The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Just before harvest, the Grenache vines are lightened of their load and those grapes are used to make this rosé The grapes are foot-stomped with 48 hours of skin contact before being pressed to neutral barrels for fermentation. The wine is then aged for six months prior to bottling. Only about 300 cases are produced each year. This vintage is exceptionally fresh and focused, with bright, crunchy red berry fruit, layers of grapefruit zest, cherry, and cherry pit, and a hint of tangerine peel. A lovely saline-acid mineral tension carries through the long, drawn-out finish. Utterly refreshing, bright, and beautifully balanced.
From the Spear Vineyard, this Chardonnay is layered with signature traits of the site: rich honeycomb, overripe lemon, and crushed Marcona almonds. On the palate, it’s textured and expressive, with subtle apple skin tannins framing flavors of yellow apple, ripe pear, and warm baking spices. The wine carries through to a lengthy, beautifully bright finish.
Fermented with 100% whole clusters, this Estrella Clone Syrah from Robert Rae Ranch—just 9.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean—delivers all the hallmark aromatics you’d expect: violet, black cherry, and black olive. But what sets it apart is its electrifying structure. Medium-bodied, zippy, and perfumed, it showcases soaring tannins and lip-smacking acidity that gives the wine serious cut and tension. Bright, floral, and bracingly fresh, this Syrah begs to be served with a chill and paired with hearty fare—think rich pastas or wood-fired pizza.
Sourced from Wente clone Chardonnay, this small-production wine (just 125 cases) was fermented in stainless steel and aged for six months in neutral oak. Exotic aromas of mango, papaya, and white peach mingle with lemon zest and zesty ginger. Medium-bodied and supple, the palate is energized by racy acidity, allowing the vivid tropical and stone fruits to gain depth and complexity. The finish is long and textural, framed by chalky minerality and a flourish of pressed white flowers.
This 100% Pinot Noir from the organically farmed Wild King Vineyard is composed entirely of Clone 114. Fermented in open-top vats and aged in neutral oak, only two barrels were produced. The nose is lifted and spicy, with aromas of rose petal, rose stem, and black cherry. On the medium-bodied palate, sinewy tannins take center stage, giving the wine a firm, structured edge. It finishes with impressive energy and a clean, chalky minerality that lingers.
Fermented and aged in stainless steel, this medium- to full-bodied white is bursting with character. Expressive notes of hibiscus, honeysuckle, poached pear, and yellow peach mingle with crushed salted almonds. A vein of crunchy, zesty acidity adds tension and brightness, while subtle layers of orange oil carry through to the long, satisfyingly delicious finish. It absolutely beckons for another sip.
Sourced from sustainably farmed estate vineyards and aged 10 months sur lies in French oak barrels (31% new), this Pinot Noir is bold and expressive. Aromas of ripe raspberry and strawberry leap from the glass, accented by new wood cedar. The palate is framed by firm, structured tannins and layered with river stone minerality, pressed wildflowers, and a fragrant burst of blood orange that energizes the mid-palate.
This marks the first time a sparkling wine from this iconic vineyard has come across my desk. Crafted in the traditional method with secondary fermentation in bottle, it spent 28 months on the lees, developing lovely baked apple and toasty brioche richness. Lemon-lime aromatics mingle with nougat, while the creamy, enveloping mousse resolves beautifully through a lime-bright acid freshness.
A perfect snapshot of Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay, this bottling from Longoria opens with a Meyer lemon–infused bouquet that sets the tone for what follows. On the medium- to full-bodied palate, fragrant notes of candied ginger and quince unfold with round, rich texture and silky phenolics. The finish is long and mouthwatering, laced with salted candied lemon peel and a gentle dusting of fragrant baking spices. Just dazzling.
From La Encantada Vineyard, this Pinot Noir begins with a gentle, understated bouquet—delicate red berry fruit and subtle spice—but quickly unfolds on the palate with remarkable transformation. What starts as restrained becomes expansive, revealing layers of dark, juicy cherry and plum fruit supported by burly, structured tannins with velvety edges. A firm spine of tangy acidity carries the richness and depth of fruit through a long, spice-laced finish.
The Golden Slope Chardonnay—sourced from Rita’s Crown, Hilltop, Clos Pepe, Spear, and Kessler-Haak—is native fermented and aged up to 16 months in mostly puncheons, with about 15% new French oak. Founder Jeff Nelson notes that the barrel program plays a vital role in leveraging the muscularity of their whites, particularly in this bottling. The 2023 vintage is among the most focused expressions of Golden Slope in recent memory. It’s as gorgeously layered and fragrant as ever, bursting with lemon and lime zest, apricot, and tangerine oil, framed by supple, juicy fruit and laser-focused saline-acid tension. The finish is long, detailed, and expressive, with crushed Marcona almonds and a hint of honeycomb richness.
The ‘Four’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection comprised in equal parts from Fiddlestix, Pali, Spear, and Radian vineyards. Fermented in stainless steel and aged up to 18 months in a mix of mostly neutral and approximately 25% new French oak, with 15% whole cluster inclusion, this wine offers exceptional complexity and balance. It captures the darker fruit power and tension of Radian, the vivid raspberry brightness of Fiddlestix, the plush texture and softness from Pali, and the spice-driven nuance of Spear. Aromatically expressive, it delivers coriander, incense, and cedarwood wrapped around a medium-bodied palate of pure dark fruit. Sinewy, fine-grained tannins give structure and persistence.
The 2023 White Hill Chardonnay—named in homage to Chablis and the diatomaceous soils of the Sta. Rita Hills—is native fermented and aged for 11 months in a mix of neutral barrels and large-format French barriques (with zero new oak). It showcases exceptional depth and drive thanks to the long, cool growing season. Fruit is sourced from some of the AVA’s most iconic sites: Hilltop, Kessler-Haak, Clos Pepe, Spear, and Rita’s Crown.
Lemon peel, white apricot, and honeycomb lead the aromatic charge, while the palate is etched with crackling saline-mineral tension. There’s serious mid-palate density, but also thrilling lift—bright lemon-lime acidity, layered white floral notes, and a mouthwatering brininess that lingers through the long, linear finish. It’s one of the most complete and textural White Hill releases to date.
This 100% Pinot Noir “SBC” cuvée (first released in 2015) blends fruit from Fiddlestix, Spear, Pali, La Rinconada, and Radian vineyards. Fermented in open-top stainless steel with punchdowns, the wine is then aged up to 11 months in neutral French oak with about 10% new oak and 10–15% whole cluster inclusion. The result is absolutely gorgeous: vivid ruby red fruit, grapefruit zest, rhubarb, rose petal, and espresso bean aromas lead into a medium-bodied palate of luscious cherry fruit and velvet-textured tannins. Focused and linear, with crunchy acidity that lifts the finish and keeps things fresh and energetic.
From Bien Nacido Vineyard’s iconic Z Block—known as “The Original Hillside”—this Syrah marries elegance with tremendous power. The mid-palate reveals concentrated, juicy dark cherry and plum fruit, layered with notes of cocoa powder, strawberry-rhubarb compote, and candied violets. Fine-grained tannins, carrying a refined bergamot tea quality, are supported by saline-driven acidity that provides lift and tension. The finish is long, spicy, and savory, underpinned by a deep mineral core.
A striking Roussanne that showcases purity and precision, this wine opens with fresh orchard fruit notes—pear, apple, and a hint of quince—lifted by aromas of almond paste and delicate white flowers. The medium-bodied palate is textured and layered, energized by vibrant lemon-lime acidity that cuts through richer tones of lemon oil, dried apricot, and honeycomb. Expressive and beautifully balanced, it delivers both freshness and depth in equal measure, with a long, energetic finish that lingers on citrus and floral tones.
This expressive and beautifully layered Pinot Noir from the Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills offers a compelling blend of red cherry fruit, agave, violet, and rose stem aromatics. Notes of espresso bean and cherry-rhubarb pie lend richness and warmth, while muscular tannins and cedarwood tones, tinged with incense, provide structure and depth. Spice notes unfold seamlessly across the palate, adding complexity and intrigue. A wonderfully zesty and multidimensional expression from Lincourt.
Aged entirely in stainless steel, this is a crisp, lemon-driven white with aromas of yellow apple and white flowers. On the palate, it’s bright, zippy, and zesty, with lemon oil and a steely mineral intensity that lingers through the finish. A subtle kiss of vivid dried wild herbs—so emblematic of the area during peak growing season—adds regional character and complexity.
