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2021

Cuda Ridge Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon (Purple Label)

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.

2021

Cuda Ridge Wines

Casa de Viñas Vineyard Carménère

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.

2021

Cuda Ridge Wines

Estate Petit Verdot

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.

2021

Cuda Ridge Wines

Insel Carménère

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.

2021

Cuda Ridge Wines

Little Dog Vineyard Carménère

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.

2021

Del Valle Winery

Cabernet Franc

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.

2021

Del Valle Winery

RJM Red Wine

The 2021 RJM is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Sangiovese, and 5% Primitivo, aged for 20 months in 20% new European oak. This commemorative bottling honors founder Robert Joseph Molinaro, who passed away in 2023. Ripe currant and cassis lead the aromatics, joined by violets, rose petals, fig jam, and a subtle meatiness that builds across the medium-bodied palate. The wine is framed by granular tannins and finishes with lengthy notes of black licorice and olive tapenade. The Dell Valle wines are made at Garré by winemaker Aaron Luna.

2021

Dierberg Vineyard

Drum Canyon Vineyard Pinot Noir

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.

2021

Domaine de la Rivière

Flora Marie Vineyard Chardonnay

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.

2021

Domaine de la Rivière

Heritage Block Vineyard eleven Pinot Noir

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.

2021

Domaine de la Rivière

Middle Reach Vineyards Pinot Noir

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.

2021

Domaine de la Rivière

Red Barn Block Vineyard eleven Pinot Noir

In 2021, this marked the first year the estate produced this wine. The fruit is wonderfully bright, pure, and crunchy, with lifted white-pepper aromatics and a burst of rose-petal fragrance. It builds across the palate with juicy blood-orange acidity and perfectly integrated cocoa-powder tannins. The blend is 49% UV-VR clone, 34% Pommard, and 17% Swan. It’s an absolutely fabulous wine—the kind you want to enjoy throughout an entire meal for its bright acidity and tension supporting such beautifully pure fruit. Aged 11 months in roughly one-third new French oak.

2021

Domaine de la Rivière

Two Forces Pinot Noir

A blend of owner Jeff Bedrosian’s two favorite clones, Pommard and Swan. I love the concentration and freshness here—it’s packed with lush fruit and velvety textures, and it’s absolutely delicious on its own, full-flavored and generous. The wine was aged 11 months in 37% new French oak before bottling. The name refers to the two clones and the forces they represent: Pommard, with its darker fruit and earth-driven depth, and Swan, which brings a more feminine profile of spice and brighter fruit tones. Think of them as yin and yang. They complement each other beautifully in this blend, which shows lovely high-toned spice and that wonderful Pommard richness on the palate. I’d happily drink this on its own, but it would also pair well with braised meats or a salad scattered with pomegranate seeds to echo its juicy, earthy pop.

2021

Dovecote

Thompson Vineyard 'Noumenon' Syrah

From the Thompson Vineyard in the Alisos Canyon AVA comes this unfiltered 2021 Syrah—just 72 cases made. It’s a vivid, layered, and beautifully perfumed expression of the variety, laced with rose petal and violet pastille aromatics that leap from the glass. The palate offers deep mid-palate concentration, with ironstone minerality at its core, accented by spearmint, wild sage, and savory spice. Firm, taut tannins carry a mineral edge, perfectly balanced by saline-acid tension that extends through the long, focused finish.

2021

Dovecote

Thompson Vinyeard Estate Petite Sirah

A full-throttle, ripe, and boldly expressive Petite Sirah, this wine delivers a rush of blue and black cherry fruit layered with spiced plum, all wrapped in firm, robust tannins. The palate is richly textured, with cedarwood, walnut husk, and cherry pit nuances adding savory depth. Earthy undertones and wet slate minerality drive the long, spicy finish, accented by dried rose petals and violets. A rollercoaster of power and nuance.

2021

Dragonette

MJM Syrah

Brooding, expressive, and impressively focused, this blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Grenache draws from three distinctive vineyard sites—Stolpman (clay loam and limestone), John Sebastiano (Linne clay loam), and Larner (sand)—each selected for its unique soil series. The wine opens with a rush of pure black cherry and blackberry fruit, mingling with dark plum, deep forest underbrush, bark, dark chocolate, rich loamy earth, and roasted espresso bean. Aromatics build with momentum, gaining lift and energy on the palate, where gorgeously perfumed violet and rose petal notes emerge. In 2021, the tannins are particularly gentle, velvety, and elongated, wrapped in a dusting of white pepper and tobacco leaf. The finish is vivid and complex, with ripe, muddled farmers market–fresh blueberries, a pulse of blood orange acidity, and savory notes of black truffle, tar, and incense. Wow. As winemaker Brandon Sparks-Gillis explains, the idea behind Dragonette’s MJM Syrah has always been simple: “The sum is greater than its parts.” That ethos has guided every vintage since the inaugural release in 2007.

2021

Epiphany Cellars

Rodney's Vineyard Grenache

This tart, red-fruited Grenache offers quiet charm and slow-building complexity. Bright cherry notes are laced with vanilla-scented cedarwood and a hint of agave nectar, unfolding on a medium-bodied palate framed by gentle tannins and chalky minerality. A subtle smokiness lingers on the finish

2021

Far Mountain

Myrna Chardonnay

A powerful, succulent, and well-built white, brimming with aromas and flavors of grilled citrus and peaches, a bit of cream, and plenty of spice and power. It feels relatively big, but a beautiful example of the style. – J.R.

2021

Flying Goat Cellars

Riverbench Pinot Meunier Goat Bubbles

Made in the méthode champenoise style from the Riverbench Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley, this sparkling wine—affectionately dubbed “goat bubbles”—leaps from the glass with inviting aromas of yellow peach, poached pear, and yellow apple, all mingling like orchard fruit jam on warm, buttered croissants. The palate is enveloped in a luxuriously creamy mousse, carrying those rich fruit tones with elegance. A wet slate finish adds mineral complexity.

2021

Garden Creek Vineyards

Chardonnay, Estate Clonal Selection

Always a lovely Chardonnay. Crisp lemon and lime notes, like blossoms. Lovely silky-satiny fruit and textured on the medium-bodied palate, framed by crystalline acidity and candied ginger and lemon peel notes. Crushed almonds and vanilla on the finish. Chardonnay lots are kept separate by clone and soil selection (alluvial, volcanic, and clay). Fermented with Montrachet yeasts and aged 11 months in French oak barrels. Vineyards were planted in 1970 and 1980. Celebrating 25 vintages in 2026, Karin and Justin Warnelius Miller are second-generation Swedish-American winegrowers and makers.

2021

Garre Vineyard & Winery

Cabernet Franc

This 2021 Cabernet Franc from Garré was aged for 20 months in 33% new Eastern European oak. It’s a very pretty wine—soft, approachable, and full of charm—with black currant fruit, cola notes, and hints of underbrush building across the medium-bodied palate. Gentle tannins glide into a long finish marked by black sea salt, Earl Grey tea, and pressed violets. A gentle giant, and all too easy to drink.

2021

Garre Vineyard & Winery

Primitivo

100% Primitivo aged for 20 months in 25% new European oak from Garre Vineyard. This is a super juicy, blue-fruited, and downright delicious wine, with cola nut nuances, layers of minty freshness, and savory charcuterie all building on the medium-bodied palate. Granular tannins carry a coffee-toffee quality, adding texture and depth. A total crowd-pleaser—perfect for weeknights, the start of a meal, and, naturally, with pizza.

2021

Gary Farrell

Lancel Creek Vineyard, Pinot Noir

Blood oranges, tart cranberries, oak, cinnamon, black cherries, camphor, and fresh green herbs… this red is packing a lot of complexity and elegance on the nose. In the mouth, it shows impressive, savory meatiness, while never once losing its edgy freshness. Aged 15 months on the lees (with 40% new French oak), with just 578 cases made. – J.R.

2021

Hitching Post Wines

Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir

From Hitching Post founders Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley—who’ve been at it since 1979—comes this 2021 Pinot Noir, a lovely, easy-drinking, and beautifully balanced wine from the renowned Fiddlestix Vineyard. It’s juicy and expressive, with velvet-textured tannins framing ripe cherry and blackberry fruit. Accents of fine cedar and bright acidity lend freshness and lift to the medium-bodied palate, which resolves in a smooth, satisfying finish.

2021

Hitching Post Wines

Highliner Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sideways 20th Anniversary Bottling

You can’t miss this wine in a lineup—it proudly sports a bright green Sideways 20-Year Anniversary sticker across the top. If you know the film and the original book by author Rex Pickett, you already understand the significance. If not, pause here, Google Sideways, then return—better yet, read my Decanter article, “A Drink With: Rex Pickett,” for the full story. As for the wine itself, it’s a juicy, delicious, and highly drinkable Pinot Noir with soft, supple tannins and plump, ripe black cherry and plum fruit. A bone-dry finish is laced with brown baking spices and cedarwood accents. Enjoy it with a well-salted ribeye—or solo while rewatching Paul Giamatti’s now-iconic Pinot-fueled unraveling performance.

2021

Hook & Ladder

Cabernet Sauvignon

Aged 18 months in a mix of new and used Hungarian oak, this 2021 estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Los Amigos Ranch in the Chalk Hill AVA is dark, muscular, and brooding. It boasts notes of black mulberry and dried violet, with black olive and rich cassis and cherry fruit building on the palate. Velvety, well-framed tannins form a plush carpet across the mid-palate. Always a strong value Cabernet Sauvignon, it is especially well suited to weeknight drinking.

2021

Innumero

Norstar Pinot Noir

This is the first Pinot Noir Innumero has produced from Bacigalupi Vineyard, made entirely from Wente Clone. Fermented in stainless steel, then pressed to barrel and aged in 50% new French oak. The nose is wonderfully alluring — candied cherry fruit, warm baking spices, blood orange, and cocoa-powder notes — all building into a medium- to full-bodied palate. Excellent fruit weight and depth, with dark-berry richness, spice, a touch of leather, and loamy earth. A nicely complex and thoroughly delicious Pinot Noir.

2021

Jaffurs Wine Cellars

Upslope Syrah

This vineyard selection Syrah—crafted from the winery’s favorite lots—is a commanding expression of the grape, with the volume unapologetically turned up to 11. Full-bodied and deeply concentrated, it leads with inky blackberry and blueberry fruit wrapped in muscular tannins that grip with purpose and stay the course. There’s structure and tension, but also lift—thanks to a line of saline-laced acidity that brings freshness and clarity. Complex layers of black sage, candied violets, rose petal, and rose stem add floral dimension, while a dusting of white pepper completes the finish.

2021

Jenblossom Cellars

Cabernet Franc

This wine shows a dark-fruited nose with loamy earth and blue fruit so characteristic of this area. Wonderful dark forest and savory tones mingle with dark chocolate notes, while firm, fine-grained tannins build through the full-bodied finish. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

2021

JMC Cellars

Fleur Sauvage

Syrah cofermented with a touch of Viognier in the Northern Rhône tradition, Wild Flower lives up to its name. Aromas of wild herbs and wild black raspberries leap from the glass, while the palate delivers sultry layers of savory red fruit interwoven with hints of leather, rose petal, vanilla, pepper, and liqueur. A bold, aromatic, and expressive red with plenty of personality. -JR

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Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2020

Producer

Name

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

2020

Producer

Name

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

2020

Producer

Name

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

2021

Producer

Name

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.

2021

Producer

Name

“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.

2021

Producer

Name

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.

2021

Producer

Name

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.

2021

Producer

Name

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.

2021

Producer

Name

Super-perfumed with candied ginger and lemon peel, underscored by oyster shell minerality. There is a medium-bodied richness that may well stem from the Montrachet clone at Bootleggers Hill Vineyard, lending the wine added depth and a velvety suaveness. Crisp acidity carries through to a long, lemon-bright finish with excellent persistence. Vineyard sources include: Heintz and Bootleggers Hill. Native yeast fermented, with full malolactic, aged for 15 months in fine French oak, including in Marcel Cadet barrels. ($100) 14.3% alcohol. 220 cases produced.

2021

Producer

Name

The 2021 Troubadour is bright with a vivid carbonic character that gives the aromatics lift. Whole-cluster fermentation brings structure, shaping tea-like tannins with nuances of white pepper and fresh morels. As in previous releases, a consistent thread of saline acidity runs throughout, framed by compact, ripe tannins. Delicious upfront, it nonetheless needs time for those tannins to fully settle. Vineyard sources include: Kanzler, Schell Estate, Little Boot, and Bush Crispo Vineyards. Roughly one-third is whole-cluster fermented with native yeast in open-top tanks, aged for 16 months in fine French oak. ($125) 13.9% alcohol.

2021

Producer

Name

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.

2021

Producer

Name

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.

2021

Producer

Name

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.

2021

Producer

Name

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.

2021

Producer

Name

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.

2021

Producer

Name

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.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2020

2020 Wente Family Vineyards Limited Release Meritage

Still Wine

$$

2020

2020 Wente Family Vineyards Nth Degree Cabernet Sauvignon

Still Wine

$$$

2020

2020 Wente Family Vineyards Nth Degree Syrah

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 Argot Indigo Syrah

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 Argot Rosetta Syrah

Still Wine

$$$

2021

2021 Babcock Winery Nolan Vineyard ‘Born Ready’ Mencia

Still Wine

N/A

2021

2021 BoaVentura Winery de Caires Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

Still Wine

$$$

2021

2021 BoaVentura Winery de Caires Winery Peitite Sirah

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 Bob Cabral Wines cuvee Anne Rose Chardonnay

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 Bob Cabral Wines cuvee Troubadour Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$$

2021

2021 Bonaccorsi Wine Company Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir

Still Wine

N/A

2021

2021 Brander Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Still Wine

N/A

2021

2021 Carr Winery Kærskov Vineyard Syrah

-

$

2021

2021 Carr Winery Sangiovese

-

$

2021

2021 Cellar 13 Winery Cabernet Franc

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 Chenoweth Bootlegger’s Hill Vineyard Chardonnay

Still Wine

$

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