There are not many days that go by that I don’t consider myself pretty darned lucky. Over the past fourteen plus years, I have travelled to some spectacular places, met some incredible people, and tasted thousands of wonderful wines.

While many of those memories have occurred away from home, the majority have taken place with a corkscrew, a glass, and my kitchen table. That was the case a few weeks ago when I was invited to participate in an online tasting with Bibiana González Rave, the ubër-talented, Columbian-born winemaker behind the Cattleya Wines.

I have been fortunate enough to taste her wines from her second label, Alma de Cattleya, for several years, but this was my first chance to taste multiple wines from the flagship Cattleya line. Here are the first four wines I tried, I will be back next week with the other three…

2024 Cattleya Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $65. Very Heavy Bottle (711g; 25.0g). Under cork. 18 months on French oak (70% new). This is, I believe, my first go around with the Cattleya Chardonnay and I certainly hope it will not be my last. I would say that this is past straw and well on its way to a brilliant yellow in the glass with loads of tree fruit initially on the nose (peach, pear, even some green apple), but as I persisted (and the wine began to warm), some tropical notes started to emerge (pineapple, guava), as did some impressive floral notes (honeysuckle, acacia flower), and noticeable oak. Immediately upon opening, it was that last note that was rather dominant; this was pretty oaky (which, by the way, I like, but I know it is the subject when it comes to American consumers of Chardonnay). I was advised to leave it and revisit a bit later, which I did, and as promised, the oak, while still present, had diminished considerably, revealing all of that fruit that the nose suggested. There was also a tartness that rendered this wine to near-perfect balance and ushered on through to one of the more lengthy finishes I have experienced in a while. Make no mistake, there is oak on this wine, but, if you give it a solid decant (an hour should do it) and serve it closer to cellar temperature (a half-hour in the fridge would suffice), you will be treated to a spectacular Chardonnay, one that I would put right up there with the best from the region. Outstanding. 94 Points.

2024 Cattleya Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $65. Very Heavy Bottle (713g; 25.1oz). Under cork. Fruit is sourced mainly from the Nightwing Vineyard (Petaluma Gap) with an average elevation of 1,200 feet. 18 months in French Oak (60% new). Whoa. I have been tasting Bibiana’s wines for several years real years now, but this marks only the second time that I have tried wines from the top tier Cattleya line (I’ve almost exclusively sampled the Alma de Cattleya wines, which I have thoroughly enjoyed). This Sonoma Coast Pinot is gorgeous from the jump with medium to dark color, loads of dark red fruit (black cherry, raspberry), floral notes (red rose), and a spicy element (cumin? cardamom?) that hints at Bibiana’s love for Syrah. The palate is even more enticing with lovely fruit upfront, a weighty, tangy midpalate, and some spice comes in on the lengthy finish. Even though this spends a year and a half on oak, you would never guess it, since Bibiana is close to militant about her barrel selection, and the effects it has on her wines. And it pays off in spades, this is gorgeous. Outstanding. 95 Points.

2024 Cattleya Pinot Noir Belly of the Whale, Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $85. Very Heavy Bottle (714g; 25.1oz). Under cork. Very limited production (~125 cases). 16 months French Oak, 80% new. Another beautiful wine from Bibiana, quite dark in the glass, even close to inky dark with an abundance of dark fruit: black cherry, blackberry, even a hint of plum, with a smattering of dark (naturally) earth, and distinct violet notes on the nose. The palate is exquisite with loads of that dark fruit from the jump, followed by a zingy, near-lip-smacking acidity, and a healthy amount of weight. Some spice comes in right before the finish, which seems to last for minutes. Again, I have limited experience with these Cattleya wines (although considerably more with the Alma de Cattleya second label), but those that I have tried have been close to other-worldly. Outstanding. 96 Points.

2017 Cattleya Pinot Noir Belly of the Whale, Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $85. Very Heavy Bottle (705g; 24.8oz). Under cork. Although I have never met her in person (I did just complete a Zoom with her, though), Bibiana seems as though she is a bit of a throwback. At a time when winemakers in this country are hyper-concerned with Gen Z, attracting younger consumers, and producing wines wines designed to be consumed now, Bibiana remains steadfast. She is going to produce the best wine possible, often with minimal regard towards cost, and create wines that will actually get better with age. Case. In. Point. We tasted this aside the 2024 and while the younger wine was completely fantastic, it was a bit nervous. Not the worry here. Still has surprising fruit, a wheelbarrow full of still vibrant acidity, and completely integrated tannins. Yeah. Whoa. This is a show-stopper and a testament to how well Bibiana’s wines can age. Outstanding. 97 Points.