Marcassin

One of the famed houses in Sonoma who is known for their late release wines, Marcassin began back in 1991. Founders Helen Turley and her husband John Wetlaufer debuted with their ‘Upper Barn Vineyard’ Chardonnay and their wines were met with immediate critical acclaim.

Marcassin wines were first made at Martinelli winery before moving to their own space in Windsor, California. Helen has been consulting winemaker at Helen has been the consulting winemaker at Colgin, Bryant Family, and Martinelli.

Her wines for Marcassin are extraordinary and I loved her new 2013 Marcassin Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is rich, viscous and beautifully textured, showing a weightless character. These are wines that are costly but are worth the splurge. Hats off to Helen Turley for creating another incredible new release and here is my review of the new Marcassin Chardonnay.

2013 Marcassin ‘Estate Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay- The 2013 Marcassin ‘Estate Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay is dense and delicious without coming off heavy. Once on the nose this takes on layers of toasty oak, buttered brioche and vanilla cream alongside salted Pink Lady apple and shades of wild mushroom. The palate is rich and viscous with a great underlying acidity — and formidable length. A complete wine, enjoy now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2029- 96

Interview with Lynn Penner-Ash, Founder of Penner-Ash Winery

Friends, we have a great conversation for you today. One of the Pacific Northwest wine pioneers, Lynn Penner-Ash has recently decided to step down from winemaking and I have an exclusive interview with her today. Lynn started her winery back in the 1980s and has a wealth of experience, seeing the Willamette Valley be transformed into what it is today — one of the world’s finest wine destinations. I think you will really enjoy hearing more of her story in wine. Here is my interview with Oregon wine legend, Lynn Penner-Ash.

OB: What was the Willamette Valley like when you first started making wine? Do you like what you see today or do you fondly look back at earlier years?

LPA: The Willamette Valley wine industry was tiny in comparison to the California industry in the 1980’s. The distance to wineries was far and the availability of winemaking equipment and sales reps didn’t exist. All the winemakers had to rely on each other when a piece of equipment broke down or a part wasn’t readily available. It wasn’t unheard of to get help from a local farmer when a pump needed fixing, or a sorting line design needed building.

I miss the closeness of my peers in the industry (but this was also pre-children for a lot of us). It was easier to all gather and enjoy a social event or have a planning meeting as we all fit in one room. I look back on those times fondly but also appreciate the advancement and recognition of our industry today. I am proud that we have made Oregon a wine destination. 

OB: Who were some seminal figures in wine that inspired you to become a winemaker?

LPA: In my earlier years of wine in California, I had the opportunity to spend time with the Zepponi family, Margo and Don Van Staaveren of Chateau St Jean, Michael and Kathie Havens and many young, enthusiastic, aspiring winemakers. I also had grandparents that owned 60-acres of Thompson Seedless in Sanger, California, so I spent many a summer in the vineyard. I loved the smell of grapes crushed in the dirt with a hint of diesel. I think all these experiences made me realize that I wanted to enjoy a similar lifestyle!

OB: At the time when you began making wine there were very few women winemakers in the Pacific Northwest. Can you talk about the evolution of Pacific Northwest woman winemakers that you have seen throughout your illustrious career?

LPA: There were indeed few women winemakers in Oregon in 1988. The Oregon industry was made up of couples pursuing their love of wine and they had delineated responsibilities accordingly. When I first started at Rex Hill, the wines started earning more recognition. People were paying attention to this woman making wine for Rex Hill. Very quickly I started to get calls asking if I knew of other women who might be interested in moving to Oregon for a winemaking job! I’ve strived to hire women interns, beginning with my years at Rex Hill. I had the honor to work with young women that have now become very accomplished winemakers in California, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Oregon! This of course includes Kate Ayres, the current winemaker for Penner-Ash Wine Cellars, with whom I have worked side by side with for the last six years and know she will continue to honor and craft our wines with care and thoughtfulness. I must also make a note that I have also had the pleasure to work with

many young men who have also gone on to be accomplished winemakers.

Numbers of women working in wine in Oregon are increasing and I am very happy to see women on most every winery’s harvest team. We hosted a gathering several year’s back of women winemakers, assistant winemakers, and vineyard managers – we had over 190 women come together. I am proud to see more and more women in positions of leadership in both winemaking and vineyard management.

OB: I’m sure you have some favorite wines that you have made in your cellar. Looking back, what are some of your favorite wines and what are some of your favorite vintages that you have enjoyed? Do you have a tendency to enjoy cooler vintage wines, like from 2007 and 2011 or warmer vintages like 2014-16?

LPA: I am very partial to the cooler years like 1993, 1999, 2007, and 2011. Those vintages really challenged all of us – no matter how you identify. We had to work hard to make great wines and when I pull one of those cooler vintages out to taste, I am impressed with their ability to age and the great job we did making wines during those crazy weather vintages. And there is always a good story to tell!

Chateau Minuty

A Provence house with a great history, Chateau Minuty began with innovator Gabriel Farnet, who already owned Domaine de Châteauneuf in Vidauban, and acquired Château Minuty in 1936. The estate was originally built under Napoleon III, as was the small chapel that gave its name to the cuvée de l'Oratoire, which remained the emblematic bottle for a long time. Gabriel Farnet began by replanting the entire estate, which quickly increased quality in the wines. By 1955, Château Minuty was one of the 23 properties to be distinguished as a classified growth of the Côtes de Provence.

Today, Jean-Etienne and François Matton have taken over and continue to develop Minuty. They have put their signature on the wine by continuing to renovate the vineyard, replacing the Carignan and Ugni blanc with Grenache and Rolle, and they are now in their fourth generation with Anne-Victoire Matton joining her father Jean-Etienne and Uncle François. The wines by Chateau Minuty were very consistent across the board. Do not miss out on the outstanding value, the 2021 Chateau Minuty ‘M’ Rose (OB, 90) which is fresh and lively, showing good stuffing — a terrific value for the price. Truly fabulous, the 2021 Chateau Minuty ‘281’ Rose (OB, 93) is fresh and vibrant with serious texture and aging potential. This is Provence Rose refined. Learn more about this historic Provence house at https://en.minuty.com/pages/m-rose and here is my feature on Chateau Minuty.

2021 Chateau Minuty ‘M’ Rose- Fresh, lively and full of verve, the delicious 2021 Chateau Minuty ‘M’ Rose offers fresh raspberry and teaberry notes alongside red cherry candy on the palate. Copious minerals make this very hard to put down. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2021 Chateau Minuty ‘Prestige’ Rose- A really good cuvee, the 2021 Chateau Minuty ‘Prestige’ Rose blends Syrah, Carignan and Rolle. It is polished in texture and shows good weight with very delicate red fruits that collide with citrus zest and gooseberry undertones. Bone-dry, enjoy on a hot summer day. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2021 Chateau Minuty ‘281’ Rose- The ‘281’ is the top wine produced by Chateau Minuty and is a masterclass by their winemaking team. A blend of mostly Syrah and Grenache from the three soil types on their property (schist, clay and sand), this is best served this at a warmer temperature to take in the outstanding aromatic and flavor range. After some air, the ‘281’ offers a brilliant range of red fruits with kumquat rind and stony minerals, with hints of peat moss on the palate. Finishing long with serious length and underlying tension, this is a brilliant wine that will age well for another eight to ten years, picking up earthy tones as it lays in the cellar. Drink 2022-2030- 93

Upsidedown Wine

It is always a great time hanging with Seth Kitzke. His youthful energy, knowledge and overwhelming enthusiasm for wine is apparent. “I want to make something different” he explained. “And iI’m very inspired by the terroir of the Rhone” he said without hesitation. The wines I tasted certainly had many Rhone-like characters — from meaty and gamy notes to iodine tones and many stony essences. Seth has a brand new production facility outside of Richland, Washington where we tasted. They have also just opened a new tasting room in downtown Cle Elem.

It has now been several years since he and his wife, Audrey, founded Upsidedown Wine, a winery that contributes to several great causes. Seth has now been in the industry for many years, having studied wine under Regina Daigneault, and previously working with Brennon Leighton at K Vitners/Charles Smith Wines as well as Brian Carter Cellars with Brian Carter.

Don’t miss out on his new 2021 Upsidedown Wine Rescue Rose (OB, 92) which shows tremendous range and is downright delicious in its pure red fruits.  I loved the new 2021 Upsidedown Wine ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ Viognier (OB, 94) which shows tremendous richness and great underlying salty character. Learn more about this great winery at http://drinkupsidedownwine.com Here are the excellent new wines by Seth Kizke and by Upsidedown Wine.

2021 Upsidedown Wine ‘Rescue Rose’ Rose- One of the only Roses that you will find made from Nebbiolo grapes in North America, this is one of the latest grapes to harvest for Seth Kitzke. Wild mushroom and star jasmine hit the nose with shades of red cherry candy. The palate is very fresh and beautifully textured, with fantastic underlying mouth-watering acidity. Very pure red fruits greet you, with gobs of stony minerals. Drink 2022-2027- 92

2021 Upsidedown Wine ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ Viognier- This beautiful Viognier from the 2021 vintage comes off with white peach and gardenia with shades of salted Macadamia nut. The palate is deep and concentrated, with beautiful underlying finesse. This is well-orchestrated, and finishes very long with starfruit and vanilla cream. Beautiful to savor now, this  has both the stuffing and bright acidity to cellar for another eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2021 Upsidedown Wine ‘The Artist Collection White’ White Wine- A blend of Marsanne and Roussane, this was stored in roughly 30% new French oak before bottling. Lychee and honeydew melon combine with beautiful white flowers on the nose. The palate is super seamless and elegant, with great underlying viscosity and verve. Dense and gratifying with nutty and damp soil tones, this beauty needs to be served at a warmer temperature to savor its beautiful range of aromas and flavors. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2021 Upsidedown Wine Roussanne- Sourced from the WeatherEye and Konnawac Vineyards, this was stored in a combination of neutral oak, new oak and terracotta egg before bottling. The palate is very intense and deeply concentrated, with a light dusting of salinity. Ripe peach, sweetened gooseberry and wet stone flavors combine with salty minerals and sandalwood notes on the palate. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2021 Upsidedown Wine ‘The Carbonic’ Mourvedre- Entirely sourced from the Dead Poplar Vineyard, this was added a touch of sulphur right before bottling. This comes off very fresh and salty, with meat drippings and bright red fruits on the palate. This is very Washington meets Beajo. Enjoy now while the freshness remains. Drink 2022-2027- 91

2020 Upsidedown Wine ‘Gold Drop Dead Poplar Vineyard’ Grenache- Mostly stored in neutral oak, the 2020 Upsidedown Wine ‘Gold Drop Dead Poplar Vineyard’ Grenache offers a beautiful purity of red fruits with red rose petal, orange zest and tobacco leaf. The palate is very fresh and vibrant with lip-smacking acidity and salty undertones. This is already beautifully evolved. Drink 2022-2029- 93

2020 Upsidedown Wine ‘Birds + Things + Flowers’ Syrah- Sourced from a high elevation site just outside of Moxee, the 2020 Upsidedown Wine ‘Birds + Things + Flowers’ Syrah offers garrigue and bulls blood with smoked pork shoulder and beautiful red fruits. The palate is fresh and lithe with a polished texture. Very perfumed, with beautiful novelty, this beautiful wine is great to consume now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 Upsidedown Wine ‘Artist Collection’ Syrah- A beautiful looking label, the 2019 Upsidedown Wine ‘Artist Collection’ Syrah was stored in 100% new French oak before bottling Immediately this shows off amazing range on the nose from smoked meats to iron and black olive tapenade notes with huckleberry pie. The palate is very fresh and vibrant with a brilliant core of red and dark fruits that combine with the copious minerals. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2020 Upsidedown Wine ‘Lalonde Field Blend’ Red Wine- A 2020 blend of Syrah, Grenache and Grenache Blanc, this shows off a very pretty core of pomegranate seed, red cherry candy, pipe tobacco and dried sage on the palate. You have to admire the range of flavors at play. Showing good richness and verve, this is already beautifully evolved and will show well for another ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 94

MV Upsidedown Wine Mourvèdre- Sourced from the 2018, 2019 and 2020 vintages, this Mourvèdre opens with white pepper dusted bacon, orange rind, wintergreen and wild blackberry notes all hit the nose. The palate displays ripping acidity with citrus notes and pretty red fruits that mingle well with bacon fat and black florals. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2020 Upsidedown Wine ‘Equus Reserve’ Red Wine- This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (77%) and whole cluster fermented Syrah (23%). On the nose this takes on red bell pepper, anise and cedar notes alongside black tea and blackberry preserves. The palate is bright with serious acidity and tannin structure. Massive and brooding, with a deep core of blackberries and black cherry, this is beautiful stuff that really needs another year in the cellar to fully mature. Drink 2023-2038- 94

Vina Almaviva

One of the great wineries of the world, Vina Almaviva is a famed partnership that began back in 1997. During that time the Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, and Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle, Chairman of Viña Concha y Toro S.A., sealed a partnership agreement with a view to create an exceptional Franco-Chilean wine called Almaviva. Produced under the joint technical supervision of both partners, the first vintage had great acclaim upon its launch in 1998. The rest has been history. 

For years I have loved these wines that have great cellaring potential and also show so beautifully upon release. I think that for those who have never tried the Vina Almaviva, you are in for a massive treat. The wines show incredible terroir and a wonderful veil of tension. This blend captures the art of truly exceptional Carmenère. A varietal that has been a shining star for Chile, this wine really is one of the finest expressions of Carmenère that you will find. Although the blend is Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, Carmenère adds the lovely herbal tones and scorched earth accents to this formidable wine. 

While pretty approachable considering their youth, Almaviva wines show best after several hours of air. I was blown away with the 2020 Vina Almaviva (OB, 98) which has 24% Carmenère  blended in and is absolutely thrilling to savor even right now. This is nothing short of a masterpiece blend that has a long life ahead of it. Learn more about this famed winery at http://www.almavivawinery.com/en/ Here is my review of the new 2020 Almaviva. 

2020 Vina Almaviva Red Wine- Coming from this very dry vintage, the 2020 Vina Almaviva is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon with 24% Carmenere and small portions Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that were all stored for 20 months in 100% new French oak. Roasted dates and black currants all fill the nose, with wet gravel, cigar box and yellow bell pepper notes that give this insanely good aromatic range. The palate is plush and concentrated, with a beautiful verve and lush texture. Finishing exceedingly long with dense dark fruits, sweet pipe tobacco and graphite, this is sensational wine to enjoy now and over the next twenty years. Drink 2022-2042- 98

Massican

One of the truly unique wineries that you will find in North America, Massican began back in 2009, and is the brainchild of famed winemaker Dan Petroski, who sought to make old-world inspired white wines in the Napa Valley where Cabernet is king.  For years I have admired the wines by Petroski who quite simply took the Larkmead program by storm. The wines he made for years at Larkmead were nothing short of magical — wines that have plenty of power and flavor density, but also scream terroir.

Massican also shows off incredible terroir in their wines that show wonderful bright acidity but also display nice texture and depth. They are very Italian inspired while keeping their Napa character. The new vintage from 2021 was outstanding across the board — possibly a bit deeper and more concentrated than those made in 2020.

I adored the new 2021 Massican ‘Annia’ White Wine (OB,94) which deftly blends Tocai Fruliano, Ribolla Gialla and Chardonnay. I think there is really nothing like this made in North America. Learn more about these novel, one of a kind wines at massican.com Here are my reviews of the gorgeous new Massican wines. 

2021 Massican ‘Annia’ White Wine- The 2021 ‘Annia’ is a blend of 51% Tocai Friulano with the remainder Ribolla Galla and Chardonnay. Buttered brioche with ripe peach and salted praline all mark the nose. The palate is deep and concentrated with a soft texture and wonderful underlying finesse. The mouth-watering acidity is outstanding here, as this is best enjoyed now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2021 Massican ‘Gemina’ White Wine- The beautiful 2021 ‘Gemina’ combines 75% Pinot. Bianco with the remainder Greco. Roasted cashew with nectarine and suggestions of sweetened gooseberry all fill the nose. Very polished and smooth once on the mouth, this shows an oily, almost unctuous texture. The level of nuance and flavor complexity here is really impressive, as the downright killer combination of weight, finesse and mouth-watering acidity really makes this tick. This scintillating white wine will become more nutty and earthy as this ages. Drink 2022-2030- 95

2021 Massican ‘Idlewild’ White Wine- A truly one of a kind blend of 30% Tocai Friulano with 25% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Chardonnay and 20% Malvasia, this golden-colored wine shows off exotic apricot and white peach notes on the nose, with cardamom dusted Japanese pear and star jasmine water. The palate is rich and deep, with a fantastic mineral backbone. This is novel and delicious wine that will age beautifully over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 94

Saint K

The many talents of Paso Robles wine community do not go unnoticed. I love the values that this region can inspire as well. Saint K Wines proprietor and winemaker Chris Kiranbay grew up in the Middle East and has a longstanding history in the wine industry. A trip to Napa inspired a move across country to California. Chris worked a harvest there and visited Paso Robles back in 2010. Working in fine dining, as well as a wine brokerage, he began working for Herman Story Wines in 2013, and subsequently began making some of his own wines. His style echos that of Herman Story, as they are unabashedly big, with bright acidity holding everything in place.

I love the new 2021 Saint K ‘Around the Way’ Rose (OB, 92) which shows a sinfully good texture and seriously good weight. 2021 Saint K ‘Flower Bomb’ Malvasia Bianca (OB, 93) which is beautifully floral on the nose, with vibrant acidity and a soft mouthfeel. Learn more about this fantastic boutique winery athttps://www.saintkwines.com and here are my reviews of the great new Saint K wines. 

2021 Saint K ‘Yokai’ Chardonnay- Sourced from Santa Barbara County, this is wonderfully salty Chardonnay with brioche, lemon rind, orange zest and Pink Lady apple flavors. Beautifully textured, with serious length, the outstanding 2021 ‘Yokai’ will provide drinking enjoyment for the next eight years — and possibly more. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2021 Saint K ‘Yokai’ Pinot Noir- With a three legged raven on the front of the bottle, the 2021 ‘Yokai’ Pinot Noir shows outstanding finesse once on the mouth. Layers of pretty red fruits collide with red rose water, orange peel and cardamom notes. Drink 2022-2032- 92

Gorman Winery

For years I have admired the wines of Chris Gorman. Prior to having his own winery, Chris sold wines for many years, working for a range of local distributors. He spent 3 years working for a small Italian importer which carefully trained his palate. During that time Chris traveled extensively in the wine areas of Italy, Spain and Germany and finally got the nerve to open Gorman in 2002. The winery has been a small operation, crafting consistently good wines from the Columbia Valley. Chris focuses on the terroir from Red Mountain and works with great vineyards such as Kiona, Shaw and many others. They also make an excellent, broad-shouldered Chardonnay called their ‘Big Sissy.’

The Gorman lineup over the past few years has been really outstanding. These releases come from the 2020 vintage. There is no smoke influence on them, so buy these wines with confidence. I love the 2020 Gorman ‘The Devil You Don’t Know’ Red Wine (OB, 92) which shows great density and range, as this is a downright delicious Rhone style red that will cater to a very broad range of palates. Even better is the concentrated 2019 Gorman ‘Big Sissy’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is seamless and dense, with terrific length This Chardonnay really has some good cellaring potential. Learn more about these fantastic new wines at gormanwinery.com. Here are the great new wines by Chris Gorman and his Gorman Winery. 

2021 Gorman ‘Louanne’ White Wine- The 2021 ‘Louanne’ is a fabulous field blend of Rhone varietals, coming from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. This shows seriously good range from green apple to pineapple and bright minerals on the palate. Ripe and unctuous, with a good mineral backbone, enjoy now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2021 Gorman ‘Big Sissy’ Chardonnay- The 2021 Gorman ‘Big Sissy’ Chardonnay is a rich and unctuous effort that is absolutely delicious to consume right now. On the nose this takes on layers of macadamia nut and white peach alongside ripe pineapple on the nose. The palate is deep and layered with terrific texture and length. Not for the weary, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Gorman ‘The Devil You Don’t Know’ Red Wine- Deep and layered, the 2020 Gorman ‘The Devil You Don’t Know’ Red Wine is a delicious blend of 45% Syrah, 41% Grenache, 4% Mourvedre. Right away this displays decadent red and dark fruits with milk chocolate flavors. Finishing long with black fruits and minerals, consume now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2021 Gorman ‘The Devil Makes Three’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Gorman ‘The Devil Makes Three’ Red Wine is a Columbia Valley based bottling that offers juicy violets and black cherry notes alongside shades of tar on the palate. Delicious to consume now, enjoy over the next five plus years. Drink 2022-2027- 90

2020 Gorman ‘Zachary’s Ladder’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2020 Gorman ‘Zachary’s Ladder’ Red Wine is mainly comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon with small parts Syrah and Petit Verdot. Inky and deeply colored in the glass, this 2020 Red Mountain wine yields tar and mocha with green bell pepper and creme de violette on the palate. Showing a good mineral backbone, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Gorman ‘Pixie’ Syrah- Complex and really delicious to consume right now, the  2020 Gorman ‘Pixie’ Syrah is a stunning and intense wine that offers great flavor density and flavor range. Immediately gratifying once opened, this shows off smoked meats with violets, black tea and blackberry compote tones on the nose. The palate is deep and inky with serious concentration and good underlying acidity. Fantastic now, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2019 Gorman ‘Sleeping Giant’ Syrah-  The 2019 Gorman ‘Sleeping Giant’ Syrah comes entirely sourced from the Boushey Vineyard, and revels in its ripe blackberries with Earl Grey tea aromas with loamy soils and bacon fat notes. Soft and very approachable, this shows intense dark fruit flavors with good viscosity and underlying acidity. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Gorman ‘Old Scratch’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Old Scratch’ offers medium to full-bodied blackberry and black tea aromas alongside cocoa powder and espresso grounds on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next seven years to come. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2020 Gorman ‘The Bully’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2020 Gorman ‘The Bully’ Cabernet Sauvignon is soft and beautifully textured upon entry. With refined tannins this offers ripe huckleberry and black cherry cordial alongside Turkish coffee with scorched earth on the palate. Drink 2022-2032- 93

Herman Story

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 wines seem to just get better and better. The ‘Nuts & Bolts’ here is that Herman Story wines are bold, hedonistic and all show a brilliant core of finesse.

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. 

2020 was a challenging vintage across Paso. There are some wines that defy these vintage issues and the wines by Herman Story are a great example of stunning wines from a difficult vintage. I adored the new 2020 Herman Story wines. The new 2020 Herman Story ‘Larner Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 95) is stunning and dense, with a great mineral backbone. Just as good was the incredible new 2020 Herman Story ‘Casual Encounters’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which brilliantly showcases the bolder side of Mourvedre. Each working part here is absolutely seamless. 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.

2018 Herman Story ‘Late Bloomer’ Grenache- Very geeky on the label, the ‘Late Bloomer’ offers a fantastic purity of red fruits on the palate. Think pomegranate, red cherry and red raspberry, with citrus rind and Earl Grey tea notes. The mineral backbone makes this particularly gratifying to sip now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2020 Herman Story ‘Casual Encounters’ Red Wine- A blend of mostly Mourvèdre (58%) with 34% Syrah and a touch of Grenache, the 2020 Herman Story ‘Casual Encounters’ shows a very deep core with smoked meats, black currants and black olive tapenade on the nose. The palate is utterly sensational in terms of flavor density and flavor range. Smoky and savory with highly concentrated black fruits, this is a home run in a somewhat challenging vintage. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 95

2020 Herman Story ‘Long Time Listener’ Red Wine- A really cool blend of Mourvedre and Grenache with Carignan — all sourced from the Luna Matta Vineyard — the 2020 Herman Story ‘Long Time Listener’ Red Wine is a glorious effort by Russell From and his winemaking team. The very pretty red fruit profile from the Greanche is shining through at the moment, with red rose water and guava notes alongside white pepper and salt dusted smoked brisket and beef blood on the palate. Enjoy this beauty over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2020 Herman Story ‘Larner Vineyard’ Red Wine- Inky in the glass, the 2020 ‘Larner Vineyard’ blends 67% Syrah with the remainder Grenache. The wine is wonderfully weighted and heady, with plenty of minerality to back things up. Espresso grounds and dark chocolate shavings meld well with the vibrant core of dark fruits. Delicious, hedonistic and unabashedly bold, enjoy this beauty over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 95

2020 Herman Story ‘Bolt Cutter’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Bolt Cutter’ blends 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Petit Verdot with smaller parts Syrah and Malbec. It is beefy and dense with intense black olives, black tea and exotic spice flavors that combine with blueberry pie and black currants. Full-throttle, enjoy this journey now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2020 Herman Story ‘White Hawk Vineyard’ Syrah- Coming from this site in Santa Barbara County, Syrah vines are planted on nearly pure sand on the south facing slope of Cat Canyon, with close proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Beef tartare, oyster mushroom sauce, black currant jelly and shades of Turkish coffee all meld together on the palate, showing a light dusting of salinity. Complex and delicious, enjoy this bold Syrah now and over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 95

2020 Herman Story ‘Made’ Red Wine- The ‘Made’ combines Syrah (36%) and equal parts (21%) Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, with 11% Merlot. Dense blackberries and black cherry flavors parade with light tannins that grapple with iodine, graphite and suggestions of black licorice candy. Full-bodied, and very novel, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

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