Reviews by Jeb Dunnuck
August 2025
2023 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard 96 points
Fermented with 20% whole clusters and brought up 18 months in 17% new French oak, the 2023 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard reveals gorgeous, darker berry fruits, pepper, leather, and floral notes that give this a Côte-Rôtie-like style. It’s medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered, seamless mouthfeel, ripe, present tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. I love everything about this beauty, which brings richness, elegance, complexity, and outstanding length. Give it a year or two and enjoy over the following 10-12 years or more. It’s one of my favorites in the lineup. Drink 2026-2038.
2023 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard 95 points
Fermented with 12.5% whole clusters and brought up 15 months in 22% new French oak, the 2023 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard offers ripe black raspberries, darker berries, smoke, spring flowers, and olive nuances that give this a Côte-Rôtie-like vibe. It’s medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered, seamless mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. I love it even today, yet it will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and should see its 15th birthday in fine form. Drink 2027-2040.
2022 Syrah Roll Ranch Vineyard 95 points
Coming from a warmer site in Ventura County and fermented with 79% whole clusters before being brought up 20 months in 22% new French oak, the 2022 Syrah Roll Ranch Vineyard offers ripe plums, blue fruits, pepper, iron, and meaty, violet notes that give this a Cornas-like vibe. It’s rich and medium to full-bodied, with a concentrated mid-palate and ripe tannins. This will keep for 10-15 years, if not longer, if well stored. Drink 2025-2040.
2023 Chardonnay Puerta Del Mar Vineyard Special Bottling 94 points
Aged 16 months in 33% new French oak, the 2023 Chardonnay Puerta Del Mar Vineyard Special Bottling has ripe orchard fruits, orange blossom, spicy wood, and subtle brioche nuances. It’s beautifully textured and medium-bodied, with a concentrated mid-palate and nicely integrated acidity. Beautiful today, this should have a decade of prime drinking with a gradual evolution beyond that. Drink 2025-2035.
2023 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Devoto 94 points
Fermented with 22% whole clusters and aged 15 months in 22% new French oak, the 2023 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Devoto offers redcurrants, sagebrush, rose petal, and peppery, iron nuances. Medium-bodied, it’s firm and focused on the palate with ripe tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and outstanding length. It will benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and drink brilliantly over the following decade. Drink 2028-2038.
2023 Pinot Noir Kessler Haak Vineyard 94 points
Fermented with 21% whole clusters and brought up 15 months in 44% new French oak, the 2023 Pinot Noir Kessler Haak Vineyard reveals notes of ripe redcurrants, darker berries, leafy herbs, and underbrush, with classic Sta. Rita Hills iodine and marine-like nuances developing with air. Medium-bodied on the palate, it has a firm, focused mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, good mid-palate depth, and outstanding length. This will benefit from short-term cellaring and evolve gracefully over the following decade. Drink 2026-2036.
2023 Syrah Yellow Foxtrot Vineyard 94 points
Fermented with 17% whole clusters and aged 18 months in 14% new French oak, the 2023 Syrah Yellow Foxtrot Vineyard delivers notes of bright berry fruits, pepper, sage, violet, and candied orange. Medium to full-bodied and round, it has a layered, wonderfully textured mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and a great finish. This absolutely gorgeous Syrah has so much to love and should be consumed over the coming decade or more. Drink 2025-2037.
2024 Riesling Dessert Wine Kick On Ranch Vineyard 94 points
Made from grapes that were frozen for a week then pressed and aged five months in neutral French oak, the 2024 Riesling Dessert Wine Kick On Ranch Vineyard offers honeyed stone fruits, dried apricot, and candied citrus peel. It’s rich and concentrated on the palate, with balanced yet bright acidity and a clean, sweet finish. This dessert-style wine should be enjoyed over the coming 7-8 years, although I love it its clean, pure style today. Drink 2025-2029.
2022 Syrah Duvarita Vineyard 93+ points
Entirely destemmed and aged 16 months in 20% new French oak, the 2022 Syrah Duvarita Vineyard is another release from this talented team that has a Northern Rhône-like vibe in its meaty aromatics of darker fruits, leather, and pepper with sunbaked earth nuances. It’s rich and medium to full-bodied, with a beautiful mouthfeel and outstanding length. This will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar and drink nicely over the following decade. Drink 2027-2037.
2023 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Discipulo 93 points
Fermented with 12% whole clusters and brought up 15 months in 20% new French oak, the 2023 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Discipulo offers mulled red and black fruits, savory herbs, iron, and baking spice notes. It’s medium-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. This more earthy, complex, darker styled Pinot Noir will drink nicely over the coming decade. Drink 2025-2035.
2023 Pinot Noir Puerta Del Mar Vineyard 93 points
Aged 15 months in 33% new French oak, the 2023 Pinot Noir Puerta Del Mar Vineyard has a masculine nose of darker cherries, iodine, sage, and leafy herbs. I love its overall balance, and it’s medium-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. This spicy, complex, slightly more herbal effort will keep for a decade. Drink 2025-2035.
2023 Syrah Clima Frío 93 points
A blend from the Robert Rae and Portico Hills vineyards, fermented with an average of 14% whole clusters and aged 10 months in neutral French oak, the 2023 Syrah Clima Frío has a classic cool-climate nose of crunchy red and black fruits, white pepper, cedarwood, and sappy flowers. It’s medium-bodied, fresh, focused, and firm on the palate, with wonderful purity and precision, notable yet nicely integrated tannins, and outstanding length. Give it a year or two and drink over the following decade. Drink 2026-2036.
2023 Syrah Portico Hills Vineyard 93 points
Coming from a cooler site near Los Alamos and fermented with 60% whole clusters before being aged 16 months in neutral French oak, the 2023 Syrah Portico Hills Vineyard has ripe berry fruits, smoke, game, bouquet garni, and floral nuances. It’s medium-bodied, with a balanced, polished mouthfeel, ripe yet building tannins, and outstanding length. This classy, complex, Saint-Joseph-like Syrah will keep for 10-12 years. Drink 2025-2037.
2023 Chardonnay Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard 93 points
Brought up 18 months in 22% new French oak, the 2023 Chardonnay Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard evokes ripe lemon, sweet corn, orange blossom, and honeyed flowers. It’s beautifully textured and medium-bodied, with nicely integrated acidity and a great finish. This is another classy, balanced, impressive Chardonnay that can be consumed any time over the coming 7-8 years. Drink 2025-2033.
2023 ‘Estate Red’ Paseante Noir 92 points
Fermented with 11% whole clusters and brought up 16 months in neutral French oak, the 2023 Paseante Noir offers redcurrants, black cherries, peppery herbs, bouquet garni, and bay leaf notes. It’s medium to full-bodied, with a concentrated, textured mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. Easily the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted, it should be consumed over the coming decade. Drink 2025-2035.
2024 Sauvignon Blanc McGinley Vineyard 92 points
Coming from a warmer site in the Santa Ynez Valley and aged eight months in neutral barrels, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc McGinley Vineyard is clearly a richer, broader effort with ripe citrus and orchard fruits. It’s medium-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity, and complex spice and dried herb aromatics. This versatile white should have 4-6 years of prime drinking. Drink 2025-2030.
2024 Sauvignon Blanc Presqu’ile Vineyard 92 points
Sourced from a cooler site near Bien Nacido Vineyard and brought up seven months in neutral barrels, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Presqu’ile Vineyard offers bright grapefruit, lemon zest, minty herbs, and a kiss of minerality. This bright, racy, medium-bodied white brings considerable acidity yet stays balanced and textured, with a salivating finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. Drink 2025-2029.
2024 ‘Estate White’ Ambulo Blanc/Caminante Blanc 91 points
Based on 60% Ambulo Blanc and 40% Caminante Blanc and brought up six months in neutral barrels, the 2024 Estate White delivers bright, racy citrus, dried herbs, and stony minerality that gives it a Chenin Blanc-like style. It’s medium-bodied, with a bright, clean, crisp mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity, and outstanding length. This classy white will be incredibly versatile on the dinner table and is best enjoyed over the coming 2-4 years. Drink 2025-2029.
2023 Grenache John Sebastiano Vineyard 91 points
Fermented with 16% whole clusters and aged 14 months in neutral French oak, the 2023 Grenache John Sebastiano Vineyard has darker raspberries, redcurrants, baking spices, and dried herbs, with a kiss of orange tea developing with air. It’s medium-bodied, with a nicely balanced, polished mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, and outstanding length. You could safely put this up against a solid Châteauneuf-du-Pape and it would do just fine. Drink 2025-2035.
2023 Riesling Kick On Ranch Vineyard 91 points
Aged nine months in neutral barrels, the 2023 Riesling Kick On Ranch Vineyard reveals notes of honeyed orange, bright citrus, mint, and a subtle hint of kiwi. It’s medium-bodied, with a nicely textured, layered mouthfeel, bright yet well-integrated acidity, and a clean finish. Completely dry, this will be incredibly versatile on the dinner table and is best enjoyed over the coming 2-4 years. (It will keep longer if you’re so inclined.) Drink 2025-2029.
2024 Vermentino Camp 4 Vineyard 91 points
Aged six months in neutral barrels, the 2024 Vermentino Camp 4 Vineyard has beautiful stone and citrus fruits with mint and savory herb nuances. It’s medium-bodied, round, supple, and undeniably delicious, with nicely integrated acidity and a finish that makes you salivate. This is best enjoyed over the coming 2-3 years. Drink 2025-2028.
2024 Viognier Brick Barn Vineyard 91 points
A racy, vibrant expression of the variety brought up 10 months in neutral barrels, the 2024 Viognier Brick Barn Vineyard offers ripe tropical fruits, mint, and honeyed flower notes. It’s medium-bodied and offers bright, racy acidity, a round, lush mouthfeel, and outstanding length. Beautifully balanced, it will benefit from 6-12 months in bottle and shine for 3-4 years, maintaining real Viognier character while staying in Tolmach’s bright, racy style. Drink 2025-2028.
