2021 Emeritus Pinot Noir Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley

2021 Emeritus Pinot Noir Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

Emeritus

Pinot Noir 2021
Hallberg Vineyard
Russian River Valley

2021 Emeritus Pinot Noir Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley

Emeritus Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir doesn’t tiptoe into the room; it announces itself without apology. This is a Pinot built on grand presence, yet it never loses its balance. That tension is the magic of Hallberg Ranch in Green Valley: dry-farmed vines digging deep into Goldridge soils, yielding fruit with both volume and shape.

Green Valley doesn’t dilute richness; it sculpts it. Cool coastal influence slows ripening enough to preserve definition, even as the fruit reaches full phenolic maturity. In the 2021 Pinot Noir, that balance is unmistakable: a deep, expressive core framed by freshness and natural tension, allowing generosity without tipping into heaviness.

Guiding that expression is Keith Hammond, whose familiarity with the Russian River landscape has shaped Emeritus since 2007. His approach favors continuity over reinvention, allowing the vineyard’s character to come through with confidence and clarity. The result is a wine that rewards attention and is a vivid reminder of what can be achieved when vineyard, vintage, and vision align without compromise.

Emeritus
Pinot Noir 2021
Hallberg Vineyard
Russian River Valley
Retails at: $50

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“Classic Russian River character from a dry-farmed vineyard is on display here, with a nose full of cherry, raspberry and cola spice aromas. The palate has a charming balance between crushed raspberry, mint and floral flavors and the grip of some ageworthy tannin. Drink 2028–2040.”

93 Points

2023 Matthew Wallace The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2023 Matthew Wallace The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Matthew Wallace

The Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2023

2023 Matthew Wallace The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Great Cabernet is born from an intimate understanding of place, and Matthew Wallace’s The Estate is a pure expression of that philosophy. Sourced from a carefully selected set of rows within Hardin’s estate vineyard, this wine reflects a rare convergence of site, judgment, and restraint. It is an estate wine in the truest sense, shaped by a grower with generational knowledge of his land and a winemaker whose influence is measured, intentional, and never intrusive.

In the cellar, Thomas Rivers Brown works with precision rather than imprint, allowing the vineyard to speak with clarity and confidence. Renowned for crafting wines of power and poise, he builds depth through thoughtful extraction and disciplined élevage, preserving balance at every stage. The result is a Cabernet defined not by excess, but by control, its structure and texture unfolding seamlessly rather than asserting themselves.

The 2023 The Estate Cabernet is beautifully proportioned, carrying weight without heaviness, richness without excess, and intensity without strain. Each element feels purposeful, guided by decisions that favor precision over excess. Its impact comes not from force, but from the confidence of perfect balance.

Matthew Wallace
The Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2023

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“The 2023 Matthew Wallace The Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a deeply colored, full-bodied red that reveals a nose of blackberry cobbler, graphite, boysenberries, cassis, violets, and sweet pipe tobacco. On the palate, it delivers sultry, sweet black fruits with satiny tannins, showing rich and opulent textures balanced by firm structure. The wine finishes long and penetrating, with subtle vanilla hints from oak integration. This is a well-made Cabernet Sauvignon with deep concentration and purity, capable of improving over the next 8-12 years but approachable now. It will pair nicely with grilled red meats or aged cheeses.”

96 Points

2021 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

2021 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

Paradigm

Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville 2021

2021 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

Paradigm’s Cabernet has long been a wine for those paying close attention. Its broader recognition did not arrive through marketing or spectacle, but through discovery, when a respected critic encountered it unexpectedly and recognized something exceptional. That moment confirmed what insiders had long known: Paradigm is an estate that has been producing Cabernet of uncommon poise and remarkable quality.

Paradigm’s estate sits just south of the famed To Kalon Vineyard, surrounded by some of Oakville’s most revered names. This privileged position, defined by alluvial soils and ideal exposure, yields fruit of natural concentration and balance. The vineyard expresses itself clearly, capturing Oakville’s signature tension between power and elegance, richness balanced by freshness, and without excess.

In the cellar, the skilled hand of Heidi Barrett brings composure to the wine, shaping it with the precision that has defined many of Napa Valley’s most celebrated bottlings. The result is a Cabernet of depth and structure, expressive yet beautifully balanced. In a landscape where acclaim often drives excessive richness, Paradigm remains grounded, offering an Oakville Cabernet that stands confidently among its storied neighbors while retaining a rare sense of authenticity and approachability.

Paradigm
Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville 2021

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“This blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot was fermented in stainless steel with a small percentage of whole berries included. Winemaker Mark Fasi explains that pressing off the wine before it goes dry helps to soften the tannins. The wine is then aged 18–20 months in approximately 50% new French oak. The Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignons are medium-bodied and exude utmost elegance, showcasing soaring tannins that are assertive yet beautifully integrated and framed by crisp, juicy acidity. The palate reveals pure and gorgeous red berry fruit, complemented by a panoply of brown spices, wild herbs like sage, and floral notes of lilacs and violets. This wine is absolutely pure, brimming with energy and tension, and delivers a stunningly refined expression. A remarkable effort, embodying balance, vitality, and sophistication. Truly impressive. The winemaker is legendary Napa icon Heidi Barrett. Mark Fasi, who joined the winery in 2010 and has worked hand-in-hand with Barrett, takes the helm as winemaker with the 2023 vintage.”

97 Points, #18 Top 50 US Wines 2025

2021 PureCru Sangio Vetta California

2021 PureCru Sangio Vetta California

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary RedUSA

PureCru

Sangio Vetta
California 2021

2021 PureCru Sangio Vetta California

Sangio Vetta reflects a lifetime of study distilled into a single bottle. Crafted by Mitch Cosentino, a winemaker with more than four decades of experience, the 2021 release bears the mark of someone who understands Italy’s great reds not as an admirer, but as a practitioner. Shaped with the structure, restraint, and age-worthy balance associated with Brunello, it is driven by a deliberate pursuit of elegance rather than excess.

That depth of understanding has earned Cosentino rare international respect. His invitation from the Italian government to speak at the World Conference for Nebbiolo is a distinction seldom granted to non-Italian winemakers, reflecting mastery rooted in substance rather than style. Sangio Vetta benefits directly from this rigor, guided by a philosophy that values precision over spectacle.

The 2021 vintage is composed with intent, built on a Sangiovese core and supported by carefully measured additions of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Petite Sirah. Each component is vinified separately, then seamlessly integrated through extended oak aging. The result is a wine whose balance feels natural and resolved, revealing depth, lift, and clarity without sacrificing its identity.

PureCru
Sangio Vetta
California 2021
Retails at: $34

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“The PureCru 2021 Sangio Vetta offers an Old World take on California, a Sangiovese-dominant blend with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Petite Sirah. The nose is bright and aromatic with dried flowers, rose petals, Morello cherries, pomegranate, dried oregano, cloves, and a dusty, clay-like minerality. On the palate, the wine has vibrant flavors of cherries, cranberries, cloves, savory spices, carried by lively acidity, depth, and complexity. The tannins are well integrated, and the finish is long, weaving through a range of flavors. This wine has excellent aging potential, though it’s already beginning to show off.”

96 Points

2022 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles

2022 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtPaso RoblesUSA

My Favorite Neighbor

Cabernet Sauvignon
Paso Robles 2022

2022 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles

In a region long celebrated for bold individuality, My Favorite Neighbor has emerged as one of Paso Robles’ most compelling modern success stories. What began as a passion project grounded in meticulous farming has evolved into a reference point for Cabernet Sauvignon, both within the region and beyond. The 2022 vintage captures that ascent in full stride, presenting a wine that feels confidently established yet vibrantly alive.

This is Paso Robles seen through a more focused lens. The 2022 vintage delivers depth and richness without excess, its dark fruit profile seamlessly woven into a finely tuned, composed structure. At its core, this is a vineyard-driven Cabernet, shaped by attentive farming and guided by a clear, unwavering vision of balance.

The continued success of My Favorite Neighbor lies in its refusal to compromise its identity. The 2022 vintage offers a mature expression of that philosophy, presenting a Cabernet that speaks with clarity, purpose, and restraint. It reinforces why My Favorite Neighbor has become one of Paso Robles’ most respected modern Cabernet programs, leaving a lasting impression defined not by volume, but by precision and confidence.

My Favorite Neighbor
Cabernet Sauvignon
Paso Robles 2022
Retails at: $55

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“Sweet herbs combine with cloves and dried black cherries as the darling 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon blossoms in the glass. Racy and sleek, it offers ripe citrus-infused red and black fruits elevated by nuances of cola and spice, while a stream of vibrant acidity maintains fantastic balance. Mocha mingles with fine tannins as this finishes with medium length and a licorice tinge.”

92 Points

2021 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay Rrussian River Valley

2021 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay Russian River Valley

with No Comment $70-$80ChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

Shibumi Knoll

Chardonnay 2021
Corazon del Río Vineyard
Russian River Valley

2021 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay Rrussian River Valley

Shibumi Knoll occupies a rare place in California Chardonnay, guided by intention rather than scale and shaped by the skilled hand of Thomas Rivers Brown. The result is a wine that speaks in a higher register, focused, precise, and alive with detail, offering a clear counterpoint to the estate’s more mature expressions.

Within the renowned Buena Tierra Vineyard, one small block behaves differently. Its younger vines yield fruit with sharper edges, brighter energy, and a natural tension that demands restraint. The 2021 Corazon del Rio Chardonnay is drawn from this block and shaped to emphasize clarity and lift. What emerges is a wine with nerve and definition, alive rather than polished into submission.

Nothing here feels accidental. Time in barrel brings texture and dimension without dulling the wine’s natural edge, keeping tension at the core of the experience. The palate is persistent and finely tuned, delivering intensity through precision rather than force. It is a Chardonnay that rewards attention, unfolding gradually and revealing its depth with patience, not haste.

Shibumi Knoll
Chardonnay 2021
Corazon del Río Vineyard
Russian River Valley

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“The 2021 Chardonnay Corazon Del Rio Vineyard is another brilliant Chardonnay (these are all made by Thomas Rivers Brown) from the Russian River Valley. Bright citrus, honeyed flowers, and subtle toasty oak notes define the aromatics, and its medium-bodied, has a fresh, focused mouthfeel, terrific balance, and a great finish. I’d be thrilled with bottles in the cellar.”

95 Points

2020 Chester Kidder Red Blend Columbia Valley

2020 Chester Kidder Red Blend Columbia Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Columbia ValleyKevin VogtProprietary RedUSAWashington State

Chester Kidder

Red Blend 2020
Columbia Valley

2020 Chester Kidder Red Blend Columbia Valley

Drawn from three of Washington’s most distinguished vineyard sites, Summit View, Candy Mountain, and Dionysus, the 2020 Chester-Kidder Columbia Valley Red speaks with a confidence rooted firmly in place. It is a wine shaped by contrast and harmony, where structure, richness, and finesse align in a composition that feels both deliberate and deeply satisfying.

Chester-Kidder is a masterful blend, balancing Cabernet Sauvignon’s authority with the generous depth of Syrah and the refined lift of Petit Verdot. Each variety plays a distinct role, contributing structure, texture, and aromatic complexity without ever competing for attention. The harmony achieved speaks to vineyard selection and an instinctive understanding of how these elements come together.

Extended élevage brings the wine fully into focus. Thirty months in French oak add nuance rather than dominance, weaving notes of cocoa, espresso, and warm spice into a concentrated dark-fruit core. The integration is seamless, the texture polished, and the finish long and resonant. It is a wine that unfolds with patience and composure, revealing its depth gradually with poise.

Chester Kidder
Red Blend 2020
Columbia Valley
Retails at: $70

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“Very perfumed with aromas ranging from lavender, graphite and sandalwood to purple plum, blueberry and black pepper. Firm and compact on the palate, with a full body and dense, chewy tannins. Toasty but not opulent. Needs a couple of years to soften. 57% cabernet sauvignon, 33% syrah and 10% petit verdot. Try from 2026.”

93 Points

2019 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

2019 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

La Jota

Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain 2019

2019 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

On Howell Mountain, beauty is earned. The soils are thin, the slopes unforgiving, and the climate cool; yet from this adversity comes the soul of the La Jota Cabernet. Each cluster ripened under intense sunlight and cooled by high-elevation breezes, developing a structure both formidable and refined. The result is a wine that speaks fluently of its origin: dark, resonant, and built for the long arc of aging.

La Jota’s roots run deep into this mountain as well. Founded in 1898 by Frederick Hess, the estate has weathered booms, busts, Prohibition, and rebirth, all while maintaining its foothold on Howell Mountain’s most expressive soils. Today, under Chris Carpenter’s guidance, the estate channels more than a century of resilience into each vintage. His approach honors the site’s original philosophy: let the mountain speak first, then shape its voice with precision and patience.

After several years of unhurried evolution in bottle, the 2019 now shows a harmony that only time can create. The fruit has deepened and integrated, while the tannins have relaxed without losing their mountain backbone, creating a wine that is open, expressive, and beautifully layered. It retains all the hallmarks of great Howell Mountain Cabernet, but with a charm and accessibility that make it stunningly enjoyable right now.

La Jota
Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain 2019
Retails at: $185

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“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is another superb wine from La Jota. Rich and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous density and plenty of mountain power. A rush of black cherry, blackberry, licorice, spice and menthol builds into the huge finish. This is a fabulous vintage for the La Jota Cabernet.”

96 Points

2022 Flanagan the beauty of three Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2022 Flanagan the beauty of three Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

Flanagan

the beauty of three
Pinot Noir 2022
Sonoma Coast

2022 Flanagan the beauty of three Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

The beauty of truly exceptional Pinot Noir is found not in what is added or altered, but in what is allowed to remain. With the beauty of three, Flanagan embraces that philosophy fully, crafting a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that feels guided rather than imposed. Drawn from the Gap’s View and River Road Grape Farm vineyards, the wine reflects meticulous farming and a thoughtful, measured approach in the cellar, allowing purity of fruit, texture, and site to take precedence.

This approach carries seamlessly into the winemaking. Aging in once-used and neutral barrels ensures that oak never obscures the wine’s voice. Instead, the vineyards and the vintage’s character come through with vibrant composure.

At its core, the beauty of three is a quiet statement of Flanagan’s guiding philosophy: wines shaped by integrity, grounded in their vineyards, and respectful of the season that formed them. Every decision, from farming to élevage, serves the wine’s sense of harmony. The result is a Pinot Noir that feels authentic, expressive, and memorable without excess.

Flanagan
the beauty of three
Pinot Noir 2022
Sonoma Coast
Retails at: $42

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“This rich and textured Pinot gives aromas of Bing cherry, cedar and shiitake on the nose, while the palate delivers a punch of raspberry, orange peel and cinnamon flavors with smooth tannin and juicy acidity. Pair this with roasted pork shoulder or ribs.”

91 points

2023 Ehlers Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley

2023 Ehlers Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Ehlers

Cabernet Sauvignon
Estate Napa Valley 2023

2023 Ehlers Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley

From the northwestern edge of St. Helena, where gravelly soils meet long afternoon light, Ehlers Estate Cabernet Sauvignon emerges with authority. This is a site where nuance is earned and restraint rewarded, and the wine carries that discipline in every detail. Farmed organically under the direction of Mike Wolf, each decision in the vineyard is shaped by patience and intention. The result is a wine firmly grounded in its place and unmistakably its own.

What defines this wine is not sheer weight, but precision. Built on Cabernet Sauvignon and supported by Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the blend favors clarity over excess. The palate moves with purpose, structured yet supple, with finely woven tannins and a line of freshness that brings lift and focus. Balance here feels natural and assured, the product of thoughtful farming and measured craft rather than force.

Though firmly structured, the 2023 already shows a harmony that invites exploration now. Fruit, tannin, and freshness align seamlessly, delivering immediate pleasure. With time, added nuance and depth will emerge, but even in its youth, this is a complete and compelling expression of St. Helena, one that lingers with poise and a strong sense of place.

Ehlers
Cabernet Sauvignon
Estate Napa Valley 2023
Retails at: $80

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“The Ehlers 2023 Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a plush richness and notes of black cherry, plum compote, wild berry bramble, warm spices, and dried herbs. On the palate, the wine is supple yet finely structured, with a velvety texture and juicy fruit, before unveiling deeper nuances of cedar, mocha, and baking spices, along with savory undertones. The tannins are polished but firm, providing a strong backbone that carries the wine through a long, harmonious finish.”

96 Points