Evening Land

One of Oregon’s great wineries, Evening Land utilizes the famed Seven Springs Vineyard for their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay bottlings. First planted in 1984, the Seven Springs Vineyard is one of the great historic vineyards in the Pacific Northwest. Planted with eastern exposure, Seven Springs Vineyard fruit experiences an abundance of morning sunlight and also experiences cool breezes in from the Pacific Ocean through the Van Duzer Corridor. The combination of heat and cool breezes affords the fruit to slowly ripen. Celebrity somm, Rajat Parr and Sasha Moorman head the winemaking team at Evening Land. They form what is truly one of the best teams in the state.

Evening Land is one of the great wineries to visit. The new lineup is simply stunning and follows up the highly impressive 2014 bottlings. An amazing effort, the 2015 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) is among the finest entry level Pinot Noir bottling that I have tried in the past year out of Oregon. This gorgeous, mineral driven wine will cellar marvelously. Following up the scintillating 2014 bottling, the 2015 Evening Land ‘Summum’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) is truly one of the best Chardonnays made from Oregon. The combination of terroir, bright fruit and sterling minerality is hard to find — particularly considering the heat of the 2015 vintage. Kudos to the rockstar team of Rajat Parr and Sasha Moorman on this gorgeous new Chardonnay. Learn more about Evening Land at https://www.eveninglandvineyards.com Here are the amazing new release wines by Evening Land.

2015 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The Chardonnay grapes were whole cluster pressed into to once-used French barriques and Stockinger puncheons (500L) for fermentation.This starts off with brioche and tasted hazelnuts with wild mushroom accents on the inviting nose. Intense Meyer lemon oil flavor immediately entices with ripe pear and green papaya filling in, adding an exotic edge. The silky texture finishes this outstanding, mineral-driven wine. This finishes long with a buttery finish. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2015 Evening Land ‘La Source’ Chardonnay- This great wine is sourced from old-vine Dijon clones in the lower half of a narrow band of 14 vine rows. Roasted marshmallow and toasty oak mark the expressive nose with baked apple filling in. The freshness and tension to this wine is outstanding. Wonderfully poised, this shows Gravenstein apple, and lemon creme brûlée flavors. This outstanding new release by Evening Land, showing wonderful weight and tension, drinks like an outstanding Montrachet. Drink 2018-2030- 94

2015 Evening Land ‘Summum’ Chardonnay- The ‘Summum’ is sourced from 14 rows of vines located in the heart of the Seven Springs Vineyard, Deeper hued than the ‘La Source’ bottling, the 2015 Evening Land ‘Summum’ Chardonnay starts off with wonderful range on the nose with vanilla creme brulee, poached pear, buttered cashew nut and a touch of white truffle oil. The oily texture entices. This has a tremendous poise and weight, as the wine shows off Gala apple, brioche, kumquat and Meyer lemon cream flavors. The long, near minute long, cream and citrus rind finish lingers. A complete wine, this is a stunning effort by Evening Land that will age gracefully over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2018-2033- 95

2015 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 Evening Land ‘Seven Sorings Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is an outstanding effort from this exciting vintage in the Willamette Valley. Forest floor, ripe red cherry and red raspberry cordial mark the highly perfumed nose. The palate is both lithe and viscous as the wine showcases black tea, peat moss, red cherry preserve and teaberry with blood orange zest flavors that beautifully mingle with the minerality. This is a simply stunning entry level bottling by Evening Land that will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2015 Evening Land ‘La Source’ Pinot Noir- Mineral driven and energetic, the Dijon clone based 2015 ‘La Source’ Pinot Noir by Evening Land impresses in this warm vintage. The ‘La Source’ starts off with beautiful aromatics of black tea, black truffle shavings, peat moss and wild blackberry preserves. This has wonderful mid-palate range, as the wine beautifully unveils citrus rind and dark fruit flavors with earthy undertones. Exotic, and full of life, this outstanding wine will cellar well for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2018-2033- 94

2015 Evening Land ‘Anden’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from vines first planted in 1984, the ‘Anden’ Pinot Noir by Evening Land begins with heady aromas of black truffle, peat moss, loganberry cobbler and Asian spices. The aromatics are so intense and exotic that you are compelled back to the glass for more. Lithe, with wonderful Burgundian earthy tones, the wine shows off black truffle, forest floor, cigar box and blackberry pie flavors that sit alongside some wonderful tension. The ‘Anden’ Pinot Noir is simply stunning right now and will cellar well for the next two decades. Drink 2018-2033- 95

Goodfellow

Moving through another glorious Oregon Wine Month, we bring you another great producer of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Initially founded in 2002 as Matello Winery, Goodfellow sources from some great vineyards in the Willamette Valley. The winemaker, Marcus Goodfellow, grew up on a Douglas Fir tree farm in Oregon. Inspired by learning about wine through his work in fine dining,  Marcus worked his first harvest in 2002 at Evesham Wood and made his first wines that same year. Marcus learned under eminent Cristom winemaker, Steve Doerner, who taught him finer details about fermentation. 

Marcus’s wines are outstanding across the board. I scored al of his wines above 90 points. There is a remarkable consistency with the winemaking, none more so than his entry level Pinot Noir bottling, the 2015 Goodfellow ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 90) which has a lovely texture and shows its feminine side. This wine is a serious value at only $23.00 and is truly one to buy by the case. The 2015 Goodfellow ‘Heritage No. 6’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 92) showed wonderful range and a good combination of fruit and terroir. Learn more about these great wines at https://goodfellowfamilycellars.com Here are the outstanding new wines by Goodfellow. 

2015 Goodfellow ‘Richard’s Chardonnay- The nose shows light cream and pear aromatics. There is some really good intensity to this wine, showing off bright lemon zest and vanilla cream flavors that sit alongside some serious tension. This is really impressive by Goodfellow. Drink 2018-2028- 91

2015 Goodfellow ‘Durant Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Creamy and light citrus notes line the nose.  There is a good combination of weight and balance on the mid-palate, displaying butterscotch and lemon zest flavors. Drink 2018-2026- 90

2015 Goodfellow ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- This translucent colored wine starts off with sage and forest floor with dark cherry on the nose. The palate is feminine with light red fruits and a silky texture. Citrus rind flavors combine beautifully as this shows nice weight toward sthe back end. Drink 2018-2024- 90

2015 Goodfellow ‘Durant Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Set in the Dundee Hills, this starts with cran-cherry and forest floor on the nose. The palate is both rich and lithe, showing off red cherry candy and lavender with forest floor flavors. This is another outstanding bottling by Goodfellow. Drink 2018-2028- 91

2015 Goodfellow ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This limited production wine is sourced from a small vineyard set in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA which was first planted in 1985. Earthy aromatics with sage and peat moss fill the glass. The palate is lithe and shows wonderful tension and earthy tones. Forest floor, blackberry jam and lighter citrus tones finish off this outstanding wine. Drink 2018-2025- 91

2015 Goodfellow ‘Whistling Ridge Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Whistling Ridge Vineyard is located in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. The wine was aged for 20 months in French oak prior to bottlibng. Citrus and red fruits line then evocative nose. The texture here is lovely as there is a beautiful astringency to the wine. Red cherry, red currant, and orange zest flavors impress. Drink 2018-2038- 92

2015 Goodfellow ‘Heritage No. 4’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the Whitstling Ridge Vineyard, this starts off with orange rind, red cherry and black truffle aromas. The texture here is lovely, as is the juicy acidity. Black tea, wild blackberry, black cherry and forest floor flavors beautifully combine here. Drink 2018-2026- 92

2015 Goodfellow ‘Heritage No.5’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the Durant Vineyard, this wine begins with bright aromas of white truffle, blackberry and black tea. This has nice length with black tea, teaberry and red cherry preserve flavors with a touch of forest floor. Drink 2018-2025- 91

2015 Goodfellow ‘Heritage No. 6’ Pinot Noir- The wine is sourced from the Fir Crest Vineyard. Red cherry and cranberry aromas fill the glass. The soft texture is lovely. Black truffle, black tea, orange zest and red cherry flavors wonderfully combine. Drink 2018-2026- 92

Mina in Miami

When I am traveling I am always looking to try some of the top area restaurants. Last weekend in Miami I had the chance to try two top restaurants, both with completely different food and ambiance. One of the top restaurants in Seattle, RN74 by celebrity chef, Michael Mina, has been a Seattle fixture for more than a decade. Michael Mina now has over 20 restaurants from Hawaii to Miami, with even a restaurant in Dubai. A recent visit to Pizza & Burger and Stripsteak in Miami was a delightful culinary and visual experience that I won’t forget.

Pizza & Burger is located in the Fontainebleau hotel, a Vegas style and posh and modern establishment on South Beach in Miami. Walking down the stairs into Pizza & Beer you are greeted with a chic, pub style atmosphere, with many beers on tap and a small but well-placed and priced wine list. My heart yearned for one of my personal favorites, the 2015 Dariosh Chardonnay ($120.00), but I decided to have the bartender make me a mezcal old-fashioned. I was not disappointed as the drink was beautifully balanced, showing a refreshing yet smoky side. I also enjoyed a few sips of their NV Tattinger Champagne ($16.00 per glass), which was very well-priced.

The nachos were serious fabulous.

For food we had a very challenging decision to make. It was one of those pub style menus where everything looks good. The manager helped us with some delicious selections that did not disappoint. The nachos were made with a heaping pile of homemade chili and mounds of delicious cheese, cheese sauce, pico de Gallo and guacamole. My girlfriend and I agreed that this was some of the best nachos we have ever tried.

We also ordered one of their signature dishes, the signature chicken wings with slow cooked honey sauce. The chicken was perfectly cooked, soft and tender. We wanted seconds. We needed to order a Pizza and Burger to share and we were glad we did.

The scampi pizza came with locally sourced shrimp that were incredibly fresh and served as the perfect compliment to the garlic white sauce. The crust was also perfectly cooked. I chose the dry-aged steak burger, which melted in your mouth. With homemade cheese sauce, this seriously gave the RN74 burger a run for its money. 

Directly following our comfort food adventure we whisked off through a secret entrance leading us to Stripsteak, also located in the Fontainebleau hotel. We were transformed from pub to club as a lively, South Beach worthy experience awaited. Stripsteak has luxurious leather booths and even a live DJ spinning house music. We started our culinary experience in the kitchen, with Stripsteak chef, William Crandle, as we were greeted to a delightful  array of amuse bouches.

Champagne is always a great way to kick off a great meal — especially when you begin with the 2006 Veuve ‘La Grand Dame’ Champagne (WWB, 95), which was a downright stunning combination for the second best thing I ate all night. Yes, that is Iranian asetra caviar with a succulent oyster. This was a jaw-dropping pairing. We enjoyed a king crab amuse with hints of summer truffle that also paired marvelously with the tete du cuvee champagne. The homemade chocolates, particularly the passion fruit chocolate was absolutely delightful. This was only the beginning of our memorable meal.

Service was impeccable throughout the night as staff operated at a perfect cadence. We could see kitchen staff mingling from our seat as they appear to truly love where they work. You can see that level of care and precision in everything you eat at Stripsteak. Upon being seated, we chose several courses including the PBJ style foie gras and the steak tartare with summer truffle shavings.

The foie gras melted in your mouth. It was also the perfect amount of foie. Advanced sommelier, Chris Zarcadoolas, guided us through a host of amazing wines on Coravin. The 2008 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva’ Rose (WWB, 92) was an absolutely stunning selection to be paired with the steak tartare. The rich texture of the wine and beautiful acidity with good range really made the pairing shine.

But the highlight pairing of this meal was truly the insanely good 2007 Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage (WWB, 95) with the lobster pot pie. The silky and buttery texture of this wine was just an incredible match to the succulent lobster and Thermidor sauce.

My mouth waters as I write this. My fillet mignon was cooked to perfection and was matched with five different signature Michael Mina steak sauces. Kudos to chef Crandle in crafting these irresistible matches to his melt in your mouth steaks.

We finished the night with one of their signature desserts, carrot cake and the 1996 Chateau Guiraud Sauternes (WWB, 92) which has lost some sweetness but had an oily texture and had picked up some wonderful tertiary notes. This was the perfect end note to what was an absolutely delightful culinary adventure in Miami. 

Time & Direction

I am always inspired by great new winery projects. It is my great pleasure to introduce you all to a new winery based in Walla Walla, Time & Direction, founded by Steve Wells. Steve has a great story in wine. He began learning about wine while waiting tables in New York City. Inspired by the world of wine Steve impressively passed both the Introductory and Certified Sommelier certifications through the the Court of Master Sommeliers within months of each other.  Years later speaking with Ron Coleman of Tamarack Cellars, Steve learned about the Center for Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College. He then made a leap of faith moving from the Big Apple to Walla Walla, WA and attended school. He then began working in the tasting room and cellar at Gramercy Cellars and learned about production and the wine business. After two productive years at Gramercy Steve then began working under eminent Washington winemaker, Aryn Morell, and helped in crafting 60 different wines for 6 different clients.  Aryn allowed Steve to make his own wines at his production facility, and Time & Direction was born.

Steve sources from some exciting vineyards in Washington including the Solaksen Vineyard which is a new planting at the Lawrence Vineyards. He also sources his Roussanne, Viognier & Grenache from the Lawrence Vineyards, connecting there through Aryn Morell. His 2016 Time & Direction Syrah (WWB, 92) is co-fermented with 5% Viognier. The smoky and savory character in the wine is really outstanding. His new white wine, the 2017 Time & Direction ‘Fretboard’ White Wine (WWB, 91) shows beautiful bright acidity and wonderful range. These are serious new wines that will pair marvelously with food. Learn more bout Time & Direction at https://www.facebook.com/timeanddirectionwines/ Here are the exciting inaugural wines by Time & Direction. 

2017 Time & Direction Rose- Sourced from Grenache vines, this pale colored Rose begins with aromas of guava, strawberry and rose petals. The palate is bright, showing mouth-watering acidity. This hard to resist Rose finishes clean with light red fruits, minerals and a touch of tangerine rind. An outstanding debut, enjoy this wonderful Rose over the next few years. Drink 2018-2022- 90

2017 Time & Direction ‘Fretboard’ White WIne- A blend of Roussanne and Viognier sourced from the Columbia Valley, this opens with a bouquet of lemongrass, Gravenstein apple and green papaya as the Roussanne seems to be particularly shining brightly on the nose. Bright, with lively acidity, this shows lighter tree fruit flavors with cantaloupe and kiwi mixed in. The citrus rind driven finish creates a lovely mouth-watering effect. Drink 2018-2022- 91

2016 Time & Direction ‘Solaksen Vineyard’ Syrah- Gobs of dark fruits and smoke dominate the nose, giving this a seductive opening. There is a great combination of weight and acidity on the mid-palate as the wine reveals a nice combination of red and dark fruits with smoked pork shoulder undertones. The citrus rind towards the back end completes this fantastic new release. Drink 2018-2026- 92

Cornerstone Cellars

One of the hidden gems in Napa, first founded in 1991, Cornerstone Cellars produces some fantastic Cabernet wines that are not to be missed. Cornerstone holds their tastings in downtown Napa and are currently constructing a new tasting room in Yountville. Two Memphis physicians, Michael Dragutsky and David Sloas, originally founded this winery and the winery is currently owned by both Michael Dragutsky and Craig Camp. Relying on the winemaking talents of Charles Thomas and Kari Auringer, Cornerstone has some excellent guidance.

Charles was responsible for some absolutely epic Napa Cabernet bottlings including the Robert Mondavi Winery Reserve wines from the 1980s to the mid 1990s. He has been described by Robert Parker as a ‘star winemaker.’ Kari has been making wine in Napa for more than a decade. They have teamed to craft some really good new releases. Look to the 2014 Cornerstone Cellars ‘Benchlands’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 93) which delivers a ton of range and Napa character. This is a gorgeous, warm vintage wine, that will cellar marvelously over the next fifteen plus years. Learn more about this great winery at https://www.cornerstonecellars.com Here are the great new Cabernet releasees by Cornerstone Cellars. 

2014 Cornerstone Cellars ‘Calistoga’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This inky colored wine starts off with highly perfumed aromas of red currant, dusty earth and blackberry puree. There is a nice combination of minerality, richness and tannin to the mid-palate. Dark currant, boysenberry cordial and milk chocolate flavors connect with a nice tension in the wine. This will have a long life in the cellar.  Drink 2018-2030- 92

2014 Cornerstone Cellars ‘Benchlands’ Cabernet Sauvignon- An even deeper hue than the ‘Calistoga’ bottling, the 2014 ‘Benchlands’ by Cornerstone opens with aromas of red bell pepper, mocha and creme de cassis. The palate is lithe and downright delicious, showcasing dark currant, mint, creme de cassis and Turkish coffee flavors. This shows an exotic edge, while maintaining a wonderful tension in the wine. Drink 2018-2033- 93

Tendril

Cheers to a happy Friday to you all. As part of another exciting Oregon Wine Month we bring you one of the top producers of Oregon Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Tendril was founded by the talented, Tony Rynders, who has made wine in Oregon for more than twenty years. A graduate of the esteemed master’s degree in Enology and Viticulture from UC Davis, Rynders previously has stints in Napa (Acacia Winery), northern Italy (Friuli), South Australia (Petaluma Winery), and Tuscany (Col d’Orcia). Previously working at Argyle Winery as assistant winemaker, at Hogue Cellars as red winemaker, as well as Domaine Serene Winery/Rockblock Cellars (10 years) as head winemaker, Tony brings a wealth of winemaking experience to Tendril. It is worth noting that during his tenure at Domaine Serene as head winemaker, Rynders obtained more 90+ point scores from the Wine Spectator magazine than any other winemaker during this period of time. Rynders is one of the great winemaking talents in the Pacific Northwest.

Last summer I had the chance to visit his winery and spend the afternoon with Tony. A truly great person to chat wine with, Tony talked about how he developed a white Pinot Noir which is now one of the great Oregon wines, the ‘Pretender’ White Pinot Noir. I recently had the chance to review his new releases as part of our Oregon Report. His new releases were just as impressive as last year. Check out the 2015 Tendril Chardonnay (WWB, 93) which holds its own with the best in the Willamette Valley.  Even better is the following up his 2014 scintillating White Pinot Noir bottling the 2015 Tendril ‘Pretender’ White Pinot Noir (WWB, 94), shows a wonderful combination of range, weight and structure. Grab a case of this gorgeous wine and enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Learn more about this outstanding Oregon winery at http://www.tendrilwines.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Tony Rynders and Tendril.

2015 Tendril Chardonnay- The compelling nose hits you instantly with creme brulee, roasted hazelnut and ripe nectarine. The mouthfeel and acidity here is simply outstanding. Lemon zest, kumquat and Japanese apple all mingle with the mouth-watering acidity. The huge, acid and citrus zest finish lingers for nearly a minute. Impossible to resist now, try to enjoy this great Chardonnay over the next decade or so. Drink 2018-2030- 93

2015 Tendril ‘The Pretender’ White Pinot Noir- This unique bottling from Tony Rynders, who first brought this style of wine to North America, opens with an intense bouquet of candied white peach, Welches white grape juice and a touch of vanilla cream. The silky texture is refined and connects with the wonderful balance in the wine, which excites considering the heat of the vintage. Meyer lemon cream, marzipan and Pink Lady apple flavors complete this absolutely stunning wine. Enjoy this over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2018-2030- 94

2015 Tendril ‘Tight Rope’ Pinot Noir- A stunning wine, this great Pinot Noir needs more than an hour in the decanter to fully develop. This barrel select wine by Tony Rynders begins with aromatics of black tea, creosote, forest floor and blood orange puree. The palate shows a wonderful combination of dark and red fruits with citrus and peat moss undertones connecting. Beautifully balanced, this great wine will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2018-2033- 93

Leonetti Cellar

A few weeks back I was fortunate enough to spend the afternoon talking wine with superstar winemaker Chris Figgins as we both share a mutual love for Arsenal football club and world class wine. Chris has been working very hard with his Toil Oregon project and has a killer new Toil lineup. The new Leonetti wines are really world-class, across the board. One of the great houses in Washington, Leonetti sources from some top Walla Walla vineyards including their own Leonetti Old Block, as well as Mill Creek Upland and Loess vineyards. The new wines are sourced from warm vintages. 2015 was a vintage in particular that saw major heat spikes in the Walla Walla valley. Chris talked about how the higher elevation sites that he sources from help protect the vines from the high temperatures. The elevation also helps impact the acidity of the grapes through marvelous diurnal shifts from day to night. 

One of the best Washington Merlot wines that I have sampled in the past year is their new 2016 Leonetti Cellar Merlot (WWB, 95) which shows an incredible combination of weight, mouthfeel, acidity and deep flavors. This is an absolutely irresistible Merlot. Even better is the 2015 Leonetti Cellar ‘Reserve’ Red Wine (WWB, 96) which is incredibly layered, rich and shows a vibrant minerality. This wine has a marvelous sense of place and purity. Learn more about these marvelous wines at http://leonetticellar.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by Leonetti Cellar.

2015 Leonetti Cellar Sangiovese- The Sangiovese by Leonetti is 100% Brunello clone and was sourced from Loess, as well as Mill Creek Upland Vineyards. The wine was aged in 100% French oak prior to bottling. The nose is distinctly oaky with beautiful red cherry and cran-pomegranate aromatics on the nose. The mouthfeel here is wonderful, with great tension and richness. There is a very intriguing combination of red and dark fruits on the palate with a touch of blood orange rind. Seductive and rich, showing some mild tannins, this gorgeous effort will drink marvelously over the next fifteen years. Try to resist this beautiful wine for at least another year. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Leonetti Cellar Merlot- Aged for fifteen months in barrel, the wine was sourced from Mill Creek Upland, Loess and Figgins vineyards. This deep colored wine begins with a gorgeous bouquet. Dark cherry candy, mocha and creme de cassis fills the nose. There is wonderful tension int he wine as the it slowly reveals deep dark cherry, blackberry cobbler, and mocha flavors. This finishes extremely long with dark fruits and minerals. Superstar winemaker Chris Figgins has crafted another stunning release here that is up there with the best in the state. Drink 2019-2035- 95

2015 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon- This hot vintage Cabernet Sauvignon is a glass-staining purple. The nose is highly seductive as this displays gobs of dark fruits with milk chocolate and toasty oak overtones. The minerality of this wine shines, as does the deep dark cherry cordial, creme de casis, milk chocolate and coffee ground flavors that sit alongside the lovely minerality. Intense, layered and highly complex with light tannins towards the back end, this gorgeous wine will cellar marvelously over the next twenty years. Try to resist this beautiful wine at least for another year. Drink 2019-2040- 95

2015 Leonetti ‘Reserve’ Red Wine- Superstar winemaker Chris Figgins has crafted another stunning ‘Reserve; bottling with his 2015 Leonetti ‘Reserve’ Red Wine. Figgins has crafted this wine from what he considers to be the best barrels of the best lots at Leonetti Cellar. Figgins mentioned that he particularly liked the Petit Verdot from this vintage. Blueberry compote, blackberry preserves, mocha and creme de cassis fills the nose. There is also a light black tea and pipe tobacco essence showing aromatically. The rich texture is truly outstanding. Blackberry compote, blueberry cordial, mocha, creme de cassis and anise flavors entice. Balanced and ultra-rich, this is another truly outstanding effort by Leonetti Cellar that needs at least two more years of bottle age to fully reach its drinking potential. Drink 2020-2040- 96

2013 Leonetti ‘Serra Pedace Vineyard’ Aglianico- Sourced from a high elevation site, this was the latest varietal to be picked by Leonetti in 2013. Aged in a combination of clay amphorae and oak puncheons, the wine is one of the only Aglianico plantings in Washington. The nose is intense and highly perfumed with dried sage, toasty oak, blackberry pie, dusty earth and mocha. The mouthfeel here is truly outstanding as the wine slowly unveils black tea, wild blackberry pie, coffee grounds and dusty tannins towards the back end. Give this at least another year in the bottle for the tannins to fully settle. Drink 2019-2035- 93

Côte Bonneville

One of the historic vineyards in Washington State, set in the Yakima Valley, the DuBrul Vineyard was planted by some great people in Washington wine, Dr. Hugh and Kathy Shiels. This incredible vineyard has both Bordeaux varietals, as well as Syrah, Chardonnay and Riesling. The Shiels daughter, Kerry, is one of the great winemakers in Washington. Kerry received her Masters degree in Viticulture and Enology from U.C. Davis, then assumed the winemaker title in August, 2009. She has been immersed in DuBrul Vineyard and Côte Bonneville since 2005, under Stan Clarke’s tutelage and Co Dinn’s mentorship. 

Do not miss out on her new wines. An awesome follow-up to her stunning 2016 bottling, the 2017 Côte Bonneville Rose (WWB, 92) is elegant and rich, showing very pretty flavors and aromatics. Kerry has a wonderful handle on Chardonnay as I feel that her Chardonnay wines are typically some of the best made in the state. Her 2015 Côte Bonneville Chardonnay (WWB, 93) shows a dazzling array of richness and minerality with a silky texture. Learn more about this outstanding Washington winery at http://www.cotebonneville.com Here is the outstanding new lineup by Côte Bonneville. 

Great photo here of the Shiels family in their DuBrul Vineyard. 

2017 Côte Bonneville Rose- This Cabernet Franc Rose is the follow up to the absolutely outstanding 2016 bottling. The nose is highly perfumed with red rose and guava puree with bright strawberry. Lithe and rich on the palate, this shows off lovely watermelon, strawberry and a touch of citrus rind flavors. Delicious and highly poised, this is a stunning new wine by superstar winemaker Kerry Shiels. Drink 2018-2022- 92

2015 Côte Bonneville Chardonnay- The wine was aged for 17 months in French oak prior to bottling, as the wine saw extended battonage. This starts off with heady aromatics of brioche, toasty oak and butterscotch. The texture to this wine is truly outstanding. Showing nice poise the wine unveils bright pear, Pazzaz apple, starfruit and nutmeg flavors. This shows really good balance considering the heat of the vintage. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2012 Côte Bonneville ‘Carriage House’ Red Wine- The wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This translucent wine starts off with aromas of red cherry, rose water and baking spices with loganberry jam. Delicious and pretty, with a wonderful texture, the wine shows off red cherry preserves, red raspberry cordial, wild thyme and a touch of milk chocolate towards the back end. This is drinking marvelously and is highly poised as there is a wonderful purity of fruit here. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2014 Côte Bonneville Syrah- Light in color considering the varietal, this begins with rich aromas of dark cherry, smoke and milk chocolate. The palate is rich and lithe showing a wonderful mouthfeel. Dark cherry, milk chocolate, cigar box and Asian spice flavors complete this fantastic bottling. Drink 2018-2026- 92

2010 Côte Bonneville ‘Côte Bonneville’ Red Wine- This outstanding wine begins with pretty red fruit aromatics with a touch of dark currant on the nose. The sexy and pillowy texture entices. Red cherry, boysenberry cordial and milk chocolate flavors sit alongside some lovely minerality. This has such a wonderful sense of place and is a truly outstanding effort by superstar winemaker Kerry Shiels. Drink 2018-2030- 93

2017 Côte Bonneville Riesling- The 2017 Côte Bonneville Riesling shows very pretty and fragrant aromatics of honey, petrol and star jasmine. The palate has a touch of sweetness, showing off marzipan, candied kumquat and Japanese pear flavors. This is an outstanding effort that has both great weight and minerality. Drink 2018-2025- 92

W.T. Vintners

One of the great somms, winemakers and people in Washington wine, Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen crafts limited production wines at his new facility in Woodinville. I was there last weekend for his spring release and his new tasting room in the warehouse district is an awesome space to kick back and enjoy a great lineup of wines. W.T. Vintners focuses sources from some of the most esteemed vineyards in Washington including the Stoney Vine Vineyard and the Destiny Ridge Vineyard. Jeff’s wines have taken center stage on WWB in the past two years as the past two vintages (2014 & 2015) of his ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ Red Wine have landed on my Top 100 wines of North America. If you have any of those remaining in your cellar, you have made me very jealous, as mine have mysteriously vanished.

The new W.T. lineup is absolutely fantastic. Just in time for warmer weather, Jeff has crafted an absolutely fabulous Rose, the 2017 W.T. Vintners ‘Parasol’ Rose (WWB, 91) which pairs bright acidity and a wonderful texture that is not to be missed. Sourcing from one of the truly great vineyards in Oregon the 2015 W.T. Vintners ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 92) is a mouth-watering Pinot Noir that has dazzling acidity and wonderful weight. Learn more about this fantastic winery at http://www.wtvintners.com Here are the new wines by W.T. Vintners.

2017 W. T. Vintners ‘Parasol’ Rose- This Pinot Noir Rose is Sourced from Underwood Mountain. Very delicate red fruit and rose petal aromatics grip you. There is nice weight and acidity as the mid-palate texture is marvelous showing off bright red fruit flavors with lighter citrus undertones. Great as a stand-alone Rose, this would also pair nicely with sushi. Drink 2018-2022- 91

2017 W. T. Vintners ‘Upland Vineyard’ Chenin Blanc- This has a distinctly floral nose with rose water and star jasmine combining with lighter peach aromas. This has marvelous acidity with green papaya, green apple and minerals. Drink 2018-2022- 90

2015 W. T. Vintners ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Whole cluster fermented, this Pinot Noir wine saw third use barrels as winemaker opted for purity in this wine. The wine has a beautiful citrus backbone with gobs of mouth-watering acidity. Red fruits mingle with minerals in this awesome Pinot Noir that shows its feminine side. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2015 W. T. Vintners ‘Gorgeous’ Syrah- Sourced from the Destiny Ridge Vinetard this wine saw 65% whole cluster fermentation. The nose is beautiful and pure showing wild raspberry cordial, milk chocolate and violets. This has marvelous acidity as black and red fruits connect with the mineral backbone. This is another awesome effort that will drink well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2015 W. T. Vintners ‘Philosopher Stone’ Syrah- A compelling blend of Syrah with equal parts Stoney Vine and Les Collines Vineyards, there is a lightly stony nose with wet rock and dark fruits mingling. The palate is lithe and rich, showing wild blackberry, red cherry preserves and wet stone flavors. This is another outstanding release by the talented Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen. Drink 2018-2028-92

Ray's Boathouse Seattle

One of the iconic Seattle waterfront restaurants with some serious history, Ray’s Boathouse, dates all the way back to 1939 when the original owner, Ray Lichtenberger, moved his growing boat rental and bait house to the current location. Through the 1960’s Ray’s operated as both a casual fish-and-chips cafe and boat rental. In 1973 Russ Wohlers, Earl Lasher and Duke Moscrip bought Ray’s Boathouse and quickly refurbished the structure, focusing on high quality seasonal seafood, as the current menu does today. Elizabeth Gingrich joined the ownership team in 1975 as did former Seattle Supersonics legend, Jack Sikma, in 1986. In 2017 longtime Ray’s co-owner, Elizabeth Gingrich retired and two co-owners took over: Tom Olsson, a long-time Ray’s team member who started in Ray’s kitchens and worked his way to CFO, and General Manager Douglas Zellers, who has a longstanding restaurant management background. 

I recently was able to enjoy a Northwest wine and food inspired dinner with Chip Croteau, Ray’s Boathouse manager and wine director, and Doug Zellers, GM and co-owner. Both Chip and Doug are highly knowledgable and curate a very deep cellar, focusing on high quality Washington wine producers. The theme of the dinner was enjoying beautifully aged Washington wines that would connect with the largely seafood themed menu (other from a delicious New York steak). Doug and Chip have been working very hard to have a number of prime older bottles from Washington, including those from some of the David Lake collection that Columbia Winery became famous for. Doug mentioned that they are inspired by patrons with great older wine cellars. He mentioned “We wanted to have at Ray’s an incredible old cellar that showcases the best in Washington. A few years back we did a grand tasting with old wines from Washington and the youngest wine was a 1999 Leonetti Sangiovese and the oldest was an 1981 Otis Vineyard Cabinet. We even had a 1988 Quilceda Creek Cabernet that was showing marvelous One of the thing that blew me away was the 1995-97 Leonetti Cabernet. These were all served blind and I was amazed by the aging potential of Leonetti wines.” I could not agree more, as I have had some older Leonetti bottling from the 1990s that have showed marvelously lately. 

Chip mentioned “I was not sure how the older Washington wines were going to show but we were all for it. It was cool having somms here for the event, and Sean Sullvian [Wine Enthusiast Washington editor]. We were all amazed how the wines were showing despite their age.” Chip explained that it has taken many years for Ray’s to craft their Washington-centiric wine list and that he and Doug are always scouring the globe for great additions to their list.

Chip and Doug have also been directing Ray’s to have a high focus on wine education as twelve of their employees have at least a level one sommelier certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. There are also four level two sommeliers on staff and Doug mentioned “we want them to do this. We pay for their wine education and we want to have people who soak up the information and learn.” Doug continued “This really helps because you have to have the tools the that you need when selling a great bottle of wine. The court certification really helps you with learning about the wine but also how to sell the wine. The details are paramount.”

Now onto the dinner. We first started with the gorgeous 2005 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling (WWB, 93). While the first two bottles were not showing normally, the third bottle of 2005 is a downright stunner, showing what this wine will do. Key lime and crushed white flower with petrol flavors show with vibrant minerality particularly shined considering the age of the wine and the heat of the vintage. The wine connected nicely with some fresh oysters.

The course of crab cakes were wonderfully prepared with a sweet corn cream sauce with a chorizo vinaigrette with kale also served as a great compliment to the Poet’s Leap Riesling as the sweetness of the crab and acidity of the dish mirrored the wine.

The next three wines were all served blind. Blind number one doubled as a great old left bank Bordeaux. The actual wine was a 1988 Columbia Winery ‘David Lake’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 91) which had remarkable character and musty tertiary flavors. This was a great left bank Bordeaux imposter that left us all scratching our heads that the wine was actually from Washington

The next course, and one of Ray’s signature seafood dishes, was the absolutely outstanding  smoked sablefish with miso glaze. The smoky flavor and oily texture of this dish was to die for. I wanted to order another sablefish but smartly kept my mouth shut.

Our next course of New York steak with a peppercorn and red wine reduction was perfectly cooked medium rare and served as an amazing pairing for the wine that I brought, the 2008 Col Solare Red Wine (WWB, 94) which was drinking at its peak. There is no need to hold onto this beauty the way that it is currently showing. 

The ending was even more memorable as we finished the night with two older dessert wines from some of the most famous houses in France. One of my favorite wines of the world and hands down one of the best producers of dessert wine is Chateau D’Yquem. I was able to sample the absolutely fascinating 1966 Chateau D’Yquem Sauternes (WWB, 90). What was so surprising about this bottle was how it was drinking like a mature Bordeaux blanc rather than a Sauternes, as the sweetness had slowly dissipated from the wine. Quite reductive, there were lighter tones of creme brûlée and roasted hazelnut, with banana on the palate. This was a treat to savor. We finished with a wine that was showing marvelously, the 1989 Trimbach ‘Cuvee Frederic Emile’ Riesling Venganges Tardives’ Riesling (WWB, 95) which was incredibly full of life at this time. The wine showed unctuous tones of starfruit, pear and vanilla cream, with a rich, oily texture. With the mixed cheese plate, this was a stunning combination, as the acidity was still quite vibrant in the wine. Needless to say these wines were a glorious end to a highly memorable dinner at Ray’s Boathouse.

Cristom Vineyards

Getting ourselves ready for another exciting Oregon Wine Month, we bring you one of the storied produces of Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley. Founded in 1992 by Paul Gerrie, he thoughtfully named his four estate vineyards after the four females of his family, Eileen, Jessie, Louise and Marjorie. Gerrie's son, Tom, now leads the Cristom that relies on winemaking talents of Steve Doerner, who started in 1992 after spending more than ten years at Calera. Steve has a penchant for producing top class Pinot Noir that has both weight and elegance. Not many people can say that they have experienced more than 30 Pinot Noir vintages. Steve has travelled the world, visiting everywhere from Chile to Spain and has now been at Cristom for more than 20 years.

I was hugely impressed with his awesome new wines. Most of the new Pinot Noir wines were sourced from the very warm 2015 vintage — one that saw really nice growing conditions and optimal ripeness for most Willamette Valley grapes. A seriously good follow up to the outstanding 2015 bottling, the 2015 Cristom Vineyards ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 92) shows everything you want in an outstanding entry level Pinot Noir wine, with marvelous range and richness. A downright stunner is the new 2015 Cristom Vineyards ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) which has gobs of mouth-watering acidity and beautiful range. This is truly one for the cellar. Learn more about this fantastic lineup of Pinot Noirs at https://www.cristomvineyards.com Here are the outstanding new wines by Cristom Vineyards.

2015 Cristom Vineyards ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- Showing a touch of brown on the hue, the wine begins with aromas of thyme, black truffle crudo and suggestions of black cherry compote. The mouthfeel is fantastic as the wine displays ripe flavors of black raspberry, wild blackberry and a touch of teaberry with wild mushroom risotto. The range here, astringency and acidity is lovely. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2015 Cristom Vineyards ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This is sourced from the only vineyard not displaced when Cristom was first purchased in 1992. The Pinot Noir has a deeper overall core than the ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ bottling. The wine opens with a bright bouquet of shiitake mushroom, rosemary, boysenberry jelly and a touch of milk chocolate. The aromatics here bring you back to the glass for more. The weight and tension to the wine is absolutely outstanding as black fruits connect with black truffle crudo, milk chocolate shavings and blackberry jam flavors. Delicious and lithe, this will have a long time in the cellar. Drink 2018-2030- 94

2015 Cristom Vineyards ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Eileen Vineyard is located at the back end and high elevation portion of the Cristom property and has a very strong Maritime effect from breezes from the Pacific Ocean. This begins with ripe aromas of cherry cola, wild mushroom and thyme with a hint of orange zest. The combination of red fruits, astringency and citrus on the mid-palate makes this nearly impossible to resist. The long, lip-smacking and red fruit driven finish impresses. There is a wonderful finesse and feminine quality to this gorgeous wine. Drink 2018-2030- 94

2014 Cristom Vineyards ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2014 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir by Cristom is another outstanding release by this storied Oregon estate. The wine opens with a rich bouquet of wet earth, black truffle oil, and wild blackberry cobbler. The mid-palate is lithe, rich and downright delicious. Black raspberry cordial, Earl Grey tea, peat moss and teaberry flavors impress. This shows great range and poise from this warm vintage. Drink 2018-2030- 93

2015 Cristom Vineyards ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This great vineyard was first planted in 1993 and was named for Cristom winegrower & owner Tom Gerrie's great-grandmother, Louise Dinkelspiel. This translucent colored Pinot Noir begins with aromatics reminiscent of roasted date, red cherry preserves and wild mushroom with a citrus edge. Balanced and distinctly feminine, the wine shows red raspberry, cram-pomegranate and orange rind flavors that sit alongside some brisk minerality. Drink 2018-2030- 92

2015 Cristom Vineyards ‘Jessie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This vineyard, planted in 1994 and set at 320-550 feet, was named after om Gerrie's greatgrandmother Jessie Summers, after the Gerrie family saw great potential in planting a steep, east-facing hillside to a variety of Pinot Noir clones. The Pinot Noir begins with aromas of cranberry, teaberry and wild thyme. Lightly flavored with red cherry starburst candy, orange zest and a touch of peat moss, this is delicate Pinot Noir that will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2030- 92

Lange Estate

One of the great historic Oregon wineries set in the Dundee Hills, Lange Estate was founded by Wendy and Don Lange in 1987. Their son, Jesse has a longstanding history in the wine industry and began helping his parents as a small child. Jesse’s formal winemaking training occurred at New Zealand’s Lincoln University while on a student exchange scholarship from Oregon State in 1999. Jesse then spent two years as cellar rat for winemaker Bruce McGuire at Santa Barbara Winery prior to coming back to his family winery. He joined the winemaking team in 2004 and now serves on the board of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association. 2018 is a big year for the Lange family. To kick off Oregon wine month, the Lange family will open a new tasting hall on May 5th, 2018. The photos of the building look gorgeous.

The new wines by Lange Estate were impressive across the board, all scoring 90+. Lange sources from some of the great Willamette Valley vineyards, including their own first planted 30 years ago in 1988. Look to their 2015 Lange Estate ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 90) which is a ripe and juicy effort that is a downright awesome value at a mere $25.00. An outstanding wine, the 2015 Lange Estate ‘Lange Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) shows a gorgeous combination of richness and poise. This barrel selection wine wine that captures the essence of the Dundee Hills. Learn more about this outstanding Oregon winery at https://www.langewinery.com/ Here are the great new wines by Lange Estate

2016 Lange Estate Pinot Gris- Bright starfruit and pear mark the nose. The racy acidity is outstanding and completes this exceptional bottling that is best enjoyed in the short term. What this lacks in richness, makes up in sterling minerality. Enjoy with some fresh Kusshi oysters. Drink 2018-2022- 90

2016 Lange Estate ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris- This starts off with a bright nose of kumquat and starfruit with nutmeg. Like their entry level Pinot Gris, the minerality is outstanding and cuts through the mid-palate. Red delicious apple, starfruit and kumquat flavors finishes this great bottling by Jesse Lange. Drink 2018-2022- 91

2016 Lange Estate ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Chardonnay- The toasty oak offers intrigue on the nose with cantaloupe and red delicious apple aromatics approaching you. There is a good combination of balance and poise, as the wine shows good citrus flavors with green apple and cantaloupe shining through. Delicious and lithe, this is an excellent wine that is best enjoyed in the next five to seven years. Drink 2018-2025- 91

2015 Lange Estate ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Fruit driven and focused, this shows a nice combo of dark fruits, red fruits and tension in the glass. A downright winner, enjoy this great bottling over the next five to seven years. Drink 2018-2024- 90

2015 Lange Estate ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Lange has been sourcing from this great vineyard since 1990. The vineyard site is known for its dramatic diurnal shifts. The nose has really good range, with orange zest, red cherry and forest floor. The texture here is outstanding as red fruits connect with lighter citrus and earthy tones. This is another serious Pinot Noir by Jesse Lange. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2015 Lange Estate ‘Lange Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This deep colored Pinot Noir has a gorgeous bouquet of white pepper, back truffle and black cherry. Polished, and downright delicious, this hard to resist Pinot Noir showcases wild blackberry, ripe cherry and peat moss flavors. Seductive and rich, this gorgeous wine will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2018-2032- 93

2015 Lange Estate ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- Dark fruits mark the nose with forest floor elements. The silky texture entices. There is wonderful richness to this wine that showcases a wonderful combination of dark and red fruits with earthy undertones. This is another gorgeous effort by Lange. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2015 Lange Estate ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- This is sourced from a host of great vineyards including the Freedom Hill and Lange Estate vineyards, as well as some in the Yamhil-Carlton AVA. This shows serious weight and minerality on the mid-palate with dark cherry, fig, peat moss and a hint of blood orange. Deep and delicious, enjoy this great wine over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2015 Lange Estate ‘Liberty Bell’ Pinot Noir- Starting with dark fruits and forest floor on the nose, the wine has wonderful mid-palate weight. Rich dark fruits echo on the palate with light black truffle flavors coming in. This seriously good Pinot Noir will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028- 92

Ayoub

Ayoub

Mo Ayoub has some top class wines. Planted in 2001 the Ayoub Vineyard was Mo Ayoub’s vision to make outstanding Oregon Pinot Noir. Since 2004, Mo has been producing beautifully balanced wines with great aging potential. Having a culinary background, Mo’s wines show tremendous poise and have a Burgundian feel, yet maintain a wonderful richness. The first few Ayoub wines were made by Josh Bergstrom and wines are now made by Mo Ayoub and consulting winemaker Robert Brittan. They form one of the great winemaking teams in the Willamette Valley. Now to the wines. . . 

The new lineup is absolutely not to be missed even for the most discerning wine collector. A downright stunning new Chardonnay is their 2016 Ayoub Vineyards Chardonnay (WWB, 94) which is one of the top Chardonnays from the valley that I have reviewed in the past year. This has gorgeous minerality and intensity. Just as good and sourced from the Willamette Valley’s great vineyards, the 2016 Ayoub Vineyards ‘Brittan Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) combines a sterling tension with wonderful stony quality. This is one not to be missed. Learn more about these really outstanding wines at https://www.ayoubwines.com Here are the great wines by Ayoub.

2016 Ayoub Chardonnay- The 2016 Ayoub Chardonnay is a standout wine from this exciting vintage that throughly impresses. This immediately starts off with inviting aromatics of lemon oil, baked apple and suggestions of apricot jelly. The palate is lithe and luscious, revealing lemon merriange, banana and roasted pineapple flavors. Exotic and layered, this Chardonnay from winemaker Mo Ayoub is simply stunning. Drink 2018-2028- 94

2016 Ayoub ‘Memoirs’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from a host of great Willamette Valley vineyards, this deep colored Pinot starts off with intense aromas of black tea, wild blackberry sauce and suggestions of peat moss, showing earthy undertones. The wine has some Burgundian earthy character alongside the wonderful dark fruits. With sterling minerality, this is a winner by Ayoub and the talented hands of winemaker Mo Ayoub. Drink 2018-2030- 93

2016 Ayoub ‘Anonimo Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This deep hued wine starts off with a ripe bouquet of cloves, smoked pork shoulder and suggestions of blackberry cordial, as this has amazing aromatic range. The palate has insane mineral content. Highly focused, the laser-like minerality cuts through black tea, blackberry pie and cran-cherry. Intense and wonderfully poised, this is another stunning bottling by Ayoub. The lip-smacking acidity towards the back end drives this fantastic wine. Drink 2018-2030- 94

2016 Ayoub ‘Brittan Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from one of the great sites in the southern Willamette Valley, the Brittan Vineyard is set on broken basalt, imparting a wonderful stony aspect in the wines. Crushed wet rock fills the nose with red and dark fruits. The tension in the wine is simply gorgeous, as this has a Burgundian feel. Dark cherry, loganberry preserves, forest floor and black truffle shaving flavors fill the glass. This is another remarkable Pinot Noir by superstar winemaker Mo Ayoub. Drink 2018-2033- 94

2016 Ayoub ‘Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Needing more than an hour decant, this slowly unveils gorgeous aromatics reminiscent of cranberries, cherries, pomegranate seed, black truffle oil and damp earth which you constantly back to the glass for more. On the palate there is a wonderful purity of fruit at play with a core of red cherry preserves, blood orange zest and white truffle flavors which persist through the finish. Overall, a sensational Pinot Noir which should age beautifully for years to come Drink 2018-2032- 94

MERF Wines

An exciting new value wine project by Chateau St. Michelle and legendary Northstar winemaker, David ‘Merf’ Merfeld, MERF Wines focuses on easy-drinking, every day wines. Originally from Iowa, Merf joined the Northstar winemaking team in 2001. He then graduated to enologist and assistant winemaker before becoming the winery’s winemaker in 2005.

This story dates all the way back to 1990 as Merf was originally drawn to the Northwest and eventually relocated to Washington in order to focus on craft brewing. But when the opportunity arose to apply his knowledge of fermentation science to making wine at Northstar, he then jumped ship into making wine full time. At Northstar Merf has focused on crafting some of the best Merlot wines in the state since 2005. His Northstar wines have gained international acclaim. I can remember some older Northstar ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot bottlings that were particularly memorable, particularly the fruity and beautifully layered 2003 Northstar Merlot.

This year he and Chateau St. Michelle Estates launched a new brand that focuses on everyday, easy-drinking red and white wines under his own label. The new MERF wines were fruit forward and were good, coming from the warm 2015 vintage. These are both great wines for a summer BBQ and are both priced at around ten dollars. Learn more about this project at merfwines.com

 Here are the new releases by MERF Wines. 

2015 MERF Wines Chardonnay- Toasty oak and brioche fill the nose. The palate has a good amount of oak as well but shows off butterscotch and buttered popcorn flavors that add to the deliciousness of this viscous Chardonnay. Drink 2018-2022- 88

2015 MERF Wines Cabernet Sauvignon- The nose takes on dark fruits with toasty oak and a touch of chocolate. Fruity and seductive, this slightly sweet Cabernet has black fruits with a vanilla towards the back end. This is a very good value Cabernet, particularly for those who want their red wine on the fruity side. Drink 2018-2022- 87

Reveal Walla Walla

A spectacular success, this weekend the Walla Walla Wine Alliance held their third annual Reveal Walla Walla event. The weekend culminated yesterday morning at Corliss Estates in downtown Walla Walla, offering wine trade and private collectors to taste and purchase small lot, one-of-a-kind wines made by acclaimed Walla Walla Valley winemakers. 60 bottle lots of coveted wines by top Washington producers like Cayuse, Doubleback and Leonetti were available in the auction, benefiting the Walla Walla School District. 
The night before the auction was also a great success, as winemakers poured special library wines which was followed by dinner. Pepper Bridge Winery served as generous hosts and a dramatic backdrop for this library tasting event. The reserve tasting and dinner was a great opportunity to mingle with some of the top winemakers in the state. We had a spectacular weekend in Walla Walla and I wanted to share some of the photo highlights from Reveal Walla Walla. Cheers!

OS Winery

Until recently, OS Winery was the oldest in the SoDo neighborhood. Founded by Bill Owen and Rob Sullivan in 1997, OS has been sourcing from some of the premier vineyard sites in the state to craft their red and white wines. I’ve had these wines back a decade or more and I have been impressed with the quality of these highly extracted wines — particularly in warm vintages. Current owner, Peggy Sullivan, and presides over the winery. Sadly, their tasting room in Seattle has recently closed, as they were a neighborhood fixture for many years. The winery sources from some great vineyards, including Dineen and Elephant Mountain in the Yakima Valley. 

Scott Greer, pictured in the vineyard. 

Scott Greer serves as winemaker for OS. The new releases come from some heralded vintages in Washington, 2013 and 2014, as both were very warm and provided near optimal growing conditions. Check out their 2014 OS ‘Sonas’ Cabernet Franc (WWB, 91) which has lovely depth and concentration and is drinking beautifully right now. Just was good use their 2014 OS ‘Sonas’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 91) which has a lovely mouthfeel and can be enjoyed in the short-term. Learn more about this winery at http://www.oswinery.com Here are the great new wines by OS Winery. 

2016 OS ‘Devon’s’ Rose- Sourced from the Yakima Valley this yields some floral character on the nose with light red fruits. Showing nice weight, this Rose has guava and cranberry flavors with good weight. Delicious now, this would pair nicely with sushi. Drink 2018-2022- 89

2014 O-S ‘Sonas’ Cabernet Franc- Milk Chocolate and red fruits on the nose gives this a seductive start. The mouthfeel is really nice, as this warm vintage wine has red cherry candy, dark currant and milk chocolate flavors with a touch of Turkish coffee. Layered and delicious now, this is an outstanding effort. Drink 2018-2023- 91

2014 OS ‘Sonas’ Merlot- The 2014 ‘Sonas’ Merlot begins with Hoisin sauce and black cherry preserves on the nose. Round and generous, the wine reveals a nice combination of red and dark fruits with roasted figs. Already quite evolved, enjoy this excellent bottling in the next five years. Drink 2018-2023- 90

2014 OS ‘Sonas’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This sturdy Cabernet starts with a bouquet of black tea, sagebrush and mocha right out of the gate. Delicious and round, the mouthfeel shows good viscosity and richness. Light tannins line black fruit flavors with anise and creme de cassis shining most brightly. This excellent bottling is also best enjoyed in the short-term. Drink 2018-2023- 91

2013 OS ‘R3’ Red Wine- A near equal blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this starts off with aromatics reminiscent of sagebrush and mocha with a graphite edge. Balanced, the wine shows a wonderful range of red and dark fruits with sagebrush accents and a touch of eucalyptus. Enjoy this over the next five years. Drink 2018-2023- 90

2013 OS ‘BSH’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘BSH’ has been made by O-S since 2000. The wine begins with mocha, sagebrush and sandalwood. Showing a polished mouthfeel, the wine shows off black tea, anise and blackberry cobbler flavors. With good structure, this delicious Cabernet will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2024- 91

RN74 Seattle

I’ll admit that a review of this outstanding restaurant is long overdue. A few weeks back I had the opportunity to visit RN74 Seattle and sample their new spring tasting menu. This was the weekend for Taste Washington, so it was a rather hectic night in the city, as hundreds gathered following the first day of the grand tasting. RN74 was also presenting food at Taste Washington for the grand tasting event during the day, which likely presented other challenges with organizing things at the restaurant. Nonetheless, I was completely blown away with the food quality, creativity and service throughout my meal at RN74. I had a meal that is absolutely Michelin star worthy, from top to bottom. Chef Thomas Griese has previous stops at Bouchon as well as famed three Michelin star restaurant, The French Laundry. He is absolutely on top of his game.

Great photo here of advanced sommelier, Paul Swanson, with the 2015 Big Table Farm Rose (WWB, 93)

Before we discuss food, I must mention that RN74 has two of the top sommeliers in Seattle, Jeff-Lindsay Thorsen (also of W.T. Vintners fame) and Paul Swanson. Both have their advanced sommelier certificates through the Court of Master Sommeliers and both are actively working towards their Master Somm certification. Jeff and Paul work marvelously in tandem and offered some wonderful wine recommendations for the night. The wine list offers some very cool selections, from eminent Lebanese producer Chateau Musar to Oregon boutique producer Big Table Farm, to Grand Cru Burgundy (even DRC!) and First Growth Bordeaux. We chose the wonderful 2015 Big Table Farm Rose (WWB, 93) which would compliment a range of foods with its rich texture and wonderful structure. This Rose is truly one of the best in North America.

The amuse bouche was a spring gazpacho soup that had just a touch of spice and wonderful herbaceousness and acidity, an outstanding start to the night. 

Highly creative, the next course was a deconstructed spring Ceasar salad with salmon roe. The salinity of the roe with the lemon Cesar dressing was outstanding and downright refreshing. 

Decadent and delightful, the foie gras terrine enticed with a silky smooth texture as the dish was remarkably light, yet creamy and complimented the accompanying strawberry puree remarkably well.

My favorite dish, hands down, was the salmon course, served with a carrot puree. This was a melt in your mouth delightful treat that was perfectly cooked and tasted like it had been caught the same day.

Finally we finished up with the steak course with a red wine reduction sauce that was a perfect compliment for the stunning 2014 Domaine Serene ‘Clubhouse’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) coming from a near perfect vintage in the Willamette Valley. 

As the night continued the Taste Washington after party, hosted by RN74, brought some of the greatest talents in Washington wine to the restaurant. We chatted with WIT Cellars winemaker Flint Nelson, as well as Will Wiles of Col Solare fame (both pictured right). We finished the night sharing a spectacular bottle of 2004 R. Lopez De Heredia 'Vina Tondonia Reserva' Rioja (WWB, 94) with the superstar winemaking team of Quilceda Creek (pictured left). It was a night to remember at RN74 Seattle.

Miraval

A marvelous combination of Hollywood drama and great wine, Miraval, a 1,200 acre estate in Provence, was founded by acting icons Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Married at Miraval, Pitt and Jolie prior to their split lived there since 2008. The property boasts pine forests, olive groves, terraced hillsides, working vineyards, a private lake as well as a moat. Much of the chateau dates back to 17th century, including 35 rooms in the main house as well as several tenant residences.The estate also contains remains of a Romanesque chapel, as well as the famed vineyard from which the Miraval Rose comes from. The recording studio at Miraval has housed some famous musicians including personal favorites Sting and The Cranberries (R.I.P. Dolores O’ Riordan).

Purchased in 2012 for an estimated $60 million, records indicate that in 1252 philosopher and theologian Saint Thomas Aquinas even visited the Miraval estate. The vineyard itself is very large, as Jean-Pierre and Francois Perrin are the iconic vintners behind this great Rose wine that produce white and rose wine from the 500 hectare property. Miraval produces a ton of Rose (roughly 200,000 bottles) and despite the quantity of wine produced, the quality of the wine has been apparently throughout the past five vintages. The latest vintage Rose, comes from the year of the Pitt/Jolie split and it is not clear who will own Miraval going forward. The 2017 Miraval Rose (WWB, 90) is a fresh and enticing Rose, that rivals the best produced from this storied estate. This is a marriage of red fruits that is not to be missed. Learn more about Miraval at http://miraval-provence.com/en/ Here is the new Miraval Rose review.

2017 Miraval Rose- Sourced from the storied property owned by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, it has yet to be decided what will happen to this estate following their split. The 2017 Miraval Rose is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle. There is a lovely nose of rose petals and red raspberry with a touch of guava. Beautifully astringent the wine shows off a strong minerality. Lighter flavors of red cherry, pomegranate and strawberry coat the mid-palate. This is another outstanding Miraval bottling. Drink 2018-2022- 90

Toil Oregon

One of the great Oregon projects started by a Washington winemaker, Chris Figgins, of Leonetti fame, Toil Oregon was launched in 2012, starting with a little over 200 cases of Pinot Noir. Chris made wine in 2013 but never released it due to the extreme weather issues of the vintage. More recently Chris purchased more than 40 acres in the Chehalem Mountains which he will use for his future Toil bottlings. He purchased the land, set on Jory and Saum soils, after looking for the right site for roughly seven years. This is going to be a very exciting vineyard to follow in the future.

The new Toil wines by Chris are absolutely outstanding, just as they were last year. One of the best Rose releases from Oregon that I have sampled in the past year is their 2017 Toil Rose (WWB, 93) which is a stunner that has wonderful texture, mouth-watering acidity and bright red fruits. This is an effort not to be missed. Just as good is the excellent 2016 Toil Chardonnay (WWB, 93) which similarly shows off a silky texture and wonderful mouthfeel. Learn more about these outstanding new wines at http://www.toiloregon.com Here are the outstanding new wines by superstar winemaker Chris FIggins and his winery, Toil Oregon. 

2017 Toil Rose- Following up the sterling 2016 Rose, the 2017 Toil Rose is another spectacular effort by superstar winemaker Chris Figgins. This shows off a beautiful orange-pink hue with rose petal, blood orange rind and a touch of honeysuckle on the nose. The mouthfeel is simply gorgeous, as the wine reveals wonderful rose water, red cherry puree, guava and cran-orange flavors. Delicate, refreshing, and downright delicious, this is up there with the best Rose wines in the northwest and is nearly impossibly to resist right now. Drink 2018-2024- 93

2016 Toil Chardonnay- Sourced from the Dupree Vineyard, this limited production wine was aged in largely neutral oak (80%) for 11 months prior to bottling. The vineyard is located towards the southern end of the Willamette Valley and is known for rather late ripening fruit. The nose impresses with a bouquet of ripe pear, nutmeg, starfruit and creme brulee. There is a good perception of mid-palate weight here, with challah bread, butterscotch and poached pear flavors that give this an exotic edge. Bursting with juicy acidity, this is going to be a long-ager. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2016 Toil Pinot Noir- The 2016 Toil Pinot Noir was aged in 32% new French oak prior to bottling. The nose is largely earthy and smoky with dark fruits coming into play. Silky smooth, with a wonderful texture, the wine reveals a good combination of red and dark fruits with forest floor elements. Seductive and delicious, the wine needs at least an hour decant prior to enjoying. Drink 2018-2028- 93

Spago, Beverly Hills

One of the iconic Los Angeles restaurants, Spago is one of the great stops for the most discerning foodie. Executive chef, Lee Hefter oversees the food while the stunning wine program is just as enticing, with everything on the menu from cult Champagne to decadent first growth Bordeauxs. The quality of the restaurant's interior is really stunning, as was the service throughout the night. Initially we were seated near a cackling group and asked to be seated closer towards the kitchen in a corner, which staff easily obliged. We started our meal with one of the great Champagnes of the world, the 2006 Dom Perignon Champagne (WWB, 95), which seemed appropriate for the occasion. 

While we gathered our thoughts through this stunning menu, we noticed the roasted duck, which looked rather decadent. 

We were served some really tasty Mediterranean themed sauces for our bread, with some pretty extensive selections, followed by succulent Kusshi oysters. This was followed with a spring themed pea soup, which was surprisingly tasty. 

We had to try a few pasta dishes and very much enjoyed the squid ink carganelli pasta, with an incredible lobster reduction. The freshness of the pasta and lobster flavors were a stunning combination. 

Our next course was exceedingly rich, homemade gnocchi with a lamb ragu. This paired much better with our red wine selection, the 2015 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzen Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 95). The Quilceda Creek at this stage is drinking marvelously and is actually taking on some more feminine notes of red fruits, which is surprising considering the heat of the vintage in Washington. The wine itself was a show stopper, drinking marvelously straight out of the gate and displaying a Bordelaise character that older Quilceda bottlings sometimes take on. 

While not the best pairing for the red wine, I finished my meal with crispy scale black bass, and fortunately I had plenty of Champagne left to compliment this marvelous dish that truly completed this memorable meal. 

We even left some room for dessert, compliments of the chef, Kardinal Schnitte, which is a rich Austrian cake with gobs of cream. My girlfriend found this particularly enticing. It served as the perfect ending to a very memorable meal of awesome service and even better cuisine.