Lange

Today we share a great historic house out of Oregon. Back in 1987 Don and Wendy Lange acquired a massive property in the Dundee Hills, with incredible views of the valley. Don crafted 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.

I love the new wines that I tasted with Jesse a week back. Check out the amazing new  I love the 2023 Lange ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is dense and chewy with amazing soil character.  Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.langewinery.com/ and here are my reviews of the Lange wines.

2023 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Chardonnay- The 2023 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Chardonnay comes from the Durant, Freedom Hill and the Lange Estate Vineyards. Buttered brioche combines with banana and shades of salted peach on the nose. This combines great richness and verve, with terrific melon and tropical fruits that mingle well with a smooth mouthfeel. This is delicious stuff that is already beautifully evolved. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2023 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir comes from several top sites that span the Willamette Valley. Stored in a small amount of new French oak, this delivers beautiful red fruits and red florals on the nose alongside Satsuma orange zest. This comes off juicy and delicious with a delightful acid backbone. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Lange ‘Lucky River Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Lucky River Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this site that was acquired by the Lange family. This location is a 70 acre site in the foothills of the Coast Range. Salty soils combine with guava and strawberry notes on the nose. The palate is big, bold and broad-shouldered, with terrific depth and richness. Gorgeous to enjoy now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2023 Lange ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- Coming from old vines at the Lange Estate vineyard, the 2023 ‘Estate’ comes from 22 barrels that were selected. Black truffle shavings and peat moss fill the nose alongside wild blackberry and black cherry compote aromatics. The palate has amazing volume and is texturally voluptuous. The palate combines a brilliant melange of red and dark fruits alongside tobacco leaf and shades of rocky soil character. Big, rich and bold with a terrific acid backbone, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 95

Vina Bujanda

Today it is my pleasure to share the Rioja wines of Vina Bujanda. The winery is owned by the brother-and-sister team Carlos and Pilar Martínez-Bujanda Irribarria, whose family has been making wine since 1889. Viña Bujanda owns a total of 127 hectares distributed in plots in Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta, including an important estate in the vicinity of Logroño. Wines are made traditionally with American and French oak aging prior to bottling.

I love the new 2018 Vina Bujanda ‘Reserva’ Rioja (OB, 92) which is rich and viscous with a terrific acid backbone. Learn more at https://familiamartinezbujanda.com/en/vina-bujanda/ and here are my reviews of the new Vina Bujanda wines.

2021 Vina Bujanda ‘Crianza’ Rioja- The 2021 Vina Bujanda ‘Crianza’ Rioja comes from vines planted back in 1977. Orange peel and shades of white pepper combine with red cherry compote and loganberry notes on the nose. The palate is soft and juicy with a great sense of freshness and texture. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2018 Vina Bujanda ‘Reserva’ Rioja- The 2018 Vina Bujanda ‘Reserva’ Rioja comes from vines set on clay loam soils. This is rich and concentrated stuff with a refined mouthfeel. Dense black fruits parade with loamy soils and dried herbs with citrus rind accents on the palate. Delicious and ripe, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 92

Alto Moncayo

Today we share the beautiful wines of Alto Moncayo, founded back in 2002. They focused on producing old vine Garnacha wines from a very special microclimate and location. The vineyard is set in Borja-in the middle of the Campo de Borja DO . Vines are planted at the foothills of El Moncayo which is the highest point in the Iberian Mountain Range (2,315 m). This is a really unique terroir for the region, as the vines are planted on red  iron rich clay mixed  with  red slate. The slate imparts a stony character in the wine.

Winemaker Jose Luis Chueca crafts his bottlings that are made traditionally and undergo malolactic fermentation in both French & American oak. They are then aged in new barrels between anywhere from 16-24 months before bottling. The wines were serious good. I love the new 2022 Alto Moncayo Garnacha (OB, 95) which gets you plenty of bang for under 95 bucks and is juicy and delicious stuff with great stony nuance. Learn more about this famed house at

2023 Alto Moncayo ‘Locos por el Vino Zismero’ Garnacha- This 2023 Garnacha comes from vines ranging from 15-20 years of age. Ripe cherry and strawberry combine with shades of garrigue on the palate. Juicy and delicious, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2021 Alto Moncayo ‘Locas por el Vino Baramban’ Red Wine- The 2021 Alto Moncayo ‘Locas por el Vino Baramban’ Red Wine combines Garnacha and Tempranillo which are both grown at high elevation. Bright red fruits mingle well with tobacco leaf and shades of green bell pepper on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2019 Alto Moncayo ‘Locas por el Vino Grunon’ Red Wine- The really good 2019 Alto Moncayo ‘Locas por el Vino Grunon’ Red Wine is an equal combination of Shiraz and Garnacha. It is dense and plush stuff with bright acidity and a terrific sense of weight. Milk chocolate and damp soil nuances combine with rich dark fruits on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 91

2021 Alto Moncayo ‘Veraton’ Garnacha- The 2021 ‘Veraton’ checks in at 15.5% alcohol but you would not initially get that hot presence. This is beautifully weighted stuff with bright acidity and plenty of citrus zest flavors. Dense guava and red cherry mingle well with garrigue and wet granite on the palate. Already nicely evolved, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Alto Moncayo Garnacha- Sourced form Garnacha vines from 40-70 years  of age, this comes from vineyards planted in Tabuenca and Borja. This is dense and delicious stuff that has amazing stuffing and verve. A great melange of black and red fruits combine with smoked meats, green peppercorn, wet stone and herbs de Provence on the palate. Gorgeous and fresh with bright underlying acidity, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2018 Alto Moncayo ‘Aquilon’ Garnacha- The 2018 ‘Aquilon’ is a stunning wine that combines vines from 60-100 years of age. Stored in a combination of American and French oak, this offers violets and dried sage on the nose with wet stone, beef drippings and lush red fruit aromatics. The palate is dense and heady with a terrific sense of texture and underlying verve. Very opulent and viscous, this is already drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2025-2040- 97

Koehler Family Wines

One of the really good houses of Santa Barbara County, Koehler farms a 40-acre property that includes 50-year-old estate vines.  Many serving their viticultural team have been with Koehler Winery for decades. Derek Koehler grew up on the estate and spent a semester in France studying international practices within the wine industry. Today he is in charge of the operations of the family winery. Wines are made by Trace Brueske and were seriously good across the board. I love the 2024 Koehler Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is rich and dense with good flavor range. Learn more about this outstanding house at https://www.koehlerwinery.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Koehler Family Wines.

2024 Koehler Sauvignon Blanc- Aged on the lees for six months, the 2024 Koehler Sauvignon   Blanc is bursting with mango and papaya flavors alongside shades of salted peach on the palate. Really good now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 Koehler ‘FiddleStix’ Gruner Veltliner- An amazing wine that is both dense and nervy, the 2024 Koehler ‘FiddleStix’ Gruner Veltliner is loaded with rich melon fruits that combine with pink grapefruit water, kumquat zest and stony minerals alongside a seamless texture. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2024 Koeher ‘Happy Canyon’ Vermentino- The fresh and lively 2024 Koeher ‘Happy Canyon’ Vermentino offers juicy honeydew melon and mango fruit flavors alongside a rich mouthfeel on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2023 Koehler Grenache Blanc- The outstanding 2024 Koehler Grenache Blanc was stored neutral oak for eight months before bottling. This comes off rich and fat on the tongue, so don’t serve too cold. Rich melon fruits collide with wet stone, nectarine and shades of green papaya on the palate. Seriously good to enjoy now, watch this evolve over the next six plus years. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2024 Koehler Chardonnay- An outstanding bottling for the price, the 2024 Koehler Chardonnay comes from the Maria Vista Vineyard and was stored in oak for ten months before bottling. This has terrific depth and toasty oak tones on the mouth, with fantastic volume. Mango and pineapple notes mingle well with copious minerals and shades of pastry crust on the palate. Don’t serve too warm! Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 Koehler ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2023 Koehler ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard’ Chardonnay comes from this outstanding site in the Santa Rita Hills. This is rich and viscous stuff with terrific texture and underlying tension. Best consumed on the warmer side, this offers dense melon and tropical fruits that connect well with salted butter-topped French bread and shades of cardamom on the palate. An awesome wine to enjoy now, this will live on for at least another eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2023 Koehler ‘Old Vine’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘Old Vine’ Chardonnay comes from their estate vineyard, set on salty soils. This has a terrific combination of tension and weight on the palate, conjuring a vibrant sense of minerality. Lemon zest dusted pie crust and mango flavors mingle well with poached pear and yellow plum on the palate. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2024 Koehler Viognier- Coming from their 40-acre estate, the 2024 Koehler Viognier is neatly textured with a soft mouthfeel upon entry. Peach and honeydew melon collide with kiwi and salty minerals on the palate, with hints of lychee. Enjoy this beautifully balanced wine over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2024 Koehler Picpoul Blanc- This 2024 Picpoul comes from the Alisos Canyon AVA. Right away this offers a smooth entry with copious minerals and good volume. Cantaloupe and white peach flavors mingle well with sweet gooseberry on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 Koehler Rose- The brilliant 2024 Rose is a GSM-inspired blend that is mainly Grenache. Stored in all stainless steel before bottling, this delivers a great viscosity on the palate. Dense peach and strawberry flavors collide with orange zest and stony minerals on the palate. This is a seriously good effort that is best consumed on the warmer side to take in the outstanding sense of texture and weight. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2024 Koehler ‘Valley Gris’ White Wine A skin contact wine, the 2024 ‘Valley Gris’ combines Grenache Gris and Grenache Blanc. This comes up is rich and viscous on the tongue. Walnut and shades of Japanese pear fill the palate alongside very delicate red fruits. Dense and polished, with a strong salinity, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2024 Koehler Gamay- The 2024 Gamay was stored in neutral oak for six months prior to bottling. It is fresh and vibrant with delicate guava and strawberry fruits alongside pink bubblegum and  orange peel notes. The salty character of this wine really shines. Drink 2025-2031- 91

AniChe Cellars

Today we share some of the outstanding wines in the Columbia Gorge. One of the unique, family-run wineries in Washington State, AniChe focuses on varietal blends that include rarely planted Italian varietals like Dolcetto, Barbera and Zinfandel (Primativo). I really enjoy the creativity behind these wines. Overall quality for this lineup is very good. Try for yourself and I think that your eyes will be opened by something completely new in Washington wine.

Anais Mera, and Rachael Horn make some beautiful wines together. I love the new 2024 AniChe ‘Estate Puck’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 91) which is loaded with salty nuance and texture. Even better is the 2024 AniChe ‘The Devil’ Gruner Veltliner (OB, 92) which has amazing weight and depth, as well as flavor complexity. Learn more about this exciting small Washington winery at http://anichecellars.com/ and here are my reviews of the new AniChe Cellars wines.

2024 AniChe Cellars ‘Estate Puck’ Sparkling Wine- The really good 2024 AniChe Cellars ‘Estate Puck’ Sparkling Wine is loaded with peaches and honeysuckle water notes alongside fresh kiwi and nutty nuances. Enjoy now. Riesling and Pinot Gris. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 AniChe Cellars ‘Serafina’ Riesling- The 2024 ‘Serafina’ Riesling offers petrol and white peach on the nose alongside lemon blossom notes. The palate is fresh and nervy with a great texture and plenty of crushed seashell character. This is really cool stuff. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2024 AniChe Cellars ‘Beatrix’ Chardonnay- Sourced from their estate vineyard, the 2024 ‘Beatrix’ Chardonnay offers juicy Japanese pear and star jasmine water notes on the palate alongside good tension and depth. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2024 AniChe Cellars ‘The Devil’ Gruner Veltliner- A terrific edition of this wine, the 2024 ‘The Devil’ offers nectarine skin and green apple notes alongside salted lemon and shades of walnut on the palate. Very complex, and neatly-textured, enjoy this fresh and viscous edition now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2024 AniChe Cellars ‘The Fool’ Gruner Veltliner- Made in a very fresh and nervy style, the 2024 AniChe Cellars ‘The Fool’ Gruner Veltliner delivers Granny Smith apple and kiwi notes alongside green papaya on the palate. Showing a smooth mouthfeel, with loads of finesse, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2024 AniChe Cellars ‘The World’ Gruner Veltliner- A beautiful wine from this warm vintage, the 2024 AniChe Cellars ‘The World’ Gruner Veltliner is dense and rich, showing plenty of stuffing. Honeydew melon, salted cashew nut and pastry crust notes combine with lush mandarin orange on the palate. You are going to love this dense bottling that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2024 AniChe Cellars ‘Little Birds’ Rose- The 2024 ‘Little Birds’ is mainly Pinot Gris and Riesling. It is vibrant on the mouth with a smooth mouthfeel and loads of bright orchard fruits with light guava notes. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2022 AniChe Cellars ‘Sancho’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Sancho’ is a blend of nearly all Cabernet Franc (94%) with the remainder equal parts Merlot and Malbec coming from the Alder Ridge Vineyard. Beautiful red florals mark the nose with orange bell pepper, tobacco leaf and wild blackberry notes. The palate is soft and refined with good elegance and underlying verve, with salty minerals. This is already nicely defined stuff that will cellar well over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2034- 92

2022 AniChe Cellars ‘Barbariccia’ Red Wine- The 2022 AniChe Cellars ‘Barbariccia’ Red Wine is mainly Sangiovese (90%) with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon coming from the Boushey Vineyard. Pretty red fruits mingle well with dried herbs and orange zest notes on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 91

Aperture Cellars

Today we share one of the truly great houses in Sonoma. Whether it is their impeccable attention to detail in the bottle or their incredibly chic and modern tasting facility, Aperture is a must-visit for anyone serious about California wine. Tasting with the winemaking team of Jesse Katz and Hillary Sjolund, I was amazed with the range of wines that they create. Katz has worked winemaking jobs spanning the globe including harvests at Pétrus in Bordeaux, as well as time on the winemaking teams at Screaming Eagle Winery and Robert Foley Winery in Napa Valley, and Viña Cobos and Bodega Noemia in Argentina. He was named head winemaker at Lancaster in 2010. Wine Enthusiast named Jesse one of its 40 Under 40 Tastemakers and he was also the first winemaker on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Katz and Sojlund are the makers of Devil Proof (https://www.devilproofvineyards.com/) — the finest Malbec in North America.

The new wines I tasted were part of their ‘Collage’ collection, a Sauvignon Blanc and a Cabernet Sauvignon (https://aperture-cellars.com/collage/) which come from the five AVAs in Sonoma. They are barrel selection blends that are absolutely mesmerizing. Do not miss out on the 2021 Aperture ‘Collage’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is inky and dense with a terrific acid backbone and seamless texture. Learn more at https://aperture-cellars.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Aperture ‘Collage’ wines.

2022 Aperture ‘Collage’ Sauvignon Blanc- An ethereal wine that fully deserves its spot on the high table of North American Sauvignon Blanc, the 2022 ‘Collage’ has incredible power, viscosity and flavor density coming from this highly challenging vintage for white wines. Dense mango and passion fruit flavors give this plenty of exotic appeal, as this shows sensational weight and length on the mid-palate, with kiwi and light nutty accents rounding out this beautiful wine. This is quite simply impossible to resist in its heady youth and will surely live on for another decade or more. Bravo! Drink 2025-2035- 97

2021 Aperture ‘Collage’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Collage’ is a barrel selection Cabernet Sauvignon that was sourced from five separate AVAs within the Aperture portfolio. A small amount of Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc was blended in, as the wine was stored for 24 months in 80% new French oak, as well as six months in concrete before bottling. This is a seamless bottling, with gorgeous flavor density. Creme de violette and tar notes collide with shades of smoky minerals, espresso bean and dark chocolate shavings with a graphite edge on the palate. For being so complex, it is exceedingly decadent and delicious to drink in its full-throttle youth. Drink 2025-2050- 100

Gramercy Cellars

It is my great pleasure to share the outstanding wines of Gramercy Cellars. It is remarkable that Gramercy was founded more than twenty years ago by winemaker and master sommelier, Greg Harrington, MS. For years Gramercy has been making some of the finest Rhones and Rose wines in Washington State. Harrington incredibly passed the master sommelier exam at the age of 26 and he partners with his talented co-winemaker, Brandon Moss, to focus on wines with balance and typicity of the individual varietal. These are wines that embody structure and poise, with good richness and varietal character. The wines have typically a small amount of new French oak utilized and many of these wines were stored in barrel for more than twenty months.

I love the new Pet Nat, the 2024 Gramercy Cellars Picpoul (OB, 92) which is one of the best Pet Nat wines I have tasted in North America. It is exceedingly easy to drink, with great flavor complexity. I adored the 2021 Gramercy ‘Holy Roller Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 95) which is the refined side of Rocks Syrah. Learn more about these amazing wines at gramercycellars.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Gramercy Cellars and the superstar winemaking team of Greg Harrington, MS and Brandon Moss.

2024 Gramercy Cellars Picpoul Pet-Nat- The 2024 Gramercy Cellars Picpoul Pet-Nat comes from the Walla Walla Valley. It is juicy and highly quaffable, with light pear and green apple notes, alongside kiwi and stony minerals. With an impressive mousse, this is a killer new wine for the Gramercy portfolio. Drink 2025-2030- 92

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Sojeau Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The acclaimed Sojeau Vineyard is managed by Angel Martinez and was planted back in 2007. This location has a wide range of Pinot Noir clones  as the 18 acre site faces due west into the Van Duzer Corridor. Inky dark in the glass, this 2021 Pinot Noir opens with red cherry compote and loganberry alongside dried herbs and suggestions of salty soils on the nose. This is big, round and generous Oregon Pinot, with terrific flavor density showing off the heat of the vintage. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Holy Roller Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘Holy Roller’ Syrah was co-fermented with a touch of Viognier. The wine comes from the Holy Roller vineyard, set on ancient basalt cobblestones. Nori and a dusting of white pepper collide with green olives, charcuterie and black cherry pie on the palate. Very complex and delicious, showing a fat mouthfeel and beautiful finesse, enjoy this outstanding bottling now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah is a knockout wine from this storied site in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. The Syrah was entirely whole cluster fermented with some Viognier. Dark in the glass, this offers classic dried herbs on the nose with wet stone, iodine, wild blackberry compote and shades of dark licorice. The palate is round and generous with a smooth mouthfeel and great sense of finesse. Very refined and elegant throughout the drinking experience, showing no rough edges, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 95

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The gorgeous 2021 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon has a touch of Merlot blended in. This is an elegant bottling that glides throughout the drinking experience. Dense figs and boysenberry flavors mingle well with garrigue, scorched earth and suggestions of milk chocolate on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Phinny Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Phinny Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this eastern facing location in the Columbia Valley. Inky in the glass, this delivers violet rose petals on the nose alongside shades of sweet pipe tobacco, anise and dense dark fruits. The palate is elegant and refined with a great sense of texture, tension and richness. Generous and full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

St. Innocent

Today we share some of the finest values you will ever taste in Oregon wine. St. Innocent is a famed Oregon estate founded by Oregon Wine Pioneer, Mark Vlossak. Mark has a longstanding history in the Oregon wine industry as the first single vineyard Pinot Noir made by Mark dates back to 1989 from the O’Connor Vineyard. In 2006 Mark set up his winery at that same site of his first single vineyard wine, which is now named the Zenith Vineyard. For years I have loved Mark’s Pinot Noirs which exude class in their elegance and flavor range. He also makes some of the great Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc in the state, as his wines have landed several times on my Top 100.

The white wines from St. Innocent were consistently great and have been great over the past decade. I love the 2023 St. Innocent ‘Enchanted Path’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is deep and viscous with exotic tropical fruits. Learn more about these awesome wines at https://stinnocentwine.com Here are the great new releases by St. Innocent. 

2020 St. Innocent ‘Crement’ Rose- Made with Pinot Noir but mainly Pinot Blanc grapes, this was stored on the lees for 39 months prior to disgorgement in August 2024. Best served on the warmer side, this is loaded with tart red fruits alongside orange peel and tobacco notes on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2023 St. Innocent ‘Villages Cuvee’ Chardonnay- The 2023 St. Innocent ‘Villages Cuvee’ Chardonnay combines a range of top sites including the Freedom Hill Vineyard. Stored for 11 months in neutral French oak this delivers beautiful texture and structure with lush orchard fruits that meld well with cloves, pie crust and shades of marzipan on the palate. This is just a joy to consume right now. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 St. Innocent ‘Enchanted Way Vineyards’ Chardonnay- The 2023 St. Innocent ‘Enchanted Way Vineyards’ Chardonnay comes from this location in the South Salem Hills. Stored in only 11% new French oak before bottling, this delivers rich pineapple and mango flavors alongside custard and cantaloupe notes. Big and bold, with terrific tension and salty tones, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2023 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Blanc- Mark Vlossak has been one of Oregon’s great champions for this Alsatian varietal for more than a decade now. This bottling comes from the famed Freedom Hill Vineyard, from vines planted back in 1993 and 2008. It is silky, refined and elegant, showing beautiful peach and Japanese pear flavors that meld well with shortbread, cashew nut and shades of ripe papaya on the palate. A stunning bottling that is a killer value, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2023 St. Innocent ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Riesling- The 2023 ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Riesling is made in the Trocken style. It is amongst the finest of its kind that you will taste in the Pacific Northwest. Loaded with tension and salty minerals, this offers petrol, key lime and nectarine flavors alongside its unctuous texture and stony underpinnings. Gorgeous now, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 94

Passing Time

It was a great evening tasting with NFL legend Damon Huard last night as we chatted everything Washington wine and Washington football for well over an hour. “2023 is looking like a really good vintage” said Huard, who plays a major role at the winery. Huard actively participates in the winemaking process and even hand-delivers wines to wine shops. He is as personable as it gets in the wine industry.

Starting with the 2012 vintage, I have always greatly admired the wines by Passing Time — founded by NFL legends Dan Marino and Damon Huard. Chris Peterson is one of the great winemakers in the Northwest. He was the first graduate of the Walla Walla Community College’s Enology and Viticulture program and worked DeLille for eight years under legendary winemaker Chris Upchurch. His wines are big, bold and beautifully structured, with a beginning, middle and an end.

The new wines were incredible coming from the 2023 vintage which was another warm vintage, with a relatively even growing season. I love the new 2023 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot (OB, 95) which is a beautiful edition of this wine, with serious focus and structure. But the star of the show was without a doubt the 2023 Passing Time ‘Block 1311’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is seamless, pillowy and soft — a stunning rendition of the Wallula Vineyard. This is a total show-stopper that is a must for any serious collector of Washington wine. Learn more about this famed boutique winery at http://www.passingtime.com Here is my reviews of the future release 2023 Passing Time wines.

2023 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot- The 2023 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot has a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon (12%) blended in. The wine comes mainly from the Klipsun Vineyard as well as a large portion from the Mercer Ranch. Stored in 60% new French oak, this opens with kirsch cordial notes alongside sandalwood, dried herbs and suggestions of graphite. The palate is rich and decadent with a smooth mouthfeel and great sense of length and underlying finesse. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Red Wine- The 2023 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Red Wine combines 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. Mostly coming from the Champoux and Pepper Bridge Vineyards, this delivers tobacco leaf on the nose alongside pencil lead, anise and shades of blackberry compote on the nose. This is fleshy and delicious, with great body and salty as well as stony nuances. Downright delicious, this is great to savor now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2023 Passing Time ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2023 ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ is a stunning wine that was mainly sourced from the Discovery and Wallula Vineyards. The wine is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon alongside 7% Merlot and the remainder Cabernet Franc. Garrigue aromatics combine with shades of blueberry compote, sweet pipe tobacco and milk chocolate tones all combine on the nose. The palate is deep and concentrated with a seamless texture, delivering a weightless drinking experience. A stunning wine to consume now, enjoy over the next twenty plus years. Drink 2025-2045- 97

2023 Passing Time ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal coming mainly from the Klipsun Vineyard as well as the Red Mountain and Kiona Heart of the Hill Vineyards. Stored in 75% new French oak, this comes off inky in the glass, delivering tar and tobacco leaf alongside scorched earth ripe fig and mocha notes. The palate is big and broad-shouldered with serious texture and a fabulous sense of weight. Fresh and vibrant, with marvelous decadence, this is already beautifully evolved stuff that will cellar well for another twenty years to come. Drink 2025-2045- 96

2023 Passing Time ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Passing Time ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes primarily from the Seven Hills Vineyard with the remainder from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard. Very dark in the glass, this delivers black tea and exotic spices on the palate alongside chewy tannins, dense dark fruits and dark chocolate shaving flavors on the palate. This has incredible potential. Try to save this beauty for another year. Drink 2026-2045- 97

2023 Passing Time ‘Block 1311’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Block 1311’ is a barrel-selection wine that was entirely sourced for the Wallula Vineyard. Stored in all new French oak. A beautiful bouquet greets you as toasted hazelnuts mingle well with violets, tar, sagebrush and shades of huckleberry compote. This is impeccably balanced stuff, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. The palate is singular and plush as this can only come from one site — the famed Wallula Vineyard with its incredible veil of decadent blue fruits. Gorgeous to consume now, enjoy this total stunner now and over the next twenty plus years to come. Drink 2025-2050- 100

Alain Chavy

Today we share one of the greats in the Puligny-Montrachet region of Burgundy. The sons of Gerald Chavy divided their father;s holdings into two domains. They remain one of handful of growers that still reside in Puligny. Most domains are now owned by outsiders. Alain Chavy is produced in Clavoillons, alongside Domaine Lefaive. Alain produces his wine from 6.5 hectares which are hand-harvested. Wines are made with limited battonage. He also uses a combination of 400-liter oak puncheons and 25% new Burgundian pièce for the premier crus.

I tasted the new wines from the 2022 vintage. They were refined wines with serious elegance. I love the 2022 Alain Chavy ‘1er Cru Les Folatieres’ Puligny-Montrachet (OB, 95) which is seriously irresistible now and has marvelous texture and tension. Learn more at https://www.winebow.com/our-brands/domaine-alain-chavy and here are my reviews of the gorgeous Alain Chavy wines.

2022 Alain Chavy ‘Les Charmes’ Puligny-Montrachet- The brilliant 2022 Alain Chavy ‘Les Charmes’ Puligny-Montrachet is located near Mersault’s Premier Cru Les Charmes. The wine sat in 20% new French oak before bottling, opening with a gorgeous bouquet of fresh peaches and white flowers alongside shades of wet stone, pastry crust and salted lemon rind. The palate is very elegant and refined with a smooth mouthfeel and gorgeous sense of weight. Opulent and dense, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Alain Chavy ‘1er Cru Les Folatieres’ Puligny-Montrachet- The 2022 Alain Chavy ‘1er Cru Les Folatieres’ Puligny-Montrachet comes from this large site above Clavoillons. Stored in 25% new French oak, this delivers a dusting of white pepper on the nose with star jasmine and shades of white plum alongside Japanese pear and brioche notes. The palate is ultra-refined and elegant with a vibrant tension that runs through the core of heady orchard and citrus fruits. Smooth and beautifully-textured, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 95

Echolands

I recently made my first visit to Echolands which was seriously overdue. Meeting with winemaker/general manager Brian Rudin, you couldn’t not be overwhelmed wit hthe overall beauty of the property — an over 300 acre chunk of land up Mill Creek, roughly 15 minutes outside of Walla Walla. I was really excited to see this expansive tasting room, with sweeping views of the valley. Doug Frost, MS, MW, has an illustrious wine career, and is one of three individuals in the world to hold simultaneously the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier titles, achieving his MS in 1991 and MW in 1993. He also authored ‘The Spanish Wine Guide (third edition 2009’) and is a contributing editor of the Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails. He is a great guy to talk wine with.

It has now been over a year since Rudin took over as winemaker. He did incredible work at Canvasback, creating wines that have beautiful depth and flavor density — deftly showcasing the Red Mountain power and terroir. The new wines that I tasted with Rudin were fantastic. I love the 2024 Echolands ‘Albus’ White Wine (OB, 93) which is beautifully polished and textured. I also adored the 2024 Echolands ‘Taggart Estate Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 93) which has fabulous flavor range and freshness, with good weight. Learn more about this fantastic project at echolandswinery.com Here are my reviews of he beautiful new wines that I tasted from Echolands.

2024 Echolands ‘Albus’ White Wine- The 2024 ‘Albus’ gas 18% Semillon eight the remainder Sauvignon Blanc from the Angioluna Farm Vineyard. This offers gooseberry and walnut notes alongside shades of green papaya on the palate, with a fat mouthfeel. Fresh and polished, with bright acidity, enjoy this beautiful Bordeaux-inspired blend now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2024 Echolands ‘Taggart Estate Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- Just a small amount of Semillon is blended to the 2024 Echolands ‘Taggart Estate Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc which was cropped at only 2.5 tons per acre. The wine saw three days on the skins and then was barrel fermented before bottling. This has a lot of body with tremendous verve, offering green apple and lemon rind tones alongside shades of almond skin on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2024 Echolands ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Grenache Blanc- The sensational 2024 Echolands ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Grenache Blanc saw extended skin contact and then was stored in Italian amphorae before bottling. This is ripe and very stony with terrific richness and depth with nutty accents alongside rich melon notes. Elegant and smooth on the mouth, with bright underlying acidity, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 94

2024 Echolands ‘White Rock Vineyard’ Riesling- Made in the halb-trocken style this weighs in at 12G/L RS. Fermented in concrete this shows bright acidity and great stony character alongside rich honeydew melon and papaya fruit flavors. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2024 Echolands ‘Frenchman Hills Vineyard’ Riesling- Modeled after GG wines, the 2024 Echolands ‘Frenchman Hills Vineyard’ Riesling offers terrific body and richness from the lees contact. A light dusting of petrol melds well with starfruit and juicy pear notes. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2024 Echolands ‘Frenchman Hills Vineyard’ Ice Wine- The best wine I tasted was the 2024 Echolands ‘Frenchman Hills Vineyard’ Ice Wine which has 25% residual sugar. Peaches and lychee mark the nose alongside roasted pineapple. The palate is deep and concentrated with serious richness and freshness. Smooth throughout the drinking experience, with magical length, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Echolands ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- The 2022 Echolands ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc offers green peppercorns alongside violets, tar and tobacco leaf on the nose. The palate is plush and sour with terrific mouthfeel and texture. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2022 Echolands ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Franc- The delicious 2022 Echolands ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Franc offers dense dark fruits with dried sage and hints of orange zest on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2024 Echolands ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Barrel sample 92-95

Single Barrel

It is my pleasure to share the second release of Single Barrel wines. These beautiful wines come from a range of fabulous locations in the Columbia Valley including the Conner Lee, Stoneridge and Va Piano vineyards. Alex Stewart and Hal Iverson head the winemaking at Single Barrel which focuses on limited production and single vineyard wines that have beautiful stuffing and flavor density.

I think you are going to be really impressed with the range of Single Barrel wines. I love the new 2022 Single Barrel Rose (OB, 93) which is amongst the best Rose wines I have tasted this year from the Pacific Northwest. I am really enamored by the 2022 Single Barrel ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 95)  which is big and viscous with amazing flavor density. Learn more about this electric new wine project at https://singlebarrelwine.com/ and here are my reviews of the thrilling new Single Barrel wines.

2022 Single Barrel ‘Solaksen Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Stored in new French oak barrels, the

2022 Single Barrel ‘Solaksen Vineyard’ Chardonnay stands golden in the glass, offering a smooth mouthfeel with terrific viscosity and good verve. Rich melon and citrus fruits combine with nutty and pie crust notes. Drink 2025-2032- 94

2022 Single Barrel ‘Conner Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Sourced from vines planted all the way back in the late 1980s, the 2022 Single Barrel ‘Conner Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay delivers serious weight and texture with beautiful flavor density. Rich honeydew melon and Japanese pear combine with baking spice laced shortbread and roasted pineapple on the palate. This is astonishingly good. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2022 Single Barrel ‘La Reyna’ Chardonnay- The 2022 Single Barrel ‘La Reyna’ Chardonnay comes from this location in the Royal Slope AVA. This location was planted in 2010, as the wine has three separate clones blended in. On the nose this takes on passion fruit and mango notes that combine with baking spices and suggestions of Meyer lemon pie. The palate is plush and round with a serious underlying verve. This is gorgeous, generous wine, with a killer saline streak, that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2025-2033-95

2023 Single Barrel Rose- Made from Grenache grapes, the 2023 Single Barrel Rose was stored in mainly neutral French oak barrels before bottling. This has just a kiss of sweetness with serious body and texture. Ripe red fruits combine with orange zest and shades of salty soils on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2022 Single Barrel ‘Solaksen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2022 Single Barrel ‘Solaksen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir offers beautiful red rose petals alongside Satsuma orange zest and guava on the nose. The palate is beautifully-textured with good salty nuance alongside rich red fruits and dried herbs. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2022 Single Barrel ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Single Barrel ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from vines planted back in 2014. Red plum and red currants combine with juicy strawberry and red florals on the nose. The palate is deep and rich with terrific concentration and gorgeous damp earth tones. Very fresh and fragrant, with a lush mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2022 Single Barrel ‘Royal Slope’ Grenache- The 2022 Single Barrel ‘Royal Slope’ Grenache comes from the Thunderstone and Corfu Crossing Vineyards. The red florals are really empathic on the nose alongside bright strawberry an guava aromatics. The palate is plush, round and generous with a seamless texture. The flavor density here is astonishingly good. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2022 Single Barrel ‘Tremasi’ Grenache- The 2022 Single Barrel ‘Tremasi’ Grenache comes from this site managed by Damon LaLonde that is located on the south side of Red Mountain. On the nose this offers scorched earth and bay leaf notes alongside shades of sagebrush and bright red fruits. The palate is plush and deep with serious texture and weight. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Single Barrel ‘Stoneridge’ Tempranillo- The 2022 Single Barrel ‘Stoneridge’ Tempranillo comes from this famed site in the Royal Slope AVA. This is very earthy and savory with green olives, smoked meats, bacon fat and shades of wet stone on the palate. Very fresh and fragrant with serious texture and underlying verve, this is a gorgeous bottling that is already neatly evolved. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2022 Single Barrel ‘Royal Slope’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Royal Slope’ Syrah comes from a range of sites in this AVA. The nose is gorgeous with garrigue and scorched earth tones alongside creosote and dense dark fruits. The palate is plush, stony and salty with serious texture and weight. A total stunner, with meaty and green olive accents, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 96

2022 Single Barrel ‘Tremasi’ Syrah- A small amount of the exceptional 2022 Single Barrel ‘Tremasi’ Syrah was produced (44 cases). Jet black in the glass, this delivers terrific concentration and acidity, as smoked brisket flavors parade with wild blackberry, black cherry compote and Kalamatta olives. Drink 2025-2035- 95

Chateau Batailley

One of the storied houses on the Left Bank, Château Batailley was acquired in 1924 by the Borie brothers, who managed Maison Borie-Manoux. The name "Batailley" originates from the "Battle" which took place in 1453 between the French and the English on the lands of the future domain; with the reconquest of Château Latour by the French, this year saw the end of the Hundred Years War. Château Batailley is one of the oldest residences in the town of Pauillac. In 1855, Château Batailley was classified in the Fifth Grand Cru category of the Médoc, thanks in particular to the improvements made by Daniel Guestier. Major renovations were made at the house in 2006, and there has been considerably innovation sense. Château Batailley began releasing its second wine, Lions de Batailley, in 2015, and its third in 2019, Pauillac de Batailley.

The wines are well-balanced, with great stony character. I love the way the 2017 Chateau Batailley (OB, 94) is showing right now as it is really in a great spot drinking wise with good elegance, refined tannins and beautiful flavor range. Learn more at https://batailley.com/en and here are my reviews of the releases by Chateau Batailley.

2017 Chateau Batailley- The gorgeous 2017 Chateau Batailley is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 17% Merlot and the remainder Petit Verdot. It is medium-bodied with impeccable balance right now. Wet gravel and black licorice notes hit the nose alongside shades of tar and tobacco leaf. The palate is soft and elegant as refined tannins frame a beautiful core of dark currants, blackberry compote and anise with light cassis notes. Fresh and vibrant right now, this still has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2042- 94

2018 Chateau Batailley ‘Lions de Batailley’ Red Wine- The 2018 Chateau Batailley ‘Lions de Batailley’ Red Wine is a superb second wine from a great vintage. Inky in the glass, this offers concentrated cassis and creme de violette notes alongside tar and wet gravel on the palate. Forward and juicy, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 92

Interview with Kate Payne Brown, Argyle Winemaker

Friends, we have an exclusive look today into the mind of the talented new Argyle winemaker Kate Payne Brown. Kate is also making some electric new wines for other clients including Pinstripe Wines which I recently tasted. She is an oenology school graduate of the University of Adelaide and has a long-standing background in the Oregon wine industry, formerly working for many years with eminent winemaker Melissa Burr at Stoller. I think you will really enjoy hearing more about her story in wine. Without further adieu here is my exclusive interview with Kate Payne Brown of Argyle.

OB: How did you decide to become a winemaker, and what drew you to sparkling wine in

particular?

KPB: Before winemaking, I was working at an eye clinic in Portland and preparing for optometry school. Around that time, I started volunteering at an urban winery and it didn’t take long for me to realize that winemaking brought together everything I enjoyed. It is the crossroad of science, creativity, and travel with a tangible connection to land and sense of place. That experience changed the course of my life. I applied to graduate programs in Oenology and was accepted into the University of Adelaide’s program at Roseworthy, which has a long-storied history. Studying there was a gift. I spent two immersive years focused entirely on the theory and craft of winemaking, alongside 20 classmates from all over the world. Being so far from my routines and immersed in a new environment gave me the space and clarity to really lean into the work.

I can’t pinpoint one specific moment that formed my love for sparkling wine. I’ve always gravitated towards it even before I was in the industry. The strength of that gravitational pull kept getting stronger the more I learned about making wine. Sparkling wine requires a particular kind of patience, precision, and long-term vision. You’re making decisions that won’t reveal themselves for years, so there’s an inherent trust in the process and in the future. That kind of commitment and optimism; both technical and philosophical really resonated with me.

OB: Are there any sparkling wines or Champagnes that have had a particular impact on

you?

KPB: So many. One that stands out is Jacquesson. It was one of the first grower Champagnes I encountered during my trips to France. I had the great fortune to have an extended stay in Épernay during the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption, and that twist of fate led me to the Terres et Vins de Champagne tasting. It was only the second year of the event, which brought together grower-producers to showcase both their vins clairs (base wines) and current releases. It was a transformative experience. Tasting unfinished base wines alongside finished cuvées opened a whole new level of understanding and how choices made early in the process shape the final wine. I was also introduced to so many other producers during that fateful tasting such as Agrapart, Bereche, and Marguet which have become mainstays in my cellar.

OB: Can you talk about working with Melissa Burr at Stoller and the growth you helped

oversee there?

KPB: I first met Melissa Burr when I was working at Archery Summit. Our paths crossed at various events, and we quickly struck up a friendship. From the beginning of my career, I’ve felt incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by strong, generous women in the wine industry; women who believed in lifting each other up. That spirit of support and collaboration has shaped my path in profound ways, and I’m grateful to count Melissa among those influential people.

In 2014, while I was working with Burgundian Consultant Kyriakos Kynigopoulos, Melissa reached out to me. Stoller was considering launching a sparkling wine program, and she asked if I’d be interested in consulting for the 2014 vintage. That opportunity evolved into something much bigger. In 2015, I came on full time to oversee the Reserve Winery, where I focused on elevating the premium tier wines and building the sparkling program from the ground up.

It was remarkable to be given the trust and opportunity to build something new. Melissa has always been one of my biggest champions. She saw something in me that I didn’t think I saw in myself at the time. I will always be so grateful for our time working together as well as her friendship.

OB: Argyle is one of the top producers of sparkling wine not just in Oregon, but across North America. How challenging is it to craft your entry-level vintage wine, which is widely considered one of the best values on the market?

KPB: The Argyle Vintage Brut truly is an incredible wine. It is vintage-dated, aged for three years on the lees, and crafted from estate-grown Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. It’s not just great value; it’s a reflection of our commitment to quality at every level.

Working with such high-quality estate fruit (akin to smaller growers’ champagne) is a dream, but producing a wine at this scale does come with its own set of challenges. It takes thoughtful blending, careful planning, and a great deal of logistical coordination to ensure consistency and character across the entire cuvée. But even with the volume, we treat it with the same level of attention and care that we give our smaller bottlings.

For me, magic lies in the ability to create a wine that’s both accessible and complex, something that speaks to the vintage, the vineyard, and the legacy of Argyle. It’s an honor to carry that legacy forward and to introduce more people to the beauty of Oregon sparkling wine through this wine.

OB: Do you have any favorite wines or producers from around the world? What is your

cellar like?

KPB: In a word: eclectic. As you might expect, my cellar has a strong showing of Oregon wines, and yes, quite a bit of sparkling wine and Champagne. But there are some hidden gems tucked in there as well. I was just looking through it the other day and came across a bottle of Occhipinti nestled next to a Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard and an Assyrtiko from Santorini. It made me smile (and realize I need to organize my cellar) because that really captures my approach to wine: always exploring, always curious.

My Champagne collection runs deep, and a few current standouts are Agrapart, Pertois Lebrun, and Laherte. But I’m constantly on the lookout for producers I haven’t heard of before; wines that surprise me, challenge me, or offer a new perspective. That sense of discovery is what keeps me inspired, both as a winemaker and a wine lover.

Champagne Billecart-Salmon

One of the most consistent producers in Champagne, Billecart-Salmon is pretty small in production as they control an estate of 100 hectares, obtaining grapes from an area spanning 300 hectares across 40 crus of the Champagne region. The majority of the grapes used for vinification come from a radius of 20km around Epernay, where the Grand Crus of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay co-exist, in the vineyards of the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs.

It is incredible that this house now spans seven generations, originally formed with the marriage of 1818 when Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon in 1818. This remains a family winery since the beginning with Louis Salmon, brother of Elisabeth and a passionate oenologist, getting involved in the creation of the wines.

Their tete de cuvee, ‘Cuvee Nicolas Francois’ was first crafted in 1964 crafted to serve as an homage to their founder. The house has received considerable critical acclaim over the years, not only for their top wines, including the Clos Saint-Hilaire cuvée, first created with the 1995 vintage, but their Rose and vintage champagnes in particular. On the west coast of the United States, their Rose champagne is particularly one of the most popular champagnes that you will find in bars and restaurants.

Seventh generation CEO Mr Mathieu Roland-Billecart assumed his position back in January 2019 from his cousin François Roland-Billecart, who headed the House since 1992. Matthiew drinks exceptionally well and has a vast knowledge of his house and the surrounding Champagne region.

The otherworldly 2012 Billecart-Salmon ‘Nicolas Francois’ Champagne (OB, 97) is a masterclass from this great vintage. It was easily be a 20 year wine! Learn more about this famed champagne house at https://www.champagne-billecart.fr Here are the beautiful new Champagnes by Billecart-Salmon.

2012 Billecart-Salmon ‘Nicolas Francois’ Champagne- The dazzling 2012 ‘Nicolas Francois’  Champagne was stored on the lees for more than ten years. Sourced Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards in the Montagne de Reims (Pinot Noir) and the Côte des Blancs vineyards (Chardonnay), this was given 3.8G/L dosage. Amazing on the tongue, showing glorious weight and length, the salty minerality prevails throughout this scintillating drinking experience. Diatomaceous earth and white peach parade with baking spice laced pastry crust and shades of wild mushroom on the palate. Big, round and bold, enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2025-2042- 97

Diamond Creek

Today we share one of the electric, older houses in Napa. Diamond Creek began back in 1967 with the creation of the first single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wine as well as the first $100 bottle of wine from Napa. This was very novel at the time and Diamond Creek proprietors the Brounsteins created three different wines to show each individual soil type in the vineyard which were all produced separately. At the time thee was nothing close to this made in the Napa Valley.

I love the wines for their aging potential and power with some restraint. These are wines that are not flavor bombs but have terrific acidity and really show off the soil chatter marvelously.

The new 2022 wines are simply magical across the board. Despite the heat spikes at harvest, they have somehow captured bright acidity in the bottle. I adored the 2022 Diamond Creek ‘Volcanic Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) which is already showing beautifully and has magical flavor range. These retail around $300 USD. They are collectors item that would be perfect for a special occasion. Learn more about this famed estate at https://www.diamondcreekvineyards.com and here are my notes on the new 2022 Diamond Creek releases.

2022 Diamond Creek ‘Three Vineyard Blend’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Diamond Creek ‘Three Vineyard Blend’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the three estate sites and was stored in new French oak before bottling. Alluring violets mark the nose alongside pencil lead, chocolate and shades of cassis. The palate is rich and velvety, as refined tannins frame a brilliant core of black fruits, with Arabica bean and rocky soil accents. Drink 2025-2042- 96

2022 Diamond Creek ‘Volcanic Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The stunning 2022 ‘Volcanic Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon can benefit from an hour or two in the decanter. It is silky and refined stuff with fabulous stony character. It comes off lush and rich on the mouth, with blueberry compote, wild blackberry and freshly tilled rocky soils on the palate, alongside mocha notes. Showing great depth and poise considering the heat of the vintage, this will live on for another several decades — but is flat out fabulous to enjoy in its full-throttle youth. Drink 2025-2042- 98

2022 Diamond Creek ‘Gravelly Meadow’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Diamond Creek ‘Gravelly Meadow’ Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from this slightly cooler location in their estate which is set on pebbly soils. Gorgeous red and dark florals meld well with Cuban cigar, sandalwood and tar aromatics. The palate is plush and rich with terrific stony essence, depth and flavor density. A glorious core of dark fruits greets you alongside refined tannins. Exceedingly good in its heady youth, give this an hour in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2025-2042- 98

2022 Diamond Creek ‘Red Rock Terrace’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Diamond Creek ‘Red Rock Terrace’ comes from this seven acre site with steep soils that are rocky, red-tinted and high in oxidized iron. Wet stone combines with shades of dark currents, tobacco leaf and creme de violette on the nose. The palate has terrific depth and weight with great iron character alongside a dense core of dark fruits and chocolate. Seriously good to enjoy now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen to twenty years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 97

DeLille Cellars

I just finished my tasting at DeLille Cellars and had to write about these beautiful wines. It has now been well over ten years since I first tasted at this famed Woodinville outpost. Their director of winemaking Jason Gorski, has consistently crafted incredible wines regardless of vintage. DeLille Cellars was the first winery in Washington to focus on creating Bordeaux style wine blends and makes arguably the best Bordeaux style white wine in North America with its ‘Chaleur Blanc.’ There is little doubt that Chaleur Blanc will challenge some of the finest white wines you will find in Bordeaux.

DeLille sources from their estate, 20-acre vineyard in Red Mountain as well as premier vineyards in the Yakima Valley. Their new Woodivinlle winery is a must visit as it boasts modern decor with a fantastic rooftop that even boasts views of Mt. Ranier. It has an awesome restaurant that is adjacent their tasting room and they will soon open a new tasting room in Seattle near the University of Washington.

I think that Gorksi and his team did a fabulous job navigating the cooler 2022 vintage. These are wines that have plenty of stuffing but also really good underlying finesse and nuance. I adored the 2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Four Flags’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which shows incredible balance and good richness from this vintage. They also make one of the best Rose wines in the state. Their 2024 DeLille Cellars Rose (OB, 93) is deep and concentrated stuff with terrific mouthfeel and tension. Learn more about this fantastic winery at www.delillecellars.com Here are the great new release wines from DeLille.

2022 Metier ‘Red Blend’ Red Wine- A blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, this packs a punch for roughly twenty bucks. Chocolate and coffee grounds combine with shades of black licorice on the nose. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth texture. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2022 Metier Cabernet Sauvignon- 100% varietal, this 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon offers tar and tobacco leaf alongside dark currants and anise seed on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2023 DeLille ‘Sagemoor Vineyards’ Riesling- Coming from several sites in the Sagemoor Vineyards, the 2023 Riesling offers plenty of nerve alongside star jasmine water and petrol on the palate, with peaches and green apple. Complex and delicious, this is seriously well-done. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2024 DeLillle Roussanne- The outstanding 2024 DeLille Cellars Roussanne was entirely sourced from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. Stored in a combination of neutral oak, concrete and stainless steel this offers papaya and beautiful white florals alongside freshly cut honeydew melon on the nose. The palate is soft and bright with serious acidity and a silky mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2024 DeLille Cellars Rose- This 2024 DeLille Cellars Rose is a complex blend of near equal parts Grenache and Mourvèdre and 8% Cinsault. Stored in stainless steel, this was not given any battonage but saw some lees contact. This is big and plump on the mouth, offering loads of bright red fruits with wild mushroom and garrigue accents, with tangerine zest on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2023 DeLille Cellars ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Chardonnay- This is now the second edition of the 2023 ‘Red Willow’ Chardonnay, which comes from old vines, utilizing five different clones. Stored in a combination of new and natural oak as well as stainless steel and concrete, this delivers cashew nut and shades of pie crust alongside Golden Delicious apple and vanilla cream on the nose. This is even better than the inaugural edition. Coming off big, bold and delicious, with fabulous freshness, tension and salty minerality, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2024 DeLille Cellars ‘Chaleur Blanc’ White Wine- Another gorgeous edition of this wine, the 2024 ’Chaleur Blanc’ is a beautiful blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc with the remainder Semillon. Gooseberry and star jasmine mark the nose alongside salted nuts and suggestions of nectarine on the nose. The palate is big and bold with terrific underlying freshness and nutty nuances from the Semillon. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2021 DeLille Cellars ‘Marguerite’ Sauvignon Blanc- The stunning 2022 ‘Marguerite’ is a barrel selection wine that comes from old vine Sauvignon Blanc from the Bacchus Vineyard. in 62% new French oak, this is rich and unctuous on the tongue, with terrific freshness. Kiwi and starfruit combine with juicy green melon on the palate. Salty and savory, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Le Dessein-GSM’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘’Le Dessein’ is a dazzling combination of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. This offers bright red fruits with good smoky character alongside braised meats, white pepper and suggestions of blood orange zest. Very vibrant and fresh, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Signature’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Signature’ Syrah comes from the Grand Ciel, Boushey and Ciel du Cheval Vineyards. This is a barrel selection Syrah, with a touch of Viognier blended in as part of the wine underwent whole cluster fermentation. Herbs de Provence combines with bulls blood, iodine, scorched earth and shades of red florals. The gorgeous nose brings you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is elegant, showing good weight and fabulous smoky character. This is very Washington meets Cote Rotie. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Grand Ciel’ Syrah- A beautiful wine from a great vintage, the 2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Grand Ciel’ Syrah (clone 383) was aged in mainly neutral oak (38% new French oak) before bottling. Crushed green peppercorns mingle well with salted BBQ beef, garrigue and bacon fat on the nose alongside bright black fruits. Big and bold with terrific freshness, this is already beautifully evolved stuff that will cellar well for the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2023 DeLille Cellars ‘Upland Vineyard’ Syrah- Coming from this fabulous side in the Wahluke Slope, the 2023 ‘Upland Vineyard’ Syrah offers great herbal tones on the palate, with beef drippings, green olives, white pepper and shades of blackberry cobbler on the palate. The weight and freshness of the wine really impresses, as the mouth-watering acidity brings you back to the glass for more enjoyment. Drink 2025-2034- 94

2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Syrah offers iodine and blackberry notes on the nose alongside scorched earth and chocolate. Soft and approachable with a smooth texture and great verve, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Malbec- Inky and outstanding, the 2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Malbec saw extended maceration. Inky in the glass, this delivers violets and tar on the nose alongside dark chocolate shavings and shades of graphite. This is heady and intense with serious texture, tension and salty nuance. Already beautifully evolved, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2020 DeLille Cellars ‘Minuit’ Red Wine- The 2021 DeLille Cellars ‘Minuit’ Red Wine combines Malbec (70%) with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. This shows good poise and richness offering sagebrush and anise notes alongside rich dark fruits and loads of chocolate. The palate has good richness and bright underlying acidity, as you are greeted with herbal accents that kine a core of dense dark fruits, with copious minerals. Drink 2024-2040- 94

2023 DeLille Cellars ‘D2’ Red Wine- The 2023 ’D2’ is mainly Merlot (64%) with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot and Malbec. This comes off round and generous on the mouth, with a silky texture and seamless drinking experience. Dates, dark currants and espresso bean flavors mingle well with refined tannins on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Reserve’ Merlot- Coming from the Boushey, DuBrul and Harrison Hill Vineyards, this ‘Reserve’ Merlot is inky in the glass. This is very elegant and smooth with gorgeous underlying verve and salty nuances. This is dense considering the coolness of the vintage. Dark currants and black cherry compote combine with dark licorice and sandalwood notes on the palate. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 DeLille Cabernet Sauvignon- This is the first vintage of this wine, as the 2023 DeLille Cabernet Sauvignon shows pencil lead, anise, violets and tar with Arabica bean on the nose. The palate is plush and dense with a great concentration of dark fruits, with espresso ground and chocolate accents. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2021 DeLille Cellars ‘Red Willow’ Red Wine- Coming from this famed site in the Yakima Valley, this combines Cabernet Franc (78%) with the remainder Merlot. Red bell pepper combines with chocolate, dark currants and fresh sage on the nose. The palate is polished and smooth with serious texture and great herbal character from the Cabernet Franc. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2021 DeLille Cellars ‘Discovery Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- DeLille has been sourcing from this site in the Horse Heaven Hills since 2012. The 2021 ‘Discovery Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers pipe tobacco, anise and gravel accents alongside a core of rich blackberry fruits. The palate offers copious minerals that mingle well with milk chocolate and dense dark fruits. Drink 2024-2040- 95

2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Four Flags’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Four Flags’ was sourced from four different vineyards across Washington. 100% varietal, this is silky and delicious stuff that is already nicely evolved. Sweet pipe tobacco and Turkish coffee combines with violets and dried herbs on the palate. Showing a smooth texture and bright underlying acidity, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Harrison Hill Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Harrison Hill’ is a silky combination of nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (67%) with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Stored in 94% new French oak this delivers garrigue and dark currants with dark cherry on the nose and scorched earth notes on the nose. The palate is deep and concentrated with a silky texture and great sense of weight. This is awesome stuff that is best enjoyed now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Chaleur Estate’ Red Wine- The 2022 DeLille Cellars ‘Chaleur Estate’ Red Wine is a delicious combination of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot. Lush and round on the mouth, this offers amazing harmony and depth. A brilliant combination of earthy and herbal tones combine with heady dark fruits, with orange bell pepper notes. This shows impeccable balance. 1100 cases made of this beauty. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2021 DeLille Cellars ‘Grand Ciel’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Grand Ciel’ is a sensational bottling that is sourced from the DeLille estate vineyard on Red Mountain. Anise and black currants combine with dark chocolate shavings, graphite and scorched earth notes on the palate. Complex and delicious, this is driving beautifully right now. Drink 2025-2042- 96

L'Ecole No. 41

Today we once again present one of the Washington mainstays of the Walla Walla Valley. 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. The wines he crafts are very poised and focused. They need time in the cellar, particularly their top bottlings.

The new wines I tasted are undoubtedly the best yet. I continue to adore the entry level wines from this home. I think I have tasted every vintage of the ‘Columbia Valley’ spanning over 20 years. The 2025 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) is another fantastic edition of this wine. It is drinking marvelously now with its great texture and core of juicy fruits. I think the finest wine I have ever had from L’Ecole is now released. This wine is somehow priced under 100 bucks, the 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Cellar Selection Estate Ferguson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) is a head-turning wine that has so much flavor density and complexity. I am really enamored by this stony site that literally screams terroir. 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 ‘Royal Slope’ Chardonnay- Coming from the famed Stillwater Creek vineyards opens with Bosc pair, brioche and shades of salty minerals on the nose. The pallet is medium, bodied and fresh showing good tension and salinity enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025 to 2030.- 92

2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay- The seriously good 2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay delivers hay, starfruit and juicy pear flavors alongside good tension and mineral reality. This is fat and rich on the mouth as it is best consumed now and over the next five years. Drink 2025-2030- 92

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Perigee’ is primary composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (51%) with the remainder, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. The wine was sourced from old vines in the Seven Hills vineyard, which is set on marine rich soils. This opens with a beautiful black floral and cocoa powder, nose, alongside shades of espresso, bean, and cloves. The pallet is lush and rich with a great viscosity and underlining, salty tension. This comes off full boded and viscous showing a refined mouthfeel and a good sense of weight considering the coolness of the vintage. Enjoy this beauty now and over the 15 to 20 years. Be sure to give it at least an hour into the decanter if it’s enjoyed now Drink 2025-2042- 95

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Apogee’ is sourced from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard, which was first planted back in 1993. Comprised of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% Merlot with the remainder of Malbec and Cabernet Franc, like the ‘22 Perigee, the ‘22 Apogee really needs about an hour in the decanter and to get going. Once aroused this blossoms with a deep core of dark fruits alongside guitar and licorice notes and plenty of stony minerals that create a mouthwatering effect on the tongue. Medium to full bodied with terrific weight and tension enjoy now and over the next 15 to 20 years. Drink 2025-2042- 95

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a range of sites, including the estate Ferguson Vineyard, and the Pepper Bridge Vineyard with a small portion coming from the Yellow Jacket vineyard in the Rocks District. The wine was stored in a combination of neutral and new French oak barrels (35%) for 22 months prior to bottling. Dense dark fruit parade with arabica bean and cocoa powder on the palate. This is an insane value for under 50 bucks. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Cellar Selection Estate Ferguson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Quite arguably the finest wine I have ever had from this estate, the ebullient 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Cellar Selection Estate Ferguson Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is an otherworldly effort from this vineyard that has magical flavor density and intensity. On the palate this takes on a concentrated melange of black and blue fruits alongside shades of Turkish, coffee, tar scorched, earth, and sweet pipe, tobacco that all seamlessly meld together in the mouth. A stunning wine that is built to age, enjoy now and over the next 20 years. Try to resist this beauty for at least another year. Drink 2027-2050- 98

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ The stunning 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ comes from this location high above the Walla Walla Valley that is set on ancient lava flows with a thin layer of wind blown loess soils. Stored in 40% new Oak for 22 months. This opens with a beautiful bouquet of dark florals along sides, sweet pipe, tobacco, anise and fresh sage. The palate is filled with tension and great stony character that is only reminiscent of the site, as wet granite and dark currant flavors combine with low soils and shades of Cuban cigar. This is frankly a totally dazzling wine that has serious aging potential. Make sure and give us at least an hour in the decanter before consuming. Drink 2027-2048- 96

2023 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Frenchtown’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Frenchtown’ Red Wine is a blend of mainly Merlot (46%) with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a splash of Malbec and Petit Verdot as well as 15% Rhone varietals. It is rich and ripe on the mouth, offering roasted fig flavors alongside chocolate and shades of black licorice. Medium-bodied and well-poised, enjoy now and over the next few years. 7,000 cases made. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot- Coming from a range of Columbia Valley vineyards, this 2022 merlot has 13% Cabernet Franc and small parts Malbec and Petit Verdot blended in. It is well-structured, showing copious minerals that mingle well with medium-bodied kirsch and dark raspberry notes alongside shades of chocolate cake. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Estate’ Merlot- The 2022 ‘Estate’ Merlot is a fabulous effort coming from the Ferguson and Seven Hills Vineyards. The wine has 15% Cabernet Franc blended in, as this offers alluring dark florals on the nose alongside blackberry compote, crushed wet rock and shades of dark licorice. The palate is beautifully balanced, showing excellent poise from this slightly cooler vintage. Refined, sleek and elegant, enjoy now and over the next twelve years. Drink 2025-2037- 93

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- At under 30 dollars SRP, the 2022 ‘Columbia Syrah is an outstanding value. The wine has a large amount of Grenache (18%) blended in, as well as a dash of Mourvedre. This comes off very fresh and beautifully textured, showing high-toned bright red fruits from the Grenache, as well as a solid core of black currants, tobacco leaf and damp rock on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Estate Seven Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- The famed Seven Hills Vineyard is set on wind-blown loess and has some of the oldest Syrah plantings in the Walla Walla Valley. This 2022 ‘Estate’ Syrah comes off neatly textured delivering stony and smoky tones on the nose with beef drippings, dark florals and rich pipe tobacco leaf notes. Medium to full-bodied and smooth throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Estate Seven Hills Vineyard GSM’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Estate Seven Hills Vineyard GSM’ Red Wine combines 50% Syrah with equal parts Mourvedre and Grenache. Red rose petals, cranberry and anise all mark the nose alongside suggestions of smoked pork shoulder and wintergreen accents. The palate is soft and elegant, showing good push-pull in terms of weight and underlying finesse. 320 cases produced of this beauty. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Malbec- The really good 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Malbec was sourced from three separate vineyards throughout this region. 100% varietal, this delivers violet rose petals and smoked brisket notes on the nose alongside graphite and shades of dark currant cordial. The palate is fresh and elegant, with a smooth texture, offering good concentration and weight despite the coolness of the vintage. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2037- 93

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Cabernet Franc-Merlot Estate’ Red Wine- The 2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Cabernet Franc-Merlot Estate’ Red Wine comes from equal parts Ferguson and Seven Hills Vineyards. Red florals and blueberry compote mark the nose alongside fresh thyme and shades of sandalwood. The palate is lush, round and generous, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Medium to full-bodied, with mouth-watering acidity, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Yellow Jacket Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This outstanding 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon comes form the Yellow Jacket Vineyard in the Rocks District AVA. Stored in only 30% new French oak, this offers wet gravel, umami, black cherry compote and shades of charcuterie on the palate, with black olives and mouth-watering acidity. Beautifully poised, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2025 Sonoma Report:

My 2025 Sonoma Report is out, featuring the 2022 vintage, as well as some 2021s and incredible promise from 2023. 🍷

Cimento

Today we share the truly unique wines of Cimento. A Latin word with a historical meaning, Cimento refers to a mixture used by goldsmiths to purify precious metals, usually by fire. In the seventeenth century, the term gained broader meaning and referred to testing or experimenting: ‘to try’ or ‘to experiment.’ The name is meant to lend itself to a philosophy of experimentation.

I was so impressed with the last set of releases which are entirely sourced from their land holdings in the Walla Walla Rocks District. Cimento is owned by the Walla Walla Land Company — the largest land holders in the Rocks District. Their new white wine was made by Todd Alexander and it is a beyond captivating Rhone-inspired blend.

I am enamored by the 2023 Cimento ‘Tenuta Bianca’ White Wine (OB, 97) which is dense and nervy with insanely good flavor range. Learn more at https://www.cimentowines.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Cimento ‘Tenuta Bianca’.

2023 Cimento ‘Tenuta Bianca’ White Wine- The 2023 ‘Tenuta Bianca’ is quite simply unlike anything that you will taste in the Pacific Northwest. Sourced from sites in The Rocks District (55% Orselli, 45% San Tomasso) the wine was stored in all neural French oak barks for 16 months before bottling. It is composed of mainly Piquepoul and Clairette Blanche with 16% Rousssanne, 5% Viognier and 3% Bourbelenc. It is intense and golden in the glass, offering honeysuckle water, and mango notes alongside wet stone, cantaloupe and suggestions of salted cashew nut on the palate. Rich and unctuous, with serious verve and texture, this is absolutely amongst the greats that you will taste on the west coast. Drink 2025-2035- 97