98-Points by Wine Enthusiast.
The 2019 vintage of Aurora Vineyard is a wine of finesse and elegance and is characterized by its broad palate that begins at entry and follows through to a stunning and lengthy finish.  To create this seamless wine, the vineyard was harvested several times over a two week period.  The fruit was manually selected berry-by-berry and then fermented in both stainless tank and wood barrels, creating numerous wine lots with subtle but distinct nuances.  The 2019 vintage offers classic Aurora aromas and flavors of wild blackberry, cassis, candied cherry and vanilla, cinnamon, and clove.  A stunner.
MARTHA MCCLELLAN | WINEMAKER
Martha McClellan worked making the wines at Harlan Estate from 1995 through 2000.  In 2001 she took over the winemaking and vineyard direction at Sloan Estate, the renowned Napa Valley winery, where she continues to make the wines today.  She also oversaw vinification for several years at Blankiet, while starting Levy & McClellan with her winemaker husband Bob Levy.  In 2006 she came to Checkerboard Vineyards and made the first vintage from the Aurora Vineyard site on Diamond Mountain.