Cristaldi Scores

Producer
Producer
More
Country
Country
More
Vintage
Vintage
More

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

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.
Organically farmed Sauvignon Blanc, harvested early to retain acidity, then cool-fermented in barrel with an aromatic yeast strain. Lees stirring contributes added texture, while a small portion aged in new oak lends a subtle toasty edge. Alcohol is gently removed via vacuum distillation before the wine sees a short élevage in neutral oak. Golden in hue with flecks of emerald flashing at the rim. Opens with vivid aromas of lime blossom, gooseberry, and fresh-cut citrus, followed by hints of guava and green melon. The palate is mouthwatering and bright, layered with lemon-lime and white grapefruit — reminiscent of childhood sodas like Sprite or 7UP, but without the sweetness or carbonation. There’s a subtle textural roundness at the core and a whisper of toast and wet stone on the finish. Surprisingly complex for a non-alcoholic wine, with a nostalgic wink and an adult sense of restraint.
1 2 3 4 5

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

Queen of the Meadow is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc (saignée), and Chambourcin, which contributes color through direct press. Fermented cool and entirely in stainless steel, the wine was bottled shortly after fermentation. It’s a vivid, crisp rosé fueled by blood orange brightness, with uniquely crunchy acidity and a hint of saline richness that’s characteristic of the estate. Nicely balanced with good length—soulful, joyful, and absolutely delicious.
Set to be bottled in the spring of 2026, this is a richer, bolder expression with suave, sinewy tannins and deep dark berry fruit. Elegant violet and rose petal notes weave through layers of cranberry and cherry coulis. Medium- to full-bodied, with ripe, robust tannins and loads of wet slate minerality, it also shows hints of vanilla, brown spice, and dark salted chocolate. This is clearly a bold, ripe style—thanks to the introduction of new oak by winemaker Ian Bearup—and it feels like a confident step forward. I’m excited to see where this goes.

Open-top fermented and drained to four- to five-year-old François Frères barrels. Bottled after 7–8 months, this wine shows gorgeous dark berry depth framed by rose petal florals and earthy undertones. The mid-palate is generous and fruit-driven, with a Pinot-like elegance: red cherry, cedarwood spice, and a whisper of conifer forest. It all leads to a long, stony, mineral finish.

Unoaked and medium-bodied, this vivid blend of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Traminette, Seyval Blanc, and Chenin Blanc is zippy, bright, and red-fruited, with vibrant honeysuckle aromatics and luscious melon on the palate. Made using the saignée method (except for the white varieties), it’s layered and long, with red cherry and pomegranate emerging on the extended finish. Winemaker Ian Bearup took over from John Graciano in 2021 and continues to guide this expressive, energetic style.
Estate-grown Grüner Veltliner, whole cluster pressed and tank fermented with no malolactic fermentation, then bottled early to preserve freshness. The nose is elegant and smoky, with stony minerality and a hint of grapefruit. On the palate, fresh honeydew melon leads into a medium-bodied frame supported by tingly acidity and a long, chalky, mineral-driven finish with a subtle, spicy edge.
From vintner Weston Edison, best known for Silver Ghost, this Pinot Noir is sourced from the iconic Charles Heintz Vineyard near the town of Occidental, just eight miles from the Pacific Ocean. It’s a dark-fruited, powerful expression of Pinot Noir, layered with rich espresso bean and caramel spice. Medium-bodied yet concentrated, the palate is lifted by blood orange and pithy grapefruit notes that bring freshness and energy, finishing with excellent length and a deep forest, redwood-driven character.

This subtle rosé delivers heady stone fruit notes, sea spray minerality, and tart red berry fruit, all framed by expressive, bracing acidity. It’s a pink-hued acid trip—perfect for pairing with salads dressed in bright vinaigrette or an impressive cheese and charcuterie platter.
A lemon-lime-bright Sauvignon Blanc with notes of mango and papaya, this wine is light- to medium-bodied with crisp, crunchy acidity. A fine, classic example of Rogue Valley Sauvignon Blanc, it delivers easygoing citrus fruit and vivid acid tension that keeps it lively and refreshing.
Sourced from Lodi’s Silva Spoons Vineyard, this white was fermented with native yeasts, saw a touch of skin contact, and was aged partially (30%) in neutral French oak. The nose opens with inviting notes of honey, citrus, and orange blossom. On the orange-flavored palate, it strikes a beautiful balance between linear acidity and a sultry, rounded texture. -JR
Sourced from the female-owned Crackerbox Vineyards, this 100% Sangiovese Rosé was aged sur lie for four months prior to bottling and release. It opens with brilliantly bright wild herb aromatics—dried lavender, thyme, and rosemary—accented by hints of prairie grass. The palate is nicely textured, with excellent grip and juicy cranberry and black raspberry fruit. Slightly underripe strawberry adds a crunchy edge, like biting into the white part near the stem. Firm acids give this wine great tension. Enjoy it with tacos.
From the George Ball Vineyard—planted in 2015 at higher elevation and further from Cayuga Lake—this site tests the cold-hardiness of Marquette each winter. Vines are trellised on north-south rows to a high wire cordon system and are farmed with heavy applications of composted wood chips. To enhance air exchange in the clay-rich soils, vine bases are mounded. Hand-harvested and aged on lees until July before being lightly filtered and bottled, production was tiny (188 cases). This is a savory, zippy red with brambly red berry fruit, charcuterie and violet aromas. The palate is vibrant and tangy, framed by crunchy acidity and finishing with earthy, truffle-like depth and lingering minerality.

The bulk of the fruit for this wine came from a special, protected site on the west shore of Cayuga Lake, planted in 1973 on Cazenovia silt loam soils. These own-rooted vines are hand-harvested and grapes were transferred whole cluster to red fermenters for carbonic maceration, then basket-pressed and moved to tank to complete fermentation. Just before bottling, a portion of Cabernet Franc juice from a separate whole cluster carbonic maceration was added. Bottled under crown cap and disgorged in February 2024, only 500 cases were produced. The result is meaty and black-fruited, laced with notes of black olive and black liquorice. Assertive and bright, the palate brims with zesty tension and an energetic mousse that brings structure and lift to the finish.
Super expressive, with honeyed richness. Fermented in both tank and barrel, then aged on the lees for 5 to 6 months before bottling. The palate shows bracing lemon-lime acidity and crushed white flowers. Intensely fragrant and an ideal match for oysters. Winemaker Kelsey Evans uses multiple picks to build complexity.
Fermented and aged entirely in FCC Crystal stainless steel (austenitic-grade, named for the crystalline structure of the steel), this Chardonnay is sourced exclusively from Bob’s Vineyard and planted to Dijon clones. “We treated the pressing like a Sauvignon Blanc,” the winemaker says—blanketing it with CO₂ to keep the wine in a reductive state before fermenting and aging it entirely in stainless, with malolactic fermentation fully blocked. The aromatics are vibrant and layered, with notes of honeycomb, orange zest, and crushed almonds. Medium-bodied on the palate, it shows a rich vein of crystalline acid tension and sea salt minerality, with impressive length.
Poulet Sautant Unoaked Chardonnay is named for the “jumping chickens” on Bob Pruett’s property—specifically, his wife’s Polish Frizzles. During the growing season, the chickens leap up to knock berries off the vines to feed their young, which Bob has come to view as a charming (and accurate) indicator that the grapes are ripe and ready to harvest. This unoaked Chardonnay is super fresh and bright, with aromas of ripe pear, apple, and lemon citrus. Medium-bodied on the palate, it shows fleshy, creamy pear and apple fruit framed by zesty, electric acid tension. The finish is lifted by a touch of salinity and a pop of honeycomb.
Striking a balance between Grenache’s juicy, succulent red berry fruit and the savory wild herb nuances of the Applegate Valley, this wine pulls off a remarkable tightrope act. Juicy peach and apricot notes are lifted by stony minerality and candied fennel, leading to a long, satisfyingly bone-dry finish. Serve well chilled while grilling all summer long—and plan on more than one bottle, thanks to its modest 12.9% alcohol. Well done.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

MAILING LIST

The only email you want to open