United States Wine

Winemaker Description 

An intriguing bouquet of strawberry, neroli and almond greet the nose. The opening is subtle but quickly crescendos to a full mid palate, pushing towards a long and satisfying finish.

Structured and well rounded, flavors of ripe pomegranate and olive cumulate with juniper and sage, building in both nuance and intensity as the wine opens

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 93 Points |  A bright and racy pinot with lots of strawberries, raspberries, hibiscus, spices and dried lavender. Tense and agile with a medium body and a crunchy feel to its tannins. Fresh and minerally. Drink now or hold.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Plush and elegantly structured, this red unfurls raspberry and cherry flavors accented with forest floor, black tea and savory spices as this builds tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032.

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Crisp, mouthwatering acidity is but one of many highlights here. Pretty dried rose-petal and dark raspberry aromas are flanked by a loamy soil note. The flavors are fruit-driven, with raspberry and lemon flavors uniting with tiny bits of sugar cookie and walnut behind a curtain of silky tannins. — Michael Alberty

Winemaker Description 

The 2022 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir touts all the hallmarks of our storied appellation. It begins with hints of ripe plum skin, ocean air, baking spices, and cocoa powder dustiness on the nose. The palate is just as expressive, with fresh, juicy red fruit backed by graceful tannins, a complex brininess, and a mouth-watering acidity. Finishing with spiced oak and a mouth-coating basalt minerality, this wine is great now and will be for years to come.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | This ripe and generous wine smells like a cherry pie and tastes like warm raspberries and cherries dusted with cinnamon and ground cloves. It’s a welcoming, almost-sweet Pinot that is comfy in texture and alluring in flavor.

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Juicy and elegant, with a savory edge to the mix of gently mulled raspberry and cherry fruit flavors, revealing a sous-bois accent as they move through the finish. Drink now through 2027. 342 cases made.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Pouring a deep youthful red hue, the 2021 Pinot Noir Reserve is ripe and expressive on opening, offering loads of black cherries, sweet herbs, forest floor, and cola. Medium-bodied, it retains good levity on the palate while keeping a ripe feel, with ripe tannins and a clean finish.

Winemaker Description 

Ripe cherry and plum aromas open to a complex mix of rhubarb, forest floor, creamy oak and exotic dark floral tones. The fruit flavors continue a smooth, full bodied palate with forest floor, vinous and dark cherry flavors, finishing with supple volume and balance acidity.

Enjoy this wine now with sweet and spicy Moroccan roasted carrots, truffle risotto or cellar for enjoyment over the next few years.

Winemaker Description 

This affordable Merlot is medium-bodied with a hint of oak and flavors of cherries and plums. It is rich in the mouth and ends in a soft fruit filled finish!

Winemaker Description 

Our 2021 Monterey Pinot Noir has bright cherry aromas that are layered with notes of wild strawberries and black tea. On the mouth, you get juicy black cherry flavors and notes of cola with hints of vanilla, toasted oak and well balanced tannins. A silky texture leads to a long finish.

The slightest differences in clonal composition and terroir can have a terrific impact on Monterey Pinot Noir, yet the essentials remain. The wines are bright, crisp and silky, with a perfumed fragrance leading to complex flavors ranging from cherry pie filling to rhubarbs, pomegranates and dusty brown spices, all accented by smoky oak.

Producer Description 

Spray onto carpet or fabric, let soak and rub. Some stains may require a second application. Bleach-free and biodegradable. Made from vegetable extracts. Safe when used around children and pets. Also works on other stains such as cranberry juice, coffee and more. Fresh citric scent. Made in the USA.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

James Suckling 92 Points | An energetic pinot with bright sliced strawberry and citrus character. Some mineral. Medium body. Vivid and focused.

Winemaker Description 

The 2020 Arsonist Red Blend is our left of center take on the classic Bordeaux blend. Anchored by Petit Verdot this robust red has loads of earthy leather and brambly fruit in the bouquet. The blend of three powerhouse reds delivers broad flavors of plum, blackberry, mocha and vanilla; barrel aging adds a nice dose of oak and a grip of tannin. The finish lingers with boysenberry and barrel spice.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Ken's Wine Guide | This slightly cloudy midnight purple colored Zinfandel from Once and Future opens with a blackberry and red licorice bouquet with hints of red plum, black cherry, dried sage, and violets. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with integrated medium acidity. The mouthfeel is balanced, round, and smooth. The flavor profile is blackberry, stone dust, and cinnamon blend with notes of boysenberry, black plum and nutmeg. We also detected hints of black tea and oak. The finish is dry, and its well-managed moderate tannins are very nicely sustained. The Tasting Panel would then pair this Zin with a nice New York strip steak along with a dark chocolate mousse. Enjoy – 

Vinous 91 Points | The 2022 Zinfandel Green & Red Vineyard is another wine in this range that is pretty closed today. It has plenty of energy, but the mid-palate is not quite as developed as it is in most vintages. Bottled on the early side, this feels a bit like it’s not fully developed. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

93 Points Wine Enthusiast | This deep and concentrated wine is as smooth as silk, scented with black currants, spearmint and a touch of toast, then soothes the palate with velvety tannins and lush, ripe fruit flavors. While easy to sip, it has a subtle, restrained tannin structure.

92 Points James Suckling | Aromas of blackberries and currants with spicy herbs, pine wood and crushed rocks. Medium- to full-bodied, sleek and polished with soft tannins and silky texture. Juicy, blue-fruited finish. Drink now.

Winemaker Description 

The color is intense and beautiful, almost black with purple, reddish hues. Aromas of black cherry, cassis, piecrust, spice, and mint mingle and leap from the glass. The palate is full and concentrated with similar aromas but also featuring black currant and sweet red cherry with the mild presence of oak, seamlessly integrated. Signature finely structured tannins and balanced acidity give way to a long finish which continues to build after that last sip.

Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description 

Aromas of cocoa and vanilla are enhanced by the rich flavors of currant and dark ripe fruits. Pleasing flavors of cassis and cola along with cinnamon and nutmeg fill out this smooth wine that is a great pick for any occasion. 

Expert Reviews 

Jan Anson 100 Points | A classical vintage that perfectly suits the Opus style. Gorgeous vivid plum colour, sculpted, balanced, with a ton of lift, waves of rose petals, iris and peony, soft grilled cumin, sage and white pepper spice. Love the hidden power here and the supple slightly chalky tannins that are structured in their architecture with a precision and carved quality. Precise, layered and stretched out, a brilliant Opus, concentrated and yet delicate. Feels pared back and captures the spirit of early Opus, when it moved forward the conversation of what Napa could be. Michael Silacci director, 100% new oak for ageing extremely well integrated even now.

James Suckling 99 Points | An enticing aroma of violets, cherry blossoms, fresh blue and black fruit and great structure define this beautiful, age-worthy wine. Subtle layering of fruit and oak spices between firm, fine-grained and supportive tannins gives it a calm intensity. So elegant and polished. Hints of cinnamon and graphite accent blackcurrant and blueberry flavors that linger and grow in a long finish. Already attractive to drink, but best after 2029.

Decanter 98 Points |  The 2021 Opus One is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, and half a percent each of Malbec and Merlot. It was aged up to 19 months in 100% new French oak. It's a seamless wine with balletic elegance and grace. From a deep ruby-crimson colour comes heady red and violet floral notes, sandalwood, and rich brown spices nuanced by graphite and dried sagebrush. Medium to full-bodied with ultrafine-grained tannins, almost powdery, with gorgeous cranberry and raspberry fruits and a kind of juicy, woody, crushed pomegranate seed character. You really can't believe how light and ephemeral this wine is.

The Wine Independent 98 Points | The 2021 Opus One is composed of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, and 0.5% each of Merlot and Malbec. It was bottled in July 2023. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes barreling out of the glass with gregarious notions of creme de cassis, wild blueberries, and redcurrant jelly followed by hints of cedar chest, sassafras, vanilla pod, and dark chocolate plus a waft of lilacs. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers shimmery red, black, and blue fruit layers with a firm texture of rounded tannins and impressive tension, finishing long and fragrant.

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points |  The 2021 Opus One is brilliant and I think one of the finest wines made from this estate. Deep ruby/purple-hued, with a gorgeous perfume of cassis, darker raspberries, spicy oak, and obvious minerality, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, lots of ripe tannins, and a great finish. It shines on all accounts and is complex, nuanced, textured, and beautifully balanced. It will have 30 years of prime drinking.

Winemaker Description 

Opus one is the dream project between baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. They both had a single dream of creating a single wine dedicated to uncompromising quality. Nearly four decades later, they still continue to refine the complex subtleties of Opus One by honoring traditional methods. The estate is made up of four estate vineyards, 100 acres are within the famed To Kalon Vineyard and another 70 acres are within the Ballestra and River parcels. The winemaking is lead by Micahel Silacci who combines intuition and technical acumen and has his hands in both the winemaking and vineyard practices.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

The Wine Advocate 99 Points | Colgin's 2021 IX Estate is a rich, opulent example, with layers of ripe black cherries and dark chocolate punctuated by hints of sage and bay leaf, plus some vaguely floral notes (violets?). Full-bodied, concentrated, velvety and long, it's another terrific wine that showcases the potential of Pritchard Hill, the investment by the owners and the talent of the winemaking team.

James Suckling 99 Points | Red currant, lead pencil and terra cotta aromas with some bay leaf and sage. Full-bodied with tight, firm tannins that are polished and very fine. Turns to graphite. Extremely long, refined, polished and exquisite. Best after 2028.

98+ Points Jeb Dunnuck | I’d wager a Napa Valley legend in the making, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon IX Estate comes from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill, and if there was ever a classification of terroirs in the valley, this would check in near the top of the list. Deep purple-hued, with awesome aromatics of pure cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and subtle floral hints, this has that rare mix of power and elegance that defines so many great wines. Full-bodied, concentrated, and flawlessly balanced, it has no shortage of structure and is going to need 7-8 years, if not a decade, to hit full maturity, where it will hold for 2-3 decade.

98 Points Vinous | The 2021 IX Estate is such an elegant wine. Sleek, aromatic and refined, the 2021 is one of the most polished young wines I have tasted from this site. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and mint abound. Silky and delineated, the 2021 is exceptionally beautiful and balanced. Clean saline notes and veins of tannin extend the explosive, sublime finish. 

Winemaker Description 

One of the "cult" producers to crop up in the early 1990s, Colgin Cellars' first vintage was in 1992, with fruit purchased from the Herb Lamb Vineyard, located on the lower slopes of Howell Mountain, just low enough not to be part of the Howell Mountain AVA. Colgin would later go on to buy land and develop vineyards at Tychson Hill (westside Saint Helena, purchased 1996) and IX Estate (Pritchard Hill, purchased in 1998). In 2017, Ann Colgin and her husband, Joe Wender, sold a controlling interest in Colgin Cellars to LVMH but remain active in the business.

Today, Colgin owns six acres of vines at Tychson Hill and 20 acres of vines at IX Estate, with 11 more acres there currently being developed. Cariad comes primarily from the Abreu-farmed Madrona Ranch, on the western side of Saint Helena. Director of Winemaking Allison Tauziet has been with Colgin since 2005, when she joined as assistant winemaker, so she is nearing 20 years of experience with these wines.

To put the new-release 2021s in perspective, Colgin, Wender and Tauziet presented three vintages each of the four wines reviewed this issue—2016, 2018 and 2021. I guess it will surprise no one that these are all gorgeous wines, given the positive press and numerous accolades bestowed on previous vintages, but it is encouraging to see that success and age hasn't slowed down the Colgin team's pursuit of excellence. I've included my ratings and reviews of the older vintages so readers can compare my impressions to those of my predecessor. Like many other producers, Colgin bottled no wines in 2020. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | The medium ruby-hued estate bottling, the 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is fresh and spicy, with aromas of bright cherries, fresh flowers, fresh forest spice, and dewy earth. Medium-bodied, it offers refined tannins and a beautifully approachable feel, with a clean, elegant, ripe note of orange citrus on the finish. Gorgeous all the way through, this will have a wide drinking window over the next 10 years.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Plump and juicy, this lush crowd-pleaser offers delicious cherry and raspberry compote notes laced with singed vanilla, red tea and sandalwood accents.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir Estate has pure aromas of pomegranate and rhubarb accented by notes of tobacco leaves and potpourri. The medium-bodied palate balances concentrated, earth-laced fruit with velvety tannins and bright acidity, and it has a long, bitters and citrus-laced finish.

Winemaker Description 

Elegant and beautifully balanced, this Pinot Noir has aromas of ripe cherry, vanilla and a hint of savory herbs, while on the palate it is juicy and refined with a hint of dusty cherry. The wine has a big rich mouth-feel, silky tannins and a long finish. This wine expresses classic Rochioli character.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

The  Wine Advocate 94 Points | Saline and graphite give way to baked apples, acacia and yogurty aromas on the 2020 Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard. Medium-bodied with a gentle phenolic grip, it offers bursts of refreshing acidity, mineral-driven flavors and a long, elegant finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Brought up in 25% new French oak, the 2020 Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard sports a light gold hue as well as a great nose of ripe green apple, honeyed flowers, and toasted bread. It's medium-bodied, bright, and vibrant on the palate, with a chiseled, focused style that's going to age gracefully.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Crisp, sleek and polished, with fresh and crisp notes of orange blossoms, lemon bar, candied ginger and lime sherbet. A toasted, salted hazelnut accent emerges on the finish. Drink now. 389 cases made.

Winemaker Description 

Aromas of citrus, toasted hazelnut and white flowers. Very expressive, displaying lemon confit and wet rocks while a touch of hazelnut adds charm. A full palate balanced by crisp acidity, bright, detailed and nuanced, this wine has a lot going on aromatically, while the minerally stone fruits on the palate are racy with a long finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Wine & Spirits Magazine 94 Points | This profound and powerful Chardonnay exhibits a rich, complex intensity that can only be found in unfiltered wines. The grapes are predominantly grown in the Carneros region where bay breezes and morning fog combine to create the cooler climate ideal for growing Chardonnay rich with concentrated flavors.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Newton's 2021 Chardonnay Unfiltered is light gold-hued and offers a great nose of sauteed stone fruits, honeyed white flowers, and spicy oak. Textured and medium-bodied, with bright acidity and terrific balance, it's made in a richer style but still stays wonderfully pure and balanced.

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Subtle oak spices mingle with lots of golden apple, yellow peach and pineapple flavors in this lightly oaked, medium-bodied wine that was barrel-fermented with indigenous yeast.

The Wine Advocate 91 Points | A Napa classic, Newton's 2021 Chardonnay Unfiltered continues a long tradition of excellence, delivering scents of toasted grain, caramelized pineapple and ripe melon. It's medium to full-bodied, starting off generous and round, then tightening up and turning citrusy on the finish.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Strikes an appealing balance between rich, spicy notes and a fresh thread of acidity and a juicy core of apple, pear and peach flavors and fresh-grated ginger. Reveals lingering hints of almond croissant, nutmeg and marmalade. Drink now. 5,600 cases made.

Winemaker Description 

This profound and powerful Chardonnay exhibits a rich, complex intensity that can only be found in unfiltered wines. The grapes are predominantly grown in the Carneros region where bay breezes and morning fog combine to create the cooler climate ideal for growing Chardonnay rich with concentrated flavors.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Vinous 95 Points | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is rich, racy and super-expressive. Silky and deep, with notable resonance, the 2021 offers up dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, new leather and licorice. Today, it is a very young wine in need of cellaring, but its potential is evident. Dollops of Petit Verdot and Malbec round out the blend. This should be positively stellar.

Winemaker Description 

The nose of the 2021 PlumpJack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon leads with juicy fruits – black cherry, boysenberry, blackberry jam, and muddled mixed berries. The fruit is layered with fresh mint, sage, and iron filings. These aromas are complemented by warming spices, vanilla, and cocoa nib. The palate has a beautiful, velvety texture with plush tannin and an enduring finish with impressions of espresso and dark chocolate.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points |  The 2020 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard (20% new French oak) has a touch of chamomile in its perfumed aromatics of golden apple, honeyed toast, spice, and subtle green almonds. Complex and nuanced aromatically, it's medium-bodied on the palate, has high yet nicely integrated acidity, terrific balance, and outstanding length.

91 Wine Spectator | Displays wonderful density, offering nectarine and lemon sorbet notes at the core, with a touch of salted, roasted almond. This white shows a hint of crunchy sea salt, with lemon verbena and lemon blossom aromatics. Firming acidity adds a refreshing punctuation point. Drink now. 331 cases made

Producer Description 

This Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay is bright, beautifully layered, and nuanced. Meyer lemon, candle wax, and cut straw all grace this very savory Chardonnay. Orange marmalade, stone fruits, and chamomile work seamlessly with the rich textures on the palate. This wine is natural with richer dishes and even light game.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 94 Points | This gorgeous wine is fragrant with cinnamon, rose petal and cedar aromas, then rich in black cherries, plums and flowers with a medium body and moderate tannins. A firm texture and balancing acidity lead to good length in the finish.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Refined and precise, this red serves up handsome flavors of raspberry and cherry accented by savory tea and mineral tones while building tension toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2032.

The Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir Estates has alluring scents of pomegranate, rhubarb, blood orange, tobacco and dried herbs. The medium-bodied palate is finely chalky with fireworks of fresh acidity. Its deep core of spicy fruit is immediately approachable, and a flourish of floral perfume defines the long finish.

Winemaker Description 

Producer Description 

Bursting forth with red berry fruit in abundance briar before leading into a slightly chewy and structured herbal quality. Before you've finished you'll be treated to fennel, roasted sage and a touch of earth. Tannins are there, but so well integrated you hardly notice...

70% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 7% Alicante Bouschet, 5% Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah & Carignane. The now mature "Bambino" vines were planted in 2000 and represent Bucklin's "young vine" Zinfandel. Fermented with indigenous yeast without any nutrient additions. Aged in neutral French oak for approximately 10 months.

Producer Description 

Livingston Cellars Rhine is a pleasantly sweet California Rhine that balances a crisp mouthfeel with bright fruit flavors. Livingston Cellars offers affordable award-winning wines that consistently exceed expectations.

Producer Description 

This new red wine blend is produced from Suisun Valley, a remarkable AVA that has become the Wagner family's second home. A 30-minute drive from Napa, Suisun has ideal soils and climate for a variety of grapes. The Walking Fool is named after a long-ago relative who was often seen traveling by foot - thus earning this affectionate moniker. Featuring Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, this wine is smooth and lively, with juicy raspberry, notes of espresso and softly fine tannins.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling 94 Points: Blackcurrants, spiced cedar and dark spices with bark undertones. Full-bodied with very fine, velvety tannins. Textured and compact with a firm, lingering finish. Tight at the end. Needs time to open.

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points: This powerful, densely packed wine bursts with aromas of late-picked blackberries, blueberries and cassis that give way to bold black fruit and dark-chocolate flavors accented by cloves, black pepper and cedar. The tannins are full and firm, needing several years to mellow for best enjoyment.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points: There should be around 30,000 cases of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasted as a final blend, taken from tank, it reveals plenty of cherries, plus a backdrop of darker, riper fruit flavors, like cassis and blueberry. There's the requisite cedar and vanilla, from aging in oak, but it's balanced. In the mouth, the wine is medium to full-bodied, silky-velvety smooth and easy to drink, plush without being creamy or overdone, with a long, mint-accented finish.

Wine Spectator 93 Points: A freshly plowed humus note pokes out first, with further coaxing in the glass revealing dense black currant, fig and blackberry paste flavors. On the back end, bittersweet cocoa and espresso crema notes give this a dark, slightly rugged persona, but should smooth out with some brief cellaring. For fans of the toasty style. Best from 2025 through 2040.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points: Coming mostly from the estate (70 acres), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is based on 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Merlot. Bottled in March of this year, it has a deep ruby/purple hue to go with a pure, ripe, seamless, medium to full-bodied profile as well as ample cassis and darker raspberry-like fruits, classic tobacco, and spicy, chocolaty oak. 

Producer Description 

Located in the cool Russian River Valley, the DCV Block 10 vineyard tends to ripen slowly, providing grapes that are deliciously balanced.  This balanced Chardonnay carries aromas of peach, green apple and lime with notes of candied ginger, allspice, cream soda and a touch of minerality.

The palate is full of intense, rich flavors of Asian pear, mango and Meyer lemon, with striking nuances of ruby grapefruit, honeydew melon and vanilla bean. 

Traces of spice from its brief barrel aging contribute to its harmonious and bright mouthfeel. Excellent immediate drinkability, although the wine does have potential to age well for 1–3 years." 

Producer Description 

Our Merlot is medium-bodied with deep blackberry aromas and a soft, satisfying finish. Enjoy its smooth flavors with Grilled Pork Chops with Apples or Rosemary-Braised Lamb Shanks.

Winemaker Description 

The 2021 CADE Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has beautiful aromas of cherry, raspberry, cranberry, cocoa nibs, baked red delicious apples, dark chocolate, and roasted coffee, followed by rhubarb pie, cinnamon, clove, red cherry, and boysenberry flavors on the palate. The wine has that classic Howell Mountain structure with great density and length. The 2021 vintage was warm and early but produced wines with great length, texture, bountiful fruit, and elegance.

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot. 

Winemaker Description 

Apothic captures the best of Cabernet Sauvignon, bringing a silky, elegant and delicate dimension to the typically bold characteristics of the variety. This wine showcases Cabernet Sauvignon’s distinctive fruit characteristics of blueberry, blackberry jam and dark plum, supported by soft, fine tannins that add plush richness to the mouthfeel.

A small addition of Zinfandel to the wine adds layers of cherry and dark fruit notes as well as a hint of spice. Subtle suggestions of vanilla linger on the smooth finish, a reflection of the wine’s selective oak aging.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com writes | This affordably hedonistic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is brimming with delicious flavor. Dark fruits fill the bouquet with aromas of blackberry, black cherry, violets, ripe plums and creme de cassis. Full bodied in the mouth, smooth and velvety in texture with unfolding layers of toasty oak, espresso roast, licorice and dark chocolate. Silky tannins add structure with a  lovely touch of vanilla on the long finish. Drinking perfectly.

Winemaker Description 

This Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is the first of its kind harvest by Herzog in Northern California's Lake county, a unique terroir with red volcanic soil, dry climate, and high elevation.

The nose is filled with rich aromas of blackberry jam, cassis, and mocha with subtler notes of sandalwood and vanilla. Cherry and spicy are more concentrated on the palate which combine with velvety tannins and subtle notes of leather over a long finish. Pairs well with grilled and roasted meats, duck, and dark chocolate.

Winemaker Description

While the 2021 vintage is defined by concentration and fine tannins often found in warm, dry vintages, it is nuanced by the freshness and liveliness typical of this cool growing region. The balance of elegant, forward profiles from the Bearman Bend Vineyard with the structured, spice-driven qualities from Monument Tree Vineyard come together to create a compelling snapshot of the Anderson Valley. Aromas of ripe wild strawberry rose and cedar on the nose are complemented by supple tannins and a long, lifted finish.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 93 Points | Nicely deep in black fruit and savory flavors, this well-balanced wine offers excellent focus, depth and length. It’s medium- to full-bodied, moderately tannic and delicious. Stays fresh with good acidity from the first sip to the lingering finish.

Decanter 92 Points | A Pinot Noir blend of grapes from Bearman Bend, the Twomey estate in Anderson Valley, along with Ferrington Vineyard and Monument Tree Vineyard fruit. Lovely, bright, crunchy red fruit, rich cedar spices, dried floral notes, and dusty minerals. Satiny fruit races across the palate, along with plump tannins, electrified by terrific acidity. The fruit concentration is penetrating but never overpowering and is framed by a clove powder and cedarwood dusting on the long finish. Director of Winemaking Justin Hirigoyen has moved the program further away from whole cluster fermentations to avoid too much vintage variation, and readers should expect a consistent fruit-forward, structured style in Twomey's Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.

Winemaker Description

Exclusively crafted under the meticulous care of the Herzog family and Herzog Wine Cellars’ head winemaker, David Galzignato, the Yesod wine series features three ultra-premium single-vineyard wines. Each wine is sourced from some of the most acclaimed vineyards in Napa Valley, California, and are a testament to the family’s rich history and the ambitious vision for Herzog Wine Cellars.

Expert Reviews

Robert Parker 95 Points | Brilliant aromas of black cherries and cassis jump from the glass, as the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Peak Edcora Vineyard bursts with fruit. All Cabernet Sauvignon, from a site that neighbors Stagecoach Vineyard, this is a medium to full-bodied, densely concentrated example of mountain fruit, yet it's one that is not harsh or tough, with well-ripened tannins and a plush, lingering finish. Bravo. 

Jeb Dunnuck 94+ Points | All varietal, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Peak Edcora Vineyard is another deep purple-hued wine in the lineup with tons to love. Pure cassis, graphite, leafy herbs, and damp earth-like nuances all shine here, and it's medium to full-bodied, with beautiful mid-palate depth, ripe, integrated, yet ample tannins, and a great finish. It offers pleasure today, yet I see no reason this shouldn't evolve for 15+ years if well stored. It's another gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon in the vintage. 

The Wine Independent 97+ Points | Deep garnet-purple in color, the single-varietal 2021 Peak Edcora Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon charges out of the gate with bold notions of creme de cassis, blackberry pie, and boysenberry preserves followed by nuances of dark chocolate, camphor, and black olives. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with black fruit and savory layers, supported by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering minty note. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling 92 Points | Soft around the edges and firm in the middle, this red- and black-fruited wine has a creaminess on the palate, delivering a mix of red cherries, blackberries and blueberries wrapped in moderate tannins. Contains small amounts of petit verdot, cabernet franc, malbec and merlot.

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | The classic 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is outstanding, with a more black fruit-driven profile as well as some violet and scorched earth nuances. Aged 18 months in 32% new French oak, it's medium to full-bodied, has a lifted, perfumed profile, supple tannins, and a great finish.