Reviews

Notes of red and dark berries, sweet spices, cocoa and wet earth. Firm and structured with medium to full body and velvety texture. Lingering, dark-fruited finish. Better after 2025.

Blackcurrants, blackberries, walnuts and ground spices on the nose. A little earthy, too. Sleek and refined with medium to full body. Tannins are fine-grained and melted into the wine. Smooth and even with a lingering finish. Better from 2026.

A solid red with cherries, violets and earth on the nose and palate. Medium body with chewy tannins. Herbs and wild berries on the palate and a savory finish. Try after two to three years to soften the tannins.

The 2021 LVE Legend Exclusive Cabernet Sauvignon is a partnership between Raymond Vineyards and John Legend, and the blend includes about 9% Petit Verdot. It has a deep garnet-purple color and charges out of the glass with notes of freshly crushed blackcurrants, juicy blackberries, and boysenberries, leading to hints of menthol, star anise, and dark chocolate. The full-bodied palate is taut and muscular, laden with bright black fruits, with a firm structure of ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with epic length.

The 2021 Raymond Generations Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color. It zips out with ready-to-go notes of warm cassis, fresh blackberries, and red and black plums, followed by touches of garrigue, dusty soil, and mossy tree bark. The full-bodied palate is charged with energetic black and red fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and minerally. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Mulled black cherries, chocolaty herbs, licorice, and peppery notes all emerge from the 2021 Vacqueyras, another ripe, moderately concentrated, yet beautifully textured, charming, satisfying 2021 from this terrific appellation. A blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre that was brought up all in tank, it's perfect for drinking over the coming 5-7 years.

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.

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.

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.