The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Aged for 16 months in twice-used French oak, this limited 25-case Merlot hails from Akin Vineyards in the Sierra Foothills. It’s a vibrant, energetic expression, offering crystalline red berry fruit—cranberry and raspberry—layered with subtle incense, brown spices, and flamed orange peel. Floral notes and wet river stone minerality add lift and elegance, while feathery-fine tannins provide gentle structure.
Poulet Sautant Unoaked Chardonnay is named for the “jumping chickens” on Bob Pruett’s property—specifically, his wife’s Polish Frizzles. During the growing season, the chickens leap up to knock berries off the vines to feed their young, which Bob has come to view as a charming (and accurate) indicator that the grapes are ripe and ready to harvest. This unoaked Chardonnay is super fresh and bright, with aromas of ripe pear, apple, and lemon citrus. Medium-bodied on the palate, it shows fleshy, creamy pear and apple fruit framed by zesty, electric acid tension. The finish is lifted by a touch of salinity and a pop of honeycomb.
Harvested just after midnight to preserve freshness, this white was made with precision and intention—sourced from the north-facing side of the vines to enhance its lean, mineral character. Inspired by the wines of Southern Burgundy, it was whole-cluster pressed, barrel-fermented in neutral French oak, and aged sur lie for six months. A Burgundian yeast strain was used to further emulate the region’s style. The result is a mineral-driven wine bursting with peach, pear, and yellow apple. The palate showcases pure stone fruit flavors with a refined, almost delicate elegance. -JR
Fermented and aged entirely in FCC Crystal stainless steel (austenitic-grade, named for the crystalline structure of the steel), this Chardonnay is sourced exclusively from Bob’s Vineyard and planted to Dijon clones. “We treated the pressing like a Sauvignon Blanc,” the winemaker says—blanketing it with CO₂ to keep the wine in a reductive state before fermenting and aging it entirely in stainless, with malolactic fermentation fully blocked. The aromatics are vibrant and layered, with notes of honeycomb, orange zest, and crushed almonds. Medium-bodied on the palate, it shows a rich vein of crystalline acid tension and sea salt minerality, with impressive length.
Fermented and aged in stainless steel with just a touch of malolactic fermentation, this Chardonnay is sourced from both the Russian River Valley and West Sonoma Coast. It’s crisp and clean, with bright citrus, apricot, and pear layered with hints of honeycomb and wildflowers. Medium-bodied, with excellent length, focused fruit, and a saline-mineral tension.
The GPS red blend gets its name from a double meaning—both a nod to place and a California spin on traditional Rhône blends (with Grenache and Syrah joined by Petite Sirah to form Page Mill’s flagship red). The youthful nose of this 2022 vintage brims with raspberry, cinnamon, violets, plums, and pepper, while the palate delivers flavors of black raspberry and black cherry. Powerful yet smooth, the wine is beautifully balanced by a vibrant, energetic lift that keeps it fresh and compelling. -JR
This Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of fruit from four distinct vineyards, thoughtfully selected to showcase the microclimates of Livermore Valley—from the cool, southwestern edge of Kalthoff Commons to the deeper mid-valley soils and the warmer eastern boundary. Aromas of dried violets, cassis, and black plum are layered with savory undertones and a mineral-spiced edge. On the palate, it delivers a well-crafted, balanced attack—melding firm, linear acidity with supple black fruit flavors. The finish lingers with a subtle hit of licorice. -JR
A perky, mineral-driven Chardonnay sourced from the San Francisco Bay area, this elegant sipper offers notes of white peach, lemon, and a mix of green and yellow apples. The mouthfeel is almost Chablis-like, marked by chalky minerality that gives way to vibrant flavors of ripe citrus fruit. Bright, clean, and refined—an excellent example of cool-climate California Chardonnay with finesse. -JR
A refined and elegant red, this Grenache is floral, fresh, and almost delicate, with lifted aromas of red berries. The mouthfeel is absolutely lovely—herbal, spicy, and layered with vibrant red plum fruit. A sense of energy and poise carries through to the long, graceful finish, well-balanced and expressive. -JR
Titled as a love letter to owner and winemaker Dane Stark’s wife, this 100% Grenache rosé opens with delicate notes of wild strawberry and rose petals. A pleasing hint of structural astringency—like plum skin—adds texture to the palate, which finishes with elegance and a refined, mineral-driven character. -JR
Fermented in stainless steel, this Sauvignon Blanc is grassy, vibrant, and aromatic, with just-ripe tropical fruit and subtle herbal undertones. Sourced from a cooler site in the Livermore Valley, the palate is energetic and refreshing, delivering crowd-pleasing notes of stone fruit and citrus. A bright, lively white that’s perfect for warm days and versatile at the table. -JR
Harvested from the Cresta Blanca and Ghielmetti vineyards, this wine was aged for 34 months in twice-used American and French oak. Alluring aromatics lead with red and black currant, sage, dried spearmint, and new wood cedar. Medium-bodied on entry, with saline minerality framing a juicy, savory black-fruited core. Firm tannins and a touch of olive tapenade carry through to the lengthy finish.
Sourced from the Ziganti Vineyard and aged in neutral oak, this is a savory, plum-driven expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose offers dried herbs alongside juicy red and black currants, while the palate delivers lifted notes of red plum and loganberry. A toasty, well-integrated finish rounds out this vibrant and approachable wine. -JR
Sourced from Lodi’s Silva Spoons Vineyard, this white was fermented with native yeasts, saw a touch of skin contact, and was aged partially (30%) in neutral French oak. The nose opens with inviting notes of honey, citrus, and orange blossom. On the orange-flavored palate, it strikes a beautiful balance between linear acidity and a sultry, rounded texture. -JR
Floral, tropical, and herbaceous—this Torrontés from Lodi hits all the right notes for the variety. Crafted with a deft touch by Omega Road, it offers a vibrant, expressive nose of tropical fruit and blossoms. The palate is bright and citric, with a clean mineral edge that brings precision and lift. Delicious. -JR
Sourced from the female-owned Crackerbox Vineyards, this 100% Sangiovese Rosé was aged sur lie for four months prior to bottling and release. It opens with brilliantly bright wild herb aromatics—dried lavender, thyme, and rosemary—accented by hints of prairie grass. The palate is nicely textured, with excellent grip and juicy cranberry and black raspberry fruit. Slightly underripe strawberry adds a crunchy edge, like biting into the white part near the stem. Firm acids give this wine great tension. Enjoy it with tacos.
With 10% of proceeds from each bottle benefiting the Celebration Nation Organization in support of farmworkers and their families, this red blend carries purpose along with personality. Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Carignan, 3% Tempranillo, 3% Zinfandel, and 3% Semillon, it offers intriguing spice notes alongside jaunty plum fruit aromas. The palate evolves from tangy to chewy to silky, delivering friendly red fruit flavors with excellent lift and impressive length. -JR
Licorice, mulberry, and wild blueberry leap from the buoyant nose of this Lodi-sourced Mencía. The red fruit-driven palate is delicious, eager, and effortlessly appealing. Waves of peppery spice roll in with persistent energy—just when you think it’s done, another layer arrives. A vibrant, spice-laced wine with charm and character. -JR
The 2021 “Dos Mesas” Red Blend is rich, juicy, and neatly compact—a focused expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that’s teeming with loamy earth accents woven through a rich tapestry of blackberry and black currant fruit flavors. Tobacco spice layers in with notes of spiced Mexican mocha, all framed by superfine tannins and terrific length and intensity.
