Approachment Wine Co.

I love the newer wineries of the Pacific Northwest. Approachment was started by Jessica and Paden West who both have many years of industry experience. Jessica started her wine path working in wine shops and tasting rooms. After learning the sales portion of the business, Jessica acquired an internship in 2013 at Bethel Heights Vineyard working directly with Winemaker Ben Casteel and viticulture master Mimi Casteel. Jessica then entered the NW Wine Studies program to earn her degree in Winemaking. Paden grew up in the Willamette Valley and began his path in wine just as Jessica did -by working in wine shops and tasting rooms. In 2010, Paden was offered an internship at Penner-Ash, managed by Winemaker Lynn Penner-Ash and Assistant Winemaker Brian Irvine. After finding his fire for the winemaking side of the business, Paden also enrolled in the NW Wine Studies program…where his lab partner turned out to be Jessica West. The rest has been history.

I love the new 2023 Approachment ‘Point of Contact’ (OB, 92) which shows serious texture and great flavor range. Learn more at https://www.approachmentwines.com/ and here are my reviews of the great Approachment wines.

2023 Approachment ‘Point of Contact’ Pinot Gris- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, the 2023 Approachment Pinot Gris offers white peach and juicy pear notes on the nose alongside watermelon tones. The palate is rich and beautifully textured, while maintaining bright underlying finesse. Nutty and earthy, this is a total knockout of a Pinot Gris that should age gracefully for six plus years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2023 Approachment ‘Take Up Space’ Gamay- Done in the carbonic style, this 2023 Gamay comes from the Cynthian Vineyard which is located in the Van Duzer AVA. This is bright and juicy Gamay, offering bubblegum and light cola notes alongside rich strawberry and red cherry flavors. Showing copious minerals, this is really nicely done stuff. Enjoy in its youth while the marvelous tension remains intact. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2022 Approachment ‘Wicked Garden’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Wicked Garden’ Syrah comes from the Les Collines Vineyard which is set right under the Blue Mountains. Inky in the glass, this delivers great concentration and finesse with stony minerals that combine with dried herbs, cassis, black olives and shades of smoked pork shoulder on the palate. Generous and rich, with good underlying finesse, this is beautiful wine that is already drinking really well. Drink 2024-2034- 93

Grapes of Spain

Maria Casanovas

NV Cava Maria Casanovos ‘Brut de Brut’ Cava- The NV ‘Brut de Brut’ combines Macabeo, Parrillada and Xarel-Lo coming form limestone rich clay and gravel soils. Showing a refined mouthfeel, this leads with ginger and lime zest notes alongside wet chalky soils and suggestions of Gravenstein apple on the palate. Enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 90

Bodega U Mes U Fan Tres

NV ‘1+1=3’ Cava- Made from old vine Macabeo, Xarel-lo and parellada, this offers good tension with a smooth mousse. Juicy melon and citrus fruits combine with salty undercurrents on the palate. This is really good for the price. Drink 2024-2030- 89

NV’1+1=3’ Rose Cava- A blend of mainly Garnacha (85%) with the remainder Pinot Noir, this offers a salmon hue with bright red raspberry and Bing cherry flavors with salted walnut and shades of orange zest on the palate. Soft and smooth throughout the drinking experience, this is a really nice value at a little over 20 bucks USD. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2021 Bodega U Mes U Fan Tres ‘Cygnus Albireo’ Cava Reserva- The 2021 Cygnus Albireo’ Cava Reserva was crafted from old vine Xarel-Lo, Parellada and Macabeo set on stony, clay loam and limestone-rich soils. Ornage peel and pink grapefruit zest combine with green apple on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 90

NV Bodega U Mes U Fan Tres ‘Sador’ Cava Reserva- The NV Bodega U Mes U Fan Tres ‘Sador’ Cava Reserva is soft on the mouth, revealing melon and citrus fruits alongside ripe strawberry notes. Medium-bodied with good poise, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 90

Adegas Gran Vinum

2023 Nessa Albarino- The 2022 ‘Nessa’ comes from roughly 20 year old vines. Stored for two months in stainless steel on the lees prior to bottling, the ‘Nessa’ delivers a smooth texture with kiwi and gooseberry notes alongside shades of green melon and grapefruit pit. Gorgeous now, enjoy in its vibrant youth. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2023 Mar de Vinas Albarino- The bright 2022 Mar de Vinas Albarino is sourced from 30 year old vines. Saline drenched pear and cashew nut flavors combine with green papaya on the palate. Really good now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

The wine comes off beautifully textured, with good freshness and concentration. Layers of salted gooseberry and green apple combine with grassy and nutty undertones on the palate. This is seriously good value. Drink 2023-2028- 91

2023 Esencia Divina Albarino- An outstanding bottling by Gran Vinum,  2023 Esencia Divina Albarino was sourced from vines roughly 50 years of age. Aged on lees in stainless tanks before bottling, this offers serious texture and underlying tension with its salty essence. Rich melon and citrus fruits collide with hints of Yakima cherry. A seriously good wine, enjoy over the next eight years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 93

has wonderful saline drenched melon and citrus fruit tones on the palate, displaying serious tension and flavor density. Finishing very long, this is quite simply and incredible wine that will drink well for another eight years to come. Drink 2023-2031- 93

2023 Gran Vinum ‘Selección Especial’ Albarino- The brilliant 2023 Gran Vinum ‘Selección Especial’ Albarino comes from 50-year-old vines sourced from the Miranda Aurosa estate vineyard. Honeysuckle water, kiwi, white peach and juicy Pink Lady apple flavors all combine with salty minerals on the palate. Offering some serious weight and good verve, with nutty accents, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

Bodega Arrocal

2022 Bodegas Arrocal Ribera del Duero- The 2022 Bodegas Arrocal Ribera del Duero is sourced from younger estate vines. Aged for nine months in a combination of French and American oak, this offers blackberry compote and espressos grounds with sandalwood tones on the palate. Soft and nicely textured, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2021 Bodegas Arrocal ‘Selección Especial’ Ribera del Duero- The outstanding 2021 ‘Selección Especial’ comes from the Los Astrales Vineyard which dates back to 1985. This is soft, round and generous on the mouth, delivering a beautiful core of black fruits alongside coffee grounds, violets and shades of graphite. Beautifully structured and layered, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2019 Bodegas Arrocal ‘Reserva de Familia’ Ribera del Duero- The 2019 ‘Reserva de Familia comes from vines more than 70 year old that are grown in sandy clay soils. A brooding, deep color greets you, as the wine deftly battles both verve and power in the glass. In the end, like a heavyweight boxer, the power emerges, with massive dark and blue fruit flavors that are tamed with firm tannins and espresso ground flavors. A truly stunning wine, this is just a joy to consume now — but do your best to resist this massive wine for at least another year if you can. Drink 2024-2045- 95

Bodegas Penalba Herraiz

2021 Carravid Ribera Del Duero- The 2021 Carravid is a delicious wine that offers light tobacco leaf tones alongside a core of black fruits with chocolate and pencil lead notes. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 91

Casa Lebai

2020 Casa Labai Matadiablos- A gorgeous wine from Ribera del Duero , the 2020 Casa Lbai Metadiablos comes from nearly 30 year old vines and was stored in French oak for 12 months before bottling. The palate is smooth and plush with refined tannins and a gorgeous core of black fruits, with baking spices, Turkish coffee and a graphite edge. Delicious now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2040- 94

San Roman

2021 San Roman ‘Prima’ Toro- The 2021 ‘Prima’ comes from Toro vineyards up to 50 years of age. Super juicy with dark currants, tobacco leaf and milk chocolate, alongside mint and scorched earth accents, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2031- 91

Isaac Fernandez Selección

2023 Egeo Rueda- This beautiful 100% Verdejo wine offers melon and walnut notes on the nose alongside shades of white peach. The palate is lithe and polished with serious underlying verve and salty undertones. A gorgeous rendition of this wine, enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Acentor Garnacha- The outstanding 2021 Acentor Garnacha delivers tar, allspice dusted red currants and cran-pomegranate aromatics. The palate is fresh and fat on the tongue, with a juicy core of citrus rind, freshly tilled salty soils and red fruits. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2020 Acentor Maturana- This indigenous varietal is essentially not grown anywhere but Rioja. The 2020 Maturana is nicely salty and stony on the palate, with black raspberry, Earl Grey tea and shades of wet stone accents. Beautifully done with its soft mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2023-2031- 92

2019 Isaac Fernandez ‘Reserva’ Ribera del Duero- The 2019 Isaac Fernandez comes from Tina del Pais vines planted near the village of Roa de Duero at high elevation. Densely colored this delivers graphite and tar on the nose alongside dark currants and shades of violets. The palate is rich and layered with a polished texture. A gorgeous rendition of Ribera, this has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2024-2040- 93

2022 Finca La Mata Ribera del Duero- A really cool wine, the 2022 Finca La Mata is sourced from old vine Tinta del Pais. This is generous and round on the mouth with a vibrant acidity and dense sense of weight. Black currants and milk chocolate flavors parade with dusty minerals and damp earth on the palate. This is delicious, beautifully evolved stuff that should be consumed over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 92

Elias Mora

2018 Elias Mora ‘La Senda de Los Lobos’ Toro- A world-class wine, the 2018 Elias Mora ‘La senda de Los Lobos’ Toro was sourced from 80 year old Tinta de Toro vines and was stored in 100% new French oak for 17 months prior to bottling. This edition is every bit as good as the scintillating 2017. Mocha, tar, damp earth and bulls blood parade with exotic spices on the palate. Full-bodied, with a brilliant core of pure black fruits, this is heady, concentrated and beautifully structured wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2044- 96

2022 Elias Mora ‘Toro’ Toro- The 2022 ‘Toro’ is a great new effort that is drinking marvelously right now. Coffee grounds, black fruits and shades of scorched earth all combine with the wonderful verve on the palate. Delicious and lithe, enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2020 Elias Mora ‘Crianza’ Toro- The 2020 ‘Crianza’ is sourced from Tinta de Toro vines set at roughly 800 meters. Inky in the glass, this takes on a gorgeous bouquet of red raspberry and garrigue notes alongside pencil lead and shades of Black Forest cake. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and beautiful underlying tension. Dense and heady, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2036- 93

2017 Elias Mora ‘Reserva’ Toro- A stunning wine that is now at the seven year mark, the 2017 ‘Reserva’ is deeply colored in the glass. Coming from old vine Tinta de Toro, this offers freshly tilled salty soils, tar and tobacco leaf notes on the nose alongside a graphite edge. THe palate is dense and complex with refined tannins and a great sense of weight, showing off a beaitufl range of black fruit flavors. Elegant and sinfully good now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 94

Vina Otano

2018 Vina Otano Graciano Rioja- A knockout wine, the 2018 Graciano is big and bold, loaded with Welche’s grape juice and black raspberry flavors on the palate. Full-bodied and generous on the mouth, with lovely herbal and damp earth tones, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2019 Vina Ontano Maturana- Deep purple in the glass, the 2019 Maturana offers purple flowers on the nose alongside tar, tobacco leaf and worn leather notes. The palate is fat and full with good underlying acidity. Enjoyable now, consume over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2017 Vina Otano ‘Reserva’ Rioja- A great wine from this vintage, the 2017 ‘Reserva’ was stored for 18 months in a combination of both French and American oak barrels before bottling. It is silky and rich throughout the drinking experience. Garrigue, tar, blackberry compote and red raspberry notes parade with salty minerals and freshly tilled soils on the palate. A enjoy to consume now, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2016 Vina Otano ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja- A world class wine from 2016, this ‘Gran Reserva’ spent 24 months in French and American oak barrels and then a further 36 months in barrel before bottling. Sandalwood and blackberry compote mark the nose alongside coffee grounds and shades of black currants. The palate is big and bold with a refined texture and great underlying tension, filled with salty minerals. A stunning wine now at the eight year mark, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 95

Legado Del Moncayo

2023 Legado Del Moncayo Garnacha Blanca- The 2023 Legado Del Moncayo Garnacha Blanca comes from 50 year old estate vines set on granite and sandy loam soils. This is salty and fresh with great texture and loaded with bright green apple, kiwi and cantaloupe flavors. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2023 Legado Del Moncayo Garnacha- This 2023 Garnacha offers a smooth mouthfeel with bright red fruits that mingle with citrus rind and salty soils on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2021 Legado Del Moncayo ‘Vendima Seleccionada’ Garnacha- The seriously good 2021 Legado Del Moncayo ‘Vendima Seleccionada’ Garnacha comes from 40-60 year old bush vines set at 700-750 meters. Showing off its dark core, this delivers good depth and concentration with smoked meats, kumquat rind and dense red fruits with salty minerals and brilliant tension on the palate. A killer buy at under 20 dollars USD, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

La Jota

One of the famed sites on Howell Mountain, La Jota dates all the way back to the 1890s as this location was founded by Fredrich Hess, an immigrant from Switzerland. Over time these wines received considerable accolades. Intriguingly they even received a gold medal for their wine at the World’s Fair of 1904 in St. Louis. La Jota wines are made from low yielding vines planted amongst 28 acres. The high altitude keeps the freshness and minerality to the wine that remains even in hot vintages like 2015. Vines are planted on volcanic soils at relatively high elevation which gives the red wines excellent richness and aging potential. The terroir of Howell Mountain also has considerably cooler temperatures at night, compared to the Napa Valley floor -- which leads to lower yields than the floor and also smaller but richly concentrated fruit. Being at higher elevation also protects the fruit from the intense temperatures sometimes experienced on the Napa floor.

Nothing short of a world-class winemaker, Christopher Carpenter has a B.A. in biology, as well as an M.B.A. in international business. After officially falling in love with wine, Carpenter completed the illustrious masters of viticulture and enology program at UC Davis. He took over as head winemaker at La Jota in 2005. He makes a range of world-class wines. I love the 2021 La Jota Merlot (OB, 98) which is amongst the finest wines of its kind that I have tasted in the past year. Powerful with loads of mouth-watering acidity, this will easily last for two decades. Learn more about these special wines at https://www.lajotavineyardco.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by La Jota.

2021 La Jota Merlot- A stunning new bottling, the 2021 La Jota Merlot is sourced from this high elevation site on Howell Mountain. Deeply colored and perfumed, this leads with anise and black rose petal aromatics alongside wintergreen, fennel seed and suggestions of damp rock. The palate is fresh and vicious with great weight and tension. Loads of mouth-watering acidity invade the mid-palate, alongside heady black and blue fruits, with pencil lead and loamy soil accents. A joy to consume now, enjoy this beauty over the next two decades. Drink 2024-2044- 98

2021 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon- The world-class 2021 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon can benefit from a long decant. Once aroused this offers black currant cordial and creme de violette flavors that meld well with the stony accents, with touches of graphite and black cherry compote. The beautiful purple and black floral aromatics add to the enjoyment as this beauty could really use another year in the cellar prior to enjoying. Drink 2025-2050- 98

Mt. Brave

One of North America’s great sites for Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and  Cabernet Franc, Mt. Brave pays homage to a the pioneering spirit of those who settled the rugged terrain of Mt. Veeder during the 1800s. The majestic Mt. Brave Vineyard is a high elevation site that is set on gravelly loam with large rocks throughout. This is very labor intensive land to farm and the wines from this site show incredible density of fruit but also wonderful, earthy terroir. The elevation also adds to the freshness in the core of the wine.

I have long enjoyed the wines by Chris Carpenter who is one of Napa’s great maestros of red wine. Chris has done a magical job with the 2021 wines. The 2021 Mt. Brave ‘Mt. Veeder’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 98) is amongst the finest editions of this wine that I have ever had. It is a show-stopper that is a must for any lover of this varietal. Find out more about this famed winery at mtbravewines.com Here is my review of the new Mt. Brave wines.

2021 Mt. Brave Cabernet Franc- A world class wine by Chris Carpenter, the 2021 Mt. Brave Cabernet Franc shows off its inky core, revealing violets, tar and menthol tones in the glass, alongside a hedonistic black fruit aromatic backbone. The palate is plush and dense with a refined mouthfeel and glorious depth and complexity. Beautifully-structured, with heady black and blue fruits, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next twenty years to comer. Drink 2024-2044- 98

2021 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon is inky in the glass, offering mountain huckleberry and black raspberry notes on the nose alongside graphite and shades of dried herbs. The palate is rich and viscous with incredible underlying tension. Pencil lead, anise, creme de cassis and chocolate cake notes all combine on the palate. A joy to consume now, savor this beauty over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 97

Pursued By Bear

It is my pleasure to share the brilliant wines of one of Washington’s most famous actors, Kyle MacLachlan. Originally from Yakima, MacLachlan probably best known for his major role in the hit ‘90s drama, Twin Peaks which also returned to television several years back. MacLachlan this year was in one of the hottest TV series of the year, Fallout. This is a must-see show if you haven’t had the chance to check it out.
For many years now MacLachlan relies on the talented hands of Dan Wampfler to craft his wines. These wines come from some of the choicest spots in the Columbia Valley. Dan and his wife Amy crafted what I consider to be a 100 point wine earlier in the year from the challenging 2020 vintage, their ‘Skysill’ Cabernet Sauvignon. Dan’s wines are big and bold with serious texture. I adored the 2021Pursued By Bear Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which is generous and dense and has some seriously good aging potential. This one is everything you want in Columbia Valley Syrah. Learn more about this awesome project out of Washington at http://www.pursuedbybearwine.com/ Here are the great new wines by actor Kyle MacLachlan and his winery, Pursued By Bear.

2023 Pursued By Bear ‘Twin Bear’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Twin Bear’ is sourced from the Yakima Valley and was stored in mainly neutral oak before bottling. It is medium-bodied and delicious, showing off baked apple, honeydew melon and saline drenched Challah bread flavors. A delight to savor now, enjoy over the next six plus years. Drink 2024-2031- 92

2021 Pursued By Bear Cabernet Sauvignon- A generous and outstanding effort from this warm vintage, the 2021 Pursued By Bear Cabernet Sauvignon mainly comes from the Les Collines Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley as well as the Dionysus and Sagemoor vineyards in the White Bluffs AVA. Right away this delivers cocoa powder and sandalwood on the nose alongside shades of dark currants and Asian spices. The palate is rich, polished and seamless with each sip, greeting you with a deep core of black fruits, alongside chocolate cake notes. This is awesome stuff to consume over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2038- 94

Louis Roederer 'Cristal' Rose

One of the great champagnes of the world, the Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Rose Champagne was many years in the making. It all began in1974, almost 200 years after the establishment of the Champagne House of Louis Roederer and 100 years after the creation of Cristal, as Jean-Claude Rouzaud decided to create the Cristal Rosé cuvée. To achieve this, he selected old-vine Pinot noir grapes (using massale selection, which involves propagation from the vineyard’s most successful plants) from the finest grand cru vineyards of Aÿ.

The limestone bedrock and unique calcareous clay soil enable the vines (in the best years) to attain great fruit maturity, alongside the signature racy acidity that makes Cristal so special. Today, the vineyards are farmed biodynamically. Over the years, Louis Roederer has developed a unique method for the production of its rosé champagnes. This process, referred to by Roederer as the "infusion" technique, allows the winemaking team to extract the juicy, ripe character of the Pinot Noir whilst also keeping good freshness.  A small amount of Chardonnay juice is added to the Pinot Noir maceration.  Cristal Rosé 2014 is composed of grapes sourced from Aÿ, Avize, and Mesnil-sur-Oger. 19% of the wines are vinified in oak as dosage is 8 g/L. 

I was blown away with this 2014 Roederer ‘Cristal’ Rose (OB, 99) which flirts with perfection. It is a stunning wine that really needs about 20 to 30 minutes of air before consuming. Refined and nuanced, it is going to blow you away! Learn more about this special wine at https://www.louis-roederer.com/fr and here is my review of the 2014 ‘Cristal’ Rose Champagne.

2014 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Rose Champagne- The 2014 ‘Cristal’ Rose is a stunning, age-worthy bottling that really needs 30 plus minutes of air prior to consuming. For my palate this eclipses the incredible ’99 and ’02 bottlings — and is absolutely amongst the finest ‘Cristal’ Rose wines ever produced. A short decant in a narrow decanter also does wonders to arouse the aromatics. Given 7G/L dosage, this was disgorged more than two years ago in June 2022. Sourced from the villages of Aÿ, Avize, and Mesnil-sur-Oger, nearly 20% of the base wines were stored in oak prior to disgorgement. This is big and burly with a refined effervescence. Delicate strawberry and red raspberry alongside chalky soils and nuances of kumquat zest with candied ginger all mark the palate. The length and elegance of the wine really shines as this is already drinking beautifully. Drink 2024-2044- 99

Cardinale

I have such fond memories of my first visit to Cardinale. This was back roughly 15 years ago and I sat at this majestic outdoor setting amongst the vineyards. The sunshine warmed the back patio and I tasted through multiple vintages of this amazing wine.

One of the great wines of the Napa Valley, Cardinale is located in the Napa floor, in Oakville not far from Robert Mondavi Winery. It is pretty common for them to have several vintages available which provides such a fun contrast to go back and forth between these gorgeous wines. Cardinale is a Cabernet-based wine with smaller parts of Merlot blended in. At the helm is superstar winemaker, Chris Carpenter, is an MBA graduate who has previously worked for Domaine Carneros, Domaine Chandon California, as well as Tenute Antinori, Santa Cristina Estate, in Montefiridolfi, Italy, before coming to Cardinale. Chris is humble when talking about his wines. He is truly one of the great talents of Napa.

It is just amazing how well these wines age. I think for my palate up there with the finest releases yet, the 2021 Cardinale Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) is a dense, massive, powerful wine that needs a ton of air before consuming. I think this will easily live on for another 30 years. Learn more about these stunning wines at http://www.cardinale.com/ and here is my tasting note for the gorgeous new 20121 Cardinale Cabernet Sauvignon.

2021 Cardinale Cabernet Sauvignon-  What must be one of the finest renditions of this wine, the 2021 Cardinale is composed of nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (91%) with the remainder Merlot. Stored in 80% new French oak before bottling, this is a massive beast that really needs several hours in the decanter before consuming. A brilliant melange of mountain huckleberry and wild blackberry combine with tar, graphite, anise and creme de cassis on the palate. Big and round, with refined tannins and a generous mouthfeel, everything is firing on all cylinders here. This beauty will easy cellar for another twenty years. Again, this is not a pop and pour so give it plenty of time if you cannot resist opening it. Drink 2025-2050- 99

Bayernmoor Cellars

A winery that began back in 2011 by Kim and Larry Harris, Bayernmoor Cellars is set in the Puget Sound AVA just east of Stanwood, Washington. Bayernmoor is a family-owned winery on over 100 acres of southern-facing slopes viewing Mount Rainier. At this site Pinot Noir is planted making for conditions that somewhat mirror the Willamette Valley. Bayernmoor Cellars sources from some of the state’s great vineyards for other wines including Klipsun, Celilo, Coyote Canyon, and Destiny Ridge Vineyards.

I really enjoyed these wines. With no doubt the best wine I tasted was the 2021 Bayernmoor Chardonnay (OB, 92) which was dense and delicious coming from one of the state’s esteemed sites, the Celilo Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge AVA. Learn more about this winery at https://bayernmoor.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Bayernmoor Cellars wines.

2021 Bayernmoor Chardonnay- Sourced from the Celilo Vineyard, this delightful 2023 Chardonnay offers brioche and nutmeg drenched golden delicious apple on the nose alongside shades of heavy whipping cream. The palate is rich and delicious with a soft mouthfeel and good sense of salinity. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2019 Bayernmoor Pinot Noir- Coming from their estate vineyard in the Puget Sound AVA, this 2019 Pinot Noir offers a soft texture with delicate red fruits and hints of black truffle. Novel and fairly lean, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2018 Bayernmoor Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the Klipsun Vineyard, this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon delivers rich blackberry and black currant flavors that combine with chocolate on the palate. Soft and nicely textured, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 91

WALT

Today we share the brilliant wines of WALT, named after Kathryn Hall's parents, Bob and Dolores Walt. Together the Walts were originally vintners and were a source of daily inspiration for her. WALT crafts their wines from some Pacific Coast's most distinctive vineyards from Sonoma to Oregon. For those who love Pinot Noir, this is a rare chance to try an incredible range of wines that showcase these incredible vineyards. I love loved these wines since their inception.

A few weeks ago I met with HALL vice president of winemaking Megan Gunderson who shared the latest set of wines from the 2023 vintage. These are amazing renditions of Pinot Noir from Oregon to Sonoma. Once again I adored the 2023 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is a world-class expression of California Pinot Noir. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.waltwines.com Here are the beautiful new wines by WALT.

2023 WALT ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Shea Vineyard’ shows pretty red roes petals that mingle well with orange peel, bergamot and suggestions of damp soils. Light cola and black raspberry notes mingle well on the palate, with beautiful finesse. Drinking well now, watch this evolve now and over the next fifteen years. Pommard, Wadenswil and 115 clonal selections. Drink 2024-2039- 94

2023 WALT ‘Blue Jay’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Blue Jay’ comes from two sites in the Anderson Valley (mainly Anderson Creek Vineyard) outside the town of Boonville. Wild blackberry and black cherry and shades of gran-cola. They incorporate roasted stems in the blend as this offers refined tannins with bright red and dark fruits, with salty soils and a smooth texture. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2023 WALT ‘Clos Pepe’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Clos Pepe’ come from this outstanding site in the Santa Barbara region. Salty red raspberry and red cherry notes combine with orange peel and diatomaceous earth on the nose. The palate is rich and dense with loads of salinity, with pomegranate seed and fresh sage. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2023 WALT ‘Sierra Mar’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Sierra Mar’ Pinot Noir come from this site owned by the Francioni family as the high-elevation site was formerly a cattle ranch. Pisoni clone Pinot Noir is planted here, as this opens with back florals alongside sandy soils. The palate shows loads of mouth-watering acidity with kumquat zest and rose water with shades of menthol. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2023 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Pinot Noir- This wine comes from this famed 75 acre Sonoma Valley site that was developed by Paul Hobbes and Ulysses Valdez. The site has a range of California heritage selections as the location was formerly owned by the Peterson family. On the nose this takes on layers of cola and crushed wildflowers alongside bergamot, black cherry compote and suggestions of wild blackberry. The palate is refined and elegant with plenty of depth and black truffle shavings. Deep, concentrated and loaded with finesse, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 96

Review: The Marcus Whitman Hotel, 3 Star Hotel in Walla Walla

Over the weekend I stayed at the Marcus Whitman Hotel in Walla Walla, Washington. I have stayed there more than 50 times over the nearly thirty years that it has been in business. There is some great history with the hotel that dates back to 1928 as the 133 room property lies right in downtown Walla Walla, with easy access to restaurants, bars and great wineries. However, as much they say that they have remodeled the place, it was a sparse remodel. They also took away the previously free breakfast from travelers, leaving this spot not a great value. I paid $250.00 for one night (weekend rate) and the other night was comped. The lobby looks better than it used to. They have re-painted and have new furniture.

Check in: It was easy to check-in and the concierge was really friendly. I was disappointed to see that the complimentary breakfast has now gone away. This adds less value for consumers. WiFi did not work during my stay which might be a problem for future business travelers.

Room quality: I was not impressed with the room quality. For what I paid I would like a larger and better-appointed room. The bathroom was small and cramped and you could barely open the door while standing in front of the sink. The rooms were re-painted with new carpet but strangely the bathrooms were not remodeled at all. This was a really big miss in my book. I prefer the room size and quality at the Courtyard, Walla Walla, which is another 3 Star hotel in town.

There were some basic products, such as conditioner, body wash and shampoo from a brand I had never heard of. The tub in the shower is now more than 20 years old with a spartan curtain. I would like to see a little better quality of bathroom products in a hotel that claims to be newly remodeled.  Towels were also very old. The bed quality was not great although they are one year old beds. I did not find them to be very comfortable. Lighting was not very good in the room and they have a 20 year old heater-air conditioner in the window which was obviously not part of the remodel.

Bar and The Marc Restaurant: I made my way down to the bar area for a cocktail. I ordered an old-fashioned and met with the friendly bartender. The drink was really nice and well-balanced as I waited for a friend. Lighting was good in the bar area and the space looks great — a good spot for locals and visitors alike. They have a 27 dollar happy hour burger that is priced at NYC levels. But interestingly enough the wines by the glass are really reasonably priced.

I made my way into the The Marc Restaurant to enjoy some wine and food with a friend. The dining room has has been remodeled and has a better ambience than the previous space. There is some new furniture and I ordered a delicious steak tartare to begin my meal. This was one of the highlights of the stay along with my experience sitting at the bar.

I found the entrees to be good as well, albeit not quite as on point as the Steak Tartare. The lamb loin was tender and an interesting foil to the Snake River Farms fillet that I had ordered. Both were very good and we enjoyed a delicious Brunello di Montalcino to match with that. Service was polite and there was good cadence with the food.

Sommelier Brett Fallows, formerly with Canlis, has carefully curated a great wine list. Wines by the glass are well-done here at The Marc, with several good value selections including the Long Shadows ‘Poets Leap’ Riesling, Seven Hills Rose and L’Ecole No. 41 Chardonnay both at under 12 bucks. The wines by the glass prices are better than what you find in Portland or Seattle hotels. They also have a really nice range of upper-echelon wines from Washington State with the likes of Long Shadows and Cayuse.

Bottom Line: I really enjoyed the bar experience and dinner at The Marc. The glass pour list for local wines is exemplary for the price. As for the stay, there are many areas where they could have done better. The hotel claims to be remodeled but it is really only partially remodeled. The hotel stairwells look like something out of a 70s horror film. They should have remodeled their bathrooms which are outdated. So for 250 bucks a weekend night, I would consider using that money towards a great dining experience at the Marc and consider other local options for overnight.

Rasa Vineyards

For many years now Master of Wine, Billo Naravane, has been crafting beautiful expressions of Washington State wine. His new lineup of wines is truly one of the best in the state — from crisp Rieslings to inky Syrahs. Billo also has a remarkable story in wine. If you have never tried these wines then you are in for a serious treat. A scientist by trade, Billo Naravane initially was inspired by wine while living Austin, Texas. During that time Naravane was exposed to some of the finest wines in the world and he fully caught the wine bug. Finally, he and his brother, Pinto, made the bold decision to start Rasa Vineyards in 2007. My first exposure to these great wines was many years back when I was served a 2007 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED’ Syrah blind. I was absolutely mesmerized by the seamless quality of the wine. With a bachelor’s degree from MIT and a master’s degree from Stanford, Billo then studied viticulture an enology at UC Davis. He is now one of the few masters of wine (MW) in the world. The wines he crafts show tremendous texture, richness, poise and terroir — and are only getting better by each vintage. Meeting with Naravane last weekend we chatted about the difficulty of him passing the MW exam. He was correctly able to name specific 1st and 2nd growth houses in Bordeaux, identifying the differences between Pauillac and Saint-Julien. This is a next level wine tasting ability that he possesses.

The wines by Rasa were amazing across the board. Do not miss out on the 2020 Rasa Vineyards ‘Veritas Sequitur’ Syrah (OB, 97) which is a world-class wine made from this very challenging vintage. Even better is a new wine to the portfolio. The 2021 Naravane Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is the finest wine I have had from this house. Silky, magical and exceedingly elegant, enjoy this stunner over the next twenty years. Learn more about this fantastic Walla Walla winery at rasavineyards.com Here are the sensational new wines by Rasa Vineyards. 

2019 Rasa Vineyards ‘The Composer Encore’ Riesling- This is a GG style Riesling that saw considerable amount of time on the lees. Coming from the Bacchus Vineyards, this offers incredible weight and depth with peach and stony minerals alongside rich pear, mango, almond paste and apricot notes. The flavor complexity is otherworldly. Loaded with stony minerals, and mouth-watering acidity, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 96

NV Rasa Vineyards ‘Nivas’ Fortified Muscat- This was stored outside and was a 10 year solera wine with a base wine being from 2014. Golden in the glass, this has 237G/L residual sugar. White raisin and cardamom alongside apricot jelly and shades of honey on the nose. This is a dense beast yet has incredible underlying acidity and a finish that just won’t quit. A stunning, one of a kind wine, enjoy for the next twenty years. Drink 2024-2044- 99

2022 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED Reductio Ad Absurdum’ Syrah- The QED ‘Reductio Ad Absurdum’ is a 100% varietal Syrah was sourced from mostly the Weinbau and Bacchus Vineyards. Black olive tapenade and tar mark the nose alongside black cherry compote and shades of graphite. The palate is beautifully nervy and dense with beautiful freshness and a generous core of black fruits. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED The Strong Law’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘QED The Strong Law’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Stored in 35% new French oak for 20 months before bottling, this offers black tea and black currants on the nose alongside shades of Asian spices and Black Forest cake. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture and bright underlying tension that makes your mouth water. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED Convergence’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘QED Convergence’ combines 63% Syrah with smaller parts Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier. The wine was stored in 20% new French oak before bottling. The wine come from several sites in the Columbia Valley including Seven Hills and Weinbau Vineyards. Whiffs of honeysuckle from the Viognier are shining brightly as white pepper dusted brisket, beef drippings and wild blackberry all mingle well with creosote tones on the nose. The palate is fresh and elegant with good tension and flavor density. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2020 Rasa Vineyard ‘Veritas Sequitur SJR Vineyard’ Syrah- A stunning wine from a tough vintage, this saw 100% whole cluster fermentation and and all new French oak before bottling. Smoldering stones and tar notes combine with shades of Kalamata olive, bacon grease and shades of wild blackberry compote. This is one of the great wines made this vintage, showing insane flavor range from red cherry and seaweed, bulls blood, orange peel, pipe tobacco and shades of creosote. The weight, flavor range and finish is stunning. A remarkable achievement to enjoy now. Drink 2024-2034- 97

2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘Principia Reserve’ Syrah- The stunning 2021 ‘Principia Reserve’ comes from a range of vineyards including Bacchus, Scarline and Dionysus. Showing off a deep core, this offers rich blackberry cordial and coffee grounds alongside smoked meats and black licorice notes. This offers beautiful harmony on the mouth with generous figs, black cherry and blackberry flavors alongside the plush mouthfeel and bright underlying acidity. Complex and delicious, enjoy this now and over the next twelve years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 96

2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘For The Love Of The Game’ Red Wine- A Bordeaux inspired wine that comes from five vyineyards in the Columbia Valley, this was stored in 65% new French oak before bottling. This is seriously good in terms of richness, freshness and flavor density with mouth-watering acidity. Broad shouldered and generous, with its core of black fruits alongside espresso grounds and sandalwood, enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2040- 96

2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘Plus One’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Plus One’ comes from the Kiona Vineyard as vines for this block were planted back in 1975. These are some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines in Washington State. Eucalyptus and black currants alongside cedar and blackberry compote all mark the nose. The palate is powerful and dense with beautiful freshness and lift. Rich and layered, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2040- 96

2022 Rasa Vineyards ‘Humane’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This is a wine that is made for charity, made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from some of the state’s top vineyards. This is neatly balanced stuff with black cherry and tar alongside shades of menthol and shades of cassis. Delicious and nicely textured, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘Naravane’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Naravane’ is a new wine by Rasa Vineyards with a hefty price tag. This is what winemaker Billo Naravane has chosen as his top barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon from the vintage. Stored for 36 months in new French oak barrels, this delivers sandalwood and anise on the nose alongside shades of creme de violette and tar. The palate is utterly seamless and elegant with a great underlying sense of poise and weight. This effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience, with no rough edges. Give this at least two hours in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2024-2044- 100

Dossier

Today we share one of the hottest wine brands of the Pacific Northwest. It was several years back when I was chatting with Dossier co-founder Tim Lenihan. “Sidney and I have been thinking of starting a winery” he said. This would have incredible potential as their winery, Dossier, has quite literally taken the Northwest wine scene by storm. During the Pandemic they talked about having a winery together. Finally former NFL star Sidney Rice and businessman and fellow Whitman grad Tim Lenihan finally got the nerve to start their own winery. They have beautiful tasting rooms in Woodinville and Walla Walla that are a must-visit for any lover of Washington wine.

I have long admired the great wines made by master of wine, Billo Naravane. Naravane makes the beautiful wines of Rasa Vineyards. Each bottling has incredible intension and attention to detail. Longtime Washington wine industry veteran Brandon Kubrock serves as general manager, formerly owning his own Ardor Cellars label.

I love the new releases. The 2021 Dossier ‘Halo Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is the finest showing from this house yet. This is now the second time that I have tasted the wine and it has evolved beautifully over the past six months. This dense and deftly-structured beauty will easily cellar for twenty years. Learn more about this exciting new project at dossierwine.com and here are my reviews of the new Dossier wines.

2023 Dossier Sauvignon Blanc- The 2023 Dossier Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Corfu Crossings Vineyard as well as Connor Lee and Lonesome Spring Ranch. Apricot and white peach with mango and shades of ginger all mark the nose. The palate is deep and concentrated with serious depth and concentration. Gorgeous melon and citrus fruits all combine with a scintillating mouthfeel on the palate. A stunning wine by Dossier, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2022 Dossier ‘Flagship Index’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Index’ combines 39% Cabernet Sauvignon with 24% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc with the remainder Malbec and Petit Verdot. Pencil lead and sandalwood notes combine with black cherry compote and shades of dark chocolate shavings. The palate is soft and plush with a smooth texture. Very well-done, as this is medium to full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Dossier ‘Flagship’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Dossier ‘Flagship’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a range of vineyards including Ciel du Cheval, Summit View and Solaksen Vineyards. 100% varietal this opens with flavors of dark currants and graphite alongside shades of black cherry compote and loganberry preserves, with dried herbal accents. Medium to full-bodied, with good underlying tension, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2038- 94

2021 Dossier ‘Halo Dissertation’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Halo Dissertation’ Red Wine combines 48% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The wine comes from what is chosen as the best lots in the lineup of wines. Stored for two years in 100% new French oak, this offers a seamless texture with layers of Black Forest cake and black licorice as well as coffee grounds and shades of fresh sage. Totally stunning and beautifully balanced, enjoy now and over the next twenty years. Drink 2024-2044- 99

2021 Dossier ‘Halo Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Dossier ‘Halo Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning wine that is mainly coming from the Ciel du Cheval and Summit View vineyards. Sandalwood, anise, creme de cassis and violets all parade on the palate. The palate is plush and dense with a refined texture. Everything is picture perfect in terms of poise, weight, flavor density and texture. This is quite simply a perfect wine. Drink 2024-2044- 100

Bionic Wines Names Karin Gasparotti as Resident Vigneronne of his Walla Walla Valley-based Bionic Wines Portfolio

We have some huge news out of Walla Walla today.
Christophe Baron, the French Vigneron behind acclaimed Cayuse Vineyards and Bionic Wines, is pleased to announce that he is promoting Karin Gasparotti to Resident Vigneronne of Bionic Wines, where she will oversee year-round operations in the wine cellar.
In 2021, Gasparotti joined the team as Assistant Vigneronne for Baron’s Bionic Wines U.S. portfolio, which comprises critically acclaimed Cayuse Vineyards, Horsepower Vineyards, Hors Catégorie, and the aptly named No Girls Wines—wines that champion female wine professionals making great wines.
“Women create some of the best wines in the world. Karin is an incredible talent and has consistently demonstrated her sophisticated palate, ambitious nature, and intuitive winemaking skills since joining the team,” says Baron, who will continue to oversee Bionic Wines’ portfolio while devoting time to his eponymous brand Champagne Christophe Baron.
“In recognition of her dedication and accomplishments during the past four vintages, I’m thrilled to formally announce Karin as Resident Vigneronne of Bionic Wines.”
Gasparotti, an Idaho native, is a dedicated wine creator with over 18 years of experience. She completed Washington State University’s program for Viticulture and Enology and then worked at a winery in Walla Walla, where she helped craft Bordeaux blends for 11 years—a depth of knowledge and experience that she is pouring into her work at Bionic Wines.
“The philosophy behind Bionic Wines is to be true to ourselves and the terroir by creating distinctive, low-intervention wines that express every unique vintage,” explains Gasparotti.
“I've been working with Cabernet and Merlot to create blends that are a little larger and more structured than what we've released previously. I’m excited to share them with the wine world, especially those who have supported the evolution of Bionic Wines over the decades.”
Current Resident Vigneronne, Elizabeth Bourcier, after being a mother for the second time, has decided to take a break to spend more time with her partner and two young children.
“I’m really proud of what I have accomplished in my career while being a mother and showing what women in the wine industry can achieve.”
“I am extremely grateful to Christophe, Trevor, and the entire team for their support and companionship in my years here at Bionic Wines.. It’s exciting to see Karin, another skilled female winemaker, step into this position and I am excited for what the future holds.”
“It’s been a pleasure to work with Elizabeth for the last 16 years, she will be missed, and we wish her all the best” says Baron.
“I want to thank Elizabeth for her wisdom and knowledge. It’s been wonderful and educational to work alongside her.” adds Gasparotti.
Karin looks forward to working with Christophe to continue this tradition, leveraging her passion and position to encourage women to join the industry and mentor emerging local winemaking talent.
“In the wine world, all eyes are on Walla Walla. The region has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, which I thrive on,” says Gasparotti.
“I’m extremely excited for what’s ahead. My professional goal has always been to become Resident Vigneronne. After four incredible vintages at Bionic Wines, I’m ready to take on more challenges.”

Argyle: The Art of Sparkling

Today we present one of the famed houses in Oregon and a leading bubbles producer in the North America. More than 20 yeas ago I took notice that Argyle was steadily gaining a sterling reputation for sparkling wines under their guidance of Oregon legendary winemaker Rollin Soles.  For anyone who has visited the Willamette Valley, Argyle is always an awesome stop as they offer a really cool flight of bubbles and also produce not only one of the consistently great ‘Brut’ sparkling wines that you will find, but also their famed ‘Extended Tirage’ which has been one of the top sparkling wines made in North America. They have a modern tasting room that is an amazing spot to taste wine at. Nate Klostermans has now been at the helm here for many years and is doing a terrific job with so many sparkling wine SKUs and his fabulous entry level bottling.

A few years back Argyle launched ‘The Art of Sparkling’ which is an amazing project that support the talents of student artists. A collaboration with the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA), every year three PNCA student artists are selected to receive the Argyle scholarship. The students then immerse themselves in the Argyle story by visiting the vineyards, winery and Tasting House. This experience serves as inspiration for their artwork. The three pieces of art are then turned into labels for the Art of Sparkling 3-bottle set. This is just an amazing program that helps support the arts and includes three bottles of their glorious new 2021 Argyle ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 92) which overdelivers for the price. Learn more at argylewinery.com and here is my review of the new 2021 Argyle ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine.

2021 Argyle ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The 2021 ‘Brut’ by Argyle is beautifully-textured stuff that deftly captures the heat of the vintage. The weight you pick up really shines when this is served on the warmer side. Challah bread and cantaloupe tones combine with salty minerals and shades of ginger on the palate. A gorgeous new wine, this is such a killer value at around 30 dollars USD.. Drink 2024-2032 92

Saviah

Today we share one of the outstanding Walla Walla houses that somehow manages to fly under the radar. Saviah Cellars was founded back in 2000, starting with only 300 cases produced. Today they particularly gain fame from their Syrah wines that are sourced from their two estate vineyards in the Walla Walla Rocks District. Saviah was started by winemaker Richard Funk and his wife, Anita, who are both natives of Montana who moved to Walla Walla in 1991 and later planted their first vineyard in 2001. Saviah is a family name from Anita’s great-grandmother, a schoolteacher, artist and author, who settled in western Montana in the early 1900s. 

Richard is one of the great people in Washington wine. I had such a nice visit with him before he did a little pre-harvest trip to Italy. Rich makes some truly outstanding wines. With him I toured his two great estate vineyards, ‘The Stones Speak’ and ‘The Funk Estate’ vineyards. With a foundation  in microbiology, Richard previously worked as the Environmental Health Specialist with the Walla Walla County Health Department and is a self-taught winemaker. Richard has assisted several wineries with their start-up processes and served as the winemaker for Watermill Winery from 2006-2009, àMaurice winery from 2005-2006 and also has served as a consulting winemaker for several new wineries.

I love the new wines across the board. Check out the 2023 The Jack Red Wine (OB, 91) which is a total steal for the price.  I adored the new 2022 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah (OB, 96) which is very stony and savory with a terrific mouthfeel. Learn more about this outstanding winery at https://www.saviahcellars.com/ Here are the outstanding new wines by Saviah.

2023 The Jack Sauvignon Blanc- The 2023 The Jack Sauvignon Blanc has 14% Viognier blended in. This is smooth with copious minerals on the palate showing melon and gooseberry notes. Enjoy this outstanding value now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2028- 91

2023 The Jack Red Wine The 2023 The Jack Red Wine is mainly Merlot (77%) with the remained Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Toasty oak combine with a smooth mouthfeel and rich black and red fruits, with pencil lead and chocolate notes. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2029- 91

2023 Saviah Chardonnay- The brilliant 2023 Saviah Chardonnay comes from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA. Vanilla cream and pie crust mark the palate alongside Meyer lemon zest and shades of baked apple. Beautifully balanced and big on the mouth, don’t serve this beauty too cold! Drink 2024-2032- 93

2023 Saviah Viognier- Sourced from the Saviah Estate Vineyard, this brilliant 2023 Viognier offers peach and honeysuckle on the nose with star jasmine and shades of ripe Japanese pear. The palate shows a smooth mouthfeel and is loaded with tension. Delicious now, watch this evolve over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Sarah Barbera- The 2022 Barbera comes from the Dugger Creek Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  Medium-bodied and very red fruit-driven, this offers bright strawberry and red cherry flavors that mingle well with damp earth and shades of Earl Grey tea. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak’ Tempranillo- The 2021 ‘The Stones Speak’ Tempranillo has 10% Syrah blended in. Oyster sauce and red currants parade with shades of charcuterie and red cherry on the palate. Showing a soft mouthfeel and good tension, enjoy this beauty now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2021 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- 100% varietal, the 2021 ‘The Funk Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this 10 acre site littered by large cobblestones in the Rocks District. This is dense and delicious stuff, showing savory herbs and coppa meat flavors alongside Hoisin sauce, creme de violette, tar and smoldering stone on the palate. Very complex and delicious, enjoy this nicely evolved stuff now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2022 Saviah ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The really good 2022 Saviah ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah is another great release from this beautiful producer of Rhone varietals. Smoked brisket, boysenberry cordial and rich chocolate flavors mark the palate alongside violets and tar notes. Enjoy now and over the next seven years. Drink 2024-2031- 93

2022 Saviah ‘Reserve’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Reseve’ comes from the Stones Speak and Funk Estate as well as the Watermill Estate and Waterstone Estate Vineyards. The nose is stunning with iodine and charcuterie notes alongside shades of black cherry compote, soy sauce and shades of wet stone. The palate is plush and seamless with great weight and texture. A gorgeous wine to enjoy now, savor this over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2021 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak Vineyard’ Syrah- A great showing in 2021, the Saviah ‘The Stones Speak Vineyard’ Syrah really shines in its depth, concentration and stony essence. Salty herbs and Oyster sauce notes combine with seaweed, violets, tar and shades of black currant jelly on the palate. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2022 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate Vineyard’ Syrah- Another world-class release, the 2022 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this slightly cooler year in The Rocks District. This edition has 4% Viognier blended in. The beautiful white florals from the Viognier are singing now as wet rock and prosciutto aromatics combine with red currants, orange peel and shades of smoked brisket. The palate is fresh and lithe with a smooth mouthfeel and generous sense of weight. A total stunner, this is amongst the finest editions of this wine from Saviah that I have tasted. Drink 2024-2034- 96

2020 Saviah ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2020 ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this Columbia Valley site set at 1250 feet. Jet black in the glass, this delivers loads of dense dark fruits with chocolate fudge, tar, anise and Cuban cigar notes. Complex and delicious, no reason to cellar this beauty. Cheers to Rich Funk and his team for making a world-class wine in this more than difficult vintage. Drink 2024-2030- 93

2022 Saviah ‘Une Vallee’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Une Vallee’ combines mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (56%) with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Green herbs and shades of black currants combine with blackberry compote and creme de violette on the nose. The palate is fresh and polished with a smooth texture. Medium-bodied and soft, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2022 Saviah Malbec- The 2022 Saviah Malbec was sourced from the Anna Marie and Summit View Vineyards. Stored in mainly new wood, this shows off its inky core in the glass, offering violets and chocolate on the nose alongside shades of cassis and black licorice. The palate is deep and concentrated with firm tannins that frame a brilliant core of black and blue fruit flavors, with spice box and milk chocolate undertones. Gorgeous to consume now, watch this evolve over the next twelve years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 94

Cellar Selection: 2014 Bodega LAN 'A Mano' Rioja

CeToday we share one of the jewels of Spain.  A great winery to visit in La Rioja, Bodegas LAN was founded in 1972. LAN is an acronym based on the initials of each of the three provinces that form the D.O.Ca. Rioja: Logroño (currently part of La Rioja), Alava and Navarra. Their oak program is particularly interesting as French, American, Russian and hybrid barrels (American staves and French oak heads built in the same barrel) are utilized in the blending. Bodegas LAN’s estate Viña Lanciano Vineyard parallels the Ebro river and is set on 72 hectares. Having visited the property a few years back it is hard to describe the beauty of the land. Grapes for their premium bottlings, the Viña Lanciano, the LAN A Mano and the Culmen. The vineyard has 24 plots, and is planted to Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha vines, aged on average up to 60 years. During harvest grapes are hand-harvested and once in the winery, bunches and grains are individually selected by hand prior to fermentation.

Their top wine is the ‘A Mano’ which is a barrel selection wine that is powerful and dense. It is an unabashedly modern style of Rioja. I love the 2014 ‘A Mano’ (OB, 95) which is dense and chewy with gobs of dense dark fruits. Learn more about Bodegas LAN at http://www.bodegaslan.com Here is my review of the Bodegas LAN ‘A Mano’ from 2014.

2014 Bodega LAN ‘A Mano’ Rioja- The 2014 ‘A Mano’ is a masterpiece from this challenging vintage in La Rioja. Now at the ten year mark this beauty is right at its peak — and still has a long way to go. A lush mouthfeel and beautiful tension greets you upon entry, showing dense boysenberry and black currant fruit flavors, with hints of menthol and milk chocolate. Broad-shouldered and generous, consume this beauty over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 95

Clarice Wine Company

Today we share the brilliant wines of Adam Lee and Clarice Wine Company. Adam Lee has been making Pinot Noir for 25 years from Oregon to the Santa Rita Hills. A unique winery project, Clarice Wine Company has a membership of over 600 people. As part of their community members have the chance to interact with each other, sharing wine opinions and wine list guidance, as well as recommendations for wine travel, restaurants, hotels, events and more.

Lee caught the wine bug while in Texas working in wine sales in the 1990s. Fast forward to 1994 he and his wife  founded Siduri which became one of the state’s top producers of Pinot Noir. Their brand grew from 107 cases in 1994 to 25,000 cases in 2015 when they sold to Jackson Family Wines.

Clarice Wine Company is named after Lee’s grandmother who was his closest friend growing up. The wines are sourced from top sites in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Check out the world-class 2023 Clarice Wine Company ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is dense and salty with serious underlying tension. Learn more about this outstanding wine project at https://claricewinecompany.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Clarice and winemaker Adam Lee.

2023 Clarice Wine Company ‘Santa Lucia Highlands’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Santa Lucia Highlands’ comes from the famed Rosella’s and Gary’s Vineyards, as this was stored in mainly neutral oak barrels before bottling. Deeply colored in the glass, this delivers red florals alongside damp soils, black cherry compote and shades of cloves on the nose. The palate is fresh with serious verve that combines with the rich mouthfeel. A generous and layered Pinot Noir, enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2023 Clarice Wine Company ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The astonishingly good 2023 Clarice Wine Company ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this 50 acre site set on the benchlands of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. Owners Gary and Rosella Franscioni planted the vineyard in 1996. This is concentrated and flavorful Pinot Noir that is delightful to consume in its tension-laden youth. Cola and red currants combine with shades of red licorice and sandy soils on the nose. The palate is big and rich with serious verve. A delight to savor now, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2038- 96

2023 Clarice Wine Company ‘Gary’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Clarice Wine Company ‘Gary’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this  nearly 30 year old, 50+ acre vineyard that was named after partners Gary Franscioni and Gary Pisoni. Deeply fragrant, this shows off lavender and loganberry notes on the nose alongside shades of diatomaceous soils. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and generous core of red and black fruits. Salty and very savory, this is a world-class Pinot Noir that is built to age. Drink 2024-2038- 96

Moret-Brealynn

Today we share the great new wines of Moret-Brealynn. This is a new brand which was founded back in 2021. Moret Brealynn is a California born Mexican-American who started in hospitality at the tasting rooms of Silver Oak Cellars and Twomey. She then took a marketing position at Kosta Browne where she organized all winemaker and principal involvement in national and local events. She spent the next five years at HALL Family Wines and managed the Hall's book, A Perfect Score. Morét managed multiple departments and companies to propel the book to the New York Times Bestsellers List (#11, so good it got number one twice) along with 40+ events for the book tour. Through that role, she formed a strong connection with Vintner Kathryn Walt Hall and at the end of the project, became Kathryn's Executive Assistant. Morét became the Happy Hour Show Producer for the company's multiple social channels. This role expanded to being able to meet and work with A-List talent from Tina Fey, the cast of Schitt's Creek, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Martin Short, countless athletes, musicians, and other inspiring individuals. In that group, Morét met Adam Lee, co-founder of Siduri Wines and owner and winemaker for Clarice and Beau Marchais. Adam was impressed with the professionalism and organization of the show and after further discussions, Morét joined him as his General Manager. Morét's exposure to the production side of the wine industry grew and her passion for making her own wine.

Through Adam, Morét met Jim Pratt, who manages vineyards around Sonoma County, including Lakeview Vineyard in Russian River Valley. Jim offered her the opportunity to source four tons of Pinot Noir for her first vintage in 2021. Morét Brealynn now produces Pinot Noir from this vineyard, along with two Appellation Pinot Noirs. Morét is also a Board Member of Wine Women, a non profit focused on connecting women in the wine industry. Her new wines were really good. I love the 2023 Moret-Brealynn ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which is fresh with plenty of texture. Learn more at https://moretbrealynnwines.com/morét-brealynn and here are my reviews of the new Moret-Brealynn wines.

2023 Moret-Brealynn ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this site that neighbors the Pacific Ocean, the 2023 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir opens with a bouquet of salty red fruits and orange rind alongside bergamot and white truffle shavings. The palate is fresh and delicious with a smooth texture. Generous and wonderfully salty, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2023 Moret-Brealynn ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- Packed full of flavor, the 2023 Moret-Brealynn ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir offers juicy cranberry and cola notes on the palate with allspice and dried herbal accents. Medium to full-bodied and full of life, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 91

2023 Moret-Brealynn ‘Lakeview Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Lakeview Vineyard’ comes from two different clonal selections, as this underwent a small portion of whole cluster fermentation before bottling. Rich and generous on the mouth, this offers black cherry and black raspberry flavors with freshly tilled salty soils on the palate. Delicious and showing a soft texture and good underlying finesse, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

Lachini

Today we share the great wines of Lachini. It was 2001 when Ron and Marianne Lachini decided to take the plunge and locate in the Chehalem Mountains AVA to showcase wines from this special, terroir-driven location. Lachini produces a wide range of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that show wonderful terroir and poise. Ron Lachini is one of the great personalities in Oregon wine. A down to earth guy, he is passionate about producing great Pinot Noir from his vineyard. Lachini has tasting rooms in both Oregon and Woodinville. The wines that they have made from Washington are also seriously good.

At the helm is winemaker Florent Merlier who joined Lachini in 2022. I adored the 2021 Lachini Vineyards ‘Prima’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is a world-class wine from this warm vintage. Learn more about this great Oregon winery at https://www.lachinivineyards.com Here are the great new release wines by Lachini Vineyards.

2019 Lachini Brut Rose Sparkling Wine- The 2019 Brut Rose has the faintest salmon hue. A soft mousse and effervescence, this leads with pastry crust and banana with macadamia nut notes on the nose alongside shades of red raspberry. The palate is big and round with a generous mouthfeel and beautiful sense of tension. Salty and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2023 Lachini ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- Coming from their estate vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains, the 2023 Chardonnay offers poached pear and shades of ripe pineapple on the nose with vanilla cream. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth texture and good sense of minerality. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2031- 92

2022 Lachini ‘Cuvee Giselle’ Pinot Noir- The excellent 2022 ‘Cuvee Giselle’ was sourced from the Chehalem Mountain AVA. This comes off soft and generous with rich Bing cherry and red raspberry flavors that combine with salty minerals, orange peel and suggestions of fresh sage. Delicious now, enjoy over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2023 Lachini ‘Le Sorelilni’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Lachini ‘Le Sorelilni’ Pinot Noir is sourced from Swan, Wadenswil and Dijon clonal selections throughout the Willamette Valley. Stored in 60% new French oak, this offers a generous mouthfeel. Loaded with bright red fruits, tobacco leaf and salty minerals, this is a beautiful and bright, mineral-driven Pinot Noir that will satisfy for at least another decade. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Lachini ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir-  A gorgeous follow up to the dazzling 2021, the 2022  'Estate’ Pinot Noir combines Pommard, Wädenswil, Dijon 113, 114, 115, 667, 777 and a 'suitcase clone' (L.T.)  This is lithe and polished stuff with a smooth mouthfeel. Generous red fruits mingle well with orange zest and shades of black truffle. The salty soil nuance adds to the enjoyment as this outstanding bottling is best consumed now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2023 Lachini  ‘La Cruz Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘La Cruz’ Pinot Nor comes from this site in the Sonoma Coast AVA that neighbors the Pacific Ocean. Salty pomegranate seed and kumquat zest flavors combine with crushed wet rock and shades of Yakima cherry on the palate. Rich and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Lachini ‘Prima’ Pinot Noir- A limited production bottling, the 2021 ‘Prima’ is a world-class bottling that is up there with the finest wines made from this estate. The Pinot Noir combines Dijon clone 115, Dijon clone 116, Pommard clone and Waidenswil selections. This is bold and seamless wine that offers a great core of black and red fruits, with volcanic earth and gobs of salty character. Full-bodied, beautifully speaking to the vintage, with herbal undertones, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Lachini ‘La Bestia’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Made from vines sourced from the Quintessence, Red Willow and Boushey Vineyards, this was stored in a combination of American and French oak before bottling. This is deep and concentrated stuff with dark licorice, black currants, and shades of Black Forest cake flavors. Showing good tension and a smooth mouthfeel, with pencil lead accents, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 93

2022 Lachini ‘La Contrada’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘La Contrada’ combines 50% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder equal parts Merlot and Malbec. This is big and bold stuff with a terrific sense of richness, tension and flavor density. Rich dark fruits parade with shades of dark chocolate shavings and creme de violette with tar accents. Full-bodied, this is absolutely ready to be enjoyed now. Drink 2024-2036- 93

Colene Clemens

In his youth Joe Stark had ambitions of someday owning his own business. He worked in his father's small cabinet shop and learned about business from his father. In 1980 his wife Vicki and he were able to fulfill his dream by founding Colene Clemens, named after Vicki’s mother. Colene Clemens was created right in their own backyard, as their property had the correct aspect (south facing), elevations (350ft to 650 ft) and an array of high quality, proven Pinot Noir soils to start their winery.

Winemaker Steve Goff is originally from Philadelphia and moved to San Francisco. Steve became fascinated with winemaking, eventually graduating from the Enology and Viticulture program at Fresno State University and he worked his way to the position of Assistant Winemaker at Beaux Frères. After working six vintages at Beaux Frères, he joined Joe and Vicki Stark in 2008 as the Winemaker and Vineyard Manager for Colene Clemens. Steve’s new wines from the 2021vintage are really outstanding across the board. I love the new 2021 Colene Clemens ‘Margo’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which is a killer value with plenty of depth. Even better is the fantastic 2021 Colene Clemens ‘Adriane’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which shows outstanding flavor range right now. Learn more about these outstanding wines at coleneclemens.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Colene Clemens and winemaker Steve Goff.

2021 Colene Clemens ‘Margo’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2021 ‘Margo’ offers dense red raspberry and ash notes alongside black tea and shades of Linzer torte. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and good sense of length. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2021 Colene Clemens ‘Victoria’ Pinot Noir-The 2021 ‘Victoria’ is a gorgeous bottling that is drinking beautifully right now. Kirsch and black raspberry notes combine with salty and stony accents on the nose. The palate is soft and initing with a smooth mouthfeel. Showing beautifully right now, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2021 Colene Clemens ‘Adriane’ Pinot Noir-Coming form the Chehalem Mountains AVA, the 2021 Colene Clemens ‘Adriane’ Pinot Noir shows beautiful depth, tension and richness from this warm vintage. Wet stone and damp earthy accents mark this wine that shows a gorgeous core of red and black fruit flavors with excellent verve.Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Colene Clemens ‘Dopp Creek’ Pinot Noir- A stunning wine from their Chehalem Mountains estate, the 2022 ‘Dopp Creek’ offers pretty red rose petals that mingle well with allspice dusted red cherry and pomegranate seed notes. The palate is soft and inviting with good verve and a smooth texture. Finishing long with copious minerals and rich red fruits with orange peel, this is a beautiful effort that is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2036- 93