Latest Reviews

2005 Sauvignon Blanc

"....bright, racy wine. Mineral, grapefruit, lime and melon aromas and flavors finish with very refreshing acidity.
Linda Murphy, for the San Francisco Chronicle, October, 2006

"Extremely tasty and food friendly wine ....Deliciously crisp ....bright citrus including grapefruit and lime peel are softened by melon notes with nice mineral elements. Finish is refreshing and crisp with a touch of flintiness. The perfect wine for delicate seafood dishes..
Porthos, The Wine Insiders

Orange County Register, January 18, 2007

Wine writer Linda Murphy's story (which originally appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle) of a day with Ulises, and reviews of his initial releases, for the Orange County Register .

Food and Wine, October 2006

The October issue sheds some light on the relationship between Mark Aubert and Ulises Valdez. "...Aubert, openly admiring of Valdez's efforts, notes, "I've watched Ulises progress from grape grower to fine-wine grower." See the whole story at Food and Wine.

Valdez Family Wines Released July 8, 2006

Ulises Valdez poured his initial releases for one hundred and fifty eager and enthusiastic tasters including close friends and family, and a few reknown winemakers. See Alison Smith's blog at the Texacali Wine Trail for commentary and photos.

First Valdez Wine Bottled February 21, 2006

Ulises and close friends celebrate the bottling of the Valdez Family Winery 2005 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc at Paul Hobbs' Winery in Sebastopol. Ulises uncorks his first wine at eight o'clock on a frosty morning, twenty years from the time he worked as a vineyard pruner in Dry Creek Valley. Fellow field worker, and long time friend and employee Jose Mederos joins Ulises, along with growers Dick Handal and Kent Ritchie, vineyard manager Chris Bollen, and Jack Florence, Jr.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The December 2005 issue of the Wine Advocate evaluates some of the wines from Ulises' Laguna Road Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. "...One of the finest viticultural managers in northern California is Ulises Valdez, and his 2004 Chardonnay Ulises Valdez Vineyard (Paul Hobbs Wines) boasts a wonderful, leesy/brioche character intermixed with honeysuckle.....Interesting, Valdez also farms for both Pahlmeyer and Aubert, so he is unquestionably at the top of his field...." Parker gives the Aubert Pinot Noir from this vineyard 96-98 points, saying "....The 2004 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard, named after the well-known viticultural manager used by Mark Aubert (as well as Paul Hobbs) Ulises Valdez, emerges from a Sonoma Coast vineyard planted with the Calera Clone....."

Wine Spectator Online

Read more about the collaborative efforts of Mark Aubert and Ulises Valdez in this August, 2004 Wine Spectator article.