95 Points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate

“A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with small splashes of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone is deep purple-black in color and has quite an earthy/savory nose to begin, revealing notions of black truffles, char-grilled meats, black olives and cumin seed over a core of crème de cassis and stewed plums. Full-bodied, concentrated, and packed with black fruit and savory layers, it has a rock-solid, grainy frame and just enough freshness to lift the long finish. Drink 2020 – 2037.”

95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

“Leading off with the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone, which is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 7% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot, it reveals a saturated purple color as well as a beautiful bouquet of sweet crème de cassis, blueberries, exotic flowers, orange blossom, and subtle background oak. This medium to full-bodied, elegant, beautifully polished effort is perfectly balanced, has no hard edges, and offers a great finish. It falls into the pretty, elegant end of the spectrum, yet it still has fabulous intensity and length. Drink 2019 – 2039.”

93 Points – James Suckling

“This is a flamboyant and attractive wine with dark berries and tangerine undertones. Medium to full body, medium round tannins and a flavorful finish. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Drink or hold.”

91 Points – James Suckling

“A little extracted but some solid currant and blueberry character to this generous red. Full body, round and juicy. Clean finish. A blend of 96% cabernet sauvignon and 4% petit verdot. Enjoyable now but better in 2019.”

90 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

“The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone is wonderfully immediate and giving. The dark stone fruit, chocolate, plum, lavender and licorice flavors are super-expressive in this open-knit, alluring Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink it over the next handful of years.”

Gold Medal – 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

“The entry effort is the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone and it spent 18 months in French oak prior to bottling. This inky colored effort offers a killer bouquet of sweet crème de cassis, black raspberries, vanilla bean and candied violets. It’s ripe, full-bodied and sexy, with sweet tannin, no hard edges, and a great texture. With its oak pushed all the way into the background, it’s already hard to resist but is going to keep for 2+ decades. (Expected Maturity: 2018 – 2038)”

94 Points – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

“The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone is also impressively endowed with plenty of crème de cassis, blueberry, blackberry fruit, a dense purple color, full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet tannin and a long finish. The wine has more fruit and less minerality than the Butala Vineyard and doesn’t quite show the graphite character, but it is a beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 15-20 years. Drink 2016 – 2036.”

92 Points – James Suckling

“This is a red with tension and form that delivers plenty of blackcurrant and dark-chocolate character. Medium to full body, polished and chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Needs a little time to come together. Drink in 2019.”

90 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

“The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone is dark, juicy and inviting. Black cherry, lavender, mint and sweet spice notes infuse the delicate, lifted finish. This is very nicely done in the restrained style of the year.”

Double Gold Medal – 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

93 Points – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

“A selection of the estate’s finest lots, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone’s texture and richness are outstanding. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by abundant notes of blackcurrants, licorice, graphite and a hint of new saddle leather. Full-bodied with soft tannins as well as a long, authoritative style, it can be drunk over the next 10+ years.”

92 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

“The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone is dark, powerful and intense. Red/black fruits, tobacco, smoke, licorice and earthiness are some of the notes that meld together in a compact, energetic wine long on class. The Barone offers plenty of fruit intensity, but the tannins need time to soften. Today, there is very little of the vintage’s early appeal on display. Drink 2017 – 2027”

90 Points – James Suckling

“A chewy red with ripe fruit and tannins. Lots of wood tannins and dried fruit character too. Full and flavorful. A little jammy but outstanding. Drink or hold.”

90 Points – Wine & Spirits Magazine

“Cabernet sauvignon blended with four percent merlot, this is a purple-fruited wine with strong tannins. Air takes those tannins toward a velvet texture, bringing out a black mushroom savor against the sweet fruit. Give this several years in the cellar, or hours in a decanter, before serving with roast lamb.”

Double Gold Medal – 2015 American Fine Wine Competition

2011

91 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

“The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone is one of the leaner, more compact wines in the range. Floral and savory notes develop nicely in the bouquet, but then tannins clamp down hard on the mid palate, making it difficult for the fruit to fully emerge. With time in the glass, the wine opens up nicely, leading to a long, beautifully delineated finish laced with bright floral notes. The 2011 is sculpted and chiseled throughout. If opened within the next few years, the 2011 needs a good bit of air.”

2010

93 Points – James Suckling

“This is dense and intense with a beautiful velvety texture and ripe fruit, but it remains fresh and clean. Full body. Textured finish. Better in 2016.”

92 Points – Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

A reserve-level 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is savory in black fruit and smoky oak, the tannins soft and structured. A richness of cinnamon toast and vanilla play on the palate, followed by more depths of full-bodied blackberry.

Double Gold Medal – 2014 American Fine Wine Competition

Gold Medal – 2014 San Francisco International Wine Competition

Gold Medal – 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

2009

94 Points – Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

“An impressive Cabernet, flashy and dramatic in the “cult” style. It’s smooth and velvety, with imposingly rich tannins that frame, pure black currant, crème de cassis, dark chocolate and anise flavors. There’s a lot of oak, too, but it’s in keeping with the wine’s volume. Should develop over the next 15 years, but you can certainly drink it now.”

92 Points – Antonio Galloni

“The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone is a beautifully focused wine graced with expressive dark berries, flowers, spices and mint. It reveals lovely focus and energy from start to finish. The mid-palate sweetness and generosity tapers off a bit on the finish, which is the only thing that keeps the score from going higher. The final blend includes 2% Petite Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.”

Double Gold Medal – 2013 American Fine Wine Competition

2008

91 Points – Cabernet Shootout, Affairs of the Vine

“Smoky, cherry aromas. The nose is very pretty. The palate is complex – earthy with tart cranberry, cedar, chewy plum, and leather. The long finish shows lots of black cherry and a hint of blackjack chewing gum (anise-like). Lovely mouth watering acid. Bright cherry and raspberry on the nose. Nice balance of fruit and oak on the palate. Classic Cab style. Tobacco, cola, and black tea notes round out the mellow finish.” 287 wines tasted, Il Barone in the TOP 32.

92 Points – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

“The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone (91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 4 % Petit Verdot) is a selection of the estate’s finest lots of Cabernet Sauvignon. Graphite, creame de cassis, black currant and spice box aromas jump from the glass of this opaque ruby/purple-colored 2008. Expansive, rich, authoritative and elegant, with impressive texture and length as well as sweet tannin, it will be even better in 3-4 years, and should last for 15+. Barrel samples of the 2009 Il Barone and 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon revealed well-endowed, deeply colored wines with sweet tannins. The both possessed all the components needed to be as good as their 2008 and 2007 counterparts, but it is too early to pass judgment.”

93 Points – International Wine Review

“The opaque ruby, slightly brooding Il Barone is the masculine counterpart to La Castellana showing inky aromas of black fruit with charred oak and violet notes. Made from 100 percent estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine shows great volume in the mouth, a smooth and beautifully structured palate with nice minerality and ripe, firm tannins on a very long finish. To be released in 2012, this wine has a long life ahead of it.”

Gold Medal – 2012 American Fine Wine Competition

Double Gold Medal – 2013 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

2007

94 Points – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

“The brilliant Il Barone boasts an opaque purple color as well as a beautiful sweet nose of blackberries, black currants, camphor, subtle toasty oak, and espresso roast. Rich and full-bodied with sweet tannin, a hint of smoked meats, deep fruit, and an impeccable balance, purity and texture, this stunning wine should drink nicely for 15-20 years.”

Napa Valley Vintners/Saint Helena Star Blind Taste Test

Top 3 Cabernet Sauvignon $95 in the Napa Valley air.”

2006

Double Gold Medal – 2011 American Fine Wine Competition

2005

94 Points – James Laube, Wine Spectator

“A fantastic effort, aging well, this is firm, rich and youthful, brimming with dense, concentrated blackberry and wild berry fruit, touches of crushed rock and fresh earth, and notes of dried herb, cedar and dill. Ends with ripe, chewy tannins. Remarkably persistent on the finish. 2005 California Cabernet blind retrospective (September 2015). Drink now through 2025. 2,000 cases made.” (retrospective tasting, September 2015)

92 Points – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

“The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone, which is the winery’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon, tips the scales at a lofty 14.6% natural alcohol that is well hidden beneath a cascade of blackberry, cassis, and blueberry fruit as well as is some new saddle leather and a touch of oak. The wine is fresh, lively, full-bodied, and very youthful for a wine already ten years of age. Nicely textured, thick and juicy, this is a beauty to drink over the next 12-15 years.” (retrospective review, June 2015)

91 Points – International Wine Review

“The 2005 vintage of Il Barone exhibits a savory nose with herbal and violet notes and a gorgeous velvet-like palate of rich dark fruit with earth and pepper accents. Somewhat chalky tannins show on the mid-palate and the wine finishes with firm, dry tannins.”

2004

92 Points – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

This beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon was aged 20 months in French oak. While it’s Italian name suggests a super-Tuscan-styled wine, it is a classic Napa Cabernet. A dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by abundant notes of licorice, black currants, spice and background earth. Medium to full-bodied and drinking beautifully, this complex, full-throttle, opulent, stylish 2004 should continue to evolve for another decade.

90 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

“Castello di Amorosa’s 2015 La Castellana is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend. Pomegranate, plum, chocolate and sweet French oak infuse this supple, beautifully expressive red. Supple and giving, the 2015 will offer plenty of drinking pleasure over the near and medium term. All the elements are very nicely balanced.”

Double Gold Medal – 2018 American Fine Wine Competition

92 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

“The 2014 Red Blend La Castellana is plump, juicy and expressive, with plenty of bright red fruit and floral overtones. Juicy, supple and highly expressive, the 2014 will drink well over the better part of the next decade. The Castellana is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, with dollops of Merlot, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The 2014 is very nicely done”

92 Points – James Suckling

“Very attractive aromas of plums and red wood with hints of wet earth follow through to a full body, a solid core of fruit and a velvety and caressing texture. Give it two to three years to come together. A Bordeaux blend with 15% Sangiovese. Fun and delicious.”

91 Points – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

“The 2014 Proprietary Red La Castellana is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 15% Sangiovese and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec. This is a sexy, lush, heady wine with plenty of blue and black fruits, spice box and earth in a chewy voluptuous style. There is no doubt that Castello di Amorosa knows how to deliver pleasure and lavish fruit. This wine exhibits that. Drink it over the next 8-10 years. Drink 2016 – 2026.”

Double Gold Medal – 2017 American Fine Wine Competition

Gold Medal -2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

92 Points – James Laube, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

“Intense, with firm, vibrant red and dark berry flavors amid currant, black cherry and licorice note, supported by smoky, cedary oak details and flinty, minerally elements. Ends crisp and lively. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2032. 2,928 cases made.”

92 Points – James Suckling

“Very well done with firm tannins and a fresh and lively profile. Full body, cherry, walnut, and cedar. Hints of chocolate. Mostly cabernet sauvignon with merlot and sangiovese. Drink or hold.”

92 Points – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

“The 2013 Proprietary Red La Castellana is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. A real successful effort of this blend, the wine shows cedar wood, tobacco leaf, blackcurrants and ripe black cherry in a medium to full-bodied, lush, savory, complex style. Drink it over the next 5-8 years. Drink 2016 – 2024.”

 90 Points, Cellar Selection – Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

“Tightly woven tannins mark this blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese and 9% Merlot. From there, it’s a story of soft leather, black tar and rich, velvety blackberry, given 20 months in large French oak barrels. More time in bottle should help make friends of the disparate elements; drink through 2020.”

90 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

“The 2012 Red Blend La Castellana is an unusual blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese. Round, seamless and quite pretty, the 2012 offers plenty of early and medium term appeal. Dark red stone fruits, spices, mint and anise are all supported by silky, polished tannins. Drink 2016 – 2027 ”

92-94 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media (Barrel Sample)

“Sweet tobacco, earthiness, dark red cherries, flowers and anise all meld together in the 2012 La Castellana, a wine that deftly balances rich fruit with structure. The long, vibrant finish is exceptionally polished. In 2012 the Castellana stands out for its harmony and overall balance.”

90 Points – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

“The 2012 Proprietary Red Blend La Castellana is composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese and 9% Merlot. In central Italy, a wine such as this would be called a Super Tuscan. This outstanding offering reveals background oak, hints of new saddle leather, blackcurrants, cherries, licorice and underbrush, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, supple tannins, good acidity and a generous mouthfeel. The result is a wine that begs for a grilled Florentine steak. Enjoy it over the next 7-8 years.”

92 Points – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

“The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon La Castellana Super Tuscan Blend, 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese, is the best of this trio. Rich, tobacco leaf, unsmoked cigar tobacco, black currant and new saddle leather characteristics emerge from this medium to full-bodied, fleshy, opulent 2010. Seductive, impressively concentrated and multilayered, it should drink nicely for a decade or more.”

92 Points – James Laube, Wine Spectator

“Intense, with firm, ripe, vibrant cedar, red and dark berry, anise and loamy earth flavors, framed by chewy tannins and ending with a long finish laced with notes of black licorice. Drink now through 2024.”

92 Points – Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

“An inspired co-mingling of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese, this wine offers swirls of spicy cinnamon, plum and tobacco. Rounded on the palate and balanced, while rich, the finish delves into clove and black pepper.”

92 Points, Cellar Selection – Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

“This is a big wine, clearly in need of cellaring. There’s a massive core of blackberries, cherries and baking chocolate on the palate, but it’s rigidly tannic, dry and acidic still. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese, putting it in the super Tuscan category. Give it until 2017 to begin to mellow, and it could still be going strong in 2025.”

91 Points – Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine

“Although driven by undisguised ripeness and a big dose of rich oak in its full-scale aromas, this solidly structured youngster surprises by showing far better balance and a claret-like firmness once in the mouth. It tightens up after a slightly supple entry, and its deep, somewhat brooding flavors are long on concentration and length. It is not overly tannic, but neither is it a wine meant for hasty drinking. It will need another six years to eight years before rounding into shape and is certain to grow for a good many more.”

91 Points – Ken’s Wine Guide

“This opaque and very dark purple colored red blend opens with blueberry and pomegranate bouquet with a hint of pipe tobacco. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced, chewy, and completely coats your mouth. The flavor profile is an oak infused black cherry and red plum blend. I also detected hints of blueberry and red currant. The finish is rather dry and its sticky dusty tannins last for quite a while. This wine would pair nicely with a well-marbled ribeye steak.”

Double Gold Medal – 2014 American Fine Wine Competition
Gold Medal – 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

93 Points – Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

“Made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a splash of Sangiovese, this super Tuscan-style blend is powerful in every respect. It shows massively concentrated blackberry and crème de cassis flavors, with notes of dark chocolate and spices. The oak is rich and toasty, the tannins thick but as soft as silk, and the acidity lively enough to give all this richness a racy hit. Best enjoyed now and over the next 2–3 years for sheer Napa exuberance.”

90 Points – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

“The 2008 La Castellana (71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 14% Sangiovese) is a supple textured, dense plum/ruby/purple-tinged wine offering notes of high class, un-smoked tobacco, sweet cherries, black currants, earth and spice. Medium to full-bodied, silky textured, complex and already delicious, it is ideal for drinking over the next 7-8 years.”

Gold Medal – 2012 American Fine Wine Competition

92 Points – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

“The 2007 La Castellana is a proprietary blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 6% Sangiovese. An outstanding hedonistic, complex red, it reveals notes of wild strawberries, new saddle leather, black currants, cherries, cedar, and smoked herbs. Full-bodied, lush and seductive, this beautifully mouthfilling, supple wine should be enjoyed over the next 7-10 years.”

93 Points – International Wine Review

“This voluptuous beauty is dressed in a robe of dark cherry fruit and violets with smoky oak and chocolate notes. A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and the rest Sangiovese, is a velvet smooth on a beautifully integrated palate. Blessed with fine, ripe tannins, this wine is easily approachable when young. While it is not as powerful as Il Barone, it’s more refined.”

Wine of the Week – Stacy Slinkard, About.com

“The 2005 Castello di Amorosa La Castellana, Super Tuscan blend showcases an ultra-elegant synergy of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese. Deep, dark color, thick waves of spice-laden aromatics and impressive primary and secondary palate flavors start this show off with a bang! Dark cherry and black plums dominate the fruit profile with ambitious backup played by black pepper and a dash of dark chocolate and espresso. Make no mistake, this is a full-bodied, full-featured red wine that enjoys a long, distinguished finish and brims with palate complexity, enduring elegance, and rich, supportive tannins. A perfect candidate for pairing with roasted cuts of beef or wild game, sausage or dishes that rely on the traditional Italian spices of garlic, rosemary and thyme.” (September 2005)