Quilceda Creek

‘Power and finesse’ Paul Golitzin said with a twinkle in his eye as he glanced across the room at me. As I tasted his beautiful 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon wines, I couldn’t agree more. Seated across from Paul, one of North America’s great winemakers, it had been several months since we had visited and talked about his new wines as well as the most recent vintage. I have been fortunate enough to revisit every vintage of Quileda Creek over the past year, going back to the 2004 vintage. This kind of quality control helps me shape where this winery stands not only on the Pacific Northwest stage, but amongst the finest Cabernet Sauvignon producers in North America. For decades my family have been members at the winery, affording me the opportunity to visit these wines back in my early 20s, long before I was taking tasting notes on wines. Paul and his family talked about the new developments in the vineyards, particularly new developments in both Champoux and Galitzine Vineyards which will be exciting to see how that develops in the glass. Paul got his start in wine very young, and was particularly inspired following a trip to France at age 15. Mentored by his father Alex Golitzin and his great Uncle Andre Tchelistcheff, Paul took what he had learned and developed his own style that has been the most consistently great Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington State. I can’t say I knew I wanted to be a wine journalist on my first visit to France at age 17 (1997). But what I do remember is being consistently blown away with the food and wine culture throughout the two week visit. I think there is something remarkable about going to France at a young age and seeing the daily passion about food and wine that rings true regardless of generation there.

Back in September I was honored to the first wine critic to try the new 2018 Quilceda Creek wines wines — and while I felt the Cabernet wines needed a few more months of bottle age to come to my full conclusions, I found the wines to be absolutely magical. I spent time tasting these beautiful wines over several hours last night. Both wines are as good as it gets for Washington Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2018 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) is a wine that embodies opulence, yet possesses incredible tension and finesse, with a pillowy mouthfeel and texture. The purity of fruit here is just extraordinary, as this wine is a must-purchase for any serious collector of Washington Cabernet Sauvignon. Just as good is the more hedonistic-driven 2018 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvingon (OB, 100) is a massive, chewy and dense, wine that is sinfully good right now. Extremely powerful, this has cellaring potential that will eclipse two decades. Learn more about these incredible wines at quilcedacreek.com and here are my reviews of the nothing short of epic 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon wines by Quilceda Creek.

2018 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This is now the second time in the past six months that I have had the opportunity to try the gorgeous 2018 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon which marks the 40th vintage of this iconic Washington wine. This edition is as good as it gets for Washington Cabernet Sauvignon. Right away the gorgeous creme de violette and creme de cassis tones alongside blackberry. cordial, exotic spices with dark chocolate shavings that all take shape in the glass. The pillowy  texture provides an exotic appeal. The finesse is just incredible here as it effortlessly glides cross the mid-palate. Over more time the seamless texture becomes even more pronounced.  Sweet pipe tobacco and creme de cassis flavors are woven together with Black Forest Cake, fresh blueberries and graphite with shades of tar take shape on the palate. Truly sensational even at the two year mark, the 2018 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment over the next twenty plus years.  Drink 2022-2040- 100

2018 Quilceda Creek. ‘Galitzine. Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The heady, intense and decadent 2018 ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is just an incredible showing from this fantastic vintage on Red Mountain. A glass-staining purple, the bouquet is pure Red Mountain, showing off gorgeous scorched earth with violets, tar and tobacco leaf tones that all take shape in the glass. The dense palate is plush and full-bodied taking you on a full-throttle joyride. Gorgeous Turkish coffee and creme de violette flavors deftly combine with black currants,  pipe tobacco,  and cocoa dusted black cherry flavors.  Given more air this becomes even more magical. 2018 ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon will cellar well for two plus decades. Drink 2023-2045- 100

Cliff Lede

Napa Valley is filled with innovators. One of the great producers of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cliff Lede grew up involved with his family’s successful construction business in Canada, and first discovered the splendor of the Napa Valley while on a business retreat in the 1990s. Cliff had been an avid Bordeaux collector and was drawn to the incredible landscapes and wine culture of Napa. He saw the great potential in the Stags Leap District and founded Cliff Lede Vineyards. One year later, the southwest facing hillside just above the Silverado Trail which became his Poetry Vineyard. In 2009, he expanded to include cooler-climate varieties from the Anderson Valley in purchasing the Savoy Vineyard and the creation of a new brand, FEL, named for his mother, Florence Elsie Lede.

I have long been impressed with the quality of these wines —  particularly the wonderful terroir that is evoked with his Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings. I just adored their 2018 Cliff Lede. ‘Poetry’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) which is incredibly soft and has insanely good length. The core of blue and dark fruits is so impressive here. I love the new 2018 Cliff Lede ‘To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which is pure Oakville and shows beautiful damp soil tones alongside the core of dark fruits. These are just sensational new wines for any serious collector of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Learn more about this outstanding producer at https://cliffledevineyards.com/ Here are the beautiful new wines by Cliff Lede.

2019 Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc- Right away the gooseberry tones entice as cantaloupe and green apple also enter the fray aromatically. The palate is fresh and vibrant as the silky texture provides more enjoyment.  Layers of vanilla cream and green papaya combine with shades of pink grapefruit and kiwi on the palate. This is seriously good stuff that will cellar well for another seven years. Drink 2021-2027-  91

2018 Cliff Lede ‘High Fidelity’ Red Wine- This shows a beautiful sense of mouthfeel with dusty tannins that line the volcanic terror driven dark fruit profile. Given more air chocolate and coffee ground tones emerge with shades of black forest cake. Delightful to savor in its youth,  this beautiful red blend will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2021-2030-91

2018 Cliff Lede ‘Stags Leap District’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The gorgeous 2018 Cliff Lede ‘Stags Leap District’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning new wine by this famed Napa house. This shows gorgeous aromatic range from potpourri and violets to cassis and blackberry compote with espresso bean on the nose.  The palate is downright delicious. Rich layers of dark hydrants and dark chocolate cake meld with espresso bean and loamy soils on the palate.  Seriously good in its youth, this beautiful wine will provide drinking enjoyment over the next ten plus years. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2018 Cliff Lede ‘Poetry’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Poetry’ is sourced from their Stags Leap District site which has tightly spaced vines set on volcanic, fractured shale soils.  Dark and brooding once int he glass, this shows absolutely scintillating range on the nose from volcanic ash to creme de violette with tar, espresso bean and blueberry compote tones all melding brilliantly in the glass. The sense of poise, richness and tension is just marvelous here, as this effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Ripe dark currants collide with creosote, blueberry cordial, loamy soils and shades of dark chocolate laced Turkish coffee. The gratifying length adds to the drinking enjoyment. Sinfully good in its youth, this gorgeous, stunner of a wine will provide drinking enjoyment for many decades to come. Be sure to give this a two hour plus. Decant if enjoying in this beautiful nascent phase. Drink 2022-2045- 99

2018 Cliff Lede ‘Magic Nights Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 ‘Magic Nights’ is made in a more elegant style, with marvelous terroir. Once on the nose this takes on rich dark currants and dark chocolate tones that mingle with graphite, anise and exotic spices that are all woven together in the glass. The palate is silky smooth, with a wonderful texture and good depth. Layers of volcanic earth-driven dark fruits collide with smoke, minerals, and black tea tones on the palate. This finishes very long, as the gorgeous 2018 ‘Magic Nights’ will cellar well over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2036- 93

2018 Cliff Lede ‘Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon-  One of the hallowed sites in the Napa Valley, the ‘Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard’ is located in the western Oakville bench, and is set on gravelly loam soils with a high mineral content. The nose here is downright heavenly with creme de cassis, black olives and Asian spices alongside tar and blackberry compote tones. The palate is silky and elegant, effortlessly gliding throughout. Layers of rich kirsch and dark currants are woven together with roasted figs, blackberry cordial and mocha tones, with shades of creosote. The length here is really fantastic as is the gratifying texture. Gorgeous to savor in its youth, this beautiful new 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2023-2045- 96

2018 Cliff Lede ‘Songbook’ Cabernet Sauvignon- THE 2018 ‘Songbook’ is. sourced from the Thorevilos Vineyard, situated between the St. Helena and Howell Mountain AVAs, and Madrona Ranch, in foothills of the Mayacamas mountain range. The great aromatic range entices as lanes of mocha, tar, anise and creme de cassis with black olive all impress. The palate is soft, round and generous with a silky texture. Silky smooth throughout the drinking experience, the massive core of dark fruits combine with chocolate, pipe tobacco and creme de cassis with dried herbs and firm tannins holding everything together. Beautifully structured, with great mid-palate weight and density, this glorious new 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon will cellar well for another two decades. Drink 2023-2045- 97

Col Solare

Perched high atop Red Mountain, Col Solare is one of the most gorgeous wineries in the Pacific Northwest. The views from this legendary site are extraordinary. Col Solare is a historic partnership between Chateau Ste. Michelle and the Antinori Family that began with their first vintage in 1995, as Col Solare’s mission has been to amalgamate these two distinct viticultural and winemaking backgrounds to create a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon-based red wine from choice Red Mountain fruit. 

I have been really impressed with these wines since they first began making them with the 1995 vintage. I have been tasting this wine since their first vintage and I have been so impressed with the consistency of the wines. Both winemaker Darell Allwine and assistant winemaker Will Wiles are truly talented and you can taste the level of dedication and commitment in the glass. 

Col Solare make a host of wines now from their estate, including limited production single varital wines, under their ‘Component Collection’ label which are largely wine club wines. Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot. They are now making a higher end wine ‘Tenuta’ which was just as impressive of last year’s edition.

The 2017 Col Solari ‘Component Collection’ Syrah (OB, 95) is glorious and rich with incredible texture and length. The same is true with the scintillating 2017 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Malbec (OB, 94) which is dense and chewy, delivering a downright delicious core of blue and dark fruits, has a silky mouthfeel. This glorious and unabashedly monstrous beast will cellar well for decades to come. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.colsolare.com and Here is my review of the great new Col Solare wines.

2017 Col Solare Red Wine- Beautifully perfumed, this evokes violets and gravel tones alongside rich creme de cassis, anise and blackberry cordial tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is plush and marvelously textured. This shows amazing length and weight, with a massive core of dark fruits and chocolate alongside coffee grounds, sagebrush and exotic spices on the palate. This is marvelous to enjoy now at the four year mark, as the stunning 2017 Col Solari will cellar well for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2017 Col Solare ‘Collector’s Society’ Red Wine- The 2017 Col Solari ‘Collector’s Society’ Red Wine is a silky blend of mostly Merlot (57%) with 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. Dark. Chocolate with sagebrush and black currants all mark the nose. The textural elements of the wine are really gorgeous. Creme de cassis, black olive and Turkish coffee with blackberry compote and tar all come together marvelously on the palate. The seamless quality of the wine is gorgeous as this will provide drinking enjoyment for decades to come. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2017 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘Component Collection’ Syrah Syrah shows gorgeous toasty oak aromatics with black currants, smoked brisket and shades of chocolate that all come together marvelously in the glass. The palate is rich and volutupusuisu with a sinfully good texture. Great structure with milk chocolate with tobacco and a deep core of dark ruits with scorched earth tines that really impress. There is something that just screams Red Mountain about this beautiful wine that has at least another decade of life head of it. Drink 2021-2033- 95

2017 Col Solare ‘Component Collection’ Malbec- The 2017 ‘Component Collection’ Malbec shows bright violets with blackberry compote and white pepper dusted mocha tones alongside scorched earth that all take shape in the glass. The palate is plush showing a gorgeous sense of richness and complexity. Blueberry cordial and Black Forest Cake flavors march on parade with espresso bean and dark currants on the palate. The length here is really good, as this beautiful and decadent Malbec wine will provide drinking enjoyment for the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94

Chosen Family

I love introducing new Oregon winery projects. Chosen Family is a three-armed winery that utilizes the winemaking skills of Chase Renton and financial backing of former NBA star Channing Fry. Channing grew more and more interested in Oregon wines while playing for the Portland Trailblazers and various other teams along the way. He has Frye partnered with L’Angolo Estate and their Dundee Hills Vineyard, to create Chosen Family, and the first wines, a 2018 Pinot Noir and 2019 Chardonnay.

Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Channing had an illustrious career at the University of Arizona before becoming a pro and eventual NBA champion while with the Lebron James led Cleveland Cavaliers. Channing became particularly more enticed with wines of the world and Oregon wines while playing for the Orlando Magic. Evenings after games were spent at a special restaurant which fostered his wine education. 

Portland later became Channing’s home, as he loved visiting wine country and sharing wines of the world with those close to him. I think that Channing’s influence in the Oregon wine scene is just marvelous, not only because he is one of the few black winery owners but the depth of experience that he has being regularly exposed to wines of the world and wines from different cultures. Channing admits that he has a special affinity for Italian wines as well. 

I had never tried the Chosen Family wines and was really impressed with each wine. The beautifully textured 2019 Chosen Family Chardonnay (OB, 91) impresses with its melon tones and has some good aging potential. Even better was the seriously good 2018 Chosen Family Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which has great range and a great core of red and especially dark fruits. Learn more about these great new wines at chosenfamilywines.com Here are my reviews of the new Chosen Family wines. 

2019 Chosen Family ‘L’Angelo Estate’ Chardonnay- Big and wonderfully textured, the 2018 ‘L’Angelo Estate’ Chardonnay delivers nutty undertones that combine with ripe melon, Pink Lady apple and vanilla cream flavors. Beautiful and layered, enjoy this great new bottling over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2021-2028- 91

2018 Chosen Family ‘L’Angelo Estate’ Pinot Noir- Intensely colored once in the glass, the 2018 Chosen Family Pinot Noir shows off heady red currants and smoky tones that collide with shades of wild blackberry and black tea with Asian spices on this outstanding bouquet. The palate is soft, round and generous, with silky tannins and beautiful length. Ripe red and dark fruits mingle with smoky and peat moss and citrus rind tones on the palate. Outstanding to savor in its youth, this beautiful new wine will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035- 92

Pott Wines

I love telling great winemaker stories. Superstar winemaker Aaron Pott has steadily become one of the famed names in Napa. A world of wine awaited Aaron who built an illustrious winemaking resume as he took his studies at University of California, Davis, across the pond to Bordeaux, serving as winemaker at famed Right Bank house Château Troplong Mondot and later director of Château La Tour Figeac.

Aaron wanted to return to the Napa Valley and make world class Cabernet Sauvignon there, Aaron served as Beringer’s “flying winemaker” making wine in France, Italy and Chile, later taking over as winemaker at St. Clement in 2001. Aaron then was honored to become winemaker at famed property Quintessa in 2004 which was the same year that he brilliantly purchased a 76 acre (.2 acres planted) property on Mt. Veeder and began to develop their own vineyards. 2007 marked the birth of Pott Wines and as the first vintage of Incubo was created. The rest has been history as critics across the globe has lauded these beautiful wines. 

I haven’t had the chance to try these in several years and I was blown away with the consistency across the board. First off, the 2019 Pott Wines ‘Twenty Meters’ Viognier (OB, 93) is one of the great renditions of Napa Viognier that I have tasted over the past year. Fresh, viscous and beautifully textured, I adore the range imparted here. I was absolutely blown away with the 2019 Pott Wines ‘Agnes Soret’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 96) which is one of the finest Cabernet Franc wines that I have tasted in the past year. This wine simply screams terroir and varietal typicity. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.pottwine.com/ Here are my tasting notes for the new Pott Wines. 

2019 Pott Wines ‘Twenty Meters’ Viognier- Crisp and wonderfully viscous, the 2019 ‘Twenty Meters’ Viognier shows off a seamless texture and gorgeous sense of elegance. Pretty honeysuckle and white rose water tones combine with melon, green apple and nutty undertones on the palate. With beautiful length, this has some good cellaring potential picking up earthy and nutty tones as it ages. Drink 2021-2027- 93

2019 Pott Wines ‘Agnes Soret’ Cabernet Franc- Sourced from Mt. Veeder, this gorgeous wine shows off a massively dense color once in the glass. Layers of creme de violette and graphite mingle with anise and cassis cassis tones on this exotic bouquet. The palate is intense and massive with incredible poise and freshness. The pretty fruit quality is incredible here with layers of blueberry and blackberry flavors that are woven together with chocolate covered espresso bean and smoky minerals with firm tannins holding everything in place on the palate. Deep and intense, truly not for the faint of heart, the scintillating new ‘Agnes’ Soret’ really needs a few more years of bottle age to fully show its stuff. But what massive potential this has! Drink 2023-2040- 96

2018 Pott Wines ‘Space & Time’ Red Wine- The thrilling ‘Space & Time’ is an extraordinary new bottling by superstar winemaker Aaron Pott. Once on the nose this takes on layers of rich cassis, blackberry cordial and mocha tones alongside tar and graphite with exotic spices on this beautiful bouquet. The palate shows incredible freshness and verve with beautiful tension. Layers of chocolate covered espresso bean and black currants march on parade with minerals, creosote and sandalwood alongside elegant tannins. The length here is really gorgeous. Stunning to enjoy in its youth, this has another twenty plus years ahead of it. Drink 2023-2045- 96

2018 Pott Wines ‘Incubo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The dense and inky 2018 ‘Incubo’ is a really impressive effort by Pott Wines. Brazen and bold, once on the nose this shows beautiful violets that artfully combine with espresso bean, blueberry compote, volcanic ash and creosote tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is very refined and elegant, with silky tannins that line a massive core of dark fruits. With more air, dark chocolate shavings and Turkish coffee tones emerge, with shades of menthol, adding to the intrugue. A long-ager, this has some incredible potential and is even sinfully good at the two year mark. Drink 2023-2045- 96

Amavi Cellars

I love Washington wines that show good value. Over the years I have particularly admired the wines of Amavi that show a marvelous combination of terroir, expert winemaking and value. I think that Amavi must visit for those who love fruit driven, yet poised red and white wines (and killer Rose!). And the sweeping views of the Walla Walla Valley are nearly as good as the wines! Amavi is a small, family owned winery that sources from great vineyards such as Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Les Collines to create their rich and ready to drink wines. Head winemaker Jean-François Pellet is a third-generation winemaker and grape grower. Pellet also makes wines for Amavi’s sister property, Pepper Bridge. Pellet is one of the great talents in the Walla Walla Valley and he is a downright awesome guy to grab a glass of wine with.

As stated earlier, it has now been 15 years that I have been tasting these wines (possibly more) and the consistent quality is really remarkable.  

For many years now Amavi has been crating a Semillon that rivals the best in North America. Their new 2019 Amavi Semillon ()B, 92) is beautifully textured with a downright sexy mouthfeel and great range of flavors. I loved the 2018 Amavi ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah (OB, 92) which has great weight and acidity. This wine is really young now and will cellar well for another decade. vintage. Learn more about Amavi at http://www.amavicellars.com Here are the great new release wines from Amavi.

2019 Amavi Cellars Semillon- A fantastic expression of the varietal, winemaker Jean-Francois Pellet has blended in 15% Sauvignon Blanc to this great Borddeaux style white wine. On the nose this takes on grassy tones with beeswax and melon at the forefront. The palate is beautifully textured showing rich apple, pear, melon and Macadamia nut flavors, with waxy and earthy undertones. This is truly up there with the best in the state as this beautiful Semillon will age well over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2027- 92

2018 Amavi Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah was sourced from a host of vineyards including Stone Valley, Les Collines, Seven Hills, Summit View and Pepper Bridge. Aged in mostly neutral oak barrels (16% new) this shows really good freshness and verve. Rich dark fruits parade with chocolate and smoky undertones on the palate. Bright and really nicely balanced, enjoy this outstanding new Syrah over the next decade. Drink 2021-2030- 92

2018 Amavi Cellars ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah- A beautiful new Syrah, the 2018 ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah was aged in 27% new French oak prior to bottling. Smoky and dried herbal tones fill the nose with shades of black olive, black tea and blackberry compote on this beautiful bouquet. The palate has a vibrant sense of minerality, with a silky texture and rich mouthfeel. The length of this wine really impresses as layers of dark fruits are woven together with herbal and earthy undertones. Fantastic in its youth, this beautiful new bottling will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2021-2030- 93

2018 Amavi Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the outstanding 2018 Amavi Cabernet Sauvignon shows heady boysenberry cordial and black tea flavors woven together with minerals, dried herbs and chocolate with cofeee ground undertones on the palate. Truly outstanding in its youth, this has over a decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2033- 92

L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Vertical Tasting

Happy Inaguration Day to everyone. A winery that exudes class and consistency, I fondly recall tasting at L’Ecole No. 41 back in 2002 as a Whitman College Senior. For years I was struck by these wines that were an incredible value for what you saw in the glass. For years Marty Clubb helped build this brand into a national and international pillar of balanced and well-priced Washington wines. 

The third winery in Walla Walla, L’Ecole No. 41 the winery invested in their Walla Walla Estate Ferguson and Seven Hills Vineyards, now utilizing 100% sustainable farming practices. 

Over time L’Ecole No. 41 shifted to the ultra-premium market, crafting two wines, their ‘Perigee’ and ‘Apogee’ as their highest quality red wines. Marty had a unique vision for his ‘Apogee’ wine, and was the first winery to produce a wine from Pepper Bridge, their Bordeaux blend, Apogee, back in 1993. Sitting at 850 feet elevation, the Pepper Bridge Vineyard was originally 10 acres, first planted in 1991 and has expanded over the years to 175 acres. Located near the Blue Mountains, it is a cooler and more wet site than Seven Hills. Set on thin loess overlying deep, ice-age flood silts, this site is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec.

The ‘Apogee’ wines are made for long-term aging. I have long admired these special wines prior to my life as a wine critic. The wines are very classically structured, with incredible tension and finesse. Over the years I’ve found that these wines need considerable air before rounding out. The flavors and aromatics from these wines typically show a great core of black fruits with herbal and coffee tones. I was fortunate enough to try several older ‘Apogee’ wines for this special vertical tasting. One of the highlights certainly was there 2006 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is really at its peak now. Don’t be afraid to pop the cork on this one if you have a few bottles. The tannins were refined, as a massive core of dark fruits will greet you alongside lovely soil and herbal tones that round out this warm vintage red wine. Another highlight certainly was the 2008 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is absolutely scintillating now at the twelve year mark. This wine is dense yet highly elegant and still has an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Just as good is the 2012 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which has incredible tension and finesse, with  beautiful red and dark fruits alongside a rich mouthfeel and stunning texture. Learn more about these special wines at https://www.lecole.com/ Here are my notes from the L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ vertical tasting. 

2006 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- The gorgeous 2006 ‘Apogee’ is a compelling blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc all sourced from the ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ in the Walla Walla Valley. Ripe boysenberry puree and cigar ash emerge from the glass, alongside cocoa powder and coffee ground aromatics that all march in unison. The freshness is really impressive, as is the err of elegance, as very silky tannins frame a deep core of dark fruits, with sagebrush, espresso bean and loamy soil tones. The soft mouthfeel is great, as is the light dusting of salinity that adds to the enjoyment. Truly gorgeous right now at the fourteen year mark, the 2006 ‘Apogee’ has at least another five to ten years left. Drink 2020-2026- 94

2007 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- Coming from truly one of my all-time favorite vintages in Washington, the wine is a gorgeous blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Merlot and small parts Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Intriguingly both on the nose and the palate, there is a deeper core of red fruits than dark fruits that emerge, making this quite different to the 2006 bottling. This comes off even more elegant with herbal undertones that mingle with red currants, Rainier cherry, cocoa powder and firm tannins holding everything in place. I don’t see this wine improving but it is sensational now and the combination of freshness and tannin quality make me think this will go another decade, as the red fruits will slowly dissipate and more Bordelaise character will emerge. Drink 2020-2030- 93

2008 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- 2008 was known for its cool spring and warmth in the summer with few heat spikes and great conditions during harvest. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, with small parts Malbec and Cabernet Franc, this shows tar aromatics with pipe tobacco, mocha and shades of dark currants that all sing in unison. The mouthfeel and texture is pillowy and soft. Once on the mouth, this effortlessly glides, showing a seamless effect. Ripe red currants mingle with black cherry cordial, blackberry pie and chocolate covered espresso bean flavors. This is just sensational now,  as the 2008 ‘Apogee’ has a long wary to go in the cellar. Drink 2020-2030- 95

2010 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- The coldest vintage in the vertical tasting the 2010 ‘Apogee’ was sourced from a later harvest — a vintage that tracked similarly to 1999. The wine is one of the stars of the vintage, blending 56% Cabernet Sauvignon with 33% Merlot and the remainder Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Once on the nose this takes on layers of dark currants that mingle with blackberry cordial, cigar ash and Turkish coffee that all take shape in the glass. The palate has great finesse and texture. Ripe red and dark fruits parade with mocha, creosote and garrigue with salty undertones. This is fabulous at this drinking stage, as the 2010 ‘Apogee’ will cellar well over the next five to seven years. Drink 2020-2026- 93 

2012 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- Truly one of the great vintages in Washington over the past twenty years, the 2012 vintage saw ideal temperatures throughout the growing season. A gorgeous blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec and small portions Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the wine shows anise, menthol, dark currants, and red cherry cordial tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is soft, round and generous, giving off a fantastic sense of mouthfeel. This is highly elegant wine with great poise but very nice mid-palate ripeness. Ripe red and dark fruits mingle with a light veil of salinity that combines with coffee grounds and sagebrush on the palate. Gorgeous to enjoy at the eight year mark, this beautiful wine has a long way to go. But why wait? Drink 2020-2035- 95

2013 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- Sourced from a very warm vintage, intriguingly L’Ecole No. 41 moved to add 15% Malbec to this blend, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (20%). Rich dark chocolate espresso bean (maybe from the Malbec?) mingles with smoke, black currants and black cherry compote on the nose. The palate is soft and generous with a great sense of tension and salinity. Layers of rich dark fruits parade with mocha, tar, anise and stony minerals. This is fantastic, beautifully textured stuff now that has a long way to go. Drink 2020-2033- 94

Doubleback

One of the outstanding producers of Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington, Doubleback is the storied project founded by NFL legend, Drew Bledsoe and his wife, Maura. Drew has circled back following his brilliant career. Originally from Walla Walla, he was a star at Walla Walla High School before his illustrious tenure at Washington State University. Drew has visions of starting his own winery for many years and going back to Walla Walla was the perfect choice for him. During his years in the NFL he continued to expand his palate, trying various wines of the world. But there was something special about wines from his home state, as he grew to love the balance of the wines of this region that weren’t old world but also weren’t Napa.

Drew returned to Walla Walla in 2007 to plant his estate vineyard, McQueen on the southern end of the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Doubleback was born in 2008 which would focus on estate fruit to create world class Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla. Drew knew he needed a top class winemaker and connected with childhood friend and superstar winemaker, Chris Figgins, of Leonetti Cellar, who served as consulting winemaker until Josh McDaniels assumed the role in 2015. Josh has done an incredible job with this program and his new releases were some of the best ever.

I adored his 2018 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which shows impeccable balance and a seamless texture. This is the second time I have tried this wine and I was blown away each time. I was totally enamored by their 2018 Doubleback ‘Estate Reserve’ Red Wine (OB, 97) which is even more dense and intense, really needing a few years of bottle age to unlock this hedonistic monster of a wine. Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.doubleback.com/ Here are the gorgeous new 2021 spring release wines by Doubleback.

2018 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon-It has now been several months since I first visited this wine seated with Josh McDaniels. He opened the 2018 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon with a twinkle in his eye and admitted that he felt this is the finest rendition of this wine yet. He has blended in 5% Malbec and 5% Merlot to this outstanding, inky-colored wine. Needing an hour in the decanter to be fully aroused, this shows really good aromatic range from sagebrush, violets and dark chocolate covered espresso bean to exotic spices and tar tones that are woven together in the glass. The palate is silky and elegant, with an incredible texture and soft mouthfeel. This seamlessly glides across the mid-palate, delivering rich boysenberry cordial, mocha, anise and creme de cassis tones alongside creosote and graphite tones. The length is exceedingly good. A standout bottling, the 2018 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon will cellar well for many decades. Be sure to give this a very long decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2022-2040- 96

2018 Doubleback ‘Estate Reserve’ Red Wine- The thrilling 2018 ‘Estate Reserve’ is a gorgeous blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec that was sourced from the McQueen and Before vineyards. The wine was aged in a combination of French oak and Italian concrete vessels prior to bottling. The heady aromatics entice with creme de cassis, tar, blueberry compote, and exotic spices with dark chocolate all giving this an exotic edge. The palate is deep and intense with a massive core of dark fruits alongside blueberry pie, creme de violette, cassis, anise, dark chocolate covered espresso bean and sandalwood tones. The combination of power and precision makes a wine that has both an Aston Martin interior and a Ferrari 350 Modena engine. This really needs a couple of years to show its full potential. If you can’t hold off trying this beautiful wine, be sure to give this a three plus hour decant. Drink 2024-2050- 97

Fidelitas

“I think what we are doing is fine tuning things as we go on with time” said Charlie Hoppes. “We know what barrels go best with vineyard lots and this is a process that continues. There are different things that the barrels can add. It is a continuous process.” I fondly remember tasting with him at Fidelitas since they first opened on Red Mountain. My father and I had several voyages over to the region when outposts were emerging at this hallowed spot and I fondly recall talking with Charlie who was so thrilled at his modern tasting room, with a killer outdoor space and sweeping views of the valley. Fast forward more than ten years, I sit at my tasting studio with the new Fidelitas wines — which are some of the best I have ever had from this great house. 

The 2018s from Fidelitas have a marvelous sense of place. “I think these are some of the best wines I’ve ever made” said Charlie. “But we can still do better. I think these really have great varietal character that jumps out at me. You see that more with our Malbec but I think with 2018 there is more white pepper and spice that you don’t see every year. 2018 was not 2010 or 2011 where things were cold and not 14 or 15 where things were too warm. This vintage sits right in the middle and on Red Mountain rain we can ripen everything well. I think that makes a big difference. Because of the site we can let them hang a hit and get more phenolic ripeness which is important.”

What I love about all of these wines is that they are obviously quite big but show great finesse. Each wine has a beginning, middle and an end. The length of these wines literally catches you off-guard. Cheers to Charlie and his exquisite set of red wines and here are my reviews of the glorious 2018 Fidelitas red wines (spring 2021 release). 

2018 Fidelitas ‘Optu’ Red Wine- Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (67%), for years I have enjoyed this silky blend by the talented Charlie Hoppes. This Red Mountain-based rendition incorporates 20% Merlot as well as 7% Petit Verdot and the remainder Cabernet Franc. Tobacco and tar aromas capture your immediate attention, alongside a rich core of dark fruits, with garrigue tones all taking shape in the glass. The palate is rich, elegant and beautifully textured. Firm tannins hold the ripe boysenberry and black cherry syrup flavors alongside chocolate dusted espresso bean and scorched earth flavors that make this unmistakably Red Mountain. Gorgeous and hedonistic in its youth, this gorgeous new wine will provide drinking enjoyment over the next ten to fifteen years — or more! Drink 2021-2033- 94

2018 Fidelitas ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Mainly sourced from the Quintessence Vineyard (73%), the 2018 ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon needs an hour decant to he fully awoken. Swirl your glass generously and you’ll find creosote aromas that combine with blackberry compote, and Turkish coffee with exotic spices that all meld together beautifully. The palate is big and bold, with velvety tannins and a silky mouthfeel. The structure, hold and richness reminds me of a great Bordeaux from a warm vintage like 2014 or 2015. The length here adds to the enjoyment, as this finishes extremely long with loamy soils, black currants and shades of tar. Sensational in its youth, enjoy this over the next fifteen years and be sure to give this at least an hour in the decanter if enjoying over the next several years. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2018 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from one of the hallowed spots on Red Mountain, the 2018 ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning new bottling by Charlie Hoppes and Fidelitas. The finesse here is outstanding, as is the pillowy texture and sense of weight. Creme de cassis, mocha, tar, anise and sandalwood flavors combine with herbal and earthy tones on the palate. This finishes exceedingly long. What a downright killer Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy young, but this beauty has a long way to go. Drink 2021-2040- 95

2018 Fidelitas ‘Heart of the Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine was aged in 100% new French oak prior to bottling. This is a massive wine with incredible structure and verve. Dense black currants collide with blackberry compote, black cherry cordial and mocha tones on the nose with scorched earth undertones. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a lovely purity of fruit. Like the other wines, the length of the wine adds to the enjoyment. Only an infant now, this gorgeous new 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment for another fifteen to twenty years. Give this at least two hours in the decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2022-2040- 95

2018 Fidelitas ‘Heart of the Hill’ Malbec- Deeply colored in the glass, the 2018 ‘Heart of the Hill’ Malbec is another thrilling release by Fidelitas. Needing an hour in the decanter to be fully expressive, once awoken this yields layers of blue fruits alongside Asian spices, Black Forest Cake and espresso bean tones with tar accents that all take shape in the glass. The palate is soft, round and generous with firm tannins and a massive core of blue and dark fruits that mingle with Turkish coffee and scorched earthy flavors. Rich and chewy, with a gorgeous mouthfeel, this is one of the great examples of Washington Malbec that I have tasted over the past year. Seamless and rich, enjoy this beautiful effort over the next fifteen years. Drink 2020-2035- 95

2018 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Petit Verdot- A glass-staining purple, the 2018 ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Petit Verdot is a thrilling new wine by Fidelitas that shows the great potential of this varietal. Right away the combination of blueberry and green bell pepper point you in the PV direction, as creosote and rich cassis tones also add to the enjoyment. The palate is beautifully structured with vibrant acidity that connects the core of dark fruits with chocolate covered espresso bean and scorched earth flavors. This really needs another two years to fully develop — as I am really impressed with the potential of this beautiful wine. Drink 2023-2037- 94

Roederer Estate

It is hard to believe that one of the California greats in sparkling wines was founded back in 1982. It was the vision of Jean-Claude Rouzaud, president of Louis Roederer, who saw  the cool climate and rolling fog of the Anderson Valley to craft some of the region’s finest sparkling wines. The 580 acre estate produces four sparkling wines: the multi-vintage Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut, debuted in 1988, the Brut Rosé and Roederer Estate's vintage tees de cuvee, L'Ermitage and L'Ermitage Rosé. 

Great capture of the rolling fog of the Anderson Valley descending on the estate vineyards of Roederer Estate.

Under the current leadership of Jean-Claude’s son, Frédéric Rouzaud, the new wines by Roederer Estate were seriously good across the board. Their winemaking teamselects a por­tion of the best wines for aging in large French oak casks (1,200 to 1,800 gallons each). Aged on average 4 years, wines from this reserve cel­lar are added to the blend, cre­at­ing a mul­ti-vin­tage cuvée. For L’Ermitage they utilize reserve wines from casks are used at proportions less than 5% to maintain vintage designation. I adored the new NV Roederer Estate ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 91) which is fresh and beautifully textured with a very pretty red fruit profile. Dense, massive and possessing a magical sense of mouthfeel, the 2013 Roederer Estate ‘L’Ermitage’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 95) is a masterclass in California sparkling wine. The range and weight of this wine is truly incredible, as this is a must purchase for any serious collector of new world bubbles. Learn more about this outstanding sparkling wine house at https://roedererestate.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Roederer Estate.

NV Roederer Estate ‘Anderson Valley Brut’ Sparkling Wine- Given 12G/L dosage, this saw two years on the lees before disgorgement. Sourdough bread and yeasty tones combine with baked apple and shades of honeydew melon on the nose. The palate is fresh with a soft mousse. Gravenstein apple flavors are woven together with nutmeg infused Chalah bread, lemon zest and hints of ripe strawberry on the palate. The range here is really good for the price, as this is best enjoyed over the next five to seven years. Drink 2020-2025- 90

NV Roederer Estate ‘Anderson Valley Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- A blend of 56% Pinot Noir with the remainder Chardonnay, the Roederer Estate ‘Brut Rose’ was given 11 G/L dosage and was blended with some oak-aged reserve wines before disgorgement. High-toned red fruits mingle with red florals, and shades of wild mushroom on this beautiful bouquet. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a silky mouthfeel. The texture entices as ripe guava and red cherry combine with melon and apple tones on the palate. This has a great sense of balance. Delightful to savor now, this will cellar well over the next five to seven years. Drink 2020-2025- 91

2013 Roederer Estate ‘L'Ermitage Sparkling Wine- The 2013 ‘L’Ermitage’ Sparkling Wine is a sensational new release from a what was a challenging vintage for much of the Anderson Valley. A blend of 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir, this saw 8 G/L dosage and included 4% reserve wines. Aged for five years in French oak prior to disgorgement, this shows green apple and baking spices, with nutty undertones on the nose alongside sourdough bread that all takes shape in the glass. The mousse is silky and really entices, as does the rich, oily texture. Kumquat zest and nutmeg infused French bread with, Granny Smith apple, wild mushroom and salted almond flavors all meld marvelously. The exceedingly long finish provides the perfect crescendo, as this beautiful sparkling wine will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another ten to fifteen years — possibly more. Drink 2021-2035- 95

Pášxa

I am pretty convinced that grapes touched by Todd Alexander turn to gold. Such alchemy can be found in the new exciting brand, Pášxa, a partnership between Todd and Carrie Alexander as well as Mike Martin of The Walls. A man needing little introduction, Todd Alexander has forged an illustrious winemaking career, crafting incredible wines for Bryant Family Vineyards, before partnering with Force Majeure Vineyards — and completely transforming the brand into a world-class wine program from fresh, beautifully textured and vibrant Viognier, to inky, deep and brooding Syrah. Todd is at the helm in crafting Rhone style Pášxa wines from The Rocks District of Milton- Freewater. The Pášxa team includes Owner Mike Martin, General Manager Carrie Alexander, Viticulturist Damon Lalonde and Vineyard Manager Serafin Saldana.

Todd Alexander has crafted a sensational inaugural set of releases.

Their inaugural 2018 wines are sourced from River Rock Vineyard, as well as a small amount of Syrah from the famed SJR Vineyard. There is quite an exciting future for Pasxa, as in 2020, this program transitioned to feature estate fruit from Mike Martin’s recently purchased ‘Rockgarden Vineyard.’ This will be a really exciting development moving forward and in addition to these holdings, Martin and Alexander began planting additional blocks at the estate ‘Petros Vineyard’ in the Rocks AVA which will eventually be added to this program.

I will fully admit that I adored the new Pášxa wines. I’ve obviously never tried any of these wines before and I tasted these wines over several hours and found that my notes were consistent from the retesting efforts. I was floored with the overall quality of these three wines. The wines from the ‘River Rock Vineyard’ are on par or eclipse anything I have ever tried from that site — and the same is true from their magnificent new 2018 ‘SJR Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 97) a monumental wine that is seamless and elegant, yet generously textured, showing scintillating range. Learn more about this truly thrilling new project at pasxa.com Here are the downright killer new wines by Pášxa.

2018 Pášxa ‘River Rock Vineyard’ Grenache- Highly perfumed and fragrant, the 2018 Pášxa ‘River Rock Vineyard’ is a resounding achievement in this enticing vintage for red wines. Needing a one hour decant, once awoken, the wine shows off pretty ripe red currants and red cherry candy combine with shades of green olive, Umami, and a dusting of white pepper that complete the beautiful range of aromatics. The palate is soft and voluptuous with a velvety mouthfeel. The wine shows a seamless quality, effortlessly gliding across the mid-palate. Layers of guava puree, Kalamata olive, red raspberry cordial, red rose water and Mandarin orange rind flavors all brilliantly combine, with stony and salty undertones. After more air, this becomes more seamless — all leading to the brilliant red fruit, wet stone and citrus rind driven finish. A resounding success even in its youth, this gorgeous and very pretty new Grenache wine from The Rocks District, will provide drinking enjoyment for another decade. Be sure to give this beauty plenty of air if enjoying now. Drink 2021-2031- 95

2018 Pášxa ‘River Rock Vineyard’ Syrah- Inky and deep once in the glass, the 2018 Pášxa ‘River Rock Vineyard’ Syrah is another gorgeous effort from this exciting inaugural release. Given an hour of air in the decanter, the Syrah opens with bright violet tones that deftly combine with shades of Hoisin sauce, beef drippings, and aromas of Black Forest Cake, with stony undertones on this beautiful nose. The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate reveals a sinfully good texture and downright voluptuous mouthfeel — clearly Todd Alexander’s genius at work. You are immediately greeted with a great range of black fruits (huckleberry, boysenberry, black raspberry) alongside smoldering stones, Umami, Spanish green olive and shades of bacon fat on the palate. The combination of richness, range and acidity here is just gorgeous. Sensational to savor in its youth, this will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 96

2018 Pášxa ‘SJR Vineyard’ Syrah- Pášxa is one of the few wineries that sources from the illustrious ‘SJR Vineyard’ owned by Steve Robertson and located in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. Initially aromatically reticent, this is really needing more than an hour in the decanter to be fully awoken. The nose is well-worth the wait, as black pepper dusted venison and Umami aromatics are woven together with blackberry jelly, black tea, white truffle shavings and exotic spices that all take shape in the glass. The palate is soft and plush with a seamless texture that effortlessly glides. The flavor range is seriously good with bulls blood and nori tones that mingle with blood orange zest, peat moss, wild blackberry and Earl Grey tea flavors. The combination of texture, length, sour fruits and Umami character makes this unmistakably Rocks. The oak integration here is also gorgeous, as this generous yet pillowy Syrah will provide drinking enjoyment over the next ten plus years. Drink 2021-2031- 97

Brian Carter Cellars

It has now been several years since I have written about one of the outstanding outposts in Woodinville, Brian Carter Cellars. Obviously we are in the midst of the pandemic, but Brian Carter has had some significant accomplishments over the years. Brian has worked over 40 vintages in Washington State. For years I very much enjoyed visiting their tasting room in Woodinville, particularly seeing how he has captured the art of blending wines that are atypical but delicious renditions of Washington red and white wines. 

Having an illustrious history in the wine industry, Brian studied microbiology at Oregon State University, where he discovered his appreciation for the wines of Oregon. After two years at the University of California-Davis School of Enology, Brian honed his winemaking then worked sat esteemed California houses Mount Eden Vineyard and Chateau Montelena. He longed to start his own project and founded Brian Carter Cellars back in 2006, first making his own wine in 1997.

Brian clearly has a firm handle on white blends. For years I have enjoyed his ‘Oriana’ and the 2018 Brian Carter ‘Oriana’ White Wine (OB, 91) is fresh and beautifully textured with lovely range. This wine would pair with a dazzling array of foods, from fresh fish to poultry. I love the 2014 Brian Carter Cellars ‘Le Coursier’ Red Wine (OB, 92) which is now at the six year mark showing a very soft mouthfeel from the Merlot and gorgeous black fruits with mocha tones. This wine is really getting into its sweet spot. Learn more at briancartercellars.com Here are the outstanding new wines by Brian Carter. 

2018 Brian Carter Cellars ‘Oriana’ White Wine- The 2018 ‘Oriana’ blends Viognier (49%) with Roussanne (41%) and the remainder Riesling. The wine comes off really novel with orange blossom, green papaya and sweetened melon flavors. Full-bodied with a great sense of texture, enjoy this beautiful new wine over the next several years. Drink 2020-2025- 91

2016 Brian Carter Cellars ‘Tuttorosso’ Red Wine-  Mostly Sangiovese, this shows rich plum and baking spice tones on the nose alongside raspberry coulis and tobacco leaf — all offering intrigue. The palate is fresh and vibrant with great mouth-watering acidity. Rich red and dark fruits parade with citrus rind, tobacco and earthy undertones. Beautifully textured, this is fantastic now, as the 2016 ‘Tuttorosso’ will provide drinking enjoyment over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2020-2028- 92

2015 Brian Carter Cellars ‘Byzance’ Red Wine- A Grenache dominant (54%) Rhone style blend, this shows forward red fruits with baking spice tones and a soft mouthfeel. This might not have have the most complexity, but it is really delicious now at the five year mark. Drink 2020-2024-  90

2014 Brian Carter Cellars ‘Le Coursier’ Red Wine- A blend of 58% Merlot with smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, this shows a very soft mouthfeel. Rich dark currants and sandalwood tones combine with mocha, tar and leather on the palate. Gorgeous now, this will provide drinking enjoyment over the next five to seven years. Drink 2020-2025- 92

2017 Brian Carter Cellars ‘Big Daddy’ Red Wine- An ode to the Douro, this blends mostly Touring Nacional (56%) with smaller parts Souzao, Tinto Cao and Tinta Roriz. As the name suggests, this holds a really sturdy mouthfeel but also shows a good veil of tension. Intense black fruits and violets mingle with espresso bean tones on the palate. Glorious now, this will cellar well over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2020-2028- 91

2014 Brian Carter Cellars ‘Opulento’ Port Style Wine- Sourced from the Yakima Valley, this delicious Port style wine shows seriously good flavor range from toffee and dark chocolate to Turkish coffee, blackberry cordial and sweetened Earl Grey tea flavors. Not for the weary, this excellent and complex wine will provide drinking enjoyment over the next decade. Drink 2020-2030- 92

Brook and Bull

There are not nearly enough female run and female owned wineries in the Pacific Northwest. It is my pleasure to write about one of the great ones out of the Walla Walla Valley. Ashley Trout, a fellow Whitman College graduate, continues to produce some really great wines. I would be remiss without taking about her other brand, Vital Winery, which partners with a host of other wine industry entities, from coopers to other wineries, and amazingly all of the Vital Wines profits go to the SOS Clinic, a free, non-profit health care clinic in the Walla Walla area dedicated to helping all people receive free healthcare. I can’t think of any other Pacific Northwest winery that focuses on giving to this level. This is not only a visionary project but the new wines are seriously good. 

Ashley Trout got her start in the Washington wine industry at age 18. A fellow Whitman graduate, I had the chance to interview more than a year ago (http://www.washingtonwineblog.com/blog/2019/2/14/interview-with-ashley-trout-ownerwinemaker-of-vital-wines-and-brook-amp-bull) as she was a delight to speak with. In 2018 she was also  named by Wine Enthusiast as one of ‘the top 40 under 40 tastemakers.’

She has crafted a beautiful range of wines for Brook and Bull. I love the 2019 Brook and Bull ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 91) which is fresh and vibrant with a long finish. Even bette is the 2018 Brook and Bull ‘The Silent Ode’ Red Wine (OB, 92) which is a glorious Bordeaux style wine that has really deep dark fruits, with marvelous tension and a nice kick from the Petit Verdot. This has at least another decade in front of it. Learn more about this great new project winery at www.brookandbull.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Brook and Bull Wines.

2019 Brook and Bull ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay- The nose here is really nice with toasted brioche and apricot tones alongside green apple that all meld in the glass. The palate is well-balanced with good freshness, weight, finesse and poise. Wait for the really long finish! Drink 2020-2025- 91

2018 Brook and Bull ‘The Silent Ode’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘The Silent Ode’ red wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 20% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot that was aged in largely neutral oak barrels (20%) new. Gorgeous violets and black cherry cordial tones combine with sagebrush and mint on this complex nose.  The palate is deep and intense with plenty of freshness. Layers of deep dark fruits collide with minerals, dark chocolate shavings and sagebrush tones with firm tannins and espresso bean undertones on the palate. Gorgeous in youth, this will stand the test of time or at least another decade. Drink 2020-2030-  92

2017 Brook and Bull ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is an awesome new release by the talented Ashley Trout. Once on the nose this takes on good aromatic range from fresh mint and blackberry cobbler to mocha, tar and black licorice tones that all meld in the glass. The palate is round and generous with good length and a silky mouthfeel. Ripe dark currants and blackberries mingle with minerals, smoke and dried herbs, with good length and persistence. Drink 2020-2032- 91

2018 Brook and Bull Malbec- Inky, literally a glass-staining purple, this shows off good aromatic range from exotic spices and sage tones woven together with chocolate, Turkish coffee and rich dark fruits on this great bouquet. The palate shows good freshness and fruit density. Layers of rich dark cherry, blackberry compote and mocha collide with minerals and creosote tones on the palate. Great and seductive in its youth, this beautiful wine has more than a decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2033- 92

2018 Brook and Bull Petit Verdot- Inky once in the glass, the 2018 Petit Verdot shows green bell pepper and gobs of dark fruits with chocolate fudge tones on the nose. The palate is deep and intense with violets and dark cherry tones woven together with smoky minerals, green bell pepper and tobacco leaf flavors. Intense and decadent, this is a gorgeous effort that will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Be sure to give this a long decant if enjoying now. Drink 2020-2033- 92

Lange

I love Pacific Northwest wineries with great history. One of the great historic Oregon wineries set in the Dundee Hills, Lange Estate was founded by Wendy and Don Lange in 1987. Their son, Jesse has a longstanding history in the wine industry and began helping his parents as a small child. Jesse’s formal winemaking training occurred at New Zealand’s Lincoln University while on a student exchange scholarship from Oregon State in 1999. Jesse then spent two years as cellar rat for winemaker Bruce McGuire at Santa Barbara Winery prior to coming back to his family winery. He joined the winemaking team in 2004 and now serves on the board of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association. In 2018 I had the chance to visit the new tasting hall at Lange which has sweeping views of the valley. It is really a sight to be seen!

I have been really impressed with the overall quality coming from Lange. I loved the 2019 Lange Rose (OB, 90) which is fresh and vibrant that is perfect for when weather warms up a bit. The 2019 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris (OB, 92) shows what potential this varietal can have, with a silky texture and really good range. Just as good was the gorgeous 2018 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which combines mouthfeel, verve and even cola tones. This is big and rich Oregon Pinot Learn more about this outstanding Oregon winery at https://www.langewinery.com/ Here are the great new wines by Lange Estate

2019 Lange Rose- Sourced from Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, the Lange Rose shows vibrant red fruit with a lovely citrus zest edge, with copious minerals. While this comes of a bit lean and linear, the lighter texture add to the enjoyment. Drink 2020-2024- 90

2019 Lange ‘Classique’ Pinot Gris-The 2019 ‘Classique’ Pinot Gris opens with hints of ripe pear and nectarine rind with wet stone and kiwi accents that round out then nose. The palate is well-structured with lovely minerals that mingle with gooseberry, pear and cantaloupe flavors. Bright and showing a great vein of tension, this beautiful wine is best enjoyed in the short-term. Drink 2020-2024- 90

2019 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris- An awesome new bottling, the 2019 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris by Jesse Lange shows off a wonderful viscosity with bright pear and green apple flavors that meld with shades of nutmeg infused sourdough bread and lighter lemon zest tones. The range here imparted is seriously good. While delightful in its youth, the 2019 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris will provide drinking enjoyment over the next seven plus years, picking up earthy tones as it ages. Drink 2020-2027- 92

2019 Lange ‘Classique’ Chardonnay- the 2019 ‘Classique’ shows light pear and baking spice tones on the nose. The palate delivers a superb sense of minerality, with silky pear, kiwi and green apple flavors, with lighter damp earthy tones. This is an exceedingly good value that will be best consumed in its youth while the vibrant structure remains intact. Drink 2020-2025- 90

2018 Lange ‘Classique’ Pinot Noir-The 2018 ‘Classique’ shows nice freshness and verve, delivering medium-bodied red fruit and forest floor flavors with a silky texture. With its bright acidity and juicy fruits with orange rind accents, this is delicious stuff to enjoy in the short-term. Drink 2020-2025- 90

2018 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir is an awesome new bottling by the talented Jesse Lange. Hints of cola come together with the Mandarin orange zest and bright red fruits on the bouquet. The combination of bright red fruits, racy acidity and silky texture all entice on the palate. Seriously good in its youth, I can see this beautiful wine cellaring well for a decade or more. Drink 2020-2030- 92

Frank Family Vineyards ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir Retrospective

I think some of us somehow forget how great Pinot Noir from the Napa Valley can be. Sure, it is easy to overlook this varietal in a place where Cab is the resounding force, but I have been really impressed with Pinot Noir particularly in the cooler sites throughout this region. Frank Family has been around for nearly 30 years. As the former President of Disney Studios, Rich Frank traveled extensively across the globe, trying the great wines of the world. Over time he knew that Napa Valley was the perfect setting to start a winery. Leslie Frank also had an incredibly successful career, spending more than 25 years covering news stories, and the last nine years of her TV news career reporting and anchoring at the number-one-rated station, KABC in Los Angeles. Rich and Leslie manage everything from vineyard purchases, to sales and marketing. 

Superstar winemaker Todd Graff first stated with Frank Family in 2003. I loved his wines across the board as he has really earned a fantastic reputation for his Chardonnay wines over the years but he also makes a sensational Pinot Noir. While their entry level Pinot is fantastic, their crown jewel, the ‘Reserve’ is sourced from the Lewis Vineyard which is located in Carneros in close proximity to San Pablo Bay. This wine is aged for ten months in 50% new French oak which integrates so well with the fruit. I adored the new 2018 Frank Family ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is fresh and vibrant with a wonderful rich mouthfeel. The 2015 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) shows what a little bottle age will do. This wine is dense, showing now really good earthy tones but carries the wonderful cola and bright red fruits. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.frankfamilyvineyards.com/ Here are my tasting notes on the ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir wines by Frank Family. 

2015 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir is at a perfect place right now. Still incredibly youthful, this shows a really good range of red fruits with cola tones and wild mushroom on this evocative bouquet. The palate is fresh and has a wonderful feel of fatness, with a silky texture. Layers of pomegranate seed and cherry cola collide with minerals, damp earth and shades of black truffle shavings on the palate. This is sinfully good stuff right now that will cellar well for another decade or more.  Drink 2021-2031- 94

2018 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- Every bit outstanding, the 2018 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a glorious new wine by Todd Graff. Once on the nose tones of red rose petal and red raspberry are woven together with smoke, cran-pomegrante and shades of dusty terroir. The palate is rich and viscous, with a great veil of tension. Ripe Yakima cherry flavors combine with baking spices, minerals and cran-orange flavors with light damp earthy tones. This finishes very long. Great to savor in its bright phase now, the 2018 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir will be long-lived. Drink 2021-2033- 93

Lytle-Barnett

One exciting new sparkling house out of Oregon, Lytle-Barnett has impressed with their recent releases that saw extended aging. I love the concept of waiting several vintages to release bubbles. Lytle-Barnett utilizes talent across the globe as they have commissioned Pregon’s iconic winemaker, Andrew Davis, as well as South Africa’s sparkling winemaker Pieter Ferreirain making their méthode champenoise wines. 

It is expensive to make Oregon Sparkling Wine and these wines aren’t cheap at $75.00 retail. I will say that I was massively impressed with the new lineup of wines, having never tried these. I hadn’t viewed the website until I wrote my review and I saw that a colleague reviewed these similarly, which is good inter-rater reliability that the wines are seriously good. Look to the 2014 Lyle-Barnett ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 92) which has really good polish, finesse and weight. This beauty will cellar well for at least another decade. Learn more at https://lytle-barnett.com/ Here are my reviews of the great new Lytle-Barnett wines. 

2014 Lytle-Barnett ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The 2014 ‘Brut’ is a seriously good effort from a vintage that was hard to making sparkling wines in Oregon. feeling of weight and tension is really good here despite the obvious warmth of the vintage. Meyer lemon zest laced brioche and porcini mushroom and forest floor tones combine with the silky mousse, giving this an err of elegance. This is seriously good in its youth, as this has some good aging potential. Drink 2020-2030- 92

2015 Lytle-Barnett ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- The 2015 ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine is a great new release from this new winery. Bright lemon rind and sourdough bread tones connect with hints of baking spices with green apple tones all fill the nose. The palate is bright and this wine is highly linear with citrus zest and Japanese pear flavors with salty undertones. Drink 2020-2028- 90

2013 Lytle-Barnett ‘Blanc de Noir’ Sparkling Wine- Sourced from this challenge vintage in Oregon, this shows nice weight with ripe peach and Pink Lady apple flavors alongside Challah bread and wild mushroom on the palate. This is really good stuff that is already showing good earthy tones, as the 2013 ‘Blanc de Noir’ will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2020-2030- 92

2013 Lytle-Barnett ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- Fresh, vibrant and energetic, the 2013 ‘Brut Rose’ shows sour red fruit aromatics that dance wit kumquat zest and cinnamon sticks that all take shape in the glass. The palate is fresh and shows really good finesse, with layers of cranberry and guava alongside green apple and peat moss flavors. Complex and delightful to savor in its youth, this great new Rose will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2020-2030- 92

Foxen

I love family wineries that exude class. Foxen is one of the outstanding producers in Santa Barbara. Set in the rolling hills, if you have never visited Foxen, you are in for a treat. Foxen has two distinct lines of wines – one that focuses on Bordeaux style wines and another that produces Burgundian styles, along with an some gorgeous single vineyard Syrah. Sideways decided to film one of their big scenes here but even after that exposure Foxen remains one of the hidden gems of the valley. 

I first tasted here in 2003 and has been immensely impressed with the overall quality of wines since that time. Foxen has gained a national reputation for world class Pinot Noir but their Bordeaux wines are also very impressive. I adored the 2018 Foxen ‘Bien Nacido Vineyard Block UU’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is dense and beautifully textured with amazing range. . Even better was the scintillating 2014 Foxen Block 8 Bien Nacido Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is a true heavy hitter of a wine, that shows inanely good range and gorgeous charcuterie notes. Learn more about these outstanding wines at http://www.foxenvineyard.com/ Here are some of the fantastic new release wines from Foxen.

2018 Foxen ‘Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard’ Chenin Blanc- Always a novel wine for the region, the 2018 ‘Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard’ Chenin Blanc shows Juicy Fruit gum and cantaloupe flavors that mingle with minerals, salted cashew nuts and a silky texture. This finishes long. Great to enjoy right now, this will cellar well over the next five to seven years. Drink 2020-2027- 92

2019 Foxen ‘Tinaquaic Vineyard 5 Rows’ Chardonnay- Bright pear and green apple tones alongside white florals and salted Marcona almond tones all impress on the nose. The palate is soft, with a pillowy texture. Great acidity and rich nectarine and Pink Lady apple flavors are woven together with grassy and melon undertones. Drink 2020-2027- 92

2018 Foxen ‘Bien Nacido Vineyard Block UU’ Chardonnay- The terroir here is undeniable as one whiff and you’ll grab a wonderfully salty ocean breeze. Ripe peaches and Japanese pear tones are woven together with minerals, salty terroir, banana and salted Macadamia nut on the palate. The unctuous texture and wonderful length add to the enjoyment, as the 2018 ‘UU Block’ is an utterly sensational wine with some good aging potential. Drink 2020-2030- 94

2018 Foxen ‘Santa Maria Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 Foxen ‘Santa Maria Valley’ Pinot Noir is a killer entry level bottling from this famed house. Once on the nose this shows pretty red florals woven together with tobacco leaf, Bing cherry and salted charcuterie tones that all meld in the glass. The palate is silky smooth, with an amazing combination of texture and verve. Guava and red cherry candy mingle with shades of pomegranate seed and orange rind with baking spices on the palate. Gorgeous in its youth, this beautiful wine has at least a decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2030- 93

2017 Foxen ‘Block 8 Bien Nacido Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this famed site in the Santa Maria Valley, the ‘Block 8’ was used in 3 and 4 year old oak barrels before bottling. Wonderfully salty terroir immediately creates its impact on the nose alongside ripe strawberry and wintergreen tones that march in union. The palate is seamless and silky smooth. Ripe red fruit flavors collide with minerals and salty undertones, with exceedingly good length. Juicy and downright delicious to savor in its youth this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2020-2033- 95

2017 Foxen ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Fabulous, flamboyant and downright sexy, the 2017 ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a crazy good effort by the talented Foxen winemaking team. Immediately you are drawn to the cranberry and pomegranate seed tones that mingle with fennel and baking spices and salted meats that show seriously good aromatic range. The palate is silky and elegant, with a wonderful feeling of weightlessness. Ripe red currants, wild strawberry and red cherry candy flavors mingle with minerals and salty undertones. Complex and delicious to enjoy now, this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2020-2033- 95

2017 Foxen ‘Cuvee Jeanne Marie’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Cuvee Jeanne Marie’ is a unique blend of 70% Grenache with 30% Mourvedre that was sourced from the Williamson-Dore Vineyard. Smoky tones mingle with white pepper, lavender, Hoisin sauce and rich dark fruits with chocolate undertones on this complex bouquet. The palate is soft and round with a terrific mouthfeel and texture. Bright red and dark fruits collide with smoked brisket, bacon fat and creme de violette. This is gorgeous to enjoy now and will cellar well for at least another ten years. Drink 2020-2033- 93

2018 Foxen ‘Tinaquaic Vineyard’ Syrah- Sourced from this older, dry-farmed site in the Santa Maria Valley, the 2018 ‘Tinaquaic Vineyard’ Syrah shows smoked meats and lavender tones on the nose alongside blackberry compote and creosote. The palate is soft and elegant with a pillowy mouthfeel. A deep core of dark fruits mingle with milk chocolate, garrigue and smoky tones on the palate. Gorgeous to enjoy in its youth, this has at least another decade ahead of it. Drink 2020-2032- 93

2017 Foxen ‘Tinaquaic Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- The herbal tones provide plenty of allure here, with boysenberry tones alongside bell pepper and dried sage on this beautiful nose. The palate is soft, round and generous. Layers of dark fruits mingle with coffee grounds and the beautiful herbal tones of the wine. This finishes very long. Gorgeous in its youth, this will cellar well over the next decade or more. Drink 2020-2033- 93

2017 Foxen 7200 ‘Los Poteros’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 ‘Los Poteros’ Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe and generous once on the mouth. Layers of blackberry compote, espresso bean, black tea and exotic spices all impress on the palate. Sensational already at the three year mark, this will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2020-2032- 92

Figgins Red Wine Vertical Tasting

Today it is my pleasure to share one of the storied houses in Washington, based in Walla Walla. Figgins is magic project formed by Walla Walla native, Chris Figgins — truly one of the great talents of the Pacific Northwest. What was originally a wheat farm, the 32 acre Figgins Estate Vineyard was first planted in 2004 and plays host to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Originally Figgins Estate only made two wines each year, a Riesling and a Red Blend and more recently they have started to produce a wine made of Merlot and Petit Verdot, their ‘Figlia’ which is a beautiful tribute to Chris’s two daughters. 

The Figgins Red Wine is always a proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It is a wine of serious cellaring potential akin to the Leonetti wines that Chris has been so famous for. The Figgins Estate Vineyard. Itself is a sight to be seen. It is a majestic property that has sweeping views of the the Walla Walla Valley. Set at 1750 feet this great vineyard experiences massive diurnal shifts. The first vintage of the Figgins Red Wine was 2008 and I have recently had the great opportunity to revisit these special wines. I was not surprised how consistently great they were.

Considering the challenges faced in 2011, the 2011 Figgins Red. Wine (OB, 92) is silky with really great aromatic flavor range. This is a massive success. I was blown away with the 2014 Figgins Red Wine (OB, 94) which is dense and massive but has incredible structure and poise.  Similarly, the 2015 Figgins Red Wine (OB, 94) is one of the great wines out of Walla Walla this vintage. This beautiful wine is only now coming into its own. Learn more about these incredible wines at http://www.figginswine.com Here are my notes from vintages 2011-2015 for the Figgins Red Wine. 

2011 FIGGINS Red Wine- The 2011 FIGGINS Red Wine is taken from this cooler vintage in the Walla Walla Valley. A blend of roughly two thirds Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot and a touch of Petit Verdot, this shows nice herbal tones with sagebrush and red bell pepper alongside anise and dark currants that all meld in the glass. The palate is soft and elegant with a beautiful acidity. Medium bodied dark fruits meld with shades of cocoa powder, graphite, herbal tones and tar on the palate. Akin to the 2011 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon,  the 2011 FIGGINS Red Wine is really good considering the challenges faced that vintage. Drink 2020-2026- 92

2012 FIGGINS Red Wine- The 2012 FIGGINS Red Wine is a spectacular showing now at the eight year mark. This is now the second time in the past several months that I have had a chance to visit this beautiful wine. A proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot that was aged for 22 months in 70% new French oak before bottling, once on the nose this takes on beautiful dark florals that mingle with dark chocolate covered espresso bean and Black Forest Cake tones that march in unison. Every working part of this wine is in harmony right now, whether it is the light herbal tones, the gorgeous black fruits, coffee grounds and black cherry cordial. This is just gorgeous to savor right now and has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2033- 94

2013 FIGGINS Red Wine-The 2013 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon was a revelation when I tasted it for the Decanter article this summer and provides nothing short of a thrilling joyride throughout. Taking a bit of a back seat to that wine, yet still utterly fabulous, the 2013 FIGGINS Red Wine was aged in 62% new French oak for 20 months before bottling. Black tea and exotic spices mingle with a great core of dark fruits alongside tones of creosote and graphite on the nose. The palate is soft and elegant with a silky texture. Ripe dark currants collide with coffee grounds, blackberry compote, and herbal undertones. Gorgeous now at the seven year mark, this has more than a decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2033- 94

2014 FIGGINS Red Wine- It has been several years since I have visited this beautiful wine — and I am very glad that I did. The 2014 FIGGINS Red Wine is in a gorgeous spot at the six year mark. A proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, this was aged for 21 months in 61% new French oak prior to bottling. Black raspberry cordial and blackberry compote tones mingle with violets, green bell pepper and dark chocolate shavings on this beautiful bouquet. The palate has considerable weight and a great sense of verve, with a silky mouthfeel. A great veil of tension falls upon the core of dark fruit flavors with Turkish coffee, dried herbs and black licorice. With great length, this beauty is only starting to hit its stride. Be sure to give this at least an hour in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2020-2038- 95

2015 FIGGINS Red Wine- The 2015 FIGGINS Red Wine is a seriously good effort from what was a difficult vintage to make red wines. The whiff of green bell pepper from the Petit Verdot offers immediate impact with layers of boysenberry cobbler, Earl Great tea and espressos bean all rounding out this great bouquet. The palate is fresh and layered with great viscosity and tension. Rich dark fruits collide with chocolate covered espresso bean, dark florals and creme de cassis flavors with graphite undertones. This is seriously good stuff that is really singing now and will provide drinking enjoyment for the next fifteen years. Drink 2020-2035- 94

Melka Estates

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

The Melkas have crafted some new releases that were simply marvelous, coming from the warm, 2015 vintage in Napa and Sonoma. One of the great Merlots in California from the Knight’s Valley, the 2017 Melka Estates ‘Mekerra La Mekerra Vineyard’ Merlot (OB, 96) has insanely good dark fruits and a silky smooth texture. This memorable wine will cellar well for the next two decades. I was absolutely blown away with the 2016 Melka Estates ‘Metisse’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which is intense and massive, having another two decades of aging potential. This winery is quite simply on a roll. Learn more at https://www.melkaestates.com Here are my reviews of the new Melka Estates wines. 

2017 Melka Estates ‘CJ’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 ‘CJ’ is a great blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Merlot, Petit. Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Gorgeous dark florals mingle with allspice, black licorice and tones of Turkish coffee on this beautiful bouquet. The palate shows great acidity with layers of dark fruits that mingle with coffee ground and scorched earth tones. The ‘CJ’ is really great in its youth and has another decade or more to go. Drink 2020-2033- 93

2017 Melka Estates ‘Mekerra La Mekerra Vineyard’ Red Wine- The ‘Mekerra’ red wine was sourced from the Knight’s Valley and spent 22 months in French oak (60% new) prior to bottling. This opens with a deep core of dark firm tannins holding everything together neatly. Ripe figs and dark currants come to mind, with espresso bean and loamy soils rounding everything out. Gorgeous now, this has many years in the cellar to go. Be sure to give this a two hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2020-2035- 96

2017 Melka Estates ‘Metisse Jumping Goat Vineyard’ Red Wine- Cherie and Philippe Melka has sourced this outstanding new bottling from the ‘Jumping Goat Vineyard’ as this blends nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (92%) with the remainder Petit Verdot. Right away the deep floral aromatics catch your attention with mocha, tar and dusty soils that all take shape in the glass. The palate is deep and layered with a silky texture. Ripe black cherry and creme de cassis tones collide with minerals, creosote and pipe tobacco on the palate. Really good even so young this beautiful wine could use another two years in the bottle for everything to fully establish. Drink 2022-2040- 96

2018 Melka Estates ‘Majestique’ Syrah- Cherie and Phillipe Melka has now been sourcing from the ‘Paderewski Vineyard’ for several years. This wine is quite simply Paso Robles at its finest. Inky and deep once in the glass, this takes on chocolate cake tones alongside tar and black licorice with black olive tapenade tones rounding out this evocative nose. The palate is deep, intense and downright delicious. Not only quite massive, but the err of freshness with a light salinity imparted is really impressive. Deep dark currants and black cherry cordial mingle with coffee ground flavors on the palate. Utterly sensational in its youth, this has another fifteen years of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2033-  96

Fullerton

A great boutique winery out of Oregon, Fullerton was founded in 2012 by Eric and Susanne Fullerton. Head winemaker Alex Fullerton heads the 4500 case production winery, crafting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Alex has previously worked as Penner-Ash, as well as Drylands in New Zealand. He began making his own wine out of his garage in 2011. The tasting room is located in Northwest Portland.

I think that the latest edition of releases might be the best from them. These collectible wines were sensational across the board. The 2018 Fullerton ‘Montazi Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) beautifully showcases this great site. The salty terroir and mouth-watering acidity is really fantastic. Loved the 2018 Fullerton ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which has awesome finesse nd range, from red and black fruits to pine needles. Learn more about these awesome new wines at http://www.fullertonwines.com Here are the great new releases from Fullerton Wines:

2018 Fullerton ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- One of the unique sites in the Willamette Valley, the ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ was planted on two separate soil types by Oregon legend Mo Momtazi. The 2018 edition of this wine shows great aromatic range from red florals to red currants and salty soils alongside orange rind and peat moss tones that all sing in unison. The palate is full of mouth-watering acidity, leading to bright red fruits that dance with forest floor and orange rind tones, with firm tannins holding everything in place. The long finish adds to the enjoyment as the beautiful 2018 ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2020-2033- 93

2018 Fullerton ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Nestled in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, the ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ has old vine Pinot Noir (clone 115 and Pommard) that is set on Willakenie soils. The dark fruit profile on the nose entices with wild blackberry and huckleberry alongside peat moss and shades of dark truffle crudo. The palate is beautifully balanced with bright acidity and a silky mouthfeel. Your mouth literally waters as you taste through the core of dark fruit flavors alongside minerals, smoke, pine needles and shades of cloves. Great to enjoy in its youth, the 2018 ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will cellar well for decades to come. Drink 2020-2035- 93

2018 Fullerton ‘Lichtenwalter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Lichtenwalter Vineyard’ is a south-facing site located in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. Bright red fruits and violet tones combine with shades of baking spices and blood orange rind on the nose. The palate is soft and generous with its pillowy texture. Red currants and red raspberry tones combine with baking spices, peat moss and shades of wild mushroom on the palate. Great to enjoy now, this has the structure and weight to cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2020-2033- 93

2018 Fullerton ‘Bella Vida Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Locared in the Dundee Hills AVA, the ‘Bella Vida Vineyard’ is planted to clones 113, 667 and 777, set on volcanic soils. Once on the nose this takes on a wonderful whiff of volcanic earth, with white pepper, red currants, orange rind and red cherry candy tones alongside damp earth on this complex bouquet. The palate is fresh and elegant with a soft mouthfeel. Pretty red fruits dance with citrus rind, damp earth and shades of white truffle with pie crust tones on the palate. Gorgeous in its youth, this will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another ten years. Drink 2020-2033- 93

2018 Fullerton ‘Brutus’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Brutus’ is a limited production (70 cases) production of Pommard. Clone wine from the ‘Fir Crest Vineyard.’ The wine does come off quite big once on the mouth, with its rich texture. Layers of boysenberry preserves, cigar ash, black tea and exotic spices all fill the palate, with orange rind and pine needle flavors all providing intrigue. Despite the large amount of whole cluster fermentation (75%), this is already quite beautifully evolved now. Drink 2020-2033- 93

2018 Fullerton ‘Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- I’ll admit that this is my first soiree into this vineyard which is located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The nose is super high-toned with red rose petals and shades of orange blossom that combine with the core of red fruits. The palate is refined and elegant with pretty red fruits that dance with blood orange zest, peat moss and baking spices. Nicely textured, this has the length and acidity to last for at least another ten years. Drink 2020-2030- 92

2018 Fullerton ‘Arborbrook Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Arborbrook Vineyard’ is set in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, as this wine utilizes clones 115, 667, 777, Pommard and Coury. The palate is fresh and refined with a silky texture. Bright orange zest and cigar box tones collide with Bing cherry, pomegranate seed, peat moss and firm tannins that hold everything together. The length of the wine is pretty appealing. Glorious to enjoy in its youth, the 2018 ‘Arborbrook Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will cellar well over the next decade or more. Drink 2020-2030- 92

2018 Fullerton ‘Croft Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Croft Vineyard’ Pinot Noir utilizes clones 115, 777, Pommard and Wadenswil, as this site is known for the maritime effect coming from cool Pacific breezes. Fresh and vibrant, this has a terrific veil of tension that races through the core of the wine. Black raspberry and wild blackberry tones mingle with minerals, smoky undertones and shades of peat moss on the palate. Fabulous to savor now, this will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2020-2033- 93