Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Today we share a great historic Napa property. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is probably most famous for producing the Cabernet Sauvignon that won the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris. The winery was initially founded in 1970 and today the vineyard team is led by Guillermo Perez who works alongside head winemaker Marcus Notaro.

Notaro comes from an Italian family that had wine around the dinner table. He decided to work initially in the industry as a tour guide at Chateau Ste. Michelle. The rest has been history as he formerly was winemaker at Col Solare before taking over as head winemaker at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. The new wines from him were beautiful and neatly-structured wines from the outstanding 2019 vintage. I was particularly enamored by the 2019 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘ARMILLARY’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is deep and concentrated stuff with good tension. Learn more about this famed site at https://www.stagsleapwinecellars.com/ and here are my reviews of the 2019 Cabernets by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.

2019 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘ARMILLARY’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘ARMILLARY’ is composed of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Cabernet Franc mainly coming from the FAY vineyard as well as the S.L.V. vineyard. Stored for 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels, this inky-colored Cabernet opens with black licorice and anise on the nose, with violets and shades of Turkish coffee. The palate is dense and rich with a glorious mouthfeel and beautiful underlying tension. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2019 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Rancho Chimiles Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2019 ‘Rancho Chimiles Vineyard’ is sourced from this site in the Wooden Valley, just northeast of the town of Napa. Stored for 20 months in 100% new French oak, this offers bay leaf and pipe tobacco notes on the nose alongside cassis and graphite tones. The palate is elegant and well-structured with refined tannins that frame a beautiful core of black fruits, with chocolate and espresso grounds. Fabulous now, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 93

Smith-Madrone

Today we share the outstanding wines of Smith-Madrone. One Napa house known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Riesling wines, Smith-Madrone sources from their dry-farmed estate vineyards surrounding the winery on top of Spring Mountain in the Napa Valley. Stuart Smith chose specific slopes with different exposures for specific varietals when planting the vineyards: eastern exposure for Riesling, southern and western exposures across flat stretches for the Cabernet Sauvignon and the coolest north-facing slopes for the Chardonnay. The soil is mostly deep-red Aiken Stoney Clay loam, and is primarily volcanic-based, well-drained and deep for mountain soils. The estate is a 200 acre ranch, partly planted as vineyard over a century ago. California black bears and other wildlife once thrived here as did 120-year-old Picholine olive trees which frame a path and view down to the floor of the Napa Valley. 

They have a beautiful new Cabernet, the 2021 Smith-Madrone Cabernet (OB, 93) is earthy and herbal with beautiful poise. This will age gracefully for at least another fifteen years. Learn more about these fantastic wines at https://www.smithmadrone.com Here are the great new releases from Smith-Madrone.

2019 Smith-Madrone Riesling- Coming from their estate vineyard, the 2019 Smith-Madrone Riesling checks in at 13.3% alcohol. Brilliant petrol fumes hit the nose alongside wet grass and straw alongside bright peach on the nose. The palate is beautifully textured and deep, with good richness and loads of mouth-watering acidity. Delicious to consume now, enjoy over the next eight plus years to come. What a beautiful foil for Thai food! Drink 2025-2032- 93

2021 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay- The 2021 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay was sourced from their estate on Spring Mountain set on Aiken Stoney Clay loam. Aged for 10 months in 50% new French oak, this offers butterscotch and pie crust on the nose alongside shades of Japanese pear. The palate is rich and viscous with serious nerve. Lemon curd, shortbread and shades of papaya all meld together on the palate. This is a stunning edition of this wine that is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2025-2032- 94

2021 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2021 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon is a brilliant, well-structured new wine that is built to age. Once on the nose this takes on anise and milk chocolate tones with wet stone, fresh thyme and shades of black currant cordial that all meld in the glass. The palate is refined and poised with a great core of black fruit flavors. Generous and delicious now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 93

Dr. Loosen

One of the famed Mosel estates, Ernst Loosen assumed ownership of Dr. Loosen in 1988, and since then has been wholly focused on producing world-class Riesling. He was the only one of his siblings interested in taking over the winery and Ernst focused on becoming one of the regions top winemakers, as he completed his studies at Germany’s renowned winemaking school in Geisenheim and then completed a self directed review of the great wines of the world including Austria, to Burgundy and Alsace, even to California. He wanted to visit these great winemaking regions and learn from other top winemakers.

Dr. Loosen collaborates with Chateau Ste. Michelle for more than a decade and helps produce what is year after year one of Washington’s top Rieslings, the Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling. His wines are a pillar of consistency, as you can find their top value ‘Blue Slate’ Kabinett in Costco warehouses across the United States.

For his wines Dr. Loosen sources from some of the Mosel’s top vineyards including the Wehlener Sonnenuhr and the Urziger Wurzgarten. The new wines were sensational and I love the 2023 Dr. Loosen ‘Blue Slate’ Riesling (OB, 91) which is vibrant with serious nerve. Run, don’t walk to find the 2022 Dr. Loosen ‘GG Wehlener Sonnenuhr’ Riesling (OB, 96) which is one of the great GG wines that I have tasted in the past year. This beauty will easily cellar for another twenty years. Learn more about this famed winery at https://drloosen.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Dr. Loosen

NV Dr. Lo Riesling (alcohol removed)- Green apple, peach and shades of lemon zest all combine on the palate with good minerality. Drink 2025-2028- 88

2023 Dr. Loosen Riesling- The 2023 Dr. Loosen Riesling offers peach and mango flavors that parade with good tension on the palate. A killer value, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 89

2023 Dr. Loosen ‘Dry’ Riesling- Made in the ‘Trocken’ style, the 2023 Dr. Loosen ‘Dry’ Riesling offers white grapefruit zest, kiwi and wet stone on the palate. Enjoy this mineral-driven Riesling now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2023 Dr. Loosen ‘Red Slate’ Riesling- The 2023 ‘Red Slate’ is tension-laden Riesling that delivers loads of minerality, alongside juicy green apple and pear flavors, with stony undertones. A killer value. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2023 Dr. Loosen ‘Blue Slate’ Kabinett Riesling- The 2023 ‘Blue Slate’ is an incredible wine for the price. Crushed wet rock and mango flavors parade with copious minerals, marzipan and baked apple notes. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2023 Dr. Loosen ‘Wehlener Sonnenuhr’ Riesling Kabinett- Translated as ‘sundial’ this location ice set on blue slate, as this 2023 Riesling Kabinett opens with a bueaitufl bouquet of star jasmine, wet gravel and Japanese pear with lemon blossom accents. The palate is beautifully tension-filled with good richness and a kiss of peach and pear sweetness. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Dr. Loosen ‘Erdener Treppchen’ Kabinett Riesling- This 2023 ‘Kabinette’ delivers a terrific mouthfeel, with loads of minerals. Candied ginger and papaya notes mark the palate alongside dense melon fruits. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2023 Dr. Loosen ‘Erdener Treppchen’ Spatlase Riesling- This 2023 ‘Spatlase’ Riesling delivers sweet peach and apple flavors that combine with ginger and shades of pie crust on the palate. Stony and soft on the approach, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2023 Dr. Loosen ‘Urziger Wurzgarten’ Spatlase Riesling- The delicious 2023 Dr. Loosen ‘Urziger Wurzgarten’ Spatlase Riesling delvers Sprite and orange zest water flavors that cascade together with rich peach and copious minerals on the palate.

2022 Dr. Loosen ‘GG Erdener Treppchen’ Riesling- The brilliant 2022 Dr. Loosen ‘GG Erdener Treppchen’ Riesling offers a beautiful bouquet with kerosene, papaya, and shades of shortbread on the nose, with lemon rind accents. The palate is rich and viscous with serious weight and verve. A gorgeous wine now at the three year mark, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Dr. Loosen ‘GG Wehlener Sonnenuhr’ Riesling- The outstanding 2022 Dr. Loosen ‘GG Wehlener Sonnenuhr’ Riesling offers white peach and juicy cantaloupe notes on the nose alongside heated oil, and white flowers. The palate is rich and spicy with terrific weight and tension that feeds the core of melon, orchard and citrus fruits. A total knockout to enjoy now, enjoy over the next twenty plus years. Drink 2025-2044- 96

2022 Dr. Loosen ‘GG Graacher Domprobst’ Riesling- The 2022 Dr. Loosen ‘GG Graacher Domprobst’ Riesling comes from the town of Graach, a picturesque site on the Mosel River. This edition is laden with minerality, offering loads of lemon/lime flavors that combine with green apple and shades of orange blossom water. A stunning wine now, watch this evolve over the next twenty years. Drink 2025-2044- 95

2023 Dr. Loosen ‘Wehlener Sonnenuhr’ Auslese Riesling- Golden in the glass, the 2023 Dr. Loosen ‘GG Wehlener Sonnenuhr’ Auslese Riesling shows off juicy nectarine and orange marmalade on the nose alongside suggestions of lychee and Macadamia nut, with stony accents. The palate is dense and packed full of citrus and melon flavors, with lemon rind accents and copious minerals. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2023 Dr. Loosen ‘Urziger Wurzgarten’ Auslese Riesling- The 2023 Urziger Wurzgarten’ Auslese Riesling offers loads of juicy peach and pear flavors alongside shades of sweetened Sprite soda. Showing good density and nerve, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 93

Avennia

Today we share one of the great wineries of the Pacific Northwest. It was a few years back that Avennia acquired the Tapteil Vineyard on Red Mountain to be their estate vineyard. The 45-acre site was one of the first vineyards planted on Red Mountain, by longtime owners Larry and Jane Pearson. This has become the Avennia Estate Vineyard where Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the dominant plantings, with some vines dating back to 1985. There is also a small amount of Cabernet Franc planted here which is the oldest of its kind on Red Mountain. The site is managed by Dick Boushey.

Winemaker Chris Peterson years back partnered with Marty Taucher to form Avennia. These have been knockout wines since their inception more than a decade ago. I adored the 2022 Avennia ‘Valery’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is mostly Merlot and offers a pillowy texture, with excellent depth from this slightly cooler vintage. Learn more about Avennia at https://avennia.com and here are my reviews of the fantastic new ‘Estate Vineyard’ wines by Avennia.

2022 Avennia ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Red Mountain’ is a 100% varietal wine that comes from their estate vineyard as well as the Hedges Estate. This bottling was aged for 18 months in only 25% new French oak barrels before bottling. It is round and elegant on the mouth, showing good concentration. Creosote and black licorice flavors mingle well with blackberry compote and chocolate pie flavors on the palate. Very good now, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2037- 94

2022 Avennia ‘Valery’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2022 Avennia ‘Valery’ combines 88% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Franc from the Boushey and Champoux Vineyards. This is one of the great wines of its kind in Washington State. Aged in 30% new French oak, this takes on layers of red currants, Arabica bean and black rose petals alongside red bell pepper and tobacco leaf on the nose. The palate is silky and elegant with good richness considering the coolness of the vintage. Medium to full-bodied, with terrific tension that connects with the damp soil character, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 Avennia ‘Sestina’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Sestina’ is composed of nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) with smaller parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Underbrush and dark currants mark the nose alongside suggestions of creme de violette and tar. The palate is elegant and shows off a refined texture, with plenty of underlying verve. Medium to full-bodied, with graphite, loamy soils and espresso ground accents that combine with the core of black fruits, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

Louis Roederer

Today we share one of the greats out of Champagne. I had a glorious visit to Louis Roederer and am excited to be back soon. Roederer is one of the premier brands in the world, producing their world-famous ‘Cristal’ champagne. The first ‘Cristal’ Champagne was created back in 1876 to satisfy the demanding tastes of Tsar Alexander II. The emperor asked Louis Roederer to reserve the House’s best cuvée for him every year as he was fond of Louis Roederer’s style. This Champagne was initially distinguished by being presented in a flat-bottomed, transparent lead-crystal bottle. The ‘Cristal’ brand was named after the lead-crystal bottle, which is particularly transparent and luminous. 

They somewhat recently began doing their ‘Collection’ wines which involves a blend of vintages somewhat akin to the ‘Grande Cuvee’ by Krug. The latest wine, the ‘Collection 245’ is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier that has a 55% base from the 2020 vintage. This wine is absolutely gorgeous to enjoy right now.

I also tasted the latest edition of their Rose, the 2017 Louis Roederer (OB, 94) which is refined and elegant, with some serious aging potential. I have tried some older versions of this wine in my personal collection and have been amazed to see how well they cellar. Learn more about these beautiful wines at www.louis-roederer/com and here are my reviews of the latest releases from Louis Roederer.

MV Louis Roederer ‘Collection 245’ Champagne- The ‘Collection 245’ utilizes a base from the 2020 vintage. Near equal parts come from the “La Rivière” Estate, the “La Montagne” Estate and the “La Côte” Estate. This is bold and rich stuff with toasty brioche, ginger, Pink Lady apple and shades of starfruit on the palate. With a refined mousse, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2017 Louis Roederer Rose Champagne- The gorgeous 2017 Rose by Louis Roederer was given 8G/L dosage and combines Pinot Noir from Cumières with Chardonnays from the Côte des Blancs. A brilliant salmon hue in the glass, this delivers bright red raspberry and pomegranate seed flavors alongside orange peel and shades of buttered French bread. Ripe and plump on the mouth, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2024-2039- 94

Turnbull

It has been more than 35 years that Turnbull has helped shape the Napa Valley. Today the winery owns over 200 acres in the Napa Valley and produces approximately 30,000 cases per year. Their original co-founder William Turnbull was an architect from the San Francisco Bay Area and designed his winery as well as many others including part of Cakebread Cellars. Later in 1993 Patrick O’Dell purchased Turnbull Johnson and renamed the winery to Turnbull Cellars. At the helm is Peter Heitz who is a fourth generation vintner. Peter applied his trade at Beringer, crafting some world class Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon under the guidance of legendary winemaker Ed Sbragia, before coming to Turnbull more than a decade ago.

I love the new 2021 Turnbull ‘Oakville Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 93) which is plush and soft with a smooth mouthfeel. Learn more at www.turnbullwines.com Here are my reviews of the new Turnbull wines.

2021 Turnbull ‘Oakville Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2021 Turnbull ‘Oakville Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon has small portions of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec blended in. Inky in the glass, this is nicely concentrated stuff, showing sweet pipe tobacco notes that combines with a gracious core of black fruits with pencil lead and loamy soil accents. Medium to full-bodied, with good underlying tension, enjoy now and over the next ten pus years. Drink 2024-2036- 93

Siduri

For years I have enjoyed the beautiful Pinot Noirs of Siduri. Originally founded by Adam Lee, the wine was later sold to Jackson Family in 2015. Their current winemaker, Matt Revelette, has now been at the helm for several years. Matt has a great background in wine, formerly working for Sojourn Cellars, Williams Selyem, Kosta Browne, Quintessa, and Mending Wall. He is making some world class wines.

I met with Matt and tasted his latest set of wines from the challenging 2022 vintage that saw heat spikes at harvest. Despite the heat of the vintage, the wines show beautiful density and underlying finesse. Check out the beautiful 2022 Siduri ‘Seascape’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which shows off this outstanding site that neighbors the Pacific Ocean. Learn more about these great wines at siduri.com and here are my reviews of the new Siduri wines.

2022 Siduri ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2022 Siduri ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay comes from Gran Moraine as well as Cantwell Vineyards as well as some from Zena Crown. The wine was stored in 20% new French oak before bottling. This is fresh and polished wine that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2022 Siduri ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from several top vineyards in the region, the 2022 Siduri ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir is deeply colored and perfumed in the glass, offering red currants and red rose petals alongside menthol and stony notes. The palate is soft and very approachable with a generous core of bright red fruits. This is a steal as an entry level WV Pinot. Drink now and over the next several years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2022 Siduri ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Siduri ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir comes from a range of sites throughout this region. Medium-bodied this offers bright red fruits with orange peel, salty soils and suggestions of wild mushroom on the palate. This shows good tension considering the heat of the vintage. Drink 2024-2031- 92

2022 Siduri ‘Santa Lucia Highlands’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Siduri ‘Santa Lucia Highlands’ Pinot Noir offers orange rind and beautiful red florals on the nose with red raspberry notes. Filled with class and texture, this is a rich wine filled with weight and overall tension. Drink 2024-2030- 93

2022 Siduri ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Siduri ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir is a beautiful wine at the 40 dollar mark. This offers good concentration with ripe red fruits that parade with salty minerals, rocky soils and suggestions of cola. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2022 Siduri ‘Santa Barbara County’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Siduri ‘Santa Barbara County’ Pinot Noir was stored for ten months in 20% new French oak before bottling. Sage and salty soils alongside lighter bodied red fruits all meld together in the glass. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2022 Siduri ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Siduri ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir comes from two vineyards that are on the western portion of this AVA, the Seascape and Sealift Vineyards. This is very fresh wine with a great purity of guava, strawberry and red cherry fruit flavors with plenty of salty nuances. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2022 Siduri ‘Gran Moraine Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Grand Moraine’ comes from this outstanding site in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. This underwent just a touch of whole cluster fermentation. Stored in 30% new French oak for 14 months before bottling, this offers red currants and tobacco on the nose alongside stony minerals. Loaded with crunchy red fruit this shows beautiful body and texture. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2035- 93

2022 Siduri ‘Zena Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Fantastic right out of the gate, the 2022 Siduri ‘Zena Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a beautiful wine that has some really nice aging potential. Stored in 30% new French oak the wine was sourced mainly from the stony part of the hill. The wine offers cranberry and orange peel flavors alongside volcanic earth and wild mushroom notes on the palate. Showing good weight and length this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2022 Siduri ‘Edmeades Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Edmeades’ comes from a later harvest than most of the rest of California. This site was less impacted by the heat dome. This offers black truffle and dark raspberry notes on the nose with damp earthy tones. The palate is neatly textured with a smooth mouthfeel and gorgeous sense of weight. Delicious and dense, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Siduri 'Skycrest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This is a rugged site set on sandstone with small berries and canopies. The 2022 Pinot Noir was stored in 20% new French oak for 14 months before bottling. Tobacco leaf, damp soils and black cherry all mark the nose alongside flinty undertones. Salty and stony on the palate, this shows a beautiful core of red and dark fruits alongside smoked meats. A complex and unique wine, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Siduri ‘Bloomfield Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This is a very foggy site that is cool and is farmed at roughly one ton an area. This offers bergamot and damp earth on the nose alongside white truffle notes. The palate is refined and elegant with serious texture and a good sense of weight as well as verve. Finishing long, this largely tart black-fruit driven wine is already showing well. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Siduri ‘Seascape Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Seascape Vineyard’ was planted all the way back in 1990. This site looks down to Bodega Bay. The wine is mainly clone 777 as this was stored in 30% new French oak this offers salty orange rind and red raspberry and smoky notes on the nose. This is wonderful in terms diatom nuance and its salty character and is already beautifully evolved. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2022 Siduri ‘Dutton-Perry Ranch’ Pinot Noir- This site was once known as the Keefer Ranch Vineyard, the Dutton-Perry Ranch is farmed by the Dutton family and is set on Goldridge sandy loam soils. The wine was stored in 24% new French oak before bottling, this opens with cola and spice box notes alongside Mandarin orange zest and tobacco leaf. The palate is refined and soft with beautiful poise, weight and balance. Showing silky tannins, this is a gorgeous new bottling has plenty of salty and damp earth nuances and is already beautifully evolved. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 Siduri ‘Parsons Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-The Parsons Vineyard is a small site that has been used by Siduri since 2007. Located in Northwest Santa Rosa, the site is set on clay loam soils.  This shows good concentration with loamy soils alongside black cherry, thyme and shades of milk chocolate. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2022 Siduri ‘Barbieri Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Siduri ‘Barbieri Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is right by the Parsons Vineyard and is a 20 acre site on Olivet Road. This is also a black fruit driven wine with black raspberry and black cherry notes alongside cola and fresh sage. Refined and elegant on the mouth, with good concentration and poise, enjoy this over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 Siduri ‘Sealift Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Sealift Vineyard is located in the Anapolis area, set on gold ridge sandy loam soils. Stored in 40% new French oak the 2022 Pinot Noir delivers

a beautiful core of salty red cherry and guava fruit flavors alongside cola, bergamot and kumquat rind notes. Fresh and seamless on the mouth, this is already beautifully evolved stuff that is best consumed over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 Siduri ‘Van der Kamp Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Siduri ‘Van der Kamp Vineyard’ has been made since 1996. This comes from a 25 acre site that is sold to a wide range of clients. Some Pinot Noir here was planted all the way back in 1960. This is ripe and well-structured Pinot Noir offering cherry cola notes alongside wet stone, salty minerals and orange peel notes Stony and savory on the mouth, with umami accents, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 Siduri ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Siduri ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from a slightly cooler site that neighbors the Sobranes Vineyard. The wine was stored in 40% new French oak for ten months before bottling. This opens with rich dark fruits and cola notes on the palate with black florals, exotic spices and salty soils. Savory and showing seaweed accents, this is a delicious wine already. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 Siduri ‘Garys’ Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This 2022 ‘Gary’s Vineyard’ is sourced from Pisoni clonal selection Pinot Noir vines, as this is a slightly warmer site than Rosella’s Vineyard. This offers black florals on the nose with wild blackberry and pipe tobacco notes. The palate is lush and ripe with a juicy core of black fruits that greet you alongside copious minerals. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2022 Siduri ‘SIerra Mar Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This 2022 Pinot Noir comes from a scenic site set on rocky sand soils. This is a challenging site to farm. Stored in 40% new French oak for 14 months, this delivers wet stone and red rose petals on the nose alongside shades of bergamot and kumquat rind. The palate is soft and rich with layers of pretty red fruits that parade with copious minerals and rocky soils. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Siduri ‘Sobranes Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This site neighbors Gary’s Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The 2022 Pinot Noir shows gobs of body and texture with cola and red cherry notes on the palate alongside cardamom dusted orange peel and suggestions of tobacco leaf. Full-bodied and delicious, this is exceedingly good stuff to enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 Siduri ‘Perilune Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Planted back in 2016 the Perilune Vineyard planted on a steep hillside and set on rocky soils. This comes off very rocky and salty showing a beautiful core of guava and red currant fruit flavors alongside serious tension and a smooth mouthfeel. Terroir-driven and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Siduri ‘Hapgood’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this site that is set on sand, this is a slightly cooler site for the Santa Rita Hills, southwest of Melville. The wine is made of clonal selection 459 and Mt. Eden. Given 20% whole cluster fermentation this offers a smooth mouthfeel with Earl Grey tea alongside a core of pure cranberry, red cherry and red raspberry fruit flavors, with salty soils. This is outstanding stuff. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 Siduri ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Siduri ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is sourced from a range of blocks from this site. They have utilized a range of clonal selections as this was stored in 30% new French oak for ten months before bottling. The wine is astonishingly good with a generous melange of red and black fruits alongside blood orange zest, cola and salty soils. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 95

Dom Perignon

Founded more than 100 years ago, Dom Perignon Champagne is one of the great brands owned by LVHM. For years I have admired the dedication put into these wines that seem to shine in even the most challenging vintages. An example is performing well in the tough vintages of 2003, 2006 and 2009. These wines seem to perform really good despite the challenges of the vintages.

The latest release of Dom Perignon comes from the 2015 vintage. This was a warmer vintage that produced dense and fleshy champagnes, yet maintaining a good level of acidity. The richness comes from the dry weather which carried during the summer months. These are wines that are hitting their stride now at the ten year mark. The gorgeous 2015 Dom Perignon Champagne (OB, 96) is several notches better than their last release from 2013.This is a more heady and rich level of Champagne and one that is already shining brightly. If you love the 2012 Dom then you will really enjoy this wine. Right now this retails for around 250 USD so it is no cheap treat. Learn more about this very special wine at https://www.domperignon.com/product/vintage/2013 and here is my review of the outstanding 2015 Dom Perignon Champagne.

2015 Dom Perignon Champagne- The 2015 Dom Perignon is a marelous wine from this outstanding vintage in Champagne. A vibrant yellow in the glass, this offers freshly cut wildflowers and walnut notes on the nose alongside yellow plum and shades of Japanese pear. The palate is refined and elegant as the silky mousse grips you. Wonderfully nutty and earthy already, with a gorgeous melange of citrus and melon fruits, this is drinking remarkably well in its youth. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. A proprietary blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink 2025-2042— 96

Cellar Selection: 1986 Opus One

It is always such a pleasure visiting old Opus One wine. Their winery in Napa is one of the most gorgeous to visit. Opus One has done a huge remodel and the tasting room has sensational panoramic views of their vineyards and the Napa floor. Extremely elegant, I last tasted in the salon and had an amazing chance to visit with their longtime winemaker Michael Silacci. I have been amazed how these wines have held over the years and have enjoyed many in my personal collection.

The Opus One wines of the 1980s were ones with lower alcohol levels and beautiful balance. They are very Bordelaise in their core. Having had several of them in the past year, it is just remarkable how well these wines have held. Last evening I had the chance to explore the 1986 Opus One (OB, 95) which is just a stunning wine even towards the end of its life. Initially quite reticent, this needed a bit of air to really get going. Very herbal and nuanced, I love where this beauty is at right now. Learn more about these world-class wines at opusone.com and here are my review of the incredible 1986 Opus One

1986 Opus One Red Wine- The 1986 Opus One is a magical wine now at nearly 40 years of age. This comes from a normal, largely uneventful growing season that was definitely a success for vintners. Black currants, pencil lead, loamy soils and fresh sage all mark the nose. The palate is smooth, silky and refined, showing loads of damp earth and soil character, with hints of black truffle shavings. Really complex and delicious, no reason to cellar this beauty. Drink 2025-2035- 95

Upsidedown Wine

It was a great Zoom call with winemaker Seth Kitzke how was unabashedly bullish about his wines. “I think we are making some of the best white [wines] in the state” he exclaimed. I had to agree with him as the wines I tasted were phenomenal. These releases by Upsidedown Wine have been outstanding since its inception. Kitzke has a world palate and tries some of the finest wines of the world as a litmus or benchmark when making his wines. I adore the new 2023 Upsidedown Wine ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ Viognier (OB, 94) which has beautiful flavor range. Even better is the dazzling 2022 Upsidedown Wine Konnowac and WeatherEye Vineyard’ Roussanne (OB, 95) which spent considerable time on the lees and is a total knockout, dense and mineral-laden bottling that is sure to satisfy any lover of top Washington wine. Learn more about these beautiful wines at upsidedownwine.com. Here are my reviews of the outstanding future releases by Upsidedown Wine.

2023 Upsidedown Wine ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ White Wine- A blend of 72% Marsanne and the remainder Roussanne from the Konnowac Vineyard, this offers lychee and rich orchard fruits on the nose alongside brioche tones. The palate is plush and soft with a smooth mouthfeel. Showing good weight and length, don’t serve this beauty too warm. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2022 Upsidedown Wine ‘Konnowac and WeatherEye Vineyard’ Roussanne- Stored for 22 months in French oak as well as concrete eggs, this was mainly sourced from the WeatherEye Vineyard. Salted Macadamia nut, lychee and pink grapefruit blossom all mark the nose alongside rich peach. The palate is deep and unctuous with a serious texture and flavor density. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2023 Upsidedown Wine ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ Viognier- The 2023 ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ Viognier is rich and generous on the mouth, showing off its waxy texture. Lemon meringue and shades of mango combine with rich cantaloupe and nutty undertones on the palate. Quite complex and delicious, this is best enjoyed at a warmer temperature. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2022 Tremasi ‘Field Blend’ Red Wine- The 2022 Tremasi ‘Field Blend’ Red Wine has a range of varietals blended in but is mainly Grenache and Syrah. Garrigue, white pepper, with sandy soils and shades of orange blossom all fill the nose. The palate is complex with a smooth texture and a brilliant core of crunchy red fruits with orange rind, dried herbs and salty soils. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Upsidedown Wine ‘Stony Florals’ Grenache- The 2022 ‘Stony Florals’ is the second vintage of this wine. Coming from the Equis Vineyard in Moxee, Washington this offers beautiful red rose petals and lemon peel alongside shades of white pepper and tart red fruits. The palate is fresh and lithe with good tension. Soft and delicious, enjoy now and over the next few years. 100% stem inclusion. Drink 2024-2030- 93

2022 Upsidedown Wine ‘The Gold Drop Collection Dead Poplar Vineyard’ Grenache- Coming from their estate vineyard which is set on sandy soils, this 2022 Grenache saw partial stem inclusion. The nose is highly performed with layers of gorgeous red fruits, with tobacco leaf and orange peel. The palette is fresh with a smooth texture and good sense of weight. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2022 Upsidedown Wine ‘The Gold Drop Collection Dead Poplar Vineyard’ Mourvedre- The outstanding 2022 Upsidedown Wine ‘The Gold Drop Collection Dead Poplar Vineyard’ Mourvèdre saw partial whole cluster fermentation (40%) and was stored in a small portion of new oak before bottling. Smoly amd stony on the nose this offers black currant and black cherry notes on the nose. The palate is fresh and polished with a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2022 Upsidedown Wine ‘The Gold Drop Collection Dead Poplar Vineyard’ Field Blend- The really good 2022 Upsidedown Wine ‘The Gold Drop Collection Dead Poplar Vineyard’ Field Blend comes from this stony and sandy site owned by the Kitzke family. Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah this saw roughly 40% whole cluster fermentation. Candied red fruits parade with Mandarin orange rind, salty soils and wild mushroom on this complex notes. The palate offers a delicious melange of red and dark fruits with stony/salty soil character. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Upsidedown Wine ‘Cross Block’ Mourvedre- The 2022 ‘Cross Block’ wine comes from the Andrews Vineyard as Mourvèdre vines for this wine are set on cobblestones and a steep slope. The nose offers wild blackberry and black cherry notes alongside shades of wet soils and gravel. The palate is dense and world-class in terms of flavor density and texture. Enjoy this beautiful wine, showing lovely earthy overtones, now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 Upsidedown Wine ‘Birds + Things + Flowers’ Syrah- The 2022 Upsidedown Wine ‘Birds + Things + Flowers’ Syrah comes from the Equus Vineyard which is a high elevation site. White pepper dusted brisket and black florals mark the nose alongside Kalamatta tapenade. The palate is stony and salty with a smooth mouthfeel and excellent verve. Delicious now, enjoy over the next six plus years to come. This totally over-delivers for the price. Drink 2024-2030- 94

2021 Upsidedown Wine ‘The Artist Collection’ Syrah- Aged for 30 months, the 2021 ‘The Artist Collection’ Syrah comes from the Kitzke estate vineyard on Candy Mountain. Given 60% whole cluster fermentation, this offers a deep mouthfeel with heady dark fruits alongside tar and tobacco leaf. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Upsidedown Wine ‘Equus’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Equus’ offers nice herbal tones on the nose alongside chocolate and dark currants. The palate is fresh and fragrant with good tension and mouth-watering acidity. Medium-bodied, enjoy this now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Upsidedown ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Upsidedown ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon has a fair amount of whole cluster fermented Syrah blended in. Bay leaf and fresh sage combine on the nose with dark florals and shades of wild blackberry. The palate is delicious and rich with good tension and salty character. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Kitzke Family Wine Sangiovese- This 2022 Sangiovese offers salty soils with tart red fruits, orange rind and pipe tobacco on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture and generous core of red fruits. This is really well-done. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Kitzke Family Wine Cabernet Franc- The 2022 Cabernet Franc comes from an eastern block at the vineyard. Lovely dried herbs and red bel pepper mark the nose alongside suggestions of wild blackberry. Soft and refined, this has a great melange of red and dark fruits alongside chocolate and coffee ground notes. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Kitzke Family Wine Petit Verdot- Dark in the glass, this 2022 Petit Verdot offers straightforward dark fruits with chocolate notes on the palate. Quite tannic, this is coming off a touch backwards for now. Drink 2024-2034- 91

2022 Kitzke Family Wine Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2022 Kitzke Family Wine Cabernet Sauvignon delivers garrigue and dark chocolate shavings with pencil lead on the nose. The palate is deep and concentrated with a smooth texture. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2022 Kitzke Family Wines ‘Old Vine Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Old Vine Reserve’ comes from vines that were planted back in 1982. The site produces tiny berries. Fresh sage and blackberry compote combine with shades of espresso grounds and black licorice on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 93

Dusted Valley

We share one of the outstanding houses out of Walla Walla today. It has now been many years ago that Dusted Valley was founded by the Johnson and Braunel families who are originally from Wisconsin and have strong backgrounds in farming. They source from some of the great vineyards in Washington, including the Olsen Vineyard and Stoney Vine Vineyard. They are making some really nice sparkling wine now. Wine quality from this house has steadily improved over the past decade. Tasting with the founders at the winery showed how well these wines can cellar and how well their screw cap technology has worked for them.

I adored the 2023 Dusted Valley ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is another stunning edition of this wine, showing beautiful freshness and texture. Don’t serve too cold! Learn more about these beautiful new wines at https://www.dustedvalley.com Here are my reviews of the great new wines by Dusted Valley.

2023 Boomtown Chardonnay- The 2023 Boomtown Chardonnay is a nice wine for the pricee. Japanese pear and nectarine notes combine with shades of green melon and minerals on the palate. Drink 2025-2029- 90

2023 Boomtown Sauvignon Blanc- The 2023 Boomtown Sauvignon Blanc shows off white grapefruit blossom on the nose alongside lime zest and green apple notes. Fresh and polished, enjoy this smooth, Washington Sauvignon Blanc now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2029- 90

2023 Boomtown Pinot Gris- A really nice value, the 2023 Boomtown Pinot Gris offers kiwi, baking spices and shades of honeydew melon on the nose. This is soft, nicely textured stuff that delivers plenty of melon and orchard fruits. Serve at a slightly warmer temperature. Drink 2025-2029- 90

2022 Boomtown Syrah- The 2022 Boomtown Syrah shows good concentration with juicy red fruits that mingle with smoke, beef drippings and a dusting of white pepper on the palate. This is really good stuff for the price. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2022 Boomtown Merlot- The 2022 Boomtown Merlot is a soft and approachable bottling, offering cedar, black currants and chocolate on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 89

2022 Boomtown Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Boomtown Cabernet Sauvignon delivers straightforward cassis, pencil lead and blackberry flavors that combine with a soft mouthfeel on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2023 Dusted Valley ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The delicious 2023 Dusted Valley ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Chardonnay is another beautiful edition of this wine. This comes off ripe and round on the mouth, with a generous texture. Broad-shouldered, with loads of mouth-watering acidly this revels in its core of melon and citrus fruits alongside shades of Marcona almond and brioche notes. Elegant, with good verve, enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Dusted Valley ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- This 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from this high elevation site set in the Yakima Valley. Aged in oak barrels, this delivers beautiful concentration, as well as flavor complexity. Peaches, freshly cut Key lime, Gravenstein apple and pie crust flavors all combine on the palate, with hazelnut accents. Complex and delicious, this is best consumed on the warmer side. Drink 2025-2030- 92

2022 Dusted Valley ‘Stained Tooth’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Stained Tooth’ Syrah was aged in only 14% new French oak before bottling and has a touch of Viognier blended in. Light white flower florals combine with dense red and dark fruits, with creosote accents on the nose. The palate is fresh and polished with a smooth texture. Medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2022 Dusted Valley Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2022 Columbia Valley bottling has a touch of Petit Verdot blended in. Garrigue and graphite mark the nose alongside violets and cassis notes. The palate is well-structured, with medium-bodied black fruits alongside chocolate and sagebrush accents. Drink 2025-2035- 92

2022 Dusted Valley ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Petite Sirah- The 2022 Dusted Valley ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Petite Sirah is a killer wine made by this Walla Walla house. Inky in the glass, this reveals in its core of black and blue fruits, with copious minerals and dark chocolate shavings. Really well-done and nicely structured, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93

Champagne Mandois

A new champagne house for me, imported by Albert Bichot’s US import arm, Albert Bichot USA, the Mandois property dates back to 1735 when the family decided to acquire some vineyards in Champagne. At that time, Jean Mandois, a contemporary of Brother Oudart, possessed and worked a few plots of vines on the hillsides of Epernay. 1860 was a revolutionary year in the long family history. This was the year when Jean Mandois’ great-grandson, Victor Mandois made the decision to vinify and sell the wines of Champagne in Epernay.

I loved the new Mandois releases. Check out the really good 2019 Mandois ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne (OB, 92) which is very elegant and sleek, offering good richness and flavor range. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.champagne-mandois.fr/en/category/exclusive-champagne/ and here are my reviews of the new Champagne Mandois wines.

NV Champagne Mandois ‘Brut Origine’ Champagne- The NV Champagne Mandois ‘Brut Origine’ combines 40% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir with the remainder Pinot Meunier. Given 7G/L dosage this opens with lime zest, sea salt and ginger notes alongside toasty brioche tones. The palate is refined, linear and fresh, showing beautiful tension throughout the drinking experience. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 90

NV Champagne Mandois ‘Rose Grande Reserve’ Champagne- The NV Champagne Mandois ‘Rose Grande Reserve’ Champagne is composed of near equal parts of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Offering a light effervescence this delivers tart strawberry and red raspberry with pomegranate seed flavors alongside good tension on the palate. Great now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2019 Champagne Mandois ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne- The 2019 ‘Blanc de Blancs’ is 100% Chardonnay soured from the Clos Mandois Vineyard. Given 6G/L dosage, this offers lime zest and white peach on the nose alongside kiwi and shades of wet stone. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth mousse. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2018 Champagne Mandois ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Champagne- The 2018 ‘Blanc de Noirs’ is entirely Pinot Noir coming from the 1er cru village of Pierry. The wine shows excellent weight with bright raspberry and strawberry fruits alongside shades of lemon curd and copious minerals on the palate. Delightful to savor now, enjoy over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 92

Domaine Drouhin Oregon

One of the Northwest’s outstanding wineries, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, began in in the 1980s, founded by famed Burgundy producer, Domaine Drouhin. It was then that proprietor Robert Drouhin made the bold move to buy land in 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. I had a great visit to the winery in August and am always blown away with the sweeping views of the Willamette Valley.  I’ve been lucky enough to have DDO bottlings back more than twenty years in my family’s personal collection.

The new wines are a total knockout from the 2022 vintage. This was one that was late-ripening and needed a lot of time to finish. Harvest was late but there were some world-class wines made this vintage. Don’t miss out on the 2022 Domaine Drouhin Oregon ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir (OB, 97) which is up there with the finest editions of this wine that I have ever tasted. 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 Rose- This bright and tart Rose offers a smooth texture with ripe red raspberry and strawberry notes on the palate with good freshness. Enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2029- 91

2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Chardonnay- This vintage saw considerably lower yields from the frost damage. The 2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Chardonnay is a world-class wine that has poise and grace as well as richness to be a 20 year wine. Mango and lemon oil mark the nose alongside oyster shell on the nose. The palate is dense and chewy with serious flavor density and a seamless drinking experience throughout. A total stunner, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2040- 97

2022 RoseRock ‘Maigold’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Maigold’ is a stunning wine that was aged in 50% French oak before bottling. Butterscotch and hazelnut notes combine with ripe pineapple and suggestions of sourdough bread on the plate. Rich and layered, this is a stunning wine that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2024-2040- 96

2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Origine 35’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Origine 35’ is a tribute to the 35th vintage at Domaine Drouhin Oregon. The idea behind this wine is a different expression than Laurene or their Dundee Hills bottling. The wine comes off deep and concentrated with a loaded core of black and red fruits alongside salty soils, wet rock, orange peel and suggestions of thyme. Fresh and deeply concentrated, with a refined mouthfeel, this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir- A stunning wine, the 2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir is a knockout wine made from this vintage. On the nose this offers cigar ash alongside black cherry and black raspberry notes with blood orange zest accents. The palate is plush and refined with good weight and a lengthy finish. Generous now, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 96

2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Pinot Noir- The world-class 2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous edition of this wine that is already neatly evolved.

beautifully. The palate is dense, chewy and filled with power, with fantastic tension holding everything together. Seamless and seductive throughout the drinking experience with heady dark fruits, this is a monumental bottling that is amongst the finest you will taste in Oregon. Drink 2023-2043- 97

2021 RoseRock ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir was stored for 15 months in 25% new French oak before bottling. Bottled in February 2023 this comes off very elegant and silky on the palate, as this is driven by a gorgeous pure core of red and dark fruit flavors alongside red rose water, orange rind and suggestions of tobacco leaf. Drink 2023-2040- 95

2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Louise’ Pinot Noir- Dense, chewy and gorgeous, the very fleshy 2022 ‘Louise’ Pinot Noir is a generous and concatenated edition of this wine. On the nose this takes on beautiful red rose petals and tar with menthol and shades of red currants. The palate is rich and layered wit ha silky texture and refined tannins. Showing glorious length, this beautiful wine has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2044- 97

Louis Roederer 'Cristal' Champagne

It was a damp and dark January day when I last visited Champagne Louis Roederer. We toured through the halls and finally ended with a tasting of the Roederer releases and the latest vintage of a wine icon, their ‘Cristal’ Champagne. Louis Roederer only produces their ‘Cristal’ Champagne in specific vintages that work for their style and the first ‘Cristal’ Champagne was created back in 1876 to satisfy the demanding tastes of Tsar Alexander II. The emperor asked Louis Roederer to reserve the House’s best cuvée for him every year as he was fond of Louis Roederer’s style. They started making this wine to be distinguished by being presented in a flat-bottomed, transparent lead-crystal bottle. The ‘Cristal’ brand was named after the lead-crystal bottle, which is particularly transparent and luminous. 

‘Cristal’ Champagne blending is typically around 40% Chardonnay and 60% Pinot Noir, although that varies on the vintage. Cristal is aged for 6 years in Louis Roederer’s cellars and then left for a further 8 months after disgorgement. The ‘Cristal’ Rose Champagne is always composed of estate fruit and the wine is primarily fermented and aged in steel, but roughly 15-20% of the blend is aged in oak. Dosage in this wine has slowly gone down.

The last time I tried the latest ‘Cristal’ release I was able to taste side by side the 2014 with the latest 2015. There is now a 2016 edition released. I found that the 2015 has been one of the great wines made this vintage. I have little doubt that the 2016 will follow suit. The 2016 vintage in champagne saw April frost that limited yields. However, early heavy rainfall and frosts to a late heat wave that accelerated ripening. This turned out to be a fleshy, opulent vintage.

Needing a lot of air, just as the 2015 edition, the stunning 2016 ‘Cristal’ (OB, 97) is delicious, ripe and opulent. It has some similarities to the 2009, as does the 2015. It is an absolute must that this wine sit in a large stem or decanter for 20 minutes prior to enjoying. Learn more about this great Champagne at http://www.louis-roederer.com/en/wine/cristal

2016 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Champagne- A dazzling new edition of this wine, the 2016 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Champagne is a world-class combination of 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay. This edition of ‘Cristal’ was given 7G/L dosage. Chalky minerals mark the nose alongside white grapefruit blossom, marzipan, star jasmine and suggestions of kumquat zest that all meld in the glass. The palate is filled with crushed seashells and wet salty stones that combine with rich melon, lemon rind and tangerine zest flavors that combine with suggestions of pastry crust on the palate. Big, round and generous, this exudes class in terms of length, tension and flavor density. A gorgeous wine in its heady youth, enjoy over the next twenty plus years to come. Drink 2025-2045- 97

Cellar Selection: 2003 and 2005 Chateau Climens

My mouth waters every time I think about the liquid gold 2005 Climens. It is truly a perfect wine. One of the great wineries in the world, located in Barsac, Chateau Climens has gained a worldwide reputation for producing top notch Sauternes.  Set on the left bank of the Garonne, in Graves region in the south-west of Bordeaux, The Grands Crus from Sauternes and Barsac were classified in 1855 at the same time as the Grands Crus from Médoc. Château Climens belongs to the First Classed Growths of 1855.

Within the Sauternes appellation, the small village of Barsac is primarily set on limestone soils which yields a wonderful freshness and balance to the wines. Chateau Clemens estate is a 30 hectares property situated on the appellation’s highest land where limestone outcrops are abundant. For years Berenice Lurton was at the helm at Climens, beginning in 1992. She was one of the great winemakers of the region, producing balanced yet massively complex wines. In 2002 Château Climens owner Lurton has sold a majority stake in the prestigious, Barsac-based estate to Jean-Hubert Moitry and his family.

It was such a pleasure revisiting the great vintages of 2003 and 2005. 2003 was a much warmer year, producing wines of serious power and depth. The 2003 didn’t show the same level of poise as the ’05 but was a hedonistic treat to discover. The 2005 remains for me a perfect wine — one with impeccable balance and flavor complexity. It is a total stunner right now. It is really hard to describe how good the ’05 is! Learn more about this compelling estate in the Bordeaux region at http://www.chateau-climens.fr/en/

2003 Chateau Climens- Dense, heady and downright unctuous, the 2003 Chateau Climens is a dizzying treat to consume right now. Taken from a .750ML bottle, bought at Hedonism Wines in London, this offers gorgeous candied ginger, mango and pineapple notes on the palate, with orange marmalade and butterscotch notes. Considering the heat of the vintage and the age of the wine, this is holding nicely, still offering good freshness. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 97

2005 Chateau Climens- A resounding success from this great vintage, the 2005 Chateau Climens is a world-class wine that is weightless, highly complex and absolutely scintillating to enjoy now. The gorgeous bouquet beings you back to the glass, offering intense tropical fruits alongside vanilla creme brûlée, pineapple upside down cake and shades of Meyer lemon cream. The palate is seamless and smooth, with plenty of stony minerals that meld well with passion fruit, bananas foster and toasted macadamia nut flavors. Showing beautiful weight and intensity, this has a really long life ahead of it. Drink 2024-2050- 100

Cristom Vineyards

It is my pleasure to share one of the greats out of Oregon. Cristom Vineyards hosted for a visit and tour a week ago. This is one of the most gorgeous spots that you will find in the Willamette Valley. Over the years Cristom has gained world-wide acclaim for their single vineyard Pinot Noirs. More recently they have been really improving their Chardonnay program.  The Cristom ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir has been one of the great values out of Oregon. This 2023 edition of this wine is another sensational bottling by them.

WInemaker Daniel Estrin, who also serves as vineyard manager, has an impressive resume, with stints at Red Car as well as Craggy Range in New Zealand before landing his position Littorai. He has made a wonderful impact to Cristom on the winemaking side. I love the 2023 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Viognier (OB, 93) which is bright and fragrant, showing a smooth mouthfeel. Even better is the 2022 Cristom Vineyards ‘Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is dense and chewy with serious richness and underlying tension. Check out more about these outstanding wines at https://www.cristomvineyards.com and here are my reviews of the new releases by Cristom.

2023 Cristom ’Louise Vineyard’ Viognier- The 2023 ‘Louise Vineyard’ was sourced from this location set on basalt soils. Stored in all neural oak barrels, this delivers honeysuckle and juicy peach aromatics that combine with salty soils and shades of ginger on the nose. The palate is fresh and lithe with a smooth texture and good sense of length. Nervy and intense, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2033- 93

2023 Cristom ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Gamay- The 2023 ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Gamay comes from both the Paul Gerrie and Björnson Vineyards. This was given 100% whole cluster carbonic maceration and then stored in neutral oak barrels before bottling. Translucent in the glass, this delivers loads of juicy red fruits that collide with baking spices, thyme and a light dusting of white pepper, with cran-orange accents on the palate. Really good in its vibrant youth, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2023 Cristom ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant 2023 Cristom ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir was aged in nearly all neutral oak for 11 months prior to bottling. The wine saw roughly 50% half whole cluster fermentation. Juicy guava and strawberry fruits mark the nose alongside cloves, black pepper dusted orange peel and tobacco leaf notes. The palate is gorgeous in terms of weight and flavor density. This is a truly outstanding bottling at a great price. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Cristom ‘Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the Bjornson Vineyard is set on volcanic soils and formerly had a good amount of poison oak planted. This 2022 Pinot Noir was stored in 33% new French oak barrels before bottling. It shows beautiful concentration with a silky texture upon entry, feeding on the great red floral aromatics. A beautiful melange of red and dark fruits parade with rocky soils, sea salt and shades of black truffle shavings on the palate. Delicious, neatly textured and downright delicious, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Cristom ‘Meredith Mitchell Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Meredith Mitchell Vineyard’ was sourced from this location planted back in 1988, set on rocky soils. Stored in mainly neutral oak barrels, this shows concentrated black raspberry and pomegranate fruit flavors that combine with wet stone and tar accents on the palate. Complex and delightful in its heady youth, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years to come. Only 150 cases produced. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Cristom ‘Durant Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Dundee Hills, the Durant Vineyard dates back to 1973 plantings and is set on deep, volcanic soils. This 2022 Pinot Noir delivers beautiful red rose petals and menthol notes on the nose alongside white truffle oil and suggestions of damp rock with red currants. The palate is vibrant in terms of minerality and tension that runs through a beautiful core of rich red fruits, with cedar, and damp earthy accents. Smooth on the mouth and showing good weight and length, with no rough edges, this is a delicious rendition of Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Syrah- One of the unique bottlings of the Willamette Valley, for years the Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Syrah was only made during warm vintages. Times have changed. This 2022 edition might be the finest yet, with some Cote Rotie underpinnings, yielding bulls blood and iodine notes alongside wet rock, tart red fruits and suggestions of orange peel. Medium-bodied with a smooth texture, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92

Eternal Wines

Today we share the excellent new wines by Brad Binko and Eternal Wines.  Years ago he graduated from the Walla Walla Community College’s enology and viticulture program,  and for years ran restaurant wine programs in Charleston before making the move to Walla Walla. He is making one of the best Port-inspired wines of the Pacific Northwest.

The winery is a great destination with fun parties in the summer and he has a deft touch with his white wines. The new whites were vibrant and nicely textured. I love the new 2021 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Bliss’ Fortified Syrah (OB, 93) which is rich and viscous — an after-dinner treat. This is truly one of the outstanding dessert wines in the Northwest Learn more about these wines at https://eternalwine.com Here are the great new releases by Eternal Wine and Drink Washington State.

2022 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Sunshine’ Viognier- The 2022 ‘Eternal Sunshine’ offers orange marmalade on the nose alongside shades of white peach and shades of pink grapefruit blossom. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture and good underlying tension. Well-made and sturdy, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2019 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Lust’ Albarino— The 2023 ‘Eternal Lust’ comes from the Otis Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. This offers excellent nerve with Marcona almond flavors that mingle well with orange zest and bright kiwi and pear flavors. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2017 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Echo’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘Eternal Echo’ Syrah was sourced from the Gamache Vineyard. It is medium-bodied with herbal accents that mingle well with red currants and menthol notes. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2029- 89

2019 Eternal Wines ‘Rocketman Red’ Red Wine- The really good 2019 ‘Rocketman Red’ delivers juicy red and dark fruits on the palate, with tar and tobacco leaf notes. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2018 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Divinity’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Eternal Divinity’ comes from the ionysus Vineyard in the Columbia Valley. This is well-structured, medium-bodied stuff that offers a core of black fruits alongside creosote, damp earth and cuban cigar. Delicious now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2024-2031- 91

2021 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Bliss’ Dessert Wine- The 2021 ‘Eternal Bliss’ has become one of the outstanding dessert wines of Washington State and is without a doubt the finest wine of the new Eternal Wines lineup. The 2021 edition is burly from this warm vintage. Toffee and black cherry cordial combine with chocolate cake flavors on the palate. Seriously good, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 93

MacRostie Vineyards

All great wines do not need to be priced high. One of the consistently good and well-priced houses in Sonoma, MacRostie Vineyards was founded by fellow Whitman alum Steve MacRostie. For many years I have loved these wines, particularly the value that their entry level wines bring. Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen has a great history in the wine industry. After attaining her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder she worked in the laboratory of Jackson Family Wines before working at Clos du Bois, Oyster Bay as well as Sonoma-Cutrer. The new wines are all outstanding coming from the 2020 and 2019 vintages.

MacRostie sources from some great vineyards including Dutton Ranch, Sangiacomo, Martinelli and Bacigalupi, and from MacRostie’s Estate Wildcat Mountain Vineyard which was purchased decades back. They have crafted another stunning value, their 2022 Macrostie ‘Nightwing Vineyard Swan Clone’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is a dense treat to enjoy now. Learn more about this great Sonoma winery at https://macrostiewinery.com/ Here are the outstanding wines by MacRostie.

2022 MacRostie ‘Nightwing Vineyard Swan Clone’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 MacRostie ‘Nightwing Vineyard Swan Clone’ Pinot Noir comes from this site in the eastern hills of the Petaluma Gap. It is a burly edition of wine from this site that speaks to the heat of the vintage. Cola and ripe cranberry tones combine with salty minerals and a smooth texture on the palate. Big, burly and rich, with good underlying acidity, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 MacRostie ‘Nightwing Vineyard Calera Clone’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 MacRostie ‘Nightwing Vineyard Calera Clone’ Pinot Noir comes from Block 22 in the vineyard. A dusting of white pepper combines with tart red fruits and Mandarin orange zest on the nose. The palate is fresh and fleshy with good underlying verve considering the heat of the vintage. Delicious now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

Cellar Selection: 2005 Domaine Serene 'Mark Bradford' Pinot Noir

I love drinking Oregon Pinot at its peak. Such is the case with the 2005 'Mark Bradford' by Domaine Serene, which is really peaking right now. I love wines from this location which is set in the Dundee Hills. It is a high-elevation site located on the west-facing slope of the Evenstad Estate and was the first vineyard planted at Domaine Serene.
The wine is rich and ripe from this warmer vintage in Oregon. It is fleshy but not overripe and has beautiful texture and tension. Oregon from 2005 is one to really enjoy now, as I have found the case to be true with top Oregon wines from other houses. No reason to cellar this beauty. Here are my notes from the enticing 2005 'Mark Bradford' by Domaine Serene and learn more at https://www.domaineserene.com

2005 Domaine Serene 'Mark Bradford' Pinot Noir- Voluptuous, rich and ubabashedly big from this warm vintage, the 005 Domaine Serene 'Mark Bradford' Pinot Noir is a total head-turner and won't be improving either. On the nose the rich red florals entice alongside pomegranate seed, wild strawberry, garrigue and hints of black truffle shavings. Round and voluptuous on the mouth, this is a total stunner that still has another ten years in front of it. But why wait? Drink 2024-2034- 97

Ambar Estate

A new Oregon winery making a strong showing in 2024, Ambar Estate was founded by Pam Turner and Robert Townsend. This couple have diverse backgrounds, Turner being an author and Townsend a corporate attorney and entrepreneur. The couple bought land on Northeast Worden Hill Road in 2017 and planted their estate mostly to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It was quite a job removing the scrub oak and blackberries there. The land is farmed by the Results Partners.

The new wines were sensational. I particularly love the 2022 Ambar ‘Lustral’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is dense, heady and beautifully structured. Learn more at https://www.ambarestate.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Ambar Estate wines.

2022 Ambar ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay- The really good 2022 Ambar ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay offers a smooth texture with layers of ripe melon and toasted hazelnut alongside vanilla cream and Pink Lady apple. Polished and smooth with good viscosity, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Ambar ‘Lustral’ Chardonnay- The ‘Lustral’ is a barrel selection Chardonnay from the 2022 vintage. This is a rich, dense and nervy wine with serious length. Meyer lemon cream and shades of walnut combine with dense melon and pear flavors on the palate. This is marvelously  textured stuff that is drinking so well in its heady youth. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Ambar ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir comes from a range of sites in this higher elevation AVA. Translucent in the glass, this delivers tart red fruits that mingle well with volcanic soils, orange peel and shades of bergamot on the nose. The palaate has a beautiful melange of red fruits with citrus rind and forest floor tones. Very earthy and neatly textured, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Ambar ‘Sacra Terra’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Sacra Terra’ is a beautiful expression of Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. The wine spent 21 days on skins and then 12 months in 67% new French Oak before bottling. The wine shows serious polish and nerve with bright cranberry and strawberry fruit flavors alongside dusty soils and beautiful red florals. A delightful, elegant style of the Dundee Hills, with serious freshness, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 95