California Wines

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The 2016 Sugarloaf Mountain Red Wine checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot that was brought up in new French oak. This blockbuster styled effort doesn’t pull any punches on its decadent black fruits, chocolate, spicy oak, and crushed violets. This beauty has some serious depth and density, terrific purity, and a great finish.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDA blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc aged 22 months in 100% new French oak, the 2016 Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Red is deep garnet-purple colored with warm plums, spice cake, blackberry pie and potpourri plus notes of cigar box, dusty soil and menthol. The palate is full-bodied, rich, velvety and fresh with tons of spicy black fruit and a good long finish. 250 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

Lastly, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder is another winner that more than overdelivers. While from mountain fruit, this 2016 shows a more rounded, supple, even sexy style to go with beautiful Cabernet notes of blackcurrants, lavender, jammy blackberry, and earthy/herbal characteristics. With ultra-fine tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and plenty of mid-palate depth, drink this perfectly balanced Mt. Veeder Cabernet any time over the coming two decades or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder is composed of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3.5% Merlot, 1.5% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep purple-black, it sings of warm blackberries, cassis and wild blueberries with hints of violets, dark chocolate, cigar box and menthol. Full-bodied and laden with black and blue fruit, it has a firm structure of grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long. 6,441 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThis shows a vivid boysenberry and blackberry fruit profile, laced with licorice, roasted apple wood and violet notes, all backed by a solidly grippy structure and a late zing of minerality. Best from 2021 through 2038. 6,441 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSWith 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 2% Malbec, this mountain wine is supple and silky on the palate, its tannins relatively tamed. A touch of reduction on the nose dives into tar, leather and oak, with a tease of black pepper and meaty red fruit, the wine weighty yet ultimately graceful.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEAromas of blackberries, blueberries and blackcurrants follow through to a full body and chewy tannins. So much character and intensity. Muscular and gorgeous. Needs two to three years to soften.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Mount Veeder) is incredibly primary at this stage. Crème de cassis, plum, spice, bittersweet chocolate, menthol, licorice and leather all run through this plush yet structured, inviting Cabernet Sauvignon.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGRipe, concentrated and rich with tannic structural intensity. Cocoa, rosemary and thyme lead to a savoury finish. Drinking Window 2020 - 2040.Decanter | 92 DEC

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is very deep garnet-black in color and gives a truly profound nose of chargrill, pencil lead, crushed rocks and tar with a core of crème de cassis, licorice, dark chocolate and mincemeat pie with wafts of cardamom and cumin seed. The powerful, full-bodied palate gives a firm, ripe structure to match the incredible concentration of fruit, finishing long and earthy.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 100 RPFrom a rocky site outside of St. Helena, just next to Las Piedras, the stunning 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) boasts a deep, gravelly, intellectual profile that’s reminiscent of the 2015 Haut Brion on steroids. Blackcurrants, chocolate, cold fireplace, and smoke tobacco all flow to a full-bodied, deep, layered, lengthy Cabernet Sauvignon that takes plenty of time to unwind in the glass. This is structured, backward, and deep, with serious power, yet it excels in its complex and layered style just as much. I suspect it will warrant a triple-digit score in 3-5 years and keep for 3-4 decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 98+ JDThis is very flamboyant and luscious on the nose with fresh herbs, such as thyme and sage. Full body and layers of ripe fruit and richness. Polished yet powerful. Drink in 2021.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is also one of the most impressive wines in this flight. Rich, heady and explosive, with tremendous intensity, the 2016 hits all the right notes. Lavender, spice, menthol, licorice and black plum are nicely pushed forward, but more than anything else, I am struck by the wine’s energy and pure power. This is such a gorgeous wine.Vinous Media | 96 VMThis has concentrated richness and a mix of baked plum, mocha and thick cherry compote. From the famous site, it twitches in minerality, from crushed rock to tree bark and cedar. The full-bodied intensity is met by a balance of racy acidity that sizzles around accents of black pepper and leather.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEWe take a step toward freshness with Realm’s bottling of St-Helena’s Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard. I found this to be the most well integrated wine at the tasting, with its acid and tannin structure, textured body and long finish all working together and pulling equal weight. Boysenberry jam mixes with cocoa nibs and wet gravel. The finish cleans up nicely but still leaves a presence of cedar and coffee. Around 500 cases were produced. Drinking Window 2022 - 2040Decanter | 95 DEC

Made up of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot (bottled in June 2018), the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Padrone opens with youthful, very primary notes of red and black currants, crushed plums and black raspberries with touches of cinnamon stick, Marmite toast, pencil shavings, lavender and black soil. Medium-bodied with great vibrancy and freshness plus a fine-grained frame of tannins supporting the red and black fruits, it finishes with a lovely herbal lift. 1,115 cases made.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Padrone is silky, polished and nuanced. Super-ripe red cherry, raspberry jam, white chocolate and new French oak give the Padrone much of its raciness and overall sensuality. This is an especially dense, unctuous style, and yet all the elements are deftly balanced.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGAromas are slightly menthol and herbal, complex, ferrous. Rich and bold on the palate with frsh acidity and grainy tannins. Has peronality and its own stylistic imprint. Drinking Window 2020 - 2045.Decanter | 93 DEC

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and the rest Malbec that was brought up in 85% new French oak. This black-fruited beauty has tons of blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and hints of violets. It opens up beautifully with time in the glass, has beautiful purity and elegance, silky tannins, and a great finish. Elegant and seamless as well as concentrated, this attractive Cabernet will keep for 20-25 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is made up of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot and 3% Malbec. It has a deep garnet-purple color and intense redcurrants, black raspberries, cassis, warm plums and kirsch with hints of violets, tobacco, forest floor and wild sage. The palate is full, firm, grainy and concentrated, finishing long and perfumed.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon has turned out beautifully. Dark, supple and generous on the palate, the 2016 possesses terrific depth and textural richness. Black cherry, plum, bittersweet chocolate, dark spice and menthol flesh out in this super-expressive, inviting Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2016 can be enjoyed young or cellared for a number of years. Dollops of Cabernet Sauvignon from Georges III and Merlot from Oak Knoll round out the blend. Readers should note that this wine no longer carries the "Estate" designation, as it once did.Vinous Media | 94 VMSome meaty, modern, barrel-derived aromas with plenty of sweetly fragrant baking spices. The palate has a plush, fleshy and deeply satisfying delivery of plush, velvety dark fruit and fresh, silky tannins to close. A blend of 85 per cent cabernet sauvignon with touches of petit verdot, merlot and malbec. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 92 JSA dark and loamy style, with steeped currant, blackberry and fig notes inlaid with accents of baker’s chocolate, tobacco and licorice root. The muscular finish lets the loamy edge take control. Best from 2021 through 2028. 4,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WS

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is monumental, as it always has been. I have been fortunate to taste and drink the 2016 many times. It never fails to impress. All the elements are so well balanced. It possesses tremendous power in every dimension. Black cherry, plum, gravel, spice, menthol and licorice add layers to a wine of real gravitas and vibrancy. It’s a breathtaking Cabernet that will reward those lucky enough to own it with many years of profound drinking.Antonio Galloni | 100 AGSporting a saturated purple color, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon VHR is a total blockbuster that spent 21 months in French oak. It knocks it out of the park with its Pauillac-like bouquet of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, damp earth, lead pencil shavings, and cedarwood. Hitting the palate with a massive texture and full body, it’s a powerful, full throttle effort that has remarkable balance, ripe tannins, and an opulent, sexy texture that’s a joy to drink. Despite its flamboyant style, it’s perfectly balanced and is a sensational wine. Feel free to drink it any time over the coming 20-25 years. Bravo!Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JD

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is plush and super-expressive right out of the gate. Inky dark fruit, gravel, spice and juniper berries. There is a ton of character here. Black cherry, game, smoke, licorice, tobacco and incense all build in a potent, savory Cabernet that delivers the goods. This is one of the most distinctive Howell Mountain Cabernet wines I have tasted in some time.Antonio Galloni | 94 AG

Eastside is a warmer site in Russian River that is composed of very rocky, gravelly soils and planted to Montrachet clone. It is usually harvested second, after Sugar Shack. The 2017 Chardonnay Eastside struts out of the glass with confident notes of green guava, honeydew melon, fresh nectarine and lemonade plus touches of struck match, brioche, roasted almonds and candied ginger. Full-bodied, the palate has amazing concentration and energy, giving mouth-coating citrus and tropical fruit flavors, finishing fantastically long and mineral laced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RPThe 2017 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard is one of the more overt wines in this range. Lemon confit, tangerine, marzipan, white flowers all develop in this overt, plush Chardonnay. This Russian River site, planted with Montrachet clone Chardonnay, yields wines of real distinction. The 2017 was breathtaking when I tasted it from tank prior to bottling. It is all that, and more, today. What a wine!Antonio Galloni | 98 AGAromas of dried apple, corn husk and white truffle follow through to a full body and rich, opulent flavors. Lightly oily and juicy. Drink now.James Suckling | 96 JSBig, rich and powerful, featuring concentrated flavors of apple pastry, ripe pear and dried tropical fruits. Very toasty midpalate, with buttery accents on the finish. Drink now through 2023. 823 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

This is very exotic with dried-apple and lime aromas and hints of praline and dried pineapple. Oyster-shell and marine character. Full-bodied yet lively and vivid. Explosive, bright acidity at the end. Gorgeous. September 2019 release.James Suckling | 97-98 JSComing from Hudson selection, Old Wente clone vines that over 20 years old and planted on the Napa side of Carneros, the 2017 Chardonnay Hudson features super intense notes of freshly squeezed lemon, lime zest, warm apricots and honeydew melon with hints of hay, paraffin wax and crushed nuts plus a waft of cinnamon toast. The full-bodied palate is very tightly wound with electric tension and has loads of citrusy accents coming through on the very, very long finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RPThe 2017 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is a real pleasure to taste now that it has been bottled. Creamy and unctuous on the palate, with striking depth, the Hudson has so much to say. Baked apple, orchard fruit, white flowers and whole range of bright aromas and flavors develop in a bright, super-expressive Chardonnay. The 80% new oak is already very nicely integrated.Vinous Media | 96 VMFeatures finely textured and rich flavors of apple pastry, pear tart and lemon curd, backed by crunchy acidity. The minerally finish is lithe and filled with powerful spiciness. Drink now through 2025. 445 cases made. — KMWine Spectator | 94 WS

Intense matchstick and flint with dried-apple and peach undertones. Full-bodied with great fruit, a chewy palate and a juicy finish. Lime and lemon undertones to the ripe fruit. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSThe first vintage of this wine, the 2017 Chardonnay Powder House comes from eight acres of what are now estate-owned vines planted in 2013, to Hyde Old Wente and Mt. Eden clones on Goldridge soils. The vineyard is located in downtown Forestville, right across from the high school. At 15.4% alcohol, like Aubert’s other single-vineyard, singular Chardonnays, this baby is no shrinking violet. Although it is a little youthfully closed to begin, it unwinds with coaxing to offer glimpses at baked apple, poached pears, peach preserves and pineapple upside-down cake plus hints of praline, crème brûlée and clover honey. Full-bodied, the palate features a wicked backbone of freshness, beautifully lifting all those concentrated, densely packed flavors, finishing very long and wonderfully pure.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97+ RPThe 2017 Chardonnay Powder House Vineyard is bright, punchy and full of life. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint and almond all race out of this plush yet vibrant Chardonnay. There is so much to like in this striking, delineated Chardonnay. The Powder House is the one wine in this tasting that is far showier from bottle than it was from tank. It is also the most approachable of the 2017 Chardonnays. For that reason, I would choose to drink it ahead of the other Chardonnays in the range.Antonio Galloni | 95 AGA big, rich and fruity style, featuring apple and peach pastry flavors that offer some savory accents. The broad finish shows plenty of oak, with red berry hints. Drink now through 2023. 777 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

This shows lots of flesh and richness, yet it remains very fresh and energetic. Lots of ginger and baked apples with hints of cream, lemon and lime. February 2019 release.James Suckling | 96-97 JSThe 2017 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons explodes from the glass with bombastic lime cordial, pink grapefruit and rhubarb pie scents with suggestions of fresh ginger, green mango and acacia honey plus a touch of praline. Full-bodied, the palate has a wonderfully savory undercurrent with brioche nuances complementing the powerful tropical fruit, framed by great freshness, finishing with epic length.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPVoluptuous and unctuous, featuring intensely pure flavors of baked pear, apple pastry and melon confit that are powerfully structured. Sage cream and butter accents show midpalate, with a long, rich finish that offers lemon curd notes. Drink now through 2025. 960 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WSThe 2017 Chardonnay Larry Hyde and Sons is just as impressive from bottle as it was from tank a few months ago. In 2017, the Hyde stands out for its creamy, harmonious personality. Lemon confit, marzipan and dried pear and floral notes all meld together in this beautifully textured, open-knit Chardonnay from Mark Aubert.Antonio Galloni | 95 AG

Very pretty red with dried berry and strawberry character. Soy sauce. Some fresh floral and mushroom character. Full bodied, round and layered with chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Lovely length and structure.James Suckling | 96-97 JSAubert’s 2017 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard is pliant, open-knit and super-expressive. Sweet tobacco, cedar, mint, earthiness, dried flowers and cherry fruit are all laced together in this very pretty, nuanced Pinot. Despite its recent bottling, the 2017 UV is bright, lifted and super-expressive. The blend of Calera and Vosne-Romanée clones works beautifully.Vinous Media | 96 VMThe 2017 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard is medium ruby-purple colored with exuberant redcurrants, black cherries and black raspberries notes with hints of violets, chocolate box and rose hip tea. The palate is full-bodied with a firm frame of fine-grained tannins and amazing freshness, finishing very long and juicy.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPJuicy and well-sculpted, with dried rose petal, raspberry tart and crushed dark plum flavors, supported by medium-grained tannins and lively acidity. Red licorice accents emerge on the fresh, minerally finish. Drink now through 2024. 707 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

Beautiful, dark berries, strawberries and perfume. Flowers, too. Full bodied, very tight and chewy with polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Give this time to show it’s true glory.James Suckling | 96-97 JSRich and expressive, featuring concentrated boysenberry, plum tart and dark cherry flavors that are flush with crunchy acidity. Minerally midpalate, with a long, plush finish that offers flinty and meaty overtones. Drink now through 2024. 791 cases made. — KMWine Spectator | 95 WSMedium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2017 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard gives gorgeous black cherries, pomegranate, fresh blackberries and wild blueberries scents with suggestions of licorice, potpourri, chocolate tart and clove with a touch of dried Provence herbs. The palate is full-bodied with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and oodles of freshness supporting the flamboyant black and blue fruits, finishing with an exciting herbal lift.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2017 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard is the most backward and tannic of the three Aubert Pinots. Dried herbs, cedar, tobacco and menthol add striking aromatic nuance, but today it is the wine’s tannin profile that makes the strongest impression. This hillside site above Occidental yields Pinots of real distinction. I imagine the UV-SL will be the slowest of these wines to reveal itself, but it has plenty to say. Lavender, rose petals, blood orange and spices add an exotic flair to this embryonic Pinot.Vinous Media | 94+ VM

Fermented and aged in 80% new French oak barrels, the 2017 Chardonnay UV-SL flaunts a wonderfully Puligny-esque nose, featuring a subtle, elusive matchstick character over the bold grapefruit, white peaches and lemon pie scents plus nuances of cashews, melted candle, crushed rocks and oyster shells. Full-bodied, the palate is arrestingly elegant with a whole myriad of nuances, delivering seamless freshness at its core and finishing very long with loads of lingering savory notes.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 99 RPDense and intense, yet reserved and focused with superb ripe-apple and pineapple aromas and flavors. Full body. Tense and beautiful. Cream, toasted oak and dried apple. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 98 JSThe 2017 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard bright, aromatic and focused, with a palpable sense of vibrancy that is its key signature. White flowers, lemon confit and mint all open up in the glass, with distinct saline underpinnings that give the wine freshness, verve and a strong marine influence that is impossible to miss.Antonio Galloni | 97 AGPure-tasting, offering vibrant, well-structured flavors of green pear, mango, apple and red peach. Shows lively minerality midpalate, with a finish of crushed stone and spice notes. Drink now through 2025. 686 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WS

A juicy and powerful red with blackberries, dried strawberries, walnuts and spice undertone. Full-bodied and chewy with layers of tannins and a flavorful finish. Hints of bark and spice. Needs time to soften, but impressive. Drink after 2025, but already beautiful.James Suckling | 95 JSDeeper ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir De Villiers Vineyard reveals more black raspberry, sassafras, tea, and spicy notes. It’s medium-bodied, with a juicy, elegant style and a great finish.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDThe 2017 Pinot Noir de Villiers Vineyard is fabulous. Rich, exotic and bold, the 2017 offers striking immediacy. Inky dark fruit, spice, lavender and menthol open up first, followed by a range of more savory, mineral notes that are typical of Mt. Harlan. The interplay of fruit intensity and structure makes for a compelling Pinot.Vinous Media | 94 VMPale to medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir deVilliers Vineyard, aged 17 months in 30% new French oak, gives up broody cherry coulis, underbrush, crushed stone, dried redcurrants and cranberries aromas with notions of blood orange, tea leaves and cured meats. Medium-bodied, intense and layered, it’s well framed and juicy with a long and pleasantly restrained finish. 1,382 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPDe Villiers is an east-facing site more or less in the middle of Calera’s Mt. Harlan vineyards, planted in 1997. In 2017, it produced a wine considerably more savory than most of its counterparts, with a wild berry scent and tealike accents. The fruit flavors are light and attenuated, more about perfume than flavor, marked by the tangy, mildly mineral grip of the mountain’s chalk soils.Wine & Spirits Magazine | 93 W&SWell-sculpted, with alluring sandalwood and allspice notes to the dried cherry and plum tart flavors. Savory richness emerges midpalate, leading to an extended finish that offers brioche and cream details. Drink now through 2024. 1,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSRoasted boysenberry, crushed stone, baked earth and a slight plum-skin tang show on the nose of this bottling from vines planted in 1996. There’s a warm-weather sense on the palate, where cooked berry flavors dominate, yet the acid and rocky tension keep it complex and intenseWine Enthusiast | 92 WE

Lots of dried herbs, leather, redcurrants, and a touch of sassafras emerge from the medium-bodied 2017 Pinot Noir Ryan Vineyard. With a rounded, elegant texture, beautiful acidity, and a terrific, lengthy finish, it opens up nicely with time in the glass and is just a complex, nuanced beauty to enjoy over the coming decade.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDFrom a parcel planted in 1989 at a cool elevation of 2,500 feet, Ryan was the most alluring and elusive of the three Calera wines we tasted for this issue. It’s vinous, with a distant scent of smoke and a lean elegance. The dark-plum flavors are plenty ripe but are informed by a thrust of acid that gives the wine energy and aging power.Wine & Spirits | 94 W&S The 2017 Pinot Noir Ryan Vineyard is laced with the essence of sweet red berry, cinnamon, orange peel, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco. Medium in body, with striking inner perfume and impeccable balance, the 2017 can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. The Ryan emerges from the highest-altitude parcel on the property.Antonio Galloni | 93 AG Baked cherry, star anise, clove and chai elements show on the ripe and spicy nose of this bottling, which was harvested after this vintage’s huge Labor Day heat spike. The wine is rich, heavy and layered on the palate, with black plum flavors coated in cardamom and sagebrush.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE Powerful, spiced and filled with ripe and refined flavors of dark cherry, raspberry and plum tart, with rich acidity. Creamy hints on the finish with chocolate-nib accents.Wine Spectator | 93 WSThe 2017 Pinot Noir Ryan Vineyard, aged 17 months in 30% new French oak, has a pale to medium ruby-purple color and is youthful and shy to begin. With coaxing, aromas of prosciutto, wild blackberries, lemon peel and redcurrants emerge, with nuances of oolong tea leaves and dusty earth. Medium-bodied, it’s broody and earthy with lifted citrusy accents in the mouth, a finely grained frame and juicy freshness on the finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP

Moving to the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, this cuvée is too often underrated and I think it’s one of the most classy, balanced, high quality Cabernets coming from the valley. Deep purple-colored with beautiful blackcurrant fruits interwoven with lots of tobacco, crushed rocks, leafy herbs, and graphite, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe, present tannins, and stunning balance. It’s going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 25 years or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThe 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is blended of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, aged in barrel for 21 months in two-thirds new oak. It was bottled one week prior to this tasting. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with bold, beautiful black fruits—blackcurrant pastilles, plum preserves and boysenberries—with hints of baker’s chocolate, yeast extract, tapenade and Indian spices plus a waft of forest floor. Full-bodied, rich and spicy in the mouth, it sports soft, plush, well-played tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and fragrant.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon captures all of the radiance of the year in its super-ripe fruit and racy contours. Medium in body yet extravagantly ripe, the 2017 is going to need at least a few years in bottle to shed some baby fat. A rush of dark cherry, plum, spice, lavender, licorice and menthol gives the 2017 much of its immediacy and overall appeal.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGVery pretty blueberries and chocolate with hints of spice. Medium body, creamy tannins and a savory finish. Shows poise and balance. Delicious now. Why wait on this? Drink or hold.James Suckling | 93 JSFleshy and forward at first, with delicious plum and blackberry compote flavors laced with dark licorice and roasted cedar notes. Fleshes out with some air in the glass, showing nice length, a well-buried iron note and latent grip for cellaring. Best from 2021 through 2032. 860 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

The tiny production 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Maya is another thrilling wine. The normal blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in two-thirds new French oak, it offers a full-bodied, concentrated, yet sensationally elegant style as well as fab notes of crème de cassis, chocolate, graphite, and scorched earth. It’s a primordial example of this cuvée that has ripe tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great, great finish. Do your best to give bottles 4-6 years of bottle age.Jeb Dunnuck | 97+ JDThe 2017 Maya is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Cabernet Franc and was bottled one week before I tasted it. Very deep purple-black in color, it opens with profound earthy notions of truffles, damp soil, crushed rocks and tar over a core of Black Forest cake, black raspberries, blueberry compote and aged meat plus touches of wilted roses and unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is solidly structured with firm, fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness lifting the multilayered blue and black fruits with a long, perfumed finish. Stunning.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97+ RPThe 2017 Maya is not only gorgeous, it also appears to have handled the rigors of the growing season more successfully than the others. Ripe red cherry and plum fruit, blood orange, pomegranate, mint and spice all build as this racy, sumptuous wine shows off its considerable allure. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are just magic here.Antonio Galloni | 96 AGThe plum and chocolate, as well as hazelnut and dried-flower character is prevalent here. It’s full-bodied, yet very refined with lovely, polished tannins and a long, crisp finish. Balanced and focused. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 95 JSTiny production from the eastern hills of Oakville. If you love Bordeaux wines it’s such a treat to taste a blend of just Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, something that you rarely see in the Médoc. It works extremely well, with an aromatic kick of raspberry leaf and violet flowers but the key to the body is coffee, bilberry, rosemary, mulberry and cloves. Great acidity set against power and concentration. The savoury edge that makes Cabernet such a delicious food-friendly wine is here, and is extremely elegant and refined but with a punch and undertow. Good stuff, with long ageing potential. 75% new oak. Drinking Window 2022 - 2042.Decanter | 95 DECSolidly built, with ganache, plum, fig paste, smoldering tobacco and loam notes rolled together, ending with a muscular feel on the dark finish. Reveals a strong tug of terroir. Will need some time to stretch out fully. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2035. 800 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is bold, plump and juicy. This rich, luscious Cabernet is absolutely delicious. Super-ripe dark cherry, red plum, blood orange, spice and mint are front and center in this inviting and delicious bottling from Drinkward-Peschon. This is just a positively stunning wine for the money. The 2017 was sourced from Blossom Creek and Criscione with 4% Cabernet Franc from Las Posadas.Antonio Galloni | 93 AG

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is sure to make Dunn fans happy. Powerful and ample, it marries the natural intensity of the year with the savoriness that makes Howell Mountain Cabernets so distinctive. Dark blue/purplish fruit, graphite, spice, leather, dried herbs and lavender imbue the 2017 with striking intensity and character. I can’t wait to see how it ages. The 2017 is a positively stunning edition of the Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.Antonio Galloni | 97 AGAlready more open than the 2018 Howell Mountain, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain boasts slightly piney, resinous herb notes—thyme and rosemary—along with classic cassis and blueberry fruit. Yes, there’s a cedary coat of oak, but the fruit comes through loud and clear, adding a rich, velvety textural component and mouthwatering berry flavors on the lingering finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96+ RPFresh ripe cassis, blackberry and plum fruit flavors course through, carried by tar and apple wood notes that are well-embedded, giving this a muscular but sleek feel. Features a great tug of dark earth and licorice snap on the palate-staining finish.Wine Spectator | 95 WSFrom a challenging vintage due to heat spikes and devastating wildfires, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain nevertheless is a terrific wine. Giving up lots of darker currant and cassis fruits as well as scorched earth, graphite, and obvious minerality, it’s medium to full-bodied, has good overall balance, chalky, slightly drying tannins, and a good finish. It should evolve for another decade at least, but the tannins will need to be watched.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JD

A fist of late summer cherries, raspberry and bilberry fruits set out their stall, all with the juicy character that confirms, even in a hot vintage like 2017, Opus can deliver balance and sculpted elegance. Beautiful grip, creamy texture with a strikingly powerful tannic frame. As the wine stays in the glass the floral aromatics begin to bloom up. A brilliant Opus. 20 days maceration - around half what it would have been a decade ago. 54% native yeast, as part of their native yeast project. 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec complete the blend. Harvest spread out over September 5 to October 8, just before the fires, by which time they had less than 10% of the fruit still out on the vines. 3.7pH. Drinking Window 2023 - 2045.Decanter | 96 DECLots of currant and floral notes on the nose. Hints of mint and spice. Medium-to full-bodied, round and savory with creamy, juicy tannins. Hints of citrus underneath. Bright, fresh and delicious. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 95 JSOpus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruit and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPA remarkable wine for the year, the 2017 Opus One is a dense, full-throttle beauty. Plush fruit and soft, silky contours give the 2017 its racy personality. Exotic, beautifully perfumed and impeccable in its balance, Opus One is one of the most complete wines of the vintage. In 2017, Opus One has a distinctly red-toned fruit profile that distinguishes it from the surrounding vintages.Antonio Galloni | 95+ AGThis features currant and plum fruit, with tobacco, loam and singed savory notes, maintaining range and driving through the finish. The structure is fine-grained, delivering a lingering hint of acidity. A more subtle expression of Cabernet. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Best from 2022 through 2036. 27,800 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

This is a solid and powerful To Kalon with blueberries, currants and minerals. Hint of lead pencil. Full-bodied, yet reserved. Steely, very polished and structured. Needs three to five years. Try after 2023.James Suckling | 97 JSDeep purple-black in color, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant plum preserves, Christmas cake and chocolate-covered cherries notes, followed by hints of potpourri, Chinese five spice, incense and dried mint. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shows a more decadent side to this vintage, packed with exotic spices and black fruit preserves, with a plush texture and refreshing lift to the finish. 592 cases were made.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is a gorgeous, inviting wine, but it is also going to need a few years in bottle to shed some of its formidable tannins. Black cherry, plum, graphite, pencil shavings, crème de cassis and menthol open up in the glass, but only with great reluctance. Patience will be the key here.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGJuicy and compact, featuring a racy-edged core of cassis and fig fruit flavors, this shows good drive, with light bramble, sage, bay leaf and olive notes running around. A well-built, muscular style, showing a great grounding in terroir, exhibiting a grippy, warm gravel edge on the finish. Best from 2022 through 2037. 592 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

This is wonderfully crafted with aromas and flavors of ripe strawberries and raspberries, as well as cream, light chocolate and earth. Full body, creamy texture and a long, flavorful finish. Tangy acidity drives the vivid and lively finish. Hard not to drink now. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSMore earth, baking spices, flowers, and dried soil notes emerge from the 2017 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse, and it too has a beautiful core of strawberry and assorted red fruits. Showing more structure with time in the glass, plenty of acidity, and again, this incredible complexity, drink this savory, elegant, layered wine over the coming 10-12 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 97+ JDThe 2017 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse is laced with sweet dark cherry, plum, spice, leather, tobacco, menthol and lavender that add to the wine’s strong, brooding personality. Ample and virile in feel, Ma Danseus shows the more potent side of the Sonoma Coast to great effect. The 2017 is presently quite tannic, but another few years in bottle should do the trick.Vinous Media | 96 VMThis label comes from Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2017 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse needs a little coaxing to release the wonderful perfume of exotic scents—bergamot, sandalwood, cassia and cinnamon stick—over a cove of Morello cherries, lilacs, dark chocolate and black raspberries, plus a waft of spearmint. Medium-bodied, the palate is incredibly fresh, silken textured and light on its feet and yet with fantastic intensity, finishing long and mineral laced. 1,410 cases were made.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPPure and redolent of crushed cherry, currant and plum flavors. Medium-grained tannins and crisp acidity give this heft, with a lingering finish of forest floor and hot stone details, and hints of dried sage. Best from 2020 through 2024. 1,410 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

Wonderful aromas of blueberries, blackberries, mushrooms, pine and blackcurrants. Some violets, too. Full-bodied, yet so refined and polished with wonderful fruit and a linear tannin structure that integrates beautifully into the wine. It’s so balanced and beautiful. Hard not to drink now, but better after 2023.James Suckling | 98 JSThe 2017 Proprietary Red brings everything up a solid notch. Dense purple/plum-hued, with gorgeous, Graves-like nose of blackcurrants, chocolate, scorched earth, tobacco leaf, and gravelly earth, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a polished, elegant texture, building yet sweet tannins, and a great finish. Very much in the style of the 2017 vintage with its nicely concentrated, elegant, reserved yet endearing style, it’s going to drink nicely for 20-25 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThe deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Proprietary Red sails out of the glass with open-knit, compelling scents of Black Forest cake, blackberry pie and black currant jelly with suggestions of Indian spices, garrigue, rose oil and sandalwood. The full-bodied palate is richly fruited and jam-packed with opulent black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, framed by a wicked backbone of freshness and plush, well-managed tannins, finishing with impressive length and perfume.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96+ RPThe 2017 Sloan is very nicely done. As is typical of the year, Sloan is on the lighter side in 2017, and yet all the elements are impeccably balanced. Black cherry, spice, licorice, lavender and chocolate open with a bit of time in the glass. Soft, succulent and quite gracious, the 2017 will drink well with minimal cellaring. I suspect it will always retain some of the nervous tension that is to be expected for a wine made from fruit picked a bit earlier than would have been optimal and with fewer barrel ferments, both choices imposed by the fires that year.Antonio Galloni | 94 AG