Wines

93 Points! A gorgeous entry-level offering, the 2016 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) captures all the natural exuberance of the Russian River. Black cherry, cola, spice, lavender, licorice and cloves are all amped up in this boisterous, juicy Pinot. Here, too, the presence of slightly mature notes makes the 2016 so rewarding to drink now.

This might very well be the best set of wines I have ever tasted from Fred Scherrer. The 2016 Pinots and Cabernets in particular are superb. Scherrer releases his wines a bit later than most, so readers will find wines that show a good bit of bottle complexity and are largely ready to drink. As always, the wines are done in a style that prizes structure and energy over lushness or immediacy. Ideally, these are wines that are best enjoyed over many hours. I can't recommend these new releases highly enough. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

91 Points! The 2017 Pinot Noir (Sonoma County) is a gorgeous wine, especially in its peer group. Effusive aromatics and bright red/purplish berry fruit all race out of the glass. This mid-weight, translucent Pinot has so much to offer. The 2017 is stellar. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Sourced from 2.2 hectares in different vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba, at altitudes of 370-400m. The oldest vines date back to 1965, while the youngest were planted in 2006.

94 Points! So pure and clean, with notes of sliced green apple, lime peel and white flowers enhanced by a saline edge. Medium-bodied, crisp and mouthwatering, it displays remarkable stony tension that carries into a very long, savory finish where the incredible minerality shines through. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! The density and intensity is really beautiful, with sliced apples and hints of pears and rose petals. It’s full and layered with lovely density and freshness. The finish goes on for minutes, with lots of flavor. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! A precisely crafted, elegant white, beautifully balanced, showcasing ripe stone fruit, quince, wildflowers and a hint of beeswax. Medium-bodied and textured, with an elegant line of acidity and a savory, lingering finish. Firm and vertical. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! A benchmark pinot grigio with striking purity and poise, offering notes of peach stone, raw almonds and citrus blossom, alongside a flinty character and a hint of lime pith, all supported by superb freshness and minerality. The elegant, medium- to full-bodied palate is both silky and weightless, yet displays remarkable length and laser-like focus. Among the finest of its kind, if not the best. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Attractive aromas of waxy lemons, sliced apples and savory herbs lead to a medium- to full-bodied palate that is layered and textured, showcasing a sleek, lightly oily mouthfeel and vibrant acidity. Flavorful and persistent, it balances richness with elegance. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

'Junior' Schiopetto? Yeah, kinda. Sourced from the younger vines on the property, this label is meant to be a bit easier access early on, a fabulous intro to the Schiopetto style...

91 Points! Plump, tangy and fresh, this offers a core of green apple, peach and meadow blossoms, with a squeeze of lemon. A deliciously drinkable Riesling, with great harmony, showing notes of herbs and chamomile. Finishes dry but not austere. Drink now through 2031. - Wine Spectator

94+ Points! The 2019 Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is very clear and elegant on the discreet and subtle nose that intertwines very fine fruit and slate aromas. Remarkably piquant and vital on the palate, the acidity cuts the sweet and perfectly ripe fruit like a knife. This is highly stimulating in its piquancy and lingering salinity. A very sportive Auslese, in fact. 7% alcohol. Tasted from AP 1920 in May 2020. - Stephan Reinhardt, robertparker.com

97 Points! Lots of classic darker, herbal notes define the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, a rich, medium to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. With air, more chocolate, espresso, and spice notes emerge from the glass, and this medium to full-bodied, textured, ripe, yet also elegant 2019 is going to drink brilliantly for another 20 years or so. - Jeb Dunnuck

99 Points! From the C1 Block of Beckstoffer To Kalon, winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown has worked with these Clone 4 Cabernet vines since 2005. This is a block bottling like many of the Schrader wines. Lush, generous fruit but with structure – all the elements amplified but on equal proportions. Explosive nose of rich black fruits, black olive, dried wild herbs and baking spices. Incredibly textural with pixelated three-dimensional tannins finishing with pops of dried tobacco and purple-red florals. A joy to drink but among the most collectable and cellar worthy wines of the vintage. The 'CCS' on the label refers to the initials of proprietor Carol Colesworthy Schrader. - Decanter Magazine

98 Points! Throws off a range of sassafras, chaparral and anise aromas before yielding up a prodigious core of açaí berry, plum and blackberry compote. Offers a nice interplay of power and purity, with tarry violet and loamy incense accents. While tannic through the finish, this terrific version reveals a subtle ripple of acidity and a hint of iron. Best from 2024 through 2040. - Wine Spectator

98 Points! The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS from the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville is another heavenly wine in the lineup. I always find another level of purity in this cuvée, and the 2019 offers remarkably pure crème de cassis-like fruits as well as notes of white flowers, incense, toasted spice, and unsmoked tobacco. Full-bodied, deep, round, and plush on the palate, I love its tannins, it brings incredible richness while staying perfectly balanced and fresh, and it’s just already a joy to drink. - Jeb Dunnuck

97 Points! Lots of classic darker, herbal notes define the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, a rich, medium to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. With air, more chocolate, espresso, and spice notes emerge from the glass, and this medium to full-bodied, textured, ripe, yet also elegant 2019 is going to drink brilliantly for another 20 years or so. - Jeb Dunnuck

98 Points! A fine, effusive quality from the sandalwood, violets, black pepper and blackberry concentrate. Quite a denser and more muscular expression, yet you won’t feel any chew from the tannins, as they melt into the dark fruit. Long and focused. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! Revealing a vivid purple hue as well as a powerful, more black-fruited, iron, tobacco, and scorched earth-like aromatic profile, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is full-bodied, has a rich, powerful attack, great mid-palate density, and brilliant tannins. Coming from a famous block located on the western side of this great vineyard, brought up in new barrels, it's another 2019 that has a rounded, supple, approachable style while also bringing impressive density, depth, and structure. - Jeb Dunnuck

99 Points! A big, muscular, powerful wine, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 boasts a monster note of blackcurrants, fresh plums, scorched earth, tobacco, and chocolate. This all carries to a full-bodied 2019 with the ripe, savory, concentrated style of the vintage, building tannins, no shortage of fruit, and a great, great finish. It's certainly one of the biggest, richest, more structured wines in the lineup, yet the balance is spot on and everything is in the right places. It's going to take at least 7-8 years for this puppy to shed some of its considerable baby fat and hit maturity, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for 20 or 30 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

97+ Points! The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is made from Clone 6, an old California heritage clone that's notoriously shy-bearing. It boasts lovely aromatics, layering dried spices and exotic florals over super-ripe cherries, while the full-bodied palate is all silk and cashmere, finishing incredibly long and elegant. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com 

97 Points! This is a fantastic new wine, with crushed berries, stones, and oyster shell with moss and pine needles. Full and linear, with agile acidity that gives the wine energy. It’s salty and lively. So focused and mouthwatering. So attractive now, but will age beautifully. - JamesSuckling.com