Lavinea

A winery making top class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Lavinea was founded by Greg Ralston and Isabelle Meunier. From 1988 to 2009 Greg worked closely with Jim Barrett at Chateau Montelena Winery, the last ten years as Managing Director. He then took on a role as Sr. VP of Strategic Initiatives with Wilson Daniels, collaborating with Jack Daniels and renowned Estates such as Castello di Volpaia and Ceretto from Italy, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti and Domaine Leflaive from Burgundy, Schramsberg from Napa Valley among others. Recruited to become President & CEO of Evening Land Vineyards in 2012, Greg oversaw related wineries in California, Burgundy and Oregon.

Lavinea relies on the winemaking talents of Isabelle Meunier, who formerly worked for Dominique Lafon to oversee winemaking at his then-new Oregon consulting project, Evening Land, in 2007. Isabelle quickly became one of Oregon’s most acclaimed winemakers. Isabelle has degrees in winemaking and viticulture from the University of Dijon in Burgundy, and in New Zealand at Lincoln University. Her new wines were spectacular. I adored the 2021 Lavinea ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is fresh and vibrant with serious tension and nuance. Learn more about these top class wines at lavinea.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Lavinea.

2022 Lavinea ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Chardonnay- Fresh and polished, the 2021 ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Vineyard offers plenty of stony minerals on the palate, offering smoke, white pepper, green melon and shades of Japanese pear. Fresh and vibrant, with a Chablisesque sense of salty and diatomaceous soil essence, this is very refined Chardonnay that is already nicely evolved. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Lavinea ‘Elton Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Even better than the ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ bottling the 2021 ‘Elton Vineyard’ comes form this site that was first planted in 1983 and later expanded in 2013. This is vibrant, fresh and beautifully textured Chardonnay. Loads of mouth-watering acidity greet you on the palate, with poached pear, kumquat zest, and salty soils. Very elegant and sleek, enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Lavinea ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir- Very fresh and fragrant, the 2022 ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir offers plenty of crunchy red raspberry and pomegranate flavors that mingle well with tilled soils and suggestions of baking spices with Mandarin orange rind. This is going to age gracefully over the next decade. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Lavinea ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2021 Lavinea ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a stunning new bottling from this warm vintage. Once on the nose this shows off layers of salty soils that collide with red currants, tobacco leaf and shades of Linzer torte. The palate is refined and very fresh with a silky texture and beautiful core of red fruit flavors. Well-balanced, with no rough edges, and a sprinkling of white pepper, this is a sensational new bottling that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2038- 95

2021 Lavinea ‘Elton Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Elton Vineyard’ comes from this site in the Eola-Amity Hills with vines planted back to the 1980s. This comes off rich and generous with a refined texture and smooth mouthfeel. Layers of black raspberry and freshly tilled salty soils combine with shades of bergamot and kumquat rind on the palate. Great to savor now in its heady youth, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 94

2021 Lavinea ‘Tualatin Estate’ Pinot Noir- The beautiful and refined 2021 Lavinea ‘Tualatin Estate’ Pinot Noir is a fantastic new bottling from this vintage. Aromatically perfumed and intense, this offers potpourri and bright red fruits that collide with orange blossom and shades of enoki mushroom. The palate is pure with a gorgeous core of red fruits, with serious freshness, texture and resolve. Finishing very long, this is a beautiful new bottling that has some great cellaring potential. Drink 2024-2040- 94

Avennia

This is now the second post on Avennia in the past four months that I have done right after tasting. I do this because the wines are just so good. A premier producers of Rhone and Bordeaux varietals, Avennia is a joint venture between former Microsoft exec Marty Taucher and winemaker Chris Peterson. These wines are incredibly consistent and extremely well-made.

At the helm is former DeLille Cellars Winemaker Chris Peterson. He is one of the greats in the state for crafting wines with balance, poise and richness. While he makes some sensational red wines, he has an affinity for making some of the state’s finest whites. Case in point the 2022 Avennia ‘La Perle’ White Wine (OB, 95) is the finest edition of this wine yet. Big and bold with serious richness and flavor density this is a must-try wine. I adore the 2021 Avennia ‘Valery’ Red Wine (OB, 96) which is a total knockout Merlot.  Learn more about these special wines at avennia.com Here are my reviews of the new Avennia wines. 

2022 Avennia ‘Oliane’ Sauvignon Blanc- This beautiful 2022 Sauvignon Blanc was sourced from the Boushey (62%) and Red Willow (38%) vineyards in the Yakima Valley. On the nose this takes on layers of kiwi, sourdough bread and green melon notes that all take shape in the glass. The palate is beautifully textured with serious underlying verve. Soft, round and generous on the mouth, don’t serve this beautiful wine too warm. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Avennia ‘La Perle’ White Wine- The 2022 ‘La Perle’ is a seductive blend of mainly 78% Roussanne with the remainder Marsanne coming from the Columbia Valley. Macadamia nut and beeswax tones combine on the nose with shades of banana and ripe mango, giving this a very tropical feel. The palate is deep, concentrated and beautifully textured, as this has to be the finest edition of this wine yet made — a total heavyhitter by winemaker Chris Peterson. Drink 2024-2033- 95

2023 Avennia ‘L’Egerie’ Rosę- The 2023 ‘L’Egerie’ or ‘The Muse’ Rose is mainly Grenache (70%) with the remainder Mourvèdre. A beautiful pale salmon color, this offers serious freshness with copious minerals that mingle well with cran-orange, wild mushroom, ripe red raspberry and suggestions of cantaloupe. Very refined and sleek, enjoy this delicious, highly-nuanced wine at a slightly warmer temperature. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Frank The Tank Red Wine- The 2021 Frank The Tank is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This comes off very soft and elegant on the mouth, with beautiful finesse and concentration from this warm vintage. A soft texture greets you as layers of chocolate covered dark currant and tobacco leaf meld well together in the glass. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2029- 91

2021 Avennia ‘Valery’ Red Wine- The 2021 Avennia ‘Valery’ is a Right Bank inspired blend of 84% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Franc from the Boushey and Champox Vineyards. On the nose this takes on beautiful violet rose petal tones that combine with freshly tilled loamy soils, cigar box, anise and shades of coffee grounds with dense dark fruits. The palate is soft and seamless as this deftly glides throughout the drinking experience. Full-bodied, with elegant tannins, this is a totally stunning Merlot that is one of the finest you will taste in Washington State. Drink 2023-2040- 96

2021 Avennia ‘Sestina’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Sestina’ is a gorgeous blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Needing about 30 minutes in the decanter to fully unwind, this yields beautiful black florals that mingle well with wet stone, Black Forest Cake and suggestions of huckleberry with garrigue notes. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and beautiful sense of elegance and weight. This is seamless throughout the drinking experience, loaded with black fruit flavors with dark chocolate shavings and suggestions of underbrush. Refined tannins frame this stunning heavyhitter of a Cabernet that is already drinking beautifully now at the three year mark. Savor this beauty now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2024-2040- 96

Chateau Coutet

Today we share one of the great dessert wine houses of the world. Chateau Coutet is one of two premier cru class estates in Barsac. Shortly after graduating from college I first sampled their 1998 Chateau Coutet — a wine that was simply magical considering the challenges of the vintage. This was an epiphany wine for me as I had never tasted anything quite like it.

Chateau Coutet is known for making great wines despite the challenges of the vintage — just like the 1998. They are led today by Aline Baly who is the third of her generation to join the family business as she serves as co-owner of Chateau Coutet. Her family has run the business since 1977. The quality of wines have become quite evident since Aline has joined the frame. Aline has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago and has brought her marketing and business talents to managing Coutet. She joined the business in 2018.

Chateau Coutet wines age incredibly well, as I have had several of these bottling back to the 1980s. There is a certain elegance to these wines that impresses me. Great vintages such as 2007 and 2011 show a wonderful degree of opulence as well alongside the bright minerality. If you have never tried any older Chateau Coutet, I implore you to seek these wines out.

I recently had the chance to revisit the 2014 Chateau Coutet (OB, 95) which is a beautiful wine now at ten years of age. This outstanding bottling will easily go for another ten to fifteen years. Learn more about this famed house at https://www.chateaucoutet.com/en/ and here is my review of the 2014 Chateau Coutet.

2014 Chateau Coutet Barsac- The 2014 Chateau Coutet is really starting to make its charge and is really quite an infant in the bottle now. This is only the second time that I have tasted this wine in the past five years. The nose is alluring with creme brulee, cardamom and roasted pineapple tones alongside shades of toasted hazelnuts. The palate is plush and soft with a generous mouthfeel. This is a slightly stronger showing since last tasted in 2020. While this might not be the most unctuous Coutet, the balance and finesse, alongside stony and salty minerals really makes this shine. Finishing long this really has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2040- 95

Tablas Creek

One of the great wine collaborations in North America, the fabled tale of Tablas Creek began when Jean-Pierre and François Perrin and Robert Haas purchased a former alfalfa farm that is set on limestone soils in the Adelaida Hills. From the beginning they focused on Rhône-style wines made organically. The first plantings took place in 1994 and the first Tablas Creek Vineyard wines produced in 1997. The winery has been an incredible success since that time, reaching worldwide acclaim particularly for their Rhone style red and white blends. I was first introduced to these wines in the early 2000s. I was amazed by their consistency and their very old-world style considering the region.

A few weeks back I had a great conversation with Jason Haas, Tablas Creek proprietor, talking about recent vintages as well as stellar wines from my recent Paso Robles Report. I had to chat about one of the outstanding wines of its kind, the 2022 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit Blanc de Tablas’ White Wine (OB, 96) which is the finest white wine that I tasted in my Paso Robles Report. Deeply concentrated and rich, from the extremely warm harvest weather, yet showing good underlying finesse and fabulous flavor range, this is a stunning wine that will sure to please any lover of Rhone-inspired white wines. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://tablascreek.com Here are the outstanding new wines by Tablas Creek. 

2023 Tablas Creek ‘Patelin de Tablas’ Rose The 2023 ‘Patelin de Tablas’ Rose is nearly all Grenache (70%) with the remainder 20% Mourvèdre and small parts Vermentino and Counoise. This is bright and beautiful Rose with a sleek sense of tension and soft mouthfeel. Pretty red cherry, pomegranate seed and rich melon flavors combine with hints of green apple on the palate. Enjoy in its vibrant, nervy youth. Drink 2024-2028- 91

2023 Tablas Creek ‘Dianthus’ Rose- Perpetually one of the finest Rose bottlings you will taste on the West Coast, this 2023 edition comes from this very cool vintage that saw harvest go into November. A blend of 51% Mourvèdre with 38% Grenache and small portions Cinsault and Counoise, this bottling saw extended skin contact before aging in stainless steel. Rich watermelon and wild mushroom tones combine with cantaloupe and shades of red rose water on the palate. Beautifully textured, with bright underlying acidity, this is a stunning example of new world Rose that will age gracefully for the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2023 Tablas Creek Vermentino- One of the great new world examples of this varietal, this 2023 Vermintino was aged in stainless steel before bottling. Japanese pear and lemongrass notes combine with shades of walnut and salty minerals all offer serious complexity on the palate. Enjoy now in its vibrant youth. Drink 2024-2029- 92

2022 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit Blanc de Tablas’ White Wine- This combines 33% Roussanne, with 32% Grenache Blanc and smaller portions Picpoul, Clairette, Picardin, Boutboulene. This is the smallest amount of Roussanne ever blended into this wine, as this varietal was farmed at less than a ton an acre. The nose is hugely complex. Macadamia nut, honeydew melon, bright kiwi and shades of nectarine with stony minerals all mark the nose. The body is voluptuous despite being only 12.5% alcohol. Silky smooth throughout the drinking experience, showing no rough edges, and loads of mouth-watering acidity. Wait for the exceedingly long finish that lingers on the tongue. This will cellar so beautifully. Drink 2024-2039- 96

2022 Tablas Creek Grenache- The 2022 Tablas Creek Grenache comes from this warm vintage that was known for extreme heat at harvest. Super translucent in the glass, this delivers  rich strawberry and Bing cherry notes alongside dusty soils on the palate. Smooth and polished, this is already really nicely evolved stuff. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2022 Tablas Creek ‘Cotes de Tablas’ Red Wine- The 2022 Tablas Creek ‘Cotes de Tablas’ Red Wine is comprised of mainly Grenache and Syrah with the remainder small portions Counoise and Mourvèdre. This comes off soft, chewy and highly drinkable in its pretty core of red fruits with orange rind, cardamom and tobacco leaf with stony mineral flavors. Delicious and juicy, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

Big Table Farm

Today we share the stellar spring release wines by Big Table Farm. A pillar of consistency in the Willamette Valley, Big Table Farm was founded by Clare Carver and Brian Marcy — two of the nicest people you will meet in the industry. Marcy has a longstanding history in the wine industry, formerly serving as winemaker for Neyers prior to moving north and settling in the Willamette Valley.These are wines that age brilliantly and are known for great texture and beautiful pure red and dark fruits, with loads of nuance. They have estate plantings that are going to be an exciting development for the future.

The new releases come from largely the 2022 vintage and they did a glorious job managing this warm vintage. I love the new 2022 Big Table Farm ‘Willamete Valley’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is rich and chewy with beautiful verve and concentration. This is a killer value, as is the sensational 2022 Big Table Farm ‘The Wild Bee’ Chardonnay (OB, 93). Learn more about Big Table Farm at http://www.bigtablefarm.com/ Here are the fantastic new release wines by Big Table Farm.

2022 Big Table Farm ‘The Wild Bee’ Chardonnay- A fantastic new release at a highly reasonable price, the 2022 Big Table Farm ‘The Wild Bee’ Chardonnay was sourced from a range of vineyards that span the Willamette Valley. The nose shows toasted hazelnut tones alongside bright pear, buttered sourdough bread and green melon accents. Fresh and lively, with good tension and weight, with a lengthy finish, this is classy Oregon Chardonnay that is a serious value. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2022 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir totally over-delivers for the price. This was 100% whole cluster fermented and was stored in mainly neutral oak for ten months before bottling. This is very pretty aroaticsally with red rose petals that parade with dusty soils, red currants and menthol notes. The palate is fresh and layered with a smooth texture and bright underlying sense of verve. A glorious core of red fruits greets you, with orange peel and Christmas spices on the palate. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Big Table Farm ‘Pelos-Sandberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant 2022 Big Table Farm ‘Pelos-Sandberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this small vineyard set in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. White truffle shavings and Mandarin orange zest combine with pomegranate seed and shades of freshly tiled loamy soils all mark the nose. The palate is silky and refined with good elegance, length, weight and verve. Seamless throughout the drinking experience, this is every bit as good as the incredible 2021 bottling. Drink 2024-2035- 95

2021 Big Table Farm ‘The Funk Estate Vineyard’ Syrah- A stunning wine from this famed location in the Walla Walla Rocks District, managed by Rich Funk, the 2021 ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah is Rocks Syrah personified. Once on the nose this exudes class with its smoldering stone profile on the nose, alongside compost, beef drippings and shades of wild blackberry. The palate is fresh and viscous, with good weight and a silky texture. Very stony and savory, this is a stunning example of ‘Funk Vineyard’ Syrah that will cellar well over the next eight plus years. But why wait? Drink 2024-2032- 96

TOIL Oregon

Today we share the beautiful wines of TOIL and winemaker Chris Figgins. For my palate of the finest producers of Rose wines in Oregon, Toil Oregon is the brainchild of famed Leonetti winemaker Chris Figgins who planted his vineyard in the Willamette Valley nearly a decade ago. Toil Oregon started with a production of 200 cases then in 2016 Chris planted his estate vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. His first wine fully from his estate vineyard was the 2019 Rose.

These wines are getting better and better. Chris’s Rose wine is serious and beautifully textured with fantastic flavor range. I adored the new 2023 Toil Oregon Rose (OB, 93) which is one of the top Rose wines that I have tasted in the past year. Do not miss out on the 2022 Toil Oregon Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which I think is the finest edition of this wine to date. It is dense, chewy and is very concentrated with beautiful florals and underlying finesse. Learn more about this great winery at toiloregon.com Here are the brilliant new wines by Toil Oregon. 

2023 TOIL Rose- The 100% Pinot Noir 2023 TOIL Rose was aged in stainless steel before bottling. A brilliant pink hue greets you, showing peat moss and bright guava fruit aromas alongside shades of pear and peach. The palate is bright and rich with copious minerals and a silky texture. The weight surprises you as this did not have any barrel contact. Rich red fruits parade with stony and earthy tones on the palate. A total stunner, don’t serve this too cold!  Drink 2024-2030- 93

2022 TOIL Chardonnay- The incredible 2022 TOIL Chardonnay was stored in only 17% new French oak before bottling. It is very fresh, fragrant and viscous now at the two year mark. On the nose this takes on layers of honeysuckle, baking spice drenched pear and sourdough bread. The palate is very soft and refined, as this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Salty and savory with plenty of melon and citrus fruit flavors, this is a deep, concentrated and generous effort that is best consumed on the warmer side. This is the finest TOIL Chardonnay yet produced. Drink 2024-2035- 95

2022 TOIL Pinot Noir- The 2022 TOIL Pinot Noir was stored in only 7% new French oak barrels before bottling. Winemaker Chris Figgins calls this the ‘miracle vintage’ due to the lack of heat and damp conditions during the growing season which led to a beautiful September and October. This may be the finest Pinot Noir that Chris Figgins has yet produced. The color is a Syrah-like black. Very dark fruit-driven and brooding in its wild blackberry and black raspberry flavor profile, the stony and earthy tones, as well as smooth texture, give this a sense of opulence. Totally stunning, enjoy this heavyhitter of a wine now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2038- 95

2022 FIGGINS Riesling- A dry, outstanding Riesling from the Walla Walla Valley, the 2023 FIGGINS Riesling was sourced from the high elevation FIGGINS Estate Vineyard.  Weighing in at under 10 G/L (5.3), this delivers a fleshy texture with a fabulous sense of weight. White peach, star jasmine water and ripe cantaloupe flavors parade with copious minerals on the palate. A total joy to drink, don’t serve this too young to take in the beautiful sense of weight and verve. Drink 2024-2034- 94

Willamette Valley Vineyards

Today we share one of the oldest wineries in Oregon. Willamette Valley Vineyards founder, Jim Bernau, purchased the winery’s estate back in 1983 and  planted Pinot Noir (Pommard and Wadenswil clones), Chardonnay (Dijon and Espiguette) as well as Pinot Gris. Bernau took winemaking classes at UC Davis and finally started the winery full time in 1989. Willamette Valley Vineyards has grown considerably in the past 20 years, as they merged with Bill Fuller of Tualatin Vineyards (established in 1973), the O'Briens for Elton Vineyard (established in 1983) and Loeza Vineyard (planted in 2015). The winery now sources all of its Pinot Noir from its nearly 500 estate-grown vineyards.

I loved the new wines by Willamette Valley Vineyards as this has been some of the more consistent set of wines you find year after year. These wines are also easy to find in many wine shops and supermarkets. Look to the outstanding and rich new 2022 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Tualitin Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is beautifully textured stuff that is smooth on the mouth. Here are the new releases from Willamette Valley Vineyards and learn more at http://wvv.com

2020 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Domaine Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- A treat to consume now, the bright and beautiful ‘Domaine Brut Rose’ offers tart red fruits with orange peel and plenty of finesse on the palate. Smooth and refined in its mousse, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2022 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Dry’ Gewurtztraminer- You don’t see too many Gewurtztraminer bottlings in the Willamette Valley, as this one comes from the Tualatin Estate Vineyard which was planted back in 1973 by Bill Fuller. This is smooth on the mouth, with the faintest kiss of sweetness. Salted yellow plum and green apple flavors mingle well with juicy peach and minerals on the palate. Surprisingly this is 14.4% alcohol yet doesn’t come off at all heavy. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Wiliamette Valley Vineyards Auxerrois- This unusual varietal is also planted at the Tualatin Estate Vineyard, set on Larelwood soils. The wine has a good weight with a smooth texture, displaying juicy pear and Macadamia nut flavors that mingle well with white tea flavors on the palate. Nicely textured, this is great to savor now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Dry’ Riesling- Nicely textured, the 2022 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Dry’ Riesling delivers petrol notes on the nose with juicy pear and peach alongside salty soils. The palate is soft and inviting in its mouthfeel and bright underlying acidity. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Tualatin Estate’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2022 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Tualatin Estate’ Chardonnay comes from this site set on Laurelwood soils. Stored in 25% new French oak for ten months, this delivers brioche and baking spice notes on the palate, alongside a silky texture and bright sense of verve. Medium-bodied, enjoy this delicious effort now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Metis Red Wine- All coming from the Walla Walla Valley, the 2021 Metis Red Wine is smooth on the mouth with layers of rich loganberry and red cherry fruit flavors with plenty of stony minerals. Medium boded with a silky texture, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

Force Majeure

This is no April fools! Todd Alexander has completely transformed Pacific Northwest wine. Coming from Bryant Family in Napa, Alexander crafts some of the finest range of wines that you will taste in the new world. Set on Red Mountain, the Force Majeure Vineyard is one of the most impressive sites for a dizzying array of wines from Viognier to Cabernet. Years back Alexander worked under vineyard manager David Abreu as well as consultant extraordinaire, Michel Rolland.Todd’s wines have amazing richness, depth and texture.

The new wines coming from the 2021 vintage are the finest that I have tasted so far from Force Majeure. Don’t miss out on the 2021 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Syrah (OB, 99) which flirts with perfection and is arguably the finest Red Mountain Syrah I have tasted. A perfect wine made from this warm vintage, the 2021 Force Majeure ‘SJR Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 100) leaves no doubt of its perfection. The flavor range and texture are mesmerizing.  Equally otherworldly, the 2021 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) is one of the great Cabernet wines I have tasted from this vintage. This beauty will easily cellar for another twenty years. Learn more about these great wines at  https://forcemajeurevineyards.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Force Majeure. 

2021 Force Majeure ‘Estate’ Grenache- This 2021 Grenache is sourced from a center portion of the vineyard, as the vines are head trained. Stored in concrete for 18 months, this shows beautiful red rose petals alongside pomegranate seed notes and concentrated loganberry notes. The palate is plush and loaded with richness with serious underlying verve. Stunning and savory, this is drinking so well even in its heady youth. Drink 2024-2038- 97

2021 Force Majeure ‘Parvata’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Parvata’ combines 46% Syrah with 39% Mourvèdre and the remainder Grenache. Stored in 15% new French oak, this is up there with the finest Parvata that I have tasted. Heady dark fruits combine with chocolate, garrigue, coffee grounds and smoked meats on the palate. Deep and rich, this is a stunning bottling that is already nicely evolved. Drink 2024-2038- 97

2021 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Syrah- This 2021 Red Mountain Syrah comes from 11 acre hillside set on fractured basalt that is tightly spaced. The wine was given 15% whole cluster fermentation and has a touch of Viognier blended in. The palate is soft and seamless with serious verve and concentration. Weightless and loaded with dense black and blue fruit flavors, with creme de violette, Turkish coffee accents, this is quite simply the finest Syrah you will find on Red Mountain. What a stunner! Drink 2024-2040- 99

2021 Force Majeure ‘Walla Walla Estate’ Syrah- The outstanding 2021 Force Majeure ‘Walla Walla Estate’ Syrah was stored for 18 months in used large format French oak before bottling. The nose comes off fragrant and very stony with wet gravel notes that combine with huckleberry, dried herbs and shades of milk chocolate. The palate is soft and seamless, with serious verve and a pillowy mouthfeel. Rich and layered, this is a gorgeous wine from this estate vineyard that is showing some serious promise. Drink 2024-2038- 98

2021 Force Majeure ‘SJR Vineyard’ Syrah- The really good 2021 Force Majeure ‘SJR Vineyard’ Syrah is a stunning wine that is showing marvelously now at the three year mark. Once on the nose this offers hoisin sauce alongside huckleberry and black currant notes with wet stone. The palate is soft and refined with serious richness and underlying tension. Utterly seamless, very stony and terroir-laden, this is the finest rendition of this bottling yet — perfection in a bottle. This will easily go for ten plus years, but why wait? Drink 2024-2036- 100

2021 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Franc- This 2021 Cabernet Franc comes form their estate vineyard on Red Mountain as there were only 75 cases made of this wine. Beautiful red and dark florals combine with shades of garrigue, freshly tilled soils and shades of milk chocolate. The palate is refined and plush with serious texture, finesse and a polished texture. Truly refined and elegant, with loads of mouth-watering acidity, this is stunning wine that flirts with perfection. Drink 2024-2044- 99

2021 Force Majeure ‘Epinette’ Red Wine- The 2021 Force Majeure ‘Epinette’ Red Wine is a beautifully floral bottling that is showing marvelously now at the three year mark. The palate is plush with serious weight and texture. Deep and concentrated in its black forest cake and loganberry notes, with espresso grounds and graphite, this is a stunning blend of Cabernet Savingnon and Merlot that is going to live on for a really long time to come. Drink 2024-2045- 99

2021 Force Majeure ‘Walla Walla Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Force Majeure ‘Walla Walla Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon has 5% Merlot blended in. Stored in 75% new French oak for 22 months, this offers wet stone and violets that combine with shades of loganberry and freshly tilled soils on the palate. Herbal and savory, this is the finest edition of this wine that I have tasted yet. Drink 2024-2040- 98

2021 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning wine that has otherworldly potential. This is a bit backwards right now but you can see the potential in this head-turning Cabernet. Loaded with dense blackberry, huckleberry sandalwood and sagebrush notes, with Turkish coffee, this is a massive, brooding Cabernet Sauvignon that will satisfy for decades to come. Give this another year or two in the bottle and this is going to blow your mind. Drink 2025-2050- 100

2021 Force Majeure Tempranillo- The 2021 Force Majeure Tempranillo comes from a single block on this Red Mountain estate vineyard. Black licorice and allspice dusted black plum combine with dark chocolate shavings and loamy soils on the nose. The palate is absolutely incredible with heady dark fruit flavors, alongside creme de violette, tar and damp soils. A hedonistic, highly pleasurable wine that was stored in all new French oak, this is one of the great new world wines of its kind. Only 49 cases made. Drink 2024-2040- 98

Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion

Today we share one of the fantastic houses from Pessac-Leognan. This location sits gravel-based soils and won a particularly intriguing legal battle. It was back in 1929 when this house won a legal battle against First Growth Haut-Brion to keep its name, the only stipulation was that it be reversed so that Haut-Brion had less prominence, and so it was changed to Larrivet Haut-Brion. In fact, the addition of Brion refers to the local gravel, rather than the First Growth, which lies much further north. In 1987, the Gervoson family have been at the helm as the family also runs Bonne Maman jams. I have noticed that the wine quality at this house has increased particularly over the past two years. Larrivet Haut-Brion sits on the same gravelly ridge as Haut-Bailly and the 75 hectares of vines grow both red and white varieties. Unusually for the Left Bank, Merlot is mostly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon planted there.

The wine I tasted comes from the 2017 vintage which is turning out to be a fabulous year, wedged in between two epic vintages of 2016 and 2018. The 2017 Larrivet Haut-Brion (OB, 94) is charming with a beautifully rich core of dark fruits that mingle well with plenty of nuance. Learn more about this house at https://www.ugcb.net/en/chateau-larrivet-haut-brion and here is my review of the 2017 Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion.

2017 Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion- The 2017 Larrivet Haut-Brion is a stunning example of this vintage in its good depth and flavor complexity. Wet rock and garrigue notes combine with dark currants and pencil lead on the nose. The palate is deep and concentrated with a brilliant core of boysenberry and cassis tones that mingle well with the stony accents. Medium to full-bodied and filled with tension, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Give this an hour in the decanter if consuming now. Drink 2024-2041- 94

Pio Cesare

One of the great historic wineries in Piedmonte, Pio Cesare remarkably continues to work and operate in the same building that he bought in 1881. Now in its 5th generation, Federica Rosy Boffa runs her family's winery along with her cousin Cesare Benvenuto. Born in 1997—an iconic vintage in Piemonte— she is the only child of Pio Boffa. After completing her studies in Business Administration at the University of Turin, Federica decided to join the family business “full-time” and has since traveled regularly to more than 50 countries around the world. I recently met with her in Bellevue and tasted through her beautiful new Cru wines from the 2020 vintage.

She stated “It can be difficult working in the old town center and all of the other wineries have moved on the hillside. We have decided to remain because you can breathe a particular atmosphere and the winery was built on the ancient Roman walls as this town was built by the romans many years ago. There are many traces of the Romans in our winery. We are protecting the historical heritage of our winery and we are the only winery that is allowed to use the crest of the city of Alba on the label.” The historical significance of the brand is apparent, as Boffa notes “Of course we are very proud to carry the crest of the city on our labels but it is a huge responsibility when presenting the wines we are representing the city and need to be at our best to represent our city in a good way.”

Boffa too maintains a large responsibility, noting that as the brand’s 5th generation  I represent that together with my cousin. I am leading the winery after my father passed away three years ago. He was an important person for our family that marked a new moment for our wine and to be projected into the future. Thanks to him we started the process of acquiring vineyards and we moved from a negotiant to growing 150 acres on the hills of Barolo and Barbaresco. And thanks to him we started to make single vineyards. The three wines we taste today were created by him.”

Her father also was the first to start growing Chardonnay in the region “And today we are working on following his steps and trying to carry the tradition but also innovating a bit. We started many projects in the past few years including building a new portion of the winery. That will be dedicated for logistics and the bottling line and then we will dedicate to white wine. Now it is 25% of our production, with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and Cortese.” They are now making two different Chardonnay bottlings, one that is barrel-fermented which is produced in a limited amount. Another wine is a Chardonnay-Sauvignon Blanc blend which is non-traditional.

The wines I tasted were from the 2020 vintage, as well as one poured from the restaurant, a 2018. The 2020 wines were all fabulous. I love the 2020 entry level Barolo (OB, 95) and Barbaresco (OB, 95) which are both very fleshy and ripe, with some fantastic aging potential. I can’t wait to see where these are in 10 plus years. A wine that quite simply flirts with perfection is the stunning 2020 Pio Cesare ‘Mosconi’ Barolo (OB, 99) which takes on a sensational range of flavors and aromatics. It is a total stunner of a wine. Learn more about this famed house at piocesare.com and here are my reviews of the new Pio Cesare wines.

2018 Pio Cesare Barolo- Coming rom a slightly cooler vintage, the 2018 Pio Cesare comes from five different villages in the region. Right areaway this shows beautiful red rose petals, tar and tobacco leaf with shades of exotic spices and pretty red fruits. The palate is soft and refined with elegant tannins and a smooth mouthfeel. Kumquat rind and red raspberry tones combine with tart cranberry and dusty soils on the palate. Drink 2024-2045- 95

2020 Pio Cesare Barolo- Generous and broad-shouldered, the 2020 Pio Cesare is going to cellar magically for twenty plus years. Once on the nose the classic rose petals and dusty soil tones offer beauty, alongside citrus zest and shades of bergamot. The palate is soft and refined with firm tannins that frame a gorgeous core of red fruits that mingle well with rocky soils and good length. Give this beauty an hour or two in the decanter if consuming now. Drink 2025-2045- 95

2020 Pio Cesare Barbaresco- A fabulous Barbaresco from this vintage, the 2020 shows immediately gratifying refined tannins that connect with blood orange zest, copious minerals and damp earth notes. With more air this becomes even more gratifying to consume with very pretty red fruits that parade with the bright sense of underlying tension. Finishing long with generous red fruits, this edition seems to be drinking even better than the 2019. Like the 2020 Barolo, give this some air if consuming in its heady youth. Drink 2025-2042- 95

2020 Pio Cesare ‘Il Bricco’ Barbaresco- This 2020 Barbaresco comes from one of the highest point in the Barbaresco region. This site has large diurnal shifts, as old Nebbiolo vines are planted at this steep site. Damp earth and wet volcanic stones combine with shades of cardamom laced red currants and pomegranate seed. The palate is very lithe and beautifully textured with fantastic weight and underlying finesse. A pure core of red fruits greet you on the palate, alongside pipe tobacco and leather notes. A total stunner, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twenty years. Drink 2025-2050- 96

2020 Pio Cesare ‘Ornato’ Barolo- The stunning new 2020 ‘Ornato’ comes from this single vineyard in the southern portion of Barolo. This is a slightly warmer site that has long sun exposure, with south and southeastern exposure. Citrus rind, pomegranate seed and suggestions of red cherry candy all mark the nose alongside garrigue and stony undertones. The palate shows a silky mouthfeel with wonderful texture and weight. The palate is plush with refined tannins and serious underlying finesse. Finishing very long with pretty red fruits and wet stone, this is a masterful, wow-factor effort that is showing beautifully right now and will live on for decades to come. Drink 2025-2055- 98

2020 Pio Cesare ‘Mosconi’ Barolo- This wine was first made in 2015 and comes from a 10 hectare site planted also to Barbera and Chardonnay. The 2020 Barolo comes from Nebbiolo vines that date all the way back to the 1940s. Balsamic vinegar and black raspberry notes combine with flinty accents and worn leather on the nose. The palate is beautifully textured, with fantastic weight and incredible elegance. Kumquat zest and pretty red fruits with violets combine with suggestions of salty soils on the palate. A total head-turner, this is already crazy good to consume now. Drink 2025-2050- 99

No Girls

Today we share the incredible wines of No Girls. A tongue in cheek brand name that started in collaboration between between superstar vigneron, Christophe Baron and Cayuse GM Trevor Dorland, following the success of Cayuse Vineyards, No Girls features the stony, one of a kind terror found at the ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’. The ‘La Paciencia (patience) Vineyard' was planted between 2003 and 2005, and is located near the Armada vineyard, as the first couple of vintages of wine from this vineyard were initially declassified. The name ‘No Girls’ is connected with the history of Walla Walla. Christophe purchased a building in 2002 that was a former brothel and inside the new building, he noticed the words ‘No Girls’ painted on the wall— and the wine label is an actual photograph of the former brothel. Their first vintage was in 2008 and No Girls has been a remarkable success since then. I have particularly been mesmerized by the Grenache from this site that is full-octane and beautifully textured, with serious stony essence.

Bionic Wines Director of Winemaking Elizabeth Bourcier has been at the helm of this incredible project since 2011. She makes some of the finest wine that you will find on the west coast. The wines show very pure red and dark fruits and show incredible flavor and aromatic range from Umami and smoky tones to savory, stone  and salty notes. At around 100 dollars, they offer very good value as a special occasion wine. The 2021 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 97) is world-class with its salty and savory tones. Very stony, this has plenty of stuffing and reminds me of the gorgeous 2018 bottling. Learn more about this special boutique winery at https://nogirlswine.com/nogirls/

2021 No Girls ‘Double Lucky No. 8’ Red Wine- Forward, juicy and round, the 2021 No Girls ‘Double Lucky No. 8’ Red Wine is a proprietary blend of declassified fruit from several locations in the Bionic Wines collection of vineyards. It comes off very pure and soft with rich red raspberry and boysenberry notes alongside Mandarin orange zest, red plum and shades of parma ham on the palate. This is just a joy to consume right now. Savor this beauty now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2030- 94

2021 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Grenache- The 2021 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Grenache comes from this tightly spaced location outside the town of Milton-Freewater. The wine shows beautifully on the nose with red florals, potpourri and fresh sage alongside shades of anise and very pure red fruits. The palate is sensational and fresh with a seamless texture and glorious sense of length. A total stunner, with its stony and gorgeous core of red cherry candy, guava puree and pomegranate seed flavors, with salty and savory accents, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 98

2021 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Syrah- A stunning wine made in this warm vintage, the 2021 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Syrah is a masterful effort from the Walla Walla Valley. An inky core greets you, as this is loaded with exotic spices, charcoal, smoked brisket and Kalamata olive tapenade aromatics that bring you back to the glass for more savory and stony enjoyment. The palate is seamless and fresh, with no rough edges. Nori, bulls blood and charcuterie notes combine with wafts of black truffle shavings and Hoisin sauce, giving this a very savory edge. Enjoy this stunning wine now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 97

2021 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Tempranillo- An outstanding Tempranillo wine, the 2021 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Tempranillo shows off a velvety texture with dark currants that mingle well with black cherry compote, kumquat zest, oyster sauce, wet stone and violets. Full-bodied and filled with freshness, and gorgeous flavor range, this. Tempranillo has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2024-2034- 96

Holocene

We began our tasting journey last Friday afternoon with the beautiful Oregon Pinots by Holocene. “I am going for highly aromatic wines that are built by finesse” said winemaker Todd Alexander. He shared how his winemaking philosophy for making Oregon Pinot Noir evolved “I think the first Holocene wines were more powerful but they were too ripe and too dark and whole cluster helped with that. In 2018 I changed my philosophy with the wines making them more elegant” he explained.

Holocene is of course the brainchild of superstar winemaker Todd Alexander who was formerly with Bryant Family before taking over as winemaker at Force Majeure. Todd had a yearning to do something very different and produce Oregon Pinot Noir from diverse sites in the Willamette Valley. This winery was launched in 2015 and the new releases come from the 2022 vintage — one where cool temperatures meant for a very late harvest. This was also a vintage where a freeze would have been a disaster. So far I have been really impressed with what has been made from 2022 in the Willamette Valley.

The new Pinot Noirs come from diverse regions and soil types. I adored the new 2022 Holocene ‘Memoralis’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which somehow is even better than last year’s edition and is one of the finest Oregon Pinots that I have tasted in the past year. Deep, heady and filled with aging potential, I think you are going to love this wine. Learn more about this awesome Oregon outpost at http://holocenewines.com Here are the beautiful new 2021 release wines by Holocene. 

2022 Holocene ‘Memorialis’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Holocene ‘Memorialis’ Pinot Noir comes from the Monks Gate Vineyard in the southern end of the Willamette Valley. Todd Alexander has been made since the 2015 vintage. A blend of Pommard, 777 and 115 Dijon clonal selection Pinot Noir, this was stored in 15% new French oak before bottling. The nose is downright killer with wild blackberry, tobacco leaf and orange blossom notes. The palate is plush and dense with heady black and red fruit flavors. Very mineral-laden, this is dense and delicious Oregon Pinot Noir that is built to age. Drink 2024-2038- 96

2022 Holocene ‘Sidereal’ Pinot Noir- This is a new wine to the Holocene collection, coming from the Ribbon Ridge Vineyard. Stored in 15% new French oak, this underwent 100% whole cluster fermentation. This is very pretty aromatically with red rose petals and potpourri alongside Bing cherry and loganberry notes. The palate is soft and refined with serious texture. Layers of tart red fruits combine with citrus rind and stony minerals on the palate. Drink 2024-2034- 95

Va Piano

Sitting across from Justin Wylie, he couldn’t help but smile when talking about his 2021 reds. “2021 wines are really good and we are now in Vegas” he said. Vegas meaning Wylie had secured his wine in one of the city’s great restaurant, Jean-Georges.

An outstanding winery on the south side of the Walla Walla Valley, Va Piano, or ‘go quietly’ in Italian, was started by Walla Walla native Justin Wylie. Va Piano has the luxury of sourcing from some of the top vineyards in the state including the DuBrul, Stoney Vine, and Les Collines Vineyards. Justin’s first first commercial crush in the fall of 2003 and soon later Va Piano was born. He has seen the valley grow and his winery production has expanded considerably as well. His property is beautiful and is inspired by the villas of Tuscany as it is truly one of the most relaxing spots to sit wine with in the valley.

Justin is extremely down to earth and speaks from his vast experience in the industry. The new 2021 wines were the best that I have tasted. I adored the 2021 Va Piano ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which was silky and rich with a smooth mouthfeel. Even better is the downright killer 2021 Va Piano ‘DuBurul Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which is the finest wine I have tasted from this estate. Deep and brooding, loaded with richness, texture and tension, this will easily be a 20 year wine. Learn more about these fantastic wines at http://www.vapianovineyards.com Here are the great new release wines by Va Piano.

2022 Va Piano ‘Chelle den Mille Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- Stored in all concrete eggs, the 2022 ‘Chelle den Mille Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc comes from this slightly cooler site outside of the town of Prosser. The nose is rich with honeydew melon and baking spices alongside shades of starfruit and mango. The palate is plush and refined with a silky texture. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2022 Va Piano ‘Celilo Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Coming from this outstanding site on Underwood Mountain, the ‘Celilo Vineyard’ Chardonnay was stored in only 20% new French oak with the remainder concrete prior to bottling. Right away this delivers alluring salted pear and Macadamia nut on the nose alongside green melon and shades of juicy nectarine. The palate is rich and layered with a stunning finish, viscosity and verve. This is going to age so gracefully. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Va Piano ‘Ox’ Red Wine- Only 20 dollars retail, the 2021 ‘Ox’ is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and good sense of weight. With good structure and earthy tones, with dense blackberry and black currant fruit flavors, this is delicious stuff that is a killer glass pour. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2021 Va Piano ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from mostly estate fruit, the 2021 Va Piano ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored in 35% new French oak before bottling. The nose is fantastic with red beind. ed herbs and shades of loamy soils alongside coffee ground notes. The palate is beautifully textured with good weight and focus. A beautiful bottling, this will cellar well for another fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2038- 93

2021 Va Piano ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2021 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is nearly 100% varietal with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine was stored in 65% new French oak before bottling. This is very silky and refined on the palate with good weight and richness. Espresso ground mingle well with loamy soils and chocolate on there palate. Drink 2024-2040- 94

2021 Va Piano ‘Rosebud Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This wine combines 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Coming from vines planted back in 1980, this was stored in roughly 90% new French oak before bottling. The nose is very expressive with coffee grounds, cocoa nibs, black currants and shades of sagebrush. The palate is plush and refined with a silky texture and generous mouthfeel. Silky tannins greet you with a gorgeous core of black fruits that mingle well with black licorice and Turkish coffee notes. Drink 2025-2045- 95

2021 Va Piano ‘DuBrul Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from this site planted in 1980, the wine was stored in 90% new French oak before bottling. 100% varietal, this offers black tea and exotic spices that mingle well with shades of dark chocolate shavings and loamy soils. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture. Concentrated and refined with a beautiful core of red and dark fruits, with refined tannins, this is a gorgeous effort that is going to be a long-ager. Drink 2025-2050- 96

Upchurch Vineyard

Today we share one of Red Mountain’s finest, Upchurch Vineyard. The location is one of the most scenic in the state. Anchored in the southwestern part of the AVA, the winery has expansive views of the Columbia Valley from their estate create an incredible panoramic effect. For those who have never visited Upchurch Vineyard, I implore you to visit if nothing else for the beauty of the site.

One of the legends in Washington wine, Chris Upchurch crafted the finest Bordeaux style white wine for DeLille, the ‘Chaleur Estate Blanc’ in the mid-1990s. This wine has achieved incredible acclaim since that time and not only is one of the great white wines made in Washington but it rivals any Bordeaux Blanc style wines made in the new world.

There is little doubt that Chris has been making one of the most inspired Sauvignon Blancs in Washington, his 2021 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Southwest Facing’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 94) is dense and beautifully textured stuff with glorious length. I also adored the new 2021 LTL Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 93) which is a steal at under 50 bucks. Don’t miss out on the  2021 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is even better than the 2020 bottling with a seamless texture and plenty of scorched earth character from Red Mountain. Learn more about this fantastic winery at https://upchurchvineyard.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Upchurch Vineyard.

2021 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Southwest Facing’ Sauvignon Blanc- The outstanding and 100% varietal Sauvignon Blanc was sourced from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. Stored all in concrete eggs, this sat Sur lie for 17 months before bottling. Lees were stirred on a monthly basis. This has a downright killer nose with kiwi and wet stone alongside nutmeg dusted Challah bread. The palette is deep and concentrated with serious weight. The texture from the Sur lie aging is really fantastic, as this finishes very long. This is very Washington vs. Pessac. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2022 Upchurch ‘Candy Mountain’ Merlot- The brilliant 2022 Upchurch ‘Candy Mountain’ Merlot comes from this site set on clay and gravel soils. Dark in the glass, the wine delivers heady toasty oak alongside mocha, sandalwood, tar and rich Morello cherry. The nose is downright killer. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture, showing lovely coffee ground and chocolate flavors. Drink 2024-2036- 93

2021 LTL Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2021 wine comes from the estate as well as Quintessence, Stanton Hill and Shaw Vineyards. This was stored in 50% new French oak for 18 months before bottling. Very smooth on the entry, this delivers violets, black currants and tar notes giving this a very classic Red Mountain profile. Showing good verve and richness, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Counterpart’ Merlot- The 2021 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Counterpart’ is a beautiful effort from this challenging vintage. The 100% Merlot was stored in nearly all New French Oak (Taransaud & Orion) prior to bottling. The toasty oak is beautiful with dark chocolate, dark rose petals, Asian spices and cassis notes. The palate is plush and refined with a serious sense of richness and flavor density. A gorgeous Merlot that is built to age, with loamy soil character, this is a total stunner that is the finest I have tasted from this house yet. Drink 2024-2042- 95

2021 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon- A total stunner, the 2021 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has clone 2 and 191 clonal selection Cabernet Sauvignon in the the twelfth vintage of this wine.  Stored in mostly new Taransaud oak barrels this offers beautiful cedar and mocha notes alongside creme de violette and pencil shavings. The palate is plush and refined with serious weight and texture, showing heady black and blue fruits alongside scorched earthy tones. Totally stunning, this beauty is absolutely singing in its high octave right now. Enjoy now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 97

Brandlin Estate

Today we share the story of Brandon Estate that date all the way back to the 1870s, when the Brandlins emigrated from Switzerland. They later descended on the Napa Valley and started their homestead high on Mount Veeder. They saw the potential of the land and soon began their fruit orchard, ran the local grain store and stagecoach. In 1926, Henry Brandlin planted his first grape vines at Brandlin Estate—vines that are still alive today.

Brandon Estates encompasses nearly 50 acres of vines, with many nearly 20 years of age. Wines are made by Cuvaison winemaker Steve Rogstad, who has crafted outstanding Chardonnay and other varietals for decades.I really love the new 2021 Brandlin Estates ‘Mount Veeder’ Malbec (OB, 94) which is very deep and concentrated Malbec that has outstanding flavor range and shows off the heat of the vintage. Learn more about these great wines at brandlinestate.com and here are my reviews of the new Brandlin wines.

2022 Brandlin Estates ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The outstanding 2022 Brandlin Estates ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc was stored for 11 months in 50% new French oak before bottling. This is deep and concentrated wine with plenty of kiwi and cantaloupe fruit flavors with nutty and stony accents. Drink 2024-2029- 91

2021 Brandlin Estates ‘Mount Veeder’ Malbec- Thee outstanding 2021 Brandon Estates Malbec has a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. Stored for 22 months in 40% new French oak before bottling. Boysenberry jam, anise and creme de violette flavors mingle well with dark chocolate shavings and pencil lead on the palate. A total stunner, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2038- 94

Turnbull

For many years I have admired stops at Turnbull, one of Napa’s landmark wineries. Turnbull has been perched in the Napa Valley for the past 35 years. Today the winery owns over 200 acres in the Napa Valley and produces approximately 30,000 cases per year. Their original co-founder William Turnbull was an architect from the San Francisco Bay Area and designed his winery as well as many others including part of Cakebread Cellars. Later in 1993 Patrick O’Dell purchased Turnbull Johnson and renamed the winery to Turnbull Cellars. At the helm is Peter Heitz who is a fourth generation vintner. Peter applied his trade at Beringer, crafting some world class Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon under the guidance of legendary winemaker Ed Sbragia, before coming to Turnbull more than a decade ago.

The new Cabernets from 2019 were extraordinarily good. Their 2021 wines have serious promise as I adored the 2021 Turnbull ‘Amines’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which has beautiful stuffing and verve —easily a 20 year wine. These are beautiful wines that are not to be missed. Learn more at www.turnbullwines.com Here are my reviews of the new Turnbull wines.

2021 Turnbull ‘Amoenus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The stunning 2021 Turnbull ‘Amoenus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this site set n the Oakville AVA which spans two valleys and ridgelines. The wine is a barrel selection of 100% varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from this site. The wine is saturated and fat on the tongue with layers of creme de cassis, anise, pencil lead and violets. Showing great viscosity, verve and length, this will live on for at least another twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 96

2019 Turnbull ‘Leopoldina Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from this site in the Oakville appellation, the 2019 Turnbull ‘Leopoldina Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows beautiful range on the nose with potpourri and Asian spices that mingle with ripe dark currants and tobacco leaf. The luxurious texture coats the palate, as the wine delivers rich mocha, tar, frhesly tilled soils and wild blackberry cordial flavors. This is exceedingly good to consume even in its tension-filled youth. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2019 Turnbull ‘Amoenus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The alluring 2019 Turnbull ‘Amoenus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon bursts out of the glass with boysbeerry coulis, linzer torte and sweet pipe tobacco aromas alongside shades of Arabica bean. Very heady aromatically, once on the mouth this revels in its seamless texture and glorious sense of length, with scorched earth and faint red bell pepper undertones alongside a deep core of black fruits. Very refined tannins hold everything nicely in place. Utterly stunning to consume now, this will live on for at least another twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2042- 96

2019 Turnbull ‘Fortuna Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A delicious wine already now at the three year mark, the 2019 Turnbull ‘Fortuna Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon surely will live on for another two decades. Soft and supple on the mouth and loaded with dense black fruits, espresso grounds, loamy soils pencil lead, tar and exotic spices, this polished and voluptuous wine really needs an hour of air if consuming now. Drink 2024-2042- 95

Bryant Family Vertical Tasting at Atelier Freewater

This past weekend I attended a world-class dinner and tasting of Bryant Family wines, hosted by Carrie and Todd Alexander at Atelier Freewater, their new fancy tasting room in Milton-Freewater. The space is very modern and has plenty of room for parties and a large kitchen. The dinner was put on by Eight Row, a Michelin-star worthy restaurant in Green Lake, Seattle.

We had champagne to start and celebrate the ten years that Todd Alexander has been making wine in Washington State. He has taken the Washington wine scene by storm by his captivating wines by Force Majeure, WeatherEye and others.

Champagne was complimented by a beautiful and spicy crudo, as well as steak tartare bites. The first course was a beet salad which paired with the first Bryant Family bottling.

There were several food highlights. The duck was magically cooked and was soft and beautifully textured. The steak dish was also world-class and was well-seasoned, with a beautiful presentation of the celery root puree. That dish had so much beautiful flavor.
Todd and Carrie had graciously purchased two mags — the 2012 and 2013 Bryant Family Cabernets. These wines were each 100 point bottlings.

Service and dining experience were extraordinarily good as the cadence of the evening was beautiful. Tasting through the beautiful wines, I was enamored by the 2012 (OB, 100) was plush, soft and refined, with serious purity in its red and dark fruit quality. The florals on the wine were extraordinary. A totally different animal was the 2013 Bryant Family (OB, 100) which was more dense, heady and loaded with intense black and blue fruits, with scorched earthy tones, tons of graphite and espresso grounds. What a wine!

I look back so fondly on this dinner that was spent with friends — truly an epic occasion to celebrate the talents of one of our region’s top winemakers. Cheers to another 10 Todd and Carrie and thank you for your incredible contributions in Washington and Oregon wine.

Gramercy Cellars

Today we share some of the outstanding spring releases you will taste from Washington State. Gramercy Cellars was founded by winemaker and master sommelier, Greg Harrington, MS, crafts both Rhone and Bordeaux varietals, as he sources from some of the top vineyards in the state. He and Gramercy partner Brandon Moss also makes some of the best Rose in the Pacific Northwest as their Rose wines have consistently been towards the top of my Pacific Northwest Rose Report over the past few years.

It is remarkable that Harrington incredibly passed the master sommelier exam at the age of 26. Partner and co-winemaker, Brandon Moss, shares Greg’s focus on prime fruit and minimal intervention, showcasing the typicity of the individual varietal. These are wines that embody structure and poise, with good richness and varietal character.

I love the new Gramercy releases. Do not miss out on the 2023 Gramercy Cellars Rose (OB, 93) which is another amazing edition of this wine with serious nuance and very pure red fruits. Learn more about these amazing wines at gramercycellars.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Gramercy Cellars and the superstar winemaking team of Greg Harrington, MS and Brandon Moss.

2023 Gramercy Cellars ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Rose- Truly a great Rhone-inspired Rose from the Yakima Valley, the 2021 Olsen Vineyard’ Rose combines Cinsault (50%) with equal portions Syrah and Grenache. This is highly complex stuff with shades of white truffle that combine with Mandarin orange zest, watermelon, and red cherry Starburst candy. Nicely textured and very pretty, this is delight to savor in its youth this will surely live on for another seven plus years to come. Drink 2023-2030- 93

2022 Gramercy Cellars Picpoul- The very juicy 2023 Picpoul was sourced from the Walla Walla Valley. Kiwi and green melon tones combine with salted nectarine and nutty tones on the nose. The plate is fresh and neatly textured with serious tension. A joy to consume now, this really needs a hot summer day to revel in its beautiful verve. Drink 2024-2028- 92

Rush Lattin

A great new winery based in Snohomish, Washington, Rush Lattin is a story based on a strong family spirit. Rush Lattin was a pioneer and artist that set alone on a mule in the late 1800's with a dangerous dream to capture the magnificent Yosemite Valley on canvas. This label is a sketch of that heirloom painting, an expression of Rush’s passionate purpose that guided him to capture a moment of beauty that since has been shared with generations.

Founded by Larry and Michelle Ransom, the winery makes a range of red wines from the Columbia Valley and Red Mountain. Winemaker Larry Ransom is somewhat new to the trade but has made a really nice set of wines from the excellent 2021 vintage. I really enjoyed the 2023 Rush Latttin Rose (OB, 90) which is neatly textured and shows good astringency. I love the 2021 Rush Lattin ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah (OB, 92) which is dense and rich with delicious dark fruit flavors. Learn more about this exciting new winery at https://www.rushlattincellars.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Rush Lattin wines.

2023 Rush Lattin Rose- Made from Grenache grapes, this 2023 Rose offers a smooth sense of tension upon entry with bright red cherry and red raspberry notes alongside stony minerals. Enjoy now while the brightness remains intact. Drink 2024-2028- 90

2021 Rush Lattin ‘Red Mountain’ Grenache- Named ‘The Signet’ this 2021 Grenache is smooth and polished with bright pomegranate and red raspberry flavors alongside a soft texture and good deal of tension considering the warmth of the vintage. Medium bodied, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next seven plus years. Drink 2024-2031-91

2021 Rush Lattin ‘GSM’ Red Wine- This GSM inspired blend from 2021 is composed of equal parts Grenache and Mourvèdre with 30% Syrah. A beautiful spice rack nose, this shows off potpourri and exotic spices alongside rich red fruits and smoky accents. The palate is soft and polished with a smooth texture and great sense of balance between varietals. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Rush Lattin ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- Inky in the glass, the 2021 Rush Lattin ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah offers iodine, bacon fat and garrigue notes on the nose. The palate shows good polish with its sagebrush, milk chocolate and dense dark fruit flavors. This is really well-done stuff that is already beautifully evolved. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Rush Lattin 'Old Faithful’ Red Wine- Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (66%) with the remainder Syrah, this delivers good viscosity and richness with dense dark fruits and tobacco leaf flavors alongside shades of Black Forest Cake. 15.5% alcohol, this is not for the weary! Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Rush Lattin ‘Fiddler’s Bluff’ Syrah- The 2021 Rush Lattin ‘Fiddler’s Bluff’ Syrah is nicely posed but comes off leaner than the ‘Columbia Valley’ bottling with chocolate and blackberry notes on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 90

2021 Rush Lattin ‘Fiddler’s Bluff’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Fiddler’s Bluff’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers herbal notes alongside dark currants and blackberry notes on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2021 Rush Lattin ‘Fiddler’s Bluff’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Fiddler’s Bluff’ Red Wine delivers juicy red and dark fruit flavors with good verve and medium-body on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 89

Clos Solene

An amazing tale of love, Clos Solene is a tale of romance and following the heart. Clos Solene is an inspired story fueled by the love of two people who founded this outstanding winery. Guillaume Fabre met the love of his life, Solene Fabre and they both eventually settled in Paso Robles. Fast forward to today, the Fabre Family is now a family of five: Clémentine (their oldest daughter), Jean (their middle son), and Juliette (their youngest daughter). Guillaume has named all his favorite wines after his children – Sweet Clémentine, Cuvée Jean and the arrival of Cuvée Juliette in 2019. After purchasing an estate in 2017, the family lives at the farmhouse on the property, as their boutique winery lies the west side of Paso Robles in the heart of the Willow Creek District. Having visited this spot, the wines are truly some of the finest you will see in the valley. Winemaker Guillaume Fabre combines freshness, texture and a very old-world feel in his wines.

Just as the reds were from my stellar tasting in Jan 2024, the new spring release wines were simply outstanding across the board. The 2023 Clos Solene ‘La Rose’ Rose (OB, 93) is fresh and vibrant with outstanding texture. Learn more about these beautiful new wines at https://www.clossolene.com Here are the outstanding new release wines by Clos Solene.

2022 Clos Solene ‘Hommage Blanc’ White Wine- The seriously good 2022 ‘Hommage Blanc’ is a beautiful wine made from a really tough vintage for white wines. A combination of mostly Roussanne (80%) with the remainder Viognier and a touch Grenache Blanc, this offers serious texture and nerve on the palate, with green melon, Gravenstein apple, cashew nut and copious stony minerals. A stunning wine to enjoy now, this has some really good aging potential. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2023 Clos Solene ‘La Rose’ Rose- The faintest of pink dawns this beautiful Rose wine made from mainly Grenache grapes (72%) with the remainder Grenache Gris and Mourvèdre. Stony and flinty on the nose with delicate red flowers and red fruits, this unveils neat kiwi and cantaloupe tones aromatically. The palate echos the nose in terms of flavors, showing plenty of lip-smacking acidity and stony finesse. This is a total stunner that is best enjoyed now and over the next few years in its vibrant, tension-laden youth. Drink 2024-2030- 93