98 Points - The Wine Independent:  The 2021 Pinot Noir UV-SL was bottled in mid-July 2022. Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, it storms out of the glass with powerful notes of mulberries, black cherry compote, and wild blueberries with hints of raspberry leaves, crushed stones, and underbrush plus a hint of cardamom. Full-bodied, concentrated, and seductive, with beautifully velvety tannins and a lively backbone, it finishes long, with loads of floral notes coming through. It is named after one of Sonoma’s most reputable vineyard managers, Ulises Valdez Sr. (UV), who passed away recently. The vineyard is situated on Stoetz Lane (SL), only six miles from the Pacific Ocean, up on the hills around Graton and Occidental. Aubert and Valdez Sr. collaborated on the planting of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir here. These Pinot vines were planted in 2006.

98 Points - James Suckling:  This is so open with black cherry aromas jumping out of the glass with orange peel coming out. Black ink. Iodine. Oyster shell. Asian plum sauce. Mille-feuille. Medium to full body. Compacted palate with layers of fine tannins.