2026 Wine Promoted
Quarter Four Wines Promoted
Alban at Abbott Claim is a great person and great wine maker. This wine actually was not great on day 3 on the visit in August but then bought some and want to try it on day 1. Well rockstar wine.
2023 Abbott Claim Chardonnay X Omni Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills (10/15/2026) Domestic Pinot’s at the Kenwood (Kenwood Restaurant, Minneapolis): Day 1: Riedel Performance Chardonnay. Better than at the winery on day 3 but not quite the 2022 level. As this warms up it is so much better. Matchstick, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, wood, dust, white flowers, mild spice and chalk. Medium plus finish and nice acidity. Pouring this for some friends tonight a the Kenwood. Day 2: Electric in nature and similar to the 2022 sampled last year several times. Reductive in style with matchstick, lemon, lime, wood, spices, white flowers, minerals, stone and dust. Medium plus finish and beautiful wine. Top 5 producers for sure in Willamette in regards to Chardonnay. 96 points Recommendation: Yes and their tasting experience is off the charts. Just finished off the last glass and glorious. Alban and the team are elite and some of the nicest people you will meet!!! (96 points) |
Well thank you to my friend David that brought this rockstar wine last night to Kenwood. I have never tasted a Thomas and got to try 2 last night the 15 and 23. Like them both but the 23 is amazing.
- 2023 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (10/15/2026)
Domestic Pinot’s at the Kenwood (Kenwood Restaurant, Minneapolis): Day 1: Glasvin obsession. Ok this rivals the best Pinot I have tasted this year. Funk, spices, earth, dried flowers, stone, perfume and dust. Long finish. Amazing. Only open prior to the tasting and still showing great throughout the night. 96 points
Day 2: Ok this wine is special and will develop for another 15 plus years. Wow on day 2. Funk, sour cherry, strawberries, menthol, stone, perfume, dried rose petals, underbrush and violets. Medium to long finish. One of the better Oregon Pinots I have tasted in a long time. 96.75 points
Recommendation: This is very close to a 97 and will easily achieve that with time. (96 points)
- 2005 Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge – USA, California, Napa Valley (10/10/2026)
Day 1: Glasvin Kane. Natural cork! Wow wine! Funk, cigar, spices, red currants, dust, wood, earth and floral notes. Super complex and blind one would think Bordeaux left bank. Outstanding quality. 95 points
Day 2: Holding form and loving the funk. Very Bordeaux like with cigar, earth, dust, gravel, floral and dust. Medium plus finish and features some nice cherry and plum notes. Medium plus finish. 95 points
Recommendation: Not making it to day 3 and this is a fantastic bottle of wine with shipping for $90. (95 points)
Quarter Three Wines Promoted
Wines Promoted: 2018 Immortal Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Impassable Mountain, 2023 Domaine Durand Syrah Rive Droite, 2013 Quivet Cellars Syrah Hulda Block Las Madres Vineyard, 2019 Tenor Malbec, 2023 Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay Richard’s Cuvee Whistling Ridge Vineyard, 2000 Château Léoville Barton, 2023 Cooper Wine Company Carménère Estate, 2024 Pášxa White Wine Rockgarden Vineyard
2018 Immortal Wine of the Year so far…
Quarter Two Wines Promoted
2021 Neely Chardonnay Spring Ridge Vineyard Home Block, 2021 Gravel Bar Winery Alluvial Columbia Valley, 2022 Wines of Sagemoor Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Vineyards, 2022 The Walls Vineyards Syrah Gaspard, 2001 Cadence Tapteil Vineyard, 2023 Pášxa Syrah Rockgarden Vineyard, 2007 Dominus Estate, 2011 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Unnamed, 2017 Walter Scott Chardonnay Justice Vineyard, 2022 Matthews Cabernet Franc Reserve
Quarter One Wines Promoted
2021 Thurston Wolfe Petite Sirah Reserve Zephyr Ridge Vineyard 2020 Achával-Ferrer Quimera 2020 Big Table Farm Syrah Funk Estate Vineyard 2019 Tan Fruit Chardonnay Oak Grove Vineyard 2023 Drew Family Cellars Chardonnay Radiolaria 2010 Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge
2025 Wines Promoted
Wine of the Year: 2022 Abbott Claim Chardonnay Temperance Hill Vineyard This was an amazing year of tasting wines from around the world. A record amount of notes were written and I plan on doing even more in 2026.
Quarter One Wines Promoted
Quarter One: 2021 Januik Cabernet Sauvignon Quintessence, 2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah In the Rocks, 2008 Anderson’s Conn Valley Eloge, Result of a Crush 2017 & 2021 Syrah, 2020 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor, 2021 Idda Etna Rosso- Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC.
Quarter Two Wines Promoted
Quarter Two: 2020 Mark Ryan Merlot Little Sister,1998 Fox Creek Shiraz Reserve, 2020 Achával-Ferrer Quimera, 2011 Sheridan Vineyard L’Orage, 2023 Hartford / Hartford Court Chardonnay Russian River Valley, 2012 MTR Productions Syrah Memory Found
Quarter Three Wines Promoted
Quarter Three: 2016 Buty Rediviva of the Stones Cailloux Vineyard 2022 Ceritas Pinot Noir Costalina 2021 The Standish Wine Company Shiraz The Standish 2007 Corliss Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Mysterious 2021 Abbott Claim Chardonnay Temperance Hill Vineyard 2022 Abbott Claim Chardonnay 2014 Result of a Crush Red Wine
Quarter Four Wines Promoted
Quarter Four: 2022 Abbott Claim Chardonnay Temperance Hill Vineyard 2019 Peay Vineyards Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard 2016 Elephant Seven Syrah Yellow Bird Vineyard 2024 Morét-Brealynn Rosé of Pinot Noir 2020 Torbreck Shiraz The Struie 2004 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Aphrodite 2018 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series