Reviews

TOP VALUE (Wine Spectator, May 31, 2022)

Bright berry, cherry and spice flavors are framed with sweet wood smoke in this supple red. Just a touch of firmness on the finish. Drink now. 20,000 cases made, 1,250 cases imported. — BS

Made from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Petit Verdot and 11% Cabernet Franc, this blend comes in a heavy bottle with a giant gold alligator on it. Rich red fruit is sinewy and leathery in texture, with a ripe plushness that leans hot. Virginie Boone

Well-knit flavors of apple pastry, dried peach and glazed apricot show notes of butterscotch, followed by a juicy and well-spiced finished. Drink now. -KM

Thick and richly robust in baked red fruit and cola, this hearty, full-bodied wine shows generous tannin and oak around a core of ripeness and fruit. Virginie Boone

An oak-laden nose leads to an earthy and concentrated core of tropical pineapple, mango and pear flavors, the richness underscored by a lingering taste of vanilla. Virginie Boone

Ripe and slightly languid in style, with gently mulled red and black currant fruit, mixed with fruitcake and a hint of sassafras. Firms up a touch on the finish to keep it honest. Drink now through 2023. -JM

This is the first vintage of this new label by Buena Vista, commemorating the year it was founded. The 2018 Red Wine 1857 is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet Sauvignon is from the Morris vineyard on Diamond Mountain, the Petit Verdot was harvested from the Larkmead vineyard in Calistoga, and the Cabernet Franc is from the Casa Nuestra vineyard in St. Helena. It was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 45% new. Very deep purple-black colored, it slowly unfurls to reveal fantastically fragrant notes of candied violets, star anise, clove oil and chocolate mints, over a core of crème de cassis, Black Forest cake and blueberry pie with hints of pencil shavings and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with rich, seductive black and blue fruit layers, framed by oh-so-plush tannins and a seamless line of freshness, finishing very long and perfumed. Only 50 cases were made.

Medium ruby in color, the 2019 Pinot Noir Estate was made from certified organic and biodynamic grapes. It has an appealing broodiness, with notes of iron, tabacco leaf and woodsmoke over a core of rhubarb. The medium-bodied palate is a bit tarter than expected, with bright red berry character and a juicy, slightly dilute finish. Drink 2021-2024 -Erin Brooks

Scents of brandied cherries lend this wine its warm power, in the mode of Port without the sweetness. The firm tannins have a pleasant greenness, like raspberry leaves, keeping the finish clean. Serve with roast game. -J.G.