During one of his previous lives, Mark Tarlov was a Beltway insider as a speech writer for Chief Justice Warren Burger. In time, he left his post with the U.S. Department of Justice to become a Hollywood producer with Warner Bros. Fifteen years ago, Tarlov took a lead role in the innovative Evening Land Vineyards and joined forces in Oregon’s Willamette Valley with Larry Stone, the Seattle-raised Master Sommelier, Burgundian winemaking star Dominque Lafon and rising talent Isabelle Meunier. Since then, Tarlov went on to open Chapter 24 Vineyards with consulting winemaker Louis Michel Liger-Belair, and among their projects under that umbrella is Maison L’Envoyé. This signals the sixth vintage for the brand, and grapes came from four of the North Willamette Valley appellations with an impressive list of sources that includes Bishop Creek, Croft, Gran Moraine and stately Hyland. It delivers a lovely, lively bouquet of flavors with every sip. Blackberry and other dark berries stand out on the nose and are joined by the raspberries and rose petals on the palate. Oak and truffle hover in the background of this easy-drinking wine with a lingering finish. Nominating judges at the 2019 Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition awarded this a gold medal.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 3,000 cases
Alcohol: 13.5%
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