Owen Bargreen

Owen Bargreen An expert's guide to Washington, Oregon and California wines. I write about wines that inspire me.

Wine critic Owen Bargreen offers independent expert coverage on Washington, Oregon and California wines, wineries and will share in-depth written interviews and video interviews on his website, Facebook and Instagram page, https://www.instagram.com/owenbargreen/
Owen has a special focus on wines of Spain and Sauternes.

Chateau Mouton RothchildToday we share one of the most famous houses in all of the world. Chateau Mouton Rothchild has a...
01/02/2026

Chateau Mouton Rothchild

Today we share one of the most famous houses in all of the world. Chateau Mouton Rothchild has a remarkable history that began in 1718 where Chateau Mouton and Calon-Segur were bought by Nicolas-Andrew de Segur, who owned Chateau Lafite and Chateau Latour. After his death the estate was divided amongst his four daughters.
Mouton Rothchild was initially excluded from being a first growth which was due to the vineyard had recently been purchased by an Englishman and was no longer in French ownership.
It was not until 1973 that Mouton Rothchild was moved to being a first growth. At the present day, Château Mouton Rothschild has 222 acres planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon (81%), as we’ll as Merlot (15%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (1%). Their wine is fermented in oak vats (they are one of the last châteaux in the Médoc to use them) and then matured in new oak casks.
The wines age exceptionally well. The wine I tasted yesterday came from the 2017 vintage, which was sandwiched between two epic vintages. 2017 wines are a bit more austere than the fleshy 2016 and 2018s. They have aged gracefully and I have found them to show better non-fruit character than the ‘16s and ‘18s. In truth, 2017 has turned out to be a really nice vintage, somewhat akin to 2001 which was initially panned as an unsuccessful year.
The 2017 Chateau Mouton Rothchild (OB, 99) is a total blockbuster that flirts with perfection. It is deeply concentrated and silky stuff throughout the drinking experience. It is now my third time tasting this beauty and it has delivered every single time. Learn more about this famed house at https://www.chateau-mouton-rothschild.com/ and here is my review of the incredible 2017 Mouton Rothchild.

2017 Chateau Mouton Rothschild- This is now the third time I have tasted the scintillating 2017 Chateau Mouton Rothcshild — a wine that flirts with perfection. Just as the last time I tasted it, it needed about a full day (24 hrs) of air to fully come around. It is so pleasurable in its wet gravel combined with creme de cassis, sweet pipe to***co and creme de violette notes. Viscous, rich and dense, this is only just starting to hit its stride. Drink 2026-2050- 99

Rowen Wine CompanyToday we share the wines of Rowen Wine Company. Wines are sourced from their estate in Northwestern So...
01/02/2026

Rowen Wine Company

Today we share the wines of Rowen Wine Company. Wines are sourced from their estate in Northwestern Sonoma, the Cooley Ranch Vineyard, which varies greatly in elevation all the way up to 2400 feet. The location sits above the fog line therefore the grapes get increased sun exposure, which inspires thicker skins. The grapes grow above the hot valley and, they also stay cool during hot days which leads to rich tannins. Bordeaux red varietals are grown here as well as a touch of Syrah and Viognier. Winemaker Ryan Decker is a fifth-generation farmer from the Alexander Valley. He started in the Rodney Strong Tasting Room in 2002, and after returning to Fresno State to earn his degree in viticulture, he returned as viticulturalist and to oversee sustainable winegrowing. Ryan is Director of Estate Vineyards at Rodney Strong as well as winemaker for Rowen Wine Company.
Check out the delicious 2021 ‘Cooley Ranch Vineyard’ (OB, 92) which is rich and concentrated with a refined mouthfeel. Learn more at https://www.rowenwinecompany.com and here are my reviews of the new Rowen wines.

2022 Rowen Wine Company Red Wine- The 2022 Rowen Wine Company Red Wine offers sweet kirsch and red raspberry notes on the nose with to***co leaf. The palate is soft and approachable with good underlying verve despite the heat of the vintage. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2021 Rowen Wine Company ‘2040’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2021 ‘2040’ is soft and approachable on the mouth. Dark currants and wintergreen notes mingle well with damp earth and chocolate on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2021 Rowen Wine Company ‘Cooley Ranch Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Cooley Ranch’ Cabernet Sauvignon is inky in the glass, offering black rose petals, tar, anise seed and dense boysenberry fruits on the nose. The palate is well-structured with a refined mouthfeel and a graphite edge alongside medium to full-bodied dark fruits. Delicious now, this will easily age for another decade. Drink 2025-2035- 92

Chateau Montelena It is my pleasure to share the glorious wines of Chateau Montelena. This house was first founded in 18...
01/02/2026

Chateau Montelena

It is my pleasure to share the glorious wines of Chateau Montelena. This house was first founded in 1888 and named A.L. Tubbs winery after its founder Alfred Tubbs. Nearly 100 years later in 1976 the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay was judged against four white Burgundy wines. The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the Judgement of Paris, being voted the top wine of the tasting. This was a landmark achievement for California wines, as French wines were typically viewed as considerably superior to California wines. I love the new 2019 ‘The Montelena Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is powerful and deep with terrific texture. Learn more at http://montelena.com Here are the outstanding new Cabernet release by Chateau Montelena.

2023 Chateau Montelena Sauvignon Blanc- This 2023 Sauvignon Blanc has a large amount of Semillon blended in. Toasted walnut and Brie cheese combine with shades of Japanese pear on the palate. This is fresh and mineral-laden stuff with a soft mouthfeel and terrific tension. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2022 Chateau Montelena ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay- The delicious 2022 Chardonnay is loaded with texture from this warm vintage. Salted gooseberry and white peach combine with pastry crust and shades of mandarin orange zest on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2023 Chateau Montelena ‘Potter Valley’ Riesling- Coming from this cool climate this checks in at around 4G/L RS. Petrol, starfruit and shades of saline drenched guava all combine with loads of stony minerals on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2021 Chateau Montelena ‘Napa Valley’ Zinfandel- The outstanding and nicely poised 2021 Chateau Montelena ‘Napa Valley’ Zinfandel shows dill and black cherry compote and hints of white pepper. The palate is impeccably balanced with great finesse and juicy red fruits with satsuma orange zest and a dusting of volcanic rock. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2021 Chateau Montelena ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Chateau Montelena ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon opens with bay leaf and dark currants alongside shades of dark chocolate shavings. The palate is rich, viscous and mineral-laden with outstanding salty mineral nuance. This is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2025-2041- 93

2019 Chateau Montelena ‘The Montelena Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Concentrated and filled with bright acidity, the gorgeous 2019 Chateau Montelena ‘The Montelena Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh, viscous and beautifully balanced. Dense wild blackberry and graphite notes combine with tar and rocky soils. Drink 2025-2045- 95

12/29/2025

What an experience from sushi to Kaluga and even a top carpaccio, dining at Pabu SF is not to be missed 🍣 🔥

12/27/2025

Unbelievable meal last night checking out Bourbon Steak San Francisco 🥩 🍷 💥

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all, hope you enjoyed some beautiful wine. ‘22 Tig sensational with several hours of air 🇮🇹 🍷 💥

12/24/2025

2013 was a far from easy vintage in Oregon but this really came around with some air. Cool to see the forest floor and black truffle tones here 🍷 💥 🍄‍🟫

12/20/2025

This 1980 is really impressive despite vintage challenges. Piece of WA wine history 🍷

The Top 10 Wines I Tasted In 2025https://owenbargreen.com/blog/2025/12/18/the-10-best-wines-that-i-tasted-in-2025It is s...
12/18/2025

The Top 10 Wines I Tasted In 2025

https://owenbargreen.com/blog/2025/12/18/the-10-best-wines-that-i-tasted-in-2025

It is such a pleasure sharing great wines with family and friends. It has been a hard time in the wine industry. Traffic remains down on the West Coast and we all need to do our best to support the wine community. I have had the great fortune to taste many top champagnes, Rhones and Bordeauxs this year. Today I share some of my favorite world wine choices that I tasted in 2025.
What were some of your favorite wines that you tasted this year? Here are mine:

10) 1988 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Bordeaux- We were at one of the great wine restaurants in the world, Noble Rot in London and I noticed this great ’88 on the menu. It took actually a bit of time to unwind but what evolved was a seamless melange of grave, dark currants and to***co that was simply unforgettable.

9) 2018 Hors Categorie Syrah- drinking right at its peak right now this was a massive and dense wine, filled with heady dark fruits and iodine/stony nuances. The color was just incredible. I was blown away with the florals from this wine as well which have evolved since its release four years ago.

8) 2006 Dom Perignon- Not a great vintage in Champagne, the 2006 wine right now are really singing. They are dense and heady, and won’t improve but this was such hedonistic and delicious stuff with loads of citrus and melon fruits, alongside musty wild mushroom notes.

7) MV Laurent Perrier ‘Grand Siècle No. 26’ Champagne- Top champagne on an airplane can’t be beat. On my first class flight to Doha I savored this beauty that is finally really coming around, with a 2012 base. It is intense with a silky mousse and a finish that doesn’t want to end.

6) 2013 Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Champagne- In my mind not the best vintage but this wine is second to none. It has so much intense lemon oil flavor and diatom that it can only come from one source. It is honestly a shame to enjoy this so young but what a pleasurable experience. The length and concentration was incredible.

5) 1998 Chateau Haut-Brion- This vintage seems to really be peaking right now. It was such a pleasure to revisit this very earthy and impeccably balanced Pessac wine. The gravel character was astonishingly good. I would not cellar this anymore, given the balance right now.

4) 2019 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Hero Twins’ Cabernet Sauvignon- In the Mayan tradition the Hero Twins was the story of the genesis of the Sun and the Moon. This wine is made entirely from Clone 2 Cabernet Sauvignon at Upchurch Vineyard, and it was even more fun enjoying this with proprietors Chris and Thea Upchurch. We all marveled at the power and floral notes of this beautiful wine that is really coming into its own right now. It quite simply flirts with perfection.

3) 2005 Chateau Climens Sauternes- One of my all-time favorite Sauternes, the 2005 Climens is a sensational joyride throughout the drinking experience. It is not overly sweet but has such incredible power, finesse and stony character. I savored every sip.

2) 2017 Chateau Mouton-Rothchild- I have now tasted this several times and it is just such a joy to enjoy right now. For those who do not like 2017, I think that you really need to taste a top example of the vintage. This is plush, loaded with heady dark fruits, but also has such nice stony and damp earth nuances. Make sure to open several hours beforehand.

1) 1995 Krug Champagne- Sometimes wine notes are best shortened. Perfection in a bottle. Perfect time to drink this beauty.

12/16/2025

Our Owen Bargreen Top 100 of 2025 now out, link in bio🍷 💥

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This blog is dedicated to gaining a better appreciation and understanding for the world of wine. While the blog has a special focus on Washington wines, domestic and international wines will also be rated and discussed. How are wines rated? Wines are rated on a scale of 0-100. Essentially no wines that are currently made receive a score under 70. Here is how the ratings are determined: 96-100: An extraordinary or superlative wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this pedigree are typically worth a special effort to find, purchase, and consume. 90 - 95: An outstanding wine of exemplary complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines but fall short of being superlative. 80 - 89: A slightly above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of complexity and flavor with few or no major flaws. 70 - 79: An average wine with few distinctions except that it is adequately made. A simple wine with little character. 60 - 69: A lesser than average wine containing considerable flaws. 50 - 59: A unacceptably made wine with major flaws.