Cristaldi Scores

Producer
Producer
More
Country
Country
More
Vintage
Vintage
More

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Made by Eran Goldwasser (who was trained in Australia) from grapes sourced in the south Judea region at 2,500 feet, this red is long, minty, and mineral. It has deep, focused black fruit action throughout. A serious—and seriously good—effort. – J.R.

A vibrant, alluring, white crafted by Katy Wilson, this low production (140 cases) delight shows a fantastic middle palate of zippy acidity and floral tones. Vibrant citrus, lemon zest, melon, and white blossoms all make appearances on the nose and the palate. This is begging to be matched up with delicate seafood. – J.R.
Exciting, mineral, and vivacious. Floral tones, along with citrus peel and just-ripe tropical fruit action, make this feel almost effortless to imbibe. Sourced from estate grapes grown in Rioja Alta. – J.R.
Tangy, perky, and somewhat muscular, this pink sipper shows delicious ripe red berry flavors and a long finish with lovely rose petal tinges. – J.R.
Fermented entirely in stainless steel, this white is fresh but nicely rounded on the edges of the palate, sporting just a hint of pleasing astringent structure in its texture. Aromas and flavors of honeydew, nectarine, grapefruit, yellow apple, and lemon pie make this nearly irresistible. – J.R.
A perky, vibrant, jubilant pink, this rose is sourced from Docker Hill (Mendocino County) and Ruxton Vineyard (Russian River Valley), as well as other sites in Green Valley. Hints of roses, hibiscus, underripe melon, wild strawberry, and candied watermelon mingle with flavors of citrus. Everything resolves into a wonderfully mineral, herbal finish. – J.R.
Sourced from the Morris Vineyard. Floral, with hints of just ripe tropical fruit, slate, and melon. The palate has nice, rounded edges with a floral, lime and stone fruit finish that won’t quit. – J.R.
Really nice florals are presented in this single-vineyard rosé, topped with vibrant red berry touches. The palate shows great lift, with a long, spicy, and herbal finish. – J.R.
Aged for 4 months in stainless steel and cement tanks on the fine lees, this is a foodie’s rose. Grapefruit, rose petal, wild strawberry, and white pepper aromas lead into a lively, saline-kissed palate with flavors of mandarin orange, red berries, and a pithy structure. – J.R.
Still clearly a young pup, this Grenache (locally called Gamay del Trasimeno) offers a nose of violets, ocean spray, raspberries, pepper, and currants.The palate deep with plummy fruitiness, but manages to stay light on its feet with perky acidity through a spicy, earthy finish. – J.R.

The plethora of citrus aromas is wild, but the rest of this structured, mineral, and lengthy bargain is elegant and refined. One of the more unique renderings of this variety that you’re likely to encounter, it sports hints of white tea along with its abundant lemony flavors. – J.R.
A jaunty—and lovely—take on one of Portugal’s under-appreciated white varieties (at least in terms of showing off its more sophisticated side), after handpicking this sipper spends three months on the fine lees with regular batonnage. Floral and citric, the jasmine and saline notes show impressive purity, while the palate balances elegance and crunchy acidity in equal measures. – J.R.
60% whole cluster pressing gives this charming, bouyant Gamay a cheerful lift. It’s bright and fruity, packed with aromas and flavors of cranberries, cherry, berry compote, and lavender florals. While undeniably fun, there’s richness to the ripe fruit flavor, and elegance to the tightly wound acid core. Delightful. – J.R.

Blended from Arroyo Secco and Santa Lucia Highlands fruit, this blend provides a lovely, fruity take on Alsatian-inspired whites. Dominated by ripe citrus and tropical fruit flavors, this is a floral and inviting sipper with piquant acidity and a pleasant hint of astringent structure that wraps the palate up almost like a neat little decorative bow. – J.R.
This Symington project is quickly becoming one of Alentejo’s most impressive producers. Here, they’ve blended Arinto and Verdelho into a mineral, citric, and vivacious white (aged six months in stainless steel vats). Just-ripe tropical fruit flavors and excellent freshness mark the palate, leading into a heady, floral finish. – J.R.
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.

NV

This succulent, spicy 10-year is nothing if not consistent. Rich toffee and vanilla bean aromas entice, while the caramel, toasted nut, and dried fig and cherry flavors make it a perfect match for a slice of pecan pie. – J.R.

NV

Vivacious, with lively and lovely green apple aromas and flavors, and impressive length for the asking price. With Méthode Traditionnelle production and 7% aged reserve added, this sparkler is an easy and affordable way to upscale your weekday sipping. – J.R.

NV

This is a Reserve with the “seriousness” factor dialed up a notch. The fruit is sourced from Quinta da Vila Velha, purchased by James Yumington in the late 1980s. Deep, dark, and downright brooding, this shows hints of resin, mint, dried black figs, mocha, and succulent blackcurrants. The palate carries both power and refinement, almost like a young Vintage Port. – J.R.

1 2 3

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

This flagship red’s grapes are manually selected, with about 20% whole cluster and agewd 6 months in cement tanks and 12 months in large oak barrels. Succulent red fruit kicks it off, all of it deep and savory. The palate shows the same, with spices acting as background to the pure, abundantly fruity mouthfeel. – J.R.

Rich, potent, and alluring. Dark spices and even hints of iron mix with tobacco, truffle, blackberry, blue plum, and incense on the nose. The palate is remarkably consistent, adding blood orange acidity to the wild berry and plum flavors. Packs a punch, but lands all of its hits elegantly. – J.R.

A beautifully spicy, structured, earthy expression of a distinct place and time. Deftly balancing savory, dark cherry flavors with pepper and bramble notes, with a palate that is equal parts depth and nuance. This one should stand the test of time. – J.R.

An incredibly juicy red that’s dark and plummy and still a bit young. You can really sense the structure in the dryness of the mid-palate, amid the flavors of black cherry and hints of leather. Grab a burger to tame it and enjoy. – J.R.

Named for the terraced vineyards surrounding this often underrated estate’s ancient dovecote (“pombal” in Portuguese), this release hails from a hot and dry vintage (even by modern Douro standards). Exceptionally spicy on the nose, with green and dried herbs, pepper, violets, and wild blackberry notes. On the palate, this is ripe, plummy, dense, and full, with tannins that carry a dusty edge. Delicious now, this will be even better with 2-3 years of cellaring. – J.R.

Dark blackcurrant fruit, savory spices, and a plush, seductive mouthfeel mark this concentrated crowd-pleaser of a Cabernet from Knights Valley. Dark plum flavors make it a fantastic choice for short ribs or hearty burgers. – J.R.

This site, named “hole of the priest”, refers to land previously belonging to the church, with a vineyard planted at the base of two adjoining steep hillsiodes. It leaeds with very dark cherry and dried roses, then presents aromas of vibrant red fruits. The palate is earthy, funky, chewy, and structured, leading to a mineral-tinged finish. – J.R.

There’s a lot to like about this white, sourced from a steep, riverside vineyard. A perky nose is abundant with white flowers, ripe citrus, jasmine, underripe pineapple, pear, and yellow and green apples. 9 months in new and second-use French oak lend a hint of toast tro the racy palate, which shows flavors of ripe lemons and a chalky minerality, leading to a long citrus-peel finish. – J.R.
From 30+ year old, bush-trained vines comes this intriguing and mineral Sauvignon, aged 12 months in used French oak barrels. Peach blossom and tropical fruit notes mingle with ripe grapefruit and a touch of hay on the nose. In the mouth it starts quite rounded, with developed citrus, grilled orange peel, ripe yelow apple, and mandarin orange flavors. A saline hint adds complexity and nuance. – J.R.
Sourced entirely from Sangiovese (vines averaging 20 years old) grown in the Prenzano parcel and nearby estate vineyards, the fruit reflects a mix of sites clustered around the historic villa. Prenzano sits at the upper reaches of the property, where lighter, sand-influenced soils—similar in character to those found in Lamole—tend to yield more aromatic, finely structured wines. Juicy and delicious, with cedar, vanilla, and orange peel notes sitting atop ample and ripe cherry and red plum fruits. The black cherry flavor on the vibrant palate is immediately appealing, and the structure in the mid-palate is surprising, giving this red focus to balance out the fruitiness and acidity. The finish stays chewy and refreshing, inviting another (or several) sips. This one will add a touch of class to pasta night, for sure. Matured in a combination of oak, with roughly equal portions of new barrels, second-use barrels, and older, more neutral casks contributing to the final blend.

This showcase red, sourced from Block 1B planted in 1999 to Clone 337, is meant only as a demonstration of the site’s potential and is not made available for general sale. It spends 17 months in 100% French oak, and it’s wonderful stuff. Cola, black cherry, pencil lead, dried and very savory herbs, sage, blackberry compote, and hints of mint all appear on the expressive and complex nose. On the palate, this EXPLODES with black cherry juiciness, later showing black plum, cassis, and notes of leather, licorice, and toast. Powerful and voluptuous in the mouth, it does a great job of balancing upfront fruit with its more structural elements, like its cherry skin tannins and ultra-bright acidity.

Spicy and mineral, with rhubarb, cherry, and raspberry aromas and flavors, topped off with an almost minty herbal spice. Nice balance of roundness and acidity here! – J.R.

A dark and brooding Pinot with intense boysenberry, plum, and black raspberry fruits. Hints of leather, turned earth, and tobacco and tea leaves join the fray on the wonderful nose. It’s silky and substantial, but clearly has a mineral edge (and great structure) under all of that ripe palate fruitiness. – J.R.

Whoa. A black-fruited cornucopia is going on here, with intense, dark graphite notes among red and black currants. There are also warm baking spices, toast, grilled and dried herbs, and just a ton of hedonistic, opulent complexity happening up front on the nose. The palate is delightful, chewy, delicious, and BIG on everything: red and black plum juiciness, structure, acidity, and power. It feels like a picture-perfect match for grilled flank steak and potatoes. Aged in 50% new French Oak barrels.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

MAILING LIST

The only email you want to open