W.T. Vintners

It sounds rather cliche to say that a winery is getting better and better. However, I think if you tried the first releases of W.T. Vintners wines, while very good, the new W.T. wines are simply of better quality. Their talented and charismatic winemaker, Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen co-founded W.T. Vintners in 2007. An advanced sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, Jeff also serves as wine director at one of Seattle’s finest restaurants, RN74. Jeff is not only a man of many talents but is incredibly humble and down to earth.

Jeff’s winemaking style tends to be non-interventional, as he sources from some of the great vineyards in Washington including the Boushey Vineyard and the Stoney Vine Vineyard. I absolutely love wines from the Stoney Vine Vineyard and Jeff marvelously captures the essence of this vineyard, imparting wonderful aromatic and flavor range. The 2016 W.T. Vintners ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ Syrah (WWB, 94) is one of the great wines made from this vineyard. The range imparted from this wine is sensational. Nearly as good was the 2016 W.T. Vintners ‘Rhone Blend’ Red Wine (WWB, 93) which is a silky and soft with a wonderful mouthfeel and texture. Learn more about these beautiful new wines at http://www.wtvintners.com Here are the great new wines by W.T. Vintners.

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

2018 WT Vintners ‘Underwood Mountain’ Grüner Veltliner- The nose here nicely evolves after some air with bright starfruit and gooseberry that connect with orange blossom accents. The palate has wonderful freshness and verve with nectarine rind, green apple and shades of wet stone that build on the mouth. Drink 2019-2024- 91

2016 WT Vintners ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Grenache- The nose here is beautifully perfumed and lifted with Rose water, red cherry preserves and shades of hoisin sauce. The texture is just insanely good and marvelously coats the mid palate. Bright red fruits and orange zest dance with minerals on this outstanding wine. While marvelous now, this has at least another decade ahead of it. Drink 2019-2027- 93

2016 W.T. Vintners ‘Rhone Blend’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Rhone Blend’ is a silky amalgamation of 34% Grenache, 33% Syrah and 33% Mourvedre all sourced from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA. The smoky and herbal tones on the nose almost catch you by surprise, as this displays a wonderful sense of aromatic elegance. The silky texture entices, as does the serious flavors range from guava to red cherry to blood orange zest and shades of thyme and sagebrush. Elegant and highly refined, this is a simply sensational new wine by the talented Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 WT Vintners ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Syrah- Hints of bulls blood mark this expressive nose with green peppercorns and black fruits that enter the fray. The palate is lithe showing beautiful high toned red fruits with citrus zest and shades of wild blackberry cobbler. This pretty Syrah is very well made. Drink 2019-2027- 92

2016 W.T. Vintners ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ Syrah- One of they great wines in this excellent new W.T. Vintners portfolio, the 2016 ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ Syrah opens with seductive bulls blood with Mandarin orange rind, Umami, smoke and green olive tapenade aromatics that all take shape in the glass. The palate has wonderful freshness and a silky texture. Red and dark fruits mingle with shades of black truffle crudo, bacon fat, Umami and red cherry cordial. Absolutely impossible to resist now, I think this beautiful wine will show best in its youth while the brightness stays together. Drink 2019-2025- 94

2016 WT Vintners ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Mourvedre- Showing off a deep core, the ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Mourvedre begins with white pepper and shades of tar and blackberry aromatics that take shape in the glass. The palate has wonderful freshness with ripe red and dark fruits that mingle with wet stone and earthy undertones. Drink 2019-2027- 92

2016 Raconteur Cabernet Sauvignon- A blend of 89% Cabernet with 11% Syrah, this Cabernet wine shows nice smoked meat tones that combine with dark fruits on the nose. The palate has a good combination of balance and richness with deep dark fruit flavors with exotic spices and chocolate. This is a seriously good value. Drink 2019-2024- 90

Domaine Carneros

I am always impressed with good domestic sparkling wine. That seemed to do the trick as I took two sickeningly sweet drinks back at the posh rooftop bar at the Archer Hotel in Napa and immediately reached for a bottle of Domaine Carneros. I was not disappointed. If you have never visited this stunning winery location in the Carneros region of Napa Valley, you will be in for a treat. Inspired by a French chateau in Champagne, Domaine Carneros towers over the valley, showcasing sweeping views of the Napa Valley. Claude Taittinger of famed Champagne house Taittinger, began his search for a good spot to make California Sparkling Wine in the late 1970s. Finally in 1987 he selected a 138-acre parcel in the Carneros region of the Napa Valley. 

Domaine Carneros relies on the winemaking talents of Eileen Crane, who has worked more than 30 harvests. I had the great fortune to interview her last year (http://www.washingtonwineblog.com/blog/2018/9/20/interview-with-eileen-crane-ceo-and-winemaker-at-domaine-carneros) and she was a delight to talk wine with. 

The new Domaine Carneros lineup was as good as I have ever tasted. Check out their 2015 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut Cuvee’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 91) which is an insanely good value that has great balance and very good range considering the price. The show-stopper of the portfolio is their 2012 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 95) which stands tall among the best sparkling wines made in North America. The wine was initially inspired by Champagne Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne, as their tête-de-cuvée, and impresses with its remarkable combination of weight, tension and finesse. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.domainecarneros.com Here are the new sparkling wines by Domaine Carneros

2015 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut Cuvee’ Sparkling Wine- A compelling blend of 51% Chardonnay with 57% Pinot Noir and 2% Pinot Gris, the 2015 ‘Brut Cuvee’ was aged for three and a half years prior to disgorgement and was given just a touch of dosage (.9%). The nose shows nice earthy undertones with biscuit and green apple aromatics that all meld together in the glass. The texture and refinement of the wine is really good, as Pazzaz apple, kumquat rind and shades of wild mushroom with sourdough bread all combine brilliantly on the palate. Fresh and filled with energy, this great new sparkling wine will have another decade ahead of it. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2015 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- The 2015 ‘Brut Rose’ by Domaine Carneros is a fantastic blend of 58% Pinot Noir with 42% Chardonnay that was aged for three years of the lees prior to disgorgement. Like the ‘Brut Cuvee’ only .09% dosage was added, as this wine shows slightly better flavor and aromatic range at a warmer temperature. Instantly you are hit with bright red fruits that enter the fray with fragrant white peach and shades of mulberry all marvelously collecting momentum aromatically. The freshness and balance of the wine is really nice as bright strawberry and guava flavors mingle with sourdough bread and shades of teaberry that all nicely combine on the palate. While fantastic in its youth this beautiful Rose Sparkling Wine will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2013 Domaine Carneros ‘Late Disgorged’ Sparkling Wine- The 2013 Domaine Carneros ‘Late Disogrged’ Sparkling Wine is a seriously good effort from this warm vintage in the Carneros region. Weighing in at 12% alcohol, this underwent .8% dosage, as the wine is a blend of near equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The musty and earthy elements of the wine are quite pronounced aromatically with wild mushroom and shades of wet stone with lime zest infused French baguette all enter the fray aromatically. The elegance of the wine is wonderful as the silky mousse entices. Bright nectarine, kumquat, and Pazzaz apple flavors all mingle with shades of damp earth and Macadamia nut. This is seriously good now and will evolve gracefully for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2012 Domaine Carnets ‘La Reve’ Sparkling Wine- The 2012 ‘La Reve’ Sparkling Wine is a stunning new bottling by the talented winemaking team. The aromatics grip you with shades of melon, wet stone and lemon influseds Challah bread that all mingle together. The silky mousse really entices on the tongue with bright kumquat zest and lemon oil with shades of sourdough bread. The t3ezxutere even improves asl well as aromatically when the wine is consumed from a white wine glass. This is truly outstanding stuff that will cellar well for decades. Drink 2019-2035- 95

2016 Domaine Carneros ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir by Domaine Carneros opens with ripe cola and blackberry syrup with shades of underbrush that all mingle together in the glass. The combination of freshness and weight is very good, as the acidity runs through dark and red fruit flavors with cola accents. Fruity and delicious, this wine will provide drinking enjoyment for the next five to seven years. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2016 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Ciel Serein’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Le Ceil Serein’ Pinot Noir is largely comprised of Dijon clone 667 (72%) as the wine spent fifteen months in 41% new French oak prior to bottling. The earthy tones from the Dijon clones are quite evident as forest floor and black truffle shavings march with cola and black cherry cordial aromas that all build nicely in the glass. The wine displays a soft mouthfeel, delivering medium-bodied red and dark fruit flavors that collide with minerals and earthy undertones. Outstanding in its youth, this complex and delicious Pinot Noir will cellar well for a decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

Rasa Vineyards

As we continue our dive into Washington Wine Month we bring you one of the great talents in Washington wine who is also one of the nicest people you will meet. Billo Naravane is the brilliant mastermind behind all Rasa Vineyards bottlings. Alongside his brother, Pinto Naravane, Billo crafts very precise and singular expressions of Washington State terroir. His new lineup of wines is truly one of the best in the state — from crisp Rieslings to inky Syrahs.

With a background in science, Billo Naravane initially was inspired by wine while living Austin, Texas. During that time Billo was exposed to some of the finest wines in the world and he fully caught the wine bug. Finally, he and his brother, Pinto, made the bold decision to start Rasa Vineyards in 2007. My first exposure to these great wines was many years back when I was served a 2007 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED’ Syrah blind. I was absolutely mesmerized by the seamless quality of the wine. With a bachelor’s degree from MIT and a master’s degree from Stanford, Billo then studied viticulture an enology at UC Davis. He is now one of the few masters of wine (MW) in the world. The wines he crafts show tremendous texture, richness, poise and terroir — and are only getting better by each vintage. 

I was totally blown away with the new Rasa Vineyards lineup. Up there with the best Riesling made in Washington is the 2017 Rasa vineyards ‘The Composer’ Riesling (WWB, 93) which has insanely good poise and range. This is one for any serious lover of Washington Riesling. Even better is the 2016 Rasa Vineyards ‘For the Love of the Game’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 96) which is up there with the top Cabernet Sauvignon made in the state. Learn more about this fantastic Walla Walla winery at rasavineyards.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Rasa Vineyards. 

2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘The Composer’ Riesling-  This Alsatian style Riesling was sourced from the Dionysus and Bacchus Vineyards as Billo Naravane has crafted ‘The Composer’ from three different clones of Riesling. The mouthfeel to this wine is incredible as this bone dry Riesling shows tremendous acidity that rips through the palate. Tangerine peel with melon tones and wet stone flavors all meld together on the palate. This is sensational wine that is truly one of a kind Riesling that can be enjoyed over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘Dream Deferred’ Chardonnay-  The 2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘Dream Deferred’ Chardonnay is up there with the best of its kind in the state. Sourced from the Frenchman Hills vineyard, the wine saw 25% new French oak prior to bottling. The beautiful nose reveals bright creme brûlée with banana, melon tones and wet rock that all build in the glass. The texture to this wine is downright gorgeous. Ripe peach and bananas foster with shades of nutmeg and clove infused golden delicious apple flavors all collect momentum on the palate. While a delight to savor in its youth, this outstanding effort will continue to shine for another decade or more, building lovely tertiary tones as it ages. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Occam’s Razor’ is a compelling blend of a wide range of varietals including Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional and Petit Verdot that were all aged in 12% new French oak prior to bottling, The herbal tones are really nice with black tea and exotic spices that mingle with the dark fruit character on the nose. The wine packs a punch showing a good combination of red and dark fruits that mingle with chocolate and herbal tones. While not hugely complex, this is very satisfying and delicious, particularly at this price point. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘Axiom of Choice’ Cabernet Franc- The 2017 ‘Axiom of Choice’ Cabernet Franc is another sensational release by superstar winemaker Billo Naravane.  This Cabernet Franc sourced from both the Weinbau and Firethorn Vineyards. The nose is very pretty with violets that connect with shades of black tea, ripe blueberry and blackberry cobbler all mingling nicely on this intense bouquet. The freshness and mouthfeel here is fantastic as the wine shows off its silky texture. Black tea and lavender mingle with the lovely blue and black fruit tones on the palate. Seductive, yet light on its feet, this beautiful wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘Axiom of Choice The Strong Law’ Red Wine- The 2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘The Strong Law’ is an outstanding blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (DuBrull, Kiona, Dionysus and XL VIneyards) and Merlot (Firethorn, DuBrul and Bacchus Vneyards). The wine begins with aromas of Asian spices, blackberry pie, and shades of licorice that all mingle nicely on the nose. The freshness of the wine is really fantastic as the sterling tension entices. Bright red fruits mingle with shades of Earl Grey tea, sagebrush and black currant flavors. Highly gratifying in its youth, and texturally elegant, this outstanding red blend will evolve well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘Primus Inter Pares Monette’s Vineyard’ Grenache- Sourced from the Monette’s Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA, this is sadly the last year that Billo Naravane will make this wine due to issues with current vineyard management. The ‘Primus Inter Pares’ opens with a highly intoxicating bouquet, exhibiting beautiful range from red rose petals to Mandarin orange rind and smoky tones that mingle with red cherry puree that all mingle marvelously in the glass The palate is silky smooth, delivering a wonderful seamless quality as the wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. The purity of fruit is marvelous as red cherry, red raspberry, guava puree and shades of wet stone with smoked blood orange flavors. The verve and brightness of the wine really shines. Enjoy this stunning Grenache over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 95

2015 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED’ Syrah (Fall 2019 release)- Largely Syrah (74%) with smaller portions Mourvedre, Grenache and a hint of Viognier, the 2015 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED’ Syrah opens with intense aromas of black tea and exotic spices which connect with blackberry and black currant jelly with sagebrush aromas that all collide in the glass. The texture is gorgeous as the racy acidity really impresses considering the heat of the vintage. Black tea, Asian spices, mocha and tar flavors all impress. Rich and layered, the ‘QED’ is truly fantastic in its youth. Enjoy the fantastic bottling over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 94

2015 Rasa Vineyards ‘Principia’ Syrah- The 2015 ‘Principia’ Syrah is a stunning effort that was sourced from four vineyards (Bacchus, Upland, Firethorn and SJR Vineyards) and then was aged in 30% new oak prior to bottling. Blackberry jam with white pepper, white pepper, dried herbs, chocolate pie and nice stony character all mingle brightly on the nose. The working pieces from each vineyard really shine on the palate, as the wine shows stunning range and wonderful earthy and stony tones from the SJR Vineyard. This is a true heavyhitter of a wine that will cellar marvelously for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 95

2014 Rasa Vineyards ‘Veritas Sequiter SJR VIneyard’ Syrah (Fall 2019 release)- The 2015 ‘Veritas Sequiter’ Syrah is a true heavyhitter of a wine made by superstar winemaker Billo Naravane, MW, which was sourced from the esteemed ‘SJR Vineyard’ and underwent 100% whole cluster fermentation. The wine was stored in 90% new French oak prior to bottling. On the nose there is wonderful range from exotic spices to Satsuma orange peel to shades of blueberry pie and horse manure with green olive tapenade. The seductive nose constantly takes you back to the glass for more hedonism. The plush texture truly entices as black cherry compote, leather, espresso bean, blueberry pie and shades of milk chocolate and a savory edge which all meld marvelously together on the mouth. The texture dazzles, as the rich, almost unctuous mouthfeel adds to the drinking. enjoyment. While fantastic in its youth, this will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 96

2015 Rasa Vineyards ‘Creative Impulse’ Red Wine- The ‘Creative Impulse’ is a spectacular blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot all sourced from the DuBrul Vineyard. The nose is highly complex and very pretty with red rose petals that mingle with the black tea, licorice and blackberry compote with nice herbal tones that sing aromatically. The palate show wonderful balance and poise delivering rich dark fruit and sagebrush flavors that mingle with mocha undertones. While delightful now, this elegant wine will have a very long time in the cellar. This is a seriously good effort considering the challenges faced for red wines during this vintage. Drink 2019-2035- 94

2015 Rasa Vineyards ‘A Perfect Union’ Red Wine- The 2015 Rasa Vineyards ‘A Perfect Union’ Red Wine was sourced rom the DuBrul, XL, Kiona, Dionysus, Weinbau and Firethorn Vineyards. The wine opens with sagebrush and black tea with licorice and blackberry aromas that all meld together in the glass. The balance here is incredible with wonderful black tea, milk chocolate, blackberry compote and herbal undertones. This has wonderful balance and weight that impresses. With racy acidity and medium tannins, this will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2019-2035- 94

2016 Rasa Vineyards ‘Plus One’ Cabernet Sauvignon (Fall 2016 release)- Sourced from the old block of Kiona Vineyard planted in 1974. The non-fruit aromas seem to really sing with tar infused chocolate and dried sagebrush tones that collide with boysenberry puree and shades of candied dark licorice that all impress in the glass. The palate deftly walks the tightrope between weight and elegance. Turkish coffee, tar, anise, dark chocolate shavings and shades of underbrush flavors all enter into the fray. A delight to savor in its youth, the rich tannin structure of the wine as well as the bright acidity suggests that this will be exceedingly long lived. Drink 2020-2040- 95

2016 Rasa Vineyards ‘For the Love of the Game’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Released in May 2019, the ‘For the Love of the Game’ composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon which was sourced from the Wallula Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The nose is really exciting with ripe dark fruits that mingle with eucaptyus, Asian spices, tar and espresso bean and shades of cassis that all shine brightly on the nose. The silky texture makes this glide across the mid-palate. I am really impressed with the purity of fruit as well as the seamless quality to this wine that really impresses. Copious dark fruits mingle with chocolate, creosote, and sagebrush tones on the palate. The earthy character adds to the drinking enjoyment. This is fantastic young but will only get better with some bottle age. Drink 2020-2040- 96

Gramercy Cellars

Continuing our journey into Washington Wine Month, we bring you the latest from Gramercy Cellars, located in Walla Walla. Founder, winemaker and master sommelier, Greg Harrington, MS, crafts both Rhone and Bordeaux varietals, as he sources from some of the top vineyards in the state. His 2018 Rose was one of my top scoring Pacific Northwest Rose wines on my Rose Report — and if you haven’t had the chance to try this silky Rose, you are absolutely missing out. Intelligent and highly driven, Greg Harrington passed the master sommelier exam at the age of 26 and works closely with partner and co-winemaker, Brandon Moss, in crafting minimal intervention wines that are sourced from some of the great vineyards in the state.

Brandon and Greg have created a gorgeous new lineup of Gramercy Cellars wines. The 2018 Gramercy Cellars Rose (WWB, 92), shows wonderful finesse and texture. This is a must-buy for any serious Rose lover. I was absolutely blown away with their 2016 Gramercy Cellars ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah (WWB, 95) is entirely sourced from the Les Collines Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. This wine shows incredible range and complexity, marvelously showcasing this special vineyard. Learn more about this fantastic new lineup at  gramercycellars.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Gramercy Cellars and the superstar winemaking team of Greg Harrington, MS and Brandon Moss.

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 Gramercy Cellars Picpoul- Sourced from the Walla Walla Valley AVA, the 2018 Gramercy Cellars Picpoul shows bright melon tones with kiwi and shades of nutmeg that fill the nose. The palate shows beautiful freshness and verve, delivering bright kiwi, cantaloupe and wet stone flavors with lemon rind accents. Highly complex and novel, this delicious wine would pair marvelously with fresh shellfish. Drink 2019-2024-92

2016 Gramercy Cellars ‘The Third Man’ Grenache- In this vintage ‘The Third Man’ is an enticing blend of 75% Grenache with 13% Syrah and 12% Mourvedre. Translucent in the glass, this 2016 Grenche opens with shades of blood orange zest that connect with the bright red fruits on the nose. The palate shows off a silky texture, delivering guava, strawberry and red cherry candy with Mandarin orange rind accents. This is outstanding in its youth but will pick up some nice tertiary notes over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 Gramercy Cellars ‘Les Collines’ Syrah- The ‘Les Collines Vineyards’ has become one of the great vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.This high elevation vineyard is set between 1100 to 1300 feet as this vineyard is set on silt loam soils. The earthy tones on the nose really entice with herbs de Provence, black tea and shades of licorice that build in the glass. The texture is really beautiful with a soft mouthfeel. Bright red fruits dance with minerals and citrus zest accents on the palate. While delightful in its youth, this will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 Gramercy Cellars ‘Lagniappe’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘Lagniappe’ Syrah is entirely sourced from the Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley which is known for its very pretty red fruit profile. The nose shows just that alongside dried sagebrush and chocolate tones that all collide in the glass. The palate has good freshness and verve, as well as a rather decadent mouthfeel. Wild blackberry cobbler, red cherry candy and earthy undertones connect in this delicious wine. Enjoy the 2016 ‘Lagniappe’ over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 Gramercy Cellars ‘L’Idiot Du Village’ Mourvedre- Winemakers Brandon Moss and Greg Harrington have developed quite a cult following with this bottling which is up there with the best of its kind in the state. The 2016 ‘L’Idiot Du Village’ Mourvedre opens with a beautiful bouquet ranging from smoked meats to  red fruits as well as Hoisin sauce to leather and wet stone tones that all build on this seriously good nose. Once again, the texture really shines here, giving you a ripe mouthfeel. Bing cherry preserves, orange zest, smoked pork shoulder and shades of milk chocolate all collect energy once in the mouth. Outstanding in its youth, this will provide drinking enjoyment for another decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 Gramercy Cellars ‘Gramercy Estates’ Red Wine- The ‘Gramercy Estates’ is a silky blend of 80% Merlot with the reminder equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon entirely sourced from the JB George Vineyard, which is adjacent to the Pepper Bridge Vineyard. The nose shows cocoa powder with red and dark fruits as well as sagebrush accents that round out this outstanding nose. The palate is plush, delivering straightforward red and dark fruit flavors with black tea and mocha accents. While delicious in its youth, this will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Gramercy Cellars ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah by Gramercy Cellars is another scintillating effort from the superstar winemaking team of Brandon Moss and Greg Harrington, MS. Entirely sourced from the Les Collins Vineyard, this wine underwent 100% whole cluster fermentation. It comes off initially quite reticent as this is needing at least a one hour decant to fully evolve,. Once aroused the wine slowly unveils exotic spices that collide with the fresh herbs, black fruits and dusty terroir that all settle in the glass. The palate evokes a wonderful feeling of elegance, as this shows off brilliant sagebrush, blood orange peel, cigar ash, pomegranate seed and shades of huckleberry that give this serious range and an exotic edge. A nice beam of salinity also runs through this wine, as the mouth-watering acidity adds to the enjoyment. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this stunning new wine at least a one hour decant. Drink 2020-2035- 95

Chateau Ste. Michelle

As we continue our journey through Washington Wine Month we bring you one of the historic Washington wineries. Many of you might not know that we have the world’s largest producer of Riesling right in our backyard. Chateau Ste. Michelle produces millions of bottles of wine — a staggering 8 million bottles of Riesling a year — and the most remarkable part is the Riesling is very good. The oldest winery in Washington state, Chateau Ste. Michelle was originally founded as the American Wine Company, set on 87 acres that was once a rural farm. Many great Washington winemaking talents have come through Chateau Ste. Michellle, from Dan Wampfler to Jason Gorski. Chateau Ste. Michelle owns some of the state’s historic vineyards including the Cold Creek Vineyard which was founded in the 1970s. 

Chateau Ste. Michelle is led by superstar winemaker, Bob Bertheau, who crafts some beautiful red and white wines with his team Originally from Seattle, Bob has a MS in enology from the famed program at UC Davis. Bob’s illustrious career also includes five years as assistant winemaker under eminent winemaker David Ramey while at historic Sonoma estate, Chalk Hill. His new wines are seriously good, showing wonderful range and impressive quality to price ratio. One of the great Riesling bottlings in the state, particularly at this price point, the 2017 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling (WWB, 93) is one of the great Riesling wines from Washington that I have tasted over the past year. Do not miss out on this stunning new wine that is up there with the best they have made in the past fifteen plus years. Learn more about these fantastic new wines at https://www.ste-michelle.com Here are the recent releases by Chateau Ste. Michelle. 

2017 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Horse Heaven Hills Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- Direct upon entry, the 2017 ‘Horse Heaven Hills Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc shows wonderful grassy tones with bright lemon zest and melon accents on this expressive nose. The palate unveils wonderful racy acidity with just the faintest kiss of sweetness. The long finish lingers. Enjoy this in its youth while the brightness remains. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2017 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling- Chateau Ste. Michelle has been making this special bottling for nearly twenty years now and I have sampled every vintage of the wine since 2003. This version is every bit as good as any that has been made in this partnership with Ernst Loosen and Chateau Ste. Michelle head winemaker Bob Bertheau. On the nose there is lovely Gravenstein apple and lemon blossom aromas that mingle with shades of wet stone on the complex bouquet. Once on the attack the palate displays gobs of mouth-watering acidity. Bright lemon zest with shades of wet stone and kumquat with green apple accents round out this beautiful wine. While a delight to savor in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next five to seven years. Drink 2019-2025- 93

2016 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Cold Creek Vineyard’ Chardonnay- One of the warmer sites for Chardonnay, this wine typically shows good opulence particularly in warm vintages and this current ‘Cold Creek Vineyard’ Chardonnay is an absolutely fantastic expression of Washington Chardonnay. Vanilla creme brûlée with shades of clove and nutmeg infused sourdough bread all shine together on the palate. Showing good freshness despite the heat of the vintage, this outstanding, well-weighted effort will be best enjoyed over the next seven years. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2017 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Mimi’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Forward and juicy, the ‘Mimi’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a soft and downright plush mouthfeel with loads of black fruits that mingle with tar and dark chocolate on the palate. While quite forward, this has the stuffing and acidity to pack a punch. Drink 2019-2024- 90

2016 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This is the second year that Chateau Ste. Michelle have made this limited production bottling. Inky once in the glass, the ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon opens with toasty oak that wraps around tar and kirsch aromatics with hints of coffee grounds. Soft, with a nice, plush mouthfeel, this unveils black tea and blackberry cobbler flavors with a hint of vanilla. Drink 2019-2024- 90

2015 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ by Chateau Ste. Michelle is another fantastic effort from this storied estate. Toasty oak wraps around dark and red fruits with hints of leather and chocolate on the nose. The palate is plush showing off a soft mouthfeel. Blackberry cobbler, milk chocolate and sagebrush tones fill the palate. This is seriously good for the price. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2016 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the best ‘Artist Series’ wines I have sampled in the past twenty vintages of tasting this wine. On the nose this hedonistic Cabernet Sauvignon takes on Turkish coffee, alongside black cherry cordial and shades of sandalwood aromas that all are delightfully woven together in the glass. The palate evokes a plush and decadent edge, unveiling a silky mouthfeel and beautifully soft texture. Dense flavors of Black Forest Cake, tar, black tea and shades of exotic spices all dance on the mouth. While enticing and seductive in its youth, this outstanding ‘Artist Series’ will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2033- 93

Harbison Estate

One of the fantastic boutique wineries in the Napa Valley, Harbison Estate was founded by Joe and Pat Harbison starting in 2005 when they purchased a small parcel of land on the east side of Oakville. For years the Harbison’s have been known for their famed wine cellar and they were known for their generous donations to regional auctions for three decades. Over time they created their own brand, JP Harbison, utilizing purchased fruit from the Oakville AVA and crafting wines from 1998-2007 under this label. Remarkably this label generated over $3 million dollars for children’s charities. 

By 2005 the Harbison’s acquired this stunning property in the Oakville AVA, and planted Cabernet Sauvignon on uplifted allivial fan and red volcanic dirt which now produces roughly 75 cases of Harbison Estate Cabernet Sauvignon each vintage. The Harbison’s rely on the talents of Napa legend, Russell Bevan, for their winemaking. These wines are extremely hard to find in the retail market.

I recently had the chance to taste their new release wine coming from the 2015 vintage and were absolutely blown away. Their 2015 Harbison Estate ‘The Trail’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 97) is absolutely magical in its youth and shows off incredible Napa terroir and wonderful richness and texture. This wine has great finesse but is also rich, dense and decadent. Learn more about these gorgeous wines at http://harbisonwines.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Harrison Estate.

2015 Harbison Estate ‘The Trail’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 Harbison Estate ‘The Trail’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a simply magical wine at this young stage in its development. The aromatics of the wine are quite powerful immediately, as the wine showcases mocha, tar and exotic spices with creme de cassis and shades of black tea all entering the fray. Dense and plush, with a chewy mouthfeel and wondrous texture, this silky wine is not only rich but shows great freshness and finesse. Intense creme de cassis, espresso bean, dusty terroir, creosote with minerals all impress on this gratifying palate. An absolute delight to savor in its youth, this beautiful wine will provide drinking enjoyment for decades. Drink 2020-2045- 97

Larkmead Vineyards

One of the great historic Napa estates, founded in 1895, Larkmead Vineyards have gained an international reputation for their world class Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Their estate vineyard is located between Selby Creek and the Napa River at the conjunction point of two colluvial fans that extend from the Mayacamas and the Vaca mountain ranges. Vines are set on an ancient gravel riverbed gravel which lies directly beneath the topsoil. Winemaker Dan Petroski is one of they talented minds of Napa and has excelled with his new set of releases from the exciting 2016 vintage. Born in Brooklyn, Dan attended Columbia University and then completed NYU business school before moving into marketing, finance and advertising at Time Inc. and Sports Illustrated. HIs interest in wine moved him to Sicily, as caught the wine bug and later migrated to the Napa Valley, devoting himself into learning the art and science of winemaking.

His entry level Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 96) is amongst the best of Napa not only because of its depth but deft sense of balance and place. This is a remarkable wine. Even better was the 2016 Larkmead ‘Solari’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 98) which is close to perfection in a bottle, showing even more massive structure and dark fruit and non-fruit flavors. Learn more about this storied Napa estate at https://larkmead.com Here are the beautiful new Cabernet Sauvignon wines by Larkmead Vineyards.

2016 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon-  The 2016 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning new wine from this exciting vintage in the Napa Valley. A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Petit Verdot this glorious new release was aged in 60% new French oak prior to bottling. Aromatically quite intense right out of the gate, you are immediately greeted with fresh red roses that mingle with tar, pipe tobacco and leather alongside mocha and anise aromatics that all mingle nicely together in the glass. Rich and intense on the mouth, this well-structured wine delivers ripe blackberry cobbler, crushed mint, and creosote flavors that collide with the dusty terroir on the palate. This captivating wine lingers long with black licorice and minerals. While this is remarkable, intense and fresh in its youth, the 2016 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment for decades. Drink 2020-2035- 96

2016 Larkmead ‘Solari’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Solari Black Label’ Cabernet Sauvignon is an absolute revelation at this early state in its development. Deep, layered and highly gratifying aromatics greet you with smoky undertones that are set with black tea, exotic spices and huckleberry compote that all wonderfully meld together on the nose. There is a seamless quality that deftly carries through this wine. While obviously rich, the sense of balance is also very satisfying. Highly structured and tannic the ‘Solari’ incredible texture, yielding intense mocha, asphalt, anise and creme de cassis flavors. The black fruit and mineral driven finish lingers exceedingly long. While a delight to savor in its youth, this beautiful wine will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Make sure and give this at least another year of bottle development prior to enjoying. Drink 2021-2045- 98

Interview with Ed Sbragia, Owner and Winemaker of Sbragia Family Vineyards

A man not needing any introduction, today we have one of the most exciting interviews I have done for Washington Wine Blog. Ed Sbragia is one of California’s iconic winemakers. An innovator from the start, Ed played a huge role in transforming Beringer into one of major world players for not only their entry level wines but their high quality Private Reserve Cabernet and Chardonnay bottlings. I have long admired these wines and absolutely love the aging potential of both wines. A delight to talk wine with, about a week ago I sat down with Ed and talked about his illustrious career, as well as his namesake winery, Sbragia Family Vineyards. I think you will very much enjoy hearing his story in wine. Here is my exclusive interview with Ed Sbragia, owner and winemaker of Sbragia Family Vineyards.

WWB: What was it like stating out at Beringer?

ES: Before starting at Beringer, I was in graduate school and had the chance to meet Mr. Myron Nightingale, who was one of the iconic winemakers in the wine industry at that time. He had been working at Beringer for 30 years. I was really impressed with Beringer’s location and the winery, particularly the direction the winery was headed. I found out that Callaway winery had hired Beringer’s assistant winemaker. One of my friends was the enologist at Beringer so I decided to apply for the winemaker position because my friend said he wasn’t interested. I got the job and started in 1976 and didn’t start my own winery until 32 years later.

At the time, Beringer was a winery of about 40,000 cases, a moderate size for a Napa Valley. They had gone through multiple Beringer generations and when I started there, had been sold to Nestle. This was avgood thing for me because Nestle wanted us to focus on making high-end wines, and I began buying grapes out of Howell Mountain with plans to buy more grapes from the best locations in Napa. We hired Bob Steinhauer in 1979 to be our vineyard manager and then from then on we were able to build the premium vineyard sources we wanted. In retrospect it seemed like Camelot! Beringer was a great place to be and I used mostly company owned vineyards with some great outside growers to make our wines. I believe we made some great wines while I was there.

WWB: How did you start the Beringer ‘Private Reserve’ label which became one of the iconic wine brands in California?

ES: That is a good question. At the time we owned a vineyard called ‘Chabot’ located on Glass Mountain, previously called the Lemon Ranch the first year because it was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lemon. What was great about this vineyard was its 30-year old vines. We were very excited about this. We put it in the bottle and let it age for a year and a half. Initially the Private Reserve was 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. I didn’t get any Cabernet Franc until the mid-80s so it was 100% Cab until 1986. I was able to select wines from the best sites and blend them together, which was a fun challenge for me! We were making Chardonnay from the beginning of when I started and that didn’t really come to be Private Reserve until later in my tenure. We made our Private Reserve Chardonnay from Oakville AVA vineyards.

The idea behind the Private Reserve Chardonnay was my understanding of how great white Burgundy was made. These wines were aged in new barrels for 18 months and had batonnage, so we started doing the same thing. I liked the way the wine turned out and essentially the technique was fun. We experimented with new barrels when most people were using only stainless steel, making some less than spectacular wines from being aged in stainless steel. The Burgundian barrel fermentation and battonnage technique created incredible flavors and textures. We learned that you can greatly enhance the Chardonnay through malolactic fermentation, barrel aging and lees stirring, as all of those things make the wine richer and give it more complexity. The wonderful thing about sitting on the lees, is the Chardonnay becomes extracted with a lot of character from the wood and the malolactic fermentation - you ended up getting a balanced wine that ages beautifully. That was how Private Reserve Chardonnay started. The thing was, I was not trying to make a French wine but I was using Burgundian techniques that had worked across the world to make great California wines. I still do that with my Sbragia wines.

WWB: How did you finally decide to start your own winery, Sbragia Family Vineyards?

ES: I left Beringer as winemaker emeritus in 2008 and did a few things for them for a few years thereafter. I also had the chance to work in Asia with Beringer before I left and that was great. Demands in terms of my own winery took over and my son, Adam, who is a really talented winemaker, started helping out a lot in the winery. So right now I am not working as hard as I used to, which is nice. It was a scary thing starting my winery, yet I got a lot of support from Adam who worked for me at Beringer. They also helped sell the wine for me for a while, providing national marketing and sales support.

We left them in 2012 but Beringer has always treated me well. It was finally time for me to start my own winery and Adam helped make this decision easier, as he’s turned into a great winemaker. Sbragia became a family winery for me and I always wanted to work with my family. My youngest son, Kevin, is working as a bookkeeper and Adam is now responsible for all production and winemaking. All family members have worked here at various times, and my wife, Jane, works all of the events with me and Adam. We are very excited about celebrating our anniversary soon, 15 years here at Sbragia Family Vineyards. And I’m very excited about a new project Adam launched this year called Home Field, a red blend from Dry Creek vineyards. The name Home Field refers to him growing up in and knowing all the best vineyards in Dry Creek valley.

WWB: I have always been highly impressed with your Sbragia Chardonnay lineup and I recently had a chance to taste through your new releases. Can you talk about your incredible new wine, the 2015 ‘Gamble Ranch’ Chardonnay (WWB, 94) a wine with tremendous richness and texture?  

ES: I am very familiar with the Gamble Ranch and crafting great Chardonnay from that site. The Gamble Ranch Vineyard has deep clay soils, almost black soils. I have been crushing these grapes since the 1970s. These are old vines and they have produced truly outstanding Beringer Private Reserves. I continue to acquire this fruit from the Gamble family for Sbragia Family Vineyards - 2015 was a drought vintage with small berries and concentrated flavors. Gamble Ranch produces grapes with bright citrus and apple characteristics. The barrel fermentation adds layers of butter and also nutty tones. With time you develop richness and the flavors, oak, richness and acidity all integrate beautifully. This is how I wanted to make that wine, a delicious wine for our customers and friends. I personally best enjoy the Gamble Chardonnay when it gets older and the caramel, butterscotch and creme brûlée flavors emerge.

WWB: What is your cellar like?

ES: I have lots of Beringer wine from my many years as winemaker there. I also have Burgundy and Bordeaux in my cellar, which I relish for special occasions. I tend to sip the Gamble Ranch Chardonnay often and I love the Monte Rosso and the mountain fruit - I always have loved that wine! We make a wine out of Howell Mountain fruit that I like a lot; it’s a slightly bigger wine then the Monte Rosso. I also enjoy Italian wines and worked for Gabbiano as a consultant for many years. I had a great time working with the winemaker there and I have many of these wines in my cellar. I tend to drink wines from Sonoma and Napa, as well as a lot of my Sbragia wines because I need to check them out and watch their progress as they age. My favorite old Bordeaux in the cellar are the Chateau  Pichon-Lalandes and Chateau Lynch-Bages wines.

HALL

As I made my way up the long staircase to the tasting room, I had the feeling like this would be something serious. Many colleagues and winemakers I have spoken to have been overwhelmingly positive about the 2016 vintage in Napa. David Ramey described it as ‘incredible’ while Sojourn Cellars winemaker Erich Bradley noted that 2016 has ‘incredible opulence.’ Sitting down with HALL President Mike Reynolds, he shared his thoughts, describing the 2016 vintage as ‘probably somewhere between 2013 and 2014. It is not as soft as 2014 was but is somewhat in the same range in terms of the density of tannins. . . beautiful and rich wines.’

I have written about HALL wines since I first visited their tasting room back fifteen years ago. Initially founded in 1992 by Kathryn and Craig Hall, HALL have built one of the most beautiful, state of the art, wineries in Napa. I have been blown away with the consistency of these wines, particularly in recent years. It is clear that the focus on quality is paramount as this winery has not only been blessed with an exceptional run of vintages but has been known to succeed even in the more challenging vintages like 2010 and 2011.

The 2016 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 97) is a masterful effort. The wine shows incredible texture and its hallmark seamless quality that runs through the palate. This is as good as any ‘Kathryn Hall’ wines that has ever been produced. I was blown away with all of their ‘Platinum Collection’ wines, which are up there with the best wines that I have reviewed in the past year. These are very limited production wines that exude class. If you can get your hands on the 2016 HALL ‘Rainin’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 99), I would welcome you to try what is one of the best wines that I have tried in the past year. Seamless and rich, with incredible verve, the 2016 ‘Rainin’ is up there with the best that I have ever tried from this storied Napa estate. Learn more about these beautiful wines at hallwines.com Here are the beautiful new wines by HALL.

2016 HALL ‘1873’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 HALL ‘1873’ Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from a host of vineyards primarily in the Atlas Peak AVA and also vineyards to the north of that AVA. The ‘1873’ shows off an inky color and begins with shades of red bell pepper that mingle with milk chocolate and tar on this expressive nose. Soft and plush on the mouth, the wine delivers seductive black tea, Asian spices, mocha and sweet pipe tobacco flavors. The length and soft texture really entices. Outstanding in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well for fifteen years or more. Drink 2019-2035- 94

2016 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a show-stopping wine from superstar winemaker Steve Levesque. The core fruit source for the wine is the Sacrashe Vineyard as this is a barrel-selection Cabernet Sauvignon wine. The nose is simply captivating as violets and tar collide with shades of blueberry compote and sweet pipe tobacco that all sing in the glass. Soft and plush on the mouth, the wine delivers a seamless quality with wonderful weight that truly entices. Blueberry compote, leather, mocha, creosote and shades of Asian spices all shine brightly on this exceedingly good palate. With polished tannins this finishes long with dark fruits and minerals. While a delight to consume in its youth, the 2016 ‘Katheryn Hall’ will provide drinking enjoyment for twenty years. Drink 2020-2040- 97

2016 HALL ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ by HALL is a stunning new wine that is built to age for decades. Sourced from a host of Napa Valley AVAs, the ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ shows deep tar, Turkish coffee, dried sage, with dusty terroir aromatics all are brilliantly woven together on this expressive nose. The power on the mid-palate is quite massive as the wine shows moderate tannins with shades of espresso bean, tar, black currant jelly and shades of blackberry pie. Seductive and intense in its youth this beautiful wine will cellar well for decades. Try to give this spectacular wine at least another year prior to consumption. Drink 2020-2040- 96

2016 HALL ‘Montagna Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A new wine to the HALL collection of Cabernet Sauvignon wines, the ‘Montagna Vineyard’ is located on Pritchard Hill towards the top of the hill, as the vineyard is blessed with sweeping views of the town of Napa. The nose is highly perfumed here with violets that mingle with shades of black tea, exotic spices, black currants and dusty terroir that all collide in the glass. The silky texture beautifully coats the mid-palate. Chinese black tea, blackberry cobbler, creosote and shades of espresso bean all mingle together on this beautiful palate. There is a wonderful elegance to the wine. With fine grained tannins lining this wine and a wonderful mid-palate weight, this beautiful wine will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2019-2040- 96

2016 HALL ‘Exzellenz’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Exzellenz’ is limited production wine that was entirely sourced from the Sacrashe Vineyard on Diamond Mountain. The aromatics of the wine are simply gorgeous as the wine immediately unveils crushed mint and black tea that mingle with shades of creme de cassis, Turkish coffee and blueberry compote that sing together in harmony. The silky texture and mouthfeel to the wine is remarkable as soft tannins line this beautiful wine. Blackberry pie, blueberry, tar and milk chocolate with earthy undertones  and minerals all marvelously amalgamate on the palate. The exceedingly long finish lingers with black fruits and minerals. While seductive and deep in its youth, this beautiful wine will continue to cellar well for decades. Drink 2019-2040- 97

2016 HALL ‘Rainin Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Rainin Vineyard’ is a limited-production, barrel selection wine made by HALL in their Platinum Collection. The nose is downright hedonistic in showing Turkish coffee with blueberry compote, dusty terroir, and shades of creosote that all mingle nicely in the glass. This Cabernet shows incredible decadence and a seamless quality that is hard to describe. Mocha, anise, tar, sandalwood, blueberry compote, exotic spices with shades of creme de cassis all strut their stride on this expressive palate. The length, weight and tannins structure of the wine really impresses. Outstanding in its youth, this will deliver downright hedonistic drinking enjoyment for decades. This is about as close to perfection as you can get. Drink 2019-2040- 99

2016 HALL ‘The Bishop’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Named after winemaker Steve Levesque, whose name in French is ‘The Bishop’ this is a simply stunning Cabernet Sauvignon that is absolutely intoxicating in its youth but has a long way to go. You are instantly enticed by the complex aromatics that slowly release blueberry pie with black tea, Asian spices, mocha and tar that all collide in the glass. The wine shows off silky tannins and a voluptuous mouthfeel that dances through the mid-palate. There is a marvelous, seamless character to the wine that really rings true as this glides across the mid-palate. Intense and layered, the palate shows off rich mocha, creme de cassis, anise and Turkish coffee flavors that are woven together with minerals and fine grained tannins. A delight to savor in its youth this stunning new release will cellar well for decades. Drink 2019-2040- 98

2016 HALL ‘Sacrashe Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Sacrashe Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted from a few of the top few barrels of all of the wines sourced from the vineyard. The nose is exceedingly dense, unveiling exotic spices with espresso bean, blackberry compote and shades of tar that all mingle brilliantly in the glass. There is a seamless quality to this wine that really impresses. Velvety tannins line this wine that effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Deep espresso dusted milk chocolate, creosote, pipe tobacco and shades of black forest cake with sandalwood accents all shine brightly on the palate. The stunningly long finish lingers long on the tongue. Outstanding now, this downright delicious and hedonistic wine will cellar well for decades. Drink 2020-2045- 99

The Wine Advocate Matter of Taste, Napa

It was an incredible experience at the Wine Advocate Matter of Taste event in Napa, yesterday. Big highlights included a fateful journey through famed vigneron Christophe Baron’s Cayuse and Horsepower wines from vintages 2011-2016, hosted by the Wine Advocate’s Washington reviewer, advanced sommelier Anthony Meuller. I was blown away with how the 2013 vintage was showing now and the new ‘16 vintage shows amazing promise.

I also attended an epic Opus One tasting, with the Wine Advocate’s lead Napa reviewer, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, and Opus One winemaker Michael Silacci, highlighting not only the yeast trials and the blending process but vintages 2005, 2007 and 2010 — all highly distinct wines that are absolutely magical at this stage in their respective developments. Michael has been winemaker at Opus One since 2004 and it was gratifying having him speak about the attention to detail that he puts in each of his incredible wines.

Holding strong from WA was the 2015 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 98) which is showing incredible viscosity and texture with a silky mouthfeel. Other highlight wines from Napa included the 2012 HALL ‘Katheryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 96), 2016 Bevan ‘EE Tench’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 97), 2016 Carter Cellars ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 98), 2015 Ulysses Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 98), 2008 Dominus Red Wine (WWB, 98), 2016 Larkmead ‘Solari Black Label’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 98) and from Australia the 2016 Torbreck ‘The Factor’ Shiraz (WWB, 97) and the 2014 Penfolds ‘Grange’ Shiraz (WWB, 98). It was a scintillating tasting that I won’t soon forget, highlighting some of the very best wines of the world.

Interview with Kevin White, Owner and Winemaker of Kevin White Winery

One of the outstanding boutique producers of Washington, Kevin White is one of the hardest working people in Washington wine, founding his winery in 2010 while continuing to hold a full-time job at Microsoft. It all started in 2006 when Kevin was influenced by a great Cote Bonneville wine and caught the wine bug. He had to learn more about how wine was made and enrolled in classes in chemistry, microbiology and enology. Kevin started making his wines at famed Woodinville outpost, Baer Winery, before opening his tasting room in the warehouse district of Woodinville. His wines have consistently been some of the best values produced in this state. I recently had the chance to sit down with him and chat about his career in wine. I think you will very much enjoy hearing more about his wine journey. Here is my interview with Kevin White, owner and winemaker of Kevin White Winery.

WWB: What drew you to wine initially?

KW: For me it all started in my mid-20s and we were buying a bottle of wine for my father in law’s birthday. We were recommended a bottle of Carriage House from Cote Bonneville, the 2003 vintage, and ended up buying two bottles - one as a give and one for us.  That wine was an aha moment for me.  I realized what great wine tastes like and the experience set me on the journey to learn about wine.  I was so interested that I drove out to DuBrul Vineyard to meet with Dr. Hugh Shiels and learn what DuBrul Vineyard was all about - a sense of place, time, and culture.  How wine embodies all of that.  As a lifelong learner, that was intriguing to me. After that first step, I was inspired to learn about the wines of the world and fell in love with Rhone wines.  Around this time there were some great winemakers establishing Washington in a Rhone-inspired direction.  Greg Harrington [Gramercy Cellars], John Meuret [Maison Bleue], and various others were showing that Washington can make great Rhone-style wines and were a huge influence on me.  In 2010, after taking classes at the Northwest Wine Academy and volunteering at wineries in Woodinville, I was able to start my inaugural vintage with 4 barrels of Syrah in the corner of Baer Winery.

WWB: How did you decide to start Kevin White Winery?

KW:   French wines from the Northern and Southern Rhone, became a passion, if not obsession for me.  I particularly fell in love with Syrah from Saint Joseph in the North and Grenache blends from Gigondas in the South. After tasting some Rhone inspired wines coming from Washington, it was clear that we could excel with Syrah and Grenache.  I decided that I wanted to be part of the early generation of winemakers showcasing the best of what Washington could do with these varietals. 

In addition, when I started, there were very few wineries using little to no new oak in the wine profiles.  What I loved about the wines I was tasting from France what the nuance that each varietal and terroir was offering.  Too often I felt that new oak was overpowering the wines I was tasting in Washington.  So, there was an opportunity to dial the oak way back, focus on Syrah and Grenache from great vineyards in Yakima Valley, and see if wine consumers would also fall in love this this style from Washington State.  It worked!

WWB: Tell us about the red wines from 2017?

KW:  I love the aromatics of the 2017 wines.  It is a warmer vintage that reminds me of 2013.  Our wines from 2017 have a rich fruit profile and show blue and red fruit characteristics.  I believe that vintage has a depth at its core but also a great finesse - so we are straddling a wonderful line.  2017 is going to be very consistent across the board.  I think consumers are going to love the 2017's.

WWB: Can you tell us about your wine cellar?

KW: We love to drink wines from all around the world, especially France and Italy.  We buy wine that goes well with food -- wine that complements and doesn’t compete with the flavors of our meals.  At home, we enjoy eating food that you would typically find in Provence, so we drink quite a bit of Rhone wine. In Gigondas, Domain Saint Damien is a favorite.  Clos St. Jean, Le Vieux Donjon, Domaine de la Janasse are favorites from Châteauneuf du Pape. Chave does an amazing Syrah from Saint Joseph.  Lately we have been drinking more and more Sothern Rhone white wines.  These tend to be Roussanne dominant wines and we have discovered a love for wines which have a large blend of Clairette. A great example is the Le Vieux Donjon Blanc.  We also really enjoy Pinot Noir from Oregon.  Producers like Bethel Heights, Big Table Farm, Soter, Brickhouse as well Beaux Freres are favorites. In Washington, I love what our Woodinville friends at Avennia, WT Vintners, Two Vintners are doing.  Those are a group of winemakers that I highly respect. 

Structure Cellars

As we continue our move through Washington Wine Month we share one of the consistently good producers of red wines in the SoDo district of Seattle, Structure Cellars. One of the things I have been most impressed by this winery is the very low price that they offer the consumer considering the quality in the bottle. Headed by Brian and Brandee Grasso, many of Structure’s wines fall under 40 dollars. For a small winery, these are prices hard to come by. Brian’s soiree into the wine industry included previously working as a somm and then moving to acclaimed Woodinville winery, Baer, before training under Chris Sparkman of Sparkman Cellars before starting his own winery. Brian is one of the great, down to earth, characters in the Washington wine industry. He is an absolute delight to chat wine with.

A few days ago I visited their SoDo district winer and tasted through their wines which were largely sourced from the 2017 vintage, a more moderate vintage for red wines. These wines were consistently good across the board. I really enjoyed the 2017 Structure Cellars ‘The Newel’ Red Wine (WWB, 91) which has great richness and is a downright killer value for under 30 dollars. Even better was the 2017 Structure Cellars ‘Foundation’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 92) which shows some great tension and black fruit flavors as the wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Learn more about these excellent wines at structurecellars.com Here are the great new wines by Structure Cellars.

2018 Structure Cellars Viognier-  Sourced from the Destiny Ridge and Wallula Vineyards this opens with honeysuckle with shades of pear and vanilla cream. The freshness is lovely as the long vanilla cream finish lingers long on the palate. This is fantastic stuff. Drink 2019-2023- 91

2017 Structure Cellars ‘The Newel’ Red Wine- A blend of Syrah and Cabernet Franc, this opens with very pretty red rose petals with shades of blueberry cordial and black tea that all build on the nose. The freshness is fantastic as the smooth texture entices. Black tea, exotic spices and blueberry all entice on the palate. A delight to savor now, this is. best enjoyed over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2017 Structure Cellars ‘Piloti’ Caberent Franc-The ‘Piloti’ opens straight out of the gate with bright blue fruits with sandalwood and shades of black tea on the nose. The texture here is outstanding as blackberry pie, coffee grounds and hints of of blueberry compote all mingle together on the palate. The freshness and texture is outstanding. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2017 Structure Cellars ‘Craftsman’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Craftsman’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a really good effort and value by Structure Cellars. On the nose this begins with black tea with blackberry pie and coffee grounds that all build in the glass. The palate has a silky texture, unveiling black fruits that dance with licorice and minerals. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2017 Structure Cellars ‘Foundation’ Cabernet Franc- The 2017 ‘Foundation’ Cabernet Franc is another great release by the talented Brian Grasso. Immediately you are attracted to the very pretty aromatics with violets that collide with shades of black forest cake and licorice that all ,mingle together on the nose. The texture is soft and inviting unveiling black tea, Asian spices, blackberry pie and hints of damp earth. Showing a good sense of minerality this will cellar well for a decade. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2017 Structure Cellars ‘Foundation’ Syrah- The ‘Foundation’ Syrah shows lovely exotic spices with black tea and licorice aromas with shades of blackberry compote that all build in the glass. The soft texture is lovely with blackberry pie, mocha, and tar flavors. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2017 Structuere Cellars ‘Foundation’ Mourvedre- The spicy and smoky aromatics grip you immediately as the wine shows off bright red and dark fruits on this impressive bouquet. The palate is soft and decadent with smoked meats, red currant and blackberry pie flavors. This is seriously good stuff by the talented Brian Grasso. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 Structure Cellars ‘Foundation’ Malbec- The 2017 ‘Foundation’ Malbec is another fantastic new wine by Brian Grasso and Structure Cellars. On the nose this takes on mulling spices with blueberry compote and shades of mill chocolate that all build in the glass. The palate is plush showing off a soft mouthfeel. Black tea, blackberry compote and shades of mocha all fill the palate. Enjoy this fantastic bottling over the next decade. Drink k20109-2029- 91

2017 Structure Cellars ‘Foundation’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 ‘Foundation’ Cabernet Sauvignon is another stellar bottling by Structure Cellars. On the nose this evokes blackberry cobbler with shades of sandalwood and sagebrush that all meld together in the glass. There is a great sense of balance on the palate as the wine shows good sense of mineraity and weight. Black tea, exotic spices, dusty terroir and shades of blackberry compote all mingle nicely together on the palate. Drink 2019-2029- 92

Betz Family Winery

As we continue our march into Washington Wine Month we bring you one of the standout wineries out of Woodinville. A few weeks back I had a wonderful visit to Betz Family Winery, hosted by the talented Louis Skinner (interviewed in Feb 2019:) . Like many winemakers, Louis had a previous career prior to catching the wine bug which in his case was highly contagious. Louis literally read everything he could on wine and got a job working at a wine shop which allowed him to taste wines of the world constantly.

Louis has trained under legendary winemakers, Chris Upchurch and Bob Betz, MW, prior to taking over for Betz at his namesake winery. Even now Louis is constantly tasting wines, particularly great wines of Bordeaux with his talented cellar hand, Jonathan Villaseñor. I really enjoyed the 2016 Betz releases which were wines that had great terroir and marvelously showcased the different Washington AVAs. Louis’s wines show good precision and minerality. Each wine is quite different and showcases each vineyard marvelously. I am probably most excited from what he is doing in his new vineyard which is located in the stony terroir of the Walla Walla Rocks AVA, called the ‘Old Stones Vineyard.’ The location is right near the River Rock Vineyard, quite near the highway running through Milton-Freewater. Having visited the vineyard on my own last month I am liking what I see in terms of the health of the vineyard, which was previously quite overgrown.

The wine from this vineyard, the 2017 Betz Family Winery ‘Domaine de Pierres’ Syrah (WWB, 94) has fantastic terroir and is the second release of this wine. The range of the wine is truly fantastic, showing everything from Umami to shades of white truffle and wonderful red fruits. I also adored the 2017 Betz ‘Pere de Familie’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 94) which is dense, chewy and will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.betzfamilywinery.com Here are the great new wines by Betz Family Winery.

2018 Betz Rose- A blend of near equal parts Grenache and Couinoise with roughly 20% Mourvedre, the 2018 Betz Rose was largely aged in two neutral barrels while the rest was aged in stainless steel. This opens with a ripe bouquet of red berries that combine with lighter smoky undertones in the glass. The palate is quite complex and downright delicious with bright guava and strawberry flavors that combine with lighter damp earth and white flower tones. Very pretty and complex, this has wonderful range. Drink 2019-2023- 92

2017 Quinta Essentia Chenin Blanc- The 2017 Quinta Essentia is a seriously good Chenin Blanc sourced from the Stellenboch region of South Africa. The wine shows wonderful honeyed white flowers with shades of wild mushroom and orchard fruits that all blend together in the glass. Thew palate is wonderfully rich and fresh with ripe banana, toasted brioche, lychee, peach and shades of peat moss that all mingle together. A delight to savor in its youth, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2019-2025- 92

2017 Betz ‘Besoleil’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Besoleil’ is a compelling blend of 49% Grenache with 34% Mourvedre, 11% Couinoise and 6% Syrah. The nose is simply outstanding with great range from rose petals to herbs de Provence and smoked meats that combine with the bright red fruits. The palate has good freshness and intensity with a silky mouthfeel. Red cherry compote, guava and shades of smoked pork shoulder with dried herbs all mingle together on the mouth. This is seriously good and will only get better with some bottle age. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2017 Betz ‘La Serenne’ Syrah- The ‘La Serenne’ is entirely sourced from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. This saw 30% whole cluster fermentation and was 35% aged in concrete vessels. The nose shows quite complex red and dark fruit aromatics that combine with shades of blood orange and creosote on the nose. The palate has wonderful freshness ajdn texture, showing a soft mouthfeel. Black tea, exotic spices and wild blackberry cobbler with a touch of chocolate covered espresso bean round out these delicious flavors. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2017 Betz ‘Domaine de Pierres’ Syrah- The ‘Domaine de Pierres’ Syrah is the second release of this estate sourced wine from the Ancient Stones Vineyard. This was aged for thirteen months in 100% French oak. The savory and smoky aromatics entice with Umami and bright red fruits with lighter citrus zest tones. The palate shows wonderful viscosity and freshness with a silky mouthfeel. Red cherry preserves, with wet stone and seaweed flavors all combine with lighter white truffle shaving flavors. While wonderful in its youth this will develop well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 94

2017 Betz ‘La Cote Rousse’ Syrah- The ‘La Cote Rousse’ has a touch of Viognier blended in (3%). This great new wine was entirely sourced from Red Mountain and sent thirteen months in French oak prior to bottling. The nose shows really nice hight toned aromatics with the lemon zest accents that combine with black fruits and tar. The palate has strong energy and verve with black olive tapenade, black tea, Asian spices and copious dark fruits that build on the attack. While a delight in its youth, this will develop well for at least another ten years. Drink 2020-2029- 93

2017 Betz ‘La Cote Patriarche’ Syrah- The ‘La Cote Patriarche’ was sourced form the Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA. Aged for 13 months in French oak, this shows wonderful range on the nose from smoky undertones that mingle with blackberry jam, violets and chocolate accents that build in the glass. The texture imparted is marvelous with voluptuous dark fruits, mocha and tar flavors. Fantastic in its youth this rich yet elegant wine has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2017 Betz ‘Clos de Betz’ Red WIne- The 2017 ‘Clos de Betz’ Red Wine is a complex blend of 50% Merlot that is combined with 21% Petit Verdot and 19% Cabernet Sauvignon which was aged for 19 months in French oak puncheons prior to bottling. The wine shows really good range aromatically with bright red and dark fruits that connect with shades of sagebrush and green bell pepper that build on the nose. The wine is marvelous on the attack with intense chocolate, sagebrush, wild blackberry cobbler and crushed mint flavors that all mingle beautifully. While seriously good now, this will evolve well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2017 Betz ‘Pere de Famille’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 ‘Pere de Famille’ by Betz is a stunning new wine by the talented Louis Skinner. This wine was aged for 19 months in French oak (100%) prior to bottling as the wine is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot and Petit Verdot. On the nose this takes on wonderful dark fruit and tar tones that mingle with shades of blueberry compote and licorice that all meld together in the glass. The palate has tremendous texture and verve with the tension truly shining at the moment. Copious dark fruits mingle with anise, graphite and black tea with exotic spices and sagebrush accents also shining through. This wine is absolutely singing in its youth and is approachable following a long decant — but will only get better with some age. Drink 2020-2035- 94

2017 Betz ‘Heart of the Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 ‘Heart of the Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon is another stunning new release from this storied Washington winery. This was fermented in 67% concrete tanks and then was aged for 19 months in 100% French oak prior to bottling. The wine opens with aromatics reminiscent of tar, sagebrush, mocha and rich dark fruits that all connect marvelously in the glass, The palate has wonderful freshness and richness, showing an unctuous quality. Moderately tannic now, the wine shows massive dark fruits with dark chocolate and Turkish coffee flavors with lighter herbal and tar undertones. While delightful in its youth, this will continue to evolve well for decades. Drink 2021-2040- 94

La Rata

Quietly poised, like a lion ready to pounce on prey, Elizabeth pronounces “Umami, potpourri, orange zest” as we all taste through the wine. I’ve written my own conclusions on my computer and I think to myself ‘yeah, she is dead on.’  Elizabeth Bourcier is clearly blessed with an exquisite palate. She is astute, humble and full of amazing insight into not only her wine, the elusive and nearly impossible to find La Rata, but the entire lineup of Cayuse wines. As I’ve previous stated, the La Rata remains one of the great cult wines produced in Washington. There is nobody making a wine quite like this in North America.

Elizabeth was initially inspired by the insanely good Clos Erasmus wines of the Priorat region, and made the bold decision blend both Grenache and Cabernet together, since they wines tend to ripen at the similar times. Elizabeth chose to use Grenache from Armada Vineyard and Cabernet from En Cerise Vineyard. Now she has added a touch of Syrah to the equation. The wine was named “The Rat.” And then Spanglish-cized: ‘La Rata’. The name ‘La Rata’ also connects with Elizabeth, as her zodiac sign is the rat.  

The new 2016 La Rata Red Wine (WWB, 96) is the best La Rata Red Wine bottling that I have ever sampled. It reminds me of the 2012, as it is remarkably poised but carries out a bit more richness than that bottling. This scintillating bottling is not to be missed by all serious collectors of Washington/Oregon wines. The 2016 ‘La Rata’ will soon be offered by Full Pull Wines and is very challenging to find in the retail market even on winebid.com. Learn more at http://laratawines.com/wines.html Here is my review of the scintillating 2016 La Rata Red Wine by Elizabeth Bourcier of Cayuse Vineyards.

2016 La Rata Red Wine- The 2016 La Rata Red Wine is a one of a kind, simply sumptuous new wine by superstar vigneronne Elizabeth Bourcier. The final blend she chose was 59% Grenache with 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. The wine was largely aged in third use demi-muids as well as some stainless steel prior to bottling. The nose is downright intoxicating as the wine shows off red cherry preserves, underbrush, Umami, blood orange zest and shades of wet stone that all shine brightly on the bouquet. The freshness and tension that run through the core of wine is truly outstanding. Bright guava puree and high toned Mandarin orange peel flavors collide with minerals, wet stone, seaweed and green olive tapenade. This finishes exceedingly long with cran-cherry and blood orange zest. A resounding success, this true heavyhitter of a wine will drink marvelously in its youth and will provide drinking enjoyment for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 96

Kerloo Cellars

As we continue our jaunt across another great Washington Wine Month we share one of the fantastic boutique producers, located in the SoDo district of Seattle. In a very short amount of time the talented Ryan Crane has created a great following for his wines that are consistently good from fresh and lively Rose to smoky and savory Syrah. An awesome, down to earth guy that is not only humble but very serious in his craft, Ryan sources from some of the state’s great vineyards from Celilo to the Blue Mountain and Boushey Vineyards. Formerly with Animale Cellars in Seattle, Ryan trained under eminent winemaker Marie-Eve Gilla at Forgeron Cellars while completing his degree in Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College.

I absolutely love his new 2018 Kerloo Cellars ‘Lonesome Spring Ranch’ Sauvignon Blanc (WWB, 91) which is fresh, lively and has wonderful acidity. This is the perfect wine for the dog days of summer. Do not miss out in one of the tremendous bargains out there, the 2016 Kerloo Cellars ‘Majestic’ Red Wine (WWB, 92) and at $26.00 this wine will fly off the shelf with its wonderful richness and texture. Learn more about these beautiful wines at www.kerloocellars.com. Here are the great new releases by the talented Ryan Crane and his Kerloo Cellars.

2018 Kerloo Cellars ‘Lonesome Spring Ranch’ Sauvignon Blanc- This underwent native yeast fermentation prior to bottling and was aged in just a touch of concrete. The wine begins with aromas of nutmeg infused sourdough bread with shades of cantaloupe and lemongrass on this complex nose. The freshness and lip-smacking acidity really entices. White grapefruit with green papaya and mineral flavors impress on the palate. Drink 2019-2023- 91

2018 Kerloo Cellars ‘Blue Mountain’ Grenache Blanc- The 2i018 ‘Blue Mountain’ Grenache Blanc is sourced from this high elevation vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Aged in a combination of neutral oak and concrete, the wine begins with aromas of lemon zest with kiwi and shades of damp stone that all mingle nicely in the glass. The palate is really enticing showing both a wonderfully soft mouthfeel and bright sense of tension in the wine. Kiwi, green papaya and lemon oil flavors all shine together on the palate. Drink 2019-2023- 91

2018 Kerloo Cellars ‘Lonesome Spring Ranch’ Rose- The 2018 ‘Lonesome Spring Ranch’ Rose is a combination of Grenache and Mourvedre. The wine was aged on the skins for a few hours and then was aged in stainless steel prior to bottling. The texture and freshness to the wine is gorgeous, as is the light sense of salinity that runs through the wine. Enjoy this delicate Rose in the short-term while the beautiful sense of minerality remains. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2016 Kerloo Cellars ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache- The ‘Upland Vineard’ Grenache is a stunning wine from this warm vintage. The aromatic range is seriously good from smoked meats, to red cherry preserves and ripe guava to lovely wet stone character that all run through the nose. The freshness and texture of the wine is seriously good, as is the light saline streak. Red plum, cigar ash, red cherry candy and shades of blood orange all combine brilliantly on the palate. A delight to savor now, this outstanding wine will provide drinking enjoyment for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 Kerloo Cellars ‘Majestic’ Red Wine ($26.00)- A compelling blend of 74% Grenache 21% Mourvedre and 5% Syrah, the wine was entirely aged in natural oak prior to bottling. On the nose this shows off smoky and meaty character with shades of blackberry cobbler and dusty terroir on this complex nose. The palate unveils a soft texture and mouthfeel that delights. Red and dark fruits mingle with shades of pipe tobacco and leather in this delicious wine. This is seriously good for the price. Drink 2019-2025- 92

2016 Kerloo Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- Sourced from the Va Piano and Les Collines Vineyards, this was co-fermented in 2% Viognier and was aged in concrete eggs prior to bottling. The wine shows off smoky and savory aromatics with lovely dried Provencale herbs that all mingle nicely together on the nose. The texture is outstanding here as minerals and light tannins line dark fruits, chocolate and shades of dried thyme flavors. A delight to enjoy in its youth this beautiful wine will cellar well for a decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

Auction of Washington Wines Weekend

Friends, please join us this week as the Auction of Washington Wines weekend kicks off with the Private Barrel Auction on Thurs Aug 15th, graciously hosted by Januik/Novelty Hill winery in Woodinville starting at 10AM.

Events then move to one or the Pacific Northwest’s most beautiful settings, Chateau Ste. Michell, for the Winemaker Picnic and Barrel Auction, starting at 4PM.

Please join myself and our WWB team as well as Sean P. Sullivan of Wine Enthusiast and a superstar cast of Washington wineries as this is all done for a spectacular cause, benefitting Seattle Children’s Hospital and the Washington State University Enology and Viticulture program. Learn more at https://auctionofwawines.org/events/

EFESTE

As we continue on through Washington Wine Month we bring you one of the outstanding producers out of Woodinville. Less than a year ago I ran into EFESTĒ winemaker, Mark Fiore, at a Seahawks game. Naturally we talked wine and as I sipped my Rose, I couldn’t help thinking that Mark’s Rose was better than the one I was enjoying. EFESTĒ has produced consistently good wines for more than a decade and also boasts one of the most popular (and fun) wine clubs in Washington State. 

Mark Fiore, formerly with K Vintners, is crafting some beautiful wines at EFESTE. A former PGA Professional, Mark worked two harvest seasons at Beresan and Balboa wineries, which led him to an all-encompassing job with Charles Smith Wines in August of 2011. Mark began making wine for K Vintners and then worked on other projects such as Sixto, Latta Wines, Wines of Substance and B Leighton in Walla Walla and Seattle. He is a delightful guy to chat wine with and has made some outstanding wines across the board for EFESTĒ  were gorgeous across the board. Look to their gorgeous new 2018 EFESTĒ ‘Oldfield Estate’ Rose (WWB, 92) which was one of the top Rose wines on my 2019 Pacific Northwest Rose Report. This wine has amazing texture and delicate red fruits with gobs of acidity. I absolutely loved their 2016 EFESTĒ ‘Big Papa’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 96) which is deep, rich and has tremendous aging potential. Learn more about these outstanding new wines at https://efeste.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by EFESTĒ

2018 EFESTĒ ‘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 EFESTĒ ‘Feral’ Sauvignon Blanc- This was sourced entirely from the Evergreen Vineyard. The wine was fermented in one concrete egg as well as a stainless tank. The nose shows good gooseberry and cantaloupe aromas that all combine nicely in the glass. The palate shows really good texture and mouthfeel with good brightness. The palate shows good freshness with melon and gooseberry with an exceedingly long finish. Drink 2019-2024- 91

2017 EFESTĒ ‘Lola’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the Evergreen Vineyard in the Ancient Lakes AVA, the 2017 ‘Lola’ opens with bright lemon infused brioche and creme brûlée aromatic notes that fill the glass. The palate is exceedingly good with wonderful texture and balance. Lemon curd, wild mushroom and vanilla creme brûlée flavors all marvelously combine on the palate. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 EFESTĒ ‘Emmy’ Red Wine- A blend of largely Mourvedre (70%) with equal parts Syrah (15%)  and Grenache (15%), the wine opens with smoked brisket with orange zest and shades of red currant that all build in the glass. The texture here is seriously good and satisfying with bright red fruits, citrus zest and an exceedingly long finish. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 EFESTĒ ‘Eleni’ Syrah- Sourced from Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA, one of these blocks for the wine was planted in 1986 while another was planted back in 1991. Floral tones mark the nose with brilliant red fruits and a touch of tobacco leaf. The palate has gobs of acidity, showing bright red fruits that dance with minerals and herbal undertones that all collide in the mouth. Complex in its youth this will satisfy for the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 EFESTĒ ‘Ceidleigh’ Syrah- All sourced from the Red Mountain AVA, this  100% Syrah wine opens with smoky tones with bacon fat and rich dark fruits that all fill this beautiful nose. The palate has really good freshness with a wonderful savory character on the palate. The touch of salinity really offers pleasure. Rich and layered, with bright acidity this beautiful new Syrah will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 EFESTĒ ‘Jolie Bouche’ Syrah- The ‘Jolie Bouche’ is entirely sourced from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. The wine opens with aromas of copious dark and red fruits with tobacco leaf and shades of blood orange that all collide in the glass, The palate has light tannins that line this beautiful wine that comes off as Northern Rhone with its herbal tones and bright acidity. The soft texture with toasty accents really entices. While this is outstanding in its youth, the ‘Jolie Bouche’ can be savored for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 EFESTĒ ‘Estate’ Syrah- Sourced from one of the exciting vineyards on Red Mountain the ‘Estate’ Syrah is another outstanding EFESTĒ release. The nose is really seductive and hedonistic with deep dark and blue fruits with roasted figs and milk chocolate that all permeate in the glass. The palate unveils a wonderfully rich texture as dark fruits connect with chocolate shavings and allspice on the palate. Beautiful in its youth, and showing good freshness at this juncture, this outstanding Syrah will continue to evolve well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 EFESTĒ ‘Final Final’ Red Wine- The ‘Final Final’ is a compelling blend of 50% Syrah with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, this inky colored wine opens with aromas of smoke, black cherry cordial and shades of licorice that all build in the glass. The palate unveils a plush and soft mouthfeel. Downright delicious flavors of black tea and black fruits collide with chocolate undertones. With a good combination of verve and richness, enjoy this great wine over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 EFESTĒ ‘Big Papa’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Big Papa’ Cabernet Sauvignon is another sensational release by the talented Mark Fiore. Sourced mainly from the Kiona, Red Willow, Bacchus and Sagemoor Vineyards, the ‘Big Papa’ opens with beautiful sagebrush, black fruit and mocha tones that fill the glass. The palate is plush, delivering copious blue and dark fruit flavors with wonderful earthy undertones. Seductive, yet polished, this is exceedingly good in its youth and will show well for decades. Drink 2019-2035- 93

2016 EFESTĒ ‘Taylor Mag’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from their estate Red Mountain vineyard near the Upchurch Vineyard, this wine is entirely sold to restaurants and wine shops. The nose is decadent Wirth dark fruits that parade with mum chocolate and shades of roasted dates and sagebrush accents, The palate is dense and layered with a wonderful mouthfeel. A line of salinity runs through the rich dark fruit and chocolate flavors. This is a seriously good value. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 EFESTĒ Petite Verdot- The 2016 EFESTĒ Petit Verdot is entirely sourced from their estate Taylor Mag vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA. On the nose this delivers nice herbal tones with green bell pepper and sage with white pepper and dark fruits on the nose. Only three barrels made of this wine. The wine is generous and polished with denser black fruits that connect with the herbal tones in the glass. This is sensational now but will evolve well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2035- 93

Sbragia Family Vineyards

I have long admired the wines of Ed Sbragia. One of the iconic producers of new world Chardonnay, Ed Sbragia has a longstanding history in the California wine industry, having been previous winemaker at Beringer before starting his namesake winery. But his roots are planted long before that as his family migrated from Tuscany in 1904 and worked in many wineries including the historic Italian Swiss Colony. For decades his family grew prunes like most farms in Dry Creek Valley at the time, and in the 1950s Ed’s father, Gino Sbragia, re-planted the fields to winegrapes, mainly Zinfandel, which Ed helped tend all throughout his youth. After 32 years in winemaking at Beringer Vineyards, he finally opened his own winery in 2006 and has been met with great critical acclaim since that time. Having met Ed on several occasions at wine events I have found him to be incredibly down to earth despite his success as one of the great producers of new world Chardonnay.

One of the great California Chardonnays that I have reviewed in the past year, the 2015 Sbragia ‘Gamble Ranch’ Chardonnay (WWB, 94) is deep and voluptuous with an incredible mouthfeel and texture. This is your Chardonnay for all Cabernet lovers. The Cabernet wines also shined, none more so than the gorgeous 2014 Sbragia ‘Monte Rosso Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 94) which wonderfully shows off this very special mountain vineyard with delightful dark fruits and earthy terroir. This stunner will cellar well for the next two decades. Learn more about this fantastic winery at https://www.sbragia.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Sbragia Family Vineyards.

2018 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Home Ranch’ Chardonnay- The 2018 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Home Ranch’ Chardonnay is a seriously good effort from famed winemaker Ed Sbragia. On the nose this grabs your attention with baked pear, marzipan and shades of lemon cream that all fill the glass. The bright acidity is lovely here as lemon creme brûlée, ripe pineapple and shades of butterscotch flavors all enter the fray. While a delight to savor in its youth this excellent wine will cellar well for a decade or more, picking up earthy tertiary notes as it evolves. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2015 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Gamble Ranch’ Chardonnay- The Sbragia ‘Gamble Ranch’ Chardonnay is a stunning effort from this warm vintage in the Napa Valley. This golden hued wine begins with bananas foster and toasted brioche with shades of white pink grapefruit blossom on the nose. The palate has an incredible viscosity and texture also showing good verve. Intense butterscotch with salted praline and caramel soaked pineapple. The texture to the wine is downright ethereal. Intense and marvelous in its youth, this beautiful Chardonnay will evolve well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 94

2014 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Godspeed’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the Mt. Veeder AVA in the Napa Valley, the ‘Godspeed’s is a simply gorgeous new wine by the famed winemaker Ed Sbragia. The heady aromatics really entice with mocha, tar, anise and shades of creme de cassis that all cascade together in the glass. The wine unveils a polished, silky texture, showing off gobs of dark fruits that mingle with dark chocolate shavings, dusty terroir, pipe tobacco and espresso bean flavors. Outstanding in its youth, this wine will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2019-2038- 93

2015 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Andolsen Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Located in the Dry Creek Valley AVA, the Andolsen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful new wine by Sbragia. Highly perfumed, the wine unveils energetic rose petal and black licorice aromas that combine with chocolate and herbal undertones on the nose. The palate is soft and decadent, showing a bright sense of minerality and a soft mouthfeel. Cassis, tar, mocha and anise flavors all dance together on the palate. While marvelous now, this will evolve well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2014 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Monte Rosso Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- One of the great historic sites for Cabernet Sauvignon, the Monte Rosso Vineyard is located in the Moon Mountain AVA and was first planted in the 1880s. The nose is quite high toned with red and dark fruits that connect with exotic spices and dusty terroir that all connect nicely in the glass. The palate is plush, yet the wine delivers an incredible balance and harmony. Red and dark fruits dance with minerals, Asian spices and shades of black licorice on the palate. A delight to enjoy in its youth, this will evolve well over the next two decades. Drink 2019-2039- 94

Horsepower Vineyards

One of the famed wineries in Washington State as part of the Cayuse arm, Horsepower Vineyards are amongst the most coveted wines in the Pacific Northwest — and for good reason.  Famed vigneron, Christophe Baron, is a self-described animal lover who recalls the use of draft horses while he was growing up  in the Champagne region of France. In his Walla Walla AVA vineyards his horses help cultivate vineyards ranging from 3,555 to 4,840 vines per acre with as little as 3' x 3' spacing—planted 1 vine per stake, or “sur echalas” in French. One of the most exciting vineyards in Washington State, the Sur Echalas Vineyard creates wines that are so profound they’re nearly impossible to describe. The struggle of the vines in these close quarters creates a remarkable tension and intensity. These stunning wines are made by Christophe and his highly talented assistant vigneronne, Elizabeth Bourcier. The wines from this vineyard are intense with a vibrant sense of minerality and they show exceptional range. Simply put, they are unlike any other wines from this region.

I have had the chance to sample a few older bottles of Horsepower over the past year from the  2012 and 2013 vintage and I can proudly say that the wines are holding quite brilliantly. I think that the Horsepower wines from 2016 are amongst the most compelling that have ever been produced in terms of tension, mouthfeel, and aromatic/flavor range.

The 2016 Horsepower ‘Sur Echelas Vineyard’ Grenache (WWB, 99) is the best wine I have ever had by Horsepower. It is a monumental wine that has such insanely good range that this head-turning Grenache has so many working components that it is quite challenging to wrap your head around. Nearly as good was the 2016 Horsepower ‘Sur Echelas Vineyard’ Syrah (WWB, 98) which shows great power, range and tension. This is up there with the best Syrah that is made in North America, let alone Washington. Learn more about these very special wines at https://horsepowervineyards.com/horsepowervineyards/ Here are the stunning new wines by Horsepower Vineyards.

2016 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache- The ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache is a stunning new bottling by superstar vigneron Christophe Baron and assistant vigneronne Elizabeth Bourcier. The head-turning bouquet entices with potpourri, wild strawberry, tobacco leaf, wet stone and shades of Umami with blood orange zest and charcuterie on this highly complex and satisfying nose. The palate is lithe and light on its feet, as the wine simply dazzles across the palate. The marvelous salinity produces gobs of mouth-watering acidity. Leather, tarragon, orange zest, red cherry candy and shades of guava puree with white truffle shavings all round out this highly gratifying palate. The range imparted in the wine is second to none. The texture to this wine is also absolutely gorgeous as the wine has a seamless quality that gracefully dances across the mid-palate. Monumental, profound and a delight to savor now, this ‘Sur Echalas’ Grenache up there with the best of its kind in North America. Drink 2019-2029- 99

2016 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Syrah is a scintillating new release by the uber-talented winemaking team at Horsepower Vineyards. Magical and downright head-turning on the bouquet, the Syrah leads with green peppercorn alongside shades of black licorice, Umami, salted charcuterie and green olive tapenade that all impress in the glass. The palate has incredible freshness and salinity, with gobs of mouth-watering acidity that makes this nearly impossible to put down in its youth. Seaweed, black truffle shavings, cigar box, salted smoked meats and shades of blackberry cobbler all impress on the palate. Precise, with incredible tension and mouthfeel, this stunning wine will be best enjoyed over the next ten years. Drink 2019-2029- 98

2016 Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah- The ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah is a new wine in this exciting Horsepower lineup. The vineyard is a 3.3 acre parcel on the edge of the AVA, planted in 2013 mostly to Syrah and a touch Viognier. The nose is quite perfumed with shades of wet stone with bulls blood, white pepper, with black truffle shavings and charcuterie that all impress in the glass. The Syrah displays a  highly refined and gratifying texture on the palate, showing very soft tannins that mingle with the soft mouthfeel. Red currant, wild blackberry, wet stone and Umami characters with suggestions of black peppercorn all shine brightly on the palate. Outstanding in its youth, this stunning Syrah will evolve well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 96

2016 Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ by Cayuse Vineyards is a show-stopping bottle. Planted in 2009, ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ is a 3.5 X 3.5 spaced vineyard that is entirely planted to Syrah. The seaweed quality is quite marvelous aromatically with Hoisin sauce, blackberry cobbler and wet stone character that all shine brightly on the nose. Showing wonderful weight and texture, the wine shows amazing finesse and tension with minerals and black fruits and Umami that mingle nicely on the palate. Outstanding now this beautiful new Syrah evolve well over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2029- 95

Corison

One of the pioneering female winemakers not only in Napa but in the world, Cathy Corison crafts some stunning, highly balanced Cabernet wines for her namesake winery. Her Kronos Vineyard was first planted in 1971 on phylleroxia resistant rootstock. This low yielding (usually less than 1.5 tons/acre) vineyard produces some magical Cabernet wines and I was totally blown away with her 2003 Corison ‘Kronos Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 95) which is currently walking the tightrope between dense dark fruit and tertiary character. If you have never had that opportunity to visit this storied Napa property, I think you will be blown away with the precision of these wines.

Grapes here on 8/12/19 in the Kronos Vineyard, owned by Cathy Corison.

2018 Corizon Rose- This barrel-fermented Rose starts off with bright peach, guava and red cherry aromas that build in the glass. With just a kiss of sweetness, the wine yields bright red fruits that mingle with minerals and melon tones. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2015 Corison ‘Sunbasket Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Located a few blocks from the Corison estate, the Sunbasket Vineyard has six acres of Cabernet Franc planted. The wine opens with aromas of green peppercorn with ripe dark fruits and shades of Turkish coffee. The palate shows wonderful freshness as perfumed dark fruits mingle with chocolate, black tea and Asian spices with violets. Fantastic in its youth, this will cellar well for decades. This has fantastic elegance, leading to the exceedingly long finish. Drink 2020-2035- 95

2015 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon by Corison is a spectacular effort in this warm vintage. Sourced from the Saint Helena AVA, the nose shows wonderful range from coffee grounds to creme de cassis to black olive and crushed mint. Lighter smoky tones round out the compelling aromatics. Once in the mouth, the wine has a wonderful sense of place. The silky mouthfeel provides spectacular balance here. Cassis, anise, black tea, and lighter blueberry compote tones with cigar ash flavors complete this spectacular wine. While it is showing marvelously right now, this will continue to evolve gracefully for decades. Drink 2020-2040- 95

2014 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2014 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a monumental wine made by superstar winemaker Cathy Corison. The nose is simply stunning and highly perfumed with shades of lavender and violets mingle with cassis, anise and black cherry syrup. The palate is fresh and refined, showing good restraint and balance yet evoking a wonderfully plush mouthfeel. Tar, leather, and dusty terroir mingle with creme de cassis and black licorice all permeate on the palate. This marvelous wine is peaking now and has an exceedingly long life left. Drink 2019-2038- 96

2003 Corison ‘Kronos Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2003 ‘Kronos Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning wine at nearly twenty years of age. Aromatically quite intense, the wine has settled into lovely tertiary aromas with damp earth, wild mushroom and shades of dark cherry cordial that all build in the glass. The palate is plush and highly refined, showing a great deal of elegance and poise. Black tea, exotic spices, damp dusty terroir and copious dark fruits with tar all show incredibly on the palate. Highly refined and delightful now, the wine will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 209-2032- 95