Sign In/Subscribe

Cristaldi Scores

Producer
Producer
More
Country
Country
More
Vintage
Vintage
More

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2024

Salty Goats

Salty Goats Coastline Project Pinot Noir

This Coastline Project Pinot Noir is a dark-fruited powerhouse, showcasing the ripe, soaring tannins characteristic of fruit grown in the extreme coastal zones of the Sonoma Coast. It bursts with dark cherry and plum fruit, framed by red apple-skin tannins and mineral nuances that shine through the dark core—wet river stone, slate, and a touch of violet. On the palate, subtle blue fruit tones emerge beneath the grip of those firm tannins, adding depth and intrigue. I’m inclined to think these 2024s will age longer than the dazzling 2023s; there’s more heft and power here, making it worth holding until at least 2026 before pulling a cork. Sourced from organically farmed vineyards along the West Sonoma Coast and Sonoma Coast AVA—including McDougall Ranch and Kings Ridge (Fort Ross–Seaview), Fociñni (Petaluma Gap), and Lucky Well (Occidental)—this wine blends clones 114, Calera, Schoolhouse, Pommard, and La Tâche. With 30% whole-cluster fermentation in stainless steel using native yeasts and native malolactic conversion, the wine spent 15 days on the skins. Salty Goats is passion of Nickel & Nickel’s Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook (who were mentored by Thomas Rivers Brown). The wines are made at TRB’s Mending Wall facility, sourcing grapes from organically farmed vineyards on the West Sonoma Coast and in Napa Valley.

2024

Salty Goats

Salty Goats Pinot Noir

This wine unfolds slowly, finishing with profoundly robust, firm tannins that build and build—but before that, it seduces with calm generosity and perfumed red fruit layered with violets, dark cinnamon, cedarwood, and underbrush. The entry is soft and silky, edged with blue-toned fruit that’s soon drawn into focus by the grip and structure of this powerful Pinot Noir. Like the Coastline Project Pinot, it’s worth holding until late 2026 before pulling corks—and it will easily reward a decade or more of aging. Composed of a barrel selection sourced 70% from McDougall Ranch and 30% from Kings Ridge Vineyard, with 30% whole-cluster fermentation in stainless steel, native primary and malolactic fermentations, and 16 days on skins. Salty Goats is passion of Nickel & Nickel’s Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook (who were mentored by Thomas Rivers Brown). The wines are made at TRB’s Mending Wall facility, sourcing grapes from organically farmed vineyards on the West Sonoma Coast and in Napa Valley.

2024

Salty Goats Wine Co.

Lot #58. 'Coastal Brotherhood' Pinot Noir

TASTING NOTE: Lot #55. Barrel Sample: The last time I tasted wine this good with Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook, we were at Nickel & Nickel on December 5, 2025. Just as we began tasting, a small earthquake rattled the building. We felt it sway, and—like any sensible wine industry veterans—we reached for our favorite wine on the table, downed a glass, and then made sure we didn’t need to run out of the building. That’s exactly what you’d do with this Pinot Noir. Crafted from a 50/50 blend of Kings Ridge and McDougall vineyards, it’s super expressive—floral and bright with incense notes from partial whole-cluster fermentation. It shows excellent depth and remarkable tension. One of the most tightly wound, high-energy lots I tasted, with soaring acidity, purity of fruit, and serious structural tannins anchoring it all. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: “Coastal Brotherhood” is a never before, never again blend – crafted from the first McDougal Vineyard fruit that Salty Goats Wine Co. has ever received and then blended with Pinot Noir from the Kings Ridge Vineyard. These vineyards are located within the northernmost section of the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. Both sites are less than 3.5 miles from the ocean and organically farmed. Salty Goats Wine Co. started in 2020, rooted in the coastal hills of Northern California, dedicated to crafting expressive, site-driven Pinot Noir. It is a passion project born from the dynamic brotherhood of Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook, the acclaimed winemaking team behind Nickel & Nickel’s extraordinary Napa Valley Cabernets. They partner with trusted farmers who share their passion for organic and precision viticulture. With its high elevations, cool climate, and Pacific Ocean influence, the West Sonoma Coast offers wonderful conditions to produce Pinot Noir that is vibrant and expressive. Expect a wine of depth, texture, and elegance, highlighted by a unique coastal salinity. This wine epitomizes freshness and elegance with a long, vibrant finish. WINEMAKER(S): Joe Harden, Phil Holbrook ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: August 2025 ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: January 2026 National Distribution: CA, HI

2024

Twomey

Lot #42. 'Harmony in Heritage' Last Stop Vineyard Pinot Noir

TASTING NOTE: Lot #42. Barrel Sample: Justin Hirigoyen worked at Domaine Faiveley and Spring Mountain Vineyard. Need to know anything else? No! Just bid—and love this wine. A blend of heritage clones, it offers beautifully lifted red berry fruit and warming spice that evokes cardamom and flamed blood orange peel. Medium-bodied with salty minerality, notes of Santa Rosa plum, and fine, satiny tannins. The finish is fragrant with rose petal and finesse to spare. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: This unique auction lot is crafted with selections from the Twomey Last Stop estate vineyard through the lens of collaboration. After half a decade farming this specific site together, winemaker Justin Hirigoyen and grape growers Nick Filice and Jim Pratt sat down together to encapsulate site and vintage into this exclusive wine made from heritage clones planted at the site. The Last Stop Vineyard gets its name from being the last stop on a former rail line that ran from San Francisco to Forestville in the early 1900s. Today, Twomey is the proud steward of the site’s rolling hills covered in Goldridge soils. Founded in 1999 by the Duncan Family of Silver Oak, Twomey combines experience and a sense of curiosity with the exploration of expressive vineyards for its wines — made to be savored with family and friends. This wine showcases the complex and refined flavor profile typical of the Russian River Valley. A delicate balance of power and elegance are on full display with a refined tannic structure complimented by fresh energy and life. Bright floral and spice notes frame a detailed bouquet of dark cherry, bergamot and Santa Rosa plum. A broad attack gives way to a bright, creamy core of fruit and tannins that linger on the palate. WINEMAKER(S): Justin Hirigoyen ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: December 2025 ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: April 2026 National Distribution: Includes all 50 states and Washington, DC International Distribution: Includes Canada, Denmark, Japan, Norway; please inquire for additional countries.

2024

Wente Family Vineyards

Nicki's Rosé

Made from 100% estate-grown Pinot Noir in Arroyo Seco, this rosé underwent primary fermentation in stainless steel and did not go through malolactic fermentation. It was aged for two months in stainless steel to preserve vibrancy. Floral, perky, and fresh, this is a perfect springtime sipper. Aromas of passionfruit, mango skin, and wild strawberry lead into a medium-bodied palate featuring bright red berry flavors and a subtle hint of watermelon on the finish. -JR

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.

N/A

Valette

Champagne Blanc de Noirs NV

Wonderfully rich baking-spice notes evoke walnut–cardamom pastry, French buttered croissant, and wet river stones, all wrapped around cherry and apple fruit. The mousse is incredibly frothy, building with beautiful lightness and textural lift, while hints of white truffle and a streak of saline acidity add a savory freshness that’s undeniably delicious.

1 2 3 4 … 8 9 10

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2023

Producer

Name

Here’s a clonal soup for the true wine geeks: this Pinot Noir blend brings together Wadenswil 2A, Dijon clones 115, 667, 828, 777, 114, and Pommard, all aged in 30% new French oak. It’s bright and spicy, with red cherry fruit, bold tannins, and notes of underbrush and pine forest. The tannins build through the long finish, gradually softening as blood orange acidity emerges and mingles with elegant cedarwood character and deeper layers of dark cherry fruit.

2023

Producer

Name

This Dijon 777 Pinot Noir was whole cluster fermented and aged for 10 months in 25% new French oak. Bold, rich, and spicy—yet light on its feet—it delivers black cherry, clove, blood orange, and grapefruit zest. The tannins are ripe and grippy, and the finish reveals crushed stone and wet slate minerality. A fantastically structured Pinot Noir with impressive grip and tension—give it another year or two in bottle and enjoy over the next decade.

2023

Producer

Name

Bottled entirely in magnum (to mark it as a wine for special occasions and sharing), The Approach represents a passion project for Dan Kosta and winemaker Shane Finley—just five barrels were made in 2023. Modeled after the Kosta Browne “Four Barrel,” this blend brings together fruit from Garys’ Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Umino and Martaella vineyards in the Russian River Valley, and Campbell Ranch on the West Sonoma Coast near Westside Road. “Is this the best five barrels in the winery?” Dan asks. “No. If you have five wonderful kids, it doesn’t mean they’ll all play well together. It’s the best blend we can make from these sites—the best wine we can create from the components we have. It’s a winemaker’s wine.” The name The Approach is also a tribute to his father, an airline pilot. “You can’t have perfection in wine,” Dan says. “If I believed you could, I’d call it The Landing. But wine is an imperfect journey, so The Approach just fits.” Given that sentiment, Dan may not agree with my 100-point assesment, but I do. I love this wine. For me, this wine isn’t about terroir as much as it is about pleasure, complexity, and the cerebral art of blending. In its youth, it’s floral and brown-spiced with dark fruit and lush texture balanced by a tactile grip. The finish is long and compelling, inviting sip after sip. Certain site components shine brightly now, like the lush, fruity aspect from Santa Lucia, balanced by the intense earthy character of the Russian River Valley, but by 2029 or so, they’ll have fully harmonized—making patience well-rewarded if you wait to pop the cork.

2023

Producer

Name

A full-flavored, medium- to full-bodied Pinot Noir showing firm tannins and abundant richness. Layers of cherry and blackberry fruit mingle with spiced plum, elegant cherry wood smoke, and clove, all carried through a lengthy finish defined by saline acidity and refined balance. Founded in 2010 by David Warren Hejl, former CEO of Kosta Browne and Martinelli Winery & Vineyards, Domaine Della crafts limited-production Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from select Sonoma County vineyards.

2023

Producer

Name

Sourced from the Earl Stephens Vineyard in the Green Valley sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley, this is a pretty, savory-driven Pinot Noir offering a mix of red cherry fruit, pine forest, crushed cocoa nibs, and elegant cedarwood. Medium-bodied, it’s balanced and finely textured, finishing with a tart cherry brightness. Founded in 2010 by David Warren Hejl, former CEO of Kosta Browne and Martinelli Winery & Vineyards, Domaine Della crafts limited-production Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from select Sonoma County vineyards.

2023

Producer

Name

This Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is straightforward and juicy, offering a lively mix of red cherry and currant fruit layered with notes of spicy paprika and cedarwood. A subtle thread of saline minerality runs through the wine, balanced by blood-orange acidity and crisp, refreshing tannins. Founded in 2010 by David Warren Hejl, former CEO of Kosta Browne and Martinelli Winery & Vineyards, Domaine Della crafts limited-production Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from select Sonoma County vineyards.

2023

Producer

Name

The Hypersonic Pinot Noir, sourced from the Donum Vineyard in Carneros, is a 100% Pinot Noir aged 16 months in 83% new French oak. In contrast to the White Barn bottling, this wine is hyper–fruit-forward yet deeply dark and savory, showing remarkable intensity. Aromas of black truffle, charcuterie, dried red cherry, and cherry wood mingle with subtle hints of sage and bay leaf. On the palate, firm cocoa-powder tannins frame the fruit, while a dazzling streak of wet-slate minerality carries through the long, powerful finish. Founded in 2001, The Donum Estate farms five Regenerative Organic Certified® vineyards across Carneros, the Russian River Valley, Anderson Valley, and the Sonoma Coast.

2023

Producer

Name

This 100% Pinot Noir from TFV Vineyard in Carneros was aged 16 months in 62% new French oak. Intensely structured and gripping, it opens with crunchy apple-skin tannins that command the palate before easing into layers of cherry fruit, delicate cherry wood, and a lingering smoky clove finish. As it unfolds, a burst of juicy blood orange emerges unexpectedly, adding vibrancy and lift. Quite an intriguing and structured Pinot. Founded in 2001, The Donum Estate farms five Regenerative Organic Certified® vineyards across Carneros, the Russian River Valley, Anderson Valley, and the Sonoma Coast.

2023

Producer

Name

This 100% Pinot Noir from the Donum Vineyard in Carneros was aged 16 months in 40% new French oak. It’s a striking, attention-commanding wine with heady aromas of white pepper, crushed eucalyptus, cassis, and a wild birch-bark nuance that sets it apart. On the palate, the tannins are firm and deeply structured—almost as if that birch-bark character has become part of the wine’s very foundation. Powerful and built for longevity, this is a Pinot Noir to cellar and revisit in the late 2020s, when its structure will have softened and its complexity fully unfurled. Founded in 2001, The Donum Estate farms five Regenerative Organic Certified® vineyards across Carneros, the Russian River Valley, Anderson Valley, and the Sonoma Coast.

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

Zippy, zesty, and zingy—this is an electrified Pinot Noir that crackles with energy. In total contrast to the richer Wester Reach bottling, it shows crunchy red fruits, bright red florals, and delicate Asian spice notes. Long, lean, and focused, it’s a natural partner for oysters Rockefeller or grilled branzino. This 100% Pinot Noir is sourced from Dutton Ranch and was aged 15 months in 32% new French oak barrels from Tonnellerie Remond. Founded in 1996, DuMOL is led by Chief Winemaker & Proprietor Andy Smith, crafting Russian River Valley releases from both estate and nearby grower-partner vineyards.

2023

Producer

Name

The DuMOL style demands attention—structured, firmly tannic, and crisp, these wines are built for long-term cellaring. But give them air—open in the morning and revisit in the evening—and their purity of fruit and quiet elegance reveal themselves, a reminder that these are not wines to simply pop and pour. After four hours open, this 100% Pinot Noir showed layers of dark fruit, forest pine, and black truffle charcuterie, nuanced by wet slate and robust, smoky sea-salt–dusted tannins. Smoked paprika carries through the lengthy, dynamic finish. Sourced from 28% Occidental Road, 26% Dutton Ranch, 16% Flax Estate, 16% DuMOL Estate, and 14% Placida, it was aged 15 months in 28% new French oak from Tonnelleries Ermitage and Remond. Founded in 1996, DuMOL is led by Chief Winemaker & Proprietor Andy Smith, crafting Russian River Valley releases from both estate and nearby grower-partner vineyards.

2023

Producer

Name

A medium-bodied, plump, and juicy Pinot Noir with a velvety texture, sourced from four vineyards: Terra de Promissio, Cut Root, Bucher, and Placida. The inclusion of 15% whole clusters adds a touch of grip, though the tannins are well-integrated and refined. Aged 11 months in 30% new French oak, the wine shows layered baking spice character—clove, nutmeg, and a touch of dusty minerality on the finish. Harmonious and inviting, it’s an effortlessly appealing Pinot Noir that’s all too easy to drink. Debra Mathay purchased Dutcher Crossing in 2007, and it now produces more than thirty wines from Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino counties, farming 75 acres of estate vineyards.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2023

2023 DANCIN Setti Pezzi Pinot Noir

Still Wine

N/A

2023

2023 DANCIN Trata Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 DK Grail The Approach Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Domaine Della 4 Amours Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$$

2023

2023 Domaine Della Earl Stephens Vineyard Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Domaine Della Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Donum Estate Hypersonic Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$$

2023

2023 Donum Estate TFV Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Donum Estate White Barn Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$$

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 DuMOL Ryan Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$$

2023

2023 DuMOL Wester Reach Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Dutcher Crossing Fifth Stage Reserve Barrel Select Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

MAILING LIST

The only email you want to open

  • Podcast Drops
  • New Reports
  • Latest Scores