Sign In/Subscribe

Cristaldi Scores

Producer
Producer
More
Country
Country
More
Vintage
Vintage
More

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2024

Medlock Ames

Lot #47. 'Convergence' Malbec & Cabernet Sauvignon

TASTING NOTE: Lot #47. Barrel Sample: Winemaker Abby Watt works with consulting winemaker Jean Hoefliger, who’s on speed dial for some of Napa’s most elite estates. He also happens to be one of the tallest winemakers around—and his tannins are often just as tall, or at least elegantly elongated. Here, Watt and Hoefliger deliver a full-bodied, bold red blend with an expressive nose of brambly dark berry fruit, graphite, and fragrant violets. Layers of graham cracker and cinnamon add warmth and intrigue. The palate is super fresh, with bold yet supple tannins and impressive depth and concentration—all while remaining remarkably light on its feet. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: “Convergence” captures the rare moment when Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon ferment together in perfect harmony. For the first time, these two varietals ripened at the same time at Bell Mountain Ranch, a rare alignment that allowed for an experimental co-fermentation. Normally, these two varietals never reach peak ripeness simultaneously, making this unique harvest a fleeting moment in time. This exceptional vintage captures a singular, never-to-be-repeated experience in winemaking, where the perfect conditions allowed for a collaboration between two varietals that rarely share the same stage. Located at the southernmost tip of Alexander Valley, Bell Mountain Ranch sits in one of the cooler spots in the region, benefiting from the lower night temperatures that preserve freshness in the grapes. This vineyard is truly unique, with steep hillsides and growing conditions that closely mirror those of Bordeaux. Preserving the land is at the heart of the Medlock Ames philosophy. The vineyard is certified organic and regenerative organic, ensuring that their practices nourish the soils, plants, and workers. The bold fruitiness of Malbec in “Convergence” softens the gentle tannins of the Cabernet Sauvignon, creating a seamless fusion that enhances both varietals with layers of blackcurrant, cassis, and subtle earthy notes. The wine has a perfect balance of fruitiness, smooth tannins, and freshness, with a lingering finish that showcases the best of both varietals. It’s bold yet refined, with a complexity that evolves with every sip. WINEMAKER(S): Abby Watt ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: January 2026 ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: March 2026 National Distribution: CA International Distribution: None

2024

Melville

Estate Chardonnay, Clone 76 Inox

This wine was fermented in stainless steel using grapes sourced from the West Side Vineyard, where naturally low pH levels contribute to soaring, ripping acidity. It’s cold-pressed, cold-fermented, and cold-aged—every step designed to preserve freshness and minerality. There’s no oak influence and no lees stirring. Once fermentation finishes—after about three weeks—the wine is racked to stainless steel for an additional four months before bottling. The result is a bracing, delicious wine with lemon-lime brightness, white flowers, jasmine, and honeysuckle. The acidity is like a beam of light—laser-focused, bright, and crunchy—building toward a long, saline-mineral finish that’s practically perfectly made for seafood.

2024

Melville

Estate Grenache Rosé

Just before harvest, the Grenache vines are lightened of their load and those grapes are used to make this rosé The grapes are foot-stomped with 48 hours of skin contact before being pressed to neutral barrels for fermentation. The wine is then aged for six months prior to bottling. Only about 300 cases are produced each year. This vintage is exceptionally fresh and focused, with bright, crunchy red berry fruit, layers of grapefruit zest, cherry, and cherry pit, and a hint of tangerine peel. A lovely saline-acid mineral tension carries through the long, drawn-out finish. Utterly refreshing, bright, and beautifully balanced.

2024

Monroy

Kick Ranch Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc

This Sauvignon Blanc shows a richer profile, with toasty oak and vanilla mingling with yellow apple and lemon curd—almost more of a Chardonnay-like nose, which some people will love. On the palate, it’s laser-focused and racy, with a nice breadth of texture and juicy orchard fruit structure. Barrel aging included 12% new Saury oak, 16% used, and 72% stainless steel, along with seven months of lees stirring, all of which contribute to the wine’s flattering richness. Adolfo Hernandez explained his background and winemaking style to me as follows: “I was the enologist and then assistant winemaker at Eisele Vineyard, splitting my time—two years each—between the Araujos and Château Latour. From there, I spent a year with Martha McClellan at Checkerboard, where we also made her gorgeous Levy & McClellan wines. In 2017, I started as associate winemaker at Benovia in the Russian River Valley with Mike Sullivan, where I’m happily still working today.”

2024

Nisi Wines

Fiddlestix Vineyard Chardonnay

This is a lemon-bright white with seaspray minerality and a kiss of vanilla and baking spice that carries through on the medium-bodied palate. The flavors build with intensity, finishing with notes of toasty, flaky croissant and chalky minerality. An inviting and delicious Chardonnay. Sourced from own-rooted vines in two blocks of Fiddlestix Vineyard—Block 2A (massal) and Block 2B (Clone 76)—the wine was barrel-fermented with no stirring and aged on the lees for 10 months in 40% new French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered under DIAM 30 closure. Founded in 2024 by winemaker Adam Edelman, Nisi Wines is dedicated to crafting minimal-intervention Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from top sites across the Sta. Rita Hills.

2024

Nisi Wines

Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard Pinot Noir

Bright, candied red fruit defines the character of this site and appellation, accented by cedarwood nuances and sweet brown baking spices. Medium-bodied, it shows crunchy apple-skin tannins that frame supple, plump red fruit. This is a strong effort from the site, carrying a saline, wet-stone minerality that clearly reflects the Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard, owned by Dave Phinney. The vineyard sits on the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. This 100% Pinot Noir is a co-fermentation of two blocks (50% Clone 828 and 50% Pommard Clone), using a mix of punchdowns and pumpovers. The wine was barrel-aged for 10 months in neutral French oak (once-used Chardonnay barrels) and bottled unfined and unfiltered under DIAM 30 closure. Founded in 2024 by winemaker Adam Edelman—whose experience includes Realm Cellars, Fait-Main, and Teeter-Totter—Nisi Wines focuses on minimal-intervention Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from top sites across the Sta. Rita Hills.

2024

Omega Road Winery

Chenin Blanc

Sourced from Lodi’s Silva Spoons Vineyard, this white was fermented with native yeasts, saw a touch of skin contact, and was aged partially (30%) in neutral French oak. The nose opens with inviting notes of honey, citrus, and orange blossom. On the orange-flavored palate, it strikes a beautiful balance between linear acidity and a sultry, rounded texture. -JR

2024

Omega Road Winery

Crackerbox Vineyards Sangiovese Rosé

Sourced from the female-owned Crackerbox Vineyards, this 100% Sangiovese Rosé was aged sur lie for four months prior to bottling and release. It opens with brilliantly bright wild herb aromatics—dried lavender, thyme, and rosemary—accented by hints of prairie grass. The palate is nicely textured, with excellent grip and juicy cranberry and black raspberry fruit. Slightly underripe strawberry adds a crunchy edge, like biting into the white part near the stem. Firm acids give this wine great tension. Enjoy it with tacos.

2024

Pisoni

Lucy Gamay Noir

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.

2024

Pisoni

Lucy Pico Bianco

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.

2024

Pruett

Austenitic Chardonnay

Fermented and aged entirely in FCC Crystal stainless steel (austenitic-grade, named for the crystalline structure of the steel), this Chardonnay is sourced exclusively from Bob’s Vineyard and planted to Dijon clones. “We treated the pressing like a Sauvignon Blanc,” the winemaker says—blanketing it with CO₂ to keep the wine in a reductive state before fermenting and aging it entirely in stainless, with malolactic fermentation fully blocked. The aromatics are vibrant and layered, with notes of honeycomb, orange zest, and crushed almonds. Medium-bodied on the palate, it shows a rich vein of crystalline acid tension and sea salt minerality, with impressive length.

2024

Pruett

Poulet Sautant Chardonnay

Poulet Sautant Unoaked Chardonnay is named for the “jumping chickens” on Bob Pruett’s property—specifically, his wife’s Polish Frizzles. During the growing season, the chickens leap up to knock berries off the vines to feed their young, which Bob has come to view as a charming (and accurate) indicator that the grapes are ripe and ready to harvest. This unoaked Chardonnay is super fresh and bright, with aromas of ripe pear, apple, and lemon citrus. Medium-bodied on the palate, it shows fleshy, creamy pear and apple fruit framed by zesty, electric acid tension. The finish is lifted by a touch of salinity and a pop of honeycomb.

2024

Refugio Ranch

Estate Sauvignon Blanc Tiradora

The Tiradora white from Refugio Ranch is a dynamic, complex, and deeply layered wine with excellent fruit concentration. Aromas of apricot and charred pineapple lead the charge, nuanced by wildflower blossoms and grapefruit zest. The palate is bracketed by bracing lemon-lime acidity and framed with a taut saline-mineral tension that adds structure and drive. Subtle oak aging lends fragrant baking spice notes that weave seamlessly into the wine’s vibrant profile. A pleasure-packed white.

2024

Rodney Strong

Sauvignon Blanc

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.

2024

Rodrigue Molyneaux

Pinot Blanc

This blend of 80% Pinot Blanc from Buttner Vineyards and Sunol Highlands Vineyard, with 20% Fiano from the Rodrigue Molyneaux estate, was fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel. Fragrant lime blossoms intermingle with white peach notes, building across a light- to medium-bodied palate and finishing with salted and candied lime peel, and lemon zest. It’s the wine equivalent of your beachside margarita with salt on the rim—so after a shot of tequila and a squeeze of lime, don’t be afraid to sip this while staring off into the sunset, wherever you are.

2024

Sakura Winery

Petit Verdot Rosé

This 100% Petit Verdot Rosé from Sakura Vineyard and Winery was fermented and aged in stainless steel. It’s a super salty, red-berry–fruited, floral-scented, and savory-spiced rosé with real verve and tenacity. As focused and southern-French in style as they come in the New World, it might just be the most food-friendly rosé in all of Livermore Valley.

2024

Salty Goats

Salty Goats Coastline Project Pinot Noir

This Coastline Project Pinot Noir is a dark-fruited powerhouse, showcasing the ripe, soaring tannins characteristic of fruit grown in the extreme coastal zones of the Sonoma Coast. It bursts with dark cherry and plum fruit, framed by red apple-skin tannins and mineral nuances that shine through the dark core—wet river stone, slate, and a touch of violet. On the palate, subtle blue fruit tones emerge beneath the grip of those firm tannins, adding depth and intrigue. I’m inclined to think these 2024s will age longer than the dazzling 2023s; there’s more heft and power here, making it worth holding until at least 2026 before pulling a cork. Sourced from organically farmed vineyards along the West Sonoma Coast and Sonoma Coast AVA—including McDougall Ranch and Kings Ridge (Fort Ross–Seaview), Fociñni (Petaluma Gap), and Lucky Well (Occidental)—this wine blends clones 114, Calera, Schoolhouse, Pommard, and La Tâche. With 30% whole-cluster fermentation in stainless steel using native yeasts and native malolactic conversion, the wine spent 15 days on the skins. Salty Goats is passion of Nickel & Nickel’s Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook (who were mentored by Thomas Rivers Brown). The wines are made at TRB’s Mending Wall facility, sourcing grapes from organically farmed vineyards on the West Sonoma Coast and in Napa Valley.

2024

Salty Goats

Salty Goats Pinot Noir

This wine unfolds slowly, finishing with profoundly robust, firm tannins that build and build—but before that, it seduces with calm generosity and perfumed red fruit layered with violets, dark cinnamon, cedarwood, and underbrush. The entry is soft and silky, edged with blue-toned fruit that’s soon drawn into focus by the grip and structure of this powerful Pinot Noir. Like the Coastline Project Pinot, it’s worth holding until late 2026 before pulling corks—and it will easily reward a decade or more of aging. Composed of a barrel selection sourced 70% from McDougall Ranch and 30% from Kings Ridge Vineyard, with 30% whole-cluster fermentation in stainless steel, native primary and malolactic fermentations, and 16 days on skins. Salty Goats is passion of Nickel & Nickel’s Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook (who were mentored by Thomas Rivers Brown). The wines are made at TRB’s Mending Wall facility, sourcing grapes from organically farmed vineyards on the West Sonoma Coast and in Napa Valley.

2024

Salty Goats Wine Co.

Lot #58. 'Coastal Brotherhood' Pinot Noir

TASTING NOTE: Lot #55. Barrel Sample: The last time I tasted wine this good with Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook, we were at Nickel & Nickel on December 5, 2025. Just as we began tasting, a small earthquake rattled the building. We felt it sway, and—like any sensible wine industry veterans—we reached for our favorite wine on the table, downed a glass, and then made sure we didn’t need to run out of the building. That’s exactly what you’d do with this Pinot Noir. Crafted from a 50/50 blend of Kings Ridge and McDougall vineyards, it’s super expressive—floral and bright with incense notes from partial whole-cluster fermentation. It shows excellent depth and remarkable tension. One of the most tightly wound, high-energy lots I tasted, with soaring acidity, purity of fruit, and serious structural tannins anchoring it all. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: “Coastal Brotherhood” is a never before, never again blend – crafted from the first McDougal Vineyard fruit that Salty Goats Wine Co. has ever received and then blended with Pinot Noir from the Kings Ridge Vineyard. These vineyards are located within the northernmost section of the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. Both sites are less than 3.5 miles from the ocean and organically farmed. Salty Goats Wine Co. started in 2020, rooted in the coastal hills of Northern California, dedicated to crafting expressive, site-driven Pinot Noir. It is a passion project born from the dynamic brotherhood of Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook, the acclaimed winemaking team behind Nickel & Nickel’s extraordinary Napa Valley Cabernets. They partner with trusted farmers who share their passion for organic and precision viticulture. With its high elevations, cool climate, and Pacific Ocean influence, the West Sonoma Coast offers wonderful conditions to produce Pinot Noir that is vibrant and expressive. Expect a wine of depth, texture, and elegance, highlighted by a unique coastal salinity. This wine epitomizes freshness and elegance with a long, vibrant finish. WINEMAKER(S): Joe Harden, Phil Holbrook ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: August 2025 ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: January 2026 National Distribution: CA, HI

2024

Samsara

Rosé

This 50% Mourvèdre, 50% Grenache blend was co-fermented and aged in stainless steel. The pale rose-gold hue leads to a complex and seriously delicious rosé, driven by notes of white peach and dried apricot, interwoven with a smoky mineral character that adds depth and intrigue. The palate is rich, silky, and supple, finishing with refreshing saline-acid tension and a cool river stone minerality. This isn’t your typical fruit-bomb, pool-pounder rosé—though you could, and probably should, crush bottles by the pool. Still, it’s best enjoyed while lounging with a book in an Adirondack chair or catching up with good friends around the backyard picnic table. Pour it for your favorite people—and definitely pour it for yourself.

2024

Samsara

Watch Hill Vineyard Clairette

The 2024 Samsara Clairette, sourced from the organically farmed Watch Hill Vineyard in Alisos Canyon—known for its marine influence and low-nutrient sandy-clay soils—offers a crisp, focused expression of this variety. Chalky minerality and zesty citrus fruit lead the way, joined by wild white flowers that bloom aromatically. The medium-bodied palate reveals a lovely core of ripe peach and dried apricot, layered with a subtle nutty nuance that adds depth and charm.

2024

Sean Minor

Invited Series Denmark St. Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from Denmark Street Vineyard and pressed directly into locally crafted clay amphorae, where it completes both primary and secondary fermentation and ages for six months. The result is a lemony-bright, lime-zesty, white-floral, and high-toned aromatic wine with a lovely richness on the palate. Crisp, clean, and vibrant, it delivers acidity reminiscent of biting into ripe grapefruit. Intriguing baking spice notes—likely imparted by the amphorae—add layers of mineral iron and subtle Indian spice. Utterly fascinating. Sean Minor Wines was founded in 2005 by husband-and-wife team Sean and Nicole Minor, and is still family-owned and operated. In 2023, their daughter, Elle Minor, joined the team as winemaker. Wines are made from a combination of estate fruit and fruit purchased from sustainably farmed sources throughout California.

2024

Serres Ranch

Toots Estate Grown Aleatico Rosé

The Toots Rosé is made entirely from Aleatico—a grape variety most common in Italy, typically blended into red wines, yet thriving on the Serres Ranch, where just six acres are planted. Fermented and aged in stainless steel, it’s an exceptionally expressive rosé with a rich, luscious quality and a satiny texture. Ripe strawberry and cherry tones lead the way, lifted by a fresh pop of grapefruit or blood orange and a zippy, mouthwatering finish. Super refreshing. The Serres family launched the brand in 2018, with the inaugural vintage released in 2022; they currently produce about 500 cases each year. Tim Milos and Derek Irwin are the winemakers.

2024

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

Sauvignon Blanc

A tropical-fruited, zesty Sauvignon Blanc with crisp orchard fruit aromas leading into a palate of luscious pear and underripe pineapple. The texture is creamy yet vibrant, finishing with a clean, mineral edge. Sourced from both estate and grower vineyards, the fruit is pressed and the juice fermented slowly in stainless steel tanks, with a small portion aged in acacia barrels. St. Francis Winery & Vineyards has been in operation for more than five decades, now farming over 400 acres of estate vineyards.

2024

Steven Kent Winery

Cabernet Franc Blanc

Harvested from Clone 5 Cabernet Franc at Cresta Blanca Vineyard on the west side of the Livermore Valley AVA, this 2024 release saw just under 400 cases produced. My first taste of Cabernet Franc Blanc came from Steven Kent Winery—either the 2022 or 2023 vintage—and this 2024 bottling hits all the same high notes, while adding new depth. It’s a dynamic expression of a red grape reimagined as a white wine, and it delivers. You might be surprised when you see the label, but give this wine a chance—and here’s what happens: subtle stone and tropical fruit notes build across the medium-bodied palate, nuanced by white flowers. There’s grippy, citrusy acid tension and mineral drive, all layered with apricot pit, white peach, and sea salt. The 2024 version leans a touch more plush and soft than previous vintages, but it remains just as compelling. Stockpile this by the caseload—this is one to watch.

2024

Stolpman Vineyards

BLRDCYN Syrah

Flat-out stunning. The wine boasts beautifully silky textures balanced by brisk acidity. Vibrant black fruit builds alongside crunchy red plums, candied violets, rich earth, and rose dusted with white pepper, nuanced by pastille candies. Medium- to full-bodied, it’s gracious yet structured, with palate-etching tannins that are nicely integrated even at this young stage. Youthfully exuberant and impeccably built.

2024

Stolpman Vineyards

Estate Vin Gris

A blend of 70% Gamay and 30% Trousseau, fermented with whole bunches and whole berries to create an expressive, slightly oxidative mid-palate. It’s tactile and vibrant, with rich watermelon and watermelon candy notes, balanced by tart Granny Smith apple and a splash of Jolly Rancher on the long, fruity finish.

2024

Stolpman Vineyards

Love You Bunches Rosé

A combination of grapes sourced from Los Olivos and the Santa Barbara Highlands within the Cuyama Valley in the northeastern part of the county at higher elevations, around 3,200 feet. Carbonic fermentation. It leads with bright strawberry and watermelon notes, unfolding on a soft, silky palate. The finish is long and elegant, with chalky minerality, balanced tension, and lingering flavors of cherry and white peach.

2024

Stolpman Vineyards

Sauvignon Blanc

Direct-pressed into stainless steel and aged for 3–4 months before bottling, this Sauvignon Blanc is bright and crisp, showcasing ripe orchard fruit flavors, white flower aromas, and a zesty, lemon-lime minerality.

2024

The Setting Wines

Sauvignon Blanc

From a hillside site in Alexander Valley and planted to 50% Musqué and 50% Sauvignon Blanc clones. This Sauvignon Blanc shows a heady richness, driven in part by barrels with Acacia heads, which—when toasted correctly—bring gorgeous florality and minerality. The wine expands across the palate with fleshy pear and apricot, carried by a rich, saline-acid tension that fuels both texture and focused length. It’s an opulent wine with precision and lift. In short, ultra-delicious. This wine was aged 6 months in 40% new French oak.

1 2 3 4 … 25 26 27

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2023

Producer

Name

Kings Ridge sits near Hirsch, Flowers, and Martinelli’s Blue Slide Ridge — basically a stellar neighborhood. It lifts out of the glass with bright white-pepper spice, black–sea-salt aromatics, and warm brown baking spices. The palate is medium-bodied and creamy, with dark cherry fruit and an attractive, sumptuous richness. Wonderful earth and brown-spice notes thread through the mid-palate, carrying into a long, lingering finish. All night-picked with 5–20% whole cluster, given a two-day settle, then treated with a small sulfur adjustment before native-yeast fermentation. Bâtonnage begins with more frequent stirring and gradually tapers off, after which the wine is racked into roughly 35–45% new French oak for 15 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2023

Producer

Name

Such a bright, saline-driven wine, showing citrus fruit, brown baking spices, chalky minerality, and exotic stone-fruit tones, with lemon meringue and apricot on the rich, succulent palate. It finishes with medium-bodied richness and laser-focused acidity. A fantastic entry-level wine for Croix Estate. Mostly sourced from cool sites in the Russian River Valley, including parcels in Green Valley, Sebastopol Hills, and pockets of the Petaluma Gap. All night-picked, whole-cluster pressed, given a two-day settle, then treated with a small sulfur adjustment before native-yeast fermentation. Some lots underwent native malolactic fermentation. Bâtonnage begins with more frequent stirring and tapers off as the wines age in roughly 30% new French oak for 15 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2023

Producer

Name

Nightwing sits right next door to Sun Chase Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap. This is a bold, fragrant, dark-fruited Pinot Noir packed with Asian spices and deep umami richness — black truffle, tobacco, soy — with super-youthful fruit pulsing beneath all that savory depth. Positively full-bodied, with a creamy, mouth-coating palate that carries this wine all day and all night. Bring it to your favorite steakhouse and go to town. All night-picked, native-yeast fermentation. Bâtonnage begins with more frequent stirring and gradually tapers off, after which the wine is racked into roughly 35–45% new French oak for 15 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2023

Producer

Name

From Manzana Vineyard, planted to Clones 777 and 828 and blended together. The site sits off Occidental Road, a hillside parcel close to Kanzler. This is a very classy, bright, crunchy, red-fruited Pinot with grapefruit zest and orange-peel essence on the fleshier mid-palate, yet it remains focused and precise throughout. There’s a lovely undercurrent of loamy earth and apple-skin tannins that tighten into a laser-focused finish. All night-picked with native-yeast fermentation. Bâtonnage begins with more frequent stirring and gradually tapers off, after which the wine is racked into roughly 35–45% new French oak for 15 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2023

Producer

Name

From 40-year-old vines on southeast-facing slopes in the Richard Dinner Vineyard, where the morning sun drives a slow, even ripening. This wine is richer and creamier than Starlings Roost or 12 Rows, so if you gravitate toward lower-acid, fuller-bodied Chardonnay with a broader, more luxurious mouthfeel, this is the one for you. It’s lemon-bright, with ginger spice, apricot, honeycomb, and white flowers, all supported by enough freshness to balance the richness. All night-picked, whole-cluster pressed, given a two-day settle, then treated with a small sulfur adjustment before native-yeast fermentation. Some lots underwent native malolactic fermentation. Bâtonnage starts with more frequent stirring and tapers off as the wines age in roughly 30% new French oak for 15 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2023

Producer

Name

From Morelli Vineyard in the Green Valley of Occidental. Kirk Venge says they often use this wine as a back-blender for acidity because it naturally carries such high acid — and it shows. This is a high-acid, bright, crunchy wine with lemon-bright lift, super fragrant with a crushed–sea-salt character, honeycomb, and pressed white flowers. Orchard and stone fruit come through ripe and juicy, with crunchy candied ginger on the lifted, bright finish. Super electric. That salted lemon-peel note brings an umami richness that never turns cloying. All night-picked, whole-cluster pressed, given a two-day settle, then treated with a small sulfur adjustment before native-yeast fermentation. Some lots underwent native malolactic fermentation. Bâtonnage starts with more frequent stirring and tapers off as the wines age in roughly 30% new French oak for 15 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2023

Producer

Name

Stoetz Ridge Vineyard faces east and is planted entirely to Clone 667. It’s a low-yielding site, and the resulting wine is quite pretty yet carries good heft and grip. There’s an old redwood-grove character here, with red cherry fruit and an elegance and prettiness that define the style. Good length and an easy quaffer. All night-picked with 5–20% whole cluster, given a two-day settle, then treated with a small sulfur adjustment before native-yeast fermentation. Bâtonnage begins with more frequent stirring and gradually tapers off, after which the wine is racked into roughly 35–45% new French oak for 15 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2023

Producer

Name

Sourced from Bucher Vineyard, planted on river-valley gravels with pockets of volcanic material and shale — not classic coastal Goldridge. The site spans 38 acres just outside Healdsburg on what was once a cattle ranch, near Rochioli and behind MacRostie. The wine is super perfumed, with rose petals, blackberry, and black cherry, and it carries a wonderfully rich, creamy profile of spiced plums, raspberry fruit, and fruit leather. Tobacco and tangerine-oil notes weave through the palate. It’s quite unctuous given the warmer site, yet still bright, lifted, and edged with excellent saline-driven acidity. All night-picked with 5–20% whole cluster, given a two-day settle, then treated with a small sulfur adjustment before native-yeast fermentation. Bâtonnage begins with more frequent stirring and gradually tapers off, after which the wine is racked into roughly 35–45% new French oak for 15 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2023

Producer

Name

From Monte Rosso Vineyard, this wine opens with white-pepper spice, black brambly dark-berry fruit, a touch of blue fruit, and toasty cedarwood, all lifted by violet tones and cocoa-powder tannins. It delivers a rich tapestry of robust structure, fabulous paprika spice, and a lengthy, full-bodied finish. Quite a wine. Aged 16 months in one-third new French oak, bottled unfined and unfiltered.

2023

Producer

Name

This is a bright, spicy, and aromatic bottling of Sauvignon Blanc, with complex and inviting notes of white flowers and crushed almonds. Crunchy acid tension and a chalky minerality carry through the palate into a lengthy finish.

2023

Producer

Name

Made in the traditional method and aged 19 months on tirage, this sparkling wine is 100% Grüner Veltliner grown in Lemmons Vineyard, the northernmost site on Crane Ridge. The vineyard experiences constant breezes and is blanketed in coastal fog each morning. It shows true Grüner character, swirling from the glass with beautifully subtle citrus notes, apple and pear skin aromatics, and a hint of pineapple core adding richness. There’s plenty of oyster shell minerality, salted citrus peel, and the faintest touch of baking spice—all supported by a lively, frothy, and zesty mousse. A thoroughly enjoyable bubbly for anytime sipping.

2023

Producer

Name

The DeMayo Vineyard is a small, 4-acre Chardonnay site in the Crane Ridge area of the Livermore Valley, located just south of Tesla Road, ranging from about 1,000 feet down to 600 feet in elevation. Grapes are whole cluster picked, then fermented and aged for 8 months in 60% new French oak. This Chardonnay opens with a rich, toasty, and buttery nose, layered with orchard fruit, poached pears, vanilla accents, and baking spice. The palate is bright and energetic, with a lengthy finish that underscores the wine’s dynamic character.

2023

Producer

Name

If you find yourself gathered around a fire pit after hours, this Firepit Society Cabernet Franc is the bolder, richer, riper expression of “firepit” wine from the Darcie Kent team that you’ll want in your glass. They also make Firepit Red, which is more medium-bodied and agile, but this version is built for those deeper, more contemplative conversations. It’s confident in its seductive dark berry fruit, heady cocoa powder notes, dried rose petal florals, and fuller-bodied presence, with fantastic wild herb character supported by supple tannins. Juicy, long, and lingering, this is a crushable, easily enjoyed wine—with or without a firepit. Aged seven months in French oak and 100% estate-grown in Lemmons Vineyard.

2023

Producer

Name

This 100% stainless steel–fermented and –aged Cabernet Franc comes from the Lemmons Vineyard and represents a fresh, innovative approach. “We wanted to show that you can make a Cabernet Franc that comes to market within a year,” says Amanda Kent, co-owner of the winery. “That’s important—to convince growers and producers to plant more and make more Cabernet Franc.” Winemaker Julian Halasz bottled the wine in April following harvest, employing micro-oxygenation and the use of oak staves to enhance texture and balance. The result is a remarkably polished wine with grippy tannins, pure dark berry fruit, blue fruit accents, floral notes, and a hint of bay laurel. Designed for early release and wide accessibility—including supermarket shelves—this is a compelling example of how Livermore producers can offer youthful, cash-flow-friendly Cabernet Franc without sacrificing quality, while still reserving their estate bottlings for long-term aging.

2023

Producer

Name

Sourced from a vineyard on a low riverside bench, this white is big, but also refreshingly lemony. Everything feels wonderfully dialed up in this big-fruited Chardonnay. So it’s all on balance, from its warm and spicy aromatics to its rich peach flavors. – J.R.

2023

Producer

Name

A blend of 39% Grenache Blanc, 33% Roussanne, and 28% Marsanne, this wine is explosively aromatic with soaring notes of honeysuckle, agave nectar, and a hint of parmesan rind. The medium- to full-bodied palate is silky and satiny, layered with honeydew melon drizzled in wildflower honey. Chamomile and zesty citrus extend the finish.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2023

2023 Croix Estate Kings Ridge Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$$

2023

2023 Croix Estate Narrow Gauge Chardonnay

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Croix Estate Nightwing Vineyard Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Croix Estate Old Manzana Vineyard Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Croix Estate Richard Dinner Vineyard Chardonnay

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Croix Estate Starlings Roost Morelli Vineyard Chardonnay

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Croix Estate Stoetz Ridge Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$$

2023

2023 Croix Estate West Pyramid Block Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Croix Estate Zinfandel

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Crown Point Estate White Wine

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Darcie Kent Estate Winery Darcie’ Methode Champenoise Grüner Veltliner

Sparkling Wine

$$

2023

2023 Darcie Kent Estate Winery DeMayo Vineyard Chardonnay

Still Wine

N/A

2023

2023 Darcie Kent Estate Winery Firepit Society Cabernet Franc

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Darcie Kent Estate Winery Lemmons Vineyard Cabernet Franc

Still Wine

N/A

2023

2023 Davis Bynum River West Vineyard Chardonnay

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Demetria Estate Estate White Rhone Blend Cuvée Papou

Still Wine

N/A

MAILING LIST

The only email you want to open

  • Podcast Drops
  • New Reports
  • Latest Scores