Wine Advocate, March 2022
95 POINTS - 2019 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CHARDONNAY
"The 2019 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County, made with 39% new French oak, has a bright, fresh style with scents of preserved lemon, Greek yogurt, almonds, beeswax and petrichor. The palate offers a dynamic of satiny texture, tangy acidity and ultra perfumed fruits, finishing with tremendous length and a singular textural presence. 861 cases were produced."
95+ POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
"With its 45% new French oak already well subsumed, the 2019 Chardonnay Peake Ranch Vineyard is blossoming into a pure, crystalline expression that promises to gain complexity over the next decade in bottle. Savory tones of beeswax, candle wax and hazelnuts complement white apricots and orange blossoms, with a streak of crème fraîche-like character adding aromatic interest. The palate is satiny, pure and expansive, with a youthful touch of tanginess to the acidity, and flint-laced flavors linger on the extended finish. 268 cases were made."
96+ POINTS - 2019 SIERRA MADRE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
"The 2019 Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard, made with 45% new French oak, has pretty aromas of baked apples, honey and white flowers with notes of toast and dark spices. The satiny-textured palate is vibrating with tangy acidity and shimmery mineral character, and the finish offers tremendous length. 251 cases were made."
95 POINTS - 2019 STA RITA HILLS PINOT NOIR
"The 2019 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills from Peake Ranch, matured in 45% new oak, is a beautiful wine that outperforms its appellation status. Pale ruby-purple, it has fragrant wildflower, bitter citrus and Angostura bitters aromas with a core of red berry fruits and a bright line of crushed stone-like mineral character. The palate offers equal intensity of flavor, its perfumed fruits supported by dusty tannins and seamless acidity, and it finishes with ethereal layers that urge you back for another sip. 942 cases were made, so it should be easier to find than some of the smaller single-vineyard cuvées from Peake Ranch."
97 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
"Matured in 55% new oak, the 2019 Pinot Noir Peake Ranch Vineyard is gorgeous this vintage! Medium ruby-purple, the nose features raspberry and blueberry preserves with notes of wildflowers, forest floor and blood orange, gaining more nuance as the wine spends time in the glass. The palate has a dusty texture and addicting freshness to support its layered fruits, and it finishes with a flourish of fine, spicy accents. 261 cases were made."
96 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
"Matured in 55% new French oak, the 2019 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is pure, delicate and expressive this vintage. Medium ruby-purple, it has layered fragrances of raspberry, pomegranate and blood orange with notes of iron, earth, dried flowers and Angostura bitters. Medium-bodied, it glides through the mouth like silk, the intensity of its fruits foiled by juicy acidity, and it finishes with tremendous length and detail. 273 cases were made."
94 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH BELLIS NOIR RED BLEND
"A blend of 75% Syrah, 16% Grenache and 9% Pinot Noir, matured in 30% new French oak, the 2019 Bellis Noir has a medium ruby-purple color and aromas of blackberries and blueberries with accents of cured meats, conifer, tea leaves and citrus. The medium-bodied palate has finely accented berry fruits and bursts of fresh acidity, and it finishes long and lifted with pretty floral perfume. 557 cases were made."
97 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD GRENACHE
"A first for Peake Ranch, the 2019 Grenache Peake Ranch Vineyard comes from Alban clone vines recently grafted over to Grenache. It matured in 40% new French oak. It's a stunning first effort, replete with everything you could want from a great Grenache: loads of berry fruits, perfume and spice. It has dynamic, layered aromas of tangerine, raspberry jam, blood orange and lilac with notes of iron and fir. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and super fresh, exploding with gregarious, spicy fruits, and it finishes very long and floral. 117 cases were made."
96+ POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD SYRAH
"Made with about 25% whole clusters and matured in 27% new French oak, the 2019 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard has a medium ruby-purple color and gregarious aromas of blackberry jam, licorice, Earl Grey tea leaves and iron. The medium-bodied palate exhibits tremendous fruit intensity and amaro-like layers for its finely grained, juicy frame, and it finishes with notable length and purity."
96 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD SYRAH
"The 2019 Syrah Peake Ranch Vineyard, matured in 25% new French oak, has a medium ruby-purple color and alluring scents of wild blackberries, lavender, iron, underbrush, licorice and earth. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and seamless, its intense fruits layered with nuances of citrus, earth and spice, and it finishes with great length. Only 94 cases were made."
Jeb Dunnuck, August 2021
95 POINTS - 2019 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CHARDONNAY
“The appellation 2019 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County comes from the Sierra Madre and Peake Ranch vineyards. Light golden, with a rocking nose of buttered citrus, tangerine, honeysuckle, flower oil, and spice, it's medium-bodied and has a bright, vibrant spine of acidity, terrific balance, and a great finish. It's one stunning entry level wine!"
98 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
“From the home estate in the Sta. Rita Hills, the 2019 Chardonnay Peake Ranch Vineyard is another rock star of a Chardonnay. Stone fruits, crushed stone, white flowers, toasted nuts, and a subtle marine-like salinity all emerge from the glass, and it's medium-bodied, pure, and racy on the palate, with a fabulous texture. This ranks with the crème de la crème in the vintage. Hats off to winemaker Wynne Solomon for another incredible wine."
96 POINTS - 2019 SIERRA MADRE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
“The 2019 Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard comes from the Santa Maria Valley and was barrel fermented and aged 18 months in 45% new French oak. More lemon, golden apple, chamomile, and savory herbs emerge from this beauty, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a bright spine of acidity, beautiful balance, and a great finish. It's another remarkable wine delivering California fruit in a Burgundian style."
94 POINTS - 2019 STA RITA HILLS PINOT NOIR
“Moving to the Pinot Noirs, the appellation 2019 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills comes from a mix of the vineyards the estate works with and was destemmed and aged 16 months in 45% new French oak. Medium ruby-hued, with a great nose of spiced raspberry and cherry fruits, it's medium-bodied and has a light, graceful texture, plenty of spice and floral nuances, no hard edges, and perfectly integrated oak. It should keep for 4-6 years."
97 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
“The 2019 Pinot Noir Peake Ranch Vineyard was also destemmed and brought up in the same 55% new French oak. Its ruby/plum hue gives way to a gorgeous, medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced Pinot Noir with ample black cherry and framboise fruits, notes of peppery herbs and underbrush, ripe, building tannins, and a great, great finish. I'd put this up with the best Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noirs out there. Drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years, if not a decade."
94+ POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
“Moving to the single vineyards, the 2019 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard comes from a site just north of the estate Peake Ranch, on the warmer eastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills. Slightly deeper hued than the appellation release, it's more taut and structured, with bright Bing cherry and mulberry fruits as well as lots of sappy herbs and spring flower notes. With good acidity, medium body, and building structure, it will benefit from a year in bottle and be drinking nicely at age 10."
96 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH BELLIS NOIR RED BLEND
“The 2019 Bellis Noir checks in as a Syrah-dominated blend that includes 16% Grenache and 9% Pinot Noir, all aged in 30% new oak. Sporting a deeper ruby, almost opaque hue, it's a rich, medium to full-bodied beauty revealing classic cool-climate Syrah notes of ripe blackberries, ground pepper, spring flowers, and smoked game. Rich and textured, with ripe tannins and plenty of structure, the Grenache and Pinot Noir might add a touch of plushness here, but this beauty is Syrah all the way. It's beautiful."
92 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD GRENACHE
“The 2019 Grenache Peake Ranch Vineyard is solid, with plenty of bright cherry, blueberry, flower, and spice-laced aromatics, which carry to a medium-bodied, elegant, Pinot Noir-esque Grenache with ripe yet firm tannins and solid length. It's certainly outstanding and should have 7-8 years, possibly a decade of longevity."
95 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD SYRAH
“The 2019 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard is slightly darker and more Jamet-like aromatically, with some meaty, peppery, wild notes as well as terrific darker fruits. It's nicely textured on the palate, with plenty of sweet fruit, medium to full-bodied richness, and sweet, polished tannins. I like the balance and overall package of the Peake Ranch more, but this is still brilliant."
96 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD SYRAH
“The 2019 Syrah Peake Ranch Vineyard was all destemmed and saw just 25% new French oak. It has a Côte Rôtie-like perfume of ripe raspberries, spring flowers, violets, and smoked game that carries to a medium to full-bodied, incredibly seamless, polished profile on the palate. I love its tannins, it shows the rounded, supple style of the vintage (as well as the estate), has remarkable purity, and a great finish. This head turner will have 10-12 years of longevity, although there's no need to delay gratification."
VINOUS, October 2021
Antonio Galloni
91 POINTS - 2019 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CHARDONNAY
“The 2019 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County) is classy, polished and wonderfully elegant. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and a touch of new French oak all lift from the glass. Aromatically expressive and light on its feet, the 2019 is an absolute winner."
93 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
“The 2019 Chardonnay Peake Ranch Vineyard is a classic Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay built on texture, creaminess and sensuality. Soft contours give the 2019 so much immediacy and appeal. Pear, white flowers and almond linger. "
93 POINTS - 2019 SIERRA MADRE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
“The 2019 Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard comes across as quite phenolic and minerally in this vintage, nor a surprise for a wine from a cold year. Stone, citrus and floral accents open in the glass, but only with great reticence. This is an especially steely style for Santa Maria, but pretty tropical notes emerge over time."
91 POINTS - 2019 STA RITA HILLS PINOT NOIR
“The 2019 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is a gorgeous appellation-level offering. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry, spice, cedar and tobacco are all nicely lifted. A touch of whole clusters adds aromatic lift and a sense of weightless elegance that is impossible to miss."
93 POINTS - 2018 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
“The 2019 Pinot Noir Peake Ranch Vineyard shows the boisterous exuberance of the Sta. Rita Hills in its red/purplish fruit. Floral, spice and cedar add aromatic top notes. This site, planted with Hyde and Calera clones, yields an incredibly distinctive wine."
93 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
“The 2019 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is a very pretty, understated wine, especially for a ranch that tends to give richer, more powerful Pinots. Spice, cedar, leather and tobacco lend striking aromatic nuance. This mid-weight, gracious Pinot is all charm. "
93 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH BELLIS NOIR RED BLEND
“The 2019 Red Blend Bellis Noir, Peake Ranch's Syrah/Grenache/Pinot blend, is beautifully layered, but with lovely acids and a spine of tannin that lend direction. Red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal, lavender and spice.
93+ POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD GRENACHE
“The 2019 Grenache Peake Ranch Vineyard offers good brightness. Red fruit, effusive aromatics, but also firm tannins that need a bit of time to soften, yield a wine of structure. Deceptive in its mid-weight frame, the 2019 packs a serious punch."
94 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD SYRAH
“The 2019 Syrah Peake Ranch Vineyard really stands out in this range. Beautifully layered and complete, the 2019 impresses right out of the gate. Nothing really stands out. Instead, it is the wine's balance that is so compelling. The purity of the flavors is striking. Sadly, there are only 94 cases. "
94 POINTS - 2019 PEAKE RANCH JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD SYRAH
“The 2019 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard shows the natural breadth and richness that come so naturally in this site on the eastern side of the Sta. Rita Hills. Firm tannins wrap around a core of intense red/purplish fruit. A touch of whole clusters (15%) add aromatic savoriness and grip supporting it all. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2019 for at least a few years."