94 Points, Gold Medal, Exceptional, Cellar Selection
Nearly opaque ruby black color. Complex aromas and flavors of fresh leather, salami, spice drops, and cherry cola with a chewy, vibrant, dryish full body and an epic, very long spiced raisins, pie crusts, anise and cedar, and cassis vinaigrette finish with chewy tannins and moderate oak. A big and bold Cab with grown-up structure that will really pop after a few years of cellaring.
93 Points, Gold Medal, Exceptional, Cellar Selection
Dark dusty garnet color. Complex aromas and flavors of cranberry sauce, candied orange peel, tar, and rose petals with a slightly chewy, crisp, dry light-to-medium body and a medium-length fertile earth and cherry cola finish with well-integrated, medium, leafy tannins. A savory Napa Pinot Noir that nods to the old world.
Catherine Bugue chooses the 2012 Audax as Wine of the Week in the April 27 issue of the St. Helena Star:
On the eastern side of Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain lies the serene region of Pope Valley. While this area is not new to wine by any means (Pope Valley Winery was founded in 1897), it is ripe for an adventurous day of discovery. Historic as well as chic, newer wineries can be found here.
Calla Lily’s winemaker is Cary Gott (as in Gott’s Roadside — previously Taylor’s Automatic Refresher, father of Joel Gott and too many winery connections to list here) who works with another of Napa Valley’s long-time winemakers, Kelly Deianni, here.
This wine is their flagship and has the Napa Valley goods: rich texture, deep dark-berried fruits and oak complexity. Cabernet sauvignon dominates the blend with petit verdot, merlot and malbec. Poured at a recent wine tasting event, it created some new, instant fans.
The April 2017 issue of The Tasting Panel Magazine reviews the 2014 Ultimate Red Pinot Noir:
92 points and 3 “kisses”
Hong Kong entrepreneurs Anthony Fung and Andy Choi named the winery after the flower that symbolizes elegance, beauty and purity—and the calla lily is also the flower sent to lovers. Cary Gott, a fourth generation California winemaker, has crafted an earthy Pinot, with notes of cherries and red beet root. Tannins are chewy, with heady cedar-rhubarb-mocha accents. The fine acidity shows through.
The 2013 Ultimate Red was reviewed by Elaine Brown in JancisRobinson.com on September 7, 2016:
14.5: Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Subdued aromatics. Succulent black-fruit palate with sweet baking spice. Sweet finish.
The 2012 Ultimate Red was reviewed by James Suckling on January 15, 2016:
92 points: Aromas of blackberries, incense and dried flowers follow through to full body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Juicy and savory. Drink now.
The 2011 Ultimate Red was rated 94 points in the December 31, 2014 issue of The Wine Enthusiast:
94 points, Cellar Selection: The first vintage for a new producer, the winemaker longtime respected consultant Cary Gott, this 100% Cab comes from the eastern slopes of Howell Mountain and Pope Valley. It provides an elegant and yet sizable expression of juicy black fruit, olive, licorice and smoke that spent 25 months in French oak, almost 75% of it new. This one’s built to age, too.