Melville

Over the years, Melville wines have been a pillar of consistency. I’ve been tasting at Melville for more than a decade and it has grown to be one of my absolute favorite stops in Santa Barbara wine country. This outstanding property has had Chad Melville at its helm for several years after being under Greg Brewer’s guidance. Chad has been crafting some absolutely stunning wines and has created his unique winemaking style. I absolutely love the saline-driven terroir that he is able to mold into his wines. He not only makes the wines but also helps farm his 82 acre property at Melville. 

Melville’s vineyards were first planted in 1996 by his father Ron Melville and his brothers which was quite unique at the time. The vineyard was planted to 14 different clones of Pinot Noir and 4 different clones of Chardonnay, as well as Syrah and Viognier. The new releases by Chad Melville were simply gorgeous across the board, none more so than the 2085 Melville ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which landed firmly on my Washington Wine Blog 2018 Top 100. This is an absolutely stunning new Chardonnay that is one to purchase by the case. I adored the new 2018 Melville ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is a killer value out of Santa Barbara County. This is a Pinot with great richness, poise and salinity. Learn more about this outstanding producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah at http://melvillewinery.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by Melville. 

2018 Melville ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is a glorious new release by the talented Chad Melville.  Lemon infused Challah bead and Macadamia nut tones collide with damp earth and smoky undertones on this evocative bouquet. The palate is beautifully textured with wonderful finesse and a silky mouthfeel. The length here adds to the enjoyment as this outstanding Chardonnay will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another seven years. Drink 2021-2027- 93

2018 Melville ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir is translucent in the glass, showing great aromatic range from salted red fruits to charcuterie and Umami tones that all impress. The palate is marvelously textured, with Bing cherry, guava and cran-pomegrante flavors alongside tilled salty soils. Beautifully textured, with a long finish, this outstanding new Pinot Noir will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2018 Melville ‘Estate’ Syrah- Smoky,  savory and downright delicious, the 2018 ‘Estate’ Syrah is a downright awesome new wine by Melville. Dried herbs with bacon fat and smoked brisket with wild blackberry jam aromatics all meld in the glass. The palate is nicely concentrated but also highly nuanced with the herbal tones mingling with salted wet rocks, red and dark fruits as well as cran-orange tones. This is just killer Syrah for the price. Drink 2021-2029- 94

ROCO ‘RMS’ Sparkling Wine

One of the outstanding producers of new world sparkling wine, Rollin Soles is undoubtedly the sparkling wine master of Oregon. Long before the sparkling wine craze of the last few years came into play in Oregon, Rollin Soles was making killer sparkling wines at Argyle. I admired these wines for many years, especially his ‘Extended Tirage’ bottling that I would collect when I was in their wine club. Bottlings from ’98 and ’00 linger very fondly in my memory.

Rollin saw the chance to start his own winery and created ROCO. He only has recently been making sparkling wine for his winery but the results have been absolutely tremendous. These sparkling wines have been on my Top 100 consistently. For my palate the level of finesse,  texture, mousse and depth is really gorgeous. These are refined sparkling wines that are amongst the best in North America. Look to the gorgeous new Rose, the 2018 ROCO ‘RMS’ Rose Sparkling Wine (OB, 96) which has gobs of bright red fruits with great nuance and a silky texture. Learn more about these amazing wines at https://rocowinery.com Here are my reviews of the beautiful new ROCO sparkling wines. 

2017 Roco ‘RMS’ Sparkling Wine- The 2017 ‘RMS’ is a stunning new warm vintage wine that shows plenty of heft and finesse. Only 12.5% alcohol, this comes off nicely fat on the mid-palate with plenty of depth and weight. This is obviously dense but the balance here is just extraordinary. Rich layers of lemon zest dusted sourdough bread, salted Macadamia nut, marzipan and honeydew melon all entice on the palate. This is seriously hard to resist stuff by Oregon bubbles superstar Rollin Soles. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2018 ROCO ‘RMS’ Rose Sparkling Wine- Super fresh and refined, this is a stunning new bottling by superstar winemaker Rollin Soles. Bright guava, strawberry and wet stone tons all fill the nose. The palate is fresh and refined with a great beam of tension and silky mouthfeel. The palate shows really juicy red fruits with melon, and flinty tones. The wonderful feeling of mousse makes this even more refined. Drinking beautifully now, this has at least another decade ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035- 96

Boekenhoutskloof

Friends, today we share one of the outstanding producers of South Africa. And don’t miss my Instagram Live today Noon Pacific with Boekenhoutskloof winemaker Marc Kent, just check out my Instagram page @owenbargreen

I discovered these wines back in 2004 while I was in grad school and was massively impressed with the consistency of the wines. A winery with an incredible history, Boekenhoutskloof dates back to 1776. Located in the furthest corner of the beautiful Franschhoek Valley, the farm’s name means “ravine of the Boekenhout” (pronounced Bookn-Howed). The Boekenhout is an indigenous Cape Beech tree greatly prized for furniture making. In 1993 the farm and homestead was bought and restored and a new vineyard planting program was established that now includes Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Semillon, and Viognier. Today, Marc Kent is the owner, chief winemaker, and driving force behind the dynamic farm.

I loved the new wines across the board. Soft, beautifully textured, with outstanding range, the 2016 Boekenhoutskloff Semillon (OB, 93) is one of the great new world Semillon wines that I have tried over the past year. Just as good is the smoky, savory 2016 Boekenhoutskloof Syrah (OB, 93) which is dense, chewy and downright delicious to savor now. Learn more about this storied winery at https://www.boekenhoutskloof.co.za Here are the gorgeous new wines by Boekenhoutskloof. 

2016 Boekenhoutskloof Semillon- This shows toasty brioche with melon and stony undertones aromatically. Th palate is fresh and refined with a beautiful texture and great length. Gorgeous now, this will continue to evolve over the next decade. Drink 2021-2028- 93

2016 Boekenhoutskloof Syrah- A beautiful, inky color, the 2016 Boekenhoutskloof Syrah shows off scorched earth with creme de violette, smoked brisket and blackberry pie flavors. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and a great acidity, this has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2016 Boukenhoutskloof ‘Franschoek’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from Franschhoek, this cabernet Sauvignon shows off rich dark currants and shades of scorched earth on the nose with herbal undertones. The palate is downright juicy and densely packed with red and dark fruits with sagebrush, creosote and dark chocolate undertones, giving this an air of decadence. Gorgeous now, this will continue to provide drinking enjoyment for the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2016 Boukenhoutskloof ‘Stellenbosch’ Cabernet Sauvignon-Dense and heady aromatics greet you of scorched earth and blackberry liquor as well as lovely dried herbs and shades of blueberry compote on this gorgeous nose. The palate is viscous and rich, loaded with black and blue fruits and a vibrant air of tension. Enjoy this beautiful Cabernet over the next decade. Drink 2021-2033- 93

Rochioli

Rochioli

For years I have adored one of the jewels of the Russian River Valley, Rochioli. Tom Rochioli traces his family heritage back to some of the area’s first plantings on Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1959 his father and grandfather planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc which was a great learning experience for them. The Cabernet Sauvignon did not grow well and was pulled out in the 1970s.  However, the Sauvignon Blanc planted became a huge success. Today these same vines are still in production and are considered some of the oldest Sauvignon Blanc vines in California. Inspired by the wines of Burgundy, Tom’s father planted Pinot Noir in 1968, as he likened the cool climate to Burgundy.
The Rochiolis began selling their grapes to Bynum winery in the 1970s and then later Williams Selyem in the 1980s but Tom was inspired to make his own wines. Then in 1987 they released their first estate wine. Utilizing a minimalistic style of winemaking, Rochioli focuses on individual blocks of wine that show subtle differences in fruit and terroir. 

I adored the new wines by Tom that show a common thread of richness with good tension. Check out the utterly gorgeous 2019 Rochioli ‘Sweetwater’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is dense and seamless, with a seriously good aromatic and flavor range. I adored the 2019 Rochioli ‘Little Hill’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is rich with good viscosity and very pretty red fruits. Learn more about these outstanding wines at http://www.rochioliwinery.com Here are the great new wines by Rochioli. 

2019 Rochioli ‘Russian River Valley' Chardonnay- Toasted hazelnuts, brioche and creme brûlée aromatics come into play here. The wine shows off toasty hazelnut with melon and lemon zest infused sourdough bread tones aromatically. The mouthfeel here is excellent, showing off Meyer lemon zest, heavy whipping cream and brioche flavors that sit alongside a good veil of tension. The long finish lingers. Great in its youth, this will provide drinking enjoyment over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2027- 92

2019 Rochioli ‘River Block’ Chardonnay- The 2014 Rochioli ‘River Block’ Chardonnay is sourced from old Wente clone vines located in close proximity to the Russian River. Immediately gratifying on then nose, this shows vanilla bean and Challah bread tones that mingle with wet stone and aprociot tones that all come together brightly on the nose. The palate is fat and downright unctuous with a seamless texture. Layers of banana and Pazzaz apple combine with salted Macadamia nut and vanilla cream on the palate. The length here is exceedingly good. Great in its youth, this will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2019 Rochioli ‘Sweetwater’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Sweetwater’ Chardonnay by Rochioli is a gorgeous wine by famed winemaker Tom Rochioli. The aromatics here are deep and concentrated with baking spice infused golden delicious apple, wild mushroom and shades of roasted pineapple that all take shape in the glass. The palate is fresh, vibrant and beautifully textured. This comes off very elegant but the sense of weight here is utterly fabulous and gratifying. The exceedingly long finish adds to the enjoyment as this beautiful wine will be around for at least a decade. Drink 2021-2033- 95

2019 Rochioli ‘Little Hill’ Chardonnay- Sourced from vines that were originally planted back in 1972, the 2019 ‘Little Hill’ Chardonnay opens with rich vanilla creme brûlée woven together with marzipan, mango and shades of Shiitake mushroom, showing outstanding aromatic range. The palate is seamless and beautifully textured. Layered with rich orchard fruits, ripe pineapple, vanilla cream and toasted hazelnut flavors this complex and delicious wine is showing marvelously even at the two year mark. The feeling of weight and acidity is really outstanding. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2019 Rochioli ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir is mainly sourced from Little Hill (53%), as well as a host of other Russian River Valley sites with vines ranging from six years to 40 years old. Already beautifully evolved at the two year mark, the wine shows off cherry cola and red raspberry cordial tones with wonderful damp earth and plenty of minerals on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, with gobs of finesse, this is a sensational entry level release that will provide plenty of enjoyment over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 Rochioli ‘Little Hill’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Little Hill’ Pinot Noir is an outstanding new wine by the talented Tom Rochioli. Right away the heady aromatics of bright strawberry and guava combine with orange zest and peat moss tones that all really impress. The palate is soft and round with great acidity and mid-palate density. A wonderful core of pretty red fruits parade with minerals, damp tilled earth, rose water, fresh herbs and orange rind on the palate. With outstanding length, this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2035- 94  

2019 Rochioli ‘Sweetwater’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Rochioli ‘Sweetwater’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous effort that is very youthful but has gobs of aging potential. Once on the nose this takes on beautiful red rose petals and damp river rock tones that mingle with shades of cinnamon and cloves with a good core of ripe red fruits. The palate is soft, round and beautifully textured. Lithe, and light on its feet, this shows a great wall of bright red fruits with shades of blood orange zest and stony minerals. Gorgeous to savor in its youth, this has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035— 94

2019 Rochioli ‘River Block’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘River Block’ shows off a deeper core than the ‘Sweetwater’ bottling and also shares more dark fruit aromatics with tilled soils and wintergreen tones on the nose. The wine has marvelous depth and concentration with exquisite finesse. Rich huckleberry and black raspberry flavors combine with flinty minerals, peat moss and a rich veil of salinity. The terroir here is just exceptional. Gorgeous in its youth, this will continue to evolve well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 95

FIGGINS Riesling Vertical Tasting

One of the outstanding Riesling wines produced in Washington, I’ll admit that I was a bit surprised initially when Chris Figgins released his first Riesling wine. Chris described why he planted Riesling. “The decision to plant some Riesling at FIGGINS was manyfold.  First, I had one small panel of the property that was perfectly plantable, but I didn't feel would be warm enough to ripen Bordeaux varieties due to its NW aspect and a draw that directs cold air towards it.  So I focused on varietals I knew I could get ripe and thus Riesling.  I thought since FIGGINS is a vineyard of place inspired by legacy....what better to do that honor the very startup of Leonetti which had Riesling for the first four or five vintages.  I distinctly remember as a very young child drinking freshly squeezed Riesling juice from the mouth of the press and how amazing it was!  I've really enjoyed working with Riesling and feel like it was the right decision to plant in this small parcel.”

For those who have never tried the FIGGINS Riesling, it shows a mesmerizing sense of minerality regardless of vintage. The wines have slowly been becoming less sweet and are made more in the Trocken style than the Kabinett style. Flavors typically range from green apple and green papaya to pretty white florals and lemon/lime. One thing I noticed as I tasted a vertical of the Riesling is the older bottling were even more refined and soft. They might not have the same degree of tension but were very round on the mouth. I adored the 2015 FIGGINS Riesling (OB, 94) which is absolutely singing now at the six year mark. This wine is extremely refined and is a remarkable achievement from what was not an easy vintage for white wines. The new wine the 2020 FIGGINS Riesling (OB, 93) is fresh and vibrant with a stony edge. This is truly one of the great Riesling wines you will find in North America. Learn more about this very special project at http://www.figginswine.com Here are my notes from the FIGGINS Riesling vertical tasting. 

2015 FIGGINS Riesling- The 2015 FIGGINS Riesling is showing marvelously now at the six year mark. A beautifully golden hue, this opens with petrol and green apple notes alongside wet stone and orange blossom that all take shape in the glass. The palate is beautifully refined with a silky texture. This is very ‘Trocken’ style with a seamless texture and wonderful sense of weight. The wine is quite astonishing considering the challenges of the vintage but the feeling of weight mid-palate is particularly inviting. Gorgeous now, this is really drinking in its perfect place. While I think this has several years to go, why wait? Drink 2021-2026- 94

2018 FIGGINS Riesling- The 2018 FIGGINS Riesling is a remarkable achievement from this fantastic vintage. Right away the wine is very perfumed with lemon blossom, gardenia and white peach, with lighter petrol undertones, all giving this plenty of exotic appeal. The palate is fresh and lively with bright acidity and a gorgeous sense of mouthfeel. The length here is outstanding as melon and citrus rind tones combine with wet stone and shades of wild mushroom on the palate. Gorgeous now, this has a long way to go. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 FIGGINS Riesling- The 2019 FIGGINS Riesling is really singing now at the two year mark. The nose is particularly high-toned with white flowers and orange rind aromatics that mingle with shades of cardamom and beeswax on this complex bouquet. The palate is lithe and beautifully textured with great length and acidity, showing honeydew, lemon oil and stony undertones. Gorgeous now, this has a long way to go, just like the 2018. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2020 FIGGINS Riesling- The new release by FIGGINS coming from the 2020 vintage is utterly fantastic now in its playful youth. Once on the nose this takes on layers of lemon zest and honey, alongside baking spices, ginger and shades of damp earth that all meld in the glass.  The palate reveals just a kiss of sweetness with lemon cake, marzipan, quince and stony undertones. Seriously esteemed and bright in its youth, this has another decade to go. Drink 2021-2031- 93

Champagne Christophe Baron (CCB)

I have been pining to try the new Champagne Christophe Baron releases which are unlike any other in Champagne. These are all zero dosage bottlings that showcase Pinot Meunier. Like Christophe, I love great Pinot Meunier producers like Charles Mignon, MV Krug (usually has a high PM percentage), and Egly-Ouriet. Pinot Meunier might be the unsung hero of champagne but when it is done right, the varietal produces nothing short of world-class wines. 

Christophe himself is born into an exceedingly long line of Champagne vignerons, with a history that dates back as far as 1677. His expertise was honed through training in Avize (Champagne) and Beaune before moving to the United States and founding one of North America’s iconic brands, Cayuse Vineyards. Christophe’s estate in champagne includes 3 hectares (7.5 acres) surrounding the villages of Charly-sur-Marne, Crouttes-sur-Marne and the hamlet of Porteron, and its vineyard holdings are made up of only very old parcels of Pinot Meunier.

His new champagnes are wines that are highly nuanced that need either a Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc glass, or a Riedel tasting glass to grab the beautiful layers that each wine provides. I was also pleased how well these champagnes showed in a Burgundy glass, although the expression of bubbles was obviously muted in the glass. One more point on temperature this time, because these are so finesse-driven, it is important to serve them a bit warmer where the full range of flavors and aromatics can be enjoyed. For several hours I experimented with temperature in the wines and found that they were much better warmed in the 42-45 degree range. They also showed well above 45 degrees. Give them time to develop once opened in part because they come from a very young vintage that is now at the five year mark. 2016 was a tricky vintage as a whole because of the very warm temperatures in August as well as some rains during harvest. 

These wines have been given high praise by Antonio Galloni and I can say that I also adored the new 2016 vintage wines by Christophe Baron across the board. I felt that the consistency was just remarkable considering the vintage in general. The wines will evolve well for decades to come but are a delight to savor in their youth. Here are my tasting notes of the glorious new 2016 champagnes by Champagne Christophe Baron and learn more at https://champagnechristophebaron.com/

2016 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Les Dessus du Bois Marie’ Brut Nature- The 2016 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Les Dessus du Bois Marie’ shows amazing finesse and a Krug-like minerality with gorgeous lemon oil tones woven together with chalky and diatomaceous earth, with starfruit infused sourdough bread and a light dusting of salinity from the soils that adds to the complexity. The silky mousse impresses and the sense of weight will be eye-catching particularly when warmed and given a good amount of air. Enjoy this gorgeous new champagne over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2016 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Les Hauts Blances’ Brut Nature-This Brut Nature Pinot Meunier Champagne shows off almost a salmon hue. Aromatically complex, this reveals kumquat and bergamot aromatics with red raspberry tones that are deftly woven together in the glass. The palate comes off big and juicy with a soft mousse. The weight is particularly gratifying here. Ripe Yakima cherry and pomegranate seed combine with shades of Gravenstein apple and kiwi tones all impress on the palate. Gorgeous now, this will evolve well over then ext fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 96

2016 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Les Alouettes’ Brut Nature- The ‘Les Alouettes’ is a gorgeous, fresh and vibrant expression of Pinot Meunier. Like the other wines in the collection, the feeling of weight here is seriously good, with ginger and quince tones mingling with plum, nectarine and lemon zest on the palate. Don’t serve this too cold and this shows brilliantly in a Burgundy glass. Vibrant and racy in its youth, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2036- 95

Turnbull

A winery with some serious history, Turnbull has been perched in the Napa Valley for the past 35 years. Today the winery owns over 200 acres in the Napa Valley and produces approximately 30,000 cases per year. Their original co-founder William Turnbull was an architect from the San Francisco Bay Area and designed his winery as well as many others including part of Cakebread Cellars. Later in 1993 Patrick O’Dell purchased Turnbull Johnson and renamed the winery to Turnbull Cellars. At the helm is Peter Heitz who is a fourth generation vintner. Peter applied his trade at Beringer, crafting some world class Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon under the guidance of legendary winemaker Ed Sbragia, before coming to Turnbull more than a decade ago. 

I loved the new wines by Turnbull. Check out the 2020 Turnbull ‘Oakville’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 90) which is fresh, vibrant and shows a great sense of texture. Their top wine, the 2018 Turnbull ‘Black Label’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) is sinfully good even now. This wine has incredible power and finesse, as well as some seriously good aging potential. These are beautiful wines that are not to be missed. Learn more at www.turnbullwines.com Here are my reviews of the new Turnbull wines. 

2020 Turnbull ‘Oakville’ Sauvignon Blanc- Fresh, lithe and inviting, the 2020 Turnbull Sauvignon Blanc delivers plenty of kiwi, pink grapefruit and starfruit flavors alongside a good sense of minerality. Medium-bodied with good structure and a soft texture, this is best enjoyed over the next several years. Drink 2021-2026- 90  

2018 Turnbull Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Turnbull Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon shows good weight, with rich chocolate and dark fruit flavors alongside a great veil of tension and light dusting of salinity. Dense and rich, this has some heft and structure to age gracefully for another ten plus years. Drink 2021-2033- 92       

2018 Turnbull Oakville Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Turnbull Oakville Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful, finesse-driven wine that is already showing beautifully in its youth. Right away the cassis and anise tones capture your attention as tilled soil undertones also arouse aromatically. The palate is fresh and vibrant with gobs of acidity and medium-bodied dark fruit, tobacco and damp earthy tones. Great enjoy now, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2018 Turnbull ‘Black Label’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Big without being massive, the 2018 Turnbull ‘Black Label’ is a gorgeous wine made by Peter Heitz. Made from only Oakville fruit, and mainly sourced from their Leopoldina Vineyard, this shows off exotic spices and dark plum that mingle with espresso bean and loamy soil aromatics that all take shape in the glass. The palate is lively and fresh with good acidity and really nice mid-palate density. Gorgeous to savor in its youth, try your best to resist this beautiful new wine for at least another year. Drink 2022-2040- 96

Domaine Serene

I love Oregon wineries with a storied history. It is hard to believe that it has been nearly twenty years since I first set foot at Domaine Serene. I fondly recall first tasting at Domaine Serene back in 2002. I have tasted many of their lineups over nearly twenty years and I am always impressed with the consistency of each wine. Domaine Serene wines are focused, having a beginning, middle and end. Texturally, these are consistently beautiful wines. 

It was more than thirty years ago Domaine Serene was founded by Dundee Hills pioneers Grace and Ken Evenstad, One of the most beautiful wineries in the Pacific Northwest, Domaine Serene is an absolute must visit for any Oregon wine lover. I fondly recall my first visit to Domaine Serene in 2002 and was absolutely blown away not only with the sweeping views of the Willamette Valley but the stunning wines. I love how these wines age as well. Over the past few months I’ve tried Domaine Serene wines from the 2011, 2012 and 2014 vintages, all showing marvelously. Drink your 2011s now and the 2012 wines might even need a touch more time. The 2014 wines are right in their wheelhouse!

Before coming to Domaine Serene, I loved the wines that Michael Fay made at Goldeneye. I have admired the wines made by Michael Fay for quite some time, as he made some downright awesome wines for Goldeneye before being hired by Domaine Serene as head winemaker. Michael does a masterful job with crafting his Pinot Noirs which come from another warm vintage, 2018, that saw August heat spikes and then a cool fall. I adored the new 2018 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) is dense, and shows a wonderful core of dark fruits with great acidity. Even better was the sinfully good 2018 Domaine Serene ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is nowhere near its peak but shows incredible cellaring potential. The ’18 Grace will have decades of life ahead of it.  I am quite honestly blown away with the consistency of the new lineup. Learn more about this famed Oregon estate at http://domaineserene.com/ Here are the incredible new release wines by Domaine Serene.

2018 Domaine Serene ‘Cote Sud’ Chardonnay-  The gorgeous new ‘Cote Sud’ Chardonnay shows off brioche and lemon zest aromatics woven together with cardamom dusted Japanese pear tones that meld in the glass.  The sense of weight and texture here is outstanding, as is the lift and wonderful mid-palate weight. The exceedingly long finish adds to the enjoyment, as this outstanding Chardonnay is best enjoyed over the next decade. Drink 2021-2033- 95

2018 Domaine Serene ‘Etoile’ Chardonnay- The ‘Etoile Vineyard’ is set at roughly eight hundred feet, as this dry-farmed site is set on Jory soils. One whiff and you admire the volcanic terroir here with white pepper and a dusting of volcanic stones that deftly combine with ripe melon and pear tones on the nose. The palate is beautifully structured, focused, lively and juicy. Kiwi and pink grapefruit tones mingle with sourdough bread and baking spices on the palate. Showing great verve now, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2033- 95

2018 Domaine Serene ‘Yamhill Cuvee’ Pinot Noir-The 2018 ‘Yamhill Cuvee’ shows plenty of bright red fruits with orange zest and salty undertones aromatically. The palate is ripe and juicy with bright red fruits and a forward, delicious approach with good minerals holding things up. Enjoy this good value over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-227- 91

2018 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection of vineyards throughout the Domaine Serene portfolio, the heady aromatics capture your attention with loganberry preserves, thyme, peat moss and suggestions of pomegranate seed and fennel that all sing in unison. The palate is big, broad-shouldered and loaded with bright red and dark fruits. With more air the tilled earth and salty tones enter the fray, with blood orange zest accents. The feeling of weight and bright acidity of this wine suggest some serious aging potential. Try to give this beautiful wine at least an hour of air if consuming now. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2018 Domaine Serene ‘Cote Sud Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 Domine Serene ‘Cote Sud’ is an awesome new Pinot Noir by superstar winemaker Michael Fay. Sourced from a six acre vineyard set on a south-facing slope of the Evenstad Estate that ranges from 510 to 790 feet in elevation, the wine shows off pomegranate seed and guava tones alongside salted damp earth. And baking spices that all take shape in the glass. The palate is juicy and beautifully balanced, with a soft mouthfeel and great length. Laters of very pretty red fruits mingle with rose water, charcuterie and orange rind tones on the palate. This is gorgeous stuff to enjoy now, as the 2018 ‘Cote Sud’ will provide drinking enjoyment for the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2018 Domaine Serene ‘Abbey Oaks Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Abbey Oaks is the lone property that Domaine Serene owns in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Set on Willakenzie soils, this is an earlier ripening site for Pinot Noir. Right away the wine shows a great combination of red and dark fruits that mingle with salty damp earth and peat moss aromatics. The palate is soft and beautifully textured with great length and a very pretty set of red fruits (think guava, pomegranate and Bing cherry). Full-bodied and delicious, this is great stuff to enjoy its youth, as the 2018 ‘Abbey Oaks’ will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2018 Domaine Serene ‘Two Barns Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Two Barns Vineyard’ is one of the rare sites in the Dundee Hills that shares a combination of Jory and Willakenzie soils. Once on the nose this takes on layers of teaberry and cran-pomegranate, woven together with smoke,  and pretty red florals that all meld in the glass. The palate shows off its silky, generous texture, with good length. Ripe red currants march on with red rose water, Mandarin orange zest and suggestions of iodine on the palate. Firm tannins hold everything in place. The combination of weight and bright acidity here makes this an awesome match for a juicy fillet. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2018 Domaine Serene ‘Triple S Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Triple S Vineyard’ is set on Jory soils at approximately 450 feet in elevation, and is exclusively planted to clone 777 Pinot Noir. The dusting of volcanic earth catches your eye, with ripe red and dark fruits that mingle with damp earth aromatics. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a beautifully generous texture. Layers of pomegranate seed and wild blackberry cordial collide with minerals, damp earth and smoky undertones. Gorgeous in its youth, be sure to give this at least an hour of air if enjoying its nascent phase. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2018 Domaine Serene ‘Members’ Limited Edition’ Pinot Noir- A first time bottling,  the 2018 ‘Members’ Limited Edition’ is a tribute by Ken and Grace Evenstad to their wine club members. The wine drinks beautifully right out of the bottle and doesn’t need a decant to gain momentum. The color here is quite dark with ripe dark cherry and tobacco notes that mingle with shades of salty damp earth on the nose. The palate is generous and beautifully textured, with good length. Rich red  and dark fruits parade with minerals, smoky and earthy. Undertones on the palate. With good length, this beautiful bottling will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2018 Domaine Serene ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-  Majestic, finesse-driven and jam-packed full of cellaring potential, the stunning 2018 Domaine Serene ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous new wine that will live on for decades. The ‘Grace Vineyard’ is set on very deep Jory soils,  as this wine and vineyard is named after Domaine Serene co-founder Grace Evenstad. Right away the wine shows beautiful red florals with cardamom, Bing cherry and pomegranate seed tones aromatically. The palate is dense, chewy and downright delicious. The wine greets you with a massive wall of red and dark fruits, with lovely balance, poise and focus. The combination of viscosity of verve and viscosity really drives this wine, as this scintillating new Pinot Noir bottling will be best enjoyed over the next decade — or more. Try to resist this for at least a year and if opening now, give it at least a three hour decant to develop its true grandeur. Drink 2022-2042- 96

Alexana

I am always amazed when wineries produce amazing lineups that somehow remain under the radar. Such is the case with Alexana, one of the outstanding producers of Oregon Pinot Noir.  I just adore the range of wines that they mange to produce, from fresh and vibrant Riesling to earthy Pinot Noirs. Over the years I have found that the consistency of these wines have been remarkable. Alexana was founded many years back by Dr. Madaiah Revana, a famed cardiologist. Named after Dr. Revana’s daughter,  Alexana has a stunning setting in the Red Hills AVA. The winery utilizes both gravity flow and Gold LEED certification. Bryan Weil serves as head winemaker and has greatly impressed with his solid range of new wines. Bryan previously worked at Domaine Serene before heading back to Oregon State University, where in 2008 he graduated with a degree in Enology and Viticulture. Bryan then served as assistant winemaker at Hogue Cellars in Prosser, Washington, prior to being named Alexana winemaker in in 2012.

Bryan has crafted a killer new lineup of wines in 2019 which saw major challenges with consistent rain at harvest. Look to his  2019 Alexana ‘Revana Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which has good depth and concentration considering the challenges of the vintage.  I adored the 2018 Alexana ‘Signature’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is dense and hedonistic from this vintage, with good tension. This is a beautiful wine for any serious collector of Oregon Pinot Noir. Learn more about this outstanding Oregon winery at http://www.alexanawinery.com Here are the great new release wines by Alexana. 

2018 Alexana ‘Terroir Series’ Chardonnay- This beautiful Chardonnay shows off-white peach and Pink Lady apple flavors with copious minerals and earthy undertones. This finishes very long, adding to the gratification. Full-bodied and beautifully textured, enjoy this over then next decade. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2018 Alexana ‘Terroir Series’ Pinot Noir-  The 2018 ‘Terroir Series’ Pinot Noir is sourced from a range of vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley. On the nose there is a great core of red and dark fruits with salty and volcanic undertones alongside peat moss accents. The palate is soft and plush with a seamless texture. Generous red and dark fruits collide with minerals, smoke and damp earth tones all impress on the palate. Glorious now, this will provide drinking enjoyment for decades to come. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2018 Alexana ‘Signature’ Pinot Noir-  The 2018 ‘Signature’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection wine entirely sourced from the ‘Revana Estate’ Vineyard. Dense, chewy and highly gratifying, the palate shows really good range from tart red fruits to Mandarin orange rind and volcanic damp earthy tones. The length and mouthfeel both add to the enjoyment as this outstanding and rich new Pinot Noir will cellar well for decades to come. Drink 2021-2038- 94

2019 Alexana ‘East Blocks Volcanic Soils’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘East Blocks Volcanic Soils’ are sourced from various volcanic soils found in the ‘Revana Vineyard’ in the portion sheltered by trees. Ripe red cherry and loganberry tones combine with damp smoldering stones, potpourri and orange rind on this gorgeous bouquet. The palate is seamless with great tension nd a silky smooth mouthfeel. Generous and gratifying to drink now, this has another decade arm ore ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2019 Alexana ‘West Blocks Sedimentary Soils’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘West Blocks Sedimentary Soils’ shows salty red fruits that mingle with kumquat rind and damp earthy tones on the nose. The palate has great lift and freshness with finesse-driven lighter red fruit flavors alongside pine needle and orange rind flavors. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2019 Alexana ‘Revana Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Revana Vineyard’ is set in the Northeastern edge of the Dundee Hills and is home to 10 different clones of Pinot Noir. The wine shows a silky profile with gorgeous red fruits that dance along with minerals, peat moss and stony and salty undertones. Brilliant in its youth, this will shine on for another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

Lingua Franca

Today we share the wines from one of the consistently great Oregon producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Lingua Franca begins with their estate vineyard, located between the Lone Star, Jerusalem Hills and Seven Springs vineyards. It is a truly sensational site. Larry Stone, MS, previously managed wine portfolios for Francis Ford Coppola as well as Augustin Huneeus before founding Lingua Franca with David Honig. After rigorous negotiations, the land for Lingua Franca was finally purchased in late 2012. We are all very glad that Larry did that.

In late 2014, Dominique Lafon of Evening Land fame indicated that he would be interested in collaborating on the project and the team began work together in February of 2015. At time that Lafon protégé, Thomas Savre, also came aboard as he had a wealth experience in some of the most illustrious wineries in Burgundy. Thomas served as assistant winemaker at Evening Land before being promoted as winemaker for Lingua Franca. Thomas is a younger winemaker with plenty of enthusiasm and a killer palate. He might be even more crazy for top champagne than myself. 

I love the wines that he made in 2019 which wasn’t the easiest vintage particularly for Pinot Noir, as conditions at harvest were very rainy with what was generally a good, typical growing season. These are gorgeous wines across the board with plenty of mid-palate weight. I adored the 2019 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which poses for a top notch Mersault. The Pinot Noir releases were also awesome, none more so than the 2019 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is deep, concentrated and has some massive cellaring potential. Learn more about Lingua Franca at https://www.linguafranca.wine Here are the beautiful new releases by Lingua Franca.

2019 Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Avni’ shows off bright pear and pink grapefruit tons alongside wonderful acidity, stony undertones and a light salinity. Linear and seamless, with great lip-smacking acidity, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next decade. Drink 2021-2028- 93

2019 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Chardonnay is a gorgeous new wine by the talented Thomas Savre. Flinty tones mingle with wild mushroom, Japanese pear and citrus blossom aromatics that all take shape in the glass. The palate is round, generous and wonderfully textured. This is finesse-driven, seamless Oregon Chardonnay. The great sense of length adds to the enjoyment as this beautiful wine is not even fully hitting its stride. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2019 Lingua Franca ‘Bunker Hill’ Chardonnay- Sourced from one of the great sites for Oregon Chardonnay, the 2019 ‘Bunker Hill’ Chardonnay was first planted back in 1995 and is set on volcanic soils, as vines receive a profound maritime influence. Wet stone and honeydew melon aromas mingle with baking spice infused Challah bread and salted pear on this beautiful nose. The palate has a great veil of tension with a light dusting of salinity. This is ultra-refined stuff, yielding wonderful lemon oil flavors alongside brioche, white pepper and diatomaceous earthy accents that makes this very Oregon vs. Dauvissat. Gorgeous now, this beautiful wine will continue to evolve over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2019 Lingua Franca ‘La Belle’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘La Belle’ Pinot Noir is a limited production bottling from some of the finer soils in the ‘Lingua Franca Estate Vineyard.’ The wine is fresh, elegant and seamless. While not particularly rich, the elegance imparted truly makes this wine live up to its name, with very pretty red fruits and damp earthy tones. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 Lingua Franca ‘The Lingua Franca Estate’ Pinot Noir- For many years the ‘Lingua Franca Estate Vineyard’ has been one of the hallowed sites in the Eola-Amity Hills.  With Pinot Noir vines set on volcanic soils, this shows off a nice dusting of white pepper and volcanic earth on the nose with bright red fruits and red floral tones rounding out this expressive bouquet. The palate has incredible finesse with good richness and a long finish. Truly outstanding now, this will provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2019 Lingua Franca ‘The Plow’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from blocks 1 and 2 in the ‘Lingua Franca Estate Vineyard’ this Pinot Noir is entirely Dijon clone 777. Salty and savory charcuterie aromatic tones with huckleberry and damp earth tones all sing in unison. The palate is dense and chewy with firm tannins. The wine shows good weight and tension, with bright dark fruits that collide with orange rind and tilled earth undertones. Gorgeous in its youth, be sure to give this at least a one hour decant if savoring now. Drink 2022-2036- 94

Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling Vertical Tasting

I have long admired the Long Shadows lineup. Long before I was writing about wine professionally, I always enjoyed visiting their Woodvinille tasting room in my spare time, reveling in one of Washington’s great lineups. Truly a iconic wine project, Long Shadows is the brainchild of former Chateau Ste. Michelle CEO Allen Shoup who had the genius idea to have Washington wines made by utilizing some of the best winemaking talent across the globe.

One of the best decisions he made was to hire Gilles Nicault from Woodward Canyon to be his head winemaker and oversee all winemaking production. Gilles has become one of the state’s great talents. Truly one of the great Riesling projects of the Pacific Northwest, the ‘Poet’s Leap’ project was initially a wine made by Armin Diel from Schlossgut Diel. Over time Gilles Nicault has taken over this project in crafting Riesling wines that show amazing acidity and good mid-palate ripeness. I have been amazed by these wines over the year. Gilles explained the process of making his top notch Washington Riesling:

“During the growing season we try to open up around the fruit zone and have. Good canopy to protect fro the sun yet to have uniform maturation.” He continued “This way we preserve as much acidity as possible and the flavor developments that is what we want to be. The cluster is going to be uniform. Some of these have been 19.6 Brix and this brings acidity and minerality, and some other lots come at 22 Brix and you get more stone fruit and white peach. All of the fermenters are separate and then you can do the best bleedings looking at the flavor profile, acidity and getting the best balance in the wine.” 

Sitting with Gilles it was just a blast chatting about each wine as we tasted backwards, starting with the dazzling 2010 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap ‘ Riesling (OB, 94) which showed insanely good texture and finesse. One of the shining stars was certainly the 2008 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling (OB, 95) which is amongst the best Riesling wines in North America that I have tried in the past several years. I just love the range here as the wine is slowly evolving into secondary tones. Another standout was the 2007 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling (OB, 94) which was not quite as viscous as the ’08 but showed brilliant acidity and freshness. This was truly a tasting to remember. Learn more about these exciting wines at longshadows.com Here are my notes from vintages 2003-2010 of the Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling. 

2010 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap Riesling- This was the fist vintage of this incredible wine that has been one of the iconic wine. Sourced primarily from The Benches Vineyard (57%) with also Phil Church Vineyard {23%) as well as Weinbau and Dionysus vineyards, this shows gorgeous honeysuckle and nutty tones on the nose.  The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is very fresh and beautifully textured. Layers of rich orchard fruit and sour apricot mingle with wet stone and an insanely good sense of mouthfeel and length. Gorgeous now, this still has a ways to go with its sense of weight and acidity. Drink 2021-2027- 94

2009 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling- The 2009 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ is a warm vintage Riesling that has beautifully evolved already now at the twelve year mark. With 1.35g/L the silky texture really impresses here with baked apple and pear notes alongside shades of wet stone and shades of mango and orange blossom water. Enjoy this great wine over the next five years. Drink 2021-2025- 92

2008 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling- The 2008 Poet’s Leap Riesling is a blend of fruit from the Horse Heaven Hills, as well as the ‘Sonnet Vineyard’ and blocks from the Dionysus Vineyard planted back in 1972. On the nose this takes on bright kiwi and starfruit tones alongside wet stone and slate. The palate is viscous with great acidity and a scintillating texture. Bright and youthful, this is wonderfully evolved right now and still has a long way to go. This is Washington Riesling at its best. Drink 2021-2029- 95

2007 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling- Bright, youthful and gorgeous now at the fourteen year mark, the 2007 ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling comes from a warm vintage that saw a mild September and great conditions at harvest. Lighter petrol and pink grapefruit blossom alongside kiwi and wet stone all hit the nose. The palate is plush and full, showing a great sense of texture and exceedingly good length. Gorgeous to enjoy now, this has another five to seven years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2027- 94

2006 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling- The 2006 ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling includes some longer vines, as the wine shows off honeysuckle and wet stone alongside kiwi and white grapefruit tones that all combine aromatically. The palate is plush with a silky mouthfeel and great send of texture. Layers of ripe Pink Lady apple, and papaya mingle with honeydew melon and wet stone on the palate. This is really ready to drink now. This is really impressive fifteen year old Riesling considering the heat of the vintage as well. Drink 2021-2025- 92

2005 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling- The 2005 ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling is an impressive showing with honey and cantaloupe notes on the nose alongside shades of white rose water. The palate is soft and elegant with a silky texture. Generous and rich, with a good sense of minerality, this bright wine reveals pear and gooseberry tones alongside shades of baked apple and wet stone on the palate. Drink 2021-2026- 93

2004 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling- The 2004 ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling its beautifully evolved at the seventeen year mark. Showing 1.93g/L, this reveals slate and honeysuckle tones alongside Japanese pear and green papaya. The wine is beautifully textured with a great stony profile. Layers of ripe peach and mango combine with damp earth, wild mushroom and nutty undertones. Quite beautifully evolved now, and still showing good freshness, enjoy over the next five years while the gorgeous tertiary tones continue to rock on. Drink 2021-2025- 93

2003 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling- The 2003 Long Shadows ‘Poet’s Leap’ Riesling is the first wine of this series that was made more in the Kabinette style. The wine is rich and un tutus with a. Soft texture. Layers of ripe nectarine and Pink Lady apple march on with minerals, Shitake mushroom and juicy starfruit. Drink 2021-2025- 92 

MacRostie

One of the great stops in the Russian River Valley, MacRostie was founded by fellow Whitman College graduate, Steve MacRostie. Speaking to Steve a few years back, I was enchanted by his vision to craft terroir-driven Chardonnay and Pinot Noir many years before most people were following that model in Sonoma. Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen has a illustrious history in the wine industry having an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She has worked in the enology laboratory of Jackson Family Wines before working at Clos du Bois, Oyster Bay as well as Sonoma-Cutrer. She has some fantastic new wines.

MacRostie sources from some great vineyards including Dutton Ranch, Sangiacomo, Martinelli and Bacigalupi, and from Steve’s Wildcat Mountain Vineyard which he purchased decades back. I have always enjoyed wines from the ‘Wildcat Mountain Vineyard’ and this year’s rendition the 2018 MacRostie ‘Wildcat Mountain’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) is beautifully textured and shows good depth and salty terroir. Learn more about this great Sonoma winery at https://macrostiewinery.com/ Here are the great new wines by MacRostie.

2019 MacRostie ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay shows off rich apricot with Bartlett pear and vanilla creme brûlée flavors. With a great veil of tension and light salinity, this is fantastic stuff that will provide drinking enjoyment over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2027- 91

2018 MacRostie ‘Wildcat Mountain’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 MacRostie ‘Wildcat Mountain’ Pinot Noir opens with aromas of red currant jelly, woven together with menthol, Bing cherry and strawberry tones. The palate is elegant and refined with a great core of red fruits and a soft texture. With good length,  and a light dusting of salinity, this beautiful new bottling will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

Goldeneye

It was a very warm late summer day as my wife and I descended into what is typically a cooler site to taste wine. Even at 10AM it was 90 degrees as a heat wave had struck Northern California. We had a magical experience starting with bubbles and tasting their single vineyard wines. For those who have never visited Goldeneye,  you are in for a treat. 

One of the great Mendocino producers of Pinot Noir, Goldeneye is a Duckhorn venture located in Philo, California in the heart of the Anderson Valley. Famed Domaine Serene winemaker Michael Fay was at Goldeneye before moving north and they rely on the talented Katey Larwood for winemaking, as I interviewed her last year. Katey has experience working harvests across the globe and began studying wine while attending school in Santa Barbara. Her wines have been really good since she has been at the helm.

The 2018 wines show plenty of stuffing and have great salty terroir. Goldeneye utilizes three estate vineyards (Confluence, Gowan Creek and The Narrows) in the Anderson Valley encompassing 200 vine acres and more than 20 Pinot Noir clones. I adored the new 2018 Goldeneye ‘Confluence Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which shows good richness and excellent salty character. Learn more about these outstanding Pinot Noirs at https://www.goldeneyewinery.com Here are the great new releases by Goldeneye. 

2018 Goldeneye ‘The Narrows Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Anderson Valley, ‘The Narrows Vineyard’ is closely located. To the coast, having a strong. Marine influence and major fog presence. The vineyard is planted to Pommard, Dijon 777 and 115 clone Pinot Noir. Aged in 60% new French oak, this shows off ripe red currants and red cherry with tobacco,  damp earth and teaberry undertones that all mingle in the glass. The palate is elegant and beautifully textured with an outstanding sense of salinity. Layers of very pretty red fruits are woven together with red rose water, peat moss and saline drenched Mandarin orange rind tones on the palate. The great length here adds to the enjoyment, as this beautiful wine is best enjoyed over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2018 Goldeneye ‘Split Rail Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Split Rail Vineyard’ is a beautiful new wine by the talented Katey Larwood. Aged in 60% new French oak, this opens with pretty red floral tones that mingle with pomegranate seed and shades of baking spice dusted kumquat that all meld in the glass. The palate is beautifully textured and elegant, with distinct salinity that runs through the great core of red fruits. Gorgeous in its youth, this beautiful wine will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2033- 92

2018 Goldeneye ‘Confluence Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-  The ‘Confluence Vineyard’ is home to a range of soils near the Navarro river. Utilizing many different clonal varietals including 777, 666, 115, 459 and 113, the wine was aged in 60% new French oak before bottling. Ripe red plum and cigar box tones mingle with a great range of salted red and dark fruits that mingle together on the nose. The palate is rich and voluptuous with a silky texture. Tilled salty. soils and ripe red fruits parade with minerals, smoke and peat moss undertones on the palate. Gorgeous to enjoy now,  the. 2018 ‘Confluence Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will provide drinking enjoyment for more than a decade to come. Drink 2021-2033- 93

Sleight of Hand

I love great value Washington wines. One winery that seems to slip under the radar in terms of not only offering amazing premium bottling but also very good values is Sleight of Hand out of Walla Walla. They have recently remodeled their tasting room, located in the south end of Walla Walla, and they have a great spot in SoDo as well for those in the Seattle area. 

What was originally a very limited production winery, Sleight of Hand was first founded in 2007 by Trey Busch and Jerry and Sandy Solomon. The winery focuses on both estate and non-estate fruit and has slowly been increasing production since the winery’s inception. Trey (a fellow Pearl Jam fan) is a downright awesome, down to earth guy that has attained great success in a relatively short amount of time. Keith Johnson joined the team in 2011 and has been doing an incredible job as the production winemaker. Keith oversees the winery on a daily basis, and during harvest, while Trey and Jerry are in the vineyards making picking decisions, he is managing our harvest team, making sure everything is being taken care of in the cellar. Keith also makes some great wines under his Devium label.

The winemaking team has assembled an awesome value at around 20 bucks, their 2018 Sleight of hand ‘The Spellbinder’ Red Wine (OB, 90) which has a very soft mouthfeel, great acidity and delicious dark fruit flavors. This is one to buy by the case. Even better is the sinfully good 2018 Sleight of Hand ‘The Achimage’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is a donwnright awesome Right Bank style wine that has great viscosity and verve. Learn more about this outstanding winery at http://www.sofhcellars.com Here are the awesome new release wines from Sleight of Hand.

2018 Sleight of Hand ‘The Spellbinder’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘The Spellbinder’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon (56%) with Cabernet Franc (27%), with smaller parts Merlot and Petit Verdot. The wine shows plenty of cassis aromatically with chocolate covered blackberry and sagebrush undertones. The palate is fresh and beautifully balanced with great acidity and a soft mouthfeel. Downright tasty now with its good core of dark fruits, enjoy this over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2026- 90

2018 Sleight of Hand ‘The Conjurer’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘The Conjurer’ is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot with just a dusting of Petit Verdot. Fresh and vibrant, this shows off rich dark cherry and tobacco tones alongside good acidity and a light salinity. This is a solid effort for the price. Drink 2021-2026- 90

2018 Sleight of Hand ‘The Achimage Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Achimage Reserve’ is an outstanding blend of 52% Cabernet Franc with 48% Merlot, done in a very Right Bank style. The aromatics are heady and show serious range from red bell pepper and red rose petals to ripe red currants, black tea and exotic spices that all dazzle in the glass. The palate is dense, chewy and downright delicious, reminiscent of a great warm vintage Right Bank bottling. Cassis, anise and dusty soil flavors combine with shades of red bell pepper and sagebrush with a cocoa powder undercurrent and light salinity. This is very esteemed, rich and terroir-driven stuff that will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2018 Sleight of Hand ‘The Illusionist’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 ‘The Illusionist’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a seriously good wine that has some massive aging potential. They have elected to blend a somewhat large portion of Petit Verdot (12%) into this Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend. Right away the green bell pepper tones scream PV, with dark chocolate shavings, anise and creme de cassis aromatics all singing in unison. The palate is dense,  plush and beautifully textured. This shows a very old-world feel, with its level of restraint despite the large curtain of dark fruit, chocolate and tobacco flavors that are immediately gratifying. Great to savor even now in its youth, this will provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2036- 94

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