enjoy this outstanding bottling now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 94

2023 Spring Valley ‘Frederick’ Red Wine The 2022 Spring Valley ‘Frederick’ is a silky blend of 61% Cab Sauvignon with 34% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. This is bold and delicious with pencil lead tones alongside black cherry compote, sandalwood and roasted dates on the palate. Soft and refined on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2026-2040- 94

2023 Spring Valley ‘Nina Lee’ Syrah- The outstanding 2023 Spring Valley ‘Nina Lee’ Syrah offers milk chocolate, tar and scorched earth notes on the nose with light dried herbal accents. The palate is dense with an excellent mineral backbone. Fresh sage and chocolate with Arabica bean flavors combine showing excellent decadence and underlying tension. Drink 2026-2036- 94

Rujaya

This is now the second time I have tasted the new wines by Rujaya. It is the second time that I have been seriously impressed with winemaker Benedict Almquist and his precision of crafting wines with a sense of place. For nearly a decade he worked alongside his cousin at Almquist Family Vintners in Seattle, and then in 2018 became their resident winemaker. Since spring of 2023, Benedict worked as assistant winemaker at Darby Winery in Woodinville, WA. He found his inspiration in a bottle of FX Pichler Riesling from the Wachau Valley, Austria and became infatuated with world-class Riesling. His first Riesling release was a home run! The new wines were even better than the first wines that I tasted. These are all fall 2026 releases. You don’t want to miss out on the 2024 ‘Icarus’ Grenache (OB, 95) which has amazing rocks character and is pretty and downright sexy in its incredible flavor range. Learn more about this electric new winery at https://rujayawinery.com/ and here are my reviews of the inaugural wines from Rujaya.

2024 Rujaya ‘Apinya’ Boushey Vineyard’ Grenache- The fabulous 2024 Rujaya ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Grenache was sourced from this famed site in the Yakima Valley. Stored in neutral oak, this opens with a heady melange of red and dark fruits, with pretty red rose petals and orange blossom on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a seriously good texture, as well as weight and length. Generous, and showing lovely stony nuance, this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2023 Rujaya ‘Apinya Royal Slope’ Syrah- The seriously good 2023 Rujaya ‘Royal Slope’ Syrah comes from the acclaimed Stillwater Creek Vineyard and utilizes Joseph Phelps clonal selection. All of this wine underwent whole-cluster fermentation. It stands inky in the glass, with black cherry compote, coffee grounds and green olives that combine with shades of chocolate pie on the palate. This has a bulls blood, sanguine character that makes it very Cote Rote meets Washington. Very dense and exotic, with Asian spices that linger, enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 95

2024 Rujaya ‘Apinya Icarus Vineyard’ Grenache- Sourced from the Icarus Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks District, this 2024 Grenache is sensational, third-leaf wine that has amazing Rocks character. Once on the nose this takes on layers of anise with charcuterie, beef drippings, orange peel and fresh sage, with great stony essence. The palate is beautifully-textured with serious verve. A joy to consume right now, watch this evolve over the next six to eight years. But why wait? Drink 2026-2033- 95

2023 Rujaya ‘Apinya Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The 2024 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah was entirely whole-cluster fermented and hails from the famed Stoney Vine Vineyard. It is soft, savory and neatly-textured stuff. Black olive tapenade and smoldering wet stones all combine with sagebrush, boysenberry and smoked meats on the palate. Beautiful now, enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 95

Chateau Miraval

Today we share one of the famed houses in Provence. Miraval is one of the historic houses in Provence and a true Hollywood drama,  Chateau Miraval is a highly scenic 1,200 acre estate in Provence, which was founded by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Married at Miraval, Pitt and Jolie prior to their split lived there since 2008. The property boasts pine forests, olive groves, terraced hillsides, working vineyards, a private lake  as well as a moat. Much of the chateau dates back to 17th century, including 35 rooms in the main house as well as several tenant residences.The estate also contains remains of a Romanesque chapel, as well as the famed vineyard from which the Miraval Rose comes from. The recording studio at Miraval has housed some famous musicians including personal favorites Sting and The Cranberries (R.I.P. Dolores O’ Riordan). 

It was back in 2012 that Pitt and Jolie purchased this famed land for an estimated $60 million and records indicate that in 1252 philosopher and theologian Saint Thomas Aquinas visited the Miraval estate. The vineyard itself is very large, Jean-Pierre and Francois Perrin are the iconic vintners behind this great Rose wine that produce white and rose wine from the 500 hectare property.  They produce a ton of Rose (roughly 200,000 bottles) and despite the quantity of wine produced, the quality of the wine has been apparently throughout the past five vintages.

I had such a marvelous visit to Miraval last August. Walking through this incredibly beautiful site, you can’t help but notice the immense stony quality of the vineyards. Massive limestone deposits are everywhere as you can see how the heat and stones lead to the struggle in the vines, resulting in extremely high quality grapes. The 2025 Miraval Rose (OB, 91) is direct and shows great mineral backbone with pretty red fruits. Learn more about Miraval at http://miraval-provence.com/en/ Here are the new 2025 Miraval review.

2025 Chateau Miraval Rose- The 2025 Chateau Miraval Rose is a great combination of Cinsault, Rolle, Grenache and Syrah. It shows delicate red raspberry and watermelon tones alongside honeydew melon and vibrant acidity on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2032- 91

Krug Champagne

One of the famed Champagne houses, Krug was founded by Joseph Krug back in 1843. Located in Reims and currently owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy, Joseph Krug, a German, originally founded this house. He later moved to Paris to work in accounting for Champagne Jacquesson and learned so much about Champagne that he began making his own privately. A brilliant linguist, Joseph spoke French, English and German and spoke some Russian, which put his Champagne house in good position to sell to overseas markets.

Following Joseph’s death his son, Paul Krug, took over and began selling Krug across Great Britain. Major turmoil followed Paul’s death in 1910 with two World Wars, although many people contend that the best Champagnes of the century were made between 1926 and 1928. Some have said these were some of the finest wines the house has ever made.

For many years Krug has crafted a range of wines including their famous ‘Grande Cuvée’ (which I reviewed), as well as a stunning non-vintage rosé, a vintage Blanc, a vintage Blanc de Blancs from the Clos du Mesnil Vineyard, a vintage Blanc de Noirs from the Clos d'Ambonnay Vineyard and older vintages released as Krug Collection series.

I adored the the 171 eme. Edition ‘Grand Cuvée’ which has a base from the warm and rich 2015 vintage.Learn more about these very special wines at https://www.krug.com Here is my review of the new ‘Grand Cuvee’ Champagne by Krug.

Krug Grand Cuvée 171 eme Edition Champagne- With a base from 2015, the 171 eme. by Krug is a dazzling bottling that still has so much life in front of it . It really needs about 30 minutes of air to be fully aroused. Lemon rind and salted melon combine with brioche and toasted hazelnuts on the palate. This edition is primarily Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a small amount of Meunier blended in. Bravo! Drink 2026-2039- 97