St. Innocent

One of the great value lineups in Oregon wine, St. Innocent was founded by Oregon Wine Pioneer, Mark Vlossak. Mark made his first single vineyard wine in 1989 from the O’Connor Vineyard. The wines that Mark makes have a beginning, middle and end. They are textural beauties that age so gracefully.

Mark has a deft touch for white wine and his whites have consistently been on my Top 100 wines of North America over the past five plus years. Check out the 2024 ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Blanc (OB, 93) which is rich and dense stuff with serious mouthfeel and great flavor range. Learn more about these awesome wines at https://stinnocentwine.com Here are the great new releases by St. Innocent. 

2021 St. Innocent ‘Cremant Rose’ Sparkling Wine- Made from mainly Pinot Blanc (87%) grapes fro the Freedom Hill Vineyard, this is a vibrant pink in the glass. This is both dense and weighty with serious salty tension. Gorgeous red fruits parade with nutty nuances on the palate. There isn’t a wine quite like this in the new world, offering both a refined mousse and glorious length, with the faintest kiss of sweetness. Drink 2026-2034- 93

2024 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Blanc- Rich, fleshy and delicious, the 2024 ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Blanc has just a kiss of sweetness on the palate. Peach and green papaya flavors parade with nutty nuances and copious minerals on this highly-complex bottling. Enjoy this beauty over the next seven plus years to come. Drink 2026-2033- 93

2022 St. Innocent ‘Cavalier Cuvee Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Cavalier Cuvee’ comes from old vine Chardonnay sourced from the acclaimed Freedom Hill Vineyard. This is wonderfully reductive and flinty on the nose with beeswax, white flowers and Japanese pear notes. The palate comes off big, rich and fat despite the coolness of the vintage. Beautifully-textured, with serious length, be sure to not serve too cold! Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Sourced from this location in the Mt. Pisgah AVA, roughly ten miles southwest of Salemon, this is old-vine Chardonnay set on marine sedimentary soils. It is viscous stuff with great salty character. Pastry crust, mango and shades of nectarine skin all combine with baking spices on the palate. Both nervy and rich, enjoy over the next ten years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 94

2024 St. Innocent ‘Villages Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- A seriously good value, the 2024 ‘Villages Cuvee’ Pinot Noir is loaded with loganberry, strawberry and red cherry fruits alongside wet gravel and bergamot nuances on the palate. Medium-bodied, with good lift and texture, enjoy now. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2022 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Coming from this accliamed location in the Mt. Pisqah AVA, the 2022 ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes off salty and savory, loaded with tension and bright red fruits. Medium to full-bodied, with terrific texture and mouthfeel, this is already drinking beautifully at the four year mark. Enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2038- 94

Chateau Ste. Michelle 'Eroica Single Berry Select' Riesling

Today we share one of the great dessert wines made in the United States. The ‘Eroica Single Berry Select’ is made in partnership between two of the world’s leading Riesling producers, Chateau Ste. Michelle of Washington state and Ernst Loosen of Germany. Eroica Single Berry Select Riesling is made as a German Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) style and is one of the only TBA-style wines in North America today. This is a lush and complex TBA with gobs of richness and world-class tension and finesse.

Grapes for this wine come from the Horse Heaven Hills. Each grape is individually hand-picked and hand-sorted. For years I have admired this wine that is truly one of the wines of its kind in the world. This is a must-try for any lover of top dessert wine. The wine is made in a half bottle (.375L) format. It is a stunning, mesmerizing wine that for my palate does not come short of perfection in the glass. This is also the first 100 point dessert wine that I have ever awarded from any wine in North America. Learn more at https://www.eroicawine.com/wines and here is my review of the thrilling 2017 ‘Eroica Single Berry Select’ Riesling.

2017 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica Single Berry Select’ Riesling- From a tiny bottle a behemoth of a wine emerges as the 2017 ‘Eroica Single Berry Select’ Riesling is easily the best dessert wine made in Washington State. This TBA-inspired bottling oozes with honey, butterscotch, poached pear and candied apple flavors that all seamlessly combine with the silky texture. Weightless, dense and utterly sensational to enjoy now, with serious underlying nerve, this will easily be a 20 year wine. Drink 2026-2046- 100

Elevee

Today we share the wines of Elevee. UC Davis educated, Burgundy trained Winegrower, Tom Fitzpatrick, and wife France, began their journey in 2002 with Hunter's Wines in New Zealand, Pine Ridge Winery in Napa Valley, and Domaine Hubert Lignier in Morey-St-Denis. They arrived in Oregon in 2007, when Tom became the Associate Winemaker with Hamacher and then Winemaker/GM with Alloro Vineyard.

The new wines are really good. I thoroughly enjoyed the 2022 ‘Departure’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which is very mineral-laden and shows excellent range from this slightly cooler vintage. Learn more at https://www.eleveewines.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Elevee wines.

2022 Elevee ‘Meredith Mitchell Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Translucent in the glass, the 2022 Elevee ‘Meredith Mitchell Vineyard’ Pinot Noir delivers lighter to medium bodied red fruits that mingle with copious minerals and citrus rind accents on the palate. A touch linear, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2026-2034- 91

2022 Elevee ‘Elevee Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-Very lightly colored in the glass, the 2022 ‘Elevee Vineyard’ shows off red florals and cloves on the nose alongside lighter red fruits. The palate is a touch lean and linear with copious minerals and delicate red cherry and salmonberry tones. Drink 2026-2031- 90

2022 Elevee ‘Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Also standing translucent in the glass, the 2022 ‘‘Bjornson Vineyard’ shows off cranberry and teaberry notes on the palate, with orange peel and bergamot notes. Light on its feet, enjoy this elegant, lighter bodied Pinot Noir now and over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 91

2022 Elevee ‘Madrona Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sleek and filled with minerality, the 2022 Elevee ‘Madrona Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir shows a soft mouthfeel on the approach with plenty of lip-smacking tension. Lighter red fruits parade with kumquat zest and salty minerals on the palate. Drink 2026-2032- 91

2022 Elevee ‘Departure’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Departure’ is an excellent wine that comes off both complex and delicious. Lithe and mineral-laden on the tongue, this shows off medium-bodied cranberry and Yakima cherry flavors, with hints of damp earth and salty nuances on the palate. Already nicely evolved, enjoy over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2026-2034- 92

The Winemakers Reserve

Today we share the outstanding wines of The Winemakers Reserve. The winery was founded by Matt Loso in 2017. The space has a tasting room and event space. Loso is the founder of Matthews Cellars, and now focuses on The Winemakers Reserve and

Matteo Wines.The inaugural release of Matthews Cellars in 1993 saw its first vintage completely sell out within 30 days! By 1997, Matthews Cellars had firmly established itself as one of Washington State's most respected wineries. Loso’s wife, Zoie, handles the business side of The Winemakers Reserve.

I love the new wines by Loso. Check out the incredible 2018 Matteo Grenache (OB, 93) which is heady and intense with gorgeous range. The same is true for the 2018 Matteo Syrah (OB, 93) which is a gorgeous example of Washington Syrah. Learn more at

2024 The Winemakers Reserve Sauvignon Blanc- This 2024 Sauvignon Blanc shows up dense on the palate, with good weight and underlying minerality. Rich stone and tropical fruits combine with salty minerals and nutty nuances. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 The Winemakers Reserve Pinot Gris- A great Gris bottling from 2024, this delivers a solid combination of weight and tension as pear and starfruit flavors give way to suggestions of salted cashew nut on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 The Winemakers Reserve Chardonnay- The 2022 The Winemakers Reserve Chardonnay is a great new bottling by Matt Loso. Once on the nose this exudes class with toasty brioche and banana alongside shades of Japanese pear. The palate is soft and elegant with a good sense of viscosity and weight. Enjoy this great wine now and over the next six plus years to come. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2022 The Winemakers Reserve ‘GSM’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘GSM’ combines 50% Grenache with 25% Mourvèdre and smaller portions Syrah and Cinsault. It is elegant and soft with lighter to medium-bodied red fruits that mingle well with chocolate and fresh sage. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2018 Matteo Grenache-The outstanding and very pretty 2018 Matteo Grenache is brimming with bright red fruits alongside blood orange zest, wintergreen and shades of red licorice on the palate. Medium-bodied with good richness and flavor density, this is a beautiful rendition of Columbia Valley Grenache that is already nicely evolved. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2018 Matteo Syrah- Deeply performed in the glass, the 2018 Matteo Syrah opens with heady dark currants, smoked brisket and white pepper dusted bacon on the nose. The palate is lush and nicely concentrated with a seriously great texture and sense of dense dark fruits, with a chocolate and wet granite edge. Complex and delightful to savor now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2018 Matteo Red Wine- The 2018 Matteo Red Wine is mostly Cabernet Franc (57%) with 36% Merlot and a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is rich and viscous stuff with terrific energy and weight. Black currants and blackberry compote flavors combine with chocolate covered coffee bean on the palate. This seems to be really peaking right now. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 The Winemakers Reserve Merlot- This 2022 Merlot offers sagebrush, pencil lead and black florals on the nose with hints of Arabica bean. The palate is plump, rich and downright delicious, as this seamless bottling is both gratifying in terms of flavor density but also has excellent nerve. Enjoy this black fruit and chocolate-driven bootleg now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2021 The Winemakers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon- Inky in the glass, the 2011 The Winemakers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is lined with a beautiful bouquet of dark rose petals that combine with espresso grounds, cassis and anise notes. This is round and generous on the mid-palate, with a terrific push/pull of weight and flavor density alongside energy and tension. A gorgeous wine to devour now, enjoy over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 The Winemakers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon- A delicious wine from this slightly cooler vintage, the 2022 The Winemakers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon opens with dark florals and potpourri notes alongside black plum, dark chocolate shavings and sandalwood accents. The palate is neatly-balanced as medium to full-bodied dark fruits parade with dark licorice and fennel accents. Drink 2025-2038- 93

Chateau Palmer

Today we present one of the standout houses on the left bank of Bordeaux. From 1814 to 1831, Palmer bought up surrounding land and vineyards until Château Palmer stretched 163 hectares from Cantenac, to Issan to Margaux.The wine is one of the fourteen Troisièmes Crus (Third Growths) in the historic classification of 1855. Located between the towns of Margaux and Cantenac, this is seen as one of the most famed third growths. It is by far the most expensive third growth as well.

There have been changes at the chateau and they began producing ‘Alter Ego’ their other wine since 1998. Roughly 40% of the estate's production, is now sold as Alter Ego de Palmer. The result has been a significant reduction in the quantity of wine sold as Château Palmer. I had the chance to revisit the incredible 2017 Chateau Palmer (OB, 97) which is at an amazing spot to enjoy now. It is rich, viscous and very terroir-focused wine. Learn more at https://www.chateau-palmer.com/en/article/charles-palmers-claret and here is my review of the 2017 Chateau Palmer.

2017 Chateau Palmer- A glorious wine, the 2017 Chateau Palmer is a heavyhitter that has a long way to go in the cellar. Dense creme de violette, anise, dark chocolate shavings and dark cherry flavors combine with silky tannins and copious stony minerals. This is seamless throughout the drinking experience. Enjoy now and over the next twenty plus years. Drink 2024-2044- 97

Leonetti Cellar

I’ll never forget my first Leonetti Merlot. It was a bottle of 2000 that I sampled when I was in graduate school more than 20 years ago. For years Leonetti has been producing world class red wines from the Walla Walla Valley.

Leonetti has always been a highly traditional winery, making several wines each year and not branching out to new projects.  For the past few years they are producing an amazing single vineyard project is a great chance for owner and winemaker Chris Figgins to show how different terroirs are reflected in his Cabernet Sauvignon. He makes the finest Aglianico you will taste in the Pacific Northwest.

I love the new 2020 Leonetti Cellar Aglianico (OB, 94) which is amazing considering the vintage.  I think that you will be completely enamored by the 2023 Leonetti Cellar ‘Reserve’ Red Wine (OB, 100) which is a perfect wine by them. This is the finest edition of the ‘Reserve’ that I have ever tasted. Learn more about these stunning new wines at http://leonetticellar.com/ Here are my reviews of the beautiful new Leonetti Cellar wines. 

2022 Leonetti Sangiovese- Always 100% varietal and needing an hour in the decanter to fully develop the astonishingly good 2023 Leonetti Sangiovese was stored for 22 months in new and once-filled French oak barrels and neutral oval Botti before bottling. Intriguingly, the last three editions of this wine all come from the Holy Roller, Loess, Seven Hills and Mill Creek Upland Vineyards. It shows off its deep core in the glass, delivering alluring sandalwood and potpourri aromatics alongside wintergreen, tart red fruits and orange peel notes. The palate is rich and viscous — unlike anything you will find in the Pacific Northwest. This has both the weight and finesse to cellar well for at least another fifteen years. Try to resist this beauty for one more year. Drink 2027-2042- 95

2024 Leonetti Merlot- The 2024 Leonetti Merlot also needs considerable time in the decanter if enjoying in its heady youth. Also 100% varietal, this comes from the Loess, Mill Creek Upland and Leonetti Old Block Vineyards. It is loaded with chocolate and Arabica bean flavors that combine with damp earth, cedar, rich dark fruits and gobs of finesse. Like the ’23 Sangiovese, this really does need another year in the bottle — but you can see the incredible potential here. If opening now, consider popping the cork the night before and leaving it in the bottle. Drink 2028-2045- 96

2023 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon- A stunning wine from this warmer vintage, the 2023 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon has a small portion of Petit Verdot and Malbec blended in. It comes from the Mill Creek Upland, Serra Pedace, Loess, Seven Hills and Holy Roller vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley. It stands very inky in the glass, offering intense aromatics of scorched earth, sagebrush and shades of creme de cassis, alongside shades of violets and pencil lead. The palate is extremely gratifying and deep with sensational tension, texture and weight. A total stunner, this just might be the finest edition of this wine that I have tasted. Opulent, broad-shouldered and extremely gratifying to consume, give it at least another year in the bottle to fully evolve. Drink 2027-2050- 98

2023 Leonetti ‘Reserve’ Red Wine- A mesmerizing wine, the 2023 Leonetti ‘Reserve’ melds 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with 14% Malbec and the reminder Petit Verdot. It begins with purple rose petals, tar, Turkish coffee and green herbs from the PV alongside opulent black and blue fruits. The palate is plush and seamless throughout the downright ethereal drinking experience, as this effortlessly glides, showing both sensational weight and poise. You can see each varietal working here with clockwork efficiency. This is the best I have yet tried from Leonetti and eminent winemaker Chris Figgins. Give this remarkable wine at least another year in the bottle. Drink 2028-2055- 100

2020 Leonetti Aglianico- A great wine from a tough vintage, the 2020 Leonnetti Aglianico was stored for 44 months in terracotta amphorae, as well as new and neutral French oak barrels prior to bottling. It is tannic, rich and bold with shades of tar and blueberry compote alongside rocky soils and shades of black licorice on the palate. Considering the vintage this is a resounding success. Drink now. Drink 2026-2030- 94

Pasxa

One of the electric wine brands of the Pacific Northwest, Pasxa focuses on producing wines sourced from the vineyards of The Rocks District of Milton- Freewater. The Pášxa wines were a huge hit right out of the gate, and back in their inaugural 2018 vintage they focused on River Rock Vineyard fruit. They now have an estate program with the 2020 purchase of ‘Rockgarden Vineyard.’ This is a huge development for this program. The wines have been consistently great.

I really love the 2024 Pasxa ‘White Blend’ White Wine (OB, 95) which is very stony and beautifully-textured. Check out the 2023 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Syrah (OB, 95) which has amazing Umami character. Learn more about this truly thrilling new project at pasxa.com Here are the downright

killer new wines by Pášxa.

2024 Pasxa ‘White Blend’ White Wine- The 2024 ‘White Blend’ is a compelling blend of Marsanne and Roussanne. This has terrific viscosity and verve with rich tropical and melon fruits alongside shortbread notes, laden with stony mineralogy. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next eight plus years. Drink 2026-2034- 95

2023 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Grenache- Another sensational edition of this wine, the 2023 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Grenache opens with cardamom laced ripe strawberry and wet rock with a green herbal edge on the nose. This comes off fresh and viscous with a terrific texture and good sense of weight. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2023 Pasxa ‘River Rock Vineyard’ Grenache- The 2023 ‘River Rock Vineyard’ Grenache opens up with red florals on the nose alongside bright red fruits and citrus rind accents. The palate is fresh and viscous with ultra-pure red fruits with rocky nuances and shades of orange peel. This is already nicely evolved stuff, with a Umami edge. Drink 2026-2032- 94

2023 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Syrah- The downright delicious 2023 Pasxa ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Syrah opens with Hoisin sauce, seaweed and shades of black currants on the nose, with black florals. The palate is fresh and lithe with a polished texture and terrific sense of weight and length. Enjoy this earthy and savory beauty now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2026-2034- 95

The Walls

It is my pleasure to share the great wines of The Walls. The winery is located in Walla Walla and has a beautiful interior and great backyard space. It is an amazing spot for a glass of wine.

WinemakerSally Johnson Blum and Associate Winemaker Peter Urian joined the team a few yeas back. Johnson Blum has a massive amount of experience, formerly being at St. Francis and Pride in Sonoma County. She also has served as winemaking consultant at Mullan Road under Dennis Cakebread. She is a great person who also makes a world-class Rose from Napa.

I love the 2023 The Walls ‘Wonderful Nightmare’ (OB, 93) which is a dense and chewy wine made form Tempranillo grapes. I adore the 2023 ‘Curiositas’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which is just as good as last year’s wine, with serious flavor density. Learn more about these outstanding new wines at https://www.thewallsvineyards.com Here are the great new releases from The Walls. 

2023 The Walls ‘The Ramparts’ Red Wine- Sourced from the Yakima Valley is a blend of mainly Grenache and Mourvèdre. Smoked meats, red currants and dried herbs all fill the nose. The palate is soft and elegant with a great core of red fruits alongside meaty and herbal accents. This is very well-done. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2023 The Walls ‘Mahana’ Red Wine- Their Syrah-based wine from The Rocks District, this is a gorgeous, beautifully-textured bottling that is drinking great now. Soy sauce, bacon fat and shades of Umami all fill the nose with suggestions of loganberry compote. The palate is elegant and concentrated with a great core of black fruits with Nori and compote accents. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2023 The Walls ‘Wonderful Nightmare’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Wonderful Nightmare’ is a stunning Tempranillo wine from the Walla Walla Valley. This is deep and heady with good stony minerality. Roasted dates, dark cherry and blackberry compote. Neatly textured, with good concentration and length, this is already drinking beautifully. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2022 The Walls ‘Bellamy’ Red Wine- The 2023 The Walls ‘Bellamy’ is all Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley. This is soft and refined on the mouth. Deep dark fruits parade with wintergreen and milk chocolate notes. Concentrated and showing a smooth mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2023 The Walls ‘Curiositas’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The stunning 2023 The Walls ‘Curiositas’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Red Mountain. Concentrated and powerful, this delivers sagebrush, scorched earth and creme de violette on the nose. The palate is complex and powerful with serious finesse and power. Drink 2026-2042- 96

Aubaine

One of the excellent producers of Oregon Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Aubaine focuses on single vineyard and estate only wines  Founder Andy Lytle has a love of Burgundy and Champagne, as he is half of Lytle-Barnett. An iconic winemaker, Isabelle Meunier, has made a range of wines for producers across the Willamette Valley.  Meunier is native of Quebec, and she studied winemaking and viticulture at the University of Dijon in Burgundy, as well as in New Zealand at Lincoln University. Following her eduction she worked at famed producers Felton Road in New Zealand, as well as Dominique Lafon of Domaine des Comtes Lafon.

Isabelle moved to the Willamette Valley in 2007 to work with Evening Land and had incredible success with that program. She later started her own winery venture, LAVINEA, an artisan production of distinctive single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 

I love the 2023 Aubaine ‘Joie’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is very pretty and shows great viscosity and a core of tart red fruits. Learn more about this outstanding producer at aubainewine.com and here are my reviews of the new Aubaine wines.

2023 Aubaine ‘Anhata Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Lush and delightful, the 2023 ‘Anhata Vineyard’ is loaded with pear and starfruit flavors alongside a soft mouthfeel on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2031- 91

2023 Aubaine ‘Athas’ Chardonnay- A delicious new bottling, the 2023 ‘Athas’ is a single-block wine from the Anhata Vineyard made by famed winemaker Isabelle Meunier. It is rich and viscous with rocky soils alongside rich melon and citrus fruits on the palate. The richness and tension with serious focus indicates this will easily cellar for another ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2023 Aubaine ‘Vreugde’ Chardonnay- The 2023 Aubaine ‘Vreugde’ Chardonnay is also a single block bottling from this warm vintage. This comes off fat and round on the mouth with loads of minerality. Rich cashew nut and melon tones collide with wet stone, crushed white flowers and a lengthy finish. A joy to consume now, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2026-2038- 94

2023 Aubaine ‘Anhata Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- A great wine to enjoy now, the 2023 Pinot Noir shows a good melange of black and red fruits on the palate alongside rocky soils and wild mushroom notes. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2026-2031- 91

2023 Aubaine ‘Joie’ Pinot Noir-Sourced from the Anahata Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, this 2023 Pinot Noir opens with red flowers and cardamom on the nose alongside red raspberry tones. The palate is soft and delicious as tart red fruits parade with citrus rind and baking spice notes on the palate. Showing a lengthy finish, enjoy this beauty over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 93

TOIL Oregon

It is my pleasure to share the beautiful wines of TOIL and winemaker Chris Figgins. We move onto Oregon today and a winery that has been on the rise. TOIL was founded by Leonetti winemaker Chris Figgins who planted his vineyard in the Willamette Valley roughly a decade ago. Toil Oregon started with a production of 200 cases then in 2016 Chris planted his estate vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. His first wine fully from his estate vineyard was the 2019 Rose.

I love the consistency of these wines. I adored the 2024 Toil Oregon Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which is a dense and concentrated style, with a black and red fruit core, with amazing texture and verve. This is not purely a fruit-bomb but has loads of nuance and finesse. It will surely appeal to those who adore the bigger side of Oregon wine. Learn more about this great winery at toiloregon.com Here are the brilliant new wines by Toil Oregon. 

2024 TOIL Chardonnay- An amazing edition of this wine, the 2024 TOIL Chardonnay was stored in a small portion of new French oak before bottling. It comes off fresh, heady and dense. Yellow plum, gardenia flowers and shades of buttered and baking spice laced sourdough bread all combine on this complex nose. The palate is elegant and seamless throughout the drinking experience, as the terrific flavor density plays with the mouth-watering acidity and glorious length. This is big, bold and delicious Oregon Chardonnay that has a long life ahead of it. Give it about 30 minute sin the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2026-2038- 95

2024 TOIL Pinot Noir- The 2024 TOIL Pinot Noir is a top-notch effort that was stored in a small amount of new French oak prior to bottling. Black truffle shavings and black raspberry notes fill the nose alongside peat moss and shades of rocky soils. The palate is fresh, viscous and polished as this glides on the mid-palate. Plenty of lip-smacking freshness greets you alongside the concentrated red and dark fruits with earthy accents. A gorgeous bottling in its youth, be sure to give this an hour or two in the decanter if savoring now. Drink 2026-2046- 95

FIGGINS

Today I share one of the great Washington State wines. While A wine like no other, the  FIGGINS ‘Figlia’ is a world-class blend of Merlot and Petit Verdot from the high elevation FIGGINS estate vineyard. For my palate this is the finest PV being made in the state right now. It is wonderfully herbal, inky and concentrated, jam-packed with blue fruits.

I was amazed what Chris Figgins and his team did with the 2022 bottling. Despite the coolness of the vintage, the ’22 was not lacking at all in flavor density. The new 2023 edition comes from a warmer vintage that had few challenges. Easily one of the best ‘Figlia’ wines made, the 2023 ‘Figlia’ (OB, 97) really needs an hour or two in the decanter at this stage. But once aroused it is everything but reticent as it takes you through a spellbinding journey of black and blue fruits with serious depth and weight. Learn more about these fantastic wines at figginswine.com. Here are my reviews of the new 2023 FIGGINS ‘Figlia’ wine.

2023 FIGGINS ‘Figlia’ Red Wine- A world-class follow-up to the gorgeous ’22, the 2023 ‘Figlia’ combines equal parts Merlot and Petit Verdot. I’ve now said for years that the Petit Verdot sourced from the Figgins Estate is the best you will find in Washington State. This really needs about an hour in the decanter before enjoying as it comes off slightly more fleshy and round than the ’22 edition. Once aroused this shows off tar, sweet pipe tobacco and green bell pepper aromatics that combine with pencil lead and chocolate fudge. The palate is impeccably textured, with serious freshness and concentration. Powerful black and blue fruits parade with espresso bean and graphite notes on the palate. With great length and poise, this beauty will easily be a 20 year wine. Drink 2026-2046- 97

Koehler

Today we share the great Koehler wines, one of the really enticing producers 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. Check out the fabulous 2024 Koehler ‘Santa Barbara County’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which exudes class and value. This is an amazing rendition of good value Santa Barbara Pinot with its salty core of red fruits and is one to buy by the case. 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 ‘Santa Barbara County’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the ‘Maria Vista Vineyard’ this 2024 Pinot Noir opens with tart red fruits and sandalwood tones alongside salty soil nuances on the nose. The palate is soft and juicy, brimming with vibrant red fruits alongside damp soil accents. This is already beautifully evolved stuff that is drinking great its heady youth. Buy this by the case! Drink 2026-2032- 93

2023 Koehler ‘Peake Ranch’ Pinot Noir- Another outstanding edition of this wine, the 2023 Koehler ‘Peake Ranch’ Pinot Noir is beautifully-textured and shows great finesse. Bright Bing cherry and red raspberry flavors parade with lavender and salty soils on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2026-2032- 93

2023 Koehler ‘Peake Ranch’ Grenache- The 2023 Koehler ‘Peake Ranch’ Grenache shows off pretty potpourri tones on the nose with Mandarin orange rind, pomegranate seed and tobacco leaf accents. The palate shows nice finesse and a soft texture on the mouth, brimming with bright and sweet red fruits. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2023 Koehler ‘Ballard Abodes Vineyard’ Grenache- Soft and approachable, the 2023 Koehler ‘Ballard Abodes Vineyard’ Grenache offers forward and juicy red fruits with citrus zest and damp soil notes on the palate, with stony accents. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2031- 91

2023 Koehler ‘Santa Ynez Valley’ Sangiovese- Light tannic, the 2023 Koehler ‘Santa Ynez Valley’ Sangiovese offers sea salt dusted Yakima cherry and loganberry flavors that combine with rocky accents on the palate. Light to medium-bodied, with a soft mouthfeel, enjoy this really well-made Sangio now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2023 Koehler ‘Sycamore Ranch’ Sangiovese- The 2023 ‘Sycamore Ranch’ Sangiovese shows up translucent in the glass, offering red florals with red lociroce and salty soil notes on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2026-2031- 91

2023 Koehler ‘Estate Grown’ Mourvedre- Sourced from old vines at their estate vineyard, this 2023 Mourvèdre was stored in neutral oak for 16 months prior to bottling. Totally translucent in the glass, this delivers good meaty character alongside pretty red fruits on the palate, with excellent freshness and length. Salty and savory, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2026-2032- 93

2023 Koehler ‘Nolan Ranch’ Mencia- Sourced from the ‘Nolan Ranch’ the 2023 Koehler Mencia was stored for 16 months in neutral oak before bottling. Iodine, tar, black cherry and salty nuances all fill the palate. Fresh, vibrant and neatly-textured, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2023 Koehler ‘Ballard Canyon’ Syrah- Quite different than its ‘Whole Cluster’ cousin, the 2023 Koehler ‘Ballard Canyon’ Syrah is more approachable now. A great core of red fruits greets you alongside diatom, wet gravel, charcuterie and red licorice notes on the palate. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 93

2023 Koehler ‘Whole-Cluster’ Syrah- Coming from the Ballard Adobes Vineyard, this 100% whole-cluster fermented Syrah delivers concentrated dark fruits on the palate, with tar, green peppercorns, bulls blood and iodine notes alongside salty soil nuances. Full-bodied and intense, give this another year in the bottle to fully develop. Drink 2027-2037- 94

2023 Koehler ‘Happy Canyon’ Cabernet Franc- This 2023 ‘Happy Canyon’ Cabernet Franc is wonderfully herbal on the nose with green bell pepper, exotic spices and dense dark fruits. The palate has a nice graphite edge, with soft tannins that frame a generous core of red and dark fruits, with salty and loamy soil nuances. Drink 2026-2034- 92

2022 Koehler ‘Santa Ynez Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Koehler ‘Santa Ynez Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers medium-bodied dark fruits that mingle with chocolate and anise seed flavors. Enjoy now. Drink 2026-2031- 90

Centennial Mountain

Centennial Mountain Vineyard (formerly known as Æris) is an extraordinary project from the Rhys Vineyards team. The Rhys team has embarked on a new journey bringing Italian grape varieties to California. This is the first vineyard outside of Italy to plant Carricante, a noble white grape from Sicily’s Mt. Etna. Located on a rugged ridgetop in Northern Sonoma County at the borders of Rockpile and Dry Creek Valley, this site has cool nights and a major wind influence.

The new wines were really good across the board. I love the 2022 Centennial Mountain Nebbiolo (OB, 93) which has tons of body and texture with refined tannins. Learn more at https://cmvineyard.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Centennial Mountain wines.

2022 Centennial Mountain Carricante- This 2022 Carricante comes from vines set on shallow schist soils. It opens up with aromatics of green apple, lemon grass, and kiwi. The palate is fresh and neatly textured with plenty of mouthwatering acidity despite the heat of the vintage. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next five plus years. Trying to make it a shiny as possible yeah stand up national television don’t deserve to be Drink 2026-2032- 92

2022 Centennial Mountain Nebbiolo- translucent in the glass this 2022 Nebiolo offer sour cherry and red raspberry aromatic alongside red rose petals. The pallet is soft, inviting with a smooth texture and grey tannins that frame of core of bright red fruits with Bergamont tones. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2022 Centennial Mountain Nerello Mascalese- The really good 2022 Centennial Mountain Nerello Mascalese opens with potpourri, white pepper and sour cranberry notes on the nose. The palate is inviting, rich and beautifully textured, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Drink 2026-2036- 93

Kerr Cellars

Today we share the beautiful wines of Kerr Cellars, founded back in 2013 by professional golfing icon and sommelier Cristie Kerr. Cristie first fell in love with wine on a visit to Napa Valley in 2000. She was seduced by the tranquil hills, rustic old-world charm, and extraordinary ‘Old World’ wines. Seven years later, Cristie joined forces with Suzanne Pride Bryan of Pride Mountain Vineyards to create Curvature Wines. Curvature is a range of boutique wines whose profits support breast cancer research. Showered with praise upon release, Curvature Wines found immediate industry acclaim. The wines were featured on the lists at distinguished restaurants, clubs, cellars, and even served at the White House. Building on Curvature’s success, Cristie launched Kerr Cellars in 2013 with partner Erik Stevens and highly acclaimed winemaker Helen Keplinger.

The new wines were fantastic across the board. I adored the 2023 Kerr ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which shows amazing salty character from this region that neighbors the Pacific Ocean. Check out the stunning 2023 Kerr ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) which flirts with perfection and has amazing tension and flavor density from this slightly cooler vintage in Napa. Learn more about these great wines at kerrcellars.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Kerr.

2024 Kerr ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2023 Kerr Sauvignon Blanc offers freshly cut grass and Key lime on the nose alongside damp wet rock. The palate is neatly textured and shows excellent length and terrific flavor density. Don’t serve too warm! Drink 2026-2031- 92

2023 Kerr ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2023 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay is a brilliant new wine by winemaker Helen Keplinger. Stored for 12 months in 33% new French oak before bottling, this opens with a bright bouquet of ripe peach and pastry crust alongside shades of orange blossom. The palate is neatly textured and rich with great melon and citrus fruit flavors at its core. Delicious now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2026-2033- 93

2023 Kerr ‘5 Wells Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the Sonoma Coast AVA, the 5 Wells Vineyard was started back in 2015 by Crawford and Jane Selina Kwon Wells of Sebastopol. Baking spices and mango notes mark the nose alongside suggestions of salted french bread. The palate is soft and inviting, as this opens with serious tension and texture — coming up seamless throughout the drinking experience. Enjoy this brilliant new 2023 Chardonnay now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2035- 94

2023 Kerr ‘Rued Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The acclaimed Rued Vineyard is located in the Sonoma Coast AVA. Stored in mainly natural French oak for 16 months, this shows off a silky mouthfeel throughout the drinking experience. A beam of finesse follows the entry alongside passionfruit, guava and rich honeydew melon flavors, with salted macadamia nut nuances. Stony and salty, with terrific freshness, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2035- 94

2023 Kerr ‘Silver Eagle Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Originally planted by famed Sonoma grower Ulises Valdez, the Silver Eagle Vineyard is a Sonoma Coast location that is set on a unique combination of Goldridge mix with red shale soils. Showing off its dark core in the glass, you are greeted to a great melange of black and red fruits on the nose with cola and fresh sage accents. The palate is rich and viscous with amazing tension and salty nuance. Highly enjoyable now in its heady youth, watch this evolve over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2026-2040- 95

2023 Curvature Red Wine- A really great glass of wine for the price, the 2023 Curvature Red Wine is dark in the glass, offering black tea and middle eastern spice aromatics that pair well with a rich core of dark fruits and dark chocolate shavings. The palate is rich and viscous with a silky mouthfeel and terrific sense of tension. Terrific now, enjoy this beautiful red blend now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2026-2034- 93

2023 Kerr Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Kerr Cabernet Sauvignon opens with chocolate cake, tar, anise and loamy soils on the nose. The palate is fresh and inviting with a smooth mouthfeel. Terrific now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2026-2033- 92

2023 Kerr ‘Wappo Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Wappo Vineyard’ stands very dark in the glass, delivering heady aromatics of sandalwood, anise, black currant jelly and violets that all take shape in the glass. The palate is rich and silky with a refined texture and great sense of weight and finesse. This has some serious aging potential. Gorgeous now, caressed by refined tannins, enjoy over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2026-2046- 96

2023 Kerr ‘Mast Ranch Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Mast Ranch Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a slightly cooler location that is set on silt loamy soils with some alluvial rock that is highly influenced by the San Pablo Bay. Scorched earth and Black Forest Cake notes combine with menthol accents on the nose. The palate is powerful and concentrated with a fabulous melange of black and blue fruits, with great volcanic soil character. Generous and broad-shouldered, with terrific depth and underlying tension, watch this evolve over the next two decades to come. Drink 2026-2046- 97

2023 Kerr ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A sensational wine from this famed location, the 2023 Kerr ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this Oakville vineyard set on loamy soils. This comes off super seamless throughout the drinking experience. Damp soils combine with creme de cassis, sweet pipe tobacco, dark chocolate shavings, Asian spices and pencil lead notes on the palate. The Oakville character really shines through here. Nothing short of a world-class bottling, this is the finest that I have tasted from Kerr yet. Enjoy now and over the next two decades. Drink 2026-2046- 99

2023 Kerr ‘Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The dazzling 2023 ‘Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this St. Helena location and was stored in 16 Months in all new French oak prior to bottling. Well-structured and viscous, with serious tension, this is just a joy to consume now. Graphite, creme de violette and Turkish coffee flavors all emerge alongside great loamy soil character. Full-bodied and intense, enjoy over the next several decades to come. Drink 2026-2046- 98

2023 Kerr ‘Heilcon Sage Ridge Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Helicon’ combines 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 20% Cabernet Franc, 18% Merlot, and a splash of Petit Verdot from the acclaimed Sage Ridge Vineyard. It is beautifully balanced stuff, with fresh herbs that combine with damp rocky soils, tar, menthol and heady black and blue fruits. Showing beautifully now, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 96

Sagemoor

Today we share the wines of Sagemoor. Kent Waliser, is the face of Sagemoor Vineyards who has a longstanding history in the wine industry. Today he relies on general manager Danny Gordon who had a 24-year history with Tamarack Cellars. Speaking with Gordon, he described the wines and vintages. Speaking with Danny and Kent, they shared their thoughts about the new wines. “These are wines that are drinking nicely and it is really fun because you have vineyards blended, separated, and three vineyards from the White Bluffs. And they are all different” said Danny. “The winemaking is consistent across the wines but it brings out the unique properties” said Kent. Aryn Morrell makes the wines “And does everything in the winery.” He has served as winemaker since 2021. “We are working on the DTC program to intrigue people with the Cabernet from the different sites and that was put in place before Danny came on board.”

The 2022 wines had excellent flavor density despite the coolness of the vintage. To achieve this Kent noted “We didn’t do as much with Southwind. ’22 was a big crop and the last big crop in Washington. In the case of Weinbau it really started in the vineyard because Miguel Rodriguez who has been there for 30 years, he recognized that he had way more clusters than what he was going to need and he did something and had to get these clusters off before fruit set. And I am going to take my chances not getting the fruit set. When he was shoot thinning he was also cluster thinning and he got the crop down early.” He continued “We did fruit removal at bloom because when I saw this we had to do this everywhere. We were taking unfertilized clusters off which told the plant that we had less fruit to begin with.”Kent noted that “other wineries who got fruit from Weinbau in ’22 would have had the same treatment, got the vines thinned just like we did.”

The wines show good balance and poise which is something very intentional by GM Danny Gordon for the wine program. He explained “Flavors are great, it is about getting the mouthfeel, texture and balance of the wine right. I think that is a big focus of what we are doing there, we are letting the flavors naturally occur and then in the winemaking we are trying for that same richness and mouthfeel across the wines.”

The new releases are Cabernet wines from across Washington State, including several from their estate. Check out the delicious 2022 Sagemoor ‘Bacchus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 93) which is mainly old vine Cabernet and is beautiful to enjoy now. Learn more about these great wines at https://sagemoorestates.com and here are my notes on the new wines by Sagemoor. 

2022 Sagemoor ‘Bacchus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The delicious 2022 ‘Bacchus Vineyard’ comes mostly from Block 3 and Block 4a, as this opens with dark florals, kirsch and Arabica bean notes. The palate is elegant and refined with a smooth mouthfeel and loads of dense dark fruits with chocolate and espresso grounds. Drink 2026-2042- 93

2022 Sagemoor ‘Gamache Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced mainly from Block 3 in the vineyard, the 2022 ‘Gamache Vineyard’ offers violets and tar on the nose alongside shades of black tea and exotic spice. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth viscosity and mouthfeel. Drink 2026-2042- 93

2022 Sagemoor ‘Dionysus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from these old vine Cabernet plantings in the White Bluffs AVA, the 2022 ‘Dionysus Vineyard’ shows concentrated black and blue fruits on the palate, with tar and sweet pope tobacco. Great to enjoy now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2042- 94

2021 Sagemoor ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from this location in the Wahluke Slope AVA, this mainly comes from Weinbau W.63 in the vineyard. This comes off soft and elegant with medium-bodied red cherry and black raspberry notes alongside dusty soils on the palate. Drink 2026-2040- 93

2021 Sagemoor ‘Bacchus/Dionysus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from both these sites in the White Bluffs AVA, this 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with dried herbs and cassis notes on the nose with chocolate and sandalwood accents. The palate is well-balanced and soft with medium-bodied red and dark fruits with hints of chocolate fudge. Drink 2026-2040- 92

2021 Sagemoor ‘Southwind Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Southwind Vineyard’ comes from this location in the Walla Walla Valley. This is soft and medium-bodied with ripe red and dark fruits alongside chocolate and coffee grounds. Drink 2026-2042- 93

Champagne Henriot

It is my pleasure to share an ancient Champagne house that dates all the way back to 1808. Champagne Henriot starts its story with Apolline Henriot, a young widow of Nicolas Henriot, who founded Maison Henriot as she was a vineyard owner who had a great love for the region. Then fast forward to 1880, Apolline Henriot’s great grandson, Paul Henriot, married a young woman from the Côte des Blancs, Marie Marguet. This marriage gave way to a real transition of the Maison Henriot’s vineyards. Initially composed exclusively of three crus from the Montagne de Reims planted with Pinot Noir, three crus planted with Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs were added: Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Chouilly.

Located in Reims, Henriot is currently run by the 8th generation of the family. Gilles de Larouzière Henriot, succeeded his uncle Joseph in 2015 and became President of Maisons & Domaines Henriot. The Henriot family also owns Bouchard Pere & Fils, William Vevre and Chateau de Poncie. The new wines were seriously good. I love the new 2015 Champagne Henriot ‘Brut’ Champagne (OB, 94) which is a delight to savor now. Learn more about this famed champagne house at https://www.champagne-henriot.com and here are the beautiful new releases by Champagne Henriot.

NV Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain- The really enjoyable NV ‘Brut Souverain’ offers a soft mousse with marzipan, green apple and cashew nut nuances on the palate, alongside stony minerals. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2032- 91

NV Champagne Henriot ‘Brut Rose’ Champagne- A great edition of this wine, the NV Champagne Henriot ‘Brut Rose’ Champagne is wonderfully earthy on the palate. Shiitake mushroom and damp soil tones combine with tart red fruits and citrus rind accents on the palate. Enjoy this outstanding Rose now and over the next seven plus years to come. Drink 2026-2033- 92

2015 Champagne Henriot ‘Brut’ Champagne- A gorgeous new vintage Champagne, the 2015 ‘Brut’ is near equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir coming from only premier cru and grand cru sites. This saw more than eight years on the lees prior to disgorgement, opening with honeysuckle, toasted almond and shades of baking spice laced shortbread on the nose. The palate is round and generous with terrific freshness, texture and overall balance. Delightful now, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2026-2036- 94

Barefoot Wines Takes Over NFL Stadiums: Bad News For Consumers

I don’t drink beer nor do I particularly enjoy beer. If I attend an NFL game, I don’t want a beer — I want a glass of decent wine. I’m not even looking for Opus One in the stadium, but merely a palatable wine choice. In their home at Oracle Park the San Francisco Giants pay a Master Sommelier to curate wine for their concessions. Most people are not searching for master somm’s help but merely desire decent glass of wine that is not deplorable to drink. Barefoot Bubbly, a cheap sparking wine at roughly 10 bucks SRP, costs more than 40 bucks in Seahawks Stadium. I find it to be an essentially undrinkable sparkling wine. Let’s just say that I wouldn’t make a mimosa with this wine. Tapped & Corked, the Seahawks Stadium ‘Wine Bar’ (in Sections 119, 139) only serves Barefoot Wines. This leaves the consumer with no adequate wine at all games if you are not paying extra for club level seats.
For those who are wine lovers and attending NFL games, this is a pretty grim time. I remember going to games more than ten years ago and having no decent wine at the games. The current situation in 2026 is completely anachronistic. NFL stadiums are being inundated with Gallo’s Barefoot Wines brand. In 2022 Barefoot Wines became the official wine brand of the NFL and Barefoot has a US volume of more than 18 million cases annually. This is a lot of financial power and they have slowly been kicking out other wine brands from the stadium, creating essentially a monopoly. Gone from Seahawks Stadium are local wines from Dunham Cellars, Andrew Januik, Januik, Sparkman and L’Ecole No 41. You won't find local wines from Napa and Sonoma at 49ers games either unless you're in a suite. Barefoot utilizes celebrity voices such as Donna Kelce and Simone Biles in their advertisements. I don’t understand this stadium Barefoot monopoly other than being purely driven by cash. As an example, the NFL has an official beer but the beer does not have a monopoly on the stadium.
Washington has a vibrant wine culture and is one of the United State’s top regions for high quality wines at a good price. Despite this, Seahawks Stadium has chosen to not have any Washington wine for patrons not seated at Club Level. While you can’t get decent wine for normal seats at Seahawks Stadium, according to L’Ecole No. 41 COO Ryan Pennington, L’Ecole wines remain in the club level at Seahawks stadium. Pennington agrees with my sentiments that you don’t want to see “people forced to drink Gallo in Washington wine country.” Suites at LA’s SoFi stadium have some top wines . But you don’t see these wines at their concessions for non-suite patrons. The same is true at San Francisco’s Levi’s Stadium that serve Wine Spritzers and they don’t have any decent wine options if you are not seated at the suite level. California Wine Country must be disgusted by 49ers fans not seated in the suite levels actually having only one wine choice -- Barefoot Wines out of a milk carton!
The Barefoot Wines takeover is not only an issue in West Coast stadiums but other parts of the United States suffer this same fate. Gone from New Orleans Saints games are the fun and chic Veuve Clicquot vendors with matching stemware. This has been replaced with wine racks filled with Barefoot Wines! I used to adore the wine experience at the Superdome in New Orleans where they always had a really nice range of wines that was consistent with their enophile culture.
Mel Evans and Jon Celino, Saints fans and New Orleans natives have seen this Barefoot takeover first hand. Evans explained “You spent the extra money to be in the club section and you only can have Barefoot. This is why we buy the club seats, to have nice wine options, and this year the only wine was Barefoot. This was across the board in the entire Superdome.” Evens mentioned “The Superdome hired a new company this year and a lot of major changes were made, including no New Orleans foods anymore. Gone are Gumbo and Jambalaya.” She and Celino enjoy wine at home and like most people expect to receive a premium product for a premium price when they buy their club level seats. Evans explained “we paid to come to the game and you feel ripped off. I refused to drink Barefoot I really only drink wine so not having wine as an option makes the experience at the game less enjoyable.” Last year the Superdome had a much better range of offerings for wine “And now they only had Barefoot” she noted.
Evans and Celino find this against the culture of New Orleans to serve cheap wine. “And we are a huge food and wine city. I shared this issue [Barefoot Wines issue] on Facebook with the Saints and called out the Superdome and a person actually reached out to me and said that they have changed companies and this is all they will get [with no clear explanation]. The rest of the season nothing changed, only Barefoot wines.” She explained “The NFL has an official beer but you don’t take away all beer options at the stadium. This situation is definitely not worth the price, you don’t get what you pay for with the club tickets. Premium ticket and given a bottom shelf choice. I don’t want to leave the game with a headache.”
Met Life Stadium, home of the NFL’s Jets and Giants in New Jersey also has been dealing with the Barefoot stadium takeover. Unless you are at the club or suite level, Met Life Stadium doesn’t even have a wine bar (https://www.metlifestadium.com/plan-your-visit/dining-options-locations). This obviously goes against New York being one of the world’s epicenters for wine.

In truth, companies do things for money and sometimes the consumer doesn’t get the better end of the deal. Such is the case with the Barefoot Wines takeover in NFL stadiums, leaving the consumer without any decent wine options for those paying hundreds upon hundreds of dollars for their game tickets.

Opus One

Today we share one of Napa’s most famous wineries.  A famed partnership between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Opus One crafted their first vintage in 1979. At the time Opus One was the first ultra-premium California wine to be sold in France and Internationally.  Opus One produces only one wine and a second wine (Overture) – both of which are typically a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Opus One sources from four estate vineyards. This includes two sites comprising roughly 100 acres within the famed ‘To Kalon Vineyard’ and their ‘Ballestra’ and ‘River’ parcels comprising 70 acres which envelop the winery.  

I recently had an Opus One from the 1980s that was still showing brilliantly. These wines cellar 20 years or more easily. I was blown away with the new 2022 Opus One (OB, 97) which is one of the most impressive wines from this vintage that I have tasted. This beauty is already showing so well. During the tasting I had the chance to taste the scintillating 2012 Opus One (OB, 99) which flirts with perfection and is really coming into its own. Learn more about Opus One at http://www.opusonewinery.com/ Here are my notes of the gorgeous releases by Opus One.

2012 Opus One Red Wine- The 2012 Opus One is a stunning rendition of this wine that is glorious now at the thirteen year mark. This is delightfully Bordelaise on the nose with red bell pepper, green peppercorns and shades of red currants. This is seamless wine throughout the drinking experience. Soft, with loads of tension, richness and salty nuance, this is a totally head-turning wine that will continue to live on for at least another ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 99

2019 Opus One Red Wine- The 2019 Opus One is really coming into its own right now. This is marvelously herbal offering bay leaf tones on the nose with orange bell pepper, tar, anise and tobacco leaf. The palate is lush and round with a refined texture and great sense of tension. Creme de cassis and violets mark the palate alongside mocha and a graphite edge. Drink 2025-2045- 98

2022 Opus One Red Wine- The sensational 2022 Opus One is a brilliant wine from a challenging vintage. Kirsch, red florals and dark currants combine with damp loamy soils and red bell pepper notes on the nose. The palate is plush and polished with serious texture with serous poise and body. A sensational achievement in 2022, this has to be one of the great wines from the vintage. This is remarkably good to enjoy now. Drink 2025-2040- 97

2022 Opus One ‘Overture’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Overture’ is now the second year that they have made this as a vintage wine. It is well-textured and fresh wine with loads of dark fruits and espresso ground flavors alongside good verve. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

Upchurch Vineyard

Today we share the outstanding wines of one of Red Mountain’s greats.  This is also one of the most gorgeous spots to taste in the Pacific Northwest, with sweeping views of the Columbia Valley. Chris Upchurch is a legendary winemaker, having crafted an incredible range of wines for DeLille Cellars before starting his first outpost more than a decade ago. He now has an outpost in Woodinvlle that is right in the town center, near the new Somm Hotel.

He is now making a gorgeous Cheinin Blanc from the Yakima Valley. I love the 2024 Upchurch Vineyard Chenin Blanc (OB, 93) which is rich and viscous with good verve. I was blown away with the thrilling 2023 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Hero Twins’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) which flirts with perfection and has such a long way to go in the cellar. Learn more about this fantastic winery at https://upchurchvineyard.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Upchurch Vineyard.

2024 Upchurch Vineyard Chenin Blanc- Sourced from a location near the Boushey Vineyard, the 2024 Chenin Blanc offers nutty nuances with green papaya and mango notes on the palate. The textural elements from the partial malolactic fermentation are really nice. This is dense and refreshing stuff that is best enjoyed over the next six years. Drink 2026-2032- 93

2023 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Hero Twins’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Hero Twins’ is all Clone 2 estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the Upchurch Vineyard. Stored in all new French oak (Taransaud and Icon), this comes together beautifully on the nose with gorgeous red and dark florals alongside cedar, Asian spices and suggestions of dark chocolate shavings. The palate is utterly stunning as this glides throughout the drinking experience with loads of mouth-watering acidity and fabulous flavor density. This will easily be a 20 year wine. Drink 2026-2046- 99