Big Table Farm

One of the great producers of the Willamette Valley, Big Table Farm was a project many years in the making for Clare Carver and Brian Marcy. I’ve been witting about these wines for many years now and for those who haven’t had the chance to taste these yet I urge you that this is a not to be missed lineup of wines — from bright, mineral driven Rose to rich and layered Chardonnay to earthy and downright seductive Pinot Noir. 

At the helm is the talented Brian Marcy who has been making wine for a very long time now, first being head winemaker at Neyers and crafting some gorgeous Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah there before settling with Clare in the Willamette Valley. I have said for many years that it is very hard to find this degree of tension and viscosity in a glass of Oregon Pinot Noir. 

It is also worth noting that his 2020 Big Table Farm ‘The Laughing Pig’ Rose (OB, 92) was one of the great wines in my 2020 Rose Report. I adored the new releases which were stunning across the board. I absolutely loved the new 2019 Big Table Farm ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is deep and rich with a silky mouthfeel. Even better is the outstanding 2019 Big Table Farm ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which shows a supple mouthfeel that combines with incredible range. It is a downright sexy Oregon Pinot Noir. Learn more about Big Table Farm at http://www.bigtablefarm.com/ Here are the fantastic new release wines by Big Table Farm.

2020 Big Table Farm Pinot Gris- Rich, decadent and truly novel, the 2019 Big Table Farm Pinot Gris is a fleshy, broad shouldered and delicious bottling that is gorgeous to enjoy over the next several days. Beeswax, orange zest, cantaloupe and guava combine with minerals and scorched earth undertones. This is a brilliant effort from more than a challenging vintage. Drink 2021-2023- 93

2019 Big Table Farm ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Chardonnay- The gorgeous 2019 ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Chardonnay delivers a soft mouthfeel with gobs  of minreality. Lemon oil, wet stone, unripe melon and baking spice dusted Challah bread all marvelously combine on the palate. This glorious wine has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2019 Big Table Farm ‘Yamhill Carlton’ Chardonnay-  The 2019 ‘Yamhill Carlton’ Chardonnay is a gorgeous wine that is already beautifully evolved. Dense with rich orchard. Fruits and. shades of toasted hazelnuts with lemon zest and salty undertones. Drink 2021-2033-  93

2019 Big Table. Farm ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- Only 235 cases produced, the 2019 ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir shows off beautiful red florals alongside. White pepper, peat moss and orange rind undercurrents on the nose. Full-bodied and beautifully textured, this sensational bottling is showing brilliantly even at two years of age. Drink 2021-2031-  93

2019 Big table Farm ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Big table Farm has been sourcing from this site since 2011, as the ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ was planted back in 1970. Shades of pine needles with wet stone, red cherry preserves and guava puree all mark the nose. The palate is rich, concentrated and shows a seamless texture with beautiful length. Enjoy this glorious effort over the next ten to twelve years. Drink. 2021-2033- 94

2019 Big Table farm ‘Cattrall Brothers’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from a tiny, 3-acre site in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the 2019 ‘Cattrall Brothers’ Pinot Noir shows a wonderful purity of fruit with its tart red berry profile. Medium-bodied, with nice finesse, and peat moss undertones, this lighter style of Oregon Pinot Noir will continue to impress over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92

Aubaine

Today we share one of the exciting new winery projects out of Oregon. Aubane has Burgundy in mind with all of their wines. The winery focuses on single vineyard and estate only Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  Founder Andy Lytle connected with esteemed winemaker Isabelle Meunier to make a beautiful expression Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

For those less familiar with Isabelle, she has a longstanding history in the Willamette Valley, and has made beautiful wines under many labels. Originally from Quebec, Isabelle studied winemaking and viticulture at the University of Dijon and in New Zealand at Lincoln University before coming to the Willamette Valley.

I adored her new 2019 Aubaine ‘Anhata Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is a wine with serious poise, and a long finish. Even better is the sinfully good 2019 Aubaine ‘Joie’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which has really good heft and finesse in a challenging vintage for Oregon Pinot Noir. Learn more about this outstanding new winery project at aubainewine.com and here are my reviews of the new Aubaine wines. 

2019 Aubaine ‘Anahata Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Anahata Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a great new wine by the talented Isabelle Meunier. The palate shows a silky mouthfeel with great finesse. Layers of Meyer lemon zest, diatomaceous earth, green papaya and salted Marcona almond all brilliantly collide on the palate. With good fruit weight and tension, this beautiful wine will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2019 Aubaine ‘Anahata Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Dense and deeply colored considering the vintage, the 2019 ‘Anahata Vineyard’ Pinot Noir reveals black tea, blackberry compote and exotic spices with tilled salty soils on the nose. The palate shows good weight and a silky texture. Layers of red and dark fruits mingle with smoky minerals, damp earth and peat moss undertones. Seriously good even at the two year mark, this beautiful wine will provide drinking enjoyment over the next decade — or more. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2019 Aubaine ‘Joie’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Joie’ utilizes Pommard and Dijon clone 777 vines, as this was aged in 30% new French oak before bottling. Red currants mingle with orange rind, Christmas spices and wild blackberry on the nose. The palate is dense and chewy with a great sour red and dark fruit profile. With good richness, flavor density and finesse, this beautiful wine has a long way to go. This is impressive weight considering the vintage. Drink 2021-2033- 93

Vina Pedrosa

Today we share some of the outstanding wines made by Hnos. Perez Pascuas and their Ribera del Duero winery, Vina Pedrosa. For many years I have admired the range of wines that they produce. This Ribera del Duero property has produced a stunning lineup of Tempranillo based wines. For those unfamiliar with the wines from this region, the reds typically have a bit of Cabernet blended in, and are primarily made with Tempranillo. This gives the wine a denser, exotic edge. Vina Pedrosa wines are 100% Tempranillo. Wines are sourced from vineyards set at roughly 800 meters and vines are mostly planted on clay and limestone soils. Amazingly, winemaking in this region traces back to more than 2,000 years ago. This small growing region is not far from Rioja and is located north of Madrid

I was particularly impressed with their incredible ‘Reserva’ and ‘Gran Reserva’ bottlings, I was enamored by the 2016 Vina Pedrosa ‘Reserva’ (OB, 94) has massive depth and concentration with silky tannins. Their 2015 Vina Pedrosa ‘Gran Reserva’ bottlings (OB, 96) is one of the great Ribera wines that I have tasted over the past year.  Learn more about these tremendous wines at https://perezpascuas.com/en/vina-pedrosa-crianza-en/ Here are the awesome release wine from Hnos. Perez Pascuas and Vina Pedrosa.

2018 Vina Pedrosa ‘Crianza’ Ribera del Duero- Polished and soft on the mouth, the 2018 Vina Pedrosa ‘Crianza’ Ribera del Duero delivers a seamless texture with toasty oak tones that wrap around a core of bright red fruits, tobacco leaf and citrus rind accents. Full-bodied and delicious now, the ‘Crianza’ will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2016 Vina Pedrosa ‘Reserva’ Ribera del Duero- Every bit outstanding, the 2016 Vina Pedrosa ‘Reserva’ Ribera del Duero is absolutely captivating to enjoy now at the five year mark. Once on the nose this takes on burnt cherry with pomegranate seed, toasty oak and shades of menthol. Full-bodied and dense, the earthy undertones really add to the enjoyment as firm tannins hold in place a delightful core of red and dark fruits with chocolate accents. Expressive, lively and light on its feet, the beautiful 2016 Vina Pedrosa ‘Reserva’ Ribera del Duero will cellar well over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2015 Vina Pedrosa ‘Gran Reserva’ Ribera del Duero- Rich, decadent and full of life, the 2015 Vina Pedrosa ‘Gran Reserva’ Ribera del Duero is a sensational, full-throttle joyride throughout the drinking experience. The length, density and brightness of the wine is particularly appealing, as intense roasted figs, chocolate cake, orange rind, dark currants, and loamy tilled soils all come together marvelously on the palate. This finesse and exceedingly long finish both add to the enjoyment. Intense to enjoy in its hedonistic youth this complex and delicious ‘Gran Reserva’ will surely live past the twenty year mark — but is every bit delicious in its sinfully good youth. Drink 2021-2041- 96

Epoch

For many years I have admired the wines by Jordan Fiorentini. She has a penchant for creating full-bodied wines that show beautiful finesse regardless of vintage. I as not surprised a few years back when Phillipe Melka began making wines from these esteemed vineyards of Epoch, one of the great wineries in Paso Robles. For many years Jordan has been at the Epoch helm, crafting wines that seem to defy the odds in terms of packing fruit weight and finesse into a Rhone style bottling even in the warmest of vintages. 

I was massively impressed with the new wines that Jordan had crafted. She makes a downright killer Rose and her 2020 Epoch Rose (OB, 92) rivals anything in the region with great freshness and a silky texture. Even better is the gorgeous 2017 Epoch ‘Authenticity’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is off the charts, complex wine that has some great cellaring potential but is also delightful to savor in its hedonistic youth. Learn more about these outstanding wines at epochwines.com. Here are the great new wines by Epoch.

2020 Epoch Rose- Very pretty rose water tones connect with guava, wet stone and strawberry on the palate. Fresh and vibrant with a beautiful sense of texture, this outstanding new wine will cellar well over the next five to seven years, picking up earthy tones as it progresses. Drink 2021-2027- 92

2020 Epoch White Wine-  The 2020 Epoch White Wine is a scintillating and vibrant new bottling by the talented Jordan Fiorentini made from mostly Grenache Blanc and Viognier. Once on the nose this takes on ripe pear with starfruit and baking spices that all meld in the glass. Rich and viscous with bright acidity, enjoy over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2026- 92

2017 Epoch Temnpranillo- Sourced from the Padereski Vineyard, this 100% Tempranillo brings rich roasted figs with espresso bean, black currant jelly and tar flavors. Full-bodied and absolutely delicious to enjoy now, with light tannins keeping everything together, this outstanding wine will cellar well for another ten to twelve years. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2018 Epoch ‘Estate Blend’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Estate Blend’ is a rich and powerful bottling that delivers a punch early on. Needing an hour decant to fully be aroused, the wine shows off intense dark fruit flavors that mingle with dark chocolate shavings, scorched earth and lighter garrigue tones on the palate. Enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031-  93

2018 Epoch ‘Sensibility’ Red Wine-  A blend of nearly all Grenache (95%) with just a touch of Syrah, the 2018 ‘Sensibility’ shows the potential for Grenache in the Willow Creek District. Beyond the massive wall of hedonistic red and dark fruits you see lighter red florals and herbal undertones, with shades of wet stone, blood orange zest and gobs of mouth-watering acidity that complete this gorgeous new wine. The exceedingly long finish and beautiful sense of verve really add to the enjoyment here. Drink 2021-2033- 95

2018 Epoch ‘Veracity’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Veracity’ blends s mostly Mourvedre (48%) and Grenache (39%) with the remainder Mourvedre. Intense Asian spices combine with black currants, mocha and black licorice tones on the nose. Dense and plush, with a gorgeous sense of texture, the 2018 ‘Veracity’ is a polished, beautifully structured and hedonistic bottling that will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2017 Epoch ‘Authenticity’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Authenticity’ is a blend of mostly Syrah (92%) with small portions Mourvedre and a splash of Viognier. Full-bodied and intense, this shows off tar, tobacco leaf, white pepper dusted BBQ beef ribs and beautiful freshness on the palate. Finishing very long, this outstanding new bottling will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2017 Epoch ‘Block B’ Syrah- Dense and heady, the 2017 ‘Block B’ Syrah shows some good cellaring potential considering its concentration and bright acidity. It is full-throttle and intense with gorgeous black fruits and black florals that collide with smoked brisket, tar and lighter herbal undertones. Great to enjoy now at the four year mark, this has at least another decade of life in front of it. Drink 2021-2035- 95

Bledsoe | McDaniels

A few weeks ago I had the chance to sit with Josh McDaniels, one of the great winemaking talents in Washington. McDaniels trained under eminent winemaker Chris Figgins at Leonetti before partnering with NFL legend Drew Bledsoe to start Doubleback. As much as Josh loved making outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon, he mentioned that he had always had a penchant for Oregon Pinot Noir. Over time he and Drew realized that they needed to start a new Oregon winery. Josh also had a chance to make Oregon Pinot while working for Figgins Family in 2011 and I was impressed with what he made in 2019 despite harvest conditions being less than perfect.  

I was very impressed with the new wines and adored the 2019 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is deeply concentrated with a soft mouthfeel and brilliant tension. Just as good is his Syrah from the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, the 2019 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Lefore Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 95)  is a marvelous wine showing great length and aromatic/flavor range. It is thrilling stuff to enjoy now and will cellar well for more than a decade. Josh also made a killer new release from the ‘Lefore Vineyard’ in the Walla Walla Rocks District AVA. The 2018 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Lefore Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 95) which has as brilliant sense of finesse and amazing range that runs the spectrum. This is seriously good even right now. Learn more about this outstanding new winery project at http://bledsoemcdaniels.com/#top Here are the beautiful new wines by Bledsoe | McDaniels. 

2019 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘LFG Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘LFG Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir is a blend of Wind Ridge and Ellis Estate Vineyards. Aged in neutral oak, the ‘LFG’ shows pretty red florals with red currants and shades of red raspberry on the nose. The texture here is insanely good as beautiful guava, red cherry and pomegranate seed with orange rind all collect momentum on the palate. The minerality here is outstanding as this beautiful wine will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from old vine Pommard Clone from the Ridgecrest Vineyard as well as the Ellis Estate Vineyard, this shows off gorgeous toasty oak with pine needles, huckleberry and black tea tones. The palate is extremely pillowy and refined. This is very dense and intense wine considering the challenges presented at harvest. Gorgeous now, this has some seriously good aging potential. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2019 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Lefore Vineyards’ Syrah- Aged in roughly 20% new French oak puncheons, the ‘Lefore Vineyard’ dates back to 1998. The aromatics are astonishing good. Bacon fat, green olive tapenade, violets and shades of Hoisin sauce all mark the nose. The wine hits all the right boxes in texture, acid and mouthfeel, with an extremely long finish. The salty and savory tones of the wine are truly outstanding. Enjoy this beautiful wine in its finesse-driven youth after an hour of air. Drink 2021-2031- 95

DuMol

During harvest 2021 we share one of the world-class producers of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet in California. I have been consistently blown away with the consistency of these wines. Strangely DuMOL was born in 1996 initially as a hobby for three friends as the project was not initially focused on producing world class wines. Since 1999 Andy Smith been at the helm as winemaker. Originally from Scotland, Andy has previously worked at Dry River, Littorai, Havens, Franus, to Matua and Mt Pleasant wineries. Andy went on to graduate in viticulture and enology from Lincoln University in Christchurch, NZ and later became assistant winemaker for Paul Hobbs. Needless to say, Andy Smith has a handle on every single varietal that he touches.

The current releases by DuMOL stunning across the board. I loved the 2019 DuMOL ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is fresh, vibrant and silky throughout the drinking experience. Even better is the 2019 DuMol ‘Finn’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is one of the great Pinot Noir wines from California that I have tasted this year.  This wine has some massive cellaring potential. Learn more about these stunning new wines at https://www.dumol.com Here are the great new releases by DuMOL. 

2019 DuMol ‘DuMol Estate Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Set in the Sonoma Coast AVA, the ‘DuMol Estate Vineyard’ Chardonnay is planted to Hyde, Wente and Mount Eden clonal selections from this site roughly ten miles from the Pacific Ocean. Considerably more expressive at a warmer temperature, cloves, salted pear, kumquat rind and brioche tones all fill the nose. The palate is silky and seamless with layers of salty earth, Japanese pear, starfruit and baking spices. Complex and beautifully textured, with good length, this has another ten to fifteen years of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2019 DuMol ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay- One of the outstanding sites in the Carneros AVA, the famed ‘Hyde Vineyard’ has a massive maritime influence and planted to old Wente clonal selections, this 2019 edition benefits from about an hour air. Once aroused this evokes honeydew melon, lemon zest dusted Challah bread and shades of nectarine with baking spices. The palate is soft and seamless, as this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Wait for the exceedingly long finish. Drink 2021-2033- 95

2019 DuMol ‘Chloe’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Chloe’ is sourced from the famed ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ which is an older site in the Russian River Valley with vines over 45 years of age.The wine is impeccably textured with a soft mouthfeel. Full-bodied orchard fruits combine with salted and nutmeg infused French bread with roasted pineapple giving this an exotic edge. The wonderful length adds to the enjoyment, as this glorious wine has at least another ten years to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2033- 95

2019 DuMol ‘Finn’ Pinot Noir- The latest 2019 edition of ‘Finn’ is mainly sourced from the DuMol O’Connell Estate Vineyard which is set on marine sandstone and silty clay loam. One whiff and you are greeted to seriously good aromatic range from orange peel and bergamot notes alongside a great core of red and dark fruits with cola accents. The palate is lush, round and generous, with a seamless sense of texture. Copious cranberry, pomegranate seed, orange zest, cola and baking spices with sandalwood accents all greet you alongside very light tannins and an opulent mouthfeel. This is quite simply one of the great, well-rounded Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs that I have tasted over the past year. Drink 2021-2038- 96

2019 DuMol ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the ‘DuMol Coffee Lane Vineyard’ this Pinot Noir combines clonal selections Calera, Swan and 943, as this saw 45% new French oak for fifteen months prior to bottling. Cherry cola, sassafras, wild mushroom and pine needles greet you on the nose. The palate is seamless and soft, with a generous mouthfeel. Layers of very pretty red and dark fruits brilliantly combine with the great veil of viscosity and tension, with salty undertones. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2019 DuMol ‘Jentoft Vineyard Ryan’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Ryan’ Pinot Noir was sourced from the ‘Jentoft Vineyard’ is set on a steep hillside with a strong coastal influence. This beautiful new Pinot Noir was aged for fifteen months in 45% new French oak before bottling. Exotic spices and red currants fill the nose, leading to loamy tilled soils and blood orange zest undertones. The palate has a silky texture with plenty of viscosity and great finesse. Highly gratifying to savor now, this has another fifteen years of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2019 DuMol ‘Eddie’s Patch’ Syrah- The inky and brooding 2019 ‘Eddie’s Patch’ will give any other Sonoma Syrah a run for its money. Sourced from the ‘Hoppe-Kelley Vineyard’ in the Russian River Valley, the Syrah utilizes Alban and Syrah Noir clonal selections, as vines are fifteen years of age. Once on the nose this takes on black tea, blackberry compote, tar and anise tones aromatically, with toasty oak and shades of beef drippings. The palate is intense and highly savory with black olive tapenade, smoked brisket, Black Forest Cake and a light dusting of white pepper, with salty undertones. Complex and literally a full meal in a glass, this decadent yet well-balanced Syrah will cellar well over the next fifteen years — but it is nearly impossible to resist right now. Drink 2021-2038- 96 

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