New Zealand native Angela Osborne moved to California in 2006 with a simple dream: to make Grenache. Over the years, she's established herself as one of the few masters of crafting Grenache that's bursting with fruit but... Read More
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
Jim Clendenen is sadly gone, but his legacy lives on at the winery that more or less put Santa Barbara on the wine map. This is fully ripe at 13.5 alcohol, shaped (but not overwhelmed) by malolactic fermentation and time in French... 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
From the tenderloin of Alexander Valley, this has plenty of size but also a bit of grace. Lots of blackberry, raspberry and currant fruit with accents of cedar and baking spice. The French oak shows on the trace of vanilla on... Read More
From a California Sparkling wine specialist, this is elegant, nicely textured, Chardonnay of fine freshness and length. In 2022, 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
Look, we’ve yet to find a Zin that was both satisfyingly ripe (i.e., not toughly tannic and herbal) and under 14.5% alcohol. The grape needs hang time and that means alcohol. But it turns out you can make 15% abv Zin that... Read More
These guys make just one wine, a Lodi blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah and Merlot brought in rich and ripe at 13.5% alcohol and given plenty of French oak spice and toast. It’s richer and more ripe than the modest... Read More
Hartford Court is easily one of the top “traditional” California Chard houses working today in the <$100 price point and this “village” bottling shows off their skill and ethic to a “T”.... Read More
Another great release of this, our all-time best-selling premium California Chardonnay. As always, it blends fruit from across the Sonoma Coast AVA including Carneros, the southern Russian River and cooler sites to the west. Serves... Read More
Really well done California Chardonnay at a heck of a bargain price. The bone dry 2022 vintage gives this Monterrey Chardonnay unusual concentration and time in light-toast French oak accentuates the creamy mouthfeel and adds... Read More
This wine is stupid good. The blend of ripeness, finesse, purity and flavor intensity would be expected in a great $50 Pinot Noir. For less than half that, the value here is nuts. The 94 point rave from WE for the 2020 applies:... Read More
Organic/Bio Ch Beaucastel’s Paso Robles outpost crafts this Rhone-Ranger red from mainly Syrah plus other grapes purchased from neighboring vineyards planted to Beaucastel vines stock. It’s dark and smoky on the nose... Read More
With only 800 cases produced and plenty of customer demand, we’re not sure why a wine that tastes so expensive is still available at such a great value price. But we’re certainly glad that’s the case! It’s... Read More
Sign up for our newsletter to learn about special offers, classes, in-store tastings and more. You’ll receive 2-3 emails per week and never miss out on super savings, unique bottlings, and chances to learn about, taste and enjoy wine more!