Happy Holidays! Today we share the outstanding wines of Chosen Family. These are electric wines that began with the acumen of former NBA star Channing Frye. Frye has utilized the winemaking skills of top winemakers such as Jackson Holstein, Chase Renton and Thomas Savre. NBA all-star Kevin Love joined the business a few years back. Love is an Oregon basketball legend, who is still playing for the Miami Heat. While I have never met with Love, Frye is one of my favorite ex-professional athletes to chat wine with. Hugely passionate about the world of wine, Frye is now also working as an NBA analyst and announcer.
Just like the last set of releases, the new Chosen Family wines were seriously good. I love what Chosen Family is doing, utilizing a range of winemaking talents on the West Coast. For a great new vintage Rose, check out the 2023 Chosen Family Rose (OB, 91) which is sure to brighten your winter months. I love the 2022 Chosen Family ‘Temperance Hill’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is a beautiful wine made by the talented Jackson Holstein. Learn more about these great new wines at chosenfamilywines.com Here are my reviews of the new Chosen Family wines.
2023 Chosen Family Rose- This 100% Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Rose delivers green melon and strawberry tones on the palate, alongside some excellent verve. Soft and approachable, enjoy now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2024-2030- 91
2023 Chosen Family ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- Another great edition of this wine, the 2023 ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay was made by Jackson Holstein, Owner & Winemaker at Granville Wine Co. Stored in small portion of new French oak for nine months, this comes from the Hollis and Ladd Hill Vineyards. Beautifully textured, with a silky mouthfeel, this offers dense melon and citrus fruit flavors that combine with toasted hazelnut nuances. Medium to full-bodied, this is a downright steal at 45 dollars USD. Enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93
2023 Chosen Family ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir was stored in mainly neutral French oak before bottling. Translucent in the glass, this opens with a gorgeous bouquet of black truffle crudo and black raspberry notes alongside shades of forest floor. Plump, round and juicy, with serious tension and copious minerals, this is already neatly evolved stuff that will drink well for another decade — and potentially more. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2022 Chosen Family ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The excellent 2022 Chosen Family ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was made by winemaker Jackson Holstein at his Granville Wine Co. Black tea and Asian spice notes hit the nose alongside shades of damp earth, cran-orange and a dusting of white pepper. The palate is very fresh and lithe with a smooth texture and vibrant underlying tension backing things up. Medium-bodied and showing serious verve, enjoy over the next decade to come. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2022 Chosen Family ‘Salty Goats’ Pinot Noir- Another outstanding edition of this wine, the 2022 ‘Salty Goats’ Pinot Noir was sourced from the Sonoma Coast AVA. Soft red fruits parade with salty nuance and orange peel notes on the palate. Considering the challenges of this vintage, this is really good stuff that is meant to be enjoyed now. Drink 2024-2030- 91
2021 Chosen Family Wines ‘Salty Goats’ Syrah- This 2021 edition of ‘Salty Goats’ Syrah was made by the Liang winemaking team at Hazelfern. Sourced from the Walla Walla Valley, this shows off bulls blood and wet stone notes on the nose alongside orange peel and shades of green olive tapenade. The palate is fresh and smooth with excellent underlying tension and a generous core of black fruits. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93