California Wines

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The 2023 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons rockets from the glass with super-intense notes of lime blossoms, fresh yellow apples, orange peel, and chalk dust, plus hints of struck flint and grapefruit oil. The medium-bodied palate shimmers with citrus and stone fruit flavors, supported by fantastic tension and a satiny texture, finishing long and zesty. If served to me blind, I might mistake it for a Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne.The Wine Independent | 100 TWIRemarkable, powerful and complex, with smoked butterscotch, pear, tangerine, white peach, apricot preserves and dried mango, plus floral accents of honeysuckle and orange blossoms. Notes of pineapple upside-down cake, candied ginger and sweet cream add richness and elegance. The freshness from the acidity amplifies the flavors on the epic finish. Drink now through 2038. 1,289 cases made.Wine Spectator | 98 WSThe 2023 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is classic Hyde. Just textbook. Orange confit, lychee, burnt sugar, baked apple tart and apricot are dialed up all the way. Flashy, exuberant and opulent to the core, the 2023 is a great Hyde from Mark Aubert. An archetype.Vinous Media | 95 VM

The 2023 Chardonnay Lauren Estate needs a lot of swirling to bring out evocative scents of Bosc pears, honeydew melon, marzipan, and honeycomb, plus hints of chalk dust and lime blossoms. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers intense, profound orchard fruit and savory layers, supported by beautifully knit acidity and a silken texture, finishing long with a spicy kick.The Wine Independent | 100 TWIThe 2023 Chardonnay Lauren is the Mark Aubert wine par excellence. Creamy and layered, the 2023 is so sensual and alluring. Orange confit, mint, baked apple and a kiss of French oak all grace the palate. Lifted, precise and so elegant, the Lauren impresses with its seamless personality and compelling balance.Vinous Media | 99 VMGrilled lemon and pineapple are a bold opening, with litsea oil and lemon balm notes giving way to flavors of ripe peach and apricot, plus a hint of green cardamom. Makrut lime leaf, lemongrass and lemon basil details linger on the long, aromatic and expressive finish. Drink now through 2040. 1,218 cases made.Wine Spectator | 98 WS

The 2023 Chardonnay UV-SL has vibrant notes of pink grapefruit, fresh pineapple, and peaches, giving way to nuances of Marcona almonds, wet slate, and white pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate is compellingly silky with wonderful freshness, filling the mouth with layers of citrus, tropical, and orchard fruit flavors, finishing with epic length and depth. Stunning!The Wine Independent | 100 TWIThe 2023 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard is a wild, exotic wine. Lifted tropical notes meld into a core of green orchard fruit, mint and lime zest. As is so often the case, the UV-SL is defined by its textural presence, layers of fruit and plush, enveloping curves.Vinous Media | 96 VMOffers a stunning mix of crème brûlée, orange curd and peach preserves, with so much depth and complexity to the range of details, including wildflower honey and apricot pastry, plus spicy accents of nutmeg and Saigon cinnamon. Toffee and a touch of smoked salt linger on the finish. Drink now through 2035. 2,357 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WS

A perfect wine, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard comes from an incredible site just outside of St. Helena that excelled in 2023. Aged 22 months in 70% new French oak, it delivers a truly special bouquet of cassis, scorched earth, Asian spices, and graphite. Full-bodied and incredibly concentrated, it has ripe, building tannins and massive mid-palate depth, yet it carries its power with striking precision and balance. This is a sensational 2023 with thrilling intensity and a seamless elegance that just keeps you coming back to the glass. Give it 4-5 years in the cellar and expect two decades of longevity. Drink 2029-2049.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDFrom Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard, the grapes underwent extended maceration for up to 28 days, followed by fermentation in stainless steel, then 22 months of ageing in 65-85% new French oak. This is always an early block for the winery, notes winemaker Jennifer Porembski. The wine is vivid and aromatically pitch-perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon, offering pure black cherry and blackberry lifted by sagebrush, a touch of capsicum, and the graphite-stony minerality that defines Dr. Crane. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, with generous warm berry fruit framed by expressive, fine-grained, powdery tannins that linger and build through an extraordinarily long finish. Deep dark berry fruit carries the length, marrying power and elegance in a classic expression of the variety from this exceptional site. Fresh and crunchy, it has the structure and vitality to cellar comfortably for three or four deCades, with blending typically taking place closer to bottling. Arrow&Branch was established in 2008 after Steve Contursi and Seanne Contursi purchased Tony Soter’s Little Creek Vineyard, approximately 2.4 hectares in Coombsville, in 2007; the winery is located in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, west of Highway 29, with Jennifer Williams serving as winemaker and Michael Wolf as viticulturist.Decanter Magazine | 98 DECBrooding aromas of blood plums, black currants, licorice, graphite, salted beef and tobacco. The palate is densely packed with real depth of fruit, supported by melting yet firm tannins and mouthwatering acidity. This typifies a warm site in a cool vintage, with savory and mineral nuances balancing the dark fruit. Made from 100% 337 clone vines that are 35 years old, bringing depth and purity. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane is a classic wine from this St. Helena site. Silky tannins and floral aromatics wrap around a core of red/purplish fruit. Medium in body and pliant, with tons of site character, the Crane is a total delight.Vinous Media | 96 VM