Cracked open a bottle of 2021 Goodfellow Berserker chardonnay
Very reductive. Gunflint, lemon curd, loomi, white flowers and tons of minerality and tension. With air, some of the reduction blew off, though not fully. I often find Temperance chards to be some of the most reductive and mineral inflected in the Goodfellow range, so none of this is surprising. It’s wound incredibly tight and dense now, and will certainly reward some cellaring for a few years
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• 2021 Psycho Killer Chardonnay
I can see the reason for the raves on this thread: this initially had a wonderful sunflower seed edge to the rich citrus taste. It was very similar to the striking (and heretofore unique) as well as pleasurable toasted pumpkin seed note I have found on Walter Scott’s 2019 X Novo the two times I have had it.
With a little air these elements turned into a smokiness along with a chalk element very reminiscent of burgundy, with the citrus deepening to Meyer lemon, kumquat and honeycomb.
This is in the express lane for greatness. Of the handful of Goodfellow chards I’ve had, this was the one that articulated its future promise most clearly.
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I can’t seem to face up to the facts
I’m tense and nervous and I can’t relax
I can’t sleep 'cause my bed’s on fire
Don’t touch me I’m a real live wire
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Such a shitty year with the wildfires and Covid 19 lockdowns among other things.
But we still got this burst of sunshine. A great pairing with bunny barbacoa (if you know, you know).
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Opened the 2023 Beloved Acre Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir to give it a test run.
Pop n’ pour in a Grassl Cru, followed over the late afternoon and evening. Translucent ruby color with a clear rim. Quietly perfumed nose of dried raspberries and black cherries, blood orange peel, licorice, and potpourri. On the palate the wine is fresh, lithe, and ethereal in typical Goodfellow fashion, but I do wish this had more concentration of fruit flavors (the regular Whistling Ridge pinot noir bottle opened last week was in the zone for me). I taste some subtle plum, but there is mostly red florals, tobacco, and dry earth tones. The wine holds up nicely on the finish owing to its juicy acidity and a kiss of silky tannins. I’ll keep checking in on this over the next couple days, but right now my preference for the regular Whistling Ridge cuveé is very obvious.
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I’m surprised that either the 2023 Beloved or 2023 Whistling Ridge are showing much at all. We just opened a set of the 2023s as two of our regular reviewers are getting ready to do their Oregon reviews and everything (for us) still seems very shut down. I do find a but more generosity in the Whistling Ridge but, based on tasting before bottling, I think the wines are still in bottleshock.
We shipped the spring release to get the wines out ahead of summer heat, but they will probably be more giving this fall.
Edit: sorry, running pretty fast this morning. Thanks for posting Brian, and I am glad the WR was in the zone for you. It’s nice to hear because, as I noted, the wines were just locked up here. Of the 10 bottles we opened yesterday, the 2023 Durant was really pretty today though a bit narrow in the palate still.
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2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay Berserker Cuvee is drinking great with an hour or so in the decanter. No other notes.
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Wow! So, are the 2018 Goodfellow Pinot Noirs beginning to open back up? I’ve got a handful of the Fir Crest and other bottlings, but haven’t tried one for a while.
Nice one, @CFu! Two tables unanimously ranking @Marcus_Goodfellow’s 2018 Heritage #14 Lewman Vineyard over the 2018 Berthaut Gerbert Les Petit Monts and the 2018 Mugneret Gibourg Chaignot.
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Just opened a bottle of the 2019 Richard’s. Still a little more reduction than I prefer, but it’s coming around. Good concentration underneath, and a touch of a creamy edge. Maybe another year or two and it should be in my zone.
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How much of a decant did the Lewman get? I loooove what Marcus and Megan can do with that vineyard but haven’t opened any since release.
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2022 Whistling Ridge “Brut Nature,” Blanc de Gris
Just delicious. Citrusy with some apricot and just the slightest hint of honey and brioche. A lovely saline finish.
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That is an incredible wine.
Marcus had some hiding somewhere and I begged to buy a 6 pack and gave a few to FMIII.
It’s stunning
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Wish I had bought 6.
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It really is! Loved each Syrah I’ve opened
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No offense to Marcus, but you are not trying the right under $75 Champagnes.
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Disagree 
That said, we drank a bottle of Agrapart terroirs a couple of weeks ago that was lovely and the Durant BdB was shockingly similar quality and nature (yes, biased view point but I was caught by surprise as I expected the Agrapart to be the better wine).
I feel we are still on a rising path, but I often feel that when I open our wines and Champagne at the same time the difference is more narrow. Though perlage (length the bubbles last) is still a focus for me. Our usual group for Champagne is Doyard, Larmandier-Bernier, Lassaigne, Suenen(though less with current pricing), Diebolt-Vallois, Agrapart, and a smattering of others.
I am glad that you enjoyed the Syrah!
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