Opus One Vertical Tasting

It was a bright and sunny autumn day as I depended on Oakville and Opus One, one of the most beautiful Napa wineries to taste wine. Opus One has done a huge remodel and the tasting room has sensational panoramic views of their vineyards and the Napa floor. Extremely elegant, I tasted in the salon and had an amazing chance to visit with their longtime winemaker Michael Silacci. I have been so impressed with the wines that he has made. These are wines that exude class with good concentration, a beautiful veil of finesse and serious aging potential. I had not done a vertical of these wines in several years, so it was a treat to visit wines and check on how they were cellaring. Michael was in the middle of harvest so our visit was brief.

It was such a joy to look back at the 2014 Opus One (OB, 98) which is a massive wine and is just slightly starting to show secondary notes. This is quite frankly a joy to consume right now. Every bit as good was the new release the 2019 Opus One (OB, 98) which is even better than consumed last year. This wine is nowhere near ready but shows massive structure, tannins, weight and verve. Learn more about these world-class wines at opusonewinery.com and here are my reviews of the vertical tasting of 2014, 18 and 19 vintages of Opus One.

2014 Opus One Red Wine- The 2014 Opus One Red Wine is aromatically incredible on the nose. Red rose petals alongside loamy soils, dark currents and cocoa powder dusted loganberry notes all combine on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with silky tannins that frame an ebullient core of cassis, anise and blackberry flavors, with espresso ground and salty soil accents. Showing great weight, texture and length, this is beautiful, refined stuff that is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2023-2038- 98

2018 Opus One Red Wine- the 2018 Opus One is a totally captivating bottling even in its heady youth. Once on the nose this shows beautiful creme de violette alongside blackberry preserves and shades of black licorice. This comes off super seamless on the palate, with refined tannins. The palate is nuanced and smooth with graphite, and a fantastic core of black and blue fruits. Finishing long this is beautiful wine that has both the freshness and flavor density to cellar well for another twenty plus years. Drink 2023-2043- 98

2019 Opus One Red Wine- The 2019 Opus One Red Wine is drinking even better than first tasted. It is a rich and seamless wine that is going to be at least a 20 year old wine. Refined tannins greet you on the palate, displaying great tension and stony undertones. Creme de cassis, Asian spices and sandalwood notes combine with pencil lead on the palate. Drink 2025-2045- 98

WALT

Today we share one of Sonoma outstanding producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Tasting through the 2022 wines, I was sitting with HALL President Mike Reynolds who saw 2022 as initially “normal vintage.” But when a heat dome struck during harvest “it was really hot, getting up to 117 degrees. Vines at that moment in time are in a very fragile state. A lot of the vines are hanging at 18 or 19 brix and the vines start scavenging for water wherever they can get it. Berries shrivel.” Reynolds continued “I think that there are a lot of things that can go sideways in a vintage like that. Sugars get concentrated but there is no progressing of the flavors in there. You can actually get the vines to stop getting color extraction but we saw lots of chaos in September.”

On the vineyard side Reynolds felt that their optical sorter was “a total game-changer.” He continued “In 2022 we were sorting out 5 or 10% of the grapes because it did not meet our standards. Having that tool allows you to keep that kind of fruit out of the fermenter.” Yields were down in 2022 because of “The diminished weight due to the heat event and then sorting out the raisins.”

I think that you will really enjoy the WALT wines from 2022. They are dense, jam-packed full of flavor and are producing really good drinking enjoyment now. Do not miss out on the amazing 2022 WALT ‘Clos Pepe’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is the finest version of this wine that I have tasted yet. Salty and savory, this is already drinking beautifully. The best wine I tasted was the world-class 2022 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Pinot Noir (OB, 97) which has massive concentration and cellaring potential. Learn more about these incredible wines at https://www.waltwines.com/ and here are the outstanding new 2022 wines by WALT.

2022 WALT ‘Las Brisas’ Pinot Noir- This 2022 Sonoma County based ‘La Brisa’ Pinot Noir comes mostly from the Bob’s Ranch Vineyard which is heavily influenced by ocean breezes. The site is now planted to 62 acres of Pinot Noir. The wine is smooth with a seamless mouthfeel and beautiful salty character with pretty red rose water and bright, saline drenched red fruits on the palate. Drink 2023-2033- 93

2022 WALT ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Santa Rita Hills’ displays a gorgeous nose with pretty potpourri tones alongside salted kumquat and shades of pomegranate seed. The wine is pretty and concentrated with a seriously good mouthful and loads of diatomaceous earth character alongside an ebullient core of red fruit flavors. This offers serious value. Drink 2023-2035- 94

2022 WALT ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Rosella’s Vineyard is owned by the Franchioni family and set in the Salinas Valley. This family began growing grapes back in the 1980s. Stored in roughly 30% new French oak, the nose comes off very salty with boysenberry fruits that meld well with dried herbs, wet stone and shades of orange peel. The palate is deep and concentrated with serious underlying verve and an exceedingly long finish. Drink 2023-2035- 95

2022 WALT ‘Clos Pepe’ Pinot Noir- This outstanding Pinot Noir comes from a historic site in the Santa Rita Hills which is in close proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Clos Pepe is an estate vineyard which is leased by Stephen and Kathy Pepe who founded their site back in the 1990s. The wine comes off rich and layered with loads of mouth-watering acidity and freshness. A massive core of juicy red and dark fruits combine with blood orange zest mingle with salty soils. This is totally stunning. Drink 2023-2038- 96

2022 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Bob’s Ranch’ comes from this vineyard located in the Petaluma Gap, located just south of Sebastopol. An 88 acre site, mostly planted to Pinot Noir, this wine is a barrel selection from the best blocks in the vineyard. Bob’s Ranch Pinot Noir was first made with the 2014 vintage. The palate comes off super seamless and concentrated with serious flavor density, power and brilliant underlying finesse. A massive core of dark fruits greet you with freshly tilled soils, with underlying citrus zest accents. Super complex and delicious, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen plus years. For my palate this is the finest edition of this wine made yet. Drink 2023-2039- 97

Elías Mora

A slightly newer Toro outpost, producing really high quality wines, Elias Mora began back in 2000. The winery was founded by winemaker Victoria Benavides and is named after the former owner of the vineyard, Elias Mora. Spanning 16 hectares of vineyards and including farming and harvest Benavides pulls from a  total of 70 hectares. Vines are trained in the traditional vaso or goblet shape, which yields ideal results but requires extra work, by hand, for harvest and pruning. Some of their vines in the  Senda de Lobo area are 80+ years old.

The wines are seriously good across the board. I loved the 2019 Elias Mora ‘Crianza’ Toro (OB, 93) which is very dense and heady with some good aging potential. I was totally blown away with their top wine the 2017 Elias Mora ‘La Senda de Los Lobos’ Toro (OB, 96) which is very hearty and intense with beautiful freshness and concentration. Learn more about these incredible wines at https://www.grapesofspain.com/winery.cfm?id=15 and here are the outstanding new wines but Elias Mora.

2017 Elias Mora ‘La Senda de Los Lobos’ Toro- The simply stunning 2017 Elias Mora ‘La Senda de Los Lobos’ Toro comes from 80 year old vines, as this wine is only made in top vintages. This 2017 edition was stored in all new French oak for 17 months before bottling and quite frankly this wine screams pure class Toro. Immediately captivating on the nose with its hedonistic Turkish coffee, bulls blood Asian spice notes, the wine deftly walks the tightrope between bright underlying acidity and hearty concentration. Finishing very long with black and blue fruits, as well as salty and damp earthy notes, this total stunner will live on for another two decade or more. Drink 2023-2043- 96

2020 Elias Mora ‘Toro’ Toro- The 2020 ‘Toro’ by Elias Mora offers complex and delicious flavors of espresso grounds, dark currant and milk chocolate flavors alongside a soft texture. Showing a smooth mouthfeel, this over-delivers for the price. Really good now, this will cellar well for another eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 91

2019 Elias Mora ‘Crianza’ Toro- The 2019 ‘Crianza’ comes from estate vines planted to Tinta de Toro that are set at 800 meters. The wine shows a beautiful bouquet of dark raspberry and dark chocolate shavings alongside tar and underbrush notes. The palate is soft and refined with silky tannins and a big sense of weight. Finishing long, this is a marvelous effort that is already impossible to resist. Drink 2023-2035- 93

2019 Descarte Toro- Inky in the glass, the 2019 Descarte offers concentrated chocolate and dark currant flavors alongside a seamless mouthful and wonderful verve. Finishing long with huckleberry and black cherry compote, roasted figs, with worn leather and dark chocolate shaving notes, this is sensational wine that will age gracefully. Sourced from 40 year old Toro vines. Drink 2023-2035- 93

San Roman

There is little doubt that ‘San Roman’ is one of the great wines of the world, produced from a tiny region in Spain, Toro. The region has an amazing history and is located in the province of Zamora, as part of Castile and Leon. Located northwest of Madrid, the region is relatively high elevation (2400 feet) and produces some of the finest Tempranillo wines of the world. Toro is also an ancient place, first conquered by Hannabal in 220 BC and the town was not repopulated until more than ten centuries later.

The wines of Toro were so famous that Christopher Columbus brought them on his journey to America. Toro is an extreme continental climate with very cold winters and very hot summers in which temperatures can eclipse 100 degrees. The wines from Toro are bold and intense. They are also some of the great bargains on the world wine market.

Bodegas San Roman produces what is one of the most famous Toro wines, its ‘San Roman.’ The winery was founded by famed winemaker, Mariano Garcia, in 1998 as Bodegas y Vinedos Maurodos. In the late 1990s his two sons Alberto and Eduardo joined the team, as director of operations and technical director respectively. They own 100 hectares of vineyards in the villages of Villaester, San Roman de Hornija, Morales de Toro and Pedrosa del Rey. The vineyards are primarily planted to Tinta de Toro, a local clone of Tempranillo.

Eduardo Garcia presides over the winemaking now as the winemaking style has moved towards combining freshness and richness. I have been absolutely enchanted by this wine since I first tried it while in graduate school more than a decade ago. The combination of richness and poise was just amazing to me. The wine can be quite powerful but maintains an amazing sense of poise and terroir. Simply put, it is one of the great wines of the world. The new release, the 2020 Bodegas San Roman ‘San Roman’ Toro (OB, 95) is a total stunner with loads of richness and dark fruits.Even better is the new wine, the 2018 Bodega San Roman ‘Cartago Paraje del Pozo’ Toro (OB, 98) which is amongst the finest Toro wines I have ever tasted.  Learn more about this famed property at https://www.bodegasanroman.com Here is my review of the new wines by Bodegas San Roman.

2020 San Roman ‘Prima’ Toro- The 2020 ‘Prima’ is sourced from estate vineyards up to 50 years of age. It is juicy and concentrated, loaded with rich dark and red fruit flavors, alongside tar and milk chocolate notes. Drink now. Drink 2023-2030- 91

2020 San Roman Garnacha- The astonishingly good 2020 San Roman Garnacha is soft and voluptuous on the mouth with a smooth texture. A beautiful purity of red fruits greets you, alongside salty soils, orange peel and suggestions of cardamom. Sexy, salty and very fresh, this is a gorgeous, highly novel Garnacha that will satisfy Grenache-lovers across the globe. Drink 2023-2035- 94

2021 San Roman Malvasia- The 2021 San Roman Blanco is 100% Malvasia Castellana that was sourced from the 60-year-old El Pinar vineyard. Showing loads of nerve, with beautiful freshness and mouth-watering acidity, this delights with its melon and citrus rind flavors alongside pastry crust notes. It is nearly impossible to put down once opened. Drink 2023-2033- 94

2020 Bodega San Roman Toro- A magnificent effort, the 2020 San Roman is vibrant, polished and lithe, with gobs of stuffing and mouth-watering acidity. Baking spices, espresso grounds and milk chocolate notes all fill the nose with shades of huckleberry. The palate is dense and rich with fantastic underlying tension. Really needing a few years to evolve, enjoy now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 95

2018 Bodega San Roman ‘Cartago Paraje del Pozo’ Toro- The mind-bending ‘Cartago Paraje del Pozo’ Toro comes is comprised of  90% Tinta de Toro and 10% other grape varieties, coming from an own-rooted, 45-year-old single vineyard. This is the inaugural vintage of this wine that shows very inky in the glass, this shows off amazing power with its massive dark and blue fruit profile. Pencil lead, and creme de violette notes combine with mocha, tar and iron with heady blue fruits on the palate. Finishing long with beautiful tension and viscosity, this is quite simply a masterpiece by San Roman. Drink 2023-2045- 98

Horsepower Vineyards

Today we share the world-class wines of Horsepower Vineyards. Vigneron Christophe Baron had a strong affinity for animals, as draft horses worked the Champagne vineyards that he and his family resided over. Today we see that childhood inspiration which that led to creating one of the most coveted lineup of wines in the Pacific Northwest, Horsepower Vineyards. In his Walla Walla AVA vineyards his horses help cultivate vineyards ranging from 3,555 to 4,840 vines per acre with as little as 3' x 3' spacing—planted 1 vine per stake, or “sur echalas” in French. I am consistently blown away with the wines that come this profound site in the Walla Walla AVA. The tightly spaced Sur Echalas Vineyard produces wines that show incredible underlying tension. They have been stunning wines regardless of vintage — wines that shine even in the most challenging of conditions.

Bionic Wines Director of Winemaking Elizabeth Bourcier is an incredible talent in West Coast wine. Bourcier studied under Christophe and has been producing sensational wines for many years now. She did an amazing job with the challenging 2020 vintage. The new wines I tasted come from the warm 2021 vintage. These remind me of 2018 in their fleshy profile. All wines are deep and concentrated but show fantastic underlying finesse. They are better overall wines than the 2020s — up there with the finest wines I have ever tasted from Horsepower Vineyards. I think there is little reason to cellar these, as the level of tension and flavor/aromatic range is truly outstanding.

I reviewed three of these wines at 100 points. The 2021 Horsepower ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache (OB, 100) is absolutely stunning with amazing verve, mouthfeel and a literal cornucopia of flavors. This is a must-purchase for any Grenache lover. Learn more about about these monumental wines at https://horsepowervineyards.com/horsepowervineyards/ Here are my reviews of the new 2021 releases by Horsepower Vineyards.

2021 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache- Stony, salty and very savory, the stunning 2021 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache is one of the great wines that I have tasted over the past year —and is nothing short of perfection in a bottle. Coming from this very tightly-spaced site set on cobblestones in Milton-Freewater, this nose can only be from one place in the world. Seaweed, wet gravel, anise, bacon fat and menthol notes all combine with pure pomegranate and red cherry fruits on the nose. The palate is extremely stony and salty, with loads of mouth-watering acidity. Finishing long, this memorable effort with serious nerve is already drinking beautifully now — but will cellar well over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 100

2021 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Fiddleneck Vineyard’ Grenache- The 2021 ‘Fiddleneck Vineyard’ Grenache comes from this vineyard which was planted back in 2015. The Grenache was stored for 15 months in neutral oak prior to bottling. The Rayas-level of pure red fruits expressed here is second to none. It takes on Syrah-like level of concentration, with garrigue, smoked brisket and Mandarin orange zest flavors that mingle well with suggestions of guava puree and loganberry flavors. With more air the stony and salty nuances take shape, as this highly novel Grenache is a stunning foil to the ‘Sur Echalas’ and completely deserves its spot at the high table of top Grenache wines made in North America. Viscous, novel and tension-filled, I see no reason to cellar this total heavyhitter of a wine as it is drinking magically right now. Drink 2023-2031-100

2021 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Syrah- You are going to be completely enamored by the 2021 ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Syrah which is one of the great wines made in this warm vintage. Horsepower Vineyards Director of Winemaking, Elizabeth Bourcier, has crafted another utterly stunning bottling. The nose is massively complex from white truffle shavings, tar, black licorice candy, wet rocks, Umami and potpourri notes that mingle well with parma ham tones. Once on the mouth this beauty effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. The palate is soft, round and generous with a sensational sense of texture, weight and viscosity, yet is light on its feet with serious tension and salty/stony nuances. This has to be up there with the 2018 bottling as the finest ‘Sur Echalas’ Syrah ever made. Heady and intense, this is drinking beautifully now and will surely live on for another decade. Drink 2023-2033- 100

2021 Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah- The astonishingly good 2021 Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah comes from a vineyard that is set on a combination of ancient cobblestones and silty loam soils. Aged for 15 months in large format neutral French oak barrels, this shows plenty of stony nuances on the nose alongside citrus rind, charcuterie, black olive tapenade and shades of dark truffle crudo. The palate shows great length, weight and salty undercurrents, as the weight of this wine alongside the mouth-watering acidity really makes this shine. There is little doubt that this is the finest edition of this wine made yet as this stunning Syrah flirts with perfection. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 99

2021 Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah- Heady, intense and very gratifying to savor now, the 2021 Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah is a magical wine from this warm vintage. Once on the nose this takes on anise and dark currants alongside wet stone, salted meats, Black Forest cake, Hoisin sauce, violets and shades of Nori. The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more hedonistic enjoyment. The palate is plush and soft with serious weight and texture. Enjoy this wow-factor Syrah now and over the next eight plus years to come Drink 2023-2031- 98

Tulpen Cellars

One of the great under the radar wineries in Walla Walla, Tulpen Cellars is an incredible producer of Washington Cabernet Sauvignon, Tulpen is a brand created by winemaker for Tulpen Cellars, Ken Hart. Ken serves as General Manager of Appellation Management Group (AMG) as AMG develops and manages vineyards within the Walla Walla Valley — including vineyards for a’Maurice, Dunham Cellars along with another 10 properties.

These are unabashedly bold and full-bodied wines. I have loved the past several vintages of these wines. The new wines come from the 2019 vintage which was challenged by a freeze event in October. I love the new 2019 Tulpen ‘Yellowbird Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which is dense and powerful with a great acid backbone. Learn more about these electric wines at https://tulpencellars.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Tulpen wines.

2019 Tulpen ‘Tokar Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The  2019 Tulpen ‘Tokar Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off medium-bodied dark fruit flavors alongside tar, black licorice and graphite notes. Firm tannins hold everything neatly together, as this is best enjoyed now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 92

2019 Tulpen ‘Yellowbird Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 Tulpen ‘Yellowbird Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this dry farmed site in the Walla Walla Valley. Loamy soils alongside black tea, black rose petals and shades of tar all fill the nose. The palate shows plenty of stuffing considering the coolness of the vintage. Mocha, espresso grounds and scorched earthy notes alongside garrigue tones all combine on the palate, with a bright underling sense of finesse. Enjoy this outstanding wine over the next fifteen years. Drink 2023-2038- 94

2019 Tulpen ‘Coalesence’ Red Wine- This comes off smooth and generous on the mouth, as the 2019 ‘Coalescence’ offers red cherry candy, black licorice and baking spices on the palate, alongside milk chocolate and sagebrush notes. Finishing long, this is delicious wine to consume now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 93

Rasa Vineyards

For those who do not know the wines of Rasa Vineyards, you are in for a treat. Anything from Rieslings to inky Syrahs, Billo Naravane, MW, makes a scintillating range of wines that will satisfy any palate. Billo also has a remarkable story in wine. Originally a scientist, Billo Naravane initially was inspired by wine while living Austin, Texas. During that time Billo was exposed to some of the finest wines in the world and he fully caught the wine bug. Finally, he and his brother, Pinto, made the bold decision to start Rasa Vineyards in 2007. My first exposure to these great wines was many years back when I was served a 2007 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED’ Syrah blind. I was absolutely mesmerized by the seamless quality of the wine. With a bachelor’s degree from MIT and a master’s degree from Stanford, Billo then studied viticulture an enology at UC Davis. He is now one of the few masters of wine (MW) in the world. The wines he crafts show tremendous texture, richness, poise and terroir — and are only getting better by each vintage. 

I loved the new wines by Naravane, and don’t miss out on the fantastic new value bottling, the 2022 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Pinot Gris (OB, 92) which is fresh and beautifully textured orange wine that is silky smooth on the palate. I adored the new 2019 Rasa Vineyards ‘Veritas Sequitur’ Syrah (OB, 96) which shows better verve than the ’18 but is wonderfully stony. I think hands down the finest Port style wine in North America is the 2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘‘Courageous Convictions’ Port Style Wine (OB, 98) which is concentrated, complex and shows bright underlying acidity, with massive complexity. I am not exaggerating by saying that this wine will easily stand toe to toe with top vintage Port. Learn more about this fantastic Walla Walla winery at rasavineyards.com Here are the sensational new wines by Rasa Vineyards. 

2022 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Pinot Gris- A very fresh and lively wine, the 2022 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Pinot Gris was given extended skin contact and needs some warming up. The palate displays loads of mouth-watering acidity with kiwi, sweetened gooseberry and green melon flavors alongside copious minerals and salty undertones. This is seriously good. Drink 2023-2029- 92

2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Red Blend- The brilliant 2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Red Blend is soft and elegant on the mouth with a smooth texture. Layers of chocolate covered black cherry, black raspberry and stony accents all combine on the palate.  Medium-bodied, this is a really good value that will drink well for at least another five years. Drink 2023-2029- 91

2020 Rasa Vineyards ‘Humane’ Red Wine- A blend of 60% Rocks District Syrah and the remainder Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 ‘Humane’ is a one Hell of a wine that is devoted to charity — Rasa has given a whopping 100,00 dollars to a range of charities over the past three vintages. The wine comes off wonderfully stony and seamless on the palate, with a smooth mouthfeel. Wet gravel, black olive tapenade, and dark currants all collide on the palate, with good concentration, salty accents and incredible balance. No reason to cellar this beauty that is already wonderfully evolved. Drink 2023-2030- 94

2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED The Strong Law’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘QED The Strong Law’ is a blends mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (67%) wth the remainder Merlot. It comes off seamless and beautifully textured, with good weight. Dried herbs mingle well with ripe red currants, wild blackberry and shades of chocolate cake on the palate. Finishing long, this is a delicious, well-structured effort that will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2023-2035- 94

2019 Rasa Vineyard ‘Veritas Sequitur SJR Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2019 Rasa Vineyard ‘Veritas Sequitur SJR Vineyard’ Syrah comes from the Naravane Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks District, as this is the first wine I have ever seen or tasted from this site. Stored in entirely new French oak for 24 months and then for two more years in the bottle, this shows incredible aromatic range from lavender, and allspice dusted black currants, alongside Nori and shades of green olive tapenade, with stony accents. The palate is soft and seamless, with incredible texture and verve. A touch leaner than the ’18 bottling, this shows just as good flavor range, with a tad more underlying tension. Don’t miss out on this beauty. Drink 2023-2035- 96

2019 Rasa Vineyards ‘Principia Reserve’ Syrah- A joy to drink right now, the 2019 ‘Principia Reserve’ was sourced from several Columbia Valley sites. Inky in the glass, this offers a dizzying array of aromatics from Black Forest cake and shades of black truffle alongside coffee grounds and tobacco leaf. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and great sense of weight and length. The flavor density considering the coolness of the vintage is seriously good.  Neatly textured, with great length, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next twelve years to come. Drink 2023-2035- 96

2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘Creative Impulse’ Red Wine- Always a late release wine, the 2018 ‘Creative Impulse’ is a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot all sourced from the famed DuBrul Vineyard in the Yakima Valley.  Right away the alluring red rose petals notes explode from the glass, alongside kirsch, dark chocolate shavings, boysenberry and black the aromatics. The palate is plush with a lovely sense of weight, tension and underlying salinity from this special site. In terms of fruit purity, density and verve, this may just be the finest edition of this wine ever made. Give this beauty two hours in the decanter if savoring now. Drink 2023-2040- 98

2019 Rasa Vineyards ‘In Order To Form A Perfect Union’ Red Wine- The captivating 2017 Rasa Vineyards ‘In Order To Form A Perfect Union’ Red Wine is a blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with smaller parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The herbal notes from the Petit Verdot are shining brightly as exotic spices, espresso grounds and dark chocolate cake notes all meld together. The palate is fresh and lively with good verve and a soft mouthfeel. Brimming with tension, this cooler vintage wine is a delight to savor right now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2023-2039- 95

2020 Rasa Vineyards ‘Plus One’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The incredible 2020 ‘Plus One’ was sourced from old vine plantings in the Kiona Vineyard. The wine comes off impeccably balanced, as it is truly one of the finest Cabernet wines made this vintage. Dusty soils and salty red fruits combine with fresh sage, cassis and black licorice notes on the palate. This is the pillar old-vine Washington Cabernet as everything is in clockwork balance here. Medium to full-bodied, with plenty of mouth-watering acidity and texture, enjoy this outstanding, highly nuanced bottling now and over the next ten plus years to come. But why wait? Drink 2023-2035- 96

2018 Rasa Vineyards ‘Fianchetto’ Red Wine- Coming from the Firethorn Vineyard, the 2018 Fianchetto has changed its blending and now is Merlot (37%) with Cabernet Sauvignon (35%) and the remainder Cabernet Franc. The palate comes off a touch lean considering the richness of the vintage. Tobacco leaf, tar, black currants and copious minerals alongside freshly tilled soils all mingle well together on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, with a smooth texture, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 94

2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘Courageous Convictions’ Port Style Wine- Brothers Pinto and Billo Naravane are unabashedly infatuated with vintage Port and for years they wanted to make a Washington Port style wine using indigenous grapes. They now have met their match, as they utilize Touriga Nacional. Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cao and Souzao grapes that were sourced from the Yakima Valley. The nose is incredible expressive, showing Asian spices alongside sandalwood, huckleberry compote, Turkish coffee and suggestions of eucalyptus. The palate is soft and seamless with incredible verve, texture and weight. Milk chocolate, toffee, creme de violette, tar, anise flavors all collide, with nuances of damp soils, pencil lead and Mandarin orange peel. In terms of flavor complexity, this is pretty hard to top. Hedonistic, yet showing loads of mouth-watering acidity, this is 2021 actually considerably better than the 2020 version and retains its honor as the finest Port-style wine ever made in Washington State. Grab your Cohiba and dig in! Drink 2023-2040- 98

Fulldraw

This is now my second introduction to Fulldraw, a great new producer from Paso Robles, The winery began back in 2012, founded by Connor and Rebecca McMahon who live on their land — a 100 acre vineyard which is located in the Templeton Gap, in southwest Paso Robles. Connor formerly worked at Booker before starting this project. Connor and Rebecca reside with their two children and their German Shorthair Pointer, Yadi, on the vineyard. The wines have been really great, showing a beginning, middle and end. The last two vintages have shown beautiful concentration and good nuance.

He mentioned that the vintage from 2023 might be a bit warmer than 2011 and slightly more similar to 2012. He noted “picking and timing wise it is like 2011 but 2012 was such an even growing season.” Connor remarked about concentrated wines but “Good acid that you see in them from the limestone.” His wines were dense and he explained that “I give decanting notes and let you know where it is at and we like that acid and structure but laying these down for five or six years is not going to be an issue whatsoever.”

I really love the 2021 Fulldraw ‘Chopping Block’ Red Wine (OB, 93) which has a lively acidity and plenty of deep concentration. I really enjoyed the 2021 Fulldraw ‘Honey Bunny’ Red Wine (OB, 93) which is also rich with its core of blue fruits. Learn more about this outstanding Paso Robles winery at fulldrawvineyard.com and here are my reviews of the new Fulldraw wines.

2019 Fulldraw ‘FD2’ Red Wine- A GSM style wine made from mostly Grenache (60%) with smaller portions Syrah and Mourvèdre, this delivers a smooth mouthfeel and texture upon entry. Pretty red currants combine with bay leaf, coffee ground and shades of boysenberry cordial. Nicely balanced, with bright underlying acidity, this is fantastic stuff to enjoy now. Drink 2023-2030- 92

2021 Fulldraw ‘Hard Point’ Grenache- You wouldn’t expect this to be Grenache by looking into the glass. Very inky, the 2021 ‘Hard Point’ is massively tannic upon entry. Levels of rich dark fruits combine with espresso grounds and orange rind flavors on the palate. Give this a year to soften. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Fulldraw ‘Charted’ Red Wine- The GSM-inspired  2021 ‘Charted’ combines mostly Grenache (69%) with smaller portions Syrah and Mourvèdre. This is rich and polished stuff on the palate, with tar, creme de violette, Asian spices and great underlying acidity with firm tannins. Generous, and delicious, enjoy now. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2021 Fulldraw ‘Chopping Block’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Chopping Block’ combines mostly Syrah (50%) with 38% Mourvèdre and the remainder Grenache. Deeply colored in the glass, this shows off heady aromatics of creosote and smoked brisket alongside Turkish coffee and violets. The palate is nicely textured, with a great sense of weight and flavor density. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2023-2033- 94

2021 Fulldraw ‘Honey Bunny’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Honey Bunny’ is nearly all Syrah (92%) with the remainder Mourvèdre. Deep and brooding in the glass, this offers concentrated blue fruit flavors alongside espresso grounds, tar and mocha notes. Rich and layered, with refined tannins, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2023-2033- 93

2021 Fulldraw ‘Interpretation’ Red Wine- A Provence-inspired blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (66%) with the remainder Syrah, this shows off a massive wall of black and blue fruits alongside firm tannins, creosote and shades of creme de violette. Tannic, massive, and very heady, give this another year to soften. Drink 2024-2033- 93

Tablas Creek

The story of Tablas Creek 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. I was first introduced to these wines in the early 2000s. I was amazed by their consistency and their very old-world style considering the region.

One of the outstanding wines of its kind, the 2021 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit Blanc de Tablas’ White Wine (OB, 96) is even better than the 2020 version, offering amazing density and nuance. This one is still just a baby at the two year mark. Tablas Creek has been really well-known for Mourvèdre wines, and their new 2021 Mourvèdre (OB, 95) is super complex stuff with amazing flavor range and beautiful aromatics. This wine takes on a very old-world feel that only Tablas can accomplish in this region. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://tablascreek.com Here are the outstanding new wines by Tablas Creek. 

2021 Tablas Creek ‘Patelin de Tablas’ White Wine- A blend of mostly Grenache Blanc (54%) and Viognier (29%), this offers light cashew nut, saline drenched peach and green papaya flavors. A touch lean, showing good finesse, enjoy this linear style of Rhone inspired wine right now. Drink 2022-2026- 89

2022 Tablas Creek Grenache Blanc- The 2022 Grenache Blanc shows a lush mouthfeel with brilliant underlying tension. Layers of gooseberry, lemon zest and shades of sourdough bread all combine on the palate, with nutty and stony nuances. Beautifully textured, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2021 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit Blanc de Tablas’ White Wine- The beautiful 2021 ‘Espirit Blanc de Tablas, is another world-class release of this wine. This edition has considerably more Roussanne (70%) than the 2020 bottling. This varietal is really shining brightly here, with its hedonistic bent and plenty of body. Wet gravel notes combine with ripe cantaloupe, juicy peach and suggestions of salted Brazil nuts. With a refined texture, wait for the near minute-long finish. Astonishingly good in its youth, this beauty will live on for another fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2023-2040- 96

2022 Tablas Creek ‘Patelin de Tablas’ Red Wine- The 2022 Tablas Creek ‘Patelin de Tablas’ Red Wine is mainly Syrah (54%) and Grenache (29%), this is nicely balanced with a smooth texture. Tart red fruits mingle well with citrus rind, white pepper and brisket notes on the palate. Drink now. Drink 2023-2028- 90

2021 Tablas Creek Mourvedre- Big and bold, with fantastic underlying finesse, the 2021 Tablas Creek Mourvèdre is even better than the 2020 bottling. Once on the nose this takes on beef drippings, dried herbs, black olives and shades of wild blackberry. The palate shows beautiful weight and finesse as layers of bright red and dark fruits combine with pink grapefruit blossom water, smoked meats, iodine and tar notes. This beauty is going to cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2023-2035- 95

Chateau Lascombes

I love Left Bank wines with power, poise and balance. For years I have been enamored by the wines of Chateau Lascombes, and I enjoyed a glorious visit to this modern facility several years back. A great history, Lascombes has 120 hectares (296 acres) planted in the Margaux appellation, as well as 10 hectares (24 acres) in the Haut-Médoc appellation. It stands as one of the the largest vineyards among the classified growths of 1855. Located near the center of Margaux, vines are set on a range of soil types, as the vineyard has three separate blocks of roughly the same surface area: a gravelly outcrop planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, a block of clay-gravel made up of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and finally clay-limestone plots, where Merlot is planted. As these wines have a softer expression for the region, it is no surprise that Merlot makes up roughly 50% of vines planted which is highly unique to the appellation.

The winery is owned by The Lawrence Family, owners of Napa Valley’s iconic Heitz Cellar and Managing Partner and Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy, Jr. which is the Lawrence Wine Estates’ first acquisition in Europe. Lascombes joins a portfolio which includes Burgess, Ink Grade, and Stony Hill Vineyard. At the helm is Delphine Barboux who has served as winemaker and technical manager since 2016. The wine I recently tasted came from the 2019 vintage, one that produced really high quality wines, and might be a step behind those from 2018. The 2019 Chateau Lascombes (OB, 95) is all about balance right now, as the black fruit flavors are slowly stepping into the fray. This beauty is elegant and has at least twenty years in front of it. Learn more about this famed house at https://www.chateau-lascombes.com and here is my review of the beautiful 2019 Lascombes.

2019 Chateau Lascombes- The 2019 Lascombes might not be the biggest wine produced in this warm vintage, but right now this Margaux exudes both class and elegance. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 45% Merlot and the remainder Petit Verdot, this shows refined tannins on the mouth, with layers of cocoa powder, coffee grounds, anise and black currant flavors. Texturally soft and seamless, with bright underlying acidity, this is already drinking beautifully with a two hour decant. Enjoy this outstanding wine now and over the next two decades. Drink 2023-2043- 95

Pott Wines

We toured up to the top of Mt. Veeder and looked out at the morning sun. “You can’t usually see all the way to the bay” said Aaron Pott, who had taken me to this scenic lookout. “But today it is really clear” he said. My jaw dropped as I looked south, as you could see San Pablo Bay all the way from Mt. Veeder. It was an extraordinary view. A graduate of the famed University of California, Davis viticulture and enology program, Aaron Pott worked for many years in Bordeaux at famed houses Château Troplong Mondot and later became director of Château La Tour Figeac.

Originally from Oregon, Pott wanted to return to the Napa Valley and make world class Cabernet Sauvignon there, and served as Beringer’s “flying winemaker” making wine in France, Italy and Chile, later taking over as winemaker at St. Clement in 2001. Aaron then was honored to become winemaker at famed property Quintessa in 2004 which was the same year that he brilliantly purchased a 76 acre (.2 acres planted) property on Mt. Veeder and began to develop their own vineyards. 2007 marked the birth of Pott Wines and as the first vintage of Incubo was created.

I have loved these wines for years and have had a few chances to taste older wines. It was a great thrill to taste several older wines with Aaron as we talked about Napa vintages, Bordeaux wines and, of course, English Premier League soccer. One thing was clear from my tasting — Pott Wines age gracefully. For my palate the finest wine I tasted was the absolutely scintillating 2019 Pott Wines ‘Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) which now has a few years of bottle age and is very slowly starting to shed some baby fat. This bottling is of course named after the only Bond film which did not feature Roger Moore or Sean Connery. The irony is that the movie is a total disappointment but these namesake wines go toe to toe with any Cabernet made in Napa.

It was a great but albeit brief visit with Aaron that was long overdue. As I sped off down the hill I thought with delight about these memorable wines and how they might taste in another Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.pottwine.com/ Here are my tasting notes for the new Pott Wines.

2017 Pott Wines Viognier- This 2017 Viognier shows serious concentration with good freshness. Layers of banana and starfruit combine with baking spices and pie crust notes on the palate. This is dense but has fantastic underlying finesse. Enjoy now and over the next several years. Pott whites age gracefully. Drink 2023-2029- 94

2022 Pott Wines Viognier- This wine will be released in February 2022. The wine was stored in  all amphorae prior to bottling. The palate has great freshness alongside papaya alongside wet stone, and salty minerals on the palate. Finishing long this is gorgeous stuff that is already drinking beautifully. Drink 2023-2031- 94

2021 Pott Wines ‘Pour Ma Guele’ Carignan- The ‘Pour Ma Guele’ is sourced from old vine Carignan from the Green Valley. This shows plenty of alluring pure red fruits on the nose with red rose petals and yarrow notes. The palate is soft and inviting with a seamless texture and weightless effect. This is really well-done. Drink 2023-2031- 94

2018 Pott Wines ‘Kaliholmanok’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Pott Wines ‘Kaliholmanok’ Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from a property developed by Aaron Pott, as this site is owned by the Ballard Family. The wine shows beautiful lavender and violet florals alongside huckleberry and dark chocolate shavings. The palate is unbelievably good, with serious weight and bright acidity, with a beautiful core of black fruits alongside sandalwood, coffee grounds and shades of black tea with exotic spices. The nuances here are really starting to sing. Finishing exceedingly long, enjoy now and over the next fifteen to twenty years to come. Drink 2023-2040- 98

2019 Pott Wines ‘Majesty’s Secret Service’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 Pott Wines ‘Majesty’s Secret Service’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a totally stunning wine that is a total head-turning monster right now. Literally displaying no rough edges, this is concentrated and also finesse-driven Cabernet Sauvignon that has rocky soil notes alongside a glorious core of black and blue fruits with menthol accents. Enjoy this captivating joyride now and over the next twenty years. Drink 2023-2043- 99

2014 Pott Wines ‘Incubo’ Red Wine- The 2014 ‘Incubo’ is very concentrated and polished on the mouth, loaded with dense chocolate and espresso ground flavors alongside silky tannins and a refined texture. Big and bold, with salty soils and rocky nuances, this is drinking beautifully now. Drink 2023-2038- 97

Perez Pascuas

Visiting the Ribera del Duero region is a must for any wine-lover. Wind-swept vineyards greet you as this charming area is not only worlds behind in wine tourism but you will visit wineries without any other guests. There are also beautiful lodging options in this region known for earthy and rich Tempranillo wines. Many of the wines from this region are either 100% Tempranillo or have 10% or less of Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. The area is rustic and not fancy, as you feel like you are back in the 1970s. People are not focused on tourism, they are focused on making world-class wines.

Bodega Hnos. Perez Pascuas is a historic site in the Ribera, crafting earthy and layered Tempranillo wines that will stand the test of time. I recently had the chance to visit this beautiful lineup and was completely blown away across the board. Look to the 2015 Bodega Hnos. Perez Pascuas ‘El Pedrosal Reserva’ Ribera del Duero (OB, 93) which is astonishingly good to consume now. Learn more about these great Ribera del Duero wines at https://perezpascuas.com/ and here are the outstanding new release wines by Bodegas Hnos. Perez Pascuas.

2019 Bodegas Hnos. Perez Pascuas ‘Vina Pedrosa La Navilla’ Ribera del Duero- The 100% Tempranillo ‘La Navilla’ by Vina Pedrosa delivers wild blackberries alongside dark truffle shavings, anise and freshly tilled salty soils on the nose. The palate shows beautiful freshness and purity of dark and red fruit flavors. Graphite and refined tannins caress the palate, as this finishes long with tart red fruits and copious minerals.  Savor this beautiful wine now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2023-2033- 92

2015 Bodegas Hnos. Perez Pascuas ‘El Pedrosal Reserva’ Ribera del Duero- The 2015 Bodegas Hnos. Perez Pascuas ‘El Pedrosal’ is a downright brilliant effort from this warm vintage in Ribera. On the nose this takes on graphite and tilled stony and salty soils that combine with a great core of dark fruits. The palate shows fantastic tension and a light dusting of salinity that falls on the black cherry and black raspberry flavors alongside shades of kumquat zest. Really gratifying now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 93

Dutton-Goldfield

For many years I have bought and enjoyed Dutton-Goldfield wines from my personal collection. These are wines that exude class and won’t break the bank. It always shocks me that this is a Sonoma producer that flies under the radar. Dutton Goldfield makes a killer range of wines from Riesling and even Pinot Blanc to Syrah. For years I have enjoyed visiting this top notch producer located in the Russian River Valley. Dutton Goldfield dates back to 1998 when colleagues Steve Dutton and Dan Goldfield decided to start a winery together. Steve Dutton is a 5th generation farmer while Dan has a background in chemistry and later completed the illustrious UC Davis program in winemaking. Dan previously worked at Robert Mondavi Winery and even made wine in Portugal for two years before coming back to California and starting Dutton-Goldfield

Winemaking here is exceptional and the wines are never overblown and always have great bright acidity. I love the new 2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Rued Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is dense with serious nerve.  which is very dense and has fantastic underlying tension.  A knockout wine is the 2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Stubbs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which shows amazing intensity and flavor density. Learn more about Dutton Goldfield at http://www.duttongoldfield.com. Here are the great new releases from Dutton Goldfield.

2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Rued Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The famed ‘Rued Vineyard’ is located in the Green Valley and is planted to Old Wente selection Chardonnay. Stored in all French oak (44% new) before bottling, this saw extended battonage. This shows off a seamless texture with lovely weight and intensity from the battonage. Layers of roasted pineapple, banana and Meyer lemon zest mingle well with copious minerals and creamy accents on the palate. Finishing very long, this is an exceedingly delicious effort that will live on for another ten years. Drink 2023-2033- 94

2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Dutton Ranch-Walker Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Dutton Ranch-Walker Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay comes from this site that has now been sourced from since 2006. This is a big and burly Chardonnay that obviously saw extended battonage. Toasty oak, ripe fig and rich melon flavors combine with citrus rind accents and vanilla cream on the palate. Finishing very long, this is delicious now but will live on for another ten years to come. Drink 2023-2033- 94

2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Stubbs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Stubbs Vineyard was planted back in 1996 by Tom and Mary Stubbs. This site is set in the Petaluma Gap appellation and is a cooler site that is located at the bottom of a valley. The win3 was stored in 50% new French oak before bottling, and offers wet soil notes alongside dark cherry, plum and shades of baking spices on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with plenty of earthy and damp soil notes alongside a core of rich dark fruits and hints of cola. This is seriously good stuff in its heady youth. Drink 2023-2035- 95

2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Docker Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Docker Hill Vineyard is located southeast of the town of Mendocino, as the site sets at 1,000 feet elevation. Stored for 17 months in 45% new French oak, this delivers a great melange of red and dark fruits, with beautiful finesse, orange peel and wild mushroom flavors on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 94

2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Deviate’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Deviate’ comes from two Sonoma Coast Vineyards and was aged in 40% new French oak before bottling. Silky smooth on the mouth, this is exceedingly refined with beautiful sense of texture and verve. Layers of pretty red and dark fruits parade with chocolate, sassafras, and dried herbs on the palate. Dense and chewy, loaded with a bright sense of minerality, this is already drinking beautifully now at the two year mark. Drink 2023-2035- 95

2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Devil’s Gulch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 Devil’s Gulch Vineyard comes from Western Marin County which shows steep terraces up to 60% grade, set on very shallow soils. This 2021 Pinot Noir is loaded with concentrated tart red fruit flavors alongside cherry cola, freshly tilled loamy soils and shades of cardamom on the palate. Novel and delicious, this finesse-driven bottling will entice any lover of top class California Pinot Noir. Drink 2023-2035- 95

2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Dutton Ranch-Emerald Ridge Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This site in the Dutton Ranch is an east-facing site located in the Green valley that was planted back in 2001 and set on Goldridge sandy loam soils. This comes off soft and inviting with straightforward red and dark fruit flavors with plenty of minerals and shades of baking spice dusted black licorice. Drink 2023-2035- 93

2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Fox Den Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Fox Den Vineyard’ is located at the top of Stoetz Ridge which is at the western part of the Green Valley. Stored in 55% new French oak for 18 months before bottling, this offers salty soil flavors alongside wild blackberry, cola and shades of menthol on the palate. This is really complex stuff that will live on for a really long time. Drink 2023-2035- 94

2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘McDougall Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The McDougall Vineyard is set in the Fort Ross-Seaview appellation which is set at 1,100 feet and neighbors the Pacific Ocean. This comes off wonderfully salty from this site, as saline drenched red currant and black raspberry combine with stony and tilled soil notes on the palate. Finishing long this is drinking beautiful right now with its weight and tension. Drink 2023-2035- 94

BACA Wines

Zinfandel is not always easy to make with extreme heat. With the heat dome of 2022, ripening was sometimes an issue for Zinfandel. But HALL President Mike Reynolds explained that their optical sorting machine greatly helped this problem “Because with the optical sorting you get grapes in the cluster at 35 brix and 19 brix and we get rid of the 35 brix grapes.” Reynolds mentioned that fruit quality was very high in 2022 for BACA, one of the newer HALL brands that focuses entirely on producing world-class Zinfandel from top sites across California. BACA also makes one of the best canned wines you will taste, their Rose wine that shows both outstanding texture and flavor range.

Jennifer Brown is the Vintner of BACA Wines, as she heads marketing, operations and sales. Prior to working at HALL, WALT and BACA Wines, Jennifer was the founder of Omghow/Girl Karma Inc., a social platform and positive destination for teen girls. Jennifer grew up in the wine industry and is the daughter of Vintner Kathryn Walt Hall. She has a law degree from Stanford University. To say she has done an exceptional job with this exciting new brand would be a gross understatement as these wines have been a massive success from the beginning. Despite the obvious heat of the 2022 vintage, the new releases by BACA were really good. I love the 2022 BACA Zinfandel ‘Cat’s Cradle’ Zinfandel (OB, 93) which is very dense and chewy with fantastic aging potential. Learn more about these beautiful wines at bacawines.com and here are my reviews of the new BACA wines.

2022 BACA ‘Double Dutch Dusi Ranch’ Zinfandel- This 2022 Zinfandel comes from the Dusi Ranch which is a head-trained vineyard set in Paso Robles. These vines were planted in 1945. The palate is soft and refined with silky tannins and a smooth texture. Layers of sweet fig and dates combine with salted wet stone and baking spices on the palate. Showing good underlying freshness, this is already nicely evolved stuff. Drink 2023-2029- 92

2022 BACA Zinfandel ‘Home Base’ Zinfandel- This beautiful 2022 Zinfandel comes from the Dry Creek Valley where the BACA tasting room is located. Inky in the glass, this offers loads of freshness on the palate. Rich dark fruits parade with chocolate and dried herbs on the palate. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years to come. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2022 BACA Zinfandel ‘Cat’s Cradle’ Zinfandel- This wine comes from the Rockpile Appellation, located in the northwestern part of Lake Sonoma. The nose shows graphite and anise alongside a nice core of dark fruits and coffee grounds. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture and great sense of power. Bright underlying freshness combines with the rich core of dark fruits. Drink 2023-2033- 93

Champagne Brice

A house with serous history, Champagne Brice dates back to the 17th century as the Brice family has lived in the village of Bouzy since the 17th century. Three generations ago, they were focussed exclusively on red wine production, shifting to Champagne elaboration just after WWII. The house headed today by brothers Jean-Rene and Remi has a “no-nonsense” approach to wine making and strive to reveal the true nature of the Terroir of four villages that are Ay, Bouzy, Cramant and Verzenay.

I loved the new wines by Champagne Brice, especially the NV Champagne Brice ‘Blanc de Noirs’ (OB, 93) which was very dense and shows incredible finesse. This beauty will go for another ten years. Learn more at https://champagne-brice.com/en/accueil-english/ and here are my reviews of the great new Champagnes by Champagne Brice.

NV Champagne Brice Brut- Soft on the mouth, this offers plenty of bright pear and apple flavors with candied ginger and baking spice dusted pastry crust notes. Finishing long with copious minerals, this is beautiful to enjoy now. Drink 2023-2031- 91

NV Champagne Brice ‘Premier Cru’ Blanc de Blancs- This beuaxiful bottling from only Premier Cru Vineyards offers a smooth texture once on the mouth. Loaded with texture and sandalwood notes, this offers melon and Japanese pear fruits that combine with shades of kumquat zest on the palate. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2033- 92

NV Champagne Brice ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Champagne- Rich, layered and beautifully tension-lanen the outstanding NV Champagne Brice ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Champagne exudes class with its red raspberry, citrus zest and copious minerals, this show a silly mouthfeel and mousse. Delicious. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2023-2033- 93

Bella

One of Sonoma’s great producers of Zinfandel wines, Bella relies on the talents of Director of Winemaking Ryan Schmaltz. Originally at Bella as a harvest intern in 2012, Schmaltz has earned a PhD in organic chemistry, which helps with learning about fermentation science. He soon took over Bella’s laboratory as Enologist and later became Assistant Winemaker. After serving as winemaker at Trattore he came back to Bella to be head winemaker.

Schmaltz relies on some choice sites, including their estate Lily Hill vineyard which is planted to old vine Zinfandel in the center of the Dry Creek Valley. This location is also home to Bella Winery.  It was at this site that where Italian immigrant Adamo Micheli and his young son, Angelo, planted the first vines over 100 years ago in 1915.

The new wines by Bella were awesome across the board. I love the new 2019 Bella ‘Lily Hill Estate’ Zinfandel (OB, 92) which is unabashedly bold with really good nuance and bright acidity. Just as good is the outstanding 2019 Bella ‘Maple Vineyards’ Zinfandel (OB, 92) which is really dense with outstanding flavor range. Learn more about this outstanding Zinfandel house at https://www.bellawinery.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Bella releases.

2019 Bella ‘Lily Hill Estate’ Zinfandel- The Lily Hill Estate is located in the northwestern part of the Dry Creek Valley. The palate shows good structure and weight with layers of beautiful red fruits alongside bramble, green olives and fresh sage. Full-bodied and delicious, this is really good stuff to savor now. Drink 2023-2030- 92

2019 Bella ‘Maple Vineyards’ Zinfandel- This beautiful 2019 Zinfandel comes from the Maple Vineyards which is located in the Dry Creek Valley appellation, quite literally overlooking Dry Creek and is planted to old vine Zin. Juicy and nicely balanced, with bright underlying acidity, this offers weight and finesse, without being flabby. Sweet peach and juicy Yakima cherry flavors mingle well with wet stone on the palate. Enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next seven plus years. Drink 2023-2030- 92

2022 Bella ‘Special Release Syrah + Grenache’ Red Wine- Mostly Syrah (70%) this offers bright minerality alongside red raspberry and pomegranate seed flavors that mingle well with red currants and citrus rind accents. Nicely textured, this is seriously good stuff. Drink 2023-2029- 92

Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon Vertical Tasting

Dan and Amy Wampfler know a thing or two about Cabernet. I loved the wines that Dan made at Dunham which were consistently great Cabernet wines for the price. Today he makes Abeja wines with his Uber-talented wife, Amy Alvarez-Wampfler. They are both a delight to spend time with and they are producing world-class Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay.

It was at Columbia Crest where the couple's professional and personal lives crossed. With Dan leaving Columbia Crest and joining Dunham Cellars, Amy then served as Sinclair Cellars' general manager and winemaker. Abeja approached the couple in late 2015 and in January 2016 they then joined Abeja as general manager and co-winemakers. I have been enjoying these wines from my personal collection for many years and it was time to uncork some beauties. Each wine came from my cellar. They were all glorious.

The incredible 2016 Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) is soft and generous, showing depth and concentration from this amazing vintage for reds. Just as good was the 2018 (OB, 95) which is slightly less open at this five year mark but shows equal potential. Tightly wound and compact, with bright underlying acidity, this is a beautiful wine especially after a few hours of air. Learn more about these incredible wines at https://www.abeja.net and here are my reviews of the 2016, 2018 and 2020 vintages of Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon.

2016 Abeja ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Very soft and refined now at the seven year mark, the 2016 Abeja ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers sagebrush notes alongside milk chocolate, anise and allspice on the nose. The palate is seamless throughout the drinking experience. Layers of black currants and wild blackberry mingle well with pencil lead and salty undercurrents on the palate. Finishing long with black fruits and minerals, this beautifully-textured Cabernet has at least another ten years of life ahead of it. Drink 2023-2033- 95

2018 Abeja ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A glorious wine from a great vintage, the 2018 Abeja ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is mainly Cabernet (89%) with 10% Merlot, and a dash of Cabernet Franc added. It really needs several hours to fully evolve but once aroused it is compact, refined and utterly delicious. Rich dark fruits parade with espresso grounds, and shades of Black Forest cake on the palate. If enjoying now, make sure to give this 2-3 hours in the decanter, as your patience will be rewarded. This is a total masterclass by Amy and Dan Wampfler. Drink 2023-2035- 95

2020 Abeja ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The gorgeous 2020 Abeja ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon also is mainly sourced from estate vineyards (roughly 70%). This shows a beautiful aromas of dried herbs and tar with espresso grounds and shades of black currants. The palate is rich and voluptuous with refined tannins and a beautiful array of black fruit flavors. Enjoy this beauty over the next five plus years. Drink 2023-2030- 94

HALL

It was a glorious fall Friday afternoon as I descended upon the Napa Valley. HALL has been one of my favorite places to taste wine at prior to my career as a wine critic. It has now been nearly twenty years since I first visited the winery. Post-pandemic it had sadly been several years since I had tasted in person with HALL founding winemaker and president, Mike Reynolds. He shed some of his insights on the 2021 vintage, mentioning that “2021 was a difficult year because this was the last year of the drought and the vines didn’t have any extended soaking from rain which would give you ai deep root profile” he explained. “The water resources caused challenges and the ability to keep the vines irrigated was hard. As a result of all of that we saw exceptionally low yields with very small berries and tiny clusters. The wines were very dense and concentrated that I feel will have phenomenal agability over time. I think this will be in line with 2013.” I loved the 2013 HALL wines and as I tasted I noticed some similarities in terms of compactness, underlying finesse and massive concentration.

Mike describes HALL’s Cabernet Sauvignon program as “trying to showcases the different appellations and that is the essence of who we are. We want the wines that we produce at the winery to be expressions of place and specific vineyards.”

Truly one of the great wineries of Napa, HALL was founded in 1992 by Katheryn and Craig Hall. HALL’s Saint Helena estate is a must visit for anyone interested in wine. They offer world-class service and wine quality that will tempt the broadest of palates.

HALL also have two separate lines, WALT (focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) and BACA (Focusing on Zinfandel) that are seriously good in their own rights. I have been blown away with the consistency of these wines, particularly in recent years. HALL has been known for making exceptional wines even in tough vintages. The new releases from 2021 were incredible. I think this is arguably the finest lineup of Cabernet Sauvignon that HALL has ever produced. 

Do not miss out on the stunning 2021 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is pillowy and soft with a refined mouthfeel. I am floored by the new 2021 HALL ‘Rainin VIneyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is a Cabernet perfected. Dense and massive, with decades of aging potential, this one really needs two plus hours of air if enjoying in its heady youth.  I wanted to share my congratulations to the winemaking team at HALL for these unbelievable new wines. Learn more about these incredible wines at hallwines.com Here are the beautiful new wines by HALL.

2021 HALL ‘Coeur’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Coeur’ comes from Saint Helena and is a selection of some of their choicest sites in this appellation. The wine shows tar, pencil lead, mocha and anise on the nose with dark currants. The palate is fresh and polished with a smooth mouthfeel. Finishing long with pencil lead and medium-bodied dark fruits this is a beautiful with violet rose petal accents. This shows wonderful balance. Drink 2023-2035- 94

2021 HALL ‘1873’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 HALL ‘1873’ Cabernet Sauvignon is named after the first grapes documented on the HALL property come from this year. The wine comes from grapes sourced mostly the eastern Vacca hillsides. The palate is very rocky and stony on the palate, with serious power and underlying finesse. Dark currant cordial, mocha, cigar box and volcanic ash flavors all seamlessly come together on the palate. Drink 2023-2040- 96

2021 HALL ‘Katheryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 HALL ‘Katheryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a knockout bottling that follows an incredibly long line of this wine. Mainly coming from the Sacrache Vineyard, this wine displays beautiful dark florals on the nose alongside mocha, creme de cassis and exotic spices. The palate is soft, round and generous with a seamless texture, showing serious concentration and power. Finishing long with roasted figs, refined tannins and copious minerals, this is a silky, elegant Napa Cabernet that is already drinking beautifully. Drink 2023-2040- 97

2021 HALL ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Named after director of winemaking Mike Reynolds’s youngest son, the 2021 HALL ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a proprietary barrel selection wine made by the winemaking team. Very inky in the glass, this offers black rose petals notes on the nose with pencil lead, Asian spices, Turkish coffee and shades of black licorice. The palate is velvety and soft with serious concentration and great underlying finesse. Finishing very long, this will easily be a 20 year wine. Drink 2023-2043- 97

2021 HALL ‘Rainin’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Rainin Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from this small vineyard set on Diamond Mountain. This 8 acre site is set on iron rich volcanic soils on what was once a lush forest. Once on the nose this displays sweet pipe tobacco notes alongside espresso grounds, creme de violette and violets. Very inky and brooding in the glass, this takes on an opulent, pillowy texture once on the mouth that makes this truly a joy to drink. This powerful and dense yet very seamless throughout the drinking experience. Finishing exceedingly long, with heady dark and blue fruits, this stunning wine is nothing short of perfection in a bottle. Drink 2023-2045- 100

2021 HALL ‘Beller’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Beller’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from their estate vineyard on Mt. Veeder, as this is now the second edition of this wine. The wine is a selection of the best barrels from this 17 acre site which was planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon. An ultra-saturated color, the 2021 ‘Beller’ opens with roasted fig notes and black currants and graphite on the nose alongside cigar box, anise and allspice dusted huckleberry The heady aromatics brings you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is plush and seamless with serious density, weight and as a massive black and blue fruit flavor profile. Loads of mouth-watering acidity and non-fruit flavors line this incredibly complex, stony, and mineral-laden wine that exudes class. Get your hands on this beauty while you can. Drink 2023-2045- 100

2021 HALL ‘Sacrache Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Sacrache Vineyard was the first location that the HALL family purchased when they came to the valley back in 1995. This scenic location overlooks Rutherford and is set on volcanic, shallow soils which allows the vines to struggle. Exceedingly dark in the glass, the 2021 ‘Sacrache’ opens with aromatics of Turkish coffee, graphite, tar and blueberry compote. The palate is downright massive and dense, offering Turkish coffee grounds, scorched earth, mountain huckleberry and creme de violette flavors. Finishing very long, this is a head-turning effort that will live on for another twenty plus years to come. Drink 2023-2045- 100

2021 HALL ‘Montagna’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 HALL ‘Montagna’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Pritchard Hill, located on the slopes that rise on the southern side of Lake Hennessy. The site is lined with scrub brushes and is set on rocky soils at high elevation. A brooding black color, this offers serious viscosity and flavor density with plenty of stony character from this site. Creme de cassis, anise, tar and black licorice candy flavors combine with refined tannins on the palate. Give this beauty at least another year in the bottle before consuming. Drink 2024-2043- 97

Bledsoe | McDaniels

Today we share an outstanding producer of Oregon wine. Bledsoe | McDaniels is a new Oregon wine project from this Walla Walla mainstay. For many years Josh McDaniels wanted to make Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. A few years back there was a really exciting development with their purchasing of a new vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills which they have named their estate ‘Coulee Vineyard.’ This site has 29 acres planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, set on Saum-Parrett, Woodburn soils.

The new wines by McDaniels were beautiful across the board. I love the new 2021 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is deep and concentrated with a seamless texture. Even better is the stunning 2021 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Lefore Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 96) which shows beautiful Rocks character with amazing flavor range and a smooth mouthfeel. I have also included my reviews of the Bledsoe Family Wines and 2021 Doubleback Chardonnay (OB, 96) which is arguably the finest Chardonnay you will find in Washington. Learn more about this outstanding winery project at http://bledsoemcdaniels.com/#top Here are the beautiful new wines by Bledsoe | McDaniels.

2021 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant and very juicy 2021 Bledsoe McDaniels ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir comes from the Ribbon Ridge and Eola-Amity Hills AVAs. Smooth and soft on the mouth, this delivers loads of bright red fruits that parade with allspice, kumquat zest and shades of salty soils on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2023-2035- 94

2021 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Coulee Estate’ Pinot Noir- This is the first version of this wine that is sourced from their estate vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills that is a windy site set on broken basalt. Stored in all new French oak, this saw 50% whole cluster fermentation. The wine comes off as wonderfully earthy on the nose, with red rose petals and black truffle shavings that mingle well with orange peel and shades of freshly tilled salty soils. The palate shows a world-class purity of red fruit flavors. Think pomegranate seed, guava and bright red cherry flavors that meld with the lovely earthy, stony and salty nuances of the wine. Drink 2023-2038- 96

2021 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘LFG’ Red Wine- An exceptional Pinot Noir stored in 35% new French oak for 17 months prior to bottling. Juicy red fruits combine with baking spices, wet gravel and suggestions of tangerine zest on the palate. Neatly textured, enjoy this forward and delicious wine now. Drink 2023-2033- 93

2021 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘McQueen Vineyard’ Syrah- The highly novel 2021 ‘McQueen Syrah’ comes from this very small amount of Syrah plantings in this vineyard. The wine was stored in 50% new French oak before bottling. Wonderfully inky in the glass, this offers serious aromatic range with violets, smoked brisket, tar and black licorice notes that combine with shades of coffee grounds on the nose. The palate is dense and heady with a bright underlying acidity that combine with the core of juicy black fruit flavors. Finishing long with copious minerals, this beautifully textured Syrah will surely live on for another fifteen years to come. This is really impossible to resist stuff right now in its vibrant youth. Drink 2023-2038- 95

2021 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘LeFore Vineyard’ Syrah- Years ago when I was tasting with Drew Bledsoe and Josh McDaniels, I tasted Syrah from this site that was being blended into another Syrah. Because the wine from this Rocks location was so good, I was able to convince Josh and Drew to make a single vineyard expression that comes from the LeFore Vineyard. This 2021 edition displays a knockout nose, ranging from umami, bacon fat, allspice dusted black fruits and suggestions of milk chocolate with green olive tapenade. The palate is soft and inviting with a seamless texture and glorious sense of weight. For my palate, this is the best edition of this wine yet. It’ll live on for another decade but I see no reason to cellar this total heavyhittter of a wine. Drink 2023-2033- 96

2022 Bledsoe Family Wines ‘Healy’ Rose- The 2022 ‘Healy’ Rose comes from Walla Walla Valley Syrah grapes. It is downright dazzling in the glass, with its verve and levels of tension. Tart raspberry and cranberry notes combine with citrus blossom, and shades of wild mushroom on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next five years. Drink 2023-2028- 92

2021 Doubleback Chardonnay- A downright ebullient bottling, the 2021 Doubleback Chardonnay once again enshrines itself in the upper echelon of Pacific Northwest Chardonnay. A golden color dawns the glass, as the 2021 Doubleback Chardonnay saw extended battonage before bottling. Speaking with winemaker Josh McDaniels last summer, he mentioned how this wine is one of his favorite projects. The palate is utterly seamless, showing tremendous depth, concentration and underlying finesse, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Buttered French bread, marzipan and salted cashew nut flavors with hints of bananas foster. This really needs to be served at a warmer temperature to take in the full scintillating range of flavors and aromatics. Do not miss out on this very Kongsgaard meets Washington Chardonnay wine. Drink 2023-2033- 96

2022 Bledsoe Family Wines ‘Elizabeth’ Chardonnay- Delicious and juicy with its vibrant minerality, the 2022 ‘Elizabeth’ Chardonnay offers bright pear, peach and green apple notes on the palate, with salty and lemon-vanilla cream accents. Medium-bodied, and chalk-filled with finesse, enjoy now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2023-2028- 92

2021 Bledsoe Family Wines ‘Stolen Horse’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘Stolen Horse’ Syrah is a glass-staining purple, showing violets, black currants and shades of green olive tapenade on the nose. The palate is fresh and shows good tension with ripe dark cherry, huckleberry and garrigue undertones. Enjoy this medium-bodied effort now and over the next eight years. Drink 2023-2031- 92

Buil & Gine

For years I have admired a gem located in the D.O.Q. Priorat. Buil & Gine all starts with the vision of Joan Gine. Her grandson, Xavi, has since taken over the winery, as this winery’s journey began back in 1996. Based in Gratallops, the winery has 200 acres planted including Viognier, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Garnacha, with a large amount of Carinena.

I have been enjoying these wines for more than a decade and have been so impressed with the value that they offer. Only recently they have brought a killer Rose to their range of wines. Roughly 15 years ago they purchased land in Toro as well as Rueda to expand their holdings. The wines offer some sensational value including their new brilliant Rose from the 2021 Vintage (OB, 91 )which is fresh and beautifully textured. I love the value of the 2013 ‘Pleret’ (OB, 93) is massively complex with herbal and earthy tones. Learn more about this outstanding house in Priorat at https://builgine.com/en/buil-gine-2/ and here are the brilliant new wines by Buil & Gine.

2019 Buil & Gine ‘Joan Gine’ White Wine- The 2019 ‘Joan Gine’ combines mostly Garnacha Blanca (50%) with smaller parts Macabeo, Viognier and a dash of Pedro Ximenez and Muscat.  Stored in barrique for six months prior to bottling, this delivers amazing aromatic range from pink grapefruit blossom to white peach, honeydew melon and salted Marcona almond. The palate offers serious weight and underlying acidity, with a lengthy finish. Refined and elegant, this is stunning wine to consume now and over the next decade. Drink 2023-2032- 93

2021 Buil & Gine ‘Nosis’ Rueda- The 2022 ‘Nosis’ comes from 35 year old Verdejo vines that are set in sandy-loam soils. This beautiful wine opens with kiwi and Bartlett pear flavors alongside good richness and viscosity on the palate. Salty and nutty tones accent this beautiful wine that is best served slightly on the warmer side. Drink 2023-2027- 91

2013 Buil & Gine ‘Pleret’ Priorat- The 2013 ‘Pleret’ is a stunning Priorat now at the eleven year mark. The wine shows damp earthy notes alongside tart cranberry and red raspberry fruit flavors, garrigue with stony soils and a bright beam of salinity on the palate. Finishing long with plenty of verve and concentration, this is delicious, complex wine that is really peaking now. Drink 2023-2030- 93