Reviews

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.

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.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Chateau Buena Vista Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford explodes with bombastic notes of blackberry preserves, creme de cassis, and Morello cherries followed by hints of red loam, garrigue, and tar. The full-bodied palate is ripe and juicy, with pleasantly chewy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a provocative earthy note.

The 2021 Chateau Buena Vista Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena, with some Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. It delivers evocative notes of blackcurrant jelly, kirsch, and mulberries followed by nuances of fallen leaves, cast-iron pan, cardamom, and pencil lead. The full-bodied palate is electric with crunchy black and red fruits, supported by a lively line and firm, grainy tannins, finishing with great length and a real skip in its step.