Januik and Novelty Hill

One of the great stops in Woodinville, Januik and Novelty Hill is a must-visit or any lover of Washington wine. For many years Andrew trained under his father, Washington wine icon Mike Januik, who was formerly head winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle and Col Solare before starting his own winery. Mike is a master of crafting great wines from literally any varietal. For years I have admired his Chardonnay wines that show insanely good aging potential — even from hot sites like the Cold Creek Vineyard. These guys are also crafting some of the greatest values wines in the state.

My wife and I love visiting this gorgeous facility in Woodinville. Food quality is great here, as is the service. It is hard to find a better spot in Western Washington to enjoy wine outdoors on a bright, summer day. We went there for Father’s Day and basked in the sun while enjoying some world-class Chardonnay.

I adored the 2023 Januik ‘Sagemoor’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 92) which is beautifully textured stuff that has bright underlying acidity and really good flavor range. Even better is the 2022 Januik ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 94) which has classic herbal character with great concentration and finesse. You are gonna love this wine.  Learn more about these great wines at  https://www.noveltyhilljanuik.com/ and here are my reviews of the great new wines by Januik/Novelty Hill.

2023 Januik ‘Sagemoor Vineyards’ Sauvignon Blanc- The really good 2023 Januik ‘Sagemoor Vineyards’ Sauvignon Blanc offers gooseberry and pear notes on the palate alongside nectarine skin notes. Rich and viscous, this is absolutely singing right now. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2024 Spring Run Rose- A brilliant new Rose, the 2024 Spring Run is a blend of 45% Grenache with near equal parts Syrah and Mourvèdre coming from the Columbia Valley. On the nose this takes on layers of white and red florals alongside guava and bright cranberry. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured, as this bone-dry Rose is perfect for a hot summer day. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2022 Novelty Hill ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ Sangiovese- Coming from this slightly cooler location in the Royal Slope AVA, the 2022 Novelty Hill ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ Sangiovese delivers bright red fruits with tobacco leaf, dusty soils and suggestions of orange peel on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Novelty Hill ‘Il Corvo’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Il Corvo’ is a blend made from mainly Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is medium-bodied and beautifully-balanced stuff, with a great melange of red and dark fruits alongside chocolate and a silky texture. This is drinking really well right now. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2022 Januik ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2022 Januik ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers sandalwood and cassis notes on the nose alongside espresso bean. The palate is deftly textured and balanced with a smooth mouthfeel and good sense of concentration. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2022 Januik ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- The outstanding 2022 ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc stands inky in the glass, delivering black rose petals alongside shades of lavender, garrigue and heady blackberry and black currant aromatics. Soft and elegant on the mouth, with a smooth mouthfeel and decadent sense of weight, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Januik ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Syrah- Coming from this acclaimed site in the Yakima Valley, the 2022 ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Syrah shows off thyme and basil aromatics alongside cherry tomato, red currants and dusty soils. The palate is rich and juicy, loaded with bright red fruits that meld alongside a smooth texture. Drink 2025-2034- 93

2022 Januik ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2022 Januik ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Syrah shows black peppercorns and smoked meats on the palate alongside dark currants, tobacco leaf and rich boysenberry fruit flavors. Medium to full-bodied and very delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

Andrew Januik

What a pleasure it is to share the new Andrew Januik wines. The son of eminent winemaker Mike Januik, Andrew Januik has now been making wine for over a decade. He studied under his father after studying at University of Washington and creates a dense and rich style for his own label, from warmer locations in Washington. I have been really impressed with his namesake project.

Tasting with Andrew, he was very excited to present wines from 2022 which had a later harvest and was slightly cooler. I love the new 2022 Andrew Januik ‘Lady Hawk’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which has terrific depth and concentration, with good structure. Check out more about these beautiful wines at https://www.noveltyhilljanuik.com/wines/andrew-januik/ Here are my tasting notes from the new Andrew Januik wines.

2022 Andrew Januik ‘Los Molinos’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Los Molinos’ is a GSM inspired wine coming from the Columbia Valley. Bacon fat, green peppercorns and iodine fill the nose alongside rich dark fruits. The palate is silky and refined with good elegance, texture and sense of weight. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

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2022 Andrew Januik ‘Lady Hawk’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Lady Hawk’ comes from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. This is dense and delicious stuff that has a great acid streak. Creme de cassis, anise, dark chocolate and graphite all fill the palate with excellent volume. Great now, enjoy over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Andrew Januik ‘Doppelgänger’ Cabernet Sauvignon-  The 2022 ‘Doppelgänger’ comes from the Andrews Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills. This site is cropped at only 2 tons per acre. This is dense and delicious stuff with chocolate fudge, crushed mint, espresso grounds and shades of tar on the palate with sweet pipe tobacco notes. The beautiful dark florals up front are outstanding. Drink 2025-2040- 94

Alexana

Years ago eminent cardiologist, Dr. Madaiah Revana, founded Alexana in the Dundee Hills AVA. This beautiful winery has incredible views and utilizes both gravity flow and is certified Gold LEED. Tresider Burns handles winemaking, formerly being head winemaker at White Rose. The wines have been consistently great for many years. I tasted with him and Dr. Revana last year and was enamored by the range of wines that they made.

Do not miss out on the rich and viscous 2023 Alexana ‘Signature’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is another gorgeous edition of this wine.  Check out the 2023 Alexana ‘Landslide Blocks’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) comes from both volcanic and marine sedimentary soils. It is a total stunner. Learn more about this outstanding Oregon winery at http://www.alexanawinery.com Here are the great new release wines by Alexana. 

2023 Alexana ‘Hillsides’ Pinot Gris- The 2024 ‘Hillsides’ was sourced from the Alexana estate vineyard as well as a vineyard in West Linn that was planted back in 1980. The wine was given extensive lees contact, as this drinks beautifully with serious weight. Nutty and pie crust tones combine with rich melon and orchard fruits on the palate. This is just a joy to consume right now, with plenty of bright acidity backing things up nicely. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2023 Alexana ‘Signature’ Chardonnay- This 2023 Alexana ‘Signature’ Chardonnay is a gorgeous edition of this wine that was stored in 30% new French oak before bottling. Honeydew melon, marzipan and starfruit flavors parade with shades of salted Macadamia nut and baking spice laced pastry crust on the palate. Gorgeous now, offering a great combination of poise and weight, this will cellar well for at least another eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Alexana ‘Gran Moraine’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2023 Alexana ‘Gran Moraine’ comes from this outstanding site set on marine sedimentary soils. This is very Montrachet meets Oregon, with light reductive notes that combine with toasted hazelnut, crushed wet seashell, cantaloupe, Japanese pear and salty soils on the palate. Rich, with marvelous length, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2023 Alexana ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Estate’ was sourced from their location in the Dundee Hills AVA. The nose is brimming with bright red cherry and red rose petal tones that combine with Satsuma orange zest and shades of rocky soils. The palate is plush showing a lush mouthfeel and loads of rocky character alongside a great core of red and dark fruits. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2023 Alexana ‘Lava Lands’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the volcanic soils found at the Alexana estate in the Dundee Hills, the 2023 ‘Lava Lands’ Pinot Noir opens with beautiful red florals on the nose alongside shades of Yakima cherry, Linzer torte and wild blackberry notes. The palate is soft and juicy with loads of finesse and great rocky soil character. Drinking beautifully now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2023 Alexana ‘Heritage Clones’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Heritage Clones’ isa selection of 10 Pinot Noir barrels and utilizes Pommard, Wadenswil, Coury and La Tache clonal selections. It comes off wonderfully salty and earthy on the mouth with a terrific mouthfeel and bright core of red fruits. It is drinking remarkably well now, showing loads of mouth-watering acidity and a silky texture. Enjoy over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Alexana ‘Best Block’ Estate Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Best Block’ is sourced from Block 8 Pinot Noir vines and clonal selection 777. This is concentrated, intense wine that will satisfy for decades. Loganberry and Bing cherry flavors parade with wet rock, salted raspberry and wafts of black truffle on the palate. This is rich and layered stuff that is fabulous to savor in its heady youth. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Alexana ‘Marine Ridge’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Marine Ridge’ comes from a location at the estate vineyard set on marine sedimentary soils. Stored in mainly neutral French oak, this delivers loads of nerve on the tongue and comes off marvelously salty. Bright red cherry and cranberry fruit flavors mingle well with the bright acidity, excellent weight and length of the wine. Fresh and vibrant to enjoy now, savor this beauty over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Alexana ‘Fennwood Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Fenwood Vineyard’ comes from this location in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Stored in mainly neutral French oak this delivers good salty soil character on the palate, with dense dark fruits, peat moss accents and loads of finesse. Soft and bright on the tongue, with good length, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2039- 94

2023 Alexana ‘Pommard Clone’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Pommard Clone’ comes from a range of soil types at the Alexana estate vineyard. This is marvelously rocky and salty, with a great melange of red and dark fruits alongside kumquat zest, forest floor and pine needle accents. Very complex, with wafts of black truffle shavings, this is going to live on for another fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Alexana ‘Landslide Blocks’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Alexana ‘Landslide Blocks’ Pinot Noir comes from a location in their estate vineyard that includes intermixing marine sedimentary and volcanic soils. The push-pull with salty and rocky character is seriously good as Mandarin orange zest and sea salt dusted red fruits combine with wet gravel and shades of red licorice. Stored in a tiny amount of new French oak, there is absolutely no oak influence here, showing a smooth mouthfeel and loads of bright acidity. Drink 2025-2040- 95

Pinstripe Wines

Today we share an electric new brand in Pacific Northwest wine. Pinstripe Wines follows an emotional tale of perseverance. It is named after co-founder Amy Andrews’s uncle, an artist, who was diagnosed with AIDS in the beginning of the crisis and he used blood lines to make his art. His partner was a doctor and he had to give blood regularly. He would come home and over his art he put his bloodlines across each piece of his art. He did that to show how his life was affected by diseases and facing death — going through a hard time. It was obvious that this became a pinstriped type of art. The mark in the back of the bottle is influenced by a piece of his art. Pinstripe is a 100% women-owned, LGBTQ-owned brand.

It is quite remarkable that founders Amy and Jeri Andrews donate 100% of the proceeds to the Seattle Children’s Hospital Uncompensated Care Fund. Amy explained why she and Jeri do this, noting “illness in a child is unfathomable and we felt that the story ties in well, using the artistry that he created and using it forward into today.” One of the wines is named ‘never give up’ in French which is named after her uncle who put signs of ‘never give up’ under each hospital door.

The wines are made by Kate Payne Brown, eminent Oregon winemaker who is now at the helm at Argyle. The wines are geeky and highly nuanced, with a limited amount of dosage. I love the new 2023 Pinstripe ‘Pour Toujours et a Jamais’ Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine (OB, 93) which is beautifully astringent with great citrus and green apple fruit flavors. Learn more about the wines at https://www.pinstripewines.com/ and here are my reviews of the inaugural wines by Pinstripe Wines.

2023 Pinstripe ‘Pour Toujours et a Jamais’ Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine- This was named in French to honor the traditional method champenoise. Given 2G/L dosage, this is marvelous astringent and saline-driven with green apple and lemon zest flavors alongside copious minerals and stony accents on the palate. This comes off soft and round with a smooth texture. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Pinstripe Pinot Meunier ‘Ne Jamais Abandonner’ Sparkling Wine- The 2023 Pinstripe Pinot Meunier ‘Ne Jamais Abandonner’ Sparkling Wine was given 4G/L dosage.offers tart red fruits on the nose. The palate offers beautiful guava and strawberry fruits alongside baked apple and shades of kumquat zest. Beautiful now, watch this evolve over the next eight plus years .Drink 2025-2033- 93

Baer

Today we share one of the hidden gems of Woodinville. Baer wines are built to age and I have many in my personal cellar. Erica Orr took over this program more than a decade ago. She originally got her start in the wine industry back in 1998, working her first harvest with eminent winemaker Cathy Corison in the Napa Valley. She immediately caught the wine bug and enrolled in the enology master’s degree program at UC Davis where she completed her master’s degree in 2003. Erica also has a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from UC Berkeley and three years of research experience as a biochemistry lab technician for 2009 Nobel Laureate Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn at UC San Francisco. 

The wines are really outstanding across the board. I love the 2024 Baer Rose (OB, 92) which is made from Cabernet Franc grapes. I adored the 2021 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which shows great flavor range and cellaring potential. Learn more about this great Woodinville winery at at baerwinery.com Here are the great new releases by Baer

2024 Baer ‘Shard’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘Shard’ was stored in all stainless steel before bottling. Coming from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard, this delivers honeydew melon and bright pear tones on the nose alongside stony minerals. The palate is fresh and lithe with a polished mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2024 Baer Rose- The 2024 Baer Rose comes from the Royal Slope AVA and is all Cabernet Franc-based. This is a downright gorgeous bottling that shouldn’t be served too warm. Rich melon fruits collide with strawberry and guava flavors on the palate. Showing off a great combination of minerality and texture, enjoy this outstanding bottling now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 92

2024 Orr Wines Chenin Blanc- The 2024 Orr Wines Chenin Blanc is one of the unique bottlings in Washington. This offers really novel nutty tones on the palate, alongside green papaya, copious minerals and suggestions of sour starfruit. Really complex and also neatly textured, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2021 Baer ‘Star’ Merlot- The 2021 ‘Star’ has 7% Cabernet Franc blended in. It is polished, round and generous with a terrific mouthfeel. Damp earthy tones give this a very Right Bank feel, as this is loaded with chocolate covered black cherry and black raspberry flavors with garrigue accents on the palate. The push-pull between finesse and richness really drives this wine. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2021 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Ursa’ combines Merlot (43%) with Cabernet Franc (36%) and the reminder Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. This is rich and viscous stuff with a terrific acid backbone. A great melange of red and dark fruits greet you alongside tobacco leaf and chocolate, alongside Arabica bean notes. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2021 Baer Malbec- The 2021 Malbec has a good portion of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot blended in. Very dark in the glass, this delivers black tea and green bell pepper aromatics that mingle well with graphite and dark chocolate shavings. The palate is impeccably balanced with great richness and poise. Enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2021 Baer ‘Callisto’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Callisto’ is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah with 17% Petit Verdot all sourced from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA. This is nicely poised stuff with a silky mouthfeel and bright sense of tension and salinity. Rich dark fruits meld well with black licorice and shades of molten milk chocolate. Delicious now, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2021 Baer ‘Arctos’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Arctos’ has 16% Petit Verdot blended in. Stored in mainly neutral oak barrels, this delivers black rose petals and dried herbs on the nose alongside shades of dark chocolate shavings and tar notes. This comes off lithe and polished with lively acidity and a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2021 Baer Cabernet Franc- Nearly all varietal (93%) the 2021 Baer Cabernet Franc offers orange bell pepper aromatics, white pepper dusted black fruits and salty soils alongside pipe tobacco notes on the nose. The palate is lively and juicy with a firm acid backbone and smooth mouthfeel. Refined tannins frame a glorious core of red and dark fruits with bramble undertones. Elegant and refined, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

San Juan Vineyard

I will fully admit that most wines from the Puget Sound AVA do not impress me. Such is not the case with the wines from San Juan Vineyard that are amongst the finest from this AVA. Founded in 1996, San Juan Vineyard is a producer of award winning estate-grown wines - Siegerrebe and Madeleine Angevine. Having tasted there before, you are greeted at their 1895 remodeled school house and stunning estate-grown wines. It is a must-visit spot if going to San Juan Island. A few years back the vineyard and wines were acquired by the Corliss family.

The new wines were really good. I adore the 2023 San Juan Vineyard Madeline Angevine (OB, 92) which is dense and delicious with serious tension and mouthfeel. Learn more at https://www.sanjuanvineyard.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by San Juan Vineyard.

2023 San Juan Vineyard Madeline Angevine- Really well-done, the 2023 San Juan Vineyard Madeline Angevine offers a kiss of sweetness with juicy peaches and baked apple flavors alongside a smooth mouthfeel and terrific tension. This is without a doubt the finest edition of this wine that I have tasted. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 San Juan Vineyard Siegerrebe- The seriously good 2023 San Juan Vineyard Siegerrebe delivers an oily mouthfeel with loads of melon and citrus fruits alongside starfruit tones on the palate. Showing good weight and length, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 San Juan Vineyard ‘Afterglow’ Rose- The 2023 ‘Afterglow’ is composed of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault vines from the Walla Walla Valley. This is amazing stuff texturally, offering really good depth and concentration with a downright unctuous mouthfeel. Rich melon and red fruits parade with salty soils and green herbs on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 San Juan Vineyard ‘Barren Rock Red’ Red Wine- Sourced from the Columbia Valley, the 2023 ’Barren Rock Red’ is mainly Grenache (62%) with the remainder Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. It comes off soft and very approachable with a smooth mouthfeel and toasty oak tones that parade with creosote, red fruits and black licorice. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2022 San Juan Vineyard ‘Cattle Point Red’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Cattle Point Red’ combines mainly Cabernet Franc (62%) with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain. This is dense and delicious wine, loaded with chocolate and dark currants that mingle well with scorched earth and espresso bean. Drink 2025-2032- 93

Long Shadows 'Saggi' Red Wine

Today we share one of the iconic wines of Washington. The Saggi is a brilliant blend of largely Sangiovese. It is truly one of the great, novel wines of this state. Last year I had the tremendous opportunity to taste more than ten vintages of the ‘Saggi’ going back to the 2004 vintage (https://owenbargreen.com/blog/2024/6/13/long-shadows-saggi-vertical-tasting). Needless to say it was a very special day spent with winemaker Gilles Nicault.

Saggi was first made with the 2003 vintage as a partnership with the famed Folonari family. The blend wasn’t released and ’04 was the first released vintage which was near equal parts Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon with some Syrah and Barbera. Today the wine is mainly Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and some Syrah, which Nicault explains “brings the darkness to the color and extra layer of complexity, the spiciness. Sangiovese brings brightness but this Syrah elevates the wine and softness, richness to the palate.”

The new wine was spectacular and is drinking impeccably from this warm vintage. The 2021 ‘Saggi’ (OB, 95) is a dense and delicious treat to enjoy now. It is very well-structured and should cellar for at least another fifteen years to come. Learn more at https://longshadows.com/ and here is my review of the gorgeous 2021 ‘Saggi.’

2021 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine- The stunning 2021 Long Shadows ‘Saggi’ Red Wine is a harmonious and dense blend of 62% Sangiovese with 26% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Syrah. Decadent roasted figs and blackberries fill the palate alongside chocolate covered espresso bean and garrigue notes. The flavor density, weight and seamless texture really makes this sing its high octave. Drink 2025-2042- 95

ROCO

Today we share the beautiful wines of ROCO, the brainchild of eminent winemaker Rollin Soles. Rollin comes off as extremely kind-hearted and has a wonderful sense of humor. I’ve been fortunate to have tasted his Argyle wines back to the late 1990s, as the ‘Extended Tirage’ wines that he made were some of the finest bubbles you will find in North America.

With the 2013 vintage Rollin was able to craft his first sparkling wine for his label, the ‘RMS.’ As a wine critic I was unabashedly licking my chops when I found out that Rollin was going to make aged sparkling wine. RMS wines are aged for 2.5 years before being disgorged. Rollin has had great success with his ROCO wines as he and his wife sold their winery to Santa Margarita winery earlier in 2022. There is very good reason why these giants of Italy took interest in this winery that has been consistently producing great wines.

I am enamored by the 2021 ROCO ’RMS’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 96) which is a totally stunning new wine with amazing richness and verve. Learn more about these incredible wines at rocowinery.com and here are my notes from the new release wines by ROCO.

2021 ROCO ‘RMS’ Sparkling Wine- The 2021 ‘RMS’ is a stunning blend of 66% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir. Like the 2020 edition, this is a salty, tension-laden bottling that is drinking marvelously right now. A light effervescence greets you alongside salted Macadamia nut and marzipan combine with honeycomb, kumquat zest and shades of cantaloupe on the palate. Full-bodied, with serious verve and richness, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2025-2034- 96

2021 ROCO ‘RMS’ Rose Sparkling Wine- A beautiful salmon hue and made from mostly Pinot Noir grapes, this gorgeous 2021 Rose Sparkling Wine opens with beautiful red florals and red currants, woven together with Mandarin orange rind and juicy peach. The soft mousse entices as delicate red fruits are woven together with shades of pink grapefruit zest, red rose water and shades of salty soils. A delicious, complex wine that is drinking marvelously now, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2036- 95

2021 ROCO ‘RMS’ Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine- This is the finest Blanc de Blancs that you will taste in the Pacific Northwest as the 2021 ‘RMS’ dazzles with its great tension and silky mousse on the approach. Loaded with citrus fruits, with green papaya, marzipan and ginger notes, enjoy this refined Blanc de Blancs now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2034- 95

2021 ROCO Marsh Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 Marsh Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir is sourced from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Lush and round on the mouth, this is loaded with bright red fruits with blood orange zest and salty minerals, with hints of wet rock. Very delicious, round and generous, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2036- 94

2021 ROCO ‘Knudsen Vineyards’ Pinot Noir- Set in the Dundee Hills, the 2021 ‘Knudsen Vineyards’ comes from this site set between 600-800 feet, utilizing Dijon clone Pinot Noir. This has wonderful volcanic soil character throughout the palate, offering cran-pomegranate, damp earth and dried herbal tones on the palate. Nicely textured, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2034- 93

2021 ROCO ‘Private Stash No. 18’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Private Stash’ is a barrel selection wine that is now in its 18th edition. It is a world-class Pinot Noir, loaded with juicy black and red fruits alongside forest floor, anise and Satsuma oranges. It is full-bodied and hedonistic, absolutely speaking to the warmth of the vintage. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

Sea Smoke

Today we share the beautiful wines by Sea Smoke, founded all the way back in1999 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 ‘Southing’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is delicious and salty with bright red fruits. Learn more about these outstanding wines at seasmoke.com and here is my review of the new 2022 releases by Sea Smoke.

2022 Sea Smoke Chardonnay- Sourced from the Sea Smoke Vineyard, this 2022 Chardonnay delivers rich vanilla custard and pie crust flavors that meld well with roasted pineapple, mango and starfruit notes. Rich and layered, with a polished texture and nice sense of tension, with salty nuances, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2025-2032- 94

2022 Sea Smoke ‘Southing’ Pinot Noir- Coming from the Santa Rita Hills, the 2022 ‘Southing’  is named after the southern-facing hills at the Sea Smoke Vineyard. Right away this offers guava puree and salted orange on the palate, with stony soils and shades of red licorice. Delicious and delightful to savor now, enjoy this outstanding effort over the next ten plus yeas to come. Drink 2025-2037- 94

Willamette Valley Vineyards

Today we share one of the oldest wineries in Oregon. Willamette Valley Vineyards founder, Jim Bernau, purchased the winery’s estate back in 1983 and  planted Pinot Noir (Pommard and Wadenswil clones), Chardonnay (Dijon and Espiguette) as well as Pinot Gris. Bernau took winemaking classes at UC Davis and finally started the winery full time in 1989. Willamette Valley Vineyards has grown considerably in the past 20 years, as they merged with Bill Fuller of Tualatin Vineyards (established in 1973), the O'Briens for Elton Vineyard (established in 1983) and Loeza Vineyard (planted in 2015). They make a wonderful range of wines including some great vintage bubbles and complex range of Pinots, as well as Pinot Gris and even a great Pinot Blanc.

I love the new 2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Ingram Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is a dense and delicious bottling with some great aging potential. Here are the new releases from Willamette Valley Vineyards and learn more at http://wvv.com

2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Elton’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Elton’ comes fro this location in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This is a rich and viscous bottling with serious nerve on the palate. Dense melon fruits collide with orange zest and suggestions of cardamom laced pastry crust on the palate. Great now, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Dijon Clone’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Dijon Clone’ Pinot Noir was sourced from a range of vineyards and soil types. It is soft and juicy upon entry with loganberry and bing cherry fruit flavors alongside Mandarin orange rind on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Ingram Estate’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Ingram Estate’ comes from this site in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, set on deep Jory soils. This is beautifully-textured stuff with fantastic rocky soil character on the palate. Rich red and dark fruits parade with salty nuances, wet stone and shades of bergamot and black truffle shavings on the palate. Complex, dense and delicious, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2021 Domaine Willamette Valley Rose Sparkling Wine- Beautiful pear and apple with kumquat rind and guava zest all fill the nose. The earthy accents really add to the intrigue as this delivers a soft mousse upon entry. Soft, showing beautifully-astringent red fruits with green apple accents on the palate, enjoy this beauty now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 92

L'Ecole No. 41

Today we share one of the great wines of Walla Walla. One of Washington’s oldest wineries, L’Ecole No. 41 is set at a historic schoolhouse outside the town of Walla Walla. Winemaker Marcus Rafanelli has been crafting a beautiful range of wines. Last year I had a chance to visit with him and GM Marty Clubb, as we tasted some older releases. These wines cellar so remarkably well.

The new wines this year have been consistently great, from concentrated Syrah to finesse-laden Rose. I love the new 2024 L’Ecole No. 41 Rose (OB, 92) which is soft, round and filled with finesse. Learn more about this outstanding winery at http://lecole.com/ Here are the great new wines by L’Ecole No. 41.

2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Rose- Coming from this south-facing ridge in the southern end of the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, the 2024 Rose offers juicy guava and watermelon flavors that mingle well with bright pear and copious minerals on the palate. This is seriously good stuff that is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Yakima Valley’ Chenin Blanc- The seriously good ‘Yakima Valley’ Chenin Blanc is an ode to wines made 20 years ago. It is neatly-textured stuff with buttered brioche and salted pear flavors that combine with shades of cashew nut. Gorgeous now, enjoy this killer value over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Frenchtown’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Frenchtown’ Sauvignon Blanc comes from sites across the Columbia Valley. This is round and generous on the mouth with kiwi and gooseberry notes alongside shades of wet stone and green apple. Drink 2025-2030- 90

Bodega Lanzaga

Today we share the story of Bodega Lanzaga, founded by eminent winemaker Telmo Rodríguez. Bodega Lanzaga was founded back in 1998 with a radical mission to focus on small-parcel, small-production wines from places that speak to the essence of Rioja. The house sources from organically farmed vineyards in and around the villages of Lanciego (population: 650) and Labastida (population: 1,500).

Telmo Rodríquez was born into the family that owns and operates the Remelluri estate in Rioja. As a young man, he worked at Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux, Chave in Hermitage, Clape in Cornas, and Beaucastel in Chateauneuf, before returning to his family winery. His new wines were fabulous. I love the 2020 ‘Lanzaga’ Rioja (OB, 93) which is dense and chewy with loads of dense dark fruits. Here are my reviews of the new Riojas from Bodega Lanzaga.

2021 Bodega Lanzaga ‘Corriente’ Rioja- The 2021 Bodega Lanzaga ‘Corriente’ Rioja offers a soft mouthfeel with loads of black and red fruits alongside salty minerals and herbal accents on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Bodega Lanzaga ‘LZ’ Rioja- A great blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano, the 2022 ‘LZ’ offers dense red fruits that mingle well with chocolate, wet stone and coffee grounds on the palate. Nicely textured, this is really delicious to enjoy now.  Drink 2025-2031- 91

2020 Bodega Lanzaga ‘Lanzaga’ Rioja- The 2020 ‘Lanzaga’ Rioja comes from the Rioja Alavesa and was stored in oak barrels for 14 months before bottling. It comes off beautifully-textured with concentrated red currants, tobacco leaf and wild blackberry flavors that parade with milk chocolate on the palate. A decadent, delicious Rioja, made in the modern style, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

Chateau L'Escarelle

It has now been several years since I have visited the beautiful and expansive Chateau L’Escarelle. Located in the heart of Provence, and has 100 hectares of vines that flourish in their 1,000 hectares of beautiful countryside land. They even have world-class accommodations there that are a must visit for anyone who has never been to this remote and highly scenic part of Provence. I know I cannot wait to be back.

The estate itself dates back to the early 18th century as in the 20th century the estate was purchased by François Joseph Fournier, a Belgian adventurer who made his fortune in Mexico

and who already owned the island of Porquerolles. Then in 2014 the house was sold to current owner Yann Pineau who sought to make the land both biodiverse and organic. In 2016 the site was given a Level 3 (highest level) of agriculture certification by the French ministry.

I had a chance to taste the latest wines by this house and was once again amazed with the overall quality. I love the 2024 Chateau L’Escarelle ‘La Pacha' Rose (OB, 93) which is rich and viscous with really good flavor range. Learn more about this outstanding Provence house at https://www.escarelle.fr/?lang=en and here are my reviews of the beautiful Rose wines by Chateau L’Escarelle.

2024 Chateau L’Escarelle ‘Rumeurs’ Rose- The brilliant 2024 ‘Rumeurs’ offer brisk acidity alongside light red fruits with herbal accents and orange peel notes. Very saline-driven and minreal-laden, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 Chateau L’Escarelle ‘Le Pacha’ Rose- Named after a rare form of butterfly found on the estate, the 2024 ‘Le Pacha’ is a killer combination of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah and is a collaboration between Alice Pelestor (Cellar master) & Patrick Lobier (Wine grower). This complex wine is best served not too cold. A smooth texture greets you, as this comes off wonderfully earthy with stony minerals that combine with a fabulous core of melon and strawberry fruits alongside kumquat rind accents. The bright salinity of the wine shines through, as this will cellar well for another seven plus years. Drink 2025-2032- 93

Acumen

It is my pleasure to share the wines of Acumen, founded by Eric Yuan. Yuan utilizes the talents of winemaker Phillip Titus and renowned Viticulturist Garrett Buckland. His brand, Acumen Wines, has established an estate that features 116 organically certified acres of vines, spread across two vineyards on Napa Valley’s Atlas Peak. The Acumen team makes a small portfolio of estate-grown wines, with a focus on mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc as well as Sauvignon Blanc.

Acumen acquired its first vineyard on Atlas Peak in 2012. Originally planted in 1992, and featuring 32 acres of vines with a northeast exposure, the Attelas Vineyard was the ‘home vineyard’ of Dr. Jan Krupp, predating his famed Stagecoach Vineyard by three years. In 2014, Acumen expanded its estate program with the acquisition of the Edcora Vineyard, which features 84 acres of vines 350 feet higher up on Atlas Peak.

The new wines by Acumen were awesome. I love the 2022 Acumen Wines ‘Edcora Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is rich and viscous with good verve considering the heat of the vintage.  Learn more at https://www.acumenwine.com. Here are my reviews of the new Acumen Wines.

2023 Acumen ‘Atlas Peak’ Sauvignon Blanc- The outstanding 2023 Acumen ‘Atlas Peak’ Sauvignon Blanc offers serious texture and verve on the palate, loaded with minerals, melon fruits and shades of starfruit with kumquat rind. Rich and fat on the tongue, this is seriously good stuff that will cellar well over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2022 Acumen ‘Edcora Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Dense, heady and intense, the 2022 Acumen ‘Edcora Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon stands inky in the glass. Violets, tar and sweet tobacco leaf notes combine with blueberry compote on the nose. The palate is loaded with tension and flavor density with a silky mouthfeel and refined tannins. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2037- 95

Big Table Farm

Today we share one of the greats of the Willamette Valley. Big Table Farm was founded by Clare Carver and Brian Marcy — two of the great people in Oregon wine. Marcy has a longstanding history in the wine industry, formerly serving as winemaker for Neyers prior to moving north and settling in the Willamette Valley.These are wines that age brilliantly and are known for great texture and beautiful pure red and dark fruits, with loads of nuance. They will soon make wines from their estate vineyard.

This is amongst the finest Rose wines made in North America. I adore the complex, round and delicious 2024 Big Table Farm ‘Laughing Pig’ Rose (OB, 94) is a total stunner with gobs of flavor range, flavor density and underlying tension. Learn more about Big Table Farm at http://www.bigtablefarm.com/ Here are the fantastic new release wines by Big Table Farm.

2024 Big Table Farm ‘Laughing Pig’ Rose- Another sensational edition of this wine, the highly nuanced 2024 Laughing Pig’ Rose was stored in all neural oak barrels before bottling.  A beautiful watermelon color, this offers white rose water and orange peel notes on the nose with salty soils and shades of cranberry. The palate is beautifully astringent and intense, with serious texture and minerality, showing some fabulous earthy tones with peat moss and damp hay. The length impresses, as this lasts for a near-minute on the mouth. This is once again an incredibly showing in its mineral-laden youth. Drink 2025-2031- 94

2023 Big Table Farm ‘The Wild Bee’ Chardonnay- Sourced from a range of sites throughout the Willamette Valley, the 2023 ‘The Wild Bee’ offers toasted hazelnuts alongside rich melon and orchard fruits. The palate is smooth and silky with a refined mouthfeel and great sense of weight and length. Gorgeous now, watch this evolve over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Big Table Farm ‘Elusive Queen’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2023 ‘The Elusive Queen’ Chardonnay is a barrel selection wine made from less than 5% of their Chardonnay production. This is rich and opulent stuff that comes off exceedingly seamless throughout the drinking experience. Japanese pear and marzipan notes mingle well with cardamom laced pastry crust alongside ripe banana and papaya on the palate. Velvety and voluptuous, this is very dense and layered stuff that will cellar well for at least another ten years to come. Drink 2025-2037- 96

2023 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Amazing at the entry level, the 2023 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir delivers bright cranberry, guava and Yakima cherry fruit flavors alongside salty soils on the palate. Medium-bodied and exceedingly smooth, with good tension, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Big Table Farm ‘Pelos-Sandberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The amazing 2023 Big Table Farm ‘Pelos-Sandberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was sourced from this small location located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This captures brilliant flavor density with rich red fruits that parade with loamy soils, Satsuma orange zest, and suggestions of red rose water on the palate. Salty and very savory, with herbal and black truffle accents, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 Big Table Farm ‘The Funk Estate Vineyard’ Syrah- A gorgeous wine from the Rocks District, the 2022 ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah is a world-class wine from this slightly cooler vintage. On the nose this takes on wet rock aromas alongside pine needles, forest floor, Umami and suggestions of wild blackberry compote. The palate is plush and soft with a terrific tension and a gorgeous melange of red and dark fruits with Hoisin sauce and seaweed notes. Highly novel and complex, this is a stunning rendition of this wine. Drink 2025-2033- 96

2023 Big Table Farm ‘Earth’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Earth’ is a spectacular barrel selection bottling that has incredible flavor density, flavor range and underlying verve. A kaleidoscope of aromatics greets you as salty and sandy soils mingle well with black truffle shavings, peat moss and shades of Mandarin orange peel. The palate is plush and rich with amazing texture and richness. The finish just won’t quit as this is velvety and seductive stuff that is built to age. Drink 2025-2040- 96

Phelps Creek

One of the outstanding wineries in the Columbia Gorge, Phelps Creek produces a myriad of wines including tension-filled Gewurtztraminer and silky Pinot Noir. Founder Bob Morus serves as President and Director of Winegrowing. He moved to Hood River in 1989 with the expressed goal of raising both wine grapes and kids. The manages his estate vineyard consisting of 36 acres of vines planted mainly to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

I am really impressed with the latest few sets of releases that I have tasted from Phelps Creek. Lauren O’Brien serves as winemaker, having formerly served as enologist at K Vintners. The new wines were really good across the board. I love the 2024 Phelps Creek ‘Van Horn’ Riesling (OB, 93) which is filled with dazzling tension and great flavor range Learn more about these great new wines at https://www.phelpscreekvineyards.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Phelps Creek.

2024 Phelps Creek ‘Van Horn’ Riesling- The 2024 ‘Van Horn’ Riesling is made in the Trocken style, and this comes off ultra-dry with loads of tension and minerals alongside lemon rind and kiwi notes alongside wet stone. This is really well-made. Drink 2025-2030- 93

2024 Phelps Creek ‘Pioneer Block’ Riesling- Coming from their estate vineyard, the 2024 ‘Pioneer Block’ Riesling delivers white peach and star jasmine on the nose with gooseberry notes. Very dry, this is loaded with freshness and minerality and is best enjoyed in its vibrant youth. Drink 2025-2030- 92

2024 Phelps Creek ‘Gorge Crest’ Gewurtztraminer- The gorgeous 2024 Phelps Creek ‘Gorge Crest’ Gewurtztraminer shows starfruit and pink grapefruit blossom on the nose with ripe peaches. This is clean and fresh wine that has the faintest kiss of sweetness. Drink 2025-2030- 92

2023 Phelps Creek ‘Columbia Gorge’ Pinot Gris- The 2023 Phelps Creek ‘Columbia Gorge’ Pinot Gris offers cashew nut, ripe melon and figs on the palate alongside good tension. Offering solid weight, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 Phelps Creek ‘Fleur de Rot’ Pinot Noir Rose- The excellent 2024 Phelps Creek ‘Fleur de Rot’ Pinot Noir Rose delivers white rose water and delicate red fruits on the palate, with copious minerals and a smooth texture. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2024 Phelps Creek ‘Le Petit’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Le Petit’ offers juicy strawberry and red cherry flavors. Forward, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 89

2022 Phelps Creek ‘Lynette’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Lynette’ saw extended tirage on the lees. White peach and juicy pear mark the nose alongside shades of cardamom and pie crust. The palate is soft and refined with good elegant and a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2022 Phelps Creek ‘Corduroy’ White Pinot Noir- A delicious new bottling, the 2022 Phelps Creek ‘Corduroy’ White Pinot Noir is smooth and delicious on the mouth, loaded with nutty tones that combine with green papaya, mango and shades of wet stone. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2022 Phelps Creek ‘Homestead’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Phelps Creek ‘Homestead’ Pinot Noir comes off rich and burly, loaded with bright raspberry and bing cherry flavors that meld well with damp earth and shades of salty soils. Drink 2025-2032- 92

Aridus

For many years now I have been impressed with the wines of Aridus. The winery is family-owned and is located in southeastern Arizona. Founded in 2012 the winery refurbished a 28,000 square foot apple warehouse which had been built in 1982. It is one of the largest winery facilities in the state. They have a 40 acre site for their estate vineyard along Turkey Creek in Pearce, AZ which they have owned since 2009. At 5,200 feet in elevation, the site has warm days and cool nights. A range of varieties have been planted there including Viognier and Tempranillo.

I love the new 2021 Aridus Cabernet Franc (OB, 91) which is marvelously smooth and herbal and delicious stuff to enjoy now. Learn more about these exciting wines at https://www.ariduswineco.com and here are the new releases by Aridus.

2023 Aridus Malvasia Bianca- The 2023 Aridus Malvasia Bianca comes off a touch sweet with ripe peaches and lychee flavors alongside decent tension. Drink 2025-2030- 88

2023 Aridus Sauvignon Blanc- The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc delivers a smooth mouthfeel with sweetened pear and nectarine flavors. Drink 2025-2030- 88

2021 Aridus Tempranillo- Juicy and ripe, the 2021 Aridus Tempranillo offers toffee, black plum and black cherry flavors alongside refined texture and tannin structure. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2021 Aridus Cabernet Franc- This is beautifully balanced Cabernet Franc that is a joy to consume right now. Smooth on the mouth, this shows tobacco leaf and green herbs that combine with medium bodied dark fruits and chocolate notes. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Aridus Malbec- The 2022 Aridus Malbec offers chocolate and dried herbs on the nose alongside blackberry compote. The palate is plush and soft with a smooth mouthfeel. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2022 Aridus Graciano- The 2022 Graciano delivers loads of black plum and dark cherry notes alongside chocolate fudge and Arabica bean. Gorgeous to enjoy now, sip this over the next six plus years. Drink 2025-2031- 92

Walla Walla Vintners

One of Walla Walla’s historic wineries, Walla Walla Vintners are owned by Scott and Nici Haladay, were first introduced to Walla Walla Vintners in 2017. Already familiar with the historic winery, they are the new owners of this house and their Cut Bank Estate vineyard. Scott comes from a technology background and Nici is a licensed nurse. I can’t wait to see their new winery space which has been recently completed.

Winemaker Derrek Vipond is a is a native Washingtonian who started his career at Walla Walla Community College in the Enology and Viticulture program. After completing his education with a degree from Oregon State University in Fermentation Science, Derrek worked several harvests across the globe before eventually moving back to Walla Walla and joining Walla Walla Vintners in January 2019.  Derrek learned a great deal from eminent winemaker Gilles Nicault.The wines he make are excellent as the quality of this house continues to build.

I loved the last set of his wines and the new wines are brilliant. Don’t miss the 2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which has to be one of the finest wines ever produced by this house. Learn more about these great new releases at https://wallawallavintners.com Here are my reviews of the new wines by Walla Walla Vintners. 

2024 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The outstanding 2024 ‘Columbia Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc delivers serious texture and weight, loaded with kiwi, gooseberry and melon fruits, with plenty of stony minerals. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy now and over the next few years to come. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2024 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc delivers walnut and mango tones on the nose alongside peaches and white grapefruit blossom. Sturdy and well-structured, with a core of citrus and melon fruits, this is drinking brilliantly right now. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Bello Rosso’ Red Wine- Coming from the acclaimed Seven Hills Vineyard, the 2022 ‘Bello Rosso’ is near equal parts Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tobacco and black cherry combine with salty minerals and refined tannins on the palate. Very herbal and complex, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Alera’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Alera’ is mainly Melrot (70%), offering green herbs and chocolate on the nose alongside suggestions of dark currant compote. The palate is plush and loaded with red and dark fruits, with chocolate and espresso bean accents alongside a wintergreen edge. Very complex and delightful in its heady youth, enjoy over the next decade or more. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A brilliant edition of this wine, the 2022 ‘Old Vines’ was sourced from the Bacchus Vineyard which was planted back in 1972. Inky in the glass, this offers beautiful flavor density and complexity. Milk chocolate and pipe tobacco mingle well with fresh sage, and salty soils. This is absolutely fantastic stuff that will cellar well for decades. Drink 2025-2040- 95

Prospice

Happy Friday to you all. An outstanding Walla Walla house founded by Jay Krutulis and Matt Reilly, Prospice is located in the Airport District. Jay and Matt both had successful careers before starting a winery together. I tasted with them earlier in the year and we talked about how they have been honing in on their winemaking style — one that produces highly structured wine, with some good aging potential. Prospice will sadly be winding down this year.

They are also producing some killer values. I love the 2022 Prospice ‘Meravina’ Red Wine (OB, 943 which is rich and beautifully structured stuff. Learn more at prospicewines.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Prospice.

2021 Prospice ‘Meravina’ Red Wine- Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (56%) this delivers a silky mouthfeel with bright red and dark fruits that meld well with sweet pipe tobacco and chocolate. Well-structured, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 91

2022 Prospice ‘Meravina’ Red Wine- A Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend (39%) with a large portion of Merlot (33%), this delivers a smooth mouthfeel, loaded with bright bing cherry, dark currants and tobacco leaf flavors alongside good tension. Drink 2025-2035- 93

REVIEW: Qatar Airways Al-Safwa Lounge, A Stunning, World-Class Lounge

An absolutely stunning architectural marvel, Al-Safwa Lounge in Doha is truly one of the great airport lounges of the world. I made my way to the lounge following my first class flight from Dubai. Not only was the hospitality and service world-class but the overall experience is one of total relaxation. You feel like you are in another world being here — whether it is their iconic water feature that centers the structure, their spa, their quiet rooms or their top-notch dining — this lounge quite simply has it all. I think that this experience absolutely rivals the Emirates First Lounge in Dubai. I was reminded of how much United States lounges can learn from the tremendous hospitality exhibited at Doha’s Hamad International Airport.

ACCESS

Very exclusive, you can only access this illustrious lounge if you are flying First Class, Privilege Club Platinum members travelling Business Class with Qatar Airways and oneworld First Class passengers. The lounge is on the south part of Terminal 1 right by the B gates. The experience is like staying at a 5-star hotel or dining at a Michelin 1 star restaurant.

Here I am with my delightful NV Philipponat Rose Champagne.

Traveling with my daughter and wife, we made our way to the formal dining area and I immediately ordered a glass of the NV Philipponat Rose Champagne which is a blend of 73% Pinot Noir, with the reminder Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Astringent and light, with tart red fruits, this was a delightful start to my dining experience.

The menu is just incredible with some amazing options.

In the dining room and throughout my stay at Al-Safwa, the staff were so inviting to my family and treated my two year old daughter so well. We were the only family dining with little kids and each staff member deftly managed this as she was tired from her travels. They were always asking to refill our drink or clearing our food quickly. Food was served with an impeccable cadence.

I ordered a range of appetizers immediately so we could taste a range of options. I think that for me, this was the finest airport lounge dining experience that I have ever had, ahead of the Emirates First lounge or the Qantas First lounge. The highlight was absolutely the poached lobster with coconut and lemongrass sauce which was cooked to perfection. It was so fresh you thought it was caught that day. The seared Wagyu beef carpaccio was melt-in your mouth delicious. But the big surprise was the spicy Hong Kong beef soup, which was so wonderfully tangy, with a myriad of flavors. Hats off to the chefs for creating some incredible dishes. Outside of the restaurant there was a full-sized bar that was also very beautiful. It was the centerpiece of the room. While I didn’t order any cocktails, the list looked very enticing.

For my main course I opted for the healthier choice, the seared salmon with a spicy sauce. The sauce was incredible and the salmon was wonderfully fresh and soft. It is never easy to get airport salmon correct but this was absolutely nailed. I had a few more bites of my Arabic mezze plate which was also fabulous. You also left this meal feeling invigorated rather than bloated.

I headed out to check out the bathrooms. They were expansive, very clean and nobody was using them. I really enjoyed that they use the Diptyque Paris products which are the same that you find in the Ritz-Carlton hotels in the United States. You are pampered going to the bathroom here.

It is hard not to marvel in the architectural beauty of Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art. They have ancient pottery and relics — pieces of history that you won’t find at any airport lounge in the world. The lounge is extremely large, cavernous and open with beautiful sandstone features everywhere. The lounge also has their exclusive Duty-Free in the lounge as well as a cinematic media room. I visited the spa area which you can book massages, mani/pedi or use their hot tub. Prices are reasonable for the services at $50.000 USD for a facial and $110 USD for a 50-minute full body massage. These spa experiences are what you see in a world-class airport lounge. There are also rooms that you can stay for several hours in with beds and televisions.

Our child was extremely tired so we retreated as a family to the family rooms where people can go to rest and our two year-old could cry and wail for 30 minutes. Despite the thundering noise coming from our daughter, the staff were brilliant and did not complain at all. I give them full credit for knowing exactly how to handle this situation. We all rested for about an hour before making our way to our plane.

BOTTOM LINE:

This is a WOW-factor lounge. I won’t forget my first visit to the First Class Al-Safwa lounge in Doha. It is truly one of the best lounges in the world. It is spacious, opulent and exudes class. Some frequent flyers have been complaining about the sterile nature of the lounge. I don’t see that at all. The staff were incredibly inviting and there are so many activities for you to indulge in when visiting Al-Safwa.

This is a work of art — an architectural marvel. If you don’t marvel in this space, I don’t think you will be impressed with any airport lounge in the world. Service was amazing here and the food and beverage quality was top-notch. They could have had a finer champagne selection but the ones they served were very good. Decor was stunning, food quality was Michelin One Star worthy. I simply can’t wait to be back at Al-Safwa.