2022 Post & Vine Carignane Lodi California

2022 Post & Vine Carignane Lodi California

Post & Vine

Carignane 2022
Mule Plane Vineyard
Lodi, California

2022 Post & Vine Carignane Lodi California

The Post & Vine Carignane sets itself apart by returning to something California doesn’t always prioritize: its own history. Drawn from old vines in Lodi, it carries a natural depth and balance that doesn’t need shaping, only preservation. Under Rebekah Wineburg, the wine reflects a deliberate choice to step away from modern excess and allow the vineyard to define the outcome.

Mule Plane Vineyard exists as part of California’s earlier chapter, where Carignane was planted for durability, not prestige. Decades later, those same vines now offer something far more compelling: depth shaped by age, and structure that forms naturally. That continuity gives the wine its foundation, connecting it directly to a farming style that has largely disappeared.

That foundation allows Rebekah to do what she does best: step back. After years working at estates like Rudd, Staglin, Ornellaia, and Quintessa, her approach is intentional. She applies that experience not to shape the wine, but to protect it, guiding it so that what defines it remains intact from start to finish.

Post & Vine
Carignane 2022
Mule Plane Vineyard
Lodi, California

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“This dark red colored Carignane from Post & Vine opens with a forest floor and red raspberry bouquet with hints of nutmeg and pencil shavings. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with integrated medium plus acidity. The mouthfeel is well-balanced, smooth, and fresh with nice tension. The flavor profile is spiced red plum and stony minerality blend with notes of red licorice and oolong tea. We also detected hints of cranberry and lingonberry. The finish is dry, and its flavors, acidity, and moderate fine-grained tannins stick around for a very long time. We would pair this outstanding value Carignane with poached salmon with wild rice and raspberry vinaigrette or roasted lamb with rosemary. Enjoy – KWGTP”

93 Points

Elegant Rioja wine bottle from Marques De Murrieta 2021 vintage.

2021 Marques De Murrieta Reserva Rioja Spain

Marqués De Murrieta

Reserva Rioja
Rioja, Spain 2021

Elegant Rioja wine bottle from Marques De Murrieta 2021 vintage.

With double 96-point scores, the 2021 Marqués de Murrieta enters the glass with an assured presence shaped by more than a century and a half of intent. Founded in 1852 by Luciano de Murrieta, the estate helped define Rioja’s identity, translating the discipline of Bordeaux into a distinctly Spanish voice. In this vintage, that legacy feels fully realized, where precision and heritage align to shape a wine of both weight and composure.

At its core is the Finca Ygay estate in Rioja Alta, where elevation, exposure, and soil diversity bring structure and focus to Tempranillo. A climate tempered by Atlantic influence allows the fruit to ripen fully while preserving its natural acidity, establishing the balance that defines the wine from the outset.

Time completes the composition. With aging, the wine gains nuance without losing its line, as fruit, oak, and structure resolve into a seamless whole. Few wines deliver such a complete expression of place, history, and craft, standing not only as a benchmark, but as a lasting reference point for Rioja.

Marqués De Murrieta
Reserva Rioja
Rioja, Spain 2021

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“Even more outstanding than the 2020, the incredibly priced 2021 Reserva is young in boisterous blue fruit, with a generous, full-bodied palate of richness and upfront power. The tannins add length and breadth to the wine, which is tasting great and could go another 10-15 years.”

96 Points

2022 Saddleback Zinfandel Calistoga Napa Valley

2022 Saddleback Zinfandel Calistoga Napa Valley

Saddleback

Zinfandel 2022
Calistoga, Napa Valley

2022 Saddleback Zinfandel Calistoga Napa Valley

Calistoga Zinfandel takes on a deeper, more resonant voice in the 2022 Saddleback Cellars offering, where old vines translate warmth and intensity into depth and composure. The fruit arrives with presence, carried by a steady sense of control that shapes power into structure, revealing a wine defined by precision, balance, and composed authority.

The foundation lies in carefully selected old-vine sites in Calistoga, where smaller yields concentrate flavor while preserving energy. These mature vines bring layered depth, capturing both the warmth of the valley floor and the lift that defines the region at its best. This interplay gives the wine its sense of movement, where richness and freshness exist in seamless alignment.

What emerges is a Zinfandel of striking precision, its structure holding firm from the first impression through a long, composed finish. That control reflects the influence of Nils Venge, who has spent decades shaping wines that balance power with poise. That legacy comes through in every detail in this release, directing intensity into a form that feels both enduring and complete.

Saddleback
Zinfandel 2022
Calistoga, Napa Valley
Retails at: $56

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“Plump and brooding, with deep and ripe blackberry, cassis, licorice and toasty spice flavors that finish with briary tannins. Drink now through 2032. 782 cases made.”

92 Points

2024 Far Niente Chardonnay Napa Valley

2024 Far Niente Chardonnay Napa Valley

Far Niente

Chardonnay 2024
Napa Valley

2024 Far Niente Chardonnay Napa Valley

Defined by control and guided by grace, Far Niente’s 2024 Chardonnay achieves richness and precision in equal measure. It feels sculpted, its cool-climate origins articulated through vibrant acidity and a firm mineral spine. By forgoing malolactic fermentation, the wine preserves a crystalline edge, allowing the estate’s proprietary “Charlemagne” selection to reveal layered texture with focus.

Rooted in Coombsville’s gravelly loam and volcanic ash soils, it carries a mineral tension that grounds its generosity. These well-draining sites promote slow ripening, building depth while safeguarding natural acidity. The wine broadens across the palate, then narrows with purpose, finishing long and composed, its architecture as deliberate as its texture.

Balance is the defining signature. Acidity remains vivid, fruit precise, oak integrated rather than pronounced. Nothing dominates; everything aligns. The 2024 does not chase opulence. It relies on proportion, site, and discipline to create a Chardonnay that is confident, structured, and enduringly compelling.

Far Niente
Chardonnay 2024
Napa Valley
Retails at: $76

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“The Far Niente 2024 Napa Valley Chardonnay captivates with an elegance and freshness complemented by a subtle richness, beginning with aromas of citrus blossoms, honeydew melon, ripe nectarine, and sweet cream. On the palate, the wine offers flavors of vibrant lemon and lime zest, hints of vanilla, and delicate baking spices. The wine has a silky texture, balanced acidity and flavors, and a long, polished finish.”

94 Points

2024 Zialena Sauvignon Blanc Geyserville

2024 Zialena Sauvignon Blanc Geyserville

Zialena

Sauvignon Blanc
Geyserville, 2024

2024 Zialena Sauvignon Blanc Geyserville

The 2024 Zialena Sauvignon Blanc is the product of nearly a century of uninterrupted stewardship. From the same Alexander Valley estate first cultivated by Giuseppe Mazzoni in the early 1900s, it carries forward a lineage rarely seen in California, where ownership, farming, and intent have remained aligned across generations.

That continuity finds its clearest expression in the cellar, where Mark Mazzoni approaches the wine with experience shaped by decades rather than ideology. Fermentation in concrete, including egg-shaped vessels, allows the wine to evolve without interference, preserving what the vineyard gives while refining texture and structure. Each decision reflects a familiarity earned over decades, not imposed in pursuit of style.

The 2024 growing season unfolded with a steady rhythm that favored balance, allowing the vineyard to progress without interruption. At a site shaped by decades of observation, these are the years that matter most. The wine captures that alignment, where conditions and experience converge to produce something both precise and complete.

Zialena
Sauvignon Blanc
Geyserville, 2024
Retails at: $38

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“The Zialena 2024 Sauvignon Blanc from Alexander Valley opens with the inviting scent of lemon poppy seed muffins, followed by bright Meyer lemon, honeydew melon, and juicy mango, accented by orange blossom florals and vanilla. On the palate, the wine has rich, concentrated flavors of lemon curd, sweet cream, raw almonds, hints of tropical fruits, and delicate floral notes, giving a balance between freshness and roundness. The finish is long and polished, showcasing both opulence and brightness.”

94 Points

2023 Castalia Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2023 Castalia Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Castalia

Pinot Noir 2023
Rochioli Vineyard
Russian River Valley

2023 Castalia Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

From one of California’s most storied vineyards, the 2023 Castalia Rochioli Vineyard Pinot Noir reveals itself gradually, never all at once. It gathers with intention, each element settling into place with precision. The result is a wine that does not chase impact, but achieves something far rarer: complete harmony.

Continuity defines this wine. Terry Bering has worked at Rochioli Vineyard since 1990, learning it block by block, vintage by vintage, long before site expression became a guiding principle in California. Founded in 1992, Castalia serves as his personal lens on the vineyard, a small-scale project rooted in experience and an unwavering focus on precision.

The 2023 vintage unfolded with rare steadiness, a long and even season that allowed the vineyard to develop without pressure. At Rochioli, where detail defines the outcome, the results are unmistakable. The 2023 Castalia stands among the most complete bottlings in the wine’s history, capturing both the character of the vintage and the depth of understanding behind it.

Castalia
Pinot Noir 2023
Rochioli Vineyard
Russian River Valley

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“The 2023 Castalia Rochioli Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is a striking achievement, even by the lofty standards of this site. The nose bursts with vibrant red cherry, cola bean, and French lavender, laced with crushed granite and mandarin peel, while subtle pie spices add complexity without intrusion. On the palate, it reveals powerful concentration married to remarkable precision. Intense red cherry fruit drives forward in compact, multi-layered waves of depth and intensity, framed by liquid minerals and mouth-quenching acidity that keeps everything vibrant and alive. The finish is long, elegant, and penetrating, echoing for what feels like minutes. This is Russian River Pinot at its most pristine state—pure, profound, and utterly convincing.”

97 Points

2023 Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel Napa Valley

2023 Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel Napa Valley

Robert Biale

Black Chicken Zinfandel
Napa Valley 2023

2023 Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel Napa Valley

Some wines are born of soil, while others are born of story. Black Chicken is both. Conceived on the Biale family farm in the 1940s as a code whispered over a crackling party-line phone, this Zinfandel has grown into one of Napa Valley’s most revered gems. The 2023 vintage carries that history forward with fresh intensity, a wine that unites heritage with the precision of modern craftsmanship.

Black Chicken is shaped by the Oak Knoll District, where the Biale family has tended their home ranch since the 1930s. This cooler pocket of Napa lends the wine its hallmark freshness and balance, characterized by bright acidity, supple tannins, and fruit that sings with clarity, giving Black Chicken its unmistakable voice.

From vineyard to cellar, every detail of the 2023 vintage was shaped with purpose, yielding a Zinfandel of extraordinary character. Vibrant fruit, supple tannins, and an enduring finish make this release one of the most complete Black Chickens to date. This is a Zinfandel that transcends trend or time, standing proudly as one of Napa Valley’s enduring treasures.

Robert Biale
Black Chicken Zinfandel
Napa Valley 2023

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“A big but cool and well-balanced wine that is full-bodied but fresh. Made from vines averaging 40 years old and from mostly cool parts of Napa Valley, including the Biale family’s vineyard planted in 1937. Moderate tannins lift the vivid raspberry, blackberry, black pepper and umami flavors. Drink or hold.”

94 Points

2022 Gritsch Riesling 1000-Eimerberg Austria

2022 Gritsch Riesling 1000-Eimerberg Austria

Gritsch

Riesling 2022
1000-Eimerberg
Federspiel, Wachau – Austria

2022 Gritsch Riesling 1000-Eimerberg Austria

Rooted in centuries of continuity, Gritsch’s 1000-Eimerberg Federspiel Riesling draws its identity from one of the Wachau’s most enduring estates. The Mauritiushof in Spitz traces its origins to the 13th century, when it served as a place for monks to collect grapes along the Danube. In the hands of the Gritsch family since 1799, it stands today as a rare link between medieval viticulture and modern precision.

That continuity is tested and affirmed on the steep terraces of 1000-Eimerberg, a dramatic hillside rising above Spitz that defines both the challenge and character of the wine. The slopes are precipitous and unforgiving, leaving no room for shortcuts and requiring every vine to be worked by hand along ancient stone walls. This physical rigor shapes the wine’s profile, yielding fruit marked by focus, energy, and natural tension.

Dry and measured at 12.5% ABV, the 2022 vintage expresses the 1000-Eimerberg site with striking clarity. The wine moves with lift and purpose, its structure guided by natural acidity and restraint rather than weight. What lingers is a precise imprint of place, a Riesling that translates steep terraces and careful hands into a focused, articulate whole.

Gritsch
Riesling 2022
1000-Eimerberg
Federspiel, Wachau – Austria

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“The 2022 Riesling 1000-Eimerberg Federspiel is perfumed with zesty citrus tones, reminiscent of Seville orange peel. The palate is brilliantly pure and ripe, dancing in on light feet and charming with its rounded citrus ripeness. This is smooth, fresh, enticing and totally charming. Light in body and relatively mild, this is a wine to entice skeptics to Riesling. (Dry)”

90 Points

2021 Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo Piedmont Italy

2021 Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo Piedmont Italy

Renato Ratti

Marcenasco Barolo
Piedmont, Italy 2021

2021 Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo Piedmont Italy

In the hills of La Morra, where Nebbiolo finds its most articulate voice, Renato Ratti Marcenasco stands as both history and living expression. Long before “cru” entered Barolo’s common vocabulary, Ratti was mapping the Langhe with conviction, arguing that each hillside possessed a distinct identity. Marcenasco became the clearest proof of that belief.

 

The vineyard itself carries documented depth, its name appearing in records that trace Nebbiolo cultivation here back centuries. From these rolling slopes, Marcenasco expresses La Morra’s defining signature: aromatic precision, measured authority, and a tensile structure that lingers well beyond the first impression. It is elegance anchored by underlying strength.

 

In the cellar, tradition sharpens rather than softens that identity. The 2021 matures for about two years in oak barrels before an additional year of bottle refinement, building structure while preserving aromatic detail. The aging shapes the wine without imprinting upon it. What remains is unmistakably Marcenasco, a Barolo rooted in place, lineage, and disciplined craft.

Renato Ratti
Marcenasco Barolo
Piedmont, Italy 2021

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“Assertive aromas of graphite, violets, mint and chalky minerality. A stunning, precise wine focused on elegance, with citrus flavors, a full body and lavish, velvety tannins supported by freshness. Long, youthful and savory aftertaste. Try from 2026, but best after 2030.”

97 Points

2022 Random Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder

2022 Random Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder

Random Ridge

Cabernet Sauvignon
Mt. Veeder 2022

2022 Random Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder

At 2,000 feet above sea level, where Napa and Sonoma meet along a jagged ridgeline, Random Ridge occupies a realm defined by exposure. Winds sweep across the Mayacamas. Soils thin to fractured rock. Vines dig deep or fail. This is not comfortable farming. It is mountain viticulture at its rawest. The wines carry the imprint of that altitude, concentrated and structured, shaped by a place that refuses excess.

That intensity was no accident. In 1980, Bill Hawley began pioneering this remote site, clearing and planting ten acres the following year on slopes many would have left untouched. Now decades into maturity, the vines root through shallow, well-drained soils that naturally limit vigor and yields. From those conditions comes natural concentration forged in the ground itself.

Above the fog line, ripening unfolds with deliberation, and that composure defines the 2022 vintage. Nearly 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sharpened with a touch of Cabernet Franc, it delivers compact, dark-fruit flavors layered with a savory, mineral edge inseparable from its rocky origins. The finish lingers, steady and assured, echoing the wind-swept ridgeline from which it came.

Random Ridge
Cabernet Sauvignon
Mt. Veeder 2022
Retails at: $60

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“The Random Ridge 2022 Mt Veeder Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is supple and expressive, opening with layered dark fruit aromas of black cherry, ripe plum, and blackberry, savory notes of bay leaf, wild mushroom, warm spices, an earthy core of forest floor, and graphite. On the palate, concentrated yet finely balanced fruit is framed by polished structure, with nuances of dark chocolate and freshly grated nutmeg adding depth and complexity, with a distinct mountain-grown fruit tension.”

94 Points