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Vintage

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Color

Rating

2022

McGrail Vineyards and Winery

James Vincent Cabernet Sauvignon

Named in honor of the late James Vincent, who founded the winery with his wife, Ginger, this Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the 12-acre McGrail Vineyard. It was fermented in stainless steel with a cold soak to amplify color and fruit intensity, then kept on the skins for up to 20 days post-fermentation before being pressed, settled, and racked to barrel. The wine was aged for 30 months in 100% new French oak. It’s a blend of two Cabernet clones: Clone 15, which tends to be fruitier, and Clone 8, which leans more savory. Together, they express dark berry fruit layered with sagebrush, tobacco, and a pop of juniper, followed by ripe, juicy mulberry on the full-bodied palate. The tannins are chewy, bold, and palate-arresting, with a gravelly mineral edge. Long, spicy, and resonant.

2022

McGrail Vineyards and Winery

Patriot Cabernet, McGrail Vineyards

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Patriot comes from the Estate Vineyard and was aged for 30 months in 100% new American oak barrels. This is a bold, ripe, richly fruited wine, bursting with blueberry and blackberry, cola nut, sweet Asian spices, and luscious, supple tannins that carry a meaty quality. Fig paste and charcuterie notes mingle with loamy earth, leading into big, chewy tannins on the resounding finish. The moniker is a tribute to the winery’s support of the Fallen Heroes Fund and also honors founder James Vincent, a former Alameda County Sheriff. Tasted with Mark Clarin in December of 2025, this has the same power and intensity of the 2021, but much more fruit-driven.

2022

McGrail Vineyards and Winery

A Jó Élet "The Good Life" Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon A Jó Élet comes entirely from the Estate Vineyard. It’s bold and spicy, with a molasses-like richness, dark baking spice, clove, blue fruit, and violets all coming together on the palate, delivering a hard-to-beat “yummy factor.” The tannins are soaring and expressive—firm at first, then resolving into juicy, dark, brooding fruit. The wine was aged for 30 months in brand-new Hungarian oak barrels. Winemaker Mark Clarin cherry-picks his favorite barrels for this blend, producing about 400 cases.

2022

McGrail Vineyards and Winery

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Mark Clarin says Cabernet Sauvignon should be “big, bold, and badass”—and this wine delivers. Sourced from the 12-acre McGrail Vineyard, the grapes were cold-soaked in stainless steel to amplify color and fruit intensity, followed by fermentation and up to 20 days of extended maceration on the skins. After pressing and settling, the wine was racked to barrel and aged for 30 months in approximately 65% new oak—a mix of French, Hungarian, and American. Like the previous vintage, this bottling bursts out of the glass with mixed berry fruit—raspberry, black cherry, mulberry—and warm baking spice notes. Sweet mulling spices join cocoa-powder tannins that bring real intensity, finishing with brighter blue-fruit aromas, loamy earth, and a pop of toffee spice.

2022

McGrail Vineyards and Winery

Clone 30, Lucky 8 Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 30 (the Silverado “Disney” clone) sourced from the Lucky 8 Vineyard, a 12-acre site planted in 2016. Located just off Tesla Road, the vineyard sits on a gentle slope. The wine was aged for 30 months in French and American oak barrels (50% new). It’s driven by cassis and currant fruit, with accents of currant leaf and red tobacco. The tannins are rich, robust, and chocolaty, with dried violets and charcuterie notes that carry through the medium-bodied, spicy finish.

2021

McGrail Vineyards

A Jó Élet "The Good Life" Cabernet Sauvignon

Sourced from the 12-acre McGrail Vineyard, this Cabernet Sauvignon was fermented in stainless steel, cold-soaked to enhance color and fruit intensity, then left on the skins for up to 20 days post-fermentation. After pressing and settling, it was racked to barrel and aged for 30 months in 100% new Hungarian oak. This bottling offers a more toned-down expression compared to the Reserve Cabernet, yet it’s still rife with dark currant, black cherry, and spiced plum fruit. The oak influence is more refined and mellowed, allowing dried wild herbs and savory tobacco leaf nuances to shine through on the lengthy finish. Firm, muscular tannins are rounded by mineral tension, giving the wine both structure and finesse.

2021

McGrail Vineyards

The Patriot Cabernet Sauvignon

The Patriot Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the 12-acre McGrail Vineyard. Fermented in stainless steel with a cold soak to extract color and fruit intensity, the wine remained on the skins for up to 20 days post-fermentation before being pressed, settled, and racked to barrel. It was aged for 30 months in 100% new American oak. The moniker is a tribute to the winery’s support of the Fallen Heroes Fund, while also honoring founder James Vincent (a former Alameda County Sheriff). This is the spiciest expression in the McGrail Cabernet lineup, with notes of toasted coconut, white truffle, and a savory meatiness. Full-bodied, with ripping, soaring tannins that frame layers of red and black currant, black cherry, and wild herb nuances on a long finish.

2021

McGrail Vineyards

James Vincent Cabernet Sauvignon

Named in honor of the late James Vincent, who founded the winery with his wife Ginger, this Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the 12-acre McGrail Vineyard. Fermented in stainless steel with a cold soak to enhance color and fruit intensity, the wine remained on the skins for up to 20 days post-fermentation before being pressed, settled, and racked to barrel. It was then aged for 30 months in 100% new French oak. This bottling delivers a more classic expression of Cabernet, with blackberry, graphite, and toasty oak spices. Notes of black olive and smoked paprika add savory depth. Full-bodied, with soaring, chocolatey tannins and a mineral core of wet slate. The finish is long and layered, with pressed wildflowers and dried fennel adding aromatic complexity.

2021

McGrail Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Winemaker Mark Clarin says Cabernet Sauvignon should be “big, bold, and badass”—and this wine delivers. Sourced from the 12-acre McGrail Vineyard, the grapes were cold-soaked in stainless steel to extract color and fruit intensity, followed by fermentation and up to 20 days of extended maceration on the skins. After pressing and settling, the wine was racked to barrel and aged for 30 months in approximately 65% new oak—a mix of French, Hungarian, and American. It opens with rich baking spice and cocoa powder aromas wrapped around dense blackberry fruit. Full-bodied and intense, the wine boasts bold, powerful tannins that build on the finish. Loamy earth and dark chocolate add depth, while a burst of juicy blood orange acidity brings lift and carries the length.

2023

McGrail Vineyards

Family Chardonnay

100% barrel-fermented, with roughly 30% new French oak and some Hungarian oak in the mix. This wine is super bright, with layers of lemon oil, toasty brioche, buttered croissant, and candied ginger. Medium- to full-bodied, it delivers a fantastic mouthfeel—rich, weighty citrus fruit balanced by bright, intense acid tension. Winemaker Mark Clarin notes that he inhibits some of the malolactic fermentation, allowing only about 70% to complete, which helps preserve freshness and drive. Fragrant baking spice and vanilla notes weave through the palate, and the finish lingers with terrific mineral intensity. A dynamic, beautifully structured white with serious depth and length.

2024

McGrail Vineyards

Grenache Blanc

Winemaker Mark Clarin proudly notes, “We grow everything we produce.” This Grenache Blanc—planted in the Lucky 8 Vineyard—is what he calls his “pet project,” a variety he personally championed for its strong performance in Livermore Valley. Sourced from cuttings out of Beeswax Vineyard in Monterey County, the wine is fermented in stainless steel. It opens with lovely aromatics of citrus oil, honeysuckle, and a hint of licorice, with dried fennel adding complexity. On the palate, it shows impressive weight and density, with terrific phenolic grip and vibrant apricot and white peach intensity. Long, textural, and compelling—a rare and exciting white from the region.

2022

McGrail Vineyards

Cabernet Franc

This 100% Cabernet Franc, aged for 18 months in French oak, comes from Clone 11 (French 214) grown at Lucky 8 Vineyard in the southeastern portion of the Livermore Valley. The wine explodes from the glass with bold oak overtones framing blackberry and spiced plum fruit. It’s a meaty, heady wine layered with loamy earth, pressed violets, soft, supple tannins, and loads of juicy character. This is your burger Cabernet Franc—some for the meat on the grill, the rest for the glass.

2024

McGrail Vineyards

Kylie Ryan Rosé

The Kylie Ryan Rosé from Lucky 8 Vineyard is picked on the early side and pressed directly into stainless steel. It’s super fragrant, with red berry fruit, strawberry, and watermelon rind, layered with apricot and sea spray minerality. A kiss of baking spice rounds out the nose. Medium-bodied, with a fleshy mid-palate and crisp, crunchy acid tension that drives a long, refreshing finish.

N/A

McGrail Vineyards

Gracie Brut Sparkling Wine

This sparkling Chardonnay from Lucky 8 Vineyard was harvested in late August at approximately 17 Brix with a pH of 3.0. Fermented in stainless steel, it was then racked to neutral oak for about three months before returning to stainless for heat and cold stabilization. The wine was bottled, tirage-aged, riddled, and finished with a dosage of just 2 g/L. It boasts bright lemon citrus and apricot notes, accented by fragrant white flowers and hints of nougat. The mousse is rich and creamy yet assertive, framed by soaring acidity and a long, mineral-driven finish. Crisp, clean, and beautifully structured.

2024

McGrail Vineyards

Peyton Paige Sauvignon Blanc

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Lucky 8 Vineyard comes from the southeastern portion of the Livermore Valley and is entirely Musqué Clone, aged primarily in stainless steel with 10% in neutral oak. Named in honor of the two eldest granddaughters, Peton Taylor and Ashton Paige, this Sauvignon Blanc pays homage to the variety’s legacy in Livermore Valley. It’s a vibrant expression, bursting with tropical melon and guava notes that build across the medium-bodied palate, layered with juicy white peach and underscored by zesty, citrus-driven acidity. Long and focused on the finish.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2022

McGrail Vineyards and Winery

James Vincent Cabernet Sauvignon

Named in honor of the late James Vincent, who founded the winery with his wife, Ginger, this Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the 12-acre McGrail Vineyard. It was fermented in stainless steel with a cold soak to amplify color and fruit intensity, then kept on the skins for up to 20 days post-fermentation before being pressed, settled, and racked to barrel. The wine was aged for 30 months in 100% new French oak. It’s a blend of two Cabernet clones: Clone 15, which tends to be fruitier, and Clone 8, which leans more savory. Together, they express dark berry fruit layered with sagebrush, tobacco, and a pop of juniper, followed by ripe, juicy mulberry on the full-bodied palate. The tannins are chewy, bold, and palate-arresting, with a gravelly mineral edge. Long, spicy, and resonant.

2022

McGrail Vineyards and Winery

Patriot Cabernet, McGrail Vineyards

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Patriot comes from the Estate Vineyard and was aged for 30 months in 100% new American oak barrels. This is a bold, ripe, richly fruited wine, bursting with blueberry and blackberry, cola nut, sweet Asian spices, and luscious, supple tannins that carry a meaty quality. Fig paste and charcuterie notes mingle with loamy earth, leading into big, chewy tannins on the resounding finish. The moniker is a tribute to the winery’s support of the Fallen Heroes Fund and also honors founder James Vincent, a former Alameda County Sheriff. Tasted with Mark Clarin in December of 2025, this has the same power and intensity of the 2021, but much more fruit-driven.

2022

McGrail Vineyards and Winery

A Jó Élet "The Good Life" Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon A Jó Élet comes entirely from the Estate Vineyard. It’s bold and spicy, with a molasses-like richness, dark baking spice, clove, blue fruit, and violets all coming together on the palate, delivering a hard-to-beat “yummy factor.” The tannins are soaring and expressive—firm at first, then resolving into juicy, dark, brooding fruit. The wine was aged for 30 months in brand-new Hungarian oak barrels. Winemaker Mark Clarin cherry-picks his favorite barrels for this blend, producing about 400 cases.

2022

McGrail Vineyards and Winery

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Mark Clarin says Cabernet Sauvignon should be “big, bold, and badass”—and this wine delivers. Sourced from the 12-acre McGrail Vineyard, the grapes were cold-soaked in stainless steel to amplify color and fruit intensity, followed by fermentation and up to 20 days of extended maceration on the skins. After pressing and settling, the wine was racked to barrel and aged for 30 months in approximately 65% new oak—a mix of French, Hungarian, and American. Like the previous vintage, this bottling bursts out of the glass with mixed berry fruit—raspberry, black cherry, mulberry—and warm baking spice notes. Sweet mulling spices join cocoa-powder tannins that bring real intensity, finishing with brighter blue-fruit aromas, loamy earth, and a pop of toffee spice.

2022

McGrail Vineyards and Winery

Clone 30, Lucky 8 Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 30 (the Silverado “Disney” clone) sourced from the Lucky 8 Vineyard, a 12-acre site planted in 2016. Located just off Tesla Road, the vineyard sits on a gentle slope. The wine was aged for 30 months in French and American oak barrels (50% new). It’s driven by cassis and currant fruit, with accents of currant leaf and red tobacco. The tannins are rich, robust, and chocolaty, with dried violets and charcuterie notes that carry through the medium-bodied, spicy finish.

2021

McGrail Vineyards

A Jó Élet "The Good Life" Cabernet Sauvignon

Sourced from the 12-acre McGrail Vineyard, this Cabernet Sauvignon was fermented in stainless steel, cold-soaked to enhance color and fruit intensity, then left on the skins for up to 20 days post-fermentation. After pressing and settling, it was racked to barrel and aged for 30 months in 100% new Hungarian oak. This bottling offers a more toned-down expression compared to the Reserve Cabernet, yet it’s still rife with dark currant, black cherry, and spiced plum fruit. The oak influence is more refined and mellowed, allowing dried wild herbs and savory tobacco leaf nuances to shine through on the lengthy finish. Firm, muscular tannins are rounded by mineral tension, giving the wine both structure and finesse.

2021

McGrail Vineyards

The Patriot Cabernet Sauvignon

The Patriot Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the 12-acre McGrail Vineyard. Fermented in stainless steel with a cold soak to extract color and fruit intensity, the wine remained on the skins for up to 20 days post-fermentation before being pressed, settled, and racked to barrel. It was aged for 30 months in 100% new American oak. The moniker is a tribute to the winery’s support of the Fallen Heroes Fund, while also honoring founder James Vincent (a former Alameda County Sheriff). This is the spiciest expression in the McGrail Cabernet lineup, with notes of toasted coconut, white truffle, and a savory meatiness. Full-bodied, with ripping, soaring tannins that frame layers of red and black currant, black cherry, and wild herb nuances on a long finish.

2021

McGrail Vineyards

James Vincent Cabernet Sauvignon

Named in honor of the late James Vincent, who founded the winery with his wife Ginger, this Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the 12-acre McGrail Vineyard. Fermented in stainless steel with a cold soak to enhance color and fruit intensity, the wine remained on the skins for up to 20 days post-fermentation before being pressed, settled, and racked to barrel. It was then aged for 30 months in 100% new French oak. This bottling delivers a more classic expression of Cabernet, with blackberry, graphite, and toasty oak spices. Notes of black olive and smoked paprika add savory depth. Full-bodied, with soaring, chocolatey tannins and a mineral core of wet slate. The finish is long and layered, with pressed wildflowers and dried fennel adding aromatic complexity.

2021

McGrail Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Winemaker Mark Clarin says Cabernet Sauvignon should be “big, bold, and badass”—and this wine delivers. Sourced from the 12-acre McGrail Vineyard, the grapes were cold-soaked in stainless steel to extract color and fruit intensity, followed by fermentation and up to 20 days of extended maceration on the skins. After pressing and settling, the wine was racked to barrel and aged for 30 months in approximately 65% new oak—a mix of French, Hungarian, and American. It opens with rich baking spice and cocoa powder aromas wrapped around dense blackberry fruit. Full-bodied and intense, the wine boasts bold, powerful tannins that build on the finish. Loamy earth and dark chocolate add depth, while a burst of juicy blood orange acidity brings lift and carries the length.

2023

McGrail Vineyards

Family Chardonnay

100% barrel-fermented, with roughly 30% new French oak and some Hungarian oak in the mix. This wine is super bright, with layers of lemon oil, toasty brioche, buttered croissant, and candied ginger. Medium- to full-bodied, it delivers a fantastic mouthfeel—rich, weighty citrus fruit balanced by bright, intense acid tension. Winemaker Mark Clarin notes that he inhibits some of the malolactic fermentation, allowing only about 70% to complete, which helps preserve freshness and drive. Fragrant baking spice and vanilla notes weave through the palate, and the finish lingers with terrific mineral intensity. A dynamic, beautifully structured white with serious depth and length.

2024

McGrail Vineyards

Grenache Blanc

Winemaker Mark Clarin proudly notes, “We grow everything we produce.” This Grenache Blanc—planted in the Lucky 8 Vineyard—is what he calls his “pet project,” a variety he personally championed for its strong performance in Livermore Valley. Sourced from cuttings out of Beeswax Vineyard in Monterey County, the wine is fermented in stainless steel. It opens with lovely aromatics of citrus oil, honeysuckle, and a hint of licorice, with dried fennel adding complexity. On the palate, it shows impressive weight and density, with terrific phenolic grip and vibrant apricot and white peach intensity. Long, textural, and compelling—a rare and exciting white from the region.

2022

McGrail Vineyards

Cabernet Franc

This 100% Cabernet Franc, aged for 18 months in French oak, comes from Clone 11 (French 214) grown at Lucky 8 Vineyard in the southeastern portion of the Livermore Valley. The wine explodes from the glass with bold oak overtones framing blackberry and spiced plum fruit. It’s a meaty, heady wine layered with loamy earth, pressed violets, soft, supple tannins, and loads of juicy character. This is your burger Cabernet Franc—some for the meat on the grill, the rest for the glass.

2024

McGrail Vineyards

Kylie Ryan Rosé

The Kylie Ryan Rosé from Lucky 8 Vineyard is picked on the early side and pressed directly into stainless steel. It’s super fragrant, with red berry fruit, strawberry, and watermelon rind, layered with apricot and sea spray minerality. A kiss of baking spice rounds out the nose. Medium-bodied, with a fleshy mid-palate and crisp, crunchy acid tension that drives a long, refreshing finish.

N/A

McGrail Vineyards

Gracie Brut Sparkling Wine

This sparkling Chardonnay from Lucky 8 Vineyard was harvested in late August at approximately 17 Brix with a pH of 3.0. Fermented in stainless steel, it was then racked to neutral oak for about three months before returning to stainless for heat and cold stabilization. The wine was bottled, tirage-aged, riddled, and finished with a dosage of just 2 g/L. It boasts bright lemon citrus and apricot notes, accented by fragrant white flowers and hints of nougat. The mousse is rich and creamy yet assertive, framed by soaring acidity and a long, mineral-driven finish. Crisp, clean, and beautifully structured.

2024

McGrail Vineyards

Peyton Paige Sauvignon Blanc

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Lucky 8 Vineyard comes from the southeastern portion of the Livermore Valley and is entirely Musqué Clone, aged primarily in stainless steel with 10% in neutral oak. Named in honor of the two eldest granddaughters, Peton Taylor and Ashton Paige, this Sauvignon Blanc pays homage to the variety’s legacy in Livermore Valley. It’s a vibrant expression, bursting with tropical melon and guava notes that build across the medium-bodied palate, layered with juicy white peach and underscored by zesty, citrus-driven acidity. Long and focused on the finish.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2022

2022 McGrail Vineyards and Winery James Vincent Cabernet Sauvignon

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 McGrail Vineyards and Winery Patriot Cabernet, McGrail Vineyards

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 McGrail Vineyards and Winery A Jó Élet “The Good Life” Cabernet Sauvignon

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 McGrail Vineyards and Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Still Wine

$

2022

2022 McGrail Vineyards and Winery Clone 30, Lucky 8 Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 McGrail Vineyards A Jó Élet “The Good Life” Cabernet Sauvignon

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 McGrail Vineyards The Patriot Cabernet Sauvignon

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 McGrail Vineyards James Vincent Cabernet Sauvignon

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 McGrail Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 McGrail Vineyards Family Chardonnay

Still Wine

$

2024

2024 McGrail Vineyards Grenache Blanc

Still Wine

$

2022

2022 McGrail Vineyards Cabernet Franc

Still Wine

$$

2024

2024 McGrail Vineyards Kylie Ryan Rosé

Still Wine

$

N/A

McGrail Vineyards Gracie Brut Sparkling Wine

Sparkling Wine

N/A

2024

2024 McGrail Vineyards Peyton Paige Sauvignon Blanc

Still Wine

$

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