J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

One of the great value producers of California, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines has a great history. Starting in the late 1960s, Jerry Lohr began searching for a great location plant his first vineyard. Originally raised on a South Dakota farm, Jerry had a background in agriculture and chose the Central Coast, which was an experimental region at the time. Jerry has created an amazing success story with his winery, J. Lohr. While J. Lohr has gained a nationwide reputation for rich red wines, their white wine portfolio is also has some outstanding values.

I really enjoyed the 2021 J. Lohr ‘Pure Paso’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 91) which is rich and decadent, showing some serious value. Learn more about this outstanding lineup at https://www.jlohr.com Here are the outstanding new wines by J. Lohr. 

2023 J. Lohr ‘Bay Mist’ Riesling- Coming from the Arroyo Seco region, this 2023 Riesling offers good tension with sweetened cantaloupe and gooseberry notes on the palate alongside juicy red delicious apple. Drink 2024-2028- 88

2022 J. Lohr ‘Riverstone’ Chardonnay- Also coming from the Arroyo Seco region, the 2022 ‘Riverstone’ Chardonnay shows off vanilla cream and shades of butterscotch notes that combine with bright pear an starfruit flavors. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2023 J. Lohr ‘Windflower’ Valdiguie- A really obscure varietal planted in Monterrey County, this 2023 Valdiguie is brimming with juicy strawberry and pomegranate seed flavors that combine with citrus rind and shades of salty soils. Delicious and round, enjoy now and over the next few years. Serve slightly cold. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2022 J. Lohr ‘Paso Robles’ Merlot-  The 2022 J. Lohr ‘Paso Robles’ Merlot offers sweet red fruits with molten chocolate notes on the palate. Drink 2024-2028- 88

2022 J. Lohr ‘Paso Robles’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sweetened black fruits and baking spices mark the palate alongside shades of chocolate. Drink 2024-2028- 88

2021 J. Lohr ‘Pure Paso’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Pure Paso’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. Inky in the glass, this offers a smooth mouthfeel with decadent espresso grounds and dark chocolate shavings with a smooth texture and refined sense of depth. Generous dark fruits collide on the palate, as this is best consumed now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2021 J. Lohr ‘Carols’s Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Carol’s Vineyard’ is sourced from this Napa Valley site in St. Helena. Stored for 18 months in French oak, this offers fresh sage and cassis on the nose alongside pencil lead and shades of anise. The palate is soft and generous with good structure. Herbal and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2022 J. Lohr ‘Hilltop’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Hilltop’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a soft and refined effort that is drinking beautifully right now. Espresso grounds and creme de cassis notes combine with wet stone and shades of sandalwood on the palate. Drink 2024-2032- 91

Walla Walla Vintners

I very fondly recall my first visit to Walla Walla Vintners. Back in 2007 I came on a rain-filled day to the cozy and very busy tasting room at Walla Walla Vintners. Despite the weather the place was packed full of a boisterous crowd tasting wines. Current owners Scott and Nici Haladay, were first introduced to Walla Walla Vintners in 2017. Already familiar with the historic winery, they are the new owners of this house and their Cut Bank Estate vineyard. Scott comes from a technology background and Nici is a licensed nurse. I visited the new space for their winery earlier in 2024 and it is a world-class facility. We even did a few blinds together during the visit!

Derrek Vipond is a is a native Washingtonian who started his career at Walla Walla Community College in the Enology and Viticulture program. After completing his education with a degree from Oregon State University in Fermentation Science, Derrek worked several harvests across the globe before eventually moving back to Walla Walla and joining Walla Walla Vintners in January 2019. He trained under Gilles Nicault and his wines are very structurally sound, with a beginning, middle and end. He is doing an amazing job as head winemaker, as these wines keep on getting better and better. I love the 2023 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 92) which is very fresh and shows a soft mouthfeel. Even better is the incredible 2021 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Alera’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which deftly captures the art of blending with plenty of poise and stuffing. Well-done to Derrek and his team! Learn more about these great new releases at https://wallawallavintners.com Here are my reviews of the new wines by Walla Walla Vintners. 

2023 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2023 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc is a beautiful new wine that shows good texture. Gooseberry and rich melon combine copious minerals and wet stone on the palate. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Bello Rosso’ Red Wine- The 2023 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Bello Rosso’ is a Tuscan-inspired blend of 59% Sangiovese with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. Dusty tannins combine with tart red fruits, tar and tobacco leaf on the palate. Dense and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 93

2021 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Alera’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Alera’ was sourced from the Les Collines Vineyard and combines mainly Merlot (52%) with smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot. This is soft and plush stuff with cocoa powder and rich dark fruits that mingle well with salty soils. Refined and generous, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Old Vines’ comes from the Bacchus Vineyard with vines planted back in 1972. The wine is elegant nd savory Cabernet Sauvignon with fresh sage and thyme alongside layers of generous black fruits, tobacco leaf and coffee grounds. Fresh and lively, enjoy now and over the next twelve years. Drink 2024-2036- 94

Silverado Vineyards

A fabulous winery based in the Stags Leap District, Silverado Vineyards is now in its fourth decade of crafting estate-grown, produced, and bottled wines. One of the first four wineries in the Stags Leap District to plant Cabernet in the 1960s, and now Silverado has over 300 acres planted to vine.The winery has sites that span the Napa Valley — Miller Ranch in Yountville, Mt. George in Coombsville, and Soda Creek/Borreo Ranch within Napa Valley. The winery is now under the ownership of Bill and Carol Foley and leadership of Courtney Foley.

I loved the range of wines, none more so than the fabulous and dense 2022 Silverado ‘Solo’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) as this beauty will evolve well for two decades. Learn more about this historic winery at silveradovineyards.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Silverado.

2022 Silverado Vineyards ‘Estate Grown’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Estate Grown’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers red bell pepper and blackberry with black currant notes on the nose. The palate is juicy and well-structured, loaded with heady dark fruits, coffee grounds and chocolate. Drink 2024-2031- 92

2022 Silverado Vineyards ‘Mt. George Vineyard’ Merlot- The 2022 ‘Mt. George Vineyard’ Merlot comes from this site east of Napa in Coombsville. The Mt. George Vineyard is the site of one of the first grape plantings in the valley in the 19th century. Milk chocolate and pipe tobacco notes combine with bay leaf and black currants on the nose. The palate is elegant with good structure and mid-palate depth, showing layers of bright red and dark fruits, with loamy soils and espresso grounds. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2022 Silverado ‘Geo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Geo’ was sourced from the Coombsville AVA. Plantings for this wine come from a site set on volcanic soils on the western part of Mt. George. The wine is nicely concentrated with creme de cassis and sweet pipe tobacco alongside red bell pepper and blackberry compote, with milk chocolate accents. Rich and polished, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 94

2022 Silverado ‘Solo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Solo’ comes from the Stags Leap District and was stored in a range of French, American and Hungarian oak barrels before bottling. Inky in the glass, this slowly unveils aromatics of pencil lead and sandalwood alongside anise, huckleberry cordial and dark chocolate shavings. The palate is wonderfully stony, with serious depth and concentration. A joy to consume now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 95

Meyye Wines

It is my pleasure to share the latest from Meyye Wines, founded by Rob Campbell who is a member of the Coastal Miwok/Southern Pomo tribe. The really delicious wines have individual birds which are honored on wine labels. I have now tasted several releases of these wines and have found them to show beautiful richness and texture.

Campbell served as Robert Story winemaker for 11 years, and wanted to start his own winery. The wines he made were seriously good, having a beginning, middle and an end. I adored the 2022 Meyye Wines ‘Kuluppis’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is loaded with richness from this warm vintage.  Learn more about these at meyyewines.com and here are my reviews of the new Meyye Wines.

2022 Mayye Wines ‘Kuluppis’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the Carneros AVA, the 2022 Chardonnay delivers a beautiful mouthfeel upon entry. This speaks to the heat of the vintage, loaded with melon fruits and vanilla cream flavors, with a lengthy finish. Well-done! Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Meyye Wines ‘Omay’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Omay’ was sourced from the Petaluma Gap AVA and is named after the Brown Pelican in Coast Miwok. This is fresh and also nicely viscous on the mouth, loaded with pomegranate seed and red cherry flavors with hints of salty cola.  Drink 2024-2031- 91

2019 Mayye Wines ‘Sokootok’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Soootok’ is a blend of mainly Grenache and Syrah coming  from Amador County. Bright red fruits collide well with blood orange zest, seaweed and suggestions of salty soils. Really delicious and complex, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2016 Meyye Wines ‘Palachchak’ Zinfandel- This 2016 Zinfandel has a small portion of Syrah blended in. This is silky smooth throughout the drinking experience, loaded with freshness and texture. Ripe red raspberry combines with garrigue, and salty soils with orange rind accents. Delicious now, enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

Amos Rome

Today we share one of the outstanding producers of Chelan County. Amos Rome have an estate site which is planned to a wide range of varietals including Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon. They also utilize their High Blossom Vineyard located three miles from the tasting room and is set at 2000 feet. The location is planted to Riesling (planted in 2003), Grüner Veltliner (planted in 2019), and a block of Tempranillo & Albariño (planted in 2021). Wines show good body with texture and excellent acidity considering the heat of the region.

Owners Travis and Brianna Clark run the winery that has sweeping views of Lake Chelan. Travis serves as winemaker and has completed the WSU Viticulture Certificate program. The new wines were really good across the board. I love the 2021 Amos Rome ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 92) which is a beautiful expression of the variety in its herbal and neatly-textured glory. Learn more at https://www.amosrome.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Amos Rome wines.

2021 Bighorn Red Wine- The 2021 Bighorn Red Wine offers a soft mouthfeel with creosote, sweet red fruits and burnt orange on the palate. This is a bit out of balance. Drink 2024-2028- 88

2021 Amos Rome ‘Embers’ Red Wine- Primarily Merlot, the 2021 ‘Embers’ offers black cherry and loganberry flavors on the palate with milk chocolate and shades of coffee grounds. Medium-bodied and well-structured, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2021 Amos Rome ‘Six Generations Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2021 Amos Rome ‘Six Generations Vineyard’ Syrah was stored for 28 months in all neutral oak before bottling. Dried herbs and Umami notes combine with salty soil and a beautiful combination of red and dark fruits on the palate. Savory and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Amos Rome ‘The Machine’ Red Wine- A Right Bank-inspired blend of mainly Merlot (74%) with the remainder Cabernet Franc, this shows scorched earth and red bell pepper alongside ripe red and dark fruits on the palate. Medium-bodied and nicely structured, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2021 Amos Rome ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc- The 2021 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc comes from estate plantings that neighbor the tasting room. Lovely herbal tones mark the palate alongside good finesse and a medium-bodied core of dark fruits, with a graphite edge. While somewhat lacking in warm vintage typicity and viscosity this shows some seriously good flavor complexity. Only 95 cases made. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Amos Rome ‘Estate’ Merlot- Coming from this warm vintage, the 2021 ‘Estate’ Merlot shows off a soft mouthfeel with red currants, tobacco leaf, molten chocolate and creosote notes. Medium-bodied and nicely structured, enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2021 Amos Rome ‘Duo’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Duo’ combines equal parts Malbec and Cabernet Franc from their estate vineyard that neighbors their tasting room. This is soft, nicely structured wine that reveals cocoa powder and black cherry alongside red bell pepper and shades of fresh sage. The herbal notes really take the lead, as this is best consumed now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2021 Amos Rome ‘Foundation’ Red Wine- A blend of 50% Cabernet Franc with equal parts Merlot and Malbec, this delivers good finesse, with lighter red fruit and black currant flavors with scorched earth notes. Drink 2024-2030- 90

Ehret

Another year, another great set of wines by Ehret. A small winery based in Sonoma County Ehret is set on a family estate, the Bavarian Lion Vineyards, located in Knights Valle, in the northern end the county. The family has been farming Bordeaux varietals since 1996, selling much of their fruit to other wineries in the Napa and Sonoma Counties. Then in 2005 they decided to create their own brand, Ehret. The estate is exceedingly large, spanning 1800 acres. This massive amount of land includes both hillside terrain and valley floor. They have a whopping 500 acres planted to grapes.

Years ago I first tasted these wines and ws seriously impressed. They made some really good wines in the tough 2020 vintage. I adored 2021 Ehret ‘Hillside Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is one of the great Cabernets from this region that I have tasted in the past year. Learn more about this outstanding smaller producer at ehretwinery.com and here are my reviews of the new Ehret wines.

2032 Ehret ‘Knights Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- A great new Sauvignon Blanc that was sourced from the Bavarian Lion Vineyards in the Knights Valley, this 2023 offers a smooth mouthfeel on the approach. Papaya and green melon flavors mingle well with shades of wet stone on the palate. Really well-done, don’t serve too cold. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Ehret ‘Knights Valley’ Zinfandel- Sourced from their estate vineyard, the 2022 Zinfandel has good nerve with bramble and slightly sweet red fruits that mingle well with shades of chocolate. Medium-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2020 Ehret ‘Knights Valley’ Merlot- The 2020 Ehret Merlot is a limited production wine from this challenging vintage. Right away this offers alluring aromatics of black cherry and raspberry alongside salty soils. The palate is brimming with juicy red fruits as this medium-bodied effort is best consumed in the short-term. Drink 2024-2029- 90

2020 Ehret ‘Knights Valley’ Merlot- Coming from this warm vintage, the 2021 ‘Knights Valley’ Merlot shows off slightly better flavor range and flavor density than the 2020 bottling. Black tea and exotic spices parade with a generous core of blackberry and cocoa powder dusted black cherry on the palate. Delicious now, consume over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2020 Ehret ‘Knights Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Knights Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a really nice bottling that is already well-evolved. Black currants, tar and mocha flavors mingle well on the palate, with a smooth texture. Enjoy over the next five to seven years. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2021 Ehret ‘Knights Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2020 Ehret ‘Knights Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers really good freshness on the approach with plenty of minerality. Black fruits mingle well with coffee grounds and suggestions of anise on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2020 Ehret ‘Bella’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Bella’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon has 3% Merlot blended in. It is a great wine considering the vintage with chocolate fudge flavors that mingle well with black currants and creme de violette. Medium to full-bodied showing good freshness, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Ehret ‘Bella’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Bella’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off black tea and pencil lead on the nose alongside dense dark fruits. The palate offers good freshness and acidity, showing medium to full-bodied blackberry and black cherry flavors alongside shades of stony soils. Really good now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2020 Ehret ‘Hillside Reserve’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2020 Ehret ‘Hillside Reserve’ Red Wine is nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) with smaller portions Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The nose is hedonistic with pencil lead and pretty black florals that mingle well with chocolate and mountain huckleberry. Smooth and viscous throughout the drinking experience, this is a seriously good wine from a tough vintage. Enjoy now and over the next six plus years to come. Drink 2024-2030- 93

2021 Ehret ‘Hillside Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Hillside Reserve’ combines mainly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot as well as Malbec. This shows even better than the 2020 in terms of flavor range of viscosity, offering loaded pipe tobacco and black fruit flavors with shades of black licorice and chocolate pie. Very delicious now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2040- 94

2020 Ehret ‘Hillside Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A brilliant wine made in 2020, the Ehret ‘Hillside Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is very delicious and approachable in its youth. Medium to full-bodied black cherry and blackberry notes mingle well with copious minerals, wet stone and espresso ground flavors on the palate. Viscous and delicious, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2030- 93

2021 Ehret ‘Hillside Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The best wine of the tasting, the full-throttle 2021 Ehret ‘Hillside Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a barrel selection wine that shows what is possible from their Knights Valley estate vineyard. Delicious black fruits combine with shades of violets, tar and tobacco leaf on the nose. The silky and refined texture really makes this sing. Once on the mouth the palate is loaded with black and blue fruits alongside graphite, salty soils and shades of tar. Give this at least an hour in the decanter if enjoying in its hedonistic youth. Drink 2024-2040- 95

Jolete

It is hard to keep track of the never-ending range of new Oregon wineries. A new Oregon winery by the producers of Le Cadeau, Jolete makes a range of Pinot Noirs and even a Washington Cabernet. Joleté is owned and operated by Le Cadeau Vineyard and can be tasted in the Le Cadeau tasting room in Dundee, Oregon. For an inaugural release, the wines were seriously good. I loved the 2022 Jolete ‘Le Verre Cuvee’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which is elegant and soft with a beautiful texture. Learn more at joletewines.com and here are my reviews of the new Jolete wines.

2022 Jolete ‘Le Verre Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Jolete ‘Le Verre Cuvee’ Pinot Noir delivers white truffle and orange peel on the nos alongside lush red fruits. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth texture, showing ripe red raspberry and Yakima cherry fruit flavors. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2022 Jolete ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir shows a beautiful range of red fruits alongside orange peel and salty soils on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Jolete ‘Phinny Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Inky in the glass, the 2022 ‘Phinny Hill Vineyard’ offers a smooth texture with dense dark fruits that mingle well with coffee grounds, sea salt and shades of creme de violette. Drink 2024-2036- 92

Bledsoe | McDaniels

Today we share the wines of NFL Legend Drew Bledsoe and superstar winemaker, Josh McDaniels. Bledsoe-McDaniels was founded several years back and has become one of the premier producers of Pinot Noir that you will find in the Pacific Northwest. A huge development a few years back was Bledsoe and McDaniels purchasing the former Hope Wells Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills which they have named their estate ‘Coulee Vineyard.’ This site has 29 acres planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, set on Saum-Parrett, Woodburn soils.

I adored the new 2022 Bledsoe-McDaniels ‘LFG Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is absolutely singing in its pretty core of red fruits  and purity coming from both their estate and the Ribbon Ridge AVA.. Learn more about this outstanding winery project at http://bledsoemcdaniels.com/#top Here are the beautiful new wines by Bledsoe-McDaniels.

2022 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘LFG Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The fabulous ‘LFG’ is a deeply concentrated wine from this slightly cooler vintage. Stored in mainly neutral oak barrels this mainly comes from their Eola-Amity Hills estate as well as the Ridgecrest Vineyard in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. Finishing long, this is a brilliant effort that will live on for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 94

2022 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Silky and elegant, the 2022 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir offers red currants, cranberry and teaberry notes on the nose alongside salty soils. The palate is smooth and elegant with good weight and underlying finesse. A total knockout from this year, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2022 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Coulee Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir- A really brilliant wine from this vintage, the 2022 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Coulee Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir. A whiff of black truffle combines with black raspberry and orange zest on the nose. The palate is impeccably balanced, as this dazzles throughout the drinking experience. Silky tannins frame an ebullient core of black and red fruits. A total knockout, showing great poise, weight and length, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 96

2022 Bledsoe Family Wines ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Inky in the glass, the 2022 Bledsoe Family Wines ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows tar and violets on the nose alongside rich dark currants. The palate is medium bodied and fresh with a smooth texture. Loaded with minerality, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

Joseph Perrier

Today we share an incredible house in Champagne. Joseph Perrier dates back to the early 19th century. It was back in 1825 in Châlons-en-Champagne that the house was founded on a town that was formerly vineyards. The house is now in its sixth generation of ownership and leadership, run by Jean-Claude and Benjamin Fourmon. This house is probably is best known for its Brut Royal, a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The company also produces a beautiful Blanc de Blancs, and an outstanding Blanc de Noirs. Their tete de cuvee, the ‘La Cote A Bras’ comes from a small parcel of Pinot Noir vines and is made every vintage!

Joseph Perrier is the only winery still headquartered in Châlons-en-Champagne and the house manages 22 hectares of vineyards in Cumières and Hautvillers. In Joseph Perrier’s cellar in Chlons, a former chalk quarry which dates all the way back to the Gallo-Roman period. I adored the new 2015 Joseph Perrier ‘La Cote A Bras’ Champagne (OB, 95) which is a big, broad-shouldered wine that has some brilliant aging potential. Learn more about this beautiful house in Champagne at josephperrier.com and here are my reviews of the outstanding new wines by Joseph Perrier.

NV Joseph Perrier ‘Cuvee Royale’ Brut Champagne- The NV ‘Cuvee Royale’ has roughly 20% reserve wines blended in, as this wine combines Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Ripe pear and brioche notes combine with Yakima cherry notes and ripe peach on the palate. Enjoy this beauty over the next seven plus years. Drink 2024-20231- 91

2015 Joseph Perrier ‘La Cote A Bras’ Champagne- A round, generous and stunning wine from this warm vintage, the 100% Pinot Noir ‘La Cote A Bras’ comes from the single plot in Cumieres that was planted more than 40 years back. Rich buttered brioche and lemon zest flavors combine with cantaloupe and wet stone on the palate. Showing serious texture and weight, with quince notes and freshly cut limes, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 95

Giovanne Manzone

It is my pleasure to share one the jewels of Barolo. Giovanni Manzoni was founded back in 1925 when Giovanni Manzone purchased 'Ciabot del Preve' (the Parish Priest house) and he started the winemaking in Monforte d’Alba. Over decades the Manzone family purchased important vineyards on the historic hill of ‘Castelletto’ and ‘Gramolere’ two top crus in  Monforte d'Alba. In the last several years Mauro (2005) and Mirella Manzone (2012) joined their father Giovanni in the management of the winery. Mauro and Mirella are graduates from the famed Oenology School of Alba. Manzone estate is located in Monforte d’Alba, Piedmont, in the southeastern portion of the Langhe hills. Manzone owns 8.5 hectares (about 20 acres) of vineyards and uses estate-grown grapes only. The entire production is roughly 45,000 bottles per year.

For years I have purchased these wines for my personal collection. Particularly the well-priced ‘Bricat’ consistently over-delivers for the price. I have enjoyed these wines now for more than a decade and they have some terrific aging potential. Check out the stunning 2019 Giovanni Manzone ‘Bricat’ Barolo (OB, 94) which is stunning and round, from this warm vintage. This beauty is already nicely evolved at the five year mark. Learn more about this famed Barolo estate at http://www.manzonegiovanni.com Here are notes from the outstanding new wines by Manzone.

2021 Giovanni Manzone Rossese Bianco- The 2021 Rossese Bianco is an indigenous varietal that is rare and was rediscovered by Manzone. This wine has been made since 1982. This shows green herbal notes and stony accents alongside rich melon and mango fruit flavors. Delicious, be sure to serve slightly on the warmer side. Drink 2024-2028- 91

2019 Giovanni Manzone ‘La Marchesa’ Barbara D’Alba- The 2020 ‘La Marchesa’ Barbera comes from a vineyard set on red clay soils and is the finest edition of this wine that I have tasted yet. ‘La Marchesa’ is an historical farmhouse that used to belong to the Marchesa Scarampi and has been in the Manzone family since 1999. This really needs an hour or two of air to get fully aroused. Red rose petals and cigar ash notes combine with a gorgeous combination of red and dark fruits on the nose. The palate is jam-packed with flavor showing dark truffle shaving accents. Beautiful in terms of finesse and concentration, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2020 Giovanni Manzone ‘Gramolere’ Barolo- The outstanding 2020 Giovanni Manzone ‘Gramolere’ Barolo is a bit tightly wound at first, needing an hour in the decanter to get going. After some air this delivers tart teaberry and salmonberry notes on the nose alongside shades of wintergreen and pipe tobacco with blood orange zest accents. Beautifully textured and well-structured, this is going to have a long life ahead of it. Give it another year before uncorking. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2019 Giovanni Manzone ‘Bricat’ Barolo- A heady and also nicely structured 2019, the ‘Bricat’ offers beautiful red florals on the nose with a dusting of white truffle and green peppercorn alongside tart red fruits. The palate is beautifully structured and dense with refined tannins, boasting a glorious core of guava, cranberry and pomegranate seed flavors alongside salty soil and orange peel nuances. Generous and fleshy, speaking to the warmth of the vintage, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 94

2019 Giovanni Manzone ‘Castelletto’ Barolo- A great wine from a warm vintage, the 2019 Giovanni Manzone ‘Castelletto’ Barolo is already evolving nicely in the glass. Bergamot, rocky soils and worn leather notes mark the nose alongside white truffle shavings. The palate is rich and generous with a silky texture and loads of mouth-watering acidity. This is drinking remarkably well in its youth and comes off nearly impossible to put down. Drink 2024-2039- 93

2017 Giovanni Manzone ‘Gramolere Riserva’ Barolo- A totally head-turning bottling the 2017 Giovanni Manzone ‘Gramolere Riserva’ was sourced from more than 50 year old vines which are located on the steep section of the vineyard. THis location is rich in fossils and rocky soils. Rich and unctuous on the mouth, this revels in its core of loganberry and red cherry flavors with black plum, wet rock and orange peel flavors that collide with the mouth-watering acidity. Totally amazing to enjoy now, this has a very long life ahead of it. Give this at least an hour in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2025-2050— 96

Larkmead

Today we share one of the historic and heralded Napa properties that began back in 1895. Larkmead has an international reputation for producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Their estate vineyard is located between Selby Creek and the Napa River at the conjunction point of two colluvial fans that extend from the Mayacamas and the Vaca mountain ranges. Vines are set on an ancient gravel riverbed gravel which lies directly beneath the topsoil.

Larkmead Winemaker Avery Heelan served as Petroski’s assistant winemaker before becoming head winemaker. Heelan has an M.S. degree in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, with a specialization in Viticulture & Enology at Davis. Her academic program included experience as a harvest cellar intern (in 2015) at CADE Estate Winery in St. Helena. After completing her degree, Avery worked harvest positions for two harvests in 2016, first at Capel Vale Winery in Western Australia as vintage assistant winemaker and then at Domaine Yves Boyer Martenot in Meursault, France as vintage enologist. She then served as cellar master at Screaming Eagle from 2017 to 2019 before joining the Larkmead Vineyards team in mid-2019.

Avery talked about the 2021 vintage, noting “The biggest focus of attention in 2021 was the management of the fruit with a focus on mature and soft tannins during the fermentation. My goal was to capture the perfumed fruits and floral nature that Larkmead is known for while paying close attention to the tannin and extraction profile of each individual lot. The result is wines with plush, velvety tannins that are drinking beautifully now, but will age wonderfully over time.” She was bullish on the wines and vintage, noting that she was careful to craft wines that were both dense but also well-balanced.

I absolutely love the new 2021 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is concentrated and beautifully poised wine with plenty of damp soil character. Learn more about this storied Napa estate at https://larkmead.com Here is the beautiful new wines by Larkmead Vineyards.

2021 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon- A beautiful wine from a great vintage, the 2021 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon was stored in mainly new French oak (64% new) before bottling. This vintage unlike 2020 has 8% Cabernet Franc blended in as the 2020 utilized nearly 20% Merlot. This edition is impeccably balanced, with toasty oak notes alongside creme de cassis, sweet pipe tobacco, damp soils, black currants and suggestions of fresh sage. A totally dazzling effort that is already nicely evolved, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2021 Larkmead ‘Solari’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Solari’ is a stunning wine made by winemaker Avery Heelan. Very inky in the glass, the wine was stored in mainly new French oak barrels before bottling. Tar and tobacco leaf fill the nose alongside dense black currants and shades of blackberry compote. The palate is refined and elegant with a wonderful herbal streak that mingles well with its generous core of black fruits, molten chocolate and cigar ash. Very complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2042- 97

Donum

Today we share one of the beautiful wineries of the Carneros region, Donum Estate. This site dates back to 1981 when Anne Moller-Racke came to California to help manage Buena Vista winery. Her family later sold that winery but kept their estate in Carneros.

The winery was later sold to art collector and wine lover Allan Warburg in 2010. Originally from Denmark he had a successful life in the trading industry and settled in China, where he met his wife Mei. At Donum winemaker Dan Fishman has served at the helm since 2012. He has formerly worked at a range of Sonoma properties as well as honing his craft in New Zealand. I tasted with Dan yesterday, talking about his success in 2022— a vintage that saw extreme heat conditions at harvest.He talked about the 2022 vintage and stated “We finished picking the first day of the heat dome. Because of the experience of 2021 we had enough time to bring things in. We would have had a few lots that would have hung longer. I think 2022 was back to the style moving the lines of pushing that style. 2019 I loved, 2020 we didn’t make much wine and then in 2021 the heat pushed us but back in 2022 this was back with the style that we were going for.”

The future appears to be very bright for 2023. He stated that 2023 will be a much different animal “And this was the first time we didn’t pick until after labor day.” Dan sees a lot of promise with the 2023 vintage as well, noting that the slow ripening brought beautiful acidity to the wines. I adored the 2022 Donum ‘Carneros Reserve’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is dense and layered with a seamless texture. Even better is the scintillating 2022 Donum ‘Hypersonic’ Pinot Noir (OB, 97) which is one of the finest Pinot Noirs from Sonoma that I have tasted over the past year. Learn more about this fantastic property at https://www.thedonumestate.com/ and here are my reviews of the beautiful new Donum wines.

2022 Donum ‘Carneros’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Carneros’ comes from several blocks at their estate vineyard. offers straightforward and delicious wine that offers juicy pear, mango and peach alongside brioche notes on the palate. Showing good finesse, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 93

2022 Donum ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2022 Donum ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay comes from the two acre block at their estate Winside Vineyard set on sandy soils. Stored for 16 months on the lees before bottling, this opens with honeysuckle, freshly cut limes and white peach on the nose alongside suggestions of baking spices and banana alongside loads of mouth-watering acidity. The palate is fresh and lithe with a silky texture and good sense of length. Glorious now, consume over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2022 Donum ‘The Heron’ Chardonnay- The amazing 2022 ‘Heron’ Chardonnay is a big and lush bottling that comes from their estate plantings in the Carneros AVA. The wine was fermented and aged in concrete amphora for 10 months and then was transferred to stainless steel barrels to complete the aging process. This is dense and beautifully textured stuff with Meyer lemon zest, vanilla cream and shades of salted peach on the palate, yielding great weight and length. Fresh and vibrant, with loads of underling finesse, enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 Donum ‘Carneros Reserve’ Chardonnay- A dense and delicious wine that is showing beautifully now, the 2022 ‘Reserve’ was sourced from a source of clones including Mt. Eden, Old Wente, and Cote d’Or. It comes off very chewy and soft on the mouth with a generous mouthfeel. Broad-shouldered in its core of rich tropical and melon fruits, with stony minerals, this finishes extremely long with copious minerals and cream. Enjoyable now, savor this beauty now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 Donum ‘TFV’ Chardonnay- The 2022 Donum ‘TFV’ Chardonnay comes from this rocky site in the Carneros region which was first planted back in 1974. This shows beautiful balance and poise on the palate, as this is loaded with rich melon and orchard fruit flavors alongside vanilla cream and ripe pineapple accents. Complex and delicious, with salty soil accents, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2022 Donum ‘Carneros’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Carneros’ comes from the estate vineyard and was stored in French oak for 16 months (45% new) before bottling. This offers crushed wildflowers and dense red fruits on the nose with citrus rind accents. The palate is dense and chewy with a refined texture. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Donum ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant 2022 Donum ‘Russian River Valley’ comes from several blocks at their Winside Vineyard, planted to many clonal selections of Pinot Noir.  Salty soils and rich boysenberry tones mark the nose alongside hints of cola. The palate is rich and refined with beautiful richness and underlying verve. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Donum ‘TFV’ Pinot Noir- The ‘TFV’ comes from this stony site in Carneros region that sees a strong maritime influence from the nearby bay. Flint and menthol notes combine on the nose with orange rind, pipe tobacco, white pepper dusted black fruits and shades of fresh sage. The palate is soft and refined, as this is loaded with tart red fruit flavors alongside serious verve. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2022 Donum ‘Russian River Valley Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant 2022 Donum ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection wine coming from the Winside Vineyard, planted in 1997. Dark in the glass, this delivers beautiful red rose petals alongside wafts of cola, loganberry and shades of wintergreen. The depth is outstanding as this comes off dense and loaded with richness on the approach, gliding throughout the drinking experience. Sumptuous and round, enjoy this generous bottling now and over the next twelve years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 96

2022 Donum ‘Heritage Clones’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Heritage Clones’ Pinot Noir comes from their estate Winside Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. A Calera clonal wine, this was stored in mostly new French oak before bottling. Black raspberry and cola notes mark the palate, alongside dried herbs and salty minerals. A joy to consume now, watch this beauty evolve over the next twelve plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2022 Donum ‘Three Hills’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Three Hills’ is named after the three rolling hills at the Donum Estate in the Carneros region.  The wine saw a small amount of whole cluster fermentation, as this comes from some cooler sites on the property. The wine was stored 16 months of aging in French oak barrels before bottling. This offers red currants, potpourri and baking spices on the nose alongside suggestions of orange peel. The palate is rich and mineral-laden with serious underling tension that connect with a core of generous red fruits with tobacco leaf accents. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next twelve years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2022 Donum ‘Mikado Tree’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Mikado Tree’ comes from a small block of Swan clone Pinot Noir at their Carneros Estate. Once on the nose this takes on layers of rich red and dark fruits alongside sweet pipe tobacco and allspice. The palate is generous and broad-shouldered, with outstanding underling finesse. Cola and cranberry notes combine with salty soils on the palate. This beauty will easily provide drinking enjoyment for another fifteen years. Drink 2024-2040- 96

2022 Donum ‘Ten Oaks’ Pinot Noir-The 2022 Donum ‘Ten Oaks’ Pinot Noir is named after the ten oaks that frame the Donum Estate. Marionberry and fresh herbs line the nose alongside suggestions of damp soils. The palate is viscous and beautifully textured with good weight and length. A joy to consume now, watch this evolve over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2022 Donum ‘Hypersonic’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Hypersonic’ is a Mt. Eden clone Pinot Noir wine that was sourced from a western-facing slope on the Donum Carneros Estate. Stored in 55% new French oak, this offers black truffle shavings and menthol notes mark the nose alongside wild blackberry and shades of smoke. The palate is equally captivating with serious verve and a lush mouthfeel. Generous and glorious to consume in its heady youth, watch this evolve over the next two decades. Drink 2024-2042- 97

2022 Donum ‘White Barn’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘White Barn’ comes from a block of Wadenswil clone Pinot Noir planted on a western-facing slope in front of the Donum Home. This was first made in 2016 as this underwent 100% whole cluster fermentation. This opens with a beautiful bouquet of red florals and bay leaf alongside exotic spices and freshly tilled rocky soils. The palate is deeply concentrated with its core of tart red fruits alongside worn leather, kumquat zest and lavender cream. Complex and very delicious, enjoy now and over the next twelve plus years to come. Drink 2024-2038- 96

2022 Donum ‘East Slope’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘East Slope’ is a Calera clone Pinot Noir wine which was planted on an eastern-facing slope at their Carneros Estate where is a limited amount of afternoon heat. The wine is delightfully tart, filled with bright pomegranate seed and cranberry fruit flavors, with serious underlying tension and salty mineral accents. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy this amazing, terroir-driven wine and over the next twelve years. Drink 2024-2036- 96

2022 Donum ‘West Slope’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘West Slope’ comes from a 1990 planting of Pinot Noir. Cola, red currants and menthol notes mark the nose alongside stony accents. The palate is plush and soft with gobs of minerality. The core of tart red fruits shines through alongside citrus peel accents. Finishing long with good freshness, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2022 Donum ‘Pearl’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Pearl’ is a Martini clone Pinot Noir that comes from the Donum estate in the Carneros region. This wine was named after its storage vessel — the Perle de Quintessence — which is a teardrop-shaped French oak barrel. The freshness here is downright fabulous, as is the texture from the oak, offering tart loganberry and salmonberry fruit flavors that mingle well with Mandarin orange zest, and salty soils. The mouth-watering acidity brings you back to the glass for more enjoyment. Savor this beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 96

2022 Domum ‘Thomas’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant 2022 ‘Thomas’ was sourced from this site in Carneros, as this is a barrel selection wine by winemaker Dan Fishman. Round and generous, this offers marvelous stony and salty terroir once on the mouth. The lingering effect makes your mouth water, reveling in its core of wild blackberry and boysenberry fruit flavors, with cola, sassafras and herbal accents. Very complex and delicious, while somewhat tightly wound, give this an hour of air if enjoying in its full-throttle youth. Drink 2024-2042- 96

K Vintners

A famed Washington winery, K Vintners was founded by Washington wine pioneer Charles Smith. Over many years Smith has received incredible acclaim for his wines and years back he created amazing place to taste his wines in south Seattle. Located in the Georgetown district his Jet City tasting room neighbors Boeing Field. Brennan Leighton and Charles craft some incredible wines for K Vintners. Brennan also produces some amazing wine of his own under his own label, ‘B. Leighton.’ Earlier this summer Leighton has left Charles Smith to focus on his own brand of wines.

For years he has crafted an incredible ‘Royal City’ Syrah which I did not taste during my visit. I found the wines from 2021 to be several notches better than the ‘20s. I love the 2021 Wines of Substance ‘Sunset Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 92) which is lush and very tasty showing plenty of texture. I adored the new 2021 K Vintners ‘The Boy’ Grenache (OB, 95) which is very stony and shows a beautiful purity of red fruit flavors. Learn more about these outstanding new wines https://winesofsubstance.com Here are the great new wines by K Vintners.

2022 Jet City Dry Riesling- Kiwi and starfruit mark the nose alongside wet stone. Juicy and mineral-laden, this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2024-2028- 91

2021 Wines of Substance ‘Sunset Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2021 Wines of Substance ‘Sunset Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc was stored in neutral oak before bottling coming from this vineyard in the Ancient Lakes AVA. White grapefruit and peach mark the nose alongside lemongrass notes. Soft and approachable, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2029- 92

2023 K Vintners ‘Art Den Hoed’ Viognier- This offers nectarine, lychee and a smooth texture on the palate. Showing plenty of mouth-watering acidity and a good sense of length, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years to come. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2020 K Vintners ‘Powerline Vineyard’ Viognier- This comes from this site set in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Apricot and starfruit mark the nose alongside nutty tones. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture. This is best enjoyed now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2020 SIXTO ‘Moxee’ Chardonnay- Coming from this high elevation site in the Yakima Valley, the 2020 ‘Moxee’ offers buttered popcorn and nutmeg dusted pie crust noes alongside baked apple. The palate is smooth and viscous with lovely texture and good length. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2020 SIXTO ‘Frenchman Hills’ Chardonnay- The really good 2022 SIXTO ‘Frenchman Hills’ Chardonnay offers poached pear, cashew nut and suggestions of white peach on the nose. The palate is fresh and lithe with a smooth texture. Already nicely evolved, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Golden West Pinot Noir- The 2021 Golden West Pinot Noir offers cran-orange and dusty soils on the nose alongside shades of pomegranate seed. Fresh and juicy with a pretty core of red rose water and guava with red cherry flavors. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2021 K Vintners ‘The Boy’ Grenache- A dazzling wine from this warm vintage, the 2021 ‘The Boy’ comes from the Powerline Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA. Stored in neural oak barrels, this delivers beautiful red florals on the nose alongside tar, tobacco leaf and orange peel. The palate is plush, round and generous with a silky texture and refined mouthfeel. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2021 K Vintners ‘Guido’ Sangiovese- The delicious 2021 ‘Guido’ comes from Jack’s Vineyard in the southern end of the Walla Walla Valley. Bergamot and blood orange zest combine with pretty red fruits on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth sense of mouthfeel and beautiful tension that runs through the core of bright red fruit. Plush and lush on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2020 K Vintners ‘Cattle King’ Syrah- The 2020 K Vintners ‘Cattle King’ Syrah shows BBQ beef ribs, tar and black licorice on the nose. The palate is soft and juicy with medium boded black fruits. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 90

2020 K Vintners ‘Jack’s Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2020 K Vintners ‘Jack’s Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers orange zest notes alongside dusty soils and wild blackberry notes. The palate is smooth and soft with a refined texture. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2020 Wines of Substance ‘Stoneridge Vineyard’ Merlot- The really good 2020 Wines of Substance ‘Stoneridge Vineyard’ Merlot offers red cherry, creosote and shades of garrigue on the nose. The palate is soft showing a juicy core of red fruits alongside earthy and herbal accents. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2029- 90

Chateau Troplong Mondot

One of the storied houses on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, Chateau Troplong Mondotte was originally part of the De Sèze estate back in the 18th century. Today the estate is located right next to Chateau Pavie. The property was later acquired by Alexandre Valette in 1936. Famed Napa winemaker Aaron Pott formerly served as winemaker here in 1993 and 1994. Talking about his time in Bordeaux he talked about trails and tribulations about being the only American winemaker in the region. Fortunately his French was very good. The estate encompasses 33 hectares, with a grape variety of 90% Merlot with equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon blended into their grand vin. Roughly 10,000 cases are made each year of their grand vin, with a smaller amount into their second wine.

Michel Rolland has served as consulting winemaker at this property for many years now. The wines have been consistently great as I fondly recall tasting the beautiful 1998 and 2005 wines that are now really fabulous in their evolution. I recently tasted the 2015 Troplong Mondotte (OB, 97) which has plenty of dense dark fruits but marvelous soil character from this terroir. What a wine! Learn more at https://www.troplong-mondot.com/en/ and here is my review of the incredible 2015 Troplong Mondotte

2015 Chateau Troplong Mondotte- The 2015 Trolong Mondotte is a dense and delicious wine at nearly ten years of age. Once on the nose this takes on baking spices and chocolate cake aromatics that combine with sage and freshly picked blackberries. The palate is dense and chewy with plenty of loamy and rocky soil character. Refined and elegant, this really picked up momentum following a two hour decant. For those who enjoy a wine in its full-throttle youth, this is a joy to consume now after a lot of air. Drink 2025-2050- 97

Avennia

A winery that continues to ascend into the top brass of Washington wine, Avennia makes a range of world-class Rhone and Bordeaux varietals. The winery is partnership between former Microsoft exec Marty Taucher and winemaker Chris Peterson. These wines are incredibly consistent and extremely well-made. They also cellar particularly well as Peterson employs an old-world mentality with the wines, producing wines with richness and finesse. A former head winemaker at DeLille Cellars, he is making some of the best red and white wines in the state. I love the 2022 Avennia ‘Justine’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is rich and layered with serious complexity. Even better is the world-class 2022 Avennia ‘Parapine’ Grenache (OB, 96) which is one of the finest new world Grenache wines that I have tasted over the past year. Learn more about these special wines at avennia.com Here are my reviews of the new Avennia wines. 

2023 Lydian ‘SB S’ White Wine- A great blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc with the remainder Semillon, this offers forward kiwi, green melon and gooseberry notes on the palate, with a soft texture. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 90

2022 Lydian Cabernet Sauvignon- 100% varietal, the 2022 Lydian Cabernet Sauvignon opens with medium-bodied fresh sage alongside tar, mocha and cassis notes. Soft and round, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Lydian ‘GSM’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘GSM’ is a great value wine that combines mostly Grenache (63%) with smaller parts Mourvèdre and Syrah. Dried herbs, red currants and suggestions of red raspberry all mark the nose. The palate is soft and juicy with serious texture and good tension. A wonderful bang for your buck, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2022 Avennia ‘Parapine’ Grenache- The 2022 ‘Parapine’ really needs about an hour in the decanter to fully get going. Once aroused this unleashes a gorgeous core of bright red fruits that meld well with tobacco leaf, umami and orange peel notes, with salty soil accents. Full-bodied and unabashedly bold in terms of flavor density, enjoy this outstanding wine now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 96

2022 Avennia ‘Justine’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘justine’ is a beautiful wine made from this slightly cooler vintage. Made from largely Grenache grapes (61%) this takes on garrigue and scorched earth notes on the nose alongside red rose petals, cran-orange and suggestions of red currants. The palate is soft and beautifully balanced, with great underlying verve and meaty character from the Mourvèdre. A joy to consume now, watch this evolve for another ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2022 Avennia ‘Arnaut’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Arnaut’ is 100% Syrah coming from the Boushey Vineyard. This is beautiful stuff aromatically with citrus peel and high-toned red rose petal notes that combine wth suggestions of salty soils and smoked brisket. The palate is rich and refined with good tension and a smooth sense of mouthfeel. Showing good length, this mineral-laden Syrah is fabulous to consume now and should live on for at least another decade. Drink 2024-2036- 95

HALL

A warm early fall day for the Kathryn Hall release brought me to the Napa Valley to taste the new wines at HALL. For several years I tasted through the 2022 vintage wines which were really impressive despite the heat dome which seriously impacted Napa’s harvest. “We had the two optical sorters going to pull the raisins out” said vice president of winemaking Megan Gunderson, who has been at HALL for more than 20 years. “I remember it being 9 at night and over 90 degrees. Napa was hot.” She continued “The sorting was really helpful and you have a team who has been through this together. We have elevated Brix and some fruit that was compromised and how can you make the best wine possible? Extraction, you have the fear that if you go after that then you can get at some under-ripe stuff. Things jumped in sugar and all of those things we are working on how to ferment and pump-overs and a lot of people had issues with stuck fermentation because of the elevated Brix levels.” She stated “But we had one stuck lot. Just one!” Megan has an amazing understanding of the valley having been through so many vintages (and many hot ones).

She explained that in 2022 the use of the sorting machines made yields lower but overall quality was really good. For years I have admired the wines of HALL, not only for their wines made in great vintages but for their ability to make great wine in tough vintages. I recall their 2011s being some of the better ones in the Napa Valley. I tasted through the latest range of wines including some 2023 futures. 2023 as a vintage seems to have a lot of promise from this slow and moderate growing season. The wines show marvelous structure. I was enamored by the 2022 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is lush and soft with a silky texture. The 2023 Kathryn Hall (OB, 96-98) is going to be a totally stunning rendition of this wine, loaded with a massive core of black and blue fruits. Learn more about these incredible wines at hallwines.com Here are the beautiful new wines by HALL.

2022 HALL ‘1873’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 HALL ‘1873’ Cabernet Sauvignon is wine that was named after first grapes documented on the HALL property and has 9% Merlot blended in. Sourced mainly eastern Vacca hillsides as well as some other sites, this wine opens with tar, anise and black currents that mingle well with espresso grounds and wet stone. Refined and elegant with a seamless sense of mid-palate depth and richness, enjoy this fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2038- 94

2022 HALL ‘Ellie’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2022 ‘Ellie’s’ revels in its boysenberry and black currant fruit aromatics alongside tar and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied and filled with beautiful freshness with an opulent texture and core of black and blue fruits, enjoy now and over the next twelve years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2022 HALL ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 HALL ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ Cabernet Sauvignon is mainly sourced from Diamond Mountain with a small portion coming from the Rainin Vineyard. The wine is a tannic, chiseled monster that will need a few years to tame. Black currant cordial, espresso grounds, black forest cake and suggestions of Cuban cigar all come together magically on the palate. The wine is massive and dense yet shows loads of mouth-watering acidity. This is going to be a joy to drink someday. Drink 2025-2045- 96

2022 HALL ‘Stag’s Leap District’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2022 ‘Stag’s Leap District’ come from two main sites including the Schweizer and Taylor Vineyards. The wine shows off Bing cherry and red florals on the nose alongside sweet pipe tobacco and suggestions of coffee grounds. The palate is fresh and lithe with a smooth texture and great sense of weight and length. A beautiful wine to enjoy now, savor this now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 HALL ‘Montagna’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 HALL ‘Montagna’ Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from this site that is strongly influenced by Lake Hennessy. The site is western facing as this opens with beautiful black florals alongside coffee grounds, dark chocolate shavings, graphite and iron ore. The palate is elegant and refined with a seamless mouthfeel and good sense of length. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ comes from a range of sites including the Sacrashe, Carpenter as well as the Cook, Stagecoach and Beller Vineyards. This shows plenty of mid-palate richness and an opulent texture with beautiful fresh dark fruits. This is elegant, seamless wine that is already drinking really well. This is an amazing achievement in a generally difficult vintage that is best consumed now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2037- 95

2023 BACA ‘Home Base’ Zinfandel- This 2023 Zinfandel comes from a cooler vintage. The palate is rich and dense with loads of exotic spices. The freshness of the wine really drives this as dense black cherry and blackberry flavors mingle with bramble and green herbs on the palate. Showing great mouth-watering acidity, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2023 HALL ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (92-94)

2023 HALL ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ Cabernet Sauvignon (97-99)

2023 HALL ‘Diamond Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (96-98)

2023 HALL ‘Stag’s Leap’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (96-98)

2023 HALL ‘Montagna’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (96-98)

2023 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (96-98)

Champagne Henriot

Today we share one of the oldest houses in Champagne, dating back to 1808. Champagne Henriot begins with Apolline Henriot, a young widow of Nicolas Henriot, who founded Maison Henriot as she was a vineyard owner who had a great love for the region. Then fast forward to 1880, Apolline Henriot’s great grandson, Paul Henriot, married a young woman from the Côte des Blancs, Marie Marguet. This marriage gave way to a real transition of the Maison Henriot’s vineyards. Initially composed exclusively of three crus from the Montagne de Reims planted with Pinot Noir, three crus planted with Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs were added: Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Chouilly.

The house is headquartered in Reims and is currently run by Terroirs et Vignerons de Champagne (TEVC). The new wines were seriously good and I adored there 2012 Champagne Henriot ‘Brut’ Champagne (OB, 94) which is drinking so well right now. Learn more about this famed champagne house at https://www.champagne-henriot.com and here are the beautiful new releases by Champagne Henriot.

NV Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain- Soft and approachable the ‘Brut Souverain’ offers brioche and hazelnut notes on the palate with shades of green apple. Great now with its stony and salty nuances, enjoy now and over the next six years . Drink 2024-2030- 90

NV Champagne Henriot ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne- The outstanding and neatly textured NV ‘Blanc de Blancs’ was sourced from 12 cru vineyards and was aged on the lees for more than three years prior to disgorgement. Chalky and rich, this shows challah bread and lemon rind notes on the palate with candied ginger. Fresh and generous enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

NV Champagne Henriot ‘Brut Rose’ Champagne- A really delicious wine that is considerably better at a warmer temperature, the NV Champagne Henriot ‘Brut Rose’ Champagne shows toasted walnut notes on the palate alongside pomegranate seed, kumquat zest and shades of salted raspberry. Displaying good richness, enjoy this beauty now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2012 Champagne Henriot ‘Brut’ Champagne- A really good showing from this esteemed vintage, the 2012 Champagne Henriot ‘Brut’ Champagne combines 54% Chardonnay and 46% Pinot Noir coming from only premier cru and grand cru sites. Stored for more than eight years before disgorgement, this is offering generous citrus and melon fruit flavors alongside nutty and bread accents. Full-bodied and utterly fabulous with its hints of white truffle enjoy over the next eight to ten years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2016 Champagne Henriot ‘L’Inattendue’ Blanc de Blancs- The glorious 2016 L’Inattendue comes from a grand cru site in Avize and spent four years on the lees. Given 4G/L dosage this delivers loads of lemon oil and kumquat zest flavors, as this is heady and intense with nutty and earthy nuances alongside roasted hazelnuts and Yakima cherry notes. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95

Revana

Today we share one of the beautiful Napa producers of Cabernet Sauvignon. The Revana Family Vineyard was founded by eminent cardiologist Dr. Madaiah Revana. Dr. Revana also owns a world-class Oregon winery named after his daughter,  Alexana, as well as Corazon del Sol in Argentina. A big purchase was made in 1997 as Dr. Revana immediately sensed the property’s potential, with its gravelly soils, sloped pitch, and excellent exposures seemed perfect for growing grapes. Soil studies also confirmed that the property would be perfect for growing Bordeaux varieties. Then in 1998, Dr. Revana hired acclaimed vineyard manager Jim Barbour to plant and maintain the 9-acre estate vineyard. The first vintage of Revana in 2001, initially utilizing the winemaking talents of Heidi Barrett.

I was completely blown away with their new release, the 2021 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) which is the finest wine I have tasted from this estate yet and flirts with perfection in its pillowy texture and great depth and underlying tension. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.revanawine.com Here are the last two world-class releases by Revana.

20220 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon was picked before the fires in Napa. It is a total knockout 2020 from the block in the estate vineyard that ripens before others on their property. Stored in 80% new French oak, this offers beautiful black florals on the nose alongside black currants, loamy soils and suggestions of milk chocolate. The palate is deep and refined with a serious sense of weight and texture. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 96

2021 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon comes from their estate vineyard and was stored in 80% new French oak before bottling. Loamy soil and violets mark the nose alongside wild blackberry and shades of dark chocolate shavings with graphite notes. The palate is silky and refined with a serious sense of weight and underlying verve. A total stunner, with serious weight and length, this is a show-stopper that is drinking marvelously right now in its heady youth. Enjoy now and over the next twenty years. Drink 2024-2044- 99

Lange

Meeting with owner/winemaker Jesse Lange, we talked about the latest happenings in the Willamette Valley. There has been some exciting news at Lange as Jesse he has promoted Dan Papa to co-winemaker as he has formerly been assistant winemaker over the past ten years. He makes wine with Jesse Lange “And I felt that the promotion was deserved. He has been amazing, spectacular palate and super hard-worker.” JJesse himself comes from a great pedigree, as Don and Wendy Lange are some of the pioneers of the Oregon wine industry. Back in 1987 Don and Wendy took a chance by acquiring a large chunk of land that had sweeping views of the Willamette Valley. Don made his namesake wines for many years and over time his son Jesse transitioned into their head winemaker, taking over for his father. Jesse’s formal winemaking training occurred at New Zealand’s Lincoln University while on a student exchange scholarship from Oregon State in 1999. Jesse then spent two years as cellar rat for winemaker Bruce McGuire at Santa Barbara Winery prior to coming back to his family winery. He joined the winemaking team in 2004

For years I have admired the range of wines that Lange produces. This is one of the historic vineyards and producers in the Dundee Hills. For years Lange has produced world-class Pinot Gris, flying that flag very high. Their wines are also extremely well-priced, as you won’t break the bank for a great bottle of wine. Such is the case with the outstanding 2023 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris (OB, 93) which is a rich and beautifully textured Gris that has some good aging potential. I adored the 2022 Lange ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is round and generous from this slightly cooler vintage. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.langewinery.com/ and here are my reviews of the Lange wines.

2023 Lange Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, this 2023 Rose comes entirely from their estate vineyard in the Dundee Hills. Right away this offers wild strawberry and cremini mushroom alongside orange peel notes. This has the slightest kiss of sweetness with the core of guava, strawberry and melon fruit flavors. Nervy and round, this is a gorgeous bottling. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2023 Lange ‘Classique’ Pinot Gris- Stored in nearly all stainless steel, the 2023 ‘Classique’ offers gooseberry and kiwi notes alongside passion fruit tones on the nose. The palate is lithe and polished with a bright sense of tension. This is drinking beautifully now. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2023 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris- This 2023 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris was stored in a combination of neutral oak puncheons and concrete. This is dense and rich with a seamless texture and beautiful sense of verve. The stuffing and flavor density, with mouth-watering acidity and a bright salinity in its melon, beeswax and kiwi core is really outstanding. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2023 Lange ‘Classique’ Chardonnay- The beautiful 2023 Lange ‘Classique’ Chardonnay is a killer value from this slightly warmer vintage. Melon and starfruit tones make the nose alongside baking spices and challah bread. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured, as this comes from some of the older Dijon clone vines in the Willamette Valley. This is an incredible value. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2023 Lange ‘Classique’ Pinot Noir- The excellent 2023 Lange ‘Classique’ Pinot Noir is a great wine from this warmer vintage. This shows beautiful tension with a pretty core of bright red fruits alongside This shows a great sense of minerality with very pretty red raspberry, guava and Yakima cherry fruit flavors. Enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2031- 92

2022 Lange ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- Mainly coming from the Yamhill and Hershey Vineyards which are both set on Willakenzie soils. This comes off very salty and savory with fresh herbs and salty soils alongside bright red fruits. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured with a great purity of red fruits, showing loads of mouth-watering acidity. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2022 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir offers teaberry and shades of black truffle on the nose alongside kumquat zest. The palate is dense and rich with a great sense of freshness and good length. Beautiful now, enjoy over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2022 Lange ‘Lucky River Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This is the inaugural vintage of this wine that comes from a site roughly six miles south of the Freedom Hill Vineyard and set on Willakenzie soils. Vines are 22 years old, mainly Pommard, 115 and 777 clonal selection. The nose is wonderfully earthy with white truffle shavings, hazelnut and suggestions of white pepper alongside bright red fruits. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured with good sense of stuffing and bright acidity. Beautiful now, enjoy this well-balanced beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2038- 94

2022 Lange ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2022 Lange ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this famed property set on marine sedimentary soils. Lange has now been sourcing from this location for three decades. The nose is loaded with bright red fruits alongside blood orange zest, black truffle shavings and suggestions of cardamom. The palate is dense and fresh with a senseless texture. Generous and mineral-laden, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 94

2022 Lange ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Estate’ is a barrel selection wine coming from this 65 acre location in the Dundee Hills AVA set on Jory soils. The nose shows dense dark fruits with black florals alongside suggestions of marionberry and tangerine zest. The palate is dense and very volcanic soil-infused with its beautiful core of black and red fruits. Considering the vintage there is some really good flavor density. This has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2040- 95

Andrew Januik

Today we share the outstanding wines of Andrew Januk. A fellow world-traveller, Andrew has recently visited both Greece and Qatar for the World Cup! Truly one of the nicest guys in Washington wine makes a range of beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon that is worth seeking out.  For years I have enjoyed his ‘Stone Cairn’ which is a cellar-worthy Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Now he has added several SKUs to his collection of wines.

Tasting with Andrew, he was very excited to present wines from 2021 which was a warm, rather seamless vintage. He did an exceptional job with his 2020 wines and I loved the 2021 Andrew Januik ‘Stone Cairn’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which has to be up there with his 2018 as the finest editions of this wine made. Heady and well-structured, this could be a 20 year wine. Check out more about these beautiful wines at https://www.noveltyhilljanuik.com/wines/andrew-januik/ Here are my tasting notes from the new Andrew Januik wines.

2023 Spring Run Rose- Made from mostly Columbia Valley Grenache grapes, the 2023 Spring Run has the slightly click of sweetness, showing rich honeydew melon, strawberry and red cherry candy flavors, with suggestions of bergamot. Enjoy now while the brightness remains intact. Drink 2024-2029- 91

2021 Andrew Januik ‘Los Molinos’ Red Wine- This is a GSM inspired wine coming from the 2021 vintage. The nose is very earthy showing beef drippings, white pepper dusted bacon, and loganberry fruit tones, with bright red florals. The palate is also wonderfully earthy as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Medium to full-bodied with a smooth texture, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Andrew Januik ‘Lady Hawk’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Entirely coming from this site in the Horse Heaven Hills Vineyard, the 2021 ‘Lady Hawk’ shows fresh sage, dark chocolate shavings, tar and creme de cassis notes on the nose. The palate is very refined and smooth texturally. Mocha, tar, black licorice and creme de violette tones all wonderfully combine on the palate. A joy to drink now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2021 Andrew Januik ‘Stone Cairn’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The stunning 2021 Andrew Januik ‘Stone Cairn’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous effort from this warm vintage. Beautiful black florals mark the nose alongside huckleberry and shades of cassis. The palate is plush and fresh with bright underlying tension. Finishing long with copious minerals and dark fruits, this is lithe, generous Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2021 Andrew Januik ‘The Sorcerer’ Mourvedre- The 2021 ‘The Sorcerer’ is a 100% Mourvèdre wine from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard. Smoked meats and red currants mark the nose alongside venison and coffee ground aromas. The palate is lithe and polished with good freshness and smoky as well as damp earth undertones. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Andrew Januik ‘Baba Yaga’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the upper part of the Southwind Vineyard set at 1500 feet. Tobacco leaf, black currants, mocha and allspice all come together on the nose. The palate is fresh and refined with a great sense of nerve. Rich dark fruits parade with menthol, and espresso grounds. Drink 2024-2040- 94

2021 Andrew Januik ‘Doppelgänger’ Cabernet Sauvignon-  This 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Andrews Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills. This site is cropped at only 2 tons per acre. The nose is gorgeous with its dark floral character alongside fresh mint, dark chocolate shavings and graphite. The palate is silky and refined with great underlying tension and good richness. Enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2021 Andrew Januik ‘Southern Sojourn’ Carmenere- Coming from the Chile, this 2021 Carmenere comes from what Andrew Januik thinks might be the oldest plantings in Chile that are 80 years old. The nose is unmistakably Carmenere with its heady herbal tones. This is spicy and broad-shouldered with green peppercorns, green bell pepper and black raspberry flavors. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Andrew Januik ‘Southern Sojourn’ Syrah- This beautiful 2021 Syrah offers black currants, white paper and green herbs on the palate, with chocolate notes. Fresh and polished, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2020 Andrew Januik ‘Southern Sojourn’ Malbec- Coming from Mendoza, this 2021 Uco Valley Malbec comes from a site set at 4,000 feet. Right away this offers chocolate and sandalwood notes on the nose alongside black currants. The palate is smooth and soft with a refined texture. Showing good weight and finesse, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 93