TWI 97 Points: “The 2021 Chardonnay Bacigalupi Vineyard gives up delicate scents of yuzu, lime blossoms, and crushed rocks, leading to a vibrant core of Golden Delicious apples and fresh pears with a waft of toasted almond. The medium-bodied palate is lively and profound, with tight-knit citrus and apple flavors, finishing long with a spicy kick.”

Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points: “A bigger, richer, more structured wine, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder Estate Vineyard has brilliant black fruits, tobacco, iron, and subtle smoke-like nuances in a full-bodied, concentrated, layered package. This is pure Mountain Cabernet genius, and while it’s far from unapproachable today, it will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age. It’s up with the crème de la crème of the vintage and should be snatched up by readers.”

FMW 97 Points: This 100% Estate-grown Cabernet (96.3% CS and 3.7% PV), offers up an amazing bouquet of classic dark Cabernet fruit that jumps out of the glass upon impact.  This 2019 youngster is lush, full in bodied and surprisingly well-balanced.  The wine is multi-layered loaded with gorgeous black currant, dark chocolate, a whiff of anise, cassis and a touch of spice on the opulent palate.  Extremely well-balanced and in-sync wine that will please the big Cab lover.  This is a killer wine, but unfortunately a very limited production.

James Suckling 95 Points: “A wine with a lot of back end, with dark fruits of blackberry and cherry. Ripe strawberry. Hints of toasted oak and smoke. It’s full and layered with very firm and polished tannins. Very serious and real, and shows the structure of the vintage. Some chocolate. Strawberry pie, too. Drinkable but two to three years of age will help it”

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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 95 Points: “The 2018 Bossman is also Syrah-dominated (70%) yet is a more eclectic blend that includes 10% each of Viognier, Grenache, and Cabernet Franc. It saw roughly 30% stems and the standard, longer élevage favored by Matthias, spending 25 months in 35% new barrels. I love the purity of fruit here, and it has a perfumed bouquet of blueberries, cherries, violets, and ground pepper as well as this Côte Rôtie-like sense of minerality. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and layered, it has the class to drink well today yet also evolve for 10-15 years. It’s a stunning Santa Ynez Syrah blend.”

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “Hailing from Oakville, the 2019 Au Paradis is nuanced, with ripe redcurrant, fresh tobacco, and sweet baking spice. The palate is fully dry and has lift through its dark fruited profile. The midpalate is flush with roses and ripe red plum, giving way to a well-balanced, tannic structure. Drink 2024-2044.”

Vinous 96 points: “The 2019 Phoenix is a blend of 64% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Cabernet Franc. It offers up soaring aromatics and pliant red-toned fruit, all in a mid-weight style that is hugely appealing. This beautifully balanced wine from Lee Hudson and his team is an absolute winner.”

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.

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “Another Sta. Rita Hills release, the 2021 Pinot Noir Atticus John-Sebastiano Vineyard was destemmed and spent 16 months in 66% new French oak. It reveals a translucent ruby hue followed by an awesome bouquet of redcurrants, framboise, dried rose petals, and savory herbs. Medium-bodied, balanced, and elegant, it has incredible tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. Give bottles a year or two and enjoy over the following decade.”

Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points: “Moving to the Grand Vin 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, red wine simply doesn’t get any better, and I never cease to be amazed at what winemaker Celia Welch accomplishes with this incredible terroir. Deep ruby/plum-hued, with a kaleidoscope-like array of cr me de cassis, jammy blackberries, spicy oak, graphite, and smoked tobacco, with a kiss of background chocolaty nuances, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a multi-dimensional, layered mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a flawlessly layered, concentrated, balanced profile that has to be tasted to be believed. Given its wealth of fruit and texture, as well as purity and balance, it already offers pleasure, yet smart money will give bottles 4-6 years in the cellar, count themselves lucky, and enjoy bottles over the following two decades.”

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points: “The 2019 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.”

Robert Parker 94 Points: “Medium ruby, the 2019 Zinfandel Lolita Ranch is delicate and pretty this vintage, with scents of raspberry jam, apricots, citrus peel, and floral perfume. The palate is light-bodied, soft, bright, and approachable, with floral character lingering on the finish. This Lolita Zin is perfect for shorter-term drinking, and I’d be tempted to have it without food for its particular delicacy and nuance. 222 cases produced.”