2011 Napa Valley, Russian River Valley, & coastal Tuscany Reds Horizontal

“The 2011 Pinot Noir Ryan Widdoes Vineyard hits the palate with a blast of dark red fruit. Intensity and power are the hallmarks, while subtlety and nuance take more of a back seat, at least today. Deeply expressive spiced notes wrap around the big finish. In 2011, the Ryan is a wine of impact. According to winemaker Andy Smith these 30 year-old vines planted with Martini clones tend to ripen quickly and suddenly towards the end of the season, resulting in a very tight window of optimal ripeness. (AG)” (02/2014)

“Suggesting strawberries, a touch of dried flowers and hints of crème brûlée sweetness along with a fair measure of cherryish fruit, this bottling tips ever so slightly to ripeness and is both a little more rounded in feel and up-front in flavor. While a bare bit of astringency manages to pop up at the finish, it does not diminish the wine's nice sense of polish and should ease into irrelevance in a couple of years. *One Star*” (10/2013)

“Intense and richly flavored, with a deep, persistent mix of black berry, mocha, black licorice, espresso and cedar flavors. Tightly focused and graceful, this ends with a long, lingering finish that keeps reverberating with lively flavors. (JL)” (10/2014)

“The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon is soft, forward and quite pretty. Dark red cherries, cedar, tobacco and licorice open up nicely in the glass. This forward, impeccably balanced Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent choice for drinking over the next handful of years. The juicy, expressive finish is particularly appealing (AG).” (12/2014)