The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
This blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec from White Cat Vineyard, along with Merlot from Thatcher Bay, was aged for 17 months in 60% new French oak. It’s a dark-fruited, velvety wine with graphite minerality layered with dried sage, scrub brush, and powerful tannins that lay a solid foundation for juicy dark fruit. The palate glides to a savory, mineral-driven finish. It’s a cool wine—in every sense: cooling in its supple dark berry expression, cool in its herbal lift, and just plain cool to drink for its enticing texture.
One of three vineyard-designated Carménère wines by Cuda Ridge, the Insel Vineyard Carménère was aged for 18 months in French oak (50% new). Wow—are we in Chile or the Livermore Valley? You might be just as confused when you nose this super meaty red, packed with licorice and black olive overtones, black cherry and blackberry fruit, and classic cigar box and cedar nuances. Juicy blue fruit compote leads the way to iron-laced tannins—firm, yet soft and satiny at the edges. Layers of loamy earth, pressed wildflowers, dried violets, and lavender round out this complex and compelling red.
After fermentation in open-top bins with daily punchdowns, this Malbec was aged for 19 months in American oak (21% new). Winemaker Larry Dino favors Pennsylvania oak for this wine, noting its signature bacon-like, meaty character—which is unmistakably present here. That savory quality mingles seamlessly with dark berry and blueberry fruit, supported by a streak of savory spice. The tannins are gritty and granular, adding texture and structure, yet the wine remains fresh and vibrant. A robust, distinctive Malbec that will soften with time in bottle.
Medium- to full-bodied, this red delivers juicy plum, brambly black cherry, and currant fruit layered over wet slate minerality. Intense, robust tannins provide a solid foundation for the vibrant fruit and savory spice notes to shine—think black licorice, cocoa nibs, crushed clove, and a hint of smoked paprika. The finish is long, structured, and full of tension.
This is one of Larry Dino’s more fruit-forward expressions of Carménère, sourced from the Insel Vineyard in Pleasanton, where vines are rooted in sandy loam soils. Aged for 18 months in French oak, the wine opens with aromas of spiced plum and dried currant. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it delivers supple, juicy tannins and generous fruit character—plum, espresso, dark chocolate, and a touch of crushed clove.
Sourced from the Casa de Viñas Vineyard in central Livermore, this Clone 3 Carménère is planted on 5BB rootstock and trained on a VSP trellis system (planted in 2015 on clay loam soils). The site delivers a deeply expressive, spice-laced red. The variety’s inherent savory character is beautifully integrated, weaving seamlessly with the high-quality French oak used for aging. Red and black currant fruit lead the aromatics, joined by bay leaf, tobacco, and leather. The palate shows leathery tannins and a meaty mid-palate richness, finishing with iron-scented mineral tension and a grippy, satisfying close.
Polished, poised, and deeply expressive, this red delivers layers of blackberry and black cherry fruit, underscored by graphite, tobacco leaf, and sagebrush nuances. Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 18 months in 26% new American oak, 16% new French oak, and the remainder neutral, it builds beautifully on the medium-bodied palate. Broad-shouldered, muscular tannins frame a deep core of dark fruit and savory spice that carries through the finish.
This 100% Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Concannon’s historic estate Block 7 vineyard. As of 2018, 80% of California Cabernet Sauvignon is derived from Concannon Clones 7, 8, and 11—making this both a classic producer and a benchmark expression of the variety. This wine leans into the more savory side of Cabernet, showing refined black currant and spiced plum notes rather than ultra-ripe blackberry. Cigar box nuances build alongside dark chocolate tones on the medium- to full-bodied on the palate, with soaring tannins that have a superfine, pixelated texture. The dark berry fruit is deeply savory, intermixed with pressed flowers and loamy earth. There’s gravitas, tension, and energy driving this richly expressive Cabernet Sauvignon.
Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 18 months in a mix of French and American oak, this is a beautifully composed wine with balance, energy, and tension. It bursts from the glass with dark berry, black currant, and black cherry fruit, laced with hints of vanilla, bay leaf, and tobacco. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it showcases a lovely floral lift that weaves through succulent dark fruit, rich baking spices, and velvety tannins with a chocolaty edge. The finish is long and satisfying, underpinned by a wet slate minerality that adds depth and finesse.
Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 19 months in puncheons, including 20% new French oak, this is a strikingly complex, mineral-driven red. Fragrant aromas of black fruit and violets are layered with black olive, leather, and a touch of incense. The palate is dense and structured, with powerful, fine-grained tannins and succulent, juicy blue fruit. A thread of wet slate minerality runs through the wine, lending tension and lift to its generous, deeply concentrated core.
Named in honor of James Concannon, a first-generation family member and former stampmaker, The Stampmaker is a bold, expressive red blend. Each of the three grape varieties is fermented separately in stainless steel and open-top fermenters, with punchdowns and pumpovers for optimal extraction. The wine is then aged for 16 months in a mix of 44% new French oak and neutral barrels. Extremely fruit-driven, it opens with ripe red and dark berry fruit layered with baking spices, graham cracker, and cocoa nibs. Medium-bodied on the palate, it features plump, satiny tannins and a generous, lingering finish.
Sourced from Block 16 of the Concannon estate, this Chardonnay was crafted under the direction of winemaker Brett Fikse—who officially stepped into the role in 2023 after more than a decade working in the cellar and lab since 2012. Fermentations were split between barrel and stainless steel: the barrel lots underwent malolactic fermentation and sur lie aging for about 3 months, while the stainless steel lots did not. The components were blended after 9 months. The result is a vibrant, well-balanced Chardonnay with bright citrus fruit and rich, toasty caramel aromas. Medium-bodied on the palate, it delivers silky baked apple and pear flavors, accented by a hint of candied ginger on the long, refreshing finish.
Captain Joe’s Petite Sirah was harvested from Concannon’s estate Block 11 and Block 12, located on the north side of South Livermore Avenue where it intersects with Concannon Boulevard. These blocks feature austere, gravelly, and rocky topsoil that allows for excellent drainage and low water retention, encouraging vine roots to dive deep into nutrient-rich subsoils. The wine is bold, focused, and expressive, with fireworks on the nose—red berries and black cherry interlaced with mahogany wood accents. The palate is more subdued and elegant, showcasing Concannon’s long history with this variety in its suave tannins, and chalky mineral intensity. Crushed cocoa nib marks the finish, alongside cherry pit nuances. It has great length and the energy to carry a hearty meal.
The 2022 Assemblage Red was fermented in stainless steel and aged for 18 months in a mix of French and American oak, with about 45% new barrels. This is a vibrant, expressive red blend with brambly red berry fruit, wild herb spices, and hints of vanilla and strawberry coulis. Medium-bodied, it shows firm, grippy tannins that resolve nicely, framed by subtle cocoa notes and a lift of blood orange. The texture builds beautifully on the palate—this is a wine that begs to be paired with a well-salted steak.
A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon from Estate Block 7 and 24% Cabernet Franc from Estate Block 15, aged for 19 months in 50% new French oak and 50% neutral barrels. This seductive red opens with a meaty, juicy, and spicy nose, accented by a hint of earthy funk. The rich mouthfeel is unapologetically bold, delivering sultry, tangy black and blue plum flavors. A perfect match for roast turkey or any richly flavored dish that welcomes a little attitude in the glass. -JR
A blend of 58% Sémillon and 42% Sauvignon Blanc, this estate-grown white hails from Block 20 along the Arroyo Mocho, just east of Concannon Blvd and South Livermore Ave. The site’s well-drained, gravelly silt loam—formed from ancient river sediments—provide good conditions for stressing these Bordeaux variety vines. Fermented and aged in stainless steel, the wine offers an appealing nose of melon, citrus peel, just-ripe tropical fruit, and jasmine. The medium-bodied palate shows lovely breadth and balance. A real crowd-pleaser. -JR
This Cabernet Franc Blanc is one of the most surprising wines you’ll taste from Livermore. Nearly colorless, with a silvery-lemon hue, this blend of 85% Cabernet Franc, 10% Grüner Veltliner, and 5% Malbec from Lemmons Vineyard packs a serious punch on the palate. The nose opens with elegant white flowers and citrus, followed by subtle notes of pear and white peach. In the mouth, it comes alive with nectarine, yellow peach, honeycomb, and tangerine zest. It has great length and grip—a wine you’ll want to return to again and again.
Sourced from estate fruit and aged for 20 months in 60% neutral oak, this is a vibrant take on classic California Zinfandel. It delivers all the hallmarks—juicy, meaty, jammy, and peppery—while also offering a refreshing line of acidity that keeps it lifted. The medium- to fullbodied palate shines with bright red fruit. -JR
This 100% estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc from Lemmons Vineyard comes from the northernmost site in the acclaimed Crane Ridge micro-region. It drinks like a paradise punch—bursting with pure, ripe, crunchy pineapple, peach, and nectarine fruit, with lingering notes of orange oil and honeysuckle. The rich mid-palate carries a supple, juicy weight that makes this wine a true crowd-pleaser.
