The 2019 Pinot Noir Emery comes from newly defined parcels inthe Emery block at Willakenzie estate. "In 2019, we carved outsome pieces of Emery that looked different," winemaker Erik Kramer explained. "If the vines look that different, something is going on, and there's no way it's not affecting the grapes. Now we have the estate and the space to engage in that type of detective work." The parcels, planted to 667, 777 and Pommard clone vines, run along a central ridge of the estate from around 600-700 feet in elevation. Medium ruby, it has very pretty scents of red cherry and raspberry with nuances of rooibos tea, star anise, lilac and mushroom. The medium-bodied palate unfolds its complex flavor layers slowly, framed by abundant, chalky tannins and bursts of mouth watering acidity, and it finishes with notable length and detail.

The 2019 Chardonnay La Crête, the inaugural release of this wine,comes predominantly from newer Chardonnay vines planted at Willakenzie Estate. "As we add more Chardonnay to the estate, I have been in the process of isolating blocks," winemaker Erik Kramer explained. "It's my job as a winemaker to find where on the property the best wine is made. I don't think we could have made Chardonnay like this from the old plantings. This is a better location, and it gets protracted ripening." The La Crête features expressive aromas of white peach, honeycomb, pastry and lilac with top notes of lime peel. The medium-bodied palate explodes with concentrated, layered flavors carried by tangy acidity andsaline tones, and it finishes with tremendous length and floral perfume. It's an impressive first release that illustrates the potential for world-class Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley.

The 2018 Pinot Noir La Crête is a new wine from Willakenzie, a result of winemaker Erik Kramer's quest to identify the best blocks of vines on the estate. Medium ruby-purple, it has generous scentsof black and red cherry preserves and accents of tar, licorice,potpourri and mushroom. It features concentrated, spicy flavors that glide seamlessly across the mouth, and a flourish of earthy accents appears on the extended finish. Juicy, perfumed and alluring, it drinks beautifully straight from the bottle.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Block 14, grown on volcanic soils, was matured for 16 months in barrel and an additional year in bottle. It has apale ruby color and wild berries on the nose with swirls of spice and floral perfume. The medium-bodied palate features streaks of iron-like mineral character, concentrated berry fruits, a clay-like texture and seamless acidity. I love this ferrous, rocky expression.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Slope is pleasantly restrained and earthy.Medium ruby-purple in color, it has intense aromas of cranberries,blueberries, potpourri, tobacco and tea leaves. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and fresh with concentrated, mineral-driven fruitsand a very long finish.

The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Smothers-Remick Ridge Vineyardwas the first vintage that Arrowood decided to bottle this section ofthe Smothers Vineyard on its own; it was previously blended into the Reserve Speciale. "The blocks I use for the reserve are very structural," says winemaker Kristina Shideler. "They bring concentration but not all the aromatics. This block showed quintessential, forward red cherry fruit and was less structured than the other blocks, so we started bottling it on its own." Grapes come from a western-facing, rocky section of the vineyard, where the initially planted Merlot was grafted over to Cabernet Sauvignon.It was matured for 29 months in French and American oak and bottled without fining or filtration. Deep ruby-purple, it offers an endless core of Morello cherries, with top notes of star anise,licorice and lilac and bass tones of mushroom powder, soy sauce and graphite. The palate offers freshness and lift without sacrificing intensity or power. Its tannins are grainy and gently softening, and it finishes with a flourish of spice. It is surprisingly youthful and has plenty of life ahead in the cellar. 248 cases produced.

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Smothers-Remick Ridge Vineyard was aged for 32 months in 74% new French oak. Opaque ruby-purple, its aromas are layered and detailed, a core of blueberry andblack cherry accented by star anise, violet, leather and graphite.The full-bodied palate has alluring, powdery tannins, dynamic flavors ranging from violet to savory spice and incredible length.220 cases were made.

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Réserve Spéciale matured for 32 months in 70% new French oak and was bottled without fining or filtration. It has an opaque ruby-purple color and singular, arresting aromas of licorice, star anise, rose petal, orange peel and leather,which complement an ocean of Morello cherry fruit at the core. The full-bodied palate is powerful and ripe, with loads of clay-textured tannins and generous fruit still curled into a youthful fist. This has the ingredients for long-term cellaring and will require plenty more bottle time to fully unfold. 304 cases were made.

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Vales Edge is a newer vineyard designate from Arrowood, in its second iteration. Vales Edge is in a protected bowl behind the Vérité property in Alexander Valley.Knights Crown, the vineyard at the top of the slope above Vales Edge, burned in the 2017 fires. This matured for 32 months in 78% new French oak and was bottled without fining or filtration. The nose features red and black currants with accents of Chinese fivespice, tobacco leaves, sage and rose petals, with a streak of iron character. The full-bodied palate is fresh and expressive, with a powdery texture and bright fruit complemented by savory nuances.Its elegance, perfume and length make it enjoyable now, though itwill be long lived in the cellar. 244 cases were made.

From 667 clone vines, the 2018 Pinot Noir Clairière has a medium ruby-purple color and deep scents of briary fruit, graphite, EarlGrey tea leaves, aniseed and dried flowers. The medium-bodiedpalate offers surprising concentration, seamlessness and energy,although it has a long finish that's still youthfully wound. Give this powerful Pinot Noir another 3-5 years in bottle to unfold.

Pale ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Emery has a pretty perfume of wild berries, licorice, pencil shavings, nori and forest floor,unfolding as it spends time in the glass. The medium-bodied palate has an alluring, clay-like texture that anchors its concentrated fruits, and it has a long, fresh, spicy finish. It will benefit from another 2-3 years in bottle or a couple hours in the decanter

Medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Kiana has an alluring perfume of violets, lilac, black cherries and blueberries with accents of tangerine peel, aniseed and earth. Medium-bodied, the palate is concentrated and firmly structured despite its pure, detailed fruit.Powerful yet focused, it will benefit from another 3-5 years in bottle.

Pale ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Aliette features layered scents of woodsmoke, violet, earth and licorice with a deep core of spicy,briary fruit. The medium-bodied palate is open and inviting, its detailed, spicy nuances of licorice and tangerine gliding seamlessly through the mouth, and it has a very long, ethereal finish.
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The 2019 Pinot Noir Triple Black Slopes has a medium ruby colorand takes some time to open up aromatically to tea leaves, pipe tobacco, forest floor and licorice with a core of wild berry preserves. The medium-bodied palate packs a punch with concentrated, spicy flavors, powerful, grainy tannins, juicy acidityand a very long finish with a fan of Angostura-like accents.Generous yet complex, give it another 2-3 years in bottle or a long decant.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Kiana is transparent and nervy, expressive anddetailed! It has a medium ruby color and layered aromas of red andblack cherries complemented by bergamot, star anise, lavender,earth and mushrooms. The medium-bodied palate offers veryfinely grained tannins, invigorating bursts of acidity and complexearth and citrusy detail lingering on the finish.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Vales Edge matured for 32 months in 58% new French oak and was bottled without fining or filtration. It's an elegant, structural iteration with a toned-down expression,although it will need a bit more time in bottle to unfold. It has a deep ruby color and emblematic "Cabernet" aromas of black currants, thyme, violet and tobacco. The palate is intense and layered, with a seamless, powdery structure, bright freshness and avery long, fragrant finish. 200 cases were made.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Réserve Spéciale matured for 32 months in 70% new French oak and was bottled without fining or filtration. Opaque ruby in color, it opens very slowly to wafts o fpencil shavings, tobacco and cedar, with a core of blueberry and cassis. The full-bodied palate offers power and detail, with generous, grainy tannins, rounded acidity and a very long, fragrant finish. It has the stuffing and strength to be very long lived in the cellar and will require plenty of time before all the nuances of this barrel selection fully emerge. It will be released in 2023. 390 caseswere made.

Pale ruby purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Conifer boasts singular aromas of dried citrus and roses, earl grey tea leaves, gravel dust,aniseed and fir. The medium bodied palate is firm, energetic and layered, with a long, seamless finish streaked with iron and potpourri.

The 2019 Pinot Noir The Sum has a medium ruby color and takes time to reveal scents of red and black cherries, tangerine peel, pipe tobacco, potpourri and licorice. The medium-bodied palate is powdery and energetic with expansive, savory fruits and a long,layered finish that hints at more to come. Intense and complex without any extra weight, this expressive Pinot Noir deserves another 2-3 years in bottle to unwind.

The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Speciale is stunning in its 20th year, offering ethereal aromas and a supple texture. It was matured for 23 months in French and American oak barrels and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Medium garnet in color, its bouquetis expressive and mineral driven, with touches of dried rose petaland herbs, charcuterie and graphite, and it has maintained a core of dark berry fruit. The palate is fresh and soft, its core of fruit finely balanced by tertiary layers. 1,560 cases were made.

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Speciale, aged 32 months in 30% new French oak, is notably balanced for the lush 2012 vintage.It has a deep ruby color and is still distinctly youthful on the nose,offering a supple core of Morello cherries with savory accents of cast iron, beef carpaccio, bouquet garni and dried roses. The palateis powerful yet elegant, deeply fruited yet lifted, with pixelated tannins and bursts of fresh acidity supporting all that pure flavor.Alluring 10 years on, it still seems not to have reached its zenith and will continue to evolve in bottle over the next decade. 790cases were made.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Crown was aged for 32 months in 60% new French oak. Deep ruby, it has detailed scents of black currants, blue flowers, tobacco leaves, fried herbs and pencil shavings. The palate is classy and sleek, finely grained and fresh,with a balance of youthful fruit and earthy nuances and a very long finish. 265 cases were made.

From Pommard and Wadenswil clone vines planted at 600 feet ofelevation, the 2019 Pinot Noir Aliette has a medium ruby color and pure aromas of red cherries, tobacco leaves, mushroom powderand lavender. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated yet weightless, with a silky, refreshing structure, transparent flavors and a long finish defined by a fan of savory, herbal and Angostura-like nuances.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Estate Cuvée is ethereal and perfumed.Medium ruby, it takes time in the glass to reveal red cherries,orange oil, cola, dried herbs, tobacco and tea leaves, offering fine,Angostura-like nuances over time. The medium-bodied palate ischalky and refreshing with layered fruit and generous spicy accentson the long finish.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Smothers-Remick Ridge Vineyard matured for 32 months in 78% new French oak and was bottled without fining or filtration. Opaque ruby-purple in color, its perfume is singular and pure: crushed blueberries and violets are complemented by mint leaves, sage, thyme and loamy earth. The full-bodied palate is powerful yet graceful, with loads of grainy tannins, seamless freshness, tempered ripeness and a long, floral finish. 210 cases were made.