| Vintage | Central Coast | North Coast | Drink Window | Description | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vintage2022 |
Central Coast93 |
North Coast91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA hot year, with a triple-digit September heat wave that kept winemakers on their toes; early-ripening areas suffered, while cooler spots prevailed, making approachable wines with softer tannins |
|||||
DescriptionA hot year, with a triple-digit September heat wave that kept winemakers on their toes; early-ripening areas suffered, while cooler spots prevailed, making approachable wines with softer tannins |
|||||||||
Vintage2021 |
Central Coast94 |
North Coast92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSeasonably warm and mild with no adverse weather events, giving the grapes time to mature, yet yields are down in this third straight year of drought; wines combine concentration and freshness |
|||||
DescriptionSeasonably warm and mild with no adverse weather events, giving the grapes time to mature, yet yields are down in this third straight year of drought; wines combine concentration and freshness |
|||||||||
Vintage2020 |
Central Coast92 |
North CoastNA* |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionVines were stressed by a hot, dry summer, while wildfires in Northern California raised concerns about smoke taint, with few bottlings produced; Central Coast areas delivered solid wines |
|||||
DescriptionVines were stressed by a hot, dry summer, while wildfires in Northern California raised concerns about smoke taint, with few bottlings produced; Central Coast areas delivered solid wines |
|||||||||
Vintage2019 |
Central Coast95 |
North Coast92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA warm but extended growing season produced rich wines with polished tannins; best in the Central Coast |
|||||
DescriptionA warm but extended growing season produced rich wines with polished tannins; best in the Central Coast |
|||||||||
Vintage2018 |
Central Coast94 |
North Coast92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA goldilocks vintage with a flawless growing season that allowed winemakers to craft impressive wines |
|||||
DescriptionA goldilocks vintage with a flawless growing season that allowed winemakers to craft impressive wines |
|||||||||
Vintage2017 |
Central Coast90 |
North Coast90 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionDramatic weather conditions, from floods to heat waves to wildfires, led to a variable, challenging vintage |
|||||
DescriptionDramatic weather conditions, from floods to heat waves to wildfires, led to a variable, challenging vintage |
|||||||||
Vintage2016 |
Central Coast93 |
North Coast93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionA textbook vintage with nearly ideal growing conditions throughout the year |
|||||
DescriptionA textbook vintage with nearly ideal growing conditions throughout the year |
|||||||||
Vintage2015 |
Central Coast92 |
North Coast94 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionChallenged by a warm season marked by heat spikes, winemakers managed to retain elegance and aromatics |
|||||
DescriptionChallenged by a warm season marked by heat spikes, winemakers managed to retain elegance and aromatics |
|||||||||
Vintage2014 |
Central Coast92 |
North Coast93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSimilar to the 2013s, but more ripe, more full-bodied and in some regions more tannic |
|||||
DescriptionSimilar to the 2013s, but more ripe, more full-bodied and in some regions more tannic |
|||||||||
Vintage2013 |
Central Coast93 |
North Coast93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionNearly ideal growing season with lots of sunshine but few heat spikes; wines are expressive early but show aging potential |
|||||
DescriptionNearly ideal growing season with lots of sunshine but few heat spikes; wines are expressive early but show aging potential |
|||||||||
Vintage2012 |
Central Coast91 |
North Coast92 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionRecord-sized crop with firmly tannic wines and some real beauties; should reward time in the cellar |
|||||
DescriptionRecord-sized crop with firmly tannic wines and some real beauties; should reward time in the cellar |
|||||||||
Vintage2011 |
Central Coast87 |
North Coast87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionA damp, cool year led to mixed results. Off the pace of best years, yet there are pockets of success; early drinkers |
|||||
DescriptionA damp, cool year led to mixed results. Off the pace of best years, yet there are pockets of success; early drinkers |
|||||||||
Vintage2010 |
Central Coast92 |
North Coast93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionA cool, late harvest, but amazingly ripe and full-bodied wines |
|||||
DescriptionA cool, late harvest, but amazingly ripe and full-bodied wines |
|||||||||
Vintage2009 |
Central Coast93 |
North Coast92 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionFabulous wines throughout despite a challenging season; the ripeness is there, even if it came late |
|||||
DescriptionFabulous wines throughout despite a challenging season; the ripeness is there, even if it came late |
|||||||||
Vintage2008 |
Central Coast94 |
North Coast91 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionA tough start ended with glorious wines statewide, rivaling 2007 for complexity, depth and finesse |
|||||
DescriptionA tough start ended with glorious wines statewide, rivaling 2007 for complexity, depth and finesse |
|||||||||
Vintage2007 |
Central Coast95 |
North Coast93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionTremendous quality and uncommon complexity statewide |
|||||
DescriptionTremendous quality and uncommon complexity statewide |
|||||||||
Vintage2006 |
Central Coast93 |
North Coast94 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionA golden vintage, fabulous across all regions, offering great diversity of styles |
|||||
DescriptionA golden vintage, fabulous across all regions, offering great diversity of styles |
|||||||||
Vintage2005 |
Central Coast88 |
North Coast90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionIntense, structured, high quality wines |
|||||
DescriptionIntense, structured, high quality wines |
|||||||||
Vintage2004 |
Central Coast89 |
North Coast93 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionA superb vintage, particularly in Napa; concentrated, intense and complex wines |
|||||
DescriptionA superb vintage, particularly in Napa; concentrated, intense and complex wines |
|||||||||
Vintage2003 |
Central Coast89 |
North Coast91 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionDark, intense, structured and concentrated |
|||||
DescriptionDark, intense, structured and concentrated |
|||||||||
Vintage2002 |
Central Coast88 |
North Coast93 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionTremendous in Napa and Sonoma; dark, rich and plush |
|||||
DescriptionTremendous in Napa and Sonoma; dark, rich and plush |
|||||||||
Vintage2001 |
Central Coast91 |
North Coast92 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionSolid in all regions, with Napa excelling; intense and concentrated |
|||||
DescriptionSolid in all regions, with Napa excelling; intense and concentrated |
|||||||||
Vintage2000 |
Central Coast86 |
North Coast89 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionStrong in Napa, proving Syrah doesn't always run with Cabernet |
|||||
DescriptionStrong in Napa, proving Syrah doesn't always run with Cabernet |
|||||||||
|
* Many Northern California producers did not release wines in 2020 due to the year’s wildfires. Too few wines were evaluated to give a vintage rating. The North Coast includes Napa County, Sonoma County and Mendocino County, plus Lake, Solano, El Dorado, Amador and San Joaquin counties. The Central Coast includes San Luis Obispo County (Paso Robles) and Santa Barbara County, plus Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties. |
|||||||||
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
