2023 Gainey Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

2023 Gainey Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSanta BarbaraSanta Rita HillsUSA

Gainey

Pinot Noir
Sta. Rita Hills 2023

2023 Gainey Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

Every so often, vineyard and vintage fall into perfect rhythm. That’s exactly what happened for Gainey in 2023, when the cool, drawn-out growing season of the Santa Rita Hills gave their estate Pinot Noir the time it needed to develop exceptional aromatic detail and purity. The result was the revelation of our recent tasting: a wine that unfolded with understated confidence and left me wanting to revisit it the moment the glass was empty.

That vibrance is amplified by the diversity of clones planted across Gainey’s two estate ranches, each offering its own nuance of aroma and structure. Some bring lifted red fruit, others a darker, savory edge, and together they create a Pinot Noir whose layers reveal themselves gradually and with intention. This is fruit shaped by a landscape of varied soils and exposures, infused into a wine of uncommon balance.

All of this culminates in a Pinot Noir that speaks fluently of its origin—one of California’s most expressive cool-climate regions. The 2023 release doesn’t attempt to reinterpret Sta. Rita Hills; it embodies it, showing what’s possible when patience, precision, and pristine fruit converge. It’s a wine that reminds you why this appellation stands as one of the pinnacles of West Coast Pinot Noir.

Gainey
Pinot Noir
Sta. Rita Hills 2023
Retails at: $35

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“The 2023 Gainey Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir delivers a pure, cool-climate expression of the appellation. The nose opens with vivid strawberry-rhubarb pie, fresh raspberries, warm baking spices, root beer, and a touch of sandalwood. On the palate, it is mid-bodied and energetic, showing bright, fresh strawberry fruit, mandarin peel, and black tea notes, carried by vibrant mouth-watering acidity and a distinct liquid-mineral character that drives the finish. Seamless, focused, and refreshingly energetic, this is a textbook Sta. Rita Hills Pinot that drinks beautifully now yet possesses the balance and structure to evolve gracefully over the next 5–7 years.”

94 points

2023 Icon The Beau Vigne Collection Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2023 Icon The Beau Vigne Collection Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary RedUSA

Icon

The Beau Vigne Collection
Proprietary Red
Napa Valley 2023

2023 Icon The Beau Vigne Collection Proprietary Red Napa Valley

In Napa Valley, where power often takes precedence, Icon by the Beau Vigne Collection stands apart for its precision. Crafted by Julien Fayard, a winemaker with a pedigree spanning Château Lafite Rothschild to Quintessa, this 2023 release transforms raw potential into sculpted elegance. Every detail, from vineyard selection to barrel aging, speaks to an exacting vision: to create a wine that embodies both the strength of Napa and the finesse of Bordeaux.

Fayard builds Icon as a study in equilibrium, drawing from a network of Napa Valley vineyards that range from rocky benchlands to sun-drenched valley floors. The foundation is Cabernet Sauvignon, lending structure and drive, while Merlot and Petit Verdot add suppleness, fragrance, and a quiet depth of color. The result is a red of quiet confidence: concentrated yet agile, bold yet impeccably balanced.

The 2023 Icon feels like the future of Napa, a wine that honors its lineage while rewriting the script. It carries the valley’s trademark depth and plushness, yet moves with the precision of a Bordeaux. The mouthfeel is textural and complete. It stands as liquid proof that restraint and richness can coexist in perfect harmony.

Icon
The Beau Vigne Collection
Proprietary Red
Napa Valley 2023
Retails at: $80

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“A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot and Petit Verdot, it shows a firm grip. The wine directs your attention to iron-ore and espresso, slowly allowing its streamlined structure to open up. Dried lavender and black plum texturize the palate; tannins firm and muscular.”

94 Points

2024 Picayune Sauvignon Blanc Napa & Sonoma

2024 Picayune Sauvignon Blanc Napa & Sonoma

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaSauvignon BlancSonomaUSA

Picayune

Sauvignon Blanc
Napa & Sonoma 2024

2024 Picayune Sauvignon Blanc Napa & Sonoma

Some wines make an entrance, while this one makes an impression. The 2024 Picayune Napa/Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc doesn’t need power to command attention; it draws you in with precision. Its charm lies in contrast: clarity rather than flash, texture instead of weight. This is California fruit expressed with European poise: subtle, shimmering, and unforgettable.

Behind that calm exterior lies remarkable intent. Winemaker Claire Ducrocq Weinkauf harvests early, capturing the brightness of dawn before the valley’s heat softens the fruit. The result is a Sauvignon Blanc that thrives on energy rather than ripeness: crisp and finely tuned, with an alcohol level of just 13.1%. Every decision reflects restraint, transforming potential exuberance into elegance.

Fermentation was split between stainless steel for clarity and neutral French oak for subtle weight, a decision that defines the wine’s remarkable balance. The oak imparts no overt flavor, only a silken texture that frames its crystalline acidity. The wine feels both poised and refreshing: proof that restraint, when executed with this kind of technical precision, can be as thrilling as opulence.

Picayune
Sauvignon Blanc
Napa & Sonoma 2024

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“The Picayune 2024 Sauvignon Blanc bursts from the glass with vivid aromas of gooseberry, lime zest, and passion fruit, balanced by subtle notes of fresh-cut grass and green herbs. On the palate, the wine is pure, bright, and zesty, showcasing crisp acidity that complements flavors of tropical fruit, citrus, and green melon. A touch of minerality and a hint of grapefruit pith lend structure and lift, creating a style reminiscent of New Zealand’s Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs, but with California’s hallmark of sun-kissed, ripe fruit. The finish is clean, refreshing, and vibrant, leaving a lingering impression.”

94 Points

2022 Saracina Soul of Mendocino Red Wine Blend Mendocino County

2022 Saracina Soul of Mendocino Red Wine Blend Mendocino County

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMendocinoProprietary RedUSA

Saracina

Soul of Mendocino
Red Wine Blend 2022
Mendocino County

2022 Saracina Soul of Mendocino Red Wine Blend Mendocino County

Drawn from organically farmed vineyards rooted in Mendocino’s rugged, ancient soils, Saracina’s 2022 Soul of Mendocino Red honors both the land and the people who bring it to life. The estate’s roots run deep into the Mayacamas foothills, where this wine emerges as both homage and evolution: a seamless blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, old-vine Grenache, and Carignan that transforms the region’s rustic soul into something quietly profound and elegantly refined.

At Saracina, craftsmanship begins below ground. The team studies the mineral threads of each parcel, nurturing vines whose roots dive deep through fractured sandstone and clay. That dedication to detail yields fruit of rare vibrancy, marked by sunlight and tension. It’s viticulture as quiet artistry, where science and soul work in concert.

In the glass, the Soul of Mendocino Red captures everything Saracina stands for: vibrancy without excess, texture without weight. Zinfandel lends warmth, Petite Sirah depth, Grenache grace, and Carignan lift, composing a symphony of balance and quiet confidence. It stands as both a reflection of its landscape and a reminder that elegance needs no excess. 

Saracina
Soul of Mendocino
Red Wine Blend 2022
Mendocino County

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“The Saracina ‘Soul of Mendocino’ 2022 Mendocino County Red Wine Blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Carignane begins with bright, ripe aromas of strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, black tea leaves, anise, and sweet tobacco. On the palate, the wine has flavors of juicy, wild berry bramble, chocolate covered cherries, and marjoram in a smooth, supple texture. This wine is both expressive and effortlessly drinkable, creating an inviting blend that celebrates Mendocino fruit with a refined finish.”

94 Points

2022 Laird Chardonnay Cold Creek Vineyard Los Carneros Sonoma

2022 Laird Chardonnay Cold Creek Vineyard Los Carneros Sonoma

with No Comment $30 and underCarnerosChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaUSA

Laird

Chardonnay 2022
Cold Creek Vineyard
Los Carneros, Sonoma

2022 Laird Chardonnay Cold Creek Vineyard Los Carneros Sonoma

Laird’s 2022 Cold Creek Ranch Chardonnay is not just another expression of Carneros; it displays how restraint can yield brilliance in the glass. Here, Ken Laird’s fifty years of farming mastery align with winemaker Brian Mox’s measured touch in the cellar, resulting in a wine that hums with energy and poise, shaped by the marriage of persistence and place.

The Cold Creek Ranch vineyard rests on the Sonoma side of Los Carneros, where cool marine winds and fog slow the ripening process to a patient rhythm. Planted to Burgundian Clones 15 and 95, the vines produce remarkably balanced fruit. In the cellar, partial malolactic fermentation adds a gentle creaminess, while ten months in French oak lend structure and depth.

What distinguishes this Chardonnay is its composure. Every step, from vineyard to barrel, reflects the intent and confidence that come only with experience. The 2022 Cold Creek Ranch Chardonnay offers a harmony of brightness, texture, and length that lingers gracefully on the palate. It is a wine of elegance and clarity, timeless in its refinement and distinctly Californian in spirit.

Laird
Chardonnay 2022
Cold Creek Vineyard
Los Carneros, Sonoma

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“Spiced and nutty on the nose, this offers ripe orchard fruit, sliced pineapple and honeysuckle nuances. Full and creamy with densely packed flavors and a firm, lingering finish. Long and delicious. Drink or hold.”

92 Points

2023 Synthesis Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2023 Synthesis Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

Synthesis

Pinot Noir 2023
Russian River Valley

2023 Synthesis Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Born from Martin Ray’s estate vineyard along Laguna Road, the 2023 Synthesis Russian River Valley Pinot Noir captures the essence of its origin with striking clarity. The site sits in the heart of the valley’s cool corridor, where morning fog shapes firm but bright fruit. In the cellar, thoughtful intention takes the lead, resulting in a Pinot Noir that balances power and poise, each element reflecting the vineyard’s coastal charm.

The 2023 season unfolded slowly, each stage measured and guided. Yields were modest, canopies were managed for balance, and harvest came only when acidity and aromatics aligned perfectly. The result is a wine that feels sculpted and alive with detail, yet effortlessly composed.

Aged twelve months in French oak, the 2023 release finds its balance in texture and tone. On the palate, it’s silken yet vibrant. Fine-grained tannins guiding a line of vivid acidity through a finish that lingers with quiet confidence. This is Russian River Pinot Noir that’s expressive, graceful, and beautifully composed.

Synthesis
Pinot Noir 2023
Russian River Valley
Retails at: $50

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“A crisp and clean pinot with dried strawberries, cherries and hints of sandalwood on the nose. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and a juicy finish. It has all you need. Drink or hold.”

94 Points

2022 Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast

2022 Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMendocinoNorth CoastUSA

Slingshot

Cabernet Sauvignon
North Coast 2022

2022 Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast

In a world where many Cabernets chase power and weight, Slingshot chooses clarity and freshness. It’s a wine built on transparency and precision, crafted from the finest corners of the North Coast and polished just enough to let the fruit shine. With sleek tannins, cool vibrancy, and effortless confidence, it proves that approachability and depth aren’t opposites, but partners in refinement.

That clarity begins in the vineyard. Sourced from select sites across Mendocino and Lake Counties, the 2022 vintage captures the full character of the North Coast’s landscape. Each parcel contributes a distinct voice: structure from Mendocino’s ancient riverbeds, freshness from Lake County’s volcanic ash. Together, they shape a Cabernet that’s expressive, finely textured, and alive with energy.

The 2022 Slingshot feels effortlessly composed. A Cabernet that doesn’t shout its origins; it reveals them gradually, with quiet precision and modern grace. For those who crave the purity of California fruit without the excess, this wine lands exactly where craftsmanship and authenticity meet.

Slingshot
Cabernet Sauvignon
North Coast 2022
Retails at: $23

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“The Slingshot 2022 North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon has a bright nose of cranberries, red currants, and cherries, with spicy notes of cedar, sage, and sweet tobacco. On the palate, the wine is vibrant and finely structured with flavors of black raspberries, red currants, and white pepper. The wine is a pure, lifted expression of Cabernet Sauvignon, emphasizing its cool-climate origin.”

94 Points

2023 Bistue Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville Napa Valley

2023 Bistue Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSAYountville

Bistue Cellars

Cabernet Sauvignon
Yountville, Napa Valley 2023

2023 Bistue Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville Napa Valley

In a valley where Cabernet often commands triple-digit prices, Bistué Cellars defies expectations. Their 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon delivers the pedigree of Napa’s most coveted soils at a price that feels almost improbable. Winemaker Carolina Bistué, with her international experience in Priorat and Mendoza, channels this pedigree into a wine of authenticity and accessibility.

Carolina believes the best wines are born in the vineyard, and with certified organic farming, she ensures the land’s voice is clear. The 2023 growing season brought a long, cool summer, providing fruit of stunning clarity, fully ripe tannins, and vibrant aromatics. The kind of vintage that defines a decade, and Bistué’s Yountville release embodies its most elegant qualities: fresh yet layered, with finely knit tannins and aromatic precision. 

At just $29.99, this wine brings the prestige of Yountville within reach, without sacrificing authenticity or depth. Polished yet powerful, approachable yet profound, it offers wine lovers a chance to experience one of Napa Valley’s best-kept secrets, one glass at a time.

Bistue Cellars
Cabernet Sauvignon
Yountville, Napa Valley 2023

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“The 2023 Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a bright, youthful energy expressing its vibrancy. Aromas of dried herbs and notes subtle savory spices, cassis, bramble, boysenberries, blackberries, and Bakers chocolate. On the palate, the fruit is focused and complex, with a fine graphite minerality, reminiscent of pencil lead. The structure is powerful yet elegant, supported by lively acidity and firm, polished tannins that carry the flavors into a pleasant finish.”

94 Points

2023 Rutherford Road Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2023 Rutherford Road Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

Rutherford Road

Cabernet Sauvignon
Rutherford – Napa Valley 2023

2023 Rutherford Road Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Rutherford stands among the rarest of terroirs, where Cabernet Sauvignon achieves both commanding presence and refined finesse. From this revered soil, the 2023 Rutherford Road Cabernet Sauvignon emerges with remarkable clarity, layered with dark fruit, framed by supple tannins, and distinguished by the signature “Rutherford dust” that marks Napa’s most celebrated vineyards.

The 2023 vintage blessed Napa Valley with an extraordinary season: a long, balanced growing period that yielded fruit of pristine ripeness and vibrancy. Guiding this classic expression is Michael Pozzan, a vintner whose family roots in Napa span generations. His unwavering vision and commitment to varietal purity lend Rutherford Road its distinctive character.

Aged for 20 months in French oak, the wine carries its strength with elegance, gradually revealing the depth of Rutherford’s soils and the poise of an exceptional year. Priced at $29.99, this Cabernet redefines value, proving that exceptional Napa Valley Cabernet remains attainable.

Rutherford Road
Cabernet Sauvignon
Rutherford – Napa Valley 2023
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“The Rutherford Road 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wine opens with an inviting aromatic profile of blackcurrants, blackberries, and dark cherries layered with graphite, crushed violets, and subtle notes of cedar and the signature distinction of the region- the Rutherford Dust. On the palate, the wine has flavors of black and blue fruits, fine, cocoa-powder tannins, tobacco leaf, and baking spices, adding depth and complexity. This wine is exceptionally balanced with the finesse of the season while combining the elements of the terroir’s power and structure. While already expressive, this wine will reward patience, evolving beautifully over the next decade or more.”

94 Points

2023 Montagu Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

2023 Montagu Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

Montagu

Pinot Noir 2023
Santa Lucia Highlands

2023 Montagu Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

Rooted in legend and tracing its lineage to Burgundy, Montagu’s 2023 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir captures a spirit that transcends the ordinary. The wine is crafted entirely from the storied La Tâche clone, a rare cutting believed to have originated from Burgundy’s legendary Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Rich and evocative, this Pinot Noir exudes the deep, nuanced character of its noble lineage.

At the helm of this extraordinary wine is the gifted winemaker Weston Eidson, whose intuitive craftsmanship and meticulous vineyard selection have earned him a rising star status. For this rare 100-case offering, Eidson sourced grapes from a vineyard adjacent to one of the Santa Lucia Highlands’ most illustrious sites.

On the palate, the 2023 Montagu unfolds gracefully. Its seamless texture unfurls luscious layers of ripe cherry, nuanced by intriguing spices and hints of delicate florals. Polished tannins carry each sip toward a lingering finish, exemplifying the elegance that defines the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Montagu
Pinot Noir 2023
Santa Lucia Highlands
Retails at: $75

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“The Montagu Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2023 unfurls an enchanting bouquet, where ripe, sweet strawberries intertwine with the refined perfume of English roses. A zesty lift of mandarin peel cuts through, complemented by a subtle hint of nutmeg. On the palate, this wine unleashes waves of concentrated red plum and blood orange, its flavors concentrated and vivid, saturating the senses with intensity. Each sip builds to a finish that stretches long and persistent, leaving an indelible mark of satisfaction. Outright delicious, it embodies the Santa Lucia Highlands’ finest traits—vibrant fruit, structural finesse, and captivating depth. This is a Pinot Noir of exceptional poise and power.”

94 Points