What Jesse Katz touches seems to turn to gold. Such is the case with The Setting which is a world-class producer of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, Oregon and Sonoma. The wines from Sonoma were part of my spring Sonoma report and I am sharing my reviews of the incredible new wines from Napa as well as a new Oregon project.
Katz has a longstanding history in the industry, and is formerly the youngest-hired head winemaker in the US at Lancaster Estate. He has worked 23 harvests at famed wineries like Pétrus and includes time on the winemaking teams at Screaming Eagle Winery, Robert Foley Winery, and Viña Cobos and Bodega Noemia in Argentina. His Devil Proof wines have receive 100 point scores from wine critics across the globe. They are without question benchmark new world Malbec.
These were the first wines from Oregon that the winemaking team had produced and they were both knockouts from the warm 2021 vintage. I adored the 2021 The Setting ‘Chehalem Mountain’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is deep, concentrated and beautifully textured stuff that will hold well for at least another ten years. One of the finest Sauvignon Blanc wines that I have tasted over the past year, the unabashedly bold 2022 The Setting ‘Barrel Fermented’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 95) is rich and viscous with great underlying finesse. A perfect wine from 2021 The Setting ‘The Glass Slipper’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) is a total stunner with its concentration and depth. The flavor density and flavor range is absolutely stunning — literally a mind-bending Cabernet. Learn more at https://www.thesettingwines.com/ and here are my reviews of the wines by The Setting.
2022 The Setting ‘Barrel Fermented’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2022 ‘Barrel Fermented’ Sauvignon Blanc sees a touch more new French oak than the Aperture bottling. 100% Sauvignon Blanc coming from the west side of Dry Creek, the wine was stored in 38% new French oak before bottling. This comes off very complex with bright underlying acidity that makes your mouth water. Ripe pineapple, mango, lemon rind and loads of mouth-watering acidity greets you. Despite the heat of the vintage this is remarkably nervy. Drink 2024-2032- 95
2021 The Setting ‘Chehalem Mountain Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2021 The Setting ‘Chehalem Mountain Vineyard’ Chardonnay comes from a range of clonal selections and was aged in 50% new French oak before bottling. The wine shows a seamless texture with great sense of weight and length. Ripe Japanese pear and nutty accents mark this beautiful bottling, with a near minute-long finish. Drink 2024-2036- 95
2021 The Setting ‘Chehalem Mountain Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This 2021 ‘Chehalem Mountain Vineyard; bottling was stored for 21 months in 50% new French oak before bottling. Sleek and downright sexy on the mouth, this shows a gorgeous core of red fruits alongside orange peel, and salty soils. Showing excellent length, this is an elegant, downright stunning new bottling that is up there with some of the finest Oregon Pinot Noir that I have tasted over the past year. Drink 2024-2040- 96
2021 The Setting ‘Pearl’s Farm’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The glorious 2021 The Setting ‘Pearl’s Farm’ Cabernet Sauvignon also come from this site in Coomsville set on loamy soils with a seasonal creek that flows through the vineyard. Cabernet Sauvignon is planted southern fasting at this vineyard. Dark currants, graphite, and creme de violette with espresso grounds all collide on the palate, with loamy soils with stony accent. Drink 2024-2045- 98
2021 The Setting ‘The Glass Slipper’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon comes form this site that has six different clonal sections. Soils here are richer than at Pearl’s Farm. Inky dark in the glass, this offers black rose petals, mocha, allspice dusted blackberry and shades of loamy soils on the nose. The palate is astonishingly good with poise, flavor density, richness and flavor range. Tobacco leaf and rich dark and blue fruits follow this stunning wine that flirts with perfection. Drink 2024-2045- 100
2021 The Setting ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This comes from a vineyard between Rudd and Screaming Eagle. Aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak this offers creme de cassis, anise, tar and loamy soils on the palate, with lifted tannins and a refined mouthfeel. Chocolate and graphite notes complete this beautiful wine is refined and rich that is showing beautifully right now. Drink 2024-2044- 96
2021 The Setting ‘Rockpile Ridge’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Rockpile Ridge’ comes from this stony site that is set on very steep hillsides. This is massively dark in the glass. Very seamless and soft on the mouth, with bright underlying acidity this is a stunning bottling that caresses the palate. Finishing very long with stony tones and rich cassis notes, enjoy this over the next twenty plus years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 98