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

2008  

"Sweet, super-ripe red berries, mint and flowers all meld together in the 2008 Amuse Bouche. This is an especially high-toned, silky wine. There is considerable richness in the glass, but at the same time the alcohol is also a bit present at times." - 93pts

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

2001  Estate Reserve Cabernet

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

2010  

"The 2010 Pinot Noir Ritchie Vineyard is an attractive, mid-weight wine laced with sweet red cherries, flowers, spices and French oak. It shows lovely mid-palate sweetness and inner perfume in an attractive, mid-weight style best suited for near-term drinking. Today the Ritchie comes across as just a bit compact and one-dimensional next to the other 2010 Pinots. With air, though, the wine blossoms nicely. Freshly cut roses and spices waft from the delicate, feminine finish. It will be fascinating to follow this precise, crystalline beauty over the coming years." - 92pts WA

2009  

"The 2009 Pinot Noir Ritchie Vineyard wraps around the palate with layers of deep black cherries, cola, spices and French oak. This is a big Ritchie endowed with gorgeous textural depth and a refined, sweeping finish. The influence of the Calera clone is felt in the wine’s weight and density." - 93pts WA

2014  

93pts CT

2013  

"The 2013 Pinot Noir is fabulous. Pliant, supple and expressive, the Sonoma Coast is a window into this collection of superb Pinots. Dark red cherries, white flowers, mint and spices are some of the notes that caress the palate in this perfumed, exquisite Pinot Noir from Mark Aubert. At many estates, the Sonoma Coast would be the top of the line; here it is the entry-level bottling." - 93pts Vinous