Etude

Founded back in 1982 by acclaimed winemaker Tony Soter, Etude focused their program on the crafting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cool-climate Carneros region. Tony would later found Soter Vineyards in the Willamette Valley and sold the winery in 2000.  Having visited the property several times I can saw that it is a beautiful spot to taste wine with its expansive vineyards, cool coastal breezes and views from across the valley. 

In their Carneros vineyards, Etude has nearly 20 clones of Pinot Noir planted. Their estate vineyard, the Grace Benoist Ranch, is located on the southern part of the winery’s property and is massively impacted by the coastal breezes of the area. Winemaker Jon Priest has been at the helm for many years and crafts a range of wines from Carneros and the Central Coast region of California, Oregon, and even New Zealand. I loved his new 2018 Etude ‘Grace Benoist Ranch’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which is salty and savory with beautiful red fruits. Learn more about this historic Carneros estate at etudewines.com and here are my reviews of the new Etude wines. 

2019 Etude ‘Grace Benoist Ranch’ Chardonnay- Salty and terroir-driven, the beautiful 2019 ‘Grace Benoit Ranch’ Chardonnay is an outstanding release by Etude. On the nose this takes on Japapesne pear and baking spice dusted Challah bread notes with nutty undertones. Fresh and lively, with bright acidity, this will cellar well over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2028- 92

2018 Etude ‘Grace Benoist Ranch’ Pinot Noir- Silky and soft, the 2018 ‘Grace Benoist Ranch’ Pinot Noir reveals soft tannins that line pretty ripe guava, strawberry and red cherry flavors alongside shades of tilled soils and orange zest on the palate. Gorgeous now, this has at least another decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2033- 92

Seghesio

Today we honor one of California’s great houses for Zinfandel. One of the premier houses for Zinfandel in North America, the Seghesio family has been involved in wine for more than 120 years. In 1895 Italian immigrant and winemaker Edoardo Seghesio planted his first Zinfandel vineyard in what is now Seghesio’s Home Ranch Vineyard in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley. Edoardo and his wife Angela survived Prohibition as one of roughly100 wineries to survive that era. Following prohibition, Seghesio sold bulk wine and it was only under 4th generation owner, Ted Seghesio when a focus on premium wines evolved. In a short period of time, Seghesio became synonomous with some of the highest quality and good Zinfandel available on the retail market. Their success lead to the 2011 sale of Seghesio Family Vineyards to Crimson Wine Group. 

Today their wines are as good as ever. A serious value, the 2019 Seghesio ‘Sonoma’ Zinfandel (OB, 91) will cater to a range of palates and is a killer food wine that will match with a juicy burger or steak. Refined and utterly fantastic even in its youth, the 2019 ‘Cortina’ Zinfandel (OB, 93) is silky and elegant with seriously good flavor range. Learn more about these outstanding Zinfandel wines at seghesio.com and here are the beautiful new wines by Seghesio.

2019 Seghesio ‘Sonoma’ Zinfandel-  A blend of 88% Zinfandel has a touch of Petite Sirah and mixed red wines blended in, with a dash of Alicante Bouchet. Soft, round and generous with a silky texture this delivers plenty of roasted fig and ripe red cherry flavors alongside a bright sense of minerality. Enjoy this outstanding value over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2029- 91

2019 Seghesio ‘Cortina’ Zinfandel- Sourced from the Dry Creek Valley, the 2019 ‘Cortina’ is downright delicious to savor in its youth. Deeply concentrated, with a great veil of tension, this delivers plenty of black plum, blueberry pie and espresso bean flavors with an exceedingly long finish. Refined and also quite viscous, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2033- 93

Pambrun

An relatively new outpost by Willamette Valley Vineyards utilizing fruit from acclaimed Walla Walla vineyards, Pambrun is named after Pierre and Kitty Pambrun who operated the Nez Perce Trading Post for the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1832. The Pambrun Vineyard is planted alongside Walla Walla wine visionaries in SeVein and is located on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley, as they produce three wines, a Merlot, a Cabernet Sauvignon and their ‘Chrysologue’ which blends both varietals. 

Each wine was beautiful, coming from the electric 2018 vintage. I particularly admired the 2018 Pambrun ‘Chrysologue’ Red Wine (OB, 93) which deftly blends a larger portion of Cabernet Sauvignon (59%) with Merlot. Soft and approachable now with silky tannins and a soft mouthfeel, this has another fifteen years in front of it. Learn more at pambrunwines.com and here are my reviews of the new Pambrun wines. 

2018 Pambrun Merlot- Souced fron the Seven Hills and Summit View Vineyards, this beautiful 2018 Merlot reveals silky tannins and bright red fruits that collide with shades of blackberry compote, scorched earth, tilled soils and chocolate cake on the palate. Full-bodied with plenty of toasty oak, this silky Merlot has another ten to fifteen years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2018 Pambrun Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Pambrun Cabernet Sauvignon delivers plenty of soft dark fruits with tobacco leaf, chocolate and espresso bean flavors. Full-bodied and delicious now, this has another ten to fifteen years to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2018 Pambrun ‘Chrysologue’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Chrysologue’ is a fantastic left bank style of blend, yielding 59% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot all sourced from the Walla Walla Valley. Once on the nose this takes on layers of Black Forest Cake, creosote and herbal undertones alongside toasty oak. The palate is plush, soft and well-balanced with tons of red and dark fruits that line a framework of silky tannins and plenty of finesse. Drink 2021-2033- 93

Merry Edwards

A true California icon, Merry Edwards began her winemaking career back in 1973. She sought to plant her own vineyards where she could capture flavors through site-specific viticulture. In 1996, she purchased 24 acres of sloping hillside in the southern hills of Russian River Valley, intent on growing Pinot Noir on this promising site. With her husband, Ken Coopersmith, as her helpmate, Merry planted 20 acres of vineyard at Meredith Estate in 1998 and harvested a small crop in 2000. In 1999 Merry and Ken expanded the brand’s estate program by purchasing 9.5 acres on Laguna Ridge in the heart of Russian River Valley and planted in 2001. The first Coopersmith Pinot Noir released was a 2004 and this esteemed site is where Merry Edwards winery first began. 

A few years ago I had the chance to interview Merry and talk about her illustrious career — particularly how she has transformed the California Sauvignon Blanc market. Now at the helm, Heidi von der Mehden has trained under Merry for many years before becoming head winemaker at Merry Edwards. Heidi is actually originally from wine country. She has now come full circle — after earning her degree in chemistry from Santa Clara University in 1997 and teaching high school chemistry in Tanzania, Africa, while serving in the Peace Corps, she decided to put her chemistry background to work at home in the wine industry. Heidi crafts some incredible wines and I was blown away with the overall quality. I adored her 2019 Merry Edwards ‘Olivet Lane’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is dense and fresh with incredible length. Even better is her sinfully good 2019 Merry Edwards ‘Meredith Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is one of the finest California Pinot Noirs I have tasted this past year.  Learn more about this famed Russian River outpost at merryedwards.com Here are the gorgeous new releases by Merry Edwards. 

2019 Merry Edwards ‘Olivet Lane’ Chardonnay- The gorgeous 2019 Merry Edwards ‘Olivet Lane’ Chardonnay is a glorious new release from the Russian River Valley.  Saline drenched white peach, Japanese pear and shades of nutmeg dusted starfruit all fill the nose. The palate is soft, round and beautifully textured. Showing serious depth and concentration, this finishes exceedingly long with minerals and vanilla cream. This has some excellent cellaring potential. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2019 Merry Edwards ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- A whiff of light salinity takes you right by the ocean in the 2019 ‘Sonoma Coast’ which follows with teaberry and herbal undertones aromatically. Full-bodied, with light tannins, this shows off salty red fruits alongside kumquat zest, and stony undertones on the palate. Gorgeous now, enjoy this beauty over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2019 Merry Edwards ‘Warrens’ Hill’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Warrens’ Hill Vineyard’ is a tribute to the three significant Warrens’ in Merry’s life — Warren Miller, Warren Arnold and Warren Dutton. Intense and hedonistic once on the nose, this showcases tart red fruits that collide with tobacco leaf, orange zest and shades of freshly tilled soils. The palate is chewy and dense with bright acidity and a soft mouthfeel, with wonderful length. Beautiful to consume now, this has another fifteen years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2019 Merry Edwards ‘Bucher’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Russian River Valley, the ‘Bucher Vineyard’ is planted to Pommard and Merry Edwards clonal selections of Pinot Noir. The palate is silky smooth with a seamless texture and glorious sense of length. Wild blackberry and gran-orange flavors combine with minerals, loamy soils and smoky undertones on the palate. Full-bodied, yet showing some great tension, this outstanding Pinot Noir has another fifteen years in the cellar. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2019 Merry Edwards ‘Meredith Estate’ Pinot Noir- The dense and powerful 2019 ‘Meredith Estate’ is another outstanding Pinot Noir by the talented Heidi van der Menden. Cigar box aromas combine with ripe cherry cordial, and red raspberry with dried herbs on the nose. The palate is soft and plush, with serious weight and tension that runs through the core of very pretty red and dark fruits. High gratifying in its full-throttle youth, this beautiful wine has another two decades of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2038- 95

2019 Merry Edwards ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from a host of esteemed sites throughout the Russian River Valley, this shows off cola and red currants that march on with shades of tilled earth and Bing cherry on the nose. The palate is soft and round with a lovely sense of mouthfeel, viscosity and poise. Ripe red fruits mingle with minerals, damp earth and shades of wild mushroom on the palate. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2019 Merry Edwards ‘Olivet Lane’ Pinot Noir- the 2019 ‘Olivet Lane’ Pinot Noir is a nuanced effort that has really good flavor range. Right out of the gate this exudes class with its tight core of crunchy red fruits that collide with minerals and smoky undertones on the palate. Medium-bodied and showing wonderful verve and balance, this outstanding Pinot Noir will become very earthy as it ages over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2019 Merry Edwards ‘Klopp Ranch’ Pinot Noir- I have long admired these wines from the ‘Klopp Ranch’ that was planted back in 1989. Various clonal selections are planted including a field selection from Joseph Swan Vineyards and a non-heat treated Pommard clone as well as Dijon clones, 115, 667 and 777. The nose shows insanely good range from Mandarin orange zest to teaberry and red currants alongside peat moss tones. The palate is soft, elegant and exceedingly refined, as this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Gorgeous in its youth, this will deliver drinking enjoyment for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2037- 95

2019 Merry Edwards ‘Coopersmith’ Pinot Noir- The nose shows some beautiful ripe strawberry and guava with cran-cherry, giving this a very high-toned aromatic experience. The palate is fresh and refined with a soft texture. Ripe red fruits mingle with minerals, baking spices and suggestions of salty soils on the palate. This is seriously good and very pretty even in its youth. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2019 Merry Edwards ‘Georganne’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this estate vineyard in the northern part of Russian River Valley, adjacent to Rochioli and Williams Selyem, this is entirely planted to Merry Edwards clone Pinot Noir. The palate is very silky and elegant, yet has a wonderful sense of damp earth with peat moss undercurrents alongside the bright core of pomegranate seed, gran-orange and cigar ash tones. This is a vivid, highly novel expression of Pinot Noir. Drink 2021-2037- 95 

Duckhorn Merlot

If I were to pool many of you about what you consider to be your top California Merlot, my guess is that I would get many responses who say their answer is the Duckhorn Merlot. There is good reason for this success. A brand that has been very immune to the Sideways Phenomenon, Duckhorn first pushed their Merlot wines back in the 1980s and were a huge part of Merlot’s major successes in the 1990s. People were immediately gratified by the approachability of these wines.

I have had many of these Duckhorn Merlots back to the 1990s and I have been so impressed how the wines aged. I even had my birth year wine from 1980 that was still singing albeit very old. The wines grow more soft and tend to hold their fruit really well. Even Duckhorn Merlots that are eight to ten years old can appear as very youthful. Today their Decoy wines and their Decoy Merlot offer some serious value at a very consumer friendly price point.

Over the past five plus years Duckhorn has achieved magical success with their Merlots, with their ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ even being named the #1 wine in the world by Wine Spectator a few years back. I recently had the chance to taste all of the new Merlots by Duckhorn and was really impressed. Their 2019 Decoy ‘California’ Merlot (OB, 90)  offers good balance and structure with bright red and dark fruit flavors. Learn more about these great wines duckhorn.come and here are my reviews of the new Duckhorn and Decoy Merlots.

2019 Decoy ‘California’ Merlot- Soft, round and showing really good value, the 2019 Decoy Merlot offers ripe red and dark fruits with tobacco leaf undercurrents and a nice sense of viscosity. Medium-bodied and nicely balanced, enjoy over the next five years. Drink 2021-2026- 90

2018 Duckhorn ‘Napa Valley’ Merlot- Balanced and sturdy, the 2018 Duckhorn ‘Napa Valley’ Merlot is an outstanding effort that has some really good cellaring potential. Once on the nose this takes on layers of expresso bean and chocolate cake alongside dark currant tones that all meld in the glass. Full-bodied and delicious with its core of dark fruit favors, the 2018 Duckhorn ‘Napa Valley’ Merlot will cellar well over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2033- 92

2018 Duckhorn ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ Merlot- A magical new wine, the 2018 ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ by Duckhorn is one of the best of its kind that I have eve tasted. The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment as Turkish coffee, dark cherry cordial, tar and leather tones all brilliantly combine. Full-throttle, yet showing great acidity and texture, this intense, hedonistic style of Merlot is brilliant to enjoy now with its milk chocolate, creme de cassis and coffee ground flavors. I can imagine this cellaring well for another twenty years, but it is very hard to resist in its unadulterated youth. Drink 2021-2038- 95

J. Lohr

A winery that stretches back to the 1960s, Jerry Lohr began searching for a great location plant his first vineyard. Originally raised on a South Dakota farm, Jerry had a background in agriculture and chose the Central Coast, which was an experimental region at the time. Jerry has created an amazing success story with his winery, J. Lohr. J. Lohr offers a unique range of really well-riced wines, from limited production wines to 8,000 case production wines. I love the current offerings by them which impress and offer seriously good value.

The red wines by J. Lohr were also excellent and displayed wonderful depth and concentration. An outstanding Petite Sirah release is their 2018 J. Lohr ‘Tower Road’ Petite Sirah (OB, 92) which is intense and massive with some good cellaring potential. I adored the new Chardonnay release, the 2020 J. Lohr ‘Riverstone’ (OB, 92) which shows a silky texture nd has wonderful stony and salty undertones .Check out more about this outstanding lineup at https://www.jlohr.com Here are the outstanding new wines by J. Lohr. 

2020 J. Lohr ‘Riverstone’ Chardonnay- The 2020 ‘Riverstone’ Chardonnay is set on ancient stones from the Arroyo Seco River. Ripe and beautifully textured the wine shows off ripe banana and shades of papaya on the palate with salty and stony undertones. This dense chardonnay has some really nice aging potential and will develop nutty and earthy tones as it cellars. Drink 2021-2028- 92

2020 J. Lohr ‘Falcon’s Perch’ Pinot Noir- The 2020 ‘Falconer’s Perch’ shows forward cola and cranberry tones alongside shades of orange rind on the palate. Enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2021-2024- 88

2019 J. Lohr ‘Fog’s Reach’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Fog’s Reach’ Pinot Noir delivers a bright veil of tension once on the palate. Layers of pretty red fruits collide with smoke, and tar tones. Enjoy over the next seven years. Drink 2021-2028- 90

2018 J. Lohr ‘Tower Road’ Petite Sirah- The 2018 ‘Tower Road’ Petite Sirah shows off its inky core in the glass. Firm tannins hold in place a massive wall of blue and black fruits with Black Forest Cake scorched earth and tobacco leaf undertones. Seriously good now, this will age well for another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92

Brick & Mortar

A really consistent producer known for more of an old-world style, Brick & Mortar was founded back in 2011, as their focus is on on single-vineyard Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, from select high-elevation Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino vineyards. They are known for picking early to create wines that have more finesse than intense fruit flavors that are lower than most in alcohol and pair beautifully with a range of foods.

Winemaker Matt Iaconis completed his viticulture and oenology degree from UC Davis in 2008, and then worked at a range of wineries in wineries in Australia, New Zealand, Italy and most of all Burgundy. He is most inspired by the old world style of making Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from his time spent in Burgundy. Formerly working at Napa stalwart Antica, Matt is now in his 13th vintage. I was very impressed with the new wines that he has crafted. Look to the food friendly 2017 Brick & Mortar ‘La Perla Vineyard’ Brut Sparkling Wine (OB, 92) which has gobs of tension and  lovely salty undertones. Evne better is the terroir-driven, very old-world style 2019 Brick & Mortar ‘West Block Petaluma Gap’ Syrah (OB, 93) which is very California meets Hermitage. Learn more about these beautiful wines at bhttps://www.brickandmortarwines.com and here are my reviews of the new Brick & Mortar wines. 

2017 Brick & Mortar ‘La Perla Vineyard’ Brut Sparkling Wine- Fresh and lively, the 2017 ‘La Perla Vineyard’ Sparkling Wine shows pretty green apple and unripe cantaloupe tones with gobs of minerality mid-palate. Salty undertones complete this beautiful, tension-driven new sparkling wine that will drink well over the next ten years. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2018 Brick & Mortar ‘Manchester Ridge VIneyard’ Chardonnay- Located the Anderson Valley, the ‘Manchester Ridge Vineyard is a high elevation (2,000 feet above sea level) location set mostly on Goldridge soils. The salinity really shines here with salted Marcona almond, banana, white peach, vanilla cream and shades of green papaya on the palate. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2018 Brick & Mortar ‘Cougar Rock Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This Napa Pinot Noir shows off good nuance with dried herbs and wet stone tones alongside a core of very pretty red fruits with rose water. Lighter to medium-bodied, enjoy this beautiful Pinot Noir over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2021-2028- 91

2019 Brick & Mortar ‘West Block Petaluma Gap’ Syrah- Salty, savory and very Pinotesque, the ‘West Block Petaluma Gap’ shows off pretty red florals with a core of salty red fruits, iodine and a dusting of white pepper. Medium-bodied and very Hermitage, with outstanding length and novelty, this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

Cava Mestres

One of the great spots in Cava, Mestres is a house with a really long history. Roughly three years back I visited the Cava region for the first time and was very glad that I did. Exports from Cava that we experience in the United States are nowhere near the consistent quality of the wines that I experienced while I was in Catalonia. 

One of the oldest houses in Cava, The Mestres family dates back to 1312 as a wine negotiant and they have owned vineyards in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia since at least 1607. Many years later in 1925  Josep Mestres Manobens made his first sparkling wine by blending indigenous varietals Macabeu, Xarel-lo, and Parellada. Joan Aura serves as cellar master winemaker. They source from their 74 acre estate, which is divided into two plots: Clos Damiana and Clos Nostre Senyor as well as some area vineyards. Their vineyard is set on calcareous clay soils.

Having visited this winery it is set in a storybook setting in the small town of Sadurni d’Antonia, which is roughly an hour from Barcelona via train. The region is quite mountainous and it has a very different climate to Barcelona having a considerably lower maritime influence. Mestres give their sparkling wines extended time (18 months to 7 years) on the lees in bottle, which contributes to the complexity of the wines. During our cellar tour we had a chance to see some of their wines that have date back fifty years. Like many of Spain’s most celebrated houses, Mestres prides themselves at aging their wines and releasing them when they find them ready. We were able to see the disgorgement process as well as some bottling while we were there and I was amazed at the attention to detail as the cellar master inspects each individual bottle, regardless of price. They are truly a storied house in sparkling wine. 

I love their new ‘Reserva’ bottling, the NV Mestres ‘1312’ Rose Cava (OB, 91) is fresh and vibrant Rose with lovely earthy tones. I loved the with their 2013 Mestres ‘Visol Gran Reserva Brut Nature’ Cava (OB, 93) which is already nicely evolved from this outstanding vintage. This beauty has another decade or more to go. Learn more about this storied winery at http://www.mestres.es/?lang=en Here are the great new wines by Cava Mestres.

2018 Mestres ‘1312 Reserva’ Rose Cava- This beautiful bottling blends Trepat, Pinot Noir and Monastrell. The soft mousse upon the attack entices as layers of pretty guava and red cherry fruits combine with orange zest and hints of nectarine with earthy and stony undercurrents. Enjoy over the next several years.  Drink 2021-2026- 91

2013 Mestres ‘Visol Gran Reserva’ Cava- Taken from a very good vintage in Cava the 2013 ‘Visol’ combines 40% Xarel-lo with 35% Macabeo and the remainder Parellada from vines over 50 years of age.The silky mousse impresses upon entry as layers of nectarine, salted Macadamia nut, baking spice dusted pear and lemon zest infused toasty brioche all come together marvelously on the palate. Refined and elegant, this is drinking marvelously right now and has another decade to go. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2009 Mestres ‘Clos Nostre Senyor Gran Reserva’ Cava- Taken from what was a very warm vintage, the. 2009 ‘Clos Nostre Senyor’ is a blend of old vine 60% Xarel-lo (60%), Macabeo (20%) and Parellada (20%).Showing off its deep hue in the glass, the Cava shows off beautifully nutty tones on the nose with layers of ripe pear and white peach, with white florals rounding out this exquisite bouquet. Full-bodied and intense, with an oily texture, this rich yet tension-driven Cava finishes exceedingly long, with gobs of mouth-watering acidity and a light dusting of salinity. This is already beautifully evolved at the twelve year mark and enjoy this exceptional wine over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 95

Caymus Vineyards

One of the iconic wineries in Napa, Caymus built a name for themselves by crafting some stunning Cabernet wines for decades. They have a very hedonistic style of wine that might not appeal to everyone. I absolutely was enchanted by the quality of their top wines. 

Back in 1972, Chuck Wagner started Caymus Vineyards with his parents, Charlie and Lorna, and created incredible success with their wines. Caymus Cabernet is sourced from 8 of Napa Valley's 16 appellations and the Caymus ‘Special Selection’ is the only wine in the world to be honored twice as Wine Spectator magazine's “Wine of the Year” for the 1984 and 1990 vintages.

Caymus and their Wagner Family of Wines produces everything from Chardonnay to Sauvignon Blanc. For those who do not enjoy huge extraction in their wines, kindly glance away. Like last years release, the 2019 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 93) which is dense and chewy with wonderful length. I adored the 2019. Emmolo Merlot (OB, 92) which has really good range and intensity. One of the outstanding wines out of Napa, the 2016 Caymus ‘Special Selection’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) is massive and beautifully structured Cabernet that will cellar for another twenty years. Learn more about these outstanding new wines at https://www.caymus.com Here are the beautiful new release wines by Caymus Vineyards.

MV Red Schooner Voyage 9- This delicious red wine made by Caymus Vineyards is created from high elevation Malbec grapes from Mendoza. Inky once in the glass, this delivers plenty of black and blue fruits with bright acidity and lighter cocoa powder flavors. Not for the weary, the Voyage 9 is already drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2019 Emmolo Merlot- The 2019 Emmolo Merlot is named after Jenny Wagner’s mother, Cheryl Emmolo. Full-bodied, and showing good verve, the Emmolo Merlot shows off black tea, tomato leaf and rich dark currant flavors with black cherry compote on the palate. Delightful in its youth, this has another ten to fifteen years to go. Drink 2021-2033- 92

2018 Caymus-Suisun ‘Grand Durif’ Petit Sirah- The 2018 ‘Grand Durif’ is crafted from Petite Sirah grapes sourced the Suisun Valley, not far from Napa. The palate is plush with a silky texture. Black tea and exotic spices combine with blueberry cordial and Turkish coffee tones on the palate. This is drinking beautifully now and has another decade ormolu to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from eight of Napa’s sub-appelations. Aromatically quite intense, this revels in its massive core of blackberry cordial, mocha, tar, black licorice and creme de cassis aromas that all meld in the glass. The palate is plush with a sensational sense of texture. Layers of dense dark and blue fruits mingle with minerals and salty undertones. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2016 Caymus ‘Special Selection’ Cabernet Sauvignon-This is now the second time in the year that I have had the chance to taste this beautiful wine. The 2016 ‘Special Selection’ is a massively dense wine that is truly starting to sing in its highest octave now at the five year mark. Once on the nose this shows decadent blueberry cordial tones alongside dried herbs, black currants and shades of chocolate covered black raspberry.The palate is intense and rich with a soft mouthfeel. Incredible to savor now, this has at least another fifteen years to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2035- 95

Chateau Angelus

Famed right bank house Château Angélus, until 1990 known as Château L'Angélus, or simply L'Angélus, is located in Saint-Emilion and since 2012 has been a premier grand cru classe (A) in the classification of Saint-Emilion wine. The house has been owned by the Boüard de Laforest family since the Domaine de Mazaret was bequeathed to Comte Maurice de Boüard de Laforest in 1909, and expanded by the acquisition of Clos de L'Angélus in 1926 and a plot from Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot in 1969. Angelus is named after three Angelus bells which are audible from the vineyards and come from the chapel at Mazerat.

Famed enologist Michel Rolland serves as consultant as the property has 23.4 hectares planted to 51% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.  For my palate the Angelus wines are truly some of the most extraordinary in the world, and some of the greatest examples of Merlot and Cabernet Franc that you will find.

A few weeks back I had the chance to taste the extraordinary 2010 Angelus (OB, 100) which is one of the great wines I have tasted over the past year. This masterpiece is only slowly starting to show its full potential, and the wine has at least another twenty years of cellaring ahead of it. Learn more about this famed house at https://www.angelus.com/en/ Here is my review of the 2010 Chateau Angelus. 

2010 Chateau Angelus- The 2010 Chateau Angelus is a masterpiece now at eleven years. Haunting aromas of sandalwood, Black Forest cake, mocha and tar all come together on the nose. The palate is opulent with a silky texture and gorgeous layers of black cherry cordial, tar, garrigue, and asphalt. This is sinfully good especially after several hours of air, as this has decades of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2041- 100

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