California Wine

Riper and substantially more expressive than the 2018 Fortunate Son's 2019 Red Wine The Diplomat is a plush luscious wine laden with black cherries mocha and loam notes. It's full-bodied rich velvety and supple with a... Read More

I was able to taste two wines from Grace Family both made by the incredibly talented Helen Keplinger who has been at this estate since 2014. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Blank offers a beautifully pure elegant style in its darker... Read More

This has a bright pure feel with loganberry mulberry and bitter cherry notes mixed liberally with floral red tea and savory accents. Very focused with a sleek iron streak through the finish. A wine of precision. Best from 2023... Read More

A lean structured and complex white wine from the great estate this offers nuanced elegant flavors of Meyer lemon stone and apple. The oak is integrated and youthful as are firm tannins that support a moderate weight and length... Read More

It really smells like Cote-Rotie with purple fruit grilled meat tar ink and oyster shell. Blood orange too. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and asphalt. Wonderful length and polish. Long and very precise. Gi

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain was aged in French oak barrels for 22 months 97% new. Deep garnet-purple colored it rolls effortlessly out of the glass with notes of warm cassis black... Read More

The estate-grown 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon 4% Cabernet Franc 1% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. Very deep purple-black in color it charges forth with intense notes of crushed black... Read More

The 2019 Zinfandel Old Hill Ranch has a medium ruby-purple color and restrained aromas of mixed berry preserves apricot and citrus peel with floral notes. The palate is soft grainy delicately styled and very pretty with layers... Read More

There are not many better Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon blends out there than the 2021 Avoyelles Oakville which checks in as 54% Cabernet Sauvignon 44% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot most of which was co-fermented.... Read More

The inky purple/blue-tinged 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Ranch Vineyard is more focused and tight with pure aromatics of blue fruits chocolate graphite and iron. Medium to full-bodied on the palate it shows the structured... Read More

Coming from a mix of terrific sites (Oakville Ranch Georges III Montagne) and blended with 13% Malbec and brought up in 75% new oak the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a beautifully layered medium to full-bodied barrel... Read More

The 2019 Patrimony Cabernet Sauvignon was made with free-run juice and matured for 30 months in 100% new French oak. It has a deep ruby color and alluring tones of truffle brown sugar and coffee to begin opening with time to very... Read More

The 2020 Patrimony Cabernet Sauvignon made entirely with free-run juice will be in 100% new French oak barrels for 30 months. It has an opaque ruby-black color and youthfully gregarious aromas of cassis blueberries pencil shavings... Read More

The 2020 Caves des Lions is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc made from free-run juice and will be matured in 100% new French oak for 22 months. Opaque ruby-purple it has savory aromas of mushroom pipe tobacco... Read More

The 2020 Chardonnay Goldberg Variations No. 3 Hyde Vineyard comes from a great site in Carneros in the southern part of the Napa Valley. It has a pure clean classy nose of ripe melon and honeyed apples as well as notes of toasted... Read More

The 2020 Chardonnay Kokoro is a selection made by Lato and comes from the single vineyards. Aged 16 months in 60% new French oak it reveals a lighter gold hue to go with an incredibly pure and precise nose of stone fruits honeyed... Read More

Last of the Pinot Noirs the 2020 Pinot Noir Kokoro is a selection from the single vineyards and there are a tiny 900 bottles made. Its light ruby/plum color is followed by a Burgundian bouquet of ripe cherries spiced strawberries... Read More

I always find an incredible sense of minerality from this site and the 2021 Pinot Noir Lancelot Pisoni Vineyard has bright red fruits white flowers crushed stone and violet-like aromas and flavors. Rich medium to full-bodied tight... Read More

Looking at the Sta. Rita Hills releases the 2020 Pinot Noir Seabiscuit Zotovich Vineyard has a complex bouquet of spiced red berry fruits as well as forest floor loamy earth baking spices and some sea-like brine and iron nuances.... Read More

The 2020 Space Cadet is the star in this range from Paul Lato. Silky and aromatic the 2020 is hauntingly beautiful from the get-go. Inky red/purplish fruit sage cedar tobacco incense and dried flowers are some of the many notes... Read More

The 2021 Autrement is a bright pleasantly rustic blend of 40% Gamay 30% Mondeuse Noire and 30% Pinot Noir. It has a medium ruby color and is loaded with spicy aromas of tree bark leather tobacco bitter citrus graphite pepper and... Read More

The 2021 Gamay Noir is reminiscent of amaro with loads of earthy spicy accents and a pleasing bitters-like character. It has pretty aromas of cranberries cracked pepper pine and Angostura and the light-bodied palate is energetic... Read More

Medium ruby the 2021 Mondeuse has spicy aromas of toast allspice cinnamon cranberries and black cherries with touches of Angostura bitters and saddle leather. The medium-bodied palate has a chalky texture and mouthwatering acidity... Read More

Inspired by Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley the 2021 Nithya Massa Vineyard is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Malbec. It has aromas of red and black currants bell pepper violet cracked pepper and graphite. The medium-bodied... Read More