America

96 Points! The second largest production of Beringer's Private Reserve, the 1991 came in just behind the 24,000 cases of the 1997. Interestingly, these are among the greatest Private Reserves made, and as Ed Sbragia told me, it was just one of those perfect vintages. One of the longest and coolest growing seasons in the history of California, it was marked by cool temperatures throughout the summer and a perfect Indian Summer. The hang time of the grapes, ranging from the date of flowering to the date of harvest, was historically long (I do not believe it has been equaled since). The Cabernet Sauvignon came from the same three sources as the 1990, Bancroft Ranch, the Home Vineyard in St. Helena, and Chabot Vineyard, and the tiny dollop of Cabernet Franc was from the Bancroft Ranch site. I’ve enjoyed many bottles of this spectacular effort, which still possesses a dense ruby/purple color as well as a sumptuous nose of spring flowers, graphite, loamy soil, creme de cassis, black cherries and blackberries. With sweet tannin, a full-bodied mouthfeel and incredible purity as well as youthfulness, this wine has another 15-20 years of life left in it. If this were a Bordeaux, one would think it was 8-10 years old, not two decades. There are no hard edges, and the seamless integration of all the component parts make it one of the prodigious Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserves to drink now as well as over the next 20 years. - Robert Parker, robertparker.com 2011

94 Points! 1997 was pretty much a textbook great vintage for Napa Cabernet with good yields. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for 22 months in 100% new oak (55% French and 45% American), the 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Georges de Latour gives a deep garnet-brick color and quite a meaty nose with notions of chargrill and beef drippings over a core of warm cassis, blackberry pie and candied violets plus wafts of Chinese five spice and dried Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied with 13.8% alcohol, it has a firm, chewy texture and just enough freshness, delivering a great concentration of savory fruit, finishing long and earthy. In a maturity sweet-spot at the moment, now is a good time to drink this vintage, but there’s certainly no rush. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com 2019

95 Points! The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Georges de Latour is produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged in 60% American oak and 40% French. Fifty percent of the oak was new. Medium brick colored, it opens with expressive scents of stewed tea, redcurrant jelly, potpourri and dried mint with touches of dusty soil, bay leaves and smoked meats. Medium-bodied with well-sustained intensity in the mid-palate, it has a satiny texture and beautifully pure, perfumed red fruits with a mineral kick on the long finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com 2019

90 Points! The 2024 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County) gives the impression of a basket of tropical fruit covered in flaky sea salt. Passion fruit, papaya and banana unfurl on the rounded, supple frame, grounded by notable mid-palate weight. There's real character here, especially for $20. - Billy Norris, Vinous

90 Points! Plush in texture yet with lively acidity, this approachable chardonnay evokes notes of lemon meringue, ripe pineapple, graham cracker, dried ginger and white tea. It's open-knit, balanced and enjoyable in the short term. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com 

100% Petite Sirah from Frediani Vineyards in Calistoga. Aged in French Oak Barrels for 18 months. Expect both polish and power. Sweet toasty notes, plush, violets, red licorice,  with fresh vibrant flavors of raspberry, blueberry and plum pie at the core.

From the winery: 

The Frediani family has been growing grapes in Napa Valley since the 1898, and these particular vines were planted by the Frediani family in the 1935. Jim Frediani is a third-generation Italian grower, from a family line of one of Napa's first wine farming families. His expertise in viticulture make the Voces Cellars grapes the cornerstone of our 100% varietal wines.

The Frediani Vineyard is truly a trove of old vines and long-forgotten Napa Valley varietals. We have known the family since 2001 and acquired some of the best fruit in the valley.

In the middle of Napa Valley, the Frediani vines sit in rocky gravel and bale clay loam soil. With intense hot days and chilly nights, the variance in temperature produces lush fruit. The unique climate and aged Frediani vines is the reason Voces Cellars wines are never blended with any other valley fruit. 

150 Cases Produced.

94 Points! The first of the reds, the 2024 Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve pours a jeweled ruby hue and immediately impresses with aromas of incense, toasted spice, fresh black cherries, red berries, and dried rose and hibiscus potpourri. Medium-bodied, it has bright acidity, excellent tension, refined tannins, and terrific definition. It drinks far above its appellation today yet clearly has the structure to age for decades. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

Incredible Cab-based value here made by Keith Emerson from Vineyard 29!

94 Points! The 2021 Patrina checks in as 90% Syrah and 10% Viognier that was bottled in March of 2024. It has a beautifully perfumed, complex, nuanced style in its darker berry-fruited, peppery, floral violet, and subtle orange blossom-like aromas and flavors. I love its overall balance, it has silky, polished tannins, and just a classic, seamless, incredibly impressive style. It’s a terrific introduction to the wines of this incredible estate. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Plump and polished, with sleekly layered black raspberry flavors that are accented by dark chocolate, savory meat and cracked pepper tones that sail on the long and savory finish. - Wine Spectator

94 Points! The 2021 Patrina, the entry-level red wine in the Alban range, includes press fractions from the higher-end bottlings, though you'd never know. There's great roundness and impressively velvety tannins here, with pure, clear, inky berry fruit driving through the very long, creamy finish. This is so well integrated and graceful. Very Alban, all the way. - Billy Norris, Vinous

A Central Coast bottling that is often more than 75% from their own vineyard. This showcases the forward heady stone fruit of this variety.  It is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel and bottled early.  

96 Points! The 2023 Grenache Whole Cluster is explosively floral, rushing from the glass with a potpourri of blossoms and a veritable perfume shop of aromas. Expansive and saturating, it soaks into the palate with absolute grace. The 2023 wears its whole-cluster character elegantly, gaining lift and energy without any vegetal tones. Incense, sandalwood and delicate hints of citrus peel add nuance. Sourced from Shake Ridge, Michaud and Vie Caprice, the 2023 is greater than the sum of its parts. - BIlly Norris, Vinous

97 Points! A shade deeper yellow with haze, the 2024 Chardonnay Belle-Côte comes from the oldest 1990 plantings that Helen Turley planted and is the last to finish, from an east-facing gradual slope. The nose of this wine packs in so much intensity and focused energy. Full-bodied, it has oily citrus tension, wet stones, and fabulously structured grip, with almost tannin-like structure adding to the body and acidity. Orange blossom and sherbet tones shine alongside tropical hues and savory almond nuances. It’s layered and complex. Drink 2026-2038. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

92 Points! Stainless-fermented with several hours of skin contact, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Paysan Zabala Vineyard is made from some traditional clones and some Musque clone. Light-bodied, it is a sublimely textured, herbaceous, and pretty wine with breadth and depth. Drink now. - Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com

93 Points! A coastal mountain Cabernet from older plantings from the 1960s and 1970s, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Paysan Old Vines is light-bodied and delicately structured, with ripe berry fruit, quenching acidity, and dusty, herbal, sage-like undertones. The oak is nuanced and unobtrusive, the tannins still young but softening in the glass. A fine wine for the table, classic in style and approach, drink now through 2035. - Virgnie Boone, jebdunnuck.com

96 Points! Lots of Bordeaux-like currants, cedar pencil, chocolate, and leather nuances emerge from the 2021 Cabernet Franc Tinaquaic Vineyard, an incredibly well-balanced, medium to full-bodied red that has fine tannins and a great finish. It might be one of the finest Bordeaux blends I've tasted from this estate, and if you were to put this in a blind tasting of top Bordeaux, you might just shock your friends – and yourself. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Fragrant blackberry jam aromas lean toward refined flavors of raspberry, briar patch and savory pepper that gather richness and tension toward zesty tannins. - Wine Spectator

94 Points! A big, robust, warming wine from one of the brand's traditional single-vineyard sources in Dry Creek Valley. Broad, ripe and jammy. Full-bodied, saturated with blackberries, blueberries, black pepper and baked cherries, with soft tannins and a sense of sweetness. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! Probably the raciest, most vibrant version of Hyde chardonnay made by any winemaker. Vivid stone fruit and baked apple aromas, then a brilliant texture saturated with green apple, creme brulee and lemon zest flavors. Well balanced, fresh and linear in style. Medium-bodied. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The intense, sleek, mouthwatering mix of yuzu, pineapple, lemon curd and fresh ginger flavors is refreshing and distinctive, with notes of crunchy sea salt, fresh lime and jasmine, all on a sleek and crisp frame. Drink now through 2035. - Wine Spectator

From the winery:

We are proud to source the Chardonnay for this wine from Hyde, one of California's most famous and historic Chardonnay vineyards, founded by Larry Hyde in Carneros in 1979. Tucked away in the southern part of Napa Valley, the entire estate is a gorgeous expanse of rolling hills with southeast exposure and saline morning fog. The parcels of Musque clone Chardonnay and old Wente that make up this bottling were planted between 1979 and 1992. This wine was fermented and aged in 100% new French oak, then bottled as this single-vineyard wine.

94 Points! A floral, crisp and refreshing white blend that's lifted by great acidity and focused on bright citrus, green-apple and white-flower notes. Tangy, brilliant, light-bodied and fresh at 11.8% alcohol. Made from 44% tocai friulano, 37% ribolla gialla, 13% chardonnay and 6% pinot bianco. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com