Rivaura

Idaho wines can be world-class and deserve a role on the world stage. I remember tasting the entry level Idaho wines 20 years ago and was not impressed. Top wines from Idaho today are eons above the wines of yesteryear that I tasted. Truly one of most scenic wineries that you will find in the Pacific Northwest — Rivaura. Set on a stunning riverfront location just outside of Lewiston, Idaho, on the Clearwater River, it was back in 2014 that Rivaura founders Ron Hewett, Sr., along with his sons Ron, Jr., and Reece Hewett, founded this winery. For more than 60 years, this family has grown up along the banks of the Clearwater River in the Lewis-Clark Valley, just a tad east of Lewiston, Idaho at Arrow near Juliaetta, Idaho.

Before starting Rivaura the Hewetts talked to Kevin Pogue, PhD, RG, of VinTerra Consulting who confirmed that their site was perfect for grape growing. This is a very windy site with small berry size that leads to great concentration.

Billo Naravane, MW, of Rasa Vineyards fame has totally transformed this wine program as he has with other programs. He has made another sensational lineup across the board. I love the new 2021 Rivaura Syrah (OB, 94) which is almost Rocks character in its Hoisin sauce and salty character. The best wine I tried was the incredible 2021 Rivaura ‘Insomniac’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is in perfect balance. This is incredible wine that is built to age.  Learn more about this really exciting new Idaho wine project at rivaura.com and here are my reviews of the new Rivaura wines. 

2021 Rivaura ‘River Ranch Red’ Red Wine— The outstanding 2021 ‘River Ranch Red’ is an excellent effort from this warm vintage. Black currants with sandalwood, allspice and black olives combine on the nose, with shades of red bell pepper. The palate is soft, inviting and well-structured. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Rivaura Syrah- The 2021 Rivaura Syrah is a heady and delicious bottling that offers bacon fat, Hoisin sauce and salty as well as stony tones on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with a great core of black fruits, and a silky texture, enjoy now and over the next eight years. This is just a killer wine that screams terroir. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2021 Rivaura Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a smooth, medium-bodied rendition of this wine. Salty and stony tones mark the palate alongside sagebrush, tobacco leaf and black currant flavors. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Rivaura ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Reserve’ was sourced from the northernmost blocks of the Rivaura Estate Vineyard. This site utilizes three separate clones of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is impeccably balanced, with concentrate boysenberry and black cherry fruits, alongside roasted dates, cedar and baking spices. This is a joy to drink in its heady youth. Drink 2024-2038— 94

2021 Rivaura ‘Insomniac’ Red Wine- Coming from the southern portion of the Rivaura Vineyard, the ‘Insomniac’ is named after the proprietor of this estate who quite literally never sleeps. A blend of four Bordeaux varietals, this is dense, chewy and delicious on the palate, showcasing Billo Naravane, MW’s signature pillowy texture. Everything is in clockwork order here from the green herbal accents alongside pencil lead, windswept soils, sea salt dusted black fruits and espresso ground notes.  Enjoy this highly delicious wine now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 95

Eternal Wines

I have long enjoyed the wines of Buffalo Bills superfan Brad Binko. Binko is a graduate of the Walla Walla Community College’s enology and viticulture program, and for years ran restaurant wine programs in Charleston before making the move to Walla Walla. There is little doubt that he has of the best Port-inspired wines of the Pacific Northwest.

For many yeas Eternal Wines has been a fabulous destination with fun parties in the summer and he has a deft touch with his white wines. He now makes two Rose wines. I love them both. I adored the 2022 Eternal Wines ‘Skin Contact’ Rose (OB,  Roussanne (OB, 92) which is masquerading as a red wine, showing serious texture and flavor range. Learn more about these wines at https://eternalwine.com Here are the great new releases by Eternal Wine and Drink Washington State.

2023 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Beauty’ Rose- The 2023 ‘Eternal Beauty’ was made from Cabernet Franc grapes. This is marvelously fresh stuff with a smooth mouthfeel. Pretty red fruits parade with citrus rind and minerals on the palate. Drink 2024-2029- 91

2022 Eternal Wines ‘Skin Contact’ Rose- This is a whopping one barrel production Rose from the Otis Vineyard. It drinks like a beautiful Pinot Noir or rich Pinot Gris. Smooth and silky with refined red raspberry and red cherry flavors, alongside shades of pink bubblegum, this is seriously well-done. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2023 Red White & Buffalo Riseling- This Kabinette style 2023 Riesling has a kiss of sweetness with excellent tension. Gooseberry and kiwi flavors combine with plenty of stony minerals on the palate. Drink 2024-2029- 90

2022 Red White & Buffalo Chardonnay- The 2022 Red White & Buffalo Chardonnay is a great value in its creamy texture alongside bright pear and starfruit flavors, with nutty accents. Drink 2024-2030- 90

Armstrong Family Wines

The story of Armstrong Family Wines is many years in the making. Originally from the Chicago area, the Armstrongs moved to the Seattle area for work and were inspired by the local wine scene. Tim Armstrong accepted a new role at his company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington back more than a decade ago in 2010. The family moved in August, after their daughter Emily was born. Soon Tim was spending nights and weekends working with a winemaker in Woodinville, Washington. He later began taking winemaking classes at South Seattle Community College and then through Washington State University’s Viticulture and Enology programs.

I have really enjoyed Tim’s wines over the years. They are well-structured and well-balanced. He even made great wines in the more than challenging 2020 vintage. The family now resides in Walla Walla as production has grown at Armstrong and they closed their bustling tasting room in downtown Walla Walla to focus on their production on their farm, roughly 15 minutes from downtown Walla Walla. I love the new 2021 Armstrong ‘Fronk’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 92) which is wonderfully herbal but has really nice sense of weight and finesse. Equally good is the fabulous 2021 Armstrong ‘Ebby James’ Syrah (OB, 92) which is a delight to savor now in its savory herbs alongside dark fruits. Learn more about this great family winery at https://www.armstrongwinery.com and here are my reviews of the outstanding new Armstrong wines.

2022 Armstrong ‘Wild Angels’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Wild Angels’ is texturally beautiful stuff with brioche and baking spices that combine with shades of nectarine and juicy Pink Lady apple on the palate. This shows good flavor density throughout the drinking experience. Enjoy this delicious new Chardonnay now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Armstrong ‘Four Birds’ Red Wine- The outstanding ‘Four Birds’ is mainly Merlot-based (76%). It is plush and soft on the mouth with layers of chocolate, sagebrush and allspice dusted black currents, with loamy soil character. Delightful now, this should live on for another decade. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Armstrong ‘Frank’ Cabernet Franc- The 2021 ‘Fronk’ is a beautiful expression of Cabernet Franc from this warm vintage. Once on the nose this takes on red bell pepper and garrigue notes that mingle well with sandalwood and graphite. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth texture. Seriously good, and well-structured, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2020 Armstrong ‘Sally Mac’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Sally Mac’ is nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley. Sagebrush, bitter chocolate and coffee grounds combine on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2026- 90

2020 Armstrong ‘Bogie’s Blend’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Bogie’s Blend’ delivers a smooth texture with layers of chocolate, baking spices and fresh sage. Medium-bodied and nicely structured, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2036- 91

2021 Armstrong ‘Ebby James’ Syrah- A delightful Syrah from the Walla Walla Valley, the 2021 ‘Ebby James’ delivers a delightful punch on the mid-palate in terms of flavor density and finesse. Wild blackberry cobbler, mocha and stony accents complete this outstanding wine that still has a long way to go. Drink 2024-2032- 92

Dineen Vineyards

Today we share some of the fantastic, family-run wines of the Yakima Valley. Dineen Vineyards was founded by Pat and Lanie Dineen who made an initial investment in a 12-acre apple orchard back in 2001. The trees were removed and the first Dineen vines were planted in what is now known as Catherine’s vineyard, named after Pat’s mother.

They made a much larger investment in 2002, acquiring a 80-acre parcel was purchased becoming the second vineyard in the portfolio and home to the Dineen Vineyards tasting room. All of the blocks at this site are named for members of our immediate family.

I was initially turned on by this vineyard by Lauren Ashton for years that have showcased this site. Dineen wines are made by David Rodriguez who was trained as a lawyer prior to dedicating his wife in wine. He has worked in Argentina before coming to Washington. Originally an intern at Dineen, he now serves as viticulturist and winemaker. The new wines were very good. I really enjoy the 2021 Dineen Merlot (OB, 90) which is soft and well-structured. Learn more about theses wines at dineenvineyards.com and here are my reviews of the new Dineen wines.

2021 Dineen Cabernet Franc- Showing good freshness, the 2021 Dineen Cabernet Franc is very herbal and is lacking a bit in terms of mid-palate richness considering the warmth of the vintage. Green bell pepper and chocolate notes with tart wild blackberry notes alongside good structure complete this wine. Drink 2024-2030- 89

2021 Dineen ‘Heritage Blend’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Heritage Blend’ is smooth throughout the drinking experience. Black cherry and tobacco leaf combine with wild herbs and shades of coffee grounds on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2021 Dineen Merlot- This 2021 Merlot is nicely structured and soft upon the approach. Milk chocolate and sagebrush notes combine with good verve and refined tannins on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years to come. Drink 2024-2030- 90

Fairsing Vineyard

I love Oregon wineries offering wines at a fair price. Such is the case with Fairsing Vineyard. This family owned site is well-known for their outstanding Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs. Stewards of their land, Mary Ann and Mike McNally purchased Fairsing Vineyard in the summer of 2005, with the purchase of approximately 200 acres of harvested forestland.  Then in October 2006 eighteen acres of vines were successfully planted and trellised with the assistance of Oregon’s collegial winegrower community. Vineyard development continued at roughly five acres per year, with a total of thirty-eight acres of Pinot noir and five acres of Chardonnay currently under vine. Vines at Fairsing are nestled among one-hundred acres of forest, and seventy acres have been reforested with 18,000 conifers, 3,000 deciduous trees, and more than 6,000 native shrubs. This is a gorgeous, scenic location that is a must visit for any Pinotphile.

Winemaker Robert Brittan makes incredible wines for Fairsing and his namesake brand. His new wines showed beautiful poise and weight from the 2019 vintage. I love the entry level 2021 Fairsing Vineyard ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which is chewy and dense with beautiful texture. Even better is the 2021 Fairsing Vineyard ‘Dardis’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which has a downright awesome refinement and elegance with plenty of stuffing. Learn more about these outstanding wines at fairsingvineyard.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Fairsing Vineyard.

2022 Fairing Vineyard Rose-Made from Pinot Noir grapes, the 2022 Fairsing Rose offers red rose petals with loganberry and Yakima cherry notes on the nose. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured, with a good sense of verve and weight. You are gonna love this wine for summer. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Fairsing Vineyard ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay- The 2021 ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay by Fairsing Vineyard is a delicious wine with great concentration and underlying tension. Layers of honeydew melon, lemon rind and suggestions of Japanese pear all parade on the paltae, whit copious minerals. Drink 2024-2031- 93

2021 Fairsing Vineyard ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- Showing good richness from this warm vintgae, the 2021 Fairsing Vineyard ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir offers rich dark fruits that mingle well with menthol notes. The palate is soft and already nicely evolved with a smooth texture. Finishing long, enjoy this over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2021 Fairsing Vineyard ‘Sullivan’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 Fairsing Vineyard ‘Sullivan’ is sourced from a range  range of Pinot Noir clonal selections, as this was stored in 30% new French oak for ten months before bottling. Wild blackberry with orange peel, salty soils and suggestions of wild mushroom all mark the palate. Soft and delicious enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Fairsing Vineyard ‘Dardis’ Pinot Noir- The beautiful 2021 Fairsing Vineyard ‘Dardis’ Pinot Noir offers shows off beautiful orange water and red currant tones on the nose alongside suggestions of black tea. Refined and elegant on the palate, with good richness and a fantastic veil of tension, this is showing gracefully right now. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Fairing Vineyard ‘Kenney’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Kenney’ comes from this site set on marine sedimentary soils. This delivers pretty black florals and white pepper notes alongside wild blackberry tones. The palate is soft, loaded with tart dark fruit flavors alongside salty soils. Drink 2024-2034- 93

L'Ecole No. 41 2013 Vintage Retrospective

A few days ago I had the great opportunity to sit down with the management and winemaking team at L’Ecole No. 41 and taste some older wines. L’Ecole No. 41’s top wines have always been built to age. They can be a bit reticent right out of the gate after release but really start to come into their own after about five years. Owner Marty Club agreed that the ‘Perigee’ ‘Apogee’ and ‘Ferguson’ bottlings really improve after five plus years of cellaring. He also noted that if consuming young “A long decant” is really necessary to take in the beautiful range of flavors and aromatics.

The ‘Perigee’ and ‘Apogee’ program has been a pillar of quality for L’Ecole for so many years. This program began in 1993 with the Pepper Bridge Vineyard-based Apogee. The Perigee comes from the Seven Hills Vineyard and also has been made for more than two decades. The newcomer to this program is the one of a kind ‘Ferguson’ which comes from this incredible high-elevation site which is set on windswept loess soils with fractured basalt beneath it. Wines from this vineyard have a stony essence that is all their own.

Tasting through their library wines I had the unique opportunity to taste each of these ‘Cru’ Bordeaux-insprired bottlings from the 2013 vintage. For years 2013 was left in the shadow of 2012. Now we know that wines from 2013 are every bit as good — if not better — than those produced in 2012. For my palate with few exceptions 2013 has been showing several notches better than 2012 reds recently in terms of stuffing, flavor density and overall drinkability.

All of the 2013 wines from L’Ecole showed beautifully. I loved the 2013 ‘Apogee’ (OB, 96) with its smoothness, as it is drinking so well now. I think the finest wine of the tasting was the incredible 2013 ‘Ferguson’ (OB, 98) which was wonderfully stony and rich. This had a wonderful veil of tension and glorious length. This retrospective was certainly a tasting to remember! Learn more at https://www.lecole.com/ and here are my reviews of the incredible 2013 wines by L’Ecole No. 41.

2013 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- The 2013 ‘Apogee’ is gorgeous on the nose with anise and allspice alongside dark currants and shades of sandalwood, with dark chocolate shavings. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture. Rich and viscous, this is outstanding in its damp soil and black fruit profile alongside sagebrush and tar notes. Smooth throughout the drinking experience, with no rough edges, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2038- 96

2013 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine- The beautiful 2013 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine is a great showing from this warm vintage. Texturally beautifully, this offer pencil lead, anise, black currants na chocolate notes on the palate. Fresh and dense, with good weight, this is beautiful wine that still has a long way to go. Drink 2024-2038- 96

2013 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson’ Red Wine- A sensational wine from a warm vintage, the 2013 ‘Ferguson’ offers creosote, nose, black currant cordial and shades of dark chocolate shavings. This is showing fantastic depth with its stony core, with polished black fruits, alongside graphite and chocolate. Finishing long this is a stunning wine that is one of the finest of this tasting. Drink 2024-2038- 98

Doubleback

Today we share one of the beautiful houses in the Walla Walla Valley. Doubleback began as a vision of NFL legend, Drew Bledsoe and his wife, Maura. The story completes itself as Drew circled back following his brilliant NFL career. Originally from Walla Walla, he was a star at Walla Walla High School before his illustrious tenure at Washington State University. Drew had planned on starting his winery in his hometown and throughout his NFL career he worked hard to try the wines of the world and expand his palate. He kept on coming back to the wines of Washington State which were somewhere between the old world and Napa. Finally in 2007 that Drew returned to Walla Walla to plant his estate vineyard, McQueen on the southern end of the Walla Walla Valley AVA. They built their Walla Walla winery structure and it is one of the most beautiful spots to taste wine at in the valley, boasting a rooftop deck with sweeping 360 degree views of the valley.

It has now been more than fifteen years that Doubleback was born and in 2008 Drew began focusing on using top estate fruit to make incredible Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley. He needed a top class winemaker and connected with childhood friend and superstar winemaker, Chris Figgins, of Leonetti Cellar, who served as consulting winemaker until Josh McDaniels assumed the role in 2015. Josh is one of the finest talents in the state. The wines that he has made are consistently great, year after year and he has a fantastic winemaking team behind him. Josh is making arguably Washington’s finest Chardonnay. I was once again blown away with the 2022 Doubleback Chardonnay (OB, 97) which is dense yet has fantastic nerve and texture. This is a total stunner. I tried a barrel sample of the 2022 Doubleback ‘Reserve’ Red Wine (OB, 99-100) which is a total masterclass that I can’t wait to see completed.  Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.doubleback.com/ and here are my reviews of the gorgeous new 2024 spring release wines by Doubleback.

2022 Bledsoe McDaniels ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Chardonnay- Stored in 205% new French oak, this beautiful 2022 bottling is the first wine from the former Hope Will and now named Coulee Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills. This is big and bold, with serious texture and richness. Honeydew melon, wet stone and Macadamia nut and Pink Lady apple flavors on the palate. Showing serious tension and length, this is beautiful wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2040- 96

2022 Doubleback Chardonnay- Coming from the McQueen and Kenny Hill Vineyards, the 2022 Doubleback Chardonnay is a stunning new wine that follows up the incredible 2021 bottling. This is gorgeous on the nose with roasted pineapple and mango notes alongside beeswax and shades of cardamom. The palate is soft and refined with a seamless drinking experience. This is unbelievably good. Drink 2024-2034- 97

2022 Doubleback ‘Estate Reserve’ Red Wine (98-100)

Cellar Selection: 1981 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon

It was a remarkable visit to Woodward Canyon several days ago where I had the immense opportunity to taste the first vintage of Woodward Canyon wine. “We pulled this out and I think it turned out nicely” said second generation vintner Sager Small. “And I think there is some fruit left” he said. I completely agreed.

One of the famed wineries on the West Coast, Woodward Canyon had its foundation in the mid-70s when Rick  Small developed an interest in winemaking. In 1977, Rick began planting vines on the former wheat ground on the family farm in Woodward Canyon. He and his wife Darcey Fugman-Small founded Woodward Canyon Winery in 1981. Rick went on to be President of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Growers Association, the precursor to the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, when the growers petitioned and received approval from the federal government for the Walla Walla Valley Appellation in 1984.

The wine I tasted was the 1981 Woodward Canyon ‘Dedication Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon, which was far from over the hill in terms of overall enjoyment and fruit content. The idea behind the ‘Dedication Series’ was to pay tribute to a Walla Walla Valley pioneer who had an impact on the agricultural heritage of this now famous region. On the label is A.P. Woodward (1834-1916), a pioneer who helped to settle Walla Walla and owned the land where Woodward Canyon Winery is situated.. It was an unforgettable experience to taste this special wine alongside second generation vintners Sager and Jordan Small. Learn more at woodwardcanyon.com and here are my notes from this piece of history, tasted last Friday April 26th, 2024.

1981 Woodward Canyon ‘Dedication Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A timeless wine that is still ticking, the 1981 Woodward Canyon ‘Dedication Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning wine that has fantastic aromatic range right now. Anise and white pepper dusted dark currant combine with shades of wild mushroom on the nose. The palate has lovely earthy character with peat moss and a touch of wild blackberry alongside red currants. Showing surprisingly good body and poise, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 91

Pasxa

One of the electric brands of the Walla Walla Valley, Pášxa wines captures the essence of great fruit sourced from The Rocks District of Milton- Freewater. The Pášxa wines were a huge hit right out of the gate, and back in their inaugural 2018 vintage they focused on River Rock Vineyard fruit. They now have an estate program with the 2020 purchase of ‘Rockgarden Vineyard.’ This is a huge development for this program. Soon after additional blocks at the estate ‘Petros Vineyard’

in the Rocks AVA were planted and will continue to be added to this program.

I have absolutely loved the Pášxa wines. I was blown away with the 2022 Pasxa ‘White Blend’ White Wine (OB, 96) which combines texture, tension and beautiful stony character. Just as good is the incredible 2021 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Syrah (OB, 96) which has plenty of depth and a smooth texture. I love the flavor range in all of these wines. Learn more about this truly thrilling new project at pasxa.com Here are the downright killer new wines by Pášxa.

2022 Pasxa ‘White Blend’ White Wine- The 2022 ‘White Blend’ combines near equal parts Marsanne and Roussanne. Very bright in the glass, this offers honeysuckle and apricot tones alongside cantaloupe melon. The palate is rich and viscous with a serious combination of weight and nerve. Seamless throughout the drinking experience, this is a beautiful Rhone inspired white wine that will drink well over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 96

2021 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Grenache- The very pretty and stony 2021 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Grenache is a great showing now at three years of age. What a beautiful nose with red rose petals, anise, orange peel, Umami and suggestions of smoldering stones. The palate is neatly textured and shows very good wight and underling poise, with salty and savory tones. The flavor range here is outstanding. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2021 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Mourvedre- Dense and intense, with a beautiful texture, the 2021 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Mourvedre offers red currants and lavender notes on the nose alongside burnt orange and wet stone. The palate is fresh and soft with great weight and finesse. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2021 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Syrah- The outstanding 2021 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Syrah is a gorgeous wine showing rich dark currants, wet rock, orange peel and fig tones alongside good freshness and depth. Very stony and showing a smooth texture, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 96

The Walls

On Friday I had the pleasure to taste the beautiful new releases at The Walls — one of Walla Walla’s great spot for a brilliant range of wines and hospitality. Former Microsoft executive, Mike Martin founded this Walla Walla house and also owns one of the best local restaurants, Passatempo Taverna. They have moved their production to a beautiful spot in downtown Walla Walla. This is a really great spot for hospitality with brilliant food and an awesome patio location just outside of downtown.

Back in 2020 Martin made a major purchase in acquiring the Rockgarden Vineyard from Nina Buty. The wines from this site are really exciting and stony. There is also a great new winemaking team that has joined The Walls. Executive Winemaker Sally Johnson Blum and Associate Winemaker Suzie Harryman were hired last year. Johnson Blum has a massive amount of experience, formerly being at St. Francis and Pride in Sonoma County. She also has served as winemaking consultant at Mullan Road under Dennis Cakebread. I really enjoyed tasting with Johnson Blum and learning more about her background and what she is going to bring to this program.

I love the unique new 2021 The Walls ‘Wonderful Nightmare’ (OB, 95) which is dense and chewy with serious tannin and aging potnetial. The best wine I tried and arguably the finest yet from The Walls is the incredible new 2021 ‘Curisitas’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which has some really good cellaring potential. Soft, silky and refined, this is a gorgeous Cab. Learn more about these outstanding new wines at https://www.thewallsvineyards.com Here are the great new releases from The Walls. 

2023 The Walls ‘Cruel Summer’ Rose- Fresh, lithe and neatly textured, the 2023 ‘Cruel Summer’ offers bright watermelon and orange zest water flavors that mingle well with copious minerals and stony accents on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 91

2022 The Walls ‘Martin’s Gold’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Martin’s Gold’ was stored in mostly neutral oak puncheons before bottling. The wine opens with beautiful honeysuckle tones alongside pear and brioche. The palate is fresh and soft with good texture and sense of weight. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 The Walls ‘Mahana’ Red Wine- Mike Martin acquired the Rockgarden Vineyard back in 2020, as this wine coms from both the River Rock and Rockgarden sites in the Rocks AVA. Once on the nose this takes on layers of marionberry and wet stone alongside black currants and shades of black licorice. The palate is fresh and lithe considering the heat of the vintage. A beautiful melange of red and dark fruits combine with the stony character with charcuterie notes. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2021 The Walls ‘Wonderful Nightmare’ Red Wine- This Tempranillo has 25% Mourvèdre blended in. Inky in the glass, this offers beautiful stony character on the palate, alongside dark currants, wet stone and pipe tobacco notes with blackberry compote. Delicious and rich, enjoy over the next ten years to come. This is seriously good stuff. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2021 The Walls ‘Bellamy’ Red Wine- The 2021The Walls ‘Bellamy’ Red Wine combines 25% Merlot coming form the River Rock and Rockgarden Estate Vineyards. This is rich and refined on the mouth with serious weight and salty undercurrents. Wild blackberry and black tea notes dominate the palate. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 The Walls ‘Curiositas’ Red Wine- The stunningly good 2021 The Walls ‘Curiositas’ Red Wine has 5% Petit Verdot blended in. Coming from the Quintessence and Heart of the Hill Vineyards, this delivers heady dark fruits that combine with mocha, tar and allspice alongside creme de violette notes and tar. This is incredible stuff — for my palate the finest wine yet for The Walls. A must-taste! Drink 2024-2040- 97

2021 The Walls ‘French Creek Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 The Walls ‘French Creek Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning new wine that comes from this old vine site planted back in the 1990s. The palate is refined and soft with good richness and loads of dark fruits that parade with black licorice and fresh sage. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 The Walls ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2021 The Walls ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this famed site in the Horse Heaven Hills. Sagebrush, lavender and creme de violette all mark the nose alongside anise and graphite. The palate is fresh and soft with a refined texture and great sense of weight. Finishing very long, this is dense, well-structured and generous wine that is built to age. Drink 2024-2038- 96

2021 The Walls ‘Rockgarden Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Rockgarden Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a dense, heady and inky bottling that offers loads of rich dark currants, tar and black tea notes on the palate, alongside pencil lead and dark chocolate notes. Fleshy and rich, with nice savory notes, this is a beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon that has a long way to go. Drink 2024-2034- 95

Dossier

A winery that somehow keeps improving, Dossier is without a doubt one of the most exciting relatively new wine brands in the Pacific Northwest. Dossier was founded by former NFL star Sidney Rice and businessman and fellow Whitman grad Tim Lenihan. For years I have admired the wines made by master of wine, Billo Naravane, who over the years has become one of Washington’s great winemakers. Naravane makes the beautiful wines of Rasa Vineyards. Each bottling has incredible intension and attention to detail. Longtime Washington wine industry veteran Brandon Kubrock serves as general manager, formerly owning his own Ardor Cellars label. Brandon has a vast wealth of experience in the wine industry and has been honing his craft for more than 20 years.

I think that the Dossier Rose just gets better and better. This edition by MW Naravane has crafted another incredible Rose wine. The 2023 Dossier Rose (OB, 94) is big and burly with serious texture and weight.  I adored the outstanding 2022 Dossier ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah (OB, 95) which is marvelously briny and stony with a silky mouthfeel and serious punch in terms of flavor density. I was blown away with the 2022 ‘Halo’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 96) which is easily be the finest Pacific Northwest Sauvignon Blanc.i have tasted in the past year. These wines will be released later this spring. Learn more about this exciting new project at dossierwine.com and here are my reviews of the new Dossier wines.

2023 Dossier Rose- This beautiful 2023 Syrah Rose bottling come from the Columbia Valley, as this was stored in natural oak barrels and concrete before bottling. The nose is beautifully earthy with a salmon color. White tea and watermelon flavors combine with suggestions of peat moss and Yakima cherry. Smooth and silky with a vibrant sense of tension, this is a total masterclass. Drink 2024-2030- 94

2022 Dossier Viognier- The intensely beautiful, Condrieu-inspired 2022 Viognier is a stunning wine that is texturally gorgeous and maintains beautiful nerve. Rich and viscous, with serious tension. Cantaloupe fruit combine with starfruit, jasmine, and white tea all combine on the palate. Very tension-filled and rich, this is a total stunner that is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2022 Dossier ‘Halo’ Sauvignon Blanc- Coming from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this  2022 Sauvignon Blanc was stored in all new French oak before bottling. Warmed walnut combines with salted peach, mango, and suggestions of Japanese pear and lemon oil. The palate is dense and chewy with a refined texture and serious length showing tropical and melon fruits. Heady and rich, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. What a wine! Drink 2024-2034- 96

2022 Dossier Syrah- Briny and savory, the 2022 Dossier Syrah shows serious stony character on the nose, with a glorious sense of mouthfeel and weight. Copious minerals mingle well with bulls blood, iodine, wild blackberry and suggestions of coffee grounds. This is somehow even better than the warm vintage ’21 in terms of weight and underlying finesse. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2021 Dossier ‘Halo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (97-100)

2021 Dossier ‘Halo’ Red Wine- (97-100)

Raventos

One of the storied Cava houses in the world, Raventós i Blanc is a famil-run business founded in 1497 in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Penedès, Catalonia, Spain. , This high elevation region is known for Cava sparkling wine. The estate of the Raventós family covers about 90 hectares of vineyards and woodlands. Some of the vineyards are extremely old, planted to traditional Cava varietals — Macabeo, Xarel-Lo and Parrelada.

Raventos is now in their 21st generation at this plot of land in Penedes, as the soils in the vineyard were formed over 16 million years ago. They are calcareous with marine fossils as there is a chalky minerality, with serious salty character in all of the wines. I love the great value 2021 Raventos ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Cava (OB, 92) which is fresh and shows a refined mousse. Learn more at https://www.raventos.com and here are my reviews of the new Raventos wines.

2021 Raventos ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Cava- The 2021 ‘Blanc de Blancs’ comes from a 40 year old site. This is nicely textured Cava with nutty and damp earth tones that combine with lemon peel, and copious minerals with a soft mousse. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2020 Raventos ‘de Nit’ Rose Cava- The 2020 ‘de Nit’ is a beautiful blend of 49% Xarel·lo:  and 34% Macabeu: with smaller parts Parellada and Monastrell, This is very pretty in the glass, offering red rose petals, watermelon and orange blossom on the nose. The palate is fresh and polished with a silky texture. Sea salt and stony accents complete this outstanding new and highly nuanced Rose. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2020 Reventos ‘De La Finca’ Cava- This beautiful Cava combines Macabeo, Xarel-Lo and Parrelada varietals as this comes from a location with copious fossil content. This is polished and rich with layers of brioche, melon and citrus fruits that mingle well with copious minerals and salty accents. Finishing long, this is an outstanding wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2034- 94

Fortuity Cellars

A winery in the Yakima Valley, known for donating, Fortuity Cellars gives a portion of their wine sales back to the communities that homes their tasting rooms. This newer Yakima Valley outpost sources from some incredible sites including Red Willow, DuBrul and Heart of the Hill Vineyards. Fortuity Cellars utilizes Ray McKee as consulting winemaker alongside winemaker/owners Lee and Emily Fergestrom. I love the new 2023 Fortuity Viognier (OB, 91) which is fresh and shows a clean texture. Just as good is the 2023 Fortuity Cellars Rose (OB, 91) which has lovely damp earth tones from the Cinsault. Learn more about this newer winery at fortuitycellars.com and here are my reviews of the new Fortuity Cellars releases.

2023 Fortuity Cellars Viognier- Sourced from the Yakima Valley, the soft 2023 Fortuity Cellars Viognier shows good freshness and a smooth texture. Kiwi, gooseberry and wet stone all combine on the palate.  Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2029— 91

2022 Fortuity Cellars ‘Vin Blanc’ White Wine- The 2022 ‘Vin Blanc’ is a Rhone-inspired white wine coming from sites across the Yakima Valley. This is juicy and ripe with a smooth textutre. Macadamia nut, lychee and green papaya notes combine with juicy peaches on the palate. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2023 Fortuity Cellars Rose- The 2023 Fortuity Cellars Rose comes from Yakima Valley Cinsault grapes. Yakima cherry, orange blossom water and watermelon notes combine with damp earthy tones on the palate. Showing excellent finesse, this is a beautiful and lithe Rose that is drinking really well in its bright youth. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2019 Fortuity Cellars ‘Cuvee’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Cuvee’ is inky in the glass, delivering tar, red currants and espresso grounds on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture and good sense of weight considering the coolness of the vintage. The balance and richness suggests this will age for at least another decade. Drink 2024-2032- 92

Beringer

Today we share one of the oldest wineries in California, dating all the way back to the 1860s. the west coast, dating all the way back back to the 1860s. It has now been more than 20 years since I first tasted at this famed St. Helena outpost. Winemaker Ryan Rech came to Napa more than a decade ago, where he led winemaking for the relaunch of the Souverain wines crafted in the historic Asti winery, and later, working alongside famed Chateau St. Jean winemaker Margo Van Staaveren. In 2016, Ryan joined Beringer Vineyards as Luxury Red Winemaker and crafted wines from the Knight’s Valley estate. He was appointed Sr. Winemaker and General Manager in 2017 and elevated to Chief Winemaker in 2021, following the line of Mark Beringer, the great-grandson of Beringer Vineyards’ founding brother Jacob Beringer. There is a long line of exceptional winemakers at this house. Ryan is absolutely holding his own.

This is an amazing new lineup. I love what he did in the challenging 2022 vintage that saw heat spikes at harvest. The 2022 ‘Private Reserve’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) is a total stunner with great viscosity and good tension considering the heat at harvest. A killer wine to buy by the case is the 2021 Beringer ‘Knights Valley Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which is very refined and heady, showing good aging potential. Learn more about these awesome wines at beringer.com Here are the awesome new premium wines by Beringer Vineyards.

2022 Beringer ‘Private Reserve’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2022 Beringer ‘Private Reserve’ Chardonnay is mainly sourced from the Gamble Ranch Vineyard in the Napa Valley with 25% coming from Big Ranch in the Oak Knoll AVA. Coming from this tougher vintage that saw heat spikes at harvest, this was stored for 11 months in 60% new French oak before bottling. This is rich and viscous wine with a silky texture. Buttercream and mango combine with toasted Macadamia nut, pineapple and pastry crust notes all sing in unison on the palate.  Considering the vintage, this is sensational. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2021 Beringer ‘Knights Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is dark in the glass, offering pencil lead, anise and dark currant flavors that mingle well with violets on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, this is a beautiful wine made in this warm vintage.Drink 2024-2030- 91

2021 Beringer ‘Knights Valley Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2021 Beringer ‘Knights Valley Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes off inky in the glass, revealing creme de cassis, tar, blackberry compote and chocolate cake flavors. This is beautifully textured stuff that has a long way to go in the cellar. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2040- 94

2021 Beringer ‘Private Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Beringer ‘Private Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is an outstanding new bottling that comes from this exciting vintage in the Napa Valley. Coming from a range of sites throughout the Napa Valley, this Cabernet was stored for 20 months in new French oak (65% new). The nose is very alluring with creme de violette, tar, tobacco leaf and cocoa powder notes. The palate is smooth and silky, as this refined wine glides throughout the drinking experience. Showing plenty of power, yet not coming off overly heavy, enjoy this stunning effort now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 98

Cadence

Today we share one of the standout producers of Washington State. For more than 25 years Ben Smith (http://owenbargreen.com/benjamin-smith-cadence) together with his wife Gaye McNutt have been making exceptional, cellar-worthy bottlings from some of the state’s great sites. Last year I had the chance to revisit wines more than 20 years old with Ben and Gaye and there is no doubt about the aging potential in Cadence wines. Cadence planted an estate vineyard on Red Mountain, the Cara Mia Vineyard, where most of their wines come from. I’ve enjoyed tasting these wines at the ten year mark where they seem to start collecting secondary characteristics.

They did an excellent job navigating the tough 2019 and 2020 vintages. I adored the new 2022 Cadence ‘Coda’ Red Wine (OB, 93) which is dense and rich, showing beautiful texture at their entry level. Even better is the stunning 2021 Cadence ‘Cara Mia Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which is a world-class bottling that has tons of aging potential. Learn more about this great winery at cadencewinery.com  and here are my reviews of the the beautiful new wines by Cadence.

2021 Cadence ‘Coda’ Red Wine- A blend somewhat akin to the 2020 bottling, the 2021 ‘Coda’ combines mainlyCabernet Franc and Merlot with small parts Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is silky and rich on the mouth, loaded with dense black fruits that combine with garrigue, yellow bell pepper and shades of dusty soils on the palate. Really refined and elegant with its smooth texture, this is already nicely evolved stuff that will cellar well over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Cadence ‘Cara Mia Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A total stunner, the 100% varietal 2021 ‘Cara Mia Vineyard’ comes from this site on Red Mountain planted to clone 191 and 08 Cabernet Sauvignon. Beautiful potpourri notes mark the nose alongside damp earth, chocolate and espresso grounds. The palate is refined and shows silky tannins with plenty of powerful dark fruits that mingle well with creosote, creme de violette and dark chocolate shavings. Really good even in its heady youth, this has the potential to be a 20 year wine. This is several notches better than the 2020 bottling. Drink 2024-2040- 96

Beaulieu Vineyard

I won’t forget my first Georges de Latour. One of the great historic Napa estates, Beaulieu Vineyard began in 1900, when Georges de Latour's wife, Fernande, first laid eyes on the land that would become their original Rutherford vineyard — and she named it "beau lieu," or "beautiful place." De Latour saw the potential of the land and sold his thriving cream of tartar business, purchasing the four-acre ranch and later founding Beaulieu Vineyard.  I have really loved the ‘Georges de Latours’ from the mid-90s which at the time were some of the best of Napa. Winemaker Trevor Durling is making some incredible wines. Originally from Sonoma County, Trevor has a degree in viticulture and enology from the esteemed University of California, Davis.

I am enamored by the 2021 Beaulieu Vineyard ‘Rutherford Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which is a killer wine for the price, showing great concentration and soil character  Don’t miss out on the incredible 2021 Beaulieu Vineyard ‘Georges de Latour’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) which is amongst the finest of these wines in recent memory. Learn more about these beautiful new wines at https://www.bvwines.com Here are the new releases by BV.

2021 Beaulieu Vineyard ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Beaulieu Vineyard ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a juicy and delicious bottling that is very impressive at the entry level. Smooth and silky throughout the drinking experience, this delivers cassis and mocha tones alongside suggestions of espresso grounds. Smooth and refined, this is generous and delicious Cabernet Sauvignon that will age well for another decade. Drink 2024-2034- 91

2021 Beaulieu Vineyard ‘Rutherford Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2021 ‘Rutherford Reserve’ by winemaker Trevor During combines nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon, with small portions Petit Verdot and Malbec that was stored for 21 months in all new French oak before bottling. This is very concentrated in the glass, offering alluring dark currants, potpourri and anise notes alongside dark chocolate shavings and tar. The palate is deep and rich with layers of dense dark fruits alongside its silky texture and good sense of weight. Enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2040- 94

2021 Beaulieu Vineyard ‘Georges de Latour’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘George de Latour’ is a beautiful follow-up to the outstanding 2020 which is one of the brilliant wines of the vintage. This is inky and dark in the glass, revealing in its loamy soil character on the nose, alongside violets, and Black Forest cake. The palate is wonderfully gratifying in terms of power, length and weight, with bright underlying acidity. Everything is clockwork here, with plenty of damp earthy character and a loaded core of black and blue fruits. Usually this wine needs time but it is really hitting its stride right out of the gate. This will easily be a 20 year wine. Drink 2024-2046- 98

Kevin White

A great way to spend a Friday, I walked into the French-inspired tasting room in Woodinville. I was excited to taste the latest by Kevin White, who founded his namesake winery fourteen years ago back in 2010. Inspired by the wines of the Rhone Valley, Kevin sought to learn more and more about wine, taking classes in chemistry, microbiology and enology. Kevin started making his wines at nearby Baer before opening his tasting room in the warehouse district of Woodinville.

Kevin is very bullish on the new vintage coming from 2022. This vintage could have been a disaster for red varietals if there was an October freeze. Fortunately for Washington producers the vintage saw warm fall temperatures which helped with ripening. I love the 2022 Kevin White ‘Memoire’ White Wine (OB, 93) which shows great underlying finesse with plenty of richness. Even better is the sensational 2022 Kevin White ‘Pionnier’ Grenache (OB, 94) which offers very pure red fruits with a silky texture. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.kevinwhitewinery.com Here are the great new wines by Kevin White.

2022 Kevin White ‘Memoire’ White Wine- The ‘Memoire’ is a southern Rhone-inspired blend of Roussanne (90%) and Grenache Blanc (10%) from the Boushey and Olsen Vineyard. Stored in 15% new French oak, this offers gooseberry, Japanese pear and cantaloupe notes alongside copious minerals and a smooth texture on the palate. Showing good finesse, this is a great showing from this cooler vintage. Drink 2024-2031- 93

2022 Kevin White ‘Pionnier Boushey Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Pioneer’ blends 88% Grenache with 12% Mourvedre coming from the Boushey Vineyard. Stored in all neutral oak the nose shows off beautiful red rose petals alongside red currants, blood orange zest and black tea.  The palate is plush and very fresh with a refined texture. Smooth throughout the drinking experience, with beautiful red fruits, this is drinking very well in its heady south. This saw a small amount of stem inclusion, as this should be enjoyed over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2021 Kevin White ‘Les Terrasses Weathereye Vineyard’ Grenache- The 2021 ‘Les Terrasses’ Grenche is sourced from this south facing, high elevation northern slopes on Red Mountain which is managed by Ryan Johnson. Stored in neutral oak barrels, this offers yarrow notes that combine with red rose petals, anise, and red raspberry notes. The palate is soft and refined with silky tannins that frame a beautiful core of red fruits, with beef drippings and herbal accents. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Kevin White ‘La Fraternite’ Red Wine- Sourced from the Boushey Vineyard, this combines 57% Grenache with smaller portions Mourvèdre and Syrah. The nose shows off Linzer torte with garrigue, sage, white pepper and shades of kumquat rind. The palate is soft and elegant with good texture and underlying verve. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Kevin White ‘La Paysanne’ Mourvedre- The 2022 ‘La Paysanne’ is a gorgeous 100% Mourvèdre bottling from the Boushey, Olsen, and WeatherEye Vineyards. Herbal accents combine with grilled venison, green peppercorns and middle eastern spices on the nose.  The palate is soft and refined with a great sense of texture and bright acidity. Very savory and showing a brilliant core of red fruits, this is drinking well in its vibrant youth. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2021 Kevin White ‘En Hommage’ Syrah- Coming from the Olsen and Boushey Vineyards, this 2021 Syrah was stored in only 15% new French oak before bottling. Right away this opens with black pepper dusted bacon, Kalamata olives, menthol, beef drippings and shades of anise on the nose. The palate is dense and fresh with refined tannins that combine with rich blackberry and huckleberry flavors. This is beautiful stuff. Drink 2024-2042- 95

2020 Kevin White ‘Heritage DuBrul Vineyard’ Red Wine- Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) with the remainder Merlot, the wine was stored in 50% new French oak before bottling. This offers sagebrush and dark currants with tar and tobacco leaf on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with silky tannins that frame a beautiful core of black fruits and chocolate. Drink 2024-2029- 93

Corison

A beautiful, historic winery in the Napa Valley, Corison is known for producing great wines in tough vintages. I fondly remember Cathy Corison’s 2011 wines which was arguably the toughest vintage in the past 20 years. Her wines in 2020 were without a doubt some of the finest made in Napa.

For those not familiar with Cathy Corison, she is one of the famed women in California winemaking. Corison is a master’s degree graduate of the Enology program at UC Davis and has previously served as Chappellet winemaker prior to starting her own winery. For years Corison has implemented a trademark more Bordelaise, and restrained style to her Napa wines. If you have never had the opportunity to try these beautiful wines, you will find them to be highly elegant and a wonderful contrast to wines that simply focus on power or concentration. I

While I loved her 2020 wines, her 2021 wines are even better, showing more poise, concentration and power. Don’t miss out on the 2021 ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which is dense, highly refined stuff with loads of nuance. This will easily be a 20 year wine. Learn more about these elegant Napa wines at https://corison.com/ Here is my review of her new Corison wines.

2021 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A gorgeous wine from a great vintage, the 2021 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is already beautifully evolved right now. On the nose this displays tar, anise and beautiful black rose petals, with a graphite edge. The palate is soft and refined with a seamless texture. Layers of dense black and blue fruits parade with stony minerals, espresso ground and loamy soils. A total knockout, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twenty years. Drink 2024-2044- 96

2021  Corison ‘Helios Sunbasket Vineyard' Cabernet Franc- The 2021 ‘Helios Sunbasket Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc is a stunning wine coming from this warm vintage.  Once on the nose this exudes class with black rose petals, anise, black currant cordial and rocky soils. The palate is soft and refined with a pillowy texture and great sense of tension and length.  A knockout wine from a great vintage, showing great herbal character with plenty of power and finesse, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 97

Marques de Murrieta

A fantastic tale of Rioja, Marqués de Murrieta was initially founded under the Marqués de Murrieta, who brought production techniques to Spain from Bordeaux. It was back in 1852 that the Marques produced his first wine in Logroño, moving into the Ygay Estate in the late 1870s. Located at the heart of La Rioja, the Estate is home to Ygay Castle, headquarters of the Marqués de Murrieta wineries. A sight to be seen, this historic castle is set on 300 hectares of vineyards as the Castillo Ygay accommodates the whole of Marqués de Murrieta’s winemaking history, a history that laid the foundations of the Rioja Designation of Origin DOCa.

Fast forward to 1983, the Cebrián-Sagarriga family continued Murrieta’s tradition In 2007, they commenced meticulous restoration work on Ygay Castle that was finished in 2014 – the year the winery reopened its doors. Visitors can now tour the vineyards and century-old facilities, in addition to tasting the Estate’s wines. Inside the castle are the historic production cellar, the cask ageing rooms, and the collected wines dating from 1852 to the present.

The new wines were fantastic across the board. I love the 2014 Marques de Murrieta ‘Gran Reserva Finca Ygay’ Rioja (OB, 96) which is flat out stunning and dense with a pillowy texture. Learn more about this amazing historic house in Rioja at https://marquesdemurrieta.com/ and here are my reviews of the beautiful new wines by Marques de Murietta.

2018 Marques de Murrieta ‘Capellania’ White Wine- The brilliant 2018 ‘Calellania’ was sourced from the 4.8-acre Capellanía vineyard, originally planted in 1945. Dense and viscous with a seamless texture, this offers Macadamia nut, white peach, lychee, and shades of baking spice dusted Yakima cherry on the palate. Finishing exceedingly long, this is rich and heady stuff that is not for the weary. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2019 Marques de Murrieta ‘Dalmau’ Rioja- The 2019 ‘Dalmau’ is a sensational new  and modern style of Rioja that comes from the 9-hectare (22 acres) Canajas Vineyard. This site is set a 465 meters and was first planted in 1950 on iron clay and a stony topsoil. This is seamless, absolutely stunning Rioja with a serious weight and glorious mouthfeel. Dense dark fruits greet you alongside coffee grounds, toasty oak and shades of salty soils on the palate. Powerful and dense, this is going to be a 20 year wine. Drink 2024-2044- 96

2015 Marques de Murrieta ‘Gran Reserva Finca Ygay’ Rioja- The stunning 2015 ‘Gran Reserva Finca Ygay’ is composed of 80% Tempranillo  and 9% percent each of Graciano and Mazuelo, with a dash of Garnacha all coming from the 741-acre Ygay Estate. Vines are set between 320 meters to 485 meters above sea level. This is fleshy and soft with beautiful bright acidity that combines with rich red fruits, menthol and orange rind flavors. Finishing exceedingly long, this is a stunning effort that will easily live on for another twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 96

Robert Biale

A winery that is steeped in history, Zinfandel was California’s signature varietal long before Cabernet was king. Robert Biale has roots in the 1930s where Pietro Biale planted Zinfandel on the Napa Valley floor. HIs son, Aldo, took over making wine during the Prohibition, using the code name ‘Black Chicken.’ Aldo’s Vineyard still stands today in Napa and is one of the premium vineyard sites that Robert Biale sources from, as well as esteemed spots like the Monte Rosso Vineyard and the Stagecoach Vineyard. I lhave loved these wines for years that are truly one of a kind and a throwback to old-school Zinfandel that shows not only good concentration but fantastic, bright acidity.

Winemaker David Natali is a New York native, David graduated from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service and developed a passion for winemaking after bottling at a friend’s small winery. He formerly served as cellar hand at Clos Pegase Winery and later studied at the University of Montpellier in France, where he received his master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology. After two and a half years of living and studying abroad in Montpellier, France, and Udine, Italy, David returned to California. He became the Assistant Winemaker for La Rochelle Winery, later taking the Assistant Winemaker position at Robert Biale Vineyards. He managed the cellar and lab’s daily operations to implement new winemaking techniques under the guidance of Winemaker Tres Goetting. In 2022, David was promoted to Head Winemaker.

I adored the 2021 Robert Biale ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel (OB, 93) which delivers plenty of richness and herbal accents. One of the best Zinfandel wines I have tried this year, the  2022 Robert Biale ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel (OB, 95) which is one of the finest Zinfandel wines I have tasted all year. Learn more about this storied Napa property at http://biale.com Here are the great new wines by Robert Biale. 

2022 Robert Biale ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel- The 2021 ‘Black Chicken’ is sourced from a range of vineyards in the Oak Knoll AVA. throughout Sonoma and Napa Valley. This shows good richness and depth with juicy red fruit flavors alongside Earl Grey tea and freshly tilled loamy soils. This is fantastic Zin with depth and poise. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Robert Biale ‘Old Kraft Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The 2022 ‘Old Kraft’ comes from this site located in St. Helena with vines that date back to the1890s. Needing about an hour in the decanter to fully unwind,, the Zinfandel delivers black cherry and menthol notes on the palate, with milk chocolate and suggestions of ripe strawberry with good freshness. Showing a smooth texture this is already nicely evolved stuff. Savor this beauty over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Robert Biale ‘R.W. Moore Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The stunning 2022 ‘R.W. Moore Vineyard’ comes from this ancient Coombsville vineyard first planted back in1905. This is soft and elegant Zin that is simply impossible to resist right now. This is soft and refined on the palate, showing a smooth texture and good sense of weight. Black raspberry and tar notes combine with sadness of Black Forest cake on the palate. Showing good freshness, this is delicious Zinfandel that is already showing really well. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Robert Biale ‘Bedrock Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The famed ‘Bedrock Vineyard’ dates all the way back to 1850s and is currently owned by the Peterson family, as one of the oldest vineyards in the entire state. The palate is concentrated with a fantastic combination of dense red and dark fruit flavors. This is powerful and rich stuff that is neatly layered and silky smooth upon entry. Laden with stony minerals alongside rich red and dark fruits, with tar, tobacco leaf and chocolate notes, this is a total masterpiece that is fantastic to consume right now. Drink 2024-2037- 95

2021 Robert Biale ‘Varozza Vineyard’ Zinfandel- One of the most consistently great Zinfandel bottlings in North America, this 2022 ‘Varozza Vineyard’ hails from this century old Zinfandel site in Sanit Helena. Right away notes of fresh sage, allspice dusted strawberry, and chocolate all combine on the nose, with hints of garrigue. The palate is dense and concentrated, loaded with rich dark plum, fig and milk chocolate flavors. Very seamless throughout the drinking experience, this is a massive achievement considering the intense heat spikes at harvest at this warm site. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2022 Robert Biale ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Zinfandel- Years ago Robert Biale asked Stagecoach Vineyard proprietor to plant Zinfandel at this high elevation and highly scenic site that peers over the Oakville AVA. This 2022 Zinfandel offers dusty earth notes on the nose alongside red currants, red cherry candy and fresh thyme notes on the nose. The palate is plush and soft with good tension and richness. Layers of rich red and dark fruits parade with chocolate and notes of sandalwood. Enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2022 Robert Biale ‘Dickerson Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The 2022 ‘Dickerson Vineyard’ comes from the St. Helena appellation which was first planted in the 1920s by Charles Volpi. The palate is fresh and viscous with salty accents and rich dark fruit flavors. Silky and refined, with a smooth texture, offering figs, red currants, menthol and chocolate notes, this is already drinking beautifully now. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Robert Biale ‘Palisaides Vineyard’ Petite Sirah- The 2021 Robert Biale Palisaides Vineyard Petite Sirah comes from the Calistoga AVA.Rich and viscous, this tannic beauty delivers dark chocolate shavings, mocha, tar and loamy soil notes on the palate with sandalwood accents. Drink 2024-2034- 94