Cristaldi Scores

Producer
Producer
More
Country
Country
More
Vintage
Vintage
More

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

A blend of stainless steel–fermented and partially barrel-aged lots, this wine is fragrant and lively, driven by notes of lemon-lime, lime blossom, honeysuckle, and white peach. Crisp acidity provides tension and lift, balancing the fleshier fruit profile. The finish is bone dry, clean, and refreshing. Established in 1972, Dry Creek Vineyard is led by second-generation owner & President Kim Stare Wallace and oversees 185 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards.
This 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Russian River Valley was fermented for four months in a mix of 15% new French oak, 29% neutral barrel, and 56% stainless steel. Exotic aromas of lychee, white peach, and a hint of vanilla create an enticing bouquet, while the more restrained palate reveals underripe pineapple, lemon, and lime. Bright, citrus-driven acidity and a chalky mineral edge give the wine tension and focus from start to finish. 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.
This 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Bavarian Lion Vineyard in Knights Valley, Sonoma County, was made entirely in stainless steel with no oak influence. Lush and tropical, it offers aromas of jasmine and honeysuckle alongside ripe tropical fruit. Zippy, zesty acidity enlivens the palate, balancing the wine’s richness and leading to a long, spicy, mineral-driven finish. The Ehret family has been farming their Knights Valley estate for three generations, reserving their best fruit since 2005 for their own small production (handled in the cellar by winemaker Erin Green).
100% Sauvignon Blanc from Nella Terra Vineyard, fermented entirely in stainless steel. Super bright and super zesty, with lime citrus, lemon blossom, and a hint of jasmine layering in a spicy, expressive nuance. Medium-bodied on the palate with building tropical fruit intensity, balanced by all that zippy citrus and vibrant acid tension.
This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is barrel-fermented in Acacia wood using natural yeast, with weekly lees stirring to enhance mid-palate creaminess. Bright and lemony with lime zest accents, white floral notes, and zesty acidity balanced by river stone minerality. A touch of fragrant baking spice adds subtle complexity. Easy-drinking and best enjoyed while preparing a big meal. Owner and Winemaker Erik Miller founded Kokomo Winery in 2004 (named after his hometown of Kokomo, Indiana). Miller partnered with fourth-generation grower Randy Peters to craft wines from the Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander Valleys.
This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from Hopkins River Ranch in the Russian River Valley and spent its entire life fermenting and aging in stainless steel—until you came along, poured it into your glass, and let it shine. It reveals fresh, crunchy orchard fruit, a squeeze of lemony citrus, and freshly picked white flowers, all carried by a zippy acid profile. The finish shows chalky minerality and warmer tropical and stone fruit tones that beautifully balance the crunchy Gravenstein apple character. Originally planted with 2 acres of Cabernet in 1968, Laurel Glen Vineyard was has been owned by Bettina Sichel since 2011. Organic farming is handled by Phil Cottuiri, with winemaker Randall Watkins leading the cellar.
A blend of Sauvignon Blanc clones and vineyard blocks, fermented and aged in stainless steel with selective lees contact and partial malolactic fermentation. This is a bracing, crisp, and steely expression of the variety, with subtle notes of sea grass and a long, mouthwatering finish that channels sea spray and crushed minerals.
This 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Lucky 8 Vineyard comes from the southeastern portion of the Livermore Valley and is entirely Musqué Clone, aged primarily in stainless steel with 10% in neutral oak. Named in honor of the two eldest granddaughters, Peton Taylor and Ashton Paige, this Sauvignon Blanc pays homage to the variety’s legacy in Livermore Valley. It’s a vibrant expression, bursting with tropical melon and guava notes that build across the medium-bodied palate, layered with juicy white peach and underscored by zesty, citrus-driven acidity. Long and focused on the finish.
This Sauvignon Blanc shows a richer profile, with toasty oak and vanilla mingling with yellow apple and lemon curd—almost more of a Chardonnay-like nose, which some people will love. On the palate, it’s laser-focused and racy, with a nice breadth of texture and juicy orchard fruit structure. Barrel aging included 12% new Saury oak, 16% used, and 72% stainless steel, along with seven months of lees stirring, all of which contribute to the wine’s flattering richness. Adolfo Hernandez explained his background and winemaking style to me as follows: “I was the enologist and then assistant winemaker at Eisele Vineyard, splitting my time—two years each—between the Araujos and Château Latour. From there, I spent a year with Martha McClellan at Checkerboard, where we also made her gorgeous Levy & McClellan wines. In 2017, I started as associate winemaker at Benovia in the Russian River Valley with Mike Sullivan, where I’m happily still working today.”
This subtle rosé delivers heady stone fruit notes, sea spray minerality, and tart red berry fruit, all framed by expressive, bracing acidity. It’s a pink-hued acid trip—perfect for pairing with salads dressed in bright vinaigrette or an impressive cheese and charcuterie platter.
A lemon-lime-bright Sauvignon Blanc with notes of mango and papaya, this wine is light- to medium-bodied with crisp, crunchy acidity. A fine, classic example of Rogue Valley Sauvignon Blanc, it delivers easygoing citrus fruit and vivid acid tension that keeps it lively and refreshing.
Super expressive, with honeyed richness. Fermented in both tank and barrel, then aged on the lees for 5 to 6 months before bottling. The palate shows bracing lemon-lime acidity and crushed white flowers. Intensely fragrant and an ideal match for oysters. Winemaker Kelsey Evans uses multiple picks to build complexity.
Not vineyard designated on label, but from two Rogue Valley vineyards, managed by Quail Run. handpicked and sorted and whole cluster pressed femrented in ss with 10 months agingon the fine lees. A very lovely, clean, and focused whtie wine with juicy apple and pear fruit, white flowers, baking spice notes and a lovely lush and creamy mid palate that is framed by a good amont of zesty acidity.
Fermented and aged in 100% stainless steel, this white wine is crisp and tension-filled, offering notes of prairie grass, citrus, and lemon verbena, with a hint of sweet lemon curd on the palate. It finishes with delicate chamomile and honeycomb accents. In 1997, Dr. Vijay Reddy planted his first vines in Texas, drawing on his family’s multi-generational farming heritage. Today, Reddy Wines focuses exclusively on estate-grown production from vineyards situated at 1,007 meters (3,305 feet) in elevation.
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.
This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from Denmark Street Vineyard and pressed directly into locally crafted clay amphorae, where it completes both primary and secondary fermentation and ages for six months. The result is a lemony-bright, lime-zesty, white-floral, and high-toned aromatic wine with a lovely richness on the palate. Crisp, clean, and vibrant, it delivers acidity reminiscent of biting into ripe grapefruit. Intriguing baking spice notes—likely imparted by the amphorae—add layers of mineral iron and subtle Indian spice. Utterly fascinating. Sean Minor Wines was founded in 2005 by husband-and-wife team Sean and Nicole Minor, and is still family-owned and operated. In 2023, their daughter, Elle Minor, joined the team as winemaker. Wines are made from a combination of estate fruit and fruit purchased from sustainably farmed sources throughout California.
Like the 2023, this was fermented in stainless steel, with aging split between partial acacia wood puncheons—used to build mid-palate weight and aromatic intensity—and stainless steel for five months. Fragrant honeydew melon, white peach, and jasmine aromas lift from the glass, all making appearances on the light- to medium-bodied palate. A silky, satiny fruit profile builds with added complexity, ranging from crunchy green apple to pear and more white peach, finishing with a long, chalky mineral note.
A tropical-fruited, zesty Sauvignon Blanc with crisp orchard fruit aromas leading into a palate of luscious pear and underripe pineapple. The texture is creamy yet vibrant, finishing with a clean, mineral edge. Sourced from both estate and grower vineyards, the fruit is pressed and the juice fermented slowly in stainless steel tanks, with a small portion aged in acacia barrels. St. Francis Winery & Vineyards has been in operation for more than five decades, now farming over 400 acres of estate vineyards.
Direct-pressed into stainless steel and aged for 3–4 months before bottling, this Sauvignon Blanc is bright and crisp, showcasing ripe orchard fruit flavors, white flower aromas, and a zesty, lemon-lime minerality.
From a hillside site in Alexander Valley and planted to 50% Musqué and 50% Sauvignon Blanc clones. This Sauvignon Blanc shows a heady richness, driven in part by barrels with Acacia heads, which—when toasted correctly—bring gorgeous florality and minerality. The wine expands across the palate with fleshy pear and apricot, carried by a rich, saline-acid tension that fuels both texture and focused length. It’s an opulent wine with precision and lift. In short, ultra-delicious. This wine was aged 6 months in 40% new French oak.
The grapes for this wine were sourced entirely from Hopkins River Ranch in the heart of the Russian River Valley, where Bob Hopkins has been farming wine grapes on his family’s property off Eastside Road since the 1970s. Fermented and aged for five months in a combination of older oak (58%) and stainless steel barrels (42%), the wine is crunchy, crisp, and super tart, with bright lime acidity, grassy nuances, and tropical fruit character reminiscent of kiwi and green apple. 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.
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.
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.
1 2

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

The Family Reserve Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc is crafted from 40-year-old estate-grown vines, delivering the depth and intensity only mature plantings can offer. The nose is powerful and distinctive, with toasted citrus peel and dried green herbs. On the palate, it’s concentrated and focused, showcasing ripe lemon, melon, and grilled orange flavors. -JR
Fruit for this 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Sunol Highlands Vineyard at Nella Terra Winery in Livermore Valley is grown at 1,100 feet elevation. Fermented entirely in stainless steel, it’s understandably crisp and zippy, yet layered with rich notes of orange and lemon oil and salted Marcona almonds on the nose. Light- to medium-bodied, with crunchy orchard and citrus fruit framed by screaming saline-acid minerality through the tension-filled finish.
Fermented in stainless steel, with ageing split between partial acacia wood puncheons—used to build mid-palate weight and aromatic intensity—and stainless steel for five months. Very bright, crisp, energetic, and clean, with citrus notes alongside subtle hints of papaya and mango, flinty minerality, and white flowers on the nose. Medium-bodied on the palate, with excellent tension and grip, leading to a clean, mineral-driven finish with a saline edge. Fruit is sourced from Lahey Vineyards and Narra Vineyards in the Texas High Plains, along with estate fruit from the Texas Hill Country AVA.
Wente’s 2023 Limited Release 100% Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Mel Vineyard, and is aged sur lie for six months in 10% new and 90% neutral French oak barrels. Just 21 barrels were produced of this electric and gratifying Sauvignon Blanc. Bright, clean citrus and orchard fruit leap from the glass, layered with subtle baking spice notes from extended lees contact. That character builds with spicy intensity on the medium-bodied palate, and the finish shows excellent focus and acid stamina—enough to carry a meal from aperitif hour through to dessert.
A 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Triska Vineyard, aged for four months in stainless steel tanks. Bright, crisp, and full of zesty, snappy acid tension, this light- to medium-bodied wine offers crunchy apple, white peach, tangerine, and lime blossom notes. Chalky minerality shines through on the long, refreshing finish.
The winery’s inaugural Sauvignon Blanc, first produced in 2023, hails from the Steiner Vineyard in Bennett Valley—a late-ripening site where the valley converges with the slopes of Sonoma Mountain. Of the 50-acre parcel, roughly half is under vine, and this bottling comes from an Italian selection planted there. The fruit was pressed into tank and fermented at cool temperatures (around 60°F) on fine lees, then racked to neutral French oak barrels for five months prior to bottling. Super bright and citrus-driven, it offers striking sea spray minerality and aromatic lift. Medium-bodied, with layered notes of citrus, apricot, and white peach, the palate is framed by racy acidity and taut mineral tension. A vibrant, expressive debut with notable freshness and complexity.
Winemaker Jake Lachowitzer, formerly the assistant winemaker at Chalk Hill, took the reins in 2024. Grapes are whole-cluster pressed and fermented in stainless steel. The wine is incredibly aromatic thanks to the addition of small amounts of Muscat Canelli and Muscato Giallo, which contribute high-toned floral and honeysuckle notes. On the palate, everything comes together with a pop of saline acidity and fresh, ripe melon and mango, finishing bright with a chalky mineral edge.
This Sauvignon Blanc was grown in the heart of the Los Olivos District at Coquelicot Vineyard and Big Pond Vineyard, from Musqué and Clone 1 selections. The juice was cold-fermented in stainless steel and aged for only five months. The fruit is super ripe and tropical, calling to mind candied peach rings, honeydew melon, and creamy caramel. It’s generous and lush on the palate, finishing with a sweet spice note.
This 100% estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc from Lemmons Vineyard comes from the northernmost site in the acclaimed Crane Ridge micro-region. It drinks like a paradise punch—bursting with pure, ripe, crunchy pineapple, peach, and nectarine fruit, with lingering notes of orange oil and honeysuckle. The rich mid-palate carries a supple, juicy weight that makes this wine a true crowd-pleaser.
100% Sauvignon Blanc, Musqué clone, from the 30-acre Lemmons Vineyard, fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel. The vineyard blocks were planted in 2017 and 2020, as the site has been trending cooler each year—ideal conditions for Sauvignon Blanc, which continues to thrive here. This wine is superbly citrus-focused, with high-toned jalapeño and white pepper nuances layered over green apple, pear, and a kiss of passion fruit. Mouthwatering acidity gives it grip and energy, driving a lengthy, spicy finish.
100% Sauvignon Blanc from Triska Vineyard, aged for three months in stainless steel. A refined and expressive wine with notes of kiwi, lychee, and lemon and lime blossoms. Medium-bodied, with zesty lime-driven acid tension and juicy Melon de Bourgogne character. There’s excellent phenolic grip, and the finish lingers with grapefruit zest and tangerine oil essence—refreshing and vibrant from start to finish.
Fermented in stainless steel and sourced from Ridout Vineyard, this is a bright, spicy, zesty, and focused Sauvignon Blanc. Aromatics of poached pear, honeysuckle, lemon blossom, and lime-scented minerality lead into a high-toned floral and tropical finish. Clean, vibrant, and full of energy.
Dragonette continues to produce some of California’s most compelling Sauvignon Blancs. This entry-level bottling serves as the precursor to their trio of single-vineyard SBs, offering a vivid preview of the house style. Sourced from the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA, it’s a dynamic wine driven by orchard and tropical fruit, zesty sea grass, and prairie herbs. A kiss of vanilla and creamy oak spice mingles with lime oil, saffron, and quince, all carried on a long finish laced with crushed almonds and fine sea salt.
Entirely fermented and aged in stainless steel, this wine bursts with vibrant tropical fruit notes of lychee and white peach, underpinned by a flinty minerality. Crisp, crunchy, and racy acidity drives the palate, leading to a bright, chalky mineral finish. Established in 1972, Dry Creek Vineyard is led by second-generation owner & President Kim Stare Wallace and oversees 185 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards.
A blend of stainless steel–fermented and partially barrel-aged lots, this wine is fragrant and lively, driven by notes of lemon-lime, lime blossom, honeysuckle, and white peach. Crisp acidity provides tension and lift, balancing the fleshier fruit profile. The finish is bone dry, clean, and refreshing. Established in 1972, Dry Creek Vineyard is led by second-generation owner & President Kim Stare Wallace and oversees 185 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards.
This 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Russian River Valley was fermented for four months in a mix of 15% new French oak, 29% neutral barrel, and 56% stainless steel. Exotic aromas of lychee, white peach, and a hint of vanilla create an enticing bouquet, while the more restrained palate reveals underripe pineapple, lemon, and lime. Bright, citrus-driven acidity and a chalky mineral edge give the wine tension and focus from start to finish. 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

$

MAILING LIST

The only email you want to open