King Estate

Today we share the outstanding wins of King Estate. For years this winery has been making some of the best Pinot Gris in the Willamette Valley. King Estate director of winemaking Brent Stone has a longstanding history in the industry and makes a really terrific range of wines.

It was many years ago that Oregon wine legend Ed King realized that the southern portion of the Willamette Valley was a perfect spot to grow Pinot Gris. They now make several hundred thousand cases of their ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Gris that you can find in wine shops and supermarkets across America. Brent Stone has now been at the helm since 2011. He has been doing a fantastic job with the wines that range in SKUs from Sauvignon Blanc and Rose to Sparkling Wines and inky Syrah. King Estate is arguably Oregon’s most beautiful winery with sweeping views of the valley and its vineyards.

I love the new 2021 King Estate ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine  (OB, 93) which is another killer bottle by them and has some really nice autolytic character and aging potential.  Learn more about this famed Oregon estate at https://www.kingestate.com and here are my tasting notes from the new King Estate wines.

2021 King Estate ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The 2021 ‘Brut’ stands golden in the glass, offering marzipan and ginger aromatics that combine with shades of papaya and nutty nuances. The palate is deep and concentrated with serious melon, tropical and melon fruit flavors that mingle well with pine nuts and copious minerals. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2024 King Estate ‘Oregon’ Sauvignon Blanc- Really good, the 2024 King Estate ‘Oregon’ Sauvignon Blanc offers good freshness alongside sweet gooseberry, cantalope and green apple flavors. Nicely textured, enjoy now.. Drink 2026-2030- 90

2025 King Estate ‘Willamette Valley’ Rose- The 2025 King Estate ‘Willamette Valley’ Rose comes from Pinot Noir grapes and shows off pear and kiwi flavors that combine with bright strawberry. Soft on the mouth, with bright acidity, enjoy on a warm summer day. Drink 2026-2031- 91

2024 King Estate ‘Domaine’ Pinot Gris- A sensational wine from this warm vintage, the 2024 ‘Domaine’ was sourced from the King Estate Vineyard. It is round, powerful and rich — so don’t serve too cold. This comes off fat and generous on the mouth, loaded with tension. Rich cashew nut flavors combine with green papaya, fresh sage and shades of Japanese pear. Loaded with tension and salty minerality, this is a bold, rich edition of this wine that is already beautifully defined. Drink 2026-2036- 94

2024 King Estate ‘Inscription’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Inscription’ offers light to medium bodied red fruits that mingle well with smoked meats and shades of orange zest on the palate. Drink 2026-2030- 89

2024 King Estate ‘Artisan Series’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Artisan Series’ Pinot Noir comes from biodynamically farmed grapes. This is juicy stuff with a soft mouthfeel, brimming with bright Bing cherry and strawberry fruit flavors alongside salty minerals. Drink 2026-2031- 90

2024 King Estate ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir is a delicious edition of this wine. It is soft and approachable on the mouth, loaded with bright red fruits alongside shades of kumquat zest, bergamot and stony minerals. Drink 2026-2031- 91

2024 King Estate ‘Domaine’ Pinot Noir- The heady and delicious 2024 ‘Domaine’ Pinot Noir shows opulence from this warm vintage. Alongside sterling tension, this comes up rich on the mouth.  Loads of black and red fruits combine with citrus zest and a dusting of white pepper alongside salted rocks on the palate. Delicious to enjoy now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 94

Ken Wright Cellars

It is my pleasure to share the wines from one of Oregon’s historic wineries. The wine dream began in the 1980s as Ken Wright worked as a waiter in Kentucky. At the restaurant Ken was exposed to the great wines of the world. After spending eight years winemaking in California for Ventana Vineyards and Talbott Vineyards, Ken was finally convinced to move to the Willamette Valley in 1986. He then started Panther Creek cellars and then founded his namesake winery in 1994. In 2001 he added Tyrus Evan, a Syrah based winery, to his portfolio.

The wines have been consistently great over the past ten years. Check out the outstanding 2024 Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is a gorgeous bottling for the price.  Even better is the 2024 Ken Wright ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which shows off this incredible site with loads of tension and salty nuances.. Learn more about these fantastic wines at http://www.kenwrightcellars.com Here are the awesome new wines by Ken Wright. 

2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay opens with a bouquet of peaches, starfruit and shades of wet rock. The palate is rich and beautifully-textured, with outstanding length. This is a joy to consume now, showing light orange marmalade notes. Drink 2026-2033- 93

2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- A wonderful new AVA bottling, the 2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir is soft and round upon entry. Ripe strawberry and Bing cherry flavors parade with watermelon and suggestions of Mandarin orange peel on the palate. This is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2024 Ken Wright ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir- The seriously good 2024 Ken Wright ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir leads with crushed wet rock and red florals on the nose with shades of pomegranate seed. The palate is loaded with crunchy red fruits alongside great stony and salty nuances. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- The delicious 2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir shows loads with juicy red fruit flavors that combine with Satsuma oranges, and salty minerals on the palate. Refined and sleek throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Savoya Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Savoya Vineyard is located 3.5 miles north of the town of Carlton, Oregon, set on marine sedimentary soils. This is heady and viscous stuff with a terrific core of pomegranate seed, cranberry and wild blackberry tones that combine with great salty soil character and diatom. Full-bodied and broad-shouldered, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2040- 94

2024 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The finest wine of this new lineup comes from the Shea Vineyard, planted by Dick Shea in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. This is one of the premier sites for Pinot Noir in all of Oregon. On the nose this takes on wild blackberry and dark rose petals alongside rocky soils and tobacco leaf. The palate is rich and powerful with terrific structure, tension, minerality and mouthfeel. A delicious wine that has a long life in front of it, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 95

Davis Estates

It was back in 2011 that the Davis family purchased the century-old estate winery and began their ambitious restoration project to create a distinguished winery. Mike Davis has a long and fond association with the Napa Valley. Growing up in San Mateo County just south of San Francisco, his family spent summer vacations at the Napa Valley Ranch Club. Davis Estates is the culmination of a life long dream. Davis Estates is a family owned and operated estate located in Calistoga. Winemaker Walter Leiva is a Napa native with a degree in Viticulture and Enology from Napa Valley College, Walter took a non-traditional path into winemaking, driven more by curiosity and a love of science than a lifelong dream. He has formerly worked at Gloria Ferrer, Andretti Winery, Odette, and Laird Family Estate, gaining experience with everything from sparkling wine to Italian varietals to cult Cabernets. His new wines were beautiful across the board. I love the new 2024 Davie Estates ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 92) which is irresistible with its texture and plump mouthfeel. Learn more at https://www.davisestates.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Davis Estates.

2025 Davis Estates ‘Lady Fleur’ Rose- The 2025 ‘Lady Fleur’ is soft and delicious with a slight kiss of sweetness. Melon and red raspberry fruits combine with a soft texture on the palate. Drink 2026-2031-91

2024 Davis Estates ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2024 Davis Estates ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc is a rich and unctuous bottling loaded with texture and melon fruit flavors. Smooth throughout the drinking experience, with excellent viscosity, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2031- 92

2024 Davis Estates ‘Carneros’ Pinot Noir- The 2024' ‘Carneros’ Pinot Noir offers juicy red fruits with salty nuances on the palate. Slightly on the sweet side, with a touch of cola, enjoy now. Drink 2026-2031- 90

2022 Davis Estates ‘Zephyr’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Zephyr’ combines mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (53%) with smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Cocoa powder and Arabica bean notes combine with black florals on the nose. The palate is smooth and viscous with terrific texture and loamy soil character. Drink 2026-2036- 92

2023 Davis Estates Cabernet Franc- The 2023 Davis Estates Cabernet Franc comes off rich and dense on the tongue with a terrific mouthfeel. Green herbs collide with pencil lead, mocha and tar notes on the palate. Really good, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2026-2040- 93

2023 Davis Estates ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers plenty of cassis and sweet pipe tobacco flavors on the palate with a smooth mouthful. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy now. Drink 2026-2033- 92

2022 Davis Estates ‘Rutherford’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A dense, well-structured bottling, the 2022 Davis Estates ‘Rutherford’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers dark chocolate shavings and espresso bean flavors with faint loamy soil nuances and sweet blackberry tones. Drink 2026-2033- 92

Sullivan Rutherford Estate

Today we share the wines of Sullivan Rutherford Estate which began back in 1972. Jim Sullivan’s interest in wine was formed in the 1950s with a simple grape arbor given to him and his new bride as a wedding gift and he began to make wine at home before moving his family to Rutherford and establishing Sullivan in 1972. New owners took over in 2018 which involved investing in vineyard programs and plans are underway to build a state-of-the-art winery and hospitality facilities which was all led by entrepreneur Juan Pablo Torres-Padilla.

I love the new wines from the 2023 vintage. Check out the stunning 2023 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘J.O. Sullivan Founders Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) is a world-class Napa Cab with some serious potential. Learn more at https://sullivanwine.com and here are my reviews of the new 2023 wines by Sullivan Rutherford Estate.

2023 Sullivan Rutherford Estates ‘Coeur de Vigne’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘Coeur de Vigne’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a dense and polished bottling that is already drinking beautifully. Anise, creme de cassis and loamy soils all combine on the nose. The palate is well-structured and has terrific body and tension. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2023 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘J.O. Sullivan Founders Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘J.O. Sullivan Founders Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a total masterclass in this slightly cooler vintage. It stands inky in the glass, offering alluring black florals that combine with anise, cassis, pencil lead and shades of Turkish coffee that all take shape in the glass. The palate is seamless, heady and beautifully-structured with loads of salty and stony minerals. A joy to consume now, enjoy over the next two decades. Drink 2026-2046- 97

2023 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘J.O. Sullivan Founders Reserve’ Merlot- The stunning 2023 Sullivan Rutherford Estate ‘J.O. Sullivan’ Merlot is a world-class offering that is already drinking beautifully. Sandalwood tones combine with black rose petals, cigar ash and shades of creme de violette on the nose. The palate is heady and delicious as this seamlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Showing serious power and poise with a graphite edge, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2026-2044- 96

R|A Family Wines

The R/A Family Wines is all about a family partnership between the Reynvaan and Andrews families. Sourced from a newer planted site in the Rocks District, the wine is 100% Syrah from this cobblestone-laden location outside the town of Milton-Freewater. The J. David Vineyard is the source of R|A Family Wines and was named after J. David, the founder’s father. After identifying the site, they removed the original vines and replanted from the ground up, focusing on a Syrah program.

The new wine was a total stunner. The 2023 R/A Family Wines Syrah (OB, 97) is a total masterclass of texture, richness and stony essence. Matt Reynvaan did an incredible job with his Reyyvaan ‘23s and this wine shows the attention to detail that he afforded in this warm vintage. Learn more at https://rafamilywines.com/ and here is my review of the inaugural release by R|A Family Wines.

2023 R|A Family Wines Syrah- Sourced from this estate vineyard in the Rocks District, the 2023 R|A Family Wines Syrah is the inaugural release of this wine made by Matt Reynvaan. It comes up inky in the glass, offering iodine and beef dripping notes on the nose alongside umami, soy sauce and shades of black licorice. The intoxicating nose brings you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is luxurious and refined with a silky mouthfeel as this glides throughout the drinking experience. While not overtly rocky, the stony soil essence captivates, as does the litany of non-fruit savory flavors. A joy to consume now, watch this evolve over the next ten years — but no need to sleep on this beauty. Give it twenty minutes in the decanter if savoring in its heady youth. Drink 2026-2036- 97

Interview with CJ and Dr. Elise McCollum of McCollum Heritage 91 Wines

We have an electric interview with you today. One of the most exciting newer wine brands out of Oregon, McCollum Heritage 91is the brainchild of CJ and Dr. Elise McCollum. CJ is a former Portland Blazer legend and Dr. Elise is a dentist who have started this brand together. It is an exciting development that they have purchased a a 318-acre vineyard property in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. All wines are made by Gina Hennen, the talented winemaker at Adelsheim. I think you will really enjoy hearing CJ and Dr. Elise’s story in wine. Here is my exclusive interview with CJ and Dr. Elise McCollum of McCollum Heritage 91

OB: Can you talk about how you both met and how wine has impacted both of your lives?

CJ and E: Elise and I met in college through a mutual friend and have been together for almost half of our lives. We’ve been fortunate enough to explore the food and beverage industry all across the United States – from restaurants to wineries, this industry has given us some really unique experiences and opportunities to learn and grow in this space.
Wine has impacted our lives in so many ways. We’re very intentional about spending time in Oregon as a family and exploring different restaurants and wine shops all around the state. This alone is a more casual way how wine has influenced us – offering us different places, occasions, and people to experience it with. The impact clearly goes deeper than just enjoying wine together, as we’ve been able to immerse ourselves fully into the industry through our ownership and operation of McCollum Heritage 91. We enjoy working harvest together, watching our kids run around the vineyard playing in between the rows, eating grapes, and just being so present with nature – this has impacted our relationship as a couple, the experiences our kids are exposed to, and how we have a natural opportunity to slow down and reconnect in the midst of chaos.
Wine has obviously impacted us from a business standpoint as well. In addition to producing our portfolio of wines, we grow and sell fruit and also have the Ruby Nursery on property where we specialize in selling Japanese Maple Liners. This wouldn’t be possible without wine as the initial connector and passion builder.
Building our family legacy together, while operating our brand as a true team is what makes this all so special. We will always enjoy opening a bottle of wine together – I’ve always said we’ve never had a bad time together drinking wine and exploring. Even when we knew nothing about wine as college students, and well before our taste buds evolved, the time spent was always intentional. Love, family, land, and legacy are at the center of every decision we make. We’re proud of our journey and are so happy we’re able to intertwine our core pillars as we grow our family business together.

OB: Dr. Elise, can you talk about how you both found the large property in the Willamette Valley and what the planting project has been like? When can we expect an estate wine from the seven acres you both have planted?

CJ and E: The McCollum Heritage 91 property actually started out as a Christmas tree farm. When we purchased the land, there were zero vines planted, so we had to start from scratch. This was such a pivotal moment in our journey as it showed a true vision of what we could do, with an absolutely blank slate. When we visited the property, we immediately felt that sense of tranquility and calmness that initially drew us to the Willamette Valley. Despite it not previously being a vineyard site, we knew in our hearts that it would be a place that can bring just as much peace to others and bring to life our shared dream of our physical winery.
The next step for us was to ensure that the soil was ideal for our winegrowing plans - that meant extensive soil analyses across the entire property with our consulting winemaker Gina Hennen, so we could determine which areas were best suited for each of our clones. We made sure that there was a detailed plan of action, and the planting project has been a huge undertaking, but we wanted to be hands-on the entire way. Everything from row spacing, irrigation, to finding ways to protect the vines from wildlife, we made sure to play a big role in every aspect of building out the property and ensuring longevity along the way. This includes our commitment to being LIVE Certified across our estate vineyards and being true stewards of the land.
As of 2026, we have 56 acres planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, reflecting a harmony of innovation and respect for tradition. The 2024 vintage is our first vintage to include estate grown grapes, thoughtfully blended with fruit sourced from Adelsheim through our longstanding partnership. As we continue to look to the future of McCollum Heritage 91, we are inching towards our goal of an all-estate model. As the vines’ yields grow more consistent and mature, we are excited to reach this next milestone.

OB: CJ, you are a Portland Blazer legend and can you talk about your influences in wine? How did you fall in love with Oregon wine?

CJ and E: I wouldn’t be sitting here with a winery if it wasn’t for the influence of my first taste of Oregon wine, which happened to be a Walter Scott Pinot Noir from Bryan Creek. From there, there have been many influential forces in Elise and I’s wine journey – from wine appreciators to winery owners, each influence has been integral in our growth. Gina Hennen and the Adelsheim team have made an immense impact on our progression and helped make our dream a reality. Gina is someone who has been instrumental in our wine development and David Adelsheim has allowed us to learn, grow and explore consistently over the years alongside his team.
We’re huge fans of Kate Payne Brown’s winemaking style, along with Melissa Burr just to name a few. Wineries like Adelsheim, Granville Wine Co., Soter Vineyards, Sequitur and Stoller Family Estate have given us inspiration in different ways. More generally, we are also heavily inspired by Burgundy, which is mirrored a lot in the ecology of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, where McCollum Heritage 91 is located.
As I alluded to earlier, Walter Scott was my first introduction to Oregon wine and made an incredible impact on me, and later Elise when I shared a bottle with her. The depth and complexity shown through its volcanic soils ignited a deeper interest in wine, and Oregon wine specifically, that I didn’t know was there.
We fell in love with Oregon wine because of the land, the fruit, and the people. Living in Oregon for almost 10 years exposed us to the diversity, quality, and culture that we have come to fall in love with – a place that we consider home. The community in itself has been a big driver in our passion and growth in the industry – not just as a winery, but as individuals. The Oregon community has taught us, challenged us, and anchored us into a new chapter of life.
Oregon is our safe place and we love everything about it. There's an indescribable peace we have when we’re there and it’s immensely special to us.

OB: When you both are together, can you talk about some of your favorite wines of the world? What is your cellar like? Do you have any favorite food and wine pairings in particular?

CJ and E: If it isn’t already obvious, Pinot Noir will always be one of our favorite varietals to explore together. Whether those bottles are from Oregon or Burgundy or lesser-explored regions, we are always eager to see how other producers and regions are crafting our favorite grape. Together we often enjoy old world wines including Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Tuscany. We also drink a lot of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. My wife is a huge fan of Super Tuscans. However, lately, she has truly enjoyed Blanc De Blanc – we enjoy a glass of bubbles to start most meals when we are out. Our cellar itself has a little bit of everything – the diversity is something that is important to us as every occasion requires a different region, dictated by the mood and where we are. We have an Oregon-focused cellar which contains our favorite Oregon wines. We have a cellar we use to store some of our library wines. Then we have our personal cellar which stores the wines we’re currently drinking in rotation. Some specific producers include Beaux Frères, Blizzard Wines, Domaine Serene, Alexana Winery, Sequitur, Walter Scott, Patricia Green Cellars, Antica Terra, Domaine Drouhin, Chateau Latour, Chateau Prieure-Lichine, Chateau Margaux, and Louis Jadot, to name a few.
We often pair popcorn and Pinot as a late night snack once the kids are in bed and the day is winding down. In the summer time we drink a lot of sparkling wine, Chardonnay, and Rosè. Shrimp and Rosé was a staple during our time in New Orleans, and we often had a variety of fruit salad with Chardonnay with the hot weather.

HALL and WALT White Wines and Rose

You might know HALL for their Cabernets. But they make a killer range of wines outside of their world-class Cabernets. For years they have been producing one of the best Sauvignon Blanc wines for the price in the valley. HALL was founded in 1992 by visionaries Katheryn and Craig Hall, and over time they built one of Napa’s most beautiful, state of the art, wineries that is quite simply a must visit for any serious Napa enophile. This is one of the most fun, electric and beautiful spots to taste in the Napa Valley.

HALL also have two outstanding separate lines, WALT (focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) and BACA (focusing on Zinfandel) that are seriously good in their own right. These brands have performed remarkably well since their inception. I adore the new 2025 WALT Rose (OB, 92) which is fresh, viscous and shows a glorious range of red fruits. One of the most consistent wines in the HALL lineup has been the HALL 2025 ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 92) which offers amazing typicity and mouthfeel. Learn more about these great wines at hallwines.com Here are the fantastic new release wines by HALL.

2025 HALL ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The delicious and very juicy 2025 HALL ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc was stored in all stainless steel before bottling. Kiwi, starfruit and juicy sweet gooseberry notes collide with green melon and copious minerals on the palate. A gorgeous wine that is also a killer value, enjoy this beauty in the sun. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2025 WALT Rose- The 2025 WALT Rose was sourced from several locations for Pinot Noir throughout California. This is rich, beautifully-textured stuff with loads of cranberry, pomegranate seed and guava fruits alongside Mandarin orange zest. It is impossible to resist in its mineral-laden youth. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2024 WALT ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay- Soft, inviting and very delicious, the very saline-driven 2024 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay offers bright pear and brioche notes on the palate, with suggestions of cloves and cardamom. Medium to full-bodied with a smooth mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 93

2024 WALT ‘Sangiacomo Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The stunning 2024 ‘Sangiacomo’ utilizes Old Wente Clonal Selection Chardonnay. This is dense and unctuous stuff on the mouth, with terrific viscosity. It is loaded with citrus, melon and tropical fruits alongside shortbread notes on the palate. Showing glorious length, this has both the richness and finesse to enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 94

Approachment

It is my pleasure to share the wines of Approachment, founded byJessica and Paden West who have been in the industry for many years. Jessica started her wine path working in wine shops and tasting rooms. After learning the sales portion of the business, Jessica acquired an internship in 2013 at Bethel Heights Vineyard working directly with Winemaker Ben Casteel and viticulture master Mimi Casteel. Jessica then entered the NW Wine Studies program to earn her degree in Winemaking. Paden is originally from the Willamette Valley and began his path in wine just as Jessica did -by working in wine shops and tasting rooms. In 2010, Paden was offered an internship at Penner-Ash, managed by Winemaker Lynn Penner-Ash and Assistant Winemaker Brian Irvine. Paden serves as Benza head winemaker while Jessica makes the Approachment wines that show great poise and texture.

I love the new 2024 Approachment ‘Oregon’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which is soft and approachable stuff that offers some excellent value. Learn more at https://www.approachmentwines.com/ and here are my reviews of the great Approachment wines.

2023 Approachment ‘Oregon’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘Oregon’ Chardonnay shows off good flavor density with rich pear and melon flavors that combine with hints of beeswax on the palate. Delightful and lively with good freshness, enjoy now and over the next six plus years to come. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2024 Approachment ‘Oregon’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Oregon’ Pinot Noir shows some nice warmth of the vintage on the palate. Loaded with ripe strawberry, fig and Bing cherry flavors this is medium-bodied and juicy stuff that is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2023 Aproachment ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Grenache- The really good 2023 Aproachment ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Grenache comes off wonderfully fruity, wit ha generous core of red fruits. With more air iron and tar notes evolve alongside white pepper and green olives on the palate. A gorgeous wine that is very complex and seamless, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 94

2023 Approachment ‘Wicked Garden’ Syrah- The 2023 ‘Wicked Garden comes from Block 50 in the Les Collines Vineyard. This has outstanding stony undercurrents with soy sauce, beef drippings and bright dark fruits that combine with its refined mouthfeel. Enjoy Nowa and over the next decade. Drink 2026-2036- 93

Corollary

It is my pleasure to share one of the hottest Oregon Sparkling Wine brands on the scene. Corollary began with the 2017 vintage and has been an immediate success. They have new land in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA where they have now Oregon’s first privately-owned property dedicated exclusively to sparkling wines.  This is a spectacular, dramatic and very windswept location to visit and taste wine.

The wines are geeky and made with intension. I think that this is the first lineup yet. The 2021 Corollary ‘X-Omni Vineyard Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 96) shows off the beautiful richness of the vintage and has immense power, flavor range, finesse and sterling tension. It is one of the great Oregon sparkling wines that I have tasted in the past year. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://corollarywines.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Corollary.

2021 Corollary ‘X-Omni Vineyard Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- A stunning wine from this warmer vintage, the 2021 Corollary ‘X-Omni Vineyard Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine spent more than three years on the lees before disgorgement. Only 93 cases made, this is composed from a whopping 17 clones of Chardonnay at this famed site. This comes off dense on the tongue, with a refined mousse and glorious sense of tension. It is loaded with green melon and citrus fruits that combine with suggestions of chalky soils, making this bottling very Mesnil meets Oregon. A unique wine that finishes exceedingly long on the tongue, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2040- 96

2021 Corollary ‘Namaste Vineyard Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- The 2021 ‘Namaste Vineyard’ is all Chardonnay from this location in the Van Duzer Corridor. Lemon oil, ripe fig and suggestions of candied ginger all combine on the palate, with diatom nuances. The flinty undertones and loads of freshness really make this shine. Very tension-filled and showing great length, this is quite simply a stunning, very geeky bottling that will appeal to Michelin Star somms across the globe. Drink 2026-2040- 95

2022 Corollary ‘Cuvee One Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The 2022 Corollary ‘Cuvee One Brut’ Sparkling Wine was sourced from a range of locations in the Willamette Valley including the Lonesome Rock and X Omni Vineyards. The final blend was a novel combination of 42% Chardonnay, with 38% Pinot Noir and the remainder Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc. It is best served on the warmer side to take in the thrilling range of flavors and aromatics. Soft on the mouth, this has intriguing nutty tones from the Pinot Blanc as well as rich melon fruits, with salted kumquat and sourdough bread notes. This is gorgeous stuff that is a steal at 50 bucks SRP. Grab a case while you can. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2022 Corollary ‘Momtazi Vineyard Extra Brut’ Rose Sparkling Wine- The outstanding 2022 Corollary ‘Momtazi Vineyard Extra Brut’ Sparkling Wine is shining brightly in its vibrant youth. A killer melange of red and citrus fruits greets you alongside shades of white peach on the palate. Rich and polished, don’t serve too warm! Drink 2026-2036- 94

2022 Corollary ‘Cuvee One Extra Brut’ Rose Sparkling Wine- An amazing, nervy new release, the 2022 ‘Cuvee One’ Rose comes from a range of sites throughout the valley, including 31.25% Twelve Oaks Pinot Meunier (Chehalem Mountains AVA) and 18.75% Lonesome Rock Pinot Noir. Wild mushroom, red raspberry, walnut and hints of cran-pomegranate all combine with salty and rocky soil nuances. Soft and elegant with a silky mousse, enjoy this gorgeous wine now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2026-2033- 94

Review: The Somm Hotel: Fresh New 4.5 Star Hotel in Woodinville

It was a fabulous stay at the brand new Somm Hotel, located in the heart of Woodinville. This hotel has been now open for several months but this was my first chance to do a thorough review. Let’s just say that my visit did not disappoint. The stay left little doubt that this is the best hotel in Woodinville.
We checked in and then made our way to our room, located on the 3rd floor.

The room faced north and had a little view. I love the motif of the check-in area with bottle punts everywhere as an ingenious light feature. This is exactly the kind of thing that you would like to see in Woodinville Wine Country.

The room itself was a spacious corner suite with a pull-out bed that was perfect for our 3 year old. This room would be a great option of you are traveling with one or two kids. The main living room space leads into the bathroom and then the bedroom.

I loved the comfort of the bed. I slept like a baby and my wife did as well.

The room design makes sense for maximizing space. The bathroom was relatively smaller but had a large shower and really nice minimalist design. I decided to open up some fancy wine from my cellar, an older bottle of Cayuse ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ Viognier. It did not disappoint!

Cayuse shows here why they are making some of the best wines in North America. We decided to go downstairs and explore the bar area and eventually dine on the early side. There is a rather grand entrance to the bar with a long hallway leading to an exceptionally modern and well-appointed space. This place can get really busy and it was a Friday so it was already getting busy.

We sat down and ordered some chicken wings, This was now the second time that we had tried these and I can assure you that they were every bit as good as the photo depicts. They have homemade ranch that they serve it with as well that is lights out. The wings themselves are very large.

It was now time to head into the restaurant. I had brought a special wine from my collection, a 2017 Bordeaux from Chateau Phelan Segur. This wine had been opened for a day and was really singing by the time we had a chance to taste it.

Phelan Segur is consistently making some of the best wines from its area for the price and this one was in a great spot. It was also a terrific food wine as I didn’t want to order anything that wouldn’t match the food well.

These were very lightly coated with breading and were delicious. One of the best things I had was their Cesar salad which came a delicious homemade dressing. This was a lights out edition with a lot of textures.

We had ordered more foods and had a hard time deciding for our mains. Now would be a good time to mention the service at their restaurant, Bin 47.

They did such a good job managing everything and our kid as well. They were just delightful and things came out with clockwork cadence. I decided to try a great new wine from Rujaya. They have some impressive new wines that are featured at Bin 47.

The restaurant has an expensive wine list, so you are best staying away from champagne and sparkling wines. Washington wines are extensively featured but are also very expensive — in some cases like Dunham ‘Trutina’ having a 4X markup. They could improve this area.

Food quality was consistently great. We even had a visit from their chef, Chef Max, and it was great to see him. He has certainly done an amazing job curating the food program. Temperatures and portion sizes were great as well. The steak was extremely well-cooked and tender. This was one of the stars of the show for me and also a marvelous pairing with my 2017 Bordeaux.

BOTTOM LINE:

The Somm Hotel is an exceptional new hotel in Woodinville. There were very few quirks or things that I think they should have done better. The only one gripe would be the wine mark-up in the restaurant is exceedingly high. The restaurant easily makes up for that with food quality and you can easily bring your own wine.

The room was well-appointed and also a fun environment to stay. They were super accommodating to our 3 year old. We all had an amazing time and it was a stay to remember.

Iterum

Today we share the wines ofJoe Dobbes who has a longstanding history in the Oregon wine industry. Dobbes has a new brand that focuses on wines from his at his Orchard House estate the Eola-Amity Hills AVA as well as several other vineyards.

The Orchard House estate was purchased in 2018 and the site has Sauvignon Blanc which was first planted in 2021. The wines were seriously good across the board. I adored the new 2022 ‘Eola Bench’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is dense and fleshy stuff that is drinking marvelously right now. Learn more about this outstanding house at https://iterumwines.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Iterum wines.

2022 Iterum ‘Orchard House Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Rich and layered, the 2022 ‘Orchard House Vineyard’ Chardonnay offers pie crust, baking spices and peaches on the palate alongside a refined mouthfeel. Full-boided with terrific flavor density, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 93

2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Symonette Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Symonette Vineyard’ Pinot Noir does from a location that is set on well-drained Nekia soils, as the wine combines equal parts Wadenswil and Pommard clonal selections. Red florals and shades of fresh sage and black truffles all mark the nose. The palate is round and generous, loaded with finesse and stony minerals, with outstanding flinty character and a deep core of loganberry and Bing cherry fruits. Drink 2026-2040- 94

2022 Iterum ‘Eola Bench’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Eola Bench’ comes from both the Orchard House and Symonette as well as the Eola Springs Vineyards. Soils at these sites vary greatly from Nekia to marine sedimentary. This is rich, powerful and complex Pinot Noir, offering loads of red and dark fruits on the palate, with cloves, peat moss and suggestions of wintergreen. Delicious to consume now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2040- 94

2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Eola Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Eola Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this location planted back in 2011 and set on a range of soil types in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This is powerful and seamless stuff throughout the drinking experience. A glorious core of red fruits greets you alongside exotic spice and salty soil nuances on the palate. Drink 2026-2040- 95

2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Arlyn Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Arlyn Vineyard’ Pinot Noir had a small about of whole cluster fermentation and comes fro this site planted in 2014 in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. It is dense but also nervy on the tongue with racy acidity. Wild blackberry, black tea and Middle Eastern spice notes combine on the palate with salty soils and great nerve. Heady and delicious, with a great push/pull of stony/salty nuances, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2040- 95

2022 Iterum ‘Orchard House Estate Clone 114’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2022 Iterum ‘Orchard House Estate Clone 114’ Pinot Noir is a single clonal selection that had a small amount of whole cluster fermentation. Vines from this location in the vineyard are set on primarily volcanic soils. The terroir here is evident with wet rock nuances that combine with vibrant red fruits, cardamom and shades of milk chocolate and sandalwood on the palate. A glorious wine from this slightly cooler vintage, this has the weight and nerve to cellar for two decades. Drink 2026-2043- 95

2022 Iterum ‘Orchard House Estate Clone 115’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Iterum ‘Orchard House Estate Clone 115’ Pinot Noir comes from this vineyard location set on Jory and Nekia soils. This is heady stuff with potpourri on the nose alongside cloves, peat moss and shades of red raspberry. The palate is lush and ripe with a refined texture and good sense of weight. A gorgeous wine that has a long way to go in the cellar, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2040- 95

2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Quailhurst Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Quailhurst Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is loaded with earthy character. Ripe and round on the mouth, this shows off damp earth and white truffle flavors that combine with rocky and salty nuances alongside a core of tart black fruits. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2040- 94

De Lancellotti

For years I have admired the wines by De Lancellotti. This is an outstanding, remarkably consistent house that is producing pretty, beautifully textured Pinot Noir. Paul and Kendall de Lancellotti founded their own winery nearly two decades ago. They chose to plant their own vineyard in 2001 which was 16 acre Chehalem Mountain parcel focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It was 2005 when this house started, utilizing the winemaking talents of Robert Brittan who serves as consulting winemaker and works with Paul to craft the wines together.

The new wines come from the warmer 2024 vintage. They are round, generous and remarkably consistent. I love the 2024 De Lancellotti ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which has tons of cellaring potential and comes of pretty, round and generous. Learn more about these great wines at  http://www.delancellottifamilyvineyards.com/ Here are the great new wines by de Lancellotti.

2024 De Lancellotti ‘Famiglia’  Pinot Noir- Sourced from their estate vineyard on Calkins Lane, the 2024 ‘Famiglia’ was stored for 24 months in only 20% new French oak before bottling. It opens with red rose petals and potpourri notes alongside orange peel and shades of bergamot. The palate is lush and rich with a terrific mouthfeel and good sense of length, with bright underlying acidity. Fresh and viscous, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2024 De Lancellotti ‘Onelia’ Pinot Noir  The 2024 ‘Ornelia’ was named after Paul DeLancellotti’s Italian grandmother as this comes from the upper block at their estate vineyard. Also aged for 24 months in roughly 20% new French oak, this shows off kumquat rind and cigar box notes on the nose alongside bright red fruits and hints of dark florals. The palate is lush and shows plenty of freshness alongside excellent length and salinity. The push-pull between red and dark fruits grips you, as this viscous gem is already drinking beautifully in its heady youth. Drink 2026-2041- 94

2024 De Lancellotti ‘La Corsia’ Pinot Noir- Named after Calkins Lane, the 2024 ‘La Corsia’ utilizes clone 667 from their estate vineyard. This saw a touch more new French oak (30%) and is rich and layered on the mouth, with a good acid backbone. Red rose water combines with orange peel and salty minerals on the palate. The combination of red fruit core and salinity really drives this outstanding wine. Drink 2026-2038- 93

2024 De Lancellotti ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Estate’ is all clone 777 Pinot Noir from this location in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. It combines a glorious melange of red and dark fruits alongside flavors of peat moss, stony minerals and cedar. Medium to full-bodied with terrific weight and length, enjoy this texturally elegant Pinot Noir now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 94

2024 De Lancellotti ‘Elisabetta Reserve’ Chardonnay- A gorgeeous limited production bottling, the 2024 ‘Elisabetta Reserve’ comes from two clonal selections in the De Lancellotti Estate Vineyard. Stored in 40% new FRneech oak this opens with a beautiful bouquet of cloves, pastry crust and shades of lemon zest with nutty nuances. The palate is lush and mineral-laden with terrific freshness. Enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 94  

2025 De Lancellotti ‘Pinot Nero Bianco’ White Pinot Noir- A really good new wine, the 2025 ‘Pinot Nero Blanco’ comes from their estate vineyard and is all 777 Pinot Noir clone. This was stored in a small amount of new French oak (10%) and offers walnut and shades of damp earth on the palate alongside copious minerals and citrus as well as melon fruits. Quite complex and delicious, with a soft mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years to come. Drink 2026-2032- 92

Lynmar Estate

Today we share an outstanding producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir out of Sonoma. Lynn Fritz was a youth swimming champion, and founder of an international logistics company, as well as the 40-year proprietor of Lynmar Estate. His wife Anisya Fritz is equally as impressive, moving to the United States from India to attend college at age seventeen. She earned her BA, MA and PhD in business strategy and was a business school professor at twenty five. Her academic research led to her work with Lynn on delivering international humanitarian aid, and then to her life at Lynmar.

The new wines are made by Pete Soergel, who is both winemaker and general manager. Soergel is a third-generation farmer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who grew up tending to apple orchards and working in all aspects of his family’s farm business. The wines he made were seriously good and I love the 2021 ‘Quail Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is opulent and rich with serious texture. Learn more at https://lynmarestate.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Lynmar wines.

2022 Lynmar Estate ‘Susanna’s Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Golden in the glass, the 2022 Lynmar Estate ‘Susanna’s Vineyard’ Chardonnay this location in the Green Valley, as this was stored in 42% new French oak for 16 months before bottling. It is layered and concentrated with butterscotch and lemon zest flavors alongside shades of mango on the palate. Drink 2026-2032- 92

2021 Lynmar Estate  ‘Quail Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The energetic and rich 2021 Lynmar Estate  ‘Quail Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this location at their estate that encompasses 16 separate blocks. Deeply perfumed this starts off with loganberry preserves, black florals and shades of cran-cola on the nose. The palate is lush and rich with loads of salty soil character. A gorgeous wine that is powerful and concentrated, and loaded with black and red fruits. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2026-2036- 94

Rujaya

It isn’t everyday that I stumble upon world-class inaugural wines. Such is the case with the latest from Rujaya that are a seriously impressive new lineup — and the most impressive new winery from Washington that I have tasted in the past year.

At the helm is Benedict Almquist who has a longstanding history in the industry. For nearly a decade he worked alongside his cousin at Almquist Family Vintners in Seattle, and then in 2018 became their resident winemaker. Since spring of 2023, Benedict worked as assistant winemaker at Darby Winery in Woodinville, WA. He found his inspiration in a bottle of FX Pichler Riesling from the Wachau Valley, Austria and became infatuated with world-class Riesling. He has crafted a beauty, his 2023 ‘Dry’ Riesling (OB, 93) which comes from three storied sites in Washington. This is dense and layered stuff with serious texture. Learn more about this electric new winery at https://rujayawinery.com/ and here are my reviews of the inaugural wines from Rujaya.

2023 Rujaya ‘Dry’ Riesling- The 2023 Rujaya ‘Dry’ Riesling comes from the Red Willow, Olsen and Evergreen Vineyards. It was stored in mainly neutral oak barrels for 28 months prior to bottling, offering green tea and white rose aromatics that combine with shades of kumquat rind and green melon. The palate is dense and lush with a silky mouthfeel and great sense of weight and length. Stunning and delicious, make sure to not serve too warm. Drink 2026-2033- 93

2025 Rujaya Rose- Made from Grenache grapes, the 2025 Rujaya Rose shows off a soft mouthfeel on the tongue. This is both ripe and mineral-laden with delicate cranberry and pomegranate fruits that combine with Mandarin orange zest and copious stony minerals on the palate. A great Rose bottling, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2031- 92

2024 Rujaya ‘Chillable Red’ Red Wine- The 2024 ‘Chillable Red’ is made from equal parts Grenache and Riesling grapes. It comes off round and generous on the mouth and should not be served too cold to take in the beautiful textural elements. Layers of juicy red raspberry and Yakima cherry fruits combine with hints of star jasmine water on the palate. Drink 2026-2031- 92

2022 Rujaya ‘Apinya Royal Slope’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Apinya Royal Slope’ comes from the northwest corner of the Stillwater Creek in Block 2, set at 1500 feet elevation. Fresh sage, pulled pork shoulder and shades of orange peel and red licorice all collide on the nose. The palate is juicy and delicious with a refined mouthfeel and loads of red and black fruits with peppered bacon and green herbal accents. This is refined, elegant Syrah that has both the weight and structure to age well over the next decade. Drink 2026-2036- 93

2022 Rujaya ‘Apinya Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The fabulous 2022 Rujaya ‘Apinya Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah was sourced from the Borderlands Vineyard which is set on cobbly loam soils. This is loaded with stony minerals and river rock on the palate alongside seaweed, soy sauce, tar and green herbs. Lush and medium to full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Well-done to winemaker Benedict Almquist. Drink 2026-2034- 94

Holocene

Today we share an electric winery out of Oregon that was founded back in 2015. Holocene was started by Todd and Carrie Alexander to craft limited production and single vineyard bottlings out of Oregon. They work with some of the most enticing sites in the Willamette Valley. Todd Alexander has done a remarkable job with this program. The wines have beautiful texture and outstanding flavor range. They are rich and well-structured wines that are build to age for a decade or more. They have now added several new SKUs on their Pinot Noir program including a world-class wine from the Sonoma Coast AVA.

Check out the 2024 Holocene ‘Memoralis’ Pinot Noir (OB, 97) which is so pretty with its glorious core of red and dark fruits alongside salty nuances. Learn more about this awesome Oregon outpost at http://holocenewines.com Here are the beautiful new release wines by Holocene. 

2024 Holocene ‘Carson Phillips Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 Holocene ‘Carson Phillips Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this site in the Dundee Hills AVA owned by Grant Phillips. A range of clonal selection Pinot Noir combine here, as this was all whole-cluster fermented and then aged in 15% new French oak prior to bottling. A beautiful wall of dark fruits greets you on the palate, alongside terrific stony character. Showing excellent verve, and wafts of black truffle compote, enjoy this beautiful, heady Dundee Hills Pinot now and over the next twelve plus years to come. Drink 2026-2038- 96

2024 Holocene ‘Abigail’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 Holocene ‘Abigail’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is the first Sonoma Coast AVA bottling in this collection of wines. This site was planted back in 1992 to Martini clone and set on Goldridge soils. It is deep, perfumed and concentrated stuff with great salty character. Forward cran-cola and salted blood orange zest flavors combine with excellent freshness and a dense mouthfeel. The mouth-watering acidity brings you back to the glass, as this is best enjoyed now and over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2026-2038- 96

2024 Holocene ‘Memorialis’ Pinot Noir-A beautiful wine from a warm vintage, the 2024 Holocene ‘Memorialis’ Pinot Noir was entirely whole-cluster fermented, coming from this organically farmed, western-facing site in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Aged in a small amount of new French oak barrels, this has five different clones blended in. Right away this opens with bright tangerine zest and potpourri notes on the nose alongside a dusting of white pepper and sandalwood accents. The palate is lush and fresh with a silky mouthfeel and great flavor density. Neatly-weighted, with outstanding length and a terrific melange of red and dark fruits, alongside damp earthy accents, enjoy now and over the next twelve plus years to come. Drink 2026-2038- 97

2024 Holocene ‘Perigree’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Perigree’ is all 777 Pinot Noir clone from a single vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA planted back in 2000. Only 51 cases made, this location is set on Willakenzie soils and comes off wonderfully salty, loaded with texture and salty nuances. Bright pomegranate and Bing cherry fruits collide with salted orange peel and wintergreen accents on the palate. Round and generous with a terrific texture and loads of freshness, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2038- 96

Chosen Family Wines

Today we share an electric brand out of Oregon, founded by NBA legends. Chosen Family is the brainchild of former NBA star Channing Frye. Frye has utilized the winemaking skills of top winemakers such as Jackson Holstein, Chase Renton and Thomas Savre. NBA all-star Kevin Love joined the business a few years back. Love is an Oregon basketball legend, who is still playing for the Utah Jazz. Frye is deeply passionate about wine and has a great knowledge of Oregon wine. I have really enjoyed talking basketball and wine with him.

I love the new Chosen Family wines.  I adored the new 2024 ‘C&K Select’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is an amazing wine for the price. earn more about these great new wines at chosenfamilywines.com Here are my reviews of the new Chosen Family wines.

2024 Chosen Family ‘C&K Select’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2024 Chosen Family ‘C&K Select’ Chardonnay was stored in mainly neutral oak before bottling. It shows up golden in the glass, offering a silky texture with good nerve. Pastry crust and shades of cardamom drenched peaches combine with salty minerals and kumquat rind on the palate. Complex and delicious with good length, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 93

2022 Chosen Family ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay comes from the Chehalem Mountains AVA and was made by Jackson Holstein. It is heady and wonderfully reductive with its flinty notes on the palate. Layers of tropical, melon and citrus fruits all collide with copious minerals and a great push/pull between saline and stony nuances. This is a stunning new Chardonnay that is already beautifully evolved. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2022 Chosen Family ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- Another gorgeous edition of this wine, the 2022 ‘Reserve’ by Chosen Family exudes class in this slightly cooler vintage. Once on the nose this takes on layers of  exotic spices and pine needles that combine with a killer melange of red and dark fruits. The palate is lifted and refined with a seamless mouthfeel, as this is exceedingly smooth throughout the drinking experience. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 94

2024 Chosen Family ‘C&K Select’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 Chosen Family ‘C&K Select’ Pinot Noir opens with gorgeous red rose petals and potpourri notes alongside Linzer torte and shades of peat moss on the nose. The palate is lush and round with refined tannins and loads of bright red fruits with bergamot and forest floor accents. Beautifully weighted, it is complex and delicious stuff to enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 93

Kosta Browne

Today we share a legendary producer of California Pinot Noir. Kosta Browne began with Dan Kosta and Michael Browne who started out working at a local restaurant in 1997. Short on funds, Michael developed relationships with key growers in Northern California, while Dan, along with the help of a third partner, Chris Costello, worked to market and sell the wines. In 2011 Kosta Browne jumped on the world stage as they were named Wine Spectator’s #1 Wine of the Year with their 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.

Winemaker Julien Howsepian has been at the helm now for five years. I’ve loved these wines over the years and the new outstanding releases come from the slightly cooler 2023 vintage. I adore the 2023 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which has plenty of salty red fruits with stony undercurrents. The Pinots start at $120.00 SRP. Learn more about this outstanding winery at kostabrowne.com and here are my reviews of the new Kosta Browne wines.

2023 Kosta Browne ‘Mt. Carmel’ Pinot Noir- Heady and delicious, with great rocky character the 2023 Kosta Browne ‘Mt. Carmel’ Pinot Noir offers potpourri and bay leaf notes that combine with kumquat zest and marionberry notes. The palate is rich and generous with serious nerve. Showing plenty of mouth-watering acidity and weight, as well as length, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2023 Kosta Browne ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Kosta Browne ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this location in the Santa Lucia Highlands as this utilizes clones 777, 828 and Pisoni. It offers aromatics of purple flowers and mandarin orange rind alongside sweet pipe tobacco and cola notes. The palate is lush and round on the mouth with great freshness and richness. Drink 2026-2041- 95

2023 Kosta Browne ‘Gap’s Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- A show-stopping new Pinot Noir, the 2023 Kosta Browne ‘Gap’s Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this site that neighbors the Pacific Ocean. This wine was sourced from ten vineyard blocks and it comes off plush and mineral-laden on the tongue. A gorgeous melange of red and dark fruits greets you alongside salty and rocky soils and plenty of mouth-watering acidity. A joy to consume now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2041- 96

2023 Kosta Browne ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- Powerful and heady, with serious texture, the 2023 Kosta Browne ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir comes from mainly the Gap’s Crown and Marshall Vineyards. It is loaded with sea salt dusted red fruits that mingle well with tobacco and orange peel notes. Showing outstanding weight and length, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2026-2041- 95

Phelps Creek

Today we share an outstanding producer of the Columbia Gorge AVA. Phlelps Creek founder Bob Morus serves as President and Director of Winegrowing. He moved to Hood River in 1989 with the expressed goal of raising both wine grapes and kids. The estate vineyard consists of 36 acres of vines planted mainly to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

I really enjoy the latest from Phelps Creek. Lauren O’Brien serves as winemaker, having formerly served as enologist at K Vintners. Check out the delicious 2023 Phelps Creek ‘Columbia Gorge’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is beautifully textured and weighted stuff. Learn more about these great new wines at https://www.phelpscreekvineyards.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Phelps Creek.

2025 Phelps Creek ‘Gorge Crest’ Gewurtztraminer- The beautiful and nervy 2025 Phelps Creek ‘Gorge Crest’ Gewurtztraminer offers ripe nectarine and green melon notes alongside baking spices and papaya on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2026-2031- 91

2023 Phelps Creek ‘Columbia Gorge’ Chardonnay- The really good 2023 Phelps Creek ‘Columbia Gorge’ Chardonnay comes off fat and round on the tongue. Loads of melon and tropical fruits fill the palate alongside a seamless texture and stony mineral accents. Drink 2026-2031- 92

2025 Phelps Creek ‘Fleur de Roy’ Pinot Noir Rose- The outstanding 2025 Phelps Creek ‘Fleur de Roy’ Pinot Noir Rose offers plenty of tension on the mouth with delicate red fruits and satsuma orange zest. Light and flinty, with a soft mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2031- 91

2024 Phelps Creek ‘Le Petit’ Pinot Noir- The 2025 ‘Le Petit’ is lean and linear with juicy red fruits alongside tar and orange peel accents. Drink now. Drink 2026-2030- 89

WeatherEye Vineyard

Today we share the wines from one of the unique sites in North America. The WeatherEye Vineyard has become one of the outstanding sites in Washington for Rhone and Bordeaux varietals. Wines from this site are wild, herbal, salty and stony. This remote, northern-facing location on Red Mountain is unlike anything that you see from Washington State. They have a new winemaker as Louis Skinner worked on the final blends of the 2023 whites and reds. Ryan Johnson meticulously farms this site that is filled with sage, yarrow and loads of herbs. The herbal character in the wine is outstanding.

The range of new wines is astonishingly good. Tasting with Skinner we were both so impressed with the white wines from both ’22 and ’23. These were a revisit and are some of the finest white wines you will taste in the Pacific Northwest. They are fleshy, dense and delicious bottlings with terrific freshness and great salty minerality. Learn more at https://www.weathereyevineyard.com/ and here are my reviews of the 2023 white wines by WeatherEye.

2022 WeatherEye Vineyard Clairette- Sourced from two sites in the vineyard, the 2022 WeatherEye Vineyard Clairette shows great florals with nutty nuances and ripe pear on the nose. The palate is dense and delicious with a terrific mouthfeel and seamless texture with glorious length. A delicious bottling that has some great flavor density and nuance, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 96

2023 WeatherEye Clairette- The 2023 Clairette was stored on the lees for 20 months in neutral oak barrels before bottling. This comes off marvelously nutty with rich melon and shades of papaya on the nose. The palate is rich and dense with serious tension and texture, with loads of salty and stony nuance, alongside white rose water accents. Drink 2025-2035- 96

2022 WeatherEye Roussanne- The 2022 Roussanne was stored in 30% new French oak with the remainder amphora and neutral oak for 10 months before bottling. Bright honeydew melon fruits combine with honeycomb, lychee and pineapple notes on the nose. The texture is insanely good with good freshness and beautiful sense of weight. Finishing exceedingly long, this is a heady, dense and delicious Roussane bottling that is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2026-2034- 97

2023 WeatherEye Roussanne- The 2023 Roussanne was also stored in a combination of amphora and oak before bottling.  Very golden in the glass, this offers sinfully good aromatics of lemon peel, candied apricot and suggestions of papaya on the nose. The palate comes off weightless, offering supreme concentration and depth without coming off heavy. Opulent and dense, enjoy this electric wine now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2035- 97

2023 WeatherEye Marsanne- The 2023 Marsanne was fermented in a combination of amphora and oak, and then was stored on its lees 20 months until bottling in summer 2025. This offers Macadamia nut on the nose alongside cantaloupe, white peach and hints of ginger. The palate is beautifully-weighted with loads of sea salt and tension. A glorious wine to enjoy now, with serious depth and flavor density, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 97

l2022 WeatherEye ‘L’Atomique’ White Wine- The 2022 ‘L’Atomique’ combines Viognier (36%) with 32% Roussanne and the remainder Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Marsanne. This was unfined and unfiltered. This is a massive white wine that is gorgeous to consume right now. Tangerine zest, lemon curd, almond paste and shades of mango all combine on the palate. Refined and deep, with serious concentration, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2036- 97

2023 WeatherEye ‘L’Atomique’ White Wine- The 2023 L’Atomique White combines 36% Viognier, with 32% Roussanne, 22% Grenache Blanc, and the remainder Clairette and Marsanne. Stored in a combination of one used 600L barrel and one new 228L barrel, this exudes class aromatically offering crushed seashell and nectarine on top of white florals and suggestions of lychee. The palate is powerful and dense with serious concentration and a great melange of citrus, melon and tropical fruits. Unfined and unfiltered, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 96

2022 WeatherEye Grenache- The 2022 Grenache comes from several parcels in the estate, including one dramatic site near the top of the vineyard. Once on the nose this takes on red rose petals, kumquat rind, Middle Eastern spices, pulled pork and shades of Linzer torte. The palate is silky and refined with serious texture, weight and length. Dense and weightless, with bright underlying acidity, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 97

2022 WeatherEye Mourvedre- The 2022 WeatherEye Mourvedre comes from two separate parcels in the vineyard, as this is 100% varietal that was stored in mainly neutral oak before bottling. Inky in the glass, this exudes class on the nose with garrigue, Hoisin sauce and shades of black plum alongside wintergreen accents. The flavor range is simply sumptuous.The palate is lush and mineral-laden with terrific tension and a glorious mouthfeel. Drink 2026-2036- 96

2022 WeatherEye Syrah- The 2022 WeatherEye Syrah had some stems added and is 100% varietal. Dried sage, white pepper dusted bacon, Black Forest cake tar and tobacco leaf all combine on the nose. The palate is dense and delicious with a seamless texture and lovely red and dark fruits with a smoky and savory edge. Drinking beautifully now, watch this evolve over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 96

2022 WeatherEye ‘Raven’s Share’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Ravens Share’ stands inky in the glass. Primarily Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this offers violets, creosote and red bell pepper on the nose with shades of sandalwood and chocolate cake. The palate is heady and delicious with serious depth and concentration. A total stunner, with herbal, chocolate and graphite nuances, drinking beautifully now and will continue to evolve over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2041- 97

2023 WeatherEye ‘Raven’s Share’ Red Wine- Dense, juicy and delicious, the 2023 WeatherEye ‘Raven’s Share’ Red Wine offers heady black fruits on the nose with scorched earth, wet rock and shades of sandalwood, with dried herbal accents. Full-bodied and delicious with a seamless texture, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 97

2022 WeatherEye Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 WeatherEye Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning wine that has a long life ahead of it. On the nose this exudes class with mocha, tar and black licorice alongside light green herbs. The palate is plush and lush with a terrific tension and loads of stony minerals and dried herbs alongside heady black and blue fruits. Drink 2026-2040- 97

2023 WeatherEye Cabernet Sauvignon- The dazzling 2023 WeatherEye Cabernet Sauvignon is a spectacular showing from this warm vintage. Once on the nose this takes on tar and roasted fig notes alongside espresso grounds, blueberry compote and shades of black licorice. Full-bodied and fat on the mouth with terrific acidity and length, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2026-2042- 98

2022 WeatherEye Tempranillo- Coming from a highly windy site, the 2022 WeatherEye Tempranillo offers blue fruits on the nose alongside garrigue, tar and shades of smoked brisket. The palate is lush and refined with an amazing texture and gorgeous sense of weight. Dense and decadent with an amazing acid backbone, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2026-2038- 97

2023 WeatherEye Tempranillo- Sourced from their estate vineyard high atop Red Mountain, the 2023 WeatherEye Tempranillo opens with a bouquet of black rose petals and tar alongside tobacco leaf and worn leather notes. The palate is round and generous with good underlying freshness. Very decadent in its glorious core of black and blue fruits, with milk chocolate dusted arabica bean and green herbal accents, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2038- 97

Force Majeure

Force Majeure

Today we share the fabulous wines of Force Majeure Vineyard. For years I have admired the beautiful range of wines from this house that include tension-filled Viognier to inky Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines I tasted were from former winemaker Todd Alexander. They were dense, inky and bold wines with incredible structure and aging potential

Alexander made clearly some of the state’s finest Rhone-inspired wines from 2022 which was a year that saw mixed results, with a late harvest and cooler temperatures. The top producers from this vintage made extraordinarily good wines. 2023 on the other hand is a more seamless vintage and also one that saw few 100 degree days. It was a moderately warm year and Alexander made some stunning wines from ’23. One of the best wines from ’23, the 2023 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) is one of the finest wines I have tasted from this estate. It is dense, powerful and bold — quintessential Red Mountain Cabernet. Learn more at https://forcemajeurevineyards.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Force Majeure. 

2022 Force Majeure ‘Parvata’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Parvata’ has considerably more Mourvèdre (50% v 39%) than the 2021 edition, with 29% Grenache and only 21% Syrah (compared to 46% in the ’21). This wine has gotten better and better since it was first made nearly ten years back. This CDP-inspired blend was stored in a limited amount of new French oak barrels prior to bottling. Smoked brisket and beef drippings with Umami all hit the nose alongside white pepper dusted blackberry and shades of wintergreen. The heady and complex aromatics are truly captivating. Silky and elegant throughout the drinking experience, this has to be the finest CDP-inspired blend made in Washington State.  A touch more elegant than the brooding ’21 edition, this might be a notch better — and certainly will cellar well for at least another fifteen years. Bravo! Drink 2026-2042- 98

2023 Force Majeure ‘Parvata’ Red Wine- Another stellar edition of this wine, the 2023 Force Majeure ‘Parvata’ Red Wine combines Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache from their estate vineyard on Red Mountain. Tar, garrigue and shades of loganberry combine with scorched earth notes on the nose. The palate is round and generous with similar viscosity than the ’22 and a touch less finesse. It is a total joy ton consume now with its lush texture and depth, as each working part sings in unison. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2040- 97

2022 Force Majeure Grenache- 100% varietal, this had a touch of stem inclusion and was stored in mainly neutral oak barrels before bottling. This is seamless throughout the drinking experience with a weightless appearance. Bright red fruits parade with orange peel, bergamot, smoke and lavender notes on the palate. A gorgeous wine to consume now, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2036- 96

2023 Force Majeure ‘Walla Walla’ Syrah- Another year, another super edition of this wine from a slightly warmer vintage. The 2022 ‘Walla Walla’ Syrah is viscous and dense with a seamless mouthfeel and loads of rocky/loamy soil character alongside medium to full-bodied kirsch and black plum notes, alongside black pepper dusted beef brisket on the palate. Seriously good now, watch this evolve over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 96

2022 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Syrah- A dizzying follow up to the 2021, the 2022 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Syrah was sourced from this 11 acre Red Mountain estate vineyard set on basalt deposits. The wine had 2% Viognier blended in and shows shades of creosote and beef drippings on the nose alongside suggestions of espresso grounds, black rose petals and suggestions of blueberry pie. The palate is rich, viscous and absolutely delicious, with sensational finesse and opulent concentration. This is next-level Syrah that will compete with the finest wines of its kind on the West Coast. Flirting with perfection, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2042- 99

2023 Force Majeure ‘Estate’ Tempranillo- One of the unique wines in Washington, the inky, bold and utterly delicious 2023 ‘Estate’ Tempranillo tastes unlike anything you will find on Red Mountain. It is tightly wound and highly structured, with great opulence and depth on the mid-palate. Concentrated fig and blueberry compote flavors collide with chocolate and graphite on the palate, with a slight herbal edge. Slightly tannic and a touch backwards now, this has a very long life ahead of it. Give this beauty another year in the bottle before consuming. Drink 2027-2040- 97

2022 Force Majeure ‘Epinette’ Red Wine- Mainly Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon blended in, the 2022 ‘Epinette’ offers mocha, tar and anise notes alongside red bell pepper on the nose. The palate is heady and dense with great freshness and tension. A joy to consume now, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2043- 98

2023 Force Majeure ‘Epinette’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Epinette’ is a Right Bank-inspired beauty that has a long life in front of it. On the nose this takes on dried herbs, sandalwood and decadent dark chocolate shavings with espresso ground accents. It is hedonistic and rich with a soft mouthfeel as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Watch this evolve over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2026-2043- 98

2022 Force Majeure ‘Walla Walla’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from vines set on cobblestones, the 2022 ‘Walla Walla’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers good freshness and texture with loads of stony character alongside soy sauce and dense dark fruits with good freshness. Drink 2026-2036- 95

2023 Force Majeure ‘Walla Walla’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Force Majeure ‘Walla Walla’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a terrific edition of this wine coming from old vines set on cobblestone soils. The rocky character on the mid-palate is seriously good, as soy sauce and beef dripping flavors combine with medium to full-bodied huckleberry and wild blackberry fruits. Delicious to consume now, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 96

2022 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The stunning 2022 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon is the best wine of the tasting. Once on the nose this takes on mocha, tar and tobacco leaf as well as creme de violette notes. The palate is plush and layered with tremendous acidity and freshness alongside granite and sandalwood notes. A world-class wine, enjoy now and overs the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2026-2043- 99

2023 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- One of the great wines made in 2023, the Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon is heady and intense, slightly better weighted and less poised than the fabulous ’22 edition. Once on the nose this takes on marionberry and black cherry compote aromas that combine with creosote, and shades of milk chocolate with sagebrush accents. The complex and downright delightful aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. This is bold and viscous with serious intensity, power and weight. Give this an hour in the decanter if enjoying in its full-throttle youth. Drink 2026-2044- 99