Smith-Madrone

One of the great older houses out of Napa that you may have never heard of, Smith-Madrone has gained a national reputation not only for their typical varietal wines, but for their Riesling wines. Smith-Madrone wines are sourced from the winery's dry-farmed estate vineyards surrounding the winery on top of Spring Mountain in the Napa Valley. Stuart Smith chose specific slopes with different exposures for specific varietals when planting the vineyards: eastern exposure for Riesling, southern and western exposures across flat stretches for the Cabernet Sauvignon and the coolest north-facing slopes for the Chardonnay. The soil is mostly deep-red Aiken Stony Clay loam, and is primarily volcanic-based, well-drained and deep for mountain soils. The estate is a 200 acre ranch, partly planted as vineyard over a century ago. California black bears and other wildlife once thrived here as did 120-year-old Picholine olive trees which frame a path and view down to the floor of the Napa Valley. 

I recently had the chance to review the wines from this historic estate in Napa and was hugely impressed with the quality of wines from the warm vintages of 2015 and 2016. Their 2015 Smith-Madrone Cabernet (WWB, 92) is marvelous with its balance and poise, with deep darker fruit flavors. The 2016 Smith-Madrone Riesling (WWB, 91) is amongst the best Rieslings made in this region. Fantastic now, the wine will cellar well at least for another five years. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.smithmadrone.com Here are the great new releases from Smith-Madrone

2016 Smith-Madrone Riesling- A whiff of petrol and white flowers immediately takes you to the old world rather than Napa. Beautifully textured and lithe, showing good poise, the wine delivers ripe green apple, wet stone and shades of kumquat zest that mingle together on the palate. This is truly one the best I have had from Napa. Drink 2019-2025- 91

2016 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay- Aromas of buttered popcorn and roasted hazelnuts offer intrigue on the nose. The freshness and power of the wine is fantastic as ripe vanilla cream and butterscotch flavors mingle with nutty and earthy undertones. The texture really impresses here as this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next decade, picking up tertiary characters as it ages. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2015 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon is another exciting release from this storied Napa estate. The dusty terroir is really impressive, as it collides with bight red fruits and shades of cassis on the nose. Showing really good restraint and balance, the wine leads with ripe red cherry, tobacco leaf, leather and dusty terroir on the palate. With wonderful verve and freshness, this expressive effort will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 92

Pepper Bridge

Jean-François Pellet t is one talented man. As I sat with him over dinner we talked about his approaching his wines. “I like wines with good structure and minerality but ones that are also full-bodied.” That made a lot of sense to me. ‘Isn’t that exactly how Washington wines should show’ I thought to myself. Highly engaging and charismatic, Pellet has degrees in both enology and viticulture and has previously interned in Germany, Switzerland and the Napa Valley. After graduating, he managed vineyards and made wine in Switzerland and Spain. Pellet then worked for Heitz Cellars for four years until he was recruited to work at Pepper Bridge.

If you have never visited Pepper Bridge, you are in for a visual treat. The winery boasts simply gorgeous views of the Walla Walla Valley and has a deck that is perfect for a warm summer day. Over several decades,  Jean-François Pellet  has employed a highly Bordelaise style of winemaking. He is a third generation wine grower,  and Pellet’s wines have received considerable acclaim and he continues to produce seriously good wines for both Pepper Bridge and their sister winery, Amavi Cellars. 

I absolutely love these new wines across the board. The 2018 Pepper Bridge Sauvignon Blanc (WWB, 92) rivals the best of the varietal in the state. The wine has a touch of Semillon that provides the creamy texture that sits alongside the wonderful core of bright citrus and apple fruits. This is a gorgeous wine for the price. Even better was his 2016 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 94) which is amongst the best wine that I have ever had from this estate. A complete wine, this shows not only wonderful tension and verve but great varietal typicity and a deep core of dark fruits. This is one for the cellar! Learn more about Pepper Bridge at www.pepperbridge.com. Here are the great new release wines from Pepper Bridge winery.

2018 Pepper Bridge Sauvignon Blanc- The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc by Pepper Bridge is a beautiful new wine by the talented Jean-Francios Pellet. A blend of 93% Sauvignon blanc with the remainder Semillon, the wine opens with aromas of white flowers with lovely citrus blossom and shades of green papaya that take shape in the glass. The texture to the wine is truly outstanding as a bright err of minerality cuts through the core of the citrus and green apple flavors. While outstanding to savor in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next five plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 92

2016 Pepper Bridge Merlot- The 2016 Pepper Bridge Merlot was largely sourced from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards as well as the Octave Vineyard. Aged in 58% new French oak before bottling, this opens with ripe red fruits that dance with shades of clove, and milk chocolate that all mingle in the glass. The palate has good freshness and density with plush red and dark fruits that mingle with the bright sense of minerality. Delightful now and showing good restraint considering the heat of the vintage, the 2016 Pepper Bridge Merlot will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2035- 92

2016 Pepper Bridge ‘Trine’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Trine’ is a beautiful blend of 35% Cabernet Franc with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and smaller portions Petit Verdot and Malbec. This begins with aromas of red bell pepper with red cherry, blackberry cobbler and shades of black licorice that all come together on the nose. The palate has a wonderful sense of balance, as this elegant wine has a seamless quality that runs through the core of red and dark fruits with chocolate undertones. Fantastic now, be sure to give this a long, two hour decant, if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2020-2035- 93

2016 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Pepper Bridge cabernet Sauvignon was aged in 45% new French oak before bottling and has smaller portions of Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc blended in. The nose is dense and offers intense black fruits that meld with Black Forest Cake and tar aromas that meld in the glass. The palate has wonderful freshness and elegance, with a silky texture. Black tea, exotic spices, blackberry cordial and shades of Turkish coffee all come together magically in the glass. Hedonistic and dense, yet beautifully balanced, this is a masterpiece that will have a long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2040- 94

2016 Pepper Bridge ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine- A blend of 46% Merlot with 31% Malbec and 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine was aged in 39% new French oak before bottling. The intense aromas captivate you with lavender and dense dark fruits that meld with shades of creosote and espresso bean that all mingle in the glass. The palate has great balance and effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Deep mocha, tar, leather and shades of blackberry coils all take their shape on the palate. A stunning wine in its youth, the ‘Pepper Bridge’ Red Wine will cellar well for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2020-2040- 94

2016 Pepper Bridge ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine- A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon with 22% Cabernet Franc, 18% Merlot and small portions Malbec and Petit Verdot, the 2016 2016 Pepper Bridge ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine is a gorgeous new wine by this storied Walla Walla estate. Beautifully perfumed once in the glass, this slowly unveils ripe blackberry with anise, creme de cassis and shades of dark chocolate cake that meld in the glass. The palate has a lovely sense of minerality showing good richness and a silky texture. Light tannins line a deep core of dark fruits with creosote and espresso bean tones on the palate. Gorgeous to enjoy in its youth, this outstanding wine will have a. Long life in the cellar. Drink 2019-2035- 93

Chateau d'Yquem

One of the monumental moments in my wine education was the first time that I tried Chateau d’Yquem. Granted, I was a bit of a youngster, but I will never forget my first sip of the 1979 Chateau d’Yquem, poured by a former mentor of mine, Claude Faure. “This is different,” I thought to myself. While it takes a lot of time to typically appreciate the wines of Sauternes, I have found that the gravity of wines from this house appeal to pretty much every palate that try the wines.

I have been highly passionate about Sauternes for decades and started buying Sauternes when I was in graduate school fifteen years ago. While I might not possess a top shelf range of d’YQuem wines like some of my colleagues, I have a few that are best consumed for special occasions. The storied Sauternes estate was the only Sauternes property to be given the the Premier Cru Superior designation from the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. The world wine community recognizes this estate as producing the best wines from Sauternes. The site itself is perfectly situated for achieving a high degree of botrytis in even the most challenging of vintages. 

This fall I had the chance to open one of my bottles of the absolutely epic 2005 Chateau d’YQuem which was seen by most critics as one of the top wines of the vintage. I did a 2005 vintage retrospective this past summer and found that wines from 2005 typically showed good levels of botrytis but also possessed a good sense of balance (http://www.washingtonwineblog.com/blog/2019/8/26/2005-sauternes-retrospective). I was absolutely blown away with the 2005 Chateau d’YQuem (WWB, 100) which is perfection in the bottle. My colleague and I simply stared at each other while sipping this majestic bottle. We didn’t need any words to describe how good this wine was.

Earlier in the year I tried the absolutely mind-blowing 1989 Chateau D’Yquem (WWB, 99) which came from a thrilling year in Sauternes. The wine now has a captivating blend of bananas foster and pineapple creme brûlée flavors that give the wine plenty of exotic appeal.

Learn more about the storied estate at http://yquem.fr/int-en/ Here is my review of the Sauternes wines from Chateau D’YQuem.

1989 Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes- The 1989 Chateau d’Yquem is a stunning showing at more than 30 years of age. While this is obviously showing some signs of age, the bright acidity of the wine shows that this still has many years to go. Nutmeg, butterscotch, Meyer lemon creme brûlée and toffee aromas fill the glass and entice the senses. The palate shows serious weight and tension leading to toffee infused bananas foster, kumquat zest and roasted pineapple creme brûlée that meld together in harmony. Complex and insanely delicious this wine is near perfection in the bottle. The finish to this wine is truly astounding and lasts for more than one minute. While it is gorgeous now, this will continue to evolve for the next decade or more. Drink 2020-2035- 99

2005 Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes- The 2005 Chateau d’Yquem is a scintillating wine that is just starting to hit its prime drinking window. The nose has a great exotic appeal with ripe pineapple and ginger tones that mingle with shades of butterscotch, and brandy soaked white raisin that all marvelously march in harmony in the glass. The scintillating aromatics bring you back to the glass for more delight. Stunning on the mid-palate, the silky texture truly entices. The range is insanely good from cardamom infused honey to candied ginger and lemon creme brûlée flavors. This is a complete wine that not only has tremendous viscosity but a marvelous balance and sense of place. Finishing strong with minerals, candied tropical fruits and butterscotch, the wine lingers incredibly long on the tongue. Ethereal and quite youthful now, do not hesitate to open this beautiful wine. Drink 2020-2050- 100

Chateau Climens

One of the great Sauternes houses in the world, Chateau Climens is located on the left bank of the Garonne, in Graves region in the south-west of Bordeaux, The Grands Crus from Sauternes and Barsac were classified in 1855 at the same time as the Grands Crus from Médoc. Château Climens belongs to the First Classed Growths of 1855.

In Sauternes appellation, the small village of Barsac is primarily set on limestone soils which yields a wonderful freshness and balance to the wines.  Having visited Chateau Climens last spring, I couldn’t help but notice the limestone deposits scattered all across the vineyard and some of them were quite large. Chateau Clemens estate is a 30 hectares property situated on the appellation’s highest land and Bérénice Lurton has been at the helm there since 1992. Berenice has a magical way with her wines to create a stunning sense of balance and terroir, regardless of vintage. I have found this to be true even in warmer vintages with higher levels of botrytis. Bérénice is one of the great winemakers of the world.

Last year I had a chance to do a long vertical tasting of her wines and was absolutely blown away with the consistency even in the most challenging of vintages. Her new wine from the 2016 vintage (WWB, 98) is a profoundly elegant wine. While this may not have the viscosity and richness that other vintages have, the elegance, tension and marvelous range really entices. This beauty really needs a lot of cellaring to fulfill its potential. It is a head-turning Sauternes that will be exceedingly long lived — most likely past my lifetime.  Learn about this compelling estate in the Bordeaux region at http://www.chateau-climens.fr/en/

2016 Chateau Climens Sauternes- The 2016 Chateau Climens is a head-turning blend made by the talented Bérénice Lurton, who has managed this property since 1992. 100% Semillon, this golden hued wine shows an exotic aromatic display, offering apricot jelly, pineapple upside down cake, butterscotch and shades of toasted hazelnut the all mingle together on the nose. Showing a glorious combination of tension and viscosity, the 2016 Climens shows incredible length and elegance despite its obvious power. Rich lemon creme brulee, vanilla cream, and orange marmalade flavors combine with a bright sense of minerality and a light salinity. The seamless quality of the wine is remarkable. Simply glorious now in its youth, this scintillating new release will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2026-2050- 98

Quilceda Creek

On a festive Friday afternoon in mid-December I gathered my belongings and headed north to Quilceda Creek winery in Snohomish. Waiting for me was superstar winemaker, Paul Golitzin, a man who requires no introduction. Paul is a delight to chat wine with. He regularly samples the best wines of the world, including first growths, which gives him a litmus for how to craft what are consistently the best Cabernet Sauvignon wines in Washington that rival the upper echelon in North America. Quilceda Creek has received more 100 point scores by Robert Parker than any other North American winery which is a simply astounding feat. I first began tasting these wines in the late 1990s and fondly recall some of my all-time favorite bottlings. These are special wines that mark celebrations, graduations and anniversaries. Regardless of vintage, Quilceda Creek produces absolutely remarkable Cabernet wines.

The new lineup I tasted came from the warm, 2017 vintage. Fires from this vintage kept temperatures rather moderate, creating a layer of smoke that limited sunlight for roughly one month. The more moderate and consistent temperatures led to good phenolic ripeness in the wines. The harvest was particularly long, which suited Cabernet Sauvignon well. Winemakers have been quite optimistic about this vintage for both red and white wines. Golitzin mentioned that he feels these are the best wines across the board that he has made, including the best ‘CVR.’  Having had every vintage of ‘CVR’ (formerly ‘Red Wine’) back to 2001, I can say that the ’17 ‘CVR’ is truly one of the best that I have tried (WWB, 94). The wine has incredible density and tension that runs through the core of dark and blue fruits. The wine is also a spectacular value buy for Washington red wines. The 2017 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 98-100) is simply magical. It needs a bit more time to finally come together but this wine is every bit as good as the best Cabernet Sauvignons from this house that I have tried. I feel entirely the same way about the 2017 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 98-100) which is dense, massive and a downright sexy rendition that also needs some time for me to make my final assessment. I am absolutely thrilled by these wines. Learn more about these beautiful wines at quilcedacreek.com Here are the new wines by Quilceda Creek.

2017 Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘CVR’ is a seductive blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon with small portions Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine was aged in roughly 50% new French oak before bottling. The nose has exotic appeal with its dense blue and black fruit aromatics that meld with Asian spices and shades of dusty terroir that all take their shape in the glass. The mouthfeel and texture of the wine is superb and this shows plenty of richness and a bright acid backbone. Deep blackberry cobbler, mocha, tar and blueberry compote flavors all come together marvelously on the palate. Marvelously structured and showing good poise, the 2017 ‘CVR’ is up there with the best ever made from this storied Washington estate. Drink 2019-2029- 94

2017 Quilceda Creek ‘Palengat’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Palnegat’ Red Wine is a stunning new bottling by superstar winemaker Paul Golitzin. A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Cabernet Franc, this opens with dense Turkish coffee aromas that meld with shades of tar, anise and creme de cassis, that give off an err of seduction. Once on the palate you are consumed by the wonderful combination of verve and freshness that combines with a plush texture and light tannins. Mocha, creme de cassis, anise, espresso bean and shades of creosote and a touch of blueberry pie. The seamless quality through the mid-palate is gorgeous. Stunning in its youth, this wine is showing beautifully with several hours of air as the wine is best enjoyed in a few years. This is truly one of the great ‘Palengat’ Red Wines ever made. Drink 2021-2040- 96

2017 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (98-100)—  Re-taste in summer 2020. 

2017 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (98-100)— Re-taste in summer 2020.

Rockblock Cellars Retrospective

Today we journey back in time to visit some great Syrahs that were produced two decades ago. For those less familiar with Tony Rynders, he has a longstanding history in the industry. He obtained his Master’s degree in Enology and Viticulture in 1992. Rynders then worked harvests in Napa (Acacia Winery), northern Italy (Friuli), South Australia (Petaluma Winery), and Tuscany (Col d’Orcia). He held permanent winemaking positions at Argyle Winery (two years) as assistant winemaker, Hogue Cellars (3 years) as red winemaker, and Domaine Serene Winery/Rockblock Cellars (10 years) as head winemaker. During his tenure at Domaine Serene, Rynders became one of the most highly acclaimed winemakers in America. Over 10 years, Rynders developed more than 25 different products for Domaine Serene. 

On a warm summer evening in Oregon I sat across Tony, tasting his impressive lineup of Tendril wines. “Remember those Rockblock wines?” I muttered, to him, thinking of this now defunct winery that was created by Tony while he was head winemaker at Domaine Serene. “Of course, I was the one who came up with the idea,” Tony expanded. “And they’re seriously good now.” I was impressed but not surprised that the Syrahs would be holding so well after all that time. “Why don’t you check them out for yourself?” Tony proclaimed. That seemed like a good idea to me.

I can recall a seminal winery experience tasting these wines on a hot summer day at Domaine Serene. It was 2003 and I was one year out of college. My friend and I had ventured down south to the Willamette Valley. The sun beat down on the lower terrace at the winery which was relatively new and modern. I started with their refreshing Rose and moved onto their fantastic Pinots. I was shocked when I saw that they were pouring Rockblock Syrahs, but I had a strong feeling that they would be excellent. They truly were.

Flash forward more than fifteen years, sitting in Tony’s Tendril tasting room, I knew I needed to revisit these wines. While the project ended after Tony left Domaine Serene, their glory lives on. The wines still have a lot of life and will continue to shine for at least another five years. I was blown away with the 2002 Rockblock ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah (WWB, 93) is a blockbuster wine that has wonderful toasty oak that wraps around a great core of dark fruit and non-fruit flavors. These are really exciting wines now with their tertiary tones and the ’01 and ’02 still have a good level of acidity. It was such a pleasure retesting these wines

2000 Rockblock ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2000 ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah by Rockblock and superstar winemaker Tony Rynders was sourced from this less than heralded vintage in the Walla Walla Valley. On the nose this grapples with tertiary tones of white flowers, wild mushroom and suggestions of peat moss that collide with lighter flinty and oaky tones, alongside a good core of dark fruits that all take their shape in the glass. The palate is round and generous, delivering a top shelf mouthfeel and texture. Ripe blackberry cobbler and shades of black licorice meld with the lovely earthy and sagebrush undertones. The acidity of the wine holds everything together remarkably well considering this is now hitting the twenty year mark. No need to cellar this beautiful wine if you have any left. Drink 2020-2025- 91

2001 Rockblock ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2001 Rockblock ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah is a different beast than the ’01. Dark and inky in the glass, this delivers less in terms of tertiary aromas and more ripe red and dark fruits that dance with milk chocolate and anise on this expressive nose. The palate is soft and velvety, with light tannins that line a deep core of red and dark fruits. Silky and soft on the mouth, the generous mouthfeel really gratifies. Fantastic now, I can see this providing drinking enjoyment for at least another fifth to ten years. But why wait? Drink 2020-2027- 93

2002 Rockblock ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- I have long admired wines from the 2002 vintage, one that was a near perfect growing season which ironically was the same vintage that I graduated from college. The 2002 shows a dark core, with very little rim variation once in the glass. The wine shows incredible poise and viscosity with a silky texture. Suggestions of blackberry pie, mocha, tar and black currants all connect with a bright tension and light salinity that dances through the mid-palate. The toasty oak marvelously wraps around the core of fruit and non-fruit. Fantastic now, the 2002 ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah will cellar well for the next seven to ten years. Drink 2020-2027- 93

Washington Wine Blog Critic’s Choice of Washington 2020

Friends,

We are now sold out of our Early Bird tickets for Washington Wine Blog Critic’s Choice of Washington 2020, held at the famed Columbia Tower Club on Sat Feb 15th. Purchase your general admission tickets here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/washington-wine-blog-critics-choice-of-washington-2020-tickets-86828631775

Best wishes,

Owen Bargreen and Jae Hong

Vega Sicilia

A very merry Christmas Eve to you all. I am particularly in the holiday spirit this morning as I write about one of the giants out of Spain and the Ribera del Duero region in the Province of Vallladolid, Castile and Leon. Founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, the proprietor planted Bordeaux varietals in this region which are still used to make the wines today. 1982 marked the first year that the Ribera del Duero was granted Denominación de Origen (DO) status and the winery has since been owned by the by the Álvarez family. Their top wine, the ‘Unico’ fetches more than 300 dollars a bottle. They rely on the winemaking talents of Xavier Ausás to craft these very special wines. 

The wines are known for their tremendous aging potential and the two wines I was able to sample come from very old vintages, 1997 and 2000, which were not particularly good vintages in this region, but the wines showed splendidly. While I was not able to review their ‘Unico’ wine, their second wine, the ‘Valbuena’ is a wine of tremendous quality. 

1997 was seen to be a relatively poor vintage in this region, while 2000 was a solid vintage that falls slightly below the epic 2001 vintage. The 1997 Vega Sicilia ‘Valbuena 5’ Ribera del Duero (WWB, 94) is a dazzling wine that has plenty of life left, showing marvelous earthy tones and a nice core of acidity that sits with the lighter citrus rind and red fruit tones. There is no reason to cellar this beauty anymore. Just as good is the 2000 Vega Sicilia ‘Valbuena 5’ Ribera del Duero (WWB, 94) which is slightly richer but also shows marvelous tertiary notes and a silky smooth texture. Learn more about these famed wines at https://www.temposvegasicilia.com Here are some brilliant older wines by Vega Sicilia. 

1997 Vega Sicilia ‘Valbuena 5’ Ribera del Duero- The 1997 Vega Sicilia ‘Valbuena 5’ Ribera del Duero is a simply dazzling effort from this challenging vintage in Ribera del Duero. The non-fruit notes of leather and cigar ash combine with the light core of red cherry and pomegranate seed tones, with cirrus rind and peat moss suggestions rounding out this expressive nose. The palate is soft and plush, showing its gorgeous mouthfeel. A bright beam of salinity runs through the core of red fruits with Mandarin orange rind, and white truffle as well as boysenberry preserve flavors that complete this stunning older bottle. Now at the 22 year mark, the 1997 Vega Sicilia ‘Valbuena 5’ Ribera del Duero is gorgeous now and will cellar well for at least another five to ten years. But why wait? Drink 2019-2026- 94

2000 Vega Sicilia ‘Valbuena 5’ Ribera del Duero- The 2000 Valbuena 5° is a simply magical Ribera del Duero bottling which is harmonious and highly Bordelaise at this exciting stage in its development.  Taken from a good, albeit challenging vintage in Ribera, the wine is is evolving beautifully. The wine opens with a beautiful bouquet of peat moss, forest floor, wild mushrooms, and suggestions of wild blackberry compote which all mingle together marvelously in the glass.. The palate is plush showing off a silky texture and delightful mouthfeel. Bright acidity remains, as a light dusting of salinity runs through a core of black fruits with suggestions of black truffle shavings, cigar box, and leather tones. The exceedingly gratifying finish lingers long. While this wine is showing magically at this stage, it still has at least another decade of life left- Drink 2019-2033- 94

Revelry Vintners

When I was attending college with Jared Burns, I think that we both never expected to find ourselves entrenched in the Washington Wine Industry. It took a certain amount of courage for us to dive in full time to wine. For Jared, this was a particularly large leap of faith. Jared grew up in Washington and has always been inspired by the wines of the Columbia Valley and I had the chance to interview him several years ago.

He founded Revelry Vintners in 2005, only two years after graduating from Whitman College. The new winery recently opened and is a gorgeous, modern space set on 20 acres of prime farming land in the south side tasting area of Walla Walla. Having visited there this summer, the tasting room has incredible energy and is a truly beautiful setting to taste wine, as they also have a great outdoor space that is great for a warm summer day.

The new wines by Revelry were outstanding across the board. I absolutely loved his 2016 Revelry Vintners Grenache (WWB, 92) which has a gorgeous texture and wonderful depth, with pretty red fruits. Just as good is his 2016 Revelry Vintners ‘Range’ Red Wine (WWB, 92) which has seriously good range and a lovely texture. Learn more about these great new wines at https://www.revelryvintners.com Here are the new releases by Revelry Vintners. 

2016 Revelry Vintners Grenache- Sourced from the Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, the wine opens with aromas of toasty oak that wraps around a core of bright red fruits with citrus rind accents that round out the nose. The palate unveils its silky texture as the wine yields a soft mouthfeel and silky texture. The lovely astringency towards the back end really impresses. Enjoy this beautiful new wine over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Revelry Vintners ‘Range’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Range’ is a blend of mainly Grenache (63%) with the remainder Syrah. Lovely herbal tones meld with rich red currants and red cherry candy with blood orange zest on this expressive nose. The palate has a soft mouthfeel with really good freshness, yielding ripe red fruits that dance with orange zest and tobacco leaf flavors. The long finish lingers, as this beautiful wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Revelry Vintners ‘Block 18’ Syrah- Sourced from Block 18 of the Weinbau Vineyard, the wine underwent 30% whole cluster fermentation prior to bottling.  Smoky and herbal tones greet you with ripe dark fruits that mingle together on the nose. The palate shows some wonderful freshness with ripe blackberry pie, tar and mocha flavors. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2016 Revelry Vintners ‘Block 19’ Syrah- The 2016 Revelry Vintners ‘Block 19’ Syrah was sourced from an area just south of the ‘Block 18’ Syrah as this wine is set on Southern Rhone rootstock. The freshness imparted is really nice as the wine shows a brighter, more red fruit-driven flavor profile, as tobacco leaf, leather and allspice with blood orange flavors round out this expansive palate. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2016 Revelry Vintners ‘Horse Heaven Hills Reserve’ Merlot- Sourced from the Alder Ridge VIneyard, the ‘Horse Heaven Hills Reserve’ Merlot opens with a dusting of cocoa powder with ripe Bing cherry and red raspberry aromatics that take their shape in the glass. The palate is quite forward and shows a nice, soft texture with red cherry preserves and mocha flavors taking the lead. Drink 2019-2029- 90

2016 Revelry Vintners Cabernet Franc- Sourced from the esteemed ‘Weinbau Vnieyard’ the Revelry Vintners Cabernet Franc opens with herbal undertones that mingle with the boysenberry and black tea aroma that dance together in the glass. The palate shows a good core of dark fruits, with toasty oak and herbal accents that round out this expressive wine. Enjoy this over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2015 Revelry Vintners ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 Revelry Vintners ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a fantastic effort from this warm vintage in the Columbia Valley. Ripe red and dark fruits meld with suggestions of sagebrush and exotic spices on the nose. The palate has a good combination of depth and soft texture. Slightly tannic, the wine unveils ripe wild blackberry cobbler and Turkish coffee flavors with shades of dark chocolate shavings that all come together nicely on the mouth. Drink 2019-2029- 91

2015 Revelry Vintners ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a fantastic effort from this somewhat challenging vintage for red wines in Washington. The nose offers classic underbrush that melds with ripe red and dark fruits with chocolate fudge undertones that round out the aromatics. The palate has a wonderful combination of depth and power, unveiling rich blackberry pie, mocha, tar, and sandalwood flavors. Fantastic now, this beautiful wine will continue to evolve well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

Costco Kirkland Signature Wine Report

It brings us great pleasure to share our second Costco ‘Kirkland Signature’ Wine Report. Some people may not know that Costco sells more wine than anyone in America. While they might not have the range of wines that other retailers can boast, you know that you won’t experience a large mark-up with wines from Costco. While Costco has a well-crafted, albeit a bit small collection of wines of the world, most of the wines at Costco are sourced from wineries, rather than from a private label. Over the past ten years Costco has created their own label of wine under their ‘Kirkland Signature’ mark. Their wines, like all Kirkland Signature products, deliver serious value and have transformed the American wine market. We have been purchasing Kirkland Signature wines for more than ten years, and in general we have found these wines to show solid value and in some cases, good aging potential. Some of the wines can be outstanding in quality.

Given that Costco is based in our home state of Washington, it seemed appropriate to publish a wine report covering all currently available Kirkland Signature wines as of December 2019. We searched for these bottles over several Seattle area Costco locations. This year the reviews were solely done by Owen Bargreen and Tan Vinh, writer for the Seattle Times. Our individual reviews were shared after all of the wines had been reviewed and we were a bit amused that essentially every wine received a similar grade. 

Reporting on the wines I continue to be highly impressed with the ‘Brut’ Champagne by Kirkland Signature not only in this collection of wines but the world of wines. You would be very hard pressed to find a better value in Champagne as there are virtually no Champagnes that deliver this quality at this price point. 

The Prosecco offers a fantastic value at under seven dollars. If I were a starving college student, I would buy this all day. I was also impressed at the value at the 1.5L ‘California’ Pinot Grigio delivers with its good degree of ripe fruits and minerality.

For the second year in a row, one of the great value Sauvignon Blancs out of New Zealand is made by Kirkland Signature, their 20109 ‘Ti Point’ which really impresses at this very low price point, roughly five bucks less than Kim Crawford. This Sauvignon Blanc has the wonderful brightness and terroir that you would expect for a higher priced wine. I would steer clear of the 2018 ‘California’ Cabernet Sauvignon which is inexpensive but tastes like a headache in a bottle. 

Here are my reviews of the Costco ‘Kirkland Signature’ wines.

NV Kirkland Signature ‘Brut’ Champagne ($19.99)- The NV Kirkland Signature ‘Brut’ Champagne weighs in at 12% alcohol and was produced by Manuel Janisson. The wine is a proprietary blend of Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This shows a nice bouquet of baked apples, ginger and shades of sourdough bread that take their form in the glass. The palate shows a soft mouthfeel spoon entry, offering a good sense of brightness and salinity. Japanese apple, Challah bread and quince flavors that impress. This is a seriously good value that would be a great aperitif. Once again, this is one of the great values you can find out of Champagne as most wines of this quality cost at least twice this retail price. Drink 2019-207- 90

NV Kirkland Signature ‘Asolo’ Prosecco- ($6.99)- Weighing in at 11% alcohol, the ‘Asolo’ was sourced from a range of vineyards in the Asolo-Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. Sweetened apple and shades of candied ginger that mingle together in the glass. The palate has good astringency offering straightforward orchard fruits that complement the lemon zest edge. This is a sensational value sparkling wine at under 7 dollars as it is hard to find palatable sparkling wine anywhere near this price. Drink 2019-2022- 88

2018 Kirkland Signature ‘Grave’ Pinot Grigio ($5.99)- The 2018 ‘Grave’ Pinot Grigio by Kirkland Signature weighs in at 12.5% alcohol and shows very faint white flower and pear aromas that connect in the glass. The palate has good freshness but delivers very little in terms of richness with wet stone and light tree fruit flavors. That said, this is a solid value buy for a refreshing and lithe summer wine at a mere $5.99. Many wines at this quality are twice the price. Drink 2019-2022- 87

2018 Kirkland Signature ‘California’ Pinot Grigio ($7.99 1.5L)- The 2018 Kirkland Signature ‘California’ Pinot Grigio is a really good value at less than four dollars a bottle. Slightly sweet with a good degree of freshness and weight, the wine shows orchard fruits and shades of lemon infused shortbread cookie. Similar to the ‘Grave’ Pinot Grigio, this is a terrific value summer white wine. This wine is a essentially $3.50 a bottle. How can you find a white wine this good at this price? The answer is Costco. Drink 2019-2022- 87

2019 Kirkland Signature ‘Ti Point’ Sauvignon Blanc ($6.99)- The 2019 ‘Ti Point’ Sauvignon Blanc is a sensational value New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at less than 7 dollars. Crafted by Tracy Haslam of Ti Point Vineyard in Marlborough, the wine weights in at 12.5% alcohol. The brightness on the nose is nice with grapefruit, Jalepeno pepper and shades of white flowers that all come together in the glass. The sense of freshness is really good here as lemon zest, kumquat and green apple favors play with minerals on the palate. This its a sensational value at a mere $6.99 that is perfect for a warm summer day. Drink 2019-2023- 90

2018 Kirkland Signature ‘Sonoma County’ Chardonnay ($6.99)- It is uncertain who made this wine, although the back of the label mentions that it was produced by Geyserville, California. Kirkland Signature has created a good value buy here. Weighing in at 13.5% alcohol the nose shows buttered popcorn and shades of baked apple that take their shape in the glass. The wine has a soft texture delivering slightly sweet orchard fruits with vanilla cream.You would be hard pressed to find a California Chardonnay this good at this price. Drink 2019-2023- 87 

2018 Kirkland Signature ‘California’ Chardonnay ($7.99 1.5L)- The ‘California’ Chardonnay bottling has slightly more alcohol (14.5%) than their ‘Sonoma’ bottling. It is uncertain who made this wine, although the back of the label states ‘Cellared & Bottled by Dc Flynt MW Selections’ in Modesto, California. The wine has a soft texture but comes off a touch cloying with little richness or ripe fruit flavors. Drink 2019-2022- 84 

2017 Kirkland Signature ‘Premier Cru’ Chablis ($17.99)- The 2017 ‘Premier Cru’ Chablis by Kirkland Signature was sourced from two different vineyards in Vau Ligneau and Vaugiraut and is made by Odil Van Der More. Weighing in at 12.5% alcohol, the wine begins with aromas of salted Marcona almond that mingles with suggestions of Gravenstein apple and cloves that all mingle in the glass. The soft texture really entices here. The salinity and bright minerality is really good as ripe green apple, green papaya and crushed seashell flavors all take their shape in the glass. The long finish lingers for nearly a minute on the tongue. Fantastic now, this beautiful effort will cellar well for the next decade. A Chablis at this quality would be twice the price. Drink 2019-2029-  91

2018 Kirkland Signature ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir ($12.89)- The 2018 ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir was made by Barbara Ignatowski and was also bottled at DC Flynt MW Selections in Hopland, California. The nose shows cola and sweetened strawberry aromas that meld in the glass. The texture is very nice although the flavors are lacking a bit as this suffers from a lack of balance. There are considerably better wines by Kirkland Signature at this price point. Drink 2019-2024- 86 

2018 Kirkland Signature Cotes du Rhone Villages ($6.99)- The 2018 Cotes du Rhone Villages is a really good value by Kirkland Signature. Made by Patrick Lesec, the wine shows good aromatic brightness with Provencale herbs, cigar ash, red currants and citrus rind that all come together in the glass. The freshness and richness of the wine is seriously good with Hoisin sauce and leather that mingles with the lovely herbal tones and red fruits. This is seriously good for the price. It is really hard to find a red wine this good at the seven dollar price point. The 2016 Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon would deliver similar value but costs $9.99 not $6.99. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2018 Kirkland Signature ‘California’ Cabernet Sauvignon ($7.99 1.5L)- The 2018 ‘California’ Cabernet Sauvignon was also made at DC Flynt MW Selections in Modesto, California. At 13% alcohol this delivers very forward red and dark fruit flavors that are excessively sweet with oaky tones. Tried out of the 3L box this tastes similar in both packages. The best used for this wine is for Beef Bourgignon as I would not recommend bringing this to a barbecue let alone a graduation. Drink 2019-2022- 83

2018 Kirkland Signature Malbec ($6.99)- Sourced from Mendoza, the 2018 Kirkland Signature Malbec is a sensational value at this price point. this wine delivers good richness and density with black tea, violets and blackberry pie with chocolate flavors. This is fantastic right now and will provide drinking enjoyment for another five to seven years. Drink 2019-2025- 90

2014 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Retrospective

A month ago on an unusually sunny November day, we descended on my rooftop to go back in time to what was an epic set of releases by Reynvaan in 2014. I fondly recall first trying these wines with superstar winemaker Matt Reynvaan during the summer of 2016 at his winery. His white wines were truly beautiful and rich, but the red wines had something extra special with their incredible richness and strong vein of tension through the wines. Tannins were firm and beautifully framed the core of dark fruits. The range of these wines were truly stunning. While I didn’t see the wines as exceedingly long-lived, they were just showing incredibly in their youth. 

I had the great pleasure to speak with Matt today as he mentioned that “2014 was a great year reds and for Cabernet which performed exceptionally well.” Matt recalled this vintage as “extraordinarily warm.” He mentioned that the yields were large and he made some vineyard adjustments due to the heat, stating “The heat was making me nervous with yields so I balanced out the canopy with a bit more fruit. That can be a bit of a gamble but that was a good decision.” 

Despite the obvious heat of the vintage, he noted that “the wines are really well-balanced with the right amount of concentration. The vintage had the minerality and structure of Chateauneuf du Pape wines.” Initially the wines showed more terroir than fruit as he mentioned “The fruit was a bit muted for a while with the minerality notes but I think that is a consumer’s year. They seem to love those wines that are more approachable and easy to drink.” He noted that it was more of a challenge to make white wines that year but he stated “ I really loved the Viognier I made in 2014. I really enjoy revisiting that wine.”

It was a pleasure revisiting these gorgeous wines. Tasting with an industry colleague from Calgary, we were blown away with the consistency of the wines and the terroir. These are wines that are truly peaking right now as there is no need to cellar the 2014 Reynvaan red wines. Pop the cork on one and you will be amazed.

The 2014 Reynvaan ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah (WWB, 97) is amongst the best wines in Washington made this year. The aromatic and flavor range is just insanely good. Just as good is their 2014 ‘Stonessence’ Syrah (WWB, 97) which is a masterful effort with gobs of wet stone character, vibrant acidity and a silky texture that brings you back to the glass for more hedonistic enjoyment. Learn more about this storied Washington winery at https://www.reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com Here are my reviews of the simply dazzling 2014 Reynvaan red wines. 

2014 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah- The 2014 ‘Foothills Reserve’ is a show-stopping wine that is scintillating now and has a long way to go. Showing off an inky color, this lease with its ripe blackberry and black cherry profile that mingles with shades of Umami, green peppercorns and charcuterie aromas that all mingle in the glass. his inky colored, opaque wine begins with intoxicating aromatics of red cherries and blackberries woven together with Unami, wet stones, white pepper and smoked brisket all taking shape in this majestic red. The palate is expressive and rich, with good poise and tension that runs through the core of the wine. A light dusting of salinity combines with Umami and pomegranate seed with bulls blood and shades of salted smoked meats which all combine in a seamless fashion. Elegant and profound, this is truly peaking right now. Drink 2019-2026- 97

2014 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks’ Syrah- The 2014 ‘In The Rocks’ Syrah by Reynvaan is a sensational wine at now five years of age. The stony edge to the wine is truly shining as ripe red fruits dance with shades of blood orange zest, white truffle and Umami which all meld together in unison in the glass. The palate shows vibrant acidity and a seamless quality with its silky texture that runs through the core of the wine. Bulls blood, Satsuma orange zest, wet stone, Umami, red cherry candy and black currants all come together on the palate. Profound and scintillating, with wonderful purity of fruit and serious range, this stunning wine is really at its peak right now and will cellar well for at least another five to seven years. Drink 2019-2024- 94

2014 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Stonessence’ Syrah- The ‘Stonessence’ is a barrel selection wine, showing profound terroir that is carefully crafted by superstar winemaker Matt Reynvaan. The stony character on the nose is really profound, as shades of seaweed, orange rind, bright Bing cherry and cran-pomegranate all marvelously combine on the nose. The palate is seamless and marvelously texture. Wet stone and bright red fruits with marvelous lip-smacking acidity greet you on the palate with lovely citrus rind, wild blackberry coulee and teaberry tones combine on the palate. The long finish lingers. This is just sensational right now and will continue to show well for at least the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 97 

2014 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Classic’ Red Wine- The 2014 ‘The Classic’ Red Wine is a gorgeous effort from this warm vintage in Washington. Seaweed and suggestions of black truffle, smoke, seaweed and blackberry cobbler aromas all parade in the glass. The palate shows gobs of mouth-watering acidity as this slowly unveils ripe black fruits that mingle with wet stone, citrus rind and red raspberry cordial flavors. Seamless and marvelously textured, the 2014 ‘The Classic’ is peaking now and will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another five to seven years. Drink 2019-2025- 95

Chateau Musar

One of the great, historic wineries out of Lebanon, located in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, Chateau Musar was founded in 1930 by Gaston Hochar. In 1959, after studying oenology at the University of Bordeaux, his son Serge became winemaker. Serge produced wines even through the Civil War (1975-90). The Hochar family continues to run this historic winery.  The vineyards of Chateau Musar are located in the Bekaa Valley and in Mount Barouk, around Kefraya and Aana, which is about a two-hour drive from the winery in Ghazir, just north of Beirut. Red wines are comprised of Cinsault, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah & Grenache while white wines are composed of indigenous varietals Obaideh (a native of Chardonnay) and Merwah (a native variant of Semillion), as well as Chardonnay, Viognier & Vermentino. 

The new wines by Chateau Musar were impressive across the board. I loved the new 2010 Chateau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ White Wine (WWB, 92) which is a hugely novel white wine made from Obaideh and Merwah varietals. Even better is the new 2011 Chateau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ Red Wine (WWB, 93) which is sourced from old vine Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault. Learn more about this famed winery at https://chateaumusar.com Here are the great new wines by Chateau Musar. 

2017 Chateau Musar ‘Musar Jeune’ White Wine- The ‘Musar Jeune’ White Wine is sourced from young vines Viognier, Vermentino and Chardonnay that was all unoaked before bottling. The wine is fresh and forward with bright kiwi and citrus fruit flavors that mingle with minerals on the palate. Drink 2019-2023- 89

2010 Chateau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ White Wine- The 2010 Chaterau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ White Wine is an intruding blend of indigenous varietals, 75% Obaideh and 25% Merwah, that are sourced from vines that range from 60-90 years of age. Needing a one hour decant to be fully expressive, the ‘Gaston Hochar’ slowly unveils star jasmine, lemon curd, with suggestions of wet stone and honeydew melon that all meld together in the glass. The palate shows a silky texture and beautiful mouthfeel, unveiling ripe melon, citrus zest and shades of nutmeg infused Challah bread that come together. The sense of place and texture to the wine is really good, as is the mouth-watering acidity. Fantastic in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 92

2018 Chateau Musar ‘Musar Jeune’ Rose- This rose offers very faint red rose and red cherry tones that take shape in the glass. The palate shows a soft texture with delicate red fruits that dance with damp terroir and shades of citrus rind. The texture is really nice here. Drink 2019-2025- 89

2017 Chateau Musar ‘Musar Jeune’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Musar Jeune’ is a compelling young vine blend of 50% Cinsault with 30% Syrah and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from their estate vineyard. Unoaked, the wine opens with lovely wet stone and damp earth tones that meld with the rich black fruits and touch of chocolate on the nose. The palate has great freshness and verve with a strong salinity that races through the core of the wine. Forward and downright delicious, this wonderfully balanced wine will cellar well over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2019-2026- 89

2016 Chateau Musar ‘Hochar Pere Et Fils’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Hochar Pere Et Fils is sourced from sites near the village of Aana in the Bekaa Valley. Vineyards in  the region are known for deep, gravelly soil over a limestone base. The wine is a beautiful blend of Cinsault (50%), Grenache (35%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) which was aged for six months in French oak before bottling. Right away you are allured by the high-toned rose petals and shades of licorice with bright red fruits and citrus rind tones that come together on the nose. The palate is marvelously balanced and poised, with a silky mouthfeel and bright sense of acidity and salinity that runs through the core of the wine. Showing some good weight, the wine yields red raspberry coulis with shades of tangerine zest and wild blackberry mingle with minerals and exotic spices on the palate. Highly novel and complex in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2033- 91

2011 Chateau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ Red Wine- The 2011 ‘Gaston Hochar’ by Chateau Musar is sourced from a vintage that saw a good deal of rain and cool temperatures which led to a later harvest than usual. Original vines for this wine date back to the 1930s as the wine is a blend of near equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault from vineyards near the Bekaa Valley villages of Aana and Kefraya which are gravelly soils over limestone. Needing an hour in the decanter to be fully expressive, the wine awakens to intense damp earth aromas that meld with sour cherry, wild mushroom and peat moss tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate has incredible verve and elegance, reminiscent of a great Right Bank Bordeaux. Damp earth and peat moss flavors combine with shades of clove and cinnamon stick infused red fruits, as well as shades of kumquat zest that round out this remarkable wine. Fantastic at this stage in its development, the 2011 ‘Gaston Hochar’ will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2019-2038- 93

Washington Wine Blog Critic’s Choice of Washington 2020

Friends,

Please join us for a very special tasting from the best of the best of Washington wines at the picturesque 76th floor of the Columbia Tower Center with an absolutely stellar lineup unrivaled in Washington. The 2020 Washington Wine Blog's Critics Choice will feature the top winemakers from our very own state, pouring the latest and greatest vintages. We have carefully chosen some of our favorite producers from our reviews of thousands for our top 100 of 2019. Please be sure to visit our page on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and our website at www.washingtonwineblog.com. Don’t forget to hashtag our event #WWB2020

Tickets can be purchased here for the special early bird rate of $99.99, while supplies last:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/washington-wine-blog-critics-choice-of-washington-2020-tickets-86828631775

The lineup for 2020 includes:

2018 WWB winery of the year: Reynvaan Family Vineyards

2016 WWB winery of the year: Quilceda Creek Winery

Check out our spectacular lineup (in alphabetical order)

Andrew Januik/Januik

Andrew Will

Amavi Cellars

Avennia

Betz

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Col Solare

Corliss

DeLille

Delmas

Den Hoed Estates

Domaine Ste. Michelle

Doubleback

Dunham Cellars

EFESTE

Figgins

Force Majeure

Gramercy Cellars

K Vintners

Kerloo

Kobayashi

Leonetti

L’Ecole No. 41

Long Shadows Vintners

MTR Productions

Quilceda Creek

Pepper Bridge

Rasa Vineyards

Reynvaan Family Vineyards

Saviah

Sleight of Hand

Sparkman

Upchurch Vineyard

Upsidedown Wine

W.T. Vintners

Woodward Canyon

The incredible culinary team at the Columbia Tower Club have crafted some light appetizers to be enjoyed with the wines in an open style tasting format.

Hope you can join us for an incredible evening of wine enthusiasts sipping Washington’s best, reveling in this spectacular venue.

2019 Washington Wine Blog Winery of the Year: Cayuse Vineyards

As we begin to bid adieu to 2019, we bring you our 2019 winery of the year. The award is given to the winery with the top overall lineup of wines that we have sampled over the past year. This year offered strong challenges by our 2018 WWB Winery of the Year, Reynvaan Family Vineyards, and Quilceda Creek as well as outstanding lineups by Napa stalwarts, HALL, and Bevan. But there was one clear winner this year. Today we present to you our 2019 Washington Wine Blog Winery of the year, Cayuse Vineyards. In unprecedented fashion, Cayuse has won three out of the past four years, led by Walla Walla wine pioneer, Christophe Baron and his talented assistant vigneronne, Elizabeth Bourcier. Christophe Baron continues to be one of the world’s eminent innovators in the wine industry. His Hors Categorie Vineyard is a marvel to see and the 2016 Hors Categorie Syrah (WWB, 99) is an intoxicating Syrah that has magnificent range and sense of place. We were blown away with the 2019 Washington Wine Blog wine of the year, the 2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine (WWB, 99) which is not only the best Grenache wine in North America but rivals anything in the world. We wanted to offer our deepest congratulations on the great accomplishments by the superstars of Cayuse Vineyards. Here is the entire lineup of wines by Cayuse Vineyards. 

2017 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ Viognier- The 2017 ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ Viognier was aged in concrete eggs and stainless steel prior to bottling. The nose shows very pretty aromas with white flowers and shades of honeydew melon with nutmeg that all hit the nose. The texture is silky smooth as the wine glides across the mid-palate. The freshness is gorgeous as the wine reveals cantaloupe, kiwi, starfruit and shades of brioche on the palate. This is stunning, ageworthty Viognier. Drink 2019-2029- 95

2017 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Edith’ Rose- Sourced from four rows of Grenache which is grown for Rose. The wine was whole cluster pressed prior to bottling and the wine is kept for another year due to the wine being unfiltered. The wine was aged in both concrete eggs and stainless steel prior to bottling. The nose is very perfumed and pretty red rose, wild strawberry with shades of wild mushroom and orange rind that all mingle nicely in the glass. The texture here is silky smooth as the wine seamlessly glides across the mid-palate. Bright guava and strawberry flavors mingle with wonderful peat moss, wet stone and melon tones all fill the palate. This is Grenache Rose at its finest. Drink 2019-2025- 93

2016 Cause Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine - The 2016 ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine is a one of a kind wine that flirts with perfection. The wine was entirely aged in neutral barrels prior to bottling. The nose is gratifying and intoxicating with red rose petals that mingle with guava puree, Hoisin sauce, green peppercorns, Umami and white truffle that all sing in the glass. The aromatic range imparted is just remarkable. The texture is hugely gratifying as this silky wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Impeccably balanced, the Grenache displays seaweed, blood orange zest, black truffle shavings, and guava puree with a bright minerality and stony character that all all evolve on the palate. The exceedingly long finish lingers. While a delight to savor at this juncture, this beautiful new wine will evolve well over the next decade. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink 2019-2029- 99

2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Flying Pig’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Flying Pig’ is a stunning blend of 49% Merlot with 40% Cabernet Franc and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon that was all aged in oak puncheons prior to bottling. Bright red cherry with Hoisin sauce, red bell pepper with white pepper and wet stone all impress on the nose. There is an incredible sense of balance on the mid-palate as the wine reveals wild blackberry, kirsch, wet stone and shades of green peppercorn with Umami on the palate. The freshness and richness of the wine is gorgeous. Highly refined and satisfying in its youth, this true heavyhitter of a wine will age gracefully for another decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 95

2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘The Lovers’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘The Lovers’ is a stunning blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Syrah. The wine was aged in a combination of 1500L oak barrels and oak demi-nuides (40% new) prior to bottling. The wine imparts gorgeous black fruits that mingle with Umami, licorice and shades of white truffle that all shine in the glass. The freshness and texture of the wine is simply outstanding. The bright salinity of the wine makes you salivate as ripe red cherry, wild blackberry and shades of black truffle and seaweed flavors all shine brightly on the palate. While outstanding now, this will evolve well for another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 95

2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Camaspelo’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Camaspelo’ is a proprietary blend  of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and a touch of Tempranillo that impresses from this exciting vintage. The ‘Camaspelo’ shows wet gravel with black currant, with cigar box and shades of white pepper on the nose. Highly elegant in the mid-palate the wine reveals wonderful Umami with white pepper, wild mushroom, with shades of blackberry and tar on the palate. While outstanding upon release, this outstanding Cabernet based wine will continue to shine for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 95

2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘The Widowmaker En Chamberlin Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘The Widowmaker’ is a gorgeous new bottling by superstar vigneron Christophe Baron. Shades of black tea with Asian spices and black truffle collide with blackberry jam all mingle brightly on the nose. The freshness here is gorgeous as the wine unveils silky tannins ;that march with dark fruits, black truffle shavings, leather and pipe tobacco and smoky undertones. Lithe and light on its feet, this has wonderful firmness and tension as this elegant wine will cellar well over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 96

2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘Caiilloux Vineyard’ Syrah is a simply magical new wine by superstar vigneron Christophe Baron. First made in 1998, this wine was first named ‘Cobblestone’ Syrah. The wine has 4% Viognier co-fermented. The nose is hedonistic and downright intoxicating with smoked meats, bacon fat, Umami, green peppercorn and shades of horse manure that all shine brightly on the nose. The freshness and minerality imparted is simply stunning. Wet stone mingles with shades of tar, red cherry candy, green olive tapenade and shades of seaweed with Mandarin orange wine all sing on the palate. The exceedingly long finish lingers. The combination of richness and tensions in the wine is simply unparalleled. While a delight to savor nw, this will evolve well another decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 97

2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘En Cerise Vineyard’ Syrah- The ‘En Cerise Vineyard’ Syrah is a simply stunning new wine by Cayuse Vineyards. 100% Syrah, this shows incredible focus with salted ham, Umami, black cherry compote and green peppercorn aromas. The palate is exceedingly delightful with black pepper, Umami, licorice, dark cherry compote and shades Kalmata olive tapenade. Stunning now, this soft and silky textured wine will provide drinking enjoyment for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 97

2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘En Chamberlin Vineyard’ Syrah- The ‘En Chamberlin Vineyard’ was plated on July 4th 2004 and is the first vines in this region to be planted with pheloxeria resistant rootstock. This Syrah by Cayuse Vineyards shows amazing charcuterie aromas that build with shades of leather, bacon fat, bulls blood, Umami and shades of anise that all collide in the glass. The texture to this wine is gorgeous as racy acidity and a stunning salinity runs through the wine. Blackberry cobbler mingle with shades of bulls blood, Umami, salted meats and black truffle on the palate. Refined and highly gratifying now, m this will evolve well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 97

2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘Bionic Frog’ by superstar vigneron Christophe Baron is a monumental new wine from this storied estate. On the nose this takes on  green peppercorn with horse manure, bacon fat, licorcice and shades of white truffle shavings on this downright seductive nose. The palate slowly unveils a silky mouthfeel that entices. The brightness and salinity of the wine literally makes you salivate as this shows off green olive tapenade, charcuterie, fennel, and shades of wild blackberry all sing marvelously together. Seamless and downright marvelous in its youth, this scintillating new wine will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 98

2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Armada Vineyard’ Syrah- The ‘Armada Vineyard’ Syrah is another stunning Cayuse Syrah which was aged in 10% new demi-nuides for 22 months prior to bottling. Christophe Baron planted this iconic vineyard in 2001. The nose shows incredible Hoisin sauce, seaweed and black fruits that collide with bright floral and Mandarin orange rind tones on the nose. The palate shows gobs of mouth-watering salinity and minerality with charcuterie with incredible freshness and tension int he wine. Compact and refined, this stunning new release dances on the mouth, leading to the exceedingly long finish. Outstanding in its youth, this will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 97

2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special’ Syrah (1.5L)- The ‘Wallah Wallah Special’ Syrah is a blend of a host of estate vineyards by Cayuse Vineyards. The nose is downright intoxicating with wet stone, black truffle shavings, seaweed and shades of white pepper with peat moss tones that all round out this stunning bouquet. The palate shows tremendous freshness and tension with a silky mouthfeel. Red cherry candy, asphalt, licorice, Parma ham, white truffle shavings and shades of wet stone all mingle on the palate. This is a complete wine and I can’t imagine how beautiful this would be with duck l’orange. While beautiful now this will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 97

2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Impulsivo En Chamberlin Vineyard’ Tempranillo- This wine sees a touch more of new French oak (50%) prior to bottling. Aromatically intense, the wine unveils black tea, exotic spices, smoked meats with dried tarragon and blackberry pie that all mingle on the nose. The salinity of this wine is just insanely good as the wine slowly unveils bright black fruits that mingle with Satsuma orange zest, licorice and light peat moss with black truffle shaving tones on the palate. Satisfying and rich on the noiuth, this stunning wine is truly one of the best of its kind in North America. Drink 2019-2029- 95

2016 Hors Catégorie Syrah (Spring 2020 release)- The 2016 Hors Catégorie Syrah is a scintillating wine that flirts with perfection. The ‘Hors Categorie Vineyard’ is a highly steep sloped vineyard set on broken basalt. Aromatically this shows insanely good range from white pepper to red cherry preserves and bramble with shades of white truffle that all shine brightly on the nose. The palate has incredible texture with gorgeous black fruits that collide with Umami, white peppercorns, Kalamata olive tapenade and black cherry cordial. The texture is insanely good and the wine has a seamless quality that makes this truly one of a kind. Showing marvelously in its youth, this will evolve well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 99

The Ten Best Wines That I Tried in 2019

Friends, there is arguably no better feeling than experiencing special moments with special wines. It is my hope that 2019 brought you wonderful prosperity and many memorable moments with sharing wine with your loved ones. I want to share with you some of the most special moments with the incredible wines that I was able to taste over the course of 2019. I hope you all enjoy a wonderful holiday season making many more memories with special wines and cherished relationships. 

What were some of your favorite wines of 2019? Here were mine.

10) 2008 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Champagne- 98 Points

Madrid is a enological and culinary Mecca. Visiting with my friend Deano in March, I had brought several bottles from home to enjoy for this short jaunt from London. Flying in style on a BA flight out of London we had consumed our share of Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle in the Concorde Room before our travels, which gave me a good litmus for my special purchase. We had visited a great wine shop and I spotted a 2008 ‘Cristal’ for 200 euros. ‘This is going to be way too young,’ I initially thought to myself. I had read all the hype about the wine but I really wanted to see for myself. We chilled the wine and sat with it over more than an hour, savoring each sip. It is a massive wine with incredible power and tension with a racy acidity and incredible weight. The 2008 ‘Cristal’ is nowhere near its peak right now but it was such a fun moment to try this special wine for the first time.

9) 2005 Chateau D’Yquem Sauternes (375ml)- 100 Points

Every so often I like to check on Sauternes to see how it is showing. It isn’t an everyday practice uncorking a bottle of D’Yquem but with some wine collecting guests, I figured that out of a half bottle this would be sinfully good even at this early stage in its development. My wife sadly doesn’t typically enjoy Sauternes, and even she was spellbound by this wine. As I poured for my friend, Devin, he was left utterly speechless. I recall grinning from ear to ear as we tried this wine to begin our tasting. I gave considerably thought about when to try this in the sequence of our tasting and I made the right call. Having this at the start was the perfect choice. The elegance, power and purity of the wine was unlike any other. The texture to the wine was downright ethereal. While it was obviously very young, it was at a wonderful place right now.

8) 1998 Dom Perignon Champagne- 97 Points

My wife and I tied the knot in June and I wanted a wine that would satisfy this glorious occasion. Her favorite wine in the entire world is Dom Perignon and I had been mesmerized by this wine a month before at the special Dom Perignon tasting with friends. While this bottle didn’t show quite as well as the ’98 did in May, it was the marvelous occasion that added to the overall experience. My wife and I were quite tired with all of the stress and details of the day, as we had retired back to the hotel and put on comfortable clothes. I found an adequate ice bucket and we made our way down to the lobby in the afternoon to sample this nectar of the gods. ‘Please don’t be corked,’ I thought to myself. The wine actually took a good deal of air to be fully aroused. The nutty tones began to settle in with lighter orchard fruits and tones of peat moss and biscuit entering the fray. The bright beam of salinity also delighted. We had very little to say as we enjoyed the wine over an hour but my guess was she was feeling every bit as content as I did.

7) 2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon- 99 Points

My wife and I traveled to Calgary to visit friends this summer after some rest and relaxation in Los Angeles. Since we hadn’t seen the sun in six months, we luckily encountered some sensational weather in both spots. My buddy Devin has a cultured palate and rarely gets the chance to sample great wines of Washington, with limited distribution in Alberta. It had been more than five years since I had embarked on a serious vertical of Quilceda Creek. This tasting I elected to choose vintages from 2004-2010. We started with the best wine of the tasting, the absolutely epic 2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon which was a thrilling wine at the fifteen year mark. I loved the combination of blueberry compote, tomato leaf with sagebrush and chocolate. Novel and highly unique the wine had great finesse and power. There is no need to wait on this wine, as it is a true heavyhitter now and truly flirts with perfection. After we both took our tasting notes of the seven wines, we looked at each other to see which wine we both wanted to revisit. We both immediately grabbed the ’04.

6) 2015 Sine Qua Non ‘Trouver l’Arlene Syrah- 99 Points

My friend has a thing for the great wines of Sine Qua Non and graciously shared a new Syrah with me over dinner. It was the not only the wine but the moment that made this so special, as we had enjoyed the ’14 Beaucastel prior to this and sat down to sample this seamless, impeccably rich and balanced wine, paired with a juicy burger at a top French restaurant. The pairing was utterly sensational and cut through the richness of the medium-rare burger. As two wine geeks usually do, we couldn’t stop fawning over the ’15 Syrah. What a treat this pairing and special summer moment was.

5) 2014 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine- 100 Points

When my wife and I visit Walla Walla we always frequent Whitehouse-Crawford, where I held my graduation party from Whitman College many moons ago. My 2017 Washington Wine Blog wine of the year, the 2014 ‘God Only Knows’ is a seamless, masterful effort by famed vigneron, Christophe Baron. The range imparted from bulls blood to Umami and iodine to salted charcuterie and bright red fruits with citrus rind accents is unparalleled. Silky and seductive, this one of a kind wine was absolutely singing in May 2019, not needing any more time in the cellar. My wife was so captivated by the wine that she looked at me with delight, saying nothing. Her look did all the talking.

4) 2009 Bryant Family Cabernet Sauvignon- 100 Points

I always enjoyed the 2009 vintage upon release. These were wines that were rich but had a good acid backbone and wonderful depth. Dr. Hong graciously uncorked the 2009 Bryant Family Cabernet Sauvignon for some friends, The aromas were downright intoxicating following a long decant as the the seamless and weightless quality of the wine was utterly remarkable. This was pure perfection in a bottle. After a generous sip, Dr. Hong gave me a look of contentment. ‘What a wine’ we both proclaimed!

3) 2005 Chateau Climens Sauternes 100 Points

People are down on Sauternes. Berenice Lurton at Chateau Climens conveyed her feelings about the current market for these cherished wines. ‘The problem is,’ Berenice explained ‘Is that these wines are only seen as dessert wines.’ She continued ‘The truth is that these wines pair with an incredible range of foods.’ Sitting with her at her famed chateau I couldn’t agree and disagree more. While some vintages of Climens seemed to be a perfect pairing for foods, the purity, elegance, texture and vibrancy of the 2005 Climens made this wine simply too good to pair. It was best on its own as pure perfection in a bottle. 

2) 2016 Chateau Mouton Rothchild- 100 Points

Sitting through a stunning vertical of Mouton wines, at the end our reward was this thrilling new wine from what should be an absolutely epic vintage. My colleagues at International Wine Report were floored as well. Upon entry the silky texture and insanely good range and terroir leaves you dumbfounded. My colleagues and I simply looked at each other in dismay. Our looks were enough to convey what is an absolutely epic new Mouton.

1) 1996 Dom Perignon Champagne- 100 Points

Years ago I was tasting with one of Washington’s top winemakers, Billo Naravane, MW, at his Rasa Vineyards and we started talking about wines we enjoy. ‘I’ll tell you what,’ Billo explained, ‘If you put me on a desert island, Dom Perignon is what I want.’ I looked at him and smiled, as he had no idea of my penchant for the same champagne house. ‘Well,’ I explained, ‘Dom Perignon is definitely up there for me.’ That day Billo and I made plans for a Dom Perignon tasting with close friends. It only took us five years for our tasting to take place. In early May we gathered together in Walla Walla to try a huge range of Dom Perignon wines. One of the highlights of this tasting was a sensational bottle of the 1996 Dom Perignon. I’d had this wine on several occasions but this bottle was the best I’ve ever had from this house. Silky, round, showing incredible tertiary tones and bright orchard and citrus fruits, Billo and I tasted together and caught a glance upon entry. We both smiled. ‘This has to be 100 points, right?’ Billo exclaimed. I nodded and smiled.

Sanguis

It has now been more than a year since I have written about one of the jewels of Santa Barbara County. Back in 2011 I was at a great tasting and I was introduced to these wines that have literally blown up the Santa Barbara wine scene. Highly unique and gratifying wines, superstar winemaker, Mattias Pippig crafts some scintillating wines for his winery, Sanguis, truly one of the great boutique wineries in California. Pippig produces a really novel range of wines, from Viognier to Cabernet Franc. Latin for blood, the German-born Matthias Pippig previously worked as a wine importer for Marc DeGrazia Selections, and Estate Wines, before starting his winery in the Santa Ynez Valley. If you have never had a chance to try these wines, I highly recommend that you do.

Pippig changes blends yearly in his Rhône and Bordeaux style wines, hand sorts each wine and never makes the same wine twice. Many of his wines weigh in at over 15% alcohol but they do not present as highly alcoholic. However, the theme of impressive weight and texture runs through all of his wines. While the wines have good richness the tension that runs through the core of the wine is quite impressive as well. Pippig crafts makes some of the best white blends in California. The new edition, the 2016 Sanguis ‘The Ten Wings’ White Wine (WWB, 96) is a thrilling blend of Chardonnay, Roussanne and Viognier hat shows off its opulent texture and voluptuous mouthfeel. This is a white wine that will cellar marvelously for a decade or more. Just as good was the 2016 Sanguis ‘1/1’ Syrah (WWB, 96) which is massive and has an incredible deep core of dark fruits alongside wonderful freshness that runs through the wine. This inky Syrah is impossible to resist right now but will have a long life in the cellar. Learn more about these very special wines at sanguiswine.com or visit their hip tasting room in downtown Santa Barbara, which is by appointment. Here are the new releases by Sanguis.

2015 Sanguis ‘Loner Le Dauphine’ Chardonnay- The 2015 ‘Loner Le Dauphine’ is another sensational wine by Sanguis. Sourced from the Bien Naciedo Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, this begins with an intoxicating bouquet of white roses that combine with lemon zest and shades of damp earth with white truffle shavings that all take their shape in the glass. The palate has an incredibly soft mouthfeel and wondrous texture that gives this wine a seamless factor. The exceedingly long finish lingers. Gorgeous now, this will evolve well for another decade or more. Drink 2019-2032- 94

2016 Sanguis ‘The Ten Wings’ White Wine- The 2016 ‘The Ten Wings’ is comprised of of Central Coast Chardonnay, Roussanne and Viognier that truly captures the art of blending. Deeply hued, the wine shows off plenty of exotic appeal with its lychee and star jasmine aromas that mingle with shades of apricot and wet stone that all march in unison in the glass. The palate offers a gorgeous combination of freshness, weight and verve, with a dazzling display on the mid-palate ranging from green apple, to mango jelly to stony and earthy tones, as well as shades of Challah bread. The scintillating finish lingers. What an incredible blend by one of the California masters, Mattias Pippig. Drink 2019-2033- 96

2016 Sanguis ‘Two-Part Invention’ White Wine- The 2016 Sanguis ‘Two Part Invention’ White Wine is a stunning blend of Marsanne and Chardonnay that was aged for twenty seven months in large format oak and stainless steel prior to bottling. The wine begins with intense aromas of beeswax and honeysuckle that combine with suggestions of Pink Lady apple and suggestions of Earl Grey tea that mingle together. The freshness imparted is really good, as is the silky, opulent texture that marvelously coats the mid-palate. The finish is mind-boggling. Truly one of a kind, this gorgeous blend will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2032- 95

2017 Sanguis ‘Sugerleggera’ Rose- This proprietary Central Coast wine shows off its beautiful salmon hue and begins with aromas of teaberry with ripe raspberry and shades of white peach that all mingle together in the glass. The palate is plush, taking on a stunningly rich mouthfeel and great sense of opulence. Dense and decadent, the wine shows off ripe red cherry, nectarine, lychee and earthy tones on the palate. This rather massive Rose drinks better considerably warmer when you can get a feel for this stunning texture. Kudos to superstar winemaker Mattias Pippig for crafting truly one of the best Rose wines in North America. Drink 2019-2026- 94

2014 Sanguis ‘Loner Whale Song’ Pinot Noir- The 2014 ‘Loner Whale Song’ is a gorgeous new Pinot Noir bottling which was entirely sourced from the John Sebastiano Vineyard. Toasty oak wraps around shades of cloves, Yakima cherry and loganberry on this beautiful nose. Soft and round, the wine reveals a generous and rich texture. The bright acidity of the wine really shines as minerals mingle with a deep core of red fruits and baking spices on the palate. The long and inviting finish completes this great Pinot Noir. Gorgeous in its youth, this rich and downright delicious bottling will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2033- 94

2016 Sanguis ‘Bossman’ Red Wine- The ‘Bossman’ is a stunning blend of Syrah, Petit Sirah, Grenache and Viognier that was aged for twenty five months in 60% new French oak before bottling. High toned white flowers combine with lavender and blackberry compote on this expressive nose. The palate is deep, layered and exceptionally good as the wine delivers rich black fruits that mingle with shades of creosote, baking spices and mocha. Fantastic in its youth, the ‘Bossman’ tells you that it has a long way to go in the bottle. Drink 2019-2035- 94

2016 Sanguis ‘Misfit’ Red Wine- One of the unusual, consistently great wines made in California, the 2016 ‘Misfit’ is an intriguing blend of 35% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Franc, 10% Grenache, 8% Petit Verdot, 7% Petite Sirah, & 5% Viognier, aged in 35% new French and Acacia oak barrels. On the nose this shows off shades of honeysuckle that parade with a deep core of dark fruits, chocolate and baking spices that all meld in the glass. The palate is intense and generous, showing an exotic range of citrus fruits alongside bright Bing cherry, cigar ash, blackberry compote and shades of milk chocolate. Simply irresistible right now, the ‘Misfit’ will enjoy another fifteen plus years in the cellar. Drink 2019-2035- 95

2016 Sanguis ‘Since You Asked Kindly’ Red Wine- The ‘Since You Asked Kindly’ Red Wine is a decadent blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot and Syrah. The wonderful hint of tobacco leaf on the nose mingles with ripe black currants and exotic spices that mingle in the glass. The freshness and texture of the wine is gorgeous, giving this a wonderful sense of elegance and verve. The seamless quality of the wine makes this effortlessly dance across the mid-palate — all leading to the stunning black fruit and mineral-driven finish. Highly gratifying in its youth, the ‘Since You Asked Kindly’ will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2019-2035- 95

2016 Sanguis ‘Verve’ Red Wine- The Sanguis ‘Verve’ Red Wine is a stunning blend of Grenache, Petit Sirah and Roussanne. Bright red fruits mingle with cinnamon, citrus rind and suggestions of tar on the exotic nose. The palate has great density and freshness, showing of a bright beam of salinity and mouth-watering acidity that runs through the core of red fruits. Singular and truly one of a kind, this beautiful, Grenache-dominant wine is gorgeous now and will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 95

2016 Sanguis ‘The Highlands’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘The Highlands’ was sourced from the Two Wolves Vineyard (78%) as well as the Happy Canyon Vineyard (22%). The wine marries 75% Cabernet Franc, with 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot which was all aged in 45% new French Oak barrels prior to bottling. Red rose petals mingle with tar, cigar box and blackberry pie on the nose. The palate is plush and dense, showing off a great combination of richness and minerality. Black fruits share the limelight with black tea, creosote and exotic spices on the palate. Fantastic now, this will age well for at least fifteen years. Drink 2019-2035- 95

2016 Sanguis ‘The Modern’ Red Wine- An unusual blend of Syrah, Viognier and Petit Verdot, ‘The Modern’ opens with mocha, tar, black licorice and suggestions of baking spices that all meld in the glass. The palate has a wonderfully soft texture, unveiling a good sense of richness, salinity and tension. Citrus rind accents mingle with red fruits and shades of milk chocolate on the palate. Simply gorgeous now, this truly one of a kind bottling will evolve well for ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2032- 95

2016 Sanguis ‘1/1’ Syrah- Massive, burly and hedonistic, the ‘1/1’ Syrah was entirely sourced from the Santa Rita Hills AVA. The nose takes on deep dark fruits that mingle with cloves, cardamon and suggestions of coffee grounds that all take shape in the glass. The palate is exceedingly dense but effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Deep loganberry preserves, cigar ash, smoked brisket, leather and blackberry cobbler flavors all combine marvelously on the palate. This deftly walks the tightrope between power and elegance. A true heavyhitter by Mattias Pippig, the ‘1/1’ Syrah will cellar well for the next fifteen years — but is impossible to resist right now. Drink 2019-2035- 96

Washington Wine Blog Top 100 of 2019

Dear Friends,

I want to offer my warmest holiday greetings from Washington Wine Blog. We are very humbled by your support and following. 2019 has marked an exciting and fruitful year at Washington Wine Blog, as I spent my fifth year as senior editor at International Wine Report, reviewing wines for them primarily from Washington, Oregon and California. Our WWB editors, Dr. Stephen Lee and Dr. Jae Hong, continue to contribute Washington wine reviews, editing and consulting. Over the past year we have contributed hundreds of articles that focus on Washington, Oregon and California wine and wineries. We held our second annual Washington Wine Blog Critic’s Choice of Washington event in February 2019, which featured some of the Washington's best wineries including Cayuse Vineyards, Reynvaan, Quilceda Creek and many more at the beautiful Columbia Tower Club in downtown Seattle. I would love to see you all at our next spectacular event, the third Annual Washington Wine Blog Critic’s Choice of Washington event which will be held Saturday February 15th and our tickets will be on sale shortly.

I have had the great pleasure and challenge of selecting 100 exceptional domestic wines to comprise my Top 100 for 2019. For our 2019 Top 100 we include some good value wine selections, as well as many collectable wines. 

This year left me no doubt what wine I should choose for our Washington Wine Blog #1 wine of 2019. Superstar vigneron Christophe Baron produced a dazzling range of wines in 2016. At the high table sits his 2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine which is not only amongst the best Grenache wines made in North America, but the world, itself. This scintillating effort is a must for any serious collector of Pacific Northwest wines. I want to offer my deepest thanks for all of your support of Washington Wine Blog. I want to wish you all the absolute best during this holiday season and as we usher in the new decade I hope 2020 brings you all great joy and prosperity, with beautiful wines in your glass.

1) 2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine

Oregon I Walla Walla Valley I $100 I 99 Points

The 2016 ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine is a one of a kind wine that flirts with perfection. The wine was entirely aged in neutral barrels prior to bottling. The nose is gratifying and intoxicating with red rose petals that mingle with guava puree, Hoisin sauce, green peppercorns, Umami and white truffle that all sing in the glass. The texture is hugely gratifying as this silky wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Impeccably balanced, the wine seaweed, blood orange zest, black truffle shavings, and guava puree with a bright, stony character all evolve on the palate. The exceedingly long finish lingers. While a delight to savor at this juncture, the wine will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 99

2) 2016 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache

Oregon I Walla Walla Valley I $120 I 99 Points

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

3) 2016 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington I Columbia Valley I $150 I 99 Points

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

4) 2016 Hors Catégorie Syrah (Spring 2020 release)

Oregon I Walla Walla Valley I $250 I 99 Points

The 2016 Hors Catégorie Syrah is a scintillating wine that flirts with perfection. Several years back superstar vigneron, Christophe Baron, founded his ‘Hors Categorie Vineyard’ planting Syrah on his highly steep sloped site, set on broken basalt, with majestic, sweeping views of the Walla Walla Valley.  The wine is cropped at roughly one ton an acre and was the aged in 600L Demi-muides prior to bottling. Aromatically this Syrah shows insanely good range from white pepper to red cherry preserves and potpourri with shades of white truffle that all shine brightly on the nose. The palate has incredible texture with gorgeous black fruits that collide with Umami, white peppercorns, wet stone, Kalamata olive tapenade and black cherry cordial. The texture is insanely good and the wine has a seamless quality that makes this truly one of a kind and almost reminds me of a great La Landonne. Showing marvelously in its youth, this will evolve well over the next fifteen years. Only a slightly more than two thousand bottles produced of this incredible, one of a kind wine. Drink 2019-2033- 99

5) 2016 HALL ‘Sacrache Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $325.00 I 99 points

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

6) 2017 Delmas Syrah

Oregon I Walla Walla Valley I $70 I 97 Points

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

7) 2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $75.00 I 96 Points

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

8) 2016 La Rata Red Wine

Oregon I Walla Walla Valley I $75 I 96 Points

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

9) 2016 Larkmead ‘Solari’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $250.00 I 98 Points

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

10) 2016 Force Majeure ‘SJR Vineyard’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $100 I 97 Points

The 2016 Force Majeure ‘SJR Vineyard’ Syrah is one of the best Washington wines I have sampled over the past year. This simply awesome new Syrah was sourced from the esteemed SJR Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. The wine was fermented using native yeasts and then was aged in oak puncheons (50% new) for 18 months prior to bottling. While the Syrah was obviously given a good amount of oak treatment, this does not come off as particularly oaky. The wine shows serious range on the nose from green olive to bacon fat to blood orange rind to red cherry candy and guava puree. The beautiful aromatics bring you back to the glass for more pleasure. The texture to this wine borders ethereal and absolutely delights the senses once on the mouth. Black olive tapenade, wild blackberry cobbler, salted smoked pork shoulder, umami and touches of milk chocolate all come together marvelously. This is just stunning wine that marvelously showcases this great vineyard. Drink 2018-2030- 97

11) 2016 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $60 I 96 Points

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

12) 2015 Opus One Red Wine

California I Napa Valley I $350.00 I 98 Points

The 2015 Opus One Red Wine is a monumental wine that blends Cabernet Sauvignon (81%) with Cabernet Franc (7%), Merlot (6%), Petit Verdot (4%) and Malbec (2%). The nose is highly complex and downright intoxicating showing off creme de cassis, mocha, tar, and shades of Turkish coffee that all build in the glass. There is a seamless quality to the wine that really impresses. Soft and round across the mid-palate, the wine reveals Asian spices. The palate is silky and spumous as the wine shows off an exotic edge with Turkish coffee, black tea, anise and creme de cassis that all impress. The wine finishes strong with minerals and black fruits. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twenty years. Drink 2020-2040- 98

13) 2016 Alpha Omega ‘ERA’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $315.00 I 98 Points

The 2016 ‘ERA’ by Alpha Omega is a show-stopping Cabernet Sauvignon that is up there with the best wines made in the Napa Valley. Entirely Cabernet Sauvignon and showing off its deep hue, the ‘ERA’ shows beautiful aromatics of sweet pipe tobacco, blueberry pie, Turkish coffee and creme de cassis. The palate reveals a silky texture and a marvelous mouthfeel. Mocha, anise, creme de cassis and graphite with earthy terroir flavors all collide. With great acidity and tension, this wine is meant for the cellar but is drinking seriously good in its youth. Enjoy this over the next twenty plus years. Drink 2020-2045- 98

14) 2017 St. Innocent ‘Vitae Springs’ Pinot Gris

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $25.00 I 94 Points

One of the great Pinot Gris bottling in Oregon, the 2017 ‘Vitae Springs’ Pinot Gris by St. Innocent is a dazzling new release. On the nose this shows really good range from sourdough bread to ripe Japanese pear to grassy tones that all fill the bouquet. The palate shows incredible texture and tension, with gobs of mouth-watering acidity that excite. Harmonious throughout with ripe pear, starfruit and brioche flavors, this is a complete wine that is one of the best of its kind that I have ever sampled. Simply put, this wine is a masterpiece. Drink 2019-2025- 94

15) 2017 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc

California I Russian River Valley I $30.00 I 94 points

The 2017 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc is a head-turning wine by one of Sonoma’s great talents, Merry Edwards. The nose takes on really good range with ripe pear, kumquat and nutmeg accents with gooseberry. The texture is light and beautifully layered with vanilla cream, bright pear and pineapple flavors, giving this an exotic edge. Rich and layered, this gorgeous effort will cellar well over the next five to eight years. Drink 2018-2024- 94

16) 2016 W.T. Vintners ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $49.00 I 94 Points

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

17) 2016 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $75.00 I 95 Points

This is the 30th anniversary of this iconic producer of Pinot Noir. This particular edition was aged for sixteen months in 65% new French oak prior to bottling. The nose here is simply sensational ranging from cardamon accents to peat moss and 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 seamlessness of this wine really entices. Dense dark and red fruits pack this incredible new release. I realize that I have written this before but this 2016 ‘Evenstad’ is up there with the best of its kind ever produced. If enjoying in its youth I beseech you to afford at least a two hour decant prior to enjoying this seductive, hedonistic Oregon Pinot Noir. Drink 2020-2040- 95

18) 2008 Argyle ‘Extended Tirage’ Sparkling Wine

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $80.00 I 96 Points

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

19) 2016 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine

Washington I Columbia Valley I $55.00 I 95 Points

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

20) 2016 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay

California I Russian River Valley I $65.00 I 95 Points

The 2016 ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a stunning effort from this exciting vintage in the Russian River Valley. Sourced from vines planted in 1972, the vineyard is located right in the center of the Russian River AVA. the wine shows seductive white tea with clove and Challah bread and vanilla creme brûlée Arons that all shine brightly in the glass. The palate has wonderful texture and richness as this wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. The wine shows gorgeous tropical fruit with shades of cinnamon infused sourdough bread and wild mushroom. Drink 2019-2035- 95

21) 2016 Brooks ‘Bois Joli Vineyard’ Riesling

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $30.00 I 94 Points

This Eola-Amity Hills AVA vineyard wine shows bright pear and green papaya aromas that connect with lighter stony character on the nose. The palate is highly refreshing and delivers gobs of mouth-watering acidity with bright pear, Granny Smith apple, kumquat and cantaloupe with wet stone flavors. A delight to savor, this will continue to evolve well fort the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 94

22) 2018 Toil Oregon Rose

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $25.00 I 93 Points

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

23) 2016 Sanguis ‘The Ten Wings’ White Wine

California I Santa Barbara County I $50.00 I 96 Points

The 2016 ‘The Ten Wings’ is comprised of of Central Coast Chardonnay, Roussanne and Viognier that truly captures the art of blending. Deeply hued, the wine shows off plenty of exotic appeal with its lychee and star jasmine aromas that mingle with shades of apricot and wet stone that all march in unison in the glass. The palate offers a gorgeous combination of freshness, weight and verve, with a dazzling display on the mid-palate ranging from green apple, to mango jelly to stony and earthy tones, as well as shades of Challah bread. The scintillating finish lingers. What an incredible blend by one of the California masters, Mattias Pippig. Drink 2019-2033- 96

24) 2016 Avennia ‘Justine’ Red Wine

Washington I Columbia Valley I $45.00 I 94 Points

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

25) 2016 Bevan ‘Tench Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $250.00 I 97 Points

The 2016 ‘Tench Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a show-stopping wine by superstar winemaker Russell Bevan. Right out of the gate this impresses with decadent black currant jelly, tar, anise and exotic spice aromas. The texture is both soft and inviting as the wine seamlessly glides across the mid-palate. While quite intense, there is a gorgeous elegance to this wine that shows creme de cassis, mocha, tar and spiced black licorice flavors. The wine finishes big and long with black fruits and minerals. While obviously delightful now, the ‘Tench Vineyard’ Cabernet will have a long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2040- 97

26) 2016 Beringer ‘Private Reserve’ Chardonnay

California I Napa Valley I $48.00 I 94 Points

The 2016 ‘Private Reserve’ Chardonnay by Beringer is a stunning wine by superstar winemaker Mark Beringer. Sourced from the Gamble Ranch Vineyard in the Oakville AVA, this wine starts off with beautiful aromas of apricot creme brulee, vanilla cream and kumquat with macadamia nut. The palate is plush and shows a seductive mouthfeel as the wine unveils vanilla cream, buttered popcorn, white peach, butterscotch and roasted pineapple flavors. Seductive and rich, yet beautifully balanced and layered, this is a complete wine by Beringer that will cellar marvelously for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 94

27) 2015 Harbison Estate ‘The Trail’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I N/A I 97 Points

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

28) 2017 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit Blanc de Tablas’ White Wine

California I Paso Robles I $45.00 I 95 Points

The 2017 ‘Espirit Blanc de Tablas’ is a downright heavyhitter of a wine, and is primarily comprised of Roussanne (75%) with smaller portions Grenache Blanc and Picpoul Blanc. Good richness marks the nose with toasted Challah bread, Pazzaz apple, kiwi and apricot undertones. The palate is both refreshing and highly gratifying, revealing a wonderful fatness and viscosity. Seamless throughout, lychee, starfruit, honeydew melon and wet stone flavors with kumquat tones all collide on the palate. The extremely long, cream and mineral-driven finish completes this simply stunning Rhone style white wine. While this is marvelous now, this has both the stuffing and acidity to cellar well over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2019-2035- 95

29) 2017 Big Table Farm ‘Pelos Sandberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $62.00 I 95 Points

The Pelos Sandberg Vineyard is carefully managed by Don Sandberg, as I have been captivated with this bottling since Brian Marcy first made this wine. The nose is beautifully perfumed, showing serious aromatic range from peat moss and smoke undertones to ripe strawberry to guava and pomegranate puree with citrus rind accents. These delightful scents bring you back to the glass for more. Showing a silky texture, this beautiful wine glides across the mid-palate. Elegant, yet jam-packed full of red fruit, citrus zest and earthy flavors, this Pinot Noir by Big Table Farm simply has it all. Irresistible now, this will cellar well for the next two decades. Drink 2019-2033- 95

30) 2017 Sleight of Hand ‘The Funkadelic’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $60.00 I 95 Points

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

31) 2016 Figgins Estate ‘Figlia’ Red Wine

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $85.00 I 96 Points

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

32) 2017 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Durant Vineyard’ Chardonnay

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $35.00 I 94 Points

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

33) 2016 K Vintners ‘Royal City’ Syrah

Washington I Columbia Valley I $120.00 I 96 Points

The 2016 ‘Royal City’ Syrah by the talented winemaking team at K Vintners is another show-stopping effort that shows incredible range and poise from this warm vintage in Washington. Sourced from the famed Stoneridge Vineyard, the ‘Royal City’ shows off its garnet color and opens with beautiful aromatic range from cloves, to suggestions of wild mushroom, potpourri and olive tapenade aromatics that dance in harmony in the glass. The palate shows great freshness, evoking a deep core of dried cherries that mingle with with tightly structured peppery tannins, citrus zest and earthy undertones.  The finish imparted is both persistent and unrelenting. While outstanding in its youth, this beautiful, terroir-driven Syrah will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 96 (J.H.)

34) 2017 DeLille Cellars ‘Chaleur Blanc’ White Wine

Washington I Columbia Valley I $35.00 I 94 Points

The 2017 ‘Chaleur Blanc’ is a spectacular effort from this exciting vintage for white wines. A blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc with the remainder Semillon, the wine shows better at a warmer temperature. The nose is impressive with tropical fruits that mingle with brilliant melon and nutty tones that resonate in the glass. The palate is showing a wonderful texture and viscosity, giving off an almost unctuous mouthfeel. The salinity really comes out when the wine is warmed up. Lemon zest and brioche flavors combine brilliantly with shades of banana and minerals. Hugely complex and satisfying, the exceedingly long finish lingers. This brilliant effort will evolve well over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 94

35) 2015 Matthiasson White Wine

California I Napa Valley I $30.00 I 94 Points

The 2015 Matthiasson White Wine is a silly blend of Sauvignon Blanc (50%), Ribola (25%) and Semillon (20%) with just a touch of Tocai Friulano blended in. This opens with serious range on the nose from grapefruit blossom to green papaya to mango and starfruit to earthy and wet stone tones that all take shape in the glass. Bright, with a seriously good mouthfeel, the wine slowly unveils layers of macadamia nut, brioche, lemon curd and suggestions of starfruit puree. Rich, yet lively, this fantastic new wine will have al long life in the cellar picking up lovely tertiary notes. Drink 2019-2029- 94

36) 2017 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling

Washington I Columbia Valley I $20.00 I 93 Points

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

37) 2015 Maybach ‘Amoneus’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $175.00 I 97 Points

The ‘Amoneus’ Cabernet Sauvignon by Maybach is sourced from a hillside vineyard located just west of Calistoga. A dense, glass-staining purple, this wine needs a two hour decant to be fully aroused. Once awakened the wine yields copious and layered dark fruits that are woven into shades of dark chocolate, roasted dates and creme de cassis that all shine brightly in the glass. Dense and decadent on the attack, the ‘Amoneus’ provides a luxurious mouthfeel. Chocolate covered espresso bean, tar, blueberry compote and suggestions of black currant cordial flavors all march together on the palate. While delightful in its youth, this will only get better with some bottle age. Drink 2020-2040- 97

38) 2015 Rasa Vineyards ‘Veritas Sequiter SJR VIneyard’ Syrah

Oregon I Walla Walla Valley I $95.00 I 96 Points

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

39) 2016 Pahlmeyer Merlot

California I Napa Valley I $95.00 I 96 Points

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

40) 2016 Evening Land ‘La Source’ Chardonnay

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points

The ‘La Source’ Chardonnay by Evening Land is a sensational effort from this warm vintage in the Willamette Valley. The nose takes on flinty and wet stone tones with toasty oak accents alongside ripe pear and Meyer lemon cream that fill the nose. The gorgeous aromatics bring you back to the glass for more. The palate is lithe and highly Burgundian, showing lemon zest, green apple, kumquat, wild mushroom and heavy whipping cream. The near minute-long finish lingers. Sensational now, this will continue to evolve over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2035- 94

41) 2016 Darioush ‘Signature’ Merlot

California I Napa Valley I $50.00 I 95 Points- The 2016 ‘Signature’ Merlot by Darioush is a stunning new wine by the talented winemaking team at Darioush. Sourced from the Darioush Estate Vineyard as well as their vineyard in Mt. Veeder. The wine was aged for 22 months in largely new French oak prior to bottling.  The nose is perfumed and simply gorgeous as ripe dark plum with shades of red cherry tomato and black cherry cordial. The palate shows a silky character with lovely tension. The weight of the wine is fantastic as the wine unveils black cherry liquor with blackberry pie and shades of dusty terroir and shades of sandalwood. While fantastic now, this will evolve marvelously for fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2035- 95

42) 2016 Beaux Frères ‘The Beaux Frères Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $90.00 I 95 Points

The 2016 Beaux Freres ‘The Beaux Freres Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a simply marvelous new effort from this storied estate. The Ribbon Ridge AVA wine shows wonderful earthy terroir on the nose. This shows a wonderful combination of red and dark fruits on the nose with Asian spice and forest floor aromatics. The palate shows good richness and tension with red currant, red cherry candy, strawberry puree and orange rind flavors with a touch of peat moss. Rich and focused, this will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2018-2033- 95

43) 2016 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah

Washington I Columbia Valley I $35.00 I 93 Points

The 2016 ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah is a fantastic new wine that was sourced from the Kenny Hill, Lewis and Phinny 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

44) 2016 DuMol ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay

California I Carneros I $75.00 I 95 Points

One of the great vineyards in California owned and managed by Larry Hyde, the Hyde Vineyard is located in the Carneros AVA and has a strong maritime influence with its close proximity to the San Francisco Bay. Buttercream, brioche and lemon zest aromas all fill the glass. The palate reveals serious power with a wonderful texture and viscosity. This seamless glides through the mid-palate delivering creamy and citrus rind flavors, all leading to a minute-long finish.  A complete wine, this gorgeous effort will continue to evolve over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 95

45) 2017 Liquid Farm ‘White Hill’ Chardonnay 

California I Santa Barbara County I $42.00 I 94 Points

The ‘White Hill’ Chardonnay is sourced from the Clos Pepe, La Riconada, Bentrock, and Kessler-Haak Vineyards as this wine has been crafted since the 2009 vintage. Smoky, stony and showing a striking salinity on the nose, the wine unveils a beautiful, soft texture that entices. The sense of freshness and bright minerality produces gobs of mouth-watering acidity on the palate. Bright orchard fruits mingle with lemon oil, and shades of smoky tones with wild mushroom on this highly complex palate. Impossible to resist right now, this beautiful Chardonnay will evolve well for the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 94

46) 2016 Caliza Grenache

California I Paso Robles I $60.00 I 94 Points

The 2016 Caliza Grenache opens with a bright bouquet of red currant jelly, red cherry candy, pomegranate seed and blood orange zest. The palate is plush and bright, showing a great minerality. Red fruits collide with citrus rind and minerals. Satisfying and showing both good tension and weight, this delicious and downright sexy Grenache will continue to evolve for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 94

47) 2017 Alexana ‘Revana Vineyard’ Riesling

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $25.00 I 92 Points

The 2017 ‘Revana Vineyard’ Riesling is a stunning effort from this famed Willamette Valley estate. On the nose this takes on petrol with white flower and Gravenstein apple aromatics that impress in the glass. The palate is lithe and has the lightest kiss of sweetness with beautiful astringency. White flower, wet stone, green apple and kumquat flavors all impress. Bright and showing wonderful energy, this will continue to evolve over the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2026- 92

48) 2016 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $100.00 I 96 Points

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

49) 2015 Epoch ‘Veracity’ Red Wine

California I Paso Robles I $65.00 I 94 Points

The ‘Veracity’ is a compelling blend of 47% Grenache with 34% Mourvedre and 19% Syrah. On the nose this takes on fantastic rose water elements that mingle with ripe dates and cigar box aromas. The perfumed side of the aromas from the Grenache really entice here. The palate reveals a wonderfully plush and decadent texture with chocolate covered red raspberry, pipe tobacco, coffee grounds and shades of orange zest. The range here on the palate is really fantastic. I really enjoy this wine right now but it will cellar well for another ten plus years. Drink 2019-2029- 94

50) 2017 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Pinot Noir

California I Sonoma County I $85.00 I 95 Points

The ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Pinot Noir is a stunning new wine by WALT, and shining brightly amongst the best wines that I have tasted from this winery. The cherry cola and black tea elements are powerful with shades of life err on the nose. The wine is incredible dense with a massive core. Dark fruits mingle with cherry cola and cinnamon flavors with peat moss undertones. The seriously good mouthfeel entices, as foes the vibrant minerality. Drink 2019-2033- 95

51) 2016 ROCO ‘RMS’ Rose Sparkling Wine

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $85.00 I 95 Points

The 2016 ‘RMS’ Rose Sparkling Wine is a limited production bottling by superstar winemaker, Rollin Soles, who first began making this style of Oregon sparkling wine in 1987. The nose is highly perfumed with red rose petal, guava puree, teaberry and melon tones that fill the aromatic profile. The palate is refined as there is a wonderful elegance and seamlessness to this beautiful Rose Sparkling Wine. Red fruits and lighter earthy and citrus rind notes dance with the bright sense of minerality on the palate. While refined, this wine has some seriously good weight. A stunning wine that is truly one of the best of its kind, I can imagine this great bottling will cellar well for two decades. But why wait? Drink 2019-2035- 95

52) 2017 Villa Del Lago Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $250.00 I 97 Points- 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 2016

53) 2017 Kerloo ‘The Princess’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $75.00 I 95 Points

A new wine to the Kerloo portfolio, the 2017 ‘The Princess’ Syrah is Ryan Crane’s first soirée into the North Fork of the Walla Walla River. The wine is sourced from the Resurgent Vineyard and was co-fermented with 4% Viognier. The wine was aged for eighteen months in neutral oak prior to bottling. The wine shows great stony character with dried Provencale herbs, bulls blood, orange zest and Umami and white pepper that all mingle brightly in the glass. The palate has incredible elegance and verve with a seamless quality that runs through the wine mid-palate. Wet stone, bulls blood, lavender puree and shades of Hoisin sauce all combine with a bright sense of minerality on the palate. A serious salinity runs through the core of the wine. Showing a gorgeous texture and great length, this beautiful wine is best enjoyed over the next decade. Only 120 cases of this beautiful wine made. Drink 2019-2029- 95

54) 2017 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Carneros’ Pinot Noir

California I Carneros I $50.00 I 93 Points

Winemaker Todd Graff has crafted another beautiful wine with this new release Pinot Noir. The wine starts off with good range from orange rind to black tea to black cherry and cola accents on the nose. There is a beautiful texture to this wine that unveils rose water, red cherry candy, pomegranate seed and blood orange flavors. Delicious now, this has a slightly hedonistic bent that makes it nearly impossible to put down right now. This will continue to evolve for the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 93

55) 2016 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington I Red Mountain I $75.00 I 95 Points

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon by superstar winemaker Chris Upchurch is a revelation. On the nose this takes on gorgeous Cabernet character with red bell pepper, anise, brandy soaked red cherry and milk chocolate aromas that build in the glass. The texture to this wine borders ethereal. Mocha, crushed mint, blackberry cobbler and creme de cassis flavors all beautifully dance on the palate. The balance and richness is sumptuous here. Mineral-driven and rich, this gorgeous effort will cellar well for the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2019-2037- 95

56) 2017 Ayoub ‘Brittan Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $65.00 I 94 Points

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

57) 2016 VIADER ‘Black Label’ Red Wine

California I Napa Valley I $175.00 I 96 Points

The 2016 VIADER ‘Black Label’ Red Wine is a simply magical new wine by the talented winemaking team of Delia and Alan VIader. A gorgeous blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 26% Syrah, 14% Malbec and 3% Cabernet Franc which was barrel selected all from the VIADER Howell Mountain estate. Needing more than an hour in the decanter to fully arouse, the wine awakens to compelling aromatics of exotic spices, Earl Grey tea, mocha and milk chocolate with wild blackberry cobbler rounding out this expressive nose. The mouthfeel is plush and decadent, unveiling a downright sexy texture that satisfies. Creme de cassis, Asian spices, sweet pipe tobacco, leather and copious dark fruits all enter the fray on the palate. This is a polished, pensive wine that is meant to savor. Seriously good in its youth, this beautiful wine will evolve well over the next two decades. Drink 2020-2040- 96

58) 2017 Lingua Franca ‘Bunker Hill’ Chardonnay

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $55.00 I 94 Points

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

59) 2014 Sbragia ‘Monte Rosso Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Sonoma County I $85.00 I 94 Points

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

60) 2016 Gramercy Cellars ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $100.00 I 95 Points

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

61) 2018 Kobayashi Viognier

Washington I Red Mountain I $50.00 I 94 Points

The 2018 Viognier by Kobayashi and the talented Travis Allen is a gorgeous effort that was entirely sourced from the WeatherEye Vineyard, perched high above Red Mountain. Needing more than a one hour decant to fully be aroused, the wine opens with a gorgeous bouquet of honeysuckle with lychee, Meyer lemon cream and shades of orange zest that all mingle together in the glass. Showing off a soft and inviting texture, this takes on an exotic appeal with its ripe cantaloupe, starfruit, kumquat and vanilla cream flavors that linger with a bright sense of minerality. Fantastic now, this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next decade. Tried in several stemware choices, this wine shows considerably better in a Riedel Pinot Noir glass at a warmer temperature. Drink 2019-2029- 94

62) 2017 Sojourn ‘Gap’s Crown’ Pinot Noir

California I Sonoma Coast I $65.00 I 94 Points

The Gap’s Crown Vineyard is one of the great vineyards of the in the Sonoma Coast AVA, set between 300 and 800 feet, right next to the Sangiacomo VIneyard. This wine opens with a bouquet of white rose, cran-pomegranate and orange zest. The salinity of the wine shines through as bright red cherry candy, guava puree, Mandarin orange rind and cola flavors all marvelously combine on the palate. This marvelous wine shows not only serious range but a beautiful, soft texture. Enjoy this over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2030- 94

63) 2017 Rotie Cellars ‘Northern Blend’ Red Wine

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $55.00 I 94 Points

The 2017 ‘Northern Blend’ is a compelling melange of 95% Syrah with 5% Viognier all sourced from their estate vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. This begins with wonderful stony character on the nose that combines with blood orange cordial, red cherry preserves and shades of green olive tapenade that all blend marvelously together. The soft, silky texture is stunning. Black olive, exotic spices, Mandarin orange rind and wet stone with minerals all really sing in the glass. A delight to savor now, this beautiful effort will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 94

64) 2016 Brittan Vineyards ‘Gestalt Block’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $48.00 I 94 Points

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

65) 2016 Goldeneye ‘Ten Degrees’ Pinot Noir

California I Sonoma County I $125.00 I 95 Points

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

66) 2015 Beaulieu Vineyards ‘Georges de Latour’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $125.00 I 95 Points

The 2015 ‘Georges de Latour’ is another stunning release of this storied wine by Beaulieu Vineyards. Coming from a warm vintage in the Napa Valley, this gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon shows off an inky core, slowly unveiling exotic spices, espresso bean, blackberry cobbler and hints of pipe tobacco that all build on this expressive nose. The palate shows some serious weight and elegance as the wine gracefully dances across the mid-palate. Polished and layered with dark fruits, chocolate, minerals and herbal undertones, the 2015 ‘Georges de Latour’ is surprisingly open in its youth. If enjoying in its nascency be sure to give this beautiful wine at least a one hour decant. Drink 2020-2040- 95

67) 2017 Bergström ‘Bergstrom Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $95.00 I 95 Points

The ‘Bergström Vineyard’ was first planted in 1999 and is set on a broken basalt hillside. On the nose this evokes a strong volcanic earth influence alongside red and dark fruits with lemon zest undertones. Sinfully good, the wine has a silky texture that effortlessly glides through the mid-palate. Black cherry cordial, wild blackberry preserves, peat moss and forest floor flavors all come together beautifully. While marvelous in the glass now, try to resist this stunning new wine for at least another year. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this at least a one hour decant. Drink 2020-2040- 95

68) 2015 Tendril ‘Tightrope’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points

The 2015 Tendril ‘Tightrope’ Pinot Noir is a spectacular effort by the talented Tony Rynders. This limited production bottling which 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

69) 2017 Lange ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $45.00 I 93 Points

The Lange family has been sourcing from the Freedom Hill Vineyard since 1989. The wine was aged in nearly all neutral oak prior to bottling. The palate is plush and bright showing white, vanilla creme brûlée and Meyer lemon zest. This is simply fantastic. Drink 2019-2028- 93

70) 2017 The Unnamed Series ‘Christmas Cuvee’ Red Wine

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $25.00 I 92 Points

The 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

71) 2017 Rochioli ‘River Block’ Chardonnay

California I Russian River Valley I $120.00 I 95 Points

Quite different than the ‘South River’ bottling, the ‘River Block’ opens with intense tropical fruits that combine with tones of kumquat rind and green apple and wet stone in this absolutely intoxicating nose. The palate reveals a silky texture and an oily, almost unctuous mouthfeel. Despite the obvious mid-palate richness, the wine unveils a seamless quality that runs through the wine. Ripe pineapple, banana, golden delicious apple and saline infused lemon flavors all dance together in harmony. A delight to savor in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 95

72) 2016 Chalk Hill ‘Estate’ Chardonnay

California I Sonoma County I $50.00 I 93 Points 

The 2016 Chalk Hill ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is a beautiful new wine by this talented winemaking team. Right away you are intrigued with the ripe melon and tropical fruit aromatics that all meld in the glass. The palate shows wonderful richness and viscosity, giving off a great sense of power. Ripe banana, honeydew melon and shades of wild mushroom with creme brûlée accents all impress on the palate. While a beautiful wine in its youth, this will continue to evolve well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 93

73) 2018 EFESTĒ ‘Oldfield Estate’ Rose

Washington I Columbia Valley I $28.00 I 92 Points

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

74) 2017 Betz ‘Domaine de Pierres’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $62.00 I 94 Points

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

75) 2018 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay

Washington I Columbia Valley I $20.00 I 92 Points

The 2018 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay follows the excellent long line of releases by L’Ecole No. 41. Nutmeg infused sourdough bread and shades of ripe pear that round out the beautiful aromatics in the wine. The soft texture greets you as the wine shows a seamless quality that runs through the wine on the palate. Seriously good right now, this will age well for a decade, picking up tertiary notes as it develops. Drink 2019-2026- 92

76) 2017 Hazelfern ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $35.00 I 92 Points

The 2017 Hazelfern Chardonnay was aged for 11 months in 100% new French oak prior to bottling. On the nose this takes on bright lemon zest and brioche with wild mushroom aromas that build in the glass. The palate shows off a rather opulent mouthfeel, delivering ripe orchard and tropical fruits with wet stone and earthy undertones. Delightful to savor now, this fantastic effort will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92

77) 2017 Cline ‘Ancient Vines’ Zinfandel

California I  Contra Costa County I $20.00 I 90 Points

The 2017 ‘Ancient Vines’ Zinfandel by Cline was stored for 10 months in 38% new American oak prior to bottling. On the nose this shows toasty oak that wraps around ripe red fruit and dill flavors. The palate shows good balance and restraint with ripe red cherry, loganberry and guava flavors with a touch of cran-cherry and earthy tones. Delicious now, this will cellar well over the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 90

78) 2016 Cuvaison ‘Spire’ Pinot Noir 

California I Carneros I $55.00 I 93 Points

This excellent Pinot Noir by Cuvaison was aged for 18 months in French oak (50% new) prior to bottling. I really enjoy this nose that shows copious red fruits with spicy and earthy undertones. The beautiful mouthfeel gives this a seamless quality on the mid-palate. Red fruits collide with peat moss, wild blackberry jam and citrus rind flavors. Similar to the ‘ATS’ Chardonnay, while obviously rich, there is a good sense of poise and balance here. A complete wine, this is a stunning effort that is drinking marvelous now but will continue to evolve over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2018-2030- 93

79) 2014 Lauren Ashton ‘Proprietor’s Cuvee’ Red Wine

Washington I Columbia Valley I $65.00 I 93 Points

The 2014 ‘Proprietor’s Cuvee’ is an outstanding red blend made by the talented Dr. Kit Singh. Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) takes the lead in this wine, with smaller portions Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Aromatically the Cabernet Franc seems to be singing with its red bell pepper and herbal tones that collide with coffee grounds and shades of black licorice that all take their shape in the glass. Soft, silky, juicy and generous, the red fruits dance with black tea, Asian spices, blackberry pie and shades of chocolate covered espresso bean. This is seriously good stuff that will cellar at least for another fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93

80) 2017 Illumination Sauvignon Blanc

California I Napa Valley I $35.00I 94 Points 

Sourced from almost equal parts Sonoma and Napa AVAs, this shows really nice cantaloupe tones that mingle with lemon zest and shades of sourdough bread that all are woven together in the glass. The soft texture entices as ripe starfruit and cantaloupe flavors collide with minerals and light damp earth tones on the palate. This really satisfies especially warmed up a touch. Drink 2019-2025- 94

81) 2017 Robert Biale ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel

California I Napa Valley I $55.00 I 94 Points

The 2017 ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel is a stunning new wine by the talented winemaking team at Robert Biale. Sourced from the St. Helena AVA, the ‘Varozza Vineyard’ dates back to the 1800s as this beautiful new wine was aged for eleven months in 25% new French oak prior to bottling. The wine shows great aromatic range from Asian spices to tar and leather which mingle with the high toned red fruits in the glass. The palate is plush and dense, as the wine has a seamless quality that really impresses. Milk chocolate covered red cherry and sagebrush combine with the tobacco leaf and cardamom flavors on the palate. The exceedingly long finish lingers long on the tongue. Drink 2019-2033- 94

82) 2018 Andrew Will ‘Cuvee Lucia’ Rose

Washington I Yakima Valley I $28.00 I 92 Points

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

83) 2017 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Sparrow’ Viognier

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $30.00 I 92 Points

This estate Viognier shows intense aromas of banana, roasted pineapple and lychee with hints of vanilla cream. The palate is bright, showing a rich mouthfeel. Pineapple upside down cake, lemon zest and with buttercream flavors all nicely combine. This is seriously good Viognier. Drink 2018-2024- 92

84) 2018 Purple Star Rose

Washington I Red Mountain I $15.00 I 90 Points

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

85) 2016 Doubleback ‘Estate Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $150.00 I 95 Points

The ‘Estate Reserve’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) with equal parts Petit Verdot and Malbec. Seductive aromas of this wine impress you immediately as the wine reveals a seductive nose with Black Forest Cake, coffee grounds, anise and creme de cassis. The mid-palate weight to this wine is exceedingly good, as is the sense of balance. Anise, green bell pepper, mocha and shades of blueberry puree flavors all come together marvelously. A long-ager, try to resist this beautiful wine for at least two more years. Drink 2021-2040- 95

86) 2017 00 Wines ‘VGW’ Chardonnay

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $75.00 I 93 Points

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

87) 2016 Morlet ‘Passionement’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $150.00 I 95 Points

The 2016 Morlet ‘Passionnement’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a barrel-select wine which was dedicated to the winemaker’s wife, Jodie Morlet. On the nose this shows beautiful fresh red rose petals with deep dark fruits, tobacco leaf and a touch of milk chocolate. Dense and marvelously layered, this wine seamlessly glides across the mid-palate, delivering creme de cassis, blackberry pie, dusty terroir and shades of red cherry tomato flavors that mingle harmoniously together. While impressive now, this will only improve with some bottle age. Drink 2020-2040- 95

88) 2016 Roserock ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points

The ‘Zephrine’ is a barrel selection wine named after the Zephrine Drouhin varietal of rose. Lighter earthy tones with copious red fruits and citrus rind fill the nose. The palate is soft and lithe, revealing a wonderful mouthfeel and showing good decadence. Red cherry candy, cran-pomegranate, peat moss and white truffle shaving flavors all marvelously combine. Highly elegant and delicious now, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next two decades. Drink 2019-2035- 94

89) 2017 Woodward Canyon ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington I Columbia Valley I $99.99 I 95 Points

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 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

90) 2015 Corison ‘Sunbasket Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc

California I Napa Valley I $100.00 I 95 Points

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

91) 2016 Melka Estates ‘Metisse Martinez Vineyard’ Red Wine

California I Napa Valley I $225.00 I 96 Points

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

92) 2017 Block Wines ‘Boushey Vineyard Golden Block’ Grenache

Washington I Yakima Valley I $35.00 I 93 Points

This is the second time in a row that this fantastic value has landed on my WWB Top 100. The 2017 ‘Boushey Vineyard Golden Block’ is another magical effort by the talented Morgan Lee. Translucent in the glass, the wine stands out delivering guava puree with Mandarin orange rind, red cherry candy and shades of clove that all mingle nicely together in the glass. The palate is plush, delivering a delightfully soft texture. Bright cran-cherry, teaberry, and freshly picked strawberry flavors with minerals add to the enjoyment on the palate. The combination of freshness and viscosity here is really lovely, as is the exceedingly long finish. A delight to savor in its youth, the ‘Boushey Vineyard Golden Block’ Grenache will provide drinking enjoyment over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93

93) 2016 Melville ‘Estate’ Chardonnay

California  I Santa Rita Hills I $30.00 I 93 Points

2016 Melville ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2016 ‘Estate’ Chardonnay by Melville follows up their tremendous 2015 bottling and is another seriously good wine made by the talented Chad Melville. On the nose this takes on toasty brioche with shades of wild mushroom and salted praline which round out the expressive aromatics. The palate has wonderful freshness and a soft mouthfeel that really entices. Bright orchard fruits and lemon zest combine with shades of ripe pineapple and sourdough bread on the palate. Beautiful now, this outstanding value Chardonnay will have a long life in the cellar. Drink 2019-2029- 93

94) 2016 Yao Family Wines ‘Family Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $250.00 I 95 Points

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

95) 2016 Stag Hollow ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $45.00 I 93 Points

The ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir by talented winemaker Mark Huff is another fabulous effort from this storied Oregon winery. Vibrant and beautifully astringent o the nose, the wine leads on teaberry, cran-cherry and black truffle aromatics that all impress in the glass. The palate shows off a silky texture and marvelous mouthfeel. Black tea, cran-orange, black truffle crudo, wild blackberry cobbler and black cherry cordial all combine in the glass. The flavor range here is exceedingly good. Only 73 cases of this brilliant new wine made so try to grab some while you can. Drink 2019-2029- 93

96) 2016 Duckhorn ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ Merlot

California I Napa Valley I $100.00 I 94 Points

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

97) 2016 Spottswoode ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $200.00 I 96 Points

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

98) 2014 Corliss Estates Red Wine

Washington I Columbia Valley I $100.00 I 94 Points

A combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, the 2014 Corliss Red Wine was aged in 65% new French oak for 28 months prior to bottling. Needing a one hour decant to fully express itself, the wine slowly unveils ripe blueberry compote, sagebrush, Turkish coffee and shades of black licorice candy that all meld together in the glass. The palate is silky smooth and decadent, while also elegant. With a soft mouthfeel, this gracefully glides across the mid-palate revealing copious dark and blue fruit flavors with chocolate covered espresso bean. Marvelous now, this beautiful red blend will have a long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2038- 94

99) 2016 Cote Bonneville ‘DuBrul Vineyard’ Chardonnay

Washington I Yakima Valley I $45.00 I 93 Points

The aromatics are quite seductive with bright lemon zest, starfruit, heavy cream and suggestions of nutmeg. The soft texture entices here with ripe pear, apricot, vanilla cream and minerals. The exceedingly long, near minute finish lingers long on the tongue. This outstanding wine will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 93

100) 2014 Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Luxe’ Sparkling Wine

Washington I Columbia Valley I $25.00 I 92 Points

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

Kerloo Cellars

Ryan Crane is one talented guy. “Hard to believe its been twelve years since we started,” Ryan proclaimed as I tasted through his new wines. Ryan’s winemaking has evolved since he began many years back. His boutique style of winemaking involves crafting very precise, small production, single vineyard bottlings that have an err of the old world. Years back Ryan got his start at Animale Cellars in Seattle, and then later trained under Marie-Eve Gilla at Forgeron Cellars while completing his degree in Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College.

He makes some of the best Grenache in the state. His 2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache (WWB, 94) deftly walks the tight rope between tension, richness and terroir. He has a new wine that I was totally blown away with, his 2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘The Princess’ Syrah (WWB, 95). The wine is sourced from the Resurgence Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. This stony property yields a lighter wet stone profile alongside a beautiful range of flavors and aromatics. Ryan admitted 'I was never sure I wanted to do a Rocks [AVA] wine but I found the right site for this one.” He certainly did. This wine is limited production so grab it while you can.

Learn more about this great SoDo winery at www.kerloocellars.com. Here are the great new releases by the talented Ryan Crane and his Kerloo Cellars.

2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache- This was nearly entirely aged in 500L barrels for 18 months prior to bottling. The wine was 50% whole cluster fermented under native yeast. Very pretty aromatics greet you with red rose petals that collide with blood orange zest and smoky undertones that all take their shape in the glass. The soft texture really entices as the freshness also adds pleasure. This refined Grenache has a big, exciting finish at the end. Gorgeous now, showing gobs of mouth-watering acidity and a light saline streak, this will continue to develop over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 94

2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Majestic’ Red Wine- Sourced from the Upland, Les Collines and Lonesome Springs Ranch Vineyards, the wine is largely Grenache (67%) with smaller portions Syrah and Mourvedre. The wine shows wonderful herbal tones from the Les Collines Syrah combining with smoky and red fruit driven accents that come together in the glass. The palate has great viscosity and tension that runs through the wine. Bright red fruits with smoked brisket and white pepper tones all combine marvelously on the palate. Fantastic now, showing good brightness and acidity, this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next seven plus years. This is truly an outstanding value at only $26.00. Drink 2019-2026- 92

2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘The Princess’ Syrah- A new wine to the Kerloo portfolio, the 2017 ‘The Princess’ Syrah is Ryan Crane’s first soirée into the North Fork of the Walla Walla River. The wine is sourced from the Resurgent Vineyard and was co-fermented with 4% Syrah. The wine was aged for eighteen months in neutral oak prior to bottling. The wine shows great stony character with dried Provencale herbs, bulls blood, orange zest and Umami and white pepper that all mingle brightly in the glass. The palate has incredible elegance and verve with a seamless quality that runs through the wine mid-palate. Wet stone, bulls blood, lavender puree and shades of Hoisin sauce all combine with a bright sense of minerality on the palate. A serious salinity runs through the core of the wine. Showing a gorgeous texture and great length, this beautiful wine is best enjoyed over the next decade. Only 120 cases of this beautiful wine made. Drink 2019-2029- 95

2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2017 Les Collines Vineyard Syrah was largely sourced from Block 50 on the top of the vineyard where there were no head training, as Ryan Crane has been sourcing from this site since 2007. Entirely aged in concrete tanks, the wine opens with aromas of dried herbs, black raspberry cordial, black tea and exotic spices that alll sing in the glass. The palate shows great weight, brightness and acidity as a beam of salinity dashes through the mid-palate. Lithe, with a wonderful texture, this beautiful wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 20190-2029- 93

2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon by Kerloo Cellars is a fantastic bottling from this great SoDo winery. Largely sourced from the Red Willow Vineyard, the wine was aged in 69% new French oak before bottling. The nose is expressive with its red fruits and red bell pepper tones with a chocolate edge. Elegant with a soft mouthfeel and generous texture, the wine leads with black fruits and mocha with tar flavors that all impress on the palate. Fantastic now, with some light tannins, this great new Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment for another seven plus years. Drink 2019-2027- 92

2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Dionysus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from an older vineyard block at this site (1998), this wine club only wine was aged in 100% new French oak before bottling. The aromatic range is seriously good from dried sagebrush to shades of violets, espresso bean and blackberry pie that all mingle together in the glass,. The length, density and seamless quality of the wine is fantastic here. The minerality and salinity that runs through the core of the wine also impresses. Lightly tannic and packed full of dense dark fruits, this beautiful and elegant wine will cellar well for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2035- 93

2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ was entirely sourced from this vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA. This shows a really dense core of fruit that mingles with the light tannin profile and salinity that runs through the wine. Deeply concentrated and rich, with layers of chocolate and sagebrush, this is beautiful now and will continue to impress for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2035- 93

2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Malbec- The 2017 ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Malbec is another fantastic bottling by the talented Ryan Crane. This 100% Malbec wine was aged in 40% new French oak before bottling. The nose is gorgeous with lovely smoky aromatics that mingle with shades of black tea, licorice and violet laced dark chocolate that all shine together in the glass. Dense and chewy, with a lovely mouthfeel and texture, this marvelously elegant wine is truly one of the best in the state. Drink 2019-2029- 93

Clos Mogador

Some of the great wines from Spain come from Priorat, a mountainous, utterly remote part of this country. I had such a wonderful visit to this historic region a few years back and was captivated by the rocky terrain and the terroir in the glass. Clos Mogador is one of the famed estates from Priorat. Even in the most challenging vintages, this wine impresses. I have been blown away with the past few releases of this wine. It is a Priorat that has incredible elegance, yet maintains bright acidity and has good power. Simply put, there is not a wine made like this in the world.

Winemaker René Barbier studied in Bordeaux and Burgundy before descending on Priorat some fifteen years back. He also previously worked at the famed Chateau Petrus before coming to Priorat. He is one of the famed winemakers of the region and his attention to detail shows in the glass. His vineyards are set on steep slopes with set on largely shale. The vineyards are set near the sea, so there is a wonderful saline streak to them that connects with the red fruits and marvelous tension. There is really no wine like this in the world.

The wine comes from an the 2016 vintage in Priorat and the 2016 Clos Mogador (WWB, 95) has everything you want in this style of wine with its err of tension that deftly combines with the power from its Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a wine that captures the art of blending. If enjoying young, be sure to give this beauty a two plus hour decant. Learn more about this world class winery at http://www.closmogador.com/ Here is the new release wine by Clos Mogador.

2016 Clos Mogador Red Wine- The 2016 Clos Mogador is a stunning new wine by this storied Priorat estate perched high in the Priorat hills. A blend of 49% Garnacha, 25% Cariñena, 16% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine shows off a deep core in the glass. Needing roughly an hour decant to be fully aroused, the wine slowly unveils ripe rose petals that mingle with bright orange zest and shades of black plum that all march in place in the glass. The texture and supple mouthfeel really entices as you are immediately greeted with wonderful bright acidity and a saline streak that races through the mid-palate. Layers of red and dark fruits collide with smoky and earthy undertones on the palate. Quite lithe and primary now, the 2016 Clos Mogador will provide drinking enjoyment for decades to come. Drink 20201-2040- 95

Clos du Val

One of the great historic Napa estates, Clos du Val was founded in 1972 and their winemaker, John Goelet, was one of the pioneering French winemakers to come to the Napa Valley. Over time the reputation of the winery gained national attention and Clos Du Val was one of the wines included in the famed Judgment of Pairis tasting of 1976. The winery began to expand their vineyard holdings, from 150 acres to star and 180 acres later that were purchased in the Carneros AVA.

They now produce several single vineyard wines, as that program began with their 2013 vintage. I had the chance to review several of their new single vineyard wines, all sourced from their estate Hirondelle Vineyard in the Stags Leap District and these wines were outstanding across the board. The 2016 Clos du Val ‘Hirondelle Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 93) is wonderfully balanced and poised with good range and a lovely texture. Even more impressive was the 2016 Clos du Val ‘Three Graces’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 95) which is a dense, monster of a wine that has great range from blue fruits to deep dark fruits and wonderful opulence. Learn more about this historic Napa winery at https://www.closduval.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Clos uu Val. 

2016 Clos du Val ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc- Sourced from the ‘Hirondelle Vineyard’ in the Stags Leap District of the Napa Valley, the ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc opens with intense Asian spice aromatics that mingle with shades of milk chocolate, cassis and tar that take their shape in the glass. The palate is plush, delivering a soft texture and wonderful brightness. Racy acidity runs through the core of dark fruits with chocolate and smoky undertones on the palate. The long finish lingers. This is simply marvelous in its youth and will continue to provide drinking enjoyment for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 92

2016 Clos du Val ‘Hirondelle Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Clos du Val ‘Hirondelle Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 21 months in 100% New French Oak before bottling. Needing an hour decant to be fully aroused, the wine slowly begins to unveil rich aromas of tar, creme de cassis, Turkish coffee and shades of red bell pepper that march in line in the glass. The palate is both decadent and well-structured, offering a hedonistic bent with a rich core of dark fruits that mingle with minerals, black tea and espresso bean flavors. A delight to savor in its youth, the 2016 Clos Du Val ‘Hirondelle Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon will cellar well for decades to come. Drink 2019-2038- 93

2016 Clos du Val ‘Three Graces’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Clos du Val ‘Three Graces’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a simply marvelous effort by this estate first started in the early 1970s. A blend of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with small portions Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc from their estate Hirondelle Vineyard, the wine begins with intense potpourri and exotic spices that mingle with a deep core of dark and blue fruits on the nose. The palate is plush, dense and seductive, offering intense blackberry pie, blueberry compote, licorice and dusty terroir flavors that combine with the lovely sense of minerality. While this preserves good opulence, there is a wonderful sense of balance and tension that runs through the core fo the wine. Gorgeous now in its youth, the ‘Three Graces’ will provide drinking enjoyment for the next twenty plus years. Drink 2019-2040- 95