Whiskey by John Howie

Chef John Howie has started a new bar, Whiskey by John Howie.

One of the bright Seattle food and wine stories so far in 2021, iconic chef John Howie opens his new bar this Friday, Whiskey by John Howie in Bellevue’s swanky Braveryn. This will include a world-wide selection of whiskeys of hundreds of whiskeys, curated by in-house expert Tim Lodahl.

Whiskey by John Howie also features specialty whiskey cocktails as well as bar bites like a house made burger with bleu cheese, as well as Waygu brisket flatbread, and tasty mac and cheese.

I personally cannot wait to check this new spot out and congrats to John Howie for his new location. For more info check out https://cdn.chefjohnhowie.com/.../Whiskey-Dining-2-5-21.pdf

Pepper Bridge

I love Washington wines that capture great richness and poise. This combination has been a consistent theme in Pepper Bridge wines over the years. Located in a gorgeous country setting outside of Walla Walla, the winery is set on a hill with stunning views of the estate vineyards —Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and Les Collines, some of the famed vineyards in Washington. Head winemaker Jean-François Pellet, has a longstanding history in the Washington wine industry. A third generation wine grower, Pellet’s wines have received considerable acclaim. 

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. Along with making wine in Spain, he was responsible for managing 500 acres of vineyards, designing a new winery and developing a market for the product. He then worked at famed Heitz Cellars for four years until he was recruited to work at Pepper Bridge. 

‘JF’ as he is fondly known as, is one of the great people you will meet in Walla Walla wine. Humble and incredibly knowledgable, I look forward to my visit with JF each year and was fortunate to meet up with him in 2020 prior to the Pandemic. His new release wines come from the warm 2017 vintage. I found them to be beautiful across the board. I am consistently impressed with his Merlot wines and his 2017 Pepper Bridge Merlot (OB, 93) exhibits great tension, with a rich mouthfeel and beautiful varietal typicity. This one has some great cellaring potential. Even better is the 2017 Pepper Bridge ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and has gorgeous dark currant tones with good weight and viscosity. Learn more about Pepper Bridge at www.pepperbridge.com. Here are the great new release wines from Pepper Bridge winery.

2019 Pepper Bridge Sauvignon Blanc- The 2019 Pepper Bridge Sauvignon Blanc is a vibrant and beautifully textured new release that really needs a bright sunny day. Layers lemon oil and kiwi combine with green papaya and gooseberry tones on the palate. Seamless and soft, showing a great combination of weight and finesse, this beautiful wine will provide drinking enjoyment over the next seven plus years. This is Washington meets Bordeaux Blanc. Drink 2021-2027- 92

2018 Pepper Bridge Merlot- The 2018 Pepper Bridge Merlot is a beautiful new wine by the talented Jean-Francois Pellet. Sourced from mainly the Seven Hills Vineyard (63%), as well as the Pepper Bridge (30%) and Octave (7%) vineyards, this shows off beautiful cocoa powder covered Bing cherry and sandalwood tones alongside graphite and red raspberry cordial on this beautiful bouquet. The palate is deep and plush, showing off a silky texture and great sense of mouthfeel. Rich red and dark fruits parade alongside milk chocolate and coffee grounds on the palate. The length adds to the enjoyment, as this outstanding new wine is best enjoyed over the next ten plus years. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2017 Pepper Bridge ‘Trine’ Red Wine-  The 2017 ‘Trine’ is a silky blend of 42% Cabernet Franc with 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller portions Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Aged in 41% new French oak before bottling, this shows nice sagebrush tones with a great core of dark fruits, with coffee ground and tobacco leaf undertones that all meld in the glass. The palate is silky smooth with a soft texture and great sense of elegance. The length adds to the enjoyment as this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2017 Pepper Bridge ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ red wine combines mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (55%) with smaller parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The working pieces here are really great, with ripe dark currants that mingle with sagebrush, mocha, tar and blackberry compote on the palate. The flavor density here and range is wonderful, as this beautiful wine is really only starting to show its potential now at the three year mark. Drink 2021-2038- 94

2017 Pepper Bridge ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine- A blend of 52% Merlot with 23% Malbec and the remainder Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ is a beautiful effort from this warm vintage that brilliantly combines poise and richness. Once on the nose this takes on layers of ripe red and dark fruits with menthol and chocolate tones that all take shape in the glass. The sense of freshness and tension is wonderful here as dark currants and pipe tobacco combine with blackberry cordial and Turkish coffee with herbal undertones on the palate. With gratifying length, this outstanding new wine will cellar well over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2017 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon- Composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder small parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the wine was mainly sourced from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyards. This has beautiful balance with great tension and mouthfeel. Ripe cassis and anise tones combine with coffee grounds,  huckleberry and sage accents on the palate. Firm tannins hold everything in place, as this brilliant new Cabernet Sauvignon has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035- 94 

R. Lopez de Heredia

I love wine with an amazing sense of place. R. Lopez de Heredia is one of the famed properties in the La Rioja region. It has an incredible history as R. Lopez de Heredia was founded in the nineteenth century when French negociants visited the Rioja region to find alternative sources of quality grapes to transform into wine, following their phylloxera epidemic had decimated their vineyards. Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, started his winery in Haro, the capital of the Rioja Alta region. The winery is a stunning older building with one of the coolest wine caves that I have ever seen.

I was blown away with my visit to R. Lopez de Heredia which was one of the highlights of my trip to Spain. The winery even has its own in-house barrel maker as the attention to detail in the wines is unbelievable. R. Lopez de Heredia wines are aged considerably longer than most and they are only sold when the winemaker finds them to be drinking perfectly. Their current releases are more than a decade old.

The new releases from this house were stunning. The new release is exceptional which is coming from somewhat of a challenging vintage in Rioja. The 2008 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Rioja Reserva (WWB, 95) which shows tremendous weight and verve despite obvious challenges of the vintage. This is one of the great 2008 Rioja wines that I have sampled. Learn more about this famed  winery athttp://www.lopezdeheredia.com Here are the beautiful new wines by R. Lopez de Heredia.

2008 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Reserva Rioja- The 2008 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Reserva is a spectacular effort in a difficult growing season that saw ideal weather at harvest. Aged for six years in handmade 225L American oak vessels, this saw a further four years of bottle age prior to release. The aromatic range here is quite impressive, from toasty oak and cranberry to peat moss, pipe tobacco, leather and pomegranate seed with red floral undertones that all meld in the glass. The silky texture offers and air of elegance. Pine needles and a rich core of red fruits collide with minerals, orange zest and salty undertones on the palate. The balance here and long finish add to the enjoyment. Spectacular now at the thirteen year mark, the 2008 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Reserva Rioja will provide drinking enjoyment for several more decades to come. Drink 2021-2038- 95

Cardinale

I fondly remember several visits to Cardinale, looking out across the valley and letting the sunshine soak in. One of the iconic Napa wines, Cardinale is not only known for its incredible red blend but it is truly one of the most beautiful spots to taste wine in the entire Napa Valley. Cardinale is located in the Napa floor, in Oakville not far from Robert Mondavi Winery. It is pretty common for them to have several vintages available which provides such a fun contrast to go back and forth between these gorgeous wines. The Cardinale Red Wine is a Cabernet wine with smaller parts of Merlot blended in. At the helm is superstar winemaker, Chris Carpenter, is an MBA graduate who has previously worked for Domaine Carneros, Domaine Chandon California, as well as Tenute Antinori, Santa Cristina Estate, in Montefiridolfi, Italy, before coming to Cardinale. Chris is humble when talking about his wines. He is truly one of the great talents of Napa.

A few years back I took in an epic vertical tasting of Cardinale at the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Chris talked about the aging potential of these wines, that are rich but highly structured with a great combination of power and finesse. The new release is simply magical and has so much aging potential. The 2017 Cardinale Red Wine (OB, 96) is dense and hedonistic now, just really only an infant. I can imagine this will cellar well for twenty five plus years. Learn more about these stunning wines at http://www.cardinale.com/ and here is my tasting note for the gorgeous new 2017 Cardinale Red Wine. 

2017 Cardinale Red Wine- The 2017 Cardinale Red Wine is a magnificent effort from this somewhat challenging vintage in the Napa Valley. The wine has 5% Merlot blended in but this wine really does scream top notch Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Right away the dark currants deftly combine with espresso bean, scorched earth and lovely bell pepper tones on this intense bouquet. The palate is beautifully textured with wonderful length and verve. Layers of creme de violette and exotic spices are woven together with tar, Black Forest Cake and mocha on the palate. Gorgeous to savor at the three year mark, be sure to give this an exceedingly long decant if enjoying in its vibrant youth. Drink 2022-2045- 96

Leonetti Cellar Sangiovese Vertical Tasting

It was several years ago and my friends and I were running through some blinds in Las Vegas. After revealing our respective guesses my friend revealed his wine — a 2002 Leonetti Sangiovese — a wine of pristine quality and provenance. I was floored by the wine’s youthful behavior as I had guessed a 2008 Washington Bordeaux style wine. The wine was incredible and one of the most memorable of the trip, as we were all floored by the aging potential of this brilliant wine.

Leonetti has truly earned a national reputation for their Sangiovese wine. Quite simply, you would be hard-pressed to find a more consistently great producer of Sangiovese in North America. Leonetti Sangiovese certainly has earned its stripes as the top producer of Sangiovese in Washington. At the helm since 2002 has been superstar winemaker, Chris Figgins. A fellow Arsenal supporter and avid aviator, Chris crafts his Sangiovese wines to drink more like Bordeaux varietals in terms of flavor density, richness and dark fruit tones, yet the wines remain distinctly Sangiovese in terms of tannin quality and verve. These wines age incredibly well.

I recently had the great opportunity to taste through several older vintages of Leonetti Sangiovese and blown away with the overall quality and aging potential of these wines. Right at the top is the 2006 Leonetti Sangiovese (OB, 96) which is a magnificent wine that has a good portion of Merlot blended in, adding to the chocolate tones. This wine has another decade to go! The same is true with the epic 2008 Leonetti Sangiovese (OB, 95) which is dense, chewy and is beautifully textured and structured. In terms of newer wines, I was awe struck by the 2014 Leonetti Sangiovese (OB, 95) which is a massive wine that is unabashedly bold for the varietal — yet has a weightless character that makes this incredibly refined. Learn more about these special wines at leonetticellar.com and here are my reviews of what was a brilliant Leonetti Sangiovese vertical tasting.

2006 Leonetti Sangiovese- Weighing in at 14.3% alcohol, this Sangiovese was aged in 500L puncheons before bottling, as Chris Figgins chose to blend in a significant portion of Merlot (12.5%) into this brilliant, warm vintage wine. Right away the potpourri tones really entice, alongside ripe strawberry and red cherry tones with tobacco leaf and orange rind accents rounding out this expressive bouquet. The palate is liquid silk and quite simply unlike any Washington wine or new world Sangiovese wine of its kind. There is no doubt the Merlot makes this even softer, as copious red fruits dance with minerals, chocolate, sage and blood orange zest tones. The bright acidity and wonderful length of this wine add to the enjoyment. Now at the fourteen year mark, this is nowhere near the end of its journey. Drink 2021-2031- 96

2008 Leonetti Sangiovese- 2008 was a near-perfect vintage in the Walla Walla Valley, and this is just a wonderful expression of the balance obtained this vintage. Chris sourced this wine from the Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and Mill Creek Upland Vineyards and blended in 8% Syrah to this wine which was aged for 22 months in mainly neutral oak (some puncheons) prior to bottling. Once on the nose this takes on milk chocolate and sagebrush tones alongside crushed mint, red raspberry preserves and red rose petal tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is well-structured and highly elegant. With an hour of air more bright red fruits enter the fray showing red cherry, guava and cran-pomegranate tones alongside burnt orange, pipe tobacco and balsam flavors, With marvelous length, this has at least another decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2031- 95

2010 Leonetti Sangiovese- Deeply colored once in the glass, the cool vintage 2010 Leonetti Sangiovese is a resounding success from this challenging vintage for many in Washington. Chris has blended in a larger portion of Syrah (11%) no doubt to create a larger sense of weight in the wine. Now at the eleven year mark, this shows gorgeous aromatics of exotic spices and menthol alongside cassis, red cherry candy and leather tones, making this really rustic and novel stuff aromatically. The palate is soft, round and generous with a wonderful sense of mouthfeel. Layers of pretty red fruits collide with minerals, orange zest, smoked meats, Asian spices, black tea and Cuban cigar tobacco on the palate. This is really tasty stuff, with its velvety tannins and round mouthfeel. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2012 Leonetti Sangiovese- The 2012 Leonetti Sangiovese is a simply magical wine from this classic vintage in Washington State. This is the first vintage that Chris has elected to blend in a larger portion of his estate Aglianico (8%) into the blend, as well as 12% Syrah. Black and red currants mingle with chocolate, tobacco leaf, leather and damp earth tones. The palate is soft and downright pillowy — almost reminding me of the 2012 Leonetti Merlot that I tasted earlier in the year. The sense of balance here is exquisite, as is the velvety texture. Firm tannins hold in  place layers of red and dark fruits alongside milk chocolate dusted coffee bean, sage, blood orange rind and loamy soils. Elegant, yet rich and viscous, this is serious stuff that is right in its sweet spot now and has gobs of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2033- 96

2014 Leonetti Sangiovese- The 2014 Leonneti Sangiovese is a stunning wine from this warm vintage in Washington State. On the nose this shows off red cherry candy, tobacco leaf and leather tones alongside exotic spices and blood orange zest that all take shape in the glass. The palate is plush, with a seamless texture and velvety mouthfeel. This is a big wine for the varietal, yet the weightless experience adds another layer of class. Light tannins line the core of ripe red currents and blood orange zest alongside smoky minerals and herbal undertones. Deep and intense, this one of a kind Sangiovese is really only and infant now and needs a two hour decant to unlock its full potential if enjoying now at the six year mark. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2016 Leonetti Sangiovese- It has now been roughly two years since I have visited this exceptional wine. At now four years of age, this is a show-stopper with incredible finesse, richness and length. Right away the nose provides plenty of allure with pretty red rose petals alongside sagebrush, orange rind and rich red fruits with smoky undertones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is fresh, round and elegant with an incredible texture. Ripe red cherry and red raspberry flavors meld with minerals, smoked pork shoulder and cran-orange flavors on the palate. This wine is every bit as good as when I first tried it and is still really an infant, needing a ton of air to fully be aroused. I can imagine this will cellar well for at least another fifteen years, Drink 2021-2038- 95

Mirror Napa Valley

It takes a lot of competitive drive and spirit to make it both in the NFL and wine business. One of the storied names in Seattle sports history, Rick Mirer is a former Seattle Seahawk quarterback that is now applying his trade in Napa, producing brilliant Cabernet Sauvignon wines. One of the most illustrious high school quarterbacks in Indiana state history, Mirer earned the Academy of Achievement Award as the top high school football player in the country in 1989, as well as the Atlanta Touchdown Club's Bobby Dodd Award as the nation's best high school quarterback. At Notre Dame, Mirer was just as good, winning three bowl games and accounting for more points running and throwing (350) than any other player in Notre Dame history. 

The Seattle Seahawks were a very poor team when they drafted Mirer in 1993. Still, Mirer finished his rookie season 5th in the AFC with 274 completions and 2833 yards and was AFC Rookie of the Year by United Press International. Mirer’s remaining seasons were not as successful in Seattle, being set behind an abysmal offensive line. Having gone to those games in the 1980s, all of us in the stands knew that Mirer was really not given a fair chance with such poor protection. Eventually traded to the Chicago Bears in 1997, Mirer continued to play as a backup quarterback until 2004. 

Close friends with Drew Bledsoe, and drafted right behind him in 1993, Mirer admits that his friendship with Bledsoe helped lead him to start Mirror Napa Valley. Bledsoe and Mirer even took off-season­ vacation with their wives to Napa Valley. During the off-season they would also try to stump each other with wines from Port or Brunello di Montalcino. It made sense that both quarterbacks would start their wineries post-football. While playing for the Raiders and 49ers Rick became even more passionate for wine, being so close to Napa Valley. Finally in 2008 Rick started Mirror Napa Valley, utilizing the winemaking talents of Kirk Venge, formerly of Mumm Napa Valley. 

I adored the new Mirror wines. The 2017 Mirror Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 92) is dense with lighter herbal tones. This beauty is ready to go now. Even better is the gorgeous and layered 2017 Mirror ‘Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which is really elegant wine with serious aging potential and fantastic terroir. For more about Rick Mirer’s great winery go to https://www.mirrorwine.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Mirror Napa Valley.

2017 Mirror Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 Mirror Napa Valley shows brilliant cassis and sandalwood tones woven together with graphite and shades of red bell pepper with espresso bean on the beautiful bouquet. The palate is fresh and vibrant with great mid-palate density. Layers of rich dark fruits collide with Black Forest Cake and graphite flavors with loamy soils. The length adds to the enjoyment as this brilliant new Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment for another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 92

2017 Mirror ‘Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 Mirror ‘Howell Mountain’ was sourced from the Cimarossa Vineyard. The nose evokes cassis with anise, blackberry compote and volcanic soils. The refined texture and brilliant finish really impresses here. Layers of creme de cassis, red bell pepper, chocolate covered espresso bean and tobacco leaf all really come together well. Gorgeous in its youth, the truly outstanding ‘Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon will cellar well for many decades to come. Drink 2022-2040- 94

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