Nobody in California has worked harder than Atlas Peak to get Sangiovese right. This vintage doesn’t make it any easier. Aromas of tobacco, mushrooms, cardboard and a hint of berry jam. In the mouth the wine is soft and gentle, with a tannic bite in the finish. ——S.H.(9/1/2003)—— 87

It’s difficult to believe this is a California wine. It stands out from the crowd and deserves to be judged alongside its Italian counterparts, as it is every bit in their league. Extraordinary fruit and chocolate flavors, and dreams of soil, sex and wildness. Drink it over the next five to ten years.——W.E.(11/15/1999)—— 92