Willamette Valley Vineyards

It is my pleasure to share the outstanding wines of Willamette Valley Vineyards which is also one of Oregon’s oldest wineries. 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. They make a beautiful range of wines from well-priced sparkling wine to Pinot Gris and even Gewurtztraminer.

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 2020 Domaine Willamette Sparkling Wine (OB, 92) which is a killer value and has plenty of forward and delicious melon and citrus fruit flavors. ’ Here are the new releases from Willamette Valley Vineyards and learn more at http://wvv.com

2020 Domaine Willamette Sparkling Wine- The 2020 Domaine Willamette Sparkling Wine is a blend of 60% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir. This is forward and juicy with lemon rind, orange blossom water, cantaloupe and bright pear alongside cashew nut notes on the palate. With a smooth mousse, this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards Rose- Made from Pinot Noir clones 777 and Pommard, the 2023 Rose offers bubblegum and red raspberry notes with a kiss of sweetness and shades of peach. Delicious and showing good weight and acidity, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2028- 91

2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Estate’ Pinot Gris- This outstanding 2023 Pinot Gris comes from a range of soil types and was stored in stainless steel before bottling. The palate is seriously good and delicious with good weight and serious texture. Japanese pear and nutty tones combine with shades of white peach. Drink 2024-2029- 91

2021 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Signature’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Signature’ utilizes Dijon Clones 114, 667 and 777. This is rich and beautifully textured Pinot Noir with wild blackberry, stony minerals and plenty of forest floor and pine needle character. Finishing long, with plenty of minerals, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2021 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Bernau Estate’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Bernau Estate’ is named after the founder Jim Bernau as this comes from the Dundee Hills AVA. Vines are set on Jory soils here as the wines as stored in 24% new French oak before bottling. This has stony red fruit flavors alongside orange peel, peat moss and suggestions of black tea. Really well-done and impeccably balanced, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 94

Evening Land

Today we share one of Oregon’s greats. Evening Land utilizes the famed Seven Springs Vineyard for their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay bottlings. First planted in 1984, the Seven Springs Vineyard is one of the great historic vineyards in the Pacific Northwest. Planted with eastern exposure, Seven Springs Vineyard fruit experiences an abundance of morning sunlight and also experiences cool breezes in from the Pacific Ocean through the Van Duzer Corridor. The combination of heat and cool breezes affords the fruit to slowly ripen. Celebrity somm, Rajat Parr and Sasha Moorman head the winemaking team at Evening Land.

Evening Land is one of the great wineries to visit. They have been remarkably consistent year after year. The gorgeous 2022 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) is a fabulous value that is going to have some good cellaring potential. I am enamored by the 2022 Evening Land ‘Summum’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which is one of the great Chardonnays made from Oregon. It is going to be amazing to see how this beauty ages. Learn more about Evening Land at https://www.eveninglandvineyards.com Here are the amazing new release wines by Evening Land.

2017 Evening Land ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Sparkling Wine- The brilliant 2017 Evening Land ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Sparkling Wine come from Pinot Noir grapes grown at the La Forêt  Vineyard. Aged en tirage for five years, this opens with salted nuts and pretty red fruits that mingle well with cantaloupe tones. The palate is fresh and lush with pear and cashew nut flavors that mingle well with oyster shell accents. Enticing now, watch this develop over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2023 Evening Land ‘La Foret’ White Pinot Noir- A great new White Pinot Noir, the 2023 ‘La Forte’ offers cashew nut, forest floor and shades of salted pear on the nose. The palate is big and lush on the mouth with serious texture and verve. Round and generous with good length, this is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Chardonnay was stored in natural puncheons (500L) prior to bottling. This opens with a beautiful bouquet of salted French bread alongside bright Japanese pear and walnut notes. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth mouthfeel and plenty of lip-smacking acidity. Glorious in its heady youth, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Evening Land ‘La Source’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘La Source’ comes from a selection of old-vine Dijon clone Chardonnay in the lower half of a narrow band of 14 vine rows. The wine was stored in mainly natural oak before bottling. Salted pie crust and starfruit tones mark the nose alongside shades of creme brûlée and nutty accents. The palate is fresh and lithe with a smooth mouthfeel and good sense of underlying tension. While this is drinking marvelously now, the 2022 ‘La Source’ has some really good aging potential. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2022 Evening Land ‘Summum’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Summum’ icomes from a selection of 14 Chardonnay rows in the middle of the Seven Springs Vineyard, Even more concentrated than the ‘La Source’ bottling, the 2022 Evening Land ‘Summum’ offers white truffle shavings, Bosc pear, alongside Meyer lemon cream and suggestions of creme caramel with tropical fruit accents. The palate is deep and rich with serious texture, weight and underlying tension. A joy to consume now, watch this beautiful wine evolve over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2040- 96

DAMA

It is my pleasure to present one of the outstanding female-owned wineries of the Pacific Northwest. Mary Tuuri Derby has a long history in the Washington wine industry. It was all the way back in 2000 that Mary and her husband, Devin Derby, got their start in Washington wine by creating famed Spring Valley Vineyard. The wines that they made were seriously good.

Derby had a complete new beginning by forming DAMA, partnering with Judith Shulman. The wines are beautiful with minimal oak or intervention. She makes a beautiful Syrah from the Rocks district and a consistently great Rose. She sources from some of the finest vineyards in Washington State.

I love the new 2023 DAMA Rose (OB, 92) which shows a beautiful purity of fruit with damp earthy notes. This is vibrant stuff to satisfy any lover of Washington Rose. The best wine I tasted was the incredible 2019 DAMA ‘Heather Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which shows good poise and concentration with loads of nuance. Learn more about these fantastic wines at https://damawines.com Here are the great new releases by DAMA.

2023 DAMA Grenache Blanc- This 2023 Grenache Blanc revels in its peach and lemon blossom notes on the nose alongside shades of ripe pear. The palate is soft and refined with a bright sense of tension and rich mouthfeel. Really enjoyable now, savor this beauty over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2023 DAMA Rose- The 2023 DAMA Rose is a brilliant new bottling made from Cabernet Franc grapes. This comes off wonderfully fresh and fragrant with damp earth nuances that combine with the core of pretty red fruits. This is absolutely delicious stuff with its guava and cranberry flavors. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2022 DAMA Grenache- This beatify 2022 Grenache come from the Painted Hills Vineyard in the Columbia Valley. Pretty cranberry and red cherry flavors combine with shades of ripe peach and red currants on the palate, with salty minerals. Enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 DAMA ‘GSM’ Red Wine- Mainly Grenache (56%), this offers garrigue, red currants, milk chocolate and compost flavors that combine with a good sense of weight and minerality. With more air smoked meats and creosote tones add to the intrigue. This is complex and delicious GSM style wine. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 DAMA Merlot- Sourced from First Light Vineyards, the 2021 DAMA Merlot shows sandalwood, tar, and menthol notes alongside rich dark fruits. The palate is very smooth and refined with good depth and sense of weight, with damp soil and salty nuances. Beautiful stuff to consume now, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2019 DAMA ‘Heather Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A gorgeous wine to consume now, the 2019 ‘Heather Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers roasted figs, black currants and red bell pepper on the palate, alongside good richness and a refined sense of verve. Medium to full-bodied, savor this downright delicious 2019 Cabernet now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 94

Chateau de Beaucastel

Today we share the famed wines of Chateau de Beaucastel.  Located in the Southern Rhone region of France, Chateauneuf du Pape was first mentioned in 11th century historical records. The town of Avignon, in this region, was the previous site of the papacy, following a Roman invasion. Bertrand de Got, archbishop of Bordeaux, was elected pope in 1305, and took the name of Clement V. He transferred the papacy from Rome to Avignon in 1309. The register of pontifical letters reveals that Clement V visited Châteauneuf on several occasions, sometimes for long periods.

We do know that red wine existed considerably before the arrival of the papacy but there are no historical records of wine growing in this region prior to this time. We do know that most of the wine grown in this region prior to the 18th century was drunk within a year. In 1923, the local wine producers led by the lawyer Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarié started a campaign to establish legal protection for the wine from the commune. The wine classified as Châteauneuf-du-Pape Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) is produced from grapes grown in the commune of Châteauneuf-du-Pape as well as in portions of the four nearby communes in the Vaucluse department. The vineyards cover an area of approximately 3,200 hectares.

Chateau de Beaucastel is one of the famed sites of Chateauneuf du Pape. The winery is named after the Beaucastel family which lived in this region in the 16th century. Records show a Pierre de Beaucastel buying a barn and some associated land at Coudoulet in 1549, and this land is still part of Château de Beaucastel's holdings. In the 19th century, when the Phylloxera epidemic struck the region, the owner decided not to replant the vineyards but rather to sell the property. In 1909, it was bought by Pierre Tramier, and the vineyards were rebuilt under his ownership. After him, his son-in-law Pierre Perrin took over management and expanded Château de Beaucastel's vineyard holdings considerably. The house has belonged to the famed Perrin family for many years.

I have adored these wines for many years. I’ve had the chance to try the wines back to the 1980s and am amazed with how they age. The new wines I tried were incredible, coming from the 2021 vintage. The new 2021 Chateau de Beaucastel Rouge (OB, 95), is an insanely good wine from this year, showing plenty of body and freshness. I was blown away with the new  2022 Chateau de Beaucastel ‘Vielles Vignes’ Roussanne (OB, 99) which flirts with perfection and is one of the finest versions of Roussane that you will find. Learn more about Chateau de Beaucastel at http://www.beaucastel.com/en/ Here are the fantastic Chateau de Beaucastel wines that I have recently reviewed.

2022 Chateau de Beaucastel Blanc- The 2022 Chateau de Beaucastel Blanc is a stunning wine is mainly Roussanne (80%) with the remainder being a blend of other Rhone white varieties. White peach and honeysuckle notes mark the nose alongside shades of sweetened gooseberry and stony essence. The palate is soft and refined, with serious weight and beautiful underlying tension. A total stunner, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 96

2022 Chateau de Beaucastel ‘Vielles Vignes’ Roussanne- A total head-turner, the 2022 Chateau de Beaucastel ‘Vielles Vignes’ Roussanne is a total masterclass by the winemaking team at Beaucastel. Big, unctuous and broad-shouldered, this shows salty and stony minerals once on the mouth with a silky mouthfeel that makes this glide throughout the drinking experience. While deeply concentrated, this is not at all flabby or overly ripe, as intense melon and citrus fruits mingle well with suggestions of cardamom dusted pastry crust. Wait for the near minute-long finish! This beauty will easily last for another two decades. Drink 2024-2044- 99

2021 Chateau de Beaucastel Rouge- The intoxicating and thrilling 2021 Chateau de Beaucastel is a marvelous blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise, 5% Syrah, 5% Cinsaut and a range of other allowed varietals. It is dense and rich, showing hoisin sauce and bacon notes alongside shades of dark currants, tobacco leaf and salty minerals. Medium to full-bodied, this is on the graceful and elegant side for this wine — but is absolutely sensational to drink right now. This will surely live on past another decade. Drink 2024-2038- 95

En Garde

Today it is my pleasure to share the range of wines my En Garde. This brand produces a beautiful range of wines from Sonoma Pinot to Napa Cabernet and even Petite Sirah. Founder and winemaker Csaba Szakál grew up on his family’s vineyards, learning winemaking and viticulture from family. He spent his summers helping tend the vineyards and quickly learned the value of working hard to achieve a goal. He saw first hand how disciplined you must be during harvest. Csaba produces some beautiful Sonoma Pinots as well as high-elevation Cabernet Sauvignon from three Napa Valley mountaintop AVA’s. I loved his Pinots which I tasted in my 2023 Sonoma Report.

The new wines I tasted were all from Napa which is why I am not including them in my upcoming Sonoma Report. Each wine was fabulous in terms of richness and verve. The best wine I tasted was the world-class 2021 En Garde ‘Touche Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which is the finest wine I have tasted from this house yet. Rich and viscous with good nerve, this will be a 20 year wine. Learn more about these fantastic wines at https://www.engardewinery.com/ and here are my reviews of the new En Garde wines.

2021 En Garde ‘Grand Vin’ Red Wine- The seriously good 2021 ‘Grand Vin’ is mainly Merlot (85%) with smaller portions Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot. This is soft and generous on the mouth, with sandalwood accents that caress a core of chocolate covered coffee bean, loganberry puree and shades of tar with tobacco leaf. Full-bodied and beautifully-textured, enjoy this outstanding bottling now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 93

2021 En Garde ‘Hendrickson Vineyard Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 En Garde ‘Hendrickson Vineyard Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from this site on Atlas Peak. Stored in a combination of Hungarian and French oak barrels for 24 months (66% new), this comes off wonderfully stony on the nose with wet rock, cassis, sweet pipe tobacco and suggestions of violets. The palate is seriously good and layered with a bright beam of acidity that runs through the core of black and blue fruits. A killer wine at 100 bucks, enjoy this beautiful effort now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 94

2021 En Garde ‘Le Bijou du Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The beautiful and harmonious 2021 En Garde ‘Le Bijou du Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Sori Bricco Vineyard in the Diamond Mountain District. Stored in 80% new French oak for 24 months before bottling, this delivers wonderful concentration in its Black Forest Cake and cassis notes alongside shades of pencil lead and stony minerals. Full-bodied and voluptuous in terms of both weight and texture, enjoy this stunner now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2042- 95

2021 En Garde ‘Touche Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Touche Reserve’ is a barrel selection wine made by winemaker Csaba Szakal. Once on the nose this takes on layers of toasty oak that mingle well with dark chocolate shavings, toasted dates, black currant cordial and suggestions of black licorice. The palate is plush and seamless throughout the drinking experience, offering a core of concentrated black and blue fruits alongside wet stone and cedar accents. Totally captivating to taste now, enjoy this beauty over the next two decades. Drink 2024-2044- 96

Valette

A thrilling brand, we share the world-class production of Valette Wine. Valette Cabernet Sauvignon is a limited-production by Jesse Katz (Devil Proof, Aperture) that is made for chef Dustin Valette. Chef Valette landed at Thomas Keller’s one-Michelin-star Bouchon in the Napa Valley and later worked at Michelin-starred Aqua in San Francisco, finally as executive sous chef under Laurent Manrique. Back in 2015 he opened his own restaurant, Valette in Healdsburg.

Chef Valette wanted to make a very special series of wines by his friend and colleague Jesse Katz. I have now tasted the past two vintages of the Valette Cabernet Sauvignon and it is very special and unique stuff, highlighting the loamy soil character of Oakville. The 2021 Valette Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) is a perfect wine with vino rough edges and serious concentration, power and texture. It is a must-taste for any lover of Napa Cabernet. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.valettewines.com/ and here is my review of the new 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon by Valette and winemaker Jesse Katz.

2021 Valette Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Valette Cabernet Sauvignon has 19% Petit Verdot blended in. Coming from this Oakville site that neighbors Screaming Eagle. Creme de cassis, anise and violets mark the nose alongside stony minerals and a granite edge. The palate is elegant and shows bright underlying acidity with loamy soil accents. With silky tannins and a refined texture, this is a stunning rendition that is drinking beautifully now. Drink 2024-2045- 100

Review: Resorts World Las Vegas, No Real 5-Star Experience

I left my stay from Resorts World Las Vegas wondering why I had booked the hotel in the first place? Sure, we had experienced a previous stay there with no major hiccups. But this time it was a horror visit that was a disaster right from the start.

Great looking bar at the Conrad Lobby.

I had a reservation for the Conrad — a hotel in Resorts World that advertises as a 5-star hotel. I had one of my worst check-in experiences ever. The check-in line was very long, lasting about 30 minutes. Once I finally reached the front desk worker he spent many minutes trying to upsell me, and at one point asking if I wanted to upgrade my stay by 900 dollars a night. I had already booked and paid for a suite. This was so absurd I asked him if people actually pay for such an upsell ‘They do’ he said. During the check in process the front desk worker checking me in left for 15 minutes in the middle of checking me in. He said that he did not have any suites that I had booked. This was a lie as I found out later at the suites check-in that this was not the case. He said that I can check in at $80.00 per day rate. I asked why I would be charged each day and he said it was due to a ‘room upgrade’ fee. I told him that I did not want to upgrade but we needed a room so our baby could lie down for a nap. This was important for our child’s health but the front desk clerk backed me into a corner.

I finally finished check-in roughly 50 minutes after first standing in the line. After the room keys did not work I headed downstairs to the concierge desk (which was also the check-in for suites which I did not know). The concierge apologized for what the person checking me in had did, unethically charging me $80.00 per day to check-in. They offered me a $75.00 resort credit and assured me that the $80.00 per day fees would be taken off my bill. Which they were not.

Conrad suite bathroom was very spacious.

The room was very nice and large — exactly what I had paid for and we needed our baby to nap. Continually calling about the crib, the crib finally arrived 1.5 hours after check-in. We headed down to the pool area after our nap and had a drink at the pool. The adults pool was very lively with loud music — hardly an environment for our baby.

The room itself was spacious with a beautiful view of the strip. The bathrooms also have Byredo products which is superb. The size or quality of the room that I paid for was not the issue but it was the other things during our stay. It was weird that the concierge desk that handles all suites and their inquiries was not staffed until 9AM each day. Our coffee maker broke and I had to go downstairs to get it replaced, since nobody wold pick up on the room service side. Our room was not always properly cleaned as crumbs and food remnants were at time left on the floor. It was like they had forgotten to vacuum the middle of the living room.

Our second day of the stay was Friday and we headed down to the pool in the morning and spent time at the kids pool. The kids pool was a major reason why we booked Resorts World — which advertises as family friendly literally everywhere. We did not know that during the next three days of our stay that the kids pool would be closed. It was twice closed for weather issues and once closed from 9-noon for fixing something with the pump system. Now I am no genius but I am pretty sure that closing a kids pool in the morning before a child’s nap is not a good idea. Couldn’t they have closed the pool at a time when kids would not be using the pool?

The morning was also the only time where there was no full sun exposure in the pool. The kids pool is somehow not provided with any umbrellas — but you can always pay 40 bucks for one! We were directed to use the adults pool but what adult comes to Vegas and wants a screaming toddler around them? We waited for nearly an hour for our wine to arrive. The wine order was a bottle of wine with glasses. How is an hour wait for that anywhere near five star service? I would have gotten better service at a Ramada pool.

We enjoyed some of the resorts restaurants, particularly VIIVA by Ray Garcia. This is a top notch Mexican restaurant that is expensive but worth the splurge. We also had a beautiful meal at Carver, their steakhouse. These restaurants were also very accommodating for our child.

Not having access to the kids pool for three days was a really big disappointment. We have a toddler who likes to move around a lot and love pool time. Having to keep her in the room or walk her around the property was not what we had planned. For a place that advertises as family friendly we really didn’t get this feeling from the management. Hospitality is usually incredible in Las Vegas but definitely not at this resort.

We were told by management that we had to check out at noon, which management later agreed that 1PM would be fine. We needed our toddler to take a nap so I spent some 20 minutes negotiating with the manager from moving a noon checkout to 1PM. I have no idea why that should have been so difficult. They charge a $45.00 per day amenity fee but we were not able to use the child pool 3 out of 4 days in our stay. I did use their gym several times during the stay but because of the weekend the gym was incredibly crowded which led to wait time for benches or to use machines. They would not waive any of the egregious $45.00 resorts feels despite not being able to use the pool for most of our stay.

If you have kids and want to be in Vegas despite there being few family friendly options,  I wouldn’t recommend staying at the Conrad. Rooms are hugely expensive and you are paying for 5 Star prices without getting anywhere near that level of service in return. The icing on the cake was definitely despite being assured by the concierge staff that I would not be charged the $80.00 a day for a ‘room upgrade’ that I did not ask for and was coerced into by the person checking me in. Yet after two phone calls and with management and three days later the $80.00 per day charge still remained on my bill. It took a third call for these changes to be removed. Do yourself a favor and don’t stay here.

Interview with Jared Funk, Assistant Winemaker and Viticulturist at Saviah Cellars

Speaking with Jared Funk at Hospice du Rhone, I was so excited to see him taking on responsibilities at Saviah Cellars, one of Walla Walla’s consistently great wineries. He currently serves at his family winery as Assistant Winemaker & Viticulturist. I wanted to interview him and hear more about how he is going to be a second generation proprietor in the future. This is a really great development and I am so thrilled for Rich and his family. Without further adieu here is my exclusive interview with Jared Funk of Saviah Cellars.

OB: What was it like growing up at a winery? Any pros and cons?

JF: I was three years old when my parents started the winery, and eating dirt out of the construction piles is probably my first memory. But it quickly became my favorite place to be, I would be there as often as I could. I like to joke I’ve already spent a couple of my nine lives at the winery. The only downfall is that wineries are not exactly the safest place, even for adults, but they are fun! Falling off of equipment, crashing the four wheeler, and lots of other incidents were all a part of it - but nothing that killed me! Learning how to taste and spit wine is of course an early memory for me as well. One of my favorite things now is all of the nostalgic smells that I get to experience as a part of my daily life. Harvest has a super distinct feeling and aroma to me. It has been a full circle journey, and I wouldn’t have changed anything along the way.

OB: Talk about the mentorship that your father, Richard Funk, has given you. What are some of your future goals at Saviah?

JF: A lot was instilled in me by growing up around the winery. I developed a work ethic and a deep appreciation for each step of the winemaking process. My dad and I have spent a lot of time archery hunting and fly fishing together, both of which take a lot of patience and an intimate appreciation for nature. It is the same way he has taught me to approach our vineyards and the land, with patience and critical attention to every detail. Ultimately, it all boils down to hard work, and this is something that was reinforced to me during my experience working for the Vaira family at GD Vajra in Barolo. In order to operate a family winery, there are no shortcuts, no fast forwards. Throughout my entire life, I’ve watched my parents give everything to the winery with unwavering commitment and passion, and that is the most important example that has been set for me. Saviah will be celebrating 25 years next year, and I couldn’t be more excited for the future. I hope to add to our estate vineyard portfolio, hone in on as many viticultural details as possible and find new boundaries to push for Saviah, Walla Walla, and Washington Wine as a whole. 

OB: You know The Rocks District exceedingly well and Saviah has two estate vineyards in this stony sub-AVA. Can you talk about the two Syrahs that you make from this region, The Funk Vineyard and The Stones Speak Vineyard? How are these Syrahs both similar and different? 

JF: Our Funk Estate vineyard was planted in 2007. The site itself is unique and deeply influential to the wine, as it sits at the apex of the Rocks District. This allows for a series of differences. Due to the slightly higher elevation, we have never froze out at Funk Estate vineyard. Whereas at Stones Speak, 100 feet lower in elevation, and many other sites in The Rocks, farming for winter freeze events is the number one priority. Because of this, we are able to train these vines in a quadrilateral GDC form, which was chosen because some of the best wines in the cellar were consistently coming from this training method. The berries are smaller and more concentrated, the flavors are a little darker and have more depth, and its quality doesn’t waver. Stylistically, we co-ferment the Funk Syrah with a portion of Viognier, which plays really nicely with the darker fruit profile. The Stones Speak Syrah was planted in 2016. Coming from the lower site, it is a little bit cooler, generally lending a little more red fruit amongst the classic savory Rocks backbone. This wine historically is 100% Syrah, an unabashed expression of what Rocks Syrah is. Whole cluster fermentation is an important component of both of these wines. How much whole cluster and skin contact time is always dependent on the vintage and what the stems have to say in any given year.

OB: What led you to want to be involved with Saviah and eventually get into winemaking? What are some of your epiphany wines or experiences in wine that made you go all-in and devote 100% of your time to Saviah?

JF: Initially, it was really just a naive joy of being around the process. Not really knowing the world of wine as a kid, but just enjoying the environment and helping where I could. I remember picking our vineyard at the winery when I was 6 years old and loving it! I decided to study enology and viticulture in college, and after my first viticulture class at Cal Poly, I was hooked. Shout out to Dr. Jean Dodson Peterson, who is now the founding department chair at WSU. I ended up finishing my viticulture & enology degree at WSU, which was an awesome experience. Go Cougs! After graduation I pursued viticulture, working with Sadie Drury at Sevein as her viticulturist and soaking up every bit of knowledge from her as possible. I am incredibly grateful for that experience. I always think of viticulture as my “first love” in this business, but I have come to love every part of it. I spent some time during covid getting my WSET 3, and throughout that process became obsessed with Barolos and Northern Rhones. I would have to say that those are my epiphany regions. Finally, as I mentioned earlier, seeing the sheer amount of hard work and dedication my parents have given to the winery throughout my life, it felt natural to want to honor and carry on the Saviah torch.

Abeja Skysill

Today we present one of the most exciting new projects from the Pacific Northwest that I have tasted in the past year. The Skysill Vineyard is located in the Mill Creek region of the Walla Walla Valley, planted to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The original plantings were 40 acres and 27 more acres were planted last year. This site was originally purchased by Ken Harrison back in 2013.

Amy and Dan Wampfler have been working with this vineyard since 2011. Chardonnay was planted with Bordeaux varietals as Dan Wampfler noted “Cold Creek and Canoe Ridge are perfect examples where you can do this and these are world class varietals from a world-class vineyard and now you are seeing a clamoring for Chardonnay in the Mill Creek region.” He stated “Mill Creek is great for Chardonnay because of the elevation, you have air drainage and slope and soil. One of the cool differentiation is that the Missoula floods went to 1300 feet and this is above the flood plane of the Missoula floods. A different soil type, more pure windswept Loess.” He explained that the vineyard elevation ranges from 1400-1500 feet, with the majority being southwest facing on a slope. There are massive diurnal shifts at this site. “Temperatures warm up faster here and cool down more here than downtown with the mountain breeze” Wampfler said.

2022 Abeja ‘Skysill Estate Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Skysill Estate Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a blend of three clones. This was stored in mostly new French oak (light toast levels) before bottling. The nose is incredible with toasty oak, marshmallow, Meyer lemon blossom and suggestions of baking spice dusted brioche. The palate is incredible and beautifully textured, with amazing viscosity and length. This is very Washington vs. Montrachet, in terms of weight, mouthfeel and depth. The finish just won’t quit and lasts for a minute. This is an astonishingly good wine that is truly a benchmark Washington Chardonnay. Drink 2024-2036- 97

2020 Abeja ‘Skysill Estate Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- 100% varietal, the world-class 2020 Abeja ‘Skysill Estate Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this site farmed at less than 2.5 tons per acre, with very compact clusters and berry size due to the wind at this site. Stored in mainly new French oak, this was bottled in July 2023. Very inky in the glass, this reveals layers of sagebrush, violet rose petals and pencil lead alongside toasty oak, dark currants and suggestions of Asian spices. The intoxicating aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is very seamless throughout the drinking experience. The length, weight and tension in the wine is astonishingly good as this flirts with perfection. A total stunner, congrats to the winemaking team of Amy and Dan Wampfler. No reason to cellar this incredible wine that is truly one of the finest Washington wines made in the 2020 vintage. Tasted on two separate occasions, give this at least two hours in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2024-2033- 100

MTR Productions

Today we present one of the outstanding wines of the Pacific Northwest. A special Rocks District wine produced by Matt Reynvaan, the MTR Productions comes from their ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ which is set on large cobblestones.  I have loved this wine since first release with the 2012 vintage. This edition comes from the near perfect 2019 vintage — a tougher year with cold weather that led to a somewhat early harvest.

The 2019 ‘Memory Found’ is an incredible wine from this tougher vintage for reds. It needs an hour or two of air if consuming now. The Syrah was stored in 600L oak puncheons and then saw 36 months of bottle age. It has outstanding flavor and aromatic range that is going to satisfy any lover of wines from this region. Learn more about this beautiful wine at http://www.mtr-productions.com Here is my review of the 2019 MTR Productions 'Memory Found' Syrah. 

2019 MTR Productions Syrah- The gorgeous 2019 MTR Productions Syrah is a stunning new bottling that saw extensive barrel age prior to bottling. Rich and layered, this delivers bacon fat, cloves and tangerine peel on the nose alongside black olive tapenade. The palate is rich and refined with a soft sense of mouthful. Concentrated red and dark fruit flavors mingle well with the stony and savory accents of this outstanding Syrah. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Be sure to give this an hour in the decanter to unwind if enjoying now. Drink 2024-2034- 96

Chosen Family

It has been more than a year since I have tasted through the lineup of Chosen Family wines. A new lineup that is better than ever, each wine that I sampled was exquisite. One of the really thrilling new wine projects out of the Willamette Valley, Chosen Family Wines utilizes the winemaking skills of top winemakers such as Jackson Holstein, Chase Renton and Thomas Savre. Founded by former NBA star Channing Frye, NBA all-star Kevin Love joined the business a few years back. Love is an Oregon basketball legend, who is still playing for the Miami Heat. It will be very exciting to see his hand in this label.

I’ve had the great chance to get to know Channing Frye who is an unabashed wine lover of all wines of the world. His thirst for learning about wine is never-ending. While playing for the Portland Trailblazers he became more and more enamored by great Oregon Pinot Noir. Channing somehow is currently balancing his brand alongside broadcasting NBA basketball games.

The wine shave improved over the past few years. I am enamored by the 2021 Chosen Family ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is coming from the Lingua Franca Vineyard. They have also made a killer new Rose from the 2022 vintage (OB, 91) which is bright and tension-filled, with beautiful red fruits. Learn more about these great new wines at chosenfamilywines.com Here are my reviews of the new Chosen Family wines.

2022 Chosen Family Rose- A 2022 Rose made from Pinot Noir grapes, this shows a smooth texture, with plenty of bright citrus fruits that parade with red currants and hints of watermelon alongside copious salty minerals. This is going to be really good when weather heats up. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Chosen Family ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- An outstanding new bottling from this cooler vintage, the 2022 ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay was stored in a combination of 30% new French oak, 10% stainless, 60% neutral French oak before bottling. A core of Meyer lemon cream, white peach, toasted hazelnuts and brioche bread all greet you marvelously on the palate. Showing great texture and length, this is a seriously good bottling that is sure to satisfy any lover of Oregon Chardonnay. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Chosen Family ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Chardonnay- Made in a partnership with famed Lingua Franca winemaker Thomas Savre, the 2021 ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Chardonnay utilizes Clonal Selection 76 from the Lingua Franca Vineyard. This comes off wonderfully flinty and nuanced, with a smooth mouthfeel. Rich honeydew melon, wet stone and kumquat rind flavors parade with plenty of salty minerals on the palate. Showing good richness from this warm vintage, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Chosen Family ‘L’Angelo Estate’ Chardonnay- Another knockout Chardonnay in this lineup, the 2021 Chosen Family ‘L’Angelo Estate’ Chardonnay is made by L’Angelo owner and winemaker Chase Renton. Once on the nose this takes on layers of white truffle that mingles well with rich orchard and citrus fruits, with stony nuances. The palate is gorgeous and opulent with a seamless texture throughout the drinking experience. Great in its full-bodied youth, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Bravo! Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Chosen Family ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir was stored in 70% neutral French oak before bottling. It is round and smooth on the mouth, delivering rich red and dark fruit flavors that mingle well with hints of cedar and black truffle shavings. Absolutely delicious in its bright and dense youth, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. A killer value at under 50 bucks. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Chosen Family ‘L’Angelo Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘L’Angelo Estate’ Pinot Noir is a beautiful and rich — highly tension-filled bottling by winemaker Chase Renton. Allspice, cassis, tobacco leaf and suggestions of damp earth all enter the palate, with plenty of salty nuance and richness. This is drinking beautifully, showing off the warmth of the 2021 vintage. Watch this beauty evolve over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Chosen Family ‘Salty Goats’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Salty Goats’ Pinot Noir comes from the Sonoma Coast AVA. Coming from Fort Ross-Seaview and Annapolis sites, vines for this wine date back to 2000. Fresh and vibrant, this delivers plenty of saline drenched red and dark fruit flavors alongside shades of pipe tobacco, wet gravel, and a lengthy finish. Really good now, enjoy this terroir-driven bottling over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Chosen Family ‘Salty Goats’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2021 Chosen Family ‘Salty Goats’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Diogenes Ridge Vineyard high atop Howell Mountain. Inky in the glass, this delivers cassis, anise, creme de violette and plenty of graphite character on the palate. This has gobs of minerality, staying light on its feet despite the jaw-dropping power. A total joy to savor in its full-throttle youth, enjoy this sultry and seductive Napa Cabernet now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Be sure to decant for at least an hour if enjoying now. Drink 2024-2040- 96

Interview with Bill Stoller, Founder of Stoller Family Estate

Today we have an amazing interview to share. Bill Stoller is one of the giants of Oregon wine, owning three brands including his namesake winery, as well as Chehalem and Chemistry. It all began with his love for Oregon wine in the ‘80s, later purchasing a family turkey farm and planting in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. The rest has been history. Thank you for taking the time to read my exclusive interview with Bill Stoller, founder of Stoller Family Estate.

Owen B: Co-Founding Express Employment Professionals back in 1983 how do you recall the Oregon wine scene throughout that decade? 

Bill S: In 1983, I was just beginning to discover the wine scene. I was taking a few wine-tasting and educational courses during this time and started to notice the Oregon wine industry. I began receiving Wine Spectator magazine, and much of my reading focused on California and international wines, as much of the world had not yet discovered Oregon. However, I learned that the first Pinot Noir grapes had been planted very close to where I grew up, which piqued my interest.

Owen B: What goals did you have for Stoller when you founded the winery a decade later in 1993? What were some of the benchmark Oregon wines that you recall prior to founding Stoller?  

Bill S: My interest in Pinot Noir grew during the mid-to-late 80s when I tasted the 1983 Oregon Pinot Noir and was amazed by how great Willamette Valley wines could be. Then the 1985 vintage came along, and I was hooked. My first goal was to be a farmer: to plant grapevines and sell fruit. Since I grew up on a farm, the vineyard was my first interest. When I purchased our family’s 373-acre turkey farm, I knew I was really in the wine business.

Owen B: Talk about founding winemaker Melissa Burr's influence to Stoller?  

Bill S: In 2003, Melissa was a rather inexperienced winemaker, but her enthusiasm, attitude, and desire to learn were infectious. She learned a great deal from making our first wines at Chehalem, and in 2005, she made our first vintage at our new winery, Stoller Family Estate. That vintage is still one of the best she ever made. In reality, she has been fully responsible for making and leading others in producing our wine. Melissa has been invaluable throughout her time with us. She continues to be a key leader both in our company and our industry within her new role as Founding Winemaker.

Owen B: What are some of your future goals for Stoller and your other wine brands moving forward?  

Bill S: We will continue to lead with our Stoller brand and, equally so, with Chehalem. Chemistry is our true value wine, and someday, I expect this label to sell more cases than our other labels.   

Owen B: Do you have any epiphany wines from Oregon and beyond? What is your cellar like?  

Bill S: The 83s and 85s still are some of the best wines ever produced in Oregon. I have also had several Burgundies that have been terrific as well. My wine cellar is too big. That said, I still buy annually from some of my favorite producers.

FE Wines

Today it is my pleasure to share one of the electric, newer houses in Napa. Fe (pronounced FEE) is the atomic symbol for iron, the mineral content you will notice throughout the soils of their Spring Mountain Vineyard. It is quite remarkable that seven years of viticulture went into the first vintage of Fe Wines. This location sees a good amount of fog to moderate the summer heat. Wines from this section of Napa have a wonderful stony essence that you can easily notice in the glass.

One of the great winemaking talents of the Napa Vallley, Aaron Pott achieved his undergraduate degree at University of California, Davis, and later a master’s degree in Viticulture, Wine, and Terroir from the Université de Bourgogne. He served as winemaker at famed property Château Troplong Mondot and also director of Château La Tour Figeac before coming to Napa. I have long enjoyed his namesake wines which are highly allocated.

Fe Wines have two world-class wines in their collection — a near 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from their estate site on Spring Mountain, as well as a proprietary blend. I was blown away with the 2021 Fe Wines Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) which is the finest wine I have tasted from this house yet. Learn more about these gorgeous wines at https://www.fewines.com and here are the fantastic new 2021 releases by Fe Wines. 

2021 Fe Wines ’26’ Red Wine- The 2021 ’26’ is a proprietary blend named for the atomic number of iron. Loganberry cordial combines with wet gravel, iodine, black currants and shades of tobacco leaf on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with firm tannins that hold in place a beautiful core of black fruits, which push blue fruit accents. With more air espresso ground flavors, tar and graphite push into the mix, as this is an irresistible effort that has a long life in front of it. Give it an hour in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2024-2042- 96

2021 Fe Wines Cabernet Sauvignon- The gorgeous and sinfully good 2019 Fe Wines Cabernet Sauvignon is nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Very inky in the glass, this unveils a core of blueberry compote on the nose alongside green herbs, pencil lead and suggestions of creme de violette. The palate is plush and rich with serious tension, weight and length. This will easily be a 20 year wine. A total stunner, with a lengthy mineral and black-fruit laden finish, try to resist this beauty for a few more years — and you will be rewarded. Drink 2026-2046- 99

TOR

For more than a decade I have enjoyed the brilliant wines of TOR. A Napa Valley icon, Tor Kenward spent 26 years building Beringer Vineyards. As their vice president he was instrumental in helping develop the brand into national prominence before retiring in 2001. For years the Beringer Reserve wines were truly some of the finest in Napa and Tor played a major role in that project. Beringer actually paid for Tor to study viticulture and enology following his retirement, as Tor built his brand as an ultra-premium producer single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, sourcing from the top blocks within premium sites throughout Napa Valley. The current TOR lineup sources from esteemed sites such as Beckstoffer To Kalon, Vine Hill Ranch and Tierra Roja in Oakville, and Melanson on Pritchard Hill.

I have loved these wines for many years. I was blown away with the overall quality of the new wines. Do not miss on the 2022 TOR ‘Cuvee Torchiana’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which is silky and refined, showing great concentration. I adored the world-class 2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is a must purchase for any serious collector of Napa Cabernet. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://torwines.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by TOR. 

2022 TOR ‘Cuvee Torchiana’ Chardonnay- The sensational 2022 TOR ‘Cuvee Torchiana’ Chardonnay is a standout wine made in a tough vintage for white wines, with heat spikes near harvest. This 2022 TOR revels in its deep, golden color in the glass, coming up opulent and seamless on the mid-palate. Heady grilled pineapple and mango flavors collide with minerals and shades of papaya on the palate. Rich and layered, this is a gorgeous bottling that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2033- 96

2022 TOR ‘Cuvee Susan’ Chardonnay- The incredible 2022 ‘Cuvee Susan’ is sourced from the famed Hyde Vineyard in the Carneros AVA. This windswept location is known for heavy morning fog and cool nights which result in a long growing season. This has incredible body and underlying finesse. Rich honeydew melon and salted Macadamia nut flavors combine with shades of buttered French bread on the palate. The finish just won’t quit. What a stunning wine from a really difficult vintage with heat spikes at harvest. Bravo! Drink 2024-2033- 97

2021 TOR ‘Vaca Ridge Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Vaca Ridge Vineyard is set on very rocky soils that overlook the valley floor. Once on the nose this is highly expressive, offering wet rock and creosote tones that combine with boysenberry cordial, mocha and espresso grounds. The palate is soft and seamless throughout the drinking experience, as this wine creates a very weightless effect. Showing great length and viscosity, with salty and stony undertones, and bright underlying acidity. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twenty plus years.  Drink 2024-2048- 98

2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ethereal 2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is equally good as the otherworldly 2019 bottling. It is a joy to go back to after first tasting. Very inky in the glass, this is highly perfumed with loamy soils that combine with creme de cassis, anise, Black Forest cake and suggestions of tar. The palate is utterly seamless, showing great flavor density, richness and bright tension that makes this glide throughout the drinking experience. Kudos to Jeff Ames and the winemaking team in crafting this total stunner. Just an infant now, it will be exceedingly fun to see this evolve over the next twenty five years. Drink 2024-2050- 100

2021 TOR ‘Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A gorgeous wine made by TOR, the ‘Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard’ comes from this site that was first planted by Dr. George Belden Crane in 1858. Remarkably it was during the 1920's that the Chinatown of the City of St. Helena was located on the site. This comes off very heady and dense on the palate, with serious verve. Mocha, tar, exotic spices and rich dark fruits all parade on the palate, with a seamless texture and gorgeous sense of length. A total stunner, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next twenty plus years to come. Drink 2024-2045- 98

Dusted Valley Retrospective

As I pulled up to the southside winery location, I was immediately greeted by Dusted Valley founders, brothers in law Chad Johnson and Corey Braunel. This was a long time coming as we would taste through some older wines and also talk football as it was NFL Draft day. All wines were under screw cap which was a long conversation about how well wines under screw cap tend to age. A perfect example is Argyle wines that now even show well from the 2000 vintage.  For years Dusted Valley has focused on sustainable practices, low (or modest) yields and minimalistic winemaking. An example of that is the screw cap which is fully recyclable and uses considerably less waste than other enclosure products.

We spent a significant time talking Packers football, as Chad Johnson and Corey Braunel are avid fans that try to head back for games at Lambeau Field. We definitely had a few surprises along the way, most notably tasting through the 2008 Dusted Valley Viognier (OB, 92) which was remarkably fresh and beautifully textured. Dusted Valley might produce a very wide range of wines but they have a strong following for their Syrahs and GSM style wines. I loved the 2011 Dusted Valley “Squirrel Tooth Alice’ Red Wine (OB, 92) which is one of the best GSM style wines from this tough, very vintage that I have tasted recently. This wine had awesome flavor density. In general I was shocked how well the 2011 wines from Dusted Valley showed. The best wine I tried was the outstanding 2010 ‘Tall Tales’ Syrah (OB, 94) which comes from the Stoney Vine Vineyard in the Rocks District. This had the wonderful umami and briny character that you expect from this region. Learn more about this great Walla Walla winery at https://www.dustedvalley.com and here are my reviews on some of the older wines from Dusted Valley.

2008 Dusted Valley Viognier- Coming from the Kestrel View Vineyard, the 2008 Viognier was stored in all neural oak before bottling. Right away this delivers bright peach and kiwi notes on the nose alongside shades of walnut. The palate is super fresh considering its age. Beautiful textured, this is fantastic to enjoy now. Drink 2024-2029- 92

2011 Dusted Valley ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Grenache- The 2011 Dusted Valley ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Grenache has 24% Syrah blended in. Right way this delivers a soft mouthfeel with red currants alongside Christmas spice and orange peel notes. Smooth and soft, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 91

2010 Dusted Valley ‘Squirrel Tooth Alice’ Red Wine- The beautiful 2010 Dusted Valley ‘Squirrel Tooth Alice’ Red Wine was stored in only 10% new French oak before bottling. This shows good richness and finesse with wild blackberry and black tea notes alongside coopiums minerals. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2011 Dusted Valley ‘Squirrel Tooth Alice’ Red Wine- The delightful 2011 Dusted Valley ‘Squirrel Tooth Alice’ Red Wine combines 60% Mourvèdre with the remainder Grenache shows good stuffing considering the vintage. On the nose this shows black raspberry and black tea notes alongside coffee grounds. All from Red Mountain, you can see this really helped the richness here. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2010 Dusted Valley ‘Wallywood’ Red Wine- The 2010 ‘Wallywood’ combines 65% Syrah with the reindeer Grenache, Mourvèdre, Petit Sirah and a dash of Viognier. Very elegant on the mouth, this delivers black raspberry, balsamic vinegar and chocolate notes with shades of sagebrush. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2011 Dusted Valley ‘Wallywood’ Red Wine- The 2011 ‘Wallywood’ Red Wine combines 50% Syrah and the remainder Mourvèdre (40%) with the remainder Petite Sirah. Right away on the palate black currants and tar notes combine with pencil lead and milk chocolate. Considering the vintage this is seriously good. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2010 Dusted Valley ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Mourvèdre- The outstanding 2010 Dusted Valley ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Mourvèdre has some Petite Sirah and Grenache blended in. Very fresh and lithe with a polished texture, this offers black plum and iodine alongside pencil lead on the palate, with green herbal accents. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2011 Dusted Valley ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Mourvedre- The intriguing 2011 Dusted Valley ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Mourvedre has 10% Syrah blended in. This offers more green notes aromatically alongside dark raspberry tones. The palate does not come off at all green, showing milk chocolate, red currants and crushed mint notes. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2010 Dusted Valley ‘Stained Tooth’ Syrah- This comes from a range of sites throughout the Columbia Valley including Stone Tree and Stoney Vine Vineyards. Very savory, this shows some light Rocks character with its wet stone notes alongside green olives, tobacco and slime drenched boysenberry flavors. This is showing serious stability. Drink 2024-2031- 93

2011 Dusted Valley ‘Stained Tooth’ Syrah- 100% varietal, this offers savory herbs alongside wet stone, burnt orange and salty soil character on the palate, alongside medium bodied dark fruits. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2010 Dusted Valley ‘Tall Tales’ Syrah- The 2010 Dusted Valley ‘Tall Tales’ Syrah is a beautiful showing from this cooler vintage. On the nose this offers green olive tapenade, briny notes alongside ash and black currants. The palate is medium bodied and very fresh with a smooth texture. Savory and delicious, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 94

2010 Dusted Valley ‘Rachis’ Syrah- The really good 2010 Dusted Valley ‘Rachis’ Syrah impresses in this cold vintage. Tar and tobacco leaf combine with shades of dark currants and boysenberry tones. Soft and approachable with a smooth texture, this is really good to enjoy now. Drink this beautiful wine now. Drink 2024-2028- 92

2010 Dusted Valley Petite Sirah- The outstanding 2010 Dusted Valley Petite Sirah is very inky in the glass. 10% Syrah is blended in, as this offers pencil lead and black curates alongside mocha tones on the palate. Rich and viscous, this is a beautiful wine that still has a way to go. Drink 2024-2031- 93

2011 Dusted Valley Petite Sirah- Also very inky in the glass, the 2011 Dusted Valley is a beautiful wine coming from this challenging vintage. Tar and black currant cordial alongside grippy tannins and dark chocolate shavings all combine on the palate. Drink 2024-2029- 92

Revelry Vintners

“We have a few wines for you” said winemaker and owner Jared Burns. “A few meaning more than 30” I replied. For years I have been enjoying the value wines in the Revelry portfolio but this tasting was going to be showcasing their top wines over many years. We focused this tasting on the even years which were truly fantastic from 2012-2018. I think what I was most impressed with was how Burns handled 2020. All of the 2020 wines came off clean and had good richness. They are wines to buy with confidence.

Revelry was founded by Burns all the way back in 2005. I went to college with him at Whitman and shortly after his graduation he founded his winery. He initially began this process by creating three wines that he felt were as good or better than those being offered at much higher prices.  Since that time, they have expanded considerably their range of wines.

They range from their top AERIALS wines to their Columbia Valley wines that over-deliver for the price. Several years ago they built an incredible, modern facility on the south side of Walla Walla roughly 15 minutes from downtown. This is an extraordinary beautiful facility, with sweeping views of the Blue Mountains. I tend to champion this sentiment that good wine does not have to be expensive. A perfect example of this is their 2023 Revelry Rose (OB, 91) which is amongst the best editions of this wine that I have tasted. Showing a smooth mouthfeel and loads of minerality, this is going to be downright awesome to consume on a hot summer day. I loved the range of Grenache wines none more so than the 2018 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache (OB, 94) which shows beautiful purity of fruit. Even better was the 2018 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is generous and bold with a fantastic sense of weight and verve from this fabulous vintage in Washington. Learn more about this great story at revelryvintners.com and here are my reviews of the wines from Revelry Vintners.

2023 Revelry Rose- Neatly textured and lithe, this is a beautiful, very pretty rendition of the Revelry Rose from 2023. Red currants and watermelon flavors combine with orange peel and salty minerals on the palate. Stored in all stainless steel, the texture makes you think this has some barrel age. Very well-done! Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Revelry Grenache Blanc- The 2022 Grenache Blanc shows serious tension with loads of mouth-watering acidity. Gooseberry and kiwi flavors mingle well with cantaloupe tones on the palate. Drink 2024-2029- 92

2022 Revelry ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay was stored in stainless steel with extended lees contact. This comes off very fresh with a smooth texture. Showing rich orchard fruits and lemon zest notes alongside shades of salted French bread, this is a delicious rendition of this wine that has some good aging potential. Drink 2024-2031- 92

2012 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache- The 2012 ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache offers burnt orange and pretty red florals on the nose alongside suggestions of tobacco leaf. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture. This is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2016 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache- This 2016 Grenache did not see any new French oak. Beautiful potpourri and red currants combine with shades of baking spices and orange peel on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture and is loaded with bright red fruit character. This still has a long way to go. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2018 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache- The beautiful 2018 ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache was stored in all natural oak before bottling. This displays red rose petals and citrus blossom notes that combine with shades of damp soils and blood orange zest notes. The palate is plush and shows beautiful balance and shows beautiful flavor density with it is purity of pomegranate seed, strawberry and Yakima cherry fruit flavors. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2020 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache- This plush 2020 Grenache offers red cherry candy notes alongside dusty soils and shades of bergamot. The palate is refined and soft with smooth tannins that combine with orange peel and damp earthy notes. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache- A beautiful new wine, the 2021 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache is heady and dense on the nose alongside red rose petals and suggestions of cloves and kumquat zest notes. The palate is refined and smooth, showing good weight and length. Finishing long with bright strawberry and pomegranate seed flavors, with copious minerals, this is a beautiful wine that has a long way to go. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2012 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah- The excellent 2014 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah takes on baking spices and tar notes with sagebrush tones aromatically. The palate is soft and refined with good richness and dense blackberry, black cherry with ash notes. Roughly 20% new French oak, this is texturally beautifully. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2014 Revery ‘Block 18’ Syrah- This outstanding 2014 Revery ‘Block 18’ Syrah was stored in all neutral oak before bottling. Garrigue and black tea and anise notes combine with dense dark fruits. The palate is fresh and lifted with beautiful richness and underlying finesse. Wild blackberry and marionberry fruit flavors combine with coffee grounds and dried green herbs. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2016 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah- Very lifted and intense aromatically, the 2018 ‘Block 18’ Syrah is a gorgeous wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. Once on the nose this offers black florals and allspice notes that combine with salty soils and Earl Grey tea. The palate is fresh and refined with a soft texture and good underlying finesse. This is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2018 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah- The 2018 ‘Block 18’ Syrah is a soft and approachable wine that is already neatly evolved. On the nose this shows rich dark fruits with coffee grounds and dusty soil notes, with herbal accents. The palate is soft and rich, showing good finesse and refined tannins that  combine with shades of sagebrush and black currants. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2020 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah- The 2020 ‘Block 18’ Syrah utilizes a northern rhone clone, 174 selection. Right away this shows good flavor density and comes off very clean on the palate. Loganberry and black currant cordial mark the palate alongside coffee grounds and shades of milk chocolate. Drink 2024-2030- 93

2021 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah- An inky and rich wine, the 2021 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah delivers fresh sage and dark chocolate shavings on the nose alongside suggestions of iodine. The palate is fresh and refined with good richness and salty undertones, alongside the core of huckleberry and black currant fruits. While youthful this is nearly impossible to resist now. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2020 Revelry ‘Block 19’ Syrah- A wine made from clone 877 (southern Rhone based), this 2020 Syrah offers beautiful herbal notes on the palate, alongside a heady core of black and red fruit flavors. Medium to full-bodied and very delicious, enjoy now and over the next several years. Stored in all neutral oak. Drink 2024-2030- 94

2021 Revelry ‘Block 19’ Syrah- A beautiful wine from this warm vintage, the 2021 ‘Block 19’ Syrah is a fantastic wine with fantastic flavor density and balance. On the nose this takes on milk chocolate and herbal accents that combine with black currant cordial. The palate is plush and refined with good verve and richness. This is a total stunner, revealing beautiful salty and garrigue accents. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2009 Revelry ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- The 2009 ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ was stored in slightly less than 50% new French oak before bottling. This is still showing beautifully right now. Beautiful red rose petals combine with loamy soils, black currants and espresso ground flavors. Soft and elegant, this is right at its peak. Drink 2024-2029- 92

2010 Revelry ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Coming from this cool vintage, the 2010 ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc shows really nice stuffing considering the vintage. Rich blackberry and coffee ground flavors combine with damp soils and shades of milk chocolate. Well-structured, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 93

2012 Revelry ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- The nicely aged 2012 Cabernet Franc shows beautiful herbal tones on the nose alongside blackberry compote, black licorice and cigar box. The palate is soft and refined with soft tannins that frame a beautiful core of dark fruits, with herbal accents. This is absolutely killer stuff. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2014 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc- This 2014 ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc was stored in roughly 40% new French oak before bottling. This is very fresh wine with salty minerals that make your mouth water. Boysenberry and black currant flavors combine with good structure and chocolate notes on the palate. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2016 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc- The downright awesome 2016 ‘Aerials’ comes from the Weinbau Vineyard in the Columbia Valley. Once on the nose this takes on layers of chocolate and sagebrush noise alongside shades of red bell pepper. This comes off very fresh and shows a smooth texture alongside layers of wild blackberry and boysenberry fruit flavors, with chocolate and fresh mint. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2018 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc- The outstanding 2018 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc is a soft and generous bottling that is drinking great now — and has a long way to go. On the nose this offers pipe tobacco and dark chocolate notes alongside coffee grounds. The palate is fresh and soft, delivering good flavor density and plenty of herbal tones. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2020 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc- The outstanding 2020 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc is a great showing from this tough vintage. Red bell pepper and potpourri combine with shades of coffee grounds and black tea. The palate is soft and refined, with good density and a great core of dark fruits. Drink 2024-2030- 93

2021 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc- The 2021 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc is a really pretty wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. The palate is lithe and fresh with a savory edge, showing salty undertones. Rich huckleberry and wild blackberry fruit flavors with Earl Grey tea and notes of cocoa nibs. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2020 Revelry ‘The Limited Edition Reveler’ Red Wine- A new wine utilizing all 5 Bordeaux varietals, the 2020 ‘The Reveler’ offers ash, dark currants and tobacco leaf notes on the nose. The palate is rich and viscous with a smooth texture. This is seriously good for 30 dollars retail. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2012 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from Block 11 in the Dionysus Vineyard, this 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon delivers black currants, anise, and Black Forest cake flavors that combine with espresso ground notes on the palate. Rich and viscous, this is beautiful wine that is right in its wheelhouse. Drink 2024-2030- 94

2014 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Outstanding in this warm vintage, the 2014 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers sagebrush, dark currents and shades of violets on the nose. The palate is seamless and rich with a smooth texture and gorgeous sense of length. This is drinking so well now. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2016 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A fantastic wine from this vintage, the 2016 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers mocha, dark currants and salty soil notes on the nose. The palate is viscous and soft with a smooth texture. Generous and well-balanced, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2018 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers pipe tobacco and mocha notes alongside dark currants. The palate is viscous and neatly textured with good length and salty as well as earthy nuances that combine with a deep core of dark fruits. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2020 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The beautiful 2020 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows good flavor density with mocha, tar and allspice flavors that combine with a deep core of dark currants and wild blackberry. Drink 2024-2030- 94

2021 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Very heady and well-structured, the 2021 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers a beautiful core of blackberry and dark currant fruit flavors that mingle well with loads of minerals and good verve. Drink 2024-2038- 95

2009 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Red Wine- Coming from Red Mountain Vineyard, this offers beautiful herbal notes on the nose with red bell pepper and black florals. The palate is ver yfresh considering its age with blackberry and black cherry flavors. Drink 2024-2030- 93

2010 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2010 ‘Red Mountain’ by Revelry is well-structured showing dried herbs with black currants and black cherry notes on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2014 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2014 ‘Red Mountain’ is a dense, voluptuous bottling that has a great core of black currants and anise notes alongside huckleberry tones. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2016 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon-  The 2016 ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon is another great warm vintage showing. A beautiful core of black and blue fruits line this wine with espresso ground flavors and graphite. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2018 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A glorious wine from a great vintage, the 2018 ‘Red Mountain’ is plush and soft on the mouth, with great density and sandalwood tones. Refined and elegant, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2020 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Red Mountain’ is soft and plush — very approachable now in its core of chocolate, tar and dark fruits. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Dense and delicious, this 2021 ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers pipe tobacco, mocha and tar nose on the palate alongside shades of black licorice. Rich and heady, with good viscosity and underlying tension, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2038- 95

2014 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The beautiful 2014 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous and delicious wine that has serious body, structure and underlying verve. Rich loganberry and black current fruit flavors that mingle well with Turkish coffee flavors. This is right in its sweet spot. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2018 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This barrel selection wine coming form 2018, was stored in mainly new French oak before bottling. The palate is generous and bold with beautiful structure and finesse. Dark chocolate and pencil lead alongside tar notes combine on the palate. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2019 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers beautiful dried herbs alongside espresso grounds, and tar notes on the nose. This shows beautiful texture and richness considering the coolness of the vintage. Drink 2024-2038- 95

2020 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon - The outstanding 2020 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows chocolate, coffee ground and tobacco left flavors that combine with copious minerals on the palate. Smooth and soft throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next few years to come. Drink 2024-2030- 93

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