The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
This is the first release of this wine made entirely from own-rooted Syrah grown in pure beach sand. The complexity here is almost beyond comprehension—but you don’t need to understand it. You just need to drink it. The nose is bright and effusive, with black cherry and blackberry fruit, violet, honeysuckle, and jasmine. Bold, glorious tannins build across the full-bodied palate, delivering incredible density. It’s long, layered, and deeply expressive.
This wine is intensely expressive, with notes of new leather, white pepper, black cherry, and espresso bean. On the palate, crushed cocoa nib tannins frame a full-bodied richness, while espresso bean oil lingers through the long, layered finish. Nuances of black sage and black sea salt add complexity and depth to a finish that goes on and on.
This is the bright Flower of Ballard Canyon, with expressive notes of honeycomb, white flowers, crushed almonds, sea salt, and sea grass, all framed by bracing, chalky minerality and scintillating acid tension. The mid-palate shows exceptional weight and density, and the finish is everlasting with lingering citrus oil and zest.
This is 100% Sangiovese—just five barrels, all aged in older oak. It carries a brightness and purity of fruit that firmly situates it in Santa Ynez, where high, golden sunlight and Pacific-scented breezes infuse the wine with clarity and lift. There’s no rusticity here—just vibrant raspberry preserves and sage, anchored by firm, taut, mineral-rich tannins. Subtle hints of tobacco thread through the wine’s coiled energy and textural tension. It’s crunchy and precise now, but that structure will soften and deepen with time. These wines evolve into something profoundly savory—layered with loamy earth, liquid leather, and an undeniable sense of soul. Drink it now for its youthful exuberance, or hold it to experience the full savory fireworks still to come.
This vineyard selection Syrah—crafted from the winery’s favorite lots—is a commanding expression of the grape, with the volume unapologetically turned up to 11. Full-bodied and deeply concentrated, it leads with inky blackberry and blueberry fruit wrapped in muscular tannins that grip with purpose and stay the course. There’s structure and tension, but also lift—thanks to a line of saline-laced acidity that brings freshness and clarity. Complex layers of black sage, candied violets, rose petal, and rose stem add floral dimension, while a dusting of white pepper completes the finish.
Only five barrels were produced of this Rhône blend from Jaffurs, and it’s a beauty. The nose is utterly captivating—candied violets, black cherry, and vanilla layered over ironstone minerality. The palate is soft and juicy on entry, bursting with plump cherry, blackberry, and spiced plum fruit. Zesty, mouthwatering acidity lifts the wine, while that perfumed violet character returns and lingers through a pretty, medium-length, mineral-driven finish.
From Amy Christine MW and Peter Hunken comes this downright thrilling Syrah—an utterly complete wine that captures the soul of the variety. High-toned violet aromatics evoke the spirit of the Northern Rhône, while savory elements of white pepper, black truffle, and charcuterie speak to Syrah’s wilder side. On the palate, it’s driven by zesty, saline-acid tension—imagine a squeeze of blood orange over herb-laced sea salt—balanced by sinewy tannins that bring a muscular architecture to the wine. Agave nectar and dried sage add nuance to the long, spicy finish.Super bright and zesty, complex and layered.
From Hitching Post founders Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley—who’ve been at it since 1979—comes this 2021 Pinot Noir, a lovely, easy-drinking, and beautifully balanced wine from the renowned Fiddlestix Vineyard. It’s juicy and expressive, with velvet-textured tannins framing ripe cherry and blackberry fruit. Accents of fine cedar and bright acidity lend freshness and lift to the medium-bodied palate, which resolves in a smooth, satisfying finish.
You can’t miss this wine in a lineup—it proudly sports a bright green Sideways 20-Year Anniversary sticker across the top. If you know the film and the original book by author Rex Pickett, you already understand the significance. If not, pause here, Google Sideways, then return—better yet, read my Decanter article, “A Drink With: Rex Pickett,” for the full story. As for the wine itself, it’s a juicy, delicious, and highly drinkable Pinot Noir with soft, supple tannins and plump, ripe black cherry and plum fruit. A bone-dry finish is laced with brown baking spices and cedarwood accents. Enjoy it with a well-salted ribeye—or solo while rewatching Paul Giamatti’s now-iconic Pinot-fueled unraveling performance.
From the Portico Hills Vineyard in Los Alamos, this vibrant Pinot Noir from Sunny Doench Stricker is both pretty and purposeful. Bright red berry fruit mingles with warm baking spices, while the palate is vivid and refreshingly acid-driven. A saline-scented tension runs through the core, lending focus and energy. Fine, apple-skin tannins build toward a dry, mineral-laced finish. This is unquestionably a wine to enjoy over a meal.
From Grassini Family Vineyards, the ‘SAUVI B’ Sauvignon Blanc playfully bills itself as “Breakfast Wine”—not because it tastes like a breakfast sandwich (it doesn’t), but because its brisk 12.8% alcohol and lip-smacking acidity could rival your morning espresso. While not actually recommended for sipping at sunrise, it’s a perfect companion for oysters, crisp salads, and yes, even a side of fries at lunch. Zesty and lemon-bright, it layers in crushed almond nuances, white peach, and delicate white flowers, all carried through a long, refreshing finish.
Bill Wathen and Dick Doré have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen at Rancho Tinaquaic. Their grapes are SIP Certified and sustainably farmed. The 2020 Pinot Noir is a powerhouse—still tightly wound in 2025, with tremendous tension and broad-shouldered, sinewy tannins. Dark cherry fruit interlaces with incense and espresso bean aromas, while tangy tangerine peel and blood orange acidity bring freshness and lift. The finish is long and textured, with notes of dusty cocoa powder and cherry pit.
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.
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.
Made in the méthode champenoise style from the Riverbench Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley, this sparkling wine—affectionately dubbed “goat bubbles”—leaps from the glass with inviting aromas of yellow peach, poached pear, and yellow apple, all mingling like orchard fruit jam on warm, buttered croissants. The palate is enveloped in a luxuriously creamy mousse, carrying those rich fruit tones with elegance. A wet slate finish adds mineral complexity.
Everything you’ve come to expect in a well-made Merlot: plush, dark plum fruit layered with warm baking spices and fragrant cedarwood, with a deep, almost mahogany-like richness. Full-bodied and juicy on the palate, it’s underpinned by unusually firm, crisp tannins—adding unexpected structure and personality. The wine’s depth is matched by a lifted finish scented with violets and dried herbs
Part of the winery’s single vineyard and small lot program, this estate site—planted in 1989 and named in memory of Fess Parker’s late son-in-law—is primarily dedicated to Rhône varieties. The Syrah here is particularly expressive, leaping from the glass with vivid aromas of black cherry, spiced charcuterie, violets, and cracked black pepper. On the palate, the wine is bold and dense, with elliptical, muscular tannins that support the aromatic profile as flavors, delivering remarkable concentration and grip. The finish is bone dry and tense, with lasting complexity and structure.
A single-vineyard release, Ashley is named for Fess Parker’s daughter and sourced from a hillside site just 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean, where sandy, low-vigor soils yield fruit of exceptional purity and concentration. This Pinot Noir opens with rich black cherry aromas infused with clove, incense, and espresso bean. On the palate, ripe, sweet, and fleshy cherry fruit brings supple weight and satiny density to the mid-palate. Powdery tannins build gracefully into a medium- to full-bodied finish, where a panoply of brown spices, wild herbs, and pressed flowers adds depth and dimension.
A fragrant and juicy Grenache Blanc that radiates charm and refreshment. Tangy lime citrus acidity frames layers of white florals and ripe orchard fruit, creating a supple yet energetic palate. So lemon-lime bright, it practically insists on being paired with a dozen oysters—briny, cold, and freshly shucked.
