ACCOLADES
2021 USA Winery of the Year
2020 Sonoma Winery of the Year
Berlin International Wine Competition
SAUVIGNON BLANC
2021
97 points – Double Gold – 2022 International Women’s Wine Competition
94 Points – Gold – 2022 Sunset International Wine Competition
2020
Best Of Show White Wine – 98 Points – Santé Magazine International Wine Competition
95 Points – Double Gold – 2021 Sunset International Wine Competition
90 Points (1 Puff) – GOOD VALUE – Connoisseur’s Guide (8/21)
While avoiding excessive herbal pungency, the vibrant and fairly intense aromas of Meyer lemons, sweet limes and lemongrass that introduce this wine are solidly varietal and cannot be mistaken for anything other than those of Sauvignon Blanc. The same holds true for its equally bright and vivacious flavors where a wee hint of melony sweetness comes into play and adds an extra soupçon of richness, and, both in terms of its keen, continuous focus and excellence balance, this one is sure to bring smiles to dyed-in[1]the-wool Sauvignon Blanc lovers that want far more than simple fruitiness from their favorite wine.
HILLSIDE RESERVE
RED WINE
2018
97 Points – Best of Class – 2022 Sunset International Wine Competition
94 Points – Gold – International Women’s Wine Competition
91 Points (2 puffs) – Connoisseurs’ Guide (4/22)
75% Cabernet Sauvignon; 9% Merlot; 7% Cabernet Franc; 5% Petit Verdot; 4% Malbec. Touching all of the classic Bordelaise bases but still taking its lead from Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Ehret Hillside Reserve Red Wine reflects the riper bias found in each and all of its cellarmates but is never in danger of being singularly defined by conspicuous ripeness. Its scant suggestion of heat, though noticeable, in no way detracts from its ongoing, fruit, and, for a wine of its ample substance and girth, it teases with a nascent sense of refinement. It may not be too tough or closed in that it is hard to enjoy now, but it is balanced to age nicely and will be a more complete and polished package some five or six years down the line.
90 Points – Gold – Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge
2017
99 Points – Best of Show and Best of Red– Santé Magazine International Wine Competition
94 Points – Best of Class– 2021 International Women’s Wine Competition
94 Points – Double Gold– 2021 American Fine Wine Competition
93 Points – Gold– 2021 North Coast Wine Challenge
2016
96 Points – Double Gold – American Fine Wine Competition 2020
95 Points– Berlin International Wine Competition
92 Points – Gold – 2020 Sunset International Wine Competition (6/20)
92 Points – Gold – International Women’s Wine Competition
Gold Medal– San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2020
hillside reserve
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018
94 Points – Gold– 2022 International Women’s Wine Competition
92 Points – Gold –2022 Sunset International Wine Competition92 Points – Gold– 2022 Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge
91 Points (2 puffs)– Connoisseurs’ Guide (4/22)
Far from reluctant or in any way lacking for fruity substance and depth, this nicely concentrated, full-bodied working, in contrast to its non-reserve mate below, takes a little more time in the glass to get going. While showing a great sense of reserve and unquestioned potential, it is a slightly tighter, more structured wine, most notably on the latter-palate where fairly grippy tannins make their mark. It is a sure bet to broaden and show increased layering over time, and it deserves to be cellared for another six to ten years.
2017
98 Points – Double Gold – Los Angeles Invitational Wine Challenge
94 Points – Double Gold – American Fine Wine Competition
92 Points – 2021 Sunset International Wine Competition
91 Points – 2021 International Women’s Wine Competition
91 Points – 2021 North Coast Wine Challenge
90 Points (1 Puff) – Connoisseur’s Guide (8/21)
This 100% varietal bottling will be preferred by those who fancy Cabernet Sauvignons of emphatic ripeness over its more affordable, non-reserve mate, but its very considerable richness comes at the cost of a bit of noticeable finishing heat that leaves us favoring the latter wine for its fruity clarity and continuity. Both are quite good, each has the depth and tannic structure to age into better with time, and choosing one over the other is, in truth, a matter of style preference more than one of inherent quality.
2016
95 Points – Double Gold – American Fine Wine Competition 2020
90 Points – Gold Medal – 2020 Sunset International Wine Competition (6/20)
90 Points – Gold – International Women’s Wine Competition
91 Points (2 Puffs) – Connoisseur’s Guide (04/20)
“By a small margin the richest of the very rich Ehret bunch in 2016 and mustering a bit more fruity concentration in the bargain, the Hillside Reserve is a weighty, very big-bodied wine that, while making no attempt at hiding its full ripeness, is a solid, well-defined Cabernet through and through and never loses its varietal focus to jammy excess. Like all of its cellarmates, it, too, shows a touch of last-minute heat, but, in this instance, it is more successfully buffered by very long-lasting fruit. Nuance might not come with time, and it has the tannic structure to age for a good many years, but, even if not, its richness and depth earn it very high marks.” – Connoisseur’s Guide
2015
94 Points – Blue Lifestyle, Anthony Dias Blue (12/19)
“Deep garnet color; smooth plum nose; juicy, bright plum and cherry fruit with notes of chocolate and spice; elegant, precise and lovely; long, refined and stylish.”
92 Points – Vinous (Antonio Galloni) – April 2020
“The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Reserve beautifully captures the pedigree and nuance of Knights Valley. A deep, heady Cabernet, the 2015 possesses tons of aromatic nuance and pure palate presence, all enshrouded by swaths of tannin. I would give this bold, muscular Cabernet a year or two in the cellar first. There is no shortage of personality. That much is evident.” (Drinking Window: 2022-2030.)
90 Points (1 Puff) – Connoisseur’s Guide (12/19)
“Knights Valley 2015 Very solidly fruity with fine varietal definition, but one that goes beyond fruit and shows an intriguing mix of savory spice and loamy soil both on the nose and then again in its ample flavors, this concentrated, moderately deep Cabernet conveys plenty of heft without erring to toughness, and, while sporting a good measure of varietally expected tannin and sure to benefit from another four to six years of age, it, just like its two cellarmates, is not at all hard to access now when poured as a partner to juicy roasts and rare steaks.”
90 Points – Wine & Spirits Magazine (12/19)
“Classical cabernet in its mature notes of lead pencil and lavender, this has quiet elegance in its lean, spicy length of flavor. Though it may not be a candidate for the cellar (it tires out with a day of air), this is lovely to drink now, a cabernet for wild-mushroom risotto.”
Gold Medal – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (1/20)
Gold Medal – Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition (12/19)
2012
92 Points – Wine Enthusiast Magazine (2/18)
2010
Gold Medal – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition – (01/16)
2006
93 Points – Wine Enthusiast “Editor’s Choice” (2/10)
Gold Medal – Sonoma County Harvest Fair – Wine Competition (09/09)
BELLA'S
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018
97 Points – Double Gold– 2022 International Women’s Wine Competition92 Points – Gold– 2022 Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge
90 Points (1 puff) –Connoisseurs’ Guide (4/22)
“Though ripeness figures prominently here, so does a good deal of sweet fruit, and the wine gradually shows more of Cabernet’s savory, slightly loamy qualities when given time in the glass. It is big stuff, to be sure, and it finds a streak of heat at the finish, but it does not lose its way and its fruity richness prevails. Its ripe/succulent aspects afford it plenty of up-front appeal, and its moderate tannins are not so pronounced as to rule out drinking with hearty fare in the shorter term, yet even four or five years of forbearance should afford it with a little more complexity and polish.”
2017
96 Points – Double Gold– Los Angeles Invitational Wine Challenge94 Points – Double Gold– American Fine Wine Competition 202193 Points – Gold – 2021 Sunset International Wine Competition
92 Points–Gold– 2021 International Women’s Wine Competition
92 Points –“The Ehret family farms 500 acres of vines on their 1,800-acre estate in Knights Valley, up the hill from Calistoga and across the county line. Their Bella’s Cabernet is a bright and satisfying red in a tight frame, a finely structured Knights Valley wine. The scent of cracked black peppercorns meets red-cherry flavor, all of it with a lot of umami feel. Pour it with grilled eggplant and lamb.” – J.G. (12/21)
2016
94 Points – Gold – 2020 Sunset International Wine Competition (6/20)
92 Points – Gold – American Fine Wine Competition 2020
Gold Medal – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2021
90 Points (1 Puff) – Connoisseur’s Guide (04/20)
“Very rich and generously fruited with elements of olives and woodsy spice extending its varietal reach first in the nose and then again in its expansive, very deep flavors of cassis and creamy oak, Ehret’s Bella’s bottling is an ample, very well-structured working that impresses equally for both its richness and palatal persistence, and, while never less than fully ripe, it places the emphasis on definitive, very continuous Cabernet fruit. Though it is not unduly tough and tannic, this is a wine with the pieces in place to age beautifully, and, without hesitation, we strongly recommend no less than three or four years of further cellaring with every expectation that it will be better yet if held for double that.”
2015
94 Points – Gold – Berlin International Wine Competition 2020
Double Gold Medal – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (1/20)
93 Points – Blue Lifestyle, Anthony Dias Blue (12/19)
“Lush and silky with lovely depth, balance and finesse; complex notes of plum, cherry and chocolate define this elegant expression; rich yet balanced and quite lovely.”
2009
92 Points “Cellar Selection” – Wine Enthusiast Magazine (4/14)
2008
92 Points – “Cellar Selection” – Wine Enthusiast Magazine (6/12)
Gold – Sonoma County Harvest Fair (09/12)
2007
93 Points – Wine X Magazine / JustWinePoints.com (07/12)
Gold – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (01/11)
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018
98 Points – Best of Class– 2022 International Women’s Wine Competition94 Points – Gold – 2022 Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge
91 Points (2 puffs) – Connoisseur’s Guide (4/22)
13% Cabernet Franc; 3% Petit Verdot. A bit more immediate and a slightly broader, more-open wine than Ehret’s Hillside Reserve bottling but an equally rich effort all the same with a wealth of ripe, well-defined, currant-like fruit teamed with an ample measure of sweet oak, this is a fleshy, mouthfillng Cabernet that stays in its lane and never lets exaggerated ripeness take the reins. If easier to get at now than its pricier mate, it is still a wine with fine aging potential that will reward a half-dozen or so years of further patience.
2017
97 Points – Best of Class – 2021 International Women’s Wine Competition
95 Points – Double Gold – American Fine Wine Competition
94 Points – Gold – Los Angeles Invitational Wine Challenge
92 Points – Gold – North Coast Wine Challenge
91 Points (2 Puffs) – Connoisseur’s Guide (8/21)
75% Cabernet Sauvignon; 17% Cabernet Franc; 8% Petit Verdot. From its concentrated aromas to its generously filled flavors, this rich, nicely composed youngster impresses with its depth and its incisive varietal focus, and, while not wanting in the least for ripeness, it never once errs to excess and keeps its sight fixed on very keen Cabernet fruit at every stop. It is full and fleshy, and though a rush of back-palate tannins counters its slightly supple beginnings, its adolescent astringency is no more than one should expect from a wine of its age. Look to lay it away for upwards of a half-dozen years, and know that it has what it takes to grow into better for a full decade or more.
90 Points – “This violet-scented cabernet is significantly bigger in scale than Ehret’s Bella’s bottling. There’s plenty of tension and volcanic-soil grip to hold its size in check, with scents of camphor and a buzz of alcohol around the edges. Pour it with a mutton chop.” —J.G. (12/21)
2016
Best of Class– Sonoma County Harvest Fair
93 Points – Gold – 2020 The Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge (7/20)
92 Points – Gold – American Fine Wine Competition 2020
91 Points – Gold – 2020 Sunset International Wine Competition (6/20)
91 Points – Gold– International Women’s Wine Competition
2015
92 Points – Blue Lifestyle, Anthony Dias Blue (12/19)
“From the family-owned estate vineyard; silky-textured with lush, ripe plum fruit, balanced, juicy and deep; elegant and long.”
90 Points – Vinous (Antonio Galloni) – April 2020
“Ehret’s 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon has plenty to offer. Dried herbs, crushed flowers, black pepper, mint and licorice all open up in the glass. The 2015 is powerful and deep, but also relatively approachable, especially if given some aeration. Healthy dollops of Cabernet Franc and merlot round out this Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend.” (Drinking Window: 2020-2027)
90 Points (1 Puff) – Connoisseur’s Guide (12/19)
“It may the least expensive of Ehret’s ripe-leaning trio of 2015 Cabernets, but this outgoing, full-bodied working should not be seen as in any way a lesser wine, and it earns high marks for its generous and incisively varietal, blackcurrant fruit. The juiciest and most immediate of the bunch, it nonetheless has the structure and fruity reserve to ensure further growth with time and, although likely to reach its peak in more than four or five years, it will hold up quite nicely if cellared for at least as many after that.”
Gold – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (01/18)
2010
Gold – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (01/13)
2009
95 Points – Wine X Magazine
2008
Gold – Sonoma County Harvest Fair (09/12)
2007
93 Points – Wine X Magazine / JustWinePoints.com (07/12)
Gold – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (01/11)
2006
Gold – Sonoma County Harvest Fair (09/09)
Gold – Finger Lakes International Wine Competition (03/12)
2005
94 Points – Porthos The Wine Insiders
90 Points – Wine Enthusiast Magazine (8/08)
Gold – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (01/09)
Gold – Sonoma County Harvest Fair (09/08)
MERLOT
2018
96 Points – Best of Class –2022 Sunset Intl. Wine Competition
2017
93 Points – Double Gold – 2021 American Fine Wine Competition
2016
96 Points – Double Gold– 2021 American Fine Wine Competition
2015
92 Points – Blue Lifestyle, Anthony Dias Blue (12/19)
“A family-owned winery in the Knights Valley in Sonoma just north of the Napa County line; smooth and refined with lush flavors and balanced winemaking; a classic and rich wine from grapes grown in the estate vineyard.”
Gold – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (1/20)
ZINFANDEL
2020
94 Points – Best of Class– All Americas Fine Wine Competition 2022