2004  Proximus, Carneros

2011  

"Aromas of black raspberry, coffee bean, smoke and chocolate mint. Nicely concentrated and suave, with very good smoky intensity to the currant, herb, cherry and floral flavors. This savory, vinous wine boasts a restrained sweetness nicely leavened by harmonious acidity. Finishes with smooth tannins and excellent length. Balanced to age but already very easy to drink." - 92pts Vinous

2005  

"This 525-case blend of 90% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon shows notes of white chocolate, mocha, black cherry, and new barrique smells. It is well-made, still somewhat oaky, with medium to full-bodied flavors and a nice, structured style, especially for a Merlot. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this put on a bit of weight once some tannin melts away and turn out to be outstanding." - 89+pts WA

2006  

"This is a new wine from Heidi Barrett and Amuse Bouche. Basically a Bordeaux blend with a splash of Syrah, it's very dry and tannic. The creamy mouthfeel has flavors of blackberry marmalade, dark bitter chocolate, licorice and peppery spices. Complex and refined, it should hit its stride in a year or two. The longterm prospects are unpredictable but promising." - 94pts WE

2000  

"Pleasantly balanced, with a mix of rich herb, tar, currant, tobacco and coffee, gaining depth and holding its focus on a long, concentrated finish. 300 cases made." - 90pts WS

2012  

"The 2012 Pinot Noir Ritchie Vineyard jumps from the glass with sweet red cherries, rose petals, mint, licorice and spices. This is one of the more floral, lifted wines in the range, but there is plenty of underlying structure. Today the tannins are imposing and a bit tight. Then again, the wine was just bottled a few weeks ago." - 92+pts Vinous

2011  

"Juicy dark cherries, cloves, new leather, licorice and asphalt are all woven together beautifully in Mark Aubert's 2011 Pinot Noir Ritchie Vineyard. Despite its considerable size and volume, the 2011 possesses stunning detail, nuance and freshness. Rose petals, violets and plums all grace a finish that stands out for its total elegance and class. I hope readers can appreciate how rare it is to find wine with both this level of depth and nuance. Aromatically, the Ritchie Pinot has much in common with the Chardonnays from the same site, although I realize that may sound a bit esoteric. Maybe, but it's true." - 95pts Vinous

2014  

93pts CT

1999  

2001  

2012  Black Eye Bill Desmond Vineyard

Black Eye Bill Desmond Vineyard - "Another tightly-knit, more Côte de Beaune-styled effort is the 2012 Pinot Noir Black Eye Bill, which is made from a Dijon clonal mix. It was aged in a combination of Darnajou and Taransaud barrels, which give it a different character than wines aged in François Frères or Gamba oak. Medium-bodied with notes of kirsch and loamy soil, this spicy Pinot should drink well for a decade." - 92pts WA

2014  

"I tasted four Pinot Noirs from 2014, all of them stunning. From Santa Rita Hills, the 2014 Pinot Noir Santa Rita, is made from Dijon clones 115 and 828. This is a beauty, with plenty of spice box, exotic hints of sassafras and cola interwoven with black cherry, blackcurrant fruit, loamy soil undertones and light to moderate tannin. The wine is deep, full-bodied, spicy and sexy. Drink it over the next 7-10 years" - 93pts WA