Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon Vertical Tasting

A few weeks back I had the wonderful opportunity to go back into time and taste through the entire lineup of Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon wines, starting with the 1992 vintage. This was a truly special tasting with eminent producer Rick Small, alongside his family and current winemaker Kevin Moss. Rick was a self-taught winemaker who crafted world-acclaimed wines back in the 1990s and helped build a national brand as Woodward Canyon is one of the most recognized producers of Washington wine in the nation. Rick initially became interested in winemaking in the 1970s with his friend and Walla Walla wine pioneer of Leonetti Fame, Gary Figgins. Fast forward to 2003, Rick hired Kevin Mott to serve as winemaker and help with the production. Mott,  himself, has crafted some simply stunning wines since he has come to Woodward Canyon.

One of the best parts of this tasting was to hear the commentary from Rick Small and Kevin Mott which I have provided. They showed some very special insight not only into the wines and winemaking but also the vintages in general. I had several personal highlights of this tasting. Some of the older vintages showed marvelously and the 1994 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 93) was one of the simply magical older wines made by the talented Rick Small. Remarkably this wine still has a long life ahead of it in the cellar. Another total hit was the 1998 ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 92) which was still loaded with fruit and showed a vibrant acid backbone which makes me think that the wine will cellar for another decade or more. Similarly the 1999 ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 93) is a stunning wine that has tremendous freshness and energy. This, too, has a very long life ahead of it.

The 2000s showed a ton of home run ‘Artist Series’ bottlings. The 2002 ‘Artis Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 93) truly holds true to what is one of my favorite all time vintages in Washington. Simply put, this wine has it all from mouthfeel to tension to viscosity. The 2005 ‘Artist Series’ (WWB, 93) and the 2007 ‘Artist Series’ (WWB, 94) are some of the most compelling wines of this tasting and both also come from heralded vintages in Washington. The ’05 shows quite true to the vintage with deep dark fruits while the ’07 is slightly more pretty with better finesse and elegance but still maintaining a deep core. 

I was amazed by the 2010 ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 92) which showed really good richness and balance. This is truly one of the great wines made in this vintage. Other highlights were the elegant 2012 ‘Artist Series’ (WWB, 93) and the more hedonistic 2014 ‘Artis Series’ (WWB, 94) which were both simply marvelous efforts from great vintages in Washington. Learn more about Woodward Canyon at https://www.woodwardcanyon.com Here are the vintage notes and tasting notes from my very special Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon vertical tasting. 

1992 Vintage: 

Rick Small: “The 1992 vintage was pretty warm and it wasn’t as cool as ’91. We had some issues with the ’91 winter. This was the first vintage that we sourced from the Canoe Ridge Vineyard as they were 3 year old vines. I think Canoe Ridge didn’t even label their wine as a Canoe Ridge Vineyard wine. I think that the alcohol would have been in the mid-13s if we would have waited more and I thought that the flavors were nice when we picked.”

1992 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 1992 ‘Artist Series’ is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot. On the nose there are dried herbs and red cherry candy on the nose. The palate shows good freshness despite its age. Lighter red and dark fruits combine on the palate with good acidity as this has a Bordelaise edge. Only 304 cases made of this beautiful wine. Enjoy this in the short-term. Drink 2019-2023- 90

1993 Vintage: 

Rick Small: “In1993 the Canoe Ridge vineyard was managed by Pat Tucker and he decided to shut the water down ad the vineyard went into a stall because of the sand content in the vineyard. This was a warm vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon and the plants stopped growing because of the lack of water. The long story short was we needed to water quite a bit and got the plants recover a bit. I liked the ’93 but we were very fortunate because of the watering issue because it could have been a train wreck.”

1993 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 1993 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ weighs in 12.9% alcohol and was 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose shows good sagebrush and dark fruit aromas with a touch of chocolate. The wine shows a great freshness and verve despite its age. Blackberry pie, red cherry pie, sagebrush, mocha and cassis flavors all come together marvelously. Delicious now, this still has another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

1994 Vintage:

Kevin Mott: “This was a small cluster vintage in general and you can tell looking at the wine that the fruit was riper. The ‘Artist Series’ is all Canoe Ridge fruit. This was the first vintage where things got really ripe in the vineyard and there was a small berry size. We had better irrigation management in general and in the ‘80s the vines were big and vigorous beasts but now we were doing a better job with the irrigation. As winemakers we didn’t realize as much about farming and we weren’t in the vineyards as much back then but that would change.” 

Rick Small: “If you think about the vineyards, most people who planted the vineyards weren’t winemakers and they were diversified farmers and were looking for all kind of crops so the concept of managing irrigation and crops was different. When you were making wine, even Concord grapes, you were paid in tonnage, so this was a different way to understand farming and irrigation. Back then we didn’t always know we were getting the right grapes and we trusted the farmer a lot more back then as they helped with testing the sugar levels when we harvested.”

1994 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon-  The 1994 ‘Artist Series’ has 13.2% Merlot blended in to the Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was aged in French and American oak prior to bottling. The wine opens with a beautiful bouquet of sagebrush, red bell pepper, anise and cassis. The mouthfeel and texture to the wine is really beautiful. There is a bright salinity through the wine that connects with the earthy tones as well as bright red and dark fruit flavors with a touch of chocolate towards the back end. This dense wine still has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2019-2029- 93

1995 Vintage: 

Rick Small: “1995 was a big challenge for us as a vintage and we had ripeness issues. This made it hard for us to get quality fruit because of the coolness of the vintage. We harvested at the end of October which was a good thing but there were still green qualities in the wine.”

1995 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon-  The wine shows good freshness and intensity with elegance. Medium bodied red fruit flavors with sagebrush all combine. This is drinking at its peak. Drink 2019-2022- 89

1996 Vintage: 

Rick Small: 1996 was unfortunately a freeze year and we weren’t able to source from the Champoux Vineyard so we didn’t make an ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon. The 1996 ‘Artist Series’ has 5% Merlot from Sagemoor Farms and I can tell on the nose of this wine that there is a bit of Merlot. The big thing there is you have issues with new shoots following a freeze the new growth doesn’t always produce the right flavors that you want.”

1996 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 1996 ‘Artist Series’ has 5% Merlot blended in from the Canoe Ridge vineyard. The nose shows graphite and dried herbs with dark fruits and a touch of smoke. The mouthfeel here is beautiful. The palate has good freshness and balance with red and dark fruits with herbal tones. Drink 2019-2025- 91

1997 VIntage: 

Kevin Mott: “For Washington State I wasn’t a fan of this vintage. It was great in California but ’98 I think was a better vintage for us in Washington. The vineyards I was working with at that point had uneven ripening and that was the curse of a lesser vintage. If you can’t get the even ripening and if bloom time is spread out then the clusters don’t develop evenly. ’97 was warm and things happened too quickly which was a big problem. In a cooler vintage you can make up for that but 1997 wasn’t my favorite vintage.” 

Rick Small “I have similar thoughts of the vintage. 1995 and ’97 were cooler vintages and I felt that maybe we should have picked a bit more late for more ripeness but the wine tracks the style of what the Canoe Ridge Vineyard wines were like. This particular wine was the first year that we started using fruit from another place. When I smell the ’97 I think that it might have been picked a touch too soon. All things said I think we have a good wine here.”

1997 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 1997 ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 18 months in French oak prior to bottling. The nose is quite powerful here with blackberry cobbler, creme de cassis and Turkish coffee with tar accents.  The palate has good freshness with black tea, blackberry cobbler, mocha and crushed mint. This has an exotic edge. Drink 2019-2025- 91

1998 Vintage: 

Rick Small: “I considered 1998 to be a warm vintage compared to ’99. We didn’t have any trouble with ripeness in this vintage. Harvest was pretty normal in October. This was the first vintage that we used Pepper Bridge vineyard fruit. After ’94 farmers and winemakers realized that they needed to be more involved with the processes of the vineyard and that it was good to have some riper fruit. Around this time Wine Spectator were scoring the wines and the wine that were fuller and riper were getting the bigger scores. That is how the winemaking went to have the fruit hang longer.” 

Kevin Mott ‘Because of the farming improving that led to vineyards having an open canopy and more even ripening in the vineyard. Some of the early 1990 vintages we had a roller coaster on yields. The wines were less ripe because there were too many tons per acre which was the farming wisdom throughout Washington State. But that would soon change.”

1998 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- This beautiful wine shows red cherry cough syrup, mocha, graphite and anise with sagebrush and red bell pepper accents that build in the glass. The mouthfeel here is gorgeous as the wine shows black tea, Asian spice and cherry pie flavors. This is outstanding now and will evolve well for the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

1999 Vintage: 

Rick Small “I remember trying this wine when I was in Europe and I can recall that this reminded me of French wines. This was a very classic vintage. We made a special selection wine that year and it had very small fruit as the berries were very slow to ripe. Harvest was in late October. The wines from this vintage are more elegant. I think the reason why the ’99 was so good is the Canoe Ridge fruit elevated the wine. It gave it more of the elegant side and the cherry notes.” 

Kevin Mott “1993 was our cooler growing season and we didn’t thin our crop like we did in ’99 so we really learned from the 1993 vintage. The growers learned from that mistake and the ’99 was the first year where we were dropping crops when there was a tonnage issue. 1993 was a year where things didn’t get ripe enough but ’99 was the year where the good growers were able to drop the crop and achieve good ripeness in their berries.”

1999 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The wine shows a beautiful nose with dark cherry liquor and sagebrush with tar accents. There is a marvelous purity of fruit to this elegant wine. This has really good balance and poise showing a great combination of dark and red fruits with herbal tones. With light tannins, this gorgeous wine is singing right now. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2000 Vintage: 

Rick Small “Getting into this vintage we didn’t have any problems with ripening and based on what I am noticing in the wine I would have been happy to have the grapes hang a bit longer. The same thing is true with the ’97 In that I think we might have picked the grapes a tiny bit too early.”

Kevin Mott “I think the other thing that came into the wines was when we were getting a ton of brett and then that dumbs down fruit. Even if there was good ripe fruit at harvest then you lose some of that fruit character in the wine with the brett.” 

2000 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2000 ‘Artist Series’ is a seriously good wine sourced from the Canoe Ridge, Champoux, Sagemoor and Connor Lee vineyards. There are nice herbal tones on the nose with dark cherry and coffee grounds.  The mouthfeel and texture to this wine is really outstanding. Mocha, anise, red cherry tomato and blackberry jam flavors all marvelously combine. This is stunning now and has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2001 Vintage: 

Rick Small: “The 2001 vintage was very textbook and slightly cooler than 2000. The wines saw good ripening throughout the season. I remember that these wines showed well.”

Kevin Mott: “This 2001 shows some brett and the problem with brett is it can get out of control.  You see that a bit with this wine.”

2001 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The nose is showing some plastic and herbal tones coming in first and dark fruits are added to the bouquet. The palate has good freshness and richness with mocha and creme de cassis flavors with herbal accents. The texture of this wine is seriously beautiful. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2002 Vintage: 

Rick Small: “This was a really good vintage that had some excellent even ripening and the crops had good balance. All of the Sagemoor fruit went to the ‘Old Vines.’ This was a textbook year that really shows in the wine. I really like the structure in the 2002 wine. There is tannin but it is integrated well.” 

Kevin Mott: “2002 was an unremarkable vintage where we had no problems at all which is the beauty of Washington where we have dry and warm vintages most years rather than Bordeaux. The wine here has grainy tannins which is really nice.”

2002 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2002 ‘Artist Series’ is a stunning wine by the talented Rick Small and has 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc blended in. On the nose this takes on a good combination of red and dark fruits with chocolate and coffee elements rounding out the aromatics. The palate has good richness and density with ripe red cherry compote, mocha, leather and anise flavors that come together marvelously. This has a long way to go. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2003 Vintage: 

Rick Small: “This was a warmer vintage but there was good vineyard management and even ripening. We used more vineyards in this wine than we ever have. It was complicated going around and trying to sample all the vineyards and get the fruit in and make sure that we were doing everything correctly. That is part of the reason why over time we gravitated to our old standbys of Champoux, Sagemoor and the Woodward Estate fruit. I think that the Woodward Estate fruit adds to the herbal notes in the wine from the Cabernet Franc (6%).”

Kevin Mott:“Based on the total heat units this was the warmest vintage we had seen at the time and it was consistently warm. We had days that are were hot but not extremely hot as the vines can’t do anything when the temperature was over 102. The vines will just shut down and get in a holding pattern. We had a lot of nice warm days but not the extreme days. Sagemoor Block 9 which was first planted in 1972 shows up in the wine and I can see it adding character to the wine.”

2003 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2003 ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous wine that is showing marvelously at sixteen years of age.  The wine is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The wine shows blackberry cobbler, mocha and leather on the nose. The palate is very rich and shows a tremendous texture. Mocha, anise, red bell pepper and creme de cassis falters all marvelously come together. Light tannins line this excellent bottling. Seductive and beautiful now, this will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2005 Vintage: 

Rick Small: “This was a really nice, warm vintage and we made good wines. We made a special selection that year and the Artist Series also turned out really well-made. This was Kevin’s third vintage with us and I think he made a great wine.”

Kevin Mott: “Within clusters we had really good uniform ripeness. As I was walking around in the vineyards I would pick berries across clusters and normally there will be some berries in the cluster that weren’t as good but in 2005 it was rare to have a bad berry. Good ripeness made a great wine. Harvest was slightly earlier. Champoux fruit showed great that year and Sagemoor as well, this had Block 9 which first showed in the 2003 vintage. Those are rock solid blocks for us. Now we are also seeing a lot of these vineyards that have age and you get more a textural and mouthfeel component with those older blocks. You get the same sugar level but these wines in the mouth will have a lot more texture to them.”

2005 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2005 ‘Aritst Series’ is a spectacular showing from this great vintage. That was sourced from the Sagemoor, Champoux, Klipsun and Tapteil Vineyards. A100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine, this opens with heady aromatics of wild blackberry cobbler, mocha, crushed mint and dark chocolate pie. The palate is plush and decadent with creme de cassis, dill, mocha and Turkish coffee flavors. Downright delicious now this will continue to evolve well for the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2023- 93

2006 Vintage: 

Kevin Mott: “Syrah was blended into this wine because it can elevate the other fruit aromas but I try this in many vintages. Sometimes there is a synergy where the Syrah brings up the other aromas. I try it on almost every vintage that we do and if it improves it I will use it. I think this was the first vintage where we used that much. I was not happy with the vintage in general so I was working hare rot Gert the wine where I wanted it to be. We had these heat spikes which hit Champoux and normally it is not a warm site but the weather pattern hit that just right and it was stifling 110 to 114 degree heats for three to four days which cooked the fruit aromas a bit. When I did the Syrah trial it worked out and it was from DuBrul Vineyard in the Yakima Valley.”

2006 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2006 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a silky bend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon with 13% Syrah and a touch of Merlot. The nose is a bit more reticent with dark fruits with chocolate aromatics. The texture to this wine is fantastic and beautifully coats the mid-palate. The palate has good richness with black fruits that connect with sagebrush and milk chocolate flavors. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2007 Vintage: 

Kevin Mott: “This was a really good vintage for us and it might not be quite as good as 2005 quality but the vintage itself was really good.”

Rick Small: “I think that is what we want in the Artist Series with the ‘07, it is a classic example. It has all the nice things that are integrated well. It has great color, aromatics, texture and everything is in balance and proportion. One of the things that I enjoy a lot in wine is having good integration, oak and fruit and tannin, having everything there together. I think our wines generally exhibit those characteristics but ’07 is a really good example of that.”

2007 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The wine was almost entirely sourced from Champoux Vineyard. Weighing in at 14.6% alcohol, this Cabernet wine opens with a bouquet of graphite, anise, creme de cassis and mocha. The mouthfeel here is wonderful with dark fruits that connect with the graphite edge and the faintest herbal tones. Moderately tannic, this will continue to age for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 94

2008 Vintage: 

Kevin Mott: “2008 was a good vintage for Washington. Early on I was not as pleased and coming off 2007 having the brightness of the vintage, I though the vintage might be a step down. But over time I think this vintage showed well.

Rick Small: “I was in Atlanta years ago selling this wine and they were blown away with the 2008 wines. I think that this wine is outstanding and this has a great aromatic lift. It is showing nicely at over ten years old now.”

2008 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- This beautiful wine is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Petit Verdot and Syrah. The wine shows a lifted aromas of rose petals with black fruits and creme de cassis with a hint of tar. The palate shows incredible freshness and verve, with a wonderful mouthfeel. Light tannins line concentrated dark fruits with a. chocolate edge. This finishes exceedingly long. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2009 Vintage: 

Kevin Mott: “This was a warm vintage but I think that there is less bright fruit because of that and more heat. I think there might be a touch step back in the quality of the wines compared to 2007 and 2008. In terms of fruit character ripeness there is not my favorite. Trying the 2005 and 2007 and ’08 it is a bit of a step back. I think that the heat spikes from the vintage influenced this. The vines actually will be wilting in those super hot day sand then the vintages tend to be not quite as good. You feel the clusters and it is hot. Normally when the plant is under full respiration the cluster tends to be cool. If you feel a cluster and it is warm then the vine is not able to do what it needs to do.”

Rick Small: “I think that the problem with these triple digit years is that the vines shut down. The plant starts and then stops and does a lot better in the mid-90 temperatures but those warm vintage do impact the flavor profiles in the wine. This vintage helped us figure out what we can do to help the plants and we prefer not having the plant go through that kind of stress. This vintage helped prompt others to figure out what kind of things we can do to take better care of our plants with the heat spikes.”

2009 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2009 ‘Artist Series’ is a gorgeous blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Syrah. The wine shows decadent dark fruits with chlorate and roasted figs on the nose. The palate shows good ripeness and density with a hedonistic edge. Black tea, blackberry pie and mocha flavors all come together marvelously. Moderately tannic, this will age beautifully for another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2010 Vintage: 

Rick Small: “In 2010 didn’t make an ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet and this year and everything that we had went into this wine. When the vintages are perfect, it is almost like effortless and it is not ever easy but this one was a challenge. We went back and tried a lot of wines from cooler vintages to try to figure out what to do with the vintage. 

Kevin Mott: “This was the first cooler vintage that we had. We had smaller clusters similar to 1999 and there were also good ripening even though it was a long, drawn out ripening. You got intense flavors and aromatically and structure wise, I like this wine. These wines show better with time. With the cooler vintages you have to be very carful with vineyard management. You have to spend more time in the vineyard but this year we spent a ton of time managing our crops. We had an acreage contract so we had to do a lot of thinning in the vineyard this year. In the past it was hard to ask the grower to thin extremely hard. In1993 they didn’t want to do that because it was a tonnage contract but we learned from that and switched over to paying by the acre. That has worked well for us.”

2010 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- Largely Cabernet Sauvignon (84%) the 2010 ‘Artist Series’ cabernet sauvignon is a seriously good effort from this cooler vintage. On the nose this takes on anise, sagebrush and black tea on the nose. Moderately tannic, this elegant Cabernet wine has a silky mouthfeel and shows medium bodied dark fruit flavors that connect with chocolate , pipe tobacco and roasted date tones. This is just coming into its own as this will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 92

2011 Vintage: 

Rick Small: “This was a compressed vintage because we had a winter event before this and vines didn’t have enough time to harden off. We went into the winter after 2010 and had brutally cold weather. That hurt us and we lost a lot of our vines and the only wine that we were able to make from our estate vines was an estate reserve Cabernet Franc. The vintage ended being the coolest on record.”

Kevin Mott: “2011 was a challenge from a farming standpoint and we had to do a lot of work to prevent mildew.” 

2011 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2011 ‘Artist Series’ is a compelling blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot. This was sourced from a host of vineyards including Champoux, Canoe Ridge, Sagemoor, Woodward Canyon Estate, Hedges, Andrews, Spring Creek, Weinbau and Mirage. The wine opens with ripe dark berry with sagebrush and red bell pepper aromas. This shows impressive mid-palate ripeness considering the coolness of the vintage. Mocha, red bell pepper, red cherry and anise flavors all come together marvelously. This is a spectacular effort from a challenging vintage. Drink 2019-2027- 91

2012 Vintage: 

Rick Small: “There was a lot of Woodward Canyon vineyard fruit that was blended into this wine. I think the weight of the wine wasn’t quite as heavy but I think this is a really good, elegant wine. I really enjoy this wine. I think this is slightly leaner and the mouthfeel is not as viscous and I like that about the wine. I think that this is a wine that stays within itself and it is not over the top. This was a larger vintage for us and we had to do a good job with managing yields.”

Kevin Mott: “There are really good berry fruit aromatics in this wine. I really thought that this was a wonderful vintage for us, as it just so easy to make good wine. I think the wine brings some really good acidity with tart red cherry in the mouth.”

2012 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2012 ‘Artist Series’ is a fantastic blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Syrah. The wine opens with a bright bouquet of dried herbs, coffee grounds, red cherry puree and wild blackberry pie. The palate shows incredible balance and poise with good richness. Dark fruits and red fruits mingle with chocolate, all leading to an exceedingly long finish. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2013 Vintage: 

Rick Small: “This year we wanted to have more Petit Verdot blended in that we liked. I think the theme here is to create respectful winemaking and we try to do what we can to reflect that in tie wines. You want the wines to reflect the vineyards that you have. When you have Sagemoor and Champoux and Woodward vineyards, we want the wine to show that and I think we have accomplished that with this warm vintage wine.”

Kevin Mott: “There is a textural element to the Petit Verdot that I really like with this wine. This was a warm vintage and once again we have so many warm vintages in a row. ’13 was warmer than ’12 but you still see some higher acidity in the wine. Overall the vineyards did well this year. We have a style here and we have to blend 100 different lots which makes this selection challenging. The first selection goes to ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon and then next to our ‘Artist Series.’ The blending to these wines always changes.”

2013 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- This beautiful wine, largely Cabernet based (87%), was sourced from the Champoux, Sagemoor, Woodward Canyon Estate, Carbonneau, Discovery, Spring Creek and Summit View vineyards. The wine has really good freshness and verve with dark berry and mocha flavors. Forward and decadent, with moderate tannins, this is a gorgeous Cabernet right now but will evolve marvelously over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2014 Vintage: 

Rick Small:  "I really enjoy this vintage. I think the 2014 ‘Old Vines’ might be a bit better than how this is showing but I really enjoy this vintage. This was another warm vintage and similar to 2013. ’14 I think that the wine didn’t quite taste like it came from a warm vintage just like 2013. I think that the plants reacted to the heat more favorably.”

Kevin Mott: “I think 2014 was a warm year but it was long, steady heat. It didn’t have the heat spikes. Plants had a hard time with 2015 but didn’t have an issue in 2014.”

2014 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- Nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (92%), this opens with sweet pipe tobacco, mocha, anise, and creme de cassis with blueberry pie aromatics that all build in the glass. The palate is plush and decadent, showing a hedonistic bent but good balance. Dark cherry cough syrup, mocha, anise and blueberry pie flavors all marvelously combine on the palate. Showing a great combination of weight and freshness this is a stunning effort by Woodward Canyon. Drink 2019-2040- 94

2015 Vintage: 

Kevin Mott: “2015 was the earliest vintage I have seen and in August 13th we were picking Sauvignon Blanc. Sugar wise things got ripe really quickly. We were done picking Cabernet Sauvignon on September first at the Woodward Canyon Estate. I am surprised with these wines. As the wines had more time, they get better. The tannins weren’t resolved and the tannin maturation is related to veraison which was really compressed. We left this wine in barrel six to eight months longer which rounded out the tannin. We had to change how we reacted to the wines in the cellar.”

2015 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series' Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon is the 24th edition of this wine. The wine was aged for 22. Months in French oak prior to bottling. This opens. With a bouquet of dill, red bell pepper, anise and dark berries. The palate is plush showing a good richness. Mocha, anise, creme de cassis and blackberry flavors all combine. This is beautiful now and will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

Celebrate Walla Walla

Friends, join me Friday June 14th in Walla Walla as I host a panel exploring new and old world Cabernet Sauvignon. This distinguished panel comprised of esteemed Walla Walla Valley winemakers along with top winemakers from around the world. Experience a rare opportunity to compare and share the wines of the Walla Walla Valley with other internationally acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon growing regions. Attendees will sample Cabernet Sauvignon from all these great producers represented on the panel. Hope to see you there 🍷👌

White Rose

As I write this I pour a small amount of wine out for one of the great Oregon winemakers who sadly passed away last year, Jesus Guillen. Jesus had a smile that would light up a room and his wines would brighten all the faces that would come by their cozy Dundee Hills tasting room.  One of my most fond memories was sitting in the tasting room and talking with Jesus and his brother about one of the great wines that Jesus made, his 2012 White Rose ‘Winemaker’s Cuvee’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 95) which was a decadent, downright stunner of a wine. I spent many fond times at White Rose prior to starting Washington Wine Blog. While these wines are made by Jesus, there is a new winemaker at White Rose, Tresider Burns. Tresider comes from Brittan Vineyard pedigree, having trained under eminent winemaker Robert Brittan. 

The new release wines by White Rose are simply stunning across the board. The 2017 White Rose ‘Winemaker’s Cuvee’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) has intoxicating range and seriously good texture. Just as good was the 2017 White Rose ‘Guillen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) a simply beautiful wine that has incredible range from fruits to peat moss and chocolate. Learn more about White Rose at https://whiteroseestate.com and if you are feeling generous, please donate to the family of Jesus Guillen here: https://www.gofundme.com/jesus-guillen

2017 White Rose ‘The Neo-Classical Objective’ Pinot Noir- Translucent in the glass, the 2017 ‘The Neo-Classical Objective’ opens with tart red berry aromas with citrus rind and wet stone accents that line this expressive nose. The palate comes off quite fresh with good mid-palate weight, delivering copious red fruit and shades of Mandarin orange zest on the palate. This finishes exceedingly long. While enticing in its youth, this has at least another decade to go. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 White Rose ‘Winemaker’s Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 ‘Winemaker’s Cuvee’ is a stellar bottling made by the late Jesus Guillen. The nose has marvelous teaberry with cran-orange and wet stone character that all build nicely in the glass. The rather intoxicating aromatics bring you back to the glass for more pleasure. The beautiful texture truly entices as red currant jelly, rose water and stony and earthy undertones all collide on the palate. Fantastic now in its youth, this beautiful wine will continue to develop over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2017 White Rose ‘White Rose Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 ‘White Rose Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a stellar effort from this storied estate located in the Dundee Hills. A great combination of dark and red fruits greet you as you savor this seductive nose. The palate is both lithe and rich, revealing a soft, near seamless texture. Black and red fruits dance with minerals and stony undertones on this seductive palate. Highly gratifying in its youth, this will evolve well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2017 White Rose ‘Guillen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 ‘Guillen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is another outstanding effort from the talented hands of late winemaker Jesus Guillen. The nose shows bight teaberry and strawberry with earthy undertone aromatics that all shine brightly once in the glass. Round and generous, the silky texture gives this wine beautiful definition. With light stone accents, bright guava, strawberry and bing cherry flavors connect with shades of chocolate and peat moss. Complex and every bit delicious in its youth, this will evolve well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

Avennia

One of the great overall lineups in Washington wine, Avennia is a partnership between former Microsoft executive Marty Taucher and superstar winemaker Chris Peterson. For those less familiar with Avennia, Chris Peterson served as DeLille Cellars winemaker for many years prior to starting Avennia. Chris has a signature winemaking style that deftly walks the tightrope between richness and structure. He also has a tendency to truly shape a wine based on what the vintage provides — which is clearly evident in the rich, tremendous new lineup of wines from 2016 which was a very warm vintage in Washington.  The new releases from the outstanding 2016 show amazing texture and mouthfeel but also great tension. I was truly amazed with the overall quality of the new releases as Peterson has an incredible handle on everything from Rose to Cabernet Franc.

 I loved the new 2019 Avennia ‘L’Egerie’ Rose (WWB, 92) which shows off a silky mouthfeel and is one of the best Rose wines from the Pacific Northwest that I have sampled this year. Grab a few bottles of this exciting new Rose while it lasts. An incredible new Rhone style red blend, their 2016 Avennia ‘Justine’ Red Wine (WWB, 94) is showing marvelously right now with its incredible layers, range and soft texture.. Even better was the 2016 Avennia ‘Arnaut’ Syrah (WWB, 95) which shows wonderful richness and is downright impossible to resist in its youth. Learn more about these stunning new wines at avennia.com. Here are my reviews of the beautiful new Avennia wines.

2018 Avennia ‘L’Egerie’ Rose- The term ‘L’Egerie’ is French for ‘muse’ as Chris Peterson has crafted another stunning new Rose wine, blending 65% Grenache and 35% Mourvedre. Showing off its beautiful pale color, the wine opens with really good aromatic range, from salted Marcona almond to ripe strawberry, as well as melon and shades of Mandarin orange zest that all combine on the nose. The silky texture truly entices and collects momentum with the wonderful bright minerality of the wine. Elegant, yet showing good depth, the wine unveils bright red raspberry, strawberry and honeydew melon flavors that connect with the great sense of minerality. This finishes extremely long. Try to get your hands on this while it lasts. Drink 2019-2026- 92

2017 Avennia ‘La Perle’ White Wine- The 2017 ‘La Perle’ is another sensational effort by superstar winemaker Chris Peterson. A silky blend of 55% Roussanne with the remainder Marsanne, this was sourced from both the Sagemoor (Roussanne) and Boushey (Marsanne) vineyards. Weighing in at 13.4% alcohol, this evokes lemon zest and bright honeydew melon with wet stone and earthy accents on this expressive nose. The texture of this wine truly shines, as does the vibrant sense of minerality. Freshly cut grass, lemon zest, cantaloupe and copious minerals flood the palate, finishing strong with vanilla cream and more minerals. A beautiful effort, I can see this cellaring well for another decade, picking up lovely tertiary notes. Drink 2019-2026- 93

2016 Avennia ‘Justine’ Red Wine- A blend of 56% Grenache with the remainder 32% Mourvedre and 12% Syrah, the ‘Justine’ was aged for 16 months in a combination of concrete (20%) and neutral oak (80%) prior to bottling. The wine shows very pretty rose water and red cherry candy aromas that combine with dried herbs and smoke to round out the aromatics. The palate is fresh, mineral-driven, complex and truly sumptuous, evoking a wonderfully rich mouthfeel. Red and dark fruits dance with minerals and citrus rind on the palate with shades of smoke rounding out this delicious wine. A delight to savor in its youth, this will provide drinking enjoyment for the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 94

2016 Avennia ‘Arnaut’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘Arnaut’ is a sensational Syrah sourced from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. This was aged for 16 months in 15% new French oak prior to bottling. Smoky and savory tones excite on the nose with red and dark fruits and a semblance of creosote aromatics all evolve in the glass. The palate has a seamless quality that runs through the mid-palate. Ripe boysenberry jam, mocha, tar and Asian spices with herbal undertones all surround this beautiful wine. While gorgeous in its youth, this has the stuffing to cellar well for a decade or more. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this at least a one hour decant. Drink 2019-2029- 95

2016 Avennia ‘Gravura’ Red Wine- A blend of 48% Cabernet Sauviginon with 41% Merlot and a touch of Cabernet Franc (11%), the ‘Gravura’ was sourced from the Dionysus, Red Willow, Bacchus, Boushey, Blackwood Canyon and Klipsun Vineyards. Opening with a bouquet of ripe red and dark fruits with hints of chocolate, the nose is quite satisfying. The texture here is really gorgeous as dark cherry, mocha and tar flavors collect momentum with herbal tones and copious minerals. This is seriously good for the price as I can see this beautiful wine cellaring well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 Avennna ‘Valery’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Valery’ is a right bank Bordeaux style of wine (70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc) sourced from old vine Boushey Vineyard Merlot and Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Franc. Needing a one hour decant to fully express itself, the ‘Valery’ opens with bright red fruits with sweet pipe tobacco and licorice aromas that build in the glass. The palate is highly elegant, evoking a wonderful, Bordelaise feel. Quite honestly, the wine precisely exactly what it sets out to do, as this might pass for a great St. Emillon with its silky tannin, bright red fruits and herbal and earthy tones. Gorgeous in its youth, this is really needing another year in the bottle to fully evolve. If enjoying young, be sure to give this at least a three hour decant prior to consumption. Drink 2020-2040- 95

2016 Avennia ‘Sestina’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Sestina’ is a stunning new wine made by the talented Chris Peterson. A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder smaller portions of Merlot (18%) and Cabernet Franc (5%), the ‘Sestina’ needs at least a one hour decant prior to being aromatically expressive. Once aroused, this beautiful wine shows cassis, leather, anise and shades of black currant cordial on this beautiful nose. The palate has a soft mouthfeel and wonderfully plush texture, giving off an err of decadence. Mocha, tar, graphite and creme de cassis flavors, with sagebrush accents all collide on the palate. While truly delicious in its youth, give this one to two more years of bottle age before enjoying. Drink 2020-2040- 95

2016 Avennia ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- The 2016 ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc is a limited production bottling by Avennia. Needing a one hour decant to fully evolve aromatically, the wine slowly settles into aromatics reminiscent of Asian spices with blackberry compote, and shades of tar with blueberry pie. The palate is silky smooth, delivering a wonderfully plush mouthfeel. Black tea, licorice and blue fruit flavors with hints of violets all evolve well in the glass. This is seriously good in its youth but will provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2020-2040- 95

Ayoub

As we draw near to the end of another fantastic Oregon Wine Month, we bring you one of the Pacific Northwest’s top boutique producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Mo Ayoub planted his namesake vineyard in 2001. Mo began producing wines in 2004 and has wonderful earthy terroir in each bottle. Mo works with one of the great winemaking talents in Oregon, consulting winemaker Robert Brittan. I’ve been enamored by Robert’s wines for years and his very special vineyard. Ayoub has a spectacular Pinot Noir sourced from the Brittan Vineyard that embodies that wonderful stony character that you see in the Brittan portfolio.

I am consistently amazed by the overall quality of this lineup and the wines from 2017 are no exception. The 2017 Ayoub Vineyards Chardonnay (WWB, 93) is a brilliant new Chardonnay that has an unctuous character and wonderful brightness. This brilliant wine can cellar for a decade or more. Even better was the 2017 Ayoub Vineyards ‘Brittan Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) which has the wonderful stony terroir mixed in with the vibrant sense of minerality and ripe red fruit flavors. Learn more about the beautiful Ayoub wines at https://www.ayoubwines.com Here are the great wines by Ayoub.

2017 Ayoub Chardonnay- Superstar winemaker Mo Ayoub crafts some incredible Chardonnay and this new edition is amongst the best that I have sampled from this great Oregon winery. The nose is simply gorgeous with bright green melon and lemon oil tones that fill the glass. The palate shows off an exotic appeal with the rich, almost unctuous mouthfeel. Silky smooth throughout the Chardonnay unveils bright starfruit, cantaloupe and green apple flavors with lemon cream and mineral accents. Outstanding in its youth, this will evolve well over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2017 Ayoub ‘Memoirs’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 ‘Memoirs’ Pinot Noir features a photo of winemaker and proprietor Mo Ayoub’s parents back in the 1970s. Sourced from a host of vineyards in the Willamette Valley, the 2017 ‘Memoirs’ opens to bright bing cherry with raspberry cordial and Mandarin orange zest alongside some lighter peat moss tones on the nose. The texture is silky smooth and truly entices once on the mid-palate. Exotic spices alongside copious red and dark fruits all mingle with minerals and earthy undertones. While beautiful in its youth, this still has a decade or more to go. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2017 Ayoub ‘Anonimo Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Dundee Hills, this is the second release of the ‘Anonimo Vineyard’ Pinot Noir. A small percentage (18%) of this wine underwent whole cluster fermentation. On the nose this takes on dark cherry compote with shades of potpourri, teaberry, and wild mushroom that all collide in the glass. The palate is round and generous, evoking rich red fruits that connect with the citrus zest and earthy accents. While a delight to savor in its youth, this will evolve well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2017 Ayoub ‘??? Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘??? Vineyard’ as it suggests, is a secret site only known to Mo Ayoub. My guess from the aromatic and flavor profiles is this does not come from the Dundee Hills. A whiff of salinity glides through this wine that shows brilliant red fruits that mingle with forest floor, more specifically pine accents on this expressive nose. The palate has tremendous verve and freshness as this wine displays intense red fruit flavors that glides across and lead to an exceedingly long, cherry cream and mineral-driven finish. While the range is excellent, the sense of balance absolutely exudes class. Enjoy this fantastic bottling over the next ten plus years. Drink 2019-2032- 94

2017 Ayoub ‘Brittan Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- One of the great vineyards of the Willamette Valley, I have been enamored by the stony terroir of the Brittan Vineyard for quite some time. The 2017 ‘Brittan Vineyard’ Pinot Noir opens with an intense bouquet of white truffle alongside wet stone and shades of cran-orange that all build on this expressive nose. The palate shows a vibrant sense of minerality, as the lip-smacking acidity truly entices once on the mouth. Shades of blood orange rind, cigar ash, cran-pomegrnate and a lovely wet stone character all impress on the palate. This beautiful wine has at least a decade ahead of it. Drink 2019-2032- 94

2017 Ayoub ‘Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 ‘Estate Vineyard’ by Ayoub is a show-stopping Pinot Noir that marvelously showcases this special vineyard in the Willamette Valley. The aromatic range is seriously good from the citrus zest to pomegranate seed to bright bing cherry and red raspberry to shades of rose water that all build in the glass. The silky smooth texture impresses once on the mouth. Black and red fruits dance with minerals, orange zest and damp earthy tones on the palate. Seductive, yet wonderfully poised, this sensational new wine will cellar well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2032- 94

L’Ecole No. 41 Vertical Tasting

One of the storied Walla Walla wineries, I first set foot in the L’Ecole No. 41 tasting room back in 2002 as a Whitman College Senior. While I was only a tyro in my wine education, I recall my father telling me about the quality of their range of wines. I had also recognized this iconic schoolhouse on our dinner table before. As I was slowly building my database of tasting notes, I found myself going back to L’Ecole regularly to taste their wines. Year after year I was impressed with the consistency of their red and white wines, from Semillon and Chardonnay to Syrah and their red blends. 

Fast forward more than ten years I found myself back at L’Ecole for a very special vertical tasting of their premier red blends. This was a great opportunity for me to taste some of L’Ecole’s older wines with their owner/winemaker Marty Clubb and new general manager Constance Savage. We tasted their ‘Apogee’ (Cabernet dominant blend sourced from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard), as well as their ‘Perigee’ (Cabernet dominant blend sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard) and the ‘Ferguson’ (Cabernet dominant blend sourced from their Ferguson Vineyard). The vintages chosen were quite different, 2007 being warm, 2013 and 2016 being quite hot, while 2010 being quite cool. I loved how differently each vintage showed, as each 2010 wine was quite a bit more Bordelaise with herbal tones and less dark fruits (and 2011 Ferguson even more so). Another common theme was the overwhelming elegance of each wine — a testament to Marty’s winemaking. Since I began taking tasting notes for L’Ecole wines in 2004 I have found that Marty has a penchant for creating a great sense of minerality in his wines, which was evident throughout this tasting.

I was amazed by the 2007 L’Ecole wines. The 2007 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine (WWB, 94) is absolutely singing at the twelve year mark. The range of this wine is seriously good as this wine is drinking marvelously but will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. I was also stunned by the 2013 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine (WWB, 94) which has wonderful, seamless quality on the palate. This warm vintage wine is shining brightly now but will cellar for another fifteen years. Finally, do not miss out on the incredible 2016 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson’ Red Wine (WWB, 94) which is incredibly vibrant in its youth and shows off this fantastic, high elevation site in the Walla Walla Valley. It was a truly fabulous tasting, inspired by top notch winemaking that showed off these very special vineyards. Learn more about these wines at https://www.lecole.com Here are my tasting notes from what was a beautiful retrospective of L’Ecole red wines. 

‘Apogee’ Red Wine

2007 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- The 2007 ‘Apogee’ is a compelling wine at the twelve year mark, The final blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Malbec and 4% Cabernet Franc which were all sourced from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard. The wine opens with a bouquet of red bell pepper, sage, red cherry candy and suggestions of coffee grounds. The palate shows a wonderful mouthfeel and a plush texture. Showing good brightness the wine unveils ripe dark fruit and red fruit flavors with an herbal edge. Outstanding now, it is hard to believe this is a twelve year old wine. This will age gracefully for the next two decades. Drink 2019-2035- 94

2010 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- The 2010 ‘Apogee’ is a fantastic blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. The 2010 ‘Apogee’ opens with lighter dark fruit aromatics with herbal undertones. The wine shows really good richness considering the coolness of the vintage. Red berry flavors with pipe tobacco and coffee grounds line the palate. The long finish entices. Enjoy this over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2013 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- The 2013 ‘Apogee’ is a stunning wine by L’Ecole. On the nose this takes on good herbal tones with black fruits and mocha underlining the bouquet. The palate shows tremendous poise and intensity with good weight. The texture is simply marvelous. Dense dark fruits connect with sagebrush and light herbal tones with a touch of. Chocolate. Stunning now, this rich yet elegant wine only an infant at the six year mark and has a long way to go. Drink 2019-2040- 94

2016 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Apogee’ is a compelling blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with 25% Merlot and 11% Malbec with 4% Cabernet Franc. Showing off a deep core, this opens with a beautiful bouquet of red currant red cherry candy and blackberry cobbler with herbal undertones. The palate shows good mid-palate ripeness and freshness. Dark berry and mocha flavors with hints of violets mingle with great acidity. A long-ager, this brilliant wine will cellar well for fifteen years. Drink 2020-2035- 93

‘Perigee’ Red Wine

2007 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine- The 2007 ‘Perigee’ is sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley and its a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Franc.  The wine is highly Bordelaise on the nose with red bell pepper and dried herbs that build in the glass. The palate shows great freshness considering the age of the wine. Red cherry, red bell pepper, anise and hints of s more all round out this beautiful wine. Brilliant now, this will continue to evolve well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2030- 93

2010 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine- The 2010 ‘Perigee’ has 60% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with smaller portions Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The nose shows off very pretty aromas of red rose petal, mocha, cigar ash and red cherry puree. The palate exudes bright acidity with medium-bodied dark and red fruit flavors with earthy undertones. Balanced and highly poised, this will cellar well for decades. Drink 2019-2035- 92

2013 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine- The 2013 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine is a stunning release by L’Ecole. The wine is an impressive blend of. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the nose is quite powerful with blackberry jam, mocha anise and lovely herbal tones. Decadent black tea, blackberry cobbler, mocha and crushed mint flavors come together seamlessly in the glass. Seductive, yet balanced, this is a. Gorgeous release that is showing marvelously at this time. Drink 2019-2035- 94

2016 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine- The 2016 L’Ecole ‘Perigee’ Red Wine is another stunning bottling by the talented Marty Clubb. On the nose this is displaying brilliant dark fruit with graphite and mocha that all marvelously combine in the glass. The palate has wonderful freshness and intensity with moderate tannins that line this beautiful wine. Dark fruits mingle with minerals and creme de cassis flavors. Highly Bordelaise and downright delicious in its infancy, this gorgeous bottling has a long life in the cellar. Drink 2019-2035- 93

’Ferguson’ Red Wine

2011 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson’ Red Wine- This beautiful wine is sourced from the Ferguson Vineyard, which is set on Loess soils with fractured basalt perched underneath the Loess. The wine opens with light stone aromas with dark fruits and thyme that fill the nose. The palate has really good freshness and richness with blackberry cobbler, crushed mint, wet stone and moderate tannins. With vibrant minerality, this beautiful wine is drinking marvelously now but has a very long way to go Drink 2019-2035- 92

2013 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson’ Red Wine- The 2013 L’Ecole No. 41 Red Wine is a stunning release that shows the heat of the vintage, yet has wonderful restraint. The nose shows copious dark fruits with shads of sagebrush and milk chocolate. The palate has great verve and energy. With a beautiful mouthfeel. There is really good astringency as well with a nice salinity to this warm vintage red wine. The long finish lingers in this beautiful wine. Drink 2019-2040- 93

2014 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson’ Caberent Sauvignon- Released late, this 2014 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning new wine by L’Ecole No. 41. This starts off with deep dark fruits with sagebrush and creme de cassis that line the nose. The palate shows wonderful freshness and richness with mocha, anise, red bell pepper and tar flavors with lighter stony character. Delicious now, this beautiful wine is only in its infancy and will enjoy a very long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2040- 94

2016 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson’ Red Wine- This outstanding new release is a silky blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon with 26% Merlot and the reminder Cabernet Franc and Malbec. On the nose this takes on dark fruits with sagebrush and red bell pepper with coffee ground undertones. Black fruits and chocolate with roasted dates line this distinguished palate. Showing tremendous freshness and energy, this wine needs another year or two in the cellar to be fully expressive. Drink 2020-2035- 94

Julia’s Dazzle

As temperatures begin to slowly warm up, we pay homage to the start of Rose season. Rose wines from Washington continue to build in quality over the past five years. As outlined in my 2018 Pacific Northwest Rose Report, there are dozens upon dozens of brilliant, stand alone Rose wines made from this region. Many of the great Pacific Northwest Rose bottles even fall under 20 dollars.

The Julia’s Dazzle by Long Shadows impresses me every year and has been in my mind the most consistent Rose made in this Washington state over the past decade. Allen Shoup has been the mastermind behind this beautiful bottling, as Alan selected superstar winemaker Gilles Nicault to craft this outstanding Rose out of 100% Pinot Gris sourced from The Benches Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills.

A winemaker not needing any introduction, Gilles has an impressive resume, joining Woodward Canyon in 1996, where he stayed until moving to Long Shadows in June 2003. Learning from eminent Washington winemaker Rick Small, Gilles was later named head of enology and production at Woodward Canyon. I have scored the last three vintages of the Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose 92 points — the only Rose wine from Washington to achieve the feat. The 2018 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose (WWB, 92) is a stunning new bottling with incredible energy, verve and ripeness. It is an incredible value for under $20.00. Learn more about this outstanding wine and other Long Shadows wines at http://longshadows.com Here is my review of the 2018 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose.

2018 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose- The 2018 ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ is another outstanding release by superstar winemaker Giles Nicault. Made entirely from Pinot Gris grapes, this shows an amazing range of aromas from white peach to white rose petals to cran-cherry and lighter citrus tones that round out the nose. Lithe, and light on its feet, this shows off an incredible, silky texture that entices. Cran-cherry, bright strawberry and guava flavors connect with the great sense of minerality. Like most releases of this wine, it expresses a beautiful combination of weight and tension. Enjoyable now, this will continue to cellar over the next five years. Drink 2019-2024- 92

Lingua Franca

As we roll on in Oregon Wine Month we bring you a wonderful Oregon wine project many years in the making. Lingua Franca begins with their estate vineyard, located between the Lone Star, Jerusalem Hills and Seven Springs vineyards. It is a truly sensational site. Larry Stone, MS, previously managed wine portfolios for Francis Ford Coppola as well as Augustin Huneeus before founding Lingua Franca with David Honig. After rigorous negotiations, the land for Lingua Franca was finally purchased in late 2012.

In late 2014, Dominique Lafon of Evening Land Fame indicated that he would be interested in collaborating on the project and the team began work together in February of 2015. At time that Lafon protégé, Thomas Savre, also came aboard as he had a wealth experience in some of the most illustrious wineries in Burgundy. Thomas served as assistant winemaker at Evening Land before being promoted as winemaker for Lingua Franca. He has just a spectacular new lineup of wines from the more restrained 2017 vintage. In comparison to his 2016 wines, these 2017s lean slightly towards elegance — and are every bit as good as the last years releases. One of the great Oregon Chardonnays that I have tried in the past yeear, the 2017 Lingua Franca ‘Bunker Hill’ Chardonnay (WWB, 94) has incredible range and brightness. This is sure to satisfy any lover of Oregon Chardonnay. His 2017 Lingua Franca ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) is just as good, showing incredible red fruit and citrus tones, with earthy nuances rounding out this sensational new wine. Learn more about Lingua Franca at https://www.linguafranca.wine Here are the beautiful new releases by Lingua Franca.

2017 Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Avni’ Chardonnay opens with bright lemon zest with kiwi and melon tones that connect with the wet stone character on then nose. The palate reveals good freshness and intensity with gobs of lip-smacking acidity. Bright citrus and orchard fruits parade with minerals on the palate. Delicious now, this will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 Lingua Franca ‘Bunker Hill’ Chardonnay- The Bunker Hill Vineyard was planted in 1995 and is located in the Salem Hills as it has a very strong maritime influence from strong Pacific Ocean winds that move winds through the Van Duzer corridor. The 2017 Lingua Franca ‘Bunker Hill’ Chardonnay is a terrific new release wine by this talented winemaking team. The nose evokes toasty brioche with wild mushroom and green apple that all combine in the glass. The palate unveils a silky texture and a bright minerality. Kumquat, green papaya and shades of white truffle with earthy undertones round out this outstanding flavor range. This finishes exceedingly long with lemon cream and minerals. Highly Burgundian and downright thrilling now, this highly nuanced Chardonnay will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 94

2017 Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Pinot Noir-The ‘Avni’ Pinot Noir by Lingua Franca opens with toasty oak that wraps around bright red fruits with earthy and citrus rind tones, all melding together in the glass. The palate has beautiful balance, showing a smooth texture and a bright acidity. Intense red fruits collide with minerals and hints of blood orange zest with peat moss on the palate. The long, earthy and red fruit-driven finish lingers. While marvelous in its youth, this has at least a decade ahead of it. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 Lingua Franca ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir by Lingua Franca is an exceedingly good new wine. The nose is highly gratifying with peat moss and white truffle shavings that combine with cran-pomegranate and red cherry candy on the seductive nose. The palate has a seamless quality that shines as red and dark fruits dance with the earthy and citrus rind tones. A stunning new wine, this will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 94

Auction of Washington Wines Presents Wine & Music Festival on Red Mountain

Auction of Washington Wines Presents Wine & Music Festival

Date: Saturday, June 1, 2019

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Friends, please join me as well as more than 20 different wineries for the Auction of Washington Wines Wine & Music Festival at Col Solare on Saturday June 1st benefitting Seattle Children’s Hospital and Washington State University’s Enology and Viticulture program. 
Join the likes of Col Solare, Fidelitas, Upchurch Vineyard and DeLille Cellars and many more. This will be a spectacular tasting event you won’t want to miss, with catering from Porter’s Real Barbecue, and Fat Olives Restaurant & Catering. 
Dress is ‘wine country casual! Sun dress or summer pants for gals. Cargo shorts and button up for guys.
For more info check out https://auctionofwawines.org/events/wine-jazz-festival/
Looking forward to seeing you all at this spectacular event on Red Mountain

Stoller Estate

Happy Memorial Day to you all. As we continue our march in Oregon Wine Month, we bring you one of the stalwart wineries of the Willamette Valley. A brilliant businessman, Stoller founder, Bill Stoller, has a degree in business and economics from Pacific University, as well as an MBA from Portland State University. In 1983, Bill co-founded Express Employment Professionals, currently the largest privately-held staffing company in the world, with more than 800 offices in three countries. Additionally, in 2001, he founded Xenium, a human resources outsource company. This business success has enabled Bill to pursue his passion of wine and to contribute to his community. Bill's most prominent civic commitment was to his alma mater, as the former chair of the Pacific University Board of Trustees.

Bill acquired his Willamette Valley family property from his cousin in 1993, and saw the potential with the terroir in place. He planted 10 acres each of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in 1995 and the winery now spans vineyard is the largest contiguous vineyard in Oregon's Dundee Hills. The property spans 400 acres, with 225 acres focused on growing vines at elevations ranging from 220 to 640 feet. Ten varietals are planted in this vineyard, including Viognier, Pinot Meunier and even Aligote. 

The new releases by Stoller were beautiful across the board. Look to their brilliant new 2018 Stoller Rose (WWB, 90) which has a wonderful mouthfeel and is crafted in the refreshing style. Even better was the 2017 Stoller Pinot Noir (WWB, 91) which shows a great sense of freshness and wonderful red and dark fruit flavors. Learn more about this outstanding Oregon winery at https://www.stollerfamilyestate.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Stoller. 

2018 Stoller Rose- Sourced from a host of Willamette Valley Vineyards, the 2018 Stoller Rose opens with very pretty aromatics of red rose petals, guava and cran-cherry, with lighter earthy undertones that all build on the nose. The palate has wonderful freshness and a lithe minerality. Light red fruits dance with citrus rind and minerals on the palate. Highly refreshing, this really needs a hot summer day, as this excellent new wine would pair marvelously with a host of foods, most notably fresh oysters. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Stoller Chardonnay- The 2018 Stoller Chardonnay awakens to a bouquet of white peach, kiwi and shades of toasted hazelnut with vanilla cream accents that round out the nose. The silky texture accents the ripe orchard fruits and vanilla cream flavors that build on the palate. While this is marvelous in its youth, this has both the verve and richness to cellar well for another ten years. Drink 2019-2026- 91

2017 Stoller Pinot Noir- The 2017 Stoller Pinot Noir is another terrific effort from this storied estate. Cran-cherry cola and shades of peat moss enter the fray on the nose. The palate shows a good combination of richness and minerality, delivering red and dark fruits that dance with minerals and citrus rind undertones. This fantastic new wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 91

Baer Winery ‘Ursa’ Vertical Tasting

Boutique wineries sometimes fool me. In fairness, I’ve had many new world boutique wineries that seem to underwhelm me, while others truly shine. Baer is one of those limited production wineries that always seems to impress me, vintage after vintage. I was first turned onto this winery with their 2006 release of their ‘Ursa’ which was prior to starting WWB. This wine had incredible red fruit character, silky tannins and was downright delicious once in the glass. I bought a case of this wine and enjoyed it over several years with my friends. 

Following the tragic passing of Lance Baer, Erica Orr took the helm and helped create what I’ve found to be now one of the most consistent red wine lineups in Washington. Erica even hit a home run in the challenging 2015 vintage. I have seen her winemaking style evolve over the past decade, as her wines are less heavily tannic now and gear towards elegance but maintaining good ripeness. 

Last night I sat down with Baer winemaker Erica Orr and owner Lisa Baer for what was a very special tasting of their ‘Ursa’ Red Wine. The vertical tasting encompassed vintages ’02, ’06, ’10, ’12 and ’15. All of the wines showed marvelously. One of the highlights of the tasting was actually seeing how well the ’02 and ’06 showed considering their age. I think that the 2002 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine (WWB, 93) still has several years left, as its beautiful red fruit tones were singing last night. The best wine that I tried was the stunning 2012 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine (WWB, 94) which had incredible balance, as you could see each varietal moving like a fine running motor. This tasting also has shown how the Stillwater Creek Vineyard has evolved from the high toned red fruits in the 2002 vintage to the deep, dark fruits from the 2015 vintage. This is truly a very special vineyard that remains somewhat under the radar.  Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.baerwinery.com/WordPress/ Here are my reviews from a glorious Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine vertical tasting on May 23rd, 2019.

2015 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine- The 2015 ‘Ursa’ is a blend of 38% Merlot with 38% Cabernet Franc and 22% Cabernet with just a touch of Malbec (2%). This was aged in 44% new French oak for 20 months prior to bottling. This has considerably more cabernet Sauvignon than most vintages as winemaker Erica Orr felt that the Cabernet Sauvignon was particularly excellent this vintage. The texture here is really beautiful, giving a good sense of opulence. You can see each working part here with three Bordeaux varietals wonderfully coming together with dark fruits and chocolate flavors most dominant. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2012 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine- The 2012 ‘Ursa’ is a fabulous blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc with 12% Malbec and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon all sourced from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard. The wine was aged in 53% new French oak for 20 months prior to bottling. This shows off a deep core, unveiling very pretty red fruits with red rose petals and shades of tar and black currant that all mingle in the glass. The texture is extremely polished as the wine takes on a seductive edge. Impeccably balanced, this shows off gorgeous milk chocolate covered red cherry, sagebrush, and black tea with red raspberry cordial flavors. The long finish further accentuates this simply beautiful wine. While drinking marvelously now, this will continue to evolve well for at least another ten years. Drink 2019-2029- 94

2010 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine- Coming from a cooler vintage in Washington State, the 2010 ‘Ursa’ has 42% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. This was aged in 73% new French oak for 20 months prior to bottling. The nose is quite powerful with toasty oak that mingles with black tea, milk chocolate and shades of sagebrush and red bell pepper. This is extremely elegant with good ripeness considering the coolness of the vintage with thyme and sagebrush accents connecting with the red and dark fruits. This shows good richness and freshness with a left bank Bordelaise feel and a sight salinity towards the back end. While this is peaking now, this will cellar well over the next five years. Drink 2019-2024- 92

2006 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine- The 2006 ‘Ursa’ Red Wine is a silky blend of 50% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. This was the last year that they only made this red wine in their lineup. The wine was aged in 95% new French oak for 20 months prior to bottling. The nose shows toasty oak that wraps around roasted dates, sweet pipe tobacco, and dark fruits. The palate shows good freshness with a strong salinity. Dark fruits mingle with espresso bean and rose water on the palate. The long, mineral and dusty earth-driven finish lingers. Drink 2019-2024- 92

2002 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine-  The 2002 vintage in Washington was absolutely legendary, with almost perfect growing conditions. The ‘Ursa’ is a blend of 44% Merlot with 31% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is very plush showing roasted dark fruits with a nice savory edge and a touch of Turkish coffee. The wine is remarkably fresh on the mid-palate with wonderful red fruits that run through a nice sense of salinity. Drink 2019-2024- 93

2008 Baer ‘Maia’ Cabernet Franc- This wine is 100% Cabernet Franc sourced from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard. The wine opens with an alluring nose of rose water, green bell pepper and licorice that all combine marvelously in the glass. The wine is strangely still tannic, showing quite a lot of power. Coffee grounds, black tea, and rich dark fruits. This is drinking marvelously right now but still has a long way to go. Drink 2019-2029- 93

Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar

One of the fantastic spots in the Seattle area for fresh seafood, Seastar Restaurant is the brainchild of both Chef John Howie and Erik Liedholm, who created this thriving restaurant more than fifteen years ago. Executive Chef John Howie, formerly of Palisade, founded this restaurant back in 2002. John combined with Erik Liedholm, who has curated an incredible array of wines from French standouts Dageuneau and Chave to Pacific Northwest favorites. The wine program is very special and even has their own Champagne, the NV ‘Cuvee John Howie’ produced by Nominé-Renard and blended by Erik each year. The current blend is largely equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with 2012 being the anchor vintage in the blend. We began our meal with their ‘Cuvee John Howie’ which showed absolutely marvelously and had really good salinity and mid-palate richness.

Seastar’s menu is divided into three sections with the raw bar, the tastes menu and then the main courses. They offer a omakase which is a chefs selection of sushi, sashimi and nigiri.

The wine list has a plethora of great northwest wines including thoughtful Chardonnay choices out of Oregon by Lingua Franca, Roserock and Gran Moraine as well as brilliant California Chardonnay wines from Brewer- Clifton and Rochioli as well as an extensive collection of one of my all-time favorites, Kongsgaard. Pricing is very reasonable for many of the Oregon white wines.  Other great white wine choices out of Washington include the fantastic 2016 ‘Oliane’ by Avennia and the great new 2017 Viognier by Mark Ryan.

We chose to go outside the box and dive into their extensive collection of Austrian Rieslings. Nikolaihof is one of the great Gruner Veltliner producers of the world and the 2010 ‘Gelber Muskateller’ by Nikolaihof (WWB, 94) was a downright stunning showing off incredible viscosity, texture and verve. This wine is right in its sweet spot at nine years of age. 

To start we began wit the scallop ceviche which was prepared with mango, kiwi as well as chile, lime and cilantro. The dish has was very fresh and had a wonderful texture as the topping provided good sweetness. 

Even better was the tuna crudo, which was delightful with sweet onion and creamy avocado. The tuna crudo had tons of flavor with wonderful cirrus oil as the oil adds remarkably to the texture and the Nikolaihof was a perfect foil with its light flinty and pretty star jasmine tones that combined with the brightness of the dish. 

In between courses we remarked about how good the service was here and how well-orchestrated the food and wine service presented itself, like a fine running motor. Water glasses were constantly refilled and each course was served with perfect timing

The thin cut truffle fries were nothing short of insanely good — truly some of the best fries in the entire Seattle area. They were all perfectly cooked and wonderfully crisp. Our next course was one of their signature dishes, the hot and sour soup which had perfectly cooked fresh shrimp as the dish came off similarly to a great Tom Yum. Each succulent shrimp was perfectly sized for your bite. 

We were impressed with our next dish, their blue cheese salad which had crisp pears on top delivering a nice crunch while the salad dressing was deliciously creamy. I deplore salads being under-dressed but this salad had perfect amount of dressing.

For a splurge we ordered the well-priced NV Krug ‘Grand Cuvee Edn 166’ Champagne (WWB, 97) which was absolutely singing with our entrees. The wine is so impeccably balanced with an insanely complex nose and a long, lemon-oil and mineral driven finish that lingers exceedingly long. The bubbles were highly refined to this great Champagne as lower toned biscuit and peat moss tones combined with the wonderful high tones of the wine.

Delightfully playful Mexican style preparation of Halibut.

I ordered a simple but classic preparation of grilled fresh sockeye salmon which came perfectly cooked and more on the rare side which I love. Soft and melt in your mouth delicious, this paired swimmingly with the richness of the Krug. We were also impressed with their Halibut preparation that was served Mexican style with a verde sauce and a crab and shrimp tamale. The creativity of this dish was absolutely killer and the heat of the dish matched marvelously with the Krug. As we finished our meal with our glass of Krug we toasted to a remarkable food and wine experience at Seastar Restaurant. 

Dom Pérignon

Today we bring you one of the famed Champagne houses of the world and truly one of my personal favorite wines, Dom Pérignon. It takes many wine lovers by surprise that Dom Pérignon was a 18th century French Benedictine monk who is credited with inventing Champagne. What many might not know is that the Champagne region was mostly known for still wine until the mid-19th century when most houses began producing sparkling wine. Launched in 1936 by leading champagne house Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon was the first cuvée de prestige created for consumers. While most of the world including France in the midst of the Great Depression, this was a strange time to start a prestigious brand of a Champagne. But as both Napoleon and Winston Churchill have previously noted, Champagne is not only for good times but it is used to console as well.

I have heard that the first Dom Pérignon made from the 1921 vintage was simply amazing. I will look forward to trying this insanely good wine someday. Following in the footsteps of Dom Perignon, other producers began producing their cuvée de prestige, including Roederer, starting their ‘Cristal’ line in 1945 which was followed by Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne in 1952 and Laurent-Perrier’s Grand Siècle in 1959. For me, Dom Pérignon is one of the finest wines of the world, as I am simply mesmerized that they can produce such an incredible product given the large case production. Year after year Dom Pérignon produces one of the finest Champagnes available on the retail market. Dom Pérignon is made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes that are are grown in vineyards that received grand cru status. Each of these special occasion Champagnes showcase their vintage. I recently had the chance to revisit several vintages of Dom Pérignon and was enchanted by each release. The 2009 Dom Pérignon Champagne (WWB, 95) is exceedingly bright and youthful at this stage in its development. It is only an infant now but will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Quite more evolved but every bit as good, the 2006 Dom Pérignon Champagne (WWB, 96) shows wonderful biscuit and musty around as this stage in its development. The weight of this wine is seriously good right now. I was absolutely blown away with the 1996 Dom Pérignon Champagne (WWB, 98) as well as the 1998 Dom Pérignon Champagne (WWB, 97). These majestic bottling are incredible now at more than twenty years of age and still have an exceedingly long life left. Learn more about Dom Pérignon Champagne at http://www.domperignon.com/ Here we feature my reviews of previous three releases of Moët & Chandon ‘Dom Pérignon’ as well as some special older vintages enjoyed in the past month.

1996 Moët & Chandon ‘Dom Pérignon’ Champagne- The 1996 Dom Pérignon is a revelation at now twenty three years of age. On the nose this takes on some spectacular range from Challah bread tones to lemon zest as well as Pink Lady apple and candied ginger. Once on the attack this shows formidable weight and tension, while this seamless wine effortlessly dances across the mid-palate. Ripe Japanese pear, brioche, lemon zest and wild mushroom flavors collide with the strong salinity and minerality. A true heavyhitter, this wine has many rounds left to fight, but is simply intoxicating at this stage in its development. Drink 2019-2040- 98

1998 Moët & Chandon ‘Dom Pérignon’ Champagne- I absolutely adore the 1998 Dom Pérignon at this stage in development, as this was a marvelous surprise to see how balanced and seductive this wine is now. Showing a slightly lower viscosity than the ’96, the 1998 Dom Pérignon greets you with a wonderfully nutty and musty bouquet, followed by great tension and linear progression on the mid-palate. The wonderful sense of freshness complements the nutty, wild mushroom, peat moss and orchard fruit flavors. This has a wonderful saline streak that runs through the exceedingly long finish. While marvelous now, this has at least fifteen years left. Drink 2019-2035- 97

2006 Moët & Chandon ‘Dom Pérignon’ Champagne- Similar to 2005, 2006 had perfect weather at harvest, following an excellent growing season. The production team at Moët & Chandon continue to produce some of the best Champagne in the world. This new bottling of Dom Pérignon is no exception. This wine begins with aromas of brioche, porcini mushroom, gala apple and banana. This leads to flavors of red delicious apple, toasted macadamia nut, Meyer lemon rind, and Japanese pear. This is absolutely ethereal as the mousse is silky and incredibly textured. The earthy components to this blending beautifully complement the citrus fruit. An absolutely stunning Champagne that is a very small step ahead of the brilliant 2005. Drink 2019-2040- 96

2008 Moët & Chandon ‘Dom Pérignon’ Champagne- The 2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne is a stunning new wine that showcases this outstanding vintage. Released after the ’09 edition, the 2008 is the last vintage releases by cave de chef Vincent Chaperon before he retired at the end of 2018. What was a very cool vintage, 2008 saw perfect conditions at harvest which led to very ripe berries. At the present the ripeness is quite evident on the nose with bright marigold flowers with kumquat and shades of nectarine rind alongside the lemon infused brioche accents that all build in the glass. The palate is round, yet tightly wound, delivering a nice sense of decadence. Bright Pink Lady apple, lemon zest and Challah bread all combine brilliantly with a good sense of salinity on the palate. While remarkable in its youth, this really needs a year or two of bottle age to fully come together. Drink 2020-2040- 97

2009 Moët & Chandon ‘Dom Pérignon’ Champagne- The 2009 Dom Pérignon is a simply fabulous effort from a challenging vintage in Champagne. The musty and earthy aromatics grab you straight away followed by wild mushrooms, brioche, poached pear and toasted hazelnut aromatics that impress. Incredibly balanced and with remarkable finesse, this showcases flavors of lemon zest, baked apple and marzipan with biscuit. Today this is just a touch youthful, needing some additional time to develop. Nonetheless this is a simply gorgeous Champagne with marvelous cellaring potential. Try to hold off on this stunner for at least two years. Disgorged in June 2016. Drink 2019-2040- 95

Penfolds

An illustrious South Australia house, deeply rooted in tradition, Penfolds is one of the iconic producers of Shiraz in the world. Initially founded as a fortified wine house in 1844, Penfolds was founded by Christopher and Mary Penfold who arrived to Australia from Sussex, England and founded the 500 acre Penfolds estate in Adelaide. Upon Christopher’s tragic death, Mary began initial blending wines that were two to three years of age, moving away from fortified wines. For many years Penfolds remained the largest wine producer in South Australia. Then in the 1940s famed Penfolds winemaker Max Shubert crafted their first iconic ‘Grange Hermitage’ wine which was later simply named ‘Grange.’ In 1960s the company introduced a series of red wines: Bin 389, Bin 707, Bin 28 and Bin 128, that became the highlights of the Penfolds brand.

Visiting this famed lineup today, I was overwhelmed with the overall quality of the wines. One of the great wines that I tried was the 2016 Penfolds ‘Bin 389’ Cabernet-Shiraz (WWB, 93) which showed a wonderful mouthfeel and was already quite evolved. This wine was a serious value. The 2016 Penfolds ‘St. Henri’ Shiraz (WWB, 95) was also showing signs of beautiful evolution, with copious dark fruits and an incredible texture. What probably impressed most in this tasting was the iconic 2016 Penfolds ‘Bin 707’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 97) which showed insanely good weight and a deep core. This fabulous effort is one for the cellar. Even better, although considerably more expensive, the 2014 Penfolds ‘Grange’ Shiraz (WWB, 98) has just a tiny portion of Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. This Shiraz is silky, sexy and a downright treat to savor. Learn more about this iconic Australian producer at penfolds.com Here are the amazing new wines by Penfolds.

2018 Penfolds ‘Bin 51 Eden Valley’ Riesling- This takes on petrol, green apple and green papaya aromas. The freshness and verve to this dry Riesling is exceedingly good. Loaded with mouth-watering acidity, the Riesling shows wonderful citrus and pitted fruit flavors. Fresh and light on its feet, enjoy this in the short-term. Drink 2019-2022- 91

2017 Penfolds ‘Max’s’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the Adelaide Hills, this wine shows toasty brioche with butterscotch and Pink Lady apple aromatics that build in the glass. On the palate this shows nice acidity and weight, as citrus rind, melon and ripe apple flavors connect wit the freshness. This is seriously good for the price. Drink 2019-2022- 90

2017 Penfolds ‘Bin 311’ Chardonnay-Sourced from Tumbarumba, he 2017 ‘Bin 311’ Chardonnay shows lemon cream and kumquat with hints of wild mushroom on the nose. Highly refreshing and satisfying, this shows a beautiful astringency. White peach, lemon cream and green apple flavors all combine nicely in the glass. This takes on a very Burgundian feel with its freshness and intensity. Drink 2019-2024- 91

2016 Penfolds ‘Max’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Max’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off an inky core. The wine shows a good degree of stewed dark fruit on the nose with coffee accents. The palate is jammy and rich but shows good acidity. Forward and rich, blackberry and cherry pie flavors with blueberry compote all combine nicely. This is extremely well-done for an entry level Shiraz. Drink 2019-2022- 90

2016 Penfolds ‘Bin 28 Kalimna’ Shiraz- The ‘Kalimna’ was first made by Penfolds in 1959 and is sourced from a warm South Australia site. This excellent value Shiraz takes on toasty oak on the nose with black tea, blackberry pie and coffee grounds. The mouthfeel is plush as the wine shows nice citrus tones that accompany copious dark fruits and coffee grounds. This is delicious now but will continue to cellar well for another decade Drink 2019-2028- 91

2016 Penfolds ‘Bin 389’ Cabernet Shiraz- The ‘Bin 389’ by Penfolds is comprised of near equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. The nose takes on wonderful blue fruit aromas with black tea and Asian spice. The mouthfeel and texture to this wine is wonderfully plush, delivering dark berry, roasted fig and coffee ground flavors. Showing good acidity and briightness, this wine is gorgeous in its youth but will cellar well for the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2030- 93

2016 Penfolds ‘Bin 407’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Bin 407’ Cabernet Sauvignon was first made in 1990. The wine is sourced from a host of AVAs including Coonawarra, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully and Padthaway. The Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 12 months in French oak prior to bottling. The nose is deliciously seductive, with blackberry cobbler, brandy soaked black cherry and cigar ash notes. There is very good freshness to this rich wine that reveals a wonderfully soft mouthfeel. The acidity combines with rich dark fruits nicely. A long-ager, this will cellar well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2030- 92

2015 Penfolds ‘St. Henri’ Shiraz- The ‘St. Henri’ Shiraz was aged in extremely large vats prior to bottling. They have elected to blend in a tiny portion of Cabernet Sauvignon to this Shiraz. The wine starts off with deep and wonderfully perfumed aromatics reminiscent of blueberry compote, black tea, mocha, and anise. The wine takes on a seamless texture. Loganberry preserves, blueberry compote, mocha and crushed mint flavors all wonderfully combine. Decadent and layered, this is a stunning wine by Penfolds that shows both wonderful weight and tension. Enjoy this incredible Shiraz over the next two decades. Drink 2019-2035- 95

2016 Penfolds ‘RWT’ Shiraz- The “RWT’ or ‘Red Winemaking Trial’ was named after a new project wine in which Penfolds sourced fruit from the Barossa Valley. The wine was aged in French oak puncheons for 12 months prior to bottling.  The oaky undertones are a really good complement to the deep dark and blue fruits and chocolate aromatics that mingle beautifully in the glass. The texture of thew wine is sinfully good as the wine glides through the mid-palate. Black tea, blueberry compote, blackberry cobbler, cigar ash and boysenberry cordial flavors all delight the senses. While delicious now, this massive monster of a wine needs some more time to fully hit its stride. Drink 2020-2040- 96

2016 Penfolds ‘Bin 707’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Bin 707’ Cabernet Sauvignon by Penfolds is a massive beast that needs considerable time to develop. The wine saw considerable time (20 months) in new American oak prior to bottling. Following a three hour decant the wine slowly unveils toasty oak with black tea, anise, creme de cassis and cigar box aromas. The palate takes on a seamless quality as this effortlessly glides through the mid-palate. The wine is has a silky smooth texture. Moderately tannic, this gives off creosote, mocha, cigar ash and creme de cassis flavors. Rich and decadent, this great wine needs two or more years to fully express itself. Drink 2020-2045- 97

2014 Penfolds ‘Grange’ Shiraz- The 2014 Penfolds ‘Grange’ Shiraz is an absolutely stunning new wine that embodies precision, power and finesse. They have elected to blend in just a small portion of Cabernet Sauvignon (2%) into this magnificent wine. An ultra-ripe dense core, this 2014 Shiraz opens with intense tar, Turkish coffee, blueberry pie and sandalwood accents that round out this seductive nose. The palate is plush and inviting, showing off a downright sexy mouthfeel. This wine seamlessly glides across the mid-palate, delivering blackberry cordial, sweet pipe tobacco, anise and creme de cassis flavors that connect with the wonderfully refined tannins. Massive, yet showing a beautiful sense of elegance and place, this incredible new release will cellar marvelously for decades. Drink 2020-2045- 98

Kontos Cellars

Greetings to you all from a wet and rather cold Seattle. Today on Washington Wine Blog we bring you one of the outstanding boutique wineries in Walla Walla. Kontos Cellars is the project between brothers Cameron and Chris Kontos who are Walla Walla natives and have a longstanding history in not only agriculture but the wine industry. Their father, Cliff Kontos, was the founder of Fort Walla Walla Cellars, and helped mentor Cameron in his own winemaking journey. Cameron now makes a wine ‘The Boss’ in tribute to his father.

In 2002 Cameron joined Forgeron Cellars, and quickly was promoted assistant winemaker under eminent Walla Walla wine pioneer, Marie-Eve Gilla. Cameron trained under Marie and worked at Forgeron for eight years before starting Kontos with his brother.

Cameron’s winemaking style is highly structured but showcases beautiful ripeness. I have seen his progression as a winemaker and I very much enjoy the direction he is taking his wine program. Cameron makes an outstanding white wine, the 2018 Kontos Cellars ‘Gossamer’ White Wine (WWB, 91) which has an incredible texture and bright orchard and citrus fruits. The best wine I tried in this lineup was the 2016 Kontos Cellars ‘The Boss’ Red Wine (WWB, 94) which is dense, layered and decadent. This beautiful wine has the stuffing to go twenty years. Learn more about this great winery at https://kontoscellars.com Here are the great new releases by Kontos Cellars.

2018 Kontos Cellars ‘Gossamer’ White Wine-  This wine is a blend of 67% Chardonnay with 22% Roussanne and 11% Viognier. The texture here is great with bright starfruit, lemon zest and kumquat flavors that connect with the silly mouthfeel and bright sense of minerality. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2015 Kontos Cellars Merlot- This great Merlot (100%) is sourced from the Les Collines, Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyards. The wine shows ripe red cherry with oaky undertones on the nose. The palate has good richness with ripe black and red fruits that connect with the silky tannins. Bright and showing good richness and tension, this will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 92

2015 Kontos Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 Kontos Cabernet Sauvignon is largely sourced from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard and is a fantastic new release by Cameron Kontos. The wine starts off with blackberry jam, mocha, tar and sagebrush that all combine brightly in the glass. The palate shows good richness and mid-palate with blackberry compote, anise and creme de cause that all collide in the glass. Brilliant now, this will cellar beautifully for decades. Drink 2019-2033- 92

2015 Kontos Cellars ‘Alatus’ Red Wine- The ‘Alatus,’ is named after the winemaker’s grandfather’s sailboat. This is a fantastic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) and Merlot (30%) with smaller portions Malbec and Syrah. The palate shows good mid-palate richness with mocha, roasted figs and suggestions of creme de cassis. The mouthfeel here is fantastic. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Kontos Cellars Syrah-The 2016 Kontos Cellars Syrah is a fantastic release which was aged in 40% new oak prior to bottling. This starts off with aromas of dried herbs, red rose petals, black fruits and suggestions of mocha that come together in the glass. The acidity and viscosity of the wine shines through as the wine reveals copious dark fruits with sagebrush and dark chocolate tones that build in the glass. Fantastic now, this will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 Kontos Cellars ‘Tate Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah- This limited production wine is named after the winemaker’s niece. The wine was aged for two years in 25% new oak prior to bottling. Really nice sage with black fruits mark the nose. The viscosity is great with intense dark fruits that combine with chocolate on the palate. While fantastic now, this will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 Kontos Cellars Malbec- Sourced from the Seven Hills and Summit View vineyards, this opens with pretty lavender and violet aromas with mocha accents. The palate is plush, delivering rich dark fruit flavors with mocha and anise. This is fantastic stuff by the talented Cameron Kontos. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Kontos ‘Baker Blend’ Malbec- This wine is a barrel selection wine sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard. This wine begins with aromas of black tea, anise and blackberry compote. The palate has beautiful richness and restraint with blueberry cobbler, mocha, anise and black tea flavors the come together in the glass. Delightful now, this will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2033- 92

2016 Kontos ‘Dorsey’ Red Wine (Fall 2019 Release)- A tribute to the winemaker’s great great great grandfather who first came to Walla Walla in 1858, the wine is a silly blend of 31% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon with 25% Malbec and 19% Petit Verdot. The wine opens with a rich bouquet of fresh herbs with blackberry cobbler, mocha and  anise that all build in the glass. The palate is plush with black tea, anise, creme de cassis and fresh sage that all come together in the glass. Drinking marvelously now, this will cellar well for decades. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Kontos Cellars ‘The Boss’ Red Wine- A magnum only wine, this wine is made by Cameron Kontos and his father, Cliff Kontos. It is named after Cliff who was the winemaker at Fort Walla Walla Cellars. A blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot with a small portion Cabernet Franc, this opens with a decadent nose of sagebrush, creme de cassis and Turkish coffee that collect in the glass. The mouthfeel is seriously good with mocha, anise and creme de cassis flavors that mingle brilliantly. A fantastic wine now, this will cellar well for the next twenty years. Drink 2019-2035- 94

Interview with Charles Smith, Owner and Winemaker of K Vintners and Wines of Substance

Friends, today is a special day as we bring you one of the iconic figures in Washington wine. Charles Smith brought his rock star persona on the Washington wine scene starting in 1999 and the rest has been history. A remarkable, self-made man, Charles talks about starting his winery as well as his life as a rock band manager in his previous life. I think you will very much enjoy hearing more about his story in wine. Here is my exclusive interview with Charles Smith, Owner and Winemaker of K Vintners. 

WWB: Some of the wine community may not know that you spent several years as a successful rock band manager. What was it like working with the Cardigans, one of the awesome bands of the ‘90s? What was the rock and roll road life like?

CS: I just started managing bands out of necessity. I was bartending at a little Rock-n-Roll bar in Copenhagen and started booking bands. People that eventually got their careers kinda started there. When I stopped working at the bar, I started to be their manager and that is what took me through the ‘90s. It was a lot of fun. I traveled around the world, saw a lot of great shows, met a lot of interesting people and formulated the ‘do it yourself’ attitude. Not so much attitude but the idea that I could do whatever I set myself out to do and that really related to the fact that I decided to make wine. I created something out of nothing with the music because I needed to eat. I started something out of nothing with my wine because it is what I wanted for my future and for my life.”

WWB: How did you decide to launch K Vintners in 1999 and later Charles Smith Wines?

CS: It really came back to a road trip on how I started K Vintners in 1999. I went through Walla Walla and was invited to a BBQ. I was encouraged to start making wine and was offered the opportunity to do so by the way of some free grapes. I found that this was the thing that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. One thing led to another and next thing I know I found that I was pretty good at selling and making wine, so I decided why not bring the wine to the people.  Most people can’t afford the $35-$55 bottles of wine so I started Charles Smith Wines because I think everybody should have access to good wine no matter how much money they have. So, the idea here was simply take all the skill sets that you have, the ability to communicate the language of wine to everybody because not everybody speaks wine and put out varietals that I think people will find delicious. I was somehow redefining the way and perspective that people see things. For example, some people think that Riesling equals sweet. I started Kung Fu Girl… to me Riesling equals delicious and that is how I started Charles Smith Wines.”

WWB: I have enjoyed many vintages of your absolutely stunning K Vintners ‘Royal City’ Syrah, one of the great wines made in Washington which has landed on my Top 100 on multiple occasions. What was it about the Stoneridge Vineyard that first enchanted you? What kinds of flavor and aromatic profiles do you like to get from this beautiful wine? 

CS: Agreed, Royal City Syrah is really something special. I didn’t plant the vineyard there, but I discovered it after it been never been harvested in 2005 from the 2004 vintage because the man who had it, passed away. I just felt there was something magical about the site and the soil. It was just completely isolated. The family that owned the vines worked really hard in the vineyard. I don’t know, it was just maybe some fairy dust and I was supposed to be there to make this wine. Turned out to be the first wine I produced that received 100 points. The flavors and aromatics of the wine are very much like if you took a shovel full of dirt, dug in and tossed (flipped) it over. It smells of this loamy, earthy, mineral-driven, complex, decomposing soil of things that are alive and undergrowth. It really has so much of this ‘not like anything else’ character about it. Wine is magical. It is something that you really can’t describe or quite understand and just accept that in some ways it’s a miracle and take it for what it is.

WWB: I’ve heard from several wine industry colleagues that you have an absolutely epic wine cellar. What are some of your favorite wines of the world that you have opened in the past year? 

CS: am not so sure I have an epic wine cellar but I do have a lot of delicious wine. I am not a collector; I am a drinker. You might look at some of the wines I have and think ‘are you collecting these?’ No, the idea is that all the wines in the cellar are ready to drink. And it can be everything from a somewhat inexpensive German Riesling to German Rieslings that are 40 or 50 years old. It can be fresh, ripe mineral-driven white wines but what I really have is a cellar full of absolutely delicious wines that you could basically close your eyes, put your hand out, pick a bottle and it would probably be something that you would really fancy drinking. God, wines that I have opened in the last year... I would almost be bragging by mentioning it but I think when you find delicious wines, you drink them. I just happened to have a Magnum of 1961 Chambertin at dinner about three or four months ago and the wine was very pale, but color is not everything. The wine was full, delicious and super finesse driven. I do have my favorite things that I love to drink and I do love to drink Meursault, Chablis… I love Chateauneuf du Pape with roasted meats but one of the wines that really has my heart is Chianti.  I love the idea that you put this on your table, pour it in your glass drink it with pasta, sauces or roasted meat. The thing is there is nothing else you want on your table more than this. It’s highly drinkable and you always know that there is more room in your glass for one more glass.  That is what Chianti does for me.

Reynvaan Family Vineyards

Reynvaan Family VinIt was a modestly warm spring afternoon as I pulled up to Reynvaan Family Vineyards. I was immediately greeted by Matt Reynvaan and his new assistant winemaker as we dove right into the new wines. I was told the the wines had been opened for several hours which was no surprise how remarkably well each wine showed. My 2018 Washington Wine Blog Winery of the Year, Reynvaan Family Vineyards, is a small production winery founded by Mike and Gale Reynvaan. Reynvaan Family Vineyards focuses on producing wines from their estate vineyards, both in the Walla Walla Rocks region and their ‘Foothills Vineyard’ set at roughly 1600 feet near their family home in the Bluewood Mountains. Matt Reynvaan has been consistently making some of the great wines out of Washington. Not only does he make some stunning red wines but his white wines are not only some of the top in Washington but rival the best in North America. Matt’s wines exude class with their amazing combination of terroir, viscosity, tension and range.

The new release wines come from a slightly cooler vintage, 2017. This was a vintage that was slightly cooler than vintages 2013-16, as bloom was slightly delayed and wildfires created a layer of smoke which kept sunlight down, resulting in grapes taking their time to achieve phenolic ripeness. The harvest ended up being quite late with lower temperatures in September.

I am absolutely blown away with the white wines by Reynvaan, none more so than the 2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ Viognier (WWB, 96) which is the highest rated white wine I have ever sampled from Washington. This wine is simply magical with its incredible range and elegance as well as rich texture. Just as good is the 2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah (WWB, 96) which has insanely good range and depth at its early stages in development. This wine will only get better with a few years of bottle age. Learn more about about these stunning wines at https://www.reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com Here the exciting new release wines by Reynvaan Family Vineyards 

2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ Grenache Blanc- The absolutely dazzling 2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks’ Grenache Blanc saw 60% new French oak prior to bottling. The wine takes on beautiful aromas of roasted hazelnuts, lychee, white peach and freshly cut white flowers that all meld together marvelously in the glass. The texture is simply marvelous as the wine takes on a silky mouthfeel that glides through the mid-palate. Bright cantaloupe, lychee, citrus zest and shades of wet stone all come together marvelously on the palate. This is the best rendition of this varietal in the state. Drink 2019-2029- 94

2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ Viognier- The 2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ Viognier is a dazzling new wine by superstar winemaker Matt Reynvaan. The silky mouthfeel is downright unctuous and creates a sensational, mouth-watering effect with an incredible sense of minerality. The salinity and stony character in the wine is marvelous as the wine seamlessly glides through the mid-palate. Wet stone, honeydew melon, lychee, and exotic tropical fruits all mingle together effortlessly in the glass. A show-stopping wine that is truly up there with the upper echelon in North America white wines, this tour de force Viognier is marvelous now in its youth but will evolve gracefully over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 96

2017 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ Marsanne- (95-97 barrel sample)

2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Queens Road’ White Wine- The a blend of 55% Marsanne and 45% Viognier, the ‘Queens Road’ was aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak prior to bottling, as this was released Fall 2018. The wine takes on a hedonistic nose with banana, buttercream, green papaya and suggestions of nutmeg infused hazelnuts that all marvelously combine in the glass. Mouth-watering acidity and a sensational texture greet you alongside a strong salinity. The palate is seriously seductive, revealing layers of orchard fruits and dense tropical fruits with nutty and stony undertones that complete this sensational wine. Drink 2019-2029- 94

2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Hills’ Syrah- The ‘In The Hills’ Syrah has 10% Viognier co-fermented in. The nose is hugely complex with horse manure, blood orange, bulls blood, iodine and fresh tobacco and sage that all fill the nose. The aromatic range here is simply exceptional. The palate is currently displaying gobs of mouth-watering acidity with remarkable freshness and tension. The weight of this Syrah entices as the wine seamlessly glides across the mid-palate. Suggestions of dried herbs, white truffle, blackberry jam, pipe tobacco and peat moss flavors all collide on the palate. This show-stopping Syrah is seriously good right now but will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 95

2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah is a simply magical new wine by Matt Reynvaan. The nose takes on highly hedonistic tones, showing beautiful range from orange zest to Umami to bacon fat and roasted dates with fresh sage that all collide in the glass. Silky smooth on the mid-palate the wine unveils a remarkable depth and salinity. The elegance here is extraordinary with a sensational mouthfeel. Hoisin sauce, blood orange, bulls blood and Umami with wild blackberry cobbler flavors all combine marvelously in the glass. The exceedingly long finish lingers long on the palate. Drink 2019-2033- 96

Argyle

As we continue our journey through another great Oregon Wine Month, we bring you one of the great producers of sparkling wine in North America. I first visited this tasting room in 2002 and I can testify that what was one a small, unpretentious cabin used for tasting is now one of the most beautiful structures for tasting wine in Oregon.  The talented Nate Klostermann took over for eminent winemaker Rollin Soles when Rollin launched his own project. Nate has steadily been producing some absolutely stunning wines as he began his career as a harvest intern at Argyle in 2005 and has served as winemaker since 2013. He has crafted some absolutely brilliant new wines at Argyle.

Look to the incredible 2016 Argyle ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) which has beautiful range and a wonderful texture as this ‘Reserve’ is an amazing value at this price point. One of the best wines of Oregon that I have sampled in the past year, the 2008 Argyle ‘Extended Tirage’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 96) is up there with the best ‘Extended Tirage’ bottlings that I have ever sampled. With its irresistible combination of poise and richness, simply put, this wine rivals any of the top sparkling wines made in North America. Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.argylewinery.com Here are the outstanding new wines by Argyle.

2014 Argyle ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- Entirely sourced from the Spirit Hill Vineyard, this brilliant new sparkling wine opens with wonderfully musty undertones that connect with the bright citrus fruit and melon accents on the nose. The palate is highly refined, showing kumquat, lemon zest, cantaloupe and suggestions of Challah bread flavors that combine neatly in the mouth. While beautiful now, this excellent new bottling will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2008 Argyle ‘Extended Tirage’ Sparkling Wine- The 2008 Argyle ‘Extended Tirage’ Sparkling Wine is a simply marvelous effort from this storied vintage in Oregon. Spending ten years on the lees until disgorgement in 2018, the 2008 ‘Extended Tirage’ opens with a highly complex bouquet of marzipan layered with orchard fruits and baking spices, with pear moss undertones that all take beautiful shape in the glass. The combination of weight and balance of the wine is exquisite. A beam of salinity runs through ripe pear, kumquat, Shitake mushroom and green papaya flavors. Seductive and rich from this incredible vintage in Oregon this will continue to evolve well over the next fifteen plus years. I have found that this wine tends to show more beautifully a touch on the warmer side and is even more expressive in an Oregon Pinot Glass. This is truly one of the glorious sparkling wines of North America. Drink 2019-2035- 96

2018 Argyle Rose- Showing off a brilliant Salmon hue, the 2018 Rose by Argyle opens with pretty rose water with honeydew melon, red cherry and wet stone tones that fill the nose. The wine comes together with strong citrus zest tones on the palate that collide with the delicate red fruits. Drink 2019-2023- 89

2017 Argyle Pinot Noir- Argyle’s entry level Pinot Noir shows really good aromatic range from cinnamon to red currant to citrus blossom and earthy undertones that all connect in the glass. The texture is highly refined as the wine reveals bright red fruits that connect with the citrus rind and peat moss tones on the palate. This is seriously good for the price. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2016 Argyle ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 Argyle ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a terrific wine for the price. On the nose this has really good range from blood orange to forest floor to black fruits and sage undertones. The silky texture really entices as black and red fruits mingle with blood orange and iodine flavors. Showing a really good savory and earthy character, this delicious ‘Reserve’ will cellar well for a decade or more.  Drink 2019-2033- 93

Adelsheim

As part of Oregon wine month we bring you a great historic Oregon winery first founded in 1971. Adelsheim’s roots began in the northern portion of the Willamette Valley in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. Visionary David Adelsheim had previously worked in Beaune as well as The Eyrie Vineyards before starting his own winery in Oregon. Having spent time in Burgundy, he saw the potential for producing Pinot Noir in Oregon. Today Adelsheim now owns nearly 200 acres of land, with 180 acres of vineyards as they produce a brilliant range of wines — from Rose to stony Pinot Noir. Vineyard sites range from high elevation to low elevation, as well as volcanic and sedimentary soils. 

Last year I visited with their head winemaker, Gina Hennen, who has been at Adelsheim for 11 years, starting in the cellar and working her way up. Gina previously worked as semiconductor engineer for seven years in both Oregon and Dublin, Ireland. A former graduate of Reed College, Gina knew that her roots were in the Pacific Northwest and found her calling in winemaking.

Her new wines were brilliant across the board. I was very impressed with her 2018 Adelsheim Rose (WWB, 90) which shows delicate red fruits and tons of brilliant acidity on the mid-palate. I was really impressed by her 2015 Adelsheim ‘Zenith Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) which has incredible terroir from this wonderful vineyard owned by St. Innocent’s Mark Vlossak. Learn more about these beautiful new releases at http://www.adelsheim.com Here are the excellent new release wines by Adelsheim. 

2018 Adelsheim Rose- The 2018 Adelshiem Rose shows off a brilliant salmon hue and opens with bright melon and wet stone tones with lighter red fruits that fill the nose. The palate takes on a ton of lip-smacking acidity, revealing bright cranberry and honeydew melon flavors that connect with the good sense of minerality. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2017 Adelsheim ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- This opens with aromas of baked apple, citrus zest and hints of vanilla cream that all fill the nose. The texture is inviting, as is the enticing mouth-watering acidity that builds in the mouth. Delicious now, this would pair beautifully with fresh oysters. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2016 Adelsheim ‘Staking Claim’ Chardonnay- The 2016 ‘Staking Claim’ opens with wonderful toasted hazelnut, vanilla cream and banana tones that round out the seductive nose. The palate has good ripeness and texture, unveiling banana, wet stone, lemon zest and Pink Lady apple flavors. Delicious now, this will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Adelsheim ‘Ribbon Springs Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the Ribbon Springs Vineyard in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, this opens with an intense aromatic profile of lemon zest, Japanese pear and undertones of hay and wild mushroom that all connect in the glass. The palate has great intensity with orchard fruit flavors, leading to an exceedingly long and mineral driven finish. This is a seriously good effort. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2015 Adelsheim ‘Caitlin’s Reserve’ Chardonnay- The ‘Caitlin’s Reserve’ Chardonnay is a fantastic barrel-selection bottling from this storied estate. On the nose this takes on marvelous richness with nutmeg, toasty brioche, baked apple and suggestions of white truffle. The earthy tones awaken the senses as the wine has a wonderful mouthfeel and a seamless texture throughout. A stunning wine, the ‘Caitlin’s Reserve’ will have a long life ahead of it — but is marvelous in its youth. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2017 Adelsheim ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- This bottling stats off with red currant and citrus rind on the nose with lighter wet stone undertones. The palate has good freshness with medium bodied red and dark fruit flavors with hints of damp earth. Drink 2019-2023- 89

2015 Adelsheim ‘Breaking Ground’ Pinot Noir- First made in 2014, this Pinot Noir is sourced from the Chehalem Mountains and is blended from vines planted on loess, sedimentary and volcanic soils. The nose takes on nice terroir with earthy tones and wet stone character alongside some dark fruits. There is nice mid-palate poise as the mouthfeel and tension drives this wine. Red currant jelly, orange rind, and red fruit flavors come together nicely in the glass. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2015 Adelsheim ‘Boulder Bluff’ Pinot Noir- This is the youngest of the plantings that are estate owned by Adelsheim. Peat moss and smoky accents with dark fruits build in the glass aromatically. The ‘Boulder Bluff’ Pinot Noir has a silky texture and ripe mouthfeel. The wine shows off red fruits like guava and cherry that dance with the strong minerality. This is another excellent bottling by Adelsheim. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2015 Adelsheim ‘Winderlea’ Pinot Noir- The Winderlea Vineyard is a 20 acre parcel of land and Adelsheim sources from one acre which is planted to Dijon clone 667. The nose evokes dark fruit aromas with lighter earthy undertones that all collide in the glass. The silky texture entices as the wine yields bright dark fruit, red fruit and citrus rind flavors that connect with the peat moss and wet stone accents of this beautifully layered Pinot Noir. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2015 Adelsheim ‘Nicholas Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced for the Nicholas Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, this Pinot Noir opens with intense aromas of wild mushroom, peat moss and wild blackberry preserves that all build in the glass. Smooth and refined, the wine delivers a good combination of dark fruits with blood orange zest and peat moss flavors. Delicious now, this will evolve well for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2015 Adelsheim ‘Ribbon Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Set in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, the Ribbon Springs Vineyard is a 60-acre Adelsheim estate which as first planted in 1996. The nose is bright with red fruits and citrus rind accents adding the the intrigue with undertones of cardamom. The palate has a good combination of weight and freshness as guava, red currant and blood orange zest with peat moss undertones all collide in the mouth. Delightful now, this will continue to develop over the next two decades. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2015 Adelsheim ‘Calkin’s Lane Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Calkins Lane Vineyard is perched in the Chehalem Mountains AVA as this vineyard is set on marine sedimentary soils. On the nose this shows cloves with red currant and red cherry preserves that round out the nose. The palate has good weight as bright red fruits connect with a good salinity that runs through this beautiful wine. Drink 2019-2033- 92

2015 Adelsheim ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- One of the great Willamette Valley Vineyards, the Temperance Hill Vineyardis located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The nose delights with bright red fruits, kumquat and wet stone accents that connect in the glass. The palate has a good combination of freshness and poise as the wine delivers medium-bodied red fruit and citrus flavors. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2015 Adelsheim ‘Bryan Creek Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 ‘Bryan Creek Vineyard’ Pinot Noir opens with bright red fruits with citrus and peat moss tones on the nose. The palate shows off a silky texture with ripe guava and citrus zest flavors alongside the earthy undertones. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2015 Adelsheim ‘Zenith Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Zenith Vineyard,’ owned by St. Innocent’s Mark Vlossak, has become one of the great vineyards in the Willamette Valley. This Pinot Noir slowly unveils wonderful aromatic range, from smoked meats to volcanic earth to ripe cranberry and wild blackberry tones that shine on the nose. The palate is elegant and rich, showing enticing red and dark fruit flavors with blood orange and a dusting of volcanic earth. Deep and layered, this beautiful wine will cellar well for decades. Drink 2019-2035- 93

2015 Adelsheim ‘Elizabeth’s Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 ‘Elizabeth’s Reserve’ Pinot Noir is another outstanding bottling from this famed Oregon estate. Bright red fruits, cinnamon, peat moss and toasty oak line this expressive nose. The texture to this wine is seriously good, as is the floral tones and bright acidity that races through this excellent Pinot Noir. While delicious in its youth, this will cellar well over the next two decades.  Drink 2019-2035- 93

Leonetti Cellar

One of the great historic Washington wineries, Leonetti Cellar was founded by eminent winemaker Gary Figgins in 1977. At the time he was the first Washington winery to by highly acclaimed as his 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon was named top Cabernet of the year by Wine & Spirits magazine. I have been enchanted with the aging potential of these wines over the year. I’ve tried several aged Leonetti wines over the past year and several stand out in particular: the 2002 Leonetti Sangiovese was incredibly vibrant for its age, the 2006 Leonetti Merlot was showing marvelously and has a long life ahead of it and the 2009 Leonetti Merlot is soft, round and generous at now ten years of age.

I recently had the chance to review the new set of releases by Leonetti and was completely blown away with the quality in the bottle. For those who are a bit less familiar, Leonetti sources from great Walla Walla vineyards including their own Leonetti Old Block, as well as Mill Creek Upland, Loess vineyards and their Holly Roller Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. Their new releases were largely from the warm 2016 vintage — a vintage that I have seen carry some impressive red wines thus far in my reviewing.

I was absolutely blown away with the 2016 Leonetti Cellar Sangiovese (WWB, 95) as this is one of the best Sangiovese releases from this house and rivals any new world Sangiovese wine. I think you would very hard pressed to find a better new world example of this varietal with its earthy tones and remarkable richness and texture. Even better was the scintillating 2016 Leonetti Cellar‘Reserve’ Red Wine (WWB, 97) which has amazing richness and intensity. This wine is only an infant and really needs a few more years of bottle age. Learn more about these beautiful new release wines at http://leonetticellar.com Here are the impressive new lineup of wines from Leonetti Cellar.

2016 Leonetti Cellar Sangiovese- The 2016 Leonetti Cellar Sangiovese was sourced from the Seven Hills, Loess, Mill Creek Upland and Holly Roller vineyards. The wine was aged in French oak for 22 months prior to bottling. Toasty oak wraps around copious dark fruits, red fruits and pipe tobacco on the rather intoxicating nose. The palate is exceedingly plush, revealing a beautiful texture and a soft mouthfeel. The earthy undertones of leather and underbrush combine marvelously with roasted dates, pipe tobacco and wild blackberry cobbler flavors on the palate. Round, generous and layered, this is quite simply the finest of its kind in Washington. Enjoy this beautiful new wine over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2035- 95

2017 Leonetti Cellar Merlot- A downright stunning new Merlot, the 2017 Leonetti Cellar Merlot was aged for fifteen months in French oak prior to bottling. Needing more than a one hour decant to fully develop, the wine shows intense dark fruits that mingle with chocolate fudge and black tea with Asian spices on the nose. The palate has a great combination of freshness and richness as Earl Grey tea, mocha, cassis, graphite and leather flavors all combine marvelously alongside a good sense of minerality. While simply gorgeous now, this beautiful wine will evolve well over the next fifteen to twenty years. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this beautiful Merlot at least an hour decant. Drink 2020-2040- 95

2016 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon is a simply irresistible new wine made by superstar winemaker Chris Figgins. Sourced from the Mill Creek Upland, Loess, Seven Hills, Serra Pedache and Holly Roller VIneyards, the wine is a silky blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Showing off its brooding core, the 2016 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon opens with sagebrush with red bell pepper, Turkish coffee, and dark chocolate shavings. The palate shows incredible richness with a silky mouthfeel. Blackberry cobbler, creme de cassis, anise, graphite and exotic spice flavors with toasty oak all mingle brilliantly on the palate. A long-ager, be sure to give this beautiful wine at least a two hour decant if savoring in its early years. This is truly one of the best of its kind in Washington. Drink 2020-2040- 96

2016 Leonetti Cellar ‘Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Reserve’ Red Wine is a magnificent new release by Leonetti Cellar. Sourced from the Loess, Seven Hills, Holly Roller, Serra Pedace, Mill Creek Upland and Leonetti Old Block Vineyards, the red blend was aged for 22 months in French oak before bottling. The final blend is a smaller than usual portion of Cabernet Sauvignon (73%) and an unusually high portion of Malbec (22%) with just a touch of Cabernet Franc (5%). This wine needs a two hour decant before enjoying. Once aroused, this slowly unveils green bell pepper, blueberry compote, creme de cassis and sagebrush tones that fill this highly perfumed nose. The palate is decadent, revealing an exceedingly plush texture. With bright acidity and serious weight, the wine expresses copious dark fruits with sweet pipe tobacco, blueberry compote and dark chocolate shaving flavors. Seductive in its youth, this stunning new bottling will have an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Try to resist this beauty for at least another year. Drink 2020-2045- 97