California Wine Reviews
As I travelled the lands of California’s central coast I tasted and looked and listened and smelled and then I tasted again. As I did this and as the bus rolled past workers and farms and forests and rivers and ravines it became clear to me that this is wine country with sorrow and secrets and largesse and learning. I collected a tab of reviews of California wines as I went. This is it. All of the wines tasted on the trip were from certified sustainable wineries. Some wines have been added subsequent to the trip; these latter reviews may or may not be from certified sustainable wineries.
All Reviews
"A banger." Campbell Mattinson's 95-point review of Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 — a cool, elegant Napa Cabernet that may be under-appreciated at home.
"If I lived in the US, this would be my house pinot." Campbell Mattinson's 93+ point review of Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir 2024, from California's Santa Maria Valley.
“The strut of this wine is all about fruit and earth and flowers.” 93 points, Campbell Mattinson, on Terah Wine Co Paicines Ranch Vineyard Verdejo 2023.
“Excited in a delicious way. Sparks fly.” 94 points. Campbell Mattinson review of Terah Wine Co Shake Ridge Ranch Barbera 2023.
"Amazing white wine… let me at it." Campbell Mattinson's 94-point review of Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Blanc 2022 – a powerful, dry Paso Robles white Rhône blend.
Astonishingly youthful at 23 years old – Campbell Mattinson's 94-point review of Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel 2003, a Paso Robles Rhône red drinking at its peak.
“This is a rock star rosé. It’s like drinking the land, amplified”. Campbell Mattinson on Terah Wine Co Rosé 2024.
"Approachable luxury," oaky and seductive — Campbell Mattinson's 92-point review of DAOU Estate Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, tasted in Paso Robles, California.
More-is-more, ultra-American, and fantastic for it — Campbell Mattinson's 95-point review of DAOU Soul of a Lion 2021, the flagship of Treasury's $1.6 billion Paso Robles bet.
Mattinson review of Fess Parker Ashley's Chardonnay 2023.
Mattinson review of Cambria Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022.
Mattinson review of Diatom Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2023.
Mattinson review of Cambria Tepusquet Vineyard Syrah 2022.
Mattinson review of Ex Post Facto Pinot Noir 2024.
Mattinson review of Clifton Brewer-Clifton 3D Chardonnay 2022.
Mattinson review of J. Lohr Estates Falcon's Perch Pinot Noir Monterey 2023.
Mattinson review of J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red Wine 2021.
Mattinson review of J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2022.
Mattinson review of J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2022.
Mattinson review of Cambria Katherine's Chardonnay 2022.
Mattinson review of J. Lohr Arroyo Vista Chardonnay Arroyo Seco 2023.
Mattinson review of Bien Nacido Estate Collection Chardonnay 2022.
Mattinson review of Hope Family Austin Chardonnay NV.
Mattinson review of McIntyre Vineyards Winemaker Series Pinot Noir by Don Van Staaveran 2021.
Mattinson review of ROAR Wines Soberanes Vineyard Chardonnay 2023.
Mattinson review of Fat Bastard California Chardonnay 2023.
Mattinson review of Chamisal Vineyards San Luis Obispo County Chardonnay 2023.
Kunin Wines Jurassic Park Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2020, from the Santa Ynez Valley, reviewed by Campbell Mattinson.
Mattinson review of McIntyre Vineyards Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2021.
By Region
"Amazing white wine… let me at it." Campbell Mattinson's 94-point review of Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Blanc 2022 – a powerful, dry Paso Robles white Rhône blend.
Astonishingly youthful at 23 years old – Campbell Mattinson's 94-point review of Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel 2003, a Paso Robles Rhône red drinking at its peak.
"Approachable luxury," oaky and seductive — Campbell Mattinson's 92-point review of DAOU Estate Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, tasted in Paso Robles, California.
More-is-more, ultra-American, and fantastic for it — Campbell Mattinson's 95-point review of DAOU Soul of a Lion 2021, the flagship of Treasury's $1.6 billion Paso Robles bet.
Mattinson review of J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red Wine 2021.
Mattinson review of J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2022.
Mattinson review of Hope Family Austin Chardonnay NV.
“It’s sweet but it has a dry, structural backbone, so characteristic of cabernet-based wines. It’s pretty delicious, all told,” says Mattinson in his review of Daou Dessert Red 2019.
"Intensity meets charisma… brilliant wine." Campbell Mattinson's 95-point review of Tablas Creek Vineyard Grenache 2023 – a delicate, structural biodynamic Paso Robles Grenache.
"Wow, what a wine." Campbell Mattinson's 96-point review of Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Rouge 2022 – an intense, pure, powerful Paso Robles Rhône red.
A dry, textural, biodynamic Paso Robles rosé of real presence – Campbell Mattinson's 94-point review of Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé 2024, tasted at the winery.
"If I lived in the US, this would be my house pinot." Campbell Mattinson's 93+ point review of Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir 2024, from California's Santa Maria Valley.
Mattinson review of Diatom Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2023.
Mattinson review of Cambria Tepusquet Vineyard Syrah 2022.
Mattinson review of Cambria Katherine's Chardonnay 2022.
Mattinson review of Bien Nacido Estate Collection Chardonnay 2022.
Kunin Wines Jurassic Park Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2020, from the Santa Ynez Valley, reviewed by Campbell Mattinson.
Kunin Wines Jurassic Park Chenin Blanc 2023, from the Santa Ynez Valley, reviewed by Campbell Mattinson.
Mattinson review of Bien Nacido Estate Syrah 2022.
Mattinson review of Bien Nacido Estate Pinot Noir 2022.
Mattinson review of ROAR Wines Soberanes Vineyard Chardonnay 2023.
Mattinson review of McIntyre Vineyards Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2021.
Mattinson review of Caraccioli Cellars Brut Cuvee 2019.
Mattinson review of Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir 2022.
Mattinson review of Pisoni Lucia Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022.
Mattinson review of Pisoni Lucia Estate Cuvée Pinot Noir 2022.
"Both taken aback and spellbound." Campbell Mattinson's 96-point review of the Lucia Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022, from California's Santa Lucia Highlands.
Mattinson review of Cattleya The Reward Syrah 2022.
Mattinson review of Pisoni Estate Chardonnay 2023.
Mattinson review of Pisoni Lucy Pico Blanco 2023.
"Why don't I drink this kind of wine more often?" Campbell Mattinson's 93-point review of Robert Mondavi Oakville Fumé Blanc 2021 – an elegant Napa white with real style.
"A banger." Campbell Mattinson's 95-point review of Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 — a cool, elegant Napa Cabernet that may be under-appreciated at home.
Campbell Mattinson has been an independent journalist, wine critic and photographer for forty years. He founded The Winefront, is a former chief editor of the Halliday Wine Companion (and former editor of Halliday magazine), and is the only Australian to have won the Australian Wine Communicator of the Year Award more than once. He is 100% independent, and tastes between 5,000 and 10,000 wines each year, blind and in comparative brackets as often as is practicable.
Mattinson is also the founder of the Mattinson Photography business.
"Why don't I drink this kind of wine more often?" Campbell Mattinson's 93-point review of Robert Mondavi Oakville Fumé Blanc 2021 – an elegant Napa white with real style.