Wine-Of-The-Year 2024

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.” 

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “The 2022 Syrah The Initiation is compelling on the nose, lifting with notes of dark wet stones as well as blackberries, pepper oils, lavender, and black olives, all so well intertwined. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a silky texture, with sweet tannins (although it’s fully dry), and has a precise feel, with delicate, mouthwatering saline and fresh acidity. Drink it over the next 10 -12 years.

TWI 97 Points: “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 The Initiation Syrah prances out with perfumed notes of roses, Indian spices, and kirsch giving way to a core of plum preserves and juicy blueberries plus wafts of tar and pepper. The full-bodied palate is rich and impactful, with fresh, crunchy black fruits and floral accents supported by firm, rounded tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and fragrant.”

Bibiana’s Notes: “Inky purple at its rim with a brooding near black core, this wine reveals itself with notes of fresh blueberries, cassis, violets, and garrigue that gain in volume and concentration as the minutes pass. With time, brambly dark berries, dark chocolate, licorice, graphite, and a hint of thyme and black sage open up and add to the complexity of this elegant expression of Syrah. The youthful acidity, density, and formidable structure suggest this wine will only improve as the years pass. “

Make sure to check out these other Bibiana-made wines: