Result of A Crush

Somehow it has been more than a year since I have written about some of Washington’s finest value wines. Result of A Crush was a project that was started more than a decade back to create a second tier of Reynvaan wines. Amanda Reynvaan and Angela Reynvaan Garratt, sisters of consulting winemaker Matt Reynvaan, sought to create wines that are more readily available and affordable than the Reynvaan wines. These wines totally over-deliver at the 20-30 dollar range. They are essentially ‘baby-Reynvaans.’

You don’t really find QPR like this anywhere in Washington State. I am blown away once again with the 2022 Result of A Crush ‘Christmas Cuvee’ Rose (OB, 93) which is without a doubt a wine to buy by the case. I don’t think there is any way you are going to be disappointed with these wines. Learn more about Result of A Crush at http://resultofacrush.com and here are my reviews of the great new wines by Result of A Crush.

2022 Result of A Crush ‘Christmas Cuvee’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Christmas Cuvee’ is loaded with garrigue, Hoisin sauce, black olives, charcuterie and black currant flavors on the palate, showing beautiful finesse and minerality. The flavor range is outstanding. It is medium-bodied and delicious stuff that is already beautifully evolved. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Result of A Crush ‘The Unnamed Series’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Unnamed Series’ has 3% Viognier blended in. Beautiful honeysuckle notes from the Viognier fill the glass, alongside bright red fruits, smoked pork shoulder, orange peel and shades of Umami. The palate is fresh and lithe with a polished mouthfeel. While on the leaner side, this is highly complex Syrah that is drinking well right now. Enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2021 Result of A Crush ‘Claret’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Claret’ comes from the Reyvaan ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) with the remainder Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this offers smoldering stones and Earl Grey tea on the nose with menthol, sandalwood and shades of dark currants that all meld in the glass. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and great sense of underlying verve and stony essence. You won’t find a Bordeaux style wine anywhere quite like this at this price. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Result of A Crush ‘Reserve’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Reserve’ Syrah is 100% varietal and seriously delicious. Dark in the glass, this delivers suggestions of bulls blood, oyster sauce and beef brisket on the nose with fresh sage and Mandarin orange zest accents. Salty and savory on the mouth, with a smooth texture, enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 93

Lange

I love Oregon wineries that continue to deliver year in and year out. Such is the case with Lange, one of Oregon’s historic wineries. It was back in 1987 that Don Lange took a chance by acquiring a large chunk of land that had sweeping views of the Willamette Valley. Don made his namesake wines for many years and over time his son Jesse transitioned into their head winemaker, taking over for his father. Jesse’s formal winemaking training occurred at New Zealand’s Lincoln University while on a student exchange scholarship from Oregon State in 1999. Jesse made world-class wines for years.

The new wines come from the warm 2023 vintage. I love the 2023 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is laden with minerality and nuance. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.langewinery.com/ and here are my reviews of the Lange wines.

2023 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The really good 2023 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir comes from a range of sites throughout the Willamette Valley. On the nose this shows off bright red florals with cranberry, black tea and salty soil accents. The palate is soft and beautifully textured, showing good weight and a great combination of black and red fruit flavors, with great tension and a light dusting of salinity. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Lange ‘Liberty Bell’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Liberty Bell’ was sourced from the Freedom Hill Vineyard, with Pinot Noir vines that date back to the 1980s. Orange peel and pipe tobacco fill the nose alongside wild strawberry and shades of loganberry puree. The palate is tension-filled and juicy, loaded with bright red fruits that mingle well with salty soil accents. This is already drinking beautifully in its heady youth. Drink 2025-2035- 93

Cayuse Vineyards

It is my distinct honor to share some of the finest wines in North America. Cayuse Vineyards was founded by vigneron Christophe Baron back in the 1990s. Baron was raised in Champagne and was was the youngest heir of the famed Champagne house, Baron Albert. His ancestors had worked the land at Baron Albert since 1677. As a young boy Christophe worked harvests and eventually studied viticulture in Burgundy and Champagne. After some travels he was drawn to the Willamette Valley, and was set on making great Pinot Noir. One day he was outside of Walla Walla and saw terroir inspired by the stony galets of Chateauneuf du Pape. He made the brilliant decision to plant his first vineyard back in 1997 on the cobblestone-laden lands outside of Milton-Freewater. Baron has had unparalleled success in the Walla Walla Valley since that time, crafting stony wines that show an incredible combination of tension, range and terroir.

It was such as pleasure taking an afternoon to taste through these wines. 2022 was somewhat of a miracle vintage that was very cool vintage that had a warm fall that really helped push ripeness levels. These were some of the most incredible wines that I have tasted from this vintage as they are quite simply an otherworldly range of wines. The 2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Edith’ Rose (OB, 95) is the finest Rose wine that I have tasted in the past year. There is nothing quite like this in terms of texture, flavor range and stony terroir.

Don’t miss out on the perfect 2022 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine (OB, 100) which is arguably the finest Grenache wine in North America. There is quite honestly nothing like this wine in terms of flavor range, stony character and underlying finesse. Learn more about these incredible future release wines at https://cayusevineyards.com Here are the incredible wines by Cayuse Vineyards (release fall 2024).

2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ Viognier- Sourced from the famed Cailloux Vineyard which was planted back in 1997, the sensational 2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ Viognier was stored in a combination of stainless steel and concrete eggs before  bottling. Vibrant honeysuckle and freshly cut limes combine with shades of papaya, mango and baking spices on the nose. The palate is fresh and viscous, with serious texture and tension. Wait for the near-minute long finish! A total stunner, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 96

2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Edith’ Rose- The dazzling 2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Edith’ Rose is entirely made from Grenache grapes sourced from the Armada Vineyard. The wine was aged for 10 months in a combination of stainless steel and concrete. A salmon hue greets you in the glass, as this delivers lifted red rose petals and orange blossom tones on the nose, alongside shades of nectarine skin and damp earthy accents. The palate is round and generous, yet maintains a sterling sense of tension throughout the drinking experience. Showing its true stony essence, with red florals and a rich core of melon and pretty red fruits, this may just be the finest Rose you will taste in North America. Enjoy while you can as only 163 cases were made. Drink 2025-2032- 95

2022 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine- This 2022 edition of this famed bottling stands considerably more translucent than the ’21. A small amount of Syrah has been added to the otherworldly 2022 ‘Gold Only Knows’ Red Wine. Stored for 21 months in neutral French oak, this comes from vines planted all the way back in 2001. The nose is marvelously floral with pink and red rose petals that parade with Satsuma orange zest, white truffle shavings, strawberry Starburst candy and suggestions of Oyster sauce that all meld in the glass. The heady aromatics bring you back for more enjoyment. The palate is quite different than the ’21, being considerably more nervy — more reminiscent of the 2017. Without a doubt this edition flirts with perfection, as this beautiful bottling is arguably the finest Grenache made in North America. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. But why wait? Drink 2025-2033- 99

2022 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Flying Pig’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Flying Pig’ has less Cabernet Franc (43%) than the ’21 edition with 48% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. Stored in mainly natural oak barrels for 18 months, this delivers wet stone and sweet pipe tobacco aromatics that combine with boysenberry compote, and smoked pork shoulder. The palate is soft and refined, showing marvelously stony essence that combines with bright red fruits, orange peel and shades of beef drippings on the palate. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. The novelty is there, as this is really unlike anything you will taste in North America. Drink 2025-2035- 96

2021 Cayuse Vineyards ‘The Lovers’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘The Lovers’ is nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (89%) with the remainder Syrah.  Stored for 21 months in 30% new French oak this delivers Provencale herbs and beef brisket notes on the nose with black cherry compote and suggestions of anise and black licorice that all combine in the glass. The palate is brimming with tension and bright acidity. Delightful to enjoy right now, with its smooth texture and beautiful length, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Camaspelo’ Red Wine- The astonishingly good 2022 ‘Camaspelo’ is a mouth-watering amalgamation of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Cabernet Franc and Merlot that was stored for 18 months in roughly 30% new French oak. Umami and Nori combines with black truffle shavings, compost, orange peel and suggestions of bulls blood on the nos. The palate is silky smooth and refined, as this elegant bottling is already drinking beautifully. Enjoy over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 96

2022 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Widowmaker En Chamberlin Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A world-class Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 ’Widowmaker’ was stored for 18 months in 30% new French oak prior to bottling. Alluring black rose petal aromas combine with beef tartare alongside umami, white pepper dusted orange peel and Middle-Eastern spices all meld in the glass. The palate is plush and beautifully structured, with marvelous stony undertones. Not as dense but marvelously nervy compared to the ’21, this is medium-bodied, very stony and beautifully-evolved stuff that has another eight to ten years to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2035- 96

2022 Cayuse ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ Syrah- Another otherworldly bottling, the 2022 ’Cailloux Vineyard’ has 6% Viognier blended in (up from 3% in the ’21). This comes from 1997 Syrah and was aged for 18 months in mainly neutral oak puncheons. This bursts out of the glass with gorgeous high-tones from the Viognier, as alluring honeysuckle and pink grapefruit blossom notes mingle alongside shades of BBQ beef ribs, seaweed and rich roasted figs. The palate is plush and seamless with serious verve and texture. Very stony, floral and complex, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 98

2022 Cayuse Vineyards ‘En Cerise Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2022 ’En Cerise Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this site that was formerly a cherry orchard. Stored for 18 months in 15% new French oak, this delivers beautiful stony tones that combine with iodine, milk chocolate, horse manure and suggestions of black truffle that all take shape in the glass. The palate is utterly seamless and soft with a vibrant sense of tension that runs through a beautiful core of black fruits, black florals and Umami character. Medium to full-bodied, this is every bit as the 2021 edition — and a touch more mineral-laden. What a wine! Drink 2025-2035- 99

2022 Cayuse Vineyards ‘En Chamberlin Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2022 Cayuse ‘En Chamberlin’ comes from vines that were first planted back in 2000.Stored in mainly neural oak puncheons, this offers creosote and beef drippings on the nose alongside dark florals, fresh sage and suggestions of Oyster sauce. The palate is elegant and refined, with great tension and a good sense of weight. Delicious and dense, with an ebullient core of dark fruits, this is already beautifully evolved stuff that has a decade or more ahead of it. Drink 2025-2035- 98

2022 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ Syrah- The glorious 2022 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ is a gorgeous wine that shows tremendous power, depth and tension. Stored for 18 months in only 15% new French oak, this delivers a beautiful melange of red and dark florals on the nose with Satsuma orange zest, wintergreen and shades of Hoisin sauce. Like the ’21 edition, there is a marvelous push-pull in terms of weight, depth and underlying nerve. Very stony and savory, this is nothing short of a perfect wine that will live on for at least another ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 100

2022 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Armada Vineyard’ Syrah- The world-class 2022 ‘Armada Vineyard’ Syrah come from this tight-spacing site that was planted at 1800 vines per acre. This location in the stones is now over 20 years of age. Green peppercorns and allspice dusted pork shoulder notes combine on the nose alongside Satsuma orange rind, soy sauce and shades of wild blackberry combine on this ultra-complex nose. The palate is refined and luxurious in terms of tension, depth and tension. Very rocky and mineral-laden, enjoy this beautifully bottling over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 99

2022 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special #16 Syrah (1.5L)- A stunning wine from the ’22 vintage, the mag-only ‘Wallah Walla Special #16’ Syrah comes from a range of vineyards that were blended together to make this very special wine. Stored in a small amount of new French oak barrels, this offers seaweed, wet rock and boysenberry cordial on the nose alongside bright black florals. The palate is rich and vicious considering the coolness of the vintage. This is very stony, with loads of non-fruit in terms of its Umami and seaweed character. Round and generous, with serious mouth-watering acidity, this still has a long way to go in the bottle. If enjoying now, give this 30 plus minutes in the decanter prior to enjoying. Drink 2025-2040- 99

2022 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Impulsive’ Tempranillo- The 2022 ‘Impulsivo’ comes from the En Chamberlin Vineyard that was planted back in 2000. On the nose this takes on layers of soy sauce and Umami with wet stone, short-rib and black cherry compote that all take shape in the glass. The palate is silky and refined, with marvelous stony character and loads of freshness. Full-bodied and very nervy, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 98

REVIEW: Hotel 1000 Seattle, Another Top-Class Stay

I had another fabulous stay at Hotel 1000, roughly one year after my last stay. A really world-class boutique hotel in the heart of Seattle, Hotel 1000 began with a seamless check-in to our room on the 5th floor. Room 510 was located in the western edge of the hotel with a view looking west.

It was a normal sized guest room but had a street view of 1st Ave. I had stayed in a suite before and this was a normal sized room. For the square footage, everything was laid out perfectly and the bathroom felt particularly expansive

While not large, the room was functional and beautiful. As with my last stay they have thick carpet and a very modern take on a hotel that is more than ten years since the last remodel. There was a large, comfy king-sized bed, a large bath tub and small shower area. The room was clean and well-kept.

Like my last stay, they continue to utilize top class bathroom products by Le Labo The bathroom was also great looking with extremely fine products by Le Labo. I think that you would find a similar quality bathroom product at the Ritz Carlton. The bathtub is modern and sits in the center of the room which really sets the room off nicely.

Last stay we had eaten at their hotel restaurant, All Water, which specializes in oysters and other seafood items. This time we chose to grab a cocktail at their pop-up bar in their lobby, Rosebay. The bartender there has formerly been at Rob Roy, an iconic Seattle cocktail bar. He made a beautiful drink that was on their spring menu with a red wine float. It was the perfect ending to the night as we climbed into the cozy kingsized bed and called it a night.

The next day we arose after a great sleep and had to head out before we could grab breakfast. All Water does serve some really nice breakfast including an excellent lox bagel. Hotel 1000 service was excellent. People answer the phone when you call downstairs. I think in terms of room quality and overall experience with their cocktail bar and restaurant, there are few other Seattle hotels who deliver this level of quality for an overnight stay. I think they could probably charge less for valet parking ($70.00 plus fees). However, if you want to stay somewhere great, centrally located in Seattle, I think that Hotel 1000 for the price rivals anything including The Edgewater or The Thompson. I’ll really look forward to my next stay at Hotel 1000.

The Walls

Today we share the wines of The Walls, founded by former Microsoft executive Mike Martin. Martin has created an incredible space in Walla Walla for his winery with a scenic backyard feel and beautiful interior. A few years back he made a major purchase in acquiring the Rockgarden Vineyard from Nina Buty. The wines from this site are really exciting and stony. New executive winemaker Sally Johnson Blum and Associate Winemaker Peter Urian joined the team somewhat recently. Johnson Blum has a massive amount of experience, formerly being at St. Francis and Pride in Sonoma County. She also has served as winemaking consultant at Mullan Road under Dennis Cakebread. She is a great person to chat wine with. Urian has formerly been an integral part of the Devona winemaking team, making some downright killer wines over there.

Check out the outstanding 2022 The Walls ‘Wonderful Nightmare’ (OB, 94) which is delicious and dense, made from mostly Tempranillo grapes. I adore the 2022 ‘Curiositas’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which is heady, and elegant stuff coming off Red Mountain, with lovely flavor density considering the coolness of the vintage. Learn more about these outstanding new wines at https://www.thewallsvineyards.com Here are the great new releases from The Walls. 

2023 The Walls ‘Lip Stinger’ Stanley Groovy White Wine- The 2023 ‘Lip Stinger’ offers marzipan with green apple, white peach and beautiful white flower florals on the nose. The plate is soft and mineral-laden with great freshness. Enjoy now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2022 The Walls ‘Stanley Groovy’ Red Wine- The really good 2022 The Walls ‘Stanley Groovy’ Red Wine combines mostly Touriga Nacional, Syrah and Tinta Roriz. Chocolate and kirsch cordial combine with espresso bean on the nose. Dense and polished with a smooth texture, this is already neatly evolved stuff that is drinking marvelously in its vibrant youth. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2021 The Walls ‘Mahana’ Red Wine- Mike Martin acquired the Rockgarden Vineyard back in 2020, as this wine coms from both the River Rock and Rockgarden sites in the Rocks AVA. Once on the nose this takes on layers of marionberry and wet stone alongside black currants and shades of black licorice. The palate is fresh and lithe considering the heat of the vintage. A beautiful melange of red and dark fruits combine with the stony character with charcuterie notes. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2021 The Walls ‘Wonderful Nightmare’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Wonderful Nightmare’ is a gorgeous bottling that is rich, dense and heady. Mainly Tempranillo, this is very stony and rich on the palate, with roasted figs, wet rock and pipe tobacco alongside dark currant notes. Fresh and neatly textured, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2022 The Walls ‘Bellamy’ Red Wine- The 2022 The Walls ‘Bellamy’ Red Wine is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Rocks District. Soft and supple on the mouth, this offers medium-bodied roasted date and wild blackberry tones on the palate, with salty minerals and stony accents. Showing a nice herbal edge, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2022 The Walls ‘Curiositas’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The world-class 2022 The Walls ‘Curiositas’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Red Mountain. This is an impressive effort from this slightly cooler vintage, offering dark currants and pencil lead on the nose that meld well with molten chocolate and shades of roasted figs. The palate is powerful and beautifully structured, with great flavor density. Only a slight notch behind the stunning 2021, this edition has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2022 The Walls ‘French Creek Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 The Walls ‘French Creek Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful edition of this wine that is sourced from 1990s plantings. Sagebrush and mocha notes hit the nose alongside shades of espresso grounds and violets. Nicely balanced, with good depth, poise and concentration, this is already beautifully evolved stuff that will cellar well for another ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 95

2022 The Walls ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The seriously good 2022 The Walls ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from this famed location in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Showing an inky core, this offers graphite and dark currants on the nose alongside boysenberry cordial. The palate is smooth and silky with a terrific tension and good richness. Refined tannins frame a beautiful core of black and blue fruits, with chocolate and Arabica bean accents. Delicious and dense, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2022 The Walls ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon his sourced from this Yakima Valley site that has Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted back in 1973. Lovely red florals mingle well with teaberry and shades of black licorice on the nose. The palate is soft, elegant and refined, with a silky texture. Seriously good now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years to go. Drink 2025-2042- 95

2022 The Walls ‘Rockgarden Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Rockgarden Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a great edition of this wine coming from the Rocks District. Orange peel and red rose petals combine with red currents and shades of wet stone all combine on the nose. The palate is polished and concentrated, with lovely stony essence. The flavor range and texture are both outstanding, as this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2025-2033- 95

Pasxa

Today we share an electric brand out of the Walla Walla Valley. Pášxa wines captures the essence of great fruit sourced from The Rocks District of Milton- Freewater. The Pášxa wines were a huge hit right out of the gate, and back in their inaugural 2018 vintage they focused on River Rock Vineyard fruit. They now have an estate program with the 2020 purchase of ‘Rockgarden Vineyard.’ This is a huge development for this program. Soon after additional blocks at the estate ‘Petros Vineyard’ in the Rocks AVA were planted and will continue to be added to this program.

I have absolutely loved the Pášxa wines. I was blown away with the 2022 Pasxa ‘White Blend’ White Wine (OB, 96) which is dense, unctuous and marvelously stony. Just as good is the incredible 2021 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Syrah (OB, 96) which has plenty of depth and a smooth texture. I love the flavor range in all of these wines. Learn more about this truly thrilling newer project at pasxa.com Here are the downright killer new wines by Pášxa.

2023 Pasxa ‘White Blend’ White Wine- The 2022 ‘White Blend’ combines near equal parts Marsanne and Roussanne. This takes on awesome aromatics of apricot and green papaya with pie crust and cantaloupe notes. The palate is dense and viscous with serious nerve and marvelous stony undertones. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy this heady Rhone-inspired wine now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2032- 96

2022 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Grenache- A really good wine from this slightly cooler vintage, the 2022 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Grenache opens with bay leaf and gorgeous red fruits on the nose alongside red rose petals and shades of cardamom. The palate is loaded with bright red fruits with a silky texture and marvelous stony essence. With more air the Umami elements really begin to shine, as this is already drinking really well at the three year mark. Drink 2025-2032- 95

2022 Pasxa ‘River Rock Vineyard’ Grenache- The 2022 ‘River Rock Vineyard’ Grenache stands translucent in the glass, opening with smoldering stones and ash notes on the nose alongside shades of linzer torte and cran-pomegranate. The palate is silky and refined with a smooth mouthfeel and great sense of tension, salinity and stony essence. Drinking marvelously right now, watch this evolve over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Mourvedre- Translucent in the glass, the gorgeous 2022 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Mourvedre is a great showing from this year that saw a relatively late harvest. A waft of smoldering stones greets you on the nose alongside black truffle shavings, Nori and bright red fruits. The palate is wonderfully stony and intense, with a smooth mouthfeel and beautiful tension that runs through a core of red and dark fruits, with bergamot accents. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2022 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Syrah- A great wine from 2022, the Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Syrah opens with a delightful bouquet of Mandarin orange zest alongside wet rock, soy sauce and shades of red currant compote. The palate is marvelously stony and intense, with a silky mouthfeel throughout the drinking experience. Absolutely no need to cellar this beautiful wine. Drink 2025-2032- 96

Foxen

Today we share one of the greats out of Santa Barbara County. Foxen is a family-run winery that produces world class Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Set in the rolling hills, if you have never visited Foxen, you are in for a treat. Foxen has two distinct lines of wines – one that focuses on Bordeaux style wines and another that produces Burgundian styles, along with  some gorgeous single vineyard Syrah. Sideways decided to film one of their big scenes here but even after that exposure Foxen remains one of the hidden gems of the valley.

I first visited Foxen back in 2003 and I’ve been so impressed with the consistency of their wines. Don’t miss out on their brilliant new 2020 Foxen ‘Bien Nacido Vineyard Block UU’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which possesses marvelous salinity. Even better was the scintillating 2022 Foxen Block 8 Bien Nacido Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is dense and heady from this warmer vintage. Learn more about these outstanding wines at http://www.foxenvineyard.com/ Here are some of the fantastic new release wines from Foxen.

2020 Foxen ‘Bien Nacido Vineyard Block UU’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2022 ‘Block UU’ Chardonnay was stored for eight months in roughly 30% new French oak puncheons before bottling. This is gorgeous stuff with starfruit, salty diatomaceous earth, ripe nectarine and freshly cut limes. Smooth and silky, with great depth and concentration, enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2023 Foxen ‘Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard’ Chenin Blanc- The really good 2023 Foxen ‘Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard’ Chenin Blanc comes from vines planted many decades back. This shows copious minerals on the palate, with papaya and white grapefruit zest alongside kumquat rind flavors. Fresh, novel and wonderfully salty, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2022 Foxen ‘Santa Maria Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Santa Maria Valley’ was mainly sourced from the Bien Nacido Vineyard. The wine was aged for 10 months in neutral oak barrels, this shows a smooth mouthfeel, loaded with juicy strawberry and Bing cherry flavors with orange zest and salty minerals on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2022 Foxen ‘Bien Nacido Vineyard- Block 8’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Foxen ‘Bien Nacido Vineyard- ‘Block 8’ Pinot Noir comes from a range of clonal selections. Stored for  16 months in 30% new French oak before bottling this is deep and concentrated stuff, loaded with bright red and dark fruits, with salty stones, menthol and shades of orange peel on the palate. Showing beautiful tension and depth, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Foxen ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Foxen ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard’ Pinot Noir utilizes Dijon 667, Swan and Pommard Pinot Noir. Rich and smooth, this delivers black cherry and black raspberry notes on the palate, with serious texture and verve. Big, bold and full-bodied, with beautiful salty nuance and excellent length, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Foxen ‘Tinaquaic VIneyard’ Syrah- The stunning 2022 Foxen ‘Tinaquaic VIneyard’ Syrah was mostly sourced from the Bajita Block of this vineyard which utilizes Syrah Clone 470. Inky in the glass, this reveals beautiful smoky and stony tones on the nose with Hoisin sauce, smoked brisket and wild blackberry puree flavors, with salty accents. This is going to cellar really well. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2021 Foxen ‘7200’ Cabernet Franc- Coming from the Tinaquaic Vineyard, this 2021 Cabernet Franc is rich and decadent on the palate, with loganberry liquor flavors that mingle well with salty soils, red bell pepper, dusty earth and milk chocolate notes. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next seven years. Drink 2025-2032- 92

Top Source

Today we share the gorgeous wines of Meredith Hyslop and her Top Source brand. A fellow Whitman grad and Washingtonian, Hyslop also has an importing company and stays very busy!

She has been in the wine business in Walla Walla Valley for many years and studied at the Enology and Viticulture program in Walla Walla before going to France to study wine in Dijon. She has a beautiful range of wines that she imports and Top Source are her wines from Washington State. They offer some serious value. Founded in 2020, Top Source has been a consistently great producer with wines that show marvelous stony character. Learn more about this new producer at https://www.skurnik.com/producer/top-source/ and here are my reviews of the outstanding new Top Source wines.

2022 Top Source ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah is like a baby Cayuse bottling. It comes off wonderfully flinty, showing bacon fat, dried herbs, anise and violets on the palate, alongside smoky undertones. Medium-bodied, showing beautiful tension and texture, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next few years. Given 50% whole cluster fermentation. Drink 2025-2031- 94

2022 Top Source ‘Columbia Valley’ Grenache/Syrah- An awesome new wine that is soft and approachable, the 2022 ‘Grenache/Syrah’ offers flinty tones alongside bright red fruits with tobacco leaf and shades of black plum on the palate. Juicy, forward and delicious, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2025-2031- 93

Jachter

Today we share the vision of Dave Jachter who owned and operated several successful car dealerships in Oregon. Jachter cultivated a passion for wine, and a cellar to match. After selling his dealerships Dave has travelled to France, Italy, and California wine regions, and tasted wines from around the world.  He studied at UC Davis, completing a variety of viticultural courses as he and his wife, Karen, purchased 120 acres in the Chehalem Mountains AVA in the heart of the Willamette Valley.

These were the first releases that I have tasted from this estate and I was really impressed. I love the 2022 Jachter ‘The J. Reserve’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is a marvelous wine from this slightly cooler vintage. Learn more about this exciting new Oregon house at https://www.jachterwine.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Jachter.

2022 Jachter ‘Chehalem Mountains’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Chehalem Mountains’ Chardonnay is soft and elegant on the mouth, leading to lemon zest and lime flavors that mingle well with salty minerals on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2021 Jachter ‘The J. Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘The J. Reserve’ is a barrel selection Chardonnay that was aged in roughly 50% new French oak before bottling. This is dense and mineral-laden stuff that is showing beautifully right now. Lemon curd and shades of honeydew melon collide with stony minerals on the palate. Quite nervy, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2022 Jachter ‘Chehalem Mountains’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Chehalem Mountains’ Pinot Noir is a beautiful bottling by winemaker Jared Etzel. On the nose this takes on layers of red currants, menthol and salty soils with pine needle accents. The palate is fresh and very pure with bright red fruits that parade with orange zest and copious minerals. Medium-bodied and delicious, showing a soft mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2021 Jachter ‘Cuvee Karen Ann’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Cuvee Karen Ann’ is sourced from the Ribbon Ridge AVA and made from 25 year old Pommard clone Pinot Noir grapes. This is wonderfully earthy with black truffle shavings that meld well with pure red fruits, citrus zest and stony minerals on the palate. This is not big and bold but shows refinement and really speaks to the slight coolness of the vintage. Elegant and refined, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 94

Hors Categorie

It has been rare for Washington wines to achieve perfection in the 2022 vintage. Translated to ‘beyond categorization’ Hors Catégorie is an ultra-pure expression of terroir in a bottle. Sourced from a very hilly, 2-acre vineyard hidden in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, the Hors Catégorie Vineyard is a sight to be seen. The views from the top of the vineyard are otherworldly. The vineyard has incredibly tight spacing and Syrah clusters are cropped at less than a ton an acre. The terroir is largely stony with thick broken basalt sprinkled everywhere. When you are there you can truly feel the struggle of the vines in this stony terroir.

The 2022 vintage was difficult and was saved by a warm fall. Needless to say, without that warmth at the end of the season ’22 could have easily been a complete disaster. The wine by Hors Categorie falls nothing short of perfection in a bottle. I can’t wait for you to try this wine that shows a perfect push-pull in terms of richness and finesse. Learn more about this world-class Syrah at https://horscategorievineyards.com/horscategorievineyards/ Here is the new review for the incredible 2022 Hors Catégorie Syrah. 

2022 Hors Catégorie Syrah- Every bit a world-class wine, the 2022 Hors Categorie Syrah is reminiscent of the gorgeous 2017 edition. The aromatics are mind-numbing in terms of range from menthol, sweet pipe tobacco, Nori and bulls blood alongside shades of compost and black truffle shavings with black florals that all meld in the glass. The palate has formidable power considering the coolness of the vintage. Very flinty and soft on the mouth, this is seamless throughout the drinking experience. The amalgamation of tension and mouth-watering acidity alongside heady stony essence makes this impossible to put down. One of the few prefect wines made in 2022, savor this beauty over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 100

La Rata

Today we share one of the unique wines of the New World. Former Bionic Wines Director of Winemaking Elizabeth Bourcier’s La Rata Red Wine has a cult following in the Pacific Northwest. Elizabeth was inspired by the world-class Clos Erasmus wines of the Priorat region, and she made the bold decision blend both Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon together, since they wines tend to ripen at the similar times on the stony terroir of Milton-Freewater. Elizabeth chose to use Grenache from Armada Vineyard and Cabernet Sauvignon from En Cerise Vineyard. Now she has added a touch of Syrah to the equation. The wine was named “The Rat” and then Spanglish-cized: ‘La Rata’. The name ‘La Rata’ also connects with Elizabeth, as her zodiac sign which is the rat. This truly novel wine retails for under 100 dollars and is sold by Full Pull. I think it is a total steal.

The new 2022 edition of La Rata (OB, 96) is absolutely dazzling. This is fully ready to drink right now and is marvelous especially after about 20-30 minutes of air. Uncork this beauty and you are going to be so impressed. Learn more at http://laratawines.com/wines.html Here is my review of the thrilling 2022 La Rata Red Wine by Elizabeth Bourcier of Cayuse Vineyards.

2022 La Rata Red Wine- The 2022 La Rata has a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (39%) blended in, alongside 56% Grenache and the remainder Syrah. Stored for 21 months in natural oak barrels, only 147 cases of this beautiful wine were made this vintage. Coming from the En Cerise, Armada and La Paciencia Vineyards, this offers beautiful red rose petals on the nose with tar, sweet pipe tobacco, worn leather and shades of Kalamata olive tapenade. The palate is seamless and stony with serious verve and texture. Absolutely no reason to cellar this beauty as the 2022 La Rata is quite frankly a complete joy to consume now. Enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2032- 96

Tendril

For years I have admired the wines of winemaker Tony Rynders. Tony has worked a range of head winemaker positions over the years, formerly at Domaine Serene and Hogue. He has an esteemed master’s degree in Enology and Viticulture from UC Davis, and obtained more 90+ point scores from the Wine Spectator magazine than any other winemaker during this period of time.

Tony makes the amazing wines of Open Claim Vineyards. He as a brilliant range of wines and is even making some excellent bubbles and Rose. I love the 2024 Child’s Play Rose  (OB, 91) which is a steal at this price. Don’t miss out on the 2021 Tendril ‘Tightrope’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is another fabulous and dense release of this limited production wine. Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.tendrilwines.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by Tony Rynders and Tendril.

2023 Child’s Play Chardonnay- The excellent 2023 Child’s Play Chardonnay offers pie crust and green apple on the palate with good tension and texture. Lively and delicious, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2024 Child’s Play Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, the 2024 Child’s Play Rose comes off absolutely delicious on the palate. Loaded with strawberry and watermelon candy alongside kumquat zest, this is delicious and neatly-textured stuff that is best consumed in its mineral-laden youth. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Child’s Play Malbec- Coming from the Columbia Valley, this 2022 Malbec offers generous dark fruits with creosote, tar, anise and cassis tones. Rich and polished considering the coolness of the vintage, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2021 Tendril ‘Enchanter’ Chardonnay- The 2021 Tendril ‘Enchanter’ Chardonnay was stored in mainly neutral French oak before bottling. Rich and round on the mouth, this is elegant stuff that glides throughout the drinking experience. Rich orchard and citrus fruits parade with vanilla cream on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2021 Tendril ‘Saffron Fields’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Saffron Fields’ Pinot Noir comes from this location just east of Yamhill. Beautiful red rose petals and potpourri mark the nose alongside Mandarin orange rind and bergamot notes. The palate is well-structured and dense with great tension and salty mineral accents. Drink 2025-2037- 94

2021 Tendril ‘Maverick Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This 2021 Pinot Noir comes from the Maverick Vineyard which is located in the center of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Damp earth and a waft of black truffle mark the nose alongside tart red fruits. The palate is smooth and elegant with a silky texture. Generous and rich, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2037- 94

2021 Tendril ‘Extrovert’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2021 ‘Extrovert’ Pinot Noir is a limited production (210 cases) that was stored for 17 months in only 20% new French oak before bottling. Mainly coming from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA this offers loads of crunchy red fruits on the palate, with orange peel, salty soils and shades of white pepper. Drink 2025-2037- 94

2021 Tendril ‘TightRope’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘TightRope’ Pinot Noir was given 30% whole cluster fermentation and was stored for 17 months in 50% new French oak before bottling. This is texturally beautifully showing a gorgeous combination of dense red and dark fruits, with peat moss and damp earthy notes. Complex and delicious, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

Argyle Names Kate Payne Brown as Winemaker

We have some massive news out of Oregon today as Kate Payne Brown has been named as new Argyle winemaker. Building on the legacy of her winemaking predecessors, Founder Rollin Soles and Winemaker Nate Klostermann, Payne Brown becomes only the third winemaker since Argyle was established in 1987. Recognized as one of the leading winemakers in the Pacific Northwest, Payne Brown comes to Argyle after an illustrious 20-year career that includes key roles at Archery Summit, Burgundia Oenologie, Stoller Family Estate and Ambar Estate, as well as her own winery, Dolores Wines, where she earned a reputation for producing some of Oregon’s most exciting sparkling wines.

We want to offer our heartfelt congratulations to Kate at her new post at Argyle. 🍾

Rare Rose Champagne

Today we present one of the brilliant Rosé Champagnes of the world. Rare Champagne is a brand that was originally started by Piper Heidseick. Rare Champagne's history dates back to 1785, when Florens-Louis Heidsieck presented a "tête de cuvée" to Marie Antoinette at Versailles. Rare was originally a prestige cuvée of Piper-Heidsieck, but has been a house in its own right since 2019. In 2011 Piper Heidseick was purchased by the EPI Group. Rare Champagne is only made in select vintages. In fact since 1976, only 14 vintages have been released: 1976, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2013, and Rare Rosé vintages 2007, 2008, 2012, and 2014.

This 2014 edition of Rare Rosé Champagne is composed of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir coming from12 separate Crus of which 8 are classified as Grand Crus and 3 are classified as Premier Crus. The Chardonnay is sourced from Villers Marmery, Vertus,Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Chouilly, Avize while the Pinot Noir comes from Verzy, Ay, Verzenay,Ambonnay, Ville-Dommange. The wine is given a moderate level of dosage, 7G/L. The 2014 Rare Rose Champagne (OB, 96) is a stunning wine that is only starting to come into its own at the eleven year mark. It is marvelously earthy, big and rich on the mouth. Learn more about this stunning wine at https://www.rare-champagne.com and here is my review of the 2014 Rare Rosé Champagne.

2014 Rare Rosé Champagne- A dazzling brownish-pink hue in the glass, the 2014 Rare Rose Champagne is a combination of 60% Chardonnay & 40% Pinot Noir coming from nearly all Grand Cru vineyards. Given 7G/L dosage, this opens with gorgeous red rose petal aromatics that combine with salmonberry, cranberry and hints of forest floor.  The palate is round and generous with a silky mousse and refined sense of texture. Showing glorious weight and a light beam of salinity, this is already drinking marvelously now at the eleven year mark. Drink 2025-2040- 96

TOIL Oregon

It is my pleasure to share the new wines by TOIL Oregon and winemaker Chris Figgins. For my palate of the finest producers of Rose wines in Oregon, Toil Oregon is the brainchild of famed Leonetti winemaker Chris Figgins who planted his vineyard in the Willamette Valley nearly a decade ago. Toil Oregon started with a production of 200 cases then in 2016 Chris planted his estate vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. His first wine fully from his estate vineyard was the 2019 Rose.

I love these wines. Figgins has an incredible hand in his Rose. The 2024 Toil Oregon Rose (OB, 93) which is one of the top Rose wines that I have tasted in the past year. Do not miss out on the 2023 Toil Oregon Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is very concentrated and shows amazing depth and underlying tension. Learn more about this great winery at toiloregon.com Here are the brilliant new wines by Toil Oregon. 

2024 TOIL Rose- A vibrant pink, the 100% Pinot Noir 2024 TOIL Rose spent time in stainless steel before bottling and release. It is juicy and vibrant wine that is already showing marvelously. Pink bubblegum and bright red fruits parade with citrus rind, and stony minerals on the palate. Beautifully textured, showing really nice weight and lovely earthy undertones, enjoy this beauty now and over the next six to eight years to come. Don’t serve too cold! Drink 2025-2031- 93

2023 TOIL Chardonnay- A gorgeous wine from this warm vintage, the 2023 TOIL Chardonnay saw time in a small amount of French oak barriques before bottling. This is a world-class edition of this wine, offering sensational aromatics of baking spice laced pie crust, crushed wet rock, honeydew melon and suggestions of orang rind. The palate is big, full and voluptuous for Oregon. Despite its weight, this shows dazzling tension that runs through a generous core of melon and citrus fruits. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2023 TOIL Pinot Noir- The 2023 TOIL Pinot Noir was stored in a small amount of French oak barriques prior to bottling. Like the ’22 edition, the ’23 is a dizzying rendition that is already beautifully evolved. Once on the nose this takes on layers of blood orange zest, diatomaceous earth, red raspberry compote and suggestions of black licorice that all take shape in the glass. The palate is full-bodied and broad-shouldered, showing off the heat of the vintage. Marvelously salty, showing great tension, depth and texture, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2039- 95

Tablas Creek 'Esprit Blanc' Vertical Tasting

A little over a week ago I descended upon Tablas Creek which is without a doubt one of the great wineries of California. It was decades ago that Jean-Pierre and François Perrin and Robert Haas purchased a former alfalfa farm that is set on limestone soils in the Adelaida Hills. This was the birth of Tablas Creek with the unique terroir that they felt would create a novel minerality. From the beginning they focused on Rhône-style wines made organically. The first plantings took place in 1994 and the first Tablas Creek Vineyard wines produced in 1997. The winery has been an incredible success since that time, reaching worldwide acclaim particularly for their Rhone style red and white blends. I remember first tasting these beautiful wines more than twenty years ago.

I hads a chance to taste an epic range of ‘Esprit Blanc’ wines with CEO Jason Haas. We had some really impressive bottlings including one from their first vintage. The 2001 ‘Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc’ White Wine (OB, 95) is still going strong and has at least five to seven years left. Marvelously complex and round, this is a tremendous effort. I love the new edition of this wine, the otherworldly 2023 Tablas Creek ‘Esprit Blanc’ White Wine (OB, 97) which is without a doubt one of the great white wines that you will taste on the West Coast.  Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://tablascreek.com Here are the outstanding new wines by Tablas Creek. 

2023 Tablas Creek ‘Esprit Blanc’ White Wine- This 2023 edition of the ‘Esprit Blanc’ is led with 48% Roussanne with Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Bourboulenc, Picardy and Clairette Blanche. Standing golden in the glass, this is wonderfully earthy and nutty on the nose with roasted Macadamia nut and hay tones that combine with shads of honeydew melon suggestions of green papaya. The palate is silky and refined, this really has it all for a Rhone-style blend. Poise, texture, richness, salinity and flavor range, enjoy this total stunner over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2042- 97

2018 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit Blanc’ White Wine- This 2018 ‘Espirit Blanc’ has 66% Rousanne added with smaller portions Picpoul Blanc, Picardin, Grenache Blanc and Clairette Blanche. The nose offers really beautiful melon fruits alongside salted Marcona almonds and shades of beeswax with mossy undertones. The palate shows beautiful body and poise with great length and a silky mouthfeel. Gorgeous now, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2014 Tablas Creek ‘Esprit Blanc’ White Wine- This 2014 has nearly all Roussane (72%) with 23% Grenache Blanc and a touch of Picpoul Blanc. The nose is exotic with papaya and One lady apple alongside toasted mixed nuts and suggestions of marzipan. This is right between primary in tertiary and in a perfect spot to be enjoyed. This is marvelously nutty and earthy stuff that still has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2025-2035- 96

2010 Tablas Creek ‘Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc’ White Wine- The 2010 ‘Esprit Blanc comes fro this cooler vintage that led to a late harvest. This edition is 60% Roussanne alongside 35% Grenache Blanc and the remainder Picpoul Blanc. This is showing loads of nutty tones on the nose alongside green papaya, banana and shades of cantaloupe. The palate shows bright tension and salinity despite its age. Offering great depth and viscosity, this is a marvelous edition of this wine that seems to be right in its sweet spot. Drink 2025-2032- 96

2001 Tablas Creek ‘Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc’ White Wine- This was the first ever edition of this wine. This is also the only vintage where Marsanne was blended in, as four Rhone varietals were blended in utilizing 6-7 year old grape vines. This is a total stunner, with mesmerizing depth and concentration as well as really good finesse despite its age. Marmalade and bergamot notes combine with honeycomb and walnut notes on the palate. Complex and highly delicious, this is right in its wheelhouse. Drink 2025-2031- 95

Evesham Wood

Today we share a focus on one of the great older producers in the Willamette Valley. Evesham Wood. The winery was founded by Russ Rainey and Mary Raney in 1986. After a comprehensive search throughout the Willamette Valley, they chose a site for the estate vineyard, “Le Puits Sec” (French for “the dry well” which we have in the vineyard). In 1986 Evesham Wood first produced Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, using grapes purchased primarily from Temperance Hill & Seven Springs vineyards. In August 2010, Erin Nuccio and his wife, Jordan, became the owners of Evesham Wood Winery & Le Puits Sec Vineyard.

The new wines were really good. I love their entry level Pinot, the 2023 Evesham Wood ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (OB, 91) which has lots of texture and freshness, showing good flavor range. Learn more about these great wines at https://eveshamwood.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Evesham Wood wines.

2023 Evesham Wood ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The excellent 2023 Evesham Wood ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir was sourced from several sites throughout the valley. On the palate this offers tart cranberry and pomegranate seed flavors that mingle well with dried herbs and shades of forest floor. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Evesham Wood ‘Eola-Amity Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Evesham Wood ‘Eola-Amity Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir delivers forward and juicy red cherry and red raspberry flavors on the palate that mingle well with marine soils and shades of tobacco leaf on the palate. Light to medium-bodied, this is delightful stuff to savor now. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Evesham Wood ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2022 ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ comes from this 100-acre site in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The nose is beautifully performed with peat moss and forest floor notes alongside wafts of black truffle and bright red and dark fruits. Medium-bodied and marvelously earthy on the palate, this is a really intriguing rendition of Pinot Noir from this vineyard. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2039- 94

2022 Evesham Wood ‘Mahonia Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Mahonia Vineyard’ comes from this 12-acre site that is farmed at roughly two tons an acre. This shows good power and concentration on the palate, loaded with red and dark fruits, with Shiitake mushroom and Nori accents. Medium-bodied and delicious, showing serious verve, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Evesham Wood ‘Le Puits Sec’ Pinot Noir- A really good bottling from 2022, the ‘Le Puits Sec’ opens with cloves and red cherry compote on the nose with beautiful red florals. The palate is soft and refined with good elegance and a smooth texture. This has both the stuffing and verve to cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2025-2037- 93

Domaine Carneros

It is my pleasure to share one of the jewels of west coast wine. Domaine Carneros is perched high on a hill, overlooking the valley. The winery has world-class food pairings including Kaluga to match with their outstanding wines. It is hard to believe that this house was started all the way back in the 1970s as Claude Taittinger, of famed Champagne house Taittinger, began his search for a good spot to make California Sparkling Wine. Finally in 1987 he selected a 138-acre parcel in the Carneros region of the Napa Valley. The spot he selected is truly unique, as it has a massive maritime influence being perched near the bay. The vineyard is quite windy and produces highly concentrated berries that are very small in size. At the helm is Remi Cohen who serves as CEO and director of winemaking. She took over Napa pioneer Eileen Crane, who had been crafting sensational, age-worthy sparkling wines in the Napa Valley for over 30 years. Their top wine, the ‘Le Reve,’ is one of the finest sparkling wines made in North America.

I love their new lineup of wines. I’m amazed at their quality in the entry level, their 2020 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 93) which is fresh, vibrant and wonderfully nuanced. They did remarkably well in 2020 so buy these wines with confidence. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.domainecarneros.com Here are the new sparkling wines by Domaine Carneros

2020 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The 2020 ‘Brut’ comes from this challenging vintage, as the wine combines 60% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir. This is wonderfully salty and offers a smooth mousse upon entry. Lime zest and nectarine skin combines with shades of salted pear and honeydew melon on the palate. This is just a killer value in sparkling wine. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2019 Domaine Carneros ‘Ultra Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The 2019 ‘Ultra Brut’ has zero dosage and saw extended less aging. This is marvelously fresh and nervy, with great richness. Layers of melon fruits and salty minerals combine with suggestions of roasted mango and Japanese pear on the palate. Very finesse-laden and nuanced, with lovely stony and nutty accents, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2021 Domaine Carneros ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- The 2021 ‘Brut Rose’ comes from the warm 2021 vintage. The blend is exactly the same as the 2020 edition (57% Pinot Noir, 43% Chardonnay) with .9% dosage. Brioche and bright red raspberry tones mark the nose with red rose petals and dried cranberry notes. The palate is round and generous on the mouth, loaded with texture and salty minerals. A joy to drink now, enjoy over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2018 Domaine Carneros ‘Late Disgorged Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The 2018 Domaine Carneros ‘Late Disgorged Brut’ Sparkling Wine is near equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay coming from their Carneros estate. This is round and generous stuff on the mouth, with buttered French bread, salted cashew nut, starfruit and shades of mango on the palate. Rich and voluptuous on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 94

Sea Smoke

It is hard to fathom that Sea Smoke began all the way back in 1999 by Bob Davids in Santa Barbara County, California. The winery is named after the cooling fog that rolls in from the Pacific Ocean. After great success and acquiring Rita’s Crown Vineyard, Sea Smoke was sold to Constellation in 2024. Over the years that wines have been consistently great and certainly helped put Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir on the map. They now farm 80 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay plantings.

The new release comes from the warm 2022 vintage. I adored the 2022 Sea Smoke ‘Ten’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is round, generous and filled with beautiful red fruits. Learn more about these outstanding wines at seasmoke.com and here is my review of the new 2022 release by Sea Smoke.

2022 Sea Smoke ‘Ten’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Ten’ Pinot Noir is a stunning effort that is already beautifully evolved from this slightly warmer vintage. Winemaker Don Schroeder. makes this wine from its 10 "clones" of Pinot Noir. The palate is deep, fresh and fragrant with serious weight, texture and tension. Red rose petal water combines with bright cranberry and red cherry fruits alongside salty soils on the palate. Full-bodied and absolutely delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 95

Cellar Selection: 2009 Chateau d'Yquem

It isn’t every evening that you have a chance to enjoy a perfect wine. Such was the case last night with a friend. I decided to open one of my .375ML bottles of 2009 Chateau d’Yquem. This was my second visit to this wine in several years. The storied Sauternes estate was the only Sauternes property to be given the the Premier Cru Superior designation from the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. The world wine community recognizes this estate as producing the best wines from Sauternes. The site itself is perfectly situated for achieving a high degree of botrytis in even the most challenging of vintages. 

I was absolutely blown away with the 2009 Chateau d’Yquem (OB, 100) which is nothing short of perfection in the bottle. My friend and I looked at each other dazed while drinking this beauty. It was too good for words! Enjoy this bottle with a friend, as I did. Learn more about the storied estate at http://yquem.fr/int-en/ Here is my review of the Sauternes wines from Chateau d’YQuem.

2009 Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes- Weightless and irresistibly good, the scintillating 2009 Chateau d’Yquem is one of the best wines that I have tasted in the past year. A beautiful golden hue, this opens with serious concentration and texture, yet effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Rich roasted pineapple, vanilla creme brûlée and bananas foster all come to mind, with cardamom dusted shortbread and honeyed pear. Still quite fresh and elegant, this will easily go for another twenty years — but is completely irresistible now. Drink 2025-2035- 100