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The Kobler Family Vineyards Syrah builds out of the glass with a heady dose of cocoa-powder character, woody notes, and earth, all interwoven with dark berry fruit and dusty minerality. The tannins are crisp and crunchy, with juicy dark fruit on the palate and building structure that turns a bit drying toward the woodsy finish.

A half-and-half blend of Pommard and Clone 777 from Bacigalupi Vineyard. The nose leans fairly savory, with a heady dose of cedarwood spice and white pepper. There’s plenty of tannin grip and texture, with juicy fruit on the palate that — for me — could be a touch riper, but for those who prefer a leaner, more focused Pinot with cool wet–river–rock character, this will hit the spot.

The wine offers dark berry fruit, woodsy aromatics, dark loamy earth, and espresso bean, with the Viognier adding a touch of floral lift. On the medium-bodied palate, more Syrah character comes through as blackberry, black cherry, and subtle charcuterie notes that intermingle with the woodsy tones on the finish. Roughly 4–5% Viognier is blended back before bottling.

The use of a white Burgundy yeast helps to bring out more crème brûlée notes. Fermented in barrel and aged sur lie with bâtonnage for 10 months in 25% new French oak. The wine is rich, with a buttery profile and notes of banana panna cotta and pineapple on the nose, along with vanilla, butterscotch, and candied ginger spice. Lemon-oil richness adds to the silky, buttery texture. And while it’s undeniably opulent, it still carries some brighter fruit on the palate to keep it lifted.
This rosé comes from the coldest spot on the property, between Forestville and Graton along Highway 116 in West Sonoma County—about ten miles west of Santa Rosa, perched on the ridge of the Green Valley. An old Victorian farmhouse sits on the site. The fruit is direct-pressed and fermented in stainless steel, and Mike Kobler took over winemaking in 2022. It’s a robust, full-throttle rosé—not for the faint of heart—with rich aromas of apricot and tangerine peel and a faint hint of bacon fat. The palate is fragrant and mid-weight, offering red-berry fruit layered with savory nuances. There’s good tension and energy, along with a long, deeply fruited finish. Mike’s grandfather retired to Dry Creek Valley in the early 1980s. An engineer by trade, he spent weekends putting young Mike to work in the vineyard whenever he came to visit. Mike went on to study economics and graduated in 2007—just in time for the 2008 market crash—so he pivoted into wine. Despite swearing he’d never enter the industry, he realized he liked the lifestyle, and his network of growers and winemakers proved invaluable. With help from his father, he built a business plan, and they dove in. They launched with a négociant model, and in 2011 produced their first wine from the family property. As Mike began asking around for grape contracts, the business grew steadily. His older brother, Brian Kobler, who had been a winemaker for 20 years, eventually came on board as well.
100% stainless-steel fermented and aged. This is the same fruit that once went to Donelan for their Viognier. Super aromatic, with white florals, jasmine, and honeysuckle, plus a hint of flinty minerality. The wine offers lemony accents, more florality, and a saline–acid brightness. It’s a bit leaner and racier than the Donelan versions, if you’re familiar with those. But this is exactly Mike Kobler’s focus — bringing more racy, focused, linear wines into the family’s portfolio — and this is a great example of that effort.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

The Kobler Family Vineyards Syrah builds out of the glass with a heady dose of cocoa-powder character, woody notes, and earth, all interwoven with dark berry fruit and dusty minerality. The tannins are crisp and crunchy, with juicy dark fruit on the palate and building structure that turns a bit drying toward the woodsy finish.

A half-and-half blend of Pommard and Clone 777 from Bacigalupi Vineyard. The nose leans fairly savory, with a heady dose of cedarwood spice and white pepper. There’s plenty of tannin grip and texture, with juicy fruit on the palate that — for me — could be a touch riper, but for those who prefer a leaner, more focused Pinot with cool wet–river–rock character, this will hit the spot.

The wine offers dark berry fruit, woodsy aromatics, dark loamy earth, and espresso bean, with the Viognier adding a touch of floral lift. On the medium-bodied palate, more Syrah character comes through as blackberry, black cherry, and subtle charcuterie notes that intermingle with the woodsy tones on the finish. Roughly 4–5% Viognier is blended back before bottling.

The use of a white Burgundy yeast helps to bring out more crème brûlée notes. Fermented in barrel and aged sur lie with bâtonnage for 10 months in 25% new French oak. The wine is rich, with a buttery profile and notes of banana panna cotta and pineapple on the nose, along with vanilla, butterscotch, and candied ginger spice. Lemon-oil richness adds to the silky, buttery texture. And while it’s undeniably opulent, it still carries some brighter fruit on the palate to keep it lifted.
This rosé comes from the coldest spot on the property, between Forestville and Graton along Highway 116 in West Sonoma County—about ten miles west of Santa Rosa, perched on the ridge of the Green Valley. An old Victorian farmhouse sits on the site. The fruit is direct-pressed and fermented in stainless steel, and Mike Kobler took over winemaking in 2022. It’s a robust, full-throttle rosé—not for the faint of heart—with rich aromas of apricot and tangerine peel and a faint hint of bacon fat. The palate is fragrant and mid-weight, offering red-berry fruit layered with savory nuances. There’s good tension and energy, along with a long, deeply fruited finish. Mike’s grandfather retired to Dry Creek Valley in the early 1980s. An engineer by trade, he spent weekends putting young Mike to work in the vineyard whenever he came to visit. Mike went on to study economics and graduated in 2007—just in time for the 2008 market crash—so he pivoted into wine. Despite swearing he’d never enter the industry, he realized he liked the lifestyle, and his network of growers and winemakers proved invaluable. With help from his father, he built a business plan, and they dove in. They launched with a négociant model, and in 2011 produced their first wine from the family property. As Mike began asking around for grape contracts, the business grew steadily. His older brother, Brian Kobler, who had been a winemaker for 20 years, eventually came on board as well.
100% stainless-steel fermented and aged. This is the same fruit that once went to Donelan for their Viognier. Super aromatic, with white florals, jasmine, and honeysuckle, plus a hint of flinty minerality. The wine offers lemony accents, more florality, and a saline–acid brightness. It’s a bit leaner and racier than the Donelan versions, if you’re familiar with those. But this is exactly Mike Kobler’s focus — bringing more racy, focused, linear wines into the family’s portfolio — and this is a great example of that effort.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

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