2024 Paso Robles Report

FULL REPORT HERE:

It was a short flight down from Seattle as I embarked on my mid-January visit to Paso Robles — my first visit in a year. The beauty of this region was particularly stunning due to a large amount of rainfall that had graced the region over the winter. What were normally expansive brown patches of land were turned bright green. Crop cover was exceedingly dense for the region, none more so than at Tablas Creek which is some of the most elaborate cover I have ever laid eyes on. I started tasting mostly wines from 2021 and 2022 with some 2020s.

It is fair to say that 2020 was a challenge for much of California, but don’t overlook the top 2020 wines from Paso Robles. Some wines were impacted from a fire near Morrow Bay and while I found more overall inconsistency with wines from 2020, there were certainly some major bright spots. Tablas Creek proprietor Jason Haas found that 2020 was a “difficult year, between heat and fires and smoke and drought, but I felt like Paso Robles has the chance to make some of the best wines of the state. We were far enough south of the fires that the smoke issues were minimal.”

While 2020 had mixed success, Benom’s electric French-born winemaker Guillaume Fabre found 2021 to be a welcome departure from the 2020 vintage. “The 2021s were fermenting beautifully, coming out from a much harder vintage in 2020 due to a long period of heat spikes at the maturation made the 2020 more challenging, and as the 2021s were aging in barrels, it exceeded all of our expectations. The blends came out superbly balanced, a lot of purity and minerality that will make them ageable with a capital A!” Jason Haas agreed, noting 2021 wines “are blockbusters, with plenty of fruit and tannin and excellent structure that should allow them to age for as long as anything we've ever made.”

Jordan Fiorentini of Epoch also had glowing things to say about 2021. “On paper, 2021 looks similar to  2016 and 2018, both what I consider to be ‘classic’ Paso Roblean vintages” she said. Noting “however, in addition to having all the classic attributes of Paso Robles, the 2021s also have a bit more finesse and cool climate characteristics. 2021 was one of my favorite yet, definitely a winemaker’s vintage.” Tasting through her 2021s I was blown away with the overall consistency of the wines — bottlings with serious nerve, flavor density and weight. Saint K winemaker Chris Kiranbay crafts some of the region’s most evocative, full-throttle wines. He admitted that the heat of 2022 brought some challenges explaining “I think in 2022 some larger producers were able to gamble and let fruit hang longer for flavor and sugar development, but being a smaller winery I couldn't risk it” he said. “Everything ended up working out for me, but in hindsight I definitely jumped the gun on picking Pinot and Chard in the Santa Ynez Valley.” 2023 will be a cooler vintage that will no doubt be a stark contrast to 2022. Kiranbay sees 2023 as “looking very promising so far but it felt like we were waiting for sugars to develop and there just wasn't any heat. I had some fruit under contract that never reached desired brix and was able to opt out of the contract” he explained.

As for some of the region’s top wines, Benom and their sister winery Clos Solene continued a long run of world-class. Don’t sleep on the world-class 2021 Benom ‘Muze’ Red Wine (OB, 96) or the 2021 Benom ‘Le Deux Frères’ Red Wine (OB, 96) which are deep and viscous bottlings, with refined tannins and serious structure. Caliza, Booker and Epoch all made world-class 2021 wines. I love the 2021 Caliza ‘Azimuth’ Red Wine (OB, 96) which showcases gorgeous limestone soil character throughout the drinking experience. An epic Syrah from this vintage, the 2021 Booker ‘Ones’ Syrah (OB, 99) has plenty of chalky mineralty to mingle well with the concentrated black fruit flavors. I adored the 2021 Epoch ‘Veracity’ Red Wine (OB, 97) which is a vintage-defining blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Filled with tension and viscosity, this will surely satisfy any GSM lover. I love The Royal Nonesuch Farm wines none more so than their 2021 ‘Spine’ Syrah (OB, 96) which is deep, with serious weight and wonderfully textured, showing excellent poise. Denner had a beautiful range of wines from their stunning and tension-filled 2021 Viognier (OB, 94) to their 2021 ‘Mother of Exhiles’ (OB, 96) which deftly combines some herbal tones from the Petit Verdot in this inky Cabernet Sauvignon bottling.

For a dense and decadent treat, look to the wines of Herman Story and Saint K — both full-throttle but never lacking in underlying finesse. I adored the 2021 Saint K ‘Everything Is Under Control’ Red Wine (OB, 95) as well as the 2021 Herman Story ‘Bolt Cutter’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which are both inky red blends from this warm vintage. I love the Desperada wines made by Vailia From which focus on beautifully textured and mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc wines that were some of the great whites I tasted including her 2022 Desperada ‘Carmen’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 93) which is filled with lime zest and stony minerals.

Clearly not all Paso wines operate at warp speed. The refinement and elegance exuded in the Tablas Creek wines have been evident in the glass for more than 20 years. For my palate the finest white wine made in this region is the 2022 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit Blanc de Tablas’ White Wine (OB, 96) which is dense, nutty and mineral-laden. The flavor and aromatic range is really thrilling as this has excellent verve despite the heat of the vintage. In terms of 2020 wines, I was enamored by the 2020 Daou ‘Patrimony’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) which is dense, round and seamless, with no rough edges. This was one of the best Paso wines made in 2020. L’Aventure also made some sensational 2020 wines. Their 2020 L’Aventure ‘Cote A Cote’ Red Wine (OB, 96) and ‘Estate Cuvee’ (OB, 97) are impeccably balanced and elegant, with plenty of power. For my palate these wines have improved in quality over the past few years. Similarly a winery producing consistently great wines, Law Estate made a beautiful range of wines, none more so than their Priorat-inspried 2021 Law Estate ‘Audacious’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is dense, chewy and showing very pretty red fruit and red floral tones from the Grenache.

Many Paso winemakers will contend that poor vintages in this region quite simply do not exist. Having tasted here for twenty plus years I can’t think of a vintage that was really lacking in overall quality, as even the cooler 2011 wines have come around beautifully. 2020 has come and gone and might not be a banner year for Paso, but rather a vintage that possesses a wide range in quality, with its peaks being top bottlings not to be missed. 2021 leaves no doubt as a banner year for Paso Robles wines. While 2022 and 2023 presented their own challenges from Mother Nature, I have feel confident from my tastings that quality will remain very high in these highly divergent vintages. Here are my latest tasting notes from the wines of Paso Robles.

Purchase my comprehensive 2024 Paso Robles Report here: https://owenbargreen.com/store/2024-paso-robles-report?rq=Paso%20Robles

Gorman

Today we share one of the outstanding Washington wineries that has received innumerable accolades by critics across the board. Gorman is founded by Chris Gorman who began his winery shortly after graduating from college in 1991. Before starting he spent 3 years working for a small Italian importer which carefully trained his palate. During that time Chris traveled extensively in the wine areas of Italy, Spain and Germany and finally started his winery in 2002. The winery has been a small operation, crafting consistently good wines from the Columbia Valley. Chris focuses on the terroir from Red Mountain and works with great vineyards such as Kiona, Shaw and many others. They make world-class Chardonnay called their ‘Big Sissy’ and also under his Ashan label. This label has Chardonnays that showcase some of the state’s top vineyards. All three Ashan releases from the Cold Creek, Connor Lee and Celilo Vineyards are sensational across the board and are meant for serious lovers of not only Washington white wine but Sonoma and Napa Chardonnay.

I love the 2022 Gorman ‘Big Sissy’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is dense and viscous with beautiful texture. Don’t miss out on the 2019 Gorman ‘Mammoth’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is a downright sexy new bottling from this slightly cooler vintage. Learn more about these outstanding wines at gormanwinery.com. Here are the great new wines by Chris Gorman and his Gorman Winery. 

2022 Gorman ‘Luanne’ White Wine- The 2022 ‘Luanne’ combines Marsanne, with Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Viognier all coming from the Boushey Vineyard. This comes off vibrant with kiwi, gooseberry and oyster shell flavors alongside shades of cantaloupe. Partially stored in neutral oak, this is a gorgeous wine that will pair so well with shellfish. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2022 Ashan ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay- This 2022 Chardonnay comes from a range of top vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley. This shows a soft texture alongside ripe banana, pineapple and golden Delicious apple. Stored in natural French oak, this is generous Chardonnay that is a steal at 25 bucks. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2022 Gorman ‘Big Sissy’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Big Sissy’ is a stunning new Chardonnay by Chris Gorman. Stored from both the Connor Lee and Cold Creek Vineyards, this was stored in 40% new French oak barrels, this offers a smooth texture with a refined mouthfeel, as this effortlessly glides throughout the mid-palate. Roasted pineapple, peach and passion fruit flavors combine with Japanese pear and stony minerals on the palate. Finishing exceedingly long, this is a total stunner that will live on for another ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Gorman ‘The Devil Makes Three’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Mainly coming from Candy Mountain, the 2021 Gorman ‘The Devil Makes Three’ Cabernet Sauvignon has Malbec and Merlot blended in. This is ripe and juicy, loaded with rich blackberry and black currant flavors with cocoa powder flavors. This offers serious value. Drink 2024-2031- 91

2022 Gorman ‘The Devil Makes Three’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Gorman ‘The Devil Makes Three’ Cabernet Sauvignon is entirely sourced from Candy Mountain, with small portions Merlot and Malbec blended in. This is fresh and lithe with refined tannins. Ripe blackberry and black cherry flavors combine with black tea and coffee ground notes on the palate. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2021 Gorman ‘The Devil You Know’ Red Wine- The 2021 Gorman ‘The Devil You Know’ Red Wine has a large portion of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Malbec and Petit Verdot. This is rich and viscous with a smooth texture. Layers of tobacco leaf and black currants combine with logabanberry cordial flavors on the palate. This is concentrated stuff that is seriously good right now. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2021 Gorman ‘Old Scratch’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Old Scratch’ comes from Red Mountain. Aged for 20 months in French oak, this delivers chocolate, sagebrush and espresso ground tones on the palate, alongside refined tannins on the palate. Rich and viscous, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2040- 93

2021 Gorman ‘Pixie’ Syrah- Coming from Red Mountain, the 2021 ‘Pixie’ comes from the Kipsun and Staton Vineyards. Aged in 40% new French oak, this offers beautiful concentration and texture on the mid-palate. Black olives, boysenberry and smoked meats all fill the palate alongside a refined texture. Herbal accents line this generous wine that is drinking beautifully now. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Gorman ‘Evil Twin’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Evil Twin’ combines Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain. Aged in all new French oak, this offers smoked BBQ beef ribs with Umami, black olive tapenade and shades of creosote on the nose. The palate is dense and heady with a reined texture. Gorgeous to enjoy now, this is a stunning new wine that will cellar well for another ten plus years to come. This would be incredible with a juicy ribeye. Drink 2024-2038- 95

2021 Gorman ‘Zachary’s Ladder’ Red Wine- Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, this is named after Chris Gorman’s son and was first made in 2002. Very soft and round on the mouth, this offers sagebrush and milk chocolate alongside dark currants and Morello cherry on the palate. Drink 2024-2035- 92

2021 Gorman ‘The Bully’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘The Bully’ was entirely sourced from Red Mountain and was stored in 100% new French oak barrels before bottling. Mainly coming from the Quintessence Vineyard, this shows off black tea and dark currants line the nose alongside mocha, tar and anise tones. The palate is refined and silky with soft tannins. Black currant jelly, and scorched earth tones combine with shades of espresso grounds and kirsch notes on the palate. This is going to age gracefully. Drink 2024-2040- 94

2021 Gorman ‘The Albatross’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A really big wine from a warm vintage, the 2021 ‘The Albatross’ Cabernet Sauvignon also comes from Red Mountain and was stored in 100% new French oak before bottling. Fresh thyme, anise and Black Forest Cake mark the nose aulnigsude Turkish coffee notes. The palate is soft and seamless with great concentration and underlying finesse. Drink 2024-2044- 95

2019 Gorman ‘The Mammoth’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon was stored for 38 months in oak barrels from 200 year old trees (barrels designed for DRC). This comes from Block 3 from the Quintessence Vineyard. The nose is intense and highly complex with blackberry and Earl Grey tea alongside espresso ground notes. The palate is soft and seamless with incredible length, texture and weight. A joy to drink right now, this will live on for at least another twenty years. Drink 2024-2044- 97

Two Vintners

A proper visit was in order as Morgan Lee and I missed each other last year. However I most certainly did not miss out on the wines he is making with Paul Zitarelli for Block Wines and Full Pull & Friends which are some of the finest values you will find in the state. This time I descended upon Lee’s somewhat new space that seems to be ever-evolving. There is little doubt that Morgan Lee is one of the nicest guys you will meet in the Washington wine industry. A former Purdue grad, Morgan is fun loving but very serious in his winemaking. There’s a good reason why Paul Ziterelli connected with him to craft wines for Block Wines — Morgan’s an incredibly talented winemaker. Previously interning at Columbia Crest, Morgan makes a range of outstanding wines, including one, if not the best, Zinfandel in Washington. He also makes a killer orange wine called ‘O.G.’

His value collection of wines were the best that I have tasted from him yet. The 2022 City Limits Chardonnay (OB, 91) comes from the esteemed Evergreen Vineyard and has great freshness, good poise and lovely pear and kiwi notes. This would make for a killer glass pour.  Don’t miss out on the 2022 Two Vintners ‘O.G.’ Gewurtztraminer (OB, 93) which is a dense and heady orange wine that is both geeky for the some community and downright delicious for everyday wine consumers.  I was very impressed with the very pretty and downright sexy 2021 Two Vinters ‘Claire’ Grenache (OB, 95) which shows a soft mouthfeel and unveils a gorgeous array of red fruit flavors with plenty of nuance. Learn more about these great new releases at https://twovintners.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Two Vintners.

2022 City Limits Chardonnay- Mostly coming from the Evergreen Vineyard in the Ancient Lakes AVA, the 2022 City Limits Chardonnay offers bright pear and kiwi notes on the nose alongside shades of cardamom. Mostly stored in stainless steel, this shows a smooth mouthfeel with good flavor density. A stunning value, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 City Limits ‘Detour’ Red Wine- Mainly Merlot, the 2022 ‘Detour’ shows bing cherry and cola notes on the nose alongside dried herbs. This comes off a bit lean on the mid-palate, alongside good freshness. Drink 2024-2030- 89

2021 City Limits Cabernet Sauvignon- Bottled in summer 2023, the 2021 City Limits Cabernet Sauvignon is smooth on the mouth.Red licorice and black currants mingle well with copious minerals on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2022 City Limits ‘The Citizen’ Red WIne- A Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel blend with a touch of Syrah, the 2022 ‘The Citizen’ offers juicy red fruit flavors alongside black tea and dried herbs on the palate. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2022 Two Vintners ‘O.G.’ Gewurtztraminer- This 2022 Gewwurtztraminer comes from the Olsen Vineyard and saw extended maceration (8 weeks) and is a brilliant yellow hue in the glass. Big and bold on the mouth, this shows lychee and peach tones on the palate, alongside good freshness and a seamless mouthfeel. For the price this one is a total steal. Drink 2024-2031- 93

2021 Make Haste Cinsault- This 2022 Make Haste 100% Cnisault from the Olsen Vineyard. Given roughly 30% whole cluster fermentation, this was stored in neutral puncheons before bottling. Beautiful wt stone and red cherry candy combines with shades of green olives on the nose. This is very elegant and Pinoesque on the palate, showing beautiful pure red fruit flavors. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Grenache- The brilliant 2021 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Grenache shows red florals on the nose alongside shades of white pepper and orange peel on the nose. The palate is juicy and bright with a great core of pomegranate seed, red cherry and guava flavors. Sourced from the Boushey, WeatherEye and Olsen Vineyards. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Two Vintners ‘Claire’ Grenache- The stunning 2021 Two Vintners ‘Claire’ Grenache comes from the Boushey Vineyard. Beautiful red rose petals mark the nose alongside citrus zest, red currants and guava tones. The palate is refined and elegant with silky tannins and serious richness. Deep and concentrated, with loads of mouth-watering acidity, this is already drinking beautifully. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2021 Two Vintners ‘Oliver’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Oliver’ by Two Vintners is composed of 85% Grenache with the remainder Petite Sirah and Syrah. Very dark in the glass, this comes off refined and elegant on the mouth, with loamy soils and salty accents. Hoisin sauce, black currant jelly, white pepper dusted brisket flavors combine with shades of black licorice on the palate. This is already beautifully evolved stuff. 40% whole cluster fermented and blended before bottling. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- This 2021 ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah is inky in the glass and has a touch of Viognier and Roussanne blended in. Smoky tones fill the glass alongside cigar ash, black cherry compote and shades of tangerine zest on the palate. The palate is soft and refined texture. Rich dark fruits collide with copious minerals mingle well with salty tones. This is a killer value from this warm vintage. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2021 Two Vintners ‘Some Days Are Diamonds’ Syrah- Coming from the Discovery Vineyard, this 2021 100% varietal Syrah offers fresh sage and smoked pork shoulder on the nose alongside oyster sauce, charcuterie and shades of black olive tapenade. The palate shows plenty of non-fruit nuance with iodine and steak drippings alongside wild blackberry flavors. Very fresh and fragrant, this is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Two Vintners ‘Some Days Are Stones’ Syrah- Coming from the Stoney Vine Vineyard, the 2021 Two Vintners ‘Some Days Are Stones’ Syrah is an awesome new bottling by winemaker Morgan Lee. Smoldering stones and green olives mark the nose alongside Umami and bacon fat notes. The palate is very fresh and soft, showing a refined texture. This is elegant Rocks District wine that is already drinking marvelously right now. For my palate this might be the best rendition of this wine that I have tasted. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2021 Two Vintners ‘The Waiting List’ Syrah- The 2021 Two Vintners ‘The Waiting List’ Syrah is entirely sourced from the Boushey Vineyard. Potporri and a dusting of white pepper mark the nose alongside shades of boysenberry on the nose. The palate is rich and viscous with good underlying tension and a loaded core of black fruits. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Two Vintners ‘Lola’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Lola’ comes from the Yellow Jacket Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks District. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Syrah, this shows off great stony character on the palate, with a smooth mouthfeel. Layers of boysenberry and black cherry fruits combine with salted meats and orange rind notes on the palate. The flavor range is sensational. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Two Vintners ‘Alice’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Alice’ is a very elegant and refined wine that is drinking marvelously right now. Mainly Merlot, this shows a silky texture with generous black fruits alongside black tea, milk chocolate covered espresso bean, garrigue and sagebrush notes. Drink 2024-2040- 93

2020 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot- Smooth, forward and ripe, the 2020 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot offers juicy red and dark fruits alongside a ripe texture on the mouth, with milk chocolate accents. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2021 Two Vintners ‘Legit’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2021 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Pepper Bridge, Dineen, Discovery, Stone Tree and Pollard Vineyards. The wine has 20% Zinfandel and 5% Petit Verdot blended in. Dense dark fruits parade with chocolate and espresso grounds on the palate. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Two Vintners ‘Sal’ Cabernet Sauvignon-  All Discovery Vineyard, this 2021 red blend has smaller portions Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot blended in. Showing good freshness, this offers green bell pepper, mocha, tar and anise noise on the palate alongside salty nuances. With refined tannins and a rich mouthfeel, this is already refined stuff at the three year mark. Drink 2024-2038- 93

2021 Two Vintners ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Zinfandel- Ripe and round, weighing in at 16.5% alcohol, the 2021 Zinfandel offers a refined mouthfeel with chocolate, dried herbs and espresso ground flavors alongside a smooth texture and rich dark fig and blackberry notes. This is big, burly and delicious Zin that is already drinking marvelous. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Covington Cellars ‘Prima’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Prima’ is winemaker Morgan Lee’s version of a Super Tuscan, as this is Sangiovese dominant. Damp earth and worn leather notes mark the nose alongside shades of dark currants and coffee grounds. Fresh and lithe with a smooth mouthfeel, this is really well-done. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2020 Covington Cellars ‘Ode’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Ode’ spent three years in neutral oak puncheons, as this is 100% Sangiovese wine. Very smooth on the mouth, this displays tobacco leaf and dark cherry on the palate alongside wet stone and soft tannins. This is a really refined Sangio that is both dense and light on its feet. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Covington Cellars ‘Lawson’ Red Wine- Mostly Merlot (85%) from the Discovery Vineyard,  2021 ‘Lawson’ shows a smooth mouthfeel with black currants and sagebrush notes alongside coffee grounds on the palate. Really good, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 93

2021 Covington Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon- A really good effort from this warm vintage, the 2021 Covington Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon shows off its dark core in the glass. Black cherry and green herbs on the nose alongside blackberry tones on the palate. Juicy and rich, with refined tannins, this is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2024-2038- 93

2021 Two Vintners ‘Late Harvest Olsen Vineyard’ Riesling- One of the outstanding dessert wines from Washington that I have tasted over the past year, the thrilling 2021 Two Vintners ‘Late Harvest Olsen Vineyard’ Riesling shows both poise and weight, with fabulous flavor range. Honeysuckle and beeswax notes alongside ripe pineapple mark the nose. The palate is rich and viscous with unbelievable texture and sense of length. Finishing exceedingly long, this is going to satisfy any lover of dessert wine. Drink 2024-2035- 95

Lundeen

Founded by native Oregonian Michael Lundeen, has completed the third generation of Lundeens have cared for the land and vines that are now the heartbeat of Michael's wines. His son adds a fourth! For years Michael was honing his skill with Pinot Noir luminaries at Willakenzie, Belle Pente and Domaine Serene, before becoming founding winemaker at Illahe Vineyards back in 2007.
Michael joined Walnut City Wineworks as Winemaker in late 2010. Just a short hop from his own estate vineyard, the McMinnville-based winery was where his career would enter the next and most exciting phase. The once brick-red winery and custom crush facility now carries the Lundeen name and colors after he formally took ownership in 2022.
I hadn’t tasted these wines in several years and was very impressed. Michael is making some fantastic Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines. Since the fittingly cold vintage of 2011, the annual production of sparkling wines has grown to 1,500 cases, and Michael still hand-disgorges every bottle à la volée. Michael continues to preserve the family farm for his son Colin and generations beyond. Michael directs the farming of nearly 40 acres utilizing no-till and Organic practices and maintains the LIVE sustainability certification. The new wines were seriously good across the board. I love the new NV Lundeen ‘Brut Reserve’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 93) which is tense and nervy with really good flavor range. Just as good is the 2021 Lundeen ‘La Cantera Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is rich and viscous with fantastic salty soil character. Learn more about this great winery at lundeenwines.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Lundeen.

NV Lundeen ‘Willamette Valley Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The NV Lundeen ‘Willamette Valley Brut’ Sparkling Wine is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir with 30% Chardonnay and the remainder Pinot Gris. This is elegant bubbles with lemon rind and stony mineral tones on the palate alongside Gravenstein apple notes. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

NV Lundeen ‘Brut Reserve’ Sparkling Wine- The ‘Brut Reserve’ comes from the Robinson and La Cantera Vineyards, as this has a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay base from the 2018 and 2019 vintages. This offers good richness and refinement with Challah bread and wild mushroom notes alongside bright citrus and melon fruits. Very well-made, and slightly more complex at a warmer temperature, this is a resounding success that captures the art of blending. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Articulate Chardonnay- The 2021 Articulate Chardonnay was sourced from the Robinson Vineyard which is an 8 acre site set on Saum soils. This is nice and fresh with salty soils that mingle well with bright pear and starfruit flavors. Nicely textured, enjoy over the next six years. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2021 Articulate Pinot Noir- The 2021 Articulate Pinot Noir comes from a range of sites throughout the Willamette Valley. Stored in 10% new French oak before bottling. Tart red fruits combine with baking spices and orange peel flavors on the palate. Round and smooth on the mouth, this is a great, already nicely evolved effort. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2021 Lundeen ‘La Colina Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The really good 2021 Lundeen ‘La Colina Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this Dundee Hills site that was first planted in 1999. This is wonderfully stony with layers of pretty red fruits that combine with kumquat rind flavors on the palate. Soft and refined, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Lundeen ‘La Cantera Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘La Cantera Vineyard’ comes from this site in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. This site sits atop Rex Hill winery and is set on loess soils. The palate is smooth and elegant with a seamless texture and beautiful verve. A generous core of red fruits greet you as this finishes long with salty soils. Drink 2024-2034- 93

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