Force Majeure Vineyards

While I rarely post on a winery twice in two months, Force Majeure Vineyards has become a rare breed of Washington wine that will also be showing off their dazzling lineup at our 2019 Washington Wine Blog Critic’s Choice of Washington Event Feb 16th at the Columbia Tower Club.  Located on the steep upper slopes of Red Mountain, the Force Majeure Vineyard is set at 960 to 1,230 feet and is plated to Syrah and Grenache as well as Bordeaux varietals. Force Majeure recently purchased a small vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA to round out their collection of wines and have also purchased land at the North Fork of the Walla Walla river and will soon plant at that very special, steep-sloped site set on broken basalt. Superstar winemaker Todd Alexander came to partner with proprietors Paul and Susan McBride in 2014 which has transformed this winery. Todd was formerly the winemaker for Bryant Family Vineyard in the Napa Valley, one of the top producers of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. As Todd continues to immerse himself in Washington, these wines will only get better and better.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to try his 2016 wines which were all sourced from the Force Majeure Vineyard and I was absolutely blown away with the wines, starting with their entry level red bank style wine, the 2016 Parabellum ‘Alluvio’ Red Wine (WWB, 93). This is a seriously great Cabernet Franc based blend with serious richness, poise and wonderful herbal Cabernet Franc character. I highly recommend you seek out this wine as it offers some very serious value. Todd Alexander has also crafted one of the best Viogniers in Washington with his 2017 Force Majeure Vineyards Viognier (WWB, 94). The mouthfeel and texture combined with tension in the wine is just insanely good. I would also urge you all to seek this wine out before it is sold out. One of the best wines from North America that I have tried in the past year, the 2016 Force Majeure Vineyards ‘SJR Vineyard’ Syrah (WWB, 97) is also the best wine that I have sampled from this great vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA thus far. The mouthfeel is incredible here as the wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. This dazzling wine has incredible range and is a true heavyhitter.  Learn more about this great winery at  https://forcemajeurevineyards.com  Here are the beautiful new pre-release wines by Force Majeure

All 2019 Release Wines:

2016 Parabellum ‘Coulee’ Red Wine- This wine is a blend of 75% Syrah with the remainder Mourvedre. This shows good smoky character on the nose with green olive and copious dark fruits. The palate shows good richness with red cherry puree, black tea and anise with nice earthy tones. This is drinking pretty well right now. Drink 2019-2029- 92

2016 Parabellum ‘Alluvio’ Red Wine- A blend of primarily Cabernet Franc, the Parbellum ‘Alluvio’ shows beautiful red bell pepper with creme de cassis and Turkish coffee aromas that build in the glass. Refined and rich on on the mouth, there are ripe mocha, anise, sagebrush and red bell pepper puree flavors. Balanced and highly poised, with light tannins, this is a spectacular effort that will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2017 Force Majeure Viognier- The 2017 Force Majeure Viognier is a simply stunning Viognier by superstar winemaker, Todd Alexander. This Viognier was entirely sourced from their Red Mountain estate. The wine was aged in new oak (50%) for ten months prior to bottling. The wine shows very pretty aromatics of lychee, gooseberry and vanilla cream that continue to build in the glass following some air. The mouthfeel is simply stunning as the wine unveils a wonderful tension and saline streak. Lychee, ripe peach and Meyer lemon cream flavors all marvelously come together in the glass. Intense and showing incredibly well right now, this will cellar well for a decade but I would recommend that you enjoy this in its youth while the wonderful freshness remains. This is truly one of the best in Washington. Drink 2018-2025- 94

2016 Force Majeure ‘Parvata’ Red Wine- A blend of Syrah, Mourvedre and a touch Grenache, the 2016 ‘Parvata’ is a gorgeous wine at this juncture but has a long life ahead of it. This red blend was aged for 18 months in nearly all French oak prior to bottling. The nose shows nice smoky character with smoked pork shoulder, Hoisin sauce, blueberry compote and wild thyme. The aromatic range here his really good. The palate is plush and inviting showing good richness as well as excellent freshness. Black fruits mingle with blue fruits, chocolate, smoke and earthy terroir. The exceedingly long finish lingers. Drink 2018-2030- 94

2016 Force Majeure Syrah- The 2016 Force Majeure Syrah is a marvelous wine made by Todd Alexander that is already showing beautifully in its youth. Roughly 20% of this wine underwent while cluster fermentation. The Syrah was aged in 25% new oak for 18 months prior to bottling. The nose shows wonderful dark fruits with smoky character, sage, dark chocolate, and damp earth. The palate is exceedingly refined. Black tea, black forest cake, cigar ash and smoked brisket flavors with citrus rind undertones that all marvelously combine. There is a seamless quality to this wine that glides across the mid-palate. Seductive and rich, yet maintaining a wonderful elegance and an intriguing salinity, this is a simply tremendous bottling by Force Majeure. I would gather to say that this is up there with the best Red Mountain Syrah I have ever tasted. Drink 2018-2035- 95

2016 Force Majeure ‘SJR Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2016 Force Majeure ‘SJR Vineyard’ Syrah is one of the best Washington wines I have sampled over the past year. This simply awesome new Syrah was sourced from the esteemed SJR Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. The wine was fermented using native yeasts and then was aged in oak puncheons (50% new) for 18 months prior to bottling. While the Syrah was obviously given a good amount of oak treatment, this does not come off as particularly oaky. The wine shows serious range on the nose from green olive to bacon fat to blood orange rind to red cherry candy and guava puree. The beautiful aromatics bring you back to the glass for more pleasure. The texture to this wine borders ethereal and absolutely delights the senses once on the mouth. Black olive tapenade, wild blackberry cobbler, salted smoked pork shoulder, umami and touches of milk chocolate all come together marvelously. This is just stunning wine that marvelously showcases this great vineyard. Drink 2018-2030- 97

2016 Force Majeure Cabernet Sauvignon (August 2019 release)- The 2016 Force Majeure Cabernet Sauvignon is a tour de force in Washington Cabernet Sauvignon. This gorgeous wine was aged for 22 months in 80% new French oak prior to bottling. The nose is intense with light oak undertones with black fruits, creme de cassis, mocha and tar. The palate is exceedingly soft and plush revealing a silky texture and wonderful seamless quality. Toasty oak beautifully wraps around creme de cassis, blackberry cordial, Turkish coffee, creosote and chocolate covered dark cherry flavors. This is exceptionally rich and moderately tannic at this stage but shows a really good elegance as well as varietal typicity. Try to give this beautiful wine some more time to fully evolve — but if enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this at least a two hour decant. Drink 2020-2040- 96

2016 Force Majeure ‘Epinette’ Red Wine (August 2019 release)- The 2016 ‘Epinette’ is a seductive blend of 46% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch Petit Verdot. You are immediately intrigued by the intense bouquet of this wine which shows violets, blackberry cordial, dark chocolate shavings, Turkish coffee and anise. The beautiful aromas compel you back to the glass for more. The palate is plush and exceedingly rich, showing an inviting mouthfeel.  Black tea, Asian spice, mocha and creme de cassis flavors all entice. Moderately tannic, try to give this at least two more years to fully evolve as this wine will only get better with some time. Drink 2020-2040- 95

Interview with Sarah Marquis, Mollydooker Wines CEO and Winemaker

Friends, today we bring you one of the biggest interviews that we have produced for Washington Wine Blog. It is my great pleasure to share with you my exclusive interview with one of the great faces and talents in wine, Sarah Marquis. Sarah has an inspiring story in wine and was recently named 2018 Owner/Operator of the Year at the Australian Women in Wine Awards. She has helped create one of the most successful wine brands not only in Australia but the world of wine, Mollydooker. I’ve met Sarah on several occasions and have found her to be humble and highly passionate and charismatic. She is simply a delightful person to talk wine with. I have admired these wines since the winery’s inception in 2005 and I think you will very much enjoying hearing more about Sarah’s story. Here is my interview with Sarah Marquis, Mollydooker Wines CEO and winemaker. 

WWB: What were some of your initial inspirations in wine? How were you inspired to start Mollydooker in 2005?

SM: My father was my original inspiration in wine. He loved collecting and drinking wine and as a child I spent many hours visiting wineries with my family. His passion for wine led him to planting a vineyard in McLaren Vale when I was 14. During my summer holidays, I would work in the vineyard, and this is when my father noted my interest an encouraged me to go and study winemaking when I left high school.

So then began my Enchanted Path in wine. After graduating I travelled overseas and then married my college sweetheart who was also a winemaker. Together we formed a wine consulting business and built many successful labels such as Fox Creek (my parents winery) Henry’s Drive, Parson’s Flat, Shirvington & Marquis Philips. In 2004 the only label we were making was Marquis Philips, however our partnership ended which led us to the amazing opportunity to start our very own brand Mollydooker in 2005.

What inspires me today however isn’t even associated to the winemaking process! Through Mollydooker I am able to enrich the lives of others. My greatest inspiration comes from those who benefit from the three very worthy charities which Mollydooker Wines supports; the Hutt St Centre in Adelaide, Transform Cambodia, and Mercy Multiplied in the USA. See link from our website for further information… https://www.mollydookerwines.com.au/MollydookerStory/OurCharities/tabid/444/Default.aspx

WWB: Named after your son, Luke, your Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz is consistently one of the best value Shiraz wines year after year as I can recall reviewing these wines back to the stunning 2008 vintage. Can you talk about the winemaking and special attention that you put into that killer wine? How do you produce such an amazing Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz even in challenging vintages like 2011?

SM: I would describe the attention to detail that’s applied in every step of the winemaking process as not just special, but critical! At Mollydooker it really does begin in the vineyard, where our Marquis Vineyard Watering Program® focuses on nurturing strong and healthy vines with balanced canopy growth to achieve the most intense fruit flavours possible, whether the vintages are cold and wet, or hot and dry. 2011 was cold and wet which actually allowed time for great flavours to develop. We ripen the vine so that it can ripen the fruit, and this in turn produces more intense fruit flavour. We ferment on skins for at least six days to extract the colour, tannins and flavours developed in the vineyard and we always finish the primary ferment in barrel because we believe this softens the tannins and adds mouthfeel to the wine. The wine matures in oak for about eight months, and during this time we continually taste the barrels to ensure the oak is supporting the fruit. Another aspect of the special attention applied to the winemaking process is our barrel selection. Barrels are chosen to best accentuate the flavours that the Blue Eyed Boy is well known for; plum, chocolate and blueberry.

WWB: One of the great wines that I tried last year was your 2016 Mollydooker ‘Blue Eyed Boy’  Shiraz (WWB, 94) a wine that showed gobs of blue and dark fruits and excellent tension. Can you talk about this exciting warm vintage wine? 

 SM: The vineyard ripening period of the 2016 vintage was very even; warm but not extreme. Neither was there a severe cold spell. This resulted in the grapes having an excellent flavour spectrum at the Marquis Fruit Weight® we expected. All the vineyards that were blended into the 2016 Blue Eyed Boy came from our home blocks in McLaren Vale which was exciting. Balance came easily to the wine during oak maturation which gives the tension to the Blue Eyed Boy while the fruit shines. What is unique about every Mollydooker wine is that we us our Fruit Weight grading system to make each wine. Every wine parcel is graded for it’s Fruit Weight (a sensory measure of the intensity of fruit on your palate), and each label we make must achieve a certain fruit weight in order for it to be blended into that label. This technique is what makes Blue Eyed Boy the same consistent quality year after year.

WWB: One of my favorite all time wines from Australia is your scintillating 2012 Mollydooker ‘The Velvet Glove Shiraz (WWB, 99), a wine that flirts with perfection. How do you achieve the level of weight, viscosity and tension in this premier Shiraz?

SM: Once again, using the Marquis Vineyard Watering Program® on all our vineyards help us achieve spectacular fruit. It was an absolute joy to make the wines in 2012, with the Velvet Glove being the pinnacle.

The Velvet Glove comes from a special vineyard that also produces the grapes that become our Carnival of Love (also a highly awarded wine in 2012). In order to produce Velvet Glove each year we divide the vineyard up into 16 different sections so when we pick we can make sure that the parcels that are exceptional are kept separate. Whether it is due to aspect, slope or geology, every parcel tastes a little different from the other. We leave the fruit on the vines much longer than anyone else in the region so that when the fruit comes into the winery the juice is already amazing with incredible depth and viscosity.

For Velvet Glove, we only use new American oak for both barrel fermentation and maturation, resulting in beautifully integrated soft tannins and oak that is fragrant & complementary, rather than drying. The key then for us as winemakers is to make sure that the final blend is not only 95% and above in Fruit Weight (so almost perfect in our view as it coats your entire tongue with a velvet glove of fruit) but it’s structure ( alcohol, acid and tannin) are perfectly balanced. We feel we achieve this with our Velvet Glove each year as the wine is incredibly rich and luscious, it has a complete flavour spectrum in aroma and flavour, with a palate that is long and irresistible and beautifully balanced in structure.

 WWB: In April 2017 you took over sole ownership of Mollydooker, having created one of the most successful wine brands in Australia. What are some of the challenges that you’ve faced since making this exciting change? What is it like working with your son on the business side?

SM: When I took over sole ownership of Mollydooker Wines there was certainly some people who didn’t think I would be able to run a successful business, however this only made me more resolved to build a world class winery, and I believe we’re on the way to achieving this vision. Winemaking is one of those industries typically associated with men. More and more women are being celebrated for their contributions to this creative and scientific field of work, and I applaud the associations and media involved in bringing this to light. I was honoured to be voted 2018 Owner/Operator of the Year at the Australian Women in Wine Awards. It’s rewarding to represent females in the wine industry and I embrace the challenge to encourage gender-balance and inspire new generations of women to succeed. As for working with my son Luke, it’s a dream come true to be able to work with Luke, especially as we get on so well. He’s an inspiration to me and I love watching him grow personally. To be able to mentor him and pass on my knowledge about business is one of the best things about my life.

Interview with Joe Ibrahim, Willamette Valley Vineyards Winemaker

Willamette Valley Vineyards head winemaker Joe Ibrahim has a long history in wine, starting with Chateau St. Michelle in Woodinville, Washington and also working for Gallo in California and as part of their Sparkling wine production team. Ibrahim then moved to Edna Valley winery as head winemaker and became familiar with crafting cool climate Pinot Noir. His 2016 releases were seriously good across the board as he has continued a very strong set of new release wines, including a killer new Sparkling Wine. I have closely tracked his progression at Willamette Valley Vineyards, as I was first enamored by the outstanding 2012 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noirs. Originally from Vermont, Joe is an awesome, down to earth guy, who has a wealth of industry experience. I think you will very much enjoy my new interview with Joe Ibrahim, Willamette Valley Vineyards winemaker. 

WWB: How did you decide to learn about wine when you were growing up in New York? What was your family winery in Vermont like?

JI: Growing up I was a very curious kid who was fascinated with the natural world and science. My parents were very busy physicians, so I was left to my own devices at home. I often found myself playing chemist in the kitchen using anything I could find in the house. For example, mixing vinegar and baking soda, shampoo and rubbing alcohol, or food coloring and laundry detergent. One day, I added yeast to apple juice and was amazed to watch the concoction transform day after day ... it was super cool! My parents supported my fascination by giving me a home winemaking kit and a purple book called "Winemakers recipe handbook," described as containing more than “100 easy-to-use tested recipes and profuse with identification and selection of plants and fruits for winemaking." I used this manual to craft wines from just about anything: tomatoes, turnips, dandelions, blueberries, etc. These were not palatable wines by any means, and I did not understand what consumption of these "wines" meant, but I loved the fermentation process and watching the yeast work its magic. I also enjoyed putting the wine into a bottle, corking it and adding a label to give as gifts to my family members. 

Later in life when I attended the University of Vermont, I naturally chose to study Plant and Soil Science as my major. I was really bored with the typical classes in my first semester and I yearned for more hands-on study. My adviser suggested that I do an internship to supplement my classes and handed me a book of available options. One of them was at a small 5-acre family farm — Snow Farm Vineyard and Winery, located on the shores of Lake Champlain in Grand Isle, Vermont. So I went to meet with them and asked if I could intern with them. I remember being in awe of the tanks, barrels and vineyard; I knew I wanted to be a part of it all. I worked there for a full season and learned the nuances of growing grapes in a cold climate. Additionally, I learned the importance of varietal selection and how to manage the vines and canopy so they would survive the harsh winters (e.g. burying the vines with soil followed by the hard work to unearth them in the spring). During harvest season, we would harvest the grapes by hand and take them into the winery for fermentation. In the winter we were stabilizing new wines, blending, filtering and bottling the previous vintage. I loved the four seasons of winemaking.  

WWB: What inspired you to move to Washington and train at Chateau Ste. Michelle? What was that experience like?

JI: After college there wasn't many opportunities to make wine professionally and continue to grow in Vermont, so I had a calling to move out west. At the time, my brother was finishing his medical degree at University of Washington and asked if I would like to try to launch my career in the Washington wine industry. Wineries typically don't hire winemakers right out of college, so I knew I needed more experience. Luckily that experience came when I was accepted into Chateau Ste. Michelle's viticulture internship. I was sure that viticulture was where I wanted to be, so I accepted and moved to Eastern Washington. Eastern Washington was a culture shock for me. I moved out there with my dog and I was all alone. I worked with a professional viticulturist to help scout and monitor grower and estate vineyards in the Wahluke Slope AVA. It was quite an experience going from a 5-acre vineyard to working at a winery with vast vineyards in the most amazing settings, then learning to grow premium vinifera grape vines in the arid Washington high desert. When that season ended, so did my internship. I wasn’t sure what to do next. Columbia Crest was looking for winemaking interns, so I applied and was accepted. Once in a huge winery, I was able to really see professional winemaking at its best. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is a quality-focused organization and it really opened my eyes to what professional winemaking is all about and was where I honed my palate. At the conclusion of the internship, they hired me as the Enologist at their Canoe Ridge Winery, which was a great opportunity for me. It launched my career and boosted my confidence as a professional winemaker.  

WWB: You craft some outstanding sparkling wines and your 2015 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 91) is a sensational value. Can you talk about the winemaking behind this outstanding warm vintage wine?

JI: Thank you for the compliment. One of the main reasons we have outstanding sparkling wines is our Estate plantings of Dijon Clone Chardonnay which was grafted in 1993. These vines are on a gentle West-facing slope, allowing the grapes to retain freshness and acidity, yielding an excellent sparkling wine base. We hand-picked these grapes and swiftly brought them into the winery for gentle pressing. We ferment the juice at cool temperatures to preserve the delicate aromatics and when fermentation is complete, we barrel the wine in neutral French oak barrels. After a period of aging and maturation, we select only the highest quality barrels for the Cuvée. This is a key step; we strive for a Cuvée that is balanced, but has clear focus of flavor, aroma and mouthfeel. If a barrel falls outside the focus line, it doesn't make the cut. We conduct secondary fermentation in the bottle and age the wines for 18 months before disgorging the wines and adding our final dosage.  

WWB: Harvest has recently concluded in Oregon. Can you tell us what we can expect from the 2018 vintage? What vintages does 2018 remind you of?

JI: The 2018 vintage will be one for the record books! The growing season had a record number of days at 90 degrees or hotter, record number of days without measurable rain and we had almost no precipitation during harvest. This means winemakers had their choice of picking date and the grapes were able to achieve an ideal level of ripeness. The early wines look to be extremely strong, with excellent structure, color and mouthfeel. I think this vintage will be one of Oregon's best, if not the best. I am very excited about the future of these wines! 

WWB: When you are not enjoying your wines, what are some of your favorite wines from the Pacific Northwest and the world?

JI: This is a question I get asked a lot, and to tell you the truth, people don't always like my answer. One of the things I personally love about wine is the endless expanse of options, styles and terroir to explore. One could literally have a different bottle of wine every day and never have the same wine twice. I have never been obsessed with one producer, wine or region. I love to explore wines and food with good company. When I find a stand-out bottle, the one that makes you say "damn, that's good," then I am inspired to deepen my understanding of it.

Buty

One of the long-standing Walla Walla wineries, Buty was founded back in 2000. A winery that produces a huge range of brilliant wines, if you have never visited this Airport District winery, it is a must visit for lovers of everything from Chardonnay to terroir-driven reds. I have known Nina Buty since my days at Whitman College as she has built her winery into a great success. Nina relies on the winemaking talents of Chris Dowsett who first started making wine in 1983. Chris had previous stints at eminent Napa producers, Robert Mondavi Winery, and Domaine Chandon prior to coming to Walla Walla. His new wines show great terroir and range as he has crafted one of the great overall lineups in the state. 

A downright killer wine to look for is their 2015 Buty ‘Rediviva of the Stones’ Red Wine (WWB, 92) which is currently showing good stony terroir and nice range and terrroir. One of the great white wine values in Washington, the 2017 Buty White Wine (WWB, 91) is made from Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle and Semillon. It shows racy acidity and is one of the best Bordeaux style white wines in the state. I have tried these wines since 2002 and this lineup by Buty is not to be missed. Learn more about these outstanding Walla Walla wines at https://www.butywinery.com Here are the great new wines by Buty.

2017 Buty White Wine- The 2017 Buty White Wine is a compelling blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle and Semillon. On the nose this shows nice baked apple and lemon rind aromatics that peak your intrigue. The palate shows good freshness and richness with tree and citrus fruit flavors, showing a lightly stony character. I could see this pairing marvelously with sushi. This is truly one of the best of its kind in the state. Drink 2018-2026- 91

2016 Buty ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Red Wine- The 2016 Buty ‘Rockgarden Estate’ Red Wine is a fantastic effort by the talented Chris Dowsett The nose is very pretty with floral and red fruit tones dominating and lighter wet stone character also shining brightly. I love the mouthfeel and salinity of the wine as the wine shows red cherry, cran-pomegranate and wet stone flavors with a good tension. It is hard to find a wine quite like this in Washington. Drink 2018-2026- 92

2015 Buty ‘Rediviva of The Stones’ Red Wine- The 2015 ‘Rediviva of The Stones is a Syrah dominant red blend with smaller portions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre. Amazingly this wine has been made since 2001. The nose shows powerful terroir with dusty earth, cigar box and wet stone that connects with Hoisin sauce and blackberry pie aromas. The palate has wonderful verve and freshness considering the heat spikes that occurred in this AVA. Black fruits parade with earthy and citrus undertones to complete this highly complex red blend. Delicious now, this will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2026- 92

2015 Buty ‘Columbia Rediviva’ Red Wine- This Cabernet Sauvignon dominant red wine shows beautiful dark fruits on the nose with sagebrush undertones. The palate is plush as the wine delivers rich dark fruits with roasted figs and chocolate. Delicious now,  this will age well for the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2016 Buty ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Merlot- The ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ has gained a great reputation for Merlot over the past decade or so. The 2016 Buty ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Merlot is a seriously good effort by winemaker Chris Dowsett. Black tea, anise and dark chocolate covered cherry aromas fill the nose. The palate shows good richness and tension with downright delicious dark fruit flavors and sagebrush undertones. This has some good aging potential but is nearly impossible to resist right now. Drink 2018-2028- 93

Melville

I’ve been tasting at Melville for more than a decade and it has grown to be one of my absolute favorite stops in Santa Barbara wine country. Formerly led by superstar winemaker, Greg Brewer, of Brewer-Clifton, the winery has  had Chad Melville at its helm for several years after being under Brewer’s guidance. Chad has been crafting some absolutely stunning wines and has created his unique winemaking style. I absolutely love the saline-driven terroir that he is able to mold into his wines. He not only makes the wines but also helps farm his 82 acre property at Melville. 

Melville’s vineyards were first planted in 1996 by his father Ron Melville and his brothers which was quite unique at the time. The vineyard was planted to 14 different clones of Pinot Noir and 4 different clones of Chardonnay, as well as Syrah and Viognier. The new releases by Chad Melville were simply gorgeous across the board, none more so than the 2015 Melville ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) which landed firmly on my Washington Wine Blog 2018 Top 100. This is an absolutely stunning new Chardonnay that is one to purchase by the case. Nearly as good is their gorgeous 2015 Melville ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 92) which is a killer value out of Santa Barbara County. The best wine I tried was the 2015 Melville ‘Block M’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) which has everything you want in a great Santa Barbara Pinot with great richness, poise and salinity. This is a stunning wine that is meant for the cellar. Learn more about this outstanding producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah at http://melvillewinery.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by Melville. 

2015 Melville ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is a stunning new wine by Melville. The nose takes on smoky and flinty undertones with ripe tree and citrus fruits that impress. The palate has a silky mouthfeel and a rather unctuous texture. Showing good weight,  salinity and viscosity the wine reveals Pink Lady apple, kumquat and nectarine flavors that all combine marvelously. A stunning new bottling, enjoy this over the next decade as tertiary notes will develop. I can imagine that this will be even better at the ten mark. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2015 Melville ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir-This rich and layered Pinot Noir begins with aromas of wet stone, mulberry and candied red cherry. The palate is plush, showing a really good salinity and richness. Black cherry, guava puree and blood orange with earthy undertones impress on the palate. Lithe and rich, this is a seriously good Pinot Noir by the talented Chad Melville. Drink 2018-2026- 92

2016 Melville ‘Sandy’s’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Sandy’s’ Pinot Noir by Melville is a limited production bottling that connects with estate Pinot Noir set in sand. The sandy terroir on the nose is really stunning as the earthy tones connect with bright red fruits and lifted citrus on the nose. The weight, tension and salinity of the wine is tremendous. Black tea, cram-guava and bright strawberry flavors all collide and create a wonderful amalgamation. This is a simply stunning wine that will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2016 Melville ‘Block M’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Block M’ by Melville is a seriously good, limited production Pinot Noir made by the talented Chad Melville. On the nose this takes on a distinct dark fruit tone with cigar box and sagebrush connecting. The palate is plush and dense showing really nice terroir, cola and dark fruits. The balance and salinity is really good here. Delicious now, this great wine will continue to evolve over a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028- 94

Interview with Katey Larwood, Winemaker at Goldeneye Winery

Firmly at the helm of one of California’s great producers of Pinot Noir, Katey Larwood crafts some outstanding wines for Goldeneye Winery located in Philo, California in the heart of the Anderson Valley. Taking over for superstar winemaker, Michael Fay more than a year ago, Katey Larwood has worked harvests across the globe and began studying wine while attending school in Santa Barbara. Katey talks about her background in wine and how she came to work for Goldeneye. She talks about her outstanding new wines and I think you will very much enjoy hearing her story in wine. Here is my exclusive interview with Katey Larwood, Winemaker at Goldeneye Winery. 

WWB: How did you first become interested in wine and start volunteering at Brander Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley?

KL: In 2009, I took a wine appreciation course at Santa Barbara City College, thinking it was going to be a fun way to spend Wednesday mornings. The professor was an incredibly passionate, sincere, and knowledgeable person about wine, who also worked for a distributor representing the region. One Saturday in September, he took the willing students to a downtown Santa Barbara winery to participate in a day of harvest. I remember seeing the first bin of grapes dumped into the hopper and onto the sorting table, the people quickly reaching for leaves – laughing and talking loudly over the sound of the forklift beeping. I remember seeing the press rotating, making a loud hissing sound as it would inflate and deflate. The excitement and energy of that first winery visit was a powerful moment for me. I began volunteering at that same winery whenever I had a spare moment, sorting fruit, cleaning floors, and hosing off bins and equipment. I loved every second of it. Once all the fruit was in and the semester was coming to an end, I decided that making wine was something that I not only wanted to do, but something I needed to do. I called San Francisco State University and told them I wasn’t coming for winter quarter, and enrolled in a botany and chemistry course in Santa Barbara. The next harvest, I worked for Brander Winery and officially moved up from harvest volunteer to harvest intern. In only a year, my whole life had transformed, and everything revolved around wine and winemaking.

 WWB: Can you talk about some of the experience gained by learning about harvests in winemaking while abroad in New Zealand, France and Australia?

KL: The vintages I did abroad were indispensable in furthering my understanding not only of the craft of winemaking and grape growing but in appreciating the global history and cultural significance of wine. Since wine is so intrinsically connected to place and people, each region and winery I was in had its unique identity, and it was during my travels that I gained not only tactile skills in winemaking but a greater understanding and love for wine and the people who make it. It was in the moments around the lunch and dinner table, picking fruit in the vineyards, and staying up late into the night processing fruit, that I began to get to know the people whose life’s work is making wine. I was able to see each region’s uniqueness and develop an understanding of the larger connection of wine, traversing culture, language, and identity.

 WWB: How did you decide to come to Goldeneye in 2016? What are some of the challenges of blending the individual lots at Goldeneye?

KL: After working in the Finger Lakes for a few years, I decided that it was time to come home to my native California, but there was one caveat – I wanted to work in Anderson Valley. I fell under the spell of the Anderson Valley early on in my explorations of wine, and it is a place I have grown to love deeply. The wines from our region are some of the most unique and fascinating in the world. When I saw that Goldeneye was in need of an assistant winemaker, I was elated. I’d been a huge fan of Goldeneye for years, and it was always a must-visit destination of mine when visiting Anderson Valley. I think one of our biggest challenges also falls under the ‘good problem to have’ category. Because we work in small lots, and do upwards of 200 individual fermentations each vintage, when it comes time to blend, the possibilities are nearly endless, and at times can seem quite daunting. But because we constantly taste and track each lot during its life in barrel, we have a remarkable understanding of each wine and use this knowledge come blending time.

 WWB: Your 2015 Goldeneye ‘Gowan Creek’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) is a head-turning wine that shows incredible tension and richness. This amazing Pinot Noir landed at #36 on my Washington Wine Blog 2018 Top 100 Wines. Can you talk about crafting this beautiful wine and the aromas and flavor profiles of wines from this special vineyard in the Anderson Valley?

KL: Thank you so much! The Gowan Creek Vineyard produces wines of unabashed richness and fervor. The deep blue and black cherry fruit is pronounced, but the lively acidity and complex herbal components bring an elegance to the wine. The vineyard itself is teaming with Pennyroyal, an herb native to Anderson Valley, which is a cross between spearmint and anise. This herb is highlighted in the wine, giving it a sophisticated spice and licorice character.

The 2015 Gowan Creek Vineyard is one of our favorite wines since it embodies the vineyard completely. The wine is a combination of several different blocks spanning the 30-acre site, highlighting the difference in terroir throughout the vineyard.

WWB: When you are not enjoying great Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, what are some of your favorite wines and producers in the world of wine?

KL: When not drinking Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, I really enjoy German and New York Riesling (Keller, Wittmann, Kuhling-Gillot, Red Newt Cellars, Ravines Wine Cellars), Chablis (Ch. Grenouilles, William Fevre), Beaujolais (Marcel Lapierre, Jean Foillard), Loire (Catherine & Pierre Breton) and Champagne (Pierre Jouet, Paul Dethune, Louis Roederer, Ruinart, Piper Heidsieck).

Domaine Serene Sparkling Wine

Leave it to Domaine Serene to take on a new wine project and produce a home run. One of Oregon’s leading wineries, Domaine Serene has focused on crafting world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for more than two decades. Noting the increasing trend in the market to produce great sparkling wine, Domaine Serene’s founders Grace and Ken Evenstad created a separate winery space to only focus on producing sparkling wine sourced from estate vineyards.

I had the great fortune to try their new sparkling wine a few days back and was captivated by the new wine. The wine was aged for at least four years prior to release. Their M.V. Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 93) is seriously good and is a 500 case production wine that is sourced from the Mark Bradford, Côte Sud, Gold Eagle and Triple Crown Vineyards. There is a racy acidity to this wine that really impresses and a wonderful mouthfeel. While this is only their first wine produced, they will produce more wines in the future, including multiple vintage sparkling wines. Learn more about this special project at https://www.domaineserene.com Here is the new review for the M.V. Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Sparkling Wine.

M.V. Domaine Serene ‘Evenstand Reserve’ Sparkling Wine- Weighing in at 12.1% alcohol, this is the first sparkling wine bottling that Domaine Serene has ever made — and the Evenstads have hit a total home run with their beautiful new wine. On the nose there takes on good musty character with wild mushroom and brioche that connect with bright green apple and kumquat aromatics that build in the glass. Bright and compelling, the wonderful effervesce impresses. The generous mouthfeel really entices as the wine unveils white truffle, Gravenstein apple, lemon curd and Challah bread notes on the palate. This was tasted over more than an hour, switching from Champagne flute to Pinot Noir glass and it is quite obvious that this rich sparkling wine is best enjoyed in a Pinot Noir glass. Enjoy this fantastic bottling over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029

Bells Up

From all of us at Washington Wine Blog we want to wish you joy and happiness for 2019. I absolutely love the emergence of boutique wineries in Oregon. One of the great projects that was recently started in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, Bells Up was founded by Sara and Dave Specter in 2013. Dave spent his career as a lawyer and eventually caught the wine bug and  focused on crafting wines at Henke Winery while they both lived in Cincinnati, Ohio. After Dave turned this hobby into an obsession, winning two separate national amateur winemaking competitions with two different varietals. At that point they both knew they should pursue their dreams and relocate to Newberg, Oregon to start Bells Up.

The winemaking style is intriguing and is not meant for those who prefer bolder Oregon Pinot Noirs. There is a move towards elegance and delicate red fruits in Dave’s Pinot Noirs. Even in warm vintages such as 2014 and 2015 Dave has crafted extremely translucent and lighter style Pinots. They are beautiful wines that maintain good acidity and a soft texture. Their new release Pinot Noir, the 2016 Bells Up ‘Titan’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 91) is a really striking example of the AVA, showing a really nice mouthfeel and texture that connects with the red fruit and citrus flavors. Learn more about this great boutique winery at https://bellsupwinery.com Here are the great new wines by Bells Up. 

2017 Bells Up ‘Prelude’ Rose- This Pinot Noir Rose begins with aromas of white peach, wild mushroom and red cherry preserves. The palate is lithe, showing a wonderful astringency as red cherry, red raspberry and cran-pomegranate flavors mingle nicely. Mineral driven and showing nice tension, this is a great effort by Bells Up. Drink 2018-2022-90

2016 Bells Up ‘Titan’ Pinot Noir- This excellent Pinot Noir is sourced from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA as Pommard, Dijon Clone 115 and Dijon Clone 777 are almost equally utilized. The nose is beautifully feminine with rose petal, guava and cran-pomegrante currently shining brightly. The palate shows delicate rose water, red raspberry, pomegranate seed and orange zest flavors. Lithe, with a wonderful mouthfeel, this is another great effort by Bells Up. Drink 2018-2028- 91

2015 Bells Up 'Titan' Pinot Noir- Coming from a hot vintage you are immediately drawn to the translucence of this wine. Needing around an hour in the decanter to settle, once aroused this Pinot Noir begins with a bright bouquet of Mandarin Orange rind, red currant and candied red cherry. You have to admire the silky texture to this distinctly feminine style Pinot Noir wine. Elegant and precise, there are ripe strawberry, guava puree and red cherry compote flavors that sit alongside a lively tension. This is an awesome effort by the talented hands of Dave Specter. Drink 2017-2027- 91

Long Shadows

One of Washington’s premier wineries that will be also featured at our 2019 Washington Wine Blog Critic’s Choice of Washington event, Long Shadows has made their name by crafting outstanding red wines with a superstar cast of winemaking talent that spans the globe. I have tasted at Long Shadows for well over a decade and year in, year out, they are one of the most consistently good producers of Washington red wine. A few days back I tried their epic 2006 ‘Pedestal’ Merlot (WWB, 95) which was a monumental wine that was absolutely singing at this point of development. Tried last month and nearly as good is their 2007 Long Shadows ‘Feather’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 94) which has copious dark fruits and coffee ground flavors. 

The new releases by Long Shadows were seriously good across the board. Long Shadows produces one of the great Rose wines in Washington and their 2017 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose (WWB, 92) shows a vibrant minerality and is bursting with delicious red fruit flavors. For Chardonnay lovers, look to their 2015 Dance Cellars ‘Whisper’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) which shows incredible richness and balance from this warm vintage in Washington. The best new release that I tried was the stunning 2015 Long Shadows ‘Pedestal’ Merlot (WWB, 94) which has a long life in the cellar but is drinking marvelously in its youth. Learn more about this amazing winery at http://www.longshadows.com/ Here are the amazing new release wines from Long Shadows.

2017 Long Shadows ‘Julia’s Dazzle’ Rose- Sourced from The Benches Vineyard in the Columbia Valley, this wine is another spectacular effort by superstar winemaker Giles Nicault. The nose is highly perfumed with rose petals, guava puree and red cherry candy. The palate is both lush and lithe, showing off exotic rose water, cran-cherry, and blood orange flavors. The tension is vibrant, as this is nearly impossible to resist right now. Enjoy this beautiful Rose young while it keeps its verve. Drink 2018-2022- 92

2016 Dance Cellars ‘Dance’ Chardonnay- Largely sourced from the Boushey Vineyard, as well as the Crawford Vineyard, this shows brioche and toasted macadamia nut on the nose with creme brulee. The palate shows a wonderful texture with briohce, toasty oak, buttered popcorn and a lovely cream finish. Lively and showing some good aging potential, this is an outstanding effort by superstar winemaker Giles Nicault. Drink 2018-2024- 92

2015 Dance Cellars ‘Whisper’ Chardonnay- This Wente clone Chardonnay, sourced from the Boushey and Crawford Vineyards, was released later, given an additional four months of oak treatment. The resultant wine is a fantastic effort by superstar winemaker Giles Nicault. This begins with aromas of toasty oak, and butterscotch and apricot. The palate shows a really nice weight and mouthfeel with a lovely texture without being heavy. Vanilla cream, banana and butterscotch flavors all mingle beautifully in the glass. Drink 2018-2024- 93

2015 Long Shadows ‘Pedestal’ Merlot- Primarily sourced from the Connor Lee Vineyard, as well as the StoneTree, Weinbau and Dionysus Vineyards, the wine is a blend of 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. This was first aged for 22 months in largely new French oak prior to bottling. A strong whiff of chocolate hits the glass with sagebrush and wonderful earthy tones rounding out the nose. The palate has a wonderful mouthfeel with a silky texture. Black tea, mocha, creme de cassis and milk chocolate flavors combine nicely in the mouth. The light tannins coat the mid-palate. A downright stunning bottling, this ‘Pedestal’ will cellar well over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2018-2035- 94

2015 Long Shadows ‘Pirouette’ Red Wine- The 2015 ‘Pirouette’ is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot with the remainder Petit Verdot and Malbec. The wine is largely sourced from Red Mountain Vineyards. Aged for 22 months in 75% new French oak prior to bottling. The rather intoxicating nose entices with an herbal edge, followed by copious dark fruits and a touch of baking spice. The palate shows a wonderful mouthfeel and texture. Black tea, mint, blueberry compote and mocha flavors all wonderfully combine in the glass. Complex and refined, this is a gorgeous bottling by Long Shadows. Drink 2018-2035- 93

2015 Long Shadows ‘Chester Kidder’ Red Wine- This wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Syrah, and 15% Petit Verdot. The wine shows a smoky and earthy nose with green bell pepper, sagebrush and dark fruits that round out this seductive wine. The mouthfeel and texture to this wine is truly fantastic, as the wine shows a silky edge. Black fruits with milk chocolate dill and sage mark this outstanding bottling. Tightly wound now, this really needs another year of bottle age to fully develop. Drink 2019-2035- 93

Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Champagne

After completing my 2018 Washington Report I decided to celebrate in style last night. One of the great historic Champagne houses, Louis Roederer only produces their ‘Cristal’ Champagne in specific vintages. ‘Cristal’ Champagne was created in 1876 to satisfy the demanding tastes of Tsar Alexander II. The emperor asked Louis Roederer to reserve the House’s best cuvée for him every year as he was fond of Louis Roederer’s style. This Champagne was initially distinguished by being presented in a flat-bottomed, transparent lead-crystal bottle. The ‘Cristal’ brand was named after the lead-crystal bottle, which is particularly transparent and luminous. ‘Cristal’ Champagne blending is typically around 40% Chardonnay and 60% Pinot Noir, although that varies on the vintage. Cristal is aged for 6 years in Louis Roederer’s cellars and then left for a further 8 months after dégorgement. The ‘Cristal’ Rose Champagne is always composed of estate fruit and the wine is primarily fermented and aged in steel, but roughly 15-20% of the blend is aged in oak. Over time the cellar master has been lowering dosage to 8-9 g/l. 

The 1999 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Rose Champagne (WWB, 95) is drinking at its peak right now. It is a stunning Champagne that is best served out of a white wine glass right now. I spent a good amount of time moving between flute and white wine glass and the range and bouquet was considerably better out of the white wine glass. What stuck me most about the Champagne was how the tertiary notes are now dominating the red fruits. While red fruits like cran-raspberry are quite nice, the fruit flavors are now more delicate, as the musty character like biscuit, peat moss and wild mushroom, are really singing. For those who love an aged Champagne, the ’99 is really at a marvelous place. While it is drinking nicely now, it will cellar well for a decade or more. 

Learn more about this great Champagne at http://www.louis-roederer.com/en/wine/cristal

1999 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Rose Champagne- The 1999 ‘Cristal’ Rose Champagne by Louis Roederer is a glorious Champagne that is absolutely singing right now. The wine is composed of largely old vine Pinot Noir from the village of Cumières in the Marne region of Champagne. Upon entry, the Champagne is quite intense, particularly when enjoyed in a white wine glass. The aromatic range is glorious here, from cran-raspberry to wild mushroom to mulberry to peat moss. The red fruits are quite delicate as the tertiary notes are playing first chair. The palate shows a wonderful silky texture and mouthfeel. Red raspberry, orange rind, forest floor and hints of black truffle parade on the palate. A seriously good aged effort, I can see this cellaring well for the next ten to fifteen years — but why wait? Drink 2018-2030- 95

2018 Washington Report

Friends,

I hope you all are enjoying a marvelous holiday season. Today we bring you my Washington Report. As senior editor at International Wine Report I have tasted nearly 1000 new Washington wines and have reviewed over 700 new releases from Washington this year. The wines reviewed in this report are new releases spanning multiple vintages from 2014-2017. I believe this to be one of the most comprehensive reports out of Washington. The report covers Washington's major appellations, including Columbia Valley, Walla Walla and Red Mountain AVA’s

Overall, the quality of wines ended up being quite impressive, in particular from the 2014 vintage, with the 2015 vintage being a slight step behind, as they both yielded excellent final results. Both 2014 and 2015 were hot vintages on record, but they were also different in the challenges they presented. In 2014 the growing conditions were nearly ideal, particularly for red wines as many producers achieved rich, intense and age-worthy bottlings. 2015 was a bit more challenging for many producers due to severe summer heat spikes with temperatures reaching the hottest on record. Nonetheless there were some winemakers who thrived in these conditions and carefully managed their vineyards.

Some of the stellar showings were from Quilceda Creek and their sensational new lineup, including the stunning 2015 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon. Also standing out were the new releases from superstar vigneron Christophe Baron of Cayuse Vineyards and his talented assistant vigneronne Elizabeth Bourcier, who have taken the world by storm with their 2015 Hors Categorie Syrah and the compelling terroir-driven wines under Cayuse Vineyards, No Girls, Horsepower and La Rata labels.

Other producers who excelled in Walla Walla Rocks District and Walla Walla AVA include Reynvaan Family Vineyards, Rôtie Cellars, Saviah, Rasa Vineyards, Leonetti, Gramercy, Doubleback, Abeja, and the scintillating new Syrah from Delmas.

Coming out of the Columbia Valley, Red Mountain and Yakima Valley AVA's wines from Force Majeure, Long Shadows, Kobayashi, Col Solare, Avennia, DeLille, Den Hoed, EFESTE, and Kerloo Cellars all were amongst the most compelling from their respective AVA's.

While 2015 certainly proved to be challenging, winemakers like Chris Peterson of Avennia, Todd Alexander of Force Majeure and Matt Reynvaan of Reynvaan Family Vineyards have noted the great promise for the 2016 vintage for both red and white wines — particularly creating well-concentrated red wines. We have also seen this to be true as the few 2016 red wines we have seen have showed good mid-palate richness and acidity while the white wines from 2016 possesses wonderful richness but may struggle with achieving poise and tension.

Here is my 2018 Washington Report: http://www.internationalwinereport.com/articles/washington-vol-3

Washington Wine Blog 2018 Winery of the Year: Reynvaan Family Vineyards

Happy Wednesday to you all. Today we bring you our winery of the year. It took a great deal of deliberation as there were several North American wineries at the top of the list for 2018. The likes of Domaine Serene, HALL, Quilceda Creek and Cayuse Vineyards are all standing at the high table. The challenges of choosing a winery of the year were more difficult than any other year because of the incredible quality of overall wine lineups but we have chosen Reynvaan Family Vineyards as our deserved winner.

This summer visiting with Matt Reynvaan we sampled his exciting 2016 red and white wines wines. The white wines were electric and showed incredible tension and viscosity. I was absolutely blown away by these wines as he is truly producing some of the best white wine in North America. The red wines were the best that I have tried from this estate. Both estate vineyards are producing some mind-blowing red wines and Matt’s 2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Stoneessence’ Syrah (WWB, 97) was my 2018 Washington Wine Blog wine of the year. Speaking with Matt about his honor, he noted “For Reynvaan Family Vineyards we have dedicated ourselves to creating world class Syrah’s exclusively from our Estate vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley. We feel this valley has some of the most exciting, intriguing, terroir in the United States and beyond. It is our passion to produce a wine of individual character that captures the essence of our grapes in each bottle.” Lets raise our glass to the Reynvaan family for their huge successes. Here are my reviews of the new releases by Reynvaan Family Vineyards. Learn more about this incredible winery at https://www.reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com

2016 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier- The wine saw extensive barrel age and battonage prior to bottling. The resultant Viognier its truly one of the best white wines that I have ever sampled from Washington. The 2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks Viognier’ opens with an incredible stony nose with aromas of chamomile, nectarine jelly, white flowers, honeydew melon and wet stone. The palate exudes class with honeydew melon, roasted pineapple, mango and roasted macadamia nut as this shows an exotic edge. The near minute long finish impresses. Only 80 cases of this thrilling wine, so grab this while you can. Drink 2018-2028- 95

2016 Reynvaan Grenache Blanc- This deeply hued wine begins with aromas of honeysuckle, apricot and cantalopoe. The palate has an incredible texture with Pazzaz apple, kiwi, pink grapefruit and roasted pineapple. This has incredible range and the mouthfeel delights. The tension here is really incredible. Refreshing yet rich, this gorgeous wine will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 94

2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Hills’ Syrah- The smoky aromatics grip you as well as the lifted qualities from the Viognier. The wine weighs in at 13.8% alcohol and shows smoked brisket, wet rock, and Umami, bacon fat and blood orange rind on the highly perfumed nose. The palate shows an insanely good mouthfeel with wonderful freshness and minerality. The combination of richness and tension is hard to resist right now. The stony character and herbaceousness to the wine really shimmers in the limelight. Black tea, wild blackberry, orange zest and a touch of milk chocolate flavors brings a wonderful array of flavors to the palate. While this will cellar well for a decade, it is drinking marvelously right now Drink 2018-2028- 94

2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah- The 2016 ‘Foothills Reserve’ is a phenomenal wine that is truly one of the best that I have sampled from Washington in the past year. The nose takes on incredible range from blood orange, to charcuterie to black fruits and olive tapenade. The seductive nose brings you back to the glass for more. The palate shows remarkable freshness and intensity. Asian spice, Hoisin sauce, black tea, blackberry pie and wet stone characters all come to play on the palate. There is a seamless quality to this wine that glides through the palate. Fresh and energetic, while highly refined, this wine will cellar marvelously over the next decade. I adore the range here. Drink 2018-2029- 96

2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks’ Syrah- The 2016 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Syrah is a phenomenal wine made by superstar winemaker Matt Reynvaan. With 4% Viognier blended in the nose is highly perfumed with wet stone, Umami, white rose and lychee as well as blood orange and red raspberry cordial. The lifted aromatics from the Viognier are truly outstanding. The palate shows wonderful tension, range and verve with wet stone, Umami, blood orange, red cherry candy and a touch of horse manure. Seductive, with insanely good range, this is a stunning effort by Reynvaan. Drink 2018-2028- 95

2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Contender’ Syrah-This wine weights in at 13.2% alcohol has 4% Marsanne blended in. The nose is highly seductive with beautiful white flowers, lychee with black tea, orange zest and milk chocolate. The range here is simply insane. The palate shows really good range as well with a wonderful tension and verve. Mike chocolate, black tea, sagebrush, wet stone and smoked pork shoulder flavors are all remarkably coming together in the glass. The citrus aspect at the finish is simply outstanding. Drink 2018-2028- 95

2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Stonessence’ Syrah- The 2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Stonessence’ Syrah is a simply gorgeous effort by this storied estate. The nose is rather intoxicating with horse manure, blood orange, red cherry cola, and black tea with a touch of green olive tapenade. The minerality and freshness of the wine is simply astounding as is the wonderful mouthfeel. Wet stone, wild blackberry, Umami, and satsuma orange flavors all come together in the glass. The mouth-watering acidity makes this stunner nearly impossible to put down right now. A remarkable wine, this will cellar marvelously for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028- 97

2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Classic’ Red Wine- (Release April 2019) The wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine initially fermented in new puncheons and then was aged in neutral French oak prior to bottling. This takes on wonderfully smoky character on the nose with wet stone, green bell pepper, mocha and crushed mint. The wine has a wonderful minerality with great freshness and a wonderful mouthfeel. This shows mouth-watering acidity and wonderful dark fruits that mingle with green olive tapenade, cigar box, wild blackberry pie and Asian spice. This may be the best ‘The Classic’ I have tried. Drink 2018-2026- 94

Washington Wine Blog Top 100 of 2018

Dear Friends,

I want to offer my warmest holiday greetings from Washington Wine Blog. We are very humbled by your support and following. I hope you all are enjoying a marvelous holiday season with your loved ones. We have enjoyed a wonderful 2018 here at Washington Wine Blog, which marked my fourth year as senior editor at International Wine Report, reviewing wines for them primarily from Washington, Oregon and California. Our WWB editors, Dr. Stephen Lee and Dr. Jae Hong, continue to contribute Washington wine reviews, editing and consulting. I have been steadily increasing the number of interviews and winery features and more than 100 interviews which we will continue to improve. In February 2018 we held our first Washington Wine Blog Critic’s Choice of Washington event, which featured some of the state’s best wineries at the beautiful Columbia Tower Club in downtown Seattle. I would love to see you all at our next spectacular event, the 2nd Annual Washington Wine Blog Critic’s Choice of Washington event on Saturday February 16th from 4-7PM at the Columbia Tower Club, featuring past Washington Wine Blog wineries of the year, Quilceda Creek and Cayuse Vineyards.

I have had the great pleasure and challenge of selecting 100 exceptional domestic wines to comprise my Top 100 for 2018. With a strong focus from my Oregon and Washington Reports. For our 2018 Top 100 we have several good value wine selections, as well as many collectable wines. Choosing our top wine was hugely challenging as many wines towards the top of our list were well-deserving of the top honor. Matt Reynvaan continues to be one of the state’s best winemakers and crafts a truly extraordinary lineup of red and white wines. His 2016 Reyvaan Family Vineyards ‘Stoneessence Syrah’ (WWB, 97)  which is a head-turning wine that shows insanely good poise, terroir and richness. This heavyhitting wine is beautiful in its youth but will continue to evolve over the next decade. I want to offer my deepest thanks for all of your support of Washington Wine Blog. I want to wish you all the absolute best during this holiday season and I hope 2019 brings you all great joy and prosperity, with beautiful wines in your glass.

1) 2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Stonessence’ Syrah 

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $95 I 97 Points

The 2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Stonessence’ Syrah is a simply gorgeous effort by this storied estate. The nose is rather intoxicating with horse manure, blood orange, red cherry cola, and black tea with a touch of green olive tapenade. The minerality and freshness of the wine is simply astounding as is the wonderful mouthfeel. Wet stone, wild blackberry, Umami, and satsuma orange flavors all come together in the glass. The mouth-watering acidity makes this stunner nearly impossible to put down right now. A remarkable wine, this will cellar marvelously for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028

2) 2015 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington I Columbia Valley I $200.00 I 98 Points 

The 2015 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is the best red wine that I have sampled from this vintage in Washington. The wine was sourced from the Champoux (roughly 70% of the fruit), Palengat, Wallula and Lake Wallula Vineyards. While this has the Columbia Valley AVA on the bottle, it is primarily a Horse Heaven Hills wine. The wine shows creme de cassis, pencil lead and black tea with a touch of red cherry compote on the nose. The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more pleasure. The palate is silky smooth and marvelously coats the mouth. Lightly tannic, the wine slowly unveils blueberry compote, blackberry cobbler, mocha, and creme de cassis flavors that build in the glass. The minerality, weight and overall presentation of the wine is simply astounding, as is the long and lingering black fruit and mineral driven finish. There is a seamless quality to this wine really shines through with every lingering sip. This is a truly monumental effort in a vintage that was challenging due to severe heat spikes throughout the summer growing season. Drink 2018-2035

3) 2015 HALL ‘Rainin’ Cabernet Sauvignon 

California I Napa Valley I $350.00 I 99 Points

Located at the northern end of Napa Valley on Diamond Mountain, this 8 acre vineyard is located on a hillside with conifer trees. Rocky red soils set this vineyard. The ‘Rainin’ is a barrel select from this vineyard. The nose is scintillating, currently displaying Turkish coffee, creme de cassis, dusty terroir, red bell pepper and red cherry compote. The insanely good mouthfeel coats the mid-palate as the entry is insanely decadent. The texture to this wine is downright ethereal. Creme de cassis, red bell pepper, creme de cassis, sour black cherry compote, mocha and Asian spice with tea leaf flavors all impress. The seamless quality of this wine is simply amazing. This is near perfection in the bottle. Drink 2019-2045

4) 2015 Hors Categorie Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $250.00 I 98 Points

Hors Categorie translates to ‘a thing of its own’ in French. Christophe first discovered this site in 2004 as Syrah was planted on extremely steep slopes near where the north fork of the Walla Walla River meets with the Walla Walla River. Slopes are up to a 60% grade at some places. The Hors Catégorie Syrah is a stunning effort that shows a wonderful stony character with smoked meats, bulls blood, blood orange zest and red cherry candy. The silky mouthfeel is simply incredible. The range of flavors entices the senses with red cherry preserves, blood orange, bulls blood, white truffle oil, black pepper and green olive tapenade. With mouth-watering acidity and a wonderful lifted character, this is a simply stunning effort by Christophe Baron. Drink 2018-2040

5) 2015 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Grenache

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $90.00 I 97 Points 

The ‘La Pacencia Vineyard’ was planted over the course of three years (Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo, three acres each). This wine was aged in a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel prior to bottling. The nose is completely intoxicating with blood orange, wild strawberry, horse manure, guava puree, forest floor and black tea. The palate shows an insane range of flavors. Blood orange rind, forest floor, white truffle, red currant jelly and Umami. The saline and savory aspect of this wine makes your mouth water. Drink 2018-2028

6) 2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $100.00 I 97 Points

The 2015 ‘God Only Knows’ by Cayuse Vineyards is a stunning effort from this storied estate. The nose takes on some insanely impressive range, showing potpourri, white rose, white truffle, and Umami. Silky, showing an incredible mouthfeel, the wine reveals a wonderful combination of red and dark fruits. Silky smooth through the palate, there is an incredible purity of fruit with guava puree, wild blackberry, blood orange, wet stone, Umami and gobs of mouth-watering acidity. There is a wonderful combination of freshness and weight at play. A head-turner, this is best enjoyed in the last decade. Drink 2018-2028

7) 2016 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $65.00 I 95 Points

The 2016 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay is a stunning new wine by the superstar winemaking team at Domaine Serene let by Michael Fay. The toasty oak element creeps in immediately. There is remarkable complexity aromatically with toasted hazelnut, brioche, lemon oil, and white peach. The palate shows amazing complexity and range. Mango, white peach, vanilla creme brulee, Meyer lemon zest and starfruit flavors all marvelously mingle together in the glass. The acidity and viscosity of the wine is simply incredible. Enjoy this great wine over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2018-2033

8) 2016 Delmas Syrah

Oregon I Walla Walla Valley I  $70.00 I 96 Points

 Following up the stunning 2015 bottling, the 2016 Delmas Syrah is a head-turning wine that takes its seat at the high table in Syrah. Sourced from the highly acclaimed SJR Vineyard, the Syrah connected with 7.25% Viognier in the co-ferment and saw limited new oak prior to bottling. Straight out of the glass, the wine exudes heady aromas of red currant jelly, cigar ash, blood orange rind, horse manure, crushed wet gravel and Asian spices. This stunning nose brings you back to the glass for more pleasure. The palate is silky smooth and seductive. Cran-pomegranate, Mandarin orange, red cherry candy, peat moss and Umami flavors round out the palate. This has incredible range, precision, purity and focus. A heavyhitter of a wine, this lifted and stunning Syrah by superstar winemaker, Billo Naravane, will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028

9) 2014 Rasa Vineyards ‘Veritas Sequiter’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $95.00 I 96 Points

 Weighing in at 13.5% alcohol, the 2014 ‘Veritas Sequiter’ will be released in November 2018, the wine is sourced from the famed SJR vineyard. The wine underwent 100% whole cluster fomentation and was aged in 80% new oak for 27 months prior to bottling. Distinctly Walla Walla Rocks AVA, this has bacon fat, horse manure, seaweed and Umami aromatics that bring you back to the glass for more. The palate is highly compelling and has marvelous weight and tension. The wine shows wonderful Umami, black licorice, green olive and bacon fat flavors that collide with marvelous minerality. The balance and complexity of this wine is truly amazing. Drink 2018-2030

10) 2016 Del Dotto ‘The Beast’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $N/A I 98 Points

The 2016 Del Dotto ‘The Beast’ Cabernet Sauvignon is every bit as good as their 2015 bottling and is one of the best wines that I have sampled all year. ‘The Beast’ is a barrel selection that sources from a host of great vineyards in four different Napa Valley AVAs. Inky dark in the glass, the nose is intense and aromatically gorgeous, currently displaying a dazzling level of complexity with creme de cassis, mocha, Turkish coffee, Asian spice, anise and a touch of toasty oak. The weight and mouthfeel to this wine is simply stunning with creme de cassis, mocha, anise, black tea, leather and black cherry cordial flavors all slowly building in the glass. This is a head-turning combination of bright acidity and fruit weight on the palate that makes it nearly impossible to resist right now. Intense and lively, this has an extremely long life in the cellar. Drink 2018-2040- 98

11) 2013 MTR Productions ‘Memory Found’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $90 I 96 Points- The 2013 ‘Memory Found’ by superstar winemaker, Matt Reynvaan, is a head-turning and seductive new release Syrah. On the nose this shows massive range from Hoisin sauce to peat moss to wet stone and citrus rind to brandied dark cherry. Despite its age and obvious heat of the vintage, the palate is lithe and youthful, showing a wonderful tension and purity of fruit. Pipe tobacco, chocolate covered dark cherry, roasted fig, wet stone and blood orange zest with Umami flavors all marvelously combine. The salinity of the wine also adds to the discussion. Lithe, rich and showing insanely good range, this is a stunner that is best enjoyed within the next five to ten years. Drink 2018-2028

12) 2015 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $100.00 I 97 Points- The 2015 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache is a highly memorable effort that is one of the best of its kind in the state. White truffle and peat moss aromatics you immediately on the nose with earthy undertones that impress. Red fruits and citrus qualities come into the nose as well, as this shows some serious aromatic range in the glass. The palate shows striking intensity, verve and tension. The range of flavors is insanely good, as the wine unveils seductive flavors of white truffle crudo, red currant jelly, cran-orange, peat moss, wet stone and white pepper. The range of flavors makes this absolutely impossible to put down right now. This is a complete wine. Drink 2018-2028

13) 2015 La Rata Red Wine

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $75.00 I 95 Points

The 2015 ‘La Rata’ Red Wine is a blend of 54% Grenache with 26%Cabernet and 10% Syrah. Inspired by the top wines of Priorat, Elizabeth Bourcier decided to make a small tank of co-fermented Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon. The name was called ‘La Rata’ based on Spanglish and the resulting red blend ended up a remarkable success. This year displays a slightly darker color than previous vintages, likely due to the addition of the Syrah. The nose takes on some stunning aromatics with horse manure, red cherry candy, guava puree, teaberry, black truffle oil and Umami. Seriously perfumed, the intoxicating bouquet brings you back to the glass for more. The texture to this wine entices and beautifully coats the mouth. The savory and saline quality to this wine is quite striking, showing charcuterie with red cherry puree, cran-guava, white truffle, and Umami flavors. A downright stunner, this gorgeous wine will cellar well over the next decade but is impossible to resist right now. Drink 2018-2028

14) 2015 Illumination Sauvignon Blanc

California I Napa Valley I $40.00 I 95 Points

2016 Illumination Sauvignon Blanc- The 2016 Illumination Sauvignon Blanc is a revelation. The nose embarks poached pear, toasty brioche and marzipan. The palate shows amazing richness and tension. Tangerine soaked pear, green bell pepper, white peach and Welches white grape juice flavors all amazingly mingle. This is a simply spectacular effort that dazzles now but will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2033

15) 2016 Big Table Farm ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $62.00 I 95 Points 

The 2016 ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is another marvelous effort by Big Table Farm. They have made this wine starting with the 2011vintage. The Pinot Noir shows beautiful aromatic range on the nose from blood orange, to peat moss to guava and beautiful bing cherry. The mouthfeel is seductive as the wine shows a similarly striking range on the palate. Black fruits, red fruits, citrus rind and earthy tones all marvelously weave together in the glass, and combine with stunning tension and minerality. A long ager, this is another complete wine made by the talented team at Big Table Farm. Drink 2018-2033

16) 2014 Cardinale Red Wine

California I Napa Valley I $295.00 I 96 Points 

The massive wine is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. This wine opens with a bouquet of coffee grounds, creme de cassis and dried herbs with a touch of blueberry cordial. This has a marvelous tension and weight. Creme de cassis, anise, mocha, blueberry compote and sandalwood flavors show impressively. The combination of weight and tension is marvelous here. Try to resist this gorgeous wine for at least another year. Drink 2019-2035

17) 2016 Robert Biale 'Varozza Vineyard' Zinfandel

California I Napa Valley I $52.00 I 95 Points- This historic Napa vineyard was first farmed by the Varozza family since 1913. The Zinfandel shows an intriguing translucence and starts off with cigar ash, cran-cherry, coffee ground and wild blackberry pie aromatics. I am in love with the purity of fruit here and seamless texture. Milk chocolate, crushed mint, black cherry cordial and roasted date flavors all impress. This stunning bottling is truly one of the best in California. Drink 2018-2030

18) 2016 Sleight of Hand ‘The Psychedelic’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $60.00 I 95 Points

The best wine in the new outstanding Sleight of Hand lineup, ‘The Psychedelic’ Syrah is a head-turning wine sourced from the esteemed Stoney Vine Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. The Syrah was aged in 25% new French oak for 16 months prior to bottling. The terroir on the nose is evident, ranging from wild blackberry to orange zest and green olive tapenade to smoked brisket and wet stone. The silky mouthfeel invites you to take the next delicious sip. There is a wonderful energy and tension to this wine as well that impresses. Blackberry pie, cigar ash, wet stone, Mandarin orange rind and Hoisin sauce all combine marvelously on the palate. Given an hour of air the flavors become even more impressive as the texture evolves to be wonderfully mouth-coating.  While this is delicious now, the wine will continue to evolve over the next decade — but it is nearly impossible to resist right now. Drink 2018-2026

19) 2015 Kongsgaard Chardonnay

California I Napa Valley I $100.00 I 96 Points- 

The 2015 is another absolutely sensational showing for this iconic Napa Valley Chardonnay. This opes to inviting aromatics of vanilla crème brûlée, bright lemon, brioche and freshly sliced red apples all taking shape in the glass. The palate is exceedingly plush, while maintaining wonderful tension and balance. It continues to impress with its beautifully concentrated flavors of crème brûlée, butterscotch, bananas foster and roasted pineapple, which all lead up the long, complex finish, which complete this remarkable wine. Seamless and memorable, this is another astonishing wine made by the utterly talented winemaker John Kongsgaard. Drink 2018-2030

20) 2017 L’Ecole No. 41 ’Columbia Valley’ Semillon 

Washington I Columbia Valley I $18.00 I 92 Points

This has pear aromas with marzipan and toasted brioche on the nose. The palate is wonderful with mouthwatering acidity and a wonderful richness. Brioche, Japanese pear and Macadamia nut flavors all mingle nicely together in the glass. This is a simply outstanding value. Drink 2018-2024

21) 2016 Ayoub Chardonnay

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $40.00 I 94 Points 

The 2016 Ayoub Chardonnay is a standout wine from this exciting vintage that throughly impresses. This immediately starts off with inviting aromatics of lemon oil, baked apple and suggestions of apricot jelly. The palate is lithe and luscious, revealing lemon merriange, banana and roasted pineapple flavors. Exotic and layered, this Chardonnay from winemaker Mo Ayoub is simply stunning. Drink 2018-2028

22) 2016 Kerloo Cellars ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache

Washington I Columbia Valley I $40.00 I 94 Points

The wine underwent 50% whole cluster fermentation. IT was 100% fermented in concrete. The wine shows a wonderful pretty aromatic profile with very good range. Rose petals, red cherry candy and cran-guava aromas show nicely. The palate has a silky texture and a wonderfully satisfying mouthfeel. The freshness shows beautifully as does the range of flavors from red fruits to citrus. This is just an insanely good effort that shows great tension and poise in this warm vintage. Drink 2018-2028

23) 2015 Melka Estates ‘Metisse Jumping Goat Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $175.00 I 97 Points

The Jumping Goat Vineyard is located in the Spring Mountain AVA near Spottswoode which was planted in the mid-1990s. This inky colored wine is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Petit Verdot that was aged for 21 months in French barrels. A glass-staining purple, this starts off with intense aromas of rose petals, creme de cassis, Turkish coffee and black olive tapenade with lighter earthy tones of damp earth. The mouthfeel is intense and highly viscous with creme de cassis, mocha, anise, sandalwood and espresso bean. The range and mouthfeel here is insanely good. This stunning wine will cellar marvelously for decades. Drink 2018-2040

24) 2015 Darioush ‘Signature’ Merlot

California I Napa Valley I $50.00 I 95 Points

The 2015 Darioush ‘Signature’ Merlot is a blend of 94% Merlot 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Malbec all sourced from the Mt. Veeder, Oak Knoll and estate property. Everything was harvested separately and then blended before bottling.This takes on Hoisin sauce, black tea, green bell pepper and cassis on the nose. The palate is lifted and shows tremendous weight, yielding some super bright acidity. Red cherry compote, red bell pepper, wild blackberry and black tea flavors all beautifully combine. A long ager, showing some amazing range, this is a tremendous wine that will cellar well over the next two decades. This is an insanely good value here by Darioush. Drink 2018-2035

25) 2015 Tendril ‘The Pretender’ White Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points

This unique bottling from Tony Rynders, who first brought this style of making Pinot Noir to North America, opens with an intense bouquet of candied white peach, Welches white grape juice and a touch of vanilla cream. The silky texture is refined and connects with the wonderful balance in the wine, which excites considering the heat of the vintage. Meyer lemon cream, marzipan and Pink Lady apple flavors complete this absolutely stunning wine. Enjoy this over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2018-2030

26) 2017 Cristom ‘Estate’ Pinot Gris

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $20.00 I 92 Points

This outstanding Pinot Gris shows kiwi, orange zest and wet earth aromatics. The palate has a wonderful texture and minerality, revealing starfruit, kiwi and citrus zest flavors. Downright delicious, this needs a hot summer day. The wine is a perfect match for sweet Kushi oysters and is a downright steal at this price point. Drink 2018-2024

27) 2015 Kapcsandy Family Winery ‘Grand Vin’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $400.00 I 97 Points

The 2015 Kapcsandy ‘Grand Vin’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning wine by this storied estate. This wine was aged in 88% new French oak prior to bottling and utilizes a touch of Hungarian oak. The nose imparts creme de cassis, Wild blackberry and chocolate aromas. The mouthfeel is simply marvelous and coats the mid-palate. Wild blackberry pie, huckleberry compote, black tea and anise flavors all beautifully combine in the glass. The bright acidity and salinity of the wine impresses as well. A stunner, this will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2018-2040

28) 2013 Rhys Vineyards ‘Alpine Vineyard’ Chardonnay

California I Santa Cruz Mountains I $100.00 I 95 Points

Already with some bottle age, the 2013 Rhys Vineyards ‘Alpine Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a stunning rendition. The densely planted, steep sloped, ‘Alpine Vineyard,’ lies ten miles from the Pacific Ocean. This cool site is known for constant fog. The nose gathers a wonderful opulence and salinity. Smoke, ripe pear, butterscotch and salted praline aromas come to mind. Silky smooth through the palate, the wine shows wonderful intensity with Meyer lemon oil, vanilla creme brûlée and Challah bread flavors beautifully combining in the glass. The dazzling minerality here is simply astounding. A complete wine, this will cellar well for decades, but is irresistible right now. Drink 2018-2033

29) 2016 Block Wines ‘Golden Block Boushey Vineyard’ Grenache

Washington I Yakima Valley I $35.00 I 93 Points

This sexy, translucent colored wine starts off with aromas of smoke, wet rock, rose petals and citrus rind. There is really nice aromatic range here. Silky, with a gorgeous texture, the wine unveils rich red currant jelly, red raspberry, orange rind and bulls blood flavors. Almost resembling Walla Walla Rocks AVA Grenache, this stunning wine is best enjoyed in the next eight years while the brightness remains. Congrats to the talented Morgan Lee on this outstanding effort. Drink 2018-2026

30) 2015 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah

Washington I Columbia Valley I $35.00 I 93 Points

The 2015 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah was largely aged in puncheon (40% new) as it is sourced from the Lewis, Phinney Hill Vineyards as well as the Kenny Hill Vineyard. This starts off with smoked pork shoulder, blueberry compote and cocoa powder. This is truly outstanding Syrah that is drinking beautifully now but will continue to evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028

31) 2015 Force Majeure Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington I Red Mountain I $100.00 I 95 Points

A massive and decadent Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Force Majeure shows off its inky color in the glass. Needing two hours to breathe in the decanter, the wine slowly starts to unveil ultra-rich aromas of sweet pipe tobacco, creme de cassis, graphite and blackberry cobbler with dark chocolate shavings. The mouthfeel is highly viscous and smooth, delighting the senses. Creme de cassis, loganberry cordial, black forest cake and cigar box flavors all combine with mouth-watering acidity. A complete wine, this decadent treat will cellar well for decades but is completely irresistible right now. Drink 2018-2040

32) 2016 Sojourn Cellars ‘Gap’s Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

California I Sonoma County I $65.00 I 93 Points

This ruby colored Pinot starts with cherry cola and raspberry cordial aromatics that mingle with wild thyme and wet stone. The palate is silky smooth, showing ripe red cherry, guava purée and blood orange flavors. The freshness, weight and intensity of this wine is gorgeous. Enjoy this over the next decade or so. Drink 2018-2028

33) 2017 Toil Rose

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $30.00 I 93 Points

Following up the sterling 2016 Rose, the 2017 Toil Rose is another spectacular effort by superstar winemaker Chris Figgins. This shows off a beautiful orange-pink hue with rose petal, blood orange rind and a touch of honeysuckle on the nose. The mouthfeel is simply gorgeous, as the wine reveals wonderful rose water, red cherry puree, guava and cran-orange flavors. Delicate, refreshing, and downright delicious, this is up there with the best Rose wines in the northwest and is nearly impossibly to resist right now. Drink 2018-2024

34) 2014 Robert Mondavi ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $175.00 I 97 Points

The 2014 ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon by Robert Mondavi Winery is a stunning wine that has a ton of cellaring potential. The wine shows incredible range of aromatics on the nose from ripe plum to spice cake to blackberry cobbler and mocha. The palate dazzles with the incredible combustion of weight, minerality and texture as the wine reveals a silky mouthfeel. The feeling of balance is amazing here as this glides through the mid-palate. Mildly tannic, this is surprisingly approachable right now. Enjoy this stunning wine one the next two plus decades. Drink 2018-2040

35) 2015 Col Solare ‘Collector’s Society’ Red Wine

Washington I Red Mountain I $100.00 I 95 Points

One of the great wines made from this estate, the 2015 Col Solare 'Collector's Society' Red Wine is a massive wine. Intensely dark, this begins with dark fruits, anise and black tea on the nose. The palate has wonderful viscosity showing blackberry compote, mocha and anise flavors. Gorgeous and layered, this is a total stunner and should cellar well over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2018-2035

36) 2015 Goldeneye ‘Gowan Creek Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

California I Anderson Valley I $85.00 I 94 Points

A southwestern facing vineyard, the Gowan Creek Vineyard is planted to a host of Pinot Noir clones. This starts off with wild mushroom and damp earth and red cherry. The palate is lithe and intense, showcasing a wonderful salinity. Dark cherry preserves, roasted dates and black raspberry cordial flavors with spice box complete this excellent bottling. Smooth and rich, this gorgeous wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2030

37) 2017 Mark Ryan ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Chardonnay

Washington I Yakima Valley I $30.00 I 93 Points

Showing off a bright hue, this begins with aromas of toasty oak, lemon zest and banana. The texture to this wine is simply marvelous as the mouthfeel entices. Vanilla cream, Pink Lady apple and bananas foster flavors all beautifully combine in the glass. This is just a stunning effort by Mark Ryan that artfully combines tension and opulence. Drink 2018-2028

38) 2015 Va Piano ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $45.00 I 93 Points

The 2015 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is an absolutely killer new wine by Justin Wylie. Blackberry jam and roasted figs with chocolate mark the seductive nose. The texture is gorgeous as the wine shows off dark fruits with mocha flavors. Drink 2018-2028

39) 2015 Doubleback ‘Estate Reserve’ Red Wine

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $130.00 I 96 Points

The 2015 Doubleback ‘Estate Reserve’ Red Wine is a simply stunning effort from a very warm vintage in the Walla Walla Valley. Needing more than a two hour decant to fully come together, this inky and brooding in colored wine begins with heady aromatics reminiscent of cigar ash, graphite, creme de cassis, black olive tapenade and Turkish coffee. The stunning aromas bring you back to the glass for more. There is a marvelous sense of place to this wine, as the purity of fruit shines through. Black tea, blackberry pie, mocha and sagebrush accents complete this marvelous wine. With moderate to heavy tannins, this wine will cellar marvelously over the next 20 plus years. Another feather in the cap to the uber-talented Josh McDaniels. Drink 2019-2033

40) 2016 Orin Swift ‘Machete’ Red Wine

California I Napa Valley I $45.00 I 94 Points

You are immediately drawn to the highly compelling aromatics of this wine. Sweet pipe tobacco, dark chocolate molten cake, and blueberry compote aromas come to mind. Despite obviously high alcohol, this is highly poised wine as the tension shines through. Deep mocha, anise, creme de cassis and blueberry pie flavors impress. Seductive and intense, give this beauty at least a two hour decant before enjoying in its youth. Delicious now, this wine will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028

41) 2017 Child’s Play Rose

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $20.00 I 91 Points

Made from Pinot Noir grapes, this outstanding wine shows off red currant, red cherry and guava puree aromatics. Beautifully balanced and slightly sweet, this shows a dazzling minerality with bright red fruit flavors and a touch of orange rind towards the back end. Superstar winemaker Tony Rynders has absolutely nailed this Rose. Grab this by the case while you can. Drink 2018-2022

42) 2016 Cobb ‘Rice-Spivak Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

California I Sonoma Coast I $75.oo I 95 Points

The Rice-Spivak vineyard, owned by Russell Rice, is a six acre vineyard located in the Sonoma Coast AVA. There is an usually large amount of volcanic ash in the vineyard soils. The 2016 ‘Rice-Spivak Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a stunning wine that takes on very pretty aromatics with ripe plum, red cherry compote, cran-pomegranate and white truffle oil. The aromatic range is wonderful and takes you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The minerality and weight of the wine is truly outstanding, as is the strong salinity and lip-smacking acidity. Cran-pomegranate, blood orange zest, volcanic earth and peat moss flavors all show some insane range. While this is drinking marvelously right now, the wine will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2018-2033

43) 2015 Kobayashi Cabernet Franc

Washington I Yakima Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points

This outstanding new release has a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon blended in sourced from Red Willow Vineyard, the David Lake block. Years ago Red Willow Vineyard Manager, Mike Sauer, planted an experimental block of Bordeaux varietals and this block has three Cabernet Franc clones included. The ‘David’s Block’ Cabernet Franc wine was natively fermented and the wine was hand-destemmed by friends and family and then fermented on neutral oak puncheons. There were no punchdowns or pumpovers as the wine barrels were actually spun instead. The wine was also frequently stirred prior to racking which has obviously brought out the marvelous textural elements to the wine. The wine begins with aromas of anise, creme de cassis, milk chocolate, with pretty rose water aromatics coming into play. The palate shows wonderful richness and a smooth mouthfeel, as the wine unveils ripe dark and red berry flavors with milk chocolate and silky smooth tannins. There is a wonderful seamless quality to this wine as well as an evident purity of fruit. This finishes extremely long with dark fruits and chocolate. Only 25 cases made of this incredible wine. Kudos to the uber-talented Travis Allen. Drink 2018-2028

44) 2015 Frank Family ‘Lewis Vineyard Reserve’ Chardonnay

California I Napa Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points ($75.00)- Even richer hued than their regular bottling, the 2015 Frank Family ‘Lewis Vineyard Reserve’ Chardonnay offers an fantastic aromatic range of butterscotch, toasty oak, marzipan and baking spices. Beautifully textured and ripe, this shows off roasted pineapple, banana, Pink Lady apple and nutmeg flavors alongside nice minerality. The near minute long finish is simply exceptional. Drink 2018-2028

45) 2015 Trisaetum ‘Family Reserve’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $100.00 I 94 Points

The ‘Family Reserve’ is sourced from the three estate vineyards across the Willamette Valley and rounds out this outstanding Trisaetum portfolio of wines. Needing more than an hour in the decanter to fully arouse, the wine gradually awakens, dawning black tea, Asian spice, clove and forest floor aromatics. The silky texture glides across the mid-palate, revealing peat moss, guava, black cherry compote, black olive tapenade and smoked pork flavors. The long finish delights the senses. Superstar winemaker, James Frey has absolutely nailed this warm vintage Pinot Noir. Drink 2018-2033

46) 2015 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points

The 2015 ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah saw 5% Viognier co-fermened into the Syrah. The nose is distinctly stony, with wet stone taking the lead, followed by black olive tapenade, horse manure, blackberry cobbler and Umami. The palate is silky smooth, showing off ripe blackberry pie, black tea, Asian spice and Umami flavors. Intense, yet showing a nice elegance, this is an exceedingly good bottling from the talented hands of superstar winemaker Richard Funk. Drink 2018-2028

47) 2015 Mt. Brave ‘Mt. Veeder’ Merlot

California I Napa Valley I $80.00 I 94 Points

The Mt. Brave ‘Mt. Veeder’ Merlot is a stunning wine crafted by superstar winemaker Chris Carpenter. This takes on tar, mocha and anise with blackberry compote on the nose. The palate is plush, showing a marvelous texture and mouthfeel. Coffee grounds, anise, creme de cassis, red bell pepper and blackberry cobbler flavors all nicely mingle in the glass. This is a remarkable Merlot that is best enjoyed following a two plus hour decant. Drink 2018-2035

48) 2015 St. Innocent ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $40.00 I 94 Points

Sourced from the esteemed Shea Vineyard, this wine shows off a beautiful combination of red and black fruits on the nose with a touch of spicebox. Elegant and seductive, this knockout wine shows off black plum, black truffle, black cherry liquor and a touch of forest floor flavors. The range and intensity of this wine is top shelf. Drink 2018-2028

49) 2015 DuMOL ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir

California I Sonoma Valley I $40.00 I 93 Points

This outstanding Pinot Noir was sourced from 58% Dutton Ranch, 24% Hanna and 18% DuMOL Estate. This wine opens with a classic Sonoma Pinot Noir nose of cherry cola, baking spices and suggestions of orange rind. The mid-palate has a great combination of lift and astringency. Black and red fruits intermingle with spice notes and blood orange zest. Downright delicious, enjoy this outstanding wine over the next decade. Drink 2018-2027

50) 2015 Tablas Creek ‘Espirit de Tablas’ Red Wine

California I Paso Robles I $65.00 I 94 Points

The 'Espirit de Tablas' is a wonderful showing which delivers expressive aromas of red cherries, dried sage, red currant and a touch of blood orange that soar from the glass. The aromatics continue to become even show more range and expression with air contact. On the palate the astringency and poise is fantastic and sets the tone for a wonderful combination of red and dark fruits. The light, flinty quality to the wine adds to the drinking enjoyment. Dense and chewy this is a wonderful wine by Tablas Creek. Drink 2018-2030

51) 2015 Ramey ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay

California I Carneros I $65.00 I 94 Points

The 2015 Ramey ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a simply gorgeous new wine that is one of the best of its kind by superstar winemaker, David Ramey. Set on clay loam the marine influenced Hyde Vineyard has gained an international reputation for producing outstanding Chardonnay grapes. This Carneros bottling shows nutmeg, vanilla creme brulee, macadamia nut and heavy whipping cream flavors that impress. Lithe and rich, this gorgeous bottling will cellar well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2018-2033

52) 2013 Iron Horse ‘Wedding Cuvee’ Sparkling Wine

California I Sonoma Valley I $45.00 I 93

Weighing in at 13.5% alcohol this wine is a blend of 75% Pinot Noir and the remainder Chardonnay. Showing a brilliant near salmon color, the wine shows ripe pear with brioche and hints of wild strawberry that fill the nose. I love the mid-palate weight of the wine but despite the sturdy backbone this comes off remarkably refreshing. The palate shows a remarkable tension and salinity, yielding a wonderful range of flavors, from kumquat to Japanese pear to sourdough bread. Lithe and rich, this will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2030

53) 2016 Terra d’Oro ‘Deaver Vineyard’ Zinfandel

California I Amador County I $30.00 I 92 Points

Sourced from 135 year old vines, the Deaver Vineyard is one of California’s most historic vineyards. Bacon fat, Umami, candied red cherry and strawberry puree aromas fill the glass. The palate shows a silky smooth texture, as there is wonderful refinement to this outstanding Zinfandel. Balanced, with good richness, this red and dark fruit dominated wine will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 92

54) 2017 Orr Wines Chenin Blanc

Washington I Yakima Valley I $25.00 I 91 Points

Sourced from the Rothrock Vineyard located 855 feet above sea level with a 15% slope, this wine which underwent native yeast fermentation opens with aromatics of bright pear, starfruit and honeysuckle. The acidity is marvelous here with bright starfruit, kiwi and kumquat flavors with a touch of Pazzaz apple. More mineral driven than previous bottlings, the astringency shines through Drink 2018-2022- 91

55) 2015 Spring Valley ‘Katherine Corkrum’ Cabernet Franc

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points

This wine was named after Katherine Williams who came to the United States and later married Uriah Corkrum in 1897. The nose is highly herbal with lovely blue and black fruits that mingle on the nose. The palate reveals good freshness and intensity with blackberry cobbler, blueberry compote, coffee grounds and anise. Complex and downright delicious, this seductive effort is drinking marvelously now but will continue to evolve over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2018-2030

56) 2014 EFESTE ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington I Columbia Valley I $80.00 I 94 Points

Aged in 100% new French oak for 28 months this great wine is sourced from the most south-westerly vineyard in Red Mountain, right south of Upchurch Vineyard. This deep colored wine begins with aromas of mocha, creme de cassis and suggestions of black tea. The palate is both lithe and plush, showing off blackberry cobbler, crush4ed mint, black tea and anise flavors. The combination of texture and weight is awesome here. Drink 2018-2033

57) 2016 Kistler ‘Les Noisetiers’ Chardonnay

California I Sonoma Coast I $60.00 I 94 Points

Set on Gold Ridge soils, the 2016 ‘Les Noisetiers’ Chardonnay by Kistler has the lovely saline streak from the diatomaceous earth that builds on the nose alongside lighter Marcona almond and vanilla cream tones. White peach, candied grapefruit and vanilla creme brill complete the palate. The salinity and minerality of this wine is truly stunning. The near minute long finish completes this special Burgundian style Sonoma Coast bottling. Drink 2018-2030- 94

58) 2016 Ridge Vineyards ‘Estate’ Chardonnay

California I Santa Cruz Mountains I $45.00 I 93 Points

All sourced from the Monte Bello Vineyard, this starts off with aromas of butterscotch, honeysuckle and suggestions of baking spices. The palate is both rich and lithe, showing an exotic edge with roasted pineapple, creme brutes and a touch of apricot jelly. This show stopping Chardonnay will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028

59) 2015 Melville ‘Estate’ Chardonnay

California I Santa Rita Hills I $28.00 I 93 Points

The ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is a stunning new wine by Melville. The nose takes on smoky and flinty undertones with ripe tree and citrus fruits that impress. The palate has a silky mouthfeel and a rather unctuous texture. Showing good weight,  salinity and viscosity the wine reveals Pink Lady apple, kumquat and nectarine flavors that all combine marvelously. A stunning new bottling, enjoy this over the next decade as tertiary notes will develop. I can imagine that this will be even better at the ten mark. Drink 2018-2028

60) 2016 Amavi Semillon

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $22.00 I 92 Points

The 2016 Amavi Semillon was largely sourced from the Les Collines Vineyard as well as the Goff and Seven Hills Vineyard. The wine was stored 100% used oak prior to bottling. This begins with aromas of butter, cut grass and wet rock with cantaloupe. The palate is lithe as the wine shows off white peach, pink grapefruit, butter and brioche flavors. The minerality is lovely as is the slightly oily texture. This is just an awesome value by Amavi Cellars. Drink 2018-2022

61) 2015 Passing Time 'Horse Heaven Hills' Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington I Columbia Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points

The 2015 'Horse Heaven Hills' Cabernet Sauvignon is an outstanding wine from this hot vintage in Washington. This gorgeous wine starts off with intense aromatics of red bell pepper, black currant jelly and blackberry jam. The palate is both lithe and rich, showcasing black tea, sagebrush and mocha flavors that sit alongside really good tension. Delicious and forward, this is an outstanding wine by Passing Time and superstar winemaker Chris Peterson. Drink 2018-2030

62) 2017 DeLille Cellars Rose

Washington I Columbia Valley I $30.00 I 93 Points

This Rose wine is an outstanding pre-release by DeLille Cellars. Bottled in March 2018, the wine is a blend of 53% Grenache with the rest Mourvedre and Cinsault. This pale colored Rose wine starts off with aromas of rose water, watermelon, guava puree and citrus blossom. The pretty nose brings you back to the glass for more. The palate is lithe and the texture is marvelous here. Red cherry, orange peel, red raspberry puree mark the palate. The richness to this wine and acidity shines through. This is a marvelous effort by DeLille that is truly one of the best in the state. Drink 2018-2024

63) 2016 Leonetti Cellar Merlot

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $85.00 I 95 Points

Aged for fifteen months in barrel, the wine was sourced from Mill Creek Upland, Loess and Figgins vineyards. This deep colored wine begins with a gorgeous bouquet. Dark cherry candy, mocha and creme de cassis fills the nose. There is wonderful tension int he wine as the it slowly reveals deep dark cherry, blackberry cobbler, and mocha flavors. This finishes extremely long with dark fruits and minerals. Superstar winemaker Chris Figgins has crafted another stunning release here that is up there with the best in the state. Drink 2019-2035

64) 2015 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $100.00 I 95 Points

The 2015 ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon by Corison is a spectacular effort in this warm vintage. Sourced from the Saint Helena AVA, the nose shows wonderful range from coffee grounds to creme de cassis to black olive and crushed mint. Lighter smoky tones round out the compelling aromatics. Once in the mouth, the wine has a wonderful sense of place. The silky mouthfeel provides spectacular balance here. Cassis, anise, black tea, and lighter blubbery compote tones with cigar ash flavors complete this spectacular wine. While it is showing marvelously right now, this will continue to evolve gracefully for decades. Drink 2018-2040- 95

65) 2015 Hartford Court ‘Fog Dance Vineyard’ Chardonnay

California I Sonoma County I $55.00 I 94 Points

The Fog Dance Vineyard has a strong influence from the Pacific Ocean and is set in the Green Valley. The wine shows a beautiful golden hue and opens with a bright bouquet of brioche, butterscotch and Meyer lemon cream. The palate has a wonderful seamless quality, with a lifted approach. Kumquat, poached pear, lemon meringue and creme brûlée flavors connect with the lovely tension. This is a stunner by Hartford Court and will continue to pick up lovely tertiary elements as it ages into the next decade. Drink 2018-2030

66) 2015 Côte Bonneville Chardonnay

Washington I Yakima Valley I $45.00 I 93 Points

The wine was aged for 17 months in French oak prior to bottling, as the wine saw extended battonage. This starts off with heady aromatics of brioche, toasty oak and butterscotch. The texture to this wine is truly outstanding. Showing nice poise the wine unveils bright pear, Pazzaz apple, starfruit and nutmeg flavors. This shows really good balance considering the heat of the vintage. Drink 2018-2028

67) 2015 Tranche ‘Estate’ Chardonnay

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $40.00 I 93 Points

The 2015 ‘Estate’ Chardonnay by Tranche is sourced from their estate owned Celilo Vineyard, known for cool climate and mineral-driven Chardonnay.  A wonderful bouquet of toasty oak with marzipan and butterscotch with Pink Lady apple greets you. The palate shows good freshness and intensity yet is also highly viscous. Papaya and roasted pineapple flavors give this an exotic edge. The finish is nearly a minute long. This is an exceedingly good effort by the talented Andrew Trio. Drink 2018-2026

68) 2016 WALT ‘Bob’s Ranch’ Pinot Noir

California I Sonoma County I $75.00 I 95 Points

The 2016 ’Bob’s Ranch’ by WALT is a glorious effort. Bob’s Ranch has 50 acres of Pinot Noir are planted on this property and I am becoming a big fan of the fruit coming off this exciting estate vineyard. The wine is deeply colored and begins with intense aromas of cherry cola, sassafras, black tea and Asian spice with wet terroir. This shows an insanely good mouthfeel and texture. A downright stunner, black fruits dominate with cola character also shining brightly. Silky smooth, this has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2018-2030

69) 2017 Figgins Family Wines Riesling

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $35.00 I 93 Points

The 2017 Figgins Family Wines Riesling is a dazzling bottling by superstar winemaker Chris Figgins. It is truly one of the best of its kind in the state and shows how Chris continues to have a tight grip on this varietal. Showing off a golden hue, this begins with lovely petrol aromatics with white flowers, honeydew melon and candied pineapple coming through in the glass. Once in the mouth the wine delivers vibrant minerality. White peach, lemongrass, roasted pineapple and smoky undertones on the palate complete this complex and delicious Riesling. Drink 2018-2026

70) 2014 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $80.00 I 94 Points

This lithe and mineral driven wine is another stunning wine made by the talented Veronique Drouhin. The 2014 ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir needs two hours in the decanter to slowly unveil itself. Once aroused it starts off with a bouquet of red cherry, rose petals and smoky tones. The sterling minerality really drives this wine. Black tea, white pepper, wild blackberry jelly and forest floor flavors beautifully mingle. Distinctly Dundee Hills, the terroir adds to the complexity of this thrilling Pinot Noir. Try to resist this wine for at least another year. Drink 2019-2035

71) 2014 Hyde Vineyards Pinot Noir

California I Carneros I $50.00 I 94 Points

Showing off a really nice, dark core, the 2014 Hyde Vineyards Pinot Noir begins with a bright aromatic profile of nutmeg, cigar shavings, black cherry and wild mushroom. The salinity and mouthfeel of this wine is seriously good as the lip-smacking acidity brings you back to the glass for more. Black and red fruits dance with a touch of citrus rind and earthy tones. A complete wine, this gorgeous Pinot Noir will cellar well over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2017-2033- 94

72) 2014 Kontos Cellars ‘Alatus’ Red Wine

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $65.00 I 93 Points

The ‘Alatus’ is named after the famed sailboat that the Kontos brothers’ grandfather owned. The wine is a proprietary blend that is Cabernet and Merlot dominant.This year is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 17% Malbec. This gorgeous wine begins with creme de cassis, anise, blackberry cobbler and black olive aromas. The wine has marvelous tension and poise showing black tea, Asian spice, leather and creme de cassis with coffee ground flavors. Layered and polished this is downright delicious wine. Drink 2018-2030- 93

73) 2014 Den Hoed ‘Andreas’ Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington I Columbia Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points

The 2014 ‘Andreas’ by Den Hoed is sourced from the esteemed Wallula Vineyard. This shows off beautiful floral notes on the nose with dark fruits and chocolate all marvelously building in the glass. The palate is silky smooth, as this glides through the mid-palate. Black Forest cake, roasted fig, toffee and black tea flavors all combine to create a stunning Cabernet bottling. The combination of mid-palate richness and smoothness creates a wonderful effect. Drink 2018-2033

74) 2014 Hundred Acre ‘Wraith’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $450.00 I 97 Points

The 2014 Hundred Acre ‘Wraith’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a tour de force in Napa wine. The wine is a barrel selection blend of the three Hundred Acre single vineyards. The ‘Wraith’ starts off with a hugely compelling nose of mocha, creme de cassis, black olive tapenade and smoky undertones. Once in the mouth, there is serious viscosity as the silky wine glides through the mid-palate. Cigar ash, Black Forest cake, creme de cassis and Turkish coffee flavors all beautifully amalgamate. Lightly tannic, his is thrilling Cabernet Sauvignon that is best enjoyed after a few more years of bottle age. Drink 2020-2045

75) 2015 Lingua Franca ‘Mimi’s Mind’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points

Named after the vineyard manager, the wine is Sourced from ten year old vines in the Eola-Amity Hills the wine begins with a nice herbaceousness and forest floor accents with dark fruits on the nose. The palate shows a good salinity with wild blackberry, orange zest and black tea flavors. This has wonderful length and richness. Drink 2018-2033

76) 2015 Yao Family Wines ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $85.00 I 93 Points

 The 2015 Yao Ming ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a silky blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, all aged in 100% French oak (65% new) for 18 months. Once in the glass the wine begins to slowly unveil creme de cassis, Turkish coffee, tar and spicebox aromatics that impress. The palate is silky smooth, delivering a really good combination of tension and mouthfeel. Black fruits dance with licorice and allspice flavors on the palate. Seductive, yet mineral driven, this will cellar marvelously over the next two decades. Drink 2018-2035

77) 2015 Sea Smoke ‘Southing’ Pinot Noir

California I Santa Barbara County I $75.00. I 93 Points

The ‘Southing’ by Sea Smoke is an outstanding new effort sourced from their south facing estate vineyard. Once opened, this beautiful Pinot Noir needs more than an hour decant to fully develop. Once aroused the nose evokes really range from blood orange to smoky tones to red cherry preserves. The palate reveals a velvety texture and a soft mouthfeel. Gobs of mouth-watering acidity great you and connect with a strong salinity as the salty terroir here is brilliant. Black cherry cola, mulberry, black tea and Asian spice flavors all parade together in the mouth. This is seriously delicious right now but the Pinot Noir will age gracefully for at least another decade. Drink 2018-2030

78) 2015 Brewer-Clifton ‘Machado’ Pinot Noir

California I Santa Barbara County I $75.00 I 95 Points

The 2015 Brewer-Clifton ‘Machado’ Pinot Noir is a simply sensational effort from this storied property. A saline whiff comes connected with the delightful feminine aromatics of rose petals and red cherry candy on the nose. Substantial on the palate, with a gorgeous salinity, the wine shows wonderful poise, richness and terroir. A long aged, this has the stuffing to cellar over the next fifteen years. Drink 2018-2033

79) 2017 Gard ‘Freyja’ White Wine

Washington I Columbia Valley I $16.00 I 91 Points

This shows off deeply perfumed aromas of lychee, lemongrass and cantaloupe on the nose. The palate has a wonderful freshness as the wine reveals bright pear, kumquat, and green papaya flavors that give this an exotic edge. This is just a stunning value by Gard. Drink 2018-2022

80) 2014 Purple Star Syrah

Washington I Columbia Valley I $20.00 I 90 Points

Kyle Johnson crafts this deeply colored wine was sourced from the Columbia Valley AVA.The nose is really lovely with dark fruits and a touch of milk chocolate creating a lovely bouquet. Decadent and rich, this showcases lovely dark fruits with dark chocolate cake and nutmeg flavors that connect with the good tension. The is really good stuff considering the price. Drink 2018-2024

81) 2015 W.T. Vintners ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ Syrah

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $40.00 I 93 Points

One of the great values at 40 dollars, the 2015 Stoney Vine Vineyard shows a bright bouquet of hoisin sauce, blood orange zest, wild mushroom, and red cherry purée. The palate shows wonderful intensity and freshness with citrus rind, white truffle, red raspberry cordial and peat moss. The range here is insanely good. Drink 2018-2028

82) 2016 Rotie Cellars ‘Northern Blend’ Red Wine

Washington I Columbia Valley I $40.00 I 94 Points

The 2015 ‘Northern Blend’ by superstar winemaker Sean Boyd shows a plethora of aromatics including Asian spice, cigar box, lychee and damp earth with lighter wet stone tones. The hedonistic character on the nose brings you back to the glass for more. The palate is both lithe and rich, showing a marvelous texture that coats the mid-palate. Umami, Hoisin sauce, cigar ash and blackberry cobbler flavors beautifully mingle in the glass. Seductive, with marvelous tension, this is a stunning wine by Rotie Cellars. Drink 2018-2028

83) 2015 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ’S.L.V.’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $175.00 I 95 Points

The 2015 ‘SLV’ by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is an incredible new release that is amongst the best that I’ve had from this storied estate. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine was aged in 95% French oak for 21 months prior to bottling. Upon arousal the seductive nose shows beautiful sandalwood, mocha, anise and creme de cassis aromas. The mouthfeel and texture to this wine is simply fabulous. Flavors of blueberry compote, blackberry cobbler,  mocha and anise impress. Delicious now this is Cabernet Sauvignon that will have a long life. Drink 2018-2033

84) 2016 Ardor Cellars ‘Quarternarium’ Syrah

Washington I Columbia Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points

The 2016 Ardor Cellars ‘Quarternarium’ Syrah is up there with the best that I have seen from this estate. This great wine was aged for 19 months in French oak prior to bottling. This shows wonderful aromatics that show some serious range. Milk chocolate, smoked brisket, black tea and anise come to mind. The palate shows really good range with black tea, crushed mint, smoked pork shoulder and a touch of stony terroir. This is seriously good. Drink 2018-2028

85) 2016 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir

Oregon I Willamette Valley I $75.00 I 94 Points 

The 2016 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir follows up a line of exceedingly good ‘Nuthouse’ bottlings from this estate. This rendition is every bit as good as any ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir that I have sampled in the past fifteen years. Needing a one hour decant, this shows beautiful range on the nose, from cran-cherry to forest floor to cigar ash. Once in the mouth this wine reveals a gorgeous texture that glides through the mid-palate. Sour cherry, boysenberry cordial, peat moss and a touch of milk chocolate flavors all complete this beautiful, complex Pinot Noir. Drink 2018-2033

86) 2011 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve’ Sparkling Wine

California I Carneros I $110.00 I 94 Points

The 2011 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve’ comes from a cold vintage that saw a very cool summer. Now seven years of age, this golden hued sparkling wine begins with brioche, wild mushroom and Pink Lady apple. This shows a nice astringency on the palate with wonderful weight, poise and texture. This outstanding wine shows a range of citrus and tree fruit flavors that entice and create some mouth-watering acidity. The long cream and mineral driven finish lingers. This is a show-stopping sparkling wine. Drink 2018-2033

87) 2017 Lauren Ashton Riesling

Washington I Columbia Valley I $22.00 I 92 Points

This bright colored Riesling starts off with a bouquet of white grapefruit, Granny Smith apple and cut grass with a touch of wet stone. Tree and citrus fruit flavors fill the palate. The texture to this wine is silky smooth, as is the finish that rounds out this wine marvelously. This is just an exceptional effort by superstar winemaker Dr. Kit Singh. Drink 2018-2024

88) 2017 Woodward Canyon ‘Washington State’ Chardonnay

Washington I $42.00 I 93 Points

Woodward Canyon has gained a national reputation for producing high quality Chardonnay. This great new release, the 2017 Woodward Canyon ‘Washington State’ Chardonnay, is sourced from a host of great vineyards across the state. The wine was aged in a small percentage of new French oak prior to bottling. Ironically the wine was bottled on my birthday in May, 2018. The nose takes on a ton of appeal with roasted pineapple, toasty oak, Pink Lady apple and brioche aromatics. The palate shows a wonderful tension, astringency and richness. Gravenstein apple, brioche, and Meyer lemon creme brûlée flavors all strut their stuff in the glass. This is a gorgeous wine that has some good cellaring potential. Drink 2018-2028

90) 2016 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Chardonnay

Washington I Columbia Valley I $20.00 I 92 Points

This is a terrific effort by Chateau Ste. Michelle. The wine shows bright pear and vanilla creme brûlée on the nose. The palate shows a wonderful viscosity. Ripe pineapple, vanilla creme brûlée and white peach with butterscotch flavors all impress. Enjoy this over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028

91) 2017 Novelty Hill ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc

Washington I Columbia Valley I $20.00 I 91 Points 

The nose is reminiscent of pear, gooseberry and freshly cut grass. The palate has a wonderful texture and a lithe mineraity with poached pear, starfruit and vanilla cream towards the back end. This is just a stunning value. Drink 2018-2023

92) 2016 La Chanterelle Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington I Columbia Valley I $35.00 I 93 Points

Sourced from the Riverbend Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA,  this excellent wine shows great terroir with sagebrush, black tea, chocolate covered cherry and roasted figs. The palate shows really good viscosity and lift. Creme de cassis mocha, sweet pipe tobacco, blackberry cobbler and sagebrush flavors all impress. Seriously good, this decadent treat will cellar well over the next decade or more. Drink 2018-2030

93) 2017 SoDo Cellars ‘Love Birds’ Rose

Washington I Columbia Valley I $15.00 I 90 Points

Ryan Crane crafts this great value Rose which was first aged in stainless and then transferred to neutral oak barrels for five months to age. The wine shows marvelously with beautiful red fruits and a touch of bright citrus rind flavors rounding out this awesome value Rose. Drink 2018-2022

94) 2015 Bergevin Lane ‘Linen’ Red Wine

Washington I Columbia Valley I $15.00 I 90 Points

The 2015 ‘Linen’ is a blend of largely Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec all sourced from the Columbia Valley that was aged for 19 months in neutral oak prior to bottling. Blackberry cobbler, black tea and smoke fill the nose. The palate has a seriously good texture as the toasty oak wraps around dark fruit and chocolate flavors. This is seriously good for the price. Already quite evolved, enjoy this in the short-term. Drink 2018-2022

95) 2015 Groth ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon

California I Napa Valley I $150.00 I 94 Points

The 2015 Groth ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning wine from this storied Napa estate. On the nose there are copious dark fruits with dark chocolate shavings and damp earth undertones that connect the fruit with the terroir. In the mouth the wine reveals a gorgeous, rich mouthfeel and a really nice viscosity. The combination of viscosity and tension excites the senses. Mocha, creme de cassis and anise with cigar box flavors all beautifully come together in the glass. A stunning effort, give this a two plus hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2019-2040

96) 2014 Pepper Bridge ‘Trine’ Red Wine

Washington I Walla Walla Valley I $75.00 I 93 Points

The 2014 ‘Trine’ by Pepper Bridge is a compelling blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, and 34% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder lesser parts Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The wine has been bottled since March 2016 and starts off with red currant jelly, cigar ash and blackberry pie aromas. The palate shows wonderful poise and balance. Delicious red and dark fruit flavors mingle with chocolate and sagebrush undertones. Inviting and downright delicious now, this gorgeous wine will cellar well over the next decade or more. Drink 2018-2030

97) 2015 K Vintners ‘King Coal’ Red Wine

Washington I Columbia Valley I $100.00 I 94 Points

A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Syrah all sourced from the Northridge Vineyard, this starts off with blackberry pie, crushed mint, black olive and black cherry cordial. The mouthfeel is decadent with blackberry liquor, coffee grounds, sagebrush and black cherry preserves. Rich and decadent this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2018-2028

98) 2015 The Royal Bull ‘Royal Bull($#!+) Red Wine

Washington I Columbia Valley I $65.00 I 93 Points

The wine is sourced from the Lawrence and Stoneridge Vineyards, a blend of Tempranillo and Grenache. The 2015 Syrah starts with aromas of black tea, smoked brisket, black olive tapenade and wet rock. The palate shows a sexy mouthfeel and wonderful richness with red fruits and citrus rind shining through with earthy and smoky tones. Only 201 cases made of this great wine. Drink 2018-2028

99) 2017 Baer ‘Shard’ Chardonnay

Washington I Columbia Valley I $25.00 I 92 Points

The 2017 ‘Shard’ by superstar winemaker Erica Orr shows really good aromatic range from sourdough bread to kiwi to vanilla creme brulee. The palate shows really good brightness and richness with vanilla cream, Pazzaz apple and kiwi with nutmeg accents. This is seriously good and shows wonderful intensity. Enjoy this in the short-term while the bright minerality remains. Drink 2018-2024

100) 2016 Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc

California I Napa Valley I  $25.00 I 91 Points

The 2016 Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc is a really good effort in this warm vintage. The nose starts off with wonderful gooseberry and candied grapefruit aromas that build in the glass. The rich texture here shines, with cantaloupe, pear and Gravensteins apple flavors following. Showing good tension, this is an outstanding effort that needs a hot summer day. Drink 2018-2022

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Chateau Climens Vertical Tasting

It was February 2017 and I was on my way to Dubai from Munich. Little did I know that aboard the flight was a bottle that was simply perfect. While I had enjoyed many vintages of Climens I had never tried the ’05 Chateau Climens. I tasted the wine at 30,000 feet and was absolutely amazed — I was at a loss for words. I got that same incredible feeling last weekend when I had the opportunity to revisit what I consider to be one of the best wines I’ve ever enjoyed in my lifetime. 

One of the famed estates in Barsac, Chateau Climens has gained a worldwide reputation for producing top notch Sauternes.  The chateau is located on the left bank of the Garonne, in Graves region in the south-west of Bordeaux, The Grands Crus from Sauternes and Barsac were classified in 1855 at the same time as the Grands Crus from Médoc. Château Climens belongs to the First Classed Growths of 1855.

Within the Sauternes appellation, the small village of Barsac is primarily set on limestone soils which yields a wonderful freshness and balance to the wines. Chateau Clemens estate is a 30 hectares property situated on the appellation’s highest land where limestone outcrops are abundant. At the helm since 1992 has been their superstar winemaker Berenice Lurton. She is a master at capturing incredible balance in her wines. Even in warm vintages her wines are never overripe or cloying. She is truly one of the great winemakers of the world.

Recently I had the chance to review a long vertical of her wines, from the 2000 vintage to the 2013 vintage. There were many wines that stood out in the tasting and I was hugely impressed with the 2003 Chateau Climens (WWB, 96) which is going strong and has an exceedingly long life ahead of it. This wine showed remarkable balance considering the heat of the vintage. The 2007 Chateau Climens (WWB, 97) is a truly epic effort. Already nicely evolved, this wine shows serious richness and weight, with a near minute-long finish. I was blown away with the 2010 Chateau Climens (WWB, 96) which needs more time in the bottle to develop but shows impeccable balance and wonderful range and terroir. I wouldn’t touch this beautiful wine for five plus years. The 2005 Chateau Climens (WWB, 100) is truly perfection in a bottle and is the only wine I have scored 100 points this year. The combination of terroir, viscosity, range and tension is simply unparalleled. Words cannot describe how good this wine is. Learn more about this compelling estate in the Bordeaux region at http://www.chateau-climens.fr/en/

2000 Chateau Climens- Taken from what was a challenging vintage in Sauternes, the wine shows musty aromas of wild mushroom, peat moss with honeyed ginger. The palate lacks freshness but shows good richness. Ginger, ripe pineapple and vanilla creme brûlée flavors combine nicely. This is towards the end of this nearly twenty year old wine that finishes strong with creme brulee. Drink 2018-2022- 90

2003 Chateau Climens- Showing off a golden hue, this warm vintage Chateau Climens starts off with wonderful honey, white peach, vanilla creme brûlée and candied pineapple. The palate shows remarkable poise, showcasing ripe lychee, pineapple upside down cake, candied ginger and apricot jelly all come together remarkably in the glass. The balance is insanely good as there is a seamless quality that glides through the mid-palate Linear and focused, this is a simply stunning wine that still has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2018-2045- 96

2004 Chateau Climens- Taken from what was generally a challenging vintage in Sauternes the wine shows bright pear, nectarine and roasted pineapple with vanilla cream on the nose with hints of nutmeg. The palate shows good richness and tension, unveiling candied ginger, white peach, ripe pineapple and apricot cream flavors. Seriously good considering the vintage, this great Sauternes is still going strong at 14 years of age. Drink 2018-2030- 92

2005 Chateau Climens- The 2005 Chateau Climens is a simply astounding Sauternes. Showing off its golden hue, the wine starts off with an intense bouquet of vanilla creme brulee, honeyed ginger, roasted pineapple and suggestions of butterscotch. The nose is so compelling and complex that it makes you constantly go back to the glass for more. The palate is exceedingly good. Honeyed ginger, lemon curd, vanilla creme brulee, apricot jelly, macadamia nut and butterscotch. The range to this wine is just insanely good as the texture of this wine borders ethereal. Stunning, captivating and simply marvelous, this is a perfect wine made by Chateau Climens and superstar winemaker Berenice Lurton. Drink 2018-2055- 100

2006 Chateau Climens- The nose is quite captivating with vanilla creme brulee, apricot, nutmeg and bananas foster. The palate shows wonderful tension and freshness with bananas foster, vanilla cream and apricot flavors. Downright delicious now, this still has a long life ahead of it. The balance and poise here is seriously good. Drink 2018-2035- 93

2007 Chateau Climens- Taken from a near perfect vintage in Sauternes, the 2007 Chateau Climens is a show-stopping effort. The nose strikes up ripe lychee, pineapple upside down cake and nutmeg infused bananas foster, showing an exotic edge. The palate shows tremendous weight and poise, carrying an unctuous character. Ripe pineapple, nutmeg, lychee and candied mango creme brûlée flavors all marvelously combine. Impeccably balanced, this shows marvelously right now but has an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2055- 97

2010 Chateau Climens- The 2010 Chateau Climens by Berenice Lurton is a stunning wine. On the nose there is ripe peach, butterscotch, candied mango and Meyer lemon creme brulee. The palate shows a marvelous texture and viscosity. Seamless and beautifully balanced, this elegant Sauternes unveils bananas foster, quince, vanilla cream and roasted pineapple. The near minute long finish accentuates this delicious wine. While it has evolved nicely after eight years, the wine needs more time to fully develop. Drink 2022-2055- 96

2011 Chateau Climens- The 2011 Chateau Climens is a stunning effort from this exciting vintage in Sauternes. The nose shows a really good range from nutmeg to lemon cream to wild mushroom. The mouthfeel entices as the wine shows beautiful balance and complexity. There is a seamless quality that races through this wine. Butterscotch, lemon creme brulee, bananas foster and candied ginger flavors all marvelously come together on the palate. Fresh and showing really good tension, try to resist this great wine for at least another five plus years. Drink 2025-2050- 94

2011 Chateau Climens ‘Cypres de Climens’ Sauternes- This is the second wine of Chateau Climens. On the nose this wine takes on forward aromas of apricot jelly, vanilla cream and ripe pineapple. The palate is forward, showing really good freshness and weight. Pineapple upside down cake and bananas foster are at the forefront as the wine shows a seriously good mouthfeel. This is a stunning wine that competes with many Sauternes houses first wines by the talented Berenice Lurton. Drink 2018-2030- 92

2013 Chateau Climens- The 2013 Chateau Climens is a seriously good wine. On the nose the wine shows butterscotch, Meyer lemon zest and nutmeg with hints of ginger. The palate shows wonderful freshness and intensity. The citrus component to the wine is really shining brightly. Meyer lemon creme brulee, white peach and butterscotch with hints of ginger really impress. The wine is showing marvelously but really needs time to further develop. Drink 2025-2050- 95

2019 Washington Wine Blog Critic’s Choice of Washington

Friends, today marks the day that we announce our lineup for our second annual Washington Wine Blog Critic’s Choice of Washington Event. 

Please join us for a very special tasting on Saturday February 16th from 4-7PM from the best of the best of Washington wines at the picturesque 76th floor of the Columbia Tower Center with an absolutely stellar lineup never before seen in one tasting. The Washington Wine Blog's Critics Choice will feature the top winemakers from our very own state, pouring the latest and greatest vintages. We have carefully chosen some of our favorite producers from our reviews of thousands for our top 100 of 2018. Please be sure to visit our page on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and our website at www.washingtonwineblog.com.

The lineup for 2018 includes:

Washington Wine Blog 2017 winery of the year: Cayuse Vineyards with Christophe Baron personally joining us at the event

Washington Wine Blog 2016 winery of the year: Quilceda Creek Winery

Please follow the link to tickets and to view the full lineup of spectacular Washington wineries. We will see you February 16th at the Columbia Tower Club for this incredible event!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wineseattle-washington-wine-blog-critics-choice-tickets-53705509625?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button

Ramey

One of the great winemakers in California, David Ramey is the owner/winemaker of Ramey, producer of some of the best Chardonnay on this planet. The winery sources from some of the great vineyards in Sonoma, including the Hue and Ritche Vineyards. His style of Chardonnay is one that exemplifies balance and poise, regardless of vintage. His single vineyard Chardonnays in particular show incredible terroir, richness, range and poise that put them in the upper echelon of California Chardonnay.

The new release wines were highly impressive across the board. I absolutely loved the 2015 Ramey ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) which showed wonderful range and a silky texture. This great wine has potential to cellar well for a decade or more. Even better and more memorable, was the 2015 Ramey ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay (WWB, 94) which is one of the best Chardonnay wines that I have reviewed in the past year. The precision and balance of this wine is simply impeccable. Ramey also produces a stunning Syrah bottling and his 2016 Ramey ‘Sonoma Coast’ Syrah (WWB, 93) shows marvelous terroir from this warmer vintage in Sonoma County. Learn more about these gorgeous wines at http://www.rameywine.com Here are the great new releases by Ramey and the talented David Ramey.

2015 Ramey ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay- This fantastic new Chardonnay was aged for 12 months in 21% new French oak barrels (François Frères, Taransaud, & Vicard) prior to bottling. The wine shows an aromatic display of brioche, lemon zest and ripe pineapple on the nose. The palate reveals a wonderfully rich texture and a great sense of minerality. With a soft mouthfeel, the wine unveils banana, roasted pineapple and vanilla creme brûlée flavors that entice. Bright and rich, this is a complete wine that will continue to evolve over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2015 Ramey ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The Ritchie Vineyard is a famed site located in the Russian River Valley. Chardonnay vines here were first planted in 1972. The wine was aged for 20 months in 21% new French oak barrels (François Frères and Taransaud Beaune) prior to bottling. Showing really good range on the nose, the bouquet ranges from heavy whipping cream to ripe pear and apricot aromas. The palate reveals a silky texture and a ripe texture that coats the tongue. Bananas foster, vanilla cream, Meyer lemon zest and ripe pineapple flavors all nicely combine in the glass. Complex and rich, with mouth-watering acidity, this is a stunning effort that will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2015 Ramey ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2015 Ramey ‘Hyde VIneyard’ Chardonnay is a simply gorgeous new wine that is one of the best of its kind by superstar winemaker, David Ramey. Set on clay loam the marine influenced Hyde Vineyard has gained an international reputation for producing outstanding Chardonnay grapes. This Carneros bottling shows nutmeg, vanilla creme brulee, macadamia nut and heavy whipping cream flavors that impress. Lithe and rich, this gorgeous bottling will cellar well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2018-2033- 94

2016 Ramey ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 Ramey ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir was aged for 14 months in 49% new French barrels (François Frères & Demptos) prior to bottling. The wine was sourced from largely the De La Montanya, as well as Bucher Vineyard (Tory Block) and the Bucher Vineyard (North L Block). This shows beautiful range on the nose from orange zest to cran-pomegranate and raspberry cordial. The palate reveals a silky texture as medium bodied red fruits and citrus rind with wild mushroom flavors all collide. Beautifully balanced and showing great earthy terroir, this great wine is best enjoyed over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2016 Ramey ‘Sonoma Coast’ Syrah-It is no surprise that the Sonoma Coast AVA is growing in  prominence with great Syrah bottling and the 2015 Ramey ‘Sonoma Coast’ Syrah is another outstanding effort from this exciting appellation. The nose shows really good range with lighter citrus, black fruit and earthy tones with black olive tapenade and smoked brisket. The palate is plush and shows good freshness, with a saline streak. Black tea, anise, blackberry cobbler and smoked Kalmata olive flavors all come together marvelously once in the mouth. A delight to savor, this terror driven effort will cellar well for the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2014 Ramey ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- David Ramey has gained serious acclaim with his Cabernet bottling and the latest effort is another outstanding effort. There is a wonderful sense of earthy terroir on the nose with leather, green bell pepper, pipe tobacco and copious dark fruits the fill the nose. The mouthfeel is plush, revealing a wonderful decadence. Black cherry compote, blackberry cobbler, mocha and red bell pepper puree flavors all nicely mingle together. A seriously good effort, enjoy this great Cabernet over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2018-2033- 92

Woodward Canyon

One of the most prestigious Washington wineries, Woodward Canyon is one of the state’s historic wineries, first founded in 1981.  Leading the charge has been owner and founder, Rick Small, who is one of the state’s great winemakers. I can recall epic older vintage wines that I have tried from them including great Chardonnays from the early 1990s as well as awesome ‘Aritist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignons from the early 2000s. Rick is humble despite all his successes and is a downright awesome guy to chat wine with. Myt first visit to Woodward Canyon came in 2002 while I was completing my undergraduate studies at Whitman College. With its laidback atmosphere and cozy, country cottage feel, it is one of the great tasting rooms in Washington.

I am always impressed with Woodward Canyon Chardonnay. Their new bottling, the 2017 Woodward Canyon ‘Washington State’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) shows a wonderful viscosity and tension. At this price this is one to purchase by the case, as the wine will continue to evolve nicely over the next decade. Contrary to some other wine reviewers, I think that the 2015 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 92) is a downright gorgeous bottling with its silky mouthfeel, light tannic backbone and copious dark fruits. The best wine that I tried was the 2015 Woodward Canyon ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 94) which is a decadent treat that is meant for the cellar. Learn more about these outstanding wines at woodwardcanyon.com Here are the great new wines by Woodward Canyon.

2017 Woodward Canyon ‘Washington State’ Chardonnay- Woodward Canyon has gained a national reputation for producing high quality Chardonnay. This great new release, the 2017 Woodward Canyon ‘Washington State’ Chardonnay, is sourced from a host of great vineyards across the state. The wine was aged in a small percentage of new French oak prior to bottling. Ironically the wine was bottled on my birthday in May, 2018. The nose takes on a ton of appeal with roasted pineapple, toasty oak, Pink Lady apple and brioche aromatics. The palate shows a wonderful tension, astringency and richness. Gravenstein apple, brioche, and Meyer lemon creme brûlée flavors all strut their stuff in the glass. This is a gorgeous wine that has some good cellaring potential. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2015 Woodward Canyon ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot- Founded in 1981, Woodward Canyon has produced a Merlot wine for more than 20 years. Showing really good dark and red fruits on the nose, the toasty oak nicely wraps around this wine. Black cherry, blackberry pie and mocha flavors all nicely combine on the palate, showing good richness and minerality. Drink 2018-2028- 91

2015 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Woodward Canyon has produced an ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon since 1992. I can recall some of my favorite ‘Artist Series’ bottling over the years, including the stunning 2001, the under the radar 2004 and the opulent 2005 wines. Forward, with toasty oak on the nose, this 2015 ‘Artist Series’ shows cassis, mocha and anise aromatics. The palate shows good viscosity and tension with creme de cassis, anise, coffee ground and blueberry compote flavors that impress. Showing good mid-palate weight and tension., this will cellar well over the next decade. This may not be the most long-lived Artist Series, but it is downright delicious right now. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2015 Woodward Canyon ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from a host of great vineyards in the Columbia and Walla Valleys including their estate vineyard as well as the Sagemoor and Champoux Vineyards. Inky once in the glass, the wine shows creme de cassis, anise, sweet pipe tobacco and tar aromatics that fill the nose. The palate is plush, rich and downright seductive. Mocha, anise, sagebrush and blueberry compote flavors entice. While this is drinking marvelously right now, this will cellar well for the next two plus decades. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this beauty at least a two hour decant. Drink 2018-2035- 94

Rotie Cellars

Since 2007, Rotie Cellars and owner/winemaker Sean Boyd has focused on crafting outstanding Rhône style wines from great Washington vineyards. Boyd makes a host of wines including his Northern and Southern red and white blends. Each are a homage to the respective regions of the Rhone. Rotie Cellars has tasting rooms both in Walla Walla and in the SoDo District of Seattle.

I really enjoy spending time with Sean Boyd and talking wine. Sean is one of the wonderful people in Washington wine who is both highly knowledgable and highly humble despite his obvious talents. Originally from Tacoma, Sean got his start at Waters Winery in 2004. Sean finally made the decision to open his own winery 2007, focusing solely on Rhone varietals. He has planted an exciting vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks region. He is a great winemaking talent and I was very impressed with his latest release red and white wines. His 2016 Rotie Cellars ‘Northern Blend’ Red Wine (WWB, 94) is an insanely good red blend sourced from Walla Walla Rocks region that shows really good range and wonderful mid-palate richness. This is one for the cellar. Nearly as good was the 2016 Rotie Cellars ‘Southern Blend’ Red Wine (WWB, 93) which impresses with its red fruit character and brilliant stony character. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.rotiecellars.com Here are the outstanding new release wines by Rotie Cellars.

2017 Rotie Cellars Rose- This pale colored Rose is a blend of 85% Mourvedre with the remainder Syrah. The brightness of the wine shines with melon and delicate red fruits, that connect with touch of sweetness on the palate. Refreshing and forward, enjoy this in the short-term. Drink 2018-2022- 90

2017 Rotie Cellars ’Northern White’ White Wine- The 2017 ‘Northern White’ is a silky blend of 70% Marsanne and 30% Roussanne, this great wine shows a sumptuous nose of honeysuckle and gardenia with candied white peach. The palate has an old-world feel, with lychee, lemongrass and Pink Lady apple flavors shining brightly. Drink 2018-2022- 91

2017 Rotie Cellars Grenache Blanc- The 2017 Grenache Blanc by Rotie Cellars is one of the best of its kind in Washington. This wine begins with very delicate aromas of gooseberry and green apple slowly build in the glass. Serious astringency marks the palate, as mouth-watering acidity provides a wonderful experience. Enjoy this in its youth while the striking and intense minerality remains. Drink 2018-2022- 92

2016 Rotie Cellars ‘Southern Blend’ Red Wine-  The 2016 ‘Southern Blend’ by the talented hands of Sean Boyd is compelling blend of 70% Grenache with the remainder Mourvedre and Syrah. This wine shows a marvelous stony character on the nose with blood orange and red currant jelly singing as well. The palate shows a marvelous texture and tension The range on the palate and mouth-watering acidity makes this nearly impossible to resist right now. This will continue to evolve in the cellar over the next decade. Be sure to give this a one hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2018-2028- 93

2016 Rotie Cellars ‘Northern Blend’ Red Wine- The 2015 ‘Northern Blend’ by superstar winemaker Sean Boyd shows a plethora of aromatics including Asian spice, cigar box, lychee and damp earth with lighter wet stone tones. The hedonistic character on the nose brings you back to the glass for more. The palate is both lithe and rich, showing a marvelous texture that coats the mid-palate. Umami, Hoisin sauce, cigar ash and blackberry cobbler flavors beautifully mingle in the glass. Seductive, with marvelous tension, this is a stunning wine by Rotie Cellars. Drink 2018-2028- 94

2015 Rotie Cellars ‘Swordfight’ Red Wine- Made with 50% Mourvedre sourced from the Wallula Vineyard and 50% Syrah sourced from the Phinney Hill Vineyard, this inky colored wine begins with aromas of smoke, wet stone and blood orange with a touch of milk chocolate that build in the glass. The palate shows a wonderful freshness with dried herbs, cigar box, blackberry pie and red currant. The acidity and tension drives this excellent wine. Drink 2018-2028- 92

Champagne Bollinger

One of the great historic houses in Champagne, Bollinger remains independently owned and operated. This Champagne house has an exceedingly rich history. Family-managed since 1889, Bollinger maintains more than 150 hectares of vineyards. They produce several labels of their Champagne, including the Vieilles Vignes Françaises, Grande Année and R.D. as well as the non-vintage Special Cuvée. Initially founded in 1829 by Hennequin de Villermont, Paul Renaudin and Jacques Bollinger, the champagne house has roots dating back to 1585 when the Hennequins, one of the Bollinger founding families, owned land in Cramant. In 1803 Jacques Joseph Placide Bollinger was born in Ellwangen, in the kingdom of Wurttemberg, in modern day western Germany. In1822, he moved to the Champagne region and began work at the Champagne house of Muller Ruinart, which today no longer exists. 

The Champagne house Renaudin Bollinger was founded on February 6, 1829 in Aÿ by Hennequin de Villermont, Paul Levieux Renaudin and Jacques Bollinger. Founder Jacques Joseph Bollinger married Charlotte de Villermont and their two sons Joseph and Georges would later take over Bollinger and began expanding the family estate by purchasing vineyards in nearby villages. The sons also developed the image of the brand, and the British began to take notice of these Champagnes — such as when Bollinger received a Royal Warrant in 1884 from Queen Victoria.

In 1918 Jacques Bollinger, the son of Georges, took over Bollinger. Jacques married Lily, who later took over Bollinger in 1941. Lily expanded production through the purchase of more vineyards, but is best known for traveling the world to promote the brand. Bollinger was modernized under the direction of Claude d'Hautefeuille, who acquired additional vineyards and developed the brand internationally. Since 1994, Ghislain de Mongolfier has managed Bollinger. A great-grandson of the founder, Mongolfier has also served as president of the Association Viticole Champenoise since 2004, after heading the Commission of Champagne for 10 years. Brilliantly, Bollinger has been well-marketed in numerous James Bond films including some of my favorites like Live and Let Die and a bottle of Bollinger appears following an epic car race in Goldeneye.

I recently had a chance to review two Bollinger wines. I was absolutely blown away with their new release non-vintage wine, the NV Champagne Bollinger ‘Special Cuvee’ Brut Champagne (WWB, 92). This shows a wonderful musty character with great richness and texture. I think it is one of the great Champagnes at this price point. Considerably more expensive but even better was the 2004 Champagne Bollinger ‘La Grand Annee’ Brut Champagne (WWB, 94) which showed even more earthy and musty terroir and great citrus and tree fruit flavors. Learn more about this special Champagne house at Here are the great Champagnes of Bollinger.

NV Champagne Bollinger ‘Special Cuvee’ Brut Champagne- The nose shows wonderful mustiness with damp earth and wet stone that connects with lemon zest and sourdough bread.The palate reveals a wonderful combination of weight and freshness with kumquat, Chalah bread, and Granny Smith apple marvelously woven together. Refreshing yet showing good mid-palate weight this outstanding effort will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028- 92

2004 Champagne Bollinger ‘La Grand Annee’ Brut Champagne- This golden-hued Champagne is a compelling blend of primarily Pinot Noir (66%) with lesser amounts Chardonnay (34%). This wine shows a wonderful range of aromatics from white truffle to citrus zest and baked apple, as well as hints of marzipan and nutmeg. The balance and mid-palate weight is wonderful here with white tea, honeydew melon, Pink Lady apple and candied lemon. Showing great poise and tension, this great wine is simply marvelous now but will cellar well for the next two decades. Drink 2018-2038- 94

Beaux Freres

A famed Oregon estate located in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, Beaux Freres was founded by Michael Etzel more than twenty years ago. While on vacation in 1986 Michael came across an 88 acre pig farm. After some consideration he decided to purchase the land with his brother in law, Robert Parker, and the rest became history. Michael focused on his job as vineyard manager by planting Pinot Noir in the Ribbon Ridge AVA and while planting his vineyard, he interned at Ponzi Winery. In 1990, Michael harvested his first crop and sold the grapes winemakers Ken Wright and Dick Ponzi. Michael decided there was something special with his vineyard and began making focused, mineral-driven Pinot Noirs from this special site. The wines were reviewed with incredible acclaim. These wines from 2002 and 2005 in particular stand out to me as truly some of the great wines ever made in Oregon. Recently his son, Mike Etzel, has taken over as head winemaker. While the winemaking style has slightly changed, the wines remain highly poised and show tremendous texture and finesse.

Mike’s new release Pinot Noirs come from the warm 2016 vintage in Oregon. They were all tremendous across the board. I was amazed by the 2016 Beaux Freres ‘Gran Moraine’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 95) which is one of the best Oregon wines that I have sampled in the last year. The wine shows insanely good range and minerality. While it is delicious now it has a long life left in the cellar. Look to the 2016 Beaux Freres ‘The Beaux Freres Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 95) which is just as good and showcases its marvelous silky texture and bright minerality. It is a seriously sexy new Pinot Noir. Learn more about this great historic Oregon estate at https://www.beauxfreres.com/ Here are the fantastic new release wines by Beaux Freres.

2016 Beaux Frères ‘Gran Moraine’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 Beaux Freres ‘Gran Moraine’ Pinot Noir is a stunning new wine. The wine is sourced from the Yamhill Carlton AVA and starts with bright strawberry puree, red currant jelly and peat moss that fill the nose. The palate shows wonderful freshness and good tension with Earl Grey tea, white pepper, red currant and red cherry candy. The range and texture is wonderful. Enjoy this over the next ten to fifteen years Drink 2018-2030- 95

2016 Beaux Frères ‘Zena Crown’ Pinot Noir- The esteemed Zena Crown vineyard is located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA and is set on volcanic soils. The nose shows wonderful volcanic terroir with dark currant and black tea with nutmeg aromas. The mouthfeel is fantastic here which shows great richness and tension. Black tea, wild blackberry, Mandarin orange rind and peat moss flavors all impress. This is a simply stunning effort by Beaux Freres. Drink 2018-2033- 95

2016 Beaux Frères ‘Guadalupe’ Pinot Noir- This great Pinot Noir by Beaux Freres is sourced from the Guadalupe Vineyard, planted by Ken Wright in the 1980s. The nose shows earthy terroir with wild mushroom, peat moss and red cherry preserves. The palate is fresh and lithe showing red currant, orange zest and peat moss flavors. Earthy and lithe, this is a wonderful effort that shows great terroir and poise from this warm vintage. Drink 2018-2030- 94

2016 Beaux Frères ‘The Beaux Frères Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 Beaux Freres ‘The Beaux Freres Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a simply marvelous new effort from this storied estate. The Ribbon Ridge AVA wine shows wonderful earthy terroir on the nose. This shows a wonderful combination of red and dark fruits on the nose with Asian spice and forest floor aromatics. The palate shows good richness and tension with red currant, red cherry candy, strawberry puree and orange rind flavors with a touch of peat moss. Rich and focused, this will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2018-2033- 95

2015 Sequitur ‘Ribbon Ridge AVA’ Pinot Noir- This is a project winery by Beaux Freres founder Michael Etzel. The wine is entirely sourced from the Sequiter Vineyard, located in the Ribbon Ridge AVA and planted to 17 different clones of Pinot Noir. The wine shows bright strawberyr, red currant jelly and red cherry candy with earthy terroir on the nose. The palate shows wonderful freshness with a strong citrus rind component complementing the red fruits. The near minute long finish lingers. Drink 2018-2033- 94