Bergström

One of Oregon’s outstanding producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Bergström Wines was founded by John and Karen Bergström as they planted their Bergström Vineyard on a 13-acre, south-facing slope overlooking the Willamette Valley back in 1999. One of their sons, Josh Bergström, moved back to reign after completing a postgraduate program in Viticulture and Enology in Burgundy in 1999. That fall Bergström Wines harvested their first vintage of Pinot Noir from purchased fruit and the rest has been history. Josh serves as general manager, winemaker and vineyard manager at Bergström Wines, and has been rather quietly producing some of the top wines in Oregon.

2019 was not the easiest vintage to navigate with rain at harvest but I adored what Josh did with this beautiful, slightly cooler vintage. I adored his range of Chardonnays, none more so than the 2019 Bergström ‘Sigrid’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is deep, mineral driven and beautifully concentrated. Just as good is the scintillating. 2019  Bergström ‘Bergström Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) displaying dense red and dark fruits with plenty of nuance and a silky texture. Learn more about these sensational wines at https://www.bergstromwines.com Here are the beautiful new wine releases by Bergström.

2019 Bergström ‘Silice’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Silice’ Pinot Noir shows really good range aromatically from teaberry, allspice and cardamom tones alongside orange marmalade and hints of dusty, volcanic soils. The palate is lighter to medium-bodied with great tension and a good core of red and dark fruits, with beautiful length.  Enjoy this outstanding bottling over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2019 Bergström‘Le Pre du Col Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2019 Bergström ‘Le Pre du Col Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a sensational, limited production effort, that immediately commands your attention. On the nose this shows seriously good range from toasted hazelnuts and wild mushrooms to bitter lemon and baking spice dusted sourdough bread. The palate is silky, elegant and downright seamless, effortlessly gilding throughout the drinking experience. With dazzling minerality and a long, highly gratifying finish, this gorgeous new Chardonnay will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2019 Bergström ‘Old Stones’ Chardonnay- The 2019 Bergström ‘Old Stones’ shows off plenty of flinty tones with lighter vanilla cream, pear and cantaloupe flavors alongside some racy acidity. Medium-bodied, this beautiful wine has another ten or more years to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2019 Bergström ‘Bergström Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Big, bold and delicious, the 2019 ‘Bergström Vineyard’ Chardonnay shows a nice sense of salinity and volcanic terroir upon entry. Pretty Japanese pear, lemon curd and lemon oil dusted shortcake flavors combine with stony minerals on the palate. This finishes exceedingly long. Gratiftying to enjoy in its youth, this outstanding bottling will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2019 Bergström ‘Silice’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Silice’ Chardonnay is an extraordinary wine that shows great verve and tension. Stony and mineral-driven, the wine has gobs of mouth-watering acidity and lemon oil flavors with beautiful length. This is already drinking beautifully now and will continue to evolve over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2019 Bergström ‘Sigrid’ Chardonnay- The ‘Sigrid’ is a barrel selection wine crafted by Josh Bergstrom which was all sourced from their estate vineyards and then aged sur lie for 18 months in French oak. The oak influence aromatically is really nice as vanilla and baking spices combine with shades of shortcake and melon with wet stone undertones. The palate is dense and rich with an oily texture. With beautiful length this outstanding bottling will cellar well for another fifteen years. This might not be the densest edition of ‘Sigrid’ but the combination of finesse, mouthfeel and range is downright stunning, Drink 2021-2036- 95

2019 Bergström ‘Silice’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Silice’ Pinot Noir shows really good range aromatically from teaberry, allspice and cardamom tones alongside orange marmalade and hints of dusty, volcanic soils. The palate is lighter to medium-bodied with great tension and a good core of red and dark fruits, with beautiful length.  Enjoy this outstanding bottling over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2019 Bergström ‘Cumberland Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The. 2019 ‘Cumberland Reserve’ is an earthy style of Oregon Pinot Noir that is already beautifully evolved. Shitake mushroom,  blackberry and forest floor flavors mingle with orange rind accents and bright acidity. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next seven to nine years.  Drink 2021-2028- 91

2019 Bergström ‘La Spirale’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘La Spirale’ means “the vortex” as this vineyard was first planted by the Redman family in 2005 and then purchased by the Bergstrom family in 2018. The nose comes off very pretty with red florals and baking spices alongside shades of orange blossom. Silky, elegant and gratifying, this shows incredible finesse and a soft mouthfeel. On the lighter side in terms of fruit flavors, this highly Burgundian bottling will provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2019 Bergström ‘Winery Block’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Winery Block’ is another beautiful expression of Oregon Pinot Noir. Fresh and focused, with bright acidity and a soft mouthfeel, you are guided through a beautiful array of strawberry,  guava and red raspberry fruits, alongside stony minerals and shades of wild mushroom on the palate. Deftly balanced, this is already drinking beautifully and will continue to evolve its earthy core for another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2019 Bergström‘Gregory Ranch’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Gregory Ranch’ is a 21-acre estate set in foothills of the Oregon Coast Range in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. The wine needs considerable air before consuming and comes off a touch more linerar than the other single vineyard bottlings, displaying pretty red rose petals with pine needles, wild mushroom and damp earthy tones on the palate. Enjoy over the next decade, Drink 2021-2031- 92

2019 Bergström ‘Le Pre du Col Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, the ‘Le Pre du Col Vineyard’ means the 'field on the hill' or 'the meadow on the mountain pass’ and is owned by the Hill family. The wine shows a very pretty expression of Oregon Pinot Noir with its layers if delicate red fruits. A seamless texture greets you as a dusting of white pepper and tobacco leaf nuances complete this sensational new bottling. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2019 Bergström ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This famed site located in the Eola-Amity Hills Vineyard sources fruit for many of Oregon’s top wineries. This 100 acre site is actually believed to be the caldera of an ancient volcano. A nice whiff of volcanic earth greets you, as very pretty red florals, menthol and baking spices collide on the nose. The palate shows really good viscosity and length, as this outstanding new bottling will cellar well for another fifteen years — and potentially more. Drink 2021-2038- 94

2019 Bergström ‘Bergström Vneyard’ Pinot Noir- Big and rich considering some of the challenges of the vintage, the 2019 ‘Bergström Vineyard’ is a glorious effort that is already nicely evolved at the two year mark. Sourced from this south-facing, 13 acre site located in the Dundee Hills with expansive views of the Willamette Valley. Once on the nose this takes on rich dark fruits with dried herbs, volcanic earth and shades of cardamom. Rich and nicely astringent from the sour red and dark fruit/citrus rind profile, this is already showing some earthy secondary tones. Complex, novel and delicious, the 2019 ‘Bergstrom Vineyard’ will provide drinking enjoyment over the next twenty years. Drink 2021-2038- 95

Krug

One of the storied Champagne houses, Krug was founded by Joseph Krug in 1843. The house is based in Reims and is currently owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy whose portfolio includes famed French houses like Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Chateau d’Yquem and Ruinart. Originally from Mainz (modern day Germany), Joseph Krug moved to Paris to work in accounting for Champagne Jacquesson and learned so much about Champagne that he began making his own privately. A brilliant linguist, Joseph spoke French, English and German and spoke some Russian, which put his Champagne house in good position to sell to overseas markets.

Following Joseph’s death his son, Paul Krug, took over and began selling Krug across Great Britain. There was great turmoil at the house following Paul’s death in 1910 with two World Wars, although many people contend that the best Champagnes of the century were made between 1926 and 1928. While I have never had these wines, many critics have said that they are some of the best wines that they have ever tried.

Krug produces a host of wines including Krug ‘Grande Cuvée’ (which I reviewed), as well as a stunning non-vintage rosé, a vintage Blanc, a vintage Blanc de Blancs from the Clos du Mesnil Vineyard, a vintage Blanc de Noirs from the Clos d'Ambonnay Vineyard and older vintages released as Krug Collection series. I was blown away with the Krug Grande Cuvee 169th Edition which is crafted from over 146 wines dating back to the 2000 vintage. The current release shows incredible range from citrus rind to musty terroir. It is a dazzling Champagne that is built to age. Learn more about these very special wines at https://www.krug.com Here is my review of the Krug Grande Cuvee 169th Edition Champagne.

Krug Grande Cuvee 169th Edition Champagne- Musty, yeasty and downright intoxicating, the Krug Grande Cuvee 169th Edition is a blend of 146 wines from 11 different years,  the youngest being from 2013 and the eldest dating back from 2000. The elegance of this wine is exquisite as layers of lemon oil, marzipan, toasted salted Macadamia nut and Gravenstein apple all come together exquisitely on the palate. Youthful and thriving now with its incredible verve, the ‘169 ed. Grand Cuvee’ will surely cellar well for at least another fifteen years and potentially more. Drink 2021-2036- 96

R. Lopez de Heredia

Today we present one of the famed houses in La Rioja. R. Lopez de Heredia had its inception in the nineteenth century when French negociants visited the Rioja region to find alternative sources of quality grapes to transform into wine, as the phylloxera epidemic had decimated their vineyards. Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, started his winery in Haro, the capital of the Rioja Alta region. The winery is a stunning older building with one of the coolest wine caves that I have ever seen.

Years ago I had one of my most memorable winery visits to R. Lopez de Heredia. The winery even has its own in-house barrel maker as the attention to detail in the wines is unbelievable, R. Lopez de Heredia wines are aged considerably longer than most and they are only sold when the winemaker finds them to be drinking perfectly. Their current releases are more than a decade old.

The new releases from this house were stunning. Look for the 2012 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Rioja (OB, 93) which is a stunning value and completely over-delivers for the price. Even better was the  awesome value out of Rioja, taken from a challenging vintage. The new 2009 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Bosconia’ Rioja Reserva (OB, 94) which shows plenty of ripeness and a nice salinity from this warm vintage. Learn more about this acclaimed  winery athttp://www.lopezdeheredia.com Here are the beautiful new wines by R. Lopez de Heredia.

2012 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Rioja- Taken from this excellent, warm vintage in La Rioja, the 2012 ‘Vina Cubillo’ is a blend of Tempranillo (65%), with Garnacho (25%), and.smaller parts Mazuelo and Graciano from their estate vineyards. The wine quite literally explodes out of the glass, delivering powerful red currant and red cherry aromatics, alongside tobacco leaf, freshly tilled soils and lemon blossom tones that all meld in the glass. The palate is dense, plush and beautifully textured with a wonderful sense of balance. Orange rind flavors combine with a bright core cran-pomegranate, baking spices and leather tones on the palate. A sensational wine now at the nine year mark, this beautiful wine has another ten years to go in the cellar but is absolutely magical to consume now. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2009 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Bosconia’ Rioja- Bottled back in 2016, the outstanding 2019 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Bosconia’ Rioja is already wonderfully evolved now at the twelve year mark. A blend of Tempranillo (80%), Garnacho (15%), with the remainder Mazuelo yand Graciano, this shows a beautiful perfumed nose of potpourri with Christmas spices, red currants and smoky undertones. The palate is beautifully balanced and shows good concentration and verve — particularly considering the warmth of the vintage. Sour red fruits collide with minerals, scorched earth, black truffle shavings and bright acidity on the palate.  The soft mouthfeel adds to the enjoyment as this downright killer effort has another decade or More to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2033- 94

AXR Napa Valley

Talk about a storied history. The property where AXR Winery now stands dates back to what was formerly fierce Native American hunting grounds, wild west pioneers and the first woman vintner of California in 1886. Over 134 the estate changed hands to become a brewery, restaurant, inn, winery and saloon. 

AXR was started by Kelly Trevethan, Mark Schratz and Don Van Laeken, as well as their famed winemaker, Jean Hoefliger. Jean has a longstanding history in the Napa Valley and I have long admired the wines that he has made not only at AXR but spots like Alpha Omega. HIs new wines were utterly sensational across the board. I adored the 2017 AXR Chardonnay (OB, 94 ) which is dense, showing a luxurious mouthfeel and seriously good texture. Jean has crafted a sensational 2016 AXR Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 93) which is chewy, juicy and shows plenty of ripe dark fruits from this warm vintage in the Napa Valley. Learn more about this great Napa estate at https://www.axrnapavalley.com and here are my reviews of the new AXR wines. 

2020 AXR ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- Bright kiwi and gooseberry hit the nose alongside shades of wet stone and melon undertones. The palate reveals its plush texture with plenty of cantalope, green papaya and vanilla cream flavors with stony undertones. Flamboyant and delicious now, this has a long way to go based on its lithe sense of acidity and wonderful depth. Drink 2021-2028- 93

2017 AXR ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2017 AXR ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay is a weightless effort that beautifully shows off this warm vintage. Baking spice dusted brioche aromas and lemon rind with baked apple all meld in the glass. The palate is soft and seamless, as this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. This is sinfully good to enjoy now at the four year mark. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2016 AXR ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A considerably later release than most, the 2016 AXR ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon saw nearly all new French oak (80%) for 22 months prior to bottling. Tar, tobacco leaf and rich dark fruits all fill the nose. The palate is soft and very well-balanced with cassis, anise and dark chocolate shaving flavors that combine with the good veil of tension. Drink 2021-2035- 93

Caparzo

One of the storied properties in Brunello di Montalcino, I had the opportunity to visit this glorious estate a few years back during winter. Caparzo is one of Brunello’s most recognized brands in the United States. You can usually find this Brunello at Costco or many restaurants throughout the states. I have long admired these wines for their approachability young. When I visited the estate I had a chance to taste many older wines, as these are also really built to age.

Caparzo has a longstanding history as a farm but many innovations were made to the brand beginning in 1998 when Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini purchased Caparzo. She immediately carried out her objectives: combine tradition with innovation to create a high-quality wine, expression of an excellent territory, with the help of her son, Igino, and daughter, Alessandra.

The new wines were beautiful and I particularly admired their new 2016 Brunello di Montalcino (OB, 92) which is glorious and approachable even in its youth. This beauty will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Learn more about this outstanding Tuscan estate at http://www.caparzo.it/mobile-eng.html and here are the outstanding new releases by Caparzo.  

2019 Caparzo ‘Toscana IGT’ Sangiovese- This forward and delicious Sangiovese shows ripe red cherry, plum and red currant flavors alongside good viscosity and weight. This is fruity yet refined Sangiovese that has another five to seven years of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2026- 90

2016 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino- Very pretty red fruits march on with tobacco leaf, leather, and orange rind tones on the palate. Medium-bodied and showing a good acid backbone, this outstanding and forward new Brunello is great to enjoy over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2021-2033- 92

Corison

For years Cathy Corison has been crating some of the great wines of the Napa Valley. Corison is the brainchild of Cathy Corison, first founded in 1987. At that time Cathy Corison started purchasing Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from prime vineyards between Rutherford and St. Helena. Her first wines were made at other spaces that she rented out and she later purchased the Kronos Vineyard in 1995 which was a historic property that had been a farm for over a century and she finally built her estate vineyard as well as the spot for her winery. In. 2015 she grabbed the Sunbasket Vineyard which produces some beautiful fruit and is located near the winery location.

For many years I have been enchanted by these highly balanced wines as Cathy is one of the legendary faces of Napa. She is a master’s degree graduate of the Enology program at UC Davis and has previously served as Chappellet winemaker prior to starting her own winery. Corison is known for her classic style of creating a Bordelaise, more restrained style to Napa wines. If you have never had the opportunity to try these beautiful wines, you will find them to be highly elegant and a wonderful contrast to wines that simply focus on power or concentration. Her wines are highly ageworthy as the winery even has a program that releases their older wines and I have found these wines to age exceptionally well. Her new release Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) shows the classic Cathy Corison elegance while maintaining a silky mouthfeel and serious range. This is one for the cellar. Learn more about these beautiful and elegant Napa wines at https://corison.com/ Here is my review of her new Corison wines.

2018 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful offering that shows violets and red currant aromatics alongside sage, blackberry compote and shades of pipe tobacco. The sense of balance is gorgeous here as red and dark fruits parade with graphite, leather and freshly tilled soils. Seamless and highly refined, this shows beautiful restraint and bright acidity that should carry this wine over two decades. Drink 2021-2040- 95

2018 Corison ‘Sunbasket Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The glorious 2018 ‘Subbasket Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is rich yet highly elegant even now at the three year mark. The nose is downright intoxicating with its dark rose petals, smoke, graphite and marionberry cordial. Once on the mouth this possesses an outstanding sense of weight and poise, presenting a massive wall of red and dark fruits with tar, tobacco leaf and espresso ground flavors. Truly gorgeous in its youth, this has another two decades or more to go. Be sure to give this a two plus hour decant if enjoying in its heady youth. Drink 2021-2045- 97

2018 Corison ‘Helios’ Cabernet Franc- Year after year I have been massively impressed with the quality of Cabernet Franc that Cathy Corison produces. This latest edition from the 2018 vintage evokes a beautiful texture with ripe red currants woven together with cigar box, rose water and black tea flavors. The minerality and tension of the wine really shine through, as this has a really long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2040- 95

Bibi Graetz

One of the inspired producers out of Tuscany, Bibi Graetz has revelation since he began winemaking in 2000. In literally the storybook setting of a medieval castle, Castello di Vincigliata, Bibi Graetz creates each wine at this storied estate overlooking Florence. Bibi started with a small, 5-acre vineyard on this hillside in Fiesole. Since his first release in 2000 Bibi has become one of Tuscany’s cult winemakers without having any formal training in winemaking. His famed Testamatta and Colore bottling have made him an international success. Today Bibi source’s from old vines in Tuscany as well as old vines from the Isola del Giglio. His wines are crafted from traditional varieties of Sangiovese, Colorino, and Canaiolo for the reds and the indigenous varieties of Ansonica and Vermentino for his whites wines.

I adored the 2019 wines which were taken from a cooler vintage. The 2019 Bibi Graetz ‘Testamatta’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which shows beautiful finesse and flavor development even at the two year mark. and really good core of red and dark fruits with wonderfully rustic tones. Even better was the stunning 2019 Bibi Graetz ‘Colore’ Red Wine (OB, 97) which is a silky wine crafted from 100% Sangiovese. — the first time he has opted for a 100% Sangio ‘Colore’ wine. You should not miss these sensational new wines that are perfect for any serious collector of Italian wines. Learn more about these gorgeous new wines at http://www.bibigraetz.com Here are the incredible new release wines by Bibi Graetz.

2019 Bibi Graetz ‘Testamatta’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Testamatta’ is a 100% Sangiovese wine sourced from vines roughly 35-50 years of age. Once on the nose this is much more open than the ‘Colore’ showing bright red fruits that dazzle alongside peat moss and damp earthy tones, with a whiff of smoke. The palate is medium to full-bodied with outstanding freshness and orange rind, and smoked pork shoulder undertones. Gorgeous even after a two hour decant now, this outstanding new bottling will enjoy a very long life ahead of it. Drink 2022-2040- 95

2019 Bibi Graetz ‘Colore’ Red Wine- The utterly astounding 2019 ‘Colore’ is blend of 70 year old vine Sangiovese as Bibi has elected not to add any Colorino or Canaiolo this vintage. Sangiovese vines were all sourced from the Siena, Lamole and Vincigliata Vineyards. The wine opens with a profound bouquet of dark fruits with leather, pipe tobacco and stony undertones, with dried herb accents. Full-bodied, with a great acid backbone and plenty of tension, this is a full-throttle joyride at the moment that really needs a few years to soften in the cellar. Get ready for the exceedingly long finish. I can imagine this beautiful aging well for another 25 years. Drink 2024-2050- 97

Robert Biale

One of the top producers of Zinfandel in North America, Robert Biale Vineyards dates back to 1930s where Pietro Biale planted Zinfandel on the Napa Valley floor. HIs son, Aldo, took over making wine during the Prohibition, using the code name ‘Black Chicken.’ Aldo’s Vineyard still stands today in Napa and is one of the premium vineyard sites that Robert Biale sources from, as well as esteemed spots like the Monte Rosso Vineyard and the Stagecoach Vineyard.  

Winemaker Tres Goetting serves as Robert Biale winemaker, working alongside viticulturist Robert ‘Bob’ Biale. Tres has over 26 years of winemaking experience. HIs new releases were simply gorgeous. 

Check out the 2019 Robert Biale ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel (OB, 92) which is a beautiful wine with a silky mouthfeel and plenty of red and dark fruits. I adored the new 2019 Robert Biale ‘Beatty Ranch’ Zinfandel (OB, 94) which is thick and juicy with bright acidicity and lovely volcanic terroir. Learn more about this great Napa property at http://biale.com Here are the new reviews of Robert Biale. 

2019 Robert Biale ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel-  The 2019 ‘Black Chicken’ is a sourced from a host of old vine Zinfandel vineyards. Dill, blackberry compote and shades of scorched earth mark the nose. The palate is beautifully ygtxtured with layers of red and dark fruits alongside chocolate and menthol undertones. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2019 Robert Biale ‘Bedrock Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The famed ‘Bedrock Vineyard’ dates back to the 1850s. Juicy and concentrated, with loverly acidity and salty undertones, this outstanding Zinfandel is silky and elegant wine that is drinking marvelously right now and will cellar well over the next twelve years. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2019 Robert Biale ‘Founding Fathers’ Zinfandel- The nose is evocative with its toasty oak profile with red plum, raisin and red cherry compote. The palate is very refined with a soft mouthfeel and lovely length. Glorious now, with its maraschino cherry, orange rind and tobacco leaf  this has another decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2019 Robert Biale ‘Beatty Ranch’ Zinfandel- The 2019 ‘Beattie Ranch’ is a new wine to the Biale Zinfandel lineup. The ‘Beatty Ranch’ is a high-elevation site that is set on volcanic soils. Th3 palate is full-throttle with its red and dark fruits alongside a seamless texture and wonderful length.  Powerful and sturdy, this has some really nice cellaring potential. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2018 Robert Biale ‘Basic Black’ Red Wine- A truly unique field blend of Grenache, Alicante Bouchet, Early Burgundy, Zinfandel and a host of other varietals, the 2018 ‘Basic Black’ is soft on the mouth with very pretty red cherry, pomegranate seed and wintergreen flavors with tilled soil undertones, Fresh and lively, showing good flavor density, this beautiful wine will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 Robert Biale ‘Old Kraft’ Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The ‘Old Kraft Vineyard’ is a very old site that was first planted back in the 1860s and then replanted in the 1890s. Silky and elegant on the mouth, this rich and beautifully textured wine evokes huckleberry and Earl Grey tea flavors alongside minerals and tar undertones. This is an utterly sensational effort that is stunning to enjoy in its youth. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2019 Robert Biale ‘R.W. Moore Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The 2019 ‘R.H. Moore Vineyard’ Zinfandel is a beautiful effort by the talented Tres Goetting. Once on the nose this takes on pretty red florals woven together with smoke, white pepper and red currants. The palate is elegant with a soft texture and beautiful length. Enjoy this sensational bottling over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2019 Robert Biale ‘Aldo’s Vineyard’ Zinfandel- Located near a housing development in the Oak Knoll District of the Napa Valley, the tiny ‘Aldo’s Vineyard’ was planted back in 1937. The Zinfandel comes off beautifully perfumed with red rose petals alongside orange rind, tobacco leaf and baking spices that all meld in the glass. The palate is dense and plush with incredible elegance and verve with salty and damp earthy undertones. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2019 Robert Biale ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Zinfandel- Robert Biale had a small parcel planted to Zinfandel at the famed Stagecoach Vineyard. The palate is dense and rich with beautiful red florals alongside volcanic earth, tar, red currants and blackberry flavors. Dense and chewy with bright acidity, this outstanding new Zinfandel will provide ranking enjoyment for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2019 Robert Biale ‘Royal Punishers’ Petite Sirah- The 2019 ‘Royal Punishers’ Petite Sirah is a stunning new wine that is drinking marvelously even at the two year mark. Blueberry pie, dark chocolate shavings, smoke and leather all come together on the palate, with mineral and tilled earth accents. Fresh and vibrant with bright acidity, this beautiful new wine is fantastic to enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

La Rata

I have been blown away with the La Rata Red Wine since its inception in 2012. What was originally a trial project,  Elizabeth Bourcier has created one of the great cult wines out of the Pacific Northwest. Originally initially inspired by the insanely good Clos Erasmus wines of the Priorat region, Elizabeth made the bold decision blend both Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon together, since they wines tend to ripen at the similar times on the stony terroir of Milton-Freewater. Elizabeth chose to use Grenache from Armada Vineyard and Cabernet Sauvignon from En Cerise Vineyard. Now she has added a touch of Syrah to the equation. The wine was named “The Rat” and then Spanglish-cized: ‘La Rata’. The name ‘La Rata’ also connects with Elizabeth, as her zodiac sign which is the rat.  

I adored the new 2018 La Rata Red Wine (WWB, 96) which is made in a richer style than the 2017 but is every bit as good. The mind-numbing aromatic and flavor range moves everywhere from Umami and smoky tones to bright red fruits. For those who prefer a bigger style of La Rata, this is right up your alley and a must-purchase for any serious Washington and Oregon wine collector. The 2018 ‘La Rata’ will soon be offered by Full Pull Wines and is very challenging to find in the retail market even on winebid.com. Learn more at http://laratawines.com/wines.html Here is my review of the thrilling 2018 La Rata Red Wine by Elizabeth Bourcier of Cayuse Vineyards.

2018 La Rata Red Wine- The 2018 La Rata red wine is a gorgeous, one of a kind, blend of 54% Grenache, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Syrah made by Cayuse assistant vigneronne Elizabeth Bourcier. The wine saw only third fill large format oak barrels before bottling, and had 60-70 stem inclusion on the Grenache. The nose is hedonistic with black cherry cordial, Hoisin sauce, Umami, orange rind, white truffle shavings and white pepper with shades of smoked bacon fat. The intoxicating nose brings you back to the glass for more hedonistic enjoyment. The palate shows a great degree of freshness with beautiful finesse and a great core of red and dark fruits that mingle with the earthy undertones of the wine. This version is geared a touch more towards weight than the 2017 edition. Truly outstanding to savor at the moment, the 2018 La Rata will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2029- 96

Delmas

Today we bring you one of the outstanding producers of the Walla Walla Rocks District. Delmas was born more than a decade ago and has been one of the most impressive startup wineries that I have seen since its inception.  Founded by Mary and Steve Robertson, Steve has a background in real estate development and business management and was previously in Napa before planting vines in his ‘SJR Vineyard’ which is set on massive cobblestones. The vineyard is planted to mainly Syrah but also has a small portion of Viognier and Grenache planted as well. Steve hit a home run when he hired Billo Naravane, MW, to serve as his consulting. winemaker. 

Delmas first crafted their Oregon and Walla Walla Valley Syrah with the cool 2010 vintage which I had the pleasure to taste as part of a special vertical tasting several years back. More recently I tasted a vertical dating back to their 2013 vintage which was an amazing retrospective. 

I adored the new 2019 Delmas Syrah (OB, 96) which is completely different from the 2018 but is every bit as good. The wine has a higher degree of tension with plenty of stony tones. This is a world-class Syrah that is magical to enjoy in its youth. Learn more about these very special wines at https://delmaswines.com Here is my review of the 2019 Delmas Syrah (fall 2021 release).

2019 Delmas Syrah- The 2019 Delmas Syrah is one of the prettiest expression of this wine that I have tasted. This very Burgundian style of Syrah saw 60% new French oak before bottling. The wine shows beautiful red florals with wet stone, Umami, orange blossom. The palate is exceedingly elegant with silky tannins and a light dusting of white pepper and salinity. Guava, pomegranate seed and orange rind flavors combine with wet stone and rose water undertones. This is a beautiful foil to 2018, as this beautiful wine is lithe and full of life even at the two year mark. Drink 2021-2031- 96

Hamilton Russell

I love balance in wines from South Africa. A winery that truly focuses on balance and terroir, Hamilton Russell is one of the premier producers of Burgundian varietals in South Africa. As one of the most southerly wine estates in Africa and one of the closest to the sea  Hamilton Russell winery is located in cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. The winery focuses on producing limited amounts of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Anthony Hamilton Russell took over from the founder, Tim Hamilton Russell, in 1991, and bought the property from the family in 1994. Tim originally purchased the undeveloped 170 hectare property in 1975, searching for a great site to make Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Vines are set on stony, clay-rich, shale-derived soil which create lovely earthy and terroir-driven wines. Their new releases were really outstanding. 

I adored the new 2020 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is slightly on the fleshier style for them but still shows vibrant acidity and amazing terroir. I adore this wine and it’ll cellar well for another decade or more. Just as good is the sensational 2020 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which reminds me of a warm vintage in Beaune. This wine too has some massive cellaring potential. Learn more about these outstanding wines at http://www.hamiltonrussellvineyards.com Here are the new release wines by Hamilton Russell. 

2020 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay- Anthony Hamilton Russell has told me several times how he loves Burgundy wines with balance that are not overly oaked. This wine literally screams terroir with salty diatomaceous earth aromatics with wet granite, and lighter orchard fruit aromas that take shape in the glass. The palate shows good richness and a silky texture with gobs of acidity and beautiful length. This is up there with the finest Chardonnay I have tasted from South Africa. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2020 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir- The 2020 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir is a beautiful, terroir-driven wine by the talented winemaker Emul Ross. Sourced from estate vineyards from Hemel-En-Aarde, vines are set on stony, clay slopes. Once on the nose this takes on highly Burgundian tones of peat moss and wild mushroom alongside blood orange zest and flinty undertones. The palate is very generously textured and seamless with a beautiful air of elegance, as this effortlessly glides across the drinking experience. A thrill to enjoy even so young, this has at least another fifteen years ahead of it. But why wait? Drink 2021-2035- 94

Ridge Vineyards

I have long admired the wines of Ridge Vineyards, fondly revisiting some wines in my personal collection back to the 1970s. One of the great historic wineries in California, Ridge Vineyard is perched atop the Santa Cruz Mountains in a stunning spot with views that sweep across Silicon Valley. While I love tasting at their Sonoma Valley location, their Monte Bello Estate is even more gorgeous. Founded by three Stanford Research Institute engineers, winemaker Paul Draper joined in 1969. They have received considerable prestige for their wines in historical terms, as Ridge Vineyard's 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon achieved international fame for its fifth-place finish in the 1976 “Judgement of Paris” wine tasting.

Ridge has crafted a fantastic new lineup of new wines. Look for their 2020 Ridge Grenache Blanc (OB, 92) which has a soft texture and really good flavor range. Even better is the show-stopping 2018  Ridge Vineyards ‘Monte Bello’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96), is a densely packed, tightly wound beast that will need some years in the cellar to tame. This one can go for twenty to thirty years! Learn more about this historic winery at ridgewine.com Here are the amazing new release wines from Ridge Vineyards.

2020 Ridge Vineyards Grenache Blanc- Fresh, vibrant and beautifully textured, the 2020 Grenache Blanc by Ridge exudes class with its gooseberry, green papaya, white peach and stony mineral flavors. Medium to full-bodied, with plenty of finesse, and salted Macadamia nut undercurrents this beautiful wine has another seven plus years to go. Drink 2021-2028- 92

2016 Ridge Vineyards ‘Lytton Estate’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘Lytton Estate’ Syrah is blended with 7% Viognier. The beautiful floral tones from the Viognier really work wonders, as rich black tea and blackberry tones fill the nose. The palate is generous and bright with a silky texture. With beautiful length, this has some really nice aging potential. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2018 Ridge Vineyards Syrah/Grenache/Mataro- A truly unique blend, this beautiful wine shows off really nice smoky tones with white pepper and a touch of dark cherry with tobacco leaf undertones aromatically. The palate shows a silky texture with gobs of mouth-watering acidity and plenty of finesse, as this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Gorgeous in its youth, enjoy this beauty over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 Ridge Vineyards ‘Lytton Springs’ Red WIne- Mostly Zinfandel (73%) this forward wine shows red plum, red cherry and dill flavors with good richness. Enjoy this good value over the next seven years. Drink 2021-2028- 91

2018 Ridge Vineyards ‘Mazzoni Home Ranch’ Red Wine- A highly unique and impeccably blend of 56% Zinfandel, 42% Carignane and a touch of Petite Sirah, this shows beautiful balance with ripe red raspberry and red cherry flavors alongside dill and pipe tobacco undertones. Medium to full-bodied with gobs of mouth-watering acidity, this is a sensational bottling that has another fifteen years of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2018 Ridge Vineyards ‘Hooker Creek’ Zinfandel- The 2018 ‘Hooker Creek’ blends in a touch off Petite Sirah (4%) and Alicante Bouchet (2%). The palate is exceedingly silky with light tannins that frame a generous core of red and dark fruits with tobacco and bay leaf and orange rind undertones with red floral accents. This is exceedingly good even to consume at the three year mark. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2019 Ridge Vineyards ‘Guadagni’ Zinfandel-  A blend of76% Zinfandel with the remainder Petite Sirah, the ‘Guadagni’ is exceedingly polished with firm tannins that mingle with red cherry candy, leather, black tea and exotic spices. Full-bodied with plenty of structure and bright acidity, this is a sumptuous bottling that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2033- 95

2019 Ridge Vineyards ‘Rockpile’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Rockpile’ blends 71% Zinfandel with the remainder Petite Sirah. Despite the high percentage of Petite Sirah, this wine screams balance rather than weight or intensity. Silky tannins frame the beautiful core of wild blackberry compote, menthol, Mandarin orange zest and ripe Yakima cherry on the palate. This is exceedingly delicious to consume now, as this has another fifteen years to go. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2019 Ridge Vineyards ‘Pagnani Ranch’ Zinfandel- A blend of 90% Zinfandel with small parts Petite Sirah, and Alicante Bouchet, this beautiful wine shows off a core of ripe red plum, soy sauce, white pepper and a touch of blueberry compote on the palate. Full-bodided, with bright lip-smacking acidity, this outstanding new Zinfandel will be drinking well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2019 Ridge Vineyards ‘Evangelho’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Evangelho’ combines 47% Carignane, 29% Zinfandel and the remainder Mataro. Inky and intense once in the glass, the brilliant core of huckleberry, smoke and creme de violette all come together beautifully on the palate. With a generous texture and good length, this outstanding, one of a kind blend, will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2038- 96

2019 Ridge Vineyards ‘Buchignani Ranch’ Carignane- The 2019 ‘Buchignani Ranch’ Carignane is sourced from very old vines. The heady aromatics impress with Earl Grey tea, black currant jelly and smoky undertones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is intense and well-balanced with heady dark and red fruits that collide with minerals and scorched earthy tones. This wine is truly in its own category. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2019 Ridge Vineyards ‘Benito Dusi’ Zinfandel- This 100% Zinfandel wine weighs in a touch higher than the other Zins (15.1%) yet the freshness is wonderfully intact here. Rich red fruits parade with stony minerals, smoke and shades of Hoisin sauce on the palate. Completely delicious to consume now, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next ten years. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2018 Ridge Vineyards ‘Monte Bello’ Red Wine- This vintage has a lower percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (68%) with smaller parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The nose exudes class with toasty oak that wraps around the core of blackberry compote, dark currants, cigar box and garrigue undertones. The palate is deeply concentrated with a brilliant veil of tension and a light dusting of salinity that falls over the core of dark fruits. Full-bodied and voluptuous to consume in its youth, I have little doubt this will be a 20-30 year old wine. Drink 2021-2041- 96

Chateau Musar

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

I love the new 2014 Chateau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ Red Wine (OB, 93) which is dense and chewy with a soft mouthfeel. This beautiful wine will cellar well for another fifteen to twenty years. Learn more about this famed winery at https://chateaumusar.com Here are the great new wines by Chateau Musar. 

2014 Chateau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ Red Wine- The 2014 Chateau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ is sourced from very old vines for this wine date back to the 1930s. The wine is a blend of near equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault from vineyards near the Bekaa Valley villages of Aana and Kefraya which are gravelly soils over limestone. The wine is drinking marvelously now especially following a one hour decant. Layers of bright red and dark fruits collide with espresso bean, black tea and red bell pepper tones on the palate. Glorious now even at the seven year mark, this has another fifteen plus years to go. Drink 2021-2038- 93

Tesselaarsdal

I love top South African produces that show great terroir. For years I have admired the wines of Tesselaarsdal. The winery was founded by longtime Hamilton Russell employee Berene Sauls. Sauls initially joined Hamilton Russell Vineyards in February 2001 as an au pair at the age of 19. She soon moved to an administrative position and quickly got involved in the much more complicated administration linked to wine exports: labeling as well as the warehousing of the estate’s winesShe named her winery after a historic Overberg farming hamlet of Tesselaarsdal, located near the Hemel-en-Aade Ridge wine appellation. 

Berene employs a reductive approach to her Chardonnay that makes it rich and viscous, yet very bright. She employs Hamilton Russell winemaker Emul Ross to make her wines and grape purchases are secured with Babylon Vineyards. The new 2020 Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay (OB, 93) is a dream to enjoy right now with a long finish and bright acidity. Learn more about this outstanding producer of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at 

2020 Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay- Shining brightly, this 2020 Chardonnay has intense acidity with crisp Gala apple, wet stone, white peach and shades of vanilla cream on the palate. Wait for the very long finish with minerals and cream. Beautifully textured and full-bodied, with some serious heft, this outstanding new Chardonnay will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2033- 93

HALL White Wines and Rose

HALL might be synonymous with Cabernet Sauvignon but some might not know that they make some gorgeous Rose and white wines as well. Founded back in 1992 by Katheryn and Craig Hall, over time they built one of Napa’s most beautiful, state of the art, wineries that is quite simply a must visit for any serious Napa enophile. I always enjoy my visits to this special property. 

HALL also have two separate lines, WALT (focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) and BACA (focusing on Zinfandel) that are seriously good in their own right. These brands have performed remarkably well since their inception. The BACA line in particular offers very serious value. I am always skeptical when I review canned wine but the 2020 BACA ‘Ring Around The Rose’ Rose (OB, 90) is one of the best canned wines I have tasted in the past year. Beautifully textured, with good range and astringency, this is sure to impress any canned Rose skeptic. I adored the new 2019 HALL ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 92) which deftly combines texture and freshness as this would beautifully match with some Kumamoto oysters. Learn more about these great wines at hallwines.com Here are the fantastic new release wines by HALL.

2019 HALL ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2019 HALL ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc is outstanding for the price. Nutty undercurrents with kiwi and gooseberry fill the nose. The palate is fresh, vibrant and beautifully textured with just a kiss of sweetness. Ripe pear and nectarine tones collide with starfruit and minerals on the palate. The freshness here is seriously good, as this would offer a perfect foil for fresh Kumamoto oysters. Drink 2021-2025- 92

2019 HALL ‘Knights Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- Quite different than the ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc, this is a barrel-fermented edition that shows considerable heft and weight. The texture is really outstanding as rich Japanese pear and honeydew melon flavors mingle with toasty brioche and lemon curd undertones. Drink 2021-2027- 92

2019 BACA ‘Stargazing’ White Wine- The 2019 ‘Stargazing’ is a new wine by BACA that is sourced from the ‘Spirit Canyon Vineyard’ in Mendocino County. Showing a round and generous texture, this takes on kiwi and melon flavors that mingle with vanilla cream and shades of papaya on the palate. Drink 2021-2026- 91

2020 BACA ‘Ring Around The Rose’ Rose- The 2020 ‘Ring Around The Rose’ is so good that you will have to take a double take that it comes from a can. Fresh, vibrant and nicely textured, this shows plenty of ripe and slightly sweet Yakima cherry and melon flavors alongside a good veil of tension and peat moss undertones. Drink 2021-2024- 90

2020 WALT Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, the 2020 WALT Rose is a fabulous effort that unveils earthy tones on the nose with red cherry, red raspberry and tobacco leaf. The palate is highly nuanced and carries a gratifying texture and length. Ripe red fruits collide with stony minerals, wild mushroom and orange rind flavors on the palate. Drink 2021-2026- 91

Sanguis

It was back in 2011 when I was at a rather serious tasting in the Seattle area. I had never tasted Sanguis wines before but I was immediately struck by the depth and complexity of these wines. My mind instantly went to Sine Qua Non when I tried their Syrah wine merely based on the insanely good texture and range. Gratifying and well-structured, superstar winemaker, Mattias Pippig crafts some scintillating wines for his winery, Sanguis, truly one of the great boutique wineries in California. Pippig produces a really novel range of wines, from Viognier to Cabernet Franc. Latin for blood, the German-born Matthias Pippig previously worked as a wine importer for Marc DeGrazia Selections, and Estate Wines, before starting his winery in the Santa Ynez Valley.These are a must-buy for any serious collector of California wines.

Pippig changes blends yearly in his Rhône and Bordeaux style wines, hand sorts each wine and never makes the same wine twice. While many of the wines weigh in at more than 15% alcohol, they do not present as highly alcoholic. However, the theme of impressive weight and tension runs through all of his wines. 

For my palate Pippig crafts makes some of the great and unique white blends in California. The new edition, the 2018 Sanguis Tell-Tale Heart’ White Wine (OB, 94) is dense and massively concentrated from the Marsanne and finishes exceedingly long. This is just a beautiful wine even to enjoy so young. Even better is the thrilling 2018 Sanguis ‘Optimist’ Red Wine (OB, 96) which shows insanely good range and texture with loads of nuance.This surely will have a long life in the cellar. Learn more about these very special wines at sanguiswine.com or visit their hip tasting room in downtown Santa Barbara, which is by appointment. Here are the new releases by Sanguis.

2019 Sanguis ‘Gypsy Soul’ Rose- This is now the 9th edition of this wine. Showing off its beautiful salmon hue, the heady aromatics are downright intoxicating with rose water and orange peel tones alongside red currants and toasty oak. Once on the mouth, the flavor density, richness and bright acidity of the wine all deftly combine. This red fruit and rose water driven wine finishes exceedingly long. Utterly sensational now, the 2018 ‘Gypsy Soul’ Rose has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2029- 94

2018 Sanguis ‘Spiritual Gatherings’ White Wine- A compelling blend of Chardonnay and Roussanne, this saw 25 months of large used barrels and stainless steel prior to bottling. High-toned honeysuckle and white rose meld with honeydew melon and wet stone tones on the nose. The palate is fresh and lively with a good sense of acidity and concentration. Ripe citrus and orchard fruits mingle with vanilla cream tones on the palate. Really good now, this has another decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2018 Sanguis ‘Tell-Tale Heart’ White Wine- A truly unique wine comprised Marsanne, Chardonnay, Roussanne and Viognier, the nose reminds me most of Marsanne with its buttery edge with roasted Macadamia nut, lychee and dense melon fruits that combine aromatically. The palate has seriously good range from green papaya and heavy whipping cream to toasty brioche, and salty undertones. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2018 Sanguis ‘Verve’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Verve’ is a sensational blend of Grenache, Petit Verdot and Roussane that saw 25 months of large format used oak before bottling. The nose is highly complex from red florals and lemon blossom to cardamon dusted French bread and garrigue tones that all meld in the glass. The palate is plush with a sensational sense of texture. Ripe red fruits parade with minerals, blood orange rind and stony minerals on the palate. The gratifying length provides the perfect ending as this has another fifteen years of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2018 Sanguis ‘The Modern’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘The Modern’ blends Syrah, Viognier, Petit Verdot and a touch of Marsanne. The lemon blossom high-tones from the Viognier and Marsanne are really lovely and combine with a brilliant core of red and dark fruits with creosote accents aromatically. The palate is dense and beautifully concentrated, with a massive wall of dark fruits, alongside citrus rind, scorched earth and tobacco leaf flavors. Downright delicious now, this has a long way to go. Drink 2021-2033- 95

2018 Sanguis ‘Optimist’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Optimist’ combines Syrah, Grenache, Petit Verdot and Roussane that were all aged for 25 months in a combination of new and used oak barrels before bottling. The palate is plush and beautifully textured, with insanely good length. The fruit quality is very pretty with cranberry, teaberry and linzer torte, alongside dried herbs, orange rind and melon undertones. Complex and delicious now, with good finesse, this beautiful, one of a kind wine, would be a remarkable pairing for duck a l’orange. Drink 2021-2035- 96

2018 Sanguis ‘Bossman’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Bossman’ combines Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and Cabernet Franc. This is dense wine without being overly heavy and drinks much better at a slightly cooler temperature, helping out the Grenache and Viognier play their role. Silky tannins line this outstanding wine that exudes class from start to finish. Layers of very pretty red fruits mingle with rose water, tar, orange zest and cinnamon sticks on the palate. The lighter herbal undertones add to the complexity here. Sinfully good in its youth, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2018 Sanguis ‘1/1’ Syrah- The 2018 ‘1/1’ shows off a light dusting of white pepper alongside smoked brisket, dark currants, black tea and exotic spices on the nose. The palate is soft, plush and really inviting. Sour red fruits collide with blackberry cobbler, coffee grounds, kumquat zest, and tobacco leaf tones on the palate. The flavor range is just sensational, building with each sip. Really good even at the three year mark, this will cellar for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2018 Sanguis ‘The Highlands’ Red Wine- The 2018 Sanguis ‘The Highlands’ Red Wine is a sensational blend of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Layers of red and dark fruits collide with smoky minerals, wet stone, tobacco leaf and citrus zest undertones. Soft and round on the palate, with beautiful length, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2017 Sanguis ‘Tell Me A Tale’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 ‘Tell Me A Tale’ saw 26 months of large format oak prior to bottling, Aromatically this is beautifully expressive with pencil lead and dark currant aromas alongside potpourri and shades of mocha. The palate is dense and delicious with layers of dark frutis, creosote, coffee grounds and tar. Soft and generous on the mouth this exudes class with its massive core of dark fruits, espresso bean, tobacco and sagebrush tones. This has potentially two decades to go. Drink 2021-2038- 95

2017 Sanguis ‘Nothing If Not A Game’ Red Wine- The ‘Nothing’ is definitely the opposite of what it describes, as this is a massive blend of Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah that saw 26 months of large format oak treatment before bottling. Polished and layered with black tea, green bell pepper, dark chocolate shavings and boysenberry cobbler flavors, this is a beautiful wine that really improves following a one hour decant. Drink 2021-2038- 95

Washington Report For Decanter

Friends,

The first of its kind for this publication, I wanted to share my report on 100 red wines reviewed for Decanter. Hope you enjoy, what a beautiful vintage for red wines in Washington.

https://www.decanter.com/premium/washington-reds-2018-vintage-overview-and-top-scoring-wines-462142/?fbclid=IwAR3cCWTjaghKfrXsHrLm7obnahxPMeu4GK0B9HwnFJ9cO4x4VS3sQVBIyD8

Ramey Chardonnay

One of the great winemakers in North America, David Ramey is the owner/winemaker of Ramey Wine Cellars, producer of some of the best Chardonnay on this planet. The winery sources from some of the great vineyards in Sonoma, including the Hyde and Ritche Vineyards. He makes wines that embody good balance and poise, regardless of vintage. His single vineyard Chardonnays in particular show incredible terroir, richness, range and poise that put them in the upper echelon of California Chardonnay. For my palate, these might just be the finest Chardonnays that I have tasted from David Ramey over the past fifteen years. 

I adored the 2018 Ramey ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 96)  which is one of the best Chardonnays in North America that I have tasted in the past year. Even their lower priced bottling from the Sonoma Coast was incredible. Their 2018 Ramey ‘Fort Ross-Seaview’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) literally screams terroir with its salty tones and beautiful length. Learn more about these incredible new wines at http://www.rameywine.com Here are the great new releases by Ramey.

2018 Ramey ‘Fort Ross-Seaview’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Fort Ross-Seaview’ Chardonnay is sourced from the Martinelli Charles Ranch which is two miles from the Pacific Ocean. The wine shows off a pretty bouquet with saline drenched orchard fruits with lime zest and flinty undertones. The palate is beautifully textured with a soft mouthfeel and wonderful length. The sense of place and balance here is sensational. Gorgeous now, this will continue to deliver drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. But why wait? Drink 2021-2033- 94

2018 Ramey ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The acclaimed ‘Hyde Vineyard’ is located on the Napa side of the Carneros district and has old Wente clone Chardonnay set on Haire Clay Loam soils. Aged for 20 months in 25% new French oak, this shows off flinty undertones alongside wild mushroom, peat moss and ripe Japanese pear on the nose. The palate is soft, showing good depth and an opulent texture yet maintaining a high degree of verve. Layers of buttercream, brioche, salted Marcona almond and Pink Lady apple all parade alongside minerals and smoky undertones. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2018 Ramey ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ is set on sandy Goldridge loam with Old Wente clonal selection Chardonnay that was planted back in 1972. The Chardonnay was also aged for 20 months in 25% new French oak and shows off aromas of smoke and pine needles alongside ripe pear, nectarine and roasted hazelnuts. The palate is big and bold, yet vibrant with a massive veil of tension that runs through the core of orchard and citrus fruits, with salt and baking spice dusted Challah bread. The exceedingly long finish really impresses. Gorgeous now, this impeccably balanced wine with gobs of stuffing will provide drinking enjoyment for another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 96

2018 Ramey ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ Chardonnay was mostly sourced from the Mid-40 block (84%) of the vineyard, as this saw 25% new French oak for 20 months prior to bottling. The nose verges on tropical fruits with roasted pineapple, vanilla cream, cardamom and salted Macadamia nut on this absolutely intoxicating bouquet. The palate shows great viscosity with a light dusting of salinity. Bright pear and starfruit tones combine with French bread, white truffle and suggestions of dried mango. The flavor range here is just extraordinary, as is the combination of poise and richness. Utterly gorgeous in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar for another twenty years. Drink 2021-2035- 96

2018 Ramey ‘Westside Farms’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Westside Farms’ Chardonnay’ is sourced from Ramey’s estate 75-acre ranch that is set on Yolo silty loam soils. Aged for 20 months in 25% new French oak this takes on pineapple and lemon zest alongside nutmeg and Shitakii mushroom tones that all dance in the glass. The palate is seamless with a great combination of weight, texture and verve. Layers of toasty oak and salted Macadamia nut collide with smoky minerals, lemon oil and a light dusting of white pepper. While not as big as the ‘Rochioli’ bottling, this expresses impeccable balance and has some seriously good aging potential. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2018 Ramey ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The incredible 2018 ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ is owned by the Maritnelli family but has been planted to David Ramey’s specifications since 2007. Once on the nose, the dense pear and green apple tones impress, alongside wet stone, apricot and shades of orange blossom. The palate is beautifully balanced with great weight and viscosity, as well as a light dusting of salinity. Lemon oil topped brioche combines with Gravenstein apple, sourdough bread and baking spices on the palate. Fantastic to savor now with its great sense of freshness, like the other ’18 bottlings, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2035- 95

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte

One of the top producers of Bordeaux Blanc, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is located in the Pessac-Leognan appellation and located south of the city of Bordeaux in Martillac. A house with an incredible history, Smith-Haut-Lafitte dates back to the 14th century with the house of Verrier Du Boscq who planted vines on a gravelly plateau named Lafitte already in 1365. In 1720, it was bought by the Scotsman Georges Smith who added his name and also who built the manor house of the property. Today the modern facility focuses on biodiversity in the vineyards. Most of the vineyard production focuses on their red wines (67 hectares planted to red varietals compared to 11 hectares planted to white varietals).

I love the red wines from Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte but I have always felt that the white wines from this estate are truly something special that rival the best in Bordeaux — especially when you factor price. I have also noticed an increase in quality of the wines starting in the late 1990s. I recently had the chance to visit the 2017 and 2018 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte and was absolutely mesmerized with both bottlings. They were each unique and quite differently evolved. The 2017 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc (OB, 97) shows more mid-palate ripeness and slightly less finesse than the 2018 bottling. The ’17 shows nothing short of insanely good aromatic and flavor range, and is just starting to evolve into some nutty tones. The 2018 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc (OB, 97) is soft and a bit slower to evolve at the moment. It is a dense, tightly wound wine that will need more time to fully be aroused in the bottle, but is a masterclass of its own just as the ’17 is. Learn more about these famed wines at https://www.smith-haut-lafitte.com/en/home/ and here are my tasting notes from the glorious 2017 and 2018 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc wines. 

2017 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc- This is now the second time in the past year that I have had the opportunity to review this beautiful wine. A dazzling blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc with 5% Semlillon and 5% Semillon Gris, this Bordeaux Blanc exudes class with pine nuts, honeysuckle and banana tones alongside dried apricot and brandy soaked pear with flinty undertones. The palate is plush and soft with a gorgeous sense of texture and verve. Green papaya, wet stone, Macadamia nut, Japanese pear and cantaloupe flavors all shine brightly together. Sinfully good now even at four years of age, this has a really long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2042- 97

2018 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc-The 2018 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is a dense and gorgeous bottling that is only beginning to show glimpses of its full potential. Flinty aromas meld with cantaloupe, green bell pepper, and lime zest. The palate is lush and beautifully textured and structured with salted pineapple, cantaloupe, wet stone, salty minerals and green apple flavors. The gratifying length adds to the enjoyment as this outstanding Bordeaux Blanc will continue to cellar well for another twenty years. Give this at least two hours in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2021-2042- 97

Erath

An Oregon winery synonymous with value, Erath has its roots planted as one of Oregon’s historic wineries. Dating back to 1976, Erath’s first wines were made with the 1982 vintage by legendary winemaker Dick Erath. Dick was an engineer-turned-viticulturist was first inspired to pursue winemaking in 1965 after making wine in his garage. He finished some coursework at UC-Davis in 1968, Erath then moved to the Chehalem Mountains in the Willamette Valley. His family resided in an unheated logger’s cabin on 49 acres and he soon found that Pinot Noir grew very well in the region.

Dick grew the brand to a whopping 35,000 cases and eventually sold to Chateau Ste. Michelle in 2006. I began tasting these wines with the 2002 vintage and I have been impressed with the remarkable consistency — not only of their top bottling but their entry level wine. This year’s edition, the 2019 Erath ‘Oregon’ Pinot Noir (OB, 89) punches above its weight class with a solid mouthfeel and soft texture. Even better is the 2018 Erath ‘Willakia’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which has good flavor density and verve with nice citrus notes alongside there of red and dark fruits. Learn more about this outstanding winery at erath.com and here are my tasting notes from the new wines by Erath. 

2019 Erath Rose- The soft mouthfeel really drives this wine as very pretty pear, guava and strawberry flavors all meld in unison. Drink now while the good sense of acidity remains. Drink 2021-2023- 89

2019 Erath ‘Oregon’ Pinot Gris- The really good 2019 Erath ‘Oregon’ Pinot Gris shows off wet stone, lemon rind and Japanese pear flavors alongside a good sense of finesse and stony mineral undertones. Nicely textured, with good length, enjoy this outstanding value over the next few years. Drink 2021-2024- 90

2018 Erath ‘Oregon’ Chardonnay- Toasty brioche notes mingle with lemon zest, wild mushroom and juicy starfruit flavors. Great now, this is best enjoyed over the next several years while the freshness remains intact. Drink 2021-2025- 90

2019 Erath ‘Oregon’ Pinot Noir- The nose here shows pretty red florals with red cherry and shades of tobacco. Fresh and nicely textured, this has good finesse with delicate red fruits alongside lighter wet stone and tilled soil undertones. Enjoy this excellent value over the next several years. Drink 2021-2025- 89

2019 Erath ‘Reserve Collection’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Reserve Collection’ is a barrel select wine from a host of sites across the Willamette Valley. A soft texture greets you with layers of pretty cran-cherry, pomegranate seed and damp earthy tones on the palate. Enjoy this fragrant and lighter style Pinot Noir over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2029- 90

2018 Erath ‘Knight’s Gambit’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Knight’s Gambit’ Pinot Noir has really good aromatic range from orange rind and cherry preserves to menthol and peat moss undertones that all sing in unison. The palate is fresh and lithe with great structure and mouthfeel. Wild blackberry and red currant flavors collide with minerals, wet stone and blood orange zest. The combination of weight and acidity really make this tick. Drink 2021-2033- 92

2018 Erath ‘Willakia’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 Erath ‘Willakia’ Pinot Noir shows a soft sense of texture with beautiful red and dark fruits that collide with minerals, bay leaf and Satsuma orange zest. Full-bodied and showing the warmth of the vintage, this excellent new Pinot Noir will be best enjoyed over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92