Francois Schmitt

A winery with serious history, François Schmitt comes from a long line of wine producers. At the start of the 1970s he took over the family farm in the heart of the village, which consisted of three hectares of vines.To grow operations François acquired several plots of land notably on the Bollenberg and Grand Cru Pfingstberg slopes, terroirs which today make up close to 80% of the Domaine’s hectarage.

His son joined the operation in 1998 and today their domaine is comprised of 13 hectares which is mainly planted to Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Gewurtztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris. I loved the new wines by them particularly the value driven NV Francois Schmitt ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Cremant D’ Alsace (OB, 90) which is fresh and polished with lovely ginger notes. The best wine I tasted was the rich and bone-dry 2017 Francois Schmitt ‘Grand Cru Pfingstberg Paradis’ Riesling (OB, 93) which comes from this Grand Cru site and shows incredible texture and gobs of tension. Learn more about this historic winery at https://francoisschmitt.fr/en/ and here are my reviews of the new Francois Schmitt wines.

NV Francois Schmitt ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Cremant D’ Alsace- The excellent Blanc de Noirs by Francois Schmitt offers baking spice dusted sourdough bread, marzipan and ginger notes alongside green apple tones. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2021 Francois Schmitt ‘Linn des Sept’ Pinot Blanc- The 2021 Francois Schmitt ‘Linn des Sept’ Pinot Blanc delivers kiwi, sweetened gooseberry and cantaloupe tones on the palate with great underlying finesse. Enjoy now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2022-2027- 90

2020 Francois Schmitt ‘La Colline Aux Cailloux’ White Wine- A blend of seven varietals, the 2020 Francois Schmitt ‘La Colline Aux Cailloux’ White Wine shows lychee notes alongside green papaya, gardenia water, mango and ripe pineapple notes. Stony and showing a light salinity, this is beautifully textured wine that is drinking beautifully now. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2017 Francois Schmitt ‘Grand Cru Pfingstberg Paradis’ Riesling- Rich and concentrated, the 2017 Francois Schmitt ‘Grand Cru Pfingstberg Paradis’ Riesling is bone dry with serious weight and structure. Layers of freshly cut lime, blue slate and nectarine combine with copious minerals on the palate. Generous and showing brilliant underlying finesse, this Grand Cru Riesling will cellar well over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 93

Sullivan Rutherford Estate

Some might not know that Sullivan Rutherford Estate dates all the way back 1972. Jim Sullivan’s interest in wine was ignited in the 1950s with a simple grape arbor given to him and his new bride as a wedding gift and he began to make wine at home before moving his family to Rutherford and establishing Sullivan in 1972. The winery began new ownership in 2018 which involved investing in vineyard programs and plans are underway to build a state-of-the-art winery and hospitality facilities which was all led by entrepreneur Juan Pablo Torres-Padilla. 

Last year I had the chance to taste a range of Sullivan’s top ‘Founder’s Reserve’ wines from vintages 2013-2017. This line was formerly known as ‘James O’ Neil’ and I was quite honestly blown away with the wines. This year I had to chance to taste the new range of wines by Sullivan and was super impressed with the overall quality. Do not miss out on the gorgeous 2019 Sullivan ‘Founder’s Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) is concentrated and deep, with beautiful underlying poise. Learn more at https://sullivanwine.com Here are my tasting notes from the new Sullivan Rutherford East wines. 

2019 J.O. Sullivan ‘Founder’s Reserve’ Merlot- The opulent 2019 J.O. Sullivan ‘Founder’s Reserve’ Merlot is a delightful effort that is already beautifully evolved. Once on the nose this takes on black rose petals with cigar box, anise and shades of graphite with intense dark fruit tones. The palate is very plush and seamless throughout the drinking experience. Finishing long, this reveals heady cassis and pencil lead notes alongside freshly tilled loamy soils. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037- 94

2019 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘Coeur de Vigne’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The intense 2019 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘Coeur de Vigne’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a plush mouthfeel with lovely herbal undertones that collide with cassis, blueberry pie and espresso ground notes. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 J. O. Sullivan ‘Founder’s Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Decadent, refined and showing beautiful elegance, the 2019 J. O. Sullivan ‘Founder’s Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterclass by Sullivan Rutherford Estate. Very inky once in the glass, this delivers graphite and garrigue notes that combine with intense dark fruits and violets on the nose. The palate is intense and hedonistic, with a serious mineral backbone. Opulent black and blue fruits combine with stony accents on the palate. Finishing very long with black fruits and minerals, this is an exceedingly good wine that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2022-2040- 96

Orr Wines

Sitting beside winemaker Erica Orr, she spoke about her recent trip to France. It did sound like a killer visit to Bordeaux — very relaxed in the heat of summer. I had too embarked on a trip to France in the heat. Everything is very precise in her winemaking, as the wines by her brand and Baer always share a beginning, middle and end.

Orr Wines began several years back as Erica was dying to produce top class Chenin Blanc and create her own brand. It is a hard knock life right now for Chenin Blanc, as a few years back an old vine vineyard, Rothrock, was ripped up. That was the site for her wine and she had to find another source. All of her red wines come from the esteemed Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA — a site that she is very familiar with, as her Baer wines also come from that location.

I love the new wines by Erica Orr. Do not miss out on her 2021 Orr Wines Chenin Blanc (OB, 92) which is rich and full of finesse, and is truly one of the great wines of its kind in North America. I also adored the new 2021 Orr Wines Grenache (OB, 92) which is also chalk-filled of tension and shows a leaner, very pretty expression of the varietal. Learn more about these great wines at orrwines.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Erica Orr.

2021 Orr Wines Chenin Blanc- Coming from the Gresswell, Rosa Hills and Upland Vineyards, the 2021 Orr Wines, this was aged in a combination of stainless steel, hogshead barrels and used French oak before bottling. This shows a nutty edge once on the nose, with bright pear and starfruit tones. The palate is beautifully textured and shows great poise and weight. This is seamless throughout the drinking experience, as this Chenin Blanc is best consumed over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2021 Orr Wines Grenache- The 2021 Orr Wines was stored in natural oak for eight months before bottling in May 2022. Coming from the Corfu Crossing and Stillwater Creek Vineyards, this delivers pretty guava and red cherry notes on the nose with shades of green olives. The texture is soft as this displays great underlying acidity that makes your mouth water. A beautiful core of red fruits mingle on the palate, with citrus rind and shades of wet stone. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2019 Orr Wines Merlot- The 20219 Orr Merlot comes from the Stillwater Creek AVA, as this has 20% Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. Stored in used oak, this delivers ripe cassis, mocha and chocolate cake notes on the nose. The palate is very fresh and finesse-driven with good structure, showing plenty of mouth-watering acidity. This is beautiful wine to consume now and over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 91

2020 Orr Wines Red Wine- The 2020 Orr Wines Red Wine is a blend of 92% Merlot with 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Hand-sorted, this was entirely stored in neutral oak before bottling in May 2022. This is beautifully textured with a soft mouthfeel and delivers chocolate covered cherry, roasted dates and graphite notes. Drinking nicely now, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 91

Woodward Canyon

It is my pleasure to share one of the wineries that I first visited back in 2002. Woodward Canyon began back in 1981 when Rick and Darcey Small took a leap of faith and planted a range of grape varietals in the Walla Walla Valley. Today their son, Sager, and daughter, Jordan head Woodward Canyon, as Sager serves as vineyard manager and Jordan takes the reins as general manager. These are wines that age so gracefully. Years ago I had the opportunity to try every edition of their ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon and have been so impressed with how that wine ages.

It is hard to believe that they are now on their 29th edition of this wine. The 2020 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 93) is dense, chewy and delicious — it is extraordinary wine to consume right now. Woodward Canyon have developed a nationwide reputation for great Chardonnay. I loved the 2021 Woodward Canyon ‘Washington State’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which deftly walks the tightrope between weight and finesse  I was absolutely enamored by the 2020 Woodward Canyon ‘Old Vines Washington’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which shows a hedonistic bent and plenty of bright acidity and firm tannins to hold things up. This beautiful wine has decades of life ahead of it. Learn more about this historic Washington winery at https://www.woodwardcanyon.com/ Here are the gorgeous new release wines by Woodward Canyon.

2021 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2021 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate’ Sauvignon Blanc which comes from four different clones and two different blocks in their estate vineyard. The wine comes off very fresh with gooseberry, lime zest and a smooth texture. The weight and salty undertones really add to the enjoyment. Drink 2022-2027- 92

2021 Woodward Canyon ‘Washington State’ Chardonnay- This vintage is 100% sourced from the Woodward Canyon ‘Estate’ Vineyard which was stored in roughly 20% new French oak. This version did not undergo malolactic fermentation and reveals banana, brioche and salted almond notes on the palate. Delicious now, consume over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2028- 93

2020 Woodward Canyon ‘Syrah Mourvèdre Grenache’ Red Wine- This blends 50% Syrah with 38% Syrah and 12% Grenache. Smoked brisket, white pepper and green olives all combine on the nose. The palate is very fresh and focused with a seamless texture. Layered and showing nice lavender and salty notes, this is beautiful wine to consume now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2020 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc- The 2020 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc is a beautiful new wine by Woodward Canyon. Black and red florals combine with green herbs, blackberry and shades of roasted plum. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and serious length. Showing good weight, this is beautiful Cabernet Franc that will cellar well for another ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate’ Merlot- The 2020 ‘Estate’ Merlot is a dense and chewy 100% varietal bottling by winemaker Kevin Moss that has some great aging potential. Cocoa powder and dense black fruits combine with clay soils on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with great stuffing and flavor density. Finishing long with serious length, enjoy this beauty over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2033- 93

2020 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate Clone 4’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2020 single clone Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful expression of Walla Walla Cabernet. Once on the nose this takes on loganberry with dried herbs and shades of espresso grounds. The palate is fresh and shows good weight and finesse, with a loaded core of black fruits and bright acidity that holds everything together. Drink 2022-2035- 93

2020 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Artist Series’ is a flat out fabulous blend of 76% Cavernet Sauvignon with the remainder Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and a touch of Syrah, Dolcetto and Barbera. The resultant blend is an outstanding wine that was stored in mostly new French oak before bottling.  On the nose this takes on toasty oak with black currants, Turkish coffee and dark chocolate shavings. Showing deep concentration and a silky texture, this blend really makes Petit Verdot shine with its massive blue fruits, light green herbs and tannins. Drink 2022-2035- 93

2020 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Estate Reserve’ Red Wine blends 35% Cabernet Sauvignon with 29% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc with a touch of Malbec and Petit Verdot that was all stored in 100% French oak. The palate is very soft and refined with lovely herbal and graphite tones alongside Asian spices, black currant jelly, and coffee grounds with firm tannins holding things brilliantly in place. This has some serious aging potential. Drink 2023-2040- 94

2020 Woodward Canyon ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2020 Woodward Canyon ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a sensational new bottling by Kevin Moss. The palate is dense and chewy with serious finesse and nice richness. Dark cherry cordial with mocha and shades of black licorice all combine on the palate. This has a weightless quality and an extremely long, black fruit-driven finish that completes this seamless beauty. Generous and layered, this will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 95

Madeira 2022 Update: Cossart Gordon and Miles

For years I have been enchanted by the wines of Madeira. The name ‘Madeira’ originates from Portuguese name for a carpenter, from madeira ‘wood’ and is also named after the island of Madeira —which was named with Portuguese madeira ‘timber’ because of the timber that grew there. The island was colonized in the 15th century under the patronage of Prince Henry the Navigator, Joao Goncalves Zarco and Tristao Vaz Teixeira who were all were driven by a storm to the island they called Porto Santo in 1419. Amazingly there is no record of anyone living on this island prior to that time. There are some suggestions that Africans may have come to Madeira, just as the Vikings may have visited. In the fifteenth century the world of refining sugar came to the island to cater to the taste of the Europeans and through the seventeenth century sugarcane production became the island’s primary production. 

Wine had also been produced, but was not nearly as popular as sugarcane production. We do have records of winemaking in Madeira back to the end of the 15th century and also records of preventing wines from spoiling using a neutral grape spirit. During long voyages the wines would be exposed to excessive heat and movement which changed the flavor of the wine. It is likely that this was a catalyst for the current standard of winemaking on Madeira which involves oxidizing the wine through a process of applying heat and also barrel aging the wine. Younger wines are typically crafted by using a method that accelerate the aging process by applying heat in tanks. and the aging potential while the top wines, the colheitas and frasqueiras are produced by the canteiro method. The word"canteiro" comes from the traditional supporting beams on which the oak casks are placed. This process involves the ageing of the wines in casks for a minimum period of 4 years stored under the rafters of warm attics, exposed to the natural warmth of the sun that gently heats the wine.

Wines made in the “canteiro” system are stored in casks by variety name and vintage under old rafters at the lodge. These casks are warmed by the tropical climate and evolve to be highly concentrated. The wines are slowly moved down from the top to cooler temperatures. Because of these methods of production these wines are very long lived and those produced by the canteiro method will survive for decades and even centuries, even after being opened. Wine are typically made in the style of being either dry, medium-dry, medium-rich and rich. All wines are typically between 17 and 21% alcohol. Some varietals used include Sercial, Verdelho, Terrantez, Bual, Malmsey, and Tinta Negra. 

I recently had the chance to review wines from two top Madeira producers, including some wines aged back to the 1970s. I am honestly quite floored by the overall quality of both producers which are wines that all have some tremendous cellaring potential. I loved the 2006 Cossart Gordon Bual Madeira (OB, 92) which is already beautifully evolved and shows great nutty and scotch notes. I was blown away with the 1975 Cossart Gordon ‘Verdejo’ Madeira (OB, 97) which literally brings a cornucopia of aromatics and flavors. Here are my tasting notes from the recent releases by Cosstart Gordon and Miles Madeira.

1975 Cossart Gordon Verdelho Madeira- The near 50 year old 1975 Cossart Gordon Verdelho Madeira is a masterclass by this esteemed house. It is intense, rich and layered with insane flavor range from kumquat zest to red cherry and guava notes alongside almandine and cinnamon sticks on the palate. Drinking beautifully now, this will surely live on for another ten plus years. Drink 2022-2040- 97

2006 Cossart Gordon Bual Madeira- Sensational on the nose with white raisin and ripe red cherry candy notes, the 2006 Bual Madeira is very fresh once on the mouth, with a touch of sweetness. Highlands scotch and toasted Macadamia nut notes combine with ripe red raspberry on the palate. Finishing long, this is beautiful stuff to consume now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2009 Cossart Gordon Verdeljho Madeira- The really good 2009 Cossart Gordon Verdeljho Madeira delivers tangerine peel, wet stone and peat moss tones on the nose. The palate is very fresh and lithe, producing tons of mouth-watering acidity after every sip. Finishing very long with nectarine, kumquat and white rose water, this is beautiful wine to consume now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2000 Miles Rich Tinta Negra’ Madeira- The 2000 ‘Rich’ Tinta Negra shows off toffee notes on the nose with roasted hazelnut and coffee ground accents. The palate is dense, lush and full of earthy tones. Still showing good finesse, the 2000 ‘Rich’ shows gobs of salinity and a smooth mouthfeel throughout the drinking experience. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2012 Miles Tinta Negra Madeira- The 2012 ‘Tinta Negra’ shows off creme caramel notes alongside lemon rind and cinnamon dusted brioche on the nose. The palate is soft and ripe with rich orchard and citrus fruit flavors, with plenty of grip and verve. Drink 2022-2032- 91

Chateau Ste. Michelle Acquires A to Z Wineworks

We have some breaking news today out of the Pacific Northwest as Chateau Ste. Michelle Estates has acquired famed value Oregon producer A to Z Wineworks with also includes the Rex Hill brand. This acquisition now makes Chateau Ste. Michelle Estates the largest producer in Oregon.
Vice President of Communications for Chateau Ste. Michelle Estates, Ryan Pennington mentioned "We are incredibly optimistic about the future of Pacific Northwest wines – both Oregon and Washington – and the breadth and depth of our Pacific Northwest portfolio will enable us to introduce new consumers across the country and around the world to the full complement of our region’s outstanding wines."
Huge congrats to both of these outstanding Pacific Northwest wine brands.

Rasa Vineyards

Master of Wine Billo Naravane is humble about his success, yet confident about what he produces. “I think these are the best overall wines that I have done” he said with little hesitation. Having tasted his new lineup, I would easily agree with his statement. Alongside his brother, Pinto Naravane, Billo crafts beautiful expressions of Washington State wine. His new lineup of wines is truly one of the best in the state — from crisp Rieslings to inky Syrahs. Billo also has a remarkable story in wine.

Originally a scientist, Billo Naravane initially was inspired by wine while living Austin, Texas. During that time Billo was exposed to some of the finest wines in the world and he fully caught the wine bug. Finally, he and his brother, Pinto, made the bold decision to start Rasa Vineyards in 2007. My first exposure to these great wines was many years back when I was served a 2007 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED’ Syrah blind. I was absolutely mesmerized by the seamless quality of the wine. With a bachelor’s degree from MIT and a master’s degree from Stanford, Billo then studied viticulture an enology at UC Davis. He is now one of the few masters of wine (MW) in the world. The wines he crafts show tremendous texture, richness, poise and terroir — and are only getting better by each vintage. 

I adored all of the new Rasa wines from their twenty dollar value selections to their top Syrah bottlings. I adored the 2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Pinot Gris (OB, 92) which is fresh and beautifully textured orange wine that is silky smooth on the palate. I adored the new 2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘Veritas Sequitur’ Syrah (OB, 97) which brilliantly showcases this stony site. This beauty has at least another decade of life in front of it. Learn more about this fantastic Walla Walla winery at rasavineyards.com Here are the sensational new wines by Rasa Vineyards. 

2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Pinot Gris- The brilliant new 2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Pinot Gris saw extended skin contact and shows better at a warmer temperature. Nutty and earthy tones combine with shades of nectarine skin and papaya on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture, showing no rough edges. Enjoy this outstanding new wine over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2020 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Riesling- Sourced from the Columbia Valley, the 2020 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Riesling has a wonderful mineral backbone with plenty of wet stone character. Made in the ‘Trocken’ style, this shows the faintest kiss of sweetness, with lychee, Pink Lady apple and suggestions of kiwi that combine with the wonderful underlying verve and a soft texture. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2020 Rasa Vineyards ‘Dream Deferred’ Chardonnay- The 2020 Rasa Vineyards ‘Dream Deferred’ Chardonnay comes entirely from the Frenchman Hills Vineyard which is located outside of Othello, Washington and was first planted back in 1998. Toasted pineapple and marshmallow tones combine with toasted brioche on the nose. The palate is silky smooth and is simply irresistible once on the mouth, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Pineapple upside down cake, vanilla creme brûlée, and baking spice dusted French bread all come together with a brilliant underlying minerality. This is very Washington meets Mersault, as the outstanding 2020 ‘Dream Deferred’ will live on for at least another eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2019 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Red Blend- Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the 2019 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Red Blend offers smoky and spicy notes on the nose with rich dark fruits. The palate is very fresh with a soft texture. Coffee grounds and dense dark fruits combine with a great underlying minerality and soft tannins that hold things in place. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2020 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from top sites throughout Washington State, the 2020 ‘Occam’s Razor’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a soft texture with medium bodied kirsch, blackberry and sagebrush notes. Enjoy this killer value over the next several years. Drink 2022-2029- 91

2020 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED Reductio Ad Absurdum’ Syrah- 100% varietal, this Syrah was sourced from mostly the Weinbau and Bacchus Vineyards. Brisket and rich cassis notes combine with wild herbs on the nose The palate is very refined and fresh with a smooth texture and intense dark fruit profile. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy this beautiful Syrah over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED The Strong Law’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘QED The Strong Law’ is a melange of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon wth the remainder Merlot. Fragrant with its red floral character on the nose, this takes on a seamless texture on the attack. This is very juicy and inviting on the palate, finishing long with pretty red fruit and minerals. A killer value, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘QES Convergence’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘QED Convergence’ is a gorgeous blend of 69% Syrah with smaller parts Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier. The nose shows off high-tones from the Viognier with star jasmine aromas that combine with white pepper dusted smoked brisket, bulls blood, black raspberry and suggestions of chocolate cake. The texture is simply stunning, as this comes off exceedingly well-balanced, with each part working together like a world-class symphony. Great to consume now, enjoy this beautiful Rhone style wine over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 95

2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘Veritas Sequitur SJR Vineyard’ Grenache/Syrah- A blend of 70% Grenache with the remainder Syrah, this killer blend from the famed ‘SJR Vineyard’ was stored in 30% new French oak before bottling with the Grenache being aged in two year old puncheons. This is gorgeous and highly floral on the nose with pretty red rose petals and freshly tilled compost that combine with soy sauce, kelp and shades of red cherry candy. The palate is soft and inviting with a seamless texture, a salty edge and beautiful purity of red fruits. This is really just and infant and will continue to evolve over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 96

2018 Rasa Vineyard ‘Veritas Sequitur SJR Vineyard’ Syrah- A total show-stopper, the sensational 2018 Rasa Vineyard ‘Veritas Sequitur SJR Vineyard’ Syrah stored in 100% new French oak for 24 months in barrel and then was stored in the bottle for two years prior to bottling. The nose shows insanely good range from seaweed to red currants and orange rind, potpourri and freshly tilled rocky soils. The palate is deep, concentrated and beautifully textured, showing a finish that just won’t end. With more air you see more and more Umami notes, as this beautiful, stony Syrah has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2022-2036- 97

2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘Principia Reserve’ Syrah- The utterly fabulous 2018 ‘Principia Reserve’ comes from a range of vineyards including Bacchus and Firethorn, as this is highly concentrated and deep in the glass. Black cherry cordial, blackberry compote and smoked meats all come together on the nose. The palate is dense and concentrated with serious finesse and a silky mouthfeel. Finishing extremely long with black fruits, menthol and stony minerals, this is gorgeous Syrah that is already beautifully evolved and will continue to cellar well for another ten plus years. Drink 2022-2036- 96

2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘Creative Impulse’ Red WIne- The scintillating 2017 ‘Creative Impulse’ is an electrifying blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot all sourced from the famed DuBrul Vineyard. Translucent in the glass, this opens with pretty red rose petals that combine with Bing cherry, cigar ash and suggestions of black tea. The palate is elegant and very silky on the mouth. Layers of very pure, saline-drenched red fruits combine with tar, pipe tobacco and loamy soils, with worn leather accents. Complex and inviting to enjoy now, this has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2022-2039- 96

2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘In Order To Form A Perfect Union’ Red Wine- The captivating 2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘In Order To Form A Perfect Union’ Red Wine is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot with smaller parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Asian spices combine with coffee grounds, ripe red currants and menthol accents on the nose. The palate is plush and inviting, showing serious range from red florals to tobacco leaf, mocha and anise with dark chocolate shavings. Showing bright underlying acidity and great flavor density, this red blend is absolutely delicious wine to consume now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2039- 95

2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘For The Love Of The Game’ Red Wine- A Bordeaux inspired wine that comes from the Rivaura Vineyard, located not far from Lewiston, Idaho, the 2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘For The Love Of The Game’ Red Wine shows off heady creosote tones on the nose with black rose petals, cigar box, and intense dark fruits, with exotic spices. The palate is seamless and soft with great richness and underlying freshness. Simply outstanding, this is one of the finest wines — if not the finest wine — that I have ever tasted out of Idaho. Drinking brilliantly now, the 2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘For The Love Of The Game’ Red Wine will live on for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2022-2039- 95

2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘En Passant’ Red Wine- Formerly only made en mag, the 2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘En Passat’ combines mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with smaller parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot which were all sourced from the Columbia Valley. Once on the nose this takes on layers of boysenberry cordial, leather and Earl Grey tea, with light vegetal underpinnings from the Cabernet Franc. The highly complex aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is pillowy and inviting, as this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Simply marvelous to consume now, the 2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘En Passat’ will live on easily for another twenty years. Drink 2022-2042- 97

2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘Living In The Limelight’ Petit Verdot- Coming entirely from the Dionysus Vineyard, the 2018 ‘Living In The Limelight’ shows beautiful purple rose petals on the nose, with black tea, green bell pepper and suggestions of blackberry pie. The palate is complex and seamless, with a brilliant core of black and blue fruits, with espresso grounds and scorched earthy undercurrents. Tannic, big and bold, yet very seamless, this is not for the weary and will continue to evolve for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘Fianchetto’ Red Wine- Sourced from the Firethorn Vineyard, this combines mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with 19% Cabernet Franc that were all stored in 100% new French oak before bottling. This is a more elegant edition of this bottling which was formerly sourced from the XL Vineyard. Red currants and espresso grounds combine with black tea and cassis and herbal accents. Drink 2022-2035- 93

2020 Rasa Vineyards Port Style Wine- The 2020 Rasa Vineyards Port Style Wine comes from old vine Touriga Nacional vines. Macerated red fruits and worn leather combine with suggestions of Egyptian spices on the nose. The palate is incredibly seamless and soft with impeccable balance underlying finesse. Rich red cherry and roasted figs parade with toffee, Turkish coffee, with dark chocolate shavings. This is quite simply the finest Port style wine ever made in Washington State. Drink 2022-2036- 95

Kobayashi

Sitting across from Mario and Travis Allen I beamed with delight. ‘Wow’ is all I said after tasting the new ‘Sans Soufre’ Syrah — to my knowledge the only natural Syrah made in Washington. Over the past few years Travis has quickly become one of the state’s great winemakers. A nurse-anesthetist by trade, Allen has taken the Washington wine scene by storm with his unique, single vineyard bottlings that are made in very small quantities. These are wines that show great depth, concentration, finesse and terroir. 

I first met Allen at Hospice du Rhone years ago and could tell how not only passionate but talented he was. Allen said over and over again that he wanted to make wines that are different and that showcase the beauty of top vineyards. I have been enamored by these wines since I first tasted them years ago. The new wines are utterly sensational across the board. One of the great white wines from Washington that I have tasted in the past year, the 2021 Kobayashi Marsanne-Roussane (OB, 96) is deep and rich with sensational flavor range. Even better is a wine that flirts with perfection, the 2021 Kobayashi ‘WeatherEye Vineyard Sans Soufre’ Syrah (OB, 99) is rich and viscous with a seamless mouthfeel. Learn more at https://kobayashiwinery.com and here are my reviews of the sensational new wines by Kobayashi winery. 

2021 Kobayashi Marsanne-Roussane- The 2021 Kobayashi Marsanne-Roussane comes from the Boushey and WeatherEye Vineyards. This saw a week of cold ferment, as this was aged in 50% new French cigar-shaped barrels before bottling. Ripe apricot and hay combine with shades of baking spice dusted cantaloupe and toasted brioche on the palate. The palate is fresh and mineral-driven, yet shows a seamless texture and glorious length, with an underlying salty character. The combination of weight and finesse really make this sing. Enjoy this beauty over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 96

2021 Kobayashi ‘WeatherEye Vineyard Sans Soufre’ Syrah- The stunning 2021 Kobayashi ‘WeatherEye Vineyard Sans Soufre’ Syrah is a blockbuster effort by winemaker Travis Allen. Sourced from this north-facing vineyard, each cluster was placed into the barrel and this received no punchdowns or pump-overs as the barrels were rotated and then the wine was pressed into one neutral puncheon. This was topped once a week and oxygen content was extremely limited before bottling in May 2022. Inky in the glass, this reveals copious purple flowers with tar and tobacco alongside huckleberry pie. This is a massive, hedonistic wine with a serious tannic backbone and incredible finesse. Very concentrated black and blue fruits collide with graphite, iodine, scorched earth, purple rose water and suggestions of Turkish coffee grounds. This is deep, massive, and complex wine that is absolutely irresistible to consume now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2028- 99

2020 Kobayashi ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Syrah- The beautiful 2020 ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Syrah has a touch of Viognier added, as this was stored in neutral oak before bottling. The wine shows off white pepper and BBQ beef ribs alongside blackberry compote and worn leather tones. This is seamless and soft on the approach as this effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. The Syrah shows amazing finesse and weight, yet comes off very weightless, as this beautiful wine will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 97

2020 Kobayashi Red Wine- The 2020 Kobayashi Red Wine blends 60% Cabernet Franc with 40% Meriot which was mainly sourced from the WeatherEye Vineyard. Very dense and inky in the glass, the 2020 Kobayashi Red Wine opens with Asian spices and potpourri alongside violets, black currants and cigar box. The palate is incredibly plush and seamless with a light tannic backbone holding everything in place. This is generous with refined tannins and rich boysenberry cordial, coffee grounds, tar and suggestions of exotic spices. Drink 2022-2032. 97

2019 Kobayashi ‘Light of the Night’ Dessert Wine- Made from concentrated Viognier grapes with a touch of Syrah, the 2019 Kobayashi ‘Light of the Night’ Dessert Wine is a stunning new wine that is truly unique to Washington. Once on the nose this takes on salted praline notes alongside white peach and suggestions of vanilla creme brûlée. The palate shows a beautiful underlying structure with star jasmine water, apricot jelly and roasted pineapple upside-down cake. Complex and delicious, this is seriously novel stuff that is already beautifully evolved and is going to provide drinking enjoyment for another ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032- 96

Champagne Henriot

One of the old houses in Champagne, Henriot began back in 1808. Apolline Henriot, young widow of Nicolas Henriot, founded Maison Henriot as she was a vineyard owner who had a great love for the region. Then fast forward to 1880, Apolline Henriot’s great grandson, Paul Henriot, married a young woman from the Côte des Blancs, Marie Marguet. This marriage gave way to a real transition of the Maison Henriot’s vineyards. Initially composed exclusively of three crus from the Montagne de Reims planted with Pinot Noir (Verzy, Verzenay, Mailly-Champagne), three crus planted with Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs were added: Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Chouilly.
The house is headquartered in Reims and is currently run by the 8th generation of the family. Gilles de Larouzière Henriot, succeeded his uncle Joseph in 2015 and became President of Maisons & Domaines Henriot. The Henriot family also owns Bouchard Pere & Fils, William Fevre and Chateau de Poncie.
I loved the new wines across the board. The 2012 Champagne Henriot ‘Brut’ Champagne (OB, 93) is absolutely irresistible right now. Full-bodied and rich, this is delicious vintage champagne to consume now. Even better is the sensational 2006 Champagne Henriot ‘Cuvée’ Hemera’ Champagne which sat on the lees for 12 years and is hugely complex and refined stuff. This blend is one of the jewels of the challenging 2006 vintage. Learn more about this famed champagne house at https://www.champagne-henriot.com and here are the beautiful new releases by Champagne Henriot.

NV Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain- This offers forward baked French bread and baking spice dusted pear flavors alongside a soft mousse. Enjoy this now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2022-2028- 90

NV Champagne Henriot ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne- The NV ‘Blanc de Blancs’ comes from 12 cru vineyards and was aged on the lees for more than three years prior to disgorgement. The soft mousse entices, as layers of honey laced melon, white peach and lemon rind dusted brioche all combine brilliantly, with chalky undercurrents. Gorgeous to consume now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2012 Champagne Henriot ‘Brut’ Champagne- The outstanding 2012 Champagne Henriot ‘Brut’ Champagne is a generous effort that is showing brilliantly now at the ten year mark. A blend of 54% Chardonnay and 46% Pinot Noir coming from only premier cru and grand cru sites, this sat on the lees for more than eight years prior to disgorgement. Delicate red fruits parade with wild mushroom, lemon oil, peat moss and shades of Japanese pear on the palate. Full-bodied, this is delicious champagne to enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2006 Champagne Henriot ‘Cuvée’ Hemera’ Champagne- Only made in select years, the 2006 ‘Cuvee Hemera’ was aged for 12 years on the lees before disgorgement. Only coming from Grand Cru sites, this beautiful wine by Alice Tétienne blends equal parts of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Rich and plump on the mouth, this offers ripe pear and nectarine notes alongside shortbread and ginger dusted French bread notes. Finishing long, this is highly refined, warm vintage wine that is already beautifully evolved. Drink 2022-2032- 95

Cava Mestres

A historic spot in Cava, Mestres is a house with an incredible history. A few years ago I embarked on a trip to Cava for the first time. What we currently think of Cava in the United States is an antiquated point of view, based on inexpensive wines that are mainly imported to our country. Top Cava is nothing short of world-class wine.

One of the oldest houses in Cava, The Mestres family dates back to 1312 as a wine negotiant and they have owned vineyards in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia since at least 1607. Many years later in 1925  Josep Mestres Manobens made his first sparkling wine by blending indigenous varietals Macabeu, Xarel-lo, and Parellada. Joan Aura serves as cellar master winemaker. They source from their 74 acre estate, which is divided into two plots: Clos Damiana and Clos Nostre Senyor as well as some area vineyards. Their vineyard is set on calcareous clay soils.

Having visited this winery it is set in a storybook setting in the small town of Sadurni d’Antonia, which is roughly an hour from Barcelona via train. The region is quite mountainous and it has a very different climate to Barcelona having a considerably lower maritime influence. Mestres give their sparkling wines extended time (18 months to 7 years) on the lees in bottle, which contributes to the complexity of the wines. During our cellar tour we had a chance to see some of their wines that have date back fifty years. Like many of Spain’s most celebrated houses, Mestres prides themselves at aging their wines and releasing them when they find them ready. While visiting I was able to view the disgorgement process as well as some bottling while we were there and I was amazed at the attention to detail as the cellar master inspects each individual bottle, regardless of price. They are truly a storied house in sparkling wine. 

I love their new ‘Reserva’ bottling, the 2019 Mestres ‘1312’ Rose Cava (OB, 92) is bright and lively with a pretty red fruit core. I loved the with their 2017 Mestres ‘Coquet Gran Reserva Brut Nature’ Cava (OB, 93) which has a wonderful mousse and silky mouthfeel, with plenty of nutty accents. Learn more about this storied winery at http://www.mestres.es/?lang=en Here are the great new wines by Cava Mestres.

2019 Cava Mestres ‘1312’ Reserva- A gorgeous blend of 30% Macabeu, 30% Xarel.lo and 40% Parellada, the ‘1312 Reserva’ offers salted Macadamia nut, white peach and green apple tones that all take shape in the glass. The silky and refined mousse really impresses, as this shows a great combination of weight, tension and length. Drink 2022-2020- 91

2019 Cava Mestres ‘1312’ Rose Reserva- The very pale-cured 2019 Cava Mestres ‘1312’ Rose Reserva blends 50% Trepat with 30% Monastrell, and 20% Pinot Noir. Aged for 2.5 years on the less prior to disgorgement in May 2022, this was given 6G/L dosage. Salmonberry and white tea tones combine with pink grapefruit blossom and wild mushroom on the nose. Very fresh and astringent, with tart red berries at the core, this is complex, delicious ‘Reserva’ that will be best consumed over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2017 Cava Mestres ‘Coquet Gran Reserva’ Cava- The 2017 Cava Mestres ‘Coquet Gran Reserva’ Cava is a compelling blend of 30% Macabeu, 30% Xarel.lo and 40% Parellada which is named after the first vineyard Mestres bought in 1607. Aged on the lees for 3.5 years before disgorgement in October 2021, this offers nutty tones on the nose with peat moss and Gravenstein apple accents. The palate is very fresh with gobs of mouth-watering acidity. Delicious to consume now, this is beautifully-textured, refined Cava that is beautiful to consume now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 93

R. López de Heredia, Viña Tondonia

I had a feeling that my visit was going to be special. When I first set foot at Vina Tondinia several years back something immediately felt different. The caves were different, the in-house cooper was different, and the aging process in the wines was definitely different.

I have always loved wines with a special sense of place. R. Lopez de Heredia is without a doubt one of the famed properties in the La Rioja region. It has an incredible history as R. Lopez de Heredia was founded in the nineteenth century when French negociants visited the Rioja region to find alternative sources of quality grapes to transform into wine, following their phylloxera epidemic had decimated their vineyards. Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, started his winery in Haro, the capital of the Rioja Alta region. The winery is a stunning older building with one of the coolest wine caves that I have ever seen.

My visit to R. Lopez de Heredia was one of the highlights of my trip to Spain.  R. Lopez de Heredia wines are aged considerably longer than most and they are only sold when the winemaker finds them to be drinking perfectly. Their current releases are more than a decade old. Their entry level wines offer unparalleled value in the world of wine. None is more true than the 2013 Vina Cubillo Red Wine (OB, 92) which is fresh and brilliantly textured, with gorgeous orange rind and red currant tones. I am enamored by the elegant 2010 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Rioja Reserva (OB, 95) which shows amazing aging potential in this brilliant vintage. Learn more about this famed  winery athttp://www.lopezdeheredia.com Here are the beautiful new wines by R. Lopez de Heredia.

2014 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Gravonia’ Crianza Rioja Blanco- The really good 2014 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Gravonia’ Crianza Rioja Blanco is 100% Viura wine which was stored for four years in 225L American oak barrels and then for an additional five years in the bottle. Salted Macadamia nut aromas combine with white rose petals, toasty oak and suggestions of lime blossom. Very silky on the approach, this deftly glides throughout the drinking experience, showing a great combination of weight and elegance. Finishing exceedingly long, this is stunning Viura wine that is best consumed now and over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2013 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Crianza Rioja- The gorgeous 2013 ‘Vina Cubillo’ was stored in handmade 225L American oak barrels for three years before bottling and then sat for an additional three years. A blend of mostly Tempranillo (65%) with 25% Garnacho and equal parts Graciano and Mazuelo, this shows tart cranberry and pomegranate fruit flavors, with blood orange rind, cigar ash and toasty oak notes. Elegant and polished, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2010 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Reserva Rioja- The 2010 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Reserva is a stunning blend of 7-% Tempranillo with 20% Garnacho, 10% Graciano and 10% Mazuelo. Sourced from these famed clay and limestone soils, the wine was stored for six years in handmade 225L American oak vessels, and then for four years in the bottle prior to being released in March 2022. The stunning aromas bring you back to the glass, as toasty oak and and worn leather notes combine with tart Bing cherry and citrus blossom with loamy soils. The soft texture entices, as this shows brilliant underly finesse and copious minerals on the palate. Finishing long, with good concentration, this is a beautiful 2010 Rioja that has only started its long journey in the cellar. Drink 2022-2042- 95

Buil & Gine

One of the brilliant projects in D.O.Q. Priorat, Buil & Gine began with the vision of Joan Gine. Her grandson, Xavi, has since taken over the winery, as this winery’s journey began back in 1996. Based in Gratallops, the winery has 200 acres planted including Viognier, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Garnacha, with a large amount of Carinena.

I have been enjoying these wines for more than a decade and have been so impressed with the value that they offer. Only recently they have brought a killer Rose to their range of wines. Roughly 15 years ago they purchased land in Toro as well as Rueda to expand their holdings. The wines offer some sensational value including their new brilliant Rose from the 2021 Vintage (OB, 91 )which is fresh and beautifully textured. I love the value of the 2019 ‘Gine Gine’ (OB, 91) which also shows a soft mouthful and wonderful tart red fruits and dusty soils. Learn more about this outstanding house in Priorat at https://builgine.com/en/buil-gine-2/ and here are the brilliant new wines by Buil & Gine.

2021 Buil & Gine ‘Gine Rosat’ Rosato- Made from Garnacha and Merlot vines from the Priorat region, this brilliantly hued Rosato offers a smooth texture with wonderful weight and finesse. Ebullient red rose water with red raspberry and tart cranberry tones all combine on the palate. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2019 Buil & Gine ‘Gine Gine’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Gine Gine’ is a blend of equal parts Carinena and Garnacha. Stored in stainless steel, this is very fresh and focused with tart red fruits that mingle well with dusty soils and worn leather notes. Rich, with good finesse, enjoy this outstanding value in the near term. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2019 Buil & Gine ‘Joan Gine’ White Wine- The 2019 ‘Joan Gine’ combines mostly Garnacha Blanca (50%) with smaller parts Macabeo, Viognier and a dash of Pedro Ximenez and Muscat.  Stored in barrique for six months prior to bottling, this delivers amazing aromatic range from pink grapefruit blossom to white peach, honeydew melon and salted Marcona almond. The palate offers serious weight and underlying acidity, with a lengthy finish. Refined and elegant, this is stunning wine to consume now and over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2021 Buil & Gine ‘Nosis’ Rueda- Soured from 35 year old Verdejo vines that are set in sandy-loam soils, the 2021 ‘Noisis’ offers salted cashew and diatomaceous earth notes alongside bright pear and kiwi. The palate is fresh with a smooth texture and bright acidity. Serve at a slightly warmer temperature to take in this silky Rueda. Drink 2022-2027- 91

Va Piano

Justin Wylie loves Italy. “I just love it there and always want to be back” he said. Sitting outside in his luxurious vineyard location, we sipped on his delicious new 2021 Rose on a hot summer day. “When I did this” he said “I wanted people to feel like they are right up against the vineyards and in another realm” he explained. From our vantage point all we could see was the green canopies of grape vines. Wylie undertook a large restoration of his outdoor space, including importing a fountain from Marseilles. “I could have gotten this at Restoration Hardware” he said. “But I wanted to do it right.” He certainly did. Sitting in the patio you feel complete serenity.

Wylie sent me off with his new collection of wines, mainly coming from the 2019 vintage. 2019 for me was a mixed bag of great wines and some that are mediocre and lacking flavor density and flavor complexity. For sure 2019 is becoming a producer vintage, just as 2015 was. Wylie’s 2019 wines are deep, concentrated and show great varietal typicity. Do not miss out on his gorgeous new 2021 Va Piano ‘Chelle den Mille Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 93) which is unabashedly bold and is best served on the warmer side. Complex and delicious, this has both the weight and finesse to cellar well over the next six plus years. Even better is the sinfully good 2019 Va Piano ‘DuBrul Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which is deep and intense, showing amazing aging potential from this famed site in the Yakima Valley. Learn more about these beautiful new wines at vapianovineyards.com and here are my reviews of the new Va Piano wines by Justin Wylie.

2021 Va Piano ‘Chelle den Mille Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- Deftly textured and soft, the 2021 Va Piano ‘Chelle den Mille Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc offers seriously good range with rich papaya with lemon curd, cashew nut, sourdough bread and shades of baking spice dusted kumquat on the palate. Rich and viscous, enjoy at a warmer temperature to take in the heady flavors and aromatics. I can see this aging well for at least another six years, picking up more nutty and earthy tones as it lies in the cellar. Drink 2022-2028- 93

2019 Va Piano ‘Estate Grown’ Merlot- The outstanding 2019 Va Piano ‘Estate Grown’ Merlot delivers a silky texture with black olives, black tea and huckleberry compote flavors that combine with shades of pencil lead. Rich and layered, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2022-2033- 93

2019 Va Piano ‘Estate Grown’ Syrah- The 2019 ‘Estate Grown’ Syrah is bursting with ripe red and dark fruits on the palate, with milk chocolate and shades of creme de violette. Fresh and medium to full-bodied, this is delicious Syrah to enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2022-2033- 92

2019 Va Piano ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Outstanding even to consume now in its youth, the 2019 Va Piano ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off forward and juicy black fruit flavors with good structure and finesse. Medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2029- 91

2019 Va Piano ‘Estate Grown’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This dense and well-structured Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Va Piano Estate Vineyard which is located not far from the Oregon border. Herbal undertones combine with coffee grounds and cassis tones with hints of beef drippings on the nose. The palate is rich and refined, with plenty of weight without being heavy. Intense dark fruits parade on with graphite and coffee ground flavors. Seriously good now, enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037- 94

2019 Va Piano ‘DuBrul Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from one of the great sites in the Yakima Valley, the 2019 Va Piano ‘DuBrul Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off anise, dark currant jelly, cigar box and blackberry pie notes on the nose. The palate is very polished and juicy with a massive dark fruit core that collides with graphite and Turkish coffee flavors. Forward and intense, with a great mineral backbone, this could easily be a 20 year wine. Drink 2022-2038- 94

2019 Va Piano ‘Rosebud Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from this site in the Wahluke Slope AVA, the 2019 Va Piano ‘Rosebud Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon evokes tar and scorched earth notes that combine with violet rose and hedonistic dark fruits on the nose. Full-bodied and reveling in its silky texture, this is concentrated yet highly refined Cabernet Sauvignon that has both the weight and structure to go on for another twenty years. Drink 2022-2038- 94

2019 Va Piano ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The 2019 2019 Va Piano ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah shows off bulls blood and stony undertones on the nose with salted meats and ripe red currants. The beautiful aromatic range is quite striking. The palate is very soft and inviting with a great combination of red and black fruits, with salty and stony undertones. Enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2019 Va Piano ‘Eritage Vineyard’ Syrah- The ‘Eritage Vineyard’ is a younger site located on the northern side of the town of Walla Walla. The nose is very floral with black rose petals that combine with shades of smoked meats and freshly tilled loamy soils. The palate is soft and seamless, loaded with dense black fruits, Earl Grey tea and coffee ground flavors. Very pillowy and soft, this inviting Syrah is drinking beautifully now and will continue to evolve for another decade or more. Drink 2022-2033- 93

2019 Va Piano ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah- Showing great site typicity, the 2019 Va Piano ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah offers garrigue and flinty notes on the nose with black florals, cedar and heady dark fruits. The palate is gratifying and soft with serious weight and underlying tension. Finishing long with black fruits, minerals and smoky accents, this is already beautifully evolved stuff that will surely survive for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2033- 94

Chateau Miraval 'Muse de Miraval' Rose

One of the iconic younger brands in Provence, Chateau Miraval is a marvelous Hollywood story that begins with a highly scenic 1,200 acre estate in Provence. Chateau Miraval as a brand was founded by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie with winemaking and marketing help from the Perrin family. 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). 

I visited the property roughly a month ago and was overcome with the beauty of the property. Old vine Rolle plants defy the test of time and the heat of the area and region. 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 new wine, Muse de Miraval’ is quite expensive, at 250 USD MSRP. It is also very good. I tasted this wine for the first time at the chateau and was really impressed. The second time I tasted ‘Muse de Miraval’ I was just as impressed. The 2021 Chateau Miraval ‘Muse de Miraval’ Rose (OB, 93) is one of the great Provence Rose wines that I have tasted in the past year. It is a wine that is only available in magnums and was stored in concrete eggs before bottling. It is a beautiful blend of Rolle and Grenache. Very stable, make sure to enjoy this at a warmer temperature and don’t be afraid to age this for a few more years. Learn more about Miraval at http://miraval-provence.com/en/ Here is my new Miraval wine review of ‘Muse de Miraval’.

2021 Chateau Miraval ‘Muse de Miraval’ Rose- This is a new en magnum wine to the Chateau Miraval collection, coming from the 2021 vintage. The very pale-colored ‘Muse de Miraval’ was vilified in egg-shaped concrete vats and blends a selection of Grenache and Rolle grapes. The nose shows exceptional range from green apple and nectarine skin to shades of gunpowder and stony accents. The palate is seamless and beautifully textured, with serious finesse and a very lengthy finish. Refined and elegant, yet showing good stuffing, this beautiful wine will surely live on for another eight plus years in the cellar picking up more earthy tones. But why wait? Drink 2022-2030- 93

Dunham Cellars 2004 Syrah Retrospective

One of the storied Walla Walla wineries, located in the Airport District, Dunham Cellars was founded by the Dunham family in 1995. I recently had the chance to visit Dunham and always harken back to my days at a Whitman College student when I first visited this winery in 2002. I have many fond memories of tasting at this property. Over the years I have found Dunham to be some of the most consistently good overall lineups in the state. Dunham relies on the talented hands of winemaker Rob Campisi, who was formerly assistant winemaker at Dunham. Rob trained under eminent Washington winemaker, Dan Wampfler and he crafts quite a wide range of wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Trutina (Bordeaux style blend), Three Legged Red (red table wine) and the "Shirley Mays" Chardonnay, a dedication to Eric Dunham’s grandmother.  

For years I have admired the value of Dunham Syrah, which was a wine that I bought plenty of when I was in graduate school and beyond. This was a wine that always seemed to over-deliver for the price. The 2004 vintage in particular seemed to be a massive success for Dunham. 2004 saw a freeze in Walla Walla which proved to be difficult for some vintners there. In the Columbia Valley, many of the wines showed bright acidity with good concentration when they were released.

Last week I visited Dunham Cellars and general manager John Blair and I decided to revisit both of their Syrahs from this excellent vintage. We had to both raise a glass to founding winemaker Eric Dunham. Both wines showed a beautiful purity of fruit with bright acidity holding everything in place. It is just remarkable that Washington Syrah at nearly twenty years of age can cellar well, but both wines were perfect examples of the brilliant aging potential of Washington Syrah. Learn more about these beautiful wines at dunhamcellars.com Here are the great 2004 Syrah wines by Dunham Cellars.

2004 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- Opening the bottle I was reminded that this was wine that I bought buckets of upon release. And I am currently quite shocked to see how well this wine is showing currently. The 2004 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah is a wine that needs to be enjoyed now and doesn’t need any air out of the gate. Bulls blood and iodine notes combine with shades of wild herbs, Shiitaki mushroom and loganberry on the nose. The palate is quite fresh with good concentration and finesse. This begins to lose steam after 30 minutes so consume right away if enjoying now. Drink 2022-2025- 92

2004 Dunham Cellars ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2004 ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Syrah is an inky colored wine that amazingly can continue to evolve for another five years. Inky in the glass, this shows the lovely violets and Welches grape juice notes that are very characteristic of the Lewis Vineyard. Black tea and concentrated black fruits combine with shades of creme de violette on the palate. Light tannins and acidity frame everything nicely, as this is as stable as Washington Syrah can get. Drink this beauty over the next five years. Drink 2022-2027- 93

Tirriddis

Starting only one year ago, Tirriddis began as a project with three friends —Andrew Gerow, Matthew Doutney, and Gabriel Crowell — who were all completing their degree in Viticulture & Enology at WSU Tri-Cities. The name, Tirriddis, derives from Tirage, Riddle, and Disgorge - the three steps to naturally produce sparkling wines. Focused solely on this traditional method, they use unique "non-traditional" styles to emphasize Washington's world class growing environment.

It is not easy to make method-champenoise sparkling wine but these three have thrived amongst the pressure of their first releases. I really enjoyed the NV Tirriddis Brut Rose No. 2 (OB, 90) which is fresh and vibrant with a very pretty red fruit profile. Learn more at https://www.tirriddis.com and here are my reviews of the new Tirriddis wines.

2020 Tirriddis ‘Stonemark Vineyard Blanc de Blanc’ Sparkling Wine- The 2020 ‘Stonework Vineyard Blanc de Blanc’ offers a soft mousse with serious lemon oil flavors with copious minerals and kumquat rind accents. Soft on the attack, with intense astringency, enjoy over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2027- 90

NV Tirriddis Brut Rose No. 2’ Sparkling Wine- Very pale pink once in the glass, the No. 2 Brut Rose offers delicate guava and cranberry notes with a silky mousse and nutty undercurrents. Drink now. Drink 2022-2027- 90

Delmas

It is always a treat tasting side by side with Delmas founder Steve Robertson and winemaker Billo Naravane, MW. Robertson planted his ‘SJR Vineyard’ in the Walla Walla Rocks District back in 2007, as this site is set on massive cobblestones. The vineyard is planted to mainly Syrah but also has a small portion of Viognier and Grenache planted as well. Steve’s daughter, Brooke Robertson, meticulously farms this vineyard. Standing in the vineyard with Steve this week, the vineyard is thriving with its bright green leaves and beautiful canopies. Recently the Robertsons have added Cinsault and Mourvèdre to the mix in the vineyard. Billo Naravane, MW, has consistently crafted some thrilling wines that show insanely good flavor and aromatic range.

Delmas first crafted their Oregon and Walla Walla Valley Syrah with the cool 2010 vintage which is showing quite nicely even today.

I adored the new 2020 Delmas Syrah (OB, 96) which is completely different from the 2018 but is every bit as good. This is a richer style of Delmas, more akin to the 2018 bottling — yet is all its own. The wine is clean with beautiful stony character and serious range. They have a new wine that has some Cinsault and Mourvèdre blended in, the MV Delmas “Field Blend’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is very high-toned and red fruit-driven, with spicy and stony notes. Learn more about these very special wines at https://delmaswines.com Here is my review of the new Delmas wines (fall 2022 release).

2020 Delmas Viognier- The 2020 Delmas Viognier is a rich and unctuous, yet well-structured bottling that was made in the Condrieu style. Stored in 50% new French oak for fourteen months, this was given battonage every two weeks prior to bottling. Honeysuckle and gardenia flowers combine with shades of honeydew melon and white peach on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a great mineral backbone. Finishing exceedingly long, this is an opulent, unique rendition that is already beautifully evolved and will contuse to provide drinking enjoyment for another eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 95

MV Delmas ‘Field Blend’ Red Wine- This combines the 2020 and 2021 vintages, as this is a field blend of Grenache and Syrah with a touch of Cinsault and Mourvèdre. The nose is very high-toned and spicy with exotic spices, guava and shades of smoldering stones. The palate shows a beautiful purity of red fruits, with salty and stony undertones alongside kumquat rind and Asian spices. There is quite simply nothing like this. Drink 2022-2030- 95

2020 Delmas ‘The Peddler’ Syrah- The 2020 ‘The Peddler’ is a magnum only bottling that was stored in 100% new French oak. The toasty oak components are lovely, as this pops with roasted dates, rich dark currants and smoked BBQ beef ribs. The palate is seamless and elegant with a silky texture and glorious length. The combination of weight and finesse is exceedingly gratifying, with plenty of stony undertones. Only 100 magnums made of this beautiful Syrah. Drink 2022-2034- 96

2020 Delmas Syrah- The 2020 Delmas Syrah is one of the great wines from this vintage that I have tasted in the past year. Picked before the smoke in 2020, the wine is a blend of Syrah and Viognier (8.2%) that was stored in 50% new French oak before bottling in February 2022. The nose is hedonistic and highly complex with hoisin sauce, blackberry pie, smoked brisket, green olive tapenade, Nori and suggestions of white pepper dusted bacon. The heady aromas bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is soft and inviting with a pillowy texture that shows no rough edges, as this seamlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. The finish just won’t quit. Enjoy this beauty over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 96

2021 Delmas Viognier (Barrel Sample) (95-97)

2021 Delmas Syrah (Barrel Sample) (97-99)

2021 Delmas ‘The Peddler’ Syrah (Barrel Sample) (97-99)

Fidelitas

For years I have admired the wines of Charlie Hoppes. I’ll never forget stepping in their Red Mountain tasting room right after it was completed. Charlie was grinning ear to ear as he poured his beautiful wines. A longstanding history in Washington wine, Charlie Hoppes served as former head winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle. Prior to working at Chateau Ste. Michelle, he attended the world renowned Viticulture and Enology program at the University of California, Davis and in 1988 he graduated with a degree in Agricultural Science and Management with a special emphasis in Viticulture and Enology. After a brief stint in Walla Walla in 1990 at Waterbrook Winery, he began working with superstar winemaker Mike Januik as a member of the winemaking team at Ste. Michelle in Woodinville. In 1993, he became the Head Red Winemaker and managed Ste. Michelle’s newest facility at the time, Canoe Ridge near Paterson, Washington. Hoppes had the pleasure of making the first vintages of Col Solare, from 1995-1998. After some time, Hoppes wanted to start his own project. Hoppes finally decided to purchase some land on Red Mountain, founding Fidelitas in 2000 -- and has produced fantastic reds and whites since that time. Fidelitas is known for their red and white Bordeaux blends, as well as their rich Cabernets. 

I loved the new wines coming from the 2019 vintage. These are wines that are packed with power but show more restraint than the 2018 bottling. Check out the 2019 Fidelitas ’Ciel du Coeval’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 93) which is very pretty on the nose and soft once on the attack, with lovely florals. I loved the new 2019 Fidenitas ‘Heart of the Hill Vineyard’ Malbec (OB, 93) which is densely packed with black and blue fruits, showing some good aging potential. Learn more about the great Fidelitas lineup at http://www.fidelitaswines.com/ Here are the great new wine releases from Fidelitas.

2019 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval’ Cabernet Franc- This 100% varietal wine was given 25% new French oak for 20 months prior to bottlong. Violets and tar combine with rich boysenberry cordial on the nose. The palate is fresh and polished with a soft mouthfeel. Layers of rich red and dark fruits combine with good verve on the palate. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2022-2034- 92

2019 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Merlot- Also 100% varietal, and aged in 50% new French oak, this displays black cherry cordial with black olive tapenade and cocoa powder. The palate is polished and fresh with silky tannins that line this deeply concentrated yet well-structured wine. Gorgeous now, this has some good aging potential. Drink 2022-2036- 93

2019 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Red Wine- The right bank inspired 2019 ‘Red Wine’ is a silky blend of 50% Merlot with 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and small portions Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Aged in 66% new French oak, this delivers rich black currant and loganberry flavors alongside Turkish coffee and graphite undertones on the palate. Really good to consume now, enjoy this over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2019 Fidelitas’ Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Dense and chewy, the outstanding 2019 Fidelitas Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a great showing from this slightly cooler vintage. Chocolate covered black cherry and coffee ground flavors mingle with minerals and graphite tones on the palate. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2019 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Petit Verdot- The 2019 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Petit Verdot is a beautiful single-varietal wine that really needs a long decant to get going. The wine shows loads of potential with black currant jelly, espresso bean, green bell pepper, scorched earth and gobs of mineality. Heady and dense, this will easily go for fifteen years. Drink 2022-2027- 93

2019 Fidelitas ‘Optu’ Red Wine- A blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (66%) with 20% Merlot and equal parts Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, this was sourced from a range of vineyards including The Canyons, WeatherEye and Klipsun Vineyards. Silky and elegant, everything works in this blend, as rich dark fruits mingle with milk chocolate, sagebrush and tar tones on the palate. Refined and delicious, this is fantastic to consume even at the three year mark. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Fidelitas ‘Old Vines’ Merlot- Sourced from mostly Ciel du Cheval fruit (1975 planting) with the remainder sourced from the Kiona Vineyard, this exudes class with anise, Black Forest Cake and anise and sagebrush tones on the palate. Showing good weight and length, this shows salty undertones that impress, as this is killer wine to enjoy right now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2036- 93

2019 Fidelitas ‘Heart of the Hill’ Malbec- Fidelitas began sourcing from this vineyard in 2013, as this inky colored wine was aged in 28% new French and American oak prior to bottling. Blueberry pie, mocha, black rose water, anise and dried herbs all come together marvelously on the palate. Soft and approachable right now, this generous, well-structured Malbec will deliver drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2019 Fidelitas ‘Heart of the Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 Fidelitas ‘Heart of the Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a glorious effort for this cooler vintage. Inky in the glass, this shows violets and creme de cassis alongside sandalwood notes aromatically. Refined tannins frame a massive core of black and blue fruit alongside plenty of tension on the palate. Enjoy this gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2038- 94

Dossier

Today it is my pleasure to introduce to you one of the truly exciting new brands in Washington wine. Founded by former NFL star Sidney Rice and businessman and fellow Whitman grad Tim Lenihan, Dossier utilizes the talents of Billo Naravane, one of Washington’s great winemakers. For many years I have written about the beautiful wines of Rasa Vineyards, Billo’s winery. Dossier has the same attention to detail in each bottle, with serious intension and precision throughout the lineup. They have hired longtime Washington wine industry veteran Brandon Kubrock to be their general manager, as Brandon has formerly had great success with his own label, Ardor.

I adored the new 2021 Dossier Rose (OB, 93) which is amongst the finest Rose wines from the Pacific Northwest that I have tried in the past year. This wine has a beautiful combination of weight, finesse and mouth-watering acidity, as it is highly nuanced stuff that is best consumed at a warmer temperature. Even better is the 2019 Dossier Syrah (OB, 94) which comes from the Rocks District and is already showing a wonderful melange of Umami notes alongside the stony undertones.

This winery will be mailing list only and the first three wines will be released later in the fall. Learn more about this exciting new project at dossierwine.com and here are my reviews of the new Dossier wines.

2021 Dossier Sauvignon Blanc- Coming from the Lonesome Spring Ranch in the Yakima Valley AVA, the 2020 Dossier Sauvignon Blanc was partially fermented in neutral oak barrels. Winemaker Billo Naravane fermented most of the wine in stainless, as this was given weekly battonage to add texture. Passion fruit and lime blossom combine with shades of salted Marcona almond on the nose. This comes off very texturally gratifying with good weight and finesse. This beautiful wine will continue to build for another five to seven years — and potentially more. Enjoy at a slightly warmer temperature. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2021 Dossier Viognier (Barrel Sample)- Mostly sourced from the Connor Lee Vineyard, the 2021 Dossier Viognier is made in the Condrieu style with some toasty oak influence. This will be bottled in December 2022, as this is very soft and approachable on the mouth with layers of honeysuckle water, ripe peach and apricot notes, with hints of baking spice dusted roasted pineapple. The texture from the battonage and oak treatment makes this really gratifying once on the attack. Finishing very long, this has at least another six to eight years to go in the cellar. Drink 2022-2029- 93

2021 Dossier Rose- The 2021 Dossier Rose is Syrah-based that sourced from the Weinbau Vineyard. This is a Bandol-inspired bottling that was stored in a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel. This underwent partial malolactic fermentation, as this leads on the nose with bright cranberry, red florals and Yakima cherry alongside wild mushroom and damp earthy undertones. This is highly complex and nuanced Rose that not only gratifies in terms of finesse but also shows generous texture. Quite simply this one of the finest Rose wines from Washington that I have tasted in the past year — so don’t pass this one up and serve at a warmer temperature to take in the beautiful range of flavors. Drink 2022-2028- 93

2019 Dossier ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- This 2019 Syrah is sourced from the Rocks District, and was stored in 50% new French oak before bottling. This comes off super high-toned with honeysuckle and red florals that mingle well with tobacco leaf, wet stone, beef drippings and shades of soy sauce. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture and wonderful salty undertones. With more air this continues to evolve. Exceedingly good now, the 2019 Dossier Syrah will continue to evolve for another seven plus years. Drink 2022-2029- 94

2021 Dossier Syrah (Barrel Sample) (94-96)

Devison Vintners

Sitting across from Peter Devison I couldn’t help but notice the twinkle in his eye. “I am thrilled with these wines” he said and I will fully admit that I was very excited while I tasted each wine as well. He has now been consulting winemaker at Goose Ridge and we tasted those new wines before his Devison label. Devison are wines of intension, ranging from very flinty and mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc to rich and inky Syrah. Peter Devison has a longstanding history in the Washington wine industry, having been head winemaker at EFESTE prior to moving to Walla Walla and eventually starting his own brand with his wife, Kelsey.

The new wines were truly stunning across the board. I was blown away with the geeky, very somm-friendly 2021 Devison ‘Pocket Full of Shells Reserve’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 94) which has inspiration from the 90s Rage Against The Machine ballad. This wine is salty and quite intense with gobs of tension. It is unlike any Washington Sauvignon Blanc I have tasted over the past year. I loved the new 2021 Devison Rose (OB, 93) which is up there with the best in the Pacific Northwest and delivers brilliant flavor and aromatic range, with a soft mouthfeel. I adored once again his 2020 Devison ‘Phantom Lamb’ Syrah (OB, 95) which is hedonistic and intense — definitely not for the weary. Learn more about these beautiful wines at DevisonVintners.com and here are the new wines by Devison and Peter Devison.

2021 Devison Sauvignon Blanc- This saw a day of skin contact and comes from the Evergreen Vineyard. Aged in French oak, this reveals ripe cantaloupe and starfruit with freshly cut hay on the nose. Loads of mouth-watering acidity greet you with incredible tension, tension and salty undertones. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2021 Devison ‘Pocket Full of Shells Reserve’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2021 ‘Pocket Full of Shells’ Sauvignon Blanc was stored in French puncheons for 10 months before bottling. The texture is outstanding, showing great weight and gobs of lemon oil, salty crushed seashells and stony accents. This shows very distinctive terroir that finishes exceedingly long. Drink 2022-2029- 94

2021 Devison Rose- This is a field blend sourced from the Boushey Vineyard. Stored in all neutral oak barrels, the 2021 Devison Rose delivers a cornucopia of flavors. The combination of weight, finesse and texture really drives this wine, as it shows brilliant red fruits with citrus rind and wet stone, with tilled soil undercurrents. Drink 2022-2029- 93

2020 Devison ‘GPR’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘GPR’ blends 48% Syrah with the remainder Mourvèdre and Grenache. White pepper dusted smoked meats with black olive tapenade, citrus rind and bulls blood all combine on the nose. The wine comes off clean with gobs of finesse and a soft texture. Drink this insanely good value over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2029- 93

2020 Devison ‘Above the Flood’ Red Wine- A Rhone inspired wine of 50% Grenache and 45% Syrah with the remainder Mourvèdre, this offers pink peppercorns with blackberry cobbler, and garrigue notes. The palate is soft with a sterling minerality. Rich dark fruits collide with stony minerals, soy sauce and dried herbs on the palate. This has a marvelous purity of dark fruits, as this is already beautifully evolved. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Devison ‘Beneath The Stones’ Red Wine- This clean and very pretty 2020 ‘Beneath The Stones’ was aged in a combination of concrete and neutral puncheons. The texture is sensational with a wonderfully stony undertone. A rich core of boysenberry and dark currants combine with spearmint, citrus blossom water, with loads of mouth-watering acidity. This is refined and elegant Syrah that is best consumed over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 95

2020 Devison ‘Phantom Lamb ‘ Syrah- This 100% Syrah was entirely sourced from the Scarline Vineyard. Stored in neutral oak, this inky colored wine offers violets with black olive tapenade, creme de cassis and white peppercorns. The plate shows opulent dark fruits, smoked brisket with gobs of finesse and beef dripping tones. This is sensational wine that is already beautifully evolved and will provide drinking enjoyment over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 95

2020 Devison Malbec- Entirely sourced from the Southward Vineyard, the 2020 Malbec by Peter Devison delivers a glass-staining color, with black rose petals, Welches grape juice concentrate, and mocha with wild herbs. The palate is very concentrated but shows outstanding finesse. The underlying freshness holds everything together brilliantly, as this combines rich black and blue fruits. Drink 2022-2037- 94

2020 Devison Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 Devison Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Southward Vineyard, as this was stored in second fill French oak before bottling. The nose shows off beautiful black florals with black olives, blackberry pie and shades of dark chocolate shavings. Refined tannins hold in place a massive core of dark fruits with tobacco leaf and baking spices. This is sensational wine to consume now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 94