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2024

William Chris Vineyards

Dell Valley Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc

The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc from William Chris Vineyards hails from Dell Valley Vineyard in Hudspeth County. It’s an easy-drinking, bright, citrusy white with notes of cut prairie grass. Subtle in both aroma and flavor intensity, it nonetheless offers a lovely mid-palate richness of orchard fruit and finishes with crunchy minerality. Ideal for sipping on a hot, humid summer day, it’s equally charming as a dinner prep wine in the dead of winter. Fermented for an average of 28 days in large oak fermenters, large concrete fermenters, and oak barriques, then aged for 7 months in a combination of large oak and concrete vessels. William Chris Vineyards was founded in 2008 by William “Bill” Blackmon and Chris Brundrett. Punchdowns are done by hand, with Tony Offill leading the cellar as Head Winemaker.

White

2024

William Chris Vineyards

La Pradera Vineyard Carignan

From La Pradera Vineyard, picked on the early side and aged for 14 months in large-format neutral oak to preserve freshness, with some stem inclusion adding a touch of spice to the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it shows nice mid-palate depth and richness, with dark berry fruit, violets, saddle leather, and muscular tannins that build on the crisp finish.

Red

2024

William Chris Vineyards

La Pradera Vineyard, Roussanne

This Roussanne from La Pradera Vineyard in the Texas High Plains is undeniably delicious, showcasing crisp orchard fruit, unctuous lemon and tangerine oil, white flowers, and supple textures framed by savory, saline-driven acidity that’s mouthwatering and glides to a wet river stone mineral finish. The vineyard was established in 2010 by Mike and Barbara Paddack with the help of Texas grape growers Andy and Lauren Timmons. Aged for 7 months in 30% new French oak and 70% neutral oak barrels. William Chris Vineyards was founded in 2008 by William “Bill” Blackmon and Chris Brundrett. Tony Offill leads the cellar as Head Winemaker, and Jean Hoefliger is the consulting winemaker.

White

2024

William Chris Vineyards

La Pradera/Carignan

From La Pradera Vineyard, this wine was picked on the early side and aged for 14 months in large-format neutral oak to preserve freshness. Some stem inclusion adds a subtle spiciness to the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it shows nice mid-palate depth and richness, with dark berry fruit, violets, and saddle leather notes. Muscular tannins build toward a crisp, structured finish.

Red

2024

Williams Selyem and Benovia Winery

Lot #40. 'Terra Rossa' Cohn Vineyard Pinot Noir

TASTING NOTE: Lot #40. Barrel Sample: When Williams Selyem and Benovia appear on the same label, you don’t even taste the wine—you just buy it. I told myself I wouldn’t taste it, knowing it would be too good to handle. Okay, that’s not true. I tasted it. Like five times. Just to be sure I liked it. I did and so will you. Super bright and zesty, with red earth minerality, vibrant red berry fruit, floral tones, and rich baking spice. Notes of grapefruit zest and blood orange add lift, while dark forest berry, underbrush, and saline mineral tension bring depth and structure. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: This is a first-time collaboration between two incredible winemakers, Jeff Mangahas and Mike Sullivan. This Pinot Noir comes from the Cohn Vineyard nestled in the hills and forest above Westside Road. It is one of the few heritage vineyards remaining in Sonoma County, initially planted in 1970. Cohn Vineyard was first produced as a single vineyard designate Pinot Noir back in 1987 by Burt Williams at Williams Selyem. With sweeping views of the Russian River Valley, Cohn Vineyard is notable for its ruddy, iron-rich soil, sometimes called “Terra Rossa.” Farmed sustainably and with minimal irrigation, these gnarled vines produce small and compact clusters with yields of just over 1 ton per acre. Benovia Winery is a small production family-owned winery in the heart of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. Burt Williams and Ed Selyem started their winery, in the Russian River Valley with two lofty goals: to craft wines that set the standard for excellence, and to come to know and serve their customers personally. The depth of knowledge that both wineries bring to making exceptional Pinot Noir in this part of the world is a real treat for the winning bidder of this lot. “Terra Rossa” is a wine of depth and complexity. Brooding and dark, notes of black cherry combine with blood orange and hints of sous bois. Wood spices perfectly complement the dark fruit character. With great acidity and structure, the wine is buffered with terrific extract that provides balance. Dark fruits, citrus, and notes of cedar wrap up with flavors of black tea. WINEMAKER(S): Jeff Mangahas (Williams Selyem), Mike Sullivan (Benovia Winery) ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: March 2026 (Available in bottle or keg format) ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: March 2026 National Distribution: AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, RI, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY, Washington, DC International Distribution: Includes Denmark, Japan, Norway; please inquire for additional countries.

Red

2024

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Cellar Series Chenin Blanc

What a wine. Sourced from small, hand-picked blocks within the Harbes and Soloviev vineyards on Long Island’s North Fork, and aged on fine lees for two months, this is a fantastic and weighty expression of Chenin Blanc. Vibrant citrus and apricot notes lead the way, followed by a subtle honeyed richness that emerges at the core. A firm spine of lime-bright acidity drives the wine, finishing with vivid saline-mineral tension and a building, mouthwatering spice. Clean, crisp, energetic, and laser-focused.

White

2024

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Cellar Series Trebbiano

This is a bright, zesty white driven by tropical fruit, with notes of papaya and mango building toward a fleshy mid-palate. But just as it settles into richness, laser-focused acidity kicks in—crisp, crunchy, and cleansing—making this the ideal food wine. It’s your go-to with oysters or roast chicken and potatoes, cutting through fat with razor-sharp tension. This is 100% Trebbiano, a variety well suited to the growing conditions of Long Island’s East End, aged on fine lees for three months, with malolactic fermentation entirely avoided. Just 442 cases produced.

White

2024

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Summer in a Bottle Rosé

This is a bright, focused wine with sea spray aromatics and delicate red berry fruit. On the palate, it’s charged with salty, chalky minerality, notes of grapefruit zest and kumquat, and a gorgeous lift of florals that fuel a lengthy, energetic finish. There’s plenty of tension and vibrancy throughout. 2024 is regarded as a fantastic vintage in the region, and that’s on dissplay with this wine. Aged on fine lees for two months to build texture, and malolactic fermentation was avoided to preserve acidity.

Rosé

2024

Wood Family Vineyards

Culmination Sauvignon Blanc

This Sauvignon Blanc was barrel-fermented and aged for seven months in 33% once-used Acacia wood. It opens with a fragrant, expressive nose of Acacia, honeysuckle, and tangerine oil. Medium-bodied on the palate, it shows energy, poise, and tension. The texture grips initially, then releases to reveal layers of prairie grass, a squeeze of Meyer lemon, flamed grapefruit zest, and grapefruit oil. A complex white that’s more than deserving of a rotisserie chicken—or even a salted cut of beef.

White

2024

Wood Family Vineyards

Sauvignon Blanc

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from the Louis Mel Ranch Vineyard, was aged for four months in stainless steel. Focused and precise, it shows linear acid tension with bright grapefruit zest, tangerine oil, and a crunchy kumquat skin character on the medium-bodied palate. The finish is lengthy and lifted, marked by honeysuckle and jasmine blossom hints.

White

2025

Darcie Kent Estate Winery

Triska Sauvignon Blanc

This is 100% Sauvignon Blanc (Musqué clone) from Triska Vineyard, aged for three months in stainless steel. Amanda Kent explained that they decided to plant this more coastal-leaning Musqué clone—rather than Clone 1—because the region is, in fact, cooling. The clone was first planted in 2018 at Triska and has since been added to Lemmons Vineyard as well. At Triska, the block faces north at a ten-degree angle, tilted away from the sun, and the team grows the canopies tall to create additional shade. I tasted the 2025 in December 2025—the first wine I tried from the vintage. It was fermented in tank with a portion in acacia wood, not for flavour but to add mid-palate appeal. Harvested in mid-September, it was aged on the lees for about six weeks and bottled a few months later. Super aromatic, with bright white pepper, green apple, honeycomb, jasmine, and even a touch of fresh-sliced jalapeño. Light, bright, and zesty on the mid-palate, with crunchy acidity and a bone-dry, wet-slate mineral finish. Super inviting and enticing.

White

2025

Martin Family Wineries

Frontenac Gris Nouveau

Melon and white peach notes lead, with high-toned white florals. The palate is juicy and just a bit tannic, with watermelon and strawberry shining through on a finish that builds with lively, juicy tension.

Rosé

2025

Martin Family Wineries

Marquette Nouveau

Bold aromas lead into a red-berry-driven profile, building with creamy intensity on the medium-bodied palate, bolstered by milk chocolate notes, cranberry, and fruit leather, while zesty acidity brings a fizzy, exuberant finish.

Red

2025

Martin Family Wineries

Riesling Nouveau

Fairly reductive, flinty notes meet a host of cheesy, leesy nuances on the palate, like biting into a hunk of Manchego or Parmigiano. That savoriness supports juicy lemon and lime citrus fruit alongside apple and pear notes. Simple and quite quaffable.

White

2025

Steven Kent Winery

Franc Nouveau!

This is the 2025 Cabernet Franc from Gilmetti Vineyard, bottled in 12-ounce beer bottles — a playful decision by winemaker Steven Kent, who simply pulled it from tank and bottled it at 13.5% alcohol. It is super young, youthful, unfined and unfiltered, and it smells and tastes exactly as Cabernet Franc should, with crisp tannins, clean acidity and super-juicy dark-berry fruit. It is absolutely delicious, and if you find yourself at a beer-only party, you could bring this along, pretend, and get away with it.

Red

N/A

Brennan Vineyards

Winemaker's Choice Volume 8

The Winemaker’s Choice is a non-vintage blend consisting of 22% Malbec, 10% Carmenère, 3% Cabernet Franc, 15% Syrah, 32% Graciano, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% 2019 Tempranillo (all from the 2019 vintage); along with 4% 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% 2018 Tempranillo. This well-built red offers savory red currant fruit, charcuterie, white pepper, and dried rose petal notes. Medium-bodied with firm, grippy tannins, it lingers with plenty of savory spices.

Red

N/A

Brennan Vineyards

Winemaker's Choice Volume 9

From Brennan Vineyards comes this dynamic non-vintage blend of 27% 2023 Syrah, 4% 2023 Ruby Cabernet, 27% 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% 2020 Tempranillo, and 21% 2020 Syrah. The wine teems with vibrant red cherry, espresso bean, leather, and tobacco notes. Full-bodied, it reveals emerging blue fruit flavors, cherry compote, and pressed violets, creating a rich and layered profile. Lively and energetic, it is framed by firm, well-integrated tannins that provide structure and balance. These non-vintage blends from Brennan Vineyards offer a unique approach to crafting wines, and it’s a style that I believe Texas producers should dig their spurs into more often.

Red

N/A

McGrail Vineyards

Gracie Brut Sparkling Wine

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

White

N/V

Damiani Wine Cellars

Bollicine

A dry Prosecco-style sparkler made from Cayuga White, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, sourced from vineyards on both Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. Fermented in stainless steel and aged on the lees for eight months, it also spent an additional four months en tirage prior to disgorgement. The result is exactly what you’d hope for—light on its feet, frothy, and bursting with expressive, crunchy orchard and citrus fruit. It’s easy-drinking and refreshing, with a pleasantly bold, dry finish.

White

Non-vintage

Living Roots Wine & Co

Session Gold

A blend of 60% Vidal, 23% Cayuga White fermented on Aromella skins, and 15% Vidal fermented on Traminette skins, with a splash (2%) of Gewürztraminer, this is the winery’s expressive take on an orange wine. Grapes were sourced from vineyards on the west sides of Keuka and Cayuga Lakes in the Finger Lakes. Fermented wild, aged for 20 months in neutral French oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered, the wine leads with lifted aromas of apricot, honeysuckle, kiwi, and green apple, accented by green olive savouriness. There’s racy acidity and steely tension on the finish, along with a subtle effervescence.

Rosé

NV

Altus Sol

Cabernet Sauvignon

A pleasant, medium-bodied, aromatic, fruit-forward red wine, offering up ripe cherry, cranberry, and blood orange fruit, warming graham cracker crust spices, and integrated cedarwood notes, all nicely expressive on the palate, with perfect sweetly ripe fruit framed by soft, supple tannins.

Red

NV

Altus Sol

Pinot Grigio

Tropical fruit lifts out of the glass, redolent of pineapple and white peach and jasmine florals. Lush, medium-bodied, with juicy acidity underscored by a chalky mineral character and crushed Marcona almond finish. Pinot grigio with less than a percent spalsh of Muscat for some aromatic lift.

White

NV

Brennan Vineyards

Winemaker's Choice / Red Blend

This non-vintage blend has no set formula or constraints from year to year, allowing the winemaker complete creative freedom—a refreshing approach that yields something unique with each release. Issued roughly every 18 months, the current bottling combines Tempranillo, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Ruby Cabernet. The nose is bold and expressive, showing black tea, maple, toffee, espresso, a touch of meatiness, and dried violets. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it delivers flavors of chocolate-covered almonds and fig paste, supported by gritty tannins and a long, spicy finish marked by smoked paprika.

Red

NV

Buttonwood Grove Winery

The Farm White

The Farm White is a blend of 70% Cayuga White, 16% Melody, and 14% Grüner Veltliner. Each variety is fermented separately in stainless steel from direct press juice, then blended in early February or March before bottling. The nose is citrus-driven with orchard fruit and a hint of jasmine, while the palate delivers a rowdy, mouth-puckering acidity and vinous energy that fuels the wine’s length.

White

NV

Colloca Estate Winery

Colloca Estate Winery Mindy's Giggle Juice

The nose on this effervescent rosé is utterly beguiling—fragrant jasmine and honeysuckle waft alongside candied red berry fruit, leading into a creamy, frothy mousse that’s sweet but balanced. Flavours of dried peach rings and apricot carry through the finish, making this wine as joyful as it is quaffable. The only thing giggly about it is how happy you’ll feel after polishing off the bottle. Crafted using the saignée method for color extraction, this fresh and crisp sparkler blends Riesling from the estate’s Lake Effect Vineyard, Cabernet Franc and Traminette from Miles Vineyard (all in the Finger Lakes AVA), and Cayuga White sourced from nearby Burlee Farms in New York State.

Rosé

N/A

Dragonette

XX Twentieth Anniversary Cuvee Syrah

A blend of Syrah from four vintages—2019 (20%), 2020 (20%), 2021 (40%), and 2022 (20%)—this wine brings together fruit from Stolpman, Kimsey, and Larner vineyards in Ballard Canyon and John Sebastiano in the Sta. Rita Hills. The final blend is 95% Syrah, 4% Grenache, and 1% Viognier. Aged for an extended period in barrel before careful blending, this bottling pays homage to Vega Sicilia’s famed Único Reserva Especial in Ribera del Duero. The label, a commissioned artwork by artist R. Anthony Askew, adds an extra layer of thoughtfulness to an already compelling bottle. I love this wine—and you will too—because it delivers a mouthful of Syrah deliciousness, done the Santa Barbara County way. Rich, supple dark fruits meet tangy blood orange acidity and mid-palate density. The wine builds with layers of black cherry, blackberry, violets, sandalwood, and robes of dark chocolate, all weaving into a satiny sheet that glides across the palate. The multi-vintage integration is so seamless and complete, it makes you wish Dragonette would craft a wine like this year after year.

Notes from the winery on how this wine was made:

“We harvested each block in the cold morning hours, personally hand sorting in the field. The grapes were destemmed within hours then cold soaked for 2-7 days, before fermentation with native yeasts. Pumpovers, punchdowns and delestage were used to gently extract flavor, while managing tannins. At dryness, the wines were transferred to French oak barrels of various formats (500L puncheon, 400L, and 228L barrique) of which a portion is new. Each vintage included in this blend was itself a blend of the best barrels for that given season. Each component vintage was aged separately with a range from 26 to 62 months in barrel, with an average age of 42.8 months in barrel. In honor of our 20th Anniversary, the wine was bottled in January of 2025.”

Red

NV

Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard

Extra Brut

Non-vintage méthode traditionnelle sparkling made from 100% Riesling, riddled and disgorged by hand after 18 months en tirage. Dosage is 5 g/L. This is razor-sharp and brilliantly focused, driven by crystalline acidity and ripe, succulent orchard fruit. The rich, frothy mousse fills the palate, resolving into a stark, mineral finish brimming with energy and tension. Delicious.

White

NV

Hosmer Winery

Hosmer Winery Sparkling Wine

Made from 100% Cayuga White grapes sourced from the southwestern-most block of Patrician Verona Vineyard (a 70-acre, sustainably certified estate vineyard in the Cayuga Lake AVA, with plantings dating back to 1979), this spent four years en tirage. It is a vivid, saline-mineral-driven sparkler with a frothy, creamy mousse and loads of lemon, lime, grapefruit pith, and French pastry notes emerging on the long finish. The dosage is well-balanced, adding a subtle sweetness that resonates throughout.

White

NV

HV Vineyards

Right Bank Blanc De Blanc

Super expressive from the start, this 100% Chardonnay opens with a lifted nose of baking spice, oyster shell minerality, and lemon pastry. The palate builds in intensity with a focused, assertive mousse and fine beading, resolving into a stunning, saline-rich finish layered with salted lemon peel and French pastry notes. Bright, focused, and precise throughout. Aged 24 months on the lees with some time in neutral oak post-primary fermentation; no malolactic conversion. Dosage is 7 g/L. Crafted under the direction of General Manager Russell Moss.

White

NV

HV Vineyards

Right Bank Brut Cuvée

Bright, stony minerality and subtle oyster shell notes rise from the glass, layered with citrus and lime. The mousse is super frothy, carrying a salty-chalky core that builds with grippy apple skin texture and golden cherry fruit. The finish is long, floral, and mineral-rich. A sparkling wine of impressive quality.

White

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Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2023

Producer

Name

This 100% Chardonnay is sourced from Tolmasoff Vineyard, planted entirely to the UV Montrachet clone, and was fermented and aged for 10 months in a concrete “hippo” tank with no oak influence. It’s a dazzling Chardonnay with a heady, rich complexity—lemon citrus, creamy apple, and pear mingle with candied white floral notes, ginger cream, and a subtle toasty nuance. The medium-bodied palate reveals savory tarragon tones and a long, lingering finish of toasted almonds. Balanced acidity keeps the wine bright, energetic, and beautifully focused. James and Kerry MacPhail started Tongue Dancer as a personal brand in 2012. All of their wines are produced in their winery built (in 2008) on their 1-acre property in Healdsburg.

White

2023

Producer

Name

There’s nothing not to love about this 100% Pinot Noir sourced from Vineyard Eleven, planted entirely to the UV-VR clone and aged for 11 months sur lie in 100% French oak, 33% new. The wine is lively and bright, framed by crunchy apple-skin tannins and blood orange acidity, yet balanced by a creamy core. Aromas and flavors of cherry, applewood smoke, clove, and Earl Grey tea unfold with lavish complexity, finishing long with a subtle sprinkling of white pepper. James and Kerry MacPhail started Tongue Dancer as a personal brand in 2012. All of their wines are produced in their winery built (in 2008) on their 1-acre property in Healdsburg.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

The 2023 Petite Sirah is a powerhouse—bold, rich, and full-bodied with robust, driving tannins. It’s thoroughly hedonistic, bursting with decadent blackberry, spiced plum, fig jam, and blue fruit layered with vivid dark chocolate notes. Blood orange acidity brightens the lengthy, baking-spice-driven finish. Grown in sandy loam soils, the wine was fermented in large oak fermenters and aged for 16 months in 30% new French oak barrels. Uplift farms 55 acres within the Hoover’s Valley, which runs through the Llano Uplift, one of the more impressive repositories of rare earth minerals found in the USA. Claire Richardson is Winemaker.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

The Badu, only made in the best vintages, is a blend of 41% Sangiovese, 43% Aglianico, 11% Montepulciano, and 5% Merlot, offering a super attractive red-fruited profile with beautiful black tea nuances and fragrant cedarwood spice. Medium-bodied, it presents apple skin tannins, white pepper notes, and crunchy red fruit, all scented with fresh rose petals and violets that carry through the wine from start to finish. I first tasted this wine in November of 2024, and since then, it’s put on some real weight, depth of fruit flavor, and the finish is long with saline-minerality that is incredibly inviting. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger. This wine is available in late 2026.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

A year ago, I wrote that this 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon shows the most promise among all of the barrel samples I tasted in Texas in November 2024. Tasting it again in October of 2025, this wine is just as impressive, gaining fruit depth and density, boasting a kind of Left Bank purity in the fruit profile, showcasing vibrant red and black fruit, spices, and mineral nuances, along with notes of thyme, sage, and anise with wet slate minerality on the lengthy finish. Medium- to full-bodied, it offers crisp, crunchy acidity and firm, inviting tannins. The Uplift Estate is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. It’s a gorgeous site, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

The 2023 Uplift Vineyard Malbec is bright, ripe, and tension-filled, offering a fresh profile with firm, fine-grained tannins. It features vibrant candied red berry fruit and violet notes, complemented by integrated Indian spices. The wine boasts terrific balance and freshness, and has a nice depth, richness, and bold florality on the lengthy finish. The Uplift Estate is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. It’s a gorgeous site, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

The 2023 Uplift Vineyard Merlot shows classic varietal character in its spiced plum fruit and gorgeously spicy aromatics. It truly surprises, however, with its tannic intensity and impressively bright acid grip. An exceedingly fresh and layered red. The Uplift Estate is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. It’s a gorgeous site, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

Pristine red fruit and elegant cedarwood spice character build on the medium-bodied palate, with impressive, fine, and stacked tannins that lay a solid foundation for this youthful Montepulciano red. I first tasted this wine as a barrel sample, and over a year, it’s put on some wonderful weight, and the fruit profile has grown with darkness, power, and depth. The winery is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. This particular variety does really well here in Texas because it can take heat, it can take late spring freezes, it can take rain and drought, and still comes out on top. The Uplift site is a gorgeous vineyard, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger. Large oak fermented. Aged 16 Months in 20% new French oak

Red

2023

Producer

Name

This Sangiovese from Uplift Vineyard is a powerhouse of freshness, elegance, and compact red fruit, with enthralling sweet spices of clove, cinnamon, and coriander. Medium-bodied on the palate, it displays firm tannins and balanced tension, providing structure and finesse. The winery is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. It’s a gorgeous site, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger. Aged 16 months in 15% New French/Hungarian Oak.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

(Barrel Sample) The Vigneron Blend is a bright, spicy, and tension-filled red, offering pure currant and cherry fruits, tobacco, and white pepper spices. Medium-bodied, it builds richness on the palate with assertive, very fine, and balanced tannins that provide structure and depth. There’s been a dynamic shift—a watershed moment—in the production of these wines since Napa-based consultant Jean Hoefliger began consulting with Uplift Vineyard in 2022. The transformation is evident, and this wine is a testament to that evolution, promising an exciting future for these wines.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

The Whitlock is a blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Malbec, and 20% Petite Sirah. Aged 16 months in 20% new French oak. This is an elegant wine, with a satiny and velvety mouthfeel and nice depth of dark fruit flavors. Medium- to full-bodied, the wine features polished, plump tannins that glide smoothly to a long, satisfying finish. The Uplift Estate is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. It’s a gorgeous site, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

This blend of 68% Marsanne and 32% Roussanne, crafted by Claire Richardson with consulting winemaker Jean Hoefliger, is a bright, fresh, and expressive white sourced from Uplift Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country. The wine is layered with fragrant baking spice notes, complementing its medium-bodied palate and balanced tension. Its flavors of Meyer lemon, apricot, white fig, and salted Marcona almonds add nuance and complexity.

White

2023

Producer

Name

Meaty and savoury, this wine pulses with black olive and black liquorice notes, layered with the umami depth of cured Bresaola and lifted by dried rose petals on both the nose and palate. There’s a zing of blood orange acidity and a zesty, grippy tension that propels the fruit-driven finish. The blend is 75% fruit from Serenity Vineyards (under 10-day carbonic maceration) on the west side of Seneca Lake, farmed by the Hermann J. Wiemer team. The remaining 25% hails from New Suns, the home vineyard on the west side of Cayuga Lake, and was fully destemmed with a two-week maceration. Aged in neutral barrels for 10 months before blending and bottling in August 2024. Hand-harvested and spontaneously fermented.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

It offers that classic David Ramey Chardonnay profile, with a crisp, bright, and vivid personality. Lemon peel and fresh citrus notes are layered with subtle, gorgeous cedarwood accents, sea spray, and intense mineral character. The wine is lush yet cool, showing lovely candied ginger and quince, carried by saline-laced acid tension and lingering white floral notes. Long and delicious, it’s made for rich, fatty seafood—broiled lobster is heaven with this.

White

2023

Producer

Name

All estate fruit from Tom Rochioli. There’s a wonderfully lush, creamy richness here, underscored by very pretty, lacy acidity. Notes of lemon oil and a creamy center are layered with wildflower honey and gorgeous French pastry nuances. It’s delicious on a stick—haha. Absolutely long and layered. Pair it with whole roasted goose or turkey thighs—unctuous, with crisp, crunchy fat—or roast chicken in a mushroom sauce. Anything poultry, really. Pheasant for sure: the gaminess of the bird and the richness of this Chardonnay will crush your soul with goodness.

White

2023

Producer

Name

Two blocks at Bacigalupi’s Frost Ranch comprise this 2023 Pinot Noir: the Wente selection, picked two weeks later than in 2022, and the Pommard block, picked in October. The wine aged ten months in French oak barrels (33% new). It’s dark-fruited, with the ripe cherry appeal so prevalent in wines from this stretch of the Russian River Valley, brightened by orange peel and grapefruit zest. Cola nut fills in the gaps, joined by the creamy richness of the fruit and muscular tannins that form a solid foundation for this delectable wine. Vaughn Duffy is a small, family-owned winery based in Sonoma County producing about 3,000 cases annually and specializing in Pinot Noir. The wines are crafted by forklift-wiz-turned-winemaker Matt Duffy, who co-founded the winery in 2009 with his wife, Sara Vaughn.