Doubleback

As part of Washington Wine Month, we bring you one of the great Washington wineries, Doubleback. The winery was founded by former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who grew up in Walla Walla and attended high school there. For many years Drew had wanted to own his own winery following his illustrious career in football. Going back to Walla Walla was the perfect choice for him. Drew returned to Walla Walla in 2007 to plant his estate vineyard, McQueen, on the southern end of the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Doubleback was born in 2008 which would focus on estate fruit to create world class Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla. Drew knew he needed a top class winemaker and connected with childhood friend and superstar winemaker, Chris Figgins, of Leonetti Cellar, who served as consulting winemaker until Josh McDaniels assumed the role in 2015. 

Here is my interview with Josh: (http://www.washingtonwineblog.com/blog/2016/10/13/interview-with-josh-mcdaniels-head-winemaker-of-doubleback-and-sweet-valley-wines). 

Following up last year’s stunning wine is the 2015 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 94) which comes from an extremely hot vintage in Washington. You wouldn’t know that if you try the wine as it has serious poise and tension that shows the talents of superstar winemaker Josh McDaniels. Even better is the 2015 Doubleback ‘Estate Reserve’ Red Wine (WWB, 96) which is the best wine from Washington that I have sampled in the past six months. This wine is an incredible effort that will cellar well for two decades. Learn more about this outstanding winery at http://www.doubleback.com/

2016 Doubleback ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2016 Doubleback ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Chardonnay showcases a golden hue and exudes opulence. The Chardonnay was aged in 35% new French oak, 50% neutral French oak, as well as 15% concrete tulips. Fermented for 16 months sur lie, the wine saw bi-weekly bâttonage and you can tell why with this stunning texture. This great wine begins with intense aromas of marizpan, creme brûlée and toasty oak. The palate is exceedingly plush. The round mouthfeel entices as the soft texture beautifully coats the mid-palate. Vanilla creme brulee, Pazzaz apple pie, and roasted pineapple flavors make this absolutely impossible to resist. With serious weight, this gorgeous wine will pick up secondary characteristics if you cellar. Enjoy this outstanding Chardonnay that is built to age over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2015 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon-The 2015 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon is a remarkable wine made from an exceedingly warm vintage. There is a marvelous elegance to this wine and a nice sense of place. Black cherry, black olive and cigar ash fill the nose. The balance and poise is lovely as this tends to glide across the mid-palate. Somewhat backwards now, with massive tannins, in the glass the Cabernet slowly reveals chocolate covered cherry, mocha, anise and blueberry compote flavors. This memorable wine really needs another year to fully develop. Drink 2019-2033-  94

2015 Doubleback ‘Estate Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2015 Doubleback ‘Estate Reserve’ Red Wine is a simply stunning effort from a very warm vintage in the Walla Walla Valley. Needing more than a two hour decant to fully come together, this inky and brooding in colored wine begins with heady aromatics reminiscent of cigar ash, graphite, creme de cassis, black olive tapenade and Turkish coffee. The stunning aromas bring you back to the glass for more. There is a marvelous sense of place to this wine, as the purity of fruit shines through. Black tea, blackberry pie, mocha and sagebrush accents complete this marvelous wine. With moderate to heavy tannins, this wine will cellar marvelously over the next 20 plus years. Another feather in the cap to the uber-talented Josh McDaniels. Drink 2019-2033- 96

Orin Swift

Greetings and happy Monday to you all. One of the great Napa houses known for intense and full-throttle red wines, Orin Swift crafts some exceptional wines that are not for the weary. Orin Swift Cellars was started in 1995 when on a lark, David Swift Phinney took a friend up on an offer and went to Florence, Italy to spend a semester “studying”. During that time, he was introduced to wine, and he later landed a job at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997 as a temporary harvest worker. In 1998 he founded Orin Swift Cellars; Orin is his father’s middle name and Swift is his mother’s maiden name. Starting with two tons of Zinfandel and not much else, David spent the next decade making wine for others as well as himself and grew the company into a multinational brand.

The new wines were really outstanding across the board. The 2016 Orin Swift Machete (WWB, 93) shows a beautiful texture, sumptuous fruit weight and compelling complexity. A true heavyhitter, the 2015 Orin Swift ‘Mercury Head’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 95) is one for the cellar. Deep and rich, the wine has wonderful acidity and gobs of dark fruits. Learn more about Orin Swift’s strong lineup at http://www.orinswift.com. Here are some of the gorgeous release wines by Orin Swift.

2016 Orin Swift ‘Blank Stare’ Sauvignon Blanc- The nose has enticing aromas of honeysuckle, Honeydew melon and starfruit with a touch of baking spices. The mid-palate mouthfeel is seductive as the wine reveals lemon curd, cantaloupe and pink grapefruit flavors with a touch of butter. Drink 2018-2023- 91

2016 Orin Swift ‘Slander’ Pinot Noir- This deep colored Pinot Noir wine begins with aromas of cherry cola, bramble and wild blackberry aromatics. The texture to this wine is lovely as this reveals sexy flavors reminiscent of red cherry starburst candy, orange rind, rose water and suggestions of pomegranate puree. Lithe and rich, this great effort will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2016 Orin Swift ‘Abstract’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Abstract’ by Orin Swift is an intense blend of Grenache, Syrah and Petite Sirah which was aged for 10 months in 35% new French oak prior to bottling. This begins with bright aromatics of milk chocolate, sagebrush, black tea and black olive. The texture of this wine impresses as the wine glides across the mid-palate. Black tea, blackberry jam, and mocha flavors impress, as does the extremely long finish. A bit tightly wound, give this at least an hour in the decanter to fully develop. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2016 Orin Swift ‘Palermo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Orin Swift ‘Palermo’ Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 10 months in 35% new French oak prior to bottling. This deep colored Cabernet starts off with red bell pepper, sage, blackberry pie and suggestions of coffee grounds. Silky and wonderfully textured, the wine has a nice poise despite the 15.4% alcohol. Black tea, asian spices, blackberry jam and creme de cassis flavors impress. This is another gorgeous effort by Orin Swift and superstar winemaker David Phinney. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2015 Orin Swift ‘Papillon’ Red Wine- This exceptional bottling is a silky blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec which was aged in 40% new French oak for 16 months prior to bottling. This begins with beautiful aromatics reminiscent of blackberry cobbler, black cherry, boysenberry cordial and milk chocolate. The palate is smooth and seductive, revealing a wonderful combination of weight and tension. Blackberry jam, Black Forest cake, cigar ash and Turkish coffee flavors complete this outstanding bottling that shows some very nice balance in a hot vintage. Drink 2018-2030- 93

2016 Orin Swift ‘Machete’ Red Wine- You are immediately drawn to the highly compelling aromatics of this wine. Sweet pipe tobacco, dark chocolate molten cake, and blueberry compote aromas come to mind. Despite obviously high alcohol, this is highly poised wine as the tension shines through. Deep mocha, anise, creme de cassis and blueberry pie flavors impress. Seductive and intense, give this beauty at least a two hour decant before enjoying in its youth. Delicious now, this wine will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 94

2015 Orin Swift ‘Mercury Head’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 ‘Mercury Head’ by Orin Swift is a stunning bottling by superstar winemaker David Phinney. This intense wine had heady aromatics of mocha, crushed mint, creme de cassis and anise. The palate is lithe and seductive as the wine reveals uber-dark fruit flavors of mocha, anise, creme de cassis and red bell pepper. This incredible wine will cellar marvelously for decades. Try to resist this intense and seductive wine for another year at least. Drink 2019-2333- 95

Tensley

One of the great values in California wine, in 1998 Joey Tensley launched Tensley Wines with a one hundred case production. He set out craft reasonably priced Syrah wines from great vineyards across Santa Barbara County. Joey has a background working for Santa Barbara wineries, first working as a “cellar rat” for Fess Parker Winery in Santa Barbara County. He later became assistant winemaker at Babcock Vineyards and in 1998 Joey moved on to become the assistant winemaker at Beckmen Vineyards where he first created his own label. Tensley Syrahs offer a wonderful combination of terroir and richness. They are not to be overlooked as a visit to their Los Olivos tasting room is a must stop for those who love California Syrah.

HIs new wines were simply awesome, as they come from a hot vintage in Santa Barbara County. Check out the outstanding 2015 Tensley ‘Colson Canyon Vineyard’ Syrah (WWB, 94) which displays gobs of dark fruits and wonderful tension. This beautiful wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://tensleywines.com Here are the outstanding new Syrah releases by Tensley.

2015 Tensley 'Santa Barbara County' Syrah- This dense wine is an awesome value from this estate. It begins with rich aromatics of smoke, blueberry compote and red cherry. This leads to rich flavors of sweet cherry compote, mocha, sage and crushed mint. Delicious now, this rich and layered bottling will cellar gracefully over the next decade. Drink 2018-2018- 93

2015 Tensley ‘Colson Canyon Vineyard’ Syrah- The nose here is absolutely intoxicating with bulls blood, milk chocolate shavings and blackberry pie. The palate is deep and plush as the wine reveals copious dark fruits with a touch of violet liquor. Velvety and seductive, with great acidity this is a stunning effort from superstar winemaker Joey Tensley. Drink 2018-2028- 94

2015 Tensley ‘Tensley Vineyard’ Syrah- The nose has distinct green peppercorn aromatics with black cherry and roasted dates. There are deep dark fruit flavors that connect with a touch of citrus. Balanced and showing a wonderful minerality, this will age gracefully for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028- 93

Seghesio Family Vineyards

Seghesio

One of the premier wineries for Zinfandel in North America, the Seghesio family has been involved in wine for more than 120 years. In 1895 Italian immigrant and winemaker Edoardo Seghesio planted his first Zinfandel vineyard in what is now Seghesio’s Home Ranch Vineyard in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley. Edoardo and his wife Angela survived Prohibition as one of roughly100 wineries to survive that era. Following prohibition, Seghesio sold bulk wine and it was only under 4th generation owner, Ted Seghesio when a focus on premium wines evolved. In a short period of time, Seghesio became synonomous with some of the highest quality and good Zinfandel available on the retail market. Their success lead to the 2011 sale of Seghesio Family Vineyards to Crimson Wine Group. Ted continues to serve as winemaker and crafts some outstanding wines. 

Picture here of the 100 year old house and vineyard owned by the Seghesio family.

A few weeks back I had the chance to try a 2011 Seghesio ‘Home Ranch’ Zinfandel. While the wine came from a less than heralded vintage, I was amazed by the combination of weight, poise and aging potential of the wine, as it was showing beautifully despite its age. The new releases by Seghesio were stunning, particularly the 2015 Seghesio ‘Old Vines’ Zinfandel (WWB, 93) which shows wonderful richness from a warm vintage in Sonoma. Learn more about these awesome wines at http://www.seghesio.com

2016 Seghesio ‘Sonoma County/ Zinfandel- Sourced from a host of Sonoma County Vineyards, this Zinfandel starts off with aromatics of red berries and prune with sage undertones. Juicy and ripe, with nice acidity, the wine shows off bramble with red cherry and red raspberry pie flavors. Bright and nicely balanced, this is an outstanding value Zinfandel by Seghesio. Drink 2018-2025- 91

2015 Seghesio ‘Old Vines’ Zinfandel- Showing a deep core, the wine starts with aromatics reminiscent of prune, bramble, and blueberry syrup. Rich and wonderfully poised, the wine shows black tea, blackberry cobbler and milk chocolate flavors with lively acidity. This is a gorgeous wine by Seghesio that will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028- 93

Interview with Benjamin Smith, Co-Owner and Winemaker of Cadence Winery

Originally starting with the famed Boeing Wine Club, Benjamin Smith began learning more about wine through making his own beer and wine more than 20 years ago. Together with his wife Gaye McNutt, Ben produces some outstanding red wines from the Red Mountain AVA for their Cadence Winery, located in Seattle. Ben and Gaye also both own their own vineyard in Red Mountain, the Cara Mia Vineyard. Cadence has gained a nationwide reputation for crafting a sterling minerality in all their wines —regardless of vintage. I found their last releases, largely from the warm 2014 vintage, to be really outstanding across the board. These wines evoke a Bordealise feel while maintaining the classic Washington red and dark fruit profiles. I recently had the chance to sit down with Ben and chat wine. Highly knowledgable, Ben has now been in the Washington wine industry for more than 20 years. I think you are going to really enjoy hearing his story in wine. Here is my interview with Benjamin Smith, Owner and Winemaker of Cadence.

WWB:  How did you first become interested in wine and winemaking?

BS: I moved to Seattle from Columbus, Ohio in 1986.  There wasn’t much in the way of wine culture at that time, though honestly I wouldn’t have noticed anyway being a poor college kid.  However, Seattle was different – it already cared about fresh, local, handmade and artisanal crafted products.  I took notice, started drinking the locally produced beers (they were good!) and eating the food (it wasn’t from a can!)  Then I began brewing beer, which segued into my first grape harvest – a 1992 Cabernet/Merlot blend from Dick Boushey’s vineyard – and then it was off to the races.  I joined the Boeing Winemaking Club, became its head of grape procurement, won the competition three times in a row, the last time in 1997.  In 1998 my wife and I founded Cadence.

WWB: I have enjoyed your signature style of mineral-driven, Bordelaise type winemaking for many years. Can you talk about how you have crafted this Bordelaise style at Cadence?

BS: Our goal has always been to produce wine that shows a sense of place, hence vineyard designation.  A key, though, is that I believe that the riper wine becomes (after a point) the less it reflects its site.  In other words, riper and riper leads to similarities of flavors between sites, and ultimately between grape varieties, that obscure where the fruit comes from.  This line of thought directs me to pick at lower potential alcohol levels than do many of my peers, and leads to wines that are brighter in acidity, more compact in style, and carry flavor components that have been baked out of riper wine (like the minerality to which you refer).  In short, my wines are more Bordelaise than many, as a direct result of how we wish to show off the vineyard.

WWB: Your 2014 releases were outstanding across the board. Can you talk about the challenges with making wine and maintaining your style of winemaking in the warm 2014 vintage and the 2015 vintage that saw severe heat spikes?

BS: Yes, they were very challenging vintages!  Growing Degree Days (GDD) is a measure of the heat accumulated throughout the growing season, and an easy way to characterize the vintage.  On Red Mountain the average heat accumulation is about 2900 heat units (GDD).  2014 ended up around 3200 GDD and 2015 topped 3700!  So yes, those years were extremely hot.  Another way to look at the growing season is the number of days between flowering and harvest.  2014 started cold but warmed dramatically.  We probably lost ten days between flowering and harvest compared to normal years.  2015, on the other hand, started warm, so budbreak and flowering were early.  Harvest was early too, but overall the season was closer to a normal length than in 2014.  This goes a little way to explaining the tougher tannins in 2014 versus 2015, and also the brightness that 2015 carried into bottle that belies the heat of the vintage.  Data and comparisons aside, I just pick when the fruit tastes ripe and ferment according to gut instinct tempered with data.

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

BS: We just opened a vertical of Andrew Will Sorella (his flagship Bordeaux blend) back to its first vintage, 1994.  The tasting was divine, even the oldest wines were lively and pure.  Chris Camarda is definitely a hero of mine!  Outside of Washington we gravitate to Piedmont, Italy because of  Barbaresco and Barolo.  These regions combine beautiful fruit, bright acidity and enormous tannins to make incredibly age-worthy wine meant to be paired with the wonderful cuisine of the region.  Nebbiolo also profoundly reflects its site, another plus.

Brittan Vineyards

Brittan Vineyards

One of the standout Oregon producers of Oregon Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Brittan Vineyards is guided by superstar winemaker Robert Brittan, formerly winemaker at Stags’ Leap Winery in Napa. Robert is a graduate of the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology program who started Brittan Vineyards in 2004. Robert acquired a 128-acre hillside property with soils that are a mixture of glacial deposits and volcanic material, with a predominant presence of broken basalt. The volcanic material clearly adds to the wonderfully stony aspect in the wines. In 2004 there were 18 acres of existing vines but Robert needed to replant nearly half of the rootstock. This included one of the first plantings of the Swan clonal selection of Pinot Noir in Oregon.

After dropping all of the crop in 2005 to allow the vines to get better established, the first two Pinot Noirs from the mature vines on the property came from the 2006 vintage, a total of 720 cases. In the spring of 2008, an additional 3.5 acres of Pinot Noir were planted, which are now in production— the rocky soils and low water retention often means that it takes five years for a vine to get into production. In addition to the Pinot Noir, Robert has 4 acres of Chardonnay and 1.5 acres of Syrah have been planted. In addition to his own wines, Robert serves as the winemaker for several other brands, including Blakeslee, de Lancellotti, Fairsing, Noble Pig, Winderlea and Youngberg Hill. 

The new Brittan Vineyards releases are some of the most impressive wines out of Oregon that I have tried in the past year. Check out the absolutely stunning 2016 Brittan Vineyards Chardonnay (WWB, 94) which has just incredible tension and range. Just as good was the 2015 Brittan Vineyards ‘Gestalt Block’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) is an exceptional Pinot Noir that has incredible terroir and a wonderful sense of place. Learn more about the great wines of Brittan Vineyards at http://www.brittanvineyards.com Here are the new Pinot Noir releases by Brittan Vineyards. 

2016 Brittan Vineyards Chardonnay- Showing a rather pale color, the 2016 Brittan Vineyards Chardonnay starts off with bright aromatics of poached pear, lemon blossom and a touch of toasted hazelnut. The mouthfeel is velvety and soft, revealing an enticing mineral streak. Lemon oil, pink grapefruit rind, and brioche with baked New York apple flavors arouse the senses. The intensity of this wine is downright invigorating. This is another stunning effort by superstar winemaker Robert Brittan. Enjoy this gorgeous wine over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 94

2015 Brittan Vineyards ‘Basalt Block’ Pinot Noir- This gorgeous Pinot Noir is sourced from south facing Pinot Noir vines set in fractured basalt. Earthy tones dominate the nose, with sage, crushed wet gravel, peat moss and black cherry cordial. The mouthfeel is voluptuous as the wine reveals a wonderful combination of dark and red fruits that connect with the forest floor and wild mushroom elements. Elegant, rich and downright intoxicating, this is a gorgeous wine by Brittan Vineyards. Try to resist this outstanding Pinot Noir for at least another year. Drink 2019-2030- 94

2015 Brittan Vineyards ‘Gestalt Block’ Pinot Noir- The Gestalt Block is located on a western facing hillside that is set on broken basalt. The range of aromatics is lovely. Orange rind, Asian spices, red cherry preserves and black truffle crudo fill the nose. Elegant and highly poised, the wine shows off deep smoked wild mushroom, wild blackberry jam and orange rind flavors that connect with the gorgeous minerality. The brisk acidity and weight make this nearly impossible to resist right now. Drink 2019-2030- 94

2015 Brittan Vineyards ‘Cygnus Block’ Pinot Noir- The Cygnus Block is named after the winemaker’s wife, Ellen. This starts off with rich aromatics reminiscent of loganberry preserves, black tea and Asian spices with forest floor. The palate has marvelous weight and minerality, as the wine shows off blackberry jelly, orange rind, red cherry compote and black tea with peat moss. This has wonderful range and is impossible to resist right now. Enjoy this gorgeous wine over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2033- 94

Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot & Dom Pérignon Tasting

Happy Friday to you all. Last night I had a unique opportunity to sample a pretty outstanding collection of Champagnes all in the same sitting. LVMH group (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) is one of the world powers of Champagne. If you’re sipping a glass of Champagne, chances are it is comes from LVMH. While only 1% of the world’s wine is Champagne, 2017 LVMH amassed profits of €42.6 billion in 2017, an increase of 13% over the previous year. That a ton of Champagne sold. 

LVMH owns Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Pérignon, all storied houses in Champagne. The tasting showed off both nonvintage and vintage Champagnes, all culminating with the new release of Dom Perignon coming from the somewhat challenging 2009 vintage. Dom Perignon has not released a Champagne since the 2006 vintage so it was exciting to try their new wine. I also learned that Dom Perignon will be producing a 2008 vintage wine later in the year. 

The 2009 Dom Pérignon Champagne (WWB, 95) was an ethereal effort with tremendous balance and body. This wine has marvelous cellaring potential and I think that it currently needs a few years in the cellar to come together. Hugely complex and gorgeous right now, the 2006 Veuve Clicquot ‘La Grand Dame’ Champagne (WWB, 95) has an exotic range of aromatics and flavors. This wine is a stunner that will also cellar well for decades to come. Learn more about these storied Champagne houses at https://www.lvmh.com/ Here are the new Champagne releases by Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicot and Dom Perignon. 

NV Moët & Chandon ‘Brut’ Champagne- Forward but delicious, this wine delivers a bouquet of orange zest with strong challah bread undertones. The mousse is silky, learning to balanced flavors of lime zest with brioche and macadamia nut accents. Lovely and refreshing, this is an outstanding new effort. Drink 2018-2022- 90

NV Veuve Clicquot ‘Brut’ Champagne- The NV Brut Champagne by Veuve Clicot has a great combination of poise and elegance. The flavors of banana, brioche and citrus rind connect marvelously with the weight of the wine. Crisp and lithe, this delicious effort finishes clean with a nice minerality. Drink 2018-2022- 90

NV Veuve Clicquot Rose Champagne- 12% still wine was added to this blend that is an awesome showing by this house. This starts off with aromatics of orange rind, watermelon and suggestions of pomegranate seed. The balance here is really lovely as this revels wild strawberry purée, red cherry and lemon zest flavors that sit along wonderful tension. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2006 Veuve Clicquot ‘La Grand Dame’ Champagne- The 2006 ‘La Grand Dame’ is a seriously good effort in this exciting vintage. This gorgeous wine showcases highly complex aromatics of lemon oil, brioche and roasted macadamia nut. The tension and balance is simply amazing. The mousse and weight is even more appealing. Ripe Japanese apple, green papaya, lemon cake and suggestions of key lime finish this outstanding wine. I love the weight of this wine on the mid-palate as this evokes almost an unctuous texture. This outstanding Champagne cellar marvelously for two plus decades. Drink 2018-2038- 95

2008 Moet & Chandon ‘Grand Vintage’ Champagne- Aged for seven years, the 2008 ‘Grand Vintage’ Champagne has wonderful musty aromatics with toasty oak, hazelnut and vanilla cream. The palate is lithe and intense, showing kumquat, challah bread and Gala apple flavors that connect with a wonderful tension. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2009 Dom Pérignon Champagne- Disgorged in June 2016, the 2009 Dom Pérignon is a simply fabulous effort from a challenging vintage in Champagne. The musty and earthy aromatics grab you straight away. Wild mushroom, brioche, poached pear and toasted hazelnut aromatics impress. Hugely balanced and smooth, this showcases lemon zest, baked apple and marzipan with biscuit flavors. This Champagne might be a touch young, needing time to develop, but it is a downright gorgeous wine with marvelous cellaring potential. Try to hold off on this stunner for at least two years. Drink 2020-2040-95

Interview with Christopher Carpenter, Head Winemaker of Cardinale

Year after year, I have found that Cardinale Red Wine is one of the outstanding Napa red blends available in the retail market. The wine usually displays a wonderful combination of bold fruits and elegance. For those who love a wine that merges old and new world, this is a special occasion wine for you. The creator of this outstanding wine, Christopher 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 one of the great California winemakers. Despite his obvious talents, he is very humble when talking about his wines. Meeting up with him in New York, I recently had the chance to sit down with him and chat wine. He talked about his background as well as his recent wines that all showed beautifully from hot vintages in Napa. I think you will enjoy hearing more about him. Here is my interview with Christopher Carpenter, head winemaker of Cardinale.

WWB: Who were the first people in wine who inspired you?

CC: My server and bartender buddies in Chicago when we were all working in the restaurant business learning about wine. One of them worked at an Italian restaurant that had a decent list that he would share with us when we went in there to dine.  Without those days of late nights, hard living and culinary exploration I wouldn’t be where I am today.

WWB: Why did you decide to enroll in the viticulture and enology program at UC Davis? Talk about your experience there. 

CC: I was approaching 30, working during the day in the medical industry and at night as a bartender.  My day job was going well to the degree that I had opportunities to move into a corporate position, which after some reflection I did not want to pursue.  I was looking for something that could tie my degree in Biology, my love of restaurant energy and a need to do something creative.  Through a number of serendipitous events winemaking became that answer for me that could cover all of those things.  As a 30 year old I felt I needed to jump start that pursuit rather than start from scratch as a cellar worker, so I applied to UC Davis.  With a foundation of education from one of the premiere Viticulture and Enology programs I felt I could have doors open to me that would move me forward rapidly.

It was an incredible experience at Davis. Surrounded by students and professors that were deeply engaged in all aspects of the field at an incredibly high level was inspiring, stimulating and energizing.  I actually did my masters work in Viticulture and pursued the Enology portion as an aside spending an extra 6 months at Davis so I could accomplish both.  I can’t tell you how having the background initially on the plant side has served me in my winemaking approach time and time again.   

WWB: Talk about how Cardinale has evolved since coming to the winery in 1998 and since taking over as head winemaker in 2001. 

CC: What has evolved the most from the vintages from 2002 on is a focus on Napa Valley as those wines before included Sonoma fruit.  Cardinale blends upwards of 7 different Napa sub-appellations in its blend.  In different years different parts of the valley do better viticulturally than others and thus show better as wines, as a result Cardinale becomes a snapshot each year of how the vintage plays out across the Napa Valley.  In some vintages it might be Veeder [Mt. Veeder] that drives the wine, in some it might be Spring [Spring Valley], etc.  That is what our collectors are looking for, that exploration of Napa and it’s per vintage signature.

WWB: Your 2013 Cardinale is a head-turning massive beast of a wine that appears to need some time in the bottle to be fully expressive. Can you talk about this fantastic wine and how it compares to the equally gorgeous 2012 Cardinale?

CC: Two incredible vintages. 13 was the flashier of the two, with great structure, driven fruit and definitive high and low notes, reflective of that vintage in general.  The 12 has all of the fruit but is more subtle in some of the interactions of the various wines that were blended together.  Tannins are silkier, and the minerality shines through big time. Its like comparing a Ferrari to an Aston Martin.  Each stands at the highest level of the automobile world one is flashier and faster the other is more subtle and stylish.

WWB: Talk about some of your favorite wines of the world and what is in your cellar. Any recent trips to regions of the world or new wine experiences? 

CC: We have been exploring Rieslings lately in my house.  Australian, German, Alsatian, Austrian, and what’s great is each region has its own signature driven by a combination of the place and style. My partner in crime here at Cardinale, Laura Diaz, makes one from Spring Mt for her label Galerie that is incredible. Part of the process before we began making that wine was tasting though at least 100 wines to decide how she would pursue the style. It’s a great variety that I wish more Americans embraced as there are a lot of places we could be growing it here that would rival those other regions.

If I am out and not drinking Cabernet I typically will go right to the Brunello listing on the menu.  I am also becoming enamored of the wines of Mt Etna in Sicily.  Incredible mountain structure with very different varieties. In fact that will be my next wine focused trip. We are partnering with a cruise excursion for our collectors and for those interested in getting to know my wines where we will visit Sicily and Croatia as part of the journey. Pretty cool trip where we will go deep into my wine making on the boat and learn about two of the more exciting emerging wine regions of the world. 

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