"As traditional as it gets, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon was kept in the winery until Patti thought the wine was ready to drink. He's in search of an elegant, classical and polished wine that still keeps the varietal character but does not show the effect of the wood. The color, aromas and flavors are quite developed, nuanced and polished, with complexity and detail. It does have the herbal and spicy character of the grape (all the textbook descriptors are there: tobacco, forest floor, something herbal) and the warmth of the vintage and the place. It's harmonious, with moderate alcohol and good freshness. It's just delicious, like a trip to the past. It was bottled in September 2013. 27,000 bottles produced."

"The 2015 Malbec is a classic from Perdriel in Luján de Cuyo, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in a combination of concrete vats and used oak barrels. 2015 was a slightly warmer vintage than 2014, and the wine shows round, with juicy fruit and still primary flavors of ripe berries and faint spices. The palate is sleek and lush, soft and caressing, easy to drink. 12,960 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2016."

"A lovely blueberry and morello cherry nose. Ripe with generous, supple tannins and a long, rather complex finish that has some mineral character. Drink or hold."

"For this humble grape, this is a wine with an astonishing amount of wild berries, underlined very nicely by some sappy tannins. Ideal for anything served with tomato sauce. Drink now."

"This is very floral and inviting on the nose with notes of rosemary, violets, lavender, citrus, orange peel and boysenberries, as well as lots of spicy undertones. Full-bodied and really seductive with tightly-wound, grainy tannins, vibrant acidity and a long, succulent finish. Drink in 2021."

James Suckling

“Blueberry tart, citrus, vanilla, spices and some nice blackcurrants and morello cherries. Tight with fresh acidity and a fruity finish. Drink now.”`

James Suckling

"Attractive violet flowers and cassis with blueberries, as well. This has a succulent palate that carries fresh cassis and mulberries long."

James Suckling

"A relatively intense nose with aromas of plums, kirsch and violets. Full-bodied and intense with a mix of black and blue fruit and soft-tannin structure. Long and warming finish. Drink now. Screw cap."

James Suckling

"A bright and juicy array of mulberries and red plums are delivered in a smooth, silky and juicy style with pithy, fresh tannins to close. Drink or hold."

Wine Enthusiast

"Dark, inky aromas of blackberry, graphite and mocha get things going. This Malbec is full, thick and resiny in feel, with overt oak. Flavors of chocolaty oak, mocha and berry fruits finish round and beefy."

James Suckling

"Attractive red berries and a wealth of gently chalky, stony elements on offer here. The palate has a very rich, red-fruit core with ripe dark plums and blackberries, set in nutty, ripe tannins. Drink in the next five years."

Wine Enthusiast

"Deep, ripe balsamic blackberry aromas include spice notes and vanilla. As might be expected from that nose, this Malbec-Cab Sauvignon blend is saturated and extracted, to the borderline of syrupy. Toasty blackberry and cassis flavors are chocolaty through a smooth finish with modest tannins. Drink through 2023."

Wine Enthusiast

"Made by acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaetzer for the Hammerschlag family, this wine is aged in neutral oak, which emphasizes the bright fruit. It's purple, plummy and plush, with floral nuances and a savory and graphite backbone. Without the oak influence, the acidity shines bright, crunching and crackling among briary fruit, black olives, fine tannins and a stony minerality. Proof that power and drinkability can play in the same park together."

James Suckling

"A brambly and gently earthy array of mostly red-toned fruit with some tar and spice. The palate has very easygoing, pastry-like tannins that hold long, fruit flavors. A blend of 50% grenache, 25% shiraz and 25% mataro."

"Rich loam, cedar and blackcurrants mingle on the nose of the 2016 Blacksmith Cabernet Sauvignon. Showing excellent ripeness and depth, it's a medium to full-bodied wine, generous in dark fruit and supported by vanilla shadings, finishing with grainy tannins and ample length."

Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa "Blacksmith"

James Suckling

"Ripe blackcurrants, some leafy notes and plenty of spiced chocolate, leading to a very rich and juicy palate that is made to drink now."

James Suckling

"This ancient parcel of shiraz has delivered an exceptional wine in 2016 with immensely ripe blackberry, dark-plum, fresh-earth and spiced-chocolate notes. The palate has impressive depth and poise with a really effortless delivery of rich, plush blackberries that hold an exceptionally long and regal finish. Dangerously approachable now, but much more to come for those who wait."

Shiraz/Viognier Barossa "Hangin' Snakes"

James Suckling

"A very plump, fleshy and supple style with a bright, round core of red fruit that sits in very approachable mode. A blend of 96% shiraz and 4% viognier."

James Suckling

"A fresh and lively chardonnay with green-apple and lemon aromas and flavors. Medium body. Crisp finish. Creamy texture."

James Suckling

"There’s a touch of barnyard on the nose, and this needs a little bit of time to open up to show strawberries and red cherries. Medium body, fine tannins and a pretty finish."

James Suckling

"A beautiful and enticing shiraz that shows blueberry compote, dried meat, balsamic and tar. Medium body, structured tannins and a juicy finish."

Wine Enthusiast

"This wine is rustic and just a touch funky. Bright, crunchy red fruit, minerals and earth are bolstered by raspy, savory tannins and lively acidity. Somewhere between light and medium bodied, this is a restrained yet juicy-fruited table wine that's a joy to drink."

"The 2016 Cherry Fields Dolcetto, from the Polish Hill subregion of Clare, features black cherries, plums and faint cocoa notes. It's the biggest of the Unico Zelo wines at 13.8% alcohol, making it medium to full-bodied. The tannins are supple, giving the palate a velvety feel, while hints of bitter almond emerge on the finish."

"The medium to full-bodied 2017 Cherry Fields Dolcetto packs in plenty of black cherries, plum and cocoa flavors. Remarkably consistent with the 2016 version, this one does seem a bit smoother and silkier, with brighter, bolder fruit and a crisp edge to the finish. Both are fun, juicy wines to enjoy in their youth."

"The fruit-driven 2017 Jade & Jasper Fiano is best consumed in the next year or so. Lime, guava, pineapple and melon notes all come together on the nose and palate. It's medium to full-bodied and plump, with a slightly creamy texture. While relatively low in acidity, it's easy-drinking and flavorful."

92 (Editors' Choice)

Wine Enthusiast

"This natural-leaning producer delivers once again, this time with a Sicilian variety from the up-and-coming Riverland region. This wine offers cran-raspberry fruit, drying leaves, earth, meat and drying herbs on the nose. The light- to medium-bodied palate brings more cranberry tang, with savory, sinewy tannins and an earthy core. This is a textural wine perfect for charcuterie or roast meats."

"A 70-30 blend, the 2017 Truffle Hound Barbera-Nebbiolo starts off bright, cherry-scented and floral. It's light to medium-bodied, with tart, fresh, zippy fruit and herbal/savory undertones. The tannins are hardly noticeable, making this another candidate for early drinking."

"The 2016 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard is bright, focused and wonderfully nuanced. This is such a fabulous expression of Bien Nacido. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint and white pepper are all beautifully delineated in a striking, translucent Chardonnay that is in a great spot for current drinking. Bright saline notes add energy throughout. This is such a classy wine."

"The 2017 Chardonnay Los Alamos Vineyard is a very pretty, open-knit wine that will drink well upon release. The Los Alamos is not quite as complex or dynamic as the very finest Chardonnays in this range, but it more than makes up for that with its soft curves and open-knit, welcoming personality. Baked apple, lemon confit, spice and a touch of vanillin grace this creamy, alluring Chardonnay."

91 "Best Buy"

"Swirling with savory aromas, this wine smells of sea wrack and a bit of sweat, to go along with light pomegranate flavors. It's lean and mildly smoky, the savory elements girded by fine-grain tannins. it took days to unfurl and has the stuffing to age."

"The 2016 Chardonnay Nuits-Blanches au Bouge comes from vines planted in 1972 in the Bien Nacido vineyard and spent two years in new wood. It has a soft nose with notes of toast, white peach, quince, Bosc pear, crushed shell and hints of white blossoms and raw almonds. Medium to full-bodied, it features concentrated fruits in the mouth with nutty notions, juicy acidity and a long finish."

"The 2016 Chardonnay Nuits-Blanches au Bouge, a barrel selection from Bien Nacido and Le Bon Climat, is rich, textured and yet also striking for its detail. Lemon confit, pineapple, mint and new oak all resonate in this super-classic Santa Maria Chardonnay. Sumptuous and rich, with tremendous balance, the 2016 Nuits-Blanches is positively stellar. This is a relatively rich style, with tropical tones and a good deal of barrel character from the two years the wine spent in 100% new oak, and yet the wine retains terrific energy. The 2016 is a super-classic Au Bon Climate Chardonnay."

"As to the 2016 Chardonnay Nuits-Blanches Au Bouge, it's all Chardonnay that was barrel fermented and aged 20 months in new François Frères barrels. This brilliant Chardonnay has fabulous notes of crushed citrus, sautéed orchard fruits, brioche, honeysuckle, and white flowers. Beautifully rich, medium-bodied, vibrant, and pure, it has integrated acidity and a great finish. Reminding me of a great White Burgundy, it should evolve nicely for upwards of two decades."

Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard

"The 2017 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is ample, creamy and super-expressive, with terrific textural nuance and tons of class. Clean mineral, saline notes frame a core of ripe pear, jasmine and mint in a wine that deliver superb quality for the money. The delineation and sheer classiness of the 2017 is impossible to miss, as are the soft curves that give it so much allure."

Chardonnay Santa Maria Valle Nuits-Blanches au Bouge

"Powerful, with concentrated quince, pear tart and apple pastry flavors that are supported by fresh acidity. The richly spiced and cream-filled finish lingers with hints of dried green herbs."

Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Barbara Historic Vineyards Collection

"Features good cut to the well-framed blend of concentrated white fruit and citrus flavors that turn rich and creamy midpalate. Dried pineapple and spice notes show on the plush finish."

"A blend of 50% Pinot Gris, 40% Pinot Blanc and 10% Aligote, the 2017 Hildegard has a fresh nose of quince, white blossoms, hay bale and soft nutty scents plus sliced green pear and baker's yeast. Medium-bodied, it has a good core of fruits and is broad and textured, finishing long."

"The 2017 Hildegard Estate White, Jim Clendenen's Pinot Gris/Pinot Blanc/Aligote field blend, is impeccable in its balance. Tropical notes and a kiss of new French oak add an exotic flair to Pinot Gris/Blanc orchard fruit, lemon confit and floral notes. The 100% new oak is beautifully integrated, but it is the wine's overall balance that really stands out. In 2017, the Hildegard is naturally a bit richer than it usually is, and yet all the elements are very nicely woven together. It remains one of the most unique and compelling wines of Santa Barbara."

"The 2017 Hildegard checks in as a barrel-fermented blend of 50% Pinot Gris, 40% Pinot Blanc, and 10% Aligote that was aged 18 months in new French oak. If reveals a light gold color as well as a terrific bouquet of orchard fruits, toasted bread, spice, honeysuckle, and flowers. With good richness, medium-body, and terrific balance, it has bright acidity yet still comes across as rich and textured. Blind I'd have guessed Sonoma Coast Chardonnay."

"Refined and elegant, with sandalwood notes to the cherry, dried berry and plum flavors. Cedar and spice accents fill the long, luxurious finish, caressing the palate with silky tannins."

94 Cellar Selection

Wine Enthusiast

"Concentrated aromas of mulberry, exotic red cherry, crushed rose petals, crushed slate, tarragon and sandalwood make for a stunning entry to this always epic bottling by Jim Clendenen. Clean flavors of raspberry and red currant are lifted by dried herbs and tea spice on the palate, which is drinking great but will also age for eons. Drink now–2035."

"Offers a crystalline structure, with powerful flavors of dried cherry and raspberry tart, backed by crunchy acidity. Intense minerality emerges midpalate, leading to a finish filled with baking spice notes and hints of cream. Drink now through 2024."

"The pale to medium ruby colored 2016 Pinot Noir Isabelle gives up very spicy aromas of dried cranberry, dried red cherries, amaro and citrus peel with old leather, dusty earth, woodsmoke, cola and wild blackberries. It's light to medium-bodied with intense, earthy fruits, a firm frame of grainy tannins and integrated freshness, finishing long."

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Isabelle is essentially a barrel selection from Au Bon Climat. Racy, perfumed and beautifully layered, the 2016 caresses the palate with stunning depth. Orange peel, tobacco, blood orange, spice, star anise and new oak add shades of exoticism throughout. A wine of exquisite beauty, the Isabelle is flat-out stunning in 2016. It got only a modest amount of stems (15%) and was aged in 100% new oak."

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Isabelle comes mostly from the Bien Nacido Vineyard yet is from six different sites spread throughout California. Cherry pits, spicy oak, white flowers, and hints of earth and forest floor all emerge from the glass. It's still tight and reserved on the palate, yet has good tension, vibrancy, and purity as well as fine tannins. This beautiful, elegant wine will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and should drink brilliantly over the following 15 years or more."

"Pale to medium ruby, the 2016 Pinot Noir Knox Alexander features scents of dried cranberry and red cherry, orange peel, potpourri and hints of smoked meats over a core of wild blackberry and black raspberry. The palate is light to medium-bodied with spicy fruits, a great frame of grainy tannins and integrated freshness, finishing long."

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Knox Alexander is another head spinning wine in this range. The Knox Alexander is built on a core of Bien Nacido, and then supplemented with other sites that Jim Clendenen has planted over the years. Powerful, rich and also quite tannic, the 2016 is going to need at least a few years in bottle to fully come together. Even in the early going, though, it is very clearly a special wine with tremendous promise. I absolutely love the energy here."

"Coming from the Santa Maria Valley (Bien Nacido and Le Bon Climat vineyards) and barrel fermented and aged in new French oak, the 2016 Pinot Noir Knox Alexander has a darker ruby hue as well as a beautiful nose of earthy cherries, forest floor, ground herbs, smoked earth. Medium-bodied, with good acidity and fine tannins, it has subtle background oak and will benefit from a year or three of bottle age and should keep for 15 years or more."

"Pale to medium ruby, the 2016 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard has a bright nose of cranberry, wild blackberry, warm earth and cinnamon stick with nutmeg, autumn leaves, orange peel and red berries. Light to medium-bodied with elegant fruits, it has a soft frame of fine, grainy tannins and good freshness, finishing long."

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard is outrageously beautiful. Sweet dark cherry, plum, rose petal, mint and blood orange all run through this racy, captivating Pinot. Vibrant and nuanced, with striking exoticism, the 2016 comes alive in the glass with tons of vibrancy and a level of purity that is hard to fully do justice to with words. In short, this is an utterly magnificent wine from Jim Clendenen. The 2016 was done with 50% whole clusters and saw 40% new oak. Don't miss it!"

"Moving to the Pinot Noirs, the 2016 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard comes from one of the great sites in the Santa Maria Valley and was barrel fermented and aged 18 months in new French oak. Its medium ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by Gevrey-like notes of tart cherries, underbrush, sappy flowers, and forest floor as well as some classic Santa Maria marine-like salinity. It's elegant, medium-bodied, has beautiful purity and tension, and certainly a Burgundian style in its acidity and texture. It's a brilliant wine."

"Rich, featuring juicy dark fruit and spice flavors, backed by fresh acidity and medium-grained tannins. Finely textured, with a minerally finish that offers saline and dried herbal hints. Drink now through 2024."

"The 2016 Pinot Noir La Bauge Au-dessus is fresh, floral and fruity, all of which make it an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years. Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, mint and sweet spice are all nicely lifted in this very pretty, inviting Pinot Noir. The 2016 is a blend of equal parts Bien Nacido and Bon Climat vineyards."

Pinot Noir Larmes de Grappe Sanford & Benedict Vineyard

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Larmes de Grappe Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is a selection from S&B done with 100% whole clusters that spent two and half years in oak. Rich and sumptuous in the glass, the 2016 is alluring from the very first taste. Rose petal, mint, spice, orange peel and cedar add a brilliant upper register as the 2016 finishes with terrific freshness and energy. This is another superb wine in the range, but it needs time to come together."

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Runway Vineyard is dense, powerful and explosive. This exotic, unapologetically flamboyant Pinot may very well shock Au Bon Climat fans for its textural sumptuousness. Dark red fruit, spice, new leather and cedar are some of the many notes that build as this richly textured, ample Pinot shows off its considerable size. The 2016 was done with entirely destemmed fruit."

"I'm not familiar with the vineyard, but the 2016 Pinot Noir Runway Vineyard comes from the Santa Maria Valley and was barrel fermented and aged 18 months in new French oak. It has an intense bouquet of spiced cherry and blackberry fruit intermixed with plenty of dried herbs, spice, and loamy soil notes. Medium-bodied, elegant, and downright pretty on the palate, it's another Burgundian style red from this estate that's going to keep for 15 years or more."

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is very pretty, especially in its aromatics, although it is quite a bit less expressive and giving on the palate. There is tremendous energy and persistence to the 2016, with plenty of underlying grip that gives the wine its sense of proportion. Bright red berry fruit, chalk, incense and white pepper add a brilliant upper register. This is another absolutely exquisite wine in the range."

Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Barbara Historic Vineyards Collection

"Features good cut to the well-framed blend of concentrated white fruit and citrus flavors that turn rich and creamy midpalate. Dried pineapple and spice notes show on the plush finish."

Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley Knox Alexander

"Well-structured, with concentrated notes of forest floor to the dried raspberry and cherry flavors. Hot stone and spice accents fill the enveloping finish."

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Axios is bold, punchy and extremely expressive. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, espresso, mint and raspberry jam all run through this expressive, exotically opulent Cabernet Sauvignon from Gus Kalaris. This is very nicely done. Drink it over the next decade."

Cabernet Sauvignon Worthy Sophia's Cuvee

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Worthy Sophia's Cuvee is a very pretty wine for drinking now, as it is already showing the first signs of aromatic complexity and softening. Sweet tobacco, cedar, mint, dried flowers and plum are front and center in this forward, juicy Cabernet Sauvignon."

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Kalaris Family Vineyard is the most potent and unctuous of these three wines from Gus Kalaris. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, leather, licorice and spice are all amped up in the glass. Readers should expect a flamboyant, full-throttle Cabernet."

"Cade's 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon 13th Vineyard is inky, powerful and super tannic in the early going. Notes of black cherry, blackberry jam, chocolate, licorice and spice endow this brooding Howell Mountain Cabernet with huge power and explosiveness matched by massive tannins that make the wine a bit hard to read today. Bright Howell Mountain acids add to a feeling of searing intensity. I can't wait to taste this with a few years in bottle."

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a dense, chewy Howell Mountain wine. A blast of black cherry, plum, licorice, smoke, leather, bittersweet chocolate, spice and tobacco hit the palate. The 2017 is bold and immediate in feel, but it also has plenty of structure. I would give it a few years to soften but this is a potent, brooding wine with a bright future."

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a wild, exotic wine. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, leather, spice, menthol and licorice are all kicked up several notches in an unctuous, flamboyant and ripe wine loaded with character. The dense, plush 2017 has a lot to offer, but it needs time to soften - though even now, its huge tannins are accompanied by more than enough fruit to provide balance."

Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Moutain Reserve

"Vivid açaí, plum and blueberry reduction notes are inlaid with a solid graphite edge, giving the fruit a foil as it moves along. Bright anise and roasted apple wood elements frame the finish, which ends with the fruit showing power and energy."

"Vivid and distinctive, with passion fruit, lime and Meyer lemon flavors that mingle with details of honeysuckle and lemon thyme, finding harmony on the refreshing finish."

James Suckling

"This is another essence-like expression of cabernet from this producer, but it’s well done with blackberries, cassis, morello cherries and hot stones. Full body, chewy yet grainy tannins and a structured finish."

"Coming from estate fruit on Howell Mountain and made from 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% each of Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Merlot, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate offers a darker, more mineral-driven style compared to the Napa release. It has beautiful blackcurrant, cassis, forest floor, graphite, and tobacco leaf-like aromas and flavors. Deep, full-bodied, beautifully polished and elegant, it's another remarkable effort from this team. As Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon goes, it's a brilliant value!"

"Based on 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a stunning 2017 that plays with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Stunning cassis and blueberry fruit notes are interwoven with notions of white chocolate, unsmoked tobacco, forest floor, and lead pencil shavings. These all carry to the palate, where this beauty is full-bodied, deep, and concentrated, with the straight, focused style of the vineyard paired with beautiful depth and sweetness of fruit. This classic, sexy tour de force in 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has everything in the right places, no hard edges, and a great finish. Drink it any time over the coming 30 years or more."

"The only red I was able to taste, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate checks in as 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 7% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot brought up in 79% new French oak. It's a total rock star of a wine and boasts a saturated purple color, a flamboyant, full-bodied, sexy style, awesome notes of cassis, toasty oak, tobacco, and graphite, sweet tannins, and thrilling purity of fruit. It ranks with the creme de la creme of Howell Mountain and has 2-3 decades of longevity ahead of it."

"The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc is composed of 94% Sauvignon Blanc with 3% Sauvignon Musque, 2% Sémillon and 1% Viognier. It features zesty notes of lemon and lime peel with nuances of crushed rocks, struck match and oyster shell. Medium-bodied with a wonderful racy line supporting the intense citrus and stony layers, it finishes on a lingering mineral note."

"This estate makes a fun Sauvignon Blanc. (It's not 100% Sauvignon and includes small amounts of Semillon and Viognier.) The lightly colored 2017 Sauvignon Blanc offers up juicy citrus and white grapefruit notes in a medium-bodied, vibrant, refreshing, and complex style. It's a perfect meal starter."

Wine Enthusiast

"This Cabernet is blended with 6% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Fresh tones of brioche and currant meld with crushed rock, pencil and sweet tobacco. Youthful tannins offer a structured frame to this undeniably elegant wine."

93 "Cellar Selection"

Wine Enthusiast

"After opeing to touches of oak and reduction, this white evolves into a lovely swan, beautifully structured and deep in texture and flavor. Pear, apple, and pineapple wrap around toast and dried herb, finishing strong and supple. This will do well with further aging; enjoy 2021-2026."

Wine Enthusiast

"Reduced at first, this wine comes around to reveal soft layers of baked plum, graham cracker and coffee. Full bodied and ripe, it offers a balanced oak nuance and a soft texture that speaks to the varietal character."

Wine Enthusiast

"Reductive and tight in feel at first, this wine opens slowly in the glass to show a complex mixture of leather, tobacco, and sage. Big, powerful tannins give it weight and breadth around a lasting note of red currant"

"Lip-smacking, offering a mix of perfectly ripe peach and melon flavors that are fleshy and bright, finishing with a touch of dried guava. Drink now."

91 "Editors' Choice"

Wine Enthusiast

"This dry and extremely flavorful wine blooms with rose petal and prosciutto aromas and pours vivid grapefruit and luscious pear flavors on the palate. A rather full body and a lingering finish add to the experience."

Wine Enthusiast

"Generous fruit flavors and a broad, smooth texture give this full-bodied wine a rich profile. Good ripe plum and mulled cherry flavors fill the palate and are concentrated enough to linger on the finish."

91 "Best Buy"

Wine Enthusiast

"Expressive herbal characteristics make this wine bold, bright and true to varietal type. White pepper, fennel bulb and parsley aromas meet citrusy flavors while full body gives the wine a pretty big mouthfeel."

90 "Best Buy"

"There’s a lot to like in this well-priced pinot, from its wild-strawberry freshness to its brisk, earthy tannins and heirloom-apple complexity. Those tannins go a bit muddled in the end, their earthy spice needing a pepper steak to resolve."

"Odette's 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is absolutely gorgeous. A rush of black cherry, plum, mint, lavender, pine and white flowers infuses the 2017 with tons of character as well as nuance. Lush and intense with tremendous richness, the 2017 is one of the very best wines I have tasted here. It is rich and flamboyant in style, as these wines are, but is also one of the most impressive and distinctive expressions of Stags Leap I have tasted here since the debut 2013 vintage. The 2017 is a terrific expression of this site."

"Blended with 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 8% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is deep garnet-purple in color with black forest cake, Indian spices, menthol and black currant preserves notes plus hints of fruit cake, dusty soil, incense and black olives with a touch of chargrill. The palate is full-bodied, firm and chewy with good fruit concentration and expression, finishing long and spicy. This has plush tannins—well-managed!"

"Starting with the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, it reveals a saturated purple color as well as a big, sexy bouquet of blue and black fruits, melted licorice, smoke tobacco, and graphite. Ripe, full-bodied, and just loaded with fruit, it has impressive phenolics as well as ripe, sweet tannins, a fleshy, nicely concentrated mid-palate, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming 15 years or more."

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is richer, deeper and more flamboyant than the Estate. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, licorice and spice all flesh out in an unctuous, extravagantly rich Cabernet Sauvignon that is sure to find many admirers. I have a slight preference for the Estate, but readers who prefer the more flamboyant side of Napa Valley will find plenty of that here."

"Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is scented of prunes, baked blueberries, fried herbs and spices with wafts of tobacco, Chinese five spice and cigar box and touches of mocha and crème de cassis. The full-bodied palate is big, rich, plush, spicy and layered with a long finish. A good example of this style!"

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (100% Stags Leap Cabernet) is tighter and more backward compared to the Estate release and has a rocking bouquet of black fruits, melted licorice, roasted herbs, coffee bean, and a whiff of dark chocolate. It too is ripe, powerful, full-bodied, and nicely balanced, with the structure to evolve for 15-20 years or more. This is one of the sexiest, plushest wines in the vintage."

Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District Reserve

"This pulls no punches, with creamed plum, boysenberry and blackberry flavors that are polished and lush in feel, coated in mocha and warm ganache elements and underscored by a hint of loam on the finish. Best from 2022 through 2040."

James Suckling

"Attractive freshness and also impressive ripeness give this wine a dual edge of interest. The palate has a succulent core of peaches and lemons with a wave of savory spices in the creamy, biscuity finish."

"Well-structured, with a firm backbone of acidity to the dried dark currant, dark cherry and dried berry flavors. Cedary accents show midpalate, featuring notes of graphite and slate on the tannic finish. Drink now through 2023"

James Suckling

"A meaty edge to the nose with smoked charcuterie and ripe red-cherry and berry aromas. The palate delivers a ripe ball of plush, evenly cast tannins, supporting attractive red-fruit flavors."

"A zesty, vibrant red, with briary dark berry, licorice and bitter chocolate flavors that build richness toward lively tannins."

Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Bushnell Vineyard

"Broad and briary, showing raspberry and pomegranate flavors, with underbrush and licorice accents, finishing with zesty tannins."

Peirano Estate Vineyards

Wine Enthusiast

"Quite ripe and opulent, this full-bodied wine is mouthfilling, rich in fruit and spices, and shows an attractive, lingering finish. Concentration, layering and a creamy texture all add to its appeal."

Peirano Estate Vineyards

90 "Best Buy"

Wine Enthusiast

"This full-bodied wine boasts delicious fruit flavors, a dose of spicy oak, good balance, and a wonderful sense of polish. Jammy raspberry and strawberry flavors meet hints of smoke, meat, and herbs."

Peirano Estate Vineyards

91 "Best Buy"

Wine Enthusiast

"This is a huge, flavorful, well-oaked wine that's full in body, intense in color, broad in mouthfeel and shows good complexity to boot. Oak, black pepper and cedar surround a deep blackberry core, while rich, abundant tannins hold everything in their grip. Best through 2025."