2023 Luli Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

260114 2023 Luli Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

Luli

Pinot Noir 2023
Santa Lucia Highlands

2023 Luli Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

Luli’s 2023 Pinot Noir exceeds expectations, delivering remarkable pedigree at a price that feels almost improbable. It offers a level of clarity, balance, and authenticity that many costlier bottles struggle to match. This is not value born of compromise, but value earned through intention, precision, and an unwavering respect for place.

Set along the windswept slopes of the Santa Lucia Highlands, the wine draws its character from a cool, coastal climate shaped by fog-laced mornings, steady ocean breezes, and extended growing seasons. These conditions naturally favor freshness and structure, allowing the fruit to emerge with definition and lift. The result is a Pinot Noir that feels vibrant and composed, carrying depth with ease rather than weight.

That sense of composure is reinforced by a hands-on approach in both vineyard and cellar. Low yields, meticulous sorting, and native fermentations allow the fruit to speak clearly, while small-lot vinification preserves nuance and texture. By forgoing fining and filtration, the wine retains its natural energy, resulting in a Pinot Noir that is pure, expressive, and unmistakably authentic.

Luli
Pinot Noir 2023
Santa Lucia Highlands

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“Candied cherry and raspberry compote aromas are very fresh and accessible on the nose of this bottling, which also shows earthier hints of soil and bark. The palate is zippy with acidity that shines through the black cherry, star anise and turned loam flavors.”

94 Points

2021 Sixteen by Twenty Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

2021 Sixteen by Twenty Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

Sixteen by Twenty

Chardonnay 2021
Sonoma Coast

2021 Sixteen by Twenty Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Sixteen by Twenty represents a modern vision of California Chardonnay, one rooted in balance rather than excess. Its name reflects a philosophy borrowed from fine art, where proportion and restraint define true beauty. This mindset carries through every stage of winemaking, resulting in a wine that feels polished, thoughtful, and effortlessly refined.

The 2021 vintage showcases the Sonoma Coast at its most expressive. Sourced from two cool, windswept vineyard sites, the blend combines Old Wente’s richness and aromatic complexity with the tension and precision of Clone 6. The result is a Chardonnay that feels both generous and controlled.

Eleven months in French oak lend subtle structure and texture, enhancing the wine without dominating it. The finish is persistent and balanced, carrying the wine’s natural energy through a long, graceful close that invites another sip.

Sixteen by Twenty
Chardonnay 2021
Sonoma Coast
Retails at: $60

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“The 16X20 2021 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay introduces coastal freshness with opulent California Fruit, featuring flavors of Meyer lemon, golden apples, nectarine, crushed stone, and a subtle thread of vanilla bean and butterscotch. On the palate, the wine has a vibrant edge balanced by rich flavors of ripe orchard fruit, a saline edge, lemon curd, and hazelnut. Playful and expressive, this wine exemplifies the refinement and energy of the Sonoma Coast.”

94 Points

2023 Sequoia Grove Chardonnay Napa Valley

2023 Sequoia Grove Chardonnay Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCarnerosChardonnayKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSA

Sequoia Grove

Chardonnay
Napa Valley 2023

2023 Sequoia Grove Chardonnay Napa Valley

In a region celebrated for its opulence, the 2023 Sequoia Grove Chardonnay stands out by choosing nuance as its compass. It’s a wine shaped by cool-climate discipline: mornings that delay ripeness, evenings that preserve acidity, and vineyards that favor elegance over indulgence. It shows a precision that feels rare for Napa, offering a Chardonnay shaped as much by restraint as by ripeness.

Much of that character comes from Carneros’ Haire Vineyard, where 30-year-old Wente and Robert Young clone vines deliver fruit with natural concentration. These old vines ripen slowly, holding onto acidity even in generous years, giving the wine its signature tension. Oak Knoll adds its own imprint, layering in structure and a subtle mineral thread that keeps the wine lifted and complete.

The winemaking team further amplifies that interplay of energy and richness. Native-yeast fermentation and extended lees contact build a creamy mid-palate, while the modest use of new French oak contributes subtle warmth rather than weight. The resulting Chardonnay is vibrant yet composed, delivering richness through texture rather than sweetness and finishing with a clarity that echoes its origins.

Sequoia Grove
Chardonnay
Napa Valley 2023
Retails at: $38

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“A nicely rich, suave and spicy white that blends luxurious poached apple and pear flavors with notes of marzipan, lemon meringue, toasted almonds, hazelnuts, brioche and butter. Full-bodied, broad in mouthfeel, well layered and plush. Drink now.”

93 Points

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