"The 2005 Paleo (Cabernet Franc) is impressive. Wild herbs, roasted coffee beans, new leather, minerals and dark fruit emerge from this long, refined wine. Although the intensity tapers off slightly on the mid-palate, this is an absolutely gorgeous wine loaded with style and personality. Still tightly wound, it needs further bottle age to reach its peak. It is arguably the most successful of the estate's 2005s. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2017."

"Decadent aromas of berries, meat and earth follow through to a full body, with velvety, rich tannins, a long, flavorful finish and a coconut and berry aftertaste. Impressive. Cabernet Franc. Best after 2011. 2,000 cases made." -93 Points - Wine Spectator

"Bright yellow. Intensely floral, exotically perfumed bouquet of poached pear, smoky minerals, honey and sweet butter. Brighter citrus and nectarine flavors are admirably precise, with very good depth and firm mineral bite. I like this wine's combination of power and finesse on the long, buttery finish."

"The 2003 Brut Pierre Peters is an explosive wine loaded with fruit. There is lovely density and richness, yet the wine retains notable balance. In some ways, this is an atypical Champagne for this house, yet it is compelling juice all the same. Readers who want to appreciate this wine at its finest will want to open the bottle ahead of serving it, as the wine needs some air to find its inner balance. Yields were abnormally low in 2003 owing to a bizarre growing season that included a spring frost and a scorching hot summer. As a result, Peters harvested vineyards in the cooler microclimates first, and paradoxically picked the parcels in the warmer sites later, which allowed the fruit to achieve as much phenolic ripeness as was possible that year. Simply put, this is a remarkable effort in this difficult vintage. The blend is approximately 50% Mesnil, 25% Oger, 15% Avize and 10% Cramant. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2013." -90 Points - Antonio Galloni - The Wine Advocate

"Somewhat surprisingly, given the character of the vintage, this is actually slightly more aromatically elegant than the Cuvee de Reserve with more yeast and brioche emphasis as well to the obviously ripe yet not oxidative aromas that precede rich and nicely concentrated flavors that possess good power if not the same refinement of the nose, all wrapped in a zesty and citrusy finish. I suspect that the depth of the flavors and finish will catch up to the nose with a few additional years of bottle age. 90/2011+." -90 Points - Allen Meadows - Burghound

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"The vineyard is one of the better sources of Merlot on the Napa side of Carneros, and the pedigree shows in this dry, well-structured wine. The cherry and currant flavors are complex, with violets, minerals and coffee, and the tannins, while thick and sticky, are refined. Very elegant with all sorts of beef and lamb dishes." -90 points Wine Enthusiast

"The Vineyards: 100% Napa-Carneros (Hyde Vineyard). Located in the Carneros Region of Napa between Highway 12 and Old Sonoma Road, this is a relatively warm region, because it is further from the cool fog and wind of San Francisco Bay. It also has good elevation above sea level making the soils lighter in clay with better drainage."

"Winemaker: Kerry Damskey. With 25 years of winemaking experience on four continents, Kerry Damskey brings both expertise and perspective to Charles Creek Vineyard. Damskey has spent his career gaining a better understanding of the entire ecology of wine, including the impact of climate, soil, sun exposure, and temperature on the grape growing and winemaking process. This concept, which the French call terroir, is the name of his consulting company."

"While complicated by heavy rains in the late winter, a mid-March spring heat wave kicked off the growing season in a big way. Rains continued on an off through June with moderate temperatures overall; growers were forced to drop fruit that was affected by botrytis and mildew resulting in somewhat smaller crop yields. Ultimately, the vineyards got the sun and heat that they needed resulting in good quality fruit. The Stats: Alc: 14.6% Total Acidity: 0.54 pH: 3.66"

"Winemaking: 100% Open tank fermentation and 22 months in French and American Oak Cooperage. The Wine: With its classic Pomerol-like structure, crisp acidity and firm tannins, this world class Merlot will evolve substantially in the bottle over the next 8-10 years; with its rich core of fruit and spice it may be enjoyed for its youthful charms. Black fruit aromas are accented with hints of dark roasted cocoa or espresso bean. A mouth-filling weight and texture supports the flavors of dark cherry and Santa Rosa plum with hints of spice and cedar." -Winery

"The 2007 Vacqueyras Cuvee Classique is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Mourvedre aged in cement tanks for eight months. A gorgeous effort, it boasts a dark plum/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of smoked duck, soy, blackberries, licorice, and Asian spices. Full-bodied, expansive, dense, pure, and seductive, it represents the bottled essence of Provence. Enjoy it over the next 4-5 years."