Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “Offering gorgeous ripe cherries, blueberries, black peppercorns, and sappy flowers, as well as just a touch of gamey, bacon-like nuances, the 2021 Syrah Cinematique Larner Vineyard hits the palate with medium to full body, a soft, seamless texture, and ultra-fine tannins. As usual, it’s a more approachable, polished Syrah compared to the Bien Nacido release. Drink bottles any time over the coming decade.”

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “The 2019 Red Wine Larner Vineyard is a blend of 87% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and a splash of Viognier. It offers a deep purple hue to go with a totally brilliant nose of ripe blackberries, blueberries, ground pepper, game, and violets. Pure class on the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, has a seamless, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. Spectacular juice, it should evolve for a decade.”

Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points: “Another masterpiece from the talents of Celia Welch, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain comes from a site on Howell Mountain and spent 20 months in new French oak. It’s a full-bodied, concentrated, powerful Mountain Cabernet revealing ample smoked black fruits, notes of graphite, tobacco, spicy wood, and bouquet garni, a dense, layered mid-palate, building tannins, and a gorgeous overall profile that will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age. It will unquestionably have two decades or more of prime drinking.”

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Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points: “Lastly, the 2021 The Bard checks in as 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. This beauty has a killer bouquet of cassis, spring flowers, graphite, chalky minerality, and violets. This carries to a full-bodied, seamless, silky, flawlessly balanced effort revealing fine tannins, a good sense of freshness, and a thrilling finish.”

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “A serious looking barrel sample, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard reveals a dense purple color to go with rocking notes of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, damp earth, and chocolate. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has great tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and the class to evolve for 20 years or more..”

TWI 97 Points: “The 2021 Chardonnay AK Cuvee needs a shake or two to cause an eruption of nectarines, yellow apples, and Bosc pears with underlying hints of kumquat, lime leaves, and almond croissant. The medium to full-bodied palate is profound, savory, and beautifully poised, with a satiny texture and long, savory finish.”

96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: Coming from Red Mountain and 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Cabernet Franc brought up in 80% new French oak, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Curiositas offers more red and black fruits to go with classic Red Mountain minerality, notes of graphite and tobacco, full-bodied richness, and building, firm, yet ripe tannins. It’s going to need 3-5 years of bottle age, but it’s a classic expression of this terroir.