Dusted Valley

We share one of the outstanding houses out of Walla Walla today. It has now been many years ago that Dusted Valley was founded by the Johnson and Braunel families who are originally from Wisconsin and have strong backgrounds in farming. They source from some of the great vineyards in Washington, including the Olsen Vineyard and Stoney Vine Vineyard. They are making some really nice sparkling wine now. Wine quality from this house has steadily improved over the past decade. Tasting with the founders at the winery showed how well these wines can cellar and how well their screw cap technology has worked for them.

I adored the 2023 Dusted Valley ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is another stunning edition of this wine, showing beautiful freshness and texture. Don’t serve too cold! Learn more about these beautiful new wines at https://www.dustedvalley.com Here are my reviews of the great new wines by Dusted Valley.

2023 Boomtown Chardonnay- The 2023 Boomtown Chardonnay is a nice wine for the pricee. Japanese pear and nectarine notes combine with shades of green melon and minerals on the palate. Drink 2025-2029- 90

2023 Boomtown Sauvignon Blanc- The 2023 Boomtown Sauvignon Blanc shows off white grapefruit blossom on the nose alongside lime zest and green apple notes. Fresh and polished, enjoy this smooth, Washington Sauvignon Blanc now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2029- 90

2023 Boomtown Pinot Gris- A really nice value, the 2023 Boomtown Pinot Gris offers kiwi, baking spices and shades of honeydew melon on the nose. This is soft, nicely textured stuff that delivers plenty of melon and orchard fruits. Serve at a slightly warmer temperature. Drink 2025-2029- 90

2022 Boomtown Syrah- The 2022 Boomtown Syrah shows good concentration with juicy red fruits that mingle with smoke, beef drippings and a dusting of white pepper on the palate. This is really good stuff for the price. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2022 Boomtown Merlot- The 2022 Boomtown Merlot is a soft and approachable bottling, offering cedar, black currants and chocolate on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 89

2022 Boomtown Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Boomtown Cabernet Sauvignon delivers straightforward cassis, pencil lead and blackberry flavors that combine with a soft mouthfeel on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2023 Dusted Valley ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The delicious 2023 Dusted Valley ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Chardonnay is another beautiful edition of this wine. This comes off ripe and round on the mouth, with a generous texture. Broad-shouldered, with loads of mouth-watering acidly this revels in its core of melon and citrus fruits alongside shades of Marcona almond and brioche notes. Elegant, with good verve, enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Dusted Valley ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- This 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from this high elevation site set in the Yakima Valley. Aged in oak barrels, this delivers beautiful concentration, as well as flavor complexity. Peaches, freshly cut Key lime, Gravenstein apple and pie crust flavors all combine on the palate, with hazelnut accents. Complex and delicious, this is best consumed on the warmer side. Drink 2025-2030- 92

2022 Dusted Valley ‘Stained Tooth’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Stained Tooth’ Syrah was aged in only 14% new French oak before bottling and has a touch of Viognier blended in. Light white flower florals combine with dense red and dark fruits, with creosote accents on the nose. The palate is fresh and polished with a smooth texture. Medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2022 Dusted Valley Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2022 Columbia Valley bottling has a touch of Petit Verdot blended in. Garrigue and graphite mark the nose alongside violets and cassis notes. The palate is well-structured, with medium-bodied black fruits alongside chocolate and sagebrush accents. Drink 2025-2035- 92

2022 Dusted Valley ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Petite Sirah- The 2022 Dusted Valley ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Petite Sirah is a killer wine made by this Walla Walla house. Inky in the glass, this reveals in its core of black and blue fruits, with copious minerals and dark chocolate shavings. Really well-done and nicely structured, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93

Champagne Mandois

A new champagne house for me, imported by Albert Bichot’s US import arm, Albert Bichot USA, the Mandois property dates back to 1735 when the family decided to acquire some vineyards in Champagne. At that time, Jean Mandois, a contemporary of Brother Oudart, possessed and worked a few plots of vines on the hillsides of Epernay. 1860 was a revolutionary year in the long family history. This was the year when Jean Mandois’ great-grandson, Victor Mandois made the decision to vinify and sell the wines of Champagne in Epernay.

I loved the new Mandois releases. Check out the really good 2019 Mandois ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne (OB, 92) which is very elegant and sleek, offering good richness and flavor range. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.champagne-mandois.fr/en/category/exclusive-champagne/ and here are my reviews of the new Champagne Mandois wines.

NV Champagne Mandois ‘Brut Origine’ Champagne- The NV Champagne Mandois ‘Brut Origine’ combines 40% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir with the remainder Pinot Meunier. Given 7G/L dosage this opens with lime zest, sea salt and ginger notes alongside toasty brioche tones. The palate is refined, linear and fresh, showing beautiful tension throughout the drinking experience. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 90

NV Champagne Mandois ‘Rose Grande Reserve’ Champagne- The NV Champagne Mandois ‘Rose Grande Reserve’ Champagne is composed of near equal parts of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Offering a light effervescence this delivers tart strawberry and red raspberry with pomegranate seed flavors alongside good tension on the palate. Great now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2019 Champagne Mandois ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne- The 2019 ‘Blanc de Blancs’ is 100% Chardonnay soured from the Clos Mandois Vineyard. Given 6G/L dosage, this offers lime zest and white peach on the nose alongside kiwi and shades of wet stone. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth mousse. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2018 Champagne Mandois ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Champagne- The 2018 ‘Blanc de Noirs’ is entirely Pinot Noir coming from the 1er cru village of Pierry. The wine shows excellent weight with bright raspberry and strawberry fruits alongside shades of lemon curd and copious minerals on the palate. Delightful to savor now, enjoy over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 92

Domaine Drouhin Oregon

One of the Northwest’s outstanding wineries, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, began in in the 1980s, founded by famed Burgundy producer, Domaine Drouhin. It was then that proprietor Robert Drouhin made the bold move to buy land in the Dundee Hills. What was previously only Christmas trees and wheat, the Drouhin family began planting their first vineyards in Oregon. Robert’s daughter, Véronique, has served as DDO winemaker for many years, and her brother Philippe Drouhin took responsibility for viticulture. In 1988, DDO produced its first vintage, from purchased grapes, and in 1989 built the landmark, four-story gravity flow winery. I had a great visit to the winery in August and am always blown away with the sweeping views of the Willamette Valley.  I’ve been lucky enough to have DDO bottlings back more than twenty years in my family’s personal collection.

The new wines are a total knockout from the 2022 vintage. This was one that was late-ripening and needed a lot of time to finish. Harvest was late but there were some world-class wines made this vintage. Don’t miss out on the 2022 Domaine Drouhin Oregon ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir (OB, 97) which is up there with the finest editions of this wine that I have ever tasted. Learn more about this iconic Oregon winery  at http://www.domainedrouhin.com/ Here are the awesome new releases from Domaine Drouhin Oregon. 

2023 Domaine Drouhin Rose- This bright and tart Rose offers a smooth texture with ripe red raspberry and strawberry notes on the palate with good freshness. Enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2029- 91

2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Chardonnay- This vintage saw considerably lower yields from the frost damage. The 2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Chardonnay is a world-class wine that has poise and grace as well as richness to be a 20 year wine. Mango and lemon oil mark the nose alongside oyster shell on the nose. The palate is dense and chewy with serious flavor density and a seamless drinking experience throughout. A total stunner, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2040- 97

2022 RoseRock ‘Maigold’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Maigold’ is a stunning wine that was aged in 50% French oak before bottling. Butterscotch and hazelnut notes combine with ripe pineapple and suggestions of sourdough bread on the plate. Rich and layered, this is a stunning wine that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2024-2040- 96

2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Origine 35’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Origine 35’ is a tribute to the 35th vintage at Domaine Drouhin Oregon. The idea behind this wine is a different expression than Laurene or their Dundee Hills bottling. The wine comes off deep and concentrated with a loaded core of black and red fruits alongside salty soils, wet rock, orange peel and suggestions of thyme. Fresh and deeply concentrated, with a refined mouthfeel, this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir- A stunning wine, the 2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir is a knockout wine made from this vintage. On the nose this offers cigar ash alongside black cherry and black raspberry notes with blood orange zest accents. The palate is plush and refined with good weight and a lengthy finish. Generous now, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 96

2021 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Pinot Noir- The world-class 2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous edition of this wine that is already neatly evolved.

beautifully. The palate is dense, chewy and filled with power, with fantastic tension holding everything together. Seamless and seductive throughout the drinking experience with heady dark fruits, this is a monumental bottling that is amongst the finest you will taste in Oregon. Drink 2023-2043- 97

2021 RoseRock ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir was stored for 15 months in 25% new French oak before bottling. Bottled in February 2023 this comes off very elegant and silky on the palate, as this is driven by a gorgeous pure core of red and dark fruit flavors alongside red rose water, orange rind and suggestions of tobacco leaf. Drink 2023-2040- 95

2022 Domaine Drouhin ‘Louise’ Pinot Noir- Dense, chewy and gorgeous, the very fleshy 2022 ‘Louise’ Pinot Noir is a generous and concatenated edition of this wine. On the nose this takes on beautiful red rose petals and tar with menthol and shades of red currants. The palate is rich and layered wit ha silky texture and refined tannins. Showing glorious length, this beautiful wine has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2024-2044- 97

Louis Roederer 'Cristal' Champagne

It was a damp and dark January day when I last visited Champagne Louis Roederer. We toured through the halls and finally ended with a tasting of the Roederer releases and the latest vintage of a wine icon, their ‘Cristal’ Champagne. Louis Roederer only produces their ‘Cristal’ Champagne in specific vintages that work for their style and the first ‘Cristal’ Champagne was created back in 1876 to satisfy the demanding tastes of Tsar Alexander II. The emperor asked Louis Roederer to reserve the House’s best cuvée for him every year as he was fond of Louis Roederer’s style. They started making this wine to be distinguished by being presented in a flat-bottomed, transparent lead-crystal bottle. The ‘Cristal’ brand was named after the lead-crystal bottle, which is particularly transparent and luminous. 

‘Cristal’ Champagne blending is typically around 40% Chardonnay and 60% Pinot Noir, although that varies on the vintage. Cristal is aged for 6 years in Louis Roederer’s cellars and then left for a further 8 months after disgorgement. The ‘Cristal’ Rose Champagne is always composed of estate fruit and the wine is primarily fermented and aged in steel, but roughly 15-20% of the blend is aged in oak. Dosage in this wine has slowly gone down.

The last time I tried the latest ‘Cristal’ release I was able to taste side by side the 2014 with the latest 2015. There is now a 2016 edition released. I found that the 2015 has been one of the great wines made this vintage. I have little doubt that the 2016 will follow suit. The 2016 vintage in champagne saw April frost that limited yields. However, early heavy rainfall and frosts to a late heat wave that accelerated ripening. This turned out to be a fleshy, opulent vintage.

Needing a lot of air, just as the 2015 edition, the stunning 2016 ‘Cristal’ (OB, 97) is delicious, ripe and opulent. It has some similarities to the 2009, as does the 2015. It is an absolute must that this wine sit in a large stem or decanter for 20 minutes prior to enjoying. Learn more about this great Champagne at http://www.louis-roederer.com/en/wine/cristal

2016 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Champagne- A dazzling new edition of this wine, the 2016 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Champagne is a world-class combination of 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay. This edition of ‘Cristal’ was given 7G/L dosage. Chalky minerals mark the nose alongside white grapefruit blossom, marzipan, star jasmine and suggestions of kumquat zest that all meld in the glass. The palate is filled with crushed seashells and wet salty stones that combine with rich melon, lemon rind and tangerine zest flavors that combine with suggestions of pastry crust on the palate. Big, round and generous, this exudes class in terms of length, tension and flavor density. A gorgeous wine in its heady youth, enjoy over the next twenty plus years to come. Drink 2025-2045- 97

Cellar Selection: 2003 and 2005 Chateau Climens

My mouth waters every time I think about the liquid gold 2005 Climens. It is truly a perfect wine. One of the great wineries in the world, located in Barsac, Chateau Climens has gained a worldwide reputation for producing top notch Sauternes.  Set on the left bank of the Garonne, in Graves region in the south-west of Bordeaux, The Grands Crus from Sauternes and Barsac were classified in 1855 at the same time as the Grands Crus from Médoc. Château Climens belongs to the First Classed Growths of 1855.

Within the Sauternes appellation, the small village of Barsac is primarily set on limestone soils which yields a wonderful freshness and balance to the wines. Chateau Clemens estate is a 30 hectares property situated on the appellation’s highest land where limestone outcrops are abundant. For years Berenice Lurton was at the helm at Climens, beginning in 1992. She was one of the great winemakers of the region, producing balanced yet massively complex wines. In 2002 Château Climens owner Lurton has sold a majority stake in the prestigious, Barsac-based estate to Jean-Hubert Moitry and his family.

It was such a pleasure revisiting the great vintages of 2003 and 2005. 2003 was a much warmer year, producing wines of serious power and depth. The 2003 didn’t show the same level of poise as the ’05 but was a hedonistic treat to discover. The 2005 remains for me a perfect wine — one with impeccable balance and flavor complexity. It is a total stunner right now. It is really hard to describe how good the ’05 is! Learn more about this compelling estate in the Bordeaux region at http://www.chateau-climens.fr/en/

2003 Chateau Climens- Dense, heady and downright unctuous, the 2003 Chateau Climens is a dizzying treat to consume right now. Taken from a .750ML bottle, bought at Hedonism Wines in London, this offers gorgeous candied ginger, mango and pineapple notes on the palate, with orange marmalade and butterscotch notes. Considering the heat of the vintage and the age of the wine, this is holding nicely, still offering good freshness. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 97

2005 Chateau Climens- A resounding success from this great vintage, the 2005 Chateau Climens is a world-class wine that is weightless, highly complex and absolutely scintillating to enjoy now. The gorgeous bouquet beings you back to the glass, offering intense tropical fruits alongside vanilla creme brûlée, pineapple upside down cake and shades of Meyer lemon cream. The palate is seamless and smooth, with plenty of stony minerals that meld well with passion fruit, bananas foster and toasted macadamia nut flavors. Showing beautiful weight and intensity, this has a really long life ahead of it. Drink 2024-2050- 100

Cristom Vineyards

It is my pleasure to share one of the greats out of Oregon. Cristom Vineyards hosted for a visit and tour a week ago. This is one of the most gorgeous spots that you will find in the Willamette Valley. Over the years Cristom has gained world-wide acclaim for their single vineyard Pinot Noirs. More recently they have been really improving their Chardonnay program.  The Cristom ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir has been one of the great values out of Oregon. This 2023 edition of this wine is another sensational bottling by them.

WInemaker Daniel Estrin, who also serves as vineyard manager, has an impressive resume, with stints at Red Car as well as Craggy Range in New Zealand before landing his position Littorai. He has made a wonderful impact to Cristom on the winemaking side. I love the 2023 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Viognier (OB, 93) which is bright and fragrant, showing a smooth mouthfeel. Even better is the 2022 Cristom Vineyards ‘Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is dense and chewy with serious richness and underlying tension. Check out more about these outstanding wines at https://www.cristomvineyards.com and here are my reviews of the new releases by Cristom.

2023 Cristom ’Louise Vineyard’ Viognier- The 2023 ‘Louise Vineyard’ was sourced from this location set on basalt soils. Stored in all neural oak barrels, this delivers honeysuckle and juicy peach aromatics that combine with salty soils and shades of ginger on the nose. The palate is fresh and lithe with a smooth texture and good sense of length. Nervy and intense, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2033- 93

2023 Cristom ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Gamay- The 2023 ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Gamay comes from both the Paul Gerrie and Björnson Vineyards. This was given 100% whole cluster carbonic maceration and then stored in neutral oak barrels before bottling. Translucent in the glass, this delivers loads of juicy red fruits that collide with baking spices, thyme and a light dusting of white pepper, with cran-orange accents on the palate. Really good in its vibrant youth, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2023 Cristom ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant 2023 Cristom ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir was aged in nearly all neutral oak for 11 months prior to bottling. The wine saw roughly 50% half whole cluster fermentation. Juicy guava and strawberry fruits mark the nose alongside cloves, black pepper dusted orange peel and tobacco leaf notes. The palate is gorgeous in terms of weight and flavor density. This is a truly outstanding bottling at a great price. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Cristom ‘Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the Bjornson Vineyard is set on volcanic soils and formerly had a good amount of poison oak planted. This 2022 Pinot Noir was stored in 33% new French oak barrels before bottling. It shows beautiful concentration with a silky texture upon entry, feeding on the great red floral aromatics. A beautiful melange of red and dark fruits parade with rocky soils, sea salt and shades of black truffle shavings on the palate. Delicious, neatly textured and downright delicious, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Cristom ‘Meredith Mitchell Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Meredith Mitchell Vineyard’ was sourced from this location planted back in 1988, set on rocky soils. Stored in mainly neutral oak barrels, this shows concentrated black raspberry and pomegranate fruit flavors that combine with wet stone and tar accents on the palate. Complex and delightful in its heady youth, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years to come. Only 150 cases produced. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Cristom ‘Durant Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Dundee Hills, the Durant Vineyard dates back to 1973 plantings and is set on deep, volcanic soils. This 2022 Pinot Noir delivers beautiful red rose petals and menthol notes on the nose alongside white truffle oil and suggestions of damp rock with red currants. The palate is vibrant in terms of minerality and tension that runs through a beautiful core of rich red fruits, with cedar, and damp earthy accents. Smooth on the mouth and showing good weight and length, with no rough edges, this is a delicious rendition of Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Syrah- One of the unique bottlings of the Willamette Valley, for years the Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Syrah was only made during warm vintages. Times have changed. This 2022 edition might be the finest yet, with some Cote Rotie underpinnings, yielding bulls blood and iodine notes alongside wet rock, tart red fruits and suggestions of orange peel. Medium-bodied with a smooth texture, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92

Eternal Wines

Today we share the excellent new wines by Brad Binko and Eternal Wines.  Years ago he graduated from the Walla Walla Community College’s enology and viticulture program,  and for years ran restaurant wine programs in Charleston before making the move to Walla Walla. He is making one of the best Port-inspired wines of the Pacific Northwest.

The winery is a great destination with fun parties in the summer and he has a deft touch with his white wines. The new whites were vibrant and nicely textured. I love the new 2021 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Bliss’ Fortified Syrah (OB, 93) which is rich and viscous — an after-dinner treat. This is truly one of the outstanding dessert wines in the Northwest Learn more about these wines at https://eternalwine.com Here are the great new releases by Eternal Wine and Drink Washington State.

2022 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Sunshine’ Viognier- The 2022 ‘Eternal Sunshine’ offers orange marmalade on the nose alongside shades of white peach and shades of pink grapefruit blossom. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture and good underlying tension. Well-made and sturdy, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2019 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Lust’ Albarino— The 2023 ‘Eternal Lust’ comes from the Otis Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. This offers excellent nerve with Marcona almond flavors that mingle well with orange zest and bright kiwi and pear flavors. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2017 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Echo’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘Eternal Echo’ Syrah was sourced from the Gamache Vineyard. It is medium-bodied with herbal accents that mingle well with red currants and menthol notes. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2029- 89

2019 Eternal Wines ‘Rocketman Red’ Red Wine- The really good 2019 ‘Rocketman Red’ delivers juicy red and dark fruits on the palate, with tar and tobacco leaf notes. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 90

2018 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Divinity’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Eternal Divinity’ comes from the ionysus Vineyard in the Columbia Valley. This is well-structured, medium-bodied stuff that offers a core of black fruits alongside creosote, damp earth and cuban cigar. Delicious now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2024-2031- 91

2021 Eternal Wines ‘Eternal Bliss’ Dessert Wine- The 2021 ‘Eternal Bliss’ has become one of the outstanding dessert wines of Washington State and is without a doubt the finest wine of the new Eternal Wines lineup. The 2021 edition is burly from this warm vintage. Toffee and black cherry cordial combine with chocolate cake flavors on the palate. Seriously good, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 93

MacRostie Vineyards

All great wines do not need to be priced high. One of the consistently good and well-priced houses in Sonoma, MacRostie Vineyards was founded by fellow Whitman alum Steve MacRostie. For many years I have loved these wines, particularly the value that their entry level wines bring. Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen has a great history in the wine industry. After attaining her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder she worked in the laboratory of Jackson Family Wines before working at Clos du Bois, Oyster Bay as well as Sonoma-Cutrer. The new wines are all outstanding coming from the 2020 and 2019 vintages.

MacRostie sources from some great vineyards including Dutton Ranch, Sangiacomo, Martinelli and Bacigalupi, and from MacRostie’s Estate Wildcat Mountain Vineyard which was purchased decades back. They have crafted another stunning value, their 2022 Macrostie ‘Nightwing Vineyard Swan Clone’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is a dense treat to enjoy now. Learn more about this great Sonoma winery at https://macrostiewinery.com/ Here are the outstanding wines by MacRostie.

2022 MacRostie ‘Nightwing Vineyard Swan Clone’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 MacRostie ‘Nightwing Vineyard Swan Clone’ Pinot Noir comes from this site in the eastern hills of the Petaluma Gap. It is a burly edition of wine from this site that speaks to the heat of the vintage. Cola and ripe cranberry tones combine with salty minerals and a smooth texture on the palate. Big, burly and rich, with good underlying acidity, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 95

2022 MacRostie ‘Nightwing Vineyard Calera Clone’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 MacRostie ‘Nightwing Vineyard Calera Clone’ Pinot Noir comes from Block 22 in the vineyard. A dusting of white pepper combines with tart red fruits and Mandarin orange zest on the nose. The palate is fresh and fleshy with good underlying verve considering the heat of the vintage. Delicious now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

Cellar Selection: 2005 Domaine Serene 'Mark Bradford' Pinot Noir

I love drinking Oregon Pinot at its peak. Such is the case with the 2005 'Mark Bradford' by Domaine Serene, which is really peaking right now. I love wines from this location which is set in the Dundee Hills. It is a high-elevation site located on the west-facing slope of the Evenstad Estate and was the first vineyard planted at Domaine Serene.
The wine is rich and ripe from this warmer vintage in Oregon. It is fleshy but not overripe and has beautiful texture and tension. Oregon from 2005 is one to really enjoy now, as I have found the case to be true with top Oregon wines from other houses. No reason to cellar this beauty. Here are my notes from the enticing 2005 'Mark Bradford' by Domaine Serene and learn more at https://www.domaineserene.com

2005 Domaine Serene 'Mark Bradford' Pinot Noir- Voluptuous, rich and ubabashedly big from this warm vintage, the 005 Domaine Serene 'Mark Bradford' Pinot Noir is a total head-turner and won't be improving either. On the nose the rich red florals entice alongside pomegranate seed, wild strawberry, garrigue and hints of black truffle shavings. Round and voluptuous on the mouth, this is a total stunner that still has another ten years in front of it. But why wait? Drink 2024-2034- 97

Ambar Estate

A new Oregon winery making a strong showing in 2024, Ambar Estate was founded by Pam Turner and Robert Townsend. This couple have diverse backgrounds, Turner being an author and Townsend a corporate attorney and entrepreneur. The couple bought land on Northeast Worden Hill Road in 2017 and planted their estate mostly to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It was quite a job removing the scrub oak and blackberries there. The land is farmed by the Results Partners.

The new wines were sensational. I particularly love the 2022 Ambar ‘Lustral’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is dense, heady and beautifully structured. Learn more at https://www.ambarestate.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Ambar Estate wines.

2022 Ambar ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay- The really good 2022 Ambar ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay offers a smooth texture with layers of ripe melon and toasted hazelnut alongside vanilla cream and Pink Lady apple. Polished and smooth with good viscosity, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Ambar ‘Lustral’ Chardonnay- The ‘Lustral’ is a barrel selection Chardonnay from the 2022 vintage. This is a rich, dense and nervy wine with serious length. Meyer lemon cream and shades of walnut combine with dense melon and pear flavors on the palate. This is marvelously  textured stuff that is drinking so well in its heady youth. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2022 Ambar ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir comes from a range of sites in this higher elevation AVA. Translucent in the glass, this delivers tart red fruits that mingle well with volcanic soils, orange peel and shades of bergamot on the nose. The palaate has a beautiful melange of red fruits with citrus rind and forest floor tones. Very earthy and neatly textured, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Ambar ‘Sacra Terra’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Sacra Terra’ is a beautiful expression of Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. The wine spent 21 days on skins and then 12 months in 67% new French Oak before bottling. The wine shows serious polish and nerve with bright cranberry and strawberry fruit flavors alongside dusty soils and beautiful red florals. A delightful, elegant style of the Dundee Hills, with serious freshness, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 95

Chappellet

We share the story of Donn Chappellet who began his wine education by collecting Bordeaux wines while in college. He later ran Interstate United Corporation, a coffee-vending distributorship he co-founded in the mid-1950s, which he helped turn into the third-largest such business in the United States, with more than 7,000 employees and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

He finally decided to sell his shares of Interstate United in 1966 and guided by the legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff of Beaulieu Vineyards bought 320 acres of rocky mountain terrain at the eastern edge of the Napa Valley. Donn saw this terroir as one which would connect with the great wines of Bordeaux. He saw the potential for Pritchard Hill and initially planted Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon which was met with great critical acclaim. Sadly passing in 2016, Donn became a legend of this great site in the Napa Valley.

One of Napa’s great talents, Phillip Corallo-Titus has been at Chappellet remarkably since 1990. A graduate of UC Davis, Phillip spent time traveling to both Bordeaux and Burgundy to learn about these esteemed regions. In 1981, Phillip joined the Chappellet team as assistant winemaker, and then in1990, Donn Chappellet invited Phillip to return to the winery as Chappellet’s winemaker, a position he has held ever since.

I was truly enamored by the new 2021 Chappelllet ‘Pritchard Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon  (OB, 97) which is dense and nervy with great aging potential. Learn more about this famed Napa estate at chappellet.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Chappellet. 

2023 Chappellet ‘Signature’ Chenin Blanc- One of the awesome sites for Chenin Blanc in California, vines from this high elevation site were planted back in the late 1980s. This is fresh and clean on the palate, offering orange blossom water, bright pear and kiwi flavors alongside a refined texture. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Chappellet Cabernet Franc- This 2021 edition of this Pritchard Hill-based Cabernet Franc combines smaller portions Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and a dash of Petit Verdot. Stored for 22 months in 60% new French oak before bottling, this opens with a beautiful bouquet of violets, volcanic stones, and shades of creme de cassis on the nose. The palate is dense and chewy with serious texture and richness. Enjoy now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2021 Chappellet ‘Pritchard Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Chappellet ‘Pritchard Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon has 5% Petit Verdot blended in. Creme de violette, tar and pipe tobacco mark the nose alongside shades of Black Forest Cake. The palate is utterly fabulous in terms of tension, flavor density and texture. A joy to consume now, watch this beauty evolve over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2024-2044- 97

The 10 Best Wines I Tasted in 2024

The Top 10 Wines I Tasted in 2024

I love sharing great food and wine with friends. We are now firmly out of the Pandemic but the wine industry has been having struggles in 2024. Traffic is down at most wineries on the West Coast and we all need to do our best to support the wine community. I have enjoyed some sensational wines with friends over the past year, including many top champagnes, Rhones and Bordeauxs. Here are some of my favorite world wine choices that I tasted in 2024.

What were some of your favorite wines that you tasted this year? Here are mine:

10) 2014 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Rose Champagne

This was such a nuanced and complex bottling. For me this has to be one of the finest Cristal Rose wines made. It is big and burly with loads of aging potential — literally will sit for decades. A must-taste for any champagne lover.

9) 2022 Kobayashi ‘Sans Soufre’ Syrah

A knockout Syrah, this has such sensational flavor range from blood orange zest and iodine to dense dark fruits. The freshness and overall stability of the wine is remarkable despite it being a natural wine. This is clearly up there with the finest natural wines of the world including those from Frank Cornelissen.

8) 2005 Chateau Margaux

This was a 3L bottle that was enjoyed at a party in Miami. I had a glass of it and it was otherworldly stuff. The black florals and texture were just sensational. No doubt this was a perfect wine that was also very vibrant and fresh. I think this has easily two decades in front of it.

7) 2005 Chateau Climens Sauternes-

This is a perfect wine for me and was an amazing half-bottle. It was tasted v. The 2003 and this might not have been quite as dense but had better finesse. The flavor range was downright ethereal. There was just so much drinking pleasure and it was enjoyed over Christmas which made it even more special.

6) 2014 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine-

Formerly my #1 wine of the year, the 2014 ‘God Only Knows’ was a total stunner and every bit a perfect wine. This one is definitely not getting better so open and enjoy if you have a few. Talk about a cornucopia of flavors from seaweed and charcuterie to ultra-pure red fruits

5) 2000 Dom Perignon ‘P2’ Champagne

Enjoyed with friends the 2000 ‘P2’ is definitely not getting any better. But it was so marvelously musty and still has a gorgeous core of melon and citrus fruits left intact, with wafts of white truffle crudo. A dazzling wine, this is drinking like a mature Burgundy right now. Golden in the glass, no reason to cellar this beauty. Pop this thing and watch it evolve over an hour.

4) 2005 Chateau Angelus

I love Angelus and this was a stunning bottle of the 2005. So rich and pure, with vibrant acidity and a gorgeous melange of dark and red fruits, with that loamy soil character. The tannins are ultra-refined right now, so no reason to continue to cellar. Enjoyed over an hour, this became even more silky at the hour mark.

3) 2014 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon

I love wines from this site and the 2014 ‘Galitzine’ is really rocking right now in its hedonistic core of black and blue fruits. The underlying vein of tension remains wonderfully intact here. This is just a total stunner to enjoy now — and it went very quickly!

2) 2012 Opus One Red Wine

I love the way that old Opus One ages. This one was impeccably balanced and shows stunning freshness and depth. It is just starting to get into the tertiary notes of cedar and garrigue with wild mushroom accents. Right now this beauty is drinking like a first growth Bordeaux!

1) 2010 Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape

Who doesn’t love Rayas but you don’t always get a chance to enjoy a perfectly mature Rayas. This was the case in November as a friend opened his 2010. So pillowy and soft, with amazing verve and tension, I don’t think I have had a finer rendition of this wine. This is the absolute pillar of Chateauneuf for me. Pure and seductive with its pretty red florals and red fruit core, it was seamless throughout the drinking experience. An unforgettable wine!

Gramercy Cellars

Gramercy Cellars

Today we share the outstanding wines of Gramercy Cellars. This winery was founded more than twenty years ago by winemaker and master sommelier, Greg Harrington, MS. For years Gramercy has been making some of the finest Rhones and Rose wines in Washington State. Harrington incredibly passed the master sommelier exam at the age of 26. Partner and co-winemaker, Brandon Moss, shares Greg’s focus on prime fruit and minimal intervention, showcasing the typicity of the individual varietal. These are wines that embody structure and poise, with good richness and varietal character. The wines have typically a small amount of new French oak utilized and many of these wines were stored in barrel for more than twenty months.

This is another knockout lineup by Gramercy. Check out the 2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is arguably the finest wine I have tasted from this house. Dazzling and deep, with serious nerve, try to resist this beauty for at least another year. Learn more about these amazing wines at gramercycellars.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Gramercy Cellars and the superstar winemaking team of Greg Harrington, MS and Brandon Moss.

2020 Gramercy Cellars ‘Lower East’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Lower East’ Cabernet Sauvignon mainly comes from the Phinny Hill vineyard as well as the Gramercy Estates site. Nearly all aged in natural oak barrels, this offers dried herbs and Arabica bean notes combine with shades of dark currants and chocolate on the nose. The palate comes off clean with medium-bodied roasted figs, dark cherry and good verve. This is a really nice effort from a tough vintage that is best enjoyed now. Drink 2024-2030- 92

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Estate’ Merlot- The 2021 ‘Gramercy Estates’ Merlot has 15% Cabernet Franc blended in. Stored in only 17% new French oak, this delivers kirsch and sandalwood notes on the nose, with suggestions of sagebrush and baking spices that all meld in the glass. The palate is soft, round and generous in terms of richness and texture. Delicious now, watch this elegant 2021 Merlot evolve over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Gramercy Estates’ Red Wine- This warm vintage edition of the Gramercy Estates combines nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (82%) with Cabernet Franc and a splash of Petit Verdot. Coming from their JB George and Octave Estate vineyards, the wine was aged for 22 months in only 35% new French oak prior to bottling. This comes off lush and inviting on the mouth, delivering pencil lead and menthol flavors that mingle well with a generous core of dark fruits. Delightful now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 94

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc- The 2021 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc is 100% varietal and was stored in mainly neutral oak barrels prior to bottling. Sourced from the JB George Vineyard at 1750 feet in the Walla Walla Valley, this shows off beautiful red florals and herbal undertones on the nose, with red bell pepper, cassis and anise notes all singing in unison. The palate shows beautiful depth and structured, as refined tannins frame a gorgeous core of black fruits. Delicious now, enjoy over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 94

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Forgotten Hills’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘Forgotten Hills’ Syrah has a small amount of Walla Walla Rocks District Syrah blended in. Given 56% whole cluster fermentation, this was stored for 21 months in nearly all neutral oak before bottling. The faintest rocky stone character marks the nose alongside Umami, allspice dusted black fruits and suggestions of Nori with white peppercorns. The palate is a total knockout in terms of flavor range and bright underlying acidity. This has to be the one of the finest editions of this wine yet. Drink 2024-2039- 95

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Lagniappe’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘Lagniappe’ comes from the Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. Gramercy has been sourcing from this site for more than past ten years, as the Syrah underwent all whole cluster fermentation and was stored in only 8% new French oak before bottling. Charcuterie and black raspberry notes mingle well with lavender and shades of dark rose petals, with smoky accents on the nose. The palate shows downright awesome flavor range, richness and bright underlying tension. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2038- 95

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘L’Idiot Du Village’ Mourvedre- Always one of the finest editions of this varietal in the state, the 2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘L’Idiot Du Village’ Mourvedre comes entirely from the Olsen Vineyard and has a pinch of Carignan blended in. Despite being translucent in the glass, this has beautiful depth and weight, with a glorious core of red fruits that parade with blood orange zest, seaweed, white pepper dusted bacon and shades of tar on the palate. Bright and lively, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah- This 2021 edition of the Gramercy Cellars ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah comes almost entirely fromBlock 46 at the Les Collines Vineyard, with a small portion of fruit sourced from the Forgotten Hills Vineyard. Stored for 21 months in 20% new French oak barrels, this exudes class with loganberry compote, wet stone and dried herbs on the nose that combine with suggestions of smoked brisket. The palate comes off fresh and inviting with serious texture and underlying verve. Just a baby, give this another year to shed its fat — but a massive potential is there. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The chiseled and muscle-bound 2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a burly rendition of this wine that has a touch of Petit Verdot (3%) blended in. Sourced form the Bacchus, Phinny Hill and Octave Vineyards, this was stored in 45% new French oak barrels. Needing about an hour in the decanter to really get going, this shows off dense dark fruits on the nose, with milk chocolate, garrigue and pencil lead, alongside loamy soil accents. The palate shows some serious power and finesse — an iron fist in velvet glove. Wait on this beauty for at least another year. Drink 2026-2045- 97

Pomum

Today we highlight a great producer of traditional Spanish varietals in Washington State. Pomum was founded by the husband and wife team of Javier and Shylah Alfonso. Originally from the famed Ribera del Duero region in Spain, winemaker Javier Alfonso arrived in Washington in 1995 in pursuit of an aeronautical engineering degree at the University of Washington where he met his future wife Shylah. Pomum’s first commercial vintage was in 2004 and in 2009 they founded their sister winery, Idilico, which focuses on Spanish varietals.

Wines are made in an old-world style, towards balance and a limited amount of new oak. This was a delightful new lineup — the best I have seen from them. I really enjoyed the 2023 Idilico Albarino (OB, 91) which is fresh and shows a smooth mouthfeel. The same is true with the 2021 Pomum Syrah (OB, 92) which has excellent acidity and balance. Learn more about this excellent winery at https://pomumcellars.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Pomum.

2023 Idilico Albarino- Coming from the Yakima Valley, this 2023 Albarino offers a smooth mouthfeel with layers of rich kiwi and melon flavors that meld well with a good sense of tension backing things up. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Idilico Monastrell- A seldom planted varietal in Washington State, Monastrell is mainly found in wines from Rhône and Provence regions of France, as well as Valencia and Jumilla in Spain. Juicy strawberry and guava fruit flavors parade with citrus rind, tobacco leaf and a smooth texture on the mouth. Novel and complex, enjoy over the next several years. Drink 2024-2031- 91

2021 Idilico Tempranillo- This 2021 Yakima Valley Tempranillo opens with a beautiful bouquet of fresh sage and damp earth alongside black raspberry tones and wild mushroom on the nose. The palate is soft and neatly textured, with good structure. Delicious now, enjoy over the next few years to come. Drink 2024-2031- 91

2020 Idilico ‘Reserva’ Graciano- Coming from this highly challenging vintage in the Yakima Valley, the 2020 ‘Reserva’ Graciano offers black cherry and tar notes on the palate, with firm tannins holding things in place. With more air this gains momentum with wet stone and wild strawberry nuances, showing good viscosity. Dense and chewy, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2029- 92

2021 Pomum Syrah- The 2021 Pomum Syrah is deeply perfumed in the glass, offering tar and pipe tobacco leaf aromatics alongside milk chocolate and suggestions of black cherry cordial. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth mouthfeel, showing good verve and viscosity. A joy to consume now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Pomum ‘Shyra Red’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Shyra Red’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off good concentration with black tea and exotic spices on the nose alongside blackberry compote and shades of black rose petals. The palate is refined and elegant with good minerality and richness in its black fruit core. Enjoy over the next eight to ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 92

Domaines Ott

Today it is my pleasure to share one of the hallowed houses in the Cotes du Provence. Domaines Ott was founded in 1912 by Marcel Ott, an agricultural engineer from Alsace who dreamed of establishing a great wine estate near the Mediterranean. He moved to Cavalaire in 1896 and founded Château de Selle in 1912, followed by Clos Mireille in 1935 and then Château Romassan in 1956. These wines are made at their respective estates in the Bandol and Côtes de Provence appellations. Now more than 20 years ago in 2004 Domaines Ott was in the hands of Marcel’s descendants, until the property was purchased by Champagne Louis Roederer. Today several of the Ott family members remain involved in production.

The new 2023 release was absolutely fabulous. I love the 2023 Domaines Ott ‘Chateau de Selle’ Cotes de Provence Rose (OB, 93) which is beautifully poised and balanced, with terrific freshness and texture, exuding class with its salty undertones. Learn more about this famed Provence house at https://www.domaines-ott.com/en and here is my review of the new release by Domaines Ott.

2023 Domaines Ott ‘Chateau de Selle’ Cotes de Provence Rose- The brilliant 2023 Cotes de Provence Rose ‘Chateau de Selle’ is a beauty that combines 55% Grenache with 25% Cinsault, 14% Mourvedre, and 6% Syrah. It is elegant and mineral-laden stuff that offers a silky texture alongside serious salty stone character, with blood orange peel, ripe strawberry and salted green melon flavors. Gorgeous now in its vibrant youth, enjoy over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 93

Chosen Family

Happy Holidays! Today we share the outstanding wines of Chosen Family. These are electric wines that began with the acumen of former NBA star Channing Frye. Frye has utilized the winemaking skills of top winemakers such as Jackson Holstein, Chase Renton and Thomas Savre. NBA all-star Kevin Love joined the business a few years back. Love is an Oregon basketball legend, who is still playing for the Miami Heat. While I have never met with Love, Frye is one of my favorite ex-professional athletes to chat wine with. Hugely passionate about the world of wine, Frye is now also working as an NBA analyst and announcer.

Just like the last set of releases, the new Chosen Family wines were seriously good. I love what Chosen Family is doing, utilizing a range of winemaking talents on the West Coast. For a great new vintage Rose, check out the 2023 Chosen Family Rose (OB, 91) which is sure to brighten your winter months. I love the 2022 Chosen Family ‘Temperance Hill’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is a beautiful wine made by the talented Jackson Holstein. Learn more about these great new wines at chosenfamilywines.com Here are my reviews of the new Chosen Family wines.

2023 Chosen Family Rose- This 100% Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Rose delivers green melon and strawberry tones on the palate, alongside some excellent verve. Soft and approachable, enjoy now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2023 Chosen Family ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- Another great edition of this wine, the 2023 ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay was made by Jackson Holstein, Owner & Winemaker at Granville Wine Co. Stored in small portion of new French oak for nine months, this comes from the Hollis and Ladd Hill Vineyards. Beautifully textured, with a silky mouthfeel, this offers dense melon and citrus fruit flavors that combine with toasted hazelnut nuances. Medium to full-bodied, this is a downright steal at 45 dollars USD. Enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2023 Chosen Family ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir was stored in mainly neutral French oak before bottling. Translucent in the glass, this opens with a gorgeous bouquet of black truffle crudo and black raspberry notes alongside shades of forest floor. Plump, round and juicy, with serious tension and copious minerals, this is already neatly evolved stuff that will drink well for another decade — and potentially more. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Chosen Family ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The excellent 2022 Chosen Family ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was made by winemaker Jackson Holstein at his Granville Wine Co. Black tea and Asian spice notes hit the nose alongside shades of damp earth, cran-orange and a dusting of white pepper. The palate is very fresh and lithe with a smooth texture and vibrant underlying tension backing things up. Medium-bodied and showing serious verve, enjoy over the next decade to come. Drink 2024-2034- 94

2022 Chosen Family ‘Salty Goats’ Pinot Noir- Another outstanding edition of this wine, the 2022 ‘Salty Goats’ Pinot Noir was sourced from the Sonoma Coast AVA. Soft red fruits parade with salty nuance and orange peel notes on the palate. Considering the challenges of this vintage, this is really good stuff that is meant to be enjoyed now. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2021 Chosen Family Wines ‘Salty Goats’ Syrah- This 2021 edition of ‘Salty Goats’ Syrah was made by the Liang winemaking team at Hazelfern. Sourced from the Walla Walla Valley, this shows off bulls blood and wet stone notes on the nose alongside orange peel and shades of green olive tapenade. The palate is fresh and smooth with excellent underlying tension and a generous core of black fruits. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2024 Winery of The Year: Cayuse Vineyards

Friends,

It is my great pleasure to reveal our Owen Bargreen 2024 Winery Of The Year. There were several challengers for the top position this year including Quilceda Creek, Devil Proof, Horsepower and several others. This was a very difficult decision to choose a winner with such excellent and storied finalists.

The winner is Cayuse Vineyards, who produced several perfect wines and arguably the finest new Rose wine in North America. Cayuse Vineyards is the brainchild of eminent vigneron Christophe Baron. His wines, particularly his Syrahs and Grenache wines, sourced from his cobblestone-laden vineyards, are some of the best known new world Rhone-inspired wines in the world.

Congratulations to Cayuse Vineyards and their success!

The Devil Is A Liar

I have the great fortune of sharing the brilliant wines by Seth Kitzke. The Devil Is A Liar (TDIAL) is an ultra-premium label that focuses on wines made from WeatherEye Vineyard fruit. Seth has made quite a name for himself with his beautiful and also very well-priced wines under his label UpsideDown Wine, which is wife Audrey helps run as well. TDIAL wines are geared to display intensity and flamboyance — they are not for the weary. These are dense, seductive wines that are brilliantly textured and show silky tannins. For those who do not enjoy full-bodied Washington wine, look away!

I am enamored by the 2021 The Devil Is A Liar Red Wine (OB, 97) which is clearly the finest edition of this wine that I have tasted so far. Learn more about this really exciting newer brand at http://thedevilisaliarwine.com and here are my reviews of the new TDIAL wines.

2022 The Devil Is A Liar ‘Shooting In The Gym’ Grenache- The 2022 ‘Shooting In The Gym’ spent 21 months elevage and had a mere 444 bottles produced. Coming from the famed WeatherEye Vineyard. Yarrow and wild herbs mark the nose alongside red rose petals, red cherry candy and suggestions of red licorice. The palate is silky and elegant, gliding throughout the drinking experience. Heady in its dense core of red fruits, enjoy this downright delicious wine now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 95

2021 The Devil is a Liar Red Wine- This is now the second time I have tasted the 2021 The Devil is a Liar Red Wine which was a sensational showing in barrel. The wine is a field blend of nearly all Grenache with small portions Mourvèdre, Syrah and a pinch of Viognier and Roussane. Light white florals from the white varietals mark the nose alongside smoked brisket and white pepper combine on the nose, alongside loganberry liquor. The palate is a total knockout in terms of weight, flavor density and flavor range. Tasted over several days with consistent notes. Drink 2024-2038- 97

J. Christopher

Today we share one of the outstanding Oregon producers of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. J. Christopher is the brainchild of famed German winemaker Ernst Loosen.  For many years Loosen was attached the wines of the Willamette Valley, and he wanted to be a part of producing wines from this region as he has made some very good German Pinot Noirs. Loosen has cemented his investment in Oregon by purchasing 40 acres on Chehalem Mountain in Newberg, planting the Appassionata Vineyard, and building the winery. 

The new wines by J. Christopher were really good. I love the 2019 J. Christopher ‘Basalte’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which shows nice stony tones and a smooth mouthfeel with bright red fruits. Learn more about these excellent new wines at https://jchristopherwines.com Here are the great new J. Christopher releases. 

2019 J. Christopher ‘Medici Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- A beautiful wine to enjoy now, the 2019 ‘Medici Vineyard’ Pinot Noir shows salty soil flavors alongside red currants, tobacco leaf and red raspberry flavors. Light to medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next seven plus years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2019 J. Christopher ‘Beize Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This Eola-Amity Hills bottling shows off ripe Bing cherry, wild mushroom and cigar box notes on the palate with a smooth texture and light tannins. Light to medium-bodied, this is very elegant Pinot Noir that will live on for at least another decade. Drink 2024-2033- 92

2019 J. Christopher ‘Bella Vida Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Bella Vida Vineyard’ Pinot Noir offers medium bodied red and black fruit flavors alongside freshly tilled stony soils and suggestions of peat moss on the palate. This is seriously good now and will offer drinking enjoyment for another ten years. Drink 2024-2033- 92

2019 J. Christopher ‘Basalte’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2019 J. Christopher ‘Basalte’ Pinot Noir comes from a site littered by fractured basalt. Medium-bodied kirsch and red raspberry flavors greet you alongside soft tannins and stony undercurrents on the palate. Drink 2024-2033- 92

2019 J. Christopher ‘Volcanique’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Volcanique’ is the arguably the finest Pinot Noir in this new line, coming from the Dundee Hills AVA. It is nicely concentrated considering the coolness of the vintage. Wet rock and enoki mushroom flavors combine with wild raspberry and tart red currants on the palate. This shows both the stuffing and finesse to age well for another ten plus years. Drink 2024-2035- 93

2019 J. Christopher ‘Kolb Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 3 acre Kolb Vineyard comes from the Dundee Hills AVA. Very pale in color, this reveals a beautiful core of bright Bing cherry, cigar ash, kumquat zest and shades of guava on the palate. Very refined and elegant, this lighter to medium-bodied Pinot Noir is already shining brightly now. Drink 2024-2033- 92

2019 J. Christopher ‘Estate Vineyard Rock Blocks’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Estate Vineyard Rock Blocks’ comes from the high point at the state vineyard. Also very light in color, the stony undertones really shine here. Layers of wet stone, cranberry and damp soil notes all come together nicely on the palate. With its smooth texture and bright underlying acidity, this is already beautifully evolved stuff. Drink 2024-2035- 93

Brockmeyer

Today we share an exciting new winery producing wines from both Washington, Oregon and California. Brockmeyer began with Richard “Brock” Brockmeyer and son Brett.  The winery honors the vines of Brock’s mom’s family farm south of Fresno – the Cederquist Vineyard.  Grandfather Ernest Cederquist's historic vineyard was planted to Grenache in the 1890's.  A Rosé of Grenache is now their flagship wine. 

Three of the “Brockmeyer Five” have other jobs in the vineyard and wine industry. Brock has been advising clients in the high-end vineyard/ wine business since the mid-1970’s. Forty plus vineyards have their roots in Brock’s work. Brett began his winemaking path in 2007 at Clos Pepe then moving to Napa and making his mark with 13 vintages with the PlumpJack family, working his way up to Assistant Winemaker.

The new wines were very good. They made some nice sparkling wines from the 2021 vintage and I really enjoyed the 2021 ‘Zero Dosage’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 91) which is fresh and round on the mouth. Learn more at https://www.brockmeyerwines.com and here are the excellent new wines by Brockmeyer.

2021 Brockmeyer ‘Eva Mae Zero Dosage’ Sparkling Wine- The 2021 ‘Zero Dosage’ offers a smooth mouthfeel with generous citrus and melon fruit flavors alongside a silky mousse on the palate. Showing good weight and the heat of the vintage, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2021 Brockmeyer ‘Eva Mae’ Sparkling Wine- The really good 2021 Brockmeyer ‘Eva Mae’ Sparkling Wine offers juicy green apple and kumquat zest flavors that meld well with copious minerals and bright strawberry fruit notes. Delicious now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91

2023 Brockmeyer ‘Otis Vineyard’ Albarino- The 2023 Brockmeyer ‘Otis Vineyard’ Albarino offers a smooth texture with bright kiwi and orange zest flavors that combine with minerals and good length on the palate. Don’t serve this great new wine too cold! Drink 2024-2030- 91

2022 Brockmeyer ‘Foxtrot Vineyard’ Syrah- The ‘Foxtrot Vineyard’ is located in Santa Barbara County, just outside the Santa Rita Hills AVA and set on Tierra Sandy Loam. Concentrated black plum and black cherry flavors combine with salty and stony minerals on the palate. A real beauty to enjoy now, with beautiful weight and tension, enjoy over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 93

2022 Brockmeyer ‘Francisca’s Vineyard’ Syrah- Coming from the Walla Walla Valley, this 2022 Syrah offers black pepper, smoked meats and dense dark fruits on the nose, with a chocolate edge. The palate is juicy and rich with a smooth mouthfeel. Generous and heady, enjoy this beauty now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93