Amulet Estate

One of the exciting properties in Napa, Amulet Estate relies on the winemaking talent of Shawn Johnson who studied under eminent winemaker Phillipe Melka. The estate is a 20 acre property tucked into the hills of northern Napa Valley in what historically was known as Dego Valley (now Italian Valley). I formerly recall the Dancing Hare wines that were produced here. The former owner, Robert Brooks, spent many years in the software industry.  Brooks built the winery and cave which was completed in 2009.

The new white wine is fabulous coming from the 2021 vintage. The 2021 Amulet White Wine (OB, 94) is rich and delicious right now. Refined in its silky texture and showing a great sense of weight, this is beautiful Sauvignon Blanc wine that has some good cellaring potential. Learn more at amuletestate.com  and here is my review of the new Amulet White Wine.

2021 Amulet Estate White Wine- The 2021 Amulet Estate White Wine is a stunning bottling coming from the Proof Vineyard in the Napa Valley which was planted in the 1870s. This is brilliant, finesse-driven Sauvignon Blanc that is deeply textured, honeyed and rich. Banana and honeycomb flavors combine with macadamia nut and salty soils on the palate. A world-class bottling, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 94

J. Bookwalter

Today we share one of the outstanding houses in Washington wine. Bookwalter family spans ten generations in American agriculture. Jerry Bookwalter, generation nine and father of current company president John Bookwalter, decided to venture into viticulture. A UC-Davis grad, Jerry spent 13 years farming in California’s San Joaquin Valley before moving his family in 1976 to the Tri-Cities in Washington State. From 1976 through 1982, Jerry helped manage the plantings of three famed Washington vineyards – Sagemoor, Bacchus and Dionysus. He eventually became vineyard manager of the Conner Lee Vineyard and in 1982, he started J. Bookwalter Winery. John Bookwalter had a 10-year sales and marketing career with E&J Gallo, Winterbrook Beverage Group and Coors Brewing Co before returning to Richland in 1997 to focus on his family winery.

For years they utilized the talents of winemaker Caleb Foster who helped grow production and crafted many downright killer red and white wines over the years. Recently winemaker Cameron Parry has been hired as director of winemaking and viticulture which is a total coup for Bookwalter. Parry, was formerly with Corliss and also was director of winemaking at famed Napa house Groth for many years. Prior to that he was winemaker at Chateau Montelena. Parry plans to spend a lot of time in the vineyards to make his mark on the program. “And I have a bag of tricks which we will employ, cellar management and fermentation management which will elevate these wines. These are tweaks” he said. “To make sure we are getting he most out of these beautiful vineyards.”  I adored the 2021 J. Bookwalter ‘5th edition’ White Wine (OB, 94) which at 38 bucks is a total steal. Arguably the best wine I tasted was the outstanding 2021 J. Bookwalter ‘Chapter 12’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is heady and dense with lovely non-fruit nuance. Learn more about this historic Washington winery at https://www.bookwalterwines.com Here are my reviews of the beautiful new J. Bookwalter wines. 

2021 J. Bookwalter ‘5th Edition’ White Wine- This is now the 5th edition of this beautiful that combines Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. The first plantings of Washington State Muscadelle were done here at the Connor Lee Vineyard. Aged in a combination of oak barrels and concrete (35% new oak) this delivers honeysuckle and white rose mark the nose alongside green melon and shades of baking spice laced pie crust. The palate is silky and refined with serious texture and mineral backbone. Beautiful and refined, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. This offers some serious value at a mere $38.00. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Double Plot’ Chardonnay- The 2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Double Plot’ Chardonnay comes from the Connor Lee Vineyard which is located on a bench near the Wahluke Slope AVA. This was aged in a combination of French oak and concrete before bottling. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and good sense of weight and length. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 J. Bookwalter ‘Conflict’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Conflict’ Red Wine combines 60% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The nose shows very classic Merlot tones with chocolate covered coffee bean, black currants and shades of black florals. The palate is really well-made with a soft mouthfeel and good sense of tension. Rich and viscous, this is a gorgeous bottling that has a long way to go. Drink 2024-2040- 93

2021 J. Bookwalter ‘Protagonist’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Protagonist’ comes mostly from the Dionysus and Connor Lee Vineyards. Nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (87%), this has small parts Petit Verdot, Malbec and Syrah. Stored in 43% new French oak this offers dark currants, black pepper dusted blackberry and shades of chocolate cake on the nose. The texture is outstanding as this delivers mocha, tar and sagebrush tones making this very savory with dense dark fruits. Really refined and rich, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2040- 93

2021 J. Bookwalter ‘Suspense’ Red Wine- The brilliant 2021 J. Bookwalter ‘Suspense’ is a blend of 81% Cabernet Franc with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. Coming all from the Connor Lee vineyard, this was stored in 35% new French oak before bottling. Red bell pepper and bay leaf mark the nose alongside shades of anise and black currants. Silky and seamless, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2040- 93

2022 J. Bookwalter ‘Antagonist’ Syrah- This is 100% Syrah coming mostly from the Connor Lee Vineyard. This comes off smoky and savory on the nose with roasted dates, blackberries and chocolate on the nose. The palate is soft and plush with a great sense of texture. A great savory edge with its smoked meats and black olive tapenade notes, this is drinking beautifully already. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 J. Bookwalter ‘Volume 11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Volume 11 is a blend of nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (92%) with the remainder Petit Verdot and Malbec. This is almost entirely sourced from the Dionysus Vineyard. Tar, black currant cordial, mocha and suggestions of black tea mark the nose. The palate is plush and dense with a silky texture and great sense of weight. Finishing long with beautiful black fruits and suggestions of sweet pipe tobacco, this is a generous, broad-shouldered bottling that has great acidity and aging potential. Drink 2024-2044- 95

2021 J. Bookwalter ‘Chapter 12’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Chapter 12’ comes from the Connor Lee Vineyard and has 5% both Syrah and Cabernet Franc blended in. Stored for 20 months in 95% new French oak, this offers sagebrush and pipe tobacco notes alongside sandalwood and shades of exotic spice on the nose. This is ultra-plush with a seamless texture and great sense of weight. Showing beautiful verve with good length, this weightless bottling is showing beautifully now at the three year mark. Drink 2024-2042- 95

Dobbes Family Estate

Today we present one of the mainstay Oregon houses, founded by Joe Dobbes. For many years Dobbes established himself as a leading figure in Oregon wine. Founding Dobbes Family Estate and Wine By Joe, he ushered in an era of innovation and risk-taking in the Willamette Valley. The Wine By Joe brand has done particularly well, consistently offering serious bang for your buck.

After fifteen years at the helm of Dobbes and Wine By Joe, Joe has transitioned to a new chapter, founding Iterum Wines alongside his wife Patricia, to focus on organic winemaking. The new wines by Dobbes were really good across the board. I love the new 2021 Dobbes ‘Dundee Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which is already drinking marvelously. Learn more at https://dobbesfamilywinery.com and here are my reviews of the new Dobbes wines.

2021 Dobbes Family Estate ‘Dundee Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2021 Dobbes Family Estate ‘Dundee Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir delivers bright raspberry and bing cherry notes on the nose with dusty soils and red rose petal notes. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and good sense of weight, with salty soil accents. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Dobbes Family Estate ‘Three Pillars Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- Brimming with both tension and richness, the 2021 Dobbes Family Estate ‘Three Pillars Cuvee’ Pinot Noir delivers damp earthy and wild mushroom tones on the palate, with refined tannins and black raspberry tones. Soft and generous, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Dobbes Family Estate ‘Amelia Rose Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 Dobbes Family Estate ‘Amelia Rose Cuvee’ Pinot Noir offers bergamot and red floral on the nose, woven together with a pretty core of bright red fruits. The palate is fresh and lithe with bright verve and ripe pomegranate, red cherry and orange zest flavors. Drink 2024-2032- 92

Reynvaan

Truly one of the most scenic spots in the Pacific Northwest to taste wine, Reynvaan Family Vineyards was founded by two of the nicest people in the Washington Wine Industry — Gale and Mike Reynvaan. Matt Reynvaan is one of the Northwest’s finest winemakers, who has been making a thrilling range of wines for his namesake winery for more than a decade. Formerly training at famed left bank house Chateau Smith Haut-Lafitte, Matt has a deft touch with white wines, producing some of the best Viognier and Grenache Blanc that you will find anywhere in North America.

I love the new 2022 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier (OB, 97) which is arguably the finest Viognier that I have ever tasted in North America. Smooth, silky and viscous, with outstanding flavor range and stony essence, this is a must-taste for any lover of top notch white wines.  Just as good is his 2022 Reynvaan ‘Queens Road’ White Wine (OB, 97) which is a scintillating combination of Marsanne and Viognier. This is easily one of the best white blends that I have tasted from anywhere in the world over the last year. Learn more about this outstanding house at https://www.reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Reynvaan.

2022 Reynvaan Grenache Blanc- Truly one of the best wines of its kind, the 2022 Grenache Blanc by Matt Reynvaan revels in its stony character on the palate. This comes off very rich and viscous with great underlying verve. The oak gently caresses the fruit here, as fig, Japanese pear, kiwi and stony minerals all meld together on the palate. Very dense and rich, with excellent viscosity, this may be the finest editions of this wine ever made. Enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2024-2030- 95

2022 Reyvaan ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ Viognier- The 2022 ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ Viognier is a world-class and tension-laden bottling that is already showing beautifully. Once on the nose this takes on layers of kiwi, starfruit and freshly cut limes alongside wet gravel and suggestions of star jasmine, evoking plenty of exotic appeal. The palate is beautifully textured and deep, with serious concentration and underlying finesse. The near minute-long finish is the perfect crescendo to this incredible bottling. Enjoy now and over the next seven plus years. Drink 2024-2031- 97

2022 Reynvaan ‘Queens Road’ White Wine- The stunning 2022 ‘Queens Road’ White Wine is a silky blend of Marsanne and Viognier that is one of the great wines of its kind. Honeysuckle and wet stone combine with juicy peaches and shades of apricot on the nose. The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is plush, rich and seamless throughout the drinking experience. A total wow-factor wine that is big, and unabashedly unctuous — yet holds gobs of underlying tension — this beauty is already drinking beautifully at the two year mark. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 97

2021 Reynvaan Merlot- The very elegant and refined 2021 Merlot by Reynvaan was stored in mainly neutral French oak barrels before bottling. On the nose this exudes class with wet stone and red bell pepper notes alongside graphite and shades of Hoisin sauce. Savory and sultry on the palate, this offers beautiful concentration with its core of black fruits, milk chocolate, black truffle and salty minerals alongside wet stony accents. A joy to consume now, enjoy over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 96

2021 Reynvaan ‘The Classic’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘The Classic’ combines mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) with a large portion of Cabernet Franc (35%) and the remainder Petit Verdot — all coming from the famed In The Rocks Vineyard. Green herbs, freshly cracked black pepper, and smoked meats all reside on the nose alongside rich dark fruits. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth mouthfeel. Salted blackberry alongside dark chocolate shavings, tar, and smoldering stones all complete this beautiful wine. Give this an hour in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2024-2034- 96

Prothro Family Wines

Today we share the outstanding wines of Bruce Prothro and his family.  Bruce and his wife, Ronda became interested in wine at the start of their relationship. Their first date was wine tasting in Napa and one year later they were married. In 1991, Bruce and Ronda began making their own wine by purchasing Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay grapes from a vineyard in the Russian River Valley that supplied grapes to DeLoach Winery. With no formal training, they borrowed and rented equipment to crush, ferment, and press almost two tons of grapes, yielding nearly 120 gallons of barrel-aged wine. Even though they made a few mistakes that first year, the wine was a hit among their friends and family and became a staple at their parties and get togethers.

Over the next seven years they made wine out of their garage. Along the way they had help from several heavyweight figures in California wine including Burt Williams at Williams Selyem, Dexter and Val Ahlgren at Ahlgren Vineyards, Ken Burnap at Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards, Kent Rosenbloom and Jeff Cohn at Rosenbloom Cellars, and the crew at David Bruce Winery.

Their first vintage was 2014. I love the new wines and check out an outstanding Cabernet Franc, their 2021 Prothro ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ (OB, 93) which is dense and chewy from this outstanding high-elevation location. Learn more about this great Napa winery at https://prothrofamilywines.com/ Here are the beautiful new wines by Prothro Family Wines.

2023 Prothro ‘Wildwood Vineyards’ Sauvignon Blanc- The bright 2023 Prothro ‘Wildwood Vineyards’ Sauvignon Blanc comes from this site in the Sonoma Valley. It is soft and approachable with good verve. Gooseberry and grassy flavors combine with Japanese pear and unripe peach on the palate. Drink 2024-2029- 91

2021 Prothro ‘Legacy Edition’ Zinfandel- Coming from Moon Mountain, this 2021 Zinfandel shows off lighter red fruit flavors with orange peel and shades of cranberry on the palate. This might have been picked on the early side. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 88

2021 Prothro ‘Signature Release’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Prothro ‘Signature Release’ offers plenty of dense cassis, tar and tobacco flavors on the palate, alongside dusty tannins. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2021 Prothro ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Coming from this outstanding mountainous site, the 2021 Prothro ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc delivers  heady blueberry compote flavors alongside black licorice, dark chocolate shavings and graphite. Full-bodied and fully delicious, enjoy this outstanding bottling now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2036- 93

2021 Prothro ‘Cuvee No. 7’ Red Wine- In it is 7th edition of this Merlot-dominant wine, it comes off very inky in the glass. Chocolate and roasted date flavors mingle well with espresso bean and loamy soils on the palate. Seriously good now, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 92

2021 Prothro ‘Limited Release Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2021 Prothro ‘Limited Release Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers dark currants, huckleberry compote and shades of chocolate. Very smooth throughout the drinking experience, showing good weight and underlying tension, this beautiful wine has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2040- 94

Ridge

Today it is my pleasure to right about another great historic California winery. I have enjoyed so many of these wines in my personal cellar. This winery was founded by Paul Draper in the 1960s and their gorgeous estate is in a dramatic setting, set at 2300 feet in the Santa Cruz Mountains. If you have never visited this scenic site you are in for a treat. Ridge Vineyard's 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon achieved international fame for its fifth-place finish in the 1976 “Judgement of Paris” wine tasting.

The new wines I tasted were all from their Santa Cruz Mountains estate. I was floored by the new 2022 Ridge ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which comes from the Monte Bello Vineyard and is just world-class and sinfully good right now. Even better is the 2021 Ridge ‘Monte Bello’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) which flirts with perfection and really needs a few more years of bottle age. Learn more about this historic winery at ridgewine.com Here are the amazing new release wines from Ridge Vineyards.

2022 Ridge ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The ‘Estate’ Chardonnay mainly comes from the Monte Bello Vineyard, as they did not make a Monte Bello Chardonnay this vintage. This was whole cluster pressed to tank and saw considerable pumpers and oxygen infusion, as well as regular less stirring. Coming from vines set on limestone soils, this was stored in a combination of American oak, French oak and Amphorae. This offers a silky texture with beautiful body. Creme brûlée and buttered French bread notes combine with baked apple and suggestions of salted walnut on the palate. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2021 Ridge ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Monte Bello Vineyard and combines 84% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot. Stored in mainly American oak with coconut and black currants that combine with mocha, tar and beautiful dark florals. The palate is soft and refined with beautiful elegance. Deep and rich, with wonderful structure and a generous core of saline drenched dark fruits, pipe tobacco and escrows grounds, this is a glorious effort that will drink well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2021 Ridge ‘Monte Bello’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A world-class wine from this vintage, the 2021 ‘Monte Bello’ combines 64% Cabernet Sauvignon with 31%Merlot and the remainder Petit Verdot. Beautiful dark rose petals combine with green bell pepper, cuban cigar, and wild blackberry. The palate is soft and seamless as this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. A total head-turner, with tremendous mouthfeel, refined tannins and a light dusting of salinity, this beauty will cellar well for at least another twenty years to come. Try to resist this beauty for at least another year. Drink 2025-2050- 99

Calera

We share one of the great stories in California wine today. It was back in the 1970s that Calera founder Josh Jensen was exploring Europe, and decided to work a harvest at famed winery Romanée-Conti. Josh was inspired to make great Pinot Noir in California and 1974, he purchased land located on steep slopes of Mount Harlan, a 3,278-foot peak in the Gavilan Mountains that divide Monterey and San Benito counties. Josh founded Calera in 1975 and p[anted his three estate vineyards: Jensen, Reed and Selleck. Josh achieved incredible critical acclaim for his Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.

In 2017 Calera was sold to the Duckhorn wine group as Josh noted that Calera was his “life work.” The winery itself is located in Hollister, and boasts sweeping views of the Diablo Mountain Range. An incredible talent, winemaker Mike Waller previously worked as assistant winemaker at storied property Chalone, before coming to Calera. Mike has served as head winemaker for more than a decade now. I loved the new 2021 Calera ‘Jensen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 97) which is one of the most outstanding wines from this house that I have tasted. Learn more about these outstanding new wines at https://www.calerawine.com Here are the great new releases by Calera.

2021 Calera ‘Jensen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Jensen Vineyard’ comes from this site that I set at 2200 feet on limestone soils and Calera clones with St. George rootstock. Stored for 18 months in 30% new French oak, this is refined and elegant on the mouth with a pillowy texture. Rich strawberry and guava fruit flavor single well with salty and stony soils on the palate, with soy sauce accents giving this a very savory edge. This is going to cellar beautifully for decades. Drink 2024-2042- 97

2021 Calera ‘Reed Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Reed Vineyard is an old site that is set on limestone soils and was first planted in 1975 with a northern facing aspect. Stored for 18 months in only 30% new French oak, this offers good concentration, loaded with bright red fruits that parade with stony minerals, Mandarin orange zest and suggestions of Earl Grey tea on the palate. Finishing long, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2024-2042- 96

2021 Calera ‘de Villiers Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The beautiful 2021 Calera ‘de Villiers Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes chris site that is set on a blend of rootstocks utilizing Calera clone Pinot Noir. Stored in 30% new French oak for 18 months, this delivers a beautiful combination of weight, verve and stony soil profile on the palate. Tart cranberry and red cherry collide with stony soils and suggestions of black tea on the palate. Really rich and refined, with a terrific sense of tension and terroir, this beauty has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2042- 96

Mollydooker

Today we share one of the jewels of South Australia. For years I have loved the Mollydooker wines and their incredibly creative range of projects — from sparking wines to intense and hedonistic Shiraz. It is hard not to admire the combination of texture, flavor range and flavor density. These are serious wines that are made exceptionally well.

It was an exceedingly short amount of time that Sarah and Sparky Marquis made Mollydooker one of the top wine brands of Australia. Their first wine, the 2005 ‘Carnival of Love’ Shiraz was immediately awarded 99 points by Robert Parker and was sold out in five days. I was amazed with what the produced even in very tough vintages like 2011 as the wines seemed to exceed quality compared to other producers. Sarah Marquis now leads the winery and now has her son, Luke, the ‘Blue Eyed Boy’, leading global sales.

I was amazed by the new Mollydooker lineup. I know you will love the deep and concentrated 2022 Mollydooker ‘The Boxer’ Shiraz (OB, 92) which is a terrific value with its combination of weight and freshness. I was blown away with the 2021 Mollydooker ‘The Velvet Glove’ Shiraz (OB, 99) which flirts with perfection and is a scintillating effort that has crazy good flavor density and complexity. Learn more about this famed South Australian winery at https://www.mollydookerwines.com.au/ Here are the beautiful new wines by Mollydooker.

2022 Mollydooker ‘The Boxer’ Shiraz- A killer value, the 2022 ‘The Boxer’ Shiraz offers tar, espresso bean and rich dark fruits on the nose with shades of black florals. Medium to full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024 2028- 92

2021 Mollydooker ‘The Velvet Glove’ Shiraz- The dazzling 2021 ‘The Velvet Glove’ is a monumental effort that has some really great aging potential. Coming from the Gateway Vineyard in McLaren Vale, this was aged in all new American oak before bottling. A total stunner, the seamless texture entices as you are greeted to blueberry compote with creme de violette, asphalt and stony mineral flavors, with serious viscosity and tension. This was just as outstanding tried the day after opening. Very heady and hedonistic, yet showing an astonishingly good acid backbone, this beauty will live on for another fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2024-2038- 99

Granville

We have an exciting feature for you today as we present one of the rising stars of Oregon wine. It has now been several years that Granville Wine Company was founded. The brand has deep roots in Oregon viticulture. Jackson and Ayala Holstein founded their winery paying homage to Jackson’s father who was a viticulturist. As a child Jackson spent time pruning vines and washing bins and didn’t fall in love with Oregon wine until college when he and his wife found their calling. They began making wine as a hobby and also worked at wineries and traveled to international wine growing regions.  For years I absolutely adored the ‘Cowhouse’ bottlings by Rollin Soles for Argyle, which came from Jackson’s family vineyard, the Holstein Vineyard. I fondly recall enjoying the 2004 and 2005 Cowhouse bottlings in particular which I savored over several years in my personal collection.

Jackson is making some absolutely killer wines. Check out the 2022 Granville Wine Company ‘Basalt’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is wonderfully stony as the name suggests. Even better is the 2022 Granville ‘Koosah’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which comes from this electric, windswept site. Learn more about these great new wines at http://www.granvillewines.com Here are the new wine releases by Granville Wine Company.

2018 Granville ‘Estate Blanc de Noir’ Sparkling Wine- This was sourced from the 2019 vintage, this was given .5G/L dosage. The wine spent 44 months en tirage before bottling. This has gobs of nerve and richness. Super refined and mineral-driven, this is loaded with peaches, toasted hazelnuts and green apple flavors alongside shades of lemon oil. Drink 2024-2038- 94

2022 Granville ‘Basalt’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Basalt’ is sourced from vines set on volcanic soils. This opens with wet stone and pear notes alongside starfruit on the nose. The palate is rich and viscous with serious texture and length. Rich orchard and melon fruits combine with citrus oil and copious minerals on the palate. Great now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2022 Granville ‘Koosah’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Koosah’ comes from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA in this windswept site. Orange peel and banana notes combine with stony minerals and ripe peach on the palate. Rich and viscous, with serious texture, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Stunning! Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 Granville ‘Basalt’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Basalt’ comes from a range of sites set on fractured basalt. Stored in mostly used French oak for 11 months before bottling, this comes off concentrated with smoldering stones, peat moss and suggestions of tart cranberry fruit flavors. Beautifully textured, this is already beautifully evolved stuff that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2039- 94

2022 Granville ‘Koosah Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Koosah Vineyard’ utilizes Pommard and Dijon clone 137. Fragrant orange blossom alongside red florals mark the nose, with damp earthy accents. Salty and stony soils combine with shades of Bing cherry, salted raspberry and orange zest on the palate. Very long and generous with great verve, this is going to be a 20 year wine. Drink 2024-2042- 95

2022 Granville ‘Old Vine Knudsen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Old Vine’ comes from Block 2 in the Knudsen Vineyard which is a site first planted in the 1970s. This was given 33% new French oak before bottling. This is deep and rich with plenty of volcanic soil character. Menthol, peat moss, wet rock, baking spices and heady dark fruits all mark the palate. Finishing long, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2040- 94

2022 Granville ‘Holstein Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This crazy good 2022 Pinot Noir was sourced from the famed Holstein Vineyard which was originally planted back in 1972. Loads of freshness combine with wet stone, Nori, white truffle shavings and shades of wild blackberry. Very smooth and rich throughout the drinking experience, this is already a joy to consume now. Savor this beauty over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 96

2022 Granville ‘Temperance Hill’ Pinot Noir- This beautiful Pinot Noir was given 40% whole cluster fermentation. Rich cola and cran-cherry combine with orange blossom water and iodine tones on the palate.This is loaded with richness and verve on the palate. Finishing long with rich dark fruits and stony minerals, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2040- 95

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