The 2019 Cinsault Camp 4 Vineyard has a pale ruby-purple color and autumnal scents of fallen leaves, earth and iron with tones of red cherries, citrus peel and mushrooms. The palate is bright, juicy and floral, supple and appealing, and it finishes with ethereal spicy accents.92 Pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Mourvedre Camp Four Vineyard is an incredibly distinctive wine. Perfumed and savory, with terrific energy, the Mourvedre is so expressive. Red-fleshed fruit and bright acids lend energy to medium-bodied wine that overdelivers in so many ways. 94 pts Antonio Galloni
The 2019 Pape Star Blonde is straight-up impressive and reminds me of a great Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc. A blend of 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Roussanne, it has ripe quince and pineapple fruits, some honeyed herb and toasty notes, medium body, and a layered, textured, yet light-on-its-feet style on the palate that's going to shine on the dinner table. 94 Pts Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Syrah Alisos Vineyard is stunning. Rich, vibrant and full of character, the 2019 captures all the best this site has to offer. The purity of the flavors, the aromatics, the textural feel, they are all those of a magnificent, hugely pedigreed wine. Silky tannins wrap it all together in style. The 2019 Alisos Syrah is another magnificent effort from Magan Eng. 96 pts Antonio Galloni
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.
Antonio Galloni Vinous – 94 Pts 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.
The wine presents with a lovely nose of baking spices and the promise of red fruits, on the palate lots of candied strawberry and plums and just the right amount of acidity. The wine is mouth coating without being cloying or heavy.
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.
Our Santa Barbara County is a blend of fruit from Larner and Camp Four Vineyards – two great sites for this variety. We love its fresh aromas of flower stems and flowers, mulberries and blackberries and iron. The wine is light in body, but tightly knit.
Our versatile take on France’sChâteauneuf-du-Pape is made with Grenache, Mourvèdre, Couinoise and Carignane. Custom blended each vintage and aged in neutral oak, this crowd-pleasing wine strikes a perfect balance between bright red fruit, spice and earth. Year after year, our Pape Star remains a fan favorite for its medium-bodied weight, elegant texture and versatility when it comes to pairing wine and food.
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!
