California – Page 29 – Cristaldi & Co

Cristaldi Scores

Sort

Vintage

Wine

Sort

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2024

Sonoma Bespoke

Gunsight Rock Grenache

There it is—your childhood in a glass. That candied red-berry fruit, licorice, and Sweetart candy we’d buy on the walk home from middle school, liquified, positively irresistible on the palate, supported by a granular, almost chalky texture, or like ultra-fine sand, that resolves through a bright, juicy, and fragrant finish.

Red

2024

Sonoma Bespoke

Jase-Kellen Chennin Blanc

Quite a fabulous, light to medium-bodied white wine, oozing out of the glass with lemony-yuzu notes, crisp green apple, velvety acidity, and a finish marked by tangerine oil and pear sorbet. Mind you, this is bone-dry and dangerously quaffable.

White

2024

Sonoma Bespoke

Lemon Hill Viognier

The name says it all—a glassful of lemon and lime zest, fragrant honeysuckle blossoms, and sweet summer cantaloupe frame this creamy and silky wine, layered with juicy citrus, orchard, stone, and tropical fruit notes, finishing quite dry.

White

2024

Sonoma Bespoke

Nash Pinot Grigio

If you love Italian Pinot Grigio, this light-bodied Californian counterpoint delivers the same zippy, citrusy, easy-going quality, but imbued with riper-tasting citrus and orchard fruit grown under a canopy of bright California sunshine. A touch of baking spice and wet river stone finish brings complexity.

White

2024

Sonoma Bespoke

Path Moscato

Alright, someone told you about Moscato once, and you never looked back. And why would you, if you love a white wine that gives the impression of walking through a park dotted with honeysuckle bushes, jasmine, or Magnolias. That’s this wine. On the palate, it bears a balanced sweetness, never overpowering, but redolent of lemons, limes, and poached pears, and always that fragrant sweet white floral note lingering through the slightest joyful effervescence.

White

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.

White

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.

White

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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

Rosé

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.

White

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.

White

2024

Twomey

Lot #42. 'Harmony in Heritage' Last Stop Vineyard Pinot Noir

TASTING NOTE: Lot #42. Barrel Sample: Justin Hirigoyen worked at Domaine Faiveley and Spring Mountain Vineyard. Need to know anything else? No! Just bid—and love this wine. A blend of heritage clones, it offers beautifully lifted red berry fruit and warming spice that evokes cardamom and flamed blood orange peel. Medium-bodied with salty minerality, notes of Santa Rosa plum, and fine, satiny tannins. The finish is fragrant with rose petal and finesse to spare. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: This unique auction lot is crafted with selections from the Twomey Last Stop estate vineyard through the lens of collaboration. After half a decade farming this specific site together, winemaker Justin Hirigoyen and grape growers Nick Filice and Jim Pratt sat down together to encapsulate site and vintage into this exclusive wine made from heritage clones planted at the site. The Last Stop Vineyard gets its name from being the last stop on a former rail line that ran from San Francisco to Forestville in the early 1900s. Today, Twomey is the proud steward of the site’s rolling hills covered in Goldridge soils. Founded in 1999 by the Duncan Family of Silver Oak, Twomey combines experience and a sense of curiosity with the exploration of expressive vineyards for its wines — made to be savored with family and friends. This wine showcases the complex and refined flavor profile typical of the Russian River Valley. A delicate balance of power and elegance are on full display with a refined tannic structure complimented by fresh energy and life. Bright floral and spice notes frame a detailed bouquet of dark cherry, bergamot and Santa Rosa plum. A broad attack gives way to a bright, creamy core of fruit and tannins that linger on the palate. WINEMAKER(S): Justin Hirigoyen ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: December 2025 ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: April 2026 National Distribution: Includes all 50 states and Washington, DC International Distribution: Includes Canada, Denmark, Japan, Norway; please inquire for additional countries.

Red

2024

Valravn

Chardonnay

This wine is representative of Sonoma County in a broader sense, combining fruit from the Marine Layer Vineyard with a distinctly Russian River lens. Winemaker Rob Fischer says he’s aiming to push ripeness just a touch while still retaining the lively acidity and brightness associated with Sonoma Coast fruit, with the intention of making a wine that appeals to a broader audience. To that end, the wine shows a pleasing richness from barrel fermentation and lees stirring, layered with bright citrus and underripe pineapple fruit, sweet spice, candied ginger, and lovely toasty oak notes. All of this is framed by the saline-driven acid tension typical of the Sonoma Coast, balanced by the lusher, richer fruit profile of the Russian River Valley. It’s quite delicious for the price point, especially given the quality of the vineyard sources, which include Gap’s Crown Vineyard, Heintz Vineyard, Durell Vineyard, Bohemian Vineyard, and Hawk Hill Vineyard—all top-tier sites.

White

2024

Valravn

Pinot Noir

The Valravn Pinot Noir opens with a sweet core of dark berry fruit, layered with subtle briary notes and forest-berry aromas that evoke the feeling of walking through a wet redwood grove. Violet florals and pops of blue fruit add aromatic lift. On the palate, there’s a welcome fruit sweetness, with the wine remaining medium-bodied, juicy, and energizing. Lifted baking spice notes, a hint of clove, and loamy earth add real complexity and depth—especially impressive for a wine that typically retails under $25.

Red

2024

Vaughn Duffy Wines

Bacigalupi Vineyards Chardonnay

From the Bacigalupi family’s historic Goddard Ranch—the first property Helen and Charles Bacigalupi purchased in the 1950s, and the source of grapes used in Chateau Montelena’s legendary 1973 Chardonnay that won the Judgement of Paris—this wine carries a remarkable legacy. Aged for 10 months in French oak barrels (50% new), it offers layers of baked lemon, orchard fruit, lemon oil, and French pastry richness, all seamlessly integrated. Vaughn Duffy is a small, family-owned winery based in Sonoma County producing about 3,000 cases annually and specializing in Pinot Noir. The wines are crafted by forklift-wiz-turned-winemaker Matt Duffy, who co-founded the winery in 2009 with his wife, Sara Vaughn.

White

2024

Vaughn Duffy Wines

Sauvignon Blanc

The grapes for this wine were sourced entirely from Hopkins River Ranch in the heart of the Russian River Valley, where Bob Hopkins has been farming wine grapes on his family’s property off Eastside Road since the 1970s. Fermented and aged for five months in a combination of older oak (58%) and stainless steel barrels (42%), the wine is crunchy, crisp, and super tart, with bright lime acidity, grassy nuances, and tropical fruit character reminiscent of kiwi and green apple. Vaughn Duffy is a small, family-owned winery based in Sonoma County producing about 3,000 cases annually and specializing in Pinot Noir. The wines are crafted by forklift-wiz-turned-winemaker Matt Duffy, who co-founded the winery in 2009 with his wife, Sara Vaughn.

White

2024

Verdad Wines

Rusack Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

Quite the expressive white, revealing a fragrant bouquet of white flowers, honeysuckle, white peach, and ripe nectarine. The palate is lush and layered, where orchard and tropical fruits merge seamlessly, framed by super zesty lemon-lime acidity. Mouthwatering, vibrant, and delicious.

White

2024

Wente Family Vineyards

Nicki's Rosé

Made from 100% estate-grown Pinot Noir in Arroyo Seco, this rosé underwent primary fermentation in stainless steel and did not go through malolactic fermentation. It was aged for two months in stainless steel to preserve vibrancy. Floral, perky, and fresh, this is a perfect springtime sipper. Aromas of passionfruit, mango skin, and wild strawberry lead into a medium-bodied palate featuring bright red berry flavors and a subtle hint of watermelon on the finish. -JR

Rosé

2024

Williams Selyem and Benovia Winery

Lot #40. 'Terra Rossa' Cohn Vineyard Pinot Noir

TASTING NOTE: Lot #40. Barrel Sample: When Williams Selyem and Benovia appear on the same label, you don’t even taste the wine—you just buy it. I told myself I wouldn’t taste it, knowing it would be too good to handle. Okay, that’s not true. I tasted it. Like five times. Just to be sure I liked it. I did and so will you. Super bright and zesty, with red earth minerality, vibrant red berry fruit, floral tones, and rich baking spice. Notes of grapefruit zest and blood orange add lift, while dark forest berry, underbrush, and saline mineral tension bring depth and structure. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: This is a first-time collaboration between two incredible winemakers, Jeff Mangahas and Mike Sullivan. This Pinot Noir comes from the Cohn Vineyard nestled in the hills and forest above Westside Road. It is one of the few heritage vineyards remaining in Sonoma County, initially planted in 1970. Cohn Vineyard was first produced as a single vineyard designate Pinot Noir back in 1987 by Burt Williams at Williams Selyem. With sweeping views of the Russian River Valley, Cohn Vineyard is notable for its ruddy, iron-rich soil, sometimes called “Terra Rossa.” Farmed sustainably and with minimal irrigation, these gnarled vines produce small and compact clusters with yields of just over 1 ton per acre. Benovia Winery is a small production family-owned winery in the heart of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. Burt Williams and Ed Selyem started their winery, in the Russian River Valley with two lofty goals: to craft wines that set the standard for excellence, and to come to know and serve their customers personally. The depth of knowledge that both wineries bring to making exceptional Pinot Noir in this part of the world is a real treat for the winning bidder of this lot. “Terra Rossa” is a wine of depth and complexity. Brooding and dark, notes of black cherry combine with blood orange and hints of sous bois. Wood spices perfectly complement the dark fruit character. With great acidity and structure, the wine is buffered with terrific extract that provides balance. Dark fruits, citrus, and notes of cedar wrap up with flavors of black tea. WINEMAKER(S): Jeff Mangahas (Williams Selyem), Mike Sullivan (Benovia Winery) ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: March 2026 (Available in bottle or keg format) ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: March 2026 National Distribution: AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, RI, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY, Washington, DC International Distribution: Includes Denmark, Japan, Norway; please inquire for additional countries.

Red

2024

Wood Family Vineyards

Culmination Sauvignon Blanc

This Sauvignon Blanc was barrel-fermented and aged for seven months in 33% once-used Acacia wood. It opens with a fragrant, expressive nose of Acacia, honeysuckle, and tangerine oil. Medium-bodied on the palate, it shows energy, poise, and tension. The texture grips initially, then releases to reveal layers of prairie grass, a squeeze of Meyer lemon, flamed grapefruit zest, and grapefruit oil. A complex white that’s more than deserving of a rotisserie chicken—or even a salted cut of beef.

White

2024

Wood Family Vineyards

Sauvignon Blanc

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from the Louis Mel Ranch Vineyard, was aged for four months in stainless steel. Focused and precise, it shows linear acid tension with bright grapefruit zest, tangerine oil, and a crunchy kumquat skin character on the medium-bodied palate. The finish is lengthy and lifted, marked by honeysuckle and jasmine blossom hints.

White

2025

Darcie Kent Estate Winery

Triska Sauvignon Blanc

This is 100% Sauvignon Blanc (Musqué clone) from Triska Vineyard, aged for three months in stainless steel. Amanda Kent explained that they decided to plant this more coastal-leaning Musqué clone—rather than Clone 1—because the region is, in fact, cooling. The clone was first planted in 2018 at Triska and has since been added to Lemmons Vineyard as well. At Triska, the block faces north at a ten-degree angle, tilted away from the sun, and the team grows the canopies tall to create additional shade. I tasted the 2025 in December 2025—the first wine I tried from the vintage. It was fermented in tank with a portion in acacia wood, not for flavour but to add mid-palate appeal. Harvested in mid-September, it was aged on the lees for about six weeks and bottled a few months later. Super aromatic, with bright white pepper, green apple, honeycomb, jasmine, and even a touch of fresh-sliced jalapeño. Light, bright, and zesty on the mid-palate, with crunchy acidity and a bone-dry, wet-slate mineral finish. Super inviting and enticing.

White

2025

Steven Kent Winery

Franc Nouveau!

This is the 2025 Cabernet Franc from Gilmetti Vineyard, bottled in 12-ounce beer bottles — a playful decision by winemaker Steven Kent, who simply pulled it from tank and bottled it at 13.5% alcohol. It is super young, youthful, unfined and unfiltered, and it smells and tastes exactly as Cabernet Franc should, with crisp tannins, clean acidity and super-juicy dark-berry fruit. It is absolutely delicious, and if you find yourself at a beer-only party, you could bring this along, pretend, and get away with it.

Red

N/A

McGrail Vineyards

Gracie Brut Sparkling Wine

This sparkling Chardonnay from Lucky 8 Vineyard was harvested in late August at approximately 17 Brix with a pH of 3.0. Fermented in stainless steel, it was then racked to neutral oak for about three months before returning to stainless for heat and cold stabilization. The wine was bottled, tirage-aged, riddled, and finished with a dosage of just 2 g/L. It boasts bright lemon citrus and apricot notes, accented by fragrant white flowers and hints of nougat. The mousse is rich and creamy yet assertive, framed by soaring acidity and a long, mineral-driven finish. Crisp, clean, and beautifully structured.

White

NV

Altus Sol

Cabernet Sauvignon

A pleasant, medium-bodied, aromatic, fruit-forward red wine, offering up ripe cherry, cranberry, and blood orange fruit, warming graham cracker crust spices, and integrated cedarwood notes, all nicely expressive on the palate, with perfect sweetly ripe fruit framed by soft, supple tannins.

Red

NV

Altus Sol

Pinot Grigio

Tropical fruit lifts out of the glass, redolent of pineapple and white peach and jasmine florals. Lush, medium-bodied, with juicy acidity underscored by a chalky mineral character and crushed Marcona almond finish. Pinot grigio with less than a percent spalsh of Muscat for some aromatic lift.

White

N/A

Dragonette

XX Twentieth Anniversary Cuvee Syrah

A blend of Syrah from four vintages—2019 (20%), 2020 (20%), 2021 (40%), and 2022 (20%)—this wine brings together fruit from Stolpman, Kimsey, and Larner vineyards in Ballard Canyon and John Sebastiano in the Sta. Rita Hills. The final blend is 95% Syrah, 4% Grenache, and 1% Viognier. Aged for an extended period in barrel before careful blending, this bottling pays homage to Vega Sicilia’s famed Único Reserva Especial in Ribera del Duero. The label, a commissioned artwork by artist R. Anthony Askew, adds an extra layer of thoughtfulness to an already compelling bottle. I love this wine—and you will too—because it delivers a mouthful of Syrah deliciousness, done the Santa Barbara County way. Rich, supple dark fruits meet tangy blood orange acidity and mid-palate density. The wine builds with layers of black cherry, blackberry, violets, sandalwood, and robes of dark chocolate, all weaving into a satiny sheet that glides across the palate. The multi-vintage integration is so seamless and complete, it makes you wish Dragonette would craft a wine like this year after year.

Notes from the winery on how this wine was made:

“We harvested each block in the cold morning hours, personally hand sorting in the field. The grapes were destemmed within hours then cold soaked for 2-7 days, before fermentation with native yeasts. Pumpovers, punchdowns and delestage were used to gently extract flavor, while managing tannins. At dryness, the wines were transferred to French oak barrels of various formats (500L puncheon, 400L, and 228L barrique) of which a portion is new. Each vintage included in this blend was itself a blend of the best barrels for that given season. Each component vintage was aged separately with a range from 26 to 62 months in barrel, with an average age of 42.8 months in barrel. In honor of our 20th Anniversary, the wine was bottled in January of 2025.”

Red

NV

Piper Sonoma

Brut

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

Rosé

2024

Slouch Hat Wines

As You Were Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

Entirely barrel-fermented in large-format neutral oak, with partial malolactic fermentation to round out the acid bite. The result is a full-bodied, silky, satiny, and downright seductive white. All that palate texture comes from the oak aging, yet there’s no overt oak character. The wine remains bright, zippy, and zesty, layered with floral and citrus notes, creamy orchard fruit, and a long, saline-mineral, crushed-almond finish. Grab as much as you can.