Chappellet

Hope you all are having a great start to your weekend. We share one of the famed producers in Napa, which was started by wine pioneer Donn Chappellet. Donn began his wine education by collecting Bordeaux wines while in college, and later ran Interstate United Corporation, a coffee-vending distributorship he co-founded in the mid-1950s, which he helped turn into the third-largest such business in the United States, with more than 7,000 employees and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

In 1966 he sold his shares in Interstate United and guided by the legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff of Beaulieu Vineyards bought 320 acres of rocky mountain terrain at the eastern edge of the Napa Valley. Donn saw this terroir as one which would connect with the great wines of Bordeaux. He saw the potential for Pritchard Hill and initially planted Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon which was met with great critical acclaim. Sadly passing in 2016, Donn became a legend of this great site in the Napa Valley.

A mainstay in the cellar, famed winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus has been at Chappellet remarkably since 1990. A graduate of UC Davis, Phillip spent time traveling to both Bordeaux and Burgundy to learn about these esteemed regions. In 1981, Phillip joined the Chappellet team as assistant winemaker, and then in1990, Donn Chappellet invited Phillip to return to the winery as Chappellet’s winemaker, a position he has held ever since. 

I have admired these wines for many years and Phillip’s new wines really impressed overall. Look to his bright and beautiful 2020 Chappellet ‘Signature’ Chenin Blanc (OB, 91) which is fresh and viscous — truly one of a kind for Napa. I was blown away with the scintillating 2018 Chappellet ‘Pritchard Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which shows incredible structure and power, with beaming tension. This surely will cellar for another twenty years. Learn more about this famed Napa estate at chappellet.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Chappellet. 

2020 Chappellet ‘Signature’ Chenin Blanc- This gorgeous new Chenin Blanc is geared towards freshness but also takes on a gorgeous texture. Ripe pear and nectarine flavors collide with minerals and stony undertones on the palate. Drink 2021-2026- 91

2019 Chappellet ‘El Novillero Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Chapppellet sources from one block rom this site, all planted to Robert Young clone Chardonnay. The nose is downright killer with lemon oil and cantaloupe tones alongside wet stone and wild mushroom that all entice. The palate is silky smooth with a great sense of texture. Layers of marzipan, lemon cream, sourdough bread and shades of peat moss all takes shape on the palate. With great length and a seamless texture, with good weight and verve, this gorgeous new bottling will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2019 Chappellet ‘Calesa Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The ‘Calesa Vineyard’ is located in the Petuluma Gap and is set on shallow, gravelly loam soils. Ripe peach and kiwi tones mingle with Challah bread and kumquat rind on the nose. The palate is beautifully textured with a voluptuous mouthfeel. Ripe lemon zest and green apple mingle with minerals, lemon oil infused French bread vanilla cream and a delightfully long finish. Fantastic even at the two year mark, this will provide drinking enjoyment over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2028- 93

2019 Chappellet ‘Calesa Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This outstanding new Dijon clone 12 and 15 Pinot Noir show off an outstanding sense of verve with good restraint. Pomegranate seed, tilted soils, orange rind and Bing cherry flavors all mingle with minerals on the palate. Firm tannins and a soft texture add to the enjoyment, as the 2019 ‘Calesa Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will cellar well over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2019 Chappellet ‘Mountain Cuvee’ Red Wine- A blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (44%) and Merlot (36%), this inky colored wine reveals ripe blackberry compote, chocolate, anise and a dusting of volcanic earth and salt on the palate. Medium-bodied and showing good restraint, enjoy this good value from Napa over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2029- 91

2018 Chappellet ‘Pritchard Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The thrilling 2018 Chappellet ‘Pritchard Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon is another sensational edition of this wine that is built for the cellar. This 2018 wine has 10% Petit Verdot blended in, as this sat for 22 months in 100% new French oak before bottling. Upon entry you are greeted to ripe dark currant tones alongside graphite, boysenberry cordial and loamy soils, with firm tannins holding everything brilliantly in place. Finishing exceedingly long, with plenty of power and a great air of tension, this outstanding new Cabernet Sauvignon will surely cellar for another two decades. Be sure to give this at least two hours in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2024-2044-  96

De Venoge

One of the brilliant historic houses in Champagne, I admit that I was a bit taken back with the grand tour, looking at ancient books of labels dating back to the turn of the century. De Venoge goes back generations to their family, starting in 1825 when Henri-Marc de Venoge from the Vaude region in Switzerland, moved to Champagne to set up, in 1837, its wine trade in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ under the name de Venoge & Cie. In 1838, he created the the first illustrated label in champagne, selling 6,000 bottles in March and 22,000 in April of the same year.

Henri-Marc retired in 1845 and his son Joseph, a leading figure of Epernay’s aristocracy, took over and further developed the brand on the international scene with the help of his brother Léon who settled in the United States. Soon, de Venoge champagne was being dispatched to New-York, New Orleans, Philadelphia, but also Port-au-Prince, and even Calcutta. In 1858 he launched Cordon Bleu (Blue Ribbon) champagne, the emblem of the house, in remembrance of the Venoge river in the Vaude where the family originated.

In 1866, Gaëtan de Venoge, son of Joseph, succeeded his father. He continued developing the sales abroad, especially in the United States, and in 1876 de Venoge was awarded the Grand Prize of Excellence at the Universal Exhibition of Philadelphia. In 1882, de Venoge was among the founding members of the Syndicat des Grandes Marques de Champagne.

In 1892, Gaëtan’s son-in-law, the Marquis Adrien de Mun took over the head of the house together with his wife Yvonne de Venoge and developed the brand in Paris’ high society and among the European aristocracy. At that time, de Venoge was dispatching over 1 million bottles against 30 million for the whole of Champagne. The Marquis de Mun died in 1922 and left his mother-in-law and his widow in charge of the company.

The last direct heir of the de Venoge family left the helm of the firm in 1958. After experiencing some vicissitudes common to many other Champagne houses, in 1998 de Venoge became part of the Boizel Chanoine Champagne group (that eventually became Lanson-BCC). This is when Giles de la Bassetiere joined the team, first taking care of the US market and eventually becoming its president in 2005. He has had a major impact in the brand reaching markets across the globe but also increasing quality in the wines. 2005 was also the launch of Cuvée "Louis XV", in honor of the king that made so much for Champagne. On May 25th 1728, Louis XV issued a decree allowing only wines of Champagne to be both shipped and sold in bottles, marking the birth of Champagne as we know it today.

I adored their entry level wine, the NV De Venoge ‘Codon Blue’ Brut Champagne (OB, 91) which is fresh and lively with lovely range. I won’t lie that I was absolutely blown away with scintillating 2008 De Venoge ‘Louis XVI’ Champagne (OB, 96) which blends equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This delightful, fresh and viscous effort won’t be going anywhere for decades. Learn more about this famed estate at champagnedevenoge.com and here are my reviews of the incredible new De Venoge wines.

NV De Venoge ‘Codon Blue’ Brut Champagne- A blend of near equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, this has a base wine from 2016 and was given 6.1G/L. Fresh and showing a silky mouthfeel, this displays good weight with Macadamia nut, green papaya and kumquat flavors. Drink 2021-2028- 91

NV De Venoge ‘Princes’ Blanc de Blancs Champagne- This 100% Chardonnay ‘Blanc de Blancs’ utilizes a base wine from 2016 as this was disgorged in August 2020. Roasted almond and orange rind tones combine aromatically alongside shades of diatomaceous earth. The palate is very fresh and lithe with beautiful tension and bright citrus rind tones alongside salty and chalky undertones. Drink 2022-2031- 92

NV De Venoge ‘Extra Brut’ Champagne- The NV De Venoge ‘Extra Brut’ Champagne was sourced from 20 separate villages, as this blends near equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The weight is seriously good with beautiful richness and finesse. Layers of melon fruits mingle well with citrus rind and salted praline. Drink 2022-2033- 93

NV De Venoge ‘Princes’ Blanc de Noirs’ Champagne- The NV ‘Blanc de Noirs’ also utilizes a base of 2016 and was disgorged in January 2021, as this was given 6G/L dosage. The palate is plush with a silky mouthfeel and gobs of tension. The finesse really drives this beautiful wine that shows medium-bodied guava, cantaloupe and chalky minerals. Finishing long, this delivers plenty of enjoyment right now. Drink 2022-2031- 93

NV De Venoge ‘Princes’ Rose Champagne- The very pretty NV De Venoge ‘Princes’ Rose Champagne is mostly sourced from the 2016 vintage with 20% reserve wines. Pretty cranberry and red cherry tones mark the nose alongside orange blossom tones. The palate is fresh and showing gobs of finesse with orange zest and bright red fruit flavors. Dink 2022-2038- 93

2008 De Venoge ‘Louis XVI’ Champagne-  A blend of equal parts Chardonnay and pinot Noir, the 2008 De Venoge ‘Louis XVI’ Champagne is a stunning wine from this downright epic vintage. Sourdough bread and melon tones combine with salted macadamia nut tones with wet stone on the nose. The palate is seamless throughout the drinking experience as this finishes exceedingly long with minerals, baking spices and freshly baked French bread. Drinking beautifully right now, this still has a very long way to go. Drink 2022-2042- 96

Brooks Winery

I love great new world Riesling. At its best it can surely rival some of the greats out of Germany. One of the finest producers of Riesling in Oregon, Brooks was founded by Jimi Brooks, a Portland native who came to wine through his passion for history and philosophy. Jimi previously worked in Beaujolais, and eventually returned to Oregon to focus on crafting great Riesling and Pinot Noir. Brooks farms twenty acres in the Eola-Amity Hills, a sub-region of the Willamette Valley characterized by higher altitudes and the ocean winds that blow through the Van Duzer Corridor. Head winemaker Chris Williams has previous stops at Maysara and WillaKenzie prior to becoming Brooks head winemaker in 2005. He not only has a deft touch with Riesling but makes some beautiful sparkling wines and Pinot Noirs.

Chris has a deft touch on white wines and his 2017 Brooks ‘Extended Tirage’ Riesling Sparkling Wine (OB, 92) which is nervy and tension driven with gobs of sour apple tones. I love the 2019 Brooks ‘Ara’ Riesling (OB, 93), a steal at its SRP and will please any serious collector of new world white wine. Learn about this fantastic new lineup at https://www.brookswine.com/ Here are the outstanding new wines by Brooks. 

2019 Brooks Sparkling Muscat- Forward and delicious, the 2019 sparkling Muscat unveils sweetened peach and pineapple tones alongside bright minerals and shades of mango on the palate. Enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2017 Brooks ‘Extended Tirage’ Riesling Sparkling Wine- Aged for 40 months on the lees, this reveals honey and marzipan notes alongside green apple and shades of kumquat on the palate. Nicely textured, with serious weight, this finishes long with stony minerals and melon fruits. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2016 Brooks ‘Extended Tirage’ Riesling Sparkling Wine- Finesse-driven and very rich, the luxurious 2016 Brooks ‘Extended Tirage’ Riesling Sparkling Wine is a sensational bottling that sat for 44 months on the lees prior to disgorgement. Ripe peach and pear notes combine with sour apple and baking spices on the palate. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2019 Brooks ‘Ara’ Riesling-  Sourced mostly from the Brooks Estate (71%) this displays petrol notes alongside wet stone and ripe nectarine aromatically. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a soft texture, as this glides across the drinking experience with plenty of tension. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2019 Brooks ‘Brooks Estate Vineyard’ Riesling- Sourced from very old vines from the 1970s, this weighs in at 9.1G/L residual sugar. Fresh and beautifully textured, the wine unveils ripe melon and citrus fruits alongside great verve and an exceedingly long finish. This phenomenal wine will surely live on for another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2019 Brooks ‘LaCrenaie Vineyard’ Riesling- Vibrant and showing off its soft mouthfeel the 2019 Brooks ‘LaCrenaie Vineyard’ Riesling is an outstanding and dense wine that shows gobs of minerality. Layers of white peach, gooseberry and sweetened Pink Lady apple combine with plenty of finesse Drink 2022-2032- 93

2019 Brooks ‘Lone Star Vineyard’ Riesling- Made in the Trocken style, this comes from vines planted back in 2006. Weighing in at 8.4G/L residual sugar, this reveals petrol notes with cantaloupe and plenty of stony minerals on the palate. Silky smooth throughout the mid-palate and finishing exceedingly long, this brilliant new bottling will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2019 Brooks ‘Orchard Fold Vineyard’ Riesling- The 2019 Brooks ‘Orchard Fold Vineyard’ Riesling is an outstanding effort that is already beautifully evolved. Set on Basalt-Nekia soils, this unveils ripe peach and mango tones alongside an outstanding veil of tension on the palate. Finishing long this is outstanding wine that has some serious cellaring potential. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2018 Brooks ‘Rastaban’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Rastaban’ is entirely sourced from the Brooks Estate Vineyard which is set on Basalt-Nekia soils. Aged for 18 months in French oak, this unveils gobs of ripe red and dark fruits alongside a silky texture and wonderful sense of weight. With orange peel accents and shades of violets, and red rose water this beautiful bottling is already hitting its stride nicely. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2018 Brooks ‘Janus’ Pinot Noir- Silky and elegant, the beautiful 2018 ‘Janus’ was blended from a host of vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley. Aged for 18 months in French oak, this reveals ripe strawberry and guava tones alongside minerals and shades of kumquat on the palate. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2018 Brooks ‘Crannell’ Pinot Noir- The delicious 2018 ‘Crannell’ Pinot Noir was sourced from the Eola-Amity Hills, set on volcanic soils. The resultant wine is truly beautiful from start to finish with ripe red cherry, red raspberry and citrus ember flavors alongside volcanic soils on the palate. Finishing long, this rich yet elegant Pinot Noir will live on for another decade or more. This is nothing short of sensational ripe vintage Oregon Pinot Noir. Drink 2022-2034- 94

2018 Brooks ‘Toluca Lane’ Pinot Noir- The Toluca Lane Vineyard is set in the Eola-Amity Hills Vineyard, as this utilizes clones Pommard, Massale, 114, 115, 667 and 777. Red rose water and blood orange zest flavors combine with brilliant tension on the palate. Forward and juicy, with damp earthy undertones, this is delicious Pinot Noir to savor over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2018 Brooks ‘Red Letter’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Red Letter’ is sourced from the Momtazi, Willakenzie and Brooks Estate Vineyards. Weighing in at 14.8% alcohol, this shows off plenty of decadence and intensity from the 2018 vintage with full-bodied red fruits that combine with Mandarin orange rind and freshly tilled soils on the palate. Powerful and showing beautiful length, this outstanding new wine will continue to provide drinking pleasure over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2022-2036- 94

Andrew Rich

I love wine stories that have inspired second careers. Andrew Rich create some beautiful wines that still remain under the radar out of Oregon. Originally a magazine editor in NYC, Andrew wanted something more hands on and decided to attend winemaking school in Burgundy. Back in the states after his education Anderew landed at Bonny Doon Vineyard in Santa Cruz, working with California iconic winemaker, Randall Grahm for five years. Andrew then got the nerve to start his own winery in Oregon. He makes a huge range of wines from Sauvignon Blanc to Cabernet Sauvignon. 

I adored the new wines across the board. Check out the 2017 Andrew Rich ‘Glacial’ Red Wine (OB, 92) which is a downright killer GSM style of wine that shows beautiful smoky tones and a soft mouthfeel. I love the 2018 Andrew Rich ‘Volcanic’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which shows the hedonistic red fruits from this warm vintage. Learn more about these awesome wines at www.andrewrichwines.com Here are the great new wines by Andrew Rich.

2017 Andrew Rich ‘Glacial’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Glacial’ blends mainly Syrah (54%) with the remainder Mourvèdre and Grenache, all sourced from the Columbia Valley. Dense and full-bodied, this maintains a really nice sense of balance, with silky tannins that line a core of pretty red fruits, with tobacco leaf, smoke and scorched earth undertones. Delicious to consume now, enjoy this great GSM style wine over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2018 Andrew Rich ‘Eola’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Eola’ Pinot Noir was entirely sourced from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, as this delivers toasty oak tones alongside ripe red currants and tilled soils on the nose. The palate is very fresh and polished with a silky texture and really good tension. Medium-bodied red fruit flavors greet you, alongside rose water and orange rind accents. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2018 Andrew Rich ‘Marine Sedimentary’ Pinot Noir- With no clear vineyard source, the 2018 Andrew Rich ‘Marine Sedimentary’ Pinot Noir offers plenty of salty tones as the name suggests, with bright red fruits that cascade alongside copious minerals on the palate. Despite the heat of hte vintage the wine maintains wonderful finesse, finishing long with stony minerals, red raspberry and guava flavors. Drink 2022-2033- 92

2018 Andrew Rich ‘Volcanic’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2018 Andrew Rich ‘Volcanic’ Pinot Noir is a terrific wine that showcases this ancient stony terroir of the Willamette Valley. Wet stone and mandarin orange rind flavors combine with very pretty red fruits and red florals on the palate. The combination of weight and tension really works here, as this beautiful wine is already nicely evolved and will continue to provide drinking enjoyment over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2022-2035- 93

Giovanni Manzone

I have long admired the wines from Barolo. One of the region’s outstanding producers, Giovanni Manzoni was founded back in 1925 when Giovanni Manzone purchased 'Ciabot del Preve' (the Parish Priest house) and he started the winemaking in Monforte d’Alba. During the years the Manzone family purchased important vineyards on the historic hill of ‘Castelletto’ and ‘Gramolere’ two top crus in  Monforte d'Alba. In the last several years Mauro (2005) and Mirella Manzone (2012) joined their father Giovanni in the management of the winery. Mauro and Mirella are graduates from the famed Oenology School of Alba. Manzone estate is located in Monforte d’Alba, Piedmont, in the southeastern portion of the Langhe hills. Manzone owns 8.5 hectares (about 20 acres) of vineyards and uses estate-grown grapes only. The entire production is roughly 45,000 bottles per year.

I love the Manzone wines and have bought many of these wines over the years, particularly the well-priced ‘Bricat’ which consistently over-delivers for the price. I absolutely loved the 2016 Giovanni Manzone ‘Bricat’ Barolo (OB, 93) which has a striking ability to please right now with its plush texture and beautiful core of red fruits. Learn more about this famed Barolo estate at http://www.manzonegiovanni.com Here are notes from the outstanding new wines by Manzone.

2017 Giovanni Manzone ‘Le Ciliegie’ Barbara D’Alba- The 2019 ‘Le Ciliegie’ Barbera is a beautiful wine that was aged for 16 months in large puncheons prior to bottling. The beautiful bouquet really impresses with red rose petals, wintergreen and tangerine peel tones that combine with loamy soils on the nose. The palate is very fresh and shows good astringency as layers of delicate red fruits collide with lemon rind, white rose water and copious minerals. Nicely textured, and very nervy, with a long finish, this comes off a bit tightly wound and can benefit from a one hour decant if enjoying in its vibrant youth. Drink 2022-2030- 90

2019 Giovanni Manzone ‘Le Ciliegie’ Dolcetto D’Alba- The youthful 2019 Giovanni Manzone ‘Le Ciliegie’ Dolcetto D’Alba unveils a soft and inviting mouthfeel with layers of red currants, toasted hazelnuts and green peppercorns alongside citrus embers on the palate. Filled with minerality and a polished mouthfeel, this beautiful Dolcetto is sure to impress for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2033- 91

2019 Giovanni Manzone ‘Il Crutin’ Nebbiolo- The 2019 ‘Il Crutin’ is a beautiful wine even at the two year mark. Red florals and Satsuma orange rind combine with ripe red cherry and guava tones aromatically. The palate is very fresh and polished, with refined tannins that frame a core of bright red fruits and stony minerals. This drinks better after a one hour decant. Drink 2022-2029- 90

2016 Giovanni Manzone ‘Gramolere’ Barolo- The polished and dense 2017 Giovanni Manzone ‘Gramolere’ Barolo already shows beautifully following a one hour decant. Bright red rose petals and cranberry tones deftly combine with leather and suggestions of Asian spices on the nose. The palate is soft and round, yielding a generous sense of mouthfeel, as well as beautiful length. After more air the core of beautiful red fruits combine with silky tannins and tobacco leaf flavors. Really good even now, this wine surely has another fifteen years in front of it — and potentially more.  Drink 2022-2035- 92

2016 Giovanni Manzone ‘Bricat’ Barolo- Delicious to consume right now in its heady youth, the outstanding  2016 ‘Bricat’ is intense Barolo that will have a long life ahead of it. White truffle shavings, red currants, pipe tobacco and intense red fruit flavors all deftly combine on the palate. With more air the wine gains more non-fruit complexity with freshly tilled soils, sour red fruits and copious minerals coming through, with grippy tannins. Finishing very long, this is exceedingly gratifying wine to consume now, as this bigger style of Barolo will carry one for another fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2038- 93

2016 Giovanni Manzone ‘Castelletto’ Barolo- Also highly compelling to consume even in its heady youth, the rich and layered 2016 Giovanni Manzone ‘Castelletto’ Barolo is a mesmerizing wine to consume, as this is now the second opportunity I have had to taste this beautiful wine over the past year. Right now at six year mark the wine displays a dazzling array of bright red fruits alongside serious tension and a soft mouthfeel. On the intense and hedonistic side, this finishes very long with red cherry candy and guava notes alongside citrus ember and stony undertones. Brilliant to consume now, be sure to give this an hour in the decanter if enjoying in its full-throttle youth. Drink 2022-2038- 93

Laurent Perrier 'Grand Siècle' Champagne

People that know me well will admit that I am a total sucker for the great Champagnes of the world. I’ll fully admit that the first time I tasted the Laurent Perrier ‘Grand Siecle Brut’ Champagne I was absolutely blown away. Most of the great Champagne houses produce a tête de cuvée, which is typically a champagne house’s top selection of grapes, many times from a single vintage. The Grand Siecle is Laurent Perrier’s tête de cuvée which is blended from a host of vintages and also crafted from only grand cru vineyards. 

Established in 1812, Laurent Perrier is located in the heart of Champagne, in Tours-sur-Marne. Vines are set on limestone soil, highly chalky and showing the distinctiveness of the region. The chalk subsoil holds sufficient water, during dry spells and due its porous nature also provides good drainage when it is wet to prevent roots of becoming water logged, acting a bit like a sponge.

To produce Laurent-Perrier's new Grand Siecle 24 ed. chef du cave Michel Fauconnet has blended wines from the 2007, 2006, and 2004 vintages. His new wine is one of the great tête de cuvée wines in the world. This wine is irresistible to enjoy right now but will also provide drinking enjoyment for decades to come. Here is my review of the new Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle 24 ed. Grand Cuvee Brut Champagne. Learn more about this historic Champagne house at http://www.laurent-perrier.com/en/the-wines/

NV Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle 24 ed. Grand Cuvee Brut Champagne- The 24th edition of the Grand Siecle Grand Cuvee by Laurent Perrier is a stunning wine from vintages 2007, 2006 and 2004. Right away the alluring bouquet catches you off-guard with layers of marzipan and toasty brioche as well as lemon rind and shades of white rose. The palate is rich and unctuous with a silky texture and downright magical length. The finish quite frankly just does not quit. Chalky and dense, with serious weight but also dazzling finesse, this beautiful wine will surely survive for another two decades to come. Drink 2022-2040- 97

Champagne Salon

A house with an incredible story, Champagne Salon was originally founded by a man who was focused on making his own champagne, rather than adapting to the style of the times. Aimé Salon sought to showcase a single cru from the the Côte de Blancs known as le Mesnil-sur-Oger from purely Chardonnay, based from one single vintage, with no blending whatsoever. At the time this was quite revolutionary.

Le Mesnil is one of the famed vineyards in the world, centrally located in the Côte des Blancs. The site is known for its chalky soils and walking through the caves of Salon last week you can literally touch the terroir which really gives you a feel for what they seek to accomplish in this one of a kind wine. The Grand Cru Le Mesnil vineyard is entirely planted to Chardonnay and its vines create one of the great expressions of the varietal in the world. Salon was initially born in 1911 with their first vintage from 1905. Over time there was a massive response in trying to purchase these one of a kind champagnes. 

Salon was led by Champagne pioneer, Aimé Salon, until his death in 1943, Salon was left to his nephew who continued to build the brand. In 1988, Champagne Laurent-Perrier became the majority shareholder of Champagne Salon. Today, the house of Salon, along with its ancient neighbor and sister, Champagne Delamotte (the fifth oldest Champagne house, founded in 1760) are led by Didier Depond. 

The new release wine is the 2012 Salon ’Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil’ Champagne (OB, 99) which quite simply borders on perfection. The length and gratifying weight of this wine really speak to this vintage, as this is really nowhere near ready and will surely satisfy for many decades to come. Learn more about this famed champagne house at https://www.salondelamotte.com/ and here is my review of the new 2012 Salon Champagne.

2012 Salon ‘Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil’ Champagne- The 2012 Salon ‘Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil’ Champagne is a masterpiece from this great vintage. Entirely sourced from the ‘Le Mesnil’ vineyard in the Cotes de Blancs, this unveils Cardamom dusted brioche, green apple with brandy soaked pear and nectarine rind which all seamlessly combine aromatically. The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more hedonistic enjoyment. The mouthfeel is soft and elegant with silky tannins that frame this brilliantly stony and salty wine. Wait for the minute-long finish that won’t quit. Elegant, yet showing the richness of the vintage, this stunning champagne can really benefit from an hour in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2024-2050- 99

Review: British Airways Concorde Room Lounge London Heathrow Terminal 5

It is always such a treat being able to visit one of the world’s great lounges, the Concorde Room, located in Terminal 5 at London’s Heathrow Airport. In this case I had graciously been guested in by my friend Jamie Moore. This occasion marked one of the finest examples of service and hospitality that I had ever experienced there.

Access

You can only access this illustrious lounge if you are flying First Class or have a British Airways Concorde Room card which grants you access to Concorde Room regardless of your ticket class.

Location

Located in Terminal 5, the Concorde Room is adjacent to the Galleries First Lounge in the middle level of the terminal. During the fist leg of the trip we had utilized this excellent First Lounge which although impressive offers nowhere near the amenities and hospitality of the Concorde. 

The Surroundings 

Extremely spacious and well-appointed with many seating options, my favorite spot to pony up is their world class bar which serves as variety of snacks, drinks and one of the world’s great champagnes, the NV Laurent Perrier ‘Grand Siecle’ which retails for roughly 150 euros ($165 USD). The lounge has a range of sofas to relax at but I chose to begin my visit at the bar with my friend, indulging in the fine champagne. Every sip was savored.

At the bar there are a range of world class cocktails and whiskeys. I ordered an espresso martini which was without a doubt the best one I have tasted since my last visit to the Concorde Room in February 2020.

If you have extra time you can rent a cabana which gives you a private area with your friends or loved ones. The cabana area is also a peaceful oasis if you desire some extra sleep between flights. Prior to Covid the First Class Lounge had an Elemis Spa where all First Class ticketed passengers could enjoy a 15 minute spa treatment. Since Covid has happened the spa sadly remains closed. Bathrooms at the Concorde Room are cleaned constantly with their styling being a bit outdated.

One of the great parts of the lounge is that you can order any amounts of food at anytime, so you will never go hungry and it is always fun to taste a range of food options. Service for both drinks and food is ridiculously prompt with top class British hospitality. 

The Terrace

A serene deck called ‘The Terrace’ is the perfect spot to relax while watching planes take off. This part of the lounge is also open air making it particularly Covid friendly. There are options to dine at your table or you can always eat at the bar or at their fine dining option. We ended up choosing a place closer to the bar as my friends had arrived and seating for 4 made the terrace not available. 

Concorde Dining

Always such a treat to visit, the Concorde Dining is located in the heart of the Concorde Room and has a range of booths to sit and enjoy food which is served a la carte. On the menu there is a wide range of foods that are served based on your flight time. We had entered around 10:30 AM so by the time the lunch menu was ready to be served at noon we had gathered our things and sat down at the end of the dining room with our friends. Of course we ordered more ‘Grand Siecle’ champagne and i chose to start with succulent smoked salmon while my wife enjoyed some country style pate. 

For my main dish I naturally selected the burger which came with mature English cheddar and a delicious accompanying sauce that was also perfect for dipping my fries. 

Feeling a bit hungry I ordered a fish cake which was one of their signature dishes. This was crisp and also aesthetically beautiful. 

Bottom Line

There are few negatives about my visit to the Concorde Room. Some of the styling of the lounge might be a tad old-fashioned and needing a refresh. In terms of overall performance with food quality and service, the lounge gets top marks, with a world-class champagne at your disposal anytime. Fancy the best espresso martini you’ve ever had? Then this might just be the place for you.

Owen Bargreen Presents Top Wines of Oregon 2022

Friends,

Please join us for a very special tasting from the best of the best of Oregon wines on Sunday February 27th from 3-6PM in Seattle at one the world class Block 41 (Block41.com)

We have an absolutely stellar lineup of Oregon wines that has never been seen in Settle.

Owen Bargreen Presents Top Wines of Oregon 2022 will feature the top winemakers from Oregon, pouring the latest and greatest vintages, including some world class sparkling wines. We have carefully chosen some of our favorite producers to make this the Seattle tasting event of the year.

EACH PARTICIPANT MUST SHOW VALID STATE OR GOVERNMENT ISSUED ID AND VACCINATION CARD. NO ENTRY WITHOUT BOTH!

Early bird can be purchased here for $99.99, while supplies last:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/owen-bargreen-presents-top-wines-of-oregon-2022-tickets-234277288677

Check out our spectacular lineup (in alphabetical order)

Archery Summit

Argyle

Aubaine

Bledsoe-McDaniels

Brittan

Chehalem

Chosen Family

Cristom

de Lancellotti

Domaine Drouhin

Erath

Granville

Hazelfern

King Estate

Lachini

Lange

Lingua Franca

Lytle-Barnett

Maysara

Panther Creek

Soter

St. Innocent

Tendril

Toil

White Walnut

Willamette Valley Vineyards

We can’t to share this incredible, one of a kind tasting experience with you. Hope you can join us for an incredible evening of wine enthusiasts sipping the best in Oregon wine. 🍷

Owen Bargreen's 2021 Winery of the Year: Cayuse Vineyards

Today we have a very special announcement and it is my great pleasure to name our 2021 Winery of the Year — Cayuse Vineyards. It is a remarkable feat that Walla Walla wine pioneer Christophe Baron and Cayuse resident vigneron Elizabeth Bourcier have now won this award a staggering four years out of five! 

Christophe Baron continues to be one of the world’s eminent innovators in the wine industry with his new vineyards not only set in the stony terroir of Milton-Freewater but also his Hors Categorie Vineyard which creates an incredible Syrah with terroir that is unlike anything in the Pacific Northwest.

This year the 2018 wines by Cayuse Vineyards were utterly phenomenal and my reviews will be posted on the Vinous website in January as part of my Washington report. It was a magical vintage for his massive and dense 2018 ‘Bionic Frog’ Syrah as well as his pillowy 2018 ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine which is not only arguably the best Grenache wine in North America but rivals anything in the world — particularly when you consider price. We wanted to offer our deepest congratulations on the great accomplishments by the superstars of Cayuse Vineyards. Wishing you all much joy the remainder of the holiday season.

With gratitude,

Owen Bargreen

Owen Bargreen Presents Top Wines of Washington 2022

Friends,

Please join us for a very special tasting from the best of the best of Washington wines on Saturday February 19th from 3-6PM in Seattle at a venue to be announced soon. This will be an absolutely stellar lineup unrivaled in Washington. Owen Bargreen Presents Top Wines of Washington 2022 will feature the top winemakers from our very own state, pouring the latest and greatest vintages. We have carefully chosen some of our favorite producers to make this the Seattle tasting event of the year. This is a once in a lifetime chance to chat with famed vigneron Christophe Baron of Cayuse Vineyards as well as Paul Golitzin, director of winemaking at Quilceda Creek, Matt Reynvaan of Reynvaan Family Vineyards, Todd Alexander of Force Majeure/Pasxa/WeatherEye, Gilles Nicault of Long Shadows and the elite winemaking talent in Washington.

FOR SAFETY VACCINATION CARDS AND IDS CHECKED AT DOOR FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS

We have a limited amount of Early Bird Tickets for sale at $99.99.

Tickets can be purchased here for the special early bird rate of $99.99, while supplies last:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/owen-bargreen-presents-top-wines-of-washington-2022-tickets-231644413677The lineup for 2022 includes:

2020 Winery of the year: Horsepower Vineyards

2019 Winery of the year: Cayuse Vineyards

2018 Winery of the year: Reynvaan Family Vineyards

2016 Winery of the year: Quilceda Creek Winery

Check out our spectacular lineup (in alphabetical order)

Abeja

Andrew Januik/Januik

Andrew Will

Amavi Cellars

Avennia

Betz

Cayuse Vineyards 

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Col Solare

DeLille

Delmas

Domaine Ste. Michelle

Doubleback

Dunham Cellars

EFESTE

Figgins

Force Majeure

Gorman

Gramercy Cellars

K Vintners

Kerloo

Kobayashi

L’Ecole No. 41

Latta

Leonetti

Liminal

Long Shadows Vintners

MTR Productions

No Girls

Quilceda Creek

Passing Time

Pasxa/ The Walls

Pepper Bridge

Rasa Vineyards

Reynvaan Family Vineyards

Rotie

Sleight of Hand

Sparkman

Upchurch Vineyard

Upsidedown Wine

W.T. Vintners

WeatherEye

Woodward Canyon

XOBC

We can’t wait to share this incredible, one of a kind tasting experience with you. Hope you can join us for an incredible evening of wine enthusiasts sipping Washington’s best.

The Top 10 Wines I Tasted in 2021

Friends, there is arguably no better feeling than experiencing special moments with special wines. Coming out of 2020, 2021 has brought further challenges. Nonetheless, I hope this year has brought you wonderful prosperity and many memorable moments with sharing wine with your loved ones whenever possible. Despite the pandemic, I wanted to share with you some of the most special moments with the incredible wines that I was able to taste over the course of 2021. I hope you all enjoy a wonderful holiday season making many more memories with special wines and cherished relationships. 

What were some of your favorite wines of 2021? Here are mine. 

11) 2013 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Champagne

I had to share this brilliant wine even though it fell outside the Top 10. It is not easy to make top champagne in a less than easy vintage. 2013 was a vintage that plagued much of France, including champagne. Nonetheless, the team at Louis Roererer did a flat out phenomenal job with crafting their 2013 ‘Cristal’ bottling. It might not be as weighty and big as the 2012 bottling but this champagne is full of finesse with very bright citrus fruit flavors. I’ll never forget my smile after savoring my first sip of this wine. This effort is nothing short of a world-class winemaking adventure and I hope you will have a chance to try this beautiful style of Cristal champagne.

10) 1990 Chateau Lafitte-Rothchild

My friend Tim was celebrating his birthday and generously opened a bottle of near perfectly stored 1990 Chateau Lafitte-Rothchild. I think his face said it all as he was quite literally grinning from ear to ear. It was a beautiful occasion for such a bottle with friends gathering at Aerlume in Seattle. We had reserved a room with a gorgeous view of the Puget Sound and as we sat together and tasted this wine it became more and more Burgundian with wild mushrooms, peat moss and shades of pine needles. There was still a remarkable amount of black fruits present. Surely at peak, this beauty was a treasure to consume now.

9) 2002 Chateau D’YQuem Sauternes-

Turning 41 during the pandemic was not the most fun, although it might have been a bit more fun than May 2020. For years I have cellared the 2002 Chateau D’Yqyem which was a San Diego Costco purchase when I was back in graduate school. 2002 as a vintage was less than heralded in sauternes and I have tried many top producers from 2002. None of them come close to what D’YQuem was able to accomplish in this vintage. Now fully at its peak, the 2002 shows beautiful honey and stony character with amazing weight and tension. Salty and rich, try to snag a bottle of this if you can!

8) 2016 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine-

Formerly my #1 wine of the year, the 2016 ‘God Only Knows’ is a joyride of flavor that I fully savored around the New Year while in Las Vegas. This was a special wine that my wine and I devoured in our hotel room over several hours. We both agreed that this is one of the best wines we had enjoyed in quite some time. The combination of weight, finesse and flavor range was nothing short of spectacular. The views of the Vegas strip made this even more enjoyable.

7) 2002 Piper Heidseick ‘Rare’ Champagne

2002 was an epic vintage in Champage. Sitting in our hotel room in Paris, we ventured out to one of the town’s best wine shops, Le Caves Auge. While picking out several top Chablis bottles, I spotted an older bottle of ‘Rare’ Champagne. Back at the hotel we enjoyed every last sip of this exquisite champagne. It was a hot August day which made this beautifully textured champagne even more enjoyable. Now if I can only find more! 

6) 2018 HALL ‘Rainin Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon 

This year I did not have the chance to taste at HALL and instead spent three with the HALL director of winemaking via Zoom. I was blown away with their overall lineup and the last two wines were from their Platinum Collection. My first sip of the ‘Rainin’ was utterly extraordinary. Pillowy and soft, yet extremely powerful, words made it difficult to define how good this wine really was. This was nothing short of perfection in the bottle.

5) 2020 Kobayashi Marsanne/Roussanne

Sitting next to Travis and Mario Allen, we tasted through their lineup of wines and this one was enjoyed early on in the lineup. Travis has a deft hand over Marsanne and he is no longer crafting a 100% Marsanne bottling — rather he blends in a touch of Roussanne to add flavor complexity and more finesse. I savored this wine very slow and made sure that it was warm enough to consume, as this wine drinks considerably better at a warmer temperature. Unctuous and buttery with insanely good flavor range, Travis admitted that he was exceedingly proud of this effort. ‘No signs of smoke impact’ I said to them. What an extraordinary wine!

4) 2010 Chateau Angelus

This was now the second time in the past year that I had the chance to sample the absolutely epic 2010 Chateau Angelus. My friend Wayne had long been wanting to open this special bottle and with his parents visiting from France this presented the perfect opportunity. He had also baked a raspberry and pistachio torte which was the perfect match for the beautiful red fruits in the Merlot. We opted to slowly decant the wine and watch it evolve over several hours. Initially a bit reticent, this wine became a mind-bending journey into the Right Bank. Pillowly and soft, with refined tannins, this also was a perfect wine that we were all mesmerized by.

3) 2004 Domaine Romanee Conti ‘Eschezeaux’ 

This summer a friend of mine decided to crack open a bottle of 2004 DRC which was created from 35 year old, organically farmed vines. Because of the warmth of the vintage this was already extraordinary right out of the bottle and didn’t need a decant. Gobs of black truffle shavings and crunchy red fruits ensued with a finish that did not quit. What a wine that is already showing signs of its age, yet maintained a vibrant sense of tension. ‘You think this is ready to go?’ I asked my Burg collector friend. ‘Yep, I wouldn’t age this anymore’ he retorted. I nodded in agreement

2) 2019 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Fiddleneck Vineyard’ Grenache

In 2020 I had tasted with eminent vigneron Christophe Baron over Zoom and this year I had the chance to visit Cayuse in August 2021. The ‘Fiddleneck Vineyard’ is an extraordinary site that had Fiddleneck flowers all around, as this was named for the flowers. Strangely when you taste this wine there is something uniquely floral in the wine which might just be from the floral aspect in the soils. As it was in 2018, the 2019 edition is simply extraordinary. Soft and pillowy yet extremely light on its feet, this wine is unlike anything in the world. You can pay eight to ten times more money to purchase Chateau Rayas, but why do that when you can find a wine just as good at a tenth of the price?

1) 2018 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon

I was lucky enough to try the 2018 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon a whopping four times this year. For a 100 point wine, this is an unbelievably good tasting experience that you will want to savor on its own. Don’t throw steaks on your BBQ or put out the finest chocolates for this wine. I beseech you to open this wine and let it evolve in the decanter over a three hour period. If you are a wine lover, you will thank me. This opulent wine is powerful and dense but has gobs of finesse and salty undertones. It may just be the best Quilceda Creek I have ever tasted. While this will easily go two decades it is utterly sumptuous stuff to savor right now. Cheers!

Pashey

Oregon is slowly becoming one of the world’s great regions for sparkling wines. Despite this momentum I’m not quite sure if I can find an Oregon producer that produces two high-quality Blanc de Blancs from different AVAs. Enter Pashey, the brainchild of top notch winemaker James Frey, who crafts some world-class methods champenoise wines. 

James might be the first winemaker with an undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of California, Berkeley and a Masters in Exercise Physiology and an M.B.A. from the University of Arizona. Despite not having any formal winemaking training, James learned under mentors like Oregon’s Josh Bergström and Burgundy’s Jacques Lardiere.  From 2013-2017, Burgundy producer Maison Louis Jadot made their Resonance wines at Trisaetum where James worked alongside winemaker Jacques Lardiere. Since 2013, James has also partnered with Walla Walla winemaker Chris Figgins of Leonetti, Figgins and Toil to trade Willamette Valley fruit for Walla Walla varietals that James uses for his 18401 Cellars wines.

His Pashey sparkling wines were outstanding across the board. I adored the new 2018 Pashey ‘Brut’ Rose Sparkling Wine (OB, 93) which shows plenty of rich red fruit flavors with serious finesse and a soft mousse. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.trisaetum.com and here are my reviews of the brilliant new Pashey wines.

2018 Pashey ‘Estate Cuvee Extra Brut’ Sparkling Wine- Mainly Pinot Noir (82%), this 2.5g/l dosage blend displays pretty red fruits on the nose that combine with baking spice dusted Challah bread and lemon rind tones on the palate. Fresh and viscous with serious tension, this beautiful bottling is already drinking beautifully now and will continue to provide drinking enjoyment over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2018 Pashey ‘Blanc de Blancs Ribbon Ridge Estate’ Sparkling Wine- Disgorged in summer 2021, the 2.25 g/l dosage 2018 Pashey ‘Blanc de Blancs Ribbon Ridge Estate’ Sparkling Wine shows off plenty of toasty French bread tones alongside shades of marzipan and Japanese pear aromatically. The silly mousse impresses, as this comes off very refined and fat on the mouth, showing the warmth of the vintage. Full-bodied and rich with lemon oil, toasted hazelnut and buttered brioche tones, this is already quite evolved and will continue to drink well over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2018 Pashey ‘Blanc de Blancs Coast Range Estate’ Sparkling Wine- The 2018 Pashey ‘Blanc de Blancs Coast Range Estate’ Sparkling Wine is a gorgeous, finesse-driven effort. A touch leaner than the ‘Ribbon Ridge Estate’ but showing gobs of mouth-watering acidity, this yields more green apple and green papaya tones alongside hints of cashew nut and salty soils on the palate. Finishing long, this is very refined bubbles that has some good aging potential. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2018 Pashey ‘Brut’ Rose Sparkling Wine- The 2018 ‘Brut’ Rose was disgorged in summer 2021 and was given 3.0 g/l dosage. A blend of near equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this unveils pretty red rose petal tones alongside ripe guava and cran-orange on the nose. The weight of the wine is seriously good, as layers of beautiful red fruits mingle well with baked apple, lemon rind and brioche tones on the palate. Complex and highly compelling to consume right now, the 2018 ‘Brut’ Rose will cellar well over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2021-2029- 93

Costco 'Kirkland Signature' Wine Report

Despite the pandemic raging on we return with the fourth edition of our Costco ‘Kirkland Signature’ Wine Report. Costco sells more wine than anyone in America. While they might not have the range of wines that other retailers can boast, you know that you won’t experience a large mark-up with wines from Costco. While Costco has a well-crafted, albeit a bit small collection of wines of the world, most of the wines at Costco are sourced from wineries, rather than from a private label. Over the past ten years Costco has created their own label of wine under their ‘Kirkland Signature’ mark. Their wines, like all Kirkland Signature products, deliver serious value and have transformed the American wine market. We have been purchasing Kirkland Signature wines for more than ten years, and in general we have found these wines to show solid value and in some cases, good aging potential.

Given that Costco is based in our home state of Washington, it seemed appropriate to publish a wine report covering all currently available Kirkland Signature wines. We procured these bottles over several Seattle area Costco locations. This year the reviews were solely done by Owen Bargreen and Tan Vinh, writer for the Seattle Times. Our individual reviews were shared after all of the wines had been reviewed and similar to last year’s report, many of the wines showed similarly to our respective palates. 

One thing that struck me is how good the NV Prosecco has been for the price. It is very hards to find a Prosecco in this price range, as in most grocery stores La Marca Prosecco costs $13.99 at the store and delivers the same level of quality. You are essentially getting two bottles of Prosecco for the price of one.

Similarly, you could easily argue that there is not a better value in Champagne than the NV Kirkland Signature. The new NV blend might be the best one I have tasted since I have been doing this report. The care and level of commitment that you find for this $19.99 bottle of Champagne is just second to none. 

I was surprised that I recommended all of the white wines, and after examining my notes I found that the wines tasted very similarly to how they did last year for me. 

With regards to the red wines, a few were definitely substandard even at a low price point. My feeling is that the white wines by Costco offer slightly more consistent value. The 2020 ‘Ti Point’ Sauvignon Blanc is one of the better values you will find in New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and similarly the 2019 ‘Sonoma County’ Chardonnay is value that is very hard to find at this price point. 

With respect to their red wines, the $6.99 Cotes du Rhone Villages would be killer to enjoy by the glass but you get insane value by purchasing the entire bottle. This wine has plenty of complexity and ripe red and dark fruits with great acidity. Try to avoid the 2019 Kirkland Signature ‘California’ Cabernet Sauvignon which although inexpensive wouldn’t even make a good sangria. 

NV Kirkkland Signature ‘Asolo’ Prosecco ($6.99)- This NV ‘Asolo’ Prosecco says it is sourced from ‘prime’ vineyards across Veneto. Greenish in color, this delivers good weight with shades of sweetened peach, lychee, and sweetened and salty brioche on the palate. This finishes short and is best enjoyed over the next several years.  Try this in a mimosa. Drink 2021-2024- 88 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

NV Kirkkland Signature Prosecco Rose ($6.99)- A new wine in the Kirkland Signature collection, the really good Prosecco rose offers a lot of sparkling wine that is pretty much unparalleled at this price point as most Rose Proseccors this good would be more in the 15 dollar range — or more. Faint red rose petal tones combine with ripe red raspberry and green apple on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with salty undertones alongside sweetened nectarine and Golden Delicious apple tones. Extremely easy to drink really difficult to find a Prosecco Rose that even crosses this price point at this quality. Despite its obvious shortcomings do you not enjoy this wine at this price? Drink 2021-2024- 88 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

NV Kirkland Signature ‘Brut’ Champagne ($19.99)- Crafted by Champagne house Jannison, which is a grand cru site located in Verzenay.  The ‘Brut’ is a proprietary blend of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Pretty nutty undertones combine with green apple, and lemon blossom on the nose. The palate offers plenty of weight with shades of baking spice laced pear, Challah bread and shades of kumquat. Drink 2021-2026- 91 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

2019 Kirkland Signature ‘Grave’ Pinot Grigio ($5.99)- The 2020 ‘Grave’ Pinot Grigio weights in at 12.5% and shows off highly faint hay and kumquat rind tones aromatically. The palate is soft and shows good mouthfeel with layers of pink grapefruit and orange blossom. A bit out of balance with its unusual kiss of sweetness, this delivers serious value considering the price point. This is nothing I would buy but I can’t help recommending considering the price. How can you not recommend a palatable wine at six bucks. Drink 2021-2024- 86 RECOMMENDED

2019 Kirkland Signature ‘California’ Pinot Grigio ($12.99, 3L box)- Made from a cardboard box, this says it is at 12% alcohol. My guess is it comes off considerably higher. Very delicate pear and green apple notes mark the palate alongside very little acidity and shades of Lemonhead candy. Despite its shortcomings, this is a serious value at the amount and quality of wine at the price. Keep in mind of the bottle price that makes which makes this nearly impossible not to recommend. For people that enjoy sweetened, nondescript white wines, this is cheaper than some bottled waters. Drink 2020-2023- 85 RECOMMENDED

2021 Kirkland Signature ‘Ti Point’ Sauvignon Blanc ($6.99)- The 2021 Kirkland Signature ‘Ti Point’ Sauvignon Blanc  is nothing short of a killer value for the price.  Crated by Tracy Haslam of Ti Point Vineyard in Marlborough as this weighs in at 12.5% alcohol.  The nose is herbal and shows bright green bell pepper and dried herbs with gooseberry tones. Fresh and vibrant with great acidity, this might not have the best feeling of weight but delivers plenty of lip-smacking acidity with its lemon zest and melon tones alongside a great veil of tension. Drinking marvelously now, enjoy over the next several years. I don’t know you can’t recommend this wine considering the price point. Drink 2021-2023- 89 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

2019 Kirkland Signature ‘Premier Cru’ Chablis ($19.99)- The 2019 ‘Premier Cru’ Chablis was crafted from different vineyards in Van Ligneau and Vaugiraut. At 13.5% alcohol, this aged for 12 months in stainless steel before bottling. Made by winemaker OdileVan Der Moere. Crushed wet rock and bright pear tones combine with shades of nectarine on the nose. This shows good weight and is nicely textured but offers slightly less in terms of bright acidity than the 2018 bottling. At the same time, this wine is a sure bet for any Chablis lover that craves value in a market that offers very little decent deals. I do prefer the past two years editions. Drink 2021-2028- 90 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

2020 Kirkland Signature ‘California’ Chardonnay ($7.99, 1.5L)- The label unfortunately makes it unclear where the wine comes from, although it notes that it was cellared and bottled by Dc Flynt MW Selections’ in Modesto, California. This edition comes off slightly better than the last vintage, with less cloying notes alongside orchard fruit flavors. While exceedingly cheap, I think you can do better in the 7 dollar Chardonnay range without suffering a headache the next morning. Drink 2021-2024- 83 NOT RECOMMENDED

2020 Kirkland Signature ‘Sonoma County’ Chardonnay ($9.99)- A touch cloying and sweet, the 2020 Kirkland Signature ‘ Sonoma County’ Chardonnay delivers very forward and sweetened ripe fruit flavors that deliver at this price point. Soft on the mouth and not overly oaked, this actually reveals nice texture. Finishing short and showing a good veil of tension, this easy to drink Chardonnay is best consumed over the next few years. How do you not recommend this easy to drink bottle? Drink 2021-2024- 87 RECOMMENDED

2020 Kirkland Signature ‘Cotes de Provence’ Rose ($8.69)-  A new wine to this program, the wine is a blend of mostly Grenache  (35%) and Cinsault (28%) with smaller portions Syrah, Tibouren, Uni Blanc, Vermentino and Mourvedre. Made by winemaker Olivier Sumiere, this delivers nutty and earthy undertone that collide with pretty guava and red raspberry on the nose. The palate is soft, medium-bodied and very inviting with mouth-watering acidity and plenty of texture. Seriously good now, this will provide drinking enjoyment for another five years. Considering the price at top Provence Rose, this is a downright killer value at under nine bucks. Drink 2021-2025- 89 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

2020 Kirkland Signature Cotes du Rhone Village ($6.99)- A really good value under seven dollars, this 2019 ‘Cotes du Rhone Villages’ was made by Patrick Lesec. A blend of Mourvdre, Syrah and Grenache, the wine shows off high-toned guava and orange rind tones that combine with white pepper dusted bacon on the palate. The palate is very fresh and energetic with serious tension and lovely garrigue notes alongside a core of fresh, medium-bodied dark fruit flavors. You would be hard pressed to find this value under seven dollars as this delivers quality that for most estates that would come at twenty to thirty dollars. While this says 14.5% my guess is it rings in at closer to 15%. This might be the most gratifying wine considering the price of this tasting. Drink 2021-2025- 90 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

2020 Kirkland Signature ‘California’ Cabernet Sauvignon ($7.99, 1.5L)- The label does not display the sourcing for the wine and only says DC Flynt MW once again. The wine borders on communion wine, as the wine says that it weights in at 13% alcohol but comes off more like 15-16%. Sweetened figs and oak chips fill the nose. The wine comes off saccharin driven as this is so poorly made I wouldn’t make Sangria from it.  Don’t serve to your worst enemy. Drink 2021-2023- 75 NOT RECOMMENDED 

2019 Kirkland Signature ‘Rutherford’ Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.99)- The Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley was produced and made by winemaker Glen Hugo. The wine comes off a bit hot with sweetened chocolate and overripe black fruits that mingle with loamy soils on he palate. Jammy and lacking balance, I would like more classic Napa character at this price.  Having reviewed hundreds of Napa wines this year I honestly wouldn’t drink a glass of this wine. While they advertise Rutherford dust on the label there isn’t an inkling of that in the glass. Drink 2021-2025- 86 NOT RECOMMENDED

2020 Kirkland Signature Malbec ($6.99)- Sourced from Mendoza and made at the well-known Broquel winery, the 2020 Malbec is forward and polished with ripe red currant flavors alongside chocolate, blackberry compote and tar tones. It is hard to find an Argentinian Malbec that delivers this much quality at under 7 bucks as you usually see this in the 12 dollar range. Drink 2021-2025- 89 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Kirkland Signature 10 Year Old Tawny Porto ($16.99)- Formerly made by Foseca Guimarens, this 10 year old tawny is now crafted by Kobrand producer Via Nova de Gaia. The nose is very pretty with orange embers and ripe red raspberry coulis with bright red plum tones. The palate is fresh and viscous with silky tannins that line a core of rum raisin, chocolate covered caramel and bright red fruit flavors. Really delicious toe njoy now, this has a long life ahead of it. I love the value here as it is very difficult to find a 10 year Tawny at this price. Drink 2021-2028- 90 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Older Wines

2019 Kirkland Signature ‘K Vine Evergreen Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Soft and approachable this is delicious wine to consume in the short-term. Drink 2021-2024- 89 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 

2019 Kirkland Signature ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay- Soft and a bit lean, this delivers serious value for the price although I would enjoy more weight considering the varietal and the vintage. Drink 2021-2025- 87 RECOMMENDED

2019 Kirkland Signature ‘Carneros’ Pinot Noir- Straightforward cola and red fruit notes make this highly uninspired and generic but still offering some value. Drink 2021-2025- 85 NOT RECOMMENDED

2018 Kirkland Signature Gigondas- Forward and delicious red fruits collide with tar and garrigue notes on the palate. Really nicely textured this is delicious wine to savor now. Drink 2021-2025- 90 RECOMMENDED, LOOK FOR NEXT YEAR

2016 Kirkland Signature ‘Reserva’ Rioja- The 2016 ‘Reserva’ Rioja offers soft red fruits with a polished texture and terrific mouthfeel. Bright red cherry and orange rind tones combine with smoky undercurrents. Drink 2021-2025- 90 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

2018 Kirkland Signature ‘Riserva’ Chianti Classico- Very approachable with refined tannins the red fruit driven ‘Riserva’ marries bright red fruits with burnt orange, tobacco and tilled soil tones on the palate. You are basically getting a wine at half-off with the Kirkland Label. Drink 2021-2025- 90 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

2019 Kirkland Signature ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Soft and approachable this delivers soft black overripe fruits that come off slightly cloying with hits of caramel which makes this very confusing. This is labeled at 14.5% alcohol but this is obviously more than one percent higher than that. This is really out of balance. Drink 2021-2025- 87 NOT RECOMMENDED

2019 Kirkland Signature ‘Signature Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Made by famed Washington winemaker Gilles Nicault, this delivers ripe black plum and leather notes that combine with black cherry compote and plenty of finesse on the palate. Really enjoyable now, enjoy in the short-term. Drink 2021-2027- 90 RECOMMENDED

Domaine Nicolas Jay

It has now been over a year since I have had the chance to taste one of the great boutique wineries in Oregon. Domaine Nicolas-Jay is a collaboration between Jean-Nicolas Méo (Domaine Méo-Camuzet) and Jay Boberg, co-founder of the music label, IRS Records. Jean-Nicolas Meo has experience working with grand crus of Burgundy and has translated that into understanding Oregon terroir. Jean-Nicolas has truly produced wines from some of the finest vineyards in Burgundy such as the Richebourg, Clos de Vougeot, Corton Clos Rognet and Echezeaux vineyards. Jay Boberg serves as cellar rat and aids assistant winemaker Tracy Kendall. The winery sources from their estate Bishop Creek Vineyard on in the Yamhill-Carlton appellation, as well as grapes from other outstanding Willamette Valley vineyards, including Nysa, Momtazi, Hyland and La Colina.

I have been quite impressed with these wines since they were first released in 2014 and I really enjoyed the new release wines. The 2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Affinites’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) is very fresh and Burgundian with its mushroom and flinty notes. Even better is the sinfully good 2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Nysa Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is big and burly with plenty of bright acidity and serious aging potential. Learn more about this gorgeous producer at https://www.nicolas-jay.com and here are my tasting notes from the outstanding 2019 Nicolas Jay wines.

2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Affinites’ Chardonnay  The 2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Affinites’ Chardonnay was stored in neutral French oak before bottling as a portion of the wine was sourced from their estate Bishop Creek Vineyard. Fresh and polished, this unveils wild mushroom and flinty tones alongside lemon zest on the palate. Finishing long with vanilla cream and minerals, this has the stuffing to cellar well for another decade Drink 2021-2031- 92

2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir was aged in 20% new French oak before bottling. This is silky, medium-bodied Pinot Noir has a long life ahead of it with its bright core of teaberry and red currant flavors with citrus rind and black truffle shaving accents. Fresh and lively, this is already nicely evolved. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Bishop Creek’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Bishop Creek’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous new bottling by Jean-Nicolas Méo and Tracy Kendall. Sourced from 30 year old vines, this Pinot Noir unveils pretty red rose water aromatics alongside shades of red raspberry and cloves, with damp earthy accents. The palate is fresh and vibrant with serious acidity and a good sense of weight with its core of red and dark fruits. Gorgeous now, this will cellar well for another fifteen years to come. Drink 2021-2036- 93

2019 Nicolas Jay ‘L’Ensemble’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Nicolas Jay ‘L’Ensemble’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous new wine by this famed Willamette Valley winery. Sourced from a host of Willamette Valley AVAs, this was stored in 35% new French oak prior to bottling. Vibrant, with loads of refinement and a soft texture, the wine slowly unveils layers of pretty guava and red currant flavors alongside orange zest and stony undercurrents on the palate.  This has formidable heft considering some of the challenges of this cooler vintage. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Nysa Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- A simply outstanding release, the 2019 ‘Nysa Vineyard’ shows the weight and balance that the Dundee Hills is known for. A very black fruit-driven profile, this unveils huckleberry and wild blackberry flavors alongside stony and earthy undertones. With gobs of mouth-watering acidity and citrus rind undertones, this complex and downright delicious wine is already showing beautifully in its youth — and will continue to evolve well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2019 Nicolas Jay ‘Own Rooted’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Own Rooted’ comes from several sites in the Willamette Valley including the Bishop Creek, Hyland and Nysa Vineyards. Very bold and polished on the mouth, with plenty of finesse, this red fruit-driven wine reveals pretty red raspberry and strawberry tones alongside the bright acidity. Finishing long with red fruits and stony minerals, this outstanding new bottling will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94

Brittan Vineyards

Sitting down with Robert Brittan you can feel the power of his 45 harvests. Many years ago I was introduced to the amazing wines of Brittan Vineyards and the talented Robert Brittan, who was the former winemaker at Stags’ Leap Winery in Napa. Robert is a graduate of the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology program and founded Brittan Vineyards in 2004, acquiring a 128-acre hillside property with soils that are a mixture of glacial deposits and volcanic material, with a predominant presence of broken basalt. The volcanic material brings out a terrific stony quality in the Pinot Noirs. In addition to the Pinot Noir, Robert has 4 acres of Chardonnay and 1.5 acres of Syrah have been planted. In addition to his own wines, Robert serves as the winemaker for several other brands, including Blakeslee, de Lancellotti, Fairsing, Noble Pig, Winderlea and Youngberg Hill. 

I recently tried the 2016 Brittan Chardonnay which was absolutely singing. These wines have some really nice aging potential. releases recently. Don’t miss the new 2019 Brittan Vineyards ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is viscous with serious range. Nearly as good was the 2019 Brittan Vineyards ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is dense and chewy with some good aging potential. . Learn more about the great wines of Brittan Vineyards at http://www.brittanvineyards.com Here are the brilliant Pinot Noir releases by Brittan Vineyards.  

2018 Brittan Vineyards Sparkling Wine- One of the terrific sparkling wines made in Oregon, the 2018 Brittan Vineyards blends 52% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir. Immediately showing a soft mousse, this reveals lovely pink grapefruit and kumquat tones alongside toasty brioche and salty undercurrents on the palate. With good weight and finesse, this has another decade in front of it. Drink 2021-2029- 92

2019 Brittan Vineyards ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- Truly one of the brilliant Chardonnays made in Oregon, the 2019 Brittan Vineyards ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is a colossal value at 45 bucks. Once on the mouth the silky mouthfeel really sings as layers of buttered French bread, marzipan, macadamia nut and honeydew melon all collide with shades of wet stone on the palate. Refined and rich, showing good depth, this world-class Chardonnay will surely cellar for another decade. Drink 2021-2033- 94

2019 Brittan Vineyards ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from their stony site roughly 12 miles southwest of McMinneville in the foothills of the Coastal Range, the ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir is selected from various sites across his vineyard, all set on broken Basalt.  The wine utilizes clonal selections Pommard, 777, 115, 667 and Swan. Right away you get the lovely sense of volcanic earth on the nose with ripe red currants and black raspberry tones. The palate is dense and stony with serious finesse and good weight. Gorgeous now this will continue to evolve in the cellar for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2033- 93

Bodegas Muga

It has now been several years since I have visited one of the finest houses in Rioja, Bodegas Muga. A family business founded by Isaac Muga and Aurora Caño in 1932, the winery is located in the historic Barrio de La Estación (Station Quarter) of Haro. With their properties spanning 25,000 square metres, Muga utilizes both very traditional and modern winemaking techniques. Muga is also the only cellar in Spain with a master cooper and three in-house barrel-makers. Hospitality at Muga is also world-class.

For years I have enjoyed these wines, particularly their value driven bottlings. I recently had the chance to visit one of their top wines, their ‘Torre Muga’ bottling which is a heady, more modern style of Rioja that is sourced from vineyards that are slightly lower elevation. Both the new release 2016 and the older 2015 ‘Torre Muga’ wines showed brilliantly. The 2016 might be a touch more age worthy and is less approachable right now but will surely survive 20 years or more. Learn more about this famed winery at https://www.bodegasmuga.com and here are my reviews of the last two releases of Bodegas Muga ‘Torre Muga.’

2016 Bodegas Muga ‘Torre Muga’ Rioja- Every bit decadent, the brilliant 2016 Bodega Muga ‘Torre Muga’ Rioja is one of the great wines of its kind that I have tasted this year. Sourced from vineyards set at roughly 500 meters, this spent 18 months in French oak prior to bottling. A bit more tannic and brooding than the 2015 bottling, this unveils shades of tar alongside rich dark fruit flavors with dark chocolate dusted espresso bean tones on the palate. Simply magical to consume right now, do your best to give this another two years for things to fully come together. Drink 2023-2044- 96

2015 Bodegas Muga ‘Torre Muga’ Rioja- This densa and very modern style of Rioja is nothing short of a sensational bottling by Bodega Muga that beautifully showcases the warmth of the vintage. The 2015 ‘Torre Muga’ Rioja blends 75% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, and 10% Graciano, as the wine reveals heady roasted fig, black currant and orange peel tones alongside highly refined tannins. The weight and the length of the wine add to the enjoyment, as this will easily be a 20 year Rioja. If enjoying now, be sure to give this beauty a two hour decant. Drink 2022-2040- 95

Kongsgaard

A famed producer of Chardonnay in North America, Kongsgaard was founded by a fifth generation Napan,  John Kongsgaard. Amazingly the Kongsgaard family have been in the Napa area since the 1840s. John’s grandfather owned a stone quarry in Napa and John’s father was a Napa County Superior Court judge for more than twenty years. Following graduating high school in the late 1960’s John Kongsgaard completed the UC Davis masters in enology and viticulture program. For a short time he worked at the Stony Hill winery in Napa and then worked for at Newton Vineyards as the winemaker from 1983 to 1996. John also studied under eminent wine consultant Michel Rolland. He has a Burgundian feel to all his wines and John has indicated that Michel Rolland had a profound influence in his style of winemaking. In 2004 John bought a 150 acre parcel of land on Atlas Peak where vines planted sit at as far up as 2500 feet. His property has a mere five acres planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Roussanne and Viognier.

I adored the new wine that he produced. The 2019 Kongsgaard ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) is fresh and viscous with gobs of tension and beautiful length. Learn more about this magical winery at http://www.kongsgaardwine.com Here is my review of the scintillating 2019 Chardonnay release by Kongsgaard.

2019 Kongsgaard ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2019 Kongsgaard ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay is a glorious release that is just starting to hit its stride. Once on the nose this takes on layers of orchard fruits woven together with shades of roasted pineapple and vanilla creme brulee. Soft and ripe on the palate, this shows serious viscosity and tension. Suggestions of cardamom dusted French bread and mango combine with ripe nectarine and a very long, cream and mineral-driven finish, While a delight to consume now, this outstanding 2019 Chardonnay well for more than a decade to come. Drink 2021-2035- 95

Graham's Port

For nearly 200 years W & J Graham’s has been an independent family business producing Port wines. Graham's was one of the first Port companies to invest in its own vineyards in Portugal’s Douro Valley in 1890 and today, five Symington cousins share responsibility for every aspect of the company and personally make the Graham’s wines. They too have been involved with Port and the Douro for many generations, with ancestry dating back to the mid-17th century.

Graham’s first harvest under the ownership of the Symington family came with the famed Graham’s 1970 Vintage Port being declared. The 1970 is thought by many to be one of the greatest wines of that century. Nearly an hundred years after their ancestor AJ Symington left Graham’s to set up on his own as a Port producer, the family’s relationship with this Port house came full circle. Besides the family’s other Port marques, Graham’s is the only remaining British Port company independently owned by a single family. Learn more about this historic Port house at https://www.grahams-port.com/ and here is my reviews of the extraordinary 1994 Graham’s ‘Single Harvest’ Tawny Port and the even better 2017 Graham’s Vintage Port.

2017 Graham’s Vintage Port- Dense and brooding once in the glass, the 2017 Graham’s Port is an astonishingly good new wine that will surely stand the test of time. Crafted from the earliest harvest in history, a massive cloud of dark and blue fruits greet you aromatically with toffee and Arabica bean notes. Viscous and dense on the palate, this reveals heady blackberry, black cherry cordial and mocha flavors alongside a brilliant sense of tension. Wait for the exceedingly long finish! Drink 2030-2055- 96

1994 Graham’s ‘Single Harvest’ Tawny Port- Beautifully evolved now, the 1994 Graham’s ‘Single Harvest’ Tawny Port is really right in its sweet spot. Bright acidity combines with shades of Macadamia nut crusted toffee and bright red fruits on the palate. Silky and elegant, this finishes exceedingly long with vanilla bean cream and creme caramel. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2033- 94

Tenuta Sette Ponti 'Oreno'

One of the great wines of the world, the ‘Oreno’ by Tenuta Sette Ponte comes from vineyards located in Chianti, between Arezzo and Florence. The winery is named after the number of bridges that cross the river Arno between the two cities. Their top wine is named after the river that crosses the estate, the ‘Oreno.’ I have enjoyed this seamless wine for many years and have been stuck by the consistency regardless of vintage. The blend is always a combination of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The wine is always aged in French oak for 18 months and then spends another 12 months in bottle prior to release. 

I recently had the chance to visit two of these beautiful wines. Taken from a challenging vintage, the 2014 ‘Oreno’ (OB, 93) is a beautifully balanced effort that is already quite evolved and will cellar well over the next decade. It is a flat out delicious effort that is one of the great wines from 2014 that I have tasted for the price. Even better is the sinfully good 2017 ‘Oreno’ (OB, 95) which is dense, chewy and filled with silky tannins and plenty of depth and finesse. This beautiful wine is sure to impress any lover of Italian Super Tuscans. Learn more about this famed property at https://www.tenutasetteponti.it/tenutasetteponti/en/oreno/ and here are my reviews of the 2014 and 2017 ‘Oreno’ red wines.

2014 Tenuta Sette Ponte ‘Oreno’ Red Wine- Considering the vintage, the color in the 2014 ‘Oreno’ comes off as quite dark. A compelling blend of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, this shows dried herbs, leather and black currant tones that all fill the nose. The palate is lightly tannic with medium-bodied dark fruit flavors alongside shades of orange rind and tobacco leaf come together beautifully. While not as decadent as some other vintages, this comes off with excellent finesse, as this outstanding red blend is drinking marvelously now and will continue to impress over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93

2017 Tenuta Sette Ponte ‘Oreno’ Red Wine- The 2017 Tenuta Sette Ponte ‘Oreno’ Red Wine is a stunning effort that is already beautifully evolved now at the four year mark. 50% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the remainder 10% Petit Verdot, this is ripe and plump once on the mouth with velvety tannins. Broad-shouldered, with gobs of finesse, the wine shows off heady dark fruit flavors with pipe tobacco and bitter chocolate undercurrents. Finishing long with black fruits and minerals, this exceptional ‘Oreno’ will surely cellar well for another fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2021-2037- 95