California Wine

As the winery writes, Andrew Murray has been singularly and nearly maniacally focused on crafting Syrah for 25 years. His Everyday (in French Syrah “Tous les Jours”) Syrah from Santa Ynez gives you a good idea of how... Read More

Bartholomew Broadbent created this wine as a tribute to his dad, famed taster Michael, who studied architecture before pivoting to wine. Blending 87 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Sirah, 4% Malbec, 2% Merlot from Alexander Valley... Read More

Morgan Twain-Peterson crafts this bold, gutsy, California red from a mixture of vines growing in some of the country's most famed old-vine sites. The base is Bedrock Vineyard (planted 1888), Nervo (1896), and Sodini (1905)... Read More

A big snoot- and mouth-ful of crushed berries and cherries with some cocoa dust, a touch of acidic/tannic bite, and a “I dare you to stop drinking me” finish that keeps you coming back for more. Like an Italian Chianti... 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

The old-vine specialists at Birichino go back to a 19th century vineyard with 100 year-old vines to create Mouredre that's full of dark fruit and earthy notes with a crisp, long, finish. Just 12.5% alcohol and 180 six-packs... Read More

One of the longest-running high-quality “value” Pinots we know of. As Robert Parker said of the 2013 edition: An authentic tasting Pinot Noir that sells for a song. Aromas of sweet red and black cherry fruit intermixed... 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

From a California Sparkling wine specialist, this is elegant, nicely textured, Chardonnay of fine freshness and length. In 2023, it’s all Russian River fruit from a vineyard next door to Kistler and Ritchie Vineyards and... Read More

Brick & Mortar is really a California sparkling house, meaning they grow a lot of cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. When Pinot gets a bit too ripe for fizz, it’s perfect for elegant, pure, juicy still wines like this... 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

Winemaker Neil Koch has worked with superstar Philippe Melka at benchmark Napa Cab houses like Seavey Vineyards, Bryant Family and Vineyard 29 and helped make the bold whites and Chardonnays of Lewis Cellars as assistant winemaker... Read More

Organic/Bio Carol Shelton is best known for her Zinfandel but this is NOT white Zin! It's 75% Carignane, 20% Zinfandel plus Barbera + Viognier bled off a red wine ferment after two days and fermented all the way dry in steel.... Read More

Dave Phinney and his long-time winemaking partner Kevin Fox created to showcase some of Napa’s oldest vines and heritage vineyards in an deeply rich and fruit-filled style. The 2021 is Petite Siray, Zin and Syrah with a... Read More

A big, bold, super-rich, Cab that's very fun to drink. As Wine Advocate says in the 92 point review, The Crane Assembly's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Disciples is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from an unnamed vineyard in Saint Helena... Read More

Really well-made, balanced and drinkable California Chardonnay here with a pretty much perfect balance of freshness and richness. As Wine Enthusiast says in the 92 point review, Spiced and creamy, with a full-bodied mouthfeel,... 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

A welcoming, generous and fully-fruited California Pinot Noir from this old-vine site just outside the town of Sonoma. Fully destemmed and aged in French oak (a little new), it’s bursting with dark black cherry and raspberry... Read More

All the ripe fruit you love about California Chardonnay with an almost silky mouthfeel and mouthwatering and lightly chalky finish. A terrific party/solo sipping white and even better with crab or something creamy like mushroom... Read More

Vailia From created Desparada to make rich, flowing, deep, expressions of Central Coast wines from some of the region's very best vineyards. Sackcloth & Ashes has always been our favorite here as the deepest, richest, more... Read More

Lower ABV We’re not even going to try to explain the premise behind Curt Schalchlin and Andrew Jones’s “Fable” approach to naming wines. But the wine in the bottle here is very good Chardonnay indeed, loaded... Read More

Critic Antinio Galloni drank this at dinner in July 2024; his 96 point review: Foxen is one of my favorite producers in Santa Barbara. Their 2019 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 8 is stellar. What a wine. Deep and wonderfully... Read More

From one of the best Cabernet sites in Happy Canyon, inland of Santa Barbara, this 2019 leans into a prettier style of California Cab. As Vinous says in the 92 point review, a very pretty wine from this well-known site in Happy... Read More

One of the more impressively delicious California Chardonnays we've had recently, showing how putting perfectly ripe, low-yield, fruit into barrel (28% new) can yield a wine that's creamy, deep, mineral and not really... Read More