Cristaldi Scores

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In 2022, the Calluna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted as a selection of the best lots from the winery’s hillside vineyards. Each of the 12 blocks was fermented separately and evaluated through blending trials after five months in barrel. The final blend comprises 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec. This is a structured, energetic, and finely focused red—nothing soft or loose here. It offers expressive blackberry and violet notes alongside hints of blue fruit and cedarwood spice. A dusting of cocoa powder frames the pure, vibrant fruit, giving the wine both texture and polish. The finish shows excellent length and tension, with subtle graphite and wood smoke. Founder and winemaker David Jeffrey established Calluna Vineyards in 2005, planting 12 acres of estate vineyards in Sonoma County’s Chalk Hill AVA, followed by an additional 5 acres in 2014. After earning his degree in viticulture and enology at Fresno State, Jeffrey apprenticed under Alain Raynaud at Château Quinault in Saint-Émilion.

Fruit is entirely from the Lancaster Estate, fermented with native yeast in tank and aged 24 months in 100% new French oak. The wine is intensely fruit-driven, with raspberry and strawberry notes alongside warming baking spices, clove, plum skin, grapefruit zest, lavender, and rose stem. It’s super juicy on the palate with very soft, plump tannins and a cool wet-river-stone minerality. This is a porch-pounder of a wine in this vintage—which, at $130, is a good thing if you collect it. Let your more structured, “serious” vintages continue to age while you enjoy the heck out of this one.

The Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon comes from estate fruit across Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Mountain, and Knights Valley. At its suggested retail price of $30, this is a fantastic value. It delivers a generous punch of savory Sonoma character—sagebrush, wild thyme, and bay laurel—wrapped around beautifully pure cassis and blackberry fruit. Elegant cedarwood spice adds lift, while fine tannins and earthy tension shape the palate. Super-pristine fruit and balanced structure make this a killer wine for the price.

In 2023, Francis Ford Coppola can’t miss—the wines are pure, exciting, and elegantly textured. This Director’s Cut Sonoma Cabernet frames a beautiful mix of red berry fruit with blue-fruited nuances, cedarwood accents, and burly tannins dusted with unsweetened cocoa powder. A burst of blood orange acidity brightens the finish, adding lift and freshness. A great vintage to buy and enjoy with hearty fare or aged cheeses. Aged for 14 months in 45% new oak.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

In 2022, the Calluna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted as a selection of the best lots from the winery’s hillside vineyards. Each of the 12 blocks was fermented separately and evaluated through blending trials after five months in barrel. The final blend comprises 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec. This is a structured, energetic, and finely focused red—nothing soft or loose here. It offers expressive blackberry and violet notes alongside hints of blue fruit and cedarwood spice. A dusting of cocoa powder frames the pure, vibrant fruit, giving the wine both texture and polish. The finish shows excellent length and tension, with subtle graphite and wood smoke. Founder and winemaker David Jeffrey established Calluna Vineyards in 2005, planting 12 acres of estate vineyards in Sonoma County’s Chalk Hill AVA, followed by an additional 5 acres in 2014. After earning his degree in viticulture and enology at Fresno State, Jeffrey apprenticed under Alain Raynaud at Château Quinault in Saint-Émilion.

Fruit is entirely from the Lancaster Estate, fermented with native yeast in tank and aged 24 months in 100% new French oak. The wine is intensely fruit-driven, with raspberry and strawberry notes alongside warming baking spices, clove, plum skin, grapefruit zest, lavender, and rose stem. It’s super juicy on the palate with very soft, plump tannins and a cool wet-river-stone minerality. This is a porch-pounder of a wine in this vintage—which, at $130, is a good thing if you collect it. Let your more structured, “serious” vintages continue to age while you enjoy the heck out of this one.

The Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon comes from estate fruit across Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Mountain, and Knights Valley. At its suggested retail price of $30, this is a fantastic value. It delivers a generous punch of savory Sonoma character—sagebrush, wild thyme, and bay laurel—wrapped around beautifully pure cassis and blackberry fruit. Elegant cedarwood spice adds lift, while fine tannins and earthy tension shape the palate. Super-pristine fruit and balanced structure make this a killer wine for the price.

In 2023, Francis Ford Coppola can’t miss—the wines are pure, exciting, and elegantly textured. This Director’s Cut Sonoma Cabernet frames a beautiful mix of red berry fruit with blue-fruited nuances, cedarwood accents, and burly tannins dusted with unsweetened cocoa powder. A burst of blood orange acidity brightens the finish, adding lift and freshness. A great vintage to buy and enjoy with hearty fare or aged cheeses. Aged for 14 months in 45% new oak.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

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