One of the most exciting wine brands on the West Coast, Dossier is a partnership between former NFL star Sidney Rice and businessman and fellow Whitman grad Tim Lenihan. I have admired for many years the wines by Billo Naravane, MW, who crafts incredible wines for his Rasa Vineyards. Serving as general manager is Brandon Kubrock who has more of 20 years of experience in the industry.
Dossier is making one of the great Sauvignon Blancs in the state. The 2024 Dossier ‘Halo’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 98) will run neck and neck with any of the top wines of its kind from both Sonoma and Napa. I was blown away with the 2023 ‘Halo Dissertation’ Red Wine (OB, 100) which supremely captures the art of blending and is a total heavyhitter that is impossible to resist right now. Each working part here is amazing to check in with. Learn more about this project at dossierwine.com and here are my reviews of the new Dossier wines.
2024 Dossier ‘Flagship’ Viognier- Coming from several great sites including Sagemoor and Connor Lee, the 2024’ Flagship’ Viognier saw significant skin contact and then was aged in roughly 40% new French oak before bottling. Papaya, toasted hazelnut and shades of gardenia all collide on the nose. The palate is dense and seductive with amazing push-pull in terms of flavor density, weight, and finesse. A gorgeous wine to consume now, enjoy over the next eight years to come. Drink 2026-2034- 95
2024 Dossier ‘Halo’ Sauvignon Blanc- Coming from two blocks in the Connor Lee Vineyard that are picked two weeks apart, the 2024 Dossier ‘Halo’ Sauvignon Blanc offers heady aromatics of papaya and gooseberry alongside shades of green herbs and beautiful white florals on the nose. The palate is striking and utterly seamless throughout the drinking experience, with massive power and loads of mouth-watering acidity. A stunning wine from beginning to finish, this is benchmark Washington Sauvignon Blanc. Drink 2026-2038- 98
2024 Pinterre ‘Rice Lane Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Rice Lane Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this warm vintage in Oregon. This was given roughly 33% stem inclusion and aged in 60% new French oak for 15 months before bottling. Once on the nose this shows off beautiful red florals that combine with Satsuma orange zest and nori notes that all take shape in the glass. The palate is beautifully-balanced with serious texture and underlying verve. A gorgeous bottling that has a long life ahead of it, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2038- 95
2024 Pinterre ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- All Dijon clone 777, the 2024 ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir shows gorgeous red florals on the nose alongside cloves, white pepper, orange zest and shades of pomegranate seed. The palate is seamless and dense with a knockout flavor density, texture and salty minerality. Stored in 60% new French oak, you would never get that tasting the wine. Truly gratifying to savor now, watch this evolve over the next ten to fifteen years. Kudos to Billo Naravane and the winemaking team on this phenomenal effort. Drink 2026-2041- 97
2024 Dossier ‘Flagship’ Syrah- The 2024 ‘Flagship’ comes from three vineyards in the Columbia Valley, mainly from Ciel du Cheval and Scarline Vineyards. This is well-structured and delicious stuff that was co-fermented in concrete and then aged in concrete. Rocky soils combine with blood orange zest, tar, Cuban cigar and blueberry compote on the nose. A glorious effort, this is best consumed over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2041- 95
2023 Dossier ‘Halo Dissertation’ Red Wine- The 2023 Dossier ‘Halo Dissertation’ Red Wine combines 50% Cabernet Sauvignon with 17% both Merlot and Cabernet Franc as well as smaller parts Malbec and Petit Verdot. Stored in all new French oak for two years before bottling, this shows of sandalwood alongside tar, green herbs, chocolate and espresso grounds. The combination of mouthfeel, refined tannins and flavor density really shines. The palate has insanely good length and amazing symphony in terms of clockwork moving parts. You would be hard-pressed to find a better Cabernet blend out of this state. Drink 2026-2046- 100
2023 Dossier ‘Halo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Halo’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored for two years in all new French oak before bottling. Coming from the Ciel due Cheval, Summit View and Goose Mountain and Southwind Vineyards this opens with incredibly intense aromatics of scorched earth and wet gravel alongside tobacco leaf and shades of black licorice. The palate is dynamic, tannic, dense and seductive, with amazing power and flavor density. The energy of this wine is simply phenomenal. Very silky throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2026-2046- 100