2023

Cristaldi Scores

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Steven Kent Winery

Steel, Ghielmetti Vineyard Cabernet Franc

“Steel” is one of four Cabernet Franc wines in a series presented by Steven Kent Mirassou, alongside “Rock”, “Wood”, and “Elements”. Each is aged for just 10 months in a single type of vessel—highlighting how aging environment alone can shape the varietal expression. “The impetus for my wife, Beth, and me was something we experienced in the Loire Valley a year ago,” says Mirassou. “We noticed the variety of aging vessels being used, and after working with Cabernet Franc here for more than 20 vintages—this being my 30th harvest—we wanted to showcase the differences in varietal characteristics across vessels.” Steel is made in a reductive style and is incredibly expressive. Aged for up to 10 months in stainless steel, it reveals striking purity of blackberry, black cherry, and black currant fruit, accented by tobacco leaf, spearmint, and sage. Medium-bodied, with silky fruit and precise saline-acid tension, it finishes with a delicate layer of dried flowers. Fresh, pure, and savory, Steel delivers elegant structure and a perfectly balanced finish.

Red

2023

Steven Kent Winery

Wood, Ghielmetti Vineyard Cabernet Franc

“Wood” was aged in two nearly neutral barrels—a 2011 barrique and a 2015 barrel—making this one of the most subtle oak treatments in the series. “For us, barrel is about sanding off the corners of acid-driven young wines,” says Steven Kent Mirassou. “We don’t want it to add flavor or aroma. Since we mostly use puncheons, we get fewer wood notes but more structure. That oxygen exchange polishes the wine.” And polished it is. “Wood” pulls together the sauvage character and fresh fruit tones—red and black currant—into a seamless whole. The wine feels composed, with a refined sheen and balanced structure. There’s a quiet density at the mid-palate and a revealing thread of acid tension that makes it deeply food-friendly.

Red

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Angeli Syrah

Sourced from the own-rooted Syrah blocks surrounding the estate house—named Villa Angeli, after relatives on Pete Stolpman’s mother’s side—this wine is fermented with two-thirds whole cluster in concrete and aged for 15 months in neutral 500-liter puncheons. The aromatics are initially subtle, needing a bit of swirling to unlock layers of brambly blackberry and red cherry fruit, along with high-toned violets and rose petals. On the palate, the wine delivers super powerful, robust tannins with a muscularity that builds and builds—soaring skyward before resolving into juicy blue fruit and intense graphite on the finish. A brooding, structured Syrah with incredible lift and presence.

Red

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Crunchy Roastie Syrah

Woah—this is seriously delicious. Super savory, with notes of black olive, dried thyme, and orange peel, accented by hints of woodsmoke and incense. The tannins are soaring, building across the palate into a lengthy, meaty finish—like the flesh of a perfectly cured green olive. White pepper, wet slate, and pressed flowers linger on the finish, adding nuance and complexity.

Red

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Estate Grown Sangiovese

There’s a great story about the planting of this Sangiovese—and it involves Pete Stolpman’s dad, Tom Stolpman, suing the Vatican. Ask Pete about it, or if you see Tom around Santa Ynez or Los Olivos, ask him yourself. The vines were planted in 1994 after the case was settled. Aged for 19 months in neutral 500-liter French oak puncheons, the wine is super bright and fruit-forward now, though it will eventually develop more of that leather and tobacco character with age. For the moment, it’s all about vibrant red fruit and zesty lift, framed by grippy, youthful tannins that could use a bit of time to mellow. A total crowd-pleaser.

Red

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Estate Grown Syrah

About 50% whole cluster, this Syrah is native fermented in concrete and aged for 11 months in neutral 500-liter puncheons. It’s sourced entirely from the winery’s own-rooted Syrah blocks. This is one of the finest California Syrahs under $40 you’re likely to encounter. It brims with coiled energy and delivers super expressive red and blackberry fruit, with blue fruit nuances woven into a tapestry of brown baking spices, clove, incense, violets, and crushed stone. Medium-bodied with powerful, expressive tannins that resolve into a powdery texture, the wine finishes with fragrant wild herbs. Gorgeous and layered from start to finish.

Red

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Great Places August James Syrah

These are the Clape Reynard plantings from 1903. In 2013, 50 cuttings were brought over—49 were planted individually, while the 50th became the mother vine, planted at the highest elevation in the northeast corner of a 10-acre block with a planting density of 6,000 vines per acre. This wine includes fruit from within the interior of that mother vine. The first vintage was 2017, with 2018 marking the first commercial release. It was native fermented in stainless steel with two-thirds whole clusters, then pressed to barrel—mostly free-run juice—aged for 18 months in neutral 500-liter puncheons. This is a bold, powerful wine, yet it carries an elegant intensity. The complexity begins in the perfume: rose petals, violets, and white pepper rise from the glass, building into a full-bodied palate framed by mineral-laced, meaty tannins with a fine granularity. Blue fruits and blood orange acidity carry through the core, while more floral perfume unfurls on the long, layered finish.

Red

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Great Places Jessica Lauren Syrah

Named after Pete Stolpman’s wife, Jessica, this wine is sourced from Les Grandes Places Serine, with the inaugural vintage in 2022. It was native fermented in stainless steel with two-thirds whole cluster, and aged for 18 months in two neutral 500-liter puncheons—mostly from free-run juice. This is an intensely concentrated wine, bursting with pure dark berry fruit and layered spice. The tannins are powerful and robust yet beautifully integrated, with a velvety quality. High-toned violets, mulberry, and mouth-gripping acidity give the wine remarkable freshness and drive. Exceptionally expressive and focused, with excellent depth of fruit and a precise, laser-like finish.

Red

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Great Places Ruben Solorzano Syrah

The Great Places Ruben Solorzano Syrah comes from a one-acre block planted to Sérine cuttings from Rostain’s Côte Blonde, propagated in 2006. Fermentation is done with native yeasts in stainless steel, using two-thirds whole cluster. The wine is focused on free-run juice and aged for 18 months in neutral 500-liter puncheons. I tasted this with Ruben Solorzano and asked him what he thinks of the wine. He smiled and said he loves the name—and the mid-palate. And it’s true: the mid-palate is wonderfully expressive, bursting with juicy, plump fruit, layered spice, and gorgeously powdery tannins that carry a cocoa powder texture. Rich blue fruit and violets are backed by volcanic crushed rock minerality. The finish goes on and on. It’s a wine with great density, yet it floats—light on its feet.

Red

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Grenache

A crushable charmer with undeniable poise: this cool‑climate Grenache greets you in the glass with a light‑to‑medium ruby hue that glows with transparency. It unfolds with crunchy, candied red‑berry fruit—think fresh strawberry and cherry blossom—lifted by vibrant tangerine and grapefruit brightness. Cocoa powder quietly blooms beneath the fruit, lending a deep, slightly bitter richness that adds intriguing complexity.

Red

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Hair of the Bear

Hair of the Bear—an old trapper term—was the perfect name for this wine, says Pete Stolpman, because Petite Sirah is the ultimate California grape, and this is its ultimate California expression. And it truly is. Super approachable, it bursts with rich, lavish dark berry fruit that moves from black to blue, accented by rose petals, violet, and a hint of rose stem. Bright blood orange acidity adds lift, while powerful, chunky tannins bring grip and structure. It’s a wine of unapologetic power and grit, yet it’s fruit-forward, expressive, and overflowing with juicy dark fruit.

Red

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

La Cuadrilla Profit Sharing Red Wine

The La Cuadrilla gives back to the vineyard workers. This is a collection of so many lots, free run, gentle press, and serves as a stamp of each vintage, says Pete Stolpman,. Femrernedin concerte with 20-30% whoel cluster, and aged in neutral 500-liter pucnhoens and bottled after 10 month. As such it is an expressive, red cherry and blackberry fuited win with loads of juicy fruit character, cola spices, and ripe sinewy tannisn that are broad shouldreed and resolve with whtie pepper and black truffle nuances. It’s one of the most rfeind expression of this bottling I have tasted in years. It’s on a great track.

Red

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Love You Bunches Orange

So Fresh is a skin-contact blend of 40% Pinot Gris, 34% Tocai Friulano, 18% Gewürztraminer, and 8% Orange Muscat. It’s super tropical, bursting with exotic fruit, yet balanced by intriguing notes of black licorice and dried wild herbs that lend a savory intensity. Expressive, layered, and far from ordinary.

Orange

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Love You Bunches Red

This 100% Sangiovese undergoes a 9-day carbonic fermentation, resulting in a wine that bursts with rich mulberry fruit and zesty, zippy, zingy, tangy acidity. It’s incredibly juicy, easygoing, and downright delightful. You’ll love how vibrant and fresh this wine is—pure joy in a glass.

Red

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Uni

A blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Roussanne, this is crafted as a full-bodied white. The richness of the Roussanne provides depth and texture, while the Chardonnay—picked early—adds layers of sea spray minerality and lemon-bright acid tension. Talk about a perfect sushi wine—vibrant, structured, and mouthwatering.

White

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Estate Grown Chenin Blanc

Certified both CCOF Organic and Demeter Biodynamic, the vines for this Chenin Blanc hail from the Stolpman Estate in Ballard Canyon. The grapes are gently pressed before fermentation, which takes place in new, light-toast 500-litre Ermitage Mt. La Vache French oak puncheons, where the wine is then aged for 15 months. It’s such a pretty wine—so layered, so enticing, and so intriguing you’ll wish you had bought a full case (and hopefully, you did). Medium-bodied and a true salty dog, it crackles with saline-acid tension that energizes this electrically vibrant white. It practically lists the tasting notes for you: sea salt sprinkled atop candied lemon peel, subtler hints of ripe apricot and white peach, and zesty seagrass growing on sand dunes pounded by Pacific Ocean breezes. The mid-palate reveals elegant touches of citrus fruit tinged with vanilla bean, layered with Marcona almonds, and drizzled with agave nectar. It’s long, linear, and vividly zesty—with such bracing acidity your dentist might advise caution. Best enjoyed with food—it slices beautifully through roast chicken or Dover sole with buttery mashed potatoes.

Notes from the Winery:

In 2016, we sought out a rare strain of “yellow” Chenin Blanc that turns color before it reaches peak ripeness. Once yellow, the resulting wine becomes substantial and mouth-filling rather than creating a leaner, crisper style. We spent six vintages refining our winemaking approach to Chenin Blanc under our experimental “Combe” label before debuting the grandiose 2023 vintage. Healthy late season rains pushed back bud-break and the growing season by 3-4 weeks. We escaped the summer without any extreme heat events that would have accelerated ripening. On September 29th, La Cuadrilla made a pass through the Chenin and harvested any remaining green clusters for Pet’Nat. Aided by unusually high daytime temperatures in early October, we returned to cherry pick evenly yellow clusters on October 5, and then finished the stragglers on October 9th.

White

2023

Stolpman Vineyards

Estate Grown Savagnin

Certified both CCOF Organic and Demeter Biodynamic, the vines for this wine come from three strains of Savagnin cuttings sourced from France. The grapes are gently pressed prior to fermentation, which takes place in new, light-toast 500-litre Ermitage Mt. La Vache French oak puncheons, where the wine is then aged for 15 months. What a wine. It’s about as close as you can get to the Jura—opening with high-toned aromas of honey, nutty citrus, and vivid, crunchy sea spray minerality. On the light- to medium-bodied palate, everything melds beautifully: lemon-lime zest, lemon oil, crushed white flowers and a gravelly minerality that is both salty and chalky. For now, the oak is subdued, but it will gain texture and complexity with time in bottle. This is an incredibly focused and mineral-driven expression from the region—hands down, off-the-charts good. Wine geeks will marvel at it; everyday wine lovers will wonder where it’s been all their lives.

Notes from the Winery:

Stolpman’s Jura Inspired Savagnin Inspired by the noble Overnoy, Tissot, and Macle vineyards in the Jura region of France, we began propagating these 3 strains of special Savagnin cuttings back in 2016. In our arid Ballard Canyon conditions, the yields are tiny, and up until the release of the 2023 Savagnin, we only produced one combined barrel from the three prior vintages 2020, 2021, and 2022. While the 8 years of development has been costly, the mono-vintage 2023 debut makes it all worth it, even if it is just one 500L puncheon from 2 acres.

White

2023

Table Rock Vienyard

Estate Pinot Noir Rosé

This rosé has evolved from bright, ripe fruit into a more savory expression, offering red cherry nuances layered with toasty oak, smoked paprika, and charcuterie. On the palate, it delivers notes of crispy, flaky almond croissant and cherry jam. Serve well chilled and enjoy now.

Rosé

2023

Table Rock Vienyard

White Pinot Noir

From the north end of the Rogue Valley, this White Pinot Noir from Table Rock Vineyard is an intriguing take on the variety. A subtle kiss of oak on the nose mingles with fresh cherry and wood smoke. The palate is clean and focused, featuring a juicy core of blood orange and pear fruit with a tingly spine of acidity. Light and easygoing, it’s a fantastic alternative to reds alongside smoked brisket, braised meats, or chipotle tacos.

White

2023

Tatum Cellars

Trois Etoiles

The Tatum Cellars “Trois Etoiles” white blend is composed of 63% Marsanne, 21% Viognier, and 16% Roussanne, with only 100 cases produced. It opens with high-toned spice notes reminiscent of Texas prairie grass and hay, seamlessly interwoven with bright citrus fruit aromas. Light- to medium-bodied, the wine is clean and approachable, offering a straightforward yet enjoyable profile. The finish lingers with a subtle touch of crushed Marcona almonds, adding a pleasing complexity to this small-production white.

White

2023

Texas Heritage Vineyard

Reddy Vineyards, Roussanne

This 100% Roussanne is sourced entirely from Reddy Vineyards in the Texas High Plains. Fermented in stainless steel and bottled in November shortly after harvest, it offers a fresh yet generously textured profile. This white presents good body and plumpness, showcasing salty citrus flavors alongside subtle nutty notes on the finish and very good balance of richness and freshness.

White

2023

Texas Heritage Vineyard

Reddy Vineyards, Viognier

Reddy Vineyards, established by a Texas Tech professor, covers over 400 acres and cultivates an impressive 38 different grape varieties. This Viognier, sourced from their site in Brownfield in the Texas High Plains, is fermented in stainless steel and bottled shortly after fermentation in October, maintaining its fresh and vibrant character. Bright, crisp, and refreshingly easy to drink, it reveals intriguing nutty notes that add depth to its profile, with a distinctive hibiscus tea character lingering on the finish. A delightful and approachable expression.

White

2023

The Hilt

Bentrock Vineyard Chardonnay

Fermentation started with as many lees as possible. Matt Dees explains that they prefer to kick things off with native yeast—but if it doesn’t take, they’re not dogmatic and will inoculate. They don’t add any sulfur until June at the earliest. Around that time, they roll the barrels to mix the lees thoroughly, then rack the wine back to tank for roughly eight months before bottling. This approach allows them to limit sulfur additions later in the aging process. The wine opens with early-season orchard fruit—nectarines, apricots, white peach, pear, and yellow apple and white flowers. It has a medium-bodied, silky richness on the mid-palate and a persistent finish marked by spicy ginger, fresh sage, and a gorgeous pink Himalayan sea salt minerality. It lingers and lingers on the palate, like the perfect Maldon crystal.

White

2023

The Hilt

Bentrock Vineyard Pinot Noir

This is 75% Calera clone, though the 2024 blend will be 100%. Here, the Calera shines through with dark black cherry and rose petal—super pure, ripe, and crunchy, like a perfectly ripe farmers market cherry. Layers of brown baking spice add personality and warmth. The 2023 is one of the most approachable wines I’ve tasted from Matt Dees and his team in years—they’re truly nailing both the farming and the cellar protocols. It’s medium-bodied with impressive density and chunky tannins, and purity of fruit, bursting with complex notes of blood orange and grapefruit zest. There’s incredible fruit width and concentration, yet it remains light on its feet.

Red

2023

The Hilt

Estate Chardonnay

A blend of Radian and Bentrock fruit. We select the most extreme expressions from both vineyards—those with the most intensity and edge—which ultimately make their way into the Estate bottling. The result is a wine of harmony and precision, with a mix of white flowers, citrus, and orchard fruit. There’s a real purity to the fruit character, with finely delineated notes of apple, pear, nectarine, and white peach. An incredible thread of saline-acid tension runs through it all, accenting a perfectly spicy element that lifts the richness of the fruit. The wine shows marvelous mid-palate density yet finishes with an ephemeral lightness of being—melting away with grace.

White

2023

The Hilt

Estate Pinot Noir

This is one of the most approachable Estate Pinot Noirs from The Hilt I’ve ever tasted—but make no mistake, it’s layered with incredible structure, electric acid tension, and a saline minerality that will carry it gracefully in the cellar for decades. The purity of red and blackberry fruit is striking—so vivid and clean, with the viscosity of beautifully mineral-rich spring water. Exotic spice notes shine throughout, with gorgeous Indian and Chinese five-spice aromas, while a hint of tangerine oil brings freshness and silkiness. Mouthwatering and wildly expressive, this wine is as seductive as it is age-worthy.

Red

2023

The Hilt

Estate Syrah

This is a north-facing site—and you simply won’t believe the aromas. This Syrah is truly special, with notes of tar and roses, high-toned candied violet pastilles, and a wild, sauvage edge. On the palate, it’s an anomaly in the best sense: intensely floral with layers of rose petals and stems, violets, and a core of blueberry and blood orange. The tannins are beautifully chalky, long, and multidimensional—mouthcoating yet refined. They resolve into an extraordinary purity of crunchy black raspberry fruit and spice. It’s stunningly complex and hauntingly expressive.

Red

2023

The Hilt

Radian Vineyard Chardonnay

This is a lean, bright, focused, and vivid Chardonnay, its energy driven by an even-keeled growing season without major heat spikes. There’s a subtle tannic quality to the wine—a gentle grip from the toughness of the grape skins, constantly buffeted by ocean breezes. A gorgeous salinity runs through this lemon-lime-bright white, with lifted floral notes and expressive black sage aromatics, accented by subtle hints of elderflower.

White

2023

The Hilt

Radian Vineyard Pinot Noir

Fragrant notes of sage, black pepper, nori, and rose petals rise from the glass, leading into a wine of superb density and remarkable fruit clarity. On the palate, it’s perfectly balanced, with the finest tannins—like moon dust laced with cocoa powder—framing a gorgeously textured red wine that sends you off daydreaming. Its ethereal presence and ephemeral textures captivate and draw you in, with bursts of grapefruit zest and blood orange acidity, all sprinkled with pink Himalayan sea salt. The finish goes on for days. I could go on about this wine—it’s perfect. It will resonate differently with each person who encounters it, but it is absolutely riveting, contemplative, and belongs in the pantheon of the world’s great wines.

Red

2023

The Joy Fantastic

Estate Pinot Noir

This is a beautifully composed, acid-driven wine that’s as food-friendly as it is pretty. Bursting with bright, expressive, and crunchy red berry fruit, it’s seamlessly layered with integrated baking spices and lifted by vibrant energy. Sourced from a steep 5-acre hillside vineyard planted in 2014 by Amy Christine MW and Peter Hunken, the wine delivers electricity and elegance in equal measure. A perfect companion for a leisurely meal with friends—or a nostalgic binge of classic SNL episodes.

Red

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Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2023

Producer

Name

This blend of 52% Carignane and 48% Mourvèdre is sourced entirely from Fire Oak Vineyard in Mills County, located between Fredericksburg and Fort Worth. The site shares a similar soil profile to Uplift—sandy loam with some clay loam components. Aged 12 months in neutral French oak, the color derives from early oxygenation and stirring during the start of fermentation before the wine settles and is barreled down. The result is a fresh, inviting red with beautifully pure red-berry fruit and a subtle, natural sweetness that draws you in. Medium to full-bodied with supple tannins, it shows ripe, upfront fruit framed by a fine thread of wet-rock minerality. Absolutely lovely—one of my favorite wines from Texas. A great effort by Rae Wilson and Tony Offill.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

Sourced from Lakewood Farm (certified sustainable) and three other long-time growers on the west side of Seneca Lake, this sparkling wine is produced exclusively from free-run juice. Carbonated and bottled on site, it’s also available in 187ml bottles and kegs for wholesale. It offers impressive complexity for the price, with notes of citrus peel, white flowers, and ripe apricot layered over a subtle French pastry character.

White

2023

Producer

Name

Fruit was sourced from Glenora Farms on the west side of Seneca Lake and Don Peek’s vineyard on the west side of Keuka Lake. Fermented dry on the skins in small bins with 3–4 hand punchdowns daily, the wine was then pressed and transferred to 60-gallon barrels—predominantly French oak—where it remained until bottling in August 2024. Bright notes of cherry and cranberry leap from the glass, accented by espresso bean and a perfumed core of red fruit dusted with rose powder. Fine-grained, structured tannins provide a firm foundation for the juicy, spicy fruit to build toward a lengthy, saline-scented, and earth-toned finish.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

This is a super bright, floral, and expressive wine, bursting with wildflower honey, jasmine, and candied kiwi fruit. Medium- to full-bodied with a lovely interplay of acid tension and subtle sweetness. Never cloying or overdone, it finishes with a gorgeous honeyed richness wrapped around white peaches and golden cherries. The perfect wine to pair with a cheese plate—think salted cheeses with a dollop of honey. Serve nicely chilled, but not too cold, so you don’t mute the vibrant florality. 65% estate fruit (certified sustainable) and 35% from Lahoma Vineyard, fermented in stainless steel.

White

2023

Producer

Name

TASTING NOTE. Lot #31. Barrel Sample: All you need to know is this: Greg Stach and Greg La Follette were there, at the Sonoma County Barrel Auction, in May of 2025, pouring it for us ‘professional’ tasters. So, to the future owner of bottles from this exceptional lot—just imagine these two Sonoma legends uncorking bottles, pouring for you, and swapping stories deep into the night about raising hell in wine country. The wine itself is bright and zesty, with citrus and brown spice, honeyed lemon, and fresh ginger notes. Medium-bodied with lovely mid-palate density and a long, mineral-driven finish. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: “A Lorenzo Legacy” is a one-of-a-kind Chardonnay crafted exclusively for the 2025 Sonoma County Barrel Auction, embodying the essence of “Never Before, Never Again.” This marks the first-ever collaboration between Landmark Vineyards and Marchelle Wines, bringing together two distinct winemaking styles to highlight the exceptional 2023 vintage from the renowned Lorenzo Vineyard. The winemakers — the two Gregs, Stach & La Follette — have a combined six decades of winemaking experience working with Lorenzo Vineyard. By combining their expertise, they have crafted a Chardonnay that captures the vineyard’s character in a way that has never been done before. This wine pays tribute to the historic Lorenzo Vineyard, known for producing some of Sonoma County’s most distinctive Chardonnay. The site is prized for its cool-climate influence, extended hang time, and distinct minerality. The vineyard’s location allows the fruit to ripen slowly, developing remarkable depth, complexity, and balance while preserving its natural freshness. Hand-selected barrels were chosen to showcase the vineyard’s depth and complexity, resulting in a Chardonnay that will never be replicated. It has a fruit-forward bouquet with aromas of banana cream pie and a subtle hint of geranium. The palate opens with subtle lemon curd notes and layers of coconut, with the creamy texture beautifully balanced by juicy acidity and throughline of slate-like minerality. With its exclusive blend and limited availability, “A Lorenzo Legacy” offers collectors a rare opportunity to own a truly unique expression of Sonoma County winemaking. WINEMAKER(S): Greg Stach (Landmark Vineyards), Greg La Follette (Marchelle Wines) ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: March 2025 ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: December 2025 National Distribution: CA, FL, IL, MD, MA, TX, VA, WI, Washington, DC International Distribution: None

White

2023

Producer

Name

Fermented in stainless steel and bottled just a few months later, this vibrant white wine is crafted by winemaker Brent Amos, with assistant winemaker Aaron Andrews (who began his journey as a busboy and worked his way up through the cellar). Bright and laser-focused, it shows crisp citrus character with notes of orange oil, sea spray minerality, and white floral aromatics woven throughout.

White

2023

Producer

Name

This is the Reserve bottling from the second pick of Verdelho grapes in 2023, crafted decisively in a Chardonnay style. Fermented in 100% new French oak with full malolactic conversion, it was aged for just a few months in barrel prior to bottling. Texturally, it’s broader and rounder than the Estate Reserve Verdelho—which is more bracing—yet this version remains vibrant and dynamic. Orchard fruit mingles with umami-rich notes of Parmesan rind and expressive baking spices. While richer, it’s by no means flabby; bright, focused acid tension keeps the wine fresh and balanced.

White

2023

Producer

Name

This second pick Verdelho was aged entirely in stainless steel and bottled just a few months later. Stylistically in line with the first-pick White Label, this bottling offers a touch more generosity on the palate. The mouthfeel is plumper and more supple, with silky orchard fruit layered with nuances of almonds and dried florals. A slightly rounder, more textural expression—while still retaining freshness and focus.

White

2023

Producer

Name

Assistant winemaker Aaron Andrews explains that in 2023, they approached Verdelho with a series of staggered picks and multiple fermentations using different yeasts. From just one block, they might run up to eight separate fermentations—later blending them to bottle. But in 2023, winemaker Brent Amos says each lot stood out so distinctly that they decided to bottle four different Verdelhos—a rare move for the portfolio. This bottling represents the Reserve expression of the first pick from the estate. Fermented in neutral barrels with no malolactic fermentation, it opens with notes of quince and white peach, alongside wild herb aromatics. On the palate, crisp, crunchy acid tension embraces a succulent, weighty mid-palate with silky textures. The wine shows excellent length and precision, with striking tension throughout.

White

2023

Producer

Name

A wine “Best in Show White” winner at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, this Verdelho is sourced from the first pick, fermented in stainless steel, and aged just a few months before bottling. Bright and laser-focused, it delivers citrus and orchard fruit layered with white flowers, and warmer undertones of straw and prairie grass. On the palate, it’s bracing and tightly wound, with nervy, electric acidity and a chalky mineral finish.

White

2023

Producer

Name

This estate-grown rosé, made from Merlot, is a distinctive and textural wine with a creamy mid-palate and savory undertones of rose stem and cherry fruit. Smoky minerality threads through a core of crunchy, juicy white plums, accented by a lift of white pepper spice on the lengthy finish. A serious rosé, well-suited to pairing with heartier summer dishes.

Rosé

2023

Producer

Name

Aged entirely in stainless steel, this is a crisp, lemon-driven white with aromas of yellow apple and white flowers. On the palate, it’s bright, zippy, and zesty, with lemon oil and a steely mineral intensity that lingers through the finish. A subtle kiss of vivid dried wild herbs—so emblematic of the area during peak growing season—adds regional character and complexity.

White

2023

Producer

Name

This expressive and beautifully layered Pinot Noir from the Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills offers a compelling blend of red cherry fruit, agave, violet, and rose stem aromatics. Notes of espresso bean and cherry-rhubarb pie lend richness and warmth, while muscular tannins and cedarwood tones, tinged with incense, provide structure and depth. Spice notes unfold seamlessly across the palate, adding complexity and intrigue. A wonderfully zesty and multidimensional expression from Lincourt.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

The ‘Four’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection comprised in equal parts from Fiddlestix, Pali, Spear, and Radian vineyards. Fermented in stainless steel and aged up to 18 months in a mix of mostly neutral and approximately 25% new French oak, with 15% whole cluster inclusion, this wine offers exceptional complexity and balance. It captures the darker fruit power and tension of Radian, the vivid raspberry brightness of Fiddlestix, the plush texture and softness from Pali, and the spice-driven nuance of Spear. Aromatically expressive, it delivers coriander, incense, and cedarwood wrapped around a medium-bodied palate of pure dark fruit. Sinewy, fine-grained tannins give structure and persistence.

Red

2023

Producer

Name

The Golden Slope Chardonnay—sourced from Rita’s Crown, Hilltop, Clos Pepe, Spear, and Kessler-Haak—is native fermented and aged up to 16 months in mostly puncheons, with about 15% new French oak. Founder Jeff Nelson notes that the barrel program plays a vital role in leveraging the muscularity of their whites, particularly in this bottling. The 2023 vintage is among the most focused expressions of Golden Slope in recent memory. It’s as gorgeously layered and fragrant as ever, bursting with lemon and lime zest, apricot, and tangerine oil, framed by supple, juicy fruit and laser-focused saline-acid tension. The finish is long, detailed, and expressive, with crushed Marcona almonds and a hint of honeycomb richness.

White

2023

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This 100% Pinot Noir “SBC” cuvée (first released in 2015) blends fruit from Fiddlestix, Spear, Pali, La Rinconada, and Radian vineyards. Fermented in open-top stainless steel with punchdowns, the wine is then aged up to 11 months in neutral French oak with about 10% new oak and 10–15% whole cluster inclusion. The result is absolutely gorgeous: vivid ruby red fruit, grapefruit zest, rhubarb, rose petal, and espresso bean aromas lead into a medium-bodied palate of luscious cherry fruit and velvet-textured tannins. Focused and linear, with crunchy acidity that lifts the finish and keeps things fresh and energetic.