Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.1

This pale colored Grenache Rose was sourced from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Fresh and vibrant with a great combination of tension and viscosity, this reveals pretty rose water and watermelon flavors with shades of cantaloupe and sourdough bread on the palate. Seriously good now, enjoy this beautiful bottling over the next several years. Drink 2020-2025- 91 — 2 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2017 Toil Oregon Pinot Noir is absolutely singing even in its youth. Shades of blood orange zest and peat moss combine with the core of red fruits on the nose. The palate is vibrant showing a great combination of tension and weight. This has a prettier fruit profile certainly than the 2015 edition, with pomegranate seed and Tangerine zest that mingle with minerals and the earthy undertones of the wine. This is highly elegant Pinot Noir. Bright and very pretty now at the three year mark, the 2017 Toil Pinot Noir will show beautifully for two decades. Drink 2020-2038- 95 — 23 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

Sourced from their estate vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley, the 2018 ‘Fred’ Syrah is an awesome new terroir-driven wine by a’Maurice. Right away you notice the dusting of white pepper that falls upon tar, bacon fat and shades of violets on this evocative nose. The Syrah shows great verve and sense of tension as beautiful red and dark fruits march on with chocolate, sagebrush and dried herbs on the palate. Beautifully balanced and showing great texture and poise, the 2018 ‘Fred’ Syrah will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2032- 93 — a month ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The 2018 ‘Wichmann Dundee’ Pinot Noir is sourced from this smaller, 8 acre site set on volcanic soils in the Dundee Hills AVA. A light dusting of both white pepper and volcanic ash fall on the core of bright red fruits with shades of damp earth on the nose. The palate is bright, lithe and beautifully textured with excellent length. Surprisingly high-toned with its orange rind and cran-pomegranate flavors that meld with minerals and salty damp terroir, the 2018 ‘Wichmann Dundee’ Pinot Noir is bright and delicious to savor in its youth but has a long way to go, as it will evolve to something distinctly earthy and a world away from what we see now. Drink 2020-2033- 93 — a month ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The 2005 Zind Humbrecht ‘Heimbourg’ Selection de Grains Nobles is a fantastic effort from what was generally a challenging vintage in Alsace. Already quite evolved on the nose, this takes on candied ginger tones that collide with nutmeg, orange marmalade and shades of peat moss that meld together in the glass. The unctuous texture really entices as does the length, giving an err of hedonism. Layers of baked apple and exotic spices combine with ripe pineapple, mango and beeswax, with damp earthy tones on the palate. Fantastic now at the fifteen year mark, based on the current acid profile this is gorgeous to enjoy now and most likely won’t improve in years to come. Drink 2020-2027- 93 — 6 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

Taken from this downright awesome vintage in Sauternes, the 2005 Château Suduiraut shows ripe tropical fruits that meld with bananas foster and vanilla creme flavors. The palate is seamless and seductive, showing a great combination of weight, verve, and length. The texture is downright pillowy. Marzipan and Meyer lemon creme brulee mingle with apricots and roasted pineapple tones on the palate. The massive length is truly thrilling. Complex and downright delicious to savor right now, the 2005 Château Suduiraut is a resounding success that is singing right now an will continue to belt on for the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2020-2040- 97 — 24 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2016 Bodegas San Roman Toro follows the really impressive line of San Roman wines over the past decade. Needing a two hour decant to fully evolve, once on the nose you are impressed by the intensity of massive dark fruits but non-fruit aromatics of tar, sandalwood and leather that combine with shades of damp earth. The palate is plush, with silky tannins and toasty oak that are artfully woven into the core of blackberry cobbler, blueberry cordial, mocha, and creosote tones. Showing a great feeling of range, with vibrant acidity, a light dusting of salinity and excellent weight, the 2016 Bodegas San Roman Toro will enjoy an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2038- 95 — a month ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

The 2012 ‘La Grand Annee’ is a seriously good wine that has massive cellaring potential. Marzipan with hints of nutmeg and brioche offer their place on the bouquet. The silky mousse really entices as layers of kumquat zest and Challah bread collide with minerals, smoke and lovely green apple tones on the palate. The length and elegance of this wine is really great, as is the lovely sense of texture. Long and generous, this has the richness and laser-like minerality to cellar well for decades to come. Drink 2020-2035- 94 — 7 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

10

Last night I was fortunate enough to enjoy a bottle of 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothchild that was stored with perfect provenance. Right out of the gate the core of dark fruits and exotic spices really impressed, as leather, pipe tobacco, red rose petal and forest floor tones also rounded out this evocative bouquet. The palate was utterly seamless, effortlessly gliding throughout. Silky, with a soft, pillowy texture, the wine unveiled blackberry compote, damp soil, Earl Grey tea and tobacco leaf flavors alongside a great level of tension. The length and viscosity of the wine was truly amazing. Gorgeous to enjoy at this stage, nearly in its 40th year, the 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothchild still has decades of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2038- 100 — 14 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The 2017 HALL Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful, age-worthy release that is already brilliant on its release. Shades of sandalwood and mocha, with tar and blackberry compote all combine aromatically in the glass. The palate is dense and plush, showing a soft, rich texture. Layers of blueberry pie and black tea, alongside Asian spices and mocha all artfully dance together on the palate. The long, gratifying finish accentuates this great new release. Already delicious in its youth, the 2017 HALL Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment for another decade to come. Drink 2020-2030- 93 — a month ago