October 2020
2017 Syrah – Duvarita
The 2017 Syrah Duvarita Vineyard has an opaque ruby-purple color and singular aromas of boysenberry and Morello cherry fruit with nuances of violet, lilac, licorice and exotic spices. The palate is full-bodied with concentrated, perfectly ripe fruit, grainy and fresh with a very long, very layered finish. 165 cases were made. 95 Points
The 2017 Syrah Roll Ranch has singular aromas of blueberry, boysenberry, violet, cocoa and coffee laced with exotic spices. The medium to full-bodied palate is bright, fresh and lifted with spicy fruit, a grainy, fresh frame and very long, perfumed finish. 332 cases were made. 95 Points
The 2017 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard opens slowly to cassis and crushed black cherries with pure touches of violet and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate offers open-knit flavors in a firm, grainy, fresh frame, and it finishes very long and layered. 191 cases produced. 94+ Points
2018 Pinot Noir – Bien Nacido
Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard has loads of aromas, with lush cranberry and blackberry fruits accented by touches of aniseed, bay leaves, dried flowers and cola. The medium-bodied palate offers a grainy, fresh frame packed with flavor layers, and it finishes very long. 348 cases were made. 94 Points
2018 Pinot Noir – Kessler Haak
The 2018 Pinot Noir Kessler Haak Vineyard, made with about 50% whole cluster, has a medium ruby-purple color and broody blackberries, woodsmoke and dried tobacco leaves with notes of laurel, forest floor and cola. It’s silky in the mouth and expands slowly to reveal its broody flavor layers, and it finishes seamlessly fresh and long. 209 cases were made. 94 Points
The 2017 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard is very expressive this vintage, with slowly opening notes of tar, loam, white pepper and violet with a core of cassis. The palate offers full, ripe, spicy fruit in a weightless frame, and it finishes very long. 188 cases were made. 94 Points
2018 Chardonnay – Solomon Hills
The 2018 Chardonnay Solomon Hills begins with tones of flint, opening to floral notes with quince and nutty touches. It’s medium-bodied, rounded and silky with expansive flavors refreshed by juicy acidity, and it finishes long and layered. 327 cases were made. 93 Points
2018 Chardonnay – Puerta Del Mar
The 2018 Chardonnay Puerta del Mar is wonderfully expressive this vintage, with a pretty perfume of musk, coriander seed, elderflower and white apricots. The medium-bodied palate is rounded and silky, unfurling delicately and lifted by fresh acidity on the long finish. 442 cases produced. 93 Points
2018 Pinot Noir – Puerta Del Mar
The 2018 Pinot Noir Puerta del Mar has a pale to medium ruby color and delicate red and black berry fruits with notes of laurel, peppercorn and potpourri. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm, ripe frame, seamless freshness and loads of bitters-laced fruits in the mouth, finishing long and peppery. 273 cases produced. 93 Points
2017 Syrah – Solomon Hills Special Bottling
Medium to deep ruby-purple, the 2017 Syrah Solomon Hills Special Bottling has delicate aromas of tar, licorice, earth and violet with a core of blackberries. Medium-bodied and perfumed, it’s firm, grainy and seamlessly fresh with a long, floral finish. A delicate, restrained and very pretty style. 46 cases were made. 93 Points
2018 Grenache – John Sebastiano
Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Grenache John Sebastiano Vineyard offers up bright raspberries, licorice, orange oil and dried flowers on the nose. Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with juicy, peppery flavors, pleasantly chalky and fresh and finishing long and nuanced. It manages to stay on the lighter side structurally while packing in the powerful fruit. 236 cases were made. 93 Points
The 2018 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard has open-knit aromas of fresh pears and apricots accented by hay, salted almonds and white blossoms. The palate is light-bodied, open, fresh and crisp with delicate perfume and an understated finish. 877 cases produced. 92 Points
2018 Sans Soufre Ajoute – John Sebastiano
Medium to deep ruby-purple, the 2018 Sans Soufre Ajoute John Sebastiano is scented of crushed blackberries, aniseed, blood orange peel and floral accents. The medium to full-bodied palate is bright, fresh and lifted with great energy and layering, and it finishes long. 221 cases were made. 92 Points
2018 Syrah – Santa Barbara County
The 2018 Syrah Santa Barbara has a medium to deep ruby-purple color and open-knit aromas of white pepper, garrigue, fresh blackcurrants and hints of blue fruit and flowers. Medium to full-bodied, it has a full fruit profile in a delicately styled frame, and it finishes long and peppery. 1,202 cases produced. 92 Points
2018 Pinot Noir – Santa Barbara County
The 2018 Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County has a pale to medium ruby-purple color and elegant scents of black tea leaves, cola, forest floor and red and black cherry fruits. The palate is light to medium-bodied and silky in texture with layers of earth, fruit and citrusy accents, finishing long. 1,115 cases produced. 92 Points
The 2017 Barbera Rich Vineyard is styled like a classic Barbera, with a bit of volume from its full California fruit. It has a medium ruby-purple color and gregarious raspberries and black cherries with nuances of tar, licorice and lilac. The palate is medium to full-bodied with lush layers of berry jam, grainy and fresh with a long, perfumed finish. Lovely! 212 cases were made. 92 Points
The medium ruby-purple colored 2017 Sangiovese White Hawk has a nose of sour cherries, iron, leather, soy and dried roses. The medium-bodied palate offers pleasantly rustic character with a chalky, fresh frame and long finish. 199 cases produced. 91 Points
Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega is scented of wild blackberries, tar, licorice and forest floor. The palate is medium-bodied and earthy with a firm, fresh frame and long finish. 161 cases were made. 91 Points
The 2018 Roussanne Bien Nacido Vineyard opens with singular floral perfume plus notes of beeswax, hazelnuts and white peaches. Light to medium-bodied, it’s rounded and silky with lively acidity and a long, floral finish. I’d love to see where this goes with another couple years in bottle. 90 cases were made. 91 Points
The 2019 Viognier Roll Ranch is a restrained, delicate version of the grape. The nose opens with white pepper and honeysuckle with notes of citrus, white peaches and crushed stone. The medium-bodied palate is bright, tangy and mineral-laced with a long, understated finish. 91 Points
2018 Sauvignon Blanc – McGinley
The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc McGinley has restrained scents of poached pears and white blossoms with touches of green herbs and crushed stone. The palate is light to medium-bodied, blossoming out to perfumed fruits in the mouth with bright freshness and a long finish. A lovely, understated style. 574 cases produced. 91 Points
2019 Rose
Medium salmon-pink in color, the 2019 Rosé opens slowly to peaches, bright red berries and baker’s yeast with touches of citrus. The palate is light to medium-bodied with bright, juicy fruits and an uplifted finish. 723 cases produced. 91 Points
2018 Sauvignon Blanc – Portico Hills
The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Portico Hills has restrained aromas of elderflower, fresh pears, lime peel and petrichor. The palate is rounded and textural with uplifting acidity and limey character, and it finishes long and minerally. 68 cases were made. 91 Points
2019 Riesling Dessert Wine – Kick On Ranch
The 2019 Riesling Kick On Dessert Wine is made in the style of an ice wine, by freezing Riesling grapes and pressing off the juice, resulting in a concentrated must that’s fermented to about 8% alcohol. The nose offers gregarious candied peaches, musk and tropical fruits with loads of floral accents. The palate is full-bodied and fully sweet with tropical fruits and great freshness that keeps this from feeling cloying or over the top. Well done! 224 cases were made. 90 Points
