Buena Vista
Founded in 1857, Buena Vista Winery was one of California’s first premium wineries and is still considered a leading producer of cool-climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah. Founder Agoston Haraszthy emigrated from Europe in 1840 in pursuit of opportunity and freedom in America. Following the gold rush in the hills of Northern California, Haraszthy was searching for the right terroir for his Buena Vista Vineyards. He settled in Sonoma and purchased 800 acres just outside of town, after being impressed by an old, dry-farmed vineyard according to our Buena Vista reviews. The self-proclaimed “Count of Buena Vista” constructed the first gravity-flow winery in California and in the surrounding hills, he excavated Sonoma's first caves for aging and storing his Buena Vista wines. Today, the original winery is now a California Historic Landmark and the legend is being re-born under the vision of Jean-Charles Boisset and his Boisset Family Estates. For more information take a look through our Buena Vista wine ratings below.
Showing 1 thru -9 of 88
Buena Vista 2004 Ramal Vineyard Clone 17RY Chardonnay (Carneros)
- Editors' Choice
- Online Exclusive
- $34
What a wonderfully complex, satisfying wine. It combines the steely acidity the vineyard regularly contributes with massively ripe tropical fruit flavors to produce a real stunner. Rich in mango custard, key lime pie, pineapple sorbet, vanilla pudding and smoky oak, it has a crispness that makes the flavors sing. Best in its youth, and should hold for a good five years.
— S.H.
(8/3/2006)
Buena Vista 2004 Ramal Vineyard Dijon Clones Chardonnay (Carneros)
- Online Exclusive
- $34
It's fun to compare this to the winery's Ramal Vineyard bottling. This is tighter still, a young, crisp, minerally Chard, racy and elegant in pineapple, mango and buttered toast, with the high acidity associated with this vineyard. It's a fine, complex wine now, and should hold for at least five years, possibly longer.
— S.H.
(8/3/2006)
Buena Vista 2003 Ramal Vineyard Clone 96 Chardonnay (Carneros)
- $32
From the Sonoma side of Carneros. It satisfies all around, from the rich tropical fruit and spice flavors to the creamy texture and refreshingly crisp mouthfeel to the deliciously long finish.
— S.H.
(12/15/2005)
Buena Vista 2003 Ramal Vineyard Clone 17RY Chardonnay (Carneros)
- $32
Tasted side by side with the winery’s Clone 96 from the same vineyard, this tasty Chard is a bit firmer and denser, although it shares the same qualities of big, exotic fruit and oak, and a rich, leesy creaminess. Both are very fine wines to watch in future vintages.
— S.H.
(12/15/2005)
Buena Vista 2006 Ramal Vineyard Chardonnay (Carneros)
- $32
Serious white wine. Dense and full-bodied, it’s incredibly lush in tropical fruit and apricot flavors. Entirely dry, it shows a honey-sweet layer that’s crisp and well-balanced.
— S.H.
(5/1/2009)
Buena Vista 1996 Grand Reserve Pinot Noir (Carneros)
- $26
Medium to dark ruby in color, this is an open, inviting wine showing substantial complexity. It has an intriguing earthy, leathery quality with cherry, spice and cola flavors. Overtones of licorice and herbs and an excellent finish close a wine of considerable finesse. Delicious now and has good aging potential.
— M.M.
(6/1/1999)
Buena Vista 2004 Ramal Vineyard Swan Selection Pinot Noir (Carneros)
- Cellar Selection
- Online Exclusive
Swan is the old, pre-Dijon clonal selection used by so many wineries. The wine has a youthful character, a little sharp right now, but there's brilliant promise. Crisp in acids, fairly tannic, but loaded with dramatically ripe cherry and pomegranate fruit, this is one to lay down. Best after 2008, but fine now with a rich duck presentation.
— S.H.
(8/3/2006)
Buena Vista 2004 Ramal Vineyard Dijon Clones Pinot Noir (Carneros)
- Online Exclusive
Here's a delicious wine, rich and forward in flavor. These Dijon clones produce exceptionally clean, bright fruit, and this Pinot bursts with cherry, pomegranate, rhubarb and cola flavors. It's fully dry, with subtle complexities from oak. Great now and for the next five years, but don't hold it so long that it loses its fruity youthfulness.
— S.H.
(8/3/2006)
Showing 1 thru -9 of 88
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