Robert Parker 94
"The 2013 Calluna Estate is a slightly different blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec. Younger, even deeper and richer than the 2012 and less evolved, but still super impressive, this wine has a dense ruby/purple color, a beautiful crème de cassis nose of floral notes and nicely restrained oak. The wine is full-bodied, beautifully pure and shows seamless integration of all component parts. This is impressive wine made very much in an elegant French style, but with the California purity and ripeness of fruit well displayed. Drink it over the next 20 years."

" The 2013 Calluna Vineyards Cuvée is meant to be an expression of our Chalk Hill appellation where great sunlight and a cool climate produces intense fruit in a wine with balancing acidity, round tannins and moderate alcohol levels. The blend expresses the power of Cabernet Sauvignon, elegance of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and a bit of showiness from Malbec and Petit Verdot.

2013 is a worthy successor to the highly regarded 2012 vintage. In 2013, Calluna once again realized a relatively large crop set in near perfect weather that went on to ripen through dry, warm days without detrimental heat spikes.

At Calluna, the overall temperatures during the peak summer growing season were slightly cooler than 2012 allowing a slow and steady ripening of both sugars and phenolic character. Power and finesse converge in 2013 with firm yet refined tannins, supremely elegant fruit and uplifting acidity. This vintage yielded wines that are both approachable upon release yet have the underlying phenolic density and acidity to allow them to develop for many years to come." ~ Winery notes