It has been so many years since I have admired the wines by Baer — one of the hidden gems of Woodinville. I have long enjoyed these wines and have many of them in my personal collection. Akin to those made by Cadence, Andrew Will and several others, Baer wines are made with serious tension and richness — both hallmarks of great aging for Washington wines. Winemaker Erica Orr took over this program more than a decade ago. She originally got her start in the wine industry back in 1998, working her first harvest with eminent winemaker Cathy Corison in the Napa Valley. She immediately caught the wine bug and enrolled in the enology master’s degree program at UC Davis where she completed her master’s degree in 2003. Erica also has a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from UC Berkeley and three years of research experience as a biochemistry lab technician for 2009 Nobel Laureate Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn at UC San Francisco.
These wines are precise, showing great varietal character. Each wine has a beginning, middle and an end. I love the new 2023 Baer Rose (OB, 92) which is made from Cabernet Franc grapes. Even better is the 2023 Baer ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is dense and rich with a smooth texture. I adored the 2020 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine (OB, 94 which is a remarkably good wine from a tough vintage. This has the wonderful herbal and leafy character from the Cabernet Franc, showing great stuffing. Learn more about this great Woodinville winery at at baerwinery.com Here are the great new releases by Baer
2023 Baer ‘Shard’ Chardonnay- This 2023 Chardonnay comes from the Stillwater Creek vineyard and was stored in all stainless steel before bottling. The nose shows ripe Japanese pear and shades of kiwi with nutty accents. The palate is plush and soft with a refined texture. Smooth throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2031- 92
2023 Baer Rose- Made from Stillwater Creek Cabernet Franc grapes, this wine is now the 20th vintage that all wines come from this site in the Rotal Slope AVA. This was stored in mainly all stainless steel with one neutral oak barrel before bottling. The nose is really pretty guava and strawberry notes with kiwi and orange blossom. The palate is rich and shows great tension with good mid-palate stuffing. This is really well-done. Only 80 cases made. Drink 2024-2021- 92
2022 Baer ‘Reserve Chardonnay- The 2022 Chardonnay was stored in 33% new French oak before bottling with regular battonage. This underwent full malolactic fermentation. Toasty oak and brioche notes mark the nose alongside shades of white peach and nutty accents. The palate is seamless and soft with a beautiful texture and good sense of weight. Well-balanced and poised, enjoy this outstanding new Chardonnay now and over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 93
2022 Baer ‘Shard’ Chardonnay- For years Erica Orr has been making the ‘Shard’ — arguably the best unoaked Chardonnay made in Washington State. This 2022 edition displays dazzling nerve and tension, with plenty of weight. Freshly cut pears, mango, and juicy peach flavors combine with shades of salted butter French bread on the palate. This is just a joy to drink right now and drinks better slightly on the warmer side. Drink 2023-2030- 92
2021 Baer ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- The ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay is a new wine to the Baer lineup, as this bottling is clone 95 Chardonnay from block 25 in the Stillwater Creek Vineyard. Stored in Tonnellerie Quintessance is called “Hydro-Dynamique” barrels, this offers a smooth mouthfeel with fantastic texture. Layers of orchard and tropical fruits combine, all leading to a minute-long finish. A steal at 35 bucks, this 2021 Chardonnay is flat-out fabulous stuff that has both the stuffing and verve to cellar well for another ten years. But why wait? Drink 2023-2033- 93
2020 Baer ‘Star’ Merlot- The 2020 ‘Star’ is a blend of mainly Merlot (86%) with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. Milk chocolate and fresh herbs combine with shades of pencil lead, and violets on the nose. The palate is soft and approachable with a refined texture. Showing good structure and weight, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 93
2020 Baer Cabernet Franc- The 2020 Baer Cabernet Franc has 11% Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. This was stored in only 22% new French oak before bottling. This comes off soft and approachable on the palate with dried herbs and anise tones with coffee grounds and shades of black currant flavors. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 93
2020 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2020 ‘Ursa’ combines 42% Merlot with equal parts Cabernet Franc with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Stored for 22 months in 38% new French oak, this offers a soft texture and good sense of weight with plenty of mouth-watering acidity. Tar, tobacco and cocoa powder flavors collide with salty minerals on the palate. Drink 2024-2030- 94
2020 Baer ‘Arctos’ Cabaret Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Arctos’ has 4% Petit Verdot blended in — all coming from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard. This version of the wine was stored in mainly neural oak barrels before bottling. The palate is soft and refined with a great sense of texture. Black currants and graphite tones mark the palate alongside black licorice and creme de violette notes. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 93
2020 Baer ‘Callisto’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Callisto’ is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon with 36% Syrah and the remainder Petit Verdot. Stored for 20 months in 43% new French oak, this offers garrigue notes on the nose alongside dark chocolate shavings and suggestions of black licorice. The palate is fresh and lithe with a good sense of texture and verve. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2020 Baer Malbec- This 2020 Baer Malbec has 20% Syrah blended in. Stored for 20 months in only 20% new French oak before bottling, this delivers creosote and milk chocolate on the nose with graphite tones. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and pretty core of black and blue fruits. Very clean and well-balanced, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2030- 93