2011 Le Vieux Pin Sauvignon Blanc, Okanagan Valley, BC
From BC's best winery by far. Exquisitely delineated and restrained for a New World sauvignon blanc, drinks more like the Dagenaus it purposefully emulates. Impeccable flavor and balance. Shows much better than it did a year or so ago, and I am guessing further cellaring will only add more layers. If I were to choose one wine and one winery from the Okanagan to show the rest of the world what's possible up there, this is the wine I'd choose.
NV Ensemble Cellars Release Three Red Bordeaux blend, Walla Walla
When I bought this, I was aware of the winemaker's single-minded vision (think Richard Dreyfuss building the mashed potato mound in his living room in 'Close Encounters') to duplicate Chateau Margaux in WA state. Each Release is a blend over three vintages and only about 400 cases big. And I liked the wine enough to buy a few bottles, but can't say that at the time I "got it", that I thought the wine anywhere close to its actual objective. Well, now I get it. This has really evolved since the last bottle we opened two years ago--the prominent vanilla is gone, and in it's place is the distinct sweet, floral Margaux perfume with the spice of good French oak. On the palate, mouthfilling and richly, assertively feminine, and turning out a whole lot better than I'd have predicted with years of life and exciting evolution to go. Really beautiful. Never experienced anything like this in a WA wine before.
2004 Long Shadows Wineries Cabernet Sauvignon 'Feather', Columbia Valley
Opened to support my team. Decanted one hour. Pleasant cabernet aroma and flavors but not a lot of grip--just a little underpowered in the acid and tannin departments, that is. Especially for a wine made/inspired by Randy Dunn. Discussion centered around whether or not it tasted like a $50+ wine, a question that wouldn't even have come up had the answer been an obvious 'yes'. Will drink remaining bottles within the next two years.
2007 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja 'Veraton' GrenachePlush mouthfeel, rich, spicy and sweet with oak and heat. Almost liqueurish. Just entering middle age and good at being what it is if you like that sort of thing (me, not so much). Would wait 3-5 years before opening another.
2006 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
This wine's in prime drinking form; it's in full secondary development wherein the baked cherry fruit is dominated by tomato leaf, iron-like minerality and maturing caramel tones in a very good way for a cooler vintage profile (less fruity, more acidity). I suspect most Cali Pinot drinkers found it underwhelming early on. Much better than the Arcadian version of this vineyard in 2006. Would drink sooner than later--the acidity will outlast the fruit.