95 Wine Pilot

This is an exquisitely structured and beautifully poised single vineyard Shiraz from the Barossa Valley. It has those delightful dark plummy nuances on the nose and palate with a chalky, grainy mouthfeel built on excellent tannins. The oak is cleverly infused and certainly not overplayed. The weight is more in the medium to full body and there is stacks of flavour and driving intensity on the long finish – excellent wine.

93 John Gilman - View from the Cellar

The 2019 Pinot Noir “Petaluma Gap” from Stewart Johnson’s Kendric Vineyards is once again outstanding and a great, great value. The wine includes thirty-five percent whole clusters this year and was raised for two years in cask prior to bottling without filtration. Twenty-five percent of the casks were new this year for the wine, which comes in at a svelte thirteen percent octane. The wine offers up a refined aromatic constellation of cherries, strawberries, cinnamon, mustard seed, a touch of beetroot, a lovely base of soil, woodsmoke and a nice touch of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is vibrant, full-bodied, young and transparent, with a lovely core of red fruit, tangy acids, fine focus and grip and a long, complex and moderately tannic finish. This will want a handful of years in the cellar to properly blossom. It is a very elegant example of west coast pinot noir.

93 Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"A blend of Colorino and Sangiovese with tiny parts of the white grapes Trebbiano and Malvasia, this is a powerful and balanced expression. For authenticity and personality, the 2015 Bibbianaccio pokes some fun at the 100% Sangiovese wines of the appellation by introducing the other indigenous grapes found in this cheerful blend. It presents wild cherry and rose with tilled earth and powdered licorice and would be a pleasant pairing with grilled meat and vegetables."

91 Wine Spectator

"Fading cherry and strawberry flavors are flanked by woodsy, wild herb and pine notes. There's a sweet core of fruit, along with oak spice. Tips slightly toward the tannins, but this is hitting its peak now. Complex and old-school. Sangiovese, Colorino, Malvasia Bianca and Trebbiano. Drink now through 2028. 180 cases made, 28 cases imported."

91 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Aromas of crushed wild berries, rose hips, pomegranate skins and wet stones. Medium-bodied, juicy and racy with crunchy tannins and a polished, sleek texture. Flavorful, red-fruited finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.

100 Luca Gardini - GardiniNotes.com

"Bright, compact and brilliant ruby colour. The nose offers hints of wild strawberry and yellow raspberry with shades of peony and slightly iodized touches in closing. On the palate tension and expansion, with tannins well blended to the fruit-saline component and a fresh and balsamic finish, of great depth and pleasant drinkability."

94 American Fine Wine Competition

Double Gold / 94 points American Fine Wine Competition 2024

95 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate pours a rich ruby and offers pure, ripe aromas of fresh pine, black cherry, and toasted sage. This continues to the palate, with gorgeous ripe fruit that fills the palate with plush wild raspberry, smoky earth, and baking spice. Medium-bodied and long on the palate, with supple fruit up front and an excellent underlying structure, it’s drinking beautifully now but will benefit from another 6-12 months in bottle. It offers both immediacy and longevity. Drink 2023-2035.

95 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate is a blend from the Cleary and Michael Vallentine ranches, both in Freestone. Bright and effusive, with striking depth, the 2021 is deep and beautifully layered right out of the gate. A rush of dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, mint and blood orange build into the rish, heady finish. The 33% stems are not especially evident. This is the best wine I have tasted from Ernest so far. It would be great to see more wines here in this direction.

95 Luca Maroni - Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani

92 Bob Campbell - The Real Review

Mellow rosé made from 100% merlot with peaches and cream, cherry and strawberry flavours. Smooth-textured wine in an off-dry style. Serve well chilled. Delicious wine

93 Sam Kim - Wine Orbit

Upfront and splendidly appealing, the wine shows blackberry, sweet cherry, rich floral and vanillin oak notes, followed by a beautifully weighted palate that's plump and juicy, finishing lingering and silky. At its best: now to 2033.

91 Wine Enthusiast

Very light and transparent in the glass, this carbonically fermented quick-release wine is very satisfying, easily-to-quaff partner for a cheese and charcuterie plate. Cherry, incense, hibiscus and earth aromas on the nose lead into cranberry, plum and salty meat flavors on the palate.

94 Luis Gutierrez - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"There is varietal rusticity and typicity in the 2020 Vigno, produced with 93% Cariñena and 7% Syrah from Melozal in Maule. It's serious and ripe without excess at 14% alcohol, with good freshness, red and black fruit, violets, earth and some tree bark. It's tasty and supple. It matured in a lightly toasted 4,000-liter foudre and used barrels for 18 months. It should get better with some more time in bottle. 7,300 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2021."

94 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

"Bright and very racy nose with vibrant sour red cherries, crushed blueberries, flowers and a hint of mineral. So juicy and bright with a firm, almost mineral quality to the center palate. A little sharp but so succulent with fine, fresh tannins aplenty. Really drinkable and long. Enjoy now."

95 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

"I don't always agree with the names of wines, but this one really does hold a candle to its namesake. Raised for 36 months in amphora and displaying a similar saturated magenta with a purple tinge, the 2021 Magnetic is layered with beautiful notes of pencil shavings, blackberry, crushed sage, and lavender. Full-bodied and pure, it fills the palate with a very elegant and refined feel, with fine tannins and even acidity as well as a balanced warmth on the finish. My first time trying this spectacular offering from this estate, it checks a lot of boxes for me and should appeal to both those who enjoy plush styles and those who like more restraint. Drink 2024-2044."