New day, new wines, new scores
I'm now posting up new website material on Friday, so your Substack preview is on Thursday. Here are the three featured wines for February 3rd.
Wine of Week
Adega Northwest 2016 Weinbau Vineyard – Block 10 Cabernet Sauvignon
This well-made wine from a classic Washington vineyard has benefitted from the additional bottle age. It's toasty with a café crème character from 21 months in 40% new oak. These Adega Cabs are all fermented in stainless steel and perfectly ripened, with a nice balance. The barrel aging adds subtle layers of toast and almond paste. Of the three I tasted from this vintage (Gamache and Two Blondes were the others) it’s hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to this would be it. 125 cases; 14.8%; $40 (Wahluke Slope) 93/100
https://www.adeganorthwest.com/2015-cabernet-sauvignon-weinbau-vineyard
Outstanding Value
King Estate 2021 Inscription Pinot Noir
Oregon has just a handful of wineries that can produce classic Willamette Valley Pinot Noir at this price in such quantities. Coming out of the difficult 2020 vintage, 2021 was a relief, with good fruit in large quantities. This won't make your socks roll up, but it will tempt you to pour that second and third glass as it's an easy-drinking, balanced and true-to-variety effort. 40000 cases; 13.2%; $20 (Willamette Valley) 90/100
Not yet listed on website
For the Cellar
Authentique 2019 Fond Marin Chardonnay
This barrel selection includes grapes from Bois Joli and Keeler vineyards. At first it is sharp, almost severe, and drinks younger than its vintage. It's steely and tight, with close-wound, mineral-drenched flavors of lemon rind, lemongrass, apple skin and dried Italian herbs. If past is preview, I expected this to respond well to aeration and further bottle age. Sure enough this opened up beautifully and drank far better on day three than on day one. Few if any reviewers would have given it that opportunity. 200 cases; 13%; $60 (Eola-Amity Hills) 93/100
https://authentiquewinecellars.com/product/2019-fond-marin-chardonnay