2022 Florence Reserve Zinfandel Rockpile Sonoma County

2022 Florence Reserve Zinfandel Rockpile Sonoma County

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtSonomaSonoma ValleyUSAZinfandel

Florence

Reserve Zinfandel
Rockpile 2022
Sonoma County

2022 Florence Reserve Zinfandel Rockpile Sonoma County

High above the fog line, Rockpile vines live in a state of constant exposure, where elevation and wind shape the season and strip away excess. The 2022 Florence Vineyard Reserve Zinfandel captures that environment, translating altitude into focus and rugged terrain into precision. It is Zinfandel elevated in both expression and intent.

At this elevation, the Florence Vineyard rises above the densest valley fog while remaining shaped by strong, cooling winds. These conditions extend the growing season, thicken skins, and concentrate flavor without sacrificing freshness. In 2022, that balance yielded fruit of remarkable intensity and definition, carrying the vineyard’s natural rigor directly into the wine.

What ultimately defines the vintage is its energy. Concentrated fruit moves in step with lift and structure, creating a Zinfandel that feels dynamic rather than dense. Each sip bears the imprint of wind and altitude, delivering power with control and a finish that remains vivid, focused, and assured.

Florence
Reserve Zinfandel
Rockpile 2022
Sonoma County
Retails at: $60

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“Deep, dark and very spicy, this black-fruited Zin displays aromas of blackberry and plum on the nose. These give way to flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate and licorice that wash across the palate with powerful, ageworthy tannins. Lay this down for a few years, then enjoy with barbecued pork ribs.”

94 Points, Cellar Selection

2021 Benessere Phenomenon Red North Coast

2021 Benessere Phenomenon Red North Coast

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNorth CoastProprietary RedSonoma ValleyUSA

Benessere

Phenomenon Red
North Coast 2021

2021 Benessere Phenomenon Red North Coast

California’s leading wineries have long excelled at reinterpretation, and the 2021 Phenomenon stands as a clear expression of that strength. Inspired by Italian tradition yet shaped by North Coast conditions, it brings together Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon in a way that feels instinctive rather. Phenomenon is not an homage. It is a statement of how seamlessly Old World sensibility can take root in California soil.

That confidence reflects a house philosophy grounded in tradition and disciplined execution at Benessere Vineyards. Each variety is vinified independently, preserving its natural character before being assembled with intention. Complexity is built without blur, balance achieved through patience and proportion rather than formula.

In the glass, the blend finds harmony. Sangiovese brings lift and red-fruited tension, Merlot adds breadth and texture, Syrah deepens the mid-palate, and Cabernet Sauvignon anchors the structure. Each element remains distinct, yet the whole moves as one, delivering a North Coast red that feels composed, versatile, and deeply satisfying.

Benessere
Phenomenon Red
North Coast 2021
Retails at: $80

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“The Benessere 2021 Phenomenon Red Wine from the North Coast opens with layered aromatics of ripe black cherry, blackberry compote, blueberry, cocoa, espresso, dried herbs, and cedar. On the palate, it offers plums, cherries, cassis, toasted oak, and sweet and savory spices that co-mingle and complement each other. These flavors are balanced by bright acidity and subtle earthiness, resulting in a supple mid-palate and plush mouthfeel that leads to a harmonious finish.”

93 Points

2021 Casina Bric Nebbiolo Cuvee 970 Origo Ginis Brut Rose

with No Comment $30-$40Champagne/SparklingItalyKevin Vogt

Casina Bric

Nebbiolo Cuvée 970
Origo Ginis Brut Rosé
Spumante d’Alba 2021

Sparkling Nebbiolo remains one of Italy’s most compelling outliers, and Casina Bric’s Nebbiolo d’Alba Cuvée 970 Spumante Brut Rosé stands among its most convincing expressions. Drawn from the rare Nebbiolo d’Alba Spumante designation, the wine reframes expectations, showing how Nebbiolo’s structure and energy can translate into lift and finesse rather than weight.

Cuvée 970 reflects a deliberate, measured approach to sparkling winemaking. Extended time on the lees builds depth and cohesion, while careful handling preserves brightness and freshness. The result is a wine with natural composure, where texture and precision work together and elegance never comes at the expense of character.

Nebbiolo seldom appears in sparkling form, and that rarity lies at the heart of Cuvée 970’s appeal. Casina Bric resists softening the grape’s identity, instead preserving its natural tension and vitality. Freshness, structure, and lift move in concert, yielding a sparkling rosé that feels articulate and precise, carrying Nebbiolo’s unmistakable verve in a form that is both unexpected and entirely convincing.

Casina Bric
Nebbiolo Cuvée 970
Origo Ginis Brut Rosé
Spumante d’Alba 2021

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“The Cascina Bric 2021 Cuvée 970 Nebbiolo d’Alba Spumante Rosé has a fine, persistent mousse,and opens with aromas of white strawberry, ripe peach, and pink grapefruit, layered with hints of raspberry and maraschino cherry. On the palate, delicate red berry fruit takes center stage, with hints of strawberry shortcake. The fruit feels pure and is carried by just enough acidity for a crisp, refreshing finish.”

93 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

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

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

2024 Ronsard Sancerre La Pleiade Loire Valley France

2024 Ronsard Sancerre La Pleiade Loire Valley France

with No Comment $30-$40FranceKevin VogtSancerre

Ronsard

Sancerre La Pléiade
Loire Valley, France 2024

2024 Ronsard Sancerre La Pleiade Loire Valley France

The La Pléiade Sancerre opens with the pristine radiance that only the Loire’s greatest vineyards can summon. A blend drawn from celebrated plots such as Chêne Marchand, Les Monts Damnés, Chasseignes, and Les Deserts, La Pléiade captures the valley’s dual nature: the cool, stony edges of its Kimmeridgian slopes and the gentle, sunlit contours of its clay-rich parcels.

What sets La Pléiade apart is the seamless way these sites come together in the glass. The limestone parcels drive a spine of mineral energy, while the clay slopes offer a rounder, more generous register, giving the wine both tension and veiled amplitude. It’s a Sauvignon Blanc that feels both effortless and profound, showcasing its terroir with striking precision.

Ronsard’s minimalist touch in the cellar allows this interplay of soils to shine without distraction. Stainless-steel fermentation keeps the profile clean and vivid, while gentle clarification protects the wine’s natural texture. La Pléiade speaks in its own voice, delivering a purity that honors both the vineyards and the heritage of Sancerre.

Ronsard
Sancerre La Pléiade
Loire Valley, France 2024

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“The Ronsard 2024 Sancerre ‘La Pleiade’ opens with fresh aromas of pink grapefruit, lemon zest, white pepper, and a saline, flinty minerality. On the palate, the wine is pure and refreshing, with playful citrus notes, elderflower and white blossoms, crisp tension, and a linear focus. The minerality is precise, recalling wet stone and chalk, while the texture is both delicate and refined. The wine’s balance is vibrant yet harmonious, with a clean, mouthwatering essence that layers notes of crisp, mineral-driven flavors into an absolutely compelling finish.”

95 Points

2023 Admire by Dan Kosta Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2023 Admire by Dan Kosta Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaPinot NoirSonoma CoastUSA

Admire

by Dan Kosta
Pinot Noir 2023
Sonoma Coast

2023 Admire by Dan Kosta Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

When Dan Kosta turns his attention to Pinot Noir, it’s never casual. The 2023 Admire distills decades of insight into a focused wine with purpose, where coastal freshness meets California generosity. This is not a departure from the past, but a measured evolution, shaped by experience and guided by a balanced, measured approach.

With Admire, the intent drives what matters most. Launched in 2019, Dan’s new family of brands represents a deliberate return to the essentials of Pinot Noir, favoring balance, site expression, and natural energy. It is a label built on deep respect for the grape, informed by a lifetime spent understanding how precision, patience, and place converge in the glass.

Sourced from cool, ocean-influenced vineyards, the 2023 vintage is vibrant and lifted, driven by natural acidity and a sense of immediacy that defines the Sonoma Coast. Nine months of maturation in French oak (30% new) adds subtle structure and polish, lending depth without obscuring purity. Expressive from the first pour yet capable of evolving gracefully over three to five years, this Pinot Noir delivers pleasure now while rewarding those willing to wait.

Admire
by Dan Kosta
Pinot Noir 2023
Sonoma Coast

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“The Admire Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2023 is a brilliant expression of the region’s character. Its nose is a fragrant bouquet of red cherries, baking spices, daisy petals, and tangerine zest, while the palate delivers a lively dance of bright red plums, tart cherries, and a touch of cola. The wine’s classic Sonoma Coast minerality and fresh acidity create a beautifully balanced profile that lingers on the finish. While it shares the same 94-point rating I gave its riper 2022 counterpart, this vintage offers a distinct charm with its brighter, fresher fruit and enduring concentration.”

94 Points

2021 Florence Reserve Zinfandel Rockpile Sonoma County

2021 Florence Reserve Zinfandel Rockpile Sonoma County

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtSonomaSonoma ValleyUSAZinfandel

Florence

Reserve Zinfandel
Rockpile 2021
Sonoma County

2021 Florence Reserve Zinfandel Rockpile Sonoma County

Few places challenge a vine like Rockpile. Perched on a ridge above Lake Sonoma, where the wind never rests and the soil fractures like ancient bone, the Florence Vineyard defines what it means for a vine to struggle and to triumph. From this unforgiving terrain emerges the 2021 Florence Vineyard Reserve Rockpile Zinfandel, a wine that channels its hardship into strength. The result is a Zinfandel that captures both the wildness of altitude and the refinement of mastery.

Long before Rockpile was recognized as an appellation, Jack Florence Jr. saw its promise. He carved his vineyard into the rocky hillsides with the conviction that hardship breeds distinction. Decades later, his 2021 Florence Vineyard Reserve Zinfandel affirms that vision: a wine of intensity and grace, rooted in heritage cuttings from the storied St. Peter’s Church clone and elevated by the restless energy of the mountain.

Only 235 cases were produced, each bottle an unfiltered glimpse into one of Sonoma’s most demanding landscapes. The 2021 vintage speaks in layers of blackberry, cracked pepper, and wild herbs framed by minerality and tension. It’s a wine that feels alive, pulsing with the elevation that shaped it, the craftsmanship that guided it, and the patience that allowed it to find its voice.

Florence
Reserve Zinfandel
Rockpile 2021
Sonoma County
Retails at: $60

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“Lush, almost creamy in texture, this complex, high powered and deeply fruity wine boasts distinctive black pepper and singed sage flavors atop its deep black cherries and blackberries. Moderate to full tannins give it a good backbone for pairing with big proteins. Best from 2025–2035.”

94 Points

2021 Grand Napa Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2021 Grand Napa Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

Grand Napa

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021

2021 Grand Napa Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Grand Napa’s 2021 Reserve Cabernet is a reminder that power, when guided by grace, leaves the most profound impression. The wine embodies the quiet confidence of a classic vintage, defined by clarity, energy, and poise. Its core of Cabernet Sauvignon delivers precision and depth, while Cabernet Franc contributes lifted florals, and Merlot softens the edges with its signature plushness, resulting in a wine that feels sculpted rather than forced.

 

Drawn from premier sites across Rutherford, Calistoga, and the broader Napa Valley, the 2021 Reserve captures the essence of each terroir in a single, harmonized voice. Under Stéphane Vivier’s steady hand, these elements are woven together with restraint and precision, creating a wine that reflects both the diversity of Napa and the unity of a master’s touch.

Aged twenty-two months in fine French oak, the 2021 Reserve reveals both pedigree and purpose. The texture is silken yet structured, the finish long and deliberate. Vivier’s craftsmanship ensures it will age with poise, deepening in nuance and complexity over time. For collectors seeking the intersection of authenticity, longevity, and value, few Cabernets express Napa’s modern elegance as confidently as this one.

Grand Napa
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021
Retails at: $110

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“Winemaker Stéphane Vivier matures this Cabernet in 50% new French oak for 22 months. Fragrant dusty earth minerals, cranberry fruit laced with cinnamon spices, and hints of dried rosemary and sage. Medium-bodied with gentle tannins that glide to a spicy finish with blood orange acidity and hints of clove and cassis.”

92 Points