Bibiana González Rave is the founder and winemaker of Cattleya Wines and Shared Notes which she makes with another star winemaker and husband Jeff Pisoni.  Born and raised in Colombia and trained as a winemaker in France, she moved to California in 2007 to settle into making extraordinary wines.  In her words: “Since my early teenage years, my dream has been to make wine. At a very young age I was fortunate enough to begin learning how to make wine in France. I trained myself while working with some amazing winemakers who showed me the importance of loving the land, how to respect the farming itself, and to focus on the many details that go into making each drop of wine in each and every bottle.” 

Vinous 96 Points: “The 2021 Syrah The Initiation is fabulous. Rich, inky, and explosive, the 2021 races across the palate, offering an exotic concoction of blackberry, espresso, menthol, lavender, licorice, and baking spice. The Initiation is a full-bodied, inky wine, yet it also offers impeccable balance, with no hard edges and tons of sheer allure. Impressive.”

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points: “The 2021 Syrah The Initiation is a nearly opaque ruby into purple, with oils of black pepper, black olive, and preserved plum. Full-bodied, it’s lush with freshness and a velvety texture, revealing sweet tannins as well as notes of tea leaf and blackberry. It’s a beautiful and opulent wine to drink 2025-2040.”

Tasting Notes: “The wine offers up an amazing bouquet of exotic fruit that jumps out of the glass. The color is bold and intense and the flavors on the palate just reflect the same – intense black stone fruit, a touch of floral quality, and a hint of meaty bacon fat.  Densely concentrated, yet incredibly elegant at the same time.  The flavors go on and on into a gorgeously long finish with silky tannins!  “

Also, check out:

Alma de Cattleya 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County 94+ Points

Cattleya 2021 Chardonnay “Beyond the Threshold” Sonoma Coast 98 Points

Cattleya 2021 Pinot Noir “Belly of the Whale” Sonoma Coast 96 Points

Cattleya 2021 Pinot Noir Cuvee # Eight Sonoma Coast 95 Points – Inaugural Release

Cattleya 2021 Pinot Noir Cuvee Number One, Russian River Valley

Shared Notes 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Les Pierres qui Décident, Russian River Valley

Shared Notes 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Les Leçons des Maîtres, Russian River Valley