California Collector Wines

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The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is an outrageously beautiful wine and also one of the wines of the year. A soaring, exotic bouquet makes a strong opening statement. Pliant and creamy, with mind-blowing textural finesse, the 2021 dazzles from start to finish. Hard candy, mint, lavender, Kirsch and spice linger on the close. The 2021 possesses mind-blowing purity and exceptional finesse.Vinous Media | 99 VM

Lastly, the 2021 The Bard checks in as 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. This beauty has a killer bouquet of cassis, spring flowers, graphite, chalky minerality, and violets. This carries to a full-bodied, seamless, silky, flawlessly balanced effort revealing fine tannins, a good sense of freshness, and a thrilling finish.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDAfter sampling 86 wines over a two-day marathon tasting with Realm Cellars co-owners Scott Becker and winemaker Benoit Touquette, I had no doubt that one would make my top 10 list of the year. It would be The Bard, which will be available beginning in 2024. It is a very giving wine that promises great rewards for long-term cellaring and is enjoyable three full nights in a row, never losing its zeal if having one great glass each night is your prerogative. Power and muscle frame the core of this towering red, with its red-toned fruits and rich, toasty oak spices nuanced by bay Laurel and pastis. Full-bodied with tremendous decadence of chocolaty tannins that are pliant and billowy, lifted by supple blackberry and black raspberry fruit, a drizzle of cherry coulis, and resolving with refined tobacco, cedar wood spices, and laced with coriander and cumin aromatics. It has a satisfyingly rich finish. Number five of my top 10 wines of 2023.Decanter | 97 DECThe purity of fruit here is impressive with blackcurrants, bark and black mushrooms. Full-bodied but light-footed and fresh with integrated tannins that melt into the wine. Real transparency and focus. 83% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot, 6% cabernet franc, 3% petit verdot and 1% petite sirah. So drinkable but can age as well.James Suckling | 97 JSA blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, and 1% Petite Sirah, the fruit for the 2021 The Bard comes from sites across the valley, including some estate fruit and some sourced fruit. Deep garnet-purple colored, it shoots from the glass with vibrant notions of crushed black currants, red currant jelly, black raspberries, and pencil shavings, giving way to notes of lilacs, dark chocolate, and a waft of spearmint. The full-bodied palate is firm with ripe, fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone framing the tightly wound red, black, and blue fruit flavors, finishing with great length and a real skip in its step.The Wine Independent | 97 TWIThe 2021 The Bard is fabulous. Rich, ample and beautifully resonant, the 2021 offers up generous dark red cherry/plum fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice, spice, menthol and pipe tobacco. Full-bodied and voluptuous, the 2021 flaunts tons of flavor intensity and vibrancy. It’s a gorgeous wine, especially considering it is the largest-production wine at Realm.Vinous Media | 95 VM

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Incubo is another fabulous wine from Aaron Pott’s Mount Veeder estate. Inky dark fruit, grilled herbs, leather, incense, licorice and dried flowers power through in this dense, explosive Cabernet Sauvignon.Vinous Media | 97 VMThe 2021 Incubo Cabernet Sauvignon, with 1% Cabernet Franc in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. Scents of blackcurrant jelly, kirsch, wild blueberries, and aniseed leap from the glass with underlying hints of cedar, graphite, and black olives. Full, firm, fine-grained, and bright, the palate shimmers with energy, delivering a long minerally finish.The Wine Independent | 97 TWISo focused, vibrant, layered and lively, with aromas of red fruit, subtle oak spices, currants and mint. Fine-grained tannins embrace the classic black cherry and cassis flavors. A brilliant wine that only needs time to mature and develop more complexity. Best from 2029.James Suckling | 96 JSThe 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Incubo is brilliant juice, offering a deep purple hue as well as a killer bouquet of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, spring flowers, and damp earth/underbrush-like nuances. I love its complexity and this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, elegant mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish. Blended with just a splash of Cabernet Franc, drink this classy, impeccably made Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon over the coming two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JD

This note is written before the final blend of the 2021 Continuum. Deep purple-black in color, it hits the ground running with an intense nose of red and black currant preserves, lilacs, baker’s chocolate, and graphite, leading to an undercurrant of black olives and red loam. On the medium to full-bodied palate it is very lively, grainy and super-concentrated, finishing long and shimmery.The Wine Independent | 98-100 TWIThis is so aromatic with blackcurrant, blackberry, graphite, iron, pine bark and orange peel. Hints of wild sage and peppermint. Seductive perfumes. Full-bodied with extremely well-integrated tannins that have great length. Elegant firmness at the finish. The quality of the tannins is some of the best I have had in a young Continuum. Seamless silk. Great finish. 45% cabernet sauvignon, 35% cabernet franc, 11% merlot and 9% petit verdot. Best after 2027.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2021 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard is a heady, bombastic wine with a huge fruit profile and equally imposing tannins. In so many vintages, Continuum can be quite racy and seductive, but 2021 is not one of those years. Readers will have to be especially patient here. Lavender, mocha, crème de cassis and cloves build into the substantial, resonant finish. The blend is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot. It will be interesting to see if the tannins soften. Today, the 2021 is a brute. Let’s see what time bringsVinous Media | 94+ VM

Floral, non-fruity hints of crushed stone and talcum powder appear on the nose of Aubert’s 2021 Chardonnay Powder House, creating an attractive counterpoint to the wine’s honeyed richness and intense white-peach notes. Full-bodied and silky in feel, it’s a bit custardy in texture yet lithe, graceful and long, with an almost mentholated finish. There are 2,000 cases this vintage, from a Forestville vineyard planted in 2015 mainly to Hyde Old Wente, plus a bit of Mount Eden.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95-97 RPLove the aromas of lemon-lime, gunpowder, kiwi, and dried lemons. It’s full, phenolic and solid. This is like red wine in structure. Long and persistent. One for the cellar. Give this some time. Best after 2025.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2021 Chardonnay Powder House is elegant, polished and also a touch reticent. That won’t be an issue in time, but the Powder House is decidedly reticent today. Strong mineral accents are front and center, while the fruit feels pushed into the background. Mark Aubert’s Chardonnays have historically aged quite well. I expect that will be the case here as well.Vinous Media | 94-96 VM

Pie crust with brioche, lemon meringue, lime leaf, and blackboard chalk. Very aromatic. Full-bodied, with terrific structure and incredibly complex on the finish with seaweed and umami. Sea breeze, iodine and oyster finish. Superb wine. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2021 Chardonnay UV-SL comes from largely Goldridge soils in parcels owned and managed by the Valdez family (UV being the initials of Ulises Valdez, Aubert’s frequent vineyard collaborator, who died in 2018). There are 2,000 cases of this elixir, which offers up classic notes of toasted hazelnuts, white peaches and citrus zest. It’s full-bodied, rich and opulent yet contained and controlled, with great silky length and energy. Aubert describes the oak thusly: "The oak is perfect. It just kisses you with a bit of vanilla and cookie dough." The wine is certainly delicious, and thinking back on it, I wonder if my rating is a bit conservative.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96-98 RPThe 2021 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard is one of the more exotic wines in the range. Initially a bit ethereal, the 2021 opens beautifully on the mid-palate and finish, where it shows tremendous breadth and notable mineral intensity. The UV-SL is not quite as obvious as some of the other wines in this range, but its pedigree is evident. There’s real density here, and tons of class.Vinous Media | 95-97 VM

The 2021 EE Red Wine is ripe and powerful, with smoky red and black fruits as well as lots of background oak, graphite, espresso, and dark chocolate-like aromas and flavors that develop beautifully with time in the glass. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has plenty of background oak, the building tannins of the vintage, and a great finish. A gorgeous wine, it will benefit from 3-4 years in the cellar and evolve for 25-30 years in cold cellars. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc brought up in new barrels.Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JDA blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Proprietary Red EE Tench Vineyard offers up a wonderful range of dark fruit—black cherries, cassis and blackberries—couched in hints of dark chocolate. Like almost all the Bevan wines, it’s full-bodied, richly concentrated and velvety in texture. This one finishes long, with a mocha and cocoa-stained finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95-97 RPThe 2021 Red Blend EE is one of the more overt wines in the range. Super-ripe red cherry, blackberry, chocolate, spice, gravel and licorice are all amplified in this heady, exotic Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc blend. The 2021 is a powerhouse.Vinous Media | 93-96 VM

The terrific 2021 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain is a 60-40 blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot from this vineyard in southern Napa. Vaguely floral and leafy, loaded with purple raspberries and cherries, this is really complex, with lovely fruit. Full-bodied, supple, silky and seamless, it finishes long and elegant.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98-100 RPThe 2021 Red Wine Sugarloaf Mountain is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot. Ripe and juicy, the 2021 delivers the goods and then some. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, cloves, chocolate and new leather are all dialed up. This heady, exotic red is classic Bevan all the way. The 2021 is one of the best Sugarloaf wines I can remember tasting. What a knock-out.Vinous Media | 94-97 VMGorgeous blue fruits, mountain scrub brush, sage, espresso, black raspberry, and violet notes all emerge from the 2021 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot that’s full-bodied and has terrific overall balance, building, fine-grained tannins, and a good spine of acidity that carries through the finish. This is another gorgeous wine in the lineup that shines for its complexity, balance, and depth.Jeb Dunnuck | 97+ JD

One of the legendary Dominus, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is unquestionably in the same league as the 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2010, and 1991, and to my mind, wine simply doesn’t get any better. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as an incredible perfume of blackcurrants, crushed stone, cedar pencil, smoke tobacco, and baking spices, it s rich, full-bodied, and voluptuously textured, with ripe yet building tannins. It reminds me slightly of the 2010 (maybe the 2013), and I suspect it will have a similar evolution. Hide bottles for 7-8 years, and it will evolve gracefully for 30+ years. Hats off to the team of Christian Moueix and director Tod Mostero.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDThe purity of the cabernet fruit is so enticing, with blackcurrant, rose petals, nettles and subtle graphite. Touches of terra cotta and licorice. Full-bodied with super integrated tannins that are wonderfully polished, giving a cashmere texture that is really luxurious to taste at this early stage. It is quenching and so delicious already. 95% cabernet sauvignon and 5% cabernet franc. Needs three to four years to come around but already a joy to taste. Try after 2027.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2021 Dominus is a powerful, tightly-coiled wine that is holding back quite a bit of reserve. There’s real depth and resonance waiting to emerge as the wine matures. Floral overtones and bright acids confer energy to a core of red/bluish fruits. Readers will find a Dominus built more on linear precision rather than opulence. It is hugely impressive in this tasting, with a long chalky finish.Vinous Media | 98 VMThis shows density on par with the ’18, with a core of cassis and plum notes still tucked away a bit behind a wall of structure, while singed toast and licorice hints peek in throughout. The youthfully backward aspect shows on the finish as well, where this throws a chunk of tannins to the fore. Very concentrated and with serious tension, this is a strapping young wine that shows what a warm and very dry vintage feels like. Think ’18/’13 combo here. Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc. -- Non-blind Dominus retrospective (August 2022). Wine Spectator | 96-99 WS

This shows a lot of class, with aromas of blackcurrants, graphite, blueberries, dried flowers, black truffles and a touch of forest floor. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, with seamless tannins that goes on and on. Endless. Blackcurrants, dark mushrooms and violets with hints of fresh rose stems and light herbs. Velvety texture. A blend of 92% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Better after 2027.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2021 Napanook is one heck of a Napanook, offering complex notes of currants, cassis, graphite, leafy tobacco, lead pencil, and chocolate. Incredible on the palate, it’s full-bodied and round, with supple, vibrant, incredible tannins. This is easily the finest vintage I’ve tasted of this cuvée and it’s the equivalent of many a Grand Vin from other producers.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDThe 2021 Napanook, tasted from barrel, is fabulous. Rich, deep and super-expressive, the 2021 captures all the best the vintage has to offer. A whole range of floral and savory overtones lend nuance. This vibrant, intensely mineral Cabernet Sauvignon is an absolute delight to taste today, and an especially fine edition of Napanook, endowed with big fruit and equally potent tannins.Vinous Media | 92-94 VM

Including more Cabernet Sauvignon than Cabernet Franc (it swings back and forth), the 2021 Avoyelles Oakville reveals a dense purple hue as well as sensational aromatics of red, blue, and blue fruits, spring flowers, spicy oak, graphite, dark chocolate, and a beautiful earth, forest floor-like character. Full-bodied, concentrated, and ultra-pure, it’s borderline perfection and a heavenly bottle of wine that needs 3-5 years of bottle age and will blow you away over the following two decades. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, aged 22 months all in new French oak.Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JDThe 2021 Avoyelles is a bruiser, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. Strong, savory and floral notes open first. There’s plenty of weight and intensity, but it appears gradually. All the elements are so well balanced in this young, potent Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc blend.Vinous Media | 97 VMI tasted a barrel sample of the 2021 Patria Avoyelles Red, with 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. It has a deep garnet-purple color and offers up vibrant notes of crushed black cherries, warm cassis, and Indian spices, with hints of charcoal, beef dripping, and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with taut, muscular black fruits and firm, grainy tannins with seamless freshness, finishing long with a spicy lift.The Wine Independent | 95-97 TWI

The 2021 Les Pavots is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. It’s a beautiful wine you could drink now or stash in the cellar, with a concentrated, broody yet polished profile. It has pure scents of blueberry liqueur, lilac, cast iron, grilled meats and soy sauce plus hints of wild thyme and truffle. The full-bodied palate offers a structural balance of clay-textured tannins and bright acidity, deriving its power from its sheer depth of dark fruit, and it has a long, detailed finish. 2,769 cases were made, and the Les Pavots will be released in February of 2024.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThe blackberry and sage character comes through clearly, with some orange blossoms, graphite, dried tomatoes, green tobacco and stone. A rich and juicy red with lots of berry and chocolate character, with a full body and layered rich tannins. It’s flavorful yet hemmed in with firm yet rounded tannins. Muscular. 62% cabernet sauvignon, 25% cabernet franc, 7% merlot, and 6% petit verdot. This needs four or five years to come together and show its true self. Best after 2028.James Suckling | 97 JS

Very intense blue fruits with blackberries and hints of licorice. Flowers, too. Some pepper. Full-bodied with lots of bark, mushroom and forest floor. Creamy and polished tannins. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2021 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard is bright, punchy and super-expressive. Bright red/plum, blood orange, rose petal, lavender, spice and strong floral/savory accents add nuance throughout. The 2021 is an absolute joy to taste. The UV was done with entirely destemmed fruit, but its aromatic profile offers quite a bit of whole cluster-like character.Vinous Media | 96 VMThe 2021 Pinot Noir UV was bottled in mid-July 2022. Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, it comes bounding out with youthful scents of black cherries, black raspberries, and wild strawberries, plus suggestions of violets, chocolate mint, wild sage, and fragrant earth. The full-bodied palate is fantastically light on its feet, with beautiful freshness and ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and savory. Planted to the Calera clone in 2001 by late vineyard manager Ulises Valdez Sr., right in the middle of Russian River, the soil on this site is a unique mix of sand and dense clay.The Wine Independent | 96 TWIGorgeous, with an inviting core of raspberry, blood orange and boysenberry puree aromas and flavors that stream through, flanked by singed apple wood, dried anise and black tea notes. Shows serious depth but also drive and freshness, as a racy mineral edge lends energy from start to finish. Best from 2024 through 2033. 949 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WSFrom a vineyard named for Aubert’s frequent collaborator, Ulises Valdez, and still farmed by his family, the 2021 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard (1,000 cases produced, from a Laguna Road site that’s slightly warmer than Aubert’s other Pinot Noir sources) features bold notes of cherries, cinnamon and wood spice. It’s medium to full-bodied and silky across the mid-palate, finishing long and softly tannic. Nicely balanced and structured, it should age well for more than a decade.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94+ RP

A great chardonnay that shows opulence with structure, with lemon drops, cooked apple, dried peaches, flint and oyster shell. Some pumice and basalt. It’s medium-bodied at the beginning but it builds on the palate with superb depth and power. Spicy at the end, like Hunan peppers. Incredible character. Complex with a capital C. Try after 2026.James Suckling | 100 JSThe 2021 Chardonnay Cuvee Cathleen comes from a single 6-acre block in Kistler vineyard that faces the afternoon sun. It needs a lot of coaxing to lure out evocative notes of lemon verbena, lime leaves, and sea spray, giving way to nuances of fresh apples and Bosc pears with a touch of Marcona almonds. The medium to full-bodied palate is so, so tightly knit, with soft-spoken mineral and savory nuances accenting the bold citrus and apple flavors, finishing very long and energetic. Chardonnay doesn’t get better than this.The Wine Independent | 100 TWIThe 2021 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard Cuvée Cathleen is one of the best wines I have ever tasted from Kistler. Complex and multi-faceted, the 2021 offers up an exciting mélange of ripe orchard fruit, dried flowers, mint, spice and anise. There’s an energy to the 2021, a feeling of noble complexity, that is so alluring.Vinous Media | 98 VMThe 2021 Chardonnay Cuvée Cathleen is bright and crystalline. Scents of oyster shell and saline give way to white peaches, almonds and spring honey. The light-bodied palate is ethereal and vibrant with coiled, mineral-driven fruit and a surprisingly mouth-coating texture. Give it a few years in bottle to unwind.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96+ RPA youthful yellow hue, the 2021 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard Cuvee Cathleen is sunny with a bit of white pepper spice and aromas of green tea and citrus rind. Full-bodied, with good richness and a more pithy texture, it’s ripe with green almond, melon rind, mushroom earth, and pear. It‘s long on the palate and the same bit of grippy texture the Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard has. Drink it over the next 10 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDOffers a deep, complex mix of butterscotch, peach, marmalade and lime zest notes, with a touch of lemon confit, lemon balm and caramelized pineapple. The frame is dense and firmly juicy, with details of nutmeg and toasted almond on the finish. Drink now. 425 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WS

Light golden green color with unique aromas of sliced lemon, salted caramel and flint. It’s full and oily yet at the same time dynamic and very fresh, with sliced citrus, tarte tatin, and dried fruit. Loads of lemon zest. What a finish. Keeps on changing in the glass. Flamboyant. Savory. Give it until 2025 and onwards.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2021 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard flies out with vibrant notes of lime leaves, lemon curd, and grapefruit oil with touches of wet pebbles, coriander seed, and chalk dust. The full-bodied palate is bright and shiny with the liveliness coming from the citrus fruits, yet the acidity is absolutely seamless, finishing long and minerally.The Wine Independent | 97 TWIDense, broad and concentrated, offering notes of preserved lemon, honeysuckle, caramelized apple and salted butterscotch. At the core there’s a purity to the peach, nectarine and mango flavors, with apple and pear accents. This white’s vibrant acidity keeps the flavors focused and light on their feet. Drink now through 2037. 475 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WSThe 2021 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard offers a beguiling mix of fruit intensity framed by strong mineral, soil-driven tons. Lemon confit, tangerine peel, chamomile, graphite and dried herbs fill out the layers in a Chardonnay marked by intense minerality, strong citrus character and fabulous balance.Vinous Media | 95 VMThe 2021 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard is generous and spicy this year. Flinty tones give way to perfumed white peach, lime candy, citrus blossoms and honeycomb. The medium-bodied palate combines ripe, peachy fruit with matchstick nuances. It has a gentle chalkiness to the texture, bright bursts of acidity and a long, detailed finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94+ RPA rich golden hue, the 2021 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard is aromatic with a bit of flinty reduction and gives way to sunny fruit of ripe peach, fresh flowers, and preserved citrus. Ripe and full-bodied, it has a ripe texture and notes of lush golden apples, hay, toasted spice, and bit of green almond on the finish. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JD

The 2021 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch has expressive notes of honeycomb, ripe orchard fruit of peach, white mushroom, and fresh spice. Full-bodied, it has a more rounded and creamy texture on the palate, with lemon curd, citrus oil, and ripe apple. Its pristine fruit holds good freshness, and this very pretty wine has a distilled quality that makes I feel like it will last forever. This is a gorgeous wine to enjoy over the next 12-15 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDThe 2021 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch is buzzing with energy and promises a long life in the cellar. It features scents of golden apples, cashew, honeysuckle and beeswax with streaks of matchstick. The light-bodied palate’s expansive, satiny texture is foiled by its mouthwatering acidity, and it offers concentrated, perfumed fruit that lingers impressively on the finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPThe 2021 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch bursts with bold notes of key lime pie, kumquats, and citron blossom, leading to hints of brine, dill seed, and white pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers tight-knit citrus and stony flavors, with a crisp backbone and long, wonderfully pure finish.The Wine Independent | 96 TWIIntense aromas of ripe apple, oyster shell, pie crust dough, and lemon rind. Some candied apple and flint. It’s medium-bodied with lovely fruit and medium phenolics that hold it all together. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 96 JSA complex white, offering notes of flint, nutmeg, cardamom and baked apples, with details of grilled Meyer lemon, vanilla custard and toasted, salted hazelnut. All of these flavors are balanced and seamless, with plenty of momentum and a fresh thread of acidity. Drink now. 1,050 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSThe 2021 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch is the most accessible wine in this flight of Chardonnays. Tropical accents meld into orange confit, hazelnut, butter and sweet spice. The flavors are pretty intense, and yet the 2021 remains wonderfully light on its feet, with pretty floral top notes that add tons of charm and sheer appeal.Vinous Media | 93 VM

The 2021 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard needs a little shaking before it prances out with showy notes of fresh apricots, Golden Delicious apples, and ginger ale, followed by hints of honeysuckle, nutmeg, and lime cordial. The full-bodied palate is super intense with concentrated citrus, stone fruit, and gingery layers, supported by an amazing backbone of freshness and a silken texture, finishing especially long and minerally. This is amazing.The Wine Independent | 98 TWIA very wild and tropical Hudson chard with distinctive aromas and flavors of dried pineapple, pear and cooked lemon with some pie crust. Plenty of phenolic tension, too. Flavorful finish. Beeswax. Zip of acidity at the end. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2021 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is bright and effusive as it soars from the glass. Yellow flowers, orchard fruit, mint, spice and a kiss of French oak lend notable aromatic presence. Deceptive in its mid-weight feel, the 2021 is classic Hudson in its flavor profile and overall feel.Vinous Media | 96 VMThe 2021 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is powerful yet seamless, although it’s youthfully coiled and deserves plenty of time to unfold in bottle. It’s savory on the nose to begin, with wafts of iodine that give way to fresh citrus and peach. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and mouth-coating with concentrated lime-and-flint flavors counterbalanced by vibrant acidity, and it has a long, flavorful finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPTaking on a sunnier feel aromatically, the 2021 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is ripe with attractive aromas of orchard fruit, ripe lemon balm, and fresh herbs. The palate is ripe and full-bodied, with a rounded mouthfeel and notes of ripe apricot, orange, and fresh flowers as well as a bit of toasted spice. It’s approachable now or over the next 6-8 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDRich and succulent, with flavors of caramelized apple, grilled pineapple, apricot and ripe, juicy peach, plus a drizzle of wildflower honey. Notes of salted, ripe melon linger on the finish, which gains plenty of momentum, with vibrant acidity. Drink now. 1,050 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

Very aromatic and friendly and cuddly with apple pie, oyster shell, caramel and candied lemon character on both the nose and palate. Medium to full body. Vibrant acidity makes this energetic and lively. Dried apple and pear as well as ripe apple and toasted bread with butter and cinnamon. Rock salt. Love this. One of the best Hyde Chardonnays I have tasted. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2021 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is singular and expressive! Saline, lime candy, chalk and lemongrass aromas are underpinned by a pleasurable smoky reduction, and as it spends time in the glass, it continues to blossom and gain aromatic intensity. The palate is ethereal, seamless and silky, with a deep core of candied citrus fruit and chalky nuances that define the very long, very powerful finish. This vibrant, characterful Hyde Chardonnay will be long-lived in the cellar.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPA slightly bright yellow, the 2021 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard has very pretty aromatics of lime blossom, fresh pear, and saline, and like the other Chardonnays from Kistler, it has a savory element to it. Medium to full-bodied, with a more delicate and ethereal nature, its floral perfume coaxes throughout the palate, with melon rind, white peach, and a hint of salty earth. Delivering fresh acidity and purity, it has fantastic lift and a more Chablis-like texture, with a note of crushed rock on the finish. Drink it over the next 10 or more years.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThis inviting, stunning mix of power and elegance opens with an apple tart note, offering whiffs of smoke, salted caramel and peach preserves, plus a drizzle of wildflower honey, nougat and Greek yogurt. Dried, crystalized fruit notes join a touch of crunchy sea salt, adding tension to the fresh thread of acidity. Everything is wrapped up in a luxuriously silky and smooth texture, with an epic finish. Drink now through 2035. 900 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WSThe 2021 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard gallops out with bold notes of crunchy pears, yellow apples, and lemongrass tea, followed by hints of baking bread, wet slate, and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is tightly wound with impressive tension and loads of soft-spoken, mineral layers, finishing with a zesty lift.The Wine Independent | 96 TWIThe 2021 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is laced with the essence of tangerine oil, hazelnut, passionfruit, spice and lightly honeyed notes. All the exotic signature of Hyde come through loud and clear, but there’s tons of energy too. I especially like how this opens with time. This is beautifully done.Vinous Media | 95 VM

A fantastic chardonnay with super phenolic tension and purity of fruit with sliced apple and spiced pear. Reductive and tight. It’s full-bodied, but so reserved and structured with great phenolic tension that is polished and endless. Needs time to open and show you its greatness. Try after 2026.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2021 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard is scented of warm peaches, pie crust and spice with singular touches of white pepper and chamomile tea. The medium-bodied palate is incredibly powerful, featuring a satiny, mouth-coating texture balanced by vibrant acidity, a concentrated core of peachy fruit and an epically long, flavorful finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPFrom the Moon Mountain AVA, the 2021 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard is a bright golden hue and reveals aromas of smoky earth, cardamom, and fresh flowers. Full-bodied, with a lot of power behind it, it’s rich with concentration and structure and offers iron-rich earth, ripe pear, and more savory richness on the finish as well as a bit of almond and frangipane.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThe 2021 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard skips out of the glass with bright, cheery notes of fresh yellow apples, lemongrass, and lime leaves, giving way to wafts of struck flint, marzipan, and pie crust with a touch of ginger. The medium to full-bodied palate offers vibrant citrus and chalky layers, with a lively line and long, savory finish.The Wine Independent | 97 TWIThe 2021 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard is a wine of grace and class. Time in the glass brings out hints of ginger, dried flowers and spice that lend an exotic flair. I would cellar this for a year or two, as the wine’s structural elements are front and center at this stage. There’s gorgeous aromatic presence that begins to emerge over time.Vinous Media | 96 VMShows a distinct savory thread, with dried lemon verbena, sage and tarragon overtones. A sesame seed detail complements the apple, pear and citrus flavors at the core. This gains momentum on the finish, where a honeycomb note and spice accents reveal themselves. Drink now. 900 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

The 2021 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard is only produced in magnums and this is the 6th vintage release. After a little swirling, it springs from the glass with eager-to-please notes of fresh grapefruit, lemon tart, and juicy pears, followed by hints of lime blossoms, mandarin peel, and jasmine tea. The medium to full-bodied palate offers fantastic tension with multilayered, tightly wound citrus and floral notes, finishing very long with loads of mineral and zesty fireworks.The Wine Independent | 99 TWIThe 2021 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard is vibrant yet powerful. Bottled only in magnums, it opens slowly to wafts of matchstick and roasted almonds before revealing its core of lemon and apricot fruit. The medium-bodied palate features concentrated, expansive flavors that blossom dramatically from almonds to peach, spring honey and spice, yet its vibrant acidity creates a shimmery feel. It has a luxurious, satiny texture and a hauntingly long finish. Wow!Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RPOnly produced in magnum, the 2021 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard is pure and layered with aromatics of lemon curd, lime blossom, petrol, and green apple. Medium to full-bodied, with wonderful focus and tension, it’s all about that green apple. Its crunchy fruit and fresh, salty citrus make it absolutely delicious, and it offers exceptional balance and length, with ripe, sweet citrus that’s irresistible. Drink it over the next 15 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDThe 2021 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge (bottled only in magnum) captures all the best the year had to give. Rich, explosive and wonderfully deep, the 2021 exudes concentration and structure from the very first taste. Crushed rocks, dried lemon peel, white flowers, mint, herbs and incense all build in the glass, with a light touch of reduction that extends into the finish. This complex, dynamic Chardonnay is a stunning wine by any measure.Vinous Media | 97 VMThis stunning white jumps out of the glass aromatically, offering notes of nutmeg, marzipan, white flowers, peach preserves and Meyer lemon. The flavors and aromas continue to unfold, with wave after wave of toasted, salted almond, ripe melon and shortbread details, plus a touch of vanilla bean. The texture is succulent and fleshy, showing off a vibrant, pure thread of acidity. Drink now through 2035. 212 cases made.Wine Spectator | 97 WSThe purity of fruit here is impressive with cooked apple, lemon and flint with some pie crust dough. The palate is full and complete with everything there but nothing sticking out. Dried apple, cooked lemon rind and flint with crushed oyster shell. Dried limes at the end. Give it three to four years to open. Try after 2026.James Suckling | 97 JS

A very fine and polished chardonnay with focus, polished phenolics and a refined nature. It’s medium-bodied with beautiful fruit. Hints of salted caramel to the cooked apple and pineapple flavors. It’s poised and gorgeous and shows you what it has in a sophisticated way. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2021 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard is SO spicy - it sashays out with opulent scents of candied ginger, allspice, and cinnamon, giving way to a profound core of juicy nectarines, apple pie, and Bosc pears, plus a hint of orange blossom. The full-bodied palate is decadently expressive, delivering loads of baking spice and warm pear flavors supported by seamless freshness, finishing long and decadent.The Wine Independent | 97 TWIAromatically the 2021 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard exhibits notes of gravelly earth, with Meyer lemon, and white flowers. On the palate, it takes on so much focus, with vibrant energy, and feels more linear in its approach, with driving citrus, lime, bright green apple, and a touch of nuttiness on the finish. It’s long and driving. Drink 2025-2034.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDThe 2021 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard features alluring tones of spring honey, panna cotta, crushed almonds, jasmine and a core of white peach. The medium-bodied palate has a deeply concentrated core of peachy fruit balanced by a gentle chalkiness and refreshing bursts of tangy acidity. Powerful yet energetic, it has a long life ahead.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPThe 2021 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard is packed with the essence of tangerine oil, hazelnut, dried flowers, herbs and ripe apricot. Potent and layered, the Stone Flat is super-impressive right out of the gate. It’s another wine with real density. All the elements are dialed up in 2021. Stone Flat is distinguished from Durell, which is adjacent, because of the use of 420A rootstock (versus 3309 at Durell). That, in the theory, results in a wine with lower pH and therefore higher acidity, but that is not the impression conveyed in tasting.Vinous Media | 94 VMRich and succulent, offering notes of flint, grilled peach, dried apricot and mango at the core, with a strong thread of crushed rock, plus a hint of ripe, salted melon. Lemon curd and white flower accents linger on the long, expressive finish. Drink now. 900 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

The 2021 Pinot Noir Laguna Ridge is bright and beautifully focused from start to finish. Crushed red berry fruit, blood orange, mint, spice, rose petal and white pepper are all finely delineated. The 2021 impresses with its tension and overall energy. A move to picking this fruit earlier has resulted in a Pinot endowed with notable tension. I love the focus here. The 2021 is a stunner.Vinous Media | 98 VMPlenty of strawberry and orange peel character with hints of spice and mineral character. Full yet tight and focused with very fine tannins that run the length of the wine. You don’t see it but it pulls at the end. Excellent pinot. Drinkable but give it three or four years. Drink after 2025.James Suckling | 97 JSA nearly opaque, dark red with a purple tinge, the 2021 Pinot Noir Laguna Ridge Vineyard has a more floral profile of fresh lavender, black cherry, wild black raspberry, and dark earth. Full-bodied and juicy, it has ripe tannins, a good bit structure, and more savory tones on the palate that will need a bit more time, but this is a fantastic and structured wine with meaty fruit of black cherry, smoky earth, and wild herbs. Drink 2025-2040.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDMedium to deep ruby-purple in color, the 2021 Pinot Noir Laguna Ridge Vineyard explodes from the glass with vivacious scents of Bing cherries, redcurrants, and cranberries, leading to wafts of lavender, rose oil, and crushed rocks with a touch of bay leaves. The medium-bodied palate is bright and breezy, with ethereal flavors and fantastic freshness, finishing with a satiny texture and wonderful lift.The Wine Independent | 96 TWIThe 2021 Pinot Noir Laguna Ridge Vineyard has broody scents of rhubarb, blueberry, lilac and lavender, plus alluring botanical undertones. The medium-bodied palate balances an intense core of layered, briary fruit with loads of grainy tannins, and vibrant acidity gives a shimmery feel to the long, flavorful finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPRipe, vivid and succulent, with tightly focused blackberry, black cherry and boysenberry puree flavors at the core, which is laced with enticing notes of black tea, singed anise and red licorice. Long and focused, with a gorgeous mouthfeel as creamy fruit and the velvety structure meld beautifully through the lengthy finish. Drink now through 2035. 900 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WS