2023 California Wine between $25 and $50

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

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 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

A collaboration between Master Sommelier Sara Floyd and the Pisoni Family, gives a nicely ripe and stylish Napa Cab that will shine at table. Plenty of concentration black cherry/berry fruit, and touches of clove, vanilla and... 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

Lower ABV Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson make elegant, restrained, wines that still let you know they're from California. Like here in vibrant, generously ripe, Chardonnay from just outside Oak Knoll in Napa. Done in old... 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

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

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

Yes, really. Classic, very high-quality, robust, Howell Mountain Cabernet at this price (vs. the $100+ usually). How? Neil Koch used his job as a Napa grape/wine broker to build great relationships with some of Napa’s top... Read More

The guys behind The Dude do it again, this time with a very well-crafted Cabernet from Stags Leap that sells for a LOT less than you'd expect once you taste it. The signature plushness and richness of Stags Leap is here along... Read More

Lower ABV No one is sure how this native grape from eastern France’s Jura region reached the USA, but it was once widely planted (if equally widely mis-identified) across California. Today the sole source for Trousseau Gris... Read More