| Vintage | Score | Drink Window | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vintage2022 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionThe year of the heat dome, with multiple days above 100° F over Labor Day weekend. Luckily, the season got off to a fast start and many growers picked by mid- and late August; anyone who waited lost out. Wines are precocious and juicy, with up-front fruit; most are accessible out of the gate (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionThe year of the heat dome, with multiple days above 100° F over Labor Day weekend. Luckily, the season got off to a fast start and many growers picked by mid- and late August; anyone who waited lost out. Wines are precocious and juicy, with up-front fruit; most are accessible out of the gate (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2021 |
Score96 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionWindy weather during the long blooming period led to a small crop set, but then warm and very dry conditions ripened everything evenly and easily. Producers picked at their leisure, bringing in small berries and thick skins that produced wines of concentration and structure as well as freshness and purity (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionWindy weather during the long blooming period led to a small crop set, but then warm and very dry conditions ripened everything evenly and easily. Producers picked at their leisure, bringing in small berries and thick skins that produced wines of concentration and structure as well as freshness and purity (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2020 |
Score87* |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA year to forget for many Northern California producers, with a number of them not releasing wines because of challenging weather conditions, capped by wildfires during harvest leading to issues of smoke taint. Central and Southern California had an outstanding harvest, with a long, even growing season and normal-size crop. Choose carefully from Sonoma; plumb Santa Barbara for the top wines (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionA year to forget for many Northern California producers, with a number of them not releasing wines because of challenging weather conditions, capped by wildfires during harvest leading to issues of smoke taint. Central and Southern California had an outstanding harvest, with a long, even growing season and normal-size crop. Choose carefully from Sonoma; plumb Santa Barbara for the top wines (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2019 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionA benchmark vintage for California Pinot, with wines showing power, finesse and the structure for cellaring; moderate temperatures and an even-keeled season led to a leisurely harvest, while crop size was on the lower side (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionA benchmark vintage for California Pinot, with wines showing power, finesse and the structure for cellaring; moderate temperatures and an even-keeled season led to a leisurely harvest, while crop size was on the lower side (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2018 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionNearly perfect conditions resulted in fruit-driven and very expressive Pinots, yet the huge crop load means wines have notably less structure and energy than 2019 (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionNearly perfect conditions resulted in fruit-driven and very expressive Pinots, yet the huge crop load means wines have notably less structure and energy than 2019 (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2017 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSpring rains, a warm summer and a September heat wave yielded wines that are showy up front, but mostly lack structure; only Santa Lucia Highlands bucked the trend (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionSpring rains, a warm summer and a September heat wave yielded wines that are showy up front, but mostly lack structure; only Santa Lucia Highlands bucked the trend (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2016 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionMultiyear drought ends as winter rains return; a warm spring and moderate summer delivered elegant wines (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionMultiyear drought ends as winter rains return; a warm spring and moderate summer delivered elegant wines (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2015 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSanta Barbara and Santa Lucia Highlands shine in a year marked by a large crop of tannic wines (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionSanta Barbara and Santa Lucia Highlands shine in a year marked by a large crop of tannic wines (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2014 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionEven higher yields than 2013, with fleshy, forward, showy wines; Santa Lucia Highlands is a step ahead of the pack (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click for full tasting note): |
||||||
DescriptionEven higher yields than 2013, with fleshy, forward, showy wines; Santa Lucia Highlands is a step ahead of the pack (See all ratings)Top-scoring wines (click to see full tasting note): |
|||||||||
Vintage2013 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionAnother huge crop of generally high quality; Santa Lucia Highlands is a highlight (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionAnother huge crop of generally high quality; Santa Lucia Highlands is a highlight (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2012 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionRecord-size crop with atypically tannic wines; best in Santa Lucia Highlands and Sonoma (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionRecord-size crop with atypically tannic wines; best in Santa Lucia Highlands and Sonoma (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2011 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionRain wreaked havoc at harvest, resulting in lighter wines of uneven quality; Santa Lucia Highlands is the lone bright spot (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionRain wreaked havoc at harvest, resulting in lighter wines of uneven quality; Santa Lucia Highlands is the lone bright spot (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2010 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionWeather extremes tested growers, yet vintage is strong, with structured wines from Santa Barbara and Sonoma (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionWeather extremes tested growers, yet vintage is strong, with structured wines from Santa Barbara and Sonoma (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2009 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSuperb in Sonoma and very strong elsewhere, with scores of ripe, polished, deeply flavored wines (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionSuperb in Sonoma and very strong elsewhere, with scores of ripe, polished, deeply flavored wines (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2008 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionUneven year; top wines are complex and delicate (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionUneven year; top wines are complex and delicate (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2007 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionExcellent year; ideal warm, early season, with ripe, complex wines (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionExcellent year; ideal warm, early season, with ripe, complex wines (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2006 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionA cool year with a large crop; uneven ripening and some diluted wines (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionA cool year with a large crop; uneven ripening and some diluted wines (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2005 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSleek, balanced and elegant; large crop that got ripe at lower alcohol (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionSleek, balanced and elegant; large crop that got ripe at lower alcohol (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2004 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionExcellent year; warm, early year, with ripe, concentrated, deeply flavored wines (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionExcellent year; warm, early year, with ripe, concentrated, deeply flavored wines (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2003 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionVery good if mixed; the best are rich, supple and harmonious (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionVery good if mixed; the best are rich, supple and harmonious (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2002 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionVery good; dark, complex wines that have aged well (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionVery good; dark, complex wines that have aged well (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2001 |
Score86 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionA solid year with elegant, delicate, concentrated wines (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionA solid year with elegant, delicate, concentrated wines (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage2000 |
Score83 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionLean, crisp wines of good quality, with few stars (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionLean, crisp wines of good quality, with few stars (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage1999 |
Score84 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionSonoma and Monterey set the pace in a cooler year,with ripe, fleshy wines (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionSonoma and Monterey set the pace in a cooler year,with ripe, fleshy wines (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage1998 |
Score85 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionEl Niño conditions resulted in a cool, wet harvest, but Pinot surprised, with some wines still showing well (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionEl Niño conditions resulted in a cool, wet harvest, but Pinot surprised, with some wines still showing well (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage1997 |
Score83 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionExcellent in Sonoma, with ripe, forward wines; leaner elsewhere (See all ratings) |
||||||
DescriptionExcellent in Sonoma, with ripe, forward wines; leaner elsewhere (See all ratings) |
|||||||||
Vintage1996 |
Score82 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
Description(See all ratings) |
||||||
Description(See all ratings) |
|||||||||
|
* This rating is only for Northern California, where many producers did not release wines. Considered on their own, Central and Southern California would garner a rating of 92 points. |
|||||||||
Vintage ratings: 95-100, classic; 90-94, outstanding; 85-89, very good; 80-84, good; 75-79, mediocre; 50-74, not recommended
A score range indicates preliminary analysis based on barrel samples and/or a limited sampling; many wines of the vintage not yet reviewed.
Drinkability: "NYR" means the vintage has not yet been released; "drink" means most of the wines of the vintage are ready to drink; "hold" means most of the ageworthy wines have yet to fully mature; "past peak" means most of the wines are declining rather than improving.
SOURCE: WINE SPECTATOR
