Interview with Ali Mayfield, Head Winemaker of The Walls

As part of Washington Wine Month we bring you another exciting winemaker feature. Highly talented and having a passion for working with less usual varietals, Ali Mayfield serves as head winemaker for The Walls. A new winery, The Walls have released some really awesome wines that capture the art of blending and show wonderful poise and terroir. Ali has been in the industry for more than ten years. She has studied under former head winemaker of Corliss Estates, Kendall Mix and has a very good feel for Washington fruit. Her new releases were very compelling. I think you will like hearing about her story in wine. Here is my interview with Ali Mayfield, head winemaker of The Walls.

WWB: Ali, can you talk about your background in winemaking and how you first became interested in winemaking? 

AM: I moved to Walla Walla in 2005, after leaving a job with UPS to go back to school to study Enology and Viticulture. I was offered an internship with Kendall Mix, who was at the time making the wines for Corliss Estates. Kendall was—and still is—a great mentor to me. In 2007, I went on to work for Long Shadows Vintners, which was an incredible experience, being introduced to the different winemakers and the styles of wine they created.

In 2011, I had the pleasure of meeting French Oenologist Claude Gros and instantly I knew I wanted to learn more from him. Claude and I have been working together ever since. It was a nice combination of working with great Washington winemakers and then gaining Old World winemaking knowledge from Claude. I’m constantly learning! I first became interested in wine as a hobby—I would make a carboy or two and bottle it up, design a label and share it with my friends. It’s fun to look back on those days now!

WWB: The Walls is a new winery project that was started rather recently. Have you always wanted to start a winery? What were some of the biggest challenges with starting a winery?

AM: Yes, I’ve always wanted to start a winery—it’s a dream come true, and I’m blessed to have Mike Martin as my business partner. For several years, Mike and I were the only ones working on the project, and I often wish we could go back to the simplicity of those days. For me, the biggest challenge was adding more people to the project. I have such a great team at the winery, but it was definitely a challenge to go through an entire vintage and learn how to work together and to learn the unique strengths that each person brought to the team. 

WWB: Your new release, the 2014 The Walls ‘Lip Stinger’ Grenache Blanc (WWB, 91) is one of the best Grenache Blancs that I have sampled in the past year. Can you talk about this lovely bottling, as well as this warm vintage. How were you able to attain this degree of minerality despite the obvious heat from the vintage?

AM: I’m so happy to hear it’s one of the best Grenache Blancs that you’ve sampled, thank you! The Lip Stinger has such a great personality—this wine is always created in the vineyard with our grower Damon LaLonde at French Creek. We keep a very close eye on this site during the ripen stage, as French Creek is a warmer site for whites, which requires us to sample and monitor the pH and sugars often. The flavors developed in late August and the natural acids were still in balance with a low pH. We harvested the Grenache Blanc and co-fermented it with the small amounts of Piquepoul, Roussanne, Marsanne, Vigonier and Clairette Blanche in barrel. 

WWB: I was also very impressed with your 2014 The Walls ‘The Ramparts’ Red Wine (WWB, 92), which showed wonderful feminine and masculine components. Can you talk about the blending of this wine and what you sought to achieve in terms of aromatics and flavors with this lovely bottling? The 2014 Ramparts is a blend of Grenache, Mourvédre, Syrah and a small amount of Counoise. In the 2014 vintage the Grenache was definitely the feminine piece of the blend. We co-fermented the Grenache with Syrah, which we often do to add a touch more structure to the wine. We were patient with the Mouvédre and the vintage allowed us a longer hang time on the vine, which gave us more concentration and riper flavors—the masculine component. We found the balance of the blend by adding a touch of Counoise, which adds more brightness and acidity to the blend. 

WWB: With March being Washington Wine Month I'm curious what your other favorite Washington wines are?

AM: I enjoy drinking wines from the Rocks district—to me, it is one of the most distinctive vineyard sites in Washington. I’m currently waiting for a shipment to arrive from Force Majeure which I’m really excited about, and I’m also inspired by the wines of Avennia.

Interview with Dave Specter, Co-owner and Winemaker of Bells Up Winery

A relatively new winery, first started in 2013, Bells Up Winery in Newberg, Oregon was started by winemaker David Specter and his wife, Sara Pearson Specter. I was hugely impressed with the past two Pinot Noir releases from this estate as both wines had wonderful feminine characteristics, ripe red fruit flavors and tons of terroir. I had to sit down with Dave and talk wine. He was a delight to speak with, as he talked about how he initially caught the wine bug from his life as a Cincinnati attorney. I think you will really enjoy hearing his story in wine. Here is my interview with Dave Specter, winemaker and co-owner of Bells Up Winery.

WWB: How did you decide to start Bells Up?

DS: I started making wine as an amateur 11 years ago. When developing my own style I looked to other wines I liked, and what I really enjoyed was the elegance of certain wines. The only way to achieve that, I think, is to let the fruit do its thing and not try to manipulate it into something big, heavily extracted, or over the top. So on my wife Sara and my five-year wedding anniversary we started making wine together. We bought a box kit that comes with the juice and yeast. At the time, I was still an attorney, but what I loved about winemaking was that it gave me the opportunity to experiment and try different things. I could produce something physical and tangible—very different from my career as an attorney. Over time we transitioned into making wine from grapes, and I became associated with the Cincinnati Vintners’ Club. It’s an amazing group that sources from all over California, bringing in primarily Bordeaux varietals—mostly to make Cabernet- and Merlot-based blends. For white wine, I was able to get some local Seyval Blanc grapes in Ohio. It’s a

French hybrid that you see quite a bit in the Midwest, because it has been bred for cold weather hardiness. It has Sauvignon Blanc parentage and produces a dark yellow colored wine. This is the varietal that won my first amateur wine competition, so when we moved to Newberg, in the Willamette Valley, we decided to plant Seyval Blanc in our estate vineyard; it’s the only planting in the valley and we’re looking forward to having that in the tasting room when it comes online in a couple of years.

WWB: How did you decide to start a winery?

DS: In 2008 Sara and I had just returned from our first visit to Oregon wine country. We had fallen in love with the Willamette Valley and the feel of the place, particularly the concentration of small, craft-style wineries. These were folks who got into the business because they enjoyed making wine, not because they thought it would make them billionaires.

Upon returning from vacation, my firm started pushing me to go partner track, and Sara’s professional mentor was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer—having just turned 40—and she died a few months later. We were also new parents. We decided we didn’t want to continue on that corporate path, but instead to set an example for our daughter about following your passion. We were also in our mid-30s at the time and felt like we were still young enough to take a financial risk, yet still have the energy to pour into it.

I took a leave of absence from my law career, and spent three years interning at an urban winery in Cincinnati—Henke Winery—from 2009 to 2012. Joe Henke became my winemaking mentor. He makes 2,000 cases a year in the basement of a 100-year-old house with 8-foot ceilings. Nothing fancy, just a lot of attention to detail and to the basics. He makes a lot of different wines, but not Pinot Noir, even though that’s one of his favorites. I learned a ton from him.

During that learning process my own winemaking improved to the point that in 2011 I won a couple of national amateur winemaking competitions. We put the house in Cincinnati on the market, and when it sold in 2012 we moved to Newberg, rented a condo, and started networking and looking for properties. I did a harvest internship at Alexana in Dundee, Oregon, that fall, and Sara found the unlisted property that we own today.

WWB: Can you talk about your vineyard?

DS: We are located in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, on a 10-acre site that includes our house and the barn that we converted into the winery and tasting room. It has about 8.5 plantable acres; we have five acres planted now. We started by planting three acres in 2014 of Pinot Noir Pommard and Dijon Clone 667. In 2015 we added the Seyval Blanc, and in 2016 we planted three more Pinot Noir clones: 113, 943 and Wadenswil. We have a little more space to plant sometime in the future.

The vineyard is on Jory soil, a red-colored clay and loam and it rises from about 450 feet to 650 feet in elevation, facing fully south. It holds water wonderfully, so we have never had to irrigate, and the soil and elevation play well with the style of wine we are aiming to create. We’re excited to make our first estate Rosé of Pinot Noir from our own grapes this fall, in 2017.

WWB: Both the 2013 and 2014 releases of the “Titan” were excellent (WWB, 91) and showed marvelous poise, elegance and pretty red fruit flavors. Can you talk about the differences that you noticed between the 2013 and the 2014 vintage?

DS: What we personally love about Oregon Pinot Noir is that the grape itself is so expressive of each unique growing season. That allows us to bottle the story of a season in a very tangible way. In 2013, we had weather that was slightly warmer than average through the summer. But then September brought two separate rain events that dumped 8 to 10 inches of rain in the valley. Sara and I had a lot of “what the heck have we gotten ourselves into” moments. Especially when the valley was covered with vineyards that were overcome with mold and rot issues because of the rains.

However, because we are a micro-boutique winery making such incredibly small lots and limited quantities, we specifically try to work with micro-growers who have 5 acres or less under vine. Small growers, in our experience, are doing this because it’s a passion for them—not a profession—they just love tending a vineyard. Keeping up with the maintenance, thinning the fruit, and staying on the details is easier in a smaller acreage site, and it’s what makes the difference in a year like 2013. That meant our fruit was exceptionally clean, and we were able to pick after the rains, when we felt the flavors had developed to their maximum potential.

That said, most of the 2013s we’ve tasted have been lighter because of the rain influence. As a winemaker, you have to decide what you’re going to do with that. Some tried to bulk up flavor and color in their Pinot Noir through various extractive means. I decided to just run with it because our flavors were great and I don’t worry about color—it doesn’t make the wine taste better. I’m more interested in creating elegant Pinot Noir.

Then 2014 was completely different than 2013. I like to think Mother Nature owed us one after 2013. We had consistently warm daytime temperatures, some nice, cool nights that helped to round out the acids, and no September rains, so we could pick when we wanted. That brought out more berry flavors in the 2014 Titan than our 2013 Titan, in my opinion.

In general, I find that the warmer the year here in Oregon, the bigger the berry flavors are going to be in the finished wine. In the cooler years, it seems to be harder for those berry flavors to come out. Usually there are more floral elements in the cool vintages for Oregon, which we’ve noted in our 2013. Again, our 2014 Titan Pinot Noir is lighter in color than many other producers’, but I like to say that once the wine gets in your mouth, you aren’t going to care about color. Interestingly, the pick dates were just one day apart between 2013 and 2014.

Looking ahead to our 2015 Titan Pinot Noir, which we will be releasing later this year, it was definitely a hot vintage. It was the hottest year on record in Oregon, which produces bold wines. For me, that was a tremendous winemaking challenge because my personal style is to aim for balance and elegance.

WWB: When you are not enjoying Oregon Pinot Noir, what is typically in your glass?

DS: Sara and I have always loved the small, off-the- radar producers. I personally love Washington Reds. I taste a lot of the varietal characteristics in Washington wines across the board. That’s one reason we source Walla Walla Valley AVA Syrah fruit—from Milton-Freewater, Oregon—for our Firebird wine, as opposed to sourcing from California.

I spent time in the Prosser area when I did a distance enology program with Washington State University, and visited the local wineries, from larger producers like Hogue to smaller producers like Davenlore. Gordon Taylor at Davenlore is one of the coolest people I have met in the wine industry, and he makes some great wines. He’s built a winery brand that’s similar to ours, and he’s been a wonderful resource.

DeLille Cellars

It is always a pleasure tasting wines with superstar winemaker, Jason Gorski of DeLille Cellars. DeLille is one of the longstanding Woodinville wineries that rose to prominence under eminent winemaker Chris Upchurch. DeLille Cellars was the first winery in Washington to focus on creating Bordeaux style wine blends. DeLille owns a 20 acre vineyard in Red Mountain and also sources from some of the top sites in the Yakima Valley. DeLille Cellars currently produces six Bordeaux-styled wines including Grand Ciel, Chaleur Estate Rouge, D2, Harrison Hill, Four Flags and Chaleur Estate Blanc. This winery has expanded production in recent years, but quality has remained exceptional. 

Jason talked about the past few vintages in Washington and showed off his 2016 Rose (WWB, barrel sample 90-93), which has not yet been released. HIs new release wines were absolutely stunning. Another great white wine release, the 2015 DeLille Rousssanne (WWB, 93) showed wonderful poise and weight, as the wine speaks to the vintage. The 2014 DeLille 'Quintessence Vineyard' Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 95) is comprised of 68% Malbec and the rest Cabernet. This is an insanely good and dense treat that will cellar beautifully for decades. The DeLille lineup was spectacular top to bottom, as Jason is really one off the best young winemakers in the state, as you can taste the attention to detail in the glass. He has done a fantastic job with the hot, 2014 vintage. Learn more about DeLille and their great wines at www.delillecellars.com Here are the great new release wines from DeLille.

Aweomse new red wine lineup from DeLille Cellars

2016 DeLille Rose (barrel sample)- 90-93

2015 DeLille 'Harrison Hill' Cabernet (barrel sample)- 94-97

2015 DeLille Roussanne- This excellent Roussanne wine begins with aromatics of beeswax, brioche, honeydew and hints of macadamia nut. There are rich flavors of cashew nut, green papaya, Meyer lemon rind and a long, creamy finish. This is truly one of the best of it's kind in the state. The mouthfeel and texture is gorgeous. Drink 2017-2023- 93

2014 DeLille 'Metier' Red Wine- This is a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre and 18% Syrah with 2% Cinsault. The wine begins with aromatics of rose petals, red cherry, Umami, red raspberry and smoked meats. There are flavors of white pepper, marionberry pie, blackberry jam, orange rind and hints of wet stone. This has a rich mouthfeel and a wonderfully dense texture as this wine shows wonderful layers. This is exceedingly hard to resist. Drink 2017-2025-92

2014 DeLille 'Doyenne' Red Wine- This a blend of half Cabernet and half Syrah which was sourced from the Yakima Valley.  This wine begins with aromatics of black cherry cough syrup, red cherry, sagebrush, anise and hints of dried herbs. There are flavors of red cherry, blackberry preserves, milk chocolate and hints of sagebrush. This is juicy, poised and delicious wine. Drink 2017-2025- 93

2014 DeLille Cellars 'Signature' Syrah- This wine was co-fermented with 2% Viognier and shows wonderful drinkability at this juncture.  This juicy Syrah wine has aromatics of bacon fat, blackberry preserves, black cherry and mocha accents with sagebrush. These are just intense and wonderful aromatics that bring you back to the glass for more. There are rich flavors of black cherry, anise, blackberry pie and mocha accents. This is dense and has marvelous structure. Drink 2017-2026- 93

2014 DeLille Merlot-This awesome Merlot wine was sourced from the Klipsun, DuBrul, Red Willow and Upchurch vineyards.  This gorgeous new release Merlot begins with black cherry, black raspberry, black tea, coffee grounds and suggestions of graphite. There are rich flavors of black cherry, cassis, anise, Turkish coffee and suggestions of red bell pepper. The poise, intensity and elegance is really wonderful. To some this might pass for a hot vintage right bank Bordeaux. Try to give this another year in the bottle for everything to settle. Drink 2018-2030- 94

2014 DeLille Cellars 'D2' Red Wine- This excellent wine is a blend 45 different blocks of Merlot and Cabernet with a touch of Cabernet Franc. I can imagine that to be an extremely laborious blending process. The wine was aged for 20 months in French oak prior to bottling. This begins with aromas of red cherry, red raspberry, sagebrush, with baking spices. There are rich flavors of red cherry, blackberry pie, milk chocolate and graphite. This is dense, chewy, tannic and gorgeous. Drink 2017-2029- 93

2014 DeLille 'Red Willow Vineyard' Malbec- A brooding, dark color coats the glass to this intense and unctuous Malbec wine. This inky colored wine opens with aromatics of dark chocolate, roasted figs, black cherry and black tea. This leads to flavors of black tea, mocha, anise, creme de cassis, black olive and blackberry cobbler. Intense, layered and rich, this needs another year for fruit and aromatic amalgamation. Drink 2018-2030- 95

2014 DeLille 'Quintessence Vineyard' Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon- Made from 68% Malbec with the rest Cabernet, this is one of the most exceptional bottling of its kind that I have sampled in the past few years. The Malbec dominant wine opens with aromas of violets, black cherry, anise, creme de cassis and graphite with milk chocolate. The palate is plush, displaying ripe flavors of black tea, blackberry jam, mocha, anise, creme de cassis and sagebrush. Layered, massive and deep, this is a decadent treat. Try to give this another year for everything to soften and come together. Drink 2018-2030- 95

2014 DeLille 'Shaw Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon- This awesome Cabernet wine was barrel selected from Block 2 in the Shaw vineyard, located in the northwest corner. The wine begins with intense aromatics of anise, creme de cassis, mocha, and red bell pepper. There are rich flavors of red cherry, milk chocolate, black tea and anise with a silky mouthfeel. This is plush and smooth Cabernet that has wonderful mid-palate weight. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this a long decant. Drink 2017-2030- 94

2014 DeLille 'Four Flags' Cabernet- This gorgeous wine is a blend of 42% Grand Ciel, 31% Upchurch, 19% Ciel du Cheval and 8% Klipsun. The intense and brooding Cabernet wine begins with ripe aromatics of sagebrush, black tea, red bell pepper and mint with milk chocolate. There are rich flavors of black tea, anise, creme de cassis, red bell pepper, sagebrush and coffee grounds. This shows wonderful range, persistence and poise. The wine is drinking beautifully right now but will cellar for 15 plus years. Try to resist this exceptional Cabernet for another year. If enjoying young, give this at least a one hour decant. Drink 2018-2033- 95

2014 DeLille Cellars 'Chaleur Estate' Red Wine-The 2014 ‘Chaleur Estate’ Red Wine is a gorgeous and dense wine that will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. This excellent red wine begins with aromatics of graphite, anise, creme de cassis, coffee grounds, red bell pepper, and suggestions of baking spices. There are dense flavors of red cherry, mocha, red bell pepper and creme de cassis with a slight salinity. This shows impressive range. This is chewy and massively tannic with an exceedingly long finish. Drink 2018-2033- 94

2015 DeLille Cellars ‘Chaleur Estate’ Blanc- The 2015 ‘Chaleur Estate’ Blanc follows up the past two exceedingly impressive releases of this wine — both of which were featured on my Top 100 wines of North America. This impressive white wine begins with aromatics of hazelnuts, New York apple, cantaloupe and suggestions of wild mushroom. There are flavors reminiscent of marzipan, cashew nut, ripe pear, Meyer lemon zest, brioche and heavy whipping cream. This has wonderful freshness considering the heat of the vintage. The viscosity and texture is gorgeous. Drink 2017-2027- 94

Pietro Rinaldi

A short jaunt to Piedmont in northern Italy today on the blog, as I wanted to present a gorgeous producer of Barolo. Pietro Rinaldi’s vineyards are located south of Torino in Cascina "Cicchetta", as they have Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Arneis and Moscato planted. Grass is left among the rows of vines and biodynamic farming is used without herbicides to respect biological and vegetative cycles. Grape thinning and harvest are done by hand.

I had a chance to review two great vintages in Barolo, 2010 and 2011. Our International Wine Report head editor Joe D’Angelo has described the 2010 vintage as “classic and more structured than 2011.” Joe explained “2010 had slightly cooler temperatures but very stable and consistent conditions throughout the growing season. This lead to steady ripening and age-worthy, structured Barolos as well as more polished tannins. 2011 had ideal weather early on, however, cooler summer months were followed by a significant heat spike late in the season. This was a bit of a shock to the vines, and resulted in a rapid increase in sugar levels leading to an early harvest. Overall, the quality in 2011 is more vineyard specific, as wines showed notable differences in structure, acidity and sugar levels throughout the entire region.”

The wines by Pietro Rinaldi reflected that vintage variation. The 2010 had more firm tannins and a slightly broader range of aromatics and flavors than the 2011. The 2011 was. slightly less classic and a touch more forward, as it needed less time in the decanter to unwind. These wines were both gorgeous at this stage. Learn more about this wonderful estate at http://www.pietrorinaldi.com/pagine/eng/vini_rinaldi/barolo_monvigliero.lasso Here are the fantastic 2010 and 2011 releases from Pietro Rinaldi.

2010 Pietro Rinaldi Barolo- This gorgeous Barolo begins with sexy aromatics of black truffle oil, forest floor, cigar box, pencil shavings, red cherry and red currant. The slight mustiness and vegetal quality to this wine is truly lovely. The palate is lithe, currently displaying flavors of cram-cherry, pink bubblegum, blood orange, red raspberry and mulberry accents with forest floor. Thew range of flavors and aromatics is striking. With light tannins at the end, this is drinking remarkably well despite its obvious youth. If enjoying now, be sure to give this wine a two hour plus decant. Drink 2017-2030- 93

2011 Pietro Rinaldi Barolo- A slightly more translucent core than the ’10 Barolo, this expressive bottling begins with aromatics of rose petals, teaberry, cran-orange, red raspberry and hints of wild mushroom. There are flavors reminiscent of ripe cranberry, orange rind, cigar box, black truffle crudo, smoke and nutmeg. The finish lingers to this wonderful wine. Drink 2017-2028- 92

Domaine Drouhin

One of the founding Oregon wineries, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, the estate has created Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines for more than 25 years. The Oregon estate was established in the late 1980s, but the winemaking roots were planted in Burgundy a century earlier, when Joseph Drouhin moved from Chablis to Beaune, and in 1880 founded Maison Joseph Drouhin. He was succeeded by his son, Maurice Drouhin, who dedicated his life to making fine wine. In 1957, Robert Drouhin became the third generation to run the business. He first “discovered" Oregon terroir in the 1960s. Then in 1987, Robert Drouhin was invited to participate in the first International Pinot Noir Celebration, and on that trip, he decided to purchase land in the Dundee Hills. Where there had only been Christmas trees and wheat, the Drouhin's began planting their first vineyards in Oregon.  At the same time, Robert nominated his sister, Véronique, to be the newly christened DDO winemaker, and her brother Philippe Drouhin took responsibility for viticulture.  In 1988, DDO produced its first vintage, from purchased grapes, and in 1989 built the landmark, four-story gravity flow winery.

I've visited the estate on many occasions, as the winery has sweeping views of the Willamette Valley and is the perfect spot to sit outside on a warm summer day. The expansive tasting room pays homage to its sister winery in France, as you can even purchase some of their Burgundy estate wines there. The new release wines from Domaine Drouhin were highly impressive. Look foer their simply awesome 2015 ‘Arthur’ Chardonnay (WWB, 92) which shows marvelous richness and minerality. For a spurge, check out the 2013 ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) which impresses in this challenging vintage, showing wonderful structure and rich red fruit flavors. Learn more about this storied Oregon estate at http://www.domainedrouhin.com/ Here are the awesome new releases from Domaine Drouhin. 

2015 Domaine Drouhin 'Arthur' Chardonnay- Partially fermented in French oak barrels,This golden hued Chardonnay opens with a bouquet of ripe pear, honeydew melon, nutmeg, brioche and starfruit accents. The flavors are ripe and largely citrus based, showing candied white grapefruit and lemon zest with buttered toast, and vanilla cream suggestions. Overall, this is a lovely effort from this estate. With its dense mouthfeel and striking minerality, this will cellar beautifully well into the next decade. Drink 2017-2026- 92

2014 Domaine Drouhin 'Dundee Hills' Pinot Noir-Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir wine was first produced in 1988. This release begins with aromatics of black cherry, black truffle oil, with hints of Mandarin orange rind. There are flavors reminiscent of black cherry, black raspberry cordial, lemon zest, white truffle and hints of forest floor and cranberry. This shows impressive weight, range and texture, as the finish glides on for half a minute. Drink 2017-2027- 92

2013 Domaine Drouhin 'Laurene' Pinot Noir- Named after Veronique Drouhin's daughter, the elegant  'Laurene' Pinot Noir wine was aged in 20% new French oak and bottled in February 2015. The wine begins with an aromatic profile of red raspberry, red currant, red cherry, and black truffle accents. The palate is rich, displaying a wonderful texture and yielding ripe flavors of cran-pomegranate, Bing cherry, orange rind and hints of forest floor. Structured and balanced, this Burgundian style Pinot will cellar well past the next decade. Drink 2017-2030- 93

The Walls

The Walls

As part of Washington Wine Month we continue our coverage of exciting Washington wineries. Last July I had the chance to first run through new releases from this awesome new winery out of Walls Walla, The Walls has also impressed with their second run of new release wines. The winery was founded by Mike Martin and Ali Mayfield (head winemaker), and they have recently purchased a 20 acre parcel in the Walla Walla Rocks region as they will start planting vines in 2017. The Walls sources from a host of great vineyards across Washington 

Highly talented head winemaker Ali Mayfield has impressed again with her new releases for 2017. Originally from Indiana. Ali studied at Indiana University and began making wine at home while working for UPS. She eventually caught the winemaking bug full time. Look for her 2014 The Walls ‘Lip Stinger’ Grenache Blanc (WWB, 91) which is one of the best of its kind that I have sampled in the past year. The wine has marvelous texture and range. Also impressive was the 2014 The Walls ‘The Ramparts’ Red Wine (WWB, 92) which is a Grenache dominant blend that displays lovely red fruit flavors as well as rocky characteristics. Learn more about The Walls and look for these wines online at https://www.thewallsvineyards.com/ Here are the great new release wines from The Walls.

Awesome new lineup of wines by The Walls

2014 The Walls 'Lip Stinger' Grenache Blanc- This excellent wine begins with aromatics of beeswax, lemongrass, unripe nectarine and suggestions of white flowers. There are ripe flavors of Gravenstein apple, cut grass, kiwi, cantaloupe and wet stone that sit alongside lively minerality. The mid-palate weight is lovely as the creamy finish lingers. Drink 2017-2022- 91

2014 The Walls 'The Ramparts' Red Wine- This excellent wine has aromatics of spicy oak, rose petals, red cherry, red raspberry and black plum. There are rich flavors of red cherry, lavender, wet rock, blood orange rind and black raspberry liqueur. This shows wonderful range and purity of fruit from the Grenache in particuar. Drink 2017-2027- 92

2014 The Walls 'Gaspard' Syrah- This inky colored Syrah wine had aromatics of white pepper, smoked pork shoulder, black cherry and milk chocolate. This leads to rich flavors of milk chocolate, blackberry preserves, black cherry, loganberry liquor, smoked brisket and anise. Light tannins finish this lovely Syrah. Drink 2017-2026- 91

2014 The Walls 'Cheys' Syrah- This deep hued wine begins with aromatics of black cherry, anise, smoked pork shoulder and hints of baking spices. There are rich flavors of black plum, black cherry, anise, baking spices and blueberry pie. Forward and packing a punch, this can withstand some medium cellaring in the next decade. Drink 2017-2025- 91

Yao Family Wines

Growing up I was a huge Seattle Supersonics fan I would go to nearly every home game during the glory years of Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. The Houston Rockets, one of their main rivals, drafted a relatively untested center named Yao Ming in 2002 with the first pick in the NBA draft. Yao became an instant sensation and one of the best players in the league, until retiring after a series of injuries in 2011. That was the year that he launched Yao Family Wines.

Yao Family Wines sources from a host of great Napa Valley vineyards. The grapes are fermented and then aged up to 18 months in 100% French oak barrels. Only the best lots were used in the final blend. I was very impressed with their new release wines. Their flagship wine in particular, the 2014 Yao Family Wines Cabernet (WWB, 92) was dense and muscular, showing wonderful and generally intoxicating dark fruit flavors. This massive wine will cellar marvelously for 15 years or more. Learn more about Yao Family Wines at http://www.yaofamilywines.com Here are the great new release wines by Yao Family Wines.

2014 Yao Family Wines Cabernet- The 2014 Yao Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Cab Franc and 2% Petite Verdot. It is a wonderful showing from this estate which brilliantly showcases this hot vintage. This excellent Cabernet wine opens with black olive aromas with creme de cassis, mocha, tar and hints of black plum. There are rich flavors of creme de cassis, anise, black cherry cough syrup, black raspberry and coffee grounds. This has a wonderful plush mouthfeel and shows gorgeous range of flavors and aromatics. Drink 2018-2030- 92

2014 Yao Family WInes 'Napa Crest' Red Wine- The 2014 Yao Family Wines 'Napa Crest' Red Wine, is a Cabernet dominant blend (63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 12% Petit Verdot) that shows beautifully without a decant. This wine begins with aromatics of red currant, red cherry, anise, dill and rose petals. There are flavors of anise, mocha, creme de cassis, black cherry and black raspberry. Drink 2017-2027- 90

Den Hoed

Sourced from the esteemed Wallula Vineyard, Den Hoed wines focus on Cabernet and Cabernet Blends from this great vineyard that overlooks the Columbia River. Den Hoed relies on the considerable winemaking talents of Rob Newsom and Giles Nicault. Rob is a Louisiana-born founder of the famed Boudreaux Cellars, previously served as assistant winemaker under Leonetti Cellar icon Gary Figgins. Giles Gilles Nicault left the University of Avignon with a four year degree in Viticulture and Enology. He honed his craft in the fabled hillside vineyards and wineries of Cote Du Rhone, Provence and Champagne. He then continued his winemaking journey in the United States at Woodward Canyon, Hogue and now the esteemed Long Shadows.

I have seen the quality of these wines improve considerably in the past few years, as I have tried every vintage of these wines for the past ten years. I was absolutely blown away with their 2012 releases and the 2013 releases from this estate are every bit as good. The 2013 Den Hoed ‘Andreas’ cabernet (WWB, 94) leads the way with a massive center, rich fruit flavors and a dense mouthfeel. This is classic Washington Cabernet. I can see this cellaring marvelously for up to another 20 years. Learn more about these great wines at http://www.denhoedwines.com/story

2013 Den Hoed 'Marie's View' Red Wine- Crafted by the esteemed winemaker Rob Newsom, this wine is the follow up to the rather epic 2012 'Marie's View' Red Wine opens with plush aromatics of sweet tobacco, black plum, creme de cassis and oak. There are dense flavors of blackberry cobbler, black cherry, mocha, creme de cassis and black raspberry liquor. With a dense mouthfeel and lovely structure, this massive wine will cellar marvelously for at least 15 years. The textural elements are gorgeous, as this is a layered beauty that shows both its masculine and feminine side from this warm vintage. If enjoying young, be sure to give beautiful wine at least a two hour decant. Drink 2017-2033- 93

2013 Den Hoed 'Andreas' Cabernet- This excellent Cabernet created by superstar winemaker Giles Nicault is the best ‘Andeas’ that I have sampled in the past ten years. The Cabernet wine opens with a bouquet of boysenberry preserves, black cherry, anise and cassis with sagebrush accents. The palate is dense and massive, having an intense core of black fruits reminiscent of cassis, candied black cherry, and blackberry pie with cigar box and mocha accents. The richness and polish to this wine is evident. With silky tannins and a voluptuous mouthfeel, this stunner will drink at least another 15 years. Drink 2017-2033- 94

Benton Lane

A love story in wine, Benton-Lane Winery founders Steve and Carol Girard grew up in California’s Bay Area, and were both raised by wine loving parents. The Girards are high school sweethearts and shared their passion for wine, in Napa Valley where they learned how to care for vineyards, make fine wine and founded their first winery, Girard Winery together. Girard Winery is one of the finest producers of Petit Sirah in the world. 

Following some time in Napa, the Giards began to search for a great location to make world class Pinot Noir. Finally, after studying for years, they decided on a 12 mile long area on the foothills of the Willamette Valley Coast Range. This is where they discovered Sunnymount Ranch, an old sheep ranch near the village of Monroe. Sunnymount Ranch had gotten its name over 100 years ago due to Prairie Peak to the west that protected the ranch from winter storms. The land sloped gently to the east so potential vines could catch the morning sun. The ranch was above the valley fog but below the windy hill tops. The ranch is set on Jory soil, and was centered in the middle of Willamette Valley where milder weather allowed earlier ripening and more consistent high quality for grape vines. They purchased the 1,860 acre property in 1988 and planting of Pinot Noir commenced the next year. Steve and Carol’s first Benton-Lane wine was produced in 1991, which their friends and family helped consume. Benton-Lane’s first vintage was 1992 which was custom produced at another local winery. Their vineyard now has142 acres planted to Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. 

I recently had the chance to review their new release wines and was highly impressed. Check out their delicious 2015 Pinot Gris (WWB, 90), as they have crafted a bright and rich wine that shows remarkable poise considering the heat of the vintage. The best wine I tried was the 2014 Benton Lane; ‘First Class’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 92) which belongs in any first class cabin. Delicious, seductive and flat out delicious, this wine has wonderful weight, intensity and range of flavors. Learn more about these fantastic wines and the Benton Lane story at https://benton-lane.com Here are the great new releases by Benton Lane. 

2015 Benton Lane Pinot Gris-  This highly impressive new release Pinot Gris begins with bright aromatics of starfruit, kiwi, and cantaloupe. There are flavors of red delicious apple, star fruit and hints of white peach. This has incredible minerality and poise from this hot vintage. Drink 2017-2023- 90

2014 Benton Lane Pinot Noir- This lovely Pinot Noir wine begins with aromatics with ripe strawberry, guava purée, red raspberry and hints of suggestions of wild mushroom. There are ripe flavors of red cherry, guava, pomegranate and cranberry with forest floor. This shows wonderful minerality and poise from this hot vintage. Drink 2017-2027- 90

2014 Benton Lane 'First Class' Pinot Noir- Thisgorgeous wine opens with aromatics of black tea, black plum, black cherry and suggestions of black truffle oil. There are rich flavors of black raspberry, black tea, black cherry, Mandarin orange rind, forest floor and black truffle crudo. This has wonderful intensity and richness, as this will cellar well into the next decade. Drink 2017-2029- 92

Chateau Climens

One of the most esteemed estates in Barsac, Chateau Climens has gained a worldwide reputation for producing some of the choicest dessert wine.  The chateau is located on the left bank of the Garonne, in Graves region in the south-west of Bordeaux, The Grands Crus from Sauternes and Barsac were classified in 1855 at the same time as the Grands Crus from Médoc. Château Climens belongs to the First Classed Growths of 1855.

Within the Sauternes appellation, the small village of Barsac is the is primarily set on limestone soils which yields a wonderful freshness and balance to the wines. Chateau Clemens estate is a 30 hectares property situated on the appellation’s highest land where limestone outcrops are abundant.

Intense, sexy, and downright opulent, I recently had the great pleasure to try one of the great wines of the world that i have sampled in the past year, the decadent and completely intoxicating 2005 Chateau Climens. This is literally perfection in a bottle, as the combination of balance, terroir, viscosity and tension with the scintillating range of aromatics and flavors is just off the charts. There are truly no words to describe this wine. I did my best. Learn more about this compelling estate in the Bordeaux region at http://www.chateau-climens.fr/en/

Here is my review of the 2005 Chateau Climens:

2005 Chateau Climens- The 2005 Chateau Climens is a perfect wine. At this juncture it is literally perfection in a bottle. Unctuous, intense, and simply gorgeous, this perfumed wine has aromatics of quince, creme brulee, bananas foster, candied mango and baking spices. The wine has dense flavors of vanilla creme brulee, roasted pineapple, ripe mango, and sweet marcona almond purée. Seductive,  complete and gorgeous, this is one of the finest Sauternes I have sampled in the past five years. This has the structure, weight and intensity to cellar for another 40 years. Drink 2017-2057- 100

King Estate

Spencer Spetnagel also serves as winemaker at King Estate.

Founded in 1990, King Estate has gained a worldwide reputation for great Pinot Gris. The massive estate is located just southwest of Eugene, Oregon and their production has grown to 350,000 cases anually.  King Estate had a massive 314 acres devoted to Pinot Gris and has 143 planted to Pinot Noir. King Estate current has two winemakers, Spencer Spetnagel and a recent hire, Brent Stone. I interviewed Spencer last year and he was just an awesome guy to talk wine with. Spencer joined King Estate for the 2012 harvest and in two short years has moved up the ranks to winemaker. Spencer has a background in marketing and has previously worked at Ravenswood before going back to school and working on an enology degree at Lincoln University in New Zealand for three years. He then returned to Ravenswood, serving as contract winemaker. In 2009 he took an assistant winemaker position at Bargetto, the oldest winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where he met his wife. Brent came to King Estate in 2011 as Lab Manager and has a degree in environmental science from Utah State University. He has also completed the two year program at Washington State University in enology and viticulture.

Last year I tried a very exciting Pinot Gris vertical dating back to the 2005 vintage. The vertical showed the wonderful aging potential for the varietal. The recent releases from King Estate were highly impressive, none more so than the 2015 King Estate ‘Domaine’ Pinot Gris (WWB, 93) which is one of the highest rated wines of its kind that I have sampled in the past year. This wine had wonderful richness, concentration and minerality. Also look for the 2013 King Estate ‘Domaine’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) which showcases beautiful red fruit and vibrant structure in this challenging vintage. Look for these wines 

2015 King Estate Pinot Gris- The 2015 King Estate Pinot Gris is a fantastic warm vintage bottling from this estate. Aged in 100% steel tanks, the nose reminds me of cashew, ripe pear and honeydew melon. There is nice depth and concentration on the mid-palate, yielding bright flavors of Gala apple, starfruit, green papaya and mango accents laced lime and unripe cantaloupe. The range of flavors is outstanding, as is the strong mineral streak. Drink this outstanding wine within the next six years. Drink 2017-2023- 91

2015 King Estate 'Domaine' Pinot Gris- The 2015 'Domaine' Pinot Gris by King Estate is an awesome follow-up to the outstanding '14 bottling. Having a golden edged hue, this wine was 100% steel fermented prior to bottling.  This impressive wine has an intense bouquet of white raisin, honeysuckle, lychee, white peach and hints of poached pear with nutmeg. There are rich flavors of starfruit, honeydew melon, lychee, baking spices, Pink Lady apple and a lingering, 30 second plus finish. Energetic, lithe and delightful on the tongue, this wine dazzles. Drink 2017-2025- 93

2014 King Estate Pinot Noir-The 2014 King Estate Pinot Noir is another impresive bottling from this winery. The wine was sourced from three different vineyard lots and was aged in french oak for eight months prior to bottling. There are aromatics of red cherry, red raspberry, black tea and hints of rose petsls. The Pinot Noir has flavors reminiscent of red cherry, pomegranate, red raspberry, lavender and hints of blood orange rind. This shows excellent poise and weight from this warm vintage. Drink 2017-2025- 90

2013 King Estate 'Domaine' Pinot Noir- The 'Domaine' Pinot Noir by King Estate weighs in at 13% alcohol and sat 18 months in 50% French oak prior to bottling. The resultant wine begins with aromatics of black cherry, guava puree, cram-pomegranate and suggestions of baking spices. The palate is rich and lithe, displaying flavors of ripe strawberry, red cherry, pomegranate seed, Mandarin orange and hints of forest floor. Mineral driven and intense, this gorgeous Pinot Noir will have a long life, as I can see this cellaring well into the next decade. Drink 2017-2028- 93

ROCO Winery

The 2013 Roco 'RMS' Sparkling Wine (WWB, 94) is an absolute stunner and is the best Sparkling wine in North America that I have sampled in the past year.

A winery founded by eminent Oregon winemaker, Rollin Soles, ROCO focuses on limited production Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In 1987, Rollin Soles purchased a hillside property down a gravel road in the Chehalem Mountain Range. This property would later become ROCO Winery. Finally some 15 years later Rollin and his wife, Corby, planted Wits’ End Vineyard and two years later they began producing their first vintage of Pinot Noir. In 2009, the Soles built ROCO its own winery and added a tasting room in 2012. In 2013, Rollin expanded Wits’ End Vineyard and transitioned to full-time focus on ROCO to keep pace with its growing prestige and demand.

Today, Wits’ End Vineyard is the source for the ROCO Private Stash and Wits’ End Vineyard Pinot Noirs. This past year Rollin has produced a Sparkling Wine, his first at his winery, called ‘RMS.’ The resultant wine is an absolute stunner, up there with some of the best Argyle ‘Extended Tirage’ bottlings that I can recall from the late 1990s. The 2013 ROCO ‘RMS’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 94) has incredible range and gorgeous weight on the mid-palate. This is truly a special occasion wine. Not to be outdone is one of the most impressive Oregon Pinot Noir that I have sampled in the past year, the 2014 ROCO ‘Private Stash’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) which shows wonderful intensity and red and dark fruit flavors from this warm vintage. This is one of the most exceptional overall lineups that I have tried in the past year. Learn more about these exceptional wines at http://rocowinery.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Roco Winery.

Fantastic lineup of new releases from ROCO.

2013 ROCO 'RMS' Sparkling Wine- Superstar winemaker Rollin Soles has sourced this wine from both the Eola Hills and the Yamhill-Carlton AVAs. The resultant wine is a blend of 67% Pinot Noir with the remainder Chardonnay. Disgorged in Spring 2016 this wine opens with bright aromatics reminiscent of orange zest, poached pear, hazelnuts and hints of green apple. The mousse is stunning which leads to flavors of apricot, kumquat, New York apple, vanilla cream, and suggestions of Meyer lemon rind. Lithe, bright and wonderfully weighted this is simply stunning Sparkling wine Drink 2017-2027- 94

2014 ROCO 'Willamette Valley' Chardonnay- Sourced from the Gran Moraine, Maresh Estate and Knudsen Vineyards this golden hued Chardonnay wine weights in at 13.5% alcohol. The wine starts with aromatics reminiscent of brioche, New York apple, poached pear, nutmeg and roasted hazelnuts. The palate shows wonderful mid-palate weight and an almost unctuous mouthfeel. There are rich flavors of red delicious apple, vanilla cream, green papaya and ripe cantaloupe. This is exceedingly delicious and has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2017-2026- 93

2014 ROCO 'Knudsen' Pinot Noir- Set in the Dundee Hills, the Knudsen Vineyard sits on Jory soil, red clay as well as volcanic basalt. This Pinot opens with feminine aromas of rose petals, red cherry, red raspberry and crushed gravel. There are rich flavors of wild mushroom risotto, red cherry, cran-pomegranate and wet stone. This has a wonderfully dense mouthfeel, which leads to a long, finish highlighted by red fruits and minerals. Only 216 cases made of this fantastic Pinot Noir. Drink 2017-2027- 93

2014 ROCO 'Marsh Estate Vineyard' Pinot Noir- This vineyard utilizes clones 115, Pommard and Wadensweil and is set on marine sedimentary soil. This has fantastic aromas of pomegranate, guava, red cherry, red raspberry and rose petals. The palate is lithe, yielding flavors of black truffle crudo, red raspberry, red cherry, crushed wet gravel, guava purée and suggestions of Mandarin orange rind. Lively and energetic, the mineral streak finishes long. Drink 2017-2027- 93

2014 ROCO 'Wits' End Vineyard' Pinot Noir- The Wits’ End vineyard is located in the Chehalem Mountain AVA and is set on marine sedimentary soil. The Pinot Noir wine weights in at 14.5% alcohol and begins with aromatics reminiscent of black truffle oil, red cherry, black raspberry and hints of wet stone. The palate shows a nice combination of red and dark fruits with flavors reminiscent of black cherry, black raspberry liquor, guava purée, Mandarin orange rind and a lithe mineral streak. This shows tremendous balance and elegance. I can see this aging beautifully into the next decade. Drink 2017-2028- 93

2014 ROCO 'Private Stash' Pinot Noir- Sourced from the Wits' End Vineyard, this wine also weighs in at 14.5% alcohol and shows off the wonderful intensity of this warm vintage. Needing about a one plus hour decant, this gorgeous Pinot Noir wine begins aromatics of red currants, black raspberry, wild blackberry and cardamom. There are flavors of black tea, black raspberry liqueur, black cherry, wild mushroom and suggestions of creosote. This has wonderful mid-palate weight and a beautiful texture. This Pinot shows a great masculine side and maintains fantastic elegance with a rose petal edge on the finish. Try to resist this gorgeous bottling for at least one more year. Drink 2018-2030- 94

The Rocks District Website

Happy Monday to you all! In a brand new development, the new Rocks District website has launched. The website serves as a communications platform for the consumer and media. There are 19 grower/producer partners are included in the partnership. Learn more about this new development in Washington wine at www.rocksdistrict.com

Chateau Montelena

One of the historic wineries in Napa, Chateau Montelena was first founded in 1888 and named A.L. Tubbs winery after its founder Alfred Tubbs. Nearly 100 years later in 1976 the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay was judged against four white Burgundy wines. The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the Judgement of Paris, being voted the top wine of the tasting. This was one of the landmark achievements for California wines, as French wines were typically viewed as considerably superior to California wines. Head winemaker, Matt Crafton, joined Chateau Montelena in 2008 as Assistant Winemaker after graduating from UC Davis and serving as an intern at Etude Wines. In 2014 he promoted to head winemaker.

The two new releases from Chateau Montelena, the 2013 Cabernet and 2015 Riesling come from very exciting warm vintages in Napa. The 2013 Montelena Cabernet (WWB, 92) shows a wonderful Bordelaise feel and nice dense dark from this awesome vintage in Napa. Look for these great wines at Northwest wine shops such as Esquin, Met Market and Total Wines, or online at http://montelena.com Here are the great new releases from Chateau Montelena 

2013 Chateau Montelena Cabernet- This excellent Cabernet was aged 14 months in French and Eastern European oak (16% new) prior to bottling. It is a blend of 85% Cabernet with 14% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. The wine has aromatics of pipe tobacco, blackberry cobbler, sage and mint. There are flavors of cassis, anise, coffee grounds, eucalyptus and black cherry cough syrup. This Bordelaise bottling has marvelous structure and elegance. Drink 2017-2030- 92

2015 Chateau Montelena Riesling- This pale green hued wine begins with a bouquet of green papaya, Gravenstein apple, and cut grass with lemon blossoms. There are rich flavors of crushed white flowers, unripe pear, Granny Smith apple and Meyer lemon rind. This shows an impressive minerality considering the heat of the vintage. Drink 2016-2022- 90

Angela Estate

A winery focusing on high quality Pinot Noir, I recently had the chance to visit the winery’s tasting room in Dundee. The winery is owned by South African winery owners, Antony & Angela Beck and they have utilized eminent winemaker, Ken Wright to craft their Pinot Noirs. Angela Estate sources from two Yamhill-Carlton vineyard sites. The Angela Estate vineyard was first planted in 2006 (21 acres) to Dijon clones 777, 115 and Wadenswil as well. An additional 13 acres were planted in 2007. Because of the uniqueness of the Savannah Ridge, the entire vineyard is usually harvested in one day. Angela Estate also sources from the Abbot Claim Vineyard (16 acres) located in the Savannah Ridge, is a small east-west ridgeline of sedimentary rock just east of Carlton. Soils are mostly Wellsdale with some areas of Willakenzie, Melbourne and Peavine. Vines are roughly an equal mix of Pommard clone on Riparia Gloire rootstock,  as well as Dijon clones 777 and 115 as this vineyard vineyard is managed by Mark Gould of Ken Wright Cellars. 

I was impressed with their recent lineup of Pinot Noirs. Look for their 2013 Angela Estate ‘Abbot’s Claim’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 92) which shows a wonderful range of flavors and aromatics, as well as lovely terroir. Learn more about Angela Estate at http://angelaestate.com/ Here are the great new release wines from Angela Estate. 

2013 Angela Estate Pinot Noir- The wine begins with aromas of red cherry, black truffle oil, red raspberry and black plum. There are ripe flavors of red raspberry, orange rind, red cherry and hints of guava puree. This has a strong minerality. Drink 2017-2023- 90

2014 Angela Estate Pinot Noir- Sourced from their 34 acre vineyard, the wine begins with aromatics of black cherry, black truffle, black tea, hints of thyme and cloves. There are flavors of red cherry, red raspberry, thyme and hints of guava with forest floor. This Pinot Noir displays some nice poise and red fruit flavors. Drink 2017-2023- 90

2013 Angela 'Abbot's Claim' Pinot Noir- The best wine from Angela Estate is their ‘Abbot’s Claim’ Pinot, which shows wonderful terroir and mid-palate weight. The wine is sourced from a 16 acre vineyard that is both Dijon 115, 777 and Pommard. The wine opens with aromatics of smoke, forest floor, black truffle, lavender and red cherry. There are flavors of red cherry, Tangerine rind, red raspberry and suggestions of nutmeg. This has lovely texture and mouthfeel, showing nice weight from this vintage. Drink 2017-2026- 92

Chalk Hill

The exceedingly good, 2015 Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc (WWB, 92), is one of the best of its kind that I have reviewed in the past year.

Originally founded in 1972 by Fred Ferth, Chalk Hill is one of the more stunning settings in the Sonoma valley. The estate is an insanely gorgeous 1,477 acre property that is surrounded by large oak trees and even and natural streams. Founded by Bill Foley, the property is also home to a 60 different small vineyards. 

Head winemaker, Steve Nelson, has crafted some really fantastic new release wines. Chalk Hill is particularly known for their white wines, particularly their Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines and their recent release are no exception. Look for the 2015 Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc (WWB, 92), a wine that utilizes 15% Sauvignon Musque for a rich, layered mouthfeel. The 2014 Chalk Hill Chardonnay (WWB, 92) is an exceedingly decadent and rich wine that will only improve with a few years of bottle age. These wines can be found at great Northwest wine shops. I also have seen these wines at QFC fairly consistently. Here are some of the great new wines by Chalk Hill

2015 Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc-This exceedingly good bottling by Chalk Hill wine is a blend of 85% Sauvignon Blanc and the rest Sauvignon Musque. The wine was bottled in June 2016 and weighs in at 14.5% alcohol. There are bright aromatics reminiscent of lemongrass, white peach, star jasmine and hints of Gravenstein apple. This leads to flavors of Meyer lemon rind, tangerine, nectarine pie and Pink Lady apple. This has lovely weight on the mid-palate which leads to a long, Meyer lemon cream laced finish. The weight and texture improves with a higher temperature, so this may be better suited to be slightly warmed up, as the Musque deserves slightly more warmth. Drink 2017-2023- 92

2014 Chalk Hill Chardonnay- There is a lot to like with fantastic release by Chalk Hill. This wine utilized 100% native yeast fermentation and 100% malolactic fermentation with bi-weekly battonage. The wine was aged in 36% new French oak for 11 months prior to bottling in January 2016. The Chardonnay opens with a bright bouquet of lemon zest, wild mushroom risotto, Mandarin orange rind and creme brûlée accents. This leads to flavors of tangerine creme brulee, vanilla cream, peach pit and Golden Delicious apple. On the hedonistic side, but in a good way, this displays lovely fruit weight on the mid palate and a long cream finish. Drink 2017-2026- 92

2013 Chalk Hill ‘Estate Red’ Red Wine- The 2013 'Estate Red' by Chalk Hill is a fantastic effort. Possessing an ultra-dark core, this wine is a blend of 45% Cabernet, and 30% Malbec with 12% Petit Verdot, 5% Carmenere, 4% Merlot and 4% Syrah. Big, burly and brooding, this wine begins with intoxicating aromatics of creme de cassis, mocha, blackberry pie and blueberry compote. There is lovely weight and texture on the mid-palate, yielding intense flavors of blueberry, coffee grounds, blackberry pie and a graphite edge. This layered effort will have a long life. Drink 2016-2030- 93

2013 Chalk Hill 'Russian River Valley' Pinot Noir-Sourced from the Trenton Road vineyard, and aromatically shut down at first, following a one hour decant this Pinot opens with rich aromas of tea berry, black cherry, crushed mint and hints of cola. There are flavors reminiscent of wild blackberry, black cherry cola, black tea and spicebox. This has a layered mouthfeel which glides to the 30 second long finish. Drink 2017-2025- 90

Kaiken

I wanted to make this a Monday Mendoza jaunt to kickstart the week. While distribution of the great wines from Argentina have been more inconsistent in the past few years, I wanted to highlight a winery that produces wonderful value Cabernet and Malbec, as Argentina has developed a worldwide reputation for these varietals. Kaiken is named after the, Caiquén which is is a wild goose from Patagonia that flies across The Andes between Argentina and Chile. Aurelio Montes, founder of the famed Chilean winery, Bodega Montes, after making several trips to Argentina disovered that he wanted to found a winery in Mendoza, focusing on Cabernet and Malbec. Kaiken was then founded in 2001 and they have been producing very serious values ever since. 

I first tried these wines more than ten years ago and I was absolutely blow away with the quality of the wines, considering the price point. Many of these wines are at or even under ten dollars. Look for the 2015 Kaiken ‘Reserva’ Malbec (WWB, 91) which is a wine filled with dark and blue fruits and has a gorgeous texture and mouthfeel. For around 15 bucks, this is one of the great Malbec values out there. Also highly impressive was the 2015 Kaiken ‘Terroir Series’ Cabernet (WWB, 89) which showed wonderful depth considering the mere ten dollar price point. Look for these great value wines at wine shops in the northwest such as Total Wines. Here are the great new releases by Kaiken. 

2016 Kaiken ‘Terroir Series’ Torrontes- This Salta based Torrontes weighs in at only 12.5% alcohol and begins with a nice bouquet of ripe peach, Mandarin orange blossom, cut ripe pear and honeysuckle. There are ripe flavors of nectarine, gooseberry, New York apple and crushed wildflowers. This is an exceedingly good value at this price point. Drink 2016-2020- 88

2015 Kaiken ‘Terroir Series’ Cabernet- This wine is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, and 8% Petit Verdot which utilized once to three times used French oak for ten months. The resultant wine begins with aromatics of blackberry jam, prune, Turkish coffee and suggestions of baking spices. On the palate there are flavors reminiscent of milk chocolate, blackberry, black cherry and black olive tapenade. This has wonderful smoothness and is another exceedingly good value from this estate. Drink 2016-2023- 89

2015 Kaiken ‘Terroir Series’ Malbec- This dense hued Malbec is a blend of 80% Malbec, 12% Bonarda, and 8% Petit Verdot. The Malbec grapes were sourced from the Uco Valley, while the Bonarda comes from the Kaiken Agrelo Estate and the Petit Verdot from the zone of Gualtallary. The wine was aged in 80% French oak for 10 months prior to bottling. This wine begins with aromatics reminiscent of creosote, violets, black cherry and black raspberry cordial. There are rich flavors of black cherry preserves, wild blackberry cobbler, baking spices and mocha. This is layered and delicious. Drink 2016-2023- 89

2015 Kaiken ‘Reserva’ Cabernet- This wine has aromatics of prune, red cherry, blackberry and black raspberry. This leads to flavors of black cherry, blackberry pie, anise and cloves. This has lovely weight on the mid-palate. Drink 2016-2023- 89

2015 Kaiken ‘Reserva’ Malbec- The Malbec has a small portion of Cabernet blended in (5%). The wine has an intoxicating bouquet of crushed violets, sage, black cherry, blueberry pie and exotic spices with light white pepper accents. There is lovely depth and texture to this wine. The Malbec has dense flavors of blackberry pie, blueberry compote, milk chocolate and sagebrush. This is a serious value from this estate. Drink 2016-2024- 91

2015 Kaiken ‘Ultra’ Cabernet- This inky colored Cabernet wine is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec and 8% Petit Verdot that was sourced from the Uco Valley (Malbec and Petit Verdot) and Agrelo (Cabernet). This wine opens with an aromatic profile of baking spices, black cherry, blackberry cobbler, cassis and pipe tobacco. The palate has nice weight and minerality, yielding flavors reminiscent of black cherry, cassis, anise, cloves, and smoke. This would make an excellent pour at a great steakhouse. The structure suggests this will age beautifully well into the next decade. Drink 2016-2025- 90

2015 Kaiken ‘Ultra’ Malbec- Sourced from the Uco Valley, this Malbec needs roughly an hour to unwind. Aged 12 months in 80% French oak, the wine Once aroused the Malbec has a deep bouquet of graphite, blackberry compote, coffee grounds, and allspice. The palate yields flavors of blackberry cordial, black raspberry, blueberry and graphite. Structure, dense and needing some time, this should be enjoyed in one more year. Drink 2017-2023- 91

Kongsgaard

A New Years jaunt down to Napa Valley is what many Northwesterners are thinking about this time of year when temperatures are below freezing and sunlight is limited as best. I want to introduce one of the premier producers of Chardonnay in the world. John Kongsgaard has been producing some scintillating Napa Chardonnay for many years now and I wanted to highlight his very special winery. 

He is a fifth generation Napan as his family have been in the Napa area since the 1840s. John’s grandfather owned a stone quarry in Napa and John’s father was a Napa County Superior Court judge for more than twenty years. Following graduating high school in the late 1960’s John completed the UC Davis masters in enology and viticulture program. For a short time he worked at the Stony Hill winery in Napa and then worked for at Newton Vineyards as the winemaker from 1983 to 1996. John also studied under eminent wine consultant Michel Rolland. He has a Burgundian feel to all his wines and has indicated that Michel Rolland had a profound influence in his style of winemaking. In 2004 John bought a 150 acre parcel of land on Atlas Peak where vines planted sit at as far up as 2500 feet. His property has a mere five acres planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Rousanne and Viognier.

John’s last two Chardonnay vintages were absolute heavyhitters. The 2013 Kongsgaard ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) showed an exotic array of fruit and sublime acidity. This is truly a wine that will cellar for many decades, although it is nearly impossible to resist in its youth. Even better is their brand new release which I reviewed last week, the 2014 Kongsgaard ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay (WWB, 97), which is the highest rated North American Chardonnay that I have reviewed in more than two years. Opulent, seductive and impeccable, this wine is a near perfect rendition of Napa Chardonnay. These highly sought after wines can essentially only be found at online stores, such as winebid.com and klwines. Learn more about this magical winery at http://www.kongsgaardwine.com Here are the last two new Chardonnay releases by Kongsgaard.

2013 Kongsgaard ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay-The 2013 Napa Valley Chardonnay is a striking beauty from Kongsgaard. This spectacular wine opens with inviting aromatics of poached pear, crème brûlée, golden delicious apple and toasted hazelnuts all taking shape beautifully in the glass. On the palate, this leads to rich flavors of poached pear, marzipan, Meyer lemon oil and Gala apple, with suggestions of Shiitake mushroom. This has that dazzling intensity that you can almost feel in the glass leading up to the finish, continues to pull you back in with its seductive flavors. Overall, this is a memorable drinking experience and certainly a one of a kind effort from John Kongsgaard. Drink 2016-2028- 95

2014 Kongsgaard ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2014 Napa Valley Chardonnay is another stunning release from John Kongsgaard, which is made from Wente clones, sourced from the famous Hyde and Hudson vineyards in Carneros. Possessing a rich and golden hue, this wine opens with amazing aromatics of butterscotch, beeswax, poached pear, bananas foster and hints of nutmeg and minerals. The aromatics are absolutely intoxicating, as the bouquet is continually bringing you back for more. On the palate there is remarkable structure and weight, having an oily texture, combined with lovely acidity and bright flavors of lemon oil, white truffle, kumquat, Marzipan and crème brûlée. The range and flavor profile is spellbinding, as it enters the exceedingly long, complex finish. Overall, this is a magical wine, which will cellar beautifully for at least another decade. Drink 2017-2028- 97

Chateau St. Michelle Chardonnay

Happy New Years to you all! Many of you probably have the excellent habit of reaching for Chardonnay when you’re at the grocery store. An insanely popular international brand for Chardonnay, Chateau St. Michelle has become one of Washington’s premier producers of good quality Chardonnay over the past few decades. One key to their success is an extremely low price point that delivers quality in the glass. Their entry level Chardonnay bottling retails for about ten dollars and constantly over-delivers each vintage.

I recently had the chance to run through the entire lineup of Chateau St. Michelle Chardonnays and was hugely impressed. The new releases come from a challenging vintages for white wine (2014 and 2015), due to high temperatures and heat spikes. I found the latest releases to be as impressive as previous vintages. While the wines might not possess quite the level of structure of cooler vintages, they are filled with rich fruit flavor and wonderful viscosity. Look for the 2015 Chateau St. Michelle ‘Indian Wells’ Chardonnay (WWB, 90) which has wonderful richness and is an insane value at the $12.00 price point. Their best wine, the 2014 ‘Ethos Reserve’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) has irresistible dense tree fruit flavors and an exceedingly long finish. Learn more about Chateau St. Michelle Chardonnay at https://www.ste-michelle.com/ Here are the great new Chardonnay wines by Chateau St. Michelle.

2015 Chateau St. Michelle Chardonnay – The Chardonnay wine opens with aromatics of baked pear, peach pit, vanilla cream with Meyer lemon accents. The palate is rich with flavors of creme brulee, ripe banana, golden delicious apple and a long, cream-driven finish. This is a wonderful value bottling from this estate. Drink 2017-2022- 89

2015 Chateau St. Michelle ‘Indian Wells’ Chardonnay’- The 2015 vintage in Washington was marked by heat spikes which led to a record early harvest for Chardonnay. Sourced from the Indian Wells Vineyard in the Columbia Valley, this dense wine opens with rich aromatics of brioche, vanilla cream and toasted oak. There are ripe flavors reminiscent of New York apple, brioche, honeydew melon, butterscotch, roasted pineapple, and suggestions of nutmeg. The oak influence is evident, but in moderation, as this is an excellent value from this estate. (Best 2016-2020)- 90

2014 Chateau St. Michelle 'Cold Creek Vineyard' Chardonnay- The 2014 Chateau St. Michelle 'Cold Creek Vineyard' Chardonnay is an awesome release from this estate. Possessing a rich and golden hue, the wine begins with aromatics of hazelnuts, pineapple, vanilla cream and brioche. The palate yields dense flavors of creme brulee, allspice, Meyer lemon zest and New York apple. This balanced and mineral driven wine has a lovely weight on the mid-palate, which leads to a long, vanilla-cream laced finish. This is another highly impressive bottling from Chateau St. Michelle and their impressive winemaking team lead by Bob Bertheau. Drink 2017-2023- 92

2014 Chateau St. Michelle 'Canoe Ridge Estate' Chardonnay- Coming from a hot vintage, the 2014 'Canoe Ridge Estate' Chardonnay by Chateau St. Michelle begins with an aromatic profile of brioche, burnt cream, French vanilla and suggestions of baking spices. On the plate there is nice weight, especially when warmed up a bit. There are rich flavors reminiscent of Pazzaz apple, roasted pineapple, nutmeg, and brioche that sit alongside some marvelous acidity. This is just a gorgeous bottling that shows excellent poise considering the vintage. Drink 2017-2023- 92

2014 Chateau St. Michelle 'Ethos' Chardonnay- The 2014 Chateau St. Michelle 'Ethos' Chardonnay shows wonderful richness, balance and minerality. The wine begins with a bouquet of exotic spices, vanilla creme brulee, Pink Lady apple, and poached pear. This leads to dense flavors of Meyer lemon zest, heavy whipping cream, butterscotch, Pazzaz apple and suggestions of allspice. Seductive and exceedingly long on the finish, this shows some moderate oak influence but maintains very nice balance. This is the Washington style of Chardonnay and is one of the best of its kind that I have sampled in the past year. I can imagine this picking up some beautiful secondary characteristics after two plus years of cellaring -- however, this is literally impossible to resist right now. Drink 2017-2024- 93

Washington Wine Blog Top 100 Wines of 2016

Dear Friends,

I wanted to offer my warmest holiday greetings from Washington Wine Blog. I hope you all are enjoying a wonderful holiday season. 2016 has been a very exciting year here at Washington Wine Blog. I want to wish you all of my deepest thanks for supporting the blog. A lot has happened for me professionally this year. This is my second year the associate editor at International Wine Report, reviewing wines for them primarily from Washington, Oregon and California. This year Washington Wine Blog has two new associate editors, Dr. Stephen Lee and Dr. Jae Hong, who both review Washington red wines. They both add experience and depth to the blog. This year I’ve had the chance to sample some absolutely incredible domestic wines and interview many people behind those wines.  Washington Wine Blog now has amassed over 70 interviews, and that will continue to expand in the new year.

This year I have chosen 100 exceptional domestic wines to comprise my Top 100 for 2016. This year I’ve attended many wines events and have visited more tasting rooms than ever. Value wines are considered in my Top 100, and there are several incredible well-priced selections that I simply could not leave out. The wines from Washington continue to impress and rise to the top of the list. I have chosen my 2016 Washington Wine Blog Wine of the Year as the 2012 Cayuse ‘God Only Knows’ Grenche (WWB, 99), a wine that flirts with perfection and is made by the esteemed Vigneron Christophe Baron. Christophe creates an exotic, stony wine here that shows unparalleled range and poise. I highly recommend that you try a bottle of this special wine. Congrats to Christophe Baron and Elizabeth Bourcier for creating this absolute heavyhitter of a wine. Thank you again for your support of Washington Wine Blog. I want to wish you all the absolute best during this holiday season and I hope 2017 brings you all great joy, and beautiful wines in your glass.

1)     2012 Cayuse ‘God Only Knows Armada Vineyard’ Grenache ($85.00)- The 2012 Cayuse 'God Only Knows' Grenache is an ethereal wine by this estate. This incredible wine has a classic Walla Walla stony nose. There are deep aromatics of sage, rose petals, crushed wet rock, lavender, red cherry, red raspberry and blood orange. The range of flavors at play is tremendous. In the glass there are slow developing enticing flavors of red raspberry, Umami, Shitake mushroom, crushed wet rock, boysenberry, pomegranate seed and crushed white wildflowers. This Grenache becomes even richer and aromatically present following a two hour decant. The minute long finish is astonishing, while the structure of the wine makes it nearly impossible to resist. Simply put, this is nothing short of a scintillating release by Christophe Baron that shows incredible tension, minerality and richness in this near perfect vintage. Drink 2016-2030- 99

2)     2013 Quilceda Creek 'Columbia Valley' Cabernet Sauvignon ($120.00)- Following up the highly impressive 2012 Cabernet, the 2013 Cabernet was sourced from the Champoux Vineyard (95%) as well as the Wallula Vineyard (5%).  Needing more than a two hour decant at this point to fully sing, the Cabernet opens with exotic aromatics of Turkish coffee, creme de cassis, anise, red bell pepper and violets. The wine has ultra-rich flavors of anise, creme de cassis, red bell pepper, graphite and blackberry cobbler while maintaining a vibrant minerality. The texture of this wine is ethereal. Despite a long decant there are still some mild to moderate tannins, that complement the velvety mouthfeel. This combination of viscosity and tension is without an equal in Washington Cabernet. There is a seamless quality to this wine that reminds me of the epic 2005 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet bottling. The intoxicating aromatics of this wine bring you continually back to the glass for more. Try to resist this beautiful wine for at least two more years. Drink 2018-2040- 98

3)     2013 Opus One Red Wine ($200.00)- An absolute stunner, the new release wine by Opus One is one for the cellar. Showing a darker, more heated black fruit profile from this hot vintage, the 2013 Opus One is one to contemplate, as there are some many working parts to this compelling wine. This red blend has intense aromatics of sandalwood, creme de cassis, mocha, black cherry, blackberry compote and black plum. The mouthfeel is voluptuous and intense as this displays a slightly higher viscosity than the 2012 Opus One. There are deep and penetrating flavors of black cherry, anise, creme de cassis, blackberry cobbler, sage and anise. Not for the weary, try to resist this hedonistic wine for at least another year. Drink 2017-2035- 99

4)     2013 Horsepower 'Sur Echalas Vineyard' Syrah ($100.00)- Following up the incredible 2012 release, the 2013 Horsepower 'Sur Echalas Vineyard' Syrah is every bit as deep, stony and downright delicious than the 2012 edition. Similar to the other Horsepower bottlings, the wine needs more than a one hour decant to fully expose its incredible range of aromas and flavors. After time the decanter, the translucent Syrah wine opens with an aromatic profile of seaweed, Umami, orange blossom, black truffle crudo, horse manure, black cherry cola, wild blackberry preserves and suggestions of baking spices. Similar to the other new release Horsepower wines, these aromatics from the Sur Echalas Vineyard are so invigorating and hedonistic that you are continually brought back to the glass just to indulge this cornucopia of aromatics at play. The Syrah has deep flavors of black cherry, wet stone, black raspberry, black truffle, Satsuma orange, pomegranate seed and suggestions of boysenberry pie. Possessing a gorgeous texture, the minerality of this wine glides along the mid-palate, leading to an exceedingly long finish. Drink 2016-2028- 98

5)     2013 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks’ Syrah - ($65.00)- This wine was co-fermented with 5% Viognier. This wine saw 25% new French oak for 18 months prior to bottling. The Syrah wine opens with dense aromatics of bacon fat, seaweed, creosote, and tangerine rind. There are flavors of wild blackberry, cranberry, tangerine rind, seaweed and smoked pork shoulder. This incredible wine glides through the palate. The elegance of this wine is there as it takes on some Burgundian characteristics. Try to cellar this hard to resist wine for at least another year. Drink 2017-2028- 96

6)     2013 Sanguis ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard Loner R13-a’ Pinot Noir ($70.00) - This Santa Rita Hills bottling needs more than two hours in the decanter to open up. Once aroused it begins with aromatics of cherry cola, red raspberry preserves, lavender and nutmeg. There is a viscous and velvety texture to this scintillating wine. Flavors of cherry pie, cherry cough syrup, cola and red raspberry persist. An absolutely seamless wine, with brightness and decadence. Drink 2016-2026- 95

7)     2013 HALL 'Rainin Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon-($325.00) The 2013 Rainin Vineyard is sourced from an 8 acre property just off Diamond Mountain road, which is located in a cooler section of a generally warmer district. This Cabernet has intense aromatics of blackberry pie, crème de cassis, black tea, mocha, sagebrush and underlying hints of eucalyptus all coming together beautifully in the glass. There are gorgeous flavors of ripe black cherries, crème de cassis, mocha, anise, mint and graphite which are deeply layered on the palate. The weight and mouthfeel of this wine is hedonistic and ethereal, further adding to its early appeal. Overall, this is an absolutely sensation wine from Hall and I expect this to continue to evolve gracefully for many years to come. Drink 2017-2035- 99

8)     2014 Delmas Syrah ($65.00)- Following up the gorgeous 2013 bottling, the 2014 Delmas Syrah is cut from a similar thread. The new release Delmas wine is a blend of 91.7% Syrah and 8.3% Viognier that was sourced from the esteemed SJR Vineyard. Having visited the SJR Vineyard on several occasions, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible attention to detail that goes into creating this exceptional wine. Proprietor Steve Robertson is constantly in the vineyard, as the highly specialized vineyard management clearly translates to the novel, Walla Walla Rocks expression in the bottle. The Syrah wine is made by superstar winemaker Billo Naravane and sat 14 months in 60% new French oak prior to bottling. The aromatics of this wine are entirely intoxicating as you are constantly drawn back to the glass for more. There is a bouquet of black truffle oil, cran-orange, forest floor, red cherry, Umami and red raspberry. The wine has deep flavors of black cherry, black truffle, cherry pie, Umami, and tamarind. Similar to his Rasa bottlings, you can truly feel Billo Naravane's skill in crafting his signature texture, viscosity and mouthfeel to this wine. The intensity of this wine is tremendous, and while this wine can be cellared for a decade or more, the Rocks District Syrah is absolutely impossible to resist right now. Only 150 cases made of this special Syrah bottling. Drink 2016-2027- 96

9)     2013 Darioush Cabernet Franc ($62.00)- Darioush continues to produce some absolutely irresistible efforts. The 2013 Darioush Cabernet Franc is the best wine in the stunning new lineup of Darioush wines. This incredible Cab Franc was sourced from a high elevation Mount Veeder estate vineyard.  Darioush produces very little of this wine. This stunning example of the varietal follows up the excellent 2012. This Cab Franc begins with aromas of red bell pepper, anise, eucalyptus and dill. There are deep flavors of creme de cassis, mocha, anise, red bell pepper and black olive. This masculine style Cab Franc is a layered and polished effort that will be exceedingly long lived. The wine is pretty tannic at this point, so try to give this slumbering monster at least another year. Drink 2017-2040- 95

10) 2012 Domaine Serene 'Recolte Grand Cru' Chardonnay ($125.00)-This wine begins with aromatics of brioche, hazelnut, Gala apple and suggestions of allspice. This leads to flavors of poached pear, with a huge finish and lingers for more than 40 seconds. The weight and viscosity is there. There is a hugely impressive effort to this true heavyhitter of a Chardonnay. This is gorgeous right now but will continue to build lovely secondary characteristics as this gracefully evolves in the bottle. Drink 2017-2028- 95

11) 2014 Big Table Farm ‘Pelos Sandberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir ($48.00)- The 2014 'Pelos Sandberg Vineyard' Pinot Noir is a stunner from Big Table Farm. This wine begins with intense aromas of barnyard, Shitake mushroom, Umami, white pepper and boysenberry. There are flavors of blood orange, forest floor, black truffle and black cherry. There is tremendous range and balance to this superlative bottling. Drink 2016-2030- 94

12) 2013 La Rata Red Wine ($65.00)- This absolutely incredible bottling follows up the amazing ’12 La Rata Red Wine. The wine is made by Elizabeth Bourcier, Cayuse’s assistant vigneronne, who was first inspired by Clos Erasmus wines and wanted to combine Armada Vineyard Grenache with En Cerise Vineyard Cabernet. The resultant 60% Grenache and 40% Cabernet red blend is a stunner. As the wine slowly develops in the glass, it begins to release dense aromatics of wet stone, red cherry, smoke with red raspberry with rose petal accents. The aromatics are intense and bring you back to the glass for more. There are ripe aromas of cherry cola, wet stone, red raspberry, orange rind and lavender. The wine possesses a gorgeous minerality and balance. The novelty of this wine is apparent as there is really nothing like this in Washington. The texture is voluptuous as this it is impossible to resist this intense wine.  Drink 2016-2028- 95

13) 2013 W.T. Vintners 'Stoney Vine Vineyard' Red Blend ($35.00)- The 2013 Stoney Vine Vineyard' Red Blend is a stunner from W.T. Cellars and head winemaker Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen. The wine is a blend of 53% Grenache, 37% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and shows the best of the Walla Walla Rocks region. This wine opens with aromas of prune, red cherry, and wet gravel with some smoky accents. There are flavors of red raspberry, crushed wet gravel, blood orange rind and black cherry with suggestions of smoked meats and black olive. This is a silky and textured wine that is impossible to resist right now. The softness of the Grenache shows through. At this price, the wine is an absolute steal. In fact, I have never seen a wine of this quality and price from the Walla Walla Rocks region. This impressive bottling has the structure to cellar for another decade. Drink 2016-2026- 94

14) 2013 Brittan Vineyards 'Gestalt Block' Pinot Noir ($55.00)-This deep colored Pinot has aromas of crushed wet rock, loganberry preserves, black truffle and first floor. There are flavors of wild blackberry, cran-pomegranate, slate, blueberry compote and guava purée as red and dark fruits mingle beautifully. The structure is profound. This is novel and an absolute heavyhitter, up there with the best in Oregon. Drink 2016-2030- 95

15) 2013 Kongsgaard Chardonnay ($100.00)- The 2013 Napa Valley Chardonnay is a striking beauty from Kongsgaard. This spectacular wine opens with inviting aromatics of poached pear, crème brûlée, golden delicious apple and toasted hazelnuts all taking shape beautifully in the glass. On the palate, this leads to rich flavors of poached pear, marzipan, Meyer lemon oil and Gala apple, with suggestions of Shiitake mushroom. This has that dazzling intensity that you can almost feel in the glass leading up to the finish, continues to pull you back in with its seductive flavors. Overall, this is a memorable drinking experience and certainly a one of a kind effort from John Kongsgaard. Drink 2016-2028- 95

16) 2013 Leonetti Cellar ‘Reserve’ Red Wine ($150.00)- The 2013 Leonetti 'Reserve' Red Wine is the most exceptional bottling out of the new impressive Leonetti lineup. The wine is a blend of 81% Cabernet with 11% Petit Verdot and 8% Merlot that sat 22 months in new and French oak prior to bottling. The wine has a massive, deep core and possesses some absolutely intoxicating aromatics. This incredible wine begins with aromas of creme de cassis, anise, dark chocolate and black cherry with black olive. There are deep flavors of black cherry, black olive, black tea, mocha and blueberry pie. The mouthfeel and texture of this gorgeous wine is absolutely exceptional. Moderately tannic at this time, try to give this impossible to resist wine at least two more years in the bottle to fully develop. Kudos to head winemaker Chris Figgins in crafting this scintillating new release wine. Drink 2018-2037- 97

17) 2013 Long Shadows 'Feather' Cabernet Sauvignon ($75.00) - Randy Dunn crafts this 100% Cabernet wine. This is his best effort in 10 years of trying this wine. The Cabernet begins with aromas of red bell pepper, red raspberry and red cherry. There is absolutely amazing richness and depth with mouthwatering acidity which leads to layered flavors of anise, creme de cassis, red bell pepper and a long and persistent finish. This Cab is absolutely decadent and needs a lot of aeration at the moment. Give this one at least another year before enjoying. Drink 2017-2035- 96

18) 2013 Charles Smith ‘Royal City’ Syrah ($100.00)- The 2013 'Royal City' Syrah by Charles Smith is the best wine that I have sampled from this estate. This absolutely awesome Syrah opens with hedonistic aromas of bacon fat, forest floor, Umami, cherry cough syrup and thyme with sagebrush accents. There are bold and intense flavors of black cherry, black olive, smoked pork shoulder, green olive, Marcona almond and Unami. The range of flavor and aromatic profiles is wonderful. The texture and silky mouthfeel of this wine is absolutely outstanding as this glides through the mid-palate. While this wine is not from The Rocks District, it showcases a novel wet stone presence. Drink 2016-2030- 96

19) 2013 Quilceda Creek 'Galitzine Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon ($100.00)- This 100% Cabernet wine was primarily sourced from their estate vineyard on Red Mountain, with only 5% coming from the Wallula Vineyard. The Cabernet was aged for 20 months in new French oak prior to bottling in June 2015. Initially aromatically reticent and needing a two plus hour decant, the wine slowly develops with air. After considerable time in the decanter to unwind, the wine unleashes exceedingly dense aromatics of creme de cassis, anise, coffee grounds, red bell pepper, and red cherry. This leads to mouth-watering flavors of red cherry, red bell pepper, creme de cassis and anise with suggestions of mocha and crème de cassis. Somewhat mirroring the Columbia Valley bottling, the texture, fruit weight and intensity of this wine is absolutely superlative. I see this as showcasing a slightly more masculine fruit and aromatic profile than their 2013 Columbia Valley bottling. This wine represents an absolutely gorgeous effort that stands neck and neck with their Columbia Valley bottling and is up there with the best Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet that I've ever sampled in the past ten years. Cellar this impressive bottling for at least two more years. Drink 2018-2040- 97

20) 2013 Gramercy Cellars 'John Lewis Reserve' Syrah ($85.00)- This wine opens with aromatics reminiscent of white pepper, anise, wild blackberry and green bell pepper. There are flavors of creosote, blackberry pie, black olive, pipe tobacco, spice cake and sandalwood and wet gravel that mingle with brisk minerality. The smoothness mid-palate and structure are absolutely gorgeous. Seamless and precise, this 'wow factor' Syrah is one for the cellar. Try to hold off drinking this beauty for one more year. Drink 2017-2028- 95

21) 2013 Rasa ‘Primus Inter Pares Monettes Vineyard’ Grenache ($55.00)- Fermented in second use puncheons, the wine begins with aromas of rose petals, anise, red cherry and red raspberry and wet rock with suggestions of lavender and provencale herbs. This leads to ripe flavors of gravel, red raspberry, red cherry and nice viscosity with a long finish. This is impossible to resist and is up there with the best Grenache in the state. Polished and absolutely delicious. Drink 2016-2028- 95

22) 2014 Illumination Sauvignon Blanc ($50.00)- The 2014 Illumination Sauvignon Blanc impresses from Quintessa and is one of most memorable Napa Sav Blancs that I have sampled in the past year. The wine is a blend of 52% Sauvignon Blanc Musqué, 32% Sauvignon Blanc, and 16% Semillon that was released nearly a year ago. Today this wine is absolutely gorgeously rounded out, The wine begins with aromatics reminiscent of lemongrass, Meyer lemon, Bartlett pear, white peach and Pazzaz apple. There are dense flavors of Granny Smith apple, starfruit, Meyer lemon oil, peach pit and macadamia nut. Perfect for a warm summer day, the wine is balanced, intense and out of this world delicious right now. This is up there with the best in North America. Drink 2016-2026- 95

23) 2014 DeLille Chaleur Estate Blanc ($38.00)- Year after year DeLille crafts one of the best, if not the best, Bordeaux style White out of Washingon State. Composed of 75% Sav Blanc and 25% Semillon. The wine was aged in oak, 70% new for 5-6 months. Beautiful nose of starfruit, lemon rind and baked apple. Rich mouthfeel with vanilla, pear, red delicious apple, starfruit and a 30 second long finish. This is very bit outstanding and up there with the 2008 Chaleur Estate Blanc as the best Chaleur Estate Blancs I’ve ever tried. Drink 2015-2022. -95

24) 2013 Cayuse 'Impulsivo' Tempranillo ($75.00)- One of my favorite wines of this tasting at Cayuse was the gorgeous 2013 'Impulsivo' Tempranillo which is the best of its kind in Washington. The 2013' Impulsivo' is made from Tempranillo that is sourced from the En Chamberlin Vineyard. The wine begins intense with aromas of wet stone, blackberry cobbler, Umami, and red raspberry with forest floor. There are vibrant flavors of blackberry, smoked meats, Umami and crushed gravel with green olive and a saline streak. This has incredible minerality and balance. I can see this heavyhitter of a wine pairing exceptionally well with a range of foods. Drink 2016-2028- 95

25) 2013 Alpha Omega ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay ($95.00)- Alpha Omega have crafted an absolute heavyhitter of a wine here. Even more impressive than their regular Chardonnay bottling, the ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay wine starts with aromatics of roasted hazelnuts, unripe pear, pineapple, and creme brûlée. There are dense flavors of peach pit, mango, golden delicious apple and poached pear. Gorgeous wine here that lingers on the tongue and shows a Chablis like minerality. Balanced, expressive and intense Chardonnay that is best served a little warmer than average, for the full range of fruit to show through. Drink 2016-2026- 95

 26) 2014 Robert Biale 'Varozza Vineyard' Zinfandel ($50.00)- The Varozza family has been farming on this site since 1913. This seamless wine opens with aromatics of black plum, black cherry, prune and blackberry cobbler. There are plush flavors of black cherry, cola, prune, boysenberry preserves, blueberry compote and hints of dark chocolate shavings. The smoothness and silky texture of this wine makes this wine a true heavyhitter. There is almost a Bordelaise character to this exceptional wine. Drink 2016-2027- 95

27) 2012 Epoch 'Authenticity' Red Wine ($65.00)- This gorgeous wine is a blend of 71% Syrah, 28% Mouvedre and 1% Viognier. The wine opens with generous aromatics of star jasmine, anise, creme de cassis, and Turkish coffee. There are dense flavors of milk chocolate, creme de cassis, roasted figs, and tar. The wine has a seamless quality despite its fruit weight which is profound. The texture is absolutely gorgeous and bordering ethereal. Drink 2016-2030- 96

28) 2013 Figgins Red Wine ($85.00)- The 2013 Figgins Estate Red Wine is a proprietary blend that tastes like it has slightly more Cabernet blended in than the other varietals (Petit Verdot and Merlot). Head winemaker Chris Figgins chooses the blending based on what varietal he enjoys the most each year. Sourced from the Figgins Estate vineyard, which is a high elevation vineyard set at 1700 feet, the wine has beautiful aromatics of green olive, dried sage and black cherry with black olive. There are rich and intoxicating flavors of black cherry, creme de cassis, anise, blueberry compote and coffee grounds. The rich and polished mouthfeel is just exceptional. The wine has a bright minerality and a texture that borders ethereal. This to me represents the best Figgins Estate Red Wine that I have sampled. The fruit weight and acidity suggests this will be a very long ager. Drink 2016-2033- 95

29) 2013 Bunnell Family Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon ($28.00)- This delicious and open style Cabernet begins with intense aromas of creme de cassis, anise and blackberry compote. This leads to dense flavors of black olive, black cherry, cassis and blueberry compote. This is absolutely stunning, rich and balanced Cab that will cellar beautifully into the next decade. Drink 2016-2026- 93

30) 2013 Beringer ‘Private Reserve’ Chardonnay ($35.00)- The wine saw 80% new French oak and like many vintages, has a very strong oak influence. This wine begins with aromas of nutmeg, wild mushroom, roasted pineapple, golden delicious apple and whipping cream. The wine has flavors of vanilla cream, poached pear, Pink Lady apple, and heavy whipping cream. there is a seamless quality to this wine. Gorgeous intensity and fruit weight. This is up there with the 2004 and 2007 Private Reserve bottlings and is one of the best I've sampled. With the fruit weight, this has the stuffing to cellar marvelously. Drink 2016-2026- 94

31) 2013 MacRostie 'Wildcat Vineyard' Chardonnay ($40.00)- The high elevation Chardonnay wine opens with aromas of brioche, Shitake mushroom, orange blossom and lemon oil. There are flavors of Gala apple, Bartlett pear, nutmeg and toasted hazelnuts with lemon accents. This expressive wine has with a long and lingering finish. This shows undid or complexity. Drink 2016-2024- 93

32) 2014 Tablas Creek 'Cotes de Tablas' Red Wine ($35.00)- This wine is blended with 44% Grenache, 36% Syrah, 12% Counioise and 8% Mourvèdre. The wine has seductive aromas of rose petals, smoked meats, cassis, and black cherry. There are flavors of black olive, wild blackberry, creme de cassis, ginger, Mandarin orange rind, white pepper and smoked pork shoulder with hints of black truffle oil. Incredible range of flavors and aromatics at play, with a bright minerality. The mouthfeel and texture are outstanding, leading to a long finish. An excellent value at this price point. Drink 2016-2026- 93

33) 2014 Rombauer Vineyards ‘Carneros’ Chardonnay ($36.00)- The 2014 Rombauer 'Carneros' Chardonnay is an excellent new release effort from this estate. This Chardonnay was sourced from Carneros vineyards owned by the Rombauer family and other growers including the Sangiacomo family. The wine was aged 9 months in French and American Oak (33% new) prior to bottling. This wine opens with bright aromas of poached pear, creme brûlée and ripe pineapple. This leads to flavors of Pazzaz apple, Meyer lemon zest with a rich cream finish. Superlative bottling here with a bright minerality. Drink 2016-2022- 93

34) 2012 Rasa ‘Fianchetto’ Red Wine ($95.00)- This is an XL Vineyard Bordeaux blend of Cabernet, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The wine begins stub aromas of mocha, black cherry and anise. This leads to flavors of blackberry jam, coffee grounds, creme de cassis, anise and done in the hugely modern style. The texture of this wine is ethereal. This is intense Cabernet, showing moderate to heavy tannins at this point that settle after three hours of decanting. The purity of fruit is exceptional here. Drink 2018-2031- 96

35) 2010 Chandler Reach ‘Monte Regalo’ Red Wine ($20.00)- Aged 22 months in oak before bottling, the wine is a blend of 68% Cabernet with 20% Cabernet Franc and 12% Merlot. This outstanding wine begins with lovely black fruit aromatics of blackberry preserves, black olive and tar. There are flavors of blackberry, black cherry, black olive tapenade and mocha. Nice structure and fruit flavors to this very solid wine. Drink 2016-2022- 92

36) 2013 Avennia 'Arnaut' Syrah ($50.00) - This amazing Syrah was aged 16 months in 15% new French oak prior to bottling. The wine begins with aromas of white pepper, smoked pork shoulder, wild blackberry and mocha. There are flavors of blackberry pie, mocha, and black cherry with suggestions of roasted dates. Massive, masculine and tannic right now, this will age gracefully for at least another decade. This is every bit as good as the absolutely exceptional 2012. Give this at least an hour decant before enjoying. Drink 2017-2028- 95

37) 2012 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Malbec ($75.00)- The 2012 Col Solare 'Component Collection' Malbec is an absolute stunner from this estate. This impressive release wine begins with aromas reminiscent of red bell pepper, sage, dill and red currant alongside mocha. There are deep flavors of black cherry, black olive, mocha and sagebrush. The texture of this wine is top shelf. This is a polished and dense effort from this estate and showcases this impressive vintage. I have not sampled a better Washington Malbec in the past year.  Drink 2016-2025- 94

38) 2012 Beringer ‘Private Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon ($165.00)-This impressive wine starts with aromas of anise, wild blackberry preserves, creme de cassis, and Turkish coffee. There are rich  flavors reminiscent of dill, red bell pepper, anise, creme de cassis and mocha. Lovely depth and intensity to this wine that shows both viscosity and balance. The texture and fruit weight is impeccable. Try to resist this heavyhitter for at least another year. Drink 2017-2040-95

39) 2012 EFESTE ‘Final Final’ Red Wine ($30.00)- This is a lovely blend of Cabernet and Syrah. It begins with rich red cherry, dill and raspberry aromatics. There are deep flavors of red cherry, raspberry, Turkish coffee and lavender. This is wonderfully rich and viscous. Good value wine here. Drink 2016-2022- 92

40) 2014 Orin Swift 'Machete' Red Wine ($35.00)- The 'Machete' by Orin Swift was first produced in 2009. This wine is a compelling blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache, this inky hued wine was aged 10 months in French oak (40% new) prior to bottling. Weighing in at a whopping 15.7% alcohol and needing more than an hour to express itself, as it is aromatically reticent at first, the wine gradually yields deep aromas reminiscent of rose petals, tar, pipe tobacco, coffee grounds and blueberry compote. There are rich flavors of black plum, creosote, black olive, and spicebox. This wine is pretty Tannic and intense right now with lovely viscosity and mouthfeel. Despite the highly alcohol content, there is a seamless quality to this impressive release. This dense treat needs another year to fully integrate. It represents another stellar Machete bottling by Orin Swift, following up the highly impressive 2013 bottling. Drink 2017-2025- 93

41) 2013 Long Shadows 'Pedestal' Red Wine ($75.00)- Michel Rolland, Pomerol vintner and consultant to many of the world's top wineries,produces this fantastic Merlot wine. Comprised of 75% Merlot with the remainder Malbec and Petite Verdot, this is the smallest portion of Merlot ever used for the wine. The Merlot has aromas of black cherry, black olive and anise. There are rich and dense flavors of Turkish coffee, anise, black cherry and graphite. Absolutely intense and outstanding effort, with an herbaceous character. These guys are absolutely on top of their game, as this is one to sip and savor. . . in at least a year. Drink 2017-2030- 95

42) 2012 Domaine Serene 'Monogram' Pinot Noir ($275.00)- This absolute heavyhitter of a wine utilizes 75% new oak (aged for 17 months) and is chosen from the winemaker Erik Kramer's finest Pinot Noir barrels. The wine opens with intense aromatics of red cherry, herbs de Provence, red raspberry, black truffle and black pepper. The gorgeous aromatics continue to bring you back to the glass. As the wine slowly evolves in the glass this leads to dense flavors of red cherry, red raspberry, cran-pomegranate and crimini mushroom compote. The Pinot Noir has a minute-long finish. The texture and mouthfeel of this wine borders ethereal. There is a seamless quality to this wine that showcases the fruit and balance of the 2012 vintage. Hats off to Kramer and his winemaking team for creating this incredible new release wine that is the finest that I have sampled from this amazing vintage. Drink 2016-2033- 96

43) 2013 Alpha Omega ‘Beckstoffer Georges III’ Cabernet ($130.00)- This impressive Cabernet wine begins with rich aromatics of blackberry jam, coffee grounds, creme de cassis and anise with eucalyptus. There are layered flavors of creme de cassis, dark chocolate, anise, Turkish coffee and black olive. This Cab shows absolutely gorgeous range, depth and intensify here. The plush mouthfeel shows through. This is impossible to resist right now but will prove to be even better in another year. Drink 2017-2040- 95

44) 2014 Force Majeure ‘Epinette’ Red Wine ($N/A) (Release August 2017). Force Majeure head winemaker Todd Alexander sought to make a right bank Bordeaux style wine from his estate fruit on Red Mountain and has absolutely nailed this 2014 effort which will be released in roughly one year. This impressive wine is a blend of 58% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet and 5% Petit Verdot which was aged 22 months in 80% new French oak. While still in its nascent phase and somewhat aromatically reticent at first, this excellent wine begins with aromatics of creme de cassis, anise, sagebrush, wild blackberry cobbler, sandalwood and mocha. There are deep flavors of anise, creme de cassis, green olive, mocha that sit alongside moderate to major tannins. This has a gorgeous texture and marvelous fruit weight. After two plus hours of decanting this wine comes more alive and massive displaying a deeper, more muscular concentration with incredible viscosity. The range of flavors and aromatics are there, with the dense fruit weight that makes this wine a beautiful comparison to a top right bank Bordeaux. Kudos to Todd Alexander for crafting this excellent Merlot dominant wine, as he has captured the art of blending with this 'Epinette' release. Drink 2017-2030- 95

45) 2012 Los Padres Grenache ($20.00)- This wine also utilizes Central Coast fruit. This has pretty aromas of rose petals, smoked meats and red cherry. It is hard to imagine this level of aromatics in this price point. There are flavors of raspberry, lavender, sagebrush and red cherry. This has a wonderful minerality and is expressive and lithe. Drink 2015-2022- 92

 46) 2013 St. Innocent 'Shea Vineyard' Pinot Noir ($50.00)- This wine begins with aromas of raspberry, black truffle, forest floor and red cherry. This leads to flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, red currant, pomegranate with silly tannins and a velvety mouthfeel. Delicious, with a ton of depth. Drink 2016-2026- 93

47) 2013 Chateau St. Michelle 'Indian Wells' Merlot ($15.00)- This awesome value Merlot has 15% Syrah blended in and starts with aromatics of smoke, blueberry compote, blackberry and coffee grounds. This wine yields flavors of mocha, black olive and wild blackberry. The texture and viscosity of this wine is there. Just a gorgeous value new release wine by Chateau St. Michelle. Drink 2016-2024- 92

48) 2012 Den Hoed 'Marie's View' Red Wine ($80.00)- This wine has a lovely herbaceous nose of red bell pepper, sage, and oak with blackberry accents. Flavors of blackberry, blueberry compote, anise and creme de cassis persist. Absolutely rich and viscous wine that is impossible to resist right now. Drink 2016-2030- 94

49) 2013 DeLille 'Four Flags' Cabernet ($67.00)- The 2013 DeLille Cellars 'Four Flags' Cabernet follows up the highly impressive 2012 bottling. This wine begins with intense aromatics of black tea, Asian spices, dark chocolate and Turkish coffee grounds. The wine has rich flavors of mocha, blackberry cobbler, anise and creme de cassis with suggestions of black olive and creosote. This is memorable wine that will have a long life. Drink 2016-2030- 95

50) 2013 Red Car ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay ($55.00)- Red Car is one of the few wineries that can receive fruit from this outstanding vineyard. The new ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ is an excellent effort from this state. The wine starts with aromatics reminiscent of nutmeg, cloves, Pink Lady apple and hints of mushroom. There are flavors of Meyer lemon oil, Bartlett pear, vanilla cream and pineapple. This possesses some absolutely lovely intensity and viscosity. Drink 2016-2023-93

51) 2013 Woodward Canyon 'Artist Series' Cabernet ($55.00)- It is always hard following up a classic wine. This 2013 follows up the absolutely exceptional 2012. This hotter vintage red is nearly as good. Woodward sourced this wine from the Champoux, Sagemoor, Woodward Canyon Estate, Charbonneau, Discovery, Spring Creek and Summit View vineyards. It is comprised of 87% Cabernet with 11% Petite Verdot and 2% Cab Franc. The wine develops in the glass with aromas of red currant, graphite, sage and blackberry on the nose. Hints of milk chocolate in there as well. There are flavors of blackberry, anise, blueberry puree, oak and creme de cassis. Lovely and rich bottling that needs some time in the bottle to develop. The structure to this wine is impressive.  Drink 2017-2030- 93

52) 2012 Robert Mondavi ‘Reserve’ Fume Blanc ($60.00)- Having 5% Semillon blended in the Sav Blanc, this impressive wine starts with aromatics of cut grass, Jalapeño, cedar and macadamia nut. There are dense flavors of Bartlett pear, nutmeg, and Gala apple. Lovely weight and texture that is one of a kind. Drink 2016-2024- 93

53) 2014 Waitsburg Cellars 'Chevray' Chenin Blanc ($18.00)- This impressive Chenin has aromas of unripe pear, cantaloupe, red delicious apple. Flavors of poached pear, starfruit, and Meyer lemon zest, persist alongside incredible structure and minerality. This has a real personality. Drink 2016-2025- 92

54) 2013 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet ($90.00)- This gorgeous wine starts with aromatics of mocha, sage, anise and mocha. This is currently highly tannic and intense this will need time to unwind. The wine has deep flavors of blackberry cobbler, mocha, anise and creme de cassis with suggestions of pipe tobacco. This is gorgeous and layered wine that need a ton of time in the cellar for the tannins to settle and the fruit to fully integrate. Give this slumbering monster at least two more years. Drink 2018-2040- 94

55) 2013 Andrew Januik 'Lady Hawk' Cabernet ($40.00) - This is primarily Lady Hawk Vineyard fruit with some Alder Ridge Vineyard fruit blended in. The wine stars with aromas of mocha, blackberry preserves, creosote and sagebrush. There are flavors of blackberry pie, mocha, sandalwood, black olive and green bell pepper. Lovely mouthfeel and fruit weight to this intense but balanced Cabernet. Try to wait another year before enjoying.  Drink 2017-2029- 93

56) 2012 Ridge ‘Mill’ Zinfandel ($40.00)- This excellent Zin has 25% Petite Sirah blended in. The wine has lovely weight and texture, as the wine glides through the mid-palate with flavors of red cherry, sagebrush, wild blackberry and black plum. Like the other Ridge Zins the structure of this wine is stunning. There is some wonderful aging potential with this expressive Zinfandel. Drink 2016-2025- 94

57) 2013 Col Solare Red Wine ($75.00)- The 2013 Col Solare follows up the exceptional 2012 bottling. This wine is a blend of 88% Cabernet, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 2% Malbec. As it slowly develops in the glass and needing more than a one hour decant, the wine begins with aromas of mocha, sandalwood, blueberry compote, and suggestions of creosote. There are flavors of blackberry jam, mocha, creme de cassis, graphite, anise and Turkish coffee. The fruit weight and tannic structure on the mid-palate makes this red wine an absolute beast. Layered and polished, try to not enjoy this seamless effort for at least another two years. Drink 2019-2033- 94

58) 2015 Cote Bonneville Rose ($30.00)- Made from 100% Cab Franc. The wine opens with aromas of rose petals, cranberry sauce and red cherry with suggestions of cantaloupe. There are flavors of ripe pear, orange rind, red raspberry and a light cream finish. The mouthfeel is rich and has a velvety texture that you might not anticipate.  Lovely stuff from this estate. Drink 2016-2020- 92

59) 2014 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc ($35.00)-The wine states with aromatics reminiscent of peach pit, roasted pear and Gala apple. There are flavors of Pink Lady apple, vanilla cream and gooseberry. Gorgeous wine with lovely weight and viscosity. The texture makes this one of a kind. Drink 2016-2024- 93

60) 2013 Caymus 'Special Selection' Cabernet Sauvignon ($180.00) -The 2013 Caymus 'Special Selection' Cabernet Sauvignon is a memorable wine that shows the heat of an epic vintage for Napa Cabernet. Initially aromatically subdued, this wine needs a one hour decant to better assert itself. This intense wine starts with aromatics of mocha, tar, sagebrush, black cherry and black plum. There are exceedingly deep flavors of anise, creme de cassis, coffee grounds, creosote and blackberry cobbler. The fruit weight is exceedingly broad and the plush texture coats the mid-palate. This is a massive, masculine Cabernet that isn't for the weary. Try to give this heavyhitter of a wine at least another year for the fruit to fully amalgamate. Drink 2017-2040- 95

61) 2012 Andrew Will ‘Ciel du Cheval’ Red Wine ($80.00)- This flagship wine from this estate is one of the best that I have sampled from Andrew Will in the past 10 years. The wine has aromas of sandalwood, red cherry mocha and figs. The density coats the palate, yielding intense flavors of blackberry, anise, mocha and creme de cassis. Dense and delicious wine that will cellar beautifully. Drink 2016-2028- 94

62) 2012 Cardinale Red Wine ($150.00)- This massive wine opens with aromas of anise, creme de cassis, mocha, blueberry compote and cedar. There are gorgeous and layered flavors reminiscent of anise, Christmas spice, mocha and creme de cassis. Incredible intensity and structure with moderate tannins. Gorgeous fruit weight and poise to this memorable bottling that's surprisingly ready to drink. Just be sure to give it at least a one hour decant beforehand. Drink 2016-2040- 96

63) 2013 Sixto ‘Frenchman Hills Vineyard’ Chardonnay ($55.00)- This expressive Chardonnay bottling begins with deep aromas of butter, brioche and pear. This leads to dense flavors of starfruit, red delicious apple, and nutmeg with brioche. Lovely intensity. Drink 2016-2022- 93

64) 2013 Dunham Cabernet Franc ($50.00)- This winery only bottling is sourced from Double Canyon fruit. The Cab Franc opens with aromatics of red cherry, red raspberry, blueberry compote and hints of coffee grounds. There are dense flavors of blueberry, boysenberry and mint. Lovely depth to this fantastic bottling. The structure makes this hard to resist right now. Kudos to the Dunham winemaking team on this one. Drink 2016-2026- 93

65) 2014 Willakenzie Estate ‘Triple Black Slope’ Pinot Noir ($75.00)- One of the best Oregon Pinot Noirs that I have sampled in the past year, the 2014 'Triple Black Slopes' by WillaKenzie estate is an absolute heavyhitter of a wine. Utilizing Dijon Clones 114 and 777, this perfumed Pinot Noir begins with bright aromatics of red cherry, black plum, cigar box, black truffle and boysenberry liqueur. There are intense flavors of wild blackberry pie, cigar box, cran-cherry and Asian spices. This has an incredibly dense core, and has the makings to be magical, albeit a bit tightly wound right now. There is a seamless quality to this exceptional dark and brooding Oregon Pinot which is currently displaying an irresistible plush mouthfeel. Sampled the next day, the wine was more open and rounded out. Try to wait on this gorgeous bottling for at least another year. Drink 2017-2028- 95

66) 2013 Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon ($75.00)- The 2013 Passing Time Cabernet is a stunner from highly talented head winemaker Chris Peterson. The wine is an amalgamation of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon (mainly from Discovery Vineyard) and 3% Cabernet Franc. The 80% new French oak component is well-integrated and contributes to a silky mouthfeel. This impressive Cabernet begins with aromatics of anise, pipe tobacco, and creme de cassis with suggestions of black cherry. This leads to flavors of anise, blueberry and creme de cassis with mocha. The eye-catching texture created by Peterson has his signature on the wine. Despite the heat of the vintage, there is a Bordealaise feel to this plush wine. While this warm vintage wine this is drinking beautifully right now, I think this will cellar gracefully into the next decade. - Drink 2016-2028- 94

67) 2014 Cougar Crest Viognier ($18.00)- The Viognier is one of their best bottling each year and this vintage is no exception. This lovely expression begins with bright aromas of beeswax, lychee and ripe pear. This leads to flavors of Gala apple, starfruit and roasted peaches. Absolutely delicious wine. Drink 2016-2022- 91

68) 2014 Sleight of Hand Cellars 'The Psychedelic' Stony Vine Vineyard Syrah ($60.00)- The 2014 'Psychedelic' starts with aromas of smoked pork shoulder, tar, sage, blood orange and hints of Umami. There are deep flavors of Mandarin orange, Umami, black truffle and seaweed with red cherry accents. Lithe and polished, this displays a tremendous aromatic and flavor range, and I expect it will age beautifully. Only 350 cases made of this simply delicious wine. Drink 2016-2026- 94

69) 2013 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon - ($90.00)- This wine saw 19 months in primarily new French oak before bottling and is a blend of 75% Cabernet with 10% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. Needing a significant three plus hours decant, this ultra-dark hued, decadent Cabernet begins with dense aromas of cassis, black cherry, coffee grounds, sage, red bell pepper and hints of blueberry pie. There are intense flavors of creme de cassis, mocha, Black Forest cake, and a graphite edge. If enjoying young, be sure to give this monster of a wine a considerable decant and aeration. The minerality of this gorgeous wine shines through. Drink 2018-2035- 95

70) 2011 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Celilo Vineyard’ Chardonnay ($32.00)-  The 2011 'Celilo Vineyard' Chardonnay is an exceptional effort by Ken Wright that is a rather late release wine from this estate. Sourced from this esteemed 1000 ft. elevation site in the Columbia Gorge region, the Celilo Vineyard is a very cool site for Chardonnay which was first planted in 1983. This wine opens with aromas of roasted hazelnuts, buttered popcorn, and brioche toast. This leads to flavors of Gala apple, vanilla cream, poached pear and nutmeg. This has marvelous texture, minerality and a seamless quality to this exceedingly cool vintage wine. This wine delivers some serious value at this price point. Drink 2016-2024- 93

71) 2014 Beaux Freres 'The Beaux Freres Vineyard Cuvée '59' Pinot Noir ($120.00)- This special wine is sourced from the two oldest blocks in the vineyard. The Pinot Noir begins with exotic aromatics of guava puree, pomegranate, Shitake mushroom and blood orange. This wine has flavors reminiscent of rose petals, guava, marionberry jam and strawberry pie. This wine has an absolutely outstanding finish to this feminine style bottling. Drink 2016-2030- 95

72) 2013 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon ($100.00)- The Cabernet is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. They chose to source from a host of Walla Walla vineyards including McQueen, Bob Healy, LeFore, Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Waliser. Winemaker Josh McDaniels aged this in 75% new French oak and 25% second fill French oak barrels for 22 months. This decadent bottling has dense aromas of red currant, sandalwood, blackberry compote, mocha and roasted figs. This leads to rich flavors of graphite, dill, blackberry cobbler, anise and spicebox with moderate tannins. This really needs another two plus years of bottle age. A slumbering giant right now. Drink 2018-2035- 95

73) 2013 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($80.00)- This limited release Cabernet is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot that saw 100% new French Oak (Taransaud & Orion). This expressive bottling begins with intense aromas of red bell pepper, anise, red cherry and spicebox with dill accents. Lovely aromatics. Flavors of red cherry, red raspberry, mocha, blackberry and anise persist. The mouthfeel is smooth and mineral driven. Incredible complexity here from this uber-talented winemaker. Give this thing a serious decant, at least one hour, before enjoying. Drink 2016-2030- 94

74) 2012 BV 'Georges de Latour' Cabernet Sauvignon ($120.00)- BV has made this wine for decades and this is up there with the best bottlings that I have had since the ’96. This impressive wine opens with a lovely range of aromas including red currant, dill, red bell pepper, wild blackberry and anise. There are rich flavors of blackberry cobbler, coffee grounds, creme de cassis and anise. Incredible complexity and texture to this gorgeous Cabernet that has some medium tannins. Up there with the best in the valley. If enjoying now, be sure to give this a two hour decant. Drink 2016-2035- 94

75) 2013 Result of A Crush Red Wine ($20.00)- This wine is every bit outstanding as its '12 younger brother. This also captures some lovely Walla Walla rocks characteristics with a stony fruit profile. The wine begins with aromas of creosote, tar, sagebrush, red cherry, and wet rocks with blackberry. There are dense flavors of black olive, minerals and smoked meats and black cherry that persist. This displays a slightly darker fruit profile than the '12. A great value out of the Walla Walla rocks. Drink 2016-2026 -92

76) 2014 Argyle 'Nuthouse' Pinot Noir ($55.00) - This esteemed bottling that follows up the excellent 2013 'Nuthouse' was sourced from the Spirit Hill Vineyard (65%) as well as from the Lone Star Vineyard (35%). The wine opens with rich aromatics of black truffle, black cherry, red raspberry, dried mint and suggestions of spicebox. The palate is plush, showcasing this warm vintage. Not needing a decant, you can taste red raspberry, black cherry, black olive, forest floor, black truffle and boysenberry preserves with a marvelous saline component. While this will cellar well into the next decade, why wait? This is decadent right now. Drink 2016-2026- 93

77) 2014 Charles and Charles Cabernet/Syrah ($10.00)- This Cab/Syrah blend is a collaboration of Charles Bieler and Charles Smith.  Their goal was to employ the techniques of a small production wine and produce it on a large scale.  In a lot of ways, they hit the mark.  The full bodied deep purple wine has a nose of blackberry with a hint of blueberry and licorice from the whole cluster Syrah.  The fruit seamlessly continues through the palate, and the lower 13.5% alcohol, along with firm but smooth tannins allow this wine to finish as well as it begins. It would pair well with heavy pasta, and while meant to be consumed now, it would be interesting to see how the wine evolves over the next 3-5 years. Drink 2016-2023- 90 (S.L.)

78) 2014 Banshee ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay ($20.00)- This wine was 90% barrel fermented for 11 months (40% new) and was sourced from the Heintz vineyard as well as the Bohemian vineyard in Green Valley. This wine begins with Aromas of orange blossoms, ripe Bartlett pear and Gala apple with nutmeg accents. There are flavors of golden delicious apple, starfruit, Bartlett pear and creme brûlée. There is a slight saline streak alongside a long finish. Nice viscosity here. Drink 2016-2023- 91

79) 2012 Foxen ‘Solomon Hills Vineyard’ Pinot Noir ($58.00)- This vineyard was planted in 1997 and is on the far west side of the AVA that is a north to south facing hills. This has aromas of nutmeg, black cherry and raspberry. There are flavors of red cherry, pomegranate and wonderful acidity. This has good balance and richness. Drink 2015-2025- 93

80) 2012 Lauren Ashton ‘Proprietor's Cuvee’ Red Wine ($50.00)- This wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet, 19% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc, 3% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. The blend opens with bright aromas of smoke, red cherry, blackberry and with sage and mocha. There are rich flavors of mocha, red cherry, red raspberry, green bell pepper and anise. This is a delicious and layered effort that truly captures the art of blending. Drink 2016-2026- 94

81) 2014 Rotie Cellars ‘Northern Blend’ Red Wine ($40.00)- A traditional Cote Rotie style wine, this has 5% Viognier blended into the Syrah. Needing a one hour decant to fully display itself, as the wine settles in the glass it starts to bring smoky aromas of creosote, provencale herbs, smoked brisket, and suggestions of cayenne dark chocolate. The inky colored Syrah wine has flavors reminiscent of blueberry puree, bacon fat, wild blackberry jam, milk chocolate and sagebrush. There is a lot to love here. This is plush, round and impossible to resist right now. Drink 2016-2025- 93

82) 2014 Archery Summit 'Arcus Estate' Pinot Noir ($150.00) - Having a deep core, the wine starts with perfumed aromatics of black cherry, black raspberry, black truffle, white pepper and black plum. There are flavors reminiscent of black cherry, black truffle oil and black raspberry. The weight and balance of this wine is simply gorgeous. Try to avoid drinking this exceptional Pinot for another two years. Drink 2018-2033- 95

83) 2013 Amavi ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah ($33.00) - The Syrah was sourced from 54% Les Collines, 26% Stone Valley, 11% Seven Hills, 7% Pepper Bridge, and 2% Summit View vineyards. This wine begins of smoked meats, blackberry pie, mocha and a graphite edge. This leads to rich flavors of blackberry preserves, loganberry, coffee grounds with nice intensity. Good balance and fruit weight to this excellent value Syrah. This is drinking beautifully straight out of the bottle. Drink 2016-2025- 92

84) 2012 Robert Mondavi ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon ($155.00)- This impressive bottling starts with rich aromatics reminiscent of mocha, creme de cassis, graphite and black olive with suggestions of Black Forest cake. There are deep flavors of anise, spicebox, creme de cassis, mocha and pipe tobacco. This is a profound wine that is up there with the best of Napa Valley. It is impossible to resist right now. Drink 2016-2035- 95

85) 2013 Artesa ‘Estate Reserve’ Chardonnay ($35.00)- The 2013 Artesa 'Estate Reserve' follows up the excellent 2012 bottling. Sourced from 20 year old vines from their Carneros Estate Vineyard, the wine weighs in at 14.4% alcohol but does not display much heat on the mid-palate. The wine was aged 8 months in new French oak barrels prior to bottling. Artesa has absolutely nailed this new release Chardonnay that has seen extended bottle time. On the nose the wine starts with a rich bouquet of oak, creme brulee, bananas foster and hints of tangerine blossom. There are flavors of marzipan, roasted pineapple, brioche, orange zest and vanilla cream. Not for the weary, this is exceedingly developed, structured and layered Chardonnay with intense flavors that pack a punch.- Drink 2016-2023- 93

86) 2013 Kerloo 'Stone Tree Vineyard' Malbec ($35.00)- This Malbec is sourced from the Wahluke slope and shows the potential for this varietal in this area. The wine was aged in 75% neutral French oak so there's a small percentage of new oak. Sourced from two different blocks which were harvested a week apart, the Stonetree vineyard sits on a 250 acre property in Mattawa, Washington. There are aromatics of milk chocolate, dill, blueberry and blackberry. This leads to flavors of blueberry, anise, blackberry and mocha. This is a dense and delicious effort by head winemaker Ryan Crane that is hard to resist right now. Drink 2016-2025- 92

87) 2013 Goldeneye 'Ten Degrees' Pinot Noir ($120.00)-This complex bottling completes the strong lineup of Goldeneye Pinots. The wine involves 96 different blocks of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. The wine opens with rich aromas of strawberry, red cherry, cola, red raspberry and pomegranate. There are deep flavors of cherry pie, cran-pomegranate, guava puree, cola and nutmeg. This has gorgeous texture, rich ripe fruit flavors and nice minerality. The fruit weight, viscosity and mouthfeel contributes to this exceptional bottling.  Drink 2016-2028- 94

88) 2014 Dunham ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Riesling ($24.00)- This excellent Riesling wine was made with 1.4% residual sugar. The wine comes from Riesling vines planted in 2001 and 2002 at the Lewis Vineyard. The wine opens with aromatics of Gala apple, green papaya and hints of petroleum and starfruit. There are flavors of lemon/lime, crushed wet rock, lemon zest and white peach. This has a gorgeous range of flavors and complexity. Drink 2016-2024- 92

89) 2013 Novelty Hill ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ Chardonnay ($23.00)- This lovely Stillwater Creek Vineyard bottling starts with aromas of nutmeg, brioche, poached pear and Pazzaz apple. This leads to flavors of poached pear, cantaloupe and Gala apple with suggestions of mushroom. Gorgeous and open with a strong acid backbone. Drink 2016-2022- 92

90) 2013 Groth ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon ($130.00)- The Reserve block at Groth's estate vineyard spans 27.8 acres and is set on Yolo loam and gravel strata soil. This wine was aged in 100% French oak for 25 months prior to bottling. They have elected to blend 24% Hillside Vineyard Merlot into the Cabernet wine. Head winemaker Michael Weis has crafted a stunning Cabernet wine here as the 2013 Groth 'Reserve' bottling is every bit as good as the gorgeous 2012 'Reserve' Cabernet. This massive Cabernet opens with an aromatic profile of creosote, dark chocolate, pencil shavings, blackberry preserves and espresso bean. The stunning aromatics bring you back to the glass for more. Dense on the mid-palate, the wine has flavors reminiscent of anise, creme de cassis, black forest cake and an absolutely gorgeous texture. There is a seamless quality to this dense, fruit-driven Cabernet that still maintains a Bordelaise feel in this hot vintage. This Cabernet needs at least a three hour decant for the fruit to fully integrate, but try to hold this at least another year. Drink 2017-2035- 94

91) 2012 Alexandria Nicole 'Gravity' Merlot ($25.00)-This wine is an excellent new release from this estate and comes at an impressive price point. This wine starts with aromas of black cherry, mocha, anise and red bell pepper. There are flavors of blackberry cobbler, black cherry, black olive and a smoky edge. Drink 2016-2024- 91

92) 2013 Michael David ‘Petite Petit’ Red Wine ($12.00)- This is the follow up to the absolutely exceptional 2012 bottling which is a blend of Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. The wine begins with aromas of blueberry, blackberry cobbler and anise with mocha. There are dense flavors of blackberry, blueberry compote, mocha and pipe tobacco. This is delicious and open style wine that delivers gobs of fruit and is impossible to resist, particularly at this price point. Drink 2016-2022- 91

93) 2013 Owen Roe ‘Yakima Valley’ Red Wine ($28.00)- The 2013 'Yakima Valley' Red Wine by Owen Roe is a fantastic value new release from this estate. This great wine is a blend of 45% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged 10 months in French oak. This red wine starts with bright aromas of red cherry, sage, red bell pepper and anise. This leads to smooth flavors of red bell pepper, anise, cassis and blackberry jam. I see some really nice cellaring potential here.Drink 2016-2026- 92

94) 2014 Del Dotto Chardonnay ($85.00)- The 2014 Del Dotto Chardonnay, sourced from the Sonoma Coast, is a stunner of a wine that impresses from start to finish. This has aromas of butterscotch, poached pear, and creme brulee. There are flavors of creme brulee, vanilla, bananas foster and hints of allspice. This has an opulent texture and mouthfeel, as the intensity of this wine brings you back to the glass for more. The lingering, 45 plus second finish, is absolutely marvelous. This will have a long life in the cellar, as I can see this picking up some exciting secondary characteristics over the next decade. Drink 2016-2022- 94

95) 2015 Maryhill Chardonnay ($16.00)- The 2015 Maryhill Chardonnay is a fantastic value release from this estate. Sourced from both the Milbrandt Vineyard and the Tudor Hills Vineyard, this green hued white begins with aromas of roasted pineapple, pear, Pink Lady apple and hints of nutmeg. There are flavors of brioche, vanilla cream, Gala apple and suggestions of starfruit. Bright and balanced, with a creamy finish, this value Chardonnay is hard to resist right now. This balanced effort will cellar well in the short-term. Drink 2016-2022- 90

96) 2014 Ardor Cellars 'Stoney Vine Vineyard' Syrah ($40.00)- Located in Walla Walla and first planted in 2007, vines from the Stoney Vine Vineyard are set on an ancient alluvial fan of river tumbled basalt cobblestones formed by the Walla Walla river. The stones in this vineyard can be quite massive. The wine begins with the prototypical Walla Walla rocks nose with crushed wet rock, red cherry, red raspberry and blackberry pie aromatics. In the glass flavors of blackberry, black cherry, anise, wet stone and graphite emerge, alongside wonderful minerality. This mineral driven Syrah is absolutely fantastic and is hard to put down right now. Drink 2017-2027- 94

97) 2013 Mark Ryan ‘The Dead Horse’ Cabernet Sauvignon ($75.00)- The wine is sourced mostly from Red Mountain, with a touch of Red Willow fruit. This wine begins with aromatics of blackberry compote, creme de cassis and sage. The wine has flavors of blackberry, cassis, in this sense full bodied effort. Lovely texture and tannic structure. Drink 2016-2028- 94

98) 2014 WALT 'Bob's Ranch' Pinot Noir ($60.00)- The wine is sourced from the Russian River Valley and is the first vintage from this vineyard, in the Petuluma Wind Gap, a cool 75 acre site owned by WALT. The vineyard was planted by Paul Hobbs. The wine begins with aromatics of pipe tobacco, rose petals, red cherry, cola and hints of sage. There are bright flavors of cran-cherry, sage, mint, cola and pomegranate seed. Lithe and full-bodied, this is intense and vibrant, showing excellent structure.  Drink 2016-2028-94

99) 2013 Baer 'Arctos' Red Wine ($43.00)- The 2013 'Arctos' by Baer is a gorgeous new release wine that is a blend of 84% Cabernet with 8% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. Showing some restraint now, this Cabernet more than two hours in the decanter to unwind. This wine opens with aromatics of anise, sagebrush, dill and black olive. There are flavors of black cherry, black olive, wild blackberry preserves and tar in this very black fruit filled amalgamation. There is a gorgeous and polished texture to this wine and an almost Bordelaise feel that is striking considering the heat of the vintage. This wine is a joy to savor right now as this is beautifully done by head winemaker Erica Orr. Drink 2016-2029- 93

100) 2011 Corliss Estates Cabernet Sauvignon ($100.00)-The 2011 Corliss Estates Cabernet Sauvignon is a striking effort from this challenging vintage. This late release wine opens with aromatics of graphite, black olive, black cherry and sagebrush with hints of thyme and eucalyptus. A highly herbaceous aromatic profile, the palate has a deep core with earthy flavors of black cherry, graphite, coffee grounds, black olive, with chewy moderate tannins. The structure of this wine is gorgeous, having a great left bank Bordeaux feel. Give this wine another year in the bottle before enjoying. Drink 2017-2030- 94

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