Chosen Family Wines

One of the exciting new projects out of Oregon, Chosen Family Wines was founded by Jacob Gray, Chase Renton (L’Angolo Estate Winery) and former NBA star Channing Frye. More recently NBA all-star Kevin Love has joined the business, as Love is originally from Oregon and has come full-circle with his joint ownership.

Chosen Family works with a collective of up-and-coming winemakers throughout the West Coast and today’s releases of Willamette Valley wines were made by Jackson Holstein, accomplished winemaker from Granville Wines.

For years Channing Frye has been passionate for Oregon wine. He had a very successful 2007-08 season for the Portland Trailblazers, averaging 18 points and 7 rebounds per game. His two seasons in Portland made him more and more enamored by great Oregon Pinot Noir. I have really enjoyed my conversations with owners Channing Frye and Jacob Gray, as their are building some big things with their brand.

Last year I tried the new lineup of Chosen Family Wines and was really impressed. This years new lineup is even more impressive as it will be exciting to see how this brand grows over the next few years. Check out the awesome new 2021 Chosen Family Wines ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which has good freshness and a brilliant texture from this warm vintage. I also loved the 2021 Chosen Family Wines ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (OB, 91) — a wine that at three years of age is already drinking marvelously. Learn more about these great new wines at chosenfamilywines.com Here are my reviews of the new Chosen Family wines.

2021 Chosen Family Wines Rose-  A brilliant salmon hue, the 2021 Chosen Family Wines Rose delivers seriously good range on the palate, from teaberry and cran-raspberry flavors to salted melon and suggestions of wild mushroom. A standout wine under 25 bucks, enjoy this beautiful new 2021 Rose over the next five years and don’t serve too cold. Drink 2022-2027- 92

2021 Chosen Family Wines ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- Only 12.9% alcohol, the outstanding 2021 Chosen Family Wines ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay was stored in 15% new French oak (10% stainless steel) for 11 months prior to bottling. On the nose this shows roasted hazelnuts with suggestions of Japanese pear and ripe kumquat. The palate is ripe and downright delicious, delivering a range of orchard and citrus fruit flavors, with flinty undercurrents. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2021 Chosen Family Wines ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant  and serious value 2021 Chosen Family Wines ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir offers bright Bing cherry on the palate, with dusty soils, pomegranate seed and orange rind flavors. Medium bodied and fresh, this is delicious wine to consume now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 91

Fidelitas

Charlie Hoppes, aka @wa_wineboss, is a Washington wine legend, having formerly served as former head winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle. Prior to working at Chateau Ste. Michelle, he attended the world renowned Viticulture and Enology program at the University of California, Davis and in 1988 he graduated with a degree in Agricultural Science and Management with a special emphasis in Viticulture and Enology. After a brief stint in Walla Walla in 1990 at Waterbrook Winery, he began working with superstar winemaker Mike Januik as a member of the winemaking team at Ste. Michelle in Woodinville. In 1993, he became the Head Red Winemaker and managed Ste. Michelle’s newest facility at the time, Canoe Ridge near Paterson, Washington. Hoppes had the pleasure of making the first vintages of Col Solare, from 1995-1998. At the time Col Solare was one of the world’s most inspired partnerships between the Antinori family and Chateau Ste. Michelle.

Hoppes was inspired to start his own project and got the nerve to purchase some land on Red Mountain, founding Fidelitas in 2000 -- and has produced fantastic reds and whites since that time. Fidelitas is known for their red and white Bordeaux blends, as well as their rich Cabernets. Hoppes’s son, Will, serves as Fidelitas GM. Tasting with Will, we were both really pleased with the results from the 2019 wines. These are wines that are clean and have a great underlying freshness that you don’t typically see from Red Mountain.

I loved the new wines coming from the 2019 vintage. Hoppes has done a great job by capturing the vintage, without producing lean or herbal reds. These are less power-packed than the 2018s but show beautiful underlying finesse. Don’t miss out on the gorgeous 2019 Fidelitas ’Estate’ Merlot (OB, 94) which is very classic in its dark fruit profile and is built to age gracefully which is very pretty on the nose and soft once on the attack, with lovely florals. I loved the new 2019 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Malbec (OB, 94) which is jam-packed full of black and blue fruits, with a terrific acid backbone. Learn more about the great Fidelitas lineup at http://www.fidelitaswines.com/ Here are the great new wine releases from Fidelitas.

2021 Fidelitas ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- 100% variétal, this was stored in egg shaped barrels (100% neutral) which gives extended lees contact. Gooseberry and white peach aromas combine with salted Marcona almond on the nose. The texture here is outstanding, as this shows beautiful length and underlying acidity. This is delicious wine to enjoy now. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2021 Fidelitas ‘Red Mountain’ Semillon- Entirely sourced from Artz Vineyard which is run by the Williams family. Fabulous freshness greets you with starfruit and bright pear with nutty and lychee notes. Beautifully textured, enjoy now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2027- 92

2019 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Merlot- Coming from a 2015 planting, this is the first Merlot from this estate planting. 100% varietal and aged in a combination of French and American oak, this delivers toasty oak with black currants and chocolate tones that meld on the nose. The palate is soft and delicious with refined tannins and great structure. Generous and concentrated, this is silky Merlot that is built to age well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 94

2019 Fidelitas ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Merlot- This saw all stainless steel fermentation, this was stored in a combination of French and American oak before bottling. Cocoa powder dusted black cherry and black olives combine with espresso grounds on the nose. This is flat out delicious wine with its deep core of black cherry and black currants on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2038- 94

2019 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Malbec- This is now the second vintage of this wine. Sourced from Block 9 of the Estate Vineyard, this was stored in a combination of new and used French and American oak. Utterly complex and delicious, this reveals black currants, blueberry pie, cigar box and shades of dark chocolate shavings on the palate. Sensational to savor now, this is generous, well-structured Malbec that is built to age. Drink 2022-2039- 94

2019 Fidelitas ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Malbec- 100% varietal, this was stored in a combination of 30% new French oak and 25% new American oak before bottling. Black tea and exotic spices combine with huckleberry pie on the nose. The palate is deep, brooding and wonderfully concentrated, with fantastic underlying finesse. Very round and open, with a plush texture, this has to be up there with the best of its kind in the state. Drink 2022-2038- 94

2019 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Red Wine- This is another wine that was made for the second vintage, as this blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Wonderfully herbal from the 25% Petit Verdot, this delivers intense blackberry and black cherry flavors with pipe tobacco, anise and cocoa powder with green bell pepper accents. Drink 2022-2039- 94

2019 Fidelitas ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Red Wine- Equal parts Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc (31% each) and equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (19% each), this offers garrigue and tar notes that combine wth red florals and black currants on the nose. The palate is refined and elegant, with good concentration and firm tannins that connect with the brilliant core of dark fruits, green herbs and chocolate fudge, with a salty edge. Drink 2022-2038- 94

2019 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Petit Verdot- Complex, inky and hedonistic, the 2019 ‘Estate’ Petit Verdot by Fidelias shows beautiful green herbal tones on the nose with pencil lead, black currant jelly and creme de violette. The palate is dense and tannic, as this is a hedonistic beast of a wine that really needs another year of barrel age. Beautifully textured, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2023-2039- 94

2019 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Outstanding now, the 2019 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful new Red Mountain red that is built to age. Once on the nose this takes on creme de cassis, Earl Grey tea, milk chocolate covered black cherry and scorched earth notes. The palate is well-balanced and broad-shouldered, with firm tannins that hold in place a rich core of dark fruits, creosote and herbal accents. Consider giving this one more year in the bottle before consuming. Drink 2023-2039- 93

2019 Fidelitas ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Also 100% varietal, Charlie Hoppes has made this wine since the 2012 vintage. Aged for 28 months in 70% new French oak, this delivers mocha, tar, anise and brisket notes on the nose. The palate is very deep and rich, yet elegant and has a beautiful tannic backbone. Complex and savory, with herbal undertones, this is delicious wine to consume now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2039- 94

2019 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 169- Tannic and massive, the 2019 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 169 comes from a southern slope in the Estate Vineyard which sees a lot of sunshine. The wine is highly fragrant with violet rose petals and Cuban cigar, coffee grounds and shades of pencil lead. Big and burly, with great finesse and structure, with salty undertones, this is highly nuanced Cabernet Sauvignon that needs another year or two in the bottle to fully come together. Drink 2024-2040- 94

2019 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 412- The 2019 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 412 comes from a new block in the 2015 ‘Estate’ planting. This saw extended barrel age of 28 months prior to bottling. Black florals and black olive notes mingle well with mocha and shades of cassis on the nose. The palate is very refined and dense with chewy tannins that combine with ripe huckleberry and blackberry flavors, with copious minerals. This is beautiful, layered, Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink 2023-2040- 94

Rocky Pond

A winery that keeps trending upwards, Rocky Pond is one of the excellent producers in the Chelan region. They have now formed their own AVA, Rocky Reach, as their estate vineyards are planted on very stony soils, in close proximity to the river. One of the great moves they made was hiring former Quileceda Creek GM John Ware to their team. Ware was a large part of  Quilceda Creek becoming one of the prominent houses of the Pacific Northwest.

A few years back I had a great visit to their Double D Vineyard,  which is lined with massive rocks that were taken from their site. Rocky Pond owner David Dufenhorst has huge ambitions with this site and has hired Steve Levesque to serve as consulting winemaker. For years Levesque made world class Cabernet Sauvignon at HALL. Rocky Pond has recently hired the former assistant winemaker at HALL, Elizabeth Keyser. At HALL she made wines for their three brands (HALL, Walt, and Baca) and also formerly worked for Cliff Lede in Yountville, and A to Z Wineworks in Oregon. I am very excited to see Keyser’s deft touch on the wines moving forward.

The new Rocky Pond wines were good across the board. I really enjoyed the 2021 Rocky Pond ‘Tumbled Granite’ White Wine (OB, 91) which is fresh and nicely textured stuff that shows excellent flavor range. I really enjoyed the 2020 Rocky Pond ‘Statastone’ Red Wine (OB, 91) which is dense and rich, with a nice red fruit profile. Learn more about this winery at https://rockypondwinery.com Here are the new release wines by Rocky Pond. 

2021 Rocky Pond ‘Tumbled Granite’ White Wine- Mostly Viognier (71%) with the remainder Roussanne, this offers ripe peach with kiwi and green papaya on the palate. The soft texture really entices, as this is best consumed now and over the next five years. Drink 2022-2027- 91

2020 Rocky Pond ‘Tumbled Granite’ Red Wine- A blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) with the remainder Syrah and Merlot, this offers ripe dark currant flavors with tobacco leaf, blackberry compote and black cherries on the palate. Very ripe, enjoy now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2020 Rocky Pond ‘Stratastone’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Stratastone’ combines Grenache (46%) with smaller portions Mourvèdre and Syrah. Very juicy with a soft texture and nice purity of red fruits with smoky and stony undertones, this is excellent wine to consume now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2020 Rocky Pond ’11 Dams’ Red Wine-  Mostly Merlot (54%) this reveals ripe kirsch notes alongside cocoa powder and light underlying finesse on the palate. This is a touch out of balance. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2028- 89

2020 Rocky Pond ‘Double D Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 Rocky Pond ‘Double D Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off heady dark fruit with sweet pipe tobacco flavors on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2027- 90

DeLille Cellars 'Chaleur Blanc' White Wine

A Washington State icon, DeLille Cellars ‘Chaleur Blanc’ was the brainchild of former DeLille winemaker Chris Upchurch, who was inspired by the great white wines of Bordeaux. DeLille Cellars was the first winery in Washington to focus on creating Bordeaux style wine blends and makes arguably the best Bordeaux style white wine in North America with its ‘Chaleur Blanc.’ This white wine has become one of the Pacific Northwest’s most popular and is smattered across great wine lists from the Edgewater Hotel to El Gaucho steakhouse. DeLille sources from their estate, 20-acre vineyard in Red Mountain as well as premier vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley. I have been really impressed with this winery and what they have produced over the past ten years. Their tasting room at the former Red Hook brewery in Woodinville is a must visit if you love wine tasting.

Director of winemaking Jason Gorski has been at the helm now for more than ten years. Taking over for Chris Peterson, he has done a masterful job with the DeLIlle wine program. The new 2021 DeLille Cellars ‘Chaleur Blanc’ White Wine (OB, 94) is deep and concentrated with fantastic underlying finesse. Its s a gorgeous rendition that will surely cellar well for another eight plus years. Learn more about this fantastic winery at www.delillecellars.com Here are the great new release wines from DeLille.

2021  DeLille Cellars ‘Chaleur Blanc’ White Wine- The fabulous DeLille Cellars ‘Chaleur Blanc’ White Wine is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (67%) and Semillon (33%) sourced from a range of vineyards that span the Columbia Valley. Once on the nose this shows ripe papaya notes alongside mango, buttered brioche and suggestions of white grapefruit blossom. The palate is soft and beautifully textured, with a killer combination of weight and bright acidity. Right now the Semillon with its nutty and Don’t serve this too cool so you can take in the electric range of flavors and aromas. Gratifying in its bright youth, this beauty will easily go for another eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2020 DeLille Cellars ‘Maverick Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The Maverick Vineyard is owned and managed by Oregon wine legend Tony Rynders, as this Chardonnay comes from a single block set on marine sedimentary soils. Aged in 50% new French oak, this reveals flinty tones alongside Challah bread, Pink Lady apple and juicy white peach flavors. Very clean and fresh, this will no doubt pick up nutty and earthy tones as it lays in the cellar. Drink 2022-2030- 92

WALT

As my Microsoft Teams call began, HALL and WALT President Mike Reynolds offered his synopsis of the 2021 vintage.“The 2021 vintage had a lack of water and that was everywhere” he said. “From December to April we had very little rain in 2021 and as a general rule the vines struggled and the vigor of the properties was defined by how much water you had.” He continued “Across all varieties we saw smaller yields and smaller berries because of the limitations in water. But the converse of that I think that wine quality is great with color and very powerful.”

What I noticed during the tasting was a very serious level of concentration even in the non-single vineyard wines. These are wines that have remarkable stuffing and freshness across the board. For those less familiar with WALT, the brand focuses on producing world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from a range of sites across California and Oregon. The winery was named after Kathryn Hall’s parents, Bob and Dolores Walt who were originally vintners and were  a source of daily inspiration for her.  This unique winery project really showcases unique terroirs. I have loved these wines over the years and have always been especially fond of the wines made from from their estate vineyard, Bob’s Ranch, which is located in the Petaluma Wind Gap near Sebastapol. This site was purchased by the HALLs and has been producing some absolutely epic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that rivals anything out of Sonoma. The wines from this site are big, beautiful and full of bright acidity.

The new wines were sensational across the board. I absolutely loved their new 2020 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is big and bold, with great underlying freshness. I adored the 2020 WALT ‘Clos Pepe’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which shows terrific salty and stony character from this site near the Pacific Ocean. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.waltwines.com Here are the beautiful new wines by WALT.

2021 WALT ‘Blue Jay’ Pinot Noir- WALT has 80 acres in the Anderson Valley that they source from. Once on the nose this takes on wet gravel and Bing cherry notes alongside shades of cinnamon and cloves. Very approachable on the mouth, this delivers a seamless texture and is loaded with bright red and dark fruits with loamy soils. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2021 WALT ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir- Mainly sourced from the Clos Pepe Vineyard, the 2021 WALT ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir reveals salty red fruits with orange rind and baking spices on the nose. The palate is lithe and fresh with a great sense of underlying salinity. Plush and round with refined tannins, this is gratifying Pinot Noir to enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2021 WALT ‘Sierra Mar’ Pinot Noir- This Santa Lucia Highlands site, the ‘Sierra Mar Vineyard’ was planted back in 2007 which is south along this appellation and is a hillside location set at a high elevation. Wild red berries with garrigue and pomegranate seed with stony undertones all mark the nose.Very seamless on the mouth, this shows beautiful length and underlying tension. With plenty of mouth-watering acidity, this beauty is fantastic to savor now and over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2021 WALT ‘Clos Pepe Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Steven and Kathy Pepe were pioneers in this region back in the 1980s. WALT has a long-term lease on this 25 acre property which is now 25 years in age. The nose is highly perfumed with red rose petal alongside kumquat rind, cigar box and beautifully pure red fruits. The palate is very salty and savory with red currants, tobacco leaf, wet and diatomaceous earth. Deep and concentrated, this is fantastic now and will bring drinking pleasure over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 94

2021 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Pinot Noir- The stunning 2021 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Pinot Noir is a masterclass by this winemaking team. This Sonoma Coast AVA property has a wide range of Pinot Noir selections and is in close proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Stored in roughly 30% new French oak, this shows off dense blackberry and black cherry notes on the nose with shades of cola. Very seamless on the mouth, this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. The salty and savory aspects, as well as the length, all add to the enjoyment. Drink 2022-2038- 95

BACA Wines

A relatively new project by HALL, BACA Wines focuses on high quality Zinfandel wines, with a good value white wine and the best canned Rose you will find. BACA sources from some of California’s most esteemed Zinfandel sites including some locations planted in the 1920s. The range of Zinfandel is really fun to taste, as the lineup reveals serious range from more restrained, acid-driven styles to rich and jammier renditions. All of the wines are splendid and beautifully showcase the terroir and climate that they are sourced from.

Do not miss on the killer value 2021 BACA ‘Stargazing’ White Wine (OB, 91) which is fresh and beautifully textured. The best wine I tasted was the delicious 2021 BACA ‘I Spy’ Zinfandel (OB, 94) which is concentrated with dense dark fruits but also shows lovely earthy undertones. Learn more about this great project at bacawines.com and here are my reviews of the new BACA wines.

2021 BACA ‘Stargazing’ White Wine- The outstanding 2021 BACA ‘Stargazing’ White Wine blends Marsanne and Rousanne from a late-ripening site located in Redwood Valley. Old vines here are set on an ancient seabed. Brioche and roasted almond combine with honeydew melon on the palate with a silky texture. Don’t serve too cold. Drink 2022-2027- 91

2021 BACA ‘Tug O’ War’ Zinfandel- Sourced from the Maffei Vineyard, this comes from the Russian River in Sonoma County. One of the plantings dates all the way back to 1929. This is a cooler site for Zinfandel, as this opens with red currants and dill notes alongside ripe red raspberry and potpourri on the nose. The palate is very fresh and polished with silky tannins. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2021 BACA ‘Cat’s Cradle’ Zinfandel- This comes form the Rockpile appellation which is northwest of Healdberg. Set near Lake Sonoma, in this rocky site, this reveals a wonderful aromatic intensity with deep dark fruit with dark florals alongside smoldering stones. Super-concentrated dark berries combine with light salinity and a beautiful astringency on the palate. Full-bodied, this is beautiful wine to consume now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2034- 94

2021 BACA ‘I Spy’ Zinfandel- The 2021 BACA ‘I Spy’ Zinfandel comes from the Black Sears Vineyard  which is located in Howell Mountain. This old vine site is located 1900 feet above Napa Valley. This shows beautiful red rose petals with wet stone, tobacco leaf and heady red fruits on the nose. The viscosity is terrific with concentrated wild blackberry and black cherry flavors that mingle well with loamy soils and suggestions of baking spices on the palate. Drink 2022-2034- 94

2021 BACA ‘Home Base’ Zinfandel- The outstanding 2021 BACA ‘Home Base Zinfandel comes from this Dry Creek site, set on diverse soil types. Once on the nose this shows pretty red cherry candy with cigar box, exotic spices, blackberry jam and orange rind notes. The palate shows good power and underlying freshness, jam packed full of red and dark fruits, with silty soils. Drink 2022-2032- 92

Raptor Ridge

One of the outstanding longtime producers in the Willamette Valley, Raptor Ridge got its start back in 1995 and almost immediately gained national acclaim for their Pinot Noirs. Founder and former winemaker, Scott Shull, first started making terroir driven wines in 1995. Originally from Missouri, Scott is a self-taught winemaker, having learned by doing, reading, and attending extension service courses on viticulture and enology offered by U.C. Davis and Oregon State University.

Shannon Gustafson has been winemaker now for many years. The wines she makes are consistently great, aiming for freshness and texture. I adored the new 2021 Raptor Ridge ‘Barrel Fermented’ Rose (OB, 91) which is rich and delicious — and would be a perfect foil for turkey at the Thanksgiving table. The best wine I tasted was the sensational 2019 Raptor Ridge

‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is rich and layered with a beautiful core of red fruits with lighter earthy tones. Learn more about this outstanding Oregon winery at http://www.raptorridgewinery.com Here are the beautiful new releases by Raptor Ridge. 

2017 Raptor Ridge ‘Estate Cuvee’ Sparkling Wine- An electric new bottle of 100% Pinot Noir sparkling wine, the 2017 ‘Estate Cuvee’ is nuanced and refined — not made for the novice wine drinker. Bright salmonberry and red raspberry notes combine with copious minerals and wet stone on the palate. Very salty and refreshing, enjoy this already nicely evolved beauty with fresh oysters. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2021 Raptor Ridge ‘Vineyard Select’ Pinot Gris- The 2021 ‘Vineyard Select’ Pinot Gris comes from the Dion, Zenith and Logsdon Ridge Vineyards. Aged in stainless steel, this offers bright pear and starfruit tones on the nose, with shades of cardamom. The palate is fresh and nicely textured, showing both flavor density and finesse. Enjoy now while the brightness remains intact. Drink 2022-2025- 91

2021 Raptor Ridge ‘Tuscowallame Estate’ Gruner Veltliner- One of the rare sites in the Willamette Valley for Gruner Veltliner, this 18 acre site is planted on Laurelwood soils. The wine shows a beautiful veil of tension, with sour Gravenstein apple, kiwi and green papaya notes, with copious minerals. Enjoy now! Drink 2022-2026- 91

2021 Raptor Ridge ‘Barrel Fermented’ Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, the seriously good 2021 Raptor Ridge ‘Barrel Fermented’ Rose sat for four months in neutral barrels before bottling. The wine is downright delicious with soft red fruits that combine with citrus rind, wet stone and shades of cremini mushroom. Enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2022-2026- 91

2019 Raptor Ridge ‘Estate Whole Cluster’ Pinot Noir- A delicious wine by Shannon Gustafson, the 2019 ‘Estate Whole Cluster’ Pinot Noir comes from the 18 acre Tuscowallame Estate Vineyard. The nose is very fragrant with potpourri notes alongside white pepper and tangy red fruits, with kumquat accents. Very fresh and nicely textured on the mouth, this finishes long with ripe red fruits and creamy accents. Already nicely evolved, enjoy this medium-bodied effort over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Raptor Ridge ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The famed Temperance Hill Vineyard is located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA and was first planted back in 1999. This bottling shows beautiful aromatic range from salted soils to wild mushroom and Bing cherry notes. The palate is very well-structured, showing gobs of mouth-watering acidity and a smooth mouthfeel upon entry. Loaded with bright red fruits, this beauty has only started getting going — so give it at least an hour in the decanter if consuming now. Drink 2022-2036- 93

Elentone

We are living in the golden age of Pacific Northwest Sparkling Wines. One winery that is limited production out of Washington — and only focusing on Sparkling Wines — Elentone is the brainchild of winemaker Chris Sherry. Sherry is originally from Brighton in England, actually not far from England’s premier sparkling wine country. Wines are made in the traditional Champagne method and are given a limited dosage (2G/L in both wines I tasted). You might not know that England and Champagne originally partnered to make sparkling wines and while Dom Perignon is often credited as inventing sparkling wine in 1697, the first documentation of the Traditional Method —where the winemaker deliberately adds sugar to create the bubbles in sparkling wine — was by the English physician Christopher Merrett in 1662.

I loved the new wines by Elentone. Don’t miss out on the gorgeous 2018 Elentone ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 92) which is fresh and electric with a silky mousse and serious stuffing. Learn more about these beautiful wines at elentone.com and here are the outstanding new wines by Elentone.

2019 Elentone ‘Juno’ Rose Sparkling Wine- This is 100% Pinot Noir fruit from the Lake Chelan AVA. This was given 2G/L dosage and was aged for 20 months on the lees and then was disgorged in March 2022. Very delicate red cherry and pomegranate seed tones combine with shades of citrus rind on the nose. The soft mousse adds to the enjoyment, as bright red fruits combine with wild mushroom and suggestions of lime zest. This is very geeky, highly nuanced wine that will drink well over the next seven plus years. Drink 2022-2029- 91

2018 Elentone ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- Mainly Chardonnay (82%) from the Clos Cheval Vineyard, this was given 2G/L dosage and spent three years en tirage prior to disgorgement in August 2022. Very yeasty on the nose with baking spices and suggestions of white peach, Pazzaz apple and suggestions of toasted challah bread that all mingle on the nose. The palate is rich and very fresh with great underlying acidity. This is seriously good stuff that has gratifying weight and tension, with salty undertones. Drink 2022-2032- 92

Appassionata Estate

One of the truly thrilling new winery projects out of Oregon, Appassionata Estate is the dream of Ernie Loosen to age Oregon wines properly and then release them later than other estates. This winery project has involved two decades of planning and investment that began in 2005 with a limited bottling of Appassionata Pinot Noir, a collaboration with J. Christopher Wines. The full Appassionata range of wines now includes three Pinot Noirs of varying age, a barrel-fermented Chardonnay, a Sauvignon Blanc produced in acacia barrels, and a dry Riesling made in the German Grosses Gewächs (GG) style.

Timothy Malone serves as winemaker on this project. Malone was formerly an assistant winemaker from 2008 to 2015 at J. Christopher, and returned as head winemaker in 2020. The wines are seriously good across the board. I don’t think you will find a better Oregon Sauvignon Blanc than the 2021 Appasssionata ‘Uber’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB,93). This is big, deep and layered, showing great underlying freshness. I was blown away with the 2012 Appassionata ‘Fortissimo’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is very concentrated and shows gorgeous layers of red fruits with an opulent mouthfeel. This one will surely satisfy any lover of Oregon Pinot Noir. Learn more about these great wines at jcristopherwines.com and here are my reviews of the new Appassionata wines.

2021 Appasssionata ‘Uber’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2021 Appasssionata ‘Uber’ Sauvignon Blanc  was stored in large acacia barrels before bottling. The palate is deep and beautifully textured, showing almost an oily mouthfeel. Lemon rind and pink grapefruit zest combine with shades of sourdough bread and stony minerals on the palate. Refined, novel, sleek and elegant, this will pair with a dizzying array of foods — and is utterly delicious to savor on its on in its bright, vibrant youth. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 Appasssionata ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The elegant 2019 Appasssionata ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay was barrel fermented in large oak casks and comes from a range of sites throughout this region. Rich and intense, with a seamless texture, this offers toasty oak with vanilla cream, roasted pineapple and suggestions of buttered brioche on the palate. Very Oregon meets Sonoma, this is delicious Chardonnay to savor now and over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2017 Appasssionata ‘GG’ Riesling- The gorgeous 2017 Appasssionata ‘GG’ Riesling is a dry-style wine which was stored in 3,000 liter German oak casks and then stored 3-5 years in the bottle prior to release. Lemon oil and kumquat zest combine with wet stones and suggestions of allspice dusted Japanese pear all combine on the palate. The unctuous mouthfeel and beautiful length really make this shine. As Ernie Loosen says — Riesling can age! Enjoy this beauty over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2019 Appasssionata ‘Allegro’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Allegro’ Pinot Noir comes was stored for eighteen months in oak barrels and released three years after the vintage. It is beautifully textured with a great combination of weight and finesse. Bright strawberry and bing cherry flavors combine with blood orange zest and cinnamon sticks on the palate. This is delightful Pinot Noir to enjoy now and over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2022-2034- 93

2017 Appassionata ‘Andante’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Andante’ is the second movement in the Apppassionata collection of Pinot Noirs. Released five years after the vintage, this cooler vintage Pinot Noir reveals white truffle with fresh sage, red currants and salted salmonberry notes on the nose. The palate is smooth and refined, with a soft mouthfeel. Layers of bright red fruits parade with stony minerals and kumquat zest accents on the palate. A seriously good wine, enjoy now and over the next twelve years. Drink 2022-2034- 94

2012 Appassionata ‘Fortissimo’ Pinot Noir- As the name suggests, this is the most full-throttle approached Pinot Noir of this collection. Coming from the outstanding 2012 vintage, the ‘Fortissimo’ is silky and elegant with generous Linzer torte, tangerine zest and suggestions of forest floor, with light salty accents. This shows not only the potential of cellaring great Oregon Pinot Noir but beautifully showcases this stunning vintage in the Willamette Valley. Drink 2022-2035- 95

The Granite Post

One of the really cool new wineries in Galacia, The Granite Post was founded by two individuals with really cool backgrounds in wine. Both founders have 35 years experience in the wine trade; Kim in senior financial management of large Northern Californian Wineries (Beringer, Clos du Bois & Sterling/Seagram Classics); Robert in UK retail (Oddbins & Bibendum), then winery work in CA (Saintsbury, Murphy Goode& Peter Michael Winery) and Burgundy (Meo-Camuzet, Clos des Epeneaux & Roulot in Meursault).

The Granite Post combines Rias Baixas’ vineyards and expressive grape varieties and the expertise and imagination of an Anglo-American couple with many years’ experiences of making wine in California, Burgundy and the Languedoc before moving to Galicia. They make two wines; an Albariño and a rosé.

I loved the new Granite Post wines and don’t miss on the highly nuanced 2017 The Granite Post Rosado (OB, 92) which is nuanced and highly complex Rose that will cellar well for another five plus years. Learn more about this fantastic boutique winery at https://granitepost.es and here are my reviews of the new wines by The Granite Post.

2017 The Granite Post Rosado- Very unique and novel, the 2017 The Granite Post Rosado is a wonderfully salty and terroir-driven blend of Caiño, Espadiero, and Mencia grapes. Salted peach, wet stone and green apple notes, with delicate red raspberry and red rose water tones all combine on the palate. The smooth texture and bright acidity add to the enjoyment as this outstanding Rosado will be best enjoyed now and over the next five years. Drink 2022-2027- 92

2021 The Granite Post Albarino- The brilliant 2017 The Granite Post Albarino spent considerable time in French oak barrels on the lees before bottling. Gooseberry and saline drenched pear combine with sourdough bread and Marcona almond on the nose. The palate is very seamless and polished, with great underlying finesse. The soft texture entices, as rich and salty melon and citrus fruit flavors combine with excellent length. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2028- 93

Bodega Catena

Bodega Catena

One of the great stories in Argentinian wine, Catena was first founded in the 19th century by Nicola Catena who journeyed  from Italy to Argentina in 1898. Remarkably he is known for planting his first Malbec vineyard back in 1902. Malbec had previously been a blending grape in Bordeaux and Nicola and he saw its potential in high-elevation Mendoza.

Nicola’s grandson, Nicolas, took over the winery in the 1960s but was faced with inflation and political turmoil in Argentina, so he took a job as a visiting economics professor at UC Berkeley. He then came back to Argentina and wanted to focus on the winery, deciding to plant Chardonnay and Malbec at a 5,000 feet elevation. This was an unusual vineyard practice at the time but the risk paid off. Soon Nicolas was crafting incredible wines from these vines that became blind tasted ahead of epic wine projects like Chateau Latour and Opus One. 

In 2001 Nicolas' daughter Dr. Laura Catena took over the Research & Development program at Bodega Catena Zapata. An Emergency Room physician, with degrees from Harvard and Stanford, Dr. Laura Catena brought a very strong science background to the family winery's R&D project. She immediately set about working with the high altitude Malbec that her father had planted and has achieved incredible success at the winery since taking over. Dr. Catena is a wonderful person with an incredible mind. She has done wonders for her brand. The wines from Catena have been remarkably consistent since I first started tasting these back in 2003.

The new wines by Catena are incredible across the board. Look to their value driven 2019 Bodega Catena Zapata ‘Alta’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which shows great flavor density and polish, with a silky texture. I was blown away with the 2018 Bodega Catena Zapata ’White Bones’ Chardonnay (OB, 96). This was an absolutely epic Chardonnay that shows insanely good terroir with its salty and stony tones. Learn more about these wonderful wines at http://www.catenawines.com Here are the gorgeous new releases from Catena

2020 Catena Chardonnay- The 2020 Catena Chardonnay shows off plenty of underlying minerality, with brioche, green papaya and vanilla cream notes on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy this well-balanced effort now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2022-2027- 90

2019 Catena ‘Alta’ Chardonnay- A fabulous wine for the price, the 2019 Catena ‘Alta’ Chardonnay comes from nearly all (80%) the Adrianna Vineyards which is set at 5,000 feet elevation in the Andean foothills, and set on calcareous soils. Stored for 14 months in French oak, this opens with aromas of toasted French bread, salted macadamia nut and suggestions of praline. Finishing very long, this is refined Chardonnay that will refined palates that span the globe. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2018 Catena ‘White Stones Adrianna Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The complex and highly nuanced 2018 Catena ‘White Stones Adrianna Vineyard’ Chardonnay comes from a select 27 rows within Block 1 of the Adrianna Vineyard which is set on small, oval white stones. Very flinty and salty once on the mouth, the sense of flavor density, viscosity and length really gratifies here. Flavors of salted wet rock, Japanese pear, and lemon rind dusted brioche all parade on the palate. With more air this Chardonnay becomes more and more Chablisesque and novel. Do not serve on the cold side to ensure enjoyment of the expansive range of flavors and aromatics. Drink 2022-2035- 96

2018 Catena ‘White Bones Adrianna Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2018 Catena ‘White Bones Adrianna Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a stunning effort by winemaker Alexander Vigil. The ‘White Bones’ is sourced from select rows in Block 1 of the Adrianna Vineyard, with its rows having calcareous deposits and limestone as well as fossilized animal bones. Once on the nose this takes on layers of diatomaceous earth, lemon meringue, white pepper and shades of cardamom dusted pastry. The finesse is really outstanding here, as is the flavor intensity with its diatomaceous tones and lemon oil notes.  Only 12.6% alcohol. Drink 2022-2035- 96

2019 Catena Malbec- Rich and concentrated, showing serious value, the 2019 Catena Malbec  delivers violets and black tea aromas with shades of espresso grounds. The palate is soft and beautifully textured, with good weight and a long, black fruit and mineral-driven finish. Drink 2022-2029- 91

2018 Catena ‘Alta’ Malbec- The really good 2018 Catena ‘Alta’ Malbec is a gorgeous, generous effort by winemaker Alexander Vigil. Sourced from from Lot 18 of the Angélica vineyard, Lot 4 of the La Pirámide vineyard, Lot 1 of the Nicasia vineyard, Lot 6 of the Angélica Sur vineyard and Lot 9 of the Adrianna vineyard, this shows off black rose petals with anise, creme de violette and suggestions of Turkish coffee on the nose. The palate shows a light dusting of white pepper alongside a great core of black and blue fruits, with underlying tension. This is just starting to get going and will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2022-2036- 93

2017 Catena ‘River Stones Adrianna Vineyard’ Malbec- Inky, dark and brooding, the highly concentrated 2017 Catena ‘River Stones Adrianna Vineyard’ Malbec is sourced from a highly stony site in the Adrianna Vineyard that was once an ancient riverbed. The palate is dense and hedonistic with its espresso grounds, black pepper and smoked meat notes alongside blueberry compote. This is rich yet highly refined, beautifully textured Malbec that will surely live on for another two decades. Drink 2022-2042- 97

2017 Catena ‘Mundis Bacillus Terrae Adrianna Vineyard’ Malbec- Coming from this high elevation site, the 2017 Catena ‘Mundis Bacillus Terrae Adrianna Vineyard’ Malbec comes from vines that are set in limestone layers are well-drained and particularly rich in rhizobacteria. The wine was stored for 18 months in French oak prior to bottling and displays a dizzying array of flavors, from blackberry pie and Arabica bean to dark chocolate shavings and scorched earth notes — with hints of wet gravel and blueberry cordial. Complex and delicious to consume now, this will live on for another fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2040- 96

2017 Catena ‘Fortuna Terrae Adrianna Vineyard’ Malbec- The 2017 ‘Fortuna Terrae’ Malbec comes from vines set in the Adrianna Vineyard which is set on deep loamy soils and is home to many varieties of native grasses. There are light herbal tones on the nose that combine with violets, blackberry cordial and mocha tones. The palate is rich and complex, with great concentration and underlying finesse. Finishing long with boysenberry fruits, black currents and creosote notes, this is rich and highly-structured Malbec that will satisfy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2038- 96

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