"The 2020 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard comes from across the estate and was matured in about 45% new oak. Grapes were entirely destemmed this year. ""I was really worried about smoke taint,"" winemaker Anthony Avila says. ""It's said that you must discard all the green parts of the plant. It was the right choice, and I'd do it again.""...

"The 2019 Syrah Estate, which was co-fermented with a splash of Viognier, was made with about 35% whole clusters and matured in 35% new 600-liter demi-muids. It has a deep ruby-purple color and gregarious aromas of blue and black berry preserves, cracked pepper, chargrill and purple flowers. The full-bodied palate has a fine, chalky texture and fresh expression, with detailed...

"Baked fruit and vanilla aromas. Broad palate with plummy fruit balanced by a fresh and lively acidity." 90, Ronan Sayburn MS, James Doidge, Sarah Knowles MW, Decanter “This is an epic bottling—one of the last for winemaker Trey Fletcher before he moved to a new project. Fresh pomegranate and raspberry-leaf aromas meet with singed sage, tea leaf and raw pork...

"The 2020 Chardonnay Solomon Hills Estate comes from the colder of Bien Nacido's two estates. It's located eight miles west of Bien Nacido and is the westernmost vineyard in the Santa Maria appellation. Vines are planted in beach sand, and there are no mountains to block sea breezes, so it is an especially cold, windy, foggy site. Matured in 40%...

"This a textbook, elegant style of Marlborough Pinot, with pretty aromatics of cranberry, tobacco leaf, baking spice, red plum and cherry. The palate has layered fruit, nice flow, a touch of oak, moderate tannins and good carry. Fruit is drawn from across the region, including the Southern Valleys, Awatere and the tiny southern subregion of Kekerengu Coast. Winemaker Simon Waghorn...

"Red berries and rose petals, textbook Nebbiolo elevated to perfection. Piano wire tension carrying the wine from start to finish, the tannins are plentiful and rich without being astringent acting as the backbone holding the fruit expression tight but allowing individual expression as the wine sits on the mid palate. Needs time but already so compelling! Stunning Giacosa brilliance." Armit...

"A fruity and refined wine with blackberry, black-chocolate and subtle berry and spice character. Medium body, medium tannins and a succulent finish. 65% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 15% cabernet sauvignon. Mostly from grapes of Castillon with some vats from top estates. Delicious now, but can age." 92, James Suckling

"Lush, ripe blueberries, fleshy black cherries, baked plums, minerals and violets. A touch of cocoa powder and espresso beans. Concentrated and full-bodied on the palate with lots of flavors rounded by filigreed tannins. Ripe, fleshy core of dark fruit in the middle. Long and broad. Already drinkable, but better from 2025." 95, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling