2018 Fess Parker "Sanford & Benedict Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

94 Points Vinous: "The 2018 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is a bold, extroverted wine. Super-ripe black cherry, blueberry, lavender, spice and new French oak all race out of the glass in an exotic wine that shows the more sumptuous side of this Sanford & Benedict, certainly the most famous vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills. Blair Fox makes a wide range of wines for the Fess Parker empire, but arguably his finest work is here, at the flagship. The top Chardonnays and Pinots I tasted are among the finest wines of the year. Readers will want to check out the Pinot from the original 1971 planting in Sanford & Benedict, some of the most highly coveted fruit in the entire region." (7/2020)

93 Points from Wine Enthusiast Magazine: "Fairly dark in the glass, this bottling from a historic vineyard offers the telltale hints of wet earth and light game as well as dark-fruit elements of cherry and even blueberry, with a strong wood-spice scent. The palate is hearty with baked red currant and orange-rind flavors, made more complex by the dried sage, intriguing game and grippy tannins." (7/1/21)

93 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2018 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard comes from a great site on the southern side of the Sta. Rita Hills and was brought up in 40% new French oak. Plum/ruby-hued, with notes of Bing cherries, candied violets, spice, and sappy herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a tight, vibrant texture, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. It should evolve for a decade. I loved these latest releases from Fess Parker (made by Blair Fox), and this lineup has some serious values as well as great wines." (8/4/2020)