Smith-Madrone

I love the historic houses of the Napa Valley. One unique house absolutely known for their Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling wines, Smith-Madrone sources from their dry-farmed estate vineyards surrounding the winery on top of Spring Mountain in the Napa Valley. Stuart Smith chose specific slopes with different exposures for specific varietals when planting the vineyards: eastern exposure for Riesling, southern and western exposures across flat stretches for the Cabernet Sauvignon and the coolest north-facing slopes for the Chardonnay. The soil is mostly deep-red Aiken Stoney Clay loam, and is primarily volcanic-based, well-drained and deep for mountain soils. The estate is a 200 acre ranch, partly planted as vineyard over a century ago. California black bears and other wildlife once thrived here as did 120-year-old Picholine olive trees which frame a path and view down to the floor of the Napa Valley. 

I adored the new 2019 Smith-Madrone Cabernet (OB, 93) which shows serious poise and lovely herbal accents. Concentrated and showing great aging potential, this beauty will cellar well for decades. Learn more about these fantastic wines at https://www.smithmadrone.com Here are the great new releases from Smith-Madrone.

2021 Smith-Madrone Rose- Very brightly colored, the 2021 Smith-Madrone Rose offers a soft texture with ripe raspberry and candied cherry on the palate. Citrus rind and stony accents complete this beautiful new Rose that is best served on the warmer side. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2019 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon- Beautiful and elegant, the 2019 Smith-Madrone cabernet Sauvignon shows off red bell pepper with anise, black currants and pencil lead notes on the nose. The palate is fleshy and ripe with great acidity. With more air tobacco leaf and worn leather notes emerge, as this is beautiful to consume now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 93

HALL

Sitting across from HALL president Mike Reynolds, he imparted his knowledge regarding the consistently great 2019 vintage. “2019 was not notable for anything in particular and there were no crises” he said. “It was a little bit of a warm harvest and we had a heat spike around Labor Day. It was a great harvest for us.” He continued “The wines are in the middle and it is not a light vintage and not a tannic vintage. We were able to make delicious wines from a range of places. This was a strong vintage across the board.” Similarly, the 2019 vintage for me has been incredible in terms of overall quality for Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a vintage that is more approachable than 2018 but has offered consistently great bottlings.

For years I have been enamored by the wines of HALL, a winery that I visited before they created their state of the art facility in Saint Helena. One of the Napa Valley greats, HALL was founded in 1992 by Katheryn and Craig Hall. HALL’s Saint Helena estate is a must visit for anyone interested in wine. They offer world-class service and wine quality that will tempt the broadest of palates.

HALL also have two separate lines, WALT (focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) and BACA (Focusing on Zinfandel) that are seriously good in their own rights. I have been blown away with the consistency of these wines, particularly in recent years. It is clear that the focus on quality is paramount as this winery has not only been blessed with an exceptional run of vintages but has been known to succeed even in the more challenging vintages like 2010 and 2011. HALL now makes a series of value wines that are really good. 

I adored the new wines by HALL. Do not miss out on the stunning 2019 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is remarkably open and round, with generous dark and blue fruits. I was blown away with the 2019 HALL ‘Rainin VIneyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is nothing short of perfection in a bottle.  This is a limited production wine that literally screams terroir and offers insanely good flavor density and unbridled aromatics that bring you back to the glass for more hedonistic enjoyment. Congratulations to the winemaking team at HALL for these momentous achievements. Learn more about these incredible wines at hallwines.com Here are the beautiful new wines by HALL.

2019 HALL ‘Ellie’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Ellie’s’ is stylistically the wine that expresses more of an old-world style. On the nose there is wet gravel aromas that combine with cassis, dried herbs and shades of red bell pepper. The palate is soft, seamless and elegant with coffee grounds, ripe black fruits and copious minerals. This is fantastic to enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2019 HALL ‘Eighteen Seventy-Three’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The beautiful 2019 HALL ‘Eighteen Seventy-Three’ comes form the northeastern hillsides of the Napa Valley. The nose shows beautiful dark florals with pipe tobacco, dark currant jelly, blackberry pie and espresso grounds. The palate is beautifully balanced, with bright acidity and velvety tannins that combine with the ripe core of dark fruits. This is beautiful wine to consume now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2019 HALL ‘Bergfeld’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Named after the historic property this is mostly sourced from their Saint Helena Estate which is set on an ancient creek bed with very well-drained soils. The nose shows some stony influence with black rose, tar and graphite notes, alongside boysenberry fruits. The palate is refined and elegant with firm tannins that hold a core of blackberry pie and black cherry cordial, showing very pure black fruits and wet gravel. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2019 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Mostly sourced from the Sacrashe Vineyard, the stunning 2019 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers a seamless, pillowy texture mid-palate. Showing good weight, and underlying acidity. Dense and jam-packed full of blackberry and huckleberry flavors, this connects with espresso grounds and dark chocolate shaving accents. This is dense, hedonistic and silky, remarkably approachable Cabernet Sauvignon that is absolutely delicious to consume right now. Drink 2022-2038- 97

2019 HALL ‘Excellenz’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Entirely sourced from the Sacrashe Vineyard, which is a hillside site, the 2019 HALL ‘Excellenz’ Cabernet Sauvignon reveals tar and scorched earth with sweet pipe tobacco and creme de violette notes. The palate is massive, dense and tannic, with hedonistic dark and blue fruits, with Turkish coffee, Nutella and pencil lead accents. Sensational to consume now, this beauty is just coming into its own and will surely live on for another twenty years to come. Give this beauty another year in the bottle before consuming. Drink 2023-2042- 98

2019 HALL ‘Montagna Vineyards’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Montagna Vineyards’ has now been made for several years and comes from the southern side of Lake Hennessy. This mountaintop, rocky and scenic site has a 270 degree view of the Napa Valley. Ripe boysenberry and espresso grounds combine with shades of asphalt and rocky soils on the nose. The palate is lithe and very fresh, with great viscosity. Dense dark fruits combine with the stony and salty profiles with firm tannins on the palate. Finishing very long, this is glorious Cabernet Sauvignon to consume now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2023-2039- 96

2019 HALL ‘Rainin Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Rainin Vineyard is a warm, 8 acre site located in Diamond Mountain. HALL has this site under long-term lease, as the vines are set on volcanic soils. The 2019 HALL ‘Rainin Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a simply magical effort that is already drinking beautifully. On the nose this chocolate covered espresso bean, black currants and creme de violette with stony undercurrents. The palate is impeccably balanced and seamless throughout the drinking experience. This is jam-packed with black and blue fruits but does not come off at all heavy. Finishing exceptionally long, with ripe black fruits and cocoa powder, sweet pipe tobacco, with copious minerals, this is a stunning rendition of Rainin Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon that is already nicely evolved and will continue to shine on for decades to come. Drink 2022-2042- 100

2019 HALL ‘Beller Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Beller Vineyard is a 21 acre site that has formerly been a core component of their Mt. Veeder wine for many years. The high-elevation site is set on an ancient seabed above the Napa Valley. The opulent 2019 HALL ‘Beller Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers red bell pepper and allspice notes on the nose with sweet pipe tobacco, creme de violette and suggestions of cassis cordial. The palate is dense, yet glides effortlessly throughout the drinking experience. Mocha, tar, Turkish coffee and blueberry compote flavors combine with firm tannins on the palate. Finishing insanely long, this is dense, chewy and downright delicious Cabernet Sauvignon that is simply a joy to drink. Drink 2022-2042- 100

Valo Cellars

A really exciting new winery project, Valo Cellars is the brainchild of Matias Kusulas and Michael Ruhland. Matias has formerly been production winemaker at M& L Productions and has been Viticulturist for Lawrence Vineyards since 2017. Hailing from Chile, Kusulas has masters degrees in enology and viticulture from both Bordeaux and Montpelier. Kusulas has worked a range of jobs spanning the globe including stints in New Zealand and Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. Matias works with his wife Taylor Ramsey on the project, and Taylor helps with marketing and development.

Don’t miss on the 2021 Valo Rose (OB, 91) which is very pretty and shows great texture and length. hails from the Connor Lee Vineyard and has really nice length. Even better is their 2019 Valo Cellars ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which comes from the esteemed Connor Lee Vineyard, and shows awesome flavor range from nutty tones to rich peach. Learn more about these excellent new wines at valocellars.com and here are my tasting notes from the new Valo Cellars wines.

2021 Valo Rose- This Tempranillo based Rose comes from the Desert Wind Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA. This shows damp earth with pretty red fruits on the nose, with kumquat undertones. Texturally very refined, this is beautifully round and well-balanced, with good finesse. Drink 2022-2027- 91

2019 Valo ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- This 100% Chardonnay was sourced from the esteemed Connor Lee Vineyard, as this sat for 20 months in roughly 50% new French oak before bottling. Butterscotch and toasty oak combine with melon and shades of white peach on the nose. The palate is plush and beautiful textured, with a seamless mouthfeel. Roasted pineapple notes combine with vanilla cream brûlée on the palate. This is seriously good stuff that has some good aging potential. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2020 Valo Chardonnay- Entirely sourced from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this wine was aged for twelve months in 100% neutral oak before bottling. Nutmeg infused challah bread, white peach and salted Marcona almond all come together on the nose. The palate is nicely concentrated and well-balanced, showing bright acidity. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2020 Valo ‘Pas Mal’ Rose-  Sourced from the Desert Wind Vineyard, this spent sixteen months in neutral French oak before bottling. This shows insanely good texture with a great acid backbone and gorgeous red fruit tones. With more air red rose water and Umami tones combine, as this is sinfully good Rose that is best to enjoy right now. Drink 2022-2027- 92

2019 Valo ‘Right Bank’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Right Bank’ combines equal parts Cabernet Fran and Merlot that was soured from the Connor Lee Vineyard. Aged for 20 months in neutral oak puncheons, this reveals very pretty dried herbs and red bell pepper with rich cassis tones that combine on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a seamless texture. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Valo ‘Intemporal’ Red Wine- The beautiful 2019 ‘Intemporal’ is a gorgeous blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvnginon, 30% Cabernet Franc and the remainder Merlot that was stored in mostly new and French oak barrels for 24 months before bottling. The palate is plush and highly concentrated, with a sinfully good texture and lovely herbal undertones. Enjoy this beauty over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 92

2019 Valo ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the Connor Lee Vineyard, the 100% varietal 2019 ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in roughly 65% new French oak before bottling. Very smooth and seamless on the palate, this shows opulence and a weightless profile on the palate. Soft and round, with refined tannins, this is beautiful expression of black fruits and tobacco with chocolate nuances. This has salty and savory nuances, with a graphite edge. Glorious now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037- 92

2019 Valo ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Franc- The 2019 Valo ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Franc is a stunning wine made from the Connor Lee Vineyard. Very seamless upon entry, this 100% varietal wine shows off beautiful violet tones alongside cassis and anise notes, with shades of red bell pepper. Gorgeous now, this will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2019 Valo ‘Reserve’ Merlot- The 2019 ‘Reserve’ Merlot by Valo is a sensational wine that is only starting to show its stride. The nose is gorgeous with cocoa powder dusted black cherry, cigar ash and shades of anise that all take shape in the glass. The palate is very seamless and soft and beautifully textured, with a finish that won’t quit. Deep and concentrated, yet very weightless on the mouth, this is generous, well-structured wine that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2022-2037- 93

Quilceda Creek

I have been fortunate to visit each vintage of Quilceda Creek going back to the 2002 vintage. For those who have not had the chance to taste their older wines, you are in for an incredible tasting experience. A pillar of quality in the Pacific Northwest, Quicleda Creek was founded by Alex and Jeanette Golitzin back in 1978. Mentored by his father Alex Golitzin and his great Uncle Andre Tchelistcheff, Paul Golitzin took what he had learned and developed his own style that has been the most consistently world-class Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington State.

Last Friday I had the honor of being the first wine critic to taste the new wines from the 2020 vintage. So far in the red wines that I have tasted from this vintage, there is a bit of a mixed bag of excellent wines and also lean or herbal wines — or even smoke impacted wine. The 2020 wines from Quilceda Creek were remarkably clean with no smoke impact. They were utterly sensational across the board.

2018 produced some of the finest wines I have ever tasted from this estate, as I awarded two of the wines, their ‘Columbia Valley’ and ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon both 100 points. The new wines are magical, with incredible poise, weight and deep, concentrated black and blue fruits. The 2020 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) is a stunning, incredibly balanced wine that is opulent and silky, with refined tannins. Even more mesmerizing is the 2020 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is more intense and hedonistic, yet still very refined and smooth. These wines are drinking fabulously in their full-throttle youth and will surely satisfy for another two decades. Learn more about these incredible wines at quilcedacreek.com and here are my reviews of the spring 2023 release Cabernet Sauvignon wines by Quilceda Creek.

2020 Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine- The 2020 Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ is a beautiful new wine that blends in 7% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc that was stored in 22 months in French oak in roughly 65% new French oak. Violets, tar and espresso grounds hit the nose, with layers of dark currants. The palate is soft and refined with silky tannins that connect with a beautiful core of black and blue fruits, with dark chocolate shavings and pencil lead. Glorious to consume now, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2020 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding new 2020 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced mainly from the Champoux Vineyard (90%) with the remainder coming from the Mach One Vineyard. This reveals very pretty black rose petals with blueberry compote, sandalwood, mocha, tar and anise notes that all meld in the glass. The palate is utterly seamless, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Huckleberry pie, dark chocolate covered blackberry and black raspberry coulis combine with loamy soils. This is super refined and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon that is already beautifully evolved and will provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2039- 99

2020 Quilceda Creek ‘Palengat Clone 685 Mach One Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This is single vineyard, single clone and single cooper wine (Darnajou selection 1976). The nose is beautifully floral with potpourri and black currant cordial alongside black walnut and exotic spices. The palate is very seamless and soft with refined tannins. Chocolate covered Arabica bean, blueberry compote, and espresso grounds, with creme de violette all brilliantly combine on the palate. This is powerful with incredible underlying finesse. Drink this beauty over the next twenty years. Drink 2022-2042- 99

2020 Quilceda Creek ‘Tchelistcheff Clone 412 Mach One Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The stunning new 2020 Quilceda Creek ‘Tchelistcheff Clone 412 Mach One Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the great wines of this vintage. Stored in 100% new French oak, the wine shows astonishingly good black floral character, with Asian spices, sweet pipe tobacco and wet gravel. The palate is deep and concentrated, with an underlying salty character, bright underlying acidity and a near minute-long finish. A complete wine, this is already beautifully evolved and will provide drinking pleasure over the next twenty years. Give this electric wine several hours in the decanter before enjoying. Drink 2022-2042- 100

2020 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard Clone 8’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Stored in 100% new French oak, the single varietal 2020 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard Clone 8’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off its stunning aromatics with black tea, blueberry liquor, Turkish coffee and rocky soil notes alongside deep black and blue florals. The palate is deep and concentrated with intense black and blue fruit flavors. With more air intense mocha and graphite tones emerge with creme de cassis, cedar, and scorched earth flavors brilliantly combine. While very full-throttle, there is brilliant underlying finesse. Finishing exceedingly long, this is a masterpiece by director of winemaking Paul Golitzin. Be sure to give this three plus hours in the decanter before consuming. Drink 2022-2045- 100

PerUs

Your ears tend to perk up when Russell Bevan has a new project. PerUs is an ultra-premium producer of red wines out of Napa, sourcing from some great vineyards including Sugarloaf Mountain and Edcora Vineyard (high elevation site). PerUs was founded by Anmol Bhandari who was born and raised in New Delhi, immigrated to the United States and built a successful career in finance – initially at Goldman Sachs and later co-founding Cians Analytics based in New York – a company that provides research and analytical support to international financial institutions. Anmol was introduced to Dustin Wilson, Master Sommelier, and they both would travel to the Napa Valley to research both vineyards and winemakers. Dustin introduced Ammol to Russell Bevan, one of the world’s great winemakers. PerUs only made 30 cases in their first vintage, 2013. They now make a downright killer range of wines that not only offer heady dark fruits but wonderful underlying finesse.

I recently had the chance to try the new 2019 PerUS releases and was increidbly impressed with the overall quality. I adored the new 2019 PerUs ‘Alessio’ Red Wine (OB, 97) which is massive and tannic with a beautiful core of dark fruits. Even better is the sensational 2019 PerUs ‘Armaan’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) which is a stunning expression of Oakville, coming from the Tench Vineyard. Uabashedly bold, the viscosity and tension in the wine is flat out fabulous. Learn more about this famed boutique winery at https://www.peruswine.com/pages/home.php Here are the stunning new releases by PerUs.

2019 PerUs ‘Janeen’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Janeen’ comes from the Sage Ridge Vineyard, as this shows gobs of heady dark and blue fruits not he nose with allspice and cardamom notes alongside shades of dried herbal undertones. The palate is soft and seamless with serious flavor density and a weightless experience, as this effortlessly glides. Massive and broad-shouldered, this has a wonderful aging potential. Drink 2022-2040- 96

2019 PerUs ‘Ines’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Ines’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Houyi Vineyard on Pritchard Hill. The nose is downright seductive with exotic spices alongside black plum, mocha, anise and tar notes. The palate is deep and well-structured, with a seamless texture and shows graphite and an intense combination of black and blue fruits. Really good to enjoy now, consume this opulent Cabernet Sauvignon over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2040- 97

2019 PerUs ‘Armaan’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Arnaan’ Cabernet Sauvignon is largely sourced from the 61 acre Tench Vineyard  in the Oakville AVA. Once on the nose this takes on layers of huckleberry cordial, Turkish coffee grounds, pencil lead and shades of Black Forest cake. The palate is soft and seamless throughout the drinking experience. Dense and chewy, the wine shows an underlying verve and tension that makes this nearly impossible to put down once opened. Finishing long with wet gravel and hedonistic black and blue fruits, this is a seductive, beautiful example of Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink 2022-2040- 98

2019 PerUs ‘Lyla’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Lyla’ is a stunning proprietary blend of Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard Merlot with Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon that reveals tar, mocha, roasted dates and a graphite edge on the palate. Full-bodied with plenty of finesse, this beautiful wine is now really hitting its stride — and will continue to evolve well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2019 PerUs ‘Alessio’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Alessio’ blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, as this is deeply perfumed on the nose. Black rose, creosote and pencil lead notes combine on the nose with a massive core of black and blue fruits. The palate is very well-balanced and fresh, with tremendous depth and an exceedingly long finish. Gratifying to enjoy now, consume this beauty over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2040- 97

2019 PerUs ‘Bryn’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Bryn’ combines Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon with Sugarloaf Mountain Merlot. It is a soft and refined edition with a silky mouthfeel. Highly approachable now, with loads of creme de cassis, violets and tar notes, this beautiful wine is already showing beautifully now — and will continue to provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037- 95

Elephant Seven

Today we share an electric producer of white and red wines out of Walla Walla. Joshua West and his wife started this winery several years ago. Josh has a background in investment banking and has only has been winemaking on a full time basis for the past decade. He has previously worked for Whitehaven in New Zealand as well as interning at Figgins, Cadaretta, and Dusted Valley in Walla Walla. He now has a tasting room in downtown Walla Walla, as his wines show good depth and wonderful underlying finesse.

The new white wines by Elephant Seven are fantastic. Check out the very fresh and vibrant 2021 Elephant Seven ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ Marsanne (OB, 92) which is a tension-filled expression of this varietal with wonderful acidity and salty tones. Learn more about this exciting new Washington winery at https://www.elephantsevenwine.com/ Here are the new releases by Elephant Seven. 

2021 Elephant Seven ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ Marsanne- Coming from the ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ which is set at 1200 feet, this wine was picked in late August and then was stored for six months in French oak before bottling. Macadamia nut, lychee and starfruit with toasty French bread all hit the nose. The palate is very fresh and focused with a great mineral backbone and viscosity. Enjoy this fresher style of Marsanne over the next six years. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2021 Elephant Seven ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ Roussanne- The really good 2021 Elephant Seven ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ Roussanne comes from this high elevation site in the Walla Walla Valley. Stored for six months in French oak, this delivers mango and green papaya notes alongside good freshness and salty undertones on the palate. Drink 2022-2028- 92

Bollinger 'R.D.' Champagne

It isn’t everyday that I have a chance to sit with two bottles of Bollinger ‘Recently Disgorged’ (R.D.) Champagne. However, this was the case on a glorious night last weekend in Los Angeles. The idea of selling a recently disgorged older champagne is quite novel. This idea comes from the mind of Madame Bollinger and in 1967 she introduced the innovative Récemment Dégorgé, revealing a new and spectacular facet of champagne. This created an opportunity to enjoy a wine which had a very long period of aging on lees with recent disgorgement to be sold and shared with the world.

Sitting with these two wines, I was floored by the overall impression of how true each spoke to the overall vintage. 2004 was deep, concentrated and fleshy, just like the great wines made that vintage. Similarly, 2007 was bright and nervy, with formidable finesse and beautiful nuance. For my palate, the clear winner was the 2004 Bollinger ‘R.D. Extra Brut’ Champagne (OB, 97) which has to be considered one of the great champagnes of the world. While obviously quite big, this has a sensational underlying finesse and is truly singing now. Try to find a bottle while you can! Learn more at https://www.champagne-bollinger.com and here are my notes from the stunning ‘R.D.’ Champagnes by Bollinger.

2004 Bollinger ‘R.D. Extra Brut’ Champagne- The 2004 Bollinger ‘R.D. Extra Brut’ Champagne is an utterly fabulous bottle from this fleshy and opulent vintage. The wine combines 66% Pinot Noir with 34% Chardonnay, coming from 16 sites and nearly all (88%) Grand Cru fruit. Right away the wine dazzles with intense citrus oil notes alongside cantaloupe, starfruit and toasty brioche. The palate is big, bold and is very true to the great wines made this vintage. Hazelnut and lemon oil meld together with the beautiful underlying viscosity and tension. This is simply irresistible champagne to savor now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032- 97

2007 Bollinger ‘R.D.’ Champagne- This bottle was disgorged in late 2020. A blend of 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay which was nearly all sourced from Grand Cru vineyards, this really needs an hour to fully evolve and show its beautiful aromatic range. Salted cashew nut and white peach combine with layers of baking spice dusted marzipan and lovely peat moss accents. The palate is very fresh and refined, showing the linear aspect of this vintage. Racy acidity and bright green apples dominate the palate, as this beauty is starting to hit its stride. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 94

Alma Rosa

One exciting Santa Barbara County property, Alma Rosa Winery is situated on the north-facing slopes of the Santa Rosa Hills in Santa Barbara County. The wines are well-balanced and have great terror from this close proximity to the Pacific Ocean. I love the new wines made by Samra Morris who was born and raised in Bosnia. Morris holds both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Food Sciences from The University of Sarajevo, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences. Post-graduation, Morris interned in the Department of Enology at The University of Sarajevo before deciding to pursue a winemaking career.

She got her start as a tasting room associate in Napa Valley, then went on to intern in the vineyard for St. Supery, spent three harvests as a harvest intern for esteemed winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown and was part of the cellar team for Michael Mondavi Family Estate. In 2017, Morris joined the Free Flow Wines team as a lab assistant, was promoted to lab supervisor the following year and then to QC manager. Tony Biagi serves as Alma Rosa consulting winemaker.

I loved the wines here across the board and do not miss out on the 2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is dense and polished with a soft mouthfeel. Just as good is the 2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Grenache (OB, 92) which deftly balances weight and finesse. Learn more about these great wines at almarosawinery.com and here are the new wine reviews by Alma Rosa.

2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Chardonnay offers toasted French bread with banana and shades of mango on the nose. The palate is fresh and polished with a silky texture. Enjoy this over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Grenache- This comes off intense and very fragrant with raspberry, chocolate and shades of red rose petals that all meld in the glass. The Grenache is beautifully textured, with good weight and finesse. Rich and layered, enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Syrah- The really good 2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Syrah delvers a hedonistic nose with violets and black tea with blackberry compote and a dash of white pepper. Very silky and elegant on the palate, the combination of freshness and depth, with salty undercurrents really carry this beautifully. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Pinot Noir- The 2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Pinot Noir comes off very salty and savory on the nose with diatomaceous earth, potpourri and shades of orange rind. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2020 Alma Rosa ‘La Encantada’ Pinot Noir- The beautiful and fresh 2020 Alma Rosa ‘La Encantada’ Pinot Noir offers a soft mouthfeel with ripe red cherry and red raspberry flavors, with a silky texture. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2020 Alma Rosa ‘Bentrock’ Pinot Noir- Delicious to consume now, the 2020 Alma Rosa ‘Bentrock’ Pinot Noir shows off Mandarin orange zest, pomegranate seed and red florals on the nose, with salty earth undertones. The palate displays good underlying finesse, with salty and ashy undercurrents. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2020 Alma Rosa ‘Attente’ Red Wine- A blend of 59% Grenache with 41% Syrah, the 2020 ‘Attente’ Red Wine opens with smoked brisket, violets and suggestions of Earl Grey tea. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture and lengthy finish. Juicy and ripe, showing good underlying brightness, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

Leonetti Cellar Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

After a long day of work last Thursday I sat down with the new Leonetti wines from the 2019 vintage. For many 2019 brought a host of issues with Bordeaux varietals, with the early October freeze forcing a litany of producers to pick their grapes. This led to some wines being lean, linear and lacking mid-palate flavor density and flavor complexity.

This was now the second time I had the chance to taste the brilliant 2019 single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wines by Leonetti. I will fully admit that tasting with winemaker Chris Figgins my jaw dropped after my first taste of their 2019 ‘Holly Roller.’ ‘This is seriously good stuff’ I said. Chris only nodded and smiled.

My second go around with these wines was just as electric. One thing that made these wines so special was their location being high above the freeze done. Unlike most sites in Washington, when the freeze hit the high-elevation Cabernet spots were not impacted. I was blown away with the high elevation 2019 Leonetti Cellar ‘Loess Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is one of the wines of this vintage and is a massive, tannic beast that really needs a lot of air now if enjoying. The same is true with the scintillating 2019 Leonetti Cellar ‘Serra Pedace Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is equally hedonistic and dense, with amazing layers of fruit, tannin and underlying finesse. Taste these wines and you will see why they are some of the most compelling you will find in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more at https://leonetticellar.com and here are my reviews of the incredible new single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wines by Leonetti Cellar and winemaker Chris Figgins.

2019 Leonetti Cellar ‘Holy Roller Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Surprisingly bright and lithe, the very polished 2019 Leonetti Cellar ‘Holy Roller Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this stony site in the Walla Walla Rocks District. A beautiful blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Sangiovese, this unveils layers of smoldering rocks with dried herbs, cigar ash, black currant jelly and boysenberry preserves on the palate. Firm tannins and a wonderful salinity runs through the core of this beautiful wine. Consume now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2038- 96

2019 Leonetti Cellar ‘Serra Pedace Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Located in the SeVein project, the Serra Pedace is a southern Walla Walla Valley site that is set at roughly 1,200 feet. The nose is intense and hedonistic with black rose petals and dark currants that combine with black tea notes that all mingle in the glass. The palate is very deep and concentrated, with beautiful underlying finesse and a lengthy finish. Smooth tannins line the core of concentrated black fruits, as this beautiful wine will live on for at least another twenty years to come. Give this beauty at least an hour in the decanter prior to enjoying, Drink 2022-2042- 97

2019 Leonetti Cellar ‘Loess Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant and heady 2019 Leonetti Cellar ‘Loess Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this eastern Walla Walla Valley site on the edge of the Leonetti Estate, set at roughly 1100 feet. Needing about an hour in the decanter to be awoken, once aroused this revels in its beautiful black florals, with pipe tobacco, freshly tilled soils and suggestions of blackberry pie. The palate is very fresh and refined with silky tannins that frame a brilliant core of black cherry, black raspberry and anise tones, alongside graphite and sagebrush undercurrents. This is simply a magical effort from this cooler vintage. Drink 2022-2042- 97

2019 Leonetti Cellar ‘Mill Creek Upland Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- You will love the 2019 Leonetti Cellar ‘Mill Creek Upland Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon which is well-structured, yet massive and dense. Coming from this high-elevation site on the eastern side of the Walla Walla Valley, the wine unveils sagebrush and crushed mint notes alongside Black Forest Cake and coffee grounds on the nose. The palate is soft and refined, showing serious concentration and finesse. Finishing long with black currants and copious minerals, this is gorgeous wine to consume now and over the next twenty years. Give this at least two hours in the decanter if savoring in its bright youth. Drink 2022-2042- 97

Champagne Soutiran

A brilliant, boutique , grower Champagne house based in Ambonnay, Champagne Soutiran has a sensational range of wines that are sourced from Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites. The Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay for these wines are planted on hills exposed south and southeast, with strong sun exposure. Wines are aged in Burgundy barrels and show wonderful chalky character from this site.

Gerard Soutiran started this house back in 1950. In 1969, Alain, the eldest of Gérard’s 4 children, created his own house with his wife Roselyne and made a range of champagnes under the name Soutiran Pelletier. Then in 1989, following her business studies, Alain’s eldest daughter Valérie joined the family business. She took over management and developed the commercial side and the house became Champagne Soutiran.  Ten years later in 1999, Valérie’s husband Patrick Renaux joined the business and worked on the commercial side. Years later he took over production aspects and the elaboration of wines. Today this grower house utilizes all of their 8 hectares of vineyards that they use are from mostly Valeries's family and a little from Patrick's family for the Cuvee Alexandre.

I loved the range of wines by Soutiran. Check out the incredible 2015 Champagne Soutiran ‘Grand Cru’ Champagne (OB, 93) which is rich and generous from this warm vintage. Just as good is the Champagne Soutiran ‘Rose de Saignee’ Rose Champagne (OB, 93) which is sourced from the fantastic 2008 vintage and spent ten years in barrel before disgorgement. This is a heady, rich Rose champagne that is already beautifully evolved.Learn more about this great champagne house at https://www.soutiran.com/en/home/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Champagne Soutiran.

NV Champagne Soutiran ‘Premier Cru Alexandre’ Champagne- The elegant NV Champagne Soutiran ‘Premier Cru Alexandre’ Champagne offers biscuit and dried mango notes alongside ginger and white peach on the palate. Lithe and polished, enjoy this lighter to medium-bodied Champagne over the next five to seven years. 20% Pinot Meunier with equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2015 Champagne Soutiran ‘Grand Cru’ Champagne- Sourced from only Grand Cru Vineyards, the 2015 Champagne Soutiran ‘Grand Cru’ Champagne shows off its golden hue in the glass. Very salty with good finesse once on the palate, flavors of baked apple, lemon rind dusted brioche and salted Marcona almond all come together brilliantly. Finishing long, this is outstanding now and will confute to build for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2033- 93

NV Champagne Soutiran ‘Grand Cru Perle Noire’ Champagne- A blend of 100% Pinot Noir mainly from the 2015 vintage (58%) with the remainder from the 2012, 2013 and 104 vintages, this beautiful multi-vintage wine offers beautiful underlying tension with plenty of salty and chalky undertones. Rich and layered with honeycomb, salted cashew nut and green papaya, this is already showing brilliantly now. Drink 2022-2032- 93

NV Champagne Soutiran ‘Grand Cru Brut Nature’ Champagne- Mostly comprised of Grand Cru Chardonnay grapes from the 2016 vintage, the ‘Grand Cru Brut Nature’ shows tart green apples, sourdough bread, crushed chalky rocks and yeasty tones on the palate, with considerable finesse. Disgorged in June 2021, this has beautiful length and underlying richness that will surely satisfy cultured palates for another decade or more. Drink 2022-2032- 92

NV Champagne Soutiran ‘Grand Cru Signature’ Champagne- Utilizing a base from the 2018 vintage, the NV Champagne Soutiran ‘Grand Cru Signature’ Champagne is blend of near equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Grand Cru vineyards. Immediately very dense and gratifying, the ‘Grand Cru Signature’ opens with roasted hazelnuts with citrus rind and shades of brioche. Very smooth on the mouth, the silky mouthfeel impresses, as this finishes long with citrus fruits and minerals. Drink 2022-2032- 92

NV Champagne Soutiran ‘Cuvee Rose’ Rose Champagne- The delicious NV Champagne Soutiran ‘Cuvee Rose’ Rose Champagne combines 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay all sourced from Grand Cru Vineyards which was mainly sourced from the 2017 vintage. Red rose petals and red raspberry notes combine with kumquat zest and baking spice dusted brioche all meld together on the nose. The palate is crisp and refreshing, with good underlying weight. Drink 2022-2029- 91

Champagne Soutiran ‘Rose de Saignee’ Rose Champagne- Sourced from the 2008 vintage, the gorgeous ‘Rose de Saignee’ Rose Champagne by Champagne Soutiran was aged for ten years before disgorgement in 2019 and 2020. Deeply colored, this delivers rich red raspberry, wild mushroom and red cherry candy flavors, with suggestions of wild mushroom and pomegranate seed. Beautiful now, enjoy this outstanding Rose Champagne over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

Fleur de Miraval

Today we share a relatively new Champagne project made from the spirit of three iconic P’s: Pitt, Perrin and Peters. Fleur de Mirval utilizes 75% Chardonnay from the terroirs of the Côte des Blancs, and the saignée juice from Pinot Noir grown on the terroir of Vertus. Remarkably the Perrin family are now in their fifth generation and have helped create the world brand, Miraval, into one of the iconic Rose wines. Brad Pitt has a large hand in operations, explaining “For me, champagne conjures up feelings of celebration, quality, prestige and luxury. But rosé champagne is still relatively unknown. I wanted us to try to create the defining brand of rosé champagne, focusing all our efforts on just this one color. The result is spectacular and I’m very proud of it.”

Finally the Peters family crafts this wine. Rodolphe Péters is now at the head of 50 acres, 40 of which are Grand Cru mainly around Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs and he heads this project that includes wines from the 2012 and 2014 vintage, with a base from 2017.

How was the wine? The 2021 edition entitled ‘‘Exclusivement Rose 2’ Rose Champagne (OB, 95) was truly remarkable MV wine especially after some air. This beauty really needs to be served on the warmer side to savor the sensational range of nutty, earthy and red fruit-driven flavors and aromatics. At $350.00 retail, this is no cheap treat either. Learn more about this famous new Champagne brand at https://fleurdemiraval.com/en and here is my review of the brand new wine by Fleur de Miraval.

MV Fleur de Miraval ‘Exclusivement Rose 2’ Rose Champagne- The brilliant MV Fleur de Miraval ‘Exclusivement Rose 2’ Rose Champagne was crafted by Rodolphe Péters at his house in Le Mesnil sur Oger,, as this is the 2021 edition of this wine  The core of the wine comes from Chardonnay (75%), which includes wines from the 2012 and 2014 vintages. The base comes from the 2017 vintage, as this was disgorged in April 2021 and was given a dosage of 4.5 G/L. A brilliant salmon hue, this offers very delicate cranberry and red raspberry with teaberry notes, with saline drenched green melon and hints of morel mushroom on the palate. The underlying richness and nuance of the wine really makes this shine. Enjoy this beauty now and and over the next fifteen years to come at a slightly warmer temperature. Drink 2022-2037- 95

L'Ecole No. 41

It has now been 20 years since I first visited on of Walla Walla’s first wineries, L’Ecole No. 41. In 2002 I was a college senior at Whitman College and on this summer day I walked in as a wine critic. Man, does time fly! While I had entered this historic schoolhouse building many times, this was a very special visit, tasting with winemaker Marcus Rafanelli and GM Marty Clubb. For years Clubb has helped build this program into a national power for Washington State wine.  It is a big job at L’Ecole as Clubb oversees more than 90 lots of wine each year.

The new wines were gorgeous across the board. Do not miss on the 2021 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Luminesce’ White Wine (OB, 92) which maintains beautiful poise and a great range of flavors. Even better was the incredible 2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is dense and tightly wound, really needing another year or two in the bottle to fully strut its stuff. This was a visit to remember. Learn more about these great new wines at lecole.com and here are my reviews of the beautiful new wines by L’Ecole No. 41.

2021 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Semillon- The really good 2021 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Semillon comes from the Stillwater, Rosebud, Klipsun, Lodmill, Oasis and XL Vineyards. With 18% Sauvignon Blanc blended in, this offers Macadamia nut, white peach and shades of honeydew melon. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured, with good weight and finesse. Drink this outstanding value over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2027- 92

2021 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Luminesce Seven Hills Vineyard’ White Wine- The 2021 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Luminesce Seven Hills Vineyard’ White Wine is a blend of 70% Semillon with the remainder Sauvignon Blanc. The palate is very fresh and fragrant with nectarine, gooseberry and shades of Pazzaz apple, with flinty and nutty undercurrents. This is delicious, highly complex wine that will drink well for at least another five years. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2021 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay- This mainstay from the Columbia Valley come from a range of vineyards including Heritage and Stillwater Creek Vineyards. This saw extended battonage and was left on the lees for four months before bottling. The nose screams buttered brioche with bright pear and marzipan notes. The palate shows good weight and finesse with excellent length. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2021 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Evergreen Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The Evergreen Vineyard is one of the great cooler sites for Chardonnay which is located in the Ancient Lakes AVA. This block comes from old Chardonnay vines, as this also saw extended battonage before bottling. Japanese pear and buttered sourdough bread combine with shades of Marcona almond on the nose. The palate is very fresh and beautifully textured. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Perigee’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon (52%) and Merlot (19%) with smaller parts Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.  Entirely sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard, this evokes shades of garrigue, black cherry compote, tar and tobacco leaf. The palate shows good tension and refined tannins that frame a great core of dark fruits, with stony and herbal accents. Finishing long, this is very refined Cabernet Sauvignon that will cellar well for another fifteen plus years. Give this another year in the bottle to fully evolve. Drink 2023-2037- 94

2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Apogee’ is sourced from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard, as this combines Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) with Merlot (25%) and small parts Malbec and Cabernet Franc. The nose displays a dense core of black raspberry with graphite, and dried herbs with tar accents. The palate is very juicy and backwards with serious tension and lovey stony accents. Very intense, with a strong mineral backbone, and refined tannins, this is gorgeous wine that has serious aging potential. Give this at least another year in the bottle prior to consuming. Drink 2023-2042- 95

2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Summit View Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This is 100% clonal selection 191 from the Summit View Vineyard, as the Cabernet Sauvignon was stored for 22 months before bottling. Dense and intense on the mouth, this delivers heady black fruit and creosote flavors with gobs of mouth-watering acidity and a firm tanning backbone. The light dusting of salinity adds to the enjoyment, as this is great Cabernet Sauvignon to consume now and over the next fifteen years. Give it a long decant if enjoying now. Drink 2023-2038- 93

2020 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘GSM Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine- Equal parts Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre the 2020 ‘GSM Seven Hills Vineyard’ was stored in French oak barrels for 18 months before bottling. Roasted meats and black raspberry alongside tar and sandalwood notes all combine on the nose. The palate is very fresh and beautifully textured, with good length. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2020 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Estate Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- Delicious and savory, this saw roughly 10% stem inclusion as the 2020 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Estate Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah was stored in 25% new French oak before bottling. The wine shows off a beautiful texture, with rich boysenberry, tar and roasted date flavors, with brisket undertones. The loamy, salty soil accents add to the enjoyment, as this is best consumed over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

Krug Champagne

A simply marvelous Champagne house, Krug is the brainchild of Joseph Krug, founded back in 1843. The house is based in Reims and is currently owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy whose portfolio includes famed French houses like Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Chateau d’Yquem and Ruinart. Originally from Mainz (modern day Germany), Joseph Krug moved to Paris to work in accounting for Champagne Jacquesson and learned so much about Champagne that he began making his own privately. A brilliant linguist, Joseph spoke French, English and German and spoke some Russian, which put his Champagne house in good position to sell to overseas markets.

Paul Krug, took over for his father and began selling Krug across Great Britain. There was great turmoil at the house following Paul’s death in 1910 with two World Wars, while some contend that the best Champagnes of the century were made between 1926 and 1928. While I have never had these wines, many critics have said that they are some of the best wines that they have ever tried.

Krug produces a host of wines including vintage wines and multi-vintage Krug ‘Grande Cuvée’ (which I reviewed), as well as a stunning rosé, a vintage Blanc, a vintage Blanc de Blancs from the Clos du Mesnil Vineyard, a vintage Blanc de Noirs from the Clos d'Ambonnay Vineyard and older vintages released as Krug Collection series.

The new Krug Grande Cuvee 170th Edition is a remarkable achievement made from 195 wines from 12 different years, the youngest of which is from 2014, while the oldest dates back to 1998. This thing is really just an infant Champagne that is built to age. Learn more about these very special wines at https://www.krug.com Here is my review of the Krug Grande Cuvee 170th Edition Champagne.

Krug ‘Grande Cuvee 170th Edition’ Champagne- Complex, delicious and still massively youthful, the Krug Grande Cuvee 170th Edition is a masterful blend of 195 wines from 12 separate vintages — from 2014 to 1998. This edition has considerably less Pinot Meunier (11%) to combine with 51% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay. This was aged for roughly seven years before disgorgement and immediately gratifies with its candied ginger and musty aromas alongside baked apple and lemon rind dusted brioche tones. The silky mousse makes this irresistible once on the attack. Finishing very long with copious citrus fruits and minerals, this beauty has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2022-2036- 96

Long Shadows

More than a decade ago I fondly recall taking friends to the Long Shadows tasting studio in Woodinville. The winery was a brand new project at the time and a really big deal! For many years Long Shadows has made their name by crafting outstanding red wines with a superstar cast of winemaking talent that spans the globe. Gilles Nicault serves as Long Shadows head winemaker. A great dude with a killer palate, Gilles was formerly at Woodward Canyon and is one of the brightest talents in the state. One thing I have found with these wines over the years is how brilliantly they can cellar. I have really enjoyed tasting many of his older wines, particularly their ‘Pedestal’ and ‘Feather’ wines from the 2004-2008 vintages. These wines are meant to age and are really singing right now.

The new releases by Long Shadows were seriously good across the board. Long Shadows produces a beautiful Chardonnay, their 2020 Long Shadows ’Dance’ (OB, 93)which is very fleshy and broad-shouldered, with a great underlying finesse. Even better is the incredible new 2019 Long Shadows ‘Feather’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which shows serious weight considering the vintage, with lovely herbal and earthy accents. Learn more about this amazing winery at http://www.longshadows.com/ Here are the beautiful new release wines from Long Shadows.

2020 Long Shadows ‘Dance’ Chardonnay-  The 2020 ‘Dance’ Chardonnay is mostly sourced from the 1985 and 1988 plantings from the French Creek Vineyard as well as 1990s plantings from the Boushey Vineyard. This was stored in mostly concrete and neutral oak, with 31% new French oak. The palate is soft and inviting with a seamless texture. Layers of white peach and Mayer lemon vanilla cream come together with stony minerals and suggestions of baking spice dusted brioche. This is elegant, rich and well-balanced Chardonnay that is up there with the finest you will find in the state. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 Long Shadows ‘Feather’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Stored for 22 months in 85% new French oak, the 100% varietal 2019 Long Shadows ‘Feather’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from old vine Dionysus Vineyard, as well as Weinbau, with smaller portions coming from the Horse Heaven Hills sites. The nose immediately gratifies with sagebrush, scorched earth, mocha, dense black fruits, with toasty oak accents. The palate is very fresh and beautifully textured. Fine grained tannins line a beautiful core of black currants, blackberry compote and coffee ground flavors. This is an extraordinary effort considering the coolness of the vintage. Delicious to consume now, this beauty will easily cellar for another fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2037- 95

Soos Creek

I love Washington wines that deliver great value. A winery that won’t break the bank that produces incredibly consistent wines, Soon Creek is one of the value producers in Washington, that was founded all the way back in in 1989 by David and Cecile Larsen. David Larsen has crafted wines for more than 30 vintages now. Originally starting to make wine in the Boeing Wine Club (and even blackberry wine), David caught the wine bug thanks to inspiring trips to Europe and Napa Valley.

David focused his project model Quilceda Creek, producing only one Cabernet wine. Over the years he has expanded his lineup. He sources from some of the great sites in the state including Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun in Red Mountain, David makes roughly 2,000 cases each year focusing on high quality red wines. Recently I sat down with David and tasted some of his brilliant older wines, including a 2002 from magnum. The wines showed exceptionally well and proved that his wines can cellar for more than a decade.

I loved the 2019 Soos Creek ‘Sundance’ Red Wine (OB, 91) which is soft and inviting and an amazing deal at $25.00. Don’t miss out on the delicious 2019 Soos Creek ‘Red Mountain’ Cabaret Sauvignon (OB, 93)  which is dense and polished with a seamless texture. Learn more about this great boutique winery at http://www.sooscreekwine.com Here are the excellent new wines by Soos Creek.

2019 Soon Creek ‘Sundance’ Red Wine- While ‘Sundance’ might be their entry level wine, the 2019 edition is no simple red wine. This comes off very soft and inviting with layers of black currants, Arabica bean and huckleberry with creosote notes. Complex and delicious, enjoy this medium-bodied effort over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2029- 91

2019 Soos Creek ‘Last Rodeo’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Last Rodeo’ is a blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with 20% Merlot. It is soft and inviting with a smooth texture and a pretty red fruit profile, with worn leather and graphite notes. Complex and delicious, consume this beauty now and over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Soos Creek ‘Lee Tastevin’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from the Ciel du Cheval, Ranch at the end of the Road and Klipsun Vineyards on Red Mountain, this delicious 2019 wine delivers good structure and flavor density with tar, anise, blackberry compote and dark chocolate shaving flavors. Delicious to consume now, enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2019 Soos Creek ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from both the Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun Vineyards, the 2019 ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers black rose petals, cigar box and scorched earth notes with heady dark fruits on the nose. Refined and opulent, velvety tannins frame a core of anise, blackberry pie, black currant and espresso grounds. The palate is silky smooth, as this is gorgeous stuff to drink now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2019 Soos Creek ‘Soleil’ Red Wine- The really good 2019 Soos Creek ‘Soleil’ Red Wines mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (57%) with smaller portions Merlot and Cabernet Franc blended in. Very soft on the mouth, this revels in its ripe red currant, black cherry, dried sage and cigar ash flavors. Enjoy this outstanding new red blend over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2022-2035- 92

2019 Soos Creek ‘Ciel du Cheval’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Really good even at the three year mark, the 2019 Soos Creek ‘Ciel du Cheval’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterclass by winemaker David Larsen. He has opted to blend in 20% Cabernet Franc, as the florals really pop instantly in the glass, with black tea, boysenberry coulis and garrigue notes. The palate delivers plenty of mouth-watering acidity, with refined tannins that hold in place a core of medium to full-bodied dark fruits, with coffee grounds and herbal undertones. Drink 2022-2037- 93

Robert Biale

Robert Biale Vineyards

There is little question that Zinfandel is one of the world’s great varietals, as Zin served as one of the founding varietals of California. One of the standout producers of California Zinfandel, Robert Biale has roots in the 1930s where Pietro Biale planted Zinfandel on the Napa Valley floor. HIs son, Aldo, took over making wine during the Prohibition, using the code name ‘Black Chicken.’ Aldo’s Vineyard still stands today in Napa and is one of the premium vineyard sites that Robert Biale sources from, as well as esteemed spots like the Monte Rosso Vineyard and the Stagecoach Vineyard. For years Tres Goetting has served as Robert Biale winemaker, as he recently moved to Ridge. Longtime viticulturist Robert ‘Bob’ Biale knows how to farm these Zinfandel vineyards incredibly well. The new lineup is incredibly consistent across the board.

I adored the 2020 Robert Biale ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel (OB, 92) which is superb for the price and shows great tension with lovely milk chocolate tones. One of the best Zinfandel wines I have tried this year, the  2020 Robert Biale ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel (OB, 95) shows amazing a seamless texture and tremendous depth. This is a must-buy for any serious collector of California Zinfandel. Learn more about this storied Napa property at http://biale.com Here are the great new wines by Robert Biale. 

2018 Robert BIale Vineyards ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel- The 2020 ’Black Chicken’ comes from a range of vineyards throughout Sonoma and Napa Valley. Very soft on the mouth, this delivers delicious green olive and dill notes that combine with boysenberry. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2020 Robert Biale ‘Old Kraft Vineyard’ Zinfandel- Coming from vines planted in the 1890s, this, making it one of the oldest grapes that you will find in Napa. .Ver smooth throughout the drinking experience, light tannins line a core of red cherry candy, dill and sage with shades of coffee grounds.  Everything is in wonderful balance here, as this beauty will show drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2033- 93

2020 Robert Biale ‘Pagani Ranch’ Zinfandel- Sourced from this site in Sonoma County this shows beautiful red florals on the nose, with dusty earth and shades of white pepper and rich red fruits. The palate is soft and inviting with some great underlying acidity, and light dusting of salinity. Layers of red rose water and pomegranate seed, orange rind and milk chocolate combine with the beautiful finesse on the palate. Refined and elegant, with good richness, this beautiful Zinfandel is only starting to hit its stride. Drink 2022-2033- 94

2020 Robert Biale ‘Monte Rosso Vineyard’ Zinfandel- Years ago Robert Biale began sourcing from this high elevation site on Moon Mountain that is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon. This outstanding 2020 Zinfandel offers excellent underlying freshness with ripe red currants, cigar box and orange rind tones that combine with the finesse and salty accents. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Robert Biale ‘R.W. Moore Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The very old ‘R.W. Moore Vineyard’ was planted all the way back in 1905. Once on the nose this shows off red and black florals with wild blackberry and suggestions of loamy soils. The palate is very fresh and shows outstanding underlying finesse. Deep red and dark fruits collide with damp earth and cigar ash notes. Outstanding to savor in its youth, this has at least another decade ahead of it. Drink 2022-2033- 93

2020 Robert Biale ‘Bedrock Vineyard’ Zinfandel- An ancient site for Zinfandel grapes, the ‘Bedrock Vineyard’ dates all the way back to the 1850s and is currently owned by the Peterson family. Ripe Bing cherry and dusty soils combine with chocolate covered black raspberry on the nose. The palate is very elegant and rich, with wonderful viscosity and length — this simply glides throughout the drinking experience. Finishing very long this beauty is drinking great now and will provide drinking enjoyment for another ten to twelve years. Drink 2022-2033- 94

2020 Robert Biale ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel- One of the most consistently great Zinfandel wines that I have tasted over the past decade, the brilliant 2020 Robert Biale ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel comes from this site in Saint Helena which was planted over a century ago. Once on the nose this takes on layers of black tea and blackberry compote with shades of ripe plum and salty undertones. The palate is deep and concentrated, as this comes off very seamless and elegant. Finishing long with black currants, freshly tilled soils and salty accents, this is a stunning effort that will surely live on for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2035- 95

2020 Robert Biale ‘Royal Punishers’ Petite Sirah- The 2020 Robert Biale ‘Royal Punishers’ Petite Sirah is another gorgeous effort by this Zinfandel house that has a sterling reputation for Petite Sirah.  Very fresh, with a soft texture, light tannins frame a brilliant core of pencil lead, anise, blueberry compote and espresso bean. Delicious and deep, this heady Petite Sirah will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

Lange

A true champion for great Oregon Pinot Gris, Lange was founded by Don and Wendy Lange as they purchased a large chunk of land on a steep Willamette Valley hillside back in1987. Over time Jesse Lange has developed into their head winemaker, taking over for his father. Sitting across from Jesse last year we tasted a wine more than 20 years old and were blown away with the aging potential in these wines.

Jesse’s formal winemaking training occurred at New Zealand’s Lincoln University while on a student exchange scholarship from Oregon State in 1999. Jesse then spent two years as cellar rat for winemaker Bruce McGuire at Santa Barbara Winery prior to coming back to his family winery. He joined the winemaking team in 2004 and has served on the board of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association. They opened their new tasting room in 2018 which is simply gorgeous.

I love the new Lange wines which are very consistent across the board. Look to their 2021 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris (OB, 92) which is rich and viscous with great natural acidity. Even better is the fantastic new 2021 Lange ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which has terrific weight and loads of mouth-watering acidity. Learn more about this outstanding Oregon winery at https://www.langewinery.com/ Here are the great new wines by Lange Estate

2021 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris- The 2021 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris is very smooth upon entry. Roasted cashew nut, white peach and shades of green apple all meld in the glass. Delicious and bright, enjoy in tis youth while the brightness remains intact. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2021 Lange ‘Three Hill Cuvee’ Chardonnay- Beautiful and fresh, the polished 2021 ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ by Lange shows off ripe melon with Pink Lady apple flavors alongside good richness and finesse. The nutty and earthy undertones add to the enjoyment. Enjoy over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2021 Lange ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- From this famed site that was planted back in 1998, the 2021 ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay offers nectarine skin and vanilla cream flavors that combine with salty soils and gobs of mouth-watering acidity on the palate. This is exceedingly hard to put down now — and will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2021 Lange ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- From their estate vineyard in the Dundee Hills, this 2021 Chardonnay delivers flinty and nutty accents that combine with serious finesse, stony minerals and rich orchard fruit flavors. This is everything that you want in an elegant Oregon Chardonnay. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2021 Lange ‘Classique’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Classique’ offers excellent finesse with lighter cranberry, orange zest and pomegranate seed flavors alongside stony minerals on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2021 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 Lange ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir shows ripe raspberry and Yakima cherry flavors that meld with lighter garrigue notes on the palate. Light to medium-bodied, with tons of finesse, enjoy now. Drink 2022-2027- 91

Herman Story

I love the unabashedly bold wines of Paso Robles. Years ago I was tasting with my colleague Dr. Jae Hong in Paso and we were both massively impressed with the Herman Story wines. These were unctuous, full-bodied wines that still had marvelous poise that holds everything brilliantly together. A man with a great story in wine, Russell P. From is the creative genius behind Herman Story wines. Russell grew up visiting his grandfather’s farm in eastern Missouri, driving a tractor and generally getting into whatever trouble he could find. Over time Russell grew very fond of the outdoors. Growing up in the East Bay of San Francisco, Russell attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, studying agricultural business, harkening back to his days visiting that Missouri farm.

He was inspired to become a winemaker at a young age, first interning at Lockwood Vineyards in his Freshman year of college — and he has never looked back, now working over 25 harvests. His winery, Herman Story, began in 2001 and has received great critical acclaim since its inception in 2002. Having tried these wines over the past decade, the style tends to be a bold, unbridled style of winemaking that full-throttle and hedonistic. 

I adored the new 2020 Herman Story wines. The new 2019 Herman Story ‘Tomboy’ Viognier (OB, 92) is fresh and rich with a great mineral backbone. I adored the new  is unctuous and rich with a silky texture. Even better is the sinfully good 2019 Herman Story ‘Nuts & Bolts’ Syrah (OB, 94) which is a hedonistic monster of a Syrah that is absolutely delicious to consume right now. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.hermanstorywines.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Russell P. From and his Herman Story winery.

2020 Herman Story ‘Tomboy’ Viognier- The 2020 ‘Tomboy’ was sourced from Santa Barbara County. Deeply concentrated honeysuckle and orange blossom tones alongside praline notes that all meld in the glass. The palate is dense and plus with a seamless texture and glorious sense of length. Not for the weary, enjoy over the next five plus years. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2019 Herman Story ‘On The Road’ Grenache- The 2019 ‘On The Road’ unveils beautiful red rose petals, tobacco leaf and tangerine zest tones. The palate is plush and soft with a generous texture and nice sense of weight. Finishing long with minerals, scorched earth and herbal accents, this is a gorgeous new Grenache that will cellar well for another eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2020 Herman Story ‘Nuts & Bolts’ Syrah- Very dark and brooding in the glass, the 2020 ‘Nuts & Bolts’ Syrah offers extremely concentrated black cherry, blackberry and tar tones on the palate with great tension holding everything together. Delicious and decadent, this will carry on well for another decade. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2020 Herman Story ‘Bien Naceido Vineyard’ Syrah- Sourced from this famed site in the Santa Maria Valley, the 2020 ‘Bien Naceido Vineyard’ Syrah shows off lovely white pepper dusted brisket, black olive tapenade and blackberry compote with black rose tones that all sing in unison. Very refined on the mouth, this is very salty and savory Syrah that will gratify over the next ten years. Drink 2020-2030- 95

2020 Herman Story ‘Milk & Honey’ Red Wine- A blend of mostly Tempranillo and Syrah, this exudes class on the nose with smoked pork shoulder, worn leather and intense dark fruits with creme de violette notes. The palate is well-balanced and shows wonderful earthy tones from the Tempranillo and greta flavor range. This has both the weight and finesse to cellar well for another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2020 Herman Story ‘First Time Caller’ Petite Sirah- The 2020 ‘First Time Caller’ is a dense and chewy new Petite Sirah that is delicious even in its youth. Blueberry compote, mocha, tar and anise tones combine with firm tannins on the palate. Finishing very long, this is novel and complex Petit Sirah that is definitely not for the weary. Drink 2022-2032- 94

Mt. Brave

One of the beautiful, high-elevation sites in the Napa Valley, the majestic Mt. Brave Vineyard is a high elevation site that is set on gravelly loam with large rocks throughout. This is very labor intensive land to farm and the wines from this site shows incredible density of fruit but also wonderful, earthy terroir. The elevation also adds to the freshness in the core of the wine. For years I have admired these wines that employ good body and depth but also serious finesse and rocky undertones from the soil profile.

At the helm is superstar winemaker Chris Carpenter, who is truly one of Napa’s greats.  Chris has crafted some stunning wines from the 2019 vintage. The 2019 Mt. Brave ‘Mt. Veeder’ Merlot (OB, 95) is deep and concentrated wine that is already beautifully evolved following a decant. It is a stunning wine that will easily live on for another twenty years. Learn more about this famed winery at mtbravewines.com Here is my review of the 2016 Mt. Brave Merlot. 

2019 Mt. Brave Merlot- The absolutely delicious 2019 Mt. Brave Merlot comes from eastern-facing slopes on Mt. Veeder.. It immediately gratifies with chocolate covered kirsch notes alongside black raspberry, graphite and loamy soils. The intense aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The wine showcases velvety tannins that frame a beautiful core of red and dark fruits, with espresso grounds, mocha and lighter dried herbal notes. Finishing very long, this is soft, complex and stunning high-elevation Napa Merlot to consume now and over the next twenty years. Give this at least an hour in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2023-2043- 96

2019 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon- The beautiful 2019 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon has 5% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc blended in. Needing an hour in the decanter to be fully aroused, this delivers ripe cassis and huckleberry notes that combine with wet stone and suggestions of sandalwood on the nose. The palate is refined and elegant, with plenty of dense dark fruits and power — yet comes off quite weightless. Refined tannins and bright acidity frame this outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon that is only starting to come into its own. Drink 2023-2043- 96

Champagne Bollinger

One of the brilliant historic houses in Champagne, Bollinger was first founded in 1829 in Ay by Hennequin de Villermont, Paul Renaudin and Jacques Bollinger. Today the house continues to be run by members of the Bollinger family. This house has been particularly popular in Britain as Bollinger Champagnes have been come to be known as “Bolly”. It is quite amazing that Bollinger dates back to 1585 when the Hennequins, one of the Bollinger founding families, owned land nearby. Before the Bollinger house was founded, in the 18th century the Villermont family made wine and then 1750, Villermont settled in the location 16 rue Jules Lobet, which would eventually become the head office for Bollinger.

In 1803 Jacques Joseph Placide Bollinger was born in modern day Germany and after moving to the Champagne region he started work at the Champagne house of Muller Ruinart. In 1829 he partnered with Hennequin de Villermont, Paul Levieux Renaudin to form Bollinger in Ay, France. The partners agreed that the Villermont name would not be used on the labels, hence the house name Renaudin Bollinger. Starting when Jacques Bollinger married Charlotte de Villermont, the house has been managed by the Bollinger family. Even though Paul Renaudin passed without an heir to his name, the label did not become solely Bollinger until the 1960s. Founder Jacques had two sons Joseph and Georges that were important in expanding the family estate by purchasing vineyards in nearby villages. The sons also developed the image of the brand, such as when Bollinger received a Royal Warrant in 1884 from Queen Victoria which still appears on their label.

Following the death of Jacques Bollinger in 1941, Lily Bollinger took over the brand and expanded production considerably. Since 1994, Ghislain de Mongolfier has managed Bollinger. A great-grandson of the founder, Mongolfier has also served as president of the Association Viticole Champenoise since 2004, after leading the Commission of Champagne for 10 years. Bollinger has had roles in many James Bond films, including the 1973 film Live and Let Die  where Bond asks for a bottle of Bollinger entering his hotel. In the 1985 film A View to a Kill James Bond notes that his champagne is ‘Bollinger 1975.’

Bollinger produces a great range of Champagnes and is probably best known for their ‘Special Cuvee’ Champagne that is Pinot Noir dominant and includes reserve wines that are up to fifteen years of age. I loved the new NV Bollinger ‘Special Cuvee’ Champagne (OB, 92) which shows brilliant brioche and mustycomponents. Bollinger has gained a sterling reputation for their ‘La Grand Annee’ wines and I have certainly enjoyed many of these over the past few decades. Their new release, the 2014 Bollinger ‘La Grande Annee’ Champagne (OB, 95) is an incredible effort that shows great flavor density and weight, with serious structured. This is big, bold 2014 Champagne that brilliantly showcases this unabashedly rich vintage. Learn more about this famed Champagne house at https://www.champagne-bollinger.com Here are my reviews of the beautiful new releases by Champagne Bollinger.

NV Champagne Bollinger ‘Special Cuvee’ Champagne-  The NV ‘Special Cuvee’ is a compelling blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier which was sourced from almost entirely Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards. Very rich and generous in the glass, this offers lovely musty aromas on the nose with baked green apple, star jasmine and a dusting of white pepper. The palate is big and broad-shouldered, with brilliant underlying finesse. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Everything is wonderfully in balance here, as this just may be the pinnacle of champagne in this price range. Drink 2022-2030- 92

NV Champagne Bollinger Rose- A downright gorgeous salmon hue, the NV Champagne Bollinger Rose is a lovely blend of 62% Pinot Noir and 24% Chardonnay with 14% Pinot Meunier that was sourced from nearly all Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards. Very tart red fruits combine with salted green melon, sourdough bread and suggestions of green apple on the palate. Refined and elegant, this is beautiful wine to consume now and over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2014 Champagne Bollinger ‘La Grande Anne’ Champagne- The 2014 Champagne Bollinger ‘La Grande Anne’ Champagne is a full-bodied effort that is somewhat reminiscent of the 2012 bottling in terms of overall weight. A blend of 61% Pinot Noir, 39% Chardonnay that was given 8G/L dosage, once on the nose this shows off light musty aromas of white truffle and freshly tilled salty soils, alongside bright Gravenstein apple and lemon rind accents. The palate is plush and full-bodied, showing a gratifying sense of both weight and verve. Finishing long with stony and salty undertones, this is a terrific showing even now at the eight year mark, as the ebullient 2014 Champagne Bollinger ‘La Grande Anne’ Champagne will surely live on for at least another fifteen years — and potentially more. Drink 2022-2037- 95