Woodward Canyon

As I look back at an eventful 2019, I very fondly recall my afternoon spent with the Small family in their beautiful tasting room, reviewing nearly every Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ that has been made. Woodward Canyon was one of the first tasting rooms I ever sat foot in. Back in 2002, I was one of the few Whitman College students going to tasting rooms and thinking about aromas and flavors of wine, but I am very glad that I did. Woodward Canyon has been a pillar of quality since being founded in the 1981 by Darcy and Rick Small. They currently make some of the prized Cabernets and Chardonnays in Washington. 

Their ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon has been truly one of the most consistent red wines made in Washington since their first vintage in 1993. This a wine that ages gracefully for decades. Outside of the special tasting I did with the Smalls I recently sampled a 2002 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon that was absolutely singing and was incredibly youthful despite being seventeen years of age. The new wines by Woodward Canyon were brilliant across the board. Look to their 2018 Woodward Canyon ‘Washington’ Chardonnay (WWB, 92) which absolutely impresses with its wonderful balance and aromatic range. I loved the new 2016 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 93) which has tremendous viscosity and depth from this warm vintage in Washington. Even better was the stunning 2017 Woodward Canyon ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 95) which his dense, chewy and downright stunning even in its youth. This beautiful wine will cellar well for decades. Learn more about this historic Washington winery at https://www.woodwardcanyon.com/ Here are the gorgeous new release wines by Woodward Canyon.

2018 Woodward Canyon ‘Washington’ Chardonnay- Always a pillar of consistency in Washington Chardonnay, the 2018 ‘Washington’ Chardonnay by Woodward Canyon is one of the best made in this state.  Bright, with a gorgeous texture and a wonderful sense of minerality, this seamless Chardonnay evokes freshly baked Challah bread, banana, and ripe Pink Lady apple flavors that mingle with suggestions of lemon rind on the palate. Complex and downright delicious in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well for at least another decade, picking up lovely tertiary aromatics and flavors as it ages. Drink 2019-2026- 93

2017 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate’ Merlot- The 2017 ‘Estate’ Merlot is a beautiful wine made by winemaker Kevin Moss of Woodward Canyon. The nose shows bright Bing cherry with dill and a dusting of cocoa powder that all combine marvelously in the glass. The freshness imparted is gorgeous as this elegant wine shines with its deep black fruit flavors and wonderful elegance. This fantastic effort is great in its youth but will provide drinking enjoyment for at least fifteen more years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Artist Series’ by Woodward Canyon follows up their excellent 2015 bottling. This is remarkably the 25th edition of this wine, as I have been fortunate enough to taste nearly every ‘Artist Series’ bottling. Right away you are enticed with the toasty oak that wraps around the deep tar, mocha and black cherry syrup aromatics that take their shape in the glass. The plush texture and silky mouthfeel really shines here as ripe blackberry, milk chocolate and sagebrush flavors connect with the beautiful texture and minerality. While this is decadent and delicious wine at this stage, it will only get better with some time in the cellar. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2017 Woodward Canyon ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the Sagemoor Vineyard, as well as the Champoux Vineyard and Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard. The final blending is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Malbec and Petit Verdot. Deeply perfumed aromatics greet you with gorgeous black tea, exotic spice, blackberry cobbler and shades of anise that all sing in unison in the glass. The palate is plush, showing off a silky mouthfeel. While obviously dense, the feeling of elegance and the focus to the wine is really enticing. Blackberry compote, Turkish coffee, creosote and suggestions of chocolate covered kirsch flavors all collide on the palate. Impressive at only two years of age, this stunning wine will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2040- 95

Dusted Valley

Washington is blessed with a seemingly infinite number of excellent family wineries. As I wrote last year, Dusted Valley has been upping their game in producing a more consistent range of wines. Simply put, I have not had one of their wines that I scored under 90 points in the past several years. It takes a lot of work to reach that level of consistency. These are wines that you want to sit with, whether you are dissecting their aromatic or flavor range, or simply enjoying their hedonistic qualities. I reviewed these wines last night and one thing I came back to was the level of consistency in terms of mouthfeel, texture, and flavor profiles. These are wines that show really good varietal character. 

Dusted Valley was founded by the Johnson and Braunel families who are originally from Wisconsin and have strong backgrounds in farming. They source from some of the great vineyards in Washington, including the Olsen Vineyard and Stoney Vine Vineyard. I absolutely loved the 2016 Dusted Valley ‘Columbia Valley’ Malbec (WWB, 92) which has wonderful varietal typicity with its rich dark fruits and chocolate tones. The best wine I tried was their 2017 Dusted Valley ‘Tall Tales’ Syrah (WWB, 93) which is sourced from the famed Stoney Vine Vineyard. I absolutely love the range of this wine as the texture also really impresses. Learn more about these beautiful new wines at https://www.dustedvalley.com Here are the great new wines by Dusted Valley.

2017 Dusted Valley ‘Wallywood’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Wallywood’ Red Wine is a blend of largely Mourvedre (70%) with 25% Syrah and 5% Petit Sirah. The aromatics really entice as black tea, black olive tapenade and shades of blackberry cobbler all combine with the earthy and smoky tones. The palate is soft and generous, showing off rich black fruit flavors that mingle with chocolate and the wonderfully soft texture. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2016 Dusted Valley ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon by Dusted Valley is a terrific effort from this warm vintage in the Columbia Valley. On the nose this immediately appeals with its rich blackberry and black cherry with pipe tobacco aromas that all take their shape in the glass. The palate shows rich dark fruit flavors with the lovely earthy undertones. Moderately tannic, if enjoying in its youth be sure to give this burly Cabernet Sauvignon at least a one hour decant. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2016 Dusted Valley ‘Columbia Valley’ Malbec- A glass-staining purple color, the 2016 Malbec has a touch of Petit Verdot (5%) blended in. Menthol and black cherry with shades of tar aromatics all combine nicely on the nose. The palate has a soft texture that mingles with the rich dark fruit favors with dark chocolate shavings and suggestions of sagebrush on the palate. Fantastic in its youth, this will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Dusted Valley ‘BFM Dionysus Vineyard’ Merlot- The ‘BFM’ is sourced from 40 year old vines in the Dionysus Vineyard. Showing off its deep hue in the glass, the ‘BFM’ opens with intense black tea, black olive tapenade, and Turkish coffee aromatics that all mingle together in the glass. The palate is plush, delivering a soft and inviting texture. Soft tannins line rich red and dark fruits with cocoa powder and sagebrush flavors. This is seriously good now and will continue to evolve well for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2019-2032- 92

2017 Dusted Valley ‘Tall Tales’ Syrah- Sourced from the esteemed ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA, the 2017 ‘Tall Tales’ Syrah begins with lovely stony undertones that mingle with the green olive tapenade, bacon fat, cigar ash and clove aromatics that all marvelously combine in the glass. The texture imparted is seriously good as is the flavor range from Satsuma orange zest to ripe red cherry to shades of Umami, bulls blood and sweet pipe tobacco. Delicious now, this will continue to evolve well over the next eight to ten years — but why wait? Drink 2019-2026- 93

RN74 Seattle

One of the great Seattle culinary institutions, RN74 is the lone Michael Mina restaurant in the Pacific Northwest. A man with an incredible vision and talent, Michael Mina hails from Ellensburg, Washington and spent many years as executive chef at Aqua Restaurant in San Francisco. Shortly after, Mina's culinary and business vision led to the founding of his company Mina Group, with partner Andre Agassi in 2002. Today Michael Mina has over 40 restaurants worldwide. He is the executive chef at his two namesake restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas, which each have earned a star in the Michelin Guide.

RN74 has nearly celebrated a decade of fine French dining in Seattle.. Located on 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle, the decor of RN74 is unlike anything in the area. Despite being ten years of age, the restaurant still appears as modern and avant garde with its train-station like display of wine. Earlier this year in January Chef Shawn Applin was named as executive chef of RN74, having previously worked for James Beard Award-winning chef Christine Keff at Flying Fish (chef de cuisine). Having dined at RN74 many times already this year, I have been particularly impressed with the consistency of the way his proteins are cooked. For instance, he makes the star of his bouillabaisse fresh fish which is always perfectly cooked. 

RN74 relies on the talented Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen to carefully curate a wine list that is truly one of the best in all the Pacific Northwest. Jeff takes a very thoughtful approach to his wine list, having a Sommelier Select wine section for great wines like the 2006 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Tondonia Reserva’ Rioja (WWB, 94) for under 100 dollars. Feeling like one of the top Oregon Pinot Noir producers out there? They also have the 2007 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) for under 100 dollars. On top of these value selections Jeff has some seriously cool older First Growth selections as well as a stellar Burgundy collection that rivals anything in the Northwest. Pricing for many of these wines can be inexpensive to moderate, which really entices the consumer. He also has several of his W.T. Vintners wines on the list that are not to be missed as well as Washington heavyweights like Avennia, Andrew Will, Baer, Cayuse, K Vintners and Gramercy Cellars.

Yesterday I was in the restaurant for the start of Seattle Restaurant Week and I wanted to see how Chef Applin would approach this challenge. We steered towards one of the mainstays, the Spiced Poached Prawn Cocktail to start which veers towards simplistic but the flavors of the rub marvelously complement the succulent prawns. I had brought my own wine the 2015 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay (WWB, 93) which I thought would be a beautiful, balanced wine to pair with a host of foods. 

We started with a mezcal cocktail which was marvelously crafted by the lead bartender. Over the past year I have seen their bar program be elevated to a place where their signature cocktails should not be missed.

One of their signature dishes, the Classic Beef Tartare is magically balanced with the right amount of acoutrements, including a quail egg. I devoured that delightful dish rather quickly.

My wife had ordered the Hudson Valley Foie Gras Terrine which I have to say was one of the stars of our meal. The dish came with black figs as well as toasted hazelnuts which made this a perfect seasonal preparation. It was also just the rough amount of Foie Gras.

Next we had our main dishes and I opted for one of their mainstays, the Pan-Roasted Mary's Free Range Chicken. This was cooked to perfection and was incredibly soft and flavorful, combing a rich chicken stock based brown sauce with their Herbed Parisienne Gnocchi, wild mushrooms, and heirloom squash. This dish screamed fall with its fresh mushrooms and earthy tones and I have to say that the 2015 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay was a scintillating match for this dish with its rich texture, brightness, citrus tones and salinity.

My wife had been craving pasta and their homemade pasta dish, the vegetarian Carrot Cavatelli was hugely impressive and was also perfectly cooked al dente. The star of the dish to me was not only the flavor and texture of the fresh pasta but the pasta sauce which was also delightfully earthy and showing a rich veggie stock flavor. 

Dessert was nearly as good with homemade chocolate ice cream and their chocolate Cremeux and passion fruit gel. Overall, if you want top food quality, service and a spectacular wine experience, you must visit RN74 in downtown Seattle. 

The Unnamed Series

Hands down, some of the most electric wines being produced in Washington are coming from Reynvaan Family Vineyards. Matt Reynvaan trained under Christophe Baron and even spent time at famed Bordeaux house Chateau Smith Haut-Lafitte before starting at his family winery in 2007. Most of you who have come to enjoy the value of Result of A Crush wines by Matt Reynvaan will be excited to hear that these ‘second wines’ of Reynvaan have been recently rebranded as ‘The Unnamed Series.’

Each of these wines clocks in at $24.99 and are absolutely sensational values considering the complexity and terroir that the wines offer. I highly recommend that you track these exceptional wines down. Just in time for the holiday season, the 2017 The Unnamed Series ‘Christmas Cuvee’ Red Wine (WWB, 92) offers incredible texture and range considering its price. Just as good was the 2016 The Unnamed Series Syrah (WWB, 92) which has gorgeous aromatics, minerality and wonderful dark fruit flavors. Learn more about these beautiful new wines at https://theunnamedseries.vinespring.com/purchase Here are the beautiful new wines by The Unnamed Series.

2017 The Unnamed Series ‘Christmas Cuvee’ Red Wine- Th 2017 ‘Christmas Cuvee’ is another sensational release by Matt Reynvaan. As this slowly builds momentum in the glass the wine slowly unveils lovely wet stone character that mingles with the umami with dried herbal notes on this expressive nose. The palate has a plush texture and wonderfully soft mouthfeel that entices. A bright and lifted sense of minerality captivates with the underlying blood orange zest and red currant flavors that mingle with shades of damp stone. This is seriously good for the price. Drink 2019-2025- 92

2016 The Unnamed Series Syrah- The 2016 The Unnamed Series Syrah is a sensational new release that shows the wonderful warmth of the vintage. While vineyard sourcing is uncertain, the aromatics take me to their high elevation Foothills In The Sun Vineyard, with lovely thyme and sagebrush tones that mingle with suggestions of Hoisin sauce and wild blackberry. The palate has wonderful poise and a plush texture showing off ripe dark fruits and minerals — all leading to an exceedingly long and gratifying finish. Simply put, this wine is a steal at 25 dollars. Drink 2019-2025- 92

2017 The Unnamed Series Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc- Largely Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), with the remainder Cabernet Franc, this shows off ripe red ands dark fruits with a wonderful vibrancy on the palate. Silky tannins and a long finish complete this fantastic value bottling by Matt Reynvaan. Drink 2019-2025- 91

Avennia

Occasionally when a winery is on top of their game, I am forced to post on them even when I have recently reported on their wines. I was literally just sent these two new wines by Avennia and they were both sensational — I just had to say something! One of the fantastic wineries in this state, Avennia was formed between former Microsoft executive Marty Taucher and superstar winemaker Chris Peterson. One of the state’s great winemakers, Chris Peterson was formerly DeLille Cellars winemaker for many years prior to starting Avennia. Chris has incredible structure in his winemaking and also does marvelously with showing off terroir of an individual vineyard or region. 

He has done just that with the new 2017 Avennia ‘Arnaut’ Syrah (WWB, 94) which is a wine that marvelously showcases the range of the Boushey Vineyard. This thing is only a baby and will need at least another year in the bottle to fully develop. I was absolutely blown away with the new 2016 Avennia ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 95) which is a true heavyhitter and is unlike anything I have had from them. The sense of elegance, and balance is remarkable here as the wine has a seamless quality that makes it simply impossible to resist in its youth. Learn more about these special wines at avennia.com Here are my reviews of the two new wines to the awesome Avennia portfolio. 

2017 Avennia ‘Arnaut’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘Arnaut’ Syrah is entirely sourced from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA and is a simply magical effort from superstar winemaker Chris Peterson. A glass-staining purple, the ‘Arnaut’ needs roughly an hour in the decanter to be fully aroused. Over time, this slowly opens with great aromatic range, from green peppercorns and sagebrush to shades of bacon fat, cigar ash and suggestions of bulls blood with fresh red fruits that round out the impressive bouquet. Soft and generous, with silky tannins and gobs of mouth-watering acidity, the ‘Arnaut’ shows ripe red and dark fruits that mingle with crushed mint, blackberry cobbler, mocha and tar on the palate. While a bit tightly wound in its youth, this beautiful new Syrah will have a long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2035- 94

2016 Avennia ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Avennia ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is another sensational bottling from this esteemed Washington winery. Needing about an hour in the decanter to unwind, once aroused this unveils wonderful red bell pepper, creosote, sandalwood and shades of mocha with cassis that all entice on the nose. The palate is silky smooth, delivering polished tannins and good brightness as well as a soft, downright sexy mouthfeel. The texture continues to impress as the seamless quality of the wine really shines. This finishes long with black fruits and minerals. Exciting, energetic and downright delicious in its youth, the ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Cabaret Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2020-2038- 95 

2012 Oregon Pinot Noir Retrospective

What was considered by most to be a hallmark vintage, 2012 in Oregon was the calm which came after the storm of the cold and challenging 2011 vintage. Talking with winemaker Tony Rynders, he mentioned how these wines needed a bit of time to fully evolve into something special. I noticed that when I tried these upon release, that many of the 2012 Oregon Pinot Noirs were quite reticent both with their aromas and flavors. The wines had the stuffing and potential, but many just needed time to evolve. 

I fondly recall speaking with the talented Brian Marcy of Big Table Farm about his 2012 wines and he also agreed that his 2012 wines were excellent upon release but improved with some time. There were several wines from this report that I rated 95 points and higher, including two wines from Big Table Farm, their marvelously earthy ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ and their seamless ‘Cattrall Vineyard’ Pinot Noirs. While quite different, these both share a deep core and a silky texture that entices. Releases by Domaine Drouhin and Domaine Serene also held their seats at the high table with the stunning 2012 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 95), the 2012 Domane Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 95) as well as the highest scoring wine from this report (and one of the top Oregon wines that I have sampled in the past year), the magical 2012 Domaine Serene ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 96). Finally, James Frey has quietly been producing some scintillating bottlings, and his 2012 Trisaetum ‘Family Reserve’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 95) is a barrel select Pinot Noir that is the best wine that I have ever had from his estate.

I believe this to be the most comprehensive 2012 Oregon Pinot Noir retrospective that has ever been published. The 2012 Oregon Pinot Noirs are really starting to hit their stride, as lighter tertiary notes are settling into the deep core of red and dark fruits. For those who have these beautiful wines in their cellars, do not be afraid to open these glorious Pinot Noir wines. Here are the top wines from my 2012 Oregon Pinot Noir Retrospective. 

Big Table Farm

2012 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir-The 2012 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir opens with lovely earthy tones that collide with red currants and shades of Satsuma orange rind that all mingle together in the glass. The texture imparted is simply fantastic as bright red fruits dance with minerals and lighter wild mushroom tones. The silky texture is really impressive. It is hard to believe that this is only their entry level wine. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2012 Big Table Farm ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-The 2012 ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a magical effort by superstar winemaker Brian Marcy. The earthy tones are gorgeous on the nose as bright cran-cherry, cigar ash, peat moss and shades of black truffle crudo enter the fray. The mouthfeel is soft, inviting and generous, creating a seamless quality that makes this effortlessly glide across the mid-palate. Copious dark and red fruits dance with the earthy and citrus rind tones on the palate. Given more air the wine becomes even more silky. This is simply sensational stuff that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2019-2033- 95

2012 Big Table Farm ‘Cattrall Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 ‘Cattrall Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a scintillating wine at the seven year mark. The earthy aromatic tones aromatically really captivate the senses and bring you back to the glass for more hedonistic delight. The silky texture creates a seamless quality in the wine, as the near-minute long finish completes this absolutely thrilling 2012 Pinot Noir. Drink 2019-2035- 95

Brittan Vineyards 

2012 Brittan Vineyards ‘Basalt Block’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 Brittan Vineyards ‘Gestalt Block’ Pinot Noir is a simply outstanding effort by the talented Robert Brittan. Grapes for this wine were sourced from their estate vineyard on the edge of the costal range in the McMinnville AVA. The nose takes on sultry wet sone with dried herbs, kirsch and shades of damp earth that all align nicely in the glass. Rich, with a silky texture, the palate unveils ripe pomegranate seeds, with suggestions of black truffle and wild blackberry compote that mingle with the bright sense of minerality. This still has more than a decade to go. Drink 2019-2032- 93

Chehalem 

2012 Chehalem ‘Ridgecrest Vineyards Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 Chehalem ‘Ridgecrest Vineyards Reserve’ is a gorgeous bottling sourced from the Ribbon Ridge AVA in the Willamette Valley. Quite dark in the glass, the wine opens with dark kirsch with cigar box and wild mushroom aromas that meld in the together marvelously. The palate reveals not only great weight but bright and juicy red and dark fruits with suggestions of cinnamon sticks, cardamom and peat moss. This is complex and delicious stuff at the seven year mark, as this outstanding Pinot Noir will age brilliantly for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

Cristom

2012 Cristom ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a stunning wine at now seven years of age.. The nose shines brightly with teaberry that mingles with cinnamon, clove and peat moss undertones that all settle together in the glass. The texture is really fantastic here as you are greeted with mouth-watering acidity. Black and red fruits collide with lovely citrus rind and peat moss tones on the palate. This is absolutely fantastic now and will continue to build for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2012 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is showing magically at seven years of age. On the nose this shows off wonderful damp terroir tones with shades of cran-orange and forest floor that all entice. The texture imparts a seamless quality to the wine. There is also a light beam of salinity that runs through the wine as bright strawberry and guava flavors mingle with citrus zest and shades of wild mushroom. Showing some insanely good range, this beautiful wine has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2012 Cristom ‘Signature Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 Cristom ‘Signature Cuvee’ Pinot Noir is a stunning wine by Cristom and superstar winemaker Steve Doerner. The earthy aromatics really entice, as do the copious red and dark fruit tones that mingle with Mandarin orange zest that all combine on the nose. The texture is truly outstanding as black fruits dance with minerals, dusty terroir, black truffle shavings and shades of forest floor. Seductive now this stunning wine will cellar well for decades. Drink 2019-2035- 94

Domaine Drouhin

2012 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir by the talented Veronique Drouhin is a stunning effort at now seven years of age. Very pretty red rose petals aromas connect with shades of peat moss, white truffle shavings and black fruits, with smoky undertones that round out this fantastic nose. The palate has an incredible combination of freshness and richness, with gobs of minerality. The balance imparted is gorgeous, as vibrant minerals collide with ripe red cherry, guava, teaberry and cran-pomegranate flavors. While a delight to enjoy now, this is only starting to come of age. Drink 2019-2038- 95

Domaine Serene

2012 Domane Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection wine sourced from a host of Domaine Serene Vineyards across the Willamette Valley. On the nose this takes on bright cherry, teaberry, pomegranate seed and shades of wild mushroom and peat moss that round out this gorgeous nose. The soft and generous texture creates a silky mouthfeel which effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Intense dark and red fruit flavors collide with the bright sense of minerality and lovely earthy undertones. Outstanding now at the seven year mark, the 2012 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir will cellar marvelously for decades to come. Drink 2019-2035- 95

2012 Domaine Serene ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir by Domaine Serene is a stunning bottling that is only starting to hit its stride. Needing more than an hour in the decanter, once aroused the wine slowly unveils wild blackberry preserves with suggestions of black tea, baking spices, cigar box and Mandarin orange zest aromas that all sing together in harmony in the glass. The aromatic range is so good you are compelled to go back to the glass for more hedonistic delight. The palate evokes a polished texture, creating a seamless quality that really entices. Earl Grey tea, blackberry cobbler, cigar ash, peat moss and red cherry puree flavors all combine marvelously. While this is only the start of something truly great, the 2016 ‘Grace Vineyard’ will have decades left in the cellar. Drink 2019-2040- 96

Erath

2012 Erath ‘Leland’ Pinot Noir- Winemaker Gary Horner has crafted an exceptional bottling here with the ‘Leland’ Pinot Noir. The wine was aged in 40% new French oak for twelve months prior to bottling. The toasty oak delightfully wraps around the dark fruits with sage and clove accents that all merge together in the glass. Fresh, elegant and highly astringent, the ‘Leland’ produces gobs of mouth-watering acidity and a long and highly satisfying mineral and red fruit-driven finish. I can imagine this beautiful wine cellaring for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2012 Erath ‘Knight’s Gambit’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 ‘Knight’s Gambit’ by Erath is a beautiful bottling at the seven year mark. A whiff of white pepper dashes through the nose as earthy tones and wild blackberry all dance together in unison. The freshness imparted is lovely, as the bright sense of minerality rings true. Red currant and cran-pomegranate with teaberry flavors all collide with minerals and forest floor tones on the palate. While delightful now, this beautiful wine will continue to evolve well for the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2012 Erath ‘Prince Hill’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 Erath ‘Prince Hill’ Pinot Noir starts off with great aromatic range from huckleberry and red raspberry coulis to herbal and peat moss tones that all come together in the glass. The palate has a great combination of weight and freshness. The long, lingering finish really accentuates this beautiful, earthy Pinot Noir. While a delight to savor at this stage, I can see this cellaring well for at least another ten years. Drink 2019-2029- 92

King Estate

2012 King Estate ‘Backbone’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 ‘Backbone’ Pinot Noir is sourced from a host of great vineyards but largely the Roserock Vineyard (33%) and the King Estate Vineyard (28%). Now showing a touch of rim variation once in the glass, the wine opens with an intense bouquet of potpourri with red rose petals that mingle with the bright red fruits and orange zest accents that all mingle nicely together. The palate shows good finesse with medium-bodied red fruit, white pepper and suggestions of black truffle shavings all singing together. While this may come off a touch lean, the freshness here is marvelous as the wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2012 King Estate ‘Croft Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Croft Vineyard’ is located due west of Salem, Oregon, as King Estate has been sourcing from this site since 1992. The vineyard it set at 400 feet elevation and Pinot Noir vines are planted on Bellpine soils. Needing some time in the decanter to fully settle, the ‘Croft VIneyard’ starts off with bright red currants that mingle with spicy and earthy undertones on the nose. The palate has wonderful verve and tension that runs through the wine, as well as a light dusting of salinity. Red cherry preserves, ripe guava and shades of blood orange masquerade with peat moss undertones on the palate. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 91

Lachini Vineyards

2012 Lachini Vineyards ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- Translucent in the glass, the 2012 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir shows nice aromatic range from shades of wet stone and forest floor to bright bing cherry with suggestions of Mandarin orange rind that all settle together nicely in the glass. The sense of balance is profound, as the soft mouthfeel, delicate red fruits and minerals all dance in harmony together. This is seriously good stuff that has another decade to go. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2012 Lachini Vineyards ‘Prima’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Prima’ shows a denser core then the Lachini ‘Estate’ bottling as this is Ronald Lachini’s barrel selection wine. The nose is quite perfumed with red rose petals that collide with pomengrate seed and earthy undertones with citrus rind accents that all mingle together in the glass. The soft and plush, downright classy, texture really entices, as cran-cherry and suggestions of guava puree sing with the peat moss and citrus rind tones on the palate. There is a sense of harmony to this wine as its working parts are truly firing on all cylinders. A delight to savor at this stage in its development, the 2012 ‘Prima’ will cellar well for the next ten to fifteen years, picking up tertiary tones as it ages. Drink 2019-2032- 93

Lange

2012 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ is sourced from a blend of vineyards including the Lange Estate, the Freedom Hill and Yamhill Vineyards. The nose shows bright red fruits that mingle with lovely cardamom and citrus rind tones that all shine together in the glass. Soft, round and silky on the mouth, this beautiful wine is right in its sweet spot. Enjoy the 2012 ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2012 Lange ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this famed vineyard which was first planted in 1982, the 2012 ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir begins with peat moss and cinnamon sticks that meld with bright pomegranate seed and suggestions of wild mushroom that all take shape in the glass. The mouthfeel is generous as the wine produces a wonderful texture and astringency. Dark fruits mingle with the good sense of freshness and earthy undertones. The ‘Freedom Hill’ Pinot Noir still has a long way to go in the bottle. Drink 2019-2029- 91

Maysara

2012 Maysara ‘Jamsheed’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 ‘Jamsheed’ Pinot Noir by Maysara is entirely sourced from the famed Momtazi Vineyard in the McMinnville AVA. Deeply colored in the glass, the ‘Jamsheed’ opens with suggestions of wet stone and blackberry coulis, with hints of white truffle shavings that all take shape in the glass. The freshness is lovely, as the wine unveils a strong astringency with tart red fruits that mingle with the shades of Mandarin orange rind and minerals. This is quite satisfying now and will continue to evolve well for the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2012 Maysara ‘Cyrus’ Pinot Noir- The Maysara ‘Cyrus’ was named after the famed Persian king, Cyrus the Great who ruled from 600-530 B.C. A whiff of saline infused dark truffle really captivates the senses as the wine dances with bright red and dark fruits that collide with the earthy tones on the nose. The stony character on the palate is lovely, as is the soft texture that connects with red currants, peat moss, cran-orange and pomegranate seed flavors. Delightful now at the seven year mark, the ‘Cyrus’ will have a long life ahead of it in the cellar. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2012 Maysara ‘Owl’ Pinot Noir- The  Maysara ‘Owl’ is a fantastic bottling that underwent 100% whole cluster fermentation. The earthy tones are quite dominant with forest floor, pine needles and suggestions of wild mushroom that merge with the black fruits aromatically. The texture is round and generous as the wine shows off its blackberry cobbler and peat moss flavors that collide with the lovely earthy tones. Drink 2019-2029- 91

Panther Creek

2012 Panther Creek ‘Kalita Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-The ‘Kalita Vineyard’ is set between 400-800 feet as this steep-sloped vineyard is set on well-draining Willakenzie soils. The bright red fruits shine right out of the gate and meld with lovely peat moss and black truffle undertones on the nose. The palate is smooth and silky, revealing a plush mouthfeel. The dark and red fruits collide with minerals and all lead to an exceedingly long and engaging finish. This is really hitting its stride. Drink 2019-2026- 92

2012 Panther Creek ‘Lazy River Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This 2012 Yamhill-Carlton bottling opens with bright pomegranate seed, orange zest and suggestions of peat moss that all come together aromatically in the glass. The palate has great brightness and a wonderful sense of minerality. The soft mouthfeel delights, as red fruits and shades of blood orange all mingle with the minerals and light earthy undertones. Fantastic now, showing a great astringency, this will continue to evolve over the next decade. Drink 2019-2026- 92

ROCO

2012 ROCO ‘Private Stash’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Private Stash’ is a barrel selection wine made by superstar winemaker Rollin Soles. The earthy aromatic tones are lovely, as the meld with the black tea, exotic spice, red currant jelly and cran-orange aromatics that all take shape in the glass. The palate displays wonderful balance and elegance. Black tea, black truffle shavings and forest floor flavors connect with the bright sense of minerality and silky texture. This is seriously good now but will continue to shine brightly for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2033- 93

Stag Hollow

2012 Stag Hollow ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 Stag Hollow ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir is every bit as good as when I tried it at the winery several years ago. Quite translucent in the glass, this Yamhill-Carlton AVA bottling shows bright guava and pomegranate seed aromatics that mingle with the peat moss and citrus rind tones that all meld together in the glass. The silky mouthfeel is lovely as bright acidity and copious red fruits greet you on the palate. Sensational now, this has at least a decade to go. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2012 Stag Hollow ‘Vendage Selection’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Vendages Selection’ is a barrel selection wine crafted by the talented Mark Huff. The nose has great range from forest floor and peat moss to cran-orange and shades of white truffle shavings that all collide in the glass. The silky texture, earthy tones and extremely long finish accentuates this fantastic bottling. Enjoy this over the next decade. Only 72 cases made of this fantastic wine. Drink 2019-2029- 93

Tendril

2012 Tendril Pinot Noir- The 2012 Tendril Pinot Noir is a beautiful wine by superstar winemaker Tony Rynders. Ripe fruits mingle with shades of dried herbs and damp earth that all mingle together on the nose. The freshness and sense of balance is fantastic, as this elegant, medium-bodied Pinot Noir shows off its downright sexy core of red fruits, backed with a strong sense of minerality and lovely earthy undertones. While this is excellent now, the 2012 Tendril Pinot Noir will show well for the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2012 Tendril ‘Saffron Fields Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Saffron Fields Vineyard’ is a low elevation site just east of the town of Yamhill. Aromatically this is beautifully evolved with its black tea, blackberry compote and shades of peat moss that come together in the glass. The palate has good richness and a soft texture, unveiling rich red and dark fruits that dance with the lovely sense of minerality. Sensational now, this will continue to show well for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

Toil Oregon

2012 Toil Oregon Pinot Noir- The 2012 Toil Oregon Pinot Noir is a fantastic bottling by the talented Chris Figgins of Leonetti Cellar fame. The aromatic range is quite good with pretty red rose petals that line the glass and mingle with the bright red fruits, blood orange and peat moss tones. Medium-bodied, the freshness here is lovely as bright acidity and lovely tension is created. Bright bing cherry and guava flavors merge with the lovely earthy undertones. A delight to savor at the seven year mark, the 2012 Toil Oregon will have another decade or more left in the cellar. Drink 2019-2029- 93

Trisaetum

2012 Trisaetum ‘Estates Reserve’ Pinot Noir-The 2012 ‘Estates Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a stunning wine at the seven year mark. The aromatic range is seriously good, yielding red cherry candy and guava preserves that mingle with nutmeg, cardamom, and peat moss tones that all march in place in the glass. Soft and round, with a generous mouthfeel, this shows not only fantastic texture but a wonderful, vibrant minerality. Copious red fruits sing in harmony with the minerals and wild mushroom tones on the palate. Fantastic now, this will cellar well over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2012 Trisaetum ‘Family Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Family Reserve’ is a limited production, barrel selection wine by the talented James Frey. James has chosen four barrels for this wine that hew finds the most intriguing and we are all quite glad that he did. Like the 2012 ‘Estates Reserve’ bottling, the aromatic range at play is outstanding, ranging from red and dark fruits to black truffle and lovely earthy aromas that all dance together in the glass. The silky texture creates a seamless effect, as this glides across the mid-palate. Even better is the near-minute long finish. Astonishing and captivating, this gorgeous bottling will have at least another fifteen years ahead of it — but why wait? Drink 2019-2035- 95

White Rose

2012 White Rose ‘The Neo-Classical Objective’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 ‘Neo-Classical Objective’ was entirely sourced from the White Rose Estate and underwent 100% whole cluster fermentation. On the nose this takes on lively teaberry with red cherry, cranberry and peat moss tones that all come together in the glass. The freshness is lovely as medium-bodied red and dark fruit flavors collide with copious minerals and lighter wild mushroom tones on the palate. Outstanding now, this will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2012 White Rose ‘White Rose Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2012 ‘White Rose Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a sensational effort by legendary Oregon winemaker Jesus Guillen. On the nose this expresses intense earthy tones with white truffle shavings, peat moss and dusty minerals that combine with the dark fruits on the nose. The palate has a great combination of freshness, elegance and astringency. Red currants and cran-cherry flavors mingle with shades of cloves, cardamom and damp earthy tones on the palate. Bright and displaying a good combination of weight and minerality, this expressive Oregon Pinot Noir will cellar well for more than a decade — but is extremely hard to resist right now. Drink 2019-2033- 94

Eleven Madison Park

An unforgettable culinary adventure, I first dined at this storied New York City gastronomic mecca in 2016 and have thoroughly enjoyed dining there every year since. My annual visit last Tuesday had impeccable timing of being the night that the restaurant was once again awarded their third Michelin star. Founded in 1998, the restaurant overlooks the beautiful Madison Square Park and is located in a historic Art Deco building on the corner of 24th Street and Madison Avenue. Owned by Chef Daniel Humm and Restaurateur Will Guidara since 2011 this is one of the most sought after restaurants in America, as they offer an eight to ten course menu in the main dining room, as well as a four course tasting menu and light snacks in their bar.
San Pellingrino helps sponsor the World’s Best 50 Restaurants list and the restaurant has steadily climbed up the rankings, being Ranked #50 in 2010, #24 in 2011, #10 in 2012, #5 in 2013, #4 in 2014, #5 in 2015, #3 in 2016 and reaching #1 in 2017. A sensational wine list, Eleven Madison has held the Wine Spectator Grand Award from 2011-2016 and has held 3 Michelin Stars remarkably from 2012-2018.
It was a night to remember as I started my night with the best craft cocktail I have tried all year, ‘The Birch’ which is their take on an Old-Fashioned — an impeccably balanced blend of Japanese Whisky, Rye Whiskey, Amontillado Sherry, Maple, and Angostura. The first presentation with a luscious soufflé with osteria caviar which they recommended planting inside the soufflé. The texture of the dish and balance was mind-numbing. I then followed with a perfectly cooked lobster, served with a heavenly lobster stock reduction. Lobster is sometimes cooked too well-done, but the simplicity of this dish made the succulent lobster tail the star of the show. A terrine of foie gras followed which was excellent although their signature duck breast stole the show with a Bordelaise reduction, paired with a 2005 Chateau Maucaillou from the Bordeaux appellation of Moulis. This was truly a match made in heaven as the balance of the wine and vintage did not overpower the highly nuanced duck breast. It was a night to remember at one of the world’s famed restaurants, Eleven Madison Park.

Col Solare

One of the great wine destinations in Eastern Washington, Col Solare is perched high atop Red Mountain with sweeping views of the Columbia Valley. Col Solare is a historic partnership between Chateau Ste. Michelle and the Antinori Family that began with their first vintage in 1995, as Col Solare’s mission has been to amalgamate these two distinct viticultural and winemaking backgrounds to create a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon-based red wine from choice Red Mountain fruit. Each year Col Solare crafts one of the best red blends in the state. The talented winemaking team is highly focused. Both winemaker Darell Allwine and assistant winemaker Will Wiles are truly talented and you can taste the level of dedication and commitment in the glass. 

Col Solare now has a host of wines that they craft from their estate. Their signature blend, the Col Solare, is typically made from around 70 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, depending on the vintage, and their second wine is called Shining Hill. They now offer a number of wine club wines under their ‘Component Collection’ label. The new 2016 Col Solare Red Wine (WWB, 94) is dense, chewy and is marvelous in its youth. This stunning wine will have a long life in the cellar. Even better was their new wine, the 2016 col Solare ‘Tenuta’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 95) which is massive and has an incredible texture and mouthfeel. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.colsolare.com Here are great new Col Solare wines.

2016 Col Solare Red Wine- The 2016 Col Solare Red Wine is a scintillating new release by this historic winery, perched high on Red Mountain. The nose is beautiful with green bell pepper and sagebrush tones with copious dark fruits that all mingle together in the glass. The palate has wonderful richness but also great elegance. Suggestions of white pepper with hints of sweet pipe tobacco, cassis, mocha and tar with dark chocolate tones all round out this seriously good palate. Gorgeous now, this stunning release will cellar well for decades. Drink 2020-2038- 94

2016 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘Component Collection; Syrah is another stunning release from this storied partnership between the Antinori Family and Chateau Ste. Michelle. Inky in the glass, this shows gorgeous milk chlorate with violet, tar and graphite aromas that all come together in the glass. The palate is full of power, showing good acidity with intense dark fruit flavors that mingle with minerals, milk chocolate and shades of kirsch cordial. Fabulous in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Cabernet Franc- The 2016 ‘Component Collection’ Cabernet Franc is a beautiful wine that shows great typicity and heat of the vintage. Lovely vegetal tones collide with chocolate, coffee grounds and shades of dark cherry on the nose. The combination of freshness and weight is outstanding. Dark and blue fruits mingle on the palate with minerals and chocolate undertones. Fabulous in its youth, this fantastic new bottling will cellar well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Merlot- The 2016 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Merlot is another gorgeous release by the talented winemaking team at Col Solare. Dill with red cherry preserves and mocha all mingle brightly on the nose. The palate is silky smooth, producing a wonderful combination of mouthfeel and freshness. Dense dark fruits connect with chocolate and sagebrush undertones on the palate. This is seriously good in its youth and will have a long life in the cellar. Drink 2019-2035- 94

2016 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Malbec- The 2016 2016 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Malbec is a hedonistic and decadent treat in its youth. Dense and chewy on the palate, with intense bluyebeyr cordial, dark chocolate shaving, coffee ground and tar flavors, this is truly one of the best Malbec bottlings in the state. With serious verve and weight, this fantastic bottling will cellar well for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2035- 94

2016 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Red Wine- Always changing each year the 2016 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Red Wine is a silky blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (57%) with smaller portions Cabernet Franc (37%) and Carmenere (7%). There is a great sense of elegance to this wine as the soft tannins and silky mouthfeel effortlessly glide across the mid-palate. The seamless quality of the wine really shines through as this incredible effort will cellar well for decades. Drink 2019-2038- 94

2016 Col Solare ‘Tenuta’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Col Solare ‘Tenuta’ Cabernet Sauvingon is a new wine made by Col Solare. Placed in a massive bottle, the ‘Tenuta’ utilizes Cabernet Sauvignon clone 2, 6 and 10. The nose has lovely herbal tones that mingle with the chocolate, sagebrush and copious dark fruits that all mingle nicely in the glass. The texture imparted here is absolutely outstanding. Dense, decadent and downright delicious, the wine delivers massive dark fruit flavors with toasty oak, graphite, creosote and suggestions of chocolate covered espresso bean. A simply fabulous effort, the 2016 ‘Tenuta’ Cabernet Sauvignon will be exceedingly long lived. Drink 2019-2040- 95

Chateau Le Pin

One of the most expensive wines of the world, Chateau Le Pin traces back to 1924 as the estate was previously owned by the Laubie family. In 1979 Madame Laubie sold this one hectare vineyard to the Belgian Jacques Thienpont for one million francs. At time the this was quite an expensive acquisition in the area. The vineyards were developed by Jacques Thienpont whose family own the neighbouring Vieux Château Certan and the wine was produced in tiny quantities from a farmhouse basement. The winery had already been named 'Le Pin’ based on a solitary pine tree that grows near the winery. 2011 marked some major changes at Le Pin with the creation of a new winery which was designed by the Belgian architectural practice Robbrecht en Daem architecten. The structure inaugurated using tiny microcurves and gravity to move the wine. Currently, Le Pin are one of the most popular wines in the world wine auction market.

Management of the winery is handled by Jacques Thienpont, and since the initial acquisition of the winery, small parcels of land have been acquired so the estate now encompasses 5 acres of vineyards which are set on sandy gravel topsoil on a bedrock of limestone. Only Merlot is planted at this very special site as the vines average 38 years of age. In most vintages 600 to 700 cases are produced although Le Pin made no wine in 2003 due to excessive heat that vintage. Here is my review of the 2011 Chateau Le Pin.

2011 Chateau Le Pin- Ethereal, silky and marvelously poised, the 2011 Le Pin is sourced from an extremely small estate is located in the commune of Pomerol. It is amongst the world's most expensive red wines, as this was very graciously shared by my friend and colleague, Dr. Jae Hong. I was most impressed by the opulent, pillowy texture of the wine, which is still quite primary now at the eight year mark. Elegant tannins line the massive core of dark fruits, all leading the breathtaking, near minute-long finish. The earthy terroir is absolutely immense and spellbinding, as this is truly Pomerol at its best. This true heavyhitter really needs another ten years of bottle age to hit its stride and will provide drinking enjoyment past my lifetime. Drink 2025-2055- 97

Yao Family Wines

One of the tallest players of his era, when NBA superstar Yao Ming always came to play against my Seattle Supersonics we always knew that we would have trouble with his massive size. I attended hundreds of Sonics games in my youth, following some amazing teams with Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. The Houston Rockets, one of their main rivals, drafted a relatively untested center named Yao Ming in 2002 with the first pick in the NBA draft. This became a serious coup for the Rockets and a huge challenge for other NBA centers to deal with Yao’s offensive and defensive abilities — and his 7’7’’ frame. Yao became an NBA sensation and one of the best players in the league, finally retiring after a series of injuries in 2011. 

Yao saw a great opportunity in launching Yao Family Wines that same year. Yao Family Wines sources from a host of great Napa Valley vineyards. The grapes are fermented and then aged up to 18 months in 100% French oak barrels and the best lots are then chosen for the final blend. The wines were beautiful across the board from this exciting 2016 vintage in the Napa Valley. Look to the outstanding 2016 Yao Family Wines ‘Family Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 94) which has insane aging potential and offers gobs of decadent dark fruits with a gorgeous core and mineral backbone. Learn more about these stunning new wines at yaofamilywines.com Here are the new wines by Yao Family Wines. 

2016 Yao Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Yao Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon was soured from a host of Napa Valley vineyards ranging from their bench land site in Yountville to Northern St. Helena. The wine is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot that weighs in at 14.6% alcohol. Classic creme de cassis, red bell pepper, thyme and suggestions of cocoa powder with dusty terroir complete the gorgeous aromatics of the wine. The palate is soft and generous, creating a silky texture and a racy sense of acidity. Black Forest Cake, creme de cassis and mocha flavors all marvelously combine with the bright sense of mentality on the palate. Dense, layered and highly polished, this silky effort will cellar well at least for another fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Yao Family Wines ‘Family Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Yao Family Wines ‘Family Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a barrel selection Cabernet Sauvignon (97%) wine with 3% Petit Verdot that is a scintillating effort by the talented Tom Hinde. The highly perfumed aromatics really entice with mocha, blueberry cordial, blackberry compote, black tea and exotic spices which all take shape in the glass. There is a seamless quality to this wine as it deftly glides across the mid-palate. Bright acidity and a silky texture awaits, with deep dark fruit flavors, with mocha, creme de cassis and shades of black licorice that all meld together on the palate. This is sensational in its youth and will continue to evolve well for decades. Drink 2020-2040- 95

Napa Merlot Report

October is Merlot month and as the seasons change, what a better time than to settle down with an outstanding, silky Merlot wine? Miles from Sideways had it all wrong and while the ‘Sideways Effect’ significantly shaped the wine market, sales began to swing back in Merlot’s favor starting in 2015 and have been slowly rising since that time. 

Napa crafts arguably some of the best Merlot in the United States. The flavors profiles of Napa Merlot tend to be quite classic with refined tannins and wonderful deep dark fruits, with underlying spice and chocolate flavors. There are some terrific Merlots out of Napa and my recent report confirmed that Napa Merlot is not one to be overlooked.

I was absolutely blown away with the 2016 Pahlmeyer Merlot (WWB, 96) ($90.00) which is a dense beast of a wine that really needs another year or two in the bottle to be fully integrated. Opulent, rich and marvelously layered, the 2016 Duckhorn Vineyards ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ Merlot (WWB, 94) ($100.00) is highly gratifying and silky even at this stage in its development. 

There were some beautiful Napa Merlot wines I sampled were outrageously good for the price. The 2016 Darioush ‘Signature’ Merlot (WWB, 95) ($60.00) is a stunning example with incredible richness and poise from this warm vintage. For a good value, look to thee 2016 HALL Merlot (WWB, 92) ($40.00) and the 2016 Markham Merlot (WWB, 90) ($25.00) which give you some serious bang for the buck. Cabernet may be king but there are some sensational Merlots out of Napa that are not to be overlooked. Here are our recommended Napa Merlots. 

Amuse Bouche

2015 Amuse Bouche Red Wine- The 2015 Amuse Bouche is largely Merlot (88%) that was sourced from the Napa Valley. Heidi Barrett owns a secret vineyard in the eastern Rutherford Hills which this wine is sourced from. The nose is intoxicating with bright red fruits that mingle with cedar, creme de cassis, dusty terroir and shades of mocha that all build in the glass. The texture is downright ethereal as this silky wine glides across the mid-palate. Dense tar, anise, creme de cassis and blueberry compote flavors with shades of damp terroir all collide on the palate. The exceedingly long finish lingers long on the tongue. Sensational now, this gorgeous expression of Napa Merlot will provide drinking enjoyment for the next two decades. Drink 2020-2040- 95

Chappellet

2016 Chappellet Merlot- The 2016 Chappellet Merlot was aged for 22 months in French oak barrels prior to being bottled as the final blending is comprised of 77% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot. Lovely chocolate covered kirsch aromas mingle with the sandalwood and earthy undertones that all take shape in the glass. The palate shows some lovely viscosity as rich roasted fig flavors parade with the red cherry compote, chocolate covered loganberry and light tobacco leaf flavors. Burly and decadent, this will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2019-2035- 93

Darioush

2016 Darioush ‘Signature’ Merlot- The 2016 ‘Signature’ Merlot by Darioush is a stunning new wine by the talented winemaking team at Darioush. Sourced from the Darioush Estate Vineyard as well as their vineyard in Mt. Veeder. The wine was aged for 22 months in largely new French oak prior to bottling.  The nose is perfumed and simply gorgeous as ripe dark plum with shades of red cherry tomato and black cherry cordial. The palate shows a silky character with lovely tension. The weight of the wine is fantastic as the wine unveils black cherry liquor with blackberry pie and shades of dusty terroir and shades of sandalwood. While fantastic now, this will evolve marvelously for fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2035- 95

Duckhorn Vineyards 

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

2016 Duckhorn ‘Atlas Peak’ Merlot- The ‘Atlas Peak’ Merlot is a gorgeous 100% varietal wine that was aged in 50% new French oak for sixteen months prior to bottling. On the nose there are shades of black licorice woven together with milk chocolate and anise that all build together in the glass. The silky texture really entices here as the wine artfully dances across the mid-palate. Loganberry puree with suggestions of cocoa powder and sagebrush accents complete this gorgeous new bottling. While outstanding in its youth, this excellent new Merlot will have decades ahead of it. Drink 2019-2035- 93

2016 Duckhorn ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ Merlot- The 2016 Duckhorn ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ is another stellar release by the talented Renee Ary. Aged in 100% new French oak for eighteen months, the Merlot has 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Malbec blended in. The nose exudes class with ripe chocolate covered bing cherry and shades of sweet pipe tobacco that mingle with the dusty terroir tones on the nose. The palate is plush, giving an err of decadence. The silky mouthfeel really gives a feel of opulence. Black Forest cake and dark licorice flavors collide with the dusty minerals and cigar box flavors. Simply outstanding in its youth following a one hour decant, this stunning Merlot will cellar well for decades. Drink 2020-2040- 94

HALL

2016 HALL Merlot- The 2016 HALL Merlot is another fantastic bottling from this famed Napa estate. On the nose this takes on lovely creme de cassis and tar aromas that mingle with shades of blackberry cobbler on this expressive nose. The soft texture is inviting as the wine unveils copious dark fruits and chocolate flavors. This deftly walks the tightrope of unveiling the warmth of the vintage yet also displays some restraint.While fantastic now, this compelling Merlot will continue to evolve well for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

Materra

2015 Materra ‘Right Bank’ Merlot- The 2015 Materra ‘Right Bank’ Merlot was aged for 22 months in French oak prior to bottling. Ripe raspberry jam and shades of chocolate and tar fill the nose. The palate is soft, showing off a lovely texture. Chocolate covered dark cherry and roasted fig flavors mingle with the toasty oak character on the palate. With its soft texture, this downright delicious Merlot will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 90

Markham

2016 Markham Merlot- The 2016 Markham Merlot was aged for nearly fifteen months in French & American Oak (32% new) prior to bottling. Sourced from mainly estate vineyards, this opens with ripe Hoisin sauce, black tea and rich mocha aromas that fill the glass. Round and generous on the mouth, the wine delivers ripe black fruits that mingle with the chocolate and espresso bean undertones on the palate. Drink 2019-2025- 90

Pahlmeyer

2016 Pahlmeyer Merlot- The 2016 Pahlmeyer Merlot is a simply magical effort from this warm vintage in the Napa Valley. Nearly all Merlot (96.5%) with just a touch of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon added, the wine was aged for 20 months in 85% new French oak before bottling. The nose is downright seductive with its black tea, exotic spice and chocolate tones that meld with the dark fruits in the glass. The palate is exceedingly elegant, showing a silky mouthfeel and marvelous texture. Intense black tea, blackberry cobbler, Turkish coffee, dusty terroir and minerals come together on the palate. The marvelously long and inviting black fruit and mineral-driven finish lingers long on the tongue. While sensational now, the 2016 Pahlmeyer Merlot will have an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Drink 2019-2038- 96

Robert Mondavi Winery

2016 Robert Mondavi Winery Merlot- The 2016 Merlot by Robert Mondavi is a blend of 76% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon. Forward and nicely poised, this shows ripe black plum, blackberry pie and milk chocolate flavors. Drink 2019-2025- 89

Robert Foley Vineyards

2014 Robert Foley Vineyards Merlot- The 2014 Robert Foley Vineyards Merlot shows dense tar and candied black cherry with chocolate undertones on the nose. The palate has good power and poise with deep dark fruit and chocolate flavors, with some herbal undertones. This sturdy Merlot will have a decade or cellaring ahead of it. Drink 2019-2027- 90

Rutherford Hill

2016 Rutherford Hill Merlot- The 2016 Rutherford Hill Merlot opens with aromas of baking spices that mingle with dark cherry compote and chocolate fudge that all come together in the glass. The palate shows lively acidity with medium-bodied dark fruits that mingle with minerals and chocolate. Drink 2019-2024- 88

2016 Rutherford Hill Merlot- The terroir imparted instantly takes you to Oakville with its lush creme de cassis tones that mingle with the dusty terroir aromatically. The soft texture is lovely, as light tannins line the dark fruit, cocoa powder and black licorice flavors that sit with the earthy undertones. This is really nice stuff now that will evolve well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2016 Rutherford Hill ‘Atlas Peak’ Merlot- Sourced from this famed AVA high above the valley floor, the 2016 Rutherford Hill ‘Atlas Peak’ Merlot opens with a bright bouquet of nutmeg and cloves that collide with the dense dark fruit and espresso bean aromas. The palate is plush, showing off a silky mouthfeel. Dark cherry cordial, mocha and tar flavors collide with the lovely leafy and herbal undertones of the wine. Fantastic now, this outstanding new release will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2016 Rutherford Hill ‘Cask Reserve’ Merlot- The ‘Cask Reserve’ is a barrel selection Merlot wine made by winemaker Marisa Taylor. Showing off its dense core, this begins with a dusting of cocoa powder followed by anise and black tea aromas that all collide together in the glass. The soft texture imparted is really outstanding, as is the bright beam of salinity that runs through the wine. Chocolate covered dark cherry, creme de cassis and tomato leaf flavors mingle with the dusty terroir and minerals. Beautiful now, this esteemed Merlot will cellar well for a decade or more. Be sure to give this an hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2020-2035- 92

Seavey

2004 Seavey Merlot-While this report focuses on new release wines, I simply could not fail to write about the 2004 Seavey Merlot which is showing marvelously now at the fifteen year mark. Aged in 40% new French oak, the wine is a silky blend of 75% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Petit Verdot (10%). The earthy tones aromatically are really nice, as this shows dusty terroir that has settled with the black fruits and black tea aromas that all come together in the glass. The palate is soft, rich and downright elegant. Black fruits collide with shades of creme de cassis and mocha, with the lovely damp terroir terroir that round out this beautiful palate. This is absolutely singing at the fifteen year mark but has another ten years left. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Seavey Merlot- The 2016 Seavey Merlot is a sensational new wine that has a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon blended in (5%). The wine was aged for twenty months in 30% new French oak prior to bottling. Showing off its deep core, the 2016 Seavey Merlot opens with freshly roasted espresso bean with a dusting of cocoa powder and shades of red bell pepper that all enter the fray aromatically. The palate is plush, showing off a silky mouthfeel and wonderful texture that entices. Black Forest cake flavors with shades of Turkish coffee mingle with the bright combination of red and dark fruits. The mineral backbone and weight of the wine suggest this will cellar well for decades. Drink 2019-2035- 92

Truchard

2016 Truchard Merlot- The 2016 Truchard Merlot shows lovely red bell pepper with black and red fruits that mingle with the baking spices on the nose. The palate is plush, showing a great brightness and sense of minerality. Medium-bodied red and dark fruits line the palate with chocolate. This is delicious in its youth but will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 90

Hamilton Russell

Friends, we make a long journey across the Atlantic to the beautiful coast of South Africa today. As one of the most southerly wine estates in Africa and one of the closest to the sea, Hamilton Russell winery is located in cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. The winery focuses on producing limited amounts of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Anthony Hamilton Russell took over from the founder, Tim Hamilton Russell, in 1991, and bought the property from the family in 1994. Tim originally purchased the undeveloped 170 hectare property in 1975, searching for a great site to make Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Vines are set on stony, clay-rich, shale-derived soil which create lovely earthy and terroir-driven wines. Their new releases were really outstanding. 

One of the best South African Chardonnay wines that I have sampled this year, the 2018 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay (WWB, 93) is an incredible effort with seriously good range of flavors and aromatics. I was blown away with the 2018 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) which has wonderful ripeness, with tons of minerality and earthy tones. These are beautiful wines that any serious collector of new world wines would absolutely love. Learn more about these outstanding wines at http://www.hamiltonrussellvineyards.com Here are the beautiful new release wines by Hamilton Russell. 

2018 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay- Sourced from their estate vineyards set on stone and clay, the 2018 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay opens with aromas of Pink Lady apple with shades of marzipan and wild mushroom that mingle nicely on the nose. The palate is viscous and rich, showing a wonderful combination of richness and tension once on the mouth. With a silky texture, the wine unveils copious orchard fruit, baking spice and earthy flavors that collide with the bright sense of salinity and minerality. While fantastic now, this will only get better with some time in the cellar. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2018 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir- The 2018 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir is a stunning new release from this storied estate. This translucent Pinot Noir opens with really good range on the nose from salted Marcona almond to cloves and bright red fruits that dance with orange zest on the nose. The palate delivers wonderful freshness and salinity, yielding guava, strawberry and orange rind flavors that connect with minerals and earthy undertones. Every bit outstanding, this will evolve well for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

Interview with Nick Davis, Master Sommelier and Founder of Medium Plus

We have a big interview with you today at Washington Wine Blog as we catch up with the one newest Master Sommeliers, local Seattleite Nick Davis. Nick recently passed the Master Sommelier exam, one of the hardest exams to pass in the world. Nick is an Eagle Scout who is also a University of Washington alumni, from the School of Music. As the founder of the wine education and hospitality company Medium Plus, Nick is one of the nicest, most down to earth guys you will find in the wine industry. It is my great pleasure to share Nick’s journey in wine. Here is my interview with Master Sommelier, Nick Davis.

WWB: How did you know that you wanted to be a sommelier?

ND: I have grown up being a goal-oriented person. When I was in middle school and high school, I was very involved in Scouting, which eventually led to Eagle Scout. That was my first ten-year achievement, and I really enjoy those multi-year goals because they include layered benefits. Aside from the hard skills acquired, there are also those meta-skills of determination and perseverance, which are required to overcome struggles and challenges.

I started in the bar and restaurant industry after graduating from the University of Washington. My degree was in Jazz Bass performance, which I still have a passion for, although during my senior year I became fascinated with cocktail history and technique. From there, I worked behind bars until my time at Canlis, where I was mentored by the wine team, which sparked my path into the sommelier world.

Most of my education in restaurants has not actually been about wine. Being a sommelier is more about hospitality and how we serve guests, which might include wine and cocktail know-how, but is really more about taking care of people. Outside of technical service points and knowledge, what really counts is a sense of warmth and caring.

Following my time at Canlis, I worked in other bars and restaurants, and then founded my own company Medium Plus, which focuses on special events and wine education. I stepped away from the restaurant floor for a period to learn about business development, but have since returned, in addition to projects with Medium Plus. My second company launched earlier this year, Unicorn Imports, with an initial focus on grower Champagne.

With these big projects, whether in business or studies, the process is really where the fun is for me. Of course the end result is fantastic, but it's the multitude of steps beforehand where all the energy is found. A lot of that process includes patience and hope, but it's like planting a seed that will eventually grow and bloom. My favorite part is the planting and cultivating; once the bloom happens, it's time for the next challenge.

WWB: Can you describe your road to passing the Master Sommelier exam?

ND: Well, I will answer that first by saying that my focus is never about passing an exam. My intention is more about diving really deep into a topic, and looking at it from many angles, with the final result a function of those hundreds or thousands of hours of work beforehand.

Being on the floor and developing a career in service is the biggest part of it. This pursuit is all about service and hospitality, and there's no way to fake that experience when confronted with an exam. Engaging with a community of others who are also ultra-passionate is essential, including those who are both earlier and farther along in their development.

In terms of focused study techniques, I recommend approaching each topic from as many perspectives as possible, using multiple source materials. For example, when studying Champagne, check out the entries in the Oxford Companion, Wikipedia, GuildSomm, producer and importer websites, and topic-focused books, such as those by Tom Stevenson and Peter Liem. Memorizing data is the last priority; I'm more hungry to find context, and the best way to do that is through a diversity of perspectives.

WWB: How did you decide to start Medium Plus? (mediumplus.com)

ND: I have been interested in creative projects since I was a little kid, and have always wanted to

make something of my own. That point arrived when I passed they Advanced Sommelier exam, and I dove into developing a business, without a real plan or focus in place. Even now there isn't a sole direction to M+, it's more of an umbrella for whatever I want to do, whether that be online wine retail, large events like film premieres, or digital platforms for student education.

As with wine studies and other goals, business ideas take a lot of perseverance and dedication, and I've gotten things wrong a bunch of times, before feeling totally satisfied with the results. In late 2019 and early 2020, I feel excited that a number of big projects will be coming together, from years in the making.

WWB: I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations of passing the Master Sommelier exam — it is an absolutely massive accomplishment. For those who are less familiar with the exam, can you talk about what the hardest portion of the exam was for you? What were some of the biggest challenges in terms of the tasting portion of the exam?

ND: Overall, the exam is split into four sections. Verbal theory is the first section, which must be passed before moving onto the other three. Business of the sommelier, practical service, and blind tasting are the other sections. Since theory took me the most attempts, I would say that was the biggest challenge. Developing a working knowledge in the world of alcoholic beverages is required, including wine, beer, spirits, sake, and cider, executed verbally, as one would do in a restaurant environment. It's not about memorizing a bunch of data from flashcards - the real substance is in having a deep sense of context, including the ties to history and production that make these beverages possible.

From there, the business, service, and tasting sections are essentially applied theory. All of those topics tie-in together, in a big picture way. Tasting is theory that is applied deductively in the glass, and business/service is theory applied to situations in restaurants. There's no better way to study for those sections, than to work full-time on the floor for years. Whether fine dining or casual, the skills behind thoughtful hospitality and business are rather universal.

In terms of tasting, I have been doing a lot of deductive practice in a serious way for about six years. That has been an ongoing process of study, and has also been a big way that our local group of wine professionals has developed. I feel that our local sommelier community is among the strongest in the country, and I have such an appreciation and respect for those who have shared this path with me, and for those who continue to lead the multiple tasting groups here in town.

Back to the tasting exam, the biggest challenge there is in the mental space on game day. A strong deductive process will lead to a good conclusion, and it can be very hard to let that process work, while fighting against other instincts at the same time. Rather than approach the wine and immediately stick with the first instinct that arises, a better method is to slow down and accurately describe the wine, from visual to aroma, along with structure. That description will lead to a great result, if you can turn off the mental noise and just listen.

It is also hard managing the emotions that are happening on the big day, whether they be anxiety, fear, excitement or joy. During the exam, I try to take those emotions, and just set them on the table to hang out for a little while, so that I can stay cool and relaxed. Athletes and public speakers have to deal with those same feelings, and it seems to me that training for that intensity is equal in importance to the content of the event itself.

Things like karaoke, public speaking, and talking to strangers are great mental practices, for gaining comfort with intense situations. Climbing and bouldering have also been excellent for me, as those activities combine physical intensity with mental focus, along with the desire not to fall off a tall rock face.

Therapy is also a super-healthy form of self-care, and I encourage more men to explore that vulnerability, relating from my own experience. Deep feelings of self-doubt and negative thought patterns are crippling to any type of performance, including wine exams. It's curious that high achievers can struggle with self esteem, which is perhaps why we keep striving to be better, and have a hard time finding satisfaction. Sometimes though, good is better than perfect.

WWB: We are all eager to know how you have celebrated your passing of the master sommelier exam?

ND: I have really enjoyed celebrating by taking some personal time to relax, and essentially do nothing intense for a few days. My work, study, and travel schedule was really aggressive this summer, and it was a blast, but some extra chill time feels like paradise.

Some friends and I will be having a little party one of these days, and I might open up a bottle of '96 Krug that has been lurking in the cellar for a while (should be showing great).

In a way, I am cautious about having a too big of a celebration, as I don't want this moment to be the ultimate top of the mountain in my life. Yes, passing the MS exam is a huge, mega deal, but I want to take it in stride. Big Mario's and a Rainier would honestly give me the same joy, as Champagne and Ezell's. Just do both, maybe?

Leonetti Cellar Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Leonetti Cellar Single Vineyard CabAs I sat down with Chris Figgins at a posh Seattle hotel, it is very hard not to have your ears perk up as he speaks.  “This is the first time we have made a decision like this, so that makes it really special” Chris remarked. It is quite a move for a winery so steeped in tradition to move towards a very different program in their lineup. I very fondly recall some of the first Leonetti bottlings that I tried more than fifteen years ago. What did that wine taste like? How was it different to the new wines? How was it similar? As I approached my glass for the first time, I took in the heady aromas of their 2016 ‘Holy Roller’ Cabernet Sauvignon. Sourced from the Walla Walla Rocks AVA, the bouquet was not like many other Rocks wines but still carried the stony character. 

The idea behind the single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon project was the wines were always blends of vineyards while the Leonetti ‘Reserve’ was what Chris considered to be the top barrels but he realized that he wanted the opportunity to show off the individual vineyards. Chris explained “In the long term I could see this program growing over time. And this is what we have done with including our single vineyard wines.”

The vineyards on the label pay homage to the terroir in each vineyard. I was absolutely blown away with the overall quality of each wine. A wine that is truly unique from any other Cabernet Sauvignon made in Washington, the 2016 Leonetti Cellar ‘Holy Roller Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is soft and round, absolutely ready to drink in its youth. The light stony character really adds to the enjoyment of the red and dark fruits. Even better was the 2016 Leonetti Cellar ‘Mill Creek Upland’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 96) which is at the completely other end of the spectrum, showing brooding dark fruit aromatics and flavors with sterling acidity and tension that runs through the core of the wine. These are simply marvelous bottlings across the board that are not to be missed. Learn more about these stunning new wines at http://leonetticellar.com/ Here are my reviews of the beautiful new Leonetti Cellar Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wines. 

2016 Leonetti Cellar ‘Holy Roller Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Holy Roller Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon has a smaller portion of Sangiovese blended in from this Walla Walla Rocks AVA vineyard which was first planted in 2010. There are three acres of Cabernet, two acres of Sangiovese and two acres of Syrah in this vineyard. The wine was aged in 100% French oak prior to bottling. The vineyard is higher elevation in the AVA. There is a light stony character to the wine that mingles with bright red fruits and baking spice elements. The wine has a wonderful elegance and soft texture that really entices. The palate is exceedingly plush, as the wine shows really good freshness and a wonderful salinity. Once on the mouth this shows intense red cherry cordial, black tea, exotic spices and shades of roasted date flavors that all marvelously come together. Exceedingly good right now, this beautiful wine will evolve well for decades. Drink 2019-2038- 95

2016 Leonetti Cellar ‘Loess Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Loess Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is located directly east of the winery at 1050-1150 feet which was first planted in 2002. This wine shows incredible richness on the nose with blackberry compote and mocha tones that mingle with anise and creme de cassis. The palate is plush, showing a marvelously silky texture. Decadent and intense, this yields ripe black fruits that collide with chocolate, roasted figs and minerals with shades of blueberry compote on the palate. Soft and round, with bright acidity in its youth, this will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2040- 95

2016 Leonetti Cellar ‘Serra Pedace Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Serra Pedace Vineyard’ was first planted 2010. This beautiful new release Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning bottling by superstar winemaker Chris Figgins. Mocha, tar and shades of green bell pepper aromas with shades of white pepper all come together marvelously in the glass. Showing off its dense core, the gorgeous aromatics bring you back to the glass for more. The palate is exceedingly plush, showing off an exotic edge. Blackberry cobbler, mocha, anise and shades of creme de cassis all mingle nicely in the glass. Soft and showing good depth, this beautiful wine will have two decades in the cellar. Try to resist this for at least another. year. Drink 2020-2040- 95 

2016 Leonetti Cellar ‘Mill Creek Upland Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Mill Creek Upland Vineyard’ has a small portion of Petit Verdot blended in. The vineyard is set at 1500-1600 feet and was planted in 1997. The nose shows off amazing green bell pepper aromas that mingle with sagebrush, mocha, tar and shades of blackberry cordial that all come together marvelously in the glass. The palate is plush and ultra-dense, giving off a luxurious mouthfeel. The minerality is lovely with black tea, exotic spices, mocha, tar and shades of leather that all march in line together on the palate. This is simply exquisite stuff. Drink 2020-2040- 96

Melka Estates

A sensational boutique winery out of Napa, Melka Estates relies on the talents of Philippe and Cherie Melka. Melka Estates is a limited production winery that sources from some exciting new vineyards including La Mekerra in Sonoma and Jumping Goat in Napa Valley. The wines show incredible richness and terroir as they are sourced from warm vintages and stay true to their respective sites and growing conditions. A remarkable winemaking and consulting talent, Philippe Melka is a Bordeaux native that has a master’s degree in enology. He has a long resume, with previous stops at Château Haut Brion, as well as Dominus Estate and various stops in Australia and even Chateau Petrus. He has been in Napa on a full time basis since 1994 and has served as consulting winemaker at some of the great wineries in Napa, Sonoma and Washington State. He is truly one of the great consulting winemakers in the world. Philippe partners with his wife, Cherie, to craft the wines. She also has a highly impressive resume with previous stops at Bealieu Vineyards and Silver Oak prior to starting Melka Wines. She handles all business decisions for Melka as well as helps with the blending. 

The Melkas have crafted some new releases that were simply marvelous, coming from the warm, 2015 vintage in Napa and Sonoma. One of the great Merlots in California from the Knight’s Valley, the 2015 Melka Estates ‘Mekerra La Mekerra Vineyard’ Merlot (WWB, 96) has insanely good dark fruits and a silky smooth texture. This memorable wine will cellar well for the next two decades. I was absolutely blown away with the 2016 Melka Estates ‘Metisse’ Red Wine (WWB, ) which has a massive core and is only starting to hit its stride. This winery is really gaining a lot of momentum ands learn more about this stunning project at https://www.melkaestates.com Here are my reviews of the new Melka Estates wines. 

2016 Melka Estates ‘Metisse Martinez Vineyard’ Red Wine- The is the second vintage that they have sourced from the ‘Martinez Vineyard’ which is located on Pritchard Hill at 1200 feet in elevation above St. Helena. The ‘Metisse’ is a seductive blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with 23% Petit Verdot and 17% Cabernet Franc. The deep and highly perfumed aromatics impress with creme de cassis, creosote, coffee grounds and shades of dusty terroir that all take their shape in the glass. The palate has a plush texture, showing plenty of exotic appeal. Light tannins frame the deep and dark fruit flavors that collide with shades of bittersweet chocolate, pipe tobacco and tar. While remarkable at the three year mark, this stunning new release will cellar well for the next two decades. Drink 2020-2040- 96

2015 Melka Estates ‘Mekerra La Mekerra Vineyard’ Merlot- The ‘Mekerra’ Merlot was sourced from the Knight’s Valley and spent 22 months in French oak (60% new) prior to bottling. The wine starts off with aromas of chocolate, spice box, mocha and tar on the nose. The mouthfeel and texture to the wine is phenomenal. Mocha, anise, creme de cassis and blueberry compote flavors all come together marvelously in the glass. The texture and viscosity is sumptuous. Drink 2019-2035- 96

Aperture Cellars

Several years back I had the chance to chat with Jesse Katz, the talented winemaker who started one of the great ultra-premium Malbec programs in North America, Devil Proof. Jesse is a down to earth guy who has worked winemaking jobs spanning the globe including harvests at Pétrus in Bordeaux, as well as time on the winemaking teams at Screaming Eagle Winery and Robert Foley Winery in Napa Valley, and Viña Cobos and Bodega Noemia in Argentina. He was named head winemaker at Lancaster in 2010. Wine Enthusiast named Jesse one of its 40 Under 40 Tastemakers and he was also the first winemaker on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. More recently in August 2019 Jesse announced that he will be opening up Aperture Cellars as their custom-designed hospitality center and modern winery opening on Old Redwood Highway in Healdsburg, CA in spring 2020 which will be very exciting for the region.

Jesse’s new wines were gorgeous across the board. His 2017 Aperture Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 94) has tremendous richness and poise with deep dark fruit and chocolate flavors that makes it irresistible in its youth. Learn more about this great new winery at https://www.aperture-cellars.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Aperture.

2017 Aperture Cellars Red Wine- The 2017 Aperture Red Wine is a dense combination of 52% Malbec and 48% Merlot and that was aged aged 18 months in 50% new oak prior to bottling. Entirely sourced from the Sonoma Valley, they Aperture Red Wine opens with bright Bing ichehrry and briar aromatics that meld with shades of nutmeg and damp earth that all collect momentum in the glass. The plush texture entices as deep red fruits that mingle with the prune and chocolate flavors that mingle with minerals. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2017 Aperture Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 Aperture Cabernet Sauvignon shows off its inky color, unveiling deep dark fruits and chocolate fudge aromatics that come together in the glass. The palate is dense and decadent, showing a wonderful tension and viscosity as graphite, creme de cassis, anise and Turkish coffee flavors all collide with a great sense of minerality. Outstanding in its youth, this sensational new wine will cellar well for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2033- 94

Don Melchor

One of the standout producers of Chile, Don Melchor is an iconic, ultra-premium brand created by Viña Concha y Toro and has consistently been one of Chile’s top wines year in and year out. The winery is named after Chilean wine pioneer, Melchor Concha y Toro who helped bring the noble French varieties from Bordeaux to be planted in the Maipo Valley in 1883 and laid the foundations of what is now Viña Concha y Toro. Famed winemaker Enrique Tirado has had a great career at Viña Concha y Toro before becoming head winemaker of Viña Concha y Toro’s top labels in 1997, including the company’s icon wine, Don Melchor.

This thrilling wine has shown incredible consistency and I have been blown away with the new wine, the 2016 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 96) which is dense, chewy and has incredible richness and terroir. This is one for any serious collector of new world Cabernet Sauvignon. Learn more about this famed Chilean estate at http://www.donmelchor.com/ Here are the wines of Don Melchor.

2013 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2013 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon is utterly compelling at the six year mark. This scintillating and thrilling wine shows insanely good aromatic range from bright red fruits to teaberry and cloves alongside red bell pepper, anise and creme de cassis that all take their shape in the glass. The palate reveals a wonderfully opulent texture as the silky smooth tannins deftly glide across the mid-palate. Deep dark fruits collide with mocha, tar, anise and shades of blueberry compote on the palate. Thrilling wine now, this will evolve well for decades. Drink 2019-2038- 97

2016 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon-The smoky and earthy undertones are lovely which collect momentum with the green bell pepper, tar and black licorice aromatics that all take shape in the glass. The palate is plush, unveiling a silky mouthfeel that entices. Black tea, Asian spices, sweet pipe tobacco and rich dark fruits all collide on the palate. The freshness imparted here is really excellent. Dense and layered, with tremendous nerve and tension, this stunning wine will cellar well for two decades. Drink 2020-2038-96

Darioush

A month ago I had a magical visit to one of the most beautiful wineries in Napa, Darioush. The Darioush story is an inspired by the American dream. Northern Iran is one of the birthplaces of wine, as records from 5,000 B.C. indicate a nomad culture living there and celebrating wine. Darioush Khaledi was instilled at an early age with the winemaking craft of his father and began collecting fine wine at a young age. He migrated from Iran to the United States and owned what was once the largest family-owned grocery store business in California. His passion for wine met its apex in 1997 when he formed Darioush winery. Darioush Khaledi is an inspired American dream.

Following his business successes, Darioush set out to craft the best overall lineup of wines in Napa.The new lineup of wines by Darioush was simply stunning. I was amazed by the new release Merlot, their 2016 Darioush Merlot (WWB, 95) which shows amazing purity of fruit and serious range. This is one of the best California Merlots that I have sampled over the past year. This wine has it all, from a silky texture, to insane mid-palate range. Darioush has developed a sterling reputation for their Cabernet Franc wines. The 2016 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 96) shows amazing viscosity and lovely herbal tones. Do not miss out on these two stunners. The best wine I sampled was the 2014 Darioush ‘Darius II’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 97) which combines both decadence and elegance, with silky tannins and a voluptuous mouthfeel. Learn more about this special winery at darioush.com. Here are the great new wines by Darioush.

2018 Darioush Viognier- This opens with aromas of gorgeous honeysuckle with bananas foster and shades of vanilla cream on the nose. The freshness and tension in the wine is seriously good. Vanilal cream with salted pear and shades of apricot all collide on the palate. Fresh and light on its feet, this will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2025- 93

2017 Darioush Chardonnay- The 2017 Darioush Chardonnay was largely sourced from three estate vineyards in the southern region of Napa Valley as well as some fruit from the Carneros AVA. The wine was aged for 11 months in 66% new French oak, seeing weekly battonage. The nose is quite perfumed with bright pear and Gala apple aromas with shades of nutmeg and creme brûlée that sing on the nose. The freshness of the wine is quite profound with buttercream and honeydew melon tones that mingle with nutmeg infused brioche. Outstanding in its youth, this will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2016 Darioush ‘Signature’ Merlot- The 2016 ‘Signature’ Merlot by Darioush is a stunning new wine by the talented winemaking team at Darioush. Sourced from the Darioush Estate Vineyard as well as their vineyard in Mt. Veeder. The wine was aged for 22 months in largely new French oak prior to bottling.  The nose is perfumed and simply gorgeous as ripe dark plum with shades of red cherry tomato and black cherry cordial. The palate shows a silky character with lovely tension. The weight of the wine is fantastic as the wine unveils black cherry liquor with blackberry pie and shades of dusty terroir and shades of sandalwood. While fantastic now, this will evolve marvelously for fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2035- 95

2016 Darioush ‘Signature’ Shiraz-The 2016 Darioush ‘Shiraz’ was aged for eighteen months in entirely new French oak barrels prior to bottling. The fruit was entirely sourced from Napa Valley floor vineyards. On the nose this shows beautifully perfumed red rose petals with shades of licorice and dusty terroir that are all woven together in the glass. The texture to the wine is downright sensational. Black tea, exotic spices, black cherry compote and shades of smoked bacon fat all collect momentum on the palate. While deep and seductive in its youth, this beautiful wine will provide drinking enjoyment for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 95

2016 Darioush ‘Signature’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Signature’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a combination of 8% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The wine was entirely aged in French oak (85% new) for twenty two months prior to bottling. The aromatics really impress here with sandalwood and Asian spices with black tea and blackberry compote that all combine marvelously on the nose. The palate has beautiful freshness and poise, with a great sense of balance. Creme de cassis, mocha, tear, leather and shades of blackberry pie all mingle together on the palate. Fantastic now, this will only improve with some bottle age. Drink 2020-2040- 96

Amuse Bouche

One of the famed Napa winemakers, Heidi Barrett grew up in the Napa Valley in a winemaking family and was truly destined to become one of California's leading winemakers. Heidi worked in the vineyards in high school and continued her winemaking education at UC Davis. After graduation she worked for Justin Meyer at Franciscan Vineyards and Silver Oak, also working for Lindeman's Wines in Australia and Rutherford Hill. Shortly after she assistant winemaker at Bouchaine Vineyards. Then in 1983, at age 25 became winemaker at Buehler Vineyards. It was here that she first attracted critical acclaim by greatly improving the wine quality and taking the production from 6,000 cases to 20,000 cases. She was eventually hired by Gustav Dalla Valle and was winemaker at Dalla Valle Vineyards until spring 1996 gaining an international reputation for creating their"Maya" cult wine. Heidi then made wine for Screaming Eagle in 1992, which has also received two perfect 100 pt scores (the '92 and recent '97). In addition to her very own wines from La Sirena, she is currently the winemaker for Amuse Bouche as well as, Paradigm, Lamborn, Kenzo Estate, Au Sommet, Vin Perdu, and Fantesca. Amuse Bouche is a partnership between Heidi and John Schwartz which is a Pomerol-inspired Merlot from the Napa Valley. I recently had the chance to review several of her wines, including her amazing new 2015 Amuse Bouche Red Wine (WWB, 95) which has amazing elegance and is truly Napa Merlot at its best. This scintillating bottling will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Here are my reviews of the Amuse Bouche as well as the great new wines made by Heidi Barrett.

2016 Vin Perdu Red Wine-  The ‘Vin Perdu’ is comprised of essentially the grapes that didn’t make it into Amuse Bouche by Heidi Barrett. The wine is a blend of Bordeaux varietals that opens up with mocha, tar, anise and creme de cassis that all build in the glass. The palate is showing really good mid-palate weight, delivering copious dark fruit and chocolate fudge flavors. Downright delicious in its youth, this will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2015 Amuse Bouche Red Wine- The 2015 Amuse Bouche is largely Merlot (88%) that was sourced from the Napa Valley. Heidi Barrett owns a secret vineyard in the eastern Rutherford Hills which this wine is sourced from. The nose is intoxicating with bright red fruits that mingle with cedar, creme de cassis, dusty terroir and shades of mocha that all build in the glass. The texture is downright ethereal as this silky wine glides across the mid-palate. Dense tar, anise, creme de cassis and blueberry compote flavors with shades of damp terroir all collide on the palate. The exceedingly long finish lingers long on the tongue. Sensational now, this gorgeous expression of Napa Merlot will provide drinking enjoyment for the next two decades. Drink 2020-2040- 95

Revana Family Vineyard

One of the jewels of the Napa Valley, Revana Family Vineyard was founded by eminent cardiologist Dr. Madaiah Revana. Dr. Revana also owns a great Oregon winery named after his daughter,  Alexana, as well as Corazon del Sol in Argentina. A big purchase was made in 1997 as Dr. Revana immediately sensed the property’s potential, with its gravelly soils, sloped pitch, and excellent exposures seemed perfect for growing grapes. Soil studies also confirmed that the property would be perfect for growing Bordeaux varieties. Then in 1998, Dr. Revana hired acclaimed vineyard manager Jim Barbour to plant and maintain the 9-acre estate vineyard. The first vintage of Revana in 2001, initially utilizing the winemaking talents of Heidi Barrett. Today, superstar wineamker, Thomas Brown serves as Revana winemaker.

I was completely blown away with their new release, the 2016 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 96) which is a wine of incredible balance and wonderful richness with an opulent texture. This hard to find wine is a must-buy for any serious collector of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. The terroir in the bottle is just insanely good. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.revanawine.com Here is the beautiful new release by Revana.

2016 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from their estate vineyard in the St. Helena AVA, the 2016 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon is a simply magical new bottling by the talented Thomas Rivers Brown. The earthy terroir is quite stunning, as is the dark currants, tobacco leaf, mocha and tar aromatics that all meld together in the glass. The opulent texture entices, as there is obvious weight here but also seriously good balance. Ripe red fruits dance with black currant jelly, Turkish coffee, creosote and suggestions of Asian spices that all sing in harmony on the palate. I absolutely adore the sense of terroir here as the exceedingly long finish lingers. While highly enticing in its youth, the 2016 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon will cellar well for decades. Drink 2020-2040- 96