Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The new release by FIGGINS coming from the 2020 vintage is utterly fantastic now in its playful youth. Once on the nose this takes on layers of lemon zest and honey, alongside baking spices, ginger and shades of damp earth that all meld in the glass. The palate reveals just a kiss of sweetness with lemon cake, marzipan, quince and stony undertones. Seriously esteemed and bright in its youth, this has another decade to go. Drink 2021-2031- 93 — a year ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

2018 Sequitur ‘The Jack’ Pinot Noir- Named after Michael Etzel’s beloved grandson, this outstanding 2018 Sequitur Pinot Noir is a resounding success from this warm vintage in Oregon. The nose is deeply perfumed with guava and dark cherry tones alongside peat moss, Mandarin orange rind and Umami tones that all meld in the glass. The palate is seamlessly textured with great poise and length. Layers of tart red fruits mingle with smoky minerals, pine needles and shades of kumquat rind on the palate. Simply gorgeous now with its very pretty and pure red fruit profile, this beautiful Ribbon Ridge AVA Pinot Noir will have some great cellaring potential. Drink 2021-2035- 95 — a year ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.1

An impressive effort for the vintage, the 1978 is showing a lighter core of dark cherries and dark raspberries alongside the more prominent leather, tobacco and tilled earthy tones. Not short of freshness or verve the 1978 should really be consumed now while everything remains nicely intact. Drink 2021-2028- 91 — a year ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2019 TOR ‘Twelve Barrels’ Chardonnay shows up brightly once in the glass. Heady aromatics of bananas foster and ripe nectarine combine with baking spice infused Challah bread and shades of wild mushroom on this beautiful bouquet. Once on the mouth you experience an utterly seamless effect as this beautiful wine effortless glides across the mid-palate. Layers of banana and pineapple are woven together with minerals, damp earth and sourdough bread tones. The gratifying length here adds to the enjoyment. Gorgeous to savor in its youth, this outstanding new bottling will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2035- 95 — a year ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

The 2018 ‘Sestina’ is a gorgeous blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc. Sourced from some esteemed sites like the Red Willow and Dionysus Vineyards, the wine showcases anise and sagebrush aromatic tones alongside dark currant jelly and shades of black cherry syrup that all meld together. The palate is soft, round and generous, showing a beautiful sense of balance. Ripe blackberry jelly and mocha tones collide with smoky minerals, saline drenched boysenberry and firm tannins holding everything in place. This has a long life ahead of it and try to give this at least another year before consuming. Drink 2022-2041- 94 — a year ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

This Columbia Valley bottling catches your eye with the seamless texture and great sense of freshness. Meyer lemon and pineapple upside down cake mingle with minerals, smoke, and shades of butterscotch on the palate. This is just sinfully good stuff even at the two year mark, as the 2019 ‘Big Sissy’ Chardonnay has some great cellaring potential. Drink 2021-2029- 93 — a year ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ is a storied, higher elevation site in the Eola-Amity Hills, farmed by Dal Crisp. Once on the nose this takes on layers of tart pomegranate seed and orange rind alongside damp earthy undertones. The palate is fresh and marvelously terroir-driven with its salty undertones. The freshness and rich red fruit profile impresses here with lighter suggestions of white truffle shavings that all meld together. With beautiful length, this outstanding new Eola-Amity Hills. Bottling will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2033- 93
— a year ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.1

The 2011 Chateau d’Issan is a glowing wine from what was a challenging vintage in Bordeaux. On the nose this takes on more fresh herbs with red bell pepper, anise and shades of wet asphalt. The palate is fresh and vibrant with great acidity. Medium-bodied with great finesse, this doesn’t have the weight of the 2010 but has some really nice aging potential. Drink 2021-2038- 91 — a year ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.8

The 2018 Mollydooker ‘The Velvet Glove’ Shiraz is a utterly sensational bottling that rivals any wine of its kind. Aged in all new American oak, this shows a gorgeous bouquet from blueberry pie to espresso grounds, graphite and toasty oak tones that all impress. The palate is deep and utterly seamless. A massive core of blue and dark fruits collide with white pepper, minerals, firm tannins and a light dusting of salinity. While obviously big, this has a weightless quality and wonderful verve. Wonderful to enjoy now, this outstanding Shiraz will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another fifteen years. But why wait? Drink 2021-2038- 98 — a year ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.0

Located in Vilaza, Galacia, this estate location has Mencia vines up to 50 years of age. The wine was aged in French oak for seven months and then in the bottle for additional three months. The freshness and soft texture are really great, as pink bubblegum, Bing cherry and red raspberry mingle with garrigue and damp earthy tones on the palate. Fantastic in its youth, this bright Mencia wine will cellar well over the next eight plus years. Drink 2021-2028- 90
— a year ago