Quilceda Creek

As I strolled my way into the famed Snohomish, Washington winery I was immediately met with a smile from Paul Golitzin. We would be spending a Friday afternoon together, tasting through his glorious new lineup and talking about favorite wines of the world. Paul is affable, witty and truly one of the finest winemakers in North America. Quilceda Creek has received more 100 point scores by Robert Parker than any other North American winery. I first began tasting these wines in the late 1990s and fondly recall some of my all-time favorite bottlings. These are special wines that mark celebrations, graduations and anniversaries. Regardless of vintage, Quilceda Creek produces absolutely remarkable Cabernet wines.

The new lineup I tasted came from the warm, 2016 vintage. While this vintage did not possess the heat spikes of 2015, the heat was still a challenge to manage for some producers. Paul talked about the steps that he has taken in the vineyard to mitigate heat issues. At times these vineyard practices will lower vineyard temperatures by eight degrees, which is just remarkable. The new 2016 releases were absolutely dazzling across the board. His 2016 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 99) is up there with the best wine that I have tried in the past year. Having tried this wine now on four occasions, this wine truly flirts with perfection with a seamless quality that magically combines with the hedonistic dark fruit flavors. The wine is elegant and is not to be missed by any serious collector of Washington wine.  Learn more about these beautiful wines at quilcedacreek.com Here are the new wines by Quilceda Creek.

2016 Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘CVR’ Red Wine is a stunning new bottling by this famed winery. The nose is very pretty and perfumed with red rose petals that combine with the marvelous dark and blue fruits on the nose. The texture here is outstanding with a wonderfully rich mouthfeel. Ripe red and dark fruits with a touch of blueberry compote and chocolate flavors all combine marvelously on the palate. While remarkable in its youth, this will cellar well over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2016 Quilceda Creek ‘Palengat’ Red Wine- The ‘Palengat’ Red Wine has been slowly moving towards having more Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. In 2016 the Cabernet Sauvignon (83%) truly shines in the blend, as this is up there with the best ‘Palengat’ wines ever made. The seductive nose shows copious non-fruit aromatics with tar and mocha aromas that combine with the decadent dark fruits and dark chocolate shaving aromatics that build in the glass. The palate is deep and layered with Turkish coffee, blueberry compote, anise and creme de cassis flavors that combine with a remarkable freshness and soft mouthfeel. The texture really brings you back to the glass for more. This wine is drinking marvelously now but has a very long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 95

2016 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a simply stunning and seamless new bottling by superstar winemaker Paul Golitzin. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine was sourced from the Champoux, Wallula and Lake Wallula Vineyards and was aged in 100% new French oak prior to bottling. On the nose this takes on wonderful toasty oak character that wraps around blueberry compote, Turkish coffee, with shades of violets, exotic spices, anise and sagebrush accents. The balance and silky texture imparted in the wine is scintillating. Mocha, blueberry cordial, sagebrush, creme de cassis and shades of eucalyptus flavors all marvelously combine on the palate. The exceedingly long finish lingers. Tasted over several hours this wine becomes even softer and more harmonious.  A true tour de force, the 2016 Quilceda Creek is up there with the best wines ever made from this estate. Drink 2020-2040- 99

2016 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet is a simply magical effort which blends 5% Lake Wallula Cabernet Sauvignon into the Galitzine Vineyard fruit. The wine was entirely aged in new Darnajou French barrels prior to bottling. Heady aromatics greet you with creosote, deep red rose petals, mocha, cigar ash and shades of Black Forest cake that all develop in the glass. The flavors are absolutely marvelous, as is the silky texture. Decadent black tea, Asian spices, creme de cassis, blueberry compote and blackberry pie flavors. The dark fruit, tar and mineral-driven finish culminates this scintillating new wine. While marvelous in its youth, this will only get better with some time in the bottle. Drink 2020-2040- 98

Trisaetum

One of the outstanding producers of Oregon Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Trisaetum relies on the talented James Frey, a former photographer from Santa Cruz, who had a deep passion for wine. A fellow Arsenal supporter, James crafts some incredible wines for Trisaetum that speak to the region and terroir. His winemaking style focuses towards a brightness and freshness in the wines, regardless of vintage. I have been highly impressed with these wines over the past several years. His talents spread far as James also makes some outstanding sparkling wines under his Pashey label and I reviewed his wines sourced from the Walla Walla Valley, his 1841 label.

The new Trisaetum lineup was truly outstanding. outstanding as their Riesling wines. Look for their 2017 Trisaetum ‘Coast Range Estate’ Chardonnay (WWB, 92) which is a downright terrific new wine that has seriously good range and bright citrus zest with a nice salinity. Just as outstanding was their 2017 Trisaetum ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 92) has remarkable freshness and is fantastic in its youth. Learn more about this fantastic Willamette Valley winery at http://www.trisaetum.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Trisaetum. 

2017 Trisaetum ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- This outstanding new wine shows aromatics of marzipan, kumquat and fresh French bread that all mix nicely in the glass. The palate has a silky texture with bright orchard and citrus rind fruit flavors, alongside shades of vanilla cream. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2017 Trisaetum ‘Coast Range Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Coast Range Estate’ shows good brightness on the nose with lovely flinty and petrol tones that combine with the citrus rind and sourdough bread accents. The freshness entices with bright Challah bread, lemon zest and hints of saline dusted roasted hazelnuts. Enjoy this fantastic bottling over the next decade. This finishes long with cream and minerals. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 Trisaetum ‘Ribbon Ridge Estate’ Chardonnay- The ‘Ribbon Ridge Estate’ Chardonnay is another highly polished wine made by superstar winemaker James Frey. The nose shows good earthy tones that combine with citrus rind and wet stone aromatics. Lithe and light on its feet, the wine offers and inviting texture that melds together with bright orchard and citrus fruit flavors with wet stone and shades of honeydew melon The exceedingly long finish lingers. A delight to savor right now, this will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 Trisaetum ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir opens with a bright bouquet of red currant jelly with lovely earthy and citrus tones that build on the nose. The palate yields some wonderful freshness and minerality with bright red fruits dominating and earthy tones playing second fiddle. This is seriously good in its youth. Drink 2019-2025- 92

2017 Trisaetum ‘Wichmann Dundee Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 ‘Wichmann Dundee Estate’ Pinot Noir by Trisaetum opens with complex aromas of black tea, exotic spices and black fruits that all entice in the glass. The silky texture entices as the wine unveils a great combination of earthy tones as well as cinnamon and black fruits on the palate. While remarkable now, this will only get better with some time in the bottle. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2017 Trisaetum ‘Coast Range Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 22 acre ‘Coast Range Vineyard’ is set on both volcanic and marine sedimentary soils. The volcanic terroir on the nose is wonderful, as is the whiff of salinity that runs through the red fruit driven aromatics. The palate is high-toned, fresh and invigorating with bright red fruits that mingle with shades of black truffle, volcanic earth and kumquat. Enjoy this beautiful bright and earthy Pinot Noir over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2017 Trisaetum ‘Ribbon Ridge Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 ‘Ribbon Ridge Estate’ Pinot Noir is another downright sexy bottling by the talented James Frey of Trisaetum. The nose is offers bright red fruits with citrus rind and shades of peat moss that all build nicely in the glass. The palate has wonderful verve and tension, offering a bright minerality. The texture entices with bright red fruits that combine with shades of nutmeg, blood orange zest and wild mushroom. This beautiful Pinot Noir is akin to taking in a dazzling goal by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 1841 Cellars Red Wine- The 2016 1841 Cellars Red Wine is a blend of 58% Merlot (Figgins Vineyard) with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon (Seven Hills Vineyard) and 12% Petite Verdot (Loess Vineyard). The wine takes on good range aromatically from sagebrush to green bell pepper and chocolate dusted espresso bean with rich dark fruits on the nose. The palate has wonderful freshness and a soft texture, delivering mocha, anise, blueberry compote and herbal undertones that connect energy once on the mouth. Beautiful now, this will evolve well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 1841 Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the Walla Walla Valley, the 2016 1841 Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a ripe bouquet of graphite, anise and sagebrush that collide with the ripe dark fruits on the nose. The palate is plush, showing a good sense of minerality and weight. Black fruits mingle with chocolate and sagebrush tones on the palate. While delightful in its youth, this will evolve well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 92

Figgins Estate

One of the prized boutique wineries in Washington, Figgins Estate marks the alignment between an esteemed vineyard site and one of the great winemaking talents in Washington, Chris Figgins. What was originally a wheat farm, the 32 acre vineyard was first planted in 2004 and plays host to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Originally Figgins Estate only made two wines each year, a Riesling and a Red Blend but have now added their ‘Figlia’ to the mix which is a stunning blend of Merlot and Petit Verdot that sees extensive barrel aging. If you have never had the chance to visit the Figgins Estate in the Blue Mountains the panoramic views that sweep across the Walla Walla Valley is sight to be seen. Set at 1750 feet this great vineyard experiences massive diurnal shifts. I have seen improvement in the quality of the wines since their red wine was first released in 2008. It is clear that the quality of the fruit coming off this beautiful vineyard is getting better and better.

One of the great Riesling wines in Washington, the 2018 Figgins Estate Riesling (WWB, 93) combines an incredible mouthfeel with bright minerality and a touch of sweetness. This is a wine for true lovers of Riesling near and far. Even better was their new wine, the 2016 Figgins Family ‘Figlia’ Red Wine (WWB, 96) which is Merlot and Petit Verdot at their best. It is hard to describe this wine because there is really nothing like it made in Washington. Simply put, this dazzling new release is seamless throughout the attack with dense fruit and non fruit flavors. Do not miss out on this stunning new bottling. Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.figginswine.com Here are the stunning new wines by Figgins Estate.

2018 Figgins Estate Riesling- The talented Chris Figgins continues to impress with this classy Washington Riesling that is one of the best of its kind in the state. Tiny bubbles dance in the glass as you take in the lemon zest, nectarine rind and Gravenstein apple aromatics that all combine brilliantly in the glass. The palate shows some racy acidity with just the faintest kiss of sweetness. Kumquat, lemon zest, kiwi and sour green apple flavors mingle together alongside the brilliant sense of minerality. Highly satisfying now, and showing a great combination of weight and verve, this outstanding new Riesling will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 Figgins Estate ‘Figlia’ Red Wine- The 2016 Figgins Estate ‘Figlia’ is the inaugural effort for this wine. Entirely sourced from the Figgins Estate Vineyard, the wine is a proprietary bend of Petit Verdot and Merlot which was aged for 23 months in French oak barrels prior to bottling. The ‘Figlia’ needs a one hour decant prior to consuming. Upon entry the nose is quite intense with toasty oak that connects with smoky undertones, chocolate covered cherry and tar tones that fill the nose. The palate is not only highly viscous but has a beautiful sense of balance. Green belll pepper, Black Forest cake, and sweet pipe tobacco flavors all collide on the palate. While marvelous in its youth, this outstanding new wine will cellar well for decades. Only 250 cases made of this stunning new wine. Drink 2020-2040- 96

00 Wines

A new winery out of Oregon, 00 Wines was founded by proprietors Katheryn and Chris Hermann. My first introduction to the wines and the people behind 00 Wines was earlier this spring while in London for a trade event. I had never had or seen this distinctive label and I was quite impressed with how both their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir showed. A lawyer by trade, Chris has served advisor to many wineries of the Oregon wine industry for 30 years. He and Katheryn had the vision to create wines that reflect the wines of Burgundy, through winemaker Wynne Pederson-Nedry and French consulting winemaker Pierre Millemann. Winemaking practices include pre-press crush and extreme pressing program extracts for Chardonnay and amphora aged and hand-selected Pinot Noir. 

The new releases were more than good — they were sensational. Not only that the wines brilliantly reflected the different vintages. While wines from 2015 and 2016 typically show similarly at wineries, 2017 is a more finesse-driven vintage. Their wines from 2017 are gorgeous, particularly their new 2017 00 Wines ‘VGW’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) which has remarkable freshness and energy with excellent range. Simply put, 00 Wines has an exceedingly bright future in Oregon. Learn more about these fantastic new wines at https://www.00wines.com/ Here are the brilliant new wines by 00 Wines.

2015 00 Wines ‘VGW’ Chardonnay- Literally translating to ‘Very Good White’ the ‘VGW’ shows a stunning bouquet once in the glass of roasted hazelnut, vanilla cream and shades of Meyer lemon zest that all gain momentum. The palate is intense and high-toned with bright citrus zest flavors most prominent and lighter melon tones as well. The stony and smoky undertones add to the enjoyment here. A delight to savor now, this will only get better with time. Drink 2019-2028- 93

2016 00 Wines ‘VGW’ Chardonnay- The 2016 ‘VGW’ by 00 Wines was sourced from the Open Claim and Von Oehsen Vineyards. The heady, powerful aromas are quite gripping with toasty oak that wraps around citrus rind and bright orchard fruits, with smoky and flinty tones that round out this outstanding nose. The palate shows wonderful balance, viscosity and tons of lip-smacking acidity. Meyer lemon cream, starfruit and Pink Lady apple connect with minerals and smoky undertones. This is seriously good in its youth but will evolve well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2017 00 Wines ‘VGW’ Chardonnay- The 2017 00 Wines ‘VGW’ Chardonnay is another stunning new wine from this exciting winery in the Willamette Valley. This wine opens with a bouquet of smoke with shades of wet stone, peat moss, citrus zest and orchard fruits that all mingle in the glass. The palate shows wonderful freshness and tension, unveiling bright lemon cream infused Challah bread, toasted hazelnut and forest floor flavors. While this is delicious now, the wine will cellar well over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2015 00 Wines ‘VGR’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 ‘VGR’ Pinot Noir by 00 Wines is a downright gorgeous bottling from this great vintage in the Willamette Valley. On the nose this brings on a heady bouquet of red rose petals colliding with shades of smoke and blood orange with bright red fruits rounding out the beautiful aromatics. The palate shows a silky texture that entices. Smoked kirsch, cigar shavings, damp earth and minerals all connect on the palate with citrus rind undertones. A delight to savor at four years of age, the wine will have a very long life in the cellar. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2016 00 Wines ‘VGR’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 ‘VGR’ Pinot Noir shows wonderful range on the nose from smoky undertones to peat moss and citrus zest as well as bright red fruits that all connect in the glass. The palate is quite earthy and seductive, yielding a wonderfully rich mouthfeel and bright sense of minerality despite the obvious heat of the vintage. Red fruits dance with citrus zest flavors and minerals, with smoky and earthy undertones. While this is seriously good now, this complex Pinot Noir will only get better with time. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2017 00 Wines ‘VGR’ Pinot Noir- Translucent in color, the 2017 ‘VGR’ shows off beautiful aromatics of kumquat rind, guava, wild strawberry and shades of thyme that all combine marvelously on the nose. The palate shows a nice viscosity and texture, as bright red fruits march alongside citrus zest and earthy undertones. Enjoy this beautiful bottling over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

Goldeneye

One of the outstanding Mendicino producers of Pinot Noir, Goldeneye is a Duckhorn venture located in Philo, California in the heart of the Anderson Valley.  Goldeneye has previously had top winemakers like current Domaine Serene winemaker Michael Fay. They currently rely on the talented Katey Larwood for winemaking, as I interviewed her earlier this year. Katey has experience working harvests across the globe and began studying wine while attending school in Santa Barbara.

Her wines show really good marine influence with the combination of salinity and richness imparted by vineyard sites that are relatively close to the Pacific Ocean. Goldeneye has three estate vineyards (Confluence, Gowan Creek and The Narrows) in the Anderson Valley encompassing 200 vine acres and more than 20 Pinot Noir clones. I have been very impressed with the quality of fruit coming off of these vineyards regardless of vintage. While Goldeneye uses typically a fair amount of new French oak, I have found the oak influence in the wine to add to the textural elements and really not overshadow this delicate grape.

The new wines by Goldeneye were a resounding success across the board. The 2016 Goldeneye Pinot Noir (WWB, 92) is simply outstanding in its youth, particularly after a one hour decant. The best wine I tried was the simply magical 2016 Goldeneye ‘Ten Degrees’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 95) which is a barrel-selection wine that has simply scintillating balance and precision. This beautiful wine will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Learn more about these outstanding Pinot Noirs at https://www.goldeneyewinery.com Here are the great new releases by Goldeneye. 

2016 Goldeneye Pinot Noir- The 2016 Goldeneye Pinot Noir was aged for 16 months in largely new oak (60%) prior to bottling. The wine opens with a wonderful bouquet of bright red raspberry and cherry aromas that combine with shades of damp earth and cola that all collect momentum in the glass. The palate is both plush and lithe, showing copious red and dark fruits with minerals. While enticing in its youth, this great new Pinot Noir will develop well for a decade or more. Try to give this an hour decant prior to enjoying. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Goldeneye ‘Gowan Creek Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 ‘Gowan Creek Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is another gorgeous bottling from this storied estate in the Anderson Valley. This Anderson Valley Vineyard is known for its steady coastal fog and is planted to eight different clones of Pinot Noir. The wine opens with good range on the nose with milk chocolate and sassafras to wild blackberry cobbler and red currant with earthy undertones that all connect in the glass. The soft mouthfeel entices here as orange rind melds with red and dark berry flavors alongside shades of peat moss and exotic spices. This is seriously good now but will only build as it ages over the next ten to fifteen years. Give this a long decant prior to enjoying. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Goldeneye ‘Split Rail Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Split Rail Vineyard’ is planted to nine different clones of Pinot Noir in 16 separate blocks. This Pinot Noir has an advanced bouquet of potpourri with red cherry preserves and shades of guava with peat moss. The palate is generous and concentrated with a beam of salinity that runs though the intense red fruit and cola profile. This is seriously delicious now following a long decant, and will evolve well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Goldeneye ‘Confluence Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Confluence Vineyard’ is located in the center of the Anderson Valley and is set on a varietal of soil types. The aromas are quite pretty with red rose petals and bright red fruits with earthy undertones that meld together once in the glass. Balanced and showing a good combination of weight and freshness, the wine unveils red and dark fruit flavors with cola and hades of white mushroom that collide on the palate. While delicious now in its youth, this will continue to develop well over the next fifteen years. This drinks even better following a two hour decant. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Goldeneye ‘The Narrows Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Narrows Vineyard’ is located roughly ten miles from the Mendicino Coast and is known for the coastal fog and strong marine influence in the vineyard. This Pinot Noir opens with aromatics reminiscent of saline filled red cherry, cran-pomegrante and forest floor that all mingle together nicely in the glass. Polished once on the attack, the wine shows a gorgeous mouthfeel and texture that entices. Black and red fruits flirt with cola and earthy undertones on the palate. This is seriously good now after a long decant and will only improve with some time. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Goldeneye ‘Ten Degrees’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 ‘Ten Degrees’ Pinot Noir is a dazzling new barrel selection wine from the talented winemaking team at Goldeneye. Aged for sixteen months in 60% new French oak, this shows some seriously good aromatic range from blood orange to peat moss and white truffle shavings alongside red and dark berry aromatics. The palate has remarkable depth, complexity and precision. Wild blackberry, guava puree, pipe tobacco, leather and kirsch cordial with cola flavors all mingle brilliantly together. While a downright stunner in its youth, this will evolve well for the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2020-2035- 95

Panther Creek

One of the historic Oregon wineries, Panther Creek was originally founded by famed winemaker Ken Wright in 1986. He gained national attention for his wines sourced from the Freedom Hill and Shea Vineyards. In 1994 Mark Vlossak of St. Innocent fame took over as consulting winemaker and produced some marvelous wines until he focused his talents on his own winery. The winery was acquired by Bacchus Capital in 2013 which led to the appointment of superstar winemaker Tony Rynders as consulting winemaker. This was a true game changing moment for Panther Creek as the quality of the wines immediately increased. In the last two years of releases I have seen a marked quality in the overall lineup as Rynders imparts his signature style that balances the tight rope between richness, texture and tension in the wines. The new wines are seriously good across the board. If you have not tried the Panther Creek lineup in years, these are definitely worth a look.

A downright killer value is the 2017 Panther Creek ‘Winemaker’s Cuvee’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 91) which is a blend of great vineyards across the Willamette Valley and shows off a silky texture and wonderful minerality and ripeness. I absolutely loved the new 2016 Panther Creek ‘Kalita Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) which has amazing earthy terroir and bright red fruits. Make sure to give this beauty some air before enjoying. Learn more about this outstanding producer of Oregon Pinot Noir at http://www.panthercreekcellars.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Panther Creek. 

2017 Panther Creek ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay is another great new wine from this storied Oregon winery. On the nose this shows toasty oak that wraps around orchard fruits and shades of kumquat that all connect in the glass. The palate has good freshness and a lovely, soft mouthfeel. Ripe pear and apple flavors lead the way on the palate, as this finishes very strong with vanilla cream. Enjoy this delicious wine over the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2018 Panther Creek Chardonnay-Pinot Noir- The 2018 Chardonnay- Pinot Noir was entirely aged in stainless steel and is a sleek new release by the talented Tony Rynders. The aromatic expression is quite profound, ranging from melon tones to lemon zest and shades of salted Marcona almond that all give this a lifted presentation in the glass. The palate reveals a soft and silky mouthfeel, unveiling ripe cantaloupe, Pink Lady apple and Meyer lemon cream. Outstanding in its youth, this will evolve well for the next decade. Be sure to enjoy this at a warmer temperature for better aromatic and flavor range. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 Panther Creek ‘Winemaker’s Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- A blend of a host of Willamette Valley vineyards, the 2017 ‘Winemaker’s Cuvee’ is another silky Pinot Noir release from this Oregon winery that has shown a marked increase in quality since Tony Rynders took the helm. The aromatics are both bright and quite pretty, ranging from rose water to red cherry preserves and a semblance of cola with lighter peat moss undertones that mark the nose. The palate has great freshness and energy unveiling medium-bodied red cherry, red raspberry and cran-orange flavors with earthy undertones. Outstanding in its youth this will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2016 Panther Creek ‘Kalita Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Kalita Vineyard’ is a Yamhill-Carlton AVA vineyard that is set on Willakenzie soils. The nose evokes some seriously good range, from smoky undertones to a bright saline streak and intense sour red fruits that mingle with citrus zest on this impressive nose. The palate is round and extremely well-balanced. Cran-pomegrnate, ripe strawberry and guava combine with a lighter flinty and wild mushroom element on the mid-palate. Tasted over a period or several hours, this wine only gets better and better. Highly gratifying in its youth, this downright delicious bottling will evolve well or another decade or more. Be sure to give this an hour decant prior to enjoying. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 Panther Creek ‘Schindler Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the ‘Schindler Vineyard’ is a very small site planted to Pinot Noir and set on marine sedimentary soils. A light whiff of salinity runs through the nose with kirsch and peat moss aromas that all meld in the glass. The palate has good freshness and energy with bright reed fruits that dance with shades of blood orange and minerals. The seductive mineral and dark fruit driven finish lingers long on the palate. Enjoy this fantastic new bottling over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Panther Creek ‘Carter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 ‘Carter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is sourced from a vineyard located in the Eola-Amity Hills, set on Nekia soils. Showing a deep core in the glass, this opens with dark fruits that masquerade with earthy undertones and hints of kumquat the collide on this expressive nose. The palate is lithe, showing good weight and complexity with red and dark fruits connecting with shades of blood orange and minerals. While a delight to enjoy in its youth, this will evolve well over the next decade or more. This wine can benefit from several hours decanting if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2016 Panther Creek ‘De Ponte Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- I first tasted wines from this vineyard more than fifteen years ago and was struck by the wonderful sense of balance and richness from this Dundee Hills AVA. Not needing any time to advance once uncorked, this 2016 ‘De Ponte Vineyard’ Pinot Noir opens with a ripe bouquet of boysenberry cordial, sagebrush, forest floor and shades of teaberry. The palate is both lithe and rich, showing a wonderfully plush mouthfeel. Red and dark fruits mingle with an interplay of minerals, chocolate, earthy tones and high toned spice flavors. A touch of salinity mingles nicely as you contemplate this outstanding effort by Tony Rynders. Outstanding now, this will evolve well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Panther Creek ‘Lazy River Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Lazy River Vineyard’ is located west of the town of Yamhill and is set on Jory soils. On the nose this takes on vibrant saline dusted red fruits with citrus zest and lovely peat moss undertones that run through this excellent new Pinot Noir. The palate offers good balance and structure, leading to cran-pomegrnate, ripe date and shades of black truffle crudo with a strong saline streak that runs through this outstanding wine. A delight to enjoy in its youth, this great 2016 bottling will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Panther Creek ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- This ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection wine sorted out by superstar winemaker Tony Rynders. On the nose this takes one both heady and spicy aromas of red currant jelly, fresh sage, ripe red plum, cigar ash and shades of wild mushroom that all collect in the glass. The palate shows a good sense of freshness with red futs that dance with meransl and shades of blood orange that all collect momentum on the palate. While delicious now, this esteemed wine has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2019-2032 -92

Duckhorn

One of the great Napa estates that made their name in the world market for top notch Merlot, Dan and Margaret Duckhorn founded Duckhorn Vineyards back in 1976.  What began with a mere 800 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and 800 cases of Merlot in 1978, Duckhorn now has many arms of their dynasty including a winery in Washington (Canvasback) as well as Goldeneye out of the Anderson Valley, who is steadily producing a gorgeous lineup of Pinot Noirs. Duckhorn relies on seven estate vineyards for their wines and makes some of the most consistent Merlot in Napa Valley.

In early 2014, Renée Ary became the fourth head winemaker for Duckhorn Vineyards winemakers that began with Tom Rinaldi in 1978. Her promotion came after 11 years after serving as both assistant and associate winemaker. Born and raised on the East Coast, Renée moved to California to attend Saint Mary’s College, where she earned a degree in chemistry and art. Fascinated by the intersection between science and an art, winemaking quickly became Renée’s passion, career and way of life. Her first job was working in the lab at Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville, as she trained under famed winemakers Genevieve Janssens, Steve Leveque and Richard Sowalsky. During that time she took classes in winemaking and viticulture at UC Davis and Napa Valley College.

In August of 2003, Renée joined the Duckhorn Vineyards team under then winemaker, Mark Beringer. Throughout her first decade at Duckhorn Vineyards, Renée learned every detail of production moving from lab manager to enologist to assistant winemaker to associate winemaker in charge of Duckhorn’s Sauvignon Blanc and Monitor Ledge Vineyard wines. Renee has crafted some beautiful wines over the past few years. She has a gorgeous new release white wine, her 2017 Duckhorn Chardonnay (WWB, 91), which has great balance and a soft, beautiful texture. I was blown away with the 2016 Duckhorn ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 93) which is extremely decadent and layered, showing beautiful, earthy terroir. Learn more about this famed winery at duckhorn.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Duckhorn. 

2017 Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc- The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc by Duckhorn deftly combines both texture and freshness as this is a fantastic new bottling by winemaker Renee Ary. On the nose this takes on gooseberry with orchard fruits and a touch of starfruit that all combine nicely in the glass. The palate shows a good viscosity and sense of minerality with bright citrus and orchard fruits with a touch of vanilla cream towards the back end. Drink 2019-2024- 91

2017 Duckhorn Chardonnay- The 2017 Duckhorn Chardonnay opens with aromas of bright pear and lemon zest with vanilla cream that build in the glass. The palate shows a silky mouthfeel delivering bright orchard fruits with lemon cream and hints of butterscotch. Delightful now, this will cellar well over the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2016 Duckhorn ‘Napa Valley’ Merlot- The 2016 Duckhorn ‘Napa Valley’ Merlot is a complex blend of 77% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, .5% Malbec and .5 % Petit Verdot that was largely aged in neutral oak prior to bottling. This opens with an arousing bouquet of kirsch, sweet pipe tobacco, leather and blackberry cobbler that all build in the glass. The mouthfeel here is gorgeous as black and red fruits collide with the toasty oak and earthy undertones. Beautifully balanced, this will age for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Duckhorn ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon is a compelling blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc that was aged for sixteen months in 50% new French oak prior to bottling. The nose is quite forward with roasted dates with milk chocolate and Asian spices that all develop in the glass. The palate is plush, delivering forward and rich dark fruit flavors with a touch of mocha and bell pepper. Layered and decadent,  this is a delicious new release that will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2014 Duckhorn ‘Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2014 Duckhorn ‘Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a silky blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine was aged in 95% new French oak for 16 months prior to bottling. The nose evokes red bell pepper with sagebrush and dark chocolate covered cherry with espresso bean. The palate is silky smooth, revealing a soft mouthfeel and a marvelous texture. Black currant jelly, blackberry pie, mocha and creme de cassis flavors all connect marvelously on the palate. Delicious now, this gorgeous wine by superstar winemaker Renee Ary will cellar well over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2034- 93

2015 Duckhorn ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Merlot with 2% Petit Verdot. Aged for 18 months in 80% new French oak, this opens with an intense bouquet of creme de cassis, violets, blackberry cobbler and mocha that build in the glass. Soft on the mouth, this has a wonderful purity of fruit on the palate. There is also a wonderful seamless quality to this wine. Blackberry pie, red bell pepper and milk chocolate flavors with earthy undertones complete this gorgeous bottling. While absolutely  delicious now, this will cellar well for the next two decades. Drink 2019-2034- 93

2015 Duckhorn ‘Rutherford’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the Red Barn Vineyard and Rutherford River Vineyards, the ‘Rutherford’ Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 16 months in 50% new French oak prior to bottling. Creme de cassis, red bell pepper, and milk chocolate aromas fill the glass and build with more air. Fresh and lively on the palate, this shows beautiful earthy tones with copious dark fruits and chocolate covered espresso bean flavors. Delightful now, try to resist this beautiful wine for at least another year. Drink 2020-2035- 93

2015 Duckhorn ‘Patzimaro Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Patzimaro Vineyard’ is located in the St. Helena AVA and is known for large diurnal shifts. Black tea, anise and creme de cassis aromas fill the glass. The palate shows beautiful balance and terroir with toasty oak that wraps around dark fruits, milk chocolate and black olive tapenade. Delicious now, this will continue to evolve well for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2033- 92

Delmas

One of the great boutique producers of Syrah not only in Washington but North America, Delmas was born by the watchful eyes of Mary and Steve Robertson who founded this winery more than a decade ago. Steve has a background in real estate development and business management and was previously in Napa before planting vines in his very special SJR Vineyard, in the Walla Walla Rocks District. If you have never been to this vineyard, it is a must visit for oenophiles and lovers of Walla Walla Syrah. Steve hit a home run when he hired Billo Naravane, MW, to serve as his winemaker. Billo has rather quietly been producing some of the best wines in Washington at his Rasa Vineyards outpost.

I have been gushing about his Delmas Syrah since I first blind tasted this wine back in 2015 and reviewed their 2013 Delmas, giving the wine 95 points. The new wine is the best Delmas release that I have tried as they continue to perfect this style of Rocks District Syrah that is unique from any wine made in the region. The 2017 Delmas Syrah (WWB, 97) is a head-turning wine that is amongst the best in the state. The range of this wine is exquisite, as is the mouthfeel and texture. I really adore this wine in its youth as this is a must-buy for any serious lover of new world Syrah. This is the first vintage of their new wine, ‘The Peddler,’ which is quite the different animal to the Delmas Syrah but is every bit as goods.  A magnum-only wine, ’The Peddler,’ saw only new oak and has a hedonistic bent with a stunning array of aromatics and flavors. Learn more about these very special wines at https://delmaswines.com Here are the gorgeous new Delmas Syrahs.

2017 Delmas Syrah- A true heavyhitter, the 2017 Delmas Syrah is entirely sourced from their estate SJR Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA, deftly managed by Brooke Robertson. Crafted by superstar winemaker Billo Naravane, MW, the wine is a stunning blend of 91.5% Syrah with the reminder Viognier. Aged for 14 months in 60% new French oak (Troncais) prior to bottling, this needs about an hour of air exposure in order to evolve to its full unveiling. The nose is nothing short of intoxicating, yielding some insanely good range. Potpourri, Umami, pipe tobacco, cedar, and shades of cran-orange aromas all create an amazing effect in the glass. The heady aromas push you back to the glass for more. The texture its astoundingly good, giving off a sexy, silky edge. Red cherry candy, Umami, Hoisin sauce, Asian spice and guava with citrus rind accents as well as shades of black truffle with minerals and stony accents all complete this scintillating new wine. While remarkable in its youth, this will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 97

2017 Delmas ‘The Peddler’ Syrah- This is the first vintage of this magnum-only wine. The 2017 ‘The Peddler’ Syrah is barrel select wine that was aged in entirely new French oak for fifteen months prior to bottling. The Syrah has 8.5% Viognier which was co-fermented, just as it was for the 2017 Delmas. The nose shows off the richness of the toasty oak with Hoisin sauce, kirsch compote, red rose petals and shades of Umami and horse manure that all collect momentum in the nose. With more air shades of orange rind and cigar ash also mingle into the fray. Once the attack the palate reveals a silky texture and generous mouthfeel, giving off a hedonistic edge. Umami, bacon fat, black tea, rose water and shades of Asian spice all come together marvelously in the glass. The freshness and richness imparted is simply gorgeous here, combining with a light stony character and copious minerals. Given more air, this beautiful Syrah gives off an even silkier texture. While remarkable in its youth, this outstanding new Rocks District Syrah will continue to evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 97

Long Shadows

One of the great wineries in Washington State, Long Shadows is the brainchild of the talented Allen Shoup, former CEO of Chateau Ste. Michelle. After his illustrious career at Ste. Michelle, Allen decided to create a wine lineup utilizing superstar winemakers across the globe. His idea has been a resounding success as these wines have reached both national and international acclaim. I have been really impressed with the consistency of these wines over the years. Their head winemaker, Giles Nicault, presides of these wines and is a hugely talented guy.

Giles has crafted one of the great Riesling wines in the state with his 2017 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling (WWB, 93) which has an intense sense of minerality and wonderful bright orchard fruits. Even better was the 2016 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine (WWB, 95) which might just be the best ‘Saggi’ bottling I have ever had. This wine has incredible range and viscosity which is a downright thrill to savor in the glass and shows off the heat of this vintage with tremendous depth and richness. Learn more about this amazing winery at http://www.longshadows.com/ Here are the amazing new release wines from Long Shadows.

2017 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling- The 2017 ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling shows once again why this wine is truly one of the premier Riesling bottling in North America. This opens with beautiful orange blossom and melon with wet stone character on the nose. The palate is full of freshness., yielding a beautiful sense of minerality. Even more impressive is the near minute long finish. Beautiful in its youth, this will cellar well over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2019-2027- 93

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

2016 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine- The 2016 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ is the best bottling of this storied wine that I have tried since they began producing this wine more than a decade ago. The ‘Saggi’ is a thrilling blend of Sangiovese  (Boushey and Candy Mountain Vineyards) with 29% Cabernet Sauvignon (Weinbau Vineyard) and the remainder Syrah (Den Hoed Dutchman and Bacchus Vineyards). The nose is drop-dead gorgeous with bacon fat, black olive tapenade, mocha and fennel. The stunning range of aromas bring you back to the glass for more. Revealing a silky texture and a wonderfully ripe mouthfeel, the ‘Saggi’ slowly unveils smoked pork shoulder, black tea, milk chocolate covered cherry and roasted fig flavors. Decadent, layered and downright delicious, this beautiful wine will enjoy an exceedingly long life in the cellar. The If enjoying in its youth be sure to give this a two hour decant. Drink 2019-2033- 95

2016 Long Shadows ‘Feather’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Released in November 2018, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine was sourced from the Summit View in the Walla Walla Valley as well as Dionysus, Weinbau and Den Hoed Benches Vineyards. Made by superstar winemaker, Randy Dunn, of Dunn Vineyards fame, this reveals dense core, as the ‘Feather’ leads with an inviting nose of creme de cassis, Turkish coffee, red bell pepper, with hints of white pepper and sagebrush. The palate unveils a silky texture and a beautiful mouthfeel. Decadent black tea, blueberry compote, mocha, anise and sagebrush flavors all impress. The gorgeous bright acidity adds to the enjoyment here. Balanced and rich, this stunning wine will cellar well for the next two decades. While it is delicious now, try to resist this for at least two more years. Drink 2020-2040- 95

2016 Long Shadows ‘Sequel’ Syrah-The 2016 ‘Sequel’ is a sensational new release made by the talented John Duval. Sourced from the Boushey and Den Hoed Grandview Vineyards we well as the Bacchus, The Benches and Dionysus vineyards. Blended with just a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon (7%) this shows off tar, mocha, anise and sandalwood aromatics that all mingle in the glass. The palate shows wonderful viscosity and mid-palate weight, displaying blackberry cobbler, creosote, leather and earthy undertones that build on on the mouth. Outstanding in its youth, this beautiful effort will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2015 Côte Nicault Red Wine- The Cote Nicault Red Wine is a proprietary blend of Mourvedre, Grenache and Syrah (near equal parts) by superstar winemaker Showing off its inky core, the Côte Nicault red wine begins with blood orange zest with bright red fruits with shades of white pepper on the nose. The silky texture entices as the wine sheds blood orange, red cherry candy and red currant jelly flavors alongside copious minerals. This is seriously good, as the savory aspect to the wine really shines. While a delight to savor now, this will evolve well for another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 94

Lauren Ashton

Today we focus on boutique winery, Lauren Ashton, which is celebrating their ten year anniversary this year. At the helm is the talented winemaker and dentist Dr. Kit Singh. It has been a joy for me to see how Dr. Singh’s winemaking style evolves over the past five years. I love the combination of mouthfeel and terroir that he is able to create in his wines. He also makes an under the radar Rose that is simply marvelous. Dr. Kit has a wide range of wine education, having previously studied enology and viticulture at South Seattle Community College and also took classes at University of California at Davis enology program before spending two years interning at famed DeLille Cellars in Woodinville. There is a very strong resemblance to the wines that Chris Upchurch makes with Dr. Kit’s style.

Wines by Lauren Ashton are sourced from a host of vineyards in both the Columbia Valley to Red Mountain. I absolutely loved the new 2018 Lauren Ashton Rose (WWB, 91) as this Rhone style wine has terrific intensity and a plush mouthfeel. Look for the 2014 Lauren Ashton Cabernet Franc (WWB, 91) as I love the classic herbal character in the wine and the wonderful range and richness. Learn more about this great Woodinville winery at http://laurenashtoncellars.com/

2018 Lauren Ashton Rose- The 2018 Lauren Ashton Rose is a compelling blend of equal parts Grenache and Mourvedre (41% each), as well a equal parts Counoise and Cinsault (9% each). On the nose this takes on brilliant range from orange blossom to bright pear to kumquat and shades of guava. The palate is bright and has a touch of sweetness with a good sense of minerality. Cran-cherry, guava puree, and orange rind flavors all come together in the glass. Bright and downright delicious, this is best enjoyed over the next three years. Drink 2019-2022- 91

2018 Lauren Ashton ‘Cuvee Meline’ White Wine- The ‘Cuvee Meline’ is a beautiful white wine made by the talented Dr. Kit Singh. On the nose this has good range from honeysuckle to cantaloupe and shades of Pink Lady apple that all connect in the glass. The palate has a good combination of freshness and weigh, delivering bright orchard and citrus fruit flavors that combine with minerals and shades of wild mushroom. While delightful in its youth, this will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2026- 91

2017 Lauren Ashton Chardonnay- The 2017 Lauren Ashton Chardonnay is another spectacular wine made by Dr. Kit Singh. The nose takes on a bright bouquet of kumquat with toasty brioche and Japanese pear aromatics. The palate shows a good degree of tension and mid-palate weight with melon and citrus fruit flavors that combine with minerals. Enjoy this over the next five plus years while the brightness takes center stage. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2014 Lauren Ashton Cabernet Franc- The 2014 Lauren Ashton Cabernet Franc is another beautiful wine from this estate. Translucent in color, I love the aromatic range here, from dill to red cherry preserves, to coffee grounds and spice cake aromas. The texture here is silky smooth as the wine unveils red and dark fruits with a good sense of balance. Refined and on the elegant side, this excellent new wine is best enjoyed over the next eight years. Drink 2019-2026- 91

Goodfellow

One of Oregon’s hidden gems, Goodfellow Family Cellars relies on the winemaking talents of Marcus Goodfellow. What was initially founded in 2002 as Matello Winery, Goodfellow sources from some great vineyards in the Willamette Valley including the Durant Vineyard in the Dundee Hills AVA. Marcus Goodfellow, grew up on a Douglas Fir tree farm in Oregon and worked his first harvest at Evesham Wood in 2002. He had a wonderful wine mentor in famed Cristom winemaker, Steve Doerner. 

The new releases by Goodfellow were fantastic last year but this year’s set were even more impressive. I absolutely loved his 2017 Goodfellow ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (WWB, 92) is a serious value under 30 dollars and has amazing mouthfeel and a delightful send of minerality. Even better was the stunning 2017 Goodfellow ‘Durant Vineyard’ Chardonnay (WWB, 94) which rivals some of the best Chardonnay made in Oregon, from this esteemed vineyard. After tasting through these wines it is clear that Marcus’s style is really coming into its own. He has achieved greatness with these new wines that are not to be missed. Learn more about these beautiful new releases at https://goodfellowfamilycellars.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Goodfellow. 

2017 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay by Goodfellow shows heady aromas of creme brulee, vanilla cream and roasted hazelnuts, with light earthy tones that impress on this beautiful nose. The palate is both rich and lithe, showing a silky mouthfeel. Bright nectarine cream, kumquat and creme brûlée flavors all impress on the palate. While delightful in its youth, this will continue to evolve well over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay was entirely sourced from the Durant Vineyard and is a micro-production bottling (113 cases). The nose is layered and takes on an exotic edge with roasted pineapple,  toasted almond, vanilla cream and shades of wild mushroom that all take their shape in the glass. The palate is rich and viscous, showing great tension and weight. The seamless quality of this wine really shines with bright orchard fruits and creamy flavors all building together. This excellent effort will only improve with some bottle age. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2017 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Durant Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Intriguingly enough, Goodfellow made a second bottling of their ‘Durant Vineyard’ Chardonnay and this one was even a lower case production (95 cases). The wine was sourced from blocks first planted in 1993 and 1998, essentially when many vineyards were not planting Chardonnay. Bright lemon cream and shades of white truffle with wet stone all fill the glass on the nose. The palate shows off a silky texture with a wonderfully rich texture and mouthfeel. The exceedingly long mineral and lemon cream-driven finish accentuates this fantastic new bottling. Enjoy this gorgeous wine over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 94

2017 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Whistling Ridge Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Whistling Ridge Vineyard’ Chardonnay opens with aromas of bright melon with orchard fruits and wet stone accents that all collect momentum in the glass. The palate has a silky texture, unveiling vanilla cream and orange rind flavors with shades of lemon peel and wet rock. Enjoy this fantastic bottling over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This 2016 Pinot Noir opens with intense red berry aromas followed by peat moss and shades of white truffle shavings that all build in this lovely bouquet. The palate shows a polished salinity with sour red fruits and shades of peat moss with citrus rind. Complex and delicious, this will evolve well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 92

2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Whistling Ridge Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Planted back in 1990, the ‘Whistling Ridge Vineyard’ is a south/southwest facing vineyard planted on marine sedimentary soils. On the nose this comes into red and dark fruits with bright orange zest and lovely earthy undertones. The palate is lithe and complex, showing a wonderful mouthfeel. Bing cherry, citrus rind and shades of pipe tobacco and forest floor flavors all complete this beautiful new release. While delightful in its youth, try to resist this gorgeous new wine for at least another year. Drink 2020-2033- 93 

2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Durant Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Durant Vineyard’ is an older Dundee Hills AVA vineyard by Willamette Valley standards, first planted in 1993. On the nose this takes on the typical dark berry aromas with shades of peat moss, leather and thyme that all collide in the glass. The palate has a soft texture, unveiling bright red fruits that mingle with shades of kumquat and earthy undertones. Complex and rather seductive in its youth, this will cellar well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Heritage No. 7’ Pinot Nor- This single clone Pinot Noir was aged for 22 months in oak prior to bottling. The aromatics show a good combination of cranberry, ripe red cherry and pomegranate seed with shades of peat moss and black truffle shavings. The earthy aromatics really entice here. On the palate there is good freshness and richness, melding a soft texture. Wild blackberry cobbler, pipe tobacco and cran-pomegranate flavors all connect nicely. Enjoy this fantastic bottling one the next fifteen years — just try to give this one more year of bottle age before enjoying. Drink 2020-2033- 93

2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Heritage No. 8’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Heritage No. 8’ Pinot Noir is a fantastic new single clone Pinot Noir by the talented Marcus Goodfellow. The aromatic range is enticing from umami to red currant and shades of damp earth with black fruits that all mingle in the glass. The silky texture really impress here as the wine leads with red and dark fruits that collect momentum with the earthy undertones. Complex and expressive in its youth, this will only improve with some bottle age. Drink 2020-2033- 94

2019 Pacific Northwest Rose Report

What was once an afterthought is now one of the best selling wines in the world. Rose continue to build in national and international sales as quality continues to increase with both international and US made Rose wines. It is quite clear that the trend in sales has caused Pacific Northwest wineries to step back and better analyze how to produce a top quality Rose. Speaking to several top winemakers from Oregon and Washington, they have noted how important it is to try Rose wines from across the globe to fully focus on the style that they seek to make. For instance, Christophe Baron of Cayuse Vineyards has mentioned to me how important it is for his Rose to age properly and in barrels for texture. Similarly, Brian Marcy of Big Table Farm has also noted how his later release Rose is very carefully constructed and then aged in the right amount of neutral oak to impart both serious range and texture. 

Following up my 2018 Pacific Northwest Rose Report in which I reviewed nearly 100 Rose wines my 2019 Report encompasses over 150 Rose releases. Since I also review California wines it is clear that there are many serious, stand alone Rose wines from Oregon and Washington that can compete with any of the best Rose wines in North America, including those from famed Napa, Sonoma and Central Coast estates. Rose wines from the Pacific Northwest will only continue to rise in quality. For my report I have categorized both good value Rose wines and top scoring Rose wines. I believe my 2019 Pacific Northwest Rose report be the most comprehensive Pacific Northwest Rose report available to the consumer.

Oregon Rose wines continue to gather great momentum in the value category, none more so than the 2018 Erath Rose (WWB, 87) and the 2018 Chris James Rose (WWB, 89), as well as the 2018 Tori Mor Rose (WWB, 89), the 2018 RJ Wines ‘Beyond The Pale’ Rose (WWB, 90) and the 2018 Yamhill Valley Vineyards Rose (WWB, 89).The best canned Rose wine that I reviewed was the NV Wines by Joe Rose (WWB, 87) which offers significant value for a mere eight dollars. I was quite impressed with the top Rose wines out of Oregon in the over 20 dollar range. 

Following up the extraordinarily good 2017 release, the 2018 Toil Rose (WWB, 93) is a simply magical Rose wine made by superstar winemaker Chris Figgins of Leonetti Cellar fame. This wine has just incredible range and tension in the wine. Just as good was Brian Marcy’s 2018 Big Table Farm Rose (WWB, 93) which shows a seamless texture and dazzling depth on the mid-palate. Other beautiful Rose wines were crafted by Child’s Play, Gran Moraine, Fairsing Vineyard, and Amity Vineyards. 

Washington also offers some excellent value Rose, including the new 2018 Rose by Chateau St. Michelle (WWB, 89), as well as the 2018 Charles and Charles Rose (WWB, 88) which both impress at under ten dollars. Also look to the impressive 2018 Maryhill Rose (WWB, 89), the 2018 Board Track Racer ‘The Vincent’ Rose (WWB, 89) as well as the brilliant 2018 Purple Star Rose (WWB, 90) which is a gorgeous new wine that is not to be missed. Finally, the most stunning values in this price category include the 2018 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose (WWB, 92) as  well as the 2018 Upchurch Vineyards ‘LTL’ Rose (WWB, 92) which are downright steals at this price point. These are wines to purchase by the case.

Amongst the top scoring Rose wines out of Washington, famed winemaker Christophe Baron of Cayuse Vineyards crafts his simply stunning ‘Edith’ Rose which was released late and comes from the warm, 2016 vintage (WWB, 93), offering insanely good range and complexity. The sensational winemaking team of Greg Harrington and Brandon Moss create the 2018 Gramercy Cellars Rose (WWB, 92) is one of the best that I have sampled this year, showing wonderful refinement and texture. This one has a very Provencale, Domaine Tempier feel. Just as good was the 2018 DeLille Cellars Rose (WWB, 92) which is a gorgeous Rhone style bottling by superstar winemaker Jason Gorski that offers wonderful richness and mid-palate range. Also do not miss out on new 2018 Rose wines by Cote Bonneville, Avennia, Matthews, EFESTE, Andrew Will and Den Hoed. Cheers to you all from us at Washington Wine Blog as I hope you enjoy a wonderful, Rose-filled summer. 

Oregon

Top Values ($20.00 and under)

2018 A to Z Rose- The good value 2017 A to Z Rose offers extremely light tones both aromatically and on the palate. Fresh and lithe, enjoy this in the short-term. Drink 2019-2021- 86

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. This is highly refreshing and needs a warm summer night. Drink 2019-2023- 90

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

2018 Child’s Play Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, the 2018 Child’s Play Rose sings out with intense red cherry, guava, strawberry and melon tones on the nose.  The combination of freshness and texture is marvelous as superstar winemaker Tony Rynders captures a brilliant sense of mouthfeel and bright minerality. Red fruits dance with minerals and citrus zest flavors on the palate. While delightful now, I can see this cellaring well over the next seven years. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2018 Chris James Cellars Rose- The 2018 Chris James Rose opens with bright citrus rind and melon tones that fill the glass. I love the freshness of the wine that shines through as this delivers pretty red fruits that connect with rose water and minerals on the palate. Drink 2019-2024- 89

2018 Erath Rose- Quite delicate on the palate, the 2018 Erath Pinot Noir Rose has good brightness that connects with the lighter guava and red raspberry flavors. Enjoy this in its youth while the freshness remains up-front. Drink 2019-2021- 87

2018 Tori Mor Rose- Sourced from the Willamette Valley, this Pinot Noir Rose shows pretty pomegranate seed and nectarine aromatics that build in the glass. The palate has good freshness and poise with light rose water, cran-cherry and vanilla cream flavors. The finish here is very good. Drink 2019-2022- 89

2018 RJ Wines ‘Beyond The Pale’ Rose- The 2018 RJ Wines ‘Beyond The Pale’ Rose opens with aromas of bright red fruits that connect with lemon curd and melon undertones on the nose. The palate is silky and evokes a spirit of Provence with delicate red fruits, kumquat and an impressive mouthfeel. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Yamhill Valley Vineyards Rose- The nose has very pretty bubblegum and pink grapefruit with red cherry aromas that all connect in the glass. There is a good sense of tension in the glass with delicate red fruit and citrus rind flavors. Drink 2019-2022- 89

2018 William Rose ‘Prohibition’ Rose- The 2018 William Rose ‘Prohibition’ Rose opens with intense aromas of guava and ripe strawberry with citrus zest accents that all connect nicely in the glass. The palate shows good freshness and intensity with a wonderful sense of minerality that melds with lighter red fruit and citrus tones.  Drink 2019-2023- 89

NV Wines by Joe ‘Oregon’ Pinot Noir (.375L Can)- The NV Wines by Joe ‘Oregon’ Pinot Noir shows good concentration on the nose with red and dark fruits alongside smoky undertones. Forward and juicy, the wine shows red fruit flavors with citrus rind and earthy undertones. While this comes off a bit astringent, it is the best canned wine out of Oregon I have sampled. Drink 2019-2022- 87

Top Wines (over $20.00)

2018 Amity Vineyards Rose- This pale colored Rose opens with a bouquet of light red fruits with melon tones that round out nose. This has marvelous intensity on the palate with bright minerals that connect with lighter red fruit and citrus rind tones. Highly bright and acid-driven, this really needs a hot summer day. Drink 2019-2024- 91

2018 Bells Up ‘Prelude’ Rose- The 2018 ‘Prelude’ Rose shows off a deep hue, unveiling bright red cherry, guava and orange zest aromas that build in the glass. The palate shows a refreshing edge with lip-smacking acidity that connects with the delicious red fruit and blood orange flavors. Complex and delicious now, enjoy this over the next five plus years. Drink 2019-2024- 90

2018 Big Table Farm ‘Laughing Pig’ Rose- The 2018 ‘Laughing Pig’ Rose by Big Table Farm was aged in neutral oak barrels prior to being released in mid-April 2019. Showing off its rich, dark hue, the 2018 ‘Laughing Pig’ opens with serious aromatic range from shades of honeydew melon to citrus rind and copious ripe red fruits that all connect in the glass. The palate shows a silly texture and weight, yet retains a wonderful sense of elegance. Bright guava, nectarine, and cran-pomegranate with red cherry candy flavors collide with the bright sense of minerality. The exceedingly long finish accentuates this simply gorgeous new Rose. While delightful in its youth, this will cellar well for the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 93

2018 Chehalem Rose- Sourced from Pinot Noir grapes, the 2018 Chehalem Rose opens with delicate red fruits that connect with minerals and shades of wet stone on the nose. The palate shows wonderful texture and a soft mouthfeel, delivering very delicate red fruit flavors with a touch of wild mushroom. This highly gratifying and subtle Rose is best enjoyed in the short-term while the great degree of poise remains. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Dobbes Family Estates Rose- The Dobbes Family Estates Rose shows light red fruit aromatics with wild mushroom and wet stone undertones. The palate reveals a soft texture with light red fruit flavors and a smooth, vanilla and cream driven finish. This is a solid effort. Drink 2019-2023- 89

2018 Domaine Divio Rose- Sourced from a host of Willamette Valley Vineyards, the 2018 Domaine Divio Rose opens with ripe melon with peat moss and red fruits that all mingle in the glass. The palate has good freshness with a soft texture, as delicate red fruits connect with the bright sense of minerality. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Edgefield ‘Umbrella Jimmy’ Rose- The ‘Umbrella Jimmy’ Rose starts off with bright red fruits with citrus rind undertones. The palate has good astringency and texture with delicate red fruit flavors that collide with the minerals. Drink 2019-2022- 89

2018 Elizabeth Chambers Rose- The nose offers intrigue with flinty tones that set alongside red fruits and shades of mandarin orange rind. The smooth texture exudes class as delicate red fruits dance with minerals and hints of nutmeg. This is very well-made. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Gran Moraine Rose- The 2018 Gran Moraine Rose is an awesome new effort from this great Yamhill-Carlton estate. On the nose this shows off very light citrus and red fruit aromas that improve with some air. The palate errs towards brightness, rather than richness, as the wine reveals a wonderful feel of minerality, with delicate red fruits and lemon rind flavors. Drink 2019-2022- 90

2018 Fairsing Vineyard Rose- Crafted from Pinot Noir clones Dijon 777 and Pommard, the 2018 Fairsing Vineyard Rose is a delight to savor on a hot summer day. It starts off with bright strawberry, rose water and citrus rind aromatics. The palate unveils a silky texture that exudes class. Strawberries and cream, kumquat and cantaloupe flavors all collide on the palate. Delicious now, this will cellar well over the next five plus years. Drink 2019-2024- 91

2018 King Estate Rose- The 2018 King Estate Rose, made from Pinot Noir grapes, starts off with a bouquet of rose water with red cherry candy and guava that fill the nose. The palate is lithe with beautiful astringency. Red currant, red cherry and guava with a touch of citrus rind connect with the beautiful sense of minerality on the palate. Enjoy this outstanding new Rose with sushi. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Lachini Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, the 2018 Lachini Rose opens with bright strawberry and melon tones that fill the glass. The palate is vibrant and shows a great sense of tension, unveiling delicate red fruits with rose water and lighter earthy undertones. This is seriously good. Enjoy in its youth while the wonderful freshness remains. Drink 2019-2022- 90

2018 Raptor Ridge ‘Vineyard Select’ Rose- The salmon colored Rose opens with aromas of nectarine, guava and ripe strawberry that all collect in the glass. The palate has really good freshness with bright lemon zest, red fruit and melon tones that all impress. This is perfect for a hot summer day on the patio. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Sokol Blosser Rose- The 2018 Sokol Blosser Rose opens with bright guava and lemon zest aromas that build in the glass. The palate is bright, delivering lighter red fruits that dance with citrus infused water and wet stone on the palate. I think this would pair nicely with sushi. Drink 2019-2022- 89

2018 Saffron Fields Rose- The 2018 Saffron Fields Rose comes off with beautiful aromas of red cherry, guava and bright strawberry with wet stone undertones that build in the glass. The mouthfeel and texture to this wine is downright impressive as bright red fruits collide with minerals and citrus rind tones on the palate. This is a serious, stand-alone Rose by the talented Tony Rynders.  Drink 2019-2024- 91

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 Toil Oregon Rose- The nose is quite compelling once in the glass, as this beautiful Pinot Noir Rose awakens to unveil pink grapefruit blossom, rose water and red cherry candy aromatics that all mingle in the glass. The palate shows a beautiful texture and weight as this silky, stand along Rose shows a flair of Provence. Blood orange, guava puree and Meyer lemon zest flavors with lighter suggestions of peat moss combine with lip smacking acidity on the palate. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. Exceedingly good, highly poised and satisfying, this classy effort will be enjoyed over the next eight years, picking up tertiary notes as it ages. Drink 2019-2025- 93

2018 WillaKenzie Estate Rose- The 2018 WillaKenzie Estate Rose shows off a pretty pale hue and opens with a bouquet of rose water with guava and bright cran-cherry aromatics. Showing bright acidity, the wine has a wonderful citrus astringency that connects with the red fruit flavors. Downright delicious, enjoy this over the next several years. Drink 2019-2022- 90

Washington

Top Values ($20.00 and under):

2018 Brook & Bull Rose-This excellent GSM style Rose shows rose petals, red currant jelly and citrus rind on the nose. Lithe and refreshing, this shows delicate red fruits with white rose and orange rind flavors. Enjoy this over the next few years. Drink 2019-2022- 89

2018 Board Track Racer ‘The Vincent’ Rose- The 2018 ‘The Vincent’ Rose is a refreshing style that shows good minerality on the mid-palate. With delicate red fruits and a touch of blood orange, this is a very good value at fifteen dollars. Drink 2019-2022- 89

2018 Chateau Ste. Michelle Rose- The 2018 Chateau Ste. Michelle Estates Rose is another seriously good value wine made by this talented winemaking team. The nose shows red cherry bubblegum candy, with suggestions of ripe strawberry and guava aromatics to follow. The texture is seriously good as this wine delivers medium-bodied red fruit, citrus zest and melon with wet stone flavors. This is very well-made. Drink 2019-2022- 89

2018 Charles and Charles Rose- Lightly colored, the 2018 Charles and Charles Rose shows very straightforward lighter red fruit flavors with a nice combination off weight and freshness once on the palate. I can imagine how brilliantly this fruity Rose would pair with fresh oysters. Drink 2019-2022- 88

2018 Columbia Winery Rose- The 2018 Columbia Winery is sourced from Horse Heaven Hills Grenache. The nose is quite pretty with red rose petals that connect with wet stone and citrus tones on the nose. While this comes off a touch sweet, there is a good sense of brightness in this good value Rose. Drink 2019-2022- 88

2018 Coyote Canyon Rose- This 100% Barbera Rose opens with light red fruits with citrus oil and peat moss undertones. Bright and showing a good astringency, the wine unveils delicate red cherry and guava flavors with citrus zest and wet stone undertones. Drink 2019-2022- 89

2018 Frog Kisser Wines Rose- The 2018 Frog Kisser Wines Rose starts off with bright red fruits that dance with flinty undertones on the nose. The palate has good freshness with very delicate melon and citrus rind with ripe raspberry tones. Drink 2019-2023- 89

2018 Helix Rose- The 2018 Hellix Rose is made from Sangiovese grapes sourced from the Columbia Valley. Light citrus rind tones and red fruits mark the nose. The palate shows good acidity with light cran-cherry, orange zest and wet stone character. Enjoy this in its youth. Drink 2019-2022- 88

2018 Lagana Cellars ‘Breezy Slope Vineyard’ Rose- Sourced from the ‘Breezy Slope Vineyard’ which is one of the few plantings of Pinot Noir in the Walla Walla Valley AVA, the wine begins with lighter red fruits that combine with wild mushroom and wet stone on the nose. The palate shows a soft texture and unveils gobs of mouth-watering acidity that combine with the lighter red fruit and melon tones on the palate. This is best served a touch warmer in a Burgundy glass. Drink 2019-2023- 90

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

2018 Maryhill Rose- Made from Sangiovese grapes, this starts off with nice bubblegum, red cherry and pomegranate seed aromas. The palate shows good freshness and a kiss of sweetness with bright guava, citrus zest and red cherry candy flavors. This is a seriously good value. Drink 2019-2022- 89

2018 Metropolian Market ‘Rose No, 12’ Rose- This starts off with bright red fruits with citrus rind accents on the nose. The palate is fresh with lighter red fruits and a touch of wet stone with lemon zest. Enjoy this in the short-term. It is generally hard to find a wine of the quality at this price point. Drink 2019-2022- 87

2018 Pearl and Stone Rose- The 2018 Pearl and Stone Rose impresses most notably with its soft and silky texture that entices. With excellent mouth-watering acidity, the wine delivers lighter red fruits with watermelon and bubble gum flavors that connect with the good sense of acidity on the palate. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Purple Star Rose- The unique aromatics grip you with peat moss and wild mushroom tones that combine with delicate red fruits all mingling on the nose. The palate has good freshness and balance, with a silky texture. Bright pear, starfruit, and ripe strawberry flavors all connect with the bright sense of minerality. This is a serious value. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Renegade Wine Company Rose- The 2018 Renegade Wine Company Rose is a blend of mostly Syrah (72%) and begins with smoky undertones that connect with the citrus zest and ripe raspberry aromas. The palate shows good, bright acidity with delicate red fruits that dance with the minerals. Drink 2019-2022- 88

2018 Revelry Vintners Rose- Made from both Grenache and Cabernet Franc grapes, the 2018 Revelry Vintners shows best quite cool, while the brightness of the wine shines. With light red fruit flavors that connect with the minerals, enjoy this refreshing style Rose with sushi. Drink 2019-2022- 88

2018 Seven Hills Rose- The 2018 Seven Hills Rose is another outstanding new bottling from the talented Casey McClellan. A blend of primarily Cabernet Franc (82%) this was sourced from the McClellan Estate, Den Hoed, Walla Walla Valley and Gamache Vineyards. Bright and crisp, the Rose reveals rose water, citrus blossom and delicate red fruits that fill the nose. The palate shows good intensity and a lively minerality with red cherry, strawberry and guava flavors with a touch of Mandarin orange rind. Enjoy this brilliant new effort in the short-term. Drink 2019-2022- 91

2018 Sin Banderas Rose- This great new Rose is made from Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault, all sourced from the Yakima Valley. On the nose this starts off with rose water with guava and red cherry preserves. The palate has good freshness with light red berry flavors and a touch of starfruit and melon with the lightest kiss of sweetened orange rind. This is very good range here. Drink 2019-2024- 90

2018 Sleight of Hand ‘Magician’s Assistant’ Rose- Entirely sourced from Cabernet Franc grapes, the 2018 ‘Magician’s Assistant’ Rose entices with its silky texture and wonderful earthy tones that combine with bright red fruits. The vibrant minerality also truly shines in this excellent new release. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Spring Run Rose- The 2018 Spring Run Rose shows good brightness on the nose with bubblegum and. guava puree with light citrus rind aromas that round out the nose. The palate has a kiss of sweetness that connects with the nice texture in the wine. Bright red fruits dance with minerals on the palate. Drink 2019-2023- 89

2018 Swiftwater Cellars ‘No. 9’ Rose- The 2018 Swiftwater Cellars ‘No. 9’ Rose shows very light red fruit aromas with shades of wild mushroom that all fill the nose. The soft texture is really good as guava puree, vanilla cream and sweetened melon flavors all combine nicely once in the glass. This is an excellent effort showing a good sense of purity by Andrew Wiesniewski. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Three Forks Rose- Sourced from the Ciel Du Cheval Vineyard, this brightly colored Pinot Gris Rose opens with a bouquet of rose petals with red cherry candy and bright guava that all delight once in the glass. The palate has a wonderful combination of mouthfeel and freshness. Lighter red fruits connect with the citrus rind tones in the mouth. Bright, yet showing some good weight, this is best enjoyed over the next five years. Drink 2019-2024- 89

2018 Upsidedown Wine Rose- One of the few Rose wines made from Nebbiolo grapes, this is a simply fantastic new effort by the talented Seth Kitzke. On the nose this shows really good range from pink bubblegum to melon and bright citrus zest tones that all impress. The palate shows a silky, almost Provencale style mouthfeel, unveiling delicate red fruits that connect with the wet stone and citrus blossom tones. Outstanding now, enjoy this a tad warmer for its full expression to truly shine. Drink 2019-2023- 91

2018 Upchurch Vineyard ‘LTL’ Rose- The texture to this downright sexy style of Boushey Vineyard Grenache Rose immediately grabs your attention. Soft and ripe, with a silky mouthfeel, the Grenache Rose shows really good mid-palate range, weight and astringency with beautiful guava, strawberry and bing cherry with shades of Mandarin orange rind flavors. The earthy tones and great sense of minerality add to this fantastic new bottling by eminent winemaker Chris Upchurch. This is seriously good value for the price. Drink 2019-2025- 92

2018 Vital Wines Rose- The 2018 Vital Wines Rose is an intriguing blend of 85% Sangiovese, 8% Cinsaut, 6% Mourvedre with a touch of Counoise. Red fruits and red rose aromatics dominate the nose with lighter citrus rind undertones. Bright, showing a lovely soft mouthfeel, the wine impresses with its silky texture. A downright steal, showing copious red fruits and sterling acidity, enjoy this on a hot summer day. Drink 2019-2023- 90

Top Wines (over $20.00): 

2018 Amavi Rose- The 2018 Amavi Rose is a stunning new wine made by Jean-Francois Pellet. Highly perfumed on the nose, this takes on bright starfruit, kiwi and strawberry puree aromas that all collide in the glass. The palate shows a beautiful, soft texture. White peach, guava and suggestions of teaberry with cran-cherry accents round out this outstanding, stand alone Rose. Enjoy this at a slightly warmer temperature for more complexity. Drink 2019-2025- 92

2018 Ambassador Wines of Washington Rose- Made from estate fruit, the 2018 Rose by Ambassador shows a pretty salmon hue and opens with a bouquet of red currant with ripe strawberry and citrus rind accents that fill the nose. Bright, showing a wonderful texture and sense of minerality, the wine unveils a great combination of weight and tension once in the mouth. Seriously delicious with its red fruits, citrus tones and salinity, the 2018 Ambassador Rose is exceedingly difficult to put down in its youth. Drink 2019-2023- 91

2018 Andrew Will ‘Cuvee Lucia’ Rose- Sourced from the Two Blondes Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, the 2018 Rose by Andrew Will opens with intense aromas of red raspberry cordial, green apple and shades of wild mushroom with citrus blossom that round out this beautiful bouquet. The texture entices as ripe strawberry and melon tones combine with citrus blossom accents. Refined and elegant, yet showing good richness, this outstanding new release is irresistible right now. Drink 2019-2024- 92

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

2018 Brian Carter Cellars ‘Abacadabra’ Rose- The 2018 Brian Carter Cellars ‘Abacadabra’ Rose opens with pretty rose water and pink grapefruit blossom aromas that build in the glass. The palate has good freshness with sweetened strawberry, guava and melon tones on the palate. Drink 2019-2022- 89

2018 Bledsoe Family Wines ‘Healy’ Rose- Showing good brightness and texture, the ‘Healy’ Rose impresses with its delicate red fruit and citrus zest flavors that connect with minerals. Bright and lovely in its youth, enjoy this over the next several years. Drink 2019-2022- 90

2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Edith’ Rose- This Rose wine is sourced from blocks near the ‘God Only Knows Grenache’ in the Armada Vineyard. The Rose is actually named after Christophe’s favorite French singer. This warm vintage Rose weighs in at only 12.2% alcohol and was aged in both concrete and stainless steel. This starts off with aromas of white peach, red rose and red cherry candy with a touch of guava. There is a lighter stony quality to the nose that delights. A compete wine, this shows wonderful astringency and mouthfeel, as well as salinity. There is a great combination of citrus fruits, melon and red fruits on the palate with a wonderful long finish. I can imagine that this will cellar marvelously over the next decade as it will build wonderful tertiary notes. Drink 2019-2028- 93

2018 Cote Bonneville Rose- The 2018 Cote Bonneville Rose is another stellar effort by the talented Kerry Shiels. The wine starts with pretty aromatics that entice as rose water and beautiful red fruits with citrus rind accents fill the nose. Polished and refined, the wine has a silky texture and a generous mouthfeel. Guava, red cherry candy, and blood orange flavors give this an exotic edge. Drink 2019-2025- 92

2018 DAMA Wines Rose- The 2018 DAMA Wines Rose is another splendid effort from the talented Mary Derby and follows up her seriously good 2017 bottling. Very light in the glass, the wine unveils high-toned lemon zest and guava puree with red currant aromatics that impress once in the glass. The palate shows really good refinement as there is a Provencale feel to this beautiful new Rose bottling. Hints of pear and starfruit line red fruit and lemon zest flavors on the palate. Showing some really good range, this beautiful wine is gorgeous in its youth. Drink 2019-2024- 91

2018 Den Hoed ‘Cinsault Wallula Vineyard’ Rose- Sourced from the esteemed Wallula Vineyard, this wine opens with light red fruits with wild mushroom and wet stone undertones on the nose. The palate shows a seriously good texture as the wine shows off bright strawberry and guava flavors with wet stone accents — all leading to the exceedingly long, strawberry cream and mineral-driven finish. Simply put, this is a stunning new wine by Den Hoed. Drink 2019-2024- 92

2018 DeLille Cellars Rose- The 2018 DeLille Cellars Rose follows up the hugely impressive 2017 release. A blend of Grenache (52%) with Mourvedre (39%) and a touch of Cinsault (9%), the 2018 DeLille Rose opens with a wonderful aromatic range from red currant to red cherry candy to shades of teaberry and wild mushroom with lighter smoky undertones that all build in the glass. The palate reveals a silky mouthfeel and wonderful texture and mouth-watering acidity. Bright strawberry and guava flavors greet you, alongside lighter citrus rind and peat moss tones that all connect on the mid-palate. Satisfying and wonderfully textured, this sensational new Rose will cellar well for the next seven years. Drink 2019-2025- 92 

2018 Devison Vintners ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Rose- This fantastic new release by the talented Peter Devison shows delicate red fruits with kiwi, cantaloupe and earthy undertones that combine on the nose. The palate reveals a silky texture, unveiling a good range of lighter red fruits, melon and wet stone flavors. This is refined, Provencale style Rose. Drink 2019-2024- 91

2018 Dunham Cellars Rose- Made from Cabernet Franc grapes, this is an absolutely stunning new showing by Dunham. Aromatically quite bright, this displays really good range from orange blossom to kiwi to bubblegum and bright watermelon aromatics that meld in the glass. The palate reveals an impressive texture that coats the mid-palate. The palate also offers generous range from starfruit to cantaloupe and ripe red fruits that connect with shades of damp earth. A stunning new bottling, this is best enjoyed in its youth but has the weight to cellar well over the next five plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 92

2018 EFESTE ‘Oldfield Estate’ Rose- The 2018 ‘Oldfield Estate’ Rose is a simply stunning new bottling by the talented Mark Fiore. On the nose this takes on beautiful citrus blossom with  green papaya and watermelon notes that come together marvelously in the glass. The Rose combines fantastic minerality with a silky texture that entices on the palate. Bright citrus rind with red fruits dominate the palate. An outstanding effort, this fantastic new release will be best enjoyed over the next five plus years. Drink 2019-2024- 92

2018 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Beauty’ Rose- The 2018 ‘Eternal Beauty’ Rose reveals very delicate red fruits that connect with nice earthy undertones on the nose. The palate has good freshness and verve, showing light rose water, citrus zest and watermelon flavors that come together with the good sense of minerality.  Drink 2019-2023- 89

2018 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Rose- The 2018 ‘Grand Klasse’ Rose is a blend of Lawrence Vineyard Grenache with just a hint of Mourvedre. On the nose this silky wine takes on bright red fruit and citrus rind tones with light stony character that build in the glass. The texture imparted is every bit outstanding, as is the delicate red fruit flavors leading to the long, creamy and mineral-driven finish. Drink 2019-2023- 91

2018 Gramercy Cellars ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Rose- Sourced from the esteemed ‘Olsen Vineyard’ in the Yakima Valley, this wine is a compelling blend of 47% Cinsault with 27% Grenache and 26% Syrah. Pretty red rose and watermelon with orange blossom and shades of white pepper aromatics all build in the glass. The palate unveils a silky texture and a rich, gratifying mouthfeel. Once in the mouth, bright guava, strawberry and lighter earthy and wet stone undertones round out this downright delicious Rose. While beautiful in its youth, this impressive effort will cellar well over the next five plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 92

2018 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Rose- Sourced from the Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, this Grenache based Rose shows very pretty aromatics reminiscent of white rose, ripe guava and strawberry aromas with lighter earthy tones that fill the glass. The texture to this wine is seriously good, as is the sense of bright minerality. Red fruits and vanilla cream undertones dance with minerals on the palate. This is seriously good. Drink 2019-2024- 91

2018 Matthews Rose- The 2018 Matthews Rose is another beautiful new wine by the talented Aryn Morell. The wine opens with a bright bouquet of red cherry, ripe kiwi, guava and suggestions of wild mushroom. The palate reveals a kiss of sweetness and a wonderfully soft texture. Red currant jelly, ripe strawberry and cran-orange flavors round out this awesome new Rose. Drink 2019-2025- 92

2018 Pahto Rose- Sourced from the Columbia Gorge AVA, this pale colored Rose opens with a bouquet of rose petals, wild mushroom and hints of Granny Smith apple. The palate has a seriously goods texture and wonderful astringency. Delicate red fruit flavors mingle with blood orange and wet stone tones. Seriously good right now, this will continue to develop over the next five to seven years. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Pursued By Bear ‘Blushing Bear’ Rose- A blend of 50% Mourvedre with the remainder Grenache and Cinsault, this pale colored Rose opens with a bright bouquet of white rose, red cherry and bubblegum with smoky undertones. The palate unveils a gorgeous texture that coats the mouth. Bright citrus fruits mingle with cranberry, ripe strawberry and guava flavors. This finishes long with cream and minerals. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2018 Rotie Cellars Rose- This beautiful new Rose by the talented Sean Boyd shows intense strawberry, watermelon and guava puree that amalgamate on the nose. The palate shows a good combination of bright acidity and sweetened red fruits with citrus rind tones that round out this excellent new Rose. The long finish adds to the enjoyment. While this may come off a touch sweet for some, the overall presentation from its range to finish is pretty impressive. Drink 2019-2024- 90

2018 Shining Hill Rose- The 2018 Shining Hill Rose opens with bright citrus zest, pomegranate and red cherry aromas that all combine nicely in the glass. The texture delights as copious red fruits dance with minerals, citrus zest and earthy undertones. This is a really good effort. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Syncline Rose- The 2018 Syncline Rose is made in the highly refreshing style, showing a very light and delicate red fruit flavor profile with shades of mushroom and orange rind. Enjoy this in the short-term for its wonderful tension. Drink 2019-2022- 90

2018 Tertulia Cellars Rose- The texture imparted here is really fantastic as this balanced, yet viscous Rose shows copious red fruits with melon undertones. A fantastic effort by winemaker Ryan Raber, this beautiful wine will continue to evolve over the next five plus years. Drink 2019-2024- 91

2018 The Walls ‘Cruel Summer’ Rose- The 2018 ‘Cruel Summer’ Rose is a fabulous effort by the talented Ali Mayfield. On the nose this yields nice complexity with hints of blood orange that line bright red fruits with wet stone undertones. The palate shows a silky mouthfeel, unveiling bright kiwi, red raspberry puree and cran-pomegranate flavors that combine with a wonderful texture and sense of minerality. Drink 2019-2023- 91

2018 Time & Direction Rose- Showing a very light hue, the 2018 Time & Direction Rose was sourced from Columbia Valley Grenache vines. The wine shows shows a gorgeous texture with delicate red fruits and crisp acidity on the palate. Enjoy this in the short-term. Drink 2019-2024- 90

2018 Tranche Rose- This highly refreshing style Rose opens with a bouquet of bubblegum and bright red fruits that all build in the glass. The palate shows a refined texture with light red fruits that collide minerals and lighter earthy tones. Drink 2019-2022- 90

2018 W.T. Vintners ‘Parasol’ Rose- Sourced from a new Columbia Gorge AVA vineyard for the talented Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen, the 2018 Pinot Noir Rose opens with rose petals with delicate red fruits and blood orange zest that connects on the nose. The texture here really shines and provides a seamless quality to the wine. Sour red cherry candy, guava and ripe Mandarin orange with a slight salinity. This is fantastic stuff. Drink 2019-2023- 91

Valdemar Estates

As the Spanish wine reviewer for International Wine Report my ears perked up when I first heard the news that Conde Valdemar was considering investing in the Walla Walla Valley. I had long enjoyed these wines which were truly exceptional values out of La Rioja. A few past favorite bottles immediately creeped into my mind, including the gorgeous Conde Valdemar ‘Reserva’ bottlings from both 2005 and 2006 which overdelivered for the price. A few weeks back I had the great opportunity to visit Valdemar Estates, Conde Valdemar’s new winery in Walla Walla. Remarkably this is the first non-American owned winery in Washington. With sweeping views across the Walla Walla Valley and gorgeous, modern touches, this is a must visit for wine lovers near and far. I received a tour by co-proprietor and CEO Jesús Martínez Bujanda Mora, who represents the fifth generation of his family’s 130-year-old wine business. Jesus hired an eminent Washington winemaker to head his project, Marie-Eve Gilla.  

Marie has some serious pedigree on her resume, first coming to the to the United States in 1991, and has previously worked at Argyle, Covey Run, Hogue, Gordon Brothers as well as Forgeron (2001-2019) before coming to Valdemar to serve as head winemaker earlier this year. She has a wealth of experience and I am very excited to see how her wines progress at Valdemar. 

Marie’s 2017 Valdemar Estates ‘Component Trial’ Syrah (WWB, 90) is sourced from the Klipsun Vineyard and has really good richness and acidity a well as deep, Red Mountain terroir. The wines I reviewed from Conde Valdemar were exceptional across the board. I love the value driven 2011 Conde Valdemar ‘Reserva’ Rioja (WWB, 92) which overdelivers for the price and comes form a rather underrated vintage in Rioja. Even better was the 2010 Conde Valdemar ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja (WWB, 93) which has wonderful richness and range, beautifully showcasing this exceptional vintage. Learn more about this special winery project at https://www.valdemarestates.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Conde Valdemar and Valdemar Estates

2016 Conde Valdemar ‘Finca Alto Cantabria’ Rioja Blanco- Sourced from a high elevation vineyard in the northern portion of Rioja, the nose ism quite nutty with roasted Marcona almond with citrus blossom and bright pear. The palate has really good tension and weight with bright lemon zest, Marcona almond and kumquat flavors that come together marvelously in the glass. Drink 2019-2029- 90

2011 Conde Valdemar ‘Reserva’ Rioja- The ‘Reserva’ by Conde Valdemar shows a deep core and opens with beautiful red fruits with leather and citrus rind accents that build in the nose. The palate shows great freshness and tension with bright red fruits that combine with blood orange and a brilliant salinity. This is a seriously good value that will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2010 Conde Valdemar ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja- The 2010 ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja by Conde Valdemar is an outstanding new release from this sensational vintage in Rioja. This fantastic 2010 bottling opens with a beautiful bouquet of blood orange zest, pomegranate seed, leather and forest floor aromas that all combine marvelously in the glass. The palate shows a wonderfully rich mouthfeel. Black and red fruits combine with citrus rind and earthy tones. Beautiful now this will evolve gracefully over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2017 Valdemar Estates ‘Component Trial’ Syrah- Sourced entirely from the Klipsun Vineyard, this opens with aromas of black tea, anise and blackberry cobbler that combine in the glass. The palate shows a good combination of intensity and freshness with black fruits that mingle. With earthy toners and chocolate. Drink 2019-2029- 90

2015 Conde Valdemar ‘Las Seis Alhajas’ Rioja- Sourced from six clones of Graciano, this wine begins with rose water and beautiful red fruits that combine with citrus zest and earthy undertones on the bouquet. The palate has incredible intensity and freshness with wonderful poise and weight. Sensational now this will cellar well for twenty years. Drink 2019-2033- 92

2016 Conde Valdemar ‘Balcon de Pilatos’ Rioja- The ‘Balcon de Pilatos’ is a 100% Maturana wine which was originally seen as extinct. Valdemar is one of the few wineries who has planted this indigenous varietal. The wine shows off an inky core with brilliant dark fruit and herbal tons that build on the nose. The palate shows good richness and density with great acidity. Black tea, Asian spices and herbal tones combine on the palate. Brilliant now, enjoy this over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 91

2016 Conde Valdemar ‘La Gargantilla’ Garnacha- This is sourced from a four hectare, high elevation, vineyard with 40 year old vines that are set in large stones. The wine begins with a wonderful stony character on the nose with pretty red fruits and bulls blood with citrus zest that fill the nose. Tons of citrus rind hit the palate with. White pepper,  and red fruits that combine brilliantly on the palate. Drinking marvelously now this will cellar well for the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2033- 92

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