Wine Advocate (96)

Fruit for this was harvested on September 8th, and the wine was bottled six months ago. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard gives up exuberant notions of warm blueberries, crème de cassis, lilacs and chocolate box with hints of fertile loam, licorice and menthol. Medium-bodied, elegant, very fresh and juicy, the palate has beautifully ripe, fine-grained tannins supporting the generous fruit, finishing long and perfumed. 1,200 cases produced.

Wine Advocate (97+)

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard spent 12 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with bold scents of fresh blackberries, black currants and mulberries plus suggestions of cedar chest, pencil lead, iron ore and truffles, with emerging wafts of crushed rocks and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers firm, grainy, exquisitely ripe tannins and seamless freshness supporting layer upon layer of black fruits, finishing on a long-lingering fragrant earth note. 800 cases were made.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Another wine that flirts with perfection is the 2018 Mourvedre, and you’d be hard pressed to find a better Mourvèdre out there. Offering a beautiful freshness as well as powerful notes of black and blue fruits, violets, ground pepper, iron, and a touch of bloody meat, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe, silky tannins, no hard edges, and one heck of a great finish. This powerful, stacked Mourvèdre should have 15 years of longevity. The 2018 checks in as 85% Mourvedre, 12% Syrah, and the balance Viognier that was 25% destemmed and spent 21 months in 50% new French oak barriques and 600-liter demi-muids.

Jeb Dunnuck (97-100)

Lastly, the Syrah-dominated 2021 No 10 reveals a dense purple hue as well as a wild bouquet of blueberries, wild strawberries, ground pepper, game, iron, and assorted floral, meaty nuances. Stunningly complex even at this young age, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, ample tannins and underlying structure, and a finish that won’t quit. It will clearly be a match for the 2020, and this puppy is going to flirt with perfection at maturity.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

Pepper, smoked meats, red and black fruits, and some floral, spicy notes all emerge from the 2022 No 11, which is 91% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre, and 3% Viognier, fermented with 45% whole cluster and aged in 65% new oak. Beautiful, layered, ripe, and full-bodied, it has velvety tannins and a great, great finish. It’s another blockbuster from this estate that will evolve gracefully for at least 15 years. Drink 2025-2040.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Another perfect wine from Jim Binns is the 2019 No 8, a blend of 88% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre, and 3% Viognier. This full-bodied powerhouse of a wine has that rare mix of richness and elegance as well as a stunning array of red, blue, and black fruits along with notes of ground pepper, violets, and spring flowers. The balance is as good as it gets, it has ultra-fine tannins, and again, a mix of power and finesse that's something to behold. It's unquestionably approachable today yet should benefit from a few years of bottle age and keep for 15+.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

One of the finest examples of this cuvée I’ve tasted is the 2016 Champoux Vineyard, which comes from one of the top terroirs in the state and is in the slightly cooler Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The blend in 2016 is 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Cabernet Franc, all aged 18 months in just 25% new French oak. Young, full-bodied, and primordial, it has incredible potential but is going to need 4-5 years of bottle age. Thrilling notes of blueberries, cassis, lead pencil shavings, and bouquet garni all define the bouquet and it has remarkable purity and elegance. It picks up more floral and high-toned notes with time in the glass and is a brilliant bottle of wine that will keep for 2-3 decades.

Wine Advocate (95)

Deep ruby with purple highlights, the 2017 Champoux Vineyard is a stunning success with elegance and complexity bursting at the seams. Seductive blackberry essence, dusty plum skin, dark cherries and cassis waft out of the glass with delicate dusty floral tones, dried tobacco and graphite nuances. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is balanced with rich complexity and an elegant mineral tension before offering up a clearly delineated fruit frame compounded by focus, precision and finesse. At present, the wine has a pleasingly tannic edge and finishes with a mineral tension and red-fruited succulence that continue to evolve in the mouth. Simply stellar!

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Flirting with perfection, the 2016 Sorella checks in as 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% each of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot. Coming all from the Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, its saturated purple color is followed by a La Mission Haut Brion-like bouquet of black and blue fruits, gravelly, minerality, smoke tobacco, and chocolate. Deep, multi-dimensional, full-bodied, and with beautiful complexity, it’s a magical wine as well as the finest wine from this estate to date. Bravo!

Wine Advocate (97)

A resounding success, the deep ruby-colored 2017 Sorella displays beautiful purple highlights and explodes from the glass with aromas of blackberry, cigar box and dried tobacco with hints of graphite and dusty purple flowers. Full-bodied, the wine is ripe and round, with an immaculate mouthfeel, showing an impressive depth of flavor. With succulent red and black fruit expressions and soft cinnamon spice tones from oak, the wine is a whirlwind of complexity across the mid-palate. Emerging with a balanced structure and lifted tannic backbone, the wine lingers with persistence and intention, as flavors of dusty bitter dark chocolate, black plum and spiced dark cherries flutter across the finish. Bravo, this is absolutely stunning and will drink amazingly for the next two decades to come.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2021 Chardonnay Aurata is brimming with peach, quince paste, almond tart and orange blossom aromas. The full-bodied palate melds ripe fruit, spice and honey and has an especially luxurious, satiny texture. Its sapidity is balanced by fireworks of fresh acidity, and it has a long, layered finish.

Vinous (94)

Limpid ruby. Suave, highly perfumed aromas of raspberry liqueur, cola, potpourri and five-spice powder, along with a smoky mineral overtone. Sweet, impressively concentrated red fruit preserve and floral pastille flavors are complicated by suggestions of Asian spices and rhubarb that build in the glass. At once powerful and graceful, finishing with superb focus, lingering sweetness and silky, harmonious tannins. This vibrant, complex wine is a serious knockout for the vintage.

Indulge in the prestigious Antica Terra Pinot Noir Ceras 2021, a masterful fruit of Oregon's mist-kissed landscapes. Epitomising class and finesse, this wine stands as an icon of the Antica Terra estate, celebrated for producing world-beating Pinot Noirs. Traversing the diverse terroirs of Eola-Amity Hills, at an elevation of 350 to 500 feet, the vineyard's 11 acres unfurl in an enchanting labyrinth of vines.

Winemaker Maggie Harrison, formerly of Sine Qua Non, meticulously champions an artisanal approach. This particular bottling wine is crafted from meticulously hand-picked fruit. The 2021 Ceras unfurls layers of dark cherries and crispy, refined tannins, underpinning a symphony of silken textures. The finesse of the palate is a testament to its biodynamic farming and native yeast fermentation. With age, it promises to evolve even more complexity.

The Antica Terra Pinot Noir Ceras 2021 embodies the sublime union of earth's bounty and human touch, a must-have addition to every fine wine admirer's collection.

Wine Advocate (95)

Medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley bursts with pure cranberries, black cherries, charcuterie, loamy earth and blood orange aromas. Medium-bodied, it has pleasing graininess and bursts of freshness to support the full, ripe fruits and flavorful finish. This cuvée offers classic Russian River fruit in a very classy frame.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2019 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills is ethereal and perfumed this vintage. It offers pure scents of raspberry preserves, bergamot, tangerine and Angostura with wafts of sweet balsamic. The palate is soft, bright and super silky, with layer after layer of sweet fruit, spice and citrus, and it finishes long and perfumed.

Wine Advocate (97-99)

One of the last vineyards picked, this section of Hyde vineyard in Carneros is planted to Corton Charlemagne clone on St. George rootstock. The 2018 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons leaps from the glass with vivacious fresh grapefruit, lemon peel, orange blossoms and lime cordial notes with nuances of fresh ginger, hay, sea spray and chalk dust. The full-bodied mouth explodes with the whole citrus-fruit flavor spectrum—lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit on steroids—complemented by loads of spicy sparks and lifted by amazing freshness, sporting a provocatively creamy texture and finishing long.

Vinous (98)

One of the highlights in this range, the 2017 Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard is also the most gracious and lifted of Mark Aubert's Chardonnays. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint, chalk and white pepper give the wine lift and perfume. Delicate, understated and classy to the core, the Lauren has it all. The 2017 is a stunning wine. It's as simple as that. Don't miss it.

Wine Advocate (97-99)

Produced from Montrachet Clone vines (what Mark Aubert calls “the citrus circus clone") grown in Rutherford AVA, the 2018 Chardonnay Sugar Shack comes bounding out of the glass with a sit-up-and-beg nose of candied lemon peel, green mango, guava and lime leaves plus hints of honeysuckle, toasted almonds, crushed stones and nutmeg. Full-bodied, the palate is electric with concentrated citrus and tropical fruits and the most amazing tension, featuring a satiny texture and very long, pristine finish.

Discover the exquisite Audeant Seven Springs Vineyard Chardonnay 2020. This masterpiece hails from the well-regarded terroir of Oregon in the USA. The Audeant winery, highly respected for their exceptional viticulture practices, craft this distinctive Chardonnay exclusively from their hillside plantation at the Seven Springs Vineyard. The wine undergoes careful fermentation and maturation in French oak barrels to enrich its complex character.

The Audeant Seven Springs Vineyard Chardonnay 2020 captivates with a concentrated palate of white peach, crisp green apple and limestone minerality beautifully balanced by a hint of toasted vanilla. Its vibrant acid profile concludes with an enduring finish that bears testimony to its distinguished lineage. An embodiment of the vintage, this elegant Chardonnay is acknowledged for its purity, intensity and age-worthiness, marking it as a must-have in any discerning wine collection.

Indulge your palate with the exquisite Baettig Vino de Vinedo Los Parientes Pinot Noir 2021. This divine Chilean red exhibits complexities of fine Burgundy. Crafted in the revered Casablanca Valley, this gem retains the region's distinct cool-climate characteristics. The skilled baettig family meticulously vinify small batches, using native yeasts and minimal interventionist approach to retain authenticity. Maturation takes place in French oak barrels, imbuing the wine with elegant textural depth.

The result is a luscious expression of Pinot Noir. Delicate undertones of ripe raspberries and strawberries mingle with soft floral notes. Undertones of forest floor and sweet spices further elevate its sophistication. A truly balanced bottle, boasting bright acidity juxtaposed to velvety tannins. This is wine-de-vigneron eloquently portraying the artisanal spirit of Baettig Vino de Vinedo Los Parientes Pinot Noir 2021. A heavenly libation for discerning wine lovers.

James Suckling (95)

Cedary wood with cigars, sandalwood, cassis, blackberries, chili chocolate and a fine twist of balsamic note. Medium to full body with a smooth but tight frame, imbedded with creamy, melted tannins. Flavorful, polished and long. Drinkable now, but better after 2024.

James Suckling (98)

Blackberry, blackcurrant and mint with some sage and crushed-stone undertones. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that are in-check and nicely polished. Smoke, toasted oak and bark at the end, complementing the fresh yet ripe fruit. Drink after 2024.

James Suckling (100)

Wow! The aromas to this are really exceptional, with a tangerine edge to the blackcurrants, graphite, lead pencil, flowers and wet earth. It changes all the time. So expressive and refined. Full-bodied with great intensity and depth of fruit. The ultra-fine tannins display millions of layers. The texture on the palate is superb and lasts for minutes. This is the new 1974 George de Latour, which was a legend. Real Napa Valley red here. Drinkable now, to understand it, but truly great in five to six years and onwards. Benchmark.

Jeb Dunnuck (98+)

Lastly, the flagship 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Georges De Latour Private Reserve is in the same ballpark as the 2019 and is an incredibly elegant yet concentrated 2021 that does everything right. Purple-hued, with ample cassis, wild sage, graphite, and darker chocolate-like aromatics, it picks up a Graves-like gravelly earth character with air and is full-bodied, has ripe, polished tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. As with many of the top 2021s, it s a touch reserved and closed and needs 4-5 years of bottle age, but will drink well for 30 years.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2019 Pinot Noir The Beaux Frères Vineyard is super expressive this vintage, with scents of brambly fruit, rose petals, forest floor, sweet balsamic and blood orange. The palate has a weightless quality, its silty tannins and bright acidity highlighting an array of earthy accents, and it finishes very long.