The 2016 Pape Star Blonde is made up of 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Roussanne. It has a pretty nose with grapefruit and quince hints plus lime peel, saline, white peach and white flowers with a wicked streak of crushed rock minerality. Medium to full-bodied, it has great mineral-driven character with a good core of citrus fruit, zesty acidity and a long, textured finish. 92 pts Robert Parker
Cabernet Franc is often thought of as a Bordeaux-style wine. A “sister wine” of Cabernet Sauvignon, featuring muscular tannins and dusty, black cherry fruit. In France’s Loire Valley, however, another style of Cabernet Franc is gaining notice; bright, elegant wine with fine tannin, spicy red fruit and just a hint of fines herbs from the regions of Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur. These regal, cool-climate reds were our inspiration for this wine, which shows classic varietal notes of red fruit, dusty earth and herbs, along with fresh acidity and just enough tannins.
Antonio Galloni Vinous – 94 Pts The 2020 Cabernet Franc Curtis Vineyard screams with varietal character. Wild herbs, flowers, spice and red-toned fruit are all finely sculpted, with bright acids that lend energy as well as brilliance. This mid-weight Franc is absolutely delicious. Even in this warm year, the Franc is full of character.
The 2020 Carignan Camp Four is one of the standouts in this range. Dark, fleshy and super-expressive, the 2020 offers up an exotic mix of plum, star anise, leather, tobacco and cedar. I especially admire its depth and overall textural resonance. Moreover, this is absolutely delicious and a steal. 94 Pts Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Cinsault Camp Four Vineyard is elegant and easy to drink, although it will be great on the table. It features bright scents of Rainier cherries and ripe blackberries with notes of autumn leaves, mossy bark, mushroom and dark spices. The light-bodied palate is silky and bright with generous, earth-laced fruit and a long, spicy finish. 164 cases were made. 93 pts Wine Advocate
Pepper and clove introduce licorice brushed aromas of plum, strawberry, raspberry and citrus that define an astonishingly light body. This is a wine that won’t overpower vegetable or seafood and can also stand up to big game. Serve cool.
Antonio Galloni Vinous – 92 Pts The 2020 Mourvèdre Santa Barbara Highlands, from a site at 3,300 feet in elevation, is delicate, lifted and exquisitely beautiful. Crushed flowers, mint, lavender, pepper, pipe tobacco and dried herbs all open nicely. This soft, understated Mourvèdre is very nicely done.
The 2020 Pape Star Blonde, a blend of 74% Grenache Blanc and 26% Roussanne, offers savory brioche and beeswax on the nose with wafts of apricot and loads of floral nuances. The palate is satiny and expansive with honeyed undertones, and it finishes with lots of freshness and energy. Beautiful now, it should gain more honeyed complexity with time in bottle. 93 pts Robert Parker
The 2020 Pape Star Rouge is a blend of 42% Grenache, 27% Syrah, 21% Mourvèdre, 6% Carignane and 4% Counoise. Grapes come from vineyards across Santa Barbara County, including Larner Vineyard and Stolpman Vineyard in Ballard Canyon. Inspired by Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it offers the wild, savory character of that region at a lighter weight. Its briary fruit is complemented by tones of dried leaves, mossy bark, cured meats and touches of powdered sugar. The medium-bodied palate's fruit is concentrated yet understated, supported by chalky tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity, and it has a long, spicy finish. It deserves another year or two in bottle to continue to unfold all those wild, autumnal accents. 93+ pts Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni Vinous - 96 Pts The 2020 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard is a powerful, dense wine that shows how compelling this site can be. Ripe dark cherry, plum, chocolate, dried herbs and incense fill out the mid-palate. Readers will find a sumptuous, flamboyant wine, even so, the 2020 has more than enough energy to pull it off.
Antonio Galloni Vinous – 95 Pts The 2020 Syrah Larner Vineyard is one of the most elegant wines I have ever tasted from this Ballard Canyon site. Crushed rose petal, mint, blood orange, spice, dried flowers and mocha are all beautifully delineated. The Larner is super-expressive in this tasting. What a wine!
The 2020 Syrah Santa Barbara County is a fabulous appellation wine and a terrfic introduction to this range. I tasted it after all the vineyard designates and it showed beautifully. Floral accents open first. Spice, tobacco, cedar, dried herbs and black pepper add tons of complexity throughout. 93 Robert Parker
The 2021 Grenache Peake Ranch is bold and explosive with tons of energy. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, mint and blood orange are all nicely amplified. There's gorgeous depth here and all the backbone typical of Peake, but it's done in the Kunin style. This is a terrific debut from a new site in this range. 93 pts Antonio Galloni
