Press
2021 Vintage
Santa Barbara County Chardonnay
Jeb Dunnuck August 2022 – 94 points
“Light gold-hued, the 2021 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County offers a classic Chardonnay nose of ripe orchard fruits, lemon peel, and brioche, with plenty of background Sta. Rita Hills chalky minerality and obvious salinity. This medium-bodied, balanced, beautifully textured Chardonnay is well worth seeking out and represents a terrific value.”
Vinous, July 2023 Antonio Galloni – 92 points
“The 2021 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County) is fabulous. Silky and layered, the 2021 has a lovely balance and tons of class. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint, pear, and a touch of spice all run through this impeccable, captivating Chardonnay.”
Wine Advocate, October 2023 Erin Brooks – 91 Points
“The 2021 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County has scents of baked yellow apples, banana, pie spice, toast and matchstick. The medium-bodied palate has a deep core of spicy apple fruit, a creamy texture balanced by fresh acidity and a long, layered finish.”
Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay
Jeb Dunnuck August 2022 – 94+ points
“More mineral-driven, the 2021 Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard has lots of crushed stone, white flower, and honeyed citrus and orange blossom notes in a more medium-bodied, vibrant, focused style. It doesn’t have the richness of the Peake Ranch but is still brilliant stuff and might even benefit from a year in bottle.”
Vinous, July 2023 Antonio Galloni – 95 points
“The 2021 Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard is another stellar wine in this range from Peake Ranch. Aromatic and light on its feet, the 2021 captures all the finesse of Santa Maria. Sweet floral notes, tangerine peel, spice, and a touch of mint all grace this regal, exquisite Chardonnay. The 2021 is all class.”
Wine Advocate, October 2023 Erin Brooks – 90 Points
“The 2021 Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard is scented with white peach, apricot, pie crust, beeswax, and matchstick. The light-bodied palate is silky with a delicate core of floral flavors, gently tangy acidity, and a soft, nutty finish.”
Peake Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir
Jeb Dunnuck August 2022 – 96+ Points
“A darker, richer, slightly more serious wine, the Pommard-like 2021 Pinot Noir Peake Ranch Vineyard offers a great nose of red and black raspberries, flinty minerality, forest floor, and leather. These carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied and has good concentration, plenty of tannins, and outstanding length. It will be even better in a year or two.”
Vinous, July 2023 Antonio Galloni – 94 points
“The 2021 Pinot Noir Peake Ranch Vineyard is a wild, savory wine. Dried red cherry, anise, dried flowers, leather, cedar, and tobacco all grace this super-expressive, distinct Pinot Noir. The 2021 is a bit rugged, but also very long on personality. Deceptively medium body, the 2021 has a bit of tannic heft.”
Wine Advocate, October 2023 Erin Brooks – 93 Points
“The 2021 Pinot Noir Peake Ranch Vineyard has bright scents of cranberry, red cherry, mossy bark, tobacco and graphite with undertones of bitters. The light-bodied palate is chalky and refreshing with layers of red fruit, spice and earth, and its long, juicy finish calls you in for another sip.”
Peake Ranch Bellis Noir Red Blend
Jeb Dunnuck August 2022 – 93 Points
Moving to the Rhône variety releases, the 2021 Bellis Noir checks in as 64% Syrah and 36% Grenache. Its ruby/purple hue is followed by a great nose of perfumed red and black cherries, licorice, peppery herbs, and leather. It’s medium to full-bodied, has a seamless mouthfeel, and ripe tannins. Drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years or so.
Vinous, July 2023 Antonio Galloni – 94 points
Moving to the Rhône variety releases, the 2021 Bellis Noir checks in as 64% Syrah and 36% Grenache. Its ruby/purple hue is followed by a great nose of perfumed red and black cherries, licorice, peppery herbs, and leather. It’s medium to full-bodied, has a seamless mouthfeel, and ripe tannins. Drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years or so.
Wine Advocate, October 2023 Erin Brooks – 93 Points
“The 2021 Bellis Noir is a blend of 64% Syrah and 36% Grenache. It has gregarious scents of blackberry jam, burnt orange peel, peppermint patty, tobacco leaves, allspice and undertones of mushrooms and earth. The medium-bodied palate has a core of understated, spicy fruit and savory layers. It has a chalky texture, bright freshness and a long finish. It could use another year or two in bottle.”
John Sebastiano Vineyard Syrah
Jeb Dunnuck August 2022 – 96+ Points
“Dark raspberries, pepper, fresh cut flowers, and smoked meat notes all define the 2021 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard, a gorgeously layered, classic Sta. Rita Hills Syrah that shows more iron and almost bloody notes with time in the glass. Flawlessly balanced, medium to full-bodied, with ripe tannins, it’s a killer Syrah that will drink beautifully through 2033.”
Vinous, July 2023 Antonio Galloni – 95 Points
“The 2021 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard is super elegant and polished. Red/purplish fruit and blood orange have done a tremendous job in taming the tannins that are often present here. All the elements are so well balanced. Lavender, sage, and mint linger. The 17% stems are impeccably balanced.”
Wine Advocate, October 2023 Erin Brooks – 93 Points
“The 2021 Syrah John Sebastiano Vineyard has slowly unfurling aromas of blackcurrant, mint chocolate, garrigue, and earthy undertones. The medium-bodied palate has a core of peppery fruit and is light on its feet with finely chalky tannins and bright sparks of acidity. It has a long finish with emerging floral tones and will benefit from 2-3+ years in bottle.”
Peake Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay
Jeb Dunnuck August 2022 – 96 points
“White flowers, white peach, toasted brioche, honeysuckle, and a kiss of chalk all emerge from the 2021 Chardonnay Peake Ranch Vineyard, a medium to full-bodied, pure, incredibly well-balanced Chardonnay. It has a touch more purity, precision, and length compared to the Santa Barbara County Chardonnay and should be longer lived as well.”
Vinous, July 2023 Antonio Galloni – 94 points
“The 2021 Chardonnay Peake Ranch Vineyard is a rich, heady and explosive wine endowed with tons of savory and mineral complexity to play off a core of citrus fruit. Lemon confit, chamomile, dried flowers, menthol and a kick of spice all meld together in this potent, phenolic Chardonnay.”
Wine Advocate, October 2023 Erin Brooks – 93 Points
“The 2021 Chardonnay Peake Ranch Vineyard is scented of yellow apple, white peach, beeswax and matchstick with youthful new oak spices. The light-bodied palate has a delicate core of perfumed fruit, bright acidity and a touch of textural grip that lengthens the finish. It will benefit from another 2-3 years in the bottle.”
Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
Jeb Dunnuck August 2022 – 94 Points
Ripe black cherries, fresh cut roses, wild strawberries, and spicy notes all emerge from the 2021 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills, another silky, seamless, impressive Pinot Noir from this team. It’s a brilliant value in Pinot Noir that would whomp many a Premier Cru Burgundy.
Vinous, July 2023 Antonio Galloni – 91 points
“The 2021 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is laced with crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon and light floral accents. The silky, understated Pinot is an absolute charmer. All the elements are so nicely balanced. This is mostly Peake Ranch with a touch of John Sebastiano.”
Wine Advocate, October 2023 Erin Brooks – 93 Points
“The 2021 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is bursting with aromas of pomegranate, cranberry, blood orange, potpourri and underbrush. The medium-bodied palate is silky and perfumed with irresistible juiciness and a long, flavorful finish. It’s dangerously easy to drink without sacrificing nuance and spicy detail.”
John Sebastiano Vineyard Pinot Noir
Jeb Dunnuck August 2022 – 96+ Points
Last of the Pinot Noirs, the 2021 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is similarly deeper ruby-hued, with a powerful bouquet of red and black fruits, spicy oak, graphite, and fresh cut flowers. I’m not sure it’s as complex as the Peake Ranch release, but it’s just about flawless on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish. All of the Pinot Noirs here are truly brilliant wines.
Vinous, July 2023 Antonio Galloni – 95 points
“The 2021 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard shows all the natural intensity of this rugged site. Dark fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint, sage and blood orange all build in dense, layered Pinot. There’s gorgeous depth and density here, with bright acids and a good bit of tannin to back it all up.”
Wine Advocate, October 2023 Erin Brooks – 94 Points
“The 2021 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is scented of blackberry preserves, blood orange, woodsmoke, charcuterie and peppercorn with wafts of wildflowers. The medium-bodied palate is silky and seamless with understated, nuanced fruit and a long, floral finish. It offers notable depth of flavor without weight and will benefit from 2-3+ years in bottle.”
Peake Ranch Vineyard Grenache
Jeb Dunnuck August 2022 – 92+ POINTS
“All Grenache from the estate (which is on the eastern side of the Sta. Rita Hills), the 2021 Grenache Peake Ranch Vineyard offers up a lots of ripe black raspberry and darker cherry fruits as well as leafy herbs, pepper, and sappy flower notes. It has some classic Grenache tannic grip and is medium to full-bodied and balanced, with outstanding length. Give bottles a year or two and enjoy through 2031.”
Vinous, July 2023 Antonio Galloni – 91 points
“The 2021 Grenache Peake Ranch Vineyard is an attractive wine that marries the natural finesse of Grenache with the rugged character that runs through all the Peake Ranch wines. Bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, mint, spice, and gravel all open, supported by beams of tannin that give shape as well as energy. This is one of the more reticent wines in the range.”
Wine Advocate, October 2023 Erin Brooks – 94 Points
“The 2021 Grenache Peake Ranch Vineyard has slowly unfurling scents of cranberry, raspberry, and red cherry and nuances of blood orange, forest floor and spicy undertones. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and vibrant with mouthwatering acidity that calls you back to the glass. It offers a core of nuanced, spicy fruit and a long, layered finish. It will benefit from 2-3 years in bottle.”
Peake Ranch Vineyard Syrah
Wine Enthusiast, December 2022 Matt Kettmann – 93 Points
“Strong sagebrush aromas meet with baked strawberry and plush cherry on the nose of this bottling, which also shows a touch of gamy funk. The palate is intense with fresh yet dark strawberry and plum flavors, as incense and eucalyptus leaf elements add intrigue.“
Jeb Dunnuck August 2022 – 96+ Points
“The 2020 Syrah Peake Ranch Vineyard offers a vivid purple/ruby hue to go with the fresh, elegant, pure style that’s the hallmark of this estate. Blackberries, spring flowers, smoked game, and ground pepper are just some of the nuances here, and it’s medium to full[1]bodied, has beautiful tannins, a straight, focused mouthfeel, and a great finish. It reminds me of a top Côte Rôtie from the northern end of the appellation. This beauty will evolve for 10-15 years.”
Vinous, June 2022 Antonio Galloni – 94 Points
“The 2020 Syrah Peake Ranch Vineyard is packed with dark red/purplish fruit, spice, dried herbs, incense and licorice. There’s a bit more freshness and verve than in the 2019. It’s a style that works quite nicely. Time in the glass brings out gorgeous fruit intensity, along with hints of lavender, spice and sage that add complexity”