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A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Front Vineyard, this red is made from hand-selected fruit and aged for 34 months in new French oak. Absolutely polished and classic, it offers blackberry and blue fruit aromatics alongside graphite and new wood cedar. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, with a minty freshness that emerges through firm, taut, mineral-laced tannins and subtle white pepper on the long, satisfying finish.

This Petite Sirah was aged for 22 months in French oak, and opens with black currant fruit layered with sage, wild fennel, and blue fruit aromatics, all building on a medium-bodied palate. Notes of kirsch and apricot pit emerge, adding complexity. The wine zigzags between fruit and savory intensity before leveling out on a fine bed of woodsy tannins and tobacco leaf on the finish. A great pairing for richly spiced Indian dishes, especially those made with lentils.

This wonderfully well-knit and expressive Pinot Noir from the iconic Fiddlestix Vineyard is bright, juicy, and lifted, with savory deep forest pine accents. Gentle tannins frame notes of salted dark chocolate and ironstone minerality, carrying through a spicy, medium-bodied finish.

The 2021 Brander Reserve is a savory, layered Cabernet Sauvignon, medium- to full-bodied, with red and black fruit woven throughout. A host of savory notes—walnut husk, tobacco leaf, and cigar box—intermingle with dried sage, finishing on a deep, earthy register of loamy soil, black olive, and licorice. Super savory and best enjoyed alongside herb-dusted pork loin or espresso-rubbed roasted meats.

Kærskov Vineyard, located in the center of the Los Olivos District AVA, is a high-density site planted 6’ x 3’ on clay-loam and river-stone soils. Ryan Carr planted the vineyard in 2014 and continues to farm it today. This Syrah was aged for 20 months in one-year-old French oak. Dark berry fruit is interwoven with anise, fennel seed, and cedarwood spice, all building across the full-bodied palate with chalky tannins and a lingering charcuterie-and-dried-violet finish.

This Sangiovese comes from two vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley—Woodstock Vineyard and Open Gate Vineyard—both farmed by Carr’s winemaker and owner, Ryan Carr. The wine was aged for 20 months in French oak barrels. It’s an immensely pleasing, full-flavored, and fairly robust Sangiovese, with powerful, crisp tannins and plenty of inky dark fruit, loamy earth, black truffle umami, and tobacco notes leading to a long, earthy, and spicy finish.

This 100% Cabernet Franc was aged for 18 months in 50% new Hungarian and French oak. Sourced entirely from Clone 1 vines at White Cat Vineyard in the Livermore Valley AVA. A pretty and elegant expression of Cabernet Franc, offering a refined nose of currant fruit, tobacco, turned earth, and dried wildflowers. Medium-bodied on entry, with a wealth of juicy currant and spiced plum fruit, layered with fine tobacco, hints of vanilla, and pops of new cedarwood, all framed by expressive acidity on the refreshing finish.

Brightly aromatic, showing expressive white flowers and lemon verbena. Full malolactic fermentation and aging in 30% new French oak add richness to the citrus, apple, and pear fruit, while a hint of well-integrated cedarwood spice comes across more like salted Marcona almonds. The finish builds with a lovely lemon-oil richness. From Bootlegger’s Hill, with three rows of Montrachet clone from Little Boot Vineyard blended in.
This red-fruited, spice-driven Grenache from Ballard Canyon AVA offers plenty of intrigue and structure. Juicy strawberry and dusty rose lead on the nose, while the palate is framed by firm, meaty tannins that etch themselves into every crevice. Sweet paprika and rose stem emerge on the long, savory finish. A compelling wine—ideal alongside hard cheeses and herb-laced pastas.

A lovely expression of Syrah, this wine offers elegant layers of black cherry, blackberry, and plum, lifted by rose petal and rhubarb aromatics. Cherry pit and crushed violet notes emerge on the medium-bodied palate, framed by velvety tannins laced with floral nuance. Dark salted chocolate rises on the juicy, lingering finish, adding depth and savor to this polished and expressive red.

“Colluvial” refers to the rugged, rocky soil found in the world’s great vineyards, and this savory-spiced Pinot Noir certainly reflects that terroir-driven intensity. At this stage of development, the wine leans into its earthier side: notes of black tea, tobacco leaf, sage, and spearmint take the lead, while the once-vivid red berry fruit has mellowed into something subtler and more contemplative—like the woody pit of a cherry or apricot, with just a whisper of its former juiciness. There’s a convergence of mineral tension and spice here that feels deeply grounded, quietly seductive. If I’m being honest, this is my favorite moment in a wine’s life—when it sheds its youthful brightness and enters a more soulful, savory phase. Enjoy this now and over the next 4-7 years.

“Colluvial” refers to the rugged, rocky soil found in many of the world’s great vineyards, and this decadent Chardonnay lives up to its name. It’s a study in minerality, offering the tactile impression of smooth river stone and the bracing tension of freshly squeezed lemon meeting a bite of salted, candied lemon rind. Fragrant notes of toasty oak and buttered croissant weave through the mid-palate, joined by a flicker of fresh ginger. All of it builds to a focused, acid-driven finish.
Captain Joe’s Petite Sirah was harvested from Concannon’s estate Block 11 and Block 12, located on the north side of South Livermore Avenue where it intersects with Concannon Boulevard. These blocks feature austere, gravelly, and rocky topsoil that allows for excellent drainage and low water retention, encouraging vine roots to dive deep into nutrient-rich subsoils. The wine is bold, focused, and expressive, with fireworks on the nose—red berries and black cherry interlaced with mahogany wood accents. The palate is more subdued and elegant, showcasing Concannon’s long history with this variety in its suave tannins, and chalky mineral intensity. Crushed cocoa nib marks the finish, alongside cherry pit nuances. It has great length and the energy to carry a hearty meal.

This 100% Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Concannon’s historic estate Block 7 vineyard. As of 2018, 80% of California Cabernet Sauvignon is derived from Concannon Clones 7, 8, and 11—making this both a classic producer and a benchmark expression of the variety. This wine leans into the more savory side of Cabernet, showing refined black currant and spiced plum notes rather than ultra-ripe blackberry. Cigar box nuances build alongside dark chocolate tones on the medium- to full-bodied on the palate, with soaring tannins that have a superfine, pixelated texture. The dark berry fruit is deeply savory, intermixed with pressed flowers and loamy earth. There’s gravitas, tension, and energy driving this richly expressive Cabernet Sauvignon.

Polished, poised, and deeply expressive, this red delivers layers of blackberry and black cherry fruit, underscored by graphite, tobacco leaf, and sagebrush nuances. Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 18 months in 26% new American oak, 16% new French oak, and the remainder neutral, it builds beautifully on the medium-bodied palate. Broad-shouldered, muscular tannins frame a deep core of dark fruit and savory spice that carries through the finish.

Named in honor of James Concannon, a first-generation family member and former stampmaker, The Stampmaker is a bold, expressive red blend. Each of the three grape varieties is fermented separately in stainless steel and open-top fermenters, with punchdowns and pumpovers for optimal extraction. The wine is then aged for 16 months in a mix of 44% new French oak and neutral barrels. Extremely fruit-driven, it opens with ripe red and dark berry fruit layered with baking spices, graham cracker, and cocoa nibs. Medium-bodied on the palate, it features plump, satiny tannins and a generous, lingering finish.

Julien Fayard’s 2021 Covert Cabernet from the Coombsville AVA is a full-bodied, silky, super-enticing wine with heady boysenberry fruit, dark cacao, and sweet oak spices. Plush, velvety tannins form a solid foundation, framing gobs of dark berry fruit, cassis, graphite, wild herbs, and cedar spices. All too easy to drink, and at 14.9% alcohol, balanced as it is, this is a wine to savor with a burger and fries, roast chicken and potatoes, or braised meats and hearty stews.

The Cabernet Sauvignon is fermented in large oak fermenters and some concrete, then pressed and aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak. The nose is elegant and expressive, with dark cassis, blackberry, and black cherry fruit layered with gorgeous tobacco spice, dried sage, thyme, and beautifully integrated cedarwood notes. Full-bodied on the palate, it shows crushed cocoa nib tannins—super fine and powdery—framing juicy dark berry fruit and refined graphite accents. A poised, polished expression with both power and finesse.

The Estate is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented in large oak fermenters and some concrete, then pressed and aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak. It opens with beautiful dark fruit, sagebrush, and perfumed rose petal florals, all building on the palate into a full-bodied expression with richness and density. The tannins are robust, fine-grained, and focused, leading to a bright, lifted finish marked by saline-acid tension.

Relevant is intentionally crafted as a more fruit-forward wine from the estate, says winemaker Simon Faury. It’s sourced from lower parts of the vineyard where loamy soils dominate and there’s less rock. Fermentation is half native in concrete tanks, and the free-run juice is aged in one-third new French oak for up to 20 months. The nose is rich and dark-fruited, with notes of sage, graphite, and loamy earth, while pretty ironstone minerality lifts the aromatic profile. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it offers layers of cassis and black cherry, tobacco leaf, and cigar box, with beautifully supple, fine-grained tannins. The finish is long and polished, echoing with dark chocolate and earthy depth.

Aged for 30 months in 62% new French oak, this Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend showcases fruit from three standout sites: Cabernet Sauvignon from Galles Vineyard (elevation about 1,100 ft), Cabernet Franc from White Cat Vineyard, and Petit Verdot from Smith Ranch. The result is a deeply expressive wine with alluring aromatics of bay laurel, sage, and tobacco leaf, layered with black and red currant fruit. Medium-bodied on the palate, it reveals firm structure and a rich, black truffle charcuterie quality, with a subtle thread of incense on the long, savory finish. Zesty, layered acidity lends freshness and lift, making this an super food-friendly red.

Sourced from the Casa de Viñas Vineyard in central Livermore, this Clone 3 Carménère is planted on 5BB rootstock and trained on a VSP trellis system (planted in 2015 on clay loam soils). The site delivers a deeply expressive, spice-laced red. The variety’s inherent savory character is beautifully integrated, weaving seamlessly with the high-quality French oak used for aging. Red and black currant fruit lead the aromatics, joined by bay leaf, tobacco, and leather. The palate shows leathery tannins and a meaty mid-palate richness, finishing with iron-scented mineral tension and a grippy, satisfying close.

Aged for 30 months in French and American oak, this estate-grown Petit Verdot is a polished, poised, and seductive red, offering refined mulberry and black currant fruit, hints of fig paste, and dried violet aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky fruit and satiny, elongated tannins, this is a stylish and delicious wine—well worth savoring over a long meal of braised meats and roasted vegetables.

This is one of Larry Dino’s more fruit-forward expressions of Carménère, sourced from the Insel Vineyard in Pleasanton, where vines are rooted in sandy loam soils. Aged for 18 months in French oak, the wine opens with aromas of spiced plum and dried currant. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it delivers supple, juicy tannins and generous fruit character—plum, espresso, dark chocolate, and a touch of crushed clove.

Medium- to full-bodied, this red delivers juicy plum, brambly black cherry, and currant fruit layered over wet slate minerality. Intense, robust tannins provide a solid foundation for the vibrant fruit and savory spice notes to shine—think black licorice, cocoa nibs, crushed clove, and a hint of smoked paprika. The finish is long, structured, and full of tension.

Aged for 20 months in 30% new European oak, this Cabernet Franc from Garre Vineyard is savory, meaty, and zesty. It opens with crunchy currant fruit, tobacco, loamy earth, and crushed violets. Medium-bodied on the palate, with more juicy, ripe currant, smoked paprika, and black sea salt, all framed by superfine tannins and a succulent black truffle and charcuterie finish.

From the Drum Canyon Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, this 2021 Pinot Noir carries a graceful, almost ephemeral quality. Delicate red berry fruit and warm spice tones lead the way, lifted by subtle cedarwood nuances. The palate is medium-bodied, framed by chunky, textural tannins that gradually soften into notes of fig, crushed cocoa nibs, and tangy apricot.

Ulysses Valdez, the late and legendary grape grower, is the reason the Bedrosians have access to this fruit. Valdez replanted the site and was adamant that they take Block D—the steepest section of the vineyard. It’s a two-acre parcel they began working with in 2018, located 3.4 miles north of East Side Road on uplifted riverbed soils composed of rocky, gravelly silt. The block is entirely planted to the Montrachet clone. Winemaker Kale Anderson explains that the clone holds its acidity regardless of ripeness. It’s also susceptible to shatter, much like Old Wente, and is naturally low-yielding. The selection was isolated from a remarkable site in Montrachet in Burgundy. At Flora Marie Vineyard, this block sits at the very top of the hillside with excellent row orientation. Grapes are picked at night, whole-cluster pressed, and sent straight to a mix of barrel and stainless steel, with one-third new French oak. Fermentation is native, and in this vintage the wine went through full malolactic with lees stirring. It was aged 11 months before bottling. The wine is super bright, marked by a lovely sea-spray minerality and subtle citrus and orchard-fruit tones. A silky texture carries elegant baking-spice notes that linger across the mid-palate, offering warmth, generosity, and a clean, vibrant finish.
A blend of Mt. Eden and Swan clones, this is the second release from the Heritage Block. These clones yield very little, says winemaker Kale Anderson. He loves the Mt. Eden clone in particular, noting that it takes time to evolve because of its perfumed character. The wine shows gorgeous violet and rose-petal aromas—white rose and purple-blue violets—supported by a firm spine of generous acidity and wonderful black-tea notes, bergamot, and orange peel. Delicate cherry and raspberry fruit carry through alongside rich baking spice, white pepper, smoked paprika, loamy earth, and a wet-stone minerality on the finish. A beautifully constructed wine with the structure and detail to age for many years.

This wine is wonderfully rich and layered, with lovely textures drawn from each of the sites that feed into the blend. The Middle Reach Vineyard contributes Pommard, Vosne-Romanée, Swan, and Mt. Eden clones, while additional fruit comes from Starr Ridge, El Diablo, and the estate Vineyard Eleven. Winemaker Kale Anderson harvests at night, bringing the fruit into the winery cold and fermenting in open-top tanks. He uses as much whole cluster as the vintage allows, gives the fruit a five-day cold soak, then ferments fairly warm with a combination of punchdowns before pressing at dryness to barrel for malolactic fermentation. The wine ages 11 months in roughly 25% new French oak before bottling. The result is bright, crunchy red fruit layered with clove and warm spice. The purity of the fruit really comes through, building richness across the palate with strawberry and raspberry tones, touches of leather, tobacco, and blood orange, and a thread of brown baking spices that linger on the finish. Velvety, satiny textures frame this wonderfully tasty wine, which is considered the entry-level offering.

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Sourced from estate fruit and aged for 20 months in 60% neutral oak, this is a vibrant take on classic California Zinfandel. It delivers all the hallmarks—juicy, meaty, jammy, and peppery—while also offering a refreshing line of acidity that keeps it lifted. The medium- to fullbodied palate shines with bright red fruit. -JR

This wine is sourced entirely from Block 3A, located near the pond on the southern portion of the property. It’s aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak, followed by an additional year in bottle before release. Dark fruit and loamy earth anchor the nose, with leathery tannins, vivid energy, and a coiled tension that gives the wine verve. There’s plenty of chalky black cherry and blackberry fruit, supported by pronounced, expressive tannins that have an elliptical quality—broad yet focused. The finish is fantastic, layered with spice and a volcanic, crushed red rock minerality. So expressive, and built to evolve.

The 2020 vintage of this red is a refined and juicy wine, offering dark berry fruit layered with soft, plump tannins that give it a sense of roundness and fullness. Delicate floral notes and hints of bay laurel add aromatic lift on the medium- to full-bodied on the palate.

Bill Wathen and Dick Doré have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen at Rancho Tinaquaic. Their grapes are SIP Certified and sustainably farmed. The 2020 Pinot Noir is a powerhouse—still tightly wound in 2025, with tremendous tension and broad-shouldered, sinewy tannins. Dark cherry fruit interlaces with incense and espresso bean aromas, while tangy tangerine peel and blood orange acidity bring freshness and lift. The finish is long and textured, with notes of dusty cocoa powder and cherry pit.

This was the last of about 200 wines I tasted from Sonoma over two days—and what a standout. It’s a fabulous Syrah, the nose bursting with baked fruit and charcuterie notes, candied violets, and a Rhône Valley–like flair, all nuanced by white pepper and an irresistible minty freshness. Full on the palate, it offers round, supple tannins and rich fig fruit wrapped in dark salted chocolate, building with intensity and wild herb complexity through the long, drawn-out finish. What a terrific wine.

With 10% of proceeds from each bottle benefiting the Celebration Nation Organization in support of farmworkers and their families, this red blend carries purpose along with personality. Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Carignan, 3% Tempranillo, 3% Zinfandel, and 3% Semillon, it offers intriguing spice notes alongside jaunty plum fruit aromas. The palate evolves from tangy to chewy to silky, delivering friendly red fruit flavors with excellent lift and impressive length. -JR

A blend of 94% Nebbiolo, 3% Barbera, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, all sourced from the Tabby Cat Vineyard. The nose is a striking homage to Piedmont, with classic notes of sour cherry, dried herbs, tobacco leaf, and dried blood orange. That vibrant sour cherry character carries through to the full-bodied palate, where it meets lively acidity, a meaty texture, wood spice, and a delicate flourish of dried rose petals. -JR

Matt Dees says they get great fruit richness with low sugars, so there’s no need to add dosage—this is a zero-dosage wine. It’s incredibly bright, with oyster shell minerality. They’re using low sulfur and fine-tuning both their barrel timing and how they handle press wines, increasingly putting them through malolactic fermentation to add density, richness, and flesh. The mousse is beautifully balanced—not too assertive—with a lovely baking spice richness and an unbelievable saline-acid tension. It’s long and savory, with layers of white flowers, almonds, lime blossoms, and cherry pit. 60% Pinot Noir from Sanford & Benedict Vineyard (cl. Mt Eden), 25% Chardonnay from Sanford & Benedict Vineyard (cl. Mt Eden), and 15% Chardonnay from Bentrock Vineyard (cl. 76 and 95). Fermented in used French oak and aged for 7 months, followed by tirage for 38 months.
A blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc, with each variety fermented separately in small stainless steel tanks with pumpovers performed three times daily. The lots were aged individually for six months, then blended and aged for an additional eight months—spending time in 75% new French oak and 25% second- and third-use barrels. The nose is rich and layered, with dark fruits like cassis, black cherry, and black plum mingling with black licorice, savory black olive, and warm baking spices. Full-bodied with a super-smooth entry, the wine offers a robust, spicy mouthfeel that warms the palate while firm, well-integrated tannins promise excellent aging potential. 672 cases were produced. -JR

Fermented in small stainless steel tanks with pumpovers performed three times daily to maximize color and flavor extraction, this Cabernet Sauvignon was then aged for 22 months in new French oak barrels. Sourced from just two select vineyards, this represents Wente’s top-tier Cabernet offering in this vintage. The nose is intensely spicy and complex, with layered aromas of cinnamon, basil, cedar, tobacco leaf, and rich cassis. A silky entry gives way to a deeply expressive palate featuring black plums, black cherries, and a continuation of the tobacco note, all supported by a fine line of minerality. Hints of dried herbs add intrigue to the long, resonant finish. -JR

It’s hard not to love a wine like Wente’s upper-tier Syrah. The nose unfolds in waves—black pepper, black raspberry, fig, smoke, and game—all seamlessly layered. On the palate, this full-bodied red delivers generous richness, with flavors of dried blueberry, ripe plum, and wild raspberry. Yet amid all the meaty depth and dark fruit, a surprising streak of minerality provides lift and balance, adding refinement to the wine’s bold, expressive character. -JR

The Indigo Syrah from Sonoma Mountain is the most powerful expression in the lineup—akin to the Appellation Series, but dialed all the way up. Aged for 28 months in 100% new French oak, this bottling is the dark knight of the Syrahs: brooding, intense, yet lifted with precision. Supple blackberry fruit leads the charge, accented by violets, dark cherrywood, and deep brown baking spices. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, layered with dark cacao and salted, saline minerality that carries through an everlasting finish. Intense and muscular, yet refined by freshness and spice, this is a Syrah of commanding presence and exceptional tension.

“When we’re assembling the blends for the vintage, we put together an über-blend,” says winemaker Justin Harmon. From that exercise come tiny-production bottlings—about 50 cases each—of Rosetta and Babel. These wines are set aside in neutral barrels, left to rest for an additional year in the quiet corners of the cellar before release. This wine leads with super high-toned dark berry fruit layered with cinnamon spice and floral lift. The palate has a cooler presence, with tremendous concentration of rich black fruit and finely knit, sinewy apple-skin tannins. Broad-shouldered yet focused, it’s held together by crunchy acidity that drives freshness and tension throughout. At this stage, it remains tightly coiled, with exceptional structure and energy. There’s no doubt this wine is still unwinding—but even now, it’s profoundly delicious and promises remarkable evolution with time.

This wine is made similarly to Babcock’s Pinot Noir: not stem-heavy, but fermented in small open-top bins with regular punchdowns. Fermentations are allowed to rise into the upper 80s or low 90s°F before being inoculated on day two. By day four, the team conducts 4–5 punchdowns daily, pressing off between days 10–14 with a bit of residual sugar left to finish fermentation in barrel. Malolactic fermentation is inoculated, and the wine spends 18 months in barrel, with up to 50% new French oak depending on the lot. A bold, velvety, dark-fruited wine layered with lavish oak spice, toasty cedarwood, and roasted coffee notes. Full-bodied and framed by supple tannins, it supports juicy blackberry and black raspberry fruit, mingling with savory black truffle, loamy earth, and dark chocolate truffle on the long, satisfying finish. Quite a powerhouse.

A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Front Vineyard, this red is made from hand-selected fruit and aged for 34 months in new French oak. Absolutely polished and classic, it offers blackberry and blue fruit aromatics alongside graphite and new wood cedar. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, with a minty freshness that emerges through firm, taut, mineral-laced tannins and subtle white pepper on the long, satisfying finish.

This Petite Sirah was aged for 22 months in French oak, and opens with black currant fruit layered with sage, wild fennel, and blue fruit aromatics, all building on a medium-bodied palate. Notes of kirsch and apricot pit emerge, adding complexity. The wine zigzags between fruit and savory intensity before leveling out on a fine bed of woodsy tannins and tobacco leaf on the finish. A great pairing for richly spiced Indian dishes, especially those made with lentils.

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