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Cristaldi Scores

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Wine

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Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2021

Landmark Vineyards

Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

So characteristic of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, this Pinot brims with warm raspberry compote and candied cherry fruit, wrapped around a beautifully creamy, dense mid-palate. Sumptuous toasty oak, flinty minerals and crisp acid tension give it shape and lift. Fermented 100% destemmed in small fermenters and punched down twice daily. Barrel-aged for 10 months in French oak (35% new).

2022

Cattleya

The Initiation

What a gorgeous aroma: black pepper, wild blackberries, garrigue, lavender, smoked game, and iron. There is a fantastic mouthfeel to go with it, too, one that’s chock-full of red, black, and blue fruit, but also tons of minerals and surprising structure. A stunner, sourced from Côte Rôtie clones planted in the Soberanes Vineyard. – J.R.

2022

DK Grail

DK Grail Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir

Garys’ Vineyard—Dan Kosta and winemaker Shane Finley’s second source in the Santa Lucia Highlands—is also planted to the Pisoni Clone of Pinot Noir. The site typically ripens about 10 days earlier than Rosella’s, producing wines with less tannin, more finesse, and delicate blue floral character. Dan Kosta has sourced fruit from Garys’ Vineyard since 2005, when it was part of his former Kosta Browne label. The 2022 vintage is a dark-fruited, sumptuous, and savory expression, showing a bit more power and richness on the nose and a broader profile than Rosella’s. The wine opens with super savory aromatics of dried sage, rosemary, and thyme, joined by intriguing notes of yellow curry and red berry fruit that become more defined on the palate. A luxurious mocha richness envelops the senses, balanced by elegant conifer spice, while the long, refreshing finish shows crunchy red apple-skin acidity. It’s simply a delicious wine to drink.

2022

DK Grail

DK Grail Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir

This wine opens with a nostalgic burst of Red Hots hard candy—spicy and cinnamon-driven—alongside hints of blue and black fruit and warm brown baking spices. The palate is vibrant and consistent, offering juicy, plump fruit and velvety tannins supported by crunchy pomegranate seed, ripe black raspberry, and a lively blood-orange acidity that brings tension and lift. A blast of cocoa powder richness builds toward the finish, accented by lingering notes of clove. Sourced from Rosella’s Vineyard, located at the northernmost edge of the Santa Lucia Highlands and planted to the Pisoni Clone of Pinot Noir, this late-ripening, cool site produces thick-skinned berries that yield a more muscular tannin structure. Aged 15 months in 50% new French oak.

2022

Saxon Brown

Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir

From the Garys’ Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands comes this ripe-cherry-fruited, vanilla-laced, cedarwood-spiced Pinot Noir, bending around rich espresso-bean nuances and supple tannins. A plump, creamy mid-palate is lifted by zesty blood-orange acidity, leading to a lingering finish of warm Indian spice and vanilla-bean cream. Sumptuously refined.

2023

CHEV

Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands)

This wine is incredibly precise in 2023, showing that characteristic full-bodied, satiny palate feel with layers of cherry and plum fruit. A saline-acid freshness runs through it, accented by blood orange, tangerine peel, and cocoa-powder tannins that frame this classic Michael Browne expression. I’d hold it for a few years and start pulling corks in late 2026 or early 2027. Clones: Pisoni, Pommard, Calera, Mariafeld, 667. Aged 15 months in 40% new French oak, 15% once-used French oak, and 45% neutral French oak.

2023

Convene

Convene Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

This vintage of Convene’s Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands is sourced from Escolle Vineyard, and it’s so unmistakably SLH in character: lush, supple, and boldly fruited. The nose reveals dark tones of blue and black fruit, layered with briary undertones and rich Asian spice. On the palate, it’s full and generous, with ripe dark fruit and velvety tannins that melt seamlessly into subtle notes of cocoa powder and black truffle on the finish.

2023

DK Grail

DK Grail Rosella's Vineyard Chardonnay

From Rosella’s Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, this white offers gorgeous, lifted aromatics of brown spice and a hint of anise. The wonderfully rich mid-palate is framed by exquisite saline minerality and the grip of lemon zest and apple skin. Lean, focused, and nuanced, it’s a tension-filled expression of Rosella’s. Barrel-fermented and aged in 50% new French oak. The 2022 vintage marks the inaugural release of this wine under the DK Grail label—wines that founder Dan Kosta sources from highly reputable vineyards, aiming for consistency, structure, and age-worthiness.

2023

Kosta Browne

Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir

This wine is framed by a beautifully balanced expression of fruit, spice and warmth. The mid-palate shows generous weight and plushness, enlivened by salty sea-spray notes and a wet-river-stone minerality. Hints of rose stem and rose petal lift the aromatics, while the palate offers cherry-pie spice and a touch of tension, feeling slightly coiled at this youthful stage. Excellent length, excellent tension—one to enjoy from 2027 onward.

2023

Kosta Browne

Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir

Sourced entirely from Pisoni Vineyard and fermented in stainless steel and concrete with 8% whole cluster, then aged 14 months in 38% new French oak. This 2023 release is an absolute powerhouse, bursting with blue-fruit intensity, blackberry and sagebrush notes, and velvety tannins dusted with cocoa powder. Loamy earth adds depth and grounding. The finish carries impressive length, layered with dried spice, mild Indian spices and a dash of black sea salt.

2023

Kosta Browne

Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir

Super fragrant, showing orange peel, cranberry and cherry fruit with wild sagebrush spice. Cocoa-powder tannins, sweet baking spices and pomegranate-seed crunch add texture and lift. The 2023 vintage carries medium- to full-bodied richness, layered with raspberry and gentle vanilla notes—some of that plushness coming from Clone 828—while the Pisoni clone and 777 contribute freshness and energy. A beautifully balanced Rosella’s.

2023

Kosta Browne

Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

Characteristically Santa Lucia Highlands in its bright, candied red-fruit profile and fabulous brown baking spices, yet this vintage shows less of the ultra-creamy texture typical of the region and more precision and tension. Aromas and flavors of crunchy apple-skin notes resonate, joined by clove and spiced plum, offering great length and generosity. Sourced from Garys’, Rosella’s, Pisoni, Sierra Mar and Soberanes. Fermented in stainless steel, oak and concrete, then aged 14 months in 43% new French oak.

2023

Landmark Vineyards

Escolle Road Pinot Noir

Super floral-driven, with ultra-ripe cherry fruit, blackberry, and lavender nuances, this wine is plump, soft, and satiny on the palate, showing creamy oak undertones and a hint of smoky minerality. For all its depth and generosity, a thread of juicy acidity keeps it balanced and lively. Sourced from a remarkable vineyard in the prestigious Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County, the fruit comes from a bench approximately 300 feet above the valley floor. The wine was 100% destemmed and fermented in one-ton fermenters with daily punch-downs, then barrel-aged for 10 months in French oak.

2024

Clarice Wine Company

Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir

Sourced 100% from Garys’ Vineyard, just over 75% whole clusters were used and it was aged in just over 81% new 3-year air dried French barrels, with no additions other than sulfur. The nose is assertive and intense in its ample floral and spice components, with violets, crushed rose petals, and fascinating and pure aromas of cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, fennel, cloves, and pepper. Under it all, a lovely black cherry provides the backbone. In the mouth, that black cherry is sharing time with plush blue plum, cassis, and Indian spice flavors on a palate that is generous without being overbearing. There is just enough energetic lift to make the long finish feel buoyant. This is a powerful Pinot, but a pretty one, and one packed with enough stuffing to age well for years to come. – J.R.

2024

Clarice Wine Company

Pinot Noir

This red pulls fruit from Garys’ Vineyard (66.6%) and Rosella’s Vineyard (33.4%), utilizing predominantly whole clusters and aged in mostly new 3-year air dried French barrels. Rhubarb, black cherry, brambly raspberry, black tea, blood orange, and savory herbs announce the aromatic entrance on this rich Pinot. Things get even richer on the palate, where it becomes one of the more overtly hedonistic of the Clarice SLH offerings (that I’ve tasted, anyway). It’s resplendent with sweet baking spices, ripe plums, and dense black cherry flavor. Pair it up with any white meat dish that involves berry compote, and you’ll be in great shape. – J.R.

2024

Clarice Wine Company

Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir

There’s a lot of floral finesse going on here aromatically, and it will be much to the delight of New World Pinot Noir lovers. Lavender, crushed violets, tea leaves, mint, and even some Provence herbs all make themselves known as the aromas waft from the glass, underpinned with rhubarb, pomegranate, raspberry, and savory nuances. The mouthfeel is plush and round but still elegant, with concentrated black cherry fruit and plum flavors that are simultaneously wide and deep. This is a Pinot to both contemplate and imbibe (with gusto). Aged in 77.7% new 3-year air-dried French barrels, with no additions other than sulfur. – J.R.

2024

Pisoni

Lucy Gamay Noir

60% whole cluster pressing gives this charming, bouyant Gamay a cheerful lift. It’s bright and fruity, packed with aromas and flavors of cranberries, cherry, berry compote, and lavender florals. While undeniably fun, there’s richness to the ripe fruit flavor, and elegance to the tightly wound acid core. Delightful. – J.R.

2025

Moret-Brealynn Wines

Moret-Brealynn Rose of Pinot Noir

Crafted from fruit sourced from Garys’, Rosella’s and Highlands Ranch vineyards, this rosé is the result of blending five lots (two direct press, two spending 48 hours on the skins and stems, and one spending 72 hours on the skins). A fine rose petal aroma wafts from the glass, accompanied by rich red plum and wild strawberry, with a touch of pomegranate. This has power and roundness in the mouth, that mirrors its rich color, almost reminiscent of a nice Tavel. Herbs, strawberry, and saline flavors extend on a lovely and long finish. – J.R.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2021

Producer

Name

So characteristic of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, this Pinot brims with warm raspberry compote and candied cherry fruit, wrapped around a beautifully creamy, dense mid-palate. Sumptuous toasty oak, flinty minerals and crisp acid tension give it shape and lift. Fermented 100% destemmed in small fermenters and punched down twice daily. Barrel-aged for 10 months in French oak (35% new).

2022

Producer

Name

What a gorgeous aroma: black pepper, wild blackberries, garrigue, lavender, smoked game, and iron. There is a fantastic mouthfeel to go with it, too, one that’s chock-full of red, black, and blue fruit, but also tons of minerals and surprising structure. A stunner, sourced from Côte Rôtie clones planted in the Soberanes Vineyard. – J.R.

2022

Producer

Name

Garys’ Vineyard—Dan Kosta and winemaker Shane Finley’s second source in the Santa Lucia Highlands—is also planted to the Pisoni Clone of Pinot Noir. The site typically ripens about 10 days earlier than Rosella’s, producing wines with less tannin, more finesse, and delicate blue floral character. Dan Kosta has sourced fruit from Garys’ Vineyard since 2005, when it was part of his former Kosta Browne label. The 2022 vintage is a dark-fruited, sumptuous, and savory expression, showing a bit more power and richness on the nose and a broader profile than Rosella’s. The wine opens with super savory aromatics of dried sage, rosemary, and thyme, joined by intriguing notes of yellow curry and red berry fruit that become more defined on the palate. A luxurious mocha richness envelops the senses, balanced by elegant conifer spice, while the long, refreshing finish shows crunchy red apple-skin acidity. It’s simply a delicious wine to drink.

2022

Producer

Name

This wine opens with a nostalgic burst of Red Hots hard candy—spicy and cinnamon-driven—alongside hints of blue and black fruit and warm brown baking spices. The palate is vibrant and consistent, offering juicy, plump fruit and velvety tannins supported by crunchy pomegranate seed, ripe black raspberry, and a lively blood-orange acidity that brings tension and lift. A blast of cocoa powder richness builds toward the finish, accented by lingering notes of clove. Sourced from Rosella’s Vineyard, located at the northernmost edge of the Santa Lucia Highlands and planted to the Pisoni Clone of Pinot Noir, this late-ripening, cool site produces thick-skinned berries that yield a more muscular tannin structure. Aged 15 months in 50% new French oak.

2022

Producer

Name

From the Garys’ Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands comes this ripe-cherry-fruited, vanilla-laced, cedarwood-spiced Pinot Noir, bending around rich espresso-bean nuances and supple tannins. A plump, creamy mid-palate is lifted by zesty blood-orange acidity, leading to a lingering finish of warm Indian spice and vanilla-bean cream. Sumptuously refined.

2023

Producer

Name

This wine is incredibly precise in 2023, showing that characteristic full-bodied, satiny palate feel with layers of cherry and plum fruit. A saline-acid freshness runs through it, accented by blood orange, tangerine peel, and cocoa-powder tannins that frame this classic Michael Browne expression. I’d hold it for a few years and start pulling corks in late 2026 or early 2027. Clones: Pisoni, Pommard, Calera, Mariafeld, 667. Aged 15 months in 40% new French oak, 15% once-used French oak, and 45% neutral French oak.

2023

Producer

Name

This vintage of Convene’s Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands is sourced from Escolle Vineyard, and it’s so unmistakably SLH in character: lush, supple, and boldly fruited. The nose reveals dark tones of blue and black fruit, layered with briary undertones and rich Asian spice. On the palate, it’s full and generous, with ripe dark fruit and velvety tannins that melt seamlessly into subtle notes of cocoa powder and black truffle on the finish.

2023

Producer

Name

From Rosella’s Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, this white offers gorgeous, lifted aromatics of brown spice and a hint of anise. The wonderfully rich mid-palate is framed by exquisite saline minerality and the grip of lemon zest and apple skin. Lean, focused, and nuanced, it’s a tension-filled expression of Rosella’s. Barrel-fermented and aged in 50% new French oak. The 2022 vintage marks the inaugural release of this wine under the DK Grail label—wines that founder Dan Kosta sources from highly reputable vineyards, aiming for consistency, structure, and age-worthiness.

2023

Producer

Name

This wine is framed by a beautifully balanced expression of fruit, spice and warmth. The mid-palate shows generous weight and plushness, enlivened by salty sea-spray notes and a wet-river-stone minerality. Hints of rose stem and rose petal lift the aromatics, while the palate offers cherry-pie spice and a touch of tension, feeling slightly coiled at this youthful stage. Excellent length, excellent tension—one to enjoy from 2027 onward.

2023

Producer

Name

Sourced entirely from Pisoni Vineyard and fermented in stainless steel and concrete with 8% whole cluster, then aged 14 months in 38% new French oak. This 2023 release is an absolute powerhouse, bursting with blue-fruit intensity, blackberry and sagebrush notes, and velvety tannins dusted with cocoa powder. Loamy earth adds depth and grounding. The finish carries impressive length, layered with dried spice, mild Indian spices and a dash of black sea salt.

2023

Producer

Name

Super fragrant, showing orange peel, cranberry and cherry fruit with wild sagebrush spice. Cocoa-powder tannins, sweet baking spices and pomegranate-seed crunch add texture and lift. The 2023 vintage carries medium- to full-bodied richness, layered with raspberry and gentle vanilla notes—some of that plushness coming from Clone 828—while the Pisoni clone and 777 contribute freshness and energy. A beautifully balanced Rosella’s.

2023

Producer

Name

Characteristically Santa Lucia Highlands in its bright, candied red-fruit profile and fabulous brown baking spices, yet this vintage shows less of the ultra-creamy texture typical of the region and more precision and tension. Aromas and flavors of crunchy apple-skin notes resonate, joined by clove and spiced plum, offering great length and generosity. Sourced from Garys’, Rosella’s, Pisoni, Sierra Mar and Soberanes. Fermented in stainless steel, oak and concrete, then aged 14 months in 43% new French oak.

2023

Producer

Name

Super floral-driven, with ultra-ripe cherry fruit, blackberry, and lavender nuances, this wine is plump, soft, and satiny on the palate, showing creamy oak undertones and a hint of smoky minerality. For all its depth and generosity, a thread of juicy acidity keeps it balanced and lively. Sourced from a remarkable vineyard in the prestigious Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County, the fruit comes from a bench approximately 300 feet above the valley floor. The wine was 100% destemmed and fermented in one-ton fermenters with daily punch-downs, then barrel-aged for 10 months in French oak.

2024

Producer

Name

Sourced 100% from Garys’ Vineyard, just over 75% whole clusters were used and it was aged in just over 81% new 3-year air dried French barrels, with no additions other than sulfur. The nose is assertive and intense in its ample floral and spice components, with violets, crushed rose petals, and fascinating and pure aromas of cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, fennel, cloves, and pepper. Under it all, a lovely black cherry provides the backbone. In the mouth, that black cherry is sharing time with plush blue plum, cassis, and Indian spice flavors on a palate that is generous without being overbearing. There is just enough energetic lift to make the long finish feel buoyant. This is a powerful Pinot, but a pretty one, and one packed with enough stuffing to age well for years to come. – J.R.

2024

Producer

Name

This red pulls fruit from Garys’ Vineyard (66.6%) and Rosella’s Vineyard (33.4%), utilizing predominantly whole clusters and aged in mostly new 3-year air dried French barrels. Rhubarb, black cherry, brambly raspberry, black tea, blood orange, and savory herbs announce the aromatic entrance on this rich Pinot. Things get even richer on the palate, where it becomes one of the more overtly hedonistic of the Clarice SLH offerings (that I’ve tasted, anyway). It’s resplendent with sweet baking spices, ripe plums, and dense black cherry flavor. Pair it up with any white meat dish that involves berry compote, and you’ll be in great shape. – J.R.

2024

Producer

Name

There’s a lot of floral finesse going on here aromatically, and it will be much to the delight of New World Pinot Noir lovers. Lavender, crushed violets, tea leaves, mint, and even some Provence herbs all make themselves known as the aromas waft from the glass, underpinned with rhubarb, pomegranate, raspberry, and savory nuances. The mouthfeel is plush and round but still elegant, with concentrated black cherry fruit and plum flavors that are simultaneously wide and deep. This is a Pinot to both contemplate and imbibe (with gusto). Aged in 77.7% new 3-year air-dried French barrels, with no additions other than sulfur. – J.R.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2024

2024 Pisoni Lucy Gamay Noir

Still Wine

$

2025

2025 Moret-Brealynn Wines Moret-Brealynn Rose of Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$

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