Expert Reviews - Prior Vintages 2022, 2021
Decanter Magazine 94 Points |A delightful wine that punches so far above its price point. Black tea aromatics are married to freshly churned topsoil, dried lavender and sun-baked blackberries. The palate is distinguished in this well-priced wine. Chinese five spice, black tea and white pepper make room for ripe black bramble fruits and red plum skin. This wine is distinguished and complex, so refreshing to see such deference paid to a wine priced under $40. (Vintage 2022).
Vinous Media 93 Points |More savory than sweet, the 2022 Pinot Noir Estate wafts up from the glass with a blend of shaved cedar, rose, ground cloves and dried black cherries. This is lifted and refined with juicy acidity and crisp red fruits, taking on a crunchy, tart cranberry concentration toward the close. Well-formed tannins frame the finish as violet inner florals resonate throughout. This is not only a spectacular entry point to the Bethel Heights style, it's also a fantastic value. (Vintage 2022).
James Suckling 93 Points| Bright cherries, raspberries, orange peel and rose hips on the nose. Some walnuts. Racy and vibrant on the palate with a medium body and vivid, electrifying acidity. Refreshing, minty undertones at the end. (2022).
Robert Parker 93 Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir Estate is bursting with strawberry, raspberry and orange peel aromas, and with time it reveals touches of cinnamon, bitters and wildflowers. The light-bodied palate is finely astringent and refreshing with complex, bitters-laced flavors and a long, spicy finish. (Vintage 2022).
Wine Spectator 92 Points | Taut and vibrant, with a steely core of acidity and tannins that drives the flavors of raspberry, cranberry and dusky spices toward the firm finish. (2022).
Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | What an impressive Pinot Noir value. The wine has a ripe black-cherry aroma to go along with a wisp of loamy soil. The fruit flavors are a mix of dark raspberry, tart and tangy cranberry and orange zest. The wine feels rich and full on the palate, with sturdy tannins. (2022).
Audrey Frick writes: The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate pours a jeweled ruby and has aromas of kirsch, forest herbs, and crushed flowers. Lush and approachable, with generous fruit up front, and silky in its rounded mouthfeel, its full-bodied frame is light on its feet, with lovely purity. Drink it over the next 4-6 years. It’s a killer value. Drinking 2023 - 2029. - Jeb Dunnuck 92. (Vintage 2021).
Eric Guido writes: Classic to the core, the 2021 Pinot Noir Estate lifts from the glass with a pretty blend of rosemary and sage, complementing crushed wild berries. This balances savory and sweet with a pure blend of sour red berries offset by sour citrus hints and saline minerals, which add grip toward the close. This finishes with medium length and youthful tension, leaving a lingering tart cranberry crunch. Drinking 2024 - 2030. - Vinous 92. (Vintage 2021).
Jancis Robinson writes: Transparent crimson. Toasty, comforting nose. Attractive ripe Pinot nose with real zip and freshness. Great balance. Good length. Smooth texture. Drinking 2024 - 2031. - Jancis Robinson 17. (Vintage 2021).
Clive Pursehouse writes: Refined and dark-fruited, this wine is a blend across the estate, an effort to capture the terroir and signature of Bethel Heights. Aromas of smoky flint, crushed rose petals, and clove announces a dark and somewhat brooding palate. Ripe Italian plums, blackberry and crushed basalt, announce a palate with ample structure and stony mineral-driven finish. Drinking 2023 - 2030. - Decanter 93. (Vintage 2021).
Erin Brooks writes: Matured in 25% new oak, the 2021 Pinot Noir Estate has a medium ruby-purple color and scents of blueberries, cranberries, woodsmoke, pipe tobacco and burnt orange peel. The light-bodied palate is austere with mineral-driven fruit, bright acidity, chalky tannins and a slight bitterness on the finish. There's a rusticity to this wine that's unusual for Bethel Heights. Drinking 2023 - 2028. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92
James Suckling writes: Aromas of redcurrants and cherry drops with citrus rind, lilac and crushed stones. Medium-bodied, fresh and crunchy, with chalky tannins and vivid acidity. Bright, blue-fruited finish. A little chewy at the end. Drink or hold. - James Suckling 93
Tim Fish writes: Sleek and handsomely structured, with expressive raspberry and red plum flavors laced with black tea, forest floor and hints of mineral, building tension toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2031. - Wine Spectator 93
