Amulet Estate

Today we share the electric wines of Amulet Estate. Amulet Estate relies on the winemaking talent of Shawn Johnson who studied under eminent winemaker Phillipe Melka. The estate is a 20 acre property located in the northern Napa Valley in what historically was known as Dego Valley (now Italian Valley).Years ago the Dancing Hare wines were produced here. The former owner, Robert Brooks, spent many years in the software industry.  Brooks built the winery and cave which was completed in 2009.

I love the new wines. Check out the outstanding 2024 Amulet White Wine (OB, 94) is dense, weightless and beautiful Sauvignon Blanc that will go for another decade or more. Learn more at amuletestate.com  and here is my review of the new Amulet wines.

2024 Amulet Estate Sauvignon Blanc- The 2024 Amulet Estate Sauvignon Blanc comes from a small block at the estate vineyard. It shows beautiful cantaloupe and white peach aromatics that combine with freshly cut limes and shades of Challah bread on the nose. The palate is dense and rich with a terrific mouthfeel and beautiful underlying freshness. Heady and delicious, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2021 Amulet Estate ‘AE’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2021 Amulet Estate ‘AE Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Yountville AVA, at this location that is sustainably farmed by the Bettinelli Family. It comes off medium-bodied with good freshness. Roasted figs and Arabica bean flavors collide with loamy and rocky soils on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2019 Amulet Estate ‘Napa Valley’ Red Wine- A powerful, barrel selection proprietary blend from locations in St. Helena, Stags Leap, Oakville and Rutherford, the 2019 Amulet Estate ‘Napa Valley’ Red Wine is a dense and decadent bottling, offering damp loamy soils alongside espresso bean, black forest cake, cigar box and shades of black licorice on the palate. Full-bodied, with good underlying finesse, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2025-2042- 96

Cellar Selection: 2017 Chateau Pontet-Canet

Cellar Selection: 2017 Chateau Pontet-Canet

Today we are sharing one of the greats from the Left Bank of Bordeaux. Château Pontet-Canet is a Pauillac estate that dates back to the18th Century. It is originally named after former owner, Jean Francois de Pontet, who expanded the vineyard holdings by purchasing new property around the estate.  His descendants continued to purchase plots of land including some in the Canet area and thus, it was aptly named Château Pontet-Canet. This house because one of the biggest estates in the Médoc. 

While today this is a bit oudated, Château Pontet-Canet was classified as a Fifth Growth in 1855 and acquired by the Cruse family who owned the estate for 110 years.  The house saw a lot of changes in the 20th century and by1975, the vineyards had fallen into a state of disrepair.  The Cruse family sold it to the Tesseron family, a well-known name in the Bordeaux. While he does not see himself as a winemaker he has forced on making the best fruit possible in the vineyard, using biodynamic methods. He has partnered with Jean Michel Comme to do this as all viticulture is done by hand at Château Pontet Canet — and even no electricity is used during picking or sorting at harvest.

The wine I tasted most recently was from 2017. This was stuck between two powerhouse vintages — 2016 and 2018. These are elegant wines from this vintage and very much made in the older world style of Bordeaux. Alcohol levels are lower and the wines are more earthy than ’16 or ’18. I really love the way that this vintage has turned out and many of these wines are drinking marvelously now at the eight year mark. This 2017 Pontet-Canet (OB, 96) is silky, refined and elegant stuff, with plenty of depth and power. It needs several hours of air if consuming now. Learn more about this acclaimed house at https://www.pontet-canet.com/en/ and here is my review of the 2017 Chateau Pontet-Canet.

2017 Chateau Pontet-Canet- This is now the third time that I have tasted the fabulous 2017 Pontet-Canet — a world-class wine refined, elegant and also dense on the mouth. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this shows off mocha, tar, allspice dusted blackberry and dark currants all combine on the palate, with espresso grounds and wet gravel notes. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy this outstanding wine now and over the next twenty years. Drink 2025-2044- 96

Sleight of Hand

One of my favorite spots to taste in Seattle, with locations in Walla Walla but also SoDo, Sleight of Hand has a consistently great lineup of reds and whites. Founded back in 2007 by Trey Busch and Jerry and Sandy Solomon they have focused on top vineyard spots like StoneyVine and Upland as well as WeatherEye and Lewis Vineyards. Keith Johnson has been with the team since 2011 and oversees wine production on a daily basis. Keith also makes some amazing wines under his Devium label that are incredible in their own right.

The wines were seriously good across the board. I love the new 2023 Sleight of Hand ‘The Psychedelic’ Syrah (OB, 96) which is more dense and chewy than its ’22 edition. It is texturally ethereal with fabulous flavor range. Learn more about this outstanding winery at http://www.sofhcellars.com Here are the awesome new release wines from Sleight of Hand.

2024 Sleight of Hand ‘The Magician’ Riesling- The 2024 ‘The Magician’ Riesling comes from the Evergreen Vineyard which is a cooler location in the Ancient Lakes AVA. This edition is bone-dry, made in the halb-trocken style, showing kerosene aromatic accents. Green herbs and sour yellow plum flavors mark the palate, alongside Gravenstein apple and a fat mouthfeel. This is going to pair with a dizzying array of foods. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2024 Sleight of Hand ‘The Enchantress’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘The Enchantress’ was sourced from some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in Washington State, from the French Creek Vineyard. Stored in mainly neutral oak barrels, this shows off nectarine, hazelnut and shades of sweetened gooseberry on the nose, with toasty brioche accents. The palate is dense and also very fresh, creating a mouth-watering acidity and excellent sense of length. Glorious now, watch this evolve over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Sleight of Hand ‘The Sorceress Reserve’ Grenache- The 2023 ‘The Sorceress Reserve’ comes from some of the great sites in the state including the famed WeatherEye Vineyard as well as Upland and Les Collines Vineyards. Stored in just a touch of new French oak, this was mainly whole-cluster fermented. It is dense and viscous on the mouth with terrific volume and underlying tension. A pretty melange of red currants, pomegranate seed, red cherry compote and wild strawberry greet you on the palate, with blood orange zest, wet stone and menthol accents. Complex and highly delicious, this is best enjoyed over the next ten years — and is totally irresistible in its heady youth. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2023 Sleight of Hand ‘Levitation Reserve’ Syrah- The 2023 Sleight of Hand ‘Levitation Reserve’ Syrah is an ebullient bottling coming entirely from the famed Lewis Vineyard — a Columbia Valley site planted to a range of varietals, from Syrah and Chardonnay, set at 1270 feet. This bottling was aged in a combination of concrete tanks, neutral French oak and a touch of new French oak before bottling. It stands inky in the glass, showing its very classic purple flower character on the nose, with black Sharpie pen, smoked beef brisket, iodine and tar accents, alongside blackberry preserves. The palate is dense and heady, with no rough edges and lovely freshness. Enjoy this outstanding new Syrah over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2022 Sleight of Hand ‘Off He Goes’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Off He Goes’ is a tribute to Walla Walla winemaker Erik Dunham, sourced from the Les Collines Vineyard which is set in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. The nose is utterly fabulous with crushed wet rock, Provencale herbs, white pepper dusted bacon and shades of creosote that all take shape in the glass. The palate is dense, viscous and heady with a silky texture and great sense of weight and finesse. Gorgeous to consume now, enjoy this brilliant, cooler vintage wine now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2022 Sleight of Hand ‘The Illusionist Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2022 Sleight of Hand ‘The Illusionist’ Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from several locations in the Columbia Valley and was stored in 55% new French oak barrels for 20 months prior to bottling. This is delightfully smooth, polished and viscous on the mouth with plenty of power and concentration. Black tea and exotic spices march on with blueberry compote and suggestions of espresso grounds on the palate. A joy to consume now, this has at least another fifteen years in front of it. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Sleight of Hand ‘The Archimage Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘The Archimage Reserve’ is inspired by the wines of the Right Bank, utilizing near equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Wafts of red bell pepper combine with loamy soils, red currant jelly and suggestions of dark currants all mark the nose. The palate is lush and polished with a terrific mouthfeel and lovely salty nuances. Delicious now, enjoy over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2023 Sleight of Hand ‘Badlands’ Syrah- The 2023 ‘Badlands’ Syrah is a limited production bottling that is now in its second edition and was sourced from this location in the cobblestone laden soils outside Milton-Freewater. Aged in all neutral oak for 20 months, this shows incredible aromatics of oyster sauce and Arabica bean alongside black raspberry, charcuterie and suggestions of Satsuma orange zest. The palate is lush and beautifully textured, with serious texture and great verve. Enjoy this outstanding wine now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2023 Sleight of Hand ‘The Psychedelic’ Syrah- Another classy edition of this wine, the 2023 Sleight of Hand ‘The Psychedelic’ Syrah was sourced from the famed Stoney Vine Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks District. Stored for 16 months in natural oak, this opens with red raspberry and green olives alongside shades of white truffle shavings and wild herbs. The palate is both fresh and viscous with a fabulous texture and loads of mouth-watering acidity. This is made more akin to the ’22 bottling in terms of underlying finesse. Watch this beauty evolve over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 96

2023 Sleight of Hand ‘Spiders From Mars Ziggy Stardust Block’ Syrah- A stunning edition of this wine, the ‘Spiders From Mars’ comes from the ‘Ziggy Stardust Block’ which is a stony site set on broken basalt at the Elevation Vineyard. Stored in neutral oak barrels for 20 months, this exudes class with amazing aromatic range from smoked pork shoulder and pink peppercorn notes alongside red cherry starburst candy, kumquat zest and suggestions of potpourri. The palate is wonderfully fresh and stony, with bright acidity and a smooth mouthfeel. Generous and vibrant, its core of red and dark fruits with herbal and stony elements, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2023 Sleight of Hand ‘The Funkadelic’ Syrah- A stunning wine from this warmer vintage, the 2023 ‘The Funkadelic’ Syrah comes from ‘The Funk Vineyard’ in the Rocks District and was stored in neutral oak for 20 months prior to bottling. This shows outstanding flavor density and brilliant stony character. Hoisin sauce and violets mark the palate alongside chocolate cake, and shades of black licorice, with crushed wet rock. A glorious wine to consume now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. But why wait? Drink 2025-2033- 96

Van Duzer

It was back in 1998 that Carl and Marilynn Thoma chose to settle on a windy knoll 2 miles down a dirt road in Dallas, Oregon. This 82 acre site was the location for their future winery. The Thomas had great success prior to starting Van Duzer. Carl grew up on his family’s cattle ranch in Oklahoma and learned about agriculture at an early age. He became intrigued by the fledgling California wine industry during his graduate school days. During the 1990’s, Carl began building a portfolio of premier California vineyards and gradually settled on the Willamette Valley as the site for a family estate winery. Carl is the Founder and Managing Partner at renowned private equity firm, Thoma Bravo.

Marilynn was key in designing the branding and has brand management experience at Quaker Oats and Cellular Network. Together they rely on winemaker Eric Misiewicz  who was originally raised in New Hampshire where he spent his summers working on local vegetable farms. This inspired a love for the land, leading him to Cornell University, where he received a degree in Viticulture and Enology.

The new wines were very good. I really enjoyed the 2023 Van Duzer ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is dense and shows good length. Learn more about these wines at https://vanduzervineyards.com and here are my reviews of the new Van Duzer wines.

2023 Van Duzer ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2023 Van Duzer ‘Estate’ Chardonnay comes off soft and generous with poached pear and brioche tones on the palate, with Meyer lemon zest and nutty underpinnings. Offering good length, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2023 Van Duzer ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Estate’ comes off a touch lean considering the richness of the vintage. Salted pomegranate and red cherry candy parade with orange peel on the palate. Drink 2025-2030— 90

2023 Van Duzer ‘Flagpole Block’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Flagpole Block’ Pinot Noir comes rom a steep, eastern block on the estate vineyard. Wet rock and cranberry flavors combine with shades of wild strawberry and salty minerals on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 Van Duzer ‘Homestead Block’ Pinot Noir- This barrel selection 2023 ‘Homestead Block’ Pinot Noir is already nicely evolved at the two year mark. Wild mushroom and suggestions of bergamot combine with wild blackberry and red currants on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 92

J Vineyards

I long remember visiting J Vineyards many years back as it was one of the great spots to taste bubbles in California. They had a remarkably fun wine tasting atmosphere — more of visiting an ultra lounge than a wine tasting room. J Vineyards was founded in 1986, set in the Russian River Valley. In 2015 Gallo purchased the winery.

I have found that their ‘Cuvee 20’ has been one of the more consistent wines of its kind in California — one that delivers really good value for the price. Winemaker Nicole Hitchcock crafts a brilliant range of wines and she has been at the helm for ten years now. She has been named 2022 winemaker of the year for Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Check out her new lineup which is remarkably consistent. I adored the 2015 J ‘Russian River Valley Late Disgorged’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 95) which is very intense, heady and vibrant from this warm vintage. Learn more about these outstanding wines at jwine.com. Here are my reviews of the new wines from J Vineyards.

NV J ‘Cuvee 20’ Sparking Wine- Composed with a 2017 base this is ripe and round stuff showing off salted brioche and tangerine notes alongside suggestions of ginger and cardamom on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next several years Drink 2025 to 2025- 90

2021 J ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Sparking Wine- The rich and viscous 2021 J ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Sparking Wine opens with guava and ripe mandarin orange on the nose with pastry crust accents. This is dense and delicious stuff that is best enjoyed over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2015 J ‘Russian River Valley Late Disgorged’ Sparkling Wine- The dazzling 2015 ‘Late Disgorged’ is a stunning ten year old wine sourced from the Russian River Valley. This opens with a silky, moose and refined texture with a great saline edge. Fresh pastry alongside candied, lemon and suggestions of Japanese pear all mark the nose. The palate is dense and delicious with a terrific mouthfeel and great sense of tension. Toasted almond with Bosque pear mingles whale with pink grapefruit blossom and shades of wild mushroom on the palate.This is quite complex showing off the heat of the vintage with its richness in viscosity. It is indulgent to enjoy now and will be best savored over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2023 J ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Gris- A unique wine for this region, the 2023 J ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Gris delivers gooseberry and peach notes on the nose alongside suggestions of starfruit and baking spices. The palate is soft and elegant. Rich melon fruits combine with shades of cinnamon and cloves on the pallet. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025- 2030- 90

2023 J ‘Russian River Valey’ Pinot Noir- The really good 2023 J ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir delivers kirsch and strawberry noted on the nose with smooth mouthfeel. This is loaded with juicy red fruits on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 J ‘Bow Tie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2023 J ‘Bow Tie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir offers, black tea and exotic spices on the nose, alongside, black cherry, compote, and shades of black raspberry. The mouthfeel is soft and inviting with an enduring texture and excellent viscosity. This is already drinking beautifully now at the two year mark. Drink 2025-2035- 93

Beatus

Today we share the brilliant wine of Beatus which is a magical collaboration between winemaker Todd Alexander and Anne-Charlotte of Chateau de la Font Du Loup. Anne-Charlotte Mélia Bachas is the fourth generation winemaker in the Mélia family. Soils at this 20 hectare site are quite diverse, having a large portion of sand and also cobblestone material. The stones range considerably in size here, from small pebbles to larger cobblestones.

Todd Alexander has crated another ebullient wine here. The 2023 Beatus Chateauneuf du Pape (OB, 96) is dense and shows a fantastic purity of red fruits. This is hedonistic and highly pleasurable stuff that shows beautiful salty accents and depth. Learn more about these wines at https://beatuswine.com/ and here is my review of the 2023 Beatus Chateauneuf du Pape.

2023 Beatus Chateauneuf du Pape- A stunning wine from the 2023 vintage, this Beatus comes from the Chateau de la Font Du Loup estate vineyard. A dizzying nose greets you with red rose petals and potpourri notes alongside tobacco leaf, worn leather and salted red currants. The palate is fresh and viscous with terrific viscosity and freshness. This is seamless throughout the drinking experience, with bright red fruits and salted Mandarin orange zest, alongside stony nuances. Enjoy this delicious, tension-filled Chateauneuf and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2038- 96

Turnstile Cellars

Today we turn our attention to a brand new winery out of Sonoma. I have never had these wines and was massively impressed with the winemaking here. The Chardonnays have a beginning, middle and end — and quite frankly all end with glorious length. They are dense and heady but also possess a weightless quality.

Formerly with Rivers-Marie, winemaker Jidhin Ramankutty packed his bags and moved to California to pursue winemaking. His new wines are sensational. I love the 2024 Turnstile ‘Confluere’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is very heady and dense stuff, with terrific freshness. Learn more at https://turnstilecellars.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Turnstile wines.

2024 Turnstile ‘Saisei’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘Saisei’ comes from the Purrington Rued Vineyard. This comes off soft and velvety on the palate, offering dense pineapple and mango notes that collide with vanilla cream and buttered French bread. This is seriously delicious stuff in its heady youth. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2024 Turnstile ‘White Dragonfly’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘White Dragonfly’ was sourced from a range of sites across Sonoma County. Salted cantaloupe and brioche tones combine with shortbread notes on the palate. Rich and viscous, with good underlying freshness, length and salty nuances, enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2024 Turnstile ‘Confluere’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘Confluere’ was sourced from the Scopus Vineyard on Sonoma Mountain. This is a dense and heady effort, loaded with intense tropical fruits, alongside vanilla creme brûlée and hints of ginger. Full-bodied, showing great depth, freshness and a lengthy finish, enjoy this beauty now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 94

Adelsheim

We focus our attention to one of Oregon’s historic wineries, dating back to 1971. Adelsheim’s roots began in the north of the Willamette Valley in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. Visionary David Adelsheim had previously worked in Beaune as well as The Eyrie Vineyards before starting his own winery in Oregon. Having spent time in Burgundy, he saw the potential for producing Pinot Noir in Oregon.

Today Adelsheim now owns nearly 200 acres of land, with 180 acres of vineyards as they produce a brilliant range of wines — from Rose to stony Pinot Noir. Vineyard sites range from high elevation to low elevation, as well as volcanic and sedimentary soils.

At the helm is their talented winemaker, Gina Hennen, who in former years worked as semiconductor engineer for seven years in both Oregon and Dublin, Ireland. A former graduate of Reed College, Gina moved back to the Pacific Northwest to focus on winemaking.

I love the new wines. Check out the 2022 Adelsheim ‘Breaking Ground’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is marvelously viscous and fresh. I adored the new 2022 Adelsheim ‘Ribbon Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which has amazing purity of red fruits. Learn more about these beautiful new releases at http://www.adelsheim.com Here are the excellent new release wines by Adelsheim. 

2017 Adelshiem ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- Coming from the Bryan Creek Vineyard, the 2017 Adelshiem ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine delivers juicy melon and peaches on the palate with citrus zest dusted brioche notes. Rich and full, with an elegant mousse, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2019 Adelsheim ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- The 2019 ‘Brut Rose’ stands with a beautiful salmon hue in the glass. On the nose this takes on cran-pomegranate and orange zest aromatics with red rose petals and shades of yellow plum. The palate is wonderfully dense with a smooth mouthfeel. This is powerful stuff, showing good richness alongside loads of salty minerals. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2024 Adelsheim Rose- Made from Willamette Valley Pinot Noir grapes, this 2024 Rose shows bright red fruits, with starfruit and citrus rind accents. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2021 Adelsheim ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay-  An excellent edition of this entry level bottling, the 2023 ’Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay shows pear and banana bread flavors that meld well with sea salt dusted green apple. Lively and fresh, showing a smooth texture and bright underlying acidity, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031-91

2022 Adelsheim ‘Breaking Ground’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2022 ‘Breaking Ground’ Chardonnay comes from the Chehalem Mountain AVA. It is soft and delicious stuff to consume now, with its core of melon fruits alongside French bread and salty nuances. Full and fat on the tongue, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Don’t serve too cold! Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Adelsheim ‘Ribbon Springs Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Sourced from this Ribbon Ridge estate, the 2022 ‘Ribbon Springs Vineyard’ is a rich and viscous effort, loaded with dense melon and tropical fruit flavors, alongside a brisk sense of minerality on the palate. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2023 Adelsheim ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir is a really nice value. It is soft and supple on the mouth with a terrific texture. Loaded with bright red and black fruits, this bears bay leaf and tobacco nuances on the palate. Fresh and also quite viscous, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Adelsheim ‘Breaking Ground’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Breaking Ground’ is a tribute to the Chehalem Mountain AVA where Dick Adelshiem first planted back in 1978. The freshness is terrific as loganberry and red currant fruits collide with blood orange zest, black truffle shavings and damp earthy notes. Complex and delicious to consume now, watch this evolve over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2022 Adelsheim ‘Ribbon Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Ribbon Springs Vineyard is the largest of the Adelsheim estate vineyards as this location is set on ancient marine sedimentary soils. Gorgeous red florals mark the nose alongside orange peel, menthol and shades of pomegranate seed. The palate is rich and viscous with amazing tension, texture and verve, as well as length. Generous and also showing good underlying freshness, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 95

2022 Adelsheim ‘Laurel Leaf Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Laurel Leaf Vineyard is neighboring Bald Peak which is the highest point in the Willamette Valley and is set on Laurelwood soils. This 2022 Pinot Noir opens with wild blackberry and black raspberry notes on the nose with shades of peat moss and salted kumquat. The palate is smooth and refined with a terrific combination of texture and finesse. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 Adelsheim ‘Boulder Bluff Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Boulder Bluff’ Pinot Noir comes from this location that is set on a steep, southern aspect in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. It is fresh and viscous stuff, offering salmonberry and boysenberry flavors that combine with black tea and suggestions of crushed wet rock on the palate. This obviously has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2025-2040- 94

Review: British Airways First Class Seattle to London

It is always remarked my frequent flyers that British Airways First Class has the finest Business Class product in the sky. I do find that BA First Class is consistently better than BA Business Class which is also a very polished product — especially in the Club Suites. Service in British First is usually exemplary and food options also have been very good. Some of my close friends have had bad seats or broken flight entertainment systems. While this journey was definitely not my most memorable, having some spotty service issues, overall the experience was seriously good

I began my journey to London Heathrow in the newly revamped BA Seattle Lounge.

After a glass of NV Pol Roger Champagne I made my way to seat 2F which has been my favorite First Class seat on a non-A380. First Class was entirely full and I was eager to try their champagne upon board, the 2015 Bollinger ‘La Grande Annee’ which retails for roughly 200 USD. The top champagne really did make this flight.

I think some BA flyers are still disgruntled that Laurent-Perrier ‘Grand Siecle’ Champagne has been removed from the Concorde Room. I am super impressed with the wine list that they have which is arguably the most deep and richest range of sparkling wines on any flight. They had two top champagnes on the menu as well as a great English bubbles from 2014, their Nyetimber.

The First Class seats were updated by BA several years back but still give you a modern feel. They are comfortable and functional. They are also wide enough for nearly all humans and 78 inches in length — which creates comfort for my 6’5’’ frame. With a touch of a button they are adjusted to a lay flat bed that was extremely cozy with the classy bedding selected. The leather arm rests offer good support as does the back of the seat. This is going to be an extremely comfortable seat for someone tall or overweight and the bedding they use with 400 thread count is lush and comfy. I prefer sitting in the second row as the first is closer to the galley.

I was immediately served some snacks and a glass of the incredible 2015 Bollinger ‘La Grande Annee’ Champagne. Each seat has a small compartment for a jacket. There is also a small to medium-sized storage locker behind the seat where small personal belongings could be stowed. The bathrooms could use a refresh but they were cleaned regularly. They have spartan aesthetics but feature their really nice Elemis products from their Ultra Smart pro-collagen range.

Service was initially quite slow. One of the pursers was fantastic and he helped me for about half of the flight. However, the first woman purser was not always having the best attitude. I think she was having a bad day and was also tired admitting that she had flown standby the day before to get to Seattle. I think she could have done a better job with attitude and effort. This was also quite an anomaly from my other BA first flights this year.

The amenity kit by Temperley London is solid. The eye mask in particular is really good. This isn’t an Emirates First amenity kit. . . but what is? New television screens were added to the First Suites in 2023. They are very good and high resolution. I love the interactive map that they have while you are in the air. They have an awesome range of in flight entertainment. Headphone quality is decent but could be better Charging stations were easy to use.

Throughout my flight I had marvelous, attentive service from one of the pursers. The other was definitely not at top of her game and she also slept through a large part of the flight. While a few of my flying friends have noted that British First does not have great service I have found that in my past few years of BA First flights, the attendants really do try to make you have an enjoyable journey. I was given pajamas but not slippers for some reason. Because of the female purser’s attitude I chose not to bother her for slippers.

I happily settled into a second glass of 2015 Bollinger. Food selections were good and I decided to go healthy, ordering a seafood main as well as a salad nicoise. The smoked duck which a neighbor ordered looked fabulous.

Their still wine list is decent but nothing like their sparkling wine and champagne selection. They were unfortunately out of the Bollinger PN19 which I was really hoping to do a side by side with the 2015 Grand Annee. However, when you look at this list I don’t know if there is another airline that offers these two top champagnes together. I didn’t try both but the fact that they have these as well as the top wine by Nyetimer from 2014 makes this one of the best sparkling wine/champagne lists in the skies.

I was massively impressed with my cheese plate which I had after my mains. The Nicoise was a fabulous start and very fresh. It is not easy to serve raw tuna on a flight but this was a really good starter. I really liked the dressing in this dish as well as the bright veggies.

My main was very small. I loved the fresh Dungeness crab and the scallops were also good. They could have done a better job with this entree making it larger and something that was more of a main rather than a starter. I do understand making meals that are healthy and small in portion but I would have liked more options for those who want something heartier and still enjoy eating seafood

However, it was devoured in a mere few bites and I asked the female purser if she had any extra entrees. She immediately responded that she did not. But she later came back and said that she has found some vegetarian pasta, which I ordered to try.

It was far from impressive. The photo looks better than it actually was. Coach pasta would have been more tasty and this was really bland and also the pasta was very hard. It could have been overcooked by the purser, I wasn’t quite sure. But I could only manage a few bites so that made me a bit hungry.

Conversely, we have the cheese plate here. It might not look like much but the cheeses were really high quality and I loved that there were a range of crackers that you could enjoy them with. The fig spread was a wonderful foil. The richness of the cheese went really nicely with the Bordeaux selection.

Cadence was generally good throughout the meal. I opted to try their 2011 Chateau Bouscaut to match the cheese and found it to be excellent despite the obvious challenges of the vintage. This one is right at peak right now. It is not the best Bordeaux I have had on BA First but it was still a solid selection that is drinking nicely.

I then settled into the flight and had my glass of Johnny Walker Blue Label before it was time to hit the sack. My bed was instantly made into a life flat and I snuggled into the comfortable sheets and duvet. It wasn’t long before I was asleep for several hours and arose to a beautiful sunrise over the United Kingdom.

My male purser did a great job with the turndown service. Upon waking I ordered an espresso which was immediately presented to me. We prepared for landing and I was relatively well-rested after several hours of sleep. I eagerly awaited visiting with my friend in the famed Concorde Room at Terminal 5 in London Heathrow.

BOTTOM LINE:

This was not the best First flight that I have had with British Airways. One of the pursers had a fabulous attitude while the other didn’t and usually this is not the case for BA. I have found that their service in First is generally consistently great.

Food quality was generally very good other than the veggie pasta. I really enjoyed my starter and the have an incredible array of sparkling wines and champagnes. They definitely have one of the best sparkling wine/champagne lists in the skies.

Generally speaking the first class attendants are engaging and care about your needs. This is always a beautiful departure to service that I receive from other US airlines where flight attendants usually can’t seem to be bothered. I will always look forward to flying BA First Class.

Scharffenberger

Today we share one of the great bubbles producers of the Anderson Valley. Scharffenberger Cellars was founded back in 1981 and is located only a few miles from Pacific Ocean. The brand was started by John Scharffenberger, and was bought by Louis Roederer in 2004. Winemaker Jeffrey Jindra crafts some beautiful value sparkling wines that are fresh and vibrant with great texture. The tasting room is in a charming Mendocino country bungalow in downtown Philo. Behind it, the 35,000-square-foot winery sits to the north amid hillside vineyards. An old redwood grove has been carefully protected on the 160-acre property.

Check out the  NV Scharffenberger ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 91) which has great freshness and salty nuance. Learn more about this storied Anderson Valley house at https://scharffenbergercellars.com and here are my notes on the beautiful new sparkling wines.

NV Scharffenberger ‘Brut Excellence’ Sparkling Wine- A terrific value, the NV Scharffenberger ‘Brut Excellence’ Sparkling Wine is composed of 60% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir. This has juicy orchard fruits that mingle well with kiwi and nutty accents on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

NV Scharffenberger ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- Another fantastic edition of this wine, the Brut Rose, combines 55% Chardonnay with 45% Pinot Noir. Lively and fresh on the tongue, this delivers bright guava and red cherry flavors that meld well with Mandarin orange zest on the palate. Drink 2025-2030- 91

Roederer Estate and Domaine Anderson

It is my great pleasure to share the beautiful wines of Roederer Estate which dates all the way back to 1982. At the time it was the vision of Jean-Claude Rouzaud, president of Louis Roederer, who saw  the cool climate and rolling fog of the Anderson Valley to craft some of the region’s finest sparkling wines. The 580 acre estate produces four sparkling wines: the multi-vintage Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut, debuted in 1988, the Brut Rosé and Roederer Estate's vintage tees de cuvee, L'Ermitage and L'Ermitage Rosé. 

Roederer Estate is under the leadership of Jean-Claude’s son, Frédéric Rouzaud. I loved the new wines. The outstanding NV Roederer Estate ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 92) is a stunning wine in both nuance and value. I adored the new 2007 Roederer Estate ‘L’Ermitage’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 98) which is a stunning wine that is a total masterclass in flavor range. Learn more about this outstanding sparkling wine house at https://roedererestate.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Roederer Estate.

NV Roederer Estate ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- A really impressive non-vintage wine, the Roederer Estate ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine is a blend of 60% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir that was aged on the lees for more than two years. Shades of candied ginger and saffron fill the nose alongside honeydew melon and cashew nut accents. This is deeply textured stuff with a refined mousse. Elegant and viscous, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 92

NV Roederer Estate Rose Sparkling Wine- Another fabulous edition of this wine, the NV Roederer Estate Rose Sparkling Wine is a fabulous blend of 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay. Given 8 G/L dosage, this offers a lively effervescence on the mid-palate. Bright Japanese pear and cranberry notes combine with salty minerals on the palate. Sleek and refined, enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2021 Roederer Estate ‘Clark Road Vineyard’ Sparkling Wine- The 2021 ‘Clark Road Vineyard’ comes from this location in the Anderson Valley as this beauty is nearly all Pinot Noir (77%) with the remainder Chardonnay. This is big, rich stuff that comes off fat on the tongue. Dense melon and red fruits collide with sea salt dusted French bread and star jasmine water on the palate. A seamless, delicious bottling to enjoy now, this has both the stuffing and verve to cellar well for another ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2019 Roederer Estate ‘L’Ermitage’ Brut Sparkling Wine (PURCHASED BOTTLE)- Every bit dazzling the 2019 ‘L’Ermitage’ Brut Sparkling wine spent considerable time on the less before disgorgement. Wildflowers, pink grapefruit blossom and quince notes fill the nose alongside kiwi and freshly cut limes. The palate has sterling tension and racy, mouth-watering acidity, with terrific viscosity. A total stunner, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2007 Roederer Estate ‘L’Ermitage’ Brut Sparkling Wine- The mind-bending 2007 Roederer Estate ‘L’Ermitage’ Brut Sparkling Wine is a late released bottling that is showing right at its peak right now. Disgorged in November 2024, this is packed wth poached pear and roasted pineapple on the nose alongside salted praline and shades of ripe mango. The palate is equally exotic with loads of texture, tension and salty minerality. A complete masterclass, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 98

2022 Domaine Anderson ‘Fairhills Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Fairhills Vineyard’ Chardonnay offers baked apple and diatomaceous earth on the palate alongside saline drenched banana. Neatly-textured, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Domaine Anderson ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2022 Domaine Anderson ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is soft on the mouth with bright acidity. Medium-bodied orchard fruits mingle well with nutty and tropical undertones on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Domaine Anderson ‘Pinoli Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Domaine Anderson ‘Pinoli Vineyard’ Pinot Noir delivers pine needle and damp earth aromatics alongside tart red fruits. Soft and approachable, enjoy this juicy and earthy Pinot Noir now and over the next several years. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2022 Domaine Anderson ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The really good 2022 Domaine Anderson ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir shows off cola and salty earthy on the nose with black raspberry and Bing cherry notes. The palate is rich and tension-filled, with loads of salty and stony minerals. Drink 2025-2031- 92

Valette

Today we present the stunning wines of Valette and Chef Dustin Valette. Valette is a limited-production wine brand with bottlings carefully crafted but by Jesse Katz (Devil Proof, Aperture). Katz is making clearly some of the finest wines on the West Coast and creates a pillowy, signature texture and refinement with all of his wines. His Devil Proof brand is without a doubt the best new world Malbec on the market today.

Chef Valette landed at Thomas Keller’s one-Michelin-star Bouchon in the Napa Valley and later worked at Michelin-starred Aqua in San Francisco, finally as executive sous chef under Laurent Manrique. Back in 2015 he opened his own restaurant, Valette in Healdsburg. The cuisine here is focused on modern American with a French twist.

This is now the third round of wines that I have tasted for Chef Valette’s brand. As remarkable as the first edition of the wines were, these are even more remarkable considering the obvious challenges of the 2022 vintage — one that was marred with heat spikes at harvest. Katz and his fellow winemaker Hillary Sjolund essentially pulled a rabbit out of the hat by making wines from 2022 that show obvious depth and concentration but also remarkable freshness.

I love the loamy soil character of Oakville. highlighting the loamy soil character of Oakville. The 2022 Valette Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) is another perfect wine made by Katz and Sjolund. It is seamless, beautifully-textured stuff that is absolutely scintillating to enjoy in its heady youth. So without further adieu here are my reviews of the new releases by Valette. Learn more at https://www.valettewines.com/

2023 Valette Sauvignon Blanc- The 2023 Valette Sauvignon Blanc is a new wine for me that comes from the Fountain Grove AVA. Stored in mainly stainless steel before bottling beautiful white florals on the nose with kiwi and shades of lemongrass on the nose. The palate is viscous and intense with heady melon and citrus fruits. There is a beautiful push-pull in terms of finesse and viscosity. Drink 2025-2032- 95

2022 Valette ‘Pocket Peak’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Pocket Peak’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this location that is farmed by Stonestreet. Aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak this delivers a sinfully good texture with remarkable freshness and tension. Concentrated dark fruits, combine with mocha, tar and graphite on the palate. A total stunner, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 99

2022 Valette Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Valette Cabernet Sauvignon has slightly less Petit Verdot than the ’21. The wine comes from this Oakville site that is near Screaming Eagle. Gorgeous red and dark florals with red bell pepper mark the nose alongside chocolate and stony minerals. The palate is seamless and beautifully structured, as this is very pretty and stony. It is a remarkable achievement from this hot vintage. Drink 2025-2042- 100

L'Ecole No. 41

One of my fondest early memories in wine was tasting at L’Ecole when I was in college. It was 2002 and the wine scene across the Walla Walla Valley was nothing short of electric. Today we share one of the jewels of the  Walla Walla Valley. One of Washington’s historic wineries, L’Ecole No. 41 is set at a historic schoolhouse outside the town of Walla Walla. Winemaker Marcus Rafanelli has been crafting a beautiful range of wines. The wines he crafts are very poised and focused. They need time in the cellar, particularly their top bottlings. The new wines in particular, the Ferguson wines, continue to improve and are now some of the great upper tier wines made in Washington.

The entry level wines have always been some of the best values you can find on the shelf. I love the 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 92) which is nicely poised and balanced, with excellent flavor range. It is a steal at 35 bucks. Learn more about this outstanding winery at http://lecole.com/ Here are the great new wines by L’Ecole No. 41.

2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Semillon- Soft and delicious, the 2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Semillon has 15% Sauvignon Blanc blended in. Right away this offers a smooth mouthfeel with Japanese pear, cashew nut and green papaya flavors that collide with copious minerals on the palate. Medium-bodied and showing good depth, enjoy this outstanding value now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ Semillon- An awesome new release, the 2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ Semillon offers gardenia water and salty nuances on the palate alongside hazelnut, shades of cantaloupe and brioche bread. Complex, with a great acid backbone, and awesome texture, enjoy now and over the next few years. Don’t serve too cold! Drink 2025-2031- 93

2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Luminesce’ White Wine- A Bordeaux-inspired blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc from the Seven Hills Vineyard, the 2024 ‘Luminesce’ delivers shades of mango and honeydew melon on the nose with wet stone, and white grapefruit blossom. The palate is fresh and viscous with a glorious combination of texture, length and verve. Enjoy now and over the next six plus years to come. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- An awesome wine to buy by the case, the 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a range of Columbia Valley sites including the Stone Tree, Bacchus, and Summit View vineyards. 100% varietal, this was stored in 25% new French oak before bottling. On the nose this takes on dark currants with tobacco leaf, pencil lead and shades of Black Forest cake. The palate is soft and approachable, with elegant tannins and excellent structure. Medium-bodied and delicious, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2033- 92

McCollum Heritage 91

Today we share a brand new winery out of Oregon. Founded by NBA legend CJ McCollum and his wife, Dr. Elise McCollum, McCollum Heritage 91 was created in partnership with Adelsheim Vineyard and all wines are made at Adelsheim by eminent winemaker Gina Hennen. CJ was introduced to wine in his early 20s by his wife Elise, and while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers he found himself regularly visiting the Willamette Valley and tasting. Turning his passion into business, CJ launched McCollum Heritage 91 in 2020 with the release of the inaugural 2018 Pinot Noir. McCollum Heritage 91 is a culmination of CJ’s passion for wine and dedication to creating a brand that carries his legacy forward. Together with Elise, CJ acquired a 318-acre vineyard property in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA in 2021.

The new wines come from the 2021 vintage and were seriously good. I love the 2021 McCollum Heritage 91 Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is silky and viscous from this warm vintage. Learn more about this electric new wine brand at https://mccollumheritage91.com/ and here are my reviews of the new McCollum Heritage 91 wines.

2021 McCollum Heritage 91 Chardonnay- Sourced from the Chehalem Mountains AVA, this 2023 Chardonnay offers juicy white peach, Meyer lemon cream with brioche notes on the palate alongside juicy starfruit and salty minerals. Smooth throughout the drinking experience, with terrific viscosity, enjoy this beauty now and over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2021 McCollum Heritage 91 Pinot Noir- Also sourced from the Chehalem Mountains AVA, this 2021 Pinot Noir offers rocky soils on the nose with tart cranberry, blood orange zest and shades of red licorice. The palate is smooth on the approach, as this comes off loaded with bright red fruits, with wet gravel and citrus rind accents. Drink 2025-2033- 92

Clarice Wine Company

Adam Lee is one of California’s great winemakers. He has been making Pinot Noir for 25 years from Oregon to the Santa Rita Hills. A unique, newer winery project, Clarice Wine Company has now been focusing on world-class Pinots from the Santa Lucia Highlands over the past several years. Lee was first exposed to wine while in Texas working in wine sales in the 1990s. Fast forward to 1994 he and his wife founded Siduri which became one of the state’s top producers of Pinot Noir. Their brand grew from 107 cases in 1994 to 25,000 cases in 2015 when they sold to Jackson Family Wines.

Clarice Wine Company is named after Lee’s grandmother who was his closest friend growing up. The wines are sourced from top sites in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Check out the world-class 2024 Clarice Wine Company ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is a heady, stunning wine with loads of tension and salty nuance. Learn more about this outstanding wine project at https://claricewinecompany.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Clarice and winemaker Adam Lee.

2024 Clarice Wine Company ‘Santa Lucia Highlands’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Santa Lucia Highlands’ was sourced from Rosella’s and Gary’s Vineyards, and comes off big, burly and broad-shouldered — seriously packing a punch at the entry level. This is loaded with dense dark fruits with black florals, tobacco leaf, salty soils and orange zest notes with stony undertones. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2024 Clarice Wine Company ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The amazing 2024 Clarice Wine Company ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was sourced from this windswept 50 acre location right under the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. Dark and brooding in the glass, this offers cola and cranberry notes on the palate alongside heady Bing cherry and blackberry notes on the palate. Salty, savory and showing great concentration and verve, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2024 Clarice Wine Company ‘Gary’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Gary’s Vineyard’ is a older site that is planted to 30 year old Pinot Noir vines, named after owners Gary Franscioni and Gary Pisoni. On the nose this delivers purple rose petals with shades of marionberry, red currants, and salted Mandarin orange zest. The palate is powerful and concentrated, with great acidity and salty/stony nuances. A joy ton consume now, enjoy over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 96

Moret-Brealynn

Sharing the wines of Moret-Bealynn, this brand was founded back in 2021. Moret Brealynn is a California born Mexican-American who started in hospitality at the tasting rooms of Silver Oak Cellars and Twomey. She then took a marketing position at Kosta Browne where she organized all winemaker and principal involvement in national and local events. She spent the next five years at HALL Family Wines and managed the Hall's book, A Perfect Score. Morét managed multiple departments and companies to propel the book to the New York Times Bestsellers List (#11, so good it got number one twice) along with 40+ events for the book tour. Through that role, she formed a strong connection with Vintner Kathryn Walt Hall and at the end of the project, became Kathryn's Executive Assistant. Morét became the Happy Hour Show Producer for the company's multiple social channels. This role expanded to being able to meet and work with A-List talent from Tina Fey, the cast of Schitt's Creek, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Martin Short, countless athletes, musicians, and other inspiring individuals.

Morét met Adam Lee, co-founder of Siduri Wines and owner and winemaker for Clarice and Beau Marchais. Adam was impressed with the professionalism and organization of the show and after further discussions, Morét joined him as his General Manager. Morét's exposure to the production side of the wine industry grew and her passion for making her own wine.T

hrough Adam, Morét met Jim Pratt, who manages vineyards around Sonoma County, including Lakeview Vineyard in Russian River Valley. Jim offered her the opportunity to source four tons of Pinot Noir for her first vintage in 2021.

Morét Brealynn makes a range of wines with co-winemaker Lee. These are well-priced wines that are perfect for any budget. The wines are fabulous. I love the  Her new wines were really good. I love the 2024 Moret-Brealynn ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which is dense and viscous, showing good freshness Learn more at https://moretbrealynnwines.com/morét-brealynn and here are my reviews of the new Moret-Brealynn wines.

2024 Moret-Brealynn Rose- Bright and vibrant in the glass, this 2023 Rose offers orange rind and kumquat flavor alongside tart pomegranate seed and red raspberry notes on the palate. Fresh and nicely textured, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 Moret-Brealynn ‘Sonoma County’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 Moret-Brealynn ‘Sonoma County’ Pinot Noir offers straightforward black fruits with cola on the palate and good freshness. Delicious now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2024 Moret-Brealynn ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- Rich and viscous, the outstanding 2024 ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir delivers peat moss and damp earthy character alongside cran-cola and shades of sassafras on the palate. The combination of weight and freshness is excellent. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 Moret-Brealynn ‘Sonoma County’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Sonoma County’ Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from a range of sites in this huge AVA. This is dense and delicious stuff offering heady cassis and blackberry fruit flavors alongside milk chocolate and damp soils. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 92

Domaine Carneros

Today we share one of the great sparkling wine houses on the West Coast. Perched high on a hill, overlooking the valley., Domaine Carneros is one of my favorite wineries to visit. Founded back in 1987 by Claude Taittinger, of famed Champagne house Taittinger, the location is a 138-acre parcel in the Carneros region of the Napa Valley. The spot he selected is truly unique, as it has a massive maritime influence being perched near the bay. The vineyard is quite windy and produces highly concentrated berries that are very small in size. At the helm is Remi Cohen who serves as CEO and director of winemaking. She took over Napa pioneer Eileen Crane, who had been crafting sensational, age-worthy sparkling wines in the Napa Valley for over 30 years. There is little doubt that their, ‘Le Reve,’ is one of the finest sparkling wines made in North America. They also have been steadily improving their Pinot Noir program and currently have a glorious range of still wines.

I love the new wines. The 2016 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve Late Disgorged’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 98) is arguably the best sparkling wine from North America I have tasted in the past year. It is a stunning, thrilling wine to consume now. Do not sleep on this beauty. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.domainecarneros.com Here are the new wines by Domaine Carneros

2016 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve Late Disgorged’ Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine- A total masterclass by this storied house, the 2016 ‘Le Reve Late Disgorged’ saw nearly ten years on the lees before disgorgement. The nose is sensational with candied ginger and lemon rind that combines with suggestions of basil leaf, and salted French bread. The palate takes on a silky mousse that glides throughout the drinking experience. The finish will last for an entire minute as this is undeniably one of the finest sparkling wines from North America that I have tasted in the past year. A joy to savor now, enjoy this impeccably balanced sparkling wine now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 98

2023 Domaine Carneros ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir is a fresh and complex bottling from this storied estate in the Carneros district. It comes off soft and neatly-textured on the mouth with terrific freshness. A beautiful melange of red currants, guava and Yakima cherry combine with shades of salty soils on the palate. Viscous and fresh, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2023 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Ciel Serein’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Ciel Serein’ Pinot Noir is a beautiful edition of this wine that is fresh, viscous and shows outstanding flavor range. Salted soils and shades of wild blackberry fill the nose alongside hints of cola, white pepper and Hoisin sauce. The palate is dense and rich with a lifted freshness and lovely floral accents. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Domaine Carneros ‘The Famous Gate’ Pinot Noir- Mainly Swan clonal selection Pinot Noir, the 2023 ‘The Famous Gate’ was stored for 16 months in 45% new French oak before bottling. This is a totally dazzling Pinot Noir in terms of weight, finesse and salty character. A killer melange of red and dark fruits combine with shades of black peppercorns, oyster sauce and shades of milk chocolate. This is highly complex, delicious stuff that beautifully displays the lift, tension and nuance from this vintage. Drink 2025-2040- 96

Votto Vines New Releases

Here are the outstanding new releases by Italian wine importer Votto Vines.

Nestore Bosco

2024 Nestore Bosco Pecorino- The really good 2024 Nestore Bosco Pecorino is nicely textured with Japanese pear and nectarine flavors alongside nutty nuances on the palate. Fresh and ripe, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2022 Nestore Bosco Montepulciano D’Abruzzo- The forward and juicy 2022 Nestore Bosco Montepulciano D’Abruzzo delivers chocolate and wild herbs on the palate, with damp soils and suggestions of cigar ash. Lightly tannic and delicious, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

Podere La Pace

2024 Podere La Pace ‘Prima Viola’ Bianco- This 2024 Maremma Bianco combines 60% Viognier with the remainder Chardonnay. This is tension-filled stuff with ripe melon and fig flavors alongside shades of cashew nut on the palate. Soft and inviting, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2020 Podere La Pace ‘Pittoresco’ Rosso- Made from mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes, this delicious 2020 Maremma Rosso shows off terrific flavor density and weight with a great melange of red and dark fruits that connect well with chocolate cake and dried herbal accents on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2021 Podere La Pace ‘Silvano’ Cabernet Franc- 100% varietal, the 2021 ‘Silvano’ is nicely concentrated and delicious stuff that is already drinking very well. Menthol and dusty soils combine with dark chocolate shavings, graphite and refined tannins on the palate. Deep and rich, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93

Tenuta Bellafonte

2024 Tenuta Bellafonte ‘Sperella’ Bianco- Made from estate-grown Trebbiano grapes, the 2024 Tenuta Bellafonte ‘Sperella’ Bianco offers copious minerals alongside green apple and herbal accents. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 89

2021 Tenuta Bellafonte ‘Pomontino’ Montefalco- The 2021 ‘Pomontino’ is a delicious, straightforward red, with red currants, dusty tannins and tobacco leaf flavors. Mineral-laden, this would be best savored now and over the next several years. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2015 Tenuta Bellafonte ‘Collenottolo’ Montefalco- The outstanding 2015 Tenuta Bellafonte ‘Collenottolo’ Montefalco offers green olive and sanguine notes on the nose alongside crushed red flowers and shades of black licorice. The palate is plush and inviting with refined tannins, wintergreen and a great melange of red and dark fruits. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

Terre Rubine

2021 Terre Rubine Langhe Nebbiolo- The 2021 Terre Rubine Langhe Nebbiolo shows sea salt dusted red fruits on the nose with shades of red florals and stony soils. The palate shows a smooth mouthfeel with good flavor density. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2020 Terre Rubine Barolo- A really nice effort from this excellent vintage, the 2020 Terre Rubine Barolo delivers black rtruffle shavings and damp earthy notes on the palate that combine with wild blackberry and black raspberry. Refined tannins and a silky mouthfeel push through this delicious and already well-defined Barolo. Drink 2025-2033- 92

Lorenzo Melani

2023 Lorenzo Melani Rosso di Montalcino- A really nice and youthful effort, the 2023 Lorenzo Melani Rosso di Montalcino pushes on juicy red currants and wild strawberry flavors on the palate with copious minerals and stony accents on the palate. Explore this good value now and over the next few years to come. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2020 Lorenzo Melani Brunello di Montalcino- A really good effort, the 2020 Lorenzo Melani Brunello di Montalcino is already drinking beautifully now at the five year mark. On the nose this takes on peat moss and stony soil notes alongside red currants, guava, and shades of sweet pipe tobacco. The palate is plush and elegant with a silky mouthfeel and great sense of weight and tension. Drink 2025-2033- 92

Ethos

What was formerly a line under the Ste. Michelle Portfolio, Ethos is Ste. Michelle Wine Estates new brand that focuses on high quality wines from the Columbia Valley. The program focuses on wines made from grapes grown at Ste Michelle’s estate’s vineyards and from grower partners across the Columbia Valley’s most notable AVAs. Winemaker Tristan Butterfield has a longstanding history in Washington wine, having a degree in physics from The University of Notre Dame before settling on Red Mountain working for Kiona Vineyards.

The new wine is outstanding, settling in nicely as the cool vintage 2022 Ethos (OB, 93) is glorious to consume now. Learn more at https://ethoswine.com/ and here is my review of the gorgeous new Ethos wine.

2022 Ethos Cabernet Sauvignon- A new release of the Ethos, this 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon was stored in new and neutral French and American oak barrels for 22 months before bottling and was sourced from Red Mountain, Horse Heaven Hills, and Wahluke Slope appellations, as well as the famed Cold Creek Vineyard. It comes off inky in the glass, delivering tar, sandalwood and dark currants on the nose with shades of black licorice. The palate is smooth and viscous with a terrific mouthfeel and great length. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 93

Nine Hats

One of the great Washington value wine brands that still seemingly sneaks under the radar, Nine Hats Nine Hats wines are essentially the second wines made by Long Shadows.  They are all handcrafted in Walla Walla by famed winemaker Gilles Nicault. They have made wines that totally overdeliver for the price, even in challenging vintages such as 2020.

Now they even have a terrific line of bubbles. It is fair to say that these wines punch considerably above their weight class and offer some of the best value in Washington wine. These are not one-off wines. The wines have good flavor density, good freshness and are all a downright killer glass pour.

Don’t miss out on the amazing 2021 Nine Hats Syrah (OB, 93) which is essentially a baby Sequel. The same is true for the 2021 Nine Hats Merlot (OB, 93) which is likely the best Merlot I have tasted all year for the price. Learn more about these outstanding wines at ninehatswines.com and here are my reviews of the new Nine Hats wines.

NV Nine Hats ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- This is the first sparkling wine made by Gilles Nicault that is a blend of several vintages. Mainly coming from locations in Zillah, this delivers oyster shell and nutmeg drenched French bread on the nose alongside suggestions of Japanese pear. This takes on the rich mousse with a beautiful sense of effervescence. The palate is fresh and fleshy with a terrific mouthfeel. This is seriously delicious stuff. Drink 2025-2031- 92

NV Nine Hats Rose Sparkling Wine- The NV Nine Hats Rose Sparkling Wine is made from Malbec grapes. This comes off a touch sweet with pretty red cherry and strawberry fruit flavors alongside honeydew melon on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2024 Nine Hats Chardonnay- The outstanding  2024 Nine Hats Chardonnay comes from mainly the Gamache and Boushey vineyards. Stored in a combination of mainly neutral oak alongside concrete and a touch of new French oak barrels this delivers juicy pear and brioche notes alongside shades of toasted pineapple. This is super stuff for under 20 bucks. Bright, juicy and delicious, enjoy now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2021 Nine Hats Sangiovese- The 2021 Sangiovese by Nine Hats is beautifully aromatic, offering black tea and worn leather notes with red rose petals and tart cranberry. This totally over-delivers for the price, offering a gorgeous range of red fruits and orange rind with good tension and mouth-watering acidity. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2021 Nine Hats Merlot- The 2021 Nine Hats Merlot is essentially a baby Pedestal — loaded with chocolate cake, black currants and anise flavors that parade with copious minerals on the palate. Neatly textured, smooth and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2021 Nine Hats Syrah- This 2021 Nine Hats Syrah has a large amount of Grenache (10%) blended in. Inky in the glass, this shows off smoke and beef drippings alongside shades of underbrush on the nose. The palate is plush and rich with a great sense of decadence and underlying tension. At 25 bucks, this could easily be double the price. Enjoy this beauty while you can. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2021 Nine Hats Malbec- Inky in the glass, the 2021 Nine Hats Malbec mainly comes from the Weinbau Vineyard and has a large amount of Syrah blended in. Creosote, black licorice and creme de violette combines with shades of mountain huckleberry on the nose. The palate is seamless and beautifully-textured, showing serious weight and underlying freshness. Drink 2025-2033- 93