Decanter 95/100: "multi-layered and intensely flavoured with freshly baked bread, spiced white peach, and tangy acidity... very engaging and accomplished". Jancisrobinson.com 17.5 "very confident". Roederer's superb cool-climate California estate, since the 80s and on best-ever form now.
J. Suckling 94/100 "focus, precision, refined tannins, beautiful fruit, firm, polished, tight center palate of fruit and tannins. " Vinous: “performs well above its station."
Rated as the best Napa Cabernet Sauvignon in Decanter’s panel tasting, this wonderful wine is dark, dense yet smooth and juicy with ripe blackberries and dense plum; juicy and concentrated.
Ramey is a genus winemaker. "attractive, mid-weight... Bright red cherry, game and spice notes open up... plenty to look forward to. " Vinous (Galloni) 88-90/100
Jancis 17. Lovely flowery nose... custard-powder scent. Peach, melon, peanut... interesting, complex, great rendition of the textbook weight of the variety.
Parker 92 "excellent... aromas of crushed currants, plums, candied violets and baked clay... rich and youthfully chewy, with a crunchy core of fruit and fine-grained but firm structuring tannins"
A fantastic rosé from California's flagship variety. Delicate ripe watermelon, appealing strawberry and a hint of dried cranberry swirl together with a gentle sweetness and a crisp, balanced finish. Try with grilled prawns or seared salmon steaks.
Made by all female star team of owner Lindsay Hoopes, Anne Vauter (ex Screaming Eagle) and Jennifer Rue this has richness and eleganc in equal measure. Extended barrel ageing has softened the wine, as has some bottle age, making it exquisite to drink now. It will keep but why wait?
A huge, berry-scented mouthful; a blend of mostly cab, with merlot and petit sirah in supporting roles. Silky but crisp with wild blackberry and currant, the wine shows ripe fruit and ripe tannins and is a bargain at the price point
A huge, berry-scented mouthful; a blend of mostly cab, with merlot and petit sirah in supporting roles. Silky but crisp with wild blackberry and currant, the wine shows ripe fruit and ripe tannins and is a bargain at the price point
Opens with bold aromas of boysenberry, black cherry and a bevy of vanilla nuances. On the palate, this wine is fruit-driven with flavours of pomegranate, black cherry, fresh cranberry and nutmeg.
The Crusher Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a vibrant bouquet of black cherry, toasted oak and captivating pepperiness. Graceful in the mouth, with a silky texture and lively dark berry fruit, flavors of plum and dark chocolate expand on the palate.
All estate fruit from the original Monte Bello estate, from lots considered not inferior, but more suitable for early consumption rather than the grand vin's 30-yr window approach. So, effectively the 2nd wine of Monte Bello. Minimal intervention as ever, natural and organic. 20 months in air-dried American oak, half new. The first vintage from these vineyards was 1892, and the oldest vines making this wine were planted in 1949. Eric the winemaker, visiting us in Cambridge, tipped us off that this is a smart buy.
I've been a fan of this from the start. 100% Zin, organic and minimal intervention as ever. To sum up this is a wine of serious character and intrigue - a proper, honest, shamelessly Californian Zin, whilst also filling the role of ready-to-pop take-to-a-smart-dinner-party treat full of deep plum-skin joy and vanilla silk.
JebDunnuck.com: 93 Points “All Zinfandel from the Dry Creek Valley, the 2018 Zinfandel East Bench offers up a great, pure, medium to full-bodied style that carries lots of classic spice, brambly herbs, incense, and plum-laced fruits. Nicely balanced, structured, and with solid length, this terrific Zinfandel will be even better with a year in bottle and keep for a decade.” – Jeb Dunnuck (May 2020)
Wine Spectator: 92 Points “Appealingly old-school and just rustic enough to highlight the vibrant, briary wild berry flavors, laced with dried sage and licorice notes, building tension toward lively tannins. Drink now through 2028.” – T.F. (March 2020)
Blue Lifestyle: 92 Points “Rich plum, sec and vanilla nose; silky and crisp; juicy and fresh, lively with hints of earth and spice, silky, energetic and long. Organic.” – Anthony Dias Blue (April 2020)
Based on Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, the 2013 Optimus offers lots of graphite, earth and peppery herbs to go with tons of red and black fruit characteristics. A full-bodied, rich and layered red that epitomizes Paso Robles, it has beautiful freshness, a silky texture and a great finish. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.
Decanter Magazine Outstanding (95-97pts) December 2020 "Reserved plum and blackberry nose. Plump and svelte, concentrated and fleshy, with fine-grained tannins and enough acidity to give some persistence. Well made. Dark chocolate finish."
WINE ENTHUSIAST
90 points || This wine is a richly layered and softly approachable expression of the variety. Blackberry, plum and caramel are wrapped in a viscous, velvety texture that lasts through an impressive finish.
Before grapes dominated the landscape, the oak studded Napa Valley provided rich grazing land for sprawling horse and cattle ranches. Black Stallion is located on the historic Silverado Trail in Napa Valley`s Oak Knoll District, and was once home to the Silverado Equestrian Center, an indoor arena that welcomed up to 3,000 visitors. The property`s name pays homage to this equestrian history, and today its 32 hectares cover some of Napa`s most prestigious vineyards. Dedicated to producing small-batch, site-specific Cabernet Sauvignon, they have built a stellar reputation for their age worthy, expressive wines with dense, dark berry fruit and medium high acidity.
Since acquiring the property in 2010, the Delicato family have expanded the range to include a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir, as well as a Limited Edition range that includes a Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. All these wines are sourced from a selection of exceptional Napa vineyards and adhere to the same principles that made Black Stallion`s original Cabernets famous. In the cellar, winemaker Ralf Holdenried treats each lot gently and individually, from vineyard to fermentation to barrel. Each wine is blended from dozens of individual lots to express its varietal character and the diversity of the Napa Valley.
The Crusher Pinot Noir is powerfully aromatic, with notes of pomegranate, rose petal and nutmeg. Juicy and spicy on the palate, this wine exudes flavours of plum, glazed strawberry and cinnamon bread from 12 months of French oak aging.
Matthew Jukes,MatthewJukes.com, 5th February 2021
"Of course one has to be prepared for a full-framed style when dealing with Californian Chardonnay, so I was impressed to see that under the expressive, cool-climate, Russian River-influenced fruit there is a beating heart of refreshing acidity which electrifies this dynamic wine. Made from a blend of fruit from three vineyards, each with their specific microclimates, this is a seriously fascinating new release and I was fully prepared for a fifty-pound price tag attached to this terrific flavour. So, if you are searching for a top-flight Californian Chardonnay which doesn`t cost the earth then here it is and if anyone puts you on the spot, I can assure you that you have nothing to worry about!"
Steve Kistler, started as a winemaker at Ridge (long-term fave of ours and true California royalty) in the 1970s. He and his dedicated long-standing team founded this winery in his favourite coastal one in eastern Sonoma, cool and perfect for gloriously complex, aromatic Pinot Noir. His skill and dedication are peerless, his wines a sensual joy. Very rare, we only get a few dozen a year from the tiny UK allocation. A must-try
Parker "The 2018s from Occidental are simply magnificent"
"While everyone knows of Steve Kistler’s remarkable chardonnays, I believe his pinot noir will ultimately prove even more historic." - ROBERT PARKER, JR.
Parker91
Pale to medium ruby, the 2016 Pinot Noir 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. 975 cases produced.
92 points - James Suckling: "attractive, bright, red-cherry aromas with a wealth of fresh flowers and an attractively defined palate that delivers smooth, glossy and ripe tannins that carry plenty of vibrant fruit. Good definition here. Drink or hold."
Parker 90pts: 'The medium ruby colored 2017 Zinfandel Sonoma County is scented of spiced peaches, warm raspberries, blueberries and potpourri with notes of cinnamon, dried leaves and exotic spices. The palate is medium to full-bodied, soft and lush with juicy acidity and a long, flavorful finish. This is an easy-drinking but nonetheless delicious Zinfandel and a great value.'
Drink: 2020 - 2026
Made by all female star team of owner Lindsay Hoopes, Anne Vauter (ex Screaming Eagle) and Jennifer Rue this has richness and eleganc in equal measure. Extended barrel ageing has softened the wine, as has some bottle age, making it exquisite to drink now. It will keep but why wait?
Chateau Montelena’s Napa Chardonnay showed that the new world could create classically balanced and complex wines in its own voice, and that from the right sites and with perseverance, the results could equal anything made the world over. Through fads and trends, Montelena has never changed in its philosophy of bringing the sunshine of California in a style that is structured, balanced and age worthy.
In 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris”, Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays in a blind tasting with a who’s-who of the French food and wine industry judging. And as they say, the rest is history.
The wine opens with fresh peach, apricot, and honeydew amidst citrus blossom and rose water. The diversity of aromas in this vintage is astounding as the floral characteristics begin to take center stage with time in the glass along with ample fresh pear and cinnamon. The palate is lush viscous, and driven by lemon curd, the palate leans toward creaminess but with enough bright acid, green apple, and toast to bring balance and finesse. The ripeness of the vintage drives the mouthfeel as the flavors exude freshness and vibrancy, a unique combination. The finish is concentrated and persistent, again stone fruit appear, albeit in candied form, along with a hint of white pepper and plenty of orange zest.
"A Mediterranean blend of Zinfandel, Carignan, Alicante Bouchet, Syrah and assorted mixed blacks fermented with native yeasts and aged in primarily neutral containers (15% in new French oak), it is a California version of a high-class Cotes du Rhone. Lots of berry fruit intermixed with lavender, pepper and meaty black cherry and black currant flavors emerge from this satisfying, round, expansive, generous red. An outstanding, killer value that should provide pleasure over the next 1-2 years. If there is a better value in California wine, I would like to know about it." - The Wine Advocate.
Made with incredible craft and passion by owner Byron Dooley, this wine is made from 100% Luminous Hills fruit and is built for early approachability as a richer wine, but with backbone and vibrancy.
Serious classic, a benchmark of Burgundian style in California. Broad-boned, multi-layered savoury/saline/mineral complexity. Packs an impressive punch at the price.
Serious classic, a benchmark of Burgundian style in California. Broad-boned, multi-layered savoury/saline/mineral complexity. Packs an impressive punch at the price.
Chateau Montelena 2012 92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Rather Chablis-like aromas of apple and resin, plus a hint of honey. Sweet and ripe in the nature of the vintage, offering a touch of creaminess to the flavours of fresh peach, apple, herbs and spices. Shows a broad spectrum of ripeness without any obvious extremes. A very successful vintage for this wine. (ST)
Chateau Montelena’s Napa Chardonnay showed that the new world could create classically balanced and complex wines in its own voice, and that from the right sites and with perseverance, the results could equal anything made the world over. Through fads and trends, Montelena has never changed in its philosophy of bringing the sunshine of California in a style that is structured, balanced and age worthy.
In 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris”, Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays in a blind tasting with a who’s-who of the French food and wine industry judging. And as they say, the rest is history.
The wine opens with fresh peach, apricot, and honeydew amidst citrus blossom and rose water. The diversity of aromas in this vintage is astounding as the floral characteristics begin to take center stage with time in the glass along with ample fresh pear and cinnamon. The palate is lush viscous, and driven by lemon curd, the palate leans toward creaminess but with enough bright acid, green apple, and toast to bring balance and finesse. The ripeness of the vintage drives the mouthfeel as the flavors exude freshness and vibrancy, a unique combination. The finish is concentrated and persistent, again stone fruit appear, albeit in candied form, along with a hint of white pepper and plenty of orange zest.
