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This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is barrel-fermented in French oak, a technique that helps soften the tannins and integrate the oak seamlessly—and in this case, to great effect. The wine is medium-bodied and fruit-driven, offering aromas of crunchy red berries accented by hints of pine and mint. On the palate, notes of candied berry fruit emerge, while firm tannins gradually build toward a structured finish. The Colonel’s Vineyard is a small 1¼-acre block planted to Clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon in 2005. Fermentation takes place in 100% new French oak barrels from Tonnellerie Baron for three weeks, followed by 20 months of aging in French oak, 50% of it new. 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.

Comstock’s Dry Creek Zinfandel is bold, assertive, and unabashedly rich. Its 16% ABV reveals itself slightly on the nose with notes of kirsch and brandied Morello cherries, yet the alcohol is beautifully integrated on the palate, showing no heat on the finish. Instead, it delivers a lush mix of mixed-berry pie fruit, warm brown baking spices, hints of licorice and aniseed, and crisp tannins that frame the dry, flavorful finish.

This Sangiacomo Vineyard Chardonnay is unabashedly full-flavored, leaning confidently into its toasty oak profile, which drives both the aromatics and the finish. Between those layers, notes of lemon, lemon curd, bruised yellow apple, and honeysuckle emerge, adding depth and warmth. Bold and expressive, this is not a Chardonnay for the faint of heart—but it’s one that pairs beautifully with a fine cigar or a contemplative evening.
This wine is a conversation piece. It hums with energy and tension, and there’s a real savory component—redolent of walking through a redwood forest—that expands into medium- to full-bodied richness on the palate. Exotic spices, white pepper, clove, deep pine-forest notes, and even a touch of charcuterie weave through the aromatics. There’s more power and intensity here than in the broader Sonoma Coast bottling, as you’d expect from these single-vineyard selections. A wonderful minty freshness mingles with crushed river stones, white pepper, and intriguing umami tones. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with substantial tannins—beam-like in structure, a bit sappy, and balanced by subtle mocha. It feels broad across the palate, building with spicy, textural richness. Dense black cherry, pomegranate, spiced plums, and blood orange deliver real staying power, while the long finish brings warming brown-sugar spice, toffee, and espresso bean. Plenty of heft, balanced by excellent tension. 503 cases made. Dan Kosta’s Convene wines are aged in 30% new oak, while his elevated DK label sees closer to 50% new oak for 15 months and represents specific blocks or barrel selections from single vineyards. Campbell Ranch Vineyard in the Russian River Valley is the winery’s largest holding, planted to clones 777 and 115.

Ripe red cherry fruit, pleasant cedarwood, and a touch of vanilla rise from the glass, reappearing on the medium-bodied palate where tart cherry and tangy blood-orange acidity sweep across with vibrant energy. The finish carries a wave of warm brown baking spices and stony minerality, adding both depth and precision. Winemaker Simone Sequeira ages this wine for 14 months in 20% new French oak. Founded in 2006 by Dennis Patton and Andrea Silverstein, DNA Vineyards estate is located in the Laguna Ridge neighborhood of the Russian River Valley.

From the “Heritage Block” of the estate’s Vineyard Eleven comes this native-yeast-fermented Pinot Noir, a blend of Mt. Eden and Swan clones. Aged 11.5 months in 35% new French oak barrels, it offers refined aromatics of candied red berry fruit, warm baking spices of clove and cinnamon, and subtle undertones of black truffle and redwood bark. The palate is framed by fine, savory tannins that guide the wine to a smooth, medium-bodied finish. The Mt. Eden Clone layers in a bit of energy and tension. Domaine de la Rivière is a family-owned winery nestled in the renowned Middle Reach neighborhood of the Russian River Valley. Growers since 2011, they released their first vintage in 2017.

The Next Door Neighbor Chardonnay, tasted alongside the Ritchie Vineyard bottling, is an engaging study in contrast. While the Ritchie leans into rich, toasty oak, this wine highlights a more fruit-driven and textural style. Supple orchard fruit, buttered croissant, and quince define the aromatics, carrying seamlessly onto the medium- to full-bodied palate. Layers of crushed almond, a touch of honey, and ripe pear-skin tannins extend through a long, graceful finish. Sourced from Lone Oak (65%) and Flora Marie (35%) vineyards, this Chardonnay is composed of 65% Old Wente and 35% Montrachet clones, fermented with native yeast. The wine was aged 11 months in 37% new French oak and one stainless-steel barrel. Domaine de la Rivière is a family-owned winery nestled in the renowned Middle Reach neighborhood of the Russian River Valley. Growers since 2011, they released their first vintage in 2017.
Fuller and broader than the Heritage Block Pinot Noir, this wine shows impressive depth and presence. Darker berry fruit takes the lead, supported by bright saline acidity that provides tension and lift. The mid-palate is sumptuous and succulent, with cinnamon-spiced tannins and a beautifully integrated sweet-savory-salty finish. Among the Domaine de la Rivière wines tasted during my visit with Sonoma County Vintners, this was a clear standout—one that was hard to move on from. Sourced from the “Red Barn Block” of the estate’s Vineyard Eleven, this Pinot Noir was fermented with native yeast and composed of 47% Pommard, 40% UV-VR, and 13% Swan clones. It was aged 11.5 months in 37% new French oak barrels. The steeply sloped site features a mix of gravel, sandy loam, and clay soils. Domaine de la Rivière is a family-owned winery nestled in the renowned Middle Reach neighborhood of the Russian River Valley. Growers since 2011, they released their first vintage in 2017.

Sourced entirely from Ritchie Vineyard and crafted from Old Wente Clone Chardonnay, this wine is fermented with native yeast and aged 11 months in 27% new French oak, followed by two months in stainless steel barrels before bottling. The bouquet is stunning—bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of baked citrus, orchard fruit, honeysuckle, and jasmine, all layered with the richness of buttery French pastry and crème brûlée. On the palate, all that opulence comes together beautifully, with lemon laced in wildflower honey and toasty wood tones building to a crescendo on the long, candied-mineral finish. Domaine de la Rivière is a family-owned winery nestled in the renowned Middle Reach neighborhood of the Russian River Valley. Growers since 2011, they released their first vintage in 2017.
The Two Forces Pinot Noir is sourced from both the estate’s Vineyard Eleven site and the high-elevation El Diablo Vineyard. Fermented with native yeast, the blend comprises 74% Pommard (54% from the estate) and 26% Swan Clone (100% estate fruit). The wine was aged 11.5 months in 37% new French oak barrels. Perhaps the most complete of the five Domaine de la Rivière wines tasted, this Pinot Noir reveals a quiet intensity that deepens with each sip. It opens with notes of cherry fruit and white pepper, followed by a medium-bodied palate framed by stony mineral tension and fine, apple-skin tannins. A solidly built and thoroughly delicious wine. Domaine de la Rivière is a family-owned winery nestled in the renowned Middle Reach neighborhood of the Russian River Valley. Growers since 2011, they released their first vintage in 2017.

Bright cherry and cedar-wood notes emerge from the glass, along with a wild kind of savage herb quality that is all at once smoky and mineral. This red’s flavors turn to sweet berry fruit on the medium bodied palate, finalizing into a long, spicy, smoked paprika finish. Founded in 2010 by David Warren Hejl, former CEO of Kosta Browne and Martinelli Winery & Vineyards, Domaine Della produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Sonoma County.

This 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon from Dry Creek Valley was aged 20 months in 51% new French oak and includes 11% Petit Verdot in the blend. It’s a bold, full-throttle wine with an aromatic burst of kirsch, spiced plum, and fig, all of which carry through to the palate—particularly the fig, evoking fig paste or even a liquid version of your favorite fig newton. Robust, burly tannins provide a firm foundation, while candied violets and rose petals lift the long, powerful 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.

Dry Creek’s Historic Blocks Zinfandel is sourced from pre-Prohibition vines planted across hillsides, terraced slopes, and alluvial fans—sites known for excellent drainage and remarkable vine age. Aged 16 months in a combination of French, Hungarian, and American oak, the wine offers alluring blue-fruit aromatics and a beautifully balanced palate that shifts between ripe, juicy blue and black fruits, gentle Indian spice notes, and firm, well-integrated tannins before offering a lenghty 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.

The Wallace Ranch Zinfandel is a heritage selection planted on Yolo sandy loam soils and aged 16 months in a mix of French, Hungarian, and American oak. It presents a darker, more brooding profile than the Historic Blocks bottling, with aromas of espresso bean, dark chocolate, spiced plum, and fig. Full-bodied and richly layered, it shows powerful yet polished tannins that support the plump, juicy fruit. The finish is long, smooth, and enticing. 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 field blend—75% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane, and 5% Mataro—is expressive and muscular, bursting with dark fruit aromatics, dried fig, and black truffle charcuterie layered with nuances of black pepper. The palate builds with bold blue fruits and violets, showing richness and power throughout. Full-bodied and hearty, it’s a downright delicious Zinfandel that’s hard to resist. Aged 15 months in 34% new French oak barrels. 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.

Though the blends are markedly different, the 2022 Bella’s Cabernet and the regular Ehret Cabernet share a similar flavor profile while differing in texture and energy. Both show juicy, brandied cherry, plum, and Asian-spiced red fruit, but Bella’s carries a bit more verve and nervy tension. It’s the livelier of the two—start with a glass of the straight Cabernet and enjoy Bella’s over dinner. Composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot, this wine was sourced from the Bavarian Lion Vineyard in Knights Valley, Sonoma County, and aged 18 months in 68% new French oak. 225 cases produced. 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).

The 2022 Cabernet is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.85% Cabernet Franc, 2.4% Petit Verdot, 1.75% Malbec, and 1% Merlot, sourced from the Bavarian Lion Vineyard in Knights Valley, Sonoma County. Aged 18 months in 59% new French oak barrels, it’s a juicy, supple red with aromas of kirsch, plum, and subtle Asian spice. The palate is soft and satiny, unfolding with ripe red and dark fruit tones before finishing with an easy, graceful burst of blue fruit brightness. 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).

The golden hue hints at what’s to come—a ripe, toasty, and voluminous Chardonnay layered with crème brûlée, charred pineapple, salted lemon peel, and rosemary-herbed almonds. Despite its richness, the palate retains a refreshing coolness from lively acid tension, finishing lip-smackingly bone dry. Quite a wine. Sourced from the winemaker’s estate vineyard, the Chardonnay was hand-harvested, barrel-fermented, and aged 15 months sur lie in 50% new French oak with bâtonnage before being bottled unfiltered. Established in 2017 by Elaine and Mark Sale, Elaine Wines produces fewer than 200 cases annually.
This 100% Pinot Noir, a suitcase clone known as “Elite,” comes from the Hallberg Ranch Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. Aged eleven months in 25% new French oak, it is bottled unfined and unfiltered. Like all Emeritus Vineyards wines, it carries a firm tannic backbone and benefits from a bit of aeration. The Elite lives up to its name—elegant, poised, and expressive without being showy. It offers gentle red-fruited refinement accented by mild Indian spice, creating a subtle aromatic allure. The palate is lively and nuanced, driven by wet-slate minerality and bright blood-orange acidity. Founded by Brice Cutrer Jones in 1999, Emeritus Vineyards is a Pinot-focused producer utilizing dry-farmed vineyards (Hallberg Ranch in the Russian River Valley and Pinot Hill on the Sonoma Coast).

This 100% Pinot Noir from the Hallberg Ranch Vineyard in the Russian River Valley blends eleven clones—115, 777, 37, 828, 667, Elite, Hyde, Pommard, Cruz, 943, and Swan. Medium-bodied and energetic, it opens with dark cherry and pomegranate seed, framed by savory brown spice and lively acidity. Crisp apple-skin and cherrywood-scented tannins provide structure, while cool river-stone minerality and a touch of cocoa powder add depth on the finish. Aged ten months in 34% new French oak, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. Founded by Brice Cutrer Jones in 1999, Emeritus Vineyards is a Pinot-focused producer utilizing dry-farmed vineyards (Hallberg Ranch in Russian River Valley and Pinot Hill on the Sonoma Coast).

This 100% Pinot Noir, a suitcase clone known as the “Cruz Especial Selection,” hails from Pinot Hill Vineyard in the Sebastopol Hills on the Sonoma Coast. Aged eleven months in 33% new French oak, it is bottled unfined and unfiltered. Compared with the regular Pinot Hill bottling, this Cruz Selection shows a softer, more brown-spiced character, fragrant with wild herbs—sage and dried wild fennel in particular. The fruit leans red-toned, the acidity a touch sharper, and the finish trails off crisp, clean, and bone dry. Founded by Brice Cutrer Jones in 1999, Emeritus Vineyards is a Pinot-focused producer utilizing dry-farmed vineyards (Hallberg Ranch in Russian River Valley and Pinot Hill on the Sonoma Coast).

This 100% Pinot Noir from Pinot Hill Vineyard in the Sebastopol Hills on the Sonoma Coast blends six clones—115, Hyde, Cruz, 667, Elite, and Pommard. Aged eleven months in 41% new French oak, it is bottled unfined and unfiltered. The wine is bold, tart, and structured, bursting with cherry fruit, cherry wood, incense, tangerine zest, and grapefruit pith. While the bouquet is generous and expressive, the palate is more lively and zesty, focused, and linear—a vibrant, food-friendly Pinot Noir. Founded by Brice Cutrer Jones in 1999, Emeritus Vineyards is a Pinot-focused producer utilizing dry-farmed vineyards (Hallberg Ranch in Russian River Valley and Pinot Hill on the Sonoma Coast).

Dark cherry fruit mingles with rose-petal florals in this broad-shouldered yet graceful Pinot Noir. As it opens, red fruit shades toward blue on the palate, enlivened by zesty blood-orange acidity and nuanced with incense, dusty rose, sagebrush, and thyme. The finish is long and crisp, marked by both freshness and depth. This 100% Pinot Noir, a blend of clones 667 and 115 from the Hallberg Ranch Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, was aged eleven months in 38% new French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Founded by Brice Cutrer Jones in 1999, Emeritus Vineyards is a Pinot-focused producer utilizing dry-farmed vineyards (Hallberg Ranch in Russian River Valley and Pinot Hill on the Sonoma Coast).

A bold, expressive wine redolent of mulberry and muddled blackberry fruit, nuanced by savory black truffle, charcuterie, and cedarwood spice. Full-bodied, with ripe, succulent fruit on the palate accented by graphite, incense, and pressed, dried violets, while tart dried cherry notes emerge on the lengthy finish. The core of this wine is Cabernet Sauvignon grown on steep, west-facing terraces that rise above the winery, reaching a towering elevation of 1,400 feet. Aged for 20 months in French oak barrels (7% new). Founded in 1973 by Fred and Juelle Fisher, this second-generation family winery sources from estate vineyards in Sonoma County and Napa Valley.

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot. Aged for 21 months in French oak barrels (85% new). Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Dark-fruited, succulent, and bold, this wine offers lavish, velvety textures and full-bodied appeal, unfolding with notes of graphite, dried violets, star anise, and loamy earth dusted with black truffle powder. Something else entirely. First planted in 1973, Wedding Vineyard graces a south-facing slope in front of Fisher’s original Mountain Estate winery. Nine acres were replanted in 2002 by famed viticulturist David Abreu: seven blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon (including Clone 337 and See Clone), one block of Petit Verdot (Clone 400), and one block of Cabernet Franc (Clone 327). The final remaining block was replanted in 2010 (Wiemer Clone). Founded in 1973 by Fred and Juelle Fisher, this second-generation family winery sources from estate vineyards in Sonoma County and Napa Valley.

In 2022, this wine shows a bright, engaging personality with rose petal florals, iron, and ripe cherry and spiced plum fruits supported by tangy blood orange acidity. The finish reveals subtle blue fruit nuances and firm, elongated tannins with a chocolaty edge and mild Indian spice on the lengthy close. The Flambeaux Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley sits 350 feet above the valley floor on Boomer Loam soils—metamorphic, red, and iron-rich. The Zinfandel grows in terraced rows on the steep hillside, which helps drain both excess water and cold air, naturally protecting the vines from frost. Aged for 11 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels (25% new).

A generous and expressive Chardonnay from the famed Sangiacomo Vineyards, it opens with buttered croissant and yellow apple before gaining momentum and complexity on the medium-bodied palate. Layers of unctuous stone fruit, charred pineapple, and lemon-lime acid tension support the ripe, succulent fruit profile and all that toasty, buttery oak goodness. This Chardonnay is sourced from two Sangiacomo family vineyards: Roberts Road Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap, where fog and wind keep temperatures cool, and Green Acres Vineyard in Sonoma Carneros, which benefits from the marine influence of San Francisco Bay. Aged for 11 months in French oak barrels (30% new).
The 2022 Archimedes Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a site more than 2,300 feet above sea level in the Pine Mountain–Cloverdale Peak AVA, and it’s one of the most intense, spicy, structured, and deeply fruited wines of the vintage. Beautifully pure mulberry fruit and graphite nuances intertwine with rose petal and perfumed violet aromas that draw you in. The palate flows with rivers of dark fruit, plump tannins, and stony earth minerality. It’s an immensely pleasing wine, delivering sheer drinking joy.

A soft, supple, and inviting Chardonnay brimming with crushed almond character and buttered croissant notes that make it hard to put down. Add to that a medium- to full-bodied richness with ripe apple and pear fruit, along with pressed wildflowers and honeysuckle on the lengthy finish. Sourced from the sixth-generation Dutton Ranch in the Russian River Valley. Aged for 10 months in barrels—90% new French oak from hand-selected forests such as Allier, Tronçais, and Vosges, with the remaining 10% in new Hungarian oak.
This 100% Chardonnay comes from two blocks within the Rocchioli-Allen Vineyard, an iconic site planted just south of the Rochioli Vineyard. Aged for 10 months in 35% new French oak. It’s a full-throttle Chardonnay brimming with toasty brioche and salted lemon peel, layered with apricot, white peach, and charred pineapple on the palate. For all its richness, the wine retains excellent, cooling acidity—a hallmark of this exceptional site. Gary Farrell Winery has been a pioneer of the Russian River Valley wine scene for over 40 years.
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Named after Proprietor Taylor Serres’ older brother, Marshall, this blend is composed of 76.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Malbec, and 3.5% Petit Verdot. All the fruit comes from a seven-acre block replanted in 2016 to multiple clones and rootstocks; each small lot is fermented separately before final blending. It’s a fantastic, full-bodied and robust Cabernet-based red, opening with rich cigar-box and dark-chocolate notes, toasty oak spice, and gobs of inky dark fruit. The palate is powerful, with muscular tannins and a righteous, indulgent, full-bodied finish. The most potent and forceful wine in the lineup, yet it still carries a polished edge to all that unctuous richness.

The Watriss is a Bordeaux-style blend named for the Watriss family, who owned the Serres Ranch in the 1800s. The composition shifts vintage to vintage; in 2021, it’s 30.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Malbec, 21% Cabernet Franc, and 21% Petit Verdot. This is a bold, full-bodied red with a rich nose of dark berry fruit and toasty oak that leans into cigar-box spice. The palate shows firm, building tannins and a cool, polished character to the dark berry fruit, layered with loamy earth that carries through the long finish.

Felix Hunter Vineyard lies west of the town of Sebastopol, straddling both the Green Valley and Sonoma Coast AVAs. This 100% Pinot Noir, a blend of Clones 828, Calera, Pommard, and 115, was aged for 20 months in 33% new French oak. The wine is beautifully balanced and generous, offering a heady mix of juicy red berry fruit, warm brown spices, star anise, clove, and rose petal. The palate is supple and vibrant, with ripe, juicy fruit floating over fine, firm tannins. Notes of blood orange acidity, loamy earth, and a touch of vanillin-charred tobacco bring depth and lift to the finish. Long and satisfying, it’s a Pinot Noir well suited to heartier fare. Founded in 2006 by proprietor John Sweazey, and guided by winemaker Katy Wilson since 2014, Anaba produces limited-production Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Rhône-style wines, many from exclusive vineyard partnerships.

The Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard Chardonnay was aged 19 months in 33% new French oak, resulting in a slightly riper fruit profile than the Westlands bottling. Tropical and stone fruit lead the way, with notes of white peach, apricot, and candied citrus peel. Rich, toasty baking spices wrap around layers of charred pineapple, while a long, saline-driven finish brings energy and focus. A dazzling, beautifully balanced wine. Founded in 2006 by proprietor John Sweazey, and guided by winemaker Katy Wilson since 2014, Anaba produces limited-production Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Rhône-style wines, many from exclusive vineyard partnerships.
I love this Chardonnay’s focus and precision. Highly aromatic, it opens with hints of salted lemon peel, lime blossom, and crushed Marcona almonds. Medium-bodied yet rich in character, it offers impressive depth of fruit alongside a long, salt-stone mineral finish that keeps the wine light, bright, and full of energy. Notes of candied ginger and quince linger gracefully after the first sip. Chardonnay barrels are hand-selected each vintage for this bottling, with the wine aged 17 months in 40% new French oak. Founded in 2006 by proprietor John Sweazey, and guided by winemaker Katy Wilson since 2014, Anaba produces limited-production Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Rhône-style wines, many from exclusive vineyard partnerships.
Gorgeous aromatics of dark cherry, cherry wood smoke, and clove rise from the glass, unfolding into a tapestry of exotic Asian spices that lift and energize the palate. Crunchy apple-skin tannins frame a supple core of dark berry fruit, and the interplay of fruit, spice, and gentle grip creates a wonderfully textural, deeply flavored experience. Sourced from vineyards along the western edge of the Sonoma Coast AVA, this 100% Pinot Noir was aged 20 months in 33% new French oak barrels and is composed of Clones 667, 828, and Pommard. Founded in 2006 by proprietor John Sweazey, and guided by winemaker Katy Wilson since 2014, Anaba produces limited-production Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Rhône-style wines, many from exclusive vineyard partnerships.

The Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir comes from vines planted in 1998, situated at 800 feet above sea level within both the Sonoma Coast and Carneros AVAs. Composed entirely of Clone 115, it was aged for 20 months in 40% new French oak. Aromas of wood smoke and redwood forest floor mingle with dark cherry and warm brown baking spices, growing more savory as the wine opens. The palate is framed by rich, round, and supple tannins with subtle notes of vanilla, clove, and cedarwood. There’s a notable influence of barrel spice for those who enjoy a toasty style, while the elevated vineyard—bathed in abundant sunlight—ensures beautifully ripe, juicy fruit that imparts a supple, almost sweet impression.Founded in 2006 by proprietor John Sweazey, and guided by winemaker Katy Wilson since 2014, Anaba produces limited-production Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Rhône-style wines, many from exclusive vineyard partnerships.

The Proterra (formerly known as Nomad) is a blend of 82% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. The name changed with the 2022 vintage. Aged 22 months in 85% new French oak. The wine is dark-fruited and savory-spiced, with notes of fig paste, blackberry, cherry, and cherry pie, along with salted dark chocolate and black-tea tannins that are substantial — almost chunky — underscored by good acid tension. Fragrant sagebrush and bay laurel add layers of complexity and spice. It’s a long, full-flavored wine with full-bodied richness that finds balance in its acid backbone, an impressive feat given the vintage.

Perhaps the boldest, most expressive, and structured of the five Balletto wines tasted during my visit to the Sonoma County Vintners offices, this was a clear standout in the lineup. The BCD Vineyard lies on rolling hills that rise toward the coastal mountain range, a site that imparts both freshness and depth. Fermented with indigenous yeast in small six-ton open-top tanks and aged in French oak barrels, the wine opens with sumptuous cedarwood aromas intertwined with cherry and clove, creating an alluring impression of cherry-scented wood smoke. Medium-bodied on the palate, it delivers supple tannins and concentrated mixed berry fruit, finishing with notes of clove, incense, and wet slate minerality. A wine of impressive length, tension, and energy.

The 2022 Sexton Hill Vineyard Chardonnay comes from a site in the Sebastopol Hills with vines rooted in classic Goldridge soils. Aged 18 months in 25% new French oak, it’s a ripe, orchard fruit–driven wine with crisp, crunchy acidity and lingering notes of buttered croissant and almond pastry. Rich and attractive without ever feeling heavy, it remains lean, focused, and full of flavor
Sexton Hill Vineyard is a steep, north-facing site located about 10 miles from the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean. The vines are planted in Goldridge sandy loam soils, and the wine was aged 10 months in 35% new French oak. This is an easy-drinking, focused red with mixed berry fruit, appealing aromatics of clove, anise, and gentle wood smoke. The palate is supple and balanced, finishing with a smooth, velvety texture that makes it effortlessly enjoyable.

The 2022 Twin Ridges Chardonnay is sourced from a site rooted in Goldridge soils and composed of Wente, Robert Young, Clone 96, and Clone 4 selections. Aged 18 months in 30% new French oak, it’s clean, balanced, and beautifully focused, with alluring orchard fruit aromatics accented by hints of ginger and delicate French pastry. The palate shows great energy and tension, with layered flavors and a refined, medium-bodied finish.
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.

This Bordeaux blend is composed of 37% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. Aged 21 months in French oak barrels, 20% of which were new, it’s a bold, full-bodied, and generously structured red. The nose and palate are layered with dark berry fruit and warm cedar spice, offering both richness and comfort. Notes of dark chocolate complement juicy, spiced plum and a hint of tart raspberry, all framed by firm yet polished tannins. The finish lingers with a touch of dried fig, adding depth and a satisfying sense of warmth. 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.

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is barrel-fermented in French oak, a technique that helps soften the tannins and integrate the oak seamlessly—and in this case, to great effect. The wine is medium-bodied and fruit-driven, offering aromas of crunchy red berries accented by hints of pine and mint. On the palate, notes of candied berry fruit emerge, while firm tannins gradually build toward a structured finish. The Colonel’s Vineyard is a small 1¼-acre block planted to Clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon in 2005. Fermentation takes place in 100% new French oak barrels from Tonnellerie Baron for three weeks, followed by 20 months of aging in French oak, 50% of it new. 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.

Comstock’s Dry Creek Zinfandel is bold, assertive, and unabashedly rich. Its 16% ABV reveals itself slightly on the nose with notes of kirsch and brandied Morello cherries, yet the alcohol is beautifully integrated on the palate, showing no heat on the finish. Instead, it delivers a lush mix of mixed-berry pie fruit, warm brown baking spices, hints of licorice and aniseed, and crisp tannins that frame the dry, flavorful finish.

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