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Cristaldi Scores

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Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2022

Channing Daughters Winery

Mosaico

Mosaico is an exotic field blend from a complanted block in the Sylvanus Vineyard on our home farm in Bridgehampton. The 2022 vintage is composed of 32% Pinot Grigio, 29% Chardonnay, 14% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Muscat Ottonel, 8% Gewürztraminer, and 7% Tocai Friulano. All varieties were grown, harvested, pressed, and wild-fermented together in stainless steel. This is a wild beast of a wine—in the best way—bursting with orange oil, tangerine zest, and mouth-puckering acidity. There’s a focused squeeze of lime, lemon, and grapefruit on the palate that makes it incredibly vivid and energetic. An absoulte must with food.

2022

Comstock

Sangiacomo Vineyard Chardonnay

This Sangiacomo Vineyard Chardonnay is unabashedly full-flavored, leaning confidently into its toasty oak profile, which drives both the aromatics and the finish. Between those layers, notes of lemon, lemon curd, bruised yellow apple, and honeysuckle emerge, adding depth and warmth. Bold and expressive, this is not a Chardonnay for the faint of heart—but it’s one that pairs beautifully with a fine cigar or a contemplative evening.

White

2022

Concannon Vineyard

Reserve Chardonnay

Woody spice, bright lemony lift, and heady floral notes define the seductive nose of this Chardonnay. The medium-bodied palate unfolds with layers of biscuit and toast, complemented by a medley of melon flavors. -JR

White

2022

Darcie Kent Estate Winery

Triska Vineyard Blanc de Noir

Sourced from Triska Vineyard, the Pinot Noir for this sparkling wine grows on north-facing slopes under shade cloth, and was picked early—around August 9. Winemaker Julian Halasz partners with a sparkling house in Lodi for aging. The wine spent 19 months on the lees and was finished with a dosage of 8 g/L. It opens with a lovely biscuity nose of lemony brioche and fresh pastry. The mousse is rich and creamy, with a finish marked by crushed Marcona almonds and a hint of vanilla bean. Baked orchard fruit fills in the mid-palate, making this a thoroughly delicious sparkler.

White

2022

Domaine de la Rivière

Next Door Neighbor Chardonnay

The Next Door Neighbor Chardonnay, tasted alongside the Ritchie Vineyard bottling, is an engaging study in contrast. While the Ritchie leans into rich, toasty oak, this wine highlights a more fruit-driven and textural style. Supple orchard fruit, buttered croissant, and quince define the aromatics, carrying seamlessly onto the medium- to full-bodied palate. Layers of crushed almond, a touch of honey, and ripe pear-skin tannins extend through a long, graceful finish. Sourced from Lone Oak (65%) and Flora Marie (35%) vineyards, this Chardonnay is composed of 65% Old Wente and 35% Montrachet clones, fermented with native yeast. The wine was aged 11 months in 37% new French oak and one stainless-steel barrel. Domaine de la Rivière is a family-owned winery nestled in the renowned Middle Reach neighborhood of the Russian River Valley. Growers since 2011, they released their first vintage in 2017.

White

2022

Domaine de la Rivière

Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay

Sourced entirely from Ritchie Vineyard and crafted from Old Wente Clone Chardonnay, this wine is fermented with native yeast and aged 11 months in 27% new French oak, followed by two months in stainless steel barrels before bottling. The bouquet is stunning—bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of baked citrus, orchard fruit, honeysuckle, and jasmine, all layered with the richness of buttery French pastry and crème brûlée. On the palate, all that opulence comes together beautifully, with lemon laced in wildflower honey and toasty wood tones building to a crescendo on the long, candied-mineral finish. Domaine de la Rivière is a family-owned winery nestled in the renowned Middle Reach neighborhood of the Russian River Valley. Growers since 2011, they released their first vintage in 2017.

White

2022

Dragonette

Rita's Crown Vineyard Chardonnay

All you really need to know about this Rita’s Crown Chardonnay is that one glass will never be enough. You’ll swirl, sniff, sip—and suddenly want to chase its magic for days. It holds the energy of a late afternoon thunderstorm, with a moody edge and an electrically zesty palate, like a raincloud squeezing out lemon juice, shifting to lemon oil, then unleashing waves of fresh and candied ginger. It splashes across the palate like rain on slick slate—slightly smoky from the first drops hitting warm stone. Irresistible, complex, and utterly compelling. You just can’t get enough of this structured, dynamic, and gorgeous Chardonnay. It lives on the far side of “delicious”—a word we haven’t invented yet, but one that would mean delicious multiplied by infinity.

White

2022

Elaine Wines

Calypte Vineyard Chardonnay

The golden hue hints at what’s to come—a ripe, toasty, and voluminous Chardonnay layered with crème brûlée, charred pineapple, salted lemon peel, and rosemary-herbed almonds. Despite its richness, the palate retains a refreshing coolness from lively acid tension, finishing lip-smackingly bone dry. Quite a wine. Sourced from the winemaker’s estate vineyard, the Chardonnay was hand-harvested, barrel-fermented, and aged 15 months sur lie in 50% new French oak with bâtonnage before being bottled unfiltered. Established in 2017 by Elaine and Mark Sale, Elaine Wines produces fewer than 200 cases annually.

White

2022

Elisa Christopher Wines

Brut Trebbiano Méthode Champenoise

This intriguing sparkling wine, crafted from Trebbiano, offers a bright, rich, and creamy mousse that immediately captivates. Nutty undertones and notes of baking spices are complemented by a hint of honey and pressed wildflowers, adding depth and elegance. A firm backbone of juicy acidity braces the palate, making this sparkling wine refreshingly vibrant and incredibly easy to enjoy. Effortlessly crushable and full of character.

White

2022

Flambeaux Wine

Sangiacomo Vineyards Chardonnay

A generous and expressive Chardonnay from the famed Sangiacomo Vineyards, it opens with buttered croissant and yellow apple before gaining momentum and complexity on the medium-bodied palate. Layers of unctuous stone fruit, charred pineapple, and lemon-lime acid tension support the ripe, succulent fruit profile and all that toasty, buttery oak goodness. This Chardonnay is sourced from two Sangiacomo family vineyards: Roberts Road Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap, where fog and wind keep temperatures cool, and Green Acres Vineyard in Sonoma Carneros, which benefits from the marine influence of San Francisco Bay. Aged for 11 months in French oak barrels (30% new).

White

2022

Fox Run Vineyards

Traminette

A long, cool fermentation followed by eight months of aging on gross lees lends this wine uninhibited aromatics and vivid concentration, balanced by precise, zesty acidity. Stony minerality and lime zest leap from the glass alongside candied green apple, while the medium-bodied palate builds with smoky mineral tones and apple skin tannins that gradually soften. The finish unfolds with creamy apricot, crushed almonds, and lingering intrigue. A shape-shifter of a wine—complex, expressive, and constantly evolving its flavors in the glass.

White

2022

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Francis Coppola Reserve Dutton Ranch Chardonnay

A soft, supple, and inviting Chardonnay brimming with crushed almond character and buttered croissant notes that make it hard to put down. Add to that a medium- to full-bodied richness with ripe apple and pear fruit, along with pressed wildflowers and honeysuckle on the lengthy finish. Sourced from the sixth-generation Dutton Ranch in the Russian River Valley. Aged for 10 months in barrels—90% new French oak from hand-selected forests such as Allier, Tronçais, and Vosges, with the remaining 10% in new Hungarian oak.

White

2022

Gary Farrell Winery

Rochioli-Allen Vineyards Chardonnay

This 100% Chardonnay comes from two blocks within the Rocchioli-Allen Vineyard, an iconic site planted just south of the Rochioli Vineyard. Aged for 10 months in 35% new French oak. It’s a full-throttle Chardonnay brimming with toasty brioche and salted lemon peel, layered with apricot, white peach, and charred pineapple on the palate. For all its richness, the wine retains excellent, cooling acidity—a hallmark of this exceptional site. Gary Farrell Winery has been a pioneer of the Russian River Valley wine scene for over 40 years.

White

2022

Glenora Wine Cellars

Pét-Nat of Seyval Blanc

This 2023 Pét-Nat of Seyval Blanc is sourced entirely from Glenora Farms on the lake’s west side. A “salty dog” of a sparkler, this bone-dry wine bursts with zesty lemon and lime, kiwi fruit, white flowers, and a touch of Marcona almond on the mineral-driven finish. Crisp, crunchy, and just salty enough, it’s a vibrant companion to a wide range of dishes—spicy or otherwise.

White

2022

Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard

HJW Bio Riesling

A lean, mean Riesling machine, bristling with vivid, savoury saline-acid tension that frames delicate orchard fruit and floral aromatics. Fermented and aged in Austrian oak foudres, it’s utterly delicious—every flavour and aroma in perfect harmony, elevated by remarkable texture and depth that begs further exploration. This purity and precision is a direct reflection of the shale soils and Biodynamic farming at this Demeter-certified estate.

White

2022

Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard

Magdalena Vineyard Riesling

This single-vineyard Riesling from the Magdalena site benefits from the moderating effect of Seneca Lake, allowing for extended hang time and greater ripeness. Multiple selective harvest passes through the same blocks build aromatic intensity and palate weight while preserving balance. It shows generous orchard fruit and citrus zest, underpinned by a deep vein of saline minerality and smoky, stony tension. There’s a sense of drive and energy here, with remarkable length and purity that carries on for minutes. A stunning wine.

White

2022

Hillick & Hobbs

Estate Dry Riesling

The 2022 vintage is a bit richer and broader on the palate than the 2021, delivering consistent aromas and flavors of wet slate minerality, a panoply of white and yellow wildflowers, a touch of honeycomb or beeswax, and an expressive kumquat character. Salty-savory acidity and a stark mineral drive frame the wine, while the floral notes shine brightly on the extended finish. Bone-dry, electric, and a real joy to sip.

White

2022

Irvine & Roberts Vineyards

Estate Chardonnay

Absolutely fantastic, this Chardonnay shows Chablis-like minerality and lemon-lime freshness with tremendous tension. Medium-bodied, it features a satiny core of apple and pear fruit layered with crushed almond, all leading to a long, saline-acid finish. Bright, fresh, and assertive—a standout. Winemaker Brian Gruber explains that they work with 10 different clones of Chardonnay, most of which are planted on granitic soils. He prioritizes acidity at harvest, often doing multiple picks within the same block to build complexity and ensure he never needs to add acid. After settling overnight, the juice is racked to barrel and inoculated with native yeast in-barrel. The wine is aged for up to 15 months in one-third new French oak and goes through full malolactic fermentation. Lots are kept separate throughout aging, lees stirring is minimal, and blending occurs just before bottling. Of the three estate Chardonnays Winemaker Brian Gruber produces, Ascendance is the top cuvée and the first blend assembled—focused on precision and structure. Convergence follows, crafted for more roundness and ripeness, while the Estate Chardonnay is blended last, offering an expression that reflects the broader vineyard character.

White

2022

Kerrville Hills

Alta Loma Vineyard, Picpoul Blanc

This Alta Loma Vineyard Picpoul Blanc shows excellent weight and balance, with pretty notes of citrus peel, wildflowers, and honeycomb. The palate is rich and creamy, filled with ripe orchard fruit that builds in density toward a medium-bodied finish. Hints of honey and crushed almonds linger gracefully, adding depth and texture

White

2022

La Regola

Costa Toscana Bianco

With abundant notes of apricot, peach, yellow apples, lemon blossom, and hay, it’s the Chardonnay that dominates the nose in this blend. Its palate is rich with broad peach and ripe citrus flavors, complemented by hints of piquant minerality on a medium+ finish. – J.R.

White

2022

Landmark Vineyards

Lorenzo Chardonnay

Located near the Laguna de Santa Rosa, the Lorenzo Vineyard is the coldest Chardonnay site from which Landmark sources fruit each vintage. Whole-cluster-pressed and barrel-fermented with native yeast, the wine is then aged for 14 months in 100% French oak (35% new). It boasts an impressively bold nose of overripe citrus, toasted almonds and custard, while the palate tightens with citrus-driven, saline mineral tension. The finish is expressive, carrying toasty and nutty notes that linger with real authority.

White

2022

Landmark Vineyards

Sangiacomo Chardonnay

Packs a punch of butterscotch and toffee, crème brûlée, and candied peach rings, with a palate-coating, toasty richness that carries through the long, oak-kissed finish. This is no shy Chardonnay—bold, creamy, and unapologetically hedonistic—yet beneath all the luxurious oak, the ripe orchard and tropical-leaning Sangiacomo fruit still shines through. It’s not a wine for the Chardonnay faint of heart or for anyone seeking Chablis; this is Chassagne-Montrachet on steroids. The 2022 Sangiacomo Chardonnay is sourced from grapes grown at the Kiser Vineyard off Arnold Drive in the cool, windy Sonoma Carneros AVA, just north of San Pablo Bay. Whole-cluster pressed and barrel-fermented with native yeast, the wine was aged in French oak (35% new).

White

2022

Lindquist Family Wines

Bien Nacido Hillside Vineyard Roussanne

A striking Roussanne that showcases purity and precision, this wine opens with fresh orchard fruit notes—pear, apple, and a hint of quince—lifted by aromas of almond paste and delicate white flowers. The medium-bodied palate is textured and layered, energized by vibrant lemon-lime acidity that cuts through richer tones of lemon oil, dried apricot, and honeycomb. Expressive and beautifully balanced, it delivers both freshness and depth in equal measure, with a long, energetic finish that lingers on citrus and floral tones.

White

2022

Maren (Bybee Wine Co)

Otto Chardonnay

The nice thing about the OTTO Line is that the tasting notes are right there on the label. It’s a medium-bodied wine offering juicy pear, a squeeze of lemon zest, and crushed almonds—at least according to the front label, and I’d agree wholeheartedly, though I’d also add white flowers to the mix. There’s a touch of candied ginger and a wonderfully warm, saline mineral quality. The label also notes that the wine is made from sustainably grown grapes and contains no added sugar, which is perhaps more a nod to consumer misunderstanding—most wines are dry and don’t contain added sugar to begin with, but that’s a whole other conversation for another time.

White

2022

Marine Layer

Durell Vineyard Chardonnay

Sourced from Wente and Mt. Eden clones in Durell Vineyard, this Chardonnay offers lovely, ripe, and succulent orchard fruit notes softened by aging in one-third new French oak and neutral oak puncheon, giving the wine a beautifully silky, satiny texture. The oak profile is balanced and subtle, weaving a tapestry of elegant cedar spice around understated tropical fruit tones of white peach, pineapple, and overripe pear. Fine apple-skin tannins carry a gentle sprinkling of salinity, and the wine finishes with excellent energy and length.

White

2022

Marine Layer

Hawk Hill Vineyard Chardonnay

Expressive orchard fruit lifts from the glass in this single-vineyard Hawk Hill Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast. It’s almost impossible not to swallow—it vibrates with energy and tension the moment it hits the palate, in a way that’s unmatched by many Chardonnays from this region. While it reflects a stylistic shift taking hold here, this wine is refined, lively, bright, and focused. Citrus spray, apple, and pear fruit come through, with even a touch of apple-skin tannin, but what makes it so crushable is the salinity. It’s like liquified Pink Himalayan sea salt—super expressive and monumentally delicious. The vineyard is “nestled in the confluence of the Green Valley and Freestone sub-AVA’s, where Salmon Creek and Russian River watershed meet,” according to Marine Layer’s technical sheet. Grapes are whole cluster direct to press and cold settled overnight. Ferments in concrete egg and neutral oak puncheon. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation. Some lees stirring, and aged 11 months, bottled unfined and lightly filtered.

White

2022

Montezuma Winery

Diamond Cryo Wine

Winemaker Phil Plummer explains that the Diamond variety can’t hang long enough on the vine to make a true dessert wine, so they pick it early, freeze the fruit, and barrel ferment it using a non-Saccharomyces yeast that naturally stalls around 10% alcohol. Half the wine went through malolactic fermentation, the other half did not. The result? Think Sauternes on an acid trip—mouth-puckering lime-bright acidity supports a luscious core of dried apricots and golden fruit, finishing long, tangy, and tart.

White

2022

Padigan

Estate Reserve Viognier

A deliciously rich Viognier with excellent mid-palate density, offering ripe white and yellow peach, apricot, and lemon oil character. Crisp, mouthwatering acidity provides balance, leading to a long finish marked by pressed wildflowers and almonds. It’s the kind of white you’ll want alongside Dover sole in a caper butter sauce with mashed potatoes.

White

2022

Padigan

Estate Reserve Viognier

Full-bodied and voluptuous, this wine offers generous flavors of ripe apple, pear, and white peach. The palate is expressive and satiny, braced by excellent acid grip and finishing with layers of fruit and pressed wildflowers. Aged for 14 months in oak with native yeasts, including 11 to 12 months on the lees in 80% new French oak.

White

2022

Paumanok Vineyards

Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

Sourced from the vines just behind the winery—easily visible from the patio—this dessert Sauvignon Blanc was served at the 50th anniversary of the NATO alliance. It’s a wonderfully expressive, detail-driven wine, offering ripe apricot, orange oil, honeysuckle, and jasmine. Never cloying, it’s lush yet balanced, with incredible acid tension and remarkable length.

White

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Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2021

Producer

Name

Diamond is a historic American hybrid white grape, once prized over a century ago for sparkling wine production. This bottling channels that legacy with a vinous, green apple character layered with hints of honeydew melon and wildflower honey. The palate bursts with a full squeeze of lime juice—bright, grippy, and crunchy—with a tactile, super-expressive finish. Fascinating and distinctive. Just 168 cases made.

White

2021

Producer

Name

Brightly aromatic, showing expressive white flowers and lemon verbena. Full malolactic fermentation and aging in 30% new French oak add richness to the citrus, apple, and pear fruit, while a hint of well-integrated cedarwood spice comes across more like salted Marcona almonds. The finish builds with a lovely lemon-oil richness. From Bootlegger’s Hill, with three rows of Montrachet clone from Little Boot Vineyard blended in.

White

2021

Producer

Name

“Colluvial” refers to the rugged, rocky soil found in many of the world’s great vineyards, and this decadent Chardonnay lives up to its name. It’s a study in minerality, offering the tactile impression of smooth river stone and the bracing tension of freshly squeezed lemon meeting a bite of salted, candied lemon rind. Fragrant notes of toasty oak and buttered croissant weave through the mid-palate, joined by a flicker of fresh ginger. All of it builds to a focused, acid-driven finish.

White

2021

Producer

Name

Ulysses Valdez, the late and legendary grape grower, is the reason the Bedrosians have access to this fruit. Valdez replanted the site and was adamant that they take Block D—the steepest section of the vineyard. It’s a two-acre parcel they began working with in 2018, located 3.4 miles north of East Side Road on uplifted riverbed soils composed of rocky, gravelly silt. The block is entirely planted to the Montrachet clone. Winemaker Kale Anderson explains that the clone holds its acidity regardless of ripeness. It’s also susceptible to shatter, much like Old Wente, and is naturally low-yielding. The selection was isolated from a remarkable site in Montrachet in Burgundy. At Flora Marie Vineyard, this block sits at the very top of the hillside with excellent row orientation. Grapes are picked at night, whole-cluster pressed, and sent straight to a mix of barrel and stainless steel, with one-third new French oak. Fermentation is native, and in this vintage the wine went through full malolactic with lees stirring. It was aged 11 months before bottling. The wine is super bright, marked by a lovely sea-spray minerality and subtle citrus and orchard-fruit tones. A silky texture carries elegant baking-spice notes that linger across the mid-palate, offering warmth, generosity, and a clean, vibrant finish.

White

2021

Producer

Name

Dosage is 8 g/L. Wonderfully expressive, elegant, and precise, with a creamy, articulate mousse and lovely baking spice notes interwoven with bright orchard and zesty citrus fruit character. Builds with layers of white flowers and almonds on a tart, racy, mineral-driven finish.

White

2021

Producer

Name

An elegant blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier made in the traditional method. Citrus and orchard fruit take center stage, framed by saline minerality that anchors the bright, crunchy fruit. The mousse is frothy, assertive, and focused. Super clean, fresh, and inviting.

White

2021

Producer

Name

Dr. Konstantin Frank began producing still wine in 1962, but it wasn’t until 1985 that his son, Willy Frank, introduced the winery’s first sparkling wine—carving out a new niche that Konstantin himself never pursued. With German-engineered equipment designed for méthode champenoise, the Franks laid the foundation for one of the Finger Lakes’ most respected sparkling programs. This bone-dry Riesling Nature—with no dosage and nearly three years en tirage—is like lightning in a bottle. Delicate orchard fruit, lemon, and lime thread through the aromatics and palate, framed by a frothy, airy mousse. Medium-bodied and expressive, it finishes with striking chalky mineral tension and precision.

White

2021

Producer

Name

A powerful, succulent, and well-built white, brimming with aromas and flavors of grilled citrus and peaches, a bit of cream, and plenty of spice and power. It feels relatively big, but a beautiful example of the style. – J.R.

White

2021

Producer

Name

The 2021 Estate Dry Riesling opens with vivid orchard fruit, slivered almonds, apricot, and daffodil, layered with a subtle hint of honeycomb. A racy acid backbone and pronounced wet slate minerality drive the wine’s energy. Hand-harvested with shears and field-sorted, the fruit was whole-cluster pressed and fermented with 100% native yeast. The wine was aged with 95% fermented in stainless steel and 5% in a 500L neutral French oak barrel. Sourced from the Seneca Lake AVA in New York’s Finger Lakes, the vines grow on steep to very steep western-facing slopes of up to 55%, rooted in blue slate, glacial till, limestone, and glacial shale.

White

2021

Producer

Name

This wine opens with a wild, almost savage nose reminiscent of green or yellow Chartreuse—fennel, licorice, and savory herbs. Then it takes all the fruit you expect from Riesling and, as winemaker Phil Plummer puts it, “puts it on the grill.” The result is a smoky, almost incense-like character on the palate, with crisp, medium-bodied texture and a crunchy mineral core. The finish is long, smoky, and laced with stony intensity.

White

2021

Producer

Name

Ascendance, the top cuvée, offers a lovely creamy texture balanced by exceptional length, with spicy ginger and granitic minerality shining through. Gorgeously medium-bodied, it has a satiny palate feel and beautifully layered notes of Indian spices and ginger. A refined and elegant expression of site and craft. Winemaker Brian Gruber explains that they work with 10 different clones of Chardonnay, most of which are planted on granitic soils. He prioritizes acidity at harvest, often doing multiple picks within the same block to build complexity and ensure he never needs to add acid. After settling overnight, the juice is racked to barrel and inoculated with native yeast in-barrel. The wine is aged for up to 15 months in one-third new French oak and goes through full malolactic fermentation. Lots are kept separate throughout aging, lees stirring is minimal, and blending occurs just before bottling. Of the three estate Chardonnays Winemaker Brian Gruber produces, Ascendance is the top cuvée and the first blend assembled—focused on precision and structure. Convergence follows, crafted for more roundness and ripeness, while the Estate Chardonnay is blended last, offering an expression that reflects the broader vineyard character.

White

2021

Producer

Name

Fragrant notes of honeysuckle and jasmine intermix with rich baking spices, apple tarte Tatin, pear, and a dollop of lemon oil—all finding balance on the palate. Candied ginger and a beautifully crisp, pure fruit profile are supported by crunchy acid tension and a touch more richness than the Estate bottling. Totally balanced. A vibrant and refined expression. Winemaker Brian Gruber explains that they work with 10 different clones of Chardonnay, most of which are planted on granitic soils. He prioritizes acidity at harvest, often doing multiple picks within the same block to build complexity and ensure he never needs to add acid. After settling overnight, the juice is racked to barrel and inoculated with native yeast in-barrel. The wine is aged for up to 15 months in one-third new French oak and goes through full malolactic fermentation. Lots are kept separate throughout aging, lees stirring is minimal, and blending occurs just before bottling. Of the three estate Chardonnays Winemaker Brian Gruber produces, Ascendance is the top cuvée and the first blend assembled—focused on precision and structure. Convergence follows, crafted for more roundness and ripeness, while the Estate Chardonnay is blended last, offering an expression that reflects the broader vineyard character.

White

2021

Producer

Name

White currants, white fig, white blossoms, and white pepper mark the aromas and flavors of this Northern Italian Sauvignon. The nose is perfumed and heady, and the palate shares in its heft and unctuous nature. – J.R.

White

2021

Producer

Name

Picked in the second week of September, the base wine from this site is somewhat ironically among the last to come in. Made using the traditional method, unfiltered, with high lees contact, and aged en tirage in barrel for two years. Winemaker Julian Hausseppian believes a shorter tirage suits his California-grown fruit, as ripeness comes naturally from the warm sunshine, while foot-treading and extended lees contact contribute the richness he wants. The wine shows wonderful depth and a saline–acid tension, with wet-stone character, bright citrus and orchard fruit, and warm baking spices adding richness through the mid-palate. The finish is long, lifted, and thoroughly enticing.

White

2021

Producer

Name

My absolute favorite white from the Landmark lineup I tasted for this Sonoma Report—which spanned mostly 2021 and 2022 wines, with a few 2023s. Here, the sea-spray mineral pop of this site and AVA mingles beautifully with zesty citrus and ripe orchard fruit, all balanced on the palate by a creamy mid-centre so characteristic of the Sta. Rita Hills. It finishes with excellent length and tension. A very fine wine, effortlessly enjoyable on its own. Situated near the north-western edge of Santa Barbara County’s prestigious Sta. Rita Hills appellation, the sourced blocks provide small-clustered Dijon clones 76 and 96 for this Chardonnay. Whole-cluster-pressed and barrel-fermented with native yeast, then aged for 14 months in French oak (30% new).

White

2021

Producer

Name

This ridge-top vineyard is fully exposed to the afternoon winds funneling in from the Pacific through the “gap,” a defining feature of the Petaluma Gap viticultural area. Whole-cluster-pressed and barrel-fermented with native yeast, the wine is aged for 14 months in French oak (33% new). One of the freshest whites I tasted from Landmark for my inaugural Sonoma Report on Cristaldi & Co., that brightness carries straight onto the palate. Lemon peel and lemon curd mingle with toasty oak spices, while candied ginger and poached, spiced pear drive the creamy mid-palate. The finish brings a wave of sea-spray minerality and a touch of tannic grip—likely a function of the thicker skins from this wind-lashed site—alongside cool wet-rock notes balanced by more decadent toasty-oak accents.