2022 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

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

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

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

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

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

Organic John Lockwood grew up in Virginia, got introduced to grapes working a summer job in Vermont and started Enfield as a side-gig while working at Failla in 2010. He focuses on getting the character of old vines and unique... Read More

If you were teaching a class on what really good Russian River Pinot Noir tastes like, you'd pour this. As Jeb Dunnuck says in his 93 point write-up: ripe and layered in the glass, with a generous, inviting, pure perfume of... Read More

Where Russian River Pinot is all about the fruit, move out to the Sonoma Coast (here just 4 miles from the Ocean) and things turn more savory and spiced. As Jeb Dunnuck says in the 93 point review, this offers a riper feel, with... Read More

A truly old-vine Russian River Zinfandel mainly from vines 100+ years old, this delivers both the intense fruit Zin-heads love and a refreshing freshness that makes it hard to stop drinking. Raspberry pie, kirsch, star anise and... Read More

Ten years in, Laura Brennan Bissell is making a name for herself for crafting wines of elegance, purity and honesty that remain full of California weight and fruit. This is her Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc blend from... Read More

100% Cabernet Sauvignon from sites across Paso Robles with 10 months in French oak delivers a wine of excellent plushness and flesh. Dark cherry and blackcurrant fruit get a nice pop from the juicy texture and dollops of dark... Read More

So a plot of Zinfandel gets overripe before you can pick it? Make vermouth! That’s the story here with Zin fortified by an infusion of cinchona, wormwood, bitter curacao, orange peel, bergamot, coriander, chamomile, cinnamon,... Read More

Lower ABV From cooler sites in eastern Los Alamos Valley and Santa Ynez, this is a lovely, fresh, and summery Riesling. The peach and lime juice and zest aromas lead to a crisp palate of stone fruit and lime curd with just a tiny... Read More

Organic/Bio Joanna Wells and Sean Castorani make mountain wine - wine only from California vineyards at 1,000 feet elevation and above. Here they're working on Wildcat Mountain in Carneros where fog and wind from the bay nearby... Read More

After leaving Ravenswood, Joel Peterson created this project to make old-school wines from some of the same old-vine sites he used at Ravenswood. Fermentations are in redwood, yeast is native, punchdowns by hand, and the grapes... Read More

As Vinous says, Pax Mahle's single-vineyard Syrah's are incredibly site-specific and distinctive. Done 100% whole cluster and aged in neutral oak, this is beautifully ripe at 13.0% and loaded with Syrah's distinctive... Read More

Lower ABV Daniel Callan’s mission is to highlight the terroir of the Central Coast through the lens of old-vine field blends, like this wild combination of Valdiguié, Cinsault, Négrette, Zinfandel and Cabernet... Read More

As Vinous says in the 92 point review, The 2022 Chardonnay Estate is a total knockout. Bold, punchy and immediate, the 2022 is absolutely irresistible. A rush of ripe apricot, pear, white flowers, spice and chamomile makes a strong... Read More

Wine broker/maker Neil Koch made just two barrels (58 cases) of this 100% Cabernet from wine he bought from...well, we can't say. But if it had their name on it, it would cost 3x the price here. It shows the big, rich, lush... Read More

Lower ABV Language of Yes is Bonny Doon-founder Randall Graham’s attempt to capture the charm and drinkability of France’s Languedoc region on California’s Central Coast. Which is what he’s done here in... Read More

For all the size and power, Turley's Dusi Zin is one of the most fresh and zippy of the entire line-up. Making it one of the most food-friendly, too. As Wine Advocate says in the 95 point review, it's A seductive Zin that's... Read More

Wine Advocate's 93 point review of this Lodi charmer captures it perfectly: From vines planted in 1907, the 2022 Zinfandel Steacy Ranch is medium ruby in color and takes time to reveal a pure, complex nose of crushed berries,... Read More

If you're looking for elegance and finesse, look elsewhere. This is always a bold wine and never more than in the rich, fruit-forward, 2022 vintage. Vinous describes it well, The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is bold,... Read More

At one time Chenin Blanc was a key grape in Napa, but today only around 16 acres remain. This comes from a tiny plot of heritage vines in St. Helena and the combination of old-vine concentration and Chenin's naturally vivid... Read More