Owen Bargreen

09/18/2025

FIGGINS

Today we share an icon in Washington wine, founded by eminent Leonetti proprietor Chris Figgisn. FIGGINS is an iconic brand started more than a decade ago and they have completed his new winery at the FIGGINS estate vineyard. This is a Napa level of hospitality at this scenic site, with its beautiful tasting room and elaborate caves underneath. A long time in the making, the winery is one of the great spots in the Pacific Northwest to taste, with expansive views of the entire valley. I love going there to taste and relax.
The quality in their Estate Red Wine has grown and grown in the past decade. The Estate Red is a combination of varietals year to year but focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon from this high elevation site set on loess soils. I know that they have been slowly adding more Petit Verdot into this blend as this site arguably produces the finest Petit in the state. This is always a proprietary blend that is stored now in almost half neutral barrels before bottling. The wine is extremely age worthy as I have tasted wines from ten years of age and they still have a long way to go in the cellar. They can be somewhat austere upon release and need a lot of air or time in the decanter if you don’t have the patience to cellar them.
The new wines come from the slightly cooler 2022 vintage which was more mixed in terms of overall quality for Bordeaux varietals. In this case, both of these wines can be bought with confidence. 2022 is a producer vintage for Bordeaux varietals and both of these wines have excellent power and poise. Quite simply a perfect wine, the 2022 ‘Caves’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) is a limited production wine that is going to sell out immediately. Only 75 cases made of this total stunner. Here are my reviews of the new 2025 fall releases by FIGGINS.

2022 FIGGINS Red Wine- The 2022 FIGGINS Red Wine is a proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot all coming from the Figgins Estate Vineyard. Stored in 70% new French oak, this delivers a knockout bouquet of graphite and tar alongside suggestions of huckleberry compote, mocha, and black licorice. The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. While this comes off initially aromatically reticent, after an hour of air this really sings in its high octave. The palate is plush as velvety tannins frame a glorious core of black and blue fruits, with menthol, dark chocolate shavings and stony mineral accents. This really needs at least another year or two of bottle age — but shows massive aging potential. Drink 2027-2050- 98

2022 FIGGINS ‘Caves’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Caves’ is a new wine made by winemaker Chris Figgins that utilizes a mere three barrels from two blocks at his estate vineyard. Inky and dark in the glass, the wine was stored for 22 months in all new French oak before bottling. Scorched earth and cuban cigar mark the nose alongside suggestions of Black Forest cake. The palate is lush and inviting with a sinfully good, pillowy texture, as this weightless beauty glides throughout the drinking experience. This just keeps building and building with each texturally opulent sip, offering a soaring combination of decadence, tension and flavor complexity. A world-class wine that is built to age, this is just a stunning accomplishment in what was a somewhat difficult vintage for Bordeaux varietals. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink 2028-2054- 100

09/16/2025

Cadence

Today we share the brilliant wines of Ben Smith and Gaye McNutt who for more than 25 years have been making exceptional bottlings from some of the state’s great sites. The wines age brilliantly even at the 20 year mark. Years back Cadence planted an estate vineyard on Red Mountain, the Cara Mia Vineyard, where most of their wines come from.
They did a really nice job in 2022 which was a slightly cooler vintage. I love the 2022 Cadence ‘Bel Canto’ Red Wine (OB, 96) which is impeccably balanced and shows amazing poise and power, with great herbal character from the Cabernet Franc. Learn more about this great winery at cadencewinery.com and here are my reviews of the the beautiful new wines by Cadence.

2023 Cadence ‘Coda’ Red Wine- The really good ‘Coda’ shows off the warmth of the vintage from 2023. Mostly Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this delivers forward and juicy red and dark fruits with sweet pipe to***co and milk chocolate notes on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Cadence ‘Camerata’ Red Wine- Hailing from the ‘Cara Mia Vineyard’ the 2022 ‘Camerata’ is a totally different blend than the ’21, with considerably more Merlot than last year’s bottling and no Cabernet Franc. It is marvelously herbal and well-structured stuff with medium-bodied red currants, wild blackberry and boysenberry notes that mingle well with salty soils and suggestions of Chinese black tea. Soft and refined, enjoy this elegant bottling now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2022 Cadence ‘Cara Mia Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Exuding class from this slightly cooler vintage, this bottling was entirely sourced from the Cara Mia Vineyard on Red Mountain, as this utilizes Cabernet Sauvignon clonal selections 191 and 8. The flavor density and richness of the wine really shines through, as this also comes off quite nervy. Scorched earth and black currants parade with dark chocolate shavings and pencil lead on the palate. This really needs several hours of air if enjoying now. Enjoy this gorgeous new wine over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 Cadence ‘Bel Canto’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Bel Canto’ has even more Cabernet Franc (92%) than the ’21, this ha a small amount of Merlot blended in, with no Petit Verdot in this edition. Coming from their Cara Mia Estate Vineyard, this delivers red florals on the nose with orange bell pepper, black licorice, bay leaf and suggestions of tar on the nose. The palate is soft and seamless with slightly less flavor density than the ’21 but more elegance. This is a seamless, utterly gorgeous bottling that will surely live on for another ten to fifteen years. Be sure to give this several hours in the decanter if enjoying now. Tasted several times over two days with consistent notes. Drink 2025-2040- 96

09/12/2025

WeatherEye

Today we present the glorious wines of WeatherEye Vineyard. Yesterday I had a phone call with owner of WeatherEye, Cam Myhrvold, as we tasted together. He is bullish on the upcoming vintage and they are now making their second production Rose [first one was not sold to public] which is going to be really cool to try. He feels that the 2023 vintage “was better than ’22. I think for the white it is better than the ’22 as well, texture and flavor density wise. We are now getting a better idea on how to make the wines. This year one of the big changes is we made the Roussanne with five days of skin contact and previously it didn’t have skin contact.” He stated that the 2023 wines “have really good richness” from this warmer vintage. “We want to add richness and ageability without distraction from the fruit” he said. He mentioned that it was not his initial intention to make so many white wines “but we did not come into this making four whites but here we are. We are glad we do this now.”
Over time the WeatherEye Vineyard has been one of the top vineyard sites in Washington. Wines from this site are wild, herbal, salty and stony. This remote, northern-facing location on Red Mountain is unlike anything that you see from Washington State. They have a new winemaker as Louis Skinner worked on the final blends of the 2023 whites and reds. The 2023 white wines from WeatherEye are just outstanding which deftly show off the warmth of the vintage. They show incredible richness and great varietal character. I am enamored by both the 2023 Marsanne and Roussane (OB, 97 & 97) both dense, nervy and showing insanely good flavor range. Learn more at https://www.weathereyevineyard.com/ and here are my reviews of the 2023 white wines by WeatherEye.

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

2023 WeatherEye Marsanne- The 2023 Marsanne was fermented in a combination of amphora and oak, and then was stored on its lees 20 months until bottling in summer 2025. This offers Macadamia nut on the nose alongside cantaloupe, white peach and hints of ginger. The palate is beautifully-weighted with loads of sea salt and tension. A glorious wine to enjoy now, with serious depth and flavor density, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 97

2023 WeatherEye Roussanne- The 2023 Roussanne was also stored in a combination of amphora and oak before bottling. Very golden in the glass, this offers sinfully good aromatics of lemon peel, candied apricot and suggestions of papaya on the nose. The palate comes off weightless, offering supreme concentration and depth without coming off heavy. Opulent and dense, enjoy this electric wine now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 97

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

09/11/2025

My review of the British Airways Concorde Room ✈️ 🍾

Review: British Airways Concorde Room, Concorde Room, British Airways, British Airways lounge, airport lounge, England lounge, London Heathrow, London Heathrow lounge, London lounge, Owen Bargreen travel

09/11/2025

Ink Grade

Launched in 2021, Ink Grade pays homage to Theron Ink, a Napa Valley pioneer who established a ranch on the remote eastern side of Howell Mountain in 1875. The seclusion and wildness of the Howell Mountain landscape became a place of retreat and respite for the Ink family. The vineyard spoke to Theron — set on volcanic soils and a scenic, mountain location.
The Ink Grade Estate Vineyard lies in the north-east corner of the Howell Mountain AVA in Napa Valley. At an elevation of about 1,500 feet, the estate vineyards boast beautiful views of forested pines and sequoia. The brand was founded by Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy, Jr. and the Lawrence family to add to their already impressive portfolio.
The new wines were really good from the challenging 2022 vintage — one that saw severe heat spikes at harvest. These wines were obviously picked on the earlier side, showing seriously good freshness but also good mid-palate depth and power. I love the 2022 Ink Grade ‘Third Circle’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which has amazing soil and stony character throughout the drinking experience. Learn more at https://inkgrade.com/ and here are the beautiful new wines by Ink Grade.

2023 Ink Grade ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The really good 2023 Ink Grade ‘Napa Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc offers hay and honeydew melon notes on the nose alongside suggestions of papaya. The palate is rich and unctuous with a smooth mouthfeel and great sense of tension and weight. Enjoy this beautiful bottling now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 93

2022 Ink Grade ‘Third Circle’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from Howell Mountain, the ‘Third Circle’ comes from this east to north facing slope with vines set on gravelly loam and volcanic ash. The nose is wonderfully stony with red florals that combine with huckleberry and mountain blackberry notes. The palate is both fresh and viscous with great energy and flavor density. Drinking marvelously right now with some great stony character, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 Ink Grade ‘Prophet’s Water’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Ink Grade ‘Prophet’s Water’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a red, gravelly loam hillside on Howell Mountain. This is very fresh and mineral-laden on the palate, with medium bodied red and dark fruits that parade with rocky soils, copious minerals and shades of wintergreen on the palate. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Ink Grade ‘Buddha’s Belly’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2022 Ink Grade ‘Buddha’s Belly’ Cabernet Sauvignon is marvelously stony and salty on the mouth — loaded with nuance. Baking spices and thyme combine with crushed wet rock, anise seed, to***co and shades of dark currants alongside yellow bell pepper on the palate. Round and soft on the mouth, with a refined texture, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

09/10/2025

Open Claim

Today we share the brilliant wines of Open Claim, founded back in 2014 by Marnie and Brett Wall. Open Claim is a large and in-charge style of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that have serious weight and nuance. They use a limited amount of new oak, despite their fleshy character. There is little doubt that Tony Rynders is of the Pacific Northwest’s great winemakers Formerly with Hogue and Domaine Serene, Tony crafts some incredible wines for his own label, Tendril. I love what he accomplished with the tougher 2022 vintage. Check out the 2022 Open Claim ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is generous and bold from this slightly cooler year. Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.openclaimvineyards.com/ Here are the brilliant 2022 wines by Open Claim.

2022 Open Claim Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir is a dense, heady and delicious bottling that is built to age. Right away on the nose this impressed with lush red fruits that parade with salty soils, wet rock and shades of wild mushroom. The palate is dense and fresh, showing off the minerality achieved from this vintage. Great now, enjoy over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2022 Open Claim ‘Fauna’s Wood’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Fauna’s Wood’ is a gorgeous wine that has fantastic finesse and weight from this cooler vintage. Once on the nose this takes on crushed wet volcanic rock with peat moss and tart dark fruits. The palate is fresh and broad-shouldered, with serious underlying verve and salty/stony character. A joy to consume now, enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

09/10/2025

Domaine Drouhin Oregon

We present one of Oregon’s historic wineries today, set in the Dundee Hills. Domaine Drouhin Oregon began in in the 1980s, and was founded by eminent Burgundy producer, Domaine Drouhin. Robert Drouhin made the bold move to buy land at the top of the Dundee Hills. What was previously only Christmas trees and wheat, the Drouhin family began planting their first vineyards in Oregon. Robert’s daughter, Véronique, has served as DDO winemaker for many years, and her brother Philippe Drouhin took responsibility for viticulture. In 1988, DDO produced its first vintage, from purchased grapes, and in 1989 built the landmark, four-story gravity flow winery. A few weeks back I had another amazing visit to this historic site. They continue to produce some of the most consistently great wines in Oregon.
New releases are from the standout 2023 vintage. This was one that was consistently warm, with few excessively hot days. I am once again enamored by the 2023 Domaine Drouhin Oregon ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is a joy to consume now in its very primary youth. Learn more about this iconic Oregon winery at http://www.domainedrouhin.com/ Here are the awesome new releases from Domaine Drouhin Oregon.

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Arthur’ Chardonnay- Nearly all barrel fermented (20% new), the 2023 ‘Arthur’ offers honeysuckle and white peach on the nose alongside shades of pastry crust. The palate is round with a smooth texture and bright minerality. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Chardonnay- The 2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Chardonnay is a stunning wine that was stored in roughly 33% new French oak before bottling. Bright white florals mark the nose alongside pineapple and shades of backing spice laced brioche. The palate is super seamless with serious texture and a weightless mouthfeel. Glorious now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 97

2023 RoseRock Chardonnay- The 2023 RoseRock Chardonnay is soft and inviting on the mouth, loaded with bright orchard fruits and lemon rind alongside sourdough bread on the palate. Filled with tension, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 RoseRock ‘Maigold’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Maigold’ is a rich and dense bottling that was stored in mainly netural French oak before bottlling. Mayer lemon zest alongside marzipan and toasted hazelnut combine with shades of white peach on the palate. This is dense and rich stuff that is already nicely defined. Drink 2025-2038- 95

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Dundee Hills’ is entirely sourced from the estate vineyard. The wine was stored in roughly 25% new French oak and was not whole cluster fermented. Tart red fruits combine with shades of rocky soils and shades of bergamot on the nose. The palate has refined tannins with good flavor density. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Origine 36’ Pinot Noir- This is now the third release of the ‘Origine 36’ which was originally a tribute to the 36th vintage at Domaine Drouhin Oregon. This is refined and juicy stuff offering bright strawberry and pomegranate seed alongside Mandarin orange rind on the palate. Chewy and dense with a great sense of texture, this is brimming with bright red fruits and drinking nicely now. Drink 2025-2040- 94

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir- A world-class bottling, the 2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir is a block selection wine that was stored in mainly neutral oak before bottling. This wine was first crafted back in 1992. This is very seamless throughout the drinking experience. Blood orange zest combines with Bing cherry, black raspberry and stony essence. Complex and delicious, this has some seriously good aging potential. Drink 2025-2043- 96

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Pinot Noir- The world-class 2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Edition Limitee’ Pinot Noir is a heady and intense edition of this wine, The wine was stored in roughly 25% new French oak and given a small amount of whole cluster fermentation. White truffle shavings mingle well with Satsuma orange rind, red currants and to***co leaf notes all combine on the nose. The palate is lush and soft with a refined mouthfeel and loads of salty nuance. Drink 2025-2045- 97

2023 RoseRock Pinot Noir- The 2023 RoseRock Pinot Noir offers red rose petals and potpourri on the nose alongside freshly tilled salty soils and orange rind. The palate is fresh and juicy, loaded with bright cherry, strawberry and guava fruits. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 RoseRock ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir was aged 15 months in mainly neutral French oak before bottlng. The palate is concentrated and intense with a voluptuous texture and great stony character. Driven by heady red fruits, this has plenty of lip-smacking acidity and great wet stone accents. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2023 Domaine Drouhin ‘Louise’ Pinot Noir- The stunning new 2023 ‘Louise’ Pinot Noir was given partial whole cluster fermentation and was stored in mainly natural oak before bottling. Beautiful red florals mark the nose alongside kumquat rind and crushed wet stone. The palate is dense and generous on the tongue with a sensational texture. This is just a baby and has decades of life in front of it. Drink 2025-2045- 97

09/10/2025

Eden Rift

Today we share the wines from Eden Rift. This location is 20 miles from the Monterey Bay, and is the oldest continually producing vineyard in California. Planted in 1849 by Theophile Vache, the 120-acre estate rests on the San Andreas Faultline and is part of the Cienega Valley AVA. The winery is located just two miles from famed Pinot Noir producer Calera, whose founder Josh Jensen sought out the limestone and dolomite-rich soils. Before Josh, early vintners procured some of the first Pinot Noir planting in California at Eden Rift beginning in 1860. Post prohibition, the focus on Pinot Noir & Chardonnay was lost until Christian Pillsbury acquired the estate in 2016. Christian assembled a team of young industry professionals starting with winemaker Cory Waller.
The new wines were very good. I really like the salinity and texture in the 2022 Eden Rift Chardonnay (OB, 93). Learn more at edenrift.com and here are my reviews of the new Eden Rift wines.

2022 Eden Rift ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The really good 2022 ‘Estate’ Chardonnay comes from this location that is in close proximity to the Monterrey Bay. Toasty oak and diatomaceous earth combine with freshly cut limes and shades of juicy peach on the palate. Viscous and delicious, enjoy now and over the next six plus years to come. Drink 2025-2031-93

2022 Eden Rift ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir offers toasty oak alongside rich red currants, to***co leaf and suggestions of cola. Rich and layered with a smooth mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2025-2032- 92

09/10/2025

Spottswoode

Today we share one of the jewels of the Napa Valley. Spottswoode is a historic property that dates all the way back to 1882. Spottswoode was christened 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.
Today Mary’s daughter Beth Novak Milliken manages the winery, and daughter Lindy 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 for club members only (Spottswoode Estate “Mary’s Block” Sauvignon Blanc and Field Book Syrah). Their Lyndenhurst wines are beautiful values.
The winery is set at the western edge of St. Helena at the foot of the Mayacamas mountains, as vines are set on alluvial clay loam while a strong wartime influence runs through Spring Mountain and the Mayacamas range. The estate has forty acres of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, with portions of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc which have been organically farmed since 1985.
I love the new 2024 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 95) which is wonderfully rich and viscous, with serious tension. Learn more about this famed Napa winery at https://www.spottswoode.com Here is my review of the new Spottswoode wine.

2024 Spottswoode ‘Estate’ Sauvignon Blanc- A dazzling rendition of this wine from this cooler year, the 2024 Spottswoode ‘Estate’ Sauvignon Blanc offers plump gooseberry and kiwi notes on the nose with lemongrass and dried green herbal accents. The palate is fresh and lively with bright acidity and a seamless sense of texture. Very mineral-laden, each sip offers lip-smacking minerality and great flavor density. Glorious now, this will evolve well for another eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 95

2022 Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon stands inky in the glass from this hot vintage. Red bell pepper notes mingle well with fresh sage, black currants, pencil lead and shades of mocha on the palate. Medium-bodied and approachable now, enjoy over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 91

09/10/2025

Philipponnat

Philipponnat's remarkable history began in 1522 with Apvril le Philipponnat acquiring vines in the Champagne region. Over time the family became both winegrowers and merchants and eventually formed a namesake Champagne House, founded by Auguste and Pierre Philipponnat in 1910. In 1935 the famed Clos des Goisses vineyard was acquired and its use was adopted in a Solera system for non-vintage blends. Philipponnat focuses on high quality Pinot Noir and makes a range of vintage and non-vintage wines.
The new wines I tasted were really good. One of the wines was sent to me and another was bought. I really enjoy the NV Philipponnat 'Reserve Perpetuelle' Brut Champagne (OB, 92) which is rich and bold with a soft mouthfeel. Learn more about this famed house at https://www.philipponnat.com and here are my reviews of the new Philipponnat wines.

NV Philipponnat 'Reserve Perpetuelle' Brut Champagne- The really good NV Philipponnat 'Reserve Perpetuelle' Brut Champagne combines mainly Pinot Noir (67%) with a smaller part Chardonnay and a touch of Pinot Meunier. This is big and round on the mouth, drinking marvelously now with its refined mousse. Marzipan and gingerbread notes combine with hints of brioche and lemon rind on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 92

NV Philipponat 'Royal Rose' Brut Rose Champagne- Disgorged in March 2023, the NV Philipponat 'Royal Rose' Brut Rose Champagne is a beautiful wine, offering bright guava, starfruit and cranberry fruits from mainly Pinot Noir grapes. Delicate and showing good salty nuance, with a soft mousse, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 92

09/10/2025

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

Today we share the marvelous Cabernets of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is probably most famous for producing the Cabernet Sauvignon that won the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris. The winery was initially founded in 1970 and today the vineyard team is led by Guillermo Perez who works alongside head winemaker Marcus Notaro.
Notaro comes from an Italian family that had wine around the dinner table. He decided to work initially in the industry as a tour guide at Chateau Ste. Michelle. The rest has been history as he formerly was winemaker at Col Solare before taking over as head winemaker at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.
This year I have tried a range of vintages, and the 2021 ‘Rancho Chimiles’ (OB, 95) is up there with the best that I have tasted from this house this year. The wine has great nerve and balance. It is not overblown with plenty of fruit but good nuance. Learn more about this famed site at https://www.stagsleapwinecellars.com/ and here are my reviews of the 2019 Cabernets by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.

2018 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Rancho Chimiles’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from this location in the Wooden Valley northeast of the town of Napa, the Rancho Chimiles vineyard has a strong impact from the nearby San Pablo Bay. Stored for 20 months in all new French oak, this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon comes off round and generous with tar and anise notes alongside dark chocolate shavings and sweet pipe to***co on the palate. Bold and rich, yet showing excellent restraint with its firm tannins and minerality, this is really drinking well right now. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2021 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Rancho Chimiles’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from this excellent vintage, the 2021 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Rancho Chimiles’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers pencil lead and violet rose petals on the nose alongside allspice dusted black currants. The palate has great power and poise with a terrific veil of tension that runs through the core of decadent dark fruits, with chocolate fudge and to***co leaf accents. Glorious now in its heady youth, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95