Domaine Trouvère

Quite literally a brand new winery, Domaine Trouvère is Lange Estate Winery's sister label, created by founders and winemakers Don, Wendy and Jesse Lange to accentuate small-lot wines that come from older vintages. These wines are all ready to go upon release and are drinking marvelously, not needing any time in the cellar.

I have been skeptical about wines coming from the Umpqua Valley in terms of consistency of flavor density and flavor complexity, which can be remarkably inconsistent for my palate. These wines from this region by Jesse Lange were seriously good. I adored the 2015 Domaine Trouvere ‘Artist Series Reserve’ Tempranillo (OB, 91) which is already beautifully evolved and shows a great core of black and blue fruits with good acidity. A total home run, the 2019 Domaine Trouvère ‘Indegne’ Pinot Gris (OB, 93) is novel and vibrant, with incredible freshness. I can’t help thinking how magical this wine would be with some killer oysters. Learn more about this exciting new project at langewinery.com and here are my tasting notes on the new Domaine Trouvere wines.

2019 Domaine Trouvère ‘Indegne’ Pinot Gris- Sourced from the Dundee Hills, the ‘Indegne’ is created from a white grape mutation of Pinot Gris. Bright, with outstanding acidity and serious finesse, upon entry you are greeted to gobs of lip-smacking acidity that mingles well with the soft sense of texture and beautiful length. Meyer lemon oil, roasted hazelnut and Gravenstein apple all combine brilliantly on the palate. This is begging for fresh Kusshi oysters. Enjoy this seriously good and novel wine in its youth while the sense of brightness remains intact. Drink 2021-2026- 93

2016 Domaine Trouvère ‘Artist Series’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from both Dijon and traditional clonal Pinot Noir, this Willamette Valley AVA bottling shows plenty of weight with ripe bing cherry, tobacco leaf and boysenberry flavors with smoky minerals rounding out this great new wine. Despite the heat of the vintage this comes off very light on its feet. Drink 2021-2028- 92

2017 Domaine Trouvère ‘Artist Series’ Syrah- This 100% Umpqua Valley Syrah was aged in a combination of French and American oak for eleven months before bottling. The palate shows great finesse with a soft mouthfeel and silky tannins that line a core of black fruits with smoky undertones. While delicious and well-structured I would prefer a bit more mid-palate flavor density considering the varietal. Drink 2021-2025- 90

2015 Domaine Trouvère‘Reserve Artist Series’ Tempranillo- Also sourced from the Umpqua Valley, the ‘Reserve’ Tempranillo shows a touch better flavor density than the Syrah, offering blue and black fruits alongside chocolate and sage undertones. Delicious now,  and already nicely evolved, savor this Tempranillo over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2026- 91

Ram's Gate

A really good Sonoma producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Ram’s Gate offers a range of unique tasting opportunities with their vineyard designate wines. They even offer a five course wine and food pairing in their dramatic hillside setting right outside of Carneros. Last year I had the chance to taste with Director of Winemaking at Ram’s Gate Winery, Joe Nielsen and we chatted about their approach which is showcasing the special vineyard sites in their program.

Following nearly ten years at Donelan Family Wines in Santa Rosa, Joe became Director of Winemaking at Ram’s Gate in 2018. I think that these might be the best wines I have ever tasted from this house. I adored the very Chablis 2018 Ram’s Gate ‘Flora Marie Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is vibrant and fresh with stony undertones. The best wine I tried was the sinfully good 2018 Ram’s Gate ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 94) which shows off gobs of tension and insanely good range with salty undertones. This full-throttle joyride has a long way to go but it is irresistible in its youth. Learn more about these great new wines at ramsgatewinery.com and here are my tasting notes of the outstanding new wines.

2018 Ram’s Gate ‘Flora Marie Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Aged for eleven months in 33% new French oak this Russian River Valley Chardonnay shows off pretty white peach tones with toasty oak and sourdough bread aromatically. The palate is fresh and vibrant with plenty of lemon oil and stony soil tones alongside shades of green apple. Enjoy this beautiful, very Chablisesque wine over the next seven plus years. Drink 2021-2028- 92

2018 Ram’s Gate ‘Cellar Note’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the Sonoma Coast AVA, the 2018 ‘Cellar Note’ shows off a light dusting of salinity that falls upon rich orchard fruits with hints of vanilla cream on the palate. Full-bodied and rich, enjoy this beautiful bottling over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2021-2028- 92

2018 Ram’s Gate ‘Gap’s Crown’ Pinot Noir- One of the famed sites in the Sonoma Coast AVA, the ‘Gap’s Crown Vineyard’ has a massive maritime effect with cool breezes and constant fog. Utilizing Dijon clone 777, the wine opens with suggestions of teaberry, cran-orange, peat moss and salty undertones on the palate. This finishes very long. Great to enjoy in its youth, the 2018 ‘Gap’s Crown’ Pinot Noir has another twelve plus years to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2018 Ram’s Gate ‘El Diablo Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘El Diablo Vineyard’ is a rocky site that is located right off of Eastside Road in the Russian River Valley. Aromatically this is already very nicely evolved with black tea, exotic spices and tilled soil tones alongside a core of red fruits. The palate is fresh, polished and beautifully textured with great length and a beautiful purity of red fruit. Enjoy this outstanding wine over the next twelve to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2018 Ram’s Gate ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Syrah- The Ram’s Gate ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Syrah underwent 55% whole cluster fermentation and spent 20 months in 25% new French oak before bottling. Deeply concentrated, rich and viscous, this takes the lead with blackberry jam, mulling spices, cigar ash and shades of salty loamy soils. Full-bodied and highly novel, with a great veil of tension, this beautiful bottling is outstanding to consume now and will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. But why wait? Drink 2021-2034- 94

2018 Ram’s Gate ‘Grenache/Syrah Cellar Note’ Red Wine- A unique wine for the Carneros AVA, this combines near equal parts of Grenache and Syrah, as this saw 20 months in French oak (33%) new before bottling. Delicious and lithe, with rich red currant, boysenberry and Chinese black tea flavors with salty undertones, this outstanding new bottling will cellar well over the next ten plus years. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2018 Ram’s Gate ‘Bismark Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvingon- This Moon Mountain AVA spent 18 months in 65% new French oak before bottling. Silky smooth upon entry, the Cabernet reveals dark chocolate and huckleberry flavors alongside coffee grounds and smoky minerals on the palate. Enjoy this great new wine over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2033- 93

Hundred Suns

Hundred Suns is a story by Grand Coulter and Renee Saint-Amour who left California for Oregon. Grant first worked as assistant winemaker at Hamacher wines and then spent the bulk of 10 years as assistant winemaker and then winemaker at Beaux Freres. Then in 2015 they both sold their Portland house and bought a house in the Willamette Valley to start their project, Hundred Suns. Grant became winemaker for Flaneur Wines and in 2018 they bought a 4.5 acre property in the Eola-Amity hills.

I have enjoyed these wines very much over the past several years but have not had the chance to sample the overall lineup. These wines are technically very brilliant, each showing a beginning, a middle, and and end. They tell you a story about each individual site. I was blown away with the value wine, their 2019 Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which for 30 bucks you would be hard pressed to find a more compelling Pinot Noir in Oregon. One of the great Oregon Pinot Noirs that I have sampled over the past year, the 2019 Hundred Suns ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) is a complete wine. This has gobs of finesse but also is very generous and downright sexy on the palate.

2019 Hundred Suns ‘Tualitin Estate’ Gamay-  This sexy Gamay reveals sexy red florals and crunchy red fruits that collide with cedar, ash and shades of peat moss on the palate. Fantastic now, this has both the stuffing and verve to cellar well for another decade.  Drink 2021-2029- 92

2019 Hundred Suns ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot. Noir reveals ripe red currants, and tobacco aromatically, with forest floor undertones. Once on the mouth this shows off a soft mouthfeel with pretty red fruits that mingle with rose water, cedar and damp earthy tones. Complex and delicious to consume now, this has another decade of life in front of it. Drink 2021-2031-  92

2019 Hundred Suns  ‘Bednarik Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Bednarik Vineyard’ was first planted back in 1988 and is set on marine sedimentary soils. The wine shows off wonderfully salty red fruits that collide with orang rind, menthol, pine needles and wild mushroom tones on the palate. Bright, with good acidity and weight, this will cellar well over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2021-2034- 93

2019 Hundred  Suns ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this famed site located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, the beautiful 2019 ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir opens with ripe Yakima cherry aromas alongside freshly tilled soils and cran-orange tones that all meld in the glass. The palate is plush and lithe with glorious length and weight. Enjoy this beautiful, finesse-driven wine over the next decade. Drink. 2021-2033- 94

2019 Hundred Suns ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- I have been fully amazed by the wines coming off this vineyard over the past few years — a site planted by Oregon wine legend Mike Etzel and set in the Ribbon. Ridge AVA. The Pinot Noir revels loads of tension with gorgeous rose water, red cherry, pomegranate seed and orange rind tones that all come together seamlessly. The drinking experience is pillowy and smooth throughout. Enjoy this stunning new Pinot Noir over the next fifteen years. Drink. 2021-2036-  95

2019  Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Old Eight Cut’ Pinot Noir is simply singing even in its heady youth.  Weighing in at only 13.2% alcohol,  this finesse driven wine shows off ripe strawberry, peat moss and pomegranate seed tones alongside a great veil of tension. Enjoy this outstanding value over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031-  92

Darioush

The Darioush story is an incredible tale of the American dream. Northern Iran is one of the birthplaces of wine, as records from 5,000 B.C. indicate a nomad culture living there and celebrating wine. Darioush Khaledi was instilled at an early age with the winemaking craft of his father and began collecting fine wine at a young age. He migrated from Iran to the United States and owned what was once the largest family-owned grocery store business in California. His passion for wine met its apex in 1997 when he formed Darioush winery. Darioush Khaledi is an inspired American dream.

After an incredible business success, Darioush set out to craft the best overall lineup of wines in Napa. Darioush created one of the most beautiful wineries in the entire west coast. Upon entering the winery you are greeted by Persian inspired pillars that make you feel like you’re entering a royal palace. Imported travertine lines the entire winery and the calming water feature inside the winery really is something special. You have to  check out the Provence inspired garden setting that literally feels like a world away.

The new lineup of wines by Darioush was amazing across the board. I loved the new 2020 Darioush Viognier (OB, 93) which is soft and generous with outstanding length. I adored the new 2018 Darioush Shiraz (OB, 95)  which is one of the great Syrah bottling I have tasted this year from Napa. Learn more about this special winery at darioush.com. Here are the great new wines by Darioush.

2020 Darioush Viognier- Fresh and beautifully textured, the 2020 Darioush Viognier is a spectacular new wine that has some good cellaring potential. Ripe kiwi, starfruit and melon tones combine with minerals and wet stone and nutty undertones on the palate. Gorgeous to enjoy now, be sure at a warmer temperature where the full range can be displayed. Drink 2021-2028- 93

2019 Darioiush ‘Sage Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2019 Darioush ‘Sage Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc is a vibrant and beautiful textured bottling that has some aging potential. Ripe kiwi, starfruit and banana flavors combine with nutty and honeydew melon undertones on the palate. Gorgeous now, this has another decade of life in front of it. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2019 Darioush Pinot Noir- This edition is another outstanding release by Darioush. Soft, round and generous with a silky texture, this delivers beautiful red cherry cola, red raspberry and tobacco leaf undertones with shades of freshly tilled soils. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2018 Darioush Shiraz- The color here is crazy inky, as the 2018 Shiraz revels in its gorgeous aromatics ranging from blueberry pie to black tea and espresso bean with loamy soils. The palate is fresh and vibrant with dense dark and blue fruit flavors and silky tannins that line them. With more air comes more flavor complexity with light dried herbs and smoked BBQ beef rib flavors come into play. Highly delicious to consume right now, this has another fifteen years in the cellar to go. Drink 2021-2035- 95

2018 Darioush Cabernet Franc- The 2018 Darioush Cabernet Franc was sourced from Darioush estate vineyards in Mount Veeder, Atlas Peak and throughout the Napa Valley. Aged for 22 months in 70% new French & European oak barrels, this 100% Cabernet Franc wine shows boysenberry liquor aromatics woven together with exotic spices, loamy soils and dark chocolate shavings that all meld in the glass. The palate is deep and intense, with wonderful dark currants, dark chocolate covered espresso bean, and creme de violette tones, mingling with the dusty terroir. The combination of viscosity and freshness is gorgeous, as this splendid bottling reminds you why Darioush has such a sterling reputation for Cabernet Franc. Be sure to give this a long decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2022-2040- 96

2018 Darioush ‘Duel’ Red Wine- The ‘Duel’ is a one of a kind project by Darioush that combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Right away you are allured by the intense red and dark fruits that parade with cocoa powder, baking spices and dried herbal aromatics. The palate is plush and dense, with a wonderful hedonistic bent, yet showing plenty of bright acidity and firm tannins to hold things in place. Ripe red currants, cigar ash, blackberry torte and shades of mocha all impress on the palate. Deep and delicious to enjoy in its youth, this has some serious aging potential. Drink 2020-2035- 94

Vina Almaviva

One of the great wines of the world, today we present Vina Almaviva. An illustrious story dating back to 1997, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, and Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle, Chairman of Viña Concha y Toro S.A., sealed a partnership agreement with a view to create an exceptional Franco-Chilean wine called Almaviva. Produced under the joint technical supervision of both partners, the first vintage had great acclaim upon its launch in 1998. The rest has been history. 

I have been so impressed since I tried these wines decade ago. For those who have never had the cache to try Vina Almaviva, you are in for a great treat. The wines show incredible terroir and a wonderful veil of tension. They age gracefully too, as I tried the 2011 bottling not long ago and it was truly singing. One thing I love about this blend is how it captures the art of truly exceptional Carmenère. A varietal that has been a shining star for Chile, this wine really is one of the finest expressions of Carmenère that you will find. Although the blend is Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, Carmenère adds the lovely herbal tones and scorched earth accents to this formidable wine. 

Almaviva wines dense and massive, needing a lot of air prior to enjoying. Like many great modern wines of the world, they are approachable in their youth after a long decant. I recently had the chance to taste the 2019 Vina Almaviva and was absolutely blown away with the quality of the wines. The 2019 Almaviva Red Wie (OB, 98) is a spellbinding blend of nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon with 23% Carmenère blended in. This is a magical, one of a kind wine, that has a long life ahead of it. Learn more about this famed winery at http://www.almavivawinery.com/en/ Here is my review of the new 2019 Almaviva. 

2019 Vina Almaviva Cabernet Sauvignon- The stunning new 2019 Vina Almaviva Cabernet Sauvignon is a benchmark Bordeaux style wine from this storied partnership between Concha y Toro and Baron Philippe de Rothchild. Sourced from vineyards in the Puente Alto region, this vintage they have a higher percentage of Carmenere blended in, as the finished wine is comprised of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Carmenère (from Peumo), 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot. The Carmenere is immediately gratifying on the bouquet, showing its hallmark green bell pepper and a dusting of white pepper alongside a seamless core of dark fruits with espresso ground undertones. The palate is utterly seamless as this glides throughout the drinking experience working like a fine Swiss time piece, with every component singing their five part harmony in unison. Soft and impeccably balanced, this very approachable wine is sensational to savor now and will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another fifteen years. What a wine! Drink 2021-2038- 98 

HALL

One of the great Napa Valley wineries, HALL was founded in 1992 by Katheryn and Craig Hall. What was initially a very simply constructed tasting room, roughly ten years ago HALL have built one of the most beautiful, state of the art, wineries in Napa. This is a must visit for any serious Napa enophile. I always enjoy my visits to this special spot in St. Helena.

HALL also have two separate lines, WALT (focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) and BACA (Focusing on Zinfandel) that are seriously good in their own rights. I have been blown away with the consistency of these wines, particularly in recent years. It is clear that the focus on quality is paramount as this winery has not only been blessed with an exceptional run of vintages but has been known to succeed even in the more challenging vintages like 2010 and 2011. HALL now makes a series of value wines that are really good. 

The new lineup by HALL is exceedingly good across the board. I was completely blown away with the new 2018 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is soft, pillowy and providing tons of drinking enjoyment even right now. One of the best wines I have had all year, the 2018 HALL ‘Rainin VIneyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) is perfection in a bottle. This seamless, sensational wine has such a long life ahead of it. Learn more about these beautiful wines at hallwines.com Here are the beautiful new wines by HALL.

2018 HALL ‘Ellie’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Named after Craig Hall’s grandmother who was an artist, the 2018 ‘Ellie’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon reveals ripe dark currants collide with tobacco leaf, milk chocolate and shades of coffee grounds on the nose. The palate is very elegant with silky tannins that come together with ripe dark fruits, cigar box and pipe tobacco on the palate. With good freshness and finesse, this gorgeous new bottling will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2018 HALL ‘Eighteen Seventy-Three’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Eighteen Seventy-Three’ is named after the first year that vines were planted at the HALL Saint Helena location. This is a wine that is mostly sourced from Howell Mountain and Atlas Peak. Right away this shows off black tea and exotic spices that mingle with a core of ripe dark fruits on the nose. The palate is fresh with bright acidity alongside black currants, blackberry and coffee grounds with herbal undertones that all meld together beautifully. The oak character in the wine beautifully compliments the core of fruit and non-fruit flavors. Highly enjoyable in its youth, this has another fifteen to twenty years to go. Drink 2021-2038- 95

2018 HALL ‘Stags Leap District’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 ‘Stags Leap District’ Cabernet Sauvignon exudes class with its blueberry pie, toasty oak, espresso bean and graphite tones aromatically. Full-bodied with gobs of tension and flavor density and opulence, layers of ripe black and blue fruits collide with Turkish coffee and shades of salty soils on the palate. Deeply concentrated and showing serious tension and weight, this gorgeous bottling has another twenty years to go. Drink 2021-2041- 96

2018 HALL ‘Montagna Vineyards’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The high-elevation ‘Montagna Vineyards’ are located in Pritchard Hill on the south side of Lake Hennessey near the famed Stagecoach Vineyard. On the nose this shows off black rose petals alongside black tea, exotic spices and shades of creme de cassis that all meld in the glass. The palate is dense, plush and highly refined with gobs of tension and mouth-watering acidity. A light dusting of salinity falls on the core of black and blue fruits with espresso bean and creme de violette all impress on the palate. The aromatic and flavor range is truly outstanding as this generous bottling has two decades of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2041- 98

2018 HALL ‘Bergfeld’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 ‘Bergfeld’ is located at the HALL property in Saint Helena. 20 acres are planted to mainly Cabernet Sauvignon as soils are very well-drained in this ancient riverbed soils. Showing off its dense and polished mouthfeel, silky tannins line a massive core of blackberry, creme de cassis and mocha flavors with salty undertones and shades of loamy soils on the palate. Gorgeous now, this has a long way to go in t he cellar. Drink 2021-2038- 95

2018 HALL ‘Auspicious’ Cabernet Sauvignon- During the blending process of making the Howell Mountain the blend they chose did not quite meet the Howell Mountain requirements. The toasty oak on the nose beautifully compliments the core of blue and black fruits with espresso bean undercurrents. Full bodied and rich, firm tannins hold in place downright sexy core of black tea, Turkish coffee, black tea, cigar box, blueberry pie and loganberry cordial on the palate. The flavor range exhibited is sensational. Gorgeous to consume now, this will have another twenty plus years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2041- 97

2018 HALL ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Named after HALL director of winemaking Mike Reynolds’s son, Jack, the ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ is a stunning new wine that has some serious aging potential. Sourced from more than 20 vineyard sites, this shows off ripe dark currants that mingle with espresso bean, blackberry compote, graphite and leather undertones on the palate. Silky tannins and a lengthy finish complete this beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon bottling that has a really long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2041- 96

2018 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 ‘Kathryn Hall’ is a blockbuster new release by HALL that is silky, refined and shows incredible flavor density. Sourced from a host of vineyards including Sacrashe Vineyard. Once on the nose this takes on layers of dark florals that combine with creme de cassis, loamy soils and anise aromatically. The palate is seamless and silky throughout the drinking experience, as this exudes elegance. This finishes exceeding long with minerals and dark fruits. Absolutely gorgeous to enjoy in its youth, this has another twenty years to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2038- 97

2018 HALL ‘Rainin Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Rainin Vineyard is a small site located on Diamond Mountain. Right away you are captivated by the aromas of violet rose petals alongside Earl Grey tea, huckleberry cordial and shades of tar. The aromatic range here is simply magical. The palate is silky and utterly seamless as firm tannins line a massive wall of blueberry compote, dark chocolate shavings, graphite, creme de cassis, loamy soils and shades of creosote. The wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. This is nothing short of perfection in a bottle — a timeless Cabernet Sauvignon that will be exceedingly long-lived. Drink 2021-2041- 100

2018 HALL ‘Sacrashe Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Sacrashe Vineyard is partially owned by HALL, as they control 33 acres at this site. The alluring aromas of tar and dark currants mingle well with coffee grounds and shades of black licorice. The palate is exceedingly refined with silky tannins that line a sumptuous core of black currant cordial, mocha, creosote, graphite and loamy soils with a light dusting of salinity on the palate. Seamless throughout the drinking experience this utterly fantastic bottling will cellar well for another twenty plus years. Drink 2021-2045- 99

Ten Merlots for Fall

As temperatures start to drop and football blares in the backgrounds, fall means a shift from white wine and rose to reds. Merlot has been experiencing a solid comeback over the past five years. I have loved to see how this varietal has grown in popularity, as Merlot at its best can be one of the world’s singular wines.

I have chosen ten new world Merlot wines that emirate good value and show the potential of the varietal. See for yourself, I think you will be very impressed with these wines, whether it is the budget friendly 2019 Bonterra Merlot (OB, 88) or the utterly captivating, special occasion 2018 Duckhorn ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ Merlot (OB, 95). These wines prove that there is a great new world Merlot for every occasion and budget. 

CALIFORNIA

2019 Bonterra Merlot ($18.99)- Juicy with ripe red currants and red cherry flavors, this good value Merlot is best enjoyed over the next several years while the brightness remains. Drink 2021-2024- 88

NAPA VALLEY

2018 Cakebread Cellars Merlot ($70.00)- Rich and polished, the 2018 Cakebread Cellars evokes a soft mouthful with plenty of rich dark fruits with tobacco leaf and tar undertones. Enjoy this great new Merlot over the next decade. Drink 2021-2029- 91

2018 Duckhorn ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ Merlot ($110.00)- 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

2018 Mt. Brave Merlot ($100.00)- Deep, polished and filled of terroir, the 2018 Mt. Brave Merlot is a spectacular bottling by Chris Carpenter. Once on the nose this evokes tar with leather, baking spices and copious dark fruits with chocolate tones adding to the intrigue.  Full-bodied and decadent, with good structure, enjoy this outstanding bottling over the next fifteen to twenty years. If enjoying in its youth, give this beauty at least an hour decant.  Drink 2021-2038- 95

2018 Markham ‘Napa Valley’ Merlot ($29.00)- The 2018 Markham ‘Napa Valley’ Merlot delivers a soft mouthfeel with ripe blackberry, black cherry and milk chocolate flavors with lighter loamy undertones. Immediately gratifying, try pairing with a juicy burger. Drink 2021-2026- 90

2019 Rutherford Hill ‘Napa Valley’ Merlot ($30.00)- Juicy and ripe red and dark fruits greet you with tobacco leaf and underbrush undertones. Beautiful now, enjoy this great value over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2026- 90

CHILE

2019 Casillero del Diablo ‘Reserva’ Merlot ($10.00)- For a mere ten dollars retail this Merlot delivers plenty of ripe dark fruits with herbal undertones that makes this very classic Chile. With bright acidity, enjoy this great value now. Drink 2021-2023- 88

WASHINGTON

2019 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate’ Merlot ($52.00)- The 2019 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate’ Merlot is an outstanding bottling that is already providing plenty of drinking pleasure at the two year mark. Right away fresh and plush red fruits combine with tobacco leaf, tar and leather on the palate. Soft on the mouth with beautiful length, this has another ten to fifteen years to go. Drink 2021-2033- 92

2018 Northstar ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot ($41.00)- Soft, round and generous, the 2018 Northstar ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot is an outstanding of this varietal from Washington State. Generous, with good length, the wine exudes class with its core of Black Forest Cake, cigar box and boysenberry cordial flavors that mingle with firm tannins and bright acidity. Enjoy this outstanding wine over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2018 L’Ecole No 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot ($38.00)- The 2018 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot is an awesome wine by L’Ecole. Ripe black plum and chocolate covered dark kirsch aromas with baking spices all meld in the glass. The palate is refined and elegant with a terrific mouthfeel and outstanding length. Rich dark fruits collide with minerals, smoke and chocolate cake notes on the palate. Outstanding in its youth, this has a long way to go. Drink 2021-2035- 93

The Eyrie Vineyards

Every so often I will uncork an older bottle of ‘The Eyrie Vineyards’ Pinot Gris or Pinot Noir.  These wines no longer surprise me. Back ten years ago I was floored when I was first poured one of these wines from the 1980s — I simply could not fathom the level of freshness kept intact in the wine. Needless to say, these are wines that are built to age.

One of the historic wineries in Oregon, The Eyrie Vineyards Jason Lett continues his father's legacy that began in the 1960s. David Lett is known for making the first Pinot Gris wines in North America and made his mark as one of Oregon’s premier vintners. Jason has continued his father’s legacy and is crafting one of the outstanding wine lineups in the Willamette Valley.

I adored the new Eyrie releases which beautifully showcased the warm 2018 vintage. These are wines that show beautiful tension and finesse but have more mid-palate ripeness than the 2016 and 2017 bottlings. They are a must-buy for those who desire a touch of hedonism in Oregon Pinot Noir. 

Eyrie makes some killer Chardonnay and I adored the new 2019 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is simply a can’t miss effort at this price. Even better is the new 2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which as everything you want in a warm vintage Oregon Pinot Noir — tension, richness, depth, flavor density, and flavor complexity. Learn more about this fantastic and historic winery and their wines at http://www.eyrievineyards.com Here are the outstanding wines by The Eyrie Vineyards. 

2018 The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Meunier- Novel and complex, the rich 2018 Pinot Meunier exudes class with ripe red raspberry cordial, peat moss and shades of baking spices aromatically. The palate is soft and round, combining ripe red fruits with tilled soils and earthy undertones. Enjoy this fantastic new wine over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie Chardonnay- More deep and rich, but a touch less mineral-driven, the 2018 ‘Oregon’ Chardonnay by The Eyrie Vineyards shows the warmth of the vintage. Layers of buttercream and pineapple combine with nutmeg dusted Challah bread on the palate. This shows glorious length and stuffing, beautifully showcasing the 2018 vintage.  iDrink 2021-2031- 93

2019 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Chardonnay- Fresh vibrant and expressive, the 2019 ‘The Eyrie’ Chardonnay reveals loads of mouth-watering acidity and a soft texture upon entry. Layers of Japanese pear, brioche and tart melon fruits combine with stony minerals on the palate. Gorgeous now, this has another decade to go. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Daphne’ Pinot Noir- The small, 13 acre ‘Daphne Vineyard’ ironically mostly planted to Pinot Gris. Once on the nose this takes on dusty soils and ripe red cherry tones alongside shades of teaberry and baking spice infused orange rind aromatically. Soft and approachable, with beautiful depth and mouth-watering acidity, this black fruit driven Pinot Noir is absolutely gorgeous even at the three year mark and will be sure to provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. The combination of weight, range and verve here is seriously good. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Sisters’ Pinot Noir- The set on both Jory and Marine Sedimentary soils, the ‘Sisters’ Pinot Noir is a lower elevation site that seems to express both soil types really well in the bottle. This is a very pretty, salty Pinot Noir that shows beautiful red fruits colliding with wet volcanic stones, and shades of blood orange zest on the palate. Immediately gratifying with its savory tones and beautiful texture the 2018 ‘Sisters’ Pinot Noir will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2034- 94

2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Outcrop’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Outcrop’ Pinot Noir comes from a very small plot of land in the Dundee Hills AVA. Already nicely evolved, this shows off  a dusting of volcanic soils that combine with shades of peat moss and bright red fruits aromatically. Once on the mouth the silky texture exudes elegance. With bright acidity and serious weight, this ‘wow factor’ Oregon Pinot Noir bottling has at least another ten to fifteen years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Rolland Green’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Rolland Green Vineyard’ is a six acre parcel that is planted to ungrafted Wadenswil and Pommard clone Pinot Noir. I love this wine for its combination of weight and bright acidity. You’re immediately greeted to loads of tension on the mid-palate with gorgeous red cherry and wild blackberry flavors alongside loamy soils on the palate. Showing beautiful length and persistence, this outstanding new Pinot Noir isn’t going anywhere for a really long time. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2018 The Eyrie Vineyards ‘The Eyrie’ Pinot Noir- Some of the oldest vines in the Willamette Valley are planted in the sixteen acre ‘Eyrie Vineyard.’ Aromatically quite evolved and intense, this outstanding Pinot Noir shows off Earl Grey tea tones alongside peat moss, pine needles and ripe dark fruits on the nose. The palate is beautifully textured and fresh, showing outstanding weight and bright acidity. This finishes exceedingly long. Classy and every bit delicious in its youth, enjoy this fantastic new bottling over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2038- 95

Reynvaan 2017 White Wine Retrospective

As I look back at the 2017 vintage I can’t help but smile when I think about the overall quality that came to both red and white wines. 2017 in Washington will be remembered as the massive layers of smoke that stayed high in the skies seemingly for months. In the Seattle area, 2017 was a lost summer — a summer that we never had as air quality remained poor for weeks upon end and people were advised to stay in their homes and not venture outside. 

Top Washington vintners produced some incredible wines in 2017. The vintage would have been considerably warmer had the smoke not created a barrier to the sun, cooling may places by ten or more degrees. This was precisely the case in the Rocks District, which did not see the level of heat spikes like 2015 or even 2016. This area was blessed with remarkably consistent weather throughout much of the summer. 

While this was a warm vintage by Washington standards, things ended up cooler than 2015, 2016 and 2018. Many of the white wines made in 2017 impressed, and top producers like Reynvaan produced some of the finest white wines that I have tasted. A few weeks ago I had the chance to revisit some of the 2017 Reynvaan white wines after some time in the bottle. These wines showed exceptionally well and are still extremely youthful as both will go for another eight to ten years. The 2017 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier (OB, 96) is unctuous, soft and generous on the mouth with gobs of stony minerals. It is one of the best Viognier wines I have tasted from anywhere over the past year. Nearly as good is the 2017 Reynvaan ‘Queen’s Road’ White Wine (OB,  95) which shows even more dense fruit flavors with plenty of lip-smacking acidity and an exceedingly long finish. These two are truly some of the great white wines being made on the west coast. Learn more about Reynvaan wines at https://www.reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com and here are my tasting notes from the gorgeous 2017 Reynvaan white wines.

2017 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier- I have had the chance to visit this wine several times  over the past year and I have been consistently floored. The 2017 ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier is one of the great white wines made this vintage. The floral tones aromatically are exquisite as honeysuckle and shades of gardenia blossom mingle with ripe pear, starfruit and wet stone undertones on the nose. Upon entry the silky mouthfeel and dazzling minerality really impress as layers of buttercream, baking spice dusted Japanese pear, and toasty brioche all marvelously come together on the palate. With glorious length, this beautiful Viognier is showing exceptionally well right now and will continue to provide drinking enjoyment over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2028- 96

2017 Reynvaan ‘Queen’s Road’ White Wine- This is my first visit to this wine since it was released a few years back. A beautiful blend of 55% Marsanne and 45% Viognier, the ‘Queen’s Road’ was aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak prior to bottling. Ripe and intense on the mouth,  this delivers ripe nectarine and lychee tones alongside buttered shortbread, salted Macadamia nut and shades of roasted pineapple on the palate. This deep, downright unctuous white wine shows no signs of slowing down right now, and has at last another eight years to go. Drink 2021-2029- 95

Beringer Vineyards

One of the most historic properties in Napa, Beringer dates all the way back back to the 1860s. For years I’ve tasted at Beringer and it is always a welcome experience to come back to this expansive spot in St. Helena. I have very fond memories of older bottles of their ‘Private Reserve’ Chardonnay as these are some of the most age worthy Chardonnays you will find in Napa. Beringer may have invented the White Zin but they also have crafted some incredibly age worthy Chardonnay and Cabernet wines. 

Winemaker Ryan Rech came to Napa more than a decade ago, where he led winemaking for the relaunch of the Souverain wines crafted in the historic Asti winery, and later, working alongside famed Chateau St. Jean winemaker Margo Van Staaveren. In 2016, Ryan joined Beringer Vineyards as Luxury Red Winemaker and crafted wines from the Knight’s Valley estate. He was appointed Sr. Winemaker and General Manager in 2017 and elevated to Chief Winemaker in 2021, following the line of Mark Beringer, the great-grandson of Beringer Vineyards’ founding brother Jacob Beringer

I adored their 2018 ‘Private Reserve’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is a stunning new wine that shows serious weight and tension. This is a killer value to buy by the case.  Another sensational value buy is the 2018 Beringer ‘Knights Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 91) which is fresh and dense, loaded with black fruits. Learn more about these awesome wines at beringer.com Here are the awesome new premium wines by Beringer Vineyards. 

2018 Beringer ‘Private Reserve’ Chardonnay- Rich and downright unctuous with a silky texture, the 2018 Beringer ‘Private Reserve’ Chardonnay is a sensational value from this house. Once on the nose this shows off butterscotch tones that combine with banana, roasted pineapple and shades of salted Macadamia nut. The palate is plush and dense with a soft mouthfeel and wonderful sense of length. Highly enjoyable now, be sure to taste this at a warmer temperature to take in this rich drinking experience.  Drink 2021-2031- 94

2018 Beringer ‘Knights Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Rich and delicious the 2018 ‘Knights Valley’ by Beringer, delivers plenty of ripe blackberry, black cherry and mocha flavors. Full-bodied and delicious, this generous effort is a stunning wine for the price that is best enjoyed over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2021-2028- 91

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