Drive east out of Seattle over Snoqualmie Pass, and Washington pulls off one of the greatest, most disorienting magic tricks in North American wine. In under an hour, the emerald canopy, moss-draped Douglas firs, and rain-battered coastal temperate rainforest of Puget Sound abruptly terminate. You drop down into an arid, sun-bleached, windswept high-desert basin defined by fragrant sagebrush, jagged coulees, tectonic folds, and towering walls of dark, fractured basalt.
If you want to truly understand Washington wine, you have to start with a paradox: this is one of the youngest fine-wine frontiers on the globe, yet it is staged upon an ancient, cataclysmic landscape without equal anywhere on Earth. Modern commercial viticulture in this sun-drenched pocket of the Pacific Northwest has been forged in barely over half a century. Yet its volcanic bones were laid down millions of years ago, and its topsoils were violently rearranged by some of the most apocalyptic floods ever recorded.
Washington’s vineyards thrive at the chaotic intersection of geological violence, severe climatic extremes, surgical deficit irrigation, and an agricultural culture deliberately unburdened by old-world European rules. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Riesling, Merlot, and Chardonnay all flourish in this desert dirt, but no single grape tells the whole story. Washington is an intricate, fast-evolving mosaic of growing environments tied together by giant rivers, relentless winds, and a fiercely independent mindset that refuses to stop tinkering with what belongs in the glass.
Having logged over 4,000 miles of rubber on asphalt across the Evergreen State, winding from the maritime chill of Puget Sound down through the howling breezes of the Columbia Gorge, snaking through the Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, Horse Heaven Hills, and Candy Mountain, crossing into Walla Walla, tracing the Columbia River from Rocky Reach up to the depths of Lake Chelan, I can tell you that the state of Washington wine is anything but boring, generic or static.
Quality across the board remains remarkably high. Even as it navigates severe economic headwinds, grape surpluses, and shifting consumer habits, Washington is actively adapting, refining its voice, and challenging the global status quo.
The Cataclysmic Stage: Basalt, Floods, and the Rain Shadow
Every serious wine conversation begins in the dirt, but in eastern Washington, that dirt tells a tale of fire, ice, and biblical floods.
The structural foundation of the Columbia Basin is the Columbia River Basalt Group, massive, miles-thick layers of volcanic bedrock laid down by monstrous fissure eruptions during the Miocene epoch. As tectonic plates buckled and shifted, the Cascade Mountain Range was shoved skyward, creating a colossal climatic wall. Western Washington absorbs the moisture-laden fury of Pacific storms, while eastern Washington sits pinned in an intense rain shadow. Annual rainfall in the central basin plummets to a parched 6 to 8 inches. For perspective, my birthplace, Phoenix, Arizona, receives approximately 7.2 in. of annual rainfall. Viticulture here is not dry-farmed romance; it is unabashed desert farming. Irrigation is not an insurance policy; it is the very engine of survival and site expression. It’s not a stretch of the imagination to understand how important and incredibly valuable water rights are to the community.
Toward the close of the last Ice Age, an ice dam holding back the 500-cubic-mile Glacial Lake Missoula repeatedly failed. The resulting Missoula Floods unleashed walls of water hundreds of feet high, roaring across the basin at highway speeds. These cataclysms stripped hillsides down to naked basalt, carved the jagged Grand Coulee, and deposited titanic piles of gravel, cobbles, and fine, slack water silt across low-lying valleys. Over the millennia, relentless prevailing winds swept fine glacial powder, loess, and mineral-heavy sand across this flood-carved amphitheater, blanketing the ridges and slopes.
This dynamic soil profile defines Washington viticulture. It is characteristically lean, low in organic matter, fast-draining, and structurally diverse. In classic windblown sandy loess, grapevines find little natural vigor. Deprived of excessive water and nitrogen, their root systems dive deep through fractured rock, granting viticulturists pinpoint control over canopy growth, cluster weight, and berry size via the drip irrigation line.
Historically, these high-sand soils served as a nearly impenetrable natural barrier against phylloxera (the tiny aphid-like insect that feeds on the roots and leaves of grapevines, which brought the global wine industry to a halt in the late 1800s). These sandy soils have allowed Washington to maintain one of the world’s most extensive archives of ungrafted, own-rooted Vitis vinifera vines. While phylloxera has established a foothold in recent years, encouraging a practical, parcel-by-parcel transition to rootstocks on new plantings, own-rooted viticulture remains an iconic thread of the state’s living heritage.
Across the entire state, specific micro-geologies deliver regional fingerprints and identities:
- Walla Walla Valley & The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater: A cross-border sub-appellation nestled in the southern belly of the Walla Walla Valley, blanketed in deep layers of smooth, water-worn basalt cobblestones that echo the galets roulés of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The stones radiate heat back into the canopy and impart a distinctively savory, bloody, umami-esque, olive-and-funk fingerprint to Syrah.
Bionic Wines: Morning poppies in the Stones..
Yakima Valley: Sheridan Vineyard.
Red Mountain: Fidélitas Vineyard.
Columbia Gorge: AniChe Cellars
Lake Chelan: Cairdeas Winery
Horse Heaven Hills: AVA sign
Macro-Climates and the Solar Advantage
To understand the energy in Washington wine, you have to look up at the sun.
Perched between the 46th and 48th parallels, Washington’s vineyard country shares a latitude with Bordeaux and the northern Rhône, but enjoys an astronomical bonus: up to an hour more summer daylight per day than Northern California. That relentless northern sun fuels steady phenolic ripening, building deep pigmentation and sweet, ripe tannins without requiring astronomical heat spikes.
The magic, however, happens after twilight. The moment the sun drops behind the Cascade crest, the bone-dry desert atmosphere rapidly vents its warmth back into the atmosphere. Temperatures routinely tumble 30°F to 40°F before dawn.
This diurnal swing is Washington’s viticultural ace in the hole. While scorching daytime temperatures allow the vines to build sugars and develop rich fruit flavors, the crisp desert nights effectively suspend cellular respiration, halting the degradation of malic acid. The result is the definitive Washington sensory signature: generous, sun-drenched New World fruit concentration anchored to an Old World spine of vibrant, chiseled, mouth-watering acidity and tannins.
Yet farming here is not a gentle stroll through sun-drenched vineyards. Continental winters can bring devastating sub-zero polar vortexes capable of killing buds and splitting vine trunks to the snowline. Spring brings dangerous frost warnings across early-budding parcels; summer heat waves can push ambient temperatures beyond 105°F, threatening to shut down photosynthesis entirely; and late-season wildfire smoke from the broader Pacific Northwest remains a persistent harvest threat. The struggle is real.
Washington growers do not manage these risks with passive tradition; they farm actively, deploying dual- and multi-trunk renewal systems, computerized wind machines, delayed winter pruning regimens, and surgically calculated deficit irrigation.
Washington’s fine-wine timeline is remarkably compressed, driven by stubborn visionaries who refused to accept that the eastern scrubland was destined only for juice Concord grapes, Rainier cherries, and dryland wheat. The trajectory of Washington’s appellations mirrors an accelerating pursuit of terroir. What began as massive, catch-all regional boundaries has evolved into a hyper-focused study of aspects, elevations, river benches, and ancient sediment layers.
Grapes, Styles, and the Viticultural Sandbox
Unlike Burgundy, Bordeaux, or the classic appellations of Italy, Washington viticulturists are free of government laws dictating which grapes they may plant, how dense their rows must be, or what percentage of a grape must go into a blend. If a winemaker wants to plant Cabernet Sauvignon next to Riesling, co-ferment Syrah with Viognier, or produce a pet-nat of old-vine Chenin Blanc, there is no appellation police standing at the door.
The Red Spectrum
- Cabernet Sauvignon: The volume king and cellar heavyweight. Washington Cabernet walks a tightrope between regions: it captures the sun-kissed generosity and dark-fruit volume of California, yet preserves the savory graphite, tobacco leaf, wild sage, and chiseled structural acidity of Bordeaux. Framed by fine-grained, persistent tannins, it is built for long-term cellaring.
- Merlot: Never make the mistake of assuming Washington Merlot is soft, plush, or innocuous. Here, Merlot is an imposing, deeply pigmented, broad-shouldered beast. Grown in the gravelly heat of the Wahluke Slope or the Red Mountain benches, it delivers brooding black cherries, bitter cocoa, leather, and cedar, wrapped in muscular tannins that demand patience. Yet in the Horse Heaven Hills, Merlot can be elegant, seductive and juicy.
- Syrah: The true artistic soul of Washington wine. Plant it in the sun-baked heat of Red Mountain or Wahluke, and it yields dark blackberries, smoked brisket, espresso, and melted dark chocolate. Plant it down in the basalt river cobbles of The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, and it morphs into an untamed, savory powerhouse, overflowing with iodine, crushed rock, brine, cured green olives, smoked lavender, and raw bacon fat.
- Cabernet Franc: Rapidly proving itself as the darling of sommeliers and critics alike. Even in warm vintages, Franc clings to its mouth-watering acidity, delivering bright red currants, raspberries, crushed pencil lead, violets, and sweet pipe tobacco without tipping into underripe bell pepper or overripe jam.
- Rhône Contenders: Grenache Noir and Mourvèdre are surging across the state. Producers are recognizing that Grenache, farmed with disciplined yields on rocky soils, yields site-specific, perfumed masterpieces with electric raspberry fruit, white pepper, and remarkable culinary versatility.
The White Spectrum
- Riesling: The historic, architectural backbone of Washington whites. From bone-dry, acid-driven expressions to botrytized dessert wines, Washington Riesling delivers green apple, white peach, crushed stone, and jasmine, evolving into complex notes of diesel, honey, and paraffin over decades.
- Chardonnay: Incredibly agile. It spans lean, citrus-driven, stainless-steel-aged bottlings from the cold soils of Ancient Lakes to broad, waxy, barrel-fermented styles from warmer Yakima Valley and Walla Walla sites.
- Chenin Blanc: One of the most exhilarating stories in modern American wine. Surviving parcels planted in the 1960s and 1970s, such as those on Snipes Mountain and Sagemoor, are being treated with masterclass reverence. These old vines produce dry whites bursting with yellow apple, chamomile, beeswax, lanolin, and a fierce acid core that matches the dynamic range that Chardonnay possesses, blow for blow.
- White Rhônes & Blends: Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, Marsanne, and Roussanne are carving out a thrilling category of their own. They offer mineral weight, floral lift, and refreshing salinity, while classic Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon combinations continue to echo the stately balance of dry white Graves.
Cellar Dynamics: The Transition to Transparency
The aesthetic pendulum in Washington’s cellars has swung decisively over the past decade. The early 2000s were frequently defined by hyper-extraction, extended hang times, elevated alcohol levels, and an avalanche of new French oak. Modern winemakers have largely abandoned that arms race, embracing restraint, freshness, and pure site transparency.
Winemakers are pulling back on heavy mechanical pump-overs and aggressive punch-downs, preferring gentler infusions that coax fine, powdery grape tannins out of the skins rather than extracting harsh seed bitterness. In place of standard 225-liter new oak barriques, cellars are increasingly filled with unlined clay amphorae, porous concrete eggs, large 500-liter French oak puncheons, and neutral Austrian oak foudres. These vessels allow micro-oxygenation and build textural mouthfeel without smothering delicate vineyard signatures in vanilla, cinnamon, and wood lactones.
An inconvenient truth about Washington’s wine culture is the geographic divorce between vineyard and winery. Fruit picked at dawn in the Columbia Basin is loaded into refrigerated trucks, hauled 150 miles west over the Cascade Mountains, and crushed hours later in urban and suburban wineries across Woodinville and Seattle; this has always left me questioning what lasting impacts that the carbon footprint of doing this a few thousand times has.
Woodinville, in particular, has become immensely successful, serving as an unrivaled retail engine. With well over a hundred tasting rooms gathered just thirty minutes outside downtown Seattle, the area serves as the primary point of contact between urban consumers and remote desert terroirs. It allows winemakers to connect with enthusiastic, high-spending wine lovers while avoiding the commercial isolation of rural vineyard tracts.
Boots on the Ground: 4,000 Miles Across the Terroir
Taking the real temperature of Washington wine requires burning fuel (or, in my case, using recycled electrons in an EV) and walking dusty rows. You cannot understand this place from behind a laptop in Seattle. You have to log the miles.
Starting from the maritime calm of Puget Sound, rolling down through the gale-force winds of the Columbia Gorge, snaking along the Yakima Valley highway past iconic sites like Boushey, Red Willow, and Harrison Hill, driving the rocky slopes of Red Mountain, cutting through Horse Heaven Hills, crossing the river flats into Walla Walla, pushing north past the fractured cliffs of Ancient Lakes into Bavarian-styled Leavenworth, and running the river benches of Rocky Reach up to Lake Chelan, the sensory shifts are staggering. You begin to understand that the Columbia Valley is not just a region. It is a distinct AVA composed of singular, site-specific vineyards, each with its own voice, regionality, style and expression.
Along the trail, logistical quirks remain. Driving from Seattle to Walla Walla is still a four- to six-hour cross-state haul. While Alaska Airlines operates reliable commuter hops between regional hubs, the overland highway corridor sorely lacks the high-end boutique resorts, destination spas, and hospitality infrastructure that turn a long road trip into an effortless weekend escape. But what the drive lacks in pampering, it makes up for in breathtaking, natural beauty.
Across these subregions, I had a chance to connect with some of the standout vignerons who are defining the current era. Stay tuned for a slew of upcoming producer spotlight articles with many of these producers and their stories publishing later this month.
- Walla Walla Valley: Christophe Baron’s Bionic Wines universe (Cayuse, No Girls, Horsepower) remains the undisputed gold standard for savory, visceral, funk-laden Syrah, along with his rare, magnum-only Champagne project. Gilles Nicault is operating at peak performance, managing legendary collaborative blends at Long Shadows while turning out stunning, personal bottles under his Côté Nicault label. Marty Clubb’s team at L’Ecole No. 41 continues to demonstrate how heritage Chenin Blanc and classical, balanced Bordeaux blends should be crafted. Dan and Amy Wampfler provide pastoral elegance at Abeja, while Doug Frost MS/MW and Brian Rudin bring sharp, spine-tingling precision to Echolands at accessible prices. Chris Figgins of Figgins Family Wine Estates has never been better, and Charles Smith continues to churn out blockbuster wines with K Vintners. A special spotlight belongs to Devyani Gupta of Valdemar Estates, who is this report’s Rising Star, whose thoughtful and skilled cellar touch and high-elevation vineyard exploration are producing thrilling wines.
In addition to the main review trip, I returned for a second trip to focus specifically on Walla Walla Valley wine producers and highlight the region’s growing importance to Washington’s story. And while I do my best to visit with as many producers as possible, it simply isn’t realistic to connect with everyone in person. So, for this report, I also connected with about 45 wine producers via Zoom chats to get a full picture of what is happening in the Evergreen State. Their stories are inspirational, unique, and singular, yet collectively they all say the same thing: Washington wine is world-class, and that its bottles deserve to be in your cellar and its wine deserves to be in your glass.
Washington State Vintage Report: 2022 Through 2026
Assessing Washington vintages requires looking past simple crush numbers. The recent drop in overall tonnage across the state is fundamentally an economic reality, driven by corporate portfolio balancing, canceled contracts, and strategic vine removals, rather than a reflection of poor agricultural seasons. When the weather cooperates, Washington’s fruit quality remains stellar.
2022: A late spring snowfall delayed the start of the season, but an exceptionally warm, extended fall saved the crop. Total production reached 240,000 tons, yielding very good to excellent wine quality.
2023: Classic warm conditions led to a smaller overall harvest of 159,000 tons, while cooler temperatures near the end allowed the grapes to ripen evenly, giving this vintage potential to be a standout benchmark.
2024: Severe winter freezes and a soggy spring were offset by warm conditions during harvest. Yields dipped slightly to 150,000 tons, producing very good wines depending on how well individual vineyard locations handled the extreme winter.
2025: Ideal, moderate temperatures throughout the growing season avoided heatwaves and gave the grapes plenty of time on the vine to develop flavor. Though production dropped sharply to 108,000 tons, the quality shows very high potential for excellence statewide.
2026: A record-warm winter paired with drought conditions and minimal snowpack has set up a challenging season. The harvest is currently underway, and wine quality remains to be seen.
The Next Horizon: Reinvention and Cultural Relevance
Washington wine stands at an undeniable cultural crossroads. The traditional luxury formula, charging $100+ for an aggressively extracted, oak-laden Cabernet Sauvignon sold through a rigid 12-bottle allocation list, is falling flat with younger, more adventurous consumers seeking curiosity, connection, and real value. Washington wine has an incredible opportunity to meet people where they are by leaning into what makes it special. The region’s path forward lies in embracing what makes it special and what gives it natural competitive advantages: varietal diversity, unpretentious hospitality, verified sustainability, and exceptional value.
You don’t need to drink the same heavy red every night. Washington grows more than 80 grape varieties, making it an incredible playground for anyone who loves trying something fresh and new. With everything from crisp Chenin Blanc, peppery Cabernet Franc, easygoing chillable reds, snappy Grenache Blanc, and refreshing bubbles to world-class, age-worthy collectible and iconic wines, the Evergreen State’s wine expressions can tackle everything from high-energy, food-friendly bottles that taste great on a casual Tuesday without blowing your budget to world-class, age-worthy bottles that can be enjoyed decades from now.
Washington growers are backing up their environmental values with verified third-party programs like Sustainable WA and Salmon-Safe. That means real, audited accountability: protecting local rivers, ditching harsh chemicals, restoring living soils, and treating farm teams fairly. It’s transparent farming that aligns with what actually matters.
Nearly 90% of Washington wineries make fewer than 5,000 cases a year, meaning you’re usually tasting wine made by real people, not corporate boards. Washington’s sweet spot is keeping things laid-back and welcoming. With affordability, walk-in-friendly spots, and collaborations with local food pop-ups, Washington wine proves that great wine is indeed about community and welcomes you to pull up an extra chair at the table.
The future of Washington wine belongs to many voices: the vineyard stewards, cellar hands, migrant winemakers and the men and women of Washington wine who have always done the heavy lifting. Amplifying organizations like the Alliance of Women in Washington Wine and building real pathways to ownership and leadership prove that the way forward isn’t just about equity; it allows for fresh perspectives and energy to the entire culture, creating a community where everyone feels welcome and all are invited to take a sip.
The Modern Playbook for Washington’s Next Era
While the future remains unknown, I see success coming in several ways.
While I believe Washington State wine is still severely underappreciated, undervalued, and underpriced, I think it’s imperative that the state defend the sweet spot of $18 to $35 a bottle. With land prices continually rising in California and Oregon, this becomes increasingly difficult to do in those states, giving Washington State a clear advantage to edge out the competition.
As the pendulum swings from high-alcohol, over-oaked expressions to wines that possess freshness, with moderate alcohol levels and natural, mouth-watering acidity, winemaking here is in pursuit of balance, creating versatile wines for the dinner table or simply to enjoy as a pleasurable drink throughout an entire evening.
Wine shouldn’t be an exclusive club or something only prescribed for special occasions. It doesn’t always have to be a luxury (though it can be) that is only opened on special occasions; it should be more like a grocery item, something consumed on a weekly basis, where it stands as an open invitation to explore geology, geography, cuisine, and human perseverance, where the wine-drinking experience meets at the intersection of art and science.
Washington turned a rugged, flood-carved desert into one of the most dynamic, boundary-pushing wine regions in the world. Its true superpower has never been copying rigid Old World traditions; it’s the rebellious freedom to experiment, push boundaries, and rewrite the script. Economic shifts aside, as long as Washington keeps its boots in the dirt, its cellar doors wide open, and its vibe welcoming, its most exciting chapter is just getting started.
A Note of Gratitude-
I’d like to take a moment to recognize all of the producers who took the time to connect with me in person (for any of the dozens of in-person tasting appointments spread out over two review trips), the 100 or so producers who submitted to the Washington Wine Commission offices in Seattle, and the near four dozen producers who took the time to connect with me via Zoom. The wine industry is at an inflection point, and every part of the trade is concerned about the future. I want to take this moment to tell you that I appreciate everyone who helped make this report possible. Please know that you have my most sincerest gratitude. Thank you!
The First Annual Washington Report
With over 1,000 wines in this report (and over 100 wines from Oregon State & 4 delicious Pinot Meuniers from Champagne), I have put together a short list of “Best of” awards and recommendations from the wines tasted in this report, along with some of our first digital assets, that we will be launching shortly.
Tasted in person, the following producers, Arterberry Maresh, Brooks, Medina, and Lingua Franca were tasted in Oregon’s Willamette Valley for this report. As our coverage grows, these producers represent the first of the Willamette Valley and Oregon wine producers for future reporting.
Top five wines, $20 and under
L’Ecole No. 41 — Chenin Blanc Old Vines
Board Track Racer — Speed Racer Red
Long Shadows Vintners — Poet’s Leap
Nine Hats — Cabernet Sauvignon
Result of a Crush — White Blend
Top five wines, $30 and under
Sheridan Vineyard — Mystique
Sheridan Vineyard — Cabernet Sauvignon
Board Track Racer — GSM
Côte Bonneville — Riesling
Fidélitas — Red Mountain Semillon
Top five wines, $40 and under
Andrew Will Winery — Two Blondes Merlot
Brooks Wine — Bois Joli
K Vintners — The Deal
K Vintners — MCK
K Vintners — Powerline Syrah
Top five wines, $50 and under
Sheridan Vineyard — Boss Block Cabernet Franc
K Vintners — The Boy
Gård — Grand Klasse Roussanne
K Vintners — Northridge Merlot
Sagebreaker — M-94-WHT White Wine
—BEST of AWARD—
2023 Arterberry Maresh — Tan Fruit Eyrie Vineyard Chardonnay — 98+ — Best Chardonnay, tied
2021 Arterberry Maresh — Weber Pinot Noir— 98+ — Best Pinot Noir
2023 Cayuse Vineyards — Cailloux Vineyard Viognier — 95+ — Best Viognier
2023 Cayuse Vineyards — Edith Grenache Rosé — 93+ Best Rosé, tied
2024 Côte Bonneville — Riesling — 93+ — Best Dry Riesling
2024 Echolands — Riesling Ice Wine — 97— Best Dessert Wine
2022 Fidélitas — Quintessence Malbec — 96+ — Best Malbec
2002 Hors Catégorie Vineyards — Syrah — 100 — Best Syrah, tied
2022 Horsepower Vineyards — High Contrast Vineyard Syrah — 100 — Best Syrah, tied
2022 Horsepower Vineyards — Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache — 99 — Best Grenache, tied
2022 Lingua Franca — Inspiras Chardonnay — 98+ — Best Chardonnay, tied
2023 Matthews — Reserve Sauvignon Blanc — 96+ — Best Sauvignon Blanc
2024 Öömrang — Estate Rosé — 93+ — Best Rosé, tied
2022 Quilceda Creek — Tchelistcheff Cabernet Sauvignon — 100 — Best Cabernet Sauvignon
2023 Reynvaan Family Vineyards — Viognier in the Rocks Vineyard — 95+— Best Viognier, tied
2023 Sheridan Vineyard — Boss Block Cabernet Franc— 98+ — Best Cabernet Franc
2022 Sleight of Hand Cellars — Higher Ground WeatherEye Grenache — 99 — Best Grenache, tied
2022 Tenor — Merlot — 98 — Best Merlot
2024 Upchurch Vineyard — Chenin Blanc — 94 — Best Chenin Blanc
2023 Gård — Grenache Blanc— 95— Best Grenache Blanc
2018 Syncline Winery — Scintillation Brut — 94+ — Best Domestic Sparkling wine, tied
NV Tirriddis Sparkling Wines — Barrel Fermented Blanc de Blanc (Rendition #4) — 94+ — Best Domestic Sparkling wine, tied
Rising Star Award: Devyani Gupta of Valdemar Estates: Recognized for excellence in winemaking, mentorship, and leadership in the Washington Wine Community, Devyani Gupta exemplifies what it means to be a leader, and I look forward to watching her career over the coming decades.
Top Honors go to the following three 100-point wines:
2022 Hors Catégorie Vineyards — Syrah
2022 Quilceda Creek — Tchelistcheff Cabernet Sauvignon
2022 Horsepower Vineyards — High Contrast Vineyard Syrah
And because I am always inquisitive about which producer is continuously making top-quality, world-class wines, I’ve dug through my report and assembled a short list of producers with wines rated 96 points or higher. As such, this is a list of recommended producers.
Winery name / Wines rated 96 and higher
Cayuse Vineyards 13
K Vintners 13
Boudreaux Cellars 12
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 12
L’Ecole No. 41 10
Upchurch Vineyard 10
Mark Ryan Winery 9
DeLille Cellars 7
Leonetti Cellar 7
Sheridan Vineyard 7
Arterberry Maresh 6
Horsepower Vineyards 6
Fidélitas 5
Lingua Franca 5
Long Shadows Vintners 5
Quilceda Creek 5
Sleight of Hand Cellars 5
Trothe 5
Côte Bonneville 3
Doubleback 3
Gramercy Cellars 3
Matthews 3
No Girls Wines 3
Passing Time 3
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 3
Tenor 3
Valdemar Estates 3
Abeja 2
Andrew Will Winery 2
FIGGINS 2
Gård 2
Saviah Cellars 2
Upsidedown Wine 2
Va Piano Vineyards 2
Cairdeas Winery 1
Côté Nicault 1
Echolands 1
Force Majeure 1
Hors Catégorie Vineyards 1
JM Cellars 1
Kontos Cellars 1
Obelisco Estate 1
Result of a Crush 1
Sagebreaker 1
The Devil is a Liar 1
The Walls Vineyards 1
Toil Oregon 1
Two Vintners 1
All wines tasted in this report are listed here in Alphabetical order. If you are looking for a specific wine, it may be quickest to search our copyright-protected database on our SEARCH page. If your search query does not find anything, try “refreshing” the Search page or clear your cache.
216 Miles to Go by Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Delivering well for the price, the nose and mouthfeel of the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon are ripe with a dark-berried essence before moving to show a touch of tannin, that sways to a tighter mineral edge. The wine is medium to full-bodied, and will go delightfully with a wide range of cuisines.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2026-2030
Abeja 2023 Chardonnay
Bright and nimble on the nose, the 2023 Chardonnay features notes of lemon pastry cream, yellow apples, and vibrant acidity. Pure and framed by a crisp structure, this medium-bodied wine offers a succulent lemon core that sways with intention. Overall, it is an incredibly refreshing expression.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Abeja 2022 Estate Chardonnay
Expansive and structured, the 2022 Estate Chardonnay is zesty, textured, and expressive, with subtle hints of oak. The palate is bold and broad, with a soft phenolic grip. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers a generous mouthfeel that culminates in a fresh, peppery finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Abeja 2023 Viognier
Fresh and inviting, the 2023 Viognier showcases apple and peachy notes alongside hints of Meyer lemon and a kiss of phenolic bitterness. Medium-bodied, it is an excellent, opulent, and round expression that is absolutely gorgeous. It concludes with a rich and spicy character.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2036
Abeja 2024 Beekeeper White Chardonnay
Crisp and pure, the 2024 Beekeeper White Chardonnay boasts bright acidity and a vibrant freshness. Featuring slightly underripe kiwi fruit, green apple, and zesty elements, it beautifully showcases a spicy and electric tension. It concludes with a clean finish, though it remains quite tight.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2033
Abeja 2022 Skysill Chardonnay
Subtle and refined, the 2022 Skysill Chardonnay offers soft nuances of toasted almond, lees, and marzipan. Beautifully textured and fresh, it delivers an amazing mouthfeel. It finishes with a succulent, lingering quality, making for a highly pleasurable and elegant wine.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Abeja 2022 Merlot
Fresh and plummy, the 2022 Merlot features notes of graphite and rocky undertones, accented by hints of brown baking spices. Clean, refined, rich, and expressive, it showcases a distinct minerality. Overall, it is an incredibly elegant and pure expression.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Abeja 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing a firm mineral grip, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon slowly reveals notes of graphite, pencil shavings, and ripe, dusty red and purple fruit. It possesses excellent concentration and fine-grained tannins that highlight its vibrant youth. Highly food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Abeja 2021 Heather Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark red, dusty fruit centers around a rustic core of natural brush in the 2021 Heather Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, accompanied by notes of graphite and a fresh, iron-like edge. Cerebral, pure, and spicy, it offers a long, textured, medium finish. Lovely and elegant, it is not overdone with fruit, instead highlighting rocky earth and savory wild sagebrush nuances. It will be immensely pleasing with additional time in the bottle; your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2028-2050
Abeja 2021 Skysill Cabernet Sauvignon
Initially firm and softly closed, the 2021 Skysill Cabernet Sauvignon reveals notes of iron, fresh hints of dusty florals, and a wind-swept countryside essence as it subtly opens. Still tight at present, it likely won’t peak until next spring. Dense and pleasurable, it features a solid, gripping tannic structure that ensures it will age like a champion. Graceful and age-worthy, this is a very fine wine that will cellar beautifully for decades.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2052
Adams Bench Winery 2020 RECKONING
Starting with a dusty red fruited core, the 2020 RECKONING is expressive and fresh in the glass. The palate reveals a succulent mouthfeel with a balanced structure that ends with a food-friendly finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Adams Bench Winery 2020 The V Cabernet Sauvignon
Presenting a dusty core that is ripe, vibrant, and fresh, the 2020 The V Cabernet Sauvignon reveals enticing notes of bitter dark chocolate and blackberry juice. This full-bodied wine will benefit from decanting and is best enjoyed with food. Give it time.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2036
Adams Bench Winery 2020 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon
Beginning with elegant and mineral notes on the nose, this 2020 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon reveals layers of spiced plum and blackberry reduction. The wine is rich, round, focused, and clean, showcasing hints of roasted coffee beans that linger in the glass. Full-bodied with firmly structured tannins, it exhibits a boldness and generosity that intensify before culminating in a spicy, lingering finish. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2042
Adams Bench Winery 2020 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, round, and chewy, with dusty tannins, the 2020 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is bold and expressive, showcasing boisterous dark-red fruit flavors that dance alongside notes of spiced black raspberry and resinous purple flowers. Full-bodied and still tightly coiled, this wine is a serious offering that pairs beautifully with food and features a long, complex finish that beckons for another sip. I am not going to turn it down.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Adams Bench Winery 2020 Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly impressive for its precision, power, and finesse, the 2020 Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers purity, with a dusty, dark-red-fruit core. Full-bodied and very enjoyable, it develops a growing spiciness and an oaky note that lift the mid-palate, revealing a fantastic mouthfeel. This beauty glides to a graceful, succulent, food-friendly finish. Nicely done! Decanting recommended.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Airfield Estates Winery 2022 Michael Miller
Unmistakably Syrah, the 2022 Michael Miller has classic aromas of meat and pepper tones, with hints of black raspberry compote and cinnamon spice. The wine is clean, fresh and ready for action. Incredibly versatile and complex, this layered and expressive Syrah slowly develops additional complexities of sweet red fruit flavors, and will overdeliver when paired with a meal. Its very pleasurable finish has me thinking of notes of Chambord and bacon fat that linger on the aftertaste.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Airfield Estates Winery 2022 Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon
This serious wine showcases layers of precision and finesse, presenting a focused and pure profile on the nose of the 2022 Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon without being overdone or complicated. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a round mouthfeel complemented by a delightfully growing spice note that reveals a balanced structure, with both alcohol and tannins in check. This wine is poised to age gracefully for more than a decade. Nicely done.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2040
Airfield Estates Winery 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Initially presenting a slightly phenolic character, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc showcases a citrus-driven nose complemented by a delightful mineral essence. As it unfolds, notes of lime candy emerge alongside hints of apricot and peach. Medium-bodied, the mouthfeel is vibrant and crisp, offering a playful action across the palate. Its freshness is a true delight, culminating in a pleasurable finish marked by zesty acidity that enhances the bright, citrus-driven profile.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Airfield Estates Winery 2023 Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc
Very fresh and layered, this complex 2023 Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc offers plenty of citrus and oak essence that is instantly pleasurable. A smooth, rich mouthfeel and succulent acidity have me craving creamy soups and elegant cheeses. It reveals a softly leesy essence on the palate with a kiss of phenolic bitterness that makes this beauty incredibly food-friendly. Nicely done, it ends with a spicy finish. Yum!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Airfield Estates Winery 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing a red-fruited profile with a lightened style, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon delivers juicy notes of dark cherry and spiced plums. Medium-bodied, it features a balanced structure that is designed to be enjoyed young and pairs beautifully with a wide variety of dishes and cuisines. Enjoy with a meal.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Alki 2022 Red Blend
Soft and subdued, the 2022 Red Blend is clean and showcases appealing red fruit notes complemented by nuances of wild herbs and hints of sage, culminating in an easy-drinking finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2030
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2022 Estate Envoy
Offering notes of black cherry and dusty plums, the 2022 Estate Envoy expresses a kiss of graphite and hints of oak spices on the nose. These elements merge to reveal succulent acidity and fresh, lifting tannins that sway through to the end. Very easy to enjoy, it delivers pleasure at every mark, concluding with a spicy, food-friendly finish!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2037
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2022 Estate Malbec
Showcasing notes of dried plum and blackberry jus, the 2022 Estate Malbec is subtly spiced and vibrant. It reveals complex layers that tighten to display a compact frame of fine-grained tannins and a fresh core of fruit, concluding with a lingering, spicy finish. Decanting is recommended; enjoy with food.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Dusty and red-fruited, the 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon presents a clean and expressive core that continues to uncoil on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, this wine gradually reveals a soft wild brush note that enhances its overall appeal and invites me back for more. Enjoy with food.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2022 Estate Plenipotentiary Cabernet Sauvignon
Clean, expressive, dusty, and pure, the 2022 Estate Plenipotentiary Cabernet Sauvignon has layers of seasoned dark red and black fruit tones lifted by oak spices. The wine is fresh and medium to full-bodied. It grows in amplitude on the palate, showcasing a remarkably zesty core that continues to reveal additional layers of complexity and will have no trouble aging for more than a decade. Decanting recommended.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2022 Estate Plenipotentiary Syrah
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Estate Plenipotentiary Syrah showcases notes of roasted espresso bean, cured meats, and cracked peppercorns, complemented by inky black fruit and dark red fruit essences. Full-bodied, it reveals flavors of dried black cherry and sausage, supported by a spicy and sweet oak core that sways with intention and purpose. Very versatile, it leaves me coming back for more. Nicely done! Decanting recommended, enjoy with a meal.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2040
Andrew Will Winery 2024 Two Blondes Semillon Cuvee Lucia
Very fresh and fleshy, complex and pure with a fuzzy texture, the 2024 Two Blondes Semillon Cuvee Lucia is a delight. The wine is clean and has a kiss of almond skin and hints of honeysuckle and Meyer lemon pith.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Andrew Will Winery 2024 Two Blondes Sauvignon Blanc
Instantly impressive and citrus-driven, the 2024 Two Blondes Sauvignon Blanc is bright and fleshy. The wine is fresh and pure with a kiss of skin contact. Medium-bodied, it is light and ready for food. Fluffy, zesty, phenolic finish with hints of reduction that’s very approachable in youth.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2034
Andrew Will Winery 2022 Two Blondes Cabernet Franc
Vibrant and sincere, the 2022 Two Blondes Cabernet Franc expresses a purity of grace and finesse. With layered and spicy red fruit, the wine is fresh and has a clean note of pyrazines that slowly glides. It is medium-bodied with a delightfully slightly dusty, red-fruited finish that continues to reveal its secrets over time.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Andrew Will Winery 2022 Two Blondes Cabernet Sauvignon
Clean and dark red-fruited with notes of dusty plum skin and dark cherry, the 2022 Two Blondes Cabernet Sauvignon is sincere with hints of pyrazines. Pure and expressive with a lingering finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2037
Andrew Will Winery 2022 Two Blondes Merlot
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Two Blondes Merlot is very supple and pleasurable. The freshness and structure are immaculate, pitch-perfect, and firing on all cylinders. It is pure, fresh, rich, and succulent. The wine is very food-friendly.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Andrew Will Winery 2021 Ciel du Cheval Red Wine
Featuring dusty notes over bright, lively dark red fruit, the 2021 Ciel du Cheval Red Wine is complex, layered, vibrant, and still young. It is fresh and a touch tannic, very taut but has good bones. It remains crisp and intricate throughout. It offers a lovely finish and is very food-friendly. Give it time.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2042
Andrew Will Winery 2021 Champoux Red Wine
Fresh, ripe, and complex, the 2021 Champoux Red Wine is layered and pure with hints of oak and plum. Plush with a kiss of pyrazines, the wine is utterly delicious. It is very food-friendly and it will be hard to keep your hands off the bottle, but your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2050
Andrew Will Winery 2021 Two Blondes Red Wine
Showcasing a dusty red-fruited core over dark cherry notes with a kiss of volatility and freshness, the 2021 Two Blondes Red Wine is still young and filling its shoes. The wine is complex, pure, and fresh. It is softly tannic with a beautiful, long finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2045
Andrew Will Winery 2021 Sorella
Perfumed and floral with spicy lavender, the 2021 Sorella has a beautiful wild brush and gently ripe fruit tones. It is bright, complex, and pure. Immensely enjoyable, the wine has hints of pyrazines and fresh, intricate layers that continue to unwind. It ends with a lingering finish that continues to develop elegance and power. Yum!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2060
AniChe Cellars 2024 Puck
With lime candy and green apple notes and a soft leesy character that pops out of the glass and glides across the palate, the 2024 Puck is light to medium-bodied. The wine is clean and very pleasing with a kiss of phenolic bitterness. It concludes with a bright and enjoyable finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2028
AniChe Cellars 2021 Titania
Offering notes of hay and peanut shell with lemon and honey wax, the 2021 Titania is medium-bodied with texture. The wine has a soft almond note that ends with a kiss of phenolics and a waxy finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
AniChe Cellars 2020 Oberon
Very cerebral and mineral-driven, the 2020 Oberon is crisp with lively acidity and laser-beam brightness. Fresh and citrus zest-driven with a brilliance that has me salivating for cheeses and fried dishes. It ends with a bright, energetic finish that will have you searching for a meal. It is very versatile with pairings.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2035
AniChe Cellars 2024 The Fool
Fresh, still tight, and complex with plenty of slightly spicy lemony notes, the 2024 The Fool is a delight. It is slightly neutral, bright, and zesty. Medium-bodied, it presents a citrus core of fruit and a kiss of phenolic bitterness. It ends with a very pleasing and spicy, food-friendly finish. Nicely done!
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2025-2033
AniChe Cellars 2024 The Devil
Broader in style and complexity, the 2024 The Devil is fresh and pithy. Medium-bodied and phenolic with a firm mineral tension, the wine is softly leesy, complex, and very versatile. It is cerebral and food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2024
AniChe Cellars 2024 The World
Wide and expressive, the 2024 The World offers a broad and textured profile with notable mineral tension and weight. The wine is beautifully structured and ends with a lingering spicy finish and continued stony grip.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
AniChe Cellars 2024 Serafina
Floral with a softer phenolic note and texture, the 2024 Serafina is more tropical and broader in style, showcasing notes of peach, orange marmalade, and dried apricot. It ends with a lively, acid-driven finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
AniChe Cellars 2024 Beatrix
Showcasing notes of butterscotch, toasted almond, and lemon pith alongside yellow apples, the 2024 Beatrix is a delight. Medium-bodied, the acidity is very fresh and ends with a touch of mineral tension.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
AniChe Cellars 2024 Baba Yaga
With a brilliant mineral tension and bright citrus core, the 2024 Baba Yaga reveals a fluffy stony essence and notes of petrichor. Medium-bodied, the wine is fresh and complex with a succulent core, layered with a crisp edge and citrus pith. Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2033
AniChe Cellars 2022 Orlando
Picturesque and vibrant with classic American oak essence and sweet spices, the 2022 Orlando is a standout. Fresh and spicy, this medium-bodied wine is dusty and red-fruited, bursting with liveliness and purity. It offers a crystalline and clean finish that is very food-friendly and has me craving ethnic cuisine.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2040
AniChe Cellars 2022 Sancho
An unmistakable Cabernet Franc with spiced green pepper nuances, the 2022 Sancho is fresh and complex. The wine is red-fruited with hints of spice. Medium-bodied, the palate shows fewer pepper tones, and the wine is very vibrant and complete. It is very pure and delightful.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2036
AniChe Cellars 2021 Arachne
The bouquet of the 2021 Arachne is dusty and cherried with faint hints of tar and roses. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is zesty and subdued aromatically. The palate shows a touch of oak and spice, as the Zinfandel expressions and fresh red-fruited frame pop up before the gripping, food-friendly tannins take hold through the finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2036
AniChe Cellars 2021 Moth Love
Offering a delightful nose of bright red and spicy elements that sway with soft alpine and herbal tones, the 2021 Moth Love is captivating. It features nuances of dill and fresh red fruit. The bouquet is very aromatic and pleasing, and the wine ends with a food-friendly finish. Yum!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
AniChe Cellars 2021 Be Holden
Vibrant, plummy, and expressive, the 2021 Be Holden is pure, dusty, and dark-fruited with black cherry expression and black raspberry. Medium to full-bodied, it is fleshy, succulent, and bright. It is very food-friendly and fresh.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
AniChe Cellars 2019 Goat Boy
Both fresh and mature at the same time, the 2019 Goat Boy is likely in transition. On the palate, the wine reveals quite an intricate profile with layers of tension. The fruit character is very complex but is evolving. Give it 18-24 months; your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2042
AniChe Cellars 2022 Barbariccia
Opening with a kiss of volatility, the 2022 Barbariccia is very food-friendly and juicy. Acidity dances across the palate. Medium-bodied with succulent and refined tannins that glide across the mid-palate, it ends with a bright, tart cherry finish. Nicely done, it has me looking for noshy bites.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Aquilini Wines 2021 10,000 Hours Red Blend
Dusty and firm with a rocky center and fine minerality, the 2021 10,000 Hours Red Blend reveals a deep, dark black and red-fruited core. Medium to full-bodied, the mouthfeel is serious with notable mineral tension and a distinct essence of Red Mountain, all offered at a great price, culminating in a spicy finish. Nicely done.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2037
Aquilini Wines 2021 Dixie & Bass Cabernet Sauvignon
Simple, open-knit, and ready for action, the 2021 Dixie & Bass Cabernet Sauvignon showcases a profile built for speed rather than distance. With its medium body, the palate glides to an easy-drinking finish.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2028
Aquilini Wines 2021 Dixie & Bass Red Blend
Dark red-fruited and fresh, the 2021 Dixie & Bass Red Blend is a straightforward and balanced wine presented in a smaller frame. Its dusty red fruit notes are complemented by sweet oak spices, leading to a delightfully lingering finish. This wine truly over-delivers for the price.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2030
Aquilini Wines 2024 Dixie & Bass Sauvignon Blanc
Presenting a mild nose with delicate citrus and peach aromas, the 2024 Dixie & Bass Sauvignon Blanc feels somewhat straightforward, leaving a desire for greater varietal purity and freshness. The palate reveals simple acidity accompanied by notes of roasted pineapple, culminating in a finish that is equally uncomplicated and watery.
Score: 85 | Drink: 2025-2027
Aquilini Wines 2021 10,000 Hours Syrah
Dense, deep, and inky, the 2021 10,000 Hours Syrah showcases enticing notes of roasted coffee beans and peppered teriyaki jerky. Both the nose and palate are expressive and at near full maturity, inviting enjoyment while the wine is still youthful.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Hints of white peach and sweet citrus make the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc clean and simple. It features a pure core of fruit that is open-knit and approachable, with notes of leesy almond skin, sweet Meyer lemon, and nectarine skin. Medium-bodied, the wine displays a subtle spiciness that grows on me over time.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 2024 Pinot Gris
Clean and expressive, the 2024 Pinot Gris is fresh and pure, showcasing notes of peach and lemon candy along with a fine textural grip that captivates and entices. The medium-bodied wine delivers a zesty excitement on the palate, complemented by a kiss of phenolic bitterness that enhances its food-friendliness. It concludes with a lingering, spicy, fresh, and succulent finish. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 2021 Merlot
Fresh and ripe, the 2021 Merlot showcases notes of sour plum and dark cherry, complemented by hints of wild brush and sage. The wine is medium-bodied with succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins, culminating in a spicy, lingering finish that inspires daydreams of Italian food.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 2021 Gatehouse Red
Fresh, softly earthy, and complex, the 2021 Gatehouse Red straddles the line between New World and Old World, showcasing a mineral and dusty essence that is complemented by hints of oak and dark red fruit. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is vibrant and intricate, possessing a rustic core and a sincerity that is both endearing and pleasurable. It concludes with a succulent, food-friendly finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2037
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 2021 Dionysus Meritage Blend
Very fresh and ripe with a muscular structure, the 2021 Dionysus Meritage Blend exhibits a slightly funky and rustic character. This medium to full-bodied wine is quite pleasurable, making it exceptionally food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Argonne Cellars 2020 Malbec
Presenting an enticing profile of candied red and black fruits, the 2020 Malbec is complemented by notes of plum sauce and dark cherry compote. The wine is sweet and layered, showcasing a vibrant freshness at its core. Built for speed rather than distance, it is best enjoyed slightly chilled and pairs beautifully with cheeses and lighter fare.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Argonne Cellars 2020 Syrah
Brilliantly expressive, the 2020 Syrah features notes of bacon fat and roasted coffee beans, complemented by sweet oak spices and peppercorns. Medium to full-bodied, it unfolds on the palate to reveal additional layers of freshness, with a tightening across the mid-palate supported by fine-grained tannins. The finish is succulent, spicy, and food-friendly. Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2036
Argonne Cellars 2020 Petit Verdot
Delightfully rich and round, the 2020 Petit Verdot offers a fresh botanical essence that wafts from the glass. Full-bodied and dense, the wine strikes a balance between boldness and generosity, showcasing a ripe, juicy character complemented by a softly herbal expression that is both appealing and versatile, making it an excellent choice for pairing with a wide range of cuisines and flavors.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Argonne Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Hints of forest floor, dark cherry skin, dusty plum, and turned earth create an intriguing aromatic profile in the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. It is very cerebral and layered, showcasing many fascinating expressions. The wine is spicy and glows on the palate, offering a pleasurable experience marked by intensity and precision within a smaller frame. A lingering note of truffle follows through the finish, making this a lovely wine that invites you to come back for more. Yum!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Argonne Cellars 2022 Chardonnay Vielles Vignes
Leesy and nutty, the 2022 Chardonnay Vielles Vignes offers enticing notes of marzipan and grilled peaches. Medium-bodied, this wine is open-knit and very approachable in its youth. While I find myself wishing for a bit more acidity to support its aging potential, it is best enjoyed in the next couple of years.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Tan Fruit 1 Tank Fruit Chardonnay
Fresh and luminous, the 2023 Tan Fruit 1 Tank Fruit Chardonnay bursts with succulent acidity and bright notes, showcasing a clean, lean linearity reminiscent of Burgundy. Medium-bodied and zippy, the wine has seen both stainless steel and some wood, resulting in subtle flavors of nuttiness and vivid lemon curd. It drives through the finish with 0.5 g/L of residual sugar or less, presenting a very crisp and elegant style that excites my Somm brain. Exceptionally food-friendly and exciting! Wow!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Arterberry Maresh 2022 Tan Fruit White Walnut Vineyard Chardonnay
Made from 14 different clones of Chardonnay, the 2022 Tan Fruit White Walnut Vineyard Chardonnay includes a touch of the Musqué clone to lend savory components to both the bouquet and palate. It features a medium, broad nose that confidently shows its stuff. Refined and beautiful with a seductive, sincere core, it is very refreshing, clean, crisp, and elegant. This highly food-friendly wine drives with an acid-driven, revitalizing finish that makes the mouth water.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2042
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Tan Fruit White Walnut Vineyard Chardonnay
Instantly impressive from the first sniff, the 2023 Tan Fruit White Walnut Vineyard Chardonnay is electric and medium-bodied. Fresh and complex with beautifully defined strata, it ends with a zesty finish accented by a touch of spice. Its intensity is perfectly matched by the layers of complexity that continue to grow in the glass. Bravo!!!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2025-2050
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Maresh Chardonnay
Presenting a medium hay color, the 2023 Maresh Chardonnay reveals nuances that pop, slowly uncurling and unfurling in the glass. The nose offers layers upon layers of yellow apples, sautéed almonds, and Meyer lemon. Its texture is defined by a clean acidity and freshness that begs for another sip, culminating in a seductive and elegant finish.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2025-2047
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Tan Fruit Eyrie Vineyard Chardonnay
Sourced from 57-year-old Draper Clone vines, the 2023 Tan Fruit Eyrie Vineyard Chardonnay is still tightly coiled but clearly possesses good bones. Intricate, expressive, and giving, it offers plenty of attractive fruit and complexity, ensuring it will last for a couple of decades. Fresh and layered with a spicy core, this wine is utterly delicious and is likely to sell out quickly.
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2025-2050
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Tan Fruit Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay
Opening with notes of sweet yellow corn and saffron, the 2023 Tan Fruit Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay offers a wide expression of exotic beauty and mouthfeel. Textural and bright, it features an approachable nose and palate. It is complex and spicy with a touch of botrytis, while the taste remains clean, fresh, and very food-friendly. It has me daydreaming of lobster bisque.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Tan Fruit Dupre Vineyard Chardonnay
Made with about 70% botrytized grapes harvested in late October and early November, the 2023 Tan Fruit Dupre Vineyard Chardonnay is zesty, open, and expansive, featuring notes of sweet corn, yellow apple, and hints of ginger. With a kiss of sweetness and a medium to light-bodied frame, it is both broad and nimble at about 12.5% alcohol. It evolves to show a long, spicy finish that is an oddity I can’t help but love.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2047
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Pinot Noir
A quality-minded and value-driven offering, the 2023 Pinot Noir seriously over-delivers for the cost-to-quality ratio and drinks like it should be twice the price. It boasts a gorgeous nose of red-berried and spicy notes, highlighted by potpourri and a high-toned red fruit expression that is active and elegant. Medium-bodied, refined, and fresh, it possesses a wonderful food-friendly aspect and is utterly delicious.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2037
Arterberry Maresh 2022 Maresh Pinot Noir
A sturdy and refined Pinot Noir with all the bells and whistles of purity, the 2022 Maresh Pinot Noir perfectly reflects the essence of the estate after spending two years in barrel. Expressive and utterly gorgeous, it showcases both spicy and elegant characteristics, bearing broader shoulders for the scope of the range. Absolutely beautiful, it is very food-friendly and will age gracefully for a decade.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Arterberry Maresh 2021 Maresh Pinot Noir
Currently in a cocoon phase, the 2021 Maresh Pinot Noir exhibits both primary and tertiary elements with a temperamental expression in its current state. If this is in your cellar, hold onto it and begin opening it in 2027; your future self will be rewarded. It has great bones and the structure is crazy good! Ending with excellent concentration, it is likely to end up at a 95+ score, just give it time.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2045
Arterberry Maresh 2018 Maresh Pinot Noir
Having emerged from its cocoon phase, the 2018 Maresh Pinot Noir is utterly beautiful, showing elegant tertiary character and seductive red fruit notes alongside forest floor and a soft savory essence. Layered, bright, and fresh, it is an excellent expression of Pinot Noir that clearly demonstrates its longevity. The high-toned cherry elements continue to impress.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2020-2040
Arterberry Maresh 2022 Weber Pinot Noir
Soft and expressive, the 2022 Weber Pinot Noir offers bright red-fruited notes that instantly jump out of the glass. Spicy, medium-bodied, and fresh, it features a focused, driven core with excellent concentration. Succulent acidity and finesse glide effortlessly to an elegant and refined conclusion. The tannins and spice linger through the finish, making it a very food-friendly wine. Nicely done! I want a meal!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2042
Arterberry Maresh 2021 Weber Pinot Noir
Instantly impressive right from the nose, the 2021 Weber Pinot Noir bursts with red fruit and expressive vibrancy. It carries an electric and fresh character throughout. Medium-bodied and refreshing, it is driven by bright, succulent acidity. This beautifully made wine is utterly delicious and firing on all cylinders. Bravo!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Balboa Winery 2024 Grenache Blanc
The 2024 Grenache Blanc offers vibrant aromas of lime candy, under-ripe pineapple, and white peach, complemented by a fine leesiness and mineral tension. On the palate, succulent acidity and a medium body create a lively interplay that leads to a delightfully lingering and spicy finish. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Balboa Winery 2022 Carmenere
Opening with a classic kiss of volatility, the 2022 Carmenere reveals dark, firm notes of tar complemented by soft vegetal hints of green stem and a medley of seasoned green and black spices. Layers of funky blackberry reduction intertwine with a subtle presence of oak, creating a complex aromatic profile. Full-bodied, the wine is true to its varietal character and delightfully communicative. Those who love and admire Chilean Carmenere will enjoy this beautiful Washington expression.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Balboa Winery 2022 GSM
Showcasing a clean and classic profile with precision and freshness, the 2022 GSM is firing on all cylinders. The wine exhibits remarkable purity and offers an enticing blend of red-fruited and zesty notes, complemented by hints of potpourri and a subtle stemminess. It concludes with a medium lingering spicy finish that leaves a lasting impression. Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Balboa Winery 2022 Reserve Syrah
The 2022 Reserve Syrah reveals gooey chocolate alongside a zesty, open, and expressive core enriched with umami notes and a savory essence that is unmistakably characteristic of Walla Walla Syrah. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a rich and expansive palate that coats and glides effortlessly to a spicy finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Balboa Winery 2021 Reserve Blend
Hints of bright wild herbs and cedar complement dusty cherries in the focused and tight 2021 Reserve Blend. The wine showcases a dark red-berried complexity with a fresh and succulent core. It is medium to full-bodied, featuring fine-grained tannins that suggest it will benefit from an additional year in the bottle. Give it time.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2036
Barrage Cellars 2024 Concrete Blonde
Mineral-driven and clean, the 2024 Concrete Blonde showcases spiced lemon peel and a soft leesy expression that reveals surprising weight and freshness on the palate. This wine exhibits a stony tension and vibrancy, reflecting its concrete aging, while presenting a core of peachy and lemony character. It concludes with a spicy finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Barrage Cellars 2021 Blacklisted
A delicate and zesty Merlot, the 2021 Blacklisted features enticing notes of truffle and spiced plum skin. The wine reveals a soft impression of dark cherry, complemented by a peppery core that tightens to showcase gripping tannins and a long, lingering spicy finish. Nicely done.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Barrage Cellars 2020 Cease and Desist
Succulent and fresh, the 2020 Cease and Desist offers a very pleasurable experience with a generous frame for a Cabernet Franc. This wine pairs beautifully with steaks and chops, culminating in a spicy finish that lingers on the palate. Give it an extra year.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2027-2037
Barrage Cellars 2020 Double Barrel
Dense and solid, the 2020 Double Barrel reveals an inky core of dark black fruit and spices. On the palate, the wine is assertive with gripping tannins that provide structure. The fruit leans towards overripe, showcasing a concentration that culminates in a firm tannic finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2036
Barrage Cellars 2020 Malbec
Presenting a juicy frame and a firm gripping structure, the 2020 Malbec evokes daydreams of fire-roasted chops. The wine is stern and precise, showcasing impressive power and a solid tannic backbone that lingers through the finish, which is marked by a spicy and slightly boozy character. An additional chill and decanting is recommended.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Beckstone 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, juicy, and ripe, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon has a concentrated core of sappy fruit with firm and dusty tannins and a kiss of volatility. The wine turns more dark red-fruited on the palate. It is medium to full-bodied, ending with a straightforward finish. It delivers well for the price.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2030
Bill’s Blend 2024 Rosé
Bright, clean, and expressive with attractive fruit essences that have some mineral tension, the 2024 Rosé offers decent acidity and ends with a crisp finish. It is built for speed, not distance. Enjoy it in its youth.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Bill’s Blend 2021 Heart of the Hill
Rich, bold, and expressive with dusty red and black fruit layered throughout with elegant oak tones and a succulent, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, the 2021 Heart of the Hill features gripping tannins firm on the gumline, offering a spicy, mineral-driven finish. It is very food-friendly. Nicely done.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2036
Bill’s Blend 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Petit Verdot
With a kiss of volatility in the glass, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Petit Verdot has a dense and chewy core over the dark fruit expression. Cracked open, it shows the heat. The wine will benefit from an additional chill and decanting.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Bledsoe Family Winery 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Beautifully rich and round with plenty of attractive oak spices, turned and baked earth, and ripe and generous red and black fruit tones, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has a solid mineral essence throughout. The wine is dense, juicy, and hedonistic, and delivers pleasure at every turn. It lingers with firm gripping tannins and a boozy finish. Bold and generously layered, this offering will age beautifully and remain food-friendly for more than a decade.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Bledsoe Family Winery 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Still very young, shiny, vibrant, and spicy, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh and succulent, big, open, and bold. It is very expressive and acidic, with a more vivid and slightly lighter overall feel than the 2022. The 2023 is more nimble and bright with a food-friendly core.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Bledsoe McDaniels 2023 Pinot Noir LFG
Dense and chewy, slightly smoky and meaty, the 2023 Pinot Noir LFG is a big, bold Pinot Noir with gusto. It is generous in style and full-throttle, full-bodied with a zesty core and boozy conclusion. This is a full-impact Pinot Noir that ends with a stemmy, spicy finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2031
Bledsoe McDaniels 2023 Coulee Estate Pinot Noir
Featuring dark red fruits and a zesty core of potpourri, with hints of oak, toasted oats, and dried orange rind, the 2023 Coulee Estate Pinot Noir is bold and dense with a firm structure and elevated alcohol. It presents a long, spicy finish with the flavor profile ending more juicy and red-fruited. Nicely done.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Bledsoe McDaniels 2023 Eola Amity Hills Pinot Noir
Spicy and dark red-fruited with a dusty core and expansive structure, the 2023 Eola Amity Hills Pinot Noir is a big offering that is full-throttle for a hedonistic and generous frame. It ends with a tannic grip and boozy finish. This is not for the faint of heart.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Bledsoe McDaniels 2023 Syrah Lefore Estate
Meaty, expressive, spicy, and dark with a dusty core, wild herbs, and brush, the 2023 Syrah Lefore Estate is complex and very savory. It offers a medium to full-bodied, rich, and compact mouthfeel. It ends with a lingering, zesty, firm finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2038
Bledsoe McDaniels 2023 Syrah Schafer Estate
Thick, spicy, mineral-driven, and with a stony core and iron rocky grip, the 2023 Syrah Schafer Estate seems pushed too far, and the nose doesn’t tell me it’s Syrah. The palate is dense, chewy, and firm, and will need some time to allow the tannins to settle. I will reserve my score until this has had enough time to come around and reveal more of its secrets.
Score: ? | Drink:
Bledsoe McDaniels 2023 Syrah McQueen Estate
Dark and spicy with savory and umami essences all throughout, the 2023 Syrah McQueen Estate is very pleasurable and rocky with a broad-shouldered expression that has notes of roasted espresso beans and oak spices, along with black raspberry and a softly meaty and pepper note. Being very dense and focused, the wine will age for years to come and remain food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Board Track Racer 2023 Speed Racer Red
After doing a double-take at the quality-to-price ratio of the 2023 Speed Racer Red, I am absolutely smitten. It will be hard to find a competitor at this price point for what is in the bottle. This is hands down one of the best $15 bottles of wine I have ever tried. The fruit condition is pitch-perfect, showcasing healthy, ripe, and lively expressions that sing in unison. The structure is balanced, offering succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins. This is an easy win; buy it by the case and don’t look back! Wow!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2030
Board Track Racer 2023 Malbec
The 2023 Malbec is firm yet juicy, showcasing the climate and expression of Red Mountain with an underlying iron or ferric character beneath plummy and spiced black cherry essences. Full-bodied, rich, and round, this wine is fresh, complex, and layered, inviting me back for another sip. Yum!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
Board Track Racer 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Presenting a pure profile, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon showcases vibrant notes of blackberry and dark cherry, complemented by hints of oak spices and dusty baked earth. Full-bodied and gripping, it features firm tannins that contribute to its structure. The wine is succulent and rich, ultimately over-delivering for the price.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Board Track Racer 2022 GSM
Pure and spicy, the 2022 GSM showcases succulent ripe red fruits alongside hints of stemmy potpourri and mineral tension. It features fine-grained tannins and a refreshing quality that elevates its profile. These wines are serious contenders across the entire range, and for those who typically shy away from bottles priced below a certain threshold, this wine is undoubtedly punching above its weight class, deserving a price point that could easily be double. Bravo!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Board Track Racer 2022 BTR Reserve Cabernet
Big, juicy, and fresh, the 2022 BTR Reserve Cabernet showcases a multifaceted profile layered with dusty red and black fruit notes. This wine is both intricate and refreshing, with softly herbal undertones that enhance its purity. Medium to full-bodied, it continues to reveal additional layers of depth as it glides to a wildly pleasurable finish. Buy as much of this as you can.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2034
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Aglianico
Coming from the Weinbau Vineyard, the 2018 Aglianico dances with energy, its nose lifted by bright red fruits, citrus zest, and a whisper of spice. A flicker of volatility only adds to the wine’s lively personality, giving it a vibrant edge. On the palate, juicy, succulent red fruits mingle with high-toned florals and a mineral streak, carried by refreshing acidity that keeps everything light on its feet. Medium to full-bodied yet complex, it shows both succulence and verve, finishing long and food-friendly. Fresh, spicy, and full of character, this is a Washington Aglianico that surprises and delights with every sip. Enjoy with food.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2048
Boudreaux Cellars 2017 Merlot
Fresh and complex, the 2017 Merlot is spicy, oaky, and rustic. It offers firm tannins and beautiful, elegant red fruit. It will benefit from additional time in the cellar and will certainly reward those who are patient enough to wait for this beauty to blossom in the bottle!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2050
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Merlot
Bright and very youthful with sour plum notes, the 2018 Merlot features fresh, succulent, firm tannins. Highlighting red plum, it is complex and vibrant. Layered and spicy, it has an energy that will last for decades. The wine has a long, lovely finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2028-2050
Boudreaux Cellars 2019 Merlot
Debuting from the legendary Champoux Vineyard, the 2019 Merlot makes a bold first impression. Still fresh, it carries a glossy sheen that reflects both power and polish. Aromas of ripe, dark berries glide effortlessly from the glass, vibrant and youthful in their expression. On the palate, the wine is broad-shouldered and generous, round in texture yet structured enough to promise evolution with time. While it’s clearly still settling into the bottle, the promise of depth and elegance is already shining through. Simply put, this is a Merlot built to impress, and it will reward those who are patient enough.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2045
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Syrah
Impressive, rich, and dark, the 2018 Syrah is savory and succulent. Wow, I love this wine! It’s brilliant, fresh, and pure, and I have no doubts that it will do amazing things with additional years of bottle aging. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2028-2055
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Sagrantino
Red-fruited and spicy, the 2018 Sagrantino reveals an herbal and tannic edge. It’s immensly food friendly and will benefit from decanting. Nicely done.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2026-2055
Boudreaux Cellars 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, layered, and juicy, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe and ready to drink, but will open up and age beautifully for more than a decade to come. Nicely done!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2047
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Juicy, vibrant, and pure, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is generous, ripe, and fleshy. Expressive and tannic, it is very food-friendly with a lovely conclusion. The wine is complex and fresh with a long, spicy finish.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2028-2058
Boudreaux Cellars 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Made with splashes of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with an energetic nose of ripe red berries and a lift of fresh flowers. On the palate, layers of juicy cherries roll in like waves, bright and mouthwatering, before giving way to a spicy finish that lingers and begs for another sip. It’s bold yet polished, offering both freshness and complexity. Massive in character yet effortlessly pure, this hedonistic Cabernet delivers big flavor with a fleshy, food-loving charm.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2029-2059
Boudreaux Cellars 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh and vibrant, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon presents a broad, round, and abundantly juicy nose, showcasing a pure, concentrated aromatic profile of black cherry and spiced plum, while a delightful lift of potpourri essences floods the senses. Full-bodied and generously layered, the palate reveals a mineral, dusty feeling that transitions into elegance and grace, enhanced by its power and a kiss of volatility. Still tight in its youthful stage, this beauty will benefit from additional years in the bottle before opening and will easily coast in the cellar for the next three-plus decades. Reflecting on the challenges of the 2020 vintage, this bottling is undoubtedly a brilliant success, capturing freshness, vibrancy, purity, complexity, and longevity. What a triumph! Bravo!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2030-2060
Boudreaux Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, firm, rich, and round, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon showcases prominent oak and texture alongside dark, spiced red fruit. Give it time once it releases, but this will be one of the most impressive Bordeaux wines that I’ve seen in a long while. Bravo!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2032-2060
Boudreaux Cellars 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills
Fleshy, ripe, and juicy, the 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills is generous and full of life. The wine is fresh, vibrant, and delicious.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2055
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills
Focused, fresh, pure, and herbal, the 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills is elegant and round. It offers dusty dark and black fruit with ripe, succulent acidity. Complex, vibrant, and very juicy.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2030-2060
Boudreaux Cellars 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Big and juicy with a dusty red and black raspberry core, the 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley features spiced plum compote. The wine is fresh, complex, and generous. Ripe, vibrant, and round, it reflects a bigger, warmer vintage. Nicely done.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2028-2050
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Still firm and vibrant, the 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley is succulent, acid-driven, complex, and round. It needs more time and will continue to age gracefully for decades. Still tight and fresh, it is fleshy and will last for years, remaining rich and rewarding. Yum!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2028-2058
Boudreaux Cellars 2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Initially very primary, polished, and shiny with notes of brown baking spices, cinnamon, and nutmeg, the 2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley has a nose primed with expressive Christmas spices that sway with fresh and ripe dark red and black fruit essences. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals a balanced structure with refined and elegant tannins that glide with a silky and velvety mouthfeel, while the acidity remains fresh and accessible. The wine continues to evolve in the mouth and it’s quite gorgeous now, but I can see where it’s headed, and this beauty will most certainly reward those who are patient enough to give it a decade of aging before popping the cork. I think it’s going to be very difficult to keep my hands off this before it reaches its 10th birthday, so I recommend finding a dark place for it in your wine cellar. Nicely done!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2029-2055
Bowen Wines 2023 Watermark Syrah
Showcasing notes of black raspberry with a rocky minerality, the 2023 Watermark Syrah is savory driven and has a stony elegance, featuring peppercorn and earthy nuances with a soft meaty expression. This is spicy and quite mineral, revealing an almost metallic core with a red-fruited and zesty essence. It concludes with an elegant, pure finish and fresh tannins.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Bowen Wines 2023 Cosmic Bluff Cabernet Sauvignon
Offering notes of grape sucker with soft pyrazines and resinous purple flowers, the 2023 Cosmic Bluff Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh. It reveals sour cherry and spicy, savory plums, making the wine more subdued and not as explosive as a Walla Walla Cab that can be blown out. Lively and nimble on the palate, it has a delightful expression from whole cluster Cab Franc added for the floral side. It features a structured, softly herbal, tart cherry and plum finish. Medium to lighter-bodied at 12.5% alcohol, it is very food-friendly. Tasted as a barrel sample.
Score: 90-92 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Bowen Wines 2024 Blood of the Apprentice
Crafted with 200% whole cluster, the 2024 Blood of the Apprentice is made with Syrah and added Grenache stems. This is quite juicy and spicy as can be, making it a stunning wine. With fine mineral tension, the wine is very inviting. Lively and expressive right in the glass, it is still pretty astringent, shining, and textured.
Score: 91-93 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Brian Carter Cellars 2024 Oriana
Floral and expressive with peach blossom, mandarin orange, and honeysuckle notes, the 2024 Oriana is vibrantly ripe and citrus-laden with a kiss of phenolic bitterness and a touch of residual sugar that lifts the palate. Very pleasing and complex, it ends with a lingering and refreshing finish. Well done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2033
Brian Carter Cellars 2022 Byzance
Opening with a kiss of volatility, the 2022 Byzance is fresh and red-fruited with spiced potpourri and black peppercorn. The wine evolves to offer notes of sour cherry. It has a very pleasing structure and ends with a zesty, food-friendly finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Brian Carter Cellars 2021 Solesce
Bold and expressive on the nose with a kiss of volatility, the 2021 Solesce is dark-cherried with a core of dusty rocky essence and a firm graphite note throughout. The wine has a lively beam of acidity and mineral tension that drives the palate, joining the earthy red-fruited core and an expressive, spicy finish. Enjoy with food.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2038
Brian Carter Cellars 2022 Corrida
Pure and oak-driven with elegance, the 2022 Corrida features sweet wood and baking spices that lift the expression, while dark red cherries and plums waft from the glass with a bit of zest and roasted coconut. This is rich, round, pristine, and sincere, and I can’t help but want more.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Brian Carter Cellars 2015 Opulence
Just seductive and boozy, the 2015 Opulence has notes of Chambord, baked plums, and blackberry reduction. The wine is zesty and pure with a spicy orange rind essence that sways with intention and focus. Full-bodied and delightfully sweet, this classic, fresh expression will age gracefully for decades.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2050
Broken Trust Cellars 2023 Shitbag Chardonnay
Sweet Meyer lemon intertwines with notes of almond pastries and peach marzipan in the 2023 Shitbag Chardonnay, which showcases a softly phenolic character and a distinctive name. The wine presents an open-knit and straightforward structure, featuring a medium-bodied palate that culminates in a clean finish. A touch more acidity would enhance its profile, and serving it with an extra chill is recommended.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Brooks Wine 2023 Cahiers
On the more serious side, the 2023 Cahiers is vibrant and complex, offering a spicy profile with a kiss of whole-cluster freshness and firm structure. It beams with succulent acidity and a lovely palate that sways with elegance and grace, showcasing remarkable tension on the mid-palate. Zesty and lingering with intensity and purpose, it is very food-friendly and expressive. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Brooks Wine 2023 Eola Springs
Lively and fresh with bright, electric acidity, the 2023 Eola Springs is very shiny and polished. It features an energetic spice core that overflows with a zesty, succulent expression of red fruit and refined tannins. Very food-friendly, it can be enjoyed now and will continue to drink well for more than a decade and a half.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Brooks Wine 2023 Janus
The 2023 Janus features a red-fruited and spicy core that slowly, elegantly, and vibrantly opens in the glass. Medium-bodied, fresh, and expressive, this wine is great for the price and easy drinking, concluding with a complex finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2040
Brooks Wine 2023 Crannell
Showcasing a dusty red-fruited core, the 2023 Crannell offers plenty of tension, freshness, and layered complexity. The wine is bright with succulent acidity and features a soft salinity that evokes the essence of a sea breeze-kissed cherry skin. Very elegant and refined.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Brooks Wine 2023 Muska
Crafted with about 15% whole-cluster fruit, the 2023 Muska is spicy and expressive. The wine reveals notes of graphite, pencil lead, and a wild, elegant beauty that begs me to come back for more. Nicely done!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
Brooks Wine 2023 Rastaban
The 2023 Rastaban displays a red core and a nose that overflows with a fresh, vibrant, ripe, and round juiciness. It reveals soft hints of herbal and savory notes alongside a kiss of salinity and succulent acidity that beams through the finish. The wine is bright and expressive. Yum!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Brooks Wine 2023 Temperance Hill
Made from 943 and 777 clones, the 2023 Temperance Hill is an attractive, fruit-forward wine highlighting red fruit notes and succulent acidity. Medium-bodied and full of freshness, it possesses a spicy tannic core that lingers beautifully through the finish. Very nice, give it time in the bottle.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2038
Brooks Wine 2023 Ara
Succulent, fresh, and expressive, the 2023 Ara reveals enticing notes of under-ripe white peach. It delivers a soft phenolic note on the palate, culminating in a very pleasing, locked-and-loaded food-friendly character. Enjoy with Asian food. A gorgeous wine!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Brooks Wine 2023 Bois Joli
Very classic, the 2023 Bois Joli is unmistakably Riesling, showcasing laser acidity and freshness. It is utterly gorgeous and consistently brings me back for more. I can’t get enough of this stuff, and it sells out quickly. Great!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2047
Brooks Wine 2023 Lone Star
Acid-driven with a serious purity, the 2023 Lone Star bursts with notes of lime candy. It possesses a soft, leesy character that is bright and expressive. Very pleasing, complex, delightfully sincere, and fresh.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
Brooks Wine 2023 Orchard Fold
The 2023 Orchard Fold opens with green apple and candied lime, accompanied by plenty of citrus flower and peach blossoms. Medium-bodied with notable texture and weight, it features a kiss of residual sugar. The wine is fresh, succulent, and very pleasing, revealing a layered, complex, pure, and crystalline nature that ends with a gorgeous finish.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Brooks Wine 2023 Willamette Valley Riesling
Zesty and zippy, the 2023 Willamette Valley Riesling delivers vibrant notes of under-ripe peach and fresh lime candy. Medium to light-bodied with 12.5% alcohol, it is dry on the palate with electric acidity that is incredibly food-friendly and has me salivating. Yum!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Cairdeas Winery 2024 Grenache Blanc
Vibrant, complex, and pure, the 2024 Grenache Blanc offers fresh, soft notes of yellow cherry and white peach. The wine is pristine, succulent, and citrus-driven. Clean, lively, and very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2033
Cairdeas Winery 2024 Nellie Mae
Showing notes of white peach and fine mineral tension, the 2024 Nellie Mae is very delightful. Medium-bodied, fresh, complex, and lively, it reveals a great stony elegance.
Score: 92-94 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Cairdeas Winery 2024 Papa Blanc
The 2024 Papa Blanc has a promising and fresh expression of fruit on the nose and palate. The mouthfeel is beautifully textured, revealing spicy notes with a very fine mineral tension. With a kiss of underripe apple, the wine is medium-bodied, tactile, and expressive. It ends with a zesty finish and is very food-friendly.
Score: 95-97 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Cairdeas Winery 2024 Written in the Stones Icarus
Very beautifully ripe, zesty, and fresh, the 2024 Written in the Stones Icarus is spicy and has notes of potpourri. It has a crunchy red-fruited core that is very seductive and lively, with a soft stemminess and bright peppery edge that is very delightful. Still a barrel sample, the wine will find its governance and hit its stride in years to come.
Score: 92-94 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Cairdeas Winery 2024 Written in the Stones Daedalus
Firm and structured with peppery rocks and a spicy grip, the 2024 Written in the Stones Daedalus is quite tannic and driven. It has a bigger, broader mouthfeel and a good structural edge, ending with a very pleasurable finish.
Score: 94-96 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Cairdeas Winery 2023 Thunderstone Grenache
A dusty, red-fruited wine that is very fresh, spicy, and mineral-driven, the 2023 Thunderstone Grenache has a tight tension that expands through the finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2035
Cairdeas Winery 2022 Trí
Made from a blend of mostly Syrah, with 22% Mourvedre and 5% Grenache, the nose of the 2022 Trí is dark red-fruited, fresh, and floral, with elegant notes of graphite and a hint of sweet oak spice. Medium to full-bodied, the palate grips and holds through the finish. It’s delightfully food-friendly and will reward those patient enough to allow it to develop in bottle. Give it time.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Cairdeas Winery 2022 Caisléan an Pápa
Always a favorite of mine, the 2022 Caisléan an Pápa showcases purity and finesse. It is delightfully fresh, with notes of red licorice and potpourri. Quite spicy, it grows with spicy, floral freshness, an elegant spicy core, and notes of peppercorn. It has a brilliantly spicy, fresh finish. Nicely done!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Cairdeas Winery 2022 Stone Ridge Syrah
Classic, clean, fresh, floral, and featuring dark black fruit, the 2022 Stone Ridge Syrah is very pure and fresh. Medium to full-bodied, it has a weight that is very satisfying. The wine is utterly convincing and in fighting shape, punching well above its weight class. It has an impressive, spicy, floral finish that is very fine and fresh. The best Syrah that I have tasted from Cairdeas. Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Cairdeas Winery 2022 Consonance
Fresh and expressive, the 2022 Consonance features notes of black raspberry, black cherry, spiced plum, and peppercorns. It’s simply gorgeous and ends with a very food-friendly finish.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Caliche Estate 2024 Evergreen Vineyard Albariño
A pleasant surprise, the 2024 Evergreen Vineyard Albariño has a classic nose featuring notes of peach and pineapple, complemented by hints of yellow apple and lime candy. The aroma also reveals a mineral essence along with a fuzzy phenolic note of lemon pith. Medium-bodied with succulent acidity and fine mineral tension, this wine is instantly enjoyable. The fruit profile tightens through the mid-palate, while the mouthfeel is zesty, fresh, crisp, and clean, culminating in a phenolic grip and a food-friendly finish. Nicely done; I want more!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2030
Caliche Estate 2024 Evergreen Vineyard Dry Riesling
Subdued on the nose, the 2024 Evergreen Vineyard Dry Riesling leaves one searching for more expressive Riesling characteristics. This wine is clean and fresh, though it presents in a smaller aromatic frame. Light to medium-bodied, it offers notes of lime water and hints of citrus blossom that gracefully float over the palate, culminating in a simple and easy-going finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Capital Call Vintners 2023 Blanc de Blancs
Juicy and peachy, the 2023 Blanc de Blancs offers enticing notes of green apple alongside hints of soft lees, presenting a light expression. Medium-bodied, this wine is both succulent and bright, showcasing crisp acidity that enhances its overall vibrancy and pleasure. It invites repeated sips and is exceptionally food-friendly, making it a perfect match for cheese, shellfish, and fresh fried foods.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Capital Call Vintners 2022 Cashflow Red Blend
Very fresh and bright, the 2022 Cashflow Red Blend exhibits a rustic edge that dances with notes of volatility and dusty earth. Currently slightly tannic, it will benefit from additional years in the bottle and should be decanted when opened. Give it time.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2035
Capital Call Vintners 2022 La Bruere Syrah
The 2022 La Bruere Syrah presents a savory and umami essence, featuring notes of game and jerky, complemented by peppered spices and dusty worn leather. This medium to full-bodied wine evolves to reveal a more rustic character, with pronounced earthy notes that evoke cravings for Asian noodles with sausage in bone broth. Nicely done.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Capital Call Vintners 2022 Margin Call Cabernet
Rather subdued at its current state, the 2022 Margin Call Cabernet exhibits a slightly rustic and quiet character on both the nose and palate. The mouthfeel reveals a more textured and weighted expression that retains a subtlety. Its structure is firm and gripping, with the spicy nuances resonating more prominently than the aromatic and fruit elements. This wine requires patience; it will likely emerge from its shell with bottle age and proudly display its tertiary notes.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2027-2034
Capital Call Vintners 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bold and generous, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is layered and fresh, with complexities of fruit and oak that sway with a hint of volatility. It is full-bodied, spicy, and very food-friendly, with tannins that grip and hold through the finish, inspiring daydreams of a bone-in ribeye off the grill. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2040
CasaSmith 2023 Porcospino Primitivo
Juicy and red-fruited with hints of volatility, the 2023 Porcospino Primitivo offers notes of sour red cherry, spiced plums, black raspberry, and peaches. Medium-bodied, elegant, and pure, it is neither heavy-handed nor manipulated. Very pleasurable and over-delivers for the price.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2034
CasaSmith 2023 Cinghiale Sangiovese
The 2023 Cinghiale Sangiovese features a delightfully soft herbal edge alongside notes of sour cherry and more exotic wild red fruit notions. It has a tight tannic grip and succulent acidity that remains firm. Medium-bodied and vibrant, the wine is fresh, rich, and very food-friendly.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2027-2038
Cayuse Vineyards 2023 Cailloux Vineyard Viognier
Very expressive and pure, the 2023 Cailloux Vineyard Viognier is peachy and fresh. Medium-bodied with succulent acidity and soft salinity, it is very food-friendly. Perhaps the best Viognier that I’ve had from Cayuse. Bravo!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Cayuse Vineyards 2023 Edith Grenache Rose
Showcasing a soft salmon color, the 2023 Edith Grenache Rose has a mineral tension and succulent acidity. All Grenache and farmed for Rosé production, it offers freshness with hints of wild raspberry and fresh strawberry. Medium-bodied, it’s easy to drink but is not a simple wine, revealing layers of complexity. Delightfully refreshing and elegant.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 God Only Knows
Featuring high-toned red fruit and hints of mineral tension, the 2022 God Only Knows offers dusty cherry notes and elegant power. Full-bodied, it brims with umami and spicy potpourri, and is savory with plenty of layers. The long, lingering finish has an aftertaste that just doesn’t stop. Will go great with BBQ salmon, white pork, cranberry sauce, and spiced duck!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Flying Pig
With a kiss of red bell pepper and pure freshness, the 2022 Flying Pig reveals dusty red fruit and hints of savory essence. Medium-bodied, in a slightly compact frame, the wine has a delightfully expressive character with mineral tension. Elegant, fresh, and still young, it will do wonders with years to come!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2045
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 The Lovers
Offering dusty, dark red and black fruit with crème de cassis, oak spice, and violet liqueur, the 2022 The Lovers is medium-bodied, very refined, and elegant. It will continue to drink well for decades.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2047
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Camaspelo
The 2022 Camaspelo is ripe, bold, and spicy with a dark, dusty character. Very young still, it will go the distance. The wine is bigger in style and will turn to a firm, tannic edge.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2027-2047
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Widowmaker
Still very primary in the glass, the 2022 Widowmaker is firm and tight, but will reward patience. Dark-fruited, smoky, and with sticky tannins, it will do wonders with time; decanting is recommended. It has good bones and will be a juggernaut when it finds its cadence.
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2028-2055
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Cailloux Vineyard Syrah
With a kiss of reduction and classic Syrah rocks, the 2022 Cailloux Vineyard Syrah offers freshness and fine hints of forest floor, truffle, and charcuterie. Very surprising and expressive with umami, iodine, black raspberry, and succulent acidity, it reveals touches of char and cherry. Brilliant wine!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2050
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 En Cerise Vineyard Syrah
Offering a savory, stemmy, and brilliant core of dusty, crunchy red fruits, the 2022 En Cerise Vineyard Syrah is serious and fresh. With dark black cherry, wild black raspberry, and bright acidity, the stemmy character drives the finish. It lingers with mouthwatering, spicy potpourri. This beauty has me craving cassoulet with wild rabbit, sausages, and duck.
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2028-2055
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah
Revealing notes of cured, hung meat, the 2022 En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah is big, bold, savory, and sanguine. With rich, juicy, succulent bacon fat, it is robust, full-bodied, and very firm. It concludes with a delicious, focused, long, spicy finish.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2050
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Bionic Frog Syrah
Offering zesty notes of perfume, black plum, and precise crème de violette, the 2022 Bionic Frog Syrah features spiced potpourri. Very focused, lively, fresh, complex, and complete, it has elegant, big, ripe, and succulent acidity. With black-fruited tannins, hints of char, and a tight structure, give it time.
Score: 99 | Drink: 2026-2050
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Armada Vineyard Syrah
Slightly reductive and still tight, the 2022 Armada Vineyard Syrah is fresh, complex, and lively with verve and attitude. Medium to full-bodied and very impressive, it reveals dark cherry, hints of meat, and charcuterie. Ripe, vibrant, and slightly charry, it is wonderfully nimble. Brilliant wine!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2026-2047
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Wallah Wallah Special Syrah #16
Bold, young, and tightly wound, the 2022 Wallah Wallah Special Syrah #16 is fleshy, vibrant, complex, and earthy. A bigger, robust style that over-delivers for the price, it is fresh and very pleasurable. Dusty, dark red-fruited, and grounded, it reveals floral, sanguine, umami, and dried seaweed notes. Absolutely beautiful!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2060
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Impulsivo En Chamberlin Vineyard Tempranillo
Bigger, structured, and tense with a dark red and blue-fruited core, the 2022 Impulsivo En Chamberlin Vineyard Tempranillo offers earthy, savory, and exotic spices. With red delicious apple skin, it is expressive and dense. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and round, it reveals hints of char on the finish. Very complex and pleasurable.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2027-2050
Cayuse Vineyards 2014 En Cerise Vineyard Syrah
Spicy and complex, the 2014 En Cerise Vineyard Syrah is quite savory and fresh. Mineral-driven and medium to full-bodied, it is still tight and taut, but will remain food-friendly. It needs time, but has good bones. Very FFF.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2019-2039
Champagne Christophe Baron 2020 Les Hautes Blanches Vignes
My favorite of the four champagnes this year, the 2020 Les Hautes Blanches Vignes is a bright and citrus-driven beauty, filled with seductive and elegant mineral tension that sways with zesty delights and crunchy green orchard fruits. Lively and vibrant on the palate, the mouthfeel is delightful and immensely food-friendly. I love that these are only bottled in magnum because that makes me very selective of when I need to open this and who I will share it with.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2050
Champagne Christophe Baron 2020 Le Dessus du Bois Marie
Opening with a kiss of reduction, the 2020 Le Dessus du Bois Marie is fresh, vibrant, zesty, and lively with bright acidity. Exceptionally food-friendly, it is medium-bodied with a peppery mid-palate that begs for salmon rillettes and crispy pork. The wine has an energetic and frothy mousse before ending with a bright, expressive, and lingering spicy finish. Long-lived and bottled in magnum, it offers a lasting aftertaste of spiced cranberry skin and lemon pith. Nicely done.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Champagne Christophe Baron 2020 Les Alouettes
Fresh, ripe, and succulent with notes of Asian pear and citrus blossom, the 2020 Les Alouettes has a soft zestiness that merges with hints of sautéed almonds. Medium to full-bodied, there is a soft salinity to the palate that is both elegant and refreshing, ending with a delightful food-friendly mineral-driven finish.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026-2047
Champagne Christophe Baron 2020 Les Closeaux
Open and approachable on the nose with notes of almond skin and marzipan, alongside white and yellow flowers, the 2020 Les Closeaux showcases bright acidity that energizes the palate with a nimble and lively mouthfeel. It then merges to reveal a fine frothy mousse that lingers with a long finish that has me coming back for more.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2045
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2023 Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay
The 2023 Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay presents enticing aromas of peach and candied apple, complemented by hints of lemon drop. This medium-bodied wine is slightly subdued on the palate, showcasing a diminishing flavor profile. It offers a simple mouthfeel and a clean finish, making it best enjoyed in its youth and served well-chilled.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2022 Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2022 Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon presents a vibrant profile of red berries complemented by notes of dusty plums, hints of baking spices, and soft herbal undertones that frame the entire expression with sincerity and honesty. This medium to full-bodied wine offers a straightforward finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2022 Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot
Dark fruits dominate the nose, presenting a slightly muddled fruit expression alongside hints of earth and spices. On the palate, the 2022 Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot reveals a ripe attack and a spicy character that intensifies, ultimately showcasing the alcohol on the finish, which lingers with a boozy warmth.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon presents a soft and primary character, highlighted by notes of wild herbs. It exhibits a gentle smokiness that adds depth to its profile. As the wine lingers on the palate, the fruity elements become less prominent, revealing a more nuanced complexity.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2023 Eroica Riesling
The 2023 Eroica Riesling is zesty, zippy, fresh, and succulent, showcasing bright notes of apricot, peach, and lime. Candied green apple and sweet lemon add a delightful kiss of sweetness that enlivens the palate. Energetic acidity races across the mouth, culminating in a vibrant finish marked by fresh fruit, citrus, and stone fruit characteristics. Lovely as always!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
COR Cellars 2024 AGO Sauvignon Blanc
Instantly pleasing and exciting the nose, the 2024 AGO Sauvignon Blanc showcases bright citrus notes and a refreshing character. This zesty wine invigorates the palate with vibrant fruit flavors and an energetic acidity that races to a crisp finish, making it exceptionally food-friendly. Nicely done!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2033
COR Cellars 2024 AGO Tocai Friulano
Bright citrus notes and lemon pith are complemented by green and yellow apples, while a delightful phenolic bitterness adds to the wine’s layered appeal. Medium-bodied, the 2024 AGO Tocai Friulano is fresh and showcases a lively mineral tension on the mid-palate that glides to a succulent finish, leaving me craving shellfish and hard cheeses.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
COR Cellars 2022 AGO Chardonnay
The 2022 AGO Chardonnay presents an oxidative style characterized by nutty tones and a slightly warm expression, as the alcohol begins to evaporate from the glass, imparting a gentle burn. This wine offers an intriguing dichotomy, showcasing bright acidity alongside a roasted and boozy profile on both the nose and palate, creating a sensation of being pulled in two directions. Drink well-chilled.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2028
COR Cellars 2024 AGO Sparkling Rosé
Fresh, crisp, and delightful, the 2024 AGO Sparkling Rosé is bright, succulent, and citrus-driven. It over-delivers for the price and leaves me wanting more. Energetic acidity races to the finish, making it a perfect companion for food. Nicely done!!
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
COR Cellars 2024 AGO Carbonic Primitivo
The 2024 AGO Carbonic Primitivo presents a stemmy and fleshy profile, enriched by a smoky essence and alluring red fruit tones that waft from the nose. At its core lies a direct, cherry-driven heart complemented by a spicy nuance, culminating in a clean and straightforward finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
Côte Bonneville 2024 Riesling
Showcasing lime candy and freshness, the 2024 Riesling offers sweet citrus and hints of honeysuckle. The wine is juicy, lively, and energetic, featuring very pleasurable and bright floral aromatics. Picturesque, pure, and succulent, it delivers a crisp, clean finish ending with slight apple juice nuances. Very pleasing.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Côte Bonneville 2024 Cabernet Franc Rosé
Vibrant and spicy, the 2024 Cabernet Franc Rosé is mineral-driven and expressive with a pure, bright core and a softly phenolic edge. Medium-bodied, it is subtly peppery with hints of fresh, fleshy fruit. Very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Côte Bonneville 2020 Carriage House
Still tight with a dusty, red-fruited core, the 2020 Carriage House reveals hints of oak spice alongside a soft, fleshy, and earthy profile. The wine is rich and has depth across the palate. Approachable but has all the layers to go the distance.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2052
Côte Bonneville 2019 Chardonnay
Slightly nutty and herbal with notes of lemon pastry, the 2019 Chardonnay features succulent acidity and a rich, leesy texture. It concludes with a lingering finish. It’s very food-friendly and vibrant, which draws me back in for more.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2023-2035
Côte Bonneville 2023 Chardonnay
Generous and open-knit, the 2023 Chardonnay has a phenolic grip and notes of lemon pastry cream alongside a softly nutty, leesy quality. The mid-palate showcases mineral tension, adding to its touch of structural texture.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2040
Côte Bonneville 2020 Train Station Cabernet Sauvignon
Earthy and red-fruited with hints of warm leather, the 2020 Train Station Cabernet Sauvignon is ready to pop and rock. Subtly spicy and fresh, it has a delightfully full core of dark cherry that leads to a dusty finish. It goes down all too easily. Nicely done, over-delivers for the price point.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Côte Bonneville 2019 Côte Bonneville
Still very expressive, polished, and fresh, the 2019 Côte Bonneville is red-fruited with oaky spices. It has a vibrant, zesty core and is medium to full-bodied, pure, and lively. Juicy with just-ripe red fruit, structured tannins, and succulent acidity, it is very clean, bright, and pleasurable. Captivating with a lively, energetic tension. Very food-friendly.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2050
Côte Bonneville 2021 Syrah
Firm and rocky with mineral tension, the 2021 Syrah is dusty and red-fruited with notes of black raspberry and hints of peppercorn, purple flowers, lavender, and baking spices that waft from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, it is layered and succulent with substantial tannins. It reveals lingering notes of floral potpourri, crushed pepper, cherry skin, and spiced plum.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2042
Côte Bonneville 2022 Merlot
Fresh, fleshy, and oak-driven, the 2022 Merlot has a dusty graphite edge paired with vibrancy. Complex and woody, it is spicy with layers of red sour cherry and zesty plum skin. The wine is still very primary, lively, and oak-accented with a seductive red fruit essence that will age gracefully with precision and finesse. Give it time, your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2051
Côte Bonneville 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
A more generous, showy, and polished expression, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has power and precision. Spicy, lush, luxurious, and fresh, it delivers a ripe attack with a fleshy, refined profile. Layered and profoundly expressive, this Cabernet is very complex and still a baby. Your patience will be rewarded here.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2052
Côte Bonneville 2015 Carriage House
Instantly impressive and pleasurable at 10 years, the 2015 Carriage House remains vibrant and tight. In impeccable condition with succulent acidity, it showcases bright and fleshy red fruit tones. The wine is still rather primary and has yet to shed its baby fat, indicating it will go the distance. A devastatingly beautiful wine that has me just smelling the glass, it reveals notes of sour cherry, spiced plum, and a lush red-fruited core with hints of graphite. Plenty of longevity left in its future. Bravo!!!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2020-2045
Côte Bonneville 2018 Côte Bonneville
Dark red-fruited, mineral, and graphite-driven, the 2018 Côte Bonneville is starting to push its fruity expression into black fruit tones. Vibrant and complex, it is beginning to show tertiary nuances. Very pleasurable, fresh, and slightly broader-shouldered, it is medium expressive and nicely done.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2047
Côte Bonneville 2024 Train Station Cabernet Franc
With a dusty core that is red-fruited, still tight, and firm, the 2024 Train Station Cabernet Franc reveals a fleshy profile. Medium-bodied with a slight, gripping tannic structure, it is very resolute and rich with a highly food-friendly center. Yes, please!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Côte Bonneville 2023 Train Station Red Wine
Dusty and mineral-driven, the 2023 Train Station Red Wine is dark-fruited and just getting to fighting weight. Very pleasurable, it is a medium-bodied wine with a balanced frame of focused fruit, earth, and a dusty core. It is quite food-friendly and over-delivers for the price.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Côte Bonneville 2017 Carriage House
The 2017 Carriage House has found its curing attitude and, with time, has come together beautifully. Medium to full-bodied, it has a lovely, fresh frame of succulent acidity that is finishing strong on all cylinders. It ends with a subtly spiced finish that had me daydreaming. This is truly delicious. Bravo!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2022-2042
Cote Nicault 2022 Full Disclosure
Fresh, floral, and ripe, the 2022 Full Disclosure is succulent, spicy, and pure. Showcasing notes of whole cluster, it is complex, full-bodied, and precise, being 30% stem co-fermented. It reveals mineral tension and a firm earthy structure, culminating in a zesty floral finish with sweet oak spices.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2036
Cote Nicault 2022 Red Mountain GSM
Vibrant, spicy, and pure with dusty red fruits and red flowers, the 2022 Red Mountain GSM is clean, fresh, and softly oaky. Full-bodied, profound, and beautiful, it offers succulent, earthy-red fruit with delightful undertones of potpourri and black peppercorns. The wine walks the fine line between old-world rusticity and new-world shine. Impressive, zesty, floral, and elegant, it showcases lovely oak expressions. Nicely done!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Cote Nicault 2023 Full Disclosure Grenache WeatherEye Vineyard
Powerful, bold, and expressive, the 2023 Full Disclosure Grenache WeatherEye Vineyard is generous yet full-bodied. Clocking in at 15.3% alcohol on the label, it doesn’t feel like it. Expansive, big, and robust, it avoids feeling heavy, offering beautiful, dusty potpourri and spicy notes alongside wet stones, spiced plum skin, and dark cherries. Still tight and tannic, it will do wonders with age. This beauty is pure and precise with a rustic edge, so be patient, because I see where this particular bottle is headed and it is gorgeous in the most elegant way possible. Decanting recommended.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2043
Covale Cellars 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon showcases a rich and round expression of black raspberry, dusty plums, and black currant. It is spicy and oaked, enhancing its overall structure. Hints of earthy soil add depth, while the wine is boldly structured with fine-grained tannins and a fresh, complex oak essence. Firm tannins sway with notes of graphite and cigar box, culminating in a very zesty finish.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Covale Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon presents a firmer, bolder, and spicier profile with greater extraction on both the nose and palate compared to the previous vintage. The fruit is exceptionally ripe and inky, accompanied by firm tannins that will benefit from another year in the bottle to fully integrate. Give it time; your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2037
Covington Cellars 2021 ODE
Generously juicy and ripe, the 2021 ODE showcases a bountiful center of sappy fruit and plum compote. This wine reveals a dense core of spiced blackberry jus complemented by hints of oak spices, graphite, and pencil lead. It is full-bodied, spicy, and very expressive, making it an excellent companion for food, particularly wild game, chops, and steaks. The long, lingering finish is robust, featuring succulent acidity and melting tannins.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Covington Cellars 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Very impressive on the nose, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh and focused, showcasing an elegant and silky smooth texture complemented by fine-grained tannins. Succulent red fruit tones of black cherry and black plum skin, along with a refined oak essence, elevate the aromatic profile. This medium to full-bodied expression is spicy, with polished tannins that promise to remain food-friendly for more than a decade. It concludes with a lovely, refined, finessed, and structured finish. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Covington Cellars 2022 Rough House
The 2022 Rough House presents broad-shouldered and active aromas of fleshy dark red and black fruit tones. This wine is very firm and expressive, showcasing a dense and chewy texture that delivers exceptional value for the price. It concludes with a spicy, lingering finish that pairs wonderfully with a wide variety of dishes and flavors, or can be enjoyed on its own.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Covington Cellars 2022 Lawson
The 2022 Lawson presents a bright and generously vibrant, layered, and complex nose of dusty red cherry skin and spiced plums, complemented by elegant oak spices. Medium to full-bodied, it showcases a fresh and fine-grained texture with succulent tannins that elevate the finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2038
Covington Cellars 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc
The 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc presents red fruit aromas that are fresh and pure, underscored by a distinctive zesty core and mineral tension. This medium to full-bodied wine showcases a softer spice profile than typically expected from Cabernet Franc, enhancing its complexity. It concludes with a food-friendly, peppery, and tannic edge, complemented by succulent acidity that invites daydreams of ethnic cuisines.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Covington Cellars 2024 Chardonnay
Mineral-driven and fresh, the 2024 Chardonnay is lively with lemon and mint-driven aromas. It reveals hints of nuts and a fine earthy tension across a medium to full-bodied, refined palate. Accented by notes of white peach and a soft phenolic kiss, it is very food-friendly.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Covington Cellars 2022 Ma Belle
Red-fruited, juicy, and ripe, the 2022 Ma Belle is a fresh and mineral-driven wine. It showcases vibrant cherry notes and wild raspberry on a medium to full-bodied frame. With its earthy tension, red florals, and a spicy edge, it is very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2037
Covington Cellars 2022 Sangio
The 2022 Sangio is red-fruited and cherried, displaying a complex oak note, though it leaves me wanting a bit more acidity and freshness. Nevertheless, it is a delightfully intense, firm, and focused wine that remains delicious and elegant. Very nicely structured.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2031
Covington Cellars 2022 Franc
A Cabernet Franc with a distinctly red-fruited focus, the 2022 Franc is fresh, floral, and vibrant. It offers hints of peppercorn and a dusty, delightfully lively character. This is a very pure and elegant expression of the varietal, featuring soft herbal notes on a medium-bodied frame. It is very food-friendly and a joy to drink.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Coyote Canyon Winery 2024 Albarino
Fresh and peachy with notes of lemon citrus blossom, the 2024 Albarino is refreshing with a crisp, elegant, and crushable edge. The wine has a kiss of phenolic grip, remaining clean and expressive with flavors of sweet Meyer lemon and a soft, salty essence. Very pure and correct, it goes down all too easily! Nicely done.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Coyote Canyon Winery 2024 Concrete Albarino
A bit more serious, with a fresh, lively, textural feel, the 2024 Concrete Albarino is layered with notes of stone fruit and hints of citrus. Thoughtful, complex and very cerebral, it is mineral-driven with a tight, structured backbone. This vibrant and clean wine offers a truly pure expression.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Coyote Canyon Winery 2024 Roussanne
Offering sweet honeysuckle and honeycomb, the 2024 Roussanne features hints of a gentle waxy essence, light white peach, and nectarines. It has a soft, lush, and fresh yellow-cherry character that leads to a succulent, and easy-drinking finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
Coyote Canyon Winery 2024 Marsanne
Drier than its Roussanne counterpart, the 2024 Marsanne presents a delightfully subtle expression. It is very pleasurable and fresh, showcasing mineral tension alongside hints of nectarine and bright, pithy, sweet citrus. Nimble and nicely done.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Coyote Canyon Winery 2024 Life is Rose
Evoking strawberry lemonade, the 2024 Life is Rose is fresh, spicy, and succulent. Pure, clean, and correct, it is ready to rock!
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2028
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Grenache
Open-knit and cracked open, the 2022 Grenache is broader-shouldered with hints of red spice, sweet resinous tobacco, meaty, and savory expressions. Riper in style, it concludes with an umami, cranberry finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Sangiovese
A dark expression of the varietal, the 2022 Sangiovese features a vibrant acidic line and firm tannic structure. It is gripping and mouth-filling with notes of spiced plums and black cherry skin, making it very food-friendly.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Barbera
The 2022 Barbera has a succulent sour cherry nose that is fresh and inviting. It reveals hints of tart red fruit and spiced herbs, complemented by a leafy, dusty edge.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Coyote Canyon Winery 2023 Tempranillo
Showcasing sour red fruit and tartness with a hint of smokiness, the 2023 Tempranillo is succulent and nicely done. It offers a delightful sweet and sour interplay.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Merlot
Brilliantly layered, succulent, and red-fruited, the 2022 Merlot features spiced plum and a pure, fresh, focused expression. It is vibrant, plummy, and rich.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2038
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Tres Cruces
Displaying hints of volatility alongside dusty red and spicy fruit, the 2022 Tres Cruces offers notes of potpourri and mineral tension. It reveals essences of spiced plum compote, black raspberry, and red peppercorn, culminating in a nice finish.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 H/H Buck Reserve Syrah
Smoky, fresh, meaty, and dark-berried, the 2021 H/H Buck Reserve Syrah is dark-fruited and very delightfully rich. Showing hints of volatility, it remains vibrant, very generous, and firm.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Robert Andrews Mourvedre
Big, juicy, and generous with elevated alcohol, the 2021 Robert Andrews Mourvedre has a dusty, firm, and spicy character. It features notes of spiced plum skin and black cherry, supported by a pronounced tannic edge. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2034
Coyote Canyon Winery 2009 Robert Andrews Mourvedre
Immensely pleasurable and instantly impressive, the 2009 Robert Andrews Mourvedre is delightfully immaculate, fresh, and still in fighting shape. Very primary, oaky, pure, and correct, it is a devastatingly beautiful wine. Bravo!!!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2014-2040
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Plummy, juicy, and fresh, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a pure and succulent wine.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Petit Verdot
Big, juicy, and dense, the 2021 Petit Verdot is a chewy, bold, and mineral-driven wine. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Michael Andrews Red
Big, juicy, fresh, and plummy, the 2021 Michael Andrews Red shows hints of volatility while remaining impressive, vibrant, and ripe. Succulent and very complex, this lively wine will age beautifully over the decades.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Spirit of the Vineyard
Dusty, dark, big, and spicy, the 2021 Spirit of the Vineyard is firm on the nose with a mineral-driven palate. It possesses a zesty core that is fruity and succulent, highlighting notes of spiced plum skin. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Coyote Canyon Winery 2007 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Showing hints of volatility, the 2007 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon maintains an elegant oak core, dark cherry notes, and freshness. It is a pure expression.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2012-2028
Coyote Canyon Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, ripe, and more put together, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is concrete and vibrant, with a different oak profile than its bigger brother that governs with succulent dark fruity tones.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2010-2026
Coyote Canyon Winery 2008 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Offering herbal notes and hints of cherry, the 2008 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is slightly volatile.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2011-2027
Coyote Canyon Winery 2009 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing a bigger frame with soft tannins, the 2009 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is meaty with hints of oxidation. The wine is gently volatile and has an earthy nose, ending with a smooth, musty, and tertiary finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2012-2028
Coyote Canyon Winery 2010 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
More red-fruited with succulent acidity, the 2010 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh and offers a spicy, cherry-driven, bright, and lip-smacking finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2014-2027
Coyote Canyon Winery 2011 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Delightfully gorgeous and firm, the 2011 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is mineral-driven, rich, and elegant. It boasts a long, spicy finish. Beautiful now, it likely would have been hard as nails when it was released. Nicely done.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2015-2030
Coyote Canyon Winery 2012 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Bigger, broader-shouldered, and with a firm, viscous structure, the 2012 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon has a fresh and fleshy core that breaks from the nose. Bold and juicy, it has a generous center and a gooey finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2015-2028
Coyote Canyon Winery 2013 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
With a kiss of volatility and sweet, tertiary notes, the 2013 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon has a fantastic structure and ripe attack. Likely just coming out of its cocoon phase, it shows lively action with rich, mature, generous, and attractive fruit with extract. The sweet fruit, oak integration, tannins, and acidity are all in check. Delightful, expressive, fresh, and ready to drink, but will age for years to come! Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2016-2036
Coyote Canyon Winery 2014 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Excellent, red, and black-fruited, the 2014 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh, pure, clean, and correct. It is still going strong and will age for years to come.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2018-2035
Coyote Canyon Winery 2015 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
A little blown out and oxidized with heat, the 2015 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon features tannins that are still hot and gripping, but the fruit expression is on its way out. Drink up.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2018-2030
Coyote Canyon Winery 2016 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Still fresh and clean, the 2016 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe, succulent, delicious, and currently at fighting weight. Pure and complex, it will go for more years.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2020-2038
Coyote Canyon Winery 2017 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
With a kiss of pyrazines and herbal notes, the 2017 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon reveals oak extract, vanilla, and a sappy core. Still very fresh, rich, and complex, it has a round, mouthwatering mouthfeel that will remain delightful for years to come. Nicely done.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2022-2044
Coyote Canyon Winery 2018 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Still fresh, complex, and plummy with black cherry, the 2018 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon offers notes of bitter dark chocolate that are savory, earthy, and succulent. It is rich, ripe, and spicy.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2023-2042
Coyote Canyon Winery 2019 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Offering sage brush, spicy lavender, and meaty notes, the 2019 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon features black raspberry, dark cherry, spiced plum compote, and fresh layers. Juicy, succulent, and vibrant, it is very complex. Nicely done!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Coyote Canyon Winery 2020 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, juicy, fresh, and layered, the 2020 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is softly smoky, complex, and offers hints of coffee. It features spicy lavender and dusty dark red berry. The wine is clean, pure, and subtly sweet with fine mineral tension. Give it time.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2045
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly pleasing and bright, the 2021 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon showcases succulent freshness. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has plenty of baby fat to shed but has good bones. It is quite spicy with a long, lingering finish that will remain food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2028-2047
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Featuring spiced plum and dusty graphite, the 2022 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is slightly more austere now, but will grow. The wine is still tannic and will benefit from additional time.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2029-2050
Coyote Canyon Winery 2014 GW Smith Malbec
The 2014 GW Smith Malbec has shed most of its baby fat and is now plummy and nutty. Showing mature notes while still at fighting weight, it is very ripe with an elegant edge. It concludes with a very long, textural finish that has me craving a Maillard reaction, caramelized meats, and hints of earth.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2018-2034
Creatas Ranch & Vineyard 2022 Reserve
Beginning with a dark ruby core, the 2022 Reserve is Cabernet Sauvignon dominant with splashes of Merlot and Petit Verdot to round out the blend. Initially slow to open, a swirl of the glass reveals dark red fruit nuances of black cherry, black plum, and a subtle note of black raspberry, before baking spices start wafting from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, it is still a touch tight with fine-grained tannins that grip and hold through the mid-palate, which is expected given its youthful character. The mouthfeel is pure and expressive, not overly juicy or overly complicated by oak, and glides effortlessly to an elegant and refined finish. Give this beauty another year in the bottle before opening. Decanting recommended. Enjoy with food.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2046
Crowe Wines 2022 Riesling
Offering a vibrant profile of simple, candied lime, the 2022 Riesling is complemented by intriguing petrol notes that emerge as it breathes. The wine is open-knit and particularly appealing for pairing with Asian cuisine. It presents a slight nuttiness on the palate and is best enjoyed young, ideally served extra-chilled.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Crowe Wines 2024 Grenache Blanc
Delightfully ripe and succulent, the 2024 Grenache Blanc showcases enticing notes of strawberry lemonade alongside crisp essences of golden delicious apples and subtle hints of petrichor. The wine is light-bodied, fresh, and well-balanced, exhibiting a well-managed crispness that enhances its appeal. It concludes with a clean, succulent finish that impressively delivers for a rosé. Yum!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Crowe Wines 2023 Grenache
The 2023 Grenache presents a red-fruited profile that is clean, fresh, and pure, showcasing notes of dusty red cherry complemented by hints of plum, baking spices, potpourri, and earthy undertones. This medium-bodied wine reveals a slight tannic structure with a soft phenolic grip that lingers through its food-friendly finish. Nicely done.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Crowe Wines 2023 Sangiovese
Sour cherry notes with a hint of volatility characterize the 2023 Sangiovese, which presents a slightly open-knit palate that is ready for food. Despite its approachable nature, the wine maintains vibrant acidity at its core, providing a solid backbone that drives through to a long, spicy finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
Crowe Wines 2023 Syrah
The 2023 Syrah presents a dense and chewy mouthfeel, with structure taking the lead. Firm tannins propel the experience forward, leaving a desire for more precision and purity on the finish.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2030
Crowe Wines 2023 Malbec
Presenting dusty and dark fruit characteristics, the 2023 Malbec is underscored by a mineral core and a restrained fruit expression. It is medium to full-bodied, with a spiciness that increases in intensity. The wine exhibits a firm structure, though the flavor profile leans slightly watery and subdued.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
DAMA Wines 2024 Rosé of Cabernet Franc
Bright and spicy with notes of citrus and strawberry blossoms at its core, the 2024 Rosé of Cabernet Franc is elegant and lovely, showcasing a delightful texture and mouthfeel. Medium-bodied, it ends with a lingering, zesty conclusion that’s very food-friendly.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2030
DAMA Wines 2022 GSM Blend
Instantly impressive in the glass, the 2022 GSM Blend reveals primary notes of high-toned red fruits and delicate crimson flowers on the nose. This wine is impeccably pleasurable, showcasing pitch-perfect ripeness and excellent fruit condition. It is very polished and continues to entice me back for more. Wow! Super great stuff! I want more! As the back of the label says, ‘Dangerously Beautiful Wines.’ I love to see truth in advertising. It’s stunningly gorgeous.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2034
DAMA Wines 2022 Grenache
Sweet and sour red fruit tones are complemented by an uplifting oak expression and lively mineral tension in the 2022 Grenache. The wine is layered and spicy, offering plenty of pleasure. Medium to full-bodied, it slowly uncoils on the palate to reveal even more complexities and additional oak spices. Luxurious and fresh, it has me coming back for another glass all too soon! Yum!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2035
DAMA Wines 2022 Merlot
The 2022 Merlot opens with a deep ruby core before offering enticing aromas of black cherries, plums, and cocoa dust. It has a rich, velvety palate with dark-fruited flavors, vanilla, and a touch of spice. Well-integrated tannins provide structure with a smooth mouthfeel before gliding into a long, complex finish. Bravo!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2036
DAMA Wines 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Running the line between black raspberry and wild herbs, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is still tight and appears slightly smaller than its potential frame. Medium to full-bodied, the wine possesses a generosity at its core and will need time to grow and fill its shoes.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
DAMA Wines 2024 Grenache Blanc
Crisp and mineral tension-driven, the 2024 Grenache Blanc is very pleasing, fresh, and has a citrus edge with a kiss of phenolic grip. Very food-friendly, with hints of apricot, Asian pear, yellow cherry, and yellow apples. Medium-bodied, the wine is free and has a bright, fresh, layered under-ripe stone fruit and yellow cherry skin essence. It is elegant and very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
DAMA Wines 2023 Yakima Valley Syrah
Red-fruited and softer in style, the 2023 Yakima Valley Syrah is dusty, dark-cherried, and fresh with an earthy floral grip. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has a generous expression with plenty of blossoms that glide across the palate. Subtle spicy notes of black and red peppercorn pop out with hints of potpourri and a firm, robust structure. It concludes with a long, zesty finish, very food-friendly. Nicely done.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
DAMA Wines 2023 Walla Walla Valley Syrah
Softly smoky with a dark cherry skin essence and fleshy character, the 2023 Walla Walla Valley Syrah reveals hints of char and sausage. The wine is floral and mineral, made from about 40% whole cluster. Medium-bodied at 13.5% alcohol, it has an inky tannic edge that is very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
DAMA Wines 2024 Grenache
The 2024 Grenache explodes with notes of potpourri and candied cherries with a gooey center. The wine is fresh, very pure, and complex. Expressive cherries, floral, spicy potpourri, and notes of oak. Still tight, but it will do wonders before it is bottled. Very tasty, I can’t wait for the bottle release date.
Score: 91-93 | Drink: Barrel Sample
DAMA Wines 2024 Mourvedre
Offering hints of a worn leather couch with a warmness to it, the 2024 Mourvedre is very spicy, loaded with pink peppercorn. Medium to full-bodied, the expression is fresh and will be a bigger, more robust offering. It concludes with a long, peppery, lingering finish. Very delicious.
Score: 91-93 | Drink: Barrel Sample
DAMA Wines 2024 Yakima Valley Syrah
Bigger, juicy, and ripe with a fresh readiness, the 2024 Yakima Valley Syrah is succulent, refreshing, spicy, and primary. It is ready to go, so drink it up. The wine is fleshy, mature, lush, and complex.
Score: 90-92 | Drink: Barrel Sample
DAMA Wines 2024 Walla Walla Valley Syrah
The 2024 Walla Walla Valley Syrah has hints of whole cluster and subtle notes of spiced plum compote. It is lovely and will be a great wine when it is released. This fun and fresh wine is full of purity and absolutely gorgeous.
Score: 92-94 | Drink: Barrel Sample
DAMA Wines 2024 Cabernet Franc
Crystalline, with a pure, dusty dark cherry note and soft red florals, the 2024 Cabernet Franc has the right amount of herbal and savory lift. Medium-bodied and fresh, it offers clarity in an umami, clean, and ripe expression. The wine is complex and very food-friendly, with a brilliant balance.
Score: 92-94 | Drink: Barrel Sample
DAMA Wines 2018 Tempranillo
Dusty, ripe, and juicy with sweet and sour notes, spices, and a soft leathery quality, the 2018 Tempranillo is elegant, but slightly primary. Being very fresh and fine, rustic and complex, it will go another 10-15 years.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2022-2042
DAMA Wines 2016 Cabernet Franc
The 2016 Cabernet Franc is instantly recognizable and has shed its baby fat. With hints of soft-smoked red bell pepper and baked clay on the nose, the palate is lively with a juicy freshness that shows plenty of staying power. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2018-2037
DAMA Wines 2021 GSM
A classic GSM with spice, the 2021 GSM is still very fleshy and primary with a ripe attack of dark cherry and spiced plums. Offering potpourri and fleshiness, the wine is very fleshy, primary, and complex. Spicier fruit, medium to full-bodied, very clean, and fresh.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2024-2035
DarkRock Wines 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon presents a dark fruited and rustic nose, revealing a mineral-driven character complemented by hints of oak spices. The finish is softly earthy and dusty, showcasing an essence of plum and blackberry. Enjoy with food.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
DarkRock Wines 2023 Red Blend
The 2023 Red Blend presents a ripe attack, showcasing freshness and a dusty character complemented by notes of mineral tension and fine-grained tannins. Medium-bodied, this wine remains primary, with flashy red fruit essences that dance out of the glass. Give it one more year in the bottle and enjoy with food.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
DarkRock Wines 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc presents a clean, simple, and fresh profile with softly nutty nuances. It showcases under-ripe peach notes complemented by yellow apple and sweet citrus. Medium-bodied and rather broad on the palate, this wine concludes with a spicy and phenolic finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
De La Luz Wines 2020 La Razon
I could swear there is some Syrah in the 2020 La Razon, but the label indicates 90% Malbec and 10% Gewurztraminer. This wine is spicy and meaty, with a softly floral edge that glides to a succulent and food-friendly finish. Overall, it is a lovely and well-made wine that has me craving wild game and sausages.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
De La Luz Wines 2022 Letter to a Friend
Sincere and fresh with a rustic edge, the 2022 Letter to a Friend is balanced with fleshy, ripe red and black fruit tones complemented by elegant and rich oak expressions. This medium to full-bodied wine gradually reveals its complexity, growing and building on the palate to deliver a truly delightful experience.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
DeLille Cellars 2022 Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon
Featuring mineral, high-toned red and black fruit tones with graphite and oak spices, the 2022 Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon is a standout. Freshness and complex layers somersault with fruit, herbs, oak, and earth to create an impressive and immensely pleasurable wine-drinking experience. Nicely done. It is broad-shouldered, but still has a complex mid-palate that tells me this will age beautifully for decades to come!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2027-2055
DeLille Cellars 2021 Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon
With dusty red and black fruit, the 2021 Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon is intricate and layered with gobs of depth and freshness. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is spicy, vibrant, and complex with notes of a Bordeaux vintage. It concludes with a zesty, lingering finish. Bravo!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2050
DeLille Cellars 2022 Harrison Hill Red Blend
Subtle and complex, the 2022 Harrison Hill Red Blend is softer in style, layered, and has power in its subdued state. The wine is very structured and has fine-grained tannins with delicate mineral tension. It is elegant and fresh. Wow.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2047
DeLille Cellars 2022 Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon
Quite primary, the 2022 Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon is very fresh with heavy red-fruited, high tones. It features serious hints of oak, spice, and dusty bitter dark chocolate. The wine is intricate and round. It is beautifully complex and vibrant. Nicely done!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2046
DeLille Cellars 2022 Chaleur Estate Red Blend
Impressive, the 2022 Chaleur Estate Red Blend is beautifully rich and round. It showcases ripe red fruit with spice and oak. It shows power, precision, purity, and elegance. Nicely done. With waves of complexity and freshness, it is a world-class wine!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2050
DeLille Cellars 2022 D2 Red Blend
Slightly savory with hints of herbal notes and graphite, the 2022 D2 Red Blend has a firm structure and will be best after years of age. The wine is very food-friendly and immensely pleasurable. It is a very sturdy and enjoyable wine.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2038
DeLille Cellars 2023 D2 Red Blend
A very red-fruited and primary expression, the 2023 D2 Red Blend was just bottled 2 weeks before tasting it and will likely be very spicy. It has a fantastic mouthfeel with hints of pepper and a zesty core. It is very pleasurable, but give it time.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2040
DeLille Cellars 2023 Upland Syrah
Dusty red-fruited and softly rustic, the 2023 Upland Syrah is spicy and highly versatile. It is a very pleasurable, food-friendly wine with pitch-perfect oak and alcohol. It is not overdone and ends with a succulent finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
DeLille Cellars 2023 Seattle Red Blend En Ville
Coming in a refined, tighter package, the 2023 Seattle Red Blend En Ville is fresh. It is spicy with a dusty red-fruited core that sways with a soft, utterly delicious, vibrant, and complex expression. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
DeLille Cellars 2022 Reserve Red Blend
Plummy and rocky with notes of black raspberry, the 2022 Reserve Red Blend is a medium to full-bodied, fresh wine with good structure. Red-fruited with fine-grained tannins, this very pleasurable, complex wine is wonderfully rich and food-friendly. It will go the distance. Enjoy with food. With a spicy and very versatile character, this is a beautiful Merlot that will make a believer out of anyone! Bravo!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2040
DeLille Cellars 2024 Chaleur Blanc
With a kiss of oak alongside notes of mandarin orange candy, the 2024 Chaleur Blanc is fleshy, ripe, and clean. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is softly phenolic and fresh. It is very lovely and an exceptional 30th vintage for Chaleur Blanc. It has a very spicy finish and is highly food-friendly.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
DeLille Cellars 2022 Grand Ciel Syrah
Dark red-fruited and spicy with a serious backbone that has focus and uncoils to show more complexity, the 2022 Grand Ciel Syrah is a standout. The wine is immensely subtle, fresh, and complex. Still young, it has great bones. This is profoundly pleasing and brings me back for more.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2040
DeLille Cellars 2023 Essential Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, rustic, and very red-fruited, the 2023 Essential Cabernet Sauvignon has a soft phenolic note. The wine over-delivers for the price and can age. It is very enjoyable and food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2037
DeLille Cellars 2022 Red Willow Red Blend
More mineral-driven and dark red-fruited with a more rustic fruit core, the 2022 Red Willow Red Blend features hints of roasted red pepper and black plum. It is medium to full-bodied.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2035
DeLille Cellars 2024 Rosé
Displaying a soft salmon color, the 2024 Rosé presents a clean and expressive core of leesy strawberry. This GSMC blend is very pleasing, offering a beautiful nose of wild berry and subtle spice notes. Fresh and pure, this medium-bodied wine is bright and vibrant, culminating in a lovely finish. Very nicely done. I am craving Asian food with this guy.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2029
DeLille Cellars 2024 Roussanne
Mineral and expressive, the 2024 Roussanne is driven by a lovely tension. Medium to full-bodied, this wine is very food-friendly and serves as proof that Washington State can produce delicious, focused expressions of the varietal.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2034
DeLille Cellars 2023 Sagemoor Riesling
Fresh, zesty, and cereal-driven, the 2023 Sagemoor Riesling is clean, offering notes of green apple and complex lime candy with a kiss of residual sugar. Medium-bodied, the wine is incredibly vibrant, tangy, spicy, pure, and refined. This is very pleasurable and lip-smacking.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
DeLille Cellars 2023 Red Willow Chardonnay
The nose of the 2023 Red Willow Chardonnay is instantly impressive, revealing a gorgeous essence of lemon pastry cream alongside mildly nutty and oaky nuances. This aromatic profile will certainly please Chardonnay lovers. Medium-bodied, the wine is seductive and delightful, showcasing a creamy character. It is utterly delicious and expressive, ending with a very pleasing and food-friendly finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
DeLille Cellars 2022 Marguerite
Fine, linear, and citrus-driven, the 2022 Marguerite showcases leesy and nutty expressions. Medium to full-bodied, the wine opens to a wider mouthfeel that coats the palate, revealing an approachable, expressive, and clean character before tightening to show a more focused finish. It concludes with a spicy ending; give it time.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2034
DeLille Cellars 2022 Doyenne
Showing very primary this year, the 2022 Doyenne features a fleshy, zesty core of potpourri. It offers vibrant red fruits, clean cherry, and peppercorn notes that lead into a cinnamon finish. Nicely done.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
DeLille Cellars 2022 Le Dessein
Spicy and floral with a kiss of stemminess, the 2022 Le Dessein is fresh, juicy, and slightly savory. Very food-friendly, this dark red-fruited wine is remarkably succulent. Vibrant and zesty, it has me craving charcuterie. Nicely done.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Deux Soldats Winery 2022 Deux Soldats Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Red-fruited and spiced with notes of pepper skin and hints of barnyard, the 2022 Deux Soldats Estate Cabernet Sauvignon presents a softly herbal character that begins to evolve on the palate. With time, this wine is poised to age gracefully, revealing aged notes that will emerge in five to seven years. For those who appreciate earthy and mature-driven wines, this should excite your senses beginning in 2034.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2026-2036
Deux Soldats Winery 2022 Deux Soldats Estate Syrah
Expressive and red-fruited, the 2022 Deux Soldats Estate Syrah showcases a vibrant and expansive character typical of Walla Walla. This wine presents itself in a lighter package, offering subtlety and freshness complemented by clean and distinct spicy notes. The palate reveals flavors reminiscent of sausage and cranberry compote, leading to a lingering and pure finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Deux Soldats Winery 2022 Deux Soldats Winemaker’s Blend
Presenting a rather nondescript profile, the 2022 Deux Soldats Winemaker’s Blend showcases red fruit characteristics intertwined with earthy notes and hints of oak. This wine is straightforward in its approach, exhibiting a simple yet balanced structure that leads to a clean finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2030
Deux Soldats Winery 2024 Deux Soldats Rosé of Sangiovese
Showcasing energetic acidity that invigorates the palate, the 2024 Deux Soldats Rosé of Sangiovese is a fresh and succulent wine. It compels me to return for another sip. It is remarkably pure and medium-bodied, with racy tension that enhances its appeal. Clean in character, it presents delightful notes of raspberry and lemon, making it quite lovely.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2028
Deux Soldats Winery 2024 Deux Soldats Sauvignon Blanc
Bottled with residual CO2, the 2024 Deux Soldats Sauvignon Blanc will benefit from a brief decanting or splash decanting. This wine is bright and succulent, showcasing a straightforward profile dominated by primary citrus notes that form the core of its expression, culminating in a fast, zesty finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Devona 2023 Chardonnay Rainmaker Vineyard
Bright and citrusy, the 2023 Chardonnay Rainmaker Vineyard showcases notes of lemon pastry cream and leesy marshmallow. This wine exhibits energetic acidity, offering a fresh and ripe profile with a succulent mouthfeel and delightful mineral tension that enhances its food-friendliness. Nicely done!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Devona 2023 Chardonnay White Salmon Vineyard
A completely different animal than the Rainmaker Chardonnay, the 2023 Chardonnay White Salmon Vineyard is elegant, round, and spicy. This wine offers a generous palate with an explosive mouthfeel and a fuzzy phenolic grip that is cerebral and food-friendly. The aftertaste develops with flavors of sautéed almonds and lemon pith, showcasing remarkable complexity and delight.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Devona 2021 Merlot Bacchus Vineyard
Dense and dark fruit essence sways from the glass of the 2021 Merlot Bacchus Vineyard with precision and a soft rusticity. Spiced plum notes initially take center stage before the wine reveals its rich acidity and tannic structure. This beauty will last more than a decade and remain food-friendly for years to come!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Devona 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Bacchus Vineyard
Firm and vibrant, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Bacchus Vineyard exhibits a mineral-layered tension that permeates both the nose and palate. It reveals a dusty core of plum skin and blackberry jus, showcasing freshness and complexity with a subtly spiced, medium to full-bodied expression. The tannins are still a touch gripping with a solid edge, and the wine possesses a food-friendly aspect that promises great potential with additional time in the bottle.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2036
Devona 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Heart of the Hill
Instantly impressive, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Heart of the Hill showcases remarkable purity and focus, with a mineral tension and ferric core that underpin the lush, ripe dark red and black fruit tones. Spiced cherries and dusty plum skins intertwine with earthy essences and subtle hints of brown baking spices. This medium to full-bodied wine is fresh, featuring a vibrant and expressive nose. It retains youthful, gripping tannins that contribute to a food-friendly finish. Give it another year or two in the bottle and drink over the next 10-15 years.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2040
Dillon Cellars 2021 Calyx
Gorgeous on the nose, the 2021 Calyx reveals layers of almond and lemon pastry cream alongside poached yellow apples and cinnamon-spiced citrus. This wine is utterly delicious and seductive, showcasing elegance and freshness with good acidity and a succulent finish. Yum, I want more!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Dillon Cellars 2022 Ovaire
Very zesty and bright, the 2022 Ovaire is pure and expressive, offering instant pleasure as it excites the nose and palate with energetic acidity and a fresh citrus frame. A clean line of crispness beams across the mid-palate to the finish, making it exceptionally food-friendly and has me coming back for more.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Dillon Cellars 2022 Block Six White Wine
Unmistakably Viognier, the 2022 Block Six White Wine is vibrant, floral, and spicy, featuring bright, zesty notes that instantly captivate the nose and palate. It displays immaculate precision, with a touch of phenolic bitterness that enhances both complexity and freshness, while its weight and focus shine through a long finish. It is an immensely pleasurable wine. I want more!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2036
Dillon Cellars 2021 Version Three
Dark, dense, and chewy, the 2021 Version Three is firm and tannic yet oh so picturesque. It showcases a lovely structure with plenty of layers that promise to go the distance. Very food-friendly, it reveals hints of roasted coffee bean and savory sausage notes, complemented by a zesty plum compote core. Full-bodied, it offers a lingering, spicy finish with enticing flavors of black cherry. Yum!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2037
Dillon Cellars 2022 Block Six Red Wine
Showing a fair amount of reduction, the 2022 Block Six Red Wine presents a softly sulfurous aroma that suggests it will benefit from decanting. After rigorous swirling, it becomes rounder and richer, gaining complexity with access to air in the glass. It reveals a graham cracker note that expresses its oak influences, complemented by spicy and stemmy nuances on both the nose and palate. Rich and round, this wine showcases a rustic and bold character, delightfully layered and poised to age gracefully for years to come. You must be patient. Your waiting will be rewarded.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Dillon Cellars 2022 Autumnnāle
Presenting a firm and dark profile, the 2022 Autumnnāle showcases red berry characteristics that are both vibrant and tannic, with a solid grip that lingers through the finish. This wine reveals primary notes of red fruit complemented by dusty dark cherry nuances, alongside hints of graphite and the subtle essence of plum skin. Medium to full-bodied, it concludes with a straightforward red-fruited tannic finish that carries a distinctive mineral edge.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2037
Dineen Vineyards 2024 Condriesque White Wine
Peachy, expressive, zesty, and floral with a delightful minerality, the 2024 Condriesque White Wine is a focused and spicy offering that delivers exceptional value. Medium to full-bodied, it features a kiss of phenolic bitterness that adds a cerebral quality, resulting in a great mouthfeel and a food-friendly finish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Dineen Vineyards 2022 Cabernet Franc
Pure and unapologetic, this 2022 Cabernet Franc showcases vibrant cherry notes complemented by hints of herbs and red flowers that elevate the overall expression. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is focused and fresh, featuring succulent acidity that enhances its liveliness. The finish is very clean, making it a delightful choice for Cabernet Franc lovers who will appreciate the sincerity of this wine.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Dineen Vineyards 2022 Heritage Red Wine
Sour cherry aromas intertwine with hints of herbs and graphite in the engaging 2022 Heritage Red Wine. The palate reveals a spicy and fresh character, supported by a medium to full-bodied frame that makes it exceptionally food-friendly. This wine shows great potential for further aging in the bottle, promising to evolve beautifully over time.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Dineen Vineyards 2024 Grenache Blanc
Initially bright, citrusy, and floral, the 2024 Grenache Blanc is an expressive, stone-driven, and peachy wine. Medium-bodied with a delightful mineral tension and a kiss of phenolic bitterness, its mouthfeel is very food-friendly and ready for action. Give this an additional chill and enjoy with a wide variety of dishes, seafood, shellfish, cheeses, and fresh salads, or simply by itself, poolside.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Dineen Vineyards 2024 Sémillon
Pleasantly dense and mouth-coating, the 2024 Sémillon is rich, spicy, and mineral-driven, featuring a soft prickle on the palate that surprises and delights. Medium to full-bodied, the wine displays power and finesse, offering breadth and depth of dusty stone fruit across the mid-palate before gliding to a delicious and food-friendly finish. Nicely done!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2033
Doubleback 2023 Merlot
Offering picturesque red and dark red fruit that merge to meet blackberry notes, spiced plums, and dark cherry, with notes of chocolate and mocha, the 2023 Merlot has succulent acidity with a rich and round expression, plenty of spices, and florals to age beautifully. The wine is big, bold, and generously layered with fine gripping tannins to go the distance. Nicely done!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Doubleback 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Big and bold with a fun line of herbals that pop up in the center, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is expressive, rich, dense, and chewy. It is utterly beautiful with a lavish, round fruit expression and purity and sincerity that I look for in special, long-lived, age-worthy wines. Very clean with a juicy finish.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2048
Doubleback 2022 Estate Reserve
Dense and chewy, big, bold, and unapologetically Walla Walla, the 2022 Estate Reserve has a rocky core with graphite, black raspberry, and spiced plum skin. The oak essences lift the mouthfeel of the full-bodied wine. It’s still very young, so your patience will be rewarded. Impressive stuff!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2028-2050
Du Coeur 2023 Chardonnay
Bright, energetic and citrus-driven, the 2023 Chardonnay is fresh, crisp and lemony. It is medium-bodied with succulent acidity. The mouthfeel is lively and zesty with subtle hints of brown baking spices and oak essence. The wine glides to a very food-friendly finish, with lingering notes of sautéed almonds. Nicely done!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Echolands 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Taggart Estate Vineyard
Very pure, fresh, and zesty, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Taggart Estate Vineyard is citrus-driven, clean, and crisp. With bright energy, it is mineral-driven and lively. Medium-bodied, vibrant, and lemony, it is very food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Echolands 2024 Grenache Blanc Walla Walla Valley
Subtly citrus-driven and subdued on the nose, the 2024 Grenache Blanc Walla Walla Valley shows a delightfully textural freshness with a touch of phenolic grip and leesy mineral tension. Very cerebral and food-friendly, it has a complex, rich, lingering, spicy finish. Yum!!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2034
Echolands 2024 Frenchman Hills Riesling
Very fresh and pure, the 2024 Frenchman Hills Riesling offers lively, medium-bodied crispness. It has about seven grams per liter of residual sugar. Clean and expressive, it concludes with a balanced, fine, vibrant, and acid-driven finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Echolands 2024 Riesling Ice Wine
Utterly pure and picturesque, the 2024 Riesling Ice Wine is ripe, rich, round, and impressive. Crystalline and perfumed, it reveals notes of quince paste, poached apples, and apricots. Generous, clean, and very food-friendly!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2080
Echolands 2024 Riesling White Rock Vineyard
Slightly nutty and leesy, the 2024 Riesling White Rock Vineyard is vibrant, textural, and complex with good bones. The wine is fresh, zesty, and zippy with clean, acid-driven crispness. Very food-friendly.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Echolands 2024 Rocksy Music Grenache Riviere Galets
Classic, open-knit, and savory, the 2024 Rocksy Music Grenache Riviere Galets is highly enjoyable, fresh, and mineral-driven. Featuring black cherry, spice, and stone tension, it is quite cerebral, pure, and immensely pleasurable. Exceptionally food-friendly.
Score: 92-94 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Echolands 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard Block 3
Broader, open, and spicy, the 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard Block 3 features herbal, juicy dark cherry, and berry notes. It has succulent acidity and greenery paired with graphite. Hints of oak expression lift the overall profile. Delicious, pure, and ripe, it still maintains a compact frame. Nicely done!!!
Score: 94-96 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Echolands 2024 Cabernet Franc Blue Mountain Vineyard
Still very young and tasted as a barrel sample, the 2024 Cabernet Franc Blue Mountain Vineyard clocks in at 12.8% alcohol. The wine remains tight and savory with herbal, spiced cherries. It has an elegant oak essence that will absorb into the expression over time. Very pleasurable, with notes of graphite and sour plum.
Score: 93-95 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Echolands 2024 Cinsault Semi-Carbonic
Fun, bright, and expressive, the 2024 Cinsault Semi-Carbonic is slightly spicy, fresh, nimble, and dusty. Offering red and black raspberry, it has a soft stemminess that is very food-friendly. Highly vibrant, zesty, and floral.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2027-2038
Echolands 2023 Syrah Resurgent Vineyard
Still tight, the 2023 Syrah Resurgent Vineyard will benefit from decanting. It features classic savory notes of roasted coffee beans and red peppercorn. Highlighting red fruits, spice, and cerebral focus, it is very elegant and pure, offering sour cherry with mineral tension and a spicy core.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2038
Echolands 2023 Grenache Walla Walla Valley
Very mineral-driven, fresh, and structured, the 2023 Grenache Walla Walla Valley offers dusty red fruit, black cherry, and spiced plum. The wine has a stemmy, stony, and quite textural, spicy finish. It remains in a medium-weighted, compact freshness that is nimble and ready for food.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Echolands 2022 Syrah Les Collines Vineyard Block 50
Very bright, contracted, and spicy, the 2022 Syrah Les Collines Vineyard Block 50 was made with 100% whole cluster. It features red floral and zesty tones that are very pleasing and rich, supported by a solid, ferric grip. Showcasing mineral tension and a firm tannic hold, it is nicely done. Enjoy with food. Decanting recommended. This will do wonders with age.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2028-2042
Echolands 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard Block 3
Firm, high-toned, and tight, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard Block 3 is slow to open and release its secrets. The wine is fresh, complex, and has a staying essence that is pleasing and exciting. Full-bodied, the palate shows youthful, still-tight tannic grip that will loosen with age in the bottle. Additional cellaring will allow this wine to fill its shoes. The mouthfeel is impressive and profound. In more time, the wine will flow and uncover its complexities. It is slow to evolve but will be a great companion over the years. Give it time, your patience will be rewarded. Bravo!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2028-2045
Echolands 2022 Cabernet Franc Walla Walla Valley
Offering fresh red fruit and spiced plums, the 2022 Cabernet Franc Walla Walla Valley features cherry, red pepper, and dusty red flowers. The wine is vibrant with mineral tension and a spicy core. Very pleasurable and complex, it has a rich, stone-driven finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2036
Echolands 2022 Cabernet Franc Blue Mountain Vineyard
Pure and fresh, the 2022 Cabernet Franc Blue Mountain Vineyard offers a succulent cherry and sweet, rounded center. Accented by potpourri and spiced red tea, the wine has an herbaceous and spicy pepper core. Mineral tension glides to a rich, food-friendly finish. The wine is not Rotundone, very pleasurable.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Echolands 2022 Resound
Formerly called the Rebrum label, the 2022 Resound has a solid, gripping, dark red and black fruit core. It features a firm tannic edge and fine mineral tension. It concludes with a very food-friendly finish that lingers with a spicy, savory touch. Give it time.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Echolands 2022 Groundswell Taggart Vineyard
Fresh, ripe, and crystalline, the 2022 Groundswell Taggart Vineyard is pure, succulent, zesty, and rich with mineral tension. It showcases spicy red floral notes and expressive graphite. The mouthfeel is firm and highly food-friendly, making it an excellent candidate for pairing with a meal.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2036
EFESTE 2022 Paulie
Firm, bold, and expressive, the 2022 Paulie features a red-fruited core of dusty plums and spiced cherries. It offers a kiss of savory notes reminiscent of sausages and wild brush, complemented by fine-grained tannins that make it a very food-friendly option for those who enjoy a spicy GSM. Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2036
EFESTE 2021 Tough Guy
A big, bold, and expressive wine crafted from 56% Merlot, 33% Syrah, and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Tough Guy showcases a kiss of volatility that complements its generous size. It creates a full-bodied experience that is both captivating and rich. Decanting recommended.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2037
EFESTE 2021 NANA
A dense and chewy wine with a generous frame, the 2021 NANA showcases a rich profile of concentrated black fruit that is both fresh and bold. With a spicy character, this lavish wine will pair beautifully with food.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2036
EFESTE 2024 Rosé
Clean and expressive, this 2024 Rosé showcases a core of strawberry and lemon, complemented by a softly zesty and citrus backbone. The wine races across the finish with purpose and finesse, over-delivering for the price point. Nicely done.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2028
EFESTE 2021 Knight Commander
A broad and expressive wine featuring a core of zesty and floral notes, the 2021 Knight Commander is complemented by hints of coffee beans and roasted sausages alongside earthy undertones. Medium to full-bodied, it presents a spicy, firm tannic edge that adds to its complexity and layered character. The finish is notably peppery, evoking daydreams of steaks and chops.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2037
Eleven Winery 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Opening to a stemmy character with firm green and herbal notes, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is complemented by a robust tannic edge. Its dusty, rocky core grips the palate and holds through the finish. While the wine is bold, it also exhibits a slight thinness that has me scratching my head…
Score: 86 | Drink: 2025-2030
Eleven Winery 2024 White Mourvedre
Certainly an oddity that will surprise you, the 2024 White Mourvedre presents itself more as a vin gris, showcasing vibrant notes of lemon and petrichor. This medium-bodied expression has a slightly warm finish, yet it maintains a captivating mineral tension and offers refreshing acidity. I can’t help but appreciate its structure, and it brings me back for more.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2029
Eleven Winery 2023 Malbec
Presenting red fruit aromas that are slightly thin, the 2023 Malbec offers a simple and approachable expression complemented by a subtle spiciness. This wine is focused and fresh, showcasing a lighter profile that makes it enjoyable and easy to drink.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2032
Eleven Winery 2022 Bubbly LEM
Yes, a sparkling Lemberger! The 2022 Bubbly LEM showcases vibrant red fruits complemented by lively acidity that dances on the palate. It possesses a mineral tension and refreshing quality, creating a complex and layered experience. Fun, fresh, and free, this wine truly makes me happy.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
Eleven Winery 2024 Bubbly Blanc
Presenting enticing notes of peaches and lemon candies, the 2024 Bubbly Blanc showcases bright acidity and refreshing qualities. Hints of yellow apple emerge, leading to a clean and electric finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2032
Estival 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
This 2024 Sauvignon Blanc offers enticing notes of lemongrass and fresh lemon peel, complemented by hints of reduction and vibrant acidity that races across the finish. It is very succulent and food-friendly, making it easy to drink and pure in expression. Nicely done!
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Fidélitas 2023 Optu White Wine
Broad-shouldered and waxy with a slightly nutty expression, the 2023 Optu White Wine is textural and lively on the palate. It leaves me wanting a touch more acidity in the mouthfeel and finish to keep things tight and fresh, showing good oak spices and an open-knit frame.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2036
Fidélitas 2021 Red Mountain Malbec
Big, layered, lavish, and complex, the 2021 Red Mountain Malbec is dense and solid with a core of fruit that has a firm minerality and rustic nature underneath its generous size. Full-bodied, the wine is gripping and tannic, and it will take another year or two to come around but will remain food-friendly for years to come.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Fidélitas 2021 Estate Merlot
Big and bold, the 2021 Estate Merlot is juicy and complex with a softly oaky, spicy core. Dusty red and purple flowers sway out of the glass in this full-bodied, firm, and layered wine.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Fidélitas 2021 Quintessence Cabernet Sauvignon
Dense, chewy, and still incredibly young, the 2021 Quintessence Cabernet Sauvignon is firmly tannic, juicy, and currently hard as a rock. It will take some additional time for this beauty to come around, but when it does, it will be a juggernaut. Give it time, your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2028-2045
Fidélitas 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich, round, and firm, the 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon offers a succulent backbone of oak spices and generously layered dark red and black fruit tones. Spiced plums and blackberry jus mingle with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon in this full-bodied, full-throttle wine that is remarkably fresh and nimble. It will need additional years to come around, ending with a lively, spicy finish. Very impressive!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2045
Fidélitas 2023 Red Mountain Sauvignon Blanc
A touch reductive with a tight citrus structure, the 2023 Red Mountain Sauvignon Blanc is bright and engaging. Medium-bodied, this wine is nimble and very food-friendly with good texture.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Fidélitas 2023 Red Mountain Sémillon
Fluffy and softly tropical, the 2023 Red Mountain Sémillon features notes of leesy orchard fruit and Asian pear. Medium to full-bodied, it has a kiss of phenolic bitterness and is delightfully zesty, showing good mineral tension before a fresh, crunchy, spicy finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Fidélitas 2020 Red Mountain Merlot
A beautiful wine, the 2020 Red Mountain Merlot is bright and red-fruited with wild black raspberry notes. The wine is clean and has very pure spices with mineral tension and no smokiness here. Be patient with this beauty as it is showing great, hitting its stride, and will govern for at least another decade.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2023-2037
Fidélitas 2020 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Firmer, more stony, and rustic, the 2020 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is gripping with a mineral tension and an iron/ferric edge. It is still tight, and the fruit is subdued.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2024-2035
Fidélitas 2024 Quintessence Sauvignon Blanc
Instantly impressive, the 2024 Quintessence Sauvignon Blanc is very crisp and racy. A fresh, lingering, spicy finish brings me back to this medium to full-bodied wine that is very bright, succulent, and lively.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2037
Fidélitas 2022 Quintessence Merlot
Big and bold, the 2022 Quintessence Merlot is pure and ripe, showing power and precision with a mature attack and great fruit condition. This wine is very clean, full-bodied, unapologetically fresh, and complex, ending with a long, spicy finish. Very pleasurable.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Fidélitas 2022 Quintessence Malbec
Softly savory with a dark red and blue-fruited core of sappy fruits, the 2022 Quintessence Malbec is spicy and pure. This wine is generous and clean, remaining elegant in its larger size without going over the waterfall. Balanced tannins and succulent acidity make it very fresh and energetic, over-delivering and staying very food-friendly. Enjoy with fire-roasted meats and chops.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2043
Fidélitas 2022 Quintessence Red Wine
Dark-fruited and dusty with resinous purple flowers, the 2022 Quintessence Red Wine is big and unctuous in the glass. This fresh, ripe, full-bodied wine is very complex and offers a captivating expression that has me coming back for more. It is very delightful, and I can see this getting better in the bottle over the next few years. Enjoy with food.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2040
Fidélitas 2022 Quintessence Cabernet Sauvignon
Offering a balance of dusty earth and dark red fruit with hints of black fruit expression, the 2022 Quintessence Cabernet Sauvignon is powerful and precise. Big and juicy, it features a dynamic tension and a firm tannic structure, remaining very still and ending slightly hot.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2045
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Merlot
Presenting dark cherry, spiced plum skin, hints of wild sage, and dusty red flowers, alongside notes of tar and roses, the 2022 Estate Merlot is a delight. With a dusty core that is quite cerebral and food-friendly, this wine is highly expressive, full, and very fresh. Still tight and pleasing, give it another year in the bottle and enjoy for the next decade and a half.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Malbec
Bright, nimble, and fresh, the 2022 Estate Malbec offers succulent acidity and hints of savory sagebrush, wild herbs, and untamed black raspberry. The mouthwatering crispness, agile and refined mouthfeel, and energetic nature end with a minerality and spiciness on the finish, making this very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2040
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Petit Verdot
Very dense, dark, and still slightly chewy, the 2022 Estate Petit Verdot has a gravitas and purity to the expression. It brings all of the tannins and acidity you would expect, but delivers a ripeness and fruitiness that balances everything out, making it quite pleasing to drink. Decanting recommended and enjoy with food!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Red Wine
Rich, round, and tight with a dusty core and iron notes, the 2022 Estate Red Wine is very fine, focused, and precise. Layered with complex fruit, earthy flowers, and a powdery, firm tannic structure, this wine is highly concentrated and very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2040
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
A big and broad-shouldered expression, the 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is juicy, ripe, firm, and structured. Full-bodied with fresh and lively notes, this wine is very expressive and features a fine cocoa-powdered tannic edge. It is delightful.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2042
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 412
Broad, structured, and dark-fruited, the 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 412 is mineral-driven and completely full-bodied. The wine is fully fresh and has powdery tannins, offering an elegance and power that is very pleasing, with a long, spicy, and food-friendly finish. Decanting recommended.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 169
More structured and broad-shouldered, the 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 169 is succulent with subdued notes. This is a slow burn and a quiet riot that will govern for close to two decades. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Fidélitas 2021 Blackwood Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon
Broad-shouldered, the 2021 Blackwood Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon offers layers of juicy, dusty, fresh, and ripe extract. With firm tannins and a bigger structure, it ends with a dense, chewy finish. Enjoy with food.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Fidélitas 2022 Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark red-fruited and mineral-driven, the 2022 Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon has a lighter structure for Red Mountain. This wine is very refined and elegant in style, featuring dusty red flowers, dark cherry, and plums. It has a long, spicy, graceful finish and is versatile, rustic, and poised with firm, gripping tannins. Very food-friendly.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Fidélitas 2022 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
More generous on the nose, the 2022 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon has a red-fruited, dusty core that is expressive and weighted. Refined yet still tight, this gem will last for decades. This is beautiful!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2050
Fidélitas 2021 The Canyons Malbec
With notes of roasted coffee, the 2021 The Canyons Malbec is dark red-fruited, generous, earthy, and rustic. Black raspberry, hints of blueberry, and spiced plums fill this full-bodied wine, which features fine-grained tannins, structure, and a long, spicy finish. Delicious; enjoy with grilled meats.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
FIGGINS 2022 Estate Red Wine
Class in the bottle, the 2022 Estate Red Wine has fine-grained tannins and a fresh, coating mouthfeel that covers the palate with luxurious oak influences. Robust and healthy red and black fruit essences mix with a dusty, chocolatey core. Full-bodied, rich, and round, this wine is complex and firm, with a long, pure finish that is very food-friendly and has me craving flame-kissed ribeyes.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2027-2045
FIGGINS 2022 Figlia Red Wine
Solid, still tight, and complex, the 2022 Figlia Red Wine offers luscious red and black fruit tones. The oak compounds lift the entire expression across the mid-palate, providing a firm, gripping mouthfeel and making it incredibly food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2040
FIGGINS 2022 The Caves Red Wine
Instantly impressive, the 2022 The Caves Red Wine is rich and round, yet still tight and complex. Firing on all cylinders, it is fresh and ready to go the distance. This is all Cabernet, made from the three best barrels, and features a long, lingering finish. Very remarkable; your patience will be rewarded. Bravo!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2027-2055
Floating Balance Cellars 2022 Lost in Time
Red-fruited and stern with a kiss of volatility, the 2022 Lost in Time is rather generic and non-descript. The wine is firm with a gripping tannic core that will need some time to loosen.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2026-2033
Floating Balance Cellars 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Offering elegant tannins and dark red-fruited expressions with lively freshness, the 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is delightful. The wine grows on the palate, revealing more layers and spices as the wine lingers over the aftertaste.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
Floating Balance Cellars 2022 Syrah
Zesty and slightly savory with a core of dusty plums, hints of petrichor, and iron, the 2022 Syrah is expressive. Offering wild brush, sour cherry, and tart plums, this medium- to full-bodied wine glides to a spicy, food-friendly finish in a smaller frame.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Foolhardy Vintners 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Lemony with a core of lime and lime pith over a soft, under-ripe pineapple center, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc has hints of lemongrass and dusty citrus blossoms. Medium-bodied, this wine is citrus-driven, firm, and features delightful mineral tension and vibrancy. It ends with a spicy, zesty finish with lively acidity. Enjoy with seafood and shellfish.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Foolhardy Vintners 2020 FH Cabernet Sauvignon
Clean, vibrant, and red-fruited with black plum jus, the 2020 FH Cabernet Sauvignon is complex and morning-fresh with a pure heart of blackberry. It is quite pleasing and very food-friendly, ending with an oaky, spicy finish. Nicely done.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2036
Foolhardy Vintners 2019 Foolhardy Cabernet Sauvignon
Dense, firm, and tannin-driven at its current stage, the 2019 Foolhardy Cabernet Sauvignon is an impressive wine. It will take some time to round out those edges, but it has a wonderful fruit expression to allow it to last for more than a decade.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2027-2045
Foolhardy Vintners 2021 Malbec
Generous and round with layers of healthy, ripe black fruit tones, the 2021 Malbec overflows with gobs of juicy berry essence and oak spice. This expressive wine is still primary and very lively. It is dense and succulent, and will do better with bottle age. Give it time.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Foolhardy Vintners 2022 For Fool’s Sake
Mineral-driven and offering a graphite and black-fruited dusty nose, the 2022 For Fool’s Sake is a medium to full-bodied wine. It is expressive, shows tension, and over-delivers at a great price. Enjoy with food.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Force Majeure 2022 Épinette
Still vibrant and tight, the 2022 Épinette is complex on the nose and mineral-driven. Expressive, the wine has a firm phenolic grip with a plush, full-bodied texture and fine stone tension. It is fresh, ending with an iron/ferric edge and graphite notes, making it very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2028-2045
Force Majeure 2022 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Dense and chewy, the 2022 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine that will continue to be bold and expressive. With a firm stone and tannic edge, along with mineral tension, this offering is very clean and finishes with a spicy note. The wine is very fine but needs time.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2028-2045
Force Majeure 2021 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Open-knit and very approachable, the 2021 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is red-fruited with graphite notes. Generous and fruit-forward with a subtly smoky and roasted herbal essence, it features a black berry expression and an iron/ferric edge. The wine ends with a long, gliding finish. Enjoy with food, decanting recommended.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Force Majeure 2022 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark in color, the 2022 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is firm, vibrant, ripe, and pure with a rocky core. The wine is balanced, fresh, and dense, offering a dark-fruited and elegant expression in a larger frame. Full-bodied and mineral-driven, it features a solid tannic edge.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2038
Force Majeure 2021 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Big and mineral-driven, the 2021 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is spicy with a slightly hot alcohol presence. The wine is bigger, generous, and tannic, needing time to show its freshness. Enjoy with food and decanting recommended.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2035
Force Majeure 2023 Grenache
Red-fruited and quite tannic, the 2023 Grenache is solid with spicy strawberry notes. Medium to full-bodied, it is fresh with firm tannins and great mineral tension. Decanting recommended.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2036
Force Majeure 2023 Parvata
Spicy and red-fruited, the 2023 Parvata is firm, dark berry-driven, fresh, and fleshy. With floral notes, this wine is rich, rocky, and tannic, showing a wonderfully structured and fruity profile.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2040
Force Majeure 2023 Mourvedre
Dark red-fruited and spicy, the 2023 Mourvedre features potpourri notes. The wine is very complex and solid, with a slightly boozy finish. This zesty, fruity wine leans toward dark red berries and spice.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Force Majeure 2023 Red Mountain Syrah
Rich, round, and expressive, the 2023 Red Mountain Syrah offers notes of spicy plum, peppercorns, bacon fat, and black raspberry. With a creme de violette essence, this wine is very satisfying, pleasurable, and food-friendly. Yum!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Force Majeure 2023 Walla Walla Valley Syrah
A wild, dark, and savory expression, the 2023 Walla Walla Valley Syrah is mineral-driven and earthy. The wine features a dark red and black-fruited core with salty, sanguine notes. While this is more stony and tight, the Red Mountain version is far more floral, fresh, and vibrant.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2037
Fortuity Cellars 2023 Vin Blanc
Peachy and expressive with hints of nuttiness and lemon, the 2023 Vin Blanc features a leesy essence. The wine has notes of orange peel and marshmallow. Medium-bodied, it is fresh, succulent, and complex with layers of citrus marzipan and peach pith.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Fortuity Cellars 2022 Le Classique
Elegant oak tones mingle with black raspberry, dark cherry, and spiced plum swaying out of the glass in the 2022 Le Classique. With notes of turned earth and petrichor, the wine is pure and features an excellent essence. It ends with a refined and food-friendly finish. Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Fortuity Cellars 2022 Malbec
Rich, round, and succulent, the 2022 Malbec features a plummy essence that glides with a fresh and inviting center of fruit. With a spicy, inky core of blueberry and spiced plums, the wine has hints of oak spices and luxurious expressions of ripe berries. Clean, energetic acidity and freshness make this very pleasurable and food-friendly. Nicely done!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2036
Fortuity Cellars 2022 Syrah Cuvée
Juicy and softly smoky with a core of black raspberry and spiced plums, the 2022 Syrah Cuvée is slightly reductive now but will age beautifully. The wine is very pure and spicy with fine-grained tannins, ending with a mineral-driven and tense finish. Nicely done.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Fortuity Cellars 2022 The Fifty Fifty
Clean, juicy, ripe, and approachable, the 2022 The Fifty Fifty delivers pleasure at a great value. Pure, rich, and round, firing on all cylinders, the wine is impressive for the price of admission. It ends with succulent tannins and a food-friendly finish, along with a spicy, lingering edge. Nicely done! I want more!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2033
Gard 2022 BDX Blanc
Featuring citrus and tropical aromas that sway with sweet baking spices, the 2022 BDX Blanc is rich, complex, and soft, with notes of cream soda. Medium to full-bodied, it ends with a lingering, mineral-laced, and acid-driven finish. Very delightful.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Gard 2022 Grand Klasse Cabernet Sauvignon
Expressive and broad-shouldered, the 2022 Grand Klasse Cabernet Sauvignon has hints of volatility. The wine tightens across the palate, offering a mineral-driven mouthfeel. It narrows and has a soft, pure, and subdued finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Gard 2022 Grand Klasse Roussanne
Slightly subdued on the nose with a mineral core and citrus notes, the 2022 Grand Klasse Roussanne has hints of oak expression. The wine explodes on the palate, showing a beautiful, oily structure with lifting, succulent acidity. The palate is brilliantly focused and pure, providing an expression that has me daydreaming. It ends with a spicy, food-friendly, and textural finish. Very complex, very pleasurable! Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2038
Gard 2022 Grand Klasse Syrah
Very fresh and floral, the 2022 Grand Klasse Syrah is still tight and slightly reductive. The wine has a spicy core of plum and dark cherry, along with hints of peppercorn and floral notes. It ends with a spicy finish. Give it time; it will go the distance.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2038
Gard 2022 Grand Klasse Viognier
Unmistakably Viognier, the 2022 Grand Klasse Viognier features notes of white peach and cereal grain. The wine is succulent and open with a youthful approachability. Made with 50% new French oak in a larger format, it is not overdone. Medium to full-bodied, it ends with a spicy finish that has a gripping alcohol presence, but it brings me back for more.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Gard 2022 Cabernet Franc
A classic expression, the 2022 Cabernet Franc offers notes of red pepper and red berry, along with hints of oak and spice. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and succulent acidity, this wine has me craving fajitas. Very food-friendly and delightful, it will please Cabernet Franc drinkers.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2036
Gard 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon features notes of pencil shavings and graphite harmonizing with dark red, dusty fruit. The wine offers hints of herbal notes with freshness and purity. I cannot wait to see this again in 10 years!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2038
Gard 2022 Grenache
Fresh and red-fruited on the nose, the 2022 Grenache is bold and spicy. It features a serious core with fine-grained tannins and spicy acidity that lingers through the finish. Nice tone!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2036
Gard 2022 Reverence
Fresh on the nose, the 2022 Reverence is rich and round, having good bones. The wine is spicy and medium to full-bodied. It is slightly spicy and subdued on the palate but will develop beautifully with additional age in the bottle. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2038
Gard 2022 Thunderstone
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Thunderstone is fresh, expressive, powerful, and precise. It shows an identity of power and finesse, with plenty of structure to go the distance. Very food-friendly, it has tension and fine-grained tannins that will remain fresh for decades. It ends with a very pleasing finish.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2038
Gard 2022 Toro
Firing on all cylinders, the 2022 Toro offers classic expressions of American oak, dill, and coconut. There are aspects of this wine that remind me of a sweet and sour profile. It is very fresh, pleasurable, and delightful. The wine is wonderful, beautiful, and softly spicy.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Gard 2022 Vineyard Selection Conner Lee
Oak-driven, the 2022 Vineyard Selection Conner Lee is fresh and softer in style, with its power coming from its precision. It slowly unfolds and uncoils in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has an oaky presence that will integrate into the expression with additional years in the bottle. Give it time.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2038
Gard 2022 Vineyard Selection Solaksen
Primary, juicy, and fresh, the 2022 Vineyard Selection Solaksen is very shiny with picturesque black plum compote and blueberry notes overflowing into oak essence. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has succulent acidity. It is big and generous, delivering plenty of pleasure. Great play and action.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Gard 2022 Vineyard Selection Scarline
Big and dense with graphite notes, the 2022 Vineyard Selection Scarline has a firm rockiness that sways to a firm tannic structure. The wine shows more structure than anything else and is very fun.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Gard 2022 Vineyard Selection Stoneridge
Featuring a dusty petrichor note, dusty plum skin, dark cherry notes, and elegant oak tones, the 2022 Vineyard Selection Stoneridge has a dusty, red-fruited, and fresh tannic core with mineral tension and purity. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Gard 2022 Winemaker’s Select Cabernet Sauvignon
Bigger and broad-shouldered, the 2022 Winemaker’s Select Cabernet Sauvignon has a juicy frame of dark cherry and spiced plum, alongside oak spices with notes of cedar and cigar. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a gripping tannic edge. The wine is very food-friendly and has plenty of staying power. Very nice, just give it time.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2040
Gard 2022 Winemaker’s Select Syrah
Bigger and broad-shouldered, the 2022 Winemaker’s Select Syrah is stylized with a generous nose and mouthfeel. The palate has a big, spicy appeal with beefy Syrah notes. It is ready to enjoy!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2035
Gard 2023 Albarino
Fresh and stone-fruited on the nose, the 2023 Albarino offers notes of white peach, fresh yellow apples, and hints of pineapple. Medium-bodied, the wine has a soft, leesy core that is fresh and textural. It shows a succulent, lingering acidity and mouthfeel. Nicely done.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2032
Gard 2023 Grenache Blanc
Crystalline and pure, the 2023 Grenache Blanc is fresh and balanced with a soft phenolic edge. The wine has a citrus core with plenty of texture and a soft leesyness that grips the mid-palate and holds through. It is very pure and expressive.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2038
Gard 2024 Rosé
Fresh, zesty, and acid-driven, the 2024 Rosé has a high-toned, red-fruited core. Medium-bodied, the wine delivers plenty of pleasure. It is succulent and fresh with a soft phenolic edge, making it very food-friendly. Nicely done.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2029
Gilbert Cellars 2024 Rosé
Simple, fresh, clean, correct, and straightforward, the 2024 Rosé is slightly mineral on the palate before it ends with an elegant and acid-driven finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Gilbert Cellars 2023 Allobroges
Generic red-fruited with tighter tannins, the 2023 Allobroges is slightly spicy. It ends with the expression starting to separate and becoming slightly nutty.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2028
Gilbert Cellars 2023 Left Bank
With hints of herbs, peppers, and sage alongside blackberry jus and dark cherry, the 2023 Left Bank has a good, clean mouthfeel. It is value-driven and built for speed, not distance. Enjoy with ethnic food.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
Gilbert Cellars 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Juicy, fresh, rich, and round, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon offers layers of fruit, spice, and oak that grow in complexity. The wine is firm and continues to grow on the palate, revealing additional layers. Nicely done.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Gramercy Cellars 2024 Picpoul
Fresh and citrus-driven, the 2024 Picpoul has soft honeysuckle and dusty citrus notes. The wine has wonderful acidity, clean and crisp. Medium-bodied, it is succulent, fresh, and delightful with mineral tension and a lovely texture, offering a crisp lift on the finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Gramercy Cellars 2024 Rosé Olsen Vineyard
A clean, classic rosé made from red Rhône grapes, the 2024 Rosé Olsen Vineyard is softly mineral and offers succulent notes. It is subtly spicy and vibrant. Medium to light-bodied, it is fresh with a lingering, delightful finish, made from co-fermented grapes.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2029
Gramercy Cellars 2023 Viognier
Floral and bright with a soft hint of honey, the 2023 Viognier is fresh with a soft peachiness. Quite lively, it features a kiss of phenolic bitterness and ends with a softly nutty, almondy, and leesy texture and sensation. Nicely done. 90.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2031
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Syrah John Lewis Reserve
Made with a splash of co-fermented Holy Roller Vineyards fruit, the 2022 Syrah John Lewis Reserve has a firmness and freshness. It is dark red-fruited and spiced in a lovely expression that is lively and complex. With spicy hints of potpourri, peppercorn, and mint, it has a gripping tension and fine-grained tannins, ending with a long finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2050
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Syrah Lagniappe Red Willow Vineyard
Red-fruited, spicy, and true, the 2022 Syrah Lagniappe Red Willow Vineyard has a subtle nose. The wine is very pure, long, and still tight. It is very fresh and compact, but it will age beautifully. Your patience will be rewarded in time.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2028-2042
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Syrah Forgotten Hills Estate
Open and accessible with a spicy, dark red-fruited note, the 2022 Syrah Forgotten Hills Estate features a spicy floral grip. It offers hints of spiced cinnamon and red peppercorn. The wine compresses to show a lighter, more nimble profile. It tightens and firms to show a spicy, lingering, tight, and fun finish. Yum!!!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Syrah Holy Roller Vineyard
Offering a more serious, mineral-driven nose with spiced red fruit notes, the 2022 Syrah Holy Roller Vineyard is spicy and succulent. The wine slowly grows on you, showing spicy mineral tension, notes of potpourri, and a soft, broad-shouldered red profile.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2034
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Mourvèdre L’Idiot du Village
Quite floral and heady with a spicy, floral nose, the 2022 Mourvèdre L’Idiot du Village features high-toned red fruit notes. A very pleasing wine, it is kept on its lees in neutral cooperage vessels. This spicy, medium-bodied wine has a long, succulent finish. Not overdone, it shows tension and is very pleasing and food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Grenache The Third Man
Very floral, light, and integrated, the 2022 Grenache The Third Man is expressive with cherry notes. The wine is light and ethereal with a spicy, sweet core. It ends with red, spicy floral and potpourri essences that dominate the finish and linger through, making it very pleasing and food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2034
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Pinot Noir Sojeau Vineyard
Coming from Eola-Amity, the 2021 Pinot Noir Sojeau Vineyard is fresh and complex with a generous, spicy frame and succulent acidity. Medium-bodied, it is electric with fresh complexity and succulent acidity that makes it very food-friendly. Nicely done, with a spiced orange rind note on the finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Estates
Immensely impressive in scope, the 2021 Estates is still tight. It is instantly striking in its precision and focus, and its power comes from its tension. Tremendously and profoundly pleasurable, it is made in a slightly subdued expression in terms of fruit components, but its structured precision shows the terroir of Walla Walla. It will provide some pleasure now and will do wonders with age, starting to get really good at a decade, and even better at two decades old.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2029-2050
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Cabernet Franc Estates MTA
Very pretty and floral, the 2021 Cabernet Franc Estates MTA offers a clean lift of spicy red pepper notes. It has all of the varietal purity with freshness, texture, and elegant purity on the finish. Very pleasing, lovely!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark red and black-fruited, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon features hints of wild sage and brush. With elegant tension on the palate, it offers notes of wild sage, brush, dusty spiced red tea, and rooibos tea. The wine is very generous, spicy, and food-friendly.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Made in a more generous, polished, and shiny expression, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is fresh. With mineral tension, freshness, and ripeness, it can be enjoyed now but has gravitas and polish. Featuring subtle oak elements, the wine is mineral, fresh, juicy, rich, and round. It can age gracefully for years on end. Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2028-2042
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Phinny Hill Vineyard
Dark red and black-fruited, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Phinny Hill Vineyard offers notes of graphite. Very structured, generous, and long, it has plenty of mineral tension. This very structured and fresh wine will last for more than a decade, perhaps even two. Give it time.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2028-2045
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Lower East
A little cracked open now to show an open-knit nose ready for earlier releases, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Lower East checks all the boxes for an early, approachable Cabernet. It begins with a fine, mineral-driven note and shows mineral tension alongside a juicy dark red cherry note.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Syrah Lower East
Showing whole-cluster spiciness, the 2022 Syrah Lower East has a savory profile with fresh, spicy potpourri and graphite notes. Rocking about 55% whole-cluster fruit, it is succulent, delightful, lively, and very fresh. The profile over-delivers for the price, ending with a spiced cranberry note and a long, spicy finish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Bowery Lower East
Both red-fruited and floral, the 2021 Bowery Lower East is made with a light amount of whole cluster. It features elegance and spiciness, with dusty florals and a vibrant length. It is very food-friendly with a spicy finish.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Gramercy Cellars 2018 Estates
Beautifully firm and tightly wound, the 2018 Estates has a mineral core with a vibrant palate. It shows subtle tension, bright dusty cherry, and is still lively, with elegant graphite notes.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2038
Hightower Cellars 2022 Merlot
Clean, expressive, and softly volatile, the 2022 Merlot is rich, round, and juicy with a firm core of bright acidity. The wine is complex, plummy, and spicy with hints of oak and graham cracker notes. Medium to full-bodied, it ends with a succulent, fleshy, and fruit-driven finish. Nicely done.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Hightower Cellars 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Mineral and succulent with herbal, high-toned red fruit, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon features a spicy, lingering oak essence. Full-bodied, it delivers layers of complexity with fine-grained tannins.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2045
Hightower Cellars 2022 Red Mountain Reserve
Seductive, ripe, fleshy, fresh, complex, and spicy, the 2022 Red Mountain Reserve offers dusty red fruit tones and vibrant expressions. It glides through the mid-palate and ends with a succulent, food-friendly finish. Yum!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Hightower Cellars 2022 Out of Line Estate
Robust and rustic, the 2022 Out of Line Estate is impressive. It has a red-fruited, dusty, herbal core with precision and finesse. The wine has a focused, firm, medium to full-bodied profile that is seductive, elegantly rich, and round. It finishes with an impressive, long, spicy finish. Bravo!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Hightower Cellars 2022 Cabernet Franc
Rich, firm, precise, correct, clean, and pitch-perfect, the 2022 Cabernet Franc offers notes of herbal oak and red, spicy fruit tones. It is an elegant, precise, focused expression with a lingering, spicy finish. Very food-friendly, and wow! This is good CF. Yum!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Hors Catégorie Vineyards 2022 Hors Catégorie Syrah
Instantly impressive, rich, and round yet still tight and fighting, the 2022 Hors Catégorie Syrah is devastatingly gorgeous. It is pitch-perfect with fine ripeness. Medium-bodied, the wine is sleek, pure, and expressive with pristine tones. It belongs on the top shelf to rest in the cellar next to your Grand Cru and First Growths. Striking and pure, wow!!!!
Score: 100 | Drink: 2026-2050
Horsepower Vineyards 2022 Fiddleneck Vineyard Grenache
Quite perfumed and fresh, the 2022 Fiddleneck Vineyard Grenache is spicy and floral with fragrant potpourri. The wine is complex, savory, umami, and dusty red-fruited. It is delicious and will do wonders with age. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2047
Horsepower Vineyards 2022 Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache
Bigger with notes of char, strawberry, wild plums, spiced potpourri, sausage, and umami essences, the 2022 Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache is medium-bodied. It features notes of turned earth and spice. With brilliant red fruit, this elegant wine is utterly gorgeous, very impressive, and goes down all too easily.
Score: 99 | Drink: 2025-2045
Horsepower Vineyards 2022 Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah
With peppercorn, red meat, and dusty dark cherry, the 2022 Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah is very fleshy, ripe, and broad-shouldered. The wine is firm, fresh, and very mineral-driven. Wonderfully food-friendly.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2047
Horsepower Vineyards 2022 High Contrast Vineyard Syrah
Crunchy, pure, and very pleasurable, the 2022 High Contrast Vineyard Syrah is stunningly impressive. It has a savory, rich, comprehensive, precise, and focused core, making it the best High Contrast Syrah that I have tried to date! This is the juice that you want, with plenty of fruity, umami, and earthy character. Take a bow, team!
Score: 100 | Drink: 2026-2050
Horsepower Vineyards 2022 The Tribe Vineyard Syrah
Dark-fruited with char and dark cherry, the 2022 The Tribe Vineyard Syrah is firm, very food-friendly, and expressive with mineral tension. It has a long, bold finish.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2047
Horsepower Vineyards 2014 Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache
Still very fresh and ripe, the 2014 Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache has hints of rubber with wild strawberry. The wine is round with nuances of savory, sautéed almonds and roasted wild game.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2018-2035
Involuntary Commitment 2023 Red Wine
Dusty and red-fruited with a core of black cherry and blackberry, the 2023 Red Wine is fresh and vibrant. With purity and brightness at a price-conscious level, it over-delivers for the cost of admission.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Isenhower Cellars 2021 Batchelor’s Button Cabernet Sauvignon
A little volatile on the nose with dark red and black fruit tones, the 2021 Batchelor’s Button Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh and firm. With succulent, fine-grained tannins, the wine is spicy and finishes with a very food-friendly edge.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Rara Avis
Made with 18% Mourvedre and 5% Syrah, the 2022 Rara Avis is pure, fresh, and fleshy with a slightly reductive core that will blow off in time. The fruit here is mostly dark red-fruited with beautifully spiced, succulent acidity. Clean, impressive, and medium to full-bodied, its oak spices lift the expression across the mid-palate and end with a very pleasurable, food-friendly finish. Yum!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Jongleur Petit Verdot
Very dense and, as one might think, very tannic, the 2022 Jongleur Petit Verdot is full-bodied and slightly hot on the finish with a gripping edge.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Le Cadeau Vineyard Pinot Noir
Spicy and firm, the 2022 Le Cadeau Vineyard Pinot Noir is very structured and tannic. Fresh and complex, coming from the Chehalem Mountains AVA in Oregon, it is very pleasurable, but is in a bigger Pinot style, not color.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2037
Isenhower Cellars 2021 Road Less Traveled Cabernet Franc
Very herbal, savory, and citrusy with red-fruited notes of age and spice, the 2021 Road Less Traveled Cabernet Franc has lots of green pepper, pyrazines, and pure cherry. It is unmistakably Cabernet Franc and will please fans of the varietal.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2037
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Road Less Traveled Cabernet Franc
An unmistakable Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Road Less Traveled Cabernet Franc has softly herbal notes and a savory edge. Spicy red cherry with a hint of potpourri highlights this softer style of CF. Pure and unapologetically CF with a soft leafy herbal essence and a spicy cherry note, it has slightly sticky tannins. Enjoy with food and decanting is recommended.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2033
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Batchelor’s Button Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly impressive with dusty dark red fruit and an elegant red floral note, the 2022 Batchelor’s Button Cabernet Sauvignon is lifted but balanced. The wine is very refined, fresh, and pure. Everything is pitch-perfect and poised with rustic earth, vibrant, ripe, and healthy berry tones. Black raspberry, black cherry, and black plum mix with refined oak nuances on a long finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2042
Isenhower Cellars 2022 FOI No. 16 Super Fuga
Dusty and red-fruited, the 2022 FOI No. 16 Super Fuga goes down all too easily. Fresh and complex with a nimble mid-palate, it clocks in at 14.9% alcohol. The wine has a pleasing lightness and offers hints of subtle popcorn kernel and soft toasty oak. It is delicate and will do great with time.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Isenhower Cellars 2021 Wild Thyme
Still primary with hints of dusty rustic notes and soft, gripping tannins, the 2021 Wild Thyme is very food-friendly. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has a subtle graphite note. It is very bright and versatile. Nicely done.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2033
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Wild Thyme
Cabernet-dominant this year over the 2021, which was Merlot-dominant, the 2022 Wild Thyme is softer in style than the previous vintage. The wine is subtle and has more of a tannic structure with a rustic edge. It is quite delightful and will improve with additional years of bottle age and pair beautifully with food. Decanting recommended.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2035
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Rouleur
Dusty and dark red-fruited with hints of floral and spicy notes, the 2022 Rouleur has a delightful berry profile. Medium to full-bodied, it is very pleasing, charming, and elegant. Lingering, very fresh, fragrant, ripe, juicy, and slightly rustic.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Wallula Cabernet Sauvignon
Offering sweet roasted red pepper, graphite, and pencil lead, the 2022 Wallula Cabernet Sauvignon has a soft, dusty red berry expression. With notes of a savory herbal aspect on the palate, this wine is quite lively. It ends with a delightfully lingering spicy finish. Decanting recommended.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2035
Isenhower Cellars 2022 À Bloc
Big and brooding, the 2022 À Bloc has a touch of oak, and after a quick spin in the glass, the wine opens to show blackberry and spiced plum compote. The wine is medium to full-bodied and fresh. This is bold and juicy. Decanting recommended, enjoy with food.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2035
Isenhower Cellars 2023 Rara Avis
Featuring a fresh, dusty red-fruited purity with hints of red spices, the 2023 Rara Avis is bright and lively. This medium-bodied wine is delightfully zesty.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Isenhower Cellars 2023 Blanc de Blanc Roussanne
Made from Roussanne, the 2023 Blanc de Blanc Roussanne is fresh, complex, and different. Quite a cerebral wine with a vibrant, brut zero style, it was fermented in neutral puncheons and is delightful. The wine is very textural with slight hints of under-ripe fruit, a slightly leafy edge, and notes of lemon peel and endive, ending with a lively, zesty finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2033
Isenhower Cellars 2024 Francisca’s Vineyard
Very pure, fresh, and floral, the 2024 Francisca’s Vineyard offers notes of peach, lychee, and a delightful cereal grain essence alongside sweet apricot. Still featuring a dry structure, it is balanced and phenolic with good acidity. Clean, precise, and crystalline, this wine seriously over-delivers for the price. Buy the entire case!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2030
Isenhower Cellars 2024 Le Cadeau Vineyard
Coming from Chehalem Mountains, the 2024 Le Cadeau Vineyard has notes of yellow apple, pear, lees, and banana. Fresh with hints of peach, it has a phenolic grip and a kiss of bitterness. Enjoy with food.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2028
JM Cellars 2024 White Cinsault
Clean, fresh, and buttery, the 2024 White Cinsault is fuzzy and leesy with a rocky edge and hints of white peach skin. Very complex and food-friendly, the wine is elegant, rich, and mineral-driven.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
JM Cellars 2023 Concrete Chardonnay
Subdued on the nose with a leesy, lemon pith aroma, the 2023 Concrete Chardonnay is fresh and succulent. Very mineral-driven, this medium-bodied wine is incredibly food-friendly.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
JM Cellars 2023 Reserve Chardonnay
Very driven with lemon pastry cream and yellow apple, the 2023 Reserve Chardonnay is leesy and sweet with a kiss of oak. Featuring brown baking spices, it is succulent, firm, and beautifully done. Well done!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2036
JM Cellars 2022 Ancora Imparo
Very pure, the 2022 Ancora Imparo has high-toned red fruit in a dusty, dense center with firm mineral tension. It has a spicy core with a soft ferric note, and is succulent, beautifully rich, round, and elegant. With a subtle zestiness, it is fresh, inviting, and brilliantly coiled. Very food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
JM Cellars 2022 Thirty Six Degree
Firm and red-fruited with a dusty core, the 2022 Thirty Six Degree is quite spicy with super tension. Structured and tannic, it has a long finish that is very zesty with earthy red fruit and black raspberry. It has a slight black pepper note that lingers through to the end.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
JM Cellars 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon III
Firm, big, and ripe, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon III has a gripping tannic edge that shows its oak expression. Full-bodied, fresh, dark, and intense, the wine is rich and mature with impressive vibrant and lush notes of chocolate and brown baking spices. It slowly uncoils with sturdy tannins that will need time in the cellar.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
JM Cellars 2022 Bramble Bump Carmenere
With a soft herbal core and dusty dark red berries, the 2022 Bramble Bump Carmenere features notes of toasted oats. Rich and round with spicy fruit and layers of elegance, the wine is very enjoyable but stays in the earthy crimson berry category.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2038
JM Cellars 2018 Founders Reserve
Instantly impressive, the 2018 Founders Reserve is devastatingly gorgeous. The wine has ripeness levels that are pitch-perfect, offering an elegant, rich, powerful, and finessed expression. Very generous, mature, and pure, it has a refined spicy finish. I’m not spitting a drop of this out.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2022-2048
JM Cellars 2015 Longevity
Still lively and fresh, the 2015 Longevity is fleshy and complex, continuing to fight with weight. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is delightfully vibrant and layered with a structured red finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2020-2033
JM Cellars 2022 Cabernet Franc
Red-fruited with a juicy core, the 2022 Cabernet Franc has mineral tension and a firm grip. It is ripe and structured with tannins and hints of roasted red pepper.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Julian Margot Winery 2021 Nettie
Succulent and fresh with a lively core of red fruit and fleshy apple, the 2021 Nettie has firm tannins that merge to show a spicy finish and gripping edge. It needs time but has good bones.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Julian Margot Winery 2021 Pyretta
Firm and dark red-fruited with black and blue fruits, the 2021 Pyretta meets graphite notes and bitter dark chocolate tones. The wine is structured and will do better with food. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2037
Julian Margot Winery 2022 Esmeray
Spicy and dark red-fruited, the 2022 Esmeray is fresh and complex with slightly zesty mineral and peppercorn notes that sway with vibrancy and a soft stemminess. The wine is open-knit on the palate. Give it an extra chill.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2026-2036
Julian Margot Winery 2022 Imari
Dark red and black fruit tones with layers of fresh flowers and graphite over petrichor notes define the 2022 Imari. Featuring spiced plums and deep cherry skin, this medium to full-bodied wine grows in amplitude and complexity, showing fine-grained tannins and a firm, generous core before ending with a zesty finish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Julian Margot Winery 2023 Steele
Made with 100% Marsanne, the 2023 Steele is waxy and aromatic with a nutty, leesy note that has a phenolic grip and expressive character. The wine is lively, fresh, and rich in texture with hints of minerality. Very food-friendly and quite a cerebral wine. Nicely done.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
K Vintners 2024 Art Den Hoed Viognier
Floral and spicy with a delightful phenolic grip, the 2024 Art Den Hoed Viognier is very pure with a fine mineral, rocky core. This elegant, medium to full-bodied wine is balanced with a kiss of pleasant bitterness. It ends with a very pleasurable finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
K Vintners 2023 Powerline Viognier
Broad-shouldered and expressive, the 2023 Powerline Viognier features cereal grain, floral peach blossom, and orange oil. The wine is very textural and shows surprising weight and spice on the mid-palate. Fresh and energetic, it ends with a delightfully lingering finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
K Vintners 2022 The Boy
Offering high-toned red fruit with notes of cherry, spices, and potpourri, the 2022 The Boy becomes more serious and fresh with complexity, showcasing a vibrant, zesty, and floral profile. Made with 50% whole cluster, this Grenache is stunningly beautiful. Very food-friendly.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2038
K Vintners 2022 Charlotte
With notes of herbs, spice, and rustic floral tones, the 2022 Charlotte features hints of rocky graphite. Zesty and pure, it runs the line of both earthy and ripe, reminding me of all the great things I love about Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It has an elegant, mature, savory, and fragrant finish.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2042
K Vintners 2022 The Beautiful
A more serious, rocky, and savory expression, the 2022 The Beautiful has a vibrant, slightly ashy, and stony sensation with hints of florals. The wine grows in elegance, purity, and freshness, then the mid-palate contracts slightly to an impeccable mouthfeel. It nibbles the palate with structure and is beautifully rich, textured, and lively. Very food-friendly.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2042
K Vintners 2022 The Deal
Rich and round with spicy red and black peppercorn, the 2022 The Deal is made with 100% whole cluster Syrah, showcasing freshness, zest, and an expressive core. Medium to full-bodied and mineral-driven, it has a generous texture and peppery notes on the finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2037
K Vintners 2022 Motor City Kitty
Focused and serious, the 2022 Motor City Kitty has notes of savory iodine and sanguine characteristics. The wine is very spicy, medium to full-bodied, rich, and round. It is super focused and firm with a textural, fine-grained tannic mouthfeel and freshness. Very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2040
K Vintners 2022 Klein Syrah
Bolder and structured, the 2022 Klein Syrah is very firm and mineral-driven with sticky tannins, a sappy center, and spice. Featuring a peppercorn note, the wine is dense and chewy with tension. It is very composed and delivers a spiced plum compote and a rocky core. Very food-friendly.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
K Vintners 2023 Powerline Syrah
Presenting a very serious, fresh, and compact profile, the 2023 Powerline Syrah is black-fruited, rocky, and spicy. It features notes of potpourri and black cherry essence. This wine is mineral-driven, subtly tannic, and dense, making it a bit more chewy.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2040
K Vintners 2022 The Hidden
Big, bold, and slightly floral with a serious core of dark fruit and mineral tension, the 2022 The Hidden has a firm tannic edge with a medium to full-bodied center. Very mineral-driven and cerebral, it is expressive with a spicy, robust heart of earth and black fruit. Featuring fine-grained tannins and rocky tension, it is still young but has good bones and will age gracefully for years to come!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2043
K Vintners 2022 Cattle King
Firm and slightly bigger and heavier, the 2022 Cattle King is dense, chewy, ripe, and structured. Still young, it needs time to come together. The wine is very compact and the berry profile is beginning to change from black fruit to dark red fruit. Spicy and textured, it has me craving bone-in ribeyes. Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2042
K Vintners 2022 Royal City
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Royal City overflows with power and depth of aroma, featuring hints of teriyaki jerky, Worcestershire, and smoked blackberries. The wine is both nimble and complex, full of flavor, and is undeniably top-quality Syrah with nuances of wilted red and purple flowers, violets, and worn leather alongside a delightful rocky essence that is the underlying factor that keeps me engaged. This is a medium to full-bodied Syrah that doesn’t feel heavy, but rather lands and expands on the palate to reveal its truth, of being immensely layered without being overbearing, rich in taste yet still feels agile. It ends with a lingering finish and invites another sip. Bravo!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2026-2042
K Vintners 2022 The Creator
Dark red-fruited with a savory essence and a soft herbal edge, the 2022 The Creator features notes of sweet red pepper. The wine is complex, rich, and still quite youthful. A complete wine, it is highly pleasurable and generous with a pure, earthy character.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2040
K Vintners 2022 Ovide
Focused and not as generous, the 2022 Ovide is fresh and broadly structured with notes of black cherry, spiced plum skin, wild sagebrush, soft desert funk, and rocky tones. The wine is very pleasing, ripe, and elegant. Very food-friendly.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2043
K Vintners 2022 King Coal
Classic and elegant with oak tones, the 2022 King Coal is generous, ripe, fresh, and pitch-perfect. Rich and very delicious, it is already firing on all cylinders.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2045
K Vintners 2022 Northridge Merlot
Juicy and plummy, the 2022 Northridge Merlot is round and jumps out of the glass. The wine is immensely pleasurable and delightfully mineral with a dark fruit edge and graphite nature. It has precision and focus with balanced, fine-grained tannins. The wine is very food-friendly and enjoyable, and I cannot wait to try it again in 10+ years. Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2043
K Vintners 2022 Stoneridge Merlot
Plummy and spicy, the 2022 Stoneridge Merlot has a mineral tension that grips and holds through the finish. A phenolic hold offers a zesty edge and fine tannins. The wine is plush and lush, showing graphite and a rocky note with a very firm, ferric edge on the conclusion.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2039
K Vintners 2022 Jack’s Cabernet Sauvignon
Ripe, vibrant, and mineral-driven with hints of pencil shavings, the 2022 Jack’s Cabernet Sauvignon has an expressive dark fruit core. The wine is juicy and open-knit, medium-bodied, and complex. With more focused nuances and freshness, it ends with a clean, nutty finish. The wine is delightfully lively. Decanting recommended.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2044
K Vintners 2022 Powerline Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing a pure, herbal expression with spicy pepper notes, the 2022 Powerline Cabernet Sauvignon features oak spices and a dusty graphite essence that glides with elegance. Medium to full-bodied, it has many of the refined, zesty, botanical essences that I love about late 80s and early 90s Bordeaux wines. While enjoyable young, your patience will be rewarded with additional time in bottle.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2042
K Vintners 2022 Stoneridge Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm with a rocky core, the 2022 Stoneridge Cabernet Sauvignon has a generous, juicy, oaky mocha profile. The wine is lush, ripe, and mineral-driven with chocolate and graphite notes. It is beautifully rich and round with fine mineral tension and stony elements.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2048
K Vintners 2022 The Klein
With superb mineral tension and freshness, the 2022 The Klein is pitch-perfect. The wine is impressive, layered, balanced, elegant, focused, pure, and utterly great. Medium to full-bodied, vibrant, and profound, it is gorgeously rich, round, and still tight with fine-grained tannins. Beautiful!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2047
Kiona Vineyards 2024 Old Vine Chenin Blanc
A classic Chenin Blanc, the 2024 Old Vine Chenin Blanc offers a firm expression of nutty and leesy notes with hints of peach and yellow apples. Medium-bodied with a full texture, it ends with a clean, crisp finish delivering pleasure. Nicely done!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Kiona Vineyards 2022 Estate Bottled Merlot
Firm and mineral-driven, the 2022 Estate Bottled Merlot has hints of dusty plums and subtle spice notes. The wine is fresh and offers graphite nuances and expressive rocky tension. It is structured and very food-friendly with an elegance and grace that will last for years to come!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Kiona Vineyards 2022 Estate Bottled Reserve
Dusty red fruit essences sway out of the glass in the 2022 Estate Bottled Reserve, showing mineral tension and expressive character. The wine is balanced with alcohol and acidity in a medium to full-bodied profile. It has earthy black cherry and soft plum skin notes with a lingering finish and fine-grained tannins. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Kiona Vineyards 2022 Estate Bottled Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing a generous frame with notes of dark berry compote and blackberry jus, the 2022 Estate Bottled Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon offers some ferric and iron-like essence with a rustic, savory structure and a core that has hints of wild brush and fine-grained tannins. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Kiona Vineyards 2022 Estate Bottled Syrah
Fresh and fleshy, the 2022 Estate Bottled Syrah is spicy and dark-berried with a line of mineral tension through the core. The wine is medium-bodied and compresses on the palate slightly to reveal a nimble, rocky expression that ends with a zesty finish. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Kitzke 2022 Sangiovese
With a kiss of volatility, the 2022 Sangiovese has notes of cherry and fine minerality. It features a complex nose that is bright, lively, and fresh. Medium to full-bodied, layered, and delightfully round, it has hints of dusty earth and is vibrant and elegant. Nicely done!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Kitzke 2022 Old Vine Reserve
Dusty and red-fruited, the 2022 Old Vine Reserve has a fresh, mineral tension that holds through the mid-palate. Expressive, ripe, and still tight, it has really good bones. The wine is vibrant and succulent with a firm tannic grip, but needs some time to come around.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2040
Kitzke 2022 Cabernet Franc
With hints of tomato leaf and a soft red pepper skin edge, the 2022 Cabernet Franc has succulent cherry and black plum skin notes. Medium to full-bodied with a firm, gripping structure, it has solid mineral tension and a long, lingering spicy finish. It had me looking for some salami and noshy bites. Very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2037
Kitzke 2022 Petit Verdot
Balanced and red-fruited, the 2022 Petit Verdot is firm and rocky. Fresh with resinous purple flowers and a fine frame of sweet oak spices that lift the overall expression, the wine is structured, elegant, vibrant, and succulent. Quite lovely and very expressive, it showcases a delightful floral nature. The wine is very composed, refined, and has good bones. Needs more time but will be gorgeous with at least 2 more years in bottle.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2028-2045
Kitzke 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bright and dark red-fruited, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is firm and juicy. Fresh and complex, this medium to full-bodied package offers layers of spice, earth, and a tannic edge. It ends with a dense and chewy finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Kontos Cellars 2019 Beckett
Firm, bold, and expressive, the 2019 Beckett is rich, round, and spicy. A dense and chewy beast of a wine that will age beautifully for decades, this full-bodied wine is still tight and tannic at its present state but will remain food-friendly for years to come. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Kontos Cellars 2021 Tate Syrah
Savory and bold, the 2021 Tate Syrah is dark in the glass with a rich, round, and spicy core of fruit. Full-bodied, it ends with a roasted oak and coffee bean finish. An extra chill will do this wonders.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Kontos Cellars 2021 Baker Blend Dorsey
Ripe and succulent, the 2021 Baker Blend Dorsey offers juicy dark fruit waves that greet you from the glass with blackberry jus and spiced plum compote. The wine is fresh with a spicy center and fine-grained tannins. Full-bodied, the wine has notes of graphite and firm mineral tension before ending in an expressive burst of black fruit and zest on the lingering finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Kontos Cellars 2022 Baker Blend Cabernet Franc
Spicy and herbal, the 2022 Baker Blend Cabernet Franc features notes of roasted green peppers and ancho reyes. The wine is very fresh and complex with dark red fruit tones that waft with varietal purity and precision. It is wonderfully coiled and still youthful with tight expression, and should age gracefully. For those who love Cabernet Franc, they will enjoy this beauty!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Kontos Cellars 2021 The Boss
Bold, expressive, and complex, the 2021 The Boss is very fresh, rich, round, and juicy. Bottled in Magnum, the age range reflects the slower aging rate of larger formats, which are known to go double the distance of their 750ml counterparts. The wine is immensely opulent and spicy with a robust, lush, and polished dark fruit core. Full-bodied and still tight, the wine is layered and offers a long-lived, food-friendly finish. Nicely done.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2055
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Dusty and rich, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley has an earthy and mineral edge with a firm core of layered fruit and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, the mouthfeel is still tight and has a solid mineral tension that glides to an elegant finish. Nicely done!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2037
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Apogee
Clean, red-fruited, vibrant, and softly oaked, the 2022 Apogee offers a ripe attack with freshness and precision. The mouthfeel is still tight but has good bones. Complex and lively, this medium to full-bodied wine features a growing spicy essence that increases in volume. The wine is firm and will remain food-friendly for decades. Nicely done!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2042
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Perigee
Bigger, bolder, more refined, and expressive, the 2022 Perigee is instantly impressive with dark, dusty fruit extract and beautifully buttressing oak tones that lift the overall expression. This full-bodied wine is spicy and mineral-driven with a tannic core that will be great with steaks and chops from the grill. Bravo!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2045
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Ferguson
Bigger and more expressive but not overdone, the 2022 Ferguson is fresh and clean, with a rocky core beneath its dusty plum, spiced black cherry, and potpourri notes. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is complex, layered, elegant, and precise with firm mineral tension and a growing spicy note that defines the finish. It’s a very profound wine that continues to grow and will have no trouble delivering pleasure for years to come. Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2027-2050
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Ferguson Cabernet Sauvignon Cellar Selection
Mineral-driven and focused, the 2022 Ferguson Cabernet Sauvignon Cellar Selection is slow to uncoil in the glass. It is fresh, complex, and features rocky tension and dusty, refined fruit that still needs time to come around. Very cerebral and earthy, it has a core of stony minerality that grips and holds through the finish alongside a tannic edge. Very pleasurable, it just needs cellar aging, so your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2028-2055
L’Ecole No. 41 2024 Chenin Blanc Old Vines
Bright and citrus-driven with under-ripe peach, the 2024 Chenin Blanc Old Vines is fresh, mineral-driven, and bone dry. Featuring energetic acidity, it offers notes of juicy fruit gum and tart pineapple. With succulent tension, vibrancy, clarity, and precision, it is very electric. For the price point, buy the entire case!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2033
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Semillon Stillwater Creek Vineyard
With a medium gold core and an electric yellow rim, the 2023 Semillon Stillwater Creek Vineyard shows elegance and freshness. Medium to full-bodied with verve and acidity, it offers white spiced tea, a kiss of brown baking spices, and hints of lemon pastry cream, sautéed almonds, and citrus zest. A very pleasing wine full of character, it features orchard fruit and a soft touch of oak that lifts the finish with bright marzipan. A delightful expression of the varietal, this is wonderful! Bravo!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Luminesce
Open-knit with notes of marzipan, the 2023 Luminesce features vibrant yellow lemon zest. Very fresh with mineral tension, this medium to full-bodied wine is rich, round, lively, and fleshy.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
L’Ecole No. 41 2024 Luminesce
Bright and compact, the 2024 Luminesce is acid-driven and energetic. Medium-bodied, while it doesn’t have the same broad shoulders that the 2023 has, the 2024 will go longer and be better with food in the future.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2036
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Merlot Estate
Dark red-fruited, the 2022 Merlot Estate is rustic and earthy with dark, dusty fruit skin. Very serious, it offers a kiss of potpourri spice and a soft herbal note, alongside a tighter tannic edge. Delightfully youthful, it needs time. Decanting recommended, very food-friendly.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2042
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Showcasing a weighty, earthy essence made from a blend of many vineyards and terroirs in Walla Walla, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley is mineral-driven but dusty and fruity. It features hints of savory sage, silky rocky tension, and a medium to full-bodied, firm tannic grip. It finishes with graphite and stony grip on the aftertaste.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2027-2039
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
This is the first year that the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is nationally distributed. Firm and dense with a chewy core, it is a very well-made wine that will go the distance. With a solid, rocky, blackberry tension, it has a robust expression with tannins and a phenolic structure that will be a juggernaut with time. Full-bodied and structured, it features a ripe expression that glides to a gripping finish. Very food-friendly, give it time.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2042
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Apogee
An elegant red blend, the 2023 Apogee is quite Bordeaux-esque with a firm, gripping tension. Very mineral-driven and quite a step in the world, it features rustic grip and an earthy, rocky, tobacco, and dusty core. It has a long, lingering finish. Be patient.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2030-2045
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Perigee
Dustier and dark red-fruited, the 2023 Perigee features a firm tannic structure and very solid mineral tension. Medium to full-bodied, it is elegant and silky with fine-grained tannins and succulent acidity. Long and very food-friendly, it is highly impressive and refined. This is world-class juice.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2030-2050
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Ferguson
A firm, layered, and refined wine, the 2023 Ferguson is round, tight, and very fine. It has plenty of staying power but is just youthful right now. It needs time, so be patient. Very food-friendly.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2030-2050
L’Ecole No. 41 2013 Ferguson
Tasting in the fall of 2025, the 2013 Ferguson is still very fresh, primary, and red-fruited. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has minerality and is very silky, lively, and fleshy. It features a kiss of tertiary notes that have slowly crept in. Wow!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2035
L’Ecole No. 41 2016 Ferguson
Brilliantly fresh, the 2016 Ferguson is very expressive, ripe, and features pitch-perfect tannins. It offers dusty, mature cherries and tension. Medium to full-bodied, it has a very long, refined finish. Elegant and beautifully made! Bravo! Decanting recommended, enjoy with food.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2021-2038
L’Ecole No. 41 2019 Ferguson
Darker, denser, and firmly tannic, the 2019 Ferguson shows a bit more of a gripping edge, and the oak stands out a touch on the nose. The palate reveals heavier, chewier tannins that will pair great with wild game and fire-roasted steaks. Bring it!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2042
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Ferguson Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Selection
Devastatingly gorgeous, the 2022 Ferguson Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Selection is very complex with plenty of shine, and is a beautiful wine that over-delivers for the price. It is world-class and a true expression of Ferguson.
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2031-2060
Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2024 Pinot Grigio
A little reductive, the 2024 Pinot Grigio has recessed gas with the nose giving off some sulfur notes. After rigorous swirling in the glass, the matchstick aromas are still there. It will be a pillar that doesn’t move too much in its life. Peachy and marzipan nuances offer some acidity on the palate, ending with a quick finish.
Score: 86 | Drink: 2025-2027
Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2023 Riesling
Clean and softly sweet on the palate, the 2023 Riesling has succulent acidity with notes of lime candies and apple sucker. Fresh and value-driven, the wine has some varietal expressions, but more vibrancy could be achieved here.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2028
Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2024 Orange Moscato
Clean, floral, sweet-citrused, and pure, the 2024 Orange Moscato is exactly that. Truth in advertising, it is fresh and expressive with a touch of sweetness that reminds me of a spring day with freshly opened flowers in bloom. It ends with a subtly simple and pleasurable finish. For the price, buy the case.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2027
Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2023 Tempranillo
Fresh and red-fruited, the 2023 Tempranillo has a soft mineral and dusty earth essence. Hints of dried cherries and spiced plums waft from the glass with ease. It ends with a straightforward finish.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2029
Latah Creek Wine Cellars NV Mike’s Reserve Red no.4
Generically red-fruited with dark berry tones, the NV Mike’s Reserve Red no.4 is a mix of non-traditional blending fellows. As a red blend, the wine has a mineral-driven framework and soft fruit expression on the palate. The berry profile compresses to show more structure and depth, ending with a straightforward finish.
Score: 86 | Drink: 2025-2030
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bold and rich, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has a core of fruit, earth, and oak that all meet at the intersection of pleasure. The wine is still tightly wound and very fresh with delicate mineral tension and fine-grained tannins. The berry component slowly grows on the spicy finish. These are meant to age for years, be patient.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Leonetti Cellar 2023 Merlot
Vibrant and complex, the 2023 Merlot has a firmness about the nose. Fresh and gently plummy, with additional swirling in the glass, the wine reveals soft layers, adding to its depth. Full-bodied and spicy at its core, it has a solid tannic edge that will remain food-friendly for years. Decanting recommended.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2040
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Reserve
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Reserve is flooded with sensory overload, featuring a generous frame of highly ripe dark red and black fruit tones with a good dollop of oak spices and freshness. It continues to grow in scope and amplitude with fine-grained tannins, succulent fruit extract, and elegant oak that lifts everything as the wine sings in unison. Very pleasurable and still tightly wound, the wine is big and beautiful with a long, complex, world-class finish. Very spicy and food-friendly, give it time! Decanting is recommended. WOW!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2028-2055
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Sangiovese
Big and bold, the 2022 Sangiovese is generous and still very tightly wound with succulent tannins. It has good acidity with expressive extract and a red-fruited core.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Leonetti Cellar 2019 Aglianico
Firm, bold, and tannic, the 2019 Aglianico is always impressive and firmly gorgeous. With a kiss of volatility, this wine is dark-fruited, ripe, and filled with extract. Firmly layered and fresh, it has a ripe attack with a dusty tannic edge that is immensely pleasurable. Very food-friendly and complex! Bravo!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2045
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Single Vineyard Series Loess
Still tight, red-berried, fresh, and fleshy, the 2022 Single Vineyard Series Loess is big and juicy. The wine is tight and fresh with a sticky tannic grip. Very persistent, it needs time but has good bones! Bravo!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2027-2050
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Single Vineyard Series Mill Creek Upland
Firm but delicate, the 2022 Single Vineyard Series Mill Creek Upland has a firm mineral tension. The wine is surprisingly delicate due to the vintage variance. Still tight, it is full-bodied and full of dusty dark red fruit. Bright and fresh, this wine is far more approachable now than previous vintages. The wine will remain food-friendly for decades. Bravo!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2028-2055
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Single Vineyard Series Serra Pedace
Firm and rocky with a tannic edge, the 2022 Single Vineyard Series Serra Pedace is very firm. Very fresh and primary, it is inky, fleshy, ripe, softly steely, and rocky. It needs time and food, but is very refined. Give it at least three more years to round out, but boy will it deliver over the next two to three decades.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2028-2060
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Single Vineyard Series Holy Roller
First, the 2022 Single Vineyard Series Holy Roller begins fresh, complex, and lively. Very refined, it is full-bodied, firm, and features very fine, generous, but refined dark red-fruited notes that melt to meet elegant oak tones. It has a long, lingering, spicy finish.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2055
Lingua Franca 2023 Avni
Fresh, ripe, and succulent, the 2023 Avni features complex layers and notes of pineapple, yellow apple, and sweet Meyer lemon. Bright, this medium-bodied wine is clean, very pleasing, and expressive. It has a clear and pure finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Lingua Franca 2022 Estate Chardonnay
Showing a touch of reduction and freshness with bright citrus, the 2022 Estate Chardonnay is complex. Medium-bodied and impressive, it has a kiss of reduction, but is fresh. Very food-friendly, it offers hints of lemon pastry cream and shows a kiss of new French oak, about 20%.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2040
Lingua Franca 2023 Bunker Hill Chardonnay
Fresh, ripe, and succulent, the 2023 Bunker Hill Chardonnay features complex layers and notes of pineapple, yellow apple, and sweet Meyer lemon. Bright, this medium-bodied wine is clean and softly phenolic on the palate. The wine has staying power and will last more than two decades.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
Lingua Franca 2022 Inspiras Chardonnay
Still very youthful, the 2022 Inspiras Chardonnay is tightly wound and coiled with succulent acidity. Impressive and bright, the medium-bodied palate is both fresh and spicy with minerality that unfolds with notes of oak spice. Succulent acidity ensures it will last for decades. It has a very food-friendly finish, elegant and spicy. Yum!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2027-2050
Lingua Franca 2023 Avni Pinot Noir
Very fresh and floral with high-toned red fruit notes that showcase its elegance, the nose of the 2023 Avni Pinot Noir is a delight. The wine contracts on the palate with firm tannins and a spicy core of fruit. A very good value, this wine is meant for speed, not distance, over-delivering for the price.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Lingua Franca 2023 Estate Pinot Noir
Fresh, vibrant, complex, and spicy, the 2023 Estate Pinot Noir needs time. With a very spicy finish, it has freshness and vibrancy. It needs time but will be unstoppable in a few years. The wine is impressive, just give it time.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2048
Lingua Franca 2023 The Plow Pinot Noir
Softly elegant, fresh, and red-fruited, the 2023 The Plow Pinot Noir has a firm tannin line. It is very pleasing, food-friendly, and very fine. It needs time, featuring a soft but firm structure that will be a champion with age. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
Lingua Franca 2022 Novo Vivo Pinot Noir
Utterly impressive and fresh, the 2022 Novo Vivo Pinot Noir is very complex. Layered with finesse and power, it showcases elegance and grace.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2027-2047
Long Shadows Vintners 2006 Poet’s Leap
Showing some oxidative nutty notes under the elegant TDN petrol-like notes, the 2006 Poet’s Leap has hints of white peach and lime candy. With notes of chamomile and lemon, it is subtly still going. The wine’s structure has 12% alcohol and is very fresh with 18 g/L of residual sugar and a pH of about 3.15. It features hints of chalk and lemon verbena. Very nicely done!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2007-2033
Long Shadows Vintners 2022 Poet’s Leap
Very squeaky clean, fresh, and complex, the 2022 Poet’s Leap comes mostly from Gamache Vineyard with some DuBrul Vineyard. The wine is bone dry with energetic acidity and fresh lemon, lime candy, zesty green apple, and nutty, leesy notes. Very vibrant and complex, it spent about five to six months aging on lees for freshness. It is very food-friendly with a long, energetic, acid-driven finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Long Shadows Vintners 2021 SHOUP
Fresh and powerful, the 2021 SHOUP is a very generous wine with mineral tension and a juicy, ripe, and succulent core. Rich and round, the wine is fresh, big, and hedonistic. Full-bodied at 15.5% alcohol, the wine has generosity and hedonism with expressive oak and firm tannins that grip and hold through the finish. This is a big, bold, juicy, and food-friendly wine that has me daydreaming. Very fresh.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2048
Long Shadows Vintners 2021 Pirouette
Fresh, ripe, dusty, and pure, the 2021 Pirouette has a red and black-fruited core with notes of pencil lead and graphite. Featuring dusty red cherries and spiced plums, this full-bodied wine is very pure and complex with a rich, ripe expression built to last and go the distance. A versatile wine that can be enjoyed now, it is lively with plenty of layers. Elegant, focused, and full-bodied. Bravo!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2048
Long Shadows Vintners 2022 Pedestal
Firm with high mineral tension, the 2022 Pedestal is slow to open and release its secrets. Closely open, it is fresh and complex with a fine mineral essence and staying power that is pleasing and exciting. Full-bodied, the palate shows a youthful, still tight tannic grip that will loosen with time in bottle, as additional aging will allow it to fill its shoes. It needs time, but the palate is impressive and profound, revealing additional complexity. Mineral-driven, the wine is slow to reveal, but as winemaker Gilles Nicault said, it will be a great companion over the years. Give it time; your patience will be rewarded. Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Long Shadows Vintners 2021 Sequel
Starting with classic Syrah notes of meaty and peppery elements that float out of the glass, lifted by a floral essence from whole-cluster, the 2021 Sequel seamlessly blends elegance and grace, with power and beauty. This Syrah is immensely pleasurable, offering a food-friendly core of sweet baking spices, red and black peppercorns, caramelized pepper, and cured meat, before ending with sweet oak over a spicy finish! Nicely done!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Long Shadows Vintners 2021 Chester-Kidder
Full disclosure, I am not an overt fan of Cab-Syrah blends, but the 2021 Chester-Kidder is epic. The wine is pure with its Cabernet backbone, firm tannins, and juicy frame, supported and lifted by the elegant Syrah. It has elegant lavender notes with oak essences and sweet baking spices. Elegantly rich, ripe, firm, savory, spicy, and pure, the Cab and Syrah harmonize together with stunning purity. All of this is supported by an oaky, spiced core of French oak elegance. Nicely done!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Long Shadows Vintners 2022 Feather
Instantly attractive, open, and approachable, the 2022 Feather jumps out of the glass. The wine is elegant and excellent, rich and juicy with a firm but balanced structure. Powerful yet elegant, it is round and ripe with a ripe attack. Richly layered, it offers plenty of longevity. The wine is always fresh, ripe, and pure! Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2048
Long Shadows Vintners 2022 Saggi
Beginning with a sweet oak-driven nose and notes of smoked flowers, the 2022 Saggi is intense. The palate tells a different story, showing a somewhat driven, tightened, and nimble, compact core with racy acidity. It is immensely pleasurable, fresh, and succulent with brightness and life. It has a slightly spicy tannic edge with sour cherry and spiced plum notes. It has a very long, textured finish that ends with a tannic and phenolic grip. This wine will take you on a journey! Wow! Enjoy with food!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2045
Long Shadows Vintners 2023 Dance
Instantly impressive, the 2023 Dance shows elegance, purity, freshness, and precision. The wine is beautifully rich and round with fine mineral tension and succulent acidity. Hovering around 14% alcohol, it has immense complexity and elegant oak that is well-integrated. With hints of toasted lemons, pastry cream, and spiced lemons, it is medium to full-bodied. It has a fresh, spicy finish, elegant freshness, and is rich, round, and very elegant, over-delivering for the price. Bravo!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2038
Long Shadows Vintners 2024 Cymbal
A classic Sauvignon Blanc, the 2024 Cymbal features notes of lemons, under-ripe peach, and grapefruit. It has fine mineral tension, succulent acidity, and a fresh citrus core. The wine is pure, pleasurable, and very food-friendly with a soft phenolic grip and an elegant hint of new French oak at 20%.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2034
Long Shadows Vintners 2024 Poet’s Leap
Pure, fresh, complex, and lively, the 2024 Poet’s Leap offers notes of peaches, flowers, and lime candies with a crisp minerality. The wine is dry, featuring a delightfully fresh and complex mouthfeel. It is lively with rich acidity and a succulent finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2034
Long Shadows Vintners 2021 Pedestal
Juicy and succulent, the 2021 Pedestal has a fresh, plummy nature with a fresh core of fruit and an attractive dark red and black berry essence. The wine is pure, elegant, and full-bodied. It is very pleasant, fresh, and complex. It features a graphite finish with spiced black plum skin on the spicy, lingering finish. Nicely done! Bravo! Very food-friendly. I want more.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2053
Lu & Oly 2023 We Sat by the Ocean
Fresh and fleshy with notes of peach and yellow apples, the 2023 We Sat by the Ocean is pure, complex, and delightfully layered. It has a subtle complexity that over-delivers for this price point! Medium-bodied, the wine is inviting and brings me back for more.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Lu & Oly 2024 Flowerhead Sauvignon Blanc
Fresh and citrus-driven with lively action on the nose, the 2024 Flowerhead Sauvignon Blanc offers hints of peaches and yellow apples. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has succulent acidity and freshness that drives the finish, bringing me back for more! Wow! For the price you can’t beat it!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2028
Lu & Oly 2024 Flowerhead Rosé
A simple, straightforward rosé, the 2024 Flowerhead Rosé has good acidity and freshness. Built for speed, enjoy it well-chilled and drink over the next few years. It has me daydreaming of beet and chèvre cheese salad. Yum!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2027
Lu & Oly 2024 Flowerhead Pinot Gris
Clean with notes of pineapple and peach, the 2024 Flowerhead Pinot Gris has a softly nutty note that lifts the nose alongside white flowers and citrus blossoms. Medium-bodied, the wine is spicy and food-friendly, offering a kiss of phenolic bitterness on the finish that is varietally correct. Watch out for these wines, they over-deliver for the price, offering quality far beyond the price tag. Bravo!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2028
Madrona Bay 2021 Yakima Valley Syrah
High-toned and red-fruited with hints of flowers and spices, the 2021 Yakima Valley Syrah is quite enjoyable. It has an open-knit expression with notes of graphite, roasted coffee bean, and a soft nuance of Guinness beer on the finish. Very food-friendly, enjoy with steaks and chops.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Madrona Bay 2021 Jumping Rock
Open-knit and approachable, the 2021 Jumping Rock has a nose with a kiss of volatility, alongside a dense and chewy core of dark fruit profile and extract. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is complex and slowly grows in amplitude and scope on the palate. Very pleasing and fresh, it ends softly tannic and will be better with food. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Madrona Bay NV Phenolic Sunshine
With a slightly smudged fruit complement, the NV Phenolic Sunshine is quite dense and chewy. The tannins stick to the gum line, and the wine will benefit from an additional chill to the bottle before serving.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2026-2034
Mark Ryan Winery 2024 Viognier
With an utterly gorgeous nose, the 2024 Viognier is fleshy and floral with layered freshness, peachy notes, and apricot. It features hints of banana and musk melon. The wine is impressively layered and spicy, broad and textural, with a classic phenolic bitterness. It is profoundly complex and continues to offer up layers of unmistakably Viognier character. The wine is utterly impressive and delivers pleasure at every turn. Bravo!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 The Dissident
An impressive Cab with picturesque red and black fruit, the 2023 The Dissident features oak spices and earthy notes all weaved together with a seamless expression. This medium to full-bodied wine has a gorgeous frame that delivers. The wine is elegant, fresh, complex, and refined, over-delivering with a rich, round, and precise profile.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Mark Ryan Winery 2022 Long Haul
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Long Haul features rich, firm, ripe extract. The wine is complex, dusty, and ripe with a kiss of volatility expressed across the mid-palate, but nothing that time and the bold, extracted fruit won’t resolve. The wine has precision and finesse.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2042
Mark Ryan Winery 2022 Lonely Heart
Devastatingly gorgeous, the 2022 Lonely Heart is the softest and most elegant in style of the range this year. It is already delivering generous freshness with a balanced profile of dusty dark red fruit and black fruit essence tied to oak spices that sway with a fine mineral edge. Instantly impressive, the wine’s palate doesn’t disappoint. The wine grows in amplitude, expression, and richness. It is succulent, fresh, pure, sincere, and complex, continuing to uncoil and offer up its secrets. I can’t put my glass down! Wow!!!!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Mark Ryan Winery 2022 Old Vines
Firm and red-fruited, the 2022 Old Vines features notes of black plums and blackberry essence with a spicy core underneath the expression. Firm and extracted, the wine has a tannic backbone for a medium to full-bodied wine, ending with a lingering, spicy finish. Very enjoyable. Decanting is recommended, give it time.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2045
Mark Ryan Winery 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
A classic Sauvignon Blanc with elegance and class, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc has plenty of layers. It features hints of dusty Meyer lemon peels, freshness, and complexity. Medium-bodied, the wine has hints of under-ripe tropical fruit and under-ripe pineapples. It finishes with a lingering, spicy, citrus-driven finish. Very nice!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Mark Ryan Winery 2024 Chardonnay
With hints of sautéed yellow apples, white pear, and Asian pear, the 2024 Chardonnay is very fresh, classic, and very complex. Featuring hints of banana, this medium to full-bodied wine is layered with hints of melon and fine mineral tension.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Olivia Grace
Still primary, the 2023 Olivia Grace is dusty, dark red-fruited, and spicy. Still tight, it needs another year in bottle to come around. It has a touch of sticky tannins, a touch of coriander seed, spicy red peppercorns, and dusty red flowers. The wine ends with a long, lingering, spicy finish. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2038
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Wild Eyed
Dark, ripe, and dusty, the 2023 Wild Eyed has firm mineral tension. The wine has an earthy, iron-rich ferric tension with a black raspberry and dusty core wrapped with dark red berries. It has a long, spicy finish. Decanting is recommended and enjoy with food!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Mark Ryan Winery 2022 Lost Soul
A finessed Syrah with elegance and grace, the 2022 Lost Soul is fresh and complex. It is beautifully done, very primed, elegant, and powerful. Very flashy and fine.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2042
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Crazy Mary
Spicy and really serious, the 2023 Crazy Mary is peppery and dark, dusty-fruited. It has a delightfully mineral grip and a firm tannic edge. Very food-friendly, expressive, and clean, it features hints of dusty potpourri, tar, and dark black cherry skin. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Caballo Muerto
With deep, dark purple tones, spiced plum compote, and black raspberry, the 2023 Caballo Muerto has hints of savory aspects. It offers a lively mouthfeel with energetic acidity and a firm minerality. Full-bodied, fresh, and luscious, it is beautifully made! Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Monkey Wrench
Dusty dark red fruit and black fruits meet some soft oak and subtle savory tones over a fine mineral edge in the 2023 Monkey Wrench. Medium to full-bodied, it has a kiss of oak. Very fresh and complex, it over-delivers for the price. Buy the case!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Long Haul
Freshness meets finesse in the 2023 Long Haul. A very beautiful Merlot blend, it is medium to full-bodied. Still tight, it has great bones and will go the distance. It ends with a very long finish. Bravo!!!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Little Sister
Finesse, freshness, and purity define the 2023 Little Sister. Full-bodied, elegant, and smooth, it is silky, complex, and layered. A lively and lovely wine, it ends with a long, food-friendly finish.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2050
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Water Witch
Firm, rich, and zesty with mineral tension, the 2023 Water Witch is complex. The wine is big and juicy with a powerful tannic structure. It is brilliantly dense and fresh.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2040
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Dead Horse
With a dusty style, rustic structure, ripe levels, and dark fruit, the 2023 Dead Horse is dark-fruited with luxurious notes on a long, lingering finish. Very food-friendly, it has sticky tannins. Give it time. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Old Vines
A big Cab with plenty to be happy about, the 2023 Old Vines shows freshness and finesse meeting power and precision. Like driving in a Corvette, the wine is bold and very refined.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2045
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Lonely Heart
Finessed, refined, elegant, and composed, the 2023 Lonely Heart is very refined. The epitome of world-class Cab, it is very attractive now and going strong. The wine is ready to rock and dance for decades.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2050
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Lucia Rose
Possessing a dense core with a rocky grip, crème de violette, candied hibiscus flower, and a graphite grip, the 2023 Lucia Rose is an impressive offering. Very pleasing, it is a beautiful and elegant wine. Classic, robust, ripe, and still primary, it is fresh with a long, spicy finish.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Massalto 2022 Artisan
Big and black and blue-fruited with blueberry notes, the 2022 Artisan is fresh and expressive. The wine is juicy and firm with a firm tannic frame. It has not seen new French oak. It is tannic.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2036
Massalto 2022 Extravaganza
Red-fruited in expression with a juicy core of dusty raspberry and plum skin, the 2022 Extravaganza is pure and fresh. It is very enjoyable and expressive.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2033
Massalto 2022 Façade
A white wine from Pinot Noir, the 2022 Façade has a rather neutral and subdued expression. Medium to full-bodied, it has a more textural expression. It is fresh, fun, and a bit of a cerebral wine that enjoys its space in non-conformity.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Massalto 2022 Interstellar
Dusty and red-fruited with notes of petrichor and cherry skin, the 2022 Interstellar has a kiss of stemminess. With a fresh frame of red fruit, it glides to a subtly spicy finish. Delightful, it is very food-friendly and goes down all too easily.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Massalto 2022 Irreverent
Instantly impressive with a nose that captures your attention, the 2022 Irreverent is fresh, complex, and layered with notes of cereal grain, mandarin, honeysuckle, and Asian pear. This medium to full-bodied wine is very food-friendly, juicy, and inviting across the finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Massalto 2022 Sauvalanche
Fresh and complex with a unique core, the 2022 Sauvalanche has citrus tones and peachy expressions that sit at the core of this expression. Medium to full-bodied, the wine ends with a softly phenolic and spicy finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2033
Massalto 2022 Side Effect
With rotundone, peppercorns, bacon fat, sausage, dark red fruit, and hung meats, the 2022 Side Effect is medium to full-bodied. Solid, pure, and crystalline, it offers a broad and approachable expression.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Massalto 2022 Seppuku
Instantly impressive with quite a shine, the 2022 Seppuku features a spicy Syrah nose filled with tart cherries, hung meat, and an umami character. It has firm tannins and is very pleasurable. Very food-friendly! Wow! Yum!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Massalto 2022 The Point of No Return
A classic Grenache with a red-fruited core and a spicy edge, the 2022 The Point of No Return is pure. It has a good tannic edge and is floral. Very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Matteo Wines 2020 Merlot
Beginning with a volatile nose, the 2020 Merlot is ripe, rich, and broad-shouldered with a generous expression and extracted fruit essence that sways with prominent oak spices. Full-bodied and full of character, the wine is bold, quite tannic, and spicy. Decanting is recommended as well as adding an additional chill to the bottle before opening.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2040
Matteo Wines 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bold and dark-fruited with a kiss of volatility and herbal essences on the nose, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon still has present oak. The wine is very fresh and succulent with fine-grained tannins. It features notes of black raspberry and blackberry jus. Complexly layered, it offers a bold and broad-shouldered expression that will please the bold Cab lovers of the world.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2045
Matteo Wines 2020 The Rocks Grenache
Dark red-fruited with a dense and chewy core, the 2020 The Rocks Grenache has a bold and expressive nose that is also subdued and softly quiet. The wine shrinks on the palate to show a hot expression and boozy finish with the tannins beginning to stick out. The wine is firm and should be consumed on the younger side. Give this bottle an additional chill to suppress some of the elevated alcohol notes.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2034
Matthews 2023 Sauvignon Blanc
Clean, crisp, fresh, and citrus-driven, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is slightly broad. The wine is a beautiful, mineral expression with a softly leesy character. Medium to full-bodied, it has great mineral tension and a kiss of phenolic bitterness on the palate. The wine has amazing tension and shows being slightly cloudy from being unfiltered. It is immensely pleasurable, fresh, and food-friendly.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Matthews 2022 Merlot
Plummy and expressive, the 2022 Merlot is dark-fruited. Expressive notes of dusty black cherry are quite mineral and complex on the nose and palate. It has hints of graphite and is quite generous in style, but it doesn’t fall over the edge. Best with succulent, lifting tannins, it is very pleasurable.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Matthews 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich and round, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has a palate that is succulent and pitch-perfect. Slightly mineral and a touch tannic at its current state, the wine has lovely black cherry. Medium to full-bodied with fresh intensity and hints of savory goodness hidden just under the nose, the plush, dark red and black fruit tones sway with precision. It ends with a very pleasurable, food-friendly finish. Bravo! Where else are you going to find a wine of this caliber at $55 a bottle? Wow!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Matthews 2022 Cuvee
A serious nose with floral, fresh, and black-fruited core, the 2022 Cuvee features hints of bitter dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is very textural and beautifully complex. It slowly unwinds with freshness and a phenolic grip that is still tightly wound, but will remain food-friendly for years to come. Very pleasurable.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Matthews 2022 Claret
Beautifully expressive, the 2022 Claret is very pleasurable. It is dusty, plummy, and big. The wine is both juicy and fresh with an open-knit approachability. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is generous, refined, ripe, and mineral-driven. Nicely done.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Matthews 2023 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Instantly impressive and devastatingly gorgeous, the 2023 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc has all the things that I love with a generous SB. Very expressive, rich, and round, it has notes of lemon pastry cream and elegant honey spices throughout the wine’s profile. Textural and with a commitment to this very tense, fresh, spicy, rich, and round style, it does not quit. The best SB that I’ve tasted this year from Washington! Bravo!!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Matthews 2022 Reserve Merlot
Bigger, juicy, and firm, the 2022 Reserve Merlot is elegant and expressive. Plummy and chocolatey, this Merlot is bold and spicy. It features chocolate and blackberry notes with fresh tannins and a spicy finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Matthews 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc
Fresh, sturdy, ripe, and generously weighted, the 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc still has a spicy, red-fruited heart of red pepper pyrazines. It is pure in a generous frame, and is utterly pleasurable. This wine will please even the most critical of Cab Franc drinkers. It’s utterly gorgeous with a balanced structure. It ends with a delightfully spiced plum compote, savory sweet oak, and brown baking spice finish. Very polished and succulent.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2042
Matthews 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm and tannic, the 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has a juicy edge that shows its oak expression. Full-bodied, fresh, dark, and intense, the wine is juicy, rich, and ripe. Very impressive, it features notes of chocolate and brown baking spices. The wine slowly uncoils with a chewy texture and firm tannins. It is complex and will need time.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2043
Matthews 2022 Reserve Cuvee
Silky, plummy, and fresh, the 2022 Reserve Cuvee is ripe, rich, and round with an expressive, succulent, and elegant core of attractive fruit. The wine is generous and luscious with notes that swirl with texture and weight. It has very surprising richness and fruit. The tannins are still a touch sticky. It ends with a bitter dark chocolate note. It will be food-friendly for more years.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2043
Matthews 2022 Reserve Claret
Fresh, textured, ripe, structured, layered, and complex, the 2022 Reserve Claret is dusty and dark-fruited. Tannic and firm, it is always spicy and generous. It is still tight, but will fill its shoes. The wine is very food-friendly and will be a beautifully structured juggernaut.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Medina 2024 Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir
Red-fruited with a darker core of fruit, the 2024 Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir has a dusty, layered, firm, and sturdy core that will remain food-friendly for years to come. Medium-bodied and youthful, it has youthful tannins and energetic acidity. It ends with a spicy finish. Made with 30% whole cluster.
Score: 89-91 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Medina 2024 Yamhill Springs Bellpine Ridge Block Pinot Noir
Bold and firm for a Pinot, the 2024 Yamhill Springs Bellpine Ridge Block Pinot Noir has grip and grit. The wine has youthful tannins and a firm, dark, dusty core that will remain food-friendly for years to come. It ends with a spicy finish. Made with 10% whole cluster.
Score: 90-92 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Mercer Wine Estates 2024 Small Lot Viognier
Beautiful and floral with layers of peach, yellow apples, and honeysuckle, the 2024 Small Lot Viognier is fresh and offers complex citrus aromas. It coats the palate. Medium-bodied, the mid-palate offers up a delightful mineral tension and has a kiss of phenolics that makes this wine very food-friendly. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Mercer Wine Estates 2024 Small Lot Sauvignon Blanc
Peachy and tropical for a SB, the 2024 Small Lot Sauvignon Blanc has a nose of sweet Meyer lemon and under-ripe pineapple. Medium-bodied, the palate is straightforward and fresh. It ends with a clean finish. Built for speed, not distance. Enjoy well chilled over the next few years.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2027
Mercer Wine Estates 2022 Small Lot Carmenere
Very green peppery on the nose with notes of ancho reyes and ancho vert, the 2022 Small Lot Carmenere is clean and offers varietal purity in a smaller frame. The wine is medium-bodied and red-fruited with a smoky pepper finish. Enjoy with fajitas.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Mercer Wine Estates 2021 Small Lot Cabernet Sauvignon
A dark red and black-fruited expression with turned earth, dusty flowers, and oak spices, the 2021 Small Lot Cabernet Sauvignon is medium to full-bodied. The wine is fresh, pure, and elegant, not overdone. It features balanced tannins and alcohol, and a succulent, spiced finish. Enjoy with food.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Mercer Wine Estates 2021 Reserve Cavalie Red Bordeaux Blend
Bolder in style with dark, dusty fruit tones, the 2021 Reserve Cavalie Red Bordeaux Blend is complex and layered with a mineral essence. Medium to full-bodied, the tannic edge grips and holds through the finish, making this a very pleasing and food-friendly wine. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Milbrandt 2022 Brothers Blend
Simple, straightforward, and fresh, the 2022 Brothers Blend offers primary red fruit notes. Medium-bodied, the wine is slightly tannic and is meant for speed, not distance, delivering well for the price.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2030
Milbrandt 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Featuring dusty red fruit with a firm tension that holds through the finish, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon delivers with core layers and has a spicy finish, presenting a solid, value-driven Cabernet expression.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Mullan Road Cellars 2023 Royal Slope Chardonnay
Simple and marzipan-like with notes of peach, the 2023 Royal Slope Chardonnay is rather flat on the palate and finishes quickly.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Mullan Road Cellars 2022 Royal Slope Cabernet Sauvignon
Red and black-fruited with succulent acidity, a ripe attack, and a complex nature, the 2022 Royal Slope Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautifully balanced wine. The wine is fresh and delivers a quality wine-drinking experience. It finishes with fine-grained tannins that are fresh and succulent.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Muret-Gaston 2021 Jean
An SB blend, the 2021 Jean has a straw wine essence with notes of golden raisin, baked golden delicious apples, and candied lemon. The wine is brilliantly balanced and fresh with a sweet core of honey, citrus, and poached apples. Full-bodied and not overly sweet, this is excellently layered and ready for dessert.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Muret-Gaston 2022 Rouge
Presenting high-toned red fruit with a sincere expression that quietly grows on me, the 2022 Rouge is a captivating wine. The wine is subtly spiced and floral, with roasted black raspberry and dark cherry, a kiss of peppercorn and a wild-berry essence that wafts from the nose, with hints of potpourri and turned earth. Medium-bodied, the wine is beautifully balanced with succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins that prove bigger isn’t better—better is better. It ends with a delightfully light, lingering, subtly spiced finish that is so elegant I can’t help but want to enjoy another glass. Bravo!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Muret-Gaston 2022 Blanc
A beautiful nose with peachy notes, compounded by petrichor and fresh notes of marzipan, lemon drop, and beeswax, defines the 2022 Blanc. The nose seems spicy and softly leesy. Light to medium-bodied, the wine shows amazing texture and weight with a leesy phenolic bitterness and surprising mineral tension. The wine is acid-driven with a succulent finish that brings me back for another sip. Very pleasurable and delightful, it has me craving hard cheeses.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
Muret-Gaston 2022 Grenache
Pure, ripe, fresh, and complexly layered, the 2022 Grenache is a stunning expression. The wine is ripe with a soft frame and a juicy core of fruit. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has notes of wild strawberry and turned earth with a kiss of mineral tension and lingering spicy tannins. Very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Muret-Gaston 2023 Picpoul
Initially a subdued wine with a citrus core and a softer, more neutral nose that has essences of petrichor and dusty citrus blossoms, the 2023 Picpoul is full of surprises. The wine explodes on the palate to reveal succulent acidity that makes me salivate, and it shows a lovely mineral tension. Very pleasurable and food-friendly. I love that there is interest in Picpoul in Washington State. Very tasty stuff!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
Naches Heights Vineyard 2023 Albarino
Simple and appley with notes of sweet Meyer lemon and hints of cider wafting from the nose, the 2023 Albarino is a delightful pour. The wine is straightforward, the palate is citrus-driven, and it has a clean and refreshing finish. Enjoy well-chilled.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2028
Naches Heights Vineyard 2023 Sagrantino
A classic expression with a dark red-fruited and bold nose, the 2023 Sagrantino features an extracted and firm profile that has a touch of rusticity and spice in the glass. The palate reveals the density of Sagrantino with firm tannins that grip the gum line and hold through the finish. A very dense and chewy wine, this will be food-friendly for years to come. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2027-2036
Naches Heights Vineyard 2023 Carmen Tempranillo
Generic and red-fruited with firm backbones of tannins and graphite, the 2023 Carmen Tempranillo lacks somewhat in varietal purity. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is dense and structured almost too much, ending with a hot, spicy finish that will benefit from being paired with food.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Nine Hats 2023 Red Wine
Showcasing a red-fruited and dusty core with some hints of savory herbs and wild brush, the 2023 Red Wine is a captivating blend. The wine is fresh and rich but still tight. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is balanced and textured, delivering a food-friendly finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Nine Hats 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm, rich, and round with hints of bitter dark chocolate, roasted coffee bean, dusty blackberry, and dark plums, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is a standout. The wine has a kiss of oak spices that lift the mid-palate. Full-bodied, firm, and structured, the wine delivers great balance and finishes well at this price point. Nicely done!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Nine Hats 2024 Pinot Gris
Expressive and peachy with sweet citrus, the 2024 Pinot Gris is a delightful pour. The wine is fresh and softly phenolic, possessing tension with notes of pineapple. The wine is medium-bodied and has a spicy core tied with a kiss of phenolic bitterness that over-delivers for the price. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2029
Nine Hats 2024 Riesling
Lime candied with a kiss of reduction, the 2024 Riesling has a nose that is softly closed initially. After rigorous swirling, the wine opens out to a citrus core and limey essence with green apple notes. The mouthfeel is squeaky clean.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Nine Hats 2024 Chardonnay
Nutty and leesy notes of lemon pastry cream express with a fresh and fleshy core that comes together nicely across the mid-palate in the 2024 Chardonnay. Medium-bodied and value-driven, it over-delivers for the price point. It ends with a crisp, succulent finish of lemon tart and sweet Meyer lemon.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2030
No Girls Wines 2022 Double Lucky #8
Classic and fresh, the 2022 Double Lucky #8 is just ripe and still very primary. It offers a spicy, red-fruited, pure, mineral-driven potpourri. Complex, layered, and with spiced plum skin, it is a very delightful red blend that over-delivers for the price! For anyone who loves Commando G in Spain, this will strike a chord of pleasure!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
No Girls Wines 2022 La Paciencia Vineyard Grenache
Showcasing potpourri, floral, and spicy notes, the 2022 La Paciencia Vineyard Grenache offers elegant purity and freshness. Very clean, earthy, and with wild black raspberry, it is medium to full-bodied. It is brilliant and food-friendly.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2043
No Girls Wines 2022 La Paciencia Vineyard Syrah
Bright, bold, and structured, the 2022 La Paciencia Vineyard Syrah reveals black raspberry, violets, and a floral potpourri essence with sweet red peppercorn. The wine has depth and texture with balanced earthy flowers and dark, dusty fruit. Medium to full-bodied, with a lingering floral elegance, it has a very tasty finish with hints of earthy peat.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2045
No Girls Wines 2022 No Girls Tempranillo
Savory, fresh, earthy, and elegant with notes of sour plums, the 2022 No Girls Tempranillo reveals a dusty dark cherry note with a spicy, beautiful, and very food-friendly finish. Enjoy with a meal!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2045
Northstar 2022 Merlot
Dark red-fruited and dusty with an iron and ferric core, the 2022 Merlot is a compelling wine. The wine has a dense, chewy inkiness about the nose. The Merlot is tannic on the palate with its medium to full-bodied expression. It slowly evolves to show elegant oak expression and mineral tension. Firm and tannic, the wine will be food-friendly for years to come. Just be patient.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Northstar 2022 Premier Merlot
Firmly layered and structured with intent and precision, the 2022 Premier Merlot is a standout. A bolder style Merlot, the wine is complex and dark-fruited. It is quite enjoyable, fresh, fleshy, and slightly slow to uncoil, so it should develop beautifully in the bottle over the years. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Northstar 2022 Premier Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm, structured, and still very tight, the 2022 Premier Cabernet Sauvignon needs time in the glass to come around and rigorous swirling. After swirling, the wine starts to open to reveal dusty red fruit and expressive spiced plum skin and blackberry essence that sway with oak. After minutes in the glass, the wine slowly begins to gain momentum and express more layers of complexity and oak, with fruit extract, potpourri, and dark black raspberry notes. The wine’s mouthfeel is still tight, telling me it needs more time in bottle, but it has impressive structure and spicy layers.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Northstar 2022 Red Blend
Open-knit and approachable, the 2022 Red Blend is expressive and readily accessible, offering a savory and umami nature that reminds me of Walla Walla. The wine is dusty and dark-fruited with notes of turned earth and oak. Full-bodied, the wine is spicy and ends with a slightly boozy finish. An extra chill on the bottle before opening will help.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Numbskull 2023 BDX
Featuring a classic red and black-fruited core, the 2023 BDX is rocky and fresh with sticky tannins. The wine has a delightful, very clean profile and over-delivers for the price. Buy the case!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Obelisco Estate 2020 III Nefer
Big, bold, and beautiful, the 2020 III Nefer is dense and chewy with a ripe attack and juicy core of dusty red and black fruit essences lifted by oak spices and potpourri. There are hints of a fine herbal grip on the nose and mid-palate. The wine is firm with complex layers that slowly uncoil and wind on the palate, ending with a very pleasurable finish. The wine is very fresh and delightful at its core. It is complex, spicy, and very food-friendly. Wow! Decanting recommended.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2050
Obelisco Estate 2020 Merlot
Big and juicy with an intense nose featuring plum reduction and blackberry jus, the 2020 Merlot is a powerful expression. Spicy and dense, the mid-palate is full-bodied and hot, ending with a bold and spicy finish. It has an almost too hot and boozy finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Obelisco Estate 2020 Malbec
Firm and black-fruited with a rich core of sappy dark fruit, stern structure, and spicy tannins that grip and hold through the finish, the 2020 Malbec is a serious wine. Bigger isn’t always better. The wine is rich and chewy and will need time to come around.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Obelisco Estate 2021 Electrum
Showing hints of volatility, sappy blackberry, and spicy oak tones, the 2021 Electrum is an intriguing pour. The wine is mineral-driven and rustic on the palate with firm, gripping tannins that show the structure of the wine driving the finish, as the fruit expression takes the back seat.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2037
Obelisco Estate 2022 Nefer Red Blend
Firm and red-fruited with a vibrant core of spiced plum compote and dark cinnamon sour cherries jubilee, the 2022 Nefer Red Blend is a robust wine. The wine is dense, slightly spicy, and cherry-driven with a firm tannic backbone. Layered, fresh, and complex, the wine is delightful and finishes with a kick.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Öömrang 2023 Estate Müller Thurgau
Bright and expressive with elegant sweetness and fleshy lime candy, alongside a core of citrus blossoms, the 2023 Estate Müller Thurgau is a delight. The wine is pure, expressive, and lively with a sweet kiss of reduction, but is immensely pleasurable. The acidity is beautifully managed and energetically lively. It features notes of orange oil and Meyer lemon. The wine is succulent and ends with a spicy, citrus-driven finish. It is very food-friendly. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Öömrang 2023 Estate Siegerrebe
Showing a bit more unctuousness, mouthfeel, and weight on the palate, the 2023 Estate Siegerrebe is a compelling wine. The wine has texture and a fuzzy phenolic grip that adds complexity. It has a seductive yet pure expression, with the acids and residual sugar balanced beautifully. It is very pleasurable. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Öömrang 2023 Estate Sylvaner
Fresh, complex, pure, and delightful, the 2023 Estate Sylvaner is a stunning wine. It is very crisp and acid-driven with apricot and white peach notes under Meyer lemon and lime candy. Medium-bodied and nimble, the acidity and residual sugar allow this beauty to glide effortlessly to a rich, succulent, and food-friendly finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2033
Öömrang 2023 Estate Kerner
Initially very reductive and needing rigorous swirling in the glass to open it up, the 2023 Estate Kerner is a wine built for the long haul. The wine has notes of peach blossoms, apricots, and white citrus blossoms under the reduction. The wine will likely last for decades with its tight structure, but the acidity and residual sugar are impressively succulent and will be utterly fantastic with cheese and other dishes. Bravo!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2052
Öömrang 2022 Estate Brut
Crisp and zesty with a citrus core and laser acidity that beams across the palate, the 2022 Estate Brut is a vibrant sparkler. It shows freshness and complexity with a long, spicy core of yellow and golden delicious apples. The wine is lively and bright with a clean finish that ends with spicy notes and has me craving fried shellfish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Öömrang 2022 Estate Demi-Sec
Bright, succulent, and spicy with notes of roasted apple and pear, lemon zest, underripe peaches, and a hint of saffron, the 2022 Estate Demi-Sec is a joy to drink. The wine is vibrant, complex, and very pleasurable. It is very food-friendly, and it delights me back for another sip. Nicely done!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2040
Öömrang 2024 Estate Rosé
Made from 100% Domina, the 2024 Estate Rosé is uniquely enticing and wonderfully cerebral. Its color is a pale ruby, which is darker for a rosé. Offering a kiss of reductive notes, the aromatic profile is expressive with notes of strawberry rhubarb, turned earth, and forest floor with subtle hints of matchstick and lemon rind. The palate shows a medium-bodied wine with plenty of structure and bright acidity to allow this to linger and remain food-friendly for about a decade. Notes of poached pears and cherries with lemon zest show a soft note of caramelization on the mid-palate before the bright and energetic acidity drives the profoundly delicious and wonderfully cerebral wine. There is a hint of worn leather on the finish that reminds me of peach skin and chokecherry. Bravo! This is hands down the most unique rosé that I’ve had this year, and I can’t put down my glass.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Öömrang 2023 Somm Riesling
Offering a fresh, crisp, and simple nose with notes of Meyer lemon, pineapple, candied lime, green apple, and white peach with hints of jasmine, the 2023 Somm Riesling is a delight. Light to medium-bodied and clocking in at 12% alcohol, the palate is fresh, clean, and sweet citrus-driven with notes of mandarin orange, kiwi, and yellow peach. It glides to a delightful and softly lingering finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Passing Time 2022 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon
Elegance and ripeness with oak nuances and vibrant dark fruit essence sway with precision and focus in the 2022 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon. This is beautiful. The wine is medium to full-bodied with notes of oak spices, baking spices, and graphite, alongside blackberry jus and spiced plum compote. The wine is structured and balanced with firm tannins and a long-lasting, lingering spicy finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2042
Passing Time 2022 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm, layered, and structured, the 2022 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is dense and chewy with elegant oak notes that lift the expression with dusty lavender and black raspberry notes. The full-bodied wine is generous and firm with a rocky core that entices at every turn. Very complex and expressive, the wine is juicy and pure. It ends with a rustic iron edge and ferric grip that sways with a ripe attack of juicy dark red fruit tones and elegant oak spices. Nicely done!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Passing Time 2022 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm, structured, and dark red-fruited with a more open-knit and approachable nose, the 2022 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a robust wine. The wine is very compact, dense, and chewy, and will be very food-friendly. Dark and savory, it is ready for steaks and chops.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2040
Passing Time 2022 Columbia Valley Red Wine
Rich, round, and juicy with an attractive core of dark red and black fruit tones that sway with minerality, lifting resinous purple flowers, and sweet oak baking spices, the 2022 Columbia Valley Red Wine is a standout. Full-bodied and firmly fresh, the palate is dense and chewy and meant for food. A very pleasing expression that is complex and crushes for the price; this really should be above the $100 mark.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Passing Time 2023 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, juicy, and ripe, the 2023 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon is expressive, floral, refined, and pure with notes of spiced plum compote, blackberry jus, and exotic baking spices from the 80% new French oak. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is pure, balanced, and fresh, offering succulent tannins with a lively, rich, round texture. On the finish, the wine is focused, pure, and vibrant, offering a high pleasure factor at every turn, concluding with a sweetly spiced ripeness that will remain food-friendly for years to come.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2040
Passing Time 2023 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Darker and brooding in the glass than the Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet, the 2023 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon offers a ripe and firm expression with a dusty and iron core holding the fruit together. The nose is slow to unwind, uncoiling in the glass to reveal additional layers of resinous purple flowers, black cherry skin, and notes of elegant spices that lift the overall expression. Full-bodied, firm, and offering gripping, food-friendly tannins, the palate is fresh, hedonistic, and ripe, and will need an additional year in the bottle before opening. Decanting recommended. Enjoy with a meal.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2038
Passing Time 2023 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
And darkest yet of the Cabernets, the 2023 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is bold, ripe, and decadent with succulent plums, black raspberry, and spiced black fruits that waft from the nose, with a delightful lift of brown baking spices that support the frame and core of the juicy fruit characteristics. Full-bodied, the palate is slightly gooey, showing the hedonistic expression, offering flavor profiles of plum and black raspberry pâté fruit, with bitter dark chocolate. The wine concludes with a lingering tannic grip that will remain a powerhouse for more than a decade.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2038
Passing Time 2023 Block 1311
Instantly impressive in the glass, the 2023 Block 1311 is profoundly rich, plush, and attractive with all of the bells and whistles singing in unison. Layers of ripe, succulent plums, spiced blackberry, and ripe black raspberry essences float effortlessly out of the glass exposing a delightful array of red and purple flowers, supported by exotic spices. Full-bodied, rich, and complex, the palate reveals even more intricate layers to the wine, giving way to a balanced structure with melting tannins and with food-friendly acidity. The wine continues to unwind across the long, lingering finish that has me coming back for more. This is a devastatingly beautiful wine that will benefit from decanting. Enjoy it with your favorite cuts of red meat, chops, and heartier cheeses. Bravo!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2050
Passing Time 2023 Columbia Valley Red Wine
Clean, structured, and dusty with dark red and black fruited characteristics, the 2023 Columbia Valley Red Wine has a softly mineral nose with soft oak essences. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm, food-friendly, complex, and ready for action. It over-delivers for the price point. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2035
Passing Time 2023 Columbia Valley Merlot
Vibrant, ripe, juicy, succulent, and earthy, the 2023 Columbia Valley Merlot is fresh, softly dusty, and pure. It is medium to full-bodied with a balanced structure, offering fine-grained tannins and delivers a delightfully lingering, food-friendly finish. Nicely done! This is a beautiful Merlot.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2035
Pollard Vineyard 2022 Pollard Cabernet Franc
Incredibly perfumed, the 2022 Pollard Cabernet Franc is fresh and floral. It is transparent, showing its place of origin. It is picturesque, pure, and expressive. Clean and sincere, it has a kiss of pyrazines. The wine is pure, elegant, and perfumed with a finish that is very approachable and gives a lot of pleasure.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Pollard Vineyard 2022 Pollard Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh and pure with elegant oak tones that overflow, the 2022 Pollard Cabernet Sauvignon has a medium to full-bodied frame with succulent tannins and energetic acidity. It is fresh, bright, and pretty. This is a beautifully floral and elegant Cabernet. Yum!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Pollard Vineyard 2022 Pollard Merlot
With classic plummy essences, the 2022 Pollard Merlot is fresh, elegant, and pure. Medium-bodied, the wine is clean and silky smooth. It has fine-grained tannins and is very firm and lush. The wine is very food-friendly. Nicely done.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Portlandia 2023 Big Believer
Fleshy, plush, and round, the fruit components in the 2023 Big Believer are sweet, oak-laced, and ripe with notes of spiced plum compote and black raspberry with nutmeg and cinnamon spices. The medium to full-bodied expression coats the mouth with a succulent mouthfeel and ends with a generous fruit-driven finish and lifting oak essences. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Portlandia 2023 Red Blend
Showcasing notes of sweet oak and spices over dusty dark red and black fruit tones, the 2023 Red Blend is a compelling wine. The wine is firm, structured, and fleshy with notes of bitter dark chocolate. It will be better when paired with food.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Portlandia 2024 Rosé
Wild strawberry and lemon peel with notes of phenolic grip that sway with citrus and honeysuckle define the 2024 Rosé. Medium-bodied, the wine is spicy and fresh with a slight core of fruit. It ends with a simple, succulent, straightforward finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Portlandia 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Open-knit and non-descript, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is citrus at best and has me searching for its varietal typicity. The wine is a little hollow and leaves me looking for more character.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2028
Portlandia NV Sparkling Brut
A succulent nose with lemon and fresh Granny Smith apples, alongside notes of spiced lemon oil, makes the NV Sparkling Brut a delight. The wine is juicy, crisp, and easy-drinking. It offers energetic acidity and a fresh finish that has me coming back for another sip. It over-delivers for the price.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Pure Wine Pleasure 2024 SEX
Fresh with hints of reduction, the 2024 SEX comes from organically grown vines. Delightfully refreshing and subtly spiced, it offers hints of potpourri, cantaloupe, red flowers, sweet lemons, white peach, and guava. The wine is beautifully expressive, easy to drink, and delivers energetic acidity, ending with a crisp finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2029
Pursued by Bear 2024 Blushing Bear Rosé
A crisp and slightly nutty nose with notes of wild strawberry and lemon peel defines the 2024 Blushing Bear Rosé. The wine is succulent and vibrant with hints of watermelon and fresh lemon skin. It ends with a slightly lifted spicy finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Pursued by Bear 2024 Bear Cub Chardonnay
Clean and spicy lemon curd with a softly nutty, open-knit expression characterizes the 2024 Bear Cub Chardonnay. It offers hints of almond skin, soft baking spices, and sweet oak. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh with succulent acidity. It ends with a delightfully rich and spicy finish that has the fruit expression shrinking on the aftertaste and becoming subdued.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Pursued by Bear 2022 Bear Cub Red
Open-knit, ready, and approachable, the 2022 Bear Cub Red is a delight. The wine is dusty and primary, accessible in youth with dark red fruit expressions that sway with intensity and freshness. The wine is inviting with a spicy finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
Pursued by Bear 2021 Baby Bear Syrah
Spicy and pure with notes of blackberry, the 2021 Baby Bear Syrah is a standout. The wine is fresh and complex with layers of roasted coffee bean and dusty black currant. It ends with a savory finish and food-friendly tannins. Nicely done!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Quilceda Creek 2022 CVR
Vibrant and black-fruited with an elegant, fleshy attack, the 2022 CVR is juicy and plush with a bright, succulent core of fruit. It is medium to full-bodied, fresh, and shiny. It is still primary. The wine is firm. Yum!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Quilceda Creek 2022 Merlot
Elegant, pure, and expressive, the 2022 Merlot is plummy and ripe. It features a plush attack and firm, gripping, fine-grained tannins alongside notes of dusty fern. There is power and grace, and it is very food-friendly and fresh. Give it time.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2027-2052
Quilceda Creek 2022 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing classic, fresh quality with a velvety lushness and precision, the 2022 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is elegant, robust, and pure. It shows a juicy, firm backbone.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2050
Quilceda Creek 2022 Palengat
Beautiful and dark-fruited with lavender, oak, and a velvety texture, the 2022 Palengat is a delight. It is juicy, fresh, layered, and subtly spiced, yet continues to grow on the mid-palate and in the aftertaste.
Score: 99 | Drink: 2028-2055
Quilceda Creek 2022 Tchelistcheff
Instantly impressive and round, the 2022 Tchelistcheff has an aromatic profile that jumps out of the glass. The spicy expression enhances the wine’s overall enjoyment, showcasing its true power and juiciness. A brilliant and utterly profound wine that has me in a trance. Bravo!!!
Score: 100 | Drink: 2028-2060
Quilceda Creek 2022 Galitzine
Very firm, spicy, and tight, the 2022 Galitzine is an expansive, layered, and structured wine. It offers waves of juicy fruit with a firm tannic edge, leading to a long, generous finish.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2028-2060
R A 2023 JDA Project
A collaboration, the 2023 JDA Project is very prominent, correct, pure, fresh, and complex. Working with the Andrews family, it shows good bones, has layers, and offers something completely different from the Reynvaan Family wines. It is a brilliant, focused wine that over-delivers. Bravo! Nicely done! Set your calendars for the release.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026-2042
Real Wine 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Red-fruited and softly dusty, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is pure and fresh. Bottled under a Stelvin closure and produced organically, this medium-bodied wine has it all at a great price. Don’t let the screw cap scare you away; it is a simple but classic expression of Washington Cabernet. Nicely done!
Score: 89 | Drink: 2026-2028
Real Wine 2022 Chardonnay
Fresh and pure, the 2022 Chardonnay offers expressive notes that truly over-deliver for the price. Clean and medium-bodied, it showcases a refined expression that is both aged and fresh. It is quite delightful, expressive, and has plenty of energy.
Score: 88+ | Drink: 2025-2027
Reininger 2023 Helix Sangiovese
The 2023 Helix Sangiovese showcases succulent acidity, freshness, and purity, revealing notes of sour cherry and bright wild strawberries complemented by hints of wild herbs. This complex wine delivers exceptional value for the price. Medium-bodied, it features a hallmark beam of acidity that drives the finish while providing a pleasurable drinking experience.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2033
Reininger 2024 Helix Chardonnay
The 2024 Helix Chardonnay presents a softly nutty and acidic profile, with an invitingly open-knit character. However, on the palate, the wine tightens up, revealing a leaner acidity that feels a touch uneven. For the best experience, serve it extra cold.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2027
Reininger 2022 Helix Tucker Red
Juicy fruit, spicy, oaky, and fresh, the 2022 Helix Tucker Red showcases a harmonious balance that is both clean and expressive. This versatile and pure wine is an honest offering that delivers exceptional quality at a great price.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Reininger 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich and round, elegant and vibrant with a ripe attack and fresh dark red fruit tones, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful wine. The wine is still very primary and shiny, layered with fine-grained tannins. The wine is complex with a spicy, lingering finish. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Reininger 2021 Malbec
A touch volatile at the moment, the 2021 Malbec needs some swirling in the glass to kick out the sulphur. The wine is fresh and plush with a compact frame that expands on the palate to show a ripe and juicy core of black cherries and black raspberries. It’s a bit of a bulldozer but will go great with food. Decanting recommended.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2040
Result of a Crush 2023 White Blend
Made from 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Viognier, the 2023 White Blend offers soft notes of petrichor and lemon oil with subtle spiced and floral notes from the Viognier. The wine has a delightful weight and texture with the Grenache doing all of the heavy lifting on the palate. The Viognier plays a subtle supporting role with elegance, florals, and spices, while the Grenache Blanc adds the structure, mineral tension, and citrus core. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is very cerebral and expressive. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Result of a Crush 2022 The Unnamed Syrah
A classic Walla Walla Syrah with a savory umami essence that is slightly earthy and dusty-fruited, the 2022 The Unnamed Syrah reveals notes of worn leather and baked earth. Spicy peppercorn intertwines with notes of black raspberry jus. It ends with a spicy and savory finish. Nicely done! There are hints of iodine on the finish. Very cerebral and food-friendly.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Result of a Crush 2022 Christmas Cuvée
A bit more serious and fleshy, the 2022 Christmas Cuvée is firm and expressive. It is darker-berried and more structured, savory, and features a dark dusty core with a savory edge. The wine is solid and gripping with graphite. It ends with a firm tannic edge. The wine is very robust and food-friendly.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2037
Result of a Crush 2022 Reserve
Softer and slender on the nose and palate, the 2022 Reserve is more seamless and fresh with a compact frame that is nimble but delivers all the structure of the rest of the range. It’s juicy, vibrant, and mineral-driven with a savory edge that has me looking for charcuterie and sausages. The wine is immensely pleasurable, lively, complex, and continues to change on the ever-lingering finish. Wow!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2040
Result of a Crush 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
With stewed red and black fruit tones with a savory edge, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon shows the vibrancy of the fruit is slightly smudged. The wine is structured but turns somewhat mineral-driven and earthy on the finish, leaving me looking for more varietal purity and freshness.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 Viognier in the Rocks Vineyard
Pitch-perfect with beautiful weight, spice, and florals, the 2023 Viognier in the Rocks Vineyard is not overdone, with an exuberant and energetic feel. It has excellent tension, a kiss of phenolic bitterness, freshness, and varietal purity. The nose is spicy, peachy, and yellow appley, with orange oil and lemon peel notes. Medium to full-bodied, the weight and texture are pure and very food-friendly. A brilliant Viognier.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2022 The Contender Syrah
A Syrah with a shine, bitter plum, and sour cherry essence that pops brightly and explosively on the nose and palate, the 2022 The Contender Syrah slowly unwinds with meat and mint. The savory texture slowly uncoils and mouthwateringly lingers with lively potpourri notes. It is very food-friendly and very pleasurable. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2022 Foothills Reserve Syrah
Firing on all cylinders, the 2022 Foothills Reserve Syrah is fresh, pure, and compact, ready to go the distance. The wine is vibrant, spicy, and clean, finding the balance between savory and spiced plum goodness. Tightly wound, the wine is expressive and I can’t put down my glass.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2050
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2022 In the Rocks Syrah
Savory and rocky with umami, the 2022 In the Rocks Syrah is big, bold, and dense with a serious rocky core and fruit. The wine is fresh, mineral-forward, and has structured tannins with a long-lived, spicy finish. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2022 In the Hills Syrah
Bright and structured, floral, vibrant, and dark red-fruited, the 2022 In the Hills Syrah is spicy and fresh with a savory stemmy expression that is meaty and expressive. The wine is concentrated with spicy potpourri tones that sway with focus and intention. It is very pleasing, but will do wonders with additional time in the bottle.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2045
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2022 Stonessence Syrah
Very dark, very extracted, and deeply structured and serious, the 2022 Stonessence Syrah is mineral-driven, and the wine has dark red and black fruit tones expressed with hints of meat. The wine is generously layered and fresh with a firm rocky backbone, offering notes of charcuterie, earthy cranberry, and peppercorn with soft oak spices. A very long, textural mouthfeel ends with a food-friendly finish.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2027-2047
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 Grenache Blanc
Zesty and dusty, the 2023 Grenache Blanc is citrus-driven and always a great wine. It is medium to full-bodied, fresh, complex, and mineral tension is expressive and captivating. Very food-friendly, it will go great with aged Gouda.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 Queen’s Road White
Offering delightful mineral and wonderful tension, the 2023 Queen’s Road White is rich and round with a kiss of phenolics. The Marsanne leads the nose and palate, while the Viognier adds character. Medium-bodied, the wine is very crystalline and gorgeous.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 In the Rocks
Slightly subdued and still primary, the 2023 In the Rocks still needs time in the bottle to come around. It is subtly savory with hints of umami. The wine is medium-bodied with a compressed core and a kiss of salinity that ends with a lightly dusty red berry finish. Give it time, your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 The Contender
Very stunning, with bright, crunchy red fruit and a succulent acidity, the 2023 The Contender is instantly impressive, with layers of berries and minerals, and notes of spiced Bing cherry. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is very complex, beautiful, fresh, and brilliant.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 Stonessence
Slightly subdued and shut down, the 2023 Stonessence needs time. It has a fine mineral tension and a spicy, dusty, rocky core. It is medium to full-bodied. It requires cellaring, so be patient for a year or two.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2042
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 In the Hills
Very aromatic and bountiful, the 2023 In the Hills is smoky and sugary with rustic cranberry, black raspberry, and dark cherry notes. The wine is utterly delicious, fresh, complex, mineral, and savory. It is medium-bodied, robust, very food-friendly, and layered. Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2043
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 Foothills Reserve
Made from a barrel selection of the best wine, the 2023 Foothills Reserve is impressive, rich, pure, elegant, and precise. Very delightful, this wine pleases on so many levels. It is highly enjoyable, complex, and refined. The wine is sophisticated but powerful and rich. Very good stuff.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2050
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2024 Rocks & Hills
Instantly impressive, the 2024 Rocks & Hills is a blend of both rocks and freshness. Crisp, energetic, vibrant, and full of verve and attitude, the wine has the best aspects of both the Rocks bottling and the Hills bottling, where freshness, purity, and vibrancy meet precision, rustic savory elegance, minerality, florals, and earth. I can’t help but love it. It delivers an ambitious zip of aromatics and a flavor profile that just doesn’t stop. It is brilliant; buy as much of this as you can!!!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2042
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2017 Marsanne
Bottled only in magnums, the 2017 Marsanne features notes of grilled brown butter brioche and sautéed almonds. Offering impressive weight and volume, it is still lively, energetic, and youthful from its large format. I love big bottles and I cannot lie. It is beautiful and gorgeous with layers for days. Enjoy!!!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2020-2043
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2021 Merlot
Slightly subdued, the 2021 Merlot still needs additional time to come out of its shell. Dusty and red-fruited, the fruit condition is a just-ripe expression of red plums and dark cherries. The palate is medium to full-bodied and complex, revealing a touch more layers and complexity, showing that it needs more cellaring and will deliver better with age. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2022 Merlot
Very bright and authentic, the 2022 Merlot offers a just-oaky expression and glossy oak spices that are brilliant. The wine is very juicy and broad, with a compact, medium to full-bodied, dusty frame. Showcasing elegant power throughout, the wine is stunning and will be a blockbuster that pleases all Merlot drinkers.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2021 Stonessence
Very fresh, pure, very focused, and precise, the 2021 Stonessence has all the elements of what the 2023 will become. Medium to full-bodied, it is spicy, rich, and round. Offering raw power and precision, it concludes with a long, lingering, spicy finish. Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 Cabernet Franc
Broader, juicier, and expressive, the 2023 Cabernet Franc shows more of Walla Walla Valley, a touch more than Cabernet Franc. It still has a good tannic structure and a softly underlying minerality, with a floral yet generous focus. This needs some time.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Rezabek Vineyards 2018 Rezabek Vineyards Sparkling Wine
A little toasted, the 2018 Rezabek Vineyards Sparkling Wine presents a nose that is complex and nutty with a soft leesy character, layered almonds, lemon spices, and green apple acids. The wine is immensely pleasurable with intricate layers and notes of wilted honeysuckle, beeswax, toasted oats, and underripe peaches. It features beautiful mineral acidity that races across the mid-palate and finish. The aftertaste reveals additional layers of complexity that bring me back for another sip. It has me craving cheeses. Bravo!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Rezabek Vineyards 2022 Rosé of Pinot Noir
A little mineral-driven on the nose, showing some linear acidity and spice notes, the 2022 Rosé of Pinot Noir has me searching for red fruit characteristics. Light to medium-bodied, the wine is lean and structural, and has all the acid to allow this to age for more than a decade, but the fruit component is lacking.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2030
Rezabek Vineyards 2023 Pinot Noir
Red-fruited and pushed more into a generous frame than what it wants to be, the 2023 Pinot Noir is a complex wine. Plenty of attractive oak is to be found here, but it conceals much of the varietal’s natural beauty and identity. Balanced on the palate for a medium-bodied expression, just darker than it seems, while the acidity is bright and fresh. The wine has notes of toasted oats and lemon peel over graham cracker. It leaves me looking to hear the Pinot Noir expression in the choir.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Rezabek Vineyards 2023 Aquarius White Wine
Citrus-driven and having some softly nutty tones that waft with notes of peach marzipan, the 2023 Aquarius White Wine is a standout. The wine is fresh and complex with a cerebral essence that I can’t help but find pleasurable and enticing. Medium-bodied with a delightful phenolic grip, the acidity is what drives this wine home and has a lingering essence of orange oil.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Rezabek Vineyards 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
A citrus-driven nose with a mineral essence that pops out of the glass defines the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc. Notes of lemon candy and peach ring offer a very energetic core of acidity that beams across the palate. The wine is clean, but has me still looking for more varietal expressions of Sauvignon Blanc.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2023 Tumbled Granite White
Floral, fresh, clean, and correct, the 2023 Tumbled Granite White offers notes of sweet citrus blossom. Beautiful, rich, and round, it is lush, vibrant, elegant, and mineral-driven with a succulent finish.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2024 Tumbled Granite White
Refined, expressive, and clean, the 2024 Tumbled Granite White is very pure and medium to full-bodied. Fresh with a fine mineral tension and a lovely texture, it is very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2037
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2023 Studio Red
Classic, fleshy, ripe, and offering high-toned red fruit, the 2023 Studio Red is subtle, gloomy, and spicy. With notes of potpourri and stems, it is subtly zesty and has a vibrant core. Mineral, ripe, and pure, it is very fresh, elegant, and full-bodied. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2023 11 Dams Red
Big, generous, and juicy, the 2023 11 Dams Red is fresh and spicy. Oaky, clean, and slick, it offers vibrant, popcorn, and sweet notes. The wine is delightfully textured and broad. Ripe and over-delivering, it is a fantastic value. Bravo!!!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2023 Double D Cabernet Sauvignon
Pitch-perfect, the 2023 Double D Cabernet Sauvignon features notes of black raspberry, graphite, and sweet oak. Full-bodied, the wine is fresh, balanced, and savory. Ripe and black-fruited, it remains elegant and pure.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2038
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2023 Double D Merlot
Big, juicy, and vibrant, the 2023 Double D Merlot is succulent, elegant, and plummy. Spicy, plush, and round, it is mouthwatering, tannic, gripping, and full-bodied. Delivering a crisp, ripe attack, the wine is fresh, delicious, and very rewarding. Yum!!!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2047
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2021 Tumbled Granite Red
Rocky and mineral-driven with a firm tannic structure, the 2021 Tumbled Granite Red is a little broad, robust, and serious. Subtly gooey and open-knit, it is expressive, fresh, and ready upon release. Drink sooner than later.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2045
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2023 Tumbled Granite Red
Big, juicy, vibrant, and firm, the 2023 Tumbled Granite Red is elegant, chewy, and plush. Generous, ripe, and lively, the wine is succulent, broad, and very fresh. It is delicious. Yum!!!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2024 Double D Cabernet Sauvignon
Very fine and fleshy, the 2024 Double D Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe, herbal, and rustic. Elegant, rich, and fresh, it will please hedonistic Cabernet lovers. It is expressive with notes of mocha, oak, vanilla, and sweet brown baking spices. It’s simply gorgeous, and I can’t help keeping my nose in the wine glass, just smelling the intoxicating aromas and smiling!
Score: 96-98 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2024 Studio Cabernet Sauvignon
More generous and showy, the 2024 Studio Cabernet Sauvignon is focused, fresh, and expressive. Bigger, warmer, lush, ripe, and complex, it offers oaky expressions, vibrant fruitiness, and fine mineral tension. Very food-friendly, it has a lingering tannic edge. Nicely done.
Score: 94-96 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2024 Double D Grenache
Quite expressive, the 2024 Double D Grenache is very fresh and pure with a clean barrel sample essence. Vibrant, clean, and plummy, the wine is delightfully spicy, gorgeous, and still very primary. Refreshing, it will be beautiful once released.
Score: 93-95 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Rujaya Winery 2022 Apinya Royal Slope Syrah
Fresh and bright, the 2022 Apinya Royal Slope Syrah is black cherry-fruited with hints of black pepper. It remains quite primary and has plenty of longevity ahead of it, but its immediate strength lies in its impressive, vibrant nose and body. The palate reveals a full-bodied wine that is expressive, bold, fresh, and slightly spicy. It could benefit from a slight chill before opening and is very food-friendly. Enjoy with wild game, lamb, and chops.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Rujaya Winery 2022 Apinya Walla Walla Valley Syrah
Classic, unmistakable, and fresh, the 2022 Apinya Walla Walla Valley Syrah is open and accessible, driven by an earthy and savory umami essence. It offers evocative notes of turned earth, wet clay, mushroom, dusty plum, and hints of worn leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is vibrant, expressive, complex, and layered, delivering a delightful and impressive mouthfeel and weight that is very food-friendly. It will certainly please any Walla Walla Syrah lover, remaining enjoyable for at least a decade. Decanting recommended. Enjoy with food.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Rush Lattin Cellars 2022 Syrah
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Syrah explodes on the nose with a ripe attack and juicy dark red fruits, along with notes of peppercorn spices over sweet oak and jerky. The wine is full-bodied, vibrant, and fleshy with a generous expression and fresh, complex fruit that overflows from the glass. It has a delightful mineral tension, succulent acidity, and firm gripping tannins, and will effortlessly pair with a wide variety of foods and meats. Bravo! I want more!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Rush Lattin Cellars 2022 GSM
Firm and still tight, the 2022 GSM presents a nose that is dusty, red-fruited, and slightly subdued. The palate is spicy and hot with a growing alcoholic lift on the finish, but continues to unfold and show some savory essences with soft herbs, spice potpourri, and baked cherries in cinnamon.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Rush Lattin Cellars 2022 Old Faithful
Big and bold, dark dusty black fruits and hints of turned earth and baking spices waft from the nose of the 2022 Old Faithful. As it sits in the glass, the wine reveals some volatility and will benefit from an extra chill and decanting. It ends with a tannic edge.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2037
Rush Lattin Cellars 2022 Fiddler’s Bluff Syrah
Meaty and savory with a dusty and approachable core of fruit and elegance, the 2022 Fiddler’s Bluff Syrah is a standout, offering a spiced red fruit and potpourri expression. The wine is pleasurable and spicy. Medium to full-bodied, it has some lifting oak spices that give this beauty a rich and mineral mouthfeel. Ready for ribs, chops, and steaks.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2036
Rush Lattin Cellars 2022 Fiddler’s Bluff Cabernet Sauvignon
Dense, chewy, and firm with an inky core of black fruit and hints of oak, the 2022 Fiddler’s Bluff Cabernet Sauvignon is a robust wine. With a softer frame and a sincere expression, it features well-balanced acidity and alcohol. Fresh and complex, it delivers pleasure and is very food-friendly.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2037
Ryan Patrick 2024 Pinot Grigio
Offering a kiss of reduction on the nose, the 2024 Pinot Grigio has a soft peachy note with sweet Meyer lemons and tropical fruit hints of pineapple. It is medium-bodied, and the reduction on the nose subsides to show fresh, crisp citrus and stone fruit. It ends with an energetic and lively finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Ryan Patrick 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Approachable and peachy with a core of fruit, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is primary with sweet citrus and sweet tart candies. The medium-bodied wine is clean and simple, ending with a straightforward finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Sagebreaker 2023 M-94-WHT White Wine
Bright, slightly peachy, and elegant, the 2023 M-94-WHT White Wine is a floral and pure expression. Made in concrete, it is softly aromatic and seductive. A touch of phenolic bitterness is present alongside a delightful core. The wine is very fresh and has a kiss of minerality. Refined and food-friendly, it showcases purity, grace, and excellent texture.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
Sagebreaker 2024 M-94-WHT White Wine
Broader-shouldered, vibrant, and more generous, the 2024 M-94-WHT White Wine offers texture and tension with a distinct phenolic grip. Beautifully fresh, rich, round, and focused, it possesses plenty of structure to go for years. It ends with a profoundly delicious finish, revealing hints of orange oil and softly citrus blossom notes. I can’t help but love this juice. Very pleasurable.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Sagebreaker 2022 G-41-BDX Red Wine
Classic, fresh, and mineral-driven with notes of sweet herbs, the 2022 G-41-BDX Red Wine is vibrant with hints of graphite and purple florals. Bright, expressive, and elegant, it boasts a lingering, spicy, food-friendly finish. It over-delivers for the price.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Sagebreaker 2022 B-56-RHN Red Wine
Open-knit and meaty with notes of black plum and dried black cherry, the 2022 B-56-RHN Red Wine reveals hints of baked earth, toasted nuts, and a generous nose. Featuring subtly baked fruit and a slightly boozy finish, this wine will be ready upon release.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Sagebreaker 2023 BDX
Off to a great start, the 2023 BDX is fresh and blue-fruited with notes of black raspberry. It has purity, grace, and focus, and while still tight, it has great bones. The wine showcases elegant juiciness and freshness, revealing spiced plums, potpourri, and overall refinement. Already firing on all cylinders, this will be a great release that shows immense promise. Bravo!
Score: 93-95 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Sagemoor 2021 Miguel The Man
Fresh and bold, the 2021 Miguel The Man is a stunning wine. It is pure, precise, and expressive, beautifully balanced between fruit, earthy oak, and extract. Offering a ripe attack, it is medium to full-bodied. The mouthfeel is luxurious and clean with a very pleasurable, food-friendly finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Sagemoor 2021 Bacchus and Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Savory with notes of dusty red-fruited essence and spices, the 2021 Bacchus and Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex pour. With a broad texture, succulent acidity, and fine-grained tannins, the wine’s mouthfeel is food-friendly and refined. It concludes with a spicy, healthy freshness and an elegant finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2038
Sagemoor 2021 Weinbau Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing ripe and healthy fruit extract with a dusty core and fresh notes of savory essences, spices, and potpourri, the 2021 Weinbau Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful wine. It is medium to full-bodied, fresh, fleshy, and clean. Complexly layered, it continues to evolve on the finish. Very pleasurable. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2045
Sagemoor 2021 Southwind Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Herbal and savory with pepper notes that waft with dusty red spiced fruits and high-toned fresh herbs, the 2021 Southwind Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a serious wine. Robust and full-bodied, the palate shows a firm gripping tannic structure that clamps down and holds through the finish. Give it time.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2047
Sagemoor 2023 Without Rehearsal
Presenting crisp citrus notes with hints of lemon grass and mineral tension, the 2023 Without Rehearsal is a vibrant wine. It is elegant and succulent with lively acidity and fleshy layers of citrus and underripe peaches alongside oak tones. It ends with a mouthwatering and long spicy finish.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2033
SAMĀ CELLARS 2024 Khyal Rohn Blanc
Sweet citrus and hints of orange oil define the 2024 Khyal Rohn Blanc. The wine is fresh and offers notes of sweet tart candies. Medium-bodied, succulent, and bright, it ends with a clean, crisp finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
SAMĀ CELLARS 2023 Raga Grenache
Black cherry and hints of nuts and volatility mark the 2023 Raga Grenache. The wine has a broad-shouldered frame with a zesty core and a warm nose. Full-bodied and with 15.5% alcohol, the palate is slightly gooey and chocolatey before ending with a spicy, hot finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
SAMĀ CELLARS 2023 Raga Mourvèdre
Dark-fruited and firm with an inky core of fruit and extract, the 2023 Raga Mourvèdre is a robust wine. It seems slightly smudged, yet remains dense and juicy. It lingers with a spicy finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2033
SAMĀ CELLARS 2023 Khyal Rohn Rouge
Dusty red-fruited and spicy with layered fruit extract, the 2023 Khyal Rohn Rouge is a compelling wine. It features firm notes of graphite, and the full-bodied palate shows some attractive oak. The mouthfeel has sweet extract that matches the intensity of the wine. Very food-friendly.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
SAMĀ CELLARS 2023 Bhumi Syrah Red Willow
Firm, dark-fruited, and expressive in the glass, the 2023 Bhumi Syrah Red Willow is a standout. The nose is unmistakably Syrah with a core of dusty, spicy dark fruit tones, offering hints of meatiness alongside lavender and subtle sausage nuances. Full-bodied and robust, it has a sturdy mouthfeel and a lingering finish. The wine is very pleasurable at every corner, ending with a food-friendly character. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
SAMĀ CELLARS 2023 SARGAM
Offering a solid dark fruit profile with a dusty essence, the 2023 SARGAM is an intriguing wine. It has notes of tar and sausage with a warm-smelling nose. Firm and mineral-driven, it ends with a hot finish and a lingering spicy edge. Enjoy with food.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2030
Saviah Cellars 2022 The Stones Speak Estate Syrah
Sausagy and rustic with savory and umami characters floating out of the glass, the 2022 The Stones Speak Estate Syrah is a classic expression. It is fresh and complex with smoked black raspberry essence and elegant oak extraction for lift, alongside floral and earthy Walla Walla notes. Medium to full-bodied, it is vibrant and highly engaging. The wine is always impressive, ending with a savory, umami, food-friendly finish.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Saviah Cellars 2022 The Funk Estate Syrah
Instantly impressive with layers of spicy and umami notes, mushroom, truffle, black raspberry, spiced plum, and oak essence, the 2022 The Funk Estate Syrah is a masterpiece. It is wonderfully layered, fresh, intricate, and hedonistic at the same time. The wine is very rich and food-friendly, going down all too easily. Wow, what brilliant stuff.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2042
Saviah Cellars 2022 The Funk Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Very lively, fresh, and complex, the 2022 The Funk Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful wine. It is sweetly oaked and offers dark red and black fruit expressions that glide with spice and earth. Full-bodied, the wine is immensely complex on the palate. It concludes with a spicy finish and a lingering oaky essence. Nicely done!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2040
Saviah Cellars 2022 Hunt & Gather Estate Red Wine
Clean and vibrant with an expressive Walla Walla funk and freshness that sway with precision and finesse, the 2022 Hunt & Gather Estate Red Wine is a standout. The wine is pure, rich, round, lovely, and complexly layered, and over-delivers for the price.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Saviah Cellars 2023 Syrah
Classic and savory with notes of black raspberry and spicy meaty essence, like jerky with strawberry compote, the 2023 Syrah is a delightful pour. Medium-bodied, the wine is quite enjoyable and should be close to double the price. Enjoy with food.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Open-knit with a kiss of volatility, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has stewed blackberry and fresh black cherry notes with spices. Full-bodied, the fruit compote seems pushed a little too far, yet the wine is ready for action.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 Boss Block Cabernet Franc
A more serious Cabernet Franc with fine-grained tannins, the 2022 Boss Block Cabernet Franc features a spicy core of succulent red and black fruit that sways with power and intention. The full-bodied wine is a bold and broad-shouldered expression ready for hedonistic cuts of red meat.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 Block 1
Opening with a kiss of volatility, the 2022 Block 1 is vibrant and firm, rocky, and gorgeously layered and complex. The black-fruited core is sappy and expressive, featuring gobs of layers that overflow the nose. This fresh and tannic wine will be better after a few more years in the bottle.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2045
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 La Belle Blonde
A luscious Chardonnay with a rich and round texture, the 2022 La Belle Blonde offers creamy lemons and notes of yellow apple. The wine has a fluffy, leesy, and nutty complement, with a longer white spiced tea finish.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Sheridan Vineyard 2021 Judith Ann
A classic, big, and luxurious Chardonnay with a kiss of phenolic bitterness, the 2021 Judith Ann is fresh, lively, and complex. With more generous depth, the wine is broad-shouldered and beautifully layered.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Sheridan Vineyard 2023 Reigning Fire
Juicy, firm, fresh, and complex, the 2023 Reigning Fire is still ripe, with plum liqueur and dark cherry compote. It leans toward the riper side, while remaining slightly mineral and subtly tannic. It ends with a delightfully robust finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2038
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 L’Orage
Fresh and complexly layered, the 2022 L’Orage has a juicy, clean core with a long, broad-shouldered finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Sheridan Vineyard 2021 Aryia
Offering an intense nose with red apple skin, the 2021 Aryia has an inky, dense, and chewy mouthfeel. Full-bodied with a sappy, dark red fruit core, it reveals layers of oak and spice, with a more generous frame and structured tannins that hold through the finish. Very juicy and ready to enjoy with food! Decanting recommended.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
Sheridan Vineyard 2021 Resolution
Revealing hints of worn leather, the 2021 Resolution is still a bit tight and firmly structured, but ready to pop. It has a full-bodied, open-knit nose and palate. It ends with a solid, gripping tannic finish. Decanting recommended.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Sheridan Vineyard 2021 Navigator
Immensely impressive, opulent, and round, the 2021 Navigator offers focused, dusty black raspberry. Full-bodied, fresh, fleshy, and still primary, it is complex, layered, and will do wonders in the bottle for more than a decade. It is beautifully rich.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 Goat & Thief
The 2022 Goat & Thief is ripe, juicy, and fresh. Subdued and dark-fruited, it is vibrant, complex, and medium to full-bodied. Softer in style and elegant, it concludes with a smooth, lingering finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 Mystique
Showcasing classic oak and mineral tension, the 2022 Mystique reveals hints of a savory, herbal, weedy character. It smells like money. Full-bodied, fresh, and black-berried, it offers touches of sagebrush and an umami aspect that lingers through the finish. Nicely done.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Sheridan Vineyard 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Still tight and solid, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is bigger, bolder, and attractive. It is very firm, generous, juicy, and full-bodied. Pure.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2043
Sheridan Vineyard 2023 Boss Block Cabernet Franc
Very impressive, the 2023 Boss Block Cabernet Franc is fresh, oaky, floral, and expressive. Full-bodied, it is perhaps the best from this block that I have ever tried. This will be a juggernaut in a few years to come. Well-balanced, aromatic, seductive, vibrant, and stunning. Utterly delicious.
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Sheridan Vineyard 2014 Boss Block Cabernet Franc
Softly floral, the 2014 Boss Block Cabernet Franc has a kiss of pyrazines that is lively and fresh. Very pure and vibrant, it has plenty of life left in it. Dusty but still aromatic.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2018-2035
Sheridan Vineyard 2023 L’Orage
Instantly bright, full, and robust, the 2023 L’Orage is juicy and fresh. A beautiful, expressive Cabernet with a spicy, oaky profile, it offers vibrancy and layered, full-bodied character. Revealing black cherry, spiced plum compote, and hints of violet, it is a brilliant wine that will do wonders.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Sheridan Vineyard 2023 Goat & Thief
Very fleshy, ripe, and pure, the 2023 Goat & Thief is clean, correct, red-fruited, and balanced. Focused and medium to full-bodied, it is richer and bolder, elegant, and fresh. Brilliant finish.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
Sheridan Vineyard 2023 Block 1
With hints of graphite and crushed herbs, the 2023 Block 1 shows a highly impressive and stunning profile. It reveals succulent acidity and floral notes, ending with a remarkably long finish. Decanting recommended.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Silver Lake Winery 2023 Roza Riesling
Opening with a nose of peach rings and green apple, the 2023 Roza Riesling reveals hints of honey and orchard fruit. Forward and clean, this medium-bodied wine is built for speed, not distance, remaining pure and ready for action.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2027
Silver Lake Winery 2023 Rose
Pulled too far, the 2023 Rose is oddly sweet, with noticeable residual sugar and a simple frame that makes me wonder where the varietal purity is for this wine, ending with notes of synthetic candied lemons that linger on the finish.
Score: 85 | Drink: 2025-2026
Sixto 2022 Frenchman Hills Chardonnay
Fresh, crisp, and ripe with a soft mineral essence, the 2022 Frenchman Hills Chardonnay features notes of yellow apple and hints of lees alongside a delightful phenolic grip. The wine is incredibly vibrant, clean, and pure. It is highly delightful, expressive, and refined.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Sixto 2022 Moxee Chardonnay
Very fresh and bright with hints of chamomile, the 2022 Moxee Chardonnay is crisp, offering sweet citrus and notes of lees. It has a mineral edge and a lemon sickle nose, complemented by touches of honeysuckle and orange blossom. Medium-bodied and clean, it ends with a pure finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Sixto 2022 Roza Hills Chardonnay
Grown on chalk, the 2022 Roza Hills Chardonnay is instantly impressive, rich, and round. It is remarkably clean and fresh, featuring notes of yellow apple, marshmallow, and a leesy essence balanced by fine mineral tension. The wine is vibrant, cerebral, and complex, making it highly food-friendly and delightfully lingering. It is extremely pleasurable.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Sixto 2022 Uncovered Chardonnay
Generous in frame and aroma, the 2022 Uncovered Chardonnay showcases notes of roasted yellow apples, chamomile, and citrus blossoms, complemented by a touch of sautéed almonds. Medium-bodied, it features a spicy character that lingers on the finish. Very food-friendly. Yum!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2024 The Magician
Bright, succulent, and compact, the 2024 The Magician is very fleshy, complex, and squeaky clean. With limy, crisp, and vibrant acidity, it is incredibly pure, ending with a refreshing and mouthwatering finish.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2023 The Enchantress
Fresh and vibrant, the 2023 The Enchantress has notes of yellow apple, white cherry, Meyer lemon, and a kiss of oak. It reveals a delightful lift of lemon pastry cream. Medium-bodied and elegant, the wine glides to a beautifully lingering finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 The Spellbinder
Made mostly from Cabernet Franc, the 2022 The Spellbinder is slightly herbal and nutty with notes of red cherry and a hint of bell pepper. It is succulent, fresh, clean, primary, and very fleshy. It over-delivers for the price and has a structured, medium palate.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2036
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 The Conjurer
Made mostly from Cabernet Franc, the 2022 The Conjurer has notes of red and dark red fruit. Medium-bodied, it shows refinement, finesse, and purity. The wine is elegant and impressive.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 The Archimage
Showcasing a rich and round freshness with elegance and purity, the 2022 The Archimage has a delicate tension. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is refined and pitch-perfect, harmonizing with oak, some herbal notes, and dusty florals in a zesty context. It ends with a long, subtly spicy, lingering finish. Enjoy with food, decanting recommended.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 The Illusionist
A beautifully dusty expression with dark fruit, freshness, and purity, the 2022 The Illusionist has complexity and is bright and spicy. It features notes of graphite, black raspberry, resinous purple flowers, and creme de violette. The wine has a delightful lift, with hints of pencil shavings and a firm mineral tension. With a ripe dark red-fruited core and elegant oak tones, it lifts the lingering spicy finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2045
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 Levitation
Slightly reductive but in a good, fresh way that gives it purity, the 2022 Levitation is beautifully zesty, elegant, and floral, with a spicy edge and savory, spiced plum compote. With a soft, meaty core and notes of black raspberry and vibrancy, it is very pleasurable! Yum!!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 The Psychedelic
Offering savory umami notes, the 2022 The Psychedelic is fresh and inviting with black raspberry. The wine is meaty and has a fine tension, with vibrant, dark red fruit. Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2040
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2023 The Psychedelic
Like a slow-moving train, the 2023 The Psychedelic is structured, sound, and bold, with purity and growing amplitude and scope. This wine will be slow to start, but once it finds its stride, it will govern and begin to open for years and decades on end. This is the one you want and should not be opened until years from now. Bravo!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2029-2052
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 Spiders from Mars
Showcasing a very fresh, focused, and spicy character, the 2022 Spiders from Mars is pure with a lively tension and a zesty core that will go the distance.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2045
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 Higher Ground WeatherEye Grenache
The most profound, focused, and impressive WeatherEye expression that I have seen to date, the 2022 Higher Ground WeatherEye Grenache begins with a beautiful nose that lifts with wild brush and a dusty mineral tension that floats above the glass and honors the place from which it grows. The palate reveals tension, a zesty core, and an elegant, spicy finish with purity and freshness. Not released yet, but it should be a pristine, vibrant champion of Washington Grenache. Set to be released at the end of this year. If you are good, Santa might bring you a bottle. Limited production of only 50 cases, get in line now to grab a bottle for your stocking and cellar. Bravo!!!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2026-2048
Sparkman Cellars 2023 As You Wish
Crisp and inviting on the nose, the 2023 As You Wish reveals notes of citrus peel and lemon skin. The wine has firm layers and minerality, with fruit that plays beautifully together. Medium to full-bodied, the mouthfeel is delightfully textured with succulent acidity that delivers a mouthwatering finish. It is very pleasing, food-friendly, and versatile with a wide variety of dishes. Well done!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Sparkman Cellars 2022 Holler
High-toned dark red fruit and a dusty layer of blackberry skin define the 2022 Holler. It has some earthy and rustic notes with a spicy core of fruit. The wine shrinks on the palate to show a leaner expression that is built for younger drinking, delivering a balanced structure with a zesty lingering finish and a soft, sweet herbal edge.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Sparkman Cellars 2021 Kingpin
Fresh, bold, and layered with fleshy dark red and black fruit tones, the nose of the 2021 Kingpin is captivating. It is complex and spicy with sweet oak nuances, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The wine has more tension as it is rich, round, and expressive, offering a firm structure that will give this beauty plenty of ageability. Enjoy with food, decanting recommended. Nicely done!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Sparkman Cellars 2021 Ruby Leigh
Smelling like it has Walla Walla fruit in it with a cracked open, aromatic profile, the 2021 Ruby Leigh is a stunning wine. The wine is savory with sweet herbs, florals, and dark fruit, alongside oaky essences that run throughout the expression. A very pleasurable wine, it is broad-shouldered and expressive with a dense palate that will benefit from decanting.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2037
Sparkman Cellars 2021 Stella Mae
Rich and round with a big and still tightly wound profile, the 2021 Stella Mae is a beautiful wine. It is fresh, fleshy, and still firmly tannic, but will have no problem filling its shoes. Still youthful with a shiny grip and solid phenolic presence, the wine is very pleasurable and ends with a succulent finish and a lingering spicy edge.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2037
Spring Valley Vineyard 2022 Uriah Red Wine
Dusty red-fruited with a firm minerality and elegant notions of oak that lift the overall expression, the 2022 Uriah Red Wine is a captivating pour. The wine’s nose has delicate notes of resinous red flowers. Medium to full-bodied, it is firm and expressive with layers of a slightly inky core of fruit, freshness, and florals subtly and steadily emerging on the finish. Nicely done, decanting recommended.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Spring Valley Vineyard 2022 Frederick Red Wine
Firmer and more vibrant on the palate than the nose, the 2022 Frederick Red Wine pops out of the glass with dusty plum and blackberry aromatics that linger with oak essences. Full-bodied, hints of graphite sway on the mouthfeel with fine-grained tannins. Very expressive and pure, the wine will definitely develop beautifully over the years with additional time in bottle. Be patient with this one!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Spring Valley Vineyard 2022 Nina Lee Syrah
Rich, ripe, and expressive with a zesty core, the 2022 Nina Lee Syrah is spicy and mineral-driven with a generous and round mouthfeel. With vibrant lavender, dusty black raspberry, and black cherry, notes of graphite and sweet oak brown baking spices linger through the mid-palate, elevating the overall expression. The wine is highly versatile and concludes with a graphite and peppery, food-friendly finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2042
Spring Valley Vineyard 2022 Katherine Cabernet Franc
Firm and slightly hot on the nose, the 2022 Katherine Cabernet Franc is solid and structured with a mineral-driven dark-fruited core. With a gripping tannic structure, it is full-bodied and dense, and will be better with additional time in bottle. Give it time.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Substance 2024 Ro
Clean, expressive, balanced, and over-delivering for the price, the 2024 Ro is a delightful pour. The wine is focused with strawberry lemonade notes. Medium-bodied with succulent acidity that ends with a crisp, straightforward finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2027
Substance 2022 Sb
Simple and offering notes of rose and lime juice on the nose, the 2022 Sb is a straightforward wine. The palate is rather flat and leaves me wanting more succulent acidity to push my score higher. Ends with a quick finish.
Score: 86 | Drink: 2025-2027
Substance 2021 Ch
Clean, subtly nutty, and oaky with lemon pastry notes, the 2021 Ch is succulent, fresh, and easy-drinking. A straightforward and delightful finish, great for the price.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Substance 2022 Rb
Presenting a dusty and red-berried nose, the 2022 Rb reveals a plummy essence that has a firm and juicy feel. The medium to full-bodied expression is layered, and the wine ends with a tight tannic finish. Good for BBQ and street food.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2027
Substance 2022 Cs
Offering a decent nose with a plummy, black-fruited core, the 2022 Cs is straightforward but still has varietal purity. Medium to full-bodied, it is fresh and delivers well for the price.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2028
Succession Wines 2024 Rosé
Clean, expressive, and vibrant, the 2024 Rosé is succulent and bright on the nose with hints of cherry blossom and almond. Zesty, medium-bodied, and very fresh.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2029
Succession Wines 2024 Albariño
Peachy and lemony with notes of pineapple, the 2024 Albariño is pure and fresh. Medium-bodied, it has succulent acidity with a vibrant frame of citrus and stone fruit at its core. Ends with a kiss of phenolic bitterness that makes it quite food-friendly. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2029
Succession Wines 2022 Pinot Noir
Subdued and red-fruited, the 2022 Pinot Noir presents a softly nutty essence. Medium-bodied and rather spicy, the nose is mineral-driven and ends with a smudged fruit finish. It’s hard to get Pinot Noir right.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2029
Succession Wines 2022 Bridge Builder’s Blend
Bigger, bolder, and dark-fruited with notes of bitter dark chocolate, the 2022 Bridge Builder’s Blend has a firm mineral edge and tannins that stick to the palate through to the finish. Enjoy with food.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Succession Wines 2022 Rocks Syrah
Showcasing toasted coffee beans and burnt caramel with roasted blackberry and a smoky essence, the 2022 Rocks Syrah is medium to full-bodied. Savory and umami notes merge to meet the charred expression on the palate. Ends with bitter dark chocolate tannins and a savory umami finish. Enjoy with BBQ and burnt end brisket slices.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2033
Syncline Winery 2018 Scintillation Brut
Bright and complexly layered, the 2018 Scintillation Brut is very light with fresh, energetic acidity. The wine is light to medium-bodied, vibrant, succulent, and lively. Very food-friendly and enjoyable.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Syncline Winery 2022 Gamay Noir
Very primary with spicy and bright cherry and raspberry notes, the 2022 Gamay Noir is a treat. Zesty and softly smoky, it delivers a succulent finish that has me craving sausages.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Syncline Winery 2022 Mourvèdre
Classically vibrant, plush, and elegant, yet still tight, the 2022 Mourvèdre is a beautiful expression. The wine is very fresh and offers layers of complexity. It slowly reveals a delightfully spicy and medium-bodied frame. Highly food-friendly.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Syncline Winery 2022 Cuvée Elena
Red-fruited and spicy, the 2022 Cuvée Elena is elegant, fresh, and clean with a crystalline edge. Medium-bodied, the wine is very shiny and pretty, with beautifully fine-grained tannins. Very pure!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Syncline Winery 2022 Subduction Red
Spicy and red-fruited, the 2022 Subduction Red is fresh and medium to full-bodied. It is very food-friendly and highly enjoyable.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Syncline Winery 2022 Chardonnay
Refined and fresh, the 2022 Chardonnay showcases perfectly managed oak-to-Chardonnay expression. The wine is very elegant, with notes of lemon curd and complex layers that continue to unfold. It is sophisticated and pure, with beautiful phenolics.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Syncline Winery 2023 Syrah
An unmistakable Syrah with hints of spice, the 2023 Syrah is medium to full-bodied. The wine is still youthful and fresh. It has some sticky tannins that will soften with additional time in the bottle, but it has good bones. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Syncline Winery 2023 Grenache
Fresh, pure, expressive, and fleshy, the 2023 Grenache is a standout. The wine is spicy and complex, rich and clean. This will be the last vintage that will be all Gorge Grenache in 2024.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Syncline Winery 2024 Rosé
Showcasing notes of citrus pith with a kiss of skin contact essence and a fine, fluffy phenolic grip, the 2024 Rosé is intriguing. The wine is fresh and delightfully delicious. This will be the last vintage that won’t be estate, as the following vintage will be a Mondeuse and Gamay Rosé. Super exciting stuff!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2028
Syncline Winery 2024 Picpoul
Wonderful and peachy with a bright citrus core, the 2024 Picpoul is incredibly fresh and expressive. Light-bodied at 11.5% alcohol, the wine is utterly delicious and highly food-friendly. It has a snapping pomaceous core that I find delightful.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2034
Syncline Winery 2024 Gruner Veltliner
With a delicate mineral tension alongside gentle citrus and pith, the 2024 Gruner Veltliner is softly spicy and fresh. It ends with a delightfully lingering mineral finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Tenor 2023 Spice Cabinet Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
Offering notes of lemon sickle, the 2023 Spice Cabinet Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc is fluffy with soft oak and citrus tones, complemented by a bright lemon note that features a gentle biscuit nuance. It is very textural, fresh, and succulent, going down all too easy. Very generous with a vibrant mineral tension and weighty, bright acidity.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Tenor 2023 Olsen Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
Slightly different from its peers, the 2023 Olsen Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc features a nose that stands apart with notes of ginger, tarragon, and an oak essence reminiscent of dry Sauternes. As the most expansive of the SB range, it presents a distinct palate and structure. Broad, structured, big, and rich, the acidity hits differently on the palate, culminating in a luxurious finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2034
Tenor 2022 Conner Lee Vineyard Chardonnay
Featuring a generous and expressive nose, the 2022 Conner Lee Vineyard Chardonnay offers notes of poached yellow apples alongside zesty and nutty nuances. The wine is spicy, carrying a slightly bitter scotch note within a broad frame highlighted by sweet corn and brown baking spices. Rich, ripe, and weighted at 14.9% alcohol, the palate shows a hot finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Tenor 2022 Solaksen Vineyard Chardonnay
Showcasing notes of Marcona almond, lemon pastry, and yellow apple with a soft, leesy character, the 2022 Solaksen Vineyard Chardonnay is highly textural and ripe. It features lively acidity, freshness, and a beautifully executed mineral tension, complemented by hints of popcorn kernel. This is a very pleasurable and vibrant Chardonnay with a subtle stony edge and an expressive finish. Very food-friendly! Wow!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Tenor 2022 Pinot Noir
Fresh and generous, the 2022 Pinot Noir is a dark-fruited wine with a vibrant nose. Bigger and bolder in its frame, the wine is pure with dark cherry notes, slightly tannic, and brings a big, dark, and serious edge.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2031
Tenor 2022 Grenache
Displaying hints of volatility alongside generous and firm dark cherry fruit, the 2022 Grenache is dark red-fruited and fresh. The wine is spicy and expressive, leading to a hot, boozy finish. It is very hedonistic, fruit-driven, and highly food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Tenor 2022 Scarline Vineyard Syrah
Featuring dark cherry, sour cherry, plum, and earthy notes, the 2022 Scarline Vineyard Syrah has a delightful nose of smoked meat, sausage, and black peppercorn. It is a generous style of wine that is fun, focused, and fresh, boasting a hearty, spicy core. Offering balanced, juicy notes of umami essence, it is very pleasurable and will please any Walla Walla Syrah drinker.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Tenor 2022 Stoneridge Vineyard Syrah
Offering plenty of roasted coffee bean notes with a firm, dark, spicy, and bitter chocolate core, the 2022 Stoneridge Vineyard Syrah is firm and mineral-driven with hints of hung meat. The wine is broad, echoing the mocha alongside hints of a rigid edge and tight grip.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2031
Tenor 2022 Merlot
Fresh, bold, ripe, and spicy, the 2022 Merlot is pure and expressive, remaining full-bodied and still firm and tight. It is classic and vibrant, showcasing mineral tension with power and finesse. It is powerful, full-bodied, and delicious. Wow!!! It ends with a tannic finish that slowly uncoils and adds to the pleasure!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2042
Tenor 2022 Cabernet Franc
Showcasing a soft, savory character with black fruit, chocolate, and oak on the nose, the 2022 Cabernet Franc is fresh and herbal with a sweet, savory quality. The wine is full-bodied and hits the palate with a rich, dark fruit core.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Tenor 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, juicy, and fresh, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a delightfully vibrant wine with mineral tension. Generous and structured, it is complex, dark-fruited, and tannic, boasting a well-integrated alcohol level. It is a delightful, very food-friendly wine! Nicely done!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2039
The Devil is a Liar 2022 Shooting in the Gym
Fresh, ripe, and complex, the 2022 Shooting in the Gym features notes of confectionary sugar, candied cherries, oak spices, and sweet baking spices. The wine is elegant, rich, and textured, showcasing freshness and ripeness with succulent acidity and a lingering tannic edge. Nicely done!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2040
The Devil is a Liar 2022 Field Blend
Coming from the WeatherEye Vineyard, the 2022 Field Blend is fresh, ripe, and very impressive from the first sniff. The nose explodes in pitch-perfect harmony, highlighted by high-toned, crunchy red fruits that overflow from the glass from the 70% whole-cluster used in the production of this very pleasing wine. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, offering succulent acidity with a lovely balance of nuanced brown baking spices and potpourri that elegantly flow across the mid-palate. The wine concludes with a long, lingering finish that has impressive length, with a gorgeous confectionery sugar note encapsulated in a pure and crystalline frame of ripeness that is utterly brilliant. I’m definitely not spitting this one out… Bravo!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2045
The Walls Vineyards 2022 Mahana
Offering savory and fresh umami, dusty earthy leather, and dark red fruit, the 2022 Mahana is spicy and pure with a clean, medium to full-bodied line. It features succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins. This is a lovely expression with a food-friendly finish. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
The Walls Vineyards 2022 Curiositas
Pure, mineral-driven, and freshly just-ripe in condition with elegance and finesse, the 2022 Curiositas presents dusty black cherry and spiced plums that sway with dusty flowers and notes of brown baking spices. Full-bodied with firm and fine-grained tannins, the wine is pure and expressive. It is very food-friendly and will likely be better with additional years in the bottle. Give it time.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2045
The Walls Vineyards 2022 Bellamy
Very pleasing and fresh with a lively mineral essence, the 2022 Bellamy has a dark-fruited core. The full-bodied wine is still tight and will loosen over the coming years but already has good bones. It ends with fine mineral tension and a graphite notion. It is very pleasurable.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2050
The Walls Vineyards 2022 The Ramparts
Presenting succulent dark red fruit with savory elements and spiced cherry notes, alongside hints of orange rind and potpourri, the 2022 The Ramparts is both elegant and juicy, ready for action. Decanting is recommended with an extra chill.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2036
The Walls Vineyards 2022 Wonderful Nightmare
With roasted blackberries and a savory umami character, the 2022 Wonderful Nightmare is open-knit and ready for action. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is spicy and ready for food. Sanguine and black raspberry waft with an iron and ferric edge.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
The Winemakers Reserve 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, rich, and ripe, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is spicy. It has good action on the palate with succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins. The wine has firm mineral tension that draws to a close over the long, lingering spicy finish that is incredibly food-friendly and versatile with a wide range of dishes. Nicely done.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
The Winemakers Reserve 2022 GSM
Open-knit and dusty red-fruited with notes of potpourri, spiced cherry, and plum compote, the 2022 GSM is fresh, pure, and delightfully expressive. It is vibrant and correct. Spicy, rich, and juicy, it offers a very food-friendly spiced finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
The Winemakers Reserve 2022 Merlot
With dusty plum skin and hints of chocolate and oak spice, the 2022 Merlot is denser and chewier on the palate than the nose leads on. The finish is very expressive.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
The Winemakers Reserve 2024 Pinot Gris
Clean, citrusy, and peachy with a kiss of phenolic bitterness, the 2024 Pinot Gris is succulent, fresh, pure, and delightfully floral with elegant notes of lemon and lime blossoms. The mouthfeel has a delightful texture. The wine ends with a mineral-driven and succulent, energetic finish. It’s a lovely Pinot Gris. Well done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2028
The Winemakers Reserve 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Clean and correct with lemony and lime flavors, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc features succulent acidity that races across the palate with precision and purity, having a slight mineral essence. It finishes zesty and refreshing.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2028
Time & Direction 2023 1.21 Gigawatts
A fluffy phenolic expression greets you in the 2023 1.21 Gigawatts, showcasing slightly cloudy, pale straw hues. Notes of marzipan, lemon pith, and dusty yellow cherries dance on the palate. Light to medium-bodied, this wine exhibits considerable weight, complemented by delightful mineral tension and a final grip that lingers through to the finish. Very food-friendly, this fun wine is unfiltered and not cold stabilized, which means it might produce some sediment when chilled, yet it remains both cerebral and delightful.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2030
Time & Direction 2024 Fretboard
Pouring the 2024 Fretboard, I noticed the lees beginning to collect on the side of the bottle. This wine offers classic notes of white and yellow flowers, orange oil, and a delightful essence of tropical and stone fruits. Very aromatic and pleasing, there’s also a subtle dustiness to the nose. The palate bursts to life with a lively and crisp mouthfeel, showcasing soft white tannins and a gentle phenolic bitterness that will keep it food-friendly for years to come.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2030
Time & Direction 2022 Space Pants
One of my favorite Mourvèdres in the state of Washington, the 2022 Space Pants is light, lifted, floral, and slightly funky. It features notions of crunchy red fruit and hints of worn leather. With a light body and clocking in at 12% alcohol, the palate offers a subtly zesty experience, with a playful muskiness at its core. Hints of sandalwood and spiced cherry linger on the peppery finish. This wine truly shines when paired with food.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Time & Direction 2022 Ceci n’est pas un vin rouge
With a pale ruby core, the 2022 Ceci n’est pas un vin rouge showcases a Pinot Noir-esque color. An earthy and soft expression of Grenache greets the nose, featuring notes of spiced red cherry and dusted red flowers. The palate is medium to full-bodied, revealing a gentle herbal essence that evolves into a growing spicy character as the fruit flavors gracefully fade on the finish. It’s a bit weird, but I can’t help but enjoy and admire its uniqueness. You should drink it sooner than later.
Score: 89? | Drink: 2025-2029
Time & Direction 2022 The Enchanter
Classic mineral-driven characteristics define the nose of the 2022 The Enchanter, with meaty notes and a dark berry expression that are beautifully complemented by earthy mineral tension and peppercorn spices. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine remains tight, showcasing a firm mineral tension and phenolic grip, suggesting it requires additional time in the bottle to fully develop.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2026-2034
Time & Direction 2021 Old School
Revealing a dark and brooding nose that is both expressive and deep, the 2021 Old School showcases notes of summer sausage and hung meat. These intriguing aromas give way to generous essences of dark red and black fruits, complemented by a hint of spice. On the palate, it is full-bodied and rich, brimming with character. The wine displays a sternness and rigidity in its expression, yet it wears its firmness with grace. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Time & Direction 2021 Binary Syrah
Deeply expressive on the nose, the 2021 Binary Syrah showcases a captivating blend of dusty, meaty aromas alongside herbal essences and dried black fruit. With a medium to full body, this wine offers a palate that is tighter and more nimble, featuring a tannic structure that will surely evoke cravings for cured meats and sausages.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2035
Time & Direction 2021 Diamond Cutter
Opening to a medium-weight nose, the 2021 Diamond Cutter reveals notes of black cherry and spiced plum, complemented by hints of cured meats and resinous purple flowers. The aroma carries a softly dusty and subtly spiced character. Medium-bodied and clocking in at 13.5% alcohol, this wine showcases energetic acidity on the palate, with fine-grained tannins that allow it to slowly uncoil over a lingering finish of spicy dark red fruits.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Tirriddis Sparkling Wines NV Washington Blend (Rendition #3)
At this price point, buy as much as you can of the NV Washington Blend (Rendition #3)! It is citrus-driven with a clean, crisp mouthfeel and notes of lemongrass, lemon verbena, and Granny Smith apple. The medium-bodied wine is very spicy and delivers pleasure in a bright and youthful expression, full of energy and ready to be paired with a wide variety of foods. Grab the entire case at this price!!!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Tirriddis Sparkling Wines NV Blanc de Gris (Rendition #4)
More mineral and peachy on the nose, the NV Blanc de Gris (Rendition #4) still has a seriousness about the expression with a leesy and nutty note that is quite pleasing. Medium-bodied with energetic acidity, the wine is delightfully expressive and shows surprising weight. Very fresh and zesty, the wine finishes with a mouthwatering tartness that has me daydreaming of fried shellfish and oysters.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Tirriddis Sparkling Wines NV Barrel Fermented Blanc de Blanc (Rendition #4)
Instantly impressive in the glass, the NV Barrel Fermented Blanc de Blanc (Rendition #4) has oak essences that lift the overall expression, with soft vanilla notes intertwining with sweet lemon and green apple. It connects with notes of dry butterscotch and a bright linearity that beams with succulent acidity. Very fresh and very pleasing, I can’t put down my glass. Bravo!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Toil Oregon 2023 Pinot Noir
Pure and expressive, the 2023 Pinot Noir reveals ripe cherry notes that sway with peppercorns and grace. The wine is focused and fresh with hints of turned earth and a soft notion of fern. Medium-bodied, the wine is spicy on the finish and delivers well for the price. Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Toil Oregon 2023 Chardonnay
Rich and round on the nose with lively lemon, nutty, and softly oaky notes, and hints of caramel, the 2023 Chardonnay presents a clean and fresh palate with crisp acidity and bright apple acids that drive the finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Toil Oregon 2024 Rosé of Pinot Noir
Fresh and succulent, red-fruited, and with slight mineral tension, the 2024 Rosé of Pinot Noir has bright components and a vibrant citrus core. The medium-bodied wine has energetic acidity, and ends with a lovely finish. It is quite food-friendly.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2025-2030
Toil Oregon 2023 Reserve Pinot Noir
Very shiny and picturesque, the 2023 Reserve Pinot Noir is bright with lively cherry, possessing an elegant, focused precision and plenty of attractive fruit. The wine is very pretty, pure, and expressive, culminating in a delightfully elegant, refined, and refreshing finish. Medium-bodied and still tight, it showcases remarkable polish and shine. Very refined and built for the cellar, it will do wonders with age. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Top Source 2023 Sauvignon Blanc
Peachy, fresh, and simple, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc offers hints of pink grapefruit and sweet Meyer lemons. With fresh acidity, it is medium-bodied with hints of herbs, concluding with a light, refreshing finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Top Source 2022 Columbia Valley Syrah Grenache
Earthy and mineral, the 2022 Columbia Valley Syrah Grenache is slightly barnyard and bright red-fruited with a sanguine core. Meaty, tannic, still taut, and sticky, it offers rocky flavors. It ends with a simple, rustic finish that is food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2033
Top Source 2022 Walla Walla Valley Syrah
Savory, pepper, earthy, bigger, rustic, and dark, the 2022 Walla Walla Valley Syrah reveals iodine notes and an umami finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2024-2035
Trothe 2022 Black Label Sauvignon Blanc
Showcasing hints of oak essence alongside freshness and elegant wood spices, the 2022 Black Label Sauvignon Blanc offers notes of lemon creamsicle with a soft phenolic grip. A very fresh and crisp expression at 11.8% alcohol, it is highly textural, elegant, and focused. Rich and complex, it concludes with a long, spicy, citrus-driven finish.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2040
Trothe 2024 White Label Sauvignon Blanc
Clean, fresh, correct, and spicy, the 2024 White Label Sauvignon Blanc is citrus-driven with remarkable finesse and focus. Showcasing good minerality and brightness, this medium to full-bodied wine is pure and luxurious. Vibrant with a kiss of saltiness and delightful mineral tension, it is beautifully rich and lemony, ending with a succulent, zesty finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Trothe 2022 Limited
Instantly impressive, fresh, complex, rich, and round, the 2022 Limited is dark red-fruited with notes of dusty black raspberry, fresh spiced plum, and turned earth. Showcasing purity and an expressive character, it is pitch-perfect, ripe, and focused. Balanced and succulent, this pristine wine reveals lingering notes of purple flowers. It is generous and gives almost unlimited pleasure. I am not spitting this out; buy as much as you can. It is devastatingly gorgeous. Bravo!!!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2025-2048
Trothe 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, pure, ripe, and focused, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is round and seductive. The wine is spicy and juicy, offering a pristine expression with a subtly peppery finish. It is clean and vibrant.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Trothe 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Pure, fresh, spicy, ripe, and round, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is still tight and vibrant. Complex with elegance and a bold core, it is profoundly refined and expressive with hints of savory essence. Revealing notes of soft chocolate alongside succulent tannins and energetic acidity, it concludes with a very long finish. Wow!!!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2025-2052
Trothe 2022 Syrah
Fresh, pure, and spicy, the 2022 Syrah is floral with peachy, expressive notes. Beautifully textured and still tight, it has good bones. It ends with a succulent, long, refreshing finish that will age gracefully for more than a decade.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Trothe 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Still very tight and fresh, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon – Barrel Sample is dense with a chewy core. This is on track to be a beautiful release and will be a juggernaut of finesse and purity when released. It is fresh, rich, and very impressive. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 97-99 | Drink: Barrel Sample
TruthTeller Winery 2024 Dry Humor
With fresh, crisp apple and notes of lime candy, the 2024 Dry Humor has a clean and expressive nose, opening with a touch of reduction. It is light-bodied and zesty with a clean, nimble finish. Enjoy well-chilled and with Asian food! Yum!
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
TruthTeller Winery 2022 Droll
Zesty and spicy on the nose, the 2022 Droll has dusty plum and spiced black raspberries. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is spicy and ends with a dusty and dark-fruited finish. It will be better with food.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
TruthTeller Winery 2021 The Madman
Showing hints of black licorice and marshmallow, the 2021 The Madman has a dark-fruited core that is firm and structured. It is softly oaky with a spicy core and notes of spiced pepper, along with fine tannins that linger through the palate.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
TruthTeller Winery 2022 The Miscreant Project Right Bastard
Dark-fruited and very mineral-driven, the 2022 The Miscreant Project Right Bastard has a hot and spicy nose that slowly grows in intensity. The wine is fresh, juicy, and complex with fine tannins. It slowly uncoils in the glass and ends with a delightfully spicy finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
TruthTeller Winery 2021 Satire
Bigger and juicier with a firm core and red dusty fruit over black fruit, the 2021 Satire is medium to full-bodied. The wine is big, vibrant, and dark red-fruited with a fresh and compact tannic frame. Highly expressive, it features a rustic core, complex layers, and a dusty plum skin finish. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Two Mountain Winery 2020 Brother Blend No.10
Instantly impressive in the bottle, the 2020 Brother Blend No.10 is big and juicy with notes that burst out of the glass with spicy and seductive oak influences that lift the dark fruit of blackberry and black plum. The wine fights with sweet wood spices of vanilla and nutmeg. Medium to full-bodied, this is an impressive, focused, and reserved wine that unfolds with intensity and precision, bound by fine tannins. I can’t help but love it!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Two Mountain Winery 2020 Brother Cabernet Franc
Big and juicy, almost too much, the 2020 Brother Cabernet Franc is one-note and full-bodied. It is hot on the finish and leaves me searching for more Cabernet Franc character. The tannins are massive and bold. Enjoy with food and give it a slight chill.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Two Mountain Winery 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, fleshy, and dusty red-fruited with just enough oak expression to lift the overall nose and palate, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a medium to full-bodied wine that is balanced, fresh, and offers a delightfully lingering spicy finish. It is well-managed, focused, and delivers at a great price point.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Two Mountain Winery 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Simple and citrus-laced with a bright and fresh nose, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is medium-bodied with a vibrant beam of acidity down the center. It ends with a straightforward finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Two Mountain Winery NV Hidden Horse No. 22 Red Blend
An instant success with fresh, ripe, and approachable red fruit alongside sweet oak that plays nicely with elegant florals, soft dusty tones, and hints of savory essence, the NV Hidden Horse No. 22 Red Blend is medium-bodied and delivers fantastically for the price!
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2028
Two Vintners 2024 Grenache Blanc
Over-delivering on the price-to-quality ratio here, the 2024 Grenache Blanc has always been a favorite and hits the mark with citrus, mineral tension, and freshness. The wine is pure and transparent from where it comes from. It is crystalline and expressive, and has a kiss of phenolic bitterness that makes it incredibly food-friendly. Yum!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Two Vintners 2022 Merlot
Bigger and plummy, the 2022 Merlot is big and juicy in style with fresh layers of graphite and hints of savory herbs and baked earth. Medium to full-bodied, it ends with fine-grained tannins and an elegant yet spicy finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Two Vintners 2022 Syrah
Running the line between high-toned red fruit, graphite, and dusty oak stemmy notes, the 2022 Syrah is instantly impressive and offers a spicy Syrah potpourri that is both floral and lifted on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it is beautifully textured, spicy, and ends with a clean, rich, and food-friendly finish. Yum!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2033
Two Vintners 2022 The Waiting List
Firm, meaty, spiced, and fresh, the 2022 The Waiting List reveals a complex notion of black fruit that sways with a rocky core. It ends with a savory, medium to full-bodied finish and a dusty core of fruit. It will be better with food!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Two Vintners 2022 Alice
Fine, firm, fresh, rich, and round, the 2022 Alice is complex and expressive with layers of spiced plums, baked cherries, blackberry jus, oak spices, and resinous purple flowers. Full-bodied and intricate, the wine slowly uncoils on the palate to reveal an amazing array of spice, fruit, and extract, with fine-grained tannins and an elegant finish. Nicely done! Decanting is recommended.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Two Vintners 2023 OG
An orange wine crafted from Gewürztraminer, the 2023 OG is very spicy, floral, and phenolic. It delivers a textural and vibrant freshness that is highly expressive. Very zesty overall, it weaves together blossom notes, orange-spiced tea, and a pleasant peach bitterness.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2029
Two Vintners 2024 Yo Momma
Zesty and light red-fruited with a floral aroma, the 2024 Yo Momma Rosé presents a technical, dry white wine style despite its 10 grams per liter of residual sugar. It features a kiss of reduction alongside fluffy, vibrant, and subtly stemmy notes. It is a fun label that will certainly stand apart on the shelf.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2027
Two Vintners 2023 Grenache
Dark red-fruited and spicy, the 2023 Grenache offers pure, ripe notes of potpourri. The wine is refined, elegant, and fresh, delivering a ripe attack beautifully balanced by savory spice. It is a highly expressive wine.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Two Vintners 2023 Claire
Floral and spicy, the 2023 Claire is red-fruited, showcasing crunchy red fruit layered with elegant oak spices. It reveals hints of char and sweet wood, leading into a peppery, lingering finish. It is very food-friendly, delightful, and nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Two Vintners 2023 Make Haste
A brilliant Cinsault, the 2023 Make Haste is high-toned, red-fruited, and deeply expressive. Notes of potpourri and orange rind mingle in this spicy and mineral-driven wine, accented by a touch of charred cherries.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Two Vintners 2023 Dire Wolf
Spicy, dark-fruited, and brooding in profile, the 2023 Dire Wolf is still quite young and exhibits a touch of stemminess. It needs time, so decanting is recommended.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2026-2034
Two Vintners 2022 Oliver
Big, juicy, and spicy, the 2022 Oliver delivers a vibrant, peppery hit with an unapologetic, balls-to-the-wall, full-throttle style that goes 0-60 in two seconds flat. This baby rips and will be great with fire-roasted chops and steaks!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Two Vintners 2022 Some Days Are Diamonds
An unmistakable Syrah, the 2022 Some Days Are Diamonds is spicy, meaty, and juicy. It offers potpourri alongside complex, savory notes of roasted meat and hot rocks. Featuring mineral tension and fine-grained tannins, it is a ripe, fresh, and pure expression of the varietal that concludes with a wonderfully rich, round finish. Bravo!!! It is very savory and beautifully balanced. I want more!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2043
Two Vintners 2022 Some Days Are Stones
A quintessential Rocks Syrah, the 2022 Some Days Are Stones brims with savory umami and sanguine notes. It possesses a spicy, mineral tension and elegant floral notes, all carried on a medium to full-bodied frame.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2045
Two Vintners 2023 Lola
Red-fruited and savory, the 2023 Lola is spicy, rocky, and softly oaky. It is a complex wine that beautifully shows notes of both Syrah and Cabernet expression. Give it time.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2034
Two Vintners 2022 Legit
A big and expressive wine, the 2022 Legit is generous, bold, rich, and round. It is juicy and firm, though the palate shrinks slightly towards the finish. Overall, the wine seriously over-delivers for the price. Buy the case.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Two Vintners 2023 Zinfandel
A Zinfandel that truly smells like Zinfandel, the 2023 Zinfandel is still juicy, featuring a kiss of volatility that makes perfect sense for the style. Classically Zinfandel in its profile, this medium to full-bodied wine is delightfully expressive and will do very well.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Two Vintners 2021 Ninny Late Harvest Riesling
Sticky, acid-driven, and succulent, the 2021 Ninny Late Harvest Riesling offers incredible freshness with a touch of off-the-cuff style. Clocking in at 8% alcohol with bright acidity, it delivers a classic note that makes perfect sense for Riesling. The wine is very pleasing.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2050
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Grenache Rosé
A bright and energetic rosé, the 2023 Grenache Rosé is fresh with a vibrant, spicy finish. It is very food-friendly and nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2029
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Chenin Blanc
Fresh, crisp, and clean, the 2023 Chenin Blanc is peachy with amazing mineral tension. With a good leesy mouthfeel, the wine is medium-bodied, pristine, and acid-driven. It features a spicy core of white fruit. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Southwest Facing Sauvignon Blanc
Light-bodied, very citrus-driven and leesy, the 2022 Southwest Facing Sauvignon Blanc is softly phenolic, fresh, clean, and very food-friendly. It is highly textural and very tasty. It is pure and refreshing.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Candy Mountain Merlot
Dark red-fruited, juicy, and generously ripe, the 2022 Candy Mountain Merlot is bigger and fuller-bodied. It is complex, round, and rich, ending with a firm finish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Counterpart Merlot
Rich, round, and pure, the 2022 Counterpart Merlot has plenty of spice. It is medium to full-bodied and fresh with fine mineral tension and oak. It is very food-friendly and age-worthy!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Seductive and full of splendor, the 2022 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh, silky, and both rustic and firm. It is plush and fluffy with fine-grained tannins. It ends with a captivating, floral, and slightly oaky finish. Bravo!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2055
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Quintessence Block 51
Firm, inky, and dusty with a solid, rocky core, the 2022 Quintessence Block 51 is a very rigid, medium-bodied red fruit expression. Fresh and complex, it is complete but will increase in complexity with additional time in the bottle. Give it time. Yum!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2055
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Upchurch Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Upchurch Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is very fine and fresh with an immaculate, spicy core. It has fantastic action on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is complex and the finish is long, pure, and peppery! Wow!!! This is world-class juice!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2027-2060
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Hero Twins
Showing great purity, the 2022 Hero Twins is expressive with a pure and ripe core of fruit lifted by its freshness. It is medium to full-bodied, pristine, and vibrant. It is layered and complex, truly world-class. It is spicy and tannic with a fine, fresh, elegant, and evocative finish. It is utterly pleasurable.
Score: 99 | Drink: 2027-2060
Upchurch Vineyard 2024 Grenache Rosé
Classic, fresh, and complex, the 2024 Grenache Rosé showcases wonderful mineral tension. Spicy and medium-bodied, it offers a fuzzy, intricate finish that is highly food-friendly. This delightful wine is perfectly suited for a meal. Enjoy with food.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2035
Upchurch Vineyard 2024 Chenin Blanc
Classic, picturesque, and fresh, the 2024 Chenin Blanc is a complex, layered, and citrusy wine with a strong mineral drive. Medium-bodied and electric with focused acidity, it boasts pure varietal essence and an intricate finish. This is perhaps the best Chenin Blanc from Upchurch to this day. Bravo!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2034
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Southwest Facing Sauvignon Blanc
Slightly darker than the 2022, the 2023 Southwest Facing Sauvignon Blanc is fresh and slightly herbal with mineral and spicy notes. With a kiss of reduction, it remains zesty, vibrant, and complex. Medium-bodied, the wine delivers peppery lemon notes and a focused, citrus-driven character. It is very food-friendly and highly pleasing. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Candy Mountain Merlot
Picturesque and pure, the 2023 Candy Mountain Merlot is still tight and mineral-driven, yet fleshy and plummy with notes of blackberry skins. Medium to full-bodied, it features fine-grained tannins, succulent acidity, and a plush, food-friendly complexity. It will likely be better after a decade of age and will gracefully evolve for two decades. Nicely done! Decanting is recommended, enjoy with food.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2047
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Counterpart
Made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2023 Counterpart is a fleshy and ripe beauty. It reveals complex layers of dark cherry and black raspberry, remaining mineral-driven, fresh, and pure. The wine is still tightly wound but presents a picturesque and complete profile. Full-bodied, intricate, round, and plush, it is unmistakably pleasurable, rich, and vibrant. A brilliant wine!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2050
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 LTL Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Classic, red-fruited, fresh, and fleshy, the 2022 LTL Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is an over-delivering wine. It showcases black cherry, minerality, and pencil shavings, offering a vibrant, plush, and mineral-driven profile. Layered, complex, and full-bodied, this wine is highly focused and continues to outperform with its mineral essence. It truly over-delivers for the price.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Quintessence Vineyard Block 51 Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2023 Quintessence Vineyard Block 51 Cabernet Sauvignon is still tightly wound and mineral-driven. Firm and rigid, it features complex graphite notes. Full-bodied, the wine is incredibly food-friendly and will benefit from additional aging. It’s a big boy. Decanting is recommended, give it time.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2028-2053
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Made from clone 2, the 2023 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon has a juicy, ripe expression of dark cherry and black raspberry, accompanied by minerality, focused freshness, and finesse. The wine is vibrant, fresh, complex, and mineral-driven, offering plenty of tight, intricate layers. It is very zesty, spicy, and bold, yet lush, possessing beautiful extract and purity that embodies the classic Red Mountain essence. Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2027-2045
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Slightly shy on the nose, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is harmonious and slightly compact, revealing dark fruit, minerality, oak spices, dark red tones, and purple flowers. The wine then blossoms on the palate, expanding to cover the entire mouth with plenty of spice, dark berries, oak, and mineral-driven floral essences. It grows exponentially in intensity over time. This gorgeous wine needs some time to come around, but it will deliver brilliantly. Just be patient!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2028-2058
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Hero Twins
A touch more mineral-driven, the 2023 Hero Twins is brilliant but still shy at the moment, yet it will be unstoppable with time. It is immaculate, full-bodied, round, and still tightly wound, promising to slowly release its secrets. It is a delicate masterpiece and a fantastic example of the chateau. Complex and still firm, this wine will undoubtedly showcase an indispensable finesse and richness without being overbearing. It will be phenomenal in 10-15 years, possessing all the elegance, grace, and precision of a world-class first growth. Proving that a great wine doesn’t have to be bigger and bolder to be better, this stunning wine will stand the test of time. Pure elegance and finesse in the making! Just be patient and give it time. Bravo!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2028-2067
Upsidedown Wine 2024 Tremasi Rose
Very fresh and bright, the 2024 Tremasi Rose is mineral-driven with notes of petrichor and a crisp, rocky essence. Medium to light-bodied, the wine is very textural and vibrant. It features clean acidity and a mineral-driven profile that is very pleasing and complex.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2031
Upsidedown Wine 2024 Rescue Rose
Fresh, bright, and citrusy with mineral tension, the 2024 Rescue Rose offers hints of spicy, dusty potpourri and lemon zest. The wine is complex, refreshing, and clean, featuring delightful red floral notes. It ends with a zesty, pristine finish.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2029
Upsidedown Wine 2023 Roussanne
Elegant, rich, round, and fresh, the 2023 Roussanne is expressive after spending 20 months on the lees. With hints of oak, the mid-palate provides immense pleasure, highlighted by pitch-perfect notes of soft wood spices. Boasting high mineral tension, it has a soft phenolic grip and ends with a very food-friendly finish. Bravo!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2038
Upsidedown Wine 2023 Viognier
Elegant and fresh, the 2023 Viognier features notes of sweet citrus, orange oil, and overall vibrancy. It presents a soft phenolic bitterness and is ripe and refined, displaying delightful mineral tension and succulent acidity that is impressive for the varietal. It is medium to full-bodied with a delightfully food-friendly finish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Upsidedown Wine 2023 Artist Collection White
Immensely pleasurable with chamomile and orange blossom notes, the 2023 Artist Collection White possesses a soft, leafy, and highly enjoyable character. Medium-bodied, it is rich and round, pitch-perfect in structure, and beautifully layered. A spicy core grows in amplitude, showcasing impressive focus. The wine is gorgeous.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2043
Upsidedown Wine 2022 The Gold Drop Collection Grenache
Darker with dusty dark red fruits and a savory edge marked by wild sagebrush elements, the 2022 The Gold Drop Collection Grenache is firm, rocky, and rigid. It offers a tannic edge that is very food-friendly, remaining very fresh and promising to improve with age. It ends with a spicy, herbal, potpourri, and cherry skin finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Upsidedown Wine 2022 Stoney Florals Grenache
Very fresh and primary, the 2022 Stoney Florals Grenache is expressive, red-fruited, ripe-berried, and vibrant. Complex and pure, it is juicy and spicy, offering a succulent and rocky profile with fine mineral tension. The wine ends with a delightfully crisp, lush, clean, and subtly peppery finish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Upsidedown Wine 2022 The Gold Drop Collection Mourvedre
A more serious expression with potpourri and notes of black raspberry and peppercorn, the 2022 The Gold Drop Collection Mourvedre is complex, fresh, layered, and expressive. The skin is vibrant and pure, revealing a spiced plum compote and wild brush. The wine is very pristine and spicy, offering a crisp and beautiful frame of gorgeous, evocative, and very food-friendly fruit.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Upsidedown Wine 2022 Cross Block Mourvedre
Very pleasurable, the 2022 Cross Block Mourvedre is spicy, expressive, and mineral-driven with spiced hints of cherries. The wine is very peppery, ripe, and exceptionally enjoyable, remaining fresh with dusty, seasoned plums and beautiful fine mineral tension. It showcases a vibrancy that possesses precision and spice. Decanting is recommended. It is a very crisp and generous profile with a delightful mid-palate.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2040
Upsidedown Wine 2022 The Gold Drop Field Blend
Very pure, fresh, and complex, the 2022 The Gold Drop Field Blend is spicy and juicy, with succulent, ripe potpourri and red peppercorn notes. It shows elegance, power, precision, and finesse and is very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2045
Upsidedown Wine 2023 Tremasi Field Blend
Spicy with notes of peppercorn and a soft herbal edge reminiscent of chile rellenos, the 2023 Tremasi Field Blend is very fresh. It offers a full-bodied, spicy, and earthy expression that is vibrant and highly expressive, highlighting a delightful mineral tension. Notes of pencil shavings lead into a very tight, succulent finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Upsidedown Wine 2021 Artist Collection Syrah
Dark berried and spicy with notes of earthy baked earth, the 2021 Artist Collection Syrah is very fresh, mineral-driven, and tight. It features a gripping core with a subdued fruit essence that slowly uncoils in the glass to reveal more spice, hints of oak, and elegant resinous notes. Supported by succulent tannins, the wine is ripe and fresh.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2041
Upsidedown Wine 2022 Artist Collection Syrah
Featuring a label change that represents a snapshot of the winemaker’s thoughts on its style, the 2022 Artist Collection Syrah is fresh, complex, and floral. Made with 60% whole cluster, it is very fresh and ripe, presenting a spicy and very pure profile. It offers medium to full-bodied potpourri and expressive red fruit tones. The wine ends with a mineral-driven finish and gripping mineral tension.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2045
Upsidedown Wine 2023 Birds and Things and Flowers
Displaying inky and dark red flowers with a firm ferric grip, the 2023 Birds and Things and Flowers is very fresh, complex, and floral, featuring firm notes of graphite and olive fruit. The wine is dark with an iron-like grip, remaining fresh, complex, and mineral-driven. Medium to full-bodied and tight, the wine is rich and very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2025
Upsidedown Wine 2022 The Gold Drop Malbec
Instantly gorgeous, the 2022 The Gold Drop Malbec is plummy and expressive with notes of blueberry, sour plums, and black cherry. Utilizing about 20% whole cluster, it features savory notes of rock and floral resinous purple flowers, making the wine all the better for it. It ends with a succulent, very pleasurable, and complex, rich, round finish. The wine is very fresh, possesses impressive longevity, and delivers a very long, pure finish. Bravo!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2045
Upsidedown Wine 2022 The Gold Drop Cabernet Sauvignon
Ripe, juicy, and fresh, the 2022 The Gold Drop Cabernet Sauvignon is very complex and possesses a generous quality. Displaying a slightly magenta color, it is fresh, pure, and softly savory with elegant elements. Generous and softly focused, the wine is delightful and quite food-friendly.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Upsidedown Wine 2022 Equus Reserve
Offering firm, fresh dark fruits and a spicy essence, the 2022 Equus Reserve features notes of blackberry, wild sagebrush, herbs, and peppercorns over sour plums and black raspberry. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has succulent acidity and an elegant, slow release of its secrets, yet it packs a punch. Bold and fresh, it wonderfully reveals its depths over time, proving to be long, textured, and very food-friendly with a cerebral finish. Bravo!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Upsidedown Wine 2023 Sweet Marsanne
Offering notes of apricot and dried raisins, the 2023 Sweet Marsanne is fresh, featuring hints of quince paste, peach syrup, and apple reduction. Pure, fresh, juicy, and ripe with candied sweetness, the wine is succulent, elegant, and ripe.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2052
Va Piano Vineyards 2022 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm and austere with dusty dark fruit extract, the 2022 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is big and bold with layers and firm grip through the full-bodied finish. It is open-knit on the palate and ends with a generously layered and spicy finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2040
Va Piano Vineyards 2022 Octave Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, bold, and extracted, with hints of volatility, the 2022 Octave Cabernet Sauvignon is big, juicy, fresh, and complex. It has oak, tannins, and dark red and black fruit tones. The wine is big, beefy, and generous. It has firm, gripping tannins that will be even better with age and even better with food. Enjoy with steaks and chops off the grill. Nicely done!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Va Piano Vineyards 2022 Va Piano Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2022 Va Piano Cabernet Sauvignon is big, bold, and fresh. It has a firm tannic edge that grips and holds the palate and finish. Extracted, rich, and with a succulent mouthfeel, it ends with a lingering, spicy finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Va Piano Vineyards 2022 DuBrul Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich and bold in style, round with blackberry notes, spiced plum compote, and oak essences, the 2022 DuBrul Cabernet Sauvignon is concentrated with generous fruit tones that glide with a beautifully oaky finish. Not overdone, but delivers a big, full expression. The palate is silky, smooth, and elegant as it is rich, round, and juicy. It’s power and grace in a glass! Nicely done!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2042
Va Piano Vineyards 2022 Rosebud Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm, dusty, and dark-fruited with a core of black raspberry and blackberry essence, the 2022 Rosebud Cabernet Sauvignon is generous, layered, and fresh with a spicy and mineral core at its heart. Full-bodied, ripe, and firmly tannic, this will be better with age and decanting is recommended. Elegant oak expression. The finish is quite delightful.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Va Piano Vineyards 2024 Chelle den Millie Sauvignon Blanc
Fresh and complex with a delightful quality on the nose, the 2024 Chelle den Millie Sauvignon Blanc is very citrus-driven and has a fine mineral tension. Made in mostly concrete and 30% stainless steel, it is succulent, medium-bodied, and very food-friendly. Will deliver pleasure for another 5-7 years to come. Nicely done!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Va Piano Vineyards 2024 Celilo Chardonnay
The nose of the 2024 Celilo Chardonnay has a soft, under-ripe tropical note with sweet Meyer lemon, yellow pear, and yellow apples. With hints of banana and under-ripe pineapple, the wine is elegant with energetic acidity, freshness, and hints of lees. The wine is very fresh and very complex. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Va Piano Vineyards 2023 Va Piano Estate Cabernet Franc
Juicy and fresh with a dusty dark cherry note on the nose, the 2023 Va Piano Estate Cabernet Franc is sweet, with a sweet herbaceousness and hints of sappy plum compote and dusty dark cherry. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is still tight and has sticky tannins that will release in the next 3 years. Will be beautiful over the next 10-15 years. Give it time.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2028-2040
Va Piano Vineyards 2023 Estate Uniti
Instantly impressive, the 2023 Estate Uniti explodes with precision and finesse. Offering power and elegance alongside dusty dark red fruit, it is devastatingly gorgeous, fresh, complex, and layered with dusty tannins that are refined and elegant. Fleshy, the wine is full-bodied and expressive. Very complex and full, it concludes with a long, very complex finish. Utterly food-friendly.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2045
Va Piano Vineyards 2023 Octave Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Still very primary, the 2023 Octave Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh and rustic. Very layered and complex, it is long, complex, and very mineral, but very pleasing and full-bodied. Will be better with time and with food. Give it time, your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2050
Va Piano Vineyards 2023 Va Piano Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Rounder, fresh, and more vibrant with a lift of oak spice and freshness, the 2023 Va Piano Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is more refined. The wine is very refined, fresh, and full-bodied. Complex, layered, juicy, and has elegant oak tones and brown baking spices. Offering freshness and complexity, it concludes with a long, food-friendly finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2028-2045
Va Piano Vineyards 2023 DuBrul Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, juicy, and fresh, the 2023 DuBrul Cabernet Sauvignon reveals a dusty dark cherry nature alongside herbal, leafy nuances. Full-bodied, fresh, and complex, the wine concludes with a long, lingering finish. Very good.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2028-2045
Va Piano Vineyards 2023 Rosebud Cabernet Sauvignon
Very fine and finessed, the 2023 Rosebud Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Wahluke Slope, where the vineyards suffered from red blotch and leaf roll. The wine is fresh and electric on the nose, showcasing a remarkable vibrancy and depth. It is medium to full-bodied.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2040
Valdemar Estates 2023 Entre Nosotros Chardonnay
Impressively attractive and fresh on the nose with lemon pastry cream and sweet oak expression, the 2023 Entre Nosotros Chardonnay has a soft, leesy, and nutty expression with poached apples and peaches. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is rich and round with a spicy core and an elegant finish that has me coming back for more! Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Valdemar Estates 2024 Las Canteras Viognier
A softer and subdued style of Viognier, the 2024 Las Canteras Viognier is fresh, complex, and delightful. Fresh and complex with a kiss of phenolic bitterness, and ends with a surprising weight and texture and a spicy finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2034
Valdemar Estates 2022 Walla Walla Syrah
Softly expressive and subdued in the glass, the 2022 Walla Walla Syrah slowly uncoils, showing a delicate style of floral and spicy Syrah. The nose is red-fruited with hints of oak potpourri and red peppercorn. Medium to full-bodied, it is covered up with more high-toned red fruit and floral notes that slowly reveal themselves across the palate, which I find immensely pleasing.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Valdemar Estates 2022 Walla Walla Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Black-fruited, rich, and extracted on the mouthfeel, the 2022 Walla Walla Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has firm mineral tension that expresses across the mid-palate with a firm graphite layer that drops in just after the tannins grip the gumline. A very pleasurable wine, the oak spices slowly release on the mouthfeel, which coats and glides to a rich, round, elegant finish that still needs additional time in bottle to come around. Give it time, your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2045
Valdemar Estates 2024 Las Canteras Grenache Blanc
Classic, fresh, mineral-driven, and lemony citrus notes define the 2024 Las Canteras Grenache Blanc, which was aged in a 50/50 blend of stainless steel and neutral barrels. Medium-bodied, the wine has a succulent acidity and will remain food-friendly for years to come. It features a delightful phenolic grip that makes it very pleasing, culminating in a long, lingering finish. Very food-friendly and succulent finish that has me coming back for more.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2032
Valdemar Estates 2023 French Creek Chardonnay
Instantly pleasing and luxurious, the 2023 French Creek Chardonnay explodes from the glass with precision, finesse, and full expression. This wine has all the bells and whistles that Chardonnay lovers will come to love and respect, featuring plenty of attractive oak and brown baking spices that melt seamlessly into its profile. Notes of yellow apples and Asian pears mingle with sweet Meyer lemons, offering depth and complexity for days. Medium to full-bodied, it is a brilliant wine worth every penny that drinks like a baby Montrachet. Bravo!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Valdemar Estates 2023 Las Canteras Grenache
Dusty red cherry and hints of leafy herbs lie just under the bright, fresh, and ripe juicy core of the 2023 Las Canteras Grenache. Revealing hints of earth and spice, this medium to full-bodied wine is expressive and complex. Made from young vines, it shows great promise, though future vintages will likely be even better once the vines are more established. It ends with a long phenolic finish. Decanting recommended.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2037
Valdemar Estates 2023 Las Canteras Syrah
A classic Syrah from the Rocks, the 2023 Las Canteras Syrah displays a savory character, plenty of ripeness, and juiciness complemented by a soft umami note. Elegant potpourri spices and succulent cherry notes glide effortlessly across the mid-palate. Medium to full-bodied, it offers flavors of summer sausage and cranberry delivered with elegance and energy. It has verve and elegant attitude!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2040
Valdemar Estates 2023 WeatherEye Syrah
More generous in style, the 2023 WeatherEye Syrah is structured, firm, and mineral-driven, showcasing a boldness to its freshness and firmness. Full-bodied with firm mineral tension and tighter tannins, this very food-friendly wine will reward patience over time. It reveals a soft savory aspect that is very pleasing and fresh. Decanting is recommended. Give it time.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2042
Valdemar Estates 2022 Klipsun Syrah
Representing the last vintage before the vines were pulled out, the 2022 Klipsun Syrah is impressive and bold, delivering both precision and finesse. The wine is dark red-fruited, featuring notes of spiced plum and cherries, sweet baking spices, and an elegant touch of star anise. It is finessed and structured, boasting pitch-perfect tannins and acidity with alcohol levels nicely in check. With a kiss of volatility, it overall delivers plenty of pleasure as a generous beauty that makes you think you can fly. Kudos to Devyani and Jesus for creating such a beautiful wine!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2045
Valdemar Estates 2022 Seven Hills Malbec
Big and juicy with a ripe acidity and freshness, the 2022 Seven Hills Malbec offers enticing notes of spiced plum compote and spiced cherries. The wine is bright, shiny, and polished, carrying an undeniable elegance. Medium to full-bodied, it is beautifully balanced and complex. Finessed and red-fruited with fresh acidity and brightness, the wine is gorgeous and never overdone. Bravo!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Valdemar Estates 2022 Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, bold, and classic, the 2022 Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon presents a polished, refined, and rustic character that is both powerful and complexly balanced. It showcases big, juicy, and refined black and dark dusty red fruit intertwined with earthy and mineral notes. Built on a rustic frame, it is brilliant and expressive, highlighted by elegant brown baking spices that lead into a long, stunning finish. Very food-friendly, nicely done!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2045
Valdemar Estates 2022 Eventide Estate
Intensely impressive, the 2022 Eventide Estate is devastatingly gorgeous and fresh, bursting with juicy plums and spiced potpourri. Very complex and fresh, though still tight, the wine possesses energy, finesse, verve, and expressive complexity. This is a brilliant wine that will age gracefully for decades, performing wonderfully with time and food while still delivering greatness in its youth. It’s world-class Merlot!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2027-2047
Valo 2022 Atemporal
Showcasing mineral tension and a kiss of pyrazines, the 2022 Atemporal is pure and red-fruited with succulent acidity. Medium-bodied, the wine is fresh and complex. It is very food-friendly, very pleasurable, and fresh with mineral tension.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Valo 2022 Reserve Petit Verdot
Dense, dark, and deep, the 2022 Reserve Petit Verdot has a dark skin and dense expression. It is deep, full-bodied, gripping, and inky.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2036
Valo 2022 Intemporal
Beautiful, fresh, rich, and round, the 2022 Intemporal is tight and firm. It features a medium to full-bodied, tight, fine-grained tannic structure. The wine is very fresh and complex with mineral tension.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2038
Valo 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc
Spicy and herbal with a core of fruit and spice, the 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc flows into fine-grained tannins and a fresh frame of succulent acidity. Enjoy with food.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Valo 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Generous and expressive with notes of herbal pyrazines, red pepper, blackberry, plum preserves, oak essence, cedar, and cigar box, the 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex offering. Fresh and complex, medium to full-bodied, the wine is balanced, fresh, complex, and rich. Very food-friendly, nimble, and brings me back for more. Yum!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Valo 2022 Reserve Merlot
With graphite notes, dusty plum, and dark cherry skin alongside hints of oak, the 2022 Reserve Merlot is very tight still, but has good bones. Offering plenty of structure, the wine is very nimble and quick on its feet. Nicely done, can age for more than a decade.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2038
Van Loben Sels Cellars 2023 Chardonnay
Offering a broad and approachable nose with notes of sweet corn, lemon pastry, and poached yellow apples in rum and cinnamon, the 2023 Chardonnay reveals a generously layered palate that has me looking for more energetic acidity to give the wine more life and longevity.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Van Loben Sels Cellars 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
A big, juicy, fresh, and round style of Cabernet, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon features dark red fruit and hints of savory herbal notes and oak. Red-fruited and still slightly primary. Medium-bodied, the wine is red-fruited and spicy with a herbal sweet edge that seems pulled in different directions.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Van Loben Sels Cellars 2019 Bona Dea
With dusty red fruit that is also savory, showing notes like orange tree, the 2019 Bona Dea is big and generous and has fine-grained tannins. The acidity is approachable and ready for action, ending with a spicy herbal finish.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2025-2037
ViNO 2022 Pinot Grigio
Simply fruited with notes of fresh and slightly tart fruit, the 2022 Pinot Grigio offers ripe peach and expressive lemons. Medium-bodied, the wine has a kiss of phenolic bitterness and ends with a straightforward finish that delivers well for the price.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
ViNO 2023 Rosé
Bright and succulent on the nose, the 2023 Rosé is a fresh and clean wine that offers soft lemony citrus notes with hints of cherry and wild strawberry. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is clean and correct, ending with a straightforward and slightly spicy finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
ViNO 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Offering simple red fruit and slightly savory notes, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh, firm, and subdued on the palate. Built for speed and not distance, this is medium to full-bodied with a straightforward finish meant for early consumption.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Wautoma Springs 2021 Behemoth
Big and bold with juicy, ripe, and sweet oak spices, the 2021 Behemoth is rich and round. The wine is generously layered, big, and bold, fitting its name. The wine ends with a spicy finish with ripe, approachable, and accessible fruit tones.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
Wautoma Springs 2021 Professor
Showcasing dense dark red and black fruit tones, the 2021 Professor is firm, expressive, and offers notes of roasted coffee. Ends with a succulent finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Wautoma Springs 2021 Fork + Spoon
Dusty and dark red-fruited without any herbal or spicy notes that tell me it’s Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Fork + Spoon has notes of baked cherries and spiced plum reduction. The wine slowly uncoils with a rumor of soft herbal expression on the palate that ends with a broad and tannic finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2031
Wautoma Springs 2022 Chardonnay
With creamed corn and baked lemons alongside notes of poached pear on the nose, the 2022 Chardonnay is broad and hot. The wine is medium-bodied and the palate reveals a straightforward and approachable mouthfeel, but leaves me wanting a bit more life-giving energetic acidity on the palate and finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
Wautoma Springs 2023 Albariño
Featuring hints of lemon verbena and lime candy with a citrus core, the 2023 Albariño is a medium-bodied wine with succulent acidity that races to the finish. Ends with an easy-drinking, straightforward finish that delivers well for the price.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2027
WeatherEye 2023 Clairette
Dirty and bright, the 2023 Clairette is peachy, under-ripe, and fresh. Heady and sweet, it is bright, clean, and very pleasurable. Very food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2034
WeatherEye 2023 Marsanne
Showcasing notes of peach, marzipan, and nutty phenolics, the 2023 Marsanne is fresh, boozy, and generous. It is structured, quite cerebral, and fresh.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2033
WeatherEye 2023 Roussanne
Very fuzzy and phenolic, the 2023 Roussanne is spicy, fresh, and clean. It offers notes of marzipan and grilled pineapple, leading to a lingering texture.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2036
WeatherEye 2023 Grenache
With a minty and herbal nose that shows some volatility, the 2023 Grenache is red-fruited with spicy cherry. The wine is herbal, savory, and very food-friendly. Decanting recommended.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2036
WeatherEye 2023 Mourvèdre
Featuring a very bright, generous, and fresh nose, the 2023 Mourvèdre is expressive and generous. It reveals spicy notes of worn leather and graphite, culminating in a firm, long, spicy finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2036
WeatherEye 2023 Syrah
Firm, gripping, and fresh, the 2023 Syrah is a firm, layered, and structured wine. It showcases dark red and black fruit expressions, supported by a firm, tannic grip.
Score: 90? | Drink: 2025-2030
Woodward Canyon 2023 Washington State Chardonnay
Fresh, ripe, and layered with pomaceous and citrus essences, the 2023 Washington State Chardonnay offers lemon pastry cream and yellow apples that waft from the glass with notes of citrus blossom.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Woodward Canyon 2022 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon
Impressive in the glass with notes of dusty dark red and black fruit tones lifted by dusty red and purple flowers, sweet oak spices, and elegant wild herbs and brush notes, the 2022 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon offers healthy, ripe, and expressive fruit with a delightfully full core. The wine is beautifully layered and I can’t help but keep smelling the glass and savoring the wine. It’s brilliantly made and will be great with food. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Woodward Canyon 2022 Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, complex, and herbal, with notes of red fruit and a firm, gripping tannic edge, the 2022 Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon is spicy and subtly oaky with plenty of sweet baking spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and a spicy clove. On the palate, the wine slowly uncoils to reveal an impressive layer of freshness, fruit, earth, oak, and herbal, floral spices. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2042
Woodward Canyon 2022 Estate Cabernet Franc
A classic Cabernet Franc with seductive dark cherry notes, sweet orange peel, dusty black fruit notes, and plum skin, the 2022 Estate Cabernet Franc is medium to full-bodied. It is rich and sincere with varietal purity that has me coming back for another sip. Nicely done!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Woodward Canyon 2022 Estate Reserve Red Wine
Bigger and fleshier, generously ripe and succulent with sappy dark red and black fruit tones, the 2022 Estate Reserve Red Wine reveals complex layers of soft oak tones and hints of herbal nuances that lift the expression. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is fresh, complex, and offers a very food-friendly and lingering spicy conclusion. Decanting is recommended here. Nicely done.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Delivering well for the price, the nose and mouthfeel of the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon are ripe with a dark-berried essence before moving to show a touch of tannin, that sways to a tighter mineral edge. The wine is medium to full-bodied, and will go delightfully with a wide range of cuisines.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2026-2030
Abeja 2023 Chardonnay
Bright and nimble on the nose, the 2023 Chardonnay features notes of lemon pastry cream, yellow apples, and vibrant acidity. Pure and framed by a crisp structure, this medium-bodied wine offers a succulent lemon core that sways with intention. Overall, it is an incredibly refreshing expression.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Abeja 2022 Estate Chardonnay
Expansive and structured, the 2022 Estate Chardonnay is zesty, textured, and expressive, with subtle hints of oak. The palate is bold and broad, with a soft phenolic grip. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers a generous mouthfeel that culminates in a fresh, peppery finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Abeja 2023 Viognier
Fresh and inviting, the 2023 Viognier showcases apple and peachy notes alongside hints of Meyer lemon and a kiss of phenolic bitterness. Medium-bodied, it is an excellent, opulent, and round expression that is absolutely gorgeous. It concludes with a rich and spicy character.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2036
Abeja 2024 Beekeeper White Chardonnay
Crisp and pure, the 2024 Beekeeper White Chardonnay boasts bright acidity and a vibrant freshness. Featuring slightly underripe kiwi fruit, green apple, and zesty elements, it beautifully showcases a spicy and electric tension. It concludes with a clean finish, though it remains quite tight.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2033
Abeja 2022 Skysill Chardonnay
Subtle and refined, the 2022 Skysill Chardonnay offers soft nuances of toasted almond, lees, and marzipan. Beautifully textured and fresh, it delivers an amazing mouthfeel. It finishes with a succulent, lingering quality, making for a highly pleasurable and elegant wine.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Abeja 2022 Merlot
Fresh and plummy, the 2022 Merlot features notes of graphite and rocky undertones, accented by hints of brown baking spices. Clean, refined, rich, and expressive, it showcases a distinct minerality. Overall, it is an incredibly elegant and pure expression.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Abeja 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing a firm mineral grip, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon slowly reveals notes of graphite, pencil shavings, and ripe, dusty red and purple fruit. It possesses excellent concentration and fine-grained tannins that highlight its vibrant youth. Highly food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Abeja 2021 Heather Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark red, dusty fruit centers around a rustic core of natural brush in the 2021 Heather Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, accompanied by notes of graphite and a fresh, iron-like edge. Cerebral, pure, and spicy, it offers a long, textured, medium finish. Lovely and elegant, it is not overdone with fruit, instead highlighting rocky earth and savory wild sagebrush nuances. It will be immensely pleasing with additional time in the bottle; your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2028-2050
Abeja 2021 Skysill Cabernet Sauvignon
Initially firm and softly closed, the 2021 Skysill Cabernet Sauvignon reveals notes of iron, fresh hints of dusty florals, and a wind-swept countryside essence as it subtly opens. Still tight at present, it likely won’t peak until next spring. Dense and pleasurable, it features a solid, gripping tannic structure that ensures it will age like a champion. Graceful and age-worthy, this is a very fine wine that will cellar beautifully for decades.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2052
Adams Bench Winery 2020 RECKONING
Starting with a dusty red fruited core, the 2020 RECKONING is expressive and fresh in the glass. The palate reveals a succulent mouthfeel with a balanced structure that ends with a food-friendly finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Adams Bench Winery 2020 The V Cabernet Sauvignon
Presenting a dusty core that is ripe, vibrant, and fresh, the 2020 The V Cabernet Sauvignon reveals enticing notes of bitter dark chocolate and blackberry juice. This full-bodied wine will benefit from decanting and is best enjoyed with food. Give it time.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2036
Adams Bench Winery 2020 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon
Beginning with elegant and mineral notes on the nose, this 2020 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon reveals layers of spiced plum and blackberry reduction. The wine is rich, round, focused, and clean, showcasing hints of roasted coffee beans that linger in the glass. Full-bodied with firmly structured tannins, it exhibits a boldness and generosity that intensify before culminating in a spicy, lingering finish. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2042
Adams Bench Winery 2020 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, round, and chewy, with dusty tannins, the 2020 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is bold and expressive, showcasing boisterous dark-red fruit flavors that dance alongside notes of spiced black raspberry and resinous purple flowers. Full-bodied and still tightly coiled, this wine is a serious offering that pairs beautifully with food and features a long, complex finish that beckons for another sip. I am not going to turn it down.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Adams Bench Winery 2020 Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly impressive for its precision, power, and finesse, the 2020 Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers purity, with a dusty, dark-red-fruit core. Full-bodied and very enjoyable, it develops a growing spiciness and an oaky note that lift the mid-palate, revealing a fantastic mouthfeel. This beauty glides to a graceful, succulent, food-friendly finish. Nicely done! Decanting recommended.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Airfield Estates Winery 2022 Michael Miller
Unmistakably Syrah, the 2022 Michael Miller has classic aromas of meat and pepper tones, with hints of black raspberry compote and cinnamon spice. The wine is clean, fresh and ready for action. Incredibly versatile and complex, this layered and expressive Syrah slowly develops additional complexities of sweet red fruit flavors, and will overdeliver when paired with a meal. Its very pleasurable finish has me thinking of notes of Chambord and bacon fat that linger on the aftertaste.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Airfield Estates Winery 2022 Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon
This serious wine showcases layers of precision and finesse, presenting a focused and pure profile on the nose of the 2022 Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon without being overdone or complicated. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a round mouthfeel complemented by a delightfully growing spice note that reveals a balanced structure, with both alcohol and tannins in check. This wine is poised to age gracefully for more than a decade. Nicely done.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2040
Airfield Estates Winery 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Initially presenting a slightly phenolic character, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc showcases a citrus-driven nose complemented by a delightful mineral essence. As it unfolds, notes of lime candy emerge alongside hints of apricot and peach. Medium-bodied, the mouthfeel is vibrant and crisp, offering a playful action across the palate. Its freshness is a true delight, culminating in a pleasurable finish marked by zesty acidity that enhances the bright, citrus-driven profile.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Airfield Estates Winery 2023 Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc
Very fresh and layered, this complex 2023 Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc offers plenty of citrus and oak essence that is instantly pleasurable. A smooth, rich mouthfeel and succulent acidity have me craving creamy soups and elegant cheeses. It reveals a softly leesy essence on the palate with a kiss of phenolic bitterness that makes this beauty incredibly food-friendly. Nicely done, it ends with a spicy finish. Yum!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Airfield Estates Winery 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing a red-fruited profile with a lightened style, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon delivers juicy notes of dark cherry and spiced plums. Medium-bodied, it features a balanced structure that is designed to be enjoyed young and pairs beautifully with a wide variety of dishes and cuisines. Enjoy with a meal.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Alki 2022 Red Blend
Soft and subdued, the 2022 Red Blend is clean and showcases appealing red fruit notes complemented by nuances of wild herbs and hints of sage, culminating in an easy-drinking finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2030
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2022 Estate Envoy
Offering notes of black cherry and dusty plums, the 2022 Estate Envoy expresses a kiss of graphite and hints of oak spices on the nose. These elements merge to reveal succulent acidity and fresh, lifting tannins that sway through to the end. Very easy to enjoy, it delivers pleasure at every mark, concluding with a spicy, food-friendly finish!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2037
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2022 Estate Malbec
Showcasing notes of dried plum and blackberry jus, the 2022 Estate Malbec is subtly spiced and vibrant. It reveals complex layers that tighten to display a compact frame of fine-grained tannins and a fresh core of fruit, concluding with a lingering, spicy finish. Decanting is recommended; enjoy with food.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Dusty and red-fruited, the 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon presents a clean and expressive core that continues to uncoil on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, this wine gradually reveals a soft wild brush note that enhances its overall appeal and invites me back for more. Enjoy with food.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2022 Estate Plenipotentiary Cabernet Sauvignon
Clean, expressive, dusty, and pure, the 2022 Estate Plenipotentiary Cabernet Sauvignon has layers of seasoned dark red and black fruit tones lifted by oak spices. The wine is fresh and medium to full-bodied. It grows in amplitude on the palate, showcasing a remarkably zesty core that continues to reveal additional layers of complexity and will have no trouble aging for more than a decade. Decanting recommended.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2022 Estate Plenipotentiary Syrah
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Estate Plenipotentiary Syrah showcases notes of roasted espresso bean, cured meats, and cracked peppercorns, complemented by inky black fruit and dark red fruit essences. Full-bodied, it reveals flavors of dried black cherry and sausage, supported by a spicy and sweet oak core that sways with intention and purpose. Very versatile, it leaves me coming back for more. Nicely done! Decanting recommended, enjoy with a meal.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2040
Andrew Will Winery 2024 Two Blondes Semillon Cuvee Lucia
Very fresh and fleshy, complex and pure with a fuzzy texture, the 2024 Two Blondes Semillon Cuvee Lucia is a delight. The wine is clean and has a kiss of almond skin and hints of honeysuckle and Meyer lemon pith.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Andrew Will Winery 2024 Two Blondes Sauvignon Blanc
Instantly impressive and citrus-driven, the 2024 Two Blondes Sauvignon Blanc is bright and fleshy. The wine is fresh and pure with a kiss of skin contact. Medium-bodied, it is light and ready for food. Fluffy, zesty, phenolic finish with hints of reduction that’s very approachable in youth.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2034
Andrew Will Winery 2022 Two Blondes Cabernet Franc
Vibrant and sincere, the 2022 Two Blondes Cabernet Franc expresses a purity of grace and finesse. With layered and spicy red fruit, the wine is fresh and has a clean note of pyrazines that slowly glides. It is medium-bodied with a delightfully slightly dusty, red-fruited finish that continues to reveal its secrets over time.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Andrew Will Winery 2022 Two Blondes Cabernet Sauvignon
Clean and dark red-fruited with notes of dusty plum skin and dark cherry, the 2022 Two Blondes Cabernet Sauvignon is sincere with hints of pyrazines. Pure and expressive with a lingering finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2037
Andrew Will Winery 2022 Two Blondes Merlot
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Two Blondes Merlot is very supple and pleasurable. The freshness and structure are immaculate, pitch-perfect, and firing on all cylinders. It is pure, fresh, rich, and succulent. The wine is very food-friendly.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Andrew Will Winery 2021 Ciel du Cheval Red Wine
Featuring dusty notes over bright, lively dark red fruit, the 2021 Ciel du Cheval Red Wine is complex, layered, vibrant, and still young. It is fresh and a touch tannic, very taut but has good bones. It remains crisp and intricate throughout. It offers a lovely finish and is very food-friendly. Give it time.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2042
Andrew Will Winery 2021 Champoux Red Wine
Fresh, ripe, and complex, the 2021 Champoux Red Wine is layered and pure with hints of oak and plum. Plush with a kiss of pyrazines, the wine is utterly delicious. It is very food-friendly and it will be hard to keep your hands off the bottle, but your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2050
Andrew Will Winery 2021 Two Blondes Red Wine
Showcasing a dusty red-fruited core over dark cherry notes with a kiss of volatility and freshness, the 2021 Two Blondes Red Wine is still young and filling its shoes. The wine is complex, pure, and fresh. It is softly tannic with a beautiful, long finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2045
Andrew Will Winery 2021 Sorella
Perfumed and floral with spicy lavender, the 2021 Sorella has a beautiful wild brush and gently ripe fruit tones. It is bright, complex, and pure. Immensely enjoyable, the wine has hints of pyrazines and fresh, intricate layers that continue to unwind. It ends with a lingering finish that continues to develop elegance and power. Yum!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2060
AniChe Cellars 2024 Puck
With lime candy and green apple notes and a soft leesy character that pops out of the glass and glides across the palate, the 2024 Puck is light to medium-bodied. The wine is clean and very pleasing with a kiss of phenolic bitterness. It concludes with a bright and enjoyable finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2028
AniChe Cellars 2021 Titania
Offering notes of hay and peanut shell with lemon and honey wax, the 2021 Titania is medium-bodied with texture. The wine has a soft almond note that ends with a kiss of phenolics and a waxy finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
AniChe Cellars 2020 Oberon
Very cerebral and mineral-driven, the 2020 Oberon is crisp with lively acidity and laser-beam brightness. Fresh and citrus zest-driven with a brilliance that has me salivating for cheeses and fried dishes. It ends with a bright, energetic finish that will have you searching for a meal. It is very versatile with pairings.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2035
AniChe Cellars 2024 The Fool
Fresh, still tight, and complex with plenty of slightly spicy lemony notes, the 2024 The Fool is a delight. It is slightly neutral, bright, and zesty. Medium-bodied, it presents a citrus core of fruit and a kiss of phenolic bitterness. It ends with a very pleasing and spicy, food-friendly finish. Nicely done!
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2025-2033
AniChe Cellars 2024 The Devil
Broader in style and complexity, the 2024 The Devil is fresh and pithy. Medium-bodied and phenolic with a firm mineral tension, the wine is softly leesy, complex, and very versatile. It is cerebral and food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2024
AniChe Cellars 2024 The World
Wide and expressive, the 2024 The World offers a broad and textured profile with notable mineral tension and weight. The wine is beautifully structured and ends with a lingering spicy finish and continued stony grip.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
AniChe Cellars 2024 Serafina
Floral with a softer phenolic note and texture, the 2024 Serafina is more tropical and broader in style, showcasing notes of peach, orange marmalade, and dried apricot. It ends with a lively, acid-driven finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
AniChe Cellars 2024 Beatrix
Showcasing notes of butterscotch, toasted almond, and lemon pith alongside yellow apples, the 2024 Beatrix is a delight. Medium-bodied, the acidity is very fresh and ends with a touch of mineral tension.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
AniChe Cellars 2024 Baba Yaga
With a brilliant mineral tension and bright citrus core, the 2024 Baba Yaga reveals a fluffy stony essence and notes of petrichor. Medium-bodied, the wine is fresh and complex with a succulent core, layered with a crisp edge and citrus pith. Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2033
AniChe Cellars 2022 Orlando
Picturesque and vibrant with classic American oak essence and sweet spices, the 2022 Orlando is a standout. Fresh and spicy, this medium-bodied wine is dusty and red-fruited, bursting with liveliness and purity. It offers a crystalline and clean finish that is very food-friendly and has me craving ethnic cuisine.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2040
AniChe Cellars 2022 Sancho
An unmistakable Cabernet Franc with spiced green pepper nuances, the 2022 Sancho is fresh and complex. The wine is red-fruited with hints of spice. Medium-bodied, the palate shows fewer pepper tones, and the wine is very vibrant and complete. It is very pure and delightful.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2036
AniChe Cellars 2021 Arachne
The bouquet of the 2021 Arachne is dusty and cherried with faint hints of tar and roses. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is zesty and subdued aromatically. The palate shows a touch of oak and spice, as the Zinfandel expressions and fresh red-fruited frame pop up before the gripping, food-friendly tannins take hold through the finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2036
AniChe Cellars 2021 Moth Love
Offering a delightful nose of bright red and spicy elements that sway with soft alpine and herbal tones, the 2021 Moth Love is captivating. It features nuances of dill and fresh red fruit. The bouquet is very aromatic and pleasing, and the wine ends with a food-friendly finish. Yum!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
AniChe Cellars 2021 Be Holden
Vibrant, plummy, and expressive, the 2021 Be Holden is pure, dusty, and dark-fruited with black cherry expression and black raspberry. Medium to full-bodied, it is fleshy, succulent, and bright. It is very food-friendly and fresh.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
AniChe Cellars 2019 Goat Boy
Both fresh and mature at the same time, the 2019 Goat Boy is likely in transition. On the palate, the wine reveals quite an intricate profile with layers of tension. The fruit character is very complex but is evolving. Give it 18-24 months; your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2042
AniChe Cellars 2022 Barbariccia
Opening with a kiss of volatility, the 2022 Barbariccia is very food-friendly and juicy. Acidity dances across the palate. Medium-bodied with succulent and refined tannins that glide across the mid-palate, it ends with a bright, tart cherry finish. Nicely done, it has me looking for noshy bites.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Aquilini Wines 2021 10,000 Hours Red Blend
Dusty and firm with a rocky center and fine minerality, the 2021 10,000 Hours Red Blend reveals a deep, dark black and red-fruited core. Medium to full-bodied, the mouthfeel is serious with notable mineral tension and a distinct essence of Red Mountain, all offered at a great price, culminating in a spicy finish. Nicely done.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2037
Aquilini Wines 2021 Dixie & Bass Cabernet Sauvignon
Simple, open-knit, and ready for action, the 2021 Dixie & Bass Cabernet Sauvignon showcases a profile built for speed rather than distance. With its medium body, the palate glides to an easy-drinking finish.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2028
Aquilini Wines 2021 Dixie & Bass Red Blend
Dark red-fruited and fresh, the 2021 Dixie & Bass Red Blend is a straightforward and balanced wine presented in a smaller frame. Its dusty red fruit notes are complemented by sweet oak spices, leading to a delightfully lingering finish. This wine truly over-delivers for the price.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2030
Aquilini Wines 2024 Dixie & Bass Sauvignon Blanc
Presenting a mild nose with delicate citrus and peach aromas, the 2024 Dixie & Bass Sauvignon Blanc feels somewhat straightforward, leaving a desire for greater varietal purity and freshness. The palate reveals simple acidity accompanied by notes of roasted pineapple, culminating in a finish that is equally uncomplicated and watery.
Score: 85 | Drink: 2025-2027
Aquilini Wines 2021 10,000 Hours Syrah
Dense, deep, and inky, the 2021 10,000 Hours Syrah showcases enticing notes of roasted coffee beans and peppered teriyaki jerky. Both the nose and palate are expressive and at near full maturity, inviting enjoyment while the wine is still youthful.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Hints of white peach and sweet citrus make the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc clean and simple. It features a pure core of fruit that is open-knit and approachable, with notes of leesy almond skin, sweet Meyer lemon, and nectarine skin. Medium-bodied, the wine displays a subtle spiciness that grows on me over time.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 2024 Pinot Gris
Clean and expressive, the 2024 Pinot Gris is fresh and pure, showcasing notes of peach and lemon candy along with a fine textural grip that captivates and entices. The medium-bodied wine delivers a zesty excitement on the palate, complemented by a kiss of phenolic bitterness that enhances its food-friendliness. It concludes with a lingering, spicy, fresh, and succulent finish. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 2021 Merlot
Fresh and ripe, the 2021 Merlot showcases notes of sour plum and dark cherry, complemented by hints of wild brush and sage. The wine is medium-bodied with succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins, culminating in a spicy, lingering finish that inspires daydreams of Italian food.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 2021 Gatehouse Red
Fresh, softly earthy, and complex, the 2021 Gatehouse Red straddles the line between New World and Old World, showcasing a mineral and dusty essence that is complemented by hints of oak and dark red fruit. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is vibrant and intricate, possessing a rustic core and a sincerity that is both endearing and pleasurable. It concludes with a succulent, food-friendly finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2037
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 2021 Dionysus Meritage Blend
Very fresh and ripe with a muscular structure, the 2021 Dionysus Meritage Blend exhibits a slightly funky and rustic character. This medium to full-bodied wine is quite pleasurable, making it exceptionally food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Argonne Cellars 2020 Malbec
Presenting an enticing profile of candied red and black fruits, the 2020 Malbec is complemented by notes of plum sauce and dark cherry compote. The wine is sweet and layered, showcasing a vibrant freshness at its core. Built for speed rather than distance, it is best enjoyed slightly chilled and pairs beautifully with cheeses and lighter fare.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Argonne Cellars 2020 Syrah
Brilliantly expressive, the 2020 Syrah features notes of bacon fat and roasted coffee beans, complemented by sweet oak spices and peppercorns. Medium to full-bodied, it unfolds on the palate to reveal additional layers of freshness, with a tightening across the mid-palate supported by fine-grained tannins. The finish is succulent, spicy, and food-friendly. Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2036
Argonne Cellars 2020 Petit Verdot
Delightfully rich and round, the 2020 Petit Verdot offers a fresh botanical essence that wafts from the glass. Full-bodied and dense, the wine strikes a balance between boldness and generosity, showcasing a ripe, juicy character complemented by a softly herbal expression that is both appealing and versatile, making it an excellent choice for pairing with a wide range of cuisines and flavors.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Argonne Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Hints of forest floor, dark cherry skin, dusty plum, and turned earth create an intriguing aromatic profile in the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. It is very cerebral and layered, showcasing many fascinating expressions. The wine is spicy and glows on the palate, offering a pleasurable experience marked by intensity and precision within a smaller frame. A lingering note of truffle follows through the finish, making this a lovely wine that invites you to come back for more. Yum!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Argonne Cellars 2022 Chardonnay Vielles Vignes
Leesy and nutty, the 2022 Chardonnay Vielles Vignes offers enticing notes of marzipan and grilled peaches. Medium-bodied, this wine is open-knit and very approachable in its youth. While I find myself wishing for a bit more acidity to support its aging potential, it is best enjoyed in the next couple of years.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Tan Fruit 1 Tank Fruit Chardonnay
Fresh and luminous, the 2023 Tan Fruit 1 Tank Fruit Chardonnay bursts with succulent acidity and bright notes, showcasing a clean, lean linearity reminiscent of Burgundy. Medium-bodied and zippy, the wine has seen both stainless steel and some wood, resulting in subtle flavors of nuttiness and vivid lemon curd. It drives through the finish with 0.5 g/L of residual sugar or less, presenting a very crisp and elegant style that excites my Somm brain. Exceptionally food-friendly and exciting! Wow!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Arterberry Maresh 2022 Tan Fruit White Walnut Vineyard Chardonnay
Made from 14 different clones of Chardonnay, the 2022 Tan Fruit White Walnut Vineyard Chardonnay includes a touch of the Musqué clone to lend savory components to both the bouquet and palate. It features a medium, broad nose that confidently shows its stuff. Refined and beautiful with a seductive, sincere core, it is very refreshing, clean, crisp, and elegant. This highly food-friendly wine drives with an acid-driven, revitalizing finish that makes the mouth water.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2042
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Tan Fruit White Walnut Vineyard Chardonnay
Instantly impressive from the first sniff, the 2023 Tan Fruit White Walnut Vineyard Chardonnay is electric and medium-bodied. Fresh and complex with beautifully defined strata, it ends with a zesty finish accented by a touch of spice. Its intensity is perfectly matched by the layers of complexity that continue to grow in the glass. Bravo!!!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2025-2050
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Maresh Chardonnay
Presenting a medium hay color, the 2023 Maresh Chardonnay reveals nuances that pop, slowly uncurling and unfurling in the glass. The nose offers layers upon layers of yellow apples, sautéed almonds, and Meyer lemon. Its texture is defined by a clean acidity and freshness that begs for another sip, culminating in a seductive and elegant finish.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2025-2047
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Tan Fruit Eyrie Vineyard Chardonnay
Sourced from 57-year-old Draper Clone vines, the 2023 Tan Fruit Eyrie Vineyard Chardonnay is still tightly coiled but clearly possesses good bones. Intricate, expressive, and giving, it offers plenty of attractive fruit and complexity, ensuring it will last for a couple of decades. Fresh and layered with a spicy core, this wine is utterly delicious and is likely to sell out quickly.
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2025-2050
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Tan Fruit Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay
Opening with notes of sweet yellow corn and saffron, the 2023 Tan Fruit Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay offers a wide expression of exotic beauty and mouthfeel. Textural and bright, it features an approachable nose and palate. It is complex and spicy with a touch of botrytis, while the taste remains clean, fresh, and very food-friendly. It has me daydreaming of lobster bisque.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Tan Fruit Dupre Vineyard Chardonnay
Made with about 70% botrytized grapes harvested in late October and early November, the 2023 Tan Fruit Dupre Vineyard Chardonnay is zesty, open, and expansive, featuring notes of sweet corn, yellow apple, and hints of ginger. With a kiss of sweetness and a medium to light-bodied frame, it is both broad and nimble at about 12.5% alcohol. It evolves to show a long, spicy finish that is an oddity I can’t help but love.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2047
Arterberry Maresh 2023 Pinot Noir
A quality-minded and value-driven offering, the 2023 Pinot Noir seriously over-delivers for the cost-to-quality ratio and drinks like it should be twice the price. It boasts a gorgeous nose of red-berried and spicy notes, highlighted by potpourri and a high-toned red fruit expression that is active and elegant. Medium-bodied, refined, and fresh, it possesses a wonderful food-friendly aspect and is utterly delicious.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2037
Arterberry Maresh 2022 Maresh Pinot Noir
A sturdy and refined Pinot Noir with all the bells and whistles of purity, the 2022 Maresh Pinot Noir perfectly reflects the essence of the estate after spending two years in barrel. Expressive and utterly gorgeous, it showcases both spicy and elegant characteristics, bearing broader shoulders for the scope of the range. Absolutely beautiful, it is very food-friendly and will age gracefully for a decade.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Arterberry Maresh 2021 Maresh Pinot Noir
Currently in a cocoon phase, the 2021 Maresh Pinot Noir exhibits both primary and tertiary elements with a temperamental expression in its current state. If this is in your cellar, hold onto it and begin opening it in 2027; your future self will be rewarded. It has great bones and the structure is crazy good! Ending with excellent concentration, it is likely to end up at a 95+ score, just give it time.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2045
Arterberry Maresh 2018 Maresh Pinot Noir
Having emerged from its cocoon phase, the 2018 Maresh Pinot Noir is utterly beautiful, showing elegant tertiary character and seductive red fruit notes alongside forest floor and a soft savory essence. Layered, bright, and fresh, it is an excellent expression of Pinot Noir that clearly demonstrates its longevity. The high-toned cherry elements continue to impress.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2020-2040
Arterberry Maresh 2022 Weber Pinot Noir
Soft and expressive, the 2022 Weber Pinot Noir offers bright red-fruited notes that instantly jump out of the glass. Spicy, medium-bodied, and fresh, it features a focused, driven core with excellent concentration. Succulent acidity and finesse glide effortlessly to an elegant and refined conclusion. The tannins and spice linger through the finish, making it a very food-friendly wine. Nicely done! I want a meal!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2042
Arterberry Maresh 2021 Weber Pinot Noir
Instantly impressive right from the nose, the 2021 Weber Pinot Noir bursts with red fruit and expressive vibrancy. It carries an electric and fresh character throughout. Medium-bodied and refreshing, it is driven by bright, succulent acidity. This beautifully made wine is utterly delicious and firing on all cylinders. Bravo!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Balboa Winery 2024 Grenache Blanc
The 2024 Grenache Blanc offers vibrant aromas of lime candy, under-ripe pineapple, and white peach, complemented by a fine leesiness and mineral tension. On the palate, succulent acidity and a medium body create a lively interplay that leads to a delightfully lingering and spicy finish. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Balboa Winery 2022 Carmenere
Opening with a classic kiss of volatility, the 2022 Carmenere reveals dark, firm notes of tar complemented by soft vegetal hints of green stem and a medley of seasoned green and black spices. Layers of funky blackberry reduction intertwine with a subtle presence of oak, creating a complex aromatic profile. Full-bodied, the wine is true to its varietal character and delightfully communicative. Those who love and admire Chilean Carmenere will enjoy this beautiful Washington expression.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Balboa Winery 2022 GSM
Showcasing a clean and classic profile with precision and freshness, the 2022 GSM is firing on all cylinders. The wine exhibits remarkable purity and offers an enticing blend of red-fruited and zesty notes, complemented by hints of potpourri and a subtle stemminess. It concludes with a medium lingering spicy finish that leaves a lasting impression. Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Balboa Winery 2022 Reserve Syrah
The 2022 Reserve Syrah reveals gooey chocolate alongside a zesty, open, and expressive core enriched with umami notes and a savory essence that is unmistakably characteristic of Walla Walla Syrah. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a rich and expansive palate that coats and glides effortlessly to a spicy finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Balboa Winery 2021 Reserve Blend
Hints of bright wild herbs and cedar complement dusty cherries in the focused and tight 2021 Reserve Blend. The wine showcases a dark red-berried complexity with a fresh and succulent core. It is medium to full-bodied, featuring fine-grained tannins that suggest it will benefit from an additional year in the bottle. Give it time.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2036
Barrage Cellars 2024 Concrete Blonde
Mineral-driven and clean, the 2024 Concrete Blonde showcases spiced lemon peel and a soft leesy expression that reveals surprising weight and freshness on the palate. This wine exhibits a stony tension and vibrancy, reflecting its concrete aging, while presenting a core of peachy and lemony character. It concludes with a spicy finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Barrage Cellars 2021 Blacklisted
A delicate and zesty Merlot, the 2021 Blacklisted features enticing notes of truffle and spiced plum skin. The wine reveals a soft impression of dark cherry, complemented by a peppery core that tightens to showcase gripping tannins and a long, lingering spicy finish. Nicely done.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Barrage Cellars 2020 Cease and Desist
Succulent and fresh, the 2020 Cease and Desist offers a very pleasurable experience with a generous frame for a Cabernet Franc. This wine pairs beautifully with steaks and chops, culminating in a spicy finish that lingers on the palate. Give it an extra year.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2027-2037
Barrage Cellars 2020 Double Barrel
Dense and solid, the 2020 Double Barrel reveals an inky core of dark black fruit and spices. On the palate, the wine is assertive with gripping tannins that provide structure. The fruit leans towards overripe, showcasing a concentration that culminates in a firm tannic finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2036
Barrage Cellars 2020 Malbec
Presenting a juicy frame and a firm gripping structure, the 2020 Malbec evokes daydreams of fire-roasted chops. The wine is stern and precise, showcasing impressive power and a solid tannic backbone that lingers through the finish, which is marked by a spicy and slightly boozy character. An additional chill and decanting is recommended.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Beckstone 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, juicy, and ripe, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon has a concentrated core of sappy fruit with firm and dusty tannins and a kiss of volatility. The wine turns more dark red-fruited on the palate. It is medium to full-bodied, ending with a straightforward finish. It delivers well for the price.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2030
Bill’s Blend 2024 Rosé
Bright, clean, and expressive with attractive fruit essences that have some mineral tension, the 2024 Rosé offers decent acidity and ends with a crisp finish. It is built for speed, not distance. Enjoy it in its youth.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Bill’s Blend 2021 Heart of the Hill
Rich, bold, and expressive with dusty red and black fruit layered throughout with elegant oak tones and a succulent, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, the 2021 Heart of the Hill features gripping tannins firm on the gumline, offering a spicy, mineral-driven finish. It is very food-friendly. Nicely done.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2036
Bill’s Blend 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Petit Verdot
With a kiss of volatility in the glass, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Petit Verdot has a dense and chewy core over the dark fruit expression. Cracked open, it shows the heat. The wine will benefit from an additional chill and decanting.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Bledsoe Family Winery 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Beautifully rich and round with plenty of attractive oak spices, turned and baked earth, and ripe and generous red and black fruit tones, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has a solid mineral essence throughout. The wine is dense, juicy, and hedonistic, and delivers pleasure at every turn. It lingers with firm gripping tannins and a boozy finish. Bold and generously layered, this offering will age beautifully and remain food-friendly for more than a decade.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Bledsoe Family Winery 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Still very young, shiny, vibrant, and spicy, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh and succulent, big, open, and bold. It is very expressive and acidic, with a more vivid and slightly lighter overall feel than the 2022. The 2023 is more nimble and bright with a food-friendly core.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Bledsoe McDaniels 2023 Pinot Noir LFG
Dense and chewy, slightly smoky and meaty, the 2023 Pinot Noir LFG is a big, bold Pinot Noir with gusto. It is generous in style and full-throttle, full-bodied with a zesty core and boozy conclusion. This is a full-impact Pinot Noir that ends with a stemmy, spicy finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2031
Bledsoe McDaniels 2023 Coulee Estate Pinot Noir
Featuring dark red fruits and a zesty core of potpourri, with hints of oak, toasted oats, and dried orange rind, the 2023 Coulee Estate Pinot Noir is bold and dense with a firm structure and elevated alcohol. It presents a long, spicy finish with the flavor profile ending more juicy and red-fruited. Nicely done.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Bledsoe McDaniels 2023 Eola Amity Hills Pinot Noir
Spicy and dark red-fruited with a dusty core and expansive structure, the 2023 Eola Amity Hills Pinot Noir is a big offering that is full-throttle for a hedonistic and generous frame. It ends with a tannic grip and boozy finish. This is not for the faint of heart.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Bledsoe McDaniels 2023 Syrah Lefore Estate
Meaty, expressive, spicy, and dark with a dusty core, wild herbs, and brush, the 2023 Syrah Lefore Estate is complex and very savory. It offers a medium to full-bodied, rich, and compact mouthfeel. It ends with a lingering, zesty, firm finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2038
Bledsoe McDaniels 2023 Syrah Schafer Estate
Thick, spicy, mineral-driven, and with a stony core and iron rocky grip, the 2023 Syrah Schafer Estate seems pushed too far, and the nose doesn’t tell me it’s Syrah. The palate is dense, chewy, and firm, and will need some time to allow the tannins to settle. I will reserve my score until this has had enough time to come around and reveal more of its secrets.
Score: ? | Drink:
Bledsoe McDaniels 2023 Syrah McQueen Estate
Dark and spicy with savory and umami essences all throughout, the 2023 Syrah McQueen Estate is very pleasurable and rocky with a broad-shouldered expression that has notes of roasted espresso beans and oak spices, along with black raspberry and a softly meaty and pepper note. Being very dense and focused, the wine will age for years to come and remain food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Board Track Racer 2023 Speed Racer Red
After doing a double-take at the quality-to-price ratio of the 2023 Speed Racer Red, I am absolutely smitten. It will be hard to find a competitor at this price point for what is in the bottle. This is hands down one of the best $15 bottles of wine I have ever tried. The fruit condition is pitch-perfect, showcasing healthy, ripe, and lively expressions that sing in unison. The structure is balanced, offering succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins. This is an easy win; buy it by the case and don’t look back! Wow!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2030
Board Track Racer 2023 Malbec
The 2023 Malbec is firm yet juicy, showcasing the climate and expression of Red Mountain with an underlying iron or ferric character beneath plummy and spiced black cherry essences. Full-bodied, rich, and round, this wine is fresh, complex, and layered, inviting me back for another sip. Yum!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
Board Track Racer 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Presenting a pure profile, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon showcases vibrant notes of blackberry and dark cherry, complemented by hints of oak spices and dusty baked earth. Full-bodied and gripping, it features firm tannins that contribute to its structure. The wine is succulent and rich, ultimately over-delivering for the price.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Board Track Racer 2022 GSM
Pure and spicy, the 2022 GSM showcases succulent ripe red fruits alongside hints of stemmy potpourri and mineral tension. It features fine-grained tannins and a refreshing quality that elevates its profile. These wines are serious contenders across the entire range, and for those who typically shy away from bottles priced below a certain threshold, this wine is undoubtedly punching above its weight class, deserving a price point that could easily be double. Bravo!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Board Track Racer 2022 BTR Reserve Cabernet
Big, juicy, and fresh, the 2022 BTR Reserve Cabernet showcases a multifaceted profile layered with dusty red and black fruit notes. This wine is both intricate and refreshing, with softly herbal undertones that enhance its purity. Medium to full-bodied, it continues to reveal additional layers of depth as it glides to a wildly pleasurable finish. Buy as much of this as you can.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2034
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Aglianico
Coming from the Weinbau Vineyard, the 2018 Aglianico dances with energy, its nose lifted by bright red fruits, citrus zest, and a whisper of spice. A flicker of volatility only adds to the wine’s lively personality, giving it a vibrant edge. On the palate, juicy, succulent red fruits mingle with high-toned florals and a mineral streak, carried by refreshing acidity that keeps everything light on its feet. Medium to full-bodied yet complex, it shows both succulence and verve, finishing long and food-friendly. Fresh, spicy, and full of character, this is a Washington Aglianico that surprises and delights with every sip. Enjoy with food.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2048
Boudreaux Cellars 2017 Merlot
Fresh and complex, the 2017 Merlot is spicy, oaky, and rustic. It offers firm tannins and beautiful, elegant red fruit. It will benefit from additional time in the cellar and will certainly reward those who are patient enough to wait for this beauty to blossom in the bottle!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2050
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Merlot
Bright and very youthful with sour plum notes, the 2018 Merlot features fresh, succulent, firm tannins. Highlighting red plum, it is complex and vibrant. Layered and spicy, it has an energy that will last for decades. The wine has a long, lovely finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2028-2050
Boudreaux Cellars 2019 Merlot
Debuting from the legendary Champoux Vineyard, the 2019 Merlot makes a bold first impression. Still fresh, it carries a glossy sheen that reflects both power and polish. Aromas of ripe, dark berries glide effortlessly from the glass, vibrant and youthful in their expression. On the palate, the wine is broad-shouldered and generous, round in texture yet structured enough to promise evolution with time. While it’s clearly still settling into the bottle, the promise of depth and elegance is already shining through. Simply put, this is a Merlot built to impress, and it will reward those who are patient enough.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2045
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Syrah
Impressive, rich, and dark, the 2018 Syrah is savory and succulent. Wow, I love this wine! It’s brilliant, fresh, and pure, and I have no doubts that it will do amazing things with additional years of bottle aging. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2028-2055
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Sagrantino
Red-fruited and spicy, the 2018 Sagrantino reveals an herbal and tannic edge. It’s immensly food friendly and will benefit from decanting. Nicely done.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2026-2055
Boudreaux Cellars 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, layered, and juicy, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe and ready to drink, but will open up and age beautifully for more than a decade to come. Nicely done!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2047
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Juicy, vibrant, and pure, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is generous, ripe, and fleshy. Expressive and tannic, it is very food-friendly with a lovely conclusion. The wine is complex and fresh with a long, spicy finish.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2028-2058
Boudreaux Cellars 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Made with splashes of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with an energetic nose of ripe red berries and a lift of fresh flowers. On the palate, layers of juicy cherries roll in like waves, bright and mouthwatering, before giving way to a spicy finish that lingers and begs for another sip. It’s bold yet polished, offering both freshness and complexity. Massive in character yet effortlessly pure, this hedonistic Cabernet delivers big flavor with a fleshy, food-loving charm.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2029-2059
Boudreaux Cellars 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh and vibrant, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon presents a broad, round, and abundantly juicy nose, showcasing a pure, concentrated aromatic profile of black cherry and spiced plum, while a delightful lift of potpourri essences floods the senses. Full-bodied and generously layered, the palate reveals a mineral, dusty feeling that transitions into elegance and grace, enhanced by its power and a kiss of volatility. Still tight in its youthful stage, this beauty will benefit from additional years in the bottle before opening and will easily coast in the cellar for the next three-plus decades. Reflecting on the challenges of the 2020 vintage, this bottling is undoubtedly a brilliant success, capturing freshness, vibrancy, purity, complexity, and longevity. What a triumph! Bravo!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2030-2060
Boudreaux Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, firm, rich, and round, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon showcases prominent oak and texture alongside dark, spiced red fruit. Give it time once it releases, but this will be one of the most impressive Bordeaux wines that I’ve seen in a long while. Bravo!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2032-2060
Boudreaux Cellars 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills
Fleshy, ripe, and juicy, the 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills is generous and full of life. The wine is fresh, vibrant, and delicious.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2055
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills
Focused, fresh, pure, and herbal, the 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills is elegant and round. It offers dusty dark and black fruit with ripe, succulent acidity. Complex, vibrant, and very juicy.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2030-2060
Boudreaux Cellars 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Big and juicy with a dusty red and black raspberry core, the 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley features spiced plum compote. The wine is fresh, complex, and generous. Ripe, vibrant, and round, it reflects a bigger, warmer vintage. Nicely done.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2028-2050
Boudreaux Cellars 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Still firm and vibrant, the 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley is succulent, acid-driven, complex, and round. It needs more time and will continue to age gracefully for decades. Still tight and fresh, it is fleshy and will last for years, remaining rich and rewarding. Yum!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2028-2058
Boudreaux Cellars 2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Initially very primary, polished, and shiny with notes of brown baking spices, cinnamon, and nutmeg, the 2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley has a nose primed with expressive Christmas spices that sway with fresh and ripe dark red and black fruit essences. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals a balanced structure with refined and elegant tannins that glide with a silky and velvety mouthfeel, while the acidity remains fresh and accessible. The wine continues to evolve in the mouth and it’s quite gorgeous now, but I can see where it’s headed, and this beauty will most certainly reward those who are patient enough to give it a decade of aging before popping the cork. I think it’s going to be very difficult to keep my hands off this before it reaches its 10th birthday, so I recommend finding a dark place for it in your wine cellar. Nicely done!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2029-2055
Bowen Wines 2023 Watermark Syrah
Showcasing notes of black raspberry with a rocky minerality, the 2023 Watermark Syrah is savory driven and has a stony elegance, featuring peppercorn and earthy nuances with a soft meaty expression. This is spicy and quite mineral, revealing an almost metallic core with a red-fruited and zesty essence. It concludes with an elegant, pure finish and fresh tannins.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Bowen Wines 2023 Cosmic Bluff Cabernet Sauvignon
Offering notes of grape sucker with soft pyrazines and resinous purple flowers, the 2023 Cosmic Bluff Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh. It reveals sour cherry and spicy, savory plums, making the wine more subdued and not as explosive as a Walla Walla Cab that can be blown out. Lively and nimble on the palate, it has a delightful expression from whole cluster Cab Franc added for the floral side. It features a structured, softly herbal, tart cherry and plum finish. Medium to lighter-bodied at 12.5% alcohol, it is very food-friendly. Tasted as a barrel sample.
Score: 90-92 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Bowen Wines 2024 Blood of the Apprentice
Crafted with 200% whole cluster, the 2024 Blood of the Apprentice is made with Syrah and added Grenache stems. This is quite juicy and spicy as can be, making it a stunning wine. With fine mineral tension, the wine is very inviting. Lively and expressive right in the glass, it is still pretty astringent, shining, and textured.
Score: 91-93 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Brian Carter Cellars 2024 Oriana
Floral and expressive with peach blossom, mandarin orange, and honeysuckle notes, the 2024 Oriana is vibrantly ripe and citrus-laden with a kiss of phenolic bitterness and a touch of residual sugar that lifts the palate. Very pleasing and complex, it ends with a lingering and refreshing finish. Well done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2033
Brian Carter Cellars 2022 Byzance
Opening with a kiss of volatility, the 2022 Byzance is fresh and red-fruited with spiced potpourri and black peppercorn. The wine evolves to offer notes of sour cherry. It has a very pleasing structure and ends with a zesty, food-friendly finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Brian Carter Cellars 2021 Solesce
Bold and expressive on the nose with a kiss of volatility, the 2021 Solesce is dark-cherried with a core of dusty rocky essence and a firm graphite note throughout. The wine has a lively beam of acidity and mineral tension that drives the palate, joining the earthy red-fruited core and an expressive, spicy finish. Enjoy with food.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2038
Brian Carter Cellars 2022 Corrida
Pure and oak-driven with elegance, the 2022 Corrida features sweet wood and baking spices that lift the expression, while dark red cherries and plums waft from the glass with a bit of zest and roasted coconut. This is rich, round, pristine, and sincere, and I can’t help but want more.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Brian Carter Cellars 2015 Opulence
Just seductive and boozy, the 2015 Opulence has notes of Chambord, baked plums, and blackberry reduction. The wine is zesty and pure with a spicy orange rind essence that sways with intention and focus. Full-bodied and delightfully sweet, this classic, fresh expression will age gracefully for decades.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2050
Broken Trust Cellars 2023 Shitbag Chardonnay
Sweet Meyer lemon intertwines with notes of almond pastries and peach marzipan in the 2023 Shitbag Chardonnay, which showcases a softly phenolic character and a distinctive name. The wine presents an open-knit and straightforward structure, featuring a medium-bodied palate that culminates in a clean finish. A touch more acidity would enhance its profile, and serving it with an extra chill is recommended.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Brooks Wine 2023 Cahiers
On the more serious side, the 2023 Cahiers is vibrant and complex, offering a spicy profile with a kiss of whole-cluster freshness and firm structure. It beams with succulent acidity and a lovely palate that sways with elegance and grace, showcasing remarkable tension on the mid-palate. Zesty and lingering with intensity and purpose, it is very food-friendly and expressive. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Brooks Wine 2023 Eola Springs
Lively and fresh with bright, electric acidity, the 2023 Eola Springs is very shiny and polished. It features an energetic spice core that overflows with a zesty, succulent expression of red fruit and refined tannins. Very food-friendly, it can be enjoyed now and will continue to drink well for more than a decade and a half.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Brooks Wine 2023 Janus
The 2023 Janus features a red-fruited and spicy core that slowly, elegantly, and vibrantly opens in the glass. Medium-bodied, fresh, and expressive, this wine is great for the price and easy drinking, concluding with a complex finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2040
Brooks Wine 2023 Crannell
Showcasing a dusty red-fruited core, the 2023 Crannell offers plenty of tension, freshness, and layered complexity. The wine is bright with succulent acidity and features a soft salinity that evokes the essence of a sea breeze-kissed cherry skin. Very elegant and refined.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Brooks Wine 2023 Muska
Crafted with about 15% whole-cluster fruit, the 2023 Muska is spicy and expressive. The wine reveals notes of graphite, pencil lead, and a wild, elegant beauty that begs me to come back for more. Nicely done!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
Brooks Wine 2023 Rastaban
The 2023 Rastaban displays a red core and a nose that overflows with a fresh, vibrant, ripe, and round juiciness. It reveals soft hints of herbal and savory notes alongside a kiss of salinity and succulent acidity that beams through the finish. The wine is bright and expressive. Yum!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Brooks Wine 2023 Temperance Hill
Made from 943 and 777 clones, the 2023 Temperance Hill is an attractive, fruit-forward wine highlighting red fruit notes and succulent acidity. Medium-bodied and full of freshness, it possesses a spicy tannic core that lingers beautifully through the finish. Very nice, give it time in the bottle.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2038
Brooks Wine 2023 Ara
Succulent, fresh, and expressive, the 2023 Ara reveals enticing notes of under-ripe white peach. It delivers a soft phenolic note on the palate, culminating in a very pleasing, locked-and-loaded food-friendly character. Enjoy with Asian food. A gorgeous wine!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Brooks Wine 2023 Bois Joli
Very classic, the 2023 Bois Joli is unmistakably Riesling, showcasing laser acidity and freshness. It is utterly gorgeous and consistently brings me back for more. I can’t get enough of this stuff, and it sells out quickly. Great!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2047
Brooks Wine 2023 Lone Star
Acid-driven with a serious purity, the 2023 Lone Star bursts with notes of lime candy. It possesses a soft, leesy character that is bright and expressive. Very pleasing, complex, delightfully sincere, and fresh.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
Brooks Wine 2023 Orchard Fold
The 2023 Orchard Fold opens with green apple and candied lime, accompanied by plenty of citrus flower and peach blossoms. Medium-bodied with notable texture and weight, it features a kiss of residual sugar. The wine is fresh, succulent, and very pleasing, revealing a layered, complex, pure, and crystalline nature that ends with a gorgeous finish.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Brooks Wine 2023 Willamette Valley Riesling
Zesty and zippy, the 2023 Willamette Valley Riesling delivers vibrant notes of under-ripe peach and fresh lime candy. Medium to light-bodied with 12.5% alcohol, it is dry on the palate with electric acidity that is incredibly food-friendly and has me salivating. Yum!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Cairdeas Winery 2024 Grenache Blanc
Vibrant, complex, and pure, the 2024 Grenache Blanc offers fresh, soft notes of yellow cherry and white peach. The wine is pristine, succulent, and citrus-driven. Clean, lively, and very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2033
Cairdeas Winery 2024 Nellie Mae
Showing notes of white peach and fine mineral tension, the 2024 Nellie Mae is very delightful. Medium-bodied, fresh, complex, and lively, it reveals a great stony elegance.
Score: 92-94 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Cairdeas Winery 2024 Papa Blanc
The 2024 Papa Blanc has a promising and fresh expression of fruit on the nose and palate. The mouthfeel is beautifully textured, revealing spicy notes with a very fine mineral tension. With a kiss of underripe apple, the wine is medium-bodied, tactile, and expressive. It ends with a zesty finish and is very food-friendly.
Score: 95-97 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Cairdeas Winery 2024 Written in the Stones Icarus
Very beautifully ripe, zesty, and fresh, the 2024 Written in the Stones Icarus is spicy and has notes of potpourri. It has a crunchy red-fruited core that is very seductive and lively, with a soft stemminess and bright peppery edge that is very delightful. Still a barrel sample, the wine will find its governance and hit its stride in years to come.
Score: 92-94 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Cairdeas Winery 2024 Written in the Stones Daedalus
Firm and structured with peppery rocks and a spicy grip, the 2024 Written in the Stones Daedalus is quite tannic and driven. It has a bigger, broader mouthfeel and a good structural edge, ending with a very pleasurable finish.
Score: 94-96 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Cairdeas Winery 2023 Thunderstone Grenache
A dusty, red-fruited wine that is very fresh, spicy, and mineral-driven, the 2023 Thunderstone Grenache has a tight tension that expands through the finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2035
Cairdeas Winery 2022 Trí
Made from a blend of mostly Syrah, with 22% Mourvedre and 5% Grenache, the nose of the 2022 Trí is dark red-fruited, fresh, and floral, with elegant notes of graphite and a hint of sweet oak spice. Medium to full-bodied, the palate grips and holds through the finish. It’s delightfully food-friendly and will reward those patient enough to allow it to develop in bottle. Give it time.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Cairdeas Winery 2022 Caisléan an Pápa
Always a favorite of mine, the 2022 Caisléan an Pápa showcases purity and finesse. It is delightfully fresh, with notes of red licorice and potpourri. Quite spicy, it grows with spicy, floral freshness, an elegant spicy core, and notes of peppercorn. It has a brilliantly spicy, fresh finish. Nicely done!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Cairdeas Winery 2022 Stone Ridge Syrah
Classic, clean, fresh, floral, and featuring dark black fruit, the 2022 Stone Ridge Syrah is very pure and fresh. Medium to full-bodied, it has a weight that is very satisfying. The wine is utterly convincing and in fighting shape, punching well above its weight class. It has an impressive, spicy, floral finish that is very fine and fresh. The best Syrah that I have tasted from Cairdeas. Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Cairdeas Winery 2022 Consonance
Fresh and expressive, the 2022 Consonance features notes of black raspberry, black cherry, spiced plum, and peppercorns. It’s simply gorgeous and ends with a very food-friendly finish.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Caliche Estate 2024 Evergreen Vineyard Albariño
A pleasant surprise, the 2024 Evergreen Vineyard Albariño has a classic nose featuring notes of peach and pineapple, complemented by hints of yellow apple and lime candy. The aroma also reveals a mineral essence along with a fuzzy phenolic note of lemon pith. Medium-bodied with succulent acidity and fine mineral tension, this wine is instantly enjoyable. The fruit profile tightens through the mid-palate, while the mouthfeel is zesty, fresh, crisp, and clean, culminating in a phenolic grip and a food-friendly finish. Nicely done; I want more!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2030
Caliche Estate 2024 Evergreen Vineyard Dry Riesling
Subdued on the nose, the 2024 Evergreen Vineyard Dry Riesling leaves one searching for more expressive Riesling characteristics. This wine is clean and fresh, though it presents in a smaller aromatic frame. Light to medium-bodied, it offers notes of lime water and hints of citrus blossom that gracefully float over the palate, culminating in a simple and easy-going finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Capital Call Vintners 2023 Blanc de Blancs
Juicy and peachy, the 2023 Blanc de Blancs offers enticing notes of green apple alongside hints of soft lees, presenting a light expression. Medium-bodied, this wine is both succulent and bright, showcasing crisp acidity that enhances its overall vibrancy and pleasure. It invites repeated sips and is exceptionally food-friendly, making it a perfect match for cheese, shellfish, and fresh fried foods.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Capital Call Vintners 2022 Cashflow Red Blend
Very fresh and bright, the 2022 Cashflow Red Blend exhibits a rustic edge that dances with notes of volatility and dusty earth. Currently slightly tannic, it will benefit from additional years in the bottle and should be decanted when opened. Give it time.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2035
Capital Call Vintners 2022 La Bruere Syrah
The 2022 La Bruere Syrah presents a savory and umami essence, featuring notes of game and jerky, complemented by peppered spices and dusty worn leather. This medium to full-bodied wine evolves to reveal a more rustic character, with pronounced earthy notes that evoke cravings for Asian noodles with sausage in bone broth. Nicely done.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Capital Call Vintners 2022 Margin Call Cabernet
Rather subdued at its current state, the 2022 Margin Call Cabernet exhibits a slightly rustic and quiet character on both the nose and palate. The mouthfeel reveals a more textured and weighted expression that retains a subtlety. Its structure is firm and gripping, with the spicy nuances resonating more prominently than the aromatic and fruit elements. This wine requires patience; it will likely emerge from its shell with bottle age and proudly display its tertiary notes.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2027-2034
Capital Call Vintners 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bold and generous, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is layered and fresh, with complexities of fruit and oak that sway with a hint of volatility. It is full-bodied, spicy, and very food-friendly, with tannins that grip and hold through the finish, inspiring daydreams of a bone-in ribeye off the grill. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2040
CasaSmith 2023 Porcospino Primitivo
Juicy and red-fruited with hints of volatility, the 2023 Porcospino Primitivo offers notes of sour red cherry, spiced plums, black raspberry, and peaches. Medium-bodied, elegant, and pure, it is neither heavy-handed nor manipulated. Very pleasurable and over-delivers for the price.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2034
CasaSmith 2023 Cinghiale Sangiovese
The 2023 Cinghiale Sangiovese features a delightfully soft herbal edge alongside notes of sour cherry and more exotic wild red fruit notions. It has a tight tannic grip and succulent acidity that remains firm. Medium-bodied and vibrant, the wine is fresh, rich, and very food-friendly.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2027-2038
Cayuse Vineyards 2023 Cailloux Vineyard Viognier
Very expressive and pure, the 2023 Cailloux Vineyard Viognier is peachy and fresh. Medium-bodied with succulent acidity and soft salinity, it is very food-friendly. Perhaps the best Viognier that I’ve had from Cayuse. Bravo!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Cayuse Vineyards 2023 Edith Grenache Rose
Showcasing a soft salmon color, the 2023 Edith Grenache Rose has a mineral tension and succulent acidity. All Grenache and farmed for Rosé production, it offers freshness with hints of wild raspberry and fresh strawberry. Medium-bodied, it’s easy to drink but is not a simple wine, revealing layers of complexity. Delightfully refreshing and elegant.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 God Only Knows
Featuring high-toned red fruit and hints of mineral tension, the 2022 God Only Knows offers dusty cherry notes and elegant power. Full-bodied, it brims with umami and spicy potpourri, and is savory with plenty of layers. The long, lingering finish has an aftertaste that just doesn’t stop. Will go great with BBQ salmon, white pork, cranberry sauce, and spiced duck!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Flying Pig
With a kiss of red bell pepper and pure freshness, the 2022 Flying Pig reveals dusty red fruit and hints of savory essence. Medium-bodied, in a slightly compact frame, the wine has a delightfully expressive character with mineral tension. Elegant, fresh, and still young, it will do wonders with years to come!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2045
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 The Lovers
Offering dusty, dark red and black fruit with crème de cassis, oak spice, and violet liqueur, the 2022 The Lovers is medium-bodied, very refined, and elegant. It will continue to drink well for decades.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2047
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Camaspelo
The 2022 Camaspelo is ripe, bold, and spicy with a dark, dusty character. Very young still, it will go the distance. The wine is bigger in style and will turn to a firm, tannic edge.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2027-2047
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Widowmaker
Still very primary in the glass, the 2022 Widowmaker is firm and tight, but will reward patience. Dark-fruited, smoky, and with sticky tannins, it will do wonders with time; decanting is recommended. It has good bones and will be a juggernaut when it finds its cadence.
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2028-2055
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Cailloux Vineyard Syrah
With a kiss of reduction and classic Syrah rocks, the 2022 Cailloux Vineyard Syrah offers freshness and fine hints of forest floor, truffle, and charcuterie. Very surprising and expressive with umami, iodine, black raspberry, and succulent acidity, it reveals touches of char and cherry. Brilliant wine!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2050
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 En Cerise Vineyard Syrah
Offering a savory, stemmy, and brilliant core of dusty, crunchy red fruits, the 2022 En Cerise Vineyard Syrah is serious and fresh. With dark black cherry, wild black raspberry, and bright acidity, the stemmy character drives the finish. It lingers with mouthwatering, spicy potpourri. This beauty has me craving cassoulet with wild rabbit, sausages, and duck.
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2028-2055
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah
Revealing notes of cured, hung meat, the 2022 En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah is big, bold, savory, and sanguine. With rich, juicy, succulent bacon fat, it is robust, full-bodied, and very firm. It concludes with a delicious, focused, long, spicy finish.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2050
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Bionic Frog Syrah
Offering zesty notes of perfume, black plum, and precise crème de violette, the 2022 Bionic Frog Syrah features spiced potpourri. Very focused, lively, fresh, complex, and complete, it has elegant, big, ripe, and succulent acidity. With black-fruited tannins, hints of char, and a tight structure, give it time.
Score: 99 | Drink: 2026-2050
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Armada Vineyard Syrah
Slightly reductive and still tight, the 2022 Armada Vineyard Syrah is fresh, complex, and lively with verve and attitude. Medium to full-bodied and very impressive, it reveals dark cherry, hints of meat, and charcuterie. Ripe, vibrant, and slightly charry, it is wonderfully nimble. Brilliant wine!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2026-2047
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Wallah Wallah Special Syrah #16
Bold, young, and tightly wound, the 2022 Wallah Wallah Special Syrah #16 is fleshy, vibrant, complex, and earthy. A bigger, robust style that over-delivers for the price, it is fresh and very pleasurable. Dusty, dark red-fruited, and grounded, it reveals floral, sanguine, umami, and dried seaweed notes. Absolutely beautiful!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2060
Cayuse Vineyards 2022 Impulsivo En Chamberlin Vineyard Tempranillo
Bigger, structured, and tense with a dark red and blue-fruited core, the 2022 Impulsivo En Chamberlin Vineyard Tempranillo offers earthy, savory, and exotic spices. With red delicious apple skin, it is expressive and dense. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and round, it reveals hints of char on the finish. Very complex and pleasurable.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2027-2050
Cayuse Vineyards 2014 En Cerise Vineyard Syrah
Spicy and complex, the 2014 En Cerise Vineyard Syrah is quite savory and fresh. Mineral-driven and medium to full-bodied, it is still tight and taut, but will remain food-friendly. It needs time, but has good bones. Very FFF.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2019-2039
Champagne Christophe Baron 2020 Les Hautes Blanches Vignes
My favorite of the four champagnes this year, the 2020 Les Hautes Blanches Vignes is a bright and citrus-driven beauty, filled with seductive and elegant mineral tension that sways with zesty delights and crunchy green orchard fruits. Lively and vibrant on the palate, the mouthfeel is delightful and immensely food-friendly. I love that these are only bottled in magnum because that makes me very selective of when I need to open this and who I will share it with.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2050
Champagne Christophe Baron 2020 Le Dessus du Bois Marie
Opening with a kiss of reduction, the 2020 Le Dessus du Bois Marie is fresh, vibrant, zesty, and lively with bright acidity. Exceptionally food-friendly, it is medium-bodied with a peppery mid-palate that begs for salmon rillettes and crispy pork. The wine has an energetic and frothy mousse before ending with a bright, expressive, and lingering spicy finish. Long-lived and bottled in magnum, it offers a lasting aftertaste of spiced cranberry skin and lemon pith. Nicely done.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Champagne Christophe Baron 2020 Les Alouettes
Fresh, ripe, and succulent with notes of Asian pear and citrus blossom, the 2020 Les Alouettes has a soft zestiness that merges with hints of sautéed almonds. Medium to full-bodied, there is a soft salinity to the palate that is both elegant and refreshing, ending with a delightful food-friendly mineral-driven finish.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026-2047
Champagne Christophe Baron 2020 Les Closeaux
Open and approachable on the nose with notes of almond skin and marzipan, alongside white and yellow flowers, the 2020 Les Closeaux showcases bright acidity that energizes the palate with a nimble and lively mouthfeel. It then merges to reveal a fine frothy mousse that lingers with a long finish that has me coming back for more.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2045
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2023 Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay
The 2023 Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay presents enticing aromas of peach and candied apple, complemented by hints of lemon drop. This medium-bodied wine is slightly subdued on the palate, showcasing a diminishing flavor profile. It offers a simple mouthfeel and a clean finish, making it best enjoyed in its youth and served well-chilled.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2022 Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2022 Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon presents a vibrant profile of red berries complemented by notes of dusty plums, hints of baking spices, and soft herbal undertones that frame the entire expression with sincerity and honesty. This medium to full-bodied wine offers a straightforward finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2022 Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot
Dark fruits dominate the nose, presenting a slightly muddled fruit expression alongside hints of earth and spices. On the palate, the 2022 Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot reveals a ripe attack and a spicy character that intensifies, ultimately showcasing the alcohol on the finish, which lingers with a boozy warmth.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon presents a soft and primary character, highlighted by notes of wild herbs. It exhibits a gentle smokiness that adds depth to its profile. As the wine lingers on the palate, the fruity elements become less prominent, revealing a more nuanced complexity.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2023 Eroica Riesling
The 2023 Eroica Riesling is zesty, zippy, fresh, and succulent, showcasing bright notes of apricot, peach, and lime. Candied green apple and sweet lemon add a delightful kiss of sweetness that enlivens the palate. Energetic acidity races across the mouth, culminating in a vibrant finish marked by fresh fruit, citrus, and stone fruit characteristics. Lovely as always!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
COR Cellars 2024 AGO Sauvignon Blanc
Instantly pleasing and exciting the nose, the 2024 AGO Sauvignon Blanc showcases bright citrus notes and a refreshing character. This zesty wine invigorates the palate with vibrant fruit flavors and an energetic acidity that races to a crisp finish, making it exceptionally food-friendly. Nicely done!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2033
COR Cellars 2024 AGO Tocai Friulano
Bright citrus notes and lemon pith are complemented by green and yellow apples, while a delightful phenolic bitterness adds to the wine’s layered appeal. Medium-bodied, the 2024 AGO Tocai Friulano is fresh and showcases a lively mineral tension on the mid-palate that glides to a succulent finish, leaving me craving shellfish and hard cheeses.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
COR Cellars 2022 AGO Chardonnay
The 2022 AGO Chardonnay presents an oxidative style characterized by nutty tones and a slightly warm expression, as the alcohol begins to evaporate from the glass, imparting a gentle burn. This wine offers an intriguing dichotomy, showcasing bright acidity alongside a roasted and boozy profile on both the nose and palate, creating a sensation of being pulled in two directions. Drink well-chilled.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2028
COR Cellars 2024 AGO Sparkling Rosé
Fresh, crisp, and delightful, the 2024 AGO Sparkling Rosé is bright, succulent, and citrus-driven. It over-delivers for the price and leaves me wanting more. Energetic acidity races to the finish, making it a perfect companion for food. Nicely done!!
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
COR Cellars 2024 AGO Carbonic Primitivo
The 2024 AGO Carbonic Primitivo presents a stemmy and fleshy profile, enriched by a smoky essence and alluring red fruit tones that waft from the nose. At its core lies a direct, cherry-driven heart complemented by a spicy nuance, culminating in a clean and straightforward finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
Côte Bonneville 2024 Riesling
Showcasing lime candy and freshness, the 2024 Riesling offers sweet citrus and hints of honeysuckle. The wine is juicy, lively, and energetic, featuring very pleasurable and bright floral aromatics. Picturesque, pure, and succulent, it delivers a crisp, clean finish ending with slight apple juice nuances. Very pleasing.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Côte Bonneville 2024 Cabernet Franc Rosé
Vibrant and spicy, the 2024 Cabernet Franc Rosé is mineral-driven and expressive with a pure, bright core and a softly phenolic edge. Medium-bodied, it is subtly peppery with hints of fresh, fleshy fruit. Very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Côte Bonneville 2020 Carriage House
Still tight with a dusty, red-fruited core, the 2020 Carriage House reveals hints of oak spice alongside a soft, fleshy, and earthy profile. The wine is rich and has depth across the palate. Approachable but has all the layers to go the distance.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2052
Côte Bonneville 2019 Chardonnay
Slightly nutty and herbal with notes of lemon pastry, the 2019 Chardonnay features succulent acidity and a rich, leesy texture. It concludes with a lingering finish. It’s very food-friendly and vibrant, which draws me back in for more.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2023-2035
Côte Bonneville 2023 Chardonnay
Generous and open-knit, the 2023 Chardonnay has a phenolic grip and notes of lemon pastry cream alongside a softly nutty, leesy quality. The mid-palate showcases mineral tension, adding to its touch of structural texture.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2040
Côte Bonneville 2020 Train Station Cabernet Sauvignon
Earthy and red-fruited with hints of warm leather, the 2020 Train Station Cabernet Sauvignon is ready to pop and rock. Subtly spicy and fresh, it has a delightfully full core of dark cherry that leads to a dusty finish. It goes down all too easily. Nicely done, over-delivers for the price point.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Côte Bonneville 2019 Côte Bonneville
Still very expressive, polished, and fresh, the 2019 Côte Bonneville is red-fruited with oaky spices. It has a vibrant, zesty core and is medium to full-bodied, pure, and lively. Juicy with just-ripe red fruit, structured tannins, and succulent acidity, it is very clean, bright, and pleasurable. Captivating with a lively, energetic tension. Very food-friendly.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2050
Côte Bonneville 2021 Syrah
Firm and rocky with mineral tension, the 2021 Syrah is dusty and red-fruited with notes of black raspberry and hints of peppercorn, purple flowers, lavender, and baking spices that waft from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, it is layered and succulent with substantial tannins. It reveals lingering notes of floral potpourri, crushed pepper, cherry skin, and spiced plum.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2042
Côte Bonneville 2022 Merlot
Fresh, fleshy, and oak-driven, the 2022 Merlot has a dusty graphite edge paired with vibrancy. Complex and woody, it is spicy with layers of red sour cherry and zesty plum skin. The wine is still very primary, lively, and oak-accented with a seductive red fruit essence that will age gracefully with precision and finesse. Give it time, your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2051
Côte Bonneville 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
A more generous, showy, and polished expression, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has power and precision. Spicy, lush, luxurious, and fresh, it delivers a ripe attack with a fleshy, refined profile. Layered and profoundly expressive, this Cabernet is very complex and still a baby. Your patience will be rewarded here.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2052
Côte Bonneville 2015 Carriage House
Instantly impressive and pleasurable at 10 years, the 2015 Carriage House remains vibrant and tight. In impeccable condition with succulent acidity, it showcases bright and fleshy red fruit tones. The wine is still rather primary and has yet to shed its baby fat, indicating it will go the distance. A devastatingly beautiful wine that has me just smelling the glass, it reveals notes of sour cherry, spiced plum, and a lush red-fruited core with hints of graphite. Plenty of longevity left in its future. Bravo!!!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2020-2045
Côte Bonneville 2018 Côte Bonneville
Dark red-fruited, mineral, and graphite-driven, the 2018 Côte Bonneville is starting to push its fruity expression into black fruit tones. Vibrant and complex, it is beginning to show tertiary nuances. Very pleasurable, fresh, and slightly broader-shouldered, it is medium expressive and nicely done.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2047
Côte Bonneville 2024 Train Station Cabernet Franc
With a dusty core that is red-fruited, still tight, and firm, the 2024 Train Station Cabernet Franc reveals a fleshy profile. Medium-bodied with a slight, gripping tannic structure, it is very resolute and rich with a highly food-friendly center. Yes, please!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Côte Bonneville 2023 Train Station Red Wine
Dusty and mineral-driven, the 2023 Train Station Red Wine is dark-fruited and just getting to fighting weight. Very pleasurable, it is a medium-bodied wine with a balanced frame of focused fruit, earth, and a dusty core. It is quite food-friendly and over-delivers for the price.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Côte Bonneville 2017 Carriage House
The 2017 Carriage House has found its curing attitude and, with time, has come together beautifully. Medium to full-bodied, it has a lovely, fresh frame of succulent acidity that is finishing strong on all cylinders. It ends with a subtly spiced finish that had me daydreaming. This is truly delicious. Bravo!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2022-2042
Cote Nicault 2022 Full Disclosure
Fresh, floral, and ripe, the 2022 Full Disclosure is succulent, spicy, and pure. Showcasing notes of whole cluster, it is complex, full-bodied, and precise, being 30% stem co-fermented. It reveals mineral tension and a firm earthy structure, culminating in a zesty floral finish with sweet oak spices.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2036
Cote Nicault 2022 Red Mountain GSM
Vibrant, spicy, and pure with dusty red fruits and red flowers, the 2022 Red Mountain GSM is clean, fresh, and softly oaky. Full-bodied, profound, and beautiful, it offers succulent, earthy-red fruit with delightful undertones of potpourri and black peppercorns. The wine walks the fine line between old-world rusticity and new-world shine. Impressive, zesty, floral, and elegant, it showcases lovely oak expressions. Nicely done!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Cote Nicault 2023 Full Disclosure Grenache WeatherEye Vineyard
Powerful, bold, and expressive, the 2023 Full Disclosure Grenache WeatherEye Vineyard is generous yet full-bodied. Clocking in at 15.3% alcohol on the label, it doesn’t feel like it. Expansive, big, and robust, it avoids feeling heavy, offering beautiful, dusty potpourri and spicy notes alongside wet stones, spiced plum skin, and dark cherries. Still tight and tannic, it will do wonders with age. This beauty is pure and precise with a rustic edge, so be patient, because I see where this particular bottle is headed and it is gorgeous in the most elegant way possible. Decanting recommended.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2043
Covale Cellars 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon showcases a rich and round expression of black raspberry, dusty plums, and black currant. It is spicy and oaked, enhancing its overall structure. Hints of earthy soil add depth, while the wine is boldly structured with fine-grained tannins and a fresh, complex oak essence. Firm tannins sway with notes of graphite and cigar box, culminating in a very zesty finish.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Covale Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon presents a firmer, bolder, and spicier profile with greater extraction on both the nose and palate compared to the previous vintage. The fruit is exceptionally ripe and inky, accompanied by firm tannins that will benefit from another year in the bottle to fully integrate. Give it time; your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2037
Covington Cellars 2021 ODE
Generously juicy and ripe, the 2021 ODE showcases a bountiful center of sappy fruit and plum compote. This wine reveals a dense core of spiced blackberry jus complemented by hints of oak spices, graphite, and pencil lead. It is full-bodied, spicy, and very expressive, making it an excellent companion for food, particularly wild game, chops, and steaks. The long, lingering finish is robust, featuring succulent acidity and melting tannins.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Covington Cellars 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Very impressive on the nose, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh and focused, showcasing an elegant and silky smooth texture complemented by fine-grained tannins. Succulent red fruit tones of black cherry and black plum skin, along with a refined oak essence, elevate the aromatic profile. This medium to full-bodied expression is spicy, with polished tannins that promise to remain food-friendly for more than a decade. It concludes with a lovely, refined, finessed, and structured finish. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Covington Cellars 2022 Rough House
The 2022 Rough House presents broad-shouldered and active aromas of fleshy dark red and black fruit tones. This wine is very firm and expressive, showcasing a dense and chewy texture that delivers exceptional value for the price. It concludes with a spicy, lingering finish that pairs wonderfully with a wide variety of dishes and flavors, or can be enjoyed on its own.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Covington Cellars 2022 Lawson
The 2022 Lawson presents a bright and generously vibrant, layered, and complex nose of dusty red cherry skin and spiced plums, complemented by elegant oak spices. Medium to full-bodied, it showcases a fresh and fine-grained texture with succulent tannins that elevate the finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2038
Covington Cellars 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc
The 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc presents red fruit aromas that are fresh and pure, underscored by a distinctive zesty core and mineral tension. This medium to full-bodied wine showcases a softer spice profile than typically expected from Cabernet Franc, enhancing its complexity. It concludes with a food-friendly, peppery, and tannic edge, complemented by succulent acidity that invites daydreams of ethnic cuisines.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Covington Cellars 2024 Chardonnay
Mineral-driven and fresh, the 2024 Chardonnay is lively with lemon and mint-driven aromas. It reveals hints of nuts and a fine earthy tension across a medium to full-bodied, refined palate. Accented by notes of white peach and a soft phenolic kiss, it is very food-friendly.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Covington Cellars 2022 Ma Belle
Red-fruited, juicy, and ripe, the 2022 Ma Belle is a fresh and mineral-driven wine. It showcases vibrant cherry notes and wild raspberry on a medium to full-bodied frame. With its earthy tension, red florals, and a spicy edge, it is very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2037
Covington Cellars 2022 Sangio
The 2022 Sangio is red-fruited and cherried, displaying a complex oak note, though it leaves me wanting a bit more acidity and freshness. Nevertheless, it is a delightfully intense, firm, and focused wine that remains delicious and elegant. Very nicely structured.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2031
Covington Cellars 2022 Franc
A Cabernet Franc with a distinctly red-fruited focus, the 2022 Franc is fresh, floral, and vibrant. It offers hints of peppercorn and a dusty, delightfully lively character. This is a very pure and elegant expression of the varietal, featuring soft herbal notes on a medium-bodied frame. It is very food-friendly and a joy to drink.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Coyote Canyon Winery 2024 Albarino
Fresh and peachy with notes of lemon citrus blossom, the 2024 Albarino is refreshing with a crisp, elegant, and crushable edge. The wine has a kiss of phenolic grip, remaining clean and expressive with flavors of sweet Meyer lemon and a soft, salty essence. Very pure and correct, it goes down all too easily! Nicely done.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Coyote Canyon Winery 2024 Concrete Albarino
A bit more serious, with a fresh, lively, textural feel, the 2024 Concrete Albarino is layered with notes of stone fruit and hints of citrus. Thoughtful, complex and very cerebral, it is mineral-driven with a tight, structured backbone. This vibrant and clean wine offers a truly pure expression.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Coyote Canyon Winery 2024 Roussanne
Offering sweet honeysuckle and honeycomb, the 2024 Roussanne features hints of a gentle waxy essence, light white peach, and nectarines. It has a soft, lush, and fresh yellow-cherry character that leads to a succulent, and easy-drinking finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
Coyote Canyon Winery 2024 Marsanne
Drier than its Roussanne counterpart, the 2024 Marsanne presents a delightfully subtle expression. It is very pleasurable and fresh, showcasing mineral tension alongside hints of nectarine and bright, pithy, sweet citrus. Nimble and nicely done.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Coyote Canyon Winery 2024 Life is Rose
Evoking strawberry lemonade, the 2024 Life is Rose is fresh, spicy, and succulent. Pure, clean, and correct, it is ready to rock!
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2028
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Grenache
Open-knit and cracked open, the 2022 Grenache is broader-shouldered with hints of red spice, sweet resinous tobacco, meaty, and savory expressions. Riper in style, it concludes with an umami, cranberry finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Sangiovese
A dark expression of the varietal, the 2022 Sangiovese features a vibrant acidic line and firm tannic structure. It is gripping and mouth-filling with notes of spiced plums and black cherry skin, making it very food-friendly.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Barbera
The 2022 Barbera has a succulent sour cherry nose that is fresh and inviting. It reveals hints of tart red fruit and spiced herbs, complemented by a leafy, dusty edge.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Coyote Canyon Winery 2023 Tempranillo
Showcasing sour red fruit and tartness with a hint of smokiness, the 2023 Tempranillo is succulent and nicely done. It offers a delightful sweet and sour interplay.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Merlot
Brilliantly layered, succulent, and red-fruited, the 2022 Merlot features spiced plum and a pure, fresh, focused expression. It is vibrant, plummy, and rich.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2038
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Tres Cruces
Displaying hints of volatility alongside dusty red and spicy fruit, the 2022 Tres Cruces offers notes of potpourri and mineral tension. It reveals essences of spiced plum compote, black raspberry, and red peppercorn, culminating in a nice finish.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 H/H Buck Reserve Syrah
Smoky, fresh, meaty, and dark-berried, the 2021 H/H Buck Reserve Syrah is dark-fruited and very delightfully rich. Showing hints of volatility, it remains vibrant, very generous, and firm.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Robert Andrews Mourvedre
Big, juicy, and generous with elevated alcohol, the 2021 Robert Andrews Mourvedre has a dusty, firm, and spicy character. It features notes of spiced plum skin and black cherry, supported by a pronounced tannic edge. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2034
Coyote Canyon Winery 2009 Robert Andrews Mourvedre
Immensely pleasurable and instantly impressive, the 2009 Robert Andrews Mourvedre is delightfully immaculate, fresh, and still in fighting shape. Very primary, oaky, pure, and correct, it is a devastatingly beautiful wine. Bravo!!!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2014-2040
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Plummy, juicy, and fresh, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a pure and succulent wine.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Petit Verdot
Big, juicy, and dense, the 2021 Petit Verdot is a chewy, bold, and mineral-driven wine. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Michael Andrews Red
Big, juicy, fresh, and plummy, the 2021 Michael Andrews Red shows hints of volatility while remaining impressive, vibrant, and ripe. Succulent and very complex, this lively wine will age beautifully over the decades.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Spirit of the Vineyard
Dusty, dark, big, and spicy, the 2021 Spirit of the Vineyard is firm on the nose with a mineral-driven palate. It possesses a zesty core that is fruity and succulent, highlighting notes of spiced plum skin. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Coyote Canyon Winery 2007 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Showing hints of volatility, the 2007 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon maintains an elegant oak core, dark cherry notes, and freshness. It is a pure expression.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2012-2028
Coyote Canyon Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, ripe, and more put together, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is concrete and vibrant, with a different oak profile than its bigger brother that governs with succulent dark fruity tones.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2010-2026
Coyote Canyon Winery 2008 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Offering herbal notes and hints of cherry, the 2008 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is slightly volatile.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2011-2027
Coyote Canyon Winery 2009 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing a bigger frame with soft tannins, the 2009 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is meaty with hints of oxidation. The wine is gently volatile and has an earthy nose, ending with a smooth, musty, and tertiary finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2012-2028
Coyote Canyon Winery 2010 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
More red-fruited with succulent acidity, the 2010 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh and offers a spicy, cherry-driven, bright, and lip-smacking finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2014-2027
Coyote Canyon Winery 2011 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Delightfully gorgeous and firm, the 2011 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is mineral-driven, rich, and elegant. It boasts a long, spicy finish. Beautiful now, it likely would have been hard as nails when it was released. Nicely done.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2015-2030
Coyote Canyon Winery 2012 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Bigger, broader-shouldered, and with a firm, viscous structure, the 2012 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon has a fresh and fleshy core that breaks from the nose. Bold and juicy, it has a generous center and a gooey finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2015-2028
Coyote Canyon Winery 2013 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
With a kiss of volatility and sweet, tertiary notes, the 2013 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon has a fantastic structure and ripe attack. Likely just coming out of its cocoon phase, it shows lively action with rich, mature, generous, and attractive fruit with extract. The sweet fruit, oak integration, tannins, and acidity are all in check. Delightful, expressive, fresh, and ready to drink, but will age for years to come! Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2016-2036
Coyote Canyon Winery 2014 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Excellent, red, and black-fruited, the 2014 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh, pure, clean, and correct. It is still going strong and will age for years to come.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2018-2035
Coyote Canyon Winery 2015 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
A little blown out and oxidized with heat, the 2015 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon features tannins that are still hot and gripping, but the fruit expression is on its way out. Drink up.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2018-2030
Coyote Canyon Winery 2016 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Still fresh and clean, the 2016 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe, succulent, delicious, and currently at fighting weight. Pure and complex, it will go for more years.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2020-2038
Coyote Canyon Winery 2017 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
With a kiss of pyrazines and herbal notes, the 2017 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon reveals oak extract, vanilla, and a sappy core. Still very fresh, rich, and complex, it has a round, mouthwatering mouthfeel that will remain delightful for years to come. Nicely done.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2022-2044
Coyote Canyon Winery 2018 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Still fresh, complex, and plummy with black cherry, the 2018 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon offers notes of bitter dark chocolate that are savory, earthy, and succulent. It is rich, ripe, and spicy.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2023-2042
Coyote Canyon Winery 2019 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Offering sage brush, spicy lavender, and meaty notes, the 2019 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon features black raspberry, dark cherry, spiced plum compote, and fresh layers. Juicy, succulent, and vibrant, it is very complex. Nicely done!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Coyote Canyon Winery 2020 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, juicy, fresh, and layered, the 2020 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is softly smoky, complex, and offers hints of coffee. It features spicy lavender and dusty dark red berry. The wine is clean, pure, and subtly sweet with fine mineral tension. Give it time.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2045
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly pleasing and bright, the 2021 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon showcases succulent freshness. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has plenty of baby fat to shed but has good bones. It is quite spicy with a long, lingering finish that will remain food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2028-2047
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon
Featuring spiced plum and dusty graphite, the 2022 Big John Cabernet Sauvignon is slightly more austere now, but will grow. The wine is still tannic and will benefit from additional time.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2029-2050
Coyote Canyon Winery 2014 GW Smith Malbec
The 2014 GW Smith Malbec has shed most of its baby fat and is now plummy and nutty. Showing mature notes while still at fighting weight, it is very ripe with an elegant edge. It concludes with a very long, textural finish that has me craving a Maillard reaction, caramelized meats, and hints of earth.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2018-2034
Creatas Ranch & Vineyard 2022 Reserve
Beginning with a dark ruby core, the 2022 Reserve is Cabernet Sauvignon dominant with splashes of Merlot and Petit Verdot to round out the blend. Initially slow to open, a swirl of the glass reveals dark red fruit nuances of black cherry, black plum, and a subtle note of black raspberry, before baking spices start wafting from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, it is still a touch tight with fine-grained tannins that grip and hold through the mid-palate, which is expected given its youthful character. The mouthfeel is pure and expressive, not overly juicy or overly complicated by oak, and glides effortlessly to an elegant and refined finish. Give this beauty another year in the bottle before opening. Decanting recommended. Enjoy with food.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2046
Crowe Wines 2022 Riesling
Offering a vibrant profile of simple, candied lime, the 2022 Riesling is complemented by intriguing petrol notes that emerge as it breathes. The wine is open-knit and particularly appealing for pairing with Asian cuisine. It presents a slight nuttiness on the palate and is best enjoyed young, ideally served extra-chilled.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Crowe Wines 2024 Grenache Blanc
Delightfully ripe and succulent, the 2024 Grenache Blanc showcases enticing notes of strawberry lemonade alongside crisp essences of golden delicious apples and subtle hints of petrichor. The wine is light-bodied, fresh, and well-balanced, exhibiting a well-managed crispness that enhances its appeal. It concludes with a clean, succulent finish that impressively delivers for a rosé. Yum!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Crowe Wines 2023 Grenache
The 2023 Grenache presents a red-fruited profile that is clean, fresh, and pure, showcasing notes of dusty red cherry complemented by hints of plum, baking spices, potpourri, and earthy undertones. This medium-bodied wine reveals a slight tannic structure with a soft phenolic grip that lingers through its food-friendly finish. Nicely done.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Crowe Wines 2023 Sangiovese
Sour cherry notes with a hint of volatility characterize the 2023 Sangiovese, which presents a slightly open-knit palate that is ready for food. Despite its approachable nature, the wine maintains vibrant acidity at its core, providing a solid backbone that drives through to a long, spicy finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
Crowe Wines 2023 Syrah
The 2023 Syrah presents a dense and chewy mouthfeel, with structure taking the lead. Firm tannins propel the experience forward, leaving a desire for more precision and purity on the finish.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2030
Crowe Wines 2023 Malbec
Presenting dusty and dark fruit characteristics, the 2023 Malbec is underscored by a mineral core and a restrained fruit expression. It is medium to full-bodied, with a spiciness that increases in intensity. The wine exhibits a firm structure, though the flavor profile leans slightly watery and subdued.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
DAMA Wines 2024 Rosé of Cabernet Franc
Bright and spicy with notes of citrus and strawberry blossoms at its core, the 2024 Rosé of Cabernet Franc is elegant and lovely, showcasing a delightful texture and mouthfeel. Medium-bodied, it ends with a lingering, zesty conclusion that’s very food-friendly.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2030
DAMA Wines 2022 GSM Blend
Instantly impressive in the glass, the 2022 GSM Blend reveals primary notes of high-toned red fruits and delicate crimson flowers on the nose. This wine is impeccably pleasurable, showcasing pitch-perfect ripeness and excellent fruit condition. It is very polished and continues to entice me back for more. Wow! Super great stuff! I want more! As the back of the label says, ‘Dangerously Beautiful Wines.’ I love to see truth in advertising. It’s stunningly gorgeous.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2034
DAMA Wines 2022 Grenache
Sweet and sour red fruit tones are complemented by an uplifting oak expression and lively mineral tension in the 2022 Grenache. The wine is layered and spicy, offering plenty of pleasure. Medium to full-bodied, it slowly uncoils on the palate to reveal even more complexities and additional oak spices. Luxurious and fresh, it has me coming back for another glass all too soon! Yum!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2035
DAMA Wines 2022 Merlot
The 2022 Merlot opens with a deep ruby core before offering enticing aromas of black cherries, plums, and cocoa dust. It has a rich, velvety palate with dark-fruited flavors, vanilla, and a touch of spice. Well-integrated tannins provide structure with a smooth mouthfeel before gliding into a long, complex finish. Bravo!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2036
DAMA Wines 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Running the line between black raspberry and wild herbs, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is still tight and appears slightly smaller than its potential frame. Medium to full-bodied, the wine possesses a generosity at its core and will need time to grow and fill its shoes.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
DAMA Wines 2024 Grenache Blanc
Crisp and mineral tension-driven, the 2024 Grenache Blanc is very pleasing, fresh, and has a citrus edge with a kiss of phenolic grip. Very food-friendly, with hints of apricot, Asian pear, yellow cherry, and yellow apples. Medium-bodied, the wine is free and has a bright, fresh, layered under-ripe stone fruit and yellow cherry skin essence. It is elegant and very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
DAMA Wines 2023 Yakima Valley Syrah
Red-fruited and softer in style, the 2023 Yakima Valley Syrah is dusty, dark-cherried, and fresh with an earthy floral grip. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has a generous expression with plenty of blossoms that glide across the palate. Subtle spicy notes of black and red peppercorn pop out with hints of potpourri and a firm, robust structure. It concludes with a long, zesty finish, very food-friendly. Nicely done.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
DAMA Wines 2023 Walla Walla Valley Syrah
Softly smoky with a dark cherry skin essence and fleshy character, the 2023 Walla Walla Valley Syrah reveals hints of char and sausage. The wine is floral and mineral, made from about 40% whole cluster. Medium-bodied at 13.5% alcohol, it has an inky tannic edge that is very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
DAMA Wines 2024 Grenache
The 2024 Grenache explodes with notes of potpourri and candied cherries with a gooey center. The wine is fresh, very pure, and complex. Expressive cherries, floral, spicy potpourri, and notes of oak. Still tight, but it will do wonders before it is bottled. Very tasty, I can’t wait for the bottle release date.
Score: 91-93 | Drink: Barrel Sample
DAMA Wines 2024 Mourvedre
Offering hints of a worn leather couch with a warmness to it, the 2024 Mourvedre is very spicy, loaded with pink peppercorn. Medium to full-bodied, the expression is fresh and will be a bigger, more robust offering. It concludes with a long, peppery, lingering finish. Very delicious.
Score: 91-93 | Drink: Barrel Sample
DAMA Wines 2024 Yakima Valley Syrah
Bigger, juicy, and ripe with a fresh readiness, the 2024 Yakima Valley Syrah is succulent, refreshing, spicy, and primary. It is ready to go, so drink it up. The wine is fleshy, mature, lush, and complex.
Score: 90-92 | Drink: Barrel Sample
DAMA Wines 2024 Walla Walla Valley Syrah
The 2024 Walla Walla Valley Syrah has hints of whole cluster and subtle notes of spiced plum compote. It is lovely and will be a great wine when it is released. This fun and fresh wine is full of purity and absolutely gorgeous.
Score: 92-94 | Drink: Barrel Sample
DAMA Wines 2024 Cabernet Franc
Crystalline, with a pure, dusty dark cherry note and soft red florals, the 2024 Cabernet Franc has the right amount of herbal and savory lift. Medium-bodied and fresh, it offers clarity in an umami, clean, and ripe expression. The wine is complex and very food-friendly, with a brilliant balance.
Score: 92-94 | Drink: Barrel Sample
DAMA Wines 2018 Tempranillo
Dusty, ripe, and juicy with sweet and sour notes, spices, and a soft leathery quality, the 2018 Tempranillo is elegant, but slightly primary. Being very fresh and fine, rustic and complex, it will go another 10-15 years.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2022-2042
DAMA Wines 2016 Cabernet Franc
The 2016 Cabernet Franc is instantly recognizable and has shed its baby fat. With hints of soft-smoked red bell pepper and baked clay on the nose, the palate is lively with a juicy freshness that shows plenty of staying power. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2018-2037
DAMA Wines 2021 GSM
A classic GSM with spice, the 2021 GSM is still very fleshy and primary with a ripe attack of dark cherry and spiced plums. Offering potpourri and fleshiness, the wine is very fleshy, primary, and complex. Spicier fruit, medium to full-bodied, very clean, and fresh.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2024-2035
DarkRock Wines 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon presents a dark fruited and rustic nose, revealing a mineral-driven character complemented by hints of oak spices. The finish is softly earthy and dusty, showcasing an essence of plum and blackberry. Enjoy with food.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
DarkRock Wines 2023 Red Blend
The 2023 Red Blend presents a ripe attack, showcasing freshness and a dusty character complemented by notes of mineral tension and fine-grained tannins. Medium-bodied, this wine remains primary, with flashy red fruit essences that dance out of the glass. Give it one more year in the bottle and enjoy with food.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
DarkRock Wines 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc presents a clean, simple, and fresh profile with softly nutty nuances. It showcases under-ripe peach notes complemented by yellow apple and sweet citrus. Medium-bodied and rather broad on the palate, this wine concludes with a spicy and phenolic finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
De La Luz Wines 2020 La Razon
I could swear there is some Syrah in the 2020 La Razon, but the label indicates 90% Malbec and 10% Gewurztraminer. This wine is spicy and meaty, with a softly floral edge that glides to a succulent and food-friendly finish. Overall, it is a lovely and well-made wine that has me craving wild game and sausages.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
De La Luz Wines 2022 Letter to a Friend
Sincere and fresh with a rustic edge, the 2022 Letter to a Friend is balanced with fleshy, ripe red and black fruit tones complemented by elegant and rich oak expressions. This medium to full-bodied wine gradually reveals its complexity, growing and building on the palate to deliver a truly delightful experience.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
DeLille Cellars 2022 Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon
Featuring mineral, high-toned red and black fruit tones with graphite and oak spices, the 2022 Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon is a standout. Freshness and complex layers somersault with fruit, herbs, oak, and earth to create an impressive and immensely pleasurable wine-drinking experience. Nicely done. It is broad-shouldered, but still has a complex mid-palate that tells me this will age beautifully for decades to come!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2027-2055
DeLille Cellars 2021 Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon
With dusty red and black fruit, the 2021 Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon is intricate and layered with gobs of depth and freshness. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is spicy, vibrant, and complex with notes of a Bordeaux vintage. It concludes with a zesty, lingering finish. Bravo!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2050
DeLille Cellars 2022 Harrison Hill Red Blend
Subtle and complex, the 2022 Harrison Hill Red Blend is softer in style, layered, and has power in its subdued state. The wine is very structured and has fine-grained tannins with delicate mineral tension. It is elegant and fresh. Wow.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2047
DeLille Cellars 2022 Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon
Quite primary, the 2022 Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon is very fresh with heavy red-fruited, high tones. It features serious hints of oak, spice, and dusty bitter dark chocolate. The wine is intricate and round. It is beautifully complex and vibrant. Nicely done!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2046
DeLille Cellars 2022 Chaleur Estate Red Blend
Impressive, the 2022 Chaleur Estate Red Blend is beautifully rich and round. It showcases ripe red fruit with spice and oak. It shows power, precision, purity, and elegance. Nicely done. With waves of complexity and freshness, it is a world-class wine!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2050
DeLille Cellars 2022 D2 Red Blend
Slightly savory with hints of herbal notes and graphite, the 2022 D2 Red Blend has a firm structure and will be best after years of age. The wine is very food-friendly and immensely pleasurable. It is a very sturdy and enjoyable wine.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2038
DeLille Cellars 2023 D2 Red Blend
A very red-fruited and primary expression, the 2023 D2 Red Blend was just bottled 2 weeks before tasting it and will likely be very spicy. It has a fantastic mouthfeel with hints of pepper and a zesty core. It is very pleasurable, but give it time.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2040
DeLille Cellars 2023 Upland Syrah
Dusty red-fruited and softly rustic, the 2023 Upland Syrah is spicy and highly versatile. It is a very pleasurable, food-friendly wine with pitch-perfect oak and alcohol. It is not overdone and ends with a succulent finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
DeLille Cellars 2023 Seattle Red Blend En Ville
Coming in a refined, tighter package, the 2023 Seattle Red Blend En Ville is fresh. It is spicy with a dusty red-fruited core that sways with a soft, utterly delicious, vibrant, and complex expression. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
DeLille Cellars 2022 Reserve Red Blend
Plummy and rocky with notes of black raspberry, the 2022 Reserve Red Blend is a medium to full-bodied, fresh wine with good structure. Red-fruited with fine-grained tannins, this very pleasurable, complex wine is wonderfully rich and food-friendly. It will go the distance. Enjoy with food. With a spicy and very versatile character, this is a beautiful Merlot that will make a believer out of anyone! Bravo!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2040
DeLille Cellars 2024 Chaleur Blanc
With a kiss of oak alongside notes of mandarin orange candy, the 2024 Chaleur Blanc is fleshy, ripe, and clean. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is softly phenolic and fresh. It is very lovely and an exceptional 30th vintage for Chaleur Blanc. It has a very spicy finish and is highly food-friendly.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
DeLille Cellars 2022 Grand Ciel Syrah
Dark red-fruited and spicy with a serious backbone that has focus and uncoils to show more complexity, the 2022 Grand Ciel Syrah is a standout. The wine is immensely subtle, fresh, and complex. Still young, it has great bones. This is profoundly pleasing and brings me back for more.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2040
DeLille Cellars 2023 Essential Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, rustic, and very red-fruited, the 2023 Essential Cabernet Sauvignon has a soft phenolic note. The wine over-delivers for the price and can age. It is very enjoyable and food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2037
DeLille Cellars 2022 Red Willow Red Blend
More mineral-driven and dark red-fruited with a more rustic fruit core, the 2022 Red Willow Red Blend features hints of roasted red pepper and black plum. It is medium to full-bodied.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2035
DeLille Cellars 2024 Rosé
Displaying a soft salmon color, the 2024 Rosé presents a clean and expressive core of leesy strawberry. This GSMC blend is very pleasing, offering a beautiful nose of wild berry and subtle spice notes. Fresh and pure, this medium-bodied wine is bright and vibrant, culminating in a lovely finish. Very nicely done. I am craving Asian food with this guy.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2029
DeLille Cellars 2024 Roussanne
Mineral and expressive, the 2024 Roussanne is driven by a lovely tension. Medium to full-bodied, this wine is very food-friendly and serves as proof that Washington State can produce delicious, focused expressions of the varietal.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2034
DeLille Cellars 2023 Sagemoor Riesling
Fresh, zesty, and cereal-driven, the 2023 Sagemoor Riesling is clean, offering notes of green apple and complex lime candy with a kiss of residual sugar. Medium-bodied, the wine is incredibly vibrant, tangy, spicy, pure, and refined. This is very pleasurable and lip-smacking.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
DeLille Cellars 2023 Red Willow Chardonnay
The nose of the 2023 Red Willow Chardonnay is instantly impressive, revealing a gorgeous essence of lemon pastry cream alongside mildly nutty and oaky nuances. This aromatic profile will certainly please Chardonnay lovers. Medium-bodied, the wine is seductive and delightful, showcasing a creamy character. It is utterly delicious and expressive, ending with a very pleasing and food-friendly finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
DeLille Cellars 2022 Marguerite
Fine, linear, and citrus-driven, the 2022 Marguerite showcases leesy and nutty expressions. Medium to full-bodied, the wine opens to a wider mouthfeel that coats the palate, revealing an approachable, expressive, and clean character before tightening to show a more focused finish. It concludes with a spicy ending; give it time.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2034
DeLille Cellars 2022 Doyenne
Showing very primary this year, the 2022 Doyenne features a fleshy, zesty core of potpourri. It offers vibrant red fruits, clean cherry, and peppercorn notes that lead into a cinnamon finish. Nicely done.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
DeLille Cellars 2022 Le Dessein
Spicy and floral with a kiss of stemminess, the 2022 Le Dessein is fresh, juicy, and slightly savory. Very food-friendly, this dark red-fruited wine is remarkably succulent. Vibrant and zesty, it has me craving charcuterie. Nicely done.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Deux Soldats Winery 2022 Deux Soldats Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Red-fruited and spiced with notes of pepper skin and hints of barnyard, the 2022 Deux Soldats Estate Cabernet Sauvignon presents a softly herbal character that begins to evolve on the palate. With time, this wine is poised to age gracefully, revealing aged notes that will emerge in five to seven years. For those who appreciate earthy and mature-driven wines, this should excite your senses beginning in 2034.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2026-2036
Deux Soldats Winery 2022 Deux Soldats Estate Syrah
Expressive and red-fruited, the 2022 Deux Soldats Estate Syrah showcases a vibrant and expansive character typical of Walla Walla. This wine presents itself in a lighter package, offering subtlety and freshness complemented by clean and distinct spicy notes. The palate reveals flavors reminiscent of sausage and cranberry compote, leading to a lingering and pure finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Deux Soldats Winery 2022 Deux Soldats Winemaker’s Blend
Presenting a rather nondescript profile, the 2022 Deux Soldats Winemaker’s Blend showcases red fruit characteristics intertwined with earthy notes and hints of oak. This wine is straightforward in its approach, exhibiting a simple yet balanced structure that leads to a clean finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2030
Deux Soldats Winery 2024 Deux Soldats Rosé of Sangiovese
Showcasing energetic acidity that invigorates the palate, the 2024 Deux Soldats Rosé of Sangiovese is a fresh and succulent wine. It compels me to return for another sip. It is remarkably pure and medium-bodied, with racy tension that enhances its appeal. Clean in character, it presents delightful notes of raspberry and lemon, making it quite lovely.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2028
Deux Soldats Winery 2024 Deux Soldats Sauvignon Blanc
Bottled with residual CO2, the 2024 Deux Soldats Sauvignon Blanc will benefit from a brief decanting or splash decanting. This wine is bright and succulent, showcasing a straightforward profile dominated by primary citrus notes that form the core of its expression, culminating in a fast, zesty finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Devona 2023 Chardonnay Rainmaker Vineyard
Bright and citrusy, the 2023 Chardonnay Rainmaker Vineyard showcases notes of lemon pastry cream and leesy marshmallow. This wine exhibits energetic acidity, offering a fresh and ripe profile with a succulent mouthfeel and delightful mineral tension that enhances its food-friendliness. Nicely done!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Devona 2023 Chardonnay White Salmon Vineyard
A completely different animal than the Rainmaker Chardonnay, the 2023 Chardonnay White Salmon Vineyard is elegant, round, and spicy. This wine offers a generous palate with an explosive mouthfeel and a fuzzy phenolic grip that is cerebral and food-friendly. The aftertaste develops with flavors of sautéed almonds and lemon pith, showcasing remarkable complexity and delight.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Devona 2021 Merlot Bacchus Vineyard
Dense and dark fruit essence sways from the glass of the 2021 Merlot Bacchus Vineyard with precision and a soft rusticity. Spiced plum notes initially take center stage before the wine reveals its rich acidity and tannic structure. This beauty will last more than a decade and remain food-friendly for years to come!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Devona 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Bacchus Vineyard
Firm and vibrant, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Bacchus Vineyard exhibits a mineral-layered tension that permeates both the nose and palate. It reveals a dusty core of plum skin and blackberry jus, showcasing freshness and complexity with a subtly spiced, medium to full-bodied expression. The tannins are still a touch gripping with a solid edge, and the wine possesses a food-friendly aspect that promises great potential with additional time in the bottle.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2036
Devona 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Heart of the Hill
Instantly impressive, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Heart of the Hill showcases remarkable purity and focus, with a mineral tension and ferric core that underpin the lush, ripe dark red and black fruit tones. Spiced cherries and dusty plum skins intertwine with earthy essences and subtle hints of brown baking spices. This medium to full-bodied wine is fresh, featuring a vibrant and expressive nose. It retains youthful, gripping tannins that contribute to a food-friendly finish. Give it another year or two in the bottle and drink over the next 10-15 years.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2040
Dillon Cellars 2021 Calyx
Gorgeous on the nose, the 2021 Calyx reveals layers of almond and lemon pastry cream alongside poached yellow apples and cinnamon-spiced citrus. This wine is utterly delicious and seductive, showcasing elegance and freshness with good acidity and a succulent finish. Yum, I want more!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Dillon Cellars 2022 Ovaire
Very zesty and bright, the 2022 Ovaire is pure and expressive, offering instant pleasure as it excites the nose and palate with energetic acidity and a fresh citrus frame. A clean line of crispness beams across the mid-palate to the finish, making it exceptionally food-friendly and has me coming back for more.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Dillon Cellars 2022 Block Six White Wine
Unmistakably Viognier, the 2022 Block Six White Wine is vibrant, floral, and spicy, featuring bright, zesty notes that instantly captivate the nose and palate. It displays immaculate precision, with a touch of phenolic bitterness that enhances both complexity and freshness, while its weight and focus shine through a long finish. It is an immensely pleasurable wine. I want more!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2036
Dillon Cellars 2021 Version Three
Dark, dense, and chewy, the 2021 Version Three is firm and tannic yet oh so picturesque. It showcases a lovely structure with plenty of layers that promise to go the distance. Very food-friendly, it reveals hints of roasted coffee bean and savory sausage notes, complemented by a zesty plum compote core. Full-bodied, it offers a lingering, spicy finish with enticing flavors of black cherry. Yum!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2037
Dillon Cellars 2022 Block Six Red Wine
Showing a fair amount of reduction, the 2022 Block Six Red Wine presents a softly sulfurous aroma that suggests it will benefit from decanting. After rigorous swirling, it becomes rounder and richer, gaining complexity with access to air in the glass. It reveals a graham cracker note that expresses its oak influences, complemented by spicy and stemmy nuances on both the nose and palate. Rich and round, this wine showcases a rustic and bold character, delightfully layered and poised to age gracefully for years to come. You must be patient. Your waiting will be rewarded.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Dillon Cellars 2022 Autumnnāle
Presenting a firm and dark profile, the 2022 Autumnnāle showcases red berry characteristics that are both vibrant and tannic, with a solid grip that lingers through the finish. This wine reveals primary notes of red fruit complemented by dusty dark cherry nuances, alongside hints of graphite and the subtle essence of plum skin. Medium to full-bodied, it concludes with a straightforward red-fruited tannic finish that carries a distinctive mineral edge.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2037
Dineen Vineyards 2024 Condriesque White Wine
Peachy, expressive, zesty, and floral with a delightful minerality, the 2024 Condriesque White Wine is a focused and spicy offering that delivers exceptional value. Medium to full-bodied, it features a kiss of phenolic bitterness that adds a cerebral quality, resulting in a great mouthfeel and a food-friendly finish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Dineen Vineyards 2022 Cabernet Franc
Pure and unapologetic, this 2022 Cabernet Franc showcases vibrant cherry notes complemented by hints of herbs and red flowers that elevate the overall expression. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is focused and fresh, featuring succulent acidity that enhances its liveliness. The finish is very clean, making it a delightful choice for Cabernet Franc lovers who will appreciate the sincerity of this wine.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Dineen Vineyards 2022 Heritage Red Wine
Sour cherry aromas intertwine with hints of herbs and graphite in the engaging 2022 Heritage Red Wine. The palate reveals a spicy and fresh character, supported by a medium to full-bodied frame that makes it exceptionally food-friendly. This wine shows great potential for further aging in the bottle, promising to evolve beautifully over time.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Dineen Vineyards 2024 Grenache Blanc
Initially bright, citrusy, and floral, the 2024 Grenache Blanc is an expressive, stone-driven, and peachy wine. Medium-bodied with a delightful mineral tension and a kiss of phenolic bitterness, its mouthfeel is very food-friendly and ready for action. Give this an additional chill and enjoy with a wide variety of dishes, seafood, shellfish, cheeses, and fresh salads, or simply by itself, poolside.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Dineen Vineyards 2024 Sémillon
Pleasantly dense and mouth-coating, the 2024 Sémillon is rich, spicy, and mineral-driven, featuring a soft prickle on the palate that surprises and delights. Medium to full-bodied, the wine displays power and finesse, offering breadth and depth of dusty stone fruit across the mid-palate before gliding to a delicious and food-friendly finish. Nicely done!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2033
Doubleback 2023 Merlot
Offering picturesque red and dark red fruit that merge to meet blackberry notes, spiced plums, and dark cherry, with notes of chocolate and mocha, the 2023 Merlot has succulent acidity with a rich and round expression, plenty of spices, and florals to age beautifully. The wine is big, bold, and generously layered with fine gripping tannins to go the distance. Nicely done!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Doubleback 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Big and bold with a fun line of herbals that pop up in the center, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is expressive, rich, dense, and chewy. It is utterly beautiful with a lavish, round fruit expression and purity and sincerity that I look for in special, long-lived, age-worthy wines. Very clean with a juicy finish.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2048
Doubleback 2022 Estate Reserve
Dense and chewy, big, bold, and unapologetically Walla Walla, the 2022 Estate Reserve has a rocky core with graphite, black raspberry, and spiced plum skin. The oak essences lift the mouthfeel of the full-bodied wine. It’s still very young, so your patience will be rewarded. Impressive stuff!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2028-2050
Du Coeur 2023 Chardonnay
Bright, energetic and citrus-driven, the 2023 Chardonnay is fresh, crisp and lemony. It is medium-bodied with succulent acidity. The mouthfeel is lively and zesty with subtle hints of brown baking spices and oak essence. The wine glides to a very food-friendly finish, with lingering notes of sautéed almonds. Nicely done!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Echolands 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Taggart Estate Vineyard
Very pure, fresh, and zesty, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Taggart Estate Vineyard is citrus-driven, clean, and crisp. With bright energy, it is mineral-driven and lively. Medium-bodied, vibrant, and lemony, it is very food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Echolands 2024 Grenache Blanc Walla Walla Valley
Subtly citrus-driven and subdued on the nose, the 2024 Grenache Blanc Walla Walla Valley shows a delightfully textural freshness with a touch of phenolic grip and leesy mineral tension. Very cerebral and food-friendly, it has a complex, rich, lingering, spicy finish. Yum!!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2034
Echolands 2024 Frenchman Hills Riesling
Very fresh and pure, the 2024 Frenchman Hills Riesling offers lively, medium-bodied crispness. It has about seven grams per liter of residual sugar. Clean and expressive, it concludes with a balanced, fine, vibrant, and acid-driven finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Echolands 2024 Riesling Ice Wine
Utterly pure and picturesque, the 2024 Riesling Ice Wine is ripe, rich, round, and impressive. Crystalline and perfumed, it reveals notes of quince paste, poached apples, and apricots. Generous, clean, and very food-friendly!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2080
Echolands 2024 Riesling White Rock Vineyard
Slightly nutty and leesy, the 2024 Riesling White Rock Vineyard is vibrant, textural, and complex with good bones. The wine is fresh, zesty, and zippy with clean, acid-driven crispness. Very food-friendly.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Echolands 2024 Rocksy Music Grenache Riviere Galets
Classic, open-knit, and savory, the 2024 Rocksy Music Grenache Riviere Galets is highly enjoyable, fresh, and mineral-driven. Featuring black cherry, spice, and stone tension, it is quite cerebral, pure, and immensely pleasurable. Exceptionally food-friendly.
Score: 92-94 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Echolands 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard Block 3
Broader, open, and spicy, the 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard Block 3 features herbal, juicy dark cherry, and berry notes. It has succulent acidity and greenery paired with graphite. Hints of oak expression lift the overall profile. Delicious, pure, and ripe, it still maintains a compact frame. Nicely done!!!
Score: 94-96 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Echolands 2024 Cabernet Franc Blue Mountain Vineyard
Still very young and tasted as a barrel sample, the 2024 Cabernet Franc Blue Mountain Vineyard clocks in at 12.8% alcohol. The wine remains tight and savory with herbal, spiced cherries. It has an elegant oak essence that will absorb into the expression over time. Very pleasurable, with notes of graphite and sour plum.
Score: 93-95 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Echolands 2024 Cinsault Semi-Carbonic
Fun, bright, and expressive, the 2024 Cinsault Semi-Carbonic is slightly spicy, fresh, nimble, and dusty. Offering red and black raspberry, it has a soft stemminess that is very food-friendly. Highly vibrant, zesty, and floral.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2027-2038
Echolands 2023 Syrah Resurgent Vineyard
Still tight, the 2023 Syrah Resurgent Vineyard will benefit from decanting. It features classic savory notes of roasted coffee beans and red peppercorn. Highlighting red fruits, spice, and cerebral focus, it is very elegant and pure, offering sour cherry with mineral tension and a spicy core.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2038
Echolands 2023 Grenache Walla Walla Valley
Very mineral-driven, fresh, and structured, the 2023 Grenache Walla Walla Valley offers dusty red fruit, black cherry, and spiced plum. The wine has a stemmy, stony, and quite textural, spicy finish. It remains in a medium-weighted, compact freshness that is nimble and ready for food.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Echolands 2022 Syrah Les Collines Vineyard Block 50
Very bright, contracted, and spicy, the 2022 Syrah Les Collines Vineyard Block 50 was made with 100% whole cluster. It features red floral and zesty tones that are very pleasing and rich, supported by a solid, ferric grip. Showcasing mineral tension and a firm tannic hold, it is nicely done. Enjoy with food. Decanting recommended. This will do wonders with age.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2028-2042
Echolands 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard Block 3
Firm, high-toned, and tight, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard Block 3 is slow to open and release its secrets. The wine is fresh, complex, and has a staying essence that is pleasing and exciting. Full-bodied, the palate shows youthful, still-tight tannic grip that will loosen with age in the bottle. Additional cellaring will allow this wine to fill its shoes. The mouthfeel is impressive and profound. In more time, the wine will flow and uncover its complexities. It is slow to evolve but will be a great companion over the years. Give it time, your patience will be rewarded. Bravo!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2028-2045
Echolands 2022 Cabernet Franc Walla Walla Valley
Offering fresh red fruit and spiced plums, the 2022 Cabernet Franc Walla Walla Valley features cherry, red pepper, and dusty red flowers. The wine is vibrant with mineral tension and a spicy core. Very pleasurable and complex, it has a rich, stone-driven finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2036
Echolands 2022 Cabernet Franc Blue Mountain Vineyard
Pure and fresh, the 2022 Cabernet Franc Blue Mountain Vineyard offers a succulent cherry and sweet, rounded center. Accented by potpourri and spiced red tea, the wine has an herbaceous and spicy pepper core. Mineral tension glides to a rich, food-friendly finish. The wine is not Rotundone, very pleasurable.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Echolands 2022 Resound
Formerly called the Rebrum label, the 2022 Resound has a solid, gripping, dark red and black fruit core. It features a firm tannic edge and fine mineral tension. It concludes with a very food-friendly finish that lingers with a spicy, savory touch. Give it time.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Echolands 2022 Groundswell Taggart Vineyard
Fresh, ripe, and crystalline, the 2022 Groundswell Taggart Vineyard is pure, succulent, zesty, and rich with mineral tension. It showcases spicy red floral notes and expressive graphite. The mouthfeel is firm and highly food-friendly, making it an excellent candidate for pairing with a meal.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2036
EFESTE 2022 Paulie
Firm, bold, and expressive, the 2022 Paulie features a red-fruited core of dusty plums and spiced cherries. It offers a kiss of savory notes reminiscent of sausages and wild brush, complemented by fine-grained tannins that make it a very food-friendly option for those who enjoy a spicy GSM. Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2036
EFESTE 2021 Tough Guy
A big, bold, and expressive wine crafted from 56% Merlot, 33% Syrah, and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Tough Guy showcases a kiss of volatility that complements its generous size. It creates a full-bodied experience that is both captivating and rich. Decanting recommended.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2037
EFESTE 2021 NANA
A dense and chewy wine with a generous frame, the 2021 NANA showcases a rich profile of concentrated black fruit that is both fresh and bold. With a spicy character, this lavish wine will pair beautifully with food.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2036
EFESTE 2024 Rosé
Clean and expressive, this 2024 Rosé showcases a core of strawberry and lemon, complemented by a softly zesty and citrus backbone. The wine races across the finish with purpose and finesse, over-delivering for the price point. Nicely done.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2028
EFESTE 2021 Knight Commander
A broad and expressive wine featuring a core of zesty and floral notes, the 2021 Knight Commander is complemented by hints of coffee beans and roasted sausages alongside earthy undertones. Medium to full-bodied, it presents a spicy, firm tannic edge that adds to its complexity and layered character. The finish is notably peppery, evoking daydreams of steaks and chops.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2037
Eleven Winery 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Opening to a stemmy character with firm green and herbal notes, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is complemented by a robust tannic edge. Its dusty, rocky core grips the palate and holds through the finish. While the wine is bold, it also exhibits a slight thinness that has me scratching my head…
Score: 86 | Drink: 2025-2030
Eleven Winery 2024 White Mourvedre
Certainly an oddity that will surprise you, the 2024 White Mourvedre presents itself more as a vin gris, showcasing vibrant notes of lemon and petrichor. This medium-bodied expression has a slightly warm finish, yet it maintains a captivating mineral tension and offers refreshing acidity. I can’t help but appreciate its structure, and it brings me back for more.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2029
Eleven Winery 2023 Malbec
Presenting red fruit aromas that are slightly thin, the 2023 Malbec offers a simple and approachable expression complemented by a subtle spiciness. This wine is focused and fresh, showcasing a lighter profile that makes it enjoyable and easy to drink.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2032
Eleven Winery 2022 Bubbly LEM
Yes, a sparkling Lemberger! The 2022 Bubbly LEM showcases vibrant red fruits complemented by lively acidity that dances on the palate. It possesses a mineral tension and refreshing quality, creating a complex and layered experience. Fun, fresh, and free, this wine truly makes me happy.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
Eleven Winery 2024 Bubbly Blanc
Presenting enticing notes of peaches and lemon candies, the 2024 Bubbly Blanc showcases bright acidity and refreshing qualities. Hints of yellow apple emerge, leading to a clean and electric finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2032
Estival 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
This 2024 Sauvignon Blanc offers enticing notes of lemongrass and fresh lemon peel, complemented by hints of reduction and vibrant acidity that races across the finish. It is very succulent and food-friendly, making it easy to drink and pure in expression. Nicely done!
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Fidélitas 2023 Optu White Wine
Broad-shouldered and waxy with a slightly nutty expression, the 2023 Optu White Wine is textural and lively on the palate. It leaves me wanting a touch more acidity in the mouthfeel and finish to keep things tight and fresh, showing good oak spices and an open-knit frame.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2036
Fidélitas 2021 Red Mountain Malbec
Big, layered, lavish, and complex, the 2021 Red Mountain Malbec is dense and solid with a core of fruit that has a firm minerality and rustic nature underneath its generous size. Full-bodied, the wine is gripping and tannic, and it will take another year or two to come around but will remain food-friendly for years to come.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Fidélitas 2021 Estate Merlot
Big and bold, the 2021 Estate Merlot is juicy and complex with a softly oaky, spicy core. Dusty red and purple flowers sway out of the glass in this full-bodied, firm, and layered wine.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Fidélitas 2021 Quintessence Cabernet Sauvignon
Dense, chewy, and still incredibly young, the 2021 Quintessence Cabernet Sauvignon is firmly tannic, juicy, and currently hard as a rock. It will take some additional time for this beauty to come around, but when it does, it will be a juggernaut. Give it time, your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2028-2045
Fidélitas 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich, round, and firm, the 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon offers a succulent backbone of oak spices and generously layered dark red and black fruit tones. Spiced plums and blackberry jus mingle with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon in this full-bodied, full-throttle wine that is remarkably fresh and nimble. It will need additional years to come around, ending with a lively, spicy finish. Very impressive!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2045
Fidélitas 2023 Red Mountain Sauvignon Blanc
A touch reductive with a tight citrus structure, the 2023 Red Mountain Sauvignon Blanc is bright and engaging. Medium-bodied, this wine is nimble and very food-friendly with good texture.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Fidélitas 2023 Red Mountain Sémillon
Fluffy and softly tropical, the 2023 Red Mountain Sémillon features notes of leesy orchard fruit and Asian pear. Medium to full-bodied, it has a kiss of phenolic bitterness and is delightfully zesty, showing good mineral tension before a fresh, crunchy, spicy finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Fidélitas 2020 Red Mountain Merlot
A beautiful wine, the 2020 Red Mountain Merlot is bright and red-fruited with wild black raspberry notes. The wine is clean and has very pure spices with mineral tension and no smokiness here. Be patient with this beauty as it is showing great, hitting its stride, and will govern for at least another decade.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2023-2037
Fidélitas 2020 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Firmer, more stony, and rustic, the 2020 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is gripping with a mineral tension and an iron/ferric edge. It is still tight, and the fruit is subdued.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2024-2035
Fidélitas 2024 Quintessence Sauvignon Blanc
Instantly impressive, the 2024 Quintessence Sauvignon Blanc is very crisp and racy. A fresh, lingering, spicy finish brings me back to this medium to full-bodied wine that is very bright, succulent, and lively.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2037
Fidélitas 2022 Quintessence Merlot
Big and bold, the 2022 Quintessence Merlot is pure and ripe, showing power and precision with a mature attack and great fruit condition. This wine is very clean, full-bodied, unapologetically fresh, and complex, ending with a long, spicy finish. Very pleasurable.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Fidélitas 2022 Quintessence Malbec
Softly savory with a dark red and blue-fruited core of sappy fruits, the 2022 Quintessence Malbec is spicy and pure. This wine is generous and clean, remaining elegant in its larger size without going over the waterfall. Balanced tannins and succulent acidity make it very fresh and energetic, over-delivering and staying very food-friendly. Enjoy with fire-roasted meats and chops.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2043
Fidélitas 2022 Quintessence Red Wine
Dark-fruited and dusty with resinous purple flowers, the 2022 Quintessence Red Wine is big and unctuous in the glass. This fresh, ripe, full-bodied wine is very complex and offers a captivating expression that has me coming back for more. It is very delightful, and I can see this getting better in the bottle over the next few years. Enjoy with food.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2040
Fidélitas 2022 Quintessence Cabernet Sauvignon
Offering a balance of dusty earth and dark red fruit with hints of black fruit expression, the 2022 Quintessence Cabernet Sauvignon is powerful and precise. Big and juicy, it features a dynamic tension and a firm tannic structure, remaining very still and ending slightly hot.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2045
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Merlot
Presenting dark cherry, spiced plum skin, hints of wild sage, and dusty red flowers, alongside notes of tar and roses, the 2022 Estate Merlot is a delight. With a dusty core that is quite cerebral and food-friendly, this wine is highly expressive, full, and very fresh. Still tight and pleasing, give it another year in the bottle and enjoy for the next decade and a half.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Malbec
Bright, nimble, and fresh, the 2022 Estate Malbec offers succulent acidity and hints of savory sagebrush, wild herbs, and untamed black raspberry. The mouthwatering crispness, agile and refined mouthfeel, and energetic nature end with a minerality and spiciness on the finish, making this very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2040
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Petit Verdot
Very dense, dark, and still slightly chewy, the 2022 Estate Petit Verdot has a gravitas and purity to the expression. It brings all of the tannins and acidity you would expect, but delivers a ripeness and fruitiness that balances everything out, making it quite pleasing to drink. Decanting recommended and enjoy with food!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Red Wine
Rich, round, and tight with a dusty core and iron notes, the 2022 Estate Red Wine is very fine, focused, and precise. Layered with complex fruit, earthy flowers, and a powdery, firm tannic structure, this wine is highly concentrated and very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2040
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
A big and broad-shouldered expression, the 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is juicy, ripe, firm, and structured. Full-bodied with fresh and lively notes, this wine is very expressive and features a fine cocoa-powdered tannic edge. It is delightful.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2042
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 412
Broad, structured, and dark-fruited, the 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 412 is mineral-driven and completely full-bodied. The wine is fully fresh and has powdery tannins, offering an elegance and power that is very pleasing, with a long, spicy, and food-friendly finish. Decanting recommended.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
Fidélitas 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 169
More structured and broad-shouldered, the 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 169 is succulent with subdued notes. This is a slow burn and a quiet riot that will govern for close to two decades. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Fidélitas 2021 Blackwood Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon
Broad-shouldered, the 2021 Blackwood Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon offers layers of juicy, dusty, fresh, and ripe extract. With firm tannins and a bigger structure, it ends with a dense, chewy finish. Enjoy with food.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Fidélitas 2022 Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark red-fruited and mineral-driven, the 2022 Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon has a lighter structure for Red Mountain. This wine is very refined and elegant in style, featuring dusty red flowers, dark cherry, and plums. It has a long, spicy, graceful finish and is versatile, rustic, and poised with firm, gripping tannins. Very food-friendly.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Fidélitas 2022 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
More generous on the nose, the 2022 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon has a red-fruited, dusty core that is expressive and weighted. Refined yet still tight, this gem will last for decades. This is beautiful!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2050
Fidélitas 2021 The Canyons Malbec
With notes of roasted coffee, the 2021 The Canyons Malbec is dark red-fruited, generous, earthy, and rustic. Black raspberry, hints of blueberry, and spiced plums fill this full-bodied wine, which features fine-grained tannins, structure, and a long, spicy finish. Delicious; enjoy with grilled meats.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
FIGGINS 2022 Estate Red Wine
Class in the bottle, the 2022 Estate Red Wine has fine-grained tannins and a fresh, coating mouthfeel that covers the palate with luxurious oak influences. Robust and healthy red and black fruit essences mix with a dusty, chocolatey core. Full-bodied, rich, and round, this wine is complex and firm, with a long, pure finish that is very food-friendly and has me craving flame-kissed ribeyes.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2027-2045
FIGGINS 2022 Figlia Red Wine
Solid, still tight, and complex, the 2022 Figlia Red Wine offers luscious red and black fruit tones. The oak compounds lift the entire expression across the mid-palate, providing a firm, gripping mouthfeel and making it incredibly food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2040
FIGGINS 2022 The Caves Red Wine
Instantly impressive, the 2022 The Caves Red Wine is rich and round, yet still tight and complex. Firing on all cylinders, it is fresh and ready to go the distance. This is all Cabernet, made from the three best barrels, and features a long, lingering finish. Very remarkable; your patience will be rewarded. Bravo!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2027-2055
Floating Balance Cellars 2022 Lost in Time
Red-fruited and stern with a kiss of volatility, the 2022 Lost in Time is rather generic and non-descript. The wine is firm with a gripping tannic core that will need some time to loosen.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2026-2033
Floating Balance Cellars 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Offering elegant tannins and dark red-fruited expressions with lively freshness, the 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is delightful. The wine grows on the palate, revealing more layers and spices as the wine lingers over the aftertaste.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
Floating Balance Cellars 2022 Syrah
Zesty and slightly savory with a core of dusty plums, hints of petrichor, and iron, the 2022 Syrah is expressive. Offering wild brush, sour cherry, and tart plums, this medium- to full-bodied wine glides to a spicy, food-friendly finish in a smaller frame.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Foolhardy Vintners 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Lemony with a core of lime and lime pith over a soft, under-ripe pineapple center, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc has hints of lemongrass and dusty citrus blossoms. Medium-bodied, this wine is citrus-driven, firm, and features delightful mineral tension and vibrancy. It ends with a spicy, zesty finish with lively acidity. Enjoy with seafood and shellfish.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Foolhardy Vintners 2020 FH Cabernet Sauvignon
Clean, vibrant, and red-fruited with black plum jus, the 2020 FH Cabernet Sauvignon is complex and morning-fresh with a pure heart of blackberry. It is quite pleasing and very food-friendly, ending with an oaky, spicy finish. Nicely done.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2036
Foolhardy Vintners 2019 Foolhardy Cabernet Sauvignon
Dense, firm, and tannin-driven at its current stage, the 2019 Foolhardy Cabernet Sauvignon is an impressive wine. It will take some time to round out those edges, but it has a wonderful fruit expression to allow it to last for more than a decade.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2027-2045
Foolhardy Vintners 2021 Malbec
Generous and round with layers of healthy, ripe black fruit tones, the 2021 Malbec overflows with gobs of juicy berry essence and oak spice. This expressive wine is still primary and very lively. It is dense and succulent, and will do better with bottle age. Give it time.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Foolhardy Vintners 2022 For Fool’s Sake
Mineral-driven and offering a graphite and black-fruited dusty nose, the 2022 For Fool’s Sake is a medium to full-bodied wine. It is expressive, shows tension, and over-delivers at a great price. Enjoy with food.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Force Majeure 2022 Épinette
Still vibrant and tight, the 2022 Épinette is complex on the nose and mineral-driven. Expressive, the wine has a firm phenolic grip with a plush, full-bodied texture and fine stone tension. It is fresh, ending with an iron/ferric edge and graphite notes, making it very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2028-2045
Force Majeure 2022 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Dense and chewy, the 2022 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine that will continue to be bold and expressive. With a firm stone and tannic edge, along with mineral tension, this offering is very clean and finishes with a spicy note. The wine is very fine but needs time.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2028-2045
Force Majeure 2021 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Open-knit and very approachable, the 2021 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is red-fruited with graphite notes. Generous and fruit-forward with a subtly smoky and roasted herbal essence, it features a black berry expression and an iron/ferric edge. The wine ends with a long, gliding finish. Enjoy with food, decanting recommended.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Force Majeure 2022 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark in color, the 2022 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is firm, vibrant, ripe, and pure with a rocky core. The wine is balanced, fresh, and dense, offering a dark-fruited and elegant expression in a larger frame. Full-bodied and mineral-driven, it features a solid tannic edge.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2038
Force Majeure 2021 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Big and mineral-driven, the 2021 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is spicy with a slightly hot alcohol presence. The wine is bigger, generous, and tannic, needing time to show its freshness. Enjoy with food and decanting recommended.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2035
Force Majeure 2023 Grenache
Red-fruited and quite tannic, the 2023 Grenache is solid with spicy strawberry notes. Medium to full-bodied, it is fresh with firm tannins and great mineral tension. Decanting recommended.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2036
Force Majeure 2023 Parvata
Spicy and red-fruited, the 2023 Parvata is firm, dark berry-driven, fresh, and fleshy. With floral notes, this wine is rich, rocky, and tannic, showing a wonderfully structured and fruity profile.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2040
Force Majeure 2023 Mourvedre
Dark red-fruited and spicy, the 2023 Mourvedre features potpourri notes. The wine is very complex and solid, with a slightly boozy finish. This zesty, fruity wine leans toward dark red berries and spice.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Force Majeure 2023 Red Mountain Syrah
Rich, round, and expressive, the 2023 Red Mountain Syrah offers notes of spicy plum, peppercorns, bacon fat, and black raspberry. With a creme de violette essence, this wine is very satisfying, pleasurable, and food-friendly. Yum!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Force Majeure 2023 Walla Walla Valley Syrah
A wild, dark, and savory expression, the 2023 Walla Walla Valley Syrah is mineral-driven and earthy. The wine features a dark red and black-fruited core with salty, sanguine notes. While this is more stony and tight, the Red Mountain version is far more floral, fresh, and vibrant.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2037
Fortuity Cellars 2023 Vin Blanc
Peachy and expressive with hints of nuttiness and lemon, the 2023 Vin Blanc features a leesy essence. The wine has notes of orange peel and marshmallow. Medium-bodied, it is fresh, succulent, and complex with layers of citrus marzipan and peach pith.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Fortuity Cellars 2022 Le Classique
Elegant oak tones mingle with black raspberry, dark cherry, and spiced plum swaying out of the glass in the 2022 Le Classique. With notes of turned earth and petrichor, the wine is pure and features an excellent essence. It ends with a refined and food-friendly finish. Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Fortuity Cellars 2022 Malbec
Rich, round, and succulent, the 2022 Malbec features a plummy essence that glides with a fresh and inviting center of fruit. With a spicy, inky core of blueberry and spiced plums, the wine has hints of oak spices and luxurious expressions of ripe berries. Clean, energetic acidity and freshness make this very pleasurable and food-friendly. Nicely done!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2036
Fortuity Cellars 2022 Syrah Cuvée
Juicy and softly smoky with a core of black raspberry and spiced plums, the 2022 Syrah Cuvée is slightly reductive now but will age beautifully. The wine is very pure and spicy with fine-grained tannins, ending with a mineral-driven and tense finish. Nicely done.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Fortuity Cellars 2022 The Fifty Fifty
Clean, juicy, ripe, and approachable, the 2022 The Fifty Fifty delivers pleasure at a great value. Pure, rich, and round, firing on all cylinders, the wine is impressive for the price of admission. It ends with succulent tannins and a food-friendly finish, along with a spicy, lingering edge. Nicely done! I want more!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2033
Gard 2022 BDX Blanc
Featuring citrus and tropical aromas that sway with sweet baking spices, the 2022 BDX Blanc is rich, complex, and soft, with notes of cream soda. Medium to full-bodied, it ends with a lingering, mineral-laced, and acid-driven finish. Very delightful.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Gard 2022 Grand Klasse Cabernet Sauvignon
Expressive and broad-shouldered, the 2022 Grand Klasse Cabernet Sauvignon has hints of volatility. The wine tightens across the palate, offering a mineral-driven mouthfeel. It narrows and has a soft, pure, and subdued finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Gard 2022 Grand Klasse Roussanne
Slightly subdued on the nose with a mineral core and citrus notes, the 2022 Grand Klasse Roussanne has hints of oak expression. The wine explodes on the palate, showing a beautiful, oily structure with lifting, succulent acidity. The palate is brilliantly focused and pure, providing an expression that has me daydreaming. It ends with a spicy, food-friendly, and textural finish. Very complex, very pleasurable! Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2038
Gard 2022 Grand Klasse Syrah
Very fresh and floral, the 2022 Grand Klasse Syrah is still tight and slightly reductive. The wine has a spicy core of plum and dark cherry, along with hints of peppercorn and floral notes. It ends with a spicy finish. Give it time; it will go the distance.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2038
Gard 2022 Grand Klasse Viognier
Unmistakably Viognier, the 2022 Grand Klasse Viognier features notes of white peach and cereal grain. The wine is succulent and open with a youthful approachability. Made with 50% new French oak in a larger format, it is not overdone. Medium to full-bodied, it ends with a spicy finish that has a gripping alcohol presence, but it brings me back for more.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Gard 2022 Cabernet Franc
A classic expression, the 2022 Cabernet Franc offers notes of red pepper and red berry, along with hints of oak and spice. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and succulent acidity, this wine has me craving fajitas. Very food-friendly and delightful, it will please Cabernet Franc drinkers.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2036
Gard 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon features notes of pencil shavings and graphite harmonizing with dark red, dusty fruit. The wine offers hints of herbal notes with freshness and purity. I cannot wait to see this again in 10 years!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2038
Gard 2022 Grenache
Fresh and red-fruited on the nose, the 2022 Grenache is bold and spicy. It features a serious core with fine-grained tannins and spicy acidity that lingers through the finish. Nice tone!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2036
Gard 2022 Reverence
Fresh on the nose, the 2022 Reverence is rich and round, having good bones. The wine is spicy and medium to full-bodied. It is slightly spicy and subdued on the palate but will develop beautifully with additional age in the bottle. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2038
Gard 2022 Thunderstone
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Thunderstone is fresh, expressive, powerful, and precise. It shows an identity of power and finesse, with plenty of structure to go the distance. Very food-friendly, it has tension and fine-grained tannins that will remain fresh for decades. It ends with a very pleasing finish.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2038
Gard 2022 Toro
Firing on all cylinders, the 2022 Toro offers classic expressions of American oak, dill, and coconut. There are aspects of this wine that remind me of a sweet and sour profile. It is very fresh, pleasurable, and delightful. The wine is wonderful, beautiful, and softly spicy.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Gard 2022 Vineyard Selection Conner Lee
Oak-driven, the 2022 Vineyard Selection Conner Lee is fresh and softer in style, with its power coming from its precision. It slowly unfolds and uncoils in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has an oaky presence that will integrate into the expression with additional years in the bottle. Give it time.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2038
Gard 2022 Vineyard Selection Solaksen
Primary, juicy, and fresh, the 2022 Vineyard Selection Solaksen is very shiny with picturesque black plum compote and blueberry notes overflowing into oak essence. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has succulent acidity. It is big and generous, delivering plenty of pleasure. Great play and action.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Gard 2022 Vineyard Selection Scarline
Big and dense with graphite notes, the 2022 Vineyard Selection Scarline has a firm rockiness that sways to a firm tannic structure. The wine shows more structure than anything else and is very fun.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Gard 2022 Vineyard Selection Stoneridge
Featuring a dusty petrichor note, dusty plum skin, dark cherry notes, and elegant oak tones, the 2022 Vineyard Selection Stoneridge has a dusty, red-fruited, and fresh tannic core with mineral tension and purity. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Gard 2022 Winemaker’s Select Cabernet Sauvignon
Bigger and broad-shouldered, the 2022 Winemaker’s Select Cabernet Sauvignon has a juicy frame of dark cherry and spiced plum, alongside oak spices with notes of cedar and cigar. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a gripping tannic edge. The wine is very food-friendly and has plenty of staying power. Very nice, just give it time.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2040
Gard 2022 Winemaker’s Select Syrah
Bigger and broad-shouldered, the 2022 Winemaker’s Select Syrah is stylized with a generous nose and mouthfeel. The palate has a big, spicy appeal with beefy Syrah notes. It is ready to enjoy!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2035
Gard 2023 Albarino
Fresh and stone-fruited on the nose, the 2023 Albarino offers notes of white peach, fresh yellow apples, and hints of pineapple. Medium-bodied, the wine has a soft, leesy core that is fresh and textural. It shows a succulent, lingering acidity and mouthfeel. Nicely done.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2032
Gard 2023 Grenache Blanc
Crystalline and pure, the 2023 Grenache Blanc is fresh and balanced with a soft phenolic edge. The wine has a citrus core with plenty of texture and a soft leesyness that grips the mid-palate and holds through. It is very pure and expressive.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2038
Gard 2024 Rosé
Fresh, zesty, and acid-driven, the 2024 Rosé has a high-toned, red-fruited core. Medium-bodied, the wine delivers plenty of pleasure. It is succulent and fresh with a soft phenolic edge, making it very food-friendly. Nicely done.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2029
Gilbert Cellars 2024 Rosé
Simple, fresh, clean, correct, and straightforward, the 2024 Rosé is slightly mineral on the palate before it ends with an elegant and acid-driven finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Gilbert Cellars 2023 Allobroges
Generic red-fruited with tighter tannins, the 2023 Allobroges is slightly spicy. It ends with the expression starting to separate and becoming slightly nutty.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2028
Gilbert Cellars 2023 Left Bank
With hints of herbs, peppers, and sage alongside blackberry jus and dark cherry, the 2023 Left Bank has a good, clean mouthfeel. It is value-driven and built for speed, not distance. Enjoy with ethnic food.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
Gilbert Cellars 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Juicy, fresh, rich, and round, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon offers layers of fruit, spice, and oak that grow in complexity. The wine is firm and continues to grow on the palate, revealing additional layers. Nicely done.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Gramercy Cellars 2024 Picpoul
Fresh and citrus-driven, the 2024 Picpoul has soft honeysuckle and dusty citrus notes. The wine has wonderful acidity, clean and crisp. Medium-bodied, it is succulent, fresh, and delightful with mineral tension and a lovely texture, offering a crisp lift on the finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Gramercy Cellars 2024 Rosé Olsen Vineyard
A clean, classic rosé made from red Rhône grapes, the 2024 Rosé Olsen Vineyard is softly mineral and offers succulent notes. It is subtly spicy and vibrant. Medium to light-bodied, it is fresh with a lingering, delightful finish, made from co-fermented grapes.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2029
Gramercy Cellars 2023 Viognier
Floral and bright with a soft hint of honey, the 2023 Viognier is fresh with a soft peachiness. Quite lively, it features a kiss of phenolic bitterness and ends with a softly nutty, almondy, and leesy texture and sensation. Nicely done. 90.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2031
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Syrah John Lewis Reserve
Made with a splash of co-fermented Holy Roller Vineyards fruit, the 2022 Syrah John Lewis Reserve has a firmness and freshness. It is dark red-fruited and spiced in a lovely expression that is lively and complex. With spicy hints of potpourri, peppercorn, and mint, it has a gripping tension and fine-grained tannins, ending with a long finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2050
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Syrah Lagniappe Red Willow Vineyard
Red-fruited, spicy, and true, the 2022 Syrah Lagniappe Red Willow Vineyard has a subtle nose. The wine is very pure, long, and still tight. It is very fresh and compact, but it will age beautifully. Your patience will be rewarded in time.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2028-2042
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Syrah Forgotten Hills Estate
Open and accessible with a spicy, dark red-fruited note, the 2022 Syrah Forgotten Hills Estate features a spicy floral grip. It offers hints of spiced cinnamon and red peppercorn. The wine compresses to show a lighter, more nimble profile. It tightens and firms to show a spicy, lingering, tight, and fun finish. Yum!!!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Syrah Holy Roller Vineyard
Offering a more serious, mineral-driven nose with spiced red fruit notes, the 2022 Syrah Holy Roller Vineyard is spicy and succulent. The wine slowly grows on you, showing spicy mineral tension, notes of potpourri, and a soft, broad-shouldered red profile.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2034
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Mourvèdre L’Idiot du Village
Quite floral and heady with a spicy, floral nose, the 2022 Mourvèdre L’Idiot du Village features high-toned red fruit notes. A very pleasing wine, it is kept on its lees in neutral cooperage vessels. This spicy, medium-bodied wine has a long, succulent finish. Not overdone, it shows tension and is very pleasing and food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Grenache The Third Man
Very floral, light, and integrated, the 2022 Grenache The Third Man is expressive with cherry notes. The wine is light and ethereal with a spicy, sweet core. It ends with red, spicy floral and potpourri essences that dominate the finish and linger through, making it very pleasing and food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2034
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Pinot Noir Sojeau Vineyard
Coming from Eola-Amity, the 2021 Pinot Noir Sojeau Vineyard is fresh and complex with a generous, spicy frame and succulent acidity. Medium-bodied, it is electric with fresh complexity and succulent acidity that makes it very food-friendly. Nicely done, with a spiced orange rind note on the finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Estates
Immensely impressive in scope, the 2021 Estates is still tight. It is instantly striking in its precision and focus, and its power comes from its tension. Tremendously and profoundly pleasurable, it is made in a slightly subdued expression in terms of fruit components, but its structured precision shows the terroir of Walla Walla. It will provide some pleasure now and will do wonders with age, starting to get really good at a decade, and even better at two decades old.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2029-2050
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Cabernet Franc Estates MTA
Very pretty and floral, the 2021 Cabernet Franc Estates MTA offers a clean lift of spicy red pepper notes. It has all of the varietal purity with freshness, texture, and elegant purity on the finish. Very pleasing, lovely!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark red and black-fruited, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon features hints of wild sage and brush. With elegant tension on the palate, it offers notes of wild sage, brush, dusty spiced red tea, and rooibos tea. The wine is very generous, spicy, and food-friendly.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Made in a more generous, polished, and shiny expression, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is fresh. With mineral tension, freshness, and ripeness, it can be enjoyed now but has gravitas and polish. Featuring subtle oak elements, the wine is mineral, fresh, juicy, rich, and round. It can age gracefully for years on end. Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2028-2042
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Phinny Hill Vineyard
Dark red and black-fruited, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Phinny Hill Vineyard offers notes of graphite. Very structured, generous, and long, it has plenty of mineral tension. This very structured and fresh wine will last for more than a decade, perhaps even two. Give it time.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2028-2045
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Lower East
A little cracked open now to show an open-knit nose ready for earlier releases, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Lower East checks all the boxes for an early, approachable Cabernet. It begins with a fine, mineral-driven note and shows mineral tension alongside a juicy dark red cherry note.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Gramercy Cellars 2022 Syrah Lower East
Showing whole-cluster spiciness, the 2022 Syrah Lower East has a savory profile with fresh, spicy potpourri and graphite notes. Rocking about 55% whole-cluster fruit, it is succulent, delightful, lively, and very fresh. The profile over-delivers for the price, ending with a spiced cranberry note and a long, spicy finish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Gramercy Cellars 2021 Bowery Lower East
Both red-fruited and floral, the 2021 Bowery Lower East is made with a light amount of whole cluster. It features elegance and spiciness, with dusty florals and a vibrant length. It is very food-friendly with a spicy finish.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Gramercy Cellars 2018 Estates
Beautifully firm and tightly wound, the 2018 Estates has a mineral core with a vibrant palate. It shows subtle tension, bright dusty cherry, and is still lively, with elegant graphite notes.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2038
Hightower Cellars 2022 Merlot
Clean, expressive, and softly volatile, the 2022 Merlot is rich, round, and juicy with a firm core of bright acidity. The wine is complex, plummy, and spicy with hints of oak and graham cracker notes. Medium to full-bodied, it ends with a succulent, fleshy, and fruit-driven finish. Nicely done.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Hightower Cellars 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Mineral and succulent with herbal, high-toned red fruit, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon features a spicy, lingering oak essence. Full-bodied, it delivers layers of complexity with fine-grained tannins.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2045
Hightower Cellars 2022 Red Mountain Reserve
Seductive, ripe, fleshy, fresh, complex, and spicy, the 2022 Red Mountain Reserve offers dusty red fruit tones and vibrant expressions. It glides through the mid-palate and ends with a succulent, food-friendly finish. Yum!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Hightower Cellars 2022 Out of Line Estate
Robust and rustic, the 2022 Out of Line Estate is impressive. It has a red-fruited, dusty, herbal core with precision and finesse. The wine has a focused, firm, medium to full-bodied profile that is seductive, elegantly rich, and round. It finishes with an impressive, long, spicy finish. Bravo!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Hightower Cellars 2022 Cabernet Franc
Rich, firm, precise, correct, clean, and pitch-perfect, the 2022 Cabernet Franc offers notes of herbal oak and red, spicy fruit tones. It is an elegant, precise, focused expression with a lingering, spicy finish. Very food-friendly, and wow! This is good CF. Yum!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Hors Catégorie Vineyards 2022 Hors Catégorie Syrah
Instantly impressive, rich, and round yet still tight and fighting, the 2022 Hors Catégorie Syrah is devastatingly gorgeous. It is pitch-perfect with fine ripeness. Medium-bodied, the wine is sleek, pure, and expressive with pristine tones. It belongs on the top shelf to rest in the cellar next to your Grand Cru and First Growths. Striking and pure, wow!!!!
Score: 100 | Drink: 2026-2050
Horsepower Vineyards 2022 Fiddleneck Vineyard Grenache
Quite perfumed and fresh, the 2022 Fiddleneck Vineyard Grenache is spicy and floral with fragrant potpourri. The wine is complex, savory, umami, and dusty red-fruited. It is delicious and will do wonders with age. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2047
Horsepower Vineyards 2022 Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache
Bigger with notes of char, strawberry, wild plums, spiced potpourri, sausage, and umami essences, the 2022 Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache is medium-bodied. It features notes of turned earth and spice. With brilliant red fruit, this elegant wine is utterly gorgeous, very impressive, and goes down all too easily.
Score: 99 | Drink: 2025-2045
Horsepower Vineyards 2022 Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah
With peppercorn, red meat, and dusty dark cherry, the 2022 Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah is very fleshy, ripe, and broad-shouldered. The wine is firm, fresh, and very mineral-driven. Wonderfully food-friendly.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2047
Horsepower Vineyards 2022 High Contrast Vineyard Syrah
Crunchy, pure, and very pleasurable, the 2022 High Contrast Vineyard Syrah is stunningly impressive. It has a savory, rich, comprehensive, precise, and focused core, making it the best High Contrast Syrah that I have tried to date! This is the juice that you want, with plenty of fruity, umami, and earthy character. Take a bow, team!
Score: 100 | Drink: 2026-2050
Horsepower Vineyards 2022 The Tribe Vineyard Syrah
Dark-fruited with char and dark cherry, the 2022 The Tribe Vineyard Syrah is firm, very food-friendly, and expressive with mineral tension. It has a long, bold finish.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2047
Horsepower Vineyards 2014 Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache
Still very fresh and ripe, the 2014 Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache has hints of rubber with wild strawberry. The wine is round with nuances of savory, sautéed almonds and roasted wild game.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2018-2035
Involuntary Commitment 2023 Red Wine
Dusty and red-fruited with a core of black cherry and blackberry, the 2023 Red Wine is fresh and vibrant. With purity and brightness at a price-conscious level, it over-delivers for the cost of admission.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Isenhower Cellars 2021 Batchelor’s Button Cabernet Sauvignon
A little volatile on the nose with dark red and black fruit tones, the 2021 Batchelor’s Button Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh and firm. With succulent, fine-grained tannins, the wine is spicy and finishes with a very food-friendly edge.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Rara Avis
Made with 18% Mourvedre and 5% Syrah, the 2022 Rara Avis is pure, fresh, and fleshy with a slightly reductive core that will blow off in time. The fruit here is mostly dark red-fruited with beautifully spiced, succulent acidity. Clean, impressive, and medium to full-bodied, its oak spices lift the expression across the mid-palate and end with a very pleasurable, food-friendly finish. Yum!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Jongleur Petit Verdot
Very dense and, as one might think, very tannic, the 2022 Jongleur Petit Verdot is full-bodied and slightly hot on the finish with a gripping edge.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Le Cadeau Vineyard Pinot Noir
Spicy and firm, the 2022 Le Cadeau Vineyard Pinot Noir is very structured and tannic. Fresh and complex, coming from the Chehalem Mountains AVA in Oregon, it is very pleasurable, but is in a bigger Pinot style, not color.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2037
Isenhower Cellars 2021 Road Less Traveled Cabernet Franc
Very herbal, savory, and citrusy with red-fruited notes of age and spice, the 2021 Road Less Traveled Cabernet Franc has lots of green pepper, pyrazines, and pure cherry. It is unmistakably Cabernet Franc and will please fans of the varietal.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2037
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Road Less Traveled Cabernet Franc
An unmistakable Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Road Less Traveled Cabernet Franc has softly herbal notes and a savory edge. Spicy red cherry with a hint of potpourri highlights this softer style of CF. Pure and unapologetically CF with a soft leafy herbal essence and a spicy cherry note, it has slightly sticky tannins. Enjoy with food and decanting is recommended.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2033
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Batchelor’s Button Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly impressive with dusty dark red fruit and an elegant red floral note, the 2022 Batchelor’s Button Cabernet Sauvignon is lifted but balanced. The wine is very refined, fresh, and pure. Everything is pitch-perfect and poised with rustic earth, vibrant, ripe, and healthy berry tones. Black raspberry, black cherry, and black plum mix with refined oak nuances on a long finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2042
Isenhower Cellars 2022 FOI No. 16 Super Fuga
Dusty and red-fruited, the 2022 FOI No. 16 Super Fuga goes down all too easily. Fresh and complex with a nimble mid-palate, it clocks in at 14.9% alcohol. The wine has a pleasing lightness and offers hints of subtle popcorn kernel and soft toasty oak. It is delicate and will do great with time.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Isenhower Cellars 2021 Wild Thyme
Still primary with hints of dusty rustic notes and soft, gripping tannins, the 2021 Wild Thyme is very food-friendly. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has a subtle graphite note. It is very bright and versatile. Nicely done.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2033
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Wild Thyme
Cabernet-dominant this year over the 2021, which was Merlot-dominant, the 2022 Wild Thyme is softer in style than the previous vintage. The wine is subtle and has more of a tannic structure with a rustic edge. It is quite delightful and will improve with additional years of bottle age and pair beautifully with food. Decanting recommended.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2035
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Rouleur
Dusty and dark red-fruited with hints of floral and spicy notes, the 2022 Rouleur has a delightful berry profile. Medium to full-bodied, it is very pleasing, charming, and elegant. Lingering, very fresh, fragrant, ripe, juicy, and slightly rustic.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Isenhower Cellars 2022 Wallula Cabernet Sauvignon
Offering sweet roasted red pepper, graphite, and pencil lead, the 2022 Wallula Cabernet Sauvignon has a soft, dusty red berry expression. With notes of a savory herbal aspect on the palate, this wine is quite lively. It ends with a delightfully lingering spicy finish. Decanting recommended.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2035
Isenhower Cellars 2022 À Bloc
Big and brooding, the 2022 À Bloc has a touch of oak, and after a quick spin in the glass, the wine opens to show blackberry and spiced plum compote. The wine is medium to full-bodied and fresh. This is bold and juicy. Decanting recommended, enjoy with food.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2035
Isenhower Cellars 2023 Rara Avis
Featuring a fresh, dusty red-fruited purity with hints of red spices, the 2023 Rara Avis is bright and lively. This medium-bodied wine is delightfully zesty.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Isenhower Cellars 2023 Blanc de Blanc Roussanne
Made from Roussanne, the 2023 Blanc de Blanc Roussanne is fresh, complex, and different. Quite a cerebral wine with a vibrant, brut zero style, it was fermented in neutral puncheons and is delightful. The wine is very textural with slight hints of under-ripe fruit, a slightly leafy edge, and notes of lemon peel and endive, ending with a lively, zesty finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2033
Isenhower Cellars 2024 Francisca’s Vineyard
Very pure, fresh, and floral, the 2024 Francisca’s Vineyard offers notes of peach, lychee, and a delightful cereal grain essence alongside sweet apricot. Still featuring a dry structure, it is balanced and phenolic with good acidity. Clean, precise, and crystalline, this wine seriously over-delivers for the price. Buy the entire case!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2030
Isenhower Cellars 2024 Le Cadeau Vineyard
Coming from Chehalem Mountains, the 2024 Le Cadeau Vineyard has notes of yellow apple, pear, lees, and banana. Fresh with hints of peach, it has a phenolic grip and a kiss of bitterness. Enjoy with food.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2028
JM Cellars 2024 White Cinsault
Clean, fresh, and buttery, the 2024 White Cinsault is fuzzy and leesy with a rocky edge and hints of white peach skin. Very complex and food-friendly, the wine is elegant, rich, and mineral-driven.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
JM Cellars 2023 Concrete Chardonnay
Subdued on the nose with a leesy, lemon pith aroma, the 2023 Concrete Chardonnay is fresh and succulent. Very mineral-driven, this medium-bodied wine is incredibly food-friendly.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
JM Cellars 2023 Reserve Chardonnay
Very driven with lemon pastry cream and yellow apple, the 2023 Reserve Chardonnay is leesy and sweet with a kiss of oak. Featuring brown baking spices, it is succulent, firm, and beautifully done. Well done!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2036
JM Cellars 2022 Ancora Imparo
Very pure, the 2022 Ancora Imparo has high-toned red fruit in a dusty, dense center with firm mineral tension. It has a spicy core with a soft ferric note, and is succulent, beautifully rich, round, and elegant. With a subtle zestiness, it is fresh, inviting, and brilliantly coiled. Very food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
JM Cellars 2022 Thirty Six Degree
Firm and red-fruited with a dusty core, the 2022 Thirty Six Degree is quite spicy with super tension. Structured and tannic, it has a long finish that is very zesty with earthy red fruit and black raspberry. It has a slight black pepper note that lingers through to the end.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
JM Cellars 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon III
Firm, big, and ripe, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon III has a gripping tannic edge that shows its oak expression. Full-bodied, fresh, dark, and intense, the wine is rich and mature with impressive vibrant and lush notes of chocolate and brown baking spices. It slowly uncoils with sturdy tannins that will need time in the cellar.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
JM Cellars 2022 Bramble Bump Carmenere
With a soft herbal core and dusty dark red berries, the 2022 Bramble Bump Carmenere features notes of toasted oats. Rich and round with spicy fruit and layers of elegance, the wine is very enjoyable but stays in the earthy crimson berry category.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2038
JM Cellars 2018 Founders Reserve
Instantly impressive, the 2018 Founders Reserve is devastatingly gorgeous. The wine has ripeness levels that are pitch-perfect, offering an elegant, rich, powerful, and finessed expression. Very generous, mature, and pure, it has a refined spicy finish. I’m not spitting a drop of this out.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2022-2048
JM Cellars 2015 Longevity
Still lively and fresh, the 2015 Longevity is fleshy and complex, continuing to fight with weight. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is delightfully vibrant and layered with a structured red finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2020-2033
JM Cellars 2022 Cabernet Franc
Red-fruited with a juicy core, the 2022 Cabernet Franc has mineral tension and a firm grip. It is ripe and structured with tannins and hints of roasted red pepper.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Julian Margot Winery 2021 Nettie
Succulent and fresh with a lively core of red fruit and fleshy apple, the 2021 Nettie has firm tannins that merge to show a spicy finish and gripping edge. It needs time but has good bones.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Julian Margot Winery 2021 Pyretta
Firm and dark red-fruited with black and blue fruits, the 2021 Pyretta meets graphite notes and bitter dark chocolate tones. The wine is structured and will do better with food. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2037
Julian Margot Winery 2022 Esmeray
Spicy and dark red-fruited, the 2022 Esmeray is fresh and complex with slightly zesty mineral and peppercorn notes that sway with vibrancy and a soft stemminess. The wine is open-knit on the palate. Give it an extra chill.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2026-2036
Julian Margot Winery 2022 Imari
Dark red and black fruit tones with layers of fresh flowers and graphite over petrichor notes define the 2022 Imari. Featuring spiced plums and deep cherry skin, this medium to full-bodied wine grows in amplitude and complexity, showing fine-grained tannins and a firm, generous core before ending with a zesty finish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Julian Margot Winery 2023 Steele
Made with 100% Marsanne, the 2023 Steele is waxy and aromatic with a nutty, leesy note that has a phenolic grip and expressive character. The wine is lively, fresh, and rich in texture with hints of minerality. Very food-friendly and quite a cerebral wine. Nicely done.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
K Vintners 2024 Art Den Hoed Viognier
Floral and spicy with a delightful phenolic grip, the 2024 Art Den Hoed Viognier is very pure with a fine mineral, rocky core. This elegant, medium to full-bodied wine is balanced with a kiss of pleasant bitterness. It ends with a very pleasurable finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
K Vintners 2023 Powerline Viognier
Broad-shouldered and expressive, the 2023 Powerline Viognier features cereal grain, floral peach blossom, and orange oil. The wine is very textural and shows surprising weight and spice on the mid-palate. Fresh and energetic, it ends with a delightfully lingering finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
K Vintners 2022 The Boy
Offering high-toned red fruit with notes of cherry, spices, and potpourri, the 2022 The Boy becomes more serious and fresh with complexity, showcasing a vibrant, zesty, and floral profile. Made with 50% whole cluster, this Grenache is stunningly beautiful. Very food-friendly.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2038
K Vintners 2022 Charlotte
With notes of herbs, spice, and rustic floral tones, the 2022 Charlotte features hints of rocky graphite. Zesty and pure, it runs the line of both earthy and ripe, reminding me of all the great things I love about Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It has an elegant, mature, savory, and fragrant finish.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2042
K Vintners 2022 The Beautiful
A more serious, rocky, and savory expression, the 2022 The Beautiful has a vibrant, slightly ashy, and stony sensation with hints of florals. The wine grows in elegance, purity, and freshness, then the mid-palate contracts slightly to an impeccable mouthfeel. It nibbles the palate with structure and is beautifully rich, textured, and lively. Very food-friendly.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2042
K Vintners 2022 The Deal
Rich and round with spicy red and black peppercorn, the 2022 The Deal is made with 100% whole cluster Syrah, showcasing freshness, zest, and an expressive core. Medium to full-bodied and mineral-driven, it has a generous texture and peppery notes on the finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2037
K Vintners 2022 Motor City Kitty
Focused and serious, the 2022 Motor City Kitty has notes of savory iodine and sanguine characteristics. The wine is very spicy, medium to full-bodied, rich, and round. It is super focused and firm with a textural, fine-grained tannic mouthfeel and freshness. Very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2040
K Vintners 2022 Klein Syrah
Bolder and structured, the 2022 Klein Syrah is very firm and mineral-driven with sticky tannins, a sappy center, and spice. Featuring a peppercorn note, the wine is dense and chewy with tension. It is very composed and delivers a spiced plum compote and a rocky core. Very food-friendly.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
K Vintners 2023 Powerline Syrah
Presenting a very serious, fresh, and compact profile, the 2023 Powerline Syrah is black-fruited, rocky, and spicy. It features notes of potpourri and black cherry essence. This wine is mineral-driven, subtly tannic, and dense, making it a bit more chewy.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2040
K Vintners 2022 The Hidden
Big, bold, and slightly floral with a serious core of dark fruit and mineral tension, the 2022 The Hidden has a firm tannic edge with a medium to full-bodied center. Very mineral-driven and cerebral, it is expressive with a spicy, robust heart of earth and black fruit. Featuring fine-grained tannins and rocky tension, it is still young but has good bones and will age gracefully for years to come!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2043
K Vintners 2022 Cattle King
Firm and slightly bigger and heavier, the 2022 Cattle King is dense, chewy, ripe, and structured. Still young, it needs time to come together. The wine is very compact and the berry profile is beginning to change from black fruit to dark red fruit. Spicy and textured, it has me craving bone-in ribeyes. Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2042
K Vintners 2022 Royal City
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Royal City overflows with power and depth of aroma, featuring hints of teriyaki jerky, Worcestershire, and smoked blackberries. The wine is both nimble and complex, full of flavor, and is undeniably top-quality Syrah with nuances of wilted red and purple flowers, violets, and worn leather alongside a delightful rocky essence that is the underlying factor that keeps me engaged. This is a medium to full-bodied Syrah that doesn’t feel heavy, but rather lands and expands on the palate to reveal its truth, of being immensely layered without being overbearing, rich in taste yet still feels agile. It ends with a lingering finish and invites another sip. Bravo!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2026-2042
K Vintners 2022 The Creator
Dark red-fruited with a savory essence and a soft herbal edge, the 2022 The Creator features notes of sweet red pepper. The wine is complex, rich, and still quite youthful. A complete wine, it is highly pleasurable and generous with a pure, earthy character.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2040
K Vintners 2022 Ovide
Focused and not as generous, the 2022 Ovide is fresh and broadly structured with notes of black cherry, spiced plum skin, wild sagebrush, soft desert funk, and rocky tones. The wine is very pleasing, ripe, and elegant. Very food-friendly.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2043
K Vintners 2022 King Coal
Classic and elegant with oak tones, the 2022 King Coal is generous, ripe, fresh, and pitch-perfect. Rich and very delicious, it is already firing on all cylinders.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2045
K Vintners 2022 Northridge Merlot
Juicy and plummy, the 2022 Northridge Merlot is round and jumps out of the glass. The wine is immensely pleasurable and delightfully mineral with a dark fruit edge and graphite nature. It has precision and focus with balanced, fine-grained tannins. The wine is very food-friendly and enjoyable, and I cannot wait to try it again in 10+ years. Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2043
K Vintners 2022 Stoneridge Merlot
Plummy and spicy, the 2022 Stoneridge Merlot has a mineral tension that grips and holds through the finish. A phenolic hold offers a zesty edge and fine tannins. The wine is plush and lush, showing graphite and a rocky note with a very firm, ferric edge on the conclusion.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2039
K Vintners 2022 Jack’s Cabernet Sauvignon
Ripe, vibrant, and mineral-driven with hints of pencil shavings, the 2022 Jack’s Cabernet Sauvignon has an expressive dark fruit core. The wine is juicy and open-knit, medium-bodied, and complex. With more focused nuances and freshness, it ends with a clean, nutty finish. The wine is delightfully lively. Decanting recommended.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2044
K Vintners 2022 Powerline Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing a pure, herbal expression with spicy pepper notes, the 2022 Powerline Cabernet Sauvignon features oak spices and a dusty graphite essence that glides with elegance. Medium to full-bodied, it has many of the refined, zesty, botanical essences that I love about late 80s and early 90s Bordeaux wines. While enjoyable young, your patience will be rewarded with additional time in bottle.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2042
K Vintners 2022 Stoneridge Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm with a rocky core, the 2022 Stoneridge Cabernet Sauvignon has a generous, juicy, oaky mocha profile. The wine is lush, ripe, and mineral-driven with chocolate and graphite notes. It is beautifully rich and round with fine mineral tension and stony elements.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2048
K Vintners 2022 The Klein
With superb mineral tension and freshness, the 2022 The Klein is pitch-perfect. The wine is impressive, layered, balanced, elegant, focused, pure, and utterly great. Medium to full-bodied, vibrant, and profound, it is gorgeously rich, round, and still tight with fine-grained tannins. Beautiful!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2047
Kiona Vineyards 2024 Old Vine Chenin Blanc
A classic Chenin Blanc, the 2024 Old Vine Chenin Blanc offers a firm expression of nutty and leesy notes with hints of peach and yellow apples. Medium-bodied with a full texture, it ends with a clean, crisp finish delivering pleasure. Nicely done!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Kiona Vineyards 2022 Estate Bottled Merlot
Firm and mineral-driven, the 2022 Estate Bottled Merlot has hints of dusty plums and subtle spice notes. The wine is fresh and offers graphite nuances and expressive rocky tension. It is structured and very food-friendly with an elegance and grace that will last for years to come!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Kiona Vineyards 2022 Estate Bottled Reserve
Dusty red fruit essences sway out of the glass in the 2022 Estate Bottled Reserve, showing mineral tension and expressive character. The wine is balanced with alcohol and acidity in a medium to full-bodied profile. It has earthy black cherry and soft plum skin notes with a lingering finish and fine-grained tannins. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Kiona Vineyards 2022 Estate Bottled Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing a generous frame with notes of dark berry compote and blackberry jus, the 2022 Estate Bottled Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon offers some ferric and iron-like essence with a rustic, savory structure and a core that has hints of wild brush and fine-grained tannins. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Kiona Vineyards 2022 Estate Bottled Syrah
Fresh and fleshy, the 2022 Estate Bottled Syrah is spicy and dark-berried with a line of mineral tension through the core. The wine is medium-bodied and compresses on the palate slightly to reveal a nimble, rocky expression that ends with a zesty finish. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Kitzke 2022 Sangiovese
With a kiss of volatility, the 2022 Sangiovese has notes of cherry and fine minerality. It features a complex nose that is bright, lively, and fresh. Medium to full-bodied, layered, and delightfully round, it has hints of dusty earth and is vibrant and elegant. Nicely done!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Kitzke 2022 Old Vine Reserve
Dusty and red-fruited, the 2022 Old Vine Reserve has a fresh, mineral tension that holds through the mid-palate. Expressive, ripe, and still tight, it has really good bones. The wine is vibrant and succulent with a firm tannic grip, but needs some time to come around.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2040
Kitzke 2022 Cabernet Franc
With hints of tomato leaf and a soft red pepper skin edge, the 2022 Cabernet Franc has succulent cherry and black plum skin notes. Medium to full-bodied with a firm, gripping structure, it has solid mineral tension and a long, lingering spicy finish. It had me looking for some salami and noshy bites. Very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2037
Kitzke 2022 Petit Verdot
Balanced and red-fruited, the 2022 Petit Verdot is firm and rocky. Fresh with resinous purple flowers and a fine frame of sweet oak spices that lift the overall expression, the wine is structured, elegant, vibrant, and succulent. Quite lovely and very expressive, it showcases a delightful floral nature. The wine is very composed, refined, and has good bones. Needs more time but will be gorgeous with at least 2 more years in bottle.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2028-2045
Kitzke 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bright and dark red-fruited, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is firm and juicy. Fresh and complex, this medium to full-bodied package offers layers of spice, earth, and a tannic edge. It ends with a dense and chewy finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Kontos Cellars 2019 Beckett
Firm, bold, and expressive, the 2019 Beckett is rich, round, and spicy. A dense and chewy beast of a wine that will age beautifully for decades, this full-bodied wine is still tight and tannic at its present state but will remain food-friendly for years to come. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Kontos Cellars 2021 Tate Syrah
Savory and bold, the 2021 Tate Syrah is dark in the glass with a rich, round, and spicy core of fruit. Full-bodied, it ends with a roasted oak and coffee bean finish. An extra chill will do this wonders.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Kontos Cellars 2021 Baker Blend Dorsey
Ripe and succulent, the 2021 Baker Blend Dorsey offers juicy dark fruit waves that greet you from the glass with blackberry jus and spiced plum compote. The wine is fresh with a spicy center and fine-grained tannins. Full-bodied, the wine has notes of graphite and firm mineral tension before ending in an expressive burst of black fruit and zest on the lingering finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Kontos Cellars 2022 Baker Blend Cabernet Franc
Spicy and herbal, the 2022 Baker Blend Cabernet Franc features notes of roasted green peppers and ancho reyes. The wine is very fresh and complex with dark red fruit tones that waft with varietal purity and precision. It is wonderfully coiled and still youthful with tight expression, and should age gracefully. For those who love Cabernet Franc, they will enjoy this beauty!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Kontos Cellars 2021 The Boss
Bold, expressive, and complex, the 2021 The Boss is very fresh, rich, round, and juicy. Bottled in Magnum, the age range reflects the slower aging rate of larger formats, which are known to go double the distance of their 750ml counterparts. The wine is immensely opulent and spicy with a robust, lush, and polished dark fruit core. Full-bodied and still tight, the wine is layered and offers a long-lived, food-friendly finish. Nicely done.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2055
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Dusty and rich, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley has an earthy and mineral edge with a firm core of layered fruit and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, the mouthfeel is still tight and has a solid mineral tension that glides to an elegant finish. Nicely done!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2037
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Apogee
Clean, red-fruited, vibrant, and softly oaked, the 2022 Apogee offers a ripe attack with freshness and precision. The mouthfeel is still tight but has good bones. Complex and lively, this medium to full-bodied wine features a growing spicy essence that increases in volume. The wine is firm and will remain food-friendly for decades. Nicely done!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026-2042
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Perigee
Bigger, bolder, more refined, and expressive, the 2022 Perigee is instantly impressive with dark, dusty fruit extract and beautifully buttressing oak tones that lift the overall expression. This full-bodied wine is spicy and mineral-driven with a tannic core that will be great with steaks and chops from the grill. Bravo!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2045
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Ferguson
Bigger and more expressive but not overdone, the 2022 Ferguson is fresh and clean, with a rocky core beneath its dusty plum, spiced black cherry, and potpourri notes. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is complex, layered, elegant, and precise with firm mineral tension and a growing spicy note that defines the finish. It’s a very profound wine that continues to grow and will have no trouble delivering pleasure for years to come. Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2027-2050
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Ferguson Cabernet Sauvignon Cellar Selection
Mineral-driven and focused, the 2022 Ferguson Cabernet Sauvignon Cellar Selection is slow to uncoil in the glass. It is fresh, complex, and features rocky tension and dusty, refined fruit that still needs time to come around. Very cerebral and earthy, it has a core of stony minerality that grips and holds through the finish alongside a tannic edge. Very pleasurable, it just needs cellar aging, so your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2028-2055
L’Ecole No. 41 2024 Chenin Blanc Old Vines
Bright and citrus-driven with under-ripe peach, the 2024 Chenin Blanc Old Vines is fresh, mineral-driven, and bone dry. Featuring energetic acidity, it offers notes of juicy fruit gum and tart pineapple. With succulent tension, vibrancy, clarity, and precision, it is very electric. For the price point, buy the entire case!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2033
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Semillon Stillwater Creek Vineyard
With a medium gold core and an electric yellow rim, the 2023 Semillon Stillwater Creek Vineyard shows elegance and freshness. Medium to full-bodied with verve and acidity, it offers white spiced tea, a kiss of brown baking spices, and hints of lemon pastry cream, sautéed almonds, and citrus zest. A very pleasing wine full of character, it features orchard fruit and a soft touch of oak that lifts the finish with bright marzipan. A delightful expression of the varietal, this is wonderful! Bravo!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Luminesce
Open-knit with notes of marzipan, the 2023 Luminesce features vibrant yellow lemon zest. Very fresh with mineral tension, this medium to full-bodied wine is rich, round, lively, and fleshy.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
L’Ecole No. 41 2024 Luminesce
Bright and compact, the 2024 Luminesce is acid-driven and energetic. Medium-bodied, while it doesn’t have the same broad shoulders that the 2023 has, the 2024 will go longer and be better with food in the future.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2036
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Merlot Estate
Dark red-fruited, the 2022 Merlot Estate is rustic and earthy with dark, dusty fruit skin. Very serious, it offers a kiss of potpourri spice and a soft herbal note, alongside a tighter tannic edge. Delightfully youthful, it needs time. Decanting recommended, very food-friendly.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2042
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Showcasing a weighty, earthy essence made from a blend of many vineyards and terroirs in Walla Walla, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley is mineral-driven but dusty and fruity. It features hints of savory sage, silky rocky tension, and a medium to full-bodied, firm tannic grip. It finishes with graphite and stony grip on the aftertaste.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2027-2039
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
This is the first year that the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is nationally distributed. Firm and dense with a chewy core, it is a very well-made wine that will go the distance. With a solid, rocky, blackberry tension, it has a robust expression with tannins and a phenolic structure that will be a juggernaut with time. Full-bodied and structured, it features a ripe expression that glides to a gripping finish. Very food-friendly, give it time.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2042
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Apogee
An elegant red blend, the 2023 Apogee is quite Bordeaux-esque with a firm, gripping tension. Very mineral-driven and quite a step in the world, it features rustic grip and an earthy, rocky, tobacco, and dusty core. It has a long, lingering finish. Be patient.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2030-2045
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Perigee
Dustier and dark red-fruited, the 2023 Perigee features a firm tannic structure and very solid mineral tension. Medium to full-bodied, it is elegant and silky with fine-grained tannins and succulent acidity. Long and very food-friendly, it is highly impressive and refined. This is world-class juice.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2030-2050
L’Ecole No. 41 2023 Ferguson
A firm, layered, and refined wine, the 2023 Ferguson is round, tight, and very fine. It has plenty of staying power but is just youthful right now. It needs time, so be patient. Very food-friendly.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2030-2050
L’Ecole No. 41 2013 Ferguson
Tasting in the fall of 2025, the 2013 Ferguson is still very fresh, primary, and red-fruited. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has minerality and is very silky, lively, and fleshy. It features a kiss of tertiary notes that have slowly crept in. Wow!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2035
L’Ecole No. 41 2016 Ferguson
Brilliantly fresh, the 2016 Ferguson is very expressive, ripe, and features pitch-perfect tannins. It offers dusty, mature cherries and tension. Medium to full-bodied, it has a very long, refined finish. Elegant and beautifully made! Bravo! Decanting recommended, enjoy with food.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2021-2038
L’Ecole No. 41 2019 Ferguson
Darker, denser, and firmly tannic, the 2019 Ferguson shows a bit more of a gripping edge, and the oak stands out a touch on the nose. The palate reveals heavier, chewier tannins that will pair great with wild game and fire-roasted steaks. Bring it!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2042
L’Ecole No. 41 2022 Ferguson Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Selection
Devastatingly gorgeous, the 2022 Ferguson Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Selection is very complex with plenty of shine, and is a beautiful wine that over-delivers for the price. It is world-class and a true expression of Ferguson.
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2031-2060
Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2024 Pinot Grigio
A little reductive, the 2024 Pinot Grigio has recessed gas with the nose giving off some sulfur notes. After rigorous swirling in the glass, the matchstick aromas are still there. It will be a pillar that doesn’t move too much in its life. Peachy and marzipan nuances offer some acidity on the palate, ending with a quick finish.
Score: 86 | Drink: 2025-2027
Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2023 Riesling
Clean and softly sweet on the palate, the 2023 Riesling has succulent acidity with notes of lime candies and apple sucker. Fresh and value-driven, the wine has some varietal expressions, but more vibrancy could be achieved here.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2028
Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2024 Orange Moscato
Clean, floral, sweet-citrused, and pure, the 2024 Orange Moscato is exactly that. Truth in advertising, it is fresh and expressive with a touch of sweetness that reminds me of a spring day with freshly opened flowers in bloom. It ends with a subtly simple and pleasurable finish. For the price, buy the case.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2027
Latah Creek Wine Cellars 2023 Tempranillo
Fresh and red-fruited, the 2023 Tempranillo has a soft mineral and dusty earth essence. Hints of dried cherries and spiced plums waft from the glass with ease. It ends with a straightforward finish.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2029
Latah Creek Wine Cellars NV Mike’s Reserve Red no.4
Generically red-fruited with dark berry tones, the NV Mike’s Reserve Red no.4 is a mix of non-traditional blending fellows. As a red blend, the wine has a mineral-driven framework and soft fruit expression on the palate. The berry profile compresses to show more structure and depth, ending with a straightforward finish.
Score: 86 | Drink: 2025-2030
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bold and rich, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has a core of fruit, earth, and oak that all meet at the intersection of pleasure. The wine is still tightly wound and very fresh with delicate mineral tension and fine-grained tannins. The berry component slowly grows on the spicy finish. These are meant to age for years, be patient.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Leonetti Cellar 2023 Merlot
Vibrant and complex, the 2023 Merlot has a firmness about the nose. Fresh and gently plummy, with additional swirling in the glass, the wine reveals soft layers, adding to its depth. Full-bodied and spicy at its core, it has a solid tannic edge that will remain food-friendly for years. Decanting recommended.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2040
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Reserve
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Reserve is flooded with sensory overload, featuring a generous frame of highly ripe dark red and black fruit tones with a good dollop of oak spices and freshness. It continues to grow in scope and amplitude with fine-grained tannins, succulent fruit extract, and elegant oak that lifts everything as the wine sings in unison. Very pleasurable and still tightly wound, the wine is big and beautiful with a long, complex, world-class finish. Very spicy and food-friendly, give it time! Decanting is recommended. WOW!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2028-2055
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Sangiovese
Big and bold, the 2022 Sangiovese is generous and still very tightly wound with succulent tannins. It has good acidity with expressive extract and a red-fruited core.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Leonetti Cellar 2019 Aglianico
Firm, bold, and tannic, the 2019 Aglianico is always impressive and firmly gorgeous. With a kiss of volatility, this wine is dark-fruited, ripe, and filled with extract. Firmly layered and fresh, it has a ripe attack with a dusty tannic edge that is immensely pleasurable. Very food-friendly and complex! Bravo!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2045
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Single Vineyard Series Loess
Still tight, red-berried, fresh, and fleshy, the 2022 Single Vineyard Series Loess is big and juicy. The wine is tight and fresh with a sticky tannic grip. Very persistent, it needs time but has good bones! Bravo!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2027-2050
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Single Vineyard Series Mill Creek Upland
Firm but delicate, the 2022 Single Vineyard Series Mill Creek Upland has a firm mineral tension. The wine is surprisingly delicate due to the vintage variance. Still tight, it is full-bodied and full of dusty dark red fruit. Bright and fresh, this wine is far more approachable now than previous vintages. The wine will remain food-friendly for decades. Bravo!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2028-2055
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Single Vineyard Series Serra Pedace
Firm and rocky with a tannic edge, the 2022 Single Vineyard Series Serra Pedace is very firm. Very fresh and primary, it is inky, fleshy, ripe, softly steely, and rocky. It needs time and food, but is very refined. Give it at least three more years to round out, but boy will it deliver over the next two to three decades.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2028-2060
Leonetti Cellar 2022 Single Vineyard Series Holy Roller
First, the 2022 Single Vineyard Series Holy Roller begins fresh, complex, and lively. Very refined, it is full-bodied, firm, and features very fine, generous, but refined dark red-fruited notes that melt to meet elegant oak tones. It has a long, lingering, spicy finish.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2055
Lingua Franca 2023 Avni
Fresh, ripe, and succulent, the 2023 Avni features complex layers and notes of pineapple, yellow apple, and sweet Meyer lemon. Bright, this medium-bodied wine is clean, very pleasing, and expressive. It has a clear and pure finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Lingua Franca 2022 Estate Chardonnay
Showing a touch of reduction and freshness with bright citrus, the 2022 Estate Chardonnay is complex. Medium-bodied and impressive, it has a kiss of reduction, but is fresh. Very food-friendly, it offers hints of lemon pastry cream and shows a kiss of new French oak, about 20%.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2040
Lingua Franca 2023 Bunker Hill Chardonnay
Fresh, ripe, and succulent, the 2023 Bunker Hill Chardonnay features complex layers and notes of pineapple, yellow apple, and sweet Meyer lemon. Bright, this medium-bodied wine is clean and softly phenolic on the palate. The wine has staying power and will last more than two decades.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
Lingua Franca 2022 Inspiras Chardonnay
Still very youthful, the 2022 Inspiras Chardonnay is tightly wound and coiled with succulent acidity. Impressive and bright, the medium-bodied palate is both fresh and spicy with minerality that unfolds with notes of oak spice. Succulent acidity ensures it will last for decades. It has a very food-friendly finish, elegant and spicy. Yum!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2027-2050
Lingua Franca 2023 Avni Pinot Noir
Very fresh and floral with high-toned red fruit notes that showcase its elegance, the nose of the 2023 Avni Pinot Noir is a delight. The wine contracts on the palate with firm tannins and a spicy core of fruit. A very good value, this wine is meant for speed, not distance, over-delivering for the price.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Lingua Franca 2023 Estate Pinot Noir
Fresh, vibrant, complex, and spicy, the 2023 Estate Pinot Noir needs time. With a very spicy finish, it has freshness and vibrancy. It needs time but will be unstoppable in a few years. The wine is impressive, just give it time.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2048
Lingua Franca 2023 The Plow Pinot Noir
Softly elegant, fresh, and red-fruited, the 2023 The Plow Pinot Noir has a firm tannin line. It is very pleasing, food-friendly, and very fine. It needs time, featuring a soft but firm structure that will be a champion with age. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
Lingua Franca 2022 Novo Vivo Pinot Noir
Utterly impressive and fresh, the 2022 Novo Vivo Pinot Noir is very complex. Layered with finesse and power, it showcases elegance and grace.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2027-2047
Long Shadows Vintners 2006 Poet’s Leap
Showing some oxidative nutty notes under the elegant TDN petrol-like notes, the 2006 Poet’s Leap has hints of white peach and lime candy. With notes of chamomile and lemon, it is subtly still going. The wine’s structure has 12% alcohol and is very fresh with 18 g/L of residual sugar and a pH of about 3.15. It features hints of chalk and lemon verbena. Very nicely done!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2007-2033
Long Shadows Vintners 2022 Poet’s Leap
Very squeaky clean, fresh, and complex, the 2022 Poet’s Leap comes mostly from Gamache Vineyard with some DuBrul Vineyard. The wine is bone dry with energetic acidity and fresh lemon, lime candy, zesty green apple, and nutty, leesy notes. Very vibrant and complex, it spent about five to six months aging on lees for freshness. It is very food-friendly with a long, energetic, acid-driven finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Long Shadows Vintners 2021 SHOUP
Fresh and powerful, the 2021 SHOUP is a very generous wine with mineral tension and a juicy, ripe, and succulent core. Rich and round, the wine is fresh, big, and hedonistic. Full-bodied at 15.5% alcohol, the wine has generosity and hedonism with expressive oak and firm tannins that grip and hold through the finish. This is a big, bold, juicy, and food-friendly wine that has me daydreaming. Very fresh.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2048
Long Shadows Vintners 2021 Pirouette
Fresh, ripe, dusty, and pure, the 2021 Pirouette has a red and black-fruited core with notes of pencil lead and graphite. Featuring dusty red cherries and spiced plums, this full-bodied wine is very pure and complex with a rich, ripe expression built to last and go the distance. A versatile wine that can be enjoyed now, it is lively with plenty of layers. Elegant, focused, and full-bodied. Bravo!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2048
Long Shadows Vintners 2022 Pedestal
Firm with high mineral tension, the 2022 Pedestal is slow to open and release its secrets. Closely open, it is fresh and complex with a fine mineral essence and staying power that is pleasing and exciting. Full-bodied, the palate shows a youthful, still tight tannic grip that will loosen with time in bottle, as additional aging will allow it to fill its shoes. It needs time, but the palate is impressive and profound, revealing additional complexity. Mineral-driven, the wine is slow to reveal, but as winemaker Gilles Nicault said, it will be a great companion over the years. Give it time; your patience will be rewarded. Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Long Shadows Vintners 2021 Sequel
Starting with classic Syrah notes of meaty and peppery elements that float out of the glass, lifted by a floral essence from whole-cluster, the 2021 Sequel seamlessly blends elegance and grace, with power and beauty. This Syrah is immensely pleasurable, offering a food-friendly core of sweet baking spices, red and black peppercorns, caramelized pepper, and cured meat, before ending with sweet oak over a spicy finish! Nicely done!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Long Shadows Vintners 2021 Chester-Kidder
Full disclosure, I am not an overt fan of Cab-Syrah blends, but the 2021 Chester-Kidder is epic. The wine is pure with its Cabernet backbone, firm tannins, and juicy frame, supported and lifted by the elegant Syrah. It has elegant lavender notes with oak essences and sweet baking spices. Elegantly rich, ripe, firm, savory, spicy, and pure, the Cab and Syrah harmonize together with stunning purity. All of this is supported by an oaky, spiced core of French oak elegance. Nicely done!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Long Shadows Vintners 2022 Feather
Instantly attractive, open, and approachable, the 2022 Feather jumps out of the glass. The wine is elegant and excellent, rich and juicy with a firm but balanced structure. Powerful yet elegant, it is round and ripe with a ripe attack. Richly layered, it offers plenty of longevity. The wine is always fresh, ripe, and pure! Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2048
Long Shadows Vintners 2022 Saggi
Beginning with a sweet oak-driven nose and notes of smoked flowers, the 2022 Saggi is intense. The palate tells a different story, showing a somewhat driven, tightened, and nimble, compact core with racy acidity. It is immensely pleasurable, fresh, and succulent with brightness and life. It has a slightly spicy tannic edge with sour cherry and spiced plum notes. It has a very long, textured finish that ends with a tannic and phenolic grip. This wine will take you on a journey! Wow! Enjoy with food!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2045
Long Shadows Vintners 2023 Dance
Instantly impressive, the 2023 Dance shows elegance, purity, freshness, and precision. The wine is beautifully rich and round with fine mineral tension and succulent acidity. Hovering around 14% alcohol, it has immense complexity and elegant oak that is well-integrated. With hints of toasted lemons, pastry cream, and spiced lemons, it is medium to full-bodied. It has a fresh, spicy finish, elegant freshness, and is rich, round, and very elegant, over-delivering for the price. Bravo!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2038
Long Shadows Vintners 2024 Cymbal
A classic Sauvignon Blanc, the 2024 Cymbal features notes of lemons, under-ripe peach, and grapefruit. It has fine mineral tension, succulent acidity, and a fresh citrus core. The wine is pure, pleasurable, and very food-friendly with a soft phenolic grip and an elegant hint of new French oak at 20%.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2034
Long Shadows Vintners 2024 Poet’s Leap
Pure, fresh, complex, and lively, the 2024 Poet’s Leap offers notes of peaches, flowers, and lime candies with a crisp minerality. The wine is dry, featuring a delightfully fresh and complex mouthfeel. It is lively with rich acidity and a succulent finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2034
Long Shadows Vintners 2021 Pedestal
Juicy and succulent, the 2021 Pedestal has a fresh, plummy nature with a fresh core of fruit and an attractive dark red and black berry essence. The wine is pure, elegant, and full-bodied. It is very pleasant, fresh, and complex. It features a graphite finish with spiced black plum skin on the spicy, lingering finish. Nicely done! Bravo! Very food-friendly. I want more.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2053
Lu & Oly 2023 We Sat by the Ocean
Fresh and fleshy with notes of peach and yellow apples, the 2023 We Sat by the Ocean is pure, complex, and delightfully layered. It has a subtle complexity that over-delivers for this price point! Medium-bodied, the wine is inviting and brings me back for more.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Lu & Oly 2024 Flowerhead Sauvignon Blanc
Fresh and citrus-driven with lively action on the nose, the 2024 Flowerhead Sauvignon Blanc offers hints of peaches and yellow apples. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has succulent acidity and freshness that drives the finish, bringing me back for more! Wow! For the price you can’t beat it!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2028
Lu & Oly 2024 Flowerhead Rosé
A simple, straightforward rosé, the 2024 Flowerhead Rosé has good acidity and freshness. Built for speed, enjoy it well-chilled and drink over the next few years. It has me daydreaming of beet and chèvre cheese salad. Yum!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2027
Lu & Oly 2024 Flowerhead Pinot Gris
Clean with notes of pineapple and peach, the 2024 Flowerhead Pinot Gris has a softly nutty note that lifts the nose alongside white flowers and citrus blossoms. Medium-bodied, the wine is spicy and food-friendly, offering a kiss of phenolic bitterness on the finish that is varietally correct. Watch out for these wines, they over-deliver for the price, offering quality far beyond the price tag. Bravo!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2028
Madrona Bay 2021 Yakima Valley Syrah
High-toned and red-fruited with hints of flowers and spices, the 2021 Yakima Valley Syrah is quite enjoyable. It has an open-knit expression with notes of graphite, roasted coffee bean, and a soft nuance of Guinness beer on the finish. Very food-friendly, enjoy with steaks and chops.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Madrona Bay 2021 Jumping Rock
Open-knit and approachable, the 2021 Jumping Rock has a nose with a kiss of volatility, alongside a dense and chewy core of dark fruit profile and extract. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is complex and slowly grows in amplitude and scope on the palate. Very pleasing and fresh, it ends softly tannic and will be better with food. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Madrona Bay NV Phenolic Sunshine
With a slightly smudged fruit complement, the NV Phenolic Sunshine is quite dense and chewy. The tannins stick to the gum line, and the wine will benefit from an additional chill to the bottle before serving.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2026-2034
Mark Ryan Winery 2024 Viognier
With an utterly gorgeous nose, the 2024 Viognier is fleshy and floral with layered freshness, peachy notes, and apricot. It features hints of banana and musk melon. The wine is impressively layered and spicy, broad and textural, with a classic phenolic bitterness. It is profoundly complex and continues to offer up layers of unmistakably Viognier character. The wine is utterly impressive and delivers pleasure at every turn. Bravo!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 The Dissident
An impressive Cab with picturesque red and black fruit, the 2023 The Dissident features oak spices and earthy notes all weaved together with a seamless expression. This medium to full-bodied wine has a gorgeous frame that delivers. The wine is elegant, fresh, complex, and refined, over-delivering with a rich, round, and precise profile.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Mark Ryan Winery 2022 Long Haul
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Long Haul features rich, firm, ripe extract. The wine is complex, dusty, and ripe with a kiss of volatility expressed across the mid-palate, but nothing that time and the bold, extracted fruit won’t resolve. The wine has precision and finesse.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2042
Mark Ryan Winery 2022 Lonely Heart
Devastatingly gorgeous, the 2022 Lonely Heart is the softest and most elegant in style of the range this year. It is already delivering generous freshness with a balanced profile of dusty dark red fruit and black fruit essence tied to oak spices that sway with a fine mineral edge. Instantly impressive, the wine’s palate doesn’t disappoint. The wine grows in amplitude, expression, and richness. It is succulent, fresh, pure, sincere, and complex, continuing to uncoil and offer up its secrets. I can’t put my glass down! Wow!!!!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Mark Ryan Winery 2022 Old Vines
Firm and red-fruited, the 2022 Old Vines features notes of black plums and blackberry essence with a spicy core underneath the expression. Firm and extracted, the wine has a tannic backbone for a medium to full-bodied wine, ending with a lingering, spicy finish. Very enjoyable. Decanting is recommended, give it time.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2045
Mark Ryan Winery 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
A classic Sauvignon Blanc with elegance and class, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc has plenty of layers. It features hints of dusty Meyer lemon peels, freshness, and complexity. Medium-bodied, the wine has hints of under-ripe tropical fruit and under-ripe pineapples. It finishes with a lingering, spicy, citrus-driven finish. Very nice!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Mark Ryan Winery 2024 Chardonnay
With hints of sautéed yellow apples, white pear, and Asian pear, the 2024 Chardonnay is very fresh, classic, and very complex. Featuring hints of banana, this medium to full-bodied wine is layered with hints of melon and fine mineral tension.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Olivia Grace
Still primary, the 2023 Olivia Grace is dusty, dark red-fruited, and spicy. Still tight, it needs another year in bottle to come around. It has a touch of sticky tannins, a touch of coriander seed, spicy red peppercorns, and dusty red flowers. The wine ends with a long, lingering, spicy finish. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2038
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Wild Eyed
Dark, ripe, and dusty, the 2023 Wild Eyed has firm mineral tension. The wine has an earthy, iron-rich ferric tension with a black raspberry and dusty core wrapped with dark red berries. It has a long, spicy finish. Decanting is recommended and enjoy with food!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Mark Ryan Winery 2022 Lost Soul
A finessed Syrah with elegance and grace, the 2022 Lost Soul is fresh and complex. It is beautifully done, very primed, elegant, and powerful. Very flashy and fine.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2042
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Crazy Mary
Spicy and really serious, the 2023 Crazy Mary is peppery and dark, dusty-fruited. It has a delightfully mineral grip and a firm tannic edge. Very food-friendly, expressive, and clean, it features hints of dusty potpourri, tar, and dark black cherry skin. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Caballo Muerto
With deep, dark purple tones, spiced plum compote, and black raspberry, the 2023 Caballo Muerto has hints of savory aspects. It offers a lively mouthfeel with energetic acidity and a firm minerality. Full-bodied, fresh, and luscious, it is beautifully made! Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Monkey Wrench
Dusty dark red fruit and black fruits meet some soft oak and subtle savory tones over a fine mineral edge in the 2023 Monkey Wrench. Medium to full-bodied, it has a kiss of oak. Very fresh and complex, it over-delivers for the price. Buy the case!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Long Haul
Freshness meets finesse in the 2023 Long Haul. A very beautiful Merlot blend, it is medium to full-bodied. Still tight, it has great bones and will go the distance. It ends with a very long finish. Bravo!!!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Little Sister
Finesse, freshness, and purity define the 2023 Little Sister. Full-bodied, elegant, and smooth, it is silky, complex, and layered. A lively and lovely wine, it ends with a long, food-friendly finish.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2050
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Water Witch
Firm, rich, and zesty with mineral tension, the 2023 Water Witch is complex. The wine is big and juicy with a powerful tannic structure. It is brilliantly dense and fresh.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2040
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Dead Horse
With a dusty style, rustic structure, ripe levels, and dark fruit, the 2023 Dead Horse is dark-fruited with luxurious notes on a long, lingering finish. Very food-friendly, it has sticky tannins. Give it time. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Old Vines
A big Cab with plenty to be happy about, the 2023 Old Vines shows freshness and finesse meeting power and precision. Like driving in a Corvette, the wine is bold and very refined.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2045
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Lonely Heart
Finessed, refined, elegant, and composed, the 2023 Lonely Heart is very refined. The epitome of world-class Cab, it is very attractive now and going strong. The wine is ready to rock and dance for decades.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2050
Mark Ryan Winery 2023 Lucia Rose
Possessing a dense core with a rocky grip, crème de violette, candied hibiscus flower, and a graphite grip, the 2023 Lucia Rose is an impressive offering. Very pleasing, it is a beautiful and elegant wine. Classic, robust, ripe, and still primary, it is fresh with a long, spicy finish.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Massalto 2022 Artisan
Big and black and blue-fruited with blueberry notes, the 2022 Artisan is fresh and expressive. The wine is juicy and firm with a firm tannic frame. It has not seen new French oak. It is tannic.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2036
Massalto 2022 Extravaganza
Red-fruited in expression with a juicy core of dusty raspberry and plum skin, the 2022 Extravaganza is pure and fresh. It is very enjoyable and expressive.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2033
Massalto 2022 Façade
A white wine from Pinot Noir, the 2022 Façade has a rather neutral and subdued expression. Medium to full-bodied, it has a more textural expression. It is fresh, fun, and a bit of a cerebral wine that enjoys its space in non-conformity.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Massalto 2022 Interstellar
Dusty and red-fruited with notes of petrichor and cherry skin, the 2022 Interstellar has a kiss of stemminess. With a fresh frame of red fruit, it glides to a subtly spicy finish. Delightful, it is very food-friendly and goes down all too easily.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Massalto 2022 Irreverent
Instantly impressive with a nose that captures your attention, the 2022 Irreverent is fresh, complex, and layered with notes of cereal grain, mandarin, honeysuckle, and Asian pear. This medium to full-bodied wine is very food-friendly, juicy, and inviting across the finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Massalto 2022 Sauvalanche
Fresh and complex with a unique core, the 2022 Sauvalanche has citrus tones and peachy expressions that sit at the core of this expression. Medium to full-bodied, the wine ends with a softly phenolic and spicy finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2033
Massalto 2022 Side Effect
With rotundone, peppercorns, bacon fat, sausage, dark red fruit, and hung meats, the 2022 Side Effect is medium to full-bodied. Solid, pure, and crystalline, it offers a broad and approachable expression.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Massalto 2022 Seppuku
Instantly impressive with quite a shine, the 2022 Seppuku features a spicy Syrah nose filled with tart cherries, hung meat, and an umami character. It has firm tannins and is very pleasurable. Very food-friendly! Wow! Yum!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Massalto 2022 The Point of No Return
A classic Grenache with a red-fruited core and a spicy edge, the 2022 The Point of No Return is pure. It has a good tannic edge and is floral. Very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Matteo Wines 2020 Merlot
Beginning with a volatile nose, the 2020 Merlot is ripe, rich, and broad-shouldered with a generous expression and extracted fruit essence that sways with prominent oak spices. Full-bodied and full of character, the wine is bold, quite tannic, and spicy. Decanting is recommended as well as adding an additional chill to the bottle before opening.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2040
Matteo Wines 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bold and dark-fruited with a kiss of volatility and herbal essences on the nose, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon still has present oak. The wine is very fresh and succulent with fine-grained tannins. It features notes of black raspberry and blackberry jus. Complexly layered, it offers a bold and broad-shouldered expression that will please the bold Cab lovers of the world.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2045
Matteo Wines 2020 The Rocks Grenache
Dark red-fruited with a dense and chewy core, the 2020 The Rocks Grenache has a bold and expressive nose that is also subdued and softly quiet. The wine shrinks on the palate to show a hot expression and boozy finish with the tannins beginning to stick out. The wine is firm and should be consumed on the younger side. Give this bottle an additional chill to suppress some of the elevated alcohol notes.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2034
Matthews 2023 Sauvignon Blanc
Clean, crisp, fresh, and citrus-driven, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is slightly broad. The wine is a beautiful, mineral expression with a softly leesy character. Medium to full-bodied, it has great mineral tension and a kiss of phenolic bitterness on the palate. The wine has amazing tension and shows being slightly cloudy from being unfiltered. It is immensely pleasurable, fresh, and food-friendly.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Matthews 2022 Merlot
Plummy and expressive, the 2022 Merlot is dark-fruited. Expressive notes of dusty black cherry are quite mineral and complex on the nose and palate. It has hints of graphite and is quite generous in style, but it doesn’t fall over the edge. Best with succulent, lifting tannins, it is very pleasurable.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Matthews 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich and round, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has a palate that is succulent and pitch-perfect. Slightly mineral and a touch tannic at its current state, the wine has lovely black cherry. Medium to full-bodied with fresh intensity and hints of savory goodness hidden just under the nose, the plush, dark red and black fruit tones sway with precision. It ends with a very pleasurable, food-friendly finish. Bravo! Where else are you going to find a wine of this caliber at $55 a bottle? Wow!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Matthews 2022 Cuvee
A serious nose with floral, fresh, and black-fruited core, the 2022 Cuvee features hints of bitter dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is very textural and beautifully complex. It slowly unwinds with freshness and a phenolic grip that is still tightly wound, but will remain food-friendly for years to come. Very pleasurable.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Matthews 2022 Claret
Beautifully expressive, the 2022 Claret is very pleasurable. It is dusty, plummy, and big. The wine is both juicy and fresh with an open-knit approachability. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is generous, refined, ripe, and mineral-driven. Nicely done.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Matthews 2023 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Instantly impressive and devastatingly gorgeous, the 2023 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc has all the things that I love with a generous SB. Very expressive, rich, and round, it has notes of lemon pastry cream and elegant honey spices throughout the wine’s profile. Textural and with a commitment to this very tense, fresh, spicy, rich, and round style, it does not quit. The best SB that I’ve tasted this year from Washington! Bravo!!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Matthews 2022 Reserve Merlot
Bigger, juicy, and firm, the 2022 Reserve Merlot is elegant and expressive. Plummy and chocolatey, this Merlot is bold and spicy. It features chocolate and blackberry notes with fresh tannins and a spicy finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Matthews 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc
Fresh, sturdy, ripe, and generously weighted, the 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc still has a spicy, red-fruited heart of red pepper pyrazines. It is pure in a generous frame, and is utterly pleasurable. This wine will please even the most critical of Cab Franc drinkers. It’s utterly gorgeous with a balanced structure. It ends with a delightfully spiced plum compote, savory sweet oak, and brown baking spice finish. Very polished and succulent.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2042
Matthews 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm and tannic, the 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has a juicy edge that shows its oak expression. Full-bodied, fresh, dark, and intense, the wine is juicy, rich, and ripe. Very impressive, it features notes of chocolate and brown baking spices. The wine slowly uncoils with a chewy texture and firm tannins. It is complex and will need time.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2043
Matthews 2022 Reserve Cuvee
Silky, plummy, and fresh, the 2022 Reserve Cuvee is ripe, rich, and round with an expressive, succulent, and elegant core of attractive fruit. The wine is generous and luscious with notes that swirl with texture and weight. It has very surprising richness and fruit. The tannins are still a touch sticky. It ends with a bitter dark chocolate note. It will be food-friendly for more years.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2043
Matthews 2022 Reserve Claret
Fresh, textured, ripe, structured, layered, and complex, the 2022 Reserve Claret is dusty and dark-fruited. Tannic and firm, it is always spicy and generous. It is still tight, but will fill its shoes. The wine is very food-friendly and will be a beautifully structured juggernaut.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Medina 2024 Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir
Red-fruited with a darker core of fruit, the 2024 Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir has a dusty, layered, firm, and sturdy core that will remain food-friendly for years to come. Medium-bodied and youthful, it has youthful tannins and energetic acidity. It ends with a spicy finish. Made with 30% whole cluster.
Score: 89-91 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Medina 2024 Yamhill Springs Bellpine Ridge Block Pinot Noir
Bold and firm for a Pinot, the 2024 Yamhill Springs Bellpine Ridge Block Pinot Noir has grip and grit. The wine has youthful tannins and a firm, dark, dusty core that will remain food-friendly for years to come. It ends with a spicy finish. Made with 10% whole cluster.
Score: 90-92 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Mercer Wine Estates 2024 Small Lot Viognier
Beautiful and floral with layers of peach, yellow apples, and honeysuckle, the 2024 Small Lot Viognier is fresh and offers complex citrus aromas. It coats the palate. Medium-bodied, the mid-palate offers up a delightful mineral tension and has a kiss of phenolics that makes this wine very food-friendly. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Mercer Wine Estates 2024 Small Lot Sauvignon Blanc
Peachy and tropical for a SB, the 2024 Small Lot Sauvignon Blanc has a nose of sweet Meyer lemon and under-ripe pineapple. Medium-bodied, the palate is straightforward and fresh. It ends with a clean finish. Built for speed, not distance. Enjoy well chilled over the next few years.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2027
Mercer Wine Estates 2022 Small Lot Carmenere
Very green peppery on the nose with notes of ancho reyes and ancho vert, the 2022 Small Lot Carmenere is clean and offers varietal purity in a smaller frame. The wine is medium-bodied and red-fruited with a smoky pepper finish. Enjoy with fajitas.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Mercer Wine Estates 2021 Small Lot Cabernet Sauvignon
A dark red and black-fruited expression with turned earth, dusty flowers, and oak spices, the 2021 Small Lot Cabernet Sauvignon is medium to full-bodied. The wine is fresh, pure, and elegant, not overdone. It features balanced tannins and alcohol, and a succulent, spiced finish. Enjoy with food.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Mercer Wine Estates 2021 Reserve Cavalie Red Bordeaux Blend
Bolder in style with dark, dusty fruit tones, the 2021 Reserve Cavalie Red Bordeaux Blend is complex and layered with a mineral essence. Medium to full-bodied, the tannic edge grips and holds through the finish, making this a very pleasing and food-friendly wine. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Milbrandt 2022 Brothers Blend
Simple, straightforward, and fresh, the 2022 Brothers Blend offers primary red fruit notes. Medium-bodied, the wine is slightly tannic and is meant for speed, not distance, delivering well for the price.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2030
Milbrandt 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Featuring dusty red fruit with a firm tension that holds through the finish, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon delivers with core layers and has a spicy finish, presenting a solid, value-driven Cabernet expression.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Mullan Road Cellars 2023 Royal Slope Chardonnay
Simple and marzipan-like with notes of peach, the 2023 Royal Slope Chardonnay is rather flat on the palate and finishes quickly.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Mullan Road Cellars 2022 Royal Slope Cabernet Sauvignon
Red and black-fruited with succulent acidity, a ripe attack, and a complex nature, the 2022 Royal Slope Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautifully balanced wine. The wine is fresh and delivers a quality wine-drinking experience. It finishes with fine-grained tannins that are fresh and succulent.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Muret-Gaston 2021 Jean
An SB blend, the 2021 Jean has a straw wine essence with notes of golden raisin, baked golden delicious apples, and candied lemon. The wine is brilliantly balanced and fresh with a sweet core of honey, citrus, and poached apples. Full-bodied and not overly sweet, this is excellently layered and ready for dessert.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Muret-Gaston 2022 Rouge
Presenting high-toned red fruit with a sincere expression that quietly grows on me, the 2022 Rouge is a captivating wine. The wine is subtly spiced and floral, with roasted black raspberry and dark cherry, a kiss of peppercorn and a wild-berry essence that wafts from the nose, with hints of potpourri and turned earth. Medium-bodied, the wine is beautifully balanced with succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins that prove bigger isn’t better—better is better. It ends with a delightfully light, lingering, subtly spiced finish that is so elegant I can’t help but want to enjoy another glass. Bravo!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Muret-Gaston 2022 Blanc
A beautiful nose with peachy notes, compounded by petrichor and fresh notes of marzipan, lemon drop, and beeswax, defines the 2022 Blanc. The nose seems spicy and softly leesy. Light to medium-bodied, the wine shows amazing texture and weight with a leesy phenolic bitterness and surprising mineral tension. The wine is acid-driven with a succulent finish that brings me back for another sip. Very pleasurable and delightful, it has me craving hard cheeses.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
Muret-Gaston 2022 Grenache
Pure, ripe, fresh, and complexly layered, the 2022 Grenache is a stunning expression. The wine is ripe with a soft frame and a juicy core of fruit. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has notes of wild strawberry and turned earth with a kiss of mineral tension and lingering spicy tannins. Very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Muret-Gaston 2023 Picpoul
Initially a subdued wine with a citrus core and a softer, more neutral nose that has essences of petrichor and dusty citrus blossoms, the 2023 Picpoul is full of surprises. The wine explodes on the palate to reveal succulent acidity that makes me salivate, and it shows a lovely mineral tension. Very pleasurable and food-friendly. I love that there is interest in Picpoul in Washington State. Very tasty stuff!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
Naches Heights Vineyard 2023 Albarino
Simple and appley with notes of sweet Meyer lemon and hints of cider wafting from the nose, the 2023 Albarino is a delightful pour. The wine is straightforward, the palate is citrus-driven, and it has a clean and refreshing finish. Enjoy well-chilled.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2028
Naches Heights Vineyard 2023 Sagrantino
A classic expression with a dark red-fruited and bold nose, the 2023 Sagrantino features an extracted and firm profile that has a touch of rusticity and spice in the glass. The palate reveals the density of Sagrantino with firm tannins that grip the gum line and hold through the finish. A very dense and chewy wine, this will be food-friendly for years to come. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2027-2036
Naches Heights Vineyard 2023 Carmen Tempranillo
Generic and red-fruited with firm backbones of tannins and graphite, the 2023 Carmen Tempranillo lacks somewhat in varietal purity. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is dense and structured almost too much, ending with a hot, spicy finish that will benefit from being paired with food.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Nine Hats 2023 Red Wine
Showcasing a red-fruited and dusty core with some hints of savory herbs and wild brush, the 2023 Red Wine is a captivating blend. The wine is fresh and rich but still tight. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is balanced and textured, delivering a food-friendly finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Nine Hats 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm, rich, and round with hints of bitter dark chocolate, roasted coffee bean, dusty blackberry, and dark plums, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is a standout. The wine has a kiss of oak spices that lift the mid-palate. Full-bodied, firm, and structured, the wine delivers great balance and finishes well at this price point. Nicely done!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Nine Hats 2024 Pinot Gris
Expressive and peachy with sweet citrus, the 2024 Pinot Gris is a delightful pour. The wine is fresh and softly phenolic, possessing tension with notes of pineapple. The wine is medium-bodied and has a spicy core tied with a kiss of phenolic bitterness that over-delivers for the price. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2029
Nine Hats 2024 Riesling
Lime candied with a kiss of reduction, the 2024 Riesling has a nose that is softly closed initially. After rigorous swirling, the wine opens out to a citrus core and limey essence with green apple notes. The mouthfeel is squeaky clean.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Nine Hats 2024 Chardonnay
Nutty and leesy notes of lemon pastry cream express with a fresh and fleshy core that comes together nicely across the mid-palate in the 2024 Chardonnay. Medium-bodied and value-driven, it over-delivers for the price point. It ends with a crisp, succulent finish of lemon tart and sweet Meyer lemon.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2030
No Girls Wines 2022 Double Lucky #8
Classic and fresh, the 2022 Double Lucky #8 is just ripe and still very primary. It offers a spicy, red-fruited, pure, mineral-driven potpourri. Complex, layered, and with spiced plum skin, it is a very delightful red blend that over-delivers for the price! For anyone who loves Commando G in Spain, this will strike a chord of pleasure!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
No Girls Wines 2022 La Paciencia Vineyard Grenache
Showcasing potpourri, floral, and spicy notes, the 2022 La Paciencia Vineyard Grenache offers elegant purity and freshness. Very clean, earthy, and with wild black raspberry, it is medium to full-bodied. It is brilliant and food-friendly.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2043
No Girls Wines 2022 La Paciencia Vineyard Syrah
Bright, bold, and structured, the 2022 La Paciencia Vineyard Syrah reveals black raspberry, violets, and a floral potpourri essence with sweet red peppercorn. The wine has depth and texture with balanced earthy flowers and dark, dusty fruit. Medium to full-bodied, with a lingering floral elegance, it has a very tasty finish with hints of earthy peat.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2045
No Girls Wines 2022 No Girls Tempranillo
Savory, fresh, earthy, and elegant with notes of sour plums, the 2022 No Girls Tempranillo reveals a dusty dark cherry note with a spicy, beautiful, and very food-friendly finish. Enjoy with a meal!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2045
Northstar 2022 Merlot
Dark red-fruited and dusty with an iron and ferric core, the 2022 Merlot is a compelling wine. The wine has a dense, chewy inkiness about the nose. The Merlot is tannic on the palate with its medium to full-bodied expression. It slowly evolves to show elegant oak expression and mineral tension. Firm and tannic, the wine will be food-friendly for years to come. Just be patient.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Northstar 2022 Premier Merlot
Firmly layered and structured with intent and precision, the 2022 Premier Merlot is a standout. A bolder style Merlot, the wine is complex and dark-fruited. It is quite enjoyable, fresh, fleshy, and slightly slow to uncoil, so it should develop beautifully in the bottle over the years. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Northstar 2022 Premier Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm, structured, and still very tight, the 2022 Premier Cabernet Sauvignon needs time in the glass to come around and rigorous swirling. After swirling, the wine starts to open to reveal dusty red fruit and expressive spiced plum skin and blackberry essence that sway with oak. After minutes in the glass, the wine slowly begins to gain momentum and express more layers of complexity and oak, with fruit extract, potpourri, and dark black raspberry notes. The wine’s mouthfeel is still tight, telling me it needs more time in bottle, but it has impressive structure and spicy layers.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Northstar 2022 Red Blend
Open-knit and approachable, the 2022 Red Blend is expressive and readily accessible, offering a savory and umami nature that reminds me of Walla Walla. The wine is dusty and dark-fruited with notes of turned earth and oak. Full-bodied, the wine is spicy and ends with a slightly boozy finish. An extra chill on the bottle before opening will help.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Numbskull 2023 BDX
Featuring a classic red and black-fruited core, the 2023 BDX is rocky and fresh with sticky tannins. The wine has a delightful, very clean profile and over-delivers for the price. Buy the case!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Obelisco Estate 2020 III Nefer
Big, bold, and beautiful, the 2020 III Nefer is dense and chewy with a ripe attack and juicy core of dusty red and black fruit essences lifted by oak spices and potpourri. There are hints of a fine herbal grip on the nose and mid-palate. The wine is firm with complex layers that slowly uncoil and wind on the palate, ending with a very pleasurable finish. The wine is very fresh and delightful at its core. It is complex, spicy, and very food-friendly. Wow! Decanting recommended.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2050
Obelisco Estate 2020 Merlot
Big and juicy with an intense nose featuring plum reduction and blackberry jus, the 2020 Merlot is a powerful expression. Spicy and dense, the mid-palate is full-bodied and hot, ending with a bold and spicy finish. It has an almost too hot and boozy finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Obelisco Estate 2020 Malbec
Firm and black-fruited with a rich core of sappy dark fruit, stern structure, and spicy tannins that grip and hold through the finish, the 2020 Malbec is a serious wine. Bigger isn’t always better. The wine is rich and chewy and will need time to come around.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Obelisco Estate 2021 Electrum
Showing hints of volatility, sappy blackberry, and spicy oak tones, the 2021 Electrum is an intriguing pour. The wine is mineral-driven and rustic on the palate with firm, gripping tannins that show the structure of the wine driving the finish, as the fruit expression takes the back seat.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2037
Obelisco Estate 2022 Nefer Red Blend
Firm and red-fruited with a vibrant core of spiced plum compote and dark cinnamon sour cherries jubilee, the 2022 Nefer Red Blend is a robust wine. The wine is dense, slightly spicy, and cherry-driven with a firm tannic backbone. Layered, fresh, and complex, the wine is delightful and finishes with a kick.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Öömrang 2023 Estate Müller Thurgau
Bright and expressive with elegant sweetness and fleshy lime candy, alongside a core of citrus blossoms, the 2023 Estate Müller Thurgau is a delight. The wine is pure, expressive, and lively with a sweet kiss of reduction, but is immensely pleasurable. The acidity is beautifully managed and energetically lively. It features notes of orange oil and Meyer lemon. The wine is succulent and ends with a spicy, citrus-driven finish. It is very food-friendly. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Öömrang 2023 Estate Siegerrebe
Showing a bit more unctuousness, mouthfeel, and weight on the palate, the 2023 Estate Siegerrebe is a compelling wine. The wine has texture and a fuzzy phenolic grip that adds complexity. It has a seductive yet pure expression, with the acids and residual sugar balanced beautifully. It is very pleasurable. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Öömrang 2023 Estate Sylvaner
Fresh, complex, pure, and delightful, the 2023 Estate Sylvaner is a stunning wine. It is very crisp and acid-driven with apricot and white peach notes under Meyer lemon and lime candy. Medium-bodied and nimble, the acidity and residual sugar allow this beauty to glide effortlessly to a rich, succulent, and food-friendly finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2033
Öömrang 2023 Estate Kerner
Initially very reductive and needing rigorous swirling in the glass to open it up, the 2023 Estate Kerner is a wine built for the long haul. The wine has notes of peach blossoms, apricots, and white citrus blossoms under the reduction. The wine will likely last for decades with its tight structure, but the acidity and residual sugar are impressively succulent and will be utterly fantastic with cheese and other dishes. Bravo!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2052
Öömrang 2022 Estate Brut
Crisp and zesty with a citrus core and laser acidity that beams across the palate, the 2022 Estate Brut is a vibrant sparkler. It shows freshness and complexity with a long, spicy core of yellow and golden delicious apples. The wine is lively and bright with a clean finish that ends with spicy notes and has me craving fried shellfish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Öömrang 2022 Estate Demi-Sec
Bright, succulent, and spicy with notes of roasted apple and pear, lemon zest, underripe peaches, and a hint of saffron, the 2022 Estate Demi-Sec is a joy to drink. The wine is vibrant, complex, and very pleasurable. It is very food-friendly, and it delights me back for another sip. Nicely done!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2040
Öömrang 2024 Estate Rosé
Made from 100% Domina, the 2024 Estate Rosé is uniquely enticing and wonderfully cerebral. Its color is a pale ruby, which is darker for a rosé. Offering a kiss of reductive notes, the aromatic profile is expressive with notes of strawberry rhubarb, turned earth, and forest floor with subtle hints of matchstick and lemon rind. The palate shows a medium-bodied wine with plenty of structure and bright acidity to allow this to linger and remain food-friendly for about a decade. Notes of poached pears and cherries with lemon zest show a soft note of caramelization on the mid-palate before the bright and energetic acidity drives the profoundly delicious and wonderfully cerebral wine. There is a hint of worn leather on the finish that reminds me of peach skin and chokecherry. Bravo! This is hands down the most unique rosé that I’ve had this year, and I can’t put down my glass.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Öömrang 2023 Somm Riesling
Offering a fresh, crisp, and simple nose with notes of Meyer lemon, pineapple, candied lime, green apple, and white peach with hints of jasmine, the 2023 Somm Riesling is a delight. Light to medium-bodied and clocking in at 12% alcohol, the palate is fresh, clean, and sweet citrus-driven with notes of mandarin orange, kiwi, and yellow peach. It glides to a delightful and softly lingering finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Passing Time 2022 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon
Elegance and ripeness with oak nuances and vibrant dark fruit essence sway with precision and focus in the 2022 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon. This is beautiful. The wine is medium to full-bodied with notes of oak spices, baking spices, and graphite, alongside blackberry jus and spiced plum compote. The wine is structured and balanced with firm tannins and a long-lasting, lingering spicy finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2042
Passing Time 2022 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm, layered, and structured, the 2022 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is dense and chewy with elegant oak notes that lift the expression with dusty lavender and black raspberry notes. The full-bodied wine is generous and firm with a rocky core that entices at every turn. Very complex and expressive, the wine is juicy and pure. It ends with a rustic iron edge and ferric grip that sways with a ripe attack of juicy dark red fruit tones and elegant oak spices. Nicely done!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Passing Time 2022 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm, structured, and dark red-fruited with a more open-knit and approachable nose, the 2022 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a robust wine. The wine is very compact, dense, and chewy, and will be very food-friendly. Dark and savory, it is ready for steaks and chops.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2040
Passing Time 2022 Columbia Valley Red Wine
Rich, round, and juicy with an attractive core of dark red and black fruit tones that sway with minerality, lifting resinous purple flowers, and sweet oak baking spices, the 2022 Columbia Valley Red Wine is a standout. Full-bodied and firmly fresh, the palate is dense and chewy and meant for food. A very pleasing expression that is complex and crushes for the price; this really should be above the $100 mark.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Passing Time 2023 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, juicy, and ripe, the 2023 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon is expressive, floral, refined, and pure with notes of spiced plum compote, blackberry jus, and exotic baking spices from the 80% new French oak. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is pure, balanced, and fresh, offering succulent tannins with a lively, rich, round texture. On the finish, the wine is focused, pure, and vibrant, offering a high pleasure factor at every turn, concluding with a sweetly spiced ripeness that will remain food-friendly for years to come.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2040
Passing Time 2023 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Darker and brooding in the glass than the Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet, the 2023 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon offers a ripe and firm expression with a dusty and iron core holding the fruit together. The nose is slow to unwind, uncoiling in the glass to reveal additional layers of resinous purple flowers, black cherry skin, and notes of elegant spices that lift the overall expression. Full-bodied, firm, and offering gripping, food-friendly tannins, the palate is fresh, hedonistic, and ripe, and will need an additional year in the bottle before opening. Decanting recommended. Enjoy with a meal.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2038
Passing Time 2023 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
And darkest yet of the Cabernets, the 2023 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is bold, ripe, and decadent with succulent plums, black raspberry, and spiced black fruits that waft from the nose, with a delightful lift of brown baking spices that support the frame and core of the juicy fruit characteristics. Full-bodied, the palate is slightly gooey, showing the hedonistic expression, offering flavor profiles of plum and black raspberry pâté fruit, with bitter dark chocolate. The wine concludes with a lingering tannic grip that will remain a powerhouse for more than a decade.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2038
Passing Time 2023 Block 1311
Instantly impressive in the glass, the 2023 Block 1311 is profoundly rich, plush, and attractive with all of the bells and whistles singing in unison. Layers of ripe, succulent plums, spiced blackberry, and ripe black raspberry essences float effortlessly out of the glass exposing a delightful array of red and purple flowers, supported by exotic spices. Full-bodied, rich, and complex, the palate reveals even more intricate layers to the wine, giving way to a balanced structure with melting tannins and with food-friendly acidity. The wine continues to unwind across the long, lingering finish that has me coming back for more. This is a devastatingly beautiful wine that will benefit from decanting. Enjoy it with your favorite cuts of red meat, chops, and heartier cheeses. Bravo!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2050
Passing Time 2023 Columbia Valley Red Wine
Clean, structured, and dusty with dark red and black fruited characteristics, the 2023 Columbia Valley Red Wine has a softly mineral nose with soft oak essences. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm, food-friendly, complex, and ready for action. It over-delivers for the price point. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2035
Passing Time 2023 Columbia Valley Merlot
Vibrant, ripe, juicy, succulent, and earthy, the 2023 Columbia Valley Merlot is fresh, softly dusty, and pure. It is medium to full-bodied with a balanced structure, offering fine-grained tannins and delivers a delightfully lingering, food-friendly finish. Nicely done! This is a beautiful Merlot.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2035
Pollard Vineyard 2022 Pollard Cabernet Franc
Incredibly perfumed, the 2022 Pollard Cabernet Franc is fresh and floral. It is transparent, showing its place of origin. It is picturesque, pure, and expressive. Clean and sincere, it has a kiss of pyrazines. The wine is pure, elegant, and perfumed with a finish that is very approachable and gives a lot of pleasure.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Pollard Vineyard 2022 Pollard Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh and pure with elegant oak tones that overflow, the 2022 Pollard Cabernet Sauvignon has a medium to full-bodied frame with succulent tannins and energetic acidity. It is fresh, bright, and pretty. This is a beautifully floral and elegant Cabernet. Yum!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Pollard Vineyard 2022 Pollard Merlot
With classic plummy essences, the 2022 Pollard Merlot is fresh, elegant, and pure. Medium-bodied, the wine is clean and silky smooth. It has fine-grained tannins and is very firm and lush. The wine is very food-friendly. Nicely done.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Portlandia 2023 Big Believer
Fleshy, plush, and round, the fruit components in the 2023 Big Believer are sweet, oak-laced, and ripe with notes of spiced plum compote and black raspberry with nutmeg and cinnamon spices. The medium to full-bodied expression coats the mouth with a succulent mouthfeel and ends with a generous fruit-driven finish and lifting oak essences. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Portlandia 2023 Red Blend
Showcasing notes of sweet oak and spices over dusty dark red and black fruit tones, the 2023 Red Blend is a compelling wine. The wine is firm, structured, and fleshy with notes of bitter dark chocolate. It will be better when paired with food.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Portlandia 2024 Rosé
Wild strawberry and lemon peel with notes of phenolic grip that sway with citrus and honeysuckle define the 2024 Rosé. Medium-bodied, the wine is spicy and fresh with a slight core of fruit. It ends with a simple, succulent, straightforward finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Portlandia 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Open-knit and non-descript, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is citrus at best and has me searching for its varietal typicity. The wine is a little hollow and leaves me looking for more character.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2028
Portlandia NV Sparkling Brut
A succulent nose with lemon and fresh Granny Smith apples, alongside notes of spiced lemon oil, makes the NV Sparkling Brut a delight. The wine is juicy, crisp, and easy-drinking. It offers energetic acidity and a fresh finish that has me coming back for another sip. It over-delivers for the price.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Pure Wine Pleasure 2024 SEX
Fresh with hints of reduction, the 2024 SEX comes from organically grown vines. Delightfully refreshing and subtly spiced, it offers hints of potpourri, cantaloupe, red flowers, sweet lemons, white peach, and guava. The wine is beautifully expressive, easy to drink, and delivers energetic acidity, ending with a crisp finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2029
Pursued by Bear 2024 Blushing Bear Rosé
A crisp and slightly nutty nose with notes of wild strawberry and lemon peel defines the 2024 Blushing Bear Rosé. The wine is succulent and vibrant with hints of watermelon and fresh lemon skin. It ends with a slightly lifted spicy finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Pursued by Bear 2024 Bear Cub Chardonnay
Clean and spicy lemon curd with a softly nutty, open-knit expression characterizes the 2024 Bear Cub Chardonnay. It offers hints of almond skin, soft baking spices, and sweet oak. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh with succulent acidity. It ends with a delightfully rich and spicy finish that has the fruit expression shrinking on the aftertaste and becoming subdued.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Pursued by Bear 2022 Bear Cub Red
Open-knit, ready, and approachable, the 2022 Bear Cub Red is a delight. The wine is dusty and primary, accessible in youth with dark red fruit expressions that sway with intensity and freshness. The wine is inviting with a spicy finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
Pursued by Bear 2021 Baby Bear Syrah
Spicy and pure with notes of blackberry, the 2021 Baby Bear Syrah is a standout. The wine is fresh and complex with layers of roasted coffee bean and dusty black currant. It ends with a savory finish and food-friendly tannins. Nicely done!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Quilceda Creek 2022 CVR
Vibrant and black-fruited with an elegant, fleshy attack, the 2022 CVR is juicy and plush with a bright, succulent core of fruit. It is medium to full-bodied, fresh, and shiny. It is still primary. The wine is firm. Yum!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Quilceda Creek 2022 Merlot
Elegant, pure, and expressive, the 2022 Merlot is plummy and ripe. It features a plush attack and firm, gripping, fine-grained tannins alongside notes of dusty fern. There is power and grace, and it is very food-friendly and fresh. Give it time.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2027-2052
Quilceda Creek 2022 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing classic, fresh quality with a velvety lushness and precision, the 2022 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is elegant, robust, and pure. It shows a juicy, firm backbone.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2050
Quilceda Creek 2022 Palengat
Beautiful and dark-fruited with lavender, oak, and a velvety texture, the 2022 Palengat is a delight. It is juicy, fresh, layered, and subtly spiced, yet continues to grow on the mid-palate and in the aftertaste.
Score: 99 | Drink: 2028-2055
Quilceda Creek 2022 Tchelistcheff
Instantly impressive and round, the 2022 Tchelistcheff has an aromatic profile that jumps out of the glass. The spicy expression enhances the wine’s overall enjoyment, showcasing its true power and juiciness. A brilliant and utterly profound wine that has me in a trance. Bravo!!!
Score: 100 | Drink: 2028-2060
Quilceda Creek 2022 Galitzine
Very firm, spicy, and tight, the 2022 Galitzine is an expansive, layered, and structured wine. It offers waves of juicy fruit with a firm tannic edge, leading to a long, generous finish.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2028-2060
R A 2023 JDA Project
A collaboration, the 2023 JDA Project is very prominent, correct, pure, fresh, and complex. Working with the Andrews family, it shows good bones, has layers, and offers something completely different from the Reynvaan Family wines. It is a brilliant, focused wine that over-delivers. Bravo! Nicely done! Set your calendars for the release.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026-2042
Real Wine 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Red-fruited and softly dusty, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is pure and fresh. Bottled under a Stelvin closure and produced organically, this medium-bodied wine has it all at a great price. Don’t let the screw cap scare you away; it is a simple but classic expression of Washington Cabernet. Nicely done!
Score: 89 | Drink: 2026-2028
Real Wine 2022 Chardonnay
Fresh and pure, the 2022 Chardonnay offers expressive notes that truly over-deliver for the price. Clean and medium-bodied, it showcases a refined expression that is both aged and fresh. It is quite delightful, expressive, and has plenty of energy.
Score: 88+ | Drink: 2025-2027
Reininger 2023 Helix Sangiovese
The 2023 Helix Sangiovese showcases succulent acidity, freshness, and purity, revealing notes of sour cherry and bright wild strawberries complemented by hints of wild herbs. This complex wine delivers exceptional value for the price. Medium-bodied, it features a hallmark beam of acidity that drives the finish while providing a pleasurable drinking experience.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2033
Reininger 2024 Helix Chardonnay
The 2024 Helix Chardonnay presents a softly nutty and acidic profile, with an invitingly open-knit character. However, on the palate, the wine tightens up, revealing a leaner acidity that feels a touch uneven. For the best experience, serve it extra cold.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2027
Reininger 2022 Helix Tucker Red
Juicy fruit, spicy, oaky, and fresh, the 2022 Helix Tucker Red showcases a harmonious balance that is both clean and expressive. This versatile and pure wine is an honest offering that delivers exceptional quality at a great price.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Reininger 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich and round, elegant and vibrant with a ripe attack and fresh dark red fruit tones, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful wine. The wine is still very primary and shiny, layered with fine-grained tannins. The wine is complex with a spicy, lingering finish. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Reininger 2021 Malbec
A touch volatile at the moment, the 2021 Malbec needs some swirling in the glass to kick out the sulphur. The wine is fresh and plush with a compact frame that expands on the palate to show a ripe and juicy core of black cherries and black raspberries. It’s a bit of a bulldozer but will go great with food. Decanting recommended.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2040
Result of a Crush 2023 White Blend
Made from 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Viognier, the 2023 White Blend offers soft notes of petrichor and lemon oil with subtle spiced and floral notes from the Viognier. The wine has a delightful weight and texture with the Grenache doing all of the heavy lifting on the palate. The Viognier plays a subtle supporting role with elegance, florals, and spices, while the Grenache Blanc adds the structure, mineral tension, and citrus core. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is very cerebral and expressive. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Result of a Crush 2022 The Unnamed Syrah
A classic Walla Walla Syrah with a savory umami essence that is slightly earthy and dusty-fruited, the 2022 The Unnamed Syrah reveals notes of worn leather and baked earth. Spicy peppercorn intertwines with notes of black raspberry jus. It ends with a spicy and savory finish. Nicely done! There are hints of iodine on the finish. Very cerebral and food-friendly.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Result of a Crush 2022 Christmas Cuvée
A bit more serious and fleshy, the 2022 Christmas Cuvée is firm and expressive. It is darker-berried and more structured, savory, and features a dark dusty core with a savory edge. The wine is solid and gripping with graphite. It ends with a firm tannic edge. The wine is very robust and food-friendly.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2037
Result of a Crush 2022 Reserve
Softer and slender on the nose and palate, the 2022 Reserve is more seamless and fresh with a compact frame that is nimble but delivers all the structure of the rest of the range. It’s juicy, vibrant, and mineral-driven with a savory edge that has me looking for charcuterie and sausages. The wine is immensely pleasurable, lively, complex, and continues to change on the ever-lingering finish. Wow!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2040
Result of a Crush 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
With stewed red and black fruit tones with a savory edge, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon shows the vibrancy of the fruit is slightly smudged. The wine is structured but turns somewhat mineral-driven and earthy on the finish, leaving me looking for more varietal purity and freshness.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 Viognier in the Rocks Vineyard
Pitch-perfect with beautiful weight, spice, and florals, the 2023 Viognier in the Rocks Vineyard is not overdone, with an exuberant and energetic feel. It has excellent tension, a kiss of phenolic bitterness, freshness, and varietal purity. The nose is spicy, peachy, and yellow appley, with orange oil and lemon peel notes. Medium to full-bodied, the weight and texture are pure and very food-friendly. A brilliant Viognier.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2022 The Contender Syrah
A Syrah with a shine, bitter plum, and sour cherry essence that pops brightly and explosively on the nose and palate, the 2022 The Contender Syrah slowly unwinds with meat and mint. The savory texture slowly uncoils and mouthwateringly lingers with lively potpourri notes. It is very food-friendly and very pleasurable. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2022 Foothills Reserve Syrah
Firing on all cylinders, the 2022 Foothills Reserve Syrah is fresh, pure, and compact, ready to go the distance. The wine is vibrant, spicy, and clean, finding the balance between savory and spiced plum goodness. Tightly wound, the wine is expressive and I can’t put down my glass.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2050
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2022 In the Rocks Syrah
Savory and rocky with umami, the 2022 In the Rocks Syrah is big, bold, and dense with a serious rocky core and fruit. The wine is fresh, mineral-forward, and has structured tannins with a long-lived, spicy finish. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2022 In the Hills Syrah
Bright and structured, floral, vibrant, and dark red-fruited, the 2022 In the Hills Syrah is spicy and fresh with a savory stemmy expression that is meaty and expressive. The wine is concentrated with spicy potpourri tones that sway with focus and intention. It is very pleasing, but will do wonders with additional time in the bottle.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2045
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2022 Stonessence Syrah
Very dark, very extracted, and deeply structured and serious, the 2022 Stonessence Syrah is mineral-driven, and the wine has dark red and black fruit tones expressed with hints of meat. The wine is generously layered and fresh with a firm rocky backbone, offering notes of charcuterie, earthy cranberry, and peppercorn with soft oak spices. A very long, textural mouthfeel ends with a food-friendly finish.
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2027-2047
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 Grenache Blanc
Zesty and dusty, the 2023 Grenache Blanc is citrus-driven and always a great wine. It is medium to full-bodied, fresh, complex, and mineral tension is expressive and captivating. Very food-friendly, it will go great with aged Gouda.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 Queen’s Road White
Offering delightful mineral and wonderful tension, the 2023 Queen’s Road White is rich and round with a kiss of phenolics. The Marsanne leads the nose and palate, while the Viognier adds character. Medium-bodied, the wine is very crystalline and gorgeous.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 In the Rocks
Slightly subdued and still primary, the 2023 In the Rocks still needs time in the bottle to come around. It is subtly savory with hints of umami. The wine is medium-bodied with a compressed core and a kiss of salinity that ends with a lightly dusty red berry finish. Give it time, your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 The Contender
Very stunning, with bright, crunchy red fruit and a succulent acidity, the 2023 The Contender is instantly impressive, with layers of berries and minerals, and notes of spiced Bing cherry. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is very complex, beautiful, fresh, and brilliant.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 Stonessence
Slightly subdued and shut down, the 2023 Stonessence needs time. It has a fine mineral tension and a spicy, dusty, rocky core. It is medium to full-bodied. It requires cellaring, so be patient for a year or two.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2042
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 In the Hills
Very aromatic and bountiful, the 2023 In the Hills is smoky and sugary with rustic cranberry, black raspberry, and dark cherry notes. The wine is utterly delicious, fresh, complex, mineral, and savory. It is medium-bodied, robust, very food-friendly, and layered. Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2043
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 Foothills Reserve
Made from a barrel selection of the best wine, the 2023 Foothills Reserve is impressive, rich, pure, elegant, and precise. Very delightful, this wine pleases on so many levels. It is highly enjoyable, complex, and refined. The wine is sophisticated but powerful and rich. Very good stuff.
Score: 98 | Drink: 2026-2050
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2024 Rocks & Hills
Instantly impressive, the 2024 Rocks & Hills is a blend of both rocks and freshness. Crisp, energetic, vibrant, and full of verve and attitude, the wine has the best aspects of both the Rocks bottling and the Hills bottling, where freshness, purity, and vibrancy meet precision, rustic savory elegance, minerality, florals, and earth. I can’t help but love it. It delivers an ambitious zip of aromatics and a flavor profile that just doesn’t stop. It is brilliant; buy as much of this as you can!!!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2042
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2017 Marsanne
Bottled only in magnums, the 2017 Marsanne features notes of grilled brown butter brioche and sautéed almonds. Offering impressive weight and volume, it is still lively, energetic, and youthful from its large format. I love big bottles and I cannot lie. It is beautiful and gorgeous with layers for days. Enjoy!!!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2020-2043
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2021 Merlot
Slightly subdued, the 2021 Merlot still needs additional time to come out of its shell. Dusty and red-fruited, the fruit condition is a just-ripe expression of red plums and dark cherries. The palate is medium to full-bodied and complex, revealing a touch more layers and complexity, showing that it needs more cellaring and will deliver better with age. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2022 Merlot
Very bright and authentic, the 2022 Merlot offers a just-oaky expression and glossy oak spices that are brilliant. The wine is very juicy and broad, with a compact, medium to full-bodied, dusty frame. Showcasing elegant power throughout, the wine is stunning and will be a blockbuster that pleases all Merlot drinkers.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2021 Stonessence
Very fresh, pure, very focused, and precise, the 2021 Stonessence has all the elements of what the 2023 will become. Medium to full-bodied, it is spicy, rich, and round. Offering raw power and precision, it concludes with a long, lingering, spicy finish. Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Reynvaan Family Vineyards 2023 Cabernet Franc
Broader, juicier, and expressive, the 2023 Cabernet Franc shows more of Walla Walla Valley, a touch more than Cabernet Franc. It still has a good tannic structure and a softly underlying minerality, with a floral yet generous focus. This needs some time.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Rezabek Vineyards 2018 Rezabek Vineyards Sparkling Wine
A little toasted, the 2018 Rezabek Vineyards Sparkling Wine presents a nose that is complex and nutty with a soft leesy character, layered almonds, lemon spices, and green apple acids. The wine is immensely pleasurable with intricate layers and notes of wilted honeysuckle, beeswax, toasted oats, and underripe peaches. It features beautiful mineral acidity that races across the mid-palate and finish. The aftertaste reveals additional layers of complexity that bring me back for another sip. It has me craving cheeses. Bravo!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Rezabek Vineyards 2022 Rosé of Pinot Noir
A little mineral-driven on the nose, showing some linear acidity and spice notes, the 2022 Rosé of Pinot Noir has me searching for red fruit characteristics. Light to medium-bodied, the wine is lean and structural, and has all the acid to allow this to age for more than a decade, but the fruit component is lacking.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2030
Rezabek Vineyards 2023 Pinot Noir
Red-fruited and pushed more into a generous frame than what it wants to be, the 2023 Pinot Noir is a complex wine. Plenty of attractive oak is to be found here, but it conceals much of the varietal’s natural beauty and identity. Balanced on the palate for a medium-bodied expression, just darker than it seems, while the acidity is bright and fresh. The wine has notes of toasted oats and lemon peel over graham cracker. It leaves me looking to hear the Pinot Noir expression in the choir.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Rezabek Vineyards 2023 Aquarius White Wine
Citrus-driven and having some softly nutty tones that waft with notes of peach marzipan, the 2023 Aquarius White Wine is a standout. The wine is fresh and complex with a cerebral essence that I can’t help but find pleasurable and enticing. Medium-bodied with a delightful phenolic grip, the acidity is what drives this wine home and has a lingering essence of orange oil.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Rezabek Vineyards 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
A citrus-driven nose with a mineral essence that pops out of the glass defines the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc. Notes of lemon candy and peach ring offer a very energetic core of acidity that beams across the palate. The wine is clean, but has me still looking for more varietal expressions of Sauvignon Blanc.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2023 Tumbled Granite White
Floral, fresh, clean, and correct, the 2023 Tumbled Granite White offers notes of sweet citrus blossom. Beautiful, rich, and round, it is lush, vibrant, elegant, and mineral-driven with a succulent finish.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2024 Tumbled Granite White
Refined, expressive, and clean, the 2024 Tumbled Granite White is very pure and medium to full-bodied. Fresh with a fine mineral tension and a lovely texture, it is very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2037
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2023 Studio Red
Classic, fleshy, ripe, and offering high-toned red fruit, the 2023 Studio Red is subtle, gloomy, and spicy. With notes of potpourri and stems, it is subtly zesty and has a vibrant core. Mineral, ripe, and pure, it is very fresh, elegant, and full-bodied. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2023 11 Dams Red
Big, generous, and juicy, the 2023 11 Dams Red is fresh and spicy. Oaky, clean, and slick, it offers vibrant, popcorn, and sweet notes. The wine is delightfully textured and broad. Ripe and over-delivering, it is a fantastic value. Bravo!!!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2023 Double D Cabernet Sauvignon
Pitch-perfect, the 2023 Double D Cabernet Sauvignon features notes of black raspberry, graphite, and sweet oak. Full-bodied, the wine is fresh, balanced, and savory. Ripe and black-fruited, it remains elegant and pure.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2038
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2023 Double D Merlot
Big, juicy, and vibrant, the 2023 Double D Merlot is succulent, elegant, and plummy. Spicy, plush, and round, it is mouthwatering, tannic, gripping, and full-bodied. Delivering a crisp, ripe attack, the wine is fresh, delicious, and very rewarding. Yum!!!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2047
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2021 Tumbled Granite Red
Rocky and mineral-driven with a firm tannic structure, the 2021 Tumbled Granite Red is a little broad, robust, and serious. Subtly gooey and open-knit, it is expressive, fresh, and ready upon release. Drink sooner than later.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2045
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2023 Tumbled Granite Red
Big, juicy, vibrant, and firm, the 2023 Tumbled Granite Red is elegant, chewy, and plush. Generous, ripe, and lively, the wine is succulent, broad, and very fresh. It is delicious. Yum!!!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2024 Double D Cabernet Sauvignon
Very fine and fleshy, the 2024 Double D Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe, herbal, and rustic. Elegant, rich, and fresh, it will please hedonistic Cabernet lovers. It is expressive with notes of mocha, oak, vanilla, and sweet brown baking spices. It’s simply gorgeous, and I can’t help keeping my nose in the wine glass, just smelling the intoxicating aromas and smiling!
Score: 96-98 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2024 Studio Cabernet Sauvignon
More generous and showy, the 2024 Studio Cabernet Sauvignon is focused, fresh, and expressive. Bigger, warmer, lush, ripe, and complex, it offers oaky expressions, vibrant fruitiness, and fine mineral tension. Very food-friendly, it has a lingering tannic edge. Nicely done.
Score: 94-96 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2024 Double D Grenache
Quite expressive, the 2024 Double D Grenache is very fresh and pure with a clean barrel sample essence. Vibrant, clean, and plummy, the wine is delightfully spicy, gorgeous, and still very primary. Refreshing, it will be beautiful once released.
Score: 93-95 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Rujaya Winery 2022 Apinya Royal Slope Syrah
Fresh and bright, the 2022 Apinya Royal Slope Syrah is black cherry-fruited with hints of black pepper. It remains quite primary and has plenty of longevity ahead of it, but its immediate strength lies in its impressive, vibrant nose and body. The palate reveals a full-bodied wine that is expressive, bold, fresh, and slightly spicy. It could benefit from a slight chill before opening and is very food-friendly. Enjoy with wild game, lamb, and chops.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Rujaya Winery 2022 Apinya Walla Walla Valley Syrah
Classic, unmistakable, and fresh, the 2022 Apinya Walla Walla Valley Syrah is open and accessible, driven by an earthy and savory umami essence. It offers evocative notes of turned earth, wet clay, mushroom, dusty plum, and hints of worn leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is vibrant, expressive, complex, and layered, delivering a delightful and impressive mouthfeel and weight that is very food-friendly. It will certainly please any Walla Walla Syrah lover, remaining enjoyable for at least a decade. Decanting recommended. Enjoy with food.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Rush Lattin Cellars 2022 Syrah
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Syrah explodes on the nose with a ripe attack and juicy dark red fruits, along with notes of peppercorn spices over sweet oak and jerky. The wine is full-bodied, vibrant, and fleshy with a generous expression and fresh, complex fruit that overflows from the glass. It has a delightful mineral tension, succulent acidity, and firm gripping tannins, and will effortlessly pair with a wide variety of foods and meats. Bravo! I want more!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Rush Lattin Cellars 2022 GSM
Firm and still tight, the 2022 GSM presents a nose that is dusty, red-fruited, and slightly subdued. The palate is spicy and hot with a growing alcoholic lift on the finish, but continues to unfold and show some savory essences with soft herbs, spice potpourri, and baked cherries in cinnamon.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Rush Lattin Cellars 2022 Old Faithful
Big and bold, dark dusty black fruits and hints of turned earth and baking spices waft from the nose of the 2022 Old Faithful. As it sits in the glass, the wine reveals some volatility and will benefit from an extra chill and decanting. It ends with a tannic edge.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2037
Rush Lattin Cellars 2022 Fiddler’s Bluff Syrah
Meaty and savory with a dusty and approachable core of fruit and elegance, the 2022 Fiddler’s Bluff Syrah is a standout, offering a spiced red fruit and potpourri expression. The wine is pleasurable and spicy. Medium to full-bodied, it has some lifting oak spices that give this beauty a rich and mineral mouthfeel. Ready for ribs, chops, and steaks.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2036
Rush Lattin Cellars 2022 Fiddler’s Bluff Cabernet Sauvignon
Dense, chewy, and firm with an inky core of black fruit and hints of oak, the 2022 Fiddler’s Bluff Cabernet Sauvignon is a robust wine. With a softer frame and a sincere expression, it features well-balanced acidity and alcohol. Fresh and complex, it delivers pleasure and is very food-friendly.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2037
Ryan Patrick 2024 Pinot Grigio
Offering a kiss of reduction on the nose, the 2024 Pinot Grigio has a soft peachy note with sweet Meyer lemons and tropical fruit hints of pineapple. It is medium-bodied, and the reduction on the nose subsides to show fresh, crisp citrus and stone fruit. It ends with an energetic and lively finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Ryan Patrick 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Approachable and peachy with a core of fruit, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is primary with sweet citrus and sweet tart candies. The medium-bodied wine is clean and simple, ending with a straightforward finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Sagebreaker 2023 M-94-WHT White Wine
Bright, slightly peachy, and elegant, the 2023 M-94-WHT White Wine is a floral and pure expression. Made in concrete, it is softly aromatic and seductive. A touch of phenolic bitterness is present alongside a delightful core. The wine is very fresh and has a kiss of minerality. Refined and food-friendly, it showcases purity, grace, and excellent texture.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
Sagebreaker 2024 M-94-WHT White Wine
Broader-shouldered, vibrant, and more generous, the 2024 M-94-WHT White Wine offers texture and tension with a distinct phenolic grip. Beautifully fresh, rich, round, and focused, it possesses plenty of structure to go for years. It ends with a profoundly delicious finish, revealing hints of orange oil and softly citrus blossom notes. I can’t help but love this juice. Very pleasurable.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Sagebreaker 2022 G-41-BDX Red Wine
Classic, fresh, and mineral-driven with notes of sweet herbs, the 2022 G-41-BDX Red Wine is vibrant with hints of graphite and purple florals. Bright, expressive, and elegant, it boasts a lingering, spicy, food-friendly finish. It over-delivers for the price.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Sagebreaker 2022 B-56-RHN Red Wine
Open-knit and meaty with notes of black plum and dried black cherry, the 2022 B-56-RHN Red Wine reveals hints of baked earth, toasted nuts, and a generous nose. Featuring subtly baked fruit and a slightly boozy finish, this wine will be ready upon release.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Sagebreaker 2023 BDX
Off to a great start, the 2023 BDX is fresh and blue-fruited with notes of black raspberry. It has purity, grace, and focus, and while still tight, it has great bones. The wine showcases elegant juiciness and freshness, revealing spiced plums, potpourri, and overall refinement. Already firing on all cylinders, this will be a great release that shows immense promise. Bravo!
Score: 93-95 | Drink: Barrel Sample
Sagemoor 2021 Miguel The Man
Fresh and bold, the 2021 Miguel The Man is a stunning wine. It is pure, precise, and expressive, beautifully balanced between fruit, earthy oak, and extract. Offering a ripe attack, it is medium to full-bodied. The mouthfeel is luxurious and clean with a very pleasurable, food-friendly finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Sagemoor 2021 Bacchus and Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Savory with notes of dusty red-fruited essence and spices, the 2021 Bacchus and Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex pour. With a broad texture, succulent acidity, and fine-grained tannins, the wine’s mouthfeel is food-friendly and refined. It concludes with a spicy, healthy freshness and an elegant finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2038
Sagemoor 2021 Weinbau Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Showcasing ripe and healthy fruit extract with a dusty core and fresh notes of savory essences, spices, and potpourri, the 2021 Weinbau Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful wine. It is medium to full-bodied, fresh, fleshy, and clean. Complexly layered, it continues to evolve on the finish. Very pleasurable. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2045
Sagemoor 2021 Southwind Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Herbal and savory with pepper notes that waft with dusty red spiced fruits and high-toned fresh herbs, the 2021 Southwind Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a serious wine. Robust and full-bodied, the palate shows a firm gripping tannic structure that clamps down and holds through the finish. Give it time.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2047
Sagemoor 2023 Without Rehearsal
Presenting crisp citrus notes with hints of lemon grass and mineral tension, the 2023 Without Rehearsal is a vibrant wine. It is elegant and succulent with lively acidity and fleshy layers of citrus and underripe peaches alongside oak tones. It ends with a mouthwatering and long spicy finish.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2033
SAMĀ CELLARS 2024 Khyal Rohn Blanc
Sweet citrus and hints of orange oil define the 2024 Khyal Rohn Blanc. The wine is fresh and offers notes of sweet tart candies. Medium-bodied, succulent, and bright, it ends with a clean, crisp finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
SAMĀ CELLARS 2023 Raga Grenache
Black cherry and hints of nuts and volatility mark the 2023 Raga Grenache. The wine has a broad-shouldered frame with a zesty core and a warm nose. Full-bodied and with 15.5% alcohol, the palate is slightly gooey and chocolatey before ending with a spicy, hot finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2032
SAMĀ CELLARS 2023 Raga Mourvèdre
Dark-fruited and firm with an inky core of fruit and extract, the 2023 Raga Mourvèdre is a robust wine. It seems slightly smudged, yet remains dense and juicy. It lingers with a spicy finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2033
SAMĀ CELLARS 2023 Khyal Rohn Rouge
Dusty red-fruited and spicy with layered fruit extract, the 2023 Khyal Rohn Rouge is a compelling wine. It features firm notes of graphite, and the full-bodied palate shows some attractive oak. The mouthfeel has sweet extract that matches the intensity of the wine. Very food-friendly.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
SAMĀ CELLARS 2023 Bhumi Syrah Red Willow
Firm, dark-fruited, and expressive in the glass, the 2023 Bhumi Syrah Red Willow is a standout. The nose is unmistakably Syrah with a core of dusty, spicy dark fruit tones, offering hints of meatiness alongside lavender and subtle sausage nuances. Full-bodied and robust, it has a sturdy mouthfeel and a lingering finish. The wine is very pleasurable at every corner, ending with a food-friendly character. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
SAMĀ CELLARS 2023 SARGAM
Offering a solid dark fruit profile with a dusty essence, the 2023 SARGAM is an intriguing wine. It has notes of tar and sausage with a warm-smelling nose. Firm and mineral-driven, it ends with a hot finish and a lingering spicy edge. Enjoy with food.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2030
Saviah Cellars 2022 The Stones Speak Estate Syrah
Sausagy and rustic with savory and umami characters floating out of the glass, the 2022 The Stones Speak Estate Syrah is a classic expression. It is fresh and complex with smoked black raspberry essence and elegant oak extraction for lift, alongside floral and earthy Walla Walla notes. Medium to full-bodied, it is vibrant and highly engaging. The wine is always impressive, ending with a savory, umami, food-friendly finish.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Saviah Cellars 2022 The Funk Estate Syrah
Instantly impressive with layers of spicy and umami notes, mushroom, truffle, black raspberry, spiced plum, and oak essence, the 2022 The Funk Estate Syrah is a masterpiece. It is wonderfully layered, fresh, intricate, and hedonistic at the same time. The wine is very rich and food-friendly, going down all too easily. Wow, what brilliant stuff.
Score: 97 | Drink: 2026-2042
Saviah Cellars 2022 The Funk Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Very lively, fresh, and complex, the 2022 The Funk Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful wine. It is sweetly oaked and offers dark red and black fruit expressions that glide with spice and earth. Full-bodied, the wine is immensely complex on the palate. It concludes with a spicy finish and a lingering oaky essence. Nicely done!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2040
Saviah Cellars 2022 Hunt & Gather Estate Red Wine
Clean and vibrant with an expressive Walla Walla funk and freshness that sway with precision and finesse, the 2022 Hunt & Gather Estate Red Wine is a standout. The wine is pure, rich, round, lovely, and complexly layered, and over-delivers for the price.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Saviah Cellars 2023 Syrah
Classic and savory with notes of black raspberry and spicy meaty essence, like jerky with strawberry compote, the 2023 Syrah is a delightful pour. Medium-bodied, the wine is quite enjoyable and should be close to double the price. Enjoy with food.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Open-knit with a kiss of volatility, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has stewed blackberry and fresh black cherry notes with spices. Full-bodied, the fruit compote seems pushed a little too far, yet the wine is ready for action.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 Boss Block Cabernet Franc
A more serious Cabernet Franc with fine-grained tannins, the 2022 Boss Block Cabernet Franc features a spicy core of succulent red and black fruit that sways with power and intention. The full-bodied wine is a bold and broad-shouldered expression ready for hedonistic cuts of red meat.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 Block 1
Opening with a kiss of volatility, the 2022 Block 1 is vibrant and firm, rocky, and gorgeously layered and complex. The black-fruited core is sappy and expressive, featuring gobs of layers that overflow the nose. This fresh and tannic wine will be better after a few more years in the bottle.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2045
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 La Belle Blonde
A luscious Chardonnay with a rich and round texture, the 2022 La Belle Blonde offers creamy lemons and notes of yellow apple. The wine has a fluffy, leesy, and nutty complement, with a longer white spiced tea finish.
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Sheridan Vineyard 2021 Judith Ann
A classic, big, and luxurious Chardonnay with a kiss of phenolic bitterness, the 2021 Judith Ann is fresh, lively, and complex. With more generous depth, the wine is broad-shouldered and beautifully layered.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Sheridan Vineyard 2023 Reigning Fire
Juicy, firm, fresh, and complex, the 2023 Reigning Fire is still ripe, with plum liqueur and dark cherry compote. It leans toward the riper side, while remaining slightly mineral and subtly tannic. It ends with a delightfully robust finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2038
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 L’Orage
Fresh and complexly layered, the 2022 L’Orage has a juicy, clean core with a long, broad-shouldered finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Sheridan Vineyard 2021 Aryia
Offering an intense nose with red apple skin, the 2021 Aryia has an inky, dense, and chewy mouthfeel. Full-bodied with a sappy, dark red fruit core, it reveals layers of oak and spice, with a more generous frame and structured tannins that hold through the finish. Very juicy and ready to enjoy with food! Decanting recommended.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2038
Sheridan Vineyard 2021 Resolution
Revealing hints of worn leather, the 2021 Resolution is still a bit tight and firmly structured, but ready to pop. It has a full-bodied, open-knit nose and palate. It ends with a solid, gripping tannic finish. Decanting recommended.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Sheridan Vineyard 2021 Navigator
Immensely impressive, opulent, and round, the 2021 Navigator offers focused, dusty black raspberry. Full-bodied, fresh, fleshy, and still primary, it is complex, layered, and will do wonders in the bottle for more than a decade. It is beautifully rich.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 Goat & Thief
The 2022 Goat & Thief is ripe, juicy, and fresh. Subdued and dark-fruited, it is vibrant, complex, and medium to full-bodied. Softer in style and elegant, it concludes with a smooth, lingering finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Sheridan Vineyard 2022 Mystique
Showcasing classic oak and mineral tension, the 2022 Mystique reveals hints of a savory, herbal, weedy character. It smells like money. Full-bodied, fresh, and black-berried, it offers touches of sagebrush and an umami aspect that lingers through the finish. Nicely done.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Sheridan Vineyard 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Still tight and solid, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is bigger, bolder, and attractive. It is very firm, generous, juicy, and full-bodied. Pure.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2043
Sheridan Vineyard 2023 Boss Block Cabernet Franc
Very impressive, the 2023 Boss Block Cabernet Franc is fresh, oaky, floral, and expressive. Full-bodied, it is perhaps the best from this block that I have ever tried. This will be a juggernaut in a few years to come. Well-balanced, aromatic, seductive, vibrant, and stunning. Utterly delicious.
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Sheridan Vineyard 2014 Boss Block Cabernet Franc
Softly floral, the 2014 Boss Block Cabernet Franc has a kiss of pyrazines that is lively and fresh. Very pure and vibrant, it has plenty of life left in it. Dusty but still aromatic.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2018-2035
Sheridan Vineyard 2023 L’Orage
Instantly bright, full, and robust, the 2023 L’Orage is juicy and fresh. A beautiful, expressive Cabernet with a spicy, oaky profile, it offers vibrancy and layered, full-bodied character. Revealing black cherry, spiced plum compote, and hints of violet, it is a brilliant wine that will do wonders.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Sheridan Vineyard 2023 Goat & Thief
Very fleshy, ripe, and pure, the 2023 Goat & Thief is clean, correct, red-fruited, and balanced. Focused and medium to full-bodied, it is richer and bolder, elegant, and fresh. Brilliant finish.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
Sheridan Vineyard 2023 Block 1
With hints of graphite and crushed herbs, the 2023 Block 1 shows a highly impressive and stunning profile. It reveals succulent acidity and floral notes, ending with a remarkably long finish. Decanting recommended.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2050
Silver Lake Winery 2023 Roza Riesling
Opening with a nose of peach rings and green apple, the 2023 Roza Riesling reveals hints of honey and orchard fruit. Forward and clean, this medium-bodied wine is built for speed, not distance, remaining pure and ready for action.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2027
Silver Lake Winery 2023 Rose
Pulled too far, the 2023 Rose is oddly sweet, with noticeable residual sugar and a simple frame that makes me wonder where the varietal purity is for this wine, ending with notes of synthetic candied lemons that linger on the finish.
Score: 85 | Drink: 2025-2026
Sixto 2022 Frenchman Hills Chardonnay
Fresh, crisp, and ripe with a soft mineral essence, the 2022 Frenchman Hills Chardonnay features notes of yellow apple and hints of lees alongside a delightful phenolic grip. The wine is incredibly vibrant, clean, and pure. It is highly delightful, expressive, and refined.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Sixto 2022 Moxee Chardonnay
Very fresh and bright with hints of chamomile, the 2022 Moxee Chardonnay is crisp, offering sweet citrus and notes of lees. It has a mineral edge and a lemon sickle nose, complemented by touches of honeysuckle and orange blossom. Medium-bodied and clean, it ends with a pure finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Sixto 2022 Roza Hills Chardonnay
Grown on chalk, the 2022 Roza Hills Chardonnay is instantly impressive, rich, and round. It is remarkably clean and fresh, featuring notes of yellow apple, marshmallow, and a leesy essence balanced by fine mineral tension. The wine is vibrant, cerebral, and complex, making it highly food-friendly and delightfully lingering. It is extremely pleasurable.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Sixto 2022 Uncovered Chardonnay
Generous in frame and aroma, the 2022 Uncovered Chardonnay showcases notes of roasted yellow apples, chamomile, and citrus blossoms, complemented by a touch of sautéed almonds. Medium-bodied, it features a spicy character that lingers on the finish. Very food-friendly. Yum!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2037
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2024 The Magician
Bright, succulent, and compact, the 2024 The Magician is very fleshy, complex, and squeaky clean. With limy, crisp, and vibrant acidity, it is incredibly pure, ending with a refreshing and mouthwatering finish.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2023 The Enchantress
Fresh and vibrant, the 2023 The Enchantress has notes of yellow apple, white cherry, Meyer lemon, and a kiss of oak. It reveals a delightful lift of lemon pastry cream. Medium-bodied and elegant, the wine glides to a beautifully lingering finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 The Spellbinder
Made mostly from Cabernet Franc, the 2022 The Spellbinder is slightly herbal and nutty with notes of red cherry and a hint of bell pepper. It is succulent, fresh, clean, primary, and very fleshy. It over-delivers for the price and has a structured, medium palate.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2036
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 The Conjurer
Made mostly from Cabernet Franc, the 2022 The Conjurer has notes of red and dark red fruit. Medium-bodied, it shows refinement, finesse, and purity. The wine is elegant and impressive.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 The Archimage
Showcasing a rich and round freshness with elegance and purity, the 2022 The Archimage has a delicate tension. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is refined and pitch-perfect, harmonizing with oak, some herbal notes, and dusty florals in a zesty context. It ends with a long, subtly spicy, lingering finish. Enjoy with food, decanting recommended.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 The Illusionist
A beautifully dusty expression with dark fruit, freshness, and purity, the 2022 The Illusionist has complexity and is bright and spicy. It features notes of graphite, black raspberry, resinous purple flowers, and creme de violette. The wine has a delightful lift, with hints of pencil shavings and a firm mineral tension. With a ripe dark red-fruited core and elegant oak tones, it lifts the lingering spicy finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2045
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 Levitation
Slightly reductive but in a good, fresh way that gives it purity, the 2022 Levitation is beautifully zesty, elegant, and floral, with a spicy edge and savory, spiced plum compote. With a soft, meaty core and notes of black raspberry and vibrancy, it is very pleasurable! Yum!!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2045
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 The Psychedelic
Offering savory umami notes, the 2022 The Psychedelic is fresh and inviting with black raspberry. The wine is meaty and has a fine tension, with vibrant, dark red fruit. Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2040
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2023 The Psychedelic
Like a slow-moving train, the 2023 The Psychedelic is structured, sound, and bold, with purity and growing amplitude and scope. This wine will be slow to start, but once it finds its stride, it will govern and begin to open for years and decades on end. This is the one you want and should not be opened until years from now. Bravo!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2029-2052
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 Spiders from Mars
Showcasing a very fresh, focused, and spicy character, the 2022 Spiders from Mars is pure with a lively tension and a zesty core that will go the distance.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2045
Sleight of Hand Cellars 2022 Higher Ground WeatherEye Grenache
The most profound, focused, and impressive WeatherEye expression that I have seen to date, the 2022 Higher Ground WeatherEye Grenache begins with a beautiful nose that lifts with wild brush and a dusty mineral tension that floats above the glass and honors the place from which it grows. The palate reveals tension, a zesty core, and an elegant, spicy finish with purity and freshness. Not released yet, but it should be a pristine, vibrant champion of Washington Grenache. Set to be released at the end of this year. If you are good, Santa might bring you a bottle. Limited production of only 50 cases, get in line now to grab a bottle for your stocking and cellar. Bravo!!!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2026-2048
Sparkman Cellars 2023 As You Wish
Crisp and inviting on the nose, the 2023 As You Wish reveals notes of citrus peel and lemon skin. The wine has firm layers and minerality, with fruit that plays beautifully together. Medium to full-bodied, the mouthfeel is delightfully textured with succulent acidity that delivers a mouthwatering finish. It is very pleasing, food-friendly, and versatile with a wide variety of dishes. Well done!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Sparkman Cellars 2022 Holler
High-toned dark red fruit and a dusty layer of blackberry skin define the 2022 Holler. It has some earthy and rustic notes with a spicy core of fruit. The wine shrinks on the palate to show a leaner expression that is built for younger drinking, delivering a balanced structure with a zesty lingering finish and a soft, sweet herbal edge.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Sparkman Cellars 2021 Kingpin
Fresh, bold, and layered with fleshy dark red and black fruit tones, the nose of the 2021 Kingpin is captivating. It is complex and spicy with sweet oak nuances, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The wine has more tension as it is rich, round, and expressive, offering a firm structure that will give this beauty plenty of ageability. Enjoy with food, decanting recommended. Nicely done!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Sparkman Cellars 2021 Ruby Leigh
Smelling like it has Walla Walla fruit in it with a cracked open, aromatic profile, the 2021 Ruby Leigh is a stunning wine. The wine is savory with sweet herbs, florals, and dark fruit, alongside oaky essences that run throughout the expression. A very pleasurable wine, it is broad-shouldered and expressive with a dense palate that will benefit from decanting.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2037
Sparkman Cellars 2021 Stella Mae
Rich and round with a big and still tightly wound profile, the 2021 Stella Mae is a beautiful wine. It is fresh, fleshy, and still firmly tannic, but will have no problem filling its shoes. Still youthful with a shiny grip and solid phenolic presence, the wine is very pleasurable and ends with a succulent finish and a lingering spicy edge.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2027-2037
Spring Valley Vineyard 2022 Uriah Red Wine
Dusty red-fruited with a firm minerality and elegant notions of oak that lift the overall expression, the 2022 Uriah Red Wine is a captivating pour. The wine’s nose has delicate notes of resinous red flowers. Medium to full-bodied, it is firm and expressive with layers of a slightly inky core of fruit, freshness, and florals subtly and steadily emerging on the finish. Nicely done, decanting recommended.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Spring Valley Vineyard 2022 Frederick Red Wine
Firmer and more vibrant on the palate than the nose, the 2022 Frederick Red Wine pops out of the glass with dusty plum and blackberry aromatics that linger with oak essences. Full-bodied, hints of graphite sway on the mouthfeel with fine-grained tannins. Very expressive and pure, the wine will definitely develop beautifully over the years with additional time in bottle. Be patient with this one!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Spring Valley Vineyard 2022 Nina Lee Syrah
Rich, ripe, and expressive with a zesty core, the 2022 Nina Lee Syrah is spicy and mineral-driven with a generous and round mouthfeel. With vibrant lavender, dusty black raspberry, and black cherry, notes of graphite and sweet oak brown baking spices linger through the mid-palate, elevating the overall expression. The wine is highly versatile and concludes with a graphite and peppery, food-friendly finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2042
Spring Valley Vineyard 2022 Katherine Cabernet Franc
Firm and slightly hot on the nose, the 2022 Katherine Cabernet Franc is solid and structured with a mineral-driven dark-fruited core. With a gripping tannic structure, it is full-bodied and dense, and will be better with additional time in bottle. Give it time.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2045
Substance 2024 Ro
Clean, expressive, balanced, and over-delivering for the price, the 2024 Ro is a delightful pour. The wine is focused with strawberry lemonade notes. Medium-bodied with succulent acidity that ends with a crisp, straightforward finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2027
Substance 2022 Sb
Simple and offering notes of rose and lime juice on the nose, the 2022 Sb is a straightforward wine. The palate is rather flat and leaves me wanting more succulent acidity to push my score higher. Ends with a quick finish.
Score: 86 | Drink: 2025-2027
Substance 2021 Ch
Clean, subtly nutty, and oaky with lemon pastry notes, the 2021 Ch is succulent, fresh, and easy-drinking. A straightforward and delightful finish, great for the price.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Substance 2022 Rb
Presenting a dusty and red-berried nose, the 2022 Rb reveals a plummy essence that has a firm and juicy feel. The medium to full-bodied expression is layered, and the wine ends with a tight tannic finish. Good for BBQ and street food.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2027
Substance 2022 Cs
Offering a decent nose with a plummy, black-fruited core, the 2022 Cs is straightforward but still has varietal purity. Medium to full-bodied, it is fresh and delivers well for the price.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2028
Succession Wines 2024 Rosé
Clean, expressive, and vibrant, the 2024 Rosé is succulent and bright on the nose with hints of cherry blossom and almond. Zesty, medium-bodied, and very fresh.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2029
Succession Wines 2024 Albariño
Peachy and lemony with notes of pineapple, the 2024 Albariño is pure and fresh. Medium-bodied, it has succulent acidity with a vibrant frame of citrus and stone fruit at its core. Ends with a kiss of phenolic bitterness that makes it quite food-friendly. Nicely done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2029
Succession Wines 2022 Pinot Noir
Subdued and red-fruited, the 2022 Pinot Noir presents a softly nutty essence. Medium-bodied and rather spicy, the nose is mineral-driven and ends with a smudged fruit finish. It’s hard to get Pinot Noir right.
Score: 87 | Drink: 2025-2029
Succession Wines 2022 Bridge Builder’s Blend
Bigger, bolder, and dark-fruited with notes of bitter dark chocolate, the 2022 Bridge Builder’s Blend has a firm mineral edge and tannins that stick to the palate through to the finish. Enjoy with food.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Succession Wines 2022 Rocks Syrah
Showcasing toasted coffee beans and burnt caramel with roasted blackberry and a smoky essence, the 2022 Rocks Syrah is medium to full-bodied. Savory and umami notes merge to meet the charred expression on the palate. Ends with bitter dark chocolate tannins and a savory umami finish. Enjoy with BBQ and burnt end brisket slices.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2033
Syncline Winery 2018 Scintillation Brut
Bright and complexly layered, the 2018 Scintillation Brut is very light with fresh, energetic acidity. The wine is light to medium-bodied, vibrant, succulent, and lively. Very food-friendly and enjoyable.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2042
Syncline Winery 2022 Gamay Noir
Very primary with spicy and bright cherry and raspberry notes, the 2022 Gamay Noir is a treat. Zesty and softly smoky, it delivers a succulent finish that has me craving sausages.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Syncline Winery 2022 Mourvèdre
Classically vibrant, plush, and elegant, yet still tight, the 2022 Mourvèdre is a beautiful expression. The wine is very fresh and offers layers of complexity. It slowly reveals a delightfully spicy and medium-bodied frame. Highly food-friendly.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Syncline Winery 2022 Cuvée Elena
Red-fruited and spicy, the 2022 Cuvée Elena is elegant, fresh, and clean with a crystalline edge. Medium-bodied, the wine is very shiny and pretty, with beautifully fine-grained tannins. Very pure!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Syncline Winery 2022 Subduction Red
Spicy and red-fruited, the 2022 Subduction Red is fresh and medium to full-bodied. It is very food-friendly and highly enjoyable.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Syncline Winery 2022 Chardonnay
Refined and fresh, the 2022 Chardonnay showcases perfectly managed oak-to-Chardonnay expression. The wine is very elegant, with notes of lemon curd and complex layers that continue to unfold. It is sophisticated and pure, with beautiful phenolics.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Syncline Winery 2023 Syrah
An unmistakable Syrah with hints of spice, the 2023 Syrah is medium to full-bodied. The wine is still youthful and fresh. It has some sticky tannins that will soften with additional time in the bottle, but it has good bones. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2038
Syncline Winery 2023 Grenache
Fresh, pure, expressive, and fleshy, the 2023 Grenache is a standout. The wine is spicy and complex, rich and clean. This will be the last vintage that will be all Gorge Grenache in 2024.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Syncline Winery 2024 Rosé
Showcasing notes of citrus pith with a kiss of skin contact essence and a fine, fluffy phenolic grip, the 2024 Rosé is intriguing. The wine is fresh and delightfully delicious. This will be the last vintage that won’t be estate, as the following vintage will be a Mondeuse and Gamay Rosé. Super exciting stuff!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2028
Syncline Winery 2024 Picpoul
Wonderful and peachy with a bright citrus core, the 2024 Picpoul is incredibly fresh and expressive. Light-bodied at 11.5% alcohol, the wine is utterly delicious and highly food-friendly. It has a snapping pomaceous core that I find delightful.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2034
Syncline Winery 2024 Gruner Veltliner
With a delicate mineral tension alongside gentle citrus and pith, the 2024 Gruner Veltliner is softly spicy and fresh. It ends with a delightfully lingering mineral finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Tenor 2023 Spice Cabinet Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
Offering notes of lemon sickle, the 2023 Spice Cabinet Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc is fluffy with soft oak and citrus tones, complemented by a bright lemon note that features a gentle biscuit nuance. It is very textural, fresh, and succulent, going down all too easy. Very generous with a vibrant mineral tension and weighty, bright acidity.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Tenor 2023 Olsen Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
Slightly different from its peers, the 2023 Olsen Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc features a nose that stands apart with notes of ginger, tarragon, and an oak essence reminiscent of dry Sauternes. As the most expansive of the SB range, it presents a distinct palate and structure. Broad, structured, big, and rich, the acidity hits differently on the palate, culminating in a luxurious finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2034
Tenor 2022 Conner Lee Vineyard Chardonnay
Featuring a generous and expressive nose, the 2022 Conner Lee Vineyard Chardonnay offers notes of poached yellow apples alongside zesty and nutty nuances. The wine is spicy, carrying a slightly bitter scotch note within a broad frame highlighted by sweet corn and brown baking spices. Rich, ripe, and weighted at 14.9% alcohol, the palate shows a hot finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Tenor 2022 Solaksen Vineyard Chardonnay
Showcasing notes of Marcona almond, lemon pastry, and yellow apple with a soft, leesy character, the 2022 Solaksen Vineyard Chardonnay is highly textural and ripe. It features lively acidity, freshness, and a beautifully executed mineral tension, complemented by hints of popcorn kernel. This is a very pleasurable and vibrant Chardonnay with a subtle stony edge and an expressive finish. Very food-friendly! Wow!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Tenor 2022 Pinot Noir
Fresh and generous, the 2022 Pinot Noir is a dark-fruited wine with a vibrant nose. Bigger and bolder in its frame, the wine is pure with dark cherry notes, slightly tannic, and brings a big, dark, and serious edge.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2031
Tenor 2022 Grenache
Displaying hints of volatility alongside generous and firm dark cherry fruit, the 2022 Grenache is dark red-fruited and fresh. The wine is spicy and expressive, leading to a hot, boozy finish. It is very hedonistic, fruit-driven, and highly food-friendly.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Tenor 2022 Scarline Vineyard Syrah
Featuring dark cherry, sour cherry, plum, and earthy notes, the 2022 Scarline Vineyard Syrah has a delightful nose of smoked meat, sausage, and black peppercorn. It is a generous style of wine that is fun, focused, and fresh, boasting a hearty, spicy core. Offering balanced, juicy notes of umami essence, it is very pleasurable and will please any Walla Walla Syrah drinker.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Tenor 2022 Stoneridge Vineyard Syrah
Offering plenty of roasted coffee bean notes with a firm, dark, spicy, and bitter chocolate core, the 2022 Stoneridge Vineyard Syrah is firm and mineral-driven with hints of hung meat. The wine is broad, echoing the mocha alongside hints of a rigid edge and tight grip.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2031
Tenor 2022 Merlot
Fresh, bold, ripe, and spicy, the 2022 Merlot is pure and expressive, remaining full-bodied and still firm and tight. It is classic and vibrant, showcasing mineral tension with power and finesse. It is powerful, full-bodied, and delicious. Wow!!! It ends with a tannic finish that slowly uncoils and adds to the pleasure!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2042
Tenor 2022 Cabernet Franc
Showcasing a soft, savory character with black fruit, chocolate, and oak on the nose, the 2022 Cabernet Franc is fresh and herbal with a sweet, savory quality. The wine is full-bodied and hits the palate with a rich, dark fruit core.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Tenor 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, juicy, and fresh, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a delightfully vibrant wine with mineral tension. Generous and structured, it is complex, dark-fruited, and tannic, boasting a well-integrated alcohol level. It is a delightful, very food-friendly wine! Nicely done!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2025-2039
The Devil is a Liar 2022 Shooting in the Gym
Fresh, ripe, and complex, the 2022 Shooting in the Gym features notes of confectionary sugar, candied cherries, oak spices, and sweet baking spices. The wine is elegant, rich, and textured, showcasing freshness and ripeness with succulent acidity and a lingering tannic edge. Nicely done!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2040
The Devil is a Liar 2022 Field Blend
Coming from the WeatherEye Vineyard, the 2022 Field Blend is fresh, ripe, and very impressive from the first sniff. The nose explodes in pitch-perfect harmony, highlighted by high-toned, crunchy red fruits that overflow from the glass from the 70% whole-cluster used in the production of this very pleasing wine. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, offering succulent acidity with a lovely balance of nuanced brown baking spices and potpourri that elegantly flow across the mid-palate. The wine concludes with a long, lingering finish that has impressive length, with a gorgeous confectionery sugar note encapsulated in a pure and crystalline frame of ripeness that is utterly brilliant. I’m definitely not spitting this one out… Bravo!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2025-2045
The Walls Vineyards 2022 Mahana
Offering savory and fresh umami, dusty earthy leather, and dark red fruit, the 2022 Mahana is spicy and pure with a clean, medium to full-bodied line. It features succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins. This is a lovely expression with a food-friendly finish. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
The Walls Vineyards 2022 Curiositas
Pure, mineral-driven, and freshly just-ripe in condition with elegance and finesse, the 2022 Curiositas presents dusty black cherry and spiced plums that sway with dusty flowers and notes of brown baking spices. Full-bodied with firm and fine-grained tannins, the wine is pure and expressive. It is very food-friendly and will likely be better with additional years in the bottle. Give it time.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2045
The Walls Vineyards 2022 Bellamy
Very pleasing and fresh with a lively mineral essence, the 2022 Bellamy has a dark-fruited core. The full-bodied wine is still tight and will loosen over the coming years but already has good bones. It ends with fine mineral tension and a graphite notion. It is very pleasurable.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2050
The Walls Vineyards 2022 The Ramparts
Presenting succulent dark red fruit with savory elements and spiced cherry notes, alongside hints of orange rind and potpourri, the 2022 The Ramparts is both elegant and juicy, ready for action. Decanting is recommended with an extra chill.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2036
The Walls Vineyards 2022 Wonderful Nightmare
With roasted blackberries and a savory umami character, the 2022 Wonderful Nightmare is open-knit and ready for action. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is spicy and ready for food. Sanguine and black raspberry waft with an iron and ferric edge.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
The Winemakers Reserve 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, rich, and ripe, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is spicy. It has good action on the palate with succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins. The wine has firm mineral tension that draws to a close over the long, lingering spicy finish that is incredibly food-friendly and versatile with a wide range of dishes. Nicely done.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
The Winemakers Reserve 2022 GSM
Open-knit and dusty red-fruited with notes of potpourri, spiced cherry, and plum compote, the 2022 GSM is fresh, pure, and delightfully expressive. It is vibrant and correct. Spicy, rich, and juicy, it offers a very food-friendly spiced finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
The Winemakers Reserve 2022 Merlot
With dusty plum skin and hints of chocolate and oak spice, the 2022 Merlot is denser and chewier on the palate than the nose leads on. The finish is very expressive.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
The Winemakers Reserve 2024 Pinot Gris
Clean, citrusy, and peachy with a kiss of phenolic bitterness, the 2024 Pinot Gris is succulent, fresh, pure, and delightfully floral with elegant notes of lemon and lime blossoms. The mouthfeel has a delightful texture. The wine ends with a mineral-driven and succulent, energetic finish. It’s a lovely Pinot Gris. Well done!
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2028
The Winemakers Reserve 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Clean and correct with lemony and lime flavors, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc features succulent acidity that races across the palate with precision and purity, having a slight mineral essence. It finishes zesty and refreshing.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2028
Time & Direction 2023 1.21 Gigawatts
A fluffy phenolic expression greets you in the 2023 1.21 Gigawatts, showcasing slightly cloudy, pale straw hues. Notes of marzipan, lemon pith, and dusty yellow cherries dance on the palate. Light to medium-bodied, this wine exhibits considerable weight, complemented by delightful mineral tension and a final grip that lingers through to the finish. Very food-friendly, this fun wine is unfiltered and not cold stabilized, which means it might produce some sediment when chilled, yet it remains both cerebral and delightful.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2030
Time & Direction 2024 Fretboard
Pouring the 2024 Fretboard, I noticed the lees beginning to collect on the side of the bottle. This wine offers classic notes of white and yellow flowers, orange oil, and a delightful essence of tropical and stone fruits. Very aromatic and pleasing, there’s also a subtle dustiness to the nose. The palate bursts to life with a lively and crisp mouthfeel, showcasing soft white tannins and a gentle phenolic bitterness that will keep it food-friendly for years to come.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2030
Time & Direction 2022 Space Pants
One of my favorite Mourvèdres in the state of Washington, the 2022 Space Pants is light, lifted, floral, and slightly funky. It features notions of crunchy red fruit and hints of worn leather. With a light body and clocking in at 12% alcohol, the palate offers a subtly zesty experience, with a playful muskiness at its core. Hints of sandalwood and spiced cherry linger on the peppery finish. This wine truly shines when paired with food.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Time & Direction 2022 Ceci n’est pas un vin rouge
With a pale ruby core, the 2022 Ceci n’est pas un vin rouge showcases a Pinot Noir-esque color. An earthy and soft expression of Grenache greets the nose, featuring notes of spiced red cherry and dusted red flowers. The palate is medium to full-bodied, revealing a gentle herbal essence that evolves into a growing spicy character as the fruit flavors gracefully fade on the finish. It’s a bit weird, but I can’t help but enjoy and admire its uniqueness. You should drink it sooner than later.
Score: 89? | Drink: 2025-2029
Time & Direction 2022 The Enchanter
Classic mineral-driven characteristics define the nose of the 2022 The Enchanter, with meaty notes and a dark berry expression that are beautifully complemented by earthy mineral tension and peppercorn spices. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine remains tight, showcasing a firm mineral tension and phenolic grip, suggesting it requires additional time in the bottle to fully develop.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2026-2034
Time & Direction 2021 Old School
Revealing a dark and brooding nose that is both expressive and deep, the 2021 Old School showcases notes of summer sausage and hung meat. These intriguing aromas give way to generous essences of dark red and black fruits, complemented by a hint of spice. On the palate, it is full-bodied and rich, brimming with character. The wine displays a sternness and rigidity in its expression, yet it wears its firmness with grace. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Time & Direction 2021 Binary Syrah
Deeply expressive on the nose, the 2021 Binary Syrah showcases a captivating blend of dusty, meaty aromas alongside herbal essences and dried black fruit. With a medium to full body, this wine offers a palate that is tighter and more nimble, featuring a tannic structure that will surely evoke cravings for cured meats and sausages.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2035
Time & Direction 2021 Diamond Cutter
Opening to a medium-weight nose, the 2021 Diamond Cutter reveals notes of black cherry and spiced plum, complemented by hints of cured meats and resinous purple flowers. The aroma carries a softly dusty and subtly spiced character. Medium-bodied and clocking in at 13.5% alcohol, this wine showcases energetic acidity on the palate, with fine-grained tannins that allow it to slowly uncoil over a lingering finish of spicy dark red fruits.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Tirriddis Sparkling Wines NV Washington Blend (Rendition #3)
At this price point, buy as much as you can of the NV Washington Blend (Rendition #3)! It is citrus-driven with a clean, crisp mouthfeel and notes of lemongrass, lemon verbena, and Granny Smith apple. The medium-bodied wine is very spicy and delivers pleasure in a bright and youthful expression, full of energy and ready to be paired with a wide variety of foods. Grab the entire case at this price!!!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Tirriddis Sparkling Wines NV Blanc de Gris (Rendition #4)
More mineral and peachy on the nose, the NV Blanc de Gris (Rendition #4) still has a seriousness about the expression with a leesy and nutty note that is quite pleasing. Medium-bodied with energetic acidity, the wine is delightfully expressive and shows surprising weight. Very fresh and zesty, the wine finishes with a mouthwatering tartness that has me daydreaming of fried shellfish and oysters.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Tirriddis Sparkling Wines NV Barrel Fermented Blanc de Blanc (Rendition #4)
Instantly impressive in the glass, the NV Barrel Fermented Blanc de Blanc (Rendition #4) has oak essences that lift the overall expression, with soft vanilla notes intertwining with sweet lemon and green apple. It connects with notes of dry butterscotch and a bright linearity that beams with succulent acidity. Very fresh and very pleasing, I can’t put down my glass. Bravo!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Toil Oregon 2023 Pinot Noir
Pure and expressive, the 2023 Pinot Noir reveals ripe cherry notes that sway with peppercorns and grace. The wine is focused and fresh with hints of turned earth and a soft notion of fern. Medium-bodied, the wine is spicy on the finish and delivers well for the price. Nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Toil Oregon 2023 Chardonnay
Rich and round on the nose with lively lemon, nutty, and softly oaky notes, and hints of caramel, the 2023 Chardonnay presents a clean and fresh palate with crisp acidity and bright apple acids that drive the finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2033
Toil Oregon 2024 Rosé of Pinot Noir
Fresh and succulent, red-fruited, and with slight mineral tension, the 2024 Rosé of Pinot Noir has bright components and a vibrant citrus core. The medium-bodied wine has energetic acidity, and ends with a lovely finish. It is quite food-friendly.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2025-2030
Toil Oregon 2023 Reserve Pinot Noir
Very shiny and picturesque, the 2023 Reserve Pinot Noir is bright with lively cherry, possessing an elegant, focused precision and plenty of attractive fruit. The wine is very pretty, pure, and expressive, culminating in a delightfully elegant, refined, and refreshing finish. Medium-bodied and still tight, it showcases remarkable polish and shine. Very refined and built for the cellar, it will do wonders with age. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Top Source 2023 Sauvignon Blanc
Peachy, fresh, and simple, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc offers hints of pink grapefruit and sweet Meyer lemons. With fresh acidity, it is medium-bodied with hints of herbs, concluding with a light, refreshing finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2030
Top Source 2022 Columbia Valley Syrah Grenache
Earthy and mineral, the 2022 Columbia Valley Syrah Grenache is slightly barnyard and bright red-fruited with a sanguine core. Meaty, tannic, still taut, and sticky, it offers rocky flavors. It ends with a simple, rustic finish that is food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2033
Top Source 2022 Walla Walla Valley Syrah
Savory, pepper, earthy, bigger, rustic, and dark, the 2022 Walla Walla Valley Syrah reveals iodine notes and an umami finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2024-2035
Trothe 2022 Black Label Sauvignon Blanc
Showcasing hints of oak essence alongside freshness and elegant wood spices, the 2022 Black Label Sauvignon Blanc offers notes of lemon creamsicle with a soft phenolic grip. A very fresh and crisp expression at 11.8% alcohol, it is highly textural, elegant, and focused. Rich and complex, it concludes with a long, spicy, citrus-driven finish.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2025-2040
Trothe 2024 White Label Sauvignon Blanc
Clean, fresh, correct, and spicy, the 2024 White Label Sauvignon Blanc is citrus-driven with remarkable finesse and focus. Showcasing good minerality and brightness, this medium to full-bodied wine is pure and luxurious. Vibrant with a kiss of saltiness and delightful mineral tension, it is beautifully rich and lemony, ending with a succulent, zesty finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Trothe 2022 Limited
Instantly impressive, fresh, complex, rich, and round, the 2022 Limited is dark red-fruited with notes of dusty black raspberry, fresh spiced plum, and turned earth. Showcasing purity and an expressive character, it is pitch-perfect, ripe, and focused. Balanced and succulent, this pristine wine reveals lingering notes of purple flowers. It is generous and gives almost unlimited pleasure. I am not spitting this out; buy as much as you can. It is devastatingly gorgeous. Bravo!!!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2025-2048
Trothe 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, pure, ripe, and focused, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is round and seductive. The wine is spicy and juicy, offering a pristine expression with a subtly peppery finish. It is clean and vibrant.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2025-2045
Trothe 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Pure, fresh, spicy, ripe, and round, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is still tight and vibrant. Complex with elegance and a bold core, it is profoundly refined and expressive with hints of savory essence. Revealing notes of soft chocolate alongside succulent tannins and energetic acidity, it concludes with a very long finish. Wow!!!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2025-2052
Trothe 2022 Syrah
Fresh, pure, and spicy, the 2022 Syrah is floral with peachy, expressive notes. Beautifully textured and still tight, it has good bones. It ends with a succulent, long, refreshing finish that will age gracefully for more than a decade.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Trothe 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Still very tight and fresh, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon – Barrel Sample is dense with a chewy core. This is on track to be a beautiful release and will be a juggernaut of finesse and purity when released. It is fresh, rich, and very impressive. Your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 97-99 | Drink: Barrel Sample
TruthTeller Winery 2024 Dry Humor
With fresh, crisp apple and notes of lime candy, the 2024 Dry Humor has a clean and expressive nose, opening with a touch of reduction. It is light-bodied and zesty with a clean, nimble finish. Enjoy well-chilled and with Asian food! Yum!
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
TruthTeller Winery 2022 Droll
Zesty and spicy on the nose, the 2022 Droll has dusty plum and spiced black raspberries. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is spicy and ends with a dusty and dark-fruited finish. It will be better with food.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
TruthTeller Winery 2021 The Madman
Showing hints of black licorice and marshmallow, the 2021 The Madman has a dark-fruited core that is firm and structured. It is softly oaky with a spicy core and notes of spiced pepper, along with fine tannins that linger through the palate.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2032
TruthTeller Winery 2022 The Miscreant Project Right Bastard
Dark-fruited and very mineral-driven, the 2022 The Miscreant Project Right Bastard has a hot and spicy nose that slowly grows in intensity. The wine is fresh, juicy, and complex with fine tannins. It slowly uncoils in the glass and ends with a delightfully spicy finish.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
TruthTeller Winery 2021 Satire
Bigger and juicier with a firm core and red dusty fruit over black fruit, the 2021 Satire is medium to full-bodied. The wine is big, vibrant, and dark red-fruited with a fresh and compact tannic frame. Highly expressive, it features a rustic core, complex layers, and a dusty plum skin finish. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2035
Two Mountain Winery 2020 Brother Blend No.10
Instantly impressive in the bottle, the 2020 Brother Blend No.10 is big and juicy with notes that burst out of the glass with spicy and seductive oak influences that lift the dark fruit of blackberry and black plum. The wine fights with sweet wood spices of vanilla and nutmeg. Medium to full-bodied, this is an impressive, focused, and reserved wine that unfolds with intensity and precision, bound by fine tannins. I can’t help but love it!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Two Mountain Winery 2020 Brother Cabernet Franc
Big and juicy, almost too much, the 2020 Brother Cabernet Franc is one-note and full-bodied. It is hot on the finish and leaves me searching for more Cabernet Franc character. The tannins are massive and bold. Enjoy with food and give it a slight chill.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2030
Two Mountain Winery 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, fleshy, and dusty red-fruited with just enough oak expression to lift the overall nose and palate, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a medium to full-bodied wine that is balanced, fresh, and offers a delightfully lingering spicy finish. It is well-managed, focused, and delivers at a great price point.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Two Mountain Winery 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Simple and citrus-laced with a bright and fresh nose, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is medium-bodied with a vibrant beam of acidity down the center. It ends with a straightforward finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
Two Mountain Winery NV Hidden Horse No. 22 Red Blend
An instant success with fresh, ripe, and approachable red fruit alongside sweet oak that plays nicely with elegant florals, soft dusty tones, and hints of savory essence, the NV Hidden Horse No. 22 Red Blend is medium-bodied and delivers fantastically for the price!
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2028
Two Vintners 2024 Grenache Blanc
Over-delivering on the price-to-quality ratio here, the 2024 Grenache Blanc has always been a favorite and hits the mark with citrus, mineral tension, and freshness. The wine is pure and transparent from where it comes from. It is crystalline and expressive, and has a kiss of phenolic bitterness that makes it incredibly food-friendly. Yum!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Two Vintners 2022 Merlot
Bigger and plummy, the 2022 Merlot is big and juicy in style with fresh layers of graphite and hints of savory herbs and baked earth. Medium to full-bodied, it ends with fine-grained tannins and an elegant yet spicy finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2035
Two Vintners 2022 Syrah
Running the line between high-toned red fruit, graphite, and dusty oak stemmy notes, the 2022 Syrah is instantly impressive and offers a spicy Syrah potpourri that is both floral and lifted on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it is beautifully textured, spicy, and ends with a clean, rich, and food-friendly finish. Yum!
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2033
Two Vintners 2022 The Waiting List
Firm, meaty, spiced, and fresh, the 2022 The Waiting List reveals a complex notion of black fruit that sways with a rocky core. It ends with a savory, medium to full-bodied finish and a dusty core of fruit. It will be better with food!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2035
Two Vintners 2022 Alice
Fine, firm, fresh, rich, and round, the 2022 Alice is complex and expressive with layers of spiced plums, baked cherries, blackberry jus, oak spices, and resinous purple flowers. Full-bodied and intricate, the wine slowly uncoils on the palate to reveal an amazing array of spice, fruit, and extract, with fine-grained tannins and an elegant finish. Nicely done! Decanting is recommended.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Two Vintners 2023 OG
An orange wine crafted from Gewürztraminer, the 2023 OG is very spicy, floral, and phenolic. It delivers a textural and vibrant freshness that is highly expressive. Very zesty overall, it weaves together blossom notes, orange-spiced tea, and a pleasant peach bitterness.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2029
Two Vintners 2024 Yo Momma
Zesty and light red-fruited with a floral aroma, the 2024 Yo Momma Rosé presents a technical, dry white wine style despite its 10 grams per liter of residual sugar. It features a kiss of reduction alongside fluffy, vibrant, and subtly stemmy notes. It is a fun label that will certainly stand apart on the shelf.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2027
Two Vintners 2023 Grenache
Dark red-fruited and spicy, the 2023 Grenache offers pure, ripe notes of potpourri. The wine is refined, elegant, and fresh, delivering a ripe attack beautifully balanced by savory spice. It is a highly expressive wine.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2034
Two Vintners 2023 Claire
Floral and spicy, the 2023 Claire is red-fruited, showcasing crunchy red fruit layered with elegant oak spices. It reveals hints of char and sweet wood, leading into a peppery, lingering finish. It is very food-friendly, delightful, and nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Two Vintners 2023 Make Haste
A brilliant Cinsault, the 2023 Make Haste is high-toned, red-fruited, and deeply expressive. Notes of potpourri and orange rind mingle in this spicy and mineral-driven wine, accented by a touch of charred cherries.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Two Vintners 2023 Dire Wolf
Spicy, dark-fruited, and brooding in profile, the 2023 Dire Wolf is still quite young and exhibits a touch of stemminess. It needs time, so decanting is recommended.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2026-2034
Two Vintners 2022 Oliver
Big, juicy, and spicy, the 2022 Oliver delivers a vibrant, peppery hit with an unapologetic, balls-to-the-wall, full-throttle style that goes 0-60 in two seconds flat. This baby rips and will be great with fire-roasted chops and steaks!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Two Vintners 2022 Some Days Are Diamonds
An unmistakable Syrah, the 2022 Some Days Are Diamonds is spicy, meaty, and juicy. It offers potpourri alongside complex, savory notes of roasted meat and hot rocks. Featuring mineral tension and fine-grained tannins, it is a ripe, fresh, and pure expression of the varietal that concludes with a wonderfully rich, round finish. Bravo!!! It is very savory and beautifully balanced. I want more!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2043
Two Vintners 2022 Some Days Are Stones
A quintessential Rocks Syrah, the 2022 Some Days Are Stones brims with savory umami and sanguine notes. It possesses a spicy, mineral tension and elegant floral notes, all carried on a medium to full-bodied frame.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2045
Two Vintners 2023 Lola
Red-fruited and savory, the 2023 Lola is spicy, rocky, and softly oaky. It is a complex wine that beautifully shows notes of both Syrah and Cabernet expression. Give it time.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2026-2034
Two Vintners 2022 Legit
A big and expressive wine, the 2022 Legit is generous, bold, rich, and round. It is juicy and firm, though the palate shrinks slightly towards the finish. Overall, the wine seriously over-delivers for the price. Buy the case.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2034
Two Vintners 2023 Zinfandel
A Zinfandel that truly smells like Zinfandel, the 2023 Zinfandel is still juicy, featuring a kiss of volatility that makes perfect sense for the style. Classically Zinfandel in its profile, this medium to full-bodied wine is delightfully expressive and will do very well.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Two Vintners 2021 Ninny Late Harvest Riesling
Sticky, acid-driven, and succulent, the 2021 Ninny Late Harvest Riesling offers incredible freshness with a touch of off-the-cuff style. Clocking in at 8% alcohol with bright acidity, it delivers a classic note that makes perfect sense for Riesling. The wine is very pleasing.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2050
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Grenache Rosé
A bright and energetic rosé, the 2023 Grenache Rosé is fresh with a vibrant, spicy finish. It is very food-friendly and nicely done!
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2029
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Chenin Blanc
Fresh, crisp, and clean, the 2023 Chenin Blanc is peachy with amazing mineral tension. With a good leesy mouthfeel, the wine is medium-bodied, pristine, and acid-driven. It features a spicy core of white fruit. It is very food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Southwest Facing Sauvignon Blanc
Light-bodied, very citrus-driven and leesy, the 2022 Southwest Facing Sauvignon Blanc is softly phenolic, fresh, clean, and very food-friendly. It is highly textural and very tasty. It is pure and refreshing.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2035
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Candy Mountain Merlot
Dark red-fruited, juicy, and generously ripe, the 2022 Candy Mountain Merlot is bigger and fuller-bodied. It is complex, round, and rich, ending with a firm finish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Counterpart Merlot
Rich, round, and pure, the 2022 Counterpart Merlot has plenty of spice. It is medium to full-bodied and fresh with fine mineral tension and oak. It is very food-friendly and age-worthy!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2026-2045
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Seductive and full of splendor, the 2022 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh, silky, and both rustic and firm. It is plush and fluffy with fine-grained tannins. It ends with a captivating, floral, and slightly oaky finish. Bravo!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2055
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Quintessence Block 51
Firm, inky, and dusty with a solid, rocky core, the 2022 Quintessence Block 51 is a very rigid, medium-bodied red fruit expression. Fresh and complex, it is complete but will increase in complexity with additional time in the bottle. Give it time. Yum!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027-2055
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Upchurch Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly impressive, the 2022 Upchurch Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is very fine and fresh with an immaculate, spicy core. It has fantastic action on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is complex and the finish is long, pure, and peppery! Wow!!! This is world-class juice!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2027-2060
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 Hero Twins
Showing great purity, the 2022 Hero Twins is expressive with a pure and ripe core of fruit lifted by its freshness. It is medium to full-bodied, pristine, and vibrant. It is layered and complex, truly world-class. It is spicy and tannic with a fine, fresh, elegant, and evocative finish. It is utterly pleasurable.
Score: 99 | Drink: 2027-2060
Upchurch Vineyard 2024 Grenache Rosé
Classic, fresh, and complex, the 2024 Grenache Rosé showcases wonderful mineral tension. Spicy and medium-bodied, it offers a fuzzy, intricate finish that is highly food-friendly. This delightful wine is perfectly suited for a meal. Enjoy with food.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2035
Upchurch Vineyard 2024 Chenin Blanc
Classic, picturesque, and fresh, the 2024 Chenin Blanc is a complex, layered, and citrusy wine with a strong mineral drive. Medium-bodied and electric with focused acidity, it boasts pure varietal essence and an intricate finish. This is perhaps the best Chenin Blanc from Upchurch to this day. Bravo!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2034
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Southwest Facing Sauvignon Blanc
Slightly darker than the 2022, the 2023 Southwest Facing Sauvignon Blanc is fresh and slightly herbal with mineral and spicy notes. With a kiss of reduction, it remains zesty, vibrant, and complex. Medium-bodied, the wine delivers peppery lemon notes and a focused, citrus-driven character. It is very food-friendly and highly pleasing. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2037
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Candy Mountain Merlot
Picturesque and pure, the 2023 Candy Mountain Merlot is still tight and mineral-driven, yet fleshy and plummy with notes of blackberry skins. Medium to full-bodied, it features fine-grained tannins, succulent acidity, and a plush, food-friendly complexity. It will likely be better after a decade of age and will gracefully evolve for two decades. Nicely done! Decanting is recommended, enjoy with food.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2047
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Counterpart
Made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2023 Counterpart is a fleshy and ripe beauty. It reveals complex layers of dark cherry and black raspberry, remaining mineral-driven, fresh, and pure. The wine is still tightly wound but presents a picturesque and complete profile. Full-bodied, intricate, round, and plush, it is unmistakably pleasurable, rich, and vibrant. A brilliant wine!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2028-2050
Upchurch Vineyard 2022 LTL Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Classic, red-fruited, fresh, and fleshy, the 2022 LTL Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is an over-delivering wine. It showcases black cherry, minerality, and pencil shavings, offering a vibrant, plush, and mineral-driven profile. Layered, complex, and full-bodied, this wine is highly focused and continues to outperform with its mineral essence. It truly over-delivers for the price.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Quintessence Vineyard Block 51 Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2023 Quintessence Vineyard Block 51 Cabernet Sauvignon is still tightly wound and mineral-driven. Firm and rigid, it features complex graphite notes. Full-bodied, the wine is incredibly food-friendly and will benefit from additional aging. It’s a big boy. Decanting is recommended, give it time.
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2028-2053
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Made from clone 2, the 2023 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon has a juicy, ripe expression of dark cherry and black raspberry, accompanied by minerality, focused freshness, and finesse. The wine is vibrant, fresh, complex, and mineral-driven, offering plenty of tight, intricate layers. It is very zesty, spicy, and bold, yet lush, possessing beautiful extract and purity that embodies the classic Red Mountain essence. Bravo!
Score: 97 | Drink: 2027-2045
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Slightly shy on the nose, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is harmonious and slightly compact, revealing dark fruit, minerality, oak spices, dark red tones, and purple flowers. The wine then blossoms on the palate, expanding to cover the entire mouth with plenty of spice, dark berries, oak, and mineral-driven floral essences. It grows exponentially in intensity over time. This gorgeous wine needs some time to come around, but it will deliver brilliantly. Just be patient!
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2028-2058
Upchurch Vineyard 2023 Hero Twins
A touch more mineral-driven, the 2023 Hero Twins is brilliant but still shy at the moment, yet it will be unstoppable with time. It is immaculate, full-bodied, round, and still tightly wound, promising to slowly release its secrets. It is a delicate masterpiece and a fantastic example of the chateau. Complex and still firm, this wine will undoubtedly showcase an indispensable finesse and richness without being overbearing. It will be phenomenal in 10-15 years, possessing all the elegance, grace, and precision of a world-class first growth. Proving that a great wine doesn’t have to be bigger and bolder to be better, this stunning wine will stand the test of time. Pure elegance and finesse in the making! Just be patient and give it time. Bravo!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2028-2067
Upsidedown Wine 2024 Tremasi Rose
Very fresh and bright, the 2024 Tremasi Rose is mineral-driven with notes of petrichor and a crisp, rocky essence. Medium to light-bodied, the wine is very textural and vibrant. It features clean acidity and a mineral-driven profile that is very pleasing and complex.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2031
Upsidedown Wine 2024 Rescue Rose
Fresh, bright, and citrusy with mineral tension, the 2024 Rescue Rose offers hints of spicy, dusty potpourri and lemon zest. The wine is complex, refreshing, and clean, featuring delightful red floral notes. It ends with a zesty, pristine finish.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2025-2029
Upsidedown Wine 2023 Roussanne
Elegant, rich, round, and fresh, the 2023 Roussanne is expressive after spending 20 months on the lees. With hints of oak, the mid-palate provides immense pleasure, highlighted by pitch-perfect notes of soft wood spices. Boasting high mineral tension, it has a soft phenolic grip and ends with a very food-friendly finish. Bravo!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2038
Upsidedown Wine 2023 Viognier
Elegant and fresh, the 2023 Viognier features notes of sweet citrus, orange oil, and overall vibrancy. It presents a soft phenolic bitterness and is ripe and refined, displaying delightful mineral tension and succulent acidity that is impressive for the varietal. It is medium to full-bodied with a delightfully food-friendly finish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2034
Upsidedown Wine 2023 Artist Collection White
Immensely pleasurable with chamomile and orange blossom notes, the 2023 Artist Collection White possesses a soft, leafy, and highly enjoyable character. Medium-bodied, it is rich and round, pitch-perfect in structure, and beautifully layered. A spicy core grows in amplitude, showcasing impressive focus. The wine is gorgeous.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2043
Upsidedown Wine 2022 The Gold Drop Collection Grenache
Darker with dusty dark red fruits and a savory edge marked by wild sagebrush elements, the 2022 The Gold Drop Collection Grenache is firm, rocky, and rigid. It offers a tannic edge that is very food-friendly, remaining very fresh and promising to improve with age. It ends with a spicy, herbal, potpourri, and cherry skin finish.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Upsidedown Wine 2022 Stoney Florals Grenache
Very fresh and primary, the 2022 Stoney Florals Grenache is expressive, red-fruited, ripe-berried, and vibrant. Complex and pure, it is juicy and spicy, offering a succulent and rocky profile with fine mineral tension. The wine ends with a delightfully crisp, lush, clean, and subtly peppery finish.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2033
Upsidedown Wine 2022 The Gold Drop Collection Mourvedre
A more serious expression with potpourri and notes of black raspberry and peppercorn, the 2022 The Gold Drop Collection Mourvedre is complex, fresh, layered, and expressive. The skin is vibrant and pure, revealing a spiced plum compote and wild brush. The wine is very pristine and spicy, offering a crisp and beautiful frame of gorgeous, evocative, and very food-friendly fruit.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2038
Upsidedown Wine 2022 Cross Block Mourvedre
Very pleasurable, the 2022 Cross Block Mourvedre is spicy, expressive, and mineral-driven with spiced hints of cherries. The wine is very peppery, ripe, and exceptionally enjoyable, remaining fresh with dusty, seasoned plums and beautiful fine mineral tension. It showcases a vibrancy that possesses precision and spice. Decanting is recommended. It is a very crisp and generous profile with a delightful mid-palate.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2040
Upsidedown Wine 2022 The Gold Drop Field Blend
Very pure, fresh, and complex, the 2022 The Gold Drop Field Blend is spicy and juicy, with succulent, ripe potpourri and red peppercorn notes. It shows elegance, power, precision, and finesse and is very food-friendly.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2045
Upsidedown Wine 2023 Tremasi Field Blend
Spicy with notes of peppercorn and a soft herbal edge reminiscent of chile rellenos, the 2023 Tremasi Field Blend is very fresh. It offers a full-bodied, spicy, and earthy expression that is vibrant and highly expressive, highlighting a delightful mineral tension. Notes of pencil shavings lead into a very tight, succulent finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Upsidedown Wine 2021 Artist Collection Syrah
Dark berried and spicy with notes of earthy baked earth, the 2021 Artist Collection Syrah is very fresh, mineral-driven, and tight. It features a gripping core with a subdued fruit essence that slowly uncoils in the glass to reveal more spice, hints of oak, and elegant resinous notes. Supported by succulent tannins, the wine is ripe and fresh.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2041
Upsidedown Wine 2022 Artist Collection Syrah
Featuring a label change that represents a snapshot of the winemaker’s thoughts on its style, the 2022 Artist Collection Syrah is fresh, complex, and floral. Made with 60% whole cluster, it is very fresh and ripe, presenting a spicy and very pure profile. It offers medium to full-bodied potpourri and expressive red fruit tones. The wine ends with a mineral-driven finish and gripping mineral tension.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2045
Upsidedown Wine 2023 Birds and Things and Flowers
Displaying inky and dark red flowers with a firm ferric grip, the 2023 Birds and Things and Flowers is very fresh, complex, and floral, featuring firm notes of graphite and olive fruit. The wine is dark with an iron-like grip, remaining fresh, complex, and mineral-driven. Medium to full-bodied and tight, the wine is rich and very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2025
Upsidedown Wine 2022 The Gold Drop Malbec
Instantly gorgeous, the 2022 The Gold Drop Malbec is plummy and expressive with notes of blueberry, sour plums, and black cherry. Utilizing about 20% whole cluster, it features savory notes of rock and floral resinous purple flowers, making the wine all the better for it. It ends with a succulent, very pleasurable, and complex, rich, round finish. The wine is very fresh, possesses impressive longevity, and delivers a very long, pure finish. Bravo!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026-2045
Upsidedown Wine 2022 The Gold Drop Cabernet Sauvignon
Ripe, juicy, and fresh, the 2022 The Gold Drop Cabernet Sauvignon is very complex and possesses a generous quality. Displaying a slightly magenta color, it is fresh, pure, and softly savory with elegant elements. Generous and softly focused, the wine is delightful and quite food-friendly.
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2037
Upsidedown Wine 2022 Equus Reserve
Offering firm, fresh dark fruits and a spicy essence, the 2022 Equus Reserve features notes of blackberry, wild sagebrush, herbs, and peppercorns over sour plums and black raspberry. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has succulent acidity and an elegant, slow release of its secrets, yet it packs a punch. Bold and fresh, it wonderfully reveals its depths over time, proving to be long, textured, and very food-friendly with a cerebral finish. Bravo!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2040
Upsidedown Wine 2023 Sweet Marsanne
Offering notes of apricot and dried raisins, the 2023 Sweet Marsanne is fresh, featuring hints of quince paste, peach syrup, and apple reduction. Pure, fresh, juicy, and ripe with candied sweetness, the wine is succulent, elegant, and ripe.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2026-2052
Va Piano Vineyards 2022 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm and austere with dusty dark fruit extract, the 2022 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is big and bold with layers and firm grip through the full-bodied finish. It is open-knit on the palate and ends with a generously layered and spicy finish. Very food-friendly.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2040
Va Piano Vineyards 2022 Octave Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, bold, and extracted, with hints of volatility, the 2022 Octave Cabernet Sauvignon is big, juicy, fresh, and complex. It has oak, tannins, and dark red and black fruit tones. The wine is big, beefy, and generous. It has firm, gripping tannins that will be even better with age and even better with food. Enjoy with steaks and chops off the grill. Nicely done!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2040
Va Piano Vineyards 2022 Va Piano Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2022 Va Piano Cabernet Sauvignon is big, bold, and fresh. It has a firm tannic edge that grips and holds the palate and finish. Extracted, rich, and with a succulent mouthfeel, it ends with a lingering, spicy finish.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Va Piano Vineyards 2022 DuBrul Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich and bold in style, round with blackberry notes, spiced plum compote, and oak essences, the 2022 DuBrul Cabernet Sauvignon is concentrated with generous fruit tones that glide with a beautifully oaky finish. Not overdone, but delivers a big, full expression. The palate is silky, smooth, and elegant as it is rich, round, and juicy. It’s power and grace in a glass! Nicely done!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2042
Va Piano Vineyards 2022 Rosebud Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm, dusty, and dark-fruited with a core of black raspberry and blackberry essence, the 2022 Rosebud Cabernet Sauvignon is generous, layered, and fresh with a spicy and mineral core at its heart. Full-bodied, ripe, and firmly tannic, this will be better with age and decanting is recommended. Elegant oak expression. The finish is quite delightful.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2040
Va Piano Vineyards 2024 Chelle den Millie Sauvignon Blanc
Fresh and complex with a delightful quality on the nose, the 2024 Chelle den Millie Sauvignon Blanc is very citrus-driven and has a fine mineral tension. Made in mostly concrete and 30% stainless steel, it is succulent, medium-bodied, and very food-friendly. Will deliver pleasure for another 5-7 years to come. Nicely done!
Score: 91+ | Drink: 2025-2032
Va Piano Vineyards 2024 Celilo Chardonnay
The nose of the 2024 Celilo Chardonnay has a soft, under-ripe tropical note with sweet Meyer lemon, yellow pear, and yellow apples. With hints of banana and under-ripe pineapple, the wine is elegant with energetic acidity, freshness, and hints of lees. The wine is very fresh and very complex. Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2035
Va Piano Vineyards 2023 Va Piano Estate Cabernet Franc
Juicy and fresh with a dusty dark cherry note on the nose, the 2023 Va Piano Estate Cabernet Franc is sweet, with a sweet herbaceousness and hints of sappy plum compote and dusty dark cherry. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is still tight and has sticky tannins that will release in the next 3 years. Will be beautiful over the next 10-15 years. Give it time.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2028-2040
Va Piano Vineyards 2023 Estate Uniti
Instantly impressive, the 2023 Estate Uniti explodes with precision and finesse. Offering power and elegance alongside dusty dark red fruit, it is devastatingly gorgeous, fresh, complex, and layered with dusty tannins that are refined and elegant. Fleshy, the wine is full-bodied and expressive. Very complex and full, it concludes with a long, very complex finish. Utterly food-friendly.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2045
Va Piano Vineyards 2023 Octave Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Still very primary, the 2023 Octave Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh and rustic. Very layered and complex, it is long, complex, and very mineral, but very pleasing and full-bodied. Will be better with time and with food. Give it time, your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2028-2050
Va Piano Vineyards 2023 Va Piano Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Rounder, fresh, and more vibrant with a lift of oak spice and freshness, the 2023 Va Piano Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is more refined. The wine is very refined, fresh, and full-bodied. Complex, layered, juicy, and has elegant oak tones and brown baking spices. Offering freshness and complexity, it concludes with a long, food-friendly finish.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2028-2045
Va Piano Vineyards 2023 DuBrul Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, juicy, and fresh, the 2023 DuBrul Cabernet Sauvignon reveals a dusty dark cherry nature alongside herbal, leafy nuances. Full-bodied, fresh, and complex, the wine concludes with a long, lingering finish. Very good.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2028-2045
Va Piano Vineyards 2023 Rosebud Cabernet Sauvignon
Very fine and finessed, the 2023 Rosebud Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Wahluke Slope, where the vineyards suffered from red blotch and leaf roll. The wine is fresh and electric on the nose, showcasing a remarkable vibrancy and depth. It is medium to full-bodied.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2027-2040
Valdemar Estates 2023 Entre Nosotros Chardonnay
Impressively attractive and fresh on the nose with lemon pastry cream and sweet oak expression, the 2023 Entre Nosotros Chardonnay has a soft, leesy, and nutty expression with poached apples and peaches. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is rich and round with a spicy core and an elegant finish that has me coming back for more! Nicely done!
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Valdemar Estates 2024 Las Canteras Viognier
A softer and subdued style of Viognier, the 2024 Las Canteras Viognier is fresh, complex, and delightful. Fresh and complex with a kiss of phenolic bitterness, and ends with a surprising weight and texture and a spicy finish.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2034
Valdemar Estates 2022 Walla Walla Syrah
Softly expressive and subdued in the glass, the 2022 Walla Walla Syrah slowly uncoils, showing a delicate style of floral and spicy Syrah. The nose is red-fruited with hints of oak potpourri and red peppercorn. Medium to full-bodied, it is covered up with more high-toned red fruit and floral notes that slowly reveal themselves across the palate, which I find immensely pleasing.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2025-2038
Valdemar Estates 2022 Walla Walla Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Black-fruited, rich, and extracted on the mouthfeel, the 2022 Walla Walla Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has firm mineral tension that expresses across the mid-palate with a firm graphite layer that drops in just after the tannins grip the gumline. A very pleasurable wine, the oak spices slowly release on the mouthfeel, which coats and glides to a rich, round, elegant finish that still needs additional time in bottle to come around. Give it time, your patience will be rewarded.
Score: 94 | Drink: 2027-2045
Valdemar Estates 2024 Las Canteras Grenache Blanc
Classic, fresh, mineral-driven, and lemony citrus notes define the 2024 Las Canteras Grenache Blanc, which was aged in a 50/50 blend of stainless steel and neutral barrels. Medium-bodied, the wine has a succulent acidity and will remain food-friendly for years to come. It features a delightful phenolic grip that makes it very pleasing, culminating in a long, lingering finish. Very food-friendly and succulent finish that has me coming back for more.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2032
Valdemar Estates 2023 French Creek Chardonnay
Instantly pleasing and luxurious, the 2023 French Creek Chardonnay explodes from the glass with precision, finesse, and full expression. This wine has all the bells and whistles that Chardonnay lovers will come to love and respect, featuring plenty of attractive oak and brown baking spices that melt seamlessly into its profile. Notes of yellow apples and Asian pears mingle with sweet Meyer lemons, offering depth and complexity for days. Medium to full-bodied, it is a brilliant wine worth every penny that drinks like a baby Montrachet. Bravo!
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Valdemar Estates 2023 Las Canteras Grenache
Dusty red cherry and hints of leafy herbs lie just under the bright, fresh, and ripe juicy core of the 2023 Las Canteras Grenache. Revealing hints of earth and spice, this medium to full-bodied wine is expressive and complex. Made from young vines, it shows great promise, though future vintages will likely be even better once the vines are more established. It ends with a long phenolic finish. Decanting recommended.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2037
Valdemar Estates 2023 Las Canteras Syrah
A classic Syrah from the Rocks, the 2023 Las Canteras Syrah displays a savory character, plenty of ripeness, and juiciness complemented by a soft umami note. Elegant potpourri spices and succulent cherry notes glide effortlessly across the mid-palate. Medium to full-bodied, it offers flavors of summer sausage and cranberry delivered with elegance and energy. It has verve and elegant attitude!
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026-2040
Valdemar Estates 2023 WeatherEye Syrah
More generous in style, the 2023 WeatherEye Syrah is structured, firm, and mineral-driven, showcasing a boldness to its freshness and firmness. Full-bodied with firm mineral tension and tighter tannins, this very food-friendly wine will reward patience over time. It reveals a soft savory aspect that is very pleasing and fresh. Decanting is recommended. Give it time.
Score: 95+ | Drink: 2027-2042
Valdemar Estates 2022 Klipsun Syrah
Representing the last vintage before the vines were pulled out, the 2022 Klipsun Syrah is impressive and bold, delivering both precision and finesse. The wine is dark red-fruited, featuring notes of spiced plum and cherries, sweet baking spices, and an elegant touch of star anise. It is finessed and structured, boasting pitch-perfect tannins and acidity with alcohol levels nicely in check. With a kiss of volatility, it overall delivers plenty of pleasure as a generous beauty that makes you think you can fly. Kudos to Devyani and Jesus for creating such a beautiful wine!
Score: 98 | Drink: 2027-2045
Valdemar Estates 2022 Seven Hills Malbec
Big and juicy with a ripe acidity and freshness, the 2022 Seven Hills Malbec offers enticing notes of spiced plum compote and spiced cherries. The wine is bright, shiny, and polished, carrying an undeniable elegance. Medium to full-bodied, it is beautifully balanced and complex. Finessed and red-fruited with fresh acidity and brightness, the wine is gorgeous and never overdone. Bravo!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2025-2040
Valdemar Estates 2022 Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, bold, and classic, the 2022 Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon presents a polished, refined, and rustic character that is both powerful and complexly balanced. It showcases big, juicy, and refined black and dark dusty red fruit intertwined with earthy and mineral notes. Built on a rustic frame, it is brilliant and expressive, highlighted by elegant brown baking spices that lead into a long, stunning finish. Very food-friendly, nicely done!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2027-2045
Valdemar Estates 2022 Eventide Estate
Intensely impressive, the 2022 Eventide Estate is devastatingly gorgeous and fresh, bursting with juicy plums and spiced potpourri. Very complex and fresh, though still tight, the wine possesses energy, finesse, verve, and expressive complexity. This is a brilliant wine that will age gracefully for decades, performing wonderfully with time and food while still delivering greatness in its youth. It’s world-class Merlot!
Score: 97+ | Drink: 2027-2047
Valo 2022 Atemporal
Showcasing mineral tension and a kiss of pyrazines, the 2022 Atemporal is pure and red-fruited with succulent acidity. Medium-bodied, the wine is fresh and complex. It is very food-friendly, very pleasurable, and fresh with mineral tension.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Valo 2022 Reserve Petit Verdot
Dense, dark, and deep, the 2022 Reserve Petit Verdot has a dark skin and dense expression. It is deep, full-bodied, gripping, and inky.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2036
Valo 2022 Intemporal
Beautiful, fresh, rich, and round, the 2022 Intemporal is tight and firm. It features a medium to full-bodied, tight, fine-grained tannic structure. The wine is very fresh and complex with mineral tension.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2025-2038
Valo 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc
Spicy and herbal with a core of fruit and spice, the 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc flows into fine-grained tannins and a fresh frame of succulent acidity. Enjoy with food.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2036
Valo 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Generous and expressive with notes of herbal pyrazines, red pepper, blackberry, plum preserves, oak essence, cedar, and cigar box, the 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex offering. Fresh and complex, medium to full-bodied, the wine is balanced, fresh, complex, and rich. Very food-friendly, nimble, and brings me back for more. Yum!
Score: 93 | Drink: 2025-2037
Valo 2022 Reserve Merlot
With graphite notes, dusty plum, and dark cherry skin alongside hints of oak, the 2022 Reserve Merlot is very tight still, but has good bones. Offering plenty of structure, the wine is very nimble and quick on its feet. Nicely done, can age for more than a decade.
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2027-2038
Van Loben Sels Cellars 2023 Chardonnay
Offering a broad and approachable nose with notes of sweet corn, lemon pastry, and poached yellow apples in rum and cinnamon, the 2023 Chardonnay reveals a generously layered palate that has me looking for more energetic acidity to give the wine more life and longevity.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2029
Van Loben Sels Cellars 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
A big, juicy, fresh, and round style of Cabernet, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon features dark red fruit and hints of savory herbal notes and oak. Red-fruited and still slightly primary. Medium-bodied, the wine is red-fruited and spicy with a herbal sweet edge that seems pulled in different directions.
Score: 89+ | Drink: 2026-2035
Van Loben Sels Cellars 2019 Bona Dea
With dusty red fruit that is also savory, showing notes like orange tree, the 2019 Bona Dea is big and generous and has fine-grained tannins. The acidity is approachable and ready for action, ending with a spicy herbal finish.
Score: 90+ | Drink: 2025-2037
ViNO 2022 Pinot Grigio
Simply fruited with notes of fresh and slightly tart fruit, the 2022 Pinot Grigio offers ripe peach and expressive lemons. Medium-bodied, the wine has a kiss of phenolic bitterness and ends with a straightforward finish that delivers well for the price.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
ViNO 2023 Rosé
Bright and succulent on the nose, the 2023 Rosé is a fresh and clean wine that offers soft lemony citrus notes with hints of cherry and wild strawberry. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is clean and correct, ending with a straightforward and slightly spicy finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2027
ViNO 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Offering simple red fruit and slightly savory notes, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh, firm, and subdued on the palate. Built for speed and not distance, this is medium to full-bodied with a straightforward finish meant for early consumption.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2029
Wautoma Springs 2021 Behemoth
Big and bold with juicy, ripe, and sweet oak spices, the 2021 Behemoth is rich and round. The wine is generously layered, big, and bold, fitting its name. The wine ends with a spicy finish with ripe, approachable, and accessible fruit tones.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2025-2032
Wautoma Springs 2021 Professor
Showcasing dense dark red and black fruit tones, the 2021 Professor is firm, expressive, and offers notes of roasted coffee. Ends with a succulent finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025-2032
Wautoma Springs 2021 Fork + Spoon
Dusty and dark red-fruited without any herbal or spicy notes that tell me it’s Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Fork + Spoon has notes of baked cherries and spiced plum reduction. The wine slowly uncoils with a rumor of soft herbal expression on the palate that ends with a broad and tannic finish.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2031
Wautoma Springs 2022 Chardonnay
With creamed corn and baked lemons alongside notes of poached pear on the nose, the 2022 Chardonnay is broad and hot. The wine is medium-bodied and the palate reveals a straightforward and approachable mouthfeel, but leaves me wanting a bit more life-giving energetic acidity on the palate and finish.
Score: 88 | Drink: 2025-2028
Wautoma Springs 2023 Albariño
Featuring hints of lemon verbena and lime candy with a citrus core, the 2023 Albariño is a medium-bodied wine with succulent acidity that races to the finish. Ends with an easy-drinking, straightforward finish that delivers well for the price.
Score: 89 | Drink: 2025-2027
WeatherEye 2023 Clairette
Dirty and bright, the 2023 Clairette is peachy, under-ripe, and fresh. Heady and sweet, it is bright, clean, and very pleasurable. Very food-friendly.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2034
WeatherEye 2023 Marsanne
Showcasing notes of peach, marzipan, and nutty phenolics, the 2023 Marsanne is fresh, boozy, and generous. It is structured, quite cerebral, and fresh.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2033
WeatherEye 2023 Roussanne
Very fuzzy and phenolic, the 2023 Roussanne is spicy, fresh, and clean. It offers notes of marzipan and grilled pineapple, leading to a lingering texture.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026-2036
WeatherEye 2023 Grenache
With a minty and herbal nose that shows some volatility, the 2023 Grenache is red-fruited with spicy cherry. The wine is herbal, savory, and very food-friendly. Decanting recommended.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2036
WeatherEye 2023 Mourvèdre
Featuring a very bright, generous, and fresh nose, the 2023 Mourvèdre is expressive and generous. It reveals spicy notes of worn leather and graphite, culminating in a firm, long, spicy finish.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2026-2036
WeatherEye 2023 Syrah
Firm, gripping, and fresh, the 2023 Syrah is a firm, layered, and structured wine. It showcases dark red and black fruit expressions, supported by a firm, tannic grip.
Score: 90? | Drink: 2025-2030
Woodward Canyon 2023 Washington State Chardonnay
Fresh, ripe, and layered with pomaceous and citrus essences, the 2023 Washington State Chardonnay offers lemon pastry cream and yellow apples that waft from the glass with notes of citrus blossom.
Score: 90 | Drink: 2025-2032
Woodward Canyon 2022 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon
Impressive in the glass with notes of dusty dark red and black fruit tones lifted by dusty red and purple flowers, sweet oak spices, and elegant wild herbs and brush notes, the 2022 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon offers healthy, ripe, and expressive fruit with a delightfully full core. The wine is beautifully layered and I can’t help but keep smelling the glass and savoring the wine. It’s brilliantly made and will be great with food. Decanting is recommended.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
Woodward Canyon 2022 Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh, complex, and herbal, with notes of red fruit and a firm, gripping tannic edge, the 2022 Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon is spicy and subtly oaky with plenty of sweet baking spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and a spicy clove. On the palate, the wine slowly uncoils to reveal an impressive layer of freshness, fruit, earth, oak, and herbal, floral spices. Nicely done!
Score: 94 | Drink: 2026-2042
Woodward Canyon 2022 Estate Cabernet Franc
A classic Cabernet Franc with seductive dark cherry notes, sweet orange peel, dusty black fruit notes, and plum skin, the 2022 Estate Cabernet Franc is medium to full-bodied. It is rich and sincere with varietal purity that has me coming back for another sip. Nicely done!
Score: 92+ | Drink: 2025-2036
Woodward Canyon 2022 Estate Reserve Red Wine
Bigger and fleshier, generously ripe and succulent with sappy dark red and black fruit tones, the 2022 Estate Reserve Red Wine reveals complex layers of soft oak tones and hints of herbal nuances that lift the expression. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is fresh, complex, and offers a very food-friendly and lingering spicy conclusion. Decanting is recommended here. Nicely done.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2026-2040
