Wine from Central Coast

jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: The 2016 My Favorite Neighbor is made with the intent of competing with cult Napa Cabernet Sauvignon yet at a more maintainable $80 price point. Coming all from westside Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, mostly on clay...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points: One of the richer, fleshier wines in this lineup of 2010 Pinots from Bernardus, the 2010 Pinot Noir Soberanes shows lovely depth and roundness throughout. Spices, menthol and licorice add complexity to the fruit in this...

Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: This is an awesome expression of cool climate Syrah, with rosemary-crusted lamb chops, peppercorns, asphalt and elderberry-jam aromas starting the show. The palate is intense with cracked pepper, bay leaf, rosemary oil...

Vinous, 95 points: 95+ The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Star Lane Vineyard is bold, pungent and bursting with fruit. Deep and unctuous in texture, but with considerable aromatic lift, the 2014 offers a terrific expression of Happy Canyon. Black...

Vinous, 96 points: The 2015 El Desafio de Jonata, the estate's Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend, is dense, powerful and super-expressive, with tremendous textural richness and thrust. Still very, very young, the 2015 is going to need at least...

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: This is so complex and fantastic showing the complexity and drinkability. Full body, layered and gorgeous. Dried berry, dried meat and date. So subtle. This is mostly syrah but hints of nine grape types from sauvignon...

Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: Light raspberry-sorbet notes meet with fresh fennel fronds, pepper and cinnamon on the nose of this bottling from Chad Melville and family. It's tight and tart on the palate, with dried cranberry, pine needle and...

Vinous, 95 points: Another compelling wine, the 2014 Pinot Noir Old Guard is weightless and gracious on the palate, with more aromatic lift and silkiness than the Vanguard. From a flavor perspective, the two wines aren't that different...

Vinous, 95 points: The 2014 Pinot Noir Vanguard is deep and implosive, naturally within the Hilt's generally restrained style. Plum, sweet cherry, spice and menthol are all fused together in a pliant, textured Pinot loaded with textural...

Vinous, 94 points: The 2014 Chardonnay Old Guard is the most relaxed and open of these wines. Orchard fruit and sweet floral notes are front and center, but it is the wine's crystalline purity and overall finesse that stand out most. In...

Vinous, 95 points: The 2016 The Big Easy is fabulous. Rich, powerful and flamboyant to its core the Big Easy hits the palate with tremendous fruit intensity. Super-ripe red cherry, raspberry jam, white chocolate, vanillin and new American...

Decanter, 94 points: The most lovely bramble fruit notes hover over raspberry and red cherry aromas, set against a touch of smoke. The winemakers believe that structure should come from the grape rather than oak, and thus 80% of the fruit was...

jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: (93-95 points) Starting with the 2016-barrel samples, the 2016 Optimus is the entry level cuvee of the estate and is always based on Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. I suspect it’s better than most estate top...

Wine Enthusiast, 91 points: This appellation blend is plummy on the nose, with additional aromas of wet campfire, elegant violets and turned earth. There is great energy on the palate, with flavors of tart pomegranate and snappy raspberry, as well...

Vinous, 92 points: The 2015 Pinot Noir Estate Sandy's is exquisite. Lifted and precise, with lovely overall balance, the Sandy's is wonderfully complete in 2015. All the elements seem to fall into place effortlessly. The 50% whole clusters...