2022

Wine for the People

Fire Oak Red Blend

From the Fire Oak Vineyard in Mills County, this red blend of 75% Mourvèdre and 25% Carignan is juicy, full-bodied, and layered with crunchy red fruit flavors and sweet spices, complemented by the distinctive character of dried wild herbs. The wine’s juicy acidity brings tension and freshness to the finish.

Red

2022

Wine for the People

Fire Oak Vineyard, Carignan

The Fire Oak Vineyard Carignan from Mills County is a medium-bodied red, offering tart red fruit flavors with a touch of pomegranate seed crunch. The wine is framed by crunchy tannins and accented by flamed orange peel notes on the dry finish.

Red

2022

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Christians Cuvee (White Horse Label) Pinot Noir

In 2020, winemaker Roman Roth believed the vintage was so exceptional, it warranted a single-vineyard Pinot Noir—and he’s repeated that decision again this year. This is a terrific, bracing, coiled-up wine with impressive depth of red and black fruit concentration, clove spice, savoury herbs, and unsmoked tobacco. Medium-bodied but muscular, the tannins bring power and drive, framing a deeply flavoured, juicy Pinot Noir that finishes with gorgeous saline-acid tension. That salty edge really pops on the long finish, scented with blood orange, cocoa powder, and pressed wildflowers.

Red

2022

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Diosa (White Horse Label) White Wine

Dazzling. Absolutely delicious, with pure apricot and tangerine fruit shining through—vivid, bright, and bursting with flavour, yet never cloying. There’s impressive depth and precision to this ice wine, with the promise of long ageing potential as it evolves into layers of truffled and honeyed complexity. A stunning pairing for roast chicken in white wine sauce. This wine exemplifies why Long Island belongs in the conversation about world-class wine. Crafted from three distinct handpicked lots, with just 312 cases produced.

White

2022

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Estate Cabernet Franc

This Cabernet Franc is a blend of multiple handpicked lots, matured in a mix of barrique barrels, upright oak tank, and stainless steel. Elegant red berry fruit mingles with rich spice and savoury complexity. On the palate, soaring tannins and medium-bodied intensity are lifted by a wet slate mineral edge and a hint of sweet cedarwood that balances the wine’s savoury core.

Red

2022

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Landius (White Horse Label) Pinot Noir

This Pinot Noir is compact, expressive, and focused, with a vivid savoury note reminiscent of Hermès leather, layered with espresso bean and crunchy cranberry and cherry fruit. Firm, mineral-laced tannins frame the medium-bodied palate, leading to a long, vivid finish of dried herbs and wet slate. Aged for 22.5 months in French oak barrels (22% new), where it completed malolactic fermentation. Only 482 cases produced.

Red

2022

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Perle (White Horse Label) Chardonnay

Expressive, focused, complex, and superbly balanced. The wine opens with flinty minerality and bright citrus—Meyer lemon and grapefruit—before unfolding into a silky, weighty mid-palate layered with creamy lemon curd, apricot, crushed almonds, and white flowers. The finish is long, driven by saline-acid tension that’s nearly impossible to beat. It feels like a brilliant cross between the best of Chablis and the far western Sonoma Coast—yet remains unmistakably Long Island, with its sea spray lift, lime-bright acidity, and mouth-puckering grip that beautifully balances the wine’s fleshy mid-palate. Wonderful energy and exceptional precision. “This wine follows in the footsteps of our best 1994 Chardonnay, which launched the fine wine reputation of Wölffer Estate,” says winemaker Roman Roth. Twenty percent of the wine underwent natural malolactic fermentation, and it remained sur lie on whole lees for eight months with minimal bâtonnage.

White

2022

Wood Family Vineyards

Big Wood Zinfandel

Fermented in open-top bins and aged for 17 months in 25% new French oak, this Zinfandel is big, bold, and Zin-tastic. Bursting with fragrant strawberry-rhubarb fruit and dark chocolate notes, it’s incredibly juicy on the palate, with rich layers of plum and boysenberry. Glorious accents of Indian baking spices, espresso, and dark cacao nibs weave through the finish.

Red

2022

Wood Family Vineyards

Cabernet Franc

This 100% estate-grown Cabernet Franc was aged for 18 months in 27% new French oak and 8% new Hungarian oak. The nose is strikingly attractive, with dark currant fruit, tobacco, sage, and dried spearmint. Supple yet firm tannins frame a juicy palate with excellent phenolic grip and savory intensity. A gorgeous dried tobacco note carries through, evoking the fragrant dried ranch grasses that scent the Livermore Valley air on a warm summer day. That same aromatic intensity is captured in the glass—and it’s so very pretty.

Red

2022

Wood Family Vineyards

Culmination Cabernet Franc

This 100% Cabernet Franc was aged for 18 months in 36% new French oak barrels. Polished, poised, and profoundly expressive, it layers perfectly ripe black currant, muddled plum, and black cherry with remarkable precision. Medium- to full-bodied, with firm yet velvety tannins framing savory black fruit laced with sweet dried herbs and spearmint. Cigar box nuances drive the bone-dry finish, while a lift of blood orange acidity brings clarity and focus. It stands out among the most complex Cabernet Francs of my tasting in May 2025 in the Livermore Valley.

Red

2022

Wood Family Vineyards

GSM

This GSM blend brings together Grenache from Fong Vineyard (farmed by Bill Johnson), Syrah from Clark Vineyard, and Mourvèdre from Raboli Vineyard. Aged for 15 months in neutral oak, the wine is beautifully perfumed with rose petals, violets, and bright cranberry and raspberry fruit. Warm baking spices emerge on the medium-bodied palate, where velvety tannins glide to a smooth, satisfying finish.

Red

2022

Wood Family Vineyards

Hot Lips Brut Méthode Champenoise

Made in the traditional Méthode Champenoise, this sparkling wine spent 5 months in tank before aging 18 months on the lees. It opens with bright citrus and orchard fruit layered with French pastry notes. The palate is full-bodied with a super creamy mousse and building richness, balanced by bright, crunchy acidity and a chalky minerality that carries through the long finish.

White

2022

Wood Family Vineyards

Muy Bueno Zinfandel

Muy Bueno is a ripe, full-throttle Zinfandel—and a clear favorite among newer clientele. It’s often the gateway red for those just getting into wine or who think they don’t like reds. Bold and juicy, it bursts with ripe red berry fruit, rich toffee spice, and high-toned rose petal florals. The finish is brambly and red-fruited, with just enough lift to keep it playful. It’s a fun, crowd-pleasing wine that shines when served slightly chilled—especially alongside BBQ.

Red

2022

Woodenhead

Pinot Noir

The 2022 Woodenhead Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley is unfined and unfiltered, revealing a savory, spice-driven expression of Pinot Noir redolent of cherry fruit wrapped in eucalyptus leaves, with Earl Grey tea nuances framing the medium-bodied palate. Black tea–like tannins add structure, leading to a punctuated, lingering finish. Those savory elements are beautifully integrated and make this an ideal pairing for herb-dusted pork loin, spare ribs, or grilled branzino. Enjoy now through 2029.

Red

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2022

Producer

Name

The 2022 1910 Block Zinfandel is sourced exclusively from the winery’s historic 1910 Block and aged for 20 months in French oak (15% once-used), honoring the profound depth and legacy of this vineyard. This is a heartier Zinfandel with high-toned acidity that edges toward volatility but remains intriguing, layered with bay laurel and sage. Full-bodied and creamy yet marked by crisp, tart acidity, it’s a wine worth exploring on its own—and even better when used to add lift and complexity to hearty stews or red wine sauces. It will be fascinating to see where this goes in 2023, a cooler growing season that proved far more favorable across the board. Limerick Lane Cellars is a family-owned winery on a 53-acre Russian River Valley estate, with vineyards dating back to 1910.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

The 2022 Estate Cuvée is a blend of 66% Zinfandel, 25% Syrah, and 9% Petite Sirah, aged for 20 months in French oak with 15% once-used barrels. Full-bodied and luscious, it brims with mulberry fruit, candied cherries, and blue fruit compote, laced with Christmas spice and lifted by purple floral aromatics. The wine evokes the memory of a grape-flavored lollipop I used to get as a kid while waiting for hot dogs from an old-fashioned truck in my hometown in upstate New York—a true nostalgic throwback. Juicy, balanced, and powerful, it just might send you back in time too. Limerick Lane Cellars is a family-owned winery on a 53-acre Russian River Valley estate, with vineyards dating back to 1910.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

The 2022 Marquis Zinfandel marries Limerick Lane Estate fruit (40%) with Zinfandel from the legendary Monte Rosso, heritage Bedrock, Banfield, and classic Maffei vineyards. Aged for 19 months in French oak (10% new), it stands in contrast to the Estate Cuvée—more focused, linear, and lighter on its feet. The wine showcases red-toned fruits and mild Indian spices with a satiny fruit profile and velvety texture that sweeps you up on the finish and beckons another sip. Limerick Lane Cellars is a family-owned winery on a 53-acre Russian River Valley estate, with vineyards dating back to 1910.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

From the first pour, it’s clear that the 2022 Monte Rosso Zinfandel is a more elegant expression of the variety. It shimmers a medium ruby color and hits all the marks of a classic Zinfandel from a warmer, challenging year. Structured, firm tannins support a strawberry-cherry-infused core layered with brown baking spices, clove, and crushed volcanic stone minerality. Sourced from the legendary Monte Rosso Vineyard in Sonoma’s Moon Mountain District, perched at 1,300 feet, and aged for 17 months in oak (20% once-used). Elegant Zinfandel through and through. Limerick Lane Cellars is a family-owned winery on a 53-acre Russian River Valley estate, with vineyards dating back to 1910.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Limerick Lane’s 2022 Russian River Zinfandel—their flagship wine—is a blend of Limerick Lane Estate fruit (74%), Maffei (12%), Banfield (12%), and Monte Rosso (2%). Aged for 11 months in neutral French oak, it delivers a wonderfully fresh and captivating expression of Zinfandel in the challenging, warm 2022 growing season. Medium- to full-bodied, it exudes crunchy red fruit and a pretty floral bouquet of dusty rose, accented by fine cedarwood and supple tannins that create a velvety texture. The finish is zesty and acid-driven, leaving a lively impression. Limerick Lane Cellars is a family-owned winery on a 53-acre Russian River Valley estate, with vineyards dating back to 1910.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

A striking Roussanne that showcases purity and precision, this wine opens with fresh orchard fruit notes—pear, apple, and a hint of quince—lifted by aromas of almond paste and delicate white flowers. The medium-bodied palate is textured and layered, energized by vibrant lemon-lime acidity that cuts through richer tones of lemon oil, dried apricot, and honeycomb. Expressive and beautifully balanced, it delivers both freshness and depth in equal measure, with a long, energetic finish that lingers on citrus and floral tones.

White

2022

Producer

Name

This Marquette (a French-American hybrid) was sourced from Doyle Vineyards on the west side of Keuka Lake, where it tends to ripen early. Pressed off skins and fermented with native yeast, the wine was aged in neutral French oak for 20 months, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. There’s a wild, sauvage-like character here that sets it apart—tangy and tart red fruit layered with smoky mineral tones, dried flowers, and a distinct sweet herbal-tea quality. Made in a natural style, this wine asks for a curious, open-minded palate.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

A juicy, easy-drinkign Grenache that dlivers the goods as juicy red berry fruit, brown baking spices, a hint of sagebrush, and satiny tannins that bild on the dry finish.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

This is a meaty, savory-driven Pinot Noir with brawny tannins and crisp, apple-like acidity. Intriguing walnut husk notes, leather, and tobacco underscore a core of cherry and blackberry fruit, while hints of Earl Grey tea, dried flowers, and a touch of black truffle–charcuterie complexity add depth. The finish is taut and tangy.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Fermented in oak foudre and aged for 20 months in 20% new, 40% second-use, and 40% neutral French oak barrels, this Syrah comes from Alta Loma Vineyard in the Texas High Plains. It’s a full-bodied, dense, and powerful expression with meaty richness, black truffle, and loamy earth notes wrapped in a molasses-like depth. The bold, expressive palate reveals juicy dark berry fruit layered with cocoa powder and lifted by zesty blood orange acidity, all framed by robust, finely structured tannins.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Fermented in oak foudres and aged for 21 months in 20% new American and French oak barrels with the remainder in second-use French oak, this wine is dark-fruited and expressive, showing brandied cherry, fig, and violet notes layered with cedarwood and baking spices. The mid-palate builds with medium- to full-bodied richness, supported by cocoa powder tannins that frame the firm finish.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

The Uplift Cuvée is a dynamic, balanced, and polished red wine that combines richness with finesse. It opens with generous dark fruit alongside elegant cedarwood tones, a touch of meatiness, and blue fruit accents. The palate brings everything together beautifully—robust, power-packed tannins support a creamy mid-palate texture, nuanced oak spice, and a lengthy, juicy, succulent finish. Each variety was fermented separately in oak foudres and aged for 24 months in French oak—25% new, 25% second-use, and 50% neutral.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Green apple and candied minerality leap from the glass, introducing this vibrant sparkler. Beneath the assertive, fine mousse lies a core of weighty orchard fruit, unfolding with layers of white plum and golden Rainier cherry on the light-bodied palate.

Rosé

2022

Producer

Name

Sourced from sustainably farmed estate vineyards and aged 10 months sur lies in French oak barrels (31% new), this Pinot Noir is bold and expressive. Aromas of ripe raspberry and strawberry leap from the glass, accented by new wood cedar. The palate is framed by firm, structured tannins and layered with river stone minerality, pressed wildflowers, and a fragrant burst of blood orange that energizes the mid-palate.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

A blend of Bordelaise varieties crafted to reflect the estate’s top-performing vineyard blocks in exceptional vintages. Aged 15 to 22 months in French oak, 28% new. Brighter than the Bergen Road bottling, this shows vivid blackberry and black cherry fruit, with fine-grained yet robust cocoa powder tannins that build toward a powerful, expressive finish. Aromatic spice and soaring personality underscore the wine’s purity and polish. Clean, dark-fruited, and beautifully structured—this is among the finest red blends I’ve tasted from New York State.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

A blend of Bordelaise varieties aged 15 to 22 months in 30% new French oak. This is another polished, expressive wine from this producer, with a core of red and black fruit, cassis-driven and laced with elegant cedarwood spice, coriander, and a dusty mineral edge. Medium- to full-bodied with plump, juicy fruit on the mid-palate and spiced plum tones, it finishes with pressed florals and a sinewy, dusty tannic backbone that builds and lingers

Cristaldi Scores

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Wine for the People

Fire Oak Red Blend

Wine for the People

Fire Oak Vineyard, Carignan

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Christians Cuvee (White Horse Label) Pinot Noir

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Diosa (White Horse Label) White Wine

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Estate Cabernet Franc

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Landius (White Horse Label) Pinot Noir

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Perle (White Horse Label) Chardonnay

Wood Family Vineyards

Big Wood Zinfandel

Wood Family Vineyards

Cabernet Franc

Wood Family Vineyards

Culmination Cabernet Franc

Wood Family Vineyards

GSM

Wood Family Vineyards

Hot Lips Brut Méthode Champenoise

Wood Family Vineyards

Muy Bueno Zinfandel

Woodenhead

Pinot Noir

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name