June 2026Wines of the Month

For the wine snob: 48% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah. Grapes come from Tagaris’ estate vineyard in the Wahluke slope and our Estate Red Mountain vineyards. Most of the wines were pumped over during alcoholic fermentation for 6 to 10 days while on American Oak. About 40% of the wine was racked to barrel where it completed malo-lactic fermentation and then aged for an additional 10 months. The other 60% completed M-L in tank, at the end of which it was racked onto about 60% French oak /40% American oak.

For the rest of us: Expressive and layered, this wine opens with vibrant notes of black cherry and ripe raspberry, intertwined with savory hints of crushed oregano and warming spice. Subtle accents of cinnamon and dusty cocoa add depth, while a touch of vanilla spice from oak aging rounds out the aromatic profile. On the palate, it is bright and lively, supported by a well-defined structure. The wine shows rich concentration with a long, persistent finish. Firm yet polished tannins lend a pleasantly chewy texture, giving it both weight and age-worthy appeal.

For the wine snob: Grapes are sourced from clay and limestone sites between the Côte Chalonnaise and the Côte de Beaune, resulting in an effortless balance of ripeness and acidity. Handpicked, directly followed by a Champagne-style fractional pressing is practiced to gently extract the purest juice. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in still tank. The 2023 Burgundy vintage saw a warm winter, mild spring, and balanced summer. A generous, high quality harvest in September produced wines with freshness and aging potential.

For the rest of us: A great introduction to Domaine Chanson, this Bourgogne Chardonnay comes from vineyards in Auxerrois, Côte Chalonnaise, and Mâconnais, with limestone and clay soils. It spends 14 months aging, allowing it to develop its full expression. Pale gold in color, it offers intense aromas of citrus fruit, green almond, and an underlying minerality. On the palate, it is well-balanced, with pure fruit flavors and a racy acidity. The structure is clean and dynamic, and the finish is refreshingly crisp. Perfect with charcuterie, pâté, and goat cheese.

For the wine snob: This 2022 red blend, composed of 68% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 8% Petite Sirah, and 4% Viognier, showcases a layered expression of Northern California terroir. The Syrah, sourced from the cool, sheltered site in McDowell Valley, brings aromatic lift and freshness, while high-elevation Grenache and Petite Sirah from Alexander Valley and the Yorkville Highlands contribute depth, structure, and concentration. Shaped by a growing season marked by a dry winter, frosty spring, and summer heat spikes, the vintage yielded a smaller crop with intensely concentrated flavors, ripe tannins, and a fruit-forward profile. Fermented in stainless steel to preserve clarity and vibrancy, and aged for 20 months in neutral French oak to enhance texture without overt oak influence, the wine opens with vivid notes of black cherry and raspberry layered with crushed oregano, cinnamon, dusty cocoa, and a touch of vanilla spice. On the palate, it is bright yet rich, with a structured framework, chewy tannins, and a long, persistent finish. Sustainably produced and bottled at 14.9% ABV, it offers both immediate appeal and aging potential.

For the rest of us: The 2022 Christo is bold and explosive in the glass. A rush of blackberry, dried herbs, menthol, licorice, chocolate, lavender and scorched earth opens first. This ample, generous Syrah-based red has so much to offer. Its potent, structured personality will be a fine companion to equally hearty dishes at the dinner table. There’s a bit of brawn on the finish, but that works well within this style.

For the wine snob: Grapes are handpicked with care and chilled overnight before being whole bunch pressed into settling tanks. Harvested over 12 days, fresh juice is added daily to fermenting tanks, extending the fermentation by a full 20 days, in order to ensure full integration of the different vineyard components. Around 25% of the juice is fermented in older casks and large foudres, with the remaining 75% in stainless steel. A small portion of grapes is fermented on skins and blended into the wine. The wine matures on gross lees for 10 months in concrete tanks and old casks, with occasional stirring before bottling, highlighting its depth and character.

For the rest of us: The 2025 vintage has flinty aromas with notes of honey, orange blossom, and white stone fruit. It has exceptional texture and palate weight, with lovely, concentrated flavors

For the wine snob: Upon hand harvesting in the early morning hours, our grapes were carefully destemmed and sent to tank for a whole-berry fermentation. The grapes were cold soaked in tank at 45˚F for 4-7 days, allowing for increased color, aroma and flavor extraction. After inoculation with a select yeast, the grape must be fermented at 82˚F, which allowed for a hot extraction on the skins. For fermentation cap management, the juice was pumped over the skins two times per day, wetting the cap evenly for a nice healthy fermentation. After fermentation and pressing, the wine was aged in 35% new French oak and 65% neutral oak for 20 months before bottling. The blend is 82% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Whitehall Lane has always utilized the art of blending to make a Merlot with layers of flavors, complexity and balance. These elements assist with the goal of varietal typicity in creating the perfect Merlot. This 2021 Napa Valley Merlot was bottled unfined and unfiltered.

For the rest of us: This Merlot is bursting with notes of strawberry rhubarb pie, red plums, mixed berries, milk chocolate and layers of licorice. The palate showcases fine, juicy tannins alongside wild strawberries, raspberry liqueur, chocolate covered cherries, brioche and toasted walnuts. It is supple in texture and shows attractive depth on the finish. Enjoy right now and through 2037 with proper cellaring

For the wine snob: This 2023 Napa Valley Chardonnay, crafted from 100% Chardonnay, highlights both precision and richness in its expression. Harvested on September 8, 2023, at an average of 21.3° Brix, the fruit was guided by indigenous yeast fermentation, beginning with 2–3 weeks in barrel. The wine was then both fermented and aged for 10 months in a thoughtful combination of 80% barrels and 20% large-format foudres, utilizing French oak with 40% new barrels and 60% neutral oak to balance texture and oak influence. Bottled first in July 2024, the wine reflects a restrained yet layered style. At 13% alcohol by volume, it offers a poised and elegant profile, where natural acidity and subtle oak integration support a refined structure and a seamless, expressive finish.

For the rest of us: A uniquely delicious Chardonnay that does not undergo full malolactic fermentation, preserving its natural fresh acidity. Aromas of honey, ginger, and key lime radiate from this elegant Chardonnay. A burst of fresh citrus, lime, and star fruit enlivens the front palate upon first sip and is quickly followed by ginger and white pepper, all underscored by subtle notes of white peach and cardamom. Vibrant acidity and steely minerality give the wine excellent structure as it moves into a long, flavorful finish, with an aftertaste that lingers irresistibly on the tongue.

For the wine snob: Three generations of the Leonardini Family (Tre Leoni) are responsible for this proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. Whitehall Lane and the Leonardini Family are known for making elegant, sophisticated Cabernets. Tre Leoni, while a serious blend, is a little fun and distinctly delicious. Each grape variety was fermented and aged as separate lots in 25% new French oak, 75% neutral French oak barrels. Winemaker Jason Moulton tasted through each lot and put the final blend together after aging for 10 months. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Winter and Spring brought an abundance of rain, which provided a boost for all of Napa Valley and its vineyards. Budbreak arrived 3 weeks earlier than 2023 due to the warm spring weather. The moisture in the soil led to a perfect bloom (flowering) condition in the vineyard. The vines, as a result, provided a nice, even crop with perfect fruit set for the grape clusters. Summer was warm, with several hot days allowing the grapes on the vine to develop slowly. Autumn had some latent heat that pushed the vines into perfect maturity, leading to an early harvest season. This consistent growing season encouraged our Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec grapes to ripen in early October.

For the rest of us: This blend has depth, balance and big flavors. The nose evokes hints of red raspberries, fresh strawberries, mixed berry pie, vanilla and candied notes of cocoa dust. On the palate, it bursts with fruit ranging from black and red currants, cherry candy, goji berries, licorice and raspberry croissant. This wine has great texture that ultimately finishes with round, silky smooth tannins.

For the wine snob: This 2023 Chardonnay from the Laurelwood District AVA is crafted entirely from estate fruit sourced from the Avellana, Aurora, and Paloma Vineyards, reflecting a distinctly Oregon expression of elegance and balance. The vintage began with an early spring, followed by a delayed but intense summer, culminating in an exceptionally warm and dry October that allowed for optimal ripening and flavor development. Fermented with native yeast and undergoing full malolactic conversion in French oak, the wine was aged for 12 months on lees with weekly stirring during the first six months to build texture and complexity before being racked to neutral oak for an additional 8 months. The oak program, composed of 14% new French oak, lends subtle structure without overshadowing the fruit. Sustainably produced and bottled at 13.2% ABV, the wine shows a harmonious balance of freshness and richness, with a refined mouthfeel and layered depth supported by its extended aging regimen.

For the rest of us: This mineral-driven Chardonnay is redolent of citrus blossom, honeycomb, passion fruit and fresh hay, with aromas of sea air and wet slate. The palate is linear with flavors of stone fruit, grilled white peach, river rock and Meyer lemon. The finish is firm and lingering with hints of mint leaf.