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Vintage

Wine

Color

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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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

Red

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

Red

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.

White

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.

Rosé

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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

Red

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.

Red

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).

Red

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

Red

2021

JMC Cellars

LVVC Red Blend

The LVVC (Livermore Valley Vintners Collective) is a collaboration of six Livermore winemakers who come together each year to craft a unique blend, with each contributing their own interpretation using wines from their cellars. In this expression, Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Syrah, Merlot, and Malbec to create a rich, harmonious red. The nose is peppery and floral, with savory blackcurrant aromas, while the palate delivers bold flavor with impressive balance—powerful, polished, and delicious. -JR

Red

2021

JMC Cellars

Reserve Syrah

100% Syrah sourced from Clark Vineyard and Dante Robere Vineyard. A bold and juicy red with white pepper, kirsch, and expressive cedarwood aromatics. Supple, plump tannins support juicy blueberry and blackberry compote, layered with more white pepper, violets, cherry coulis, and graphite. A hint of black truffle charcuterie rounds out the medium-bodied finish.

Red

2021

JMC Cellars

The Blind Pig

Cofermented from all five traditional Bordeaux varieties, this blend comes from a field planting of less than an acre in the Davis Vineyard. Intensely savory and deeply expressive, it opens with bold aromas of blackcurrant, licorice, dried herbs, oak, and a touch of vanilla extract. The palate is supple and rich, continuing the savory thread with ripe, plummy dark fruit, impressive concentration, and a lift of blood orange acidity. -JR

Red

2021

Kaena Wine

Ali'i Grenache

Ali‘i is the Hawaiian word for royalty—king, queen, noble—and this Grenache lives up to its name. It’s a wine of presence, crafted for those unafraid of boldness. At 15.2% alcohol, it flexes with power and richness, yet maintains a remarkable sense of balance. The palate is drenched in juicy red berry fruit, layered with cherrywood and mahogany undertones, toasted almond, and a soft veil of brown baking spices. There’s a subtle sweetness reminiscent of toffee and espresso, framed by supple, sap-laced tannins that glide rather than grip.

Red

2021

Kosta Browne

Keefer Ranch Blanc de Blancs

Picked in the second week of September, the base wine from this site is somewhat ironically among the last to come in. Made using the traditional method, unfiltered, with high lees contact, and aged en tirage in barrel for two years. Winemaker Julien Howsepian believes a shorter tirage suits his California-grown fruit, as ripeness comes naturally from the warm sunshine, while foot-treading and extended lees contact contribute the richness he wants. The wine shows wonderful depth and a saline–acid tension, with wet-stone character, bright citrus and orchard fruit, and warm baking spices adding richness through the mid-palate. The finish is long, lifted, and thoroughly enticing.

White

2021

Landmark Vineyards

Hilliard Bruce Chardonnay

My absolute favorite white from the Landmark lineup I tasted for this Sonoma Report—which spanned mostly 2021 and 2022 wines, with a few 2023s. Here, the sea-spray mineral pop of this site and AVA mingles beautifully with zesty citrus and ripe orchard fruit, all balanced on the palate by a creamy mid-centre so characteristic of the Sta. Rita Hills. It finishes with excellent length and tension. A very fine wine, effortlessly enjoyable on its own. Situated near the north-western edge of Santa Barbara County’s prestigious Sta. Rita Hills appellation, the sourced blocks provide small-clustered Dijon clones 76 and 96 for this Chardonnay. Whole-cluster-pressed and barrel-fermented with native yeast, then aged for 14 months in French oak (30% new).

White

2021

Landmark Vineyards

Rodgers Creek Chardonnay

This ridge-top vineyard is fully exposed to the afternoon winds funneling in from the Pacific through the “gap,” a defining feature of the Petaluma Gap viticultural area. Whole-cluster-pressed and barrel-fermented with native yeast, the wine is aged for 14 months in French oak (33% new). One of the freshest whites I tasted from Landmark for my inaugural Sonoma Report on Cristaldi & Co., that brightness carries straight onto the palate. Lemon peel and lemon curd mingle with toasty oak spices, while candied ginger and poached, spiced pear drive the creamy mid-palate. The finish brings a wave of sea-spray minerality and a touch of tannic grip—likely a function of the thicker skins from this wind-lashed site—alongside cool wet-rock notes balanced by more decadent toasty-oak accents.

White

2021

Landmark Vineyards

Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

So characteristic of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, this Pinot brims with warm raspberry compote and candied cherry fruit, wrapped around a beautifully creamy, dense mid-palate. Sumptuous toasty oak, flinty minerals and crisp acid tension give it shape and lift. Fermented 100% destemmed in small fermenters and punched down twice daily. Barrel-aged for 10 months in French oak (35% new).

Red

2021

Las Positas Vineyards

Estate Barbera

This 2021 Barbera was fermented in stainless steel with punchdowns and aged for 30 months in large 500-liter puncheons—about 25% new, primarily French oak with a touch of American. Blending occurred just prior to bottling. The wine opens with fragrant red berry fruit, wet stone minerality, and dusty wild herbs. On the palate, sweet tea–like tannins frame notes of rose petal and rich cedarwood.

Red

2021

Las Positas Vineyards

Estate Red Wine Coccineous

A blend of 37% Graciano, 34% Monastrell, 23% Tempranillo, and 6% Garnacha, this wine bursts from the glass with dark cherry, blackberry, and smoky cedarwood accents. On the palate, those aromatics deepen with crushed cocoa nib nuances, red berry fruit dusted with mocha spice, savory dried thyme, and espresso bean. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins framing a bold and satisfying finish.

Red

2021

Las Positas Vineyards

Estate Tempranillo

Dusty red berry fruit and a sourdough-like baking spice lift from the glass. On the palate, this Tempranillo shows a medium-bodied presence, with red currant and tart black cherry intensity. The finish brings in toffee and espresso bean nuances. Tart, bracing, and your best friend for Bolognese.

Red

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Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2024

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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.