Raymond Vineyards Reviews

Black plum, smooth, varietal, velvety tannins, expresso, classic merlot, comfort wine to sip in front of a fireplace.

Nice chardonnay, crowd pleaser.

Opulent, hardy and full bodied.

The flagship of this impressive estate, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Generations is an up-front, plush, incredibly sexy barrel sample that's just about overflowing with red and black fruits as well as spicy oak, dried flowers, and savory herb-driven aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, concentrated, and balanced, this pleasure-bent effort is going to shine right out of the gate yet still evolve for two decades.

This deep and full-bodied blend offers plenty of chocolate, dried plum and blackberry flavors backed by moderate tannins that grab a little traction on the palate.

Deep, dark chocolate is the hallmark of this wine all the way from the first whiff through a dark chocolate palate and to a cocoa finish. Rich, ripe blueberries, black cherries and a touch of wood smoke all play their part, but the wine’s roasted cacao character dominates, as lavish tannins and a full body expand the mouthfeel.

Oak spices and deep black-fruits make a great combination in this fullbodied, gently tannic wine. Dark plums, dark chocolate, mint, sweet cinnamon and blueberries spread across the palate.

This is a sleek, concentrated and quietly powerful wine. Subtle, complex fruit, spice and savory components meld beautifully from the first sniff to the flavors and the lingering finish. Black cherries, black olives, a sprig of rosemary and a dash of dark chocolate are a winning recipe. Best from 2025–2035.

Packed with dark chocolate, graphite and black currants, this intense and layered wine should age well for a long time, letting the firm tannins resolve and more tertiary flavors develop. Full bodied and grippy in mouthfeel, it is also broad and ripe-tasting, finishing with black fruits and mint. Best from 2028– 2040. Cellar Selection.

A deep well of dark-fruit flavors grounds this big but well-balanced wine as it laces fine-grained tannins between gorgeous black cherries, black currants and hints of mint and cedar. Smooth on the palate but firm enough to age, this beauty should drink best from 2026.

Luxurious, saturated fruit aromas lead to a palate full of cooked blueberries, dark chocolate and mint in this mouthfilling and concentrated wine. Rich, fine-grained tannins give a velvety mouthfeel while the opulent black fruits keep echoing on the finish.

Juicy and youthfully coiled up, with layers of plum, red currant and blackberry fruit that will unwind in time, carried by iron and sweet bay leaf notes that add energy through the sleek finish. Best from 2023 through 2034. 567 cases made.

Lively, with a chaparral streak running through a mix of steeped plum, blueberry and blackberry fruit. Light alder and anise accents hang in the background. Juicy and open through the finish, too. Drink now through 2030. 194 cases made.

Lovely aromas of dark fruit and berries, roses, black cherries, moss and crushed sage. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Nicely transparent, with currant and blackberry character. Sturdy and steady. Drink or hold.

Aromas of crushed plums, sliced red cherries and fresh herbs. Full-bodied with velvety tannins. Very bright and fresh. A bit of coconut comes through the red fruit. Complex and intriguing. Best after 2025.

This has lots of steeped plum, warm cassis and mulled blackberry flavors that knit together while flashes of anise, sassafras and black tea swirl around. There's a great mineral underpinning on the finish, while the fruit keeps the upper hands. Best from 2022 through 2036. -JM

A light Sanguine hint leads off, quickly followed by ripe and dense raspberry and blackberry compote flavors. Subtle alder and sweet bay leaf notes dart in, ending with a red tea accent on the finish. Drink now through 2029. -JM

This aged, small-production wine blends 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with 21% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Together, they offer waxy cherry and plum notes within a reductive environment of herbes de Provence, tar, and iron. The weight of the wine is thick and concentrated. -Virginie Boone

In February 2019, winemaker Stephanie Putnam and proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset hosted the ninth annual blending session with 13 sommeliers to create this on-premise only offering. It is a blend of 53% Lake County, 30% Napa County and 17% Sonoma County fruit. Medium garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with vibrant red and black currant scents, followed by hints of dark chocolate-covered cherries, raspberry coulis, bouquet garni and pencil shavings with a waft of rose hip tea. The medium to full-bodied palate is soft, juicy and refreshing, adding loads of savory sparks to the suggestions on the nose, finishing long and mineral laced. It is a very different, accessible, savory-led expression of Northern California Cabernet and I love it! -Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Best of Class Of Varietal

Crisp and high in acidity, this wine mixes cinnamon, vanilla and pear flavors, accented by a note of exotic orange blossom on the nose. With a low presence of oak and medium body, it remains fresh and vibrant in the glass, offering a hit of toast and vanilla on the finish. —V.B. 

Fleshy and dry, this voluptuous wine has an abundance of creamy weight on the palate, but it never veers too far, remaining balanced and ultimately elegant. Stone fruit and quince vie for attention, with a salty undertow of lemongrass and ginger.

  — V.B.