The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
The Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir is a Sonoma County appellation blend, divined from exceptional fruit sources, and for winemaker Justin Harmon he wants it to explode out of the glass. As Harmon puts it, “Every single one of our Pinots has a shot at becoming this cuvée.” The final blend is often anchored by Swan selection, followed by Calera and Clone 115. Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 22 months in 85% new French oak, the wine delivers on its promise—it practically explodes from the glass with expressive dark berry fruit, floral intensity, and spice. The palate is creamy and decadent, medium- to full-bodied, with lavish notes of clove, cardamom, and baking spice layered over crushed cacao nibs and violets. A hint of rose petal and crushed river stones adds further complexity. The finish is long, fruit-driven, and spiced-up, framed by juicy acidity that lifts the wine’s richness and keeps it fresh and vibrant.
From the renowned Kanzler Vineyard, this Pinot Noir is strikingly floral and high-toned, with lifted aromatics of white pepper, blood orange, and rose petals. Medium-bodied with wonderful depth and concentration, the palate reveals ripe dark berry fruit framed by sinewy, velvety tannins. Layers of baking spice—clove in particular—interweave with crushed slate and a full-bodied richness. The finish is long, salty, and perfumed, leaving a lasting impression of elegance and power in equal measure.
From the renowned Kanzler Vineyard, the 2023 Pinot Noir bursts with vivid freshness and tension, offering bright notes of ruby red grapefruit, blood orange, and savory sage. Aromatics of anise, mint, rose petal, and rose stem lend complexity and lift, while crisp, woody tannins provide structure. Juicy, spicy acidity laced with saline and pine forest character underscores the wine’s impeccable grip and precision. Compared to the softer, more supple 2022 vintage, the 2023 is taut and energetic, built for longevity. Enjoy the generosity of the 2022s now—by the boatload—while the 2023s continue to evolve toward their full potential.
This wine bangs hard — In a great way! Sourced from both hillside and valley floor vineyards within the Sonoma Mountain AVA, this wine showcases striking vitality and spice-driven aromatics. The nose is bold and expressive, with notes of blood orange, grapefruit zest, fragrant pine forest, and wild underbrush. Medium-bodied on the palate, it unfolds with vibrant citrus tones and firm yet elongated velvety tannins. Rose petal lifts the lengthy, perfumed finish. Grapes were destemmed, then cluster- and berry-sorted before undergoing a seven-day cold soak in stainless steel with inactive yeasts naturally propagating. Fermentation began spontaneously as the must warmed, driven entirely by native yeasts. Following fermentation, precise press cuts separated free-run and press juice before barreling. The wine was aged for 16 months in 87% new French oak, resulting in a complex, richly textured expression of Sonoma Mountain fruit.
This Le Rayon Vert is a Barrel Select Cuvée that undergoes an extended élevage, spending six months in stainless steel following its time in oak prior to bottling. The nose is strikingly flinty and toasty, with layers of nectarine, kumquat, and orange peel with spicy ginger. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it offers intense grip and saline-acid tension that energizes the structure. The finish is long and warming, with a lingering note of apple pie spice that rounds out the wine’s vibrant core.
The Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay is a study in elegance and aromatic complexity. Winemaker Justin Harmon has worked with this site since 2009, and the depth of familiarity shows in the wine’s finesse. It opens with captivating notes of black licorice, wild fennel, and tarragon, layered over salty citrus fruit and delicate apple blossom. There’s a distinctive herbal lift—like cold chamomile tea—that interplays beautifully with high-toned orchard fruit and expressive baking spices. The palate shows excellent concentration, anchored by a firm bed of juicy, crunchy acidity that carries through a long, vibrant finish.
The 2023 Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay marks a textural departure from the 2022 vintage. Whereas the 2022 was softer and suppler, the 2023 is fresher, more dynamic, and longer on the palate, with focused tension and a deeper layering of candied ginger and rich brown baking spices—almost like brown sugar spice—unfolding along the finish. Sea spray minerality carries the day, complemented by lemony citrus and tangerine zest, alongside characteristic apple blossom and nutty, spiced nuances that emerge on the lingering finish. Captivating and mouth-watering.
This is the kind of Chardonnay I could drink from morning to morning. Bennett Valley, an ancient geological crater bordered to the west by Sonoma Mountain and the Petaluma Gap AVA, traps cold air as it spills over the mountain, creating a bowl-like effect that necessitates frost protection throughout the growing season. Fruit from this site was gently whole-cluster pressed and sent directly to barrel for fermentation with native yeasts, including roughly 25% new French oak. Aged for 16 months, the resulting wine is bright and focused on the nose, with inviting aromas of candied citrus peel, baking spices, toasted oak, and a hint of candied ginger. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it mirrors the aromatic complexity, with warming notes of vanilla, crushed Marcona almonds, and citrus peel carried through a lengthy, layered finish. Rich yet precise, this is a beautifully composed and texturally compelling wine.
The winery’s inaugural Sauvignon Blanc, first produced in 2023, hails from the Steiner Vineyard in Bennett Valley—a late-ripening site where the valley converges with the slopes of Sonoma Mountain. Of the 50-acre parcel, roughly half is under vine, and this bottling comes from an Italian selection planted there. The fruit was pressed into tank and fermented at cool temperatures (around 60°F) on fine lees, then racked to neutral French oak barrels for five months prior to bottling. Super bright and citrus-driven, it offers striking sea spray minerality and aromatic lift. Medium-bodied, with layered notes of citrus, apricot, and white peach, the palate is framed by racy acidity and taut mineral tension. A vibrant, expressive debut with notable freshness and complexity.
This Chardonnay opens with bold aromas of Meyer lemon and sweet, toasty oak that mellow beautifully on the palate. Layers of lemon oil, apricot, ripe yellow apple, and pear create a rich fruit salad character, all framed by zesty acid tension. The finish evokes the indulgent pleasure of a decaadent, powdered sugar-dusted lemon bar.
From the organically farmed Two Wolves Vineyard, this Cabernet Sauvignon offers expressive aromas of cassis, tobacco, and cedarwood. On the medium-bodied palate, savory notes of black olive and liquorice emerge, framed by crisp, finely structured tannins. Juicy blackberry and cherry fruit underscore the finish, adding lift and freshness.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
