Vinous (88)

The 2020 Zinfandel East Bench emerges from Funsten Ranch in Dry Creek Valley. It offers good energy in a taut, nervy style. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, rose and orange peel lend nuance. I would prefer to drink this light-bodied Zinfandel over the next few years, before the fruit fades.

Vinous (91)

The 2020 Geyserville is quite soft in this vintage. Bright red-fleshed fruit, crushed flowers, cedar, spice and sweet pipe tobacco all grace this mid-weight edition of Geyserville. All things considered, the 2020 is nicely done.

Vinous (93)

The 2020 Lytton Springs is a very pretty wine. Bright floral and spice accents open first. Silky and medium in body, with plenty of persistence and fine balance, the 2020 is pretty impressive, especially for the year. Zinfandel character really drives the feel in 2020. A burst of red/purplish fruit, rose petal, cinnamon and dried herbs lingers on the open-knit, intensely perfumed finish.

Opaque ruby colour with ripe cassis, plum, and redcurrant fruit, toasty oak barrel spice, vanilla, fennel, juniper berry, bay laurel, well-integrated velvety tannins, full mid-palate, firm acid, long, sumptuous finish.

Immerse yourself in the complex yet elegant fusion of exquisite flavours presented by the Ridge Sonoma County Three Valleys 2020. This opulent, hand-harvested blend hails from California's famed Sonoma County, an epicentre of world-class viticulture. Known for their persistent commitment to creating distinct, terroir-driven wines, Ridge Vineyards has delivered a Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignan, and Grenache amalgamation that amazes with its robust depth and nuance.

The 2020 vintage flourishes in your glass with a vibrant ruby red hue, teasing the palate with its enticing layers of ripe berries, warm spices, and a hint of toasted oak. Raised using organic and traditional practices, the Three Valleys blend is a testament to Ridge's fifty-year-long journey towards mastering the Bordeaux-style winemaking technique, truly showcasing their exceptional craftsmanship. The exemplary feature of the Ridge Sonoma County Three Valleys 2020 is the harmonious balance it achieves; a timeless testament to the ripe, fertile vineyards of Northern California.

James Suckling (96)

Focused nose, showing fresh red chili chocolate with cigar, truffle, mint, olive and grilled meat. This is a medium-to full-bodied red with incredibly juicy and bright fruit and fine, caressing tannins that linger in the long, creamy but precise finish. Elegant and extremely drinkable with complexity. on top of 38% malbec, 25% syrah, 15% cabernet sauvignon, 14% grenache and 8% petit verdot. The real deal. Second wine of Seña. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (98)

Fresh and deep nose, full of blueberries, minty cassis, mussels, cigars, dark spice and roasted sesame oak, which will need a year or two to fully integrate. A medium-to full-bodied Almaviva with supple, silky tannins and a wealth of black and blue fruit that provides a lot of charm now. Voluptuous and flattering on the palate, hallmarked by its tension and taut texture. Very long. This is the 25th anniversary bottling. 68% cabernet sauvignon, 24% carmenere, 6% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Drinkable now, but better from 2024.

James Suckling (98)

Fresh and deep nose, full of blueberries, minty cassis, mussels, cigars, dark spice and roasted sesame oak, which will need a year or two to fully integrate. A medium-to full-bodied Almaviva with supple, silky tannins and a wealth of black and blue fruit that provides a lot of charm now. Voluptuous and flattering on the palate, hallmarked by its tension and taut texture. Very long. This is the 25th anniversary bottling. 68% cabernet sauvignon, 24% carmenere, 6% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Drinkable now, but better from 2024.

James Suckling (98)

Fresh and deep nose, full of blueberries, minty cassis, mussels, cigars, dark spice and roasted sesame oak, which will need a year or two to fully integrate. A medium-to full-bodied Almaviva with supple, silky tannins and a wealth of black and blue fruit that provides a lot of charm now. Voluptuous and flattering on the palate, hallmarked by its tension and taut texture. Very long. This is the 25th anniversary bottling. 68% cabernet sauvignon, 24% carmenere, 6% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Drinkable now, but better from 2024.

Wine Advocate (94)

The current release of their second wine is the 2020 Epu. It's selected from the same terroir and vineyard in Puente Alto, one of the most reputed places for Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile, but from the younger vines (five- to 20-year-old vines) and harvested a little earlier to preserve acidity and fruit. In the warm and dry 2020 vintage, the wine was produced with a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Carmenere, 5% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, usually higher in Cabernet and lower in Carmenere than Almaviva. It has red ripe berries, the textbook blackberries and cassis and some creamy oak. It's ripe at 14.8% alcohol and has mellow acidity, good freshness and balance, with a pH of 3.71 and 4.8 grams of acidity (tartaric). It matured for 12 months in French barriques, 10% new and 90% second use. The wine has a bright nose with a clean note of baked "morrón" peppers intermixed with red berry compote. It has a velvety plate with the luxurious texture of the modern Bordeaux, with abundant, slightly dusty tannins. It's approachable and round but should reward some time in bottle. This is a pretty serious Epu. 75,000 bottles produced. It was bottled at the end of 2021 and the first days of 2022. This is the second vintage sold through the Place de Bordeaux négociant system.

Expertly crafted by the esteemed Sanford Winery, the Sanford La Rinconada Chardonnay 2020 is a distinctive delight for lovers of fine wines. Sourced from the esteemed La Rinconada Vineyard in the heart of California's Santa Rita Hills, known for its cool climate that imparts a perfect balance of acidity. This captivating wine boasts 100% Chardonnay grapes, fermented in French Oak barrels, contributing to its delightful depth.

Evolving on the palette, Sanford La Rinconada Chardonnay 2020 delivers distinctive notes of stone fruit and citrus coupled with a subtle hint of vanilla. Further complexity is bestowed through the atmospheric aging, presenting a lingering minerality that is uniquely characteristic of this singular terroir.

Sanford Winery, renowned for their exemplary wines since 1971, utilise sustainable farming techniques to yield exemplary vintages year after year. An exquisite exemplar of their dedication, Sanford La Rinconada Chardonnay 2020 is a superb addition to discerning cellars and the perfect accompaniment to a range of gastronomic delights.

Crafted in Paso Robles, the famed Rhône wine-producing area in California, the Saxum James Berry 2020 showcases the intricate artistry of winemaker Justin Smith. This blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah is a bold testament to the limestone-rich soil of the vineyard, boasting an intensity that echoes its unique terroir. Grown in limited batches, each bottle is a treat for discerning oenophiles.

Employing native yeasts in the fermentation process and applying meticulous ageing techniques, the Saxum James Berry 2020 arouses a sophisticated plummy resonance, accentuated by hints of black cherries and spices. Its enchanting velvety finish pays tribute to the loamy undercurrents of James Berry Vineyard.

With Saxum eschewing filtration and fining methods, each glass of James Berry 2020 offers a remarkable unadulterated expression of fruit that sets it a class apart. Opulent yet balanced, this wine is a testament to Saxum's dedication to producing wines of exceptional quality.

James Suckling (99)

Fabulous aromas of cabernet sauvignon with blackcurrants, blueberries, bark, fresh mushrooms and violets, follow through to a full body with an elegance that builds at the finish, leaving you with a freshness and minerality that goes on for minutes. Unique wine in so many ways. A blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot and 6% cabernet franc. Best after 2028.

James Suckling (99)

Fabulous aromas of cabernet sauvignon with blackcurrants, blueberries, bark, fresh mushrooms and violets, follow through to a full body with an elegance that builds at the finish, leaving you with a freshness and minerality that goes on for minutes. Unique wine in so many ways. A blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot and 6% cabernet franc. Best after 2028.

James Suckling (98)

Complex, with savory, spicy character, showing tobacco, salted plums, olives, black cherries, cassis and a hint of white pepper on the nose, followed by a refined, savory, balsamic accent. A full-bodied Seña with juicy fruit chiseling into the tight, extremely fine-grained tannins. Long, bright and still elegant from this warm vintage. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 25% malbec, 15% carmenere and 7% petit verdot. A wine with lots of harmony now, but better to drink from 2025.

James Suckling (98)

Complex, with savory, spicy character, showing tobacco, salted plums, olives, black cherries, cassis and a hint of white pepper on the nose, followed by a refined, savory, balsamic accent. A full-bodied Seña with juicy fruit chiseling into the tight, extremely fine-grained tannins. Long, bright and still elegant from this warm vintage. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 25% malbec, 15% carmenere and 7% petit verdot. A wine with lots of harmony now, but better to drink from 2025.

Jeb Dunnuck (97-100)

The 2020 Grenache Distenta II is a blend of mostly 78% Grenache and the rest Mourvèdre, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and a tiny splash of Viognier. It's a ripe, sexy, insanely good barrel sample that has remarkable purity, tons of black raspberry and cassis fruits, perfect balance, full-bodied richness, and an already complex bouquet of violets, spice, and flowers. I continue to be blown away by what this estate seems to achieve with Grenache in just about every vintage.

Wine Advocate (99)

The recently bottled 2020 Syrah Distenta 11 is a blend of 82.9% Syrah, 7.5% Grenache, 3.9% Mourvèdre, 3.4% Petite Sirah and 2.3% white grapes (1.5% Muskat and 0.8% Petit Manseng, to be precise). It comes entirely from estate vineyards: The Third Twin (43%), Eleven Confessions (32%), Cumulus (21%) and Molly Aïda (3%). It was fermented with 16% whole clusters and matured for about 23 months in 66% new French oak. "I like whole cluster less on Syrah," Manfred Krankl explains. "It can be more herbal. But these 2020s are much more fleshy and unctuous, so it shows better." Opaque ruby in color, it opens significantly as it spends time in the decanter, unfolding to cassis, crème de violette, coffee and warm chocolate. The palate embodies weightless power, its concentrated, graphite-laced flavors carried by a velvety, seamless frame, while soft bursts of acidity highlight floral perfume on the long finish. Still very tightly coiled, its intense, latent flavors suggest this has much more to give as it unwinds in bottle. 1,999 cases and 600 magnums will be released in the spring of 2023.

Decanter (99)

2020 Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon - St. Helena NV /// Lovely fragrant blackberry and black cherry fruit, cassis, and rich tobacco spices with lovely fresh earth notes and a sweet kiss of new wood cedar. Incredibly concentrated dark berry fruit with fabulously angular tannins with smooth long beams with crisp edges. Purple florals, dried sagebrush, and chocolate shavings with lids of graphite and deep iron-like mineral character. And a finish of dark saturated fruit that goes and goes for days. There are purple floras too. Polished and bright, with vivacious acidity and freshness evident from the sip to the finish. Wow, this wine. 98-100. // 13.7 ... has the potential to be a 100-point wine.

Decanter (99)

2020 Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon - St. Helena NV /// Lovely fragrant blackberry and black cherry fruit, cassis, and rich tobacco spices with lovely fresh earth notes and a sweet kiss of new wood cedar. Incredibly concentrated dark berry fruit with fabulously angular tannins with smooth long beams with crisp edges. Purple florals, dried sagebrush, and chocolate shavings with lids of graphite and deep iron-like mineral character. And a finish of dark saturated fruit that goes and goes for days. There are purple floras too. Polished and bright, with vivacious acidity and freshness evident from the sip to the finish. Wow, this wine. 98-100. // 13.7 ... has the potential to be a 100-point wine.

James Suckling (97)

Plenty of lightly salted caramel with tarte tatin and apple crumble, but ever so subtle. Dried flowers. Delicate toffee. Full-bodied with an intensity of fruit and caramel, along with some crushed stone at the same time. Tangy aftertaste. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (98)

This old-vine chardonnay shows beautiful density and polish, with a round, creamy texture. It’s full-bodied, refined, soft and fluffy. Fresh and bright. Intense, yet subtle. Korean pear and cherry blossom. Wonderful white with unique character. 400 cases made. Drink now or hold.

Decanter (98)

Gorgeous nose with tobacco, cherry and strawberry nuances, incredibly aromatic. Beautifully textured and supremely balanced, so smooth with tannins that are there but fine and gently supporting the fruit. Everything in balance. Coffee, cinnamon, liquorice, all gentle and nuanced just giving the small details. Feels well controlled and purposeful. There is concentration no doubt but this has exceptional acidity, fruit forwardness, concentration and poise. A full bodied wine with plenty going on but finessed with a real sense of class to it. Delicious and so drinkable even now. Ageing 22 months in French oak barrels (75% new) and 25% foudres.