The Shindig 2022

This weekend marks the second annual Shindig event in Walla Walla, taking place at a storybook setting — Yellowhawk Resort, with sweeping views of the valley. Events begin this Friday with a grand tasting from 5-8PM, featuring some of the valley’s top wineries (https://bluemountainfoundation.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/Shindig2022/tabid/1302008/Default.aspx). Your ticket purchase is for a great cause, helping SOS clinic as well as benefiting local youth agricultural programs and support local culinary, enology & viticulture education programs.

I’ll be at the magnum party following the Friday evening grand tasting. Quite honestly, tickets are a steal for Friday at less than 100 dollars and having access to some of the region’s top wines and winemakers. See you this Friday at Shindig 2022 at Yellowhawk Resort!

Zena Crown

One of the beautiful spots in the Willamette Valley, Zena Crown is located on a southwest-facing slope, set on volcanic soils, and also parallel to some of the great, historic vineyards of the Eola-Amity Hills. In 2013 Jackson Family Wines purchased this beautiful site and has since served as single vineyard designate wines by producers  like Beaux Frères, Soter, and Penner-Ash.

At the helm is Shane Moore who has been in the Pacific Northwest for many years. Moore has a degree from Washington State University with a BS in Horticulture and a focus on Enology and Viticulture in 2008, Shane served as a cellar rat throughout his college years, and then worked for wineries around the globe—in Canada, in Western Australia, and in Israel’s Golan Heights. Shane met his future wife, Claire, while working harvest in Margaret River in 2010, and the pair soon returned to her native Sonoma County in California. Shane joined Jackson Family Wines team in 2011 as an enologist specializing in Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, and in 2013 he returned to the Pacific Northwest to assume the role of Winemaker for Zena Crown.

I love the new 2018 wines by Zena Crown which were spectacular across the board. Don’t miss out on the 2018 Zena Crown Vineyard ‘The Sum’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is vibrant and beautifully textured, with serious aging potential. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.zenacrown.com Here is my review of the new Zena Crown wines.

2018 Zena Crown Vineyard ‘Conifer’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Conifer’ is sourced from Zena West 1A, 6 and Zena East 12 blocks, as vines are set on a wide range of soils from Jory to Helmick. This wine saw 15 months in French oak before bottling. This full-bodied, warm vintage effort displays plenty of finesse as bright red fruits collide with pine needles, citrus embers and salty undertones. This beauty has at least another ten years in front of it. Drink 2022-2034- 93

2018 Zena Crown Vineyard ‘Slope’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Slope’ is a gorgeous bottling that comes from Zena East Block 5 and Zena West Block 6. The wine yields serious tension and weight once on the palate with layers of orange rind alongside guava, pine needles and stony undertones. Gorgeous to consume now, this rich and mineral-driven wine has a long journey ahead of it. Drink 2022-2035- 93

2018 Zena Crown Vineyard ‘The Sum’ Pinot Noir- Utilizing 13 year old clone 777 and 4 Pinot Noir clones, the 2018 ‘The Sum’ is beautifully weighted, high-acid Pinot Noir that is built for aging. Sour cherry, cranberry and orange rind flavors combine with forest floor and wild mushroom undertones on the palate, with soft tannins holding everything in place. Gorgeous to consume now, this has another fifteen years in front of it. Drink 2022-2035- 93

Massalto

Massalto

Just as the name suggests, Massalto is a bigger style of Washington wine. Michael Ruhland, and winemaker Matias Kusulas have founded this project that is now in its infancy. Massalto is a relatively new winery that has produced success after success with their current releases. Matias sources from some top sites in the Royal Slope AVA, including the Thunderstone and Stoneridge Vineyards. The wines are unabashedly large but also show wonderful minerality to back things up. They now have a waterfront location in Vancouver, Washington for their winery.

Matias was very excited about the new wines when I tasted with him. I absolutely adored the new 2020 Massalto ‘Sauvalanche’ White Wine (OB, 93) which is dense and very viscous with a very soft texture and great acidity. This is an absolutely delicious Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc blend to delicious to savor now. I love the terroir expressed in the 2020 Massalto ‘Extravaganza’ Cinsault (OB, 93) which is seamless and shows very pure red fruit flavors. Just as good was the 2019 Massalto ‘Interstellar’ Mourvèdre (OB, 93) which is wonderfully tart and salty, showing fantastic flavor range. Learn more about these beautiful new wines at massalto.com and here are my reviews of the new Massalto wines.

2019 Massalto ‘Sauvalanche’ White Wine- The 2019 ‘Sauvalanche’ is a blend of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc that was co-fermented. This is sleek and shows beautiful finesse with gooseberry, green melon rind, salted almond on the palate. The salinity is gorgeous here, as is the weight and length. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2020 Massalto ‘Sauvalanche’ White Wine- This is made with 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Sauvignon Blanc that was aged in natural 300L French oak barrels before bottling. This saw extended battonage which was once a week. The nose shows off nutmeg infused Challah bread, honeydew melon and shades of white raisin on the nose. The palate is very soft and seamless with a gorgeous texture. Opulent and soft, with bright acidity and a light salinity holding everything in place, this is gorgeous white wine that is not only novel but nearly impossible to put down.  Watch this beauty evolve over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 Massalto ‘Irreverent’ Viognier- A blend of Viognier from both the Connor Lee and Stoneridge Vineyard, this was stored in a combination of new and neutral French oak before bottling. This shows nice toasty oak on the nose with tropical fruits, honeydew melon and shades of salted pear. The palate is big and bold with a soft mouthfeel. The sense of salinity is fantastic here, as this finishes very long. Drink 2022-2029- 93

2020 Massalto ‘Extravaganza’ Cinsault- Sourced from the Thunderstone Vineyard, this underwent carbonic maceration. Aged for twelve months in new and neutral large format French oak, this reveals banana and bubblegum tones that mingle with pretty red fruits on the nose. The palate is big and bold with a seamless texture and wonderful bright acidity. Enjoy over the next few years while the brightness remains intact. There is nothing quite like this in Washington. Drink 2022-2027- 93

2019 Massalto ‘Interstellar’ Mourvedre- The 2019 ‘Interstellar’ Mourvèdre was sourced from the Thudnerstone Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA. Citrus rind and hoisin sauce combine with bulls blood on the nose. The palate is plush with a soft mouthfeel and a brilliant display of tart red fruits, with stony and salty nuance. With more air this shows hay and peat moss character with green olive notes on the palate. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2020 Massalto ‘The Point of No Return’ Grenache- Sourced from the Thunderestone Vineyard, this 100% Grenache was aged in a combination of new and used oak for eighteen months before bottling. Red cherry candy with red licorice tones combine with shades of Nori and a gorgeous texture on the palate. Deep and concentrated, this is full-throttle Grenache, with great acidity, that will surely cellar well for another five to seven years. Drink 2022-2028- 92

Bodega San Roman

For those who have never heard of the legendary wines of Bodega San Roman — you are really in for a treat. Bodega San Roman is one of the storied houses in Toro — a tiny region in northern Spain. The region is very mountainous as their noble grape, Tempranillo, has a litany of old vine vineyards sprinkled throughout the region. The wines of Toro were so famous that Christopher Columbus brought them on his journey to America. Toro is an extreme continental climate with very cold winters and very hot summers in which temperatures can eclipse 100 degrees. The wines from Toro are bold and intense. They are also some of the great bargains on the world wine market. 

Bodegas San Roman produces what is one of the most famous Toro wines, its ‘San Roman.’ The winery was founded by famed winemaker, Mariano Garcia, in 1998 as Bodegas y Vinedos Maurodos. In the late 1990s his two sons Alberto and Eduardo joined the team, as director of operations and technical director respectively. They own 100 hectares of vineyards in the villages of Villaester, San Roman de Hornija, Morales de Toro and Pedrosa del Rey. The vineyards are primarily planted to Tinta de Toro, a local clone of Tempranillo. Eduardo Garcia presides over the winemaking now as the winemaking style has moved towards combining freshness and richness. I have had many of these wines in my personal cellar and I have always been amazed with how these wines age. Bodega San Roman wines are wines that cellar well for twenty years or more. Typically they also need a lot of air in their youth — sometimes really benefiting from several hours in the decanter.

Their top wine can be found for roughly 80 dollars USD but offers serious value when you consider the overall quality of the wine. I have been amazed what this house has achieved over the past ten years. Regardless of vintage San Roman continues to produce top quality wines and I was blown away with the new 2018 Bodega San Roman Red Wine (OB, 95). This is a Spanish wine lover’s dream with incredible depth and power with its black and blue fruits — yet shows amazing nuance and plenty of earthy soil character. This one is a must-purchase for any lover of Spanish wines. Learn more about these beautiful wines at bodegasanroman.com and here are my reviews of the new San Roman releases.

2019 Bodega San Roman ‘Prima’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Prima’ is a gorgeous new wine by San Roman. On the nose this takes on layers of toasty oak alongside ripe blue fruits and serious finesse. Finishing long, this is sturdy and dense Toro wine to consume over the next seven years. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2018 Bodega San Roman Red Wine- The bombastic new San Roman comes from the warm 2018 vintage in Toro. It is a rich and decadent style of Toro that thrills with its baking spice dusted milk chocolate, blueberry pie and dusty soil profile on the palate. Rich and decadent, with a great mineral backbone, this expressive 2018 Toro really needs two hours in the decanter if enjoying in its full-throttle youth. Drink 2024-2040- 95

Elias Mora

One of the fantastic producers in this small region of Toro, Elias Mora has been producing gorgeous, terroir-driven Tempranillo wines now for decades. I love the consistency of the house and the quality of wines even at their entry level. There is something that they are able to produce with not only rich fruits but dusty soils that makes these wines so wonderfully earthy and rustic to back up the dense dark fruits. Elias Mora makes some world-class Reserva and Gran Reserva bottlings that are also amongst the best in the region. Mora wines are built to age as I have been very fortunate to taste some of these wines at the fifteen year mark.

I adored these wines across the board. For a killer value check out the 2019 Elias Mora Toro (OB, 90) which is plus and soft with juicy dark fruits. One of the great wines from this region that I have tasted in the past year, the 2015 Elias Mora ‘La Senda de Los Lobos’ Toro (OB, 95) comes from very old vines and displays incredible richness, finesse and texture. This is sure to wow any lover of top quality Spanish wines. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://bodegaseliasmora.com/en/ and here are my reviews of the new Mora wines.

2019 Elias Mora Toro- This 2019 Toro is very forward and juicy with dark fruits, tobacco leaf and milk chocolate flavors. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2027- 90

2018 Elias Mora Crianza Toro- Sourced from 50 year old Tina de Toro vines, this generous Toro offers a very fleshy texture with rich blue fruits that collide with wet stone, tilled soils and pencil lead flavors. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2018 Elias Mora ‘Descarte’ Toro- The 2018 ‘Descartes’ comes from 100% Tinto Fino vines that are 40 years of age. The wine reveals very concentrated black and blue fruits, with good grip and tension running through its core. With good length and finesse, this has a long life to go in the cellar. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2015 Elias Mora ‘La Senda de Los Lobos’ Toro- This single vineyard bottling comes from 80 year old Tinta de Toro vines. Stored for 17 months in French oak barrels, this shows off an inky color once in the glass. Layers of boysenberry cordial, dark chocolate shavings and mocha all come together seamlessly in the glass. Rich and decadent, yet showing beautiful finesse, this is an astonishingly good bottling that has many years to go. Drink 2022-2037- 95

DuMol

Today we present to you one of the shining stars of Sonoma County. A world-class producer of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet in California, DuMol began back in 1996 and strangely initially was a hobby for three friends. Since 1999 Andy Smith been at the helm as winemaker. Originally from Scotland, Andy has previously worked at Dry River, Littorai, Havens, Franus, to Matua and Mt Pleasant wineries. Andy went on to graduate in viticulture and enology from Lincoln University in Christchurch, NZ and later became assistant winemaker for Paul Hobbs.

Andy has crafted some stunning current releases and I adored the new the 2020 DuMOL ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 95)  which has incredible tension, elegance and a lengthy finish. Don’t miss out on the mind-numbing 2020 DuMol ‘DuMol Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which is big, burly and shows incredible tension and salinity. Learn more about these stunning new wines at https://www.dumol.com Here are the great new releases by DuMOL. 

2020 DuMol ‘Chloe’ Chardonnay- The 2020 ‘Chloe’ Chardonnay is crafted from the Lorenzo and El Diablo Vineyards in the Russian River Valley. Barrel fermented for 11 months, this utilizes Montrachet and old Wente selections. The nose is utterly fantastic with salted praline, white peach and brioche notes that combine with stony and flinty undertones. The palate is big and downright voluptuous, with a great mineral backbone. This flat out delicious Chardonnay is exceedingly difficult to put down right now — and will provide drinking enjoyment for the next eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2020 DuMol ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2020 DuMol ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a masterclass by Scotsman winemaker Andy Smith. Ripe pineapple and butterscotch notes fill the nose, with shades of salted nectarine skin. The palate is silky smooth, as this glides throughout the drinking experience — like a fine, warm vintage Chassagne-Montrachet. Salted Macadamia nut notes combine with rich orchard and tropical fruits, with stony undercurrents. Not for the weary, serve slightly on the warmer side to take in the marvelous range of flavors. Drink 2022-2034- 95

2020 DuMol ‘DuMol Estate Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The seriously good 2020 DuMol ‘DuMol Estate Vineyard’ Chardonnay comes from 16 year old vines that utilize Mt. Eden and Hyde Wente clonal selections. Stored for 11 months in 30% new French oak, this shows off saline drenched pear, mango and lime zest notes on the nose. The palate is mineral-driven and quite refined, with a soft texture, with lemon dusted brioche, nectarine and salty undercurrents. Very gratifying with its combination of verve and viscosity, the ‘wow factor’ 2020 ‘DuMol Estate Vineyard’ Chardonnay will surely live on for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2033- 96

2020 DuMol ‘Finn’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the Occidental and the Bressay Estate Vineyard, the 2020 ‘Finn’ Pinot Noir is a spectacular effort from this challenging vintage for Pinot Noir. Aged for fifteen months in only 27% new French oak, this offers boysenberry on the nose alongside cedar and shades of black florals. The palate is soft and very inviting with its smooth mouthfeel. Stony minerals and light tannins frame a beautiful core of black fruit flavors, with orange zest accents. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy this delicious Pinot Noir over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 94

2020 DuMol ‘Flax Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- For years I have admired wines from this site in the Russian River Valley. The 20202 ‘Flax Vineyard’ is pillowy once on the attack, with a seamless texture. You are greeted with tart cranberry notes alongside wild blackberry coulis, cigar box, freshly tilled salty soils and copious minerals on the palate. The layers of brightness and salinity really add to the enjoyment here, as this beauty is already hitting it stride and will continue to drink well for another fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2020 DuMol ‘DuMol Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Showing serious aging potential, the outstanding 2020 DuMol ‘DuMol Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes entirely from their Coffee Lane Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. Aged for fifteen months in 30% new French oak, this beautiful wine displays pretty red rose petal aromas alongside black raspberry, wild mushroom and peat moss accents.  The palate is plush and also very fresh, with serious finesse. Finishing long with black fruits and minerals, this great new 2020 Pinot Noir is best enjoyed over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2022-2034- 94

2019 DuMol ‘Meteor Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Meteor Vineyard is located in Coomsville and is set on gravelly white volcanic tufa soils. This 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon was stored in 70% new French oak for 20 months before bottling. The nose is decadent with intense dark fruits and black rose petals that combine with loamy soils, and sweet pipe tobacco leaf. The palate is smooth and viscous, creating a weightless effect throughout the drinking experience. Utterly fabulous to consume in its lively youth, this beauty is already nicely evolved and will continue to cellar well over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2022-2040- 96

Walla Walla Vintners

One of the Walla Walla mainstays, Walla Walla Vintners began back in 1995 just a few years before I moved to Whitman College. The current proprietors, Scott and Nici Haladay, were first introduced to Walla Walla Vintners in 2017. Already familiar with the historic winery, they were excited to get the chance to be the new stewards of the iconic red barn and Cut Bank Estate vineyard. Scott comes from a technology background and Nici is a licensed nurse. 

Winemaker Derrek Vipond is a is a native Washingtonian who started his career at Walla Walla Community College in the Enology and Viticulture program. After completing his education with a degree from Oregon State University in Fermentation Science, Derrek worked several harvests across the globe before eventually moving back to Walla Walla and joining Walla Walla Vintners in January 2019.

I love the new wines by Derrek which I feel are getting better and better as he adapts to the style of the vineyard. Don’t miss out on the delicious 2020 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 92) as this shows beautiful typicity as well as depth and concentration. Even better is the sensational 2019 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Old Vine Sagemoor Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which is one of the finest wines I have tasted from this estate. Learn more about these great new releases at https://wallawallavintners.com Here are my reviews of the new wines by Walla Walla Vintners. 

2020 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Franc- A fantastic, already nicely evolved blend of 78% Cabernet Franc with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, this offers wild herbs with violets and ripe dark fruits on the nose. The palate is soft, offering downright delicious black fruit flavors with coffee grounds and notes of creme de violette. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2020 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot- The 2020 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot is sourced from their estate vineyard as well as the Seven Hills, Summit View and Pepper Bridge vineyards. The wine is very elegant and soft upon entry. Bright acidity and soft tannins hold together a core of cocoa powder dusted black cherry, tobacco leaf and loganberry preserves. This shows very good flavor density considering the coolness of the vintage. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Sangiovese- This 100% varietal wine spent 16 months in only 15% new French oak before bottling. Nicely rustic, with bright acidity, the wine delivers pomegranate seed, dusted earth and worn leather notes that combine with a soft texture. This is a perfect foil for fresh marinara-based pasta. Drink 2022-2030- 91

2019 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Sagemoor Vineyards Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon- One of the state’s historic vineyards, the Sagemoor Vineyard was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon back in 1972. Very inky once in the glass, this 2019 ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a very smooth mouthfeel upon entry. Layers of toasty oak combine with ripe dark currants, espresso grounds, dark chocolate shavings and suggestions of graphite on the palate. This is truly one of the best wines I have tasted from this estate, as the 2019 ‘Old Vines’ is gorgeous to consume now and will surely live on for another fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 94

2019 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Vottavo’ Red Wine- A Super Tuscan inspired blend of 75% Sangiovese with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon and a dollop of Syrah, this delivers a soft mouthfeel with firm tannins holding in a place of ripe red and dark fruits, with menthol notes. A bit tight right now, consider giving this an hour in the decanter if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2023-2032- 92

2019 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Cut Bank Estate Vineyard’ Red Wine- Inspired by the Right Bank, the 2019 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Cut Bank Estate Vineyard’ Red Wine combines 70% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. Ripe black and red fruits parade with milk chocolate and scorched earth notes, with herbal accents on the palate. Already beautifully evolved, consume this fantastic new blend over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2035- 93

Gramercy Cellars

Today we share one of the jewels of the Walla Walla Valley. Gramercy Cellars was founded by master sommelier, Greg Harrington. The program focused on Rhone style wines initially but has been making some top class Bordeaux style wines in the past five or so years. They have been making what I consider to be one of the top Rose wines in North America over the past several years. Greg works closely with partner and co-winemaker, Brandon Moss, in crafting minimal intervention wines that are sourced from some of the great vineyards in the state. These are wines that scream both finesse and terroir. I love the consistency of the wines that I have tasted from them over the past eight plus years. They also make a killer Oregon Pinot Noir for their wine club that is definitely worth seeking out.

I really admire the new wines by Gramercy. Check out the 2021 Gramercy Cellars Viognier (OB, 92) which is fresh and vibrant, showing a wonderfully soft mouthfeel. I adored the new 2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘L’Idiot du Village’ Mourvèdre (OB, 93) which is savory and smoky, with killer tension. Learn more about this fantastic new lineup at  gramercycellars.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Gramercy Cellars and the superstar winemaking team of Greg Harrington, MS and Brandon Moss.

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Viognier- Coming from the Antoine Creek and Forgotten Hills Estate Vineyards, the 2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Viognier was stored for eight months in stainless steel (60%) and neutral French oak (40%) before bottling. Lime zest, honeysuckle water and suggestions of nectarine all combine with lovely freshness on the palate. Drink 2022-2027- 92

2018 Gramercy Cellars ‘Lagniappe’ Syrah- The 2018 ‘Lagniappe’ underwent 98% whole cluster fermentation and was sourced from the Red Willow and Forgotten Hills Vineyards. Stored in 500L puncheons for 18 months before bottling, this offers garrigue notes alongside green peppercorns and blackberry cobbler. The palate is very fresh, showing a polished texture and wonderful feel of tension. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2017 Gramercy Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah comes from Block 49 at the Les Collines Vineyard. Winemaker Brandon Moss has blended in a touch of Holly Roller Vineyard Syrah, as this aged in a combination of neutral French puncheons and 225L oak barrels before bottling. The nose is very herbal with freshly cracked white pepper and boysenberry notes. The palate is very fresh and vibrant, with a soft sense of mouthfeel. This is seriously good stuff to consume over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘L’ Idiot du Village’ Mourvedre- Always one of the unique Mourvèdre bottlings made in Washington State, this 2019 edition was mostly sourced from the Olsen Vineyard (80%) as well as the Alder Ridge Vineyard (20%). Aged in neutral puncheons and 225L barrels for 18 months, this delivers orange rind and smoked brisket aromas alongside suggestions of soy sauce with white pepper. The palate is smooth and beautifully textured, with good length and concentrated red and dark fruits. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Les Collines’ Syrah- The 2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Les Collines’ Syrah is a blend of blocks 36, 46 and 49 at this high elevation site in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stored in a combination of natural oak barrels, Stockinger foudre and 500L puncheons for 17 months, this offers ripe red currants with dried sage and suggestions of wet stone on the nose. The palate is very fresh and shows a great mineral backbone with loads of mouth-watering acidity. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Gramercy Estates’ Red Wine- It has been now several years that Gramercy Cellars has been making this Cabernet Sauvignon based blend. This edition is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot all sourced from the Gramercy Estate and Octave Vineyards. The herbal notes from the Cabernet Franc are really shining now. Showing a seamless texture, this shows plenty of freshly tilled soils with ripe dark fruit and tobacco leaf flavors. This has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2022-2035- 93

Ridge Vineyards

I have long admired the wines of Ridge Vineyards. These are age worthy wines that I have enjoyed for many years in my personal cellar. This winery was founded by Paul Draper in the 1960s and their gorgeous estate is in a dramatic setting, set at 2300 feet in the Santa Cruz Mountains. If you have never visited this scenic site you are in for a treat. TheRidge Vineyard's 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon achieved international fame for its fifth-place finish in the 1976 “Judgement of Paris” wine tasting.

The new wines were truly outstanding. These will all be released in Fall 2022. Do not miss out on the stunning 2019 Ridge ‘Monte Bello’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which evolves into a stunning, seamless wine after an hour of air. This beauty will easily go for another decade. I loved the new 2020 Ridge ‘Evangelho’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is incredibly novel and showcases Carignane. This wine is quite unlike anything you will see in California. Learn more about this historic winery at ridgewine.com Here are the amazing new release wines from Ridge Vineyards.

2021 Ridge Vineyards Grenache Blanc- The 2021 Ridge Vineyards Grenache Blanc has a small portion of Roussanne and Picpoul blended in. The nose shows beautiful star jasmine tones alongside Japanese pear and salted brioche notes. The palate is incredibly fresh and vibrant with a seamless texture. Very juicy and bright, this is drinking beautifully now and will continue to evolve nutty and earthy tones over the next six plus years. Drink 2022-2028- 93

2019 Ridge Vineyards ‘Monte Bello’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Monte Bello’ Chardonnay was stored for fifteen months in primarily American oak barrels before bottling. This is a seamless and elegant wine that shows great depth, weight and poise. Sweet corn, pineapple, creme brûlée and toasty oak notes combine seamlessly on the palate. This comes off as very weightless and just wait for the near minute long finish. Give this an hour of air and this will get better and better. Drink 2022-2032- 96

2020 Ridge Vineyards ‘Lytton Springs’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2020 Ridge Vineyards ‘Lytton Springs’ Red Wine is a blend of 79% Zinfandel with 11% Petite Sirah and 10% Carignane. The beautiful red florals on the nose with potpourri, white pepper and ripe red fruits that mingle with shades of smoked brisket. The palate is plush and soft with a seamless mouthfeel and very lengthy finish. This has both the stuffing and finesse to cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2035- 93

2020 Ridge Vineyards ‘Pagani Ranch’ Zinfandel- Nearly all Zinfandel (90%), this has 4% Alicante blended in. Very juicy and bright, this shows ripe strawberry and bing cherry with prosciutto and green olive notes on the palate. Complex and delicious, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Vibrant, with a terrific mineral backbone, this weights in at only 13.8% alcohol. Drink 2022-2035- 94

2020 Ridge Vineyards ‘Benito Dust’ Zinfandel- This 100% varietal, single vineyard bottling, offers very fragrant red fruits and red florals on the nose, with dried herbs and green bell pepper notes. The palate is very vibrant and fresh, with a pretty core of red fruits, with green peppercorns, cigar box and bright acidity holding everything in place. Enjoy this beauty over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2017 Ridge Vineyards ‘Buchignani Ranch’ Zinfandel- A knockout wine to consume now, the 2017 Ridge Vineyards ‘Buchignani Ranch’ Zinfandel has 25% Carignane blended in. The palate is silky and elegant with a seamless mouthfeel. A light dusting of black pepper falls upon layers of allspice dusted charcuterie, cigar ash, and very pretty red fruits. Everything is just marvelously in balance here. Drink 2022-2032- 95

2020 Ridge Vineyards ‘Ponzo Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The 2020 ‘Ponzo Vineyard’ Zinfandel comes from this Sonoma County site. Red cherry cordial and tobacco leaf combine with strawberry Starburst candy on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with bright acidity and citrus zest accents. Very sexy and refined, drink this elegant Zinfandel over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Ridge Vineyards ‘Evangelho’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Evangelho’ is a unique blend of 54% Carignane with 26% Zinfandel and the remainder Mataro which was sourced from the Contra Costa County. The nose is just sensational with violets, white pepper dusted bacon and brandy soaked dark cherry. The palate is soft and refined, making this exceedingly easy to drink even now. Bright acidity holds in place a ripe core of red fruits that combine with rose water, kumquat zest and creosote notes. Highly novel and complex, this is gorgeous wine that will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2022-2035- 94

2019 Ridge Vineyards ‘Lytton Estate’ Petite Sirah- The 2019 ‘Lytton Estate’ Petite Sirah is a gorgeous effort that is 100% varietal. Once on the nose this takes on layers of toasty oak with ripe blueberries and dark cherry cordial. This is loaded with minerality, which holds in place a massive core of black and blue fruits  with espresso grounds and dark chocolate shavings. Delicious now, enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2035- 94

TOR

One of the famed names in the Napa Valley, Tor Kenward spent 26 years building Beringer Vineyards. As their vice president he was instrumental in helping create that brand into national prominence  before retiring in 2001. For years the Beringer Reserve wines were truly some of the finest in Napa and Tor played a major role in that project. Beringer actually paid for Tor to study viticulture and enology following his retirement, as Tor built his brand as an ultra-premium producer single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, sourcing from the top blocks within premium sites throughout Napa Valley. The current TOR lineup sources from esteemed sites such as Beckstoffer To Kalon, Vine Hill Ranch and Tierra Roja in Oakville, and Melanson on Pritchard Hill.

I have loved these wines for many years. These 2019 wines are amongst the finest that I have tasted. Do not miss on the 2020 TOR ‘Cuvee Torchiana’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) is which is weightless and seamless — utterly silky Chardonnay. Even better is the sinfully good 2018 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is nothing short of perfection in a bottle. Do not miss out on this beauty for the cellar as this is a must-purchase for any serious collector of Napa Cabernet. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://torwines.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by TOR. 

2020 TOR ‘Cuvee Torchiana’ Chardonnay- The 2020 TOR ‘Cuvee Torchiana’ Chardonnay shows off its golden hue. The texture is really the speaking point here, as is the insanely good range of flavors from pineapple and papaya with baking spice dusted brioche. This is big and opulent but shows a great acid backbone holding everything together. Drink 2022-2029- 95

2019 TOR ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a barrel selection wine coming from the Tierra Roja and Skellenger Vineyards. Aged in a combination of Taransaud and Darnajou oak barrels for 20 months,  this offers sweetened pipe tobacco and leather which combine with ripe cassis and iron tones on the nose. The palate is very soft and inviting, with a seamless texture and glorious sense of length. Generous, this is beautifully made Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that has both great extraction and verve that will easily store fore the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2040- 95

2019 TOR ‘Melanson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Melanson Vineyard is set on rocky soils high up on Pritchard Hill, as Cabernet Sauvignon vines are in close proximity to Lake Hennessy. 100% varietal, this opens with wet granite and asphalt notes that combine with creme de violette and suggestions of boysenberry cordial on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting, with great concentration and finesse. Rich black and blue fruits collide with anise, stony minerals and lavender notes on the palate. Finishing very long this is gorgeous, age worthy Cabernet Sauvignon that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2022-2045- 98

2019 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The utterly fabulous 2019 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the great wines that I have tasted this past year. The nose is a very pure expression of Oakville terroir, with creme de cassis, dried herbs and violets that collide with freshly tilled loamy soils. The palate is seamless and expresses a weightless drinking experience. Very compact now, showing a deep concentration of black and blue fruits, with graphite, cigar box and creosote notes, this is nothing short of perfection in a bottle. Savor this stunner over the next twenty years. Drink 2022-2045- 100

2019 TOR ‘Tierra Roja’ Cabernet Sauvingon- The brilliant 2019 TOR ‘Tierra Roja’ Cabernet Sauvingon is a stunning new wine that screams terroir. Farmed by Linda Neal since 1987, this vineyard is sourced entirely by TOR. The nose is very stony and rocky, with wet gravel alongside tobacco leaf, beef drippings and copious dark fruits, with purple rose petals. Very soft and plush on the mouth, this shows good concentration and acidity, finishing exceedingly long. Enjoy this delicious, well-structured wine over the next twenty years. Drink 2022-2040- 98

Interview with Leah Adint, Erath Winemaker

Friends, it is my pleasure to share this very special interview with you today. Leah Adint has recently taken over at Erath for longtime winemaker Gary Homer. Leah has a background with serious range, working in viticulture from Switzerland and Australia to France before settling down in the Willamette Valley.
In 2012 she achieved her master's degree from the University of Adelaide in Australia and has been helping the Ste. Michelle team since 2015. I think you will very much enjoy to hear her story in wine. Here is my interview with Leah Adint, winemaker at Erath.

OB: How did you decide to pursue your degree in wine from WSU?

LA: WSU was the perfect fit for me. I was looking at the usual suspects (UC Davis, Cornell, WSU, OSU) knowing I was ready to leave Alaska and WSU was closer to home, a smaller more intimate program than UCD, and the cost was far more reasonable. I received scholarships from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates that really started me on the path I find myself now. I also loved that it was a state school with the full college experience out in Pullman. I only wish the Wine Science Center was built back then.

OB: What are some things that you learned at some pretty epic winemaking stops at HALL, Dutton-Goldfield and Trinchero?

LA: HALL owned the most incredible vineyards across Alexander, Pope, and Napa Valleys at that time. It was such a pleasure to scout that fruit every day, I even got to live at one of the properties. They were also in the process of moving to Organic Certification, which was great to see and hear what changed, what worked, and what didn’t. Dutton-Goldfield is still one of my favorite harvests – this was back when they were making wine at the Balletto facility. It was great to see two different winemaking techniques under one roof. And it really felt like a family, I’m still friends with some winemakers I worked with there way back in 2008. Trinchero was my first big operation and it was so impressive. They had technology I’ve still never seen anywhere else.

OB: Erath consistently makes an excellent and very well-priced Pinot Noir that tends to over-deliver for the price. What are some of the things on the winery and vineyard side that you are able to do in crafting this wine?

LA: I think people often overlook the larger producers thinking it’s just recipe wine. I never expected to enjoy working for a big brand so much, but I really do. We get to work with the latest technology, and we are always experimenting. I get to pick apart our 120-acre Eola-Amity Hills property and set up all sorts of trials. This year that includes some leafing trials and compost applications, and in the winery I’ll be looking at different levels of whole cluster, clonal ripeness, and the latest yeast strains. I love the effects that different yeast strains have on wine. I may have thrown a yeast party or two in past vintages.

OB: Oregon winemakers I have spoken to seem very excited with the 2021 vintage on both the red and white wine side. What are some of your thoughts about this vintage?

LA: What a treat to get 2021 as my first Oregon vintage! We had great ripeness, higher acids, and a cooperating autumn without rain. A lot of the rosés I’ve tasted from 2021 have a beautiful watermelon intensity. I think that Oregon as a region makes some of the best rosé out there. We’ll have to wait and see about Pinot Noir, but the tannins are already really resolved in barrel. I think 2021 might be a year that can handle a little more new barrel influence.

OB: What are some of the best wines you have ever tasted?

LA: Oh boy, what a fun question. Before I left for my Masters program in Adelaide, my dad gave me a bottle of 2006 DRC Cuvée Duvault Blochet. Of course, I had no idea where or when I would ever open such a wine. That moment eventually came sitting in the living room with my three other winemaking roommates, almost at random. And it was incredible! It lived up to the hype and I’ve been really fortunate now to have tasted a few more from DRC, always incredible.
Another special Australian moment was when I was offered to join a friend’s family Christmas dinner (I wasn’t able to fly all the way home to Alaska from Adelaide). My friend is actually the granddaughter to Max Schubert and we drank a 1989 Grange and 1999 St. Henri from their personal cellar with Christmas supper.
One more… I grew a true fondness for fortified wines while I was working in Australia. After my harvest in Switzerland, I took a couple weeks to relax down the Portuguese coast. I ended up flying from Porto to Madeira. It was the scariest flight I’ve ever been on, but getting to drink 30, 40, 50-year-old fortified wines on a volcanic island in the middle of the ocean was such a treat. I have plenty more amazing wine stories, but I’ll stop there. OK one more! While I was working at Chateau Ste. Michelle, my previous boss used to come over from Woodinville during harvest. We both loved Pinot Noir and would often surprise each other with fun bottles. There was one that was just incredible. It was from the Willamette but had no website, wevcouldn’t find anything on it, where it was made, or who made it. It blew our minds. Since then, I’ve had the absolute pleasure to meet John Thomas, walk his vineyards and taste barrels with him. Definitely an unforgettable wine moment.

Foxen

Today we share one of the brilliant producers of Santa Barbara County. Set in the rolling hills, if you have never visited Foxen, you are in for a treat. Foxen has two distinct lines of wines – one that focuses on Bordeaux style wines and another that produces Burgundian styles, along with really impressive and novel single vineyard Syrah. Sideways decided to film one of their big scenes here but even after that exposure Foxen remains one of the hidden gems of the valley. 

I first tasted here in 2003 and has been immensely impressed with the overall quality of wines since that time. Foxen has gained a national reputation for world class Pinot Noir but their Bordeaux wines are also very impressive.  These wines are all priced under seventy dollars, making their lineup filled with killer values.

Don’t miss out on the 2020 Foxen ‘Bien Nacido Vineyard Block UU’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which shows thrilling flavor and aromatic range. Even better was the scintillating 2019 Foxen Block 8 Bien Nacido Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is wonderfully salty and earthy. Learn more about these outstanding wines at http://www.foxenvineyard.com/ Here are some of the fantastic new release wines from Foxen.

2020 Foxen ‘Bien Nacido Vineyard Block UU’ Chardonnay- The ‘UU Block’ combines Clone 4 and RY17 selections, as this was stored in 29% new French oak before bottling. The wine comes off marvelously salty from the terroir. Toasty oak and marshmallow hints combine with lemon meringue, roasted almond and baked pear pastry notes. Utterly delicious now, consume this beautiful new Chardonnay over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2019 Foxen ‘Santa Rita Valley’ Pinot Noir- An entry level bottling with serious class, the 2019 Foxen ‘Santa Rita Valley’ Pinot Noir comes from mostly the Riverbench Vineyard (75%) with the remainder from the Bien Nacido Vineyard. Very fresh and lithe, with a polished texture, the Pinot Noir reveals pretty cranberry and guava fruits that collide with smoky minerals on the palate. Enjoy over the next seven plus years. Drink 2022-2029- 93

2019 Foxen ‘Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 8’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from Dijon clones, 113 and 115 as well as Mt. Eden, Pommard and Wadenswil clonal selections, the wine was stored for sixteen months in 228L French oak puncheons (30% new) prior to bottling. Very salty and earthy on the nose, this reveals sandy soils, peat moss and rich boysenberry tones. The palate is silky and elegant, as this dazzles on the mid-palate, showing good concentration and finesse. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2019 Foxen ‘Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 43’ Pinot Noir- The sensational 2019 Foxen ‘Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 43’ Pinot Noir utilizes Dijon clonal selections 667 and 777. It is chalk-filled of finesse, with beautiful red and dark fruits that parade with cardamom, freshly tilled loamy soils and suggestions of soy sauce dusted oyster mushroom. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2019 Foxen ‘Julia’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 100% Pommard clone 2019 ‘Julia’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes form this site in the Santa Maria Valley. The nose is wonderfully fragrant with red rose petals and exotic spices that combine with tart red fruit tones. The palate shows good weight and tension, effortlessly gliding throughout the drinking experience. The pillowy texture entices, as this is best consumed over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2022-2033- 95

2019 Foxen ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this site in the Santa Rita Hills, the 2019 Foxen ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard’ Pinot Noir utilizes Dijon clone 667 and Swan clonal selections. A light whiff of black truffle really enthralls, as wild blackberry and shades of salmonberry all come together on the nose. The palate is soft and beautifully textured, showing excellent weight and bright acidity backing everything up. Drink this beauty over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2019 Foxen ‘Williamson-Dore Vineyard’ Syrah- Truly one of the great Syrahs made in this region, the 2019 Foxen ‘Williamson-Dore Vineyard’ Syrah has 5% Viognier co-fermented. Stored in French and Hungarian oak (33% new), this offers white pepper dusted bacon, lavender, and potpourri tones that combine with bulls blood accents. The palate shows serious weight and finesse, with a brilliant core of black fruits. Highly nuanced, and irresistible to consume now, enjoy over the next ten to twelve years. But why wait? Drink 2022-2033- 95

Interview with Heidi Bridenhagen, Winemaker at MacRostie Vineyards

Interview with Heidi Bridenhagen, Winemaker at MacRostie Vinyards

Today it is my delight to share one of the great winemakers in the Sonoma Valley. Heidi Bridenhagen. At the age of 29 Heidi Bridenhagen became only the third winemaker in the history of MacRostie Winery and Vineyards. Heidi has a background in biochemistry and crafts a beautiful range of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rose. I think you will really love hearing her story. Here is my interview with Heidi Brigenhagen, winemaker at MacRostie VIneyards.

OB: What brought you into winemaking? How did you decide to join MacRostie?

HB: I am a biochemist by training and when I fell into the wine world it was a great field to integrate biochemistry with something tangible, artistic, creative and fun. MacRostie was looking for an enologist that had experience working with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in regions outside of Carneros for their next exploration into Russian River Valley and beyond. I had just come from Sonoma-Cutrer and MacRostie seemed like a great fit, and a great opportunity to expand the winery’s portfolio of single-vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

OB: Talk about the wines you make from your estate Wildcat Mountain Vineyard? What characteristics do you notice in the Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs from that special site?

HB: Wildcat Mountain Vineyard sits at about 750 feet of elevation, just overlooking San Pablo Bay. The soils are a bright red volcanic soil that is fertile and rich in key nutrients that helps the vines grow. It is influenced heavily by the wind from the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay that physically toughens the skins of the grapes grown there. The Wildcat Mountain Chardonnay and Pinot Noir both have intense complexity. They also have a unique structure and tannin profile that comes from the wind influence.

OB: 2020 brought a host of challenges for winemakers with the fires -- yet you defied the odds and made some brilliant, smoke-free wines that I recently tasted. Talk about how you mitigated the challenges that mother nature brought in that vintage?

HB: I was able to do a lot of different press trials on our whites when they came into the winery, and I kept the press fractions separate in both the white grapes and red grapes that I used for our sparkling and rosé wines. I also had access to a lab that could generate data on smoke compounds in grapes/juice/wine very quickly. That armed me with the information I needed to create protocols on whether I could pick something at all and how to process it if we did harvest the fruit. It was definitely a harvest where my science background was utilized even more than usual.

OB: Most Sonoma winemakers that I have spoken to are thrilled with what they have tasted in barrel with the 2021 vintage? Talk a bit about the vintage and what we can expect with your MacRostie Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs?

HB: I have enjoyed a number of amazing Sonoma County vintages, but 2021 is definitely #1 right now. It was an incredibly consistent growing season. There were slightly reduced yields due to the drought, but that seemed to edge things toward concentration. Vines had stunted canopy growth, most likely due to the fires the year before, but combined with the lower yields they produced a vine balance that is not the norm in Sonoma County.

Our vintage 2021 wines are all opulent. The Chardonnays are complex and textured. The Pinot Noirs have intense color and structure. Across both varietals, the portfolio of single-vineyard wines we produced in 2021 are showing the unique, signature traits that speak to the vineyards that they come from in a way that makes this a true standout vintage. I am particularly excited about our debut 2021 vintage of Pinot Noir from our new Nightwing Estate Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap AVA. We began developing Nightwing in 2017. It reaches elevations of 1,300 feet and features numerous elevations, exposures and soils. We planted it as a mosaic of 35 blocks featuring nine clones of Pinot Noir and nine clones of Chardonnay—all of which I was able to personally select. Helping to design and plant Nightwing was one of the highlights of my career.

OB: What are some of your favorite wines of California and the world? Do you have an epiphany wine or wines?

HB: I have a love for a California (Sonoma County) cool-climate Syrah, which means high acid, bright fruit (not syrupy), slight herbaceous qualities, and enough tannin that you should really not open one that is younger than five years old. I am excited to have found a small parcel of Syrah in Bennett Valley that I will be playing with in the future. Fingers crossed!

I have no specific epiphany wine, more moments. I fell in love with what a wine can do to an experience. Something to share with a meal or at a picnic in the park. Something unique you can open for someone from a different part of the world. It brings a snapshot of a place and a time that you get to experience and the same wine can be different for each person that tries it. I wanted to be a part of that. Every time I get to bottling the wines I have made I think about all the people, stories, hours, days months that the wine has seen and who then will open one of those bottles and will they get that glimpse. I always tell my team that they should never be in the cellar working hands on with the grapes/juice/wine if they are in a bad mood or are just not themselves, because I think it can show in the finished product.

Vine Hill Ranch

One of the famed sites in the Napa Valley, Vine Hill Ranch produces legendary Cabernet Sauvignon that is for those who love Napa with balance. It was back in 1978 that Alex and Robert (Bob) Phillips, moved to the Napa Valley to raise their family on the ranch that their grandfather, Bruce Kelham, bought some twenty years earlier and christened Vine Hill Ranch. The ranch itself dates back to 1884, as the annual plantings of grapevines, plums, pears, and other crops are woven in history through hand-scribed reports.

Winemaker Francoise Peschon has an enology degree from UC Davis and then completed post-graduate work at the University of Bordeaux. She then served an apprenticeship at Château Haut-Brion, before returning to the Napa Valley. Peschon has been at Vine Hill Ranch since 2008 and collaborates closely with vineyard manager, Michael Wolf. The new 2019 Vine Hill Ranch ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) is an extraordinary wine. This beauty is powerful but shows incredible grace and elegance. I can imagine this will easily cellar for another twenty years. Learn more about this historic Napa house at vinehillranch.com and here is my review of the new 2019 Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon.

2019 Vine Hill Ranch ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 Vine Hill Ranch ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is an inky, powerful western Oakville wine from this outstanding vintage. Dusty soils and tobacco leaf fill the nose with shades of anise and graphite, with ripe boysenberry cordial tones that all meld in the glass. The palate is soft and seamless with a weightless quality once on the mid-palate. Showing impeccable balance, this finishes exceedingly long with a great combination of black fruits, tar and worn leather, with freshly tilled soils. Drink 2022-2044- 98

Cayuse Vineyards

When new wines from Cayuse Vineyards are announced, then you listen. My ears perked up when I was speaking with famed vigneron Christophe Baron and he mentioned that he would be releasing some new wines from the 2015 vintage. For me, 2015 was a very challenging year for red wines — one that saw severe heat spikes which led to the earliest harvest in Washington wine history. It was even more difficult for white wines to achieve minerality and not come off as flabby or disjointed.

2015 left little doubt of being a producer vintage and the wines that have been released by Cayuse Vineyards from 2015 show very impressive poise when many wineries struggled with obtaining good tension in their red wins. I won’t lie to you in saying that these wines which scheduled to be released in October 2022 are some of the best of the vintage. I love the incredible range of flavor in the 2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which goes from salty and savory to beautiful dark fruit tones. Uncork a bottle, and watch it brilliantly evolve over an hour. I think you will be very impressed. Learn more about this famed Walla Walla house at cayusevineyards.com and here are the incredible October 2022 releases from the 2015 vintage by Christophe Baron and Cayuse Vineyards.

2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The very unique 2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored in mostly neutral French oak (35% new) for eighteen months prior to bottling.  The nose is insanely good, with incredible complexity. Black olive tapenade, white pepper dusted bacon, seaweed and boysenberry aromas all march in place. The palate shows seriously good finesse despite the heat of the vintage. Ripe dark plum and exotic spices combine with Oyster sauce and salted pork shoulder. Complex and delicious, this is beautiful wine that is one of the great wines produced in this vintage. Already beautifully evolved, enjoy this beauty over the next five plus years. Drink 2022-2027- 95

2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special’ Tempranillo- Beautiful to consume right now, the 2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special’ Tempranillo comes from a range of vineyards owned by Christophe Baron. Aged for eighteen months in 35% new French oak barrels, this offers green olive tapenade, allspice, charcuterie and beautiful red rose petal aromas. The palate is very salty and savory, with fantastic finesse considering the heat of the vintage. Very weightless, with a generous core of dark fruits with soy sauce, pink peppercorn dusted brisket and suggestions of milk chocolate, this is novel, highly delicious Tempranillo that is best enjoyed over the next several years. Drink 2022-2027- 95

XOBC Cellars

One of the wonderful wineries with a cause, XOBC Cellars is one of the few LBGTQ-owned wineries in the Pacific Northwest. Started by four women, XOBC is named after co-founder and music icon Brandi Carlile. The wines support Brandi’s Looking Out Foundation which raises money for a range of charities. LGBTQ ownership in wine is incredibly under-represented which is a trend that is hopefully changing in the future. The founders are remarkable women who have achieved incredible success in their lives. I have really enjoyed sitting down with the owners, Jeri and Amy, and talking about their brand which is already iconic in the Pacific Northwest. They have created some consistently beautiful wines in their lineup.

At the helm is one of Walla Walla’s finest winemakers, Sean Boyd of Rotie Cellars. Sean provides beautiful finesse and tension, as well as richness in his wines. I adored all of the new wines and was particularly impressed with what he has done with his first ever sparkling wine, the NV XOBC Sparkling Wine (OB, 91) which is fresh with a smooth texture and beautiful red fruit flavors. Learn more about this great new winery project at https://www.xobccellars.com Here is my review of the beautiful new sparkling wine by XOBC. 

NV XOBC Sparkling Rose Wine- The NV XOBC Sparkling Rose is a beautifully nuanced new effort by winemaker Sean Boyd that weighs in at a mere 11.8% alcohol. A blend of 90% Syrah with the remainder Grenache and Mourvedre, this unveils a soft mousse upon entry. With more air very pretty red rose petals collide with red currants, wild strawberry and undertones of sourdough bread and bergamot. Delicious to consume now, this has another five to seven years in front of it. Drink 2022-2028- 91

JM Cellars

For years I have admired the wines by JM Cellars, one of the most picturesque wineries in Western Washington. Founded in 1998, JM is perched on top of the hill just west of the many Woodinville tasting rooms. The parking situation there is somewhat tricky but they have valets on the weekend. The stylish and open tasting room spills into their beautiful outside area that is lush and wooded. Winemaker/owner John Bigelow has been crafting some excellent limited release red and white wines and has worked with some of the states best winemakers, such as Charlie Hoppes and Mike Januik. John makes a beautiful range of red and white wines.

For his new releases I tasted a wide range of reds which were well-structured and remarkably consistent. He makes a killer new Pinot Noir from Sonoma, his 2020 JM Cellars ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which is a wonderful success in this challenging vintage — showing very pretty red fruits and great salty terroir. I loved the new 2019 JM Cellars ‘III’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 92) which is a resounding success from this somewhat challenging vintage for Bordeaux style red wines. Learn more about this great family winery at jmcellars.com and here are my notes on the new JM Cellars wines.

2020 JM Cellars ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- This displays the wonderful freshness and salinity from this famed AVA, reveling in salty red fruits that combine with blood orange zest, tobacco and stony undercurrents. Medium to full-bodied, this is lithe, nicely textured Pinot Noir that will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2020 JM Cellars ‘Ancora Imparo’ Grenache- This Shaw Ridge and Ciel du Cheval Vineyard bottling offers ripe red fruits that combine with wintergreen notes and a smooth texture. Drink now. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2019 JM Cellars Syrah- Iodine with blueberry pie, smoked brisket and white pepper all mark the nose. The ablate is fresh and beautifully textured with a polished mouthfeel. Showing good depth, this classy Syrah will drink well over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2019 JM Cellars ‘Faniculi’ Red Wine- Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (62%), with smaller parts Merlot and Syrah. Dark plum and red currant tones combine with baking spices on the nose. The palate is plush and soft with a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2022-2029- 91

2019 JM Cellars ‘III” Cabernet Sauvignon- 100% varietal, this Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers sagebrush with cassis, anise and tilled soils on the nose. The palate is plush and refined with soft tannins and a lengthy finish. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 JM Cellars ‘Margaret’s Vineyard’ Malbec- Inky dark once in the glass, this 2019 Malbec delivers rich blue fruits that combine with chocolate covered Arabica bean flavors. Deep and concentrated, with good finesse, this is already beautifully evolved wine that will cellar well or another decade. Drink 2022-2030- 92

Scharffenberger

Scharffenberger

A historic site in the Anderson Valley, Scharffenberger Cellars was founded back in 1981 and is located only a few miles from Pacific Ocean. The brand was started by John Scharffenberger, and was bought by Louis Roederer in 2004. Winemaker Jeffrey Jindra crafts some beautiful value sparkling wines that are fresh and vibrant with great texture.

The tasting room is in a charming Mendocino country bungalow in downtown Philo. Behind it, the 35,000-square-foot winery sits to the north amid hillside vineyards. An old redwood grove has been carefully protected on the 160-acre property.

I loved the new wines, especially the NV Scharffenberger ‘Brut Excellence’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 91) which is vibrant and racy with a smooth texture. Learn more about this storied Anderson Valley house at https://scharffenbergercellars.com and here are my notes on the beautiful new sparkling wines.

NV Scharffenberger ‘Brut Excellence’ Sparkling Wine- A delight to enjoy as an aperitif, the NV ‘Brut Excellence’ offers biscuit, green apple, white peach and ginger notes on the palate. This is texturally very elegant. Fresh and fragrant, enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2029- 91

NV Scharffenberger ‘Brut Rose Excellence’ Sparkling Wine- The beautiful, salmon-hued NV Scharffenberger ‘Brut Rose Excellence’ Sparkling Wine is a killer value. Sour red fruit flavors collide with star jasmine water and citrus blossom notes on the palate.Very bright, with good tension and salinity, enjoy over the next seven plus years. Drink 2022-2029- 90

Doubleback

A winery needing no introduction, Doubleback was founded by NFL star Drew Bledsoe who returned to his hometown of Walla Walla following his illustrious playing career. Over the past decade Doubleback has evolved into one of the finest producers of red and white wines in the state. Originally from Walla Walla, Bledsoe was a star at Walla Walla High School before his illustrious tenure at Washington State University. He had visions of starting his own winery for many years and going back to Walla Walla was the perfect choice for him. During his years in the NFL he continued to expand his palate, trying various wines of the world. But there was something special about wines from his home state, as he grew to love the balance of the wines of this region that weren’t old world but also weren’t Napa.

Drew returned to Walla Walla in 2007 to plant his estate vineyard, McQueen, on the southern end of the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Doubleback was born in 2008 which would focus on estate fruit to create world class Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla. Drew knew he needed a top class winemaker and connected with childhood friend and superstar winemaker, Chris Figgins, of Leonetti Cellar, who served as consulting winemaker until Josh McDaniels assumed the role in 2015. 

Josh is one of the finest winemakers of the Pacific Northwest and also makes a range of spectacular Oregon wines. Highly humble when talking about his successes, Josh is making some of the best Chardonnay in the Pacific Northwest. Do not miss out on the 2020 Doubleback Chardonnay (OB, 95) is the finest Washington Chardonnay I have tasted in the past year. This is very Kongsgaard meets Washington State. Learn more about these sensational new wines at http://www.doubleback.com/ Here are the gorgeous new 2022 release wines by Doubleback.

2020 Doubleback Chardonnay- Sourced from the McQueen, Flying B and Kenny Hill Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley, this was stored for eighteen months in a combination of new and used French oak prior to bottling in January 2022. This is a layered, nearly impossible to put down Chardonnay with no smoke influence and no rough edges. Once poured it shows off its brilliant, golden hue in the glass. Seamless on the mouth, this delivers lovely salted Macadamia nut tones alongside buttered brioche, banana and roasted pineapple, with underlying tension. As stated before, Josh McDaniels is making quite possibly the finest Chardonnay in Washington. Try to get your hands on this incredible, very Kongsgaard vs. Washington Chardonnay if you can. Only 91 cases produced. Drink 2022-2030- 95

2019 Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2019 Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon is very inky once in the glass. Aged for 22 months in 57% new French oak, this Cabernet Sauvignon has 15% Merlot blended in with a dash of Malbec and Cabernet Fanc. Shades of sandalwood and allspice surround a core of ripe dark fruits, chocolate and sagebrush accents on the nose. The palate is very herbal but comes off with plenty of mouthfeel and texture. Showing good verve and concentration, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2020 Doubleback Merlot- The 100% varietal 2019 Doubleback Merlot comes from the Figgins, McQueen, LeFore and Flying B vineyards. Stored in new and neural oak barrels for seventeen months before batting in January 2022, this offers Earl Grey tea, cocoa powder dusted black cherry and roasted dates on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting, as this effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Rich red and dark fruits collide with copious minerals and suggestions of chocolate cake. With no smoke influence, this shows bright acidity and refined tannins that hold everything brilliantly in place. This is quite simply a masterpiece in a vintage that was hard for many. Already beautifully evolved, give this an hour of air prior to consuming and enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 95

2019 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon- The beautiful new 2019 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from the McQueen, LaFore, Bob Healy and Figgins vineyards. Stored for 23 months in a combination of new and neural French oak barrels before batting in August 2021, this Cabernet Sauvignon has small portions of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Malbec blended in. Needing some air to be fully aroused, this delivers sagebrush, mocha and scorched earth notes with heady dark fruits that sing in unison on the nose. The beautiful range of aromas brings you back to the glass for more. Very refined on the mouth, this comes off more herbal than other vintages, but has plenty of dense dark fruits to gratify. Arabica bean notes and creme de cassis notes meld well with firm tannins and good freshness that hold things in place. Finishing long, this is very refined and nuanced Cabernet Sauvignon that will surely hold well for another fifteen plus years. Give this at least an hour in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2022-2038- 95

2019 Doubleback ‘Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Reserve’ Red Wine has a very large portion of Petit Verdot (25%) added to 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Merlot. Stored in a combination of Italian concrete vessels and new French oak for 23 months, this limited production red blend really needs an hour of air prior to enjoying. It comes off very dense and hedonistic with graphite, green bell pepper, anise, tobacco leaf and intense dark fruit flavors. The expression of Petit Verdot here is gorgeous. This shows really good weight and tension with beautiful length. Intense and very gratifying, this heady, red blend will hold well for another twenty years to come. Drink 2023-2040- 96

Roederer Estate

One of the storied California houses for sparkling wine. Roederer Estate dates back to 1982. At the time it was the vision of Jean-Claude Rouzaud, president of Louis Roederer, who saw  the cool climate and rolling fog of the Anderson Valley to craft some of the region’s finest sparkling wines. The 580 acre estate produces four sparkling wines: the multi-vintage Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut, debuted in 1988, the Brut Rosé and Roederer Estate's vintage tees de cuvee, L'Ermitage and L'Ermitage Rosé. 

Currently the house is under the leadership of Jean-Claude’s son, Frédéric Rouzaud. I loved the new wines. The outstanding NV Roederer Estate ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 92) is a steal at under 40 dollars. This shows very pretty florals and red fruits with great tension and salty undertones. which is fresh and beautifully textured with a very pretty red fruit profile. Dense, massive and possessing a magical sense of mouthfeel, the 2015 Roederer Estate ‘L’Ermitage’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 95) is a must buy for any serious collector of new world bubbles. Learn more about this outstanding sparkling wine house at https://roedererestate.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Roederer Estate.

NV Roederer Estate Sparkling Wine- A great value buy, the NV Roederer Estate Sparkling Wine is a blend of 60% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir that was aged on the lees for more than two years. Toasted sourdough bread and ripe banana notes combine with lemon rind on the nose. The wine comes off big but also very refined with soft bubbles that combine with the stony and salty nuances of the wine. At $30.00 USD this is a steal! Drink 2022-2029- 92

NV Roederer Estate Rose Sparkling Wine- The NV Roederer Estate Rose Sparkling Wine was disgorged in August 2021 and blends 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay. Given 8 G/L dosage, this reveals its very pale salmon hue. Very salty and fresh with crunchy cranberry, red rose water, mulberry and walnut notes, this is both refined and delicious Rose sparking wine that is best consumed over the next seven plus years. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2015 Roederer Estate ‘L’Ermitage’ Sparkling Wine- Beautifully done, the 2015 Roederer Estate ‘L’Ermitage’ Sparkling Wine offers some seriously good value and is amongst the best of its kind in North America. A blend of 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir, this includes roughly 5% of reserve wine from the 2010, 2012 and 2014 vintages. Ripe starfruit and allspice dusted brioche tones combine with the silky mousse and wonderful mid-palate weight. Big and bright, with plenty of mouth-watering acidity, enjoy this wonderfully evolved ‘L’Ermitage’ sparkling wine over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032- 95