Baer

Before I was a full time wine critic I have fond memories of visiting Baer Winery in Woodinville on the weekends and tasting their new wines. Sometimes Lisa would be there to chat about the vintages and what they had been doing at this small, exceptional, family-run winery. I have many of these wines in my cellar and have enjoyed opening the 2012s and 2013s over the past year — wines that are drinking exceptionally well right now. Baer was founded in 2000 by Lance Baer. Lance was known for crafting exceptional red wines as many of his wines were met with critical acclaim. 

Erica Orr took over this program many years back and originally got her start in the wine industry back in 1998, working her first harvest with eminent winemaker Cathy Corison in the Napa Valley. She immediately caught the wine bug and enrolled in the enology master’s degree program at UC Davis where she completed her master’s degree in 2003. Erica also has a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from UC Berkeley and three years of research experience as a biochemistry lab technician for 2009 Nobel Laureate Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn at UC San Francisco. 

Her background in chemistry gives her a very precise, scientific winemaking style that I have noticed over the years. She crafts wines that show serious finesse as her reds deftly show off the potential of the Stillwater Creek Vineyard which is located in the Royal Slope AVA.

I adored her 2019 Baer ‘Star’ Merlot (OB, 92) which is round with juicy red and dark fruit flavors. I love the new 2019 Baer ‘Callisto’ Red Wine (OB, 93) which is a unique blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon that shows really good flavor range. Learn more about this great Woodinville winery at at baerwinery.com Here are the great new releases by Baer

2022 Baer ‘Shard’ Chardonnay- For years Erica Orr has been making the ‘Shard’ — arguably the best unoaked Chardonnay made in Washington State. This 2022 edition displays dazzling nerve and tension, with plenty of weight. Freshly cut pears, mango, and juicy peach flavors combine with shades of salted butter French bread on the palate. This is just a joy to drink right now and drinks better slightly on the warmer side. Drink 2023-2030- 92

2021 Baer ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- The ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay is a new wine to the Baer lineup, as this bottling is clone 95 Chardonnay from block 25 in the Stillwater Creek Vineyard. Stored in Tonnellerie Quintessance is called “Hydro-Dynamique” barrels, this offers a smooth mouthfeel with fantastic texture. Layers of orchard and tropical fruits combine, all leading to a minute-long finish. A steal at 35 bucks, this 2021 Chardonnay is flat-out fabulous stuff that has both the stuffing and verve to cellar well for another ten years. But why wait? Drink 2023-2033- 93

2019 Baer ‘Star’ Merlot- Unlike the 2018 edition of ‘Star’ which is100% varietal, the 2019 ‘Star’ has 13% Cabernet Franc blended in. Stored in a mere 20% new French oak barrels, this Stillwater Creek Vineyard bottling offers very pure red and dark fruit flavors on the palate alongside tobacco leaf, milk chocolate and shades of wet stone. Nicely structured, this medium-bodied beauty will shine on for at least another ten years. Drink 2023-2035- 92

2019 Baer ‘Callisto’ Red Wine- The already nicely evolved 2019 ‘Callisto’ blends 50% Syrah with 44% Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Petit Verdot — all sourced from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard. This wine was stored in a considerably higher than average portion of new French oak (48%) before bottling. Espresso bean and blueberry compote from the Petit Verdot seem to be shining brightly, alongside boysenberry and toffee undertones. You are going to love this beautifully-posed wine that will cellar on for another decade or more. Drink 2023-2032- 93

2019 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine- An outstanding wine from this cooler vintage, the 2019 ‘Ursa’ melds near equal portions Merlot and Cabernet Franc with 19% Cabernet Sauvignon. Stored in 49% new French oak barrels prior to bottling, this opens with pretty red rose petal aromas alongside black tea, menthol and dense dark fruits with chocolate fudge undertones. The palate is soft and lithe with a silky texture and excellent length. Very polished, and while this might not bear the concentration of the 2018 ‘Ursa’ it is absolutely a joy to drink right now. Drink 2023-2035- 92

2019 Baer Cabernet Franc- The 2019 Cabernet Franc combines 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, as this was stored in 39% new French oak before bottling. The beautiful black and red florals greet you already, showing notes of black raspberry and bay leaf. The palate is very smooth and soft with a polished texture. While obviously not a big wine, this is seamless and elegant Cabernet Franc by winemaker Erica Orr, with its salty undertones that wonderfully showcases the Stillwater Creek Vineyard in a cooler vintage. Drink 2023-2034- 93

2019 Baer Malbec- A darker color than the other bottlings, the 2019 Malbec comes from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA. This edition has 10% Petit Verdot and Syrah blended in. It engages you with heady blue fruit flavors alongside wet stone, dark chocolate shavings and shades of Turkish coffee on the palate. Lush and round, this is absolutely beautiful stuff to savor right now at the four year mark. Drink 2023-2035- 93

2019 Baer ‘Arctos’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard, the flat out delicious 2019 ‘Arctos’ is a Cabernet Sauvignon wine that has 13% Petit Verdot blended in. It is complex and delicious to savor right now. Black Forest Cake, huckleberry, Cuban cigar and shades of black licorice all parade on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, and highly poised, enjoy this beauty now and over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 93

Tenor

For years I have admired the wines by Tenor, one of the great Washington wine brands owned by Matthews. Founded back in 2007, Tenor focuses on 100% single varietal wines from various sites across Washington State. Wines are made in limited production, usually 150-200 cases. Over the years I have been impressed with the textural qualities of these wines that have impressed even during challenging vintages like 2015. 

2020 was not an easy vintage for winemakers but the new 2020 Tenor wine comes off very rich and clean with no smoke influence. This is a beauty you can buy with confidence. Learn more about these great new wines at tenorwines.com. Here are the beautiful new releases by Tenor. 

2020 Tenor ‘1:1’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 Tenor ‘1:1’ comes from the acclaimed Wallula Gap and Champoux Vineyards and was stored in all new French oak barrels before bottling. This wine was blended by the new Tenor/Matthews winemaking. This intense showing comes off very inky in the glass, displaying great aromatic range of creme de cassis with dark chocolate shavings, graphite, espresso grounds and freshly picked violets. The palate is silky and refined, with serious flavor density and marvelous texture. While obviously big, this has a weightless feel on the mid-palate. A joy to drink now, give this about an hour in the decanter if savoring in its heady youth. Drink 2023-2033- 95

Review: Hotel Football, Old Trafford: Laughable One Star Service at Two Star Hotel

I will fully admit that I was very excited for a stay at a football themed hotel. Little did I know, the place was a complete disaster. I checked in to my room at Hotel Football and was informed that my space was on the 5th floor.

Much to my surprise, and disappointment the room had two twin beds. Since I am 6’5’’ I rang the front desk, saying that I wanted to be in a larger bed, which was what I had ordered. The woman at the front desk told me that I had not booked a room with a larger bed and I was supposed to push the two beds together.

I told her that was not true, that I would have ordered a room with a larger bed because I was so big. When I asked for another room, she said that all rooms were sold out. I told her that there are 133 rooms in the hotel, there are no games going on and it was not possible that the hotel was fully booked.

At that point I realized that it was fruitless to continuing arguing with her — she was just not going to give me another room and she was being completely dishonest to me in terms of room availability. In terms of the size of the room, it was extremely small for Europe standards. The room’s decor reminded me of a cheap Holiday Inn or Ramada. The one chair in the room was even more uncomfortable than it was ugly. I’ve stayed in all kind of rooms in Paris, London and Rome that were easily twice the size of this shoebox. The room itself is extremely narrow so it literally gives you a feeling of being boxed in. Fortunately I am not claustrophobic.

The bathroom was extremely small and spartan, with very cheesy slogans etched on the glass. This also was not football themed by any means. The room did not have any football memorabilia. Bathroom products were not marked by any brand so you had no idea where they came from. This is not consistent with somewhere with a 4.5 star rating.

The ‘netting’ themed backboard was also extremely cheap looking and poorly done. Being a stones throw from Manchester United I was shocked there were no jerseys or any memorabilia in the room — quite literally nothing related to Manchester United that stands only a few hundred meters away from the hotel. The room was not dirty but it was very sterile. It would have been very easy for them to place a jersey, or something actually football-themed on the wall. Instead they took the lazy, cheap approach in terms of the decor. Walls were paper thin as I could hear my ‘neighbors’ having sex.

There isn’t really a lobby or space for any place to sit in the ‘lobby’ as the lobby is more of a breezeway. I entered Cafe Football for a drink and ordered a scotch on their menu which they said they were out of. Instead I ordered another one on the menu that I didn’t really want. There were several people there with their pints but there wasn’t anywhere to sit at the bar.

Sleep wasn’t easy to come by on the incredibly uncomfortably firm twin mattress but I did manage to push these two beds together as the front desk worker graciously suggested.

Hotel Football, Old Trafford has somehow been given a 4.5 Star rating by Marriott. Ratings must have been completed by people who have never stayed at this Ramadaesque motel located right outside Old Trafford. I was very excited to visit this supposed football themed hotel but my stay at Hotel Football was a thorough disappointment from start to finish.

Review: British Airways First Class Seattle to London

A seriously good product with solid service, British Airways First Class has often been commented on as the best business class in the sky. Sure, there are some snags, but the overall product that they deliver on BA First is top notch. As I made my way to gate S10 from the tiny, laughably poor British Airways First Lounge in Seattle, I had a feeling this was going to be a great flight.

Boarding was a breeze as I moved through Business Class to take a glance of my seat, 2F. I had read that row 1 can be a bit more noisy with the First bathroom located on the left side in front of Row 1 and the galley near there as well. My seat location proved to be very quiet even with a full cabin.

The seat was very wide with 78 inches in length and plenty of room for my 6’5’’ frame. It could be easily adjusted to a lay flat bed that was extremely cozy with the classy bedding selected. The seat has a classy reading light that can be easily adjusted as well as bright overhead light. Arm rests were made of new leather and offered good support.

There was a small storage locker behind the seat where small personal belongings could be stowed. The bathroom was offered rather spartan aesthetics but included their signature first Elemis products.

Here I am seated in 2F.

New touch screens have recently been added to the First cabin, as well as a cool, interactive map, great for AV geeks. Loads of in-flight entertainment was available and I switched on Tulsa Kings for a good laugh. Headphone quality was adequate, albeit not exceptional. There was a small charging station next to the seat and a small closet in front to hang jackets and to stow shoes.

I think few would argue that British Airways First has been well-known for their service and the additional training that flight attendants have to serve the cabin. I experienced marvelous service throughout the flight and I was almost immediately served champagne with mixed nuts. This was no ordinary champagne but one of my favorite Tete de Cuvees from Laurent Perrier, their ‘Grand Siecle’ which is a blend of rare vintages and old wines. It is one of the finest multi-vintage champagnes in the world, retailing at $250.00 USD.

Very high-class products on British Airways First Class.

Pajamas and slippers were provided by Temperley London and the toilet kit came with Elemins products. They provide an extremely high quality eye mask as well.

Just adore that brilliant golden hue of the champagne.

I was handed a menu which included the exceptional wine list. In addition to the ‘Grand Siecle’ Champagne, they had a great British sparkling wine from Hattingley Valley as well as an older Rose wine from Lanson that combined some vintages more than 15 years old.

A top notch wine list by British Airways that has improved considerably since my early 2020 review.

Very quickly I was served some delicious canapés. I was particularly impressed with the chilled beef which tasted better than it looked.

More champagne was on the way from my attentive flight attendant who was originally from Sicily. She had been called in last minute for the flight but did resent that one bit. Service was in perfect cadence, which gave me plenty of time to rest after my meal. I had asked for my food to be served rather quickly so I would have adequate time to rest on the flight. She did her absolute best to manage that request.

I chose the Tuna and Seabass, and it was a difficult choice!

The tuna was a bit bland, needing a bit more flavor in the dish and sauce.

Fish is beyond difficult to do well on a plane. Even in Emirates First I’ve tasted the struggle. This sea bass was incredibly moist and delicious. It was the finest fish dish I had ever tasted on a plane. The grilled lemon was the perfect foil to the fish’s flaky texture and soft middle.

This was a total match made in heaven, the cheese plate with top notch Tokaii.

I was so excited for the next round of food, my cheese pairing with the Royal Tokajii House 5 Puttenyos, a rich and viscous bottling from 2013. Especially with the blue cheese, as well as the Humboldt fog (L on photo) this was a dream. I ate rather quickly and wanted to get some rest for my long journey.

Turndown service was fantastic, as was a glass of the 250 USD retail Johnny Walker Blue Label Scotch. I was going to enjoy some of that before bed.

Here is the full English breakfast.

I slept four hours on that comfy bed which was really fantastic. I arose and immediately ordered an espresso and a full English breakfast which was very tasty other than the eggs which were a bit rubbery. Service was exceptional post-sleep.

As we prepared for landing, I was feeling well-rested and very full from my meal. It was a marvelous experience aboard this flight and was excited to have some time in the famed Concorde Room at London Heathrow.

British Airways delivers a very polished First Class product that includes amazing food and wine quality and service. My flight attendant was fantastic and attentive despite being called in last minute. The other attendants were very engaging and kind which is just the kind of service that you look for aboard British First. I disembarked thinking that I can’t wait for my next flight on British Airways First Class.

Tablas Creek

One of the finest producers of Rhone varietals in Paso Robles, Tablas Creek began as an iconic partnership between Chateau Beaucastel and Robert Haas, owner of their United States importer, Vineyard Brands. I won’t forget my 2020 tasting with Haas over Zoom, tasting through a range of their spectacular ‘Espirit de Tablas.’ These wines can age well over fifteen years!

The Tablas Creek Vineyard began when Jean-Pierre and François Perrin and Robert Haas purchased a former alfalfa farm that is set on limestone soils in the Adelaida Hills. From the beginning they focused on Rhône-style wines made organically. The first plantings took place in 1994 and the first Tablas Creek Vineyard wines produced in 1997. The winery has been an incredible success since that time, reaching worldwide acclaim particularly for their Rhone style red and white blends. Today Jason Haas, Robert’s son, runs Tablas Creek operations. Jason spent a four-year stint managing a tech company in Washington, DC before moving to Paso Robles to join Tablas Creek in April of 2002. As General Manager of Tablas Creek since 2006, he oversees the business, winemaking, and sales and marketing operations.

I loved the new 2022 Tablas Creek ‘Dianthus’ Rose (OB, 94) which is deep and beautifully textured stuff, with serious weight.  Even better is the world-class 2021 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit Blanc de Tablas’ White Wine (OB, 96) which is amongst the finest Rhone inspired wines that you will taste in North America. The flavor complexity is just gorgeous here. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://tablascreek.com Here are the outstanding new wines by Tablas Creek. 

2022 Tablas Creek ‘Patelin de Tablas’ Rose- The 2022 ‘Patelin de Tablas’ combines nearly all Grenache (67%) with the remainder Mourvèdre, Counoise and Vermentino. This comes off very fresh and polished on the palate, with a soft texture and copious minerals. Drink 2023-2029- 91

2022 Tablas Creek ‘Dianthus’ Rose- Always one of the great Rose wines made in North America, this incredible 2022 edition combines mainly Mourvèdre and Grenache with a large portion of Counoise (16%) and a touch of Cinsault. Very deep and concentrated, yet showing a beautiful underlying finesse, this shows beautiful flavor complexity and flavor density. Ripe Yakima cherry flavors collide with wild mushroom, cinnamon sticks, watermelon and shades of Mandarin orange rind. A total show-stopper, this beauty will easily live on for another eight years. Drink 2023-2031- 94

2022 Tablas Creek ‘Patelin de Tablas Blanc’ White Wine- The serious value 2022 ‘Patelin de Tablas Blanc’ combines Grenache Blanc (49%) with smaller parts Viognier, Marsanne, Vermentino Roussanne, Picpoul and Bourboulenc. It shows off its polished texture with fantastic weight considering the price. This packs a serious punch with ripe orchard fruits and nutty undertones. Enojoy this beauty now at a slightly warmer temperature. Drink 2023-2029- 91

2021 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit Blanc de Tablas’ White Wine- The world-class 2021 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit Blanc de Tablas’ White Wine combines 70% Roussanne with 17% Picpoul and the remainder Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc and Clairette. This new edition will easily go head to head with some of the finest examples of Chateauneuf Blanc. Seamless throughout the drinking experience this shows off a pillowy texture, yielding layers of cantaloupe, salted Macadamia nut, lychee and shades of white rose water. This shows a beautiful combination of stuffing and underlying finesse, as the 2021 ‘Espirit Blanc de Tablas’ really needs 30-40 minutes of air prior to consuming now. Don’t serve too cold! Drink 2023-2037- 96

2021 Tablas Creek ‘Cotes de Tablas’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Cotes de Tablas’ Combines mostly Grenache (47%) and Syrah (30%) with the remainder Counoise and Mourvèdre. Smoky and savory on the nose this shows a brilliant core of red fruits that mingle with stony undertones. The palate is fleshy and soft with a great underlying acidity. Layers of tart red fruits combine with wet stone, blood orange zest and shades of cardamom on the palate. Drink 2023-2031- 92

2021 Tablas Creek Grenache- This is lithe, concentrated and downright delicious Grenache form the 2021 vintage. Red currants, red rose water and citrus rind with stony accents all dominant the nose. The palate is plush and polished with a seamless texture. Bright and lithe, this is delicious, red fruit-driven Grenache that is best enjoyed now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 93

Giovanni Manzone

One of Barolo’s famed producers Giovanni Manzoni was founded back in 1925 when Giovanni Manzone purchased 'Ciabot del Preve' (the Parish Priest house) and he started the winemaking in Monforte d’Alba. During the years the Manzone family purchased important vineyards on the historic hill of ‘Castelletto’ and ‘Gramolere’ two top crus in  Monforte d'Alba. In the last several years Mauro (2005) and Mirella Manzone (2012) joined their father Giovanni in the management of the winery. Mauro and Mirella are graduates from the famed Oenology School of Alba. Manzone estate is located in Monforte d’Alba, Piedmont, in the southeastern portion of the Langhe hills. Manzone owns 8.5 hectares (about 20 acres) of vineyards and uses estate-grown grapes only. The entire production is roughly 45,000 bottles per year.

I love the Manzone wines and have bought many of these wines over the years, particularly the well-priced ‘Bricat’ which consistently over-delivers for the price. I absolutely loved the 2018 Giovanni Manzone ‘Bricat’ Barolo (OB, 94) which is so pretty in its core of red fruits and is actually drinking marvelously now. Learn more about this famed Barolo estate at http://www.manzonegiovanni.com Here are notes from the outstanding new wines by Manzone.

2020 Giovanni Manzone Rossese Bianco- The 2020 Rossese Bianco is an indigenous varietal that is rare and was rediscovered by Manzone. This wine has been made since 1982. This almost resembles a cross between Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc with kumquat zest, cashew nut, wet stone and a silky smooth texture. This is really well-done that is best enjoyed at a slightly warmer temperature to take in the outstanding range of flavors. Drink 2023-2028- 91

2019 Giovanni Manzone ‘La Marchesa’ Barbara D’Alba- An outstanding value, the 2019 ‘La Marchesa’ Barbera comes from a vineyard set on red clay soils. ‘La Marchesa’ is an historical farmhouse that used to belong to the Marchesa Scarampi and has belonged to the Manzone family since 1999. This is nicely perfumed with violet rose petals alongside freshly tilled soils, white truffle and suggestions of blood orange zest. The palate is very fresh and nicely textured, with good length and concentration. This is drinking beautifully right now. Give this an hour in the decanter if enjoying in its heady youth. Drink 2023-2032- 92

2019 Giovanni Manzone ‘Gramolere’ Barolo- The exceedingly good 2019 Giovanni Manzone ‘Gramolere’ Barolo really needs about an hour or two in the decanter to fully be aroused. White pepper and shades of red currant compote, cranberry and dried red cherry notes. The palate is rich and dense with a smooth texture. Very generous, this revels in its citrus rind and great core of red fruit flavors, with stony and herbal accents and solid underlying finesse. This has some seriously good potential, just give it at least another year before consuming. Drink 2023-2037- 93

2018 Giovanni Manzone ‘Bricat’ Barolo- A delicious and already quite open Barolo, the 2018 ‘Bricat’ is a fantastic new wine from this storied house. Once on the nose this shows serious complexity with red licorice and black truffle and shades of potpourri. The palate is complex and rich with a wonderfully fleshy texture. Rich red fruits combine with salty soils, worn leather and tobacco leaf. With more air this just gets better and better as this beauty will easily Ella well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2023-2038- 94

2018 Giovanni Manzone ‘Castelletto’ Barolo- The gorgeous 2018 Giovanni Manzone ‘Castelletto’ Barolo is a stunning wine that is showing beautifully at the five year mark.  This is bright and is bursting with sour red fruits that combine with freshly tilled loamy soils, green peppercorns, Enoki mushroom and suggestions of menthol. Fantastic to consume in its heady youth this beauty will easily go for another fifteen years. Drink 2023-2038- 93

2016 Giovanni Manzone ‘Gramolere Riserva’ Barolo- The finest wine in the collection, the world-class 2016 Giovanni Manzone ‘Gramolere Riserva’ Barolo comes from 50 year old vines that are set on the steepest portion of the vineyard. The site is set to southern and south-western exposure and soils are  calcareous and sandy, rich in stones and fossils. This is beautifully textured wine that is already nicely evolved. Red rose petals and wet stone combine with citrus blossom water, sandy soils, tart cherry and shades of red licorice on the palate. A masterpiece, this beauty will live on for at least another twenty years to come. Drink 2023-2050- 96

Ambassador Wines of Washington

Today we share a consistently good producer on Red Mountain. admire wineries that show good consistency. Ambassador Wines of Washington who have been crafting bold, dense and nicely textured wines from their Red Mountain estate since 2004. Under the expert eye of Dick Boushey, the Ambassador Vineyard is a warm site planted to a host of varietals, from Grenache to Cabernet Sauvignon. Ambassador has a tasting room in the Woodinville Warehouse District which is a wonderful spot to try their awesome range of wines. Ambassador utilizes famed winemaking consultant Tom Rinaldi, formerly with Provenance and Hewitt wineries in Napa. He has crafted a range of beautiful wines from the challenging 2020 vintage.

I really enjoyed the Ambassador Grenache (OB, 92) which is soft and round with a generous mouthfeel.  I was impressed with the quality of the 2017 Ambassador ‘Envoy’ Red Wine (OB, 91), which displays delicious black fruit and chocolate tones. Learn more about this great lineup of wines at http://www.ambassadorwinery.com Here are the new wines by Ambassador Wines of Washington

2020 Ambassador ‘Estate Grown’ Grenache- One of the unique wines made on Red Mountain, the 2020 ‘Estate Grown’ Grenache is an outstanding new wine made by winemaker Mike Macmorran. Very juicy and concentrated, this shows rich pomegranate seed and bing cherry flavors with scorched earth and salty accents. Really good now, enjoy over the next seven years. Drink 2023-2030- 92

2020 Ambassador ‘Plenipotentiary’ Syrah- Nicely concentrated, the 2020 Ambassador ‘Plenipotentiary’ Syrah displays garrigue dusted smoked meats and blackberry flavors on the palate, with shades of chocolate and a smooth mouthfeel. This is delicious stuff to enjoy now. Drink 2023-2029- 91

2020 Ambassador ‘Envoy’ Red Wine- A blend of mostly Merlot (54%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (33%) with the remainder Cabernet Franc, this delivers a smooth mouthfeel with straightforward red and black fruit flavors that mingle well with sagebrush and coffee grounds. This is delicious stuff to enjoy now and over the next seven years. Drink 2023-2030- 91

2020 Ambassador ‘Plenipotentiary’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 Ambassador ‘Plenipotentiary’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful new effort that is nicely structured and smooth on the mouth. Layers of ripe boysenberry and black cherry combine with espresso grounds combine with shades of sweet pipe tobacco on the plate. Drink 2023-2030- 91

2020 Ambassador ‘Estate Grown’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2020 Ambassador ‘Estate Grown’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a nicely evolved wine that is a joy to drink right now. On the nose this takes on layers of chocolate and anise, alongside cassis notes. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture. Great now, enjoy over the next seven plus years. Drink 2023-2030- 91

2020 Ambassador ‘Plus’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from their Red Mountain estate vineyard, the ‘Plus’ is a barrel selection wine that weighs in at 14.8% alcohol. It is rich and well-structured with refined tannins and a smooth mouthfeel. Dense dark fruits parade with Turkish coffee and tar notes on the palate. Drink 2023-2030- 92

Bourbon Steak: Seattle's Best Happy Hour

It is rare that food quality, dining experience and service wows you in Seattle. Sure there are plenty of good spots for food but was it a fun experience? Walking away from Bourbon Steak you leave very satisfied not only with food quality and quantity but from the overall vibe. Sitting at the bar is definitely a vibe — and with deep house echoing and attentive service around you, you’d think you were in Las Vegas or New York City rather than Seattle. There is not another bar in the Pacific Northwest that creates this level of experience for their patrons.

We arrived when the bar was empty as it is usually packed on the weekends. Being new parents we felt very fortunate to visit. I immediately ordered a mezcal old fashioned which was presented to me quickly, with class. The drink was amazing and not too sweet, showing beautiful balance. For years I have loved to come to this bar and enjoy a world-class cocktail and this visit was as good as any visit. This is another reason why Bourbon Steak is Seattle’s best happy hour. I’ve come to this bar ten plus times and the drink quality and service is always exceptional.

Since it was our date night I ordered a great wine from their expansive wine list. Former wine director, Paul Swanson, has very carefully curated this list to have wines that exude value. Liquid Farm makes some of the finest Rose on the west coast, and I chose an older bottling from 2020. The wine was a perfect foil for this hot summer day.

The happy hour menu offers a wide range of choices. Loaded duck fat fries were their take on a loaded baked potato and this offering was generous and filling, with fries cooked to perfection. These are easily some of the best fries in the Seattle area. We ordered the grilled oysters which were small but very succulent. There were several beef dishes on the menu, so we ordered them all. You expect great beef dishes at a steakhouse and each one delivered.

The aromatic beef skewers were melt in your mouth delicious. I told my wife that I could have eaten seven of them. Beef sliders were incredibly juicy and satisfying. But the best thing I ate was their take on a burger. The black truffle burger is without a doubt one of the best if not THE best burger in Seattle. Everything was deftly in balance here with the truffle flavors, the meat grind, the juiciness and flavor range all working in four part harmony. Do not miss out on this treat. Bourbon Steak has hit a home run with its happy hour and you would be extremely hard pressed to find food quality, service and overall experience like this anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. They are delivering a Vegas quality happy hour on our doorstep that is not to be missed.

Cairdeas

Truly one of the great wineries of Lake Chelan, Cairdeas is an ancient Gaelic word meaning friendship, goodwill or alliance. Founded by Charlie and Lacey Lybecker in 2009, Cairdeas is named after Charlie’s Irish heritage, Lacey’s goodwill (that is how they met), the alliance they made with each other and those in our industry, and the friendships they have made along the way. Lacey and Charlie are some of the nicest people you will find in the Washington wine industry.

The winery sources from some great sites throughout Washington including the acclaimed ‘Boushey Vineyard’ in the Yakima Valley and the ‘Lawrence Vineyard’ in the new Royal Slope AVA. The winery is perched atop the lake with stunning views of Lake Chelan and the surrounding valley. It is a gorgeous spot to enjoy their fantastic Rose wine.

The new edition of their 2022 Cairdeas Rose (OB, 91) is fresh and lively with loads of mouth-watering acidity. Even better is their 2021 Cairdeas ‘Caiselan An Papa’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is all about balance, showing some astonishingly good flavor and aromatic range.The best part is these wine are all reasonably priced under 60 dollars. Learn more about this excellent Chelan outpost at https://cairdeaswinery.com/winery/about-us/ and here are my reviews of the new Cairdeas wines.

2022 Cairdeas Rose- Showing off its beautiful salmon hue, the 2022 Cairdeas Rose comes from the Meek Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. This version has near equal parts Grenache and Syrah, compared to considerably more Syrah in the ’21 bottling. The mouthfeel is smooth and soft, as this revels in copious crunchy red fruit flavors with mandarin orange rind and stony accents. Delicious, this is outstanding Rose to enjoy on a hot summer day. Drink 2023-2028- 91

2022 Cairdeas ‘Nellie May’ White Wine- Named after the owners’ grandmothers, the 2022 ‘Nellie May’ is a fantastic Rhone-inspired combination of Viognier (59%) and Roussanne (41%) which was soured from the Lawrence and Coyote Canyon Vineyards.  Once on the mouth this reveals bright acidity that connects with pear and green apple flavors alongside pastry crust and cantaloupe notes with a touch of cream towards the end. This is seriously good stuff with excellent nerve. Drink 2023-2029- 92

2021 Cairdeas ‘Consonance’ Red Wine- A unique blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah, the 2021 Consonance is inky in the glass. Smoke and anise aromatics combine with suggestions of sagebrush, dark currants and chocolate cake. The palate is smooth and concentrated, as this is just a delight to savor now with its heady black and blue fruit flavors. This has both the stuffing and finesse to cellar well for another decade. Drink 2023-2033- 93

2021 Cairdeas ‘Tri’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Tri’ combines mostly Syrah (67%) and Mourvèdre (22%) with the remainder Grenache. Provenceale herbs, grilled lamb and shades of citrus blossom water all combine on the nose. The palate is fresh and nicely concentrated, with a great core of red and dark fruit flavors. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2021 Cairdeas ‘Caislean An Papa’ Red Wine- The 2021 Cairdeas ‘Caislean An Papa’ Red Wine is a highly complex blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault and Counoise. White pepper dusted bacon, red currants, cigar ash and shades of black truffle all grace the nose alongside boysenberry fruits. The palate shows wonderful balance with deft finesse and good concentration from this warm vintage. Finishing long with black currants, sage and exotic spices, this is beautiful wine to consume now and over the next decade to come. Drink 2023-2033- 94

Walla Walla Vintners

It is hard to believe that Walla Walla Vintners was founded all the way back in 1995. Current proprietors, Scott and Nici Haladay, were first introduced to Walla Walla Vintners in 2017. Already familiar with the historic winery, they were excited to get the chance to be the new stewards of the iconic red barn and Cut Bank Estate vineyard. Scott comes from a technology background and Nici is a licensed nurse. The winery is undergoing a significant renovation and will have an entire new winery space. The building looks outstanding and I am excited to see the property when it is completed.

Winemaker Derrek Vipon is a is a native Washingtonian who started his career at Walla Walla Community College in the Enology and Viticulture program. After completing his education with a degree from Oregon State University in Fermentation Science, Derrek worked several harvests across the globe before eventually moving back to Walla Walla and joining Walla Walla Vintners in January 2019.

These wines are getting better and better. Don’t miss out on the 2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 92) which is nuanced and fresh with lovely stony tones. Even better is the sensational 2020 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Alera’ Red Wine (OB, 93) which is concentrated and complex — delicious to consume right now. Learn more about these great new releases at https://wallawallavintners.com Here are my reviews of the new wines by Walla Walla Vintners. 

2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- Stored in a combustion of neural oak and stainless steel, the really good 2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc shows bright white grapefruit zest on the palate alongside copious minerals and stony undertones. Fleshy and ripe, enjoy this delicious Sauvignon Blanc now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2029- 92

2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- Tart with bright acidity, the 2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc shows gooseberry and kiwi notes alongside copious minerals on the palate. Drink 2023-2028- 90

2021 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Woven Fields’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Woven Fields’ is a Merlot-dominant blend that is very soft and round on the mouth. Tobacco leaf, wild blackberry and rich chocolate covered black raspberry flavors all combine on the palate. Enjoy this great wine now and over the next eight years. Drink 2023-2031- 91

2020 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from old plantings in the Sagemoor Vineyards, the 2020 ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon might not be the biggest wine you will find but it shows wonderful balance. Graphite, tar, anise and shades of boysenberry all come together beautifully on the palate. Drink 2023-2031- 92

2020 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Alera’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Alera’ combines 75% Merlot with the reminder Cabernet Sauvignon. Inky in the glass, this offers ripe red cherry and menthol notes on the palate with wet stone and shades of chocolate cake. Delicious to consume now, enjoy over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 93

Gramercy Cellars

Today we share one of the treasures of the Walla Walla Valley. For years I have admired the wines by Gramercy Cellars, one of Washington state’s great producer of Rhone varieties. Gramercy was founded by winemaker and master sommelier, Greg Harrington, MS. He crafts both Rhone and Bordeaux varietals, and sources from some of the top vineyards in the state. He partners with Brandon Moss to create some of the best Rose in the Pacific Northwest.

It is remarkable that Harrington incredibly passed the master sommelier exam at the age of 26. Partner and co-winemaker, Brandon Moss, shares Greg’s focus on prime fruit and minimal intervention, showcasing the typicity of the individual varietal. Regardless of vintages, I am highly impressed with the range of wines that gramercy produces. A prime example of this is how they fared with their Bordeaux varietals in 2019 — a cooler vintage that saw a freeze event in early October. Greg and Brandon’s 2019 Cabernets are marvelous, with refined tannins, beautiful structure and plenty of depth and concentration.

They have crafted an incredible new wine, a Rose made from Mourvèdre. The 2022 Gramercy Cellars ‘Olsen Vineyard Rose of Mourvedre’ Rose (OB, 93) is hands down one of the best Rose wines I have tasted this year. I adored the 2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which is all about balance and beautiful black fruit flavors with plenty of nuance. Learn more about these amazing wines at gramercycellars.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Gramercy Cellars and the superstar winemaking team of Greg Harrington, MS and Brandon Moss.

2022 Gramercy Cellars ‘Olsen Vineyard Rose Of Mourvèdre’ Rose-   The 2022 Gramercy Cellars ‘Olsen Vineyard Rose Of Mourvèdre’ Rose is a new wine to the portfolio. Unlike their other Rose release, this bottling saw longer barrel age before release. Best served on the warmer side, this shows an incredible texture and sense of weight while maintaining bright underlying acidity. Layers of wild mushroom, citrus blossom water and Yakima cherry combine with red raspberry and salty accents on the palate. With loads of mouth-watering acidity, this is really gorgeous stuff. Drink 2023-2029- 93

2022 Gramercy Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Viognier- The 2022 Gramercy Cellars Viognier comes from this slightly cooler vintage and shows off honeysuckle and bright peach tones on the nose alongside Meyer lemon zest. The palate shows a good amalgamation stuffing and underlying finesse, loaded with juicy kiwi and starfruit flavors, with stony accents. Enjoy now and over the next several years. Only 12.5% alcohol. Drink 2023-2028- 92

2020 Gramercy Cellars ‘L’Idiot du Village’ Mourvedre- Year after year Gramercy Cellars crafts some of the best Mourvèdre in the state. This 2020 edition comes from the Olsen and Alder Ridge Vineyards, showcasing peppered bacon, cigar ash, and shades of dark currants on the nose. A soft texture greets you, as layers of pipe smoke, white pepper, anise and heady dark fruits all collide on the palate. Considering the challenges of the vintage, this is seriously good stuff that is already beautifully evolved. Enjoy now. Drink 2023-2028- 93

2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Holly Roller Vineyard’ Syrah- This unbelievably good 2019 Syrah comes from the ‘Holly Roller Vineyard’ which was planted by Chris Figgins and is set on ancient cobblestones. Umami, bacon fat, menthol and charcuterie notes combine with shades of boysenberry on the nose. The palate is soft and seamless with a lovely mouthful, bright acidity and good sense of flavor density. A literal cornucopia of flavors greets you from spicy red peppercorns and allspice to dark currants, pipe tobacco, stony soils and soy sauce rubbed flank steak. This is an incredible wine that is already beautifully evolved so enjoy now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2023-2030- 95

2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The 2019 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah comes from mainly the Les Collines Vineyard and was stored in a tiny amount of new oak before bottling. The wine saw near all whole cluster fermentation and is loaded with crunchy red and dark fruit flavors, with shades of milk chocolate, wet stone and garrigue. 5% Viognier was co-fermented which gives this a lifted presence and gorgeous citrus blossom fragrance prior to enjoying. Drink 2023-2030- 93

2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A killer wine made in a tough vintage for Bordeaux varietals, the 2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is already singing at the four year mark. Once on the nose this takes on layers of cassis and toasty oak alongside chocolate cake and scorched earthy notes. The palate is soft and inviting with a seamless texture and excellent sense of length. Everything is in balance here, with dense black fruits that mingle well with milk chocolate, coffee grounds and pipe tobacco notes. Drink 2023-2035- 94

2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Phinny Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A wine club only bottling, the outstanding 2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Phinny Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this great windswept site in the Horse Heaven Hills. Sweet tobacco aromatics combine with cardamom, creme de violette and suggestions of freshly tilled soils on the nose. The palate is very inviting and plush with a smooth mouthfeel and excellent length. Already drinking great, this beautifully structured wine is going to have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2023-2038- 94

Gard Vintners

Wines with value connect with you. I have always loved the great value wines that Washington has the potential to produce. 20 years ago this started with Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest but others have emerged to craft wines that give you some serious bang for the buck. Gård Vintners has exuded value for many years now. This house was one of the pivotal houses in getting this new Royal Slope AVA named. 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. Josh and Lisa are some of the nicest people in the wine business.

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 its outstanding, as it was last year as well. I adored the 2022 Gård Vintners ‘Grand Klasse’ Rose (OB, 92) which is lively and rich, showing a touch more tension than the ’21 bottling. Learn more about these great wines at gardvintners.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Gård Vintners.

2022 Gard Franc Blanc White Wine- This is a new wine by Gard. The 2022 Franc Blanc comes from Cabernet Franc vines from the Stoneridge Vineyard. Stored in stainless steel, this offers good richness with cashew nut, pear, and strawberry flavors alongside a soft mouthfeel on the palate. Drink 2023-2029- 92

2021 Gard Muscadelle- This is a new wine for their portfolio which comes from the Connor Lee Vineyard. Stored for 16 months in 50% new French oak, this offers gardenia and star jasmine notes on the nose alongside peach, and shades of honeydew melon. Tension, mouthfeel and bright acidity greet you on the palate, as this is absolutely incredible to enjoy now. Drink 2023-2029- 93

2021 Gard Albarino- Coming from the Lawrence Vineyard, this limited production (90 cases) wine offers honeysuckle, pear and cantaloupe notes on the nose. The palate is very concentrated and fresh with excellent tension holding this smooth-textured Albarino together. Enjoy now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2023-2029- 92

2022 Gard ‘Freyja’ White Wine- This edition of the Rhone-inspired ‘Freyja’ has 4% Muscadelle blended in and is mainly Viognier (74%).  Showing good nerve, this offers white peach and pink grapefruit flavors alongside good minerality and salty tones on the palate. Drink 2023-2028- 91

2022 Gard ‘Grand Klasse Reserve’ Rose- This new edition of the Gard ‘Grand Klasse’ Rose is 100% Grenache sourced from the Corfu Crossing Vineyard. Nicely textured, this shows excellent weight with very pretty guava and cranberry fruit flavors, with Mandarin orange water notes. Fantastic now, enjoy over the next five plus years and don’t serve too cold! Drink 2023-2028- 92

2019 Gard ‘The Don’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A great value Cabernet Sauvignon from the Royal Slope AVA, the 2019 ‘The Don’ offers medium bodied kirsch and milk chocolate notes on the palate, with herbal accents. Enjoy now. Drink 2023-2028- 90

Open Claim

For years I have been enamored by the wines of Open Claim — a winery that has become some of Oregon’s finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that I taste each year. Somehow this house continues to fly under the radar. Founded back in 2014 by Marnie and Brett Wall, Open Claim creates a bigger style of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that are complete wines with a beginning, middle and end.

There is little doubt that Tony Rynders is one of the most accomplished winemakers in the entire Pacific Northwest. Formerly with Hogue and Domaine Serene, Tony crafts some incredible wines for his own label, Tendril. He has been the winemaker at Open Claim and is doing an incredible job with this site.

2019 was not the easiest vintage in terms of harvest conditions particularly for Pinot Noir. I was enamored by the Open Claim wines from this vintage. They have crafted a very special wine for $125.00 retail that comes form a single block. The 2019 Open Claim ’19’s 25 Vintners Reserve’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) is one of the finest Oregon Pinot Noirs that I have tasted in the past year. The range of flavors already evoked is just thrilling! The wine has great stuffing and finesse, as this will easily age for another fifteen plus years. Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.openclaimvineyards.com/ Here are the brilliant 2019 releases by Open Claim. 

2019 Open Claim ’19's 25 Vintners Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ’19’s 25’ is a single barrel wine made by Tony Rynders that comes from Block 6 in the Open Claim Vineyard. It smells incredibly perfumed once in the glass. Violet rose petals and potpourri notes combine with shades of dark chocolate covered red raspberry. This shows incredible texture and concentration with beautiful underlying verve. Cardamom and red cherry candy combine with shades of pomegranate seed, kumquat zest and wild mushroom on the palate. Complex and really delicious, this heady wine is absolutely singing right now in its full-bodied youth. Drink 2023-2038- 96

DuMol

Today we present to you one of the shining stars of Sonoma County. A world-class producer of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet in California, DuMOL began back in 1996 and strangely initially was a hobby for three friends. Since 1999 Andy Smith been at the helm as winemaker. Originally from Scotland, Andy has previously worked at Dry River, Littorai, Havens, Franus, to Matua and Mt Pleasant wineries. Andy went on to graduate in viticulture and enology from Lincoln University in Christchurch, NZ and later became assistant winemaker for Paul Hobbs.

Andy has crafted some stunning current releases and I adored the new the 2020 DuMOL ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 95)  which has incredible tension, elegance and a lengthy finish. Don’t miss out on the mind-numbing 2020 DuMOL ‘DuMOL Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which is big, burly and shows incredible tension and salinity. Learn more about these stunning new wines at https://www.dumol.com Here are the great new releases by DuMOL. 

2021 DuMOL ‘Chloe’ Chardonnay- The 2021 insanely good ‘Chloe’ Chardonnay is crafted from the Lorenzo and El Diablo Vineyards in the Russian River Valley. The wine was stored for 11 months in French oak, this offers salted cashew nut, juicy pear, and baking spice dusted sourdough bread on the nose. The plate is big and voluptuous with a smooth texture and incredible Montrachet-like elegance. Extremely delicious to consume now, showing incredible weight and underlying finesse, with salty undertones, this beauty is already hitting its stride. Enjoy now and over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2023-2035— 95

2021 DuMOL ‘Wester Reach’ Chardonnay- The 2021 ‘Wester Reach’ Chardonnay is mainly sourced from the Flax and Charles Heintz Vineyards, as this was stored in 30% new French oak for 11 months before bottling. Right away you are allured by toasted pineapple and mango notes on the nose alongside shades of shortbread, flint and hazelnuts. The palate is soft and refined with a soft mouthfeel and beautiful sense of verve. Concentrated and showing incredible flavor range, the 2021 ‘Wester Ranch’ will live on for at least another ten plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 96

2021 DuMOL ‘Ryan’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 DuMOL ‘Ryan’ comes from the Russian River Valley and was stored in a small portion of new French oak barrels before bottling. It is dense and heady on the palate, with a smooth texture and wonderful nuance. Cloves and blood orange zest flavors combine with stony minerals and shades of red cherry candy on the palate. Very refined and polished, showing outstanding length, this is a beautiful wine that is already showing incredibly well. Drink 2023-2037 - 94

2021 DuMOL ‘Wester Reach’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Wester Reach’ is sourced from three subdistricts located in the Russian River Valley. The nose is beautifully perfumed with red rose petals, black raspberry and shades of freshly tilled salty soils. The palate is dense and refined with silky tannins that combine with a brilliant core of red and dark fruits, with cola and stony undercurrents. A complete wine, the 2021 ‘Wester Reach’ is shining brightly now and will continue to impress for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2023-2040- 96

Fidelitas

It was many year back when I fondly recall visiting Red Mountain for the first time. Fidelitas had just built their modern tasting room and I chatted with Charlie Hoppes as he poured his latest wines. A longstanding history in Washington wine, Charlie Hoppes 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. After some time, Hoppes wanted to start his own project. Hoppes finally decided 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. 

2020 was a more than challenging vintage in Washington State. However, there were great wines made this year, and the wines by Fidelitas come off very clean. They are not to be missed. Check out the brilliant new These are wines that are packed with power but show more restraint than the 2018 bottling. Check out the 2019 Fidelitas ’Heart of the Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which is dense and chewy, really needing about an hour in the decanter. Learn more about the great Fidelitas lineup at http://www.fidelitaswines.com/ Here are the great new wine releases from Fidelitas.

2021 Fidelitas ‘M100’ Red Wine- This is dense and rich considering its entry level status. The 2021 ‘M100’ displays nice garrigue undercurrents alongside a ripe core of black fruit flavors, with chocolate notes. Enjoy now. Drink 2023-2028- 90

2020 Fidelitas ‘Optu’ Red WIne- This version of Optu has a high percentage of Merlot (20%) blended in. It is very round and smooth on the approach with milk chocolate covered black raspberry, blackberry and coffee ground flavors. Medium-bodied and showing good finesse, enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2023-2030- 92

2020 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Very floral and perfumed on the nose, the 2020 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc displays pretty red rose petal notes alongside dark currants and tobacco leaf. The palate is plush and full of bright acidity and a smooth texture. Delicious now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2020 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Petit Verdot- Wonderfully vegetal and showing gobs of non-fruit character, the delicious 2020 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Petit Verdot offers tar, worn leather and sandalwood notes on the palate with dried herbs and shades of green bell pepper. Dense and chewy, with good underlying finesse, this beauty will cellar well over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2023-2031-93

2020 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Merlot- This 100% Merlot bottling is dark in the glass, displaying a smooth mouthfeel upon approach. Cassis and anise notes combine with dark chocolate shavings on the palate. Delicious now, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2020 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2020 ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is an awesome showing in a tough vintage. Once on the nose this takes on layers of anise, pipe tobacco and dense dark chocolate notes alongside wild blackberry. The palate is soft and refined with silky tannins that frame a core of generous dark fruits, sage and chocolate. This is a joy to drink right now. Drink 2023-2031- 94

2020 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’  Red Wine- Mainly Merlot (60%) with smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon (33%), Petit Verdot (9%) and Cabernet Franc (8%), this offers a smooth texture on the mouth. Copious red and dark fruits parade with espresso bean and scorched earthy notes on the palate. Delicious now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2019 Fidelitas ‘Blackwood Canyon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This Red Mountain Cabernet saw extended barrel aging. It is dense and chewy despite the coolness of the vintage. Everything is in harmony here with the tertiary notes rocking alongside medium to full-bodied huckleberry and black cherry flavors. Drink 2023-2033- 93

2020 Fidelitas ‘Heart of The Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from this esteemed spot on Red Mountain, the 2020 Fidelitas ‘Heart of The Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows tar and Turkish coffee notes with scorched earth and dense dark fruits on the palate. Don’t pop and pour this beauty as it is tannic and heady —this intense wine really needs a few hours in the decanter to get going. Drink 2023-2031- 94

2020 Fidelitas ‘Heart of the Hill Vineyard’ Malbec- Very inky in the glass, the 2020 Fidelitas ‘Heart of The Hill Vineyard’ Malbec is dense and chewy on the mouth. Concentrated Welches grape juice, blueberry compote, mocha, creosote and salty soils all combine on the palate. This is seriously good stuff that is already nicely evolved. Drink 2023-2030- 94

Argyle 'Ojo Brilloso' Pinot Noir

Today we share one of of those great Pacific Northwest wineries that proudly supports wonderful causes. Ojo Brilloso or ‘shiny eye’ is named after those who manage the Argyle Vineyards. Each wine is selected by the vineyard manager from three of Oregon’s premier vineyards: The Knudsen, Lone Star and Spirit Hill Vineyards. Each wine utilizes different clonal selection of Pinot Noir.

These are the best wines from this program that I have tasted so far. Each wine are limited production wines from the warm 2021 vintage that are each seriously good and made by the talented Nate Klostermann. Proceeds from these wines go towards three remarkable charities working towards equality, opportunity, and diversity within the wine industry: AHIVOY, The Roots Fund, and ¡Salud!. Learn more at https://shop.argylewinery.com/product/2019-Ojo-Brilloso-Set and here are my reviews of the three 2021 ‘Oyo Brilloso’ wines.

2021 Argyle ‘Ojo Brilloso Spirt Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Coming from this 180 acre site in the Eola-Amity Hills, the outstanding 2021 Argyle ‘Ojo Brilloso Spirt Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir shows off red currants and red rose petals alongside freshly tilled salty soils. The smooth texture entices. Salty and savory, this is loaded with bright cranberry, blood orange zest and strawberry flavors alongside loamy soils on the palate. Drink 2023-2035- 94

2021 Argyle ‘Ojo Brilloso Knudsen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This outstanding Pinot Noir is sourced from this Dundee Hills site set at 650 feet. This offers lavender and ripe black raspberry notes on the nose alongside shades of stony soils. Bold and rich, with a lush texture, this is absolutely thrilling stuff to savor right now and over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 95

2021 Argyle ‘Ojo Brilloso Lone Star Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Another knockout of the ‘Ojo Brilloso’ collection, this incredible new wine comes from the Lone Star Vineyard which was planted by former winemaker Rollin Soles and utilizes clonal selection 677 Pinot Noir. This is herbal, nuanced and shows incredible concentration. Rich red and dark fruits parade with citrus zest, dried herbs and smoldering stone accents. Drink 2023-2035- 95

Louis Roederer

Today we share some of the great champagne values that you will find in the US retail market. One of the great historic Champagne houses, Louis Roederer only produces their ‘Cristal’ Champagne in specific vintages. ‘Cristal’ Champagne was created in 1876 to satisfy the demanding tastes of Tsar Alexander II. The emperor asked Louis Roederer to reserve the House’s best cuvée for him every year as he was fond of Louis Roederer’s style.

For years Louis Roederer made an excellent entry level wine but they definitely upped their game in the past few years with their ‘242’ and ‘242’ releases. As an entry level champagne, the Louis Roederer ‘Collection 243’ (OB, 93) is a masterful effort, full of richness and texture. You can really tell that  some old wines are blended in here as the flavor complexity is outstanding. Learn more about these champagnes at louisroederer.com and here are my reviews of the new champagne releases by Louis Roederer.

NV Louis Roederer ‘Collection 243’ Champagne- The outstanding NV Louis Roederer ‘Collection 243’ Champagne utilizes the base from the 2018 vintage (nearly 60%), as well as 10% Reserve wines which were stored in oak casks. Nutty notes combine with freshly baked French bread and salted walnut on the nose. The palate is very fresh and lithe with a smooth texture. Brilliant citrus fruits combine with green papaya, and hints of ginger on the palate. Salty and stony, this is already really refined stuff that is best enjoyed over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2016 Louis Roederer Rose Champagne- This edition comes from the ‘La Riviere Estate’ and was given 8G/L dosage. The wine shows very soft on the mouth with layers of pretty guava, sour red cherry and pomegranate seed fruits that combine with flinty and citrus rind tones on the palate. This is seriously good stuff that is already beautifully evolved. Don’t serve too warm to take in outstanding flavor range. Drink 2023-2035- 93

St. Innocent

Today we share one of the top estates in Oregon that is known for some exceptional values. St. Innocent is a famed Oregon estate founded by Oregon Wine Pioneer, Mark Vlossak. Mark has a longstanding history in the Oregon wine industry as the first single vineyard Pinot Noir made by Mark dates back to 1989 from the O’Connor Vineyard. In 2006 Mark set up his winery at that same site of his first single vineyard wine, which is now named the Zenith Vineyard. For years I have loved Mark’s Pinot Noirs which exude class in their elegance and flavor range. He also makes some of the great Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc in the state, as his wines have landed several times on my Top 100.

2019 was definitely not the easiest vintage for Oregon Pinot Noir, with cold and damp conditions at harvest. I love what Mark accomplished in 2019, as he harvested very late and the wines show exceptional balance and flavor range, as well as really good flavor density. I love the new 2019 St. Innocent ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is wonderfully salty and shows a core of very pretty red fruits. He has made a great new bubbles bottling the 2017 St. Innocent ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 92) which shows a kiss of effervescence and really nice range of flavors. Learn more about these awesome wines at https://stinnocentwine.com Here are the great new releases by St. Innocent. 

2017 St. Innocent Brut- The 2017 St. Innocent Brut is a beautiful wine that is already evolved nicely. A blend of 60% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir this beauty was disgorged in September 2022. Pear and apple flavors with cashew nut combine on the palate, with wonderful salty undertones and light effervescence. Only 118 cases made. Drink 2023-2029- 92

2019 St. Innocent ‘Cremate de Innocent’ Sparkling Wine- One of the truly unique sparkling wines made in Oregon, this limited production (141 cases) 2019 sparkling wine bottling was sourced from Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Blanc grapes. It is very soft and delicate in terms of effervescence, just like the ‘Brut’ as star jasmine water, Japanese pear and kiwi flavors all combine on the palate. Showing good underlying finesse, with salty undercurrents, enjoy now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2023-2030- 92

2021 St. Innocent ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Riesling- Made in the ‘Kabinett’ style, this beautiful 2021 Riesling comes from grapes that were planted on thin volcanic soils. Stored in stainless steel, this was bottled in April 2022. The wine shows a sterling sense of tension once on the mouth. Kiwi and lime zest combine with volcanic stones and salty undertones on the palate. A knockout bottling for the price, grab this while you can. Only 97 cases made. Drink 2023-2030- 94

2021 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Blanc- For years Mark Vlossak of St. Innocent has been a statewide champion for Pinot Blanc. This edition is beautifully textured, with serious weight and tension. Layers of kiwi, peach and copious minerals greet you on the palate, with loads of lime zest and mouth-watering acidity, already displaying mushroom and Macadamia nut tones. This is a total stunner that will build earthy and nutty tones as it ages. Drink 2023-2031- 94

2022 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Blanc- This 2022 edition of the Pinot Blanc is quite different than the warm vintage ’21 version. It also shows a beautiful texture and bright acidity but is a slight beat behind in weight and flavor range now in its development. Salted cantaloupe, baking spice dusted brioche bread and shades of cashew nut all combine on the palate. A stunning wine, this will deliver drinking enjoyment now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2019 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- This outstanding new Chardonnay bottling come form the famed Freedom Hill Vineyard which is set in the foothills of the Coastal Range, roughly ten miles from the town of Salem. This wine shows some serious nerve once on the mouth, as everything is wonderfully in balance. Kiwi, orchard fruits and starfruit flavors combine with shades of marzipan and baking spices on the palate. Round and generous, with serious tension, this is a stunning new bottling that is best enjoyed now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 94

2020 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Coming from this challenging vintage, harvest was considerably after the smoke events of early September (Sept 22-27). Despite this, the wine comes off very clean with poached pear and apricot notes on the palate, with baking spice laced Challah bread and even shades of banana. Very ripe and exotic, enjoy this now and over the next several years. Drink 2023-2029- 92

2019 St. Innocent ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- For years I have admired wines that come from the ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ which is one of the unique sites in the Willamette Valley — set on a combination of marine sedimentary and Jory volcanic soils. This shows good concentration considering the coolness of the vintage. A great combination of black and red fruits greet you on the palate, with wet stone, salty soils and shades of Shiitake mushroom. This is beautifully constructed and concentrated Pinot Noir that will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2023-2038- 94

2019 St. Innocent ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This outstanding new 2019 Pinot Noir comes form the Temperance Hill Vineyard which is is a slightly cooler and high altitude site in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Harvest for this wine was done rather late on 10/21/19. On the nose this shows off black truffle notes that combine with freshly tilled soils, peat moss and wild blackberry notes. The palate is plush but also deftly structured, with a lifted presence and good sense of weight. The citrus rind and pomegranate seed accents entice, as this beautiful wine is nowhere near its end. Enjoy this incredible new Pinot Noir now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2023-2038- 95

Ehret

A small producer in Sonoma County that you may have never heard of, Ehret is set on a family estate, the Bavarian Lion Vineyards, located in Knights Valle, in the northern end the county. The family has been farming Bordeaux varietals since 1996, selling much of their fruit to other wineries in the Napa and Sonoma Counties. Then in 2005 they decided to create their own brand, Ehret. The estate is exceedingly large, spanning 1800 acres. This massive amount of land includes both hillside terrain and valley floor. They have a whopping 500 acres planted to grapes.

I loved the wines by Ehret that I tasted for my Sonoma Report back in March. The new wines I tasted were mostly from the outstanding 2019 vintage. Don’t miss out on the 2019 Ehret ‘Hillside Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is one of the finest Cabernets I have tasted from the Knights Valley over the past year. Learn more about this great smaller producer at ehretwinery.com and here are my reviews of the new Ehret wines.

2022 Ehret ‘Knights Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- Coming from the Bavarian Lion Vineyards in the Knights Valley, this 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is very nicely textured, with layers of gooseberry, wet stone, spiced pear and cantaloupe flavors. Very neatly done, enjoy at a slightly warmer temperature to take in the outstanding range of flavors. Drink 2023-2029- 91

2019 Ehret ‘Knights Valley’ Merlot- The 2019 Ehret Merlot has 15% Cabernet Sauvignon blended in and was stored in only 22% new French oak before bottling. It is both deeply colored and perfumed with violets, potpourri and shades of black raspberry on the nose with baking spices. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture. Layers of rich red and dark fruits greet you, with a soft mouthfeel. Delicious now, enjoy over the next decade to come. Drink 2023-2033- 92

2019 Ehret ‘Knights Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Knights Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is an outstanding new bottling by Ehret.  Nicely concentrated on the palate, this delivers mocha, tar and anise flavors alongside rich dark currants. Well-structured, this will easily cellar for another decade. Drink 2023-2033- 91

2019 Ehret ‘Bella’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Bella’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon has just a dash of Merlot added, as this was stored in 68% new French wood before bottling. This is a blockbuster wine, loaded with heady dark fruits. With more air tobacco leaf, dark chocolate shavings and shades of sandalwood emerge, with bright underlying acidity. Fantastic to savor now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2023-2038- 93

2019 Ehret ‘Hillside Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Hillside Reserve’ is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and a tiny dash of Malbec. Tar and sweet pipe tobacco flavors combine with mocha, anise and allspice tones. This beauty is only going to get better with age. Be sure to give this an hour in the decanter if enjoying in its full-throttle youth. Drink 2024-2040- 94

2019 Ehret ‘Hillside Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The beautiful new 2019 Ehret ‘Hillside Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a barrel selection wine that is already singing at the four year mark. Once on the nose this takes on layers of creme de violette, creosote, and suggestions of Black Forest Cake with espresso ground accents. The palate is very powerful and intense, yet comes off seamlessly with its round texture and generous mouthfeel. Uncork one and let this sit for at least an hour before consuming. Drink 2024-2040- 95

Nysa Vineyard

Rolling on with only Oregon wines today, we share one of the older sites in the Willamette Valley. For years I have admired the Panther Creek wines that show off this special site. Nysa Vineyard is a family-owned operation that was founded back in 1990. Owner and winemaker, Michael Mega purchased a parcel of orchards high in the Dundee Hills of Oregon in anticipation of growing world-class pinot. It was with passion, hard work and patience that Nysa Vineyard has become one of the most prestigious in the hills, providing Pinot noir to acclaimed producers throughout the Willamette Valley.

It was 2004 that Michael made his first vintage of Nysa Vineyard Pinot Noir. Wines from this site are aged in their cellar for many years prior to release. The new wines I tasted date all the way back from the 2019, 2017, 2016 and 2014 vintages — virtually unheard of for Oregon wineries to send me releases with this level of age. All wines showed brilliantly.

I love the 2019 Nysa Vineyard Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is neatly textured and shows a gorgeous array of fruit and non fruit flavors. Just as good was the outstanding 2014 Nysa Vineyard ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which is rich and viscous from this warm vintage. Learn more at https://www.nysavineyard.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Nysa Vineyard releases.

2017 Nysa Vineyard ‘Blanc de Noir’ Sparkling Wine- Made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes, this 2017 bottling offers lime zest and sourdough bread flavors on the palate, with lovely stony and salty undertones. Medium-bodied, with nice verve, a soft mousse and loads of mouth-watering acidity, enjoy this great bottling now and over the next seven years. Drink 2023-2030- 92

2019 Nysa Vineyard Chardonnay- The beautiful 2019 Nysa Vineyard Chardonnay is showing brilliantly right now at the four year mark. Once on the nose this takes on layers of salted peach and green apple that combine with nutmeg infused Challah bread. The palate is rich and viscous with good weight and bright underling acidity. Complex and delicious, showing great salty and nutty tones, this is a brilliant wine to savor now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2023-2030- 92

2014 Nysa Vineyard ‘Leda’s Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2014 ‘Leda’s Reserve’ is a beautiful wine now at almost ten years of age. Black truffle and tobacco leaf combine with red rose petals and rich dark fruits on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with smooth tannins. Ripe red currants dance on with salty stones and cranberry notes on the palate. Showing good length and balance, this is drinking beautifully now. Drink 2023-2029- 92

2016 Nysa Vineyard ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 Nysa Vineyard ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir is an outstanding bottling from this warm vintage. This is round and generous on the mouth with a great combination of red and dark fruits alongside dried herbs and shades of white truffle shavings. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2023-2031- 92