Wine Enthusiast, December 2022 Matt Kettmann
96 POINTS – 2020 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CHARDONNAY
“Very lean and focused on the nose, this brilliant bottling shows lemon peel, shiso leaf and sea salt on the nose, with the slightest hint of delicate cream. The mineral focus to the palate is tremendous, as the crushed chalk tension holds firm from start to finish, allowing flavors of lychee and lemon zest to shine.”
96 POINTS – 2020 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
“Very lean and focused on the nose, this brilliant bottling shows lemon peel, shiso leaf and sea salt on the nose, with the slightest hint of delicate cream. The mineral focus to the palate is tremendous, as the crushed chalk tension holds firm from start to finish, allowing flavors of lychee and lemon zest to shine.”
93 POINTS – 2020 SIERRA MADRE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
Honeysuckle, pear, melon and pillowy gardenia aromas make for a clean and rounded nose on this bottling. It's much more tightly woven on the palate, where bright acidity cuts through softer flavors of honeysuckle, lime blossom and lemon cream.
92 POINTS - 2020 STA. RITA HILLS PINOT NOIR
Dark and ripe aromas of cherry are fruit forward but not overbearing on the nose of this bottling, which also shows hints of sagebrush. The palate lands with a deliciously ripe combo of cherry, strawberry and blackberry, as herb-oil elements and a hint of caramel arise on the finish.
95 POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
This estate bottling is bold, intense and yet seamlessly cohesive. Aromas of black and red cherry and strawberry are elevated with creamy chai and cinnamon spice on the nose. The fresh, vivid palate offers a blackberry-cream flavor spiked by star anise and clove.
95 POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
Boysenberry, lilac and cinnamon aromas swirl into a complex and heady nose on this bottling from one of the three epic vineyards owned by proprietor John Wagner. The palate is bold with black raspberry, fennel and sage flavors, while crushed slate minerality provides both an earthy side and a textural canvas.
94 POINTS – 2020 PEAKE RANCH BELLIS NOIR RED BLEND
This Rhône-dominated estate red blend begins with aromas of baked cherry, nutmeg, anise, tar and smoked meat on the nose. The palate is more smoke driven than the nose, with hints of hickory-kissed charcuterie, but there's much more happening too, including cherry compote, sumac, soy and mocha flavors.
95 POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD GRENACHE
Clean and ripe aromas of cherry, rose petal and loamy earth make for an attention[1]grabbing nose on this bottling, another show of the Rhône promise of the Sta. Rita Hills. There's a rich, creamy texture to the palate, yet loads of acid and hard spices that push dark strawberry, cardamom and cinnamon flavors deep into the finish"
94 POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD SYRAH
"Elderberry, crushed asphalt and intense Tellicherry peppercorn aromas draw the nose into this cool-climate Syrah. There's a firm focus to the palate, where zesty and detailed flavors of purple flower and berry ride a lingering grip deep into the finish."
93 POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD SYRAH
Strong sagebrush aromas meet with baked strawberry and plush cherry on the nose of this bottling, which also shows a touch of gamy funk. The palate is intense with fresh yet dark strawberry and plum flavors, as incense and eucalyptus leaf elements add intrigue.
JEB DUNNUCK August 2022
96 points – 2020 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CHARDONNAY
"The 2020 Chardonnay Peake Ranch Vineyard shows beautiful Sta. Rita Hills character and offers ripe pear and citrus fruits as well as ample briny minerality, white flowers, and a kiss of toasty oak. Brilliant on the palate as well, it's medium to full-bodied, has a round, supple, layered mouthfeel, wonderfully integrated acidity, and a great finish.."
96 points – 2020 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
The 2020 Chardonnay Peake Ranch Vineyard shows beautiful Sta. Rita Hills character and offers ripe pear and citrus fruits as well as ample briny minerality, white flowers, and a kiss of toasty oak. Brilliant on the palate as well, it's medium to full-bodied, has a round, supple, layered mouthfeel, wonderfully integrated acidity, and a great finish.."
96 POINTS – 2020 SIERRA MADRE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
“Peach, honeyed pineapple, toasted spices and some brioche all emerge from the 2020 Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard, another incredibly textured, opulent, yet balanced and seamless Chardonnay from this team. It brings plenty of texture, yet at the same time remains light on its feet, pure, and seamless. Count me impressed. Aged in 38% new French oak, drink it any time over the coming 5-7 years or more.”
94 POINTS - 2020 STA. RITA HILLS PINOT NOIR
"Leading off the Pinot Noirs and raised in 48% new French oak, the 2020 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills has bright, candied red cherry and strawberry fruits, some floral, spicy, and new leather hints, medium to full body, a lush, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's perfect for readers looking for a great Pinot Noir to drink over the coming 4-6 years as well as to get a peek at the style and quality coming from this address."
95+ POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
"The 2020 Pinot Noir Peake Ranch Vineyard comes from the estate vineyard on the eastern side of the appellation and was destemmed and brought up in 32% new French oak. This medium-bodied effort has a seamless, focused mouthfeel as well as terrific aromatics that lead toward the red and black-fruited, iron, and spice[1]driven spectrum. I love its purity of fruit, it stays relatively tight and chiseled on the palate, and it has a great finish. It's going to drink nicely for 10-12+ years."
96 POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
”Coming from a vineyard just across the valley from the estate vineyard, the 2020 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard was all destemmed and saw 27% new French oak. It has a touch more of a darker berry-fruited profile as well as beautiful notes of leafy herbs, underbrush, and damp flowers. Pure, medium to full-bodied, and as seamless as they come, it's broader and more expansive than the Estate release. It's great today and will be great in a decade.”
93 POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH BELLIS NOIR RED BLEND
The 2020 Bellis Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is based on 52% Grenache, 44% Syrah, and the rest Pinot Noir. It has a terrific GSM nose of bright cherry, peppery herbs, sappy flower, and spices that carries to a plump, medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced profile on the palate."
91+ POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD GRENACHE
All varietal, the 2020 Grenache Peake Ranch Vineyard reveals a deep ruby hue to go with a fresher, more focused, elegant style on the palate. Black cherries, black raspberries, toasted spice, licorice, and leather are just some of the nuances here, and it's focused and a touch firm on the palate, with ripe tannins and good acids. Give it a few years.
96 POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD SYRAH
“More broad and textured, the 2020 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard just about jumps out of the glass with its ripe, jammy black and blue fruits, candied violets, ground pepper, and hints of game. It's full-bodied, expansive, and sexy on the palate, with sweet tannins, a great mid-palate, and no hard edges. It doesn't have the aristocratic vibe of the Estate Vineyard release, but it brings a touch more pleasure at this point."
96+ POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD SYRAH
The 2020 Syrah Peake Ranch Vineyard offers a vivid purple/ruby hue to go with the fresh, elegant, pure style that's the hallmark of this estate. Blackberries, spring flowers, smoked game, and ground pepper are just some of the nuances here, and it's medium to full[1]bodied, has beautiful tannins, a straight, focused mouthfeel, and a great finish. It reminds me of a top Côte Rôtie from the northern end of the appellation. This beauty will evolve for 10-15 years.
VINOUS, June 2022 ANTONIO GALLONI
91 points – 2020 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CHARDONNAY
The 2020 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County) is a fabulous appellation-level wine. Rich and beautifully textured, the 2020 impresses with its creaminess, depth and texture. Orchard fruit, lime, chamomile, dried flowers and ginger lend notable complexity throughout. Floral and mineral accents linger on the close. This is the most overt of the three Chardonnays in the range.
93 points – 2020 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
The 2020 Chardonnay Peake Ranch Vineyard is brisk, finely cut and bristling with energy. Lemon peel, mint, chalk, white pepper and crushed rock abound. The combination of fruit depth and tension works so well here. There’s plenty of substance here.
93 POINTS – 2020 SIERRA MADRE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY
The 2020 Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard is a super-classic Santa Maria Chardonnay. Lemon confit, dried flowers and tropical accents give this rich, oily Chardonnay a good bit of palate presence and weight. It's a gorgeous wine.”
90 POINTS - 2020 STA. RITA HILLS PINOT NOIR
The 2020 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is laced with crushed raspberry, mint, rose petal, cinnamon and blood orange. Gracious and light on its feet, with lovely palate presence and fine balance, the appellation Pinot is an absolute delight. Drink it over the next handful of years."
94 POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
"The 2020 Pinot Noir Peake Ranch Vineyard is bright and nicely focused. Sweet red berry fruit, chalk, mint and white pepper give this taut nervy Pinot a good deal of complexity. It's so interesting to observe the similarities between Chardonnay and Pinot in this ranch, where all the wines tend to be more about linear energy than size."
93 POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD PINOT NOIR
The 2020 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is a dark, virile wine, even if it has a bit less heft in this vintage than is often the case. Dark cherry, plum, cloves, lavender and orange peel flesh out in mid-weight yet ample Pinot. Brisk acids play off that natural texture nicely. Graphite, incense and dark spice add to a feeling of gravitas.”
93 POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH BELLIS NOIR RED BLEND
"The 2020 Red Blend Bellis Noir is one of the highlights in the range. The blend of 52% Grenache, 44% Syrah and 4% Pinot Noir marries fruit intensity with energy in style. There's terrific depth to the red/purplish fruit. I would plan on cellaring the 2020 for another 6-12 months to see if the aromatics open. For now, the 2020 is quite primary and energetic, with red Grenache fruit driving the blend this year."
92+ POINTS – 2020 PEAKE RANCH PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD GRENACHE
"The 2020 Grenache Peake Ranch Vineyard is bold and punchy, but also very much tightly wound. It will be interesting to see if the 2020 softens over time. Today, it is decidedly austere. Vivid Grenache flavors abound though, and that makes me hopeful for the future."
94 POINTS - 2020 PEAKE RANCH VINEYARD SYRAH
The 2020 Syrah Peake Ranch Vineyard is packed with dark red/purplish fruit, spice, dried herbs, incense and licorice. There’s a bit more freshness and verve than in the 2019. It’s a style that works quite nicely. Time in the glass brings out gorgeous fruit intensity, along with hints of lavender, spice and sage that add complexity