Drink Window: 2026-2045
 
96-98 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Located on the valley floor north of the town of Saint Helena, Panek—at least in the hands of Thomas Rivers Brown—is remarkably consistent from vintage to vintage. The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is fresh and floral on the nose yet also boasts black fruit and even blueberry nuances. It's full-bodied, supple, smooth and really elegant yet still powerful, with melted tannins and a softly dusty texture on the lingering finish. Wow.
Drink 2027-2045.
 
97 Points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard sports a deep, inky hue as well as ripe, powerful aromatics of black fruits, darker cherries, leather, graphite, and spicy, cedar pencil nuances. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a layered, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. This impressive St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon will evolve beautifully over the coming 20+ years – and it's undeniably brilliant today! There are 515 cases produced.
Drink 2025-2045.
 
95 Points Vinous
The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is a gorgeous, polished wine. Crushed flowers, mocha, spice and red-toned fruit caress the palate, all framed by soft, refined tannins. Blood orange, coffee and cedar notes develop with time. The 2023 is pure and total sensuality. It's the most open-knit of the Rivers-Marie single-vineyard wines, and the first one I would open.
 
Winemaker Notes
"It’s nice to welcome our old friend back after a one year hiatus. Panek has reemerged after a difficult 2022 that saw all blocks declassified to our Napa bottling. It turns out to be a great year for a comeback. Panek always fares best in more structured years, adding a layer of complexity to the wine that the soil and climate in northern St Helena rarely contributes. The general leaning for this site has always been a mix of red and black fruits, brown sugar, espresso roast and blackcurrants but here there’s a textured mid-palate that comes up through the tannin of the vintage adding dimension and more herbal character. This may also be a vine age thing now that these blocks are nearing their 20 year mark. Scorched earth, charcoal, white flowers and burnt sage fill up the aromatics before the generosity of the area kicks in giving the wine a decadent turn. The 2023 vintage stamp comes on strong at the end curtailing the youthful exuberance of the wine and adding a weightier note to the finish. It’s good to see this wine back in the fold and we have no doubt it will take its place among the greatest Panek bottlings to date."
- Thomas Rivers Brown, winemaker