Prospice Wines

Don’t sleep on this relatively new spot in the Airport District of Walla Walla. A winery that seems to just get better and better, Prospice Wines was founded several years back by Jay Krutulis and Matt Reilly. They both have quite diverse backgrounds. Jay studied Biology in college and Neuroscience in graduate school before embarking on nearly 20 years of studying and practicing corporate law. Jay's entry into law was inspired by visits to Woodinville area while working for Amazon. He is a graduate of the Walla Walla Community College Enology & Viticulture Program at Walla Walla Community College and has served as cellarmaster for Tranche. Matt lived in Spokane and worked harvests for Barrister Winery, and after a cross country stint moved back to eastern Washington where he also graduated from the WWCC Enology and Viticulure program. Matt has worked at Mark Ryan Winery and has served as cellarmaster at Gramercy Cellars. The winery sources from some exciting vineyards including Les Collines, Resurgent and Gamache Vineyards. I think that these wines continue to improve in terms of structure, weight and flavor complexity.

A downright killer value is the new 2020 Prospice Wines ‘GSM’ Red Wine (OB, 92) which is showing great range and structure and over-delivers for the price. I adored the new 2020 Prospice Wines ‘Resurgent Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 93) which has a lovely flinty character and offers great finesse and a pretty core of red fruits Learn more about this exciting new winery at https://prospice.wine Here are they great new wines by Prospice Wines. 

2020 Prospice Wines ‘GSM’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘GSM’ reveals plenty of Christmas spice with bright red fruits, copious minerals and orange zest flavors. The stony accents add to the enjoyment as this killer value is best consumed now and over the next six years. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2020 Prospice Wines ‘Resurgent Vineyard’ Syrah- Sourced from this site set on ancient cobblestones, the ‘Resurgent Vineyard’ Syrah offers black olive tapenade, smoked meats and coffee grounds on the nose, with bright red fruits. The palate is very fresh and nuanced, with good balance and finesse that combine with the ripe red and dark fruit flavors. Drink 2022-2028- 93

2020 Prospice Wines ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah- A superb new Syrah, the 2020 Prospice Wines ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah offers garrigue notes alongside huckleberry, black cherry and cigar box notes, with stony undertones. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 Prospice Wines Merlot- The 2019 Prospice Wines Merlot shows off a very pretty nose with milk chocolate covered cherry, loamy soils and suggestions of thyme. The palate is fresh and concentrated, with a brilliant purity of red fruits. This is sure to satisfy any lover of Washington Merlot with its density and finesse. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2019 Prospice Wines ‘Phinny Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Coming from this site in the Horse Heaven Hills, this offers high-toned red rose petals with red bell pepper, sandalwood and suggestions of boysenberry. The palate is soft and lovely once on the mouth, as silky tannins restrain a core of red and dark fruits. Refined, elegant and seriously good, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 94

2019 Prospice Wines ‘BDX’ Red Wine- Mostly Merlot (50%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (35%), this shows off forward and juicy black fruit flavors (blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry) with suggestions of baking spices, and pencil lead on the palate. Drink this great value now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2019 Prospice Wines ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2019 ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon unveils dried herbs, blackberry compote, anise and suggestions of black tea on the nose. The palate is plush and highly nuanced, with herbal and earthy tones that all add to the brilliant core of dark fruits. Finishing long, this is outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon that is already beautifully evolved — and willl continue to shine on for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2019 Prospice Wines ‘Phinny Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2019 Prospice Wines ‘Phinny Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a terrific effort from this slightly cooler vintage in the Horse Heaven Hills. On the nose this shows off loganberry tones alongside garrigue and loamy soil tones. The palate is very fresh and finesse-driven, with copious minerals and bright red fruit flavors. Drink 2022-2037- 93

2018 Prospice Wines ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The finest wine of the new lineup, the 2018 Prospice Wines ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is truly singing and shows off this warm site on Red Mountain. The gorgeous bouquets of black currant jelly, scorched earth, graphite and tar all bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. Texturally this is very gratifying with a fantastic underlying finesse and fine-grained tannins. This is seamless, elegant wine that is already nicely evolved and will live on for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 94

Mirror Napa Valley

Former Seattle Seahawk quarterback Rick Mirer was always drawn to Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Mirer is easily one of the most illustrious high school quarterbacks in Indiana state history, and was awarded the Academy of Achievement Award as the top high school football player in the country in 1989, as well as the Atlanta Touchdown Club's Bobby Dodd Award as the nation's best high school quarterback. At Notre Dame, Mirer was just as good, winning three bowl games and accounting for more points running and throwing (350) than any other player in Notre Dame history. 

He came to the NFL joining a very poor Seattle Seahawks team. Yet Mirer finished his rookie season 5th in the AFC with 274 completions and 2833 yards and was AFC Rookie of the Year by United Press International. Mirer’s remaining seasons were not as successful in Seattle, being set behind an abysmal offensive line. Having gone to those games in the 1980s, all of us in the stands knew that Mirer was really not given a fair chance with such poor protection. Eventually traded to the Chicago Bears in 1997, Mirer continued to play as a backup quarterback until 2004. 

Intimate friends with Drew Bledsoe, and drafted right behind him in 1993, Mirer admits that his friendship with Bledsoe helped lead him to start Mirror Napa Valley. Bledsoe and Mirer even took off-season­ vacation with their wives to Napa Valley. During the off-season they would also try to stump each other with wines from Port or Brunello di Montalcino. It made sense that both quarterbacks would start their wineries post-football. 

While playing for the Raiders and 49ers Rick became even more passionate for wine, being so close to Napa Valley. Finally in 2008 Rick started Mirror Napa Valley, utilizing the winemaking talents of Kirk Venge, formerly of Mumm Napa Valley. Kirk serves as winemaker for several great Napa wineries including B Cellars, Bacio Divino Cellars, Beau Vigne, Entrepreneur Wines, and Hunnicutt Wines. These wines continue to improve. I was floored by the new 2020 Mirror ‘Petaluma Gap’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which has amazing underlying freshness and a smooth texture. Wait for the incredible finish! Even better is the sinfully good 2019 Mirror Cabernet ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is the finest wine I have tasted from this house. This edition is very concentrated and framed with refined tannins and wonderfully bright acidity.  For more about Rick Mirer’s great winery go to https://www.mirrorwine.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Mirror Napa Valley.

2020 Mirror ‘Petaluma Gap, Sonoma County’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the Calesa Vineyard, this seriously good 2020 Chardonnay offers a smooth texture with ripe apricot, honeydew melon, lemon zest dusted brioche and copious baking spices on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, with no rough edges, this is refined and very concentrated Chardonnay that is best served on the warmer side. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 Mirror ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from this famed high-elevation site, the 2019 ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored in 70% new French oak barrels for 29 months prior to bottling. A whiff of volcanic soils follows anise, creme de violette and Turkish coffee notes that all impress on the nose. The palate is dark, inky and simply sumptuous in terms of weightlessness and overall texture. Concentrated black and blue fruits parade with coffee ground dusted bitter chocolate and loamy soils on the palate. A mind-bending effort, this will easily live on for two decades. Drink 2022-2040- 95

2019 Mirror ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon-The outstanding 2019 Mirror ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored for 29 months in 70% new French oak before bottling. Aromatically very expressive, this offers sweet black plum with exotic spices alongside creme de cassis notes on the nose. The palate is fresh and shows a bright underlying acidity alongside concentred black and blue fruits, with freshly tilled soils and allspice notes. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 93

Ladera

For years I have admired the wines by Ladera who have been guided for the past two decades by the Stotesbery family. Ladera focus on mountain fruit for the Cabernet Sauvignon wines as well as their Russian River Valley Pillow Road Estate Vineyard for the excellent Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Having decades of experience as ranchers, Pat and Anne Stotesbery acquired their first Napa Valley mountain vineyard in 1996. A few years later in 1999 they founded Ladera, which means “hillside” in Spanish and Italian, and made their debut vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon.

The new wines were beautiful across the board. I was blown away with the new 2018 Ladera ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 93) which is deep and intense, with incredible concentration and beautiful underlying freshness. This could easily be a 20 year wine. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://laderavineyards.com/ and here are my reviews of the brilliant new wines by Ladera.

2020 Ladera ‘Pillow Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The Pillow Road Vineyard is located in the Russian River Valley just southwest of the town of Sebastopol. The wine comes off very fresh and fragrant with no rough edges. Ripe pineapple and mango combine with butterscotch notes and flinty undertones on the palate. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2020 Ladera ‘Pillow Road Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Given 20% whole cluster fermentation, the 2020 Ladera ‘Pillow Road Vineyard’ Pinot Noir delivers beautiful black tea and potpourri aromas that combine with silty soils on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with light tannins that frame a core of red and dark fruits. Drink 2022-2027- 90

2018 Ladera ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from sites on Howell Mountain as well as Atlas Peak, Pritchard Hill and Calistoga, the 2018 ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored for 22 months in 81% new French oak before bottling. Black licorice, iodine and pencil lead notes combine with rich huckleberry tones on the palate. Delicious and beaming with bright acidity, savor this beauty now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2038- 93

Ramey Wine Cellars

Last Friday I enjoyed an hour with wine legend, David Ramey. It has been a year since we had met and we spoke at length about his new Chardonnays. “2020 was a really good vintage and a lot of people don’t know that” he said. “We had near perfect weather before the smoke came” he explained.

I was there during the heat of the fires that year and I witnessed the devastation firsthand. Ramey said that he fortunately had few lots that were affected by the smoke that year. His Chardonnays were very clean and mineral-driven — they were beautiful wines with no smoke impact. Over the past few years he has been dialing back oak influence in his wines, using less and less new French oak. His Chardonnays show good stuffing but also a wonderful level of tension.

There is good reason why Ramey has been named one of the Chardonnay masters of the world. I adored the new 2020 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Fort Ross-Seaview’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is wonderfully salty and fresh, beautifully showcasing this site near the Pacific Ocean. One of the great Chardonnay wines that I have tasted in the past year, the 2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) is intense and flavorful with a silky mouthfeel and wonderful elegance. The finish just won’t quit!  Learn more at rameywinecellars.com and here are my reviews of the outstanding new wines by David Ramey.

2020 Ramey ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2020 Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay spent twelve months on the lees and barrel (10% new). Mostly sourced from the Westside Farms Vineyard (45%) as well as the Dutton and Frank Johnson Vineyards, right away this opens with brioche bread with shades of cardamom and allspice, alongside ripe cantaloupe. The palate is very fresh, with a sterling tension that runs through the brilliant core of melon and citrus fruits, with an electric and very lengthy finish. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2020 Ramey ‘Fort Ross-Seaview’ Chardonnay- Stored in only 15% new French oak, this shows salty and tangy, the 2020 Ramey ‘Fort Ross-Seaview’ Chardonnay comes from the Martinelli Charles Ranch Vineyard, which is set on the second ridge in from the Pacific Ocean. This offers salted pear and Challah bread notes with copious baking spices on the nose. The palate is filled with mouth-watering acidity and tension that brings you back to the glass for more salty and savory enjoyment. This is very difficult to put down. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2020 Ramey ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Dense on the palate, the Woolsey Road Vineyard’ comes form a site that is located immediately south from the Martinelli winery. The Chardonnay was planted by the Martinellis for David Ramey back in the mid-2000s. This Wente Clonal selection Chardonnay was stored in 24% new French oak for 20 months before bottling. Big on the mouth, this offers ripe banana and suggestions of papaya flavors, with strong flinty underpinnings. Finishing exceedingly long, enjoy this beauty now and over the next decade. Drink 2022-2034- 95

2020 Ramey ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Talk about a world-class Chardonnay, the 2020 Ramey ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a mouth-watering, intense and satisfying journey from the beginning to the end. Old Wente and Calera clonal selections, this runs the gamut of flavors — from tropical and melon fruits, to suggestions of salted Macadamia nut and wet stone — all leading to the exceedingly long, and very gratifying finish. Don’t serve this too cool! Drink 2022-2036- 96

2020 Ramey ‘Westside Farms’ Chardonnay- Also very dense, the 2020 Ramey ‘Westside Farms’ Chardonnay (Clone 4) was stored for 18 months in concrete eggs before bottling. Immediately gratifying this offers cardamom dusted banana bread and salty soil flavors alongside suggestions of roasted pineapple, with nutty accents on the palate. Very smooth throughout the drinking experience, the seamless texture impresses. Full-bodied, with plenty of finesse, enjoy now and over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2022-2036- 95

2018 Ramey ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- This is now the fifth vintage of this stunning  ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir offers beautiful balance from this warm vintage. Stored in roughly 50% new French oak for 18 months, on the mouth the soft mouthfeel immediately entices. Layers of cran-cola, cedar, wintergreen and tart strawberry with morel mushroom all combine with copious minerals on the palate. Very layered, the exceptionally long finish adds to the enjoyment. Drink 2022-2036- 94

2017 Ramey ‘Cooley Ranch’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 Ramey ‘Cooley Ranch’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a cooler site that is located in the northern corner of Sonoma County. This ranch encompasses thousands of acres and is very remote. This is quite simply a stunning new wine by David Ramey. On the nose this takes on red bell pepper with blackberry compote and underbrush notes alongside shades of pencil lead. The combination of concentration, mouthfeel and finesse is outstanding. Very well balanced, with tar, mocha, anise and shades of loamy soils. The stony element of the wine really impresses. Give this at least an hour in the decanter before enjoying. Drink 2022-2038- 95

2018 Ramey ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Franc- This 2018 Cabernet Franc comes from a stony, tighly-spaced vineyard which is near Rudd Winery. Given 100% new French oak for 22 months this offers incredible black and blue fruits with suggestions of Turkish coffee on the nose. The palate is massive and round, with a seamless mouthfeel. Finishing very long, give this at least another year in the bottle for this to fully come together. There is incredible potential here. Drink 2023-2042- 95

The Devil Is A Liar

One of the unique wine brands in Washington State, The Devil Is A Liar (TDIAL) was created by winemaker Seth Kitzke to be an ultra-premium label that focuses on wines made from WeatherEye Vineyard fruit. Seth has made quite a name for himself with his beautiful and also very well-priced wines under his label UpsideDown Wine, which is wife Audrey helps run as well. TDIAL wines are geared to display intensity and flamboyance — they are not for the weary. I think that they beautifully showcase this site, which is set high on the northern slope of Red Mountain.

A new wine that is sensational new, the 2019 The Devil is A Liar ‘Shooting In The Gym’ Grenache (OB, 94) is very brooding in the glass as it displays very pretty red fruits with lots of earthy nuance. Even better is the 2019 ‘The Devil Is A Liar’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is a super unique field blend and has downright killer aromatics and sensational mouthfeel and tension. This beauty belongs in the cellar of any serious collector of Washington Wine. Learn more at http://thedevilisaliarwine.com and here are my reviews of the new TDIAL wines.

2019 The Devil is A Liar ‘Shooting In The Gym’ Grenache- Sourced from mostly block 15 in the WeatherEye Vineyard, this had 70% whole cluster fermentation before being stored in neutral oak (second use) before bottling. Very pure and pretty on the nose with guava puree, red currants, yarrow and shades of blood orange zest all combine on the nose. The palate is very refined and soft with silky tannins that line a core of beautiful red fruits with Mandarin orange zest and red rose water accents. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2019 The Devil Is A LIar ‘The Devil Is A Liar’ Red Wine- A field blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Viognier, this shows off beautiful white florals from the Grenache with worn leather, red cherry, cigar ash, green peppercorns and smoked meats on the nose. The palate is soft and seamless, with great viscosity and verve, alongside a serious underlying mouth-watering acidity. This is complex, novel and delicious, one of a kind, wine. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 95

Epoch

It has now been many years since I first tasted the wines made by the talented Jordan Fiorentini. Fiorentini has an Ivy League background and has now been at the Epoch helm for more than a decade. The wines she crafts show good depth and concentration but brilliant underlying finesse and terroir from the very stony and marine-soiled sites that she sources from. There is very good reason that Phillipe Melka began making a Syrah from the same site. Regardless of the vintage Fiorentini crafts wines that display power and poise — tell a story with a beginning, middle and an end.

I adored the new wines which come mostly from the 2018 vintage.  Do not sleep on the 2018 Epoch ‘Authenticity’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is powerful and deep, showing great cellaring potential. Learn more about these outstanding wines at epochwines.com. Here are the great new wines by Epoch.

2021 Epoch White Wine- A combination of mainly Grenache Blanc (47%) and Viognier (39%) with smaller parts Roussanne, the outstanding 2021 Epoch White Wine is another killer Rhone style blend by winemaker Jordan Fiorentini. On the nose this takes on honeysuckle and white peach notes that combine with flint  and suggestions of Pink Lady apple. The palate is soft and refined, with great length, as this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2022-2027- 92

2018 Epoch ‘Authenticity’ Red Wine- A sultry blend of 90% Syrah with the remainder Mourvèdre all sourced from the Paderewski Vineyard, this spent nineteen months in 77% new feench oak barrels before bottling. This comes off dense and has a weightless effect mid-palate. Ripe boysenberry preserves, cigar ash and scorched earth notes combine with bright acidity on the palate. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2018 Epoch ‘Block B’ Syrah- 100% varietal, this hails from the Paderewski Vineyard and sent nineteen months in 82% new French oak prior to bottling. Very inky in the glass, this shows off violets and black currant jelly alongside dark chocolate shavings on the nose. The more warmed up this get, the black florals both on the nose and mouth really begin to sing their high octane. Finishing long with rich dark fruits and copious minerals, this is exceptionally balanced, deeply concentrated Syrah that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2022-2038- 96

2018 Epoch Tempranillo- Exceedingly dark considering the varietal, the 2018 Epoch Tempranillo has a small portion of Graciano, Syrah and Grenache co-fermented in, as this comes from Paderewski Vineyard and was stored in French oak for 29 months before bottling. Forward and juicy, his possess a great mineral backbone and firm tannins that hold everything together nicely. Rich dark fruits parade with milk chocolate and smoked brisket notes on the palate. This might be the first Tempranillo made in California. Drink 2022-2035- 95

2019 Epoch ‘Veracity’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Veracity’ blends 44% Mourvèdre with 43% Grenache and the remainder Syrah. Sourced from the Catapult and Paderewski Vineyards, this shows off beautiful red rose petals with cigar box, baking spices and suggestions of red currant preserves on the nose. The palate is very fresh and polished with a silky mouthfeel and beautiful core of red and dark fruits that greet you. Give this an hour of air if enjoying now. Drink 2022-2036- 95

2019 Epoch ‘Sensibility’ Red Wine- The outstanding, 100% varietal 2019 Epoch ‘Sensibility’ shows everything you would like in a great Paso Robles Grenache. Red cherry candy, kumquat rind, red raspberry and red rose water flavors all combine with the stony and mineral-driven undertones on the palate. Enjoy this outstanding wine now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2034- 95

Cadence

For years I have admired the novel, age worthy Bordeaux style wines by Ben Smith (http://owenbargreen.com/benjamin-smith-cadence) Together with his wife Gaye McNutt now for over twenty years Cadence has been producing some great wines with good aging potential. Having recently tried some of these wines from the 1990s, it is incredible how they can cellar and retain their acidity. Their wines display rich dark fruits and a structure that affords decades of aging. These are wines that need a good deal of air upon release, and if enjoying in their youth a one to two hour decant is highly recommended. Ben and Gaye also both own their own vineyard in Red Mountain, the Cara Mia Vineyard, where most of their wines come from. I’ve enjoyed tasting these wines at the ten year mark where they seem to start collecting secondary characteristics.

I loved the new releases, from the somewhat challenging 2019 vintage that saw a major frost event in early October. Don’t miss out on the killer new 2020 Cadence ‘Coda’ Red Wine (OB, 92) which is a downright killer value and is jam-packed with dark fruits. I adored the 2019 Cadence ‘Bel Canto’ Red Wine (OB, 96) which might be the fLearn more about this great winery at cadencewinery.com  and here are my reviews of the the beautiful new wines by Cadence.

2020 Cadence ‘Coda’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Coda’ is a beautiful value red blend by Ben Smith. A blend of 50% Cabernet Franc with 45% Merlot and the remainder Petit Verdot all sourced from the Cara Mia Vineyard, this weighs in at 14.5% alcohol. Very clean and herbal on the nose with sagebrush and scorched earthy accents alongside ripe red cherry notes. The palate is soft and inviting with a silky texture and lovely depth and complexity. Let this outstanding value sit for 20 minutes in the decanter before serving. Drink 2022-20232- 92

2019 Cadence ‘Tapteil Vineyard’ Red Wine- The ‘Tapteil Vineyard’ is a site that will no longer be utilized by Cadence following the vineyard sale. Ben Smith has sourced from this site since 1998 and this is the final vintage of this storied Washington wine. For my palate this has to be one of the finest — if not the finest — renditions of this wine. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon with 28% Cabernet Franc and the remainder Merlot, this was stored in 40% new French oak prior to bottling. Black rose petals and toasty oak notes combine with tar, anise and shades of loganberry jelly. The palate is seamless and soft, showing an incredible elegance and the flavor density is outstanding considering the challenges of the vintage. Every moving part seems to fit just marvelously here, as the outstanding 2019 ‘Tapteil’ will cellar on for another two decades. Give this a one hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2022-2038- 95

2019 Cadence ‘Camerata’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Camerata’ blends 58% Cabernet Sauvignon with 25% Cabernet Franc and 17% Merlot all sourced from the Cara Mia Vineyard. Aged in 50% new French oak this offers Asian spices and blackberry compote on the nose with suggestions of freshly tilled volcanic soils and a light dusting of black pepper. The palate is silky smooth and refined, with light tannins that frame a gorgeous core of red and dark fruits. This is elegant Red Mountain that will sure to satisfy a wide range of critics and consumers alike. Be sure to give this at least one hour in the decanter before enjoying. Drink 2022-2038- 95

2019 Cadence ‘Bel Canto’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Bel Canto’ is a stunning new Right Bank-inspired red blend from Red Mountain. Utilizing 83% Cabernet Franc with the remainder Merlot, this was stored in 50% new French oak (Taransaud, Darnajou and Gamba barrels) before bottling. The pretty red florals immediately capitative as potpourri and freshly picked red raspberry aromas combine with suggestions of creosote, black currants and allspice. The palate is soft and very inviting upon approach, showing very silky tannins. A glorious range of red and dark fruits, with cocoa powder and suggestions of pencil lead. Very seamless, this is a stunning new wine that is truly one of the best of its kind in the state. Enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen to twenty years and give it an hour in the decanter if savoring in its vibrant youth. Drink 2022-2040- 96

In Memoriam: A Washington Wine Visionary, Allen Shoup

A sad day in the Washington Wine Industry today as we mourn the loss of Washington wine visionary, Allen Shoup. For years Allen served as CEO for Chateau Ste. Michelle, helping start iconic projects such as Col Solare and Eroica, before leaving to start his own winery, Long Shadows Vintners in 2002. Allen died in his home of natural causes on November 7, 2022 at the age of 79.

I have had the great pleasure to interview this incredible man a few years back. His wit and intelligence were second to none. Allen was kind, pragmatic and an incredible innovator in our industry. He will be greatly be missed. Cheers to you, Allen, and your incredible life accomplishments.

Benom

One of the vibrant wine projects in Paso Robles, Benom focuses on a range of red wines, as well as a killer white and rose, that show great poise and depth from this warm region. Benom Wines was founded by two Frenchmen, Arnaud and Guillaume Fabre. Benom is named after the phonetic translation of the French word binôme, which translates to "a project together." They are brothers, they are French, and for them making wine is a heritage. Guillaume, moved to California to pursue a career as a winemaker, and began making wine for one of the great brands of Paso Robles, L’Aventure. He then started Clos Selene which was met with serious critical acclaim.  it was his love of winemaking and farming without limit(s) that brought him to Paso Robles. Arnaud, on the other hand, moved to California to follow his beloved Chloe. 

Their wines are even named after each other, two brothers -‘Les Deux Freres,’ which is an intense blend made from Grenache, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Fabre family originates from both the Languedoc-Roussillon and Bordeaux regions in France, as the brothers have a longstanding family history in the wine industry. I was enamored by the new wines by Benom. Their new 2021 Benom ‘Contrast’ White Wine (OB, 93) is a stunning blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. This oozes texture and has a wonderful mineral backbone as I am not sure you will find anything quite like this in North America! Do not sleep on the sinfully good and very novel 2020 Benom ‘Les Deux Freres’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is dense, chewy, and very bold, showing earthy accents from the Tempranillo. Check out more about this outstanding winery project at https://www.benomwines.com and here are my reviews of the beautiful new wines by Benom.

2021 Benom ‘Contrast’ White Wine- A very unusual blend for the region of 76% Chardonnay with the remainder Sauvignon Blanc, the 2021 ‘Contrast’ comes from the Santa Maria, Edna Valley, Adelaida AVAs. Stored for six months in a small portion of new French oak (30%) this unveils freshly cut grass with cantaloupe and pastry crust aromatics. The palate is very fresh and beautifully textured with a downright killer combination of weight and finesse. Finishing very long, enjoy this truly novel, outstanding white wine over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2029- 93

2021 Benom ‘L’Essor’ Rose- The 2021 ‘L’Essor’ is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache that was sourced from the John Wolf, Coakley, and Gateway Vineyards. Stored in stainless steel before bottling, this very Provence-colored Rose unveils delicate honeydew melon and green papaya notes alongside white rose and pomegranate seed tones. Soft and inviting on the mouth, this shows both a great veil of tension and light dusting of salinity that adds to the enjoyment. This is highly refined and gratifying Rose that is best consumed now and over the next five years. Drink 2022-2027- 92

2020 Benom ‘Origin’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon bottling is a sensational new release from this somewhat challenging vintage. An inky core greets you, with chocolate covered coffee bean, black currants, creosote and very refined tannins. The underlying freshness is fantastic, as is the weight, as this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2020 Benom ‘Les Deux Freres’ Red Wine- The 2020 Benom ‘Les Deux Freres’ Red Wine is a compelling blend of Grenache (54%) with smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. Very pretty red rose petals combine with dark currants and suggestions of baking spices. The palate is silky smooth and beautifully textured, with a great combination of weight and underly finesse, with earthy accents. Drink this beauty now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2022-2037- 94

2020 Benom ‘Lapsus’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Lapsus’ is a great blend of 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Graciano with the reminder Mourvèdre and Syrah. The beautiful black florals mark the nose with black tea and wild blackberries. The palate is soft and inviting with good richness and a soft mouthfeel. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 94

Ashan

One of the premier producers of Washington Chardonnay, Ashan was built by Chris Gorman, who has now been in the industry for decades. Ashan is a deep and intense style of Chardonnay that is not made for the weary. These wines scream texture and weight — especially in warm vintages. They are also remarkably consistent. As a regional comparison, think Washington meets Sonoma.

For years I have admired wines from the Connor Lee and Cold Creek Vineyards. Both are old-vine plantings of Chardonnay and the Cold Creek was first established by Chateau Ste. Michelle back in the early 1970s. Wines from the Cold Creek and Connor Lee Vineyards seem to thrive both in cooler and warm vintages. I fondly remember the 2015 Cold Creek by Ste. Michelle, which is ripe and unctuous but had a great mineral backbone despite the heat of the vintages. Chris Gorman has crafted his new wines from the warm 2021 vintage — one that saw a very early harvest for Chardonnay. Do not miss out on the gorgeous new 2021 Ashan ‘Cold Creek Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is very ripe and delicious, with serious flavor range. Learn more about these great wines at ashancellars.com and here are my reviews of the brand new 2021 Ashan wines.

2021 Ashan ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2021 Ashan ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay offers intense peach and apricot flavors with shades of brioche and light flinty tones with a light mineral backbone. This is extremely ripe and will appeal to those who want a bigger style of Washington Chardonnay. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2021 Ashan ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Ripe and intense, the 2021 Ashan ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay delivers unctuous orchard and citrus fruits with butterscotch, toasty brioche on the palate. The flavor complexity here is exceedingly good. Finishing very long, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2021 Ashan ‘Cold Creek Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The famed ‘Cold Creek Vineyard’ is a historic Washington famed site which was first planted in the 1970s. The palate is ripe and intense with layers of roasted hazelnuts, banana, roasted pineapple and mango. Finishing very long, this has a light salinity that adds to the enjoyment. This is about as close as you can get to Sonoma from this state. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

Clos Solene

One of the finest producers in Paso Robles, Clos Solene is a beautiful tale fueled by the love of two people who founded this outstanding winery. Guillaume Fabre met the love of his life, Solene Fabre and they both eventually settled in Paso Robles. Fast forward to today, the Fabre Family is now a family of five: Clémentine (their oldest daughter), Jean (their middle son), and Juliette (their youngest daughter). Guillaume has named all his favorite wines after his children – Sweet Clémentine, Cuvée Jean and the arrival of Cuvée Juliette in 2019. After purchasing an estate in 2017, the family lives at the farmhouse on the property, as their boutique winery lies the west side of Paso Robles in the heart of the Willow Creek District.

I loved the range of wines that they produced. Dont miss out on the sinfully good 2020  Clos Solene ‘Cuvee Jean’ Syrah (OB, 96) which has a touch of Viognier blended in for lift. This inky, delicious wine is a stunning example of the flavor density but also bright acidity that Paso Robles can bring. Learn more about these beautiful new wines at https://www.clossolene.com Here are the outstanding new release wines by Clos Solene.

2020 Clos Solene ‘Fleur de Solene’ Red Wine- The 2020 Clos Solene ‘Fleur de Solene’ Red Wine blends mainly Syrah (52%) with smaller portions Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is very dense and decadent, with a great acid backbone. Layers of tar, garrigue, black currant jelly, and suggestions of loamy soils all brilliantly meld on the palate. Gratifying now in its full-bodied youth, savor this beauty over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 94

2020 Clos Solene ‘Harmonie’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Harmonie’ utilizes mostly Grenache (72%) with small portions Mourvèdre and Syrah. A ripe core of red fruits mingle with clove dusted Mandarin orange zest, green olives, and smoked pork shoulder notes on the palate. Finishing long, with good weight and verve, this brilliant GSM inspired wine will drink well for another decade. Drink 2022-2034- 94

2020 Clos Solene ‘Cuvee Jean’ Syrah- The deeply colored 2020 ‘Cuvee Jean’ has 3% Viognier blended in. Sourced from the Santa Maria Valley, this offers lemon blossom with black currant cordial, espresso grounds and scorched earth notes on the nose. The palate shows great underlying acidity with serious weight, displaying a massive wall of dark fruit flavors. Finishing long with loads of mouth-watering acidity, this beauty is already showing brilliantly. Drink 2022-2036- 96

2020 Clos Solene ‘L’Insolent’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘L’Insolent’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon (71%) and a large portion of Petit Verdot (20%) with the remainder Cabernet Franc. Coming all from Paso Robles, the wine shows green bell pepper notes with huckleberry compote, mocha and tar aromas. The palate is very fresh and lithe, with a polished texture and serious weight. While obviously big, the underlying finesse really drives this wine. Give this an hour in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2020 Close Solene ‘Hommage A Nos Pairs Reserve’ Red Wine- The gorgeous, very inky’Hommage A Nos Pairs Reserve’ Red Wine is a stunning blend of nearly all Syrah (96%) with equal parts Viognier and Grenache. Extremely concentrated dark fruits greet you on the palate, with a silky mouthfeel. Mocha, tar, huckleberry compote, garrigue and stony undertones all round out this downright delicious Syrah-based wine that has a long life to go. Drink 2022-2036- 95

Domaine Carneros

Over the years, Domaine Carneros has been one of my all-time favorite spots to taste in the Napa Valley. Domaine Carneros towers over the valley, showcasing sweeping views and also an electric tasting menu to pair with their ebullient sparkling wines. It was back in the 1970s that Claude Taittinger, of famed Champagne house Taittinger, began his search for a good spot to make California Sparkling Wine. Finally in 1987 he selected a 138-acre parcel in the Carneros region of the Napa Valley. The spot he selected is truly unique, as it has a massive maritime influence being perched near the bay. The vineyard is quite windy and produces highly concentrated berries that are very small in size.

A few years back Domaine Carneros hired Remi Cohen to serve as CEO and help with sparkling winemaker Zak Miller and Pinot Noir winemaker TJ Evans.. She took over Napa pioneer Eileen Crane, who had been crafting sensational, age-worthy sparkling wines in the Napa Valley for over 30 years. These are wines that age brilliantly as in the past year I have tried more than ten year old bottles of her ‘Le Reve’ which is one of the premier sparkling wines that you will find in North America.

I adored the new 2015 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 96) which is very dense and has a wonderful sense of nerve and salinity from this warm vintage. A stunning new Pinot Noir is their 2019 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Ciel Serein’ (OB, 94) which is very dense and might be the finest rendition of this wine that I have yet tasted. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.domainecarneros.com Here are the new sparkling wines by Domaine Carneros

2018 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- The gorgeous 2018 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine is made from mostly estate Pinot Noir (58%) with the remainder Chardonnay. Given .9G/L dosage, the ‘Brut Rose’ offers delicate pomegranate seed and lemon blossom notes with suggestions of bright pear. The palate reveals a very soft mousse, making this sumptuous on the attack. Warm this beautiful wine up a bit to savor the full gauntlet of red fruits and stony/salty nuances. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2015 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- The brilliant new 2015 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine is a warm vintage masterpiece by winemaker Zak Miller. Given a small amount of dosage (.9G/L), this slowly unveils delicate white tea and lemon oil aromas with biscuit notes. The palate is deep and concentrated, with a silky mousse. Heady citrus oil flavors combine with cashew nut, juicy nectarine and Japanese pear notes, with lighter ginger accents. This is refined, highly nuanced, sparkling wine that also deftly reflects this warm vintage. With more and more air this becomes more intense and more complex. Enjoy this masterful effort now and over the next fifteen years and don’t serve too cold to take in the fabulous range of flavors and aromatics. Drink 2022-2037- 96

2019 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Ciel Serein’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Ciel Serein’ comes from estate Pinot Noir vines (mostly Dijon 667) planted between 2002 and 2004. Once on the nose this shows off beautiful red rose petals and red currant aromas alongside salted cranberry and ripe red cherry. The palate is exceedingly soft and shows off serious weight and wonderful length. Complex and utterly delicious with its deep core of red fruits and blood orange zest accents, this is beautiful Pinot Noir to enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2022-2036- 94

2019 Domaine Carneros ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Domaine Carneros ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir was stored for ten months in French oak prior to bottling. It is very juicy and approachable now with cherry cola, Linzer torte, and stony minerals that mingle with a light dusting of salinity. Enjoy now and over the next ten years.  Drink 2022-2032- 92

Merlots to Enjoy This Fall

October brings Merlot month and cooler weather calls for silky Merlot. I have hand-selected some outstanding Merlots that will surely bring pleasure to your dinner table or fireside chat. Merlot is staging a solid comeback post-Sideways. It was 2004 and I was sitting at a great restaurant in Seattle when my father ordered a 2000 Leonetti Cellar Merlot. As a graduate student I was slowly advancing my wine education and I was struck by the pillowy texture of this incredible wine. I won’t soon forget that seminal moment of exploring top notch Merlot.

Enjoy this list which offer wines all under 70 dollars. Regardless of budget, there are beautiful Merlot wines to savor for all.

California

2019 Cakebread Cellars Merlot ($60.00)- Soft and round, with a generous texture, the 2019 Cakebread Cellars Merlot can benefit from an hour in the decanter. Once aroused, this delivers worn leather and coffee ground flavors that combine with wild blackberry pie. Lightly tannic, with bright acidity, this has both the stuffing and finesse to cellar well for another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Duckhorn ‘Napa Valley’ Merlot ($58.00)- A beautiful blend of 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, this reveals sandalwood notes alongside black currants, exotic spices and dark chocolate shavings. The palate is ripe with a great mineral backbone. Showing good length with ripe dark fruits and tobacco leaf undercurrents, and copious minerals, this is drinking beautifully now and will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2022-2034- 93

2019 Markham ‘Napa Valley’ Merlot- ($29.00) Juicy and ripe, the 2019 Markham Merlot shows off ripe red cherry with toasty oak, milk chocolate and red raspberry notes on the palate. Enjoy this great value now and over the next seven years. Drink 2022-2029- 91

2019 Rutherford Hill Merlot ($28.00)- Balanced and showing ripe red and dark currant flavors with tobacco leaf, the 2019 Rutherford Hill Merlot displays good value. Enjoy now and over the  next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2028- 90

Washington

2019 Januik ‘Red Mountain’ Merlot- ($38.00) A limited case production (100 cases), the 2019 ‘Red Mountain’ Merlot has small portions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec blended in. Very soft and approachable on the mouth, this delivers rich dark fruit flavors with tobacco leaf, scorched earth and dark chocolate shavings. Delicious now, this has both the weight and finesse to cellar well for another ten to twelve years. Drink 2022-2034- 93

2018 Nine Hats Merlot ($25.00)- The 2018 Nine Hats Merlot is a killer value made by winemaker Gilles Nicault. Fresh sage and cocoa powder fill the nose with suggestions of baking spices and coffee grounds. The palate is soft and inviting with a silky texture. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next seven plus years. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2020 FIGGINS ‘Figlia’ Red Wine ($70.00)- The 2020 FIGGINS ‘Figlia’ Red Wine is a stunning blend of Petit Verdot and Merlot which was aged for 20 months in French oak (62% neutral) prior to bottling. Pencil lead and green herbs combine with blackberry compote and mocha tones on the nose. The palate is rich and volupuous with a silky texture and refined tannins. Very concentrated, with intense black and blue fruits, with herbal undertones, this is delicious and novel Bordeaux inspired wine to consume now and over the next fifteen years. Give this at least an hour in the decanter prior to enjoyment. Drink 2022-2038- 95

Liminal

It was exactly two years since I first tasted the Liminal lineup. For those who know me, I am crazy for novel terroir in wines — simply an unabashed terroir junkie. Over the course of two years Liminal have become one of the premier producers of Washington, sourcing all wines from the hallowed ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ (https://www.weathereyevineyard.com) one of the famed sites in Washington State viticulture. The vineyard itself is perched on the windswept ridgeline of Red Mountain in Washington State and is planted to 30 acres of Rhône, Bordeaux, and Spanish varieties. Quite diverse, the vineyard ranges from 950’ to 1410’ of elevation, and has extreme slopes and soils ranging from dune sand to fractured bedrock basalt. The talented Ryan Johnson serves as vineyard manager, having previously managed the esteemed Ciel du Cheval Vineyard for 15 years. Ryan farms this vineyard meticulously and wines from this site have a very wild appearance from the sagebrush, rabbitbrush and yarrow as well as many other native plants that can be found amongst the vines.

The goal for Liminal was to showcase wines from this special site, utilizing the talents of Chris Peterson. Owners Peterson and Marty Taucher have been very bullish on this site. It was a year ago that I first tasted their Liminal Cabernet Sauvignon out of barrel. I didn’t; score the wine but I was absolutely blown away.

The new wines come from the 2020 vintage which has been one that has shown mixed results throughout Washington. These are amongst the finest wines that I have tasted thus far from this vintage. I am enamored by the dense and beautifully textured 2020 Liminal ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Viognier (OB, 95) which will live on for at least another eight years.  Don’t sleep on the novel and intense 2020 Liminal ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Grenache (OB, 96) which displays a wonderful underlying acidity and mind-bending range, jam-packed with a great core of red and dark fruits. The best wine I tried, which is amongst the finest wines I have tasted from this vintage, the 2018 Liminal ‘Block 47’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) borders perfection and is absolutely scintillating in its full-throttle style. Very heady and intense, with a great mineral backbone, this beauty will surely live on for decades.The vision behind these wines is just incredible. Don’t sleep on these beauties. Learn more at https://www.liminalwine.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Liminal Wines.

2020 Liminal ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Viognier- The gorgeous and also very generous 2020 Liminal ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Viognier offers sweet honeysuckle, lychee, and roasted pineapple with suggestions oof ripe cantaloupe on the nose. The palate is very fresh and lively, with serious texture. The underlying salinity is truly outstanding here, as is the lip-smacking acidity that flows through the core of the Viognier. With more air this shows even wilder components of yarrow and white rose water. Enjoy at a slightly warmer temperature to take in the thrilling set of flavors and aromatics. Drink 2022-2030- 95

2020 Liminal ‘WeatherEye Vineyard GSM’ Red Wine- The 2020 Liminal ‘WeatherEye Vineyard GSM’ Red Wine blends 46% Grenache with smaller parts Syrah and Mourvèdre. The wine has a lot to admire with the immediately gratifying aromatics of red currants and potpourri with white pepper dusted bacon. The palate is dense and chewy with serious depth and concentration, with a light dusting of salinity and great veil of tension throughout the drinking experience. Very salty and savory, this is seriously good stuff that is built to age. Give this an hour of air prior to enjoying. Drink 2022-2034- 95

2020 Liminal Grenache- The 2020 Liminal Grenache is sourced from a .9 acre bush vine Grenache parcel at the top of the Northern slope on Red Mountain. This location produces very small, concentrated berries. The palate is rich and viscous with serious concentration and underlying finesse. The richness once on the mouth and its color is truly novel considering the varietal. Layers of bulls blood, iodine, white pepper, orange rind and generous red and dark fruits all parade on the palate. This is very gratifying and heady wine that will easily cellar for another decade — but is nearly impossible to put down in its full-throttle youth. Give this an hour of air prior to savoring. Drink 2022-2034- 96

2020 Liminal ‘High Canyon’ Syrah- Very intense, the outstanding 2020 Liminal ‘High Canyon’ Syrah comes from a site near the Viognier block at the WeatherEye Vineyard. Winemaker Chris Peterson chose to co-ferment the 2020 ‘High Canyon’ Syrah with 3% Viognier in a concrete egg. Right away this shows off violets with tar, tobacco leaf and blackberry cordial on the nose. There is the faintest high-toned honeysuckle notes from the Viognier that adds to the enjoyment. The palate is rich and deep, with light tannins that frame the core of hedonistic dark fruits, scorched earth and graphite undertones. This is nothing short of unbelievably good. Drink 2022-2036- 97

2020 Liminal ‘Block 16’ Syrah- Coming from a steep, northern facing slope at the WeatherEye Vineyard, the 100% varietal ’Block 16’ Syrah was stored in 25% new French oak before bottling. Immediately this shows off bulls blood aromas with saline drenched charcuterie and dense dark fruits. The palate is very savory and salty, with a terrific mouthfeel and great depth and character. Gorgeous in its full-throttle youth, this will easily go for another decade. Drink 2022-2035- 96

2020 Liminal Cabernet Franc- Coming from a super steep block in the WeatherEye Vineyard, the 2020 Liminal Cabernet Franc is one of the great wines of its kind in Washington State.  This reveals stunning aromas of black rose petals and violets with red bell pepper, fresh sage, blackberry compote and mocha tones. The palate is rich and viscous with a light salinity. Beautifully textured, with great length, there is nothing quite like this in Washington State. Give this two hours in the decanter before enjoying. Drink 2022-2038- 95

2020 Liminal ‘Block 47’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The final number in this stunning lineup, the 2020 Liminal Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterclass that was sourced from a lower elevation block which is a one acre site, southwest facing with tight spacing in the WeatherEye Vineyard. The underlying acidity and salty of the character really make this sing. Very concentrated with huckleberry, Turkish coffee, dark chocolate shavings and black florals, this is singular, one of a kind wine that is already beautifully evolved. Get your hands on this beauty if you can and be sure to give it plenty of air prior to enjoyment. Drink 2022-2042- 98

Avennia

The Washington Wine Community is grateful that a partnership was made between former Microsoft executive Marty Taucher and superstar winemaker Chris Peterson. Together they formed Avennia — one of the great Washington wineries that produces nothing short of a stunning range of wines. One of the most consistently great producers of Rhone style wines and top class Bordeaux style reds, Chris Peterson formerly served as DeLille Cellars winemaker before starting this partnership with Taucher. The wines he makes for Avennia have beautiful structure, finesse and flavor density. There are no duds in this new lineup which comes from the 2020 and 2019 vintages — years that have produced mixed results for Washington wine.

Don’t miss out on the stunning 2020 Avennia ‘La Perle’ White Wine (OB, 93) which improves with an hour of air and is beautifully textured Southern Rhone style wine. I was blown away with the 2019 Avennia ‘Arnaut’ Syrah (OB, 95) which is deep and concentrated with the wonderful Northern Rhone profile that this site produces. Learn more about these special wines at avennia.com Here are my reviews of the two new Avennia wines. 

2020 Avennia ‘Oliane’ Sauvignon Blanc- Sourced from the Boushey (70%) and Red Willow (30%) Vineyards, the gorgeous tenth edition ‘Oliane’ is a rousing rendition that shows some good cellaring potential. Honeysuckle, white peach and kiwi tones all combine on the nose, with wet stone undercurrents. The palate is vibrant with a seamless texture and good depth and finesse. Finishing long, this is very refined Sauvignon Blanc that is best served a bit warmer for its full aromatic and flavor expression. Drink 2022-2029- 93

2020 Avennia ‘La Perle’ White Wine- A Southern Rhone inspired blend of 65% Roussanne and 35% Marsanne, the really good 2020 ‘La Perle’ evokes fragrant star jasmine, lychee and Pink Lady apple aromas that all meld in the glass. Soft and seamless on the mouth, this glides throughout the drinking experience, finishing very long with vanilla cream and minerals. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2021 Avennia ‘L’Egerie’ Rose- This beautiful, salmon-colored 2021 Rose was sourced from the Columbia Valley, and blends 75% Grenache with the reminder Mourvedre. Very delicate aromas of teaberry and guava puree greet you, with red rose water and hints of tangerine peel. The palate is very fresh and focused, with pinpoint balance. Nectarine and cranberry notes mingle well with strawberry and suggestions of wet stone. Drink 2022-2029- 92

2020 Avennia ‘Justine’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Justine’ is sourced from the Upland, Kiona and Boushey Vineyards. A blend of 60% Grenache with smaller parts Syrah and Mourvèdre, this shows off asphalt with garrigue and shades of boysenberry. The palate is beautifully textured, with great underlying finesse and salty undercurrents. The purity of red fruits here is beautiful. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2020 Avennia ‘Arnaut’ Syrah- 100% varietal Boushey Vineyard Syrah coming from plantings bake in the 1990s. The 2020 ‘Arnaut’ shows gorgeous aromas of black olive tapenade, bulls blood, graphite and suggestions of blackberry cordial. The hedonistic bouquet brings you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is very elegant and beautifully textured, with serious underlying tension and a light dusting of salinity. Finishing very long and pure this is a more elegant version of ‘Arnaut’ that will easily cellar for another fifteen years. Drink 2022-2036- 95

2019 Avennia ‘Gravera’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Gravera’ Red Wine is a dense and chewy effort that is drinking marvelously now at the three year mark. Once on the nose this shows off graphite, black currants and anise tones that combine with beautiful black florals. The palate is soft and enticing with smooth tannins that frame a core of rich dark fruits with chocolate and coffee ground notes. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2019 Avennia ‘Valery’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Valery’ is a blend of 88% Merlot (1986 Boushey Vineyard Planting) with the remainder Cabernet Franc (Champoux Vineyard). Very faint red florals and and red bell pepper notes combine with suggestions of fresh sage, dusty soils and black cherry compote. The palate is salty and savory with downright killer concentration and length. This is very elegant wine that shows good depth considering the vintage. Drink 2022-2036- 94

2019 Avennia ‘Sestina’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Sestina’ is a gorgeous blend of old vine 77% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc. On the nose this takes on beautiful black florals with sagebrush, scorched earth and loamy soils. The palate is refined and elegant, with good concentration and a gorgeous purity of black fruits and serious length. This will age gracefully for two decades. Drink 2022-2038- 95

2019 Avennia ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from old plantings (1991) at the top of the hill at the Red Willow Vineyard, the 2019 ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off tar and pencil lead notes alongside dusty soils, cigar ash and black currant jelly. The palate is deep and refined with very elegant tannins. Intense dark fruits parade with espresso grounds, dried herbs and suggestions of creme de violette. Drink this beauty over then ext two decades. Drink 2022-2040- 96

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