Willamette Valley Vineyards

Today we share the new wines from 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). They make a wonderful range of wines including some great vintage bubbles and complex range of Pinots, as well as Pinot Gris and even a great Pinot Blanc.

The new 2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Blanc (OB, 92) is a great wine for the price with a neat texture and nutty undertones. Here are the new releases from Willamette Valley Vineyards and learn more at http://wvv.com

2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards Gruner Veltliner- Fresh and nicely textured, the 2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards Gruner Veltliner offers kiwi and bright gooseberry notes alongside white grapefruit pit on the palate. Showing bright tension, enjoy this outstanding wine now and over the next six years to come. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Blanc- This brilliant 2023 Pinot Blanc comes from the Tualatin Hills AVA with vines set on Laurelwood soils. Best served at a warmer temperature, this has fantastic weight with walnut, pear and baked apple flavors alongside honeydew melon and suggestions of baking spice laced brioche. Bold and rich, enjoy over the next six years to come. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2022 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Tualatin Estate’ White Pinot Noir- This 2022 White Pinot Noir utilizes clones 115, 667 and Pommard. Stored in neutral oak barrels for nine months before bottling, this offers a slightly pink core with layers of melon and starfruit flavors alongside a smooth texture and beautiful length on the palate. This shows much better warmed up a bit. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2022 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Whole Cluster’ Pinot Noir- Like the bottling suggests, this underwent 100% whole cluster fermentation and utilizes a range of clonal selections and soil types. The wine shows a great core of crunchy red fruits alongside a smooth texture, with blood orange zest, dusty minerals and shades of salty soils on the palate. Drink 2024-2032- 92

Robert Biale

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

Winemaker David Natali is a New York native, David graduated from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service and developed a passion for winemaking after bottling at a friend’s small winery. He formerly served as cellar hand at Clos Pegase Winery and later studied at the University of Montpellier in France, where he received his master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology. After two and a half years of living and studying abroad in Montpellier, France, and Udine, Italy, David returned to California. He became the Assistant Winemaker for La Rochelle Winery, later taking the Assistant Winemaker position at Robert Biale Vineyards. He managed the cellar and lab’s daily operations to implement new winemaking techniques under the guidance of Winemaker Tres Goetting. In 2022, David was promoted to Head Winemaker. While David replaced a world-class winemaker, he is making a name for himself at Biale. The last two sets of releases come from the difficult 2022 vintage which saw a heat dome at harvest which led to intense heat spikes and early picking decisions. Despite this David did an amazing job maintaining acidity in the wines. These are wines that are concentrated, plush and very enjoyable now. I love the 2022 Robert Biale ‘Monte Rosso Vineyard’ Zinfandel (OB, 94) which is a killer effort from this mountaintop spot. Learn more about this storied Napa property at http://biale.com Here are the great new wines by Robert Biale. 

2022 Robert Biale ‘Pagani Ranch’ Zinfandel- The 2022 ‘Pagani Ranch’ comes from this site that was planted by Felice Pagani back in 1920. Today this historic site for Zinfandel is operated by his granddaughter. Very concentrated in the glass, this offers black raspberry and bramble on the nose alongside shades of black licorice and salty soils. The palate is soft and refined with generous red and dark fruits alongside milk chocolate and leafy accents. This is already nicely evolved stuff that will drink well over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Robert Biale ‘Royal Punishers’ Petite Sirah- Year after year, the Robert Biale ‘Royal Punishers’ is one of the great Petite Sirah wines that you will taste out of the Napa Valley. This 2022 edition is more evolved than most from the heat spikes at harvest. Generous and heady, this offers gorgeous black currants and blueberry compote flavors that meld well with iodine, graphite, tar and dark chocolate shavings. Full-bodied, enjoy this delicious rendition of this wine now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Robert Biale ‘Grande Vineyard’ Zinfandel- An ancient site for California Zinfandel, the Grande Vineyard was planted by an immigrant from Venice, Theodore Grande, back in 1920. White pepper and chocolate mark the nose alongside blackberry fruits and shades of sage. The palate is soft and refined with a generous mouthfeel and good sense of weight and length. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Robert Biale ‘Monte Rosso Vineyard’ Zinfandel- A hilltop site that is very large, the Monte Rosso Vineyard is considered to be one of the outstanding, historic sites in Sonoma County. Blackcurrants, allspice and milk chocolate mark the nose alongside its herbal undertones and freshly tilled volcanic soils. The palate is plush with a refined texture and a lengthy finish. Fantastic now, enjoy over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Robert Biale ‘Aldo’s Vineyard’ Zinfandel- The tiny ‘Aldo’s Vineyard’ is set right outside the town of Napa in the Oak Knoll Vineyard. Vines here were planted back in 1937. This is juicy and rich Zinfandel with bright red cherry and red raspberry notes alongside thyme, exotic spices and shades of chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, with bright acidity, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Robert Biale ‘Beatty Ranch’ Zinfandel- The Beatty Ranch Vineyard is set on Howell Mountain as this high elevation site overlooks the Napa floor. This shows a pretty core of red fruit flavors on the palate with a soft mouthfeel and bright orange zest notes alongside rocky soils. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 93

Cellar Selection: 2015 FIGGINS Red Wine

Occasionally I have the chance to enjoy wines from my cellar and I am always excited for the next cellar pull. On this occasion I had the chance to taste the 2015 FIGGINS Red Wine (OB, 95) a wine that came from a less than easy vintage. 2015 was the earliest harvest in Washington wine history. This led to some of the regions struggling with obtaining phenolic ripeness in the wines. Some reds from this vintage ended up on the flabby side or jammy side, lacking flavor density and underlying finesse. Even top producers tended to struggle in 2015. I have recently tasted through many of these wines and have found them to be a significant step down to those made in 2014 and 2016.

However, there are always vintage outliers. The 2015 FIGGINS Red Wine is a total stunner that is drinking right at its peak now. This is showing more non-fruit than fruit character right now and don’t be afraid to open this beauty if you have some in your cellar. Learn more at FIGGINSWINE.com and here is my review of the 2015 FIGGINS Red Wine.

2015 FIGGINS Red Wine- Taken from this challenging vintage, the wine was stored in mainly new oak barrels before bottling. Tar, tobacco leaf and espresso ground flavors all parade on the palate, alongside good tension and sense of weight. This is seriously good stuff that has stood the test of time —and does not come off at all overblown. Give this about 10-20 minutes of air and enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 95

Altesino

One of Brunello’s great wineries, set in the eeastern hills of Montalcino near Siena in central Tuscany, stands the magnificently elegant 14th century-built Palazzo Altesi, home to the Altesino winery and a marvelous resort. Altesino was purchased in 2002 by Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini, owner of nearby Tenuta Caparzo.Today's winemaking team, led by Simone Giunti and Alessandro Ciacci. Currently they have over 100 acres under vine and produce roughly 22,000 bottles each year.

The new wines were fabulous and well-structured, generous bottlings. I was blown away with the 2019 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino (OB, 95) which was dense and chewy with loads of concentration and serious aging ability. Learn more about this famed Tuscan house at https://www.altesino.it/en/ and here are my reviews of the new Altesino wines.

2022 Altesino Rosso Di Montalcino- The 2022 Rosso di Montalcino opens with roasted figs and red cherries alongside shades of lavender, thyme and damp soils. Medium to full-bodied, showing good weight and depth, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2019 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino- The sinfully good 2019 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino is a sensational new release from this house that is already drinking marvelously at the five year mark. Once on the nose this takes on orange rind and Amaro notes alongside dusty soils, worn leather and tart cranberry tones. The texture here is insanely good as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Showing a fabulous sense of weight and length, this elegant, well-structured and dense Brunello will cellar well for another twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 95

Orr Wines

Today we share the beautiful wines of Erica Orr. Orr Wines is a brand with a passion for service in the wine community. Founded by Erica Orr, it is amazing that all proceeds from her 2020 Royal Slope Red generated $11,000 which Erica Orr donated to the Columba Basin Health Association Mobile Unit “And I wanted this to go back to the vineyard workers who grew these grapes” she said.

She has made a name for Chenin Blanc in Washington State, being a big part of the varietal’s revival. I adored the new 2023 Orr Wines Chenin Blanc (OB, 93) which is mineral-laden and shows a smooth mouthfeel with serious texture. Don’t drink this one too cold! Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://ericaorrwines.com/ and here are the new releases by Erica Orr.

2023 Orr Wines Chenin Blanc- This 2023 Chenin Blanc combines fruit from the Upland and Roza Hills Vineyards. Pale in the glass, this was stored in a combination of neural French oak and stainless steel drums. This saw a touch of lees stirring and offers salted cashew nut and ripe pear that combines with melon tones on the palate. This is fresh and polished stuff that will pair with millions of foods. Drink 2024-2031- 93

2022 Orr Wines Grenache- The 2022 Orr Wines Grenache comes from the Lawrence and Stillwater Creek Vineyard. Stored in neutral oak barrels, this opens with red cherry candy, lavender and shades of baking spice with pomegranate seed on the nose. The palate is soft and elegant with a great purity of red fruits. Tobacco leaf and bay leaf flavors combine with salty minerals on the palate. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Orr ‘Royal Slope Red’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Royal Slope Red’ is a Merlot wine that was stored in all neural oak barrels before bottling. Ripe black plum, fig and chocolate mark the nose. The palate is seamless and smooth on the mid-palate with a beautiful melange of black with red fruits, coffee grounds and coffee ground flavors. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Orr ‘Royal Slope Red’ Red Wine- This 2022 ‘Royal Slope Red’ has 8% Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. Also stored in all neutral oak before bottling this opens with anise and black currants alongside tar and tobacco leaf. The palate is very elegant and refined with good structure and underlying finesse. A beautiful wine to savor now, enjoy over the next eight years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 92

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Today we present one of the famed Washington wine houses. Chateau Ste. Michelle has been a pillar of consistency over the past twenty plus years gaining awards and accolades from virtually every wine publication. There have been many changes at this house including working towards wines with lower calories and lower alcohol levels. I spent the afternoon with their team and we chatted about what this process has been like for them. They mentioned that since 2018 the winemaking team was working on finding lower alcohol wines and worked on it over several years. The brand team came to winemaker Katie Nelson and she described this process. She noted “It is not easy to make a wine with lower calories. 80 calories and 9% alcohol and we go out to the vineyards and look at the grapes that are naturally lower in alcohol. We take it into reverse osmosis and end up with a lower alcohol wine with also lower sugar. We are looking at balance in the wine and you have to be careful with alcohol and we look at balance and texture.” She stated “we talk about the younger consumer but I can’y tell you how many times that we hear from older people that we can’t drink higher alcohol wines. We have had great press from that.” She explained “For this wine we are sourcing from the Yakima Valley because we want a wine that is lower alcohol and a cooler site. The same is true for the Chardonnay.”

I haven’t been tasting many lower alcohol and lower calorie wines but these are definitely the best that I have tasted yet. I really enjoy the 2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Light’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 89) which is crisp yet maintains a really nice texture. The best wine I tasted in the tasting was the 2020 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘XLC’ Riesling (OB, 94) which is a legit GG style wine that is dense, heady and full of texture. This is a world-class Riesling. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.ste-michelle.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Chateau Ste. Michelle.

2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Light’ Sauvignon Blanc- Only 80 calories, the 2022 ‘Light’ Sauvignon Blanc was stored in stainless steel before bottling. Right away this shows gooseberry and kiwi on the nose alongside green apple notes. The palate shows wonderful bright acidity crisp pink grapefruit zest, Gravenstein apple and copious minerals with a smooth texture. Drink 2024-2028- 89

2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Light’ Chardonnay- This 2023 ‘Light’ Chardonnay was barrel fermented in neural oak before bottling. The wine is soft and approachable with pear and apple flavors with green melon notes and minerals. Drink 2024-2028- 88

2020 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘XLC’ Riesling- The 2020 ‘XLC’ comes form the Evergreen Vineyard. At the end of the season their favorite block is picked for this wine and then the wine is given native yeast fermentation and was stored in oak tank for two years and is later released three years later. The wine is made in a Trocken style, as this opens with petrol and white flowers on the nose alongside lemon rind and ripe peach. The palate is lithe and polished with a bright sense of acidity. Soft and broad-shouldered, this is a gorgeous rendition of this wine that is showing beautifully. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling- The 2022 ‘Eroica’ was given 2G/L residual sugar. Honeydew melon and bight pear mark the nose alongside orange blossom notes. The palate is fresh and smooth with bright sense of tension and mouth-watering acidity. This is nearly impossible to put down when opened. Drink 2024-2030- 93

2022 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2022 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Vineyard’ Chardonnay was stored in only 15% new French oak before bottling. The palate is fresh and nicely textured with baking spice dusted pie crust and bright pear alongside shades of marzipan on the palate. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Cold Creek Vineyard’ Merlot- This outstanding Merlot was stored for 18 months in 37% new French oak before bottling. Juicy and soft on the mouth, this delivers bright Bing cherry and red raspberry flavors that combine with shades of salty and loamy soils. This is already nicely evolved stuff. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Indian Wells Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Indian Wells was made with 84% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Syrah. Stored in a combination of French and American oak, this is delicious, full-bodied wine this shows roasted dates, espresso grounds, dark chocolate shavings and shades of black licorice on the palate. Really good now, enjoy over the next six plus years to come. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Cold Creek Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from this site planted back in 1973, the 100% varietal anew opens with a beautiful bouquet of black florals, tar and tobacco leaf on the nose. The palate is polished and well-structured with a delightful core of black fruit flavors. Delicious now, savor this beautiful wine over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032-93

2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Ethos’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The beautiful, 100% varietal 2019 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Ethos’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored in 56% new French oak before bottling. Tar, mocha, anise and black currants all mark the nose. The palate is smooth and shows good richness considering the coolness of the vintage. Well-structured and tannic, this has a long way to go. Drink 2024-2036- 93

2020 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Artist Series’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Artist Series’ is a beautiful red wine that is made from near equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with small parts Malbec and a touch of Cabernet Franc. This is soft and approachable now with dried herbs, bitter chocolate, anise, black currants and toasty oak on the palate. This is a really nice effort considering the challenges of the vintage. Drink 2024-2028- 91

Kerr Cellars

Today we present a Napa house founded back in 2013 by professional golfing icon and sommelier Cristie Kerr. Cristie first fell in love with wine on a visit to Napa Valley in 2000. She was seduced by the tranquil hills, rustic old-world charm, and extraordinary ‘Old World’ wines. Seven years later, Cristie joined forces with Suzanne Pride Bryan of Pride Mountain Vineyards to create Curvature Wines. Curvature is a range of boutique wines whose profits support breast cancer research. Showered with praise upon release, Curvature Wines found immediate industry acclaim. The wines were featured on the lists at distinguished restaurants, clubs, cellars, and even served at the White House. Building on Curvature’s success, Cristie launched Kerr Cellars in 2013 with partner Erik Stevens and highly acclaimed winemaker Helen Keplinger.

The new wines were fantastic across the board. I adored the 2021 Kerr ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which was big and bold, with plenty of salty character. I love the 2021 Kerr ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is a complex knockout Cabernet — one that is very powerful yet has brilliant finesse and nuance. Learn more about these great wines at kerrcellars.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Kerr.

2023 Kerr Sauvignon Blanc- The delicious and vibrant 2023 Kerr Sauvignon Blanc offers lemon zest and kiwi on the palate alongside flint and shades of kumquat zest. This has really good flavor range and flavor density. Nicely textured and very fresh, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Kerr ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay- The 2021 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay is a beautiful new wine by winemaker Helen Keplinger. The wine combines Old Wente and 543 Chardonnay Clones and was stored for only 12 months in 33% new French oak before bottling. On the nose this takes on layers of baking spice laced pie crust alongside golden delicious apple, creme brûlée and notes of butterscotch. The palate is wonderfully salty and stony with a seamless texture and great sense of length. This is going to age gracefully — enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Kerr ‘5 Wells Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 5 Wells Vineyard is located in the Sonoma Coast AVA and was founded in 2015 by Crawford and Jane Selina Kwon Wells of Sebastopol. This site sits in the Petaluma Gap, as this opens with freshly cut limes, vanilla cream, brioche and shades of passion fruit on the palate, giving this plenty of exotic appeal. Medium to full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Kerr ‘Rued Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The Rued Vineyard is an acclaimed Sonoma Coast site that was stored for 16 months in 35% new French oak prior to bottling. Baking spices and wet stone mark the nose alongside suggestions of brioche and Japanese pear. The palate is very fresh and mineral-laden with a smooth texture. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Kerr ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- Very deeply colored and perfumed,  the 2022 Kerr ‘Sonoma Coast’ opens with bright red fruits and lavender alongside salt dusted orange peel and a whiff of cola. Medium to full-bodied, showing good freshness, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2024- 93

2022 Kerr ‘Silver Eagle Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Planted by famed grower Ulises Valdez, the Silver Eagle Vineyard is a Sonoma Coast site set on a unique combination of Goldridge mix with red shale soils. Very deep and dark in the glass, this 2022 Pinot Noir opens with wild blackberry and shades of black truffle with tangerine peel on the nose alongside violet rose petals. The palate is soft and refined with serious texture and underlying verve. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2021 Curvature Red Wine- The 2021 Curvature Red Wine combines Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. This is soft and fresh on the mouth, showing bitter chocolate and tar notes alongside black currants and shades of black licorice on the palate. Medium-bodied and showing good freshness, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2019 Kerr Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 Kerr Cabernet Sauvignon is a sturdy wine from a great vintage. Molten chocolate and blackberry compote mark the palate alongside dusty soils and suggestions of coffee e grounds. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2019 Kerr ‘Wappo Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Wappo Vineyard is a complex and inky edition of this wine coming from this outstanding site. Inky in the glass, this delivers exotic spice and anise notes on the nose alongside shades of creosote and creme de violette. The palate is elegant and rich with great tension and graphite underpinnings alongside a generous core of black and blue fruits. Fantastic now in its heady youth, enjoy over the next two decades. Drink 2024-2044- 96

2021 Kerr ‘Mast Ranch Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Mast Ranch Vineyard is set on silt loam with alluvial rock. This moderate climate is cooled by marine influence and fog from the San Pablo Bay. An ultra-dark core, this delivers pencil lead and violets on the palate alongside creme de cassis, sandalwood and boysenberry compote flavors. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy over the next two decades. Drink 2024-2044- 96

2021 Kerr ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A knockout wine from this hallowed valley floor site, the 2021 Kerr ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers middle eastern spices, lavender and black currant cordial on the palate alongside dark chocolate shavings and loamy soils on the palate. Full-bodied, with good freshness and power, enjoy now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 97

2017 Kerr ‘Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Reserve’ is mainly comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon coming from Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III and Red Hen Vineyard as well as 30% Merlot from Nine Suns/Houyi Vineyard. It is plush and ripe on the mouth, showing a beautiful texture. Creme de violette, tobacco leaf and freshly tilled soils all combine with graphite and dark currants on the palate. Full-bodied and exceedingly well-balanced, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 96

Brewer-Clifton

Today we share one of the greats from Santa Barbara County. Icon Greg Brewer got his start more than twenty years ago, founding this house with his business partner and later selling to Jackson Family.  I first visited this spot back in 2004 and was amazed with what you get for the price. The consistency of these wines has been remarkable.

I recently had the chance to review all of his new release wines and they were amazing across the board. About a decade ago Greg launched his ‘Diatom’ project, named after the diatomaceous earth that is found throughout Santa Barbara County. The 2023 Diatom Chardonnay (OB, 92) is outrageously good for the price. Salty and drenched in terroir, this beautiful wine is vibrant and fresh for a summer day. I adored the 2022 Brewer-Clifton ‘Machado’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is a deeply textured bottling that has some serious aging potential. Learn more about these special wines at https://www.brewerclifton.com Here are the great new wines by Greg Brewer and Brewer-Clifton.

2023 Diatom Chardonnay- The 2023 Diatom Chardonnay utilizes Mt Eden Clone (and 4, 17, and 72) with vines set on limestone soils. This comes of salty and mineral-laden with honeydew melon and lime zest alongside kiwi notes. Drink 2024-2030-92

2022 Brewer-Clifton ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2022 Brewer-Clifton ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Chardonnay was stored in mainly neutral oak barrels before bottling. Flint and pink grapefruit blossom alongside shades of Pink Lady apple on the nose. This shows beautiful concentration and underlying tension. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Brewer-Clifton ‘3D’ Chardonnay- The dazzling 2022 Brewer-Clifton ‘3D’ Chardonnay is a dense, concentrated effort that has the weight and finesse to age gracefully. Sea salt dusted Meyer lemon, pie crust, and mango notes combine with the beautiful underlying stony minerals. Fresh and polished, with a seamless texture, this is beautifully evolved stuff that will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2022 Brewer-Clifton ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir offers guava puree, cranberry and orange blossom alongside black truffle notes on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with beautiful freshness and medium bodied red fruits with plenty of salty minerals. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2022 Brewer-Clifton ‘Machado’ Pinot Noir- A stunning wine from this warmer vintage, the 2022 ‘Machado’ offers plenty of texture and flavor density once on the mouth. Dense strawberry and red cherry fruit flavors mingle well with wet stone and sea salt. Chewy and soft, showing good length, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Ex Post Facto Syrah- A brilliant value bottling, the 2022 Ex Post Factor Syrah offers blood orange zest, wet stone, iron, wild blackberry and shades of loamy soils on the palate. Lighter to medium bodied, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

Chateau Miraval

Summer is here which means top class Rose season. One of the historic houses in Provence and a true Hollywood drama,  Chateau Miraval is a highly scenic 1,200 acre estate in Provence, which was founded by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Married at Miraval, Pitt and Jolie prior to their split lived there since 2008. The property boasts pine forests, olive groves, terraced hillsides, working vineyards, a private lake  as well as a moat. Much of the chateau dates back to 17th century, including 35 rooms in the main house as well as several tenant residences.The estate also contains remains of a Romanesque chapel, as well as the famed vineyard from which the Miraval Rose comes from. The recording studio at Miraval has housed some famous musicians including personal favorites Sting and The Cranberries (R.I.P. Dolores O’ Riordan). 

Pitt and Jolie purchased this famed land in 2012 for an estimated $60 million and records indicate that in 1252 philosopher and theologian Saint Thomas Aquinas visited the Miraval estate. The vineyard itself is very large, Jean-Pierre and Francois Perrin are the iconic vintners behind this great Rose wine that produce white and rose wine from the 500 hectare property.  They produce a ton of Rose (roughly 200,000 bottles) and despite the quantity of wine produced, the quality of the wine has been apparently throughout the past five vintages.

I had such a marvelous visit to Miraval last August. Walking through this incredibly beautiful site, you can’t help but notice the immense stony quality of the vineyards. Massive limestone deposits are everywhere as you can see how the heat and stones lead to the struggle in the vines, resulting in extremely high quality grapes. The 2023 Miraval Rose (OB, 91) is a very finesse-driven wine with great tension and pretty red fruits. Learn more about Miraval at http://miraval-provence.com/en/ Here are the new Miraval wine reviews.

2023 Chateau Miraval Rose- The 2023 Chateau Miraval Rose comes from parcels located in Muriers, Longue, Romarin, as well as from sites neighboring Correns. This 2023 Miraval is a refined combination of Cinsault, Rolle, Grenache and Syrah. This is very bright and fresh, coming off a touch leaner than the 2022. Pear, strawberry and watermelon flavors all combine with copious minerals and orange zest notes on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

Nicholas-Jay

Today we present a fabulous boutique winery in Oregon. Domaine Nicolas-Jay is a collaboration between Jean-Nicolas Méo (Domaine Méo-Camuzet) and Jay Boberg, co-founder of the music label, IRS Records. Jean-Nicolas Meo has experience working with grand crus of Burgundy and has translated that into understanding Oregon terroir. Jean-Nicolas has truly produced wines from some of the finest vineyards in Burgundy such as the Richebourg, Clos de Vougeot, Corton Clos Rognet and Echezeaux vineyards. Jay Boberg serves as cellar rat and aids assistant winemaker Tracy Kendall. The winery sources from their estate Bishop Creek Vineyard on in the Yamhill-Carlton appellation, as well as grapes from other outstanding Willamette Valley vineyards, including Nysa, Momtazi, Hyland and La Colina.

I have really enjoyed these bottlings since their inception. I love the new 2022 Nicolas-Jay ‘Affinites’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is likely the finest edition of this wine yet. Fresh and vibrant with great texture, this is already drinking beautifully now. Learn more about this gorgeous producer at https://www.nicolas-jay.com and here are my tasting notes from the outstanding Nicolas-Jay

2022 Nicolas-Jay ‘Affinites’ Chardonnay  The 2022 Nicolas-Jay ‘Affinites’ Chardonnay was stored in mainly neutral oak barrels before bottling. It is gorgeous, rich and viscous with plenty of lemon oil and brioche flavors alongside bright pear and starfruit notes. Seamless throughout the drinking experience, enjoy over the next eight years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Nicolas-Jay ‘L’Ensemble’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Nicolas-Jay ‘L’Ensemble’ Pinot Noir is an outstanding wine from this slightly cooler vintage. Sourced from a range of sites in the Willamette Valley AVA, this offers red currants alongside menthol, stony minerals and shades of guava puree. The beautiful tension exudes class throughout the drinking experience. Enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 93

Ocelli Cellars

One of the truly unique wineries of the Pacific Northwest, Ocelli Cellars is only focused on making Grenache-based wines. Founded by John and Sirpa Peacock, they are based in Oregon. John’s career was spent in various analytical jobs, primarily in data and reporting management and software development.  After being laid off in 2023, focuses on wine production and small winery ownership.   Sirpa has spent the last 16 years working in the local wine industry, primarily in tasting room sales, wine club management, event planning, and operations management.

The wines are really good. I really enjoy the 2023 Ocelli Cellars Grenache Blanc (OB, 91) which is vibrant and shows beautiful nerve and a smooth mouthfeel. Learn more at ocellicellars.com and here are my reviews of the new Ocelli Cellars wines.

2023 Ocelli Cellars Grenache Blanc- This 2023 Grenache Blanc is vibrant and nervy with kiwi and white grapefruit zest flavor on the palate alongside copious minerals. Drink 2024-2028- 91

2023 Occelli Cellars Rose- The 2023 Occelli Cellars Rose is composed of Grenache grapes, showing pretty red fruits with dusty soils and plenty of mouth-watering acidity. Drink 2024-2028- 90

2022 Ocelli Cellars White Greanche Noir- This White Grenache Noir might be the only wine of its kind in Washington State. Nutty and earthy tones line a pretty core of red rose water, red raspberry and thyme notes. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2020 Ocelli Cellars ‘French Creek Vineyard’ Grenache- The juicy 2020 Ocelli Cellars ‘French Creek Vineyard’ Grenache offers bright strawberry starburst candy flavors alongside good tension and orange peel notes. Drink 2024-2029- 90

2020 Occelli Cellars ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache- Soft and approachable the medium bodied 2020 ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache offers green peppercorns with a pretty core of red raspberry and red cherry fruit flavors. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 90

2020 Ocelli Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Grenache- This 2020 Grenache delivers ripe red fruits with tobacco and damp earthy notes on the palate. Lighter bodied, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2029- 89

Sawtooth

One of Idaho’s oldest wineries, Sawtooth began back in 1987. Located in Idaho’s Snake River Valley, the estate vineyards surrounding Sawtooth Winery were once rich pastures owned by Charles Pintler. The Pintlers saw a greater potential in the steep, south sloping hills, and set out to grow wine grapes. A range of plantings including Riesling, Pinot Gris, Syrah, Merlot and Tempranillo are all here at this 400 acre vineyard. Winemaker Meredith Smith has made some good values.  Good wine does not have to be expensive. All of these wines are offered under 30 bucks. I like the 2023 Sawtooth Pinot Gris (OB, 88) which is easy-drinking and a really nice value from this region. Learn more at sawtoothwinery.com and here are my reviews of the new Sawtooth wines.

2023 Sawtooth Pinot Gris- This offers kiwi and lemongrass notes alongside a good sense of tension. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 88

2023 Sawtooth Chardonnay- Peach and pear notes mark this lighter boded 2023 Chardonnay. Crisp, this would pair well on a hot summer day. Drink 2024-2028- 88

2023 Sawtooth Sauvignon Blanc- Lemon zest and lime combine with minerals on the palate. Bright, serve very cool to take in the minerality. Drink 2024-2026- 88

2022 Sawtooth Red Blend- Forward and juicy black cherry and plum notes combine with a smooth mouthfeel on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 88

Elsom Cellars

The women-led team of Elsom Cellars are making some fantastic wines. Founded back in 2006 by Jodie Elsom, Jody’s passion for wine began in the Napa Valley and further explored through numerous experiences in the vineyards and wineries throughout Italy and France. She is one of the first graduates from WSU’s extension studies of Enology. Elsom relies on the winemaking talents of Rebecca Weber who joined Elsom in 2014.  Possessing a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering she has traveled and worked all over the world, including wine regions in Australia, Austria, and California’s Napa Valley and Sonoma County. She spent several years at the Betz Family Winery before joining Elsom.

The wines were seriously good. I love the 2023 Elsom Albarino (OB, 91) which is fresh and neatly textured. Even better is the heady 2018 Elsom Malbec (OB, 92) which is dense, chewy and downright delicious. Learn more about this fantastic new Seattle urban winery at elsomcellars.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Elsom Cellars.

2023 Elsom Albarino- Coming from the Yakima Valley, this 2023 Albarino is nicely textured stuff with good verve. Mango and passion fruit flavors parade with green apples on the palate. This is really good. Drink 2024-2030- 91

NV Elsom Vermouth- Really nicely done, this Vermouth offers a fantastic array of flavors from tropical and melon fruits to Middle Eastern spices and ripe dates. Fabulous now, serve slightly chilled. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2023 Elsom Rose- Nicely textured, the 2023 Elsom Rose offers light red fruits with dusty soils and shades of stony minerals. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 90

2021 Elsom Cinsault- This 2021 Cinsault is translucent in the glass, delivering forward and juicy red currant, red cherry and loganberry flavors that mingle well wth minerals and its smooth texture. Really nicely-done, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2019 Elsom Syrah- Coming from the Rattlesnake Hills AVA, this 2019 Syrah delivers a juicy core of kirsch, dark chocolate and shades of tobacco on the palate. Nicely textured, enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2018 Elsom ‘Logan’ Red Wine- The already nicely evolved 2018 ‘Logan’ is mainly Malbec, showing a beautiful core of black fruits with dark chocolate shavings, tar and damp earthy notes. Soft and plush, enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2018 Elsom Malbec- Heady and dark in the glass, the 2018 Elsom Malbec shows a beautiful core of black fruits alongside bitter chocolate, and suggestions of loamy soils. Rich and showing good viscosity, enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2018 Elsom ‘Isabella’ Red Wine- Coming from Red Mountain, the 2018 ‘Isabella’ offers nice herbal notes from the 50% Cabernet Franc blended in. Flavors of chocolate and figs combine with black currants on the palate. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

Karta Wines

A new Oregon house, Karta Wines was founded by Peter and Darci Meyerhofe who acquired a farm property in the heart of the newly established Ribbon Ridge AVA. In 2014 established the Meyerhofer Vineyard, dedicating three acres to Pinot Noir, and eventually growing the vineyard to ten acres over the next five years. Karta Wines began to materialize when they collaborated with winemaker Paden West on their own brand.

The wines were very well-made. I really enjoyed the 2022 Karta Wines ‘Les Collines Vineyard Block 50’ Syrah (OB, 92) which is smooth and shows loads of vineyard character with its non-fruit notes. Learn more at kartawines.com and here are my reviews of the new Karta releases.

2021 Karta Wines ‘Evangeline’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2021 Karta Wines ‘Evangeline’ Chardonnay is soft and round on the mouth with Meyer lemon zest alongside toasty brioche and hazelnut notes on the palate. Polished and round, enjoy now and over the next seven years to come. Drink 2024-2031- 91

2021 Karta Wines ‘Looney Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Coming from this site in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, this offers beautiful red florals on the nose with salty soils, orange peel and cigar box notes. The palate is fresh with bright tension and a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2024-2034- 91

2021 Karta Wines ‘Nicholas’ Pinot Noir- The excellent 2021 Karta Wines ‘Nicholas’ Pinot Noir also comes from the Looney Vineyard. Soft and approachable now this shows off a pretty core of guava, cranberry and red cherry fruit flavors alongside loamy soils and tobacco leaf notes. Drink 2024-2034- 91

2022 Karta Wines ‘Les Collines Vineyard Block 50’ Syrah- Coming from this esteemed Walla Walla site set in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, the 2022 Karta Wines ‘Les Collines Vineyard Block 50’ Syrah delivers tar and wet gravel notes on the nose alongside crushed wet rock, blackberries and black cherry. Nicely stony and soft on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

Sullivan Rutherford Estate

A winery with some great history, Sullivan Rutherford Estate began back in 1972. Jim Sullivan’s interest in wine was formed in the 1950s with a simple grape arbor given to him and his new bride as a wedding gift and he began to make wine at home before moving his family to Rutherford and establishing Sullivan in 1972. The winery began new ownership in 2018 which involved investing in vineyard programs and plans are underway to build a state-of-the-art winery and hospitality facilities which was all led by entrepreneur Juan Pablo Torres-Padilla.

I am so impressed with the 2021 2021 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘J.O. Sullivan Founders Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) is the finest wine that I have yet tasted from this estate. Dense and massive, this has some incredible cellaring potential. Learn more at https://sullivanwine.com and here are my reviews of the new 2021 wines by Sullivan Rutherford Estate.

2021 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘Coeur de Vigne’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘Coeur de Vigne’ Cabernet Sauvignon combines 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 14% Merlot, and the remainder Petit Verdot. The wine is loaded with dark chocolate, loamy soils and graphite notes alongside shades of cassis. Delicious, nicely textured and full-bodied, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘J.O. Sullivan Founders Reserve’ Cabernet Franc- Deeply colored and perfumed in the glass, the 2021 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘J.O. Sullivan Founders Reserve’ Cabernet Franc opens with violets and cassis notes alongside shades of damp tilled soils and volcanic rock. The palate is plush and refined with a silky texture and great sense of weight. Generous and broad-shouldered, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 96

2021 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘J.O. Sullivan Founders Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘J.O. Sullivan Founders Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning effort that has 11% Petit Verdot blended in. Full-bodied and full-throttle, this has the weight, verve and length to satisfy any collector of Napa Cab. Middle eastern spices, Black Forest Cake, black tea and shades of boysenberry compote all meld together with salty soils on the palate. A total stunner, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next two decades. Drink 2024-2044- 97

2021 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘J.O. Sullivan Founders Reserve’ Merlot- The brilliant 2021 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘J.O. Sullivan’ Merlot is beautifully perfumed with red rose petals and black currents with Asian spices and shades of black licorice. Smooth and silky throughout the drinking experience, with serious weight and texture, this is a gorgeous rendition that is sure to cellar well over the next two decades. Drink 2024-2042- 95

Lingua Franca

Today we share one of the greats from Oregon, founded by Larry Stone and David Honig. A few years back Lingua Franca was sold to Constellation Brands and they have just recently opened a new tasting room on the property. Maestro Thomas Savre is one of the state’s finest winemakers. These wines show so well after ten years and have some serous aging potential.

The new wines come from the very classic 2022 vintage which appears to be a really electric vintage, with good tension and flavor density. These might age even better than the 2021s. Check out the gorgeous 2022 Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is a killer bargain at 40 bucks USD. Even better is the stunning 2021 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 96)  which has marvelous minerality and flavor range, with an unctuous mouthfeel. Learn more about Lingua Franca at https://www.linguafranca.wine Here are the beautiful new releases by Lingua Franca.

2022 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Chardonnay- A dazzling new edition of this wine, the 2022 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Chardonnay is a totally stunning wine that is already nicely evolved. Sourced from this steeply sloped location in the Eola-Amity Hills this gorgeous new wine was stored in mainly neutral oak puncheons before bottling. Orange blossom and star jasmine notes mark the nose alongside toasted hazelnuts, flint and shades of juicy nectarine. The palate is concentrated and beautifully textured, with serious weight and a downright unctuous mouthfeel. Wait for the near minute-long finish. A glorious effort from this vintage that ended very late, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 96

2022 Lingua Franca ‘Chers Amis’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Chers Amis’ comes from a site near their estate vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This is wonderfully flinty and mineral-laden on the mouth, reveling in its lemon oil, oyster shell and bright melon fruit flavors. Medium to full-bodied with pastry crust accents, enjoy this outstanding wine now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Lingua Franca ‘Mimi’s Mind’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Mimi’s Mind’ comes from what was formerly the Hopewell Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA — a site that neighbors the Lingua Franca Estate vineyard. The wine combines Dijon clone 777 and Pommard selections, as this was stored in largely neutral oak barrels before bottling. This beautifully showcases the heat of the vintage, offering generous red fruits with wild blackberry, tobacco leaf, and shades of wet stones on the palate, with orange rind accents. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Lingua Franca ‘Tongue ’N Cheek’ Pinot Noir- The tension-filled 2022 Lingua Franca ‘Tongue ’N Cheek’ Pinot Noir is a fantastic bottling that combines clonal selections 943 and 777. Deeply colored in the glass, this offers red rose petals and volcanic earth alongside shades of tangerine zest and guava. The palate is plush and filled with bright minerality and crunchy red fruits. A joy to consume now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Pinot Noir- The really good 2022 ‘Avni’ Pinot Noir comes a few sites in the Willamette Valley including roughly 30% from the Lingua Franca Estate vineyard. The wine was stored in 27% new and 73% old French oak barriques for 12 months as well as 4 in tank prior to bottling. This is juicy and gorgeous Pinot Noir with bright pomegranate seed fruits alongside tar, black currants, stony minerals and beautiful tension. Soft and round on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Pinot Noir- A gorgeous new bottling, the 2022 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Pinot Noir is a stunning wine that is already nicely evolved. Once on the nose this takes on layers of white truffle shavings, anise, wet stones and shades of Mandarin orange rind. The palate is nervy and tense with a smooth mouthfeel and plenty of minerality alongside a generous core of red fruits. Fantastic to enjoy now, savor this beauty over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Lingua Franca ‘The Plow’ Pinot Noir- Another gorgeous release of this wine, the unabashedly big 2022 Lingua Franca ‘The Plow’ Pinot Noir is a deep purple in the glass. A barrel selection wine, this edition comes from a range of Estate Vineyard sites that are set on Jory soils. The wine was stored in only 21% new French oak barriques for 12 months followed by an additional 5 months in stainless steel tank before bottling. It is lifted and beautifully perfumed wine that offers pink rose petals, menthol, white pepper and smoldering stones on the nose. The palate is silky smooth and ridiculously complex — with no rough edges. A magical new bottling by Thomas Savre, enjoy over the next twenty years. Drink 2024-2044- 96

2021 Lingua Franca ‘Nov Vino’ Pinot Noir- This 2022 Pinot Noir is a two barrel selection of Pinot Noir in which one barrel was completely destemmed and the other was given 100% whole cluster fermentation. This is a very generous and broad-shouldered wine, with dense red and dark fruits alongside shades of milk chocolate, green peppercorns, black truffle and shades of stony minerals alongside peat moss accents. The flavor complexity and flavor density exhibited here is nothing short of exhilarating. What a wine! Drink 2024-2044- 97

Fullerton

Today we share the story of Fullerton Wines, founded back in 2012. Head winemaker and founder Alex Fullerton produces a wide range of wines that have now expanded into Washington State. Alex has a longstanding industry history, formerly working for Penner-Ash, as well as Drylands in New Zealand, Alex began making his own wine out of his garage in 2011.

I recently had the chance to sample the range of new wines by Fullerton and they were very good across the board. I love the new value driven 2022 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Gris (OB, 90) which is a killer wine for the price. I adored the new 2021 Fullerton ‘Brvtvs’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which has fantastic flavor density and texture, coming from this hot vintage. Learn more about these wines at http://www.fullertonwines.com Here are the great new releases from Fullerton Wines:

2022 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Gris- Open and already nicely evolved, this shows bright kiwi and starfruit flavors alongside orange zest notes on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 90

2021 Fullerton ‘Dupee Vineyard’ White Pinot Noir- Coming from the Dupee Vineyard in the McMinnville AVA, this white Pinot Noir opens with walnut notes alongside bright pear, starfruit and strawberry notes. The palate is soft and mineral-laden with a smooth texture. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2021 Fullerton ‘Johan Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Johan Vineyard is set in the Van Duzer Corridor as this 2021 Pinot Noir utilizes clonal selections 667 and 943. This is deeply concentrated stuff with serious tension and racy acidity. Rich and tart red and black fruits parade with salty and stony soils, tobacco and worn leather notes. The earthy tones make you think of a top notch Barolo. Drink 2024-2038- 94

2021 Fullerton ‘Lichtenwalter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Lichtenwalter Vineyard’ was sourced from this southern facing spot in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. Translucent in the glass, this delivers a smooth mouthfeel with rich strawberry and red cherry flavors alongside shades of damp soils and tobacco leaf. Delicious now, enjoy over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Fullerton ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA the Fir Crest Vineyard was planted on ancient Willakenzie soils. This offers a beautiful core of black and red florals alongside orange peel, salty soils and shades of baking spices on the nose. The palate is rich and dense with a fantastic underlying freshness, with gobs of mouth-watering acidity. This is already really nicely evolved. Full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2021 Fullerton ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Momtazi Vineyard is a truly unique hillside spot that has both volcanic and marine sedimentary soils. This 2021 Pinot Noir utilizes Dijon clonal selections 114 and 777. It offers sea salt drenched red fruits on the palate, alongside baking spices, black tea and suggestions of kumquat zest.  Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2038- 94

2021 Fullerton ‘Arborbrook Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The beautiful 2021 Fullerton ‘Arborbrook Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from the Chehalem Mountains AVA as vines are set on Dupree soils. Juicy and rich, this offers a polished texture with black raspberry and black cherry flavors alongside shades of cola. Full-throttle and forward, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next twelve years. Drink 2024-2036- 93

2021 Fullerton ‘Apollini Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Appolini Vineyard is located in the Tualatin Hills AVA in the northwestern corner of the Willamette Valley. This outstanding wine is 100% Pommard clonal selection Pinot Noir. A deep core of black and red fruits greet you on the palate alongside allspice, orange peel and shades of salty marine soils. Full-bodied, and beautifully poised and textured, this is a total stunner that is drinking so well now. Drink 2024-2038- 94

2021 Fullerton ‘Brvtvs Pinot Noir- The 2021 ’Brvtvs’ comes form the Fir Crest Vineyard and is named after the rebel and leader that took down Julius Ceasar. This Pommard selection wine underwent 100% whole cluster fermentation. It is big, bold and juicy, loaded with tart pomegranate seed and Linzer torte flavors alongside a silky texture and good sense of weight. Fresh and smooth on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 94

2021 Fullerton ‘Clavdivs’ Pinot Noir- Named after the Roman emperor, this 2021 Pinot Noir utilizes clone 943 from the Arbor Brook Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. The palate is lush and rich, showing a gorgeous combination of wild boysenberry, black currants, ripe strawberry and freshly tilled salty soils. Full-bodied and showing good tension and texture, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 94

2021 Fullerton ‘Yellowjacket Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘Yellowjacket Vineyard’ Syrah is sourced from this site in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. Inky in the glass, this delivers umami and hoisin sauce alongside milk chocolate, beef drippings and tar with menthol notes on the palate. Complex and delicious, enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Fullerton ‘Summit View Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Summit View Vineyard which is a high elevation site in the Walla Walla Valley.  This is inky in the glass, offering anise and dark currants alongside black cherry compote on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

Billecart-Salmon

One of the most consistent producers in Champagne, Billecart-Salmon is pretty small in production as they control an estate of 100 hectares, obtaining grapes from an area spanning 300 hectares across 40 crus of the Champagne region. The majority of the grapes used for vinification come from a radius of 20km around Epernay, where the Grand Crus of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay co-exist, in the vineyards of the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs.

It is incredible that this house now spans seven generations, originally formed with the marriage of 1818 when Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon in 1818. This remains a family winery since the beginning with Louis Salmon, brother of Elisabeth and a passionate oenologist, getting involved in the creation of the wines.

Their tete de cuvee, ‘Cuvee Nicolas Francois’ was first crafted in 1964 crafted to serve as an homage to their founder. The house has received considerable critical acclaim over the years, not only for their top wines, including the Clos Saint-Hilaire cuvée, first created with the 1995 vintage, but their Rose and vintage champagnes in particular. On the west coast of the United States, their Rose champagne is particularly one of the most popular champagnes that you will find in bars and restaurants.

A few years ago I met with seventh generation CEO Mr Mathieu Roland-Billecart, who assumed his position back in January 2019 from his cousin François Roland-Billecart, who headed the House since 1992. Mathieu is incredibly knowledgeable about the region and drinks very well. He is beyond passionate about his outstanding brand that is performing very well in the United States.

I adored the new 2012 Billecart-Salmon ‘Louis Salmon’ Blanc de Blancs Champagne (OB, 98) which is a total masterclass and is incredibly refined, with a silky mousse. This beauty will easily be a 20 year wine! Learn more about this famed champagne house at https://www.champagne-billecart.fr Here are the beautiful new Champagnes by Billecart-Salmon.

NV Billecart-Salmon ‘Grand Cru’ Blanc de Blancs Champagne- The astonishingly good NV Billecart-Salmon ‘Grand Cru’ Blanc de Blancs Champagne was given 8G/L dosage and comes from Grand Cru sites in the villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger. Aged on the lees for five years, this offers kumquat zest, key lime and a bright sense of salinity on the palate, with green apple notes. Fresh and lithe, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2012 Billecart-Salmon ‘Louis Salmon’ Blanc de Blancs Champagne- This beautiful 2012 Champagne comes form the villages of Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly, Cramant and Oiry. The wine is a tribute to Louis, Elisabeth Salmon’s brother, who was passionate about oenology. 25% of the wine was stored in oak vessels before disgorgement as this was aged on the lees for 115 months before disgorgement. It is powerful, dense and drop-dead gorgeous with its core of oyster shell and lemon oil alongside toasted hazelnut and its refined mousse. Full-bodied yet very nervy, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2042- 98

Ken Wright Cellars

Today we share one of the greats from the Willamette Valley. The story of Ken Wright dates back to the 1980s as Ken worked as a waiter in Kentucky. At the restaurant Ken was exposed to the great wines of the world. After spending eight years winemaking in California for Ventana Vineyards and Talbott Vineyards, Ken was finally convinced to move to the Willamette Valley in 1986. He then started Panther Creek cellars and then founded his namesake winery in 1994. In 2001 he added Tyrus Evan, a Syrah based winery, to his portfolio.

The wines have been consistently great over the past ten years. I love the new 2023 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is glorious for an entry level wine and shows loads of texture and tension. Even better is the 2022 Ken Wright ‘Carter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is deep and concentrated, with some serious aging potential. Learn more about these fantastic wines at http://www.kenwrightcellars.com Here are the awesome new wines by Ken Wright. 

2023 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The really good 2023 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay offers juicy nectarine on the palate, alongside salty orange peel, baked apple and brioche tones. Medium bodied and beautifully textured, enjoy now and over the next eight years. This is a steal at under 30 bucks retail. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Translucent in the glass, the medium-bodied 2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir offers tart red currants and wild strawberry flavors alongside salty soils on the palate. Soft and neatly textured, enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2022 Ken Wright ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir- The delicious 2022 Ken Wright ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir shows a pretty core of red fruits on the plate, with stony minerals, red rose water, ash and shades of orange peel. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir comes from a range of sites from this AVA which was established back in 2004. This is juicy and generous Pinot Noir, offering ripe red cherry and red raspberry notes with cloves, lavender and hints of salty soils. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Canary Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Canary Hill Vineyard is set 9.5 miles west of Salem, as this site was first planted back in 1983. Deeply colored in the glass, this delivers rich black raspberry and black cherry notes on the nose with baking spices, black truffle and shades of pie crust. The palate is deep and concentrated with good underlying verve and plenty of mouth-watering acidity. Really good to savor now, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Bonnie Jean Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The gorgeous 2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Bonnie Jean Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is sourced from this 18 acre site location that is planted on ancient marine sedimentary soils. This displays a wonderful core of salty red fruits on the palate, with kumquat rind, menthol, and shades of volcanic ash. Medium to full-bodied, with beautiful structure, this is drinking beautifully already — and has a long way to go. Drink 2024-2039- 94

2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Savoya Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Savoya Vineyard is located 3.5 miles north of the town of Carlton, Oregon. The vineyard is set on marine sedimentary soils, as there is a wonderfully salty essence to this wine. Tart pomegranate seed and red currant flavors mingle well with diatomaceous earth and its refined texture, with umami accents. Full-bodied and rich, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Carter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Carter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this Eola-Amity Hills location that dates all the way back to 1983. Mainly Pommard selection Pinot Noir, this opens with a beautiful bouquet of potpourri, red raspberry, tobacco leaf and shades of bergamot on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture, exotic spices and great sense of weight and length. Rich and dense, with a soft mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, comes from this acclaimed site which was planted by Dick Shea in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Richly colored, this shows a seamless texture on the palate, offering a gorgeous array of bright red fruits to mingle well with tobacco, blood orange zest, red rose water and shades of wet stone. Finishing long with bright red fruits and copious minerals, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95

Champagne Bollinger

Today we present one of the iconic houses in Champagne. Bollinger was first founded in 1829 in Ay by Hennequin de Villermont, Paul Renaudin and Jacques Bollinger. Today the house continues to be run by members of the Bollinger family. This estate has been particularly popular in Britain as Bollinger Champagnes have been come to be known as “Bolly”. It is quite amazing that Bollinger dates back to 1585 when the Hennequins, one of the Bollinger founding families, owned land nearby. Before the Bollinger house was founded, in the 18th century the Villermont family made wine and then in 1750, Villermont settled in the location 16 rue Jules Lobet, which would eventually become the head office for Bollinger.

In 1803 Jacques Joseph Placide Bollinger was born in modern day Germany and after moving to the Champagne region he started work at the Champagne house of Muller Ruinart. In 1829 he partnered with Hennequin de Villermont, Paul Levieux Renaudin to form Bollinger in Ay, France. The partners agreed that the Villermont name would not be used on the labels, hence the house name Renaudin Bollinger. Starting when Jacques Bollinger married Charlotte de Villermont, the house has been managed by the Bollinger family. Even though Paul Renaudin passed without an heir to his name, the label did not become solely Bollinger until the 1960s. Founder Jacques had two sons Joseph and Georges that were important in expanding the family estate by purchasing vineyards in nearby villages. The sons also developed the image of the brand, such as when Bollinger received a Royal Warrant in 1884 from Queen Victoria which still appears on their label.

Following the death of Jacques Bollinger in 1941, Lily Bollinger took over the brand and expanded production considerably. Since 1994, Ghislain de Mongolfier has managed Bollinger. A great-grandson of the founder, Mongolfier has also served as president of the Association Viticole Champenoise since 2004, after leading the Commission of Champagne for 10 years. Bollinger has had roles in many James Bond films, including the 1973 film Live and Let Die  where Bond asks for a bottle of Bollinger entering his hotel. In the 1985 film A View to a Kill James Bond notes that his champagne is ‘Bollinger 1975.’

There are a brilliant range of champagnes that Bollinger produces and they might be best known for their ‘Special Cuvee’ Champagne that is Pinot Noir dominant and includes reserve wines that are up to fifteen years of age. I loved the new NV Bollinger ‘Special Cuvee’ Champagne (OB, 92) which is soft and round with good weight. Even better is the incredible 2018 Bollinger ‘PN AYC 18’ Blanc de Noirs (OB, 95) which is a total stunner and shows fabulous weight and good underlying verve. Learn more about this famed Champagne house at https://www.champagne-bollinger.com Here are my reviews of the beautiful new releases by Champagne Bollinger.

NV Champagne Bollinger ‘Special Cuvee’ Champagne-  The NV ‘Special Cuvee’ is a compelling blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier that was sourced from mainly Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards. This is broad-shouldered and rich showing pie crust and baking spices alongside shades of juicy pear and peach notes on the nose. The palate is rich and viscous with serious underlying verve and a silky mousse. Delicious now, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2018 Champagne Bollinger ‘PN AYC 18’ Blanc de Noirs- This outstanding 2018 Blanc de Noirs is a beautiful melange of wines and vintages, mainly coming from the village of Ay. Ripe strawberry and red raspberry notes combine with salted green melon and nutty accents on the palate. Rich and layered, this is drinking beautifully right now — and will continue to cellar well for another fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95