From Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

http://www.erobertparker.com/entrance.aspx

"The ever reliable Tom Dehlinger continues to turn out some of the most fairly priced wine in all of California... Dehlinger’s Pinot Noirs have an enviable track record of aging well for at least a decade even in challenging vintages. One does not generally think of the Russian River area as prime Cabernet Sauvignon territory, but in certain vintages, Dehlinger’s Cabernets can be amazing. Moreover, they sell for about 50% less than comparable Cabernets from Napa Valley."

2008 Dehlinger Chardonnay Estate Unfiltered
Rating: 92

The 2008 Chardonnay Estate offers even more popcorn, white currant, citrus blossom and steely, mineral-like notes along with a richer, full-bodied mouthfeel, excellent acidity and an elegant yet authoritative style. Consume it over the next 2-4 years.

2008 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Goldridge Vineyard
Rating: 91

The 2008 Pinot Noir Goldridge Vineyard reveals aromas of rose petals, sweet strawberries and black cherries and underlying loamy soil notes. This medium to full-bodied, complex, seductive 2008 Pinot can be drunk now or cellared for 7-10 years.

2008 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Estate
Rating: 93

The flagship Pinot, the 2008 Pinot Noir Estate, comes from the finest hilltop parcels in his beautiful Russian River vineyard. Its dense plum/ruby color is followed by a perfumed nose of forest floor, and sweet black raspberries, black cherries and plums intermixed with a hint of Asian spice. Fleshy and medium to full-bodied with silky tannins, good acidity and purity, it demonstrates a commitment to intelligent winemaking. These wines are never over-oaked or extreme in any fashion. The 2008 Pinot Noirs continue Dehlinger’s nearly unbroken record of success with Pinot that started in the mid-seventies.

2007 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Goldridge Vineyard
Rating: 90

The 2007 Pinot Noir Goldridge Vineyard displays copious notes of red currants, raspberries, and earth in its medium to full-bodied personality. It also offers deliciously pure fruit, hints of cinnamon and allspice, lots of flesh and richness, velvety tannins, and good
acidity. It should drink well for a decade.

2007 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Estate
Rating: 93

From the hilltop sections of Dehlinger’s vineyard, the sensational 2007 Pinot Noir Estate boasts impressively pure fruit (black raspberries, forest floor, earth, and spice), dazzling intensity, medium to full body, a dark ruby/purple color, and an expressive, expansive mouthfeel and length. This beauty can be drunk now or cellared for a decade or more.

2007 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Goldridge Vineyard 33 Year Old Vines
Rating: 94

The 2007 Pinot Noir Old Vines (the first vintage of this tiny 200-case cuvee since 1994) comes from 33-year old vines. Exceptional aromas of violets, boysenberries, black cherries, raspberries, and forest/earth jump from the glass of this dark ruby/purple-tinged wine. The floral character follows through into the full-bodied mouthfeel. The wine possesses beautiful sweetness of fruit, a sexy, seductive mouthfeel, and a long finish. Approachable now, it should be even better in 2-3 years, and last for 10-15.

2007 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Reserve
Rating: 94

Whole clusters are used in the production of the 2007 Pinot Noir Reserve, resulting in a more firmly structured, denser wine with lots of spring flower, forest floor, and spice notes intermixed with sweet red and black fruits. Like all these 2007 Pinots, it has wonderful acidity, and beefy, rich, full-bodied, high-toned flavors. It will benefit from another 12 months of bottle age, and should keep for 10-12 years thereafter.

2007 Dehlinger Syrah Estate
Rating: 93

Bigger, richer and more complex with additional structure is the 2007 Syrah Estate. It boasts an inky/blue/purple color as well as intense fruit on the attack, including abundant peppery blackberry and meaty notes intermixed with hints of smoke and earth. Full-bodied and rich with more structure and density as well as a longer finish, it is drinkable now, but will be even better in another 1-2 years and should last for at least a decade.

2007 Dehlinger Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
Rating: 93+

Even more impressive is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate. Its opaque purple color is followed by abundant notes of sweet cassis, fruitcake and earth. Massive, powerful, rich, concentrated and long, it is still primary, but reveals impressive potential. This 2007 should hit its peak in 5-6 years and last for two decades or more.

2007 Dehlinger Chardonnay Estate Unfiltered
Rating: 89+

From an old Wente clone, the 2007 Chardonnay Estate (which was aged in one-third new oak) is one of Dehlinger’s bigger cuvees, with just under 1,800 cases being produced. Although closed at present, it reveals plenty of bright citrus and nectarine notes intermixed with hints of white currants and pears. Elegant and medium-bodied with a distinctive minerality, but playing it close to the vest, this wine should open up and prove to be outstanding with another 8-12 months of bottle age.

2007 Dehlinger Chardonnay See's Selection
Rating: 90

More approachable at present, the 2007 Chardonnay See’s Selection is performing slightly better at the moment, although I suspect the Estate Chardonnay will eclipse it in a year or two. The See’s Selection is a precise, pure, medium to full-bodied Chardonnay offering notes of orange and lemon blossoms, a hint of tropical fruit, no evidence of wood (about 25% new oak is used), good acidity, and a fresh, medium to full-bodied, open-knit, fleshy mouthfeel.

2006 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Goldridge Vineyard
Rating: 91

There are 1,600 cases of the 2006 Pinot Noir Goldridge Vineyard, which exhibits sweet black cherry and allspice notes intermixed with hints of forest floor and flowers, silky tannin, medium to full body, a nicely layered mouth feel, and a rare delicacy and elegance. This well-balanced Pinot can be enjoyed over the next decade.

2006 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Estate
Rating: 92

The dark ruby/purple-tinged 2006 Pinot Noir Estate (1,300 cases produced) reveals notes of damp earth, underbrush, black cherries, raspberries, and a hint of meatiness.  Medium to full-bodied with silky tannins, outstanding purity, and a firmer, richer style, it should drink well for 7-10 years.

2006 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Reserve
Rating: 94

About 360 cases, from the highest hilltop parcels, the gorgeous 2006 Pinot Noir Reserve is reminiscent of a grand cru red Burgundy. Approximately 10% whole clusters are utilized, and the result is a wine with a dense ruby/plum color as well as a gorgeously sweet nose of red and black fruits, forest floor, spring flowers, and subtle background wood. It cuts a broad, savory, concentrated path across the palate, displaying superb concentration, purity, and ripe tannin. This terrific Pinot is capable of lasting a decade or more.

2006 Dehlinger Chardonnay Estate Unfiltered
Rating: 93

The top cuvee, the 2006 Chardonnay Estate, is fashioned from the vineyard’s finest blocks (primarily old Wente clones). A light straw/gold color is followed by aromas of sweet honeyed grapefruit, quince, poached pears, and a subtle touch of white peaches. Medium to full-bodied with steely acidity, excellent depth, a hint of oak, and a long finish, it can be enjoyed over the next 2-3 years.

2006 Dehlinger Chardonnay See's Selection
Rating: 91

The 2006 Chardonnay See’s Selection sees about 25% new oak, and is fermented with indigenous yeasts. It exhibits a light straw color as well as candied white currant, honeyed citrus, nectarine, and orange blossom notes, medium to full body, and a crisp style reminiscent of a grand cru Chablis.

2006 Dehlinger Estate Syrah
Rating: 91

The dense purple-colored 2006 Syrah Estate exhibits lots of peppery, meaty, blackberry, and cassis fruit notes, a hint of road tar, an opulent, fleshy mouthfeel, and impressive intensity as well as purity. Dehlinger’s Syrahs are aged in 500 liter pungeons as opposed to smaller barrrels.

2006 Dehlinger Estate Syrah East Face
Rating: 93+

The 2006 Syrah East Face is even more impressively endowed. Its black/purple color is accompanied by a sumptuous perfume of blackberry liqueur, espresso roast, roast beef juices, bouquet garni, and spice. More reserved than the Estate Syrah, it comes from higher elevation parcels and from relatively smaller berries. This cuvee will benefit from several years of cellaring, and should last for 12-15 years.

2005 Dehlinger Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
Rating: 93+

The brilliant 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate puts Dehlinger’s alongside the finest made in Sonoma. From a hilltop vineyard, it exhibits classic aromas of creme de cassis, charcoal, roasted herbs, licorice, and spice box.  Full-bodied with outstanding opulence, flesh, and purity, sweet tannins, and a subtle oak influence, it should evolve for 20-25 years.

2005 Dehlinger Claret
Rating: 90

Dehlinger’s outstanding, opaque purple-hued 2005 Claret is a 560-case cuvee of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of graphite, tobacco leaf, black currants, and cedar emerge from this medium to full-bodied, supple-textured, consumer-friendly, serious, complex red. It should drink beautifully for 10-15 years.

2005 Dehlinger Syrah Estate
Rating: 92

The 2005 Syrah Estate (500 cases produced) is made from completely destemmed fruit, and is aged in oak puncheons.  Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by aromas and flavors of graphite, charcoal, roasted meats, and blackberries. With sweet tannins, a layered personality, and a fleshy, textured mouth feel, it will provide plenty of pleasure over the next 7-8 years.

2005 Dehlinger Syrah Estate East Face
Rating: 94

Even more compelling is the 2005 Syrah East Face (260 cases produced). Blackberry liqueur, camphor, incense, and acacia flower characteristics are followed by a full-bodied, layered, sumptuously textured Syrah that brings to mind a hypothetical blend of a top Hermitage and a northern California Syrah. Underlying earthiness and minerality provide focus as well as complexity. Drink this beauty over the next decade.