Walnut Ridge Vineyards

A ranching family that moved west to produce wines, Walnut Ridge Vineyards was founded by the Young family who have a longstanding history in farming. The Young family founded Blue Mountain Ranch which sits on the south watershed of the Ochoco Mountains, where an 800 cow herd grazes across emerald meadows. Over time the family sought to learn more about wine and the Oregon wine industry.

The family felt particularly inspired to start their own winery and after doing a yearlong 2020 travel adventure in their Airstream trailer which included an inspired visit to New Orleans, Walnut Ridge Vineyards was launched. The fleur de lis graces each bottle that would be a perfect fit at any Saints game.

Andrew Smith serves as winemaker. I really enjoyed the consistency of these red wines. Andrew has made a gorgeous 2022 Gamay (OB, 91) which is fresh and elegant with a great purity of red fruit flavors. Even better is the 2022 Walnut Ridge ‘Mystere’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which comes from an obscure clone of Pinot Noir and relies on beautiful flavor range with a smooth texture. Learn more at https://www.walnutridgevineyard.com and here are my reviews of the new Walnut Ridge wines.

2022 Walnut Ridge Riesling- The 2022 Walnut Ridge Riesling offers a kiss of sweetness alongside good verve and a smooth texture. Layers of sweetened gooseberry and melon tones combine with stony minerals on the palate. Despite the coolness of the vintage this is missing a bit of finesse. Drink 2023-2028- 88

2022 Walnut Ridge Gamay- This 2022 Gamay comes from vines that were originally planted to Merlot and were grafted over in the early 2000s. This was stored in all neutral French oak before bottling. Juicy raspberry and Bing cherry fruits combine with salty soils and orange rind flavors on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next seven plus years. Drink 2023-2030- 91

2022 Walnut Ridge ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- This ‘Estate’ bottling comes from the 16.5 acres of Pinot Noir planted on Bellpine soils. The wine is soft, showing a smooth texture, with layers of boysenberry and wild blackberry fruit flavors alongside wet stone and shades of peat moss on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 91

2022 Walnut Ridge ‘Mystere’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Mystere’ comes from a ‘Beba’ clone which was verified by DNA testing to be Pinot Noir back in 2006. This is the only known bottling of this clonal selection. Stored in 50% new French oak, this offers a smooth texture with layers of rich red fruit flavors that mingle well with allspice and shades of Mandarin orange zest on the palate. Drink 2023-2033- 92

2022 Walnut Ridge ‘Vielles Vignes’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Vielles Vignes’ comes from 27 year old Pinot Noir vines. Rich and polished, this shows a smooth mouthfeel on the mid-palate. Layers of red cherry candy and guava combine with salted orange zest, wild mushroom and baking spices on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2033- 92

2022 Walnut Ridge ‘Emma’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Emma’ comes from the highest elevation block at the Walnut Ridge Vineyard. Showing good finesse, this offers medium-bodied red and black fruit flavors that meld well with stony and salty accents on the palate. Drink 2023-2031- 91

2022 Walnut Ridge ‘Belle Amie’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Belle Amie’ was stored in 40% new French oak before bottling and comes from three estate blocks. Red rose petals combine with tart red fruits and kumquat notes on the nose. The palate is soft and displays a good combination of texture and freshness. Medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2031- 91

2022 Walnut Ridge ‘La Petite Fete’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘La Petite Fete’ is made by winemakers Jerry Sass and Drew Voit. This comes off very juicy and lively on the palate, with good underlying finesse, with guava, lavender and red raspberry fruits. Estate Pinot Noir and Gamay. Drink 2023-2030- 91

Early Mountain

Today we share an outstanding producer out of Virginia. Early Mountain has produced a beautiful range of new wines. Owner Jean Case is the Chairman of the National Geographic Society and CEO of the Case Impact Network and the Case Foundation. Case had a prominent career in the private sector, being a former senior executive at AOL and started Early Mountain back in 2012. , spanned nearly two decades before co-founding the Case Foundation in 1997.

Winemaker and viticulturist Maya Hood White is a native Californian, who earned an M.S. in Viticulture and Enology from U.C. Davis, with her research focusing on time-dependent sensory profiles and bubble nucleation of sparkling wine, as well as studies of Viognier wines from France, California and Virginia. She has formerly worked at some excellent Virginian producers before serving as winemaker.

I loved the new wines across the board. Check out the 2021 Early Mountain Petit Manseng (OB, 92) which is very concentrated and shows a great mineral backbone. Absolutely delicious was the 2020 Early Mountain ‘Eluvium’ Red Wine (OB, 92) which has a great core of black fruits and chocolate. Learn more about this great Virginian producers at https://www.earlymountain.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Early Mountain wines.

2022 Early Mountain ‘Pur’ White Wine- A proprietary blend, the 2022 ‘Pur’ offers bright pear and citrus fruit flavors alongside orange blossom and shades of green apple on the palate. Fresh and lively, with plenty of mouth-watering acidity, enjoy now. Drink 2023-2028- 90

2021 Early Mountain Petit Manseng- Brightly colored in the glass, the 2021 Early Mountain Petit Manseng shows off rich Macadamia nut aromas alongside wild mushroom, white tea leaf and shades of starfruit on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture and plenty of bright acidity. Drink 2023-2030- 92

2022 Early Mountain ‘Quaker Run’ Rose- This 2022 Rose of Merlot comes from old vine plantings in the eastern portion of the estate vineyard. Brightly colored, this offers plenty of mouth-watering acidity with layers of pretty red fruits, orange zest and shades of cardamom on the palate. Drink 2023-2028- 90

2022 Early Mountain Cabernet Franc- Herbal and nicely weighted, the 2022 Early Mountain Cabernet Franc displays bright red raspberry, garrigue and bing cherry flavors with a smooth texture on the palate. This is delicious wine to enjoy now and over the next seven years. Drink 2023-2030- 91

2020 Early Mountain ‘Eluvium’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Eluvium’ combines 75% Merlot with the remainder Petit Verdot. Soft and well-balanced, this offers good concentration and weight, with lovely black tea and garrigue notes from the Petit Verdot. With more air dark chocolate shavings and blackberry pie flavors mingle well with the smooth texture. Finishing long, this is delicious wine that will live on for another decade. Drink 2023-2033- 92

Artist Block

It is nearing 8PM Pacific time and it brings me extreme delight to post on one of the most transcendent wine brands that I have tasted for quite some time. A brand new winery that I have to immediately wrote about, lined with a beautiful, highly evocative neon bottle imprint, Artist Block was founded by Anna Sweet who studied at Manhattan School of Visual Arts and is producing some of the most electric brands of wine — if not THE most exciting — new wines that I have tasted in the past year from the Pacific Northwest. At the helm is winemaker Bree Stock, MW. Stock is Oregon’s only Female Master of Wine, who is an Aussie who brings a global perspective to Oregon. Stock has held positions with the Oregon Wine Board, NW Wine Coalition, and Assemblage Diversity in Wine. She is a delightful person to chat wine with.

As a person with incredible talents, I was absolutely floored when I tasted the first wines from her. These are wines that embody texture, finesse and delightful concentration. They are also low in alcohol, making them beautiful foils for an unmanageable range of foods.

To say that Stock has burst onto the Pacific Northwest winemaking wine scene with these new wines would be a complete understatement. She has produced three new wines, a Rose, a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Each are a must-taste for any serious collector of Oregon wines. Learn more at https://www.artistblockwine.com/ and without further adieu here are my reviews of the new Artist Block wines.

2021 Artist Block ‘Woo Juice’ Chardonnay- The 2021 ‘Woo Juice’ comes from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This is stony, salty and seductive Chardonnay which offers a very polished mouthfeel and glorious sense of length. The flavor range is really outstanding from salted Marcona almond to Japanese pear, baking spice dusted French bread and shades of kumquat zest, with wet gravel accents. Highly complex, big and juicy, this is impossible to resist even at the two year mark. Drink 2023-2033- 94

2021 Artist Block ‘Yummy Yummy Yummy’ Pinot Gris- Cloudy in the glass which suggests that this is both unfined and unfiltered, the 2021 Artist Block skin contact Pinot Gris is a stunning example of this type of wine, very a la BTW with its burly texture and sense of weight. Once on the mouth, this comes off very generous and deeply concentrated, yet shows good underlying tension despite the warmth of the vintage. Layers of white truffle shavings, guava puree, and pomegranate seed all combine beautifully on the palate. Don’t miss out on this beauty. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2021 Artist Block ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Made by winemaker Bree Stock, MW, this Chehalem Mountains AVA Pinot Noir offers beautiful stony and salty tones on the palate, with a smooth texture. Layers of pretty cranberry and red raspberry fruits combine with cardamom and blood orange zest on the palate. Complex and delicious, this is a seriously good effort that has both the stuffing and finesse to live on for another fifteen years to come. Despite the heat of the vintage this checks in at only 13.0% alcohol. Drink 2023-2038- 94

Delamotte

I love Champagne that exudes good value. One of the great producers that also offers insanely good value, Champagne Delamotte is located in the heart of the Cote de Blancs and is the sister winery of famed house Champagne Salon. This historic house dates back to the 1760s and sources from some of the great vineyards in Champagne, including those located in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize and Oger, as well as the Cote des Blancs, marvelously highlight world class Chardonnay. I’ve been enchanted by these wines for many years. Didier Depond serves as general manager for Delamotte as well as for Salon. Like Salon, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes for Delamotte are sourced  from Grand Cru-rated vineyards. The Delamotte range of wines offers more approachability, than those made at Salon — but also share some really good cellaring potential.

I adored all of the new releases by Delamotte including their gorgeous NV ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne (OB, 93) which is dense and plush with plenty of weight and gorgeous chalky mineral tones. I was enamored by the sinfully good 2014 Delamotte ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne (OB, 95) which is a rich and layered style that is built for aging. Find out more about this historic Champagne house at https://www.champagne-delamotte.com/en/ Here are the gorgeous new wines by Champagne Delamotte

NV Delamotte Brut Champagne- This fantastic NV Champagne bottling was stored in stainless steel and given 8G/L dosage. Saline dusted pear, persimmon and notes of yellow plum all combine with stony mineral accents on the palate.  Drink 2022-2028- 91

NV Delamotte Rose Champagne- Ver delicate and nuanced, the NV Delamotte Rose utilizes 7G/L dosage. Made from 80% Pinot Noir with 20% Chardonnay (from Le Mesnil), this offers guava and red raspberry fruits that combine with salted melon tones on the palate This is drinking beautifully now. Drink 2023-2029- 92

NV Delamotte ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne- The outstanding NV Delamotte ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne contains 10% reserve wines and comes from four separate villages as this was stored in stainless steel, this then was aged for four years. Given 7G/L dosage, this delivers salted cashew nut alongside green apple, lime zest and suggestions of sourdough bread flavors on the palate. This is seriously good stuff for the price.Drink 2023-2031-  93

2014 Delamotte ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne- The 2014 ‘Blanc de Blancs’ by Delamotte is comes from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize  and Oger. Disgorged in June 2021, with 6.5G/L, this shows serious weight and power on the mouth with a silky mousse. The flavors beautifully combine with lemon oil and salted almond notes that combine with juicy starfruit and French bread notes on the palate. The beam of salinity is really refined here as this 2014 is drinking beautifully now. Drink 2023-2038- 95

August Forest

One of the really exciting new wineries out of Walla Walla, August Forest was created by C.J. Augustine and Forest Rogers-Phillips who met while studying winemaking in Walla Walla. Both independently left careers and life on the East Coast seeking to further their wine knowledge and enrolled in Walla Walla Community College’s Enology and Viticulture Program.

Forest Rogers-Phillips formerly worked in the Virginia wine industry, at Pearmund Cellars in the tasting room, and production from 2009 – 2016. Then in 2017 he was hired as assistant winemaker for The Winery at LaGrange. In fall 2018 he accepted a harvest internship at Cellar Door Winery in Maine, where he met Aaron and CC Peet, who had both graduated from the Enology and Viticulture program in 2009. He then started the Walla Walla program, moving across the country.

C.J. Augustine left a business career Washington D.C. to make wine, starting with the Capital Wine School in D.C. and earning his WSET Level 3. He then moved west to start the Walla Walla Community College EV Program just as Forest had done.

The new wines by August Forest were really good across the board. I love the 2022 August Forest Rose (OB, 91) which is neatly textured, showing good flavor range. Even better is the delicious 2021 August Forest Syrah (OB, 92) which is rich and delicious with great smoky and black fruit tones. Learn more about this electric new winery at https://augustforest.com/ and here are my reviews of the new August Forest wines.

2022 August Forest ‘White Bluffs’ Riesling- Coming from the Bacchus and Gamache Vineyards, this 2022 Riesling is made in the ‘Trocken style’ coming off very dry. Nicely textured, this delivers green papaya, sour mango and green apple flavors that combine with salty minerals on the palate. Nicely made, this can benefit from more underlying tension. Drink 2023-2027- 89

2022 August Forest Rose- Made from Cabernet Franc grapes which were sourced from the Eritage Vineyard, this 2022 Rose offers a good sense of weight and freshness on the palate. Delicate flavors of peach and red raspberry greet you, as this nicely textured bottling, with earthy accents, would be a tremendous fit at the Thanksgiving table. Drink 2023-2028- 91

2022 August Forest Merlot- The 2022 August Forest Merlot comes from the Dwelley Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. Neatly textured, this comes off exceedingly soft and juicy with ripe red cherry, roasted figs, tobacco leaf and shades of anise on the palate. This is seriously well-done., nicely concentrated stuff that has both the stuffing and finesse to last for at least another decade. Drink 2023-2035- 92

2021 August Forest Syrah- The 2021 August Forest Syrah comes from the Eritage Vineyard as this wine saw 41% stem inclusion and was unfined and unfiltered. Soft, round and generous, this delivers a silky texture with coffee ground favors alongside potpourri, allspice, black cherry compote and smoked meat accents. This is exceedingly delicious stuff to savor now and over the next eight years. Drink 2023-2031- 92

Cava Mestres

A historic spot in Cava, Mestres is a house with an incredible past. A few years ago I embarked on a trip to Cava for the first time. What we currently think of Cava in the United States is an antiquated point of view, based on inexpensive wines that are mainly imported to our country. Top Cava is nothing short of world-class wine.

One of the oldest houses in Cava, The Mestres family dates back to 1312 as a wine negotiant and they have owned vineyards in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia since at least 1607. Many years later in 1925  Josep Mestres Manobens made his first sparkling wine by blending indigenous varietals Macabeu, Xarel-lo, and Parellada. Joan Aura serves as cellar master winemaker. They source from their 74 acre estate, which is divided into two plots: Clos Damiana and Clos Nostre Senyor as well as some area vineyards. Their vineyard is set on calcareous clay soils.

Having visited this winery it is set in a storybook setting in the small town of Sadurni d’Antonia, which is roughly an hour from Barcelona via train. The region is quite mountainous and it has a very different climate to Barcelona having a considerably lower maritime influence. Mestres give their sparkling wines extended time (18 months to 7 years) on the lees in bottle, which contributes to the complexity of the wines. During our cellar tour we had a chance to see some of their wines that have date back fifty years. Like many of Spain’s most celebrated houses, Mestres prides themselves at aging their wines and releasing them when they find them ready. While visiting I was able to view the disgorgement process as well as some bottling while we were there and I was amazed at the attention to detail as the cellar master inspects each individual bottle, regardless of price. They are truly a storied house in sparkling wine. 

I love their new ‘Reserva’ bottling, the 2020 Mestres ‘1312’ Rose Cava (OB, 92) is super fresh and lively with great nuance I loved the with their 2018 Mestres ‘Coquet Gran Reserva Brut Nature’ Cava (OB, 93) which is wonderfully salty and shows good weight and length. Learn more about this storied winery at http://www.mestres.es/?lang=en Here are the great new wines by Cava Mestres.

2020 Cava Mestres ‘1312’ Rose Reserva- The outstanding 2020 Cava Mestres ‘1312’ Rose Reserva blends 50% Trepat with 30% Monastrell, and 20% Pinot Noir. Aged for 2.5 years on the less prior to disgorgement in May 2022, this was given 6G/L dosage. Guava puree, kumquat zest, and suggestions of black truffle shavings all mark the nose. The palate shows plenty of body, finesse and mouth-watering salty undercurrents that combine with the very pretty core of red fruit flavors. Enjoy his beautiful wine now and over the next ten years. Drink 2023-2033- 92

2018 Cava Mestres ‘Gran Reserva Coquet’ Cava- The 2018 Cava Mestres ‘Coquet Gran Reserva’ Cava is a beautiful wine that combines of 30% Macabeu, 30% Xarel.lo and 40% Parellada which is named after the first vineyard Mestres purchased all the way back in 1607. This Brut Nature was stored on the lees for 42 months before disgorgement in December 2022, this offers cashew nut flavors alongside green papaya, mango and shades of Pink Lady apple. Fresh and nicely textured, showing good weight, this is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2023-2037- 93

2016 Cava Mestres ‘Gran Reserva Visol’ Cava- The 2016 ‘Visol’ is a masterful effort made from Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada vines that are more than 50 years old. The base wine was stored on the lees for six months and then a further 50 months before disgorgement in December 2022.  and lasts 50 months. Showing a rich, golden hue, the ‘Visol’ offers nutmeg dusted French bread, and salted Macadamia nut aromas alongside sandalwood and Japanese pear notes that all meld in the glass. The palate is rich and refined with serious texture and underlying verve. With the nutty and earthy tones, this is drinking marvelously now at the seven year mark. Drink 2023-2037- 95

Brilliant Mistake

There is little doubt that the Napa Valley is teeming with amazing new winery projects. Brilliant Mistake Wines was started by John & Stacy Reinert now a decade ago. While dating John and Stacy would frequent the Napa Valley and were inspired by the wines made by Thomas Rivers Brown and Juan Mercado amongst others. They learned more and more about wine and thought that it would be best to start their own project.

One of Napa’s great talents, winemaker Maayan Koschitzky, has cut his teeth at cult projects such as Screaming Eagle, Dalle Valle, and currently serving as director of winemaking at Atelier Melka. For all of his success, he is extremely down to earth. Brilliant Mistake was first born in 2013, and has been producing knockout quality wines. These are made in very limited production and source from esteemed sites including the famed ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III.’

The wine show good structure and poise, with fantastic concentration throughout the drinking experience. These are fruit and non-fruit driven, with some seriously good aging potential. I was enamored by the 2022 Brilliant Mistake Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 95) which is rich and layered with fantastic flavor range. The insanely good 2021 Brilliant Mistake ‘G3’Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) is a total show-stopper that is remarkably elegant and will live on for decades to come. Learn more at brilliantmistakewines.com Here are the incredible new releases by Brilliant Mistake.

2022 Brilliant Mistake Sauvignon Blanc- The 2022 Brilliant Mistake Sauvignon Blanc was stored in French oak barrels before bottling. Beautifully textured, this offers rich pear and pink grapefruit flavors that combine with shades of lychee and kiwi on the palate. Showing copious minerals, this beautiful wine will live on for another ten years to come. Drink 2023-2033- 95

2021 Brilliant Mistake ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from a range of vineyards throughout the Napa Valley, the 2021 Brilliant Mistake Cabernet Sauvignon is a totally stunning new effort by winemaker Maayan Koschitzky. This shows beautiful concentration with good underlying verve. Mocha, tar, cassis and tiled soil notes all enter the palate, with crushed wet rock and shades of pipe tobacco. Complex and highly delicious in its heady youth, with a smooth texture and great underlying finesse, this beauty will cellar well for another twenty years to come. Drink 2023-2041- 96

2021 Brilliant Mistake ‘G3’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 100% varietal Brilliant Mistake ‘G3’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the famed Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard in the Oakville AVA. Right away the brilliant high-toned florals allure, with dark rose petals that combine with loamy soils, mocha, black licorice and dark chocolate shavings. The wine is brilliantly structured with a hedonistic bent and plenty of salty minerals. A fabulous core of black and fruit flavors greets you, as this elegant, evocative wine is just starting to come into its own. Give this several hours in the decanter if savoring in its full-throttle youth. Drink 2023-2042- 98

TOR

A world-class producer of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, TOR is a namesake winery for Tor Kenward who spent 26 years building Beringer Vineyards into the wine juggernaut that it is today. As their vice president he was instrumental in helping create that brand into national prominence  before retiring in 2001. For years the Beringer Reserve wines were truly some of the finest in Napa and Tor played a major role in that project. Beringer actually paid for Tor to study viticulture and enology following his retirement, as Tor built his brand as an ultra-premium producer single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, sourcing from the top blocks within premium sites throughout Napa Valley. The current TOR lineup sources from esteemed sites such as Beckstoffer To Kalon, Vine Hill Ranch and Tierra Roja in Oakville, and Melanson on Pritchard Hill. These wines have really spoken to me for years. I love their polish, their texture and sense of place. For my palate, this is some of the finest expressions of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon that you will find in the entire valley.

The new releases that I tasted come from the warm 2021 vintage. Don’t miss out on the 2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) which flirts with perfection. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://torwines.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by TOR. 

2021 TOR ‘Melanson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This incredible 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from the Melanson Vineyard which is located on Pritchard Hill, and set on very rocky soils.  This edition is 100% varietal and was stored in 80% new Taransaud French oak barrels before bottling. It is a masterpiece by winemaker Jef Ames and proprietor Tor Kenward. Very inky in the glass, this offers wet gravel and creme de violette aromatics that leap out of the glass, alongside shades of creosote and sandalwood. The palate offers a seductive texture, with a bright beam of acidity that runs through the generous core of mocha with black and blue fruit flavors, with salty and stony accents. With more air, notes of lavender and crushed mint enter the fray. The combination of concentration, texture and underlying finesse really drives this wine that flirts with perfection. Truly a joy to consume in its heady youth, this stunning Cabernet Sauvignon will shine on for decades to come. Drink 2023-2045- 99

2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon-  One of the finest new world wines that I have tasted in the past year, the 2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterclass from this famed Napa house. This wine comes from the famed vineyard that was planted in 1868 and acquired by Andy Beckstoffer in 1993. The wine has as small portion of Cabernet Franc blended in, as this spent 31 days fermenting and then was stored for twenty months in 80% new French oak barrels before bottling. Needing an hour in the decanter to be fully expressive, once aroused this unveils layers of freshly tilled loamy soil aromas alongside dried herbs, creme de cassis and suggestions of espresso grounds that all sing in unison. The palate is soft and initing with an opulent texture and refined structure. Dense, yet showing a weightless appearance once on the palate, this is pure class and liquid velvet on the mouth. Enjoy this head-turning Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon now and over the next twenty plus years. Drink 2023-2045- 99

R. Lopez de Heredia

Some winery visits you just never forget. Such is the case with my visit to R. Lopez de Heredia several years back. For years I have admired the incredible Vina Tondonia wines and I was so eager to see the cellar, winery and vineyards. R. Lopez de Heredia is without a doubt one of the famed properties in the La Rioja region. It has an incredible history as R. Lopez de Heredia was founded in the nineteenth century when French negociants visited the Rioja region to find alternative sources of quality grapes to transform into wine, following their phylloxera epidemic had decimated their vineyards. Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, started his winery in Haro, the capital of the Rioja Alta region. The winery is a stunning older building with arguably the most incredible wine caves of the region.

This is a winery pitted in tradition as R. Lopez de Heredia wines are aged considerably longer than most and they are only sold when the winemaker finds them to be drinking perfectly. Their current releases are more than a decade old. I had the incredible chance earlier in the year to taste the 2008-2010 Vina Tondonia together. These are wines that at 15 years of age are incredibly youthful and still have decades of life in front of them. I am completely enamored by the 2011 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Rioja Reserva (OB, 95) which shows amazing aging potential in this brilliant vintage. Learn more about this famed  winery athttp://www.lopezdeheredia.com Here are the beautiful new wines by R. Lopez de Heredia.

2011 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Reserva Rioja- The 2011 R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia’ Reserva is a world-class Rioja with 20% Garnacha and 5% both Graciano and Mazuelo blended in. Coming from this vineyard set on limestone and clay, the wine was stored in homemade 225L American oak barrels before bottling. This 2011 Rioja offers beautiful red rose petals on the nose with cranberry, orange peel, worn leather and shades of freshly tilled stony soils. The palate is soft and refined with elegant tannins that frame a core of bright red fruits alongside blood orange zest, wild mushroom and great length. This is a total stunner that will live on for another twenty years to come. Drink 2023-2042- 95

Andrew Januik

One of the nicest guys in Washington wine is also making some world-class Cabernet Sauvignon that you need to keep your eye on. It has now been ten years since Andrew Januik started his own line of wines, focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon. Today he is making a range of wines which includes his fantastic ‘Southern Sojourn’ wine from Argentina. His ‘Stone Cairn’ is a Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that is inky and intense, with beautiful texture and a good core of finesse. The wine is sourced from a host of Red Mountain AVA vineyards including Shaw, Obelisco, Quintessence, and Ciel du Cheval vineyards. Oak treatment is moderate, usually around 55% for roughly twenty months before being stored in the bottle. The wines are well-priced when you consider the price that Cabernet Sauvgnon can fetch.

I have really enjoyed how these wines age, as I have tasted many older vintages with Andrew and have found them to get better and better. He did an amazing job navigating the cooler 2019 vintage. His work in 2020 was even more impressive as the wines were all exceptional despite the obvious challenges of the September weather.  The 2020 Andrew Januik ‘Stone Cairn’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) is a marvelous effort that is rich and shows loads of nuance with a silky mouthfeel. These wines are extremely reasonably priced under 50 dollars. Check out more about these beautiful wines at https://www.noveltyhilljanuik.com/wines/andrew-januik/ Here are my tasting notes from the new Andrew Januik wines.

2020 Andrew Januik ’Lady Hawk’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 Lady Hawk Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA and is 100% varietal Cabernet Sauvignon. This is very soft and round on the mouth, with a silky texture. Layers of toasty oak mingle well with graphite, black currants, espresso grounds and shades of mint leaf. Really delicious now, this will be great to savor over the next seven years to come. Drink 2023-2030- 93

2020 Andrew Januik ‘Stone Cairn’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Stone Cairn’ comes from Red Mountain as this is now the 10th edition of this wine. Inky dark in the glass, this unveils layers of cassis, creme de violette and scorched earth on the nose with sandalwood and pencil lead notes. The palate is concentrated and deep with refined tannins that frame a beautiful core of black and blue fruits with garrigue undercurrents. This is seriously good stuff to consume in its heady youth. Drink 2023-2030- 94

2020 Andrew Januik ‘Baba Yaga’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Baba Yaga’ comes from the Southwind Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. This edition is really delicious and inviting already at the three year mark. Tar, anise and creme de cassis flavors mingle well with dark rose petals and shades of black licorice on the nose. The palate is soft and nicely textured, with good weight and length. Finishing long, this is great stuff to consume now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2030- 93

2020 Andrew Januik ‘Doppel Ganger’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Doppel Ganger’ is the inaugural release of this wine which was sourced from the Andrews Family Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills. Right away alluring aromatics of violets, tar and mocha combine on the nose wth freshly tilled soil notes. The palate is soft and inviting with polished tannins that frame a core of blackberry and black cherry fruit flavors with coffee grounds and a graphite edge. Drink 2023-2033- 93

2020 Andrew Januik ‘Los Molinos’ Red Wine- This is Andrew Januik’s GSM-inspired bottling that is near all equal parts Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. This is nicely smoky and savory with layers of wild blackberry and black raspberry fruits that mingle well with the dried herbs, smoked brisket and scorched earthy notes. Drink 2023-2030- 92

Domaine Drouhin Oregon

Today we share one of the all-time greats out of Oregon. It is hard to believe that Domaine Drouhin Oregon began in in the 1980s, founded by famed Burgundy producer, Domaine Drouhin, headed by Robert Drouhin, who decided to purchase land in the Dundee Hills. What was previously only Christmas trees and wheat, the Drouhin family began planting their first vineyards in Oregon. Robert chose his daughter, Véronique, to serve as DDO winemaker, and her brother Philippe Drouhin took responsibility for viticulture.  In 1988, DDO produced its first vintage, from purchased grapes, and in 1989 built the landmark, four-story gravity flow winery. I had a great visit to the winery in August and am always blown away with the sweeping views of the Willamette Valley.  I’ve been lucky enough to have DDO bottlings back more than twenty years in my family’s personal collection.

The wines I tasted were incredible, showcasing the warm 2021 vintage. I adored the 2021 Domaine Drouhin Oregon ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir (OB, 97) which is arguably the finest bottling of its kind that I have ever tasted — up there with the epic 2002 bottling. Don’t miss out on the outstanding value 2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is also arguably the finest bottling of its kind that I have ever tasted. Learn more about this iconic Oregon winery  at http://www.domainedrouhin.com/ Here are the awesome new releases from Domaine Drouhin Oregon. 

2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Arthur’ Chardonnay- The 2021 ‘Arthur’ was stored in only 15% new French oak as well as stainless steel before bottling. Brioche notes combine with Pazzaz apple and wet stone on the nose. The palate is fresh and vibrant with smooth texture and great a sense of weight. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2021 RoseRock Chardonnay- The 2021 RoseRock Chardonnay was also stored in roughly 15% new French oak before bottling. Very smooth and mineral-driven on the approach, this shows a silky mouthfeel. Layers of bright orchard fruits parade with lemon rind, vanilla cream and suggestions of baking spices on the palate. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Chardonnay- The 2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Chardonnay is a stunning wine that is amongst the finest you will taste in the Willamette Valley. Smooth and polished throughout the drinking experience, this yields bright pear and pastry crust flavors alongside baking spice dusted pineapple, showing the warmth of the vintage. This has a mind-numbing, minute long finish that just won’t stop. A true tour de force, this beauty will live on for decades to come. Drink 2023-2040- 97

2021 RoseRock ‘Maigold’ Chardonnay- The ‘Maigold’ is the top Chardonnay bottling by RoseRock that was stored in 50% French oak before bottling. The bright acidity and smooth texture really entices, as this is a seamless Chardonnay to sip. Bright lime zest and creme brûlée notes combine with shades of cinnamon and cloves. Finishing very long, this is generous and dense Willamette Valley Chardonnay that is drinking beautifully in its heady youth. Drink 2023-2039- 96

2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Nor- The beautiful 2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir is already wonderful to enjoy right now.  This might be the best edition of this wine that I have tasted over the past twenty years. On the nose this takes on black truffle notes alongside wild blackberry and shades of peat moss. The palate is silky and refined with soft tannins and a brilliant core of red and dark fruit flavors. Delicious and bursting with flavor, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2033- 94

2021 RoseRock Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2021 RoseRock Pinot Noir comes from this hot vintage in the Willamette Valley. Nicely structured, with good weight, citrus zest and loads of mouth-watering acidity, this is absolutely delicious Pinot Noir that is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Origine 34’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Origine 34’ comes from top Pinot Noir barrels that were considered for ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir. Stored in only 25% new French oak, this offers white truffle shavings alongside boysenberry, black cherry and notes of pine needles. The palate is nicely structured, with a seamless texture and serious underlying finesse. Bright red fruits combine with Mandarin orange rind and Enoki mushroom with umami accents on the palate. Drink 2023-2038- 95

2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir- The nose on this 2021 ‘Laurene’ is utterly fabulous. Black truffle, anise, dark currants and shades of cigar box fill the nose alongside freshly tilled soils. The palate is just so wonderfully balanced, showing great weight and poise, as this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. A massive core of red and dark fruits combine with garrigue and shades of Nori. This will easily be a 20 year wine. Drink 2023-2043- 97

2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Pinot Noir- The incredible 2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Pinot Noir is a sensational warm vintage effort that is already showing beautifully. The palate is dense, chewy and filled with power, with fantastic tension holding everything together. Seamless and seductive throughout the drinking experience with heady dark fruits, this is a monumental bottling that is amongst the finest you will taste in Oregon. Drink 2023-2043- 97

2021 RoseRock ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir was stored for 15 months in 25% new French oak before bottling. Bottled in February 2023 this comes off very elegant and silky on the palate, as this is driven by a gorgeous pure core of red and dark fruit flavors alongside red rose water, orange rind and suggestions of tobacco leaf. Drink 2023-2040- 95

Liminal

Today we share one of the electric wine brands of the Pacific Northwest. I’ll fully admit that I was floored when I first tasted these wines which are sourced from the WeatherEye Vineyard (https://www.weathereyevineyard.com) one of the famed sites in Washington State viticulture. This site is set on the windswept ridgeline of Red Mountain in Washington State and is planted to 30 acres of Rhône, Bordeaux, and Spanish varieties. Quite diverse, the vineyard ranges from 950’ to 1410’ of elevation, and has extreme slopes and soils ranging from dune sand to fractured bedrock basalt. The talented Ryan Johnson serves as vineyard manager, having previously managed the esteemed Ciel du Cheval Vineyard for 15 years. Ryan farms this vineyard meticulously and wines from this site have a very wild appearance from the sagebrush, rabbitbrush and yarrow as well as many other native plants that can be found amongst the vines. Liminal took aim to make wines that showcase this very wild terroir, creating wines that show serious nerve and viscosity. I’ve now tasted these wines for four vintages and they have been some of the most exceptional wines in the state.

The 2021 wines that I just tasted were extraordinarily good. The 2021 vintage so far has been really exceptional for red wines. This vintage was marred by a heat dome in early June but otherwise saw a very consistent growing season with limited heat spikes and warm weather throughout. I adored the new 2021 Liminal ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Grenache (OB, 96) which has a sensational purity of fruit and plenty of spicy and herbal nuances. Learn more at https://www.liminalwine.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Liminal Wines.

2021 Liminal Grenache-The 2021 Liminal Grenache is a knockout wine from this vintage and might be the best edition of this wine that I have tasted yet. Very dark in color, this offers a brooding bouquet of purple rose petals alongside citrus zest, cardamom and shades of roasted dates, with garrigue accents. The palate is soft and refined with a seamless texture and glorious sense of length. Finishing exceedingly long with bright red fruits and herbs, this is nothing short of a stunning Grenache that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2023-2037- 96

2021 Liminal ‘The Barbarous Heart’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘The Barbarous Heart’ is a stunning Melanie of 42% Grenache with near equal parts of Syrah and Mourvèdre all coming from the famed WeatherEye Vineyard. Once on the nose this takes on layers of green peppercorns and allspice dusted red fruits that collide with black currants and tar notes. The palate is plush and also mineral-laden with a seamless texture and deep concentration of red and dark fruit flavors. Finishing long, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2023-2038- 96

2021 Liminal Syrah- The 2021 Liminal Syrah is an incredible new bottling by winemaker Chris Peterson. Inky in the glass, this is coming from the WeatherEye Vineyard High Canyon and has a small portion of Viognier blended in. Stored in mostly neutral oak puncheons, this offers creosote and blackberry compote flavors that mingle well with Turkish coffee, Middle Eastern spices, and suggestions of creme de violette. Deep and concentrated, with a great acid backbone, this is glorious stuff to savor in its heady youth. Drink 2023-2038- 96

Avennia

Sometimes when I am tasting wines they are so exceptional that I immediately need to post on them. One of the premier producers of Rhone and Bordeaux varietals, Avennia is a joint venture between former Microsoft exec Marty Taucher and winemaker Chris Peterson. Avennia has made their world class wines for more than a decade. It seems like their overall quality just gets better and better as they become more and more familiar with the vineyards and winemaking style.

Winemaker Chris Peterson is one of Washington’s great talents. His wines have beautiful poise, texture and weight. Chris did an amazing job with his 2020 wines where many other producers did not fare as well. The first 2021 wines that I have tasted from him are seriously good, that show the richness and depth from this warm vintage. Don’t miss out on the 2021 Avennia ‘Justine’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which shows a beautiful purity of red fruit flavors with serious nuance and texture. Learn more about these special wines at avennia.com Here are my reviews of the two new Avennia wines. 

2021 Avennia ‘Justine’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Justine’ is an incredible wine made by Chris Peterson. Mainly Grenache (65%) with the remainder Mourvèdre and Syrah, this displays beautiful high-toned red rose petals and pink grapefruit blossom tones on the nose alongside red currants, guava and shades of red licorice candy. The palate is soft and seamless throughout the drinking experience, with a silky texture and good concentration and underlying finesse. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next twelve plus years to come. Drink 2023-2035- 95

2021 Avennia ‘Arnaut’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘Arnaut’ is a thrilling wine that comes from the Boushey Vineyard. This beauty is already drinking marvelously. Black plum, white pepper dusted bacon and dark currants all mark the nose with damp soils and shades of Kalamata olive. The palate is weightless and has great depth and length. A heady core of roasted figs, creosote and kirsch cordial flavors greet you, with good underlying verve and dark chocolate cake nuances. This is absolutely delicious Syrah that will live on for at least another twelve years to come. Drink 2023-2035- 96

Champagne Jeaunaux-Robin

A relatively new Champagne house to me, Champagne Jeaunaux-Robin was founded back in 1964 by Michel and Marie-Claude Jeaunaux. The house is now managed by husband and wife Cyril & Clémence Jeaunaux-Robin. A very small estate of a mere 5.7 hectares (the family’s backyard) in the village of Talus-Saint-Prix in La Vallée du Petit Morin, vines are roughly 40 years of age and are set on flinty soils.

The wines I tasted are marvelously balanced, with plenty of tension and a smooth mousse. They are brilliant wines that would match so well with a range of delicate foods. The best wine I tasted was the NV Jeaunaux-Robin Le Dessous De La Cabane Brut Rose (OB, 93) which shows plenty of tart red fruits and shows the great potential of Pinot Meunier in this region. Learn more at http://www.valkyrieselections.com/webmedia/Jeaunaux Robin Rose Dessous Technical Sheet1.pdf and here are my reviews of the fantastic new wines by Jeaunaux-Robin.

NV Jeaunaux-Robin Esclats de Meuliere Extra Brut- Juicy pear and kumquat notes align with salty minerals and Marcona almond flavors with loads of mouth-watering tension on the palate. The flinty accents here really add to the enjoyment. Drink 2023-2031- 92

NV Jeaunaux-Robin Le Dessous De La Cabane Brut Rose- The outstanding NV Jeaunaux-Robin Le Dessous De La Cabane Brut Rose is mostly comprised of Pinot Meunier (75%) with smaller parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A beautiful salmon hue, this offers delicate red fruit flavors with salted macamadia nut and lime zest flavors on the palate. The racy acidity entices as this fresh style of Rose is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2023-2033- 93

Hattingley Valley

It has now been sadly several years since I have visited the beautiful vineyards of Haltingly Valley. A world-class producer of sparkling wines, Haltingly Valley is a 90 minute trek from Central London to arrive in the British countryside. Hattingley Valley is a family owned business located in Hampshire specializing in premium English sparkling wines. Simon Robinson founded Hattingley Valley in 2008, planting Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in his 24 hectacre vineyard (60 acres). With help from the talented Emma Rice they established their winery in 2010. Wines are fermented using a small portion of of oak barrels wit the remainder stainless steel.

I loved the latest set of Hattingley releases. A really good wine for the price, the NV Hattingley Valley ‘Classic Reserve’ Brut Sparkling Wine (OB, 91) has bright acidity and a soft mousse. Even better is the 2014 Hattingley Valley Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine (OB, 93) which shows plenty of richness and copious minerals on the palate. Learn more about this outstanding English producer of sparkling wine at https://www.hattingleyvalley.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Hattingley Valley.

NV Hattingley Valley ‘Classic Reserve’ Brut Sparkling Wine- The outstanding NV Hattingley Valley ‘Classic Reserve’ Brut Sparkling Wine comes from this vineyard that is set on chalky soils located in Hampshire, England. The ’Classic Reserve’ comes from a range of vintages, including some reserve wines, combining 47% Chardonnay, and 32% Pinot Noir, with 19% Pinot Meunier and 2% Pinot Précoce. Quince, lime zest and green apple flavors with chalky soils combine with the smooth mousse and bright underlying acidity on the palate. This is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2023-2030- 91

2014 Hattingley Valley ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- The 2014 Blanc de Blancs is a stunning wine that is drinking beautifully right now. This 100% Chardonnay comes from nearly all Hampshire Vineyards with 26% sourced from Sussex.  A small portion was stored in used oak barrels before disgorgement. Right away the wine shows beautiful finesse with layers of citrus fruits that combine with stony and salty minerals, alongside ripe nectarine skin and sourdough bread flavors. Finishing long with copious minerals and lime zest, this is a beautiful effort that will live on for another decade to come. Drink 2023-2033- 93

2018 Hattingley Valley Brut Rose Sparkling Wine- The 2018 Hattingley Valley Brut Rose is a fantastic bottling that stands very pale in the glass. The wine combines 50% Pinot Noir with 45% Pinot Meunier, and 5% Pinot Noir Précoce. The wine shows delicate salmonberry and kumquat rind flavors alongside red raspberry, wild mushroom and shades of salty soils on the palate. The soft mousse entices, as this warm vintage beauty is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2023-2030- 92

PerUs

Your ears tend to perk up when Russell Bevan has a new project. PerUs is an ultra-premium producer of red wines out of Napa, sourcing from some great vineyards including Sugarloaf Mountain and Edcora Vineyard (high elevation site). PerUs was founded by Anmol Bhandari who was born and raised in New Delhi, immigrated to the United States and built a successful career in finance – initially at Goldman Sachs and later co-founding Cians Analytics based in New York – a company that provides research and analytical support to international financial institutions. Anmol was introduced to Dustin Wilson, Master Sommelier, and they both would travel to the Napa Valley to research both vineyards and winemakers. Dustin introduced Ammol to Russell Bevan, one of the world’s great winemakers. PerUs only made 30 cases in their first vintage, 2013. They now make a downright killer range of wines that not only offer heady dark fruits but wonderful underlying finesse.

The new wines come from the 2021 vintage which was warm and dry. The wines I have tasted from ’21 have been really fantastic. I love the new 2021 PerUs ‘Alessio’ Red Wine (OB, 97) which is wonderfully concentrated and shows beautiful depth with some serious cellaring potential. I was floored by the stunning 2021 PerUs ‘Armaan’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) which is a stunning expression of Oakville, sourced from the esteemed Tench Vineyard. This is a bold, hedonistic expression of Napa. Learn more about this famed boutique winery at https://www.peruswine.com/pages/home.php Here are the stunning new releases by PerUs.

2021 PerUs ‘Janeen’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A mere 120 cases was made of the fantastic 2021 ‘Janeen’ was mostly sourced from the Sage Ridge Vineyard, with smaller parts from the Sugar Loaf Vineyard. Garerigue and red bell pepper notes combine with blueberry compote on the nose. The palate is plush wit hloads of concentration, finesse and firm tannins. Turkish coffee, boysenberry cordial, dark chocolate shavings and graphite flavors wonderfully meld together on the palate, with a seductive texture. Finishing long this glorious wine will live on for another twenty years to come. Drink 2023-2041- 97

2021 PerUs ‘Armaan’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2021 ‘Arnaan’ Cabernet Sauvignon mainly comes from the 61 acre Tench Vineyard which is set in the Oakville AVA. Tar and anise line the nose alongside allspice dusted blackberries and shades of creme de violette. The palate is rich and viscous, with espresso grounds and violets, alongside huckleberry fruit flavors. The marvelous tension combines with a length mineral and black fruit-laden finish Seductive and delicious, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2023–2041- 98

2021 PerUs ‘Alessio’ Red Wine- The 2021‘Alessio’ is a spellbinding combination of Sugarloaf Vineyard Merlot (60%) with equal parts Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Sugarloaf Vineyard Cabernet Franc. Black tea and exotic spices combine with espresso grounds, black raspberry puree and shades of black rose petals on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and wonderful sense of length and weight. This is seriously good stuff, where you can see each working part moving in seamless unison. Drink 2023-2041- 97

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Larmandier-Bernier

A house with a longstanding tradition in Champagne, the Larmandier and Bernier Families have been involved in the Champagne vineyards since the French Revolution. We can trace back as early as the 18th century, the Larmandiers moreover participated in the rise of Côte des blancs with the fame of their Cramant Blanc de blancs Nature.

The house was officially started as Champagne Larmandier-Bernier upon the marriage of Philippe Larmandier and Elisabeth Bernier in 1971. Larmandier-Bernier has fifteen hectares under vine including the Cote des Blancs Grand Cru under vine, including the Grand Cru villages Cramant, Chouilly, Oger and Avize, as well as the premier cru village of Vertus. The vineyards are mostly planted to Chardonnay with less than 20% planted to Pinot Noir.

The new wines were really outstanding across the board. I loved the NV Larmandier-Bernier ‘Longitude’ (OB, 93) which is 100% Premier Cru Chardonnay that is both elegant and seamless. Learn more about this great house at https://larmandier.fr/en/our-domain/ and here are my reviews of the beautiful new wines by Larmandier-Bernier.

NV Larmandier-Bernier ‘Latitude’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut- The NV Larmandier-Bernier ‘Latitude’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut offers baking spice dusted green apple aromatics with lemon rind, and roasted almonds that all meld in the glass. Soft, wonderfully salty and refined, with a generous mousse, this is already drinking beautifully now. Drink 2023-2031- 92

NV Larmandier-Bernier ‘Longitude’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut- Sourced from Premier Cru Vineyards, the ‘Longitude’ has a refined nose of ginger and bergamot notes that combine wth Bartlett pear, lime zest and suggestions of pie crust. The palate has a silky mousse and refined effervescence. Seamless through the drinking experience this would pair marvelously with fresh nigiri. Drink 2023-2033- 93

Laurent Perrier 'Grand Siècle' Champagne

Today it is my pleasure to introduce one of the great champagne houses in the world. The ‘Grand Siecle’ is a captivating, consistently great wine that captures the art of blending. It is Laurent Perrier’s tête de cuvée which is blended from a host of vintages and also crafted from only grand cru vineyards. Established in 1812, Laurent Perrier is located in the heart of Champagne, in Tours-sur-Marne. Vines are set on limestone soil, highly chalky and showing the distinctiveness of the region. The chalk subsoil holds sufficient water, during dry spells and due its porous nature also provides good drainage when it is wet to prevent roots of becoming water logged, acting a bit like a sponge.

The fabulous Grand Siecle 26 ed. is a knockout wine made by chef du cave Michel Fauconnet. The wine utilizes the base of the outstanding 20212 vintag. For my palate he has crafted one of the finest tête de cuvée wines in the world. This wine is irresistible to enjoy right now but will also provide drinking enjoyment for decades to come. Here is my review of the new Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle No. 26 Grand Siècle Champagne. Learn more about this historic Champagne house at http://www.laurent-perrier.com/en/the-wines/

Laurent Perrier ‘Grand Siecle No. 26’ Champagne- The ‘Grand Siecle’ No. 26 is an incredible wine that mostly was sourced from the 2012 vintage. The wine combines 60% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir, this was sourced from a selection of 9 Grand Cru Vineyards. Biscuit and marzipan notes mark the nose alongside salted green apple and kumquat notes. The palate shows beautiful weight and tension as its silky mousse really makes this glide throughout the drinking experience. Lifted ginger and orange blossom tones combine with the fantastic core of sourdough bread, Gravenstein apple, and cantaloupe flavors. The concentration and verve suggests this will live on for another fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2023-2038- 97

Domaine Carneros

There is little doubt that Domaine Carneros is one of the amazing places to taste in the Napa Valley. Imagine tasting top sparkling wines with incredibly thoughtful food pairings on a terrace with sweeping views of the valley. Domaine Carneros literally  towers over the valley, showcasing sweeping views for miles that you won’t find at any other winery. It is hard to believe that this house was started all the way back in the 1970s as Claude Taittinger, of famed Champagne house Taittinger, began his search for a good spot to make California Sparkling Wine. Finally in 1987 he selected a 138-acre parcel in the Carneros region of the Napa Valley. The spot he selected is truly unique, as it has a massive maritime influence being perched near the bay. The vineyard is quite windy and produces highly concentrated berries that are very small in size.

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

Do not miss out on the 2016 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 96) which is heady and intense, showing off the richness of this vintage., Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.domainecarneros.com Here are the new sparkling wines by Domaine Carneros

2018 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- The gorgeous 2018 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut Rose; Sparkling Wine is made from mostly estate Pinot Noir. This is deeply concentrated in the glass, showing white grapefruit blossom that combines with star jasmine, green apple and shades of crushed oyster shell. The palate offers racy acidity with bright red fruit flavors that coat the mouth. Enjoy now and love the next eight years to come. Drink 2023-2031- 92

2016 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- The outstanding 2016 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine is another world-class release from this wine. This is deeply concentrated in the glass, showing white grapefruit blossom that combines with star jasmine, green apple and shades of crushed oyster shell. The palate offers racy acidity on the mouth with a beautiful, soft mousse and gobs of mouth-watering acidity. With more air the citrus oil flavors become more and more intense, alongside passion fruit and shades of white truffle, alongside nutty accents. This is hedonistic and complex sparkling wine that will cellar well for another fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2023-2038- 96

2021 Domaine Carneros ‘The Famous Gate’ Pinot Noir- Richly colored in the glass, the 2021 Domaine Carneros ‘The Famous Gate’ Pinot Noir offers ripe cranberry and strawberry tones on the nose alongside dill and shades of toasty oak. The palate is soft and refined with really good verve and flavor density, reveling in its pretty red fruit flavors. Finishing long, this is delicious wine to consume now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2023-2033- 93

2021 Domaine Carneros ‘Tula Vista’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 Domaine Carneros ‘Tula Vista’ comes from estate Pinot Noir vines. Juicy red raspberry, kumquat and anise tones combine with lavender and pomegranate seed flavors. Delicious now enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2023-2035- 93

Big Table Farm

Today we share one of the great producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir out of the Willamette Valley. Big Table Farm has been one of the consistently great producers in Oregon over more than a decade. Founded by Clare Carver and Brian Marcy — the winery has a working farm with pigs, chickens and a recently planted vineyard. The winery is located in a remote, beautiful location in the northern end of the valley. Marcy has a longstanding history in the wine industry, formerly serving as winemaker for Neyers prior to moving north and settling in the Willamette Valley.These are wines that age brilliantly and are known for great texture and beautiful pure red and dark fruits, with loads of nuance. I can’t wait to try the wines from their new estate plantings someday.

The new wines come mainly from the 2021 vintage which was a warm vintage. Wines that I have tasted so far from 2021 have been really outstanding, showing plenty depth and concentration. I adored the new 2021 Big Table Farm ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which shows amazing flavor range and a seamless texture. Big Table Farm make one of the great Rose wines in the Pacific Northwest and the 2022 Rose (OB, 94) is a total knockout in terms of weight, flavor range and mouthfeel. I would definitely buy this one by the case. Learn more about Big Table Farm at http://www.bigtablefarm.com/ Here are the fantastic new release wines by Big Table Farm.

2022 Big Table Farm Rose- Year after year Big Table Farm produce some of the finest Rose made in the Pacific Northwest. Made entirely from Willamette Valley Pinot Noir grapes, the vibrant color might suggest Syrah, as this beauty was stored in neutral French oak barrels before bottling. The wine is round and seamless, with a silky texture and glorious sense of length. Finishing long with bright guava and strawberry fruits, with starfruit and kumquat accents, this mineral-laden effort is really hitting its stride right now. I’ll be eager to see how this beauty ages. Drink 2023-2030- 94

2022 Big Table Farm Pinot Gris- Big Table Farm has now been making one of Oregon’s most intriguing Pinot Gris bottlings for more than a decade. This is an orange Pinot Gris wine that comes from the Belle Pente Vineyard and saw extensive skin contact as the deep color suggests. The wine drinks somewhat like a great white Pinot Noir, with plenty of nutty and earthy tones alongside melon, red raspberry and shades of salty soils on the palate. Complex and very delicious, enjoy this beauty now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2023-2028- 94

2021 Big Table Farm ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay- The 2021 ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay is a limited production bottling with less than 100 cases produced. Seeing limited new French oak before bottling, this comes off very fresh and vibrant on the palate, with a seamless texture. The combination of concentration and finesse really moves this wine as honeydew melon, baking spice laced pie crust, and notes of Meyer lemon zest all meld together on the palate. This is just a joy to savor right now in its heady youth. Enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2023-2033- 94

2021 Big Table Farm ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Chardonnay- Just like the ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay bottling, the 2021 ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Chardonnay was extremely limited in production (92 cases). This bottling also saw a limited amount of new French oak prior to bottling, as this opens with beautiful white rose petal aromatics alongside shades of shortbread, and kumquat zest. The palate is beautifully textured, with serious weight and great underlying finesse. A total warm vintage knockout, enjoy this stunning wine now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2033- 95

2021 Big Table Farm ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 Big Table Farm ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir is a bold, warm vintage effort that is built to cellar. The wine is very soft and seamless on the mouth, delivering a smooth drinking experience. Bing cherry and shades of pomegranate seed combine with citrus rind, baking spices and freshly tilled salty soils on the palate. This is seriously good stuff that will no doubt drink well for another fifteen years. Drink 2023-2038- 94

2021 Big Table Farm ‘Cattrall Brothers’ Pinot Noir- This beautiful bottling has now been made for over ten years. The 2021 ‘Cattrall Brothers’ Pinot Noir comes from this small site that was planted all the way back in the 1970s. This is a fresh and vibrant edition of this wine that shows beautiful tart red fruits and red rose water notes alongside blood orange zest and copious minerals, with salty soil accents on the palate. What this doesn’t have in terms of density it brings flavor complexity in troves. Drink 2023-2038- 95

2021 Big Table Farm ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The beautiful 2021 Big Table Farm ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this site farmed by Luci Wisniewski and Tom Owen since the early 1980s. This edition is very bright and beautiful with a gorgeous core of red fruit flavors alongside a seamless texture and generous appeal. Finishing long with red fruits and minerals, with kumquat and stony accents, this beauty has another fifteen years to go. Drink 2023-2038- 95