Gård Vintners

One of the excellent value producers of Washington that you may have never tried, Gård Vintners was founded by brothers Sandy and John Lawrence, who have farmed the Royal Slope for more than 50 years, along with John’s son Josh, who joined the operation in 2002. The winery is managed by Josh and his wife, Lisa, who oversees sales and marketing, while Josh oversees the vineyard and other farm and orchard operations. Currently Josh, Lisa and a host of others are petitioning to have the Royal Slope region become its own AVA as the wines from this terroir are quite different than those from nearby Wahluke Slope and other regions. Gård Vintners relies on the winemaking talents of Aryn Morell for their wines who has been at the helm since 2011. Aryn's wines show wonderful minerality and terroir. He is highly precise and methodical in his winemaking, having a science background which really helps craft great wines even in challenging vintages.

Look for the 2018 Gård Vintners Rose (WWB, 91) is a stunning Rose wine that has incredible precision and balance, with a smooth texture. A fantastic value consistently, the 2018 Gård Vintners ‘Freyja’ White Wine (WWB, 91) delivers a sensational value for Washington white wine. Learn more about these wines at http://gardvintners.com/about.html Here are the great new wines by Gård Vintners.

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

2018 Gard ‘Freyja’ White Wine- The ‘Freyja’ was sourced from the Lawrence Vineyard as the wine is a blend of Viognier (53%) with the reminder Roussanne. The notes from the Roussanne shows wonderful baking spices that mingle with kiwi and starfruit aromas that all build in the glass. The freshness is gorgeous as is the silky texture and elegance to the wine. Bright kiwi and cantaloupe flavors connect with minerals and shades of green apple flavors. Drink 2019-2023- 91

2016 Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Riesling- The ‘Grand Klasse’ Riesling was aged in a combination of one new 500L puncheon as well as used French oak puncheons prior to bottling. The nose shows wonderful petrol character and comes out with a lovely texture from the oak treatment. Green apple and nutmeg with lemon zest flavors all mingle nicely with minerals on the palate. Drink 2019-2023- 91

2016 Gard ‘Grand Klasse Reserve’ Viognier- The 2016 “Grand Klasse Reserve’ Viognier shows beautiful white peach with shades of nutmeg and kumquat on the expressive nose. The freshness and texture to the wine is really good. Bright nectarine and kiwi flavors mingle with minerals and baked apple on the palate. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2016 Gard ‘Contact’ Riesling- The wine was aged on the skins for 1.5 years in a new puncheon and then the‘Contact’ Riesling was aged for 11 months in neutral French oak prior to bottling. The nose shows gooseberry with shades of nutmeg and baked apple aromas. The mouthfeel entices and marvelously coats the mid-palate. Showing good freshness the wine unveils melon, ripe Pazzaz apple and nutmeg flavors that collide with minerals. While outstanding in its youth, this will cellar well for a decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Gard ‘The Don’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘The Don’ is a really great value wine by Gard. On the nose this shows good smoky character with black tea and exotic spices aromatically. The freshness of the wine is really good as this connect with a silky texture. Rich black fruits mingle with black tea and red bell pepper flavors. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2016 Grad Cabernet Franc- Sourced from the Solaksen Vineyard, the wine was aged in 33% new French oak for 26 months prior to bottling. The nose shows good herbal tones with red bell pepper and dried sagebrush that mingle with blackberry pie on the nose. The freshness is really good with soft black fruit flavors. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2016 Gard Cabernet Sauvignon- The wine was aged in 63% new French oak prior to bottling. Black tea and blackberry pie with dried herbs fill the nose. The palate shod a good combination of freshness and richness with dark cherry, blackberry pie, mocha and sagebrush tones. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2016 Gard ‘Grand Klasse Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon-Darker in color than their entry level Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 ‘Grand Klasse Reserve’ opens with black tea, creosote and shades of blackberry cobbler that all build in the glass. The wine shows good mid-palate richness and a soft texture, unveiling black tea, exotic spices and blackberry pie flavors. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2016 Gard ‘Winemaker Select’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Winemaker Select’ is a new line of wines by Gard. On the nose this takes on milk chocolate with creme de cassis and shades of blackberry cobbler on the nose. The palate is plush, delivering dense blackberry and milk chocolate flavors with shades of asphalt and Asian spices. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Gard Grenache- The Gard Grenache was aged for 19 months in French puncheons prior to bottling. Translucent in color, this opens with bright red fruits with shades of citrus rind herbal accents on the nose. The palate is plush, delivering high toned guava and red cherry flavors with sagebrush undertones. This is seriously good for the price. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2016 Gard ‘Vaucluse’ Red Wine- The ‘Vaucluse’ is another outstanding wine by Gard. The herbal tones on the nose here are outstanding. Black fruits mingle with creosote and dried herbs that all flood the palate. The freshness here is really good. Outstanding now this will age well for a decade, Drink 2019-2029- 91

2016 Gard ‘Thunderstone’ Syrah- Sourced from the Scarline Vineyard, this Syrah is a refined and highly complex wine by superstar winemaker Aryn Morell. On the nose there is wonderful salted meats with smoky and creosote tones on the nose. The freshness and salinity of the wine is really fantastic as dark fruits mingle with minerals and black olive tapenade flavors. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Gard ‘Grand Klasse Reserve’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘Grand Klasse Reserve’ Syrah is a terrific effort that opens with beautiful smoky tones that mingle with black tea, exotic spices and blackberry pie on the nose. The palate shows good freshness and richness with black tea, blackberry pie and shades of dried sagebrush. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2016 Gard ‘Winemaker’s Select’ Syrah- The ‘Winemaker’s Select’ Syrah is a beautiful new wine by Aryn Morell. The nose shows really good range from green olive tapenade to bacon fat, and creosote with dark currant aromas that all build in the glass. The palate is plush, delivering Asian spices, black olive, cured meats and blackberry cobbler flavors. Drink 2019-2029- 92

Cadence Winery

Showing the elegant side of Washington, Ben Smith is the founder of Cadence Winery which is one of the inspired winery projects of the Pacific Northwest. I had a chance to interview Ben a year ago as he began his wine journey with the famed Boeing Wine Club and then learned about making wine by producing his own beer and wine more than 20 years ago. Cadence has been known for crafting wines that embody the Bordelaise side of Red Mountain. Red Mountain is obviously a hot site but Ben has a knack for showing a great sense of minerality even in the hot vintages. His new releases from the warm, 2016 vintage is no exception. 

I loved the new 2016 releases from Cadence. These are some of the most elegant, age-worthy wines that I have seen so far from 2016. I have found that many Cadence wines cellar well for ten to fifteen years as I have recently enjoyed their wines from both the 2005 and 2007 vintages — both warm vintages that still shine brightly with a brilliant sense of tension that runs through the core of the wine. For an outstanding value look to their 2017 Cadence ‘Coda’ Red Wine (WWB, 91) which has really good richness, minerality and viscosity considering its price point. I absolutely loved the 2016 Cadence ‘Bel Canto’ Cabernet Franc (WWB, 94) which is one of the better Washington Cabernet Franc wines I have tried all year. This silky wine is drinking marvelously in its youth but will cellar well for decades. Learn more about these outstanding wines at http://cadencewinery.com Here are the beautiful new wines of Cadence.

2017 Cadence ‘Coda’ Red Wine- A blend of 45% Merlot with equal parts Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot, the 2017 ‘Coda’ is a fantastic value effort by superstar winemaker Ben Smith. The bright red fruits from the Merlot are currently shining most brightly, as herbal tones also play second fiddle aromatically. The palate is dense, chewy, bright and downright delicious, as a slight salinity runs through the core of red and dark fruits, with a dusting of cocoa powder. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2016 Cadence ‘Camerata’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the ‘Cara Mia Vineyard’ on Red Mountain, the ‘Camerata’ is a delightful blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. Needing a two hour decant to be fully aroused, the wine is awakened to slowly unveiling bright red fruits, pipe tobacco, lavender and suggestions of red bell pepper on this expressive nose. The palate has wonderful verve and richness, reveling in ripe red fruits, leather, sweet pipe tobacco and red bell pepper. This is sensational in its youth and will continue to impress for at least another fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Cadence ‘Bel Canto’ Cabernet Franc- A blend of largely Cabernet Franc (82%) with smaller portions Merlot and Petit Verdot, the 2016 ‘Bel Canto’ is a spectacular effort that really shows both great richness and restraint from this warm vintage on Red Mountain. The wine needs a two hour decant to be fully expressive. Tar and deep dark fruits mingle with the herbal tones on the nose. The palate has a Bordelaise, Right Bank feel, delivering bright red fruits with chocolate and sagebrush undertones. Utterly fantastic in its youth, this expressive effort will cellar well for the next two decades. Drink 2019-2038- 94

2016 Cadence ‘Tapteil Vineyard’ Red Wine- An intriguing blend of nearly equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the ‘Tapteil Vineyard’ opens with a bright bouquet of red currant jelly with milk chocolate, thyme and suggestions of red bell pepper that all take their shape in the glass. The freshness and balance is marvelous here, as this highly poised effort unveils ripe red and dark fruits that collide with the bright sense of minerality and the chocolate and earthy undertones. Fantastic in its youth, this beautiful wine will develop well for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2019-2038- 94

2016 Cadence ‘Ciel du Cheval’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Ciel du Cheval’ is a compelling blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (43%) with Cabernet Franc (35%) and a touch of Petit Verdot (8%).  On the nose this grabs immediate appeal with its herbal tones that combine with bright red fruits, sagebrush and suggestions of black tea. The palate is soft, round and generous, delivering a deep core of black fruits and chocolate with creosote undertones that combine with the bright sense of minerality. While marvelous now, this will evolve well for decades. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this a one to two hour decant. Drink 2019-2035- 93

Prospice Wines

We bring you a tale of another new winery, producing Washington wines that gear towards elegance, Prospice Wines was founded by Jay Krutulis and Matt Reilly. Jay studied Biology in college and Neuroscience in graduate school before embarking on nearly 20 years of studying and practicing corporate law. His entry into law was inspired by visits to Woodinville area while working for Amazon. He is a graduate of the Walla Walla Community College Enology & Viticulture Program at Walla Walla Community College and has served as cellarmaster for Tranche. Matt lived in Spokane and worked harvests for Barrister Winery, and after a cross country stint moved back to eastern Washington where he also graduated from the WWCC Enology and Viticulure program. Matt has worked at Mark Ryan Winery and has served as cellarmaster at Gramercy Cellars. The winery sources from some exciting vineyards including Les Collines, Resurgent and Gamache Vineyards.

The new wines by Prospice were beautiful across the board. I really enjoyed the 2017 Prospice Wines Cabernet Franc (WWB, 91) which has really great tension and wonderful varietal typicity. Learn more about this new winery at https://prospice.wine

2017 Prospice Wines Merlot- The 2017 Prospice Wines Merlot black cherry cordial with a dusting of cocoa powder that fills the nose. The wine shows a good sense of balance on the palate with rich red cherry preserves, coffee grounds and black tea flavors. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2017 Prospice Wines Cabernet Franc- The 2017 Cabernet Franc by Prospice is a fantastic new wine from this Walla Walla winery. The very pretty nose shows red rose petals with red raspberry and black currant aromas that take their shape in the glass. The palate has good viscosity and tension that runs through the core of the wine, unveiling ripe red fruits with sagebrush and milk chocolate tones that impress. Drink 2019-2027- 91

2017 Prospice Wines Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 Prospice Wines Cabernet Sauvignon shows well with its herbal undertones that mingle with wild blackberry cobbler and coffee ground aromas that fill the glass. The freshness and sense of balance is excellent as this unveils ripe dark fruit flavors with shades of tobacco leaf and black tea and espresso bean. Drink 2019-2027- 90

Scooler Nolan

An exciting new winery project on Red Mountain, Schooler Nolan named in honor the founder’s mother, whose maiden name was Scooler. The Nolan family has been in the hospitality business for 25 plus years in Homer, Alaska. They opened up Fat Olives Restaurant in Richland, Washington and the family began learning more about making wine while working a crush in Red Mountain. Wines are sourced from a variety of sites, including Horse Heaven Hills and Red Mountain. 

The new wines were really good across the board. I really enjoyed the 2016 Scooler Nolan Red Wine (WWB, 90) which shows a lovely texture and good balance. The 2016 Scooler Nolan Malbec (WWB, 91) shows some intriguing white pepper character and good complexity as well as concentration. Learn more about these wines at https://www.schoolernolan.com Here are the new red wines by Schooler Nolan.

2016 Schooler Nolan Red Wine- The 2016 Schooler Nolan Red Wine opens with good richness on the nose with creme de cassis, mocha, tar and black cherry compote that all take their shape in the glass. The wine shows good richness and balance with black olive, black tea, creme de cassis and mocha flavors that impress. Drink 2019-2027- 90

2016 Scooler Nolan Malbec- The 2016 Scooler Nolan Malbec shows intriguing white pepper with dark chocolate shavings and suggestions of blackberry pie on the nose. The palate has good freshness and intensity with ripe black tea, mocha, tar and white pepper flavors that mingle with a good sense of minerality. Drink 2019-2027- 91

2016 Scooler Nolan Petit Verdot- The 2016 Petit Verdot by Schooler Nolan shows nice herbal tones that mingle with black tea and blueberry pie on the nose. The palate has good freshness and weight with rich black and blue fruit flavors. I like the sense of decadence here. Drink 2019-2027- 91

2016 Schooler Nolan Syrah- The toasty oak notes wrap around the blackberry jam and shades of coffee grounds on the nose. The palate is quite forward as the wine shows good richness with dark fruits and chocolate. Drink 2019-2025- 89

2016 Scooler Nolan Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon by Schooler Nolan is an excellent new bottling from this new winery on Red Mountain. Lighter sagebrush and black tea tones connect with black cherry cordial on the nose. The palate has forward and delicious black fruits that mingle with shades of black tea and tar. Drink 2019-2025- 90

Dunham Cellars

On rare occasion I taste wines and post on them immediately. My feeling is that when wines are seriously good, word needs to get out on them. Last night I had the opportunity to try all of the new release wines by Dunham Cellars. Tasting with their general manager, John Blair, I tasted the wines and then we talked about the price points on the wines. These wines offer insane value across the board. I was absolutely floored that their Cabernet has not changed its price ($45.00) in more than a decade. When you consider inflation, that is just a remarkable value for the consumer. Simply put, these wines overdeliver for the price.

Located in the airport district of Walla Walla and founded by the Dunham family in 1995, Dunham relies on the talented hands of winemaker Rob Campisi, who was formerly assistant winemaker at Dunham. Rob trained under eminent Washington winemaker, Dan Wampfler and he crafts quite a wide range of wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Trutina (Bordeaux style blend), Three Legged Red (red table wine) and the "Shirley Mays" Chardonnay, a dedication to Eric's grandmother.  

Look to the 2017 Dunham Cellars ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Riesling (WWB, 92) which is one of the great Rieslings in the state and evokes wonderful texture with seriously good range. The 2017 Dunham Cellars ‘Shirley Mays’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) is a wine that overdelivers for the price. The near minute-long finish complete this seriously good bottling. Finally, Dunham has gained a sterling reputation for their Syrah wines and their 2016 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah (WWB, 93) is another insanely good value for the price. This wine offered wonderful smoky qualities with rich dark fruits and bright acidity. Learn more about these beautiful wines at dunhamcellars.com Here are the great new wines by Dunham Cellars.

2017 Dunham Cellars ‘Lewis VIneyard’ Riesling- The 2017 ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Riesling is a gorgeous bottling by Dunham Cellars. The petrol notes are really enticing as the wine shows bright white flowers and kumquat zest that mingle with the earthy undertones. The palate shows good freshness and intensity, with racy acidity that cuts through the bright orchard fruits, lime zest, ginger and ripe pineapple. This shows excellent mid-palate range and a soft, inviting texture. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next seven years. Drink 2019-2026- 92

2017 Dunham Cellars ‘Shirley Mays’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Shirley Mays’ Chardonnay was entirely sourced from the Lewis Vineyard in the Columbia Valley. The aromatics are really enticing with vanilla cream and shades of wild mushroom that mingle with shades of mango. The texture is soft and inviting, unveiling buttercream, ripe banana and suggestions of nutmeg that all shine together in the glass. The exceedingly long finish lingers long on the tongue. Drink 2019-2026- 93

2017 Dunham Cellars ‘Three Legged Red’ Red Wine- Named after their former winery dog, ‘Port,’ the 2017 ‘Three Legged Red’ begins with aromas of toasty oak that wraps around bright Bing cherry, cigar box and shades of cherry tomato that all come together in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, showing good freshness and delivering bright red and dark fruits with a touch of chocolate. This is a seriously good value. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2015 Dunham Cellars ‘Lewis Vineyard Artist Series’ Merlot- The 2015 ‘Lewis Vineyard Artist Series’ Merlot (100%) was aged in 66% new French oak for 24 months prior to bottlng. Inky in the glass, the wine shows ripe black plum and suggestions of mocha and sagebrush that take their shape in the glass. The weight and balance in the wine is truly fantastic as rich black cherry compote, black raspberry cordial, and suggestions of coffee grounds all mingle brightly together. This finishes long with minerals and dark fruits. Fantastic to savor right now, this beautiful wine will cellar well for decades. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful new effort from this warm vintage in Washington. The nose shows off rich blackberry pie, Turkish coffee and sagebrush aromas that meld in the glass. The palate is beautifully balanced, showing ripe red cherry, blueberry compote, coffee grounds and suggestions of black tea and exotic spices. This just might be the first ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon wines by Dunham out of roughly fifteen where I have found blue fruits. Nonetheless, this is delicious wine that is drinking marvelously now and will cellar well for at least another ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah is a fantastic new wine that was sourced from the Kenny Hill, Lewis and Phinny the Hill Vineyards. Aged in 35% new French oak for eighteen months, this opens with a bouquet of smoked pork shoulder that mingles with thyme and lavender as well as wild blackberry and suggestions of milk chocolate that all sing in harmony in the glass. The palate has wonderful freshness and elegance, showing a racy acidity and soft texture that really impresses. Long and generous, with layers of dark fruits that mingle with dark chocolate shavings, creosote and sagebrush flavors, with citrus rinds undertones, this expressive Syrah is drinking marvelously now and will provide drinking enjoyment for the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

Upsidedown Wine

As I wrote last year, wines by the talented Seth Kizke continue to fly under the radar. A winery with a great cause, Upsidedown Wine gives back through every bottle of their wine sold. If you order direct or join their wine club, 20% of the proceeds go to support non-profit charity organizations. Seth and his wife Audrey run a great Instagram page (here) as they dive into the winemaking and business side of owning a winery together. Seth has a great background in wine, previously training with Brennon Leighton at K Vitners/Charles Smith Wines as well as Brian Carter Cellars with Brian Carter.

Seth has crafted a beautiful lineup of new wines. I absolutely loved his 2018 chooses to use indigenous yeasts as well as minimal intervention in his winemaking and he is truly one to watch in Washington State.  He has crafted a gorgeous new Rose, the 2018 Upsidedown Wine ‘Rescue’ Rose (WWB, 91) which unveils its silky mouthfeel and beautiful texture with delicate red fruit flavors. which has a silky mouthfeel and shows really nice red fruits. Check out his 2016 Upsidedown Wine ‘The Gold Drop Collection Mouvedre (WWB, 93), which has gorgeous range and smoky tones that really entice.  Learn more about these great new wines at at http://drinkupsidedownwine.com Here are the beautiful new release wines by Seth Kizke and by Upsidedown Wine. 

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

2018 Upsidedown Wine ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ Viognier- The 2018 ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ Viognier is a Rhone inspired blend of Viognier (70%) with smaller portions Marsanne and Roussanne. The high-toned aromatics really entice with bright star jasmine and nectarine that combine with baking spice and sourdough bread undertones. The palate shows off a silky, almost unctuous texture — all leading to the exceedingly long and gratifying finish. This is very serious stuff by the talented Seth Kitzke. Drink 2019-2026- 92

2018 Upsidedown Wine ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ Roussanne- The ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ is located in the Yakima Valley as this wine underwent native yeast fermentation prior to bottling. Toasty brioche and suggestions of toasted hazelnut marzipan all mingle together in the glass. Bright and fresh, yet showing a lovely texture, this yields lemon curd with nectarine rind and suggestions of freshly baked French bread that all sing in harmony on the palate. Drink 2019-2026- 92

2016 Upsidedown Wine ‘Red Blend’ Red Wine- The ‘Red Blend’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon (45%) with equal part Nebbiolo and Malbec, with a touch of Cabernet Franc blended in. Forward and moderately tannic (most likely from the Nebbiolo), red and dark fruit flavors dance with the good sense of minerality. Give this an hour decant for the tannins to soften. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2017 Upsidedown Wine ‘Gold Drop Collection Field Blend’ Red Wine- A blend of Mourvedre (60%) with Grenache (35% and a touch of Syrah (5%), the ‘Gold Drop Collection Field Blend’ shows lovely red fruit aromas that meld with the smoky undertones on the nose. The palate has a polished texture with wonderful freshness and verve. Enjoy this beautiful bottling over the next decades. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 Upsidedown Wine ‘Gold Drop Collection’ Mourvedre- Sourced from the Yakima Valley, the wine shows lovely smoked pork shoulder, bacon fat and black olive tapenade aromas that collide with suggestions of peat moss and red currant jelly on this expressive nose. The palate is lithe, showing wonderful freshness, tension and texture. Red and dark fruits dance with the smoky and earthy undertones of the wine. This is fantastic stuff by Seth Kitzke. Drink 2019-2029- 93

2017 Upsidedown Wine ‘Gold Drop Collection’ Grenache- Translucent in the glass, the ‘Gold Drop Collection’ Grenache opens with a bright bouquet of red rose petals that combine with Yakima cherry and lighter flinty undertones that all parade in the glass. Soft, round and generous, with beautiful texture, this elegant, almost Pinotesque, Grenache delivers delicate red fruits with shades of blood orange and wet stone on the palate. Enjoy this fantastic wine over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 Upsidedown Wine ‘The Artist Collection’ Syrah- Sourced from the Davis Block of the Candy Ridge Vineyard, the ‘Artist Series’ Syrah shows an expressive range of aromatics from bacon fat to horse manure to shades of Satsuma orange and dense dark fruits that all take their shape in the glass. The palate has a soft texture and wonderful structure, delivering ripe red and dark fruits with suggestions of blood orange, leather, and black tea. Lithe, and light on its feet, this expressive wine will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Upsidedown Wine ‘Gold Drop Collection’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Black tea and licorice aromatics give you immediate appeal, while dense dark fruits also collect momentum on the nose. The palate is dense, chewy and shows light tannins that line dark fruit, sagebrush and chocolate flavors. This is delicious stuff. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Upsidedown Wine ‘Gold Drop Collection’ Malbec- The ‘Gold Drop Collection Malbec’ opens with tar and leather tones that meld with ripe dark fruits on the nose. The palate screams Malbec as dark and blue berry flavors combine with shades of creosote, cigar ash and mocha. This is seriously good now but will continue to evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

Domaine Ste. Michelle

As the holidays approach us, there becomes extra cause for celebration, and, of course, bubbles at the holiday table. Domaine Ste. Michelle is one of those wineries that doesn’t get enough recognition considering the price point and quality that they put in the bottle. I am floored that very few wine writers feature this winery, as I don’t know another winery in the Pacific Northwest that is able to deliver bubbles at this price point. Considering the ‘Brut’ sells at Costco for $9.99, you could even make an argument that their ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine is one of the great sparkling wine values in North America. I have been fortunate enough to have many older vintages of the ‘Luxe’ sparkling wine and I have been really impressed how well this wine ages. ‘Luxe’ bottlings from 2006 and 2008 have been really singing lately. 

At the helm is Paula Eakin, who has more 20 years of experience making wines in Washington state as part of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. She started her winemaking career at Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Canoe Ridge Estate winery as a lab technician in 1994 shortly after college. In 2001, she joined sister winery Columbia Crest as an enologist and was promoted to assistant winemaker in 2004, specializing in white wines.

Originally from Spokane, Washington, Eakin was raised in northern Idaho and Kennewick, Washington. Her new sparkling wines were classy across the board. The NV Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 89) simply overdelivers for the price with its great freshness and brightness. One of the best sparkling wines produced not only in Washington but in the Pacific Northwest, the 2014 Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Luxe’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 92) has a wonderful rich core of orchard fruits and shows great weight and texture from this warm vintage. Learn more about this fantastic winery for sparkling wine at 

https://www.michellesparkling.com Here are the great new wines by Domaine Ste. Michelle.

NV Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Extra Dry’ Sparkling Wine- The nose leads with biscuit and sweetened pear with suggestions of nutmeg. Fresh and inviting, showing moderate sweetness, the wine leads with sweetened apple and pear flavors with lighter marzipan and candied lemon flavors. Drink 2019-2023- 89

NV Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The NV ‘Brut’ Sparkling wine starts off with light sourdough bread with a dusting of citrus zest that build on the nose. The freshness is really lovely, as is the lighter melon and green apple flavors that meld with citrus rind. This is very good for the price. Drink 2019-2023- 89

NV Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- The ‘Brut Rose’ has light red fruits that dance with shades of honeydew melon and sourdough bread. Soft and inviting upon entry, the light guava and red cherry candy flavors entice. Drink 2019-2023- 89

2014 Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Luxe’ Sparkling Wine- The 2014 ‘Luxe’ by Domaine Ste. Michelle is another fantastic bottling from this great estate. Aged sur lie in the bottle for over 3 years prior to disgorgement, the ‘Luxe’ opens with toasted brioche and apricot with shades of lemon zest and nutmeg that take shape in the glass. The palate shows wonderful weight and texture, as lemon infused sourdough bread and green apple flavors with suggestions of green papaya all mingle together with the wonderful sense of minerality. This is top notch stuff from this warm vintage in Washington. Drink 2019-2026- 92

Paraduxx

One of the intriguing California Napa projects, Paraduxx is located on the Silverado trail and was founded in 1994 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn as the only Napa Valley winery focused exclusively to making Napa Valley blends. Their first vintage was a unique blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot and Petite Sirah. Since that time there has been a surge in other blending projects, most notably the great Orin Swift wines. 

This year Cardiff Scott-Robinson was named Paraduxx winemaker. Cardiff was formerly the assistant winemaker at Paraduxx and his new wines were really great across the board. I love the 2016 Paraduxx ‘Howell Mountain’ Red Wine (WWB, 92) which is a really cool blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, entirely divergent to the wines of Provence but the smoky and earthy tones are really shining in this blend. The 2016 Paraduxx ‘Atlas Peak’ Red Wine (WWB, 92) is one of the better new world Sangiovese based wines that I have tried over the past year. The silky texture and mouthfeel really impresses in this ripe red fruit-driven blend. Learn more about these fantastic wines at https://www.paraduxx.com/ Here are the great new releases by Paraduxx. 

2016 Paraduxx ‘Atlas Peak’ Red Wine- The 2016 Paraduxx ‘Atlas Peak’ Red Wine is a compelling blend of 57% Sangiovese and the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged for 18 months in 50% new oak prior to bottling. The high-toned red fruits shine here aromatically, with roasted figs and sandalwood tones rounding out this expressive nose. Fresh, showing a soft texture, the red red currant, black tea and tar flavors mingle with lovely earthy undertones. Expressing itself nicely now, this will continue to show well for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Paraduxx ‘Cork Tree Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2016 Paraduxx ‘Cork Tree Vineyard’ is an intriguing blend of Malbec (60%) with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon (35%) and Merlot (5%). Graphite and ripe red plum take the lead with suggestions of cocoa powder that take their shape in the glass. The palate is deep and seductive, showing some mild tannins and building with ripe blueberry pie and mocha flavors, with lighter flinty undertones. This is seriously good now and will provide drinking enjoyment for another decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 92

2016 Paraduxx ‘Howell Mountain’ Red Wine- Deep and dark in the glass, the 2016 ‘Howell Mountain’ Red Wine by Paraduxx is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Syrah that was aged in largely new oak (60%) prior to bottling. Intensely perfumed, this beautiful wine leads with dark currants, cigar box and shades of smoked meats that all mingle nicely together in the glass. The palate has a soft, inviting texture, as black tea, blackberry cobbler and milk chocolate flavors all come together nicely. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Paraduxx ‘Rector Creek Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Rector Creek Vineyard’ Red Wine  is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) with the remainder Zinfandel. Aromatically, Cabernet Sauvignon shows itself more prominently here with the red bell pepper and cassis notes that mingle with ripe red fruits. Intriguingly, once on the attack, Zinfandel plays a larger part with its slightly sweet red cherry and strawberry flavors that mingle with the lighter dark fruit and tar tones that take their shape on the palate. This is very well-done. Drink 2019-2029- 91

Spottswoode

A Napa house with some serious history, Spottswoode was founded in 1882 by George Schonewald. Spottswoode was christened by Mrs. Albert Spotts in 1910 and was later acquired by Mary and Jack Novak in 1972. Mary released Spottswoode’s first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1982, exactly one hundred years after the estate’s founding.

Today, Mary’s daughter Beth Novak Milliken manages the winery, and daughter Lindy Novak serves as the winery’s Marketing Ambassador. Every year Spottswoode produces an Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and an Estate Sauvignon Blanc in honor of their founder, Mary Novak. Spottswoode also crafts a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon called Lyndenhurst, a dual-appellation Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, and two limited-production wines for club members only (Spottswoode Estate “Mary’s Block” Sauvignon Blanc and Field Book Syrah). The estate is located at western edge of St. Helena at the foot of the Mayacamas mountains, as vines are set on alluvial clay loam while a strong wartime influence runs through Spring Mountain and the Mayacamas range. The estate has forty acres of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, with portions of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc which have been organically farmed since 1985.

I was absolutely blown away with the new 2016 Spottswoode ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 96) which has incredible power and precision, while maintaining a wonderful sense of balance and place. This massive wine has decades of cellaring ahead of it. Learn more about this famed Napa winery at https://www.spottswoode.com Here is my review of the 2016 Spottswoode ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon. 

2016 Spottswoode ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, with 6% Petit Verdot. Needing a one hour decant to fully awaken, the 2016 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon slowly unveils deep Turkish coffee, creme de cassis, cocoa powder and sweet pipe tobacco aromas with lighter suggestions of blueberry pie and graphite that all meld in the glass. The palate is dense and powerful yet shows a wonderful restraint and vibrant sense of tension that runs through the core of the wine. Moderate tannins frame the dense dark currant jelly, mocha, black tea, anise, exotic spice and herbal undertones round out this expressive palate. Fantastic and literally thrilling in its youth, the 2016 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment for the next two plus decades. Drink 2020-2040- 96

Bodegas LAN

BoIt has been several years since I visited one of the outstanding producers in Rioja, Bodegas LAN. First founded in 1972. LAN is an acronym based on the initials of each of the three provinces that form the D.O.Ca. Rioja: Logroño (currently part of La Rioja), Alava and Navarra. Their oak program is particularly interesting as French, American, Russian and hybrid barrels (American staves and French oak heads built in the same barrel) are utilized in the blending. Bodegas LAN’s estate Viña Lanciano Vineyard parallels the Ebro river and is set on 72 hectares. The land is exceedingly beautiful at this picturesque setting. 

The vineyard has 24 plots, and is planted to Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha vines, aged on average up to 60 years. During harvest grapes are hand-harvested and once in the winery, bunches and grains are individually selected by hand prior to fermentation.

A stunning value is their 2016 Bodegas LAN ‘Crianza’ (WWB, 91) which truly one of the great ‘Crianza’ wines I have ever had at this price point. This is one to purchase by the case. Even better was their 2012 Bodegas LAN ‘Reserva’ Rioja (WWB, 92) which was incredibly powerful from this warm vintage in La Rioja. Learn more about Bodegas LAN at http://www.bodegaslan.com Here are the great new release wines by Bodegas LAN.

2016 Bodega LAN ‘Crianza’ Rioja- Quite open and layered right out of the gate, the 2016 ‘Crianza’ by Bodega LAN shows off red cherry with brandy soaked orange rind and shades of coffee grounds and leather that enter the fray aromatically. The freshness here is lovely with medium-bodied pomegranate seed, cran-cherry and earthy undertones that all mingle together nicely on the palate. This is seriously outstanding at this price point as this is truly one of the better Crianza wines that I have ever had. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2015 Bodegas LAN ‘Xtreme Ecological’ Rioja- The ‘Xtreme’ Rioja opens with aromas of ripe black plum with sandalwood and leather that all mingle together in the glass. The palate is fresh, with a lovely mouthfeel. Black tea, exotic spices, and wild blackberry compote flavors all mingle with Mandarin orange zest tones on the palate. A delight to savor in its youth, this will provide drinking enjoyment over the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2012 Bodegas LAN ‘Reserva’ Rioja- The 2012 Bodegas LAN ‘Reserva’ Rioja is a terrific effort from this warm vintage in Rioja which resulted in a small crop. The wine begins with aromas of tobacco leaf, milk chocolate and leather that collide with wild blackberry puree on the nose. The palate has good freshness with a wonderful sense of purity of fruit and place. Wild blackberry, black tea, leather and cigar ash favors all come together nicely on the palate. While a delight to savor in its youth, this has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2019-2032- 92

2012 Bodegas LAN ‘Vina Lanciano Reserva’ Rioja- The ‘Vina Lanciano’ is a single vineyard site that is overlooking the Ebro river.  The wine is a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano. Smoky and earthy tones dominate the nose with salted blackberry that all round out the aromatics in the glass. The freshness of the wine is outstanding, as is the soft texture. Red fruits enter the palate, as do shades of Satsuma orange zest and smoked pork shoulder, coffee grounds and leather that all come tighter nicely on the mouth. While a delight to enjoy at this juncture, this will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2019-2033- 93

2016 Bodegas LAN ‘D-12’ Rioja- The ‘D-12’ Rioja is sourced from small lots in the Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa regions. Showing off a deep hue, the aromatics move towards chocolate and exotic spices with shades of damp earth that all collide on the nose. The balance and poise of the wine is outstanding, as lip-smacking acidity greets you with smoky and earthy undertones that connect with the ripe black fruits. Drink 2019-2025- 90

Del Dotto Vineyards

One of the great Napa experiences is a visit to the caves of Del Dotto. Proprietor Dave Del Dotto, imported all of the impressive cave components, including special marble from Italy. The tasting room is truly one of the most gorgeous in North America. A brilliant business mind, Dave Del Dotto was a real estate investor in Modesto, California who made a great success in infomercials throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He is both charismatic and highly knowledgeable about wine and the Napa Valley. Always fascinated by wine, in 1993 he started Del Dotto Vineyards which has been an incredible success since its inception. 

As fun as the winery tour is, the wines are very serious. Dave Del Dotto has an incredible range of wines that are all of top quality, literally from Rose to beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon.  I have been thrilled by this lineup for many years and they continue to be on top of their game. I absolutely loved the new 2018 Piazza Del Dotto Sauvignon Blanc (WWB, 91)  which shows wonderful texture and astringency. One of the great Chardonnay wines that I have sampled from Napa this year, the 2017 Del Dotto ‘Family Reserve’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) has an insanely good mouthfeel and shows incredible mid-palate range. This is a rich, unctuous style Chardonnay that is not for the weary. I was totally blown away with their 2017 Villa Del Lago Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 97), which shows incredible promise already and needs a few more years in the cellar to show its full potential. The wine is incredibly rich but has a seamless quality that is hard to find. Learn more about this famed winery at http://www.deldottovineyards.com Here are the stunning new lineup of wines by Del Dotto. 

2018 Piazza Del Dotto Rose- Marvelously astringent, the 2018 Piazza Del Dotto Rose shows very pretty rose water, orange zest and red cherry candy flavors. Vibrant, with great acidity, this highly gratifying in its youth. Drink 2019-2023- 91 

2018 Piazza Del Dotto Sauvignon Blanc- The Sauvignon Blanc begins with aromas of honeysuckle and lime zest that connect with shades of nutmeg on the nose. The sot mouthfeel is lovely as the wine delivers bright lemon zest and orange rind flavors with undertones of Challah bread and nutmeg that collide on the palate. Delicious now, enjoy this bright wine in its youth. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2017 Del Dotto Chardonnay-  The 2017 Del Dotto Chardonnay is a gorgeous effort from this storied Napa winery./ On the nose this takes on nutmeg that combine with the ripe tropical fruits that all take their shape in the glass. The palate shows off a soft, silky texture. Vanilla cream with baking spices with suggestions of rbright pear and cantaloupe all mingle on the palate. While delightful and it’s youth, this beautiful new Chardonnay wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019- 2029- 93

2017 Del Dotto ‘Family Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2017 Del Dotto ‘Family Reserve’ Chardonnay is a scintillating effort from this winemaking team. The nose is highly perfumed with ripe butterscotch and nutmeg with rich pine apple and banana tones that all mingle aromatically. The palate is rich and shows off a silky, unctuous texture. Intense tropical fruits mingle with shades of clove, cinnamon spice, and baked apple that all are highly gratifying. There is obvious ripeness but the acid backbone to the wine is gorgeous. While sensational in its youth, this outstanding Chardonnay will provide drinking enjoyment for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 95

2018 Del Dotto ‘Cinghale Vineyard Pinot Noir- This estate vineyard was purchased by Dave Del Dotto in 2004. The wine was aged for fourteen months in French oak 50% new prior to bottling. The Pinot Noir shows bright red fruits with accents of citrus rind and cloves on the nose. Rich and generous, the soft texture really entices. Right now the wine shows soft tannins that combine with red and dark fruits with baking spice tones. While delightful in its youth this beautiful wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Try to resist this for another year. Drink 2020-2032- 94

2017 Del Dotto ‘Cave Blend’ Red Wine- Mainly comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon (73%) the ‘Cave Blend’ begins with aromas of mocha with tar, leather and black licorice that all meld together on the nose. The palate shows off a silky mouthfeel and soft, round and generous texture that entices. Ripe blackberry with crème de cassis, anise, and black forest cake flavors fill the palate. While seriously good now, this will evolve brilliantly for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon is a marvelous showing at now three years of age. The wine shows really good elegant aromatics with black tea, and potpourri that mingle with shades of creme de cassis and blackberry compote that all take their shape in the glass.  The palate is currently showing a good degree of freshness and weight with light tannins that line blueberry compote, anise, creme de cassis and tar flavors. The balance here is seriously good. This beautiful wine will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2017 Del Dotto Cabernet Franc- This 100% Cabernet Franc wine starts off with aromas of red bell pepper with rose water and shades of licorice that all mingle together on the nose. The pallet is plush delivering a silky mouthfeel. Black tea, exotic spices, black berry compote, and shades of pipe tobacco on the angle together. Moderately tannic now, the Cabernet Franc is sensational stuff in its youth and will cellar well for decades. Drink 2020-2035- 94

2017 Del Dotto ‘Lot ST Centre Sylvain French Oak’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Lot ST Centre Sylvain French Oak’ is a stunning wine made by Del Dotto. This is highly perfumed wine that was aged for 24 months in Sylvain oak. Creme de cassis and anise with suggestions of Turkish coffee all collide on the decadent nose. The pallet is plush and inviting as you get a nice feel of opulence. Black tea, Asian spices, crème de cassis and mocha flavors all collect momentum on the palate. While sensational now this beautiful wine will show well for decades to come. Drink 2020-2040- 95

2017 Piazza Del Dotto ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Reserve’ bottling by Piazza Del Dotto is just sensational at this early stage in its development. This inky colors wine opens with anise with shades of sandalwood, mocha and creosote that all mingle together in the glass. The palate shows wonderful freshness and intensity with bright blue fruits that mingle with minerals, blackberry pie and shades of black licorice. While a delight to savor now this incredible bottling will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2020-2035- 94

2017 Villa Del Lago Cabernet Sauvignon- A monumental new wine, the 2017 Villa Del Lago Cabernet Sauvignon was entirely sourced from the Pritchard Hill AVA. Exotic and highly dense on the nose this shows exotic spices that mingle with sandalwood, mocha, blueberry compote and tar on the bouquet. The palate is plush, showing incredible elegance and poise. Black tea, anise, blueberry compote, mocha and sweet pipe tobacco flavors all meld together brilliantly on the palate. Showing some medium tannins now, this seductive, deep and highly gratifying Cabernet Sauvignon wine will cellar well for decades. Drink 2022-2045- 97

Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay Vertical Tasting

Friends, we have a big one for you today on WWB. One of my favorite things is attending special vertical tastings.  Over the course of several hours this gives you a chance to taste the evolution of the wine and recall not only what you remember about specific wines but the vintage as a whole. Other than recent vintages being consistently warm, the start to the 2010s was anything but ordinary in Oregon, as 2009, 2010 and 2011 were major outliers. In general I have been quite pleased with how Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay has showed in both 2010 and 2011, with 2011 bottlings typically coming off a tad leaner and more linear. 

A few months back I had the chance to sit with Domaine Serene winemakers and sample an absolutely epic display of ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay, starting with the first vintage of this wine in 2010. Domaine Serene head winemaker Michael Fay noted that Chardonnay became a large part of the Domaine Serene program in the late 1990s. Fay mentioned “Buying Cote Sud in 1997 and having deep soils and high elevation was a great buy and when Ken and Grace came here in 1989 they wanted to make Pinot Noir and do it in the Dundee Hills but the former owner of Cote Sud saw the opportunity for making great Chardonnay. They made Chardonnay a bit in 1997 and then a commercial release in 1998 and the Evenstads fell in love with the Chardonnay and the expression from that site. From that time it has led to our philosophy of Chardonnay being from Dijon Clones set on Jory soils at high elevation. Djjon clones are early ripening and the clones that were traditionally set in California didn’t have success and that was something that has dictated our program ever since. That vineyard has been a huge part of having Chardonnay be a varietal that we really love.” 

One of the challenges with making a new wine is dialing in the oak program. Rachel Zasadni, their assistant winemaker, noted “There has been a level of fluctuation [in new oak] but we have been using similar cooperages since we started using this wine in 2010. We wanted to make a flagship of Chardonnay to get our name out there to show the quality of Chardonnay. We had always done the single vineyard bottlings but in 2010 we wanted to take components from all those sites.”

The 2010 Doamine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) is a magical wine at now nine years of age. This spectacular bottling has amazing weight and a seamless texture that the ‘Evenstad Reserve’ has been known for. I was blown away with the 2012 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay (WWB, 96) which is amongst the best wines I have tried from this special vintage. The wine has incredible brightness and tension that runs through the core of the wine, with amazing range and sense of minerality. Just as good was the 2014 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay (WWB, 96) which is fat, round and generous while maintaining wonderful freshness. This marvelous bottling will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Learn more about these beautiful Chardonnay wines at domaineserene.com Here are my tasting notes from the Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay vertical tasting. 

2010 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2010 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay was aged for 17 months in French oak (72%) new prior to bottling. The wine was largely sourced from the Cote Sud Vineyard (47%) with smaller parts from Clos du Soleil, Clos du Lune and Etoile Vineyards. The aromatics are gorgeous here with butterscotch, toasted hazelnut and wild mushroom with peat moss tones that all build on the nose. The mouthfeel is soft and voluptuous as this soft wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. The savory and saline edge to the wine is fantastic, as is the near minute long finish. This really shows the wonderful balance found in the vintage This is seriously good now and has at least a decade to go. Drink 2019-2029- 95

2011 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2011 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay was crafted quite differently than the 2010 as this saw 31% new French oak for 13 months prior to bottling.  The nose is beautiful, showing butterscotch with shades of Pink Lady apple and nutmeg that mingle with lemon zest that all mingle together in the glass. The texture is wonderful here as the bright acidity literally rips through the mid-palate. The freshness is intense with a remarkable texture. Juicy green apple with kumquat zest, and nutmeg infused Challah bread flavors all come together marvelously on the palate. The exceedingly long finish lingers. This is very Chablis. Drink 2019-2029- 94

2012 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2012 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay was aged for 13 months in 31% new French oak prior to bottling. The vintage was warmer than the prior to vintages but saw a steady and warm growing season. The nose is seductive, showing bright kumquat zest, Meyer lemon cream, and butterscotch with macadamia nut that all meld together in the glass. The wine has a seamless quality that is hard to describe. The textural element to the wine is phenomenal. Bright mango and lemon creme brûlée with shades of nutmeg and bright Pazzaz apple flavors all really entice on the palate. The minute-long finish accentuates this stunning wine.  While outstanding at the seven year mark, the wine has a very long life ahead of it. Drink 2019-2033- 96

2013 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2013 vintage was strongly marked by the torrential rains came that came in during early October. However, there were only a few blocks of Chardonnay at Domaine Serene that they had not picked prior to this major weather event. The wine was aged for 12 months in 20% new French oak prior to bottling. The texture to this wine is truly fantastic as the wine unveils butterscotch, macadamia nut, Bosc pear and shades of sourdough bread with a nice salinity. The wine finishes exceedingly long with vanilla cream. While this might not be as fresh as the 2011 vintage, this glorious wine is truly fantastic at the six month mark. Drink 2019-2026- 93

2014 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2014 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay is a head-turning wine that is showing why it was the #2 wine of the year by Wine Spectator. Aged for thirteen months in 31% new French oak prior to bottling, this wine was marked by a warm growing season with high quality and high quantity of fruit. Vanilla creme brulee, banana, and a light nutty character that all combine marvelously on the nose. The richness and tension in the wine is really fantastic as this glides across the mid-palate. Showing a light beam of salinity the wine effortlessly shows off shades of wet stone that mingle with cantaloupe, butterscotch, Meyer lemon zest and nutmeg infused Challah bread with shades of Pink Lady apple. The exceedingly long finish lingers. This is utterly compelling Chardonnay that is truly one of the beset of its kind. Drink 2019-2032- 96

2015 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2015 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay is a stunning wine that is showing marvelously at the four year mark. The wine was aged for 13 months in 40% new French oak prior to bottling. The vintage was known for the intense heat spikes, which led to thinker skins on the grapes. This shows a tropical fruit edge aromatically with citrus zest and wild mushroom undertones that all mingle together in the glass. The palate is plush, delivering a stunning texture. Like many of these wines, this possesses a seamless quality that really shines through. The length and mouthfeel marvelously combine, leading to an exceedingly long finish. Remarkable in its youth, this has the stuffing and acidity to cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 95

2016 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2016 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay is simply beautiful in its youth. This marked the first year that they have introduced a larger portion of Chardonnay from the Triple Crown Vineyard (Dijon clones 76 and 95). This beautiful wine was aged for fourteen months in 30% new French oak prior to bottling. The nose is just stunning, showing marvelous layers and serious range. Macadamia nut, nutmeg infused sourdough bread, white truffle shavings and shades of vanilla creme brûlée all shine on the nose. The acidity and weight to the wine is just exceptional. Vanilla creme brulee, ripe banana, Pink Lady apple and Macadamia nut tart with shades of wet stone and peat moss all magically mingle together on the palate. A stunning wine, this Chardonnay is outstanding in its youth and will be exceedingly long lived. Drink 2019-2035- 95

Sleight of Hand Syrah

Over the past several years Sleight of Hand has been crafting some sensational Syrahs from the Walla Walla Rocks District. Sourcing from two premier sites, the Stoney Vine Vineyard and The Funk Estate Vineyard the Sleight of Hand winemaking team deftly creates a Syrah that marvelously showcases each special site. They have now sourced from the Elevation Vineyard, their special Ziggy Stardust Block which is a steeply sloped, dramatic site set on fractured basalt. Last year I visited this marvelous location at the North Fork of the Walla Walla River with Sleight of Hand co-founder Trey Busch, who smartly orchestrated a contract with this great site for Syrah. 

Sleight of Hand has been consistently creating one of the great overall lineups in Washington wine. Their new Syrah, coming from the 2017 vintage, were outstanding across the board. The 2017 Sleight of Hand ‘The Psychadelic’ Syrah (WWB, 94) is rich, layered and has insanely good range, with its beautiful texture and stony character. The 2017 Sleight of Hand ‘Spiders From Mars’ Syrah (WWB, 92) has a lighter wet stone profile but is high-toned and really intriguing with its smoky and sour fruit profiles. I adored the 2017 Sleight of Hand ‘The Funkadelic’ Syrah (WWB, 95) which is one of the great Syrah wines I have tried this year. This limited production bottling has a flat out sexy mouthfeel and texture, marvelously showing off this special site in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. Learn more about these great wines at http://www.sofhcellars.com Here are the beautiful new 2017 Syrah releases by Sleight of Hand.

2017 Sleight of Hand ‘The Psychadelic’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘The Psychadelic’ Syrah by Sleight of Hand is a gorgeous effort from the famed ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. Aromatically quite complex, you are greeted with bacon fat, Umami, green olive tapenade, and potpourri with wet stone that all take their shape together in the glass. The palate is round and generous, offering a soft mouthfeel and lovely texture. Hoisin sauce, smoked brisket, wild blackberry cordial, and suggestions of Mandarin orange rind flavors with stony undertones all complete this marvelous new wine. While showing a good combination of weight and freshness in its youth, I can see this beautiful Syrah cellaring well for another eight to ten years. Only 70 cases made. Drink 2019-2027- 94

2017 Sleight of Hand ‘The Funkadelic’ Syrah-The 2017 ‘The Funkadelic’ Syrah is a stunning effort entirely sourced from The Funk Estate Vineyard, managed by Richard Funk. The wine was aged for twenty months in 33% new French oak prior to bottling and underwent 100% native yeast fermentation. The stony character is quite pronounced with damp stone aromatics that combine with bulls blood, horse manure, red cherry candy and  exotic spices that all mingle in unison in the glass. The palate is generous, showing a flat out sexy mouthfeel and texture that lingers long on the tongue. Black fruits combine with teaberry, citrus zest, smoked pork shoulder and black olive tapenade flavors on the palate. A complete wine and sensational in its youth, this will continue to evolve for another decade. I think this wine will shine most brightly in its youth, while the wonderful combination of minerality and texture sing in harmony. Drink 2019-2027- 95

2017 Sleight of Hand ‘Spiders From Mars’ Syrah- The ‘Spiders From Mars’ is the first wine that Sleight of Hand has crafted from this dramatic site in the North Fork of the Walla Walla River. Sourced from the ‘Ziggy Stardust Block’ of the Elevation Vineyard, having visited this special vineyard on several times it is hard not to be impressed with the jagged terroir and soils rich in fractured basalt. Damp earth tones and blackberry cobbler with suggestions of black tea and smoked meats all come together aromatically. The soft and generous texture as well as bright astringency really entices as blackberry pie, blood orange zest, sour kirsch with suggestions of cardamom all combine on the palate. If enjoying in its youth, give this beautiful  Syrah a few hours in the decanter prior to consuming. Drink 2019-2027- 92

Ten Great Oregon Pinot Noirs for Thanksgiving

As we slowly make our march into November, people start to ask me what wines they should serve at their Thanksgiving table. While a host of wines pair well with turkey, Oregon Pinot Noir is one of my favorite pairings. Particularly by adding cranberry sauce to the equation and now you have an amazing match for red fruit-driven Oregon Pinot Noir with great acidity that can artfully match the richness of turkey.

I rely on my 2018 Oregon Report which was published this summer in which I reviewed more than 500 wines out of Oregon and found many exciting Oregon Pinot Noirs from the fantastic 2016 and 2017 vintages. I have chosen several new release wines with a nice range of pricing, as Oregon Pinot Noir isn’t usually inexpensive but there are several beautiful bottles that you won’t need to break the bank to purchase. We have included pricing as well as how to find the wines online. So without further adieu, here are ten great Oregon Pinot Noirs, listed in alphabetical order, for to consider for your Thanksgiving table.

2017 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir ($45.00; https://bigtablewine.com/index.cfm?method=storeproducts.showlist&productcategoryid=7434BEBB-0935-4DA3-914B-9F7D4D0FFC97) 

The 2017 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is another sensational wine made by one of the most underrated winemakers in North America, Brian Marcy. The nose is seductive and highly perfumed with rose petals, guava puree, cigar ash and suggestions of peat moss that all build in the glass. The wine shows off a downright sexy texture, showing a great combination of weight and minerality. Guava puree, red raspberry cordial, blood orange zest and white truffle flavors all dance on the palate. A seriously impressive wine that should continue to cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2032- 94

2017 Cristom Vineyards ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir ($35.00; https://www.cristomvineyards.com/Buy-Wine/750L-and-375mL)

The 2017 'Mt. Jefferson Cuvee' was sourced from a host of Willamette Valley vineyards and it is another sensational release from Cristom Vineyards in this vintage. On the nose this takes on bright red fruits that mingle with sagebrush, damp earth and orange zest tones that all build once in the glass. The freshness and balance is gorgeous, as is the peat moss and earthy accents that mingle with the citrus rind infused red fruit flavors. Remarkable now, this fantastic Pinot Noir should continue to evolve well for another decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 De Ponte ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir ($47.00; https://www6.cleverconcepts.net/depontecellars.com/) 

The 2016 De Ponte Dundee Hills Pinot Noir opens with ripe dark fruits with shades of damp earth and citrus blossom that connect on the nose. The palate is refined with good freshness and verve, delivering dark fruits that connect with lighter earthy undertones. This is a terrific effort from De Ponte that should cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2016 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir ($75.00; https://www.domaineserene.com/product/Evenstad-Reserve-2016-Pinot-Noir-750ml)

This is the 30th Anniversary of this iconic Pinot Noir bottling from Domaine Serene. This particular edition was aged for sixteen months in 65% new French oak prior to bottling. The aromas are simply sensational ranging from cardamon accents to peat moss, black truffle shavings to bright red fruits and citrus zest that all amalgamate marvelously. The texture is beautiful as this silky wine effortlessly dances across the mid-palate. The seamless character of this wine really entices. as dense dark and red fruits pack this incredible wine. The 2016 Evenstad is once again up there with the best vintages ever produced.  Drink 2019-2033- 95

2017 Erath ‘Oregon’ Pinot Noir ($19.00; https://www.erath.com/shop/pinot-noir/2017-oregon-pinot-noir)

A downright awesome value at this price point, the 2017 Erath Pinot Noir opens with red fruits that collide with red rose petals and lighter citrus zest tones on the nose. The palate is lithe, delivering lighter to medium bodied cranberry, orange zest and cinnamon flavors that amalgamate nicely with minerals. Drink 2019-2023- 88

2016 King Estate ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir ($30.00; https://store.kingestate.com/product?productid=3F5B3383-AC8D-4E0C-9789-E2260F25E128)

Delicate and fragrant aromas greet you of rose petals and red cherry candy. A touch on the light side, this shows red cherry and citrus rind flavors with a strong astringency. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2017 Le Cadeau ‘Rocheaux’ Pinot Noir ($50.00; https://www.lecadeauvineyard.com/Shop-Wines/Le-Cadeau-Vineyard) 

The 2017 'Rocheaux' Pinot Noir was made by consulting winemaker Jim Sanders. Vines for this wine are located on the highly rocky west side of the vineyard. As the wine itself begins to open a whiff of volcanic terroir greets you in the glass alongside peat moss, blood orange and guava aromas. The wine shows a silky mouthful with bright red fruits that connect with citrus rind and suggestions of black truffle shavings. The combination of poise and texture is outstanding. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 Lingua Franca ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir ($55.00; https://www.linguafranca.wine/product/2017-Estate-Pinot-Noir1?pageID=367755BC-A7EE-4717-81A6-724E0BD242E2&sortBy=DisplayOrder&maxRows=100&&productListName=All%20Wines&position=9) 

The 2017 'Estate' Pinot Noir is an exceedingly impressive release from Lingua Franca. The aromatics are highly gratifying, with peat moss and white truffle shavings that combine with cranberries, pomegranate and red cherry candy on the seductive nose. The palate has a seamless quality that shines, as red and dark fruits dance with the earthy and citrus rind tones. This is an utterly stunning wine, which will cellar beautifully over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2032- 94

2015 Maysara ‘Cyrus’ Pinot Noir ($38.00; https://maysara.com/product/cyrus-pinot-noir/) 

The 2015 'Cyrus' pinot Noir is a simply sensational wine from this estate in the McMinnville AVA. The mouthfeel is silky smooth and glides through the mid-palate. Copious red and dark fruits capture the heat of the vintage as the wine maintains good acidity with earthy tones and a nice salinity. While highly gratifying now, this has another decade or more left. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2015 Tendril ‘Tightrope’ Pinot Noir ($70.00; https://tendrilwines.orderport.net/product-details/0038/2014-tendril-tightrope) 

The 2015 Tendril 'Tightrope' Pinot Noir is a spectacular effort by the talented Tony Rynders. This limited production Pinot Noir was aged for eighteen months in 50% new French oak prior to bottling. On the nose this takes on beautiful aromatic range from red and dark fruits to hints of cloves and black truffle shavings. The mouthfeel is downright seductive as layers of dark and red berries connect with earthy undertones and the toasty oak. While this has excellent mid-palate weight, there is also a seamless quality to the wine. The extremely long finish completes this gorgeous new wine. Delightful in its youth, this will continue to cellar well for the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2019-2035- 94

Brittan Vineyards

I love wines with great terroir but there is something extra special about Oregon Pinot Noir with novel terroir. One of the unique wineries in Oregon, Brittan Vineyards was founded by the talented Robert Brittan, who was the former winemaker at Stags’ Leap Winery in Napa. Robert is a graduate of the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology program and founded Brittan Vineyards in 2004, acquiring a 128-acre hillside property with soils that are a mixture of glacial deposits and volcanic material, with a predominant presence of broken basalt. The volcanic material brings out a terrific stony quality in the Pinot Noirs. In addition to the Pinot Noir, Robert has 4 acres of Chardonnay and 1.5 acres of Syrah have been planted. In addition to his own wines, Robert serves as the winemaker for several other brands, including Blakeslee, de Lancellotti, Fairsing, Noble Pig, Winderlea and Youngberg Hill. 

The new Brittan Vineyards releases are were absolutely stunning across the board. I was blown away with the 2016 Brittan Vineyards ‘Gestalt Block’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) which has the incredible stony quality in the wine and shows insanely good range from this warm vintage in the Willamette Valley. Just as good was the 2015 Brittan Vineyards ‘Cygnus Block’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) which deftly combines high-toned bright rose petals to damp earth tones and a wonderful sense of tension. These are serious releases that are brilliant in their youth and will continue to provide drinking enjoyment for a decade or more. Learn more about the great wines of Brittan Vineyards at http://www.brittanvineyards.com Here are the brilliant Pinot Noir releases by Brittan Vineyards.  

2016 Brittan Vineyards ‘Basalt Block’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 Brittan Vineyards ‘Basalt Block’ Pinot Noir is another outstanding wine by iconic winemaker Robert Brittan. The ‘Basalt Block’ is mostly composed of Pinot Noir clones Pommard, 667, 777, 115 and Swan. Deeply colored in the glass, the wine emerges with a wonderful stony character that collides with the black tea, peat moss and black truffle shaving aromas that all meld together in the glass. Intense and high-toned, the lip-smacking acidity really entices. Black fruits mingle with sour kirsch, orange rind and black truffle crudo with minerals on the palate. The terroir and balance here is really intriguing. While a delight to enjoy in its nascent phase, the ‘Basalt Block’ will age gracefully for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 93

2016 Brittan Vineyards ‘Gestalt Block’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 Brittan Vineyards ‘Gestalt Block’ is a scintillating new release by this storied Oregon winery. Sourced from their vineyard in the McMinnville AVA, as the ‘Gestalt Block’ is set on their western facing hillside that is set on broken basalt. Deeply colored once in the glass, the ‘Gestalt Block’ starts off with deep wet stone influence that connects with the shades of cran-pomegranate and guava with peat moss aromas that all collide in the glass. The mouth-watering acidity of the wine is truly gorgeous, as is the great sense of stony terroir. Silky and soft on the mouth, this delivers gobs of racy acidity and a light dusting of salinity that runs through the dark fruits and earthy undertones on the palate. Truly novel and esteemed in the land of Oregon Pinot Noir, the ‘Gestalt Block’ will have a decade or more in the cellar. Drink 2019-2032- 94

2016 Brittan Vineyards ‘Cygnus Block’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Cygnus Block’ Pinot Noir by Robert Brittan is another stunning wine from this storied winery in the McMinnville AVA. The perfumed nose ranges from bright red rose petals to black tea and exotic spices, with peat moss undertones that all come together aromatically. The palate delights the senses, song off a silky texture and soft mouthfeel, with gobs of lip-smacking acidity. A slight salinity races through the wine and black fruits with white truffle accents. While this is outstanding now, it will continue to develop well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2032- 94

Saviah Cellars

For those who know this great, under the radar, Walla Walla mainstay, they won’t be surprised by how good the new wines by Saviah Cellars are. While I am not surprised that the wines were this good, I was highly impressed after tasting truly one of the great overall lineups in Washington wine. Founded back in 2000, Saviah Cellars originally began as a mere 300 case production winery. Today they particularly gain fame from their Syrah wines that are sourced from their two estate vineyards in the Walla Walla Rocks District. Saviah was started by winemaker Richard Funk and his wife, Anita, who are both natives of Montana who moved to Walla Walla in 1991 and later planted their first vineyard in 2001. Saviah is a family name from Anita’s great-grandmother, a schoolteacher, artist and author, who settled in western Montana in the early 1900s.  

Richard Funk is one of the great, down to earth people in Washington wine. With a foundation  in microbiology, Richard previously worked as the Environmental Health Specialist with the Walla Walla County Health Department and is a self-taught winemaker. Richard has assisted several wineries with their start-up processes and served as the winemaker for Watermill Winery from 2006-2009, àMaurice winery from 2005-2006 and also has served as a consulting winemaker for several new wineries. His new red wine releases were really outstanding, coming from warm 2016 and 2017 vintages. With insanely good aromatic and flavor range the 2016 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak’ Syrah (WWB, 95) is one of the best wines that I have tried by Richard Funk, as this brilliantly showcases the rocky terroir of the Walla Walla Rocks District region. I was absolutely blown away with their 2016 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah (WWB, 96) which is the best wine I have ever sampled from this estate. This is one to not be missed for any serious collector of Washington wines. Learn more about this outstanding winery at https://www.saviahcellars.com/ Here are the outstanding new wines by Saviah.

2016 Saviah ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from a host of great vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley, the 2016 Saviah Cabernet Sauvignon shows bright red and dark fruits on the nose that mingle with spice cake and shades of milk chocolate that all take their shape in the glass. The palate is juicy and decadent, delivering gobs of dark fruits that mingle with suggestions of chocolate fudge and clove. This is downright delicious stuff now, as this beautiful wine will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 Saviah ‘Une Vallee’ Red Wine- The ‘Une Vallee’ is a silky blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark fruits mark the nose with shades of exotic spices and milk chocolate that all connect nicely together aromatically. The palate shows a soft mouthfeel and wonderful texture as wild blackberry preserves, black tea, and mocha flavors all meld together on the attack. This is seriously good in its youth but has both the stuffing and brightness to cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2017 Saviah ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah by Saviah shows rich bacon fat and blackberry cobbler aromatics that mingle with the underlying herbal tones on the nose. Rich and nicely balanced, showing a good sense of minerality, the wine unveils ripe black fruits that combine with lighter tar and smoked brisket tones on the palate. Drink 2019-2026- 92

2017 Saviah ‘Reserve’ Syrah- The ‘Reserve’ Syrah is a stunning bottling by the talented Richard Funk, as he chose to source this wine from ‘The Funk’ and ‘Watermill Estate’ Vineyards in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. The stony character on the nose is lovely and melds with the salted smoked meats, leather and suggestions of wild blackberry that all take their cadence in the glass. The soft, silky texture really entices, as the wine unveils ripe black fruits that mingle with the stony and smoky undertones of the wine. This is seriously good now and will continue to evolve for the next decade. Drink 2019-2026- 94

2016 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak Estate’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘The Stones Speak Estate’ Syrah is another tremendous bottling by Richard Funk of Saviah fame. The spellbinding aromatics evoke serious range from Umami to horse manure, damp leather, wet stone and suggestions of green olive tapenade alongside lighter black fruits that all take their shape in the glass. Soft and generous on the mouth, the wine has racy acidity considering the heat of the vintage. The sense of balance is evident, as this seamless Umami and black fruit driven wine artfully glides across the mid-palate. The exceedingly long finish accentuates this beautiful bottling. While fantastic to savor in its youth, this will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 95

2017 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak Estate’ Syrah- Now gaining age, Richard Funk’s ‘The Stones Speak Estate’ Vineyard is his second, ten acre parcel located in the Walla Walla Rocks District. Needing roughly an hour in the decanter to fully evolve, the 2017 ‘The Stones Speak Estate’ slowly awakens to ripe Kalmata olive, smoked pork shoulder, Hoisin sauce and hints of black forest cake with the wet stone undertones that all marvelously meld together in the glass. The silky texture really entices as deep dark fruits meld with the black tea, creosote, black olive tapenade and wet stone tones on the palate. Showing excellent verve and complexity, this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next ten plus years. Drink 2019-2029- 94

2016 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘The Funk Estate’ is a stunning new wine by superstar winemaker Richard Funk of Saviah Cellars. Chosen to co-ferment 4% Viognier with Syrah, this immediately entices with bright citrus blossom aromatics that combine with the deep dark fruits, green olive, bacon fat and horse manure aromatics that all shine brightly in unison. Soft, round and generous, there is a seamless quality to this wine that is apparent. Black tea, clove, cigar ash, Umami, red cherry puree and suggestions of wild blackberry cordial all marvelously combine in this utterly thrilling palate. I really enjoy this sensational Syrah at this stage in its development, and my feeling is there is no reason to cellar it for more than another seven years. Drink 2019-2026- 96

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