2021 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir
96 pts – Owen Bargreen
“2021 Kanzler ‘Estate Reserve’ Pinot Noir – The 2021 ‘Estate Reserve’ comes from this great vintage for Sonoma Pinot Noir. The wine comes entirely from the Kanzler estate vineyard which has been farmed since 1996, mainly from the bottom portion of this site. Stored in 50% new French oak, once on the nose this takes on layers of black truffle with loganberry and black cherry and cola notes. The palate is very refined and elegant — seamless throughout the drinking experience. Drink 2024–2044.”
95 pts – Wine Spectator
“There's a lot to like in this red, which offers a gently mulled yet still vivid core of plum, boysenberry and mulberry fruit infused with black tea and applewood notes that hold center stage. Flashes of savory and incense play out as well, with the finish extended by an underlying minerality. Best from 2025 through 2032. 321 cases made.”
92 pts – Jeb Dunnuck
“Coming from the Kanzler Vineyard and pouring a semi-opaque ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Estate Reserve offers attractive ripe aromas of raspberry preserve, cola spices, and pine. Full-bodied and lushly textured, with fine tannins and a silky mouthfeel, its notes of ripe black cherry, espresso, and potting soil fill the palate. Allow it another couple of years in the cellar and drink 2025–2035.”
2021 Mes Filles Pinot Noir
95 pts – Owen Bargreen
“2021 Kanzler ‘Mes Filles’ Pinot Noir – This beautiful new Pinot Noir comes from a vineyard right up the road from the Kanzler Estate Vineyard. This was stored in 50% new French oak before bottling. This is dense and chewy with a refined texture. Cola, sassafras and freshly tilled salty soils combine with dense red fruit flavors in the palate. Full-bodied and dense, with bright underlying acidity, this is stunning Pinot Noir that is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2024–2040.”
93 pts – Wine Spectator
“Shows a slightly exotic bent, thanks to steeped plum, boysenberry and mulberry fruit, while potpourri, rose petal and iris notes lend background nuance. Reveals a subtle sanguine thread that lends nice contrast to the finish. Drink now through 2027. 239 cases made.”
89 pts – Jeb Dunnuck
“A deep youthful ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Mes Filles is another highly expressive wine, ripe with raspberry liqueur, fresh roses, and rosemary. A full-bodied red that’s fleshy with iron-rich earth and spiced red plum, it offers ripe tannins and some warming spices on the finish. Drink 2023–2028.”
2021 One Fifteen Pinot Noir
94 pts – Owen Bargreen
“2021 Kanzler ‘One Fifteen’ Pinot Noir – The ‘One Fifteen’ utilizes all clonal selection 115 Pinot Noir from the Kanzler and Mes Filles Vineyards. Stored in all used French oak barrels, this delivers spice box and cedar notes alongside fresh sage and pomegranate seed notes with shades of peat moss. Wild and showing good richness, this is beautiful to consume now. Drink 2024–2036.”
93 pts – Wine Spectator
“Well-packed, with a mix of plum and boysenberry pâte de fruit notes stitched with iris and hibiscus accents, revealing a subtle mineral twinge on the lengthy finish. This has good energy too, despite the hefty fruit core. Drink now through 2028. 120 cases made.”
90 pts – Jeb Dunnuck
“Taking on more pure concentration, the 2021 Pinot Noir One Fifteen is ripe with aromas of kirsch, violets, and pine. Full-bodied, it has a silky, mouth-coating texture and notes of fresh blackberry fruit, tea leaf, dark chocolate, and smoky minerals. This powerful style but well-managed red will benefit from another year or two in bottle. Drink 2025–2035.”
2021 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
93 pts – Owen Bargreen
“2021 Kanzler ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir – The outstanding 2021 Kanzler ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir is sourced mainly from their estate vineyard. Stored in 14% new French oak this is fresh, lithe and beautifully textured wine that shows a beautiful purity of red cherry, pomegranate seed and red raspberry flavors with cola accents. Drink 2024–2031.”
94 pts – Wine Spectator
“Ripe, with deliciously succulent waves of plum, boysenberry and mulberry fruit rolling through, laced with iris and hibiscus notes and ending with light anise and apple wood hints on the finish. Packs a nice finishing kick of fruit at the end, too, while keeping a racy edge. Best from 2024 through 2032. 1,050 cases made.”
90 pts – Jeb Dunnuck
“Pouring a bright ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is expressive with classic aromas of red cherry, cola, and toasted baking spices. This full-bodied Pinot Noir is ripe with baked red plum, turned soil, and autumnal dried leaves, and it has ripe tannins and a rounded mouthfeel. Drink 2023–2028.”
2021 Walker Station Chardonnay
94 pts – Owen Bargreen
“2021 Kanzler ‘Walker Station’ Chardonnay – The really good 2021 Kanzler ‘Walker Station’ Chardonnay comes from this warm vintage in Sonoma County and this site in the Green Valley that is a warmer site set on Goldridge soils. The Chardonnay was stored in 58% new large format oak barrels before bottling. The wine shows beautiful nerve with a silky mouthfeel. Layers of buttercream and lime zest parade with stony minerals on the palate. This is really delightful and well-balanced Chardonnay that is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2024–2032.”
91 pts – Wine Spectator
“Mouthwatering and crisp, with green apple, pomelo, pineapple and pear flavors that are vibrant and fresh, plus details of white flowers, sea salt minerality and a hint of fresh ginger. Drink now. 178 cases made.”
90 pts – Jeb Dunnuck
“Bright pale yellow-green, the 2021 Chardonnay Walker Station is lush with ripe melon, poached pear, and honeysuckle. Fresh and medium-bodied, with notes of snappy green apple, lime, and delicate baking spice, it’s a well-balanced Chardonnay to enjoy over the next several years.”
2021 Walker Station Pinot Noir
95 pts – Owen Bargreen
“2021 Kanzler ‘Walker Station’ Pinot Noir – The stunning 2021 Kanzler ‘Walker Station’ Pinot Noir is very dark in the glass. Stored in 44% new French oak, this opens with heady red and dark fruits that parade with salty soils, and shades of Linzer torte and teaberry on the nose. The palate has bright orange zest notes that combine with a heady core of dark fruit flavors. Fresh and fleshy, this is a stunning, full-bodied Pinot Noir that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2024–2040.”
94 pts – Wine Spectator
“A juicy, enticing version, with sapid pomegranate, cherry and mulberry purée notes joining black tea, anise and applewood accents. Expands its range through the lively finish, showing cut and drive. Drink now through 2030. 225 cases made.”
92 pts – Jeb Dunnuck
“A deep and electric ruby hue, the 2021 Pinot Noir Walker Station is lifted with youthful baby fat aromas of raspberry puree, candied roses, and wet stone. This full-bodied Pinot has good lift and fresh acidity, with ripe red plum, cedar, and a gravelly texture, followed by a good finish. Drink 2024–2034.”