Chateau Gazin

A house with a beautiful history on the Right Bank, Chateau Gazin Pomerol is an unclassified, property yet the estate is clearly one of the great properties in Pomerol. The estate has 26 hectares planted to nearly all Merlot (90%) with smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Annual production averages 8,000 cases of the Grand vin Château Gazin, and 2,000 cases of l'Hospitalet de Gazin.

Early in the 20th century the estate became the property of the Bailliencourt dit Courcols family. The current proprietors are Nicolas, Christophe, Laure et Inès de Bailliencourt dit Courcol, and Mickaël Obert serves as winemaker. I tasted their 2017 wine which was pure Pomerol with its earthy expression of soil. Learn more about this fabulous Bordeaux house at https://www.gazin.com/en/ and here is my review of the 2017 Chateau Gazin.

2017 Chateau Gazin- Rich, layered and full of soil character, the 2017 Gazin really needs a few hours of air to get going. Once on the nose this takes on layers of black truffle and damp earthy soils alongside shades of blackberry compote and espresso grounds. Medium to full-bodied, with fabulous underlying verve, make sure to decant this for several hours if enjoying now. Drink 2024-2042- 94

Pepper Bridge and Amavi

Today we share one of the outstanding joint houses in Walla Walla — Pepper Bridge and Amavi. Born and raised in Switzerland, Winemaker Jean-François Pellet is a third-generation wine grower. He is an incredible talent that worked with his father before coming to the Walla Walla Valley back in 1999. Pepper Bridge founder Norm McKibbon saw the potential in Pellet and made him Pepper Bridge winemaker. The brand has been going strong ever since. In addition to being winemaker at both Pepper Bridge and Amavi, Pellet is a partner in Artifex, the largest custom crush facility in Walla Walla, as well as the Octave Vineyard.

I sat with Pellet and tasted his new wines in August. These were beautiful bottlings that were remarkably consistent. His Amavi brand offers some seriously good value. I love the 2023 Amavi Semillon (OB, 92) which is very fresh and vibrant with serious texture. He did amazing work with his Pepper Bridge program and I adored the 2021 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which has a classic feel in terms of freshness, with good stuffing. These wines start around 50 dollars in price, rising to 75 and up. Learn more at pepperbridge.com and amavicellars.com and here are the gorgeous new red wine releases by Pepper Bridge.

2023 Amavi Semillon- This wine has 15% Sauvignon Blanc blended in. Nutty accents mark the palate with an oily texture. This has beautiful richness and poise with walnut and rich melon flavors with hints of Meyer lemon rind alongside outstanding tension. Mainly sourced from the Les Collines Vineyard, enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2023 Pepper Bridge Sauvignon Blanc- Stored in a small amount of new French oak, this 2023 Sauvignon Blanc saw constant lees stirring before bottling. Right away this offers honeysuckle and lemon blossom on the nose alongside shades of kiwi. The palate is soft and refined with serious tension and salty minerals on the palate. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2023 Amavi Rose- A gorgeous wine from this vintage, the 2023 Amavi Rose is made from Cabernet Franc grapes and then was stored in stainless steel with some lees stirring before bottling. Red currant and red cherry flavors mingle well with melon and citrus rind accents on the palate. Showing good depth, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Amavi ‘Walla Walla’ Syrah- A blend of 89% Syrah with the remainder Grenache, this comes from mainly the Les Collines Vineyard in the Walla Walla valley. Stored in mainly neutral oak puncheons this offers juicy blackberry and black currant aromas alongside garrigue and wet stone on the nose. This comes off refined and juicy, loaded with citrus rind and dense dark fruits with lip-smacking acidity. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2021 Amavi ‘Les Collines’ Syrah- This 100% varietal wine comes from the Les Collines Vineyard in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Denselt colored in the glass, this offers black olive tapenade and bacon fat notes alongside violets and black tea notes. The palate has great poise and depth, loaded with dense dark fruit and herbal accents. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Amavi ‘Stone Valley’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘Stone Valley’ comes from the Walla Walla Rocks District ‘ and saw some stem inclusion (60%). Umami, oyster sauce and black truffle shavings all mingle well with wet stone on the nose. The palate is salty and savory with loads of freshness and great flavor density. This is a killer rendition of this wine that is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2031- 95

2021 Amavi ‘Walla Walla’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Wallla Walla’ Cabernet Sauvignon has smaller portions of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec blended in. Dried sage and black currant jelly combines with coffee grounds on the nose. The palate is dense and delicious with herbal accents alongside lush dark fruits with a silky mouthfeel. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Pepper Bridge ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine-  The 2021 Amavi ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine combines near equal parts Merlot and Malbec with 24% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot. This shows loaded of chocolate and dried herbs on the nose alongside dense blackberry and boysenberry fruit aromatics. This is seamless wine that is dense upon entry with beautiful length. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2021 Pepper Bridge ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2021 Amavi ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine comes from this famed site in the Walla Walla Valley. A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon with 14% Merlot and equal parts Malbec and Petit Verdot, this was stored in 46% new French oak before bottling. Rich cassis and espresso grounds mark the nose alongside soy sauce and dried sage. The palate offers velvety tannins that frame a core of generous dark fruits with graphite and herbal accents. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2021 Pepper Bridge ‘Trine’ Red Wine- This beautiful wine combines 42% Cabernet Franc with 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Violets, tar and tobacco leaf mark the nose alongside heady black fruits. The palate is beautifully poised and dense with a silky texture and good sense of underlying tension. Elegant and bright, this will age gracefully for another twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2042- 95

2021 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a range of sites throughout the valley, mainly from the Seven Hills Vineyard. A combination of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon with small parts Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot, this delivers beautiful dark fruits that parade with espresso grounds, sagebrush and shades of graphite on the palate. Refined and elegant, with firm tannins, enjoy this beautiful bottling over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 94

Heitz Cellar

One of the great historic sites in the Napa Valley, Heitz Cellar is under the leadership of Lawrence Wine Estates, as the winery was purchased in 2018. Tasting with Lawrence Wine Estates CEO Carlton McCoy, MS, was a treat as he shared the rich history of the property. McCoy, MS, became a Master Sommelier in 2013 at just 28 years old as he was one of the youngest people and the second African American to become a MS. Sharing his thoughts about Heitz, he talked about the importance of the winemaking team understanding the land. McCoy stated “Brittney Sherwood had been the winemaker at Heitz since 2012 and the winemaking at this location is so unique. We didn’t need to tweak a lot but we challenged Brittney to see how they can be better. For someone who really admired something we wanted them to be better and we have more knowledge now. A lot of the changes that we made were in the vineyard. Balancing yields better, managing canopies better and preserving more natural acidity in the fruit. Trying to get more length in the wines. We worked with our cooperage and reduced the new barrique.”

He has noted that the new winemaking style is a departure from the old wines made by David Heitz. McCoy explained “David Heitz really liked new oak more and his era of wines had more new. We brought back more large vessel aging and because of that the wines are more pure and less sweet and fat.” The wines now he explained focus on good structure and aging potential. McCoy stated “This is one of the great, iconic estates in the world and we were careful to change anything. Sometimes we went to 10 or 20 thousand liter oak casks and beaches of that journey I think that Brittney is connected more to the wines. Heitz doesn’t need much work, we invested into the facility and into the farming.”

We tasted through the new wines and I found that the ‘Cru’ bottlings to be leaps above the entry level wine. I love the new 2018 Heitz ‘Trailside Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which ash marvelous herbal notes and stony accents. This is a polished, highly-nuanced bottling. The best wine I tasted was the 2018 Heitz ‘Martha’s Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is a stunning wine that has beautiful power, poise and aging potential. Learn more about this famed house at heitzcellar.com and here are my reviews of the new Heitz wines.

2019 Heitz Cellar ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2019 Heitz Cellar ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromatics of bay leaf and black currants that mingle well with salty soils and shades of boysenberry compote on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with good elegance and underlying verve. Soft and approachable now, enjoy over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 91

2019 Heitz Cellar ‘Lot C-91’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Lot C-91’ comes from sites in Western Oakville, Eastern Rutherford, Southeast Howell Mountain, as well as the foothills of St. Helena. 100% varietal, this opens with pencil lead and dark currants that parade with loamy soils and suggestions of wet stone on the nose. The palate is fresh, well-poised and neatly textured, reveling in its medium to full-bodied core of black fruits, eucalyptus, espresso grounds and tar notes. This is delicious stuff to enjoy now, and watch this evolve over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 93

2018 Heitz Cellar ‘Trailside Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Heitz Cellar ‘Trailside Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this gently sloped site in the Rutherford AVA, set on alluvial soils. This site was formerly owned by the Wildwood Ranch. The wine comes from one small block set on volcanic soils. Aged in 100% new French oak, this opens with an alluring bouquet of violet rose petals alongside crushed wet gravel, fresh thyme, cigar box and heady wild blackberry fruit tones. The herbal and rose petal aromatics really make this sing. Medium to full-bodied, with a seamless texture and good sense of length, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen to twenty yeas to come. Drink 2024-2040- 96

2018 Heitz Cellar ‘Linda Falls Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2018 Heitz Cellar ‘Linda Falls Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from their estate site on Howell Mountain. Provencale herbs  and cassis notes mark the nose alongside suggestions of asphalt and huckleberry — showing outstanding flavor range. Well-balanced, medium to full-bodied and delicious, this glides throughout the drinking experience. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2018 Heitz Cellar ‘Martha’s Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Heitz Cellar ‘Martha’s Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning new edition of this wine that was aged in all new French oak before bottling. From the Oakville AVA, this reveals a lush mouthfeel and wonderful sense of salinity that makes your mouth water. Bright red and dark fruits mingle well with espresso grounds and wet gravel, alongside shades of menthol on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, and impeccably balanced, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twenty plus years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 97

Prospice

A great Walla Walla house founded by Jay Krutulis and Matt Reilly, Prospice is located in the Airport District. Jay and Matt both had successful careers before starting a winery together. I tasted with them earlier in the year and we talked about how they have been honing in on their winemaking style — one that produces highly structured wine, with some good aging potential.

They are also producing some killer values. I love the 2022 Prospice ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 94) which is beautifully textured and nuanced stuff from this cooler site in Walla Walla. Learn more at prospicewines.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Prospice.

2022 Prospice ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Mourvedre- Coming from this site in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, the 2022 ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Mourvèdre offers white pepper dusted brisket and orange peel notes on the nose alongside bright red fruits. The palate is juicy and loaded with ripe pomegranate seed, Bing cherry and red raspberry flavors, with a savory edge. Fresh and lithe, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Prospice ‘Knox Road Vineyard’ Grenache- The 2022 ‘Knox Road Vineyard’ comes form this site located five miles west of Red Mountain on Knox Road in Benton City. The palate is soft and loaded with bright red fruits that mingle well with salty minerals, kumquat zest and shades of pulled pork. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2022 Prospice ‘Knox Road Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Knox Road Vineyard’ Syrah offers green peppercorns on the nose alongside soy sauce, wintergreen and smoked meats. The palate is neatly textured with good freshness and depth. Delicious in its stony and salty nuances, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Prospice ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2022 Prospice ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this famed site in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Savory notes mark the nose with pipe tobacco and wet stone alongside suggestions of clay soils and boysenberry aromas. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured, showing outstanding length and minerality. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Prospice ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a delicious, beautifully structured bottling that is built to age. This is fresh and nicely textured stuff, reveling in its core of dark fruits with coffee grounds and dark chocolate shavings with a graphite edge. Enjoy now and over the next twelve years. Drink 2024-2036- 93

Sama Cellars

Today we share the vision of a first-generation Indian immigrant, Chaitanya Bangur (Chaz). Bangur is almost always going to be the smartest person in the room. A Northwest Wine Academy grad, he has a PhD in Biochemistry and an MBA in Technology Management. Sama produces Washington Rhône varietals from some really outstanding sites including the Naravane Vineyard in the Rocks District.

These are the first wines that I have tasted by Bangur and they are seriously good across the board. I adore the 2022 Sama Cellars ‘Bhumi’ Syrah (OB, 94) which is a notch better than the other bottlings and shows beautiful flavor and aromatic range. Learn more at samacellars.com and here are my reviews of the new Sama Cellars wines.

2022 Sama Cellars ‘Raga’ Cinsault- The 2022 ‘Raga’ Cinsault was aged in neutral oak barrels for 18 months before bottling and comes from the Charlotte’s Ridge Vineyard. Translucent in the glass, this offers orange peel and guava on the nose alongside salty soils. Soft and showing a smooth texture, this is delicious wine to enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2022 Sama Cellars ‘Bhumi’ Grenache- The 2022 ‘Bhumi’ Grenache comes from the Sagemoor Vineyard in the White Bluffs AVA. Juicy red currants and red cherry combine with pomegranate seed and suggestions of blood orange zest. Showing plenty of depth, enjoy this delicious wine now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2022 Sama Cellars ‘Khya’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Khya’ is mainly Grenache (55%) with small portions Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Elegant and smooth on the mouth, this shows a beautiful core of red fruits with sandalwood, anise, and tobacco leaf notes alongside bright orange zest. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2022 Sama Cellars ‘Raga’ Syrah- Coming from the Yakima Valley AVA, the 2022 ‘Raga’ saw 25% whole cluster fermentation and was stored in neutral oak for 18 months before bottling. Juicy blackberry and black currants mingle well with good freshness and salty minerals on the palate. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2022 Sama Cellars ‘Bhumi’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Bhumi’ comes from the Naravane Estate Vineyard that is owned by Billo and Pinto Naravane, proprietors of Rasa Vineyards. This is salty and stony with hoisin sauce and oyster sauce notes alongside wild blackberry and shades of Umami on the palate. Delicious and nicely textured, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 94

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