Reviews

The 2021 Private Reserve Chardonnay gives up decadent scents of allspice, pineapple upside-down cake, and ripe apricots plus hints of marzipan and honeysuckle. The full-bodied palate delivers a creamy texture and mouth-coating tropical and stone fruit flavors, finishing long and spicy.

Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2021 Private Reserve Pinot Noir charges out of the glass with rambunctious notes of Morello cherries, black raspberries, and mulberries leading to touches of rhubarb crumble, wild strawberries, and underbrush plus a hint of violets. The medium to full-bodied palate is bursting with electric red and black berry flavors, supported by fine-grained tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing long and minerally.

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Chateau Buena Vista Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley gives up notes of stewed black plums, boysenberry preserves, and warm cassis plus hints of dusty soil, potpourri, and spice box. The full-bodied palate delivers plump, juicy black fruits with spicy accents and a plush texture, finishing with a minty lift.

The 2021 The Founder Cabernet Sauvignon, with 1% Petit Verdot in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. It comes barreling out with bold notions of blackcurrant cordial, stewed plums, and blackberry pie giving way to nuances of graphite, crushed rocks, and camphor with a touch of lavender. The full-bodied palate is rich and dense yet beautifully juxtaposed by amazing tension and grainy tannins, finishing long and lively.

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Chateau Buena Vista Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley gives up notes of stewed black plums, boysenberry preserves, and warm cassis plus hints of dusty soil, potpourri, and spice box. The full-bodied palate delivers plump, juicy black fruits with spicy accents and a plush texture, finishing with a minty lift.

The 2021 Chateau Buena Vista Chardonnay springs from the glass with fantastically spicy scents of nutmeg and candied ginger, giving way to a core of peach preserves, apple butter, and warm pineapple plus a waft of butterscotch. The medium to full-bodied palate has a decadent oiliness to the texture, with a lively line giving energy to the long, spicy finish.

The 2019 The Sheriff of Buena Vista is composed of 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Petite Sirah, 22% Syrah, 9% Petit Verdot, 5% Grenache, 3% Mourvedre, and 2% Mission. Medium garnet-purple in color, it swaggers out of the glass with confident blueberry pie, warm cassis, and blackberry preserves scents, plus suggestions of Indian spices and tree bark with a touch of Sichuan pepper. Full-bodied, rich, spicy, and plush, the palate offers soft acidity and an earthy finish.

The 2019 Chateau Buena Vista Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, with 10% Merlot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, and 0.5% Malbec in the blend, is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It leaps with notes of warm cassis, baked plums, and boysenberries with hints of menthol, cedar chest, and dried bay leaves. The medium to full-bodied palate has a soft texture and just enough freshness supporting the generous black fruit layers, finishing with an herbal lift.

The 2019 Chateau Buena Vista Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, with 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot in the blend, is deep purple-black in color. It needs a little swirling to coax out notes of warm cassis, black cherry compote, and fresh juicy blackberries, followed by hints of charcoal, crushed rocks, and sassafras plus a waft of cracked black pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam packed with bright, black fruit layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon needs a little shaking and swirling to unlock notes of creme de cassis, blueberry compote, and juicy blackberries opening out to fragrant notes of candied violets, chocolate box, and menthol. The full-bodied palate has a fantastic backbone of freshness and firm, ripe, grainy tannins to support the muscular fruit, finishing long and energetic.