Avennia

I love Washington wines with great soul and personality. For about a decade, Avennia has been producing great wines that embody poise, terroir and good richness. A partnership between former Microsoft executive Marty Taucher and superstar winemaker Chris Peterson, Avennia focuses on high quality Rhone and Bordeaux style wines. One of the state’s great winemakers, Chris Peterson was formerly DeLille Cellars winemaker for many years prior to starting Avennia. I had the great chance to sit down with him for Instagram Live this summer. Articulate and highly intelligent, Chris has a very polished style to his winemaking that combines new world richness with old world poise and aging potential.

I loved the new 2018 Avennia ‘Sestina’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which has tons of finesse and really needs another year of bottle age to fully hit its stride. Even better was the very pretty and refined 2018 Avennia ‘Valery’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which has seriously good range and is a downright gorgeous Right Bank style Washington wine. These wines are not to be missed for any serious collector of Washington red wine. Learn more about these special wines at avennia.com Here are my reviews of the two new Avennia wines. 

2018 Avennia ‘Sestina’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Sestina’ is a gorgeous blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc. Sourced from some esteemed sites like the Red Willow and Dionysus Vineyards, the wine showcases anise and sagebrush aromatic tones alongside dark currant jelly and shades of black cherry syrup that all meld together. The palate is soft, round and generous, showing a beautiful sense of balance. Ripe blackberry jelly and mocha tones collide with smoky minerals, saline drenched boysenberry and firm tannins holding everything in place. This has a long life ahead of it and try to give this at least another year before consuming. Drink 2022-2041- 94

2018 Avennia ‘Valery’ Red Wine- Inspired by the great wines of the Right Bank of Bordeaux, this outstanding wine blends 89% Boushey Vineyard Merlot, and 11% Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Franc which is a downright steal at only 50 dollars. Damp earth and ripe red currant aromatics are woven together with tobacco leaf, and coffee grounds on the nose. The palate is wonderfully revealing with its deep core of red and dark fruits with espresso and tar tones. This is thrilling stuff to enjoy even at the three year mark. Be sure to give this at least a two hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2022-2041- 95

Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling

Many of you might not know that we have the world’s largest producer of Riesling right in our backyard. Chateau Ste. Michelle produces millions of bottles of wine — a staggering 8 million bottles of Riesling a year — and the most remarkable part is the Riesling is very good. The oldest winery in Washington state, Chateau Ste. Michelle was originally founded as the American Wine Company, set on 87 acres that was once a rural farm. Many great Washington winemaking talents have come through Chateau Ste. Michellle, from Dan Wampfler to Jason Gorski. Chateau Ste. Michelle owns some of the state’s historic vineyards including the Cold Creek Vineyard which was founded in the 1970s. 

For many years Chateau Ste. Michelle has led by superstar winemaker, Bob Bertheau, who has crafted some beautiful red and white wines with his team. Newly minted winemaker Katie Nelson takes over this program and she has a wealth of experience as she was formerly with Charles Smith and served as Columbia Crest head winemaker.  

For this call we were joined with Ernie Loosen who is from famed Dr. Loosen winery in the Mosel Valley in Germany. Ernie was taking this call at nearly midnight his time but he shared the story about starting the Eroica project which was such an iconic move. I had the chance to try the new Riesling wines with he and David Rosenthal, Chateau Ste. Michelle white winemaker and they both reveled in this tasting experience. I adored the 2018 

Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling (OB, 93) which showed brilliantly and has a richer texture than the 2017 bottling but is every bit as good. I tasted an extremely rare wine which is the best dessert wine that I have tried from the Pacific Northwest in the past year. The 2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Single Berry Select’ Dessert Wine (OB, 99) flirts with perfection in its unctuous goodness. This is a heavyweight that is sure to delight any serious collector of dessert wine. Learn more about these fantastic new wines at https://www.ste-michelle.com Here are the recent Riesling releases by Chateau Ste. Michelle. 

2018 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling- The 2018 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling is an awesome new release that is on the bigger style for this brand. Made in the Kabinett style, the freshness and sense of texture is seriously good. Ripe mango, lemon rind and kiwi tones mingle with wet stone and shades of petrol on the palate. Gorgeous now, this will cellar well over the next seven plus years. Drink 2021-2028- 92

2016 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica XLC’ Riesling- This big, GG style Riesling shows off a gorgeous sense of texture. Layers of mango and honey mingle with pink grapefruit and stony undertones on the palate. Showing off its soft texture, wait for a long and inviting finish at the end. Broad-shouldered and generous, this has some seriously good aging potential. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2014 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica Gold’ Riesling- The 2014 ‘Eroica Gold’ Riesling is a spectacular wine from this warm vintage that is truly shining now at the seven year mark. On the nose this takes on honey and apricot tones with shoes of wet stone and damp earth. The palate is fresh and vibrant with great acidity and length. The viscosity impresses, as does the exceedingly long finish. This gorgeous wine has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2038- 94

2016 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica Ice Wine’ Riesling- The 2016 ‘Eroica Ice Wine’ is an exotic, beautifully textured wine that is utterly sensational at the six year mark. Honey and lemon creme brûlée tones mingle with lime zest and apricot jelly on this gorgeous bouquet. The palate is thick, viscous and impeccably textured and balanced. Layers of honey and candied ginger mingle with kumquat and shades of cardamom dusted shortbread on the palate. The length and sense of viscosity here is nothing short of spectacular. Drink 2021-2050- 97

2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Single Berry Select’ Riesling- The 2011 ‘Single Berry Select’ Riesling is an utterly breathtaking wine that is up there with the best wines I have tasted from Washington over the past year. Massively viscous and seamless throughout the drinking experience, this TBA style Riesling is utterly sensational now at the tend year mark. Ripe apricot and mango flavors combine with minerals, vanilla creme brulee, marzipan, bananas foster and shades of honey infused cantaloupe round out this absolutely scintillating wine. This is the gold standard for Pacific Northwest dessert wine. Drink 2021-2060- 99

Sbragia Family Vineyards

Ed Sbragia is one talented guy. I feel like I can still taste some of his Beringer ‘Private Reserve’ Chardonnays going back to the early 2000s. Speaking candidly with Tor Kenward a few weeks back, I think he had no idea what a colossal success Ed would be as a winemaker and how he would help transform Beringer into one of Napa’s premier producers of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1990s. Ed started as Beringer winemaker back in 1976 and never looked back. I think you will love learning more about his story with my interview here:

It wasn’t until 2008 that he formed Sbragia Family Vineyards, using some of the top growing sites to craft a range of wines from Chardonnay to Zinfandel and Cabernet. Ed trained his son Adam to learn his winemaking style, as Adam is now second generation Sbragia winemaker. I was massively impressed with the new release wines across the board. The 2015 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Limited Release’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) is a downright awesome wine that is beautifully textured and has sensational aromatic and flavor range. I adored the 2015 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Godspeed’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 93) which has plenty of muscle with good restraint and a great sense of place. Learn more about these outstanding wines at sbragia.com Here are the fantastic new release wines by Sbragia Family Vineyards. 

2019 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay- This fresh, yet beautifully textured Chardonnay shows ripe pear and vanilla cream flavors with minerals and earthy tones. Delightful and well-balanced, enjoy this outstanding new wine over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2026- 91

2015 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Limited Release’ Chardonnay- Glorious now at the six year mark, the sinfully good 2015 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Limited Release’ Chardonnay is a barrel select wine made by one of the great Chardonnay winemakers, Ed Sbragia. Really needing some air before consuming, after an hour in the decanter this shows off macadamia nut and creme brûlée tones alongside ripe banana and mango, delivering plenty of exotic appeal. The palate is soft, round and generous with a seamless texture. Layers of buttercream and baking spice dusted shortbread collide with minerals, roasted pineapple and smoky undertones. Utterly sensational to savor now, this still has another eight to ten years of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2028- 94

2016 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Limited Release’ Chardonnay- The sensational 2016 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Limited Release’ Chardonnay is really shining brightly now at the five year mark. Seamless on the mid-palate, this delivers plenty of ripe orchard fruits with honeydew melon, ripe banana, pineapple upside-down cake and shades of cardamom infused bread pudding. This gives you a weightless experience mid-palate. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next five years. Drink 2021-2026- 93 

2017 Home Field Red Wine- The 2017 Home Field Red Wine is entirely sourced from the Dry Creek Valley and combines Zinfandel (57%) with 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and just a splash of Merlot, Carignan and Petite Sirah. The noes takes on good bramble tones alongside wild strawberry and red cherry with chocolate tones. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured, showing a good core of dark fruits alongside tilled soils and milk chocolate. Delicious to consume now, this has at least another eight years to go. What a killer value here! Drink 2021-2029- 91

2017 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Gino’s’ Zinfandel- Smoky and gunmetal tones combine with ripe red raspberry and red cherry on this fantastic nose. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a lovely air of salinity. Showing good poise and weight, the 2017 ‘Gino’s’ delivers plenty of ripe red fruit with firm tannins and great acidity holding everything in place. This is delicious, refined Zinfandel to consume now. Drink 2021-2028- 92

2017 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘La Promessa’ Zinfandel- Sourced from this site in the Dry Creek Valley, the ‘La Pormessa’ opens with dried herbs and wild blackberry cobbler alongside chocolate undertones that take shape in the glass. The palate is refined with good texture and length. Layers of red and dark fruits march on with minerals, tobacco leaf and shades of Mandarin orange rind. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2017 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Nonno’s Reserve’ Zinfandel- The gorgeous 2017 ‘Nonno’s Reserve’ shows off layers of ripe red cherry, orange peel and fresh sage that meld in the glass. The palate is delicious and full-bodied with bright acidity and a wonderful core of red and dark fruits. Gorgeous to savor now, this outstanding effort will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2015 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Godspeed’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 ‘Godspeed’ Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the Mt. Veeder AVA. Owned by Larry Stricker, this high elevation site is set at 1500 feet. Ripe red mountain berries really impress on the nose with tobacco and coffee ground tones rounding out this beautiful bouquet. The palate is fresh and elegant with a great sense of mouthfeel. This wine delivers plenty of red and dark fruits but shows good restraint with bright acidity and firm tannins. Refined and elegant, the 2015 ‘Godspeed’ will cellar well over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2036- 93

2015 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Neal Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Neal Vineyard is located on Howell Mountain, as this delivers menthol and black currants alongside Turkish coffee and blackberry cobbler tones that sing in unison. The palate has a great core of dark fruits with espresso bean and blueberry compote tones, alongside shades of leather and pipe tobacco. Delightful to savor now, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2036- 93

Latta Wines

A man with some great pedigree, Andrew Latta is a fun-loving winemaker with a great SoDo roof. At Charles Smith Andrew Latta had an incredible wine education, as he helped craft some of the best wines made in Washington. Andrew Latta has now been applying his craft for many years. Originally from Kentucky, Latta learned about wine through fine dining jobs in the Cincinnati area. Before being hired by Charles Smith, Latta completed the enology and viticulture program at Walla Walla Community College and worked for Dunham Cellars, under eminent winemaker Eric Dunham. In 2011 Latta Wines was born. 

I recently chatted with Andrew about his wines. He has some incredible terroir-driven red and white wines. I love that he is a champion for Roussanne. I adored his 2017 Latta Wines ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Roussanne (OB, 93) which is seamless and soft, showing seriously good range. Just as good was the 2017 Latta Wines ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache (OB, 94) which shows very pretty red fruits and a silky texture. Learn more about these great wines at lattawines.com Here are the great new releases by Latta Wines. 

2019 Kind Stranger Rose-This pale colored, highly novel Washington Rose shows off melon, kumquat and wet stones on the nose. The palate is vibrant and fresh with a great sense of acidity. Lighter in terms of delicate red fruit and citrus flavors, this would pair so brilliantly with Kushii oysters. Drink 2021-2025- 91

2018 Kind Stranger Chardonnay- The 2019 Kind Stranger Chardonnay shows a soft mouthfeel delivering starfruit, baking spices and shades of banana on the palate. Enjoy this outstanding value in its youth. Drink 2021-2025- 90

2019 Latta Wines ‘C-B’ Roussanne- C-B is made in a Savoie style that is truly unique. Sourced from this high elevation site, this serves as a striking contrast to the ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Roussanne. Fermented in stainless steel,  this shows off pretty white peach and gooseberry tones with starfruit and great minerality. This has a great sense of texture. Drink 2021-2026- 91

2017 Latta Wines ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Roussanne- Rich and layered, the 2017 Latta Wines ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Roussanne is a sensational effort from this warm vintage in the Columbia Valley. Polished, with a great sense of mouthfeel, this delivers plenty of ripe starfruit and Pink Lady apple tones alongside baking spice infused Challah bread on the palate. The long finish lingers. This is serious stuff that will provide drinking enjoyment for a long time to come. Drink 2021-2028- 93

2018 Kind Stranger ‘Alter’ Red Wine- A blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Malbec and intriguingly enough Grenache, this shows off good richness and mid-palate density with rich black fruits that parade with minerals and chocolate tones. This is singing now at the three year mark, so pop that screw cap open! Drink 2021-2026- 91

2018 Kind Stranger Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Kind Stranger Cabernet Sauvignon revels in its core of blackberry and black cherry tones, showing tar and tobacco leaf flavors with a good sense of minerality. Tasty now, this has another eight years to go. Drink 2021-2029- 91

2017 Latta Wines ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache- Andrew Latta has been one of the great champions of Upland Vineyard Grenache for many years. This 2017 edition shows off really good aromatic range from red rose petals to orange rind and smoky undertones with a core of ripe red fruits. The palate is downright delicious and offers a silky texture. Ripe pomegranate, Yakima cherry and red raspberry flavors collide with minerals, damp earth and stony undertones. This is sensational stuff that has both weightlessness and verve. Drink 2021-2024- 94

2017 Latta Wines ‘Latta Latta’ Red WIne- This outstanding GSM style wine showcases a beautiful core of red fruits alongside tobacco leaf, orange zest, damp earth and smoky as well as stony undertones on the palate. Fresh and vibrant, as this glides throughout the drinking experience, this beautifully textured wine is really right at its peak now and will deliver draining enjoyment over the next eight plus years. Drink 2021-2028- 92

2017 Latta Wines ‘Upland Vineyard’ Mourvedre- This outstanding new Mourvedre shows off smoked brisket and bright red cherry tones alongside shades of Umami and charcuterie on this exotic bouquet. The palate is fresh, vibrant and beautifully textured. Silky tannins line the core of bright red fruits with orange rind and tar tones.  Delicious now, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2017 Latta Wines ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Syrah- Sourced from this newly crowned Royal Slope AVA, the 2017 Latta Wines ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ Syrah opens with smoky and stony tones on the nose, with shades of iodine and bulls blood that offer plenty of intrigue. The palate is plush, novelty and utterly sensational in terms of texture and range. Red and dark fruits collide with smoked pork shoulder, blood orange zest, scorched earth and menthol tones. Quite simply, this Syrah screams terroir. Sensational to savor now, this has another eight to ten years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2029- 94

2017 Latta Wines ‘Dana Dibble’ Syrah- Sourced from the ‘Freewater Rocks Vineyard’ this Syrah shows off great aromatic range from red currants and Hoisin sauce to damp earth and stony undertones that all meld in the glass. The palate is vibrant with a brilliant purity of red fruit. Layered with a silky texture, with wonderful finesse, this outstanding wine will deliver drinking enjoyment for another eight plus years. Drink 2021-2029- 94

2017 Latta Wines ‘Gants de Suede’ Red Wine- A silky blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon with 32% Malbec all spruced from the ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ this reveals beautiful dark florals alongside cassis and leather tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured. I love the terroir here with tilled soils and scorched earth, as the blackberry and coffee ground tones meld with suggestions of milk chocolate. Delightful to savor now, this has at least another decade to go. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2017 Latta Wines ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Malbec- This outstanding Malbec by Andrew Latta shows off violets, blueberry compote and a dense layers of dark fruits alongside chocolate tones on the nose. The palate is refined and beautifully textured. Rich anise and creme de cassis tones mingle with creosote and dark chocolate shavings on the palate. Damp earthy tones add to the complexity here. Sensational now to enjoy, this has a long way to go. Drink 2021-2033- 93

Baer

Many years ago before I was writing professionally I would visit Baer on the weekends and taste. It was a winery producing some outstanding wines but at the time few people knew about this hidden gem in Woodinville. One of Washington’s great boutique wineries, Baer was founded in 2000 by Lance Baer. Lance was known for crafting exceptional red wines as many of his wines were met with critical acclaim. 

Erica Orr took over this program many years back and originally got her start in the wine industry back in 1998, working her first harvest with eminent winemaker Cathy Corison in the Napa Valley. She immediately caught the wine bug and enrolled in the enology master’s degree program at UC Davis where she completed her master’s degree in 2003. Erica also has a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from UC Berkeley and three years of research experience as a biochemistry lab technician for 2009 Nobel Laureate Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn at UC San Francisco. 

Her background in chemistry gives her a very precise, scientific winemaking style that I have noticed over the years. She has become one of the great winemakers in the state with her highly focused, Bordelaise style, carefully crating red wines from the famed Stillwater Creek Vineyard, that are built to age. 

I adored her 2017 Baer ‘Star’ Merlot (OB, 93) which shows a brilliant purity of fruit and good freshness. This has some great aging potential. Even better is their sensational 2017 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which might be the best edition of this wine that I have tasted over the past fifteen years. Learn more about this great Woodinville winery at at baerwinery.com Here are the great new releases by Baer

2017 Baer ‘Star’ Merlot- Entirely sourced from the ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ in the newly minted Royal Slope AVA. Ripe red currants and cocoa powder tones mingle with sage and smoke on this gorgeous nose. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured. Bright red cherry and roasted dates collide with coffee grounds and chocolate cake on the palate. Gorgeous in its youth, this has some great cellaring potential. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2017 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine- A blend that changes each year, the 2017 edition is a melange of 46% Merlot with 42% Cabernet Franc and small parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot all sourced from the ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’. Once on the nose this takes on beautiful red florals that mingle with red cherry compote, mocha, tar and dried herbs. The palate is fresh and lively with a silky texture. The wonderful length compliments the beautifully pure red and dark fruits. This is quite simply up there with the best ‘Ursa’ wines that I have tasted over the past fifteen years, with its great sense of elegance, verve and weightless character. Sensational now, this will provide drinking enjoyment for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2017 Baer Cabernet Franc- The 2017 Baer Cabernet Franc is a gorgeous effort from this warm vintage in the Columbia Valley. Very silky and elegant once on the palate, the wine shows off red currants that mingle with smoke, sagebrush and chocolate tones. Delightful to savor in its youth, with good freshness and flavor density, this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next fifteen years or more. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2017 Baer ‘Arctos’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Arctos’ shows off rich dark currant aromas that mingle with espresso bean, blackberry compote and herbal undertones that all march in unison. The palate is fresh, vibrant and beautiful textured. The wine shows a very pretty purity of fruit, with a great acid backbone with firm tannins holding everything in place. Delicious with its dense core of dark fruit, coffee ground and dark chocolate tones, this outstanding new wine will cellar well for the next fifteen years — or more. Drink 2021-2036- 93

2017 Baer ‘Callisto’ Red Wine- Always one of the unique blends out of the Columbia Valley, the 2017 ‘Callisto’ combines 42% Syrah and 29% Cabernet Sauvignon with 29% Petit Verdot. The PV shines aromatically with its dill and green bell pepper tones, alongside chocolate and mocha. The palate is silky and elegant with great acidity and weight. Firm tannins hold in a great core of dark fruits with Turkish coffee, sagebrush and menthol tones on the palate. Seamless and soft, this is gorgeous in its youth and will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2017 Baer Malbec- This single vineyard and single varietal bottling shows off violets with shades of white pepper, black cherry compote and milk chocolate on this beautiful bouquet. The palate is soft, round and generous with refined tannins. Rich dark fruits collide with minerals, smoke and shades of sagebrush on the palate. The length adds to the enjoyment. Drink 2021-2035- 93

Doubleback

While I know that I just wrote a Doubleback feature, I am simply compelled to write about these incredible new releases. Doubleback has evolved into one of the truly outstanding producers of red and white wines in the state. 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 is humble when talking about his successes. For my palate he is one of the finest winemakers in the Pacific Northwest. I adored his new Cabernet releases and his new 2019 Doubleback Chardonnay (OB, 95) is the finest Washington Chardonnay I have tasted in the past year. Think Kongsgaard meets Walla Walla. Decadent and rich with amazing layers and nuance, this has some seriously good aging potential. Learn more about these sensational new wines at http://www.doubleback.com/ Here are the gorgeous new 2021 spring release wines by Doubleback.

2019 Doubleback Chardonnay- I continue to be blown away with the quality of Chardonnay that Josh McDaniels delivers for Doubleback. Made in a very Kongsgaardesque style, this shows off ripe pineapple with creme brulee, banana and salted Macadamia nut aromas that all mingle in the glass. The palate is seamless showing off its silky texture. Ripe and plump on the mouth, this delivers gobs of orchard fruits with shades of roasted pineapple, vanilla creme brûlée and nutty undertones. This has some seriously good aging potential as this is one of the finest editions of Washington Chardonnay that I have tasted over the past decade. Exotic, and downright sensational to enjoy in its youth, enjoy this brilliant new wine over the next decade. Drink 2021-2029- 95

2019 Doubleback Merlot- The 2019 Doubleback Merlot is a resounding success from this somewhat challenging vintage. Right away you the heady aromas of tar and anise alongside black currants and cocoa powder that all mingle together in the glass. The palate shows a dense mouthfeel and really reveals itself after two hours in the decanter. Ripe blackberry and black cherry tones mingle with creosote and allspice flavors with sagebrush undertones. This has really good finesse. Gorgeous to enjoy now, this has another ten to fifteen years of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2027- 94

Stoller

Today we share one of the outstanding producers in the Willamette Valley. Stoller founder, Bill Stoller, has a degree in business and economics from Pacific University, as well as an MBA from Portland State University. In 1983, Bill co-founded Express Employment Professionals, currently the largest privately-held staffing company in the world, with more than 800 offices in three countries. Additionally, in 2001, he founded Xenium, a human resources outsource company. This business success has enabled Bill to pursue his passion of wine and to contribute to his community. Bill's most prominent civic commitment was to his alma mater, as the former chair of the Pacific University Board of Trustees.

Bill acquired his Willamette Valley family property from his cousin in 1993, and saw the potential with the terroir in place. He planted 10 acres each of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in 1995 and the winery now spans vineyard is the largest contiguous vineyard in Oregon's Dundee Hills. The property spans 400 acres, with 225 acres focused on growing vines at elevations ranging from 220 to 640 feet. Ten varietals are planted in this vineyard, including Viognier, Pinot Meunier and even Aligote. 

I loved the new wines by Stoller who are now making some great bubbles. The 2017 Stoller ‘Larue’s’ Brut Rose (OB, 91) is fresh and vibrant with good astringency. I adored the 2018 Stoller ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is big and burly with seriously good range. Learn more about this outstanding Oregon winery at https://www.stollerfamilyestate.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Stoller. 

2017 Stoller ‘Larue’s’ Brut Rose- This pretty Rose sparkling wine shows white Rose petals and cranberry tones on the nose with shades of baking spices that all take shape in the glass. The palate shows a soft mouthfeel green melon and sour raspberry with shades of pink grapefruit water. Delightful to enjoy right now, this has another another decade to go. Drink 2021-2029- 91

2020 Stoller Rose- The 2020 Stoller Rose is an awesome new release. Right away the wine reveals watermelon and Pink Lady apple tones alongside orange blossom on this beautiful nose. The palate is fresh, vibrant and wonderfully textured. Very pretty red fruits dance with minerals, damp earth and orange rind tones. Drink 2021-2025- 91

2019 Stoller Pinot Noir- The 2019 Stoller Pinot Noir shows lighter red fruits with rose water a and a great earthy core on the palate that adds to the complexity. The length is really good in this outstanding value out of 2019. Drink 2021-2026- 90

2018 Stoller ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2018 Stoller ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay is a fantastic barrel selection wine that is showing already beautifully at the three year mark.  The nose shows hay and toasty brooch tones alongside lemon zest and marvelously salty undertones. The palate is soft and seamless, effortlessly gliding throughout the drinking experience. Fantastic and broad-shouldered now, this has at least another decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2018 Stoller ‘Elsie’s’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Elsie’s’ Chardonnay shows off toasty brioche tones with melon, wet stone and a whiff of salted hazelnut on this great nose. The palate shows a great mouthfeel and astringency with layers of salted orchard fruits, wet stone and nutty undertones. Fresh and vibrant, with good weight, this has a long way to go. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2018 Stoller ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 Stoller ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir is sourced from some of their older vines in their estate. The nose reveals black truffle shavings and exotic spices woven together with huckleberry and shades of blood orange zest that all meld in the glass. The palate is dense and chewy with a terrific mouthfeel and good sense of length. Dense dark fruits parade with minerals, smoke and peat moss tones. Inviting to savor in its youth, this has another fifteen years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2018 Stoller ‘Nancy’s’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Nancy’s’ is named after Bill Stoller’s sister,  who grew up with four male siblings.  The palate is heady and refined with a great combination of red and dark fruits with tobacco leaf and a bright sense of minerality. The viscosity here is really good, as this generous style of Oregon Pinot Noir will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2018 Stoller ‘Helen’s’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Helen’s’ shows a whiff of smoke aromatically, alongside wild blackberry and Bing cherry tones with damp earthy accents. The palate shows vibrant acidity with a good sense of mouthfeel. Layers of bright red and dark fruits parade with Mandarin orange rind and wild mushroom on the palate. This has a long journey ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035- 93

Chateau de Sales

I love Bordeaux houses with illustrious histories. Many might not know that Chateau de Sales has the largest vineyard holdings in Pomerol. Even more remarkable is that Chateau de Sales has been in the same family ownership since 1464.The actual chateau was created in the early 1600’s, which was usual for Pomerol at the time. The winery has a 48 hectare vineyard which was planted to 73% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc. I’ll most certainly look forward to a visit to this historic house later this year.

The family history here is remarkable and big changes began in the 1980s. From 1982 to 2017 Bruno de Lambert led Chateau de Sales, taking over for his father, Henri, who had managed for nearly 40 years. In 2017, when their uncle and father retired, the 14 direct cousins and co-owners of Château de Sales rallied round to take over the estate, with their parents’ approval. They appointed one of their own, Marine Treppoz, to chair the new company. At the same time, they recruited a Chief Executive Officer, Vincent Montigaud, to manage it. Originally from Libourne, he spent 23 years with Baron Philippe de Rothschild, including 16 years as managing director of Domaine de Baronarques.

Last year I was very impressed with a magnum from the 2006 vintage that I enjoyed from my personal collection. The wine was quite youthful and was a glorious wine from a challenging vintage. The new 2018 Chateau de Sales (OB, 92) has some awesome aging potential and really shouldn’t be touched for a few years. This will show off a great core of dark fruits alongside the classic Pomerol earthy tones. Learn more about this storied house at https://www.chateau-de-sales.com Here is my review of the 2018 Chateau de Sales.

2018 Chateau de Sales Pomerol- The 2018 Chateau de Sales is a gorgeous effort from this vintage. A blend of 69% Merlot with the remainder near equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, right away the wet stony tones entice aromatically, with dark currants and cedar tones also rounding out the nose. The palate is fresh and vibrant with great acidity. Layers of rich dark fruits mingle with graphite, tobacco leaf and coffee ground flavors. This has really good lift and length, as it is best enjoyed after another two to three years of bottle age. Drink 2024-2040- 92

St. Innocent

I love Oregon wines that show great quality and value. For my palate, St. Innocent has been some of the best value wines that you will find out of the Willamette Valley. Founded by Oregon Wine Pioneer, Mark Vlossak, these wines have serious poise and finesse, with extra time in the barrel. Mark has a longstanding history in the Oregon wine industry as the first single vineyard Pinot Noir made by Mark dates back to 1989 from the O’Connor vineyard. In 2006 Mark set up his winery at that same site of his first single vineyard wine, which is now named the Zenith Vineyard. Mark’s Pinots typically have a wonderful combination of elegance and richness. I’ve been sampling these wines for more than ten years and have found them to be one of the most consistent producers of Pinot Noir in Oregon. His last years releases were exceptional and this set of wines were even better.

Mark also makes some of the best Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc in Oregon. I adored his 2017 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Blanc (OB, 94) which is rich and dense with a terrific mouthfeel and silky texture. This is new world Pinot Blanc at its finest. I loved his new 2017  St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which shows insanely good terroir and a very polished texture. I could go on and on about these beautiful wines that are so reasonably priced. But check these wines out on your own — I think you will be massively impressed with  their overall quality. Learn more about these awesome wines at https://stinnocentwine.com Here are the great new releases by St. Innocent. 

2017 St. Innocent ‘Fredom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Blanc- Consistently one of the great Pinot Blanc wines made in North America, this 2017 edition rivals anything I have tasted over the past year. The wine shows ripe peach and lychee tones alongside sweetened Pink Lady apple and smoky minerals on the palate. With a seamless texture and beautiful length, this stunning effort will cellar well over the next seven plus years. This is very Oregon meets Alsace. Drink 2021-2028- 94

2018 St. Innocent ‘Fredom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Sourced from Dijon clone 76 and 548 Chardonnay vines, this shows off salted orchard fruits alongside wet stone and smoky undertones on the nose. The palate is very soft and seamless with a wonderful sense of mouthfeel. Layers of pretty nectarine and Japanese pear mingle with minerals, brioche and wild mushroom on this complex palate. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2018 St. Innocent ‘Fredom Hill Vineyard, Cuvee Libertee’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Cuvee Libertee’ is entirely Dijonal clone Chardonnay that was barrel selected from the ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard.’ Baking spice infused Challah bread and Meyer lemon zest mingle with earthy and salty undertones on the nose. The palate is exceedingly refined with wonderful length and poise. There is an incredible sense of elegance here that lands this with the elite out of the Willamette Valley as rich orchard fruits parade with minerals, Macadamia nut and stony/salty terroir. Finishing exceedingly long, this has a very long life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2017 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the foothills of the Coast Range, roughly ten miles from Salem, this wine utilizes Wadenswil and Pommard clonal plantings from 2004, as well as Dijon 777 clone from 2008. Salty and savory red fruits greet you aromatically with orange rind and peat moss tones. The palate is soft and beautifully textured. Rich red fruits parade with minerals seamlessly throughout. A complete masterpiece, this beautiful wine will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another ten years. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2017 St. Innocent ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ is located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, roughly ten miles from Salem. Mark Vlossak utilizes Pinot Noir plantings from the early 1980s in this outstanding wine. The dusting of volcanic earth entices alongside leather, peat moss and shades of blood orange zest on this evocative bouquet. The palate is soft and elegant with a silky mouthfeel. Bright red fruits drive this wine with orange rind and shades of forest floor also making their mark. This elegant Pinot Noir is great to consume now but will cellar well for another ten to fifteen years.  Drink 2021-2035- 93

2017 St. Innocent ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The famed ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ is farmed by Mo Momtazi, and was first planted more than 20 years ago. The vineyard utilizes a combination of volcanic and marine sedimentary soils, as this brilliant new 2017 Pinot Noir showcases lovely wet volcanic rocky tones on the palate, alongside guava, cran-orange and pomegranate seed flavors. Delightful in its youth, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2017 St. Innocent ‘Zenith Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Zenith Vineyard’ is the estate vineyard for St. Innocent and was planted more than a decade ago, as this wine utilizes four different Pinot Noir clones. Shades of charcuterie and peat moss fill the nose, alongside a great core of bright red fruits. The palate combines rich red and dark fruits with tobacco, peat moss and salty undertones. This is seriously good stuff that finishes exceedingly long. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2017 St. Innocent ‘Fredom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Justice Vineyard’ is set high atop a hill in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The wine saw sixteen months of 21% new French oak prior to bottling. Suggestions of black truffle shavings and pine needles are woven together with wild blackberry and black cherry on the nose. The palate is soft and beautifully textured with outstanding length. The seamless expression of Pinot Noir is apparent here. Gorgeous to savor now in its youth, this has at least another ten years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2017 St. Innocent ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- One of the famed sites in the Willamette Valley. For Pinot Noir, the ‘Shea Vineyard’ is set in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA set on shallow marine sedimentary soils. The palate is fresh and lively with a great sense of salinity. Delicate guava, red cherry and cranberry tones mingle with white truffle, blood orange zest and damp earthy undertones. A delight to savor now, this has at least another decade to go.  Drink 2021-2035- 94

Lagana Cellars

I love the consistent talent that has been through Walla Walla Community College’s enology and viticulture program. Jason Fox founded Lagana back in 2013. The winery now sources from some great vineyards including Sagemoor, Eritage and Seven Hills vineyards. I have enjoyed hanging out with Jason and talking wine. Humble and conscientious, he is gaining experience and precision at his craft. Jason now partners with Todd Bernave in Lagana Cellars winemaking as Todd had a career in fine art for fifteen years prior to getting into winemaking.

They both have done a really good job with crafting mineral-driven white wines and I thoroughly enjoyed the 2018 Lagana Cellars ‘Eritage Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 90) which has good finesse and a great sense of minerality. Even better was his 2018 Nox Perpetua Carmenere (OB, 91) which is gorgeous for the varietal showing good typicity and a sense of weight, alongside the veil of tension imparted. These guys have a bright future ahead. Learn more about these wines at http://www.laganacellars.com Here are the new wine releases by Lagana Cellars. 

2020 Lagana Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2020 ‘Columbia Valley’ Sauvingnon Blanc shows lemongrass and kiwi tones aromatically with shades of wet stone. The palate is bright with plenty of mouth-watering acidity. Lighter pear and white grapefruit flavors mingle with suggestions of starfruit and damp earth on the palate. Drink 2021-2025- 89

2018 Lagana Cellars ‘Eritage Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Eritage Vineyard’ Chardonnay shows nice bright pear and lemon zest tones with plenty of minerals and an inviting texture. Enjoy in the short-term while the good sense of freshness remains. Drink 2021-2025- 90

2020 Lagana Cellars Rose- Brightly colored in the glass, this great new effort reveals a soft texture and plenty of nuance. Layers of watermelon and orange starburst candy mingle with shades of Yakima cherry and wet rocky soils on the palate. The great finish adds to the enjoyment. Drink 2021-2025- 90

2018 Lagana ‘Breezy Slope Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Breezy Slope Vineyard’ Pinot Noir opens with lovely teaberry and damp earth tones alongside red raspberry and red cherry. The palate is juicy and quite literally jam-packed with flavor and novelty. Damp soil and Bing cherry tones collide with minerals and smoky undertones on the palate. This is seriously good stuff that shows off its terroir. Drink 2021-2028- 91

2018 Lagana ‘Eritage Vineyard’ Malbec- A glass-staining purple, the 2018 ‘Eritage Vineyard’ Malbec opens with black tea, violets and black pepper tones on the nose. The palate is fresh and nicely textured, showing good mid-palate ripeness and flavor density. A great core of dark fruits greet you with shades of blueberry compote, tar and a dusting of white pepper. Fantastic now, enjoy this great wine over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2021-2029- 91

2018 Nox Eternelle Carmenere- Entirely sourced from the famed ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ this Carmenere reveals classic green bell pepper and green peppercorns aromatically alongside a good core of dark fruits. The palate is fresh and vibrant with good acidity and rich dark fruits that parade with chocolate cake, espresso bean and nice herbal undertones. Drink 2021-2029- 91

Big Table Farm

For years I have been gushing about one of the famed producers in Oregon, Big Table Farm. They’ve certainly have amassed a massive amount of accolades over the past decade and continue to impress vintage after vintage. Founded by two of the great people in Oregon Wine, Big Table Farm is the brainchild of Clare Carver and Brian Marcy.  For those of you who have not tried the wines, I urge you that this is a not to be missed lineup of wines — from bright, mineral driven Rose to rich and layered Chardonnay to earthy and downright seductive Pinot Noir. Superstar winemaker Brian Marcy turns literally anything he gets in his hands on into a beautiful wine. He has a longstanding history in the wine industry, living in Napa and previously serving as winemaker for Neyers prior to moving north and settling in the Willamette Valley. His wines are rich, terroir driven and show dazzling minerality. It is very hard to find this degree of tension and viscosity in a glass of Oregon Pinot Noir.  Years ago I admired the wines he was crafting at Neyers and I even recently had the chance to try one of his older wines, a Chardonnay that was more than a decade old but was still holding well!

I adored the new releases were stunning across the board. I absolutely loved the new 2019 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is silky and elegant with a seamless texture. This wine screams value. I was blown away with the 2019 Big Table Farm ‘Pelos Sandberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which shows a downright luscious mouthfeel and has seriously good range, giving this wine an exotic edge. 2019 certainly wasn’t the easiest of vintages to make Oregon Pinot Noir but this is a prime example of what a brilliant winemaker can do in even challenging vintages. Learn more about Big Table Farm at http://www.bigtablefarm.com/ Here are the fantastic new release wines by Big Table Farm.

2018 Big Table Farm ‘The Wild Bee’ Chardonnay- Sourced from a host of Willamette Valley vineyards, this shows straw with wild mushroom and vanilla cream tones alongside bright pear and starfruit on the nose. The palate is beautifully textured with a great sense of minerality. Baking spiced Challah bread and banana tones mingle with honeydew melon on the palate with wet stone accents. Seriously good now, this will continue to evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2019 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Enchanting and downright delicious, the 2019 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir shows off a downright sexy core of red fruits that march on with red rose petals and leather undertones on this outstanding bouquet. The palate is fresh and wonderfully textured. Layers of red currants and red cherry candy mingle with minerals, damp earth and shades of exotic spices on the palate.  Gorgeous now, this has at least a decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2031-93

2019 Big Table  Farm ‘Pelos Sandberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the the Eola-Amity Hills AVA,  the ‘Pelos Sandberg Vineyard’ is farmed by Don Sandberg. Juicy guava and orange rind tones mingle with shades of cardamom and fresh red florals on this beautiful bouquet. The palate shows a great sense of weight and length with a serious veil of tension. Ripe red cherry and cran-pomegranate tones collide with minerals, smoke and earthy undertones. Gratifying an refined, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2018 Big Table Farm ‘Funk Estate Vineyard’ Syrah- Sourced from this esteemed site in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA, the ‘Funk Estate Vineyard’ is owned by Richard and Anita Funk. Right away the stony tones entice aromatically, alongside boysenberry preserves, Umami and green peppercorns that all take shape in the glass. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured. Black raspberry and Kalmata olives mingle with minerals, blood orange zest, smoke and menthol tones on the palate. Outstanding to savor now,  this has another eight to ten years in front of it. Drink 2021-2029-  94

Jaine

A new wine project for Matthews Winery, Jaine focuses on high quality white wines and Rose from some of the great vineyard sites in Washington State. They craft their Chardonnay from Connor Lee Vineyard and use other exciting sites like the Thunderstone Vineyard. They also have a new tasting room which was formerly used by DeLille Cellars in central Woodinville is an awesome spot to sip their wines.

I was excited with what I tasted from this new brand. I was particularly impressed with the new 2019 Jaine Rose (OB, 91) which is a terrific effort from the talented Aryn Morell. The pretty red fruits here work marvelously. Learn more about this great new project winery at https://jaine.co/ and here are my reviews of the great new wines by Jaine. 

2019 Jaine Sauvignon Blanc-  Sourced from the Columbia Valley, this shows lemon blossom tones alongside honeydew melon and shades of kiwi on the nose. The palate is soft and beautifully textured offering loads of bright acidity and citrus fruits. The finesse and sense of mouthfeel is really nice. Drink 2021-2025- 91

2019 Jaine Chardonnay-  Sourced from the esteemed ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ the 2019 Jaine Chardonnay shows light pear and green apple tones alongside minerals and earthy undertones on the palate. Entirely aged in stainless steel, enjoy over the next several years. Drink 2021-2025- 90

2019 Jaine Rose- The 2019 Jaine Rose is sourced from the Thunderstone Vineyard. Entirely made from Grenache, this shows pretty orange blossom and red rose water aromatics with melon and wet stone undertones on the nose. The palate is soft and very pretty in the fruit quality it delivers. Layers of guava, red cherry and pomegranate all combine with shades of cantaloupe, with an underlying mineral presence. This is just brilliant stuff by Aryn Morell. Drink 2021-2026- 91

SUNU

One of the exciting new Oregon Pinot Noir houses, SUNU was created by Betz Family Wines and their love for Oregon wines. I was quite exited about this project when I first heard about it, as SUNU not only solely produces Pinot Noir but makes their Pinots from one region, utilizing vineyards throughout the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. SUNU refers to the French statement which means emphasis on vineyard as the primary engine of wine quality and character, “Sous Nous,” which means “under us.”  Louis Skinner of Betz fame crafts his wines from some outstanding vineyards in the Willamette Valley including two wines from the famed Shea Vineyard. Each site has its individual expression of Pinot Noir. Unabashedly a Burgundy lover, I  know how passionate Louis is with these wines.  Considering that he has not made Pinot Noir very long, I am really impressed what he can do with this varietal.

I am slowly starting to taste through the 2019 Oregon Pinot Noirs and no doubt wines made from this vintage will vary considerably, due to the difficult harvest conditions. The 2019 SUNU wines are well-structured and lighter than the 2018s but are extremely well-made and delicious across the board. The 2019 SUNU ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (OB, 91) has a terrific sense of texture and mouthfeel. Even better was their 2019 SUNU ‘Shea Vineyard East Hill’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which showed a great dark fruit profile and beautiful finesse. Bravo to the winemaking team with creating such a great range of Oregon Pinot Noirs from this challenging vintage. Learn more about this exciting new Oregon project at https://www.sunuwines.com Here are the beautiful new Pinot Noir wines by SUNU.

2019 SUNU ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- This shows good finesse with bright red fruits that dance with minerals, smoke and damp earth tones. Soft on the mouth, enjoy this excellent effort over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2028- 91

2019 SUNU ‘Lonesome Rock’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Lonesome Rock’ Pinot Noir shows off pretty saline drenched red fruits with tobacco leaf and leather, alongside shades of citrus rind aromatically. The palate is fresh and finesse driven, with light to medium-bodied red fruits, giving this a pretty profile, with shades of orange water and damp earth. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2019 SUNU ‘Lazy River’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Lazy River’ Pinot Noir impresses with its great core of red fruits and salty tones on the palate. The red floral tones add to the enjoyment. Medium-bodied, with good length, and a soft texture, this has some good cellaring potential. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2019 SUNU ‘Matteri’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Matteri’ Pinot Noir is cut from a different cloth, showing more dark fruits than red fruits, with boysenberry and even huckleberry aromatics, alongside pine needle undertones. The palate is very silky, showing ai great sense of mouthfeel. This comes off slightly more gratifying than the other bottlings, with ripe red and dark fruits, showing a nice air of salinity and forest floor tones. This is very refined stuff that will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 SUNU ‘Saffron Fields’ Pinot Noir- A relatively new site set on marine sedimentary soils, this ‘Saffron Fields Vineyard’ Pinot Noir evokes ripe cranberry and teaberry tones alongside salted meats and peat moss tones that all meld in the glass. The palate reveals ripe red cherry and red raspberry with lighter herbal and damp earth tones, as the wine finishes with good length. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2019 SUNU ‘Shea Vineyard West’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the famed ‘Shea Vineyard’ this wine shows off very pretty red florals with exotic spices, Bing cherry and damp, salty earth aromatics. The palate is very fresh and gratifying with its seamless texture. Layers of cran-pomegranate, blood orange rind, tobacco and damp earth all wonderfully combine on the palate. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 SUNU ‘Shea Vineyard East’ Pinot Noir- I love the 2019 SUNU ‘Shea Vineyard East’ Pinot Noir. The black fruit profile on the palate and bouquet really impress, as this wine has a good feeling of poise and weight. Wild blackberry and huckleberry tones combine with smoky minerals, damp earth and even shades of menthol. Beautifully textured, this outstanding new wine will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

Structure Cellars

As we continue on Washington Wine Month we bring you one of the SoDo spots I’ve loved tasting at for years. Some seriously good value-driven wines, Structure Cellars focuses their program on high quality red wine that won’t damage your pocketbook. At the helm is Brian Grasso, a former sommelier that trained under Washington wine legend Chris Sparkman of Sparkman Cellars before starting his own winery. Brian is a really easy-going, down to earth guy. He’s passionate and dedicated to making high quality, good value wines. He and his wife have also curated a really cool sparkling wine bar called Love Beats Pagne (https://www.lovebeatspagne.com)

Stop in to Structure Cellars and you will no doubt see Brian tasting people through their lineup, with 90s hip hop playing in the background. A lot of heads will be bopping. The new wines were outstanding across the board. A killer value is his 2018 Structure Cellars ‘Foundation’ Red Wine (OB, 91) which is fresh and shows a nice range, blending Cabernet Franc and Mouvedre. I adored his 2018 Structure Cellars ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 93) which has gorgeous finesse and really nice dark fruit and non fruit tones. Learn more about these excellent wines at structurecellars.com Here are the great new wines by Structure Cellars.

2018 Structure Cellars ‘Foundation’ Red Wine- This blend comprised of Cabernet Franc (66%) and Mourvedre (34%) shows a soft. Mouthfeel with lighter herbal tones that mingle with milk chocolate, dried herbs and dark cherry syrup on the palate. Medium-bodied and delicious to savor now,  I could see this pairing magically with rack of lamb. Drink 2021-2028- 91

2018 Structure Cellars ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Sourced from this famed site in the Yakima Valley, pretty red florals and red currants with shades of tobacco leaf all mark the nose. The palate is fresh and vibrant with great acidity. Layers of red fruits dance with minerals, sagebrush and shades of yellow bell pepper on the palate. Tightly wound now, give this at least an hour of air if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2018 Structure Cellars ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Even more fragrant than the ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ bottling, the 2018 ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc has a gorgeous range of red and dark florals, with cassis and blackberry compote tones all marking the nose. The palate has a lovely freshness and great finesse. This finishes very long with bright red fruits and minerals. Be sure to give this a two hour decant if enjoying now. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2018 Structure Cellars ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- For many years the ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ has  been one of the unique  parcels of land that grows everything from fresh and vibrant Chardonnay to inky Syrah.  Anise, dark currant jelly and tar tones all combine brilliantly on the nose. The palate is restrained but very refined with firm tannins holding a great core of espresso bean, black fruits and tar flavors together. Try to resist this beautiful wine for another. year. Drink 2022-2033- 93

2018 Structure Cellars ‘Wallula Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- I adore this new wine made by the talented Brian Grasso that has great freshness and mid-palate ripeness. Creme de cassis and a light dusting of salinity mingle with tar and sweet pipe tobacco tones on the palate. The finesse is really nice, as is the length, as this outstanding 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon will cellar well for at least another decade. Try giving this a two hour decant if enjoying now. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2018 Structure Cellars ‘Triomphe’ Mourvedre- The 2018 ‘Triomphe’ is 100% Mourvedre sourced from the Upland Vineyard. The smoky and rich dark fruit tones make this exceedingly easy to savor even in its youth, as salted bacon, green olives and leather tones add to the enjoyment. With a good sense of mouthfeel, this finesse-driven Mourvedre is best enjoyed over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2018 Structure Cellars ‘Wallula Vineyard’ Syrah- This awesome and inky Syrah shows Smoked brisket with black olive tapenade and wild blackberry preserves on the nose. The palate is plush and very saturated with great mouth-watering acidity. Layers of ripe dark fruits collide with creosote, smoked pork shoulder and shades of salty damp earth all add to the enjoyment. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2018 Structure Cellars ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Syrah- One of the iconic spots for Washington Syrah, I very fondly recall David Lake Red Willow bottling from the late 90s. This terrific rendition shows very good range on the palate from blood orange and summer sausage to iodine and black currants on the palate. Still a bit tightly wound, be sure to give this lots of air if enjoying now. Drink 2021-2029- 92

Delas

Today I had a very instructive experience tasting through the Delas wines with their winemaker over Zoom. One of the great houses in the Northern Rhone, Delas was founded back in 1835. Although the Delas family has been making wine since 1835 in the Rhône Valley, it was not until 1924 that they took the current name of the estate. In 1993, the Rouzaud family, owners of Louis Roederer, acquired both Delas Frères and Champagne Deutz. Since 1996, the Rouzaud family has made important investments in the Saint-Jean-de-Muzols production site near Tournon-sur-Rhône. They have revamped their production facility and cellars to make some important modernizations. 

Delas now makes a huge range of wines all the way from the Ventoux in southern France, as well as Chateauneuf du Pape but they are best known for their wines from Cote Rotie and Hermitage. I was massively impressed with their red and white wine releases across the board. Look to their 2017 Delas Hermitage Domaine des Tourelles (OB, 94) which is rich, unctuous and downright delicious with good freshness and some seriously good aging potential. I loved the new 2017 Delas Cote-Rotie La Landonne (OB, 96) which comes from some hallowed ground and is seamless and elegant with a silky mouthfeel. 

2017 Delas Hermitage Domaine des Tourelles- A blend of 90% Marsanne with the remainder Roussanne, this saw roughly nine months of barrel aging with battonage. The texture is gorgeous here with ripe peach and starfruit tones with a silky sense of mouthfeel and good freshness. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2016 Delas Condrieu La Galopine- The 2016 Delas Condrieu La Galopine is a stunning wine that was sourced from four communes in Condrieu. The wine shows great finesse and is downright unctuous on the tongue. Layers of buttercream and stony minerals are woven together with ripe Bartlett pear and shades of banana that gives this plenty of exotic appeal. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2017 Delas Condrieu Clos Boucher- The 2017 Delas Condrieu Clos Boucher is sourced from a single vineyard adjacent to Chateau Grillet. Aged for six months on the lees, this provides ripe pineapple, white peach and shades of nutmeg and toasted Macadamia nut on this gorgeous bouquet. The freshness and sense of finesse as well as dense mouthfeel here really impresses. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2015 Delas Crozes Hermitage Domaine des Grand Chemins- Already quite evolved this shows dark currents and graphite tones alongside shades of iron and bulls blood. Enjoy over the next several years. Drink 2021-2026- 90

2015 Delas Crozes Hermitage Le Clos- The 2015 Le Clos shows beautiful black florals with wild blackberry and soy sauce tones aromatically. The palate is fresh with plenty of finesse. Soft tannins line the beautifully pure dark fruits that mingle with stony terroir. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2017 Delas Cote-Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron- The 2017 Cote-Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron is a combination of fruit sourced from the Cote Brune and Cote Blonde vineyards. The gorgeous aromatics impresss with layers of rich red and dark fruits with citrus rind and iodine tones. The freshness and finesse of the wine is outstanding, as is the great sense of length. Firm tannins hood together a great core of red and dark fruits with charcuterie and black tea tones on the palate. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2017 Delas Cote-Rotie La Landonne- Delas has four acres of land in this hallowed site. This saw 16 months of French oak aging (25% new) prior to bottling. Quite closed aromatically, this really needs an hour of air to get going. The palate is extremely refined with black raspberry and blackberry cordial flavors alongside coffee grounds and graphite tones with amazing verve. This has a long way to go. Drink 2021-2038- 96

2017 Delas Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-The 2017 Delas Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is an awesome showing sourced from this south facing site in Hermitage. Gorgeous violets with black currants and smoky tones fill the nose. The palate is rich, concentrated and beautifully structured with a soft texture. Elegant with great length this is already showing beautifully now. Drink 2021-2038- 95

2017 Delas Hermitage Lea Bessards- The 2017 Delas Hermitage Lea Bessards is sourced from a single vineyard first planted in 1990. Ripe cassis and sour black Cherry tones mingle with exotic spices and stony undertones on the palate. Generous and rich with outstanding length, this has a long way to go. Drink 2021-2035- 94

White Walnut Estate

“We are really excited what we see from 2020, especially our Chardonnay” Chris Mazepink exclaimed during our phone call yesterday. A really exciting new project out of Oregon, White Walnut is the brainchild of the former winemaker and general manager of Archery Summit, Chris Mazepink, who purchased land in the Dundee Hills back in 2013. Chris sensed the potential of the property as it is located adjacent to the vineyards of legendary Oregon wineries Domaine Drouhin and Archery Summit. Chris and his sons, Archer and Charles, cleared the land, by hand, in the summer of 2014 and then planted it to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in 2015 and 2016. They preserved the remaining walnut trees on the property that continue to produce fruit and are now well over 70 years old, standing stoic amongst the vines. 

A smaller site at less than seven planted acres, Chris sees incredible potential for Chardonnay in the Dundee Hills. “I think the wines that the critics actually like more is Chardonnay and I see that potential here” he explained. 

I think the new wines he has crafted are really gorgeous across the board. Sensational for an entry level bottling, the 2018 White Walnut 'Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) delivers really good range and a silky mouthfeel. Even better is the sensational 2019 White Walnut ‘Worden Hill’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is dense and showing beautiful red and dark fruits with good freshness. Learn more about this outstanding new winery at https://www.whitewalnutestate.com Here are the great new wines by White Walnut. 

2018 White Walnut ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay- Golden once the glass, the 2018 ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay shows a very soft texture with layers of buttercream and banana alongside Meyer lemon zest and melon tones on the palate. The combination of mouthfeel and tension here is really good. This shows considerable better warmed up, as the 2018 ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay is best enjoyed over the next six to eight years. Drink 2021-2027- 92

2018 White Walnut ‘Worden Hill Road’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Worden Hill Road’ Chardonnay is a limited production bottling that opens with nice aromatic range from salted Macadamia nut to pear and citrus rind tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is very refined and the rich mouthfeel really enhances the drinking experience. With great persistence and length, this outstanding new Chardonnay will cellar well over the next eight plus years. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2019 White Walnut ‘North Block’ Chardonnay- A light whiff of volcanic earth really entices here as layers of orchard and citrus. fruits combine with vanilla cream tones on the nose. A light dusting of salinity adds to the affair here with layers of buttercream and lemon zest mingle with baking spice infused Challah bread on the palate. This is seriously good stuff that has both the bright acidity and stuffing top cellar for another ten years. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 White Walnut ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir shows lovely range on the nose from volcanic earth to red currants and peat moss tones. The palate reveals a beautiful purity of red fruits, ranging from guava and strawberry to red cherry and pomegranate seed. The volcanic terroir here is simply outstanding, as this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2019 White Walnut ‘Worden Hill Road’ Pinot Noir-  The gorgeous 2019 ‘Worden Hill Road’ Pinot Noir shows off that great volcanic terroir with salted red fruit aromatics and pine needles that all mingle in the glass. The palate is big and downright voluptuous with its deep core of red and dark fruits with white truffle and forest floor undertones. Downright delicious to savor in its youth, this beautiful wine has a long road ahead of it. Drink 2021-2033- 93

Sin Banderas

As we continue to roll on through Washington Wine Month, we wanted to share one of the excellent boutique wineries that our state offers out of the Yakima Valley. Sin Banderas was founded by four friends from different parts of the world. They all met in Yakima while working together at Owen Roe.The wine is made at the Owen Roe custom crush facility. Sin Banderas winemaker Jacki Evans is originally from Texas and studied Biology at the University of Texas in Austin. She has over 10 years of winemaking experience with 15 harvests around the world, including Napa Valley of California, Willamette Valley of Oregon, the Great Southern of Western Australia, Barossa Valley of South Australia, Burgenland, Austria, and Marlborough, New Zealand.  She's been in the Yakima Valley of Washington State making wine with Owen Roe Winery since the 2013 vintage. 

The new wines by Sin Banderas was very good, coming from the latest 2020 vintage. I adored her 2020 Sin Banderas Riesling (OB, 91) which has gobs of freshness and finesse with a silky texture, Learn more about this new wine project at https://www.sinbanderaswines.com Here is my review of the Sin Banderas wines. 

2020 Sin Banderas Riesling-  Made in the Kabinette style, this outstanding new Riesling shows not only good depth and freshness but outstanding range. Orange blossoms, kiwi, melon and wet stone tones all brilliantly combine on the palate. Drink 2021-2026- 91

2020 Sin Banderas Rose- This light pink shaded Rose shows good astringency and a soft texture. Very delicate red fruits mingle with red rose water and shades of Japanese pear on the palate. Drink 2021-2024- 89

L’Ecole No 41

These are exciting times at one of Washington’s historic wineries. A new winemaker, Marcus Rafanelli, has recently been hired, as L’Ecole continues to make some of the best value red and white wines in the state. I have been tasting at this winery since 2002. For many years I have been massively impressed the quality that they can offer in the glass. Marty Clubb, one of the greats in Walla Walla wine, helped build this brand into a national and international pillar of balanced and well-priced Washington wines. Today you can see these outstanding values in supermarket shelfs across the country, flying the Washington wine flag very high.

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. Somewhat recently they purchased a parcel of land that is a high elevation site named after L’Ecole founders Jean and Baker Ferguson. This 42-acre Estate vineyard is set on thin loess soil overlying fractured basalt — a truly unique soil type for the valley. Wines from this site embody a wonderfully stony undertone.

I recently had the chance to taste the new wine from this special site, the 2018 L’Ecole No 41 ‘Ferguson Estate’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which just might be the finest wine from this special location made yet. The wine is dense and chewy, downright massive, and hard some incredible cellaring potential and nuance.  This is a great purchase for any serious collector of Washington wine. Learn more about L’Ecole and their awesome new set of wines at https://www.lecole.com/ Here are my reviews of the new L’Ecole wines. 

2020 L’Ecole No 41 Rose- This Grenache based Rose shows off pretty orange blossom tones aromatically, alongside kiwi and strawberry tones that all entice. The palate is fresh and slightly sweet with lots of finesse and a lingering finish. This is seriously good stuff that will be best enjoyed while the vibrant core of acidity remains. Drink 2021-2025- 91

2018 L’Ecole No 41 ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- Smoky, savory and delicious, the 2018 ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah shows off plenty of smoked meats with blackberry compote, black olives, tar and garrigue tones on the palate. Full-bodied and glorious in its hedonistic youth, this outstanding new Syrah will cellar well over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2018 L’Ecole No 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot- The 2018 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot is an awesome wine by L’Ecole. Ripe black plum and chocolate covered dark kirsch aromas with baking spices all meld in the glass. The palate is refined and elegant with a terrific mouthfeel and outstanding length. Rich dark fruits collide with minerals, smoke and chocolate cake notes on the palate. Outstanding in its youth, this has a long way to go. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2018 L’Ecole No 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A glorious 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, you are immediately struck by the rich sagebrush and anise tones on the nose, with a great wall of dark fruits holding everything in place. The palate is very smooth with refined tannins that mingle with black raspberry cordial, cigar box, black currants and chocolate covered espresso bean flavors. The long finish lingers. Terrific to enjoy now, this beautiful wine will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2018 L’Ecole No 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2018 L’Ecole No 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Red Wine is a compelling blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon with 24% Merlot and smaller parts Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot sourced from this high elevation site in the Walla Walla Valley. Once on the nose this takes on layers of creme de cassis and creosote tones that mingle with exotic spices on this fantastic bouquet. The palate is soft and refined, with good richness and a wonderful veil of tension and salinity. Intense dark fruits mingle with minerals, cigar ash and Turkish coffee tones on the palate, with firm tannins holding everything well in place. Exceedingly good even in its youth, try to hold off enjoying this beautiful wine for at least another two years. Drink 2024-2040- 95

Mollydooker

It was spring 2020 and I sat across from Luke Marquis for a really exciting Instagram Live interview. Wines in hand, we tasted together and he shared the incredible story that is Mollydooker. I recall the massive, tidal wave level of buzz that traveled around when Mollydooker was first formed back in 2005. These wines were immediately met with critical praise but I hadn’t had the chance to try them quite yet. 

In a very short amount of time Sarah and Sparky Marquis created one of the iconic wine brands of Australia. Their first wine, the 2006 ‘Carnival of Love’ Shiraz was immediately awarded 99 points by Robert Parker and was sold out in five days. The following year, their Velvet Glove Shiraz became their fifth wine to be awarded 99 points by The Wine Advocate and the Carnival of Love has since been listed in Wine Spectator’s ‘Top Ten wines in the World’ three times. This is just an unprecedented amount of success for a new winery.

I was first introduced to these wines in their 2007 vintage as word traveled very quickly to the United States. The combination of weight and acidity in the wines was quite thrilling. I was also enticed with the consistency of their wines, regardless of vintage. For instance, 2011 was a highly challenging vintage in South Australia and the wines made by Mollydooker that vintage were some of the finest produced in the region. In 2017 Sarah took sole control of the winery and now has her son, Luke, the ‘Blue Eyed Boy’ is involved in the winery as well as he leads global sales. I sat down with Sarah a few years ago for an exciting interview.

I adored the new Mollydooker lineup. Don’t miss out on the thrilling 2018 Mollydooker ‘Carnival of Love’ Shiraz (OB, 95) which is hedonistic and intense, yet shows bright acidity and wonderful viscosity.  Even better is the iconic 2018 Mollydooker ‘Velvet Glove’ Shiraz (OB, 98) which is a wine that flirts with perfection and is a magical bottling with a seamless texture that makes this effortlessly glide. What strikes me most about this wine is not only the feeling of weight but the nuance that the wine offers despite being massively dense. Learn more about this inspired Australian winery at https://www.mollydookerwines.com.au/ Here are the beautiful new wines by Mollydooker.

2019 Mollydooker ’The Boxer’ Shiraz- The 2018 ‘The Boxer’ is an outstanding release by Mollydooker. They wine offers plenty of rich red and dark fruits alongside tar and scorched earth tones on the palate. Full-bodied and delicious to savor now, this outstanding effort will provide drinking enjoyment for the next seven plus years. Drink 2021-2028- 91

2019 Mollydooker ‘The Maitre D’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘The Maitre D’ shows plenty of rich dark fruits with tobacco and milk chocolate tones on the nose. The palate is fresh a nd silky with layers of roasted dates, menthol, milk chocolate covered dark cherry and shades of espresso bean. Delicious now, enjoy this great new Cabernet Sauvignon over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2028- 91

2019 Mollydooker ‘Two Left Feet’ Red WIne- The 2019 ‘Two Left Feet’ Red Wine is a great blend of 69% Shiraz, 16% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was aged in almost all American oak (44% new) before bottling, weighing in at 16% alcohol. The wine shows toasty oak alongside dark kirsch and black currants that all mingle in the glass. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured. Layers of ripe dark currants and roasted figs mingle with milk chocolate all combine on the palate. This is seriously good stuff for the price. Drink 2021-2026- 91

2018 Mollydooker ‘Carnival of Love’ Shiraz- The 2018 ‘Carnival of Love’ is a sensational release by Mollydooker. Aged in 100% new French oak, this shows off toasty oak with creme de cassis, black olive tapenade, white pepper and smoked brisket tones that all come together in the glass. The palate is rich and viscous with an incredible harmonious quality and great veil of tension. The voluptuous texture really impresses as a massive core of dark fruits (roasted figs, boysenberry syrup, black currant jelly) all mingle with coffee grounds and shades of dark chocolate cake on the palate. Sensational now, this has at least another decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2033- 95

2018 Mollydooker ‘The Velvet Glove’ Shiraz- The 2018 Mollydooker ‘The Velvet Glove’ Shiraz is a utterly sensational bottling that rivals any wine of its kind. Aged in all new American oak, this shows a gorgeous bouquet from blueberry pie to espresso grounds, graphite and toasty oak tones that all impress. The palate is deep and utterly seamless. A massive core of blue and dark fruits collide with white pepper, minerals, firm tannins and a light dusting of salinity. While obviously big, this has a weightless quality and wonderful verve. Wonderful to enjoy now, this outstanding Shiraz will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another fifteen years. But why wait? Drink 2021-2038- 98

Julia’s Dazzle

I love a wine that is wonderfully complex but also very easy to drink. Years ago Long Shadows had the terrific idea to craft their Rose wine from outstanding Pinot Gris grapes at The Benches Vineyard. This created a style of wine that had a sensational texture and wonderful melon and pretty, delicate red fruits.

For many years the Long Shadows Julia’s Dazzle has been one of the most consistently great Rose wines out of Washington. This is Rose that has plenty of stuffing but always maintains a wonderful sense of verve — great for when the weather warms up.

I was very honored to be the first wine critic to try the 2020 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose (OB, 91) which is a downright awesome Rose bottling that continues the line of remarkable consistency not only for this brand but superstar winemaker Gilles Nicault. Cheers to warmer days ahead! Learn more at longshadows.com

Here is my review of the 2020 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose.

2020 Long Shadows 'Julia’s Dazzle' Rose- The 2020 Julia’s Dazzle Rose is another impressive bottling by famed winemaker Giles Nicault. This 2020 Rose is 100% Pinot Gris sourced from the the Yakima Valley that was whole cluster pressed. Right away this shows peach and orange rind tones alongside wet stone, strawberry and shades of wild mushroom on the nose. The palate is beautifully textured with a great sense of weight and finesse. Kiwi and Mandarin orange rind flavors collide with minerals, wet stone and guava tones all artfully combine on the palate. Fresh and lithe, this has some nice medium-term cellaring potential. This is very nuanced stuff. Drink 2021-2025- 91