Search Results
Whitcraft Winery "Presqu'ile" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2016
94
Wine Enthusiast
(2/2018) "Fresh Asian pear, lemon blossoms and honeysuckle make for an enjoyable nose on this bottling from a very coastally influenced vineyard just east of Santa Maria. The acidity on the palate is super racy and vibrant, carrying flavors of chalk and lime pith that sizzle long and deep."
(2/2018) "Fresh Asian pear, lemon blossoms and honeysuckle make for an enjoyable nose on this bottling from a very coastally influenced vineyard just east of Santa Maria. The acidity on the palate is super racy and vibrant, carrying flavors of chalk and lime pith that sizzle long and deep."
Peake Ranch Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2015
94
Jeb Dunnuck
(8/2/2017) "The first vintage for this cuvee it was created with the idea to improve the quality of the single vineyard. The 2015 Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley is a stunning value that offers classic buttered stone fruits, toasted nuts and honeysuckle in a rich, texture, balanced style. It way over delivers at the price and is a terrific wine. It's one of the larger production releases as well (536 cases), so hopefully you can find a few bottles."
(8/2/2017) "The first vintage for this cuvee it was created with the idea to improve the quality of the single vineyard. The 2015 Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley is a stunning value that offers classic buttered stone fruits, toasted nuts and honeysuckle in a rich, texture, balanced style. It way over delivers at the price and is a terrific wine. It's one of the larger production releases as well (536 cases), so hopefully you can find a few bottles."
$
3699
Discount:
750 ML
A.P. Vin "Ontiveros Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2015
Sourced from the small 8-acre Ontiveros family farm near the famous Bien Nacido Vineyards. In the tiny 2015 vintage, winemaker Andrew Vingiello was only able to secure enough grapes to produce 50 cases of this powerful Pinot.
Winemaker's Notes
"The 2015 Rancho Ontiveros Pinot Noir is rich and with smoky, meaty herb, cedar, tobacco and melted black licorice notes. The wine gains a dusty earthiness on the finish, ending in a long, lingering and delicious red fruit finish."
"The 2015 Rancho Ontiveros Pinot Noir is rich and with smoky, meaty herb, cedar, tobacco and melted black licorice notes. The wine gains a dusty earthiness on the finish, ending in a long, lingering and delicious red fruit finish."
$
3599
Discount:
750 ML
Whitcraft Winery "Presquile Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2014
Drake Whitcraft has a way of creating masterpiece wines that supercede those of its source material. That is well the case here with a wine that will cause tasters to double-take in a lineup of California Chardonnay. The 12.9% alcohol confirms your suspicions. With incredible acidity and drive, this screams food wine with a natural, minimal sulphur addition accent. This wine has a beguiling, waxy mouthfeel and an ability to create massive amounts of saliva! Get your bibs and lobsters ready!
$
3599
Discount:
750 ML
Scar of the Sea "Seven Leagues" Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2013
90
Our Score
90
Vinous, Antonio Galloni
(8/2015) "The 2013 Pinot Noir Seven Leagues is plump, juicy and forward, with lovely palate presence and resonance. Dark red cherry, plum, sweet spice and new leather flesh out in a supple, juicy Pinot with considerable near and medium-term appeal. The style is forward, racy and fruit-driven, but tempered by the coolness of Santa Maria Valley, while a dollop of whole clusters adds aromatic nuance. The vineyard sources are Sierra Madre and Bien Nacido, which are separated by 23 miles, the equivalent of approximately seven leagues in nautical terms."
(8/2015) "The 2013 Pinot Noir Seven Leagues is plump, juicy and forward, with lovely palate presence and resonance. Dark red cherry, plum, sweet spice and new leather flesh out in a supple, juicy Pinot with considerable near and medium-term appeal. The style is forward, racy and fruit-driven, but tempered by the coolness of Santa Maria Valley, while a dollop of whole clusters adds aromatic nuance. The vineyard sources are Sierra Madre and Bien Nacido, which are separated by 23 miles, the equivalent of approximately seven leagues in nautical terms."
$
2799
Discount:
750 ML
Dierberg "Dierberg Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2012
93
Wine Advocate
(8/2014) "The 2012 Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard shows the darker side of Pinot with its earthy, forest floor, red and black fruit and spice aromas and flavors. Coming all from sandy loam sois and aged 18 months in 35% new oak, it's beautifully balanced, has solid mid-palate density and a terrific finish. Enjoy it over the coming 4-6 years."
(8/2014) "The 2012 Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard shows the darker side of Pinot with its earthy, forest floor, red and black fruit and spice aromas and flavors. Coming all from sandy loam sois and aged 18 months in 35% new oak, it's beautifully balanced, has solid mid-palate density and a terrific finish. Enjoy it over the coming 4-6 years."
Dierberg "Dierberg Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2013
91
Vinous, Antonio Galloni
92
Wine Advocate
(8/27/2015) "The winery's estate release Pinot Noir, and a terrific wine, the 2013 Pinot Noir Estate comes from the Dierberg Vineyard and saw 20% stems and aging in 25% new French oak. It's classic Pinot all the way and has an incredibly silky, seamless texture, textbook and perfumed aromatics (rose petal, sweet black cherries), and a balanced, harmonious feel that keeps you coming back to the glass. I'm a fan. While great now, it will continue drinking nicely for another 5-6 years."
(8/27/2015) "The winery's estate release Pinot Noir, and a terrific wine, the 2013 Pinot Noir Estate comes from the Dierberg Vineyard and saw 20% stems and aging in 25% new French oak. It's classic Pinot all the way and has an incredibly silky, seamless texture, textbook and perfumed aromatics (rose petal, sweet black cherries), and a balanced, harmonious feel that keeps you coming back to the glass. I'm a fan. While great now, it will continue drinking nicely for another 5-6 years."
Cambria "Tepusquet Vineyards" Santa Maria Valley Syrah 2014
92
Vinous, Antonio Galloni
(9/2017) "The 2014 Syrah Tepusquet Vineyard is one of the most compelling wines in this range. Rich and explosive, with layers of dark fruit that build effortlessly, it possesses superb intensity and volume. It also appears to have more than enough depth to handle the 100% new French oak. The 2014 was done with fully destemmed fruit. Drink 2018-2025."
(9/2017) "The 2014 Syrah Tepusquet Vineyard is one of the most compelling wines in this range. Rich and explosive, with layers of dark fruit that build effortlessly, it possesses superb intensity and volume. It also appears to have more than enough depth to handle the 100% new French oak. The 2014 was done with fully destemmed fruit. Drink 2018-2025."
Cambria "Benchbreak" Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2014
Winery price is $25. As we went to press, our price beats all 44 online listings!
90
Wine Advocate
(9/29/2017) "Pale to medium ruby colored with a hint of purple, the 2014 Pinot Noir Bench Break has intense red currant and red cherry notes with hints of violets, Chinese five spice and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, fine and fresh in the mouth, it has a lot of varietal expression and sense of place for this price point without sacrificing flavor, which is a dorky way of saying, it rocks!"
(9/29/2017) "Pale to medium ruby colored with a hint of purple, the 2014 Pinot Noir Bench Break has intense red currant and red cherry notes with hints of violets, Chinese five spice and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, fine and fresh in the mouth, it has a lot of varietal expression and sense of place for this price point without sacrificing flavor, which is a dorky way of saying, it rocks!"
$
1679
Discount:
750 ML
Cambria "Katherine's Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2016
90
Jeb Dunnuck
10/15/2018) "The value-priced 2016 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard comes from a site in the Santa Maria Valley and spent 7 months in 20% new French oak. Ripe orchard fruits, brioche, honeysuckle, creamed corn, and spice all flow to a beautifully balanced, elegant Chardonnay that has a great texture, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's slightly commercial and straightforward, yet it's impeccably made and certainly delicious."
10/15/2018) "The value-priced 2016 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard comes from a site in the Santa Maria Valley and spent 7 months in 20% new French oak. Ripe orchard fruits, brioche, honeysuckle, creamed corn, and spice all flow to a beautifully balanced, elegant Chardonnay that has a great texture, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's slightly commercial and straightforward, yet it's impeccably made and certainly delicious."
