Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “I loved the 2021 Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard, which has a vivid, perfumed, exotic bouquet of black raspberries, spring flowers, violets, graphite, and chalky minerality. I love its purity, and it’s medium-bodied, with an incredible sense of refinement and class and a great finish. Coming from a rocky hillside vineyard on the southern side of the Sta. Rita Hills, this incredible Pinot Noir will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise in cold cellars over the following decade or more.”

Vinous 97 Points: “A bright, nervy wine, the 2021 Pinot Noir Radian captures all the natural intensity of this site on the far edge of the Sta. Rita Hills. Bright acids and veins of minerality infuse the 2021 with tremendous character. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, crushed rocks, graphite, and dried herbs are some of the many notes that race across the palate. This just sizzles with energy. It’s a great example from the western edge of the appellation.”

Robert Parker 99 Points: “A blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Estate Cuvée is another outstanding wine from L’Aventure in the challenging 2020 vintage, offering singular concentration and elegance. Deep ruby-purple, it has a pure core of cassis and slowly unfolding accents of licorice, cured meats, tobacco leaves, cedar and truffle. Full-bodied, juicy and alluring, it floods the mouth with layers of blue fruit, floral perfume and spice. It is supported by powdery tannins and boasts a tremendously long, detailed finish.”

FMW 95 Points: “Dazzling black stone fruit and chocolate aromas jump out of the glass on impact.   This Bordeaux blend offers deep dark color, with intense aromatics and concentration. The fruit is 100%  sourced from the Hendry Estate in the Napa Valley.  This Cabernet-based blend is concentrated, powerful, yet silky smooth, with a lush and creamy texture on the mid-palate offering up cacao, blueberries, and anise flavors, and its loaded flavors show intense depth,  that leads to a long but silky finish with fine-grained tannins. This wine is drinking well now and should do so for a decade.

Robert Parker 93 Points (2019): “The 2019 Zinfandel Old Vines has a medium ruby-purple color and bright, inviting red and blueberry fruits laced with notes of apricot and dried flowers. Medium-bodied, the palate is silky, soft, super fresh, and approachable with an understated but pure fruit character. Lovely!”

Robert Parker 97 Points: “The 2021 Chardonnay H. Klopp Vineyard, from vines planted in classic Goldridge soils, is bursting with alluring, layered aromas: quince paste, honey, and white peach are complemented by accents of roasted almonds and graham cracker, and the palate matches that intensity with its highly concentrated, honeyed flavors. All that flavor is supported by a spine of vibrant acidity, and a touch of textural grip drives a very long finish. This is so delicious! 300 cases were made. “

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points: “A step up over the 2018, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is gorgeous juice, offering lots of cassis, tapenade, chocolaty oak, and spicy notes in a round, lush, sexy package. The tannins are first-rate, and this will last for 15 years. It’s well worth checking out.”

Vinous 97 Points: “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard is such a classic Howell Mountain wine. Scorched earth, leather, licorice, tobacco, licorice and gravel lend striking aromatic nuance to this virile, potent Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2018 is a real stunner. Its breadth, power and resonance are thrilling.”

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.”

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Vinous 95 Points: “The 2021 Chardonnay Rosemary’s Vineyard is a classic Brian Talley wine. Rich and creamy, with notable texture, the Rosemary’s is superb in 2021. There’s a bit more oak here than in the other Chardonnays, but the wine has the depth to balance things out. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, and a kiss of new French oak build as this resonant, expressive Chardonnay shows off its considerable charms.”

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.”

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.”

Wine Enthusiast 97 Points: “Hedonistic and yet intellectual, this bold and brooding bottling manages to remain joyous. Aromas of muddled black cherry, sage, bay leaf, and turned loam lead into a hearty palate loaded with boysenberry, crushed oregano and lemon peel. The acidity never stops on the compellingly complex finish”

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points: “My favorite of the Pinot Noir releases, the 2021 Pinot Noir Garys’ Vineyard comes from a terrific vineyard in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Mostly destemmed (10% whole clusters) and aged 11 months in 55% new French oak, it offers a gorgeous perfume of black raspberries, mulberries, spicy herbs, underbrush, and sandalwood that develops beautifully with time in the glass. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated Pinot Noir with ripe, polished tannins, terrific balance, and outstanding length. It’s another stunning wine from this team.”

FMW 97 Points: The 2021 Hudson Estate Chardonnay is a lush, deep, and concentrated youngster that wows you from the start. The wine’s bold aromas jump out of the glass. On the palate, you’ll encounter lush viscosity and tantalizing richness. The wine is loaded with bold flavors of lemon confit, marzipan, fresh-cut flowers, chamomile, and almonds.  This  Chardonnay is very statuesque and over-delivers from start to finish.

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.”

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.”