2023 California Wine

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

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

Even though it's just a Napa red, this gains structure and complexity from the boost of a little Pritchard Hill fruit. In 2023 it's more than half Cabernet Sauvignon plus Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and a full 10% Petit... 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

Organic/Bio Lower ABV Some varietal grapefruit and lemon citrus notes peek out here, but it’s the crunchy Granny Smith, crisp Golden Delicious and Honeydew melon aromas and flavors that hold center stage here. Nicely light... Read More

Lower ABV From vines growing on marine sedimentary soils overlooking the Salinas River, this juicy, fresh, Albarino with a firm nod towards Rias Baixas. One-third of the wine spent two days on the skins, adding an extra layer... Read More

From Mendocino fruit, this semi-carbonic Syrah gives the savory complexity of Northern Rhone examples with the cheerful dose of crunchy, ripe, fruit you get from Beaujolais. A juicy, spicy, lifted nose pulls you into a wine that... Read More

Doug Margerum's flagship wine is a stunner in 2023! The 5 is for the Rhone grapes in the blend: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Counoise. The Vinous 94 point rave sums it up nicely: The 2023 Red Blend M5 is... Read More

Doug Margerum says the Sybarites are people who have a fondness for sensuous luxury and built this wine to satisfy that desire. At just 12.5%, it's not heavy, but it's jam-packed with flavor. As Jub Dunnuck says in the... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV This is seriously good California Chardonnay in a fun style from the very serious guys at Model Farm. The fruit is all from sites 1,000 feet or higher elevation, farmed organically, fermented with native... Read More

One of America's most popular premium Chardonnays is, as usual, a perfect blend of satisfying richness and food-friendly verve. It's a blend of fruit from cool Carneros and warmer St Helena fermented and aged in steel... 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. As Vinous says in their 90 point write-up, this... Read More

Another terrific release of this long-time California Chardonnay value champ. It shows the ripe fruit you'd expect from California with Santa Barbara's distinctive freshness and a very light touch with oak. It's generously... Read More

This is wildly delicious and drinkable Cabernet Franc, intentionally made to capture Saumur style and California sunshine. Winemaker Taylor Berkley Boydstun uses Sonoma and Lake County fruit here with 25% whole clusters and aging... Read More

Organic/Bio Intentionally mirroring the best of white Cotes du Rhone, this blend of 34% Viognier, 31% Marsanne, 20% Grenache Blanc, 13% Roussanne and 2% Clairette Blanche delivers energy and ripeness. As Wine Advocate said in... Read More

If you look closely, you’ll notice the little biplane on the edge of the label here, a tribute to “Buck” Cobb who planted this vineyard in between working as an aerobatic pilot. Volcanic soils at 1,500 feet elevation... Read More