California Wine

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 97 Points | Outstanding balance and complexity from the beginning that showcases concentrated black fruits and purple flowers with plenty of spices and subtle yet harmonious toast and cedar aromas. Intense graphite and stony minerality, too. Full- to medium-bodied on the mid-palate with delightful acidity that gives this wonderful crunchiness. Fine-grained juicy tannins. Precisely focused wine that is colorful and sound. Beautiful length, too. Already so drinkable now but will age gracefully, especially for Atlas Peak.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Vinous 92+ Points | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Affinity is mostly Howell Mountain fruit in this vintage, which elevates its quality but also makes it more difficult to enjoy young. Dark fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice power through this deep, forbidding wine. This big, brooding Cabernet is built for cellaring. Give it plenty of time in decanter before enjoying.

Winemaker Description 

Our bright, medium-bodied and food-friendly William Hill Estate North Coast Chardonnay offers ripe fruit flavors of ripe melon, mandarin orange, peach and tropical fruit, supported by complex notes of citrus blossom and brown spice. Delicately structured and smooth, this refreshing, well-balanced wine has a crisp acidity and soft, creamy mouthfeel.

Winemaker Description 

Macrostie Sonoma Coast Chardonnay offers up alluring layers of persimmon, ripe Meyer lemon, and rich brioche.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

MaryAnn Worobiec of the Wine Spectator writes 91 Points | Intensely juicy, with wonderful purity to the pear, pineapple, and tangerine flavors, notes of lemon blossoms, and dashes of honey and spices. Shows mouthwatering acidity on the long, expressive finish, where a touch of minerality lingers. Drink now.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

James Suckling 93 Points | Cassis, dried blueberries, violets, ink, graphite, dried leaves and cigar box on the nose. Full-bodied with firm, polished tannins. Smooth and supple with excellent balance and length. Drink from 2023.

Decanter 91 Points | Aromas of cassis, cigar box and cocoa. Concentrated palate, with chocolate-covered cherry fruit flavours and fine-grained tannins. Lovely acidity. Blend : 99% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc.

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | A terrific, well-priced Napa Cabernet, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis has a great nose of pure cassis fruits as well as tobacco, spring flowers, and a touch wet stone and graphite. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a good sense of elegance and ripe tannins.

Winemaker Description

Classic Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah aromas and flavors of black fruits, chocolate, game, pepper, and smoke are ripe and intense in the 2020 vintage. Very ripe, fine tannins frame the bold flavors and rounded texture. Somehow through all the heat, our fruit retained beautiful acidity which balances out the bold and rich flavors creating an awesome vintage of Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah with classic texture and structure.

Expert Rating 

92 Points Jeb Dunnuck | Blueberries, mulberries, peppery herbs, and some flower notes all emerge from the 2020 Syrah Purisima Mountain Vineyard, a medium to full-bodied, fruit-forward, plush, sexy little gem of a Syrah that will offer loads of pleasure over the coming 4-6 years or more. This was completely destemmed and brought up in 35% new French oak. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

Elegantly structured and polished, Faust 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet is exquisitely balanced between freshness and richness on the palate. The cool forest notes that lift from the glass meld with oak spice, bay laurel, and fragrant underbrush while the wine's signature star anise gives way to beautifully concentrated flavors of Luxardo cherry, blueberry compote, and dark cocoa.

Fine-grained tannins wrap around a backbone of acidity that persists-with intriguing wet-slate minerality-endlessly on the finish. The generous character of this wine makes it delicious now, but with its tight structure, it will age beautifully.

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Winemaker Jeffrey Jinda uses a solera-like system of fractional blending to make the NV Brut Excellence, typically adding 12 percent of reserve wine to his non-vintage blends, this one a combination of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. A portion of the reserve wine is used again in the dosage after disgorgement. Given 24 months on the lees, it shows an impressive depth of texture and balanced richness, with lovely notes of creme caramel and brioche.

The Tasting Panel 93 Points | A remarkable value with the poise and presence of wines twice the price. Composed of 60% Char-donnay and 40% Pinot Noir, it rings clear and pure on a nose marked by toast, Asian pear, yellow apple, honeysuckle, and hazelnut; on the palate, lilting, lip-smacking acidity and a creamy tang usher in more orchard fruit enhanced by hints of white fig and apricot.

Decanter 92 Points | A blend of 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir from Mendocino County with 10 g/L of residual sugar, aged a minimum of two years en tirage and six months under cork. 14,000 bottles were produced. Riveting aromatics of brioche, creme brule, and candied citrus. Broad and mouth-filling with a creamy mousse that, upon resolve, delivers a crisp wine with depth and textures of crushed river stones, layered with red berry fruit, apricots and tangerine notes, and nutty overtones on the finish. 

James Suckling 92 Points | A solid core of fruit with apple, strawberry and hints of iron and salt on both the nose and palate. Full yet not too much with a lively mouthfeel and fine tannins. Tensioned and plenty of flavor. Mostly 2018 vintage. 2 1/2 years on the lees. 8g/L dosage. A blend of 60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir.

Winemaker Description

Scharffenberger Brut Excellence is made by the traditional méthode champenoise process – whereby the wines are individually bottle-fermented before being riddled and disgorged. The wine is approximately two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay and undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation. Scharffenberger Brut is made from its own 120-acre vineyards in the Anderson Valley. In addition, Scharffenberger Cellars has long-term contracts with select vineyards in the greater Mendocino County. This type of vineyard selection allows us to choose from the best vineyards in the area which enables us to produce their trademark cuvée.

The wine is two-thirds Pinot Noir which produces a red fruit (cherry and plum) forward nose combined with one-third Chardonnay which adds the tropical expression of litchi nut and mango. The 100% malolactic fermentation adds a vanilla cream character producing a round and full-bodied wine. After approximately two years on the yeast lees, there are notes of freshly baked bread and pastry that enhances the more fruit-forward style of the wine. Finally, after several months on the cork the wine develops caramel and hazel complexors.

Our Professional Review

David of 67Wine.com |  If you are looking for a natural style wine this is fabulous. You may say to yourself this is so different in the tradition of a wine from old world France in the bard yard style. Its power immediately comes at you. If you prefer modern style California Zinfandel, then this wine is not for you. If you are an explorer, with a skydiver personality, I highly recommend this wine.

Expert Rating

92 Points Wine & Spirits | Organically farmed fruit from the Russian River Valley, neutral oak aging and the talents of Eric Sussman and his team at RadioCoteau combine to make this a pretty great zin for the price. It’s bursting with fresh wildblueberry flavor, rustic and harmonious in its barnyard-scented tannins. This is ready to decant for grilled vegetables or meats. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

The 2020 County Line Zinfandel is characterized by powerful fruit and spice aromas balanced by refreshing acidity and herbal complexity. It speaks to both the robust essence of the grape and the nuances of its Sonoma Coast terroir. The wine is vibrant, with scents of nutmeg-spiced blackberry pie and sun-warmed strawberry, elevated by floral earl grey tea. These rich, fruity notes are followed by earthy briar and flint on the palate, with a lively, savory finish. Lingering flavors of cacao nib and rugged leather make for a sophisticated compliment to the voluptuous fruit in the nose. Immediately approachable, this Zinfandel also has depth and layers to entice thoughtful sipping. An ideal pizza pairing, savor a bottle alongside a hearty salsiccia, or a white pizza with roasted zucchini flowers. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

The Wine Advocate 94 Points | The 2022 Chardonnay Estate has open, inviting aromas of candied peaches, manuka honey, white pepper and tropical flowers. The satiny, medium-bodied palate pairs concentrated flavors and textural breadth with tangy acidity, and it has a long, flavorful finish.

Winemaker Description 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Decanter 94 Points | Gorgeous Cabernet aromas, clear and crystalline, some herbal notes with a cool blueberry and chalky element. Rose scents, dark cherries and cinnamon bark. Full and expressive, warming tones but great acidity that gives such lift. Lovely purity and drive, this has a great sense of confidence - nothing overdone, really pristine and finessed. If anything it’s not super heavy, but it’s the better for it. You get the Napa richness in the fruit concentration but it’s so well defined and still with a graceful power. Yum. 0.5% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

Winemaker Description

Since 1993, Overture has been an expression of place across time. In keeping with an internal desire to underscore the importance of the growing season, Opus One has taken the necessary steps for Overture to become a vintage-dated wine. In doing so, Opus One intends to emphasize the diversity of our estate with a renewed focus.

Over the years our winemaker, Michael Silacci, and his team have come to deeply understand the individual blocks within the vineyards. Farming practices may then be adjusted at the block level to enable the vines to fully capture the quality of the estate.  The majority of our vineyards are planted in alluvial soils in the extreme western part of the Oakville, AVA, at the foot of the Mayacamas mountains. 

The fruit is harvested and vinified with the same care, precision, and attention to detail as Opus One. Unique aromatics, flavors, and textures are recognized as ideal for Overture — more red fruit, herbal characteristics, soft tannins, and creamy texture. 

 

Winemaker Description

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck writes 93+ Points | The 2021 Geyserville checks in as 76% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, and the rest Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. It has a pure, expressive bouquet of fresh plums, figs, mulberries, peppery herbs, leather, and vanilla bean, and it takes some air to show at its best, gaining depth and richness with time in the glass. This medium to full-bodied, spicy, elegant red blend has a touch more oak present than I'm accustomed to, but it has a silky, elegant mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity, and outstanding length. It's going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age.  Drinking 2023 - 2027.  

Tim Fish of Wine Spectator writes 93 Points | Tightly focused and briary, this blend offers density without weight. Presents plum and blueberry flavors accented by dill and green peppercorn as this builds tension toward medium-grained tannins. Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. Drink now through 2032. 

Samantha Cole-Johnson of Jancis Robison writes 16.5 Points |  Medium ruby verging on purple in colour. Spicy red and black plum, cinnamon, clove, anise and a more savoury spice note akin to red chilli. Fresh, high acidity and fine-grained, moderate tannin. Lightly sandy, plummy finish. More savoury than the Lytton Springs bottling.  Drinking 2024 - 2035.  

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 94+ Points | The 2021 Geyserville hits the palate with a burst of dark red/purplish fruit, sweet spice, lavender, chocolate, dried herbs and American oak. I would be in no rush to open the 2021, as it is clearly an infant at this stage. The blend is 76% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, 6% Petite Syrah and 2% Alicante Bouschet. The 2021 is a powerhouse, that much is pretty clear.  Drinking 2026 - 2041.  

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Tasting Panel 92 Points | Rich and vivacious, this Chardonnay is a commanding display of grace. Notes of fresh jasmine and honeysuckle are in full bloom. Nutmeg and orchard fruit with a hint of cinnamon caper nimbly within the streamlined structure.

Winemaker Description 

Displaying aromas of ripe pear, pineapple, tangerine and caramel, this is a classic

Chardonnay from the Edna Valley. It is rich and creamy and bursting with tropical fruit flavors. Refreshing acidity keeps the wine lively on the finish, a signature of Edna Valley, it is balanced by the accompaniment of vanilla bean and toasted oak.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

The Wine Enthusiast by Tonya Pitts 89 Points | This wine lives up to its name. The flavor profile is influenced by the redwoods nearby and the ocean. Plus, the fruit source is organic and more natural in style than not. The aromas on the nose are huckleberry, red currant jam, orange vanilla cream, and baking spices, and the mouthfeel is concentrated blackberry jam, cardamom, lime cream, and silky tannins to finish. 

Winemaker Description

This Cabernet Sauvignon is full of rich fruity tannins with a spicy, lingering finish. Crafted with care no added sulfites, no acid or sugar adjustments, no tannin additions. True flavors of the vineyard and vintage shine through. Aged in stainless steel with French oak.

Winemaker Description

Deep red in color, our Cabernet Sauvignon is well balanced with hints of humidor, cassis, bright red apple and cherry.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

The Wine Spectator 89 Points | Offers a snappy, buttery mix of peach, poached pear and fresh apple flavors, with notes of lemon blossoms, ginger and lemon meringue pie that linger. Drink now. 4,182 cases made.

Winemaker Description 

Sequoia Grove Napa Valley Chardonnay is hand-harvested in the cool morning hours. Upon arrival at the winery, the Chardonnay is whole-cluster pressed to tank and racked with all lees to barrel to begin native fermentation. The wine finishes primary fermentation in 100% French oak barrels, with one third in new French oak. The Chardonnay is then aged for 10 months on the lees where it undergoes bâtonnage (lees stirring) every two weeks until malolactic finishes completing the full natural process of the wine.

Nearly half of this Napa Valley Chardonnay is sourced from Haire Vineyard in Carneros. Haire has 30-year-old Wente and Robert Young clones planted specifically for Sequoia Grove. The other half is Dijon clones 95 and 96 from Cunat vineyard in Oak Knoll District. The combination of these clones and vineyard sources creates complexity in the finished wine.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Decanter 94 Points | With super slow maturation in 2023, Dave Phinney’s only concern was, “Will it get ripe?” given the extended hang time of the grapes in this even-keeled, cool vintage. A blend of 74% Zinfandel, 24% Petite Sirah, and 2% Syrah, aged for seven months in 35% new oak. This wine is super fresh and fragrant, with red, black, and blue fruit aromatics, lifted by elegant coriander spice. Medium-bodied with impressive intensity, it is balanced by soaring acid tension, with nuances of sagebrush and cool wet slate adding depth. One of the most structured and fresh expressions of this wine I’ve ever tasted—vibrant, layered, and built to evolve.

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | Sourced primarily from Dry Creek, the 2023 Red Blend 8 Years in the Desert includes 74% Zinfandel, 24% Petite Sirah and 2% Syrah, all aged seven months in 35% new oak. Attractive floral and stone-fruit nuances accent ripe raspberries on the nose, while the full-bodied palate boasts a supple, silky feel that gives way to some tarry notes and a slight green-peppercorn astringency on the finish.

The Wine Spectator 87 Points | A full-throttle red, with concentrated flavors of black currant, espresso, jalapeño and burnt toast. There’s not much finesse, just power and tannins. Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah. Best after 2026. 54,000 cases made.

>Winemaker Description 

Intensely flavored with a long finish, our Pinot Noir is elegantly balanced and filled with lush fruit flavors, complemented by subtle hints of toasted wood.

Winery notes

Gamay is one of our favorite varieties, prized for its light, delicate, and aromatic qualities. In 2024, we blended fruit from two cherished Sonoma County vineyards that had been planted for us.

Las Cimas Vineyard, located on Sonoma’s northern edge at 800 ft elevation, features northeast facing vines rooted in Franciscan soils rich in quartz and schist. The second vineyard, in the Fountaingrove AVA, grows in well drained, iron rich volcanic soils mixed with Franciscan bedrock, known as “Sonoma Volcanics.”

After harvesting, the clusters are left whole and undergo carbonic maceration for several days followed by foot crushing and whole cluster fermentation, allowing a balance between the vibrant fruit aromatics, depth, and structure. Aged for six months in neutral barrique, preserving its freshness, complexity, and character.

Light, fresh, and utterly charming. Wild strawberry, summer herbs, savory wet earth with a crushed rock minerality throughout. 12% ABV

The 2024 labels feature the work of Sandra Fontenas, a French visual artist and photographer based in La Rochelle, FR.

Winemaker Description 

Our 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon with its deep garnet color, opens with inviting aromas of dark cherry, and nutmeg. The flavors of dark cherry and plum with a hint of vanilla are perfectly paired with balanced acidity and moderate tannins. This elegant Cabernet is accessible now, but its structure and complexity will see it through many years of aging.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 94 Points | A dense and old-school pinot noir, as it should be, with dried strawberries, cedar and spice as well as hints of chocolate. Full and layered. Solid tannins. Drink or hold.

The Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Earthy aromas of toasted wood and coffee meet with dusty boysenberry on the nose of this bottling from the historic producer in its eponymous appellation. The palate is rich with baked berry and spicy in star anise and clove flavors, as oak hits on the finish.

The Tasting Panel 93 Points | From the Chalone bench of the Gavilan Mountains at 1,800 feet elevation, this red is earthy and taut, with black cherry, cigar leaf, red tea, and beets. Energetic acidity accompanies chalky minerality

Winemaker Description 

The 2022 Estate Pinot Noir reveals aromas of cherry, strawberry, leather, truffle, forest floor, plum, and cinnamon. The medium-bodied palate is a beautiful representation of the varietal and the Chalone AVA. Opulent flavors of plum, bright red cherries, and strawberry are complemented by notes of toasty oak, hints of vanilla and spices, and supported by medium acidity.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling 95 Points | Some blue fruit with iron and lavender character. Very perfumed. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a bright finish. Linear and tight. Hibiscus at the end. A blend of declassified barrels from the single-vineyard wines. Drink or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | The ripe ruby-colored 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley saw the small addition of about 10% whole cluster. The nose opens to a just gorgeous perfume of red and blue fruit as well as fresh violets and cherry candies. Very tasty indeed, the palate is inviting and medium-bodied, and it has a supple, silky texture, with a long, fresh, pure finish. This inviting red is going to have a wide drinking window over the next 6-8 years.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is a blend of fruit from Arista’s seven vineyard-designate wines. It has pretty aromas of blackberry, blueberry, plum, licorice and turned earth. The medium-bodied palate offers layered, spicy flavors structured by finely astringent tannins and bright acidity, and it has a long, fragrant finish. 

The Wine Spectator 92 Points | Bright and punchy, offering energetic pomegranate, cherry and loganberry fruit infused with sassafras and hibiscus notes, while fresh and slightly high-pitched acidity gives the finish a racy edge. Drink now through 2031.

Winemaker Description 

The core principle of the winemaking philosophy at Arista is to capture and express the true character and potential of each vineyard. They work with a very carefully chosen handful of grand-cru level Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards, and are uncompromising in their efforts to maximize the full potential of the wines crafted from these special sites.

The 2021 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir blends several vineyards from across the storied Russian River appellation, which makes it a prime snapshot of our home region as a whole in each vintage. In 2021, conditions for Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley were exceptional, leading to deeply colored, intensely aromatic, wonderfully vibrant wines.

This ruby-hued wine shows classic Pinot Noir aromas of black plum, tart cherry, and cola. Across the palate, similar ripe fruit notes are abundant and buttressed by the tangy acidity. The firm tannins, which are a hallmark of the 2021 vintage, round out the long finish on this quintessential Sonoma Pinot Noir.

 

Winemaker Description 

The 2022 Slander delivers a medium ruby core with a lucid rim that's almost translucent. Aromatically, bing cherry, briar fruit and some raspberry give way to ripe strawberry and associated red fruits. Bright and enveloping on the entry, notes of fresh strawberry, watermelon, thyme and a hint of funk come through. Spicy on the finish, the wine closes with a flash of blue fruits and lift.

There’s a soul to this business and that soul isn’t just from the people who make wine, it’s from everyone who loves wines that make them feel something.” Dave Phinney

The 2022 vintage of Chateau Montelena Chardonnay showcases the estate’s signature style: vibrant citrus and stone fruit layered with floral notes, crisp acidity, and perfectly integrated oak. Grown in the cool-climate Calistoga region, this organic-leaning Chardonnay balances richness with restraint, offering flavors of green apple, Meyer lemon, and a touch of baking spice. A benchmark Napa white, ideal for drinking now or cellaring—especially at this limited-time price.

Winemaker Description 

Precision in winemaking (and in life) requires intent and purpose. Removing notions of how things should be allows us to see things truly as they are. Moreover, the ability to be entirely honest with each vintage enables the creative freedom necessary for both development and true expression. Montelena Chardonnay does not have a style. What it has is the dual-purpose of vintage and vineyard expression and our meticulous intent to deliver on both.

-Winemaker Matt Crafton

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Vinous 90 Points | The 2023 Pinot Noir The Bohan-Dillon is a very pretty, understated offering from Hirsch. Silky tannins wrap around a core of bright red-toned fruit, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco and dried herbs. This mid-weight Pinot is all charm. Those qualities are best enjoyed over the next handful of years.

Winemaker Description

This signature wine contains only fruit farmed on Howell Mountain. The wine comes in a distinctive bottle that is hand dipped in red wax. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. aged 32 months in 100% new French oak.

Expert Reviews

Vinous Antonio Galloni 97 Points | The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is sure to make Dunn fans happy. Powerful and ample, it marries the natural intensity of the year with the savoriness that makes Howell Mountain Cabernets so distinctive. Dark blue/purplish fruit, graphite, spice, leather, dried herbs and lavender imbue the 2017 with striking intensity and character. I can't wait to see how it ages. The 2017 is a positively stunning edition of the Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.  Drinking 2027 - 2047.

Robert Parker Joe Czerwinski 96 Points | Already more open than the 2018 Howell Mountain, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain boasts slightly piney, resinous herb notes—thyme and rosemary—along with classic cassis and blueberry fruit. Yes, there's a cedary coat of oak, but the fruit comes through loud and clear, adding a rich, velvety textural component and mouthwatering berry flavors on the lingering finish.  Drinking 2025 - 2040  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 96+

Wine Spectator James Molesworth 95 Points | Fresh ripe cassis, blackberry and plum fruit flavors course through, carried by tar and apple wood notes that are well-embedded, giving this a muscular but sleek feel. Features a great tug of dark earth and licorice snap on the palate-staining finish. Best from 2023 through 2038. 

Winemaker Description 

Dark black currant, plum, and blackberry marquee the nose, joined by cedar, clove, and a touch of lavender.

The 2022 growing season was yet another in a string of drought years. Though our yearly rainfall was only slightly lower than average, the bulk of that rain came in October and December of 2021, while the spring of 2022 was uncharacteristically dry and gave way to a seasonably dry summer. This was followed by an intense heat wave during the first week of September, with temperatures soaring as high as 118 degrees Fahrenheit, causing a dramatic increase in our grape’s sugar levels. We were patient with our harvest, however, and allowed cooler temperatures and normal sugar levels to return before picking.

Pair with Gorgonzola gnocchi, beef bourguignon, seared steak and ratatouille.

Producer Description 

Our Napa Valley Merlot opens with lively bright red fruits and a soft, lush texture. Delicate floral aromas combine with ripe blackberry, milk chocolate, wet stone and barrel spice. The finish is bright and spreads out on the palate to reveal mineral notes that support the silky tannin structure.

Deep ruby in color, the 2019 Napa Valley Merlot features a tempting nose with hints of violet, ripe cherry and warm baking spices. The palate is supple in texture with luxurious layers of brambly red fruits, cocoa, and dusty tannins. This classic Napa Valley Merlot finishes long and vibrant with lingering notes of graphite.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points - Editors' Choice | This classic-style, elegant wine is well structured for further aging and so expressive of the Napa Cabernet tradition. Aromas of blackberries, black olives and bay leaves lead to black cherries, dark chocolate and tobacco flavors that are deep and persistent without being heavy. Drink from 2028–2038.

James Suckling 95 Points | Aromas of blackcurrant, hazelnut and chocolate, with hints of mint and sage that follow through to a medium to full body, with wonderful soft and fine tannins that give a velvety texture and persistent finish. So balanced and refined. Subtle. Didn’t include wine from vineyards in Atlas Peak this year. An excellent 2020. Drinkable, but will improve so well in the cellar.

Decanter 94 Points | The 2020 Lyndenhurst Produced by Spottswoodee. NV CS 13.6% // Civic Ruby colour with loads of savoury cedar spices, cinnamon and tobacco brown baking spices and red-toned fruits. Supple on entry with plump red berry fruit, tangy blood orange acidity under a bed of tobacco leaves, fragrant wild herbs, milk chocolate shavings and a kiss of anise. There is telltale crushed stone minerality, and the wine finishes long and lean with plenty of energy and drive. The tannins are burly with good grip. And the wine is generally light on its feet.

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Solidly built for the vintage, with a core of blackberry and black currant preserves that flex brambly energy and grip, along with licorice root, chaparral and apple wood notes filling in on the finish. Drink now through 2030. 2,205 cases made.

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description

Black cherry, cacao, and pomegranate with a smooth, lingering finish. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins.

Handcrafted from high-quality vineyards in California’s coastal regions — from Monterey and San Benito in the central coast, to Suisun Valley in the north. The diversity in soil and climate from these AVAs contribute to this wine’s remarkable balance and depth of character. Grapes are harvested at optimal ripeness and then destemmed in order to express bright fruit flavors and maintain freshness.

The Pinot Project Pinot Noir offers notes of dark cherry, blackberry, and cacao with a smooth, lingering finish. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins.

Winemaker Description

Ripe cranberry and cassis on the nose. Focused dark bramble fruit on the palate, layered with cocoa and clove. Vibrant acidity balances beautifully with opulent fruit and carries through to a long and elegant finish.

Blend: 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Mataro

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2020

96 Points Decanter | Enormously complex and full of personality. Lots of juiciness and briaryness, with notes of espresso, soy sauce and gaminess. Very rich, impressive and structured, 2020 was Ridge’s 55th consecutive vintage of Geyserville, a wine that many Ridge collectors consider the winery’s best Zinfandel blend. Its pedigree is uncontested. Made from old vines, some of which are more than 125 years old and 60% of which are 50 years old or older, leading of course to tiny yields. A historic field blend of approximately 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro (the old name used in California for Mourvedre). The grapes are grown in three adjoining vineyards, all of which are defined by an ancient washout of the Russian River that carried and deposited gravel and river stones to the site.

95 Points Points Wine & Spirits |  The founding partners at Ridge purchased the MonteBello Winery from Leo and Evelyn Trentadue, who also farmed some of the oldest surviving vines in Sonoma County at their ranch on the Alexander Valley floor near Geyserville. The Old Patch, planted in the 1880s, has provided the base of the blend for Ridge’s single-vineyard wine since 1966. In 2020, it was harvested just as the first fires brokeout generations of vines at the Trentadue’s ranch provided 28 different lots, with John Olney selecting 20 for this wine. He finds that carignan, which makes up 20 percent of the mixed planting (along with small amounts of petite sirah, alicante bouschet and mataro), provides the acidity to refresh the zinfandel, which accounts for 69 percent of the vines. The early harvest produced a ripe, rich Geyserville with racy energy. The dark blueberry flavors are layered with red cherry, their seemingly weightless concentration sustained in a sleek, clean and graceful impression that lasts. A great 2020

Tasting Panel 95 Points | An opulent, charming blend of 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, and 1% Mataro. Ultra-smooth and seamless, with rich flavors of plum and blackberry. Stunning and long, it’s a triumph of winemaking skill.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Deeply structured and briary, with a mix of red and black fruit accented by licorice, dill and savory underbrush flavors. Finishes with medium-grained tannins. Zinfandel, Carignan, Petite Syrah, Alicante Bouschet and Mataro.

Our Professional Review

Rand S. & David W of 67Wine.com | This is considered a very rare California boutique sauvignon blanc.  It is highly sought after for those seeking a very special wine.  Realm makes some of the most sought after wines out of Napa and their Sauvignon Blanc is one of the finest expressions in the valley.

You will find tropical fruit notes including lemon, tangerine, and a hint of peach.  Great wine. It is not grassy but rather soft on the palate. Very elegant, balanced and not over ripe. Staff tasted & recommended.