Gran Moraine

An outstanding Oregon winery, Gran Moraine takes its name from the cataclysmic floods that occurred in the northern Willamette Valley of Oregon during the last ice age. As the flood waters receded, they sculpted the region, leaving a distinct pattern of small indentations or mini valleys (moraines)—much like the Côte ’Or in Burgundy. Gran Moraine has 220 acres are planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA which is largely marine sedimentary-based soils in the greater Willamette Valley.

Head winemaker Shane Moore heads this project. Look for the 2014 Gran Moraine Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) which is a wine of elegance, poise and wonderful range. This is definitely one who enjoy the elegant, red fruit driven style of Oregon Pinot Noir. Learn more about this great winery at http://www.granmoraine.com Here are the great new releases by Gran Moraine.

2014 Gran Moraine Chardonnay- This Yamhill-Carlton bottling opens with a bright bouquet of nutmeg, lemon meringue, vanilla cream and toasted hazelnuts. This has a rich mouthfeel, showcasing creme brulee, ripe banana and brioche with heavy whipping cream flavors. This balanced Chardonnay will cellar beautifully for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2027- 92

2014 Gran Moraine Pinot Noir- This great Yamhill-Carlton wine begins with rather intoxicating bright aromatics reminiscent of black truffle, forest floor, cigar box, red cherry and red currant. The mouthfeel is gorgeous here as the wine displays red cherry pie, red raspberry preserves, white truffle oil and suggestions of blood orange rind flavors. Hugely complex and inviting right now, this gorgeous Pinot Noir wine will drink well for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2028- 93

Melville

One of my favorite stops in Lompoc, Melville continues to impress with their outstanding new releases. The wines are simply fabulous, intense and terroir driven.Former winemaker, Greg Brewer, of Brewer-Clifton pedigree, led highly talented winemaker Chad Melville for many years. Chad is now in charge of all winemaking. I had the chance to sit down with him and talk about this transition as well as discuss his current lineup. Chad is a downright awesome guy with a huge passion for farming his 82 acre vineyards. 

The vineyards were first planted in 1996 by his father Ron Melville and his brothers. They decided to utilize 14 different clones of Pinot Noir and 4 different clones of Chardonnay, as well as Syrah and Viognier. The Melville Vineyard has reached such acclaim that nearby superstar winery, Foxen, utilizes Melville Vineyard fruit in their excellent single vineyard bottling of Pinot Noir. The 2014 Melville ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) is an outstanding value out of California which shows poise and opulent fruit. This is a wine to buy by the case. Not to be outdone, their 2015 Melville ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) is an other ridiculously good value that stands up there with the best Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County. Learn more about this outstanding producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah at http://melvillewinery.com Here are the simply awesome new wines by Melville. 

2014 Melville ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- This ‘Estate’ Chardonnay bottling is a combination of eight different clones. This wine opens with a bright bouquet of creme brulee, lemon curd, tangerine rind and butterscotch.  The texture is absolutely gorgeous, as this wine delivers ripe flavors of banana, butterscotch, Meyer lemon and suggestions of nutmeg. This is lithe and delicious wine that has a wonderful minerality. Drink 2017-2027- 93

2013 Melville ‘Verna’s’ Chardonnay- This wine was sourced from the Verna’s Vineyard, located near Los Alamos. The wine begins with a bright bouquet of nutmeg, kumquat and roasted hazelnuts with cream brulee. The palate is lithe and deep, showing flavors of vanilla cream, buttescotch, creme brûlée and white peach. This is gorgeous and is drinking beautifully at this juncture. Drink 2017-2023- 91

2016 Melville ‘Estate Clone 76’ Chardonnay- This Chardonnay was sourced from a single block in the Melville Vineyard. The wine opens with a bright bouquet of nectarine, Bosc pear and Pazzaz apple. This leads to ripe flavors of Gravenstein apple, lemon curd, and pink grapefruit as the wine shows a citrus edge. Drink 2017-2022- 90

2014 Melville ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- This awesome wine was sourced from all 16 clones of Pinot Noir from the vineyard and they utilized 40% stem inclusion. This wine begins with a bright bouquet of rose petals, red cherry and red raspberry with orange rind accents. Ripe red fruit flavors are on display with pomegranate juice, guava puree, red cherry and a hint of tangerine. This is feminine while maintaining a nice intensity and balance. The 2014 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir is one of the great values in Santa Barbara Pinot Noir. Drink 2017-2027 -93

2015 Melville ‘Terraces’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 Melville ‘Terraces’ Pinot Noir is a standout wine made by superstar winemaker Chad Melville. Sourced from five clones of Pinot Noir this wine was sourced from the west side of the vineyard. This gorgeous Pinot Noir wine begins with bright aromatics of nutmeg black cherry, black truffle and white pepper. The palate is plush and dense as the wine currently shows ripe flavors reminiscent of red cherry, red currant, guava and forest floor with Shitake mushroom. This has a wonderful combination of dark fruit and terroir. Drink 2017-2028- 93

2015 Melville ‘Sandy’s’ Pinot Noir- One of the best wines that I sampled at Melville was their 2015 ‘Sandy’s’ Pinot Noir. This gorgeous wine as sourced from the back of the property, where the Pinot Noir is grown there is fine sand. There is a highly Burgundian nose of red cherry, red raspberry, black truffle oil and crushed mint. This shows a more feminine edge, with red fruits and orange rind that connect to a wonderful saline streak. Lithe and delicious, drink this gorgeous wine within the next ten years. This has a wonderful structure considering the heat of the vintage. Drink 2017-2027- 94

2015 Melville ‘Block M’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 ‘Block M’ by Melville is a stunner. They have utilized 70% stems on this wine as grapes are sourced rom the top of the Estate vineyard. The wine begins with bright aromatics reminiscent of wild mushroom, peat moss, black cherry and black raspberry liquor. The palate is poised and rich, currently displaying ripe flavors of black tea, black cherry, mint, black cherry and a striking salinity. This is simply gorgeous wine that will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2029- 94

2015 Melville ‘Anna’s Block’ Pinot Noir- This wine comes from vines sourced in the back of the vineyard. The wine begins with aromatics of black tea, black cherry compote and wild blackberry with black truffle oil. This has an outstanding minerality as the wine shows dazzling flavors of Mandarin orange rind, black cherry, black raspberry liquor and hints of loganberry jam. This yields a nice salinity and deep fruit profile. Drink 2017-2027- 94

2015 Melville ‘Estate’ Syrah- This great wine made by superstar winemaker Chad Melville begins with bright flavors of Parma ham, black olive, black tea and coffee grounds. This leads to flavors of black cherry, black olive, mint and thyme. This has wonderful structure and dark fruit flavors. Drink 2017-2025- 92

Ambassador Wines of Washington

As we continue our journey through Washington Wine Month we bring you one of the few estate focused wineries on Red Mountain. Ambasador was started in 2004, and was named after their vineyard, Ambassador’s vision is to become the top estate producing winery on Washington state's Red Mountain. The Ambassador Vineyard is under the guidance of esteemed vineyard manager Dick Boushey, one of the state’s best. Sarah Goedhard serves as winemakerSarah has a longstanding history in the Washington wine industry as her parents started Hedges Cellars in 1986. Sarah grew up working in the vineyard and winery. She attended the University of San Diego and graduated with a degree in business and philosophy. From 2003 to 2005 she worked for Preston Vineyards in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, doing wine production work. Sarah has a degree in enology from Washington State University and together with her husband own a small Red Mountain winery, Goedhart Family. Ambassador also relies on the consulting talents of Tom Rinaldi, formerly with Provenance and Hewitt wineries in Napa.

Photo here of Sarah Goedhart, winemaker of Ambassador. 

I recently had the chance to run through the solid new lineup of Ambassador wines and was impressed what they did in the warm vintages. Look to their brand new 2016 Ambassador ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc (WWB, 91) which has wonderful poise and texture, showing off one of the best vineyards for white wine in the state, the Boushey Vineyard. In their red wine lineup I was impressed with the overall quality across the board, especially the 2014 Ambassador ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 92) which shows wonderful dark fruits and a rich texture. Learn more about these excellent wines at http://www.ambassadorwinery.com Here are the great new wines by Ambassador Wines of Washington

2016 Ambassador ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- This awesome Sauvignon Blanc is a blend of 78% Sauvignon Blanc with 22% Semillon. Toasted hazelnuts, brioche, wet rock and cut grass aromas entice. The mouthwatering acidity immediately catches your attention, as does vibrant gooseberry, Granny Smith apple and unripe pear flavors. This is an outstanding wine made by Ambassador. Crisp, complex and refreshing, this is one of the better Sauvignon Blanc wines that I have sampled in the past year out of Washington. Drink 2017-2022- 91

2015 Ambassador ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- This Sauvignon Blanc wine was co-fermented with a touch of Semillon. The wine begins with a bright bouquet of cantaloupe, brioche and lemon zest. The wine shows some excellent acidity, showing medium weight flavors of Gravenstein apple, kiwi, pink grapefruit and honeydew melon. This impresses from a challenging vintage for white wine in Washington. Drink 2017-2021-90

2014 Ambassador Grenache- Translucent in color, this wine begins with a bright bouquet of red cherry, red currant and prune. The plush mouthfeel impresses, as dark fruits collide with red fruits alongside strong minerality. The texture impresses and wonderfully coats the mid-palate. Enjoy this lovely wine over the next decade. Drink 2017-2026- 91

2014 Ambassador ‘Plentipotentiary’ Syrah- This inky colored, 100% Syrah, opens with dense aromas of smoked meats, tar, black cherry compote and black olive. The mouthfeel is lush, showing black olive tapenade, smoked brisket, and black cherry liquor flavors. The fruit weight shows off this warm vintage wine. This will cellar well into the next decade. Drink 2017-2026- 91

2014 Ambassdor Merlot- Ambassador head winemaker Sarah Goedhart has blended in 14% Petit Verdot and 9% Cabernet Franc to this Merlot. This wine shows off a deep core, leading to roasted fig, black cherry, cassis and sage aromas. The smooth mouthfeel glides through the mid-palate as the wine yields black fruit flavors alongside smoke and minerals with baking spices. Enjoy this great Merlot with a juicy burger. Drink 2017-2026- 90

2014 Ambasador ‘Envoy’ Red Wine- The 2014 Ambassador ‘Envoy’ is a silky blend of 33% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18.5% Cabernet Franc, 14% Syrah and 1.5% Petit Verdot. Highly perfumed and downright delicious aromatics of black tea, black currant, mocha and baking spices entice. The silky texture is lovely, as is the varietal balance. Black fruit flavors mingle with coffee grounds, wet earth and lively minerality. This will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2027- 91

2014 Ambassador ‘Plentipotentiary’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This wine is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Sagebrush, red cherry, red currant and coffee ground aromatics are at play. This wine has great poise and balance, as red fruits mingle with dark fruits and dried herbs. This wine would make a wonderful glass pour at a classy steakhouse. Drink 2017-2027- 91

2014 Ambassador ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2014 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with 23% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Showing off its dark core, the black fruit aromatics evolve in the glass alongside sagebrush and white pepper elements. The smoothness of the Merlot shows nicely now and balances out the intensity of the Cabernet as flavors of blackberry pie, black currant and spice box persist alongside nice minerality. Drink 2017-2028- 92

2014 Ambassador ‘Sunset Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This deep colored Cabernet opens with a bouquet of Chinese black tea, mocha and creme de cassis. Focused and poised, the wine delivers cassis, anise, Turkish coffee and baking spice flavors that sit alongside light tannins. Downright delicious, this wine will continue to evolve over a decade or more. If enjoying young, try to give this excellent Cabernet a two hour decant. Drink 2017-2028- 92

R. Lopez de Heredia

One of the great wineries in Spain, R. Lopez de Heredia began in the nineteenth century when French negociants visited the Rioja region to find alternative sources of quality grapes to transform into wine, since the phylloxera epidemic had decimated their vineyards.  Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, a founded this Rioja winery in Haro, the capital of the Rioja Alta region which became the oldest in Haro and one of the first three houses in the Rioja region.

Having visited this winery a few years back I was overwhelmed with the striking history of the property. This is one of the only wineries I have ever seen where they have their own in-house barrel maker. Contrary to most wines on the retail market, R. Lopez de Heredia wines are aged considerably longer than most and they are only sold when the winemaker finds them to be drinking perfectly. 

The new releases from this house were stunning. Look for the 2008 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Rioja (WWB, 91) which is a downright awesome value out of Rioja, taken from a challenging vintage. The new 2005 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Rioja Reserva (WWB, 94) is a downright stunner, showing amazing tension, as well as aromatic and flavor range. Learn more about this world class winery at http://www.lopezdeheredia.com/english/filosofia/filosofia.html Here are the gorgeous new wines by R. Lopez de Heredia

2008 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Rioja- The 2008 'Viña Cubillo' by R. Lopez De Heredia comes from the vineyard Cubillas, which lies roughly two miles from the winery. Set on clay and limestone soil, the vineyard lies at more than 1300 feet. The final blending for this excellent wine was 65% Tempranillo with 25% Garnacho and 10% Mazuelo and Graciano which spent three years in American oak. This wonderful wine opens with complex aromatics of red cherries, raspberries and suggestions of prune along with smoke and pipe tobacco. On the palate this shows appealing flavors of pomegranate, teaberry, Mandarin orange rind and mulberry accents all wrapped in a silky and elegant frame leading into the finish. Overall, this is a well-made wine which should continue to show well over the next decade. Drink 2017-2026- 91

2004 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Rioja Reserva Blanco- The 2004 Vina Tondonia 'Reserva' Blanco Rioja has a deep, golden hue and opens with a bright aromatic display of candle wax, candied ginger, honeydew melon and suggestions of toasted hazelnuts. The silky mouthfeel coats the mid-palate. Quince, Meyer lemon zest, marzipan and beeswax with cantaloupe flavors impress. The wood is rather intense but connects well with the richness of this wine. This is silky, rich and elegant Rioja Blanco from this storied estate. Drink 2017-2027- 93

2005 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Rioja Reserva- Coming from a downright awesome vintage, this new release by R. Lopez de Heredia is a compelling blend of Tempranillo (75%), Garnacho (15%), Graciano and Mazuelo (10%), all sourced from their estate vineyards. The wine was aged for six years prior to bottling.  This great wine opens with a bright bouquet of leather, cranberry, orange rind, forest floor and suggestions of Chinese black tea. Showing incredible balance and poise, this wine shows off leather, red cherry, teaberry, Mandarin orange and pipe tobacco flavors that sit alongside brisk minerality. This is a stunner by Tondonia as the wine shows tremendous freshness and length despite obvious age. Drink 2017-2030- 94

Côte Bonneville

As we continue our march through Washington Wine Month, we bring you one of the stars in Washington wine. Côte Bonneville was started by Dr. Hugh and Kathy Shiels, two of the nicest people you will meet in wine. Together they planted one of the outstanding vineyards in Washington state, the DuBrul Vineyard which has gained national acclaim, particularly for their Bordeaux varietals. The vineyard also has Syrah, Chardonnay and Riesling planted. The Shiels daughte, Kerry, is one of the outstanding winemakers in Washington. Kerry received her Masters degree in Viticulture and Enology from U.C. Davis, then assumed the winemaker title in August, 2009. She has been immersed in DuBrul Vineyard and Côte Bonneville since 2005, under Stan Clarke’s tutelage and Co Dinn’s mentorship. 

Her new wine releases were gorgeous. Do not miss out on the 2016 Côte Bonneville Rose (WWB, 92) which shows marvelous texture and has a stunning mouthfeel and vibrant minerality. Even better was the new Chardonnay release from the 2014 vintage (WWB, 93) which shows her signature silky texture and rich mouthfeel from a warm vintage in Washington. Learn more about this outstanding Washington winery at http://www.cotebonneville.com Here are the great new wines by Côte Bonneville. 

2016 Côte Bonneville Rose-This pale colored Rose wine begins with a ripe bouquet of watermelon, guava and red cherry. This leads to bright flavors of red cherry, guava and watermelon. This is lithe and simply delicious as the silky texture glides through the mid-palate and the acidity dazzles. Head winemaker Kerry Shiels has crafted one of the best Rose wines in the state here. Drink 2017-2022-92

2015 Côte Bonneville 'Train Station' Cabernet-This deep colored wine begins with aromatics of creme de cassis, pipe tobacco and black cherry with black olive. The palate is plush delivering black cherry, black olive, blackberry jam and milk chocolate flavors. This has marvelous weight and texture, showing off its forward style. Enjoy this great value wine over the next decade. Drink 2017-2026- 92

2014 Côte Bonneville Chardonnay-This lovely Chardonnay wine opens with a bouquet of brioche, vanilla cream and Meyer lemon. The texture is marvelous as this wine delivers deep flavors of vanilla cream, creme brulee, nectarine and Pazzaz apple. The fruit weight here impresses as this effort is marvelous. Drink 2017-2025- 93

2010 Côte Bonneville 'Carriage House' Red Wine- This awesome red wine isprimarily a Cabernet based blend. There is a marvelous herbal quality of this wine as red bell pepper and sage are revealed as well as red cherry and anise. There is marvelous acidity with blackberry pie, anise and cassis flavors alongside green bell pepper. This impresses despite obvious coolness of the vintage. Drink 2017-2027- 92

2013 Côte Bonneville Syrah- Superstar winemaker Kerry Shiels has an excellent handle on Syrah and this effort shows her talents. This deep colored Syrah wine begins with aromas of red bell pepper, white pepper, black cheeey and blackberry jam with creosote. This has ripe flavors of mint, coffee grounds, blackberry cobbler and milk chocolate. Drink 2017-2027- 92

2009 Côte Bonneville 'Côte Bonneville' Red Wine- This wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet and 40% Merlot. Milk chocolate, baking spices, black olive and mint aromas impress. The palate is lithe and rich showing black cherry, wild blackberry, coffee grounds and eucalyptus flavors. This has a wonderful Bordelaise feel and marvelous tension despite being eight years old. Drink 2018-2030-93

2016 Côte Bonneville Riesling- This excellent Riesling wine beings with aromatics of petrol, green apple and kumquat with ripe peach. This leads to ripe flavors of kiwi, starfruit, white peach and petrol. The finish lingers as this rivals the best in Washington state. Drink 2017-2022- 93

Vine Cliff

A winery with serious history, Vine Cliff is one of the oldest Napa wineries. The Vine Cliff Winery Estate of today is an exquisite mountainside property located on land which was once part of the original George C. Yount estate. Napa locals George Burrage and Thomas Tucker purchased the site for Vine Cliff Winery from the Yount Estate in 1870 (five years after Yount’s death). They then began wine production one year later. Vine Cliff at that time was created into likely the largest winery in the Napa Valley. Although Burrage and Tucker did not live long enough to establish a reputation for Vine Cliff, they did construct an impressive winery and tunnels, one of which remains to the present. The winery was later purchased by a rich San Francis native, John Fry in the1890’s. Fry had made a fortune in Nevada silver and invested heavily in San Francisco real estate. Sadly Phylloxera destroyed the vineyards and wine production by about 1900. After Fry’s death in 1901, most of the winery structure disappeared in a matter of a few years, except for the stone first floor and tunnels. 

Amazingly, nearly 85 years later Vine Cliff started again.  Nell Sweeney purchased the estate in 1985 and vineyards became alive again with new plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon. More vineyards were purchased by the family in Calistoga and Carneros achieving over 40 acres of estate vineyards by 1999.

I had the chance to review the new releases by Vine Cliff and found them to be gorgeous and compelling. Look for the absolutely gorgeous 2014 Vine Cliff ‘Proprietress Reserve’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) which is a dense and massive Chardonnay that shows off its unctuous side. Even better was the 2013 Vine Cliff ’16 Rows’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 94) which is a massive wine that maintains a wonderful Bordelaise side. Learn more about these awesome wines at https://www.vinecliff.com Here are the great new wines by Vine Cliff. 

2014 Vine Cliff ‘Carneros’ Chardonnay- Exotic on the nose, creme brulee, roasted pineapple, butterscotch and bananas foster aromatics come to mind. Ripe flavors fill the mid-palate that are reminiscent of vanilla bean, poached pear, creme brûlée and a long, 30 second plus, cream driven finish. There is a lot to savor here as the mouthfeel and texture is excellent. This is definitely not for the weary. Drink 2017-2024- 92

2014 Vine Cliff ‘Proprietress Reserve’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the Carneros region, this wine is crafted from the best blocks of Chardonnay (DIjon clone). This honey-hued Chardonnay wine begins with aromatics reminiscent of roasted banana, brioche and golden delicious apple with mushroom accents. The wine has a ripe, unctuous texture that glides across the mid-palate, delivering ripe banana, butterscotch, Pazzaz apple pie and roasted hazelnut flavors. This is a gorgeous wine made from this estate. Drink 2017-2026- 93

2013 Vine Cliff Cabernet Sauvignon- This deep colored wine was sourced from the Oakville AVA. Pencil lead, sage, red bell pepper and creme de cassis aromatics are at play. This has a silky mouthfeel and wonderful terroir alongside dark fruits. Flavors of black cherry cough syrup, licorice, creme de cassis, mocha and mint persist. Light tannins connect with a long, mineral and black fruit driven finish. This excellent Cabernet wine will cellar beautifully for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2030- 91

2013 Vine Cliff ’16 Rows’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This excellent wine is sourced from the best blocks at their estate vineyard in Oakville. Showing off a slightly darker hue than their regular Cabernet bottling, the 2013 ’16 Rows’ starts with a bouquet of mocha, mint, Turkish coffee and black olive with black cherry pie. Silky tannins and a dense mouthfeel showcase this great Cabernet wine. Flavors of Chinese black tea, black olive tapenade and black cherry with cassis accents are deep and penetrating. Despite its obvious weight, this wine has a gorgeous Bordelaise feel. Be sure to give this at least a two hour decant if enjoying young. This decadent Cabernet wine will drink beautifully for two decades. Drink 2018-2037- 94

Coyote Canyon

As part of our August Washington Wine Month spotlight on great Washington wineries, I wanted to introduce a Horse Heaven Hills winery that utilizes estate fruit. Founded in 2006, Coyote Canyon sources from the Coyote Canyon Vineyard, which has a southeast facing slope and a canyon (Coyote Canyon) in the center of the vineyard which many smaller facing aspects that help to create smaller micro-climates. 

The new red wine releases from this winery were particularly impressive, coming from the excellent 2012 and 2013 vintages. Head winemaker Justin Michaud has a vast experience in the industry, previously working for Kim Crawford in New Zealand as well as Goose Ridge in Washington State. His red wines showed a wonderful texture and mouthfeel. Look to his 2013 Coyote Canyon Tempranillo (WWB, 90) which is one of the better Washington Tempranillo bottling that I have sampled in the past year, as the earthy and red fruit tones show wonderful range. Even better was the 2012 H/H Estates ‘Michael Andrews’ Reserve Red Wine (WWB, 92) which is largely a Cabernet based wine and shows a beautiful mouthfeel alongside ripe dark fruit flavors. Learn more about this Horse Heaven Hills winery at http://coyotecanyonwinery.com Here are the great new wines by Coyote Canyon. 

2016 Coyote Canyon Rose- Made from Barbara sourced from the Coyote Canyon Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, this wine opens with a bright bouquet of pink grapefruit blossom, guava and ripe strawberry. Lively and showing a touch of sweetness, this wine has red cherry, guava puree and strawberry flavors. Drink 2017-2020- 89

2016 Coyote Canyon Albarino- Showing some moderate sweetness, this wine begins with ripe nectarine, red apple and citrus blossom aromatics. Juicy peach, and golden delicious apple flavors sit alongside some good acidity, as this comes off slightly cloying. Drink 2017-2020-  88

2013 Coyote Canyon Tempranillo-Showing a dark core, this Tempranillo wine opens with pipe tobacco, red cherry, dill and orange rind aromas. The wine has a round and generous mouthfeel, leading to rich flavors of red cherry preserves, sage, red raspberry and blood orange. Downright delicious now, this is a wine for the short-term. Drink 2017-2022- 90

2013 Coyote Canyon Sangiovese-Lovely citrus and red fruit aromas instantly hit you. The mid-palate weight is really excellent, as is the wines smooth texture. Red cherry, sandalwood and milk chocolate shaving flavors complete this excellent bottling. Drink 2017-2022- 90

2012 H/H Estates 'Michael Andrews' Reserve Red Wine- This excellent wine is largely old block Cabernet (planted in 1994) with smaller parts Tempranillo and Graciano. The wine was aged in small American oak barrels prior to bottling. Black tea, black raspberry liquor and cigar box aromatics entice. Smooth and showing nice poise, this wine moves into silky flavors reminiscent of black cherry jelly, coffee grounds, sagebrush and hints of orange rind. Intriguing and generous, enjoy this excellent wine over the next seven plus years. Drink 2017-2025- 92

2012 H/H Estates 'H/H Buck' Reserve Syrah- This wine was named after one of the largest bulls ever farmed in North America. Showing a deep core, the Syrah wine starts with aromas of sagebrush, milk chocolate, Earl Grey tea and black olive tapenade. Plush, smooth and beautifully rounded out, the texture impresses. Black cherry, black olive and smoked pork shoulder flavors finish this delicious Washington Syrah wine. Enjoy this wine over the next seven years. Drink 2017-2024- 92

King Vintners

King Estate has been known for producing some of the best value driven wines in the Pacific Northwest. An exciting new project by King Estate, King Vintners is an exclusive label to Amazon which showcases small, unorthodox vineyards and wines of the Pacific Northwest. NEXT is the inaugural label under the King Vintners label and consists of a 2014 Columbia Valley Red Blend, 2015 Oregon Pinot Noir, and 2016 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris.

The new wines were very solid, particularly the 2014 King Vintners ‘Next’ Cabernet (WWB, 91) which shows wonderful poise, balance and black fruit flavors from this hot vintage in Columbia Valley. Learn more about these exciting new wines at Amazon Here are the exciting new wines by King Vintners. 

2016 King Vintners ‘Next’ Pinot Gris- This impressive Pinot Gris wine begins with a bright bouquet of pear, gooseberry and kumquat. This has lovely balance on the mid-palate as the wine shows Pazzaz apple, cantaloupe and starfruit flavors. The balance between fruit and minerality entices. Drink 2017-2022- 90

2015 King Vintners ‘Next’ Pinot Noir- This bright Pinot Noir wine has a beautiful bouquet of red cherry, red currant, cigar box and suggestions of red cherry, red raspberry, orange rind and suggestions of baking spices. This has medium weight and shows a beautiful tetxture. The balance its here. Drink 2017-2024- 90

2014 King Vintners ‘Next’ Red Wine- Sourced from the Columbia Valley, this wine begins with bright aromatics reminiscent of milk chocolate, black cherry compote, black tea and baking spices. The aromatics are really lovely here and take you back to the glass for more. The mouthfeel is excellent as the black fruit flavors sit alongside excellent minerlality. The freshness is impressive considering the heat of the vintage. Drink 2017-2024- 91

Drumheller Wines

As we continue our spotlight on Washington wineries for Washington Wine Month, we bring you an exciting new winery by Chateau St. Michelle Estates. The winery is named after the Drumheller channels in central Washington which were carved out roughly 15,000 years ago during the floods of the the Ice Age. If you have never been out to the Othello area to check out these massive channels, it is worth a visit to see this geological marvel. Drumheller is a restaurant only label that focuses on Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet. Their first releases were from the 2014 vintage and their latest release wines come from the very hot 2015 vintage, which saw serious heat spikes. 

Tim Jones serves as winemaker, as he has been with Chateau St. Michelle since 2012. I was particularly impressed with his 2015 Drumheller Chardonnay (WWB, 90) which showed wonderful fruit weight and poise considering the heat of the vintage. This is a marvelous value. Even better is the 2015 Drumheller Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 91) which has wonderful dark fruit aromatics and flavors while showing great balance. Priced at $12.00 retail, this wine is a knockout value. All these wines are highly approachable right now and are downright delicious value wines from Washington. Learn more about Drumheller at https://www.drumhellerwines.com Here are the great new wines by Drumheller

2015 Drumheller Chardonnay- This wine begins with Pazzaz apple, creme brûlée and vanilla aromatics with suggestions of toasty oak. The palate shows nice poise and weight with golden delicious apple flavors, vanilla cream and suggestions of creme brûlée. The finish is creamy and long. Drink 2017-2023- 90

2015 Drumheller Merlot- You have to admire the plush aromatics here with this bottling. Black cherry compote, black olive, black tea and mocha aromas impress. The mouthfeel is lovely as well, showing black tea, wild blackberry jam and coffee ground flavors that sit alongside some nice sturcture. This is an outstanding value out of Washington. Drink 2017-2024- 91

2015 Drumheller Cabernet Sauvignon- This densely colored Cabernet wine is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 2% Syrah. The wine begins with aromatics of dill, creme de cassis, mocha and black olive with hints of black cherry compote. The palate is plush and rich, showing black tea, creme de cassis, mocha and anise flavors that impress. This shows an excellent mineral-driven backbone that backs up the dark fruits and is an awesome pairing for a juicy ribeye steak. Grab a case of this awesome new Cabernet wine. Drink 2017-2025- 91

Leonetti Cellar

As part of our exciting Washington Wine Month spotlight on Washington wineries, we bring you the tantalizing new wines by Leonetti Cellar. As many of you may know, Leonetti Cellar is one of the state’s historic wineries, first founded in 1977. Leonetti is Walla Walla’s first winery. Leonetti’s legacy traces back to the Leonetti Farm, first established in 1906 – which became the site where owner Gary Figgins would come to plant his first commercial vineyard in 1974. Since that time the wines from Leonetti have received international recognition for rich and dense new world wines. Superstar winemaker, Chris Figgins, son of Gary Figgins, has served as winemaker since 2001. The wines cellar marvelously, as I have recently consumed a 2007 Leonetti Merlot which showed tremendous tension and dark fruit flavors. 

A few weeks back I was able to visit the gorgeous Leonetti estate in Walla Walla. The wines were simply stunning, none more so than the intoxicating 2014 Leonetti ‘Reserve’ Red Wine (WWB, 98) which is one of the best wines from Washington that I have had the pleasure of reviewing in the past year. The ’14 ‘Reserve’ is a monster of a wine that will cellar beautifully for two decades or more. I highly recommend that you can get your hands on the 2014 Leonetti Sangiovese (WWB, 94) which is one of the best Sangiovese bottling in North America that I have ever sampled, as the wine shows incredible density and poise. Learn more about this historic Washington winery at http://leonetticellar.com/Here are the gorgeous new release wines by Leonetti Cellar. 

2015 Leonetti Cellar Merlot- The 2015 Leonetti Cellar Merlot was sourced from the old block at the Leonetti Estate and the Loess Vineyard. The wine was aged for 15 months in new and once used French oak prior to bottling. Exceedingly dark and brooding aromatics show black cherry, black olive and sage accents with creme de cassis. There are dense flavors of mocha, black cherry compote, Kalmata olive, mint, white pepper and milk chocolate. This has tremendous weight and poise considering the heat of the vintage. The mouthfeel is just gorgeous as this Merlot shows an exotic edge. This decadent heavhitter will cellar marvelously for a decade or more but I think the wine could benefit from one more year in the bottle, as it is somewhat tightly wound right now even with a three plus hour decant. Drink 2018-2030- 95

2014 Leonetti Sangiovese- Sourced from the Seven Hills, Loess, Mill Creek Upland and Serra Pedace vineyards, this Sangiovese wine has 5% Aglianico blended in. This absolutely awesome Sangiovese wine opens with intense aromatics of cigar box, red cherry, rose petals, and red raspberry. The palate has a wonderful minerality and shows great mid-palate weight. Dark cherry, pipe tobacco, milk chocolate, mint, red raspberry, and pencil shavings flavors linger. The astringency is absolutely wonderful, as is the long, mineral and dark fruit driven finish. This wine will cellar exceedingly well for a decade or more. This is up there with the best North American Sangio releases that I have sampled in the past ten plus years. Drink 2017-2027- 94

2014 Leonetti 'Reserve' Red Wine- The 2014 Leonetti ‘Reserve’ Red Wine is an absolute beast at this juncture. This ‘Reserve’ has the highest percentage of Malbec (13%) blended into the Cabernet that has ever been used by for this wine. Sourced from the Seven Hills, Loess, Mill Creek Upland and Serra Pedace vineyards this wine begins with a bouquet of black cherry, roasted figs, mocha and creme de cassis. The palate is plush with creme de cassis, smoke, mocha, violets, dark chocolate shavings and cigar box. This monstrosity needs some time to settle in the bottle. With serious aromatic and flavor range, as well as poise, the ’14 Reserve is a highly memorable effort by Leonetti Cellar. Be sure to give this at least one more year of bottle age before enjoying. Drink 2018-2040- 98

2014 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the Seven Hills, Loess, Mill Creek Upland, Leonetti Old Block and Serra Pedace vineyard, this wine is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot and 8% Merlot. This has hugely dense aromatics of creme de cassis, green bell pepper, black olive tapenade and Turkish coffee. This leads to dense flavors of mocha, creme de cassis, pipe tobacco, smoked brisket and anise. The plush mouthfeel entices the senses as the 2014 Leonetti Cabernet is a complete stunner by superstar winemaker Chris Figgins. There is huge fruit weight here but wonderful poise to connect with the marvelous texture. Try to put away this wine for at least another year, as this wine needed more than a three hour decant to fully express itself. Drink 2018-2035- 96

Gård Vintners

As we kick off Washington Wine Month, I want to introduce an excellent Woodinville winery known for awesome values, Gård Vintners has impressed with their latest set of releases. The winery was founded by brothers Sandy and John Lawrence, who have farmed the Royal Slope for more than 50 years, along with John’s son Josh, who joined the operation in 2002. The winery is managed by Josh and his wife, Lisa, who oversees sales and marketing, while Josh oversees the vineyard and other farm and orchard operations. Gård Vintnersrelies on the winemaking talents of Aryn Morell for their wines who took over in 2011.  He has utilized his signature style in these bottling, as the wines show wonderful minerality and terroir.

Look for the 2016 Gård Vintners Rose (WWB, 91) which is a downright awesome wine that is done in the Provencale style and shows beautiful range and textural elements. Even better was the 2014 Gård Vintners ‘Grand Klasse Reserve’ Viognier (WWB, 92) which shows exotic elements and is a sterling value in Washington wine. Learn more about these wines at http://gardvintners.com/about.html Here are the great new wines by Gård Vintners.

2015 Gard 'Grand Klasse' Pinot Gris- This expressive Pinot Gris wine opens with a bright bouquet of starfruit, nectarine and suggestions of baking spices. The palate has lovely weight and structure considering the heat of the vintage. Beeswax, nectarine, ginger and nectarine flavors impress. Drink 2017-2023- 90

2015 Gard 'Grand Klasse' Riesling-This excellent Riesling wine has a touch of sweetness, weighing in at 1.3% residual sugar. This begins with aromatics of white peach, petrol, pink grapefruit leading to bright Granny Smith apple, green papaya, white flowers and nutmeg flavors. This has lovely balance and texture, showing off a long finish. Drink 2017-2022- 90

2016 Gard 'Freya' White Wine- This wine is a blend of Roussanne and Viognier which opens with a bouquet of white peach, white grapefruit, white flowers and suggestions of baking spices.  There are lively flavors of starfruit, lemon blossom, white peach and gooseberry. The minerality is lovely to this great value white wine. Drink 2017-2022-90

2014 Gard 'Grand Klasse Reserve' Viognier- This wine was made in the richer style. Butter, white flower and honeydew melon aromatics lead to lovely minerality and texture on the mid-palate. Beeswax, white peach, pink grapefruit and cantaloupe flavors show wonderful weight and complexity, as this wine has an exotic side. Drink 2017-2022- 92

2014 Gard 'Grand Klasse Reserve' Roussanne- While the winemaker has noted that he does not particularly enjoy working with Roussanne, this is a marvelous effort by the talented Aryn Morrell. This wine opens with aromatics of brioche, nutmeg, butterscotch and suggestions of white peach. The weight and texture is marvelous. Nectarine, white flower and beeswax flavors show beautifully. This finishes long. Drink 2017-2022- 92

2016 Gard 'Grand Klasse' Rose- This wine opens with a bouquet of white flowers, red cherry and guava aromatics. The minerality is lovely which leads to bright flavors of white peach, white grapefruit, orange rind and red cherry. This is highly balanced and shows a wonderful feminine edge as this finishes long. Drink 2017-2021- 91

2015 Gard 'The Don' Red Wine- This is a blend of 60% Cabernet with 35% Syrah. The wine begins with aromatics of smoked brisket, black cherry, black olive and milk chocolate. This leads to ripe flavors of blackberry jam, black olive, mint and milk chocolate. Drink 2017-2022-89

2014 Gard 'Vaucluse' Red Wine- This inky colored wine is a downright gorgeous blend of Syrah and Grenache that has a touch of Viognier. Smoky aromatics impress. There are bright flavors reminiscent of black cherry, black olive, orange rind, smoked meats and white pepper. This is an awesome value and a wine that shows serious range. Drink 2017-2022- 91

2013 Gard 'Grand Klasse Reserve' Syrah- This deep colored Syrah wine begins with aromas of smoked pork shoulder, bulls blood, sagebrush and wet rock. The aromatics are lovely. This leads to flavors of blackberry jam, black tea, wild herbs and suggestions of milk chocolate and baking spices. This has some serious stuffing and will cellar beautifully for a decade or more. Drink 20-7-2027- 92

Robert Biale

Robert Biale

One of the standout producers of California Zinfandel, Robert Biale has roots in the 1930s where Pietro Biale planted Zinfandel on the Napa Valley floor. HIs son, Aldo, took over making wine during the Prohibition, using the code name ‘Black Chicken.’ Aldo’s Vineyard still stands today in Napa and is one of the premium vineyard sites that Robert Biale sources from, as well as esteemed spots like the Monte Rosso Vineyard and the Stagecoach Vineyard.  

Winemaker Tres Goetting serves as Robert Biale winemaker, working alongside viticulturist Robert ‘Bob’ Biale. Tres has over 26 years of winemaking experience. HIs new releases were simply gorgeous. Check out the 2015 Robert Biale ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel (WWB, 92) which is a downright awesome value showing wonderful balance and red fruits. An amazing follow up to our top scoring Zinfandel of last year, the 2015 Robert Biale ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel (WWB, 94) shows amazing balance and smoothness alongside minerality and dark fruits. This wine is a stunner. Learn more about this storied Napa property at http://biale.com Here are the great new wines by Robert Biale. 

2015 Robert Biale ‘Bedrock Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The Bedrock Vineyard is located in the Sonoma Valley and was first planted in 1850. The vineyard is now owned by the Peterson family. Showing off a dark color, this wine begins with aromatics of sage, black cherry, black olive and bramble elements. Leather, stewed strawberry, black cherry and black olive flavors show beautifully alongside some nice minerality. This has wonderful balance. Drink 2017-2027- 93

2015 Robert Biale 'Varozza Vineyard' Zinfandel- This gorgeous St. Helena vineyard has been farmed by the Varozza family since 1913. The Zinfandel starts with cigar box, black cherry, teaberry and coffee ground aromatics. There is a seamless quality to this wine, as the silky mouthfeel glides across the mid-palate. Boysenberry, black cherry, prune and milk chocolate flavors with a touch of orange rind impress. You have to love the flavor and aromatic range here. This seamless wine opens with aromatics of black plum, black cherry, prune and blackberry cobbler. This impossible to resist Zinfandel wine will give drinking pleasure for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2028- 94

2015 Robert Biale 'Limerick Lane Vineyard' Zinfandel- The Limerick Lane vineyard is located in the eastern part of the Russian River Valley vineyard and has gained a reputation for balanced wines, due to cool nights and large amounts fog. Showing a dark core, this has sweet pipe tobacco, black cherry and coffee ground aromatics.The aromas are rather intoxicating and bring you back to the glass for more. Stewed strawberry, loganberry liquor, bramble and black olive flavors are deep and penetrating. This has wonderful acidity and freshness, as well as purity of fruit. Drink 2017-2027- 94

2015 Robert Biale 'Stagecoach Vineyard' Zinfandel- One of the esteemed vineyards for Bordeaux varietals, the Stagecoach Vineyard also grows some excellent Zinfandel, as Biale had their ‘Biale Block’ planted there in 1999. Showing off a dark core, this has massive aromas of black cherry cough syrup, black tea, cigar box and milk chocolate shavings. There are deep flavors of black olive, black tea, black cherry, and Arabica coffee. This is dense and wonderfully poised. You have to admire this mouthfeel and balance created here from this vintage. Drink 2017-2027- 93

2015 Robert Biale 'Black Chicken' Zinfandel- ‘Black Chicken’ was first coined by Aldo Biale, who used the name as a code word when he began making wine in the 1940s. The 2015 ‘Black Chicken’ by Biale follows up the gorgeous ’14 botting and is an awesome value wine from this great Napa winery. This densely colored wine begins with bright aromatics of red currant, red cherry and ripe cherry tomato jam. The mid-palate mouthfeel is lovely as the wine currently showcases black cherry, black raspberry liquor and pipe tobacco flavors that sit alongside some nice minerality. Drink 2017-2024- 92

2015 Robert Biale ‘Old Kraft Vineyard' Zinfandel-This ancient vineyard in St. Helena dates back to the 1860s. This expressive, semi-translucent Zinfandel wine starts with bright aromas of black plum, ripe strawberry, Earl Grey tea and suggestions of Mandarin orange rind.  The wine shows a plush mouthfeel, leading to ripe flavors of black olive, black tea, baking spices, black cherry compote and nutmeg. Medium weight, this has wonderful poise in this hot vintage. Drink 2017-2027- 92

2015 Robert Biale ‘Basic Black’ Red Wine- A compelling blend of 25% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 20% Petite Sirah, 17% Carignane, 8% Zinfandel, 5% Alicante Bouchet and 3% Tempranillo all sourced from Sonoma County. Possessing a brooding, dark core, this wine begins with heady aromas of dark chocolate covered cherries, roasted figs, cigar box and nutmeg. The mouthfeel is plush, as this wine reveals dark fruit flavors alongside dark chocolate, creosote and white pepper flavors. With wonderful fruit weight and minerality, is just an outstanding blend made by Biale. Drink 2017-2027- 93

2015 Robert Biale ‘Like Father Like Son’ Red Wine- The ‘Like Father Like Son’ by Robert Biale is a blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah. This penetrating, inky colored wine opens with a bouquet of pencil shavings, mocha, blackberry cobbler, tar and black olive tapenade. The mouthfeel and structure impresses, as the wine showcases sweet pipe tobacco, blackberry pie, smoke, coffee ground and Hoisin sauce flavors. This lovely blend will cellar marvelously for a decade. Drink 2017-2027- 92

2015 Robert Biale ‘Royal Punishers’ Petite Sirah- One of the best wines in their terrific lineup is the 2015 ‘Royal Punishers’ Petite Sirah. Deep and intense colored, this begins with a ripe aromatic profile of crushed mint, black cherry pie, mocha and tar. The texture to this wine is simply marvelous. Blackberry pie, mocha and dark chocolate flavors impress. Seductive and downright delicious, this marvelous bottling will drink well into the next decade as this is another stunner by Biale. Drink 2017-2025- 93

Barrister Winery

An outstanding Northwest winery based in Spokane, Barrister has impressed with their set of releases. Attorneys and winemakers, Greg Lipster, and Michael White, began making wine their garage. They both have a great talent for working with Bordeaux varietals. All of their red wines are aged in American. Hungarian and French oak, which is a different style than many other Washington wineries. I met up with Greg at Taste of Washington a few months back and really enjoyed talking wine with him. I’ve enjoyed his wines in the past 10 years and his new set of releases were really excellent. The winemaking style employed is fruit driven, yet highly structured, especially in cooler vintages. I have admired what the winery did particularly in the challenging 2010 and 2011 vintages, which were cool in Washington State.

I have found them to make one of the best Cabernet Franc wines in the state, as their 2013 Barrister Cabernet Franc (WWB, 92) showed wonderful herbal qualities alongside red fruits. Learn more about this great boutique winery at http://www.barristerwinery.com Here are the great new wines by Barrister.

2013 Barrister Cabernet Franc- Barrister has gained a wonderful reputation for great Cabernet Franc and this warm vinatge bottling is no exception. This begins with aromatics of red cherry, red bell pepper and sage. There are flavors of red cherry, bubblegum, red raspberry and red bell pepper. There is a lovely texture and mouthfeel. Drink 2017-2027- 92

NV Barrister 'Barrister's Block IV' Red Wine- Primarily Cabernet (72%) this great nonvintage wine opens with a bouquet of black tea, anise, black pepper and sage. There are flavors of black cherry, anise, creme de cassis and mocha. Drink 2017-2026- 92

2013 Barrister Petit Verdot- This has aromatics of red cherry, red bell pepper, anise and cassis. There are ripe flavors of black tea, black cherry, blackberry pie and suggestions of baking spices. The Petit Verdot has wonderful poise and elegance, as well as herbaceousness. Drink 2017-2026- 92

NV Barrister 'Rough Justice' Red Wine- This is an awesome blend that is made from 45% Merlot with 26% Syrah and 24% Cabernet this wine begins with aromatics of sagebrush, black cherry, black olive and black tea. There are flavors of blackberry cobbler, anise, creme de cassis and mocha. This is dense and lovely. Drink 2017-2024- 91

Interview with Charlie Auclair, Owner and Winemaker of Auclair Winery

A great Woodinville winery, Auclair, founded by Charlie Auclair, was started in 2000 following some inspiration from the great wine regions of the world. An impressive world traveler, Charlie recently returned to Washington from visiting some of the first growth estates in Bordeaux. His warm vintage new release wines were very impressive and I recently had the chance to sit down with Charlie and chat wine. I think you will really enjoy hearing his story. Here is my interview with Charlie Auclair, Owner and Winemaker of Auclair Winery.

WWB: You have traveled the world to some fantastic wine destinations. How have your travels influenced you as a winery owner and winemaker? 

CA: I have been very lucky to have traveled to some great winemaking regions over the years. My first trip to Napa was in 1988 on a summer break from college and it opened my eyes to what good wine was supposed to taste like. I went on an exchange program to the Soviet Union in 1989 during the Perestroika days of opening up to the west and I recall loving the wines from Hungary and Georgia. In 1992, I moved west from Massachusetts (where I grew up and went to school). My plan was to move to CA but I fell in love with Washington State on my way and settled here instead. 

Some of my biggest influences have been casual conversations with great wine makers. I recall visiting Yarra Yering winery in Australia’s Yarra Valley and talking with Dr. Bailey Carrodus in a simple tasting room located in the basement of a modest house where the tasting bar was a plank set up on 2 barrels. Here was one of the greatest winemakers in Australia pouring his own wines for people in a simple setting and I realized it wasn’t about the fancy tasting rooms and the picturesque locations. It was about making great wines. I got a tour of his facility and saw how simple and utilitarian it was. It was designed for 1 person to operate and to make great wine. 

My wife and I traveled through S. Africa for our honeymoon and spent a week in wine country there. Again, there was one winery that stood out from the rest for me. de Trafford was located at the end of a 2 mile, one lane, dirt road and had a simple tasting area in an older building on the property. They only opened 1 day/week for 4 hours. We visited due to a recommendation, and again, the wines were far superior to any others we had tasted at big fancy tasting rooms with incredible views. It just drove home the message for me that great wine is what’s important. The rest is really just fluff. 

WWB: Can you talk about your winemaking style or philosophy?

CA: I believe great wine is made in the vineyards. That sounds very obvious and almost rote to say but I really believe my job as winemaker is not to screw up the great grapes I get. I am hands off and don’t manipulate things. Vintage variation is OK. I take what I’m given and try to make the best wines possible. Every vintage is like a new child with its own personality and needs. 

WWB: I was very impressed with your 2013 Auclair Cabernet Franc (WWB, 90) which showed a beautiful feminine personality. Can you talk about this great wine?

CA: When I was doing blending trials for the 2013 Right Blend there were 2 blends on opposite ends of the Right Bank spectrum that just stood out for me. My typical Right Blend is Merlot dominant and I had zeroed in on a Merlot dominant blend that I liked a lot and it became my 2013 Right Blend, but there was this Cabernet Franc dominant blend that I really loved equally well and I just couldn’t blend it away, so I made this wine. This wine just demanded to be made. 

WWB: As a world traveler, what are some of your favorite wines and producers of the world. What are some of your favorite wines in your cellar?

The wine that changed my life and perspective on wine was a bottle of 1970 Mouton Rothschild that a very good friend shared with me. I was amazed that a 37 year old wine could taste so good. Up until that time aging for me meant storing a wine for 3-4 years after purchase. 

CA: I am an admirer of Bordeaux. I belong to a fantastic tasting group and have had the privilege of tasting some of the world’s great wines. I love German Riesling. Yarra Yering and Yeringberg in Australia are making great wines that I admire. Closer to home I have great respect for Kapcsandy, Betz, Cayuse and Leonetti wines. 

In my cellar right now I have a few favorite wines. For reds: Thomas Pinot Noir, Beaucastel, Leoville Las Cases, Leoville Barton, Latour, Cheval Blanc, Yarra Yering dry red #1, Yeringberg, Betz Le Parrain, and for whites my favorites are Domain de Chevalier Blanc, Didier Dagueneau, Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc, and Rhys and Yeringberg Chardonnays. 

Rulo

One of the great boutique wineries out of Walla Walla, Rulo was started by Dr. Kurt and Vicki Schlicker in 2000. Dr. Kurt serves as the winemaker while Vicki serves as the winery worker bee. The couple shares the winery tasks equally from vineyard checks to tank washing to tasting room responsibilities to distribution to paperwork to cleaning toilets. All wines are shipped to consumers as these wines have limited distribution. 

Many years back I was first introduced to these wines by Emory Cole of Emory’s On Silver Lake (Wine Spectator Restaurant Award Recipient). Emory praised the quality and price of these wines ten years ago. Today, these wines remain some of the outstanding values in Washington wine.

I recently had the chance to review their outstanding lineup of wines and was hugely impressed. Look for their gorgeous 2014 ‘Unoaked’ Chardonnay and 2013 Chardonnay (both WWB, 92) which were gorgeous and pure expressions of Chardonnay from some hot vintages. Not to be missed is their 2014 Rulo ‘Silo River Rock Vineyard’ Syrah (WWB, 92) which shows wonderful fruit flavors and earthy tones. Learn more about this fantastic Walla Walla winery at rulowinery.com Here are the great new wines by Rulo. 

2014 Rulo ‘Unoaked' Chardonnay-This delicious and plush Chardonnay wine opens with aromatics of unripe pear, cantaloupe, white peach and wet rock. There are ripe flavors reminiscent of Pazzaz apple, honeydew melon and suggestions of butterscotch. This shows wonderful minerality. Drink 2017-2023- 92

2013 Rulo Chardonnay-This outstanding Chardonnay wine begins with rich aromatics of creme brulee, white peach, red delicious apple and hints of nutmeg. There are rich flavors of creme brulee, vanilla cream, nutmeg and New York apple pie. This delicious wine will be best in the short-term. Drink 2017-2023-92

2016 Rulo Viognier- Rulo has crafted another outstanding white wine release with their 2016 Viognier. This begins with aromas of honeysuckle, white peach, gooseberry and hints of star fruit. There are flavors of starfruit, lemongrass, red delicious apple that sit alongside some lovely minerality. Drink 2017-2022- 91

2014 Rulo Grenache Blanc- White peach, white grapefruit, gooseberry and green apple aromatics that are followed by green apple, green papaya and wet stone flavors. This has lovely structure and is done in the refreshing style. Drink 2017-2022- 90

2014 Rulo ‘ORB ‘Red Wine-This wine is a blend of 68% Grenache and 32% Mourvèdre. The wine begins with aromatics of red cherry, pomegranate, smoked pork shoulder and suggestions of red raspberry purée. There are deep flavors of milk chocolate, red cherry, black olive and bacon fat. Savory and delicious this will have a long life.  Drink 2017-2027- 91

2014 Rulo ‘Silo River Rock Vineyard’ Syrah- This excellent Syrah wine begins with aromatics of red cherry, red raspberry, and wet stone. The flavors of red cherry, blackberry pie, crushed gravel and hints of lavender and pork belly. The minerality is lovely to this earthy and terroir driven Syrah wine. Drink 2017-2027- 92

2014 Rulo Petite Sirah- Dr. Kurt Schlicker has crafted one of the best Washington Petite Sirah wines that I have ever tasted with their 2014 release. This inky colored Petite Sirah wine opens with a bouquet of bulls blood, black cherry, black raspberry and wet rock. There are flavors of black cherry, creosote, smoked pork shoulder and hints of black olive. The tannins are massive. This is dense and brooding wine that needs another year to settle.  Drink 2018-2028- 92

DaMa Wines

In 2000 Mary Tuuri Derby and her husband Devin Derby got their start in Washington wine by creating the famed Spring Valley Vineyard. Devin’s unexpected death in 2004 was a huge shock to Mary’s life and left her wondering how best to support herself and her young son. Collaboration and community made the decision for her when nine Walla Walla wineries got together and donated a large quantity of wine, a “very large barrel of love,” says Mary, that ultimately became the beginnings of DAMA. In 2007 Mary and friend Dawn Kammer, created DAMA Wines. In 2012, Dawn left DAMA to return to her native California and new partner Judith Shulman came on board.

Don’t take the playful labels too lightly; these wines were serious. Their 2016 DaMa Rose (WWB, 90) is downright delicious and fruit driven, made from Cabernet Franc grapes. Check out their 2013 DaMa Grenache (WWB, 90) which displays a wonderful purity of fruit. Learn more about this great winery at https://damawines.com Here are the great new releases by DaMa.

2015 DaMa Wines Chardonnay- This opens with a bouquet of Gala apple, white peach and brioche. This leads to bright flavors of Pink Lady apple, banana, pineapple and hints of nutmeg. This has really nice poise in this warm vintage. Drink 2017-2021- 90

2016 DaMa Cabernet Franc Rose- Orange rind, red cherry and red raspberry show pretty aromatics. This leads to flavors of red cherry, pomegranate and white peach with hints of Gravenstein apple. This shows a beautiful texture. Drink 2017-2020- 90

2013 DaMa Grenache- This Grenache wine is sourced from the Lonesome Spring Vineyard in the Columbia Valley. The wine begins with an impressive bouquet of red cherry, rose petals, pipe tobacco and pomegranate seed. This has wonderful feminine qualities with red cherry, Rose petals, guava and strawberry. Drink 2017-2025- 90

2014 DaMa Tempranillo- This excellent Tempranillo wine begins with bright aromatics reminiscent of black tea, black cherry, dill and sage. There is a silky mouthfeel as red cherry, red raspberry, lavender and smoky flavors fill the mid-palate. Drink 2017-2025- 90

2012 DaMa 'DAMAnation' GSM Red Wine- This alluring red blend wine opens with a bright bouquet of white pepper, red cherry, red raspberry and baking slices. This leads to depenflavors of tobacco leaf, red cherry, red raspberry and black tea. This has wonderful texture and poise. Drink 2017-2027- 91

2012 DaMa Merlot- Sourced from the Golden Ridge Vineyard, this excellent Merlot wine opens with aromatics of black cherry, pipe tobacco, mint and baking spices. This leads to flavors of green bell pepper, red cherry, red raspberry and baking spices. This has beautiful elegance. Drink 2017-2025- 90

2013 DaMa Merlot- This warm vintage Merlot wine is sourced from the Walla Walla Valley. This wine opens with bright aromatics of red cherry, dill, sagebrush and mocha. The silky mouthfeel is lovely, as black cherry, red raspberry, mint and coffee ground flavors emerge from the glass. This is another very well-made Merlot by this excellent winery. Drink 2017-2025- 90

2012 DaMa Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the esteemed Sagemoor Vineyards, This wine has aromatics of black tea, red bell pepper, black cherry and smoke. This leads to flavors of black tea, coffee grounds, mint and red bell pepper. This has wonderful weight and balance. Drink 2017-2026- 91

2014 DaMa Cabernet Sauvignon - This Columbia Valley bottling opens with aromatics reminiscent of Chinese black tea, black olive, sage and mint followed by forward flavors of black tea, blackberry and black olive. Drink 2017-2025- 89

2013 DaMa ‘Cowgirl Cab’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the Columbia Valley, this deep colored Cabernet wine opens with aromatics reminiscent of mocha, graphite, black cherry and black olive. There is an excellent weight, balance and texture to this Cabernet wine, as black cherry, black olive and tar flavors emerge. Light tannins and a silky mouthfeel showcase this excellent wine. Drink 2017-2026- 90

2014 DaMa ‘Collage’ Red Wine- The ‘Collage’ by DaMa is primarily a Merlot wine that has small parts of Cabernet and Cabernet Franc blended in. The wine starts with black cherry, black tea, mocha and mint aromatics. The palate is plush, as is the silky texture which leads to ripe black cherry, cassis, Turkish coffee and sagebrush flavors. This is another solid effort by DaMa. Drink 2017-2025- 90

Interview with Trisaetum Co-Owner and Winemaker, James Frey

Today we have an awesome feature from one of the best out of Oregon. A hugely talented winemaker, Trisaetum co-founder, James Frey, was a former photographer from Santa Cruz who had a passion for wine. He is now a winemaker, business owner, and abstract expressionist artist. James has been making wine for the past 13 years since first planting a vineyard in his backyard. His new release wines were very impressive. I recently had the chance to sit down with him and chat wine. He talked about the recent run of warm vintages, as well as how he approaches his gorgeous Riesling and Chardonnay wines. I think you will really enjoy hearing more about him. Here is my interview with James Frey, winemaker of Trisaetum Winery. 

WWB: How did you decide to start Trisaetum?   

JF: I wish I could say there was some grand plan that led to this point, some brilliant business plan, but in reality it was lots of little things and a bit of persistence.  It started with a backyard acre of dead ice plant upon which I decided plant a vineyard.  That led to me turning our home into a winery every fall…which eventually led to us purchasing a piece of land in the Willamette Valley back in 2003 (so as my wife says I would stop making wine in the house).  My wife and I, along with our two young children, moved to the site and planted what would become the Coast Range estate.  Then came an opportunity to buy a piece of land on Ribbon Ridge, where we planted our second vineyard and built our winery.  It’s been 10 vintages now for Trisaetum in our winery with our own fruit.  Had we known everything we know now, maybe we wouldn’t have started the journey; but in hindsight, throwing away some caution and taking the risk has fortunately worked out for us.  It probably goes without saying it’s hard work building something from scratch, but it’s the best job in the world.

WWB: Your 2016 Trisaetum Riesling releases were some of the highest rated and most compelling bottlings in North America that I have reviewed in the past year. Can you talk about creating the right combination of extraction and tension in those awesome wines?

JF: Thank you for the kinds words.  Given we release eight different Rieslings each year, it’s something we’re particularly passionate about.  My family is originally from Alsace, so I suspect there’s Riesling coursing through my veins.  With that said, I did not go to wine school but instead learned by doing. I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, and some of the time I’m smart enough notto repeat them year after year. For Riesling, I only do small vessel fermentations.  Each vintage I have roughly 100 oak barrel, stainless steel drum and concrete eggferments.  While it’s logistically much more complicated, it does provide me plenty of options from which to achieve the right balance; the right extraction and tension you’re talking about.  I don’t really follow a recipe. I like to experiment a lot and I taste even more. In the end, the goal is to produce Rieslings that have a soul, that reflect a sense of place; so ultimately you really have to be married to your sites.  With the amazing soil diversity we have in the Willamette Valley, and the significant variation from site to site; I think we can produce some pretty special single vineyard Riesling.

WWB: Your Chardonnay new release wines from the 2015 vintage were gorgeous. Can you talk about how you craft your style of Chardonnay which shows both elegance and opulence?  

JF: My favorite bottles of Chardonnay are those that have depth without being heavy…and have electricity without being austere.  As with any wine, it’s ultimately about balance.  Just like with Riesling, I only do small vessel ferments with Chardonnay choosing mostly to use a mix of new and neutral French oak barrels from the forests of Nevers and Allier (and occasionally mix in some concrete eggs).  I’ve been immensely fortunate the past four vintages to work alongside Jacques Lardiére as Louis Jadot vinifies their Oregon wines at Trisaetum.  Jacques spent forty-twoyears making great white burgundy for Jadot, so picking his brain every day is life changing.  It’s safe to say Jacques has had a major influence on how I approach making Chardonnay here in the Willamette Valley.  It’s hard not to be inspired tasting each day along-side someone whose made wine from well over one hundred vineyards in Burgundy.

WWB: Oregon has enjoyed a recent run of downright awesome vintages. How excited are you about the 2015 and 2016 vintages? What are some of the differences you see between 2015 and 2016?   

JF: The running joke in the Willamette Valley is if you’re wearing a t-shirt during harvest it’s a good year because some years it’s only long underwear and rain gear.  So yes, the past two vintages in Oregon have been warm and dry whereclusters were ripe and flavors well-developed. Surprisingly though, acidity didn’t drop as quickly as expected(especially in 2016), leaving us with great energy in the wines.  While plentiful, I find the tannins to be more fine-grained in 2016.  As with any warmer vintage in Oregon, the key is retaining elegance and nuance despite the ripeness. That may mean picking a little earlier, doing more whole-cluster or keeping fermentation temperatures lower. It’s still early, but it’s hard not to like what Mother Nature gave us in both 2015 and 2016. 

WWB: When you are not enjoying Oregon wines, what are some of your favorite wines of the world? What is your cellar like?  

JF: Given winemakers here are quite collaborative and we like to trade wine with each other on a regular basis, my cellar has an abundance of Oregon bottles.  Some of these are my most prized.  But since you asked about wines beyond Oregon, sections of my cellar I find myself going to most often would be Alsace, Wachauand the Saar for Riesling; all things Walla Walla; Beaujolais; Pouilly-Fuissé; Jura; and not surprisingly Burgundy.  These happen to correspond to the winemaking regions I most often visit, so it’s probably not surprising.  Because we are about to release our first sparkling wines at Trisaetum, I do seem to have a larger number of grower champagnes on hand recently; which is surprising since these don’t typically hang around the cellar very long.  My cellar master and I like to do whiskey and scotch tastings on a regular basis as well.  When someone asks me how to become a successfulwinemaker, the answer is simple.  You must taste.  And taste a lot.  And taste different styles of wine from around the world.  The more you taste, the better your palate becomes; the better winemaker you become.

Quilceda Creek

A standout in Washington wine, founded in 1979, Quilceda Creek has been one of the most consistently outstanding producers of Cabernet in North America. Last Friday I had the chance to visit the winery and taste there. The spotlight was on the warm, 2014 vintage which was the hottest vintage on record to that point in Washington state. The new release wines from Quilceda were simply stunning. 

One of the best values in Washington wine is their 2014 ‘CVR’ (WWB, 94) which impressed even more than when I first reviewed the wine in December, 2016. This wine now is even more plush, open and downright delicious than how it showed upon release. At the 40 dollar retail price point, this wine is a knockout value.  One of the best wines I have reviewed this year was the 2014 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet (WWB 99). This true heavyhitter flirts with perfection and walks the line between being brooding and elegant. This is one of the best of its kind that I have ever had from this storied state. The best ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet by Quilceda that I have ever sampled is their new 2014 bottling (WWB, 99). This vineyard is truly coming into its own as the resultant wine is a rockstar bottling that is hugely intense and elegant, showing massive dark fruits and strong tannins.  Hats off to superstar winemaker, Paul Golitzen, who has crafted some of the best Cabernet wine in the United States. Learn more about this famed estate at http://quilcedacreek.com Here are the stunning new wines by Quilceda Creek. 

2014 Quiceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine- This wine begins with aromatics of crushed wet rock, red cherry, anise and creme de cassis. Thew mouthfeel is dense and intense with flavors of creme de cassis, coffee grounds, mocha and crushed mint. The mouthfeel is intense as the rich flavors delight the senses. This has lovely tension, precision and minerality, as the weight and structure shine through. This is intense and absolutely gorgeous right now as the fruit weight and plush texture has improved since this was first reviewed in December 2016. This wine is truly one of the best value red wines made in Washington. Drink 2017-2027- 94

2014 Quilceda Creek ‘Palengat’ Red Wine- This is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. This vintage has utilized considerably less Merlot than the previous vintage. The is entirely sourced from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The aromatics are dense and somewhat spicy showing spicebox, anise, creme de cassis, coffee grounds and cayenne pepper. The heady aromas bring you back to the glass for more.The mouthfeel is voluptuous and intense. Creme de cassis, anise, coffee grounds, candied red cherry and hints of pipe tobacco flavors persist. The red wine is showing its masculine side as the Cabernet component is stealing the show at the moment. Tannins are moderate at this juncture and you can get a touch of herbaceousness from the Cabernet Franc towards the back end. This excellent red wine will cellar marvelously for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2030- 95

2014 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet- This 100% Cabernet wine was aged for 21 months in new French oak and was sourced from the Champoux, Palengat and Wallula VIneyards. Having a dense core this inky colored Cabernet wine begins with a ripe bouquet of rose petals, creme de cassis, anise, milk chocolate coated dark cherries and sweet pipe tobacco. The heady aromatics are downright monstrous, yet depict a wonderful sense of place which brings out the wine’s femininity. The palate is plush and intense, showing a wonderful softness as this juncture. There are deep flavors of black forest cake, black olive tapenade, creme de cassis, mocha and suggestions of eucalyptus. The minerality is absolutely fabulous as this wine brings near perfect tension, voluptuous fruits and an exceedingly long finish. If enjoying young be sure to decant for at least two hours.  There is a seamless quality to this wine that reminds me of the unbelievable 2004 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ bottling. This gorgeous Cabernet wine is both massive and elegant. This stunning wine will cellar well for two decades. Drink 2018-2035- 99

2014 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet- This 100% Cabernet wine was sourced from the esteemed Galitzine Vineyard in Red Mountain, which was first planted in 2000 and 2001. The Galitzine Vineyard is 100% owned and controlled by Quilceda Creek. The wine was aged for 21 months in 100% French oak prior to botlting. This Cabernet has an even more dense core than 2014 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet bottling. The aromatics are loaded with dark fruits including candied black cherry, black raspberry cordial, Hoisin sauce, creme de cassis and Turkish coffee with hints of crushed mint. These gorgeous aromatics make you sit at your glass and think of this hot vintage and vineyard site which is really coming into its own. The mouthfeel and texture to this stunning Cabernet wine is simply incredible. The mid-palate weight is simply massive at this juncture and is like nothing that I have sampled in the past year from Washington. Moderate to major tannins frame uber-dense flavors of black olive tapenade, sweet pipe tobacco, wild blackberry preserves, dark chocolate shavings and suggestions of Chinese black tea. Exotic, intense and layered, this massive wine will cellar marvelously over the next two decades. The wine is becoming even more divergent to the ‘Columbia Valley’ bottling as this shows even more intensity and fruit weight on the mid-palate. This is nearly impossible to resist right now in its nascency due to the massive weight but try to resist it for at least another year for the tannins to mellow. Drink 2018-2035- 99

Wagner Family of Wines

One of the biggest players in Napa, Caymus and the Wagner Family of Wines has established themselves as superstar producers of ripe and robust wines. Caymus has established itself for more than 40 years and is known for some of the best Cabernet out of Napa. 

Besides Caymus, Wagner Family produces several lines of wines including Conundrum, Emmolo and Mer Soleil. The new lineup of wines by Wagner Family were highly impressive. Caymus also produces a reserve Cabernet wine, bottled as their ‘Special Selection.’ The past three vintages of the ‘Special Selection’ have been insanely good — none more so than their new release, the 2014 ‘Special Selection’ Cabernet (WWB, 97) which is a heavyhitter of a wine, showing gobs of dark fruit alongside wonderful graphite and mineral components. The 2014 ‘Special Selection’ is up there with the best Napa Cabernet bottlings that I have sampled this year. 

Learn more about Caymus and the Wagner Family of Wines at http://www.wagnerfamilyofwine.com

2015 Conundrum White Wine- The ‘Connundrum’ White Wine is an excellent blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscat Canelli, and Viognier. Refreshing and downright delicious, this wine yields some bright flavors of honeydew melon, green apple, bright pear and starfruit. The bursts of fruit in the glass is intense, as is the excellent minerality expressed. With a touch of sweetness, this is a fantastic wine for summer. Drink 2017-2021- 90

2016 Conundrum Rose- This intriguing Rose wine is made from the Valdigué varietal, largely only grown in California. This great Rose wine comes in a great looking retro bottle. The wine begins with a ripe bouquet of pink grapefruit, watermelon and red cherry. Fruity and downright delicious flavors await, reminiscent of red cherry, red raspberry, currant and guava puree that sit alongside some brisk minerality. This has lovely weight as it is done in the forward style, while maintaining good structure. Drink 2017-2021- 90

2015 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc- This light colored Sauvignon Blanc wine by Emmolo begins with aromatics of unripe pear, gooseberry and citrus blossoms. Lithe and light on its feet, this great wine delivers ripe flavors of pear, Pink Lady apple, lemongrass and suggestions of baking spices. This shows off the heat of the vintage while maintaining some excellent structure. Drink 2017-2022- 91

2015 Mer Soleil ‘Silver’ Chardonnay- This unoaked Chardonnay wine is sourced from Monterey County and was aged in both stainless steel and small concrete tanks. The wine begins with aromatics of ripe peach, Golden Delicious apple, creme brûlée and nutmeg. The bouquet is lovely, bordering on exotic. Creme brulee, white peach, marzipan and brioche flavors coat the mid-palate, as does mouthwatering acidity. This is a gorgeous effort and a downright awesome value from this estate. Drink 2017-2025- 93

2015 Emmolo Merlot- This dense colored Merlot wine comes from a hot vintage in Napa and begins with deep aromatics reminiscent of black tea, Hoisin sauce, mocha and mint. The palate is plush, offering creme de cassis, pipe tobacco and black cherry cough syrup flavors. Chewy tannins round out this exceedingly delicious Merlot wine. Drink 2017-2027- 91

2014 Caymus ‘Special Selection’ Cabernet- The 2014 Caymus 'Special Selection' Cabernet is an exceptional wine made from this storied estate.  Following some time to settle in the decanter, this incredible Cabernet wine begins to yield dense aromatics of creosote, black tar, black cherry compote, milk chocolate shavings and licorice. The mid-palate mouthfeel is voluptuous and intense as this wine offers exceedingly dense flavors of black cherry cough syrup, milk chocolate, raspberry liquor, blueberry pie and boysenberry alongside tar accents. Be sure to give a stunning one at least a two hour decant before enjoying young as the tannins are massive and need time to develop. I can see this exceedingly delicious Cabernet wine cellaring beautifully for two decades on. This is up there with the best ‘Special Selection’ Cabernet wines that I have ever sampled. Drink 2018-2038- 97

Domaine J. Meuret

Following some huge successes with his first winery, Maison Bleue, Domaine J. Meuret was founded by Dr. Jon Meuret in 2013. Domaine J. Meuret focuses on crafting small lot Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines from organically grown, cool-climate vineyards across the Pacific Northwest. This winery serves as a cool side project for Dr. Meuret, as his last two cool climate wines have impressed. 

Both wines come from the very warm 2014 vintage, which was generally a challenging vintage for white wines. His 2014 Domaine J. Meuret 'Clos Pierre White Salmon Vineyard' Chardonnay (WWB, 92) is a stunning example of cool climate Washington Chardonnay, as the wine shows vibrant acidity despite the obvious heat of the vintage. Learn more about these really cool wines at http://jmeuret.com/ Here are the new release wines by Domaine J. Meuret. 

2014 Domaine J. Meuret 'Clos Pierre White Salmon Vineyard' Chardonnay-Chardonnay- The White Salmon Vineyard is a 20 acre cool climate vineyard located in the Columbia Gorge region. This vineyard has gained a very strong reputation in the state for elegant Chardonnay. This wine begins with bright aromatics of pink grapefruit, white peach and lychee with Pazzaz apple. This leads to flavors of white peach, vanilla cream and New York apple pie with a saline streak. This has wonderful length and persistence. Drink 2017-2026- 92

2014 Domaine J. Meuret 'Les Cheney Phelps Creek Vineyard' Pinot Noir- The Phelps Creek Vineyard is set at 950–1,200 feet with an average annual rainfall of 36 inches. The soil is deep, reddish colored ancient volcanic soil. This wine utilizes Dijon 115 and Pommard clones. Having tasted through the Phelps Creek winery lineup, it is apparent that this cool climate site produces some wonderful grapes. Dr. Jon Meuret has crafted his Pinot Noir utilizing this great vineyard. This has lovely aromatics of bing cherry, red raspberry, sage and baking spices. This leads to flavors of red cherry, red raspberry, nutmeg and pomegranate seed with orange rind. This had lovely texture and range, as well as mid-palate weight as the warm vintage has added some intensity to the red fruits. This shows off wonderful minerality despite the obvious heat of the vintage. I can see this wonderful Pinot Noir wine cellar a decade or more. Drink 2017-2027- 92