2024

Cristaldi Scores

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Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Dry Creek Vineyard

Sauvignon Blanc

A blend of stainless steel–fermented and partially barrel-aged lots, this wine is fragrant and lively, driven by notes of lemon-lime, lime blossom, honeysuckle, and white peach. Crisp acidity provides tension and lift, balancing the fleshier fruit profile. The finish is bone dry, clean, and refreshing. Established in 1972, Dry Creek Vineyard is led by second-generation owner & President Kim Stare Wallace and oversees 185 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards.

White

2024

Ducks Unlimited

Reserve Red Blend

The 2024 Ducks Unlimited Red Blend is simply fantastic. It’s a powerhouse, and one of the best red wines I’ve tasted from Texas. The aromatics just soar out of the glass with blackberry and boysenberry fruit framed by elegant cedarwood spice, lifted by violets and a bright pop of blue fruit. Medium to full-bodied, it shows a framework of fine-grained, firm tannins with a long finish marked by wet slate and crushed rock minerality, underscored by crisp, focused acidity. Serve it cool, at a cellar temperature of about 57°F, and you’d be crazy not to pair it with brisket or seared duck breast over a balsamic reduction. The blend is 62% Tannat from Vintage Press Vineyard and Hye Estate, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot from Dell Valley Vineyard.

Red

2024

Dutcher Crossing

Sauvignon Blanc

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Russian River Valley was fermented for four months in a mix of 15% new French oak, 29% neutral barrel, and 56% stainless steel. Exotic aromas of lychee, white peach, and a hint of vanilla create an enticing bouquet, while the more restrained palate reveals underripe pineapple, lemon, and lime. Bright, citrus-driven acidity and a chalky mineral edge give the wine tension and focus from start to finish. Debra Mathay purchased Dutcher Crossing in 2007, and it now produces more than thirty wines from Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino counties, farming 75 acres of estate vineyards.

White

2024

Dutton-Goldfield

Dutton Ranch, Shop Block, Pinot Blanc

Fermented entirely in stainless steel, this white is fresh but nicely rounded on the edges of the palate, sporting just a hint of pleasing astringent structure in its texture. Aromas and flavors of honeydew, nectarine, grapefruit, yellow apple, and lemon pie make this nearly irresistible. – J.R.

White

2024

Dutton-Goldfield

Rosé of Pinot Noir

A perky, vibrant, jubilant pink, this rose is sourced from Docker Hill (Mendocino County) and Ruxton Vineyard (Russian River Valley), as well as other sites in Green Valley. Hints of roses, hibiscus, underripe melon, wild strawberry, and candied watermelon mingle with flavors of citrus. Everything resolves into a wonderfully mineral, herbal finish. – J.R.

Rosé

2024

Ehret Winery

Bavarian Lion Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Bavarian Lion Vineyard in Knights Valley, Sonoma County, was made entirely in stainless steel with no oak influence. Lush and tropical, it offers aromas of jasmine and honeysuckle alongside ripe tropical fruit. Zippy, zesty acidity enlivens the palate, balancing the wine’s richness and leading to a long, spicy, mineral-driven finish. The Ehret family has been farming their Knights Valley estate for three generations, reserving their best fruit since 2005 for their own small production (handled in the cellar by winemaker Erin Green).

White

2024

Elisa Christopher Wines

Méthode Champenoise Ultra Brut Blanc du Bois Sparkling Wine

This sparkling is made entirely from the Blanc du Bois grape, sourced from Mound Prairie Vineyards outside of College Station Texas. The vineyard was planted by Bob Hensz and his daughter, Elisa Jones, the winemaker at Elisa Christopher Wines in 2007. The Blanc du Bois was aged six months on lees and offers up fragrant honeysuckle and tropical fruit notes with a kind of bright vinous character, all balanced by a rich, frothy and creamy mousse, finishing with nice chalky minerality and baking spice. Elisa Christopher Wines is owned by husband-and-wife duo Elisa and Chris, with Elisa also serving as the winemaker. Passionate about sparkling wine and their red wine program, they plan to begin planting their 43-acre estate in 2026.

White

2024

Ferrari-Carano

Chardonnay

The Chardonnay is barrel fermented and aged 10 months sur lie in 20% new French oak. Grapes are sourced from 60 different lots across Sonoma County. For the past decade, the wines at Ferrari-Carano have been made by winemaker Natalie West. There’s a lavish aromatic pop of rich, toasty, graham-cracker sweet oak that carries straight onto the palate, where the wine shows super-expressive character—lemon curd, lemon meringue, grilled pineapple. Despite all that richness, the wine stays balanced thanks to a vein of salinity that brings real freshness. The oak is beautifully integrated: never cloying, just vivid and tasty. You have to love this style to love this wine—and if you do, at $27 it’s a terrific value.

White

2024

Ferrari-Carano

Dry Sangiovese Rosé

The fruit for this rosé goes directly to press—it’s made intentionally as rosé from all estate-grown fruit. It’s a fine, tasty wine featuring mixed red-berry notes, a touch of sea spray, and hints of crushed wild thyme and rosemary. White peach, apricot, and a honeysuckle lift round out the palate, leading to a lengthy, crisp, acid-driven finish.

Rosé

2024

Folded Hills

Estate Grenache 'Cluster'

Talk about an aromatic and spicy wine—no surprise given the name Cluster. This Grenache is fermented with whole clusters and undergoes carbonic maceration, a process where the juice ferments inside the intact berries. The result? A vividly expressive wine bursting with bright, juicy fruit. It’s succulent and energetic, with textured, grippy tannins that resolve beautifully into juicy acidity. Layers of purple violets and the fresh-cut stem of a rose weave through the mid-palate, while the super long and expressive finish is lifted by granular tannins and a flourish of rose petal.

Red

2024

Folded Hills

Estate Lilly Rosé

A graceful, richly scented rosé offering raspberry, strawberry, and watermelon fruit notes, with a subtle whisper of mango on the creamy, medium-bodied palate. All that succulent fruit seems to have taken the scenic route to your glass—ripe, relaxed, and perfectly poised—until a crisp wave of acidity sweeps through, lifting the finish with a flourish of dried lavender and violet petals.

Rosé

2024

Fox Run Vineyards

Cabernet Franc

This is a bit of a chameleon—beginning with ripe red and black-toned fruit, elegant cedarwood spice, and rose petal nuances. The medium-bodied palate quickly shifts toward the savory spectrum, revealing layers of strawberry-rhubarb, baked cherry, leather, tobacco, and crunchy wild herbs. The finish is bright and lifted by crunchy acidity. Sourced from estate-certified sustainable vineyards and aged in neutral oak for 12 months.

Red

2024

Garre Vineyard and Winery

Chardonnay

100% Chardonnay from the Estate Vineyard, fermented at 53°F in stainless steel. Winemaker Aaron Luna, who joined the winery in 2016, crafts a bright, focused expression. The winery was established in the late 1990s and is owned today by Gina Carderra. Lemon-bright and refreshing, with white flowers and a hint of honeysuckle, lifted by tangerine oil and a crisp, crunchy acid grip. Clean, energetic, and easygoing.

White

2024

Glenora Wine Cellars

Seyval Blanc

Vivid, bright, and expressive, this white (sourced from Glenora Farms on the west side of Seneca Lake) offers notes of white peach, white plum, and a squeeze of grapefruit-like acidity. Light- to medium-bodied on the palate, it finishes with excellent wet slate mineral tension. There’s great energy and precision throughout.

White

2024

Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard

Flower Day Riesling

100% Riesling from HJW Blocks 1 and 4 from the Demeter-certified HJW Vineyard on the western slopes of Seneca Lake, this was hand-picked, hand-sorted, and whole-cluster pressed, then fermented in stainless steel. It’s a wonderfully energetic and exuberant wine, with subtle tropical fruit and apricot notes, lifted by honeysuckle aromatics and a long, fruit- and flower-driven finish marked by terrific acidity.

White

2024

Heron Hill

Reserve Pinot Blanc

Sourced from the Morris Vineyard. Floral, with hints of just ripe tropical fruit, slate, and melon. The palate has nice, rounded edges with a floral, lime and stone fruit finish that won’t quit. – J.R.

White

2024

Hillick & Hobbs

Estate Dry Riesling

The 2024 Estate Dry Riesling is an exceptionally polished wine. It opens with a flinty, almost reductive edge, layered with beeswax, lime blossom, apricot, pear, and crunchy red apple over a soft, fleshy core. Despite its impression of sweetness, the wine is bone-dry, acid-driven, and remarkably long on the medium-bodied finish. Tasting it professionally, I found myself swallowing small sips just to be sure I loved it as much as I knew I did. You will too—it’s simply irresistible. Native yeast fermented in stainless steel. It is the most complete of the Estate Dry Riesling wines I tasted, and a remarkable effort from Hobb’s New York State winery.

White

2024

Hillick & Hobbs

Lower Terrace Estate Dry Riesling

Even before the first swirl, the 2024 Hillick & Hobbs Lower Terrace Estate Dry Riesling releases floral aromas that lift from the glass—super-fragrant, high-toned honeysuckle, jasmine, and acacia, with a delicate touch of rosemary blossom. On the palate, a supple silkiness resonates through the mid-palate before giving way to a chalky mineral finish accented by crushed almonds and emerging tropical fruit notes of peach and underripe mango. The finish is almost slippery, making this an all-too-easy quaffer.

White

2024

Hillick & Hobbs

North Ravine Estate Dry Riesling

The North Ravine bottling of Paul Hobbs’ Estate Dry Riesling from Hillick & Hobbs, his winery on Seneca Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region, is a dynamic and expressive white wine that bursts from the glass with jasmine and honeysuckle florals. It’s like springtime in a glass—open it in the dead of winter and you’ll be transported to sunnier, warmer days. On the palate, there’s a sense of warmth and generosity layered over cool notes of wet slate, sea spray minerality, and crunchy orchard fruit. A subtle mix of muddled honey and lemon adds depth and dimension. The floral notes carry through to a wonderfully lengthy finish, making it irresistible sip after sip.

White

2024

Innumero

Barrel Select 'Family Reserve' Pinot Noir

This is 100% Pommard from Bootlegger’s Hill — a robust, rich, and powerful Pinot Noir with classic Pommard character. Darker blue and black fruits lead the way, supported by elegant cedarwood notes and a full-bodied richness that builds across the velvety palate. There’s excellent energy and tension here, balancing the inherently richer nature of the Pommard clone, with a broad-shouldered tannin profile that signals real aging potential. Definitely one for the cellar.

Red

2024

Innumero

Bootlegger's Hill Vineyard Chardonnay

From Bootlegger’s Hill Vineyard, this wine shows high-toned citrus fruit, cool stony minerality, and crushed sea-salt notes. It’s medium-bodied with absolutely racy acidity, offering lemon-peel freshness on the palate and a saline–acid richness. Cedarwood spice is well integrated, building into a subtle beeswax character, all carried by excellent freshness. Sourced from the Green Valley, where fog influence is strong and consistent.

White

2024

Innumero

Bootlegger's Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

This is 100% Pommard from Bootlegger’s Hill—a robust, rich and powerful red wine with classic Pommard character. Dark blue and black fruits lead, layered with elegant cedarwood notes and a full-bodied richness that builds across a velvety palate. There’s good energy and tension supporting the clone’s naturally richer profile, framed by a broad-shouldered tannin structure. Definitely one for the cellar.

Red

2024

Innumero

Ellen Lane Vineyard Chardonnay

Ellen Lane Vineyard is surrounded by forest, and the wine from this site shows a richer, rounder profile — toasty oak spices, ripe orchard and stone fruits, and a creamy generosity. Juicy, ripe pear and white-floral notes carry through on the finish. Entirely Hudson clone. Sheree and Brian Thornsberry are the co-founders who launched the brand in 2021, sourcing fruit from prime sites throughout the Russian River Valley. Both come from finance backgrounds, and their focus is on single-vineyard, single-clone bottlings. They hired Ashley Herzberg as winemaker from day one; she also makes wine for the Bacigalupi family, CAST, and Amista. Sheree tells me that she and her husband have traveled to wine regions around the world and fell in love with the lifestyle. Innumero is Latin for “above and beyond the number.” They produce just under 1,000 cases annually. The wines are sold almost entirely DTC, with a handful of placements in Healdsburg restaurants.

White

2024

Invention Vineyards

Mourvèdre Rosé

The Mourvèdre is sourced from Lahey Vineyards in the Texas High Plains and was fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel, giving it a bright, crisp character. It’s full-flavored, showing ripe, sweet red berry fruit and hints of prairie grass over a lush core, supported by a juicy spine of blood orange acidity. The finish is long and subtly tropical, adding an intriguing layer to this vibrant red. 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).

Rosé

2024

J Vineyards & Winery

Lot #32. 'Decennial' Sparkling Wine - Chardonnay, Multi-Vintage Blend (2014-2024)

TASTING NOTE: Lot #32. Barrel Sample: OMG, yum. Are we in Champagne? Absolutely not. But does this wine make a strong case that J Vineyards can produce serious bubbly—serious enough to fool most WSET Level 3 students into thinking it’s the real thing? Absolutely. Bright biscuit and baking spice aromatics lead into a rich, building mousse layered with chalky minerality, toasted almond, and French pastry. Dosage is 5.5 g/L. Exceptionally well built, deeply pleasing, and poised to age gracefully for at least a decade. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: “Decennial” represents the essence of a decade’s worth of vintages, skillfully blended to create the perfect dosage for this wine. For this special bottling, the 2015 vintage Blanc de Blancs was enhanced with a dosage blend of 10 years of vintage Blanc de Blancs from the winery’s library. The blend of wines, ranging from 2014 to 2024, beautifully complements the 2015 vintage and highlights the unique characteristics brought by age and singularity. Each sip captures the unique characteristics and complexities of ten years of winemaking excellence. J Vineyards & Winery was founded by Judy Jordan as a sparkling wine house in 1986, one of the first to focus on the incredible fruit grown in the Russian River Valley. The winery adheres closely to the traditional method process, but the winery’s style and vineyard sites give their sparkling wines a modern California perspective. “Decennial” showcases the exquisite depth and quality of sparkling Russian River Valley Chardonnay. A bead of fine bubbles rises to form a lively, delicate mousse, lifting aromas of fresh green apple and orange blossom from the glass. Notes of Asian pear, nectarine and lemon curd evolve on the palate to richer, more savory baked apple pie and toasted pine nut characteristics. Beautifully crisp and dry, it finishes with bright, refreshing hints of sea spray. WINEMAKER(S): Laura Fontaine, Nicole Hitchcock ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: December 2025 ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: June 2026 National Distribution: Includes all 50 states and Washington, DC

White

2024

Jax Vineyards

Sebastopol Vineyard Dutton Ranch Chardonnay

From the Sebastopol Vineyard. Fermented in barrel with 40% new French oak and partial malolactic fermentation; five barrels produced. The wine is light and bright, full of crunchy orchard-fruit character — white peach and apricot — with great mid-palate richness and a chalky mineral note that lingers on the lengthy finish.

White

2024

JMC Cellars

Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

100% Sauvignon Blanc from Nella Terra Vineyard, fermented entirely in stainless steel. Super bright and super zesty, with lime citrus, lemon blossom, and a hint of jasmine layering in a spicy, expressive nuance. Medium-bodied on the palate with building tropical fruit intensity, balanced by all that zippy citrus and vibrant acid tension.

White

2024

Johnson Estate Winery

May Wine

A super interesting Vidal Blanc, bursting with aromatic sweetness that evokes spiced cinnamon wood around the holidays and intensely perfumed notes of sweet woodruff flower. Inspired by Germany’s traditional Maiwein Bowle—a sparkling white wine infused with strawberries and bundles of sweet woodruff—this cuvée is made from estate-grown Vidal Blanc, planted over 35 years ago across four and a half acres. After cold fermentation with multiple yeast strains, the wine is infused with dried sweet woodruff, lightly sweetened, and spritzed with carbonation. The result is layered, bright, and delightfully eccentric, with just enough sweetness and energetic lift to carry its fascinating floral complexity across the palate.

White

2024

Just Pink

Rosé Wine From France With Love

Exactly that — it’s just pink, though not like the band, yet it carries just as much harmony and class. It’s all pink grapefruit, watermelon and those pink candied peach rings. But it’s bone-dry, with a saline undercurrent of zippy acidity. As winemaker Julien Fayard says, ‘Delicate, elegant, and just pink enough to make everything feel like summer without the sunburn.’

Rosé

2024

K Estate

Estate White

This wine comes from the 8-acre K Estate site in the Texas Hill Country and shows lemon-bright aromas with notes of lemon verbena, a saline-scented acidity, and wet stone minerality that carry through to the medium-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).

White

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Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2024

Producer

Name

There’s a lot going on with this Sauvignon Blanc. It’s fermented in barrel with biweekly bâtonnage for the first two months, then monthly afterward, and aged five months in French oak (12% new). The blend also includes 18% Sauvignon Gris. It’s absolutely delicious—heady and contemplative—with impressive midweight texture and tension. Layers of citrus and orchard fruit mingle with a salty, briny mineral character, accented by white flowers, almonds, and plenty of crushed sea salt on the lengthy, fruit- and mineral-rich finish. A cedarwood spice note is beautifully woven into the fabric of the wine, adding both texture and tension. I love the generosity here; it’s a wine you can pair with food, but it’s equally pleasurable as a solo sipper before or after a meal. Fantastic at this price.

White

2024

Producer

Name

One of my favorites from Christopher Tarce, this pét-nat is intensely floral, bursting with white flowers, rose petals, and a subtle rose stem note. The mousse is rich and creamy, yet the finish remains clean, crisp, and floral-driven, with a bright streak of minerality.

White

2024

Producer

Name

Part of the “Multi-Rosati” series—typically 5 to 8 bottlings released each year—this rosé is made from red fruit picked specifically for pink wine, hand-harvested, whole-cluster pressed, settled and fermented entirely in stainless steel. All wines in the series are vinified the same way to highlight varietal character and vineyard site. This bottling delivers deep red berry fruit with a wild, sauvage edge, layered with notes of cherry skin, kumquat rind, and a hint of cocoa powder. A striking chalky-salty minerality anchors the wine, which finishes with crisp, juicy acidity and remarkable complexity. Winemaker James Christopher Tracy says that he hopes the wine reflects its moderate maritime climate and dramatic ocean influence—and it certainly does.

Rosé

2024

Producer

Name

TASTING NOTE: Lot #1. Barrel Sample: Damn screamingly good, like Michael Browne leading the circus. Cabell Coursey cruising in for the ride, and together these rocketmen are blasting off with a spectacularly perfumed red wine with gorgeous cranberry and raspberry fruit, showing lifted elegance from nose to mid-palate through to the long, saline-acid finish. Bright, spicy, and super fresh, with blood orange and dark cherry notes carrying the core. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE: A blend of Koplen and Graham Vineyards, the 2024 CIRQ “The Ringmaster” showcases Michael Browne’s 20 years of experience working with both world-class Russian River Valley sites. Koplen Vineyard, located in western Santa Rosa, was planted 25 years ago and is meticulously farmed by Dennis and Linda Koplen. Graham Vineyard, situated in a cool and foggy spot in Forestville, California, was planted and is farmed by Charlie Chenoweth. The commitment to consistency and continuous improvement at both vineyards has made them the core of CIRQ wine. “The Ringmaster” presents a dark hue in the glass, with aromas of black cherries and berries, complemented by hints of oak, cedar, and spice. On the palate, an intense explosion of pomegranate, Olallie blackberry and black cherry unfolds, while herbal accents lend a savory quality. The wine is lush, with a palate-staining finish, well framed by ripe tannins and bright acidity. With its depth, complexity, and striking balance, this one-of-a-kind blend, crafted exclusively for this lot, commands attention and promises to evolve beautifully with time. WINEMAKER(S): Michael Browne, Cabell Coursey ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: February 2026 ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: October 2026 National Distribution: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, KS, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NC, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA

Red

2024

Producer

Name

This Cabernet Franc Blanc is one of the most surprising wines you’ll taste from Livermore. Nearly colorless, with a silvery-lemon hue, this blend of 85% Cabernet Franc, 10% Grüner Veltliner, and 5% Malbec from Lemmons Vineyard packs a serious punch on the palate. The nose opens with elegant white flowers and citrus, followed by subtle notes of pear and white peach. In the mouth, it comes alive with nectarine, yellow peach, honeycomb, and tangerine zest. It has great length and grip—a wine you’ll want to return to again and again.

White

2024

Producer

Name

Aged for seven months in neutral oak with a small portion in stainless steel, this wine is 100% estate grown from Triska Vineyard and Arroyo Mocho Creek Vineyard. The 2024 vintage brought a warmer end to the season, but for the white varieties it was a fairly average, steady growing year. The wine is wonderfully tropical, with white peach and pineapple notes, along with a touch of lemon curd. Fragrant French pastry tones and a hint of quince add lift and complexity. The finish is crisp and satisfying, laced with gentle warming baking spice.

White

2024

Producer

Name

The wine was aged for seven months in stainless steel and is made from 100% estate-grown fruit sourced from Lemmons Vineyard, a 15-acre site across from Darcie Kent Winery, and from Arroyo Mocho Creek Vineyard, just across the street from Concannon Vineyard. Concannon has been producing this wine since the 1980s. The Sémillon adds a softer textural component to the racy Sauvignon Blanc in this blend. It’s delicious, loaded with tropical fruit notes and a pop of lychee, with a lovely, lusciously sweet mid-palate—even though the wine finishes dry. Nuances of honeysuckle and white flowers bring bright, captivating detail.

White

2024

Producer

Name

This 100% estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc from Lemmons Vineyard comes from the northernmost site in the acclaimed Crane Ridge micro-region. It drinks like a paradise punch—bursting with pure, ripe, crunchy pineapple, peach, and nectarine fruit, with lingering notes of orange oil and honeysuckle. The rich mid-palate carries a supple, juicy weight that makes this wine a true crowd-pleaser.

White

2024

Producer

Name

TASTING NOTE: Lot #9. Barrel Sample: Showstopper. Has Dan Kosta Swagger and Shane Finley charisma. Super dark berry fruit and brown spices lead, with a lovely dark rose petal fragrance and a rich, grippy texture. Medium-bodied with impressive intensity and sinewy tannins. A powerful wine with remarkable depth and tension. From the Auction Lot Catalog: ABOUT THE WINE Sourced above the fog line at 1,000 feet of elevation in West Sonoma Coast, this exclusive bottling of Pinot Noir by Dan Kosta demonstrates the elusive reward of the grape grown under extreme conditions. Dan loves the tension he tastes in this wine. Crafted from a blend of his preferred clones, 777 and 115, “Above the Clouds” impresses with the elegant red fruit profile, poised tannin structure, and alluring depth of Sonoma County’s rugged coastal terroir. Aged for 15 months in exquisite French oak barrels from renowned Burgundian coopers Boutes, Sirugue & Rousseau, this medium-bodied, deep garnet-hued wine displays captivating red fruit aromas of strawberry and Bing cherry, complimented by delicate rose petals. Subtle yet firm tannins promise graceful aging, suggesting this wine is destined for a truly special occasion. Don’t miss this opportunity to acquire a piece of Sonoma County history with this exclusive Pinot Noir by Dan Kosta. WINEMAKER(S): Dan Kosta, Shane Finley ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: January 2026 ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: January 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

Exciting, mineral, and vivacious. Floral tones, along with citrus peel and just-ripe tropical fruit action, make this feel almost effortless to imbibe. Sourced from estate grapes grown in Rioja Alta. – J.R.

White

2024

Producer

Name

Fermented in a single stainless steel barrel and neutral French oak for up to six months before bottling, this wine is an absolute standout. It offers fragrant citrus, apricot, pear, and yellow apple, layered with aromatic wild herbs. The fruit is lush and silky, backed by a spine of racy acidity and a spicy ginger and saline mineral finish.

Red

2024

Producer

Name

From the winery’s estate Triska Vineyard—one of the coolest sites in the Crane Ridge area of Livermore Valley—where near-constant breezes sway the vines and mornings find the site shrouded in a thick blanket of coastal fog. Aged three months in stainless steel. This is such a pleasure-packed white wine. Is it the name, Alpine? Or does this wine truly have an alpine freshness—like the air on a morning hike up a craggy range on a cool winter day? In other words, it’s fresh and inviting, with a marvelously rich texture on the palate that gives the wine a luxurious feel, teeming with ripe orchard fruit and creamy white peach, supported by zesty lime-bright acidity on the lasting finish.

White

2024

Producer

Name

Fans of previous vintages of this wine will immediately recognize its rich, toasty, and buttery croissant aromatics, along with decadent layers of yellow apple, creamy pear, and warm baking spice accents. All that richness is supported by vibrant energy, and in 2024, all the components feel especially well-balanced and seamlessly integrated. In short, this is a delicious Chardonnay. The DeMayo Vineyard is a small 4-acre Chardonnay site in the Crane Ridge area of the Livermore Valley, located just south of Tesla Road, ranging from about 1,000 to 600 feet in elevation. Grapes are whole-cluster picked, then fermented and aged for six months in French oak.

White

2024

Producer

Name

100% Sauvignon Blanc, Musqué clone, from the 30-acre Lemmons Vineyard, fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel. The vineyard blocks were planted in 2017 and 2020, as the site has been trending cooler each year—ideal conditions for Sauvignon Blanc, which continues to thrive here. This wine is superbly citrus-focused, with high-toned jalapeño and white pepper nuances layered over green apple, pear, and a kiss of passion fruit. Mouthwatering acidity gives it grip and energy, driving a lengthy, spicy finish.

White

2024

Producer

Name

100% Sauvignon Blanc from Triska Vineyard, aged for three months in stainless steel. A refined and expressive wine with notes of kiwi, lychee, and lemon and lime blossoms. Medium-bodied, with zesty lime-driven acid tension and juicy Melon de Bourgogne character. There’s excellent phenolic grip, and the finish lingers with grapefruit zest and tangerine oil essence—refreshing and vibrant from start to finish.

White

2024

Producer

Name

This vibrant rosé supports a meaningful cause: the winery donates $2 per bottle to Access Community Health to provide breast cancer screening for underprivileged individuals in the East Bay. Winemaker Julian Halasz notes, “We treat this like a white wine”—gentle whole-cluster pressing, strategic press cuts, and aging for three months in stainless steel. The result is a bright, crunchy red-fruited wine with cranberry, raspberry, and strawberry notes, accented by a hint of watermelon rind. It gains mid- to full-bodied richness from 7 g/L of residual sugar, yet remains incredibly balanced and refreshing, finishing bone dry with a lift of zesty orange oil. A fantastic food-friendly rosé