Prospice Wines

Today as part of Washington Wine Month we share some fantastic wines from the Walla Walla Valley. Prospice Wines was founded by Jay Krutulis and Matt Reilly. They both have quite diverse backgrounds. Jay studied Biology in college and Neuroscience in graduate school before embarking on nearly 20 years of studying and practicing corporate law. Jay's entry into law was inspired by visits to Woodinville area while working for Amazon. He is a graduate of the Walla Walla Community College Enology & Viticulture Program at Walla Walla Community College and has served as cellarmaster for Tranche. Matt lived in Spokane and worked harvests for Barrister Winery, and after a cross country stint moved back to eastern Washington where he also graduated from the WWCC Enology and Viticulure program. Matt has worked at Mark Ryan Winery and has served as cellarmaster at Gramercy Cellars. The winery sources from some exciting vineyards including Les Collines, Resurgence and Gamache Vineyards.

The new 2021 wines by Prospice are fantastic. Don’t miss out on the incredible 2021 Prospice ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 95) which has great earthy terroir with smoky and earthy tones. Just as good is the world-class 2021 Prospice Wines ‘Resurgence Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 95) which is wonderfully flinty and shows fantastic aromatic range. Learn more about this exciting new winery at https://prospice.wine Here are they great new wines by Prospice Wines.

2021 Prospice ‘GSM’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘GSM’ is mainly Grenache (70%) with the remainder Mourvèdre and Syrah. The nose is beautiful with red rose petals alongside kumquat zest, cardamom dusted red fruits and flinty accents. This comes off very pure and seamless, with wonderful elegance. This is really well-done especially after some air. Drink 2023-2033- 93

2021 Prospice ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Mourvedre- Coming from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, this 2021 Mourvèdre is a fantastic bottling from this warm vintage. Smoky and savory on the nose, this is really classy stuff aromatically, with green olive accents. The palate is lithe and polished with a smooth texture and bright underlying minerality. You are going to love this complex Mourvèdre that would match with a dizzying array of foods. Drink 2023-2033- 94

2021 Prospice ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah- The vibrant and very juicy 2021 Prospice ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this high-elevation vineyard in the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains. This is quite simply phenomenal wine from Prospice, loaded with Asian spices, garrigue, wet stone and dense dark fruits. Finishing long with blackberry fruits and minerals, enjoy this highly nuanced beauty now and over the next decade or more. Drink 2023-2033- 95

2021 Prospice ‘Resurgence Vineyard’ Syrah- The brilliant 2021 Prospice ‘Resurgence Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this site in the Walla Walla Valley that is set on cobblestones. This has an incredible nose of wet stone and green olive tapenade that meld well with huckleberry and charcuterie notes. The palate is soft and generous with a brilliant sense of verve. This is a highly refined version of the Rocks that is going to really satisfy a lot of Rhone drinkers. Drink 2023-2033- 95

2020 Prospice ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The delicious 2020 Prospice ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this challenging vintage that saw more than difficult conditions at harvest. This is really well-made stuff despite the vintage challenges. Herbal notes alongside smoked brisket combine with violets on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2023-2028- 91

Argyle

We all know that Argyle makes some world-class sparkling wines. But back in the day the winery was most known for their still wines that were getting some serious attention by wine critics. My first visit was in 2002 when they had a very small, rustic tasting room that looks nothing like the huge, modern facility that they have today. Tastings were held at their ‘Nuthouse’ outpost where people would have a chance to taste a range of their wines, including their top ‘Nuthouse’ bottlings. It was an easy choice to join their wine club, based on the consistency of the wines. Wines had plenty of body with bright acidity and pure red fruits.

Last summer I met with Argyle with winemaker Nate Klostermann. He graciously shared a range of ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noirs that reminded me of the wines that I tasted when I was a wine club member. This was an incredible treat for me as these wines held remarkably well despite some being nearly twenty years of age.

The new wines by Argyle are seriously good. I love the value in the 2022 Argyle ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 90) which won’t break the bank and has marvelous texture and brightness. Even better is the sinfully good 2022 Argyle ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is dense and decadent, loaded with bright red fruits. Learn more about these outstanding wines at argylewinery.com and here are my tasting notes from a sensational tasting of Argyle new releases.

2022 Argyle ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2022 Argyle ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay offers bright pear and starfruit tones on the nose. Soft on the mouth with bright tension, alongside lemon zest and green apple flavors, this is a really good value made in 2022. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2022 Argyle ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- This awesome entry level 2022 Pinot Noir delivers plenty of rich red fruits with copious minerals, bubblegum and orange zest flavors on the palate. Showing salty soils and wild mushroom nuances, this is a delicious new bottling that is already nicely evolved. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Aryle ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- A great wine from this vintage, the 2022 ‘Reserve’ is a beautiful effort by winemaker Nate Klostermann. Baking spices and mulled cranberry combine with orange peel, tobacco and Morello cherry flavors. Really good, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 93

Chappellet

Today we share one of the iconic Napa producers. Chappellet was founded by visionary Donn Chappellet who began his wine education by collecting Bordeaux wines while in college. He later ran Interstate United Corporation, a coffee-vending distributorship he co-founded in the mid-1950s, which he helped turn into the third-largest such business in the United States, with more than 7,000 employees and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

He finally decided to sell his shares of Interstate United in 1966 and guided by the legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff of Beaulieu Vineyards bought 320 acres of rocky mountain terrain at the eastern edge of the Napa Valley. Donn saw this terroir as one which would connect with the great wines of Bordeaux. He saw the potential for Pritchard Hill and initially planted Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon which was met with great critical acclaim. Sadly passing in 2016, Donn became a legend of this great site in the Napa Valley.

A winemaker needing no introduction, Phillip Corallo-Titus has been at Chappellet remarkably since 1990. A graduate of UC Davis, Phillip spent time traveling to both Bordeaux and Burgundy to learn about these esteemed regions. In 1981, Phillip joined the Chappellet team as assistant winemaker, and then in1990, Donn Chappellet invited Phillip to return to the winery as Chappellet’s winemaker, a position he has held ever since.

I love the new wines especially the 2021 Chappelllet ‘Hideaway’ Red Wine  (OB, 94) which is neatly textured and shows wonderful dark fruits from this stony location in the Napa Valley. Learn more about this famed Napa estate at chappellet.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Chappellet. 

2021 Chappellet ‘Hideway’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Hideaway’ comes from the rocky slopes of this Pritchard Hill house. Dark raspberry and bing cherry flavors combine with stony soils and shades of creme de violette on the palate.  With more air cocoa powder and tar notes enter the fray. Really good now, enjoy this dense and well-structured wine over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Chappellet ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2021 Chappellet ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers medium to full-bodied blackberry and black tea flavors alongside good tension. Finishing long with plenty of minerals and stony undertones, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2023-2033- 92

Hertelendy

A beautiful winery that is steeped in Hungarian tradition, the Hertelendy story is inspired by the founder’s great uncle Gabor Hertelendy who grew two varietals in his basalt-mountain vineyards overlooking Lake Balaton: Szürkebarát (better known as Pinot Gris) and Kéknyelű (a rare Hungarian white wine grape only found in the Badacsony wine region). I’ll fully admit that I am not familiar with this wine region. After his family immigrated from Hungary and settled down in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ralph Hertelendy began his wine love affair at a very young age — drinking French Grand Crus at the age of 5! Ralph was 15 when he created his first beer and then made his first wine in a basement at age 25. After getting his business degree from the University of San Francisco, Ralph became a sommelier and worked for several wineries in the Napa Valley as a Winemaker’s Assistant and in sales.

Ralph and his family rely today on the talents of winemaker Phillip Titus, one of Napa’s most prestigious winemakers. A graduated of the famed UC Davis Enology and Viticulture program, Titus began his focus on viticulture and wine at the age of 12 when he began helping his father in the family vineyard.

I love the new 2021 lineup of wines for Hertelendy. They have made one of the outstanding Napa Cabernet Francs I have tasted this year. The 2021 Hertelendy ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 96) is beautifully floral and offers great concentration and verve. Even better is the stunning 2021 Hertelendy ‘Legend’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) which is very heady and intense with gorgeous purity of fruit and stony terroir. Learn more about this famed Napa house at https://hertelendy.com/ and here are the outstanding new wines by Hertelendy.

2021 Hertelendy ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2021 ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ comes from this great Russian River Valley property. Ripe and rich, this shows lovely salinity with mango, pineapple, lemon drop and baked apple flavors with buttered brioche. Finishing long with cream and minerals, this is a beautiful bottling that is showing so well even in its youth. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2021 Hertelendy ‘Audere’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Audere’ is a rich and luscious new bottling that delivers offers full-bodied espresso ground flavors alongside mocha, tar and allspice dusted blueberry. Offering plenty of richness and underlying verve, this is a beautiful rendition of this wine that slightly eclipses the 2018 bottling. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2021 Hertelendy ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Franc- The beautiful 2021 Hertelendy ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Franc is a sensational new bottling from this warm vintage. This offers rich red bell pepper tones alongside mocha, tar and sagebrush notes. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and wonderful sense of elegance. Rich dark and blue fruits parade with stony minerals and freshly tilled loamy soils on the palate. Finishing long this is a simply marvelous effort that has a long way in the cellar to go. Drink 2024-2044- 96

2021 Hertelendy ‘Signature Mountain Red Blend’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2021 Hertelendy ‘Signature Mountain Red Blend’ Red Wine comes from the Rockwell Ridge Vineyard that is set on Howell Mountain. This right bank inspired blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc shows gorgeous red florals on the nose alongside wet stone, blackberry compote and creme de cassis with sweet pipe tobacco. The palate is soft and refined with serious texture and underlying verve. Stunning and captivating to consume now in its heady youth, this will easily live on for another twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 97

2021 Hertelendy ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Outstanding and delicious even in its heady youth, the 2021 Hertelendy ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon really needs about an hour in the decanter to fully strut its stuff. Stored for  23 months in 90% New French and Hungarian Oak prior to bottling, the wine evolves with beautiful loamy and rocky soils on the palate, alongside good tension and a generous core of black fruit flavors. Espresso grounds and dark chocolate shavings add to the intrigue, as this generous bottling will live on for another twenty plus years to come. Drink 2024-2044— 96

2021 Hertelendy ‘Legend’ Cabernet Sauvignon- An amazing wine from this great vintage, the 2021 Hertelendy ‘Legend’ is a gorgeous barrel-select bottling that is extremely dark in the glass. Black raspberry and chocolate cake flavors combine with tar and tobacco leaf on the palate. Rich and dense, with fantastic flavor density, verve and length, and stony accents, this really needs another year in the bottle for everything to come together — but you can see the incredible potential here. Drink 2025-2050- 98

Domaine Carneros

Today we share a world-class tasting and winery experience in the Napa Valley, Domaine Carneros is perched high on a hill, overlooking the valley. The winery has outstanding food pairings for their sparkling wines. Caviar? They’ve got that pairing as well. 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. I had the chance to taste base wines with her last fall and I have been so impressed with her guidance of this program. There is little doubt that the ‘Le Reve’ is one of the finest sparkling wines made 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

2019 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The 2019 ‘Brut’ comes from this outstanding vintage where harvest was condensed and began in mid-August. 60% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir, this was given .9% dosage. Juicy pear and nectarine skin flavors combine with salty minerals and nutty nuances on the palate. Bright and delicious, this is showing marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2020 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- A beautiful wine from a tough vintage, the 2020 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine is comprised of 57% Pinot noir with the reindeer Chardonnay and also given .9% dosage. This offers nice salty soil tones alongside bright red raspberry and bing cherry notes with orange peel accents. With a smooth mousse and refined mouthfeel, this has another eight plus years to go. This is refined Rose bubbles that comes off clean and highly nervy. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2017 Domaine Carneros ‘Late Disgorged Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The 2017 Domaine Carneros ‘Late Disgorged Brut’ Sparkling Wine is a combination of near equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The wine is showing beautifully now at the seven year mark, offering brioche, rich pear and starfruit tones aromatically. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured with a refined mousse. Lemongrass, candied ginger, macadamia nut and rich orchard fruits greet you on the palate, with great elegance. This is refined stuff that is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2024-2033- 94

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 2024-2038- 96

Trisaetum

One of the great producers in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, Trisaetum utilizes the talents of fellow Arsenal supporter James Frey. Frey marks his Trisaetum that speak to the region and terroir. His winemaking style focuses towards a brightness and freshness in the wines, regardless of vintage. I have been highly impressed with these wines over the past several years. His talents spread far as James also makes some outstanding sparkling wines under his Pashey label and I reviewed his wines sourced from the Walla Walla Valley, his 1841 label. He makes some absolutely killer bubbles for the Pashey label. Frey also produces some of the finest Riesling you will taste in the Willamette Valley.

The new Trisaetum lineup was brilliant across the board. Look for their 2022 Trisaetum ‘Estates Reserve’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is deep and concentrated with serious tension. Even better is the incredible  2022 Trisaetum ‘Family Reserve’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is one of the outstanding Oregon Pinot Noirs that I have tasted this year. This is a total slumbering giant with tons of aging potential. Learn more about this fantastic Willamette Valley winery at http://www.trisaetum.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Trisaetum. 

2022 Trisaetum ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- This absolutely killer 2022 ‘Willamette Valley’ bottling was sourced from all three of the Trisaetum estate vineyards. This is juicy and lively Pinot Noir, offering cracked black pepper alongside crunchy red fruits, tobacco leaf and salty soils on the palate. Nicely textured, with outstanding finesse, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Trisaetum ‘Ribbon Ridge Estate’ Pinot Noir- A stunning wine from this vintage that ended very late in the season, the 2022 ‘Ribbon Ridge Estate’ Pinot Noir is sourced from Pinot Noir vines first planted back in 2007. This is wonderfully nervy stuff with serious tension and finesse. Pretty red currant and guava fruits collide with salty minerals and red rose water notes on the palate. Very classic from this region, this is a silky, refined Pinot Noir that reminds me a bit of the 2019 — yet is more approachable than that bottling in its youth. For now give this beauty about an hour in the decanter and watch it unwind. Drink 2024-2038- 94

2022 Trisaetum ‘Coast Range Estate’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Coast Range Estate’ is located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA and is set at 700 feet, with a combination of volcanic and marine sedimentary soils. This comes off very tart and salty — but in a really good way. Rich loganberry and cranberry tones combine with salty kirsch and menthol notes on the palate. Refined and elegant, with pretty high red flower notes aromatically, this is showing really beautifully now even at two years of age. The terroir is evident in the glass and for my palate, this is the best ‘Coast Range’ bottling that winemaker James Frey has crafted yet. Drink 2024-2037- 94

2022 Trisaetum ‘Wichmann Dundee’ Pinot Noir- This 2022 ‘Wichmann Dundee’ bottling comes from a site that James Frey planted back in 1999 at 700 feet elevation. Coming from vines set on Jory soils, this offers a smooth texture with good weight and brightness. Citrus rind, black raspberry and shades of cardamom dusted blackberry all combine with the volcanic soil underpinnings. Refined, elegant and showing good weight and underlying verve, this is a stunning rendition of Dundee Hills Pinot Noir that is already drinking beautifully at the two year mark. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2022 Trisaetum ‘Estates Reserve’ Pinot Noir-A barrel selection wine sourced from the Yamhill-Carlton, Ribbon Ridge, Dundee Hills AVAs, the 2022 ‘Estates Reserve’ really needs about an hour to fully unwind. I think this is the finest edition of this wine that I have tasted in the past decade. After an hour of air this reveals pretty high-toned arromatics with citrus blossom and potpourri alongside a polished texture. Utterly seamless throughout the drinking experience this revels in its full-bodied red and dark fruit flavors, offering alluring pine needle, salty and stony soils and copious mineral accents. Finishing exceedingly long, this dense and decadent Oregon Pinot Noir is a marvelous effort that will easily age for another twenty years. Drink 2024-2044- 95

2022 Trisaetum ‘Family Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The wine made from the winemaker’s choicest lots, the 2022 ‘Family Reserve’ is a wine that has so much cellaring potential and is a bit reticent right out of the gate. Needing several hours in the decanter, this shows aromatics of black truffle shavings, salty soils, volcanic rock, red currants and Cuban cigar notes once on the nose. The palate is dense and decadent with tremendous length and underlying tension. A totally stunning wine that is still tightly wound, rich and light on its feet, try to resist this beauty for a few more years — and your patience will be rewarded. Drink 2026-2045- 97

Review: The Allison, A Willamette Valley Gem

An incredible spot on a scenic plot of land, The Allison is an amazing destination for anyone tasting in the Willamette Valley. This was the second stay I had at the hotel and they did their best to make it a highly memorable stay.  We were in room 207 which was large and was one of their typical rooms with a small balcony.

The bathroom was expansive and beautifully done with a large tub in the middle of the room. There were not fancy bathroom products as the shampoo, conditioner and shower gel were unmarked — but they all smelled great. They could have probably brought out some marked designer bathroom products considering the price of the room. As an example, Hotel 1000 in Seattle uses top class Le Labo bathroom products. I had a relaxing bath and some relax time.

The decor was functional and nicely done in an upscale cabin motif, using deep wood and stonework finishings. Carpet was relatively thick and while the room had not recently been remodeled, it presented as modern. The room was essentially divided into two main rooms with a large king sized bed and the bathroom area. While it has been more than ten years since the rooms had been remodeled they do not present as outdated. A fancy Nespresso machine made each morning fully caffeinated. There was also a bar with Riedel stems.

For years I have admired the food and wine program at Jory — one of the great in-house restaurants that you will find. I’ve eaten at Jory many times and the food has been consistently good. We had two chances to dine there and I’ll start with brunch. Having two top Oregon bubbles on their list was really awesome. The NV Flaneur and 2019 Collorary Brut Rose were both beautiful foils that my wife and I enjoyed. I ordered a top notch burger with thick bacon. The patty was perfectly cooked and very juicy. Homemade cesar salad was fantastic with freshly made dressing. The burger was on a fresh brioche bun and was topped with homemade aioli which was a must. It is one of the best burgers that I have tasted in the past year.

We dined at Jory Friday night for dinner. It was an early reservation as we were with our infant and they had top notch service throughout. The wine list is expansive and since we were in Oregon tasting many Oregon wines I opted for the 2014 Clos de Papes Blanc which is a benchmark Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc. This one was really singing with its nutty tones and still has so much life to give. We ordered a really good cocktail from the bar, an old-fashioned that was neatly balanced and not too sweet. The bar manager was knowledgeable and kind. Service here is clearly a Vegas-level of quality and effort.  I personally hate when you pay a premium for a hotel room and nobody answers the phone downstairs. I’ve stayed at Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton where this is the case. Service was consistently great throughout our stay.

My main was world-class steak, Australian Wagyu. The nutty character from the aging of the steak was really extraordinary. This was cooked perfectly rare. The steak sauce was wonderfully rich without overdoing the flavors of the steak. This was an A+ meal that was beautifully cooked and prepared. We opted not to have dessert wine or dessert as the wine I had chosen was so fabulous and we had not finished it

We headed back to the room and put our baby down while enjoying some of the Chateaneuf du Pape on our private balcony overlooking the moon and stars. When it was time for bed, we nestled down into our king sized mattress, and I’m not exaggerating by saying that the bed was one of the highlights of this stay. I enjoyed a world-class sleep on this incredibly comfortable bed that was medium firmness. Pillows also nicely ranged from soft to firm which gives travelers options. My wife continued to comment on our drive home how much she enjoyed the bed that was even nicer than the Westin Heavenly Bed.

Bottom Line:

We had an amazing stay at The Allison. It was so good that we didn’t want to leave. We had a chance to use the gym and pool before our stay was over which was quiet and private. The gym was 5-star quality with heavy weights for large people like myself. Checkout was a breeze as was the complimentary valley. This is a great way to get out of the city as the grounds there are expansive and it is very quiet. We literally did not hear any of the guests while staying, as rooms are well-insulated and very well-constructed. The stay was calm and relaxing. I’m sure a remodel will be eventually in the works but the room was modern and laid out remarkably well as each room comes with either a porch or balcony for some seclusion. Modern touches like a beautiful stand alone bath and fireplace add to the value. This is not a cheap stay as weekend rates were over 700 plus tax but this place is worth a splurge when you consider location and amenities. Room rates are also less expensive during non-weekends. They could probably upgrade their bathroom spa products to a brand that matches the quality of the hotel. I also encountered some internet issues for part of my stay but other than that the room quality, food quality/service at Jory and service experience was nothing short of 5-star. We will definitely be heading back to The Allison, truly the finest stay you will find in the Willamette Valley.

Cote Nicault

Cote Nicault is a story all about winemaker Gilles Nicault, one of Washington’s great winemakers whose family has a history in agriculture dating back to the 1930s in Africa. Growing up Gilles was exposed to the great wines of the Rhone Valley by his father who was an enophile, particularly enjoying the great wines of Chateauneuf du Pape. Gilles became infatuated with those wines as well and made the decision to study winemaking and viticulture at the acclaimed University of Avignon. It was a huge move for Gilles to move to the United States and he landed in Walla Walla back in 1994, working for Woodward Canyon. Studying under the guidance of eminent Washington wine icon Rick Small he knew there was unparalleled potential in Washington wine. Washington wine visionary Allen Shoupe hired him as the first and only winemaker for Long Shadows Vintners in 2003, and for many years he has served as Director of Winemaking and Viticulture there, making some of the finest wines that Washington State has to offer.

Côte Nicault is a limited production, Rhone inspired wine that Gilles makes each year. The wine is all about balance between Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah. It is a very different wine to the Long Shadows ‘Sequel’ — one with more finesse, subtlety and nuance. I absolutely love the new 2019 Côte Nicault Red Wine (OB, 95) which is deep and concentrated with pure dark fruits and herbal accents. This beauty is already nicely evolved. Learn more about these great wine at https://www.cotenicault.com and here is the great new future release by Côte Nicault.

2020 Cote Nicault Red Wine- The 2020 Cote Nicault is a seductive melange of near equal parts Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache  — all hailing from the Red Haven Vineyard on Red Mountain. Stored in a combination of new and used French oak and terracotta botti, this offers really good richness and tension. Smoked beef ribs, Hoisin sauce, black currants and garrigue notes all combine with loads of mouth-watering acidity. Coming off clean, this is rich and broad-shouldered wine that is drinking marvelously now. No reason to cellar this beauty. Drink 2024-2030- 96

Col Solare Vertical Tasting

For years I’ve unabashedly been a sucker for one of the finest stops on Red Mountain. Col Solare is one that I have bought extensively for my personal collection. The consistency of the wine is one that my friends and I particularly have admired for now several decades. Col Solare is a historic partnership between the Antinori family and Chateau Ste. Michelle. One of the state’s most beautiful wineries, Col Solare is a must-visit with sweeping views spanning the Columbia Valley. Their first vintage was back in 1995, as Col Solare’s mission has been to amalgamate these two distinct viticultural and winemaking backgrounds to create a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon-based red wine from choice Red Mountain fruit. I have tasted every vintage of this wine and current winemaker Stephanie Cohen joined me for a very special Zoom tasting and vertical of this amazing wine. Cohen trained under her predecessor, Darell Allwine. Allwine made some incredible wines for years, as did his predecessor, Marcus Notaro. The first wine of the tasting was made by Notaro, the 2009 Col Solare and during that time and they were in the process of finding vineyards from around Red Mountain. Col Solare was  made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon in 2011 and was entirely Red Mountain fruit driven with the 2012 vintage.

With the 2019 vintage there were many changes in the vineyard to mirror what the Antinoris were doing with their estates. This also came with a heavy shift in price point for the Col Solare, bumped up from $85.00 to $150.00 SRP. Their 2019 was a seriously impressive effort considering the obvious challenges at harvest. “We changed the yields so they are lower and we want intensity of flavor from that change” said winemaker Stephanie Cohen. “Will and Darel did a great job managing the tannins from this vintage” she said. “We did a lot of work blending the wine and we did a lot of zoom blendings because of the Pandemic which made it hard sending samples to Italy. It was a fun process” Cohen said. The wine showed good depth and concentration from this year that was marred by a freeze event in mid-October.

The 2020 wine was the first harvest that Cohen joined the team. “Early April we were in full bud break and we had fabulous growing conditions. Then of course we all know about the smoke event in 2020 but I think that Red Mountain fared well. I am really excited about the wine that we made, still great red fruit but on the palate there is good density.” There were a few lots removed due to smoke impact. “2020 is a big wine and I think that I prefer more elegant wines like the 2019 but with some time the 2020 will get there” said Cohen.

She described 2021 as “hard with the heat of the vintage and it was tough managing tannins. But 2021 is a big wine. 2022 might be more like the 2016 vintage for me” she said. 2022 also marked the first vintage that Cohen was head winemaker. The 2021 Col Solare (OB, 95) is a total masterclass, showing brilliantly now and has gobs of richness and flavor density — really showing off the warmth of this vintage. Learn more about these famed wines at colsolare.com and here are my reviews of this incredible retrospective tasting of Col Solare.

2009 Col Solare Red Wine- The 2009 Col Solare is a stunning, warm vintage wine that combines 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec. This is very mature wine that is drinking in a great spot now. This displays a smooth mouthfeel, with prune and tobacco leaf alongside light tannins, and coffee ground undertones. Drink now. Drink 2024-2028- 92

2014 Col Solare Red Wine- A great wine from this hot vintage, the 2014 Col Solare is soaring in the glass — a silky combination of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 9% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and the remainder Syrah. The wine shows a velvety texture, offering scorched earth on the nose with pencil lead, dark chocolate shavings and creme de violette. Soft and very approachable now, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2030- 94

2018 Col Solare Red Wine- From my personal collection, the 2018 Col Solare is a flat-out delicious bottling that still has a long life in front of it. On the nose this takes on classic scorched earth tones alongside pipe tobacco leaf, dark chocolate shavings and tar notes. The palate is plush and refined with soft tannins and a generous core of black fruit flavors, with herbal accents. A totally stunning wine, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2019 Col Solare Red Wine- What is a fabulous wine made in this cooler vintage, the 2019 Col Solare is nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Cabernet Franc blended in. beautiful bouquet takes on layers of tar, black currants, black plum, violets and scorched earth notes. The palate is plush with a seamless texture and shows some lovely weight. Nicely poised, this beautifully perfumed wine is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2023-2035- 94

2020 Col Solare Red Wine- A great wine from a tough vintage, the 100% varietal 2020 Col Solare Red Wine. This comes off round and smooth with good viscosity and underlying verve. Generous black fruits combine with chocolate pie, espresso grounds and shades of black licorice on the palate. This is really well-done. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Col Solare Red Wine- A dense and delicious wine from this warm vintage, the 2021 Col Solare has 5% Cabernet Franc blended in. This wine is nearly all Quintessence Vineyard with the remainder coming from the Col Solare estate vineyard. Very inky at its core, the 2021 opens with a gorgeous bouquet of allspice dusted black currant alongside cassis, Turkish coffee and suggestions of tar. This has incredible poise and concentration, with loamy soil character. This is an absolutely gorgeous wine that is already drinking beautifully. Drink 2024-2040- 95

Long Shadows 'Julia's Dazzle' Rose

Winter means dark days of the Pacific Northwest but when February hits you know you are steadily inching towards spring. Rose season has slowly begun in 2024 which means plenty of bright and tension-filled Rose wines will soon be in our glass. Today we present one of the consistently great Rose wines out of Washington, ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ made by famed producer Long Shadows. Year after year this wine has impressed since its inception and it is my pleasure to be the first wine critic to review this beautiful wine sourced from the Columbia Valley. A week ago I tasted high atop the Seattle skyline at the Smith Tower alongside famed Long Shadows winemaker Gilles Nicault. He was impressed with the freshness and flavor range in this wine. The 2023 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose (OB, 93) is very polished and light on its feet with a beautiful purity of red fruit flavors. This is best tasted at a slightly warmer temperature. At under 20 bucks this is a killer value — the 2023 ‘Dazzle' is truly one of the best value Rose wines Pacific Northwest Rose market. Learn more about these incredible wines at longshadows.com and here is my review of the 2023 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose.

2023 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose- Bone dry, the 2023 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose was stored in stainless steel. This did not see any battonage but based on the mouthfeel you would guess that. Almost all Pinot Gris grapes, this comes from the Gamache, McNary and Hogue Ranch vineyards. Bright strawberry and kiwi notes combine with shades of guava on the nose. The palate is rich and mineral-laden with a very pretty cure of red fruit flavors alongside damp earth and shades of kiwi and cantaloupe on the palate. Beautiful textured, this has impeccable balance with weight, favor range and finesse. Drink 2024-2030- 93

Beautus

This is now the second edition of the Beatus which is one of the most electric new projects that I tasted last year out of the Pacific Northwest. A fantastic story about Todd Alexander making wines from the Southern Rhone, Alexander was enchanted by the terroir of Chateauneuf du Pape and connected with Anne-Charlotte of Chateau de la Font Du Loup to make this very special wine coming from her estate vineyard.

For those less familiar with Chateau de la Font Du Loup, proprietor Anne-Charlotte Mélia Bachas is the fourth generation winemaker in the Mélia family. Soils at this 20 hectare site are quite diverse, having a large portion of sand and also cobblestone material. The stones range considerably in size here, from small pebbles to larger cobblestones.

Alexander made a world-class 2020 bottling and the 2021 wine is every bit as good. The 2021 Beatus Chateauneuf du Pape (OB, 97) is dense and shows a fantastic purity of red fruits. This is hedonistic and highly pleasurable stuff that shows beautiful salty accents and depth. Learn more about these wines at https://beatuswine.com/ and here is my review of the 2021 Beatus Chateauneuf du Pape.

2021 Beatus Chateauneuf du Pape- A total masterclass, the 2021 Beatus was sourced from the Chateau de la Font Du Loup estate vineyard. Dense, heady and really pleasurable in its full-throttle youth, the 2021 Beatus offers ripe red currants, menthol and red rose petals on the nose alongside shades of cardamom. The palate is vibrant and nervy with terrific richness and mouth-watering acidity. Ripe guava flavors mingle well with salty minerals, pomegranate seed and anise notes on the palate. Finishing very long, this is a stunning example of top Chateauneuf du Pape and will cellar well for many years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 97

Soter

It is my pleasure to share one of the longstanding houses in Oregon. A truly great winery founded by Tony and Michelle Soter, the Soter 'Mineral Springs Ranch’ is a 240-acre oak savanna in the center of the Willamette Valley. The vineyard is certified biodynamic and was planted to 15 acres of Pinot Noir in 2002 and 2003, and an additional 15 acres in 2006. Two acres of Chardonnay were included in the 2006 plantings which are used for their sparkling wine production. Small extension blocks have been added over the years to grow their total production to 40 acres.

This is a scenic, expansive property that is a must-visit for any lover of bubbles or Oregon Pinot Noir. Over the years Soter has gained a sterling reputation for producing some of the great sparkling wines of Oregon. It is no question that winemaker Chris Fladwood has a fantastic career in wine. After serving our country in the US Army, Fladwood worked harvests in New Zealand as well as Bordeaux. He became Soter cellar master in 2009 and has worked his way to the winemaker position. I love the new ‘Estates’ releases. Don’t miss out on the stunning 2021 Soter ‘Estates’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is impeccably balanced, with good richness and bright acidity. Learn more about this famed Oregon producer at http://sotervineyards.com/ Here are the beautiful new wines by Soter Vineyards.

2021 Soter ‘Estates’ Chardonnay- The really good 2021 Soter ‘Estates’ Chardonnay mainly comes from the Eola-Amity Hills estate with smaller parts coming from the Mineral Springs Vineyard. Initially stored for 12 months in oak barrels and 6 months in stainless steel, this was then aged for a year in bottles. Everything is in clockwork balance here, between oak treatment, richness, texture and bright underlying finesse. Once on the mouth this offers chalky soils and diatomaceous earth notes alongside lemon zest, kiwi and ripe brioche tones on the palate. Truly outstanding, savor now and over the next eight to ten years — or potentially more. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2022 Soter ‘Estates’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Soter ‘Estates’ Pinot Noir was stored in 30% new French oak and was given 25% whole cluster fermentation. This is very juicy and well-structured Pinot Noir, with defined tannins that mingle well with lush red fruits, tobacco leaf, salty soils and shades of stony minerals. Viscous, fleshy and mineral-driven stuff to drink now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

Bodega Contador

One of the epic stars of Rioja, Benjamin Romeo worked as winemaker at Artadi between 1985 and 2000, before starting his Contador project. Situated in and around San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Benjamin has 7 hectares, half devoted to La Vina de Andres, and the other half divided between 20 plots averaging 130 square feet with vines up to 100 years old. His wines have gained international acclaim. I would describe his winemaking style as modern, with old world elegance — almost like Opus One which is obviously a new world wine shows refinement and elegance.

Across the board, Romeo hits a home run with his new release wines. A tremendous value Rioja Blanco, the 2021 Bodega Contador ‘Predicator’ Rioja Blanco (OB, 92)  which is rich and viscous stuff, with fantastic flavor range. A very special and novel wine, the 2022 Bodega Contador ‘Que Bonito Cacareaba’ White Wine (OB, 95) is very dense and heady with a fantastic viscosity and mineral backbone.  Learn more about these very special wines at http://bodegacontador.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Bodega Contador.

2022 Bodega Contador ‘Predicator’ Rioja Blanco- The 2022 ‘Predicador’ combines Garnacha Bianco (42%), and Viura (33%) with the remainder Malvasía. This is smooth and silky on the palate, delivering saline drenched melon fruits, tangerine peel and beeswax notes on the palate, with nutty accents. A total gem, this over-delivers for the price. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Bodega Contador ‘Predicator’ Rioja- This great wine is a combination of 96% Tempranillo with a touch of Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo which was aged for 16 months in French oak. This is a really good value, showing rich dark fruits, kumquat zest and chocolate tones on the palate with pipe tobacco, leather and loamy soils. Drink 2024-2032-92

2022 Bodega Contador ‘Que Bonito Cacareaba’ White Wine- The 2022 Bodega Contador ‘Que Bonito Cacareaba’ White Wine is another magical release of this wine, blending 50% Garnacha Blanca, with 34% Viura, and the remainder 16% Malvasía. It is wonderfully refined and viscous. Layers of honeycomb, white peach, starfruit and juicy pear all parade with sourdough bread and pecan accents on the palate. Finishing exceedingly long, this is a total masterpiece by Contador. Drink 2024-2039- 95

Decoy

Wine doesn’t have to be expensive to be good. While my heart might yearn for Chateau Margaux to pair with my BBQ beef ribs, my wallet knows that’s just not an option. One of the great value brands out of California. Decoy wines is the brainchild of Dan and Margaret Duckhorn who created this portfolio of wines to appeal to a wider range of customers. Not everyone can afford 80 dollar Merlot and the Duckhorns sought to place their product for the value-driven grocery store crowd that seeks an outstanding wine for any night of the week. Decoy as a brand began back in 1985 and then much later in 2007 the new label came out as the brand soon expanded to produce Zinfandel as well as a red blend. 2020 brought the Decoy Limited collection of wines which I recently reviewed.

The new 2022 Decoy Chardonnay (OB, 90) is brimming with richness and bright acidity. It is an outstanding value. I really enjoy the ‘Limited’ collection wines. Check out the new 2022 Decoy ‘Sonoma Coast Limited’ Chardonnay (OB, 91) which is very ripe but also shows good nuance from this salty climate. Learn more about these excellent values at decoywines.com and here are my reviews of the new Decoy wines.

2022 Decoy Chardonnay- This very well-priced 2022 Chardonnay shows a smooth mouthfeel with layers of peach and baking spice dusted brioche notes on the palate, with nutty accents. It is a really good value, with solid tension, that is drinking well right now. Drink 2024-2028- 90

2022 Decoy Rose- This 2022 Rose comes off a bit lean and linear with good verve. Faint red fruits mingle with orange peel accents. Drink 2024-2026- 88

2021 Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon offers straightforward black cherry and black raspberry flavors with shades of tar. Drink 2024-2028- 88

2022 Decoy ‘Sonoma Coast Limited’ Chardonnay- A good value, the 2022 Decoy ‘Sonoma Coast Limited’ Chardonnay offers more flavor complexity than the entry level bottling. Lime zest, rock salt and excellent tension all mark this wine that is best consumed now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Decoy ‘Alexander Valley Limited’ Red Blend A touch sweet, this 2021 Red Blend shows back tea and baking spice flavors alongside straightforward black fruit flavors.  Lacking a bit in flavor density, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 89

2021 Decoy ‘Sonoma Coast Limited’ Pinot Noir Good work in a hot vintage, the 2022 Decoy ‘Sonoma Coast Limited’ Pinot Noir delivers a smooth mouthfeel with cran-cherry, pomegranate seed and copious minerals on the palate. Drink 2024-2028- 90

2000 Argyle 'Spirithouse' Retrospective

Today we present an incredible vintage retrospective from Oregon. Argyle has started re-releasing some of their older wines and with great pleasure I had the chance on revisiting the 2000 vintage — one that I had admittedly not tasted for several years. My friend and college Jason Wehling has a deep collection of older Oregon wines and regularly tastes wines from not only the early 2000s but the 1990s. I admittedly am less familiar with Oregon wines that pre-date 2002.

The millennium vintage was one that was somewhat challenging. Former Argyle winemaker Rollin Soles described the 2000 vintage as “A Grand Prix Race strategy.” He noted that July and August somehow did not have a single day which eclipsed 90 degrees. 2000 began with a warm spring led to good fruit set and largely uniform clusters. Soles explained “We started picking 22 September and crossed the finish line on the 14th of October.” Like many vintages, October also brought some rain and cold conditions at harvest. The Willamette Valley Wine Associated called this a “pretty” vintage that is maybe not the heavyweight of 2002 but eclipsed some from the 1990s. Oregon wine collector and old Oregon wine expert Jason Wehling admitted “for my palate I take 2001 over 2000 but looking at the weather stats these were very similar vintages. Both had about an inch of rain at harvest and 2000 might possess slightly better overall acidity.”

Tasting both of these wines side by side, I was amazed how well both had held. The 2000 Argyle ‘Spirithouse’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) had been recorded and it showed a dizzying flavor range with rocking tertiary notes. Very nutty and earthy, this is right in its sweet spot and was not at all over the hill. Just as good was the incredible 2000 Argyle ‘Spirithouse’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) was massively complex. Also very earthy, there was a great deal of red fruit flavors remaining. Tasting these wines I couldn’t help but appreciate the mind and hands of Oregon wine pioneer Rollin Soles who made these incredible wines that have held for nearly twenty-five years. Cheers to Rollin and all that he has done for Oregon wine. Learn more at argylewinery.com and here are my reviews of the 2000 re-release wines by Argyle.

2000 Argyle ‘Spirithouse’ Chardonnay- The 2000 ‘Spirithouse’ Chardonnay weighs in at 13.5% alcohol as this wine comes from a range of Dijon clonal selections coming from the Spirit Hill Vineyard. This shows amazing flavor complexity, with honey, Pink Lady apple and salted Macadamia nut flavors on the palate, with good tension. With more air shades of mango, peat moss and roasted pineapple enter the arena, as this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2030- 94

2000 Argyle ‘Spirithouse’ Pinot Noir- The 2000 ‘Spirithouse’ PINot Noir is a marvelous, historic Oregon bottling that is fully ready to go right now. This still possesses a great mineral edge, laded with stony accents alongside loamy soils, white truffle shavings, red currants, tobacco leaf and shades of iodine on the palate. Hugely complex and neatly textured, displaying plenty of weight and mouth-watering acidity, this is a marvelous achievement that is best enjoyed now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2029- 94

FIGGINS

Today we share one of the unique wines made in Washington State. The FIGGINS ‘Figlia’ is stunning wine that comes from the high elevation FIGGINS estate vineyard, in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. The wine combines Merlot and Petit Verdot. The star of the show is the Petit Verdot which evokes beautiful herbal and chocolate notes alongside dense dark and blue fruit flavors. This is some of the finest Petit Verdot that you will taste in the Pacific Northwest. The Petit Verdot from this site is truly a monster with massive tannins so the Merlot added really softens this wine. Each wine is stored in a small portion of new oak barrels, as this utilizes mostly neutral oak.

I had the incredible opportunity to taste every vintage of this wine with FIGGINS founder and winemaker Chris Figgins a few months back. I was amazed how well these age. The new release comes from the 2021 vintage which was generous and warm. Red wines from this vintage have been consistently outstanding. I am totally enamored by the 2021 FIGGINS ‘Figlia’ (OB, 97) which was a heady and intense bottling that will easily live on for another twenty years. Learn more about these fantastic wines at figginswine.com. Here are my reviews of the new 2021 FIGGINS ‘Figlia’ wine.

2021 FIGGINS ‘Figlia’ Red Wine- The stunning 2021 ‘Figlia’ is a one of a kind blend of equal parts Merlot and Petit Verdot — both coming from the estate vineyard owned by Chris Figgins. Stored in only 26% new French oak, the ‘Figlia’ is a brooding, inky and beautifully-poised monster of a wine at this moment that really needs an hour or two of air before savoring. Pencil lead, violets, tar, tobacco leaf, heady dark and blue fruits alongside shades of espresso grounds all mark the nose.  The hugely complex nose brings you back to the glass for more indulgence. The palate is elegant and refined, with a smooth texture and beautiful sense of finesse and weight. Everything is in clockwork balance here. Give this another year at least before enjoying — your patience will be rewarded. Drink 2025-2045- 97

WillaKenzie Estate

I fondly recall my first bottling of WillaKenzie Estate. After tasting the incredible 2002 ‘Terres Basses’ I had to go visit for myself. I was in graduate school in 2005 and I descended upon this beautiful winery. A truly unique and scenic vineyard, WillaKenzie produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris with small amounts of Pinot Meunier, Gamay Noir and Chardonnay. A few years back the winery built expansive facility, with sweeping views across the Willamette Valley.

Acquired a few years back by Jackson Family, Erik Kramer serves as winemaker, formerly applying his trade at Domaine Serene. The wines he mades are really good. His wines are focused with beautiful mid-palate ripeness and impressive quality across the board. I really enjoyed his 2021 WillaKenzie ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is beautifully textured, showing good weight from this warm vintage. Learn more about this great producer at willakenziestate.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by WillaKenzie Estate.

2022 WillaKenzie Estate Rose- Bright and loaded with tension the 2022 Rose by winemaker Erik Kramer offers red rose water with orange rind and pretty guava and red raspberry fruit flavors. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next several years to come. Drink 2024-2028- 90

2021 WillaKenzie Estate ‘Estate Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Estate Cuvee’ opens with bright red fruits with a smooth texture and citrus rind accents on the palate. Soft and refined, with a smooth texture and plenty of salty soil accents, this is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2024-2032- 93

Penner-Ash

One of the famed Oregon wineries, Penner-Ash was founded back in 1998 by Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash. Their first vintage was 2005 and they received remarkable success with vintages to follow. Located in the Northern Willamette Valley’s Yamhill-Carlton sub-AVA the pair built their LIVE (Low Input Viticulture & Enology) Certified sustainable gravity-flow winery surrounded by a 15-acre Estate Vineyard. The winery was sold to Jackson Family in 2016 and the impressive quality in the wines remains today.

I have really enjoyed the last few releases of these wines. Don’t miss out on the 2022 Penner-Ash ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB,93) which has great depth and weight, without coming off heavy. I think this one will age gracefully. Learn more about this great story at https://www.pennerash.com and here are my reviews of the new Penner-Ash wines.

2022 Penner-Ash ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2022 Penner-Ash ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay is located with rich pear, peach and stony minerals on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, with a gorgeous texture, this is a marvelous bottling that will drink well over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Penner-Ash ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 Penner-Ash ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir is a beautiful warm vintage wine that displays good flavor density and finesse. Layers of rich plum and spice cake combine with red currants and tobacco leaf on the palate. Rich and viscous, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. This is really serious for an entry-level Pinot. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Penner-Ash ‘Zena Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-The 2021 Penner-Ash ‘Zena Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir offers loads of stony minerals on the nose alongside rich red fruits, menthol and shades of white pepper. The palate is mineral-laden with loads of freshness and a seamless sense of mouthfeel. Finishing long with rich red fruits, baking spices and salty soils, this is a generous, complex bottling that will cellar well over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 94

Acumen

A story made full-circle, entrepreneur Eric Yuan has his Napa journey complete. Guided by legendary winemaker Phillip Titus and renowned Viticulturist Garrett Buckland, his brand  Acumen Wines has established an estate that features 116 organically certified acres of vines, spread across two vineyards on Napa Valley’s Atlas Peak. The Acumen team makes a small portfolio of estate-grown wines, with a focus on mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc as well as Sauvignon Blanc.

Winemaker Phillip Tutus describes this region as “remote and extremely difficult to plant.” Acumen acquired its first vineyard on Atlas Peak in 2012. Originally planted in 1992, and featuring 32 acres of vines with a northeast exposure, the Attelas Vineyard was the ‘home vineyard’ of Dr. Jan Krupp, predating his famed Stagecoach Vineyard by three years. In 2014, Acumen expanded its estate program with the acquisition of the Edcora Vineyard, which features 84 acres of vines 350 feet higher up on Atlas Peak.

I adored both of the new release wines by Acumen, both coming from the outstanding 2021 vintage. The 2021 Acumen Wines ‘PEAK’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 95) which is rich and viscous with serious tension and herbal accents.  I absolutely love these new wines and learn more at https://www.acumenwine.com. Here are my reviews of the new Acumen Wines.

2021 Acumen ‘Mountainside’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Mountainside’ comes mostly from their estate ‘Attelas Vineyard’ which is set at 1300 feet. Inky in the glass, this unveils loads of black currants and blackberry fruit flavors with stony minerals and tar accents on the palate. Refined and generous, with good tension and refined tannins, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 93

2021 Acumen ‘PEAK’ Cabernet Franc- The 2021 ‘PEAK’ Cabernet Franc is a gorgeous bottling made from famed winemaker Phillip Titus that has smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon (14%) and Merlot (10%) blended in. This is a stunning wine with plenty of herbal tones on the palate. Rich cassis, red bell pepper, mocha and dark chocolate shavings all fill the palate alongside refined tannins and fantastic weight and tension. This offers some really good value. Drink 2024-2042- 95

Tablas Creek 'Espirit de Tablas' Vertical Tasting

It was 2004 and I was in graduate school in San Diego. I had bought tickets to a wine event and was most excited to taste the wines of Tablas Creek which were gaining international acclaim for their wine quality, blending and attention to detail. If I could go back in time I would never anticipate sitting with Tablas Creek CEO Jason Haas and visiting every four vintages of their ‘Espirit’ back to their first vintage produced in 2000. Tablas Creek was founded all the way back in 1989 as a partnership between the famed Perrin family of Chateau de Beaucastel and the Haas family who founded Vineyard Brands. Originally named ‘Esprit de Beaucastel’ for their partnership with Chateau de Beaucastel, the name was switched more than a decade ago to ‘Espirit de Tablas’ reflecting that this is a tour de force, stand alone wine from Paso Robles. The ‘Espirit’ has become one of the quintessential California Rhone-inspired wines — and wine that consistently over-delivers for the price and deftly captures the art of blending almost unlike any other red wine in its state.

Haas and I were both amazed with how the oldest wine of the tasting held, the 2000 ‘Espirit de Beaucastel’ (OB, 93). At twenty-four years of age, this still had good freshness with a smooth mouthfeel and was loaded with tertiary notes with light red fruits. Another wonderful surprise was the 2004 ‘Espirit de Beaucastel’ (OB, 96) which was made in a more extracted and generous style, with more new wood, but the wine was holding marvelously. Haas and I both had little doubt that the finest wine of the tasting was the absolutely thrilling 2008 ‘Espirit de Beaucastel’ (OB, 98) which was seamless, dense and finesse-driven, as you could see each varietal working in clockwork precision. Despite it being early in the morning I savored several sips of this unforgettable aged California Rhone. This was quite simply an unforgettable tasting that reminds me of the incredible stability of these wines. Learn more about the famed wines of Tablas Creek at https://tablascreek.com/ and here are my reviews from an incredible vertical tasting of ‘Espirit de Tablas’ by Tablas Creek.

2020 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit de Tablas’ Red Wine- The heady and rich 2020 ‘Espirit de Tablas’ is mainly Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah with smaller parts Counoise, Vaccarese and Cinsault. This is already neatly evolved with a smooth texture displaying a dizzying core of dark fruits with tobacco leaf, stony minerals and wild herbs. While enticing now, this will surely live on for another fifteen years. If savoring now be sure to give this about an hour in the decanter. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2016 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit de Tablas’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2016 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit de Tablas’ Red Wine is similarly comprised to the 2020, made with slightly more Syrah. Right away this is very alluring in the glass, offering polished red florals with smoky character alongside dried herbs, Mandarin orange zest and dark currants. The palate is very fresh and refined with a smooth texture. The weight of the wine and chalky mineral notes are really shining. The star of the show seems to be Grenache here with its very pretty character and sweet red fruits. Gorgeous and generous now, this has another fifteen years to go. Drink 2024-2039- 96

2012 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit de Tablas’ Red Wine- The 2012 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit de Tablas’ Red Wine is nicely evolved, offering tertiary notes already with wild mushroom and bright red fruits alongside wet stone and first floor with red flowers. Beautiful and complex with a gorgeous purity of red fruit character, with smoked meats and hints of black truffle this is marvelous to consume now. Enjoy this savory beauty over the next five plus years. Drink 2024-2030- 95

2008 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit de Beaucastel’ Red Wine- The 2008 ‘Espirit de Beaucastel’ shows a darker core than the ‘12 and has a slightly larger portion of Syrah blended in. This is a dizzying, highly complex bottling that will sure to satisfy any lover of California Rhones. The balance and combination of red fruit, damp earth, pine needles and chalky souls in simply marvelous. The smoky and savory notes become more evident with more air, with light citrus accents. You can see each varietal working in clockwork precision here with its core a blend of 38% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, and 26% Syrah. The weight and poise suggests this still has a very long way to go. A total stunner, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 98

2004 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit de Beaucastel’ Red Wine- This 2004 ‘Espirit de Beaucastel’ has a very high percentage of Mourvèdre blended in as Grenache vines were still very young at Tablas Creek. This year was the third year in a drought cycle but this was a moderately warm year. The balance and poise is beautiful here with good richness and flavor density, showing a core of rich black plum, tangerine zest and ripe boysenberry fruit flavors. This is tannic and muscular 20 year wine is absolutely rocking right now, as the new wood has allowed this to really evolve gracefully. Drink 2024-2032- 96

2000 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit de Beaucastel’ Red Wine- Shockingly good at near 25 years, and still very bright, the 2000 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit de Beaucastel’ combines 35% Mourvèdre and 26% Syrah with the remainder Grenache and Counoise.  It has bright tension remaining with a very pretty core of wild strawberry and guava fruit flavors alongside stony minerals and wild herbs. Consume now. Drink 2024-2028- 93