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Cristaldi Scores

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Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2023

Lincourt

Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir

This expressive and beautifully layered Pinot Noir from the Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills offers a compelling blend of red cherry fruit, agave, violet, and rose stem aromatics. Notes of espresso bean and cherry-rhubarb pie lend richness and warmth, while muscular tannins and cedarwood tones, tinged with incense, provide structure and depth. Spice notes unfold seamlessly across the palate, adding complexity and intrigue. A wonderfully zesty and multidimensional expression from Lincourt.

2023

Liquid Farm

Four Pinot Noir

The ‘Four’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection comprised in equal parts from Fiddlestix, Pali, Spear, and Radian vineyards. Fermented in stainless steel and aged up to 18 months in a mix of mostly neutral and approximately 25% new French oak, with 15% whole cluster inclusion, this wine offers exceptional complexity and balance. It captures the darker fruit power and tension of Radian, the vivid raspberry brightness of Fiddlestix, the plush texture and softness from Pali, and the spice-driven nuance of Spear. Aromatically expressive, it delivers coriander, incense, and cedarwood wrapped around a medium-bodied palate of pure dark fruit. Sinewy, fine-grained tannins give structure and persistence.

2023

Liquid Farm

Golden Slope Chardonnay

The Golden Slope Chardonnay—sourced from Rita’s Crown, Hilltop, Clos Pepe, Spear, and Kessler-Haak—is native fermented and aged up to 16 months in mostly puncheons, with about 15% new French oak. Founder Jeff Nelson notes that the barrel program plays a vital role in leveraging the muscularity of their whites, particularly in this bottling. The 2023 vintage is among the most focused expressions of Golden Slope in recent memory. It’s as gorgeously layered and fragrant as ever, bursting with lemon and lime zest, apricot, and tangerine oil, framed by supple, juicy fruit and laser-focused saline-acid tension. The finish is long, detailed, and expressive, with crushed Marcona almonds and a hint of honeycomb richness.

2023

Liquid Farm

SBC Pinot Noir

This 100% Pinot Noir “SBC” cuvée (first released in 2015) blends fruit from Fiddlestix, Spear, Pali, La Rinconada, and Radian vineyards. Fermented in open-top stainless steel with punchdowns, the wine is then aged up to 11 months in neutral French oak with about 10% new oak and 10–15% whole cluster inclusion. The result is absolutely gorgeous: vivid ruby red fruit, grapefruit zest, rhubarb, rose petal, and espresso bean aromas lead into a medium-bodied palate of luscious cherry fruit and velvet-textured tannins. Focused and linear, with crunchy acidity that lifts the finish and keeps things fresh and energetic.

2023

Liquid Farm

White Hill Chardonnay

The 2023 White Hill Chardonnay—named in homage to Chablis and the diatomaceous soils of the Sta. Rita Hills—is native fermented and aged for 11 months in a mix of neutral barrels and large-format French barriques (with zero new oak). It showcases exceptional depth and drive thanks to the long, cool growing season. Fruit is sourced from some of the AVA’s most iconic sites: Hilltop, Kessler-Haak, Clos Pepe, Spear, and Rita’s Crown. Lemon peel, white apricot, and honeycomb lead the aromatic charge, while the palate is etched with crackling saline-mineral tension. There’s serious mid-palate density, but also thrilling lift—bright lemon-lime acidity, layered white floral notes, and a mouthwatering brininess that lingers through the long, linear finish. It’s one of the most complete and textural White Hill releases to date.

2023

Longoria Wines

Chardonnay

A perfect snapshot of Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay, this bottling from Longoria opens with a Meyer lemon–infused bouquet that sets the tone for what follows. On the medium- to full-bodied palate, fragrant notes of candied ginger and quince unfold with round, rich texture and silky phenolics. The finish is long and mouthwatering, laced with salted candied lemon peel and a gentle dusting of fragrant baking spices. Just dazzling.

2023

Longoria Wines

La Encantada Vineyard Pinot Noir

From La Encantada Vineyard, this Pinot Noir begins with a gentle, understated bouquet—delicate red berry fruit and subtle spice—but quickly unfolds on the palate with remarkable transformation. What starts as restrained becomes expansive, revealing layers of dark, juicy cherry and plum fruit supported by burly, structured tannins with velvety edges. A firm spine of tangy acidity carries the richness and depth of fruit through a long, spice-laced finish.

2023

Marbeso

Robert Rae Ranch Syrah

Fermented with 100% whole clusters, this Estrella Clone Syrah from Robert Rae Ranch—just 9.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean—delivers all the hallmark aromatics you’d expect: violet, black cherry, and black olive. But what sets it apart is its electrifying structure. Medium-bodied, zippy, and perfumed, it showcases soaring tannins and lip-smacking acidity that gives the wine serious cut and tension. Bright, floral, and bracingly fresh, this Syrah begs to be served with a chill and paired with hearty fare—think rich pastas or wood-fired pizza.

2023

Marbeso

Spear Vineyard Chardonnay

From the Spear Vineyard, this Chardonnay is layered with signature traits of the site: rich honeycomb, overripe lemon, and crushed Marcona almonds. On the palate, it’s textured and expressive, with subtle apple skin tannins framing flavors of yellow apple, ripe pear, and warm baking spices. The wine carries through to a lengthy, beautifully bright finish.

2023

Melville

Estate Chardonnay

The flagship estate Chardonnay is sourced from all four of Melville’s estate ranches. The fruit is harvested overnight and pressed before sunrise into tank, followed by a 24-hour cold settle before being racked to barrel. Fermentation occurs entirely in neutral oak, with the wine aged for eight months prior to bottling. This is a flinty, reductive Chardonnay on the nose, with a candied minerality that lifts its fragrant baking spice character. Layers of Meyer lemon, pear, white peach, and a hint of agave nectar unfold on the palate, all framed by scintillating acidity. The finish is long and complex, marked by crushed Marcona almonds, lime blossoms, and lime zest.

2023

Melville

Estate Pinot Noir

This wine is a blend of fruit from all four of the estate’s ranches: the 40-acre East Side Vineyard, which surrounds the winery; the 40-acre West Side Vineyard, located about half a mile west; Rancho Nuevo, a 36-acre site to the southwest that follows the Santa Ynez River and benefits from cooler conditions; and La Chapelle, their newest planting with roughly 27 acres under vine. A total of 17 different Pinot Noir clones are represented in this blend. Fermentation includes 40% whole clusters in 1.5-ton open-top stainless steel vessels, with hand punchdowns performed twice daily. The wine is pressed to neutral barrels and aged for up to 11 months. Thanks to stem inclusion, the aromatics are fantastically expressive—incense, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cocoa nibs. The palate is medium-bodied with perfectly ripe, assertive tannins that grip all corners of the mouth before resolving into a fine, granular texture. Juicy, plump red berry fruit is tinged with spicy notes of sage and rhubarb, all supported by excellent length and vibrant tension.

2023

Melville

Estate Pinot Noir, Anna's Block

Anna’s Block Pinot Noir comes from the West Side Vineyard and is a combination of Clones 114 and 667, grown on the northern end of the site. The fruit was fermented in 1.5-ton open-top stainless steel bins with 67% whole cluster, then pressed to French oak barrels—roughly 10% new—and aged for up to 15 months. The nose is deeply intriguing: rose petal stems, dusty cherry, and crushed volcanic stone minerality lift from the glass, followed by incense and perfumed rose petals that carry through to the palate. Tart red cherry fruit layers into a juicy mid-palate richness, as this medium-bodied wine builds toward a long finish marked by tobacco-infused tannins and just a whisper of wood smoke. It’s layered, complex, and wildly distinct from Sandy’s Block on the estate—more brooding and muscular, yet still backed by vibrant acidity that makes it an ideal pairing for braised meats or rich mushroom dishes.

2023

Melville

Estate Pinot Noir, Block M

The Block M Pinot Noir comes from the West Side Vineyard, situated on the plateau that rises above The Terraces. It’s planted to a mix of Clones 115 and 114 on clay soils. The clusters here are small, the berries even smaller, with intensely thick skins—and because they receive direct sunlight, the stems ripen fully as well. The wine is fermented with 80% whole cluster in 1.5-ton open-top stainless steel bins, then aged for 15 months in neutral French oak. This is an aromatic wonder, with layers of incense, red berry fruit, rose stem, dried rose petal, and savory notes of dried sage and thyme. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it delivers a dense core of ripe black cherry and spiced plum, along with Chinese five spice and coriander. The tannins are spicy, sinewy, and etched—wrapping around the palate before resolving into a finish marked by dark cocoa. It’s a Pinot Noir for Cabernet Sauvignon lovers—chewy, expressive, and deeply complex.

2023

Melville

Estate Pinot Noir, Sandy's Block

The Sandy’s Block Pinot Noir comes from the east side of the estate, surrounding the winery. Though elevation here is relatively low—around 150 feet—this block sits on the steepest portion of the site, nestled in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains. The soils are predominantly sandy and silty loam, and a mix of Pinot Noir clones is planted throughout the block. The fruit was night-harvested, followed by a 7-day cold soak in 1.5-ton open-top stainless steel fermenters. The wine was pressed to barrel and aged for 15 months in neutral oak, with about 10% new French oak included. It was made with 50% whole cluster. The aromatics are spicy and expressive—leading with incense and red cherry. On the palate, red fruit builds with apple-skin tannins and cherry pit notes, all framed by a bracing acid profile. There’s an energetic pomegranate seed character that drives the lengthy finish. This is definitely one of the most food-friendly wines in their lineup.

2023

Melville

Estate Pinot Noir, Terraces

The Terraces comes from vines planted on west-facing terraced hillsides, exposed to powerful Pacific winds and afternoon sun. The site transitions from sandy loam at the base to more clay-rich soils near the top. Fermentation took place in 1.5-ton open-top stainless steel bins with 67% whole cluster, followed by 15 months of aging in French oak barrels, about 10% of which were new. This wine opens with a host of rich mineral characteristics on the nose—dusty red cherry, blood orange, and a hint of saline. It’s a more powerful expression, with robust, chunky tannins framing a concentrated core. A saline-scented acidity—almost black sea salt in character—threads through the palate, adding lift and definition. Quite a wine you can chew on—ideal with a well-salted steak.

2023

Paradise Springs Winery

Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard Pinot Noir

Sourced from the Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard—owned by Dave Phinney of Orin Swift fame—this single-vineyard Pinot Noir from Paradise Springs delivers a bold, assertive expression of the site. Bright and tart red fruit leads the way, but it’s the structure that steals the show: robust, powerful tannins grip the palate with authority, finishing bone dry and streaked with piercing, acid-driven brightness.

2023

Samsara

Rancho La Vina Pinot Noir

Just nine barrels were produced of this expressive and captivating Pinot Noir, sourced from Rancho La Viña Vineyard. Native yeast fermentation with 100% whole clusters and extended barrel aging lend the wine remarkable complexity and aromatic lift. Black cherry fruit leaps from the glass, laced with incense, smoked paprika, and exotic spice. Finely layered apple-skin tannins provide excellent grip and texture across the mid-palate, while the dark cherry and spice notes carry through an everlasting, savory finish.

2023

Sandhi

Domaine de la Côte Chardonnay Romance

Oh my goodness—just wait until you stick your nose in the glass. As the name suggests, this Chardonnay will romance you (and fool you) into thinking it hails from Burgundy. It doesn’t—it’s pure Sta. Rita Hills—but it delivers all the elegance and tension you’d expect from France. The nose is a stunner: lemon oil, lemon zest, white peach, wet river stone, and that unmistakable crushed oyster shell sea spray character from the region’s diatomaceous-rich soils. And that’s just the beginning. On the palate, it’s broad yet focused, with saline-scented acidity underscoring layers of lemon and tangerine oil. Pressed wildflowers and mineral energy carry the finish, which seems to go on forever.

2023

The Joy Fantastic

Estate Pinot Noir

This is a beautifully composed, acid-driven wine that’s as food-friendly as it is pretty. Bursting with bright, expressive, and crunchy red berry fruit, it’s seamlessly layered with integrated baking spices and lifted by vibrant energy. Sourced from a steep 5-acre hillside vineyard planted in 2014 by Amy Christine MW and Peter Hunken, the wine delivers electricity and elegance in equal measure. A perfect companion for a leisurely meal with friends—or a nostalgic binge of classic SNL episodes.

2024

Melville

Estate Chardonnay, Clone 76 Inox

This wine was fermented in stainless steel using grapes sourced from the West Side Vineyard, where naturally low pH levels contribute to soaring, ripping acidity. It’s cold-pressed, cold-fermented, and cold-aged—every step designed to preserve freshness and minerality. There’s no oak influence and no lees stirring. Once fermentation finishes—after about three weeks—the wine is racked to stainless steel for an additional four months before bottling. The result is a bracing, delicious wine with lemon-lime brightness, white flowers, jasmine, and honeysuckle. The acidity is like a beam of light—laser-focused, bright, and crunchy—building toward a long, saline-mineral finish that’s practically perfectly made for seafood.

2024

Melville

Estate Grenache Rosé

Just before harvest, the Grenache vines are lightened of their load and those grapes are used to make this rosé The grapes are foot-stomped with 48 hours of skin contact before being pressed to neutral barrels for fermentation. The wine is then aged for six months prior to bottling. Only about 300 cases are produced each year. This vintage is exceptionally fresh and focused, with bright, crunchy red berry fruit, layers of grapefruit zest, cherry, and cherry pit, and a hint of tangerine peel. A lovely saline-acid mineral tension carries through the long, drawn-out finish. Utterly refreshing, bright, and beautifully balanced.

2024

Nisi Wines

Fiddlestix Vineyard Chardonnay

This is a lemon-bright white with seaspray minerality and a kiss of vanilla and baking spice that carries through on the medium-bodied palate. The flavors build with intensity, finishing with notes of toasty, flaky croissant and chalky minerality. An inviting and delicious Chardonnay. Sourced from own-rooted vines in two blocks of Fiddlestix Vineyard—Block 2A (massal) and Block 2B (Clone 76)—the wine was barrel-fermented with no stirring and aged on the lees for 10 months in 40% new French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered under DIAM 30 closure. Founded in 2024 by winemaker Adam Edelman, Nisi Wines is dedicated to crafting minimal-intervention Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from top sites across the Sta. Rita Hills.

2024

Nisi Wines

Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard Pinot Noir

Bright, candied red fruit defines the character of this site and appellation, accented by cedarwood nuances and sweet brown baking spices. Medium-bodied, it shows crunchy apple-skin tannins that frame supple, plump red fruit. This is a strong effort from the site, carrying a saline, wet-stone minerality that clearly reflects the Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard, owned by Dave Phinney. The vineyard sits on the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. This 100% Pinot Noir is a co-fermentation of two blocks (50% Clone 828 and 50% Pommard Clone), using a mix of punchdowns and pumpovers. The wine was barrel-aged for 10 months in neutral French oak (once-used Chardonnay barrels) and bottled unfined and unfiltered under DIAM 30 closure. Founded in 2024 by winemaker Adam Edelman—whose experience includes Realm Cellars, Fait-Main, and Teeter-Totter—Nisi Wines focuses on minimal-intervention Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from top sites across the Sta. Rita Hills.

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Vintage

Wine

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Rating

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2022

Producer

Name

Green apple and candied minerality leap from the glass, introducing this vibrant sparkler. Beneath the assertive, fine mousse lies a core of weighty orchard fruit, unfolding with layers of white plum and golden Rainier cherry on the light-bodied palate.

2022

Producer

Name

Syrah fruit for this wine comes from both the East Side and West Side estate properties. It was fermented with 65% whole cluster in 1.5-ton open-top stainless steel bins, then pressed to barrel and aged for 11 months prior to bottling. This is a far more approachable Syrah than Donna’s Block—juicier and more supple, with blackberry, black cherry, and blueberry fruit leading the way. The tannins are gentler, yet still carry a crisp, crunchy edge, balanced by expressive, juicy acidity with a blood orange character. Aromatically complex, the wine offers layers of perfumed rose petals, clove, and incense, with dried sage and spearmint adding nuance. Super fresh, inviting, and wonderfully complete.

2022

Producer

Name

Donna’s Block is located on the east side of the estate, surrounding the winery. Fermented with 100% whole cluster in 1.5-ton open-top stainless steel bins, this wine requires foot-stomping in the early days to break things up enough for punchdowns. “The stems are perfectly ripe,” says assistant winegrower Garrett Adelman. After fermentation, the wine is pressed to all neutral oak and aged for 18 months. Typically picked in November, the grapes never become overripe—pH remains low, preserving freshness and balance. Let me tell you: this is one of the most expressive Syrahs you’ll taste from the Sta. Rita Hills. It’s a complex enigma of a wine—medium- to full-bodied, with firm, taut, mineral-laced tannins that carry a subtle meaty quality, reminiscent of the best black truffle charcuterie you’ve ever had. That profound structure frames juicy black cherry, early-season blueberry, and blackberry seed, layered with clove, allspice, incense, rose stem, perfumed violets, both fresh and dried. The finish? So very long. Just—wow.

2022

Producer

Name

Just four barrels were produced of this Donnachadh Vineyard Syrah from Alban and Estrella clones, aged 10 months in French oak. The nose is deeply enticing—rich with spicy charcuterie, violets, and black cherry fruit. On the medium-bodied palate, firm, mineral-laced tannins and zesty saline acidity deliver mouthwatering tension. Layers of blackberry coulis, cherry pit, vanilla, and ironstone minerality unfurl across a long, tightly coiled finish. Still youthful and structured, this wine promises a decade or more of compelling evolution.

2022

Producer

Name

The 2022 Samsara Chardonnay hails from Francesca Vineyard, a windswept, seven-acre site on the far western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills, where sandy-loam soils and full Pacific exposure yield intensely concentrated fruit. Aromatically, it lifts from the glass like a perfectly buttered bowl of popcorn—rich with caramel, smoky toasted oak, and butter croissant notes. Despite the decadent nose, the palate is more focused and linear, with plenty of mid-palate richness layered with baking spices. Bright lemony acidity keeps it taut, balanced by citrus oil richness—think lemon and tangerine—finishing with salted, toasted almonds. A bold, generous expression of Chardonnay from this extreme coastal site.

2022

Producer

Name

This Syrah hails from John Sebastiano Vineyard—one of the crown jewels of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Windswept and wild, it’s an exceptional site for Syrah, and this 2022 rendition from Samsara is a case in point. High-toned and aromatic, it opens with violet, rose petal, dried lavender, bay laurel and black truffle charcuterie, all laced with a dusting of sweetly smoked paprika. The palate is beautifully supple, medium to full-bodied, with silky tannins that carry an intriguing mineral edge—think crushed red rock or iron. It finishes with slate-like texture and tension, leaving a vivid, dynamic impression. A knockout effort from winemaker Matt Brady and the cellar team. Joan and Dave Szkutak, owners of Samsara, continue to assemble an impressive portfolio of utterly riveting wines.

2022

Producer

Name

A very pretty and elegant red-fruited Pinot Noir, this wine opens with fragrant aromas of baking spices, espresso bean, clove, and a delicate touch of coriander. Juicy blood orange acidity brings lift and vibrancy, framing a lengthy, nuanced finish marked by pink sea salt and gentle, well-integrated tannins.

2023

Producer

Name

For a compelling case study in site expression, taste this Bentrock Vineyard Pinot Noir alongside Dragonette’s Radian Vineyard Pinot Noir. You’ll immediately feel like a hopeful Master of Wine or Master Sommelier—the wines are structurally distinct yet flavorfully aligned. These are Dragonette’s top Pinots of the vintage, both bursting with red cherry fruit and exquisitely defined brown baking spices—think the finest Indian spice blends, perfectly dialed-in medium-roast espresso, and a curl of dried blood orange peel hanging from the rim of a Manhattan. Add in smoky incense and crushed slatestone minerality, and the aromatics alone are worth the study. On the palate, however, the wines diverge. Bentrock is gracious, giving, supple, and seductive. Radian is darker-toned, brooding, reserved—full of secrets. Bentrock tells you everything you ever wanted to know. Radian is coy, plays hard to get, and knows it’s the best-dressed Pinot in the room. It’s coiled, like a lifelong jogger planning to live forever. Bentrock, on the other hand, is Jim Belushi at the start of his SNL career—youthful, charming, and full of potential—and will finish somewhere between John Mulaney’s honesty and the sharp-witted Tina Fey’s antics.

2023

Producer

Name

This 2023 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir from Dragonette is a power-packed, juicy, and supple red, bursting with alluring aromatics of brown spices—think coriander, cumin, star anise, and a hint of curry—layered with dried rose petal, incense, and ground espresso bean. On the medium-bodied palate, tart, juicy red cherry and raspberry fruit are supported by salty, toasty, smoky minerality that carries through a long, lingering finish. It’s so appealing, you’ll be hard-pressed to put the glass down.

2023

Producer

Name

For a textbook lesson in terroir-driven contrast, pour Dragonette’s Radian Vineyard Pinot Noir side by side with their Bentrock bottling. You’ll find yourself stepping into the shoes of a Master of Wine candidate or an aspiring Master Sommelier—the structural differences are unmistakable, even as the core flavors remain strikingly aligned. These are Dragonette’s flagship Pinots from the vintage, each bursting with crystalline red cherry fruit and meticulously defined brown spice—like top-shelf Indian spices, finely ground espresso beans, a dried blood orange peel garnishing a Manhattan, and a wisp of smoky incense over slatestone minerality. But it’s the palate where their personalities split. Bentrock is open-hearted, plush, and inviting. Radian is moodier, more reserved—brimming with hidden depth. Bentrock chats freely, telling you its whole story in the first sip. Radian keeps you guessing, its elegance cool and tightly wound, dressed to impress and in no rush to reveal its full self. Radian is a long-distance runner, lean and disciplined, with stamina for days. Bentrock is Jim Belushi entering his SNL era—charismatic, a little wild, and on the cusp of greatness.

2023

Producer

Name

Only 300 cases of Dragonette’s 2023 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir were produced—and what a wine it is. Crunchy cranberry and cherry fruit meld with ground espresso and a burst of dark Pacific Ocean sea salt. The beautifully sculpted tannins bring a sense of polish and ease, offering a smooth, approachable expression. Yet underneath, there’s serious structure built for aging. But let’s be honest—you’re probably going to drink it all between now and next weekend.

2023

Producer

Name

Sourced from the famed Bentrock Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA—perched right next to Radian on the literal edge of the AVA boundary—this Chardonnay from Dusty Nabor is almost comical in name alone, because the wine itself is anything but. Bentrock is, in fact, the dusty neighbor to Radian, where powdery white diatomaceous soils are relentlessly blasted by Pacific winds. The result? A Chardonnay so salty and lemon-charged you’d be forgiven for thinking it hailed from Chablis—or even a Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc. But no matter where your mind places it, this wine is unmistakably Sta. Rita Hills. Its lemon-lime and white flower intensity only deepens on a razor-sharp, acid-driven palate, finishing with a wet slate minerality so stark and pulsating, it’s like staring into the depths of the Milky Way.

2023

Producer

Name

A single-vineyard release, Ashley is named for Fess Parker’s daughter and sourced from a hillside site just 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean, where sandy, low-vigor soils yield fruit of exceptional purity and concentration. This Pinot Noir opens with rich black cherry aromas infused with clove, incense, and espresso bean. On the palate, ripe, sweet, and fleshy cherry fruit brings supple weight and satiny density to the mid-palate. Powdery tannins build gracefully into a medium- to full-bodied finish, where a panoply of brown spices, wild herbs, and pressed flowers adds depth and dimension.

2023

Producer

Name

Aged entirely in stainless steel, this is a crisp, lemon-driven white with aromas of yellow apple and white flowers. On the palate, it’s bright, zippy, and zesty, with lemon oil and a steely mineral intensity that lingers through the finish. A subtle kiss of vivid dried wild herbs—so emblematic of the area during peak growing season—adds regional character and complexity.

2023

Producer

Name

This expressive and beautifully layered Pinot Noir from the Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills offers a compelling blend of red cherry fruit, agave, violet, and rose stem aromatics. Notes of espresso bean and cherry-rhubarb pie lend richness and warmth, while muscular tannins and cedarwood tones, tinged with incense, provide structure and depth. Spice notes unfold seamlessly across the palate, adding complexity and intrigue. A wonderfully zesty and multidimensional expression from Lincourt.

2023

Producer

Name

The ‘Four’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection comprised in equal parts from Fiddlestix, Pali, Spear, and Radian vineyards. Fermented in stainless steel and aged up to 18 months in a mix of mostly neutral and approximately 25% new French oak, with 15% whole cluster inclusion, this wine offers exceptional complexity and balance. It captures the darker fruit power and tension of Radian, the vivid raspberry brightness of Fiddlestix, the plush texture and softness from Pali, and the spice-driven nuance of Spear. Aromatically expressive, it delivers coriander, incense, and cedarwood wrapped around a medium-bodied palate of pure dark fruit. Sinewy, fine-grained tannins give structure and persistence.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2022

2022 Loubud Wines Peake Ranch Blanc de Noirs

Sparkling Wine

N/A

2022

2022 Melville Estate Syrah

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 Melville Estate Syrah, Donna’s Block

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 Paradise Springs Winery Donnachadh Vineyard Syrah

Still Wine

N/A

2022

2022 Samsara Francesca Vineyard Chardonnay

Still Wine

N/A

2022

2022 Samsara John Sebastiano Vineyard Syrah

Still Wine

N/A

2022

2022 Seagrape Wine Co. Hibbit’s Ranch Pinot Noir

Still Wine

N/A

2023

2023 Dragonette Bentrock Vineyard Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Dragonette Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Dragonette Radian Vineyard Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Dragonette Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Dusty Nabor Bentrock Vineyard Chardonnay

Still Wine

N/A

2023

2023 Fess Parker Winery Ashley’s Pinot Noir

Still Wine

N/A

2023

2023 Lincourt Rancho Santa Rosa Chardonnay Steel

Still Wine

N/A

2023

2023 Lincourt Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir

Still Wine

N/A

2023

2023 Liquid Farm Four Pinot Noir

Still Wine

N/A

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