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 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.
94 pts Robert Parker The 2020 Mourvèdre Santa Barbara County features understated scents of blackberries, blueberries, lemon peel and Angostura bitters with alluring earthy undertones. The medium-bodied palate strikes an effortless balance between prettiness and rusticity. Its lavender-laced berry fruit is supported by chewy tannins, and bright freshness drives a long, iron-tinged finish.
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!
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. 92 pts Antonio Galloni
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
The 2021 Syrah Alisos Vineyard is fabulous. Sadly, this is the last vintage for this cuvee. Inky and explosive, with tremendous density, the 2021 offers a beguiling mix of dark fruit and cool climate savory notes that are woven deeply into the wine's fabric. This is one of the great wines of Santa Barbara. 96 pts Antonio Galloni
The 2021 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard is a pretty rich, heady wine for Kunin. A rush of black cherry, plum, leather, incense and lavender makes a strong first impression. This has quite a bit more new oak than most of the wines in the range, but it works, given the natural richness of the fruit of this site. 95 pts Antonio Galloni
