California
California is one of the most renowned wine regions in the world, known for producing exceptional wines that reflect the unique character of the region.
One of the most famous vineyards in California is the Napa Valley's Robert Mondavi Winery, which produces a range of high-quality red and white wines, including the Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, the Fumé Blanc Reserve, and the Chardonnay Reserve. The estate is committed to sustainable farming practices and is known for its focus on traditional winemaking techniques.
In California, there is also a strong focus on producing organic and biodynamic wines, with vineyards such as the Frog's Leap Winery and the Benziger Family Winery using these practices to produce exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region.
Overall, California is a region known for producing exceptional wines, with famous vineyards such as Harlan Estate, Dominus, Opus One, Screaming Eagle, Robert Mondavi and many others. With a focus on sustainable and organic farming practices, and a commitment to traditional winemaking techniques, wines from California are gaining increasing recognition and popularity among wine enthusiasts worldwide.
California
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
California | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£883.78 |
|||||
|
From the distinguished producer in Annapolis, California, the Peay Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Ama 2019 is a fine testament to craftsmanship. Two brothers, Andy and Nick Peay, masterly blend traditional and modern viticultural techniques with small-lot fermentations to create this exquisite wine. Cultivated from the Ama Vineyard, the grapes are harvested by hand under strict selection standards to ensure only the best quality. Peay Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Ama 2019 exhibits a striking ruby-red hue teasing your sense with scents of forest floor, and ripe cherries. On the palate, it unfurls its myriads of layered flavours; black cherry, pomegranate, and subtle notes of oriental spices that underscores its Sonoma Coast heritage. The articulate tannins and glossy acidity resonate throughout, offering a long, harmonious finish. The production of this wine is limited, making it a must-have addition for collectors who embrace Pinot Noir’s full essence. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£968.47 |
|||||
|
The Peay Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Scallop Shelf 2019 is a delightful representation of Californian winemaking at its finest. Produced by the renowned Peay Vineyards, located in the cool, northernmost part of the Sonoma Coast, this Pinot Noir showcases the winemakers' painstaking attention to detail and commitment to sustainable practices. Innovative dry farming methods contribute to its unique terroir, distinguished by the mineral-rich soils of the Scallop Shelf vineyard plot. The vintage's character is beautifully articulated, presenting a vibrant acidity balanced by detailed red berry and herbal flavours. Aged for 11 months in French oak barrels, a hint of savoury spice finishes the complex profile of this exquisite wine. Peay Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Scallop Shelf 2019 stands as a testament to a masterful blend of tradition and innovation, with the Peay’s, capturing the distinct nuances of their coastal estate in every bottle. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£7,767.64 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)This is very perfumed with blackberry and pine-cone aromas, as well as raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins that are tight-grained. Creamy and beautiful. Currant and graphite flavors come through. Lightly chewy at the end. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 21% merlot, 14% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Drink after 2025. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 100 (WI) |
Inc. VAT
£2,414.81 |
|||||
The Wine Independent (100)The 2019 Promontory has a deep garnet-purple color. It is quite closed at the moment, needing a little swirling to reveal notes of crushed rocks, garrigue, iron ore, and lavender, leading to a core of black cherries, redcurrant jelly, and fresh blackcurrants, with a hint of mossy tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is so tightly wound, delivering multi-layered black and red berries with mineral and earthy sparks, supported by fine-grained tannins, finishing long and fragrant. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 100 (WI) |
Inc. VAT
£3,472.82 |
|||||
The Wine Independent (100)The 2019 Promontory has a deep garnet-purple color. It is quite closed at the moment, needing a little swirling to reveal notes of crushed rocks, garrigue, iron ore, and lavender, leading to a core of black cherries, redcurrant jelly, and fresh blackcurrants, with a hint of mossy tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is so tightly wound, delivering multi-layered black and red berries with mineral and earthy sparks, supported by fine-grained tannins, finishing long and fragrant. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 100 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£1,024.84 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (100)This is a winemaker's master class in blending and understanding of a long-standing site. Dried herb, cedar and pencil shavings accent lifted red fruit and brilliant acidity on the palate, with a supple yet still youthfully grippy texture that is framed by structured, graceful tannins. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 3 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£748.84 |
|||||
Vinous (96)A gorgeous wine, the 2019 Chardonnay Bentrock Vineyard dazzles with its purity and translucence. Crushed rocks, lemon confit, white flowers and mint give the 2019 its brilliant, sculpted personality. Soaring aromatics and bright saline accents build into the regal finish. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£817.49 |
|||||
|
Handcrafted with meticulous precision, the Racines Sta. Rita Hills La Rinconada Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019 is a testament to fine winemaking. Produced in the renowned Santa Rita Hills appellation, the grapes come from the esteemed La Rinconada Vineyard, known for its cool climate and hillside terrain. Epitomising the signature style of Racines, a collaborative venture of four distinguishable wine experts, this vintage delivers a captivating blend of Old World finesse and New World vibrancy. The 2019 vintage, grown in well-drained soils and maritime-influenced microclimate, features a complex palette boasting of vibrant fruit notes, subtle minerality, and a profound, lengthy finish. Matured in 30% new French oak, it beautifully intertwines textural richness with a refined structure. Lauded by critics, the Racines Sta. Rita Hills La Rinconada Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019 is undoubtedly an elegant choice for discerning palates, offering a memorable, sophisticated wine experience in each bottle. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£899.09 |
|||||
|
Experience the splendour of the Racines Sta. Rita Hills Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Chardonnay 2019, a premium wine that exudes elegance and refinement. Produced in Santa Barbara County’s reputable Sta. Rita Hills AVA, this vintage emerges from the esteemed Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, renowned for its stellar Chardonnay cultivation since 1971. This extraordinary wine is a testament to Racines' traditional winemaking practices - minimal intervention, careful fermentation, and a gentle barrel ageing, ensuring authenticity of expression. The 2019 vintage delivers a superb balance of acidity and lush fruit-forward character, bearing notes of grapefruit, exotic spices and a whisper of vanilla from French oak ageing. The commitment of celebrated winemakers Rajat Parr and Justin Willett results in a complex and exceptionally well-structured Chardonnay. Wine enthusiasts will relish the nuances of the Racines Sta. Rita Hills Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 - a quintessential varietal interpretation staying true to its Californian terroir roots. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 3 | - |
Inc. VAT
£717.89 |
|||||
|
Esteemed by discerning connoisseurs, the Racines Wenzlau Family Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 is a tour de force of viticulture mastery. This charismatic wine hails from the esteemed Wenzlau Family Vineyard, tucked in the central coast of California, a region world-renowned for its exceptional Chardonnay. The Racines collaborative of four wine-making legends have lent their expertise to this 2019 Chardonnay, ensuring a production process steeped in tradition, yet adventurously innovative. Exhibiting a pale golden hue, the Racines Wenzlau Family Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 truly exudes eloquence in a glass. Indulge in the inviting bouquet of sweet apple and citrus underscored by an earthy minerality. Its full-bodied, harmonious palate is marked by a voluptuous, creamy texture, punctuated with vibrant acidity and a lingering finish. Matured with the utmost precision, every sip of this meticulous Chardonnay promises an intoxicating blend of richness and refreshing taste, making the Racines Wenzlau Family Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 a standout choice for any discerning palate. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 100 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£505.24 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (100)There is a beautiful meeting of the minds with this site in this winemaker's hands that it's hard not to be drawn to it year after year. The fifth single- vineyard designate from this magical place, it is spiced, bright, complex and nuanced in oak. It's just impressively seamless and full of life. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 2 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£523.49 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)The 2019 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard has singular scents of warm peaches and burnt lemon with touches of meringue, beeswax, saline and flint. The medium-bodied palate is energetic and tense at this youthful stage, its satiny texture opposed by tangy freshness, and it finishes long and flinty. It will be long lived in bottle and will benefit from 3-5 more years under cork. 624 cases were made. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£5,370.29 |
|||||
|
|
California | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£2,070.29 |
|||||
|
|
California | 1 | 98+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,989.26 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98+)Realm took over the management of Farella vineyard in 2018. Since then, winemaker Benoit Touquette explained their focus has been to open out the canopy, creating better exposure for the fruit, aiming to achieve riper tannins. A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and a powerful, expressive nose of baked plums, juicy blackberries and blackcurrant pastilles, plus touches of black olives, lavender and cinnamon stick, with a waft of fragrant earth. The full-bodied palate is seriously dense and muscular, featuring a rock-solid foundation of super ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length and energy. A spectacular showing for Farella! |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,899.26 |
|||||
Vinous (97)From the Realm Estate in Stags Leap, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Moonracer is an elegant, sophisticated Cabernet that shows the nuanced side of Stags Leap in its red-toned fruit profile, floral aromatics and mid-weight structure. I would give the 2019 at least a few years in the bottle. There is a certain approachability to the 2019, but ultimately I think that might be a bit deceptive relative to the wine's ultimate potential. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 2 | 99 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£3,449.66 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (99)Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color, requiring a little coaxing before it spills out of the glass with fantastically showy blackberry preserves, boysenberries and cassis notes, plus hints of black raspberries, clove oil and potpourri, with a touch of tobacco leaf. The decadent, full-bodied palate sports a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins with beautiful freshness. All that generous black fruit melds seamlessly into a very long, mineral-laced finish. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 99 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£884.44 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (99)The 2019 The Bard checks in as 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, and it’s another dense, rich, powerful wine from this team that readers are going to absolutely love. Coming from throughout the valley (it’s always a great representation of the vintage), it offers up a brilliant nose of crème de cassis, ripe plums, graphite, scorched earth, and chocolate. About as seamless as they come on the palate, it’s full-bodied and has a thrilling texture, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It’s one of those wines where I feel like I’m overusing adjectives, but it’s warranted. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 9 | 96+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£679.24 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96+)The 2019 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard trades places with its Horseshoe neighbor in this vintage, beginning with a reticent, dark-fruited nose of fresh herbs, black tea, black pepper and allspice that steadily gains momentum. It is superbly elegant and restrained on the palate, with a pleasing undercurrent of sumptuous dark fruits and finessed but persistent tannins. The length and persistence of the finish are spectacular and, in this vintage, is what narrowly edges out the Horseshoe bottling. I find it endlessly fascinating to compare the two as they are consistently neck-in-neck and impressive shapeshifters in the glass. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 8 | 96+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£493.24 |
|||||
Vinous (96+)The 2019 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is a powerful, searing wine. I am not sure I have tasted a Bearwallow with this much sheer intensity. Black cherry, mocha, gravel, cloves and licorice imbue this somber, backward Pinot with quite a bit of complexity. Readers should be in no rush here. The 2019 is an exceptional Bearwallow. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 10 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£679.24 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)The 2019 Pinot Noir Horseshoe Vineyard is unusually wide open from the first pour, offering an immediately dazzling nose of perfectly ripe red fruits, cherry blossoms, cured meat, river rocks and petrichor. The palate is silky, suave and precise with less weight than usual, seemingly sacrificing none of the power, complexity and refreshing momentum generated with aeration. Echoing the palate, the finish is initially more subtle than explosive, nevertheless ending up at the same amazingly complex, expansive destination. As always, this does nothing but morph and gain dimension with time, as I have no doubt it will do over the next two decades. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 8 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£523.24 |
|||||
Vinous (96)The 2019 Pinot Noir Mt. Pajaro Vineyard emerges from a site in the southern part of the Santa Cruz Mountains and therefore has a completely different personality than the rest of the other SCM wines in the range. Here the flavors are darker while the tannins are more incisive. Black cherry, plum, licorice, cloves and gravel infuse this brooding, muscular Pinot with tons of complexity. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 3 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,172.69 |
|||||
Vinous (97)The 2019 Pinot Noir Porcupine Hill is a beautifully translucent, nuanced Pinot that shows the heights of finesse that are possible in Anderson Valley. A wine of unreal subtlety and nuance, the Porcupine Hill hits so many high notes. Crushed red berry, mint, spice, tobacco, cedar, rose petal and espresso build over time. As always, the Porcupine Hill Pinot is sourced from high-density blocks on the property and is done with minimal whole clusters. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 5 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£859.24 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)The 2019 Pinot Noir Swan Terrace bounds from the glass with a blue-fruited, floral aromatic intensity that initially feels more composed and collected than the exuberant Alpine bottling. The palate is exquisite and lifted, with a suave, silky polish that unfolds into a layered but inward finish laden with sturdy, chalky tannins and delicious dark fruits. The most in need of integration and softening of the non-Hillside 2019s, this will be a fun wine to track, especially next to the Alpine bottling from which it derives. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£885.67 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate offers a hugely appealing mix of fruit richness married to the savory, structured style that is the Ridge signature. The 2019 is beautifully exotic, but natural without the volume of the Monte Bello. I imagine it will drink splendidly with minimal cellaring. Succulent red cherry, blood orange, mint, cinnamon and pomegranate. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£435.64 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2019 Geyserville marks a pretty huge step up in this range. What a wine! Black cherry, plum, chocolate, cloves, menthol and licorice blast across the palate. Deep and saturated, with tremendous concentration, the 2019 Geyserville is a wine to cellar for at least a few years. Today, it is positively stunning. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 7 | - |
Inc. VAT
£713.38 |
|||||
|
|
California | 2 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£685.74 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2019 Lytton Springs is another embryonic wine in this range. Readers will have to be patient. Time in the glass brings out an exotic mélange of rose petal, blood orange, pomegranate and star anise, all wrapped together by plush, silky tannins. There is a lot of wine here. Healthy dollops of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane and Mataro round out the blend, but the Zinfandel is pretty expressive in the leading role. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 97-100 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,467.64 |
|||||
Vinous (97-100)The 2019 Monte Bello, tasted from barrel, is insanely beautiful. Vibrant, deep and pulsing with energy, the 2019 simply has it all. How will it turn out in bottle? I can’t say just yet. But this barrel sample shipped across the country is positively dazzling, so the wine’s potential is clear. The 2019 offers superb fruit density, with mid-weight structure, bright acids and plenty of tannin. It could very well turn out to be epic. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 2 | 97-100 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,728.04 |
|||||
Vinous (97-100)The 2019 Monte Bello, tasted from barrel, is insanely beautiful. Vibrant, deep and pulsing with energy, the 2019 simply has it all. How will it turn out in bottle? I can’t say just yet. But this barrel sample shipped across the country is positively dazzling, so the wine’s potential is clear. The 2019 offers superb fruit density, with mid-weight structure, bright acids and plenty of tannin. It could very well turn out to be epic. |
|||||||||
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
California | 2 | - |
In Bond
£698.00 |
|||||
|
From the distinguished producer in Annapolis, California, the Peay Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Ama 2019 is a fine testament to craftsmanship. Two brothers, Andy and Nick Peay, masterly blend traditional and modern viticultural techniques with small-lot fermentations to create this exquisite wine. Cultivated from the Ama Vineyard, the grapes are harvested by hand under strict selection standards to ensure only the best quality. Peay Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Ama 2019 exhibits a striking ruby-red hue teasing your sense with scents of forest floor, and ripe cherries. On the palate, it unfurls its myriads of layered flavours; black cherry, pomegranate, and subtle notes of oriental spices that underscores its Sonoma Coast heritage. The articulate tannins and glossy acidity resonate throughout, offering a long, harmonious finish. The production of this wine is limited, making it a must-have addition for collectors who embrace Pinot Noir’s full essence. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | - |
In Bond
£775.00 |
|||||
|
The Peay Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Scallop Shelf 2019 is a delightful representation of Californian winemaking at its finest. Produced by the renowned Peay Vineyards, located in the cool, northernmost part of the Sonoma Coast, this Pinot Noir showcases the winemakers' painstaking attention to detail and commitment to sustainable practices. Innovative dry farming methods contribute to its unique terroir, distinguished by the mineral-rich soils of the Scallop Shelf vineyard plot. The vintage's character is beautifully articulated, presenting a vibrant acidity balanced by detailed red berry and herbal flavours. Aged for 11 months in French oak barrels, a hint of savoury spice finishes the complex profile of this exquisite wine. Peay Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Scallop Shelf 2019 stands as a testament to a masterful blend of tradition and innovation, with the Peay’s, capturing the distinct nuances of their coastal estate in every bottle. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
£6,457.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)This is very perfumed with blackberry and pine-cone aromas, as well as raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins that are tight-grained. Creamy and beautiful. Currant and graphite flavors come through. Lightly chewy at the end. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 21% merlot, 14% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Drink after 2025. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 100 (WI) |
In Bond
£2,007.00 |
|||||
The Wine Independent (100)The 2019 Promontory has a deep garnet-purple color. It is quite closed at the moment, needing a little swirling to reveal notes of crushed rocks, garrigue, iron ore, and lavender, leading to a core of black cherries, redcurrant jelly, and fresh blackcurrants, with a hint of mossy tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is so tightly wound, delivering multi-layered black and red berries with mineral and earthy sparks, supported by fine-grained tannins, finishing long and fragrant. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 100 (WI) |
In Bond
£2,886.00 |
|||||
The Wine Independent (100)The 2019 Promontory has a deep garnet-purple color. It is quite closed at the moment, needing a little swirling to reveal notes of crushed rocks, garrigue, iron ore, and lavender, leading to a core of black cherries, redcurrant jelly, and fresh blackcurrants, with a hint of mossy tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is so tightly wound, delivering multi-layered black and red berries with mineral and earthy sparks, supported by fine-grained tannins, finishing long and fragrant. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 100 (WE) |
In Bond
£838.00 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (100)This is a winemaker's master class in blending and understanding of a long-standing site. Dried herb, cedar and pencil shavings accent lifted red fruit and brilliant acidity on the palate, with a supple yet still youthfully grippy texture that is framed by structured, graceful tannins. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 3 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
£608.00 |
|||||
Vinous (96)A gorgeous wine, the 2019 Chardonnay Bentrock Vineyard dazzles with its purity and translucence. Crushed rocks, lemon confit, white flowers and mint give the 2019 its brilliant, sculpted personality. Soaring aromatics and bright saline accents build into the regal finish. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | - |
In Bond
£662.00 |
|||||
|
Handcrafted with meticulous precision, the Racines Sta. Rita Hills La Rinconada Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019 is a testament to fine winemaking. Produced in the renowned Santa Rita Hills appellation, the grapes come from the esteemed La Rinconada Vineyard, known for its cool climate and hillside terrain. Epitomising the signature style of Racines, a collaborative venture of four distinguishable wine experts, this vintage delivers a captivating blend of Old World finesse and New World vibrancy. The 2019 vintage, grown in well-drained soils and maritime-influenced microclimate, features a complex palette boasting of vibrant fruit notes, subtle minerality, and a profound, lengthy finish. Matured in 30% new French oak, it beautifully intertwines textural richness with a refined structure. Lauded by critics, the Racines Sta. Rita Hills La Rinconada Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019 is undoubtedly an elegant choice for discerning palates, offering a memorable, sophisticated wine experience in each bottle. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 2 | - |
In Bond
£730.00 |
|||||
|
Experience the splendour of the Racines Sta. Rita Hills Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Chardonnay 2019, a premium wine that exudes elegance and refinement. Produced in Santa Barbara County’s reputable Sta. Rita Hills AVA, this vintage emerges from the esteemed Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, renowned for its stellar Chardonnay cultivation since 1971. This extraordinary wine is a testament to Racines' traditional winemaking practices - minimal intervention, careful fermentation, and a gentle barrel ageing, ensuring authenticity of expression. The 2019 vintage delivers a superb balance of acidity and lush fruit-forward character, bearing notes of grapefruit, exotic spices and a whisper of vanilla from French oak ageing. The commitment of celebrated winemakers Rajat Parr and Justin Willett results in a complex and exceptionally well-structured Chardonnay. Wine enthusiasts will relish the nuances of the Racines Sta. Rita Hills Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 - a quintessential varietal interpretation staying true to its Californian terroir roots. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 3 | - |
In Bond
£579.00 |
|||||
|
Esteemed by discerning connoisseurs, the Racines Wenzlau Family Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 is a tour de force of viticulture mastery. This charismatic wine hails from the esteemed Wenzlau Family Vineyard, tucked in the central coast of California, a region world-renowned for its exceptional Chardonnay. The Racines collaborative of four wine-making legends have lent their expertise to this 2019 Chardonnay, ensuring a production process steeped in tradition, yet adventurously innovative. Exhibiting a pale golden hue, the Racines Wenzlau Family Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 truly exudes eloquence in a glass. Indulge in the inviting bouquet of sweet apple and citrus underscored by an earthy minerality. Its full-bodied, harmonious palate is marked by a voluptuous, creamy texture, punctuated with vibrant acidity and a lingering finish. Matured with the utmost precision, every sip of this meticulous Chardonnay promises an intoxicating blend of richness and refreshing taste, making the Racines Wenzlau Family Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 a standout choice for any discerning palate. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 100 (WE) |
In Bond
£405.00 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (100)There is a beautiful meeting of the minds with this site in this winemaker's hands that it's hard not to be drawn to it year after year. The fifth single- vineyard designate from this magical place, it is spiced, bright, complex and nuanced in oak. It's just impressively seamless and full of life. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 2 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£417.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)The 2019 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard has singular scents of warm peaches and burnt lemon with touches of meringue, beeswax, saline and flint. The medium-bodied palate is energetic and tense at this youthful stage, its satiny texture opposed by tangy freshness, and it finishes long and flinty. It will be long lived in bottle and will benefit from 3-5 more years under cork. 624 cases were made. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | - |
In Bond
£4,456.00 |
|||||
|
|
California | 1 | - |
In Bond
£1,706.00 |
|||||
|
|
California | 1 | 98+ (WA) |
In Bond
£1,639.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98+)Realm took over the management of Farella vineyard in 2018. Since then, winemaker Benoit Touquette explained their focus has been to open out the canopy, creating better exposure for the fruit, aiming to achieve riper tannins. A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and a powerful, expressive nose of baked plums, juicy blackberries and blackcurrant pastilles, plus touches of black olives, lavender and cinnamon stick, with a waft of fragrant earth. The full-bodied palate is seriously dense and muscular, featuring a rock-solid foundation of super ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length and energy. A spectacular showing for Farella! |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,564.00 |
|||||
Vinous (97)From the Realm Estate in Stags Leap, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Moonracer is an elegant, sophisticated Cabernet that shows the nuanced side of Stags Leap in its red-toned fruit profile, floral aromatics and mid-weight structure. I would give the 2019 at least a few years in the bottle. There is a certain approachability to the 2019, but ultimately I think that might be a bit deceptive relative to the wine's ultimate potential. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 2 | 99 (WA) |
In Bond
£2,856.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (99)Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color, requiring a little coaxing before it spills out of the glass with fantastically showy blackberry preserves, boysenberries and cassis notes, plus hints of black raspberries, clove oil and potpourri, with a touch of tobacco leaf. The decadent, full-bodied palate sports a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins with beautiful freshness. All that generous black fruit melds seamlessly into a very long, mineral-laced finish. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 99 (JD) |
In Bond
£721.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (99)The 2019 The Bard checks in as 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, and it’s another dense, rich, powerful wine from this team that readers are going to absolutely love. Coming from throughout the valley (it’s always a great representation of the vintage), it offers up a brilliant nose of crème de cassis, ripe plums, graphite, scorched earth, and chocolate. About as seamless as they come on the palate, it’s full-bodied and has a thrilling texture, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It’s one of those wines where I feel like I’m overusing adjectives, but it’s warranted. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 9 | 96+ (WA) |
In Bond
£550.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96+)The 2019 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard trades places with its Horseshoe neighbor in this vintage, beginning with a reticent, dark-fruited nose of fresh herbs, black tea, black pepper and allspice that steadily gains momentum. It is superbly elegant and restrained on the palate, with a pleasing undercurrent of sumptuous dark fruits and finessed but persistent tannins. The length and persistence of the finish are spectacular and, in this vintage, is what narrowly edges out the Horseshoe bottling. I find it endlessly fascinating to compare the two as they are consistently neck-in-neck and impressive shapeshifters in the glass. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 8 | 96+ (VN) |
In Bond
£395.00 |
|||||
Vinous (96+)The 2019 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is a powerful, searing wine. I am not sure I have tasted a Bearwallow with this much sheer intensity. Black cherry, mocha, gravel, cloves and licorice imbue this somber, backward Pinot with quite a bit of complexity. Readers should be in no rush here. The 2019 is an exceptional Bearwallow. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 10 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£550.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)The 2019 Pinot Noir Horseshoe Vineyard is unusually wide open from the first pour, offering an immediately dazzling nose of perfectly ripe red fruits, cherry blossoms, cured meat, river rocks and petrichor. The palate is silky, suave and precise with less weight than usual, seemingly sacrificing none of the power, complexity and refreshing momentum generated with aeration. Echoing the palate, the finish is initially more subtle than explosive, nevertheless ending up at the same amazingly complex, expansive destination. As always, this does nothing but morph and gain dimension with time, as I have no doubt it will do over the next two decades. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 8 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
£420.00 |
|||||
Vinous (96)The 2019 Pinot Noir Mt. Pajaro Vineyard emerges from a site in the southern part of the Santa Cruz Mountains and therefore has a completely different personality than the rest of the other SCM wines in the range. Here the flavors are darker while the tannins are more incisive. Black cherry, plum, licorice, cloves and gravel infuse this brooding, muscular Pinot with tons of complexity. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 3 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£958.00 |
|||||
Vinous (97)The 2019 Pinot Noir Porcupine Hill is a beautifully translucent, nuanced Pinot that shows the heights of finesse that are possible in Anderson Valley. A wine of unreal subtlety and nuance, the Porcupine Hill hits so many high notes. Crushed red berry, mint, spice, tobacco, cedar, rose petal and espresso build over time. As always, the Porcupine Hill Pinot is sourced from high-density blocks on the property and is done with minimal whole clusters. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 5 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£700.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)The 2019 Pinot Noir Swan Terrace bounds from the glass with a blue-fruited, floral aromatic intensity that initially feels more composed and collected than the exuberant Alpine bottling. The palate is exquisite and lifted, with a suave, silky polish that unfolds into a layered but inward finish laden with sturdy, chalky tannins and delicious dark fruits. The most in need of integration and softening of the non-Hillside 2019s, this will be a fun wine to track, especially next to the Alpine bottling from which it derives. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£706.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate offers a hugely appealing mix of fruit richness married to the savory, structured style that is the Ridge signature. The 2019 is beautifully exotic, but natural without the volume of the Monte Bello. I imagine it will drink splendidly with minimal cellaring. Succulent red cherry, blood orange, mint, cinnamon and pomegranate. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£347.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2019 Geyserville marks a pretty huge step up in this range. What a wine! Black cherry, plum, chocolate, cloves, menthol and licorice blast across the palate. Deep and saturated, with tremendous concentration, the 2019 Geyserville is a wine to cellar for at least a few years. Today, it is positively stunning. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 7 | - |
In Bond
£556.00 |
|||||
|
|
California | 2 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£534.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2019 Lytton Springs is another embryonic wine in this range. Readers will have to be patient. Time in the glass brings out an exotic mélange of rose petal, blood orange, pomegranate and star anise, all wrapped together by plush, silky tannins. There is a lot of wine here. Healthy dollops of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane and Mataro round out the blend, but the Zinfandel is pretty expressive in the leading role. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 1 | 97-100 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,207.00 |
|||||
Vinous (97-100)The 2019 Monte Bello, tasted from barrel, is insanely beautiful. Vibrant, deep and pulsing with energy, the 2019 simply has it all. How will it turn out in bottle? I can’t say just yet. But this barrel sample shipped across the country is positively dazzling, so the wine’s potential is clear. The 2019 offers superb fruit density, with mid-weight structure, bright acids and plenty of tannin. It could very well turn out to be epic. |
|||||||||
|
|
California | 2 | 97-100 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,424.00 |
|||||
Vinous (97-100)The 2019 Monte Bello, tasted from barrel, is insanely beautiful. Vibrant, deep and pulsing with energy, the 2019 simply has it all. How will it turn out in bottle? I can’t say just yet. But this barrel sample shipped across the country is positively dazzling, so the wine’s potential is clear. The 2019 offers superb fruit density, with mid-weight structure, bright acids and plenty of tannin. It could very well turn out to be epic. |
|||||||||
