2020 Accolades
2020 FEL Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
Rating: 94 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Showstopping fruit and complexity animate this full-bodied but creamily smooth, elegant wine. It’s soft around the edges but deep in the middle, oozing raspberries, black cherries, basil and black tea. Although blended from different parts of the valley, this bottle competes well with FEL’s vineyard designates. Editors’ Choice. ”
2020 FEL Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Rating: 95 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Very ripe fruit and an impression of sweetness pervade this fully ripe, rich and delicious wine from a noted site. Soft tannins and a full body embrace red and black cherries, spearmint and redwood forest nuances for an indulgent and complex expression. Best from 2027. Cellar Selection. ”
2020 FEL Chardonnay, Anderson Valley
Rating: 90 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Lemon and crisp apple flavors dominate this well-balanced, elegant, crisp and fruit-driven wine. Light butter and vanilla notes add tasty complexity, and it’s refreshing to sip.”
2020 FEL Chardonnay, Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Rating: 94 points – Wine Enthusiast
“This tangy but concentrated wine holds its lemon and ginger flavors tightly in crisp acidity, giving it a great sense of balance and a good prospect of improving with time. Medium body and an elegant, snappy texture make the wine great to drink soon, but look for it to age nicely through at least 2027 in a cool-storage situation.”
2019 Accolades
2019 FEL Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Rating: 95 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Handsome black-fruit flavors give a wonderful focus to this concentrated, well-balanced and moderately tannic wine. It’s a baritone of deep black cherries that can also hit higher notes of toasted oak, spice and sage. Best from 2025.”
2019 FEL Chardonnay, Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Rating: 94 points – Wine Enthusiast
“This richly spiced but vibrant and balanced wine beautifully weaves together subtle oak, rich vanilla, butter, pear and peach flavors, adding toasted almond and baked coconut on the finish. Grown in a noted single vineyard, it is delicious, layered and long on the finish. ”
2019 FEL Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
Rating: 92 points – Wine Enthusiast
“This sleek, well-balanced wine pairs ample, juicy cherry and red-currant flavors with enticing oak accents of vanilla, toasted baguette and cinnamon. It’s smooth, supple and delicious.”
2019 FEL Chardonnay, Anderson Valley
Rating: 91 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Fresh and bracing, this apparently lightly oaked, medium-bodied wine won’t get heavy after a glass full. It emphasizes lemon, lime and green apple flavors and a crisp texture that’s mouthwatering. Best from 2023.”
2018 Accolades
2018 FEL Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Rating: 94 points – Wine Enthusiast
“This lovely, fragrant wine is abundantly fruity and subtly spicy, blending ripe strawberry and red-cherry flavors with absolutely tempting cinnamon, clove and cedar spices. It has a generous, mouth filling texture lifted by a touch of tannin and fresh acidity.”
Rating: 90 points – Wine Spectator
“Features a minerally core, with linear red fruit and spice flavors, backed by fresh acidity. Loamy hints emerge on the moderately racy finish.”
2018 FEL Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
Rating: 93 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Concentrated but also nervy in texture, this full-bodied wine is driven by pure black-cherry and raspberry flavors while oak accents of cinnamon and nutmeg stay just under the surface.”
2018 FEL Chardonnay, Anderson Valley
Rating: 92 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Fresh, vibrant fruit aromas and flavors drive this full-bodied and well-balanced wine. It floods the palate with flavors of crisp apple, ripe pear and a touch of pineapple while subtle hints of baking spice play in the background.”
Rating: 90 points – Wine Spectator
“Well-structured, with savory accents to the green apple, pear tart and sea salt flavors. Light buttery notes emerge mid-palate, showing oaky aspects on the finish.”
2017 Accolades
2017 FEL Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Rating: 95 points – Wine Spectator
“Unctuous and ripe flavors of dark plum, cassis and cherry tart are filled with crunchy acidity and supported by fine-grained tannins. Creamy midpalate, with a long, plush and well-spiced finish that is loaded with sanguine richness.”
2017 FEL Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
Rating: 90 points – Wine Spectator
“Minerally, with expressive red fruit and berry flavors, backed by fresh acidity. The pure-tasting finish is lithe and filled with taut savory accents. Drink now through 2023.”
2017 FEL Chardonnay, Anderson Valley
Rating: 90 points – Wine Enthusiast
“A good sense of concentration and balance in this medium-bodied wine give it an appetizing appeal. Fresh apple and pear aromas are lightly shaded with baking spices, and the flavors follow with plenty of fruit, good acidity and a light tang on the finish.”
2016 Accolades
2016 Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard
Rating: 96 points – Wine Enthusiast
“This concentrated and fruit-packed wine from a storied vineyard walks the line between ripeness and restraint. Flavors of black cherry and blackberry fill the palate, bolstered by a mildly firm feel. It offers plenty to appreciate now and is worth cellaring through 2024.”
2016 Pinot Noir, Ferrington Vineyard
Rating: 96 points – Wine Enthusiast
“This bold wine is complex and concentrated without being overly big in body. It shows gorgeous black-cherry and wood-smoke aromas, deep and delicious cherry, spice and clove flavors, and fine balance. There’s enough acidity and tannin to give it grip without holding back the fruit nuances.”
2016 Chardonnay, Anderson Valley
Rating: 90 points – Wine Enthusiast
“This is a delicious, no-nonsense wine that features pure fruit flavors, little obvious oak influence, good zingy acidity and excellent balance. Its strength is a slight sense of reserve that is refreshing and mouthwatering.”
2015 Accolades
2015 Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard
Rating: 97 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Sleek, vivid and sophisticated, this wine wows with fresh, concentrated tones. There’s a sense of taut balance between acidity and ripeness, with a laser focus of raspberry, cherry and strawberry flavors that extend the finish for minutes. This great wine from a celebrated vineyard is an excellent choice for the cellar, best enjoyed after 2023.”
2015 Pinot Noir, Ferrington Vineyard
Rating: 93 points – Wine Enthusiast
“This generous wine has abundant fruit flavors and a warm, broad palate-feel that makes it very welcoming and delicious. Red and black cherries and hints of vanilla in the aroma lead to rich dark plum and black cherry on the palate, while the texture is velvety due to mild tannins and full body.”
2015 Pinot Noir, Donnelly Creek Vineyard
Rating: 94 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Firm structure, excellent balance and profusion of fruit and spice flavors make this wine hard to resist. Moderate tannins give great support to the concentrated black cherry and rhubarb flavors while a sense of richness stops short of excess. Best after 2022.”
2015 Pinot Noir, Hirsch Vineyard
Rating: 92 points – Wine Enthusiast
“This is a light, floral red, aromatic in rose petal and white pepper, that evolves to show a wealth of balanced red fruit, from rhubarb to strawberry. A hint of cola is contrasted nicely against a plushness of cola and sweet tannin.”
2015 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
Rating: 91 points – Wine Enthusiast
“This delicious, accessible, easy-sipping wine has everything in moderation, from gently fruity aromas, to light but complex flavors of plum, black tea and spices, to medium body and a supple mouthfeel. It will taste good on practically any occasion.”
2015 Chardonnay, Anderson Valley
Rating: 90 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Freshness and lively acidity balance out the ripe apple and pear flavors in this medium-bodied, well-rounded wine from Mendocino County’s cool, coastal Anderson Valley. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to many overly sweet, buttery oak bombs.”
2015 Chardonnay, Savoy Vineyard
Rating: 92 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Beautifully fruity and focused, this medium-bodied wine is underpinned by good acidity and accented with light butter and almond flavors to go along with the vivid lemon and crisp apple notes. Fine balance and the pure fruit expression make it special”
2014 Accolades
2014 Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard
Rating: 93 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Classic varietal aromas like forest floor, black cherry and spicy, ripe red-fruit flavors offer welcome into this medium-bodied, firm-textured wine. The structure is so firm with acidity and tannins that it keeps the flavors slightly in reserve, so it will benefit from a few more years in the bottle. It will be best after 2019.”
2014 Pinot Noir, Ferrington Vineyard
Rating: 95 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Power and grace come together in this deceptively concentrated, full-bodied, complex, sophisticated and age-worthy wine. A light hand on the new-oak nuances allows the pure, focused fruit flavors to course through on the palate and linger on the finish. It will be best after 2020.”
2014 Pinot Noir, Donnelly Creek Vineyard
Rating: 92 points, Wine Enthusiast
“Ripe-tasting spiced-plum flavors and a generous texture make this full-bodied wine easy to enjoy at first sip, and it offers even more payoff with continued tasting. It delivers plenty of fruit character, accented by complex cinnamon, clove and nutmeg spices and a grand feeling of breadth on the palate.”
2014 Pinot Noir, Hirsch Vineyard
Rating: 92 points – Wine Enthusiast
“This is a robustly built, densely packed and velvety wine with smooth layers of integrated oak. Tannins provide the power and foundation behind its crisp blue fruit and dried herb flavors, seasoned with cola and black pepper spice.”
2014 Chardonnay, Anderson Valley
Rating: 90 points – Tasting Panel Magazine
“Smooth and juicy with clean, bright flavors of pear, citrus and toasted oak; fresh, elegant and balanced, bright and fruit-forward.”
2013 Accolades
2013 Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard
Rating: 93 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Classic varietal aromas like forest floor, black cherry and spicy, ripe red-fruit flavors offer welcome into this medium-bodied, firm-textured wine. The structure is so firm with acidity and tannins that it keeps the flavors slightly in reserve, so it will benefit from a few more years in the bottle. It will be best after 2019.”
2013 Pinot Noir, Ferrington Vineyard
Rating: 93 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Packed with fruit and tannins in almost equal measure, this robust but not heavy wine has a layered texture, bright flavors and a sense of depth and structure that indicate it will improve with time. It offers plenty of red cherry and raspberry flavors, and flashes of smoky oak that are well interlaced. Best after 2019.”
2013 Pinot Noir, Donnelly Creek Vineyard
Score: 92 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Reserved fruit aromas like cherry compote come with substantial accents of cinnamon and clove. Flavors are mild but delicious and bring more cherry and cranberry. The mouth-feel is rather soft and full, braced with fine tannins and a moderate oaky flavor that builds toward the finish.”
2013 Chardonnay, Savoy Vineyard
Rating: 91 points – Wine Enthusiast
“A tasty blend of ripe fruit and baking spice aromas and flavors ride on a smooth texture in this medium-bodied, well-balanced and well-rounded wine. Subtle spiciness glides through the finish of this bottling, which should please most anyone.”
2012 Accolades
2012 Pinot Noir, Hirsch Vineyard, Sonoma Coast
Rating: 94 points – Tasting Panel Magazine
“Rich, spicy and deep with savory, lush black cherry; juicy and smooth, ripe and complex; long, balanced and stylish.”
2012 Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard
Rating: 93 points – Wine Enthusiast
“Big but well-balanced, this offers a deep, dark garnet color and slightly smoky, toasty aromas. A richly textured mouth-feel supports ripe, black plum and cherry flavors. It has a sophisticated and tasty oak influence, full body, fine tannins and layers of spice and fruit that linger long on the finish.”