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The Portree Cellars Tannat from the Lahey Vineyard in the Texas High Plains offers a sappy, red-toned fruit character in a medium-bodied, grippy expression of Tannat. Unlike many of the richer, denser Tannats seen throughout Texas, this one leans slightly lighter and greener, with distinctive tobacco, black tea, and truffle notes on the dry finish. While it may not have the power and density of other Tannats, its freshness and unique profile make it a delightful choice. Serve it with a good chill alongside your favorite Texas BBQ.

The Parr Vineyard Mourvèdre from the Texas Hill Country, produced and bottled by Kerrville Hills Winery, is a meaty, intense, and deeply flavorful wine. Its medium-bodied palate is framed by muscular, firm tannins, complemented by savory charcuterie and white pepper notes. A hint of vanilla bean and chocolate adds richness, leading to a lengthy and powerful finish.

This Sangiovese-led red blend delivers heady aromatics of red cherry and rose petal. On the palate, it offers lovely suppleness, with saline-mineral-laced tannins and notes of mocha, black cherry, and espresso bean. It shows good length, balanced tension, and a satisfying, pleasantly lingering finish.

Fermented and aged for three years in 100% new French low-toast barrels. Made by David Finlayson in Stellenbosch. It offers fragrant red and black fruit layered with pressed flowers and earthy notes. Medium-bodied and approachable, with fine, grippy tannins that resolve nicely thanks to mouthwatering acidity. Serve it with a slight chill alongside barbecue.

When John Rivenburgh worked for Bending Branch, he pioneered the planting of Vermentino in Texas, establishing it in the High Plains around 2009. This 100% Vermentino is sourced from Canted County Vineyards, co-owned by the Morland and Holiday families. With approximately 1,000 acres under vine, this site has become a vital operation in the Texas wine scene. John champions Vermentino for its resilience in Texas’s climate, its suitability for machine harvesting—essential in the region—and its similarity to Sicilian whites, a personal favorite of his. Crafted similarly to his Picpoul Blanc, the grapes are pressed at the winery in Kerrville, fermented, and aged in neutral vessels for about six months before bottling. This Vermentino is lean, focused, and brimming with high acidity—a real “acid trip.” It delivers a bright squeeze of lemon-lime and lime zest, accented by white flowers, acacia, a hint of Marcona almonds, and Texas purple sage. The zippy, zingy acidity forms a solid foundation for the citrus-driven palate, leading to a long, mineral-driven finish with cool, wet granite character. All too easy to drink.
This release of Robert Clay’s Chardonnay, sourced from Mason County in the Texas Hill Country AVA, is sourced from vines rooted in the deep, fine Hickory sands that sit atop the expansive Hickory Aquifer. Barrel-aged for 12 months in neutral oak, this wine showcases a ripe, full-throttle character. It opens with vibrant citrus fruit, white pepper, and a subtle hint of savory prairie grass, intertwined with sweet cedarwood spices. Medium-bodied, the palate is surprisingly leaner than the nose suggests, offering bright acidity and balanced tension. A crowd-pleaser with excellent structure, it’s one of the most food-friendly Chardonnays from Texas. Notably, this “B 21 02 RCV CHA” is an unfiltered expression of Chardonnay (their “B 21 03 RCV CHA” offers a filtered version).
Barrel-aged for 12 months in neutral oak, this Robert Clay Chardonnay is sourced from Mason County in the Texas Hill Country, an hour west of Stonewall. Here, vines thrive in hickory sands—deep, fine soils that rest above the large Hickory Aquifer. This “B 21 03 RCV CHA” label represents the filtered expression of their Chardonnay, offering a leaner, more focused profile compared to their unfiltered “B 21 02 RCV CHA.” It showcases white pepper-infused citrus and orchard fruit, accented by savory cedarwood spices. Medium-bodied with precise acidity and heightened tension, this wine finishes with a distinctive cool, wet granite minerality.
The 2021 Ruby Cab, denoted as ‘B 21 00 RCV RUB’ on the label, was fermented with native yeast, no sulfites added. The pH clocks in at 4.1—intentionally high to shy away from the pyrazines typical of Cabernet. What you get on the nose is unmistakably Ruby Cabernet (look it up): a crossing of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan grown in Texas. Aged for just 12 months in neutral barrel, this wine is meant to show customers what the grape expresses without oak influence. It smells of capsicum and bell pepper, with intense, grippy tannins and solid concentration. The grip here comes from tannin, not acidity, and it’s best paired with a well-salted steak. “This is an example young wine—only 13 months in neutral oak—used to show customers why we do extended barrel aging. Compare it to the 2017 Ruby Cab, which spent 52 months in barrel,” says Dan McLaughlin.

This is a rich, robust, and powerful expression of Cabernet Franc from the Santa Ynez Valley, offering heady aromas of tobacco leaf, dried sage, and ripe cassis, with subtle hints of lavender and black sage adding lift and complexity. Full-bodied on the palate, the wine is framed by muscular tannins that build steadily, driving toward a long, fragrant finish laced with stony minerality and savory depth.

This 100% Barbera comes from the Rodrigue Molyneaux estate and was aged in 16.5% new French oak, with the remainder in neutral barrels. It’s like the Italian countryside you’ve seen from your car window but never stepped out to explore—until now. Red berry fruit is interlaced with minty nuances and eucalyptus character, building with intensity on the medium-bodied palate. It’s framed by iron-scented minerality and salty, firm tannins with a subtle cherry wood polish. An intriguing and transportive wine from the Livermore Valley; you don’t have to go to Italy to *feel* like you’re there.

This 98% Cabernet Franc from Casa de Viñas in the Livermore Valley was aged in 17.5% new French oak, 25% third-use Hungarian oak, and 67.5% neutral barrels. It’s a more subtle, refined expression of the variety, with sagebrush nuances, black currant, plum, and accents of new wood cedar. Medium-bodied, it shows zesty blood orange acidity and emerging notes of pine, mint, and eucalyptus that add an unexpected—but very welcome—freshness.

The “Il Segreto” is a blend of 50.5% Sangiovese from Crackerbox Vineyard, along with Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera from the Rodrigue Molyneaux estate, aged in 22.5% new French oak (with nearly one-third aged in stainless steel). This is a delightfully juicy and pleasing red blend, with crunchy red fruit, graphite minerality, and a medium-bodied palate framed by apple skin tannins. It finishes long, with a sleek wet river stone character that adds tension and finesse.

This Pinot Noir from Iaon Pohlit, sourced from the Sta. Rita Hills, beautifully lives up to its name—Ocean & Earth—with ripe cherry fruit layered over loamy earth and salty sea spray nuances. Aromatic notes of espresso bean, clove, and rose petal add depth and allure. Mineral-rich, granular tannins frame the medium-bodied palate, building to a lingering finish marked by smoked paprika and savory spice. Delish!

The Big Daddy 100% Cabernet Franc from White Cat Vineyard in Livermore Valley is all Clone 5 (French 311), aged for 33 months in neutral and once-used French oak. And wow—is it ever a big daddy. Bold, bodacious, and bursting at the seams, with supple, juicy plum-like tannins that open to reveal ripe black currant, spiced plum, rich tobacco, cedar, and mocha. The long, spicy finish pops with a heady flash of smoked paprika before demanding another big sip.

This 100% Petite Sirah from Casa de Vinas Vineyard was aged for 33 months in neutral and once-used French and American oak. High-toned violets and spiced Santa Rosa plums mingle with dark chocolate on this medium- to full-bodied, juicy, and layered red.

The LVVC (Livermore Valley Vintners Collective) is a group of six Livermore winemakers who collaborate on a blend project each year. While the framework remains consistent, each winemaker creates a totally unique blend from their own wines. Aged in neutral and once-used French and American oak, this is a beautifully built, tightly knit, expressive wine with excellent tension and tremendous length. Medium-bodied, it’s framed by finely textured, tobacco-scented tannins supporting dark plum, juicy black currant, and tobacco leaf notes. A streak of saline-acid tension gives the wine great levity. A compelling showcase of the integrity Cabernet Franc can achieve in Livermore Valley.

Harvested from 20-year-old vines grown on the Ryan William Vineyard, located on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes. Fermented on the skins, then pressed and aged in a mix of new, used, and neutral French oak barrels. This is a lovely, well-built, red-fruited expression of Cabernet Franc with juicy pomegranate-seed tannins and lingering baking spice notes that perfume the medium-length finish. It opens with great fruit intensity and energy, though it tapers slightly toward the end—but remains thoroughly enjoyable throughout.

The 2021 Grenache is in its perfect drinking window. The bright, ripe red berry fruit has mellowed, giving way to savory notes of tobacco, currant leaf, and currant fruit, layered with expressive bay laurel and juniper. Black tea–like tannins grip the palate, while the juicy currant fruit carries through to a medium-length finish, infused with savory nuance. This is the kind of wine you’ll want to pair with hard, salty cheeses or truffle-infused charcuterie. The Grenache was sourced from the Jackson Vineyard in the middle of the Rogue Valley AVA.

This Tempranillo from Sakura Vineyard was barrel-aged for 10 months in American oak. High-toned eucalyptus notes weave through red cherry and plum fruit, all building to a crescendo on the medium-bodied palate. A burst of perfectly ripe blood orange and grapefruit zest adds lift before gliding into a drying, tannic finish.

This Syrah from Zotovich Vineyard was fermented with native yeasts and 100% whole clusters, followed by extended barrel aging—a method that amplifies its aromatic complexity and savory nuance. Intensely perfumed, the nose is a symphony of violets, rose petals, and ripe blueberry dusted with white pepper. Layers of white truffle, green olive, and charcuterie emerge as the wine opens in the glass. Full-bodied and deeply textured, the palate is energized by saline-acid tension, with crushed blackberry, wet slate, and dried thyme all unfolding through a long, savory finish. A flicker of flamed grapefruit peel adds a final aromatic flourish. This is a Syrah that commands attention—complex, captivating, and inviting.

This Pinot Noir was aged on the lees for 17 months in 50% new French oak. Classic Bing cherry and spiced plum leap from the glass, joined by toasty cherry wood and dark chocolate, accented with subtle, crunchy currant fruit. Warm baking spices abound in this gracefully textured wine, which glides across every corner of the palate all too easily.

This is a thoroughly inviting Sangiovese—not trying to mimic Tuscany, but proudly rooted in the wild, sun-soaked landscapes of Santa Barbara County. Ripe cherry and blackberry fruit lead the way, wrapped in notes of dried tobacco leaf. The palate is defined by pixelated tannins that gently grip and scatter across the tongue, ultimately resolving into a juicy, tangy acid tension,

Fragrant wild herbs and high-toned currant fruit mingle with brandied Morello cherries and a heady dose of candied rose petals. Medium-bodied, with fine-textured tannins and subtle nuances of sagebrush and bay laurel. Drink now with herb-crusted pork loin.

Planted on alluvial cobblestones and weathered granite in the shadows of the Siskiyou Mountains, these vines lie in the Applegate Valley—part of Southern Oregon’s larger Rogue Valley AVA. Sourced from the Glory Oaks Vineyard, this wine is native yeast fermented and medium-bodied, with a satiny texture. High-toned red berry fruit, vanilla, and cedarwood aromatics are balanced by savory notes of black olive, tobacco, and saddle leather on the palate.

Aged for 26 months in 55% new French oak. Bold and brooding, with muscular tannins and fantastic dark berry fruit layered with leather, wild herb nuances, and rose petal notes. Plush, velvet-textured tannins are laced with crunchy acidity, leading to a lengthy finish accented by hints of incense and clove.

Aged for 26 months in 43% new French oak. The Petite Sirah is sourced from Lahey Vineyards, the Cabernet Sauvignon from Family Vineyard in the High Plains, and the Souzao from the High Plains as well. This is a fragrant, medium- to full-bodied red, with lifted red-toned fruit, plums, high-toned brown spices, pressed wildflowers, and a crushed stone mineral character. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, with silky, leather-laced tannins, white pepper nuances, and loads of distinct garrigue. A lengthy finish and balanced, mouthwatering acidity complete the profile.

The Spicewood Vineyards Red Wine Blend “Tandem” (a 50/50 blend of Carignan and Mourvèdre) is a fragrant wine that opens with delicate rose petal and violet notes, complemented by candied orange peel and red currant fruits. Medium-bodied, it features sappy tannins and layered flavors of agave nectar, toffee, and caramel, with subtle hints of dill.

Sourced from Dutton Vineyards in the Texas High Plains, this well-built, polished Tempranillo from Spicewood presents sweet red-toned fruit and subtle spice character. Medium-bodied on the palate, salty mineral notes add complexity, leading to a toasty cedarwood finish. Balanced and refined, this wine offers a harmonious blend of fruit, spice, and structure.

This is a nicely structured wine that lands somewhere between Napa Valley and Bordeaux on the palate, with crunchy red-berry fruit, graphite minerality, and expressive dusty cedarwood. Fine-grained tannins linger, lifted by subtle notes of dark chocolate, ironstone, and a zesty spine of tingly acidity. It’s that vibrant acid tension that evokes Bordeaux, while the firm, integrated tannins nod to Napa—wrapped in the distinctive minerality and energy that define Happy Canyon.

Fewer than 125 cases produced, this meticulously crafted wine reflects an uncompromising pursuit of quality. Each barrel from each lot is tasted blind—multiple times—before being selected for inclusion in the final assemblage. The 2021 blend is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon (Home Ranch Vineyard), 12% Merlot (Zayante Vineyard), and 3% Cabernet Franc (Ghielmetti Vineyard), all aged for 22 months in 100% French oak, 50% of which was new. The Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 7 component was fermented in stainless steel, while the Merlot and Cabernet Franc underwent fermentation in 1.7-ton open-top fermenters—each vinified separately to preserve character and precision. Long considered one of Livermore Valley’s benchmark reds, Lineage continues to deliver on its reputation. The 2021 vintage offers a complex and layered nose of dried herbs, graphite, dark minerality, black licorice, and brooding black cherry and cassis. On the palate, deep, silky blackcurrant fruit is laced with cocoa and savory undertones, supported by a firm core of acidity and polished tannins. This is a wine of tension, balance, and elegance—with the structural integrity to age for decades. A powerful expression of place and a bold statement on what Livermore Valley is capable of at the highest level. -JR

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Sourced from Doyle Vineyard Management in New York’s Finger Lakes region—renowned for cultivating native grapes, hybrids, and vinifera for wineries across the state—this red was crafted from vinifera grapes cold-soaked for 24 hours, fermented whole berry for six days, then aged 10 months in a mix of French and American oak. This is a truly intriguing wine that lures you in with expressive red berry fruit, spiced with cinnamon and underscored by espresso bean and thick, maple-cured bacon notes. The medium-bodied to medium-full palate delivers baked cherry fruit and cherry pit nuances that linger on a long, salty mineral finish.

Airy Acres Vineyard is a 21-acre certified sustainable estate vineyard on the west side of Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region. This 2021 Cabernet Franc was fermented on the skins for approximately 14 days in bins, then pressed and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels that were at least two years old. Pale in color—almost rosé-like—it opens with a subtle lift of high-toned acidity on the nose before revealing a supple, red-berry palate layered with spice and espresso bean nuances. Serve well-chilled alongside hard, salty cheeses for maximum enjoyment.

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

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

This Montepulciano (augmented with 5% Aglianico) from Arrowhead Creek Vineyards offers a heady mix of sweet red berry fruits, with fine-grained tannins that provide good presence and build intensity on the mid-palate. The wine is balanced by vibrant blood orange acidity, complemented by smoky mineral notes, toasty cedarwood, and crushed prairie herbs.

From Arrowhead Creek Vineyards comes this 95% Malbec (supported by and 5% Aglianico). This is a focused, meaty red wine, with nuances of black olives, licorice, and a charcuterie, all delivered with intensity through the medium-bodied finish.

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.

Bending Branch Winery’s Tallent Vineyards Mourvèdre from the Texas Hill Country is sourced from vines planted at 1,620 feet in Hickory sandstone soils. The wine undergoes whole berry maceration and is aged for 24 months in oak. Bright red-toned fruits, reminiscent of strawberry and black currants, are tinged with vanilla and persist on the medium-bodied palate. The wine finishes with a long, expressive note of espresso bean, adding complexity.

The Roussanne Estate Reserve from Bingham Family Vineyards, sourced from their High Plains vineyards, kicks off with fragrant notes of prairie grass, chamomile tea, and honeycomb. Medium-bodied on the palate, it offers a creamy richness that builds with layers of coriander cream, peach cobbler, and a touch of salted caramel cream. Despite its depth, the wine retains a bright and refreshing character, finishing strong with an excellent balance of richness and vibrancy.
Fermented in barrel and aged for up to 16 months in 20% new French oak. Grapes are sourced entirely from the 7-acre Blackmon Ranch Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country AVA. This is a bold expression of Cabernet from this site, with inky dark berry fruit, toasty oak spices, black cherry, graphite, and pressed wildflowers. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, with mineral-laced, fine-grained tannins supported by a solid beam of mouthwatering acidity and freshness. The lengthy finish carries a touch of mesquite smoke. Impressively structured and complex, this is a wine to enjoy now and over the next decade. Made by Winemaker Tony Offill, who also makes wine for William Chris Vineyards.

The County Line Red Blend from Blackmon, sourced from the Texas Hill Country AVA, is a rich and expressive wine, offering abundant black currant fruit, fig, dark cocoa, and toasty oak notes, all creating a beautifully layered profile. Full-bodied, it features plush, velvet-textured tannins and plenty of grippy acidity, which helps maintain freshness and vibrancy throughout. Well-balanced and tension-filled, with a mid-palate richness that builds complexity, this red is both inviting and sophisticated. The winemaker is Anthony Offhill.

This is a brooding, intense, and nicely structured Texas Hill Country Merlot from Blackmon. It presents spiced black cherry and plum fruits, complemented by fine cedarwood spices. Medium-bodied on the palate, it is framed by velvety tannins that provide smooth texture and depth. The wine is layered with ironstone minerality, carrying through to a lengthy finish.

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

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

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

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

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