Liminal

One of the great wineries in Washington state, Liminal sources from the acclaimed WeatherEye Vineyard (https://www.weathereyevineyard.com). This incredible site is set on the windswept ridgeline of Red Mountain in Washington State and is planted to 30 acres of Rhône, Bordeaux, and Spanish varieties. This is absolutely extreme terroir. The vineyard ranges from 950’ to 1410’ of elevation, and has extreme slopes and soils ranging from dune sand to fractured bedrock basalt. Ryan Johnson serves as vineyard manager, having previously managed the esteemed Ciel du Cheval Vineyard for 15 years. Ryan farms this vineyard meticulously and wines from this site have a very wild appearance from the sagebrush, rabbitbrush and yarrow as well as many other native plants that can be found amongst the vines. It is incredible how the nuances of these plants can come into the wines.

The wines all share an incredible wild character from this herbal-laden terroir.  I was enamored by the fall releases and the spring 2024 releases are nothing short of world-class. I adored the new 2023 Liminal Viognier (OB, 95) is bold and dazzles with its depth and flavor range. Learn more at https://www.liminalwine.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Liminal Wines.

2023 Liminal Viognier- Sourced from the famed WeatherEye Vineyard the outstanding 2023 Viognier has less tension but better concentration than the ’22. Rich papaya and orange marmalade flavors combine wth honeydew melon and juicy kiwi on the palate. Viscous and dense, enjoy this stunning wine now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2023 Liminal Grenache- The 2023 Liminal Grenache is reminiscent of some of the greats from Chateauneuf. Blood orange zest and wild herbs fill the nose alongside red rose petals and shades of smoked pork shoulder all fill the nose. The palate has outstanding depth, poise and concentration, with salty and stony undertones and a great core of garrigue dusted red fruits. A stunning wine to enjoy now, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 96

2023 Liminal Syrah- The 2023 Liminal Syrah is a stunning wine from this warm vintage. This is dense, heady and concentrated stuff with loads of garrigue character. Arabica bean and fresh herbs combine with shades of black currants, Hoisin sauce and burnt ends on the palate. Very complex and delicious, this savory, stony and salty wine is already beautifully defined. Drink 2025-2038- 96

2023 Liminal ‘The Barbarous Heart’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘The Barbarous Heart’ is a GSM-style wine with mainly Grenache (48%) and Mourvèdre (30%) with a small part Syrah. Wet stone and provencal herbal tones mark the palate alongside suggestions of Mandarin orange zest and shades of pulled pork on the palate. Marvelously smoky, savory and meaty, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 96

2023 Liminal ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Mourvèdre- The 2023 Liminal ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Mourvèdre delivers thyme and smoked brisket on the nose with orange rind tones. The palate is dense and heady with terrific weight and texture. Glorious now, with terrific nerve, watch this evolve over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 96

Bledoe Family Winery

Today we share one of the greats of Walla Walla. Doubleback was founded by NFL legend, Drew Bledsoe and his wife, Maura. The story completes itself as Drew circled back following his brilliant NFL career. He decided that he wanted to produce more of a value brand under his name — wines that offer serous class for a good price. Bledsoe Family Wines was born and they have a killer tasting room in downtown Walla Walla. Like Doubleback, the wines are made by one of Washington’s great winemaking talents, Josh McDaniels.

I love the new 2023 Bledsoe Family Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 93) which totally overdelivers for the price Learn more about these beautiful wines at www.bledsoefamilywinery.com and here is my review of the gorgeous new 2025 fall release wine by Bledsoe Family.

2023 Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the Walla Walla Valley, this 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon offers bitter chocolate, tar and tobacco leaf with fresh sage on the palate, alongside concentrated dark currants. This is seriously good for the price. Drink 2025-2033- 93

Echolands

Today we share the wines of Echolands, founded by Brad Bergman and Doug Frost, MW, MS. Echolands is an amazing tasting experience outside of the town of Walla Walla. They have built their new, gorgeous facility in the Mill Creek area, with sweeping views of the valley. Doug Frost has an illustrious wine career, and is one of three individuals in the world to hold simultaneously the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier titles, achieving his MS in 1991 and MW in 1993. He also authored ‘The Spanish Wine Guide (third edition 2009’) and is a contributing editor of the Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails.

I have long admired the wines by winemaker Brian Rudin who was hired roughly a year ago to take over the winemaking program. He did incredible work at Canvasback, creating wines that have beautiful depth and flavor density — deftly showcasing the Red Mountain power and terroir.

I loved the new wines. The 2023 ‘Resurgent Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 95) is marvelously stony with insanely good flavor range. Learn more about this fantastic new project at echolandswinery.com Here are my reviews of he beautiful new wines that I tasted from Echolands.

2022 Echolands ‘Resound’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Resound’ combines mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (46%) with Cabernet Franc, Merlot and a touch of Petit Verdot. This is soft and well-structured stuff with medium-bodied pipe tobacco and milk chocolate flavors that combine with fresh sage and kirsch notes on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2023 Echolands ‘Resurgent Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2023 ‘Resurgent’ Syrah comes from this site set on basalt cobblestones. This is wonderfully stony no the nose with wet gravel, tar, bay leaf and shades of Hoisin sauce with dark raspberry notes. The palate is silky smooth with a great sense of tension that runs through the core of milk chocolate, crushed wet rock and stony minerals. Seriously good, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Absolutely no reason to cellar this beauty. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2022 Echolands ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2022 Echolands ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah is based from Block 49 of the vineyard, as this has a touch of Viognier blended in. Lifted aromatics from the Viognier greet you with white flowers alongside red currants, menthol and shades of wet rock. The palate is very laden with texture and minerality. This is a resounding success in a cooler vintage. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2023 Echolands ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Franc- The outstanding 2023 Echolands ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Franc was stored in a small amount of new French oak barrels before bottling. This comes off neatly-textured with good tension. Blood orange zest and red raspberry mingles well with herbs de Provence and rocky accents on the palate. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 93

Trisaetum

Today we share one of the outstanding producers of the Willamette Valley. Trisaetum utilizes the talents of fellow Arsenal supporter James Frey. Wines are well-balanced and speak to the AVAs. They have amazing poise and power.  James also makes some outstanding sparkling wines under his Pashey label and I reviewed his wines sourced from the Walla Walla Valley, his 1841 label. He is making some of the best Riesling you will taste in the Willamette Valley.

The new Trisaetum lineup was amazing. I love the 2023 Trisaetum ‘Estates Reserve’ Pinot noir (OB, 95) which is a head-turning barrel selection wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. T Learn more about this fantastic Willamette Valley winery at http://www.trisaetum.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Trisaetum. 

2023 Trisaetum ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2023 ‘Willamette Valley’ bottling comes from the three Trisaetum estate vineyards. This is beautifully textured stuff, offering loads of tart red fruits alongside blood orange zest, salty soils and suggestions of dried hers on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2023 Trisaetum ‘Ribbon Ridge Estate’ Pinot Noir- A beautiful edition of this wine, the 2023 ‘Ribbon Ridge Estate’ Pinot Noir comes from this location planted back in 2007, set on marine sandstones. It offers pure guava and red cherry flavors alongside wet stone, orange zest and copious stony minerals on the palate. Drink 2025-2036- 94

2023 Trisaetum ‘Coast Range Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Coast Range Estate’ comes from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA at this location set on both volcanic and marine sedimentary soils. This is filled with tension and minerality on the tongue. Red rose water combines iwht salted orange and shades of pomegranate seed on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2023 Trisaetum ‘Wichmann Dundee’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Wichmann Dundee’ was sourced from vines set on Jory soils in the Dundee Hills AVA. Right away this offers crushed wet rock and orange peel notes on the nose alongside heady wild blackberry notes aromatically. The palate is fresh, concentrated and loaded with mouth-watering tension on the palate, alongside suggestions of wild mushroom. Comlex and elegant, with great texture and verve, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Trisaetum ‘Estates Reserve’ Pinot Noir-A marvelous wine from all three Trisaetum properties, the 2023 ‘Estates Reserve’ can benefit from an hour in the decanter. This opens with outstanding and dense aromatics of bright red fruits, potpourri and light green herbs that combine with salty soils, bergamot and damp early accents. The palate is beautifully-textured and intense stuff with great tension and flavor density. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Trisaetum ‘Family Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The stunning 2023 ‘Family Reserve’ is a wine that has such a long life ahead of it. Silky and refined on the mouth, this shows amazing depth, power and concentration. A glorious core of red fruits surrounded by salty and stony soils all combine on the palate, with peat moss and shades of menthol on the palate. Try to resist this beauty for at least another year. Drink 2026-2044- 96

Pepper Bridge and Amavi

Today we share the amazing wines of Swiss-born winemaker Jean-François Pellet. Pellet is a third-generation wine grower. He is an incredible talent that worked with his father before coming to the Walla Walla Valley back in 1999. Pepper Bridge founder Norm McKibbon saw the potential in Pellet and made him Pepper Bridge winemaker. The brand has been going strong ever since. In addition to being winemaker at both Pepper Bridge and Amavi, Pellet is a partner in Artifex, the largest custom crush facility in Walla Walla, as well as the Octave Vineyard.

In August I sat with Pellet and tasted his new wines which were amazing across the board. His Amavi brand continues to deliver good value. I love the 2024 Amavi Semillon (OB, 93) which is amongst the finest examples of this variety that you will taste in Washington. I love the 2024 Amavi Rose (OB, 93) which is another sterling example of this wine with amazing flavor range. Check out the incredible 2022 Pepper Bridge ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is amazingly poised and shows great depth and concentration from this cooler vintage.  Learn more at pepperbridge.com and here are the gorgeous new red wine releases by Pepper Bridge.

2024 Amavi Semillon- This 2024 Semillon wine has 16% Sauvignon Blanc blended in. This is marvelously nutty on the nose with apricot and pear notes. The palate is lithe and polished with a silky texture and refined sense of mouthfeel. This is seriously good, utilizing weight and acidity. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2024 Pepper Bridge Sauvignon Blanc- The 2024 Pepper Bridge Sauvignon has 6% Semillon blended in. Gooseberry and walnut mark the nose alongside shades of green apple all meld together. The palate is incredibly nervy and intense with heady finesse that meld together with citrus and orchard fruits. This is exceedingly well-done. Drink 2025-2032- 94

2024 Amavi Rose- A stunning new edition of this wine, the 2024 Amavi Rose is made from Cabernet Franc grapes and then was stored in stainless steel with some lees stirring before bottling. Damp earth collide with fresh strawberry, guava and shades of blood orange zest. This is ultra-fresh with a superb texture and great mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2022 Amavi ‘Walla Walla’ Syrah- This is an identical blend to the ’22, the 2023 Walla Walla Syrah is 89% Syrah with the remainder Grenache. The Walla Walla Rocks nose is really shining brightly here with the stony character alongside menthol and Hoisin sauce with bright black fruits. The palate is lithe and fresh with great texture and finesse. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Amavi ‘Les Collines’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Les Collines’ is a 100% varietal wine that comes from this location near the Blue Mountains. Dried herbs and blueberry pie mark the nose alongside pencil lead and bacon fat notes. The palate has amazing freshness and underlying tension that collides with copious stony minerals and dense dark fruits. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Amavi ‘Stone Valley’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Stone Valley’ saw roughly half whole cluster fermentation. The wine was stored in only 17% new French oak before bottling. Seaweed and beef drippings mark the nose alongside black olive tapenade and charcuterie notes. This has really nice weight considering the vintage, as the flavor range really drives this beautiful wine. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2023 Amavi ‘Ceres’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Ceres’ combines Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Stored in 38% new French oak this delivers coffee grinds and dark currants on the nose alongside milk chocolate notes. This has a generous mouthfeel with fabulous texture and weight, as black and blue fruits combine with dark chocolate shavings and suggestions of dark fig. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2022 Amavi ‘Walla Walla’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Wallla Walla’ Cabernet Sauvignon has smaller portions of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec blended in. This was entirely sourced from the Pepper Bridge and Summit View Vineyards. Anise and green herbs mark the nose alongside iodine and tar notes. The palate is refined and beautifully-textured with great flavor density and weight. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2022 Pepper Bridge ‘Walla Walla’ Merlot- The 2022 ‘Walla Walla’ Merlot has 12% Cabernet Franc and 6% Malbec blended in. Mainly coming from the Seven Hills vineyard, this offers a refined mouthfeel with great earthy elegance on the palate. Dark cherry and sagebrush tones combine with graphite and shades of loamy soils on the palate. Drink 2025-2042- 94

2022 Pepper Bridge ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine-  The 2022 ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine is mainly Merlot with 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Malbec with a touch of Petit Verdot. Loads of dark chocolate fill the glass alongside violet rose petals,  scorched earth and suggestions of bay leaf. The palate has fabulous weight and length with terrific viscosity. Drink 2025-2042- 95

2022 Pepper Bridge ‘Trine’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Trine’ combines 38% Cabernet Franc with 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The herbal notes are gorgeous here as violets, tar and Cuban cigar notes combine with heady dark fruits. The palate shows beautiful freshness and structure, with vibrant acidity and a killer core of dark fruits. Drink 2026-2044- 95

2022 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon has a small amount of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc blended in. Stored in 57% new French ask this delivers great volume and flavor density on the palate with gobs of finesse. Dark cherry and loganberry notes combine with shades of black licorice and tar on the palate. This is sophisticated, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon that will live on for decades. Give this another year to develop. Drink 2026-2042- 94

Quilceda Creek

It is my pleasure to share the wines of Quilceda Creek. I visited the winery a few days back and was able to grab some awesome harvest footage. The fruit that they were processing looks impeccable from this vintage. Paul Golitzin is one of North America’s great winemakers, and has been in charge of Quilceda Creek winemaking now for decades. His winemaking style is pure class, crafting wines with his signature silky texture with serious viscosity and favor density captivates the senses.

I’m honored to be the first critic to taste the 2023 Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine. This has consistently been one of the top values in Washington wine. The new edition of this wine, the 2023 ‘CVR’ (OB, 95) is a notch better than the ’22, with a pillowy mouthfeel and loaded with dense dark fruits alongside plenty of nuance. You are gonna love this wine! Learn more about these incredible wines at quilcedacreek.com and here is my review of the amazing 2023 ‘CVR’ pre-release wine by Quilceda Creek.

2023 Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine- This 2023 edition of the ‘CVR’ is 84% Cabernet Sauvignon with 8% Cabernet Franc blended in from the Champoux Vineyard with 5% Merlot and the remainder Petit Verdot. This benefited considerably from a long decant, offering black rose petal aromatics that combine with shades of anise, dark currants, pencil lead and sweet pipe tobacco. The palate is soft and elegant with a silky mouthfeel and great sense of weight — showing off the warmth of the vintage. This shows slightly better than the brilliant ’22. Drink 2025-2035- 95

Long Shadows

For years winemaker Gilles Nicault has been crafting some of the best wines in the Pacific Northwest.  I’ve spoken with Nicault many times about tough vintages like 2020. He did an amazing job with this year where many wineries suffered because of the conditions at harvest.  Long Shadows is one of Washington’s eminent wine brands, founded by visionary and Washington wine pioneer Allen Shoup. Shoup is a founding father of the Washington wine industry. He spent 20 years building Château Ste. Michelle and its affiliate wineries, serving as the company's CEO for 17 of those years before establishing Long Shadows in 2002. He had an incredible vision for Long Shadows and built a world-class wine brand from the ground up. The Nine Hats brand that he founded is consistently one of the better value lineups that you will find in Pacific Northwest wine. The Long Shadows tasting room in Woodinville has a world-class epicurean tasting that is a must visit for any lover of Pacific Northwest food and wine. Elegant and highly elevated, this special tasting is awesome experience for date night.

I love the new 2020 Long Shadows ‘Chester Kidder’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is rich and bold from this tougher vintage. Learn more about these famed wines at longshadows.com and here are my reviews of the beautiful new Long Shadows and Nine Hats wines.

2020 Long Shadows ‘Chester Kidder’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Chester Kidder’ is a gorgeous, deep and concentrated combination of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (57%) with 33% Syrah and the reminder Petit Verdot. Inky in the glass, this delivers green herbs, pencil lead and mocha flavors alongside creme de cassis flavors. This is decadent and delicious stuff that is best consumed now. Drink 2025-2031- 94

2025 Hampshire Report

Today we share my Hampshire Report from my visit there several months back. Hampshire is a budding wine region that continues to build. I have now been visiting Hampshire and tasting wines there for nearly ten years. The overall quality of this region continues to improve year after year. Hampshire is located roughly 50 miles southwest of London. If departing from central London you can take the train to Basingstoke, located roughly 50 or less minutes from many of the wineries. The region sees less rain than most other parts of England and vines are set on chalky and flinty soils that are similar to that in champagne. Soils in this region retains moisture and heat for the vines, and contributes to a vibrant sense of stony and chalky minerality in the wines which are predominantly planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. 

There were many world-class wines that I tasted. I love the NV Hambledon ‘Premier Cuvee’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 94) showing amazing weight and texture. Very complex and delicious, check out the 2015 Exton Park ‘Cuvee M. Isaac’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 95) which is singing at the ten year mark. And not to be outdone the 2017 Hattingley ‘King’s Cuvee’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 96) was loaded with lemon oil and salty character. Learn more at https://www.vineyardsofhampshire.co.uk/ and here is my 2025 Hampshire Report.

BLACK CHALK

2021 Black Chalk Classic’ Brut Sparkling Wine- Made from 58% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, this was given 5.4G/L dosage. Coming from this difficult vintage, this was stored in a small amount of new French oak and spent 22 months on the lees. This offers good freshness with pear and green apple flavors alongside cashew nut and light chalky character. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2021 Black Chalk ‘Wild Rose’ Rose Sparkling Wine- The 2021 Black Chalk ‘Wild Rose’ Rose Sparkling Wine is mainly Pinot Noir (55%) with the remainder Pinot Meunier and 14% Chardonnay. Given 5.3G/L dosage, this shows pretty red florals with strawberry and melon tone on the nose. The palate is very fresh and elegant with delicate red fruits alongside chalky soils. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2020 Black Chalk ‘Paragon’ Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine- The really good 2020 Black Chalk ‘Paragon’ Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine was given 6 G/L. Lemon rind and sourdough bread combine with hints of honeycomb and white pepper on the nose. The palate is soft and elegant with great minerality and texture. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2020 Black Chalk ‘Inversion’ Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine- Based on the 777 Pinot Noir clone, the 2020 ‘Inversion’ is all Pinot Noir. Coming from this warm vintage, was stored in half neutral oak barrels prior to disgorgement. Flint and quince notes combine with pink grapefruit blossom on the nose. This offers good body and freshness, really coming alive at a warmer temperature. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2023 Black Chalk Rose- Made from mostly Pinot Noir (55%), this was stored in all stainless steel before bottling. Very earthy on the nose with damp soils that connect with faint red fruits. The palate is soft and elegant with light red fruits. Drink 2025-2030- 89

2023 Black Chalk ‘Rumor Has It’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Rumor Has It’ offers pear and pie crust on the nose alongside shades of starfruit. The palate is soft and juicy with a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2030- 90

EXTON PARK

NV Exton Park ‘RB 23’ Rose Sparkling Wine- The NV Exton Park Rose is a blend of 23 individual wines and is mainly reserve wines. Mainly Pinot Noir (70%) wth the reminder Pinot Meunier, this was stored on the lees for three years before disgorgement. The gorgeous bouquet delivers red currants and hints of white pepper that combine with strawberry and orange peel. The palate is fresh and lithe with serious tension, showing great wild mushroom and damp earth tones from the reserve wines. This is going to age gracefully for another decade — or more. Drink 2025-2035- 93

NV Exton Park ‘RB 28’ Blanc de Noir Sparkling Wine- The NV Exton Park ‘RB 28’ Blanc de Noir Sparkling Wine is a limited production wine that is composed of mainly reserve wines. Damp earth and flinty stones combine with shades of honeydew melon and wafts of white truffle shavings. This is dense and nervy stuff that spent four years on the lees, offering light red fruits that mingle brilliantly with the citrus and melon core, offering loads of mouth-watering acidity. Drink 2025-2035- 93

NV Exton Park ‘RB 32’ Brut Sparking Wine- The ‘RB 32’ is mainly Pinot Noir (60%) with the remainder Chardonnay that was stored for five years on the lees before disgorgement in 2024. Chalky soils mingle well with lemon rind, white peach and shades of kiwi on the nose. The palate is refined and very tense with great finesse and loads of chalky soil character. Drink 2025-2035- 93

NV Exton Park ‘RB 45’ Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine- The NV Exton Park ‘RB 45’ Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine has a small amount of oak influence, as this was given 6 G/L dosage before disgorgement in 2024. Cashew nut combines with brioche and shades of cantaloupe with freshly cut limes on the nose. The palate is fresh and refined with a smooth texture and great sense of mousse. Gorgeous now, this will cellar well for another ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2015 Exton Park ‘Cuvee M. Isaac’ Sparkling Wine- An ultra-complex wine, the 2015 Exton Park ‘Cuvee M. Isaac’ Sparkling Wine is big, burly and heady from this vintage. Very nutty and intense, this offers a great ore of melon and citrus fruits that meld with hints of guava, quince and sourdough bread. A gorgeous wine to consume on its own, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 95

HAMBLEDON

NV Hambledon ‘Classic Cuvee’ Sparkling Wine- An amazing effort, the NV Hambedon ‘Classic Cuvee’ Sparking Wine is shining brightly right now. Aged on the lees for 35 months, this combines Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier sourced from South East facing chalk slopes of Windmill Down, in the historic village of Hambledon. Rich and generous on the mouth, the silky mousse entices. Ripe red raspberry and Pink Lady apple fruit flavors mingle well with lemon zest and chalky soils on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

NV Hambledon Rose Sparkling Wine- Loaded with crunchy red fruits, the NV Hambledon Rose offers bright cranberry, tart cherry and red raspberry notes alongside salty and stony minerals on the palate. With a soft mousse and gobs of great finesse, this is best enjoyed now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

NV Hambledon ‘Premier Cuvee’ Sparkling Wine- The NV ‘Premier Cuvee’ combines wines that are stored 7-8 years on the lees before disgorgement in 2022. Mainly Chardonnay from their estate vineyard, this has a base from 2014, and was given 2.5 G/L dosage. This is big and rich with a beautiful mouthfeel and finesse. Dense melon and citrus fruits combine with shades of cranberry and baking spice laced pastry crust. Gorgeous and very racy right now, with excellent weight and chalky character, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

NV Hambledon ‘Blanc de Blancs Cuvee’ Sparkling Wine- The NV Hambledon ‘Blanc de Blancs Cuvee’ Sparkling Wine is a recent release and is the first Blanc de Blancs made from this house. With a base of 2018, and 3.2G/L dosage, this spent more than three years on the lees and a year on cork before release. Lemon blossom and shades of salted French bread mark the nose alongside kumquat zest. The palate is fresh and lithe, with great polish and a good sense of weight. Drink 2025-2032- 92

HATTINGLEY VALLEY

NV Hattingley Valley ‘Classic Reserve’ Sparkling Wine- The NV Hattingley Valley ‘Classic Reserve’ Sparkling Wine was given 5.5G/L dosage that utilizes roughly 30% reserves wines. This utilizes the base vintage of 2019 and is roughly 50% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. This is soft and smooth on the mousse, loaded with melon and citrus fruits, with a touch of guava. Bright and silky, this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2020 Hattingley Valley Rose Sparkling Wine- The 2020 Rose is mainly Pinot Noir (60%) with the remainder Pinot Meunier and a touch of Pinot Noir Precoce. Orange blossom and cranberry mark the nose alongside shades of Yakima cherry. The palate is mineral-laden and fresh with great damp earth and loads of freshness with tart red fruits. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2018 Hattingley Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine- All Chardonnay, the 2018 Blanc de Blancs was given 6G/L dosage and was disgorged at the end of 2024. A small amount was fermented in French oak before aging on the lees for seven years. On the nose this takes on lemon curd and beautiful white rose petals alongside chalky soils. The palate is full and round with beautiful finesse and chalky character. Showing serious depth and concentration, this is a stunning wine from a great vintage. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2017 Hattingley ‘King’s Cuvee’ Sparkling Wine- The 2017 ‘King’s Cuvee’ combines 45% Chardonnay with 28% Pinot Meunier and the remainder Pinot Noir. The wine is a barrel selection blend that was given 4.4G/L dosage. Toasted hazelnuts and shades of salted peach combine with honeydew melon and pastry crust. This is a stunning wine that is very dense and nervy, with loads of lemon oil and salted nut character. This is going to age gracefully for over a decade. Drink 2025-2040- 96

LOUIS POMMERY ENGLAND

NV Louis Pommery England Brut Sparkling Wine- Sourced from their Pinglestone estate, this is primarily Chardonnay (55%) with smaller portions Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Aged on the lees for 18 months before disgorgement this was given 7G/L dosage. Brioche and toasted apple al fill the nose alongside shades of kumquat rind. The palate shows great salty and chalky soil character with serous tension. This is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2025-2031- 91

NV Louis Pommery England Rose Sparkling Wine- The NV Louis Pommery England Rose is mainly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from their Pinglestone estate. Also given 7G/L this was aged on the lees for 18 months before bottling, this utilizes a base from 2022. This shows nice astringency, loaded with tart red fruits that connect well with orange peel, white grapefruit skin and suggestions of salted French bread. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2020 Louis Pommery England Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine- Coming from the 2020 vintage, conditions were superb this vintage, with a frost in mid-May. Nutty accents combine with pie crust and baking spices alongside shades of guava on the nose. The palate is broad-shouldered and generous with great weight and underlying finesse. 7G/L dosage, aged on the lees for 42 months before bottling. Drink 2025-2033- 93

THE GRANGE

NV The Grange ‘Pink’ Rose Sparkling Wine- Based on the 2020 vintage, the NV The Grange ‘Pink’ Rose Sparkling Wine offers orange blossom and barberry on the nose alongside suggestions of pink rose petals. The palate is fresh, showing beautiful finesse and great sense of weight. Outstanding and elegant, this is drinking beautifully right now, loaded with mouth-watering acidity. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2018 The Grange ‘White From White’ Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine- This outstanding Blanc de Blanc bottling was made at Hambledon Vineyards and spent four years on the lees and a year on cork, given 12 G/L dosage. Soft on the mouth, this has a silky mousse. Ripe melon and starfruit tones combine with white flowers and suggestions of white peach on the palate. Fresh and vibrant, this is drinking beautifully now. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2020 The Grange ‘White From Blanc’ Pinot Meunier Sparkling Wine- The gorgeous 2020 The Grange ‘White From Blanc’ Pinot Meunier Sparkling Wine was given 12G/L dosage. This shows marvelous poise, offering rich kumquat rind alongside suggestions of chalky soils, nectarine and shades of ginger. Loaded with freshness and length, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 The Grange Chardonnay- One of the few still Chardonnays from this region, the 2023 Chardonnay offers baking spices alongside white peach and white flowers on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with good elegance. Drink 2025-2031- 90

Orin Swift

If you do not like big and bold California wine, this might not be for you. It all started back in 1995 when on a lark, David Swift Phinney took a friend up on an offer and went to Florence, Italy to spend a semester “studying”. During that time, he was introduced to wine, and he later landed a job at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997 as a temporary harvest worker. In 1998 he founded Orin Swift Cellars; Orin is his father’s middle name and Swift is his mother’s maiden name. Starting with two tons of Zinfandel and not much else, David spent the next decade making wine for others as well as himself and grew the company into a multinational brand. The winery also has a great tasting room in downtown Napa where you can try his brilliant range of wines.

The wines are remarkably consistent. I love the 2023 Orin Swift ‘Eight Years in the Desert’ Red Wine (OB, 93) which is a killer Zinfandel based that is drinking beautifully now. Learn more about these great, intense wines at http://www.orinswift.com. Here are some of the gorgeous release wines by Orin Swift.

2023 Orin Swift ‘Mannequin’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Mannequin’ Chardonnay is a smooth and rich bottling that is drinking marvelously now. Brioche and poached pear flavors mingle well with dense honeydew melon on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 Orin Swift ‘Abstract’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Abstract’ is a beautiful proprietary combination of Petite Sirah, Grenache, Syrah, and Zinfandel that was aged seven months in 30% new oak prior to bottling. On the nose this delivers violet rose petals alongside Hoisin sauce, milk chocolate and green herbs. The palate is plush and rich with a terrific mouthfeel and and texture. Drink 2025-2034- 93

2023 Orin Swift ‘Eight Years In the Desert’ Zinfandel- An outstanding edition of Zinfandel, the 2023 Orin Swift ‘Eight Years In the Desert’ was storied in mainly neutral French oak for six months prior to bottling. This comes off round and generous, loaded with bright red and dark fruits that collide with chocolate cake and Arabica bean on the palate. Drink 2025-2034- 93

2022 Orin Swift ‘Palermo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Palermo’ was aged for 12 months in French oak (31% new) before bottling. This is forward and juicy with fresh sage and black currants alongside dark chocolate shavings on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2023 Orin Swift ‘Mercury Head’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Mercury Head’ is a heady and delicious Cabernet Sauvignon that was stored in mainly new French oak before bottling. Inky in the glass, this delivers cassis, wintergreen and black cherry compote on the nose alongside creme de cassis. This comes off velvety and silky with a refined mouthfeel and great concentration of elegance and depth. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2023 Orin Swift ‘Machete’ Red Wine- A truly unique bottling, the 2023 ‘Machete’ is a combination of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache that was stored in 35% new French oak prior to bottling. This is dense and ripe stuff with boysenberry compote, dark chocolate pie, smoked brisket and suggestions of Turkish coffee on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 93

Sign of The Dove

A brand new wine brand by Jake Taub, Sign of The Dove relates with Taub family’s surname, German for dove (taube). The brand’s emblem is inspired by a mosaic from a place where the Taub family gathered for special occasions. These stunning wines come from two of Napa’s greatest spots: the Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard in Oakville and the Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard in Rutherford.

Wines are silky, elegant and powerful. Taub has utilized the talents of Jesse Katz — one of the great winemakers on the West Coast. Katz utilizes an infrared optical sorter to make his wines and makes arguably the finest new world Malbec, his Devil Proof project which is otherworldly and incredibly consistent.

Sign of the Dove is an electric new brand that is modern Napa which will entice any serious collector of this region. Learn more at https://signofthedove.com/wines/ and here are my reviews of the new Sign of The Dove wines.

2021 Sign of the Dove ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Sign of the Dove ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this block which is split with Schraeder. The palate is decadent but very well-structured, loaded with mouth-watering acidity and serious weight. Black and blue fruits combine with refined tannins and graphite tones. Drink 2025-2050- 100

2021 Sign of the Dove ‘Missouri Hopper Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Sign of the Dove ‘Missouri Hopper Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored for 22 months in 100% new French oak before bottling. The wine was stored in two different fermenters to build texture. Very inky in the glass, this delivers gorgeous black florals that parade with anise, exotic spices and shades of black licorice. The palate is seamless and opulent with a weightless character mid-palate. This is perfection in the glass. Drink 2025-2050- 100

Figgins

Today we share an icon in Washington wine, founded by eminent Leonetti proprietor Chris Figgisn. FIGGINS is an iconic brand started more than a decade ago and they have completed his new winery at the FIGGINS estate vineyard. This is a Napa level of hospitality at this scenic site, with its beautiful tasting room and elaborate caves underneath. A long time in the making, the winery is one of the great spots in the Pacific Northwest to taste, with expansive views of the entire valley. I love going there to taste and relax.

The quality in their Estate Red Wine has grown and grown in the past decade. The Estate Red is a combination of varietals year to year but focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon from this high elevation site set on loess soils. I know that they have been slowly adding more Petit Verdot into this blend as this site arguably produces the finest Petit in the state. This is always a proprietary blend that is stored now in almost half neutral barrels before bottling. The wine is extremely age worthy as I have tasted wines from ten years of age and they still have a long way to go in the cellar. They can be somewhat austere upon release and need a lot of air or time in the decanter if you don’t have the patience to cellar them.

The new wines come from the slightly cooler 2022 vintage which was more mixed in terms of overall quality for Bordeaux varietals. In this case, both of these wines can be bought with confidence. 2022 is a producer vintage for Bordeaux varietals and both of these wines have excellent power and poise. Quite simply a perfect wine, the 2022 ‘Caves’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) is a limited production wine that is going to sell out immediately. Only 75 cases made of this total stunner. Here are my reviews of the new 2025 fall releases by FIGGINS.

2022 FIGGINS Red Wine- The 2022 FIGGINS Red Wine is a proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot all coming from the Figgins Estate Vineyard. Stored in 70% new French oak, this delivers a knockout bouquet of graphite and tar alongside suggestions of huckleberry compote, mocha, and black licorice. The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. While this comes off initially aromatically reticent, after an hour of air this really sings in its high octave. The palate is plush as velvety tannins frame a glorious core of black and blue fruits, with menthol, dark chocolate shavings and stony mineral accents. This really needs at least another year or two of bottle age — but shows massive aging potential. Drink 2027-2050- 98

2022 FIGGINS ‘Caves’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Caves’ is a new wine made by winemaker Chris Figgins that utilizes a mere three barrels from two blocks at his estate vineyard. Inky and dark in the glass, the wine was stored for 22 months in all new French oak before bottling. Scorched earth and cuban cigar mark the nose alongside suggestions of Black Forest cake. The palate is lush and inviting with a sinfully good, pillowy texture, as this weightless beauty glides throughout the drinking experience. This just keeps building and building with each texturally opulent sip, offering a soaring combination of decadence, tension and flavor complexity. A world-class wine that is built to age, this is just a stunning accomplishment in what was a somewhat difficult vintage for Bordeaux varietals. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink 2028-2054- 100

Cadence

Today we share the brilliant wines of Ben Smith and Gaye McNutt who for more than 25 years have been making exceptional bottlings from some of the state’s great sites. The wines age brilliantly even at the 20 year mark. Years back Cadence planted an estate vineyard on Red Mountain, the Cara Mia Vineyard, where most of their wines come from.

They did a really nice job in 2022 which was a slightly cooler vintage. I love the 2022 Cadence ‘Bel Canto’ Red Wine (OB, 96) which is impeccably balanced and shows amazing poise and power, with great herbal character from the Cabernet Franc. Learn more about this great winery at cadencewinery.com  and here are my reviews of the the beautiful new wines by Cadence.

2023 Cadence ‘Coda’ Red Wine- The really good ‘Coda’ shows off the warmth of the vintage from 2023. Mostly Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this delivers forward and juicy red and dark fruits with sweet pipe tobacco and milk chocolate notes on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Cadence ‘Camerata’ Red Wine- Hailing from the ‘Cara Mia Vineyard’ the 2022 ‘Camerata’ is a totally different blend than the ’21, with considerably more Merlot than last year’s bottling and no Cabernet Franc. It is marvelously herbal and well-structured stuff with medium-bodied red currants, wild blackberry and boysenberry notes that mingle well with salty soils and suggestions of Chinese black tea. Soft and refined, enjoy this elegant bottling now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2022 Cadence ‘Cara Mia Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Exuding class from this slightly cooler vintage, this bottling was entirely sourced from the Cara Mia Vineyard on Red Mountain, as this utilizes Cabernet Sauvignon clonal selections 191 and 8. The flavor density and richness of the wine really shines through, as this also comes off quite nervy. Scorched earth and black currants parade with dark chocolate shavings and pencil lead on the palate. This really needs several hours of air if enjoying now. Enjoy this gorgeous new wine over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 Cadence ‘Bel Canto’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Bel Canto’ has even more Cabernet Franc (92%) than the ’21, this ha a small amount of Merlot blended in, with no Petit Verdot in this edition. Coming from their Cara Mia Estate Vineyard, this delivers red florals on the nose with orange bell pepper, black licorice, bay leaf and suggestions of tar on the nose. The palate is soft and seamless with slightly less flavor density than the ’21 but more elegance. This is a seamless, utterly gorgeous bottling that will surely live on for another ten to fifteen years. Be sure to give this several hours in the decanter if enjoying now. Tasted several times over two days with consistent notes. Drink 2025-2040- 96

WeatherEye

Today we present the glorious wines of WeatherEye Vineyard. Yesterday I had a phone call with owner of WeatherEye, Cam Myhrvold, as we tasted together. He is bullish on the upcoming vintage and they are now making their second production Rose [first one was not sold to public] which is going to be really cool to try. He feels that the 2023 vintage “was better than ’22. I think for the white it is better than the ’22 as well, texture and flavor density wise. We are now getting a better idea on how to make the wines. This year one of the big changes is we made the Roussanne with five days of skin contact and previously it didn’t have skin contact.” He stated that the 2023 wines “have really good richness” from this warmer vintage. “We want to add richness and ageability without distraction from the fruit” he said. He mentioned that it was not his initial intention to make so many white wines “but we did not come into this making four whites but here we are. We are glad we do this now.”

Over time the WeatherEye Vineyard has been one of the top vineyard sites in Washington. Wines from this site are wild, herbal, salty and stony. This remote, northern-facing location on Red Mountain is unlike anything that you see from Washington State. They have a new winemaker as Louis Skinner worked on the final blends of the 2023 whites and reds. The 2023 white wines from WeatherEye are just outstanding which deftly show off the warmth of the vintage. They show incredible richness and great varietal character. I am enamored by both the 2023 Marsanne and Roussane (OB, 97 & 97) both dense, nervy and showing insanely good flavor range. Learn more at https://www.weathereyevineyard.com/ and here are my reviews of the 2023 white wines by WeatherEye.

2023 WeatherEye Clairette- The 2023 Clairette was stored on the lees for 20 months in neutral oak barrels before bottling. This comes off marvelously nutty with rich melon and shades of papaya on the nose. The palate is rich and dense with serious tension and texture, with loads of salty and stony nuance, alongside white rose water accents. Drink 2025-2035- 96

2023 WeatherEye Marsanne- The 2023 Marsanne was fermented in a combination of amphora and oak, and then was stored on its lees 20 months until bottling in summer 2025. This offers Macadamia nut on the nose alongside cantaloupe, white peach and hints of ginger. The palate is beautifully-weighted with loads of sea salt and tension. A glorious wine to enjoy now, with serious depth and flavor density, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 97

 2023 WeatherEye Roussanne- The 2023 Roussanne was also stored in a combination of amphora and oak before bottling.  Very golden in the glass, this offers sinfully good aromatics of lemon peel, candied apricot and suggestions of papaya on the nose. The palate comes off weightless, offering supreme concentration and depth without coming off heavy. Opulent and dense, enjoy this electric wine now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 97

2023 WeatherEye ‘L’Atomique’ White Wine- The 2023 L’Atomique White combines 36% Viognier, with 32% Roussanne, 22% Grenache Blanc, and the remainder Clairette and Marsanne. Stored in a combination of one used 600L barrel and one new 228L barrel, this exudes class aromatically offering crushed seashell and nectarine on top of white florals and suggestions of lychee. The palate is powerful and dense with serious concentration and a great melange of citrus, melon and tropical fruits. Unfined and unfiltered, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 96

Review: British Airways Concorde Room

Some may disagree but I feel that the British Airways Concorde Room remains one of the world’s great lounges. Where else can you sip top vintage champagne with a special glass made for the wine? Not many lounges for sure. The famed Concorde Room can be found at Terminal 5 at London’s Heathrow Airport. It is probably best known for its high level hospitality and service which remains excellent following my summer 2025 journey here.

Again, I am never saying that this lounge is equivalent with the Emirates First Lounge in Dubai. But it does serve better champagne than the Emirates First Lounge. There is serious attention to detail with regards to service and making their guests happy. The Concorde Room also crushes any guest experience that you will find in the United States, other than the equivalent Chelsea Lounge at JFK.

ACCESS

There is very limited access to this lounge.You can only visit the lounge if flying First Class or have a British Airways Concorde Room card which grants you access to Concorde Room regardless of your ticket class. Walking past First Check-In in Terminal 5 you will walk through the BA First Lounge and eventually make your way into the Concorde Room.

SURROUNDINGS AND AMBIENCE

The lounge was refreshed in the past year. I like what they have done with the color scheme and the many chargers that are now available. The lounge needed a refresh and they did so with style. I immediately went to the bar and ordered one of their amazing 2006 Pommary ‘Cuvee Louise’ Champagnes. This is one of the great champagnes from this challenging vintage. The bar has relaxing surroundings and you can enjoy lunch and breakfast here, ordering anything off their expansive menus.

The 2006 ‘Cuvee Louise’ by Pommery is served in an exclusive stem that is designed for this older, very Burgundian champagne. Bartenders here are also serving up great espresso martinis in case you are looking for a cocktail.

WINES AND SPIRITS

Other than the top Champagne, the wine list has seen several improvements in the past year. They now have a 2014 Chateau Olivier which is a great Bordeaux to enjoy right now. In case you would like a world-class California wine, they have the 2017 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit de Tablas’ which is one of the greats from Paso Robles. For whites and Rose wines they also serve the 2021 ‘Rock Angel’ which is a beautifully-aged Provence Rose. Again, their bar staff has loads of experience and they do make some really good cocktails. I recommend that you take advantage of the extensive liquor collection which includes Don Julio 1942 Tequila (USD $200) or the Johnny Walker Blue Label Scotch which retails for 250 USD.

I was feeling hungry so I ordered a large breakfast which included Eggs Royale and traditional English breakfast. It was a lot of food but fun to taste. The hollandaise sauce was amazing and everything was perfectly cooked.

The Concorde Room is also a great spot for coffee lovers. They have some amazing Union coffee and I always order an espresso after my meal. They make a wide range of coffee drinks that you can enjoy.

BATHROOMS

You can see that not much has changed regarding the Concorde Room bathrooms. They are constantly cleaning these bathrooms but they are very outdated. I like how they continue to carry the Elemins products soap and lotion. I find the showering area to be sterile. I think there are other lounges that have better bathrooms, but I am not using a lounge based on how a bathroom looks. That one is very low on the totem pole for me.

THE TERRACE:

This is a big advantage of the lounge for me. The Terrace is a spacious area that is rarely busy. It has amazing lighting and you can see the planes take off and come in. I have long enjoyed sitting in the Terrace which has comfortable couches and a range of seating options with charging stations. The furniture was updated roughly a year ago and is a lovely improvement. I like what they have done with this area, boasting even the nose of a Concorde jet! You are always going to find a comfy seat here and in the afternoon they serve a killer tea service.

CONCORDE DINING

One of my favorite parts of the Concorde Room is the Concorde Dining, located in the heart of the Concorde Room. This is a very elegant setting which serves both breakfast and lunch. It is particularly fun if you have many friends with you. We dined at breakfast with friends and unfortunately did not have time to eat our lunch due to time constraints. They do have a great lunch menu and we ordered many of the food items for breakfast. Service is on-point here.

BOTTOM LINE

Everyone seems to want to complain about the British Airways Concorde Room. But I think they should consider visiting an airport lounge in the United States before they continuing ranting about how poor the Concorde Room is. It is quite simply a great lounge with great champagne, great food and service and a fun and relaxing way to chill before a flight. Tell me another lounge in the world that has a vintage Champagne glass designed for it? Having visited this lounge now tens of times, it remains one of the world’s great airport lounges in summer 2025.

Ink Grade

Launched in 2021, Ink Grade pays homage to Theron Ink, a Napa Valley pioneer who established a ranch on the remote eastern side of Howell Mountain in 1875. The seclusion and wildness of the Howell Mountain landscape became a place of retreat and respite for the Ink family. The vineyard spoke to Theron — set on volcanic soils and a scenic, mountain location.

The Ink Grade Estate Vineyard lies in the north-east corner of the Howell Mountain AVA in Napa Valley. At an elevation of about 1,500 feet, the estate vineyards boast beautiful views of forested pines and sequoia. The brand was founded by Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy, Jr. and the Lawrence family to add to their already impressive portfolio.

The new wines were really good from the challenging 2022 vintage — one that saw severe heat spikes at harvest. These wines were obviously picked on the earlier side, showing seriously good freshness but also good mid-palate depth and power. I love the 2022 Ink Grade ‘Third Circle’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which has amazing soil and stony character throughout the drinking experience. Learn more at https://inkgrade.com/ and here are the beautiful new wines by Ink Grade.

2023 Ink Grade ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The really good 2023 Ink Grade ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc offers hay and honeydew melon notes on the nose alongside suggestions of papaya. The palate is rich and unctuous with a smooth mouthfeel and great sense of tension and weight. Enjoy this beautiful bottling now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2022 Ink Grade ‘Third Circle’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from Howell Mountain, the ‘Third Circle’ comes from this east to north facing slope with vines set on gravelly loam and volcanic ash. The nose is wonderfully stony with red florals that combine with huckleberry and mountain blackberry notes. The palate is both fresh and viscous with great energy and flavor density. Drinking marvelously right now with some great stony character, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 Ink Grade ‘Prophet’s Water’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Ink Grade ‘Prophet’s Water’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a red, gravelly loam hillside on Howell Mountain. This is very fresh and mineral-laden on the palate, with medium bodied red and dark fruits that parade with rocky soils, copious minerals and shades of wintergreen on the palate. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Ink Grade ‘Buddha’s Belly’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2022 Ink Grade ‘Buddha’s Belly’ Cabernet Sauvignon is marvelously stony and salty on the mouth — loaded with nuance. Baking spices and thyme combine with crushed wet rock, anise seed, tobacco and shades of dark currants alongside yellow bell pepper on the palate. Round and soft on the mouth, with a refined texture, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

Open Claim

Today we share the brilliant wines of Open Claim, founded back in 2014 by Marnie and Brett Wall. Open Claim is a large and in-charge style of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that have serious weight and nuance. They use a limited amount of new oak, despite their fleshy character. There is little doubt that Tony Rynders is of the Pacific Northwest’s great winemakers Formerly with Hogue and Domaine Serene, Tony crafts some incredible wines for his own label, Tendril. I love what he accomplished with the tougher 2022 vintage. Check out the 2022 Open Claim ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is generous and bold from this slightly cooler year.  Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.openclaimvineyards.com/ Here are the brilliant 2022 wines by Open Claim.

2022 Open Claim Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir is a dense, heady and delicious bottling that is built to age. Right away on the nose this impressed with lush red fruits that parade with salty soils, wet rock and shades of wild mushroom. The palate is dense and fresh, showing off the minerality achieved from this vintage.  Great now, enjoy over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Open Claim ‘Fauna’s Wood’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Fauna’s Wood’ is a gorgeous wine that has fantastic finesse and weight from this cooler vintage. Once on the nose this takes on crushed wet volcanic rock with peat moss and tart dark fruits. The palate is fresh and broad-shouldered, with serious underlying verve and salty/stony character. A joy to consume now, enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

Domaine Drouhin

We present one of Oregon’s historic wineries today, set in the Dundee Hills. Domaine Drouhin Oregon began in in the 1980s, and was founded by eminent Burgundy producer, Domaine Drouhin. Robert Drouhin made the bold move to buy land at the top of the Dundee Hills. What was previously only Christmas trees and wheat, the Drouhin family began planting their first vineyards in Oregon. Robert’s daughter, Véronique, has served as DDO winemaker for many years, and her brother Philippe Drouhin took responsibility for viticulture. In 1988, DDO produced its first vintage, from purchased grapes, and in 1989 built the landmark, four-story gravity flow winery. A few weeks back I had another amazing visit to this historic site. They continue to produce some of the most consistently great wines in Oregon.

New releases are from the standout 2023 vintage. This was one that was consistently warm, with few excessively hot days. I am once again enamored by the 2023 Domaine Drouhin Oregon ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is a joy to consume now in its very primary youth. Learn more about this iconic Oregon winery  at http://www.domainedrouhin.com/ Here are the awesome new releases from Domaine Drouhin Oregon. 

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Arthur’ Chardonnay- Nearly all barrel fermented (20% new), the 2023 ‘Arthur’ offers honeysuckle and white peach on the nose alongside shades of pastry crust. The palate is round with a smooth texture and bright minerality. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Chardonnay- The 2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Chardonnay is a stunning wine that was stored in roughly 33% new French oak before bottling. Bright white florals mark the nose alongside pineapple and shades of backing spice laced brioche. The palate is super seamless with serious texture and a weightless mouthfeel. Glorious now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 97

2023 RoseRock Chardonnay- The 2023 RoseRock Chardonnay is soft and inviting on the mouth, loaded with bright orchard fruits and lemon rind alongside sourdough bread on the palate. Filled with tension, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 RoseRock ‘Maigold’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Maigold’ is a rich and dense bottling that was stored in mainly netural French oak before bottlling. Mayer lemon zest alongside marzipan and toasted hazelnut combine with shades of white peach on the palate. This is dense and rich stuff that is already nicely defined. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Dundee Hills’ is entirely sourced from the estate vineyard. The wine was stored in roughly 25% new French oak and was not whole cluster fermented. Tart red fruits combine with shades of rocky soils and shades of bergamot on the nose. The palate has refined tannins with good flavor density. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Origine 36’ Pinot Noir- This is now the third release of the ‘Origine 36’ which was originally a tribute to the 36th vintage at Domaine Drouhin Oregon. This is refined and juicy stuff offering bright strawberry and pomegranate seed alongside Mandarin orange rind on the palate. Chewy and dense with a great sense of texture, this is brimming with bright red fruits and drinking nicely now. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir- A world-class bottling, the 2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir is a block selection wine that was stored in mainly neutral oak before bottling. This wine was first crafted back in 1992. This is very seamless throughout the drinking experience. Blood orange zest combines with Bing cherry, black raspberry and stony essence. Complex and delicious, this has some seriously good aging potential. Drink 2025-2043- 96

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Pinot Noir- The world-class 2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Pinot Noir is a heady and intense edition of this wine,  The wine was stored in roughly 25% new French oak and given a small amount of whole cluster fermentation. White truffle shavings mingle well with Satsuma orange rind, red currants and tobacco leaf notes all combine on the nose. The palate is lush and soft with a refined mouthfeel and loads of salty nuance. Drink 2025-2045- 97

2023 RoseRock Pinot Noir- The 2023 RoseRock Pinot Noir offers red rose petals and potpourri on the nose alongside freshly tilled salty soils and orange rind. The palate is fresh and juicy, loaded with bright cherry,  strawberry and guava fruits. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 RoseRock ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir was aged 15 months in mainly neutral French oak before bottlng. The palate is concentrated and intense with a voluptuous texture and great stony character. Driven by heady red fruits, this has plenty of lip-smacking acidity and great wet stone accents. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Louise’ Pinot Noir- The stunning new 2023 ‘Louise’ Pinot Noir was given partial whole cluster fermentation and was stored in mainly natural oak before bottling. Beautiful red florals mark the nose alongside kumquat rind and crushed wet stone. The palate is dense and generous on the tongue with a sensational texture. This is just a baby and has decades of life in front of it. Drink 2025-2045- 97

Eden Rift

Today we share the wines from Eden Rift. This location is 20 miles from the Monterey Bay, and is the oldest continually producing vineyard in California. Planted in 1849 by Theophile Vache, the 120-acre estate rests on the San Andreas Faultline and is part of the Cienega Valley AVA. The winery is located just two miles from famed Pinot Noir producer Calera, whose founder Josh Jensen sought out the limestone and dolomite-rich soils. Before Josh, early vintners procured some of the first Pinot Noir planting in California at Eden Rift beginning in 1860. Post prohibition, the focus on Pinot Noir & Chardonnay was lost until Christian Pillsbury acquired the estate in 2016. Christian assembled a team of young industry professionals starting with winemaker Cory Waller.

The new wines were very good. I really like the salinity and texture in the 2022 Eden Rift Chardonnay (OB, 93). Learn more at edenrift.com and here are my reviews of the new Eden Rift wines.

2022 Eden Rift ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The really good 2022 ‘Estate’ Chardonnay comes from this location that is in close proximity to the Monterrey Bay. Toasty oak and diatomaceous earth combine with freshly cut limes and shades of juicy peach on the palate. Viscous and delicious, enjoy now and over the next six plus years to come. Drink 2025-2031-93

2022 Eden Rift ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir offers toasty oak alongside rich red currants, tobacco leaf and suggestions of cola. Rich and layered with a smooth mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2025-2032- 92

Spottswoode

Today we share one of the jewels of the Napa Valley. Spottswoode is a historic property that dates all the way back to 1882. Spottswoode was christened by Mrs. Albert Spotts in 1910 and was later acquired by Mary and Jack Novak in 1972. Mary released Spottswoode’s first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1982, exactly one hundred years after the estate’s founding.

Today Mary’s daughter Beth Novak Milliken manages the winery, and daughter Lindy Novak serves as the winery’s Marketing Ambassador. Every year Spottswoode produces an Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and an Estate Sauvignon Blanc in honor of their founder, Mary Novak. Spottswoode also crafts a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon called Lyndenhurst, a dual-appellation Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, and two limited-production wines for club members only (Spottswoode Estate “Mary’s Block” Sauvignon Blanc and Field Book Syrah). Their Lyndenhurst wines are beautiful values.

The winery is set at the western edge of St. Helena at the foot of the Mayacamas mountains, as vines are set on alluvial clay loam while a strong wartime influence runs through Spring Mountain and the Mayacamas range. The estate has forty acres of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, with portions of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc which have been organically farmed since 1985.

I love the new 2024 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 95) which is wonderfully rich and viscous, with serious tension. Learn more about this famed Napa winery at https://www.spottswoode.com Here is my review of the new Spottswoode wine.

2024 Spottswoode ‘Estate’ Sauvignon Blanc- A dazzling rendition of this wine from this cooler year, the 2024 Spottswoode ‘Estate’ Sauvignon Blanc offers plump gooseberry and kiwi notes on the nose with lemongrass and dried green herbal accents. The palate is fresh and lively with bright acidity and a seamless sense of texture. Very mineral-laden, each sip offers lip-smacking minerality and great flavor density. Glorious now, this will evolve well for another eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2022 Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon stands inky in the glass from this hot vintage. Red bell pepper notes mingle well with fresh sage, black currants, pencil lead and shades of mocha on the palate. Medium-bodied and approachable now, enjoy over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 91

Philipponnat

Philipponnat's remarkable history began in 1522 with Apvril le Philipponnat acquiring vines in the Champagne region. Over time the family became both winegrowers and merchants and eventually formed a namesake Champagne House, founded by Auguste and Pierre Philipponnat in 1910. In 1935 the famed Clos des Goisses vineyard was acquired and its use was adopted in a Solera system for non-vintage blends. Philipponnat focuses on high quality Pinot Noir and makes a range of vintage and non-vintage wines.

The new wines I tasted were really good. One of the wines was sent to me and another was bought. I really enjoy the NV Philipponnat 'Reserve Perpetuelle' Brut Champagne (OB, 92) which is rich and bold with a soft mouthfeel. Learn more about this famed house at https://www.philipponnat.com and here are my reviews of the new Philipponnat wines.

NV Philipponnat 'Reserve Perpetuelle' Brut Champagne- The really good NV Philipponnat 'Reserve Perpetuelle' Brut Champagne combines mainly Pinot Noir (67%) with a smaller part Chardonnay and a touch of Pinot Meunier. This is big and round on the mouth, drinking marvelously now with its refined mousse. Marzipan and gingerbread notes combine with hints of brioche and lemon rind on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 92

NV Philipponat 'Royal Rose' Brut Rose Champagne- Disgorged in March 2023, the NV Philipponat 'Royal Rose' Brut Rose Champagne is a beautiful wine, offering bright guava, starfruit and cranberry fruits from mainly Pinot Noir grapes. Delicate and showing good salty nuance, with a soft mousse, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 92