95-98 Vinous Media - Vinous

The 2024 Grüner Veltliner Steinertal Smaragd, situated between two lateral valleys that channel cool air, gives this terraced site of gneiss higher day-to-night amplitude and lower daytime temperatures. Gentle spice brings white pepper and crushed fern on the nose. The palate arrives with perfect tension, peppery fern, fine citrus freshness and beautiful concentration. Citrus is key this year on this wonderfully long and incisive Grüner.

98+ Joe Czerwinski - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Slated for a September 2024 release, Spottswoode's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon comes across as more vibrant, floral and fresh than the 2020. Violet and cassis notes are accented by hints of crushed stone and pencil shavings on the nose. Hugely complex yet harmonious, this medium-bodied effort is firm but silky in feel, with a long, elegant finish. Lovely stuff.

83 Cellar Tracker

Based on 26 notes and 24 scores from 21 users as of 5/17/15.

90 Wine Spectator

Plush and generous, with appealing red currant, cherry and toasty spice flavors that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2032. 24,500 cases made.

93 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

A juicy, friendly and rather rich wine, this exudes strawberries, raspberries and sour cherries on a smooth, mildly tannic texture. It's medium bodied, mouth-filling and enjoyable. Drink or hold.

90-92 Matthew Luczy - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Tasted prior to bottling, the 2023 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is dark-fruited, woody and faintly floral, with a sappy, anise-driven side that appears with aeration. The palate is surprisingly generous in texture with a twisted, sturdy and inward tannic profile that should soften and come together after bottling.

93 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Beautiful dark-fruit aromas and flavors on a sleek texture of fine-grained tannins. Red and black cherries, iron, earth and cocoa flavors. It increases its grip on the palate and finish, forming a firm, dry mouthfeel that will benefit from more time in the bottle. Drink or hold.

98 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is one of the most elegant wines I have tasted at Shafer. Effusive aromatics and silky tannins are immediately captivating. Crushed red/purplish berry fruit, mint, spice, lavender and licorice are all finely knit. We will see, but the 2019 may very well represent a new direction for Hillside Select, one of Napa Valley's most iconic Cabernets.

98 Wine Enthusiast

A single-vineyard Alicante Bouschet wine aged in tonels 3 and 4, two handsome wood casks big enough to walk through. The wine is only released in selected years. This vintage, now almost mature, shows both aging potential and great power as well as elegance. There is a fine juicy character that gives it unique freshness while it matures. Drink now or just wait until 2024.

97+ Mark Squires - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2013 Tinto Tonel No. 3-4 was aged for 40 months in large Portuguese and Brazilian tonels, then held back for 22 months in bottle. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. When last seen, this was brilliant. It is on track and developing well. Dark and more closed, this lacks the lively and fresher style of the regular Estate Tinto (either the 2014 or the 2015), but it has more power and plenty of depth. The flavor profile is perhaps not quite as enticing, as it is acquiring a bit of a darker feel, but this is well done. It is a long-term wine that is nowhere close to finishing its development. It is also not at peak. Grab some if you can find it and have a cellar. There will be, I'm told, a small amount of Tonel No. 3-5 in 2015, but nothing after that until 2021.

96 Decanter

Mouchão’s best variety (Alicante Bouschet), best site (the oldest Carrapetos vineyard) and best ‘barrels’ (two aged 5,000-litre tonel numbered 3 and 4) strut their pedigree on an inky palate, saturated with deliciously concentrated, yet animated, blackcurrant and redcurrant, with signature stewed mint tea nuances. Dried fig, violets and black olive notes emerge. Whole-bunch fermented, pithy tannins are involving and very dynamic. Lovely balance, length and precision.

92 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

A malty nose, segueing to mulch, tapenade and forest accents, plus cloves, sassafras and blue fruit. A full-bodied wine that is showing considerable development and the clear capacity for further time in bottle. This said, I would not wait long. The tannins are astringent and drying across the finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.