Open Soul

Today we share a new winery out of Oregon (PHOTO by Alba Betancourt and Nate Watters). Open Soul was started by Oregon native Jordan Hostetter who has worked a range of jobs including general manager at several top Washington spots. Hostetter has completed the Walla Walla Community College program in winemaking and enology and wanted to start his own project, focusing on his Oregon roots.
Wines were sourced from both the Willamette valley and the Columbia Gorge. Kate Payne Brown has served as consulting winemaker. In Jordan Hostetter’s wine journey he has been most drawn to the incredible wines of Burgundy and those with an old-world soul. He sought to focus on limited production wines that emulate the wines that have inspired him. The new wines were very good and very consistent. I really enjoy the 2024 Open Soul ‘Mistral White’ White Wine (OB, 91) which is fresh and vibrant, showing a great salinity. I think this winery has some serious potential based on the first set of wines. Learn more about this exciting project at https://opensoul.wine/ and here are my reviews of the inaugural releases by Open Soul and Jordan Hostetter.

2024 Open Soul ‘Mistral White’ White Wine- A Southern Rhone-inspired blend from the Columbia Gorge AVA, the 2024 Open Soul ‘Mistral White’ White Wine is fresh and beautifully-textured stuff. Gooseberry and salted pear notes combine with hints of apricot on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2024 Open Soul Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, the 2024 Open Soul Rose offers vibrant acidity and a smooth mouthfeel upon entry. Tart red fruits collide with kumquat rind, damp earth and copious minerals on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2023 Open Soul ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Open Soul ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir was stored in mainly neutral French oak before bottling. It delivers plenty of crunchy red fruits that mingle well with orange zest, salty soils and bergamot notes. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

Soos Creek

If you want a great bottle of wine for the price, read this article. Soos Creek is a Washington outpost that is built on producing quality wines that exude both class and value. Starting back in in 1989, David and Cecile Larsen started to make wine in the Boeing Wine Club (and even blackberry wine). They originally modeled their winery after Quilceda Creek, producing only one Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Over the years he has expanded his lineup. He sources from some of the great sites in the state including Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun in Red Mountain, David makes roughly 2,000 cases each year focusing on high quality red wines. 

I love the wines especially for the price. Check out the 2023 Soos Creek ‘Commander Comet’ Syrah (OB, 93) which is dense, chewy and plush, with a smooth mouthfeel. Learn more about this great boutique winery at http://www.sooscreekwine.com Here are the excellent new wines by Soos Creek.

2023 Soos Creek ‘Commander Comet’ Syrah- Sourced from the Horse Heaven Hills, the 2023 ‘Commander Comet’ offers juicy dark currants and figs on the palate alongside fabulous viscosity and verve. Bright and delicious with a smooth mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Soos Creek ‘King Cab’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘King Cab’ delivers straightforward chocolate and juicy dark fruits on the palate, with a light tobacco edge. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

MV Soos Creek ‘The Pugilist at Rest’ Red Wine- The MV Soos Creek ‘The Pugilist at Rest’ Red Wine combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot with a dash of Syrah. It is very herbal with dark currants, chocolate and graphite notes with firm tannins on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 91

2023 Soos Creek ‘Phinny Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Phinny Hill Vineyard’ comes from this location in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. This comes off smooth throughout the drinking experience as Cuban cigar and cassis notes collide with smoky accents and molten chocolate on the palate. This is really elegant stuff, with some good agent potential. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Soos Creek ‘Soliel’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Soliel’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon (67%) with the remainder Merlot. Medium-bodied dark fruits parade with tar and black licorice alongside graphite notes on the palate. Brimming with bright acidity, this is already nicely defined stuff. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2023 Soos Creek ‘Sazon’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Sazon’ is a Bordeaux-inspired blend from the Columbia Valley and comes off inky in the glass. Violets, tar and espresso bean mark the nose alongside juicy dark fruits. The palate is plush with great volume and tension as heady dark fruits parade with stony minerals, sagebrush and chocolate on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Soos Creek ‘Southwind Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Soos Creek ‘Southwind Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this windswept site in the Walla Walla Valley set on Loess soils. This is fresh with great energy on the palate, reveling in its core of crushed blackberry compote, wet stone, tobacco leaf and shades of pencil lead. Seriously good now in its heady youth, watch this evolve over the next decade to come. Drink 2025-2035- 93

Chateau Ste. Michelle

It is my pleasure to present Washington State’s founding winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle. I have enjoyed tasting and purchasing these wines for decades. The winery has had changes in recent years but continues to make an incredible array of wines at a fair price.

Winemaker Katie Nelson has Riesling dialed in. She has a longstanding history in the industry formerly with Charles Smith and also head winemaker at Columbia Crest. I love the new 2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Dry’ Riesling (OB, 90) which is a steal and impresses with bright minerality and good flavor range. Even better is the sensational 2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling (OB, 93) which is dense and also nervy with lovely texture. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.ste-michelle.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Chateau Ste. Michelle.

2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Dry’ Riesling- Floral and showing vibrant peach tones, the 2023 ‘Dry’ Riesling offers juicy pear and starfruit notes with light petrol accents. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Eroica’ Riesling- The 2023 ‘Eroica’ Riesling is made in the Kabinette style. This comes off fat on the tongue. Nectarine, oyster shell and passion fruit tones combine with lemon rind and kerosene on the palate. This is really good stuff that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2024 Estival Sauvignon Blanc- Entirely sourced from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, the 2024 ‘Estival’ is brilliantly textured stuff with serious stuffing and freshness. Kiwi and gooseberry notes combine with freshly cut salted limes on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2023 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Chardonnay offers a killer nose with brioche and starfruit alongside honeydew melon. The palate is deep and concentrated with serious acidity and richness, alongside glorious length. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2022 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Canoe Ridge Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous new effort from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Tar, anise and tobacco leaf, chocolate and dried herbs meld well with red bell pepper and dense dark fruits on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2022 Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Artist Series’ is a unique blend for this wine, utilizing 49% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Cabernet Franc. Inky in the glass, this comes up fat, round and juicy on the palate, with impeccable balance and serious weight and length. Chocolate covered kirsch and loganberry fruit flavors collide with graphite, sandalwood and shades of pencil lead on the palate. Drink 2025-2039- 94

Spring Valley

For years I have admired the wines by Spring Valley, that for decades have received accolades by wine critics across the globe. What was farmland for roughly 100 years, Shari and Dean Derby planted vines on the land and made their first vintage in 1999. The Derbys’ son Devin Corkrum Derby served as winemaker until his passing in 2004.

Devin’s assistant and friend Serge Laville took over as winemaker and has been crafting some beautiful wines for many years. A few years back Kate Derby, a sixth-generation family farmer and winemaker, took over the help at Spring Valley Vineyard. She has worked at Spring Valley Vineyard for much of her life. Growing up she spent summers hoeing the vineyard rows with her grandfather and racking wine with Spring Valley’s first winemaker, her uncle Devin Derby. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she began her full time career with Spring Valley in the tasting room, then on the road representing the brand across the country and finally joining the winemaking team in 2011. Check out the 2022 Spring Valley ‘Fredrick’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is downright delicious and deftly captures the art of blending. Just as good is the soft and approachable 2022 Spring Valley ‘Uriah’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which has fabulous flavor range considering the coolness of the vintage. Learn more about these outstanding wines at springvalleyvineyard.com Here are my reviews of the fantastic new Spring Valley wines.

2022 Spring Valley ‘Uriah’ Red Wine- The 2022 Spring Valley ‘Uriah’ Red Wine was stored for 19 months in all new French oak. The wine combines 50% Cabernet Franc with 49% Merlot and a dash of Malbec. This is silky, dense and delicious wine, with red bell pepper alongside heady dark fruits and espresso grounds. Medium to full-bodied, and fresh, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2039- 94

2022 Spring Valley ‘Katherine Corkrum’ Cabernet Franc- Wonderfully herbal and 10% varietal, the 2022 Spring Valley ‘Katherine Corkrum’ Cabernet Franc offers dense chocolate and Arabica bean flavors that mingle well with red bell pepper on the palate. Heady and rich, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2039- 94

2022 Spring Valley ‘Fredrick’ Red Wine The 2022 Spring Valley ‘Fredrick’ combines 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 2% Malbec. Stored in all new French oak this delivers rich roasted fig and tobacco leaf flavors alongside beautiful tension and blackberry compote on the palate. Delicious now, with great finesse, watch this evolve over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2039- 94

2022 Spring Valley ‘Nina Lee’ Syrah- The really good 2022 Spring Valley ‘Nina Lee’ Syrah shows toasty oak flavors alongside bulls blood, iodine, orange peel and heady dark fruits on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 93

Northstar

Washington Merlot definitely deserves its spot on the world stage. Those wines exude class with their sagebrush and chocolate profiles with coffee and black fruits. I have long admired the Northstar Merlot bottlings and these wines have been a pillar of consistency over the past twenty years. You will also find these on the shelves of wine shops across the country.

Even in tough vintages Northstar has made brilliant wines. Check out the 2022 Northstar ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot (OB, 93) which is a sensational and fresh bottling for the price. Learn more about these great wines at northstarwinery.com and here are my reviews of the latest releases by Northstar.

2022 Northstar ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2022 Northstar ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Red Wine is pillowy and soft on the mouth with a lush mouthfeel. Black licorice and anise seed combine with red bell pepper and shades of dark chocolate shavings on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2022 Northstar ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot- A generous and broad-shouldered Merlot despite the coolness of the vintage, the 2022 Northstar ‘Columbia Valley’ is concatenated, delicious stuff that is already neatly evolved. Blackberry compote, black cherry and milk chocolate flavors mingle with fresh sage and suggestions of tar on the palate. A really good wine for the price, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Northstar ‘Premier’ Merlot- The 2022 Northstar ‘Premier’ Merlot is a dense, well-structured and viscous effort that has a long way to go in the cellar. Dense dark fruits mingle well with sweet pipe tobacco, chocolate pie and shades of black licorice on the palate. Round, broad-shouldered and heady, this really shines with a bright acid backbone and luxurious viscosity. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Northstar ‘Premier’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Northstar ‘Premier’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers roasted figs and dried herbs on the nose alongside rocky nuances. Silky and refined on the mouth, with good tension, this is drinking beautifully right now with its generous core of dark fruits and espresso bean flavors. Drink 2025-2035- 93

Dineen

One of the great sites in the Yakima Valley Pat and Lanie Dineen founded Dineen Vineyrds which was originally a 12-acre apple orchard back in 2001. The trees were removed and the first Dineen vines were planted in what is now known as Catherine’s vineyard, named after Pat’s mother.

They made a much larger investment in 2002, acquiring a 80-acre parcel was purchased becoming the second vineyard in the portfolio and home to the Dineen Vineyards tasting room. All of the blocks at this site are named for members of our immediate family.

The new wines were very consistent. I really enjoy the 2022 Dineen Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 91) which is fresh and well-structured from this cooler vintage. earn more about theses wines at dineenvineyards.com and here are my reviews of the new Dineen wines.

2024 Dineen Semillon- The 2024 Dineen Semillon is soft and mineral-laden on the tongue. Kiwi and juicy melon flavors combine with shades of starfruit on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 90.

2024 Dineen ‘Condriesque’ White Wine- The 2024 Dineen ‘Condriesque’ White Wine delivers passion fruit and peaches on the palate, with a smooth mouthfeel. This is smooth throughout the drinking experience and is best enjoyed over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2022 Dineen ‘Heritage Blend’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Heritage Blend’ is a combination of 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 28% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 14% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. This is well-poised with good mid-palate density. Rich dark fig and boysenberry flavors meld well with milk chocolate on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 91

2022 Dineen Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Dineen Cabernet Sauvignon is a fresher style of wine that shows the coolness of the vintage. Right away this shows off red bell pepper with dried herbs and shades of wild blackberry on the nose. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2032- 91

Stonestreet

Today we share one of the outstanding producers out of Sonoma. Stonestreet sits on a 5500 acre mountain estate that towers high above the Alexander Valley in the Mayacamas Mountain Range. Jess Stonestreet Jackson and Barbara Banke established the estate in 1995, and their son Christopher Jackson and his wife Ariel continue the legacy today. I had a beautiful visit to this winery last spring and was once again reminded of the consistency of the Chardonnay wines that they produce. At the helm is winemaker Kristina Shideler, who has a longstanding history in the industry. She is former head winemaker at Arrowood before rejoining Stonestreet — first being a part of their winemaking team back in 2012.

I love the new wines that they produce. The marvelous 2022 Stonestreet ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) has gobs of tension and great weight fro this warm vintage. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.stonestreetwines.com/ and here are my reviews of the beautiful new releases by Stonestreet.

2022 Stonestreet ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2022 Stonestreet ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is a rich, viscous and also very fresh effort that comes from this hot vintage. Buttercream and mango notes parade with cardamom dusted pastry crust and juicy lemon with a dash of sea salt on the palate. Very complex and nicely weighted, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2019 Stonestreet ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2019 Stonestreet ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. Rich cassis notes combine with green bell pepper, pipe tobacco and shades of boysenberry cordial on the palate. Dense and delicious with a refined mouthfeel and good earthy elegance, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93

Siduri

Today we share the beautiful wines of Siduri. Originally founded by Adam Lee, the wine was later sold to Jackson Family in 2015. Their current winemaker, Matt Revelette, has now been at the helm for several years. Matt has a great background in wine, formerly working for Sojourn Cellars, Williams Selyem, Kosta Browne, Quintessa, and Mending Wall. He is making some world class wines.

Last night I tasted with Matt and we talked about the tension-filled, lifted 2023 vintage. I love the new 2023 Siduri ‘Seascape’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which deftly shows off this site that neighbors the Pacific Ocean. Learn more about these great wines at siduri.com and here are my reviews of the new Siduri wines.

2023 Siduri ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The really good 2023 Siduri ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay comes from Gran Moraine and Maple Grove Vineyards. Stored in roughly 20% new French oak before bottling this opens with nutty accents on the nose with poached pear and baking spices. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured with bright acidity and a smooth texture. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2023 Siduri ‘Sonoma County’ Chardonnay- The 2023 Siduri ‘Sonoma County’ Chardonnay is a stunning new wine that exudes class and value. This comes almost all from the Upper Barn as well as the Matanzas Creek Vineyards. This was stored in only 18% new French oak, delivering buttered brioche and oyster shell alongside shades of papaya. This has great weight, length and freshness. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2023 Siduri ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Coming mainly from the Gran Moraine and Zena Crown vineyards, the 2023 Siduri ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir offers cola and shades of red raspberry and loganberry notes alongside rocky soils. The palate is rich and viscous with serious texture and tension, with good salty and rocky nuances. This is seriously well-done. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2023 Siduri ‘Santa Barbara County’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Siduri ‘Santa Barbara County’ Pinot Noir comes from this slightly cooler vintage. A blend of Santa Rita Valley and Hills sites, this delvers fresh sage and sea spray alongside cranberry. The palate is fresh and lithe with a polished mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2023 Siduri ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Siduri ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir is soft and medium-bodied with smooth red fruits and wafts of cola and exotic spices alongside orange rind. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 Siduri ‘West Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- Coming from the Sealift and Seascape Vineyards, the 2023 Siduri ‘West Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir offers sea salt dusted orange peel, tart red fruits and shades of Nori. This is really fresh and delicious stuff, offering good length and finesse. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2023 Siduri ‘Santa Lucia Highlands’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Siduri ‘Santa Lucia Highlands’ Pinot Noir comes from some top sites in this region including the Sobranes Vineyard. Red florals combine with bright red fruits and kumquat rind on the nose. The palate is fresh and lively with bright acidity and soft red fruits. This is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2023 Siduri ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Siduri ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir delivers a punch or under 40 bucks. Ripe red fruits mingle well with sandy soils and dried herbs on the palate. Medium-bodied, with great salty character, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2022 Siduri ‘Gran Moraine Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Grand Moraine’ comes from several clonal selections and was given a small amount of whole cluster fermentation. Stored in 30% new French oak for 14 months before bottling, this offers red currants and tobacco on the nose alongside stony minerals. This is marvelously salty stuff with loads of bright red fruits alongside compost and orange peel notes. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Siduri ‘Zena Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant 2023 Siduri ‘Zena Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from a single block in the vineyard, as this was stored in 30% new French oak before bottling. Rocky soils collide with orange peel, red currents and suggestions of damp earth on the nose. This has a delightful push/pull between the stony elements in the wine and the bright red and dark fruits. The palate is soft and very stony, showing outstanding terroir. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Siduri ‘Edmeades Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Edmeades’ is the first vineyard planted in this region. Shades of dark truffle shavings and peat moss fill the nose alongside wild blackberry. The palate is soft and robust with refined tannins and beautiful damp earth tones. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2023 Siduri 'Skycrest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Skycrest’ is a hillside Vineyard that is set on a mountain hillside with southwestern aspect that delivers small berries. The Pinot Noir was stored in 20% new French oak for 14 months before bottling. Light tannins frame a really good core of bright red and dark fruits with damp/salty soil accents. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2023 Siduri ‘Dutton-Perry Ranch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Siduri ‘Dutton-Perry Ranch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this location in the Russian River Valley that was formerly known as the Keefer Ranch. Bright red fruits collide with cola and shades of peat moss notes. The palate has great loamy character with loads of bright red fruits and cola notes. This is seriously delicious stuff with a seamless mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Siduri ‘Bloomfield Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Bloomfield’ comes from a foggy location that is farmed at roughly one ton an acre. Bergamot and shades of damp soils mingle well with wafts of white truffle. This is fresh and vibrant with serious tension and bright red and dark fruits. Only 13.5% alcohol, but this shows beautiful richness. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2023 Siduri ‘Seascape Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Seascape Vineyard’ is an older site planted back in 1990. The wine has some 1A clone as well as mainly 777 clone.Stored in 30% new French oak this offers salted red fruits with diatom and orange peel on the nose. The wine is ultra-fresh with vibrant acidity and a minerality that will make your mouth water. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2022 Siduri ‘Parsons Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-The Parsons Vineyard is a small location that has been first utilized by Siduri since 2007. Despite being so close to the ‘Barberi’ this shows a red fruit profile instead of a black fruit load. Salty soils collide with orange peel and bergamot notes on the palate. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2023 Siduri ‘Barbieri Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Siduri ‘Barbieri Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was sourced from this location that neighbors the Parsons Vineyard on Olivet Road, set on more clay soils. The wine was given roughly 50% whole cluster fermentation. Bright black cherry and loganberry notes combine with salty soils. This is muscular and intense with refined tannins and shows cola notes alongside a seamless texture. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2023 Siduri ‘Sealift Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Sealift Vineyard comes from this remote location in the Anapolis area, set on gold ridge sandy loam soils. Stored in 40% new French oak the 2023 Pinot Noir delivers concentrated red and dark fruits with orange peel, diatom, damp soils and shades of salted cola. This has really nice flavor complexity. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2023 Siduri ‘Van der Kamp Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Siduri ‘Van der Kamp Vineyard’ is a Sonoma Mountain site that was planted all the way back in 1960. Martin Van Der Kamp serves as proprietor here. Rocky soils mark the nose alongside cola, dark cherry and shades of compost. The palate is marvelously salty and stony with serious weight and texture. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Siduri ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Siduri ‘Rosella’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was stored in roughly 40% new French oak before bottling. This offers a great combination of red and dark florals on the nose alongside baking spices and dense red fruits with Nori notes. This is silky and refined with serious weight and texture, with loads of mouth-watering acidity. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2023 Siduri ‘Garys’ Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This 2023 ‘Gary’s Vineyard’ comes from Pisoni clonal selection Pinot Noir vines, as this is a slightly warmer site than Rosella’s Vineyard. This comes off lush and dense with a silky mouthful and plenty of tension. Red and dark fruits collide with the loaded of freshness on the palate. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2023 Siduri ‘SIerra Mar Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This 2023 Pinot Noir comes from a scenic site on the southern part of the appellation, set on rocky sand soils.  The wine was stored in 40% new French oak for 14 months, this offers salty soils alongside bright guava and red currant fruit flavors with Mandarin orange zest. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2023 Siduri ‘Founders’ Blend’ Pinot Noir- Lifted and beautifully aromatic, the 2023 ‘Founders’ Blend’ comes from locations in the Santa Lucia Highlands. It is big and beautifully-textured stuff on the palate, showing good weight and a delicious melange of red and dark fruits, with cola accents and hints of salty soils on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2023 Siduri ‘Sobranes Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This location was planted back in 2007 and neighbors the Gary’s Vineyard. This shows crazy good florals on the nose alongside dark fruits and damp, salty soil notes. The palate has amazing volume and tension with seriously good freshness and a silky mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Siduri ‘Perilune Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Perilune Vineyard was planted back in 2006 as this location is on rocky soils. This saw a touch of whole cluster fermentation. Bright red rose petals collide with wet rock, guava and red currants. The palate is a total knockout with amazing flavor density and tremendous salty character. Only made from clone 114. Drink 2025-2038- 96

2023 Siduri ‘Hapgood’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Hapgood Vineyard’ is located near Melville winery. The wine is comprised of selections 459 and Mt. Eden. This 2023 Pinot Noir was given a small amount of whole cluster fermentation having amazing weight and freshness, with ultra-pure red fruits alongside orange peel and rose water notes. This is pure Santa Rita Hills. Drink 2025-2038- 96

2023 Siduri ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Siduri ‘John Sebastiano Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is sourced from this location on sandy as well as rocky/clay soils. The nose shows beautiful red florals alongside dense red and dark fruits and bergamot notes. The palate is refined and generous with great flavor density and tons of underlying finesse. Drink 2025-2038- 95

don't tell mum

Today it is my pleasure to introduce an electric new wine brand, founded by Sarah Marquis’s kids, Luke and Holly Marquis (Blue Eyed Boy and Gigglepot of Mollydooker). Don’t Tell Mum is a no-nonsense wine brand out of McLaren Vale. Their website is a really engaging visit and includes everything from ‘Don’t Tell Mum’ stories to a great blog with special cocktails that you can make with their wines. Some of the stories posted on the website are exceedingly funny and are a terrific read. There is even a party playlist and a confessions board (https://donttellmumwines.com/cool-sht/confessions-board/) to post your own ‘Don’t Tell Mum’ story! These are also wines made for a cause as 10% of the profits are donated directly back to revegetation projects in McLaren Vale.

This brand is really interesting because it appears to the younger generation in creating no-nonsense wines that are well-priced and also can be used in cocktails. It is a totally outside the box brand. It is well-known that the generation age 20-29 are a big fan of cocktails and also non/low-alcoholic cocktails and drinks.

I am not a wine cocktail kind of guy generally, but I had to try this a go. I do enjoy Elderflower Liquor in my drinks, but I definitely had never tried a wine cocktail with it. The floral aspect of the liquor really lifted things. And the drink comes with black cherry seltzer which is a perfect foil for the shiraz, obviously due to the black fruit backbone.

Here is the original recipe for the ‘I Popped My Cherry’ cocktail (https://donttellmumwines.com/recipes/cherry-cocktail/):

• 90ml Shiraz

• 45ml Elderflower Liqueur

• 15ml Chambord

• 60ml Black Cherry seltzer

• 15ml Lemon juice

• Giant ice cubes (I would not use crushed ice)

• Fresh berries to top

This is not a wine-focused cocktail as there was really nice balance especially from the black cherry seltzer and herbal/floral elements from the liquor. I prefer the cocktail without the berries and slightly more lemon juice.  The lemon adds the acid backbone to the cocktail. I added a sprig of rosemary for a light herbal edge. This is a way that they are making wine fun for the consumer and especially younger consumers. Here is what the cocktail looks like: https://donttellmumwines.com/recipes/cherry-cocktail/

There is a lot on the blog including food and wine pairings like this veggie bolognese recipe (https://donttellmumwines.com/recipes/veggie-bolognese-wine-in-it-wine-out-of-it/). There is also a great grilled cheese and sparkling pairing (https://donttellmumwines.com/recipes/113/). I am definitely gonna make this grilled cheese in the future.

They have crafted a really good sparking wine from Shiraz which was really easy to enjoy. This is a viscous style of sparkling wine as the 2024 Don’t Tell Mum Sparkling Wine (OB, 90) is remarkably complex and delicious to savor now. Because it is viscous the sparkling wine is best served very cold. Learn more at https://donttellmumwines.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Don’t Tell Mum.

2024 Don’t Tell Mum Sparkling Wine- A sparkling red wine, this 2024 is a refreshing, complex quaff. Red currants parade with Welches grape juice and shades of tar and milk chocolate on the palate. Effervescent and fresh, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2024 Don’t Tell Mum Shiraz- Smooth and delicious throughout the drinking experience, the 2024 Don’t Tell Mum Shiraz offers straightforward black and red fruits alongside bay leaf and coffee ground accents on the palate. Drink 2025-2030- 90

Goldeneye

It is my pleasure to share one of the greats from the Anderson Valley. Truly one of the most beautiful spots in the Anderson Valley, for years I have loved the wines by Goldeneye, a Duckhorn venture located in Philo, California. Kristin McMcMahan serves as Goldeneye winemaker. Originally from California's Central Valley, in 2012, Kristen moved to Sonoma County to dedicate herself to wine full time. In addition to joining the winemaking team at Korbel, where she spent six years honing her skills working with sparkling wine and Pinot Noir, she began studying at Santa Rosa Junior College, where she earned an Associate of Science degree in enology. Kristen also gained invaluable experience with cool-climate Pinot Noir working for Joseph Phelps’s Freestone Winery on the Sonoma Coast.
The new wines were beautiful across the board.  A outstanding entry level wine, the 2022 Goldeneye ‘Anderson Valley’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which is drinking beautifully now in its heady youth. Learn more about these outstanding Pinot Noirs at https://www.goldeneyewinery.com Here are the great new releases by Goldeneye.

2021 Goldeneye ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- The 2021 Goldeneye ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine comes off polished and fresh with saline drenched peaches and pear notes alongside suggestions of wet rock and diatomaceous earth on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Goldeneye ‘Anderson Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Anderson Valley’ Pinot Noir comes from a range of sites throughout the valley. Tart red fruits mingle well with salty soils, alongside dried herbs on the palate. Densely packed, with bright underlying acidity, this is an amazing wine in a difficult vintage. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2022 Goldeneye ‘Gowan Creek’ Pinot Noir- Coming from this cooler site in a warm vintage, the 2022 Goldeneye ‘Gowan Creek’ Pinot Noir offers plump red fruits that mingle well with salty and loamy soils on the palate. Fresh and generous, offering tangerine peel accents, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2022 Goldeneye ‘Confluence Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2022 Goldeneye ‘Confluence Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this estate location in the Anderson Valley. It shows off the warmth of the vintage, offering heady dark fruits that mingle well with fresh sage and gravel accents on the palate. Fat and broad-shouldered on the mouth, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Goldeneye ‘Ten Degrees’ Pinot Noir- The scintillating 2022 ‘Ten Degrees’ is a barrel selection wine by Goldeneye.  It is dense, heady and has marvelous richness and texture. Decadent loganberry and strawberry fruit flavors collide with sandy/salty soils, wet rock, menthol and shades of cardamom on the palate. Fresh and lively with serious flavor density, enjoy now and over the next fifteen to twenty years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 96

Mollydooker

It is my pleasure to share one of the great wineries of South Australia. Mollydooker has a sensational, highly creative range of projects — from sparking wines to intense and hedonistic Shiraz. It is hard not to admire the combination of texture, flavor range and flavor density. These are serious wines that are made exceptionally well. They are full throttle wines but always give an err of great freshness on the mouth.

It was an exceedingly short amount of time that Sarah and Sparky Marquis made Mollydooker one of the top wine brands of Australia. Their first wine, the 2005 ‘Carnival of Love’ Shiraz was immediately awarded 99 points by Robert Parker and was sold out in five days. I was amazed with what the produced even in very tough vintages like 2011 as the wines seemed to exceed quality compared to other producers. Sarah Marquis now leads the winery and now has her son, Luke, the ‘Blue Eyed Boy’, leading global sales.

The new lineup is sensational and  I adored the new 2022 Mollydooker ‘The Blue Eyed Boy’ Shiraz (OB, 94) which is heady and dense but has a really fabulous acid backbone. Once again I was mesmerized with the inky, hedonistic 2022 Mollydooker ‘The Velvet Glove’ Shiraz (OB, 99) which flirts with perfection and is a decadent treat to enjoy now. Learn more about this famed South Australian winery at https://www.mollydookerwines.com.au/ Here are the beautiful new wines by Mollydooker.

2022 Mollydooker ‘The Scooter’ Merlot- The really good 2022 Mollydooker ‘The Scooter’ Merlot comes from the Long Gully Road vineyard in McLaren Vale. The wine was stored in nearly all American oak (25% new) before bottling. This is ripe and plump on the mouth with good freshness. Juicy red cherry and cola notes combine with coffee grounds on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Mollydooker ‘Two Left Feet’ Red Wine- A truly unique wine, the 2022 ‘Two Left Feet’ is 70% The Boxer Shiraz, with 15% The Scooter Merlot and 15% The Maitre D’ Cabernet Sauvignon. Stored in nearly all American oak, this delivers juicy red fruits with tobacco leaf accents on the palate, alongside ripe fig and chocolate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Mollydooker ‘The Maitre D’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Mollydooker ‘The Maitre D’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers straightforward black and red fruits alongside green peppercorns and hints of fresh sage on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2022 Mollydooker ‘Blue Eyed Boy’ Shiraz- The outstanding 2022 Mollydooker ‘Blue Eyed Boy’ Shiraz was sourced from the Coppermine Road, Gateway, Long Gully Road and Mollydooker Home vineyards in McLaren Vale, and Joppich vineyard in Langhorne Creek. Stored in all American oak (54% new) this is brimming with depth, freshness and polished black fruits alongside Arabica bean and shades of mountain huckleberry on the palate. Exceedingly delicious, offering excellent finesse despite its obvious weight, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2022 Mollydooker ‘Gigglepot’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Named after Holly Marquis, the 2022 ‘Gigglepot’ comes from the Rivers Lane vineyard in McLaren Vale. Stored in 79% American and 21% French oak, this delivers pipe tobacco and leather notes alongside cassis, mocha and tar notes. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2022 Mollydooker ‘Enchanted Path’ Red Wine- The sensational 2022 ‘Enchanted Path’ is a gorgeous blend of 70% Shiraz with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is gorgeous with fresh sage alongside espresso bean, blueberry compote and shades of black licorice. The palate is powerful and intense with a refined texture. Gorgeous now, watch this evolve over the next twelve to fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2037- 95

2022 Mollydooker ‘Carnival of Love’ Shiraz- Year after year the ‘Carnival of Love’ is one of the astonishingly good Shiraz bottlings for the price out of South Australia, as this wine has not seen a serious price increase in more than a decade (still under 100 bucks USD). This 2022 edition was stored in all new American oak and weights in at 16.5% alcohol but the freshness backing everything up makes this everything but boozy. The weight and pillowy texture really drives this wine as it effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Opulent dark and blue fruits meld effortlessly with dark chocolate shavings, graphite, scorched earth and shades of sweet pipe tobacco on the palate. This is a joy to drink. Drink 2025-2040- 97

2022 Mollydooker ‘The Velvet Glove’ Shiraz- The stunning 2022 ‘The Velvet Glove’ is a stunning wine coming from the Gateway Vineyard in McLaren Vale. Stored in all new American oak barrels before bottling, this delivers a glass-staining purple, with blueberry pie and boysenberry cordial notes alongside tar, anise, Cuban cigar and suggestions of Black Forest cake on the nose. The absolutely gorgeous aromatics bring you back to the glass for more hedonistic pleasure. This is obviously big, bold and heady, but has remarkable freshness and seamless texture. This is very weightless stuff that will have a long life ahead of it. But why wait? Drink 2025-2040- 99

Cayuse Vineyards Library Release

My ears immediately perked up as I was speaking with Christophe Baron, eminent vigneron of Bionic wines. “We have the 2009 Wallah Wallah Special Grenache and 2009 Wallah Wallah Special Cabernet Sauvignon” he explained. "They have never been released and we are going to release them in a few weeks when we do our special offer for our mailing list.” This was not the only magnum only special offer that Bionic Wines had created. They produced an amazing 2015 wine more than a year ago. However, this new offer was truly one of a kind. They are very fresh wines that have not left Baron's cellar.

“The Grenache is only 125 magnums and the Cabernet is only 196 magnums.” The Grenache is a blend of the Armada and La Paciencia Vineyard while the Cabernet comes from Cailloux and En Cerise Vineyards.  Baron explained “We wanted to blend them and bottle them in magnums. As you know I am a big advocate of magnums.” Baron described 2009 as “A classic vintage. Picking in the third week in September and now it is early September. 2012 was also very classic, similar to 2009.” It is worth noting that the Armada and La Paciencia Vineyards have never been blended before.

The 2009 ‘Wallah Wallah Special #2’ Grenache (OB, 99) is a fully mature wine with crazy good stony character and flavor range. It is pillowy and soft, effortlessly gliding throughout the drinking experience. I think you are going to be really impressed with these wines. Learn more at bionicwines.com and here are my reviews of the special offer Cayuse wines from 2009 and 2012.

2009 Cayuse ‘Wallah Wallah Special #2’ Grenache- The 2009 Cayuse ‘Wallah Wallah Special #2’ Grenache is the first wine of its kind blended from the Armada and La Paciencia Vineyards. It is incredibly captivating on the nose with red rose petals and potpourri notes alongside wet stone, soy sauce and suggestions of white truffle crudo. The palate is plush and seamless with serious verve considering its age. A totally head-turning effort that is very savory and stony, with loads of mouth-watering acidity, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 99

2012 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special #3’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A mesmerizing wine that comes from the Cailloux and En Cerise Vineyards, the 2012 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special #3’ Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the outstanding wines from this very classic vintage in Washington State. Dried herbs and bay leaf notes combine with suggestions of Hoisin sauce, blackberry compote and Umami notes on the nose. The palate is powerful and  seamless throughout the drinking experience, with beautiful tension and finesse, alongside a pillowy texture. Drinking beautifully now, this is really peaking. Enjoy over the next six plus years to come. Drink 2025-2031- 97

Valo Cellars

It is my pleasure to welcome the Valo Cellars wines, founded by Matias Kusulas and Michael Ruhland. Kusulas has been serving as Viticulturist for Lawrence Vineyards since 2017. Hailing from Chile, Kusulas has masters degrees in enology and viticulture from both Bordeaux and Montpelier. Kusulas has worked a range of jobs spanning the globe including stints in New Zealand and Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. He is making some of the most eclectic wines in Washington State, having a deft touch with a massive range of varietals and even styles of Rose.

Check out the awesome new 2024 Valo Rose (OB, 92) which is fresh and has marvelous salty character. I love the incredible 2021 Valo Cellars ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is not for the weary and is beautifully-textured stuff with terrific freshness. Learn more about these excellent new wines at valocellars.com and here are my tasting notes from the new Valo Cellars wines.

2024 Valo Sauvignon Blanc- This comes from the Desert Wind Vineyard as this is Sauvignon Blanc which was grafted over Cabernet Sauvignon. Stored in stainless steel, this offers gooseberry and shades of green apple on the nose with pink grapefruit blossom. The palate is soft and lively with a soft mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 Valo Rose- Made from Cinsault grapes, this 2024 Rose offers red rose water and shades of kiwi and salty soils on the palate. This has outstanding flavor range. Fresh and neatly-textured with good earthy and orange rind undertones, enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2022 Valo ‘Pas Mal’ Rose- The 2022 ‘Pas Mal’ saw extensive barrel age and is 100% Tempranillo from the Desert Wind Vineyard. This is rich and viscous with a serious texture. Earthy accents combine with bright red fruits with orange zest on the palate. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2021 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2021 ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ was sourced from this famed site, and stored in all neutral oak before bottling. This is downright killer, offering mango and white peach flavors that combine with nutty and pastry crust notes on the palate. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2021 Valo ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- Sourced from old vines from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this 2021 Chardonnay was stored in new French oak barrels before bottling. This has terrific weight and salty character on the palate, offering dense peach and pineapple flavors with creme brûlée and salty nuances on the palate. A gorgeous wine from a warm vintage. Drink 2025-2032- 94

2021 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Pinot Noir saw over three months extended maceration. Stored in all large format oak barrels, this delivers  great richness and texture on the palate, with dried cranberry and ripe figs alongside strawberry and dusty soils on the palate. Nicely weighted and balanced, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2021 Valo ‘Gregory Ranch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Coming from this biodynamic vineyard in Oregon, the 2021 ‘Gregory Ranch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir saw whole cluster fermentation. This is rich and viscous stuff with wafts of black truffle shavings and damp earthy notes on the palate. Juicy and refined with a brilliant core of red fruits, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2021 Valo ‘Right Bank’ Red Wine- A Right-bank inspired wine (equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc) from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this 2021 red blend offers mint and graphite tones on the nose alongside shades of red rose petals and blackberry compote. The palate is rich and velvety with terrific mouthfeel, and a light dusting of salinity. Gorgeous to consume now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2021 Valo ‘Reserve’ Merlot- Sourced from old vines at the Connor Lee Vineyard, the 2021 ‘Reserve’ Merlot offers fabulous aromatic range this delivers mocha, tar and anise on the nose alongside pipe tobacco and fresh sage. The palate is dense and delicious with a smooth mouthfeel and beautiful texture. Dense and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 93

2021 Valo ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Franc- Coming from the Bacchus and Connor Lee Vineyards, the 2021 ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Franc shows black tea and red bell pepper alongside dark chocolate shavings and pencil lead notes. The palate is big and bold with a terrific tension and salty character. Brilliant to enjoy now, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2021 Valo ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2021 Valo ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this great vintage in Washington. Sourced from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this delivers loads of flavor density, with mocha, tar and anise, alongside tobacco leaf and blackberry compote. This is absolutely delicious stuff. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2021 Valo ‘In Temporal’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘In Tempral’ combines 63% Cabernet Franc with smaller parts Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon coming from the Connor Lee Vineyard. Silky smooth, this was stored in 70% new French oak before bottling. Deep and beautifully textured, this offers beautiful red florals that combines with roasted figs and boysenberry compote flavors on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2021 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Syrah- The gorgeous 2021 ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Syrah is 100% varietal. Tar and anise combines with scorched earth and dense dark fruits on the nose. The palate is soft and generous with beautiful texture and orange peel accents alongside black olives and wild blackberry tones with shades of iodine. Drink 2025-2033- 94

PerUs

I have long been a fan of the wines by Russell Bevan. Today we present PerUs which is is an ultra-premium producer of red wines out of Napa, sourcing from some great vineyards including Sugarloaf Mountain and Edcora Vineyard (high elevation site). PerUs was founded by Anmol Bhandari who was born and raised in New Delhi, immigrated to the United States and built a successful career in finance – initially at Goldman Sachs and later co-founding Cians Analytics based in New York – a company that provides research and analytical support to international financial institutions. Anmol was introduced to Dustin Wilson, Master Sommelier, and they both would travel to the Napa Valley to research both vineyards and winemakers. Dustin introduced Ammol to Russell Bevan, one of the world’s great winemakers. PerUs only made 30 cases in their first vintage, 2013. They make a great range of full-throttle wines.

I was amazed by the new wines that are silky and concentrated. They show even better than the ‘22s. I love the 2023 PerUs ‘Janeen’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is big and bold with terrific acidity and depth. Learn more about this famed boutique winery at https://www.peruswine.com/pages/home.php Here are the stunning new releases by PerUs.

2023 PerUs ‘Janeen’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Janeen’ is a stunning wine that is all Cabernet Sauvignon coming from the Sage Ridge Vineyard. This opens with a gorgeous bouquet of black cherry compote and mocha alongside black rose petals and shades of anise. The palate is pure and plus with black licorice flavors alongside allspice dusted blackberry and pencil lead with sandalwood accents. A total show-stopper, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 97

2023 PerUs ‘Lyla’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Lyla’ is a stunning bottling that 14% Sugarloaf Cabernet Franc, 26% Tench Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Sugarloaf Vineyard Merlot. It is beautifully structured stuff with creme de violette and graphite flavors on the palate, alongside Middle Eastern spices and shades of dark chocolate shavings on the palate. A gorgeous blend, where you can clearly see each working part, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 96

2023 PerUs ‘Alessio’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Alessio’ is equal parts Sage Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Sugarloaf Mountain Cabernet Franc, Sugarloaf Mountain MerloAn inky dark color, this takes on aromatics of creme de cassis and toasted hazelnut alongside suggestions of tar naan black licorice. The palate is rich and viscous with an herbal edge from the Cabernet Franc. Totally dazzling to enjoy now, enjoy this decadent treat now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 97

2023 PerUs ‘Armaan’ Red Wine- The stunning 2023 ‘Armaan’ is all Cabernet Sauvignon mainly coming from the Tench Vineyard. It is a decadent and rich journey throughout the drinking experience with scorched earth and stony minerals that collide with dense dark and blue fruits on the palate. The chocolate edge from the Merlot is absolutely gorgeous. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2025-2042- 97

2023 PerUs ‘Bryn’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Bryn’ is a beautiful combination of 47% Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Sugarloaf Mountain Merlot, and 23% Sugarloaf Mountain Cabernet Franc.  Very dark and performed in the glass this opens with heady aromatics of figs and sweet pipe tobacco alongside sandalwood and blackberry compote tones. The palate is dense and fresh with incredibly good texture, length and underlying verve. Not overly heavy and a generous, but also very fresh wine to enjoy now, savor this beauty over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 96

Lange

Today we share a great historic house out of Oregon. Back in 1987 Don and Wendy Lange acquired a massive property in the Dundee Hills, with incredible views of the valley. Don crafted his namesake wines for many years and over time his son Jesse transitioned into their head winemaker, taking over for his father. Jesse’s formal winemaking training occurred at New Zealand’s Lincoln University while on a student exchange scholarship from Oregon State in 1999. Jesse made world-class wines for years.

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

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

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

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

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

Vina Bujanda

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

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

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

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

Alto Moncayo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Koehler Family Wines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AniChe Cellars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aperture Cellars

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

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

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

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