Castello di Amorosa

Today we share one of the great travel destinations in the Napa Valley, Castello di Amorosa is a must visit for anyone interested in Tuscan history. The history dates back many years with Dario Stattui, who is is the great grandson of pioneering vintner Vittorio Sattui, an Italian immigrant who founded St. Helena Wine Cellars in 1885. The Sattui family lived at the winery, even after Prohibition closed the business in 1920.  Dario returned to the U.S. in 1972, with plans to re-open the family winery that had been dormant for more than 50 years. In 1975, he launched V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena.

Fast forward to In 1993, and after decades of searching Dario finally found the ideal parcel — 171 acres near Calistoga where Colonel William Nash had planted one of California's first vineyards in 1846. Dario bought the property, which had acres of beautiful forest and hills, a stream and a lake, and a great Victorian home where he decided to settle. And the rest has been history.

For years I have admired not only the beauty of this property but the wines that are inside its cellars. The Castello was finally born using more than 8,000 tons of hand-chiseled local stone and nearly one million antique bricks imported from Europe to complete the construction. More than 200 containers of old materials and furnishings were shipped over from Europe to decorate the interior. The construction took 15 years and opened to the public on April 7, 2007.

Brooks Painter has served as director of winemaking since 2005 and Peter Valleno has been winemaker since 2014. I adored the new wines by their team, none more so than the gorgeous 2021 Castello di Amorosa Rose (OB, 92) which is beautifully nuanced and shows a smooth texture. I adored the 2019 Castello di Amorosa ‘Il Rubino’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) whchi shows downright killer range from citrus to beautiful red fruits. Learn more about this beautiful winery at https://castellodiamorosa.com and here are my reviews of the outstanding new Castello di Amorosa wines.

2021 Castello di Amorosa Rose- Salmon in color, the 2021 Castello di Amorosa Rose delivers pink grapefruit blossom, white rose water and beautiful freshly picked guava fruits on the nose. The palate is fresh and polished with plenty of mouth-watering acidity and richness. The smooth texture entices, as rich red fruits parade with minerals. Enjoy over the next five plus years. Drink 2022-2028- 92

2019 Castello di Amorosa ‘Cresta D’Oro Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this site in the Green Valley of Sonoma County, this offers cran-cola, loamy soils and a bright salinity that runs though the pretty red fruits on the palate. Full-bodied and full of finesse, enjoy this lithe and polished 2019 Pinot Noir over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2019 Castello di Amorosa ‘Il Rubino’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Il Rubino’ comes from several sites in the North Coast AVA. Stored in 45% new French oak, this offers very pretty red rose petals with orange zest and suggestions of cardamom on the nose. Very smooth and soft on the mouth, this is generous, downright delicious red fruit-driven wine that is best consumed now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2018 Castello di Amorosa ‘Quattro’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding, deeply-colored 2018 Castello di Amorosa ‘Quattro’ Cabernet Sauvignon spent 20 months in 65% new French oak before bottling. Ripe dark currants and huckleberries mark the nose, alongside wet gravel and graphite notes. The palate is soft and very seamless, creating a weightless effect. Drink 2022-2034- 93

2018 Castello di Amorosa ‘Grigsby Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon-Coming from the Yountville AVA, the 2018 Castello di Amorosa ‘Grigsby Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored for 20 months in 65% new French oak before bottling. Anise and garrigue aromas combine with espresso grounds and rich dark fruits on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with polished tannins and beautiful length. Drink 2022-2036- 93

2019 Castello di Amorosa ‘Zingaro’ Zinfandel- A blend of 91% Zinfandel with 9% Primitivo, this old vine Russian River Valley Zinfandel shows off potpourri with fresh dill and stewed strawberry notes on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture and gorgeous length. Great to consume now, enjoy this outstanding new Zinfandel over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

Merry Edwards

One of the famed properties in the Russian River Valley, Merry Edwards began her career back in 1973. She sought to plant her own vineyards where she could capture flavors through site-specific viticulture. In 1996, she purchased 24 acres of sloping hillside in the southern hills of Russian River Valley, intent on growing Pinot Noir on this promising site. With her husband, Ken Coopersmith, as her helpmate, Merry planted 20 acres of vineyard at Meredith Estate in 1998 and harvested a small crop in 2000. 1999 Merry and Ken expanded the brand’s estate program by purchasing 9.5 acres on Laguna Ridge in the heart of Russian River Valley and planted in 2001.The first Coopersmith Pinot Noir released was a 2004 and this esteemed site is where Merry Edwards winery first began.

For many years I have enjoyed visiting her winery and tasting some of her new and older vintages. Heidi von Der Mehden has a longstanding history working under Merry Edwards. She After receiving a degree in chemistry from Santa Clara University in 1997 and teaching high school chemistry in Tanzania, Africa she became more enthralled in wine and studied under Merry for many years. Her new wines were gorgeous across the board. Do not miss out on the new 2021 Merry Edwards ‘Russian River Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 95) which is rich and viscous with a sensational texture. I loved the new 2020 Merry Edwards ‘Meredith Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94)  which is a fantastic bottling for any serious collector of California Pinot Noir.  Learn more about this famed Russian River outpost at merryedwards.com Here are the gorgeous new releases by Merry Edwards.

2021 Merry Edwards ‘Russian River Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- Always big and loaded with finesse, the gorgeous 2021 Merry Edwards ‘Russian River Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc is a superlative effort by the talented Heidi Van Der Mehden. Very soft upon entry, this leads with nutmeg infused honeydew melon, cashew nut, salted brioche and suggestions of nectarine pie, displaying both a dazzling mineralogy and a downright unctuous texture. Truly a complete wine, enjoy this beauty at a slightly warmer temperature to take in the full range of flavors and aromatics. Drink 2022-2030- 95

2020 Merry Edwards ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- Coming from a host of sites in this AVA that borders the Pacific Ocean, the 2020 Merry Edwards ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir offers saline drenched red fruits with tobacco leaf and orange peel notes on the nose. The palate is very smooth and beautifully textured with soft tannins that line the very pretty core of red fruits. Enjoy this outstanding, terroir-driven Pinot Noir for at least another ten years. Drink 2022-2033- 93

2020 Merry Edwards ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2020 Merry Edwards ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir was first produced back in 1997 and comes from a range of vineyards in this AVA. The wine is round and generous on the attack, with ripe strawberry, Yakima cherry and kumquat zest flavors that mingle with the wonderful stony and peat moss accents. Enjoy this already beautifully evolved wine over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Merry Edwards ‘Meredith Estate’ Pinot Noir- Merry Edwards planted this estate vineyard which was formerly an apple orchard in the Russian River Valley roughly twenty years ago. Very seamless and soft upon entry, the range of berry flavors really pops, ranging from bright red fruits to huckleberry and wild blackberry tones, with freshly tilled soils. The melange of rich fruits and damp earthy accents really makes this click. Drink 2022-2033- 94

Gramercy Cellars

For years I have loved the balanced wines of Gramercy Cellars which was founded by master sommelier, Greg Harrington. For years they were only making Rhone style wines but several years back they began crafting top class Bordeaux style wines. For years they have been mastering what is one of the great Rose wines in North America. Greg works closely with partner and co-winemaker, Brandon Moss, in crafting minimal intervention wines that are sourced from some of the great vineyards in the state. They also make a great Oregon Pinot Noir as well for their wine club. I am still waiting on their Provence Red Wine!

I loved the new releases which are in their ‘Reserve’ series. These are barrel select wines that are a must for any serious collector of Washington wines. Do not miss out on the downright killer 2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah (OB, 95) which really needs another year or two in the bottle. Very reticent initially, this shows insanely good aromatic and flavor range with a ton of air, utilizing the garrigue and stony tones of this famed site in the Walla Walla Valley. Learn more about this fantastic new lineup at  gramercycellars.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Gramercy Cellars and the superstar winemaking team of Greg Harrington, MS and Brandon Moss.

2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah- For many years I have admired the incredible John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah. I fondly recall the 2012 edition being one of the finest wines that I tasted in my vintage retrospective several years back. 2019 has been a really nice vintage for Rhone varietals and this new ‘Reserve’ comes entirely from the high elevation Les Collines Vineyard that sits in the foothills of the Bluewood Mountains. It embodies the stony and herbal aspects of Syrah from this site, as the wine shows impeccable balance and finesse, with silky tannins that frame a brilliant core of red fruits, with tobacco leaf, leather, wet stone and iodine notes that all meld on the palate. Give this an hour of air before enjoying. Drink 2022-2036- 95

2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon-  The gorgeous 2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is another release from from this illustrious Walla Walla house that really needs 1-2 hours in the decanter to fully evolve. Soured from the Bacchus, Loess and Phinny Hill Vineyards, this spent 22 months in 45% new French oak before bottling and has 5% Merlot blended in. Once aroused, this leads with pencil lead and creme de violette aromas that combine with black cherry compote, freshly tilled soils and suggestions of espresso grounds. The palate is soft and inviting, with great poise and stuffing. Light dried herbal undertones and chocolate covered Arabica bean flavors combine with a rich core of dark fruits. Pillowy and soft on the mouth, this finishes very long with minerals and blackberry notes. Enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2036- 95

Champagne Lanson

One of the oldest houses in Champagne, Lanson dates all the way back to the eighteenth century. Today Lanson is served in over 80 countries worldwide. As a Royal Warrant Holder since 1900, Lanson remains an official supplier to the British Royal Family — and since 1977, Lanson has been associated with The Championships, Wimbledon and became the official Champagne at the iconic tournament in 2001.

Lanson has access to more than one hundred different crus, 50% of which are Grand Crus and Premier Crus. The farm 57 hectares of their own land, 16 being both organic and biodynamic viticulture. 2013, Hervé Dantan has served as chef de cave. Dantan crafts a range of wines from their entry level ‘Le Black Label’ Brut to a really cool ‘Extra Age’ Rose that captures a range of vintages. The ‘Extra Age’ is featured not only in the exclusive British Airways Concorde Room but also aboard the First Class Cabin at British Airways. The new NV ‘Extra Age’ Rose (OB, 93) is absolutely flat out delicious with its earthy tones alongside bright red fruits. This will be sure to satisfy any lover of top-class Rose Champagne. Learn more at lanson.com and here are my reviews of the new Lanson Champagnes.

NV Lanson ‘Le Black Label’ Brut Champagne- The juicy and bright NV ‘Le Black Label’ reveals ripe apricot with toasty French bread and suggestions of cardamom on the nose. The palate is fresh and lithe, with a soft texture and lovely entry once on the mouth. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2027- 90

NV Lanson ‘Extra Age’ Rose- The gorgeous ‘Extra Age’ combines 65% Pinot Noir with the remainder Chardonnay that comes from the 2002, 2004 and 2005 vintages. Already very nicely evolved, this shows musty aromas of white truffle and peat moss once on the nose, with red raspberry and pomegranate seed undertones. The palate is soft and layered with great viscosity. Very earthy now, with more subtle red fruits balancing things out with copious minerals, this is absolutely wonderful Rose Champagne to consume now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

Armand de Brignac 'Ace of Spades' Champagne

Today we introduce a famed Champagne house which combines hip hop and the historic Cattier family. The family has a rich history as an elite Champagne house in the tiny village of Chigny les Roses as they have owned and cultivated family vineyards since 1763. Jean-Jacques Cattier oversees the Chateau's wine production with strictly limited annual yields. The Cattier cellars are among the deepest and oldest in the Champagne region and are classified by the Comité Interprofessional du Vin de Champagne and the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine. They have three styles of architecture represented in the caverns: Gothic, Renaissance, and Roman.

The ‘Ace of Spades’ brand by Armand de Brignac is owned by both LVMH and rapper Jay-Z. The champagne has for years been a fixture in Jay-Z’s music for years. Their flagship ‘Brut Gold’ first was produced in 2006. All and Armand de Brignac champagnes are made in the village of Rilly-la-Montagne, located in the Montagne de Reims region of Champagne. Fruit cones from the 30 plus hectares owned by the Cattier family. These wines are very expensive, starting at roughly 350 dollars retail. I love the NV Armand de Brignac ‘Ace of Spades Brut Gold’ Champagne (OB, 93) which is rich and layered with a seamless mousse. Learn more about this famous house at https://armanddebrignac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Champagne-Armand-de-Brignac-Gold-Brut.pdf and here is my review of the beautiful new ‘Ace of Spades’ Champagne.

NV Armand de Brignac ‘Ace of Spades Brut Gold’ Champagne- The outstanding MV Armand de Brignac ‘Ace of Spades’ Champagne is a captivating blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier that comes from the 2009, 2010 and 2011 vintages. Given 9G/L dosage, this displays a very firm and refined mousse with layers of allspice dusted sourdough bread alongside lemon rind and Japanese pear tones on the palate. Finishing long with stony minerals, this is elegant champagne that is best enjoyed now and over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

The Walls

For years I have admired a killer new Walla Walla project founded by former Microsoft executive, Mike Martin. In addition to his winery, Martin owns one of the best local restaurants, Passatempo Taverna. Over the years they have moved the winery and winery production to a great location near downtown Walla Walla. The place has great food and one of the top outdoor patios in the valley. Several years back Mike made a major purchase in acquiring the Rockgarden Vineyard from Nina Buty. A few years back he has hired superstar winemaker Todd Alexander as winemaking consultant. 

Todd has long been crafting incredible wines for Force Majure, completely transforming that program. I love the new 2020 The Walls ‘Wonderful Nightmare’ which is very mineral-driven and shows good underlying flinty tones.  I absolutely loved the 2019 The Walls ‘Mahana’ Syrah (OB, 95) which is deep and concentrated, showing a very pure Rocks Syrah profile. This wine has stunning range right now. Learn more about these outstanding new wines at https://www.thewallsvineyards.com Here are the great new releases from The Walls. 

2020 The Walls ‘The Ramparts’ Red Wine- The 2020 The Walls ‘The Ramparts’ Red Wine blends 44% Grenache with 31% Mourvèdre and the remainder Counoise, all sourced from the Red Mountain AVA. Bacon fat and fresh red cherry flavors combine with shades of orange zest and copious minerals on the palate. Drink now. Drink 2022-2026- 91

2020 The Walls ‘Wonderful Nightmare’ Tempranillo- Coming from the Stoney Vine Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA, this reveals copious minerals that combine with flint, damp earth and wild blackberry flavors. The mouth-watering acidity adds to the enjoyment. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2026- 91

2019 The Walls “Mahana’ Syrah- The gorgeous 2019 ‘Mahana’ is polished and lithe, showing plenty of finesse from this slightly cooler vintage. On the nose this takes on smoldering stones with red currants, cigar box and red cherry candy notes. The palate is very fresh and showing a brilliant underlying tension and stony essence that really carries this wine. This is stunning Syrah to savor now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 95

2020 The Walls ‘Mahana’ Syrah- The 2020 ‘Mahana’ Syrah comes from the River Rock Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. Smoked brisket, tar and huckleberry flavors combine with plenty of mouth-watering acidity on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2026- 92

Gard Vintners

I love wines from the relatively new Royal Slope AVA. Gård Vintners was one of the pivotal houses in establishing this exciting new Washington AVA. Gård  was founded by brothers Sandy and John Lawrence, who have farmed the Royal Slope for more than 50 years, along with John’s son Josh, who joined the operation in 2002. The winery is managed by Josh and his wife, Lisa, who oversees sales and marketing, while Josh oversees the vineyard and other farm and orchard operations. For years Gård Vintners relied on winemaker Aryn Morell and they have hired a new winemaker Matías Kúsulas of Chile who has taken over as head winemaker and viticutlurist for Gård Vintners and Desert Wind Winery.

The new lineupr Gård Vintners is remarkably consistent across the board. I love the 2021 Gård Vintners ‘Grand Klasse’ Rose (OB, 91) which his fresh and beautifully textured. Don’t miss on the incredible 2019 Gård Vintners ‘Thunderstone’ Syrah (OB, 94) which shows wonderful umami notes and is very fresh and viscous.  Learn more about these great wines at gardvintners.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Gård Vintners.

2021 Gard Vintners ‘Grand Klasse Reserve’ Rose- Made from Grenache grapes from the Royal Slope AVA, this beautiful Provencale style Rose offers watermelon, green papaya, and flinty undertones with nutty accent on the palate. Nicely textured, with a soft mouthfeel, enjoy over the next several years. Drink 2022-2026- 91

2021 Gard Vintners ‘Freya’ White Wine- The 2021 ‘Freya’ is another standout value by Gard Vintners. A blend of mostly Viognier (73%) with the remainder Roussanne, this delivers ripe melon with honeysuckle and tangerine blossom on the nose. Very smooth on the mouth, this astringent and mineral-driven Viognier blend is best consumed right now while the bright tension remains intact. Drink 2022-2026- 91

2019 Gard Vintners ‘Reverence’ Red Wine- Nearly all Grenache (91%) with a splash of Syrah, this shows off smoked brisket with red cherry starburst candy and smoldering stones on the nose, with bergamot notes. Very fresh and nicely textured, this shows good depth, as this downright delicious Grenache will cellar well for another eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2019 Gard Vintners ‘Vaucluse’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Vaucluse’ is a beautiful blend of 61% Syrah with the remainder Grenache which was sourced from the Royal Slope AVA. Very smoky and savory, with salty undertones, this displays Kalamata olive tapenade, blackberry compote, and garrigue notes with bright underlying acidity. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2019 Gard Vintners ‘Kvasir’ Red Wine- The ‘Kvasir’ is a mostly Mourvèdre wine (74%) with the remainder Grenache and Syrah. This comes off very stony and fresh with a soft texture. Bright red fruits collide with smoked pork shoulder and orange zest flavors on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2019 Gard Vintners ‘Grand Klasse’ Syrah- Showing a deep core, the 2019 ‘Grand Klasse’ Syrah offers loganberry cordial with black currants, smoke and wet stone notes on the nose. This is deep and concentrated on the palate, loaded with rich dark fruits with tobacco leaf, milk chocolate and shades of creosote. This is seriously good Syrah that will age gracefully for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2019 Gard Vintners ‘Thunderstone’ Syrah- This outstanding, downright stunning 2019 ‘Thunderstone’ is a one of a kind100% Syrah which was sourced from the Royal Slope AVAVery stony as the name suggests, this offers a literal cornucopia of flavors. Green olives and charcuterie notes combine with boysenberry preserves, and salted black truffle all brilliantly meld together on the palate. Really serious, don’t sit on this beauty and enjoy now. Drink 2022-2028- 94

2019 Gard Vintners ‘Stoneridge Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2019 ‘Stoneridge Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this esteemed site known for world-class Syrah which is located in the Royal Slope AVA. 33% Tempranillo has been blended in, as this shows off wonderful viscosity on the mouth. Earl grey tea with dusty soils combine with espresso grounds, creosote and salted beef carpaccio on the palate. Really good now, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2019 Gard Vintners ‘The Don’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘The Don’ Red Wine is an outstanding value wine by Gard. Forward and juicy red and dark fruits combine on the palate, with copious minerals. Enjoy this great wine now and over the next seven years. Drink 2022-2029- 90

2019 Gard Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon- A touch sweet, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon by Gard Vintners, shows cassis notes that combine with milk chocolate and blackberry compote on the palate. Very fruity, enjoy now and over the next five years. Drink 2022-2027- 90

2019 Gard Vintners Malbec- Dark and brooding, the 2019 Gard Malbec shows huckleberry and black cherry flavors that mingle with minerals and good depth on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next five to seven years. This is a killer steak wine. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2019 Gard Vintners ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Red Wine- The right bank inspired 2019 ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Red Wine combines mostly Merlot (60% with smaller portions Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is very juicy with bright acidity and light tannins that frame a beautiful core of red fruit flavors. Leather and coffee ground flavors emerge, as this is best enjoyed over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Gard Vintners ‘Solaksen Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Solaksen Vineyard’ combines 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The Cabernet Franc is singing in high octave with its red bell pepper notes that combine with chocolate covered red cherry, espresso grounds and suggestions of black tea. Finishing long with black fruits and minerals enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2019 Gard Vintners ‘Winemaker’s Select’ Red Wine- Sourced from the Lawrence Vineyards, the 2019 ‘Winemaker’s Select’ shows off pretty black florals on the nose with tar, mocha and rice roasted fig flavors. The palate is rich and refined with no rough edges. Very approachable now, with good underlying finesse and a deep core of dark fruits, this is beautifully made Cabernet Sauvignon that will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 92

Fulldraw

A relatively new winery in Paso Robles, Fulldraw began back in 2012 by Connor and Rebecca McMahon. They reside on their 100 acre vineyard which is located in the Templeton Gap, southwest Paso Robles. Connor formerly worked at Booker before starting this project. Connor and  Rebecca reside with their two children and their German Shorthair Pointer, Yadi, on the vineyard.

The wines were really good across the board. I loved the new 2020 Fulldraw ‘Drift’ White Wine (OB, 91) which shows the sultry side of Clairette Blanc and is beautifully textured. The best wine I tasted was the fantastic 2018 Fulldraw ‘Honey Bunny’ Red Wine (OB, 93) which is mostly hedonistic and dense Syrah with a touch of smoky tones from the Mourvèdre. It is seriously good to consume right now. Learn more about this great family Paso Robles winery at fulldrawvineyard.com and here are my reviews of the new Full Draw wines.

2020 Fulldraw ‘Bamboo’ White Wine- Nearly all Grenache Blanc (91%) this displays bright kiwi with melon tones alongside a good degree of tension. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2027- 90

2020 Fulldraw ‘Drift’ White Wine- An unusual blend of 80% Clairette Blanc with the remainder Grenache Blanc, this offers a soft mouthfeel with honeydew melon, white peach and white rose water flavors. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2027- 91

2019 Fulldraw ‘Hard Point’ Grenache- The 2019 ‘Hard Point’ shows beautiful red florals on the nose, with anise, red raspberry coulis, cigar box and garrigue notes. The palate shows a soft texture with medium-bodied red fruit flavors, with good underlying minerality. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2018 Fulldraw ‘FD2’ Red Wine- A GSM style wine made from mostly Grenache (60%) with the remainder Syrah, this offers a soft mouthfeel with plenty of toasty oak, red currants and tobacco leaf flavors with smoky and salty undertones. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy this over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 92

2019 Fulldraw ‘Honey Bunny’ Red Wine- the 2019 ‘Honey Bunny’ blends nearly all Syrah (86%) with the remainder Mourvèdre. Very inky in the glass, this offers tar, dried herbs and dense dark fruits on the nose, with espresso grounds. The palate is medium to full-bodied with boysenberry cordial, mocha, creosote and shades of smoked brisket. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2019 Fulldraw ‘Chopping Block’ Red Wine- A blend of 62% Syrah with smaller parts Mourvèdre (31%) and Grenache (17%) this shows off white pepper, charcuterie and Black Forest cake on the nose. The palate is fresh and shows a smooth texture once on the mouth. Drink 2022-2030- 92

Passing Time

A story of legends on the gridiron and the cellar, Passing Time was founded by NFL legends Dan Marino and Damon Huard, utilizing the talents of famed winemaker Chris Peterson. I have been really impressed with these Cabernet wines since their first release with the 2012 vintage. Chris Peterson was the first graduate of the Walla Walla Community College’s Enology and Viticulture program and working at DeLille for eight years under legendary winemaker Chris Upchurch. He makes wines that are very well-structured and are built for aging. His unabashedly bold style for Passing Time makes these wines show good underlying poise, yet displaying rich concentration for aging. Having tried several older bottles, I can personally share that these cellar extremely well.

2020 as a vintage has been very inconsistent. It is a producer vintage and the new wines by Passing Time beautifully illustrate why this vintage is one to buy if you look carefully. I was so impressed with what Chris Peterson crafted in 2020. His Passing Time wines are clean and concentrated, loaded with dark fruits. Buy these with confidence.

I adored the new 2020 Passing Time ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which shows great underlying structure and tension, with a silky mouthfeel and gobs of deep dark fruits. This will cellar marvelously over the next fifteen plus years. Do not miss out on the highly collectable 2020 Passing Time ‘Block 1311’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is named after Marino and Huard’s jersey numbers. This inky and intense Cabernet has only begun to hit its stride and is the finest wine that I have tasted from this house.  Learn more about this fantastic  boutique winery at http://www.passingtime.com Here is my review of the new Passing Time wines.

2020 Passing Time ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Merlot- Coming from this famed site in the Horse Heaven Hills, the 2020 ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Merlot was stored in 50% new French oak for 20 months before bottling. The nose is rich and decadent with roasted dates, cigar ash, black currants and chocolate covered black cherry. The palate is soft and smooth with a velvety texture and good length. This is very clean, with great length and underlying salty finesse. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2036- 95

2020 Passing Time ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The gorgeous and also very generous 2020 Passing Time ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes fro mostly the Discovery Vineyard (61%) as well as the Wallula and Champoux Vineyard. Winemaker Chris Peterson has blended in 8% Merlot, as this was stored in 80% new French oak before bottling. Black florals with toasty oak, dark currant cordial and suggestions of black licorice all fill the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a silky texture and wonderful sense of weight. Very elegant, refined tannins frame a brilliant core of black plum, blackberry compote and espresso grounds. This is seriously good stuff that will age brilliantly over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2038- 96

2020 Passing Time ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge vineyards, this was stored in 60% new French oak before bottling. Freshly tilled soil aromas with dark chocolate shavings, creosote and roasted dates all meld in the glass. The palate is soft and inviting with a pillowy texture. Showing good weight and decadence with its chocolate, black fruits and coffee tones, the is seriously good Washington Cabernet Sauvignon that is already nicely evolved. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2020 Passing Time ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Very intense, the 2020 Passing Time ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes form mostly the Klipsun Vineyard (64% as well as the Red Mountain and Heart of the Hill Vineyards. Black cherry cordial aromas alongside Arabica bean, cassis liquor and suggestions of creme de violette all combine on the nose. The palate is seriously good, showing fantastic underlying freshness and impeccable balance. This effortlessly glides across the mid-palate, delivering hedonistic dark fruit flavors with coffee grounds and shades of tar. Already beautifully evolved, enjoy now and over then ext fifteen to twenty years. Only 250 cases made. Drink 2022-2038- 96

2020 Passing Time ‘Block 1311’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Named after Dan Marino and Damon Huard’s football numbers, the incredible, 100% varietal 2020 ‘Block 1311’ comes from the Benches Vineyard, as this was stored in 80% new French oak before bottling. On the nose this shows a very classic profile from this site near the Columbia River. Creme de cassis aromas with violets, espresso grounds and huckleberry compote all combine in the glass. The palate is plush and soft, with a seamless texture. With outstanding weight and underlying tension, this beautiful wine is drinking great now and will provide drinking enjoyment over the next twenty years. But why wait? Drink 2022-2040- 97

In Memoriam: Margaret Duckhorn, Co-Founder of Duckhorn Vineyards

We have some sad news to share out of the Napa Valley today as Margaret Duckhorn has sadly passed away this weekend at the age of 83. Duckhorn was an iconic and pioneering figure in the modern Napa Valley winemaking era, who played a pivotal role in establishing Merlot as one of North America’s most popular varietal wines. She and her then husband, Dan Duckhorn, founded Duckhorn Vineyards in 1976 and made their inaugural vintage of Napa Valley Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in 1978. Though many Napa Valley wineries were using Merlot as a blending grape in the late seventies, Margaret and Dan believed that this elegant varietal was underappreciated in North America and championed its potential in California as a great standalone wine.

Born on Governor’s Island, New York, Margaret was raised in a military family and traveled widely in her youth. Studying at the University of Maryland campus in Munich, Germany, Margaret first became interested in wine after being exposed to the Mosel region’s distinctive wines. Returning to the United States, Margaret received her B.S., R.N., and P.H.N. degrees from the University of California at San Francisco in 1963. After graduation, she worked as a public health nurse for the city of Berkeley before starting a family in the mid 1960s.

Margaret took an extremely active role in the day-to-day operations of her winery, hand sorting the fruit and working alongside winemaker Tom Rinaldi during blending. Later, Margaret began specializing in marketing and international public relations, becoming a strong voice for Duckhorn Vineyards, and a champion for the Napa Valley winegrowing community. She played a key role in establishing Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Migration, an enhanced Decoy lineup, and Canvasback in Washington State. She was also highly involved on a philanthropic level in her community, and a strong advocate for Napa Valley on an industry-wide level, working both locally and globally to protect and promote the region. She was one of the original members of Women for WineSense, a past board member of the American Institute of Wine & Food, past president of the Napa Valley Vintners Association, and past chairman of the board of California Wine Institute. Margaret was an incredible talent that has helped put the Napa Valley on the international scene. Cheers to Margaret and her beautiful legacy. 🍷

J. Bookwalter

One of the great stories in Washington wine, the Bookwalter family spans ten generations in American agriculture. Jerry Bookwalter, generation nine and father of current company president John Bookwalter, decided to venture into viticulture. A UC-Davis grad, Jerry spent 13 years farming in California’s San Joaquin Valley before moving his family in 1976 to the Tri-Cities in Washington State. From 1976 through 1982, Jerry helped manage the plantings of three famed Washington vineyards – Sagemoor, Bacchus and Dionysus. He eventually became vineyard manager of the Conner Lee Vineyard and in 1982, he started J. Bookwalter Winery. John Bookwalter had a 10-year sales and marketing career with E&J Gallo, Winterbrook Beverage Group and Coors Brewing Co before returning to Richland in 1997 to focus on his family winery.

For years they utilized the talents of winemaker Caleb Foster who helped grow production and crafted many downright killer red and white wines over the years. In summer 2021 Jeremy Santo came to Bookwalter as head winemaker. Prior to this job he served as head winemaker for Mercer Estates Winery from 2017 to 2021.  I love the new wines across the board. A killer new value is the 2021 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ White Wine (OB, 90) which completely over-delivers for the price. I absolutely adored the 2020 J. Bookwalter ‘Chapter 11’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which impresses with its concentration and underlying finesse, with dense dark fruits. Learn more about this historic Washington winery at https://www.bookwalterwines.com Here are my reviews of the beautiful new J. Bookwalter wines. 

2021 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Sauvignon Blanc- Lithe and fresh, this offers sweet pink grapefruit and green papaya notes with good tension. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2026- 89

2021 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ White Wine- A blend of 80% Chardonnay with the remainder Viognier, this offers white peach and juicy pear tones that combine with vanilla cream on the palate. Enjoy this great value over the next several years. Drink 2022-2026- 90

2020 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Very soft on the mouth, this shows light to medium-bodied dark chocolate with sweetened blackberry and black cherry notes. Drink 2022-2026- 88

2021 J. Bookwalter ‘Readers’ Syrah- Coming from the Wahluke Slope, this 2021 Syrah shows off smoked brisket with tar and coffee grounds on the nose. Very approachable and coming off a touch sweet, enjoy now and over the next several years. Drink 2022-2026- 88

2020 J. Bookwalter ‘Conflict’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Conflict’ Red Wine blends 56% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Very fresh and soft once on the mouth, this shows off light dill and red cherry candy flavors alongside dusty tannins and loads of bright acidity. This is really good to enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2034- 93

2020 J. Bookwalter ‘Protagonist’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Protagonist’ comes mostly from the Connor Lee Vineyard, as well as the Dionysus and Elephant Mountain Vineyards. Aged for 20 months in 60% new French oak this delivers a soft mouthfeel with rich red and dark fruits, with tobacco leaf and dusty soils on the palate. Drink 2022-2034- 92

2020 J. Bookwalter ‘Suspense’ Red Wine- The brilliant 2020 J. Bookwalter ‘Suspense’ Red Wine is a juicy and inviting effort that is already nicely evolved. Once on the nose this takes on layers of red raspberry and red rose petals that combine with espresso grounds and suggestions of Earl Grey tea. The palate is very approachable with its forward core of red and dark fruits with milk chocolate and herbal undertone notes. Drink 2022-2032- 92

2020 J. Bookwalter ‘Fourth Edition’ White Wine- One of the very cool and unique blends that you will find in Washington State, the ‘Fourth Edition’ by J. Bookwalter blends 57% Semillon, with smaller parts Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Sourced from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this offers a soft mouthfeel, with banana, lychee, white grapefruit and cashew nut flavors alongside a seamless texture. Rich and concentrated, enjoy at a warmer temperature to take in the gorgeous flavor range. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 J. Bookwalter ‘Volume Ten’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Entirely sourced from the Dionysus Vineyard, the 2020 ‘Volume Ten’ was stored for 20 months in 80% new French oak before bottling. Dried herbs with boysenberry and suggestions of baking spices all mark the nose. The palate is rich and decadent with a great mineral backbone. Finishing long with copious minerals, chocolate and black fruits, this is delicious, well-structured Cabernet Sauvignon that is best enjoyed now and over the next fourteen years. Drink 2022-2036- 93

2020 J. Bookwalter  ‘Chapter 11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Chapter 11’ comes from the Connor Lee Vineyard and has 5% both Syrah and Cabernet Franc blended in. Stored for 20 months in 60% new French oak, this shows off black tea and exotic spices alongside roasted dates and shades of creosote on the nose. The palate is deep and concentrated with mocha, tar and tobacco leaf flavors alongside a wall of intense dark fruits. This is delicious wine that is already starting to hit its stride. Drink 2022-2037- 94

2020 J. McLarnin Red Wine- Equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah coming from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this wine was named after one of the most famous welterweight boxers of all time. The wine is really stunning and deep, with a vibrant core of minerality. Rich black currants with creosote, Turkish coffee, and creme de violette flavors all brilliantly combine, with light tannins holding everything in place. Showing a luxurious texture, enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037- 95

2016 J. McLarnin Red Wine- The 2016 J. McLarmin is a gorgeous showing now at the six year mark. The wine is already wonderfully evolved on the palate. Caramel covered chocolate brownie, black cherry cordial, Arabica bean and Asian spices all come together seamlessly, with good underlying tension. Finishing long with ripe dark fruits and minerals, this is a downright stunning new bottling that is best enjoyed now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2034- 95

Kerloo Cellars

For years I have admired the wines of Kerloo Cellars. Owner/head winemaker Ryan Crane focuses on boutique style of winemaking involves crafting very precise, small production, single vineyard bottlings that are very old-world, with limited oak usage. Many years ago Ryan got his start at Animale Cellars in Seattle, and then later trained under Marie-Eve Gilla at Forgeron Cellars while completing his degree in Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College. These are wines that show great finesse with rich fruit flavors and wonderful terroir. Ryan also has a deft touch for Rose and white wines.

I adored his 2020 Kerloo Cellars ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache (OB, 95) which iis one of the finest wines I have tasted from this portfolio. The wine has nothing short of insanely good flavor and aromatic range and will thrill anyone who loves Washington Grenache. I also adored the new 2021 Kerloo Cellars ‘Celilo Vineyard’ Chardonnay’ (OB, 93) which is very fresh and racy with a soft mouthfeel and good length. d Learn more about this outstanding winery at www.kerloocellars.com. Here are the great new releases by the talented Ryan Crane and his Kerloo Cellars.

2021 Kerloo Cellars ‘Celilo Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The really good 2021 ‘Cello Vineyard’ Chardonnay saw four months of battonage. Roasted hazelnuts with lemon zest and dusted brioche fill the nose, with suggestions of white peach. The palate is very seamless and soft, as this shows both a great sense of tension, mouth-watering acidity and brilliant stony undertones. This is very old-world and would easily pass for a world-class Montrachet. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Kerloo Cellars ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache- Stored in a combination of puncheons and   concrete, as this saw no new French oak before bottling. This shows very pretty and clean with guava puree, green olive tapenade, Mandarin orange rind and suggestions of horse manure. The utterly sensational aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The sensational sense of texture really drives this wine, as does the underlying acidity and salty tones. Complex and delicious, with incredible flavor complexity, this is up there with the finest wines that I have tasted from Ryan Crane and Kerloo Cellars. Drink 2022-2032- 95

2019 Kerloo Cellars ‘The Ninja’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Ninja’ is a knockout blend of Rockgarden Vineyard Mourvèdre with Red Willow Vineyard Syrah, this one of a kind wine shows salted red meats, green olives, blackberry cordial, garrigue and smoldering stones on the nose. The balance on the mouth is impressive. Very salty and savory on the palate, with rich dark fruit flavors, this is a downright delicious Rhone style wine that will impress for any lover of Washington Rhones. Drink 2022-2032- 94

2020 Kerloo Cellars ‘The Legends’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The seriously good 2020 Kerloo Cellars ‘The Legends’ Cabernet Sauvignon combines Red Willow Vineyard and Dionysus Vineyards. This comes off very salty and savory with sagebrush and salted black fruits alongside coffee grounds on the palate. Finishing long with blackberry and minerals, this is delicious wine to consume now and over the next twelve years. Drink 2022-2034- 92

2020 Kerloo Cellars ‘Dionysus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Very dusty and earthy, the 2020 ‘Dionysus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning new wine that is already beautifully evolved. Stored in 100% new French oak for 24 months and coming from this site very near to the Columbia River, once on the nose this shows dusty soils and garrigue notes alongside milk chocolate and black currants on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture. This is very well-balanced with beautiful flavor density. Try to resist this beauty for another year. Drink 2023-2042- 94

Kennedy Cellars

I am always honored to be the first critic to write about great wines. A really exciting new project that merges Victoria, British Columbia with the Napa Valley, Kennedy Cellars was founded in 2018 by Johnathon Kennedy Sipos. Johnathon’s business career was in luxury real estate development, recently having completed one of British Columbia's premiere residential developments in Victoria's inner harbor, the Customs House. There was a certain similarity that captivated Johnathon between luxury development and luxury wine. Both required the same attention to detail, patience, and an uncompromising approach at every step. From the onset Johnathon took a hands on approach to the journey, making the most of his WSET 3 degree, personally travelling extensively through the valley to meet with multiple wine makers, and decided to partner with one of Napas leading custom crush facilities, Bin to Bottle, and two of Napas premiere viticulturists, Oscar Renteria and Mark Neal.

The new wines come from the great 2018 and 2019 vintages. I adored the new 2019 Kennedy Cellars ‘Carneros’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) a wine that is extremely smooth and refined once on the mouth. This is a must-buy for any lover of great Carneros Chardonnay. I must admit that I was totally blown away by the 2018 Kennedy Cellars ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is unabashedly bold and full-throttle, with brilliant terroir from this special and unique site. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/KennedyCellarsInc/ and here are my reviews of the great new Kennedy Cellars wines.

2019 Kennedy Cellars ‘Carneros’ Chardonnay- Golden in the glass, the 2019 ‘Carneros’ Chardonnay delivers a soft mouthfeel with Pink Lady apple, vanilla cream and toasty brioche flavors that combine with the gorgeous length. Consume this beauty over the next seven plus years. Drink 2022-2029- 93

2018 Kennedy Cellars ‘Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2018 Kennedy Cellars ‘Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored for 28 months in French oak before bottling. Anise, black currant cordial and loamy soils all fill the nose with sweet pipe tobacco accents. The palate is medium to full-bodied with very refined tannins and a silky entry once on the attack. The combination of perfumed red and dark fruits really make this sing. Enjoy this well-balanced beauty over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2036- 94

2018 Kennedy Cellars ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Every bit as good as the ‘Howell Mountain’ bottling, the 2018 Kennedy Cellars ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon was also stored in French oak for 28 months and comes from 25 year old vines. Very inky once in the glass, this shows gorgeous aromatic range from black rose petals to creme de violette, tar, pencil lead and freshly tilled soils. The palate is very concentrated but shows a brilliant acid backbone, with very soft tannins framing everything brilliantly. Enjoy this beautiful wine in its heady youth and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2036- 95

Ram's Gate

Ram’s Gate

A few weeks back enjoyed a lively Zoom call with Ram’s Gate winemakerJoe Nielsen, who has been now at the helm for five vintages. He has been slowly creating his own program to have wines that show a more Chablisesque profile with slightly less oak influence in the wines. 2020 brought a mixed bag of wines due to the fires that occurred in early September. This was a great challenge that winemakers in Sonoma and Napa had never seen, as Nielsen mentioned “We picked a lot before the fires and were very careful about picking after the fires. We did lose a lot of stuff unfortunately. We brought in 30-40% of what I anticipated and the vintage was small as well. Some of the production numbers are tiny but quality is nice.” He continued “We are starting to have enough vintages to look at verticals. 2020 as a vintage is really pretty, contrary to the commentary that I have heard of the vintage. Grapes are concentrated, fresh and precise.”

He has been working on dialing down the oak influence in the wines, yet has been using a smilier amount of new French oak. He stated “That [process] comes across as more linear on the palate and more texture” he said.

I loved the new 2020 Ram’s Gate ‘El Diablo Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is fresh and lively with salty undertones. Just as good is the gorgeous 2020 Ram’s Gate ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is deep and concentrated with some good aging potential. Learn more about this great winery at ramsgatewinery.com and here are my reviews of the new Ram’s Gate wines.

2020 Ram’s Gate ‘Cellar Note’ Chardonnay- The 2020 ‘Cellar Note’ is a vintage cuvee which was made from 13 barrels. The nose shows off butterscotch, lemon oil and ripe pineapple notes with suggestions of salted cashew nut. The palate is soft and refined with a light underlying salinity that combines with the good tension. Finishing long, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2028- 91

2020 Ram’s Gate ‘El Diablo Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2020 Ram’s Gate ‘El Diablo Vineyard’ Chardonnay comes from this warmer site on Eastside Road on the Russian River Valley.  Utilizing Montrachet and Robert Young clinical selections, this was stored in 30% new French oak prior to bottling. The nose is gorgeous with orange blossom and lemon rind dusted brioche with shades of juicy papaya. The palate is ripe and beautifully textured, showing outstanding length and lovely fresh pastry crust, kumquat zest and stony minerals, this is drinking beautifully now and will continue to evolve well for another ten years. Drink 2022-2030- 93

2020 Ram’s Gate ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The ‘Hyde Vineyard’ is one of the most famous sites in the Carneros region of the Napa Valley and Ram’s Gate has been sourcing from this site since the 2012 vintage, as this was stored in 35% new French oak before bottling. On the nose this takes on ripe white peach and Pazzaz apple tones that combine with caramel topped brioche. Generous and layered, with a downright killer vintage, the 2020 Ram’s Gate ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay will live on for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93

2020 Ram’s Gate ‘Cellar Note’ Pinot Noir- Winemaker Joe Nielson made 15 barrels of this Pinot Noir from three different Sonoma Coast vineyards.  This comes off very clean and pretty. The nose shows off cran-cola tones alongside white pepper, Mandarin orange zest and peat moss accents. The salty character really shines in this downright delicious Pinot Noir. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 91

2020 Ram’s Gate ‘El Diablo Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Picked in early August, this is sourced from two separate clonal selections in the ‘El Diablo Vineyard.’ Stored for 16 months in 33% new French oak, the nose takes on layers of ripe red cherry with red rose petals, cinnamon sticks and suggestions of forest floor. The palate is jam-packed of tart red fruits that combine with wet stone, kumquat zest and loads of mouth-watering acidity. Broad-shouldered and generous, this is gorgeous Pinot Noir to consume now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2034- 93

2020 Ram’s Gate ‘Bush Crispo Vineyard’ PInot Noir- The ‘Bush Crispo Vineyard’ is a small, 4 acre vineyard entirely sourced from Ram’s Gate, located on River Road, not far from Martinelli Vineyard. The vineyard is planted to two clones (115 and Pommard) of Pinot Noir that create very small, concentered clusters. The wine is soft and round on the mouth, with a smooth texture. Very juicy red fruit flavors combine with exotic spices, blood orange zest and suggestions of wild mushroom on the palate. Drink 2022-2034- 92

2020 Ram’s Gate ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2020 Ram’s Gate ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir comes from this windy and cooler site in the Carneros AVA. Soils here are low-vigor and vines tend to be shut down by pressure from the high winds which leads to very concentrated berries. Given 25% whole cluster fermentation the nose shows toasty oak with ripe guava and salmonberry notes alongside salted citrus rind. The palate is very fresh and focused with a smooth texture and bright acidity. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2035- 93

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