WillaKenzie Estate

One of the famed houses in Willamette Valley, I first visited WillaKenzie Estates back in 2005. This winery is unique in that it produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris with small amounts of Pinot Meunier, Gamay Noir and Chardonnay. Roughly a decade ago the tasting room had a major facelift which now boast a very expansive facility, with sweeping views across the Willamette Valley. For years I have enjoyed visiting this estate which was acquired a few years back by Jackson Family. Erik Kramer serves as winemaker, formerly applying his trade at Domaine Serene. His wines are focused with beautiful mid-palate ripeness and impressive quality across the board. I really enjoyed his 2018 WillaKenzie ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is fresh and vibrant with gobs of mouth-watering acidity. This juicy effort has a long way to go in the cellar. Learn more about this great producer at willakenziestate.com and here are my reviews of the new Pinot Noirs by WillaKenzie Estate. 

2018 WillaKenzie Estate ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- A brilliant new wine by Erik Kramer, this shows off a pretty core of tart red fruits alongside a great combination of viscosity and tension. The rich mouthfeel entices here. Finishing long with tilled soils and red fruits alongside copious minerals, this is a beautiful 2018 Pinot Noir that is built for the cellar. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2018 WillaKenzie Estate ‘Emery’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Emery’ is sourced from a ridgeline site near the crest of the WillaKenzie Estate.  Salty tones mark the nose alongside bright red currants, tobacco and suggestions of wild mushroom. The palate is dense and plush with brilliant finesse and a beautiful core of ripe red fruits. Slowly moving into secondary characteristics, this outstanding salty and savory Pinot Noir is only starting to hit its stride. Drink 2021-2035- 94

Brandlin Estate

Back in 1998 the Schmidheiny family purchased the Brandlin Vineyard which is perched high atop Mount Veeder. This site was amazingly first planted back in 1926 and dates back to the 1870s, when the Brandlin family emigrated from Switzerland. The vineyard now has an additional 38 acres of vines planted to Bordeaux varietals. The site sits at 900-1250 feet and is set on a Ridgeline with a southern facing aspect.  30 acres here are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon but interestingly enough they also have 11 acres planted to Zinfandel.

The current release 2018 Brandlin Estate ‘ThS’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 93) is a dense and chewy wine that shows brilliant finesse and aging potential. Learn more about this outstanding estate at brandlinestate.com and here is the new release  2018 ‘ThS’ Cabernet Sauvignon. 

2018 Brandlin Estate ‘ThS’ Cabernet Sauvingon- The dense and heady. ‘ThS’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous wine made by the talented Steve Rogstad. Aged for 30 months in French oak barrels (75% new), this shows off heady cassis and dark cherry flavors alongside a. Great veil of tension and stony minerals on the palate. Finishing very long, this fresh and vibrant style of Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 93

Taittinger 'Comtes de Champagne'

I’ll fully admit I am a lucky dude. Every so often I have the chance to open some top Champagne and check on its development. ‘Comtes de Champagne’ is the top wine produced by Taittinger. A ‘Blanc de Blancs’ wine, this is always crafted from Chardonnay grapes but this story dates back to the seventeenth century. The legend of the ‘Comtes de Champagne’ (Counts of Champagne) from the 13th century is a narrative of an assumed reality, combined with the storyteller’s imagination and poetry. Thibaud IV le Chansonnier ‘The Comtes’ Count Thibaud IV, King of Navarre, embodied the height of the political, economic and artistic influence of Champagne from 1222 to 1253. 

The wine is sourced from the Côte des Blancs region and more specifically Chardonnay grapes from the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs region, including the villages of Avize, Cramant, Chouilly, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger. The wine was first made in 1952 and is only made in top vintages. The wine is stored in only 5% new French oak barrels and is stored for at least ten years before disgorgement and then release.

I’ve had to taste the 2008 Taittinger ‘Comtes de Champagne’ several times this year. For my palate this beautiful wine flirts with perfection. It has magical weight, finesse and a finish that won’t stop. If you have a chance to try this beautiful wine from an utterly epic vintage, I beseech you to check this one out. Here is my review of the 2008 Taittinger ‘Comtes de Champagne.’

2008 Taittinger ‘Comtes de Champagne’ Blanc de Blancs Champagne- I have long admired this beautiful ‘Comtes de Champagne’ sourced from only Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte de Blancs region. This is now the third time I have visited this beautiful wine and it is even better than when it was first released more than a year ago. Toasty Challah bread and lemon zest fill the nose alongside shades of wild mushroom and pine needles. The palate is exceedingly viscous and vinous with incredible depth and concentration, yet feeling utterly weightless. Wait for the exceedingly long finish that won’t stop. Gorgeous to consume now, this has at lest another twenty years in front of it.  Drink 2021-2041- 99

Kerloo Cellars Library Wines

Kerloo Library Tasting

Once in a while I have the chance to taste great older Washington wines to see how the wines are cellaring. Kerloo Cellars was founded back more than a decade ago by Ryan Crane. Years back Ryan got his start at Animale Cellars in Seattle, and then later trained under Marie-Eve Gilla at Forgeron Cellars while completing his degree in Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College. These are wines that show great finesse with rich fruit flavors and wonderful terroir. Ryan has a deft touch for Rose and white wines. He also brings a very fun atmosphere at his SoDo tasting room location that is a relaxed, modern facility.

I was blown away with the. 2018 Kerloo Cellars ‘Celilo Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is just singing at the three year mark and has a long way to go in the cellar. Even better is the sinfully good 2017 Kerloo ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache (OB, 94) which has plenty of depth and concentration with crazy good aromatic and flavor range. Learn more about this great SoDo winery at www.kerloocellars.com. Here are the great library releases by the talented Ryan Crane and his Kerloo Cellars.

2018 Kerloo ‘Celilo Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Sourced from this outstanding cooler site, this finesse-driven Chardonnay brings this together as layers as white flowers, vanilla cream, honeydews melon and crushed wet rock brilliantly combine. Wait for the exceedingly long finish! This isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Drink 2021-2028- 93

2016 Kerloo ‘Underwood Mountain’ Pinot Noir- A great core of juicy sour red fruits great you aromatically displaying layers of forest floor and cigar ash add to the enjoyment. The palate is luxuriously and soft with serious texture and weight, delivering ripe red fruits with to Waco leaf and tilled soils on the palate. Drink 2021-2028- 93

2017 Kerloo ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache-This is a truly pretty expression of Grenache. Ripe red fruit aromatics combine with orange zest, umami and shades of smoldering stones all meld in the glass. The finesse and freshness as well of the texture is unbelievably good. Finishing long, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2014 Kerloo Upland Vineyard’ Syrah- Fresh, lithe and deep, the 2014 Upland Vineyard Syrah is absolutely singing right now. Vibrant with stony minerals, the flavor range is truly outstanding from soy sauce and black pepper dusted charcuterie alongside black tea and wild blackberry pie on the palate. Drink 2021-2031-94

2017 Kerloo ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon-This opens with a beautiful bouquet of red florals alongside sagebrush and ripe dark fruit tones with chocolate undercurrents. Fresh and beautifully textured with good weight this is a stunning wine that is already beautifully evolved and will produce drinking for the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

Sine Qua Non

Today we present one of the world’s iconic wineries, Sine Qua Non. This winery started with an incredible vision with their first release in 1994 as Manfred Krankl’s brainchild remains one of the most famed producers not only in the United States, but across the globe. Born in Austria, Manfred Krankl studied at the Hotel School in Gmunden, Austria and eventually moved to Los Angeles, California where he met his wife, Elaine. In 1989 Manfred became the wine director at Campanile and slowly began learning about winemaking. He first made wine from the 1990 vintage. He would later partner with wine legend John Alban until releasing his first wine, ‘The Queen of Spades’ in 1994 which was met with incredible critical acclaim.

Manfred and his wife now own 30 acres of estate vineyards and produce a massive range of wines, from Roussanne to Syrah to stunning dessert wines. Over the past year I have had ai chance to sit with several of these iconic wines (some enjoyed without tasting notes) and, like many others in the wine community, I am consistently amazed with the quality of the wines, regardless of vintage. A friend recently had me try the 2013 Sin Qua Non ‘Jusqu'a l'os Eleven Confession Vineyard Grenache (OB, 100)  is one of the great wines I have tasted this year. Pilloy, soft and round, with insanely good flavor and aromatic range, this is a perfect wine for any serious collector of new world Grenache. Learn more about these very special wines at  https://www.sinequanon.com Here are some of the Sin Qua Non wines that I have recently sampled.

2013 Sine Qua Non ‘Jusqu'a l'os Eleven Confession Vineyard’ Grenache- The simply magical 2013 Jusqu'a l'os Eleven Confession Vineyard’ Grenache is a blend of 79% Grenache from the 11 Confessions Vineyard as well as 18% Syrah and 3% Petite Sirah. This was nearly all whole cluster fermented and then stored for 38 months in a combination of in 51% already used French oak, 41% concrete tanks and only 6% new French oak. The result is absolutely magical, as this wine is truly peaking now at the eight year mark. Texturally ethereal, the wine takes you on a journey spanning guava and cran-pomegranate flavors alongside shades of tar, anise and freshly tilled soils on the palate. Refined and precise, with a head-turning finish, this is up there with the great Grenache wines of the world. Drink 2021-2031- 100

PharaohMoans

When wineries are in the hands of top notch growers and winemakers, glorious things can ensue. Such  is the case with Pharoahmoans, one of the great producers of Paso Robles wine. This boutique winery is founded by Amuse Bouche founder John Schwartz and Chef Bryan Ogden, recipient of the James Beard Award for best restaurant 2003. They have 35 years in the wine and food industry, and have teamed up with winemaker Guillaume Fabre.

I have admired Guillaume’s wines for many years at Clos Solene and now Benom. His family has been making wine for two generations in the South of France and Bordeaux where he worked on the family property since he was old enough to help.

Guillaume graduated with a Technical major in Winemaking, Oenology and Vineyard Management from the Lycée Charlemagne, Carcassonne, France. After graduating in 2001, he was selected to manage the Estate Domaine Sicard (125 acres), AOC Minervois, France, where he focused on improving the quality of wines during his two years there. He moved back to Bordeaux in 2003 to work on his parent's new property, Château Guionne (60 acres), Bourg, France. He then moved to Paso Robles in 2006 and the rest has been history. The new Pharoahmoans wines are some of the finest I have ever taste from this region. His 2018 Pharoahmoans Grenache (OB, 96) is silky, pillowy wine with nothing short of insane flavor and aromatic range. Quite quite pretty this wine exudes the strength and spirit of this region beautifully. Learn more about this famed project at http://www.pharaohmoanswine.com/ and here are the beautiful new wines by Pharoahmoans.

2018 Pharoahmoans Grenache- The 2018 Pharoahmoans Grenache is a beautiful, perfumed new wine that is captivating to consume even in its youth. This underweight 30% whole cluster fermentation and exudes class with pretty red rose petal aromas that combine with shades of strawberry-rhubarb pie, guava and stony minerals. Wait for the exceedingly long finish that won’t quit. Silky, elegant and highly refined, with loads of mouth-watering acidity, this stunning Grenache is drinking beautifully now and will continue to evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 96

2018 Pharoahmoans Syrah- Decadent and intnese, the 2018 Pharoahmoans Syrah is a gorgeous, full-throttle effortthathas a long way to go in the cellar. Once on the nose this takes on cigar ash with black cherry comptoe, anise, creme de cassis , black pepper, and tar tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is silky and refined with gobs of texture and finesse. Rich, layered with chocolate cake undertones, this downright delicious Syrah is drinking beautifully now and will evolve well foremother fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 96

Gran Moraine

Gran Moraine is named after the cataclysmic floods that occurred in the northern Willamette Valley of Oregon during the last ice age. As the flood waters receded, they impacted the region, leaving small indentations or mini valleys (moraines), similar to those in the the Côte ’Or in Burgundy. Located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Gran Moraine has 220 acres planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Winemaker Shane Moore is an Idaho native and has created some outstanding rereleases for Gran Moraine. He has a bachelor of science in enology and viticulture from Washington State University and previously spent three years gaining international winemaking experience in Canada, Western Australia and Israel’s Golan Heights. In 2011 Shane began working for Jackson Family Wines winemaking team as an enologist, crafting cool climate California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 

Shane helped build the Gran Moraine winemaking team and was named winemaker in 2016. HIs new releases were truly outstanding across the board. I love the new sparkling wine, the 2014 Gran Moraine ‘Blanc de Blancs’ (OB, 91) which is fresh and chalked full of finesse. I adored the outstanding 2019 Gran Moraine ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which has really nice earthy tones and a silky texture from this somewhat challenging vintage in Oregon.  Learn more about this fantastic winery at https://www.granmoraine.com Here are the great new releases by Gran Moraine. 

2014 Gran Moraine ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- The gorgeous 2014 Gran Moraine ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine shows off Challah bread, lemon zest and chalky minerals on the palate with good length. Enjoy this over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2029- 91

2018 Gran Moraine ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay- Soft, nicely textured and very approachable now, the 2018 ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay reveale shades of sourdough bread, white peach and Pink Lady apple on the palate, with light minerals backing thing up. Finishing long, this beautiful effort is already nicely evolved and will drink well over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2019 Gran Moraine ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- Bright with good tension, the 2019 ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ by Gran Moraine is an excellent, cool vintage effort. Teaberry and pine needles combine with orange zest embers that all take shape in the glass. The palate shows sterling tension and medium-bodied red fruit flavors that combine with the earthy undertones of the wine. I can see this cellaring well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92

Hazelfern Cellars

I love the great boutique producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir out of Oregon, Hazelfern Cellars has an inspired story being by Brian and Laura Liang. Brian has been making wine since 2006 but in 2018 he left his corporate job to focus on winemaking and operations at Hazelfern, located in Newberg, Oregon. Intriguingly, a great deal of Brian’s wine education was acquired watching YouTube videos on winemaking. Winemaking in their Portland basement wasn’t the easiest of tasks but over time Brian saw his winemaking style evolve. Laura also serves as co-winemaker and I have been massively impressed with what they have crafted in the past several years.

The wines show off wonderful texture and mouthfeel. The 2019 Hazelfern ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB,92) is a flat out delicious wine that shows this silky texture, with beautiful length. This is just a killer value in Oregon wine. Look to the stunning 2019 Hazelfern ‘Prime Cut’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is a barrel select wine that shows amazing cellaring potential and really good flavor and aromatic range. Learn more about this outstanding winery at https://www.hazelfern.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Hazelfern. 

2019 Hazelfern ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- Nicely textured, the 2019 ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay reveals lemon curd tones alongside hazelnuts, nectarine and cantaloupe tones on the palate. Medium-bodied and delicious, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2021-2028- 92

2019 Hazelfern ‘Rock Block’ Chardonnay- Sourced from this small site on the eastern edge Willamette Vallley, the 2019 ‘Rock Block’ unveils wonderful stony undertones on the palate, alongside lemon zest, white peach and shades of buttered brioche. Medium-bodied, wait for the exceedingly gratifying finish. Drink 2021-2029- 94

2019 Hazelfern ‘Little Hells’ Chardonnay-The ‘Little Hells’ is sourced from the slopes of Chehalem Mountains’ Little Hells Canyon, as Chardonnay vines utilize Dijon 76, 95, 96 clonal selections. Fresh and polished once on the mouth, the wine delivers baking spice laced sourdough bread alongside suggestions of Pink Lady apple, nectarine and stony undertones on the palate. Delicious to enjoy now, this has another eight plus years to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2019 Hazelfern ‘Prime Cut’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Prime Cut’ Chardonnay is a glorious new effort by Brian and Laura Laing. Pastry crust, lime zest, wet stone and shades of cardamom all grace the nose. The palate is fresh and focused, with a vibrant sense of verve. Layers of citrus and orchard fruit flavors arouse, alongside stony minerals, wild mushroom and suggestions of vanilla cream. This finishes very long as the gratifying ‘Prime Cut’ will cellar well over the next ten plus years. Drink 2021-2031-94

2020 Hazelfern Rose- The beautifully textured 2020 Hazelfern Rose is an outstanding effort that has the weight and finesse to cellar well over the next five years. Cranberry and orange rind flavors collide with minerals and stony undertones on the palate. While summer might be over, this is fantastic stuff for your Thanksgiving table. Drink 2021-2026- 91

2019 Hazelfern Gamay Noir- Stony, elegant and vibrant,, the 2019 Hazelfern Gamay Noir is a fantastic new bottling from this cooler vintage. Lithe and light on its feet, this dazzles with the great veil of tension that runs through the core of pretty red fruits alongside menthol, wet stone and shades of iodine on the palate. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2019 Hazelfern ‘Yamhill Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Yamhill Springs Vineyard’ is a 15 acre site set on Jory and Bellpin soils. Smoldering stones come together with red currants, Bing cherry and cigar ash on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh with a lengthy finish and silky smooth viscosity. A pretty core of red fruits greet you, alongside savory and salty underpinnings, as this might not be the most generous Pinot Noir but it comes off as highly refined, finesse-driven, elegant and very true to the vintage. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2019 Hazelfern ‘Robinson Family Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Robinson Family Vineyard’ utilizes 100% Pommard clone Pinot Noir, as this was aged for 12 months in 25% new French oak before bottling. Nervy and tense with bright red fruits and citrus rind undertones alongside shades of white truffle, this beautiful wine is already nicely evolved and will provide drinking enjoyment over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2021-2033- 92

2019 Hazelfern ‘Silvershot Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Silvershot Vineyard’ is another outstanding 2019 Pinot Noir by Hazelfern. Saline drenched red fruits combine with red rose petals, orange blossom, baking spices and cedar planks on this evocative bouquet. The palate is lithe and polished with a smooth texture and really good length. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2019 Hazelfern ‘La Chenaie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the ‘La Chenaie Vineyard’ is a 103 acre site set on Jory, Gelderman, and Ritner soils. Wet stone and blood orange rind tones combine with ripe red raspberry and shades of charcuterie mingle together on the nose. The palate is soft and round with silky tannins that line a core of pretty red fruits with stony and earthy undertones. Delicious and complex to savor even at the two year mark, this outstanding new wine will continue to provide drinking enjoyment for another ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2034- 93

2019 Hazelfern ‘Prime Cut’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Prime Cut’ is a barrel selection wine made by Brian and Laura Laing. Aged for 16 months in 100% French Oak (40% new oak) this shows off pretty red florals that combine with tilled soils, cigar box and cran-orange tones that all meld in the glass. The wine is silky throughout the drinking experience, finishing exceedingly long. This has both the finesse and stuffing to cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 94

Domaine Serene

One of Oregon’s top producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Domaine Serene has quickly also become one of the regions top sparkling wine producers. It was nearly twenty years ago that I first visited Domaine Serene. One of the Pacific Northwest’s most gorgeous wineries, Domaine Serene was founded more than thirty years ago Domaine Serene was founded by Dundee Hills pioneers Grace and Ken Evenstad, 

They quickly built their wine program and had incredible international success particularly with their Pinot Noirs. These are wines that are incredibly age-worthy and I have recently tried vintages back to 2002 that are absolutely singing even nearly at the 20 year mark. 

Before coming to Domaine Serene, I admired Michael Fay’s winemaking skills at Goldeneye. He was brought to Domaine Serene as head winemaker and Michael does a masterful job with crafting his wines regardless of vintage. Assistant winemaker Rachel Zasadni has now been at Domaine Serene for more than ten years and has been in charge of the sparkling wine production. The new MV Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve M.V. 3’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 95) is their finest effort yet, with sterling minimality and incredible finesse with a very refined mousse. Just as good is a wine that is unlike anything else produced in the Pacific Northwest. The 2018 Domaine Serene ‘Grand Cheval’ Red Wine (OB, 95) is a silky, elegant effort that is sure to stump any top sommelier, as this wine blends Domaine Serene ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir with ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah from the Walla Walla Valley. Learn more about this famed estate at http://domaineserene.com/ Here are the incredible new release wines by Domaine Serene.

MV Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve M.V. 3’ Sparkling Wine- Now in its third edition, the absolutely brilliant ‘M.V. 3’ Sparkling Wine is a captivating new release that exudes class and is very Oregon meets Krug ‘Grand Cuvee.’ A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines from their estate plantings in the Dundee Hills, this golden hued sparkling wine brings cardamom dusted shortbread aromas woven together with Japanese pear and shades of salted macadamia nut. The silky mousse is very refined, as the wine shows a beautiful texture and astringency upon entry, with beautiful length, tension and salty undertones. This is absolutely brilliant stuff to consume in its youth, but has both the weight and finesse to cellar well for another fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2019 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2019 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay is an extraordinary release from this famed Dundee Hills estate. Sourced from a host of estate vineyard sites utilizing Dijon clonal selection and Jory soils, the wine opens with toasty oak, bright pear and lemon zest dusted brioche tones alongside salty and stony undertones on the nose. The palate is seamless and soft with a silky texture. Layers of pretty orchard fruits collide with sourdough bread and copious minerals on the palate. Showing brilliant length, this outstanding bottling will cellar well for at least another ten years. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2018 Domaine Serene ‘Grand Cheval’ Red Wine- The ‘Grand Cheval’ was an extraordinary project created by the late Ken Evenstad, dedicated to his grandfather, as this blends Seven Hills Vineyard Syrah with Domaine Serene Estate Pinot Noir. Smoky and savory tones fill the nose alongside a brilliant core of dark fruits and tobacco leaf undercurrents. The palate is utterly seamless with a brilliant texture and plenty of novelty. Your sommelier friends quite simply won’t know what this wine is. They will surely find it seamless and gratifying at the finish, with blackberry topped chocolate torte tones. Enjoy this glorious wine over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 95

Penner-Ash

One of Oregon’s storied properties, Penner-Ash was founded back in 1998 by Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash. Their first vintage was 2005 and they received remarkable success with vintages to follow. Located in the Northern Willamette Valley’s Yamhill-Carlton sub-AVA the pair built their LIVE (Low Input Viticulture & Enology) Certified sustainable gravity-flow winery surrounded by a 15-acre Estate Vineyard. The winery was sold to Jackson Family in 2016 and today founding Winemaker Lynn Penner-Ash works hand in hand with Kate Ayres.

Quality has been really consistent since the sale. I have been really impressed with the last five or so vintage releases. I adored the 2018 Penner-Ash ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB,93) which shows beautiful depth and texture from this warm vintage. This is a great Chardonnay to cellar and watch evolve. Learn more about this great story at https://www.pennerash.com and here are my reviews of the new Penner-Ash wines. 

2018 Penner-Ash ‘Willamette Valley Chardonnay- The 2018 Penner-Ash Chardonnay shows ripe honeysuckle tones on the nose with baking spice laced sourdough bread and bright melon tones. The palate is fresh and viscous with a great beam of tension as saline dusted orchard and citrus fruits greet you alongside undercurrents of wild mushroom. Really good to enjoy right now, this has another eight plus years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2019 Penner-Ash ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Done in a fresher style, the 2019 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir shows off a polished texture with layers of marionberry and black cherry that mingle with tilled soils and shades of peat moss on the palate. Enjoy this medium-bodied effort over the next seven years. Drink 2021-2028- 91

2019 Penner’Ash ‘Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a medium-bodied Pinot Noir that is already nicely evolved. Ripe teaberry and red raspberry flavors mingle with minerals and flinty undertones with shades of tangerine rind on the palate. Drink 2021-2028-91

Darioush 'Darius II' Vertical Tasting

Step inside Darioush winery and you’ll be blown away with the jaw-dropping beauty of the confines. Modeled after a Persian palace, Darioush was started by businessman Darioush Khaledi who was enamored with the wines of the Napa Valley and longed to create his own.

The Darius II is the top wine produced by Darioush. It is always a Cabernet Sauvignon dominant wine and in many years it has more than 90% single varietal. Current vintages of this wine are predominantly sourced from the Darioush Estate Vineyard, as well as their Sage Vineyard on Mt. Veeder. Wines are crafted by winemaker Steve Devitt with Michel Rolland serving as consulting winemaker. Each wine has a beautiful label as Darioush has partnered with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to showcase Persian art that varies each vintage.

The Vintages

2012 Vintage: 2012 was a near-perfect growing conditions, coming off the very cool 2011 and 2010 vintages. Weather overall cooler than 2013 and 2014.

2013 Vintage: A warmer growing season, 2013 had dry summer conditions with Cabernet Sauvignon achieving some great hang time. 2013 had hot conditions but no major heat spikes.

2014 Vintage: 2014 saw another warm growing season, as some have seen this year as having new perfect conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Wines:

Each wine was singing in its own right. The 2012 Darius II (OB, 95) is less fleshy, softer and more refined than the more bombastic 2013 (OB, 96) and also unabashedly hedonistic 2014 (OB, 96). Quite honestly, all three wines showed so marvelously it was an embarrassment of riches going back and forth between the wines. They all are delicious to consume right now and will each cellar well for at least another ten years. Learn more about these wines at darioush.com and here are my tasting notes from vintages 2012-2014 of Darioush ‘Darius II’ Cabernet Sauvignon.

2012 Darioush ‘Darius II’ Cabernet Sauvignon- You have to love the development of the 2012 ‘Darius II’ now at the nine year mark. Taken from a slightly cooler growing season than the 2013 and 2014 wines, this is a highly elegant but also very gratifying blend of nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (95%) with 5%Merlot. Ripe dark currant tones mingle with loamy soils, pipe tobacco and loganberry preserves on the palate with chocolate and cedar underpinnings. Fresh and lithe, this is drinking beautifully now and will continue to evolve over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 95

2013 Darioush ‘DariusII’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Rich and heady, the 2013 ‘Darius II’ is starting to fall right in its sweet spot. This is the first vintage that marries Darioush and London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, as the bottle displays detail from a man’s cloak or ‘Aba’ which was woven in Kashan, Iran in the 1870s. Once on the nose very sweet cassis fruit greets you alongside suggestions of coffee grounds and dark chocolate shavings. Full-bodied, viscous and showing a great mineral streak, this beautiful wine exudes class from start to finish, with outstanding length and a massive core of dark fruits with firm tannins holding everything in place. Enjoy this phenomenal 2013 wine over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 96

2014 Darioush ‘Darius II’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The intense and massive 2014 ‘Darius II’ is just starting to shed some baby fat and after some air is really blossoming nicely.  The stunning label depicts the tradition of the Saghi, or Wine Bearer, an influential and heralded position in the ancient Persian royal courts. Once on the nose this takes on layers of creme de violette, woven together with tar and tobacco leaf tones that all sing in unison. Full-bodied, decadent and showing nicestucture, layers of chocoalte cake, tar and sweet pipe tobacco with leather accents all fill the palate nicely. Gorgeous to consume now, be surety give beauty this at least a two hour decant if savoring in its current nascency. Drink 2021-2038-96

Crazy beautiful label on the 2013 ‘Darius II’

Wade Cellars

Dwyane Wade is a tireless worker. Never satisfied and even after retirement Dwyane constantly visits the Napa Valley, as his new project Wade Cellars, is another fantastic success. Wade has his Cabernet Sauvignon crafted from the Oakville AVA and has visited the Napa Valley for many years. 

An interest in wine is something that soon evolved into a passion for Dwyane. During his tenure in Miami he became more fueled by the food and wine he enjoyed with his teammates Chris Bosh and Lebron James. Following visits to Napa, he decided to finally start his own winery, which began with their 2014 release, looking to his friend Jayson Pahlmeyer for guidance. For over 30 years Jayson Pahlmeyer has produced beautiful Napa Valley wines.

Jon Keyes makes the wines for Wade Cellars. I had a great time tasting with him a few weeks back as he poured these wines as well as a beautiful range of wines. The 2018 Wade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 92) is an outstanding new wine with beautiful poise and fruit flavors. Learn more about this exciting new winery project at dwadecellars.com and here is my review of the new Wade Cellars wine. 

2019 Wade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from Oakville this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon delivers black tea and herbal undertones with green bell pepper and blackberry compote on the palate. Finishing long, this is really refined stuff that will drink well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2033- 92

Goldeneye

It was a really hot summer day in early September and I embarked on my visit to Goldeneye. We were in for a heat wave, as we had an early morning tasting appointment where temperatures reached 90 degrees! This was quite unusual at what is usually a very cool site. For years I have admired the wines of Goldeneye, a Duckhorn venture located in Philo, California in the heart of the Anderson Valley. Famed Domaine Serene winemaker Michael Fay was at Goldeneye before moving north and they rely on the talented Katey Larwood for winemaking, as I interviewed her last year. Katey has experience working harvests across the globe and began studying wine while attending school in Santa Barbara. Her wines have been really good since she has been at the helm.

I love the new releases which come from what was generally thought of an easier vintage in 2018. Goldeneye has three estate vineyards (Confluence, Gowan Creek and The Narrows) in the Anderson Valley encompassing 200 vine acres and more than 20 Pinot Noir clones.  

I was totally impressed with the new sparkling wine, the 2018 Goldeneye ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 92) which shows a very pretty red fruit profile and really good finesse. and a silky mouthfeel. I was blown away with the 2018 Goldeneye ‘Ten Degrees’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is dense, and chewy with some incredible cellaring potential and insanely good range even at the three year mark. Learn more about these outstanding Pinot Noirs at https://www.goldeneyewinery.com Here are the great new releases by Goldeneye. 

2018 Goldeneye ‘Anderson Valley’ Brut Rose Sparkling Wine- This great new bottling by Goldeneye and winemaker Katie Larwood is comprised of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The wine was whole cluster pressed, and then aged on the lees for 10 months and then en triage for two years before spending an additional six months in the bottle before release. Fresh orchard fruits greet you with saline drenched peach and Japanese apple tones melding well with brioche undertones. Fantastic now, this has another ten years or more to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2018 Goldeneye ‘Anderson Valley’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the Anderson Valley, the 2018 Goldeneye Pinot Noir reveals pretty red rose petal aromatics alongside orange blossom, red cherry compote and freshly tilled soils. The palate is soft, plush and filled with vibrant acidity. Layers of baking spices and red and dark fruits parade with earthy undertones and suggestions of cigar box on the palate. Great to consume right now, this has the freshness and stuffing to go for at least another ten years. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2018 Goldeneye ‘Gowan Creek Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Centrally located in the Anderson Valley, the ‘Gowan Creek Vineyard’ is home to a large variety of Pinot Noir clonal selections. Black tea and Asian spice tones combine with suggestions of blackberry compote on the nose.  The palate is wonderfully earthy with peat moss tones that combine with suggestions of black cherry cordial, tilled loamy soils and cran-orange notes. Seriously good in its youth, this outstanding new bottling will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2018 Goldeneye ‘Ten Degrees’ Pinot Noir- Katey Larwood meticulously chooses her favorite barrels in the ‘Ten Degrees’ Pinot Noir. This edition is amongst the finest I have ever tasted from this estate. Once on the nose this takes on layers of pomegranate seed, salty soils, soy sauce and suggestions of boysenberry cordial that all dance together in unison. The palate is generous and bold, yet has beautiful restraint. It is quite simply a seamless drinking experience throughout as layers of kirsch cordial, red raspberry topped shortbread, blood orange zest and wild mushroom all brilliantly combine, with seriously good length and tension. The light dusting of salinity adds to the enjoyment, as the 2018 ‘Ten Degrees’ will no doubt be a 20 year old wine. Be sure to give this an hour of air before consuming in its brilliant youth. Drink 2021-2040- 95

Willamette Valley Vineyards

Oregon winemaking has a  rich history in the Pacific Northwest. One of the oldest wineries in the valley, Willamette Valley Vineyards founder, Jim Bernau, purchased the Estate site in 1983 and  planted Pinot Noir (Pommard and Wadenswil clones), Chardonnay (Dijon and Espiguette) as well as Pinot Gris. Bernau took winemaking classes at UC Davis and finally started the winery full time in 1989. Willamette Valley Vineyards has grown considerably in the past 20 years, as they merged with Bill Fuller of Tualatin Vineyards (established in 1973), the O'Briens for Elton Vineyard (established in 1983) and Loeza Vineyard (planted in 2015). The winery now sources all of its Pinot Noir from its nearly 500 estate-grown vineyards.

I loved the new wines by Willamette Valley Vineyards as the winery has been a pillar of consistency over the past few years. Look to the outstanding and rich new 2018 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Tualitin Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which has sensational texture and good finesse with excellent flavor and aromatic range. I adored the new  2018 Willamette Valley Vineyards “Bernau Block’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is already nicely evolved at the three year mark and shows lighter truffle tones alongside a core of fresh fruit. This beauty is really starting to hit its stride. Here are the new releases from Willamette Valley Vineyards and check out their impressive lineup of Pinots and Chardonnays at http://wvv.com

2018 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Tualitin Estate’ Chardonnay- The ‘Tualitin Estate’ was established back in 1973 and is set on Laurelwood soils. The wine has a great sense of stuffing and bright minerality, as layers of lemon oil, baking spice dusted brioche, Japanese pear and salty accents all impress. Enjoy this beautiful bottling over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Dijon Clone’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Dijon Clone’ Chardonnay reveals ripe melon and buttered French bread with stony minerals on the palate, with a soft mouthfeel and beautiful length. Rich and layered, enjoy this bright style of Oregon Chardonnay over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2027- 92

2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Blanc- Fleshy and vibrant, the 2019 Pinot Blanc displays starfruit tones that combine with shades of cantaloupe, wet stone and a silky texture on the palate. Enjoy this beautiful wine in the short-term. Drink 2021-2026- 91

2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Dijon Clone’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Dijon Clone’ Pinot Noir was aged for only nine months in 12% new French oak prior to bottling. The wine comes off very fresh and pure in terms of bright red fruit flavors (guava, strawberry and red cherry) with smoky and earthy undertones. This is seriously pretty stuff that is best enjoyed in its vibrant and silky youth — over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2027- 92

2018 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Appellation Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Appellation Cuvee’ is a blend of clonal selections (Pommard, 777, 115 and Mariafeld). Aged for sixteen months in a small percentage of new French oak (12%), this evokes beautiful red raspberry and  red rose petals aromatically with freshly tilled soils. The palate is silky smooth with serious weight and structure, showing a good core of red and dark fruits and plenty of weight and poise. Downright delicious now, this outstanding 2018 Pinot Noir has some really nice cellaring potential. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2017 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Ingram Estate’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Ingram Estate’ is located in the Eola-Amity Hills and is set on Nekia and Jory soils. The nose reflects that and shows a dusting of volcanic soils, as pretty red fruits collide with shades of orange rind on the nose. The palate is fresh and lively with a silky texture plenty of lip-smacking acidity. This finishes very long as this beautiful wine has only just begun to hit its stride. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2018 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Bernau Block’ Pinot Noir- Ancient for Oregon standards, the ‘Bernau Block’ was planted in 1983 to Dijon selections 667 and 777 and is named after Willamette Valley Vineyards founder Jim Bernau. Silky tannins line the core of wild blackberry, Bing cherry, smoky minerals and shades of black truffle crudo on the palate. The length and weight add to the enjoyment as this has at least another decade to go. Drink 2021-2031- 93

Domaine Carneros

One of my fondest memories of 2020 is tasting at Domaine Carneros on a smoke-filled day. Truly one of the most beautiful sites in Napa, Domaine Carneros is a stunning winery in the Carneros region of Napa Valley. Taking inspiration from a French chateau in Champagne, Domaine Carneros towers over the valley, showcasing sweeping views of the Napa Valley. Claude Taittinger of famed Champagne house Taittinger, began his search for a good spot to make California Sparkling Wine in the late 1970s. Finally in 1987 he selected a 138-acre parcel in the Carneros region of the Napa Valley. 

Over the past year Domaine Carneros has a new CEO, Remi Cohen who in 2015 was named to Wine Enthusiast’s 40 under 40 recognition as a tastemaker and influencer in the Napa Valley. Remi follows famed Napa Sparkling Wine pioneer, Eileen Crane, in crafting wines for this impressive bubbles house.

I was blown away with the new 2014 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 96) which is amongst the best sparkling wines made in North America. Quite frankly this is up there with the best edition of this wine that I have ever sampled. The wine was initially inspired by Champagne Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne, as their tête-de-cuvée, and impresses its silky mouthfeel and wonderful veil of tension. This edition is particularly bold with some incredible cellaring potential. It will surely be a 20 year old wine! Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.domainecarneros.com Here are the new wines by Domaine Carneros

2019 Domaine Carneros ‘The Famous Gate’ Pinot Noir- Ripe and chewy now at the two year mark, the 2019 ‘The Famous Gate’ reveals black cherry cola notes alongside bramble and tilled soils on the palate. Fresh and viscous with lovely citrus rind accents, with a light salinity, this outstanding 2019 Pinot Noir will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2014 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve’ Sparkling Wine- Taken from this warmer vintage in Carneros, the 2014 ‘Le Reve’ is a spectacular new bottling that is dense and intense, yet exceedingly well-balanced. 100%Chardonnay sourced from their estate vineyard, with only .9% dosage, the wine shows off white peach and star jasmine tones aromatically alongside shades of Meyer lemon zest dusted brioche and freshly tilled salty soils. Complex and ripe once on the mouth this takes on pretty Gravenstein apple and baking spice topped Challah bread tones that march on across a great veil of tension and salinity. A complete wine, considering the weight and freshness, the stunning 2014 ‘Le Reve’ will cellar well over the next two decades. Drink 2021-2039- 96

Opus One

A famed partnership between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Opus One crafted their first vintage in 1979. At the time Opus One was the first ultra-premium California wine to be sold in France and Internationally.  Opus One produces only one wine and a second wine (Overture) – both of which are typically a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Opus One sources from four estate vineyards. This includes two sites comprising roughly 100 acres within the famed ‘To Kalon Vineyard’ and their ‘Ballestra’ and ‘River’ parcels comprising 70 acres which envelop the winery.  

Last year I had the chance to taste with famed Opus One winemaker Michael Silacci (https://www.instagram.com/tv/CDm9m4uAU8i/). He crafts some elegant, rich Napa Cabernet blends that will stand the test of time. While at the winery recently I checked in with the absolutely stunning 2008 Opus One, a wine that is slowly moving into secondary tones of leather and tilled soils. That wine will surely be at least a 20 year old wine. The new 2018 Opus One (OB, 98) was taken from a really great warm vintage in Napa and this edition captures the warmth of the vintage but shows the classic restraint and tension that Opus One is known for. Silacci has blended in a larger portion of Petit Verdot this vintage which gives the wine a lovely herbal undertone and light green bell pepper tones that evoke a Bordelaise edge. Seamless with its beautiful texture this beautiful wine has decades to go. Learn more about Opus One at http://www.opusonewinery.com/ Here are my notes of the gorgeous new release by Opus One.

MV Overture Red Wine- The MV Overture red wine blends all five Bordeaux varietals and is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (86%) sourced from the 2014-16 vintages. The wine is already beautifully evolved and shows tar and sandalwood tones alongside cassis and ripe boysenberry flavors. With a seamless texture this beautiful wine has another fifteen years in front of it. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2018 Opus One Red Wine- The 2018 Opus One Red Wine is an utterly captivating wine that blends 84% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a dollop of Malbec. The nose is utterly captivating with green bell pepper alongside shades of fresh sage, cassis and mocha tones that all take shape in the glass. Seamless and pillowy mid-palate, the wine effortlessly glides across the drinking experience. Dense dark fruits collide with shades of creosote and dried herbs on the palate. The long finish lingers as this extraordinary wine has a really long life ahead of it. Drink 2022-2040- 98

La Pelle

One of the outstanding newer winery projects in Napa, La Pelle was founded back in 2016 by Maayan Koschitzky, Miguel Luna and Pete Richmond. Literally translated as ‘The Shovel’ in French, La Pelle is an homage to the toiling process of vineyard management and the grape growing process to finally making the wine and removing grape skins with a shovel. All three owners have diverse backgrounds as Maayan is a winemaker and farmer from Israel, Miguel is a viticulturist and winemaker from Mexico, and Pete  is a vineyard manager and business owner from Northern California). 

Vines chosen for their wines are entirely sourced from Silverado Farming Company (which Pete founded in 2001 and Miguel joined as partner in 2015), La Pelle controls all farming and in addition has access to some of the finest vines in Napa Valley. I was really impressed with the new wines and adored the new 2019 La Pelle Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 93) which is fresh and vibrant with seriously good texture. Even better is the sensational 2018 La Pelle ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which has depth and concentration with another twenty plus years to go. Learn more about this outstanding newer outpost at lapellewines.com and here are my reviews of the brilliant new La Pelle wines. 

2019 La Pelle Sauvignon Blanc- The 2019 La Pelle Sauvignon Blanc was aged on the lees for eighteen months, including weekly battonage for the first six months before bottling. Right away this shows beautiful honeydew melon tones alongside beeswax and nutty tones aromatically. Fresh and lithe, this shows bright acidity alongside lemon rind, white peach, green apple and shades of cashew nut on the palate. Enjoy this beautiful wine while the incredible bright, lip-smacking acidity, remains intact. Drink 2021-2025- 93

2019 La Pelle Chardonnay- This 2019 Chardonnay is sourced from 1973 plantings in the Bien Nacido Vineyard farmed by the Miller family. This was aged in oak barrels for twelve months, seeing native and malolactic fermentations. White peach, Gravenstein apple and baking spice flavors combine with stony undertones all brilliantly combine on the palate. Showing a soft mouthfeel with great finesse, this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 La Pelle ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 La Pelle Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from three distinct sites in the Napa Valley. Aged for eighteen months in 50% new French oak, this delivers cassis and mocha tones aromatically alongside tilled soils and stony undertones aromatically. The palate is plush with a seamless texture. Gorgeous creme de violette, mocha, tar and anise tones combine with minerals on the palate. Glorious to consume now, this has another fifteen to twenty years to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2037- 94

2018 La Pelle ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Slightly more dense and intense than the ‘Napa Valley’ bottling, the 2018 La Pelle ‘Reserve’ is a barrel selection wine that exudes class. Once on the nose this shows off cassis, chocolate covered dark currants and shades of Turkish coffee that all take shape in the glass. Seamless and soft with a plush texture, this delivers plenty of cassis, leather, anise and black cherry cordial flavors alongside a vibrant sense of minerality. Gorgeous to consume in its youth, this has another twenty years to go. Drink 2021-2041- 95

Ramey Wine Cellars

Sitting across from legendary winemaker David Ramey, he grinned ear to ear when describing his new 2019 wines. “2019 is a great vintage” he said. “For white grapes  particularly I don’t see many significant differences between, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17 and’18. We have been targeting about 23 brix and we like the finished wine around there.”

I then asked him about how he felt climate change was impacting Burgundian varietals. “The bigger difference with climate change and drought is part of the weird weather we are having” he said. “Drought years 14-16 and when you have this drought (also 2021) the soil dries out early and we don’t get frost anymore. There used to be ice on the ponds but not anymore. There is now an early bud break. Our growing seasons are not hotter as far as I am concerned but the bud break to harvest period is the same length of time, it is just moved up. Instead of harvesting whites in September now they are harvested in August. But the hang time is the same as it was before.”

There is good reason why Ramey has been named one of the Chardonnay masters of the world. Over the years Ramey has moved to using less new French oak in all of his Chardonnays — particularly in his village level Chardonnays that check in at only 15% new French oak. These wines are full-bodied and very gratifying despite the lower levels of new French oak. I adored the new 2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Fort Ross-Seaview’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is dense and fresh with lovely saline tones. One of the great Chardonnay wines that I have tasted in the past year, the 2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 97) is dense, fresh and shows incredible verve and length. This will be a 20 year old wine. Learn more at rameywinecellars.com and here are my reviews of the outstanding new wines by David Ramey.

2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Fort Ross-Seaview’ Chardonnay- The. 2019 ‘Fort Ross-Seaview’ Chardonnay shows a whiff of salty orchard. Fruits with shades of marzipan and brioche. The palate is fresh and lively with serious tension and a silky mouthfeel. Gobs of lip-smacking acidity impress here, as this lively wine finishes very long. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay was stored in 15% new French oak for one year before bottling. This is a gorgeous Chardonnay that has wonderful weight and tension. Once on the mouth this takes on a silky texture with ripe Japanese pear, white peach and salty undertones on the palate. Glorious now, this has another ten years in front of it. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Westside Farms Vineyard’ Chardonnay- David Ramey bought this site back in 2012 and he began working with the vineyard back in 2013 as grapes from this vineyard were planted way back in 1990. The heady 2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Westside Farms Vineyard’ Chardonnay shows an incredible bouquet of lemon zest and baking spice dusted brioche alongside shades of banana and ripe pineapple, with nutty and earthy undertones. The palate is plush with silky mouthfeel and wonderful length with serious tension and salty undertones. Gorgeous now, this has another fifteen years to go. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Located between Westside road and the Russian River, this famed vineyard planted by Joe Rochioli is set on alluvial soils with gravel and loamy deposits. Shades of wild mushroom and bright orchard fruits combine with suggestions of mango and salted Macadamia nut tones. The mouthfeel is fantastic here with beautiful length and power, yet this comes off very weightless. Wait for the exceedingly long finish. Drink 2021-2036- 96

2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Sourced from old Wente Clonal selection Chardonnay from the Hyde Vineyard, this tightly spaced vineyard is set on older volcanic soils. On the nose the 2019 ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay takes on Marcona almond with roasted pineapple, alongside shades of tilled soils aromatically. The palate is silky and elegant with light tannins and a soft mouthfeel that frame a beautiful range of orchard fruits alongside lemon zest dusted French bread and baking spice flavors. Fresh and lively with gobs of finesse, this beautiful wine is made for some medium-term cellaring. Drink 2021-2036- 96

2019 Ramey Wine Cellar ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ is a seamless, tension-driven thrill ride of a wine that has a really long way to go. The palate is soft and seamless with serious weight and tension and depth. Layers of bananas foster and white peach combine with suggestions of Marcona almond topped shortbread. Silky and elegant, with an exceedingly long finish and gobs of mouth-watering acidity, this outstanding wine will provide drinking enjoyment for another twenty years. Drink 2021-2038- 96

2013 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Very refined, the beautifully evolved 2013 Chardonnay is a show-stopper now at the eight year mark. Dense and intense, yet very weightless and fresh, this gorgeous wine delivers nectar and Japanese pear flavors alongside gunpowder and roasted peanut flavors on the palate. This will be a 20 year old wine. Drink 2021-2031-96

2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay- David Ramey began sourcing from this famed site in Carneros since 1996. This is now the 24th vintage of this wine. This 2019 edition is an unbelievably good effort with sensational richness and finesse, as this rivals any new world Chardonnay that I have tasted in the past year. Once on the nose this exudes class with rich layers of baking spice dusted Challah bread, ripe banana and suggestions of salted Macadamia nut. The palate is dense and seamlessly glides across the drinking experience. Glorious in its bright and lithe youth, this has another fifteen plus years to go. Drink 2021-2036- 97

2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous effort that has really good weight and tension. The nose shows serious range from teaberry and orange rind alongside cola and cran-cherry tones that all meld in the glass. The palate shows light cola tons alongside mulberry and salty undertones on the palate. Fresh and vibrant with really good balance, this outstanding effort is delicious to consume now and has another ten to fifteen years to go. Drink 2021-2035- 94

2018 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Sonoma Coast’ Syrah- Dense and dark in the glass, the 2018 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Syrah was co-fermented with 8% Viognier. Right away this reveals salty tones that combine with smoked brisket, orange zest and suggestions of black cherry cordial. The palate is dense and fresh with intense blueberry and Black Forest Cake flavors alongside good freshness and gobs of minerals.Gorgeous now this will evolve well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2036- 95

2016 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous effort from this warm vintage. Herbal undertones mark the nose alongside cassis and blackberry tones with graphite accents. The palate is very elegant with firm tannins that frame medium bodied dark fruits with chocolate and coffee ground undertones. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Cooley Ranch’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Cooley Ranch is a large site in the northern part of Sonoma County, as this wine is sourced from a hillside location. Black tea and blackberry compote fill the nose with lovely herbal undertones. The palate has great freshness with ripe black fruits that collide with shades of graphite and roasted figs flavors. Drink 2021-2036- 93

2011 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Annum’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Beautifully evolved now, the 2011 Ramey Wine cellars ‘Annum’ is gorgeous now at the eleven year mark. Anise, cassis and green bell pepper flavored mingle with light salty and meaty undertones on the palate. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2011 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Pedregal Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This gorgeous effort is very warm vintage left bank Bordeaux. On the nose there is violets and green bell pepper alongside shades of tar and wild blackberry tones. The palate is seamless and elegant with very refined tannins that frame a core of dark fruits with smoky and tobacco tones. This elegant wine isn’t going anywhere for a while. Drink 2021-2036- 95

WALT

WALT is HALL’s seriously good winery that focuses on world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The winery was named after Kathryn Hall’s parents, Bob and Dolores Walt who were originally vintners and were  a source of daily inspiration for her. WALT Wines sources from some Pacific Coast's most distinctive vineyards from Sonoma to Oregon. This unique winery project really showcases unique terroirs. I have been really impressed with the wines coming from this house and in particular those sourced from their estate vineyard, Bob’s Ranch, which is located in the Petaluma Wind Gap near Sebastapol. This site was purchased by the HALLs and has been producing some absolutely epic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that rivals anything out of Sonoma. The wines from this site are big, beautiful and full of bright acidity.

The new wines were sensational across the board. I absolutely loved their new 2019 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which shows seriously good freshness with amazing flavor density. I was crazy about the 2019 WALT ‘Clos Pepe’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is fresh and vibrant, terroir-driven Pinot Noir that has wonderfully salty tones. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.waltwines.com Here are the beautiful new wines by WALT.

2019 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the Sonoma Coast AVA, with Chardonnay vines (various clonal selections) planted at ‘Bob’s Ranch’ back in 2010, this property was acquired by HALL back in 2014. The Chardonnay revels in its silky texture with layers of buttercream, pear, baking spice dusted brioche and a seamless dining experience all the way through. The flavor density is fantastic and wait for the exceedingly long, gratifying finish. Drink 2021-2031-  94

2019 WALT ‘La Brisa’ Pinot Noir- The silky and refined ‘La Brisa’ is sourced from the Sonoma Coast AVA and mainly from the Bob’s Ranch Vineyard. The saline drenched red fruits all wonderful complement the freshly tilled soils on the nose. The palate is silky and refined with gobs of minerality and finesse. Very pretty red fruits mingle with peat moss and orange rind on the palate. Finishing very long, enjoy this outstanding wine over the next decade. Drink 2021-2029- 94

2019 WALT ‘Blue Jay’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the Anderson Valley, HALL has roughly 80 acres planted to Pinot Noir in this region, all near the town of Booneville. The ‘Blue Jay’ is considerably more earthy than the ‘La Brisa’ with more peat moss character and damp earth. The palate is dense and round with a generous mouthfeel and beautiful length. Red and dark fruits mingle with damp earth and wild mushroom on the palate. Drink 2021-2029- 93

2019 WALT ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is sourced from this site locate in the western mountains that rise above the Salinas Valley. This vineyard is named after the winegrower’s wife. Right away the nose delivers high-toned red florals alongside guava and pomegranate seed tones with salty tilled soils. Dense and rich saline dusted red fruits mingle with tobacco leaf, leather and a bright veil of tension on the palate. Exceedingly good now, this has another decade or more to go. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2019 WALT ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- WALT has been sourcing from this outstanding Oregon Vineyard for many years now and this cool vintage effort is really singing even at the two year mark. The pretty red florals brilliantly combine with fresh red fruits aromatically. Generous and soft with a rich mouthfeel, the Pinot Noir delivers peat moss flavors alongside ripe red cherry and tobacco leaf with good finesse and a long finish. This is already quite nicely evolved, as this beautiful new Pinot Noir will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2019 WALT ‘Clos Pepe’ Pinot Noir- The Clos Pepe Vineyard was founded in the late 1980s by Steven and Kathy Pepe. The vineyard is located just east of Lompoc in the Santa Rita Hills appellation. The 2019 ‘Clos Pepe’ revels in its aromatic range from peat moss and pipe tobacco to bright red fruits and wild blackberry. The palate is dense and fresh with beautiful red florals alongside orange rind with sandy soil undertones. Gorgeous now, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2033- 95

Yao Family Wines

Growing up I always loved seeing NBA superstar Yao Ming come to town and play against my Seattle Supersonics. We always knew that we would have trouble with his massive size. I attended hundreds of Sonics games in my youth, and was able to witness some amazing teams with Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. The Houston Rockets, one of their main rivals, drafted a relatively untested center named Yao Ming in 2002 with the first pick in the NBA draft. This became a serious coup for the Rockets and a huge challenge for other NBA centers to deal with Yao’s offensive and defensive abilities — and his 7’7’’ frame. Yao became an NBA sensation and one of the best players in the league, finally retiring after a series of injuries in 2011. 

Yao saw a great opportunity in launching Yao Family Wines that same year. Yao Family Wines sources from a host of great Napa Valley vineyards. The grapes are fermented and then aged up to 18 months in 100% French oak barrels and the best lots are then chosen for the final blend. The wines were beautiful across the board. I adored the 2018 Yao Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 93) which is beautifully structured, with good finesse and flavor density. Learn more about these outstanding wines at yaofamilywines.com Here are the new wines by Yao Family Wines. 

2018 Yao Family Wines ‘Family Table’ Red Wine- Deeply concentrated, the 2018 ‘Family Table’ Red Wine displays lovely tobacco leaf and iodine flavors alongside black cherry cordial, mocha and shades of creosote on the palate. Enjoy this outstanding new wine over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2033- 92

2018 Yao Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Yao Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon is an outstanding effort from this great vintage throughout Napa Valley. Once on the nose this takes on layers of violets with espresso bean and rich dark fruit tones. The palate is dense and full-bodied with lovely black tea and blackberry compote flavors that collide with minerals and smoky undertones. Enjoy this outstanding effort over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 93