California Wine

What a delicious value in ripe, moderately oaked, super-drinkable, California Chardonnay. From coastal vineyards, it's bursting with fruit and just-right oaky spice. As Wine Enthusiast said in the 91 point review, Meyer lemon,... 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

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

The old-vine specialists at Bedrock craft this bold, highly drinkable, California Syrah mainly from Bien Nacido and Bedrock vineyards with 15% Viognier co-fermented for even more freshness and fruit. The blend of rich, dark, fruit... Read More

Vinous says this is “positively stellar” and we agree! From old vine sites like Bedrock, Lazy Dog, Monte Rosso and Montecillo, this pairs terrific concentration and fruit with outstanding energy and freshness. As Wine... 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

Lake County Cabernet has been slow to establish it's own identity with consumers, if only because so much of it's fruit ends up in wines labeled Napa and selling for big bucks. Brassfield is breaking out of that with some... Read More

Eruption is both the wine name and a warning of what to expect - because this bold, rich, blend of Malbec, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah truly erupts with flavor! As the winery writes of the Volcano Ridge Vyd, It only makes... Read More

Natural winemaker Chris Brockway and importer Tim Elenteny created Brea to bring low-intervention winemaking to traditional Cabernet grapes, making something authentic (but not weird!). They crush it with this Cabernet from a... 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

Unless you taste a lot of California Chardonnay, it can be hard to realize how big an accomplishment Bartholomew Broadbent has pulled off here. It's 100% Chardonnay, picked ripe and full of pear and stone fruit flavors perfectly... 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

Sonja and husband Greg Brewer make a whopping 100 cases per year of this. We'll let her explain: We are always looking for ways to defy expectation. Our wine cider combinations are no exception. Since 2014, we have been blending... Read More

Really good, gusty, highly-drinkable GSM with an extra dose of M. Two ways to describe it. Winemaker Sonja Magdevski goes with, The only wine blend we create, we say this combination of Grenache Syrah Mourvèdre is for radical... Read More

If you expect white Grenache to be fat, flabby and boring...well, you need to try this! With 10 months in old barrel, it's savory, subtle and convincing with a lip-smacking finish. As Jeb Dunnuck says, it has sliced golden... Read More

A joyful, pure and easy expression of Grenche Noir, showing plenty of ripe red fruit with an elegant feel. Vinous describes it nicely in the 92 point praise: The 2023 Grenache (Sta. Rita Hills) is delicate, floral and vibrant,... Read More

Savory, rich, textured, Roussanne is brilliant seafood wine. This one's just plain brilliant. As Vinous says in the 94 point review, The 2023 Roussanne captures all the pedigree of this great vintage. Complex, layered and... Read More

Sonja Magdevski makes stunningly elegant wines in the warm climate of Los Alamos and nearby Ballard Canyon. Like here. As Vinous gushes in the 94 point review, “The 2023 Syrah Larner vibrates in the glass with beautifully... 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

If ever there was a perfect marriage between a winemaker’s desire and what a site has to give, it happens here between Costanzo and Caldwell Vyd. It’s a stunning site, perched on the rim of Coombsville looking north... Read More

From anywhere in Napa Valley between Napa and Calistoga, head west and up the Mayacamas mountains. Crest the peak and look down over the red-to-purple volcanic rocks and soil towards Sonoma. See those vines at 2,200 feet down... Read More

Napa Cabernet grown to full ripeness and flavor but slowly enough and in a cool enough site to retain vivacity, purity and style. Then turned into Cabernet by an Italian-American winemaker who combines our USA preference for generous... Read More

Randy Dunn makes timeless, nearly ageless, benchmark Howell Mountain Cabernet. Here he's showing off his skill and style in a more open, ready to love now, way. It's 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Cabernet Franc done in... 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