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72 results across all types
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Dunham Cellars
Here is the outstanding new lineup by Dunham Cellars. One of the oldest wineries in Walla Walla, Dunham Cellars was founded by the Dunham family in 1995. These have consistently been great wines that totally over-deliver for the price. The lineup has become one of the most impressive range of wines that do not break the bank. At the helm is winemaker Rob Campisi, who was formerly assistant winemaker at Dunham. Rob trained under eminent Washington winemaker, Dan Wampfler and he crafts quite a wide range of wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Trutina (Bordeaux style blend), Three Legged Red (red table wine) and the "Shirley Mays" Chardonnay, a dedication to Eric's grandmother. I love the new 2025 Dunham Cellar ‘Columbia Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 92) which shows beautiful texture and weight. I was blown away with the 2021 Dunham Cellars ‘Lewis Vineyard Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which shows off the heat from this warmer vintage, with great opule
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Nysa Vineyard
Great new wines by Nysa Vineyard. Today we share the wines of Nysa Vineyard which is a family-owned operation that was founded back in 1990. Owner and winemaker, Michael Mega purchased a parcel of orchards high in the Dundee Hills of Oregon in anticipation of growing world-class pinot. It was with passion, hard work and patience that Nysa Vineyard has become one of the most prestigious in the hills, providing Pinot noir to acclaimed producers throughout the Willamette Valley. It was 2004 that Michael made his first vintage of Nysa Vineyard Pinot Noir. I really enjoyed the new wines. I was really impressed with the 2023 Nysa Vineyard Chardonnay (OB, 93) which shows loads of texture and flavor range. Learn more at https://www.nysavineyard.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Nysa Vineyard releases. 2019 Nysa Vineyard ‘Blanc de Noir’ Sparkling Wine- Sourced from Dundee Hills Pinot Noir grapes, this 2019 opens with red raspberry and Bing cherry notes on the nose with beautiful orange bl
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Hambledon
Here are the outstanding new wines by Hambledon. One of the historic wineries in England, Hambledon Vineyard was originally planted back in 1952 by Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones. Hambledon is set in the 'Cradle of Cricket’ and vines are planted on chalky soils that resemble some found in champagne. In fact, the soils are the Newhaven Chalk formation that developed between the Santonian and Campanian eras of the Upper Cretaceous period (known as the Senonien period in Champagne). The same chalk, with the same Belemnite content, is found in some of the most famous Chardonnay areas of the Côtes des Blancs in Champagne. Hambedon has a very impressive winemaking team. Hervé Jestin has overseen the production of more than 200 million bottles of Champagne and sparkling wine during his career and was chef des caves at Champagne Duval Leroy for over 20 years. Jestin’s new wines were fabulous. I love the nuance in the NV Hambledon Rose Sparkling Wine (OB, 92) which offers very delicate r
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Duckhorn Vineyards
Here are the outstanding new wines by Duckhorn Vineyards. Duckhorn Vineyards began with a mere 800 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and 800 cases of Merlot in 1978, and now has a range of producers under its portfolio. Since 2014, Renée Ary has served as head winemaker for Duckhorn Vineyards winemakers that began with Tom Rinaldi in 1978. Her promotion came after 11 years after serving as both assistant and associate winemaker. Originally from the East Coast, Renée moved to California to attend Saint Mary’s College, where she earned a degree in chemistry and art. Fascinated by the intersection between science and an art, winemaking quickly became Renée’s passion, career and way of life. Her first job was working in the lab at Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville, as she trained under famed winemakers Genevieve Janssens, Steve Leveque and Richard Sowalsky. During that time she took classes in winemaking and viticulture at UC Davis and Napa Valley College. Renee handles this program with a deft
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Force Majeure
Here are the stunning 2023 releases by Force Majeure. Happy Memorial Day to you all. Located on Red Mountain, the Force Majeure Vineyard is one of the region’s most impressive sites for a magical range of varietals from Viognier to Cabernet. These have been some of the best wines on Red Mountain. New releases come from the warmer 2023 vintage and I was blown away with the overall quality. Do not miss out on the sinfully good 2023 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain’ Syrah (OB, 99) which is powerful, burly and complex, with incredible flavor range. Learn more about these great wines at https://forcemajeurevineyards.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Force Majeure. 2023 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain Estate’ Grenache- The 2023 Force Majeure ‘Red Mountain Estate’ Grenache shows off amazing red currant and potpourri notes on the nose alongside shades of red licorice and smoked meats. The palate is dense and delicious with terrific richness, texture, tension and salty nuance. Bi
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Spottswoode
Here is the gorgeous new 2025 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc. Today we share the wines of one of Napa’s most historic properties. Spottswoode can date back to 1882. Founded by Mrs. Albert Spotts in 1910 and was later acquired by Mary and Jack Novak in 1972, Mary released Spottswoode’s first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1982, exactly one hundred years after the estate’s founding. The wines are well-structured, with gobs of aging potential. I have enjoyed the early ‘90s Spottswoode wines that seem to be timeless. Innovators in viticulture, they began organic farming all the way back in 1985. Today Mary’s daughter Beth Novak manages the winery, and daughter Lindsay Novak serves as the winery’s Marketing Ambassador. Every year Spottswoode produces an Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and an Estate Sauvignon Blanc in honor of their founder, Mary Novak. Spottswoode also crafts a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon called Lyndenhurst, a dual-appellation Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, and two limited-production wines
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Champagne Billecart-Salmon
Here are the stunning 2013 new releases by Champagne Billecart-Salmon. With great pleasure I share the wines of Billecart-Salmon one of the outstanding smaller producers in Champagne. They control an estate of 100 hectares, obtaining grapes from an area spanning 300 hectares across 40 crus of the Champagne region. The majority of the grapes used for vinification come from a radius of 20km around Epernay, where the Grand Crus of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay co-exist, in the vineyards of the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs. Now in its seventh generation, the house was initially formed with the marriage of 1818 when Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon in 1818. This remains a family winery since the beginning with Louis Salmon, brother of Elisabeth and a passionate oenologist, getting involved in the creation of the wines. They have a range of wines including their flagship ‘Nicolas Billecart’ and the two world-class champagnes
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2026 Paso Robles Report
Here is my 2026 Paso Robles Report, focusing on the 2023 and 2024 vintages. PURCHASE 2026 PASO REPORT HERE : https://owenbargreen.com/store/2026-paso-robles-report Heat It, Cool It: Paso Robles in 2023 and 2024 I had a marvelous March visit to Paso Robles. We had some warm weather and there was green everywhere from the winter rains. Crop cover looked really intense for the second straight years. The last day of my visit it was nearly 80 degrees! 2022 was not an easy year for Paso wines, but there were many great wines made. The September 2022 heat dome clearly did not have the same impact in Paso as it did in Napa. Those who were patient made really great wines that are slightly more on the hedonistic side. This is a vintage to drink early. 2023 was a polar opposite vintage and shows strong aging potential. It was an extremely long harvest with some picking their fruit all the way in November. 2023 wines have impeccable balance. Jordan Fiorentini of Epoch, explained that her ‘23s are
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Rhys Vineyard
Here are the gorgeous new wines by Rhys. We share today an incredible winery that utilizes some extreme farming. Slopes at these locations reach 40% grade The founder of Rhys Vineayrds, Kevin Harvey, had a successful software career prior to stating his winery. He began planting Pinot Noir in his backyard near the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA and has had his first vintage in 2004. The new release wines by Rhys from the slightly cooler 2023 vintage. They are not quite the level of their single vineyards but are completely outstanding, with a beginning, middle and an end. Check out the outstanding 2023 Rhys ‘Mt. Pajaro Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which is dense, salty and highly nuanced. Learn more about this incredible new lineup of wines at https://rhysvineyards.com Here are the exciting new wines by Rhys Vineyards 2023 Rhys Vineyards ‘Mt. Pajaro Vineyard’ Chenin Blanc- A sensational Chenin Blanc bottling, the 2023 ‘Mt. Pajaro’ shows off its oily mouthfeel. Rich melon fruits collid
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Massican
Here is the brilliant range of wines by Massican. Today we share the brilliant wines of Massican. This is a brand that was started by Dan Petroski back in 2009. The idea is genius — seeking to create old-world inspired white wines in the Napa Valley where Cabernet is unabashedly king. These wines continue to be affordably priced, where entry level Chardonnays in Napa command 100 dollars and sometimes more. For years Dan made world-class wines at Larkmead which rivaled some of the finest wines of the region — at a fraction of the price of cult competitors. These wines have been impressive regardless of vintage. It is no surprise that Dan sold his winery to Gallo in September 2023. I’m totally enamored by the 2025 Massican ‘Gemina’ White Wine (OB, 94) which is a marvelous rendition of Napa Greco. You won’t find a wine just like this anywhere in the world. Learn more about these novel, one of a kind wines at massican.com Here are my reviews of the gorgeous new Massican wines. 2025 M
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Chappellet
Marvelous new wines by Chappellet. Today we share the beautiful wines of Chappellet. It all began with Donn Chappellet who his collected Bordeaux wines while in college. He later ran Interstate United Corporation, a coffee-vending distributorship he co-founded in the mid-1950s, which he helped turn into the third-largest such business in the United States, with more than 7,000 employees and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Over time he shared his shares of Interstate United in 1966 and guided by the legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff of Beaulieu Vineyards bought 320 acres of rocky mountain terrain at the eastern edge of the Napa Valley. Donn saw this terroir as one which would connect with the great wines of Bordeaux. He saw the potential for Pritchard Hill and initially planted Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon which was met with great critical acclaim. Sadly passing in 2016, Donn became a legend of this great site in the Napa Valley. An amazing winemaker, Phillip Cora
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Appassionata
Here are the incredible new wines by Appassionata. It has now been several years since I have tasted the wines from one of the most electric projects in Oregon wine. An ingenious idea Appassionata is the dream of Ernie Loosen to age Oregon wines properly and then release them later than other estates. This winery project has involved two decades of planning and investment that began in 2005 with a limited bottling of Appassionata Pinot Noir, a collaboration with J. Christopher Wines. The full Appassionata range of wines now includes three Pinot Noirs of varying age, a barrel-fermented Chardonnay, a Sauvignon Blanc produced in acacia barrels, and a dry Riesling made in the German Grosses Gewächs (GG) style. The wines are beautiful. I was totally blown away by the 2023 Appasssionata ‘Uber’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 94). This makes its case for the best Sauvignon Blanc made in Oregon. Learn more about these great wines at jcristopherwines.com and here are my reviews of the new Appassiona
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Wines of Substance
Here are the really nice values from Wines of Substance. Just as it is important to share the wines of Quilted Creek and Cayuse, I have always sought to focus my reviews on wines that exude value. It is not the job of a wine critic to write every article on Opus One level wines — wines that most people can’t actually drink. One of the most recognizable wine brands in Washington State, Wines of Substance was founded back in 2015 by winemaker Charles Smith. Wines of Substance began producing high-quality, value-priced Cabernet Sauvignon and other varietals, characterized by a "periodic table" style label. It was acquired by O'Neill Vintners & Distillers in July 2024. The new wines were really nice for the price. I highly enjoyed the 025 Wines of Substance ‘Evergreen Vineyard’ Rose (OB, 90) which is light on its feet and mineral-laden with plenty of red fruit nuance. Learn more at https://substancewines.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Wines of Substance. 2022 Wines of Substance ‘C
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Lundeen
Great new releases by Lundeen. Today we share the wines of Oregon native Michael Lundeen. I have probably enjoyed these wines for well over a decade. My feeling is they continue to improve and certainly do with their bubbles program. Michael’s son adds a fourth generation of farmers! For years Michael was honing his skill with Pinot Noir luminaries at Willakenzie, Belle Pente and Domaine Serene, before becoming founding winemaker at Illahe Vineyards back in 2007. Michael joined Walnut City Wineworks as Winemaker in late 2010. Just a short hop from his own estate vineyard, the McMinnville-based winery was where his career would enter the next and most exciting phase. The once brick-red winery and custom crush facility now carries the Lundeen name and colors after he formally took ownership in 2022. Michael is making some fantastic Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines. He directs the farming of nearly 40 acres utilizing no-till and Organic practices and maintains the LIVE sustainability c
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Fairsing Vineyard
Great photo of the owners of Fairsing Vineyard. Today we share the great values of Fairsing Vineyard. This family owned site is well-known for their outstanding Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs. Stewards of their land, Mary Ann and Mike McNally purchased Fairsing Vineyard in the summer of 2005, with the purchase of approximately 200 acres of harvested forestland. Then in October 2006 eighteen acres of vines were successfully planted and trellised with the assistance of Oregon’s collegial winegrower community. Vineyard development continued at roughly five acres per year, with a total of thirty-eight acres of Pinot noir and five acres of Chardonnay currently under vine. Vines at Fairsing are nestled among one-hundred acres of forest, and seventy acres have been reforested with 18,000 conifers, 3,000 deciduous trees, and more than 6,000 native shrubs. This is a stunning location in the Willamette Valley. The wines are made by famed vintner Robert Brittan who has made some seriously
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Tranche
Here is the brilliant new lineup by Tranche. One of the jewels of the Walla Walla Valley, Tranche makes an amazing range of wines from their estate vineyards. They are also making one of the great Rose wines in Washington. I think that the quality of these wines continue to improve. They are now wines of serious power and finesse. Tranche is a great winery to visit with a super outdoor space where they have concerts on the weekend. It is a great place to unwind after a long week of work! I love the overall range here. Check out the brilliant 2025 Tranche ‘Pink Pape’ Rose (OB, 93) which is filled with flavor range and freshness. I am enamored by the 2023 Tranche ‘Pape’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is a world-class Rhone blend. Learn more about these beautiful wines athttps://www.tranche.wine Here are the awesome new wines by Tranche. 2025 Tranche ‘Pink Pape’ Rose- Composed of 52% Grenache with 31% Mourvèdre and smaller parts Counoise and Cinsault, this beauty was stored in stainless steel fo
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San Juan Vineyard
Great new 2025 Rose by San Juan Vineyard. For a long time I recall fondly visiting San Juan Vineyard, one of the historic locations in the Puget Sound AVA. At this site they have old vine Siegerrebe and Madeleine Angevine planted that are really serious wines. Having tasted there before, you are greeted at their 1895 remodeled school house and stunning estate-grown wines. It is a must-visit spot if going to San Juan Island. This house is now owned by the Corliss family. I really enjoyed the 2024 San Juan Vineyard Madeline Angevine (OB, 92) which has loads of texture and freshness. Learn more at https://www.sanjuanvineyard.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by San Juan Vineyard. 2023 San Juan Vineyard Madeline Angevine- The delightful 2024 San Juan Vineyard Madeline Angevine shows plenty of texture and vibrant acidity on the palate. Kiwi and wet stone notes parade with kumquat zest and green apple on the palate. Drink 2026-2031- 92 2023 San Juan Vineyard Siegerrebe- The outst
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Avennia
Here are the world-class spring wines by Avennia. Today we share the brilliant wines of Avennia — a joint venture between former Microsoft exec Marty Taucher and winemaker Chris Peterson. These wines are incredibly consistent and extremely well-made. They show texture, varietal character and brilliant tension. I have been so impressed with the white wine program and their rose wine that is consistently one of the best you find in the Pacific Northwest. Former DeLille Cellars Winemaker Chris Peterson stands tall at the helm. He is probably best known for his reds, but he has a magnificent touch with his whites. Check out the dazzling 2024 Avennia ‘La Perle’ White Wine (OB, 95) which is quite simply one to purchase by the case. Learn more about these special wines at avennia.com Here are my reviews of the new Avennia wines. 2024 Avennia ‘Oliane’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2024 ‘Oliane’ Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Boushet and Red Willow vineyards in the Yakima Valley. Once on the nose
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Bouchaine
Here is the beautiful modern facility at Bouchaine. For years when I was in graduate school I admired the drinkability of Bochaine wines. A winery with serious history, set in the southern end of the Napa Valley, Bouchaine Vineyards is the oldest continuously operating winery in the Carneros district. Land here was first cultivated in the 1880s, and later transformed Gerret and Tatiana Copeland in 1981, evolving into a sustainably farmed producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The wines were really good across the board. I love the 2024 ‘Carneros’ Gewurtztraminer (OB, 92) which is viscous with great flavor range. Learn more at https://bouchaine.com/ and here are my reviews of the new releases by Bouchaine. 2024 Bouchaine ‘Carneros’ Gewurtztraminer- The 2024 Bouchaine ‘Carneros’ Gewurtztraminer is fragrant and beautifully-textured stuff. Pink grapefruit and papaya flavors mingle well with green melon notes on the palate. Drink 2026-2032- 92 2024 Bouchaine ‘Alsatian Blen
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Big Table Farm
Here is the stunning new 2025 Rose (OB, 94) by Big Table Farm. One of the jewels of the Willamette Valley, Big Table Farm was founded by Clare Carver and Brian Marcy — two of the great people in Oregon wine. Marcy has a longstanding history in the wine industry, formerly serving as winemaker for Neyers prior to moving north and settling in the Willamette Valley. Wines are exceptionally good year in and year out. They have been making wines that have great flavor density and range, with terrific texture. Once again, Carver and Marcy have crafted one of the finest Rose wines you will taste in North America. Check out the 2025 Big Table Farm ‘Laughing Pig’ Rose (OB, 94) which is a hard to beat combination of weight, finesse and flavor range Learn more about Big Table Farm at http://www.bigtablefarm.com/ Here are the fantastic new release wines by Big Table Farm. 2025 Big Table Farm ‘Laughing Pig’ Rose- The utterly fabulous 2025 Laughing Pig’ Rose is a powerful, concentrated effort that wa
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Sojourn Cellars Vertical Tasting
Sojourn Cellars makes some incredible, cellar-worthy Pinots and Chards. Last Saturday I descended upon Sojourn Cellars in downtown Sonoma. It had been several years since I made my visit to taste some of the outstanding Pinots and Chards from this region. Sojourn Celalrs is under new ownership and we talked about the approach to wines. The wines have been remarkably consistent and they show terrific aging potential. The winery dates back to 2001 when two tennis friends–Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley–who shared a passion for two things: great wine and tennis. With Erich’s experience as an Assistant Winemaker at Arrowood Winery, the two developed a plan to produce small bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon from outstanding vineyard sources. They began with a hundred cases of Cabernet Sauvignon that they sold to friends and family. Today they produce more than different wines and have customers worldwide. It was fun to see how these age and I was enamored by the 2021 ‘Sangiacomo’ Pinot Noir (
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Whitman Hill
Great photo of the Whitman Hill vineyard. Today we share a newer producer from the Yakima Valley. Whitman Hill Vineyard sits at 1,200 feet on the south- and east-facing slopes above the Yakima Valley, where steady air movement, balanced sun exposure, and a natural cold-air drain create ideal conditions for even ripening and vineyard health. Beneath the surface, layers of sandy loam and fragments of caliche—a pale, porous rock unique to this area. Before establishing Whitman Hill, Scott and Denise Whitman co-owned a winery on Washington’s west side, sourcing grapes from the Yakima Valley and becoming deeply connected to the quality and character of its fruit. Their first wines for that project were made humbly in their garage. In 2020 the had the chance to acquire property in Zillah, which became Whitman Hill. New wines were really good. I love the 2024 Whitman Hill Chardonnay (OB, 91) which is neatly textured stuff with good richness. Learn more about this project at https://whitmanhil
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Tsillan Cellars
Here are the outstanding new wines by Tsillan Cellars. It is my pleasure to share a really good producer in the Lake Chelan AVA. This scenic location has a beautiful setting with plenty of outdoor seating. The 127 acre estate is Chelan’s largest planted vineyard. They make an exceedingly long range of wines from Chardonnay to Syrah from this estate. Italian varietals are also planted at the estate vineyard. Garrett Grubbs has been making great wines for Tsillan and joined the team in 2021. It is exceedingly difficult to grow many of these estate varietals in the heat that is accumulated in Lake Chelan. Grubbs did an excellent job with this lineup. I really love the 2023 Tsillan Cellars ‘Estate’ Malbec (OB, 91) which powerful and has great varietal character. Learn more at https://tsillancellars.com/ and here are my reviews of the new releases by Tsillan Cellars. 2024 Tsillan Cellars ‘Estate’ Viognier- The 2024 Tsillan Cellars ‘Estate’ Viognier offers lychee and melon notes on the nose
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St. Innocent
Here are the beautiful new sparkling wines by St. Innocent. One of the great estates in Oregon, St. Innocent was founded by Oregon Wine Pioneer, Mark Vlossak. Mark has a longstanding history in the Oregon wine industry as the first single vineyard Pinot Noir made by Mark dates back to 1989 from the O’Connor Vineyard. In 2006 Mark set up his winery at that same site of his first single vineyard wine, which is now named the Zenith Vineyard. For years I have loved Mark’s Pinot Noirs which exude class in their elegance and flavor range. Vlossak makes some of the finest Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc in the state, as his wines have a knack for landing on my Top 100. I love the 2021 St. Innocent ‘Cremant d’Innocent’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 93) which is entirely made from Freedom Hill Pinot Blanc grapes. Learn more about these awesome wines at https://stinnocentwine.com Here are the great new releases by St. Innocent. 2021 St. Innocent ‘Crement’ Rose Sparkling Wine - Composed from mostly P