2021 California Wine

Just what you'd hope for in a top California Merlot, including ripe currant and berry fruit, a whiff of wild herb and a soft, supple, finish. Wine Enthusiast describes it well in their 90 point review, Lively lavender aromas... Read More

At once rich and juicy, this is a terrifically drinkable Russian River Chardonnay with a definite luxury feel. Barrel fermented and aged (33% new oak), it delivers intense peach, apricot and tropical fruit aromas and flavors with... Read More

Jeb Dunnuck does such a great job describing this in his 91 point review! “Coming from the oldest vines (32 years) and highest elevation on the property (500 feet), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley has the addition... Read More

A terrific value Cabernet from Alexander Valley, north of Napa. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with splashes of Malbec and Petit Verdot, this pairs rich blackberry and currant fruit with Alexander Valley’s signature... Read More

Pinot from Carneros, at the southern end of Napa/Sonoma, gives a distinctive blend of freshness (from the cold bay nearby) and heft (from the clay-rich soils). This is a great example, serving up bold black cherry and blackberry... Read More

Cade’s Estate Cabernet shows Howell Mountain power and grip in a softer, more accessible, style. As Jeb Dunnuck says in his 93 point review, “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain comes almost all from the estate... Read More

This small Napa-based estate delivers great value in this blend of about 75% Cabernet Sauvignon accessorized with Merlot, Syrah, Petite Sarah and Zinfandel. As Wine Enthusiast says in the 91 point review, “This supple, suave... Read More

Trained at Phelps and founding, then selling, Merus, Mark Herold knows what to do with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines in Oakville, Rutherford and Coombsville. In their 93 point review, Wine Spectator says “This pumps... Read More

A fun contrast to the Meyers Spitfire, this is also from Oakville but done entirely in French oak (60% new). A lovely sense of spice and wild herb here. As Wine Enthusiast says in the 93 point review, “Delicious red and... Read More

Matt Meyer is the son of Silver Oak founders Bonny and Justin Meyer, and this is from the Napa estate vineyard where Silver Oak first grew wine before moving its focus to Alexander Valley. As with Silver Oak, this is aged in new... Read More

Luc Morlet still consults at Peter Michael while making his own wine that sits right up there with Peter Michael in terms of quality and depth. This is a stunner, perfectly balancing richness of texture with bold fruit and deep... Read More

Jayson started in 1993, as winemakers Helen Turley, Bob Levy and Randy Dunn were tasting with winery founder Jayson Pahlmeyer and wondering what to do with some extra barrels of red that didn't quite fit in the Pahlmeyer blend.... Read More

An American classic, Jayson Pahlmeyer's Bordeaux blend red delivers loads of ripe fruit, plush texture, and enough structure to give everything shape and keep it compelling to drink. Very limited.

Sure, this will be better in five years. But compelling tonight with a decant!

Poppy Cabernet Paso Robles has been a customer favorite in the great value California Cab segment for years. And every time we pit it against a more expensive Cabernet in a blind tasting (one where tasters don’t know which... Read More

The combination of cool growing reagion and outstanding growing season delivers a stellar Sonoma Coast Pinot here, deliciously ripe and silky smooth with lovely tension and minerality. Highly recommended.

Tiny production, very high-quality, very delicious Napa Cabernet that won’t break the bank! Memphis native Chet Pinkernell crafts 325 cases of Cabernet from his 5 acre vineyard in Soda Canyon and, especially in 2021, delivers... Read More

The most delicious California Syrah I’ve tried in years is a blend of 86% Syrah and 14% Viognier from one of the coldest vineyards in California, co-fermented and with most of the Syrah left on the stems. The Syrah aromas... Read More

Founded in 1870 along Soda Canyon in the Stags Leap foothills, White Rock is the most compelling blend of modern care and old-school tradition in all of Napa. The volcanic rock underlying their vineyard naturally gives powerful,... Read More

Made famous by Robert Mondavi, To Kalon Vyd in Oakville is arguably the finest vineyard in Napa and certainly the most expensive – 2021 Cabernets with “To Kalon” on the label currently sell for $400-$800+ per... Read More

The first vintage of Zeitgeist Cabernet we managed to pry out of Mark and Jen was the 2011. This is the 180 degree opposite of that lean, pure, nervy Cab! The vintage is a huge part of that story, but the vineyards matter as well.... Read More