Sonoma County (Alexander Valley) – Page 2

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

The flagship Bordeaux blend for Ferrari-Carano is sourced primarily from Lookout Vineyard, which spans both Knights Valley and Alexander Valley, along with other estate sites. The wine is fermented in stainless steel, undergoes malolactic fermentation in barrel, and is aged 20 months in 50% new French oak. The nose has a wonderfully cool character—blue fruit, forest berries, and cocoa nibs. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and plenty of mid-palate concentration, offering blackberry fruit laced with cola spices and a hint of toffee on the lengthy finish. Quite refined and polished in 2023.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

Talk about a richly structured, fabulous wine—this 2023 release brims with dark cherry and blackberry fruit, rich redwood forest accents, and crushed volcanic stone. The full-bodied, juicy palate is undeniably enjoyable, with layers of white pepper and volcanic minerality on the finish that will excite sommeliers and casual drinkers alike. It’s a joyful, universal wine that overdelivers at its price point. Aged for 16 months in 45% new oak (approximately 35% French and 10% American).

Red

2023

Producer

Name

Polished, seamless, endlessly delicious—you’ll find yourself wondering, Why haven’t I been drinking this my entire life? And you’d be right to ask. This blend of 70% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah, and 3% Alicante Bouschet brings together grapes you may not know—or be able to pronounce—but together they create a harmonious red bursting with blue and black fruit, wrapped in a warm blanket of brown-spiced oak. Full-bodied, juicy, and sumptuous, it’s packed with flavor in the most irresistible way. Crafted entirely in air-dried American oak barrels (15% new, 10% one-year-old, 10% two-year-old, 30% three-year-old, and 35% four-year-old), this wine has been produced continuously since 1966, making it Ridge’s longest-running Zinfandel. The grapes are grown in three adjoining vineyards on a single soil type—an ancient Russian River washout layered with river stone and gravel. Ridge has been a Sonoma institution since 1962, known for its single-vineyard winemaking. COO & Head Winemaker John Olney is accompanied in the cellar by Shauna Rosenblum (formerly of Rock Wall Wine Company and daughter of iconic winemaker Kent Rosenblum), focusing on Lytton Springs.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

This wine stands out for its elegance and plush texture—one of the softer, more inviting offerings among the four Ridge wines I tasted on a cool Sonoma day in October 2025. Aromatically fine-tuned to red berry fruit and delicate cedarwood spice, it reveals subtle undercurrents of vanilla and shaved coconut. The palate is supple and blue-fruited, juicy and irresistible, with nuances of citrusy acidity, orange peel, and crushed cacao nib intensity carrying through the full-bodied finish. Sourced from a 19th-century Zinfandel vineyard planted in alluvial loam and clay soils at 500 feet of elevation, the centerpiece of the St. Peter’s Church Vineyard still holds original Zinfandel vines planted in the 1880s—believed to be the oldest Zinfandel vines associated with a church in the United States. Fruit from this vineyard was once used by Kent Rosenblum—founder of Rosenblum Cellars and father of current Ridge winemaker Shauna Rosenblum. The vineyard’s namesake clone of Zinfandel later became the foundational planting for nearly all vines in the mountainous 160-acre Rockpile AVA. Ridge has been a Sonoma institution since 1962, known for its single-vineyard winemaking. COO & Head Winemaker John Olney is accompanied in the cellar by Shauna Rosenblum (formerly of Rock Wall Wine Company), focusing on Lytton Springs.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

Roth’s winemaker is Henry de Lambert. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel and aged for 14 months in a mix of 50% French and 50% American oak, with 10% new. As a result, there’s a noticeable dose of barrel tannin that brings grip to the palate, along with tobacco and cedarwood notes. Cherry and plum fruit follow, joined by leather spice, cassis, and a touch of cocoa powder on the finish. This wine needs some time in bottle for the tannins to integrate more fully; once they do, the fruit should shine through more clearly.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

The 2023 Sebastiani Cabernet was made by Lisa Evich (formerly of Simi) along with Mari Wells Coyle, VP of winemaking. The blend is sourced primarily from Macama Vineyard in the northeast corner of Alexander Valley. The wine is fermented in stainless steel, then racked to barrel and aged 14 months in 25% new French oak. Sebastiani was purchased by Bill Foley in 2008. Production is carried out at the PreVail winery, while Cherryblock, for example, is vinified at Chateau St. Jean. As for the wine itself, it’s quite delicious. Dark black fruits lead the way, with rich brown baking spices, black plum, and black cherry. Fairly firm, slightly astringent tannins frame the palate—they’re compact and focused, resolving with graphite minerality and loamy earth on the lengthy finish. A powerful, bold red that will benefit from time to unwind.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

TASTING NOTE: Lot #59. Barrel Sample: I began rating and reviewing Silver Oak Cabernets a couple of years ago, and recently published a major update on the winery for Decanter.com. Research for that piece meant regularly tasting with the Duncan family, and at one point, Tim and Matt Duncan dug into their personal cellar to share older vintages—wines that had aged impeccably. This bottling will prove to be no exception, but good luck holding onto it for too long: lifted, fragrant aromas of dark-toned sage, underbrush, and smoked paprika lead into a full-bodied, powerful red with excellent tension. Deep forest berry flavors and meaty tannins wrap around the bold fruit and savoury aromatics. Long, terrifically structured, and built to last. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: A unique opportunity to blend two varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, from estate vineyards in the Alexander Valley, “Essence of Estate” provided Winemaker Dan Kemp the opportunity to single out the most interesting lots and experiment beyond the traditional Silver Oak winemaking style to craft this one-of-a-kind wine. Silver Oak Cellars was founded in 1972, renowned for crafting Cabernet Sauvignon. Fueled by passion and driven by a relentless pursuit of perfection, its meticulously crafted Cabernet Sauvignons are exclusively aged in American Oak, creating wines of elegance, complexity, and consistency. Silver Oak’s wineries in Napa Valley and Alexander Valley are the first production wineries to achieve LEED Platinum certification, underscoring Silver Oak’s leadership in sustainable winemaking. Their commitment to quality and excellence has expanded other wine varietals and brands across Twomey, Timeless Napa Valley, and Prince Hill Vineyards, each providing a unique yet consistently exceptional wine experience. “Essence of Estate” opens with a bouquet of floral aromas, including lavender, lilac, and jasmine, leading into a rich blend of spices including clove, black pepper, and cedar. Beneath these notes, dark fruit accents of blackberry and black currant create a harmonious depth. On the palate, the spice and floral characteristics are echoed, enhanced by a touch of herbal freshness. With its refined structure, the wine offers smooth, velvety tannins that glide effortlessly into a satisfying, graceful finish. WINEMAKER(S): Dan Kemp ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: June 2026 ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: July 2027 National Distribution: Includes all 50 states and Washington, DC International Distribution: Includes Canada, Denmark, Japan, Norway; please inquire for additional countries.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

An interpretation of a Right Bank blend, this wine takes its name from the fault line that runs through the Skipstone vineyard. Aged 19 months in 68% new French oak, it presents a distinctly different aromatic profile from the rest of the range. The bouquet is lifted and spicy, with notes of smoked and sweet paprika, a hint of coriander, and layers of blackberry, black cherry, and spiced plum. Crushed slate minerality emerges on the palate, adding structure and tension. The texture is slightly gritty in the best way, offering grip and precision.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

A barrel selection of the finest Cabernet Franc blocks on the Skipstone estate, this wine was aged 19 months in 100% new French oak. Exceptionally refined, it captures the pure essence of the variety with lifted aromatics of sagebrush, tobacco, bay leaf, blue slate, and a touch of paprika. Medium to full-bodied, it offers generous layers of dark, ripe black fruit supported by crisp, finely etched tannins. There’s remarkable harmony between the fruit’s richness and the wine’s savory, mineral-driven tension, resulting in length and precision. The structure is so compelling it nearly eclipses tasting descriptions, leaving only one lasting impression: sheer deliciousness. And in 10 to 20 years, this wine will evolve into something truly extraordinary—worthy of patience and a place in the cellar.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

Sourced from the oldest vines on the steep, gravelly hillsides of the Skipstone estate, this wine was aged 19 months in 70% new French oak. It’s impeccably polished from the first sniff to the last sip, with ultra-smooth, satiny tannins that glide across the palate like polished obsidian. The fruit profile is deep and dark, leaning toward blue-toned fruit layered with notes of sage and pine forest. Subtle cocoa powder nuances linger on the long, saline, acid-driven finish.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

The introduction to the Skipstone lineup, this wine is crafted from the four red Bordeaux varieties planted on the estate and aged 19 months in 40% new French oak. First released in 2017, it serves as an elegant entry point to the Skipstone portfolio at $75. The aromatics are pure and expressive, offering vibrant notes of black cherry, blackberry, cocoa powder, and tobacco, layered with deep forest tones and a thread of mineral tension. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied with beautifully ripe, crunchy red and black fruit, laced with graphite and accented by delicate red floral notes that bring lift and finesse to the finish.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

Added to the portfolio in 2021, this Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a desire to explore vineyard sources beyond the Skipstone estate. Aged 19 months in 60% new French oak, it offers a seductive red-fruited profile with notes of red apple skin, cherry, raspberry, and cranberry. Fragrant hints of sagebrush and bay laurel weave through the bouquet, adding savory complexity. The palate is medium-bodied and layered, with crunchy apple-skin tannins lightly dusted in cocoa powder. As the wine opens, deeper tones of dark berry fruit, wet slate, and loamy earth emerge, all carried by a subtle salinity that extends through the long finish.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

A barrel selection of Skipstone’s best Cabernet Sauvignon blocks from the estate, this wine was aged 19 months in 100% new French oak. It is strikingly polished, pure, and seductive—full-bodied yet effortlessly silky in texture. The palate evokes the sensation of a perfectly ripe blueberry dusted with cocoa powder, layered with earthy notes reminiscent of a redwood grove after rain—loamy soil, red bark, and cool forest air. The tannins are exquisitely fine and powdery, supporting a finish that lingers for what feels like minutes. Structural yet seamless, this wine’s quiet power and underlying tension give it poise and vitality. It’s so graceful and integrated that you might miss its depth if you’re not paying attention—but you’ll love the palate energy and tension no matter what.

Red

2024

Producer

Name

TASTING NOTE: Lot #47. Barrel Sample: Winemaker Abby Watt works with consulting winemaker Jean Hoefliger, who’s on speed dial for some of Napa’s most elite estates. He also happens to be one of the tallest winemakers around—and his tannins are often just as tall, or at least elegantly elongated. Here, Watt and Hoefliger deliver a full-bodied, bold red blend with an expressive nose of brambly dark berry fruit, graphite, and fragrant violets. Layers of graham cracker and cinnamon add warmth and intrigue. The palate is super fresh, with bold yet supple tannins and impressive depth and concentration—all while remaining remarkably light on its feet. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: “Convergence” captures the rare moment when Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon ferment together in perfect harmony. For the first time, these two varietals ripened at the same time at Bell Mountain Ranch, a rare alignment that allowed for an experimental co-fermentation. Normally, these two varietals never reach peak ripeness simultaneously, making this unique harvest a fleeting moment in time. This exceptional vintage captures a singular, never-to-be-repeated experience in winemaking, where the perfect conditions allowed for a collaboration between two varietals that rarely share the same stage. Located at the southernmost tip of Alexander Valley, Bell Mountain Ranch sits in one of the cooler spots in the region, benefiting from the lower night temperatures that preserve freshness in the grapes. This vineyard is truly unique, with steep hillsides and growing conditions that closely mirror those of Bordeaux. Preserving the land is at the heart of the Medlock Ames philosophy. The vineyard is certified organic and regenerative organic, ensuring that their practices nourish the soils, plants, and workers. The bold fruitiness of Malbec in “Convergence” softens the gentle tannins of the Cabernet Sauvignon, creating a seamless fusion that enhances both varietals with layers of blackcurrant, cassis, and subtle earthy notes. The wine has a perfect balance of fruitiness, smooth tannins, and freshness, with a lingering finish that showcases the best of both varietals. It’s bold yet refined, with a complexity that evolves with every sip. WINEMAKER(S): Abby Watt ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: January 2026 ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: March 2026 National Distribution: CA International Distribution: None

Red

2024

Producer

Name

Aged 63% in 400L French oak barrels (85% new), 36% in stainless steel, and 1% in a ceramic egg, this white blends all the resulting textures in a fun way, upping the herbal tinge notes, fresh citrus aromas, and deliciously ripe tropical fruit flavors. – J.R.

Cristaldi Scores

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Rodney Strong

Sauvignon Blanc

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$