Accolades
2010 Sauvignon Blanc
Wine Enthusiast - December 15, 2009
Best Buy - 87 Points
A beautiful Sauvignon Blanc, at a great price. Dry and mouthwateringly crisp, it shows flavors of lemons, limes, lemongrass, pears, spices and vanilla. Finshes utterly clean and stimulating. A great value. Best Buy. - S.H.
Sante Magazine - 2009 Holiday Issue
Recommended
A rich nose of beeswax, roasted corn, daisies, and some sulphur; lots of grapefruit and basil on the palate with good acidity and a zesty,spicy finish. Chickpea salad with tomatoes and herbs.
Detroit News – Detroit, MI
Wine of the Day
This Sauvignon is New Zealand to the heart -- tart and crisp, and brimming with gooseberry, grapefruit and melon notes. It finishes dry, with a blast of white grapefruit. It's fermented in stainless steel and closed with a screwcap. And that's the style that's raging in restaurants and at the tables in wine-savvy homes these days. Lockwood enjoys a rare terroir with its shaly-loam soils and its location, which affords incredible swings of temperature, from 50 degrees in the morning to 110 at noon. Lockwood is able to grow a wide variety of grapes in a single vineyard, which is, by the way, 1,850 acres! Lockwood is owned by Paul Toeppen, Phil Johnson and Butch Lindley, who have extensive viticulture experience. Take a look at that vineyard above. (Sandra Silfven) October 28, 2008
The Californian – Salinas, CA
Wine of the Week
From the San Lucas AVA comes this minerally, fresh and refreshing wine with lots of green fig, lime and crisp pear flavors. The grapes are pressed directly to stainless steel tanks for settling, then inoculated with cold-tolerant yeast that enhances the aromatics. The entire lot was cold-fermented to retain the vivid, fresh flavors. Unscrew a bottle and enjoy. (Laura Ness) October 25, 2008
San Jose Mercury News – San Jose, CA
Wine with a Small Carbon Footprint
… fresh, crisp and citrusy, with passion fruit and a hint of grassiness…(Laurie Daniel) August 26, 2008
The Wine Curmudgeon
The Wine Curmudgeon, who comes from a long line of retailers, loves to guess the price of wine. And I’m quite good at it. Drives the wine producers crazy. So as I sipped this Monterey County sauvignon blanc, I figured it was a $15 or $18 wine. It had classic California sauvignon blanc varietal character – some grapefruit, but some tropical flavors as well. It had three flavors – something in the front, middle, and back. Usually, less expensive wine only has one or two flavors. The third flavor was a long mineral finish. And, though the wine was only bottled in May, it was ready to drink, another good sign. So when I checked the price, I was more than pleasantly surprised to find a suggested retail of $10.99. This means, when the wine hits store shelves in a month or so, it should be $9 or $10. This is a $10 Hall of Fame candidate. Serve it with shellfish or grilled chicken. (Jeff Siegel) August 8, 2008
2010 Wine Competition Results
Silver San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Silver Monterey Wine Competition, King City, California
Silver San Diego International Wine Competition
Silver San Francisco International Wine Competition
Silver Central Coast Wine Competition
2009 Wine Competition Results
Silver San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold Monterey County Fair Wine Challenge
2009 Chardonnay
Detroit News - Dec 31, 2009
Sandra Silfven - Today's Recommended Wine
This is a $12 Chard that delivers more than the price says. It's got oak, it's got acidity, it's got fruit intensity. It's subtle, and varietally correct. The nose is pear skins, citrus, Granny Smith apple and Mandarin orange. The palate has spice off the oak barrels, good acidity, and a firm and flavorful midpalate of flavors that follows through to the finish. It's so light in color and so packed with personality. It works as an aperitif wine or dinner wine. Look for it. It's a value.
Wine Talk by Robert Whitley - Dec. 9, 2009
Best Buy - 88 points
Lockwood grows and sells tons of grapes on its massive plantation in southern Monterey County and it's my guess that's how they keep the price so low on this positively splendid California Chardonnay, over the years Lockwood's most reliable wine. This vintage shows ripe pear and apple fruit with a suggestion of lemon creme that gives the wine tremendous lift on the palate. Neither the oak or the alcohol is overdone, leaving nothing but pure Monterey Chardonnay. Rating: 88.
Miami Herald - July 2009
Fred Tasker - Highly Recommended
The same vineyard is producing a quintessential California chardonnay -- rich and lush, with pineapple and vanilla flavors. One-third of the wine is aged in French oak barrels, the rest in stainless steel tanks, so you get the richness of oak and the crispness of steel; $12.
Sante Magazine - June 2009
Recommended
Fruit forward with aromas and flavors of stone fruit, pineapple, mango, and ripe citrus; full bodied with good acidity on the long, fruity finish. Pork loin.
Tasting Panel Magazine - May 2009
Anthony Dias Blue - 88 points
Smooth, creamy and fresh with balanced fruit and lots of juicy, bright acidity.
The Capital, Annapolis, Maryland - April 2009
Reconsider Chardonnay
A good value, this simple and medium-body chardonnay sports peach flavors with a hint of vanilla and mineral. A nice sipper, if that's your pleasure.
2011 Wine Competition Results
Silver San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold Critics Challenge International Wine Competition
2010 Wine Competition Results
Silver Dallas Morning News Wine Competition
Silver Monterey Wine Competition
Silver California State Fair
Gold Central Coast Wine Competition
2009 Wine Competition Results
Gold Jerry Mead's New World International Wine Competition
Gold Critics Challenge International Wine Competition
Silver California State Fair
2009 Pinot Noir Block 7
Wine Spectator - January 11, 2010
Recommended - Best Value - 87 Points
Great Pinot Noir is never inexpensive, so when you see a good bottle for $19, as with the Lockwood Block 7 from Monterey, it's worth paying attention to. Marked by savory herb, dried berry, mineral and sage, this is full-bodied and earthy, ending with grainy tannins and tobacco leaf notes. Drink now through 2014 - J.L
Sante Magazine - 2009 Holiday Issue
Recommended
Expressive fruit with aromas and flavors of plum, cloves, and a hint of violet; medium bodied and well balanced with a little oak on the elegant, long finish. Roast squab.
Cheers
September 2009
Beverage Dynamics
September/October 2009
4 stars - 90 points - Excellent Value
This Central Coast Pinot Noir is a bright, medium density, ruby red. The nose shows lots of red fruit, with black cherry as the main component and hints of spice. In the mouth, the wine has a very good weight and breadth across the palate. The finish is rich and solid, all the way through. An excellent value. ($20).
Patty's Pinot Closet
August 2007
92 points
In the glass this wine has a powerful bouquet of dried cherries and plum spice. On the palate, the flavors begin with a rose petal character that follows with wild strawberry and clove tones.
Wine Enthusiast
September 2008
Soft, dry and delicately structured, this Pinot has silky texture, with easy flavors of chamomile tea, cherry skins, rose petals and cola, with a peppery spice finish.
2011 Wine Competition Results
Silver San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold Miami Wine & Food Festival Best in Glass Competition
Gold Monterey Wine Competition, Salinas Valley Fair
2010 Wine Competition Results
Silver San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold Dallas Morning News Wine Competition
Silver Monterey Wine Competition, King City, California
2009 Wine Competition Results
Silver San Diego International Wine Competition
Gold Riverside International Wine Competition
Gold Critics Challenge Internation Wine Competition
2008 Merlot
Sante Magazine - August 2009
Recommended
Shows a bouquet of ripe blueberry, dark cocoa, and coffee; full bodied with relatively high alcohol. Firm, rich cheeses.
2011 Wine Competition Results
Gold Dallas Morning News Wine Competition
Gold Critics Challenge International Wine Competition
2010 Wine Competition Results
Silver Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition
Silver California State Fair Wine Competition
2008 Wine Competition Results
Silver Jerry Mead's New World International Wine Competition
Silver San Diego International Wine Competition
Silver Riverside International Wine Competition
2008 Syrah
Sunset Magazine - July 2010
Perfect Barbecue Pairings
With herb-rubbed Santa Maria-style tri-tip. Our pick: Lockwood 2007 Syrah. Plums and red berries offset by earthy white pepper, leather, and tobacco.
Detroit News – Detroit, MI
Wine of the Day
Lockwood in Southern Monterey County has bragging rights with a track record that started in 1989. And winemaker Larry Gomez knows his way around the cellar, too, working as assistant winemaker from 1991 to 1998, then leaving to make wine at J. Lohr and Wild Horse, and returning to Lockwood as head winemaker in 2004. The Syrah is lush and ripe, spicy with a shout of raspberries, dark chocolate and espresso coffee. Barrel-aging softens the tannins and helps frame the fruit. Lockwood wines are 100 percent from their own vineyards, which enjoy a unique soil known as "Lockwood shaly loam," consisting of crushed fossilized seashells similar to chalk and limestone. The unusual soil composition extends to depths of more than 20 feet, and makes the roots of vines work for their nutrients. The vine stress and well-drained soil produces wines that are complex and well-structured. (Sandra Silfven) October 27, 2008
San Jose Mercury News – San Jose, CA
Wine with a Small Carbon Footprint
…is ripe, dense and a little peppery, with blackberry and blueberry fruit and medium tannins…(Laurie Daniel) August 26, 2008
2009 Wine Competition Results
Silver Monterey Wine Competition, Salinas Valley Fair
Silver Jerry Mead's New World International Wine Competition
2009 Malbec
Sante Magazine - August 2009
Recommended
Slightly jammy blackcurrant aromas; medium bodied and silky on the palate with flavors of black currant and spice. Easy-to-drink and pleasant with some spice and drying tannins on the finish. Roast chicken with wild mushrooms.
Miami Herald - July 2009
Fred Tasker - Highly Recommended
This grape, which is putting Argentina on the world wine map, is now being grown in a few places in California. It works pretty well here, producing a smooth, mellow, medium-bodied wine with violet aromas and rich blueberry flavors; $15.
Sun Sentinel - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Best Buy
Sometimes I am surprised. This time by the 2007 Lockwood Vineyard Malbec. I've been a longtime fan of malbec wines from Argentina. But a malbec from Monterey County, Calif., I uncorked with reservations. Imagine my delight when I experienced a dark red, aromatic wine that rivals the best from Argentina. Lockwood's red is rich in texture and flavor and ends in a smooth, soft finish. With those qualities and a modest price tag, it is a "best buy" wine. I pair this easy-to-like red with grilled meats, including burgers and ribs, barbecued chicken and lamb.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine - August 2009
87 points
Dark, dry and delicious, with something of the rich, licoricey black currents you get in Argentine Malbecs, along with chocolate from the California sunshine. Really offers a lot of complicated pleasure at a good, everyday price. $15
Maryland Gazette - May 27, 2009
Wine Picks
Although Argentina has the lock on Malbec, this one from Monterey is a good rendition. Classic floral nose with blueberry flavors, firm tannins and a dash of spice. $15
2009 Wine Competition Results
Silver San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Silver Grand Harvest Awards
Silver San Diego International Wine Competition
Silver Pacific Rim International Wine Competition
Silver Riverside International Wine Competition
Silver Critics Challenge International Wine Competition
Silver San Francisco International Wine Competition
Silver, Best of Class, North Central Coast California State Fair
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
Detroit News – Detroit, MI
Wine of the Day
Lockwood Vineyard -- lock that name in your brain -- is an old name in Monterey that makes good wine and sells it at an affordable price. The three partners who own it -- the first vintage was 1989 -- are growers. And it shows in this Cab, which has ripe berry-cherry flavors, along with a touch of tobacco and ripe plums; it has a lovely complement of toasty oak, tannins that are well-hewn and acidity for structure. Lockwood is noted for its remarkable shaly-loam soils that are crushed fossilized seashells, not unlike chalk or limestone. And yes, you do get a white powder on your shoes if you walk in certain parts of it. The "soil" stresses the vines to get nutrients -- that are good for wine vines -- and is well-drained. Couple that with the heat of the midday sun and cooling breezes off the Pacific and you have great conditions for this vineyard, which is 1,850 acres in size. Not all Cabernet, but a variety of vines. (Sandra Silfven) October 29, 2008
2010 Wine Competition Results
Silver Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition
Silver Critics Challenge International Wine Competition
2009 Wine Competition Results
Silver Grand Harvest Awards
Silver Monterey Wine Competition, Salinas Valley Fair
Silver San Diego International Wine Competition
Silver Pacific Rim International Wine Competition
2007 Partners' Reserve
Wine Spectator
87 points
Ripe and fleshy, with complex black cherry and blackberry fruit joined by a touch of raspberry. Full bodied, delicate and zesty, with herb and sage laced tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Best from 2010 through 2016. 1,000 cases made. (James Laube) December 31, 2008
Detroit News – Detroit, MI
Today’s Recommended Wine
This is the pinnacle for Lockwood, a large grower in the southernmost area of Monterey County, with 1,850 contiguous acres. Partners Red is not produced in every vintage, but only when the grapes are exceptional. This is a black beauty -- the color is deep as midnight, aromas are black cherry, ripe dark plums, spice and vanilla; the mouthfeel is creamy and smooth. Tannins are ripe and chalky, coating the back of the palate and lingering on the finish. It's a well-mannered, intense red, that is 95 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 percent Malbec -- all estate-grown, the mantra of this winery. Winemaker Larry Gomez hand-selects the blocks of fruit for this wine. It spends a longer time in barrel and bottle than the other reds, and is released when Gomez says it can be. Lockwood is where you go for consistency, value and quality. It's famous for its shaly-loam soil, which consists of crushed, fossilized seashells similar to chalk and limestone. This unusual "soil" goes to depths of greater than 20 feet, and only one other spot in Central California has it. It coats your shoes when you walk on it. (Sandra Silfven) December 8, 2009
The Wine News - Coral Gables, Florida
86 points
Dense garnet hue. Fresh scents of red raspberry leather and wild cherry with a hint of tomato leaf. Juicy flavors of wild cherry and cranberry. Silky tannins in the raspberry-driven close. $27
2011 Wine Competition Results
Silver Los Angeles International Wine Competition
Silver San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold Monterey Wine Competition, Salinas Valley Fair
Gold Critics Challenge International Wine Competition
