Greco di Tufo 'Aléxandros'

Score

100

"The Olerasay 2° is 100% Chenin Blanc with 8.5% alcohol and 331g/l of residual sugar, not that you notice those figures. It was bottled on 17 January 2020. It is an ethereal wine that gives me no choice but to use a simple word loaded with meaning and one I rarely use with respect to wine...perfection. The 375ml bottle was examined over the course of two weeks during which time it barely changed. Each time I put it under a microscope looking for a fault. I never found one. Golden in colour, it has an intoxicating bouquet with orange sorbet, quince, lemon verbena and a very slight Aszú-like note that hovers in the background. Having recently tasted plenty of Sauternes, I can’t help noticing how the aromatics are unencumbered by a thick cloak of oak, thereby lending the bouquet brightness and vividness that is totally enthralling. This all translates across to the crystalline palate. The perfect seam of acidity cuts like an ancient Samurai sword through the viscous fruit whose purity is off the charts. This electrifying Olerasay does not mess about – it immediately thrills the senses with its mélange of blood orange, apricot, crushed minerals and passion fruit. There is so much energy in this wine. The finish has a weightless quality that means, despite its high residual sugar level, the wine is actually easy to drink and is not weighed down by its own unctuousness. The killer aspect of this is the soupçon of bitter orange that hits the back of the throat. I suspected that a perfect Olerasay was possible after the first iteration. This is it. Despite this being a Cellar Favorite, don’t feel you are committing a heinous crime popping the cork now because who knows where we will be by the end of 2020. Just bear in mind that this wine will last decades."

Score

94+

"Beginning with aromas of golden raisins, the 2018 Straw Wine Has an amazing floral focus and an emphasis on the stone fruits with peaches and apricots. On the palate, the wine is unctuously sweet, with the purity of varietal characteristics, expressing citrus marmalades, pineapple chutney, yet it still manages to capture the phenolics of Chenin Blanc. The finish lingers minutes after, revealing additional nuances of this elegant yet powerfully precise wine. Yum!"

Score

92+

"Not yet released, the broad and expressive 2017 Iron Syrah has opulent black fruit, cracked peppercorn and red minerality. The palate is more accessible now compared to the 2016 vintage of the same bottling, which will need time to come around. The 2017 is excellent and has a complex nature to the palate, expressing well for a full-bodied wine. The finish is long, contemplative and ends on a good, round tannic note. The Syrah range from Mullineux has always expressed the terroir from which they spring."

Score

94

"The 2017 Iron Syrah is my favorite of the four Syrahs offered by Mullineux this year. It has a wonderful bouquet of black fruit, clove, iron filings (predictably!) and incense that gathers momentum with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, very fine backbone and the most vigor among all their 2017s. It sports great tension on the finish and impressive persistence. Superb."

Score

93

"This is intriguing, with a dusting of white pepper out front followed by a notable sanguine streak and a range of red currant, bitter cherry, singed iron and cedar notes. The structure is evident through the pepper-tinged finish, giving this an old-school feel. Best from 2021 through 2026. 152 cases made, 10 cases imported."

Score

93

"Matured in 25% new French oak for 18 months, the 2016 Iron Syrah delivers more red fruit on the nose than the 2016, offering cranberry, raspberry, pressed flowers and something a little exotic – marmalade and a touch of tangerine. The medium-bodied palate shows a fine bead of acidity and grips the mouth, the whole bunches lending an (appropriately enough) ferrous-like finish. Excellent."

Score

93

"Still youthfully compact, but the core of plum, blackberry and black currant fruit shows lots of juicy energy. Black tea, charcoal and singed alder notes flow through the finish. Needs time to stretch out fully. Best from 2019 through 2026. 230 cases made, 15 cases imported."

Score

94

"Spice box, blueberry compote and blackberry puree. Hot stones, vanilla, sweet meats and incense follow and spring out of the glass. The palate is very supple, all thanks to the juicy tannins. And the tangy acidity lifts the blue fruit to a long, chewy finish. Drink in 2020."

Score

96

Score

93

"Not yet released, the black-fruited 2017 Schist Syrah is compact and dense with notes of blackberry, dark cherry and dusty spiced plum with a complex structure and tight, rocky core. In its youth, the wine is bold and elegant with a chewy tannic line through the mid-palate, ending with a long, textural finish and dense tannic grip that will loosen in time. This wine is as focused as it is delicious. Make no mistake, this is world-class Syrah that has power, longevity and finesse."

Score

93

"The 2017 Schist Syrah has a much more outgoing bouquet compared to its Granite counterpart, offering ebullient dark cherry, boysenberry and Provençal herb aromas; fennel and star anise emerge with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a liberal sprinkling of cracked black pepper and a feisty, open-knit finish. Just thoroughly pleasurable."

Score

93

"Ripe and still a bit compact, with a core of plum paste and raspberry preserve notes still coiled up. Lots of mouthwatering anise, apple wood and tobacco elements are milling around, giving this cut and energy. Just needs time to unfurl fully. Best from 2022 through 2026. 775 cases made, 25 cases imported."

Score

93

"The 2016 Schist Syrah Roundstone has a more feminine, nuanced bouquet than the 2015, with darker berry fruit and white pepper and clove emerging with time. The focused palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin. The 100% whole bunches lend real mineralité and je ne sais quoi on the finish. This is one of the most impressive of recent releases."

Score

96

"Andrea and Chris Mullineux have been exploring Swartland’s varied soils since they settled in Riebeek Kasteel in 2007. Their explorations have led to an array of single-parcel wines, like this one, off a parcel of 17-year-old vines rooted in shale and schist on the Kasteelberg. The 2016, foot-stomped as whole bunches in open-topped barrels and fermented with ambient yeasts, spent four weeks on the skins before it was pressed and racked into barrels, where it rested 21 months. There’s not a hint of wood in the wine: It’s all pure raspberry flavor, spicy and rich, complemented by fine-grit tannins that give it heft and substance. Notes of herbs, earth and tapenade suggest parallels to the Rhône, though it radiates a different sort of warmth. While it’s elegant and restrained, a pleasure to drink now, it has the structure to hold it for another 15 years."

Score

92

"Fleshy in feel, with layers of cassis, blackberry puree and warmed plum gliding over each other, picking up light mesquite, tobacco and savory accents on the finish. Approachable, but should gain some more nuance in the cellar. Drink now through 2025. 434 cases made, 30 cases imported."

Score

92

"The 2015 Schist Syrah Roundstone has a raspberry and mulberry bouquet, touches of rose petal and sous-bois emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, quite saline, and almost briny in the mouth. The grippy finish suggests it will require another couple of years in bottle."

Score

93

"A single parcel of sustainably farmed Syrah vines has produced a mighty expression of the variety. Creamy, peppery red and black fruits showcase density on the palate, backed up by a berry-like acidity. There is ripeness and vibrancy here, but it remains balanced and elegant. 12 months in 25% new 500 litre French oak barrels, nine months in second fill foudres, and 10 months in bottle, unfined and unfiltered."

Score

95

Score

92

"Structured on the nose, the 2017 Granite Syrah has a black-fruited core with classic black pepper notes and hints of oak. The wine is still tightly wound on the palate, with dusty blackberries and a mineral tension to the mid-palate. Soft black pepper tones coupled with grippy and fine-grained tannins linger on the long finish. Not yet released, this wine shows tremendous aging potential."

Score

92

"The 2017 Granite Syrah needs a little encouragement from the glass to reveal scents of blackberry, raspberry coulis, fennel and gravel. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannins and a fine bead of acidity. There is a satisfying salinity throughout this Syrah, and a pleasing brightness on the finish. Excellent winemaking here, and I suspect this will age with style."

Score

92

"Solidly built, with a racy iron note that frames the core of red currant, damson plum and cherry fruit nicely, letting light tobacco, pepper and sanguine details flitter through the background. Shows some latent grip, so cellar a touch. Best from 2019 through 2025. 230 cases made, 25 cases imported."

Score

93

"Lots of black plums, dark cherry compote, baking spices, vanilla and resin. Full body and tons of rich dark fruit, but it's so well supported by a stream of fresh acidity and a firm tannin backbone. A long finish. Drink in 2020."

Score

95

Score

93

"The 2017 Quarts Chenin Leliefontein, matured for 12 months in neutral oak, has a very attractive bouquet not dissimilar to the previous vintage in terms of fruit profile, but perhaps with just a touch more delineation. The lightly spiced, well-defined palate offers crisp acidity and orange peel and dried mango flavors. A crushed stone element defines a finish that feels very long and satisfying. Superb."

Score

94

Score

91

"The 2018 Granite Chenin Blanc has a touch more vibrancy on the nose than its 2017 counterpart due to its youth, showing bigger and glossier because of it. The medium to full-bodied palate is finessed and powerful, with mineral-driven citrus blossoms and a spicy edge over pineapple fruit. Well done!"

Score

95

Score

93

Score

91

Score

91

Score

95

"The 2017 Old Vines Basson Cinsault is fuller and riper on the nose compared to the Lötter Cinsault, featuring exuberant wild strawberry, raspberry preserve, gingerbread and dill aromas, all very well defined and brimming with energy. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy opening, hints of marmalade and orange peel infusing the red fruit, and just the right amount of piquancy toward the finish. There is something old school about this Cinsault. Cerebral."

Score

93

"The 2018 Old Vines Lötter Cinsault has a gorgeous bouquet of lifted red cherries, crushed strawberry and a touch of shoe leather, all very well defined and focused. The palate is well balanced with a lightly spiced entry, a fine bead of acidity and a caressing texture. Chinese five-spice and notes of sage appear toward the complex finish. This is an excellent Cinsault from Andrea and Chris Mullineux."

Score

93

"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon has a fragrant bouquet of dark berry fruit, Earl Grey and light wet clayey aromas, quite complex and engaging. The palate is very well defined and classic in style, with a lightly spiced opening and white pepper and sage developing later. There is just the right amount of dryness toward the finish to get the saliva flowing. Classy."

Score

92

"The 2016 Leeu Passant Dry Red is Chris and Andrea Mullineaux’s take on 1950s and 1960s Cape red wine and utilizes fruit from vines planted as far back as 1900, with 25% whole clusters including around one-third Cabernet Franc, Cinsault and Cabernet Sauvignon. It was matured for 18 months in 225-liter French oak barrels, 30% new. This works very successfully on the nose of perfumed dark berry fruit laced with cedar and tobacco, not a million miles away from an old-school Claret. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, a fine bead of acidity, plenty of tar- and tobacco-infused black fruit and a slightly austere but very well balanced finish. Excellent."

Score

95

Score

91

"Dried apricots, melon drops, vanilla, spices, cloves and nutmeg. Medium body, pretty acidity and a zesty finish. Drink now."

Score

92

"The 2016 Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Chardonnay comes from a single vineyard whereas the debut 2015 came from two. Drought affected the yield, which was 20% down. The wine was matured for 12 months in 225-liter French oak, 30% new. It has a forward and quite intense bouquet of dried honey, light tropical fruit (mango and a hint of pineapple) and a touch of white peach. The palate is well balanced with a spicy opening, very good weight, subtle tropical notes and just the right amount of salinity on the finish. Excellent."

Score

93

"Bright yellow apple, peach and pear flavors mingle here, with a creamy texture and a finish that glistens with honeysuckle and quinine notes. Offers lovely purity and length. Best from 2021 through 2026. 650 cases made, 50 cases imported."

Score

90

"The 2019 Kloof Street Chenin Blanc underwent a natural ferment with minimal SO2 addition. It has a knockout bouquet for an entry-level Chenin, featuring beautiful orange blossom and apricot scents mixed with hints of lemon thyme. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity and impressive tension and energy. Poised all the way through to the finish, this is a superb Kloof Street Chenin Blanc that serves as a perfect introduction to Chris and Andrea Mullineux’s wines."

Score

91

Score

93

Score

94

Score

95

Score

97

Score

93

"The 2017 Hoë-Steen Chenin Blanc comes from tall bush vines and marks the first time that David has worked with the entire vineyard, which is two hectares in size. The fragrant bouquet offers well-defined yellow plum, caramelized pear, peach skin and waxy aromas. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity and very harmonious; the Palomino and Muscat impart spiciness and hints of curry leaf toward the very harmonious finish. This is totally seductive."

Score

98

Score

93

Score

94

Score

95

Score

93

Score

93

Score

95

Score

91

"The 2017 Skaliekop Chenin Blanc comes from shale veins on the foothills of Paardeberg Mountain. It has an intense bouquet that is probably a bit Marmite, given such a potent flor-like aroma infusing the stone fruit scents. The palate is very well balanced with a crisp line of acidity, notes of pear and lemongrass, and a little yeastiness toward the nutty, smoky finish. Very fine, but not for everyone."

Score

98

Score

94

Score

92

Score

93

"The 2017 Grenache comes from two dry-farmed vineyards and saw three-and-a-half weeks’ skin contact, including 30% to 50% whole bunches, the remainder destemmed but not crushed, then matured in used oak for 12 months. It has a perfumed bouquet of mineral-rich cranberry and crushed strawberry aromas, very detailed and focused. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied, with sappy red berry fruit laced with white pepper and clove, leading into a natural, white-pepper-infused finish that lingers in the mouth. Classic Swartland Grenache."

Score

95

Score

96

Score

95

Score

92

Score

93

Score

92

"The 2017 Cuvée Cinema Pinot Noir uses 50% whole-cluster fruit from one of the highest vineyards in Hemel-en-Aarde. Matured in 30% new oak, it has a generous bouquet of macerated red cherries, crushed strawberry and light blue fruit developing with aeration. The whole clusters work nicely on the palate, lending fine tension and delineation and a slight tertiary quality, leading to a finish with a touch of bitter cherry."

Score

94

"The 2018 Clay Shales Chardonnay comes from Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, whole-bunch-pressed without enzymes or SO2 and matured for 10 months in 2,600-liter foudres. It is blessed with a very detailed, Chablis-like bouquet displaying hints of linseed oil and hazelnut. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a fine bead of acidity; the citrus fruit is softened by lovely orange peel and tangerine notes. The finish hints at almond and marzipan. A fabulous Chardonnay from winemaker Peter-Allen Finlayson."

Score

92

"The 2018 The Agnes comes from five vineyards in Hemel-en-Aarde and Overberg, aged in 228- and 500-liter barrels with 10% new oak. It has a discreet bouquet with subtle pressed flower and shale-like aromas that suggest this is a Chardonnay for cellaring. The palate is wonderfully poised, revealing hints of vanilla and coconut flakes on the entry, countered by a crisp line of acidity and a pleasing tautness on the finish. Excellent."

Score

90

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Peters Vineyard is laced with bright red cherry fruit, blood orange, mint, dried flowers and game. Nuanced and expressive, with striking perfume the 2016 has plenty to offer. This is another wine that packs a real punch, its mid-weight, at times, airy feel notwithstanding,"

Score

91

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Charles Vineyard is pretty, delicate and nicely lifted. Deceptive at first in its mid-weight feel, the 2016 has terrific energy driving the red berry flavors, as well as plenty of tannic spine. I would give it a few years in bottle to soften. This is an especially sinewy, vibrant style for Anderson Valley."

Score

92

"Bright ruby-red. Pure, youthfully medicinal scents of cassis, boysenberry, blueberry, licorice, menthol, bitter chocolate and pungent herbs. Brisk, delineated, high-pitched and tightly wound, with classic medicinal Cabernet Sauvignon character in the early going. Dominant flavors of cassis, licorice, menthol and dark chocolate. I did not taste this bottle alongside its 2017 sibling, but the two wines strike me as quite similar in style and quality. This one is perhaps a bit sweeter and may open sooner but is still quite firm and tactile on the finish."

Score

91

"This 2018 is still a baby, dominated by oak and tannins, its structure filling in around the dark-plum flavors with a thick, ornate frame. Decant it if you open it now, and pair with a char-grilled steak. "

Score

94+

"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series is a gem and well worth seeking out. Based on 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Syrah, brought up in 28% new oak, it offers an outstanding nose of blackcurrants, toasted spice, chocolate, and bouquet garni. Concentrated, firm and structured, with medium to full-bodied richness, it’s another age-worthy wine in the lineup that needs to be forgotten for 3-5 years."

Score

92

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series (Artist Series #26) is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 1% of each Petit Verdot and Merlot. The wine has a generous nose of dark red and black fruit, with dusty cherry, black raspberry, blackberry compote, currant and cassis with aromas of generous oak tones that are not overdone, lifting the dusty floral aromas out of the glass. Full-bodied, the wine opens to a soft chocolaty expression with components of wilted flowers, black tea and dried savory herbs before showing a robust frame held together by buttressing tannins. The wine ends with a long, complex finish that continues to evolve in the mouth. The wine underwent a slow spontaneous fermentation in the barrel lasting up to six months and then spent 21 months in oak barrels, 58% new. Just over 16,000 bottles were produced. Another successful bottling from Woodward Canyon. Bravo!"

Score

90+

"Bright ruby-red. Slightly medicinal scents of cassis, blueberry, licorice, bitter chocolate and menthol. Concentrated, brooding and still a bit youthfully simple, with its black fruit flavors currently overshadowed by a medicinal menthol and licorice quality. This needs time to evolve and express itself. Tooth-coating tannins are substantial but reasonably well buffered and not dry, with an element of peppery herbs keeping the finish quite brisk. Not sweet right now but boasts plenty of underlying dark fruits to ensure a positive evolution in bottle."

Score

92

"This is a high-toned, earthy and textured wine that overdelivers on its price point, presenting complex warm spice, black-tea and candied cherry and raspberry flavor. The tannins are soft and well integrated, as is the oak, allowing plenty of room for nuance and elegant composure."

Score

92

"Pale to medium ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Block N features tangerine peel, garrigue, lilac, licorice and sliced blueberry aromas with accents of cranberry, wild blackberries, earth, dust and woodsmoke. The light to medium-bodied palate is earthy with chalky tannins and integrated freshness, finishing long and spicy. 143 cases produced."

Score

92

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard - N Block is one of the more reticent wines in this lineup today. Dark cherry, game, smoke, licorice, dried herbs and menthol give the N Block terrific aromatic presence. There is plenty of depth, but I don’t see the pedigree of the very best editions. Even so, the 2017 is perfumed, gracious and light on its feet, with lovely aromatic complexity and nuance. The N Block was done with fully destemmed fruit."

Score

93+

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is very pretty and understated. Crushed flowers, dried rose petal, mint, sweet red cherry, mulling spices and star anise all give the 2017 striking aromatic presence. Medium in body and silky, the 2018 offers plenty of immediacy and appeal. Readers will find a gracious Pinot built on savory/floral aromatics and tons of sheer appeal."

Score

91+

"Pale to medium ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Old Vine opens with some tar/gunflint reductive notes, slowly opening to charcuterie, pepper, garrigue, lemon peel, smoke, toast and blackberry aromas. It's light to medium-bodied, saline and savory in the mouth with granulated tannins and good freshness on the savory finish. This is drinking a tad reductive/closed today, but with more time in bottle my score may look conservative. 150 cases produced."

Score

91

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard - Old Vines is dense, powerful and savory. Dried herbs, licorice, menthol, cedar and tobacco give the 2017 a distinctly earthy profile to match its brooding, somber profile. The 2017 is an attractive wine, but it is not especially finessed. The Old vines is a blend of two blocks of Pommard and one of Martin Clone Pinot, done with fully destemmed fruit and aged in 50% new oak."

Score

93

"The 2017 Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard has a pale to medium ruby color and very pretty perfume of orange oil, violet, lilac, blueberries and crushed stone plus accents of sagebrush, blackberries and red berry sparks. Light to medium-bodied, it offers elegantly restrained, perfumed fruits in the mouth with a firm frame of chalky tannins and juicy acidity, finishing long. 141 cases produced."

Score

94

"The 2017 Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard is distinguished by its striking aromatic presence and overall nuance. Bright, red berry fruit, floral notes, blood orange, sage and a touch of whole cluster savoriness add myriad shades of complexity to this beautifully layered, sublime Pinot from Tyler."

Score

93

"The 2017 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard Block W opens with crushed shell and a light petrol note over warm white peach, yellow apple, lime peel, pastry crust, saline and elderflower aromas. The palate is light to medium-bodied, chalky textured and mineral-driven with nuanced fruits that flesh out to creamy citrus flavors, enlivened by tangy acidity and finishing very long and nervy. 177 cases produced."

Score

94

"The 2017 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard - W Block is a terrific example of the vintage and site. Deeply perfumed and nuanced, the 2017 is utterly beguiling from the very first taste. Sweet floral notes, mint, green apple and lemon confit open up effortlessly, but more than anything, the W Block is distinguished by its textured, resonant feel."

Score

93

"The 2017 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard comes from the vineyard's original, early 1970s-era planting. The nose offers aromas of saline, peach, lime zest, white pepper, chalk and crushed shell with red apples and pie crust. The palate is light to medium-bodied, minerally and chalky textured with tangy acidity and a long, peach-laced finish. 142 cases produced."

Score

92

"The 2017 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is quite subtle and understated. In this tasting, the S&B is a bit hushed. There is plenty of brightness, energy and saline nuance, but the wine is also very reserved at this stage. It will be interesting to see where the 2017 goes. Today, it is decidedly quite, even if there is lovely precision lurking in the background."

Score

92+

"The 2017 Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard opens with restrained aromas of citrus blossom, quince, Bosc pear, white peaches and lime peel with crushed shell, saline and white pepper accents. Light to medium-bodied, it's tensile and chalky in the mouth, fleshing out to floral-tinged stone fruits, with tangy acidity and a long, precise finish. 90 cases were made."

Score

93

"The 2017 Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard shows the natural intensity of the Sta. Rita Hills in its creamy, inviting personality. Lemon confit, orchard fruit and floral notes all weave together in a gracious, open-knit Chardonnay that will drink well with minimal cellaring. This is one of the more forward wines in the range."

Score

92

"The 2017 Chardonnay Zotovich Vineyard opens with gunflint, smoke, saline and crushed shell aromas, fleshing out to acacia, lime peel, white peach, chalk and dried hay. The light to medium-bodied palate is tensile, minerally and precise with warm citrus flavors lifted by tangy acidity and a chalky texture, finishing long and nervy. 52 cases were made."

Score

93

"The 2017 Chardonnay Zotovich Family Vineyard is pretty, floral and lifted, as wines from this site on sandy soils tend to be. Soft contours and light tropical notes give the wine a lovely sense of immediacy, while bright acids add energy. Justin Willet has done a terrific job in bringing texture to a vineyard that often yields airy wines. The 2017 will be even better with a few years in bottle. It is such an elegant Chardonnay."

Score

91

"The 2017 Chardonnay Dierberg Vineyard features warm white peaches, Greek yogurt, crushed stone and lime peel scents with notions of pie crust and a light framing of spice. Light to medium-bodied, it's purely fruited with juicy acidity and a long, mineral-driven and textured finish. 178 cases produced."

Score

94

"The 2017 Chardonnay Dierberg Vineyard is a striking wine that brings together tension, power and energy. Tightly wound and energetic, the 2017 is going to need time to be at its best, but it is impressive in the early going. Crushed rock, lemon peel and bright floral notes confer vitality to this beautifully sculpted Santa Maria Chardonnay."

Score

90

"The 2017 Claret is a new Merlot-based wine. Bright red fruit, crushed flowers and dried herbs shape this mid-weight, aromatic red. Dollops of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot round out the blend. The 2017 was aged mostly in neutral oak."

Score

94

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon RSW comes from a steep, west-facing portion of the vineyard planted with head-trained To Kalon clone Cabernet. Elegant and restrained in the glass, the 2017 presents an intriguing array of dark cherry, plum, mocha, licorice, sage and lavender. The 2017 spent 22 months in oak, 2/3rds new."

Score

94

"The 2019 Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard opens slowly to tar, red cherries, dried flowers and earth on the nose. Medium-bodied, the palate offers loads of fresh berry character with a soft, approachable, fresh structure and uplifted, perfumed finish. This has more to show with another year or two in bottle. 2,380 cases produced."

Score

92+

"The medium ruby colored 2019 Zinfandel Kirschenmann Vineyard opens with a bit of tarry reduction over a core of black fruits and spices. The palate is offering much more at this youthful stage. It's packed with dark, spiced fruits and is medium-bodied, soft and fresh with an earthy finish. It has great potential and just needs more time in bottle. 1,220 cases produced."

Score

94

"The 2019 Zinfandel Kirschenmann Vineyard is the finest wine I have tasted off this site yet. Effusive in its aromatics, with striking red berry fruit and gorgeous purity, the Kirschenmann shows the elegance that is possible in Lodi. All the elements come together effortlessly in the glass. The 2019 is such a classy wine."

Score

93

"The 2019 Zinfandel Dusi Vineyard, medium ruby-purple in color, offers bright red cherry perfume with notes of tar, potpourri and aniseed. Medium-bodied, the palate is soft and grainy with loads of juicy acidity, bright fruit character and a long, uplifted finish. 1,700 cases produced."

Score

94

"The 2019 Zinfandel Duarte has a deep ruby-purple color and gregarious perfume of blueberry and blackberry preserves with hints of peaches, aniseed, tar and dried flowers. The palate is medium-bodied, soft, perfumed and approachable with lots of juicy lift on the finish. 1,560 cases produced."

Score

93

"The 2019 Zinfandel Duarte is a blend from Evangelho, Salvador, Del Barba and Mori, all in Contra Costa County. Rich, ripe and flavorful, the 2019 takes varietal Zinfandel notes and turns up the volume. Inky and rich, with terrific fruit density, the 2019 is the sort of wine that is opened and disappears at the table. This is such a gorgeous vintage for the Duarte."

Score

95

"Medium ruby in color, the 2019 Zinfandel Dragon Vineyard has alluring black fruits on the nose with accents of salted licorice, earth and blood orange. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and fresh with spicy black fruits and a long finish with appealing earthy nuances. It's youthfully coiled and deserves another 2-3 years in bottle. 1,410 cases produced."

Score

94

"The 2019 Zinfandel Dragon Vineyard is a dense, powerful wine. Inky red fruit, rose petal, spice and cedar all run through this potent, Howell Mountain Zinfandel. Firm tannins need time to soften, but there is a lot of wine. The Dragon is one of the most distinctive bottlings in the range. This is a true mountain wine, but it is less forbiddingly tannic and brooding than the Rattlesnake Ridge."

Score

95

"Medium ruby, the 2019 Zinfandel Buck Cobb Vineyard opens with wild tones of scorched earth, tar and graphite that give way to wild blackberries and apricot hints. The palate is impressive, intensely fruited but lifted, silky and fresh, and it finishes long with a tremendous flourish of peachy and floral perfume. It's youthfully coiled and hints at more to offer, so give it another 2-3 years in bottle. 1,260 cases produced."

Score

94

"The 2019 Zinfandel Buck Cobb Vineyard is bold, juicy and exuberant. Bright red/purplish berry fruit, spice, rose petal, lavender and mint fill out the layers. In tasting, the Buck Cobb is quite dense and succulent in feel at the outset, but then gains in both aromatic depth and finesse over time. Dollops of Alicante, Petite Sirah and Mataro round out the blend. I would cellar it for a few years."

Score

92

"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Turley Estate Vineyard, deep ruby-purple in color, offers scents of cassis, milk chocolate, cedar, aniseed and floral touches. Medium to full-bodied, it has a ripe, grainy frame and great freshness to lift its classically styled fruits, and it finishes long and bright."

Score

92

"The 2019 Zinfandel Juvenile has a medium ruby color and aromas of earth-laced red and black berries. The palate is soft and alluring with a wealth of ripe fruit and juicy acidity, and it finishes long and uplifted. It's a very approachable style this vintage. 15,670 cases produced."

Score

90

"The 2019 Zinfandel Juvenile is sleek, polished and wonderfully nuanced. Silky tannins and lifted aromatics give the 2019 so much immediacy and overall appeal. Crushed red berry fruit, spice, cedar and leather add pretty shades of nuance, with floral notes that perk up the finish. This is an especially refined version of the Juvenile, Turley's young-vine, entry-level offering."

Score

91

"91pts, Best Buy Pure and expressive, this wine is more than just fruity, adding enticing black-tea and forest-floor notes to its tasty cherry and rhubarb core. Medium to full bodied, it offers fine-grained tannins to firm up the texture. This is the third excellent vintage in a row for this remarkable value wine. JIM GORDON "

Score

91

"Shimmering magenta. Spice-tinged blackcurrant and cherry aromas are complemented by suggestions of candied lavender and cured tobacco. Offers sappy dark berry, bitter cherry, mocha and cracked pepper flavors that gain weight and turn sweeter with air. The long, penetrating finish features harmonious tannins and lingering spice and floral qualities. (raised in a 50/50 mix of French and American oak, 35% of it new)"

Score

91

"Vivid red. Spice-accented red berries, candied flowers, beet and exotic spices on the fragrant nose. A spine of juicy acidity supports lively red currant, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors, and a minerally nuance emerges with air. Shows fine detail and a hint of tangy orange pith on the persistent finish, which is framed by fine-grained tannins. 20% new French oak."

Score

91

"Brilliant straw. Pear nectar, peach and honey aromas are complemented by an emerging lemon pith nuance. Supple and broad in the mouth, offering sappy orchard and pit fruit flavors that slowly tighten up through the midpalate. Closes on a lingering floral note, with bitter citrus zest and tarragon notes sneaking in. Raised in a combination of stainless steel tanks and neutral, French oak barrels."

Score

95

"Light in the glass, this single-vineyard expression blasts off on its fabulous nose with snappy atoms of rose petal, hibiscus, red fruit, baked earth, wild thyme and dried tarragon. The palate is lively with cran-raspberry flavors as well as sagebrush and desert scrub, all clinging to a tightly woven frame."

Score

92

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Kick-On Ranch is another super-expressive wine in this range. Here, the 100% whole clusters give the wine an amaro-like savory quality that is quite exotic. Rosewater, orange peel, mint, tobacco and dried flowers add to the wine's decidedly quirky personality."

Score

94

"The 2017 Riesling Kick-on Ranch is fascinating to taste next to the Vandenberg. A more airy expression of Riesling emerges here, with the citrus and floral notes nicely lifted. A touch of botrytis sweetness adds dimension to this weightless, understated white. There is plenty of flavor intensity, but is more implied rather than overtly stated."

Score

93

"The 2017 Grüner Veltliner John Sebastiano is brisk, precise and wonderfully nuanced. Bright saline notes perk up a core of orchard fruit, citrus and floral notes. A wine of real class and distinction, the 2017 has so much to offer. Aging in a combination of steel and 500-liter acacia barrels works beautifully here. This is a memorable wine from Graham Tatomer."

Score

90+

"The 2016 Grüner Veltliner John Sebastiano is powerful and tightly wound. Today, the 2016 is not ready to show all of its cards, which is not unusual for young wines from this site. There is no shortage of intensity, but the 2016 is totally shut down, with only glimpses of its personality coming through at the moment."

Score

91

"The 2017 Grüner Veltliner Paragon is generous and inviting, with lovely orchard fruit, jasmine, almond and mint character. In this vintage, the Paragon has a bit more textural richness than is the norm, but that works very nicely to enhance varietal character."

Score

91

"This unique, twist-top blend of 80% Grüner Veltliner and 20% Riesling is Graham Tatomer's white table wine, and it begins with aromas of dried lime peels and rocky seashore. The palate also shows dried lime and orange peels, as well as unique flashes of white pepper and thyme. "

Score

95

"This countywide blend delivers tantalizing aromas of lightly poached cherry, hibiscus and wild sagebrush. The superfresh palate snaps with sizzling acidity and zesty red-fruit flavors that rush in and then hold tight into the finish, where an accent of tarragon adds nuance."

Score

92

"The 2018 Pinot Noir (Edna Valley) is an absolutely gorgeous appellation-level Pinot. Sweet, floral and lifted, the 2018 has so much to offer. Crushed rose petal, mint, dried cherry, orange peel and hints of mulling spice give the 2018 striking aromatic depth to match its mid-weight personality. Understated and alluring, the 2018 is simply impeccable. The 30% whole clusters works very nicely here."

Score

92

"Aromas of dried and wet grass, pomelo zest, lime peels and dried seaweed show on the nose of this bottling. There's a flash of richness on the palate before the green-peppercorn, Mandarin orange and light dairy flavors come across the sizzling texture."

Score

92

"The 2018 Riesling Vandenberg opens beautifully in the glass, showing notable density and creaminess that continues to build in the glass. Orchard fruit, wild flowers. Jolly Ranch and mint overtones all grace this exquisite, beautifully perfumed Riesling from one of the top sites in Santa Barbara. The 2018 is such an inviting wine."

Score

93

"Another stellar wine in this range, the 2017 Riesling Vandenberg is all about density and power. The Vandenberg doesn't have the nuance or finesse of some of the other wines in the range, but it does offer terrific richness and plenty of persistence. Time in the glass brings out lovely volume to the green orchard fruit and floral flavors. The Vandenberg is a blend of two picks from Kick-on, one with botrytis and another in which the fruit was allowed to dry out a bit on the vine. The 6-7 grams of residual sugar are well judged."

Score

93

"Aromas of crystallized lime blossom, grapefruit peel, jasmine and an intriguing line of patchouli invite the nose into this bottling, whose name means ocean soil. There's a fantastic texture on the palate, where lemon- and lime-blossom flavors meet with grapefruit-peel and lime-pith elements."

Score

93

"Tatomer's 2018 Grüner Veltliner Meeresboden is loaded with a whole range of citrus, orchard fruit and floral notes. Beautifully textured and generous the Meeresboden has a bit more richness and volume, which really brings out the flavors nicely. This is a fabulous showing."

Score

93

"Smoked game, hearty black-plum and wet slate and clay aromas make for a heady entry to the nose of this bottling. Smoked berry and licorice flavors prove soft, clean and full on the palate, where a lingering acidity pushes deep into the finish."

Score

96

"Deep garnet. Fresh red and dark berry, floral and exotic spice qualities on the assertively perfumed nose, along with suggestions of cola, smoky minerals and succulent herbs. Shows superb clarity and spicy lift to the juicy cherry, raspberry and boysenberry flavors, which slowly deepen and turn spicier through the midpalate. Closes extremely long, smooth and precise, with resonating florality and a sweetening suggestion of vanilla. All destemmed fruit and 35% new French oak."

Score

95

"Limpid ruby-red. A highly complex bouquet evokes red berry and cherry preserves, along with building Asian spice, candied rose, vanilla and smoky mineral accents. Shows superb delineation on the palate, offering lush, spice-tinged red fruit liqueur, cherry cola and spicecake flavors that pick up a sexy floral pastille nuance with air. Finishes extremely long and lively, with fine-grained tannins lending shape and grip to lingering raspberry and exotic spice notes. I'd happily pour this alongside plenty of Grand Crus from Vosne-Romanée that go for three times the price, if not more. 35% new French oak."

Score

92

"Delicate aromas of yellow apple, daffodil, lemon blossom and light butter show on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. Familiar and comforting on the palate, the wine lands softly, with poached orange, light butter and delicate oak flavors, leading into a more complex finish of chamomile and cashew. "

Score

95

"Light, bright yellow-gold. Mineral-driven pear, orange and floral qualities on the intensely perfumed nose, along with a hint of iodine. Silky, focused and lively in the mouth, offering sharply defined citrus and orchard fruit flavors complemented by suggestions of fennel, sweet butter and honeysuckle. Shows excellent concentration as well as energy, and finishes minerally, precise and very long, with repeating floral and pear notes. 28% new French oak."

Score

93

"Deep glistening ruby-red. Vibrant, sharply focused aromas of cherry, potpourri and Asian spices are lifted by a smoky mineral flourish. Broad and concentrated on the palate, offering raspberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that show impressive energy and focus. Rich yet lively in character, finishing with strong, spicy drive and fine-grained tannins that come in late. 26% new French oak."

Score

92

"Subtle hints of macadamia nut, baked lemon meringue, butter and sea salt are presented in a mellow, subtle manner on the nose of this bottling, which would make a pleasant apéritif for any gathering. There's a taut frame to the sip, where lemon peel and lychee meet with a kiss of oak and a pinch of nutmeg. "

Score

92

"Vivid straw-yellow. Fresh pear, lemon curd and melon aromas are complemented by hints of jasmine and salted butter. Silky and energetic in the mouth, offering juicy Meyer lemon, Anjou pear and buttered toast flavors and a spicy jolt of candied ginger. Finishes with subtle grip, a repeating floral note and impressive, sappy persistence."

Score

92

"Under the leadership of the Hermann J. Wiemer team, this entry-level, off-dry Riesling is an outstanding success. A boisterous, perfumed nose yields aromas of citrus blossoms, pomelo, lemon oil, tangerine and fresh yellow apple. The juicy palate gives way to ripples of juicy pear, apple and pineapple flavors, lifted by a persistent vein of orange-laden acidity. It's impeccably balanced and incredibly concentrated and fresh, with a gentle stoniness riding underneath it all. While enjoyable now, it has the structure and fruit to hold well through 2030."

Score

90

"Planet Oregon is the value brand from Soter Vineyards, offering exceptional quality at an affordable price. Scents of raspberries laced with pine needles greet you with light and pretty flavors of rhubarb and raspberry, along with more of that pine-forest accent. It's a delightful wine for near-term enjoyment, with enough tannins to show some grip through the finish."

Score

90

"This has a very, very bright array of fresh, juicy strawberries and raspberries, in lively mode with good tannin presence. Drink now. Screw cap."

Score

90

"Bright ruby-red. Perfumed aromas of cherry, raspberry and succulent herbs, along with a subtle floral topnote. Juicy and seamless on the palate, offering spice-tinged red berry and bitter cherry flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Turns sweeter on the clinging finish, showing very good clarity, well-knit tannins and lingering spiciness."

Score

95

"Beautifully fresh and complex with very fragrant, violet-like aromas, together with blueberries, cocoa, red cherries, oyster shell, a swathe of fresh herbs and much, much more. The palate offers a very succulent, focused sense of power and a long, chiseled feel that carries blueberries and red cherries very long and very fresh. Try from 2023."

Score

94

"Limpid ruby-red. Powerful, spice-accented red and dark berries, incense and candied flowers on the seductively perfumed nose; a mineral nuance builds in the glass. Alluringly sweet, sharply delineated cherry, raspberry preserve and rose pastille flavors are complemented by an exotic spice nuance. Fine-grained and seamless in texture, finishing extremely long and sappy, with resonating spiciness and slowly building tannins. 40% new oak."

Score

92

"This earns the ‘Classic' designation with a spot-on mix of blueberry and purple fruit that fill the palate. Those fresh flavors are bounced up with well-matched acids and lightly earthy tannins, along with hints of cedar from aging in 10% new oak."

Score

92

"North Valley refers to the cluster of AVAs that are responsible for the major part of quality pinot production in the Willamette Valley. A very attractive pinot for the depth and volume of rich cherries. The palate has sweet cherry flavor and succulent tannin chew. Drink now."

Score

92

"North Valley is the blended, midpriced tier of the Soter portfolio, and this widely available wine should find a place on the table of anyone who loves top quality Oregon Pinot. Full flavored with cherry-berry fruit, it saw just 10% new oak, which is sufficient to provide a touch of spice. But the fruit is the star here, and this polished, expressive, perfectly balanced wine is its champion. "

Score

92

"There’s a sweet array of ripe cherries and earthy, gently spicy notes on offer here with a very fluid, fleshy and freshly layered feel to the quite pure, elegant yet flavorful and long palate. Drink in the next five years."

Score

92

"Deep scarlet. Expansive aromas of red/dark berry liqueur and cherry-cola are complemented by a spicy topnote that builds as the wine opens up. Juicy, concentrated and seamless in the mouth, the North Valley offers appealingly sweet, spice-laced black raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors that turn livelier with air. Nicely plays richness off vivacity and finishes very long and supple, with gentle tannins lending shape and grip."

Score

92

"A splendid wine, now labeled ‘Classic' but much as before it's barrel fermented, sappy and seductive. The lush and concentrated flavors mix apple, tangerine and Meyer lemon, in a tangy, palate-coating burst of fruit and acid. This new vintage ups the new French oak to 15%. "

Score

91

"A fresh, nectarine and peach nose with bread dough and a gently stony edge, too. The palate has a smooth feel with a fresh, fine and almost Chablis-esque feel to the palate. Drink now."

Score

90

"Fresh aromas of grapefruit, lemon and a hint of pear carry the nose. There is a snappy freshness to the palate, where bright flavors of apple and pear meet with sea salt and sizzling acidity."

Score

92

"Pale yellow. Ripe citrus and orchard fruits, honey, toasted nuts and a hint of smokiness on the pungent, deeply perfumed nose. Plush pear nectar, candied peach and tangerine flavors take on a suave floral nuance as the wine opens up. In a weighty but surprisingly lively style, showing excellent finishing cling and lingering honeysuckle and brioche flourishes."

Score

94+

"The 2018 Chardonnay Patterson Vineyard has lovely aromas of warm pears with notes of hazelnut, elderflower and honey. The medium-bodied palate is silky and savory, laced with mineral notes and bright freshness and finishing long, layered and energetic. 102 cases were made."

Score

95

"The 2018 Chardonnay Patterson is dazzling from the very first taste. The aromatics alone are breathtaking. Beautifully layered and so articulate, the Patterson will make its case as one of the Chardonnays of the vintage. Lemon confit, marzipan and light tropical accents all add to its allure. I usually avoid comparisons with French wines, as I think that suggests a subservient relationship, but I will make an exception here, as I can think of no better way to describe the Patterson, which at times reminds of a Chablis from the Grand Cru that starts with a 'C.'"

Score

94

"The 2018 Chardonnay Bentrock is scented of poached pears, baker's yeast and elderflower with bright touches of saline. The medium-bodied palate is super silky, bright and mineral-driven but hints at more savory nuance yet to come, and it finishes long and uplifted. 81 cases were made."

Score

94

"The 2018 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict, sourced from the old, ungrafted vines, has pretty notes of pears, white blossoms, hazelnut and stone, with a silky, expansive palate that offers up an array of citrus, flowers, flint and nutty tones. It's tangy, salty and super bright and finishes long and uplifted. Lovely! Give it another 2-3 years in bottle unless you love that bright, youthful character. 411 cases produced."

Score

94

"The 2017 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict slowly blossoms with aromas of baker's yeast, Bosc pear, Greek yogurt, crushed stone and orange blossom with pie crust, warm apples, white peach plus notes of mushroom and hay. Light to medium-bodied with an intense core of nuanced fruit, it has juicy acidity and a long, spicy and textured finish. 273 cases produced."

Score

93

"The 2017 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict is soft, open-knit and inviting. Chamomile, dried flowers, sage and lemon confit all meld together in a delicious, supple Chardonnay that will drink well with minimal cellaring. The 2017 is perhaps not quite as delineated as it can be, but it is absolutely delicious and very easy to like."

Score

92

"The 2018 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills opens with touches of flint and struck match with notes of crunchy tree fruits and nutty accents. The palate is medium-bodied with the same flint, nutty character, bright acidity and a long, layered finish. This could use another year or two in bottle. 1,772 cases produced."

Score

91

"This was previously called Chardonnay Santa Barbara County, but winemaker Sashi Moorman says they've begun sourcing fruit from other areas of California like San Luis Obispo County and the Santa Lucia Highlands, so this will be known by the wider Central Coast appellation moving forward. The 2019 Chardonnay Central Coast opens with touches of flint, stone and white blossoms with crunchy tree fruits and bright citrusy accents. The palate is much more open-knit at this early stage, fleshing out to yellow apples and honey in a silky texture with bright freshness and a long, delicate finish. 6,500 cases were made."

Score

91

"The 2016 Dry Riesling Argetsinger Vineyard has just three grams of sugar versus 8.1 grams of total acidity. It comes in at 12.8% alcohol. Fairly similar on paper to the 16 Falls this issue, this nonetheless is from a far better vintage. Not surprisingly, it feels far more substantial in mouthfeel. It adds a textured and richer finish too. Juicy, intense and lush at the same time, this is very pretty right now. It should still improve."

Score

91

"The 2017 Dry Riesling White Springs comes in with just four grams of sugar, 8.3 of total acidity and 12.5% alcohol. At least in perception, this seems fruitier and a little sweeter, relatively speaking, than the regular Dry Riesling, although the statistics are almost identical. Not quite as focused, but more voluptuous in perception and far more expressive of its fruit, this also has ample acidity underneath to support it while it ages. That was my initial impression, but I would add that, as they both aired and warmed, they came much closer together, the Dry Riesling opening up and seeming a little more like this. This, however, seemed just a touch better in its own style. I suspect this will age very well, but it also tastes great now."

Score

92

"Significantly lighter and more ethereal than 2016. Bright, floral and earthy on the nose, presenting aromas of white blossoms, spring herbs and wet stone. In the mouth, steely and linear, with peach peel and lime zest. Pretty, elegant and fresh. 4 grams per liter residual sugar, and 6–8 months on the lees."

Score

91

"From Ravines’ limestone-inflected estate vineyard on the upper western shores of Seneca Lake, this has a lot going on. Just shy of bone dry, it’s floral, dusty, wheaty and mildly green, with plenty of lemon-lime flavor, and a mineral finish."

Score

90

"The 2017 Chardonnay was aged for 10 months in 20% new French oak, the rest of varying ages. It comes in at 13% alcohol. Classic in structure and flavor, this holds its wood nicely. The wine has enough substance to absorb the wood, and it has enough power to have a lingering finish. It feels full in the mouth, but elegant. In personal preference, I rather liked the unoaked 2015 Chardonnay better, but this is certainly lovely, and reasonable minds might differ. For different and stronger foods, this might be a better pairing. It may not be the better wine, but it is certainly an even better value—although they both do well in that regard."

Score

90

"The 2017 Dry Riesling is a blend of 16 Falls Vineyard on shale and White Springs Vineyard on limestone. It's dry (four grams of sugar, 8.2 of total acidity) and comes in at 12.6% alcohol. This is another example of how fine the Dry Riesling category is in the Finger Lakes. The prices are reasonable, the quality is high and the wines are available (there are more than 6,000 cases of this, out of the winery's 26,000 or so for 2017). Intense, focused and able to age, this is a classic expression of Riesling."

Score

90

"The 2018 Kerner Mokelumne River is gorgeous. Drink this bright, crisp white while the orchard fruit, lime and floral notes remain bright."

Score

91

"The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Ritchie Vineyard was aged eight months in a concrete egg. It's scented of dried herbs, kiwi, flint and gooseberries and is rounded in the mouth with crisp fruit character and long, juicy finish. 284 cases produced."

Score

90

"The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Ritchie Vineyard is a very pretty wine that melds together green, grassy varietal notes with a good bit of textural richness. This is such an attractive, inviting Sauvignon Blanc."

Score

90

"The nose of the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc is gregarious with gooseberries, white peaches, fresh herbs and lychee. The palate is light-bodied, bright and crisp with fresh fruit flavors and lifted acidity, finishing clean. 1,716 cases produced."

Score

95

"Rhys' 2013 Syrah Horseshoe Ranch Vineyard is a downright peppery, gamey, olive and bloody meat-scented Syrah that offers more than a touch of Cornas-like character. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and balanced, with ripe tannin and a big finish, give bottles 2-3 years in the cellar and drink over the following decade."

Score

95

"One of the highlights in this range, the 2013 Syrah Horseshoe Vineyard is superb. A host of cool-climate Syrah aromatics make a strong first impression. Black pepper, game, smoke, tobacco, licorice, black olives, lavender and spices are all beautifully delineated in the glass. The expression of fruit is pure California in its radiance and overall depth. Complete and impeccably balanced, the 2013 Horseshoe Syrah has it all."

Score

96

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Skyline Vineyard is one of the more exotic wines in the range, bursting with complex aromas of strawberries, plums, potpourri, rich spice and a subtle bass note of grilled meat. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and beautifully complete, simultaneously ample and tense, rich but weightless. This Pinot Noir's silky structure and concentration reflect yields so low that ten vines are typically required to produce one bottle. Four or five years of patience will be required and more will be rewarded."

Score

95+

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Skyline Vineyard is another stellar wine in this range. Deceptively medium in body, the Skyline is translucent, focus and lifted, yet also packs a serious punch. Beams of underlying tannin give the wine much of its shape and salivating energy. This is another wine in which the 100% whole clusters are impeccably balanced. In this tasting, the Skyline impresses for its completeness, as it really plays in all dimensions. What a gorgeous wine it is."

Score

94

"Derived from a section of the vineyard where the vines are planted at such high density that the stakes resembled the quills of a porcupine, the 2016 Pinot Noir Porcupine Hill Bearwallow Vineyard is very attractive, revealing a more brooding and sapid bouquet than the regular Bearwallow bottling. Offering up aromas of plums, wild berries, dark chocolate and incipient coniferous floor, the wine is medium to full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with more concentration and amplitude than the regular Bearwallow, underpinned by bright acids and concluding with a stony, precise finish."

Score

93

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard Porcupine Hill offers terrific depth and textural resonance in its dark cherry and plum fruit. Today, the difference between the two Bearwallow Pinots is not large. The Porcupine Hill offers a bit more depth and overall structure than the straight Porcupine Hill."

Score

92

"Like the Bearwallow bottling, the 2016 Pinot Noir Family Farm Vineyard is quite approachable this year, revealing youthfully reserved but already complex aromas of cherries, sweet soil, raw cocoa, forest floor and subtle peony. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, layered and sappy, with velvety tannins and a juicy, mouthwatering finish. It was vinified with only 15% whole cluster this year."

Score

94

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Family Farm Vineyard is beautifully lifted and precise. Bright red berry fruit and floral notes are nicely layered in a Pinot that speaks to understatement and class. In this range, the Family Farm stands out for its crystalline precision and nuance. All the elements are simply in the right place. The 2016 was done with 15% stems, the least Rhys has used for the Family Farm."

Score

92+

"From bottle, the 2015 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is showing very well, unwinding in the glass with incipiently complex aromas of ripe plums, sweet soil, spices and subtle rose hip. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with an ample, generous attack that segues into a firmer, tauter mid-palate. With a good core of fruit framed by fine-grained, stony tannins, it concludes with a saline finish. It's more tight-knit than the 2016 rendition and will need more time."

Score

94

"The 2015 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is a total knock-out. Rich, explosive and forward, the 2015 possesses striking fruit intensity and purity in every dimension. Dark red and bluish-hued fruits and ripe, silky tannins add to the wine's immediacy. This is an especially plush style for Rhys, but it works beautifully. The 2015 will be even better in another few years, but it will prove virtually impossible to resist young."

Score

94

"A compelling combination of citrus, struck flint and expertly integrated fine oak aromas invite the nose into this bottling, where wafts of sea salt, lemongrass and lemon preserves on toast arise. The palate is grippy in texture, combining white peach crème brûlée flavors, with smashed stone and bright lemon zest."

Score

92+

"The 2017 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard has toast, smoke and gunflint notions to begin, giving way to lemon pith, cream and stony scents with a restrained core of white peach with citrus blossom and honey in the background. It's medium-bodied and minerally in the mouth, with tangy acidity and a long, precise finish. This will need plenty of time in bottle to flesh out."

Score

95

"The 2017 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard is richer and more textured than the Alpine Chardonnay, but the two wines share tremendous energy and drive. Tangerine peel, almond, white flowers and light tropical notes grace this layered, utterly exquisite Chardonnay. The interplay of richness and vibrancy is simply compelling."

Score

95+

"The 2016 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard offers up aromas of pear, grapefruit pith, iodine and fresh nutmeg. On the palate, it's full-bodied, layered and powerful, with an elegantly textural attack and wonderful mid-palate amplitude underpinned by tangy acids, concluding with a long and stony finish. The overall impression is beautifully complete. Cellar this compelling Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay for a few years, and then follow it for the better part of a decade."

Score

95

"The 2016 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard is laced with the essence of citrus peel, mint and white flowers. In this range, the Horseshoe is all about tension and energy, all presented in a lifted style that is incredibly appealing. I very much like the vibrancy and focus here."

Score

94

"The 2014 Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard is another terrific white from this team. Offering tons of white fruits, white peach, honeyed apples and a touch of toasty oak, with a saltiness on the finish, it's an impeccably balance, clean, pure Chardonnay that excels on its purity of fruit and elegance. It's beautiful today, but I suspect it will evolve nicely through 2024."

Score

92

"The 2014 Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard is the hardest of these four Chardonnays to read today. The aromatics are striking, but the wine has much less to say today on the palate. Powerful and tropically-leaning, the 2014 needs time to come into its own."

Score

94

"The 2015 Chardonnay Bearwallow Vineyard is the most expressive of the vineyard designate Chardonnays today, offering up a pretty nose of crisp green orchard fruit, white flowers, subtle nutmeg and lemon curd. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, bright and intense, with an elegantly textural attack, good concentration and a long, mouthwatering finish. It's not quite as searingly stony as the Horseshoe or Alpine bottlings, but that only lends it additional youthful charm."

Score

93

"A broad, ample wine, the 2015 Chardonnay Bearwallow Vineyard is endowed with lovely textural richness and breadth. Orange peel, tangerine and exotic spice notes are pushed forward, with an attractive hint of reduction that adds character. This is a distinctly oily, creamy style of Chardonnay from Rhys."

Score

90

"The 2016 Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains) is a terrific appellation-level wine. Lifted and gracious, with terrific energy and cut, the 2016 is super-expressive today. Bright red cherry, orange peel, mint and chalky notes give the 2016 is attractive aromatic top notes to play off the wine's energetic personality. The 2016 includes all the fruit from Rhys's new Mt. Pajaro vineyard."

Score

91

"The 2016 Alesia Pinot Noir Anderson Valley is unabashedly delicious, bursting with fragrant aromas of dried flowers, raspberries, wild plums and sweet forest floor. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, supple and satiny, with a juicy core of succulent, mouthwatering fruit that's framed by melting tannins. This bottling is already expressive, and I'd expect it to drink well for a decade, perhaps more. Note that this vintage hails entirely from Kevin Harvey's Bearwallow Vineyard."

Score

91

"The 2017 Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mountains) is a blend of the Alpine and Horseshoe vineyards. Brisk and nuanced, with tremendous energy as well as personality, the Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay is another fabulous wine in the Alesia range. Citrus, floral and mineral notes are beautifully delineated in a Chardonnay that is both vibrant, but also accessible and easy to enjoy young."

Score

90

"The 2016 Alesia Chardonnay Anderson Valley offers up an inviting bouquet of green orchard fruit, struck match, blanched almonds and subtle nutmeg. On the palate, it's medium-bodied and succulent, with a more rounded, giving profile than its Santa Cruz Mountains counterpart but displays good cut and vitality, concluding with a youthfully chalky finish. This is the most accessible Chardonnay in the Rhys portfolio, but I'd expect it to drink well for the better part of a decade."

Score

93

"This was the Pinot Noir – the crown jewel – that inspired the entire current generation of southern California winemakers. I first tasted it in the 1980s, on assignment from Playboy magazine no less, when the appellation didn’t yet exist. The vineyard itself was established in 1971 by maverick vintners Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict. Countless advice at the time warned the two men that they were out of their minds, for the region was considered way too close to the Pacific Ocean and therefore too cold to grow grapes. Once the vineyard was proven, Richard Sanford established his eponymous winery and began making elegant, liltingly long Pinot Noir with the Sanford & Benedict grapes. Today, Sanford winery is owned by the Terlato Wine Company. Drinking Window: 2016-2026"

Score

91

"Bottled one week before I tasted it, the 2017 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is medium ruby and youthfully shy, giving up black and red cherry preserves, orange peel, warm earth, raspberry and rhubarb with cinnamon stick and dried herbs. Medium-bodied with intense, spicy fruits, it has firm, chalky tannins and seamless acidity, finishing long."

Score

92

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict is sensual, silky and impeccable in its balance. There is lovely nuance in the glass to match the wine's mid-weight, restrained personality. Sweet floral notes and purplish fruit linger in the glass. My impression is that the 2017 is still recovering from its relatively recent bottling. We will see."

Score

93

"La Rinconada typically shows itself as a masculine and weighty vineyard site, and the 2017 Racines Wine Co. bottling is no exception. The grapes sit atop coarse shale, and 225 cases of the resulting wine were produced. The nose is red-fruited and fresh, and the texture of the palate is slightly less tannic than the Tyler Winery iteration. The Racines wines take the seriousness of the Tyler line-up up a notch, and should be cellared for a few years to get the most out of them. Drinking Window: 2021-2036"

Score

92

"The 2017 Pinot Noir La Rinconada is medium ruby-purple with strawberry preserves, lilac, sagebrush, bergamot and herbs with warm red cherries, raspberry jam and blackberries scents. It's medium-bodied with perfumed fruits, grainy tannins and juicy freshness, finishing long and with a savory tinge. Bottled a week before I tasted it, it's showing well."

Score

93

"The 2017 Pinot Noir La Rinconada is powerful and explosive in the glass, with tremendous structural intensity driving a deep expression of site. Lavender, sage, mint, savory herbs and rich blue-toned fruit give the 2017 a distinctly virile, somber personality. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2017 is going to need time to be at its best."

Score

93

"Another iteration of Sta. Rita Hills old vine Chardonnay, the 2017 Sanford & Benedict from Racines is a dynamic wine built for the cellar. The nose gives off aromas of lime zest, acacia and breakfast cereal. The palate is texturally expansive and oceanic in nature, finishing with a vibrant, crunchy structure that will take a couple of years to come into itself. I find the Racines wines noticeably more reticent than the Tyler lineup at this early stage, and am excited to follow their progression in the bottle. Drinking Window: 2019-2029"

Score

92

"The 2017 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard has a youthfully shy nose, slowly opening to red apples, ripe white stone fruits, lemon cream and lime peel with notes of pastry and petrichor. The palate is light to medium-bodied, saline and precise, with tangy acidity and a pleasant touch of texture on the long, mineral-driven finish."

Score

93

"The 2017 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict has plenty of depth, texture and nuance, but it is also surprisingly tightly wound for a vintage in which wines are generally more open-knit. Bright, savory and intensely mineral, the 2017 is going to need time to soften. At this point, the 2017 is not terribly expressive of S&B, although it is quite attractive just the same."

Score

95

"Another expression of the consistently excellent Bentrock Vineyard, this example is a collaboration between Justin Willett and Etienne de Montille. Sourced from two separate north-facing parcels, the nose here is linear and nervy, with aromas of lime zest and lemon curd. The palate is silky and fine, consisting of Granny Smith apples, pineapple rinds, Graham crackers and breakfast cereal. The finish is angular, focussed and long. A great showing and, considering the team involved, it will surely be sought after. Drinking Window: 2019-2039"

Score

93

"The 2017 Chardonnay Bentrock Vineyard gives up gregarious, mineral-driven layers of ripe quince, white peach, apple pie, lemon cream and accents of nutmeg, chalk and river stone. It's light to medium-bodied with intense, nuanced fruits wound up with tangy acidity and finishing long, layered and textured. Yes!"

Score

94

"The 2017 Chardonnay Bentrock Vineyard is a striking wine that captures the essence of this rugged hillside site on the western edge of the appellation. Bright and finely sculpted, the 2017 is just loaded with character. Lemon peel, mint, white flowers, crushed rocks and intense saline notes build into the mineral-drenched finish. This is such a spectacular debut, not to mention a very pure expression of Bentrock."

Score

92

"The 2017 Racines Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir was aged in 20% new French oak for 18 months, and around a third whole cluster fermentation was used. The savoury nose shows notes of candlewax, bubblegum and dried flowers. The palate is bright and clean, and finishes on a floral note with flavours of cherry blossoms and wet rose petals. A solid introduction to this collaborative label from Justin Willett and Etienne de Montille. Drinking Window 2019-2029"

Score

92

"Pale to medium ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir has lovely aromas of orange peel, cranberry, rhubarb and mixed berry preserves with dust, sagebrush, tobacco, tea leaf and floral notes. It has a light to medium weight with intense spiced berry flavors, dusty tannins and juicy freshness, finishing long and spicy. This was bottled a week before I tasted it but is showing well."

Score

91

"The 2017 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is bold, punchy and super-expressive, with lovely aromatic nuance to play off the dark cherry and plum fruit. Classy and layered, the appellation Pinot is a wine of real character and breeding. Then again, that is not surprising given that vineyard sites are La Encantada, Sanford & Benedict, La Rinconada and Bentrock. The 2017 is a gorgeous wine from Etienne De Montille and Justin Willett."

Score

92

"Racines Wine Co. is the Sta. Rita Hills-focused partnership between Justin Willett and Etienne de Montille, and their 2017 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay is a straightforward expression of the place their collaboration calls home. Classic aromas of pear skin, lemon curd and buttered toast lead into a creamy and pure palate. The finish is crisp and energetic, with a floral and airy quality to the finish. Drinking Window: 2019-2027"

Score

94

"The 2017 Chardonnay opens with a bang, offering warm, welcoming scents of peach cobbler, pastry, honey-drizzled apples, honeysuckle, crushed stone, warm hay and a minerally hint with baking spice notes. Light to medium-bodied, it's slowly giving up all that generous spicy fruit in the mouth, with lovely chalky texture, tangy acidity and a long, layered finish. Yowza!"

Score

92

"The 2017 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) is a blend taken from Wenzlau, Bentrock and Sanford & Benedict. Creamy, open-knit and inviting, the 2017 is incredibly delicious. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint and light tropical notes grace this subtle, gorgeous appellation-level wine from De Montille."

Score

95

"Medium to deep ruby, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Annum is made up of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. The nose features licorice, dried leaves, cedar, vanilla pod and iron aromas with mint chocolate, cumin, cardamom, coffee bean and a core of red and black fruits—so many layers and exotic spice notes! Medium to full-bodied, it explodes with luscious fruits, chocolate and spice accents, framed by very ripe, grainy tannins and great freshness and finishing long and layered. Yes! 842 cases were made."

Score

93

"The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Annum is another wine in this range that really benefits from an added year in bottle. Black cherry, chocolate, mocha, leather, spice and plum give the 2016 its feeling of voluptuousness. The 100% new oak now feels much better integrated than it did a year ago."

Score

99

"Only the third vintage by this producer from a spectacular site, this elegant wine is brimming in tension and length. Delicate layers of Meyer lemon, Gravenstein apple and pear show an abundance on the palate, seasoned in salty oak, nutmeg and a hint of cardamom. "

Score

93

"The 2017 Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard opens with toasty apples, gunflint, dried hay and a minerally undercurrent. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is super energetic with mineral-laced fruits, bright freshness and a long, textured finish. 766 cases produced."

Score

93

"The 2017 Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard is overt, bold and racy. Orange confit, mint, butter, passionfruit and tropical overtones all meld together in this unctuous, flamboyant Chardonnay. This is a powerful, rich and deep wine that could use a bit of time in bottle to come around."

Score

96

"From a site farmed by the Martinelli family to the producer's specifications, this white is quenching in a depth of acidity, with cool-climate freshness throughout. Gravenstein apple, clove, Meyer lemon and nutmeg provide a lush richness that finishes elegantly balanced. "

Score

93+

"The 2017 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard is savory and earthy with notes of roasted almonds, graphite, mushroom powder and a hint of honeycomb. The medium to full-bodied palate's expansive, silky character is contrasted by tangy acidity and rocky minerality, finishing very long and pure. It will benefit from another two to three years in bottle. 769 cases produced."

Score

94

"The 2017 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard is a racy wine endowed with terrific richness. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint and tropical overtones all grace this unctuous, deeply layered Chardonnay. The balance of textural intensity and freshness is simply compelling. The 2017 is so expressive today."

Score

96

"From a block planted in 1972 by the famous farmer, this outstanding white showcases salty stone and turned earth, with dried herb, baked lemon and green apple layered between powerful complexity and lasting elegance. Textured and youthful, it should be beautiful for years to come. "

Score

94

"The 2017 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is perfumed with soft white blossoms, quince, beeswax and a nutty undercurrent. Medium-bodied and super silky, it expands to perfumed peachy fruit in the mouth, segueing to bright acidity and nutty nuances on the very long, energetic finish. 683 cases produced."

Score

93

"The 2017 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard needs a bit of time in bottle to be at its most expressive. It shows fine depth, creaminess and energy, but the elements are not all put together just yet. Light apricot, butter and floral notes hint at what is to come."

Score

93

"The 2017 Syrah Sonoma Coast is blended with 11% Viognier and comes from Cole Creek and Rodgers Creek vineyards this year. Medium to deep ruby, the aromatics of warm blackberries and blueberries are complemented with lovely notes of pepper, blue flowers, bacon fat, garrigue and mint. It has a medium weight and floods the mouth with concentrated red and blue berry fruits, finely grained and with just enough freshness to lift the finish. 871 cases produced."

Score

90

"The 2017 Syrah (Sonoma Coast) is bold and dense in the glass, with serious depth and concentration driving the red and purplish berry fruit. This bold, dense Syrah will benefit from a few years in bottle, as it is pretty tightly wound at this stage."

Score

93

"The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 7% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. Medium to deep ruby, it has an incredible nose of licorice, dried flowers and mint chocolate over black berries and black cherries, cedar shavings and pencil lead, plus spicy clove and star anise touches. Medium to full-bodied, it floods the mouth with plush flavor layers wrapped in chocolate-textured, pixelated tannins and great freshness to counter, finishing long and luscious. 7,177 cases produced."

Score

91

"David Ramey's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is racy and inviting, with all of its natural exuberance on display. Another year in bottle has really helped the 2015 come together. Pretty red fruit and floral notes add a kick of brightness to balance the natural exuberance of the growing season."

Score

92

"The 2017 Claret is a blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 14% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, 8% Syrah and 2% Cabernet Franc. It opens with classic scents of chocolate-covered cherries, cedar, bay leaves and tobacco with a very classy frame of sweet spices. In the mouth, it's medium-bodied and plushly fruited with a fine grain and great freshness, finishing long. 4,482 cases produced."

Score

91

"The 2017 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast comes entirely from Martinelli's Charles Ranch vineyard. A core of fresh orchard fruits is accented by notions of dried herbs, flint and charcuterie, with a medium-bodied, gently creamy palate that finishes long and fresh. 3,359 cases produced."

Score

93

"The 2017 Chardonnay (Fort Ross-Seaview) is soft, creamy and wonderfully inviting, with notes of lemon confit, white flowers, white pepper and mint. The Fort-Ross Seaview Chardonnay - made entirely from Martinelli's Charles Ranch - takes the place of the former Sonoma Coast bottling. The 2017 finishes with terrific freshness and nuance. This is a gorgeous wine."

Score

96

"Impressive freshness and purity of fruit here, making for an enticing young pinot with an air of grace and great potential. Such compelling, earthy sous bois, spices and fresh red cherries. The palate has a captivatingly layered and seamless feel, building fresh red-cherry and deeper blueberry flavors. The rhythm and depth here are magnificent. Superb. Try from 2022."

Score

95

"Made with 100% whole cluster, the 2017 Pinot Noir Home Field Vineyard is pale to medium ruby in the glass and offers up smoked meats, stone, violets, wet bark and citrus peel over a dense core of cranberry, pomegranate and rhubarb with dried black tea leaves notions. Light to medium-bodied, it explodes in the mouth with orange peel, earthy nuances and fantastically concentrated fruits, knit with a fine frame of lightly chalky tannins and juicy freshness, finishing very long and layered. This is drinking beautifully now but will age well in bottle."

Score

94+

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Home Field is the most inward of the three Pinots from Raen. Intense whole cluster savoriness, saline underpinnings and searing tannins give the 2017 much of its reticence today. Even so, the 2017 offers tremendous energy and overall intensity, not to mention tons of personality. I suspect all it needs is time in bottle. Readers will have to be quite patient, as the 2017 is not at all ready to offer much in the way of pleasure today."

Score

98

"A really taut, focused red with lots of strawberry and black-tea aromas and flavors, as well as green tea. It’s full-bodied with a racy tannin structure and a pure, energetic finish. Needs time to shows all it has, but already beautiful. Drink after 2022."

Score

90

"Medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Freestone Occidental Bodega has delicate scents of fresh cranberries, strawberries and Bing cherries with nuances of woodsmoke, graphite and earth. The palate is light-bodied with bright fruits, a soft frame and juicy finish. 350 cases produced."

Score

94

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Bodega is the clear stand out in this range from Raen. Pliant and deep, with terrific presence, the Bodega is impeccably balanced from start to finish. I imagine it will be an even more compelling wine in another few years' time. Bright red cherry fruit, pomegranate, mint, spice and blood orange all infuse the 2018 with tons of character. This is such a pretty and expressive wine, but it needs time in bottle for some of its youthful austerity to soften."

Score

94

"This has attractive aromas of fresh red cherries and berries with such interestingly perfumed red berries. The palate has a sleek and succulently appealing style with a very smoothly rendered texture. Precise and full of interest. Drink or hold."

Score

94

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert was made with 100% whole cluster. Pale to medium ruby-purple, the nose offers boysenberry, blackberries, crushed red cherries, smoky charcuterie notes and spicy cranberry sauce scents plus touches of forest floor and moss coming through with time in the glass. It's light to medium-bodied with concentrated, spicy fruits with well-woven tannins and juicy acidity to refresh the finish."

Score

94

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert is absolutely gorgeous. A wild array of floral and savory notes make a strong opening statement. Expressive and multi-faceted, the Royal St. Robert is positively dazzling from the very first taste. The interplay of fruit, whole cluster savoriness and structure results in a captivating Pinot that has more than enough pedigree to reward a number of years of cellaring. This is a brilliant showing. Wow!"

Score

93

"The 2016 Mourvèdre Harrison Clarke Vineyard is another highlight in this range from Piedrasassi. Silky and perfumed, with terrific persistence, the 2016 is intriguing from the very first taste. Dark red/purplish berry fruit, wild flowers and spices are all laced together. Best of all, the Mourvèdre will drink well with minimal cellaring."

Score

94

"Sashi Moorman is one of the New World's cool-climate Syrah kings, and this county cuvée shows what he's up to for less money. Aromas of rotting rose petals, dry-aged lamb flesh, green peppercorns, wood ash and muffaletta drop into a palate that's bright, savory and earthy all at once. Expect boysenberry, violet and green olive on the sip. "

Score

91+

"The 2016 Syrah Sebastiano-Patterson is very closed down today. Perhaps the whole clusters need time to integrate more fully. There is good depth and definition, but the wine is austere and not fully fleshed out. Time in the glass brings out attractive rose petal, tobacco, smoke, dried herb, tangerine and white pepper nuances. Given the overall strength of the wines in this range, my sense is that the 2016 just needs time to fully emerge."

Score

92-94

"The 2017 Syrah Bien Nacido is a wine of reserve, tension and power. More than anything else though, the 2017 stands out for its exceptional balance and class. The 70% whole clusters are not especially evident. Instead, it is the wine's balance that really stands front and center. Silky, perfumed and super-finessed, the Bien Nacido has so much to offer."

Score

93

"Extremely floral aromas of lavender, lilac, potpourri and patchouli consume the nose of this fascinating bottling. The palate is more complex, with flavors of herb-crusted beef shank, rosemary pinches, cracked pepper and a touch of black-plum extract."

Score

91

"The 2018 Syrah Santa Barbara County is made with fruit from younger vines and gets bottled earlier than the others in the Piedrasassi portfolio. Medium to deep ruby-purple, the nose offers fresh blackberry and blueberry fruits with notes of bacon fat, cracked pepper and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied, soft and juicy with bright, crunchy fruits and a long, peppery finish. 1,868 cases produced."

Score

92

"The 2018 Syrah (Santa Barbara County) PS is juicy, bold and flat-out delicious. A burst of sweet blue/purplish fruit opens first, followed by a range of floral and savory notes that add complexity. A touch of whole cluster perfume comes through, with hints of lavender, sage, mint and black pepper that develop in the glass. Readers who want to explore the Piedrasassi range will find so much to like here. Best of all, the 2018 is a screaming value."

Score

95

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Au Paradis, from Peter Michael's parcel in the hills of Eastern Oakville, is one of the successes of this trying vintage. Red cherry jam, game, smoke, licorice, spice and incense all meld together effortlessly. This is an especially refined wine for a sector in Oakville that seems to lean more naturally towards power. The 2017 spent 18 months in Darnajou barrels, 50% new. I would prefer to cellar the 2017 for a few years, but if enjoyed young, several hours of aeration will do wonders."

Score

97

"Love the sweet berries, black olives, tile and fresh herbs on the nose with floral undertones. Oyster shell, too. Full-bodied with round, creamy tannins that are beautifully polished and refined. Very long finish. All about finesse and wonderful length. 68% cabernet sauvignon, 19% cabernet franc, 10% merlot and 3% petit verdot. Drink after 2023."

Score

94

"Loads of blackberry and black-truffle aromas here with fresh flowers as well. Full-bodied, tight and focused. Soft, creamy texture. Some chocolate and vanilla, too. Savory. Give it another year or two to come together."

Score

95

"Composed of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Les Pavots comes from Knights Valley AVA. Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with vivacious notes of crushed black berries, Black Forest cake, blueberry compote and blackcurrant cordial with touches of camphor, lavender, tapenade and cigar box plus hints of mocha and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with muscular black fruits, framed by firm grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and savory. 2,050 cases were made."

Score

90

"A blend of 34% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2017 L'Esprit des Pavots comes from 57% Knights Valley AVA and 43% Oakville AVA. Deep garnet-purple, it slips easily out of the glass with forward expressions of warm plums, blackberry pie and mulberries plus hints of fruitcake, Chinese five spice and bay leaves with a touch of unsmoked cigars. Full-bodied, rich and opulent, the palate has a pleasant chewiness with generous black fruit preserves layers and a spicy kick to the finish. 1,195 cases were made."

Score

93

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon L'Esprit des Pavots is a blend taken from both Les Pavots in Knights Valley and Au Paradis in Oakville. Bright acids and lifted floral notes give this mid-weight Bordeaux blend energy and a real sense of precision. Red cherry fruit, mocha, spice, licorice and cedar add nuance throughout. Here, too, production is down sharply (1,200 cases versus 1,800, which is more typical), but the wine is just compelling."

Score

93

"Aromas of blackberries, conifer, walnuts and dried flowers follow through to a full body with firm, silky tannins and a beautiful finish. It’s linear and fine. Juicy. A new addition of Alexander Valley and Blue Mountain give this some beauty. Drink or hold."

Score

90

"Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County leaps from the glass with notes of Morello cherries, black raspberries, redcurrant jelly and fresh blackberries plus hints of bay leaves, fallen leaves and damp soil. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers crunchy red and black fruits with a lively backbone and approachable, grainy texture, finishing with a compelling herbal lift. The vintage was sourced 50% from Sonoma's Moon Mountain AVA and 50% from a Paul Hobbs estate vineyard in Alexander Valley. 8,836 cases were made."

Score

91

"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Valley) is absolutely gorgeous. Nearly half of the fruit is Paul Hobbs's new estate vineyard in Alexander Valley plus Rancho Salina on Moon Mountain. Elegant, polished and refined, the 2018 is a very beautiful wine. Sweet red cherry, crushed flowers, spice and mint add lovely shades of aromatic nuance. The Sonoma Valley Cabernet is a hidden gem in Paul Hobbs' range."

Score

93

"This is a really excellent CrossBarn with beautiful currant and savory character. Hint of menthol. Full-bodied, round and flavorful. Yet, it’s not overdone. Ready to drink! Tastes like a Napa cab for double the price. Drink now or hold."

Score

90

"Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley leaps from the glass with vivacious Morello cherries, black raspberries and redcurrants scents followed by wafts of sandalwood, spice cake and camphor with a touch of dark chocolate. Medium-bodied, the softly textured palate bursts with juicy red and black berry flavors, finishing with great freshness."

Score

92

"Extremely fresh and fruity with plums and dried strawberries, as well as a citrus-peel undertone. Full body, light tannins and a delicious finish. Fruit-forward pinot noir. Drink now. Screw cap."

Score

91

"Medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir is made with about 72% estate fruit and very little oak. It's a fresh style with open-knit aromas of roast cranberry and rhubarb with touches of dried leaves, soil and tar. The palate is medium-bodied, bright and juicy with good concentration and spiciness and a lifted finish. Enjoy it over the next two to three years. 19,500 cases produced."

Score

92

"A delicious, bright and fruity white with sliced-apple and honey character. Medium body. Crisp acidity to the lovely fruit. Subtle and clean. Drink now. Screw cap."

Score

90

"The 2018 Chardonnay from Crossbarn is made without oak and bottled early to preserve a clean, crisp style. It has an inviting nose of Red Delicious apples, warm hay, clover honey, saline and crushed shell with loads of warm stone fruits and a toasty note. Light to medium-bodied, it struts the line between fresh citrus and savory character, finishing lifted and refreshing, with a touch of texture. 23,268 cases produced."

Score

90

"The 2018 Chardonnay is an absolutely delicious, affordable wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Citrus, floral and green orchard fruit notes are nicely lifted in this very pretty, energetic Chardonnay."

Score

97

"This is a solid and powerful To Kalon with blueberries, currants and minerals. Hint of lead pencil. Full-bodied, yet reserved. Steely, very polished and structured. Needs three to five years. Try after 2023."

Score

95

"Deep purple-black in color, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant plum preserves, Christmas cake and chocolate-covered cherries notes, followed by hints of potpourri, Chinese five spice, incense and dried mint. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shows a more decadent side to this vintage, packed with exotic spices and black fruit preserves, with a plush texture and refreshing lift to the finish. 592 cases were made."

Score

96

"Full-bodied with cherry character and supple yet extracted tannins. Big and juicy wine. Plenty of blue fruit."

Score

95+

"Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is a little closed to begin, offering subtle notes of crushed blackberries, kirsch, wild blueberries and mulberries with wafts of lavender, lilacs, tilled soil and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has bags of energy and freshness, filling the palate with crunchy red and black fruits and ripe, grainy tannins, finishing on a floral note. 307 cases made."

Score

96

"The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs Estate sports a very deep purple-black color and is scented of bright red and black currants notes with an earthy undercurrent of underbrush, mossy bark and damp soil, plus suggestions of lavender and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm, chewy backbone supporting the muscular fruit, with plenty of earth layers coming through on the long, savory finish. 468 cases were made."

Score

94

"The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Nathan Coombs Estate is endowed with serious power and depth. Succulent red cherry, spice, savory herb and floral overtones give the wine much of its personality. This striking, brilliant Coombsville Cabernet has a bright future. I would give it a few years for the formidable tannins to soften."

Score

95

"This is flamboyant in the nose with spices, flowers and ripe strawberries. Full-bodied and layered yet tightly textured. Builds on the palate. Needs time to develop. Try after 2022."

Score

93

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Goldrock Estate is pale to medium ruby-purple and scented of raspberry and strawberry preserves, crushed red cherries, Earl Grey tea leaves, tree bark and allspice with notes of licorice, dried herbs and rose petals. In the mouth, it has a medium to full weight and slowly building intensity of earth and spice-laced fruits, with a firm, grainy frame and seamless freshness, finishing long. Give this another year or two in bottle. 1,552 cases produced."

Score

94

"This is very layered, yet there is an agile and lively edge to the wine. Medium-to full-bodied, creamy and chewy. Flavorful finish. Tight now. Give it two to three years of bottle age. Try after 2023."

Score

95

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard has beautiful expression this vintage, with delicate aromas of lilac, bay leaf, orange peel and warm blueberries with a core of pure red and black berry fruit. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and nuanced, all polish and class, with a long, juicy finish. 621 cases produced."

Score

95

"Lovely layered white with sliced dried apples and pears and some apricots. Plenty of vanilla and cream character, too. Custard. Full-bodied and rich, yet fresh at the same time. Drink or hold."

Score

95

"The 2018 Chardonnay Ross Station Estate opens with toast and flint, segueing to golden apple, white flowers and salted almonds. The medium-bodied, satiny palate is singing, bursting with juicy, savory flavors and finishing very long. 317 cases produced."

Score

93

"Aromas of apple and pear puree with hints of vanilla and cream, as well as toasted oak. Full body. Round and tangy at the same time with a vivid and energetic finish. Drink or hold."

Score

93

"The 2018 Chardonnay Ellen Lane Estate opens slowly to scents of toast, stone, cashew and white apricot with hints of pastry. The palate is elegant, with stony notions and toasty fruit layers enlivened by tangy acidity with a long, delicate finish. 347 cases produced."

Score

96

"This is a solid, dense white with cooked-apple, vanilla and stone character. Very serious and rich. Cooked apples and pineapple with cookie and praline undertones. Full and flavorful. Pretty balance. Drink or hold."

Score

94

"Intense aromas of blueberries and blackcurrants with black licorice. Full to medium body, dusty and horizontal tannins and a flavorful finish. Precise. Drink now."

Score

93

"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals bombastic blackberry pie and blueberry compote notes with underlying cassis, dried herbs and unsmoked cigars scents plus a waft of pencil shavings. Full-bodied and jam-packed with black fruits and earthy layers, it has a solid, grainy frame and a long finish with a lively herbal lift. 6,576 cases produced."

Score

93

"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is just as delicious from bottle as it was from barrel. Deep, fleshy and super-expressive the 2016 has a lot to offer. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, lavender, mint and spice notes all grace this alluring Napa Valley Cabernet from Paul Hobbs."

Score

92

"A dense, layered red with blackberry and blueberry aromas and flavors. Full body. Solid core of fruit. If you like fruit, here it is. Drink or hold."

Score

93

"Made with about 10% whole cluster, the 2018 Pinot Noir has a medium ruby-purple color and a nose of cranberry sauce, rhubarb, tea leaves and earth with a spicy undercurrent. Medium-bodied, it's concentrated and grainy with appealing juicy fruits and a long, lifted finish. 7,612 cases produced."

Score

93

"A dense, flavorful white with lovely honey and apple character. Hints of cookies. Full-bodied and very fresh with crisp acidity and a long, flavorful finish. Delicious. Drink or hold."

Score

93

"The 2018 Chardonnay has pretty scents of dried leaves, hay and almonds with underlying spicy notes and a core of honeyed white peaches. Medium-bodied, the palate is silky in texture with savory, spicy character, seamless freshness and a long finish. 6,158 cases produced."

Score

93

"The 2018 Chardonnay offers a striking combination of energy and textural creaminess. Lemon confit, white flowers, almond and field herbs are some of the many notes that meld together in this super-expressive, inviting Chardonnay from Paul Hobbs. This is a gorgeous appellation-level wine."

Score

90

"The 2018 Estate Viognier is scented of white peaches, ginger, chamomile and creamy touches with a silky, medium-bodied palate that's gentle and fresh, with pleasant tanginess and an uplifted, super juicy finish. Give it another year in bottle. 140 cases were made."

Score

94

"Medium to deep ruby-purple, the 2017 Estate Syrah Les Titans opens very slowly in the glass, revealing layers of nuance with time: coffee, bitter chocolate and mint leaves emerge from fresh blackcurrant fruit with notes of iron, dried violets, lavender and aniseed. The medium to full-bodied palate is firm and grainy with bright pops of freshness and crunchy, peppery fruits, finishing long and understated. This is a bit less flashy than its 2016 counterpart but lovely just the same. 275 cases were made."

Score

94+

"While Peay's Syrah La Bruma is accessible today, the 2017 Syrah Estate Les Titans is anything but. Powerful and tightly wound, Les Titans shows the more savory side of Syrah. Inky dark fruit, cured meats, black pepper, sage, smoke and grilled herbs infuse the 2017 with striking varietal character. Bold and pungent, with tons of Syrah character, the Titans dazzles from the very first taste. I won't be surprised if it is even better in another few years' time. For now, though, the 2017 is one of the most austere, young Titans I can remember tasting."

Score

94

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard is a touch more restrained and delicately styled than its 2017 counterpart. The nose opens with flint, woodsmoke, aniseed and oolong tea leaves with blueberry, cranberry and tangerine fruits. Light to medium-bodied, it offers delicate, angostura-laced fruits in a silky, fresh frame with a long, delicate, perfumed finish. 375 cases were made."

Score

95

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard is broody with scents of crushed blackberries, rhubarb and blood orange accented by mint and oolong tea leaves and fragrant earth. The light to medium-bodied palate is delicately styled but well-concentrated with earth- and floral-tinged fruits and bursts of bright freshness on the long, layered finish. A very classic Anderson Valley expression. 300 cases were made."

Score

92

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard is a pretty wine, and also the most approachable of this range. Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, cedar and spice are all laced together in a mid-weight, gracious Pinot. The Savoy suffers by comparison to the estate wines."

Score

95+

"The 2018 Estate Pinot Noir Scallop Shelf is gorgeous! The nose offers intoxicating scents of ripe cranberries, rhubarb and tangerine peel with accents of floral potpourri, dusty earth, exotic spices and rose petals. The medium-bodied palate is very finely grained, super fresh and bursting with spicy fruits, finishing very long and layered. 600 cases produced."

Score

95

"Another gorgeous wine in this range, the 2018 Pinot Noir Estate Scallop Shelf is laced with pretty floral and mineral notes that work nicely with the wine's taut, mid-weight frame. Bright, focused and wonderfully nuanced, the 2018 has so much to offer. I very much like the wine's sense of energy, but it needs time to be at its best."

Score

96

"The 2018 Estate Pinot Noir Pomarium is a gorgeous wine that's immediately accessible but has the stuffing and structure to age gracefully in the cellar. The nose offers forest floor, wet leaves and laurel, cranberry sauce and blood orange with notes of lavender, garrigue and blueberries. The palate is medium-bodied, expanding outward to super perfumed, concentrated fruits, finely grained and seamlessly fresh with a very long finish. 575 cases produced."

Score

94

"Vibrant ruby-purple, the 2018 Estate Pinot Noir Ama has deep, inviting aromas of cranberry sauce, rhubarb and blood orange with notions of black tea leaves, forest floor and dried violets. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated with earthy and spicy accents, a fresh and grainy frame and delicately styled finish. 550 cases were made."

Score

95

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Estate Ama is dark, bold and ample, with tremendous density and more stature than I am used to seeing. Black cherry, lavender, spice, mocha, licorice and menthol all flesh out in this decidedly big, deep wine. The 2018 Ama is undeniably powerful and also so long on character."

Score

95

"Medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Estate Pinot Noir Ama bursts with a deep well of aromas: cranberry sauce, burnt orange peel and aniseed are accented by notes of oolong tea, forest floor, iron and iodine. In the mouth, it's medium-bodied, broody, concentrated and layered with a long, flavorful finish. This is a bigger, bolder and spicier version of Ama that offers immediate drinkability straight out of the gate with its bright freshness and bold flavors, but will age gracefully in the cellar for another 5-7 years. 550 cases were made."

Score

95

"A brilliant wine, Peay's 2017 Pinot Noir Estate Ama offers an explosion of sweet red/purplish berry fruit, floral notes and spice, all with a hint of blood orange-infused acidity that gives the wine vibrancy. The 2017 Ama is wonderfully bold and luscious, and yet remains light on its feet. A striking wine from Peay."

Score

92+

"Shy to begin, the 2018 Estate Chardonnay hints at petrichor, lime peel, roasted almonds and elderflower on the nose. The light-bodied palate is minerally to begin, bursting with juiciness and fleshing out to broad pastry and nutty flavors, finishing very long. Lovely! Give it another 2-3 years in bottle. 465 cases produced."

Score

95

"Peay's 2018 Chardonnay Estate is a superb wine that shows just how pedigreed Sonoma Coast Chardonnay can be. What I like most about the 2018 is its translucent personality and weightless sense of elegance. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint, white pepper and dried flowers are all finely-knit, but it is the wine's textural feel that really elevates it into the realm of the sublime. A touch of reduction adds lingers on the finish nicely, without being obtrusive."

Score

94

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is very expressive, with warm blackberries, cranberry sauce, blood orange, black tea leaves, forest floor and an undercurrent of dark spices and earth. Medium-bodied and concentrated, it offers Goldilocks ripeness and angostura-laced flavor layers, finishing long and seamlessly fresh. 1,450 cases produced."

Score

93

"The 2018 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) is a stellar appellation-level wine from Peay. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, mint and exotic spice notes infuse the 2018 with striking layers of nuance. The Sonoma Coast Pinot, all from the estate, really overdelivers within its peer group, and outside too. It is such a gorgeous and alluring wine."

Score

90

"The 2018 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast opens delicately with hints of green pears, white blossoms, saline and stone with wafts of lemon peel. The palate is light-bodied, tangy, uplifted and mineral-driven with a linear feel and precise finish. 550 cases produced."

Score

92

"The 2018 Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) is a gorgeous appellation-level wine. Lemon confit, mint, apricot and a kiss of new French oak add character to a silky, exceptionally polished wine that hits all the right notes. About three quarters of this fruit is from the estate. The 2018 is such a classy and well-balanced wine. I loved it."

Score

94

"Iron, smoke, game, licorice, spice, lavender, and inky dark fruit are some of the many notes that develop in Pax's 2018 Syrah Armagh Vineyard. Dark and brooding, the Armagh is a muscular Syrah that is going to need a few years in bottle to be at its very best. Even so, it is pretty impressive today. - Antonio Galloni"

Score

95

"The 2016 Syrah Griffin's Lair Vineyard is flat-out gorgeous. A wine of real breadth, texture and power, the Griffin's Lair has so much going on. Iron, smoke, leather, game, incense and licorice all give the 2016 tremendous aromatic and flavor complexity. Time in the glass brings out sensations of red cherry, blood orange and mint add a striking dimension of aromatic nuance."

Score

93

"The 2016 Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch is decidedly powerful in its first impression. Tobacco, earthiness, cedar and pepper notes give the 2016 terrific aromatic intensity and a feeling of expansiveness that is super appealing. On the palate, though, the wine is bit clenched. I would prefer to cellar it for at least a year or two."

Score

92

"The 2018 Chenin Blanc Buddha's Dharma offers notable character and pedigree. Dried pear, spice, menthol, chamomile, dried herbs and almond all grace this very pretty, nuanced Chenin. Vinification and aging in oak, with bit of concrete, brings out slightly oxidative qualities that are so complementary to varietal Chenin flavors."

Score

91

"The 2019 Trousseau Gris Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard is one of the highlights in this range. Cranberry, citrus and floral notes give the 2019 terrific energy as well as nuance. Deceptively light in color and body, the 2019 packs a serious punch. More importantly, it is flat-out delicious."

Score

94

"This has a very attractive, fresh array of ripe dark-berry and cherry aromas with notes of purple olives, stones and iodine. There are such fine tannins here with a very fluid, concentrated build of pure, fresh dark berries. Impressive. Drink or hold."

Score

90+

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 4% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% St. Macaire, 1% Cabernet Franc and 2% Carmenere. It was aged for 22 months in French oak, 22% new. Very deep purple-black colored, it rolls easily out of the glass with pronounced notions of creme de cassis, baked plums and blueberry compote with hints of vanilla pod, dark chocolate, camphor and charcuterie plus a waft of cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a solid backbone of rugged tannins and bold acidity supporting the intense savory/earthy flavors, finishing with good length and expression, if just a little firm and rustic. 3,214 cases were made."

Score

94

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain) is a powerful, dense wine endowed with tremendous concentration. Even so, the Howell Mountain tannins are nicely tamed. Ripe black cherry, black plum, espresso, spice, leather, graphite and dried flowers give the wine its mysterious, somber feel. Readers will find a gorgeous Cabernet that offers superb depth, but also more plushness and early appeal than is typical of Howell Mountain wines. One of the most distinctive signatures of the Howell Mountain Cabernet is the significant presence of blenders - in this vintage, all seven of the Bordeaux red varieties. The blend is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Saint-Macaire, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carménère."

Score

93

"A very reserved and structured cabernet with red and dark berries, as well as cedary notes and a savory, iodine-like edge. The palate has a very balanced and composed feel with a sleek, focused edge to the fresh blackcurrant flavors. Drink or hold."

Score

90

"Composed of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 5% Malbec, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley comes from vineyards on Mount Veeder (56%), Howell Mountain (29%) and Oakville (15%). It was aged in French oak for 22 months, 70% new. Very deep purple-black colored, the nose is just a tad broody and closed to begin, opening out to reveal notes of warm cassis, redcurrant jelly, kirsch and raspberry leaves with hints of wild mushrooms, tilled soil and bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers a good amount of juicy black fruits with plenty of invigorating red berry and herbal sparks and a chewy texture, finishing on an earthy note. 3,484 cases were made."

Score

91

"O'Shaughnessy's 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a terrific choice for drinking now and over the next few years. Bright aromatics, plush fruit and silky tannins give the 2017 much of its immediate appeal. Sweet red cherry, plum, mint, spice, blood orange, and rose petal all meld together in this very pretty and engaging Cabernet; there is certainly plenty to like here. As always, the Napa Valley Cabernet is a blend of fruit from O'Shaughnessy's Oakville, Howell Mountain and Mt. Veeder ranches."

Score

98

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Occidental Station is a dense, packed Pinot. Its huge core of fruit gives the Occidental Station tons of inner strength. Readers will have to be patient. Time in the glass brings out a whole range of inky red fruit, blood orange, exotic spice aromas and flavors, with swaths of tannin that wrap it all together. As always, the Occidental Station is quite a different beast from the other wines in the range, as it emerges from a site about fifteen miles from the winery that is quite a bit warmer and therefore lends a decidedly more exotic, ripe personality to the flavors. Even so, there is plenty of supporting structure and minerality to balance things out."

Score

96

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Cuvée Elizabeth is a gorgeous, elegant wine. Hints of rose petal, cinnamon and crushed red berry fruit all grace this lithe, understated Pinot Noir. In its first impression, the Cuvée Elizabeth is the most aromatic and lifted of these wines, but it gains volume and darker tonalities of fruit with aeration. If opened young, the 2018 will benefit immensely from being opened in advance."

Score

98

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Running Fence Vineyard Cuvée Catherine is endowed with serious depth and intensity that give it a real feeling of vertical depth. The fruit profile leans towards the more blue/purplish realm, but it is the wine's understated richness that is impossible to miss. Bright saline notes underpin it all, leading to a beautifully sculpted finish that resonates with tremendous mineral intensity. In a word: dazzling. The Cuvée Catherine emerges from vines that surround the tasting room."

Score

97

"The 2019 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard opens to kaleidoscopic wild berry preserves, apricots, licorice and potpourri-like spices that gain nuance and intensity with time in the glass. The palate offers surprising depth of flavor in a lifted, silken, ultra juicy frame, and it finishes with a flourish of spicy nuances. What a beauty! It's immediately approachable but has what it takes for a long life in the cellar. 242 cases produced."

Score

93

"The 2019 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard is a dark, powerful wine loaded with tons of earthy, savory character. Leather, cedar, tobacco, smoke, licorice and dried herbs complement a core of inky dark fruit in this potent, powerhouse Zinfandel from Martinelli. The 2019 is a decidedly brooding and inward in bearing."

Score

95

"The 2018 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard has loads of personality and perfume. It offers singular notions of juniper and floral potpourri with accents of cinnamon, citrus peel, apricots and berry preserves. The medium to full-bodied palate is super spicy and fresh, silkily framed and finishing long and layered with just a touch of warmth."

Score

93

"The 2018 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard is powerful, deep and savory. Dried herbs, licorice, pine, leather, spice and earthiness give the Jackass Hill a good deal of brooding intensity. These vines planted 130 years ago, yield wines of notable density and power. I would give the 2018 at least a few years in bottle to allow the tannins to soften a touch."

Score

97

"Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2019 Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa bursts with singular aromas of dried lavender and citrus peel, smoky, mineral-like undertones and loads of exotic spices over a core of wild berry preserves and peaches. It's incredible in the mouth, its full flavors delivered in a silky, ultra fresh and lifted frame, and it finishes with loads of floral nuance. Wow! 1,653 cases produced."

Score

95

"The 2019 Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa shows all of the intensity of the Martinelli wines, but with an extra kick of floral overtones and acid brightness to perk things up. Cinnamon, crushed red berry, wild flowers, mint and blood orange all run through this expressive, silky Zinfandel. The blend of Jackass Hill and Jackass Vineyard Zinfandel clones on four different rootstocks, which results in different ripening cycles and harvest times, all of which translates into notable complexity in the finished wine."

Score

94

"The 2019 Pinot Noir Three Sisters Vineyard offers cool blueberry and cranberry tones on the nose with accents of forest floor, fir and purple flowers. The palate is light-bodied, bright and delicately styled with floral-laced fruits lingering on the uplifted finish. 169 cases were made."

Score

95+

"The 2019 Pinot Noir Zio Tony Ranch takes some time in the glass to reveal its dark, floral-laced berry fruits and accents of earth and laurel. The palate surprises, bursting with berry fruits and loads of spicy accents. It has a grainy frame and bright freshness that calls you in for another sip, and it finishes long and loaded with flavor. It's a stunner that will require another 2-3 years in bottle to show all it's got. 734 cases produced."

Score

95

"The 2019 Pinot Noir Zio Tony Ranch is another stellar wine in this range. Crushed red berries, lavender, rose petal, spice, mint and blood orange are some of the many aromas and flavors that develop with a bit of coaxing. The Zio Tony is juicy and ripe, yet also medium-bodied in feel. In the end, that's what impresses most - its balance. Give it a year or two in bottle to shed some of its tannic grip."

Score

92+

"Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Zio Tony Ranch is brightly scented of baked rhubarb, blackberries and strawberries with notions of earth, black tea leaves and dried citrus peel. Medium-bodied and silky, it offers a good core of spicy fruits with a soft frame and seamless freshness, finishing nuanced. 588 cases produced."

Score

95

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Moonshine Ranch is laced with an exotic mélange of game, spice, blood orange, mint and dried flowers, all of which give it a distinctly savory, potent feel to match its brooding personality. I would give it a few years in bottle to soften. Time in the glass brings out a whole range of rose petal and lavender nuances, along with a good deal of lift as well."

Score

94+

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Lolita Ranch is a deep, luscious wine. Super-ripe red cherry, kirsch, menthol, spice and dried flowers all run through this powerhouse Pinot. The Lolita Ranch has a lot going on, but it also needs time to be at its best. It is one of the more overt and potent wines in the range today."

Score

95

"The 2019 Pinot Noir Bondi Home Ranch has alluring scents of wild blackberries, licorice, dried orange peel and amaro. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and fresh with surprising depth of flavor, loaded with spicy accents and finishing very long. 663 cases produced."

Score

94

"The 2019 Pinot Noir Bondi Home Ranch is bold and lush in its first impression. Succulent red cherry, spice, dried cherry, tobacco and cedar make a strong opening statement. This racy, luscious Pinot has a ton to offer. It is also one of the most forward, ripe wines in the range. The long growing season in this Green Valley site yielded a Pinot endowed with tons of creaminess. The Bondi Ranch is one of the few Martinelli Pinots to incorporate the Calera clone with the Dijon clones that are much more typical in the family's ranches."

Score

94

"The 2017 Chardonnay Lolita Ranch is lush, unctuous and so inviting. Lemon confit, butter, matchstick, pineapple, passionfruit and dried flowers all flesh out in a Chardonnay that captures so much Russian River exuberance. Plush, silky and opulent, the 2017 offers tons of immediacy as well."

Score

92+

"With youthfully subdued aromas of white peach, lime peel and wet stone, the 2016 Chardonnay Lolita Ranch is medium-bodied with good flavor layers and nutty/honeyed nuances coming through on the finish. 196 cases produced."

Score

94

"Martinelli's 2016 Chardonnay Lolita Ranch is a dense, phenolic wine built on textural depth and resonance. Apricot, honey, chamomile and dried flowers all grace this poised, beautifully expressive Chardonnay. In this range, the Lolita Ranch stands out for its center of fruit and a striking expression of power without excess weight."

Score

93

"Scented of poached pears, baker's yeast, stone and spring blossoms, the 2016 Chardonnay Martinelli Road is medium-bodied and creamy textured with a good core of fruit and uplifting freshness, finishing long and savory. 195 cases produced."

Score

95

"The 2016 Chardonnay Martinelli Road is fascinating to taste next to the Lolita Ranch as it is quite a bit more lifted and citrus-driven in profile. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint and chalk add an attractive aromatic upper register to this super-expressive Chardonnay from Martinelli. I very much like the sense of energy here."

Score

95+

"The 2018 Chardonnay Three Sisters begins delicately, with bright lemony and rocky tones atop a core of honeyed orchard fruits and jasmine perfume. The palate is satiny and expansive, managing full, savory, ripe fruits with loads of uplifting freshness and energizing mineral notions. It finishes very long and is just so, so classy this vintage! 224 cases were made."

Score

96

"The 2018 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch's graphite and roasted almond aromas give way to delicate jasmine perfume and honey-laced white peaches. The palate is wonderfully satiny, expansive, seamless and pure, with a perfect blend of fruit and savory elements and a very long, nuanced finish. What a gorgeous expression this vintage! 482 cases produced."

Score

95

"The 2018 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch is fabulous. Rich and flamboyant, the Zio Tony somehow manages to offer quite a bit of translucence. Apricot, lemon confit, white flowers and light tropical accents all run through this beautifully layered, sensual Chardonnay. The Zio Tony is a blend of mostly three clones, vinified and aged separately. It is the most opulent of the Martinelli Chardonnays."

Score

92+

"The 2017 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch opens with a touch of gunflint over peachy fruit with accents of honeysuckle, hay and honeyed almonds. Medium-bodied, the palate offers bright fruits with light savory accents, a tangy acidic frame and long, uplifted finish."

Score

92

"Deep, shimmering red. Cherry, dark berries and pungent flowers on the deeply perfumed nose, along with hints of vanilla and baking spices. Broad and fleshy on entry and then more taut in the midpalate, offering appealingly sweet boysenberry and cherry cola flavors and a touch of succulent herbs. The floral note comes back on the energetic, persistent finish, which is framed by fine-grained tannins. 44% new oak."

Score

91

"Extremely pale, vaguely hazy onion skin. Ripe pear, melon and hyacinth scents are complemented by a subtle touch of honey. Round and seamless in texture, offering open-knit orchard and pit fruit flavors and a subtle touch of succulent herbs. More on the weighty, Alsace side of this varietal equation than on the Italian side. The long, floral-driven finish shows good clarity and a hint of herbacity. There's a lot going on here for such a reasonably priced wine; I imagine that the hipster crowd would happily pay double and think they'd scored a deal. Maybe they did."

Score

91

"An upbeat, fruit-driven style with focused, ripe red-cherry and red-plum aromas and flavors that take center-stage. Drink now."

Score

90

"Vivid red. Spice-accented red fruit and floral scents. Weighty yet quite lively for the vintage, offering bitter cherry and red currant flavors that deepen slowly as the wine opens up. Finishes with solid grip, subtle tannins and spicy cut, leaving a suggestion of cherry pit behind. (raised in French and Hungarian oak, 21% of it new)"

Score

94

"The subtle berry, tobacco and fresh-herb aromas are very attractive. It’s full-bodied with soft and round tannins that are chewy and focused. Rich, flavorful finish. A beautiful, traditional red that shows its mountain origins. Drink or hold."

Score

99

"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is every bit as monumental as it was from barrel last year. Rich, deep and powerful, the 2016 is endowed with tremendous fruit concentration and all of the structure to back it up. Wild, savory and super-expressive from the very first taste, the 2016 is utterly magnificent. Wild cherry, grilled herbs, new leather, licorice and mocha infuse the 2016 with tremendous brooding power. The 2016 represents a striking, contemporary expression. All the Mayacamas signatures are there, but with just an extra kick of finesse that makes the 2016 a Cabernet of total allure."

Score

97

"Aromas of blackcurrant, mushroom, wet earth and bark follow through to a full body, chewy tannins and a stone, berry, chili and spice aftertaste. Muscular and chunky. Very serious. Almost no new oak. This shows the Mayacamas DNA. October 2018 release."

Score

95

"This packs in a lot of juicy black currant and blackberry paste notes, with lively licorice snap and bramble accents filling the available space. A roasted apple wood accent lends a mouthwatering edge while a tarry echo at the very end adds range and length. Should cruise in the cellar. Best from 2020 through 2045. 4,396 cases made."

Score

96

"The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is savory, fresh and super-inviting, as so many wines are in this vintage, Bright red cherry, iron, smoke, mint, wild flowers and anise all lift from the glass. Medium in body, taut and wonderfully focused, the 2014 is going to reward readers lucky enough to own it for many, many years. I especially like the pure energy and vibrancy that runs through the 2014."

Score

92

"After transitioning from Bob Travers’s long reign at this 465-acre mountain estate, Mayacamas comes to its 125th vintage under the organic viticultural practices of Phil Coturri and the winemaking skills of Andy Erickson. They continue to present the wine as a muscular, youthfully impenetrable cabernet, harvested on the early side of ripeness, requiring long development in the cellar. It’s built like a marathon runner, austere in the power of its mountain-grown tannins, formidable in its foresty red-berry fruit. Dense, tight and herbal, it needs ten to 20 years to fully reveal itself. "

Score

97

"The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is just now beginning to enter a sweet spot where the aromatics show signs of complexity while the tannins are softening. Dark red and black stone fruits tobacco, savory herbs, smoke and new leather are all very much alive in a striking, nuanced Cabernet Sauvignon loaded with class and complexity. This is a decidedly dark, virile Cabernet with more than enough structure to drink well for many, many years. The crystalline, translucent finish alone is a thing of beauty."

Score

96

"Made from decades-old dry-farmed vines planted to the Wente clone in rocky, volcanic soils, this is a stunning wine, flinty, fleshy and expansive, with undeniable minerality. Lemon zest, meringue and pear contrast against persistent acidity and a lasting briny tone that lifts the palate further. Enjoy from 2026–2032."

Score

94

"Mayacamas always delivers such focused and well-crafted chardonnay like this with cooked-apple, pear, light vanilla and seashell character on the palate. It’s tight and super integrated with a tight, creamy palate that goes on for minutes. Serious structure. Drink or hold."

Score

92

"The 2018 Chardonnay is an attractive wine, but it is also stylistically a bit different from some of the wines of the past. Creamy and silky in feel, with distinctly tropical notes. I am used to seeing wines with more structure. This is an especially airy, perfumed, easygoing style. "

Score

95

"It would be easy to mistake this herbally complex, texturally taut and tantalizingly fresh Cabernet Franc for a Loire Valley bottling, which is the inspiration. Aromas of just-ripe boysenberry, green tobacco and wet rocks lead into a tightly woven palate full of crunchy cranberry, chaparral shrubs and lingering carnation. Beware: bottle empties easily"

Score

93

"The 2017 Chenin Blanc is one of the most expressive wines in the Lieu Dit range. Perfumed, generous and inviting, the 2017 has so much to offer. The Chenin emerges from Happy Canyon Vineyard, where the first Chenin was planted in an appellation that is better known for its Bordeaux varieties. Justin Willett fermented the 2017 in stainless steel and aged the wine in neutral oak."

Score

91

"The 2019 Melon, from Bien Nacido, is laced with green orchard fruit, mint, lime and white flowers. Here, too, the interplay of energy and tension makes for a compelling and refreshing dry white. The 2019 is light on its feet, but there is plenty of depth too. Most importantly, this thirst-quenching white is absolutely delicious. I loved it."

Score

92

"Clean lines of chalk, lime peel and juiced citrus meet with a strongly grassy streak on the nose of this Sancerre-esque bottling. A grippy tension grabs hold of the palate, where pomelo skin and more grass tones carry into a zesty finish. "

Score

90

"Lieu Dit's 2018 Sauvignon Blanc is done in a bright style that emphasizes the greener, grassier side of Sauvignon. I would prefer to drink this delicious, refreshing Sauvignon over the next 2-3 years."

Score

94

"Deep, glistening ruby-red. Deeply perfumed scents of red berry liqueur, cherry cola and baking spices, and a floral overtone that emerges with air. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry, cherry-vanilla and rose pastille flavors plus a smoky topnote. The spice and floral notes repeat on a long, smooth finish framed by sneaky, harmonious tannins. 23% new oak."

Score

93

"Deep magenta. Highly perfumed aromas of red fruit liqueur, cherry cola, musky flowers and exotic spices carry a smoky mineral overtone. Smooth and supple in texture, offering sweet, mineral-laced boysenberry, cherry, candied rose and spicecake flavors that spread out steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of depth and energy and finishes very long and spicy, displaying harmonious tannins and fine clarity. 23% new oak."

Score

92

"Vivid ruby-red. Powerful, spice-tinged cherry and floral pastille scents are complemented by suggestions of licorice and succulent flowers. Rich and chewy on the palate, offering mineral-accented black raspberry and cherry cola flavors that coat the palate. Finishes very long and subtly smoky, with well-knit tannins building steadily and adding gentle grip to lingering cherry and mocha notes. Raised in 23% new oak."

Score

97

"This sits on the top of a knoll with warm daytime temperatures and cool nights and mornings. The soils are rich in ironstone. This is a powerful wine that has very direct, driving tannins that deliver rich, ripe red-cherry and dark-fruit flavors. Athletic. The richness and juicy allure here is stunning, as is the deep, fleshy cherry flavor on the finish. Glossy tannin texture. Drink or hold."

Score

92+

"Aged 16 months in 31% new French and 3% new Austrian oak, the medium ruby-purple colored 2017 Pinot Noir Treehouse Vineyard opens with a youthful framing of oak spices, giving up spiced red cherries and berries, potpourri, violet and an earthy streak. The palate is medium to full-bodied and powerfully flavored, with loads of spiced red and black fruits and earthy touches framed by finely grained tannins, finishing long and lifted. 1,250 cases produced."

Score

91+

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Bootlegger's Hill was aged in several vessels: 31% new French oak, 19% wooden tanks, 20% concrete and 3% Austrian oak, from 10 to 16 months. Pale to medium ruby, it gives up friendly aromas of strawberry and raspberry jam, tangerine, tree bark and mushroom plus nuances of peppercorn, charcuterie and aniseed. Medium-bodied, it's earth-driven in the mouth with a sturdy framing of ripe tannins and just enough freshness on the long finish. This needs more time to come together in bottle. 1,400 cases produced."

Score

92

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard aged 19 months in 47% new French oak. It has a medium ruby color and nose of pomegranate, spiced cranberry sauce, crushed blackberries and lavender with black tea, earth and dried leaves plus graphite nuances. The palate is medium to full-bodied, intense, earthy and firmly framed, with just enough freshness on the long finish. 2,000 cases produced."

Score

92

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is a lovely wine whose aromas open gently to crushed strawberries and raspberries, tea leaves, dried orange peel and rose petals. The palate is light to medium-bodied, juicy, elegant and perfumed, with a very long, elegant finish and satiny texture."

Score

93

"Coming about 30% to 40% from Gap's Crown this vintage, the 2018 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast has very pretty, sweet berry fruits—strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb—with accents of tea leaves, dried flowers and fragrant earth. The medium-bodied palate has a great dichotomy of classic Pinot Noir fruit and amaro-like bitterness, juicy, soft and sexy with a long, spicy finish. Lovely!"

Score

91

"Medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley opens up with classic red and black cherry fruit accented by touches of rhubarb, fragrant earth, tea leaves and Angostura bitters. The palate is medium-bodied, silky, expansive and spicy, finishing long and juicy. Fruit comes from at least a dozen vineyards across the appellation."

Score

92

"Brooding aromas of cherry, scorched earth, herb and bittersweet chocolate are followed by plump, ripe cherry flavors backed by tannins that are combed to a fine sheen. Bright acidity accents it all. It's a delicious offering of the variety."

Score

93

"A red with lots of rich blackcurrant and blueberry character. Chocolate and walnut undertones, too. Full body, chewy yet polished tannins and a solid finish. This is one for the cellar, even though it’s drinking surprisingly well now. 99% cabernet sauvignon and 1% cabernet franc. Try after 2022."

Score

92+

"Full ruby-red. A high-toned hint of Band-Aid quickly dissipated to reveal pure scents of blackberry, cassis and licorice. Dense, sappy and highly concentrated, showing greater inner-mouth peppery/floral lift than the Lady Hawk. Finishes with serious but fine-grained, toothcoating tannins and slowly mounting dark-berry-and-pepper length. More serious and backward than the Lady Hawk and structured to age, but with no lack of sweetness. Both of these wines are also edge-free despite the fact that Andrew Januik practices a somewhat more energetic extraction than his father Mike does for his Januik Winery bottlings."

Score

92

"Full red-ruby. Classic Cabernet Sauvignon scents of cassis, black cherry, licorice, mocha and spices. Plush, sweet and surprisingly pliant, offering very ripe flavors of dark berries, mocha and spices. Very broad, showy Cabernet wine with smooth, ripe tannins. Doesn't have quite the structure or reserve of the 2016 edition but wonderfully silky, fine-grained and long, with plush, supported tannins and lingering spices. This can be enjoyed today. One of Mike Januik's sweetest red wines in 2017."

Score

91

"Full dark red. Lively scents of cassis, licorice, bitter chocolate, menthol and herbs, plus a whiff of cedary oak. Supple, fine-grained, juicy and light on its feet, with subtle sweetness leavened by well-integrated acidity. Ultimately a ripe but classically dry Cabernet Sauvignon with lovely varietal character and restraint. Quite suave and seamless for a large-production item, not to mention juicy and long on the aftertaste. Lovely savory Cabernet Sauvignon with sex appeal and silkiness. Ripe, fine-grained tannins and harmonious acidity give shape to the finish and extend the dark fruits. A very classy Cabernet for its price."

Score

90

"Lots of blackcurrant and blackberry character with a chocolate undertone. Full body, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Lots of chocolate. Drink now."

Score

91+

"Youthfully shy, the 2018 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch offers fresh quince, apple and pear fruit aromas with citrus blossom, baker’s yeast, stone and nutty touches. The palate is light to medium-bodied and slightly rounded. It's delicate but intense with uplifting freshness on the long, nuanced finish. This merits another year in bottle."

Score

92

"Thick tannins wrap around tones of dried herb and juicy black cherry in this 100% varietal wine, given 22 months in 65% new French oak. Supple and well integrated, it is smooth and approachable, so enjoy in the near term."

Score

90

"With up-front earthiness, this value-minded red is sleek and smooth on the palate, offering ample flavors of brooding black cherry and cola amidst a backdrop of integrated oak and well-mannered tannin. Acidity keeps it fresh and lively in the glass."

Score

90

"Stainless-steel fermented, this white is grassy and herbal, with sizzling acidity. With no oak influence it dazzles in fresh, focused lemon and peach."

Score

91

"This is a concentrated and layered concrete-fermented white. Apple, pear and mango figure into the flavor profile, with a dusting of nutmeg and clove tones."

Score

93

"Moderately saturated medium red. Dark raspberry, flowers, iron, red cherry and smoked meat on the alluring nose. Dense, rich, mouthcoating wine with an attractive balance of red berries, smoked meat and wild herbs. A very savory style: less fruity than the Cayuse version but boasting a thicker, longer, sweeter finish than the No Girls Grenache from the same stable. Possesses strong material to buffer its tannins. Finishes broad and quite long, with a suggestion of nutty richness. (13.5% alcohol)"

Score

96

"The aromas explode from the glass, with notes of fire pit, potpourri, black olive, wet stone, dried porcini and stone. The palate is sumptuous, layered, elegant and intensely flavorful, showing abundant savory notes. A lingering black olive and earthy finish caps it off. Best after 2025."

Score

95

"Aromas of brambleberries and wet earth with some smoke and green cloves. Full body, round and succulent tannins and a juicy, earthy aftertaste. Savory. Delicious now or hold."

Score

92+

"Good full red. Less open and expressive on the nose than the Sur Echalas Syrah, hinting at blackberry, pepper, brown spices and dark chocolate. Then juicier and more delineated than the Sur Echalas but still with plenty of texture and breadth; also darker in its fruit character and a bit less rich and sweet. Finishes with firm tannic spine and a touch of youthful bitterness. I wanted a bit more sweetness but this very young Syrah needs more time in bottle to harmonize. Soil-driven, salty, high-pH Syrah with backbone. (13.8% alcohol)"

Score

93

"Bright dark red. Very pure, varietally accurate aromas of raspberry, smoked meat, black olive tapenade, herbs and minerals. Enters the mouth saline and intense, then strong soil-driven olive tapenade, dark raspberry and smoked meat take over the palate. This concentrated, salty wine boasts impressive thickness but also just enough fresh balancing fruit to leaven its high-pH feel. No shortage of sweetness here. Finishes with a firm dusting of tannins, lingering pepper, meat and smoke notes and no rough edges. (13.6% alcohol)"

Score

94+

"Bright full red. Pure but subdued nose hints at blackberry, black pepper, violet and menthol. In a very dark, juicy, savory, tight style; reveals a sexy hint of sweetness but quite bound up today and in need of time to soften. Peppery black fruits are complemented by a subtle floral character, which makes this wine livelier and more delineated than the High Contrast Vineyard Syrah. Finishes with firm but suave tannins and rising violety length. This beauty has the most mid-palate energy and the most explosive length of Horsepower's trio of new Syrahs but is quite backward and in need of patience. Outstanding potential here. (13.6% alcohol)"

Score

98

"Of these three offerings from Horsepower, the 2015 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard will require the most time, as it's the most tight-knit at this early stage, slowly unwinding in the glass with savory aromas of raw cocoa, tapenade, nori and ripe blackberries. On the palate, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a rich chassis of satiny structuring tannins and a layered, umami-laden core of fruit. At 13.6% alcohol, it's also beautifully balanced."

Score

93

"(from an Alban massale selection of Syrah planted at a density of 3-1/2 by 3-1/2 feet in 2009; the 2015 Horsepower wines were bottled in December of 2017): Good medium red. Musky black raspberry, truffle and game on the nose, lifted by high notes of mint and herbs. At once tactile and penetrating, displaying more punch and inner-mouth floral lift than the Sur Echalas vineyard Syrah. But this juicy wine is still youthfully imploded. Finishes firmly tannic, with black pepper and spice notes and a persistent saline character. Very promising. (13.6% alcohol)"

Score

96

"Just ever so slightly richer and more textured than the Sur Echalas Vineyard, the 2013 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard is a blockbuster effort that is up there with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Concentrated, full-bodied, sexy and layered on the palate, it has to-die-for notes of black cherries, currants, olives, steak tartare and Hermitage-like scorched earth characteristics. Like the other 2013s here, it needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will have two decades of longevity."

Score

93

"(from vines planted 3,555 to the acre, next door to Christophe Baron's En Chamberlin vineyard): Highly nuanced aromas of cherry, raspberry, smoked meat, charcoal and black licorice. Tightly wound and showing little early sweetness; an extremely backward Syrah in a decidedly Côte Brune style, with savory mineral and steak tartare notes holding the upper hand over primary dark fruits in the early going. Finishes with dusty tannins and strong salinity. This wine has a pH of 4.1, according to Baron, but I would nevertheless describe it as very young. Still, will it ever show the sweetness of the 2012 version?"

Score

97

"More gamy, bloody and meaty than the Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah, the 2012 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard is a full-bodied, elegant, concentrated and structured effort that gives up complex notes of savory dark fruits, beef blood, dried herbs, pepper and olives. It's another incredible Syrah that needs short-term cellaring, but will have two decades of evolution."

Score

93+?

"(14.1% alcohol; as with the Echalas Vineyard, the Tribe is cultivated with draft horses): Dark ruby. Aromas of black cherry, liquefied lamb tartare, paprika and black licorice, plus a note of medicinal reserve. Hugely sweet and concentrated but carrying a good bit of unabsorbed CO2 and showing less finesse today than the Cayuse Syrah bottlings from the 2012 vintage. Inky and primary, with strong underlying minerality. This is distinctly Brune while the Echalas Syrah is more Blonde. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins and a slight bitter edge that will require cellaring."

Score

93

"Sourced from three estate vineyards (15% HJW, 20% Magdalena and 65% Josef), this reserve offers ripe aromas of apple, pineapple and apricot that are delicately perfumed with ginger and blossoms. Rounded in feel, the palate shows pineapple and peach, lifted by reverberating jolts of lemon peel and white tea. It shows great texture and depth, ending dry and stony. "

Score

92

"The 2014 Cuvée Brut is a 63/37 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, disgorged in March 2019 after 43 months on the lees. Happily, the disgorgement date is hand-stamped on the label (although my actual bottle had no labels yet; it will be, though). It comes in at 12% alcohol and with three grams of sugar. This is the first disgorgement for this. There will be at least one more. This already shows fine complexity, concentration and power. It grips the palate and lingers beautifully. It's a very serious sparkler that should age well, perhaps better than anticipated. This is the only sparkler this issue that made me unequivocally happy. It is super. With the Chardonnay from HJW Vineyard and the Pinot Noir from Magdalena Vineyard, there were 450 cases produced."

Score

93

"A tightly wrapped, minerally style, with hints of graphite to the dried red fruit and spice flavors. Crisp, showing savory snap and details of dried green herbs and underbrush. Best from 2020 through 2024. 413 cases made. "

Score

94

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Estate Raschen Ridge is one of the more overt wines in the range. Ample, broad and creamy, it is wonderfully expressive today. The 40% whole clusters are not especially evident; what comes through most is the wine's textural resonance and breadth. Dark cherry, plum, spice and new leather build into the generous, nuanced finish."

Score

93

"The 2015 Pinot Noir Estate Raschen Ridge is one of the most flamboyant wine I have ever tasted from Hirsch. A rush of super-ripe black cherry, tobacco, spice and new leather fleshes out in a creamy, supple Pinot that captures all of the natural exuberance of the year. Silky tannins and voluptuous fruit add to the wine's considerable appeal. Even with all of its intensity, the 2015 retains terrific freshness and cut. Some of the Hirsch 2015s are subtle. That is not the case here. The Raschen Ridge is decidedly bold. It is also flat-out gorgeous."

Score

94

"The 2015 Pinot Noir Estate East Ridge is a dark, powerful wine – similar to the Raschen Ridge – but with a greater backbone of structure. Black cherry fruit, leather and spice are some of the many nuances that build as this powerful, dense wine shows off its bold personality. I would prefer to cellar the 2015 to allow some of the tannin to melt away. This is an impressive showing."

Score

95

"Light, fresh and vibrant, sliced strawberries with a rose-perfume edge. Very fragrant and such a pure expression of pinot. The palate has succulent and juicy acidity with super fine tannins. The real idea of a reserve with such juicy and pure fruit on the palate. Long, fine and elegant tannins here. Great definition. Elegant and fragrant with gently earthy depth. Drink or hold."

Score

93+

"This is a blend of the best parcels at Hirsch and usually comes from older vines. The 2017 Pinot Noir Reserve is pale to medium ruby and youthfully reticent on the nose to begin, slowly unfurling to fresh strawberry, wild blackberry and raspberry with nuances of forest floor, dust, cranberry, violet and an underlying savory character. Light to medium-bodied, it’s silky in the mouth with a great intensity of purely expressed fruits and lots of mineral nuance. It has a sturdy frame of grainy tannins and juicy freshness to revive the long, layered finish. Give this another year or two in bottle. 830 cases produced."

Score

94

"Lots of pure fruit here with crushed strawberries, flowers, dried mushrooms and bark on the nose, following through to a full body with loads of ripe fruit and chewy tannins. It’s an intense red with lots of fruit-driven character but, it’s got freshness and energy. Give it another two or three years of bottle age. Try after 2022."

Score

92

"The 2018 Pinot Noir San Andreas Fault has a pale ruby color and alluring scents of licorice, forest floor, wild blackberries and mint, with bright touches of citrus peel. The palate is light-bodied with gentle grip and juicy, crunchy, earth-laced fruits, finishing long and delicate."

Score

92

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Estate San Andreas Fault is bright and beautifully lifted in the glass. Crushed red berry, mint and white pepper give the 2018 striking aromatics presence. Medium in body, nervy and finely delineated, the 2018 has a lot going on. I would give it a few years to soften, as the tannins are a bit fierce today. Time in the glass brings out the wine's inner perfume and a real feeling of finesse that will only grow with time."

Score

93

"A homage to the great fault line near Hirsch, this pinot has a brambly, rich array of red cherries and some blue-fruit notes with fresh, sappy, forest aromas, too. The palate has plenty of punchy tannin and forthright, fresh, unwavering drive. Drink or hold."

Score

92

"This is the largest production cuvée in the Hirsch portfolio. Pale to medium ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir San Andreas Fault has a delicately played nose with touches of cinnamon stick, dried leaves, perfumed earth and a mineral vein plus rose petal perfume, red berries and black fruit sparks. The palate is light to medium-bodied with delicate intensity and well-balanced fruit and earth character, knit by grainy tannins and juicy freshness, finishing long and nuanced. 3,740 cases produced."

Score

91

"Named for the local fault line that created the jumble of ridgetop soils at Hirsch, San Andreas is a blend from the varied parcels on the estate. It’s a rich, beefy wine in 2017, its substantial black-cherry flavors needing several days to show their complexity and smoky intensity. Powerful in the best sense, and in need of decanting if you open it now, this is built for a steak. "

Score

96

"A wonderfully crafted chardonnay with lemon rind, cooked apple, lemon and lemon curd. Mineral and stone character throughout. It’s full-bodied, yet vertical and deep on the palate. Takes you down deep and energizes you. Extremely well done. Drink or hold."

Score

92

"The 2018 Chardonnay Estate, from vines planted in 1994, opens with toasted nuts, gunflint, candle smoke and fresh Red Delicious apples with wafts of dried herbs and green tea. The palate is light to medium-bodied with a silky texture and gently nutty character, finishing long, fresh and mineral driven. Lovely! 600 cases were made."

Score

96

"This is among the best Hirsch chardonnays we’ve tasted, a wine with an ornate, almost baroque complexity woven out of fruit grown on the sandstone ridge along the San Andreas fault. It offers a completely different kind of complexity and depth of flavor than a great Burgundy—California coastal casual, yet precise. If you were to travel to David Hirsch’s remote vineyard and feel the blast of the Pacific winds against the ridge as you stand alongside the vines he planted in 1994 on a steep, rocky slope facing directly toward the sea, you might begin to sense the pure, terroir-driven nature of this wine. Along with fruit from those 2.5 acres, this wine includes Hirsch’s younger block of chardonnay, also west-facing, 1.4 acres planted in 2002 on a nearby sandstone hillside. The cool 2018 season produced a chardonnay that defies oxidation, still beautiful a week after it was first opened, destined to thrive for decades."

Score

94

"Made in slightly higher amounts than many of the producer's other estate wines, this is an outstanding value for the quality—a wildly delicious expression of the grape, region and vintage that is in cohesive harmony. Savory, rocky and textured, it blends 30% of its grapes from neighboring Hellenthal Vineyard, the combination exploding in red tangy fruit."

Score

91

"The Bohan-Dilon is the only wine in the Hirsch lineup that includes fruit from outside the estate—about 25% of the 2018 The Bohan-Dilon Pinot Noir comes from the Hellenthal vineyard, contiguous to the Hirsch property. It's one of the more beautiful expressions of this cuvée I've tasted in some time. The nose is gorgeous, with pure aromas of crushed red cherries, garrigue, lilac, tea leaves and forest floor with more nuances coming through with time. The palate is light to medium-bodied and incredibly elegant, packed to the gills with flavor but weightless with its lively acidity and very fine graininess, finishing long and nuanced. What an incredible vintage for this cuvée!"

Score

90

"Buzzing acidity adorns this otherwise powerfully full-bodied wine, made from a range of appellations, including Atlas Peak and Howell Mountain. Earthy dried herb, sage and cedar complement core of lengthy oak, tannin and structure. "

Score

90

"This is a smooth and creamy wine that softens the usual citrus and herb notes into something more subtle. Delicious melon and peach flood the palate and medium to full body makes it mouthfilling."

Score

91

"Aromas of white pepper and lavender lead to a robust, meaty palate. Blackberry, graphite and oak round out the balanced, powerful foundation that's supported by firm tannins. "

Score

94

"Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir leaps from the glass with gregarious kirsch, fresh raspberries and wild strawberry scents with touches of rose hip tea, lavender, cinnamon stick, underbrush and dried herbs. The medium-bodied palate possesses bags of finesse and wonderful vibrancy, with the perfumed red fruit well framed by fine-grained tannins and great freshness, finishing on a lingering floral tea note. 1,094 cases produced."

Score

92

"A slightly more elegant if not quite as ripe nose offers up cool and airy aromas of pure red pinot fruit, spice and rose petal. I very much like the sleek and again sophisticated mouth feel of the medium weight flavors that are shaped in relatively fine tannins on the focused, intense and sneaky long finish. Lovely stuff that could also be enjoyed now or held for further development."

Score

92

"Pungent layers of earthiness, a mix of black tea, compost, clove and forest pine, are at the forefront of this structured, densely packed red. The fruit in this wine shows a lean tart slice of wild strawberry and cranberry. The body is structured and elegant, with plenty of complexity for aging. Enjoy 2020–2024."

Score

91

"An early harvest and a generous crop produced this red-fruited beauty, its bright cherry flavors wrapped in the smokiness of new oak. This vintage is directly fruity, though the fruit flavors are delicate and clean, as transparent as a veil. It’s a wine that should age with grace. "

Score

93+

"The 2015 Chardonnay is a little reticent to begin, slowing unfurling to reveal lemon tart, apple pie and nectarine notions with hints of honeyed toast, cashews and orange blossoms. The medium-bodied palate is refreshing and elegantly styled with many citrus and stone fruit layers accented by savory suggestions and a satiny texture, finishing long and mineral laced. 3,769 cases produced."

Score

91

"A vibrant array of fresh pears and peaches with a vibrant, crisp and quite elegant palate. Holds the pears long and even. Drink now."

Score

93

"This impressive red overdelivers on its price point, combining the main variety with Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot, aging the whole in French oak for 18 months (40% of it new). Truffled earth, compost, bark and gunpowder give it a savory edge that leads to a juicy, balanced midpalate of black fruit, cocoa powder and dust."

Score

92

"Attractive, vanilla-dusted violet aromas with blackcurrants and purple cherries. The palate delivers a very succulent array of fresh ripe berries and plums in a fleshy, approachable style. Drink or hold."

Score

90

"This sleek sparkler is expressive for its floral apple and toasty cinnamon aromas and crisp, layered flavors of lime and mineral. Drink now. 15,000 cases made."

Score

95

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard is another stellar wine in this range. Deep, layered and full of nuance, the Seven Springs has so much to say. Layers of inky red/purplish fruit flesh out as this pliant, powerful Pinot shows off its stunning beauty and textural depth. The 2018 is such a gorgeous and expressive wine."

Score

93+

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard possesses tremendous density and depth. Savoy Pinots are often open-knit and sensual, but not here. The Failla 2018 is a real powerhouse. Black cherry, gravel, cured meats, cloves, leather and spice bring out the darker, more virile side of Pinot Noir. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2018 for at least a few years. The 2018 is a Pinot of substantial weight and gravitas that leans a bit more towards intensity than finesse."

Score

96

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard is a wine of dramatic and exquisite beauty. Soaring aromatics lead into a core of sweet red/purplish berry fruit. There is a level of depth to the Hirsch that is just remarkable. If opened young, the 2018 needs a good bit of air to allow a hint of reduction to blow off. The Hirsch is deceptive in its mid-weight feel, but it has tremendous depth and structure to burn. I especially admire its crystal-clear focus and transcendental beauty."

Score

92

"The 2018 Chardonnay Keefer Ranch is bright and beautifully lifted in the glass, with a real sense of translucence that gives it energy. Pear, white flowers, mint and almond all develop in the glass. This bright, airy Chardonnay has a lot to offer, especially as it gains volume and richness with a bit of time in the glass."

Score

93

"The 2018 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is one of the richer wines in the range. Lemon confit, butter, mint, lightly honeyed notes and a kiss of French oak give the Hudson an extra kick of textural richness that works so well here. A wine of breadth and texture, the Hudson is so expressive today. Even so, the 2018 is a bit quiet now. I expect it will be even better in a year or two."

Score

93

"You'll have to search far and wide to find a Willamette Valley Pinot this good at this price. Winemaker Ehren Jordan is a proven Pinot master, and works his magic here, using fruit from top Chehalem Mountain and Eola-Amity sites. This offers a well-integrated mix of fruit and barrel flavors, blackberries, black cherry, mocha and coffee. The ripe and focused tannins add notes of espresso and toasted hazelnuts; the wine is a sheer joy to drink."

Score

92

"The 2018 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) is a fabulous appellation-level wine. Bright and punchy, with soaring aromatics, the 2018 is just so full of energy. Red berry fruit, flowers and spice are some of the many nuances that take shape, but more than anything else, the 2018 is a joyous wine that bursts at the seams with fruit and immediacy. I loved it."

Score

90

"Pale ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast opens with some sulfury, tarry tones that slowly dissipate to reveal bright red berry fruits. The palate is grainy, fresh and delicately styled, finishing on an uplifted floral note. It's pretty, but it will need to be decanted. 6,000 cases produced."

Score

90

"The 2018 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast has open-knit aromas of honeysuckle, baked apples and spicy touches. The medium-bodied palate is savory with honeyed fruits and an uplifted, very juicy finish. 2,500 cases produced."

Score

91

"The 2018 Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) is a gorgeous appellation-level wine. Bright and finely cut, the 2018 is a white of energy and cut, both of which come through loud and clear. Lemon peel, mint, almonds, white flowers and crushed rocks are all beautifully sculpted throughout. This is such a classy wine, but it will be better with a bit more time in bottle."

Score

95

"Brilliant straw-yellow. Fresh and energetic on the incisive nose, displaying fresh pear, nectarine and Meyer lemon scents accompanied by suave floral, saffron and chalky mineral flourishes. Silky and open-knit, offering densely packed yet shockingly lively citrus and orchard fruit, honeysuckle, oyster shell and saffron flavors that show superb tension and back-end lift. Finely delineated and lithe in character, finishing extremely long and seamless, with vibrant mineral cut and lingering floral and orchard fruit notes."

Score

93

"Light, glistening yellow. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh citrus and orchard fruits, dusty minerals and white flowers, and a hint of chamomile emerges with air. Sappy, penetrating and energetic on the palate, offering Meyer lemon, pear, candied ginger and toasted brioche flavors that slowly deepen and spread out on the back half. Powerful and concentrated yet lithe in character, finishing with strong energy and lingering floral and mineral notes."

Score

92

"The 2018 Salem Wine Co. Chardonnay has a a nose of elderflower, pear, baker’s yeast and lemongrass with touches of beeswax. The palate is medium-bodied with broad, savory flavors, bright freshness and a long, flavorful finish. This is made from younger vines a few hundred feet away from the older vines in Seven Springs vineyard, planted with a slight south-facing exposition."

Score

91

"The 2018 Salem Wine Co. Pinot Noir has a nose of ripe red and black berry jam with touches of powered sugar and spices. The medium-bodied palate has ripe fruits with a grainy, fresh frame and long finish."

Score

96

"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is outrageously beautiful. Rich, vivid and wonderfully deep, the 2018 hits so many high notes. Inky dark fruit, graphite, spice, leather, licorice and expressive earthy nuances are all laced together. In the glass, the 2018 is deep yet also light on its feet, with tremendous flavor intensity and superb balance. It is also one of the very best values in top-flight Napa Valley Cabernet. Don't miss it."

Score

96

"Detert's 2018 Cabernet Franc is fabulous. It may very well be the single most expressive and distinctive Cabernet Franc in the valley. Deep and inky in the glass, the Detert Franc is marked by soaring aromatics and beams of saline minerality that distinguish it from the Cabernet Sauvignon in this range. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice, menthol, licorice and cloves build into the huge, resonant finish."

Score

90

"The 2016 Zinfandel Grist shows the more exuberant side of Zinfandel off to great effect. High-toned varietal notes abound in this decidedly intense, super-expressive Zinfandel from Ehren Jordan and Day."

Score

94

"Vivid magenta. Potent cherry, black raspberry and allspice aromas carry a sexy potpourri overtone. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated red and dark berry flavors that show excellent clarity and become more lively as the wine stretches out. In a rich yet energetic style, showing outstanding clarity and mineral lift on a long, seamless, floral-dominated finish."

Score

95

"Brilliant garnet. Assertive red berry preserve, cherry and floral aromas are complemented by sexy Asian spice, incense and smoky mineral accents. Shows impressive depth and sharp delineation on the palate, offering spice-tinged red and blue fruit liqueur, cola and spicecake flavors that pick up candied rose and blood orange nuances with air. Finishes extremely long and pure, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip to lingering black raspberry and five-spice powder notes."

Score

93

"Limpid ruby-red. Ripe red berries, cherry cola, exotic spices and a hint of potpourri on the deeply perfumed nose. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering spice-tinged black raspberry, cherry liqueur and rose pastille flavors complemented by subtle licorice and mocha nuances. A smoky quality builds with air and carries through a long, youthfully tannic finish that echoes the cherry note."

Score

95

"Deep scarlet. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes spice-tinged raspberry liqueur, cherry and potpourri, along with a deeper cola nuance and a hint of smoky minerality. Velvety and seamless on the palate, offering expansive red and blue fruit, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Shows impressive delineation and finishes extremely long and spicy, with polished tannins and resonating floral and cherry notes."

Score

91

"The 2018 Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills, aged 12 months in 31% new French oak, offers fresh orchard fruits with touches of almonds, white flowers and baker's yeast. The palate is light-bodied but surprising with its depth of fruit, with soft freshness and a long, delicate finish. 956 cases produced."

Score

91

"Restrained and delicate, this cool chardonnay leads with dry lemon-lime scents. With its tart green-apple flavor, lemon-rind lift and talc-like mineral tang, it’s a Chablis-like chardonnay for oysters. "

Score

91

"Bright orange-pink. Raspberry cherry and candied rose scents are accompanied by subtle vanilla and toasty lees nuances. Smooth and broad on the palate offering sappy red berry and tangerine flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. Seamless in texture and quite lively for its heft with no rough edges. The long red-fruit-dominated finish features a bracing mineral quality."

Score

92

"Brilliant straw-yellow. Fragrant, mineral-tinged Meyer lemon and Anjou pear scents show fine definition and complicating hints of jasmine and smoky lees. Minerally and sharply focused on the palate, offering vibrant citrus and orchard fruit flavors and a deeper suggestion of brioche that builds on the back half. Shows impressive energy and finishes toasty and very long, with a sexy floral nuance lingering."

Score

95

"From benchland vineyards, the winemaker's perennial beauty of a wine is structured, evolved, graceful and complex, with powerful floral aromatics of rose and violet. Earthy and herbal, it tastes of rock and iron, with bright underlying invitations of cassis, tangy cherry and plum. This will do well in the cellar; enjoy best from 2027 through 2030."

Score

94

"A succulent red with currants and fine, lightly dusty tannins. Medium to full body. Cedar and hazelnuts at the finish. Extremely refined and delicious. Drink now or hold."

Score

98

"Wonderful blackberry and blackcurrant aromas here with hints of mint and fresh sage. Some cassis. Wrought iron, too. Full-bodied, tight and elegant with lovely tension. Beautiful. Ends fine and focused. Drinkable now, but better after 2022."

Score

97+

"A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot and 9% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple 2017 Proprietary Red soars out of the glass with notions of baked blueberries, plum preserves and blackcurrant cordial, backed up by nuances of chocolate mint, wild sage, violets and pencil shavings, plus an earthy hint of Chinese five spice. The rich, seductive, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with spicy black fruit preserves, framed by wonderfully plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and opulent."

Score

96+

"The 2017 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard comes across as remarkably primary. Bright red-toned fruit and floral notes give the 2017 striking freshness as well as nuance. Deep and layered on the palate, with superb depth, the 2017 Continuum is easily one of the wines of the year. Even in the early going, it is truly magnificent."

Score

92

"The medium to deep ruby colored 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Martin Ray has classic scents of fresh blackcurrants, graphite, cedar, exotic spices and chocolate-covered cherries with gentle herbal notes. It's medium to full-bodied with a firm, fresh, uplifted frame and long finish."

Score

95

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Martin Ray Vineyard is exquisitely beautiful. It is also much more refined than I would have expected in this very challenging year. The warmth of the summer has given the 2017 softer contours and a bit less savoriness than is often the norm, and yet it retains the mid-weight sense of structure found in so many 2017 California Cabernets. Best of all, the 2017 will drink nicely with just a few years in bottle. This is such a delicious and inviting wine."

Score

94

"The 2018 Chardonnay Marena offers pretty floral, green herbs and nutty tones with a core of quince. The medium-bodied palate is lively and expressive, with ever-changing flavor layers and a long finish that hints at more to come. This is similar in style to a premier cru Chablis."

Score

93

"Medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Estate Syrah offers pretty tones of coffee, cinnamon, blueberries and boysenberries, spearmint, bitter chocolate and violets—classic and concentrated with Goldilocks ripeness. Medium-bodied, the palate is concentrated but light on its feet with delicate, spiced fruits, a fine grain and bright bursts of freshness, finishing long and floral. 300 cases were made. Drink 2020-2030."

Score

92

"The 2018 Estate Pinot Noir is an incredible value this vintage, with loads of floral aromas over pure, bright red cherries, dried cranberries and rhubarb with accents of tangerine and dust. The palate is light to medium-bodied with bright, earth and spice-laced flavors, juicy uplift and a long finish. 600 cases were made. Drink 2020-2025."

Score

90

"Pale cherry-pink in color, the 2019 Rosé of Pinot Noir Hopkins Ranch has delicate scents of strawberries, watermelon and raspberry leaves with floral notes and a rocky undercurrent. The light-bodied palate is super fresh and uplifted with mineral-laced red berry fruits and a long, delicately styled finish. 750 cases were made. Drink 2020-2022."

Score

92

"Full, bright orange-pink color. Precise, subtly complex scents of red berries, minerals, rose petal and piquant grapefruit pith. Rich, tactile pink wine with terrific intensity to its sappy flavors of red berries, flowers and spices. Very concentrated and savory, offering a high-wire balance of sweetness and acidity. Finishes tactile, dusty, firm and long, with no loss of thickness, spreading out to saturate the palate without any leaving any impression of heaviness. This serious rosé transcends its category. (12.4% alcohol)"

Score

100

"The 2018 Syrah Bionic Frog comes from the Coccinelle Vineyard in the Rocks district of Milton-Freewater. It’s always one of the richest, most concentrated Syrahs in the lineup, yet it doesn't give an inch with regard to elegance and purity. The 2018 was aged mostly in demi-muids (there's often a portion aged in foudre) and hit 14.4% natural alcohol. This deeper ruby/purple-hued beauty offers a gorgeous bouquet of black raspberries, redcurrants, tapenade, bacon fat, and wood smoke, with a touch of reductive scorched earth and graphite nuances. This carries to a full-bodied Syrah with ultra-fine yet building tannins, a layered, deep, textured mouthfeel, and flawless overall balance. It's another magical, incredibly pure Syrah from the genius of Baron that will benefit from just 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for over two decades."

Score

95

"A soft, savory syrah with dried-strawberry, light chocolate-powder and walnut character. Medium to full body, round and soft tannins and a delicious finish. Rich, but not overwhelming. Drink or hold."

Score

96

"Bright red-ruby. Dark scents of blackberry, black pepper, violet and smoked meat; blacker than the 2016. Intense, penetrating, juicy and tight, offering a faint citrus peel accent to its flavors of dark berries, minerals, violet, pepper and animal fur. Boasts lovely density and concentration without weight, thanks to an impression of harmonious acidity and high notes of violet and minerals. This beauty carries its firm core of dark berry fruit through a firm, rising, suavely tannic, savory back end, saturating the palate without leaving any impression of weight. A superb showing: this Syrah wine can be tasted with great pleasure today but should gain in complexity and pliancy with another four or five years of cellaring. I love the balance of salinity, gaminess, fruit and minerality."

Score

98

"From the moment you stick your nose in the glass, you are immediately struck with something special. The 2016 Syrah Armada Vineyard has fantastic focus on the nose, with black fruits and a grippy core of minerality, revealing some soft truffle tones and black spices along the way. Full-bodied on the palate, the wine shows an impressive weight and continues to gain in breadth and depth, expanding and unfolding on the mid-palate. Beautifully structured flavors of cured meats and peppercorn evolve with incredible mineral tension and dusty red fruits, and the wine ends with a long, thought-provoking finish. The Armada Syrah is collector-worthy. The 472-case production leaves me speechless. Drink 2019-2040."

Score

95

"The 2017 Syrah en Cerise begins a little more broad-shouldered than the rest of the range, offering up aromas of black cherries, crushed rock, cured meats, smoked peppercorn and dusty lavender in the glass. Full-bodied, the wine is firm with youthful tannins, which make this bottling food-friendly. Open-knit and expressive, the long, winding finish evolves over a few moments before reverting to savory tones and an expression of dust-covered cherry skin. Only 393 cases were produced. I would suggest giving this one more year in the cellar, then consume over the next 13-18 years. Drink 2021-2038."

Score

95+

"Bright red-ruby color. Slightly darker and more brooding on the nose than the Cailloux Vineyard Syrah but with very pure, youthful scents of black raspberry, smoked meat, black olive tapenade, black pepper, minerals and violet; more Brune than Blonde. Dense, juicy, savory and light on its feet, with subtle sweetness leavened by surprising acidity and dark flavors of boysenberry and violet. Notes of minerals, spices and pepper add to the wine's mid-palate energy. The very long, palate-staining finish leaves the taste buds quivering. Today I prefer this to the Cailloux for its balance and light touch. Although slightly imploded, it's already easy to taste. A great vintage for this Syrah bottling."

Score

95+

"Planted on phylloxera-resistant 3309C rootstock, the 2016 The Widowmaker en Chamberlin Vineyard has a black-fruited nose with a tight core of dusty flowers. The wine is full-bodied and lush on the palate, with a tight minerality that will make this quite age-worthy. It's balanced yet still tight on the mid-palate, with a long, lingering finish. This is a beautiful and generous wine that delivers pleasure with a lush and dusty expression. Only 232 cases made. Drink 2020-2040."

Score

92

"Supple and elegantly structured, with rich black cherry, violet and smoky olive flavors that take on dimension toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2024. 232 cases made."

Score

94+

"Full medium red. A bit lower-toned and less expressive on the nose than the Flying Pig, offering notes of currant, spiced plum, dark raspberry, mocha and smoke. Plusher and sweeter too but not a heavyweight. The wine's utterly silky smoothness gives it immediate appeal. Although it gives a rather high-pH impression, it has plenty of supporting fruit. Wonderfully harmonious from entry to smooth, long, subtly tannic, lightly peppery finish. I love the balance of sweetness and salinity. Will this wine go into a shell? My sample showed a bit more juiciness and mineral pungency with aeration but maintained its thickness and sweetness, with the Syrah element quite apparent."

Score

95

"A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah, the 2015 The Lovers is one of the most successful renditions of this cuvée that I can remember tasting. Notes of currant fruit, cocoa nib, plums, tobacco and subtle cedar mingle in a complex bouquet. It's a medium to full-bodied, sapid wine with a deep core of fruit complemented by plenty of savory nuance and framed by powdery, fine-grained tannins. Attractively fresh and delineated (which isn't always the most obvious characteristic of Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon), this is a very persuasive offering from Christophe Baron. Drink 2020-2033."

Score

95

"Medium-deep red. Musky aromas of raspberry, smoked meat, roast coffee and underbrush lifted by peppery herbs and rose petal. Boasts lovely sweet red berry fruit complexity complicated by savory soil tones, herbs and black pepper. Thick and savory but nicely delineated; in fact, a bit more penetrating than the 2016 version, with the energy and tannic structure to evolve slowly. This wonderfully smooth, fine-grained Syrah finishes with serious palate-dusting tannins and excellent grip and length. Not a particularly fruity style but has more than enough fruit to balance its savory soil, pepper and herb elements. A superb vintage for this bottling. (bottled in magnums)"

Score

95

"A blend of vineyards, the 2016 Syrah Wallah Wallah Special #10 is only bottled in magnum format. It has a fresh core of strawberries on the nose, with a dusty minerality and hints of wild sage over soft, smoky and charcuterie aromas. The wine has a focused and balanced core of fruit and florals on the palate, with violets, dried herbs, black pepper and a taut minerality that is thoughtful and elegant, concluding with attentive tannins on the elongated finish. Magnums age well, so this can be forgotten in your cellar with little to no repercussions to the quality of the wine. This bottling is Washington State's smart wine buy of the year. Who doesn't love magnums of fantastic and beautiful wine? Only 460 cases were made. Grab some for your cellar! Drink 2019-2040."

Score

97

"Only released in special vintages, as well as only in magnum, the 2014 Syrah Wallah Wallah Special #6 is about as Northern Rhône as it gets. More rounded, sexy and voluptuous than the other cuvees, with full-bodied richness and silky tannin, it reminds me of the Burgundian style of wine from Jean-Louis Chave. Violets, crushed rocks, graphite, smoked earth and beautiful black fruit notes emerge from this sensual, elegant, ethereally textured beauty. It might be my favorite Special cuvee to date. It's already beautiful, but it will keep for two decades or more. Drink 2017-2037."

Score

94

"Moderately saturated dark red. Aromas of raspberry, red cherry, white pepper, rose petal and piquant spices, with mocha and fresh herb notes emerging with aeration. A suave, refined midweight offering a lovely combination of intense red fruits and savory soil tones accented by flowers and pepper. Still a bit tight but already beautifully delineated for New World Grenache; has just enough gamey funkiness to add some Old World nuance. Finishes with light tannins, intriguing peppery grip and slowly rising length. This outstanding Washington Grenache boasts superb subtlety and intensity--and a firm spine throughout. I love the balance of sweet and salty elements here. (13.8% alcohol)"

Score

92

"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 1913 is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose bursts with bold notes of warm cassis, blackberry pie, chocolate mint and tobacco with wafts of cedar chest and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it has a solid frame of lovely, ripe, grainy tannins to support the bags of black fruit, finishing with impressive purity. 1,972 cases were made. Drink 2020-2033."

Score

95

"First planted in 1905, this is a relatively cool-climate site that imparts great brightness and tart acidity to the wine. A dark cherry flavor is powerfully represented, alongside baked plum, blackberry and black pepper. A taut structure suggests this will do well with time in bottle. Best from 2028–2033."

Score

94

"The producer's marquee wine and a nod to its long-standing ties to farming, this is fresh and earthy in notes of crushed rock, slate, dried herb and black pepper. The fruit is layered and sumptuous in flavors of raspberry and black cherry, while supple tannins and a hint of toasted oak provide framing."

Score

94

"Bright red. Assertive aromas of fresh red berries, cherry, potpourri and Asian spices, along with an emerging mineral element. Silky and penetrating on the palate, offering appealingly sweet raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors that show a suave blend of power and finesse. Shows outstanding clarity and floral lift on the long, supple finish, which features polished tannins and repeating minerality."

Score

92

"Pale gold. Fresh citrus and orchard fruits, jasmine and buttered toast on the smoky, finely detailed nose. Pliant pear nectar, candied peach and tangerine flavors take on a floral nuance as the wine opens up. Shows strong finishing cling and lingering honeysuckle and brioche qualities on the finish, which hangs on with strong tenacity."

Score

93

"Randall Grahm's ever-evolving ideology shifted again for the new label and blend of this bottling, which includes 52% Grenache, 35% Cinsault and 13% Syrah. Aromas of plum, cracked pepper, crumpled carnations and dried mint lead into a bright, refreshing palate of hibiscus, anise and a curry-like spice."

Score

91

"Deep, shimmering red. Displays lively red berry, cherry and floral qualities on the nose, along with building suggestions of exotic spices and succulent herbs. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering fresh raspberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that slowly turn sweeter with air. Shows sharp delineation and spicy cut on the impressively long, silky finish, which emphatically repeats the red fruit and floral notes. This vintage marks a sharp and intentional change of direction and style for this iconic wine as winemaker/owner Randall Grahm wants it to exhibit more finesse than it has in the past."

Score

90

"Very light in the glass, this blend of 46% Grenache Blanc, 34% Vermentino and 20% Clairette Blanche offers honeydew, lime pith, wet gravel and a hint of lanolin on the nose. The palate is full of flavors, offering sliced pear and lime peel set upon a delicate texture."

Score

92

"Light raspberry, delicate cotton candy, brisk melon and a hint of citrus show on the nose of this pale rosé. There's great zip and a tense texture to the sip, where ash and talc flavors meet with rounded red plum, strawberry and watermelon, all sliced by strong acidity."

Score

94

"The 2018 Luke is 56% Graciano and 44% Grenache from Shake Ridge. Deep, powerful and structured, the 2018 packs a serious punch. Dark cherry, plum, sage, licorice and lavender infuse the 2018 with striking shades of nuance and dimension. It is a wine of real character and personality."

Score

93

"The 2018 Grenache Spear Vineyard is an explosion of aromas and flavors, all supported by breams of acidity and tannin that give the wine a real sense of energy. Dark cherry, licorice, sage, mint and lavender bring out slightly darker shades of Grenache character. More than anything else, the Spear stands out for a sense of structure that is not found in any other wine in the range."

Score

94

"The 2018 Grenache Morro View Vineyard is soft, open-knit and pliant. It is also one of the more voluptuous wines in this range. Here the fruit is front and center, while expressive floral and spice notes give the wine brightness. Time in the glass brings out the wine's density and power. This is another highlight in this range."

Score

93

"From a site in Edna Valley, the 2017 Grenache Morro View Vineyard offers terrific fruit density as well as nuance. It is also the only vineyard designate Grenache in this range made with fully destemmed fruit. Bright red cherry, blood orange, mint, star anise and cinnamon all open up in the glass. The 2017 remains light on its feet, but it is certainly not lacking in either depth or texture, as it finishes with real substance."

Score

95

"The 2018 Grenache Vie Caprice Vineyard captures Angela Osborne's style at its very best. A deep red, the Vie Caprice offers terrific freshness and density of fruit, but always in the lifted style that makes these wines so unique and compelling. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, rose petal and cinnamon lead into the soft, open-knit finish. This is such a gorgeous wine."

Score

94

"The clear standout in this range, Angela Osborne's 2017 Grenache Vie Caprice Vineyard is bright, focused, and wonderfully nuanced, with terrific freshness and tons of sheer verve. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. This brisk, finely sketched Grenache is bursting at the seams with vibrancy and character. I loved it."

Score

94

"The 2018 Grenache Besson Vineyard is a wine of freshness and translucence, both of which give it a level of depth that is deceptively at first. Clean minerally notes pulse through the 2018, lending shape and energy. The Besson is understated and not at all obvious, but there is plenty there."

Score

92

"The 2017 Grenache Besson Vineyard presents a decidedly floral, savory expression of Grenache accentuated by 83% whole clusters. Dried cherry, mint, tobacco, licorice and dried flowers are all nicely woven together in this ethereal, beguiling Grenache. The Besson is a classic Angela Osborne wine."

Score

91

"The 2018 Grenache Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard is laced with the essence of dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, mint and dried leaves. This is an especially aromatic Grenache with plenty of floral and spice notes pushed forward and fruit that lies very much in the background. This is a savory style, but the stems are so well balanced."

Score

92

"The 2018 Grenache (Santa Barbara County) is a fabulous introduction to this range. Perfumed, light on its feet and ethereal, the appellation Grenache has so much character. Crushed red berry, cedar, mint and wild flowers all grace this understated, totally classy wine from Angela Osborne. This is such a beautiful wine."

Score

96

"From the cool climes of Freestone, just miles from the Pacific Ocean, this vineyard-designate captures all the feral, crisp and complex aspects of site and variety in the right hands. Carbonic, with euphoric red raspberry and strawberry flavors, it is textured, savory and endlessly bright."

Score

95

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Hawk Hill Vineyard is the second iteration of this single-vineyard cuvée, which was made with 25% new French and Austrian oak and 50% whole clusters. Medium ruby-purple, it offers gorgeous aromas of charcuterie, rhubarb, blackberries and aniseed with loads of earthy accents in the undercurrent and top notes of potpourri. The palate is medium-bodied and über satiny with slowly blossoming flavor layers. It walks a beautiful line between concentration of flavor and a light-footed frame, and it finishes very long with addicting juiciness and nuance. Wow! Drink 2020-2030."

Score

93+

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Hawk Hill Vineyard is powerful and tightly wound, although still very much within the mid-weight style favored here. Dark red and purplish fruit, lavender, spice menthol and high-toned aromatics give the Hawk Hill its slightly dark, savory profile. The sinewy tannins need time to soften, but there is plenty to look forward to, although the Hawk Hill doesn't quite have the allure of some of the other wines in this range."

Score

93

"Opening in a richness of toffee on the nose, this wine is delicate on the palate, layered brightly and seamlessly in pomegranate, rhubarb and cranberry. Clove, tea and dried herb give it a savory, earthy contrast and lasting complexity."

Score

93

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Peters Vineyard, pale to medium ruby-purple in the glass, is an incredibly elegant wine. The nose begins with delicate dried roses, orange peel, cinnamon, aniseed, rhubarb and red berry aromas supported by an underlying sense of amaro-like spiciness. The light to medium-bodied palate is delicately styled and gently perfumed with a silky texture and fresh acidity to lift the ethereal finish. Drink 2020-2026."

Score

92

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Peters Vineyard is very pretty, if a touch ethereal. Crushed flowers, dried red berry fruit and dried flowers are all nicely lifted throughout. Perfumed and airy, the Peters is perhaps just a touch fragile, its considerable beauty notwithstanding."

Score

93

"From a site along Occidental Ridge, that an be described as cool climate and ocean influenced, this wine opens in an exuberance of strawberry and raspberry on both the nose and palate. Soft, silky and delicate in style, it sings in bright acidity and lasting savory tones of black tea and forest."

Score

96

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Harmony Lane Vineyard is lush and inviting on the nose: aromas of rhubarb, boysenberry, crushed blackberries are accented by licorice and loads of potpourri-like nuances. The palate is wonderfully concentrated, vibrant and silky in texture with a kaleidoscopic array of tricolored berry fruits, citrus and flowers, and it finishes very long and nuanced. Such a gorgeous, elegant wine! Drink 2020-2030."

Score

93

"The 2017 Pinot Noir Harmony Lane is one of the more open-knit wines in this range. Sweet red cherry, kirsch, rose petal and spice give the Harmony a distinctly exotic feel. Soft curves and silky tannins are nicely complemented by underpinnings of salinity that give the wine a lovely sense of proportion."

Score

93

"Very ripe and earthy, this big but relaxed wine overflows with black-cherry and cooked cherry flavors that are accented by rhubarb and tobacco nuances. Moderate tannins give the palate some heft. It's a fun trip down the path less traveled"

Score

94

"Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Comptche Ridge opens with leather, bay leaves, fir, turned earth and garrigue with a core of fresh black fruits. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated with its earthy character accented by floral notes. It's refreshed by juicy acidity and finishes long and nuanced. Drink 2020-2027."

Score

95

"This remarkably impressive wine opens in an intriguingly edge, earthy nose, leading the way to a lengthy and complex experience on the palate. Balanced red-fruit, spice and forest notes accent supple, integrated tannin and oak, never losing sight of its coastal brightness and exuberance. "

Score

96+

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Campbell Ranch is an incredibly expressive wine, with a savory blend of crushed cranberry and blackberry fruit accented by notes of fragrant earth, lavender, charcuterie, fir and Angostura bitters. The palate's full, expressive fruit character is supported by a silky, seamlessly fresh structure, and it finishes very long and layered. Drink 2020-2030"

Score

93

"Citrus-driven, this fleshy, oak-kissed wine is complex and crisp, with a sophisticated elegance. Light-bodied and well integrated, it shows a subtle touch to its mix of green apple, melon and lemongrass, finding a flinty end with length."

Score

94+

"The 2018 Chardonnay Peugh comes from a vineyard originally planted in 1887 and grafted to Chardonnay in 1944. It was made with 20% new Austrian oak and has bright notions of petrichor, lime peel, green herbs and green pineapple with honeyed notes in the background. The palate is medium-bodied and satiny, swelling with savory flavors that are refreshed by mineral accents and lively acidity, and it finishes very long. The dynamic dichotomy of brightness and savory bass tones is compelling and provides a hint of what this may be like with another five years in bottle. Drink 2020-2030."

Score

93

"Anthill's 2018 Chardonnay Peugh Vineyard is bright, focused and super-expressive. Lemon confit, white flowers and light tropical notes give this Russian River Chardonnay a good bit of energy. The 2018 offers terrific energy and nuance. These 75 year-old, dry-farmed vines confer notable distinction."

Score

93

"A blend of the single vineyards in Anderson Valley that Anthill Farms works with, the medium ruby-purple colored 2018 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley has lush, savory aromas of fresh black and red currants, aniseed, tree bark, leather and potpourri. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated, silky smooth, packed with earthy fruits and seamlessly fresh with a long, layered finish. Drink 2020-2027"

Score

90

"The 2018 Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley) is an excellent choice for drinking upon release. Ripe, heady and bold, the 2018 is wonderfully juicy and supple, with plenty of succulent red fruit, cedar and spice character. It is a terrific appellation-level wine."

Score

90

"The 2016 Mountain Cuvée Saffron Vineyard No. 1, a Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend, is powerful and austere, but, then again, we are talking about a young Howell Mountain wine. Savory herb, licorice and lavender notes open up, but only with great reluctance. Even within the context of Howell Mountain Cabernet, the 2016 is compact and not especially expressive."

Score

93

"The 2016 Bates Ranch Mountain No. 1 is terrific. It is also one of the wines in this range where site and style are very well matched. The blend 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc, co-fermented, works beautifully here. Savory, mineral and tightly wound, the 2016 is going to need time to unwind, but it is undoubtedly very promising. It will be interesting to see what winemaker Diana Snowden-Seysses does with this fruit in future vintages."

Score

92

"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Hen Vineyard No. 1 is a very pretty, nuanced wine. Dark cherry, plum, lavender and violet are nicely lifted in a perfumed, finessed Cabernet that will drink well right out of the gate."

Score

17++

"Very deep cherry red – like black cherries – with a brighter crimson rim. Invitingly rich aroma of black fruits and a hint of toasty oak and oak spice and a dark, slightly brooding richness, savoury as much as sweet. The fruit aroma is a heady mix of black plum, blackcurrant and a slightly earthy damson character. On the palate, the tannins are still very firm and chewy, with the attractive bitterness of dark chocolate, and the wine is nowhere near ready for drinking yet though it is already balanced, if embryonic. Wait."

Score

90

"The 2019 Alvarinho Muros Antigos comes in at 12.5% alcohol, 6.8 grams of total acidity and 1.7 grams of residual sugar. Sourced mostly from Melgaço, higher altitudes and sandy soils, this is a somewhat nervier version of the 2018… It is impressive, though, how this grips the palate. The long and juicy finish is exceptional for the level. Ultimately, I liked this a lot, even though it is not particularly fleshy. It shows the ability to develop and hold as well… the laser-like focus and crispness will make it a warm-weather star."

Score

92

"From the heartland of Alvarinho, the wine has a rich, ripe character. White fruits balanced by crisp acidity have a spicy touch and as well as some weight and density. The wine, like many great Alvarinhos, needs a few months and so will be best from 2021."

Score

90

"The 2019 Loureiro Muros Antigos Escolha, in bottle about two months when tasted, comes in with 1.5 grams of residual sugar, 6.7 grams of total acidity and 12% alcohol. Continuing a trend, this seems just a bit fresher and crisper than last year's version. The grapes are all sourced from the Lima Valley, the area most famed for Loureiro… I hate to just keep repeating myself in scoring, but Anselmo is pretty consistent with this bottling…"

Score

90

"The 2019 Muros Antigos Escolha is a blend of 40% Loureiro, 40% Avesso and 20% Alvarinho, unoaked and notably crisper and lighter than last year's (1.5 grams of residual sugar, 7.2 grams of total acidity) and 12% alcohol. Each of the grapes comes from the subregions most famous for them—Alvarinho from Monção e Melgaço, Loureiro from Lima and Avesso from Baião. This is where the lineup gets fruity as well as fresh. This is delicious, not merely well constructed. Yet the acidity beautifully lifts the fruit, so it always seems serious. It is long on the finish, a bit tense and chock-full of flavor… this seems pretty fine right now..."

Score

95

"The 2016 Nossa Missão is a Baga from a 130-year-old pre-phylloxera vineyard with limestone soils. It was aged for 18 months in a used Austrian barrel. (There was only enough for one pipa, i.e., a 500-liter barrel.) It comes in at just 12.7% alcohol. This is a more elegant and approachable Missão than the 2015, I think, showing more of what it has early on. It is still a powerhouse, however, that shows better the next day. It adds some depth to the 2017 Nossa Calcário this issue and much a bigger finish. From a very different vintage, though, it seems a little more understated in flavors. It is perhaps a bit more classic in style. This was better every time I came back to it, and it sang the next day. If the fruitiness is not quite as evident as on the younger 2017 Nossa, it substitutes some Baga earthiness around the edges that I found appealing. That made it multi-dimensional. It is quite brilliant, with a long life ahead and a lot of upside potential. You'll be able to approach this a little before you could approach the 2015, I think. Neither will show you complexity or finesse until they get to be around seven to nine years old, though. As always, some answers only come for certain with some time in the cellar. There were 490 bottles and 76 magnums produced."

Score

93

"The 2018 Nossa Calcário red is a Baga from old vines. It was aged for 18 months in second-use French oak and comes in at 12.2% alcohol. Elegant and seeming to show good concentration, at least in mouthfeel, this is a perfectly constructed Baga that is precise, impeccably balanced, understated and focused. Fresh, yet caressing on the palate, this lingers nicely and adds a slightly earthy touch on the finish—that's the Baga showing up for work. I'm not sure this 2018 fully equals some fine recent vintages, but it certainly is rather splendid. Time eventually will tell us who wins. This is very accessible. You can drink it now, although it will certainly reward you if you cellar it for a few years. It likely will hold for a couple of decades. There were 3,692 bottles and 135 magnums made."

Score

92

"Filipa Pato and William Wouters farm three small parcels where the vines range from 80 to 130 years old, sustained by the chalky clay soils of Bairrada’s low coastal hills. Fermented in oak lagars and aged in used oak casks, this wine is classical baga, a red zone of blood orange and pomegranate seeds, its layered complexity driven by a buzz of limestone acidity that crests over the fruit like a wave of salt water. Pour it with a salad of aged goat cheese, potatoes, olive oil and fresh herbs."

Score

91

"The 2019 Branco Nossa Calcário is a single-vineyard (Ois do Bairro) Bical aged for nine months in 20% new and mostly French barrels (some Austrian). It comes in at just 12.4% alcohol. This seems a bit fuller in body than its siblings this issue—of course, it also has the most oak treatment. Yet it absorbs the wood beautifully, leaving a refreshing and understated white that is hard to resist. Its graceful presentation and bright finish are a big part of that. For all of its understatement, I suspect it will age well. It may yet improve too. There were 5,300 bottles and 100 magnums made."

Score

92

"This grows mid-slope on a chalky-clay hillside in Ois de Bairro, where the vines average 40 years old. It’s made from free-run juice, spontaneously fermented in cask, where it rests for eight months developing pale Marcona almond flavors to ground the fresh apple and lemon-yellow fruit. It’s a lovely acid-driven white with floral delicacy, and enough depth for a trotter terrine."

Score

90

"The crisp lines of this sparkler carry scents of lemon thyme, Macintosh apples and fresh quince. The brisk salinity and limestone acidity take this from simple bubbles to something delicious, especially with oysters."

Score

92

"A 75/25 blend of red-skinned baga and white bical, this is a rich sparkler that brings to mind a shellfish broth with its vibrant salinity, and a raspberry mousse with its supple, refreshing fruit flavors. It’s creamy, with plenty of acidity and bubble to finish on a lovely, clean fragrance. Pour it with grilled langoustines or other rich shellfish. "

Score

92

"The 2018 Vintage Port Quinta da Gricha is a field blend coming in at 100 grams of residual sugar. Elegant and refined, this has a bright and accessible feel with good fruit on the finish. It tightens notably with air, but it is accessible in its own way. It didn't seem terribly interesting, though, on the first day tasted. It just wasn't expressive. Where's the fruit? That sure changed two days later. It fleshed out overnight, gained weight and became wonderfully expressive—classic Porto with pungent aromatics. At that point, it was drinking beautifully. The rich fruit was fairly well ahead of the structure at that juncture, however. It did make me wonder a little how long and how well this might age, but it is going to be hard to resist for most of its life. This suave and simply delicious Porto will hold at least a reasonable time, but it will be accessible on the younger side. For the rest, it needs to prove its case in the cellar."

Score

92

"This Port from the estate that forms the basis of the producer's declared Vintage Ports is herbal and spicy, with a blend of firm tannins and generous black fruits. It is sure to age well and give a generous Port. Wait to drink from 2028."

Score

16.5+

"Cask sample. Exceptionally deep blackish purple. Colour right out to the rim. Quite introvert but intriguing nose with notes of liquorice and treacle/molasses. Quite a dry finish after rigorous structure. Just a hit of green apples on the end. But it's definitely a successful 2018. Marked grip."

Score

96

"Ripe, juicy and focused, this features a core of steeped fig, boysenberry and blueberry fruit, well-harnessed by a sleek, graphite-edged structure and infused liberally with anise, fruitcake and Christmas pudding notes. Vivid and racy in feel through the finish. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barocca, Tinta Francisca and Tinta Cão. Best from 2035 through 2055. 2,000 cases made."

Score

96

"The potential of this great wine is enormous. Floral and richly structured, with layers of black fruits, the Port has a density and tough edges that are both essential to aging. Drink this rich, ripe wine from 2032."

Score

94

"Sourced from old vines in Churchill’s Cima Corgo estates. Made in the drier, robust, spicy house style, this is a characterful 10-year-old, with peppery, liquorice-laced, dried plum, roast hazelnuts, salted caramel praline and pan-singed marmalade. The long, involving finish is clean and dry. Potent, with 101g/L residual sugar."

Score

90

"This has attractive freshness and drive with a very succulent, dark-berry and cherry core on offer. The palate has a vibrant and rich array of fresh and detailed, berry and plum flavor. Drink now. Screw cap."

Score

94

"Big and ripe, the 2015 Single Vineyard The Alias Sauvignon Blanc is a full-bodied, round wine that delivers plenty of flavor and texture. Hints of smoke and struck flint accent melon and fig notes, all carried along on a creamy joyride into a long, pink-grapefruit finish. Yes, it spent 15 months in barrel, but it's not oaky, just rich, layered and complex. One of the best New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs I've ever tasted."

Score

92

"A very bright and attractive pinot that has aromas of nectarines, peaches and light red cherries with a succulent, tangy palate that draws vibrant, pure fruit flavor on a fresh finish. Drink now. Screw cap."

Score

93

"Very vibrant and juicy, rich peaches, delivered in such seamless and beautifully fleshy mode. The nectarine and yellow-peach flavors are mouthwatering. Drink now. Screw cap."

Score

92

"This was released six months later than usual due to Covid-19. Sourced from a combination of six vineyards. Fermented 40% wild - an increase in this vintage - and 20% in barrel, with no press wine, so the pH stays low, followed by nine months on lees. Offering floral notes and citrus, this conveys a nice sense of tenderness and flesh yet also a lightness of touch. Feels very unworked and has a sense of purity."

Score

92

"A flinty and gently funky nose with grapefruit and fresh lemons, this has a deeply juicy and fresh palate that offers a plush and long, succulent finish. Drink now. Screw cap."

Score

91

"A toasty, savory Pinot Noir that's full-bodied and mellow with the supple embrace of tannins providing the cheeks with a chalky veil. At a lovely stage in its development, moving away from the simple primary fruits of cherry and damson to its secondary stage, but there's still room for flavor evolution over the coming 5-7 years."

Score

92

"From a ripe, concentrated vintage, Huia's 2015 Pinot Noir is probably about as good as the vineyard can produce, boasting dark, intense aromas of black cherries and plums laced with sexy hints of hickory smoke and vanilla. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate and silky in texture, yet it has crisp acids that provide a sense of freshness and length on the complex, earthy finish. Nice job!"

Score

94

"This is a shining example of a variety too rarely seen in New Zealand, in this reviewer's opinion. Huia's version is elegant and refreshing. It's also a total bargain. Pale yellow, the delicately perfumed nose dances with notes of citrus, peach, watermelon Jolly Ranchers (but don't think sweet), fresh blossoms and a hint of ginger, all backed by a stony mineral baseline. The palate is beautifully balanced and textural, with length and focus, laced with minerals. Drink now with spicy summery cuisine like cold Vietnamese noodles or goat cheese and fig."

Score

91

"A round and supple Grüner with an uncompromising lick of acidity that pulls the wine through on the medium-length finish. Expect lots of apple flavors allied with a pack of Parma violets and a squeeze of lemon. Fresh, zesty finish. One of New Zealand's more promising Grüners, making it a relatively rarity at the moment."

Score

90

"This is a lovely, dry example of Marlborough Pinot Gris without too much winemaking trickery. A delicately perfumed nose of honeysuckle, hibiscus and pear leads to a palate that is textural yet refreshing, expressing the variety's gentle floral and orchard fruit characters."

Score

90

Score

90

"This wine has a lovely, waxy, honeycomb quality about it, along with lime, florals, fresh endive and some salty, mineral nuances. The acidity is crisp and highlights the delicate fruit on the long finish. Perfect to bring on a summer picnic."

Score

93

"Forget flamboyant, uptight commercial Sauvignon Blanc, because this is not it. Instead, it’s a gentle, almost relaxed Sauvignon, perhaps because it's organically grown and partly wild-fermented, with 45% heading into neutral oak and spending five months on lees thereafter. Round and supple; a gentle brace of cool climate acidity provides shape and fine phenolic texture. Expect aromatic violet flavors, apple skin, a touch of savory lees and a subtle nutty flavor. At a perfect place in its evolution right now."

Score

93

"This organic white blend (a combo of Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer) is part of Huia's every day range, but it's every bit as good as many of its own label wines. It's pale lemon in hue, with a perfume of fresh peach, pineapple, orange, ginger and heady florals like jasmine and hibiscus billowing from the glass. Soft mineral nuances add complexity. The palate takes it up a notch: dry, textural, laced with bright, prickly acidity and a finish like candied ginger. Expressive of both place and varietals, all at a bargain price. "

Score

95

"This is a very attractive and gently complex pinot that sits in a red-cherry and red-plum zone, laced with spicy, gently herbal and floral elements, too. The palate has a very composed, fresh red-cherry center with spice and light peppery nuances. Plenty of bright acidity lifts the finish. So fresh. Drink or hold."

Score

94

"The 2017 Burn Cottage Vineyard Pinot Noir shows considerable intensity and length, but it starts off with charming floral notes, hints of thyme and cedar and lashings of black cherries. It's that elusive combination of concentration and complexity, wrapped in a silky coat of ripe tannins, that raises this wine to the next level. It should drink well for a decade or more."

Score

96

"This has very attractive, ripe red-cherry and plum aromas with spicy and sappy complexity, sitting in such a pure mode. The palate has a very composed and compact, layered feel with pristine blueberry, dark-cherry and plum flavors, delivered in an elegant, regal style. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold."

Score

94

"If you thought Central Otago was all about bright, fruit-driven Pinot, then get this in your glass. This biodynamic vineyard overlooking Cromwell has produced a mellow, savoury and nuanced expression with the most beautifully handled tannins of the vintage - they are mouthcoating yet provide structure in combination with the fresh acidity."

Score

91

"Delicate notes of sous-bois, beets, raspberries and cherries all emerge on the nose of the 2016 Moonlight Race Pinot Noir, which blends fruit from Burn Cottage's own estate vineyard with a couple of nearby sites. It's medium-bodied, silky and easy-drinking on the palate, with a soft tea-like, herbal note on the finish."

Score

90

"This medium-sweet NV Alpha Kaze No Mori Shiboribana Junmai Muroka Nama Genshu shows superb freshness with peach, orange and lychee scents. Lightly bubbly, it is spicy and a little bit aggressive on the palate. A very fresh and fruity Junmai!"

Score

92

"The 2018 St. Magdalener Classico is a blend of Schiava with a dollop of Lagrein. An earthy and spicy bouquet of musky blackberry, cherry, sage and white pepper wafts from the glass. There’s an angular feel to its textures, seeming to both soothe and tug at the senses with notes of sour raspberry and minerals, propelled by juicy acidity. The tactile finale promises years of evolution, as grippy tannins slowly emerge after each enjoyable tilt of the glass. Violet florals and a hint of graphite linger on. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then spends five months in large neutral oak casks from 15-45 hectoliters. It really is a beauty."

Score

90

"The Ansitz Waldgries 2018 Alto Adige Lagrein opens to an inky dark appearance, but it ultimately delivers a moderate mid-weight approach. That streamlined personality opens this wine up to easy food pairings with roast beef or a vegetarian lasagna. The bouquet is characterized by dark fruit and black plum, but there are hints of savory spice with mahogany, Indian cedar and charred meat."

Score

91

"The 2018 Lagrein is an understated, dark beauty of a wine. It takes a little time in the glass to show its best, but it then blossoms to reveal a hint of Christmas spice, giving way to black cherry, sweet mint, sage and stone dust. The textures are silky and soothing, coating all that they touch in a mix of red fruit with hints of blueberry and liquid violet florals. There doesn’t seem to be a single hard edge to be found here. Instead, the finale speaks to elegance, with a subtle twang of minerals and acid that perfectly frames the entire experience. Give this a year or two in the cellar, and then enjoy for up to a decade. The Ansitz Waldgries Lagrein sees twenty days of skin contact, after which it’s aged all in large barrels from 35-45 hectoliters in size."

Score

91

"There’s a richness to the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc that tempts the imagination, mixing grassy herbs with intense lemony citrus, but with a note of brown spice mixed with moist floral undergrowth that keeps me coming back to the glass. Its oily textures coat all that they touch in ripe fruit, yet they are quickly firmed up by strict acidity and salty minerals, creating a cheek-puckering tension. Nearly a minute later, I can still feel an aching sensation from its saline savoriness toward the back of the palate. This is a gorgeous expression of Sauvignon Blanc, and I believe the best is yet to come."

Score

92

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino takes a more poised, feminine and refined approach to the vintage. Sweet roses, wild strawberry, leather and peppery herbs create a remarkably pretty display. The textures here are velvety; yet energy remains high, casting polished red berry fruits over a core of zesty acids and spice, while fine tannins build toward the close. It’s long yet heroically structured, with inner florals slowly tapering off. The 2016 Voliero will require a good amount of time to come fully into focus."

Score

91

"This opens with intense aromas of rose, crushed mint and forest floor. Vibrant and full bodied, the palate shows sour cherry, cranberry and roasted coffee bean set against fine-grained, drying tannins. It closes on a salty note while fresh acidity keeps it and balanced. Drink 2023–2028."

Score

94

"Aromas of flowers, plums, cedar and violets follow through to a full body with firm, silky tannins that show plush fruit that’s pure and focused. Hints of orange peel, too. Fresh. Persistent at the end. Drink after 2023."

Score

94

"The Voliero 2016 Brunello di Montalcino opens to rich, fruity fiber with aromas of dark fruit, blackberry preserves, red brick and scorched earth. This is a saturated and accessible expression from Montalcino to enjoy in the near or medium-term with a nice steak and grilled porcino mushrooms. The grapes are fermented in steel with indigenous yeasts and aged in Slavonian oak. This is a 7,800-bottle production."

Score

94

"Here's a confident and genuine expression of Sangiovese that manages to be both accessible and complicated at the same time. Brunello is one of the few Italian wines to bridge the gap between those two extremes. The Voliero 2015 Brunello di Montalcino offers a steady stream of small berry fruit and cherry aromas. But there is width to this bouquet and deeper layers of spice, tar and licorice also play important roles. This Brunello ages in oak for 36 months in order to find harmony and balance. Some 7,866 bottles were made. Those bottles were filled in July 2019 and the wine hit the market in January 2020."

Score

92

"Here I'm finding a spicy display of Sangiovese fruit, as dusty dried florals give way to mineral-laced bright cherry, with hints of cedar, leather and white smoke. On the palate, soft textures wash across the senses, ushering in pure red berry fruits, as brisk acids firm up the experience, leaving saline-minerals and fine tannin in their wake. The finish is medium in length and a bit angular, resonating on savory spice with licorice, dried black cherries, inner florals, and a lingering twang of acid. The Voliero needs time to fully come together, yet it is likely to always remain a spicy, acid-driven effort."

Score

94

"Aromas of dried flowers and plums with hints of dust and tile. Orange peel, too. Full body, intense and powerful yet always reserved. Give it three or four years but this is already dynamic and fascinating."

Score

93

"Sporting beautiful brightness and liveliness, the 2013 Brunello di Montalcino offers blackberry and cherry nuances enhanced by spice, leather and elegant balsam herb. These various characteristics reach a soothing sense of balance and delicate harmony that reflects the best assets of this undertone vintage."

Score

93

"An alluring expression of soft cherry and raspberry fruit marks this sleek, focused red. Leather, earth and saline notes linger as this winds down, showing balance and length. Best from 2021 through 2033. 800 cases made, 400 cases imported."

Score

94

"Bright red with a pale rim. Knockout aromas and flavors of spicy red cherry, licorice, cedar and aromatic herbs. Clean, ripe and round, with saline nuances lingering nicely on the smooth but very lively finish. A classic Brunello from Voliero."

Score

92

"Red berries, dried herbs, cedar and spices. Medium-bodied with some good concentration for a Rosso and showing plenty of red berries to the core and tangy acidity to boot. Drink now."

Score

92

"The 2017 Rosso di Montalcino takes a bit of coaxing to come to life; but once it does, it more than makes up for the wait. Here I’m finding mineral-tinged blackberries and cherries, gaining lift, as dusty florals and a hint of spiced citrus come forward. It’s silky-smooth and pliant, showing the richness of the vintage, while coasting polished red/black fruits across a spine of energizing acidity, as the slightest hint of residual tannin frames the expression perfectly. Purple florals and licorice linger on the lightly structured finish, giving the impression that the 2017 has a number of years left to shine."

Score

91

"A fruity, plummy red with berry and cherry character and hints of chocolate. Medium body. Creamy tannins. Excellent value. Drink now."

Score

90

"The NV Prosecco Cuvee della Contessa Brut is very pretty with its display of sweet green melon and white smoke. It’s soft and pliant, with a stimulating mix of vibrant acids and minerals to balance, giving way to ripe apples and hints of spice. This cleans up beautifully, leaving the palate fully prepped for another satisfying sip."

Score

91+

"Inky-ruby. Aromas of blackberry, cola, chocolate syrup and anise, with a spicy topnote. Weighty, ripe dark berry flavors pick up a peppery note with aeration. Finishes creamy and quite long, with lingering cocoa and vanilla flavors and suave tannins. Hides its 14% alcohol well, but strikes me as being less refined than the 2014 Il Moro."

Score

91

"Extremely floral and plummy. Dark berries, too. Full-bodied with lots of fruit that has a slightly jammy undertone. Flavorful finish. Drink now."

Score

92+

"Deep red. Clean, savory and dense red fruit, herbs and earthy nuances, complicated by touches of cinnamon. Bright and fresh, with serious tannic backbone nicely supporting the rich and bright fruit flavors. This strikes me as having less Frappato than Nero d'Avola in the blend. Spicy licorice and underbrush echo on the long, zingy finish. A lovely wine of sneaky concentration and power."

Score

90

"Made with Nero d'Avola, this opens with aromas of ripe black-skinned berry, Mediterranean brush and cooking spice. The juicy palate offers blackberry jam, star anise and vanilla alongside velvety tannins and bright acidity. Drink through 2024."

Score

92

"The ripe-elderberry character on the nose is quite intense, but it incorporates some nicely dried herbs and spices. Medium to full body, chewy tannins and a crunchy, fruity finish. Drink now."

Score

92

"Bright medium-dark red; this is very pretty but lighter than usual in color for this wine. Spicy aromas and flavors of red cherry and minerals have remarkable inner-mouth perfume. Actually smells like a little Frappato found its way into the vats. Finishes long and spicy, with good juicy cut and pungent nuances. Really lovely."

Score

90

"A blend of 60% Nero d'Avola and 40% Frappato, this red offers aromas of graphite, Mediterranean scrub and eucalyptus. On the elegantly structured palate, lithe, fine-grained tannins accompany juicy Marasca cherry, star anise and a hint of coffee bean."

Score

92

"A very intense and complete Cersuolo with cherry, watermelon, elderberry, orange and floral character. It’s medium-bodied with density and lovely length. Drink now."

Score

91

"Aromas of bright berries and orange peel with some ash undertones. Medium-bodied, fresh and vibrant with a hot-stone and dried-cherry aftertaste. A blend of 60 per cent nero d’avola and 40 per cent frappato. Drink now."

Score

92

"Moderately saturated red. Musky, flinty aromas and flavors of red cherry, cherry skin, flowers and aromatic herbs; you can really smell and taste the Frappato. Rich and full, offering considerable minerality to its precise mouthfeel that finishes with round tannins, a hint of mint and very good length. A blend of 60% Nero d’Avola and 40% Frappato, but this utterly lovely, charming and very floral wine tastes like it has more than that."

Score

92

"A really delicious frappato with strawberry, cherry and lemon aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied with lovely density and freshness. From organically grown grapes. Drink now."

Score

94

"The 2016 Boca is a total stunner. Deep and fleshy in the glass, the 2016 is full of character. Ideally readers will be able to cellar it for a few years, as it is very young. Sweet tobacco, licorice, black cherry, plum and earthy notes develop with a bit of time in the glass. The 2016 is fabulous. There is just not much else to say. Well, except that it is also a remarkable value in ageworthy wine."

Score

92

"The 2016 Spanna Cuvée Bernardo Vallana is another fabulous wine from this historic estate. Bold and racy, the 2016 is all class. A rush of sweet red cherry, tobacco, mint, dried flowers and cedar hits the palate as this deep, beautifully proportioned Nebbiolo shows off its allure, which is considerable. Readers will have a very hard time finding a wine from any region that delivers this much pleasure and character for the money. The Bernardo Vallana Spanna has a bit more mid-palate richness than Colline Novaresi bottling. It is a jewel of a wine."

Score

91

"Uccelliera's 2017 Rapace is the most fruit-forward of the three vintages I tasted in this mini vertical (consisting of 2015, 2016 and 2017). This makes perfect sense given the scorching hot and dry conditions of this growing season. Rapace is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in French oak for 18 months. The wine delivers ripe and dark fruit, with a subtle dusting of crushed mineral that becomes more prominent as the wine takes on air in the glass. However, it is a bit thinner and shorter compared to the other vintages I tasted at the same time. Due to the difficulties of the vintage, production was reduced to 9,600 bottles. Those bottles were filled in July 2019 and were released in January 2020."

Score

91

"A fresh and clean red with cherry, strawberry and light vanilla character. Medium body. Crisp finish. Drink now."

Score

94

"The Uccelliera 2016 Rapace (a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon) shows a focused and chiseled personality that is very characteristic of this vintage. The wine's mineral side, with shadings of lead pencil and crushed stone, give sharp contours and delineation to the abundant black fruit packed tight at the core. The wine shows bright acidity with more than enough rich fruit to bolster that freshness. Some 11,300 bottles were produced, and this bottle was originally released to the market in January 2019. This is an outstanding value buy."

Score

96

"Dense aromas of ripe berries, dried cherries, spicy bark and hints of orange rind follow through to a medium to full body with fine, firm tannins that are coated with fresh, spicy and citrusy notes that linger long. Well balanced acidity provides even greater length. Best after 2023."

Score

97+

"The Uccelliera 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 9,600 bottles made) is a great achievement and is among my top favorite wines from Andrea Cortonesi tasted in the 20 or so years I have followed this estate. There is a lot of power here, thanks to that golden Castelnuovo dell'Abate sunshine, so I cannot liken this wine to some of the more ethereal and delicate expressions that I also love. Instead, this Riserva delivers brawn, dark fruit and muscle, but it does so with sincerity and honesty. You can't help but appreciate the complexity on offer. The wine offers plenty of dark fruit, but you also get licorice, balsam herb and crushed limestone. There is a lot of beauty to admire."

Score

92

"The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows the sun-kissed nature of the vintage in its bouquet, wafting up with masses of ripe cherry, strawberry and sweet spice. However, it takes on a much more austere character from there on out. It’s silky and refined, boasting wonderfully pure red berry fruits and pretty inner florals; yet it quickly firms up, flexing its structural muscle with cheek-puckering tension. Subtle hints of balsamic, cedar and wild herbs linger on the long and almost-chewy finale. While I love the 2015 Riserva for its upfront personality, the extended time spent in wood takes away some of the magic found in the straight Brunello. That said, give this a few years to unwind in the cellar, and enjoy it over the short term."

Score

96

"Some rather brash spicy oak aromas sit across ripe dark cherries and leafy nuances. The palate has a smooth and even-paced feel to it. Good depth of ripe dark cherry flavors. A really long and succulent finish. This has much to offer. Try from 2022."

Score

95

"The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark and brooding Sangiovese that flaunts its depth, sophistication and balanced weight. The fruit is thick and powerful, and the wine's textural richness is polished and beautiful. The wine goes through alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel and then ages in both small and large oak vessels for three years. Only 7,000 bottles were made."

Score

95

"Offers a balance of cherry and berry fruit, savory wild herb and balsamic notes and leather and tobacco details, all matched to a firm, harmonious structure. Juicy, building to a long, energetic finish. Best from 2021 through 2035. 600 cases made, 300 cases imported. "

Score

90+

"Good full red. Red cherry, violet and allspice on the nose. Aromas of blackberry syrup, balsamic oils, licorice and tar. Fat and ripe on entry, then tough and austere in the middle, showing tobacco and herb nuances and not much fruit in the mouth. The broad finish offers a noteworthy tannic spine and a restrained sweetness of fruit. A big, structured wine that will likely need more time, but this is tough going right now. 15% alcohol."

Score

97

"This is really beautiful with complex black cherry, berry, walnut and dark chocolate. Some mushroom and smoke. It’s tight and reserved with polished tannins and wonderful balance and finesse. Persistent and intense. Drink after 2025."

Score

96

"The Uccelliera 2016 Brunello di Montalcino opens to dark fruit and wild cherry with warmer tones of cured tobacco, spice and potting soil. It shows the extra density, darkness and richness that comes so beautifully to fruit grown on the sun-drenched southern side of Castelnuovo dell'Abate in the southern half of the appellation. What Uccelliera delivers so carefully, vintage after vintage, is a truly exceptional sense of mouthfeel with textural richness and lingering creaminess. It is also one of the wines that consistently shows a sense of place. This is a touchstone estate for this specific Montalcino microclimate. Production is 29,000 bottles."

Score

96+

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino blends richness, ripeness and refinement to create a model of total balance. At first, it’s dark, earthy and herbal; yet with time in the glass, a massive wave of black cherry, raspberry, sage and a grounding note of undergrowth comes forward. In the mouth, it coats all that it touches in silky, cool-toned textures, giving way to ripe red/black fruits complemented by spiced citrus, as nuances of lavender and tobacco form. While this feels round and pliant throughout, fine-grain tannins slowly saturate, sneaking up and reminding you of just how young the 2016 really is today. Hints of baker’s chocolate, licorice and a twang of tart blackberry resonate - wow, does it ever end?"

Score

90

"Forest-floor, leather, camphor and dried rose aromas mingle with a whiffs of vanilla and French oak. The brawny palate offers dried cherry, licorice and the heat of evident alcohol while firm, close-grained tannins leave a drying finish. "

Score

95

"Plenty of earth, tar, spices, dried cherries and red plums here. The tannins have a firm but generous quality to them, providing an abundance of structure to the full-bodied palate. I love the juxtaposition between ripe fruit and tightly webbed texture. Drink from 2023."

Score

97

"Andrea Cortonesi of Uccelliera shows real talent when it comes to highlighting vintage variation in his wines. His 2015 Brunello di Montalcino captures the exuberance and the ebullience of this sunny and warm growing season. However, the wine remains orderly, precise and very elegant nonetheless, with a pretty succession of aromas that play cautiously forward, building in intensity along the way. Dried currant and cherry cede to moist earth, rose petal and balsam herb. The wine's medium-weight body is supported by fresh acidity and well-managed tannins (with 36 months of oak aging). All of these moving pieces work in harmony. This Brunello was bottled in July 2019 and released in January 2020. Some 27,866 bottles were released."

Score

96

"The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino opens with an alluring bouquet that showcases dark red fruits, sweet florals, dusty earth and a hint of animal musk. On the palate, I find a soft, enveloping expression, displaying ripe red and black fruits, which seem to hover on the senses, as a mix of spices, saline-minerals and zesty acids saturate the senses. The finish is long, spicy, yet also wonderfully fresh, with hints of fine tannin gently tugging at the senses. The 2015 Uccelliera Brunello is already so easy to like, making good use of the sunny nature of the vintage, yet with all the raw ingredients for medium-term cellaring. Tasted twice with consistent results."

Score

92

"Aromas of pipe tobacco, underbrush, new leather and a whiff of cured meat come together on this. The taut palate is more restrained, with close-grained tannins offsetting raspberry, Marasca cherry, ground clove and a hint of game. A savory saline note marks the close. Drink 2023–2033. "

Score

94

"This is exotic yet chilled with a red fruit character overlaid with fresh flowers on the nose. Smoky. Medium to full body, firm yet lightly polished. Lovely fruit and subtly refined. Layered. Extremely fine and pretty. Better in 2019."

Score

94

"I never have enough praise for the excellent work achieved at Uccelliera. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino is another proud notch in Andrea Cortonesi's belt. This is a fine and elegant wine that wraps smoothly over the palate. It also has an immediate and accessible personality that means you don't need to wait too long to enjoy it. The wine is redolent of dark fruit, spice, balsam herb, licorice and pressed flowers. You get loads of variety character."

Score

92

"Dark red with a pale rim. Ripe red cherry, licorice, underbrush and a hint of game on the complex nose. Ripe but suave, offering nuances of aromatic herbs and tar that complement spicy red currant and blood orange flavors. Soft-textured and slightly marked by some alcohol-derived warmth (14.5%), this finishes long and ripe."

Score

93

"Luminous dark red. Lively aromas of redcurrant, red licorice, and mint, plus complicating nuances of balsamic oils and violet. Juicy, spicy flavors of red berries and cherries are very deep and pure. In a cooler, low-fat style than usual for this wine, with harmonious acidity nicely extending the flavors on the long juicy and perfumed back end. A declassified Brunello, this is a really outstanding Rosso di Montalcino."

Score

90

"Precise and fresh, driven by sweet red fruits with a mineral edge. Pretty wine, with a long and savoury finish."

Score

91

"A pretty Rosso di Montalcino that shows dark cherries, spices and dried herbs. Medium body, fine tannins and a bright finish. Drink now."

Score

91

"The 2017 Rosso di Montalcino is a simple and straightforward wine that goes into wood for six months and into bottle for another four months before it hits the market. You get great value with a wine like this, which offers pristine primary fruit followed by grilled herb and moist potting soil. In all, you get all the best qualities of stripped down Sangiovese produced in a warm vintage. However, don't underestimate the wine's structure, because you do feel those integrated tannins at the back. The fruit is cheerful and bright. Bottle production is 24,800 units strong."

Score

90

"The 2017 Rosso di Montalcino impresses with a display of blackberries, cherries and balsamic spices, all lifted up by mentholated herbal tones. It’s creamy in texture and medium in body yet contrasted by tart wild berries, minerals and brisk acids. This becomes almost salty through the finale, along with a subtle coating of fine tannins. The 2017 shows the intensity and warmth of the year, yet it finishes on balance. That said, drink this dark beast of a Rosso sooner rather than later."

Score

92

"The 2017 Vermentino offers lovely depth and fleshiness from start to finish. Dark cherry, rose petal, lavender, spice, licorice, sage and grilled herbs all take shape in the glass. The 2017 is very nicely done."

Score

90

"he 2019 Vermentino Fosso di Corsano is undertasted and super-precise. Lemon oil, white flowers, mint and bright acids give this energetic Vermentino tons of character. Vibrant and nicely textured, the 2019 possesses terrific balance and tons of sheer appeal."

Score

93+

"Bright red. Pungent flinty and floral nuances to the red cherry and raspberry jam aromas on the inviting nose. Enters rich, dense and almost sweet, with very precise sweet spice and red fruit flavors lingering nicely. An underlying green note remains in the background and adds complexity. Finishes with noteworthy but balanced tannic bite and plenty of freshness on the long juicy finish. A very complex wine with a beautiful nose; the tannins though are on the tough side as in many of these Terre Nere 2017 reds. A very good wine of noteworthy promise, my suggestion is to cellar this for another 4-6 years for full enjoyment."

Score

91

"This has a rather shy nose that eventually reveals whiffs of botanical herb, cedar and underbrush. Racy and rather lean, the focused palate shows dried cherry, coffee bean and clove alongside bright acidity. Close-grained tannins leave a drying finish."

Score

95

"Complex aromas of ripe berries with toffee, cedar and some floral undertones. Hot ash as well. The palate is full-bodied, but tight and linear with a chewy palate and lots of dried-peach and orange-peel undertones to the ripe fruit, but always linear and focused. Try after 2022."

Score

92+

"Bright red-ruby. Clean, very mineral and floral, with juicy red/black cherry aromas and flavors. A refined, mineral wine that is very well balanced and precise. This clocks in at 14.5% alcohol, but doesn’t taste warm at all. In fact, I like this wine’s austere, mineral-tinged, long finish. Will likely improve in the bottle."

Score

92

"Marco de Grazia first bought a tiny plot of vines in the Moganazzi contrade in 2007, dedicating its production to a charity project. He’s since expanded his holdings to nearly five acres, and this is the first release of some 3,000 bottles under the new label. A steeply terraced site with deep volcanic ash soils anchoring 80-year-old vines, Moganazzi produced a wine that feels more earthbound than some of Terre Nere’s more ethereal wines in the warm, dry 2017 growing season. With dense black-rock tannins and ripe and fleshy plum and black raspberry flavors, this ought to benefit from a year or two of cellaring before pairing with braised lamb shanks."

Score

93

"Aromas of blackberry, truffle, purple flowers and Mediterranean scrub shape the enticing nose along with whiffs of dark spice. Polished and bright, the elegantly structured palate features ripe raspberry, black cherry and licorice alongside refined tannins. It closes on a hint of espresso. Drink through 2028."

Score

95

"A tight, linear red, showing cherry, watermelon and orange-peel aromas with hints of violets. It’s medium-bodied with a solid center palate and a racy finish. Drink or hold."

Score

94

"Graphite, thyme, brambly berry and violet aromas waft out of the glass along with Mediterranean scrub. Boasting youthful tension, the chiseled palate delivers succulent Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and coffee bean set against elegant, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced while a hint of saline lingers on the close. Drink through 2033."

Score

96

"The purity of fruit and brightness is very impressive with blackberry, cherry and walnut undertones. It’s full, very tight and complete with really fine, polished tannins and a beautiful, long finish. Really balanced. Drink or hold."

Score

90+

"Deep red. Ripe red cherry and raspberry aromas are complicated by musk and earth tones. Then rich, ripe and increasingly tannic in the mouth, with a mouthcoating quality on the long but slightly drying finish. Showcases the rich, forward personality of Quadro delle Rose wines in most vintages, but this seems to have slightly tougher tannins than most I remember at a similar stage of development. Closes long and clean. Try cellaring this to allow the tannins to smoothen a bit."

Score

94

"Nerello mascalese culled from 40- to 80-year-old vines planted in shallow volcanic ash soils produced this sultry wine. Notes of chocolate and warm spices mingle with plum and black cherry flavors, the wine knit together by silky tannins. Those dusky fruit tones glow on the long finish, giving the wine plenty of early appeal."

Score

93

"Aromas of wild herb, violet, red berry and a hint of hazelnut come to the forefront. Taut and focused, the ethereally elegant palate offers red cherry, blood orange, star anise and a hint of espresso before a saline close. Fine-grained tannins and bright acidity provide graceful support. "

Score

96

"So floral and fresh with cherries, watermelon, apples, crushed stone and flowers on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm tannins and fresh, vivid acidity that takes you down the palate. Drinkable now, but better in 2023."

Score

93+

"Luminous crimson color. Offers minty red fruit and minerals on the captivating nose. Full, dense and rich, with multilayered flavors of red cherry, minerals, exotic spices and aromatic herbs. Finishes long with building mouthcoating tannins and with some alcohol-derived heat. The nose takes longer to open up than in the other 2017 Terre Nere wines, so decant an hour ahead (at least) prior to serving. Better still, cellar it for another five to six years for maximum enjoyment."

Score

94

"Fragrant and loaded with finesse, this opens with enticing aromas of Mediterranean brush, violet, crushed lemon thyme and star anise. On the savory, focused palate, notes of licorice, hazelnut and flinty mineral accent a juicy red berry core. Polished tannins and fresh acidity provide seamless support and balance. Drink 2021–2028."

Score

94

"Very complex aromas of dried berries and strawberries with orange peel, perfume and cherry. It’s full-to medium-bodied with a tight, linear palate and fine tannins, as well as zesty acidity. Give it time to open. Better after 2022."

Score

94

"Contrada San Lorenzo’s soils, like those of Calderara Sottana, derive from Etna’s Ellittico eruption center, but San Lorenzo’s are deeper and less rocky. Those deep soils presented problems in the rain-soaked 2018 growing season, but strict selection at harvest yielded a dark-fruited wine, its plum and black-cherry flavors tinged with notes of orange zest and girded by warm, tarry undertones."

Score

92

"Cedar, citrus and botanical herb aromas shape the alluring nose. On the elegantly structured palate, vibrant acidity frames golden apple, lemon drop candy and a hint of butterscotch. It closes on a slightly honeyed mineral note."

Score

93

"Marco de Grazia’s vintage notes indicate that from August to October of 2018, Mt. Etna received nearly 30 inches of rain, compared to an average of 20 to 24 inches expected in an entire year. This created a range of viticultural challenges, though fewer for the white varieties than for the reds. This pure carricante is culled from vines planted in 1915 and 1975 in Contrada Santo Spirito’s deep volcanic ash soils. The wine reflects the high-toned personality of the vintage, its flavors of crisp apple, pear and lemon cinched by brilliant acidity that cools the flavors through a long, smoky finish."

Score

94

"A dense, layered white with dried apple, cooled lemon and some mineral and stone undertones. It’s full and deep. Creamy, layered palate. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold."

Score

92

"Notes of tarragon and brown spice accent flavors of candied citron, apple and tangerine in this layered wine. The carricante was culled from vines planted up to 60 years ago in volcanic ash soils dotted with black pumice and solid volcanic rock. Vibrant acidity, a signature of the rain-soaked 2018 vintage, infuses the bold fruit tones and drives the flavors to an exciting, energetic finish."

Score

94

"The purity of fruit is so impressive here with black cherry and dried strawberry to the ash and black-tea undertones. It’s medium to full body with firm, tight tannins and a crisp finish. Floral and some citrus-zest highlights to this. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold."

Score

92

"Produced from a mix of young and old vines on Etna’s north slope, this wine unfolds with flavors of wild strawberry and blood orange accented by notes of crunchy herbs. High-toned and transparent, it gains depth with air, developing a dark current of smoke and tar that offers a superb introduction to Etna Rosso."

Score

93

"The 2011 Decima Aurea is surprisingly elegant and poised, especially considering the ripe vintage. A mix of savory exotic spice and white smoke gives way to ripe blackberry and plums and a refreshing hint of mint leaf. It’s silky and polished, gaining tactile grip as tart red and black berries mix with salty minerals, while tannins mount toward the close. The length here is admirable, and there’s beautiful symmetry as well, staining the palate in concentrated dark fruits while flexing its youthful structure. The 2011 needs a few more years to come into focus, but it should drink beautifully for a decade or more thereafter. This single-vineyard, varietal Merlot undergoes partial appassimento and is then refined in French oak for 14 months prior to bottling."

Score

92

"The 2010 Decima Aurea Merlot is absolutely gorgeous, presenting a deeply alluring display of crushed blueberries and blackberries complemented by mint leaf, candied ginger and hints of vanilla bean. Its textures are like pure silk, enlivened by bright acidity with a mix of tart fruit and spice coating all that it touches, while leaving a saturation of round tannin that frames the expression perfectly. This is pleasurable from start to finish, tapering off structured yet fresh, hints of licorice and violets lingering on. The Decima Aurea is produced through two separate harvests, the first at ideal ripeness and left to air-dry for one month, and the second harvest a few weeks later. The two harvests are macerated and fermented separately but then blended and matured for 14 months in barriques."

Score

97

Score

91

"The 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva opens to a dark garnet color with crimson background tones. This is a powerful, full-bodied red with aromas of sour cherry, red currant and dried cranberry. The blend is 75% Corvina, 15% Corvinone and 10% Rondinella, and this Riserva ages in large oak casks for four years. There is a sour note to this vintage that creates a sudden contrast to the background sweetness you usually get with Amarone, making it a good bet for Korean meat dishes or moo shu beef. Some 26,000 bottles were made, including magnums and other large formats."

Score

95

"The 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva manages to deliver all of the richness, opulence and dark intense fruit that you’d hope for, in an unbelievably vibrant and pretty expression. Blackberries, currants, cinnamon, clove, cedar and mocha create an initially intense burst of aromatics. Hints of stone dust and dried roses evolve in the glass, adding further depth yet also freshness over time. The textures here are elegance personified, as wave after wave of silken ripe red fruits and spices washes across the palate, all guided by juicy acids that create a pure and high-energy expression. Notions of tart cherry, licorice, bitters and baker’s chocolate linger for well over a minute. Amarone is often called a wine of meditation, and the 2013 fits that bill perfectly."

Score

93

"The 2017 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso is dark and rich in the glass, displaying crushed cherries contrasted but also complemented by sour citrus with hints of dark chocolate and clove. It’s soft and deeply textural, delivering masses of ripe red and black fruits that coat the entire palate, cleansed by brisk acids that leave nuances of sweet spice, licorice and bitter herbs toward the close. For all of its opulence and structure, this is remarkably fresh through the finale, not quite revealing all of its charms today. Coming from someone who is not often fully convinced by the Ripasso category, this is some pretty serious juice."

Score

90

"The 2018 Valpolicella Classico Superiore is wildly spicy with a sour citrus twang contrasting rich cherry-berry fruits. It’s a juicy, high-energy effort, with vibrant shades of red offset by tactile minerality and brisk acids. Long and full of character, this leans more toward blue and purple fruits throughout the finale. There's a lot of pleasure to be found in the 2018 Valpolicella from Tenuta Santa Maria, and it's a great value as well."

Score

94

"The Bertani family can trace its roots in Negrar, the heart of the Classico zone, back to the 15th century. Grapes are hand harvested; the wine spends 12 months in large oak casks so that classic red forest fruits and silky tannins can develop. On the nose, it has soft, ripe red fruits, while the well-balanced palate displays ripe plum and pomegranate and a hint of spice. Stunning juicy core, round tannins and an elegant finish."

Score

90

"Leather, leafy underbrush and violet aromas merge from the glass. The racy palate offers sour cherry, clove and orange zest alongside dusty tannins and firm acidity. Drink 2023–2030."

Score

93

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Soccorso from Tiezzi boasts an extroverted display of ripe blackberry complemented by notes of dried orange, minty herbs, tobacco and finally hints of mocha. It’s texturally deep and layered, ushering in wave after wave of ripe black cherries and plums contrasted by zesty acids and hints of sour citrus. Its tannins steadily build throughout the experience, sneaking up on you while drying out the 2016’s fruits and creating a clenching feel on the palate under an air of violet florals and hints of tobacco. It’s a dark, large-scaled and beastly expression of Brunello, but it is sure to have its fans."

Score

90

"The éminence grise of Montalcino with many vintages under his belt, Enzo Tiezzi, now over 70 years old, quietly stuck to traditional winemaking methods while tending his old bush-vine trained wines right underneath the town's medieval walls at 500m asl. Archaic in style and highly original, it shows a deep nose of tobacco leaf, cherry and damson. The mouthfilling ripe fruit is perfectly offset by tangy acidity and velvety tannins."

Score

91

"Aromas of violet, leather and forest floor take shape in the glass. The youthfully austere palate offers red cherry, orange zest and star anise alongside polished tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2023–2032. "

Score

92

"The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Soccorso Riserva perfectly marries the ripeness of the year to the dark and rich stylings of the estate. Notes of spice-cherries, sage, dried orange and mocha form an exotic and deeply alluring display. It’s soft, silky and pliant, boasting ripe dark red fruits supported by juicy acids, which give way to inner florals and hints of tobacco. Subtle tannins come forward on the finish, providing grip yet not overwhelming the expression, leaving a hint of licorice to linger. The 2015 is structured and balanced enough to cellar for a decade or more, but is also worth checking in on today."

Score

91

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Cerrino dazzles with a fruit-forward display of ripe cherries, blueberry and plum, complemented by confectioners’ spice and hints of sweet tobacco. It’s soft in texture but with a contrasting mix of tart berry fruits and zesty acids, which balance while also adding to the wine’s vibrant persona. Hints of grippy tannin linger under an air of inner florals. The bouquet of Poggio Cerrino leads you to believe this will be an extroverted expression of the vintage; it instead comes into focus nicely and is an excellent option for earlier drinking while waiting for the bigger wines of the year to mature."

Score

92

"Lively dark red. Expressive aromas of strawberry, iron and loam, lifted by a violet topnote. Juicy and brisk, with ripe harmonious acidity nicely framing the redcurrant, spice and herb flavors. This deep, precise Rosso finishes clean and persistent, with a saline note. A declassified Brunello made from roughly 45 year old vines, this is an excellent Rosso."

Score

91

"The 2017 Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Riserva Misco is wonderfully floral and honied with dusty yellow flowers, rich almond skins and sweet apples. It displays depths of oily-like textures contrasted by brisk acids, tart orchard fruits and hints of ginger. This tapers off understated and poised with a lasting twang of saline-minerality and hints of chamomile."

Score

91

"Spicy and full of unbridled energy, the 2019 Verdicchio dei Castello di Jesi Classico Superiore Misco wafts up with an inviting display of crushed green apples, candied ginger, incense, stone dust and almond paste. It’s a silky and medium-bodied effort that soothes all that it touches in ripe orchard fruits, but it then cleanses the palate with a blast of salty acids. Peppery florals and hints of lime linger, as the mouth waters for more. While the Misco is already firing on all cylinders, it wouldn’t hurt to lose a few bottles in the cellar for a year or two."

Score

90