Manchester Ridge Scores big with Perrotti-Brown.
2021 Auteur Chardonnay Manchester Ridge 97 Points
Drinking: 2023-2030
The 2021 Chardonnay Manchester Ridge sings of lemon curd, fresh peaches, and apple pie, leading to wafts of fresh ginger and marzipan. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly crafted with wonderfully bright, intense citrus and stone fruit layers, finishing long and savory. This is impressive!
2021 Auteur Pinot Noir Wendling Vineyard 95+ Points
Drinking: 2024-2032
The 2021 Pinot Noir Wendling Vineyard is pale to medium ruby-purple in color. It races out of the glass with floral notes of violets, Ceylon tea, and sassafras, leading to a core of cherry cordial, pomegranate, and a waft of rhubarb. The medium to full-bodied palate is bursting with savory-laced black berry layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and finishing long and fragrant.
2021 Auteur Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard 95 Points
Drinking 2024-2030
Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2021 Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard comes tumbling out with ready-to-go notes of black and red cherries, pomegranate, and spice cake, plus wafts of violets and dark chocolate. The medium to full-bodied palate is bright and energetic, with a lively line and grainy tannins, finishing with a real skip in its step.
2021 Auteur Pinot Noir Gap’s Crown Vineyard Bolt Block 94 Points
Drinking: 2024-2030
The 2021 Pinot Noir Gap’s Crown Vineyard Bolt Block is pale to medium ruby-purple in color. It sails out with suggestions of dusty soil, underbrush, and mossy tree bark over a core of redcurrant jelly and black cherry compote. The medium-bodied palate has a fine-grained texture and bold freshness supporting the tight-knit fruit, finishing on a lingering mineral note.
2021 Auteur Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 93 Points
Drinking: 2023-2028
Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2021 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast leaps with fragrant scents of rose oil, cinnamon toast, and fallen leaves, giving way to a core of cranberry sauce, pomegranate, and kirsch. The medium to full-bodied palate is juicy and plush, with a lively line lifting the red berry flavors to a long finish accented with baking spices.
2021 Auteur Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 92 Points
Drinking: 2023-2027
The 2021 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast flies out with bold notions of fresh pineapple, honeydew melon, and juicy pears with wafts of lemongrass and honeysuckle. The medium-bodied palate delivers intense tropical fruit and mineral layers with a crisp line of freshness and a long, zesty finish. 205 cases were made.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW – FOUNDER
Born and raised in rural Maine, Lisa has spent over 25-years working in the wine industry, living in London, Tokyo, Singapore, and now Napa, California. In 2008, she became a Master of Wine and began working for Robert M. Parker, Jr. at The Wine Advocate. In 2013, she became Editor in Chief for Robert Parker Wine Advocate the publication’s critic for the wines of Bordeaux, Napa Valley, and Sonoma County. In 2021, Lisa left Robert Parker Wine Advocate to become co-founder of The Wine Independent.
Link here for full article, The Wine Independent