The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Oh my goodness—just wait until you stick your nose in the glass. As the name suggests, this Chardonnay will romance you (and fool you) into thinking it hails from Burgundy. It doesn’t—it’s pure Sta. Rita Hills—but it delivers all the elegance and tension you’d expect from France. The nose is a stunner: lemon oil, lemon zest, white peach, wet river stone, and that unmistakable crushed oyster shell sea spray character from the region’s diatomaceous-rich soils. And that’s just the beginning. On the palate, it’s broad yet focused, with saline-scented acidity underscoring layers of lemon and tangerine oil. Pressed wildflowers and mineral energy carry the finish, which seems to go on forever.
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.
Just nine barrels were produced of this expressive and captivating Pinot Noir, sourced from Rancho La Viña Vineyard. Native yeast fermentation with 100% whole clusters and extended barrel aging lend the wine remarkable complexity and aromatic lift. Black cherry fruit leaps from the glass, laced with incense, smoked paprika, and exotic spice. Finely layered apple-skin tannins provide excellent grip and texture across the mid-palate, while the dark cherry and spice notes carry through an everlasting, savory finish.
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!
Just one barrel of this wine was produced, and I feel only slightly guilty they sent me even a single bottle to review (insert smiley face emoji here). But let me tell you—if you can get your hands on any, consider yourself lucky. This is a lovely, expressive, and supple-textured rosé with beautifully lifted orchard and stone fruit notes. The palate offers zesty, salty sea spray, honeydew melon, and perfectly crisp acidity, finishing with honeysuckle aromatics that linger. Way to go, winemaker Iaon Pohlit—this is rocking. More next time, please!
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.
A bold, dark-fruited Merlot that pulls no punches—bursting with kirsch, ground espresso, and cedarwood aromas, along with a subtle walnut husk character. The palate is dense and brooding, with ripe currant fruit wrapped in muscular tannins that carry through to a firm, structured finish. This is a hefty, full-throttle expression of Merlot—decidedly not for the faint of heart.
The Pommard-named Pinot Noir from Riverbench is a soft, supple, and satiny red that delivers immediate charm. Cherry and raspberry fruit take center stage, layered with sweet baking spices, a hint of vanilla, and new cedar wood nuances. Subtle notes of flamed grapefruit peel and tangy blood orange acidity add lift and energy. Featherweight tannins gently frame the juicy core, offering just enough grip to carry the wine through a long, polished finish.
Such an easy-going and quaffable red, ideally served with a slight chill. Bright Bing cherry leads the way, accented by orange peel, grapefruit zest, and delicate rose petal nuances. A subtle espresso bean character adds depth, while juicy cherry and cherry pit notes carry through to the finish, where a gentle hint of incense lingers.
This Rhône blend opens with a fragrant bouquet of violets, black currant, spiced plums, honeysuckle, and rich dark chocolate. These aromas transition seamlessly to a full-bodied palate where elongated beams of cedar-scented tannins provide structure and depth. Satiny and lush, the dark berry fruit expands across the mid-palate and lingers on the finish.
The Tiradora white from Refugio Ranch is a dynamic, complex, and deeply layered wine with excellent fruit concentration. Aromas of apricot and charred pineapple lead the charge, nuanced by wildflower blossoms and grapefruit zest. The palate is bracketed by bracing lemon-lime acidity and framed with a taut saline-mineral tension that adds structure and drive. Subtle oak aging lends fragrant baking spice notes that weave seamlessly into the wine’s vibrant profile. A pleasure-packed white.
The winery is part of the historic Mexican land grant once owned by the James Flood family of San Francisco, located along the Sisquoc River in northern Santa Barbara County, east of Santa Maria. This Syrah is fresh and expressive, with bold notes of ripe blackberries, dark cherries, and dark chocolate, lifted by floral accents of violets and a touch of white pepper. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it delivers juicy, farmer’s market-style fruit with subtle baking spice nuances. Superfine tannins lend structure and poise, framing a long, balanced finish.
The winery sits on an original Mexican land grant once owned by the James Flood family of San Francisco, located along the Sisquoc River in northern Santa Barbara County, east of Santa Maria. This Pinot Noir is lush, layered, and expressive, offering ripe raspberry and cherry fruit bracketed by firm, mineral-scented tannins. Notes of blood orange and crushed cacao nibs underscore the wine’s saline-acid finish, which brings excellent tension and length.
This Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir from Presqu’ile is a beautifully perfumed, spice-driven wine that balances energy with elegance. The nose is alive with soaring spice—Chinese five spice, sandalwood, and a touch of minty lift—while the palate brims with crunchy red cherry, tangy blood orange, and fragrant clove. Medium-bodied and vibrant, it offers a supple, seamless mid-palate framed by saline minerality and a long, textured finish laced with wet slate. Aged 11 months in a combination of neutral French oak and stainless steel, the wine showcases its purity and freshness with ease. Grapes are sourced from the estate vineyards as well as select sites in Santa Maria and Los Alamos. Winemaker is Dieter Cronje, who has guided the Presqu’ile program since its founding in 2008.
Aromatically fresh and clean, this Santa Barbara County Chardonnay from Presqu’ile opens with lime zest, crisp apple, and white peach. The medium-bodied palate follows with fleshy pear and orchard fruit, supported by a subtle creaminess that adds depth without weight. A soaring line of acidity drives the wine, giving it excellent focus and lift, while the mineral finish leaves an impression of finesse.Aged for up to seven months in stainless steel with a portion in neutral barrels, the grapes are sourced from the estate vineyards and select sites around Los Alamos, and crafted under the steady hand of winemaker Dieter Cronje, who has been with the Murphy family since founding the winery in 2008.
Wonderfully savory from the outset, this wine opens with aromas of buttered croissant, apricot jam, and orange marmalade, layered with honeysuckle blossoms. The medium-bodied palate is infused with those same golden-hued flavors, supported by a framework of subtle cherry skin tannins and delicate notes of pressed white flowers. Crushed Marcona almonds add a textured, nutty elegance to the lengthy finish.
The Runaway Vineyard Pinot Noir is a supple, juicy expression of the grape, offering generous dark berry fruit layered with fine cedarwood spice, a hint of agave nectar, and espresso bean. Gentle tannins and medium-bright acidity frame the wine, making for an easy-going, approachable, and thoroughly satisfying sip.
From the Presqu’ile Vineyard comes this elegant, light- to medium-bodied Pinot Noir with supple, velvet-textured tannins and graceful, lifted acidity. Layers of strawberry-rhubarb interlace with bright baking spice notes, while a subtle pink Himalayan sea salt nuance adds intrigue on the medium-length finish.
From the brilliant Sashi Moorman comes this riveting Syrah from Rim Rock Vineyard—a wine that soars aromatically with wild rose, rhubarb, crushed violets, dried thyme, and oven-roasted black olives. On the palate, it delivers a striking sense of liquid rock intensity and kinetic energy. Rich loamy earth and chalky mineral notes underscore its muscular frame, while the structure remains focused and finely detailed. This is an utterly dazzling Syrah.
The 2021 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah from winemaker Sashi Moorman is notably less savory than the Rim Rock Vineyard bottling, but no less dynamic. Bright and expressive, it bursts with crunchy red fruit, violet florals, and rose stem, all wrapped in taut, apple-skin tannins. A vivid streak of zesty, zippy acidity propels the wine forward, framing a long, mineral-driven finish laced with white pepper and crushed stone.
