Norman

9.0

Found… perhaps a bit late. It was fine but I recall it being better younger. — 5 months ago

R Bl

8.9

Pineapple grapefruit pith, a little vanilla — 5 years ago

Gunja Gargeshwari

9.3

My neighbor James Varner makes this wine - it’s awesome Pinot! — 6 years ago

with Uma

Chris England

9.5

🐝 Bee nectar @ £42 that's one of the best non syrup 🇺🇸 Chardonnays - just bee-autiful 🐝

🍷Glistening golden yellow

👃 Caramelized honeyed 🐝 baked smoked apple with hints of creamy banana, citrus curd & soft oak w/ peachy tropical mist & light fuel hint - fab aromas 😍

👄 Med-Full bodied rich creamy buttery silky caramel honey 🐝 of ripe & sweet green fruit w/ citrus jam & tropical juices - beautifully balanced

🎯 Long soft ripe green fruits w/ light acidic creamy 🐝 citrus curd & tropical linger 🌴 — 9 years ago

Mo Cherry

9.3

Fresh and ready to go! — 11 years ago

Natalie Grosner

9.6

Drank at the Murphy's — 13 years ago

Adam Kincaid

9.1

Sixth and final round of tasting and we all went 0-3 on the reds. This one was so maddeningly obvious. The dill!

Deep ruby color that is thick as tar, there is an enormous amount of vanilla and jammy over-ripened black fruit. Lacking some of the floral notes I’d expect in. Reserva, it makes up for it with eucalyptus and leather, a touch of mint, and plenty of balsamic. There’s also an earthy mushroom thing happening. Moderate tannins, low acids. Plenty of alcohol.

How did we fail here @Jillian Varner? — 3 years ago

with Jillian

Greg Gosselin

9.0

Super clean, brisk chard, no oak. Well done, Varner. Does it get any better at $14 a bottle?! Foxglove is a superb 2nd label. So consistent. QPR champ. — 5 years ago

Michael Brown

9.4

Amazing...nuff said — 9 years ago

Paul J

9.3

Lovely yellow hue opens up a powerful nose filled with dirt, grass, rice, and honeysuckle. The palate proceeds to get smothered with a perfect amount of oak coupled with honey and lemon. A mildly tart finish makes this the perfect summer white. Great recommendation by the local rep and Happy 4th to everyone!....a mid-dinner update....massive green apple comes through with food! — 9 years ago

David L

9.0

12' This is in collaboration with Varner brothers. The balance of this between fruit & oak is impressive. I recommend highly to decanting it. One hour later it came together nicely. Floral, white peaches, nice acidity. Best years are in front of it. You could cellar this for another 5+ year without a problem. Like to revisit this again in a few years. — 11 years ago

Davis Smith

Sommelier Acquerello

9.0

I have much love for Santa Cruz and Varner — 13 years ago

Roberto Carli

9.2

Balanced Wine, nose leads with dark fruit and spice, black cherry especially. No noticeable new oak but perhaps there is a touch, pallet leads with sour cherry, a touch of strawberry, lots of bitter herbs on the finish, tannins that are more flavorful than textural — 4 years ago

Adam Kincaid

9.2

Pretty unique blend here of nearly 50/50 Malbec and Merlot, just a little cab. This is a fun wine with good structure and lots of complexity. Earthy and tight but opens up to a good fruit forward finish.

@Jillian Varner says this is like a “musty cured meat cabinet” which is hilariously on point. — 5 years ago

with Jillian

Douglas Braun

9.1

2014 vintage -really pretty slight underbrush dried cherry/blueberry very soft tannins -good time to drink — 6 years ago

Daron Watson

9.2

dark n juicy — 10 years ago

Charles Hill

9.6

1986 cab sauv by Jim Varner. Over the top classic California cab. — 10 years ago

Sybaritewino C.Lawrence

9.0

wish more zins were so well mannered and polished as this one from the varner bros. — 12 years ago