Acumen Wine

A story that Eric Yuan has dreamed of, his Napa winery, Acumen Wine, is guided by a team that includes legendary Winemaker Phillip Titus and renowned Viticulturist Garrett Buckland. Acumen Wines has established an estate that features 116 organically certified acres of vines, spread across two remarkable vineyards on Napa Valley’s Atlas Peak. The Acumen team makes a small portfolio of estate-grown wines, with a focus on mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as Sauvignon Blanc.

In 2012, building on a love affair with wine that was first cultivated while studying in Paris, entrepreneur Eric Yuan came to Napa Valley to found Acumen. He sought to create wines that have the French style of balance and structure, creating a product from the high slopes of Atlas Peak. He used the talents of founding Winemaker Denis Malbec (a veteran of Château Latour) and acclaimed Viticulturist Garrett Buckland, to find a high-elevation site that is typically 10 degrees cooler than on the valley floor. 

Phillip Tutus calls this region “remote and extremely difficult to plant.” Acumen acquired its first vineyard on Atlas Peak in 2012. Originally planted in 1992, and featuring 32 acres of vines with a northeast exposure, the Attelas Vineyard was the ‘home vineyard’ of Dr. Jan Krupp, predating his famed Stagecoach Vineyard by three years. In 2014, Acumen expanded its estate program with the acquisition of the Edcora Vineyard, which features 84 acres of vines 350 feet higher up on Atlas Peak.

The new wines from Acumen come from the exciting 2019 vintage. They both were absolutely singing despite being only three years of age. I love the 2019 Acumen Wines ‘Edcora Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which is highly nervy and structured, with gobs of dark fruits and non-fruit flavor that will be sure to satisfy any serious collector of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Learn more about the new Acumen wines and learn more at https://www.acumenwine.com. Here are my reviews of the new Acumen Wines.

2019 Acumen Wines ‘Peak Attelas Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 Acumen ‘Peak Attelas Vineyard’ blends nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (91%) with the remainder Malbec. An inky dark color once in the glass, this revels in wet grave and stony undertones alongside a great core of dark fruits with black florals on the nose. The palate is round and elegant with silky tannins that frame a deep core of dark currant, tobacco leaf, espresso grounds and smoky minerals. The wonderful sense of length and viscosity adds to the enjoyment, as this beautiful new Cabernet Sauvignon is best enjoyed over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2036- 95

2019 Acumen Wines ‘Edcora Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Edcora Vineyard’ is set roughly a half mile from the Atttelas Vineyard, as this site neighbors the famed ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ high up on Atlas Peak. This 2019 Acumen ‘Edcora Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is entirely comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, as this reveals Asian spice aromatics that collide with anise, cassis cordial, mocha and scorched earthy undertones. The palate is very refined and elegant with ripe dark fruit flavors that meld well with worn leather, graphite and Turkish coffee. Layered and rich, this is outstanding wine to enjoy now — and be sure to give this an hour in the decanter if enjoying in its full-throttle youth. Drink 2022–2040- 96

Champagne Christophe Baron

I love great champagne — especially great champagne in magnum. Champagne Christophe Baron are all zero dosage bottlings that showcase Pinot Meunier. You won’t find Pinot Meunier like this in the world. Very few producers utilize this varietal other than Charles Mignon, as well as MV Krug (usually has a high PM percentage), and Egly-Ouriet. The body and richness from this varietal, as well as earthy tones, really shines through.

Christophe Baron was born into an exceedingly long line of Champagne vignerons, with a history that dates back as far as 1677. He trained in Avize (Champagne) and Beaune before moving to the United States and founding one of North America’s iconic brands, Cayuse Vineyards. Baron’s estate in champagne includes 3 hectares (7.5 acres) surrounding the villages of Charly-sur-Marne, Crouttes-sur-Marne and the hamlet of Porteron, and its vineyard holdings are made up of only very old parcels of Pinot Meunier. These are a big and bold, beautifully textured style of champagne that are best captured in

A Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc glass, or a Riedel tasting glass.  They also need a lot of time when opened and I recommend letting them sit for at least 30 minutes prior to consuming. Finally, make sure to not serve these wines cold. They are best served at 42-45 degrees — or warmer!

I love the new 2017 wines which come from a vintage which started brilliantly and then had a series of dry and very hot weather during the summer which led to ripeness issues for some.  These are wines that are more on the flamboyant side, that show a gorgeous combination of texture and finesse. And they get much better with a little air. Here are my tasting notes of the glorious new 2017s champagnes by Champagne Christophe Baron and learn more at https://champagnechristophebaron.com/

2017 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Les Hauts Blanches Vignes’ Champagne- Deeply yellow with a gorgeous bouquet, the 2017 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Les Hauts Blanches’ Champagne comes from a very low-yielding crop in this vintage. Bergamot and marzipan tones dance on with honeydew melon on the nose. The palate is rich and concentrated with a silky mousse and seamless experience mid-palate. Finishing exceedingly long this is generous, gratifying Pinot Meunier champagne that has some serious cellaring potential. Give this about 30 minutes of air to take in the full range of flavors and aromatics. Drink 2022-2038- 96

2017 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Le Dessus Du Bois Marie’ Champagne- Just as richly hued, the 2017 ‘Le Dessus Du Bois Marie’ exudes class with baking spice dusted French bread, toasted hazelnuts and brandy soaked pear tones on the nose. Rich and powerful on the mouth, with a soft and inviting mousse, this displays outstanding length and tension, with wet gravel undercurrents. Tightly wound, with serious aging potential, give this at least 30 minutes to unwind prior to consuming. Drink 2022-2038- 95

2017 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Les Alouettes’ Champagne- The scintillating Brut Nature ‘Les Alouettes’ really needs about an hour of air to fully get going. Once on the nose this takes on bright orchard and citrus fruits that collide with shades of allspice and clove. Plump and round on the mouth, the dazzling minerality really impresses. White peach, ginger dusted pastry crust and salty/stony undercurrents round out this incredible new wine that will cellar well for decades to come. The combination of finesse, range and weight makes this exceedingly hard to put down once opened. Drink 2022-2038- 96

Bodega Beronia

In the early 2000s I admired tasting the wines of Beronia — particularly their Gran Reserva wines that came from the mid to late 1990s. Bodega Beronia has always been relatively easy to find in the United States and the continue that trend today as many of these wines can be found in Pacific Northwest wine shops and grocery stores. Bodega Beronia is surrounded by 25 hectares of estate vineyards and their team control a massive 870 hectares of vineyards situated within a 10km radius of the winery in the Rioja Alta region of La Rioja. The average age of these vineyards is 30 years and more than 50 hectares of their plantings exceed 60 years of age. Beronia winemaker Matias Calleja, has been at the winery for nearly 40 years. He has left a massive imprint on all of Rioja and I love his new range wines which all show really good value.

I love the new 2017 Bodega Beronia ‘Crianza’ Rioja (OB, 90) which is an amazing value wine to buy by the case. For a decadent treat, look to the 2013 Bodega Beronia ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja (OB, 93) which is deep and concentrated with beautiful finesse and a great range of red and dark fruit flavors. Learn more about this special estate at http://www.beronia.com Here are the great new wines by Bodega Beronia.

2019 Bodega Beronia ‘Tempranillo’ Rioja- The 2019 Bodega Beronia ‘Tempranillo’ Rioja delivers straightforward cranberry, red cherry and tobacco leaf flavors. A bit on the lighter side, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2022-2025- 88

2017 Bodega Beronia ‘Crianza’ Rioja- Very soft on the mouth, the really good 2017 Bodega Beronia ‘Crianza’ Rioja offers ripe red plum, cigar ash and red currant flavors with citrus rind accents on the palate. Lighter to medium-bodied, this shows great finesse and will be best enjoyed over the next five years. Drink 2022-2027- 90

2017 Bodega Beronia ‘Reserva’ Rioja- Serioiusly good, the 2017 Bodega Beronia ‘Reserva’ Rioja is an outstanding effort that has only begun to hit its stride. The palate shows very bright acidity with good length and texture. Rich red and dark fruits march on with pipe tobacco, worn leather and cinnamon and cloves. Gorgeous now, enjoy this beauty over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2013 Bodega Beronia ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja- Stored in French oak barrels for more than five years, the 2013 Bodega Beronia ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja opens with  black cherry compote, roasted figs and menthol tones on the palate. Showing seriously good viscosity and tension, with more air layers of black currants and Asian spices emerge, as this finishes exceedingly long. Enjoy this gorgeous effort over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037-  93

Hundred Suns

Years back Grand Coulter and Renee Saint-Amour left their jobs in California and moved to Oregon to focus on making Oregon wine and eventually building their own brand. Grant first worked as assistant winemaker at Hamacher wines and then spent the bulk of 10 years as assistant winemaker and then winemaker at Beaux Freres. Then in 2015 they both sold their Portland house and bought a house in the Willamette Valley to start their project, Hundred Suns. Grant became winemaker for Flaneur Wines and in 2018 they bought a 4.5 acre property in the Eola-Amity hills.

Hundred Suns wines have been remarkably consistent over the past several years and I love the style of winemaking that Grant employs.  He is making some sensational wines now from the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. I loved the new 2020 Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which shows sensational range and a smooth texture. Even better is the  incredible 2020 Hundred Suns ‘Cabernet Syrah’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is gorgeous to consume right now with a light effervescence and stony qualities. Learn more about these great wines at hundredsunswine.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Hundred Suns.

2020 Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Chardonnay- Sourced from mostly the Koosah and Three Cedars Vineyards, the 2020 ‘Old Eight Cut’ Chardonnay was aged in a small portion  (15%) of new oak barrels prior to bottling. Kumquat zest, vanilla cream and salted sourdough bread tones all brilliantly combine on the palate. Very smooth and opulent on the mouth, with loads of lip-smacking acidity. this is a spectacular effort considering the challenges of the vintage. Serve slightly warmer to take in the gorgeous range of flavors. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 Hundred Suns ‘Breaker Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Breaker Vineyard’ was planted back in 1972 as original cutting from this site came from Dick Erath. This is the last vintage from this site before a replant was made. Very stony and salty on thermos, this yields volcanic soils and peat moss tones alongside very pretty guava and cranberry accents. The palate is fresh and very fines-driven with layers of beautiful tart red fruits that meld well with shades of wet stone, menthol and garrigue. Delicious to consume now, this complex and delicious bottling will shine on for another fifteen years to come. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2020 Hundred Suns ‘The Rocks District’ Syrah- Sourced from the River Rock Vineyard, this was stored in a combination of terracotta amphora and neutral French oak before bottling in August 2021. Violets, smoked brisket and white pepper dusted bacon all fill the nose. The palate is soft and elegant with smooth tannins that line a core of ripe dark fruits with smoldering stones and garrigue notes. Drink 2022-2028- 94

2020 Hundred Suns ‘Cabernet Syrah’ Red Wine- A blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) with the remainder Syrah from the River Rock Vineyard, this comes off very stony on the nose with boysenberry compote, iodine and shades of red rose petals. The palate is push and voluptuous with a seamless texture and great sense of weight. Finishing long with stony tones and rich dark fruits, this gorgeous wine will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another six years. Drink 2022-2028- 94

Lingua Franca

One of the standout producers of Oregon Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Lingua Franca was founded by Larry Stone and David Honig. Earlier this year the winery was sold to Constellation Brands and this will be an exciting development for the future. At the helm is Thomas Savre who is one of the state’s finest winemakers. As this winery expands it will be very interesting to see how these wines develop. Savre crafts very age worthy wines that show good richness and tension. I’ve had the chance to taste some older wines and have been really impressed with their aging potential.

The new wines come from the very challenging 2020 vintage — one where many producers opted not to produce Pinot Noir due to smoke issues at harvest. The wines that Savre produced might not be the most ageworthy on the Pinot Noir side but are a stunning accomplishment — some of the best Pinot Noirs that I have tasted from this vintage. I would drink these 2020 Pinot Noirs over the next five years.

Check out the gorgeous 2020 Lingua Franca ‘Sisters’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is vibrant with a seamless sense of mouthfeel. Just as good is the 2020 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is rich and viscous with great range. Learn more about Lingua Franca at https://www.linguafranca.wine Here are the beautiful new releases by Lingua Franca.

2021 Lingua Franca Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes sourced in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, this fantastic new Rose offers kiwi, starfruit and wet stone with salty undertone on the palate. With more air this becomes more and more complex. Finishing long and beautifully textured, enjoy over the next six plus years. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2020 Lingua Franca ‘Chers Amis’ Chardonnay- The really good ‘Chers Amis’ was sourced from a selection of Clone 548 Chardonnay grown at the Lingua Franca Estate. This offers wet stone, white peach and starfruit tones aromatically, with shades of sourdough bread.

The palate is generous and round with plenty of tension and salty undertones. Complex and delicious to consume now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Lingua Franca ‘Sisters’ Chardonnay- The wine is named after Larry Stone’s mother and aunt who both grew up on a farm and vineyard and remained close throughout their 90 years of life. Very flinty tones combine with ripe pear and shades of toasted French bread on the nose. The palate is lithe and polished with gobs of finesse and lovely Meyer lemon rind, baking spice dusted Challah bread and salty undertones. The terroir here is seriously good, as this beautiful wine is shining brightly now and will live on for another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Lingua Franca ‘Inspiras’ Chardonnay- Coming from a neighboring vineyard of the Lingua Franca Estate, the 2020 Lingua Franca ‘Inspiras’ is a barrel selection wine in which nearly two thirds of their crop was removed. The 2020 Chardonnay delivers toasty oak with banana, marzipan and suggestions of white cherry on the nose. The palate shows good viscosity and richness, reveling in wonderful veil of tension and stony accents. The very lengthy finish complete this beautiful wine that is only now starting to come into its own. Give this a one hour decant if enjoying now. Drink 2022-2035- 94

2020 Lingua Franca ‘Novo Vino’ Pinot Noir- The bright 2020 Lingua Franca ‘Novo Vino’ Pinot Noir shows crunchy pomegranate and cranberry flavors with menthol and stony undertones. Nicely textured, enjoy over the next several years. Drink 2022-2029- 91

2020 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Pinot Noir- Very complex and delicious to consume right now, the 2020 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Pinot Noir is one of the finest Pinot Noir wines that I have tasted from this vintage. Beautifully textured, this shows wonderful smoldering stone tones alongside ripe Yakima cherry, orange blossom water, guava and cinnamon sticks. Round and generous, with a seamless mouthfeel, this is gorgeous wine to consume now and over the next five to seven years — no reason to wait on this beauty. Drink 2022-2030- 93

HALL White Wines and Rose

As temperatures begin to warm up I always look forward to Rose season. While you might know HALL for their glorious lineup of Cabernet Sauvignons, you might not know that they make some top notch white wines and Rose. HALL was created in1992 by Katheryn and Craig Hall, and over time they built one of Napa’s most beautiful, state of the art, wineries that is quite simply a must visit for any serious Napa enophile. HALL’s St. Helena estate is a must visit for anyone going to the Napa Valley. 

HALL also have two separate lines, WALT (focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) and BACA (focusing on Zinfandel) that are seriously good in their own right. These brands have performed remarkably well since their inception. The BACA line in particular offers very serious value. Probably the best canned wine I have tasted in the past year is the really good 2021 BACA ‘Ring Around The Rose’ Rose (OB, 90) which is made from Zinfandel grapes and is beautifully textured. Don’t miss out on the new 2021 HALL ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 91) which shows gobs of finesse and really good flavor range. Check out more about these great wines at hallwines.com Here are the fantastic new release wines by HALL.

2021 HALL ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2021 ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from a host of Napa Valley vineyards, as this reveals bright kiwi, starfruit and orange blossom tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is soft and inviting with a seamless texture and bright veil of tension. Great to enjoy now, serve slightly warmer to savor the really good range of flavors and aromas. Drink 2022-2027- 91

2021 WALT Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, the 2021 WALT Rose was sourced from a host of appellations in California, as this saignee method wine opens with white rose, wild strawberry and suggestions of nectarine on the nose. The palate is inviting with delicate red fruits, tangerine zest and honeydew melon flavors that mingle with the bright acidity. Enjoy this outstanding new Rose over the next several years. Drink 2022-2027- 91

2021 BACA ‘Ring Around The Rose’ Rose- The 2021 BACA ‘Ring Around The Rose’ Rose is uniquely crafted from Zinfandel grapes and was stored in natural oak before being canned. This is not your typical canned Rose, as this bursts out of the glass, revealing strawberry Starburst candy, watermelon and lemon blossom aromas. The palate shows a very soft texture with delicate red fruit flavors that mingle well with orange rind and bergamot undertones. Drink 2022-2025- 90

Cho Wines

Asian-Americans are massively underrepresented in winemaking and in winery ownership. Lois Cho is the innovative CEO/founder of Cho Wines. Dave Cho who is Cho Wines founder/winemaker was introduced to the world of winemaking while performing music at local wineries in southern California and grew his passion for the trade while meditating with monks in Burgundy and sipping through California and beyond.

Cho moved his family from California to Oregon to pursue a career in the wine industry and has a degree in Enology & Viticulture from Oregon State University. While in Oregon Cho trained at Argyle Winery as well as Stoller Family Estate. In 2020 he finally made his own label of wines. He is the first Korean-American winemaker in Oregon.

I was very impressed with this new set of wines. Both the Pet-Nats he made were well-intentioned and delicious. 2020 brought less than ideal growing conditions with the smoke issues at harvest. However, Cho has crafted a beautiful 2020 Cho Wines ‘Laurel Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 90) which is fresh and vibrant with a smooth texture and lovely salty tones. The best wine I tasted was his 2015 Cho Wines ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 91) which spent a whopping 60 months tirage and exudes class with its delicate red fruit flavors. Learn more at getchowines.com and here are my reviews of the new Cho Wines.

2021 Cho Wines ‘Settler’s Hill’ Petillant-Natural- Made from Pinot Gris grapes, this offers juicy melon and white raisin flavors alongside kiwi on the palate. While the mousse is a bit out of balance, the flavors and salty undercurrents really sing. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2021 Cho Wines ‘Laurel Vineyard’ Petillant-Naturel- This good value and well-executed Pinot Noir Pet Nat delivers delicate red fruit flavors with rose water and salty notes on the palate. Enjoy over the next few years — preferably in the hot sun. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2021 Cho Wines ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Sparkling Wine- Sourced from the Laurel Vineyard, this sparkling wine utilizes Pommard, as well as 114, 115 and 777 clonal selections. Given 3 G/L dosage, this was stored on the lees for 60 months prior to disgorgement. A very pretty light hue, this dances on the palate with plenty of minerality, despite the heat of the vintage. Red raspberry, teaberry and shades of wild mushroom all combine with saline drenched red currants on the palate. Enjoy this well-made sparkling wine over the next seven plus years. Drink 2022-2029- 91

2021 Cho Wines ‘Laurel Vineyard’ Pinot Noir Blanc- Pear and gooseberry notes fill the nose alongside roasted hazelnut tones. The palate is fresh with a soft texture and comes off a touch sour with kumquat zest and sourdough bread tones. Enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2022-2026- 89

2019 Cho Wines ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Aged for 10 months in 20% new French oak, the 2019 Cho Wines ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir was sourced from the  offers red plum, red raspberry and baking spice tones on the palate. A touch on the lighter side, enjoy this linear Pinot Noir over the next several years. Drink 2022-2027- 89

2020 Cho Wines ‘Laurel Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2020 Cho Wines ‘Laurel Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was sourced from this site in the Laurelwood District, and spent 11 months in oak prior to bottling. Juicy and ripe red fruits greet you, with salted cinnamon and orange rind accents on the palate. Enjoy this excellent effort from what was a very challenging vintage over the next few years. Drink 2022-2027- 90

Chateau Miraval

Today we share one of the great Hollywood stories that lands us in Provence. A marvelous combination of Hollywood drama and great wine, Chateau Miraval is a highly scenic 1,200 acre estate in Provence, which was founded by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Married at Miraval, Pitt and Jolie prior to their split lived there since 2008. The property boasts pine forests, olive groves, terraced hillsides, working vineyards, a private lake  as well as a moat. Much of the chateau dates back to 17th century, including 35 rooms in the main house as well as several tenant residences.The estate also contains remains of a Romanesque chapel, as well as the famed vineyard from which the Miraval Rose comes from. The recording studio at Miraval has housed some famous musicians including personal favorites Sting and The Cranberries (R.I.P. Dolores O’ Riordan). 

Purchased in 2012 for an estimated $60 million, records indicate that in 1252 philosopher and theologian Saint Thomas Aquinas visited the Miraval estate. The vineyard itself is very large, Jean-Pierre and Francois Perrin are the iconic vintners behind this great Rose wine that produce white and rose wine from the 500 hectare property.  They produce a ton of Rose (roughly 200,000 bottles) and despite the quantity of wine produced, the quality of the wine has been apparently throughout the past five vintages. The 2021 Miraval Rose (OB, 92) is one of the great vintages of this wine that I have tasted, as the quality seemingly continues to increase. This is a dazzling Rose with great nuance and texture. Learn more about Miraval at http://miraval-provence.com/en/ Here are the new Miraval wine reviews.

2021 Chateau Miraval ‘Studio by Miraval’ Rose- The really good 2021 ‘Studio by Miraval’ offers white peach and lychee notes alongside delicate red fruits with stony undertones on the nose. Really well-balanced, with good poise and a smooth mouthfeel, this is delicious Rose that is downright killer for the price. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2021 Chateau Miraval Rose- The beautiful 2021 Chateau Miraval Rose was sourced from their best parcels (Muriers, Longue, Romarin), as well as from a selection of vineyards close to the village of Correns. A blend of Cinsault, Rolle, Grenache and Syrah, this reveals beautiful gardenia notes alongside wild strawberry and guava notes with Mandarin orange rind aromatics that all take shape in the glass. Very soft and round on the mouth, this reveals in its wet stone, green papaya, wild mushroom and dazzling array of red fruit flavors. Enjoy this at a warmer temperature to take in the sensational range of aromatics and flavors. Drink 2022-2029- 92

DeLille Cellars Rose Vertical Tasting

Inspired by Bandol, DeLille Cellars has been consistently producing some of the finest Rose wines in the Pacific Northwest. Their first vintage of Rose was back in 2008 when few people were spending considerable time making Rose. At that time Rose was seen as an afterthought in our state and a wine that could be easily sold at wineries. DeLille helped change this trend by focusing on a richer and more complex style of Rose that can stand the test of time well.
Tasting with DeLille Director of Winemaking Jason Gorski, we were both impressed with the aging potential of some of these wines. I think we were both surprised with how the 2015 DeLille Rose (OB, 91) had held. This wine had great weight and was beautifully mature with tertiary tones really shining brightly. Utterly fabulous right now, the 2019 DeLille Rose (OB, 93) oozes with class, with bright tension and very pretty red fruits. This beauty is going to last for another six plus years. Learn more about this storied Washington winery at delillecellars.com and here are my tasting notes from the DeLille Cellars Rose Vertical Tasting.

2015 DeLille Cellars Rose- A blend of 53% Grenache with 34% Mouvedre and the remainder Cinsault, this shows off wild mushroom and bergamot with melon fruits and strawberry on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with surprisingly good acidity and wonderfully earthy tones. This is mature Washington Rose that is shockingly good considering the heat of the vintage. Drink 2022-2025- 91

2017 DeLille Cellars Rose- Presenting with slightly less damp earth, and wonderfully bright, the 2017 DeLille Cellars Rose is a sensational wine by Jason Gorski. The palate is ultra-bright with vibrant minerality. Guava puree, white grapefruit and shades of cremini mushroom all come together magically on the palate, with stony minerals. The combination of weight and finesse deftly walks the tightrope here. Drink 2022-2028- 93

2019 DeLille Cellars Rose- A blend of 47% Grenache, 45% Mouvedre and just a touch of Cinsault. This vintage was the first to have included Red Heaven Vineyard Mourvedre and no Mourvedre from Stone Tree Vineyard. The wine is considerably more bright than the 2017 or 2015. The texture is outstanding here and bright with very pretty red cherry, red raspberry and shades of thyme. Complex and utterly delicious, warm this up a bit for more mouthfeel and serious length. Drink 2022-2028- 93

2020 DeLille Cellars Rose- The 2020 DeLille Cellars Rose is really hitting its stride now one year in the bottle. This blends 52% Mourvedre with 43% Grenache and a touch of Cinsault. This is already beautifully evolved, with serious weight and rocking earthy tones. Wild mushroom and forest floor flavor combine with ripe Yakima cherry and honeydew melon flavors. The weight is outstanding here as this beautifully evolved wine is best consumed over the next few years. Drink 2022-2026- 92

2021 DeLille Cellars Rose- Showing off a more orange hue, the 2021 DeLille Cellars is a silky blend of 49% Grenache with 46% Mourvedre and the remainder Cinsault. Aromatically very vibrant this reveals salmonberry and ripe melon tones that combine with shades of nectarine skin. The palate displays dazzling finesse with a soft mouthfeel. The pretty red fruits from the Grenache is really shining through here. Dazzling at this juncture, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2022-2030- 93

Corison

For those who enjoy Napa with balance, look no further. First founded in 1987, Cathy Coison at the time began buying Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from prime vineyards between Rutherford and St. Helena. Her first wines were made at other spaces that she rented out and she later purchased the Kronos Vineyard in 1995 which was a historic property that had been a farm for over a century and she finally built her estate vineyard as well as the spot for her winery. She then later purchased the Sunbasket Vineyard in 2015 to add to her lineup, as this site is right by the winery.

These have been a pillar of consistency and aging potential. Corison has master’s degree from the famed Enology program at UC Davis and has previously served as Chappellet winemaker prior to starting her own winery. Corison is known for her classic style of creating a Bordelaise, more restrained style to Napa wines.

I adored the ne 2019 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is dense and shows incredible structure and aging potential. Even better is the head-turning 2019 Corison ‘Helios’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 96)) which is even more dense and brooding, with tremendous celling potential.  Learn more at https://corison.com/ Here is my review of her 2019 wines.

2019 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2019 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful effort that really needs an hour of air prior to consuming. Once aroused this reveals dark currant and espresso bean aromas alongside suggestions of kirsch cordial and wet stone with black florals. The palate is utterly seamless throughout the drinking experience with no rough edges. Finishing long with graphite and black fruits, this downright delicious, weightless effort will surely live on for another two decades. Drink 2022-2042- 95

2019 Corison ‘Sunbasket Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2019 ‘Sunbasket Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a dense and decadent effort with serious aging potential. Once on the nose this takes on layers of Turkish coffee, pencil lead and deep dark fruits with violets. The heady aromas bring you back to the glass. Ripe and plump on the mouth, this leads with a decadent core of black and blue fruits, with espresso grounds and wet stone undercurrents. Chalked full of finesse, and finishing long, this a stunning wine that is sure to satisfy over the next two decades.  Drink 2022-2045- 97

2019 Corison ‘Helios Sunbasket Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc-  Sourced from the ‘Helios Vineyard’ this opens with ebullient aromas of red rose petals, cigar ash, red bell pepper and marionberry preserves. The palate is mineral-driven and rich, with a seamless texture. Very pretty, with a rich core of red and dark fruits, with graphite and herbal undertones, this outstanding wine is already nicely evolved. Give this at least an hour of air if enjoying in its bright youth. Drink 2022-2042- 96

Echolands

Echolands

Today we explore one of the most exciting new wineries in the Walla Walla Valley. Founded by Brad Bergman and Doug Frost, MW, MS, Echolands continue to release a beautiful set of wines. Frost has an illustrious wine career, and is one of three individuals in the world to hold simultaneously the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier titles, achieving his MS in 1991 and MW in 1993. He also authored ‘The Spanish Wine Guide (third edition 2009’) and is a contributing editor of the Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails.

Winemaker Taylor Oswalt is a fellow Whitman College alumnus, who previously was winemaker at Mark Ryan and has worked harvests at a host of great Washington wineries. Taylor also has a masters in wine microbiology from Washington State University.

Planted in May 2019, the Echolands Estate ‘Taggart Vineyard’ is an exciting site that had only ever been used for pasture and wheat lands since its settlement in the mid-19th century. Set on deep Loess soils, this will be an exciting development to see the wines from this new site.

The new releases are sourced from some great vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley including the Seven Hills Vineyards. I love the new 2021 Echolands Rose (OB, 91) which is brilliant with its tension filled body and wonderful melon fruit flavors. This is perfect for a hot day. I love the new 2019 Echolands ‘Robrum’ Red Wine (OB, 92) which is built for the cellar with its fantastic structure and dense mouthfeel. Learn more about this fantastic new project at echolandswinery.com Here are my reviews of he beautiful new wines that I tasted from Echolands.

2021 Echolands Rose- Sourced from the Blue Mountain Vineyard high atop the Walla Walla Valley, this pale colored 2021 Rose offers delicate red fruits, melon and red floral tones aromatically. The palate is very polished and soft on the mouth, with good length and bright acidity. With no rough edges, this bright and well-structured Rose drinks best at a slightly cooler temperature. Drink 2022-2026- 91

2019 Echolands ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- Smoky and savory aromas captivate, with suggestions of garrigue and smoked pork shoulder alongside black currants. The palate is very fresh and finesse-driven with medium bodied black fruit flavors alongside shades of cran-orange and menthol. For the cultured palate, the bright acidity suggests this would pair with a very wide range of foods. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2019 Echolands ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- The outstanding  and nicely structured 2019 Echolands ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc has 3% Merlot blended in. Medium-bodied, this displays a light saline streak that runs through the core of bay leaf, blackberry compote and flinty undercurrents. Drink 2022-2032- 91

2019 Echolands ‘Rubrum’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Rubrum’ is a left bank inspired blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon with 37% Merlot and smaller parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Black raspberry and black tea notes combine with shades of cloves and wet gravel on the nose. The palate shows a soft texture with medium-bodied dark fruit flavors with shades of chocolate and pipe tobacco. Delicious to consume now, this will live on for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2035- 92

FIGGINS

Today we share one of the legends of Washington wine. Chris Figgins is one of the great talents of the Pacific Northwest, taking over for his father at Leonetti Cellar back in 2002. What was originally a wheat farm, the 32 acre Figgins Estate Vineyard was first planted in 2004 is set at 1750 feet. This site will soon have a full cave built that I can’t wait to check out. The first vintage of FIGGINS was 2008 and the wines from the vineyard just get better and better. Over time Chris wanted to make a world class Riesling and over the years he has succeeded in creating some of the finest Rieslings you will find in the state.

Made in the Trocken style, the Riesling is bone dry and is beautifully textured in the Grosses Gewachs style with serious texture. Do not miss out on the scintillating 2021 Figgins Estate Riesling (OB, 93) is a ‘Trocken’ style wine that has an opulent mouthfeel, reminiscent of a great Rheingau Grosses Gewachs. This wine has great cellaring potential. Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.figginswine.com and here is my review of the gorgeous new Riesling by Figgins Estate.

2021 FIGGINS Riesling- One of the finest Riesling bottlings you will taste in Washington, the 2021 FIGGINS Riesling revels in its golden hue once in the glass. Shades of petrol, wet stone and salted green apple combine with kumquat blossom on the nose. The palate is beautifully textured, with serious minerality and viscosity. Layers of white peach, ginger, Japanese pear and sourdough bread combine with flinty underpinnings. Seriously good to consume now, this will have a long life ahead of it, gaining earthy and nutty tones as it cellars. Drink 2022-2030- 93

Pepper Bridge and Amavi

Friends, today we share one of the jewels of the Walla Walla Valley, as well as one of the most beautiful wineries in the region to visit. Pepper Bridge and Amavi are sister wineries that are led by eminent winemaker Jean-Francois Pellet. While Pepper Bridge focuses on high quality Bordeaux varietals, Amavi gives Pellet a creative license to make everything from Rose to now a Rocks District Syrah. Both wineries are small and family owned as they source from some of the valley’s great vineyards such as Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Les Collines. Jean-François Pellet is a third-generation winemaker and grape grower.

I’ve tasted at Amavi and Pepper Bridge for more than 10 years, and I have found remarkable consistency in their red and white wines. Amavi makes awesome Semillon that rivals the best in North America. Their new 2021 Amavi Semillon (OB, 92) is round and beautiful stuff to drink even in its youth. I adored the new 2021 Amavi Rose (OB, 92) which is 100% Cabernet Franc and also really needs to be enjoyed at a warmer temperature. Learn more about Pepper Bridge and Amavi at http://www.amavicellars.com as well as pepperbridge.com and here are the great new release wines from Amavi and Pepper Bridge.

2021 Amavi Semillon- The 2021 Amavi Semilon was sourced from mainly the esteemed Les Collines Vineyard, as this Semillon has 14% Sauvignon Blanc blended in. Entirely aged in neutral oak, this delivers white flowers and Marcona almond tones alongside white peach and suggestions of honeydew melon. Very soft on the mouth, with bright acidity, this is already showing brilliantly in its youth. Drink 2022-20270- 92

2021 Pepper Bridge Sauvignon Blanc- Done in a very fresh style, winemaker Jean-Francois Pellet only used one new oak barrel on this wine (aged in 67% used French oak). Right now the nutty tones from the 12% Semillon is really popping with shades of cashew nut alongside green papaya and mango. Very exotic and beautifully textured, this is a stunning effort that is already quite nicely evolved. Drink 2022-2027- 93

2021 Amavi Rose- jean-Francois Pellet has bene making this 100% Cabernet Franc wine since 2005 which was stainless steel aged. Once on the nose this shows off beautiful red rose petal tones alongside shades of melon, red cherry and suggestions of guava puree that all dance together in the glass. With just a kiss of sweetness, this finishes very clean and long with a seamless texture. Gorgeous to consume now, the combination of weight and finesse suggests some good aging potential. Drink 2022-2028- 93

2019 Amavi Cellars ‘Stone Valley’ Syrah- Sourced from the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA, this Syrah opens with umami notes that combine with wet stone and green olive tapenade, making this distinctly Rocks District. The palate is heady and refined with great tension and texture. Layers of boysenberry fruits combine with wet rock, Nori and salty tilled soils. This is downright delicious wine to consume now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2019 Amavi Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The 2019 Amavi Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah offers smoked pork shoulder and white pepper dusted black fruits on the nose, with shades of garrigue. The palate is concentrated and delicious, with rich creme de violette, pipe tobacco and wild blackberry flavors. Enjoy over the next eight to ten years. . . but why wait? Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 Amavi Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Outstanding to consume in its heady youth, the 2019 Amavi Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers herbal accents on the nose with red bell pepper, sage, and blackberry cordial. The palate is well-balanced and viscous with rich dark fruit flavors that meld well with garrigue and mocha notes. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Amavi Cellars ‘Ceres’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Ceres’ blends 53% Cabernet Franc with the remainder Malbec. Densely colored in the glass, this offers rich dark fruit flavors with tobacco leaf, chocolate and coffee grounds. Well-structured and full-bodied, this is delicious wine to consume now and over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2019 Pepper Bridge Merlot-The 2019 Pepper Bridge Merlot has a relatively large portion of Cabernet Franc (15%) and Malbec (8%) blended in, as this was aged in 44% new French oak before bottling. Very sturdy and well-structured, this offers a wall of rich kirsch and black raspberry flavors, with flinty and salty undertones. Enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2022-2035- 92

2019 Pepper Bridge ‘Trine’ Red Wine- The 2019 Pepper Bridge ‘Trine’ is a blend of 43% Cabernet Franc and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Sourced mostly from the Seven Hills Vineyard, this delivers sandalwood and red bell pepper notes alongside rich dark fruits and espresso bean on the nose. The palate is very lithe and polished with a silky texture. Finishing long with black fruits and salty minerals, this is a fantastic Washington red blend that will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2019 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from mostly the Seven Hills, Octave and Pepper Bridge Vineyards, this 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in 55% new French oak prior to bottling. Inky in the glass, the wine shows off heady dark currant and tobacco leaf flavor alongside shades of anise. The palate reveals plenty of flavor density despite the coolness of the vintage. Rich and layered, with firm tannins and a greta acid backbone, this is delicious, well-structured wine that will cellar well for another fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2023-2039- 94

2019 Pepper Bridge ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine- A delicious blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 12% Cabernet Franc, with small portions Malbec and Petit Verdot, the 2019 Pepper Bridge ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine is a gorgeous new effort by the talented Jean-Francois Pellet. Once on the nose this takes on violets with blackberry compete and creme de cassis aromas that sing in unison. The palate is polished and refined with firm tannins that frame a deep core of black fruits. Really good now, try to resist this beauty for at least another year. Drink 2023-2039- 94

2019 Pepper Bridge ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2019 Pepper Bridge ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine combines near equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, with 8% Petit Verdot. Aged in 57% new French oak, this unveils ripe boysenberry and chocolate covered espresso bean aromas alongside suggestions of black rose petals and wet gravel. Once on the mouth, this is very elegant with silky tannins that mingle well with heady dark fruit and Turkish coffee flavors. Finishing long with black cherry and minerals, this is delicious wine that is best enjoyed in a year or two. Drink 2023-2039- 94

Melville

Still fully under the radar, Melville is one of outstanding producers of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah in the Santa Rita Hills. I first visited this property back in 2003 and was blown away with the quality of wines for the price. This house has really been a pillar of consistency over the years. This outstanding property has had Chad Melville at its helm for several years after being under Greg Brewer’s guidance. Chad has been crafting some absolutely stunning wines and has created his unique winemaking style. I absolutely love the saline-driven terroir that he is able to mold into his wines. He not only makes the wines but also helps farm his 82 acre property at Melville. 

Melville’s vineyards were first planted in 1996 by his father Ron Melville and his brothers which was quite unique at the time. The vineyard was planted to 14 different clones of Pinot Noir and 4 different clones of Chardonnay, as well as Syrah and Viognier. The new releases by Chad Melville were simply gorgeous across the board, none more so than the 2021 Melville Rose (OB, 91) which shows a beautiful astringency and comes off very refined and subtle. I love the new 2020 Melville ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is such a bargain at this price it is a must purchase by the case. I adored the new 2020 Melville ‘Block M’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which his big and beautiful with its intense core of fruits and veil of salinity. Learn more about this outstanding producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah at http://melvillewinery.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by Melville. 

2021 Melville Rose- Made from estate Grenache grapes, this was aged in largely neutral oak prior to bottling. The aromatic range is really good from melon fruits to red florals and damp earth tones. Crisp and bone dry, this shows off bight acidity and a silky texture. This is delicious stuff to consume right now. Drink 2022-2026- 91

2020 Melville ‘Santa Rita Hills Estate’ Pinot Noir- Entirely aged in neutral oak for twelve months,  this has 17 different clones blended in. Gorgeous red currants, red florals and red cherry candy all mark the nose, with salty undertones. The palate is rich and layered with soft tannins that frame a great core of saline dusted red fruits. Finishing long, this will easily hold for another decade. Drink 2022-20232- 93

2020 Melville ‘Sandy’s Block’ Pinot Noir- This site is roughly 5 acres which is a sandy site located on the Eastside of the property. This saw roughly 30% stem inclusion and was aged for fifteen months in neural oak before bottling. Very salty on the nose from the terroir, this evokes smoky undertones with the sandy soils and citrus blossom tones alongside pomegranate seed. The palate is vibrant and fresh with serious tension. Very pretty red guava and cranberry flavors collide with the salty soils on the palate. Enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Melville ‘Anna’s Block’ Pinot Noir- This is sourced from an eight acre portion on the westside of the property, utilizing Dijon clone 114 and 667. This spent fifteen months in neutral oak prior to bottling, using roughly 50% stem inclusion. Garrigue notes combine with salty soils and beautiful red cherry and red rose petals on the nose. The mouthfeel is big and bold from the stem inclusion. Deeply concenterated, this has gobs of mouth-watering acidity which brings you back to the glass for more. Drink 2022-2034- 94

2020 Melville ‘Terraces’ Pinot Noir- The 2020 Melville ‘Terraces’ Pinot Noir is crafted from five clonal selections, as this saw roughly 50% whole cluster fermentation and then was stored in neutral oak for fifteen months prior to bottling. The palate is beautifully balanced with light tannins that hold in place a core of black raspberry, teaberry and salty soils. Complex and delicious, consume this beauty over the next decade. Drink 2022-2033- 93

2020 Melville ‘Block M’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Block M’ combines Dijon clonal selections 114 and 115 and spent 80% whole cluster fermentation. Showing off a deeper core than any of the Pinot Noirs, this revels in more black fruits also than the other wines, with black cherry compote, scorched earth and fresh sage. Powerful and intense, this really needs another year in the bottle to be fully aroused — but what potential!  Drink 2023-2040- 95

2020 Melville ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Syrah- The 2020 Melville ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Syrah saw 40% whole cluster fermentation and was crafted from 7 different Syrah clones. Super stony, this shows wet stone and iodine tones with beef drippings and a dusting of white pepper. The palate is rich and viscous with great verve and viscosity. Salty and very savory, this beautiful wine is already beautifully evolved. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2020 Melville ‘Donna’s Block Barrel Sample’ Syrah- (93-95)

2020 Melville ‘Santa Rita Hills Estate’ Chardonnay- Aged in neutral oak, the 2020 Melville ‘Santa Rita Hills Estate’ Chardonnay is a stunning new wine by Chad Melville. Once on the nose this takes on layers of saline drenched Japanese pear, white peach, brioche and shades of toasted hazelnuts. Rich and viscous, with outstanding mouth-watering acidity and richness, this finishes very long with vanilla cream and starfruit tones.  Drink 2022-2028- 93

Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling

You might not know that Chateau Ste. Michelle produces a staggering 8 million bottles of Riesling a year. The consistency of these wines is incredible, as Washington’s oldest winery continues to hit home runs with their Riesling program. Chateau Ste. Michelle was originally founded as American Wine Company, which was set on 87 acres on what was once a rural farm. I’ve been amazed by the Washington winemaking talents have come through Chateau Ste. Michellle, from Dan Wampfler to Jason Gorski. Chateau Ste. Michelle owns some of the state’s historic vineyards including the Cold Creek Vineyard which was founded in the 1970s. 

Katie Nelson serves as head winemaker and she has a wealth of experience as she was formerly with Charles Smith and also formerly served as Columbia Crest head winemaker. David Rosenthal is in charge of white wine production at Chateau Ste. Michelle and has been doing a consistently great job managing this program.

I love the new 2020 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling (OB, 92) which has no issues from smoke and is beautifully textured with just a touch of sweetness. I tasted an extremely rare wine which is the best dessert wine that I have tried from the Pacific Northwest in the past year. The 2013 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Single Berry Select’ Dessert Wine (OB, 99) which is one of the great wines that I have tasted in the past year. This will surely delight any serious collector of dessert wine. Learn more about these fantastic new wines at https://www.ste-michelle.com Here are the recent Riesling releases by Chateau Ste. Michelle. 

2020 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling- This is now a 20 year partnership between Chateau Ste. Michelle and Dr. Loosen, as this wine is made in the Kabinett style. The level of minerality expressed is sensational here, as the smooth texture and bright kiwi, starfruit and lemon zest drive this wine, with plenty of stony character. Enjoy this beauty over the next seven plus years. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2018 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘XLC’ Dry Riesling- The ‘XLC’ Dry Riesling is a newer project by Dr. Loosen and Chateau Ste. Michelle which involves less contact for 22 months, as this is done I the Grosses Gewachs style. Suggestions of kumquat dusted shortbread and gooseberry mingle well with Gravenstein apple tones on the palate. Viscous and intense, wait for the exceedingly long finish. This beauty can easily age for another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica Ice Wine’ Dessert Wine- Super dense on the mouth, the 2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica Ice Wine’ is a superlative offering by this famed Woodinville winery. Honey and starfruit with papaya copious minerals all come together on the palate. With glorious length and viscosity this beautiful line will surely cellar sell or another twenty years. Drink 2022-2046- 96

2013 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Single Berry Select’ Riesling- The star of the show is the intense, unadulterated 2013 ‘Single Berry Select’ Riesling which pushes perfection in a bottle. The aromatic range is extraordinary, from baking spice dusted marzipan to quince and lychee tones alongside suggestions of roasted pineapple. Once on the mouth you are greeted to a serious viscosity, with an underlying tension that holds everything brilliantly in place. Candied ginger and mango tones combine with bananas foster, and butterscotch dusted pineapple upside-down cake on the palate. With more air layers of lemon zest and toasty brioche add to the enjoyment, with stony mineral undercurrents. Finishing exceedingly long, this majestic beast of a dessert wine is amongst the finest wines from North America that I have tasted in the past year. Drink 2021-2060- 99

Prothro Family Wines

An inspired story, Bruce Prothro and his wife Rhonda began making their own wine back in 1991. They found Zinfandel, and Chardonnay grapes from a vineyard in the Russian River Valley that supplied grapes to DeLoach Winery. With no formal training, they borrowed and rented equipment to crush, ferment, and press almost two tons of grapes, yielding nearly 120 gallons of barrel-aged wine. Even though they made a few mistakes that first year, the wine was a hit among their friends and family and became a staple at their parties and get togethers.

Over the next seven years they made wine out of their garage. Along the way they had help from several heavyweight figures in California wine including Burt Williams at Williams Selyem, Dexter and Val Ahlgren at Ahlgren Vineyards, Ken Burnap at Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards, Kent Rosenbloom and Jeff Cohn at Rosenbloom Cellars, and the crew at David Bruce Winery.

Their dream has become a reality as their first wine, the 2014 Prothro Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon was met with critical acclaim. I have been really impressed with these wines over the years. Check out the deep and concentrated 2019 Prothro Family Wines ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 93) which wonderfully shows the potential of this varietal at this famed site.  Learn more about this great new Napa winery at https://prothrofamilywines.com/ Here are the beautiful new wines by Prothro Family Wines.

2019 Prothro ‘Cuvee No. 4’ Red WIne- Mostly Merlot (93%) from the Broken Rock Vineyard at the base of Atlas Peak, this unveils ripe red currant and tobacco leaf flavors alongside stony and mineral-driven undertones. Medium-bodied and very fresh, enjoy this over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 90

2019 Prothro ‘Signature Release’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Signature Release’ Cabernet Sauvignon displays a beautiful bouquet of red rose petals alongside granite, tar and loamy soils, with wet stone undertones. The palate is fresh and lively with bright acidity and a lovely saline streak. Rich red and dark fruits parade with chocolate and espresso bean tones on the palate. Highly enjoyable to consume now, enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 91

2019 Prothro ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Sourced from this high elevation site that is well-known for Cabernet Franc, the 2019 ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ reveals violets alongside black tea and creme de cassis notes on the nose. The palate is fresh and viscous with silky tannins that line a core of blackberry compote, blueberry coulis and pipe tobacco tones. Great right now, this will continue to cellar well over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2019 Prothro ‘Heritage Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The absolutely stunning 2019 Prothro ‘Heritage Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a captivating new wine from proprietor Bruce Prothro. Sourced from the famed G3 Vineyard, this shows serious heft and weight, yet maintains very bright acidity once on the mouth. Tar, anise, loamy soils and ripe dark currant flavors all parade on the palate. The sense of balance here is really good. Finishing long, this exceedingly gratifying, yet age-worthy effort will be sure to satisfy for another twenty years to come. Drink 2022-2042- 95

2019 Prothro ‘Limited Release Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (95%) from Howell Mountain, this offers very dense dark fruit aromas with coffee grounds, baking spices and sweet pipe tobacco tones. The polished sense of mouthfeel really entices, as does the gratifying length and flavor density — jam-packed full of black fruits with espresso grounds and blueberry pie flavors. Drink 2022-2038- 93

Avennia

Now for more than a decade Avennia has been producing great wines that embody poise, terroir and good richness. A partnership between former Microsoft executive Marty Taucher and superstar winemaker Chris Peterson, Avennia focuses on high quality Rhone and Bordeaux style wines. One of the state’s great winemakers, Chris Peterson was formerly DeLille Cellars winemaker for many years prior to starting Avennia. I recently had the chance to meet up with him at a local release party and catch up. He is very bullish on his new spring release wines which come from both the 2020 and 2021 vintages.

Chris has a penchant for making some outstanding Rose that is highly nuanced and finesse-driven. His 2021 Avennia Rose (OB, 92)  is very refined stuff that is best served a touch warmer to savor the entire beautiful range of flavors and aromatics. I adored the new 2020 Avennia ‘La Perle’ White Wine (OB, 93) which improves with an hour of air and is beautifully textured Southern Rhone style wine. I think this beauty has some really good cellaring potential. Learn more about these special wines at avennia.com Here are my reviews of the new Avennia wines. 

2020 Avennia ‘Oliane’ Sauvignon Blanc- Sourced from the Boushey (70%) and Red Willow (30%) Vineyards, the gorgeous tenth edition ‘Oliane’ is a rousing rendition that shows some good cellaring potential. Honeysuckle, white peach and kiwi tones all combine on the nose, with wet stone undercurrents. The palate is vibrant with a seamless texture and good depth and finesse. Finishing long, this is very refined Sauvignon Blanc that is best served a bit warmer for its full aromatic and flavor expression. Drink 2022-2029- 93

2020 Avennia ‘La Perle’ White Wine- A Southern Rhone inspired blend of 65% Roussanne and 35% Marsanne, the really good 2020 ‘La Perle’ evokes fragrant star jasmine, lychee and Pink Lady apple aromas that all meld in the glass. Soft and seamless on the mouth, this glides throughout the drinking experience, finishing very long with vanilla cream and minerals. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2021 Avennia ‘L’Egerie’ Rose- This beautiful, salmon-colored 2021 Rose was sourced from the Columbia Valley, and blends 75% Grenache with the reminder Mourvedre. Very delicate aromas of teaberry and guava puree greet you, with red rose water and hints of tangerine peel. The palate is very fresh and focused, with pinpoint balance. Nectarine and cranberry notes mingle well with strawberry and suggestions of wet stone. Drink 2022-2029- 92

Elizabeth Chambers

One of the great Willamette Valley spots to visit in McMinnville, Elizabeth Chambers Cellar is a cozy, historic site that has a large outdoor space perfect for a warm summer day. Elizabeth Chambers started her wine career in 1993, shortly after her mother Carolyn, a well-respected business and civic leader in Oregon, acquired Hinman Vineyards (later renamed Silvan Ridge). At the time there were considerably fewer Oregon wineries and Liz worked hard to establish Silvan Ridge as a powerful wine brand.

In 2005, Liz bought a historic winemaking facility in what was formerly a McMinnville power plant. She acquired this great building first erected in 1926 and created her namesake winery. Finally in 2013 Elizabeth Chambers opened and has been producing high quality wines since that time. I have enjoyed the wines for many years made by Drew Voit, who has been former assistant winemaker at Domaine Serene for four years before joining Elizabeth Chambers.

His new wines for Elizabeth Chambers were delicious as I love the new 2021 Elizabeth Chambers Rose (OB, 91) which is vibrant with a soft texture.  Check out the beautiful new 2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which has really good range and a great sense of tension. Learn more about these great wines at https://elizabethchamberscellar.com Here are the delicious new wines by Elizabeth Chambers.

2021 Elizabeth Chambers Rose- A pale salmon color, the 2021 Elizabeth Chambers Rose delivers a wonderful core of tension and finesse. Salty minerals combine with wild strawberry, salmonberry and shades of Shitakke mushroom on the palate. Nicely textured, enjoy this beauty over the next five years while the bright acidity continues to drive this wine. Drink 2022-2027- 91

2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Durant Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Sourced from this great site in the Dundee Hills, the 2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Durant Vineyard’ Chardonnay delivers white peach and honeysuckle water tones alongside wet stone and shades of Meyer lemon rind on the palate. Finishing long with stony minerals and vanilla cream, this is beautiful wine that is already nicely evolved — and should cellar over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Fairsing Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The  2019 ‘Fairsing Vineyard’ offers a beautiful melange of orange blossom, flint and suggestions of baking spice dusted sourdough bread on the nose. The palate is ripe and soft with loads of tension that runs though the salty undertones and ripe orchard and citrus fruits. Fantastic to savor now, this has another decade of life in front of it. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Showing good verve and softness from this cooler vintage, the 2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir offers ripe guava and strawberry tones on the nose with hints of toasty oak and wet stone. The wine is very linear but nicely textured, with delicate red fruits that mingle well with shades of citrus embers and damp earth. Already nicely evolved, enjoy this excellent value over the next six plus years. Drink 2022-2028- 90

2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The excellent 2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir was stored for eleven months in 20% new French oak before bottling in October 2020. Ripe red cherry and pomegranate seed flavors combine with silky tannins and blood orange zest flavors. Finishing long, this is delicious wine to savor over the next decade. Only 125 cases produced. Drink 2022-2032-92

2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Dupee Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Dupee Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is sourced from the McMinnville AVA, as this wine was stored for eleven months in 25% new French oak before botting. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth mouthfeel. Tart red fruits combine with freshly tilled salty soils and orange rind flavors with hints of menthol on the palate. Generous and well-structured, this outstanding wine will surely cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Lazy River Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located near Yamhill, the Lazy River Vineyard is a slightly cooler and also windy site that borders the Coast Range. Beautifully textured, with tons of finesse, this delivers lighter to medium bodied red raspberry, pomegranate and cranberry flavors alongside lighter wild mushroom tones. Enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Lazy River Vineyard Block C’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Lazy River Vineyard Block C’ Pinot Noir is loaded with crunchy red fruits with Earl Grey tea, and shades of freshly tilled loamy soils on the nose. This bottling is more earthy than the non block-specific ‘Lazy River’ but is every bit as good. Soft on the mouth and finishing long, enjoy this outstanding Pinot Noir over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2022-2033- 92

2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Eola-Amity Hills, the ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ dates back to 1981 and is set on Nekia, Rittner and Jory soils. Showing a deep core considering the coolness of the vintage, this offers a great combination of red and dark fruits with tobacco leaf and citrus rind flavors. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Fairsing Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this site in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, the ‘Fairsing Vineyard’ is mainly planted to Pinot Noir (38 acres) and is set on ancient marine sedimentary soils. The palate is wonderfully salty with pine needles and delicate red fruits that combine with orange zest flavors. Enjoy this beautifully textured, more delicate side of Pinot Noir over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Elizabeth Chambers ‘Durant Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Durant Vineyard’ is set on a high-elevation hilltop in the Dundee Hills AVA. Right away this 2019 Pinot Noir allures with red rose petals and volcanic earth alongside shades of cinnamon and cardamom dusted red fruits. The palate is fresh and lithe, with bright red fruits that parade with citrus embers and damp earthy tones. Highly enjoyable now, enjoy this lighter to medium-bodied Pinot Noir over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 92

Larkmead Vineyards

I have long admired the wines from Larkmead Vineyards. One of the historic Napa estates, founded in 1895, Larkmead Vineyards have gained an international reputation for their world class Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Their estate vineyard is located between Selby Creek and the Napa River at the conjunction point of two colluvial fans that extend from the Mayacamas and the Vaca mountain ranges. Vines are set on an ancient gravel riverbed gravel which lies directly beneath the topsoil. 

They recently have hired a new winemaker to replace Napa legend Dan Petroski. In 2021 Larkmead proprietors Cam and Kate Solari Baker have promoted former associate winemaker Avery Heelan to be the new head winemaker. Avery has a highly impressive resume, having joined the Larkmead Vineyards team in July 2019 after positions as Cellar Master at Screaming Eagle Vineyards in Napa, Vintage Assistant Winemaker at Domaine Yves Boyer Martenot in Meursault, France, and as a Vintage Enologist at Capel Vale Winery in Western Australia. Heelan holds an M.S. in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, with a specialization in Viticulture & Enology from the University of California, Davis.

I absolutely love the new 2019 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is a bit tightly wound now but shows major depth and finesse. This beauty will continue living on for another twenty years. Even better is the stunning 2019 Larkmead ‘LMV Salon’ Red Wine (OB, 97) which has incredible complexity and is one of the most dazzling expressions of Cabernet Franc that I have tasted in a long while. Learn more about this storied Napa estate at https://larkmead.com Here is the beautiful new 2019 wines by Larkmead Vineyards.

2020 Larkmead ‘Lillie’ White Wine- The 2020 ‘Lillie’ Sauvignon Blanc is a gorgeous offering by Larkmead which was stored in mostly foudre prior to bottling. Texturally this is very round and generous from this oak storage, as the wine takes on layers of toasty oak that mingle with saline drenched cantaloupe, starfruit, kiwi and copious minerals, with baking spice undertones. Complex and delicious, this has both the weight and finesse to cellar nicely for another decade. Be sure to enjoy at a warmer temperature for the full range of flavors. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2019 Larkmead ‘Firebelle’ Red Wine- Outstanding even now at the three year mark, the 2019 ‘Firebelle’ combines mainly Merlot (75%) with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Once on the nose this takes on pipe tobacco and leather notes alongside espresso grounds and cinnamon sticks, with loamy soil undercurrents. The palate reveals a very plush texture and good sense of weight. Delicious to savor right now, with refined tannins and bright acidity, this beautiful wine has some great aging potential for those who can actually wait. Give this an hour in the decanter if enjoying in its heady youth. Drink 2022-2037- 94

2019 Larkmead ‘LMV Salon’ Red Wine- A stunning wine by Larkmead, the 2019 ‘LMV Salon’ is a dazzling blend of near equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Aged for 18 months in 53% new French oak prior to bottling, this unveils  a mesmerizing bouquet of cigar ash, yellow bell pepper, anise and suggestions of creme de violette on this captivating nose. The palate shows off a killer combination of weight and tension, as everything is in beautiful balance here. Seamless throughout the drinking experience, with its intense combination of black and blue fruits, as well as red and dark florals, just wait for the exceedingly long finish. Enjoy this weightless beauty over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2039- 97

2019 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon- A joy to consume now, the very elegant, yet rich 2019 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon deftly walks the tightrope between viscosity and balance. Needing a one hour decant to fully get going, once aroused this revels stunning aromatic range from linzer torte and cigar box tones alongside black currants, Turkish coffee and black rose petals that all take shape in the glass. The palate displays tremendous depth and concentration, yet does not come off as any bit heavy. Rich dark fruit flavors parade with smoky minerals, sweet pipe tobacco and loamy soils tones. A stunning wine that is great for early consumption, enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2039- 95

J. Christopher

Today as part of Oregon Wine Month we share a great Willamette Valley producer that produces a beautiful range of wines. J. Christopher is run by famed German winemaker Ernst Loosen.  For many years Loosen was attached the wines of the Willamette Valley, and he wanted to be a part of producing wines from this region as he has made some very good German Pinot Noirs.

Oregon winemaker Jay Somers was making J. Christopher when he was introduced to Loosen. Loosen was quite impressed with the wines and the two began collaborating. A few vintages later, Loosen cemented his investment in Oregon by purchasing 40 acres on Chehalem Mountain in Newberg, planting the Appassionata Vineyard, and building the winery. 

The new wines by J. Christopher were really good. I really enjoyed the 2019 J. Christopher ‘Uber Sauvignon’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 92) which is beautifully textured and shows good length. Just as good is the 2019 J. Christopher ‘Sol et Soleil’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is dense and salty Chardonnay that really needs a little air if consuming now. which impresses with its salinity, brightness and terroir. Learn more about these excellent new wines at https://jchristopherwines.com Here are the great new J. Christopher releases. 

2019 J. Christopher ‘Uber Sauvignon’ Sauvignon Blanc- Stored in large acacia barrels, the 2019 ‘Uber Sauvignon’ revels in its gooseberry and pink grapefruit blossom tones aromatically with hints of sweetened white peach. The palate is beautifully textured, with good length and shows salty undercurrents that are woven into the long finish. This is really serious stuff. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2019 J. Christopher ‘Cuvee Lunatique’ Chardonnay- The really good 2019 J. Christopher ‘Cuvee Lunatique’ Chardonnay was stored in entirely neutral oak prior to bottling. A touch sweet, bright pear and melon flavors come to mind alongside a light dusting of minerals on the palate. Enjoy over the next five years. Drink 2022-2028- 90

2019 J. Christopher ‘Sol et Soleil’ Chardonnay- The 2019 J. Christopher ‘Sol et Soleil’ Chardonnay was stored in large oak barrels for roughly two years before bottling. Toasty oak and lemon zest combine with shades of cantaloupe and a light dusting of salinity on the palate. Really good now, this is beautifully evolved stuff that is best consumed over the next seven years. Give this at least thirty minutes of air if consuming now. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2018 J. Christopher ‘Medici Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this old vine site for Pinot Noir which was first planted back in 1976, the 2018 J. Christopher ‘Medici Vineyard’ Pinot Noir reveals toasty oak and bing cherry notes aromatically with shades of wild strawberry. The palate has plenty of texture and finesse whit bright red fruits that collide with orange rind and stony minerals. This is already beautifully evolved Pinot Noir that will be sure to last another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2018 J. Christopher ‘Bella Vida Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this outstanding site in the Dundee Hills, the 2018 ‘Bella Vida Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is jam packed of red fruits with shades of cardamon dusted citrus rind, tobacco and stony undertones. This is a really pretty expression of the AVA. Medium to full-bodied, with gobs of mouth-watering acidity, enjoy this beauty over the next twelve years. Dink 2022-2034- 92

2018 J. Christopher ‘Kolb Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This Dundee Hills Pinot Noir slowly unravels, revealing sour cherry and cranberry notes on the nose, with shades of potpourri and forest floor accents. A soft mouthfeel and copious minerals mark the palate, as this builds with generous length that lasts for more than half a second. This may be an unusual albeit delicious expression of Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2018 J. Christopher ‘Bieze Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this established site in the Eola-Amity Hills, the Pommard Clonal selection 2018 ‘Bieze Vineyard’ Pinot Noir shows off fantastic red florals and red currants aromatically, alongside flinty accents. The palate is very finesse-driven and shows a great range of red fruit flavors, with shades of wet stone. Enjoy this beautiful expression of Oregon Pinot Noir over the next twelve years. Drink 2022-2035- 93

2018 J. Christopher ‘Estate Rock Blocks Selection’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from their site in the Chehalem Mountains from the highest point in the vineyard, the wine takes on tart black and red fruits alongside wet stone and shades of kumquat zest. The palate is deep andconcenteated with great finesse and length. A rich core of red raspberry, wild blackberry and peat moss greet you, alongside the stony undercurrents. Really tasty now, enjoy this beauty over the next twelve years. Drink 2022-2035- 93

2018 J. Christopher ‘Estate Block 5 Selection’ Pinot Noir- Very dark in the glass, the 2018 J. Christopher ‘Estate Block 5 Selection’ Pinot Noir unveils suggestions of compost, leather and blackberry compote on the nose, alongside stony undercurrents. Nicely concentrated, with plenty of tart red and dark fruits, displaying good finesse, this already nicely evolved medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir will cellar well over the next twelve years. Drink 2022-2033- 92

2018 J. Christopher ‘Basalte’ Pinot Noir- Like the name suggests, the stony 2018 ‘Basalte’ Pinot Noir is sourced from vines set on fractured basalt. The nose smells beautifully of stony terroir, as rich dark fruits parade with orange blossom and shades of pine needles on the nose. Beautiful textured and wonderfully stony and salty, this outstanding, black fruit-driven Pinot Noir will be sure to satisfy over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2022-2035- 93

2018 J. Christopher ‘Volcanique’ Pinot Noir- You have to admire the stony terroir exerted here in the warm vintage 2018 J. Christopher ‘Volcanique’ Pinot Noir. One whiff and it puts you on the volcanic soils, with bright red fruits and red florals rounding out this expressive bouquet. The palate is soft and inviting with reined tannins and plenty of mouth-watering acidity. Gorgeous now, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twelve years. Drink 2022-2034- 93

2018 J. Christopher ‘Lumiere’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Lumiere’ Pinot Noir is a barrel-select wine sourced from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Rich and layered, this shows very slight salty undertones alongside red rose water, black raspberry, pomegranate seed and shades of leather on the palate. With more air the earthy tones evolve, as this complex Pinot Noir is best consumed over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032- 92