Press Room

Buena Vista Winery Reviews

Score: 91 | December 31, 2022 | Wine Enthusiast

This ripe, rich, almost-sweet wine offers indulgent baking spices, cherry syrup, maple and black-currant flavors on a velvety texture of soft tannins. It feels broad and full bodied on the palate, letting the concentrated fruit flavors soak in.

Score: 92 | December 31, 2022 | Wine Enthusiast

This deep, dusky wine tastes authentic and varietally true. It offers savory black olives and black pepper along with lots of black cherries and dark plums on a moderately tannic texture and full body. The wine’s concentration and balance are outstanding.

Score: 92 | December 31, 2022 | Wine Enthusiast

Superripe, jammy flavors of strawberries and blackberries are nicely accented by oak spices of vanilla, toast and cedar in this moderately tannic, firmly structured wine. It offers lots of fruit and power.

Score: 91 | November 15, 2022 | Wine Spectator

Sleek and reserved, with a gently polished edge to the core of damson plum, cherry paste and raspberry coulis flavors, all laced with hints of sandalwood and red tea. Shows a subtle mineral hint through the graceful finish. Drink now through 2032. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 400 cases made.

Score: 90 | September 12, 2022 | Wine Berserkers

(£24.50) 13.5% alcohol. Ripe and juicy in a fruit-forward style with nice density. Has sweet cherry fruit with spicy overtones. Stylish stuff. 90/100

Score: Silver | June 27, 2022 | 2022 TEXSOM Awards
Score: 91 | June 9, 2022 | 2022 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition
Score: 93 | June 1, 2022 | JamesSuckling.com

A floral nose of ripe red cherry, suede and ripe strawberry. Medium-to full-bodied with fine, silky tannins. Very juicy, with a mineral and herbal backbone that adds pleasant complexity. Drink or hold.

Score: 94 | June 1, 2022 | JamesSuckling.com

Inviting, peppery aromas of spiced cherry, crushed plum and cured meat. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Complex. An array of spice and herbs color the bed of red and black fruit. Meaty and savory with great intensity and depth. This needs time. Best after 2026.

Score: 92+ | May 20, 2022 | Jeb Dunnuck

The 2018 Pinot Noir Chateau Buena Vista has a medium ruby color and a nose of cranberry sauce, rhubarb and pomegranate with touches of tree bark, tangerine peel, violets, laurel and earth. The medium-bodied palate features amaro-driven fruits, a soft frame and great freshness with a spicy finish. 7,776 cases produced.

Score: 94 | May 5, 2022 | JamesSuckling.com

Blackcurrant, blackberry and walnut aromas with some wet earth. Medium to full body with round, creamy and firm tannins and a flavorful finish. Softness and focus to this young cab. Drink after 2024.

Score: 92 | May 5, 2022 | JamesSuckling.com

Ripe-berry and walnut aromas with cedar and spice, following through to a full body with creamy, polished tannins and a juicy finish. Dusty and firm at the end. Better in a year or two.

Score: 91 | May 1, 2022 | Decanter

With ripe, tropical fruit aromas of kiwi, pear, lemon and wet slate, this is broad and mouthfilling with zippy acidity and a generous dollop of sweet, toasty oak and crushed almonds, finishing long with burnt caramel accents and a vein of minerality. Grapes from Herman, Thornton Ranch and Southern Sonoma were whole-cluster pressed, entirely barrel fermented and then aged in 10% new French oak for 10 months.

Score: 92, Gold | March 8, 2022 | 2022 Los Angeles Invitational Wine Challenge

Great tannins, nice expression of place.

Score: 90 | November 30, 2021 | Wine Spectator

Strikes a wonderful balance between juicy, fresh fruit flavors and chewy, ripe tannins. Offering red licorice, maraschino cherry, dried herb and black tea notes, with spicy tobacco details lingering on the finish. Valdiguié, Charbono, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2030. 95 cases made. — MW

Score: 91 | July 9, 2021 | Decanter

Ripe, tropical fruit notes of kiwi, pear, lemon and wet slate. This is broad and mouth-filling with zippy, acidity and a generous dollop of sweet, toasty oak and crushed almonds. It finishes long with burnt caramel and a vein of minerality. 

Score: 91 | July 1, 2021 | Wine Enthusiast

Opening in divine aromatics of orange peel and raspberry, this cool-climate wine shows a length of brightness and fres acidity amidst a full-bodied style and approach. Ample tannin and oak accentuate its earthier heartier side. -Virginie Boone

Score: 92 | July 1, 2021 | Wine Enthusiast

This full-bodied, robust wine sports toasted oak and browned butter aromas followed by ripe Bosc pear and toasted almonds flavors on a rich, mouthfilling texture. It is big and well balanced, offering lots of flavor along with appetizing structure. -Jim Gordon

Score: 93 | April 21, 2021 | Wine & Spirits

This wine explores the earthy intensity, providing volumes of flavor without weight. Delicate in fact, with the scent of coastal forests, tree bark and roots to ground its untamed beauty. Brian Maloney blends this wine with fruit from four vineyards in western Sonoma County, a selection that captures a clear impression of the coastal hills. -J.G.

Score: 93 | April 1, 2021 | Wine & Spirits

This wine gains its concentration from 100-year-old vines at the Baldacci Vineyard. Its dark fruit has a comforting satin texture and feels cool - even at 15 percent alcohol - with forest floor notes of roots and earth against the warmer notes of nutmeg and allspice. Its umami complexities will work well with Middle Eastern dishes, particularly roast eggplant and lamb. -J.G.

Score: 90 | April 1, 2021 | Wine Enthusiast

Smoky oak wraps around baked cherry and baking spice in this robustly concentrated and full-bodied wine, warm-climate in nature and style. The jammy rich fruit is layered and lengthy.

Score: 91 | December 15, 2018 | Wine Spectator

Concentrated citrus, green apple and nectarine flavors are framed by rich acidity. The crystalline finish is loaded with mineral and savory accents. Drink now through 2022. 

Score: 90 | November 1, 2018 | Wine Enthusiast

Big tense layers of flavor dip into wild mint, strawberry and black cherry in this intense full-powered red. Cola and baking spice round it out and contribute complexity and length. 

Score: 90 | July 31, 2018 | Wine Spectator

An appealing wine that succeeds in an understated style, with nuanced flavors of light anise, plum, blackberry and tea.

Score: 93+ | June 29, 2018 | Wine Advocate

Composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 The Founder is medium garnet-purple in color and beautifully scented of crushed blackberries and blackcurrants with nuances of menthol, lilacs, dark chocolate and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has elegantly played perfumed black fruits, with a firm frame of ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and layered.

Score: 92 | June 29, 2018 | Wine Advocate

Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Zinfandel Private Reserve has quite a spicy nose with notions of allspice and powdered cinnamon over a core of raspberry pie, blueberry preserves and raisin cake plus a touch of dried flowers. Full-bodied, rich and decadently fruited in the mouth, it has a chewy frame and lively line of freshness, finishing on a spicy note.

Score: 91 | June 29, 2018 | Wine Advocate

Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Valdiguie gives up fragrant notes of violets, Chinese five spice and raisin cake with nuances of black tea, Sichuan pepper and tapenade. Full-bodied and laden with black berries and spice layers, it has a firm frame of chewy tannins and invigorating freshness, finishing with plenty of spring in its step.

Score: 91 | June 29, 2018 | Wine Advocate

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Zinfandel Arpad's Selection has a wonderfully fragrant nose of cherry compote, raspberry preserves and baked plums with suggestions of Chinese five spice, roses and underbrush. The palate is led by a taut structure of chewy tannins and crisp acid supporting the spicy baked berry flavors, finishing long and earthy.

Score: 91 | April 27, 2018 | Wine Advocate

The 2015 Chardonnay Natalia's Selection opens with a toasty, yeasty nose giving way to a core of lemon pie, ripe peaches and spiced pears with a waft of orange blossoms. Medium to full-bodied with an appealing suggestion of oiliness to the texture, it offers loads of citrus and stone fruit layers with a lively backbone and great length. 

Score: Platinum, 94 points | April 3, 2018 | San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge
Score: Gold, 91 Points | April 3, 2018 | San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge
Score: 90 | July 1, 2017 | Wine Enthusiast

Bright red berry fruit meets smoky undertones of peppered meat, seasoned further with licorice and cola. Full-bodied and robust, the wine’s tannins are grippy and supportive. 

Score: 92 | June 1, 2017 | Wine Enthusiast

Rustic compost, wild strawberry and cola spice highlight this medium-bodied, velvety textured wine, buoyed by a linear streak of lively acidity. Leather and smoke accentuate the finish. —V.B. 

Score: 90 | March 4, 2016 | Wine Advocate

The 2013 Syrah The Count’s Selection shows the bacon fat and dense blackberry and cassis fruit of Syrah, with a deep ruby/purple color, a lush medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, supple tannins, and is quite long, layered and rich. It should drink well for at least 10-12 years. It reminds me of a high-class Crozes-Hermitage from France.

Score: 5 stars | June 1, 2013 | Restaurant Wine
Great value. This is a distinct, supple Pinot Noir with ripe fruit character (plum, cherry, rose petal), good balance, and a medium long finish. Hard to beat at the price.
Score: Best Buy | November 1, 2012 | Connoisseur's Guide to California Wine
Best Buy. This bright, bouyant wine should more than please Zinfandel lovers that crave zesty fruit and want a wine that will drink comfortably with all sorts of foods.
Score: 91, Editor's Choice | June 1, 2012 | Wine Enthusiast

A distinguished Merlot, dark, dry and brooding. Complex, too, with deep flavors of blueberry, mushroom, dark chocolate and anise. The tannins are fairly fierce despite the softness, but the wine doesn’t seem like a longterm ager, so give it a decant before drinking over the next few years.