Video Interview with Jean-Francois Pellet, Head Winemaker and Managing Partner of Amavi Cellars and Pepper Bridge Winery

Happy Valentine’s Day to you all 🍾❤️
Today we bring you a very special video interview with superstar winemaker Jean-Francois Pellet, of Amavi Cellars and Pepper Bridge Winery.

Latta Wines

One of the great young talents in Washington wine, Latta Wines was started by winemaker and owner Andrew Latta in 2011. Andrew previously worked at Charles Smith for many years before starting his own winery, located in the SoDo district of Seattle. Andrew was born and raised in Kentucky. He began working in restaurants at a young age, starting as a busser and moving upwards to a prestigious Sommelier position at a high end resort in Thailand. It was at that job that Andrew was exposed to the great wines of the world, and the rest was history. Andrew spoke to me last year in an interview about his first important experiences in the Washington wine industry, from working as a cellar rat at Dunham Cellars, to his position with Charles Smith in 2006, where he became winemaker. He is a humble, downright awesome to chat wine with. He is the kind of guy that messages me back about another interview on his honeymoon!

Andrew’s new releases were beautiful across the board. His new rose release, the 2016 Kind Stranger Rose (WWB, 90) has wonderful poise and astringency.  This is a wonderful wine for the summer. Check out his gorgeous 2014 Latta Wines ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache (WWB, 92) which is wonderfully feminine and soft, with a silky mouthfeel. Learn more about this outstanding lineup of wines at http://www.lattawines.com/

2016 Kind Stranger Rose- The Rose is a blend of 42% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre, 27% Cinsault. The nose reminds me of rose petals, orange blossom and wild strawberry. Bright guava, lemon zest and watermelon flavors mark this great Rose. Drink 2018-2020- 90

2014 Latta Wines ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Roussanne- This wine starts off with aromas of green apple, pear and sage. This has wonderful astringency with a warm, creamy finish that lingers. The beautiful mouthfeel really makes this wine. Drink 2018-2022- 92

2013 Latta Wines ‘Upland Vineyard’ Mourvèdre- This translucent colored wine begins with red cherry preserves, loganberry and Asian spices. There is ice balance on the mid-palate as the wine shows off black tea, cola and red cherry flavors. Drink 2018-2028- 91

2014 Latta Wines ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache- This light colored Grenache opens with a bouquet of red cherry, rose petals and guava. The texture here is really nice. Red cherry, dill, and a touch of orange rind impress, as the feminine side is beauituflly expressed. Drink 2018-2026- 92

2013 Latta Wines ‘Northridge Vineyard’ Malbec- This deep colored wine has chocolate, coffee grounds and blueberry jelly aromatics. The palate is plush as this delivers wild blackberry pie, sage and mocha flavors that connect with nice tension. Drink 2018-2026- 91

Kongsgaard Chardonnay

That feeling of trying a wine and feeling speechless resonates with me. One of the great wines of the world, John Kongsgaard produces some of the best Chardonnay in Napa. I had the chance to meet him a year ago and chat wine. A downright awesome and highly personable guy, John’s family has remarkably lived 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 famed 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.

I have had the great pleasure in reviewing the past three Kongsgaard Chardonnay releases.  Last years release, his 2014 Kongsgaard ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay (WWB, 97), was the highest rated North American Chardonnay that I have reviewed in more than two years. This years release, the 2015 Kongsgaard Chardonnay (WWB, 96) is nearly as good. The wine takes on an exotic range of aromatics and flavors — all leading to a minute-plus long finish. This extraordinary wine will cellar marvelously for decades. Learn more about this storied winery at http://www.kongsgaardwine.com Here is the new Chardonnay release by Kongsgaard.

2015 Kongsgaard Chardonnay- This seamless and memorable wine is a stunning follow up to the downright opulent 2014 Chardonnay bottling. The nose reminds me of vanilla creme brûlée, bright lemon crushed brioche and Pazzaz apple. The palate is exceedingly plush, while maintaining a wonderful tension towards the back. Creme brûlée, butterscotch, bananas foster and roasted pineapple complete this stunning wine. The Kongsgaard saves the best for last with a minute long, Meyer lemon cream driven finish. This is another astonishing wine made by superstar winemaker John Kongsgaard. Drink 2018-2030- 96

Long Shadows Added to Lineup

Friends,

We have some very exciting news. We have now confirmed Long Shadows Vintners (http://www.longshadows.com) will be added to our enticing lineup of Washington wineries for our 1st Annual Washington Wine Blog Critic's Choice of Washington on Saturday February 17th.

Long Shadows is of the best wineries in the state. They will be pouring some remarkable wines that you won't want to miss. Don't forget to get your tickets here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wineseattle-washington-wine-blog-critics-choice-tickets-42278434937

Lineup For 1st Annual Washington Wine Blog Critic's Choice of Washington

Friends,

In less than two weeks we will host our 1st Annual Washington Wine Blog Critic's Choice of Washington. Join us for some of the best red and white wines in the state, and mingle with some of the most talented winemakers out there as you take in the breathtaking views from the Columbia Tower Club. We hope you will join us for this amazing event!

Purchase your tickets here: 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wineseattle-washington-wine-blog-critics-choice-tickets-42278434937?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button

We will now announce our exciting lineup of Washington wineries:

Long Shadows Vintners

Den Hoed Estates

Force Majeure

Delille Cellars

Dunham Cellars

W.T. Vintners

Ardor Cellars

Ambassador Wines of Washington

Andrew Januik

Januik Winery

Novelty Hill Winery

Can't wait to see you all there on Saturday February 17th at 5PM!

Cheers,

Owen Bargreen & Jae Hong

Borne of Fire

Chateau St. Michelle is known for producing some of the outstanding value wines from Washington on the retail market. Their new project, Borne of Fire, is a Cabernet Sauvignon wine with 10% Malbec blended in which is sourced from a new proposed AVA, located in south central Washington by the Columbia River, between the Columbia Gorge and Horse Heaven Hills AVAs. The name behind this AVA is harkens back to the region’s early settlers, who burned their fields every autumn to restart the soil. Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards were first planted in 2002, and then platings increased in 2015 as St. Michelle also planted Syrah, Malbec, Sangiovese and Chardonnay. The new wine is fruity and forward, with a nice backbone. Borne of Fire is the only wine available in the retail market that is available from this proposed Washington AVA, 'The Burn.' Roughly 35,000 cases were made of this wine, retailing at $23.00 a bottle. Here is my review of the new 2016 Borne of Fire Cabernet Sauvignon.

2016 Borne of Fire Cabernet Sauvignon- The heady nose starts off with roasted rigs and blackberry pie. This is generous and fruity but the balance is lovely, which is deftly combined with dark fruits. Drink 2018-2024- 89

Essential Wine Stemware

I admit that I was highly skeptical at first. To think that wine tastes comparatively better in a type of glass seemed a bit esoteric or downright inconclusive for me. So as I tasted I continued to experiment with glassware, one after one. About ten years ago I took one of the Riedel Comparative Workshops which evaluates whether the right glass changes how wine tastes. I was absolutely floored by the demonstration and the compelling evidence from the workshop. Strangely, my analytical mind still wasn't entirely convinced.

At home while tasting I continued to experiment on my own, trying Sauvignon Blanc in Pinot glasses, Merlot in a Chardonnay glass and I became more intrigued. I decided to take the Riedel class once again, this time led by Riedel CEO Georg Riedel (video link to similar presentation) . We compared everything from water to Coke to Cabernet Franc and everything in between. This second class was the deal-breaker for me. Wine needs to be served from the correct glass every time because the difference in aromatics and flavors are remarkably different.

I have followed this strict philosophy in every wine that I review because I feel that it is so imperative to taste wine the way that wine is supposed to show. Just as some wineries instruct me to decant a wine for three plus hours prior to reviewing, I feel that reviewing wine out of the wrong glass gives the reviewer an inaccurate presentation of a wine -- just as the seeing first act of a play doesn't equate to the entire performance. 

I have some suggestions for those who might be more interested in experimenting on their own with the correct stemware for each varietal:

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir : For California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

For Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

I think that Pinot Noir is a varietal that is absolutely imperative to show in the correct stemware. I've experimented with each glass for many years and I have actually found a pretty large difference between having California and Oregon Pinot Noir served in each respective glass.

The same has been true with Chardonnay, although I have found less differences in how Oregon Chardonnay shows between the Oregon and California glass. In truth, I think the differences tend to be minuscule, only slightly different on the nose. 

Syrah: For Washington Syrah 

For Washington Syrah I have found that the wine shows marvelously in this 'Old World Syrah' glass. I have found this to be true for non-Walla Walla Rocks AVA wines as well as Walla Walla Rocks AVA wines. I have experimented fairly extensively between Cabernet and Syrah glasses for Syrah. While the Cabernet glasses tend to show well for Syrah, I have found that in particular with the Walla Walla Rocks AVA, the wines are far more expressive aromatically with the Riedel Syrah glass. This seems to be highly compelling evidence that every lover of the Walla Walla Rocks AVA should have a few of these Riedel Syrah glasses. 

Cabernet Sauvignon: For Washington and California Cabernet Sauvignon 

I also really like the Vinum Extreme for these wines but the Vinum is considerably more expensive and I have not found a considerable difference in aromatics and flavors by using both of these glasses. I have also found over time that the Cabernet Sauvignon varietal tends to show more impressively with the Cabernet glass than the Syrah glass. 

Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc: For Washington and California Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc

After some long experiments, I feel that Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc show incredibly similarly in the same glass. I've chosen this glass because I feel that purchasing a separate glass for Riesling might be a tad excessive. Riedel also recommends this wine for California Zinfandel, which I find to show considerably better in this glass than in a larger glass, like that for Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon. For those who enjoy crisp whites for summer, this glass is really a must-purchase.

Chandler Reach

One of the stunning places to taste wine in Washington, Chandler Reach is a gorgeous property located outside of Benton City, Washington in the Columbia Valley. The winery focuses on their estate grown fruit, and was started in 1997 on a trip to Italy where the owners saw opportunity on launching a winery between Richland and Prosser off I-82. Len Parris panned his vineyard in1999 with starts off from the famous Ciel du Cheval vineyard. The Chandler Reach winery has a beautiful Tuscan style villa overlooking the valley and Yakima river. Having tasted there for more than a decade, this is one of the great Washington spots to go tasting in Eastern Washington. 

Most of their wines show impressive fruit and structure. They have received considerable recognition for their red wines, especially their Cabernet Franc and their Monte Regalo, a Cabernet blend. They have a very solid lineup of wines as many of their current releases have had extensive bottle time. Look to the 2012 Chandler Reach Syrah (WWB, 90) which has marvelous structure and ripeness. The best wine that I tried was their 2013 Chandler Reach ‘Perris Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 91) which has gorgeous dark fruit flavors and great tension. Check out more about Chandler Reach wines at http://www.chandlerreach.com/#estate-winery Here are the new releases by Chandler Reach. 

2016 Chandler Reach Pinot Grigio- Sourced from the Columbia Valley, this wine begins with aromatics of pink grapefruit, white peach and suggestions of cut grass. The palate is lithe as the wine shows off flavors of green apple and cut grass with a touch of Key lime. This is a lovely effort. Drink 2017-2020- 89

2012 Chandler Reach Syrah- This solid Syrah is sourced from Block 6 in the estate vineyard. The wine begins with aromas of milk chocolate, baking spices and black plum. The palate is plush as the wine showcases black cherry, milk chocolate and baking spice flavors that connect with some nice structure. Drink 2017-2022- 90

2011 Chandler Reach ‘Ventoso’ Red Wine- The name of this wine means ‘windy’ in Italian and is 100% estate sourced Merlot. This begins with aromas of red cherry, prune and baking spices. Poised and balanced, this wine reveals orange rind, red cherry and pomegranate flavors. This is a bit lean but poised and an excellent effort from this cold vintage. Drink 2017-2022- 89

2010 Chandler Reach ‘Corella’ Red Wine- This wine is a blend of 75% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. The wine begins with aromas of red cherry, red currant and sage. This has nice poise as the wine delivers bright red fruit flavors with some nice tension. Drink 2017-2022- 89

2011 Chandler Reach ‘Monte Regalo’ Red Wine- This great value, cold vintage red wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot. The wine opens with a bright bouquet of red cherry, dill and sage with a touch of black currant. The mouthfeel is inviting and plush, as the wine delivers black cherry, black tea and red currant flavors that sit alongside some nice minerality. This is another outstanding effort from this winery. Drink 2017-2024- 89

2013 Chandler Reach ‘Perris Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Inky and brooding, the wine begins with aromas of Chinese black tea, tar and creme de cassis with black olive. The silky mouthfeel impresses. Baking spices, black tea, black cherry and sagebrush flavors impress. This is an outstanding effort by Chandler Reach. Drink 2017-2025- 91

Cardinale Vertical Tasting, Mandarin Oriental Hotel NYC

Possibly the most striking setting I’ve witnessed for a tasting, a few weeks back while in New York I had the opportunity to review a dazzling vertical tasting of one of the great Napa wines, Cardinale. One of the gorgeous properties in Napa Valley, Cardinale is located in the Napa floor, in Oakville not far from Robert Mondavi Winery. The Cardinale Red Wine is a Cabernet wine with smaller parts of Merlot blended in. At the helm is superstar winemaker, Chris Carpenter, is an MBA graduate who has previously worked for Domaine Carneros, Domaine Chandon California, as well as Tenute Antinori, Santa Cristina Estate, in Montefiridolfi, Italy, before coming to Cardinale. Chris is humble when talking about his wines. He is truly one of the great talents of Napa.

Listening to Chris give his presentation on the wines was a fantastic experience. His wealth of knowledge for the region and vintages was particularly impressive. Chris talked about these varying vintages, from the challenging 1998 vintage to the near perfect 2002 vintage to the latest vintage, the exceedingly hot and exciting 2014 vintage. Each wine had a wonderful sense of balance, as the older wines showed that while some fruit might drop out, the balance and poise remains in the wine. One of the shining wines I tried was the spectacular 1997 Cardinale Red Wine (WWB, 95) which is now more than 20 years old. This stunner still has an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Also showing marvelously was the 2002 Cardinale Red Wine (WWB, 97), which was impossible to put down, offering serious dark fruits and very pretty aromatics. I have not tried the 2009 Cardinale Red Wine (WWB, 97) for many years but it was showing even better than I had remembered — and I was reminded what a stunning warm vintage ’09 was. The new release by Cardinale, the 2014 Cardinale Red Wine (WWB, 96) is a bit of an untamed beast at the moment as this massive wine will need a bit more time to fully develop.  Learn more about these stunning wines at http://www.cardinale.com/ Here are my reviews from the vertical tasting of Cardinale Red Wine at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel NYC.

1995 Cardinale Red Wine-A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, this wine is now more than 20 years old! Earthy aromatics dominate with leather, dusty earth and red cherry with red currant jelly. The texture is outrageously good as the wine shows red cherry, boysenberry jam, smoked meat and cherry tomato flavors that connect with nice tension. This fantastic showing is best enjoyed over the next decade. Drink 2018-2027- 94

1997 Cardinale Red Wine-The wine is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot. The wine begins with aromas of black cherry, Turkish coffee and tar. The texture is highly compelling as the wine yields black cherry, black olive and Turkish coffee flavors. Rich and decadent this will cellar well for a decade or more. The wine is a show-stopper right now. Drink 2018-2030- 95

1998 Cardinale Red Wine-This wine a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon with 16% Merlot. Aromas of red cherry tomato, red cherry preserves and blackberry pie. The polished and soft texture makes this wine shine. Black tea, anise and blackberry pie flavors show their appeal. This has less weight and intensity than the other vintages but will continue cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2027- 93

2002 Cardinale Red Wine- The 2002 Cardinale Red Wine is a stunning blend of 88% Cabernet with the remainder Merlot. 26% of the fruit was sourced from the To Kalon Vineyard. This begins with exotic aromas of rose petals, red cherry and blackberry cobbler with coffee grounds. This has a marvelous combination of weight and tension. Blackberry pie, mocha, anise and creme de cassis flavors impress. Downright delicious, this has a long life for the cellar. Drink 2018-2033- 97

2005 Cardinale Red Wine- The 2005 Cardinale Red Wine is silky blend of 88% Cabernet with 12% Merlot. This warm vintage wine opens with a bouquet of black tea, graphite, mocha and creme de cassis. The texture is voluptuous as you can feel the heat of the vintage. Mocha, sandalwood, Chinese black tea and blackberry jam flavors impress. Mineral driven and rich, this is a stunner by Chris Carpenter. Drink 2018-2033- 96

2006 Cardinale Red Wine-This is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot. This begins with aromas of black tea, blackberry jam and mocha with crushed mint. Massive and hugely dense, this shows mocha, black tea, graphite and creme de cassis flavors that sit alongside some nice tension. The mid-palate weight is intoxicating. The finish is extremely lengthy and generous, as this is just a spectacular showing by Cardinale. Drink 2018-2033- 96

2007 Cardinale Red Wine-The 2007 Cardinale Red Wine is a blend of 86% Cabernet with the remainder Merlot. This opens with aromatics of creme de cassis, coffee grounds, eucalyptus and wild thyme. The rich texture is outstanding here. Black fruits masquerade with chocolate and coffee notes alongside solid structure. Drink 2018-2033- 96

2009 Cardinale Red Wine-Exotic, layered and stunning, the 2009 Cardinale Red Wine is an incredible blend of 91% Cabernet with the remainder Merlot. Having an extremely deep hue, this opens with hoisin sauce, mocha and blackberry cobbler aromas. The texture is outrageously good, as is the mouthwatering acidity. Black tea, mocha and creme de cassis flavors impress. The exceedingly long finish dazzles. Drink 2018-2035- 97

2012 Cardinale Red Wine-The 2012 Cardinale Red Wine is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot. This begins with aromas of anise, creme de cassis, black tea and mocha. Dense and layered there are ripe black tea, mocha, crushed mint and blackberry pie flavors. Massive and still young, this needs another year in the bottle to fully evolve. There is a wonderful sense of elegance in this wine. Drink 2019-2035- 95

2014 Cardinale Red Wine- The massive wine is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. This wine opens with a bouquet of coffee grounds, creme de cassis and dried herbs with a touch of blueberry cordial. This has a marvelous tension and weight. Creme de cassis, anise, mocha, blueberry compote and sandalwood flavors show impressively. The combination of weight and tension is marvelous here. Try to resist this gorgeous wine for at least another year. Drink 2019-2035- 96

Frank Family Vineyards

Founded in 1992 by Rich and Leslie Frank, Frank Family Vineyards is one of the jewels of Napa Valley. As the former President of Disney Studios, Rich Frank traveled extensively across the globe, trying the great wines of the world. Over time he knew that Napa Valley was the perfect setting to start a winery. Rich had an incredibly successful career and under his leadership, television and movie properties such as Cheers, Entertainment Tonight, Golden Girls, Ellen, Dead Poet’s Society, Pretty Woman, Aladdin, and The Lion King achieved worldwide acclaim. Rich also is the longest serving President of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmys). 

Leslie also had an incredibly successful career, spending more than 25 years covering news stories, and the last nine years of her TV news career reporting and anchoring at the number-one-rated station, KABC in Los Angeles. Prior to Los Angeles, Leslie was the main anchor at KCPQ, the FOX affiliate in Seattle, where she helped launch its 10 pm newscast, taking it to number one in its time slot and receiving an Emmy for Outstanding News Anchor. Rich and Leslie are fully invested in Frank Family Vineyards' as they manage everything from vineyard purchases, to sales and marketing. 

Superstar winemaker Todd Graff first stated with Frank Family in 2003. His new releases were exceptional across the board. Frank Family has gained a very strong reputation for their Chardonnay wines and the latest set of releases were gorgeous. Check out the 2015 Frank Family Chardonnay (WWB, 92) which shows wonderful lift and ripe fruits with moderate oak. This release is an exceptional value. Even better is the simply stunning 2015 Frank Family ‘Lewis Vineyard Reserve’ Chardonnay (WWB, 94) which is opulent and soft, with an exceedingly long finish. Learn more about these outstanding wines at 

2013 Frank Family ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- This Napa valley wine starts off with aromas of brioche and lemon zest with a touch of cantaloupe. Lively, with a lovely effervescence, lemon oil and Challah bread flavors shine through. This finishes clean with minerals and lip-smacking acidity. Made in the refreshing style, this is perfect for a hot summer day. Drink 2018-2022- 91

2013 Frank Family Rose Sparkling Wine- Orange zest and cran-pomegranate mark the nose. This has a great tension and salinity. Orange rind, teaberry, and a touch of crab-cherry flavors sit alongside some lively minerality. Balanced and highly poised, this lovely wine is a great pairing for cedar planked salmon. Drink 2018-2022- 91

2015 Frank Family Chardonnay- This golden hued wine opens with a bouquet of brioche, toasty oak and roasted hazelnut. Delicious and layered, this has a silky mouthfeel as the wine delivers white peach, Golden Delicious apple and creme brûlée favors that connect with a good tension. Drink 2018-2024- 92

2015 Frank Family ‘Lewis Vineyard Reserve’ Chardonnay- Even richer hued than their regular bottling, the 2015 Frank Family ‘Lewis Vineyard Reserve’ Chardonnay offers an fantastic aromatic range of butterscotch, toasty oak, marzipan and baking spices. Beautifully textured and ripe, this shows off roasted pineapple, banana, Pink Lady apple and nutmeg flavors alongside nice minerality. The near minute long finish is simply exceptional. Drink 2018-2028- 94

2015 Frank Family Pinot Noir- This gorgeous Pinot Noir starts off with baking spices, red currant, red cheery preserves and a touch of orange rind. The palate is plush and round, as the wine shows off strawberry jam, cherry cola and sassafras flavors that connect with a lively tension. This delicious wine is impossible to put down right now. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2015 Frank Family ‘Lewis Vineyard Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 ‘Lewis Vineyard Reserve’ Pinot Noir by Frank Family is a show-stopping combination of dark and red fruits. Cola, blackberry, black tea, and black cherry compote flavors impress. The long, dark fruit driven, finish lingers on the tongue. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2014 Frank Family Zinfandel- This deep colored wine starts off with red currant, dusty earth and plum aromatics. The balance and red fruits are gorgeous on the mid-palate. Slighty sweet, this delivers really nice range and poise. Enjoy this great wine over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 91

2014 Frank Family ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This inky colored wine begins with aromatics of dusty earth, cigar shavings, black cherry and black olive tapenade. This shows off tremendous depth and poise as the wine delivers rich Hoisin sauce, blackberry pie, milk chocolate and black cherry syrup flavors that marvelously amalgamate  with the tension. Rich and decadent, enjoy this great wine over the next twenty years. Drink 2018-2038- 94

2014 Frank Family Petite Sirah- Inky and brooding, the wine needs more than an hour in the decanter to settle. Once aroused it opens with a rich nose of boysenberry liquor, blueberry compote and milk chocolate. The structure and richness to this wine is really inviting as the dense mouthfeel coats the mid-palate. Blackberry cobbler, dark chocolate shavings and roasted fig flavors impress. This is an outstanding effort in a warm vintage. Drink 2018-2028- 93

a'Maurice Cellars

a’Maurice Cellars is a winery dedicated to Maurice Schafer who built one of the largest and most successful timber companies in the Pacific Northwest. The Schafers, Tom and Kathleen, created the first registered sustainable vineyard in Washington State. Tom Schafer is the visionary of àMaurice. Tom spent two years studying the Walla Walla Valley, and found a south-facing parcel of land up Mill Creek. This was the spot for their estate vineyard which has produced an outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 93) coming from the 2014 vintage. 

Tom and Kathleen Shafter’s daughter, Anna Schafer, serves as a’Maurice winemaker. Anna has worked harvest for superstar winemaker Paul Hobbs at his Viña Cobos estate in Argentina in both 2006 and 2007.  She is a highly talented winemaker, as her releases were very impressive across the board. Anna has two a’Maurice wines sourced from the esteemed Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. Their Grenache and Syrah releases (WWB, 92) both showed wonderful terroir and purity of fruit. Learn more about this great winery at https://www.amaurice.com Here are the excellent new wines from a’Maurice Cellars

2016 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Viognier/Marsanne- This shows beautiful creamy aromatics with poached pear and lemon meringue. Refreshing and refined, with good poise, this wine brings flavors of Japanese pear, heavy cream and suggestions of cantaloupe. This finishes long with heavy cream. Drink 2018-2022- 91

2016 a’Maurice ‘Sparrow’ Viognier- Sourced from their estate vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley, this wine brings ripe favors of white peach, lemon zest and honeydew melon. The acidity is bright as the wine has a lovely mouthfeel and great texture. Drink 2018-2022- 91

2016 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Grenache- The wine shows a lovely translucency and begins to unveil aromatics reminiscent of red cherry candy, dill and suggestions of wild strawberry. Delicately balanced and downright delicious red fruit flavors are delivered on the mid-palate. The soft and plush mouthfeel makes this especially good. There is a marvelous purity of fruit on display. Drink 2018-2026- 92

2015 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Syrah- Dark in color and delightfully smoky on the nose, the wine slowly brings together dark fruit and earthy aromatics. Plush on the mouth, this Syrah shows off black tea, cigar ash, black olive tapenade and blackberry cobbler flavors with nice minerals. The range here is lovely. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2015 a’Maurice Cellars ‘The Artist’ Red Wine- A compelling blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, this wine has a gorgeous label done by artist Carl Morris. The bouquet is sightly intoxicating with dark and red fruits mingling with a touch of milk chocolate and sagebrush. Balanced and showing a nice generous mouthfeel, the wine shows off medium to heavy weighted flavors of black tea, coffee ground, cassis and anise. This will cellar marvelously over the next decade or so. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2014 a’Maurice Cellars ‘The Artist Mason’ Red Wine- You are presented with another stunning label here, this time a rendition done by Alden Mason. Dark fruits and a touch of chocolate mark this largely Cabernet Sauvignon wine that has smaller parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc blended in. Soft and round on the mouth, this delivers black tea, mocha and sagebrush flavors that are impossible to resist right now. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2013 a’Maurice Cellars ‘The Artist McCool’ Red Wine- This beautiful wine is a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. This starts off with aromatics reminiscent of red cherry compote, black tea, and a touch of coffee grounds. The palate is smooth as the wine delvers a nice combination of black and red fruits with medium weight and nice acidity. This is a touch out of balance right now but is still downright delicious in the glass. Drink 2018-2025- 90

2013 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Night Owl’ Red Wine- The ‘NIght Owl’ is a silky blend of 55% Merlot with lesser parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all sourced from the Walla Walla Valley. This starts off with sage, boysenberry liquor and clove aromatics. The herbal tones here really add to the wine. The mid-palate reveals medium weight flavors reminiscent of cigar shavings, black tea, licorice and suggestions of blackberry jam with milk chocolate. Delicious now, this will drink well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 91

2014 a’Maurice ‘Reserve Owl and Crown’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Rich and decadent on the nose, the wine shows off mocha, sagebrush and Asian spices on the nose. The mouthfeel is seriously good as this silky wine tends to glide through the mid-palate. There are generous flavors of milk chocolate covered cherry, anise, creme de cassis and sagebrush. This is an outstanding wine that will be best served after a two plus hour decant for the moment. Enjoy this great wine over the next fifteen years. Drink 2018-2033- 93

St. Innocent

I would admit that it is sometimes difficult to find consistent value in Oregon Pinot Noir. St. Innocent is a winery that each year offers serious bang for your buck. Founded by superstar winemaker Mark Vlossak, formerly of Panther Creek, started St. Innocent in 1988, focusing on single vineyard Pinot Noir. Last year’s releases were stunning and this years, coming from another warm vintage in Oregon, have also impressed. The St. Innocent white wines also offer some amazing value. One of the best Pinot Gris wines that I have sampled in the past year, the 2015 St. Innocent ‘Vitae Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Gris (WWB, 93) offers incredible range and minerality. This is not one to miss and is an amazing wine for the price.The Pinot Noir lineup was just as good, none more so than the 2015 St. Innocent ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) which is one of the best Oregon Pinot Noirs I have sampled in the past six months. Learn more about the amazing lineup of St. Innocent wines at https://stinnocentwine.com Here are the great new releases by St. Innocent. 

2016 St. Innocent ‘Oeil de Perdrix’ Rose- Sourced from the esteemed Zenith Vineyard, this pale colored Rose begins with aromas of rose petals and red cherry candy. A touch of sweetness connects with red fruit flavors and a nice minerality. Drink 2018-2022- 89

2015 St. Innocent ‘Vitae Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Gris- This gorgeous Pinot Gris wine shows off lovely melon and lemon rind aromatics. The mouthfeel and texture is downright stunning as this wine reveals white peach, honeydew melon, with a touch of green apple and nutmeg. The long, cream driven finish lingers. This is just a stunning wine made by superstar winemaker Mark Vlossak. Drink 2018-2024- 93

2015 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Blanc- This wine starts off with aromatics of lemon blossom, nectarine and suggestions of Gravenstein apple. This shows a lovely astringency as the wine reveals white flower, Pink Lady apple and green papaya flavors that connect with some decent tension. Drink 2018-2022- 91

2015 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- This warm vintage wine opens with a bright bouquet of nutmeg, Pink Lady apple and poached pear with a touch of heavy whipping cream. The mouthfeel and richness of the wine shines through. Roasted pineapple, banana and lemon creme brûlée flavors impress. This has great balance and weight. Drink 2018-2024- 92

2016 St. Innocent ‘Villages Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- Citrus blossom and red currant aromatics hit you immediately. The mouthfeel is soft and supple, as the red fruits dominate the palate alongside some lighter citrus tones. This is an outstanding effort as an entry level Oregon Pinot. Drink 2018-2025- 91

2015 St. Innocent ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the esteemed Shea Vineyard, this wine shows off a beautiful combination of red and black fruits on the nose with a touch of spicebox. Elegant and seductive, this knockout wine shows off black plum, black truffle, black cherry liquor and a touch of forest floor flavors. The range and intensity of this wine is top shelf. Drink 2018-2028- 94

2015 St. Innocent ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Momtazi Vineyard is biodynamically farmed and is located in the McMinnville AVA, 7 miles west of the McMinnville, Oregon.  Planted in 1999 and 2004 on thin, poor soils, the vines have a south and SW exposure at an elevation of 680' - 760'.  Needing an hour in the decanter to unwind, this slowly begins to release red cherry, pomegranate seed and orange rind aromatics. The mouthfeel and texture to this wine is gorgeous. Delicate flavors of red currant, red cherry, peat moss and cranberry persist to the long, cream and red fruit driven finish. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2015 St. Innocent ‘Zenith Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This St. Innocent estate vineyard is located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA and is set on old sedimentary soils. The hedonistic nose ranges between red and dark fruits with a touch of earthy tones. There is a wonderful freshness to this great wine. Cran-pomegranate, red currant, cigar ash and forest floor flavors connect with the tension. This is another outstanding effort by St. Innocent. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2015 St. Innocent ‘Justice Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in an east-facing ridge in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, this wine starts off with aromatics reminiscent of black truffle crudo, loganberry liquor and suggestions of bing cherry. The palate has wonderful tension as the wine reveals orange rind, red cherry candy and suggestions of pomegranate seed flavors. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2015 St. Innocent ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This translucent colored Pinot Noir opens with a bouquet of cran-cherry, pomegranate seed and baking spices. There is a nice combination of astringency and red fruit flavors on the mid-palate. This finishes long with red fruits. Drink 2018-2028- 92

1st Annual Washington Wine Blog Critic's Choice of Washington

Friends,

We wanted to extend our warmest invitation to our 1st Annual Washington Wine Blog event on Saturday February 17th from 5-9PM at the storied Columbia Tower Club in downtown Seattle. Our 1st Annual Washington Wine Blog's Critics Choice event will feature the top winemakers from our very own state, pouring the latest and greatest vintages. We have carefully chosen some of our favorite producers from our reviews of thousands for our top 100 of 2017. We will be announcing them in upcoming weeks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and our website at www.washingtonwineblog.com. Sip some of the finest wines of Washington, enjoy carefully selected hours d'Oeuvres and take in the best views in Seattle.

To purchase tickets to this exciting new event please follow the link here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wineseattle-washington-wine-blog-critics-choice-tickets-42278434937?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button

We very much look forward to seeing you at this special event in Seattle.

Cheers,

Owen Bargreen and Jae Hong

Gordon Estate

Back in 1980, Jeff Gordon, along with his wife, Vicki and brother Bill, planted vines in the southeastern Washington’s Columbia Valley. Dr. Walter Clore felt that the 200 acre parcel of land would be a great spot to grow wine, near the Snake and Columbia Rivers. Gordon Estate has been family owned and operated since 1983, and released their first wine in 1985, an estate Chardonnay wine produced from their estate vines. Rebranded in 2012 as Gordon Estate, the winery produces a host of different varietals, from Rose, to Ice Wine to Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

I recently had the opportunity to try their top ‘Reserve’ bottlings. Both wines were really wonderful expressions of their varietal. Their 2016 ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay (WWB, 92) shows a good freshness and mid-palate weight. This delicious wine will cellar well over the next five plus years, most likely picking up some nice secondary characteristics as it ages. The 2012 Gordon Estates ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 92) is drinking marvelously at the moment, showing lush dark fruit flavors and a silky mouthfeel. Learn more about these wines at https://gordonwines.com Here are the new Reserve wines by Gordon Estate.

2016 Gordon Estate ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- This golden hued wine starts off with aromatics reminiscent of baked Pazzaz apple, creme brûlée and ripe banana. Smooth and downright delicious, the wine delivers Pink Lady apple, vanilla creme brûlée and lemon meringue flavors. The mouthfeel is impressive. Drink 2018-2024- 92

2012 Gordon Estate ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Ultra-rich and decadent straight out of the gate, this wine starts off with prune, loganberry preserves and milk chocolate on the nose. The palate shows a wonderful mouthfeel as the wine reveals black tea, milk chocolate and black cherry candy flavors that connect with a nice tension. Smooth and balanced, enjoy this great wine over the next five plus years. Drink 2018-2024- 92

Quinta Das Carvalhas

A brief jaunt across the pond into Portugal today. Dating back to 1759, Quinta das Carvalhas is located on the left bank of the Douro River facing Pinhão. It covers the whole of the hillside facing the Douro river extends over the summit – which is crowned by the dominated Casa Redonda, a guest house visible from miles around – and occupies part of the upper slopes of the right bank of the Rio Torto. The property spans more than 600 hectares and some of the vines currently planted are more than 100 years old. Roughly ten different varietals are planted there with the most acreage devoted to Touriga Nacional.

The wines come from the 2013, 2014 and 2015 vintages. Great wines were made in 2013 for those who picked before the October rains. 2014 was a rainy vintage where the Duoro generally saw beautiful, albeit slightly less concentrated wines. 2015 was a warm vintage with gorgeous growing conditions and rich wines. I was particularly impressed with the 2013 Quinta Das Carvalhas ‘Carvalhas Old Vines’ Red Blend (WWB, 94) which was a stunning field blend that showed incredible intensity and a silky mouthfeel. This stunning wine will cellar well for decades. An outstanding value, the 2015 Quinta Das Carvalhas ‘Reserva’ Duoro (WWB, 91) offers a ton of dark fruits and wonderful poise for under $20.00. Learn more about these great wines at http://realcompanhiavelha.pt/pages/quintas/4 Here are the great new releases by Quinta Das Carvalhas.

2015 Quinta das Carvalhas ‘Reserva’ Douro- The ‘Reserva’ by Quinta do Carvalhas is a rich blend of 60% Touriga Nacional, 20% Touriga Franca and 20% Tinta Roriz. Needing more than an hour decant to be fully expressive, the wine begins with intense aromas of blueberry, espresso bean and a touch of dark chocolate shavings. The palate is rich and inviting as blackberry cobbler, blueberry compote and milk chocolate flavors connect well with a lively acidity. Lithe and light on its feet, while showing nice intensity, this is an outstanding bottling that will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2027- 91

2014 Quinta das Cavalhas Touriga Nacional- This great Touriga Nacional wine begins with bright aromas of smoke, blackberry pie and black currant jelly. The mouthfeel is lush and the wine has a wonderful freshness and tension. Dark fruits connect with milk chocolate and coffee ground flavors. Lithe and delicious, enjoy this great wine over the next decade. Drink 2017-2027- 91

2013 Quinta das Carvalhas Douro- This wine is a compelling blend of 60% Touriga Nacional, 20% Touriga Franca and 20% Tinta Roriz that was aged for 12 months in oak prior to bottling. Showing a deep hue, the wine opens with aromatics reminiscent of orange rind, black cherry syrup and suggestions of baking spices. Rich, with a lovely mouthfeel, the wine is highly structured and dense. Black fruits connect with a touch of citrus and chocolate towrards the back end. This has wonderrful intensity and poise. Give this wonderful Douro at least an hour decant if enjoying young. Drink 2017-2027- 90

2013 Quinta Das Carvalhas Tinta Francisca- Dense and loaded with dark fruits on the nose, the 2013 Quinta Das Carvalhas Tinta Francisca is an outstanding new wine. The weight and tension to this wine on the mid-palate is rather intoxicating. Flavors of black tea, mocha and black cherry compote with a touch of black olive tapenade impresses. Drink 2017-2027- 92

2013 Quinta Das Carvalhas 'Carvalhas Old Vines' Red Blend- The 'Carvalhas' is a field blend that is silky, ripe and ridiculously good. The wine needs roughly an hour to be fully expressive. After time to be fully unveiled this leads to black cherry compote, mocha and creme de cassis flavors that sit alongside some strong minerality. This shows an intense mouthfeel and acidity. The beautifully plush texture really makes this gorgeous wine. Drink 2018-2033- 94

Megan Anne Cellars

I’ve had a opportunity to hang out with Mark Ryan founder, Mark McNeilly on a couple of occasions in the past year — a downright awesome guy to chat wine with. A vibrant personality, Mark is the mastermind behind Megan Anne Cellar. Mark wanted to produce Oregon Pinot Noir for many years and was not only married in Oregon but regularly spends time visiting the Willamette Valley. He relies on the winemaking talents of former Evening Land winemaker Isabelle Meunier, to craft his Pinot Noir and Chardonnay bottlings. The new wine releases come from the 2015 vintage in Oregon which saw a great deal of heat during the growing season but a late ripening period that saw cooler fall temperatures.  

Look to the 2015 Megan Anne ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 92) which shows beautiful dark fruit flavors and aromatics. Just as good was the 2015 Megan Anne ‘Chehalem Mountain’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 92) which utilizes fruit from the Lachini Vineyard and shows a beautiful feminine character. Learn more about these great wines at https://meganannecellars.com Here are the new wine releases by Megan Anne Cellars

2015 Megan Anne ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- This rather deep hued wine begins with heady aromas of rose petals, black forest cake and black truffle oil. The combination of weight and tension here is simply lovely which combines with the rich black fruit and black truffle flavors. Downright delicious now, this wine will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2017-2027- 92

2015 Megan Anne ‘Chehalem Mountain’ Pinot Noir-  Considerably lighter in color than the 2015 ‘Dundee Hills’ bottling, the 2014 Megan Anne ‘Chehalem Mountain’ Pinot Noir, sourced from the Lachini Vineyard, opens with a bouquet of cran-pomegranate, red rose and suggestions of blood orange rind. Lithe and light on its feet, this bears delicious red fruit flavors that connect with a nice tension. This wine offers a wonderful contrast to their ‘Dundee Hills’ bottling, showing off its feminine side. Drink 2017-2027- 92

2015 Megan Anne ‘Black Love’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Black Love’ by Megan Anne Cellar is sourced from both Chehalem and Dundee Hills fruit. The wine was aged in 60% new French oak for 16 months prior to bottling.  This wine shows a massive aromatic profile with dried sage, cigar box, black truffle crudo and Chinese black tea. Rich and dense, the wine showcases wild blackberry pie, black cherry compote and a touch of milk chocolate flavors that connect with a lovely minerality. This gorgeous effort will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2027- 92

DuMOL

A very Happy Monday to you all. Today we bring you a feature on one of the storied wineries of the Russian River Valley. A winery that has gained international acclaim for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, DuMOL has been making making Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa since 2014. Consumers near and far will be glad they did, as their new Cabernet seriously good. DuMOL was born in 1996 initially as a hobby for three friends and since 1999 Andy Smith has served as winemaker. Originally from Scotland, Andy has previously worked at Dry River, Littorai, Havens, Franus, to Matua and Mt Pleasant wineries. Andy went on to graduate in viticulture and enology from Lincoln University in Christchurch, NZ and later became assistant winemaker for Paul Hobbs. 

In his first year at DuMOL he made a combined 1,500 cases of Dutton Ranch Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The current releases by DuMOL were outstanding across the board. One of the great California Chardonnays that I have tried in the past year, the 2015 DuMOL ‘Clare Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay (WWB, 94) shows outstanding range, tension and length. This is one for the cellar. Andy Smith clearly has a massive handle on Cabernet as his 2015 DuMOL ‘Meteor Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 94) is a dense and massive treat that will cellar marvelously but is nearly impossible to put down right now. Learn more about this great winery at https://www.dumol.com Here are the great new releases by DuMOL. 

2015 DuMOL Viognier- Sourced from the Timbervine, Hope-Kely and Gregori Vineyards, this wine begins with aromatics of honeysuckle, ripe nectarine and poached pear. Bright acidity marks the mid-palate as the wine yields some beautiful tree and tropical fruit flavors that connect to a long, vanilla cream finish. Drink 2018-2024- 92

2015 DuMOL 'Russian River Valley' Chardonnay- This outstanding Chardonnay was sourced from 77% Dutton Ranch, 9% Lorenzo, 8% Charles Heintz and 6% Greywacke Vineyards. Lemon blossom, vanilla cream, and orange zest. The palate is lush and yields exceedingly delicious flavors of lemon oil and tropical fruits with vanilla cream. This Chardonnay is best enjoyed over the next decade. Drink 2018-2027- 93

2015 DuMOL 'Clare Hyde Vineyard' Chardonnay- The 'Clare Hyde Vineyard' Chardonnay was picked in mid-August and was aged for 12 months in 33% new French oak prior to bottling. The bouquet is reminiscent of honeysuckle, poached pear, and butterscotch. The palate has lovely weight and tension. Pazzaz apple, vanilla creme brulee, and nectarine. The exceedingly long, Meyer lemon cream finish lingers on the tongue. This is a complete wine by DuMOL. Drink 2018-2025- 94

2015 DuMOL ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- This outstanding Pinot Noir was sourced from 58% Dutton Ranch, 24% Hanna and 18% DuMOL Estate. This wine opens with a classic Sonoma Pinot Noir nose of cherry cola, baking spices and suggestions of orange rind. The mid-palate has a great combination of lift and astringency. Black and red fruits intermingle with spice notes and blood orange zest. Downright delicious, enjoy this outstanding wine over the next decade. Drink 2018-2027- 93

2015 DuMOL ‘Connor Joy Road Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-  This great Sonoma Coast wine was aged for 11 months in 43% new French oak prior to bottling. Winemaker Andy Smith has crafted a stunning Pinot Noir here. Beautiful earthy tones combine with cran-pomegranate and black cherry syrup on the nose. The palate is lithe and expressive, as the wine delivers a wonderful salinity and tension. Black cherry, black raspberry cordial, cigar ash and wild mushroom combine brilliantly with a touch of citrus blossom. This gorgeous wine is best enjoyed over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2018-2030- 94

2015 DuMOL ‘Russian River Valley’ Syrah- Showing off its inky color, this outstanding Syrah is sourced 40% from the Gregori Vineyard, 32% from the Greywacke Vineyard and 23% from the Timbervine Vineyard. This opens with a bouquet of smoked brisket, black forest cake and a touch of peat moss. Beautifully balanced and showing nice elegance, this delivers black cherry, black olive, smoked pork shoulder and green peppercorn flavors that sit alongside some lively minerality. The combination of dark fruits and tension is outstanding. Drink 2018-2027- 92

2015 DuMOL ‘Meteor Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Located in Coombsville, the Meteor Vineyard has relatively new Cabernet vines planted (16 years old). The wine was aged for 20 months in 67% new French oak prior to bottling. A lovely herbaceousness dominates the nose alongside some beautiful black fruits and pencil shavings. Silky tannins line sexy black fruits and milk chocolate flavors. This is a stunning wine by DuMOL that can be enjoyed over the next two decades. Drink 2018-2035- 94

Interview with Mark Fiore, EFESTE Winemaker

Only recently hired after harvest, Mark Fiore is the new winemaker at EFESTĒ. A former PGA Professional, Mark worked two harvest seasons at Beresan and Balboa wineries, which led him to an all-encompassing job with Charles Smith Wines in August of 2011. Mark began making wine for K Vintners and then worked on other projects such as Sixto, Latta Wines, Wines of Substance and B Leighton in Walla Walla and Seattle.  Mark has completed all of the extension courses at UC Davis and has traveled extensively to Portugal, Spain, and France. I think you will very much enjoy learning more about him. Here is my interview with Mark Fiore, winemaker at EFESTĒ. 

WWB: What were some of your first impactful experiences in wine?

MF:  My second to last job as a golf professional was a startup job on the Oregon Coast and I needed to turn this old shed into a golf shop. Part of this was an making an Oregon store and I had a little wine shop because that goes well with golf, I was purchasing, tasting and buying Pinot from Oregon.  This led to helping to open a new golf course in Walla Walla.  As soon as I got there, the Washington wine world fascinated me. A couple of winemakers befriended me, Tom from Balboa and Mike from L’Ecole. Most of my days off were spent at their wineries and the rest is history. Tom ended up offering me and position in which I worked 2 harvests 2009 and 2010. 

WWB: Can you talk about how valuable it was learning under Charles Smith and his winemakers?

MF: Late Summer in 2011 I began working for Charles Smith. I had befriended Andrew Latta who was the winemaker for Charles. He offered me great opportunity for me to learn and grow as a winemaker.Learning from Charles Smith is something I will take with me forever. I had a period where I was working for Andrew, Brennan and Charles and all I did was soak it all up. Brennan came to the winery bringing a new white wine program. I learned so much from all three of those people, I consider them mentors and friends. In 2015 the challenge of moving the winery to Seattle loomed large.  By the end of last year, in terms of his winemaking team, I was one of the longest tenured employees there. EFESTĒ currently is about the same size as K was when I started making wine there. 

WWB: What are some of the benefits and challenges with working with such a successful and large program that EFESTĒ has created?

MF: The benefits are exactly what you said; it is large, exciting and successful. Its s on shelves everywhere and people know about it. That being said, starting something that is already successful leaves me wondering how I can improve without changing the formulas. O think making the wine at EFESTĒ offers me an exciting opportunity. The challenge is growing the brand and making the people that are already a part of this place happier. We have one of the more excited and enthusiastic wine clubs in Washington!  I have met some of the members and they seem really passionate and also are thrilled to have me on board to see what I can do. Stylistically, I can improve the winemaking with my knowledge, education and experience. I can’t wait to see what we will to do with both the Burgundian Bordeaux varietals, as well as the whites. I am proceeding slow, trying to tweak things as we go along.

WWB: When you are not enjoying Washington wines, what are some of your favorite wines and producers of world wine?

MF: The past few years I have been traveling so much. This has been really influential to my learning more about the regions of the world. Going to Bordeaux and St. Emillon was a great experience. Some of the wines over there were thrilling. I am really open-minded and a few years back I was in Lisbon, Portugal and some of the Vinho Verde wines were just fantastic for only six or so euros a bottle. One of the things I will miss most about working for Charles is going downstairs into his cellar. He has an amazing wine collection…  I would ask “What are we trying to achieve” Then he might pull out an old Chablis or old wines from the early 1980s or 1990s, or even older when we would get into his Italian stuff. . Going over to Charles’ house and learning about wine through old bottles was just amazing. I have a small cellar and keep a few of the library wines that I have made. I have a few bottles of wines from Walla Walla, and everywhere that I really love.

J. Lohr

Beginning In the late 1960s, Jerry Lohr began searching for a great location plant his first vineyard. Originally raised on a South Dakota farm, Jerry had a background in agriculture and chose the Central Coast, which was an experimental region at the time. Jerry has created an amazing success story with his winery, J. Lohr. While J. Lohr has gained a nationwide reputation for rich red wines, their white wine portfolio is not to be overlooked. A few months back I had the chance to sit down with their white wine winemaker, Kristen Barnheisel, and chat about their white wine releases. She talked about how cool nights even in the summer affect the acidity in her wines. J. Lohr has a range of wines, from limited production wines to 8,000 case production wines. Her vast knowledge of wines was evident as she has had previous stints at Columbia Crest as well as Jordan before coming to J. Lohr. Look to her 2015 J.Lohr ‘October Night’ Chardonnay (WWB, 90) which is a rich and layered effort.

The red wines by J. Lohr were also excellent and displayed wonderful depth and concentration. An outstanding Petite Sirah release is their 2014 J. Lohr ‘Tower Road’ Petite Sirah (WWB, 90) which is a dense and burly effort that is nearly impossible to resist right now. Even better was the 2013 J. Lohr ‘Cuvee Pau’ Red Wine (WWB, 92) which is a beautifully structured and rich effort that will cellar well into the next decade. Learn more about this outstanding lineup at https://www.jlohr.com Here are the outstanding new wines by J. Lohr. 

2016 J. Lohr Sauvignon Blanc- This bright Sauvignon Blanc wine begins with bright aromatics of gooseberry, kiwi, white peach and Key lime. There are ripe flavors of pink grapefruit, Meyer lemon zest and kiwi. This has lovely intensity. Drink 2017-2021-88

2016 J. Lohr 'RVG' White Wine- This wine is sourced from the Gean Vineyard in Paso Robles. It is an impressive blend of Roussanne, Viognier and Grenache Blanc. The wine opens with a ripe bouquet of cantaloupe, green papaya, and nutmeg accents. The weight is lovely as this wine shows cantaloupe, white peach, starfruit and baking spice flavors. The wine has a gorgeous texture. Drink 2017-2022- 90

2016 J. Lohr 'Riverstone' Chardonnay- The wine was aged for 7 months in 30% new oak prior to bottling. This wine is sourced from Vineyards in the Arroyo Seco region in Monterrey county. This has bright aromatics of banana, pineapple and vanilla cream. This leads to ripe flavors of vanilla, heavy whipping cream, creme brulee and a cream driven finish. This wine is a really good value at this price point. Drink 2017-2022- 89

2015 J. Lohr 'October Night' Chardonnay- This wine was aged for 10 months in 50% new French oak prior to bottling. This is primarily clone 809 Chardonnay. It opens with aromatics of white peach, honeysuckle and suggestions of lychee and creme brulee. There are deep flavors of vanilla cream, Meyer lemon rind and bananas foster. This has lovely texture. Drink 2017-2022- 90

2015 J. Lohr 'Arroyo Vista' Chardonnay- This Chardonnay wine is primarily sourced with Dijon 76 clone with a touch of Dijon 95 and 96. This was aged for 14 months in 50% new French oak prior to bottling. There are ripe aromas of banana, pineapple, Pink Lady apple and starfruit with nutmeg. The palate is viscous and lithe showcasing creme brulee, Pazzaz apple, poached pear and baking spices. This is beautifully balanced showing great poise and mid-palate weight. Drink 2017-2024- 91

2015 J. Lohr Merlot- The wine starts with ripe aromas of red cherry preserves and red currant with a touch of toasty oak. Round and plush, the wine delivers rich flavors of baking spices, milk chocolate and black cherry syrup. Drink 2017-2021- 89

2015 J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon- The Cabernet delivers dark fruit aromas with a touch of milk chcoolate. Dark berries connect with dark chocolate shavings and a touch of scorched earth. Drink 2017-2021- 88

2015 J. Lohr ‘Hilltop’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This outstanding wine begins with aromatics reminiscent of mocha, anise and creme de cassis. Rich and intense, yet showing wonderful freshness, the wine delivers dark cherry, loganberry and milk chocolate flavors with cassis. Lithe and delicious, enjoy this outstanding new release over the next decade. Drink 2017-2027- 91

2013 J. Lohr ‘Cuvee Pau’ Red Wine- Showing an inky color, this red blend begins with aromas of Turkish coffee, black cherry syrup and a touch of milk chocolate. The mid-palate weight is fantastic as this reveals black raspberry cordial, mocha and creme de cassis flavors that sit alongside some nice minerality. Drink 2017-2027- 92

2014 J. Lohr ‘Tower Road’ Petite Sirah- This deep hued wine begins with aromas of dark chocolate, loganberry preserves and suggestions of roasted figs. Dense and chewy, there is a wonderful weight to this wine. Dark berry flavors dance with a nice structure and a touch of milk chocolate. This is an excellent Petite Sirah made by J. Lohr that is best enjoyed in the next few years. Drink 2017-2022- 90

Chateau de Beaucastel

One of the storied properties in the southern Rhone, Chateau de Beaucastel produces some of the finest Chateauneuf du Pape in the world. One of the world’s great historical sites for wine, Chateauneuf du Pape was first mentioned in 11th century historical records. The town of Avignon in this region was the previous site of the papacy, following a Roman invasion. Bertrand de Got, archbishop of Bordeaux, was elected pope in 1305, and took the name of Clement V as he transferred the papacy from Rome to Avignon in 1309. The register of pontifical letters reveals that Clement V visited Châteauneuf on several occasions, sometimes for long periods of time.

Wine would have existed in this region before the arrival of the papacy but there are no historical records of wine growing prior to this time. We do know that most of the wine grown in this region prior to the 18th century was drunk within a year. In 1923, the local wine producers led by the lawyer Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarié started a campaign to establish legal protection for the wine from the commune. The wine classified as Châteauneuf-du-Pape Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) is produced from grapes grown in the commune of Châteauneuf-du-Pape as well as in portions of the four nearby communes in the Vaucluse department. The vineyards cover an area of approximately 3,200 hectares.

Chateau de Beaucastel has a longstanding history in Chateauneuf du Pape. The winery is named after the Beaucastel family which lived in this region in the 16th century. Records show a Pierre de Beaucastel buying a barn and some associated land at Coudoulet in 1549, and this land is still part of Château de Beaucastel's holdings. In the 19th century, when the Phylloxera epidemic struck the region, the owner decided not to replant the vineyards but rather to sell the property. In 1909, it was bought by Pierre Tramier, and the vineyards were rebuilt under his ownership. After him, his son-in-law Pierre Perrin took over management and expanded Château de Beaucastel's vineyard holdings considerably. The property has stayed in the Perrin family since.

In the past I have had the great fortune to sample some very old bottlings of this estate, back to 1990. These wines are extremely complex, acid driven and age-worthy. Chateau de Beaucastel is one of the few wineries that uses 13 different Rhone varietals in its Châteauneuf du Pape, and typically uses a high proportion of Mourvèdre. I was very impressed with the vertical tasting, as these wines show as well as any other estate in Chateauneuf du Pape. 

The new release was downright stunning, coming from the highly anticipated 2015 vintage. The 2015 Chateau de Beaucastel (WWB, 96), showed amazing intensity and power. This is truly one for the cellar. There was not only richness but a lovely purity of fruit to this wine. Neck and neck with the 2015 was the 2014 Chateau de Beaucastel (WWB, 96) which was an incredible showing from this wine. While not as rich as the ’15, the ’14 possessed incredible layers and wonderful poise, as well as a striking minerality. Not to be outdone was the new release 2015 Chateau de Beaucastel ‘Vigne Vignes’ Roussanne (WWB, 96) which was one of the best white CDPs that I have sampled in a very long time. This unctuous, remarkable Roussanne shows incredible layers and richness while maintaining great tension. This really needs at least another year in the cellar to fully develop. Learn more about Chateau de Beaucastel at http://www.beaucastel.com/en/ Here are the stunning new releases wines and last two vintages of Chateau de Beaucastel. 

2015 Chateau de Beaucastel ‘Vieilles Vignes’ Roussanne- This golden hued wine by Chateau de Beaucastel has an incredible nose with beeswax, honeydew melon, nutmeg and brioche. With more air the wine becomes more earthy, imparting wild mushroom and unripe lemon notes. The mid-palate is silky and is incredibly seamless which becomes even more evident on the second day of tasting. The texture is downright ethereal. Buttered popcorn, poached pear, green papaya, and white peach flavors combine. The mouthfeel is downright unctuous as the range at play makes you savor every sip. Be sure to give this at least two to three hours of time in the decanter to breathe. Drink 2018-2033- 96

2015 Chateau de Beaucastel ‘Coudoulet de Beaucastel’ Cotes du Rhone- This is an absolutely fantastic showing as a second wine. This wine starts off with aromas of raspberry liquor, sandalwood and herbs de Provence. Balanced and poised, showing some nice weight on the mid-palate, the wine dances between dark and red fruits with a lovely texture. Enjoy this outstanding CDR over the next decade. Drink 2017-2025- 91

2015 Chateau de Beacastel Chateauneuf du Pape- This knockout wine utilizes all 13 varietals that are allowed in Chateauneuf du Pape. It has a stunning nose of green peppercorn, blackberry jam, herbs de provence, with bacon fat. The wet stone element comes on after roughly an hour decant. Firm and focused, the wine delivers delicious blackberry cordial, black olive tapenade, Umami and crushed wet stone flavors. The combination of weight and tension here makes this wine simply irresistible. Drink 2017-2033- 96

2014 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape- This nose takes on a dominant red fruit aromatic profile that is beautifully connected with rose water accents. Less stony on the bouquet than the 2015 Beaucastel, the 2014 rendition also yields orange rind and smoked brisket aromas that make this nearly impossible to put down. The palate is both lithe and dense as the wine currently showcases Hoisin sauce, Umami, blood orange puree, red cherry syrup and black tea flavors. This is an absolute show-stopper at this juncture, showing a slightly more feminine profile than the 2015 — but this is every bit as good. Drink 2017-2030- 96

2013 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape- The 2013 Chateau de Beaucastel is drinking marvelously at this juncture. Aromatically bright, this wine reveals provencale herbs, cigar ash, coffee ground and crushed mint aromas that connect with red fruits. Highly structured, with marvelous tension, the wine plays off red currant, pomegranate seed, white truffle and wild blackberry flavors. This is a solid effort in a highly challenging vintage. Drink 2017-2027- 93