Robert Parker 100 Points: “Tasted blind, in a lineup that included vintages back to 2010, a barrel sample of Spottswoode’s 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon stood out as being one of the most exciting efforts. Full-bodied, ripe, and rich without being overbearing, it delivers concentrated black cherry and cassis fruit framed by supple, velvety-textured tannins. It’s long on the finish, with an attractively soft, dusty-loamy texture and no overt signs of a fire-troubled Napa vintage.”

Robert Parker 95 Points: “Disgorged with two grams per liter dosage, Billecart-Salmon’s 2009 Extra Brut Vintage is more giving and demonstrative than its 2008 counterpart, offering up inviting aromas of crisp stone fruit, yellow apple, brioche, honeycomb, and warm pastry. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with a pillowy mousse and a generous core of fruit girdled by bright acids, it’s seamless and complete. Indeed, such is its charm and persistence that I tend to prefer it, at least for now, to the 2008.”

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points: “Another release from Oakville, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard is almost all Cabernet (there’s 1% Petit Verdot) and comes from a single, rocky parcel in the vineyard. It has incredible purity in its cassis, spring flower, spicy oak, graphite, and subtle iron aromas and flavors. A singular wine in the lineup with its pure, focused, balanced, almost old school style, this medium to full-bodied, incredibly impressive 2019 has solid mid-palate density, ripe, velvety tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It’s the purity of fruit, balance, and quality of the tannins that set this beauty apart. Hide bottles for 3-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades. “

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points: “A blockbuster of a Sauvignon Blanc, Bevan’s 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Dry Stack Vineyard comes from an Italian clone planted in gravelly soil in the Bennett Valley and is raised, I believe, in the barrel. Bottled unfiltered so it has a touch of haziness in its gold hue, it offers a heavenly bouquet of caramelized lemon zest, mint, orange blossom, honeyed flowers, and brioche. Rich, full-bodied, and opulent, it has incredible concentration, a layered, pure mouthfeel, good freshness, and a finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It’s not for those craving lightweight aromas and flavors and has the weight and richness of a great Chardonnay. Drink this beauty over the coming 2-3 years.”

Vinous 97+ Points: The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is super-elegant and refined, but also somewhat closed following its bottling, which is not uncommon for mountain wines. That period of stubbornness seems to be part of the evolution here, as the wine tends to only blossom after a few years. Today, the 2019 is marked by its brilliant upper register, striking balance and vibrancy. It is another compelling wine from Cornell.”

Jeb Dunnuck 96+ points:  “The 2021 Pinot Noir comes entirely from the Pisoni Vineyard in the southern portion of the Santa Lucia Highlands. It was only partially destemmed and was raised in 68% new French oak. It’s a truly gorgeous effort offering serious aromatics of cassis, darker raspberries, spicy oak, graphite, and crushed stone. Incredibly pure, vibrant, and precise aromatically, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a stacked mid-palate, lots of building tannins, and a great finish. This concentrated, focused, age-worthy beauty needs at least 2-3 years to integrate its structure and tannins and will evolve brilliantly over the following decade. Bravo!

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “The 2022 Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard is also off-the-hook good and shows the talent of this winemaker with reds as well as whites. Black raspberries, crushed stone, pressed flowers, and some background black tea notes all define the aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Coming all from the Radian Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, all destemmed, and aged 12 months in 18% new oak, it’s going to deliver the goods for 7-8 years at a minimum.”

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “A 60/40 split of Syrah and Grenache that comes from the Bien Nacido and Larner vineyards, the 2021 Letters to Europe offers up a rocking bouquet blackberries, ground pepper, spring flowers, and leather that needs air to show at its best. This spicy, complex, medium to full-bodied effort has terrific intensity, a stacked mid-palate, and ripe tannins that carry through the finish. It’s a head-turning beauty, that’s for sure.”

James Suckling 98  Points: “Spices and dried strawberries with stone and mineral aromas as well as sandalwood and oyster shell. Some orange peel and lavender. Full-bodied with layers of very fine tannins that have a firm and direct nature. It goes on for minutes. So structured with tannins that spread across the palate. Needs time to soften and open. Try after 2028.”

James Suckling 95 Points: “A structured and layered white with apple, light honey and acacia aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Creamy mouthfeel. Phenolic texture that runs through the wine. Flavorful yet subtle finish. Touch of flint and cedar. Drink or hold.”

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points: “Next up, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville is a slightly broader, more expansive wine with textbook notes of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, Asian spices, loamy soil, camphor, and chocolate. Offering full-bodied richness, a beautiful weightlessness on the palate, and building tannins, this is another gorgeous, seamless, singular wine from this estate that will benefit from short-term cellaring and evolve for 20-25 years or more.”

Jeb Dunnuck 98+ Points: “In contrast, the 2021 Syrah Il Padrino Bien Nacido Vineyard is more masculine and feral, with ripe black fruits, cracked black pepper, leather, iron, and spring flowers, and a certain bloody character developing with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, it has a similar level of polish but is a touch more concentrated and lengthy on the palate, with ripe, building tannins and awesome length. Drink this spectacular Syrah over the coming 10-12 years.”

94 Points WE “Editor’s Choice”: “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.”

TWI 98-100 Points: ““This note is written before the final blend of the 2021 Continuum. Deep purple-black in color, it hits the ground running with an intense nose of red and black currant preserves, lilacs, baker’s chocolate, and graphite, leading to an undercurrent of black olives and red loam. On the medium to full-bodied palate it is very lively, grainy and super-concentrated, finishing long and shimmery.”

James Suckling 96 Points: “Aromas of hibiscus, lemon, iron and strawberry follow through to a medium to full body with very fine tannins that melt into the wine. Lovely freshness. Succulent and juicy. Drink now or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points: “The Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard was 80% destemmed, which is a lot of stems by this estate’s standards, and spent 16 months in 40% new barrels. It’s another exotic, complex, incredibly satisfying Pinot Noir in the lineup that offers ripe red and black fruits, black tea, orange blossom, and spice-laced aromas and flavors. I love its texture, and it has terrific mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and a great, great finish.