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Cornerstone Cellars-Recent Press and Media Compendium
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- 2012 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone North Coast White Rocks! and 2011 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone North Coast Red Rocks! “On the red, I got big notes of red fruits – both stone fruit and berries, spiciness and a juicy mouth feel when drinking this wine. It was perfect with my husband’s grilled steak but didn’t overwhelm my grilled fish. The white was crisp and great for outdoor patio weather. The wine had lots of fruitiness with notes of floral, tropical fruit, apple and pear.” Dallaswinechick.com
- 2010 Cornerstone Cellars The Cornerstone “The flagship wine from Cornerstone Cellars, a highly regarded Yountville winery, hits the palate gently, opens up with ripe dark berries, and finishes with a seductive softness.” Wineandfoodworld.com
- 2012 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé “It’s another tremendous example of top shelf new world Rosé. It’s totally dry and loaded with engaging fruit and spice flavors. Most importantly perhaps it seductively keeps drawing you back to the glass for additional sips. Before long the entire bottle is gone. If you love dry Rosé, as I do, you owe it to yourself to get your hands on this wine.” Gabe’s View Wine Blog
- 2011 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone North Coast Red Rocks! “The 2011 Stepping Stone Rocks North Coast Red is also a secret blend of Napa Valley red grape varietals….all blended into a masterpiece red wine that you could be proud to serve on any dinner table!” D’Vine Wine Time Blog
- 2012 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone North Coast White Rocks! “A phenomenal white wine with endless possibilities of food pairings and even better on its own!” D’Vine Wine Time Blog
- 2012 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé “This true rosé wine looks pretty and pink in the glass, with not too deep a shade. Corallina’s nose is as fragrant as a garden. There are herbal accents, but the focus is on the fruit salad aromas that come forth.” Now and Zin Wine Blog
- 2012 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé “This is no ordinary Rosé. Cornerstone is very serious about making Rosé and it shows in the color of the wine and flavor profile. This Rosé is fresh and vibrant; definitely worthy of a place in your cellar. Corallina will make the perfect accompaniment to picnics, lazy days by the pool, parties, or for no reason but to enjoy a delightful glass of Rosé. This is a very versatile wine. It will pair with many different foods or perfect to enjoy on its own.” My Fabulous World in Wine
- 90 Points 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
- “($65) Inky ruby. Ripe cherry and dark berries on the perfumed nose and in the mouth. Plush and open-knit, with very good back-end power and sneaky smoke and tobacco nuances. Closes sweet and long, with smooth tannins making a late appearance.” Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
- 91 Points 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
- “($80) (includes 5% merlot): Glass-staining ruby. Sexy oak-spiced aromas of dark berry compote, sassafras and vanilla, with a smoky overtone. Stains the palate with sweet black and blue fruit flavors that pick up an exotic floral pastille quality on the back half. Finishes sweet, smoky and long, with slow-building tannins and a kick of peppery spices and minerals.” Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
- 92 Points 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Cornerstone Napa Valley “($125) Inky purple. A powerfully scented bouquet displays scents of dark berry liqueur, cherry pit, pipe tobacco and cedar, with a sexy vanilla undertone. Broad and chewy on the palate, offering intense, smoke-accented cassis and bitter cherry flavors and subtle florality. Closes with firm tannic grip and excellent persistence, leaving Indian spice and cherry notes behind.” Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
- 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon This Cabernet Sauvignon is another masterpiece by talented winemaker, Jeff Keene. With every wine that I taste by Cornerstone Cellars, I am always delighted at the high quality and certain level of care that is put into crafting each wine. My Fabulous World in Wine
- 2012 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé “Gorgeous raspberry and wild strawberry scents burst from the glass with the same incredible intensity the acidity has on the palate. Juicy, ripe strawberry and red currant flavors dance delightfully along the taste buds. That being said, the painting featured on the label is called “Wine Dance”, by artist Janet Ekholm; the joyous energy it evokes and its bright colors match what’s inside the bottle perfectly. It might make you feel like dancing!” Sip Swirl Savor Wine Blog
- 2012 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé 92 points. “This is a great homage to a Southern French rosé.” James The Wine Guy
- 2012 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé "Score: Cornerstone will tell you that this a serious rosé. I agree. A solid 88." Stay Rad Wine Blog
- 2012 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé “On the nose the rush of wild strawberries and vanilla cream treat your senses. Fresh cut wild flowers with hints of dried herbs and cinnamon on each swirl. Just as the label is entitled "Wine Dance", I picture myself celebrating in the vineyard with each little sniff.” The Iowa Wino Wine Blog
- 2012 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone North Coast White Rocks! “Score: This is a fun wine. It’s got a great balance of fruit, mineral, and acid. It’s a solid 89 for me, and well worth your 18 dollars.” Stay Rad Wine Blog
- 90 Points 2010 Cornerstone Cellars Chardonnay Willamette Valley , Oregon, Willamette Valley, Light gold. Pears, golden apple and a hint of lime on the nose. Creamy mouthfeel, showing rich texture and generous flavors of yellow and green apples. Toast, hazelnut and butter flavors add complexity but remain secondary. This shows a lot of intensity and depth. Terroirist
- I have to point out the great wines of Cornerstone and Stepping Stone that continue to impress me with well done, small production wines. Dallas Wine Chick.com
- 93 Points 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon "Score: Fantastic! It’s not often that I refer to a $65 bottle of wine as a steal, but this wine can go toe-to-toe with the best of them." Stay Rad Wine Blog
- 92+ Points 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon “The 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 immediately hits you with a blast of sweet dark currant and blackberry fruit before it brings in the secondary notes of spice, anise, mocha, herbs and a touch of lightly toasted oak. Full and generous with round polished tannins and a delicious supple spice-tinged finish” International Wine Report
- 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon - “For more than two decades, Cornerstone Cellars has been obsessed with making world-class cabernet sauvignons, and this Howell Mountain cabernet is no exception. Dark fruit notes laced with cinnamon, forest floor and sweet cocoa made this wine a clear winner” St. Helena Star
- 92 Points Cornerstone Oregon, Willamette Valley Chardonnay “In Oregon, there has been an ongoing discussion for several years now about what the definitive style for Willamette Valley Chardonnay should be. Some producers up here gave up on Chardonnay years ago and just replaced it with Pinot Gris or Germanic varietals. Cornerstone has produced a style of wine with this vintage that should become the benchmark example of what Oregon Chardonnay should be. “ Enobytes
- “While I enjoy the Cornerstone line, I have to say the quality-price ratio of Stepping Stone is hard to beat” Wine and Good Food
- 91 Points - 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon "A beautiful nose of fresh raspberries and blackberries" Terroirist.com
90 Points - 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone North Coast Red Rocks! "Very impressive, not to mention delicious" International Wine Report - 2010 Cornerstone Oregon, Willamette Valley Chardonnay “ this beauty of a Chardonnay is extremely well balanced and has a lingering finish that keeps you hooked and in love, it’s actually quite…sexy. Yes, sexy. And, I’ve never said that about any other wine, but the word just comes to mind while savoring this ambrosial, polished beauty”. Wine Julia
- 90 Points "The 2010 Cornerstone Oregon Chardonnay serves up pretty aromas of poached pears, tropical fruits, citrus zest as well as some smoky minerals and warm buttery oak. Crisp and bright on the palate with a beautiful sleek texture backed by a nice touch of acidity which leaves your mouth watering." The International Wine Report
- 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir “To get a beautiful, seamless, elegant Pinot Noir of this quality for only thirty bucks is a treat” Back to Bakus A Sommelier's Guide to Food and Wine
- 92 Points - 2010 Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir “Here’s what I love about Pinot Noir. It’s so subtle… It’s so reserved… But… It’s so complex… If you take the time to think about it. This effort from Cornerstone Oregon is a shining example of how great Pinot Noir can be. I love this wine. 92 points (I gave the 2009 vintage of this wine a 91+)” Stay Rad Wine Blog
- 2010 Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir “Luscious, juicy and elegant, the finish is long with incredibly silky, smooth tannins. Extremely well balanced and positively enjoyable, this is so my kind of Pinot. I absolutely love it! Wine Julia
- 92 Points - The 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers beautiful notes of fresh blackberries and black cherries backed by secondary notes of mocha, dried herbs, anise and even pretty floral making an appearance. It's followed up by a gorgeous smooth and soft texture with plush round tannins and a mouth-watering finish. This is a delicious Cabernet with no hard edges and should provide drinking pleasure for years to come. International Wine Report
- “4 Stars Exceptional” 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - Of course Cornerstone is known for their tremendous, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon. The Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Cabernet is a different animal. It's subtle, complex, and restrained while offering great balance and relatively moderate alcohol. Most of all it's made for the dinner table” BevX.com
- The Stepping Stone Rocks! bottlings are the least expensive wines in Cornerstone’s lineup, but deliver the kind of high quality that we’ve come to expect from them. Cornerstone GM Craig Camp and Winemaker Jeff Keene are under no constraints to follow a set recipe for these blends. Gang of Pour
- 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon “Finally, if there’s a better $35 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon than this one out there I want to taste it” Gang of Pour
- “Among this line of wines are two blends, known as “Rocks!”. Stepping Stone North Coast Rocks! White and Red. They sell for $18 each and simply put…TERRIFIC!” Divine Wine Time
- “Another thing I have learned about Craig, which I am sure every winemaker strives for, is the strive for perfection” Swirl TV
- “My first impulse in filing this report was to preface my notes by saying that the wines from Cornerstone Cellars just keep getting better and better. Then, I looked at our report from last January and noticed that I said the same thing then. At least my impressions are consistent. The truth of the matter is that pretty much all of Cornerstone’s wines are eminently drinkable and downright delicious, from the top shelf Napa and Willamette bottlings right on through the more moderately priced Stepping Stone by Cornerstone offerings.” Gang of Pour
- 2009 Cornerstone Oregon Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of brown sugar, raspberries and cedar. In the mouth, the wine offers strong raspberry flavors with juicy acidity and a hint of earth to keep the wine from being too fruit driven. Long finish. Very pretty. Cost: $50 Rating 90 to 95 points. Vinography - @WineORL: I am just saying that @CraigCamp is one of the most savvy and visible winemakers on Twitter
- "Classic 95" Points - 2009 Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir - "A beautifully perfumed nose of wild berries and cherry lead to robust flavors of dark berry and hazelnut, cherry, raspberry and cassis offered up with a brightness that is perfectly balanced by silky tannins. The finish is plush with impeccable balance and length. " - The Wine Insiders
- 91 points - 2010 Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir - Bright ruby-red. Heady aromas of red and dark berry preserves, cola, potpourri and star anise, with a smoky overtone. Sweet and focused, offering energetic black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors and a bracing note of orange zest. Leaves spice and cherry compote notes behind on the long, sappy, incisive finish. Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
- 91 Points - 2009 Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir - Vivid ruby-red. Intense, spice-accented aromas of candied dark berries and cherry, with a floral nuance gaining strength with air. Juicy, penetrating blackberry and star anise flavors are given depth by a touch of vanilla and show a supple, seamless quality. Closes on a sweet note, with fine-grained tannins adding grip and shape. Veteran winemaker Tony Rynders is at the helm here. Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
- 91 Points - 2011 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé - On the nose, an amazingly rich, juicy rosé that smells like the flesh of freshly bit strawberries, raspberries, and cherries, with a hint of lemon rind and lees. The palate is full, serious, balanced, and delicious. Terroirist Blog
- 90 Points - 2011 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé - To the Eye: Vibrant Salmon Pink On The Nose: Complex aromatics, aided by a long slow, cold fermentation in stainless. There is an immediate richness on the nose, that at first its sweetness reminds me of a French oak barrel, but takes on a sweeter, fresh strawberries and whipped cream note, along with spice, lemon zest.In the Mouth: Complex creamy texture, from 5 months aging in used French oak. A myriad of bright cherry, cranberry combined the acidity and creamy texture, supported by some structure and tannins, not common in a Rosé. This is a complex Rosé that simply screams for a food pairing to go along with its many nuances. Simple Hedonisms Wine Blog
- 93 Points 2009 Cornerstone Cellars, The Cornerstone, Napa Valley “There is a certain sense of crafting and seamlessness to this very good wine’s fit of many parts and right from the start it shows more sophistication. It is a wine clearly meant for the cellar. Wait for five years at least, ten if you have the patience.” Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine
- 88 points 2009 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon “Cornerstone’s least pricey Cabernet Sauvignon is anything but a simple, entry-level effort, and its combination of rich oak, deep, well-ripened fruit makes it the equal of a good many far more expensive wines” Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wines
- 91 Points 2009 Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir “Ripe and round, but ultimately balanced, offering dark berry, currant and toast flavors that mingle effortlessly on the finish. The Wine Spectator
- At BevX we first reviewed the great Wines from Cornerstone Cellars in 2009. Each year since our introduction we greatly anticipated the latest releases. Nine wines later from multiple vintages have convinced us that Cornerstone Cellars is truly among Napa and California’s elite Cabernet and Cabernet blend producers. The constant supply (albeit a very modest number of cases) of rich, complex, and multifaceted wines never fail to delight our panels. In fact each wine encountered from Cornerstone Cellars has earned at least four out of five stars. These great age worthy wines are surely the pride of each cellar lucky enough to hold them.
- “Supreme” 5 Stars 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon “Deepest, darkest ruby red veering toward purple. The nose is explosive and complex with aromatics of blackberry, black cherry, cassis, and plum with accents of mineral, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and leather. The palate is in full agreement with the nose offering layers of fruit and spice. The texture is near perfection being lush while vibrant with balancing acid. Great structure with incredible length leading to a finish with chewy tannins and deft oak notes. Fans of bold Napa Cabernets who have not experienced the great Cornerstone Cabernets need to get on the bandwagon now.” BevX.com
- “Exceptional” 4 Stars 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon BevX.com
- “Exceptional” 4 Stars 2009 Cornerstone Cellars, The Cornerstone, Napa Valley BevX.com
- “Today managing partner Craig Camp (a wine biz veteran and consummate professional) along with winemaker Jeff Keene have propelled Cornerstone Cellars to the top-tier of California wineries” BevX.com
- 91 points 2010 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc “Fresh and fairly sleek, racy aromas featuring an intriguing mix of lemon peel, pine forest, wisps of honeysuckle and light nuances of smoked tea leaves and fresh herbs separate this wine from the pack, and the supple yet balanced feel on the palate and the bright flavors that follow second the notion. Because this wine is so full of flavor, it suggests that it might also be over-sized, but such is not the case and what one gets is depth without the kind of excess that too often accompanies it. Pair this one with richer salmon or lobster dishes.” Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wines
- Palate Press Wine of the Year 2011: 2007 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2009 Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir “Flavors of dark berry and hazelnut are offered up with a vibrant acidity that is balanced by well-integrated tannins. The finish is plush, pleasant and long enough to make this a memorable wine...I would get it soon because this one will not be around for long” Enobytes
- “The more wines we taste from Cornerstone Cellars in the Napa and Willamette Valleys, the more we admire the great work they do.” Gang of Pour
- 2009 Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir “A beautiful wine that shows impeccable balance...an All-American for 2012” PinotFile
- 91 Points 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon “Smoke, tar, menthol, new leather and black fruit are some of the many nuances that emerge from this beautiful, powerful mountain Cabernet Sauvignon” Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
- 90 Points Cornerstone Oregon is a collaboration with Craig Camp and Oregon winemaker Tony Rynders of Domaine Serene. They will be sharing a winery with Rynders just outside of Gaston. 2008 Cornerstone Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir : (13.9%). A perfumed and impressively complex nose features notes of ripe black cherry, raspberry, cassis and briar. There is a lush, even suave mouth feel to the rich and round medium-bodied flavors that possess an abundance of dry extract on the dusty and balanced finish. This is a ripe ’08 but by no means over the top. 90/2013+ Burghound
- Then I taste something like the 2010 Stepping Stone “Corallina” and I get excited about drinking rosé all over again. Highly recommended” NorCal Wine
- Corallina Syrah Rosé "great structure, impressive for a California rosé Am I fan? YES! This is highly recommended rosé to go out and buy right now” Beau’s Barrel Room
- “Cornerstone Cellars never ceases to amaze me on how they consistently produce high quality, delicious wines.” My Fabulous World in Wine
- “The 2009 Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is something to get excited about” Wine and Food
- Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé St. Helena Star Wine of the Week
- “I highly recommend this wine” Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé My Fabulous World in Wine.
- “The Stepping Stone Riesling is simply beautiful” Now and Zin.com
- “Exceptional” 4 Stars 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Cuveé Musque, BevX.com
- “Exceptional” 4 Stars 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé, BevX.com
- 96 Points, “Classic”, 2007 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon The Wine Insiders
- “This is by far one of my favorite Napa Valley Cabernets. Cornerstone Cellars has done a beautiful job in producing such an intense, yet elegant Cabernet. They continue to impress me with their wines.” My Fabulous World in Wine
- “The bottom line is that Cornerstone Cellars continues to turn out vintage after vintage of classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.” Gabe’s View on Wines
- “And so it was with great anticipation that we took possession of two review samples of ’07 Cabernet Sauvignon from Cornerstone Cellars, a producer for whom we gain increasing respect for every time we try their wares.” Gang of Pour”
- “A poster child of Napa Mountain Cabernet.” BevX.com
- 5 Stars “Supreme” 2007 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. BevX.com
- 4 Stars “Exceptional” 2007 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. BevX.com
- 93 Points 2005 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Snooth
- 94 Points 2004 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Snooth
- 90 Points 2008 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Snooth
- 90 Points 2008 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
- 90 Points 2008 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
- 2008 Cornerstone Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, “All American”. PinotFile
- “Finding a wine producer I really like is heartening. Then when I see them replicating quality over a number of vintages it takes things to a new level. Cornerstone Cellars in Napa is such a producer.” Gabe’s View on Wines
- 90 Points “Editor’s Choice”, 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. The Wine Enthusiast
- 90 Points Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Napa Valley Cabernet Franc. The Wine Enthusiast
- Palate Press Wine of the Week 2005 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- 92 Points 2008 Cornerstone Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Robert Parker’s, The Wine Advocate
- Top Napa Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. The Chicago Tribune
- 93 Points 2008 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Atlanta’s Fine Wine Connection
- 92 Points 2008 Cornerstone Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. The Portland Oregonian-Oregon LIve.com
- 91 Points 2006 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. The Wine Spectator
- 90 points 2007 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Robert Parker’s, the Wine Advocate
- “Powerful, and complex in exactly this way. Like the Cabs of the Right Bank in Bordeaux, once you have tasted an excellent example, there is a sense of place that exemplifies the best wine unique to that region. Cornerstone Cellars is one of the wineries that exemplifies that for Napa.” Another Wine Blog
- “The name Craig Camp of Cornerstone Cellars kept popping up in my never-ending search for exceptional wines; constant reminders via social media like Twitter and Facebook give wineries a reach out to their customer.” Style Magazine
