2023 Castalia Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2023 Castalia Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleyUSA

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

2021 Domaine De La Riviere Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2021 Domaine De La Riviere Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

Domaine de la Rivière

Pinot Noir 2021
Middle Reach Vineyards
Russian River Valley

2021 Domaine De La Riviere Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

With poised intensity, Domaine de la Rivière Pinot Noir captures one of the most compelling stretches of the Russian River Valley. In this prized Middle Reach corridor, cooling Pacific fog tempers the sun and extends the growing season, preserving freshness and detail. The result is a wine defined by balance, where vivid red fruit, lifted aromatics, and fine structure reflect a site shaped by equilibrium.

Guided by a philosophy that favors precision, the wine reflects a disciplined, site-first approach. At the helm, Kale Anderson brings a pedigree shaped at Colgin Cellars, Cliff Lede Vineyards, and Pahlmeyer, where he honed a style defined by precision and control. Each decision in the cellar is deliberate, preserving tension, structure, and aromatic lift, resulting in a Pinot Noir that is both transparent and complete.

Native fermentation anchors the wine in transparency, allowing site and structure to speak without interference. This is Pinot Noir that moves beyond immediacy, offering both present beauty and the promise of evolution. It speaks with clarity of place and rewards those willing to follow it over time.

Domaine de la Rivière
Pinot Noir 2021
Middle Reach Vineyards
Russian River Valley
Retails at: $75

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“Aromas of pomegranate, cherry, black tea and orange peel swirl and mingle on the nose of this native-fermented Pinot. The palate gives flavors of salty cherry, roasted mushroom and violets, with the satisfying grip of tannin lingering through the finish. Best 2028–2040.”

94 Points, Cellar Selection

2021 Pirouette Proprietary Red Columbia Valley

2021 Pirouette Proprietary Red Columbia Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Columbia ValleyKevin VogtProprietary RedUSAWashington State

Pirouette

Proprietary Red
Columbia Valley 2021

2021 Pirouette Proprietary Red Columbia Valley

The Pirouette 2021 Columbia Valley Red is engineered for balance, translating some of Washington’s most respected vineyard sites into a wine of measured structure and authority. Its architecture is defined by line and proportion, shaped by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, then refined through extended time in French oak, allowing its depth to emerge.

Rooted in Columbia Valley fruit yet informed by classical Bordeaux proportions, the blend emphasizes structure and freshness. Cabernet Sauvignon provides line and backbone, Merlot softens the edges, and the supporting varieties add nuance, creating a wine that favors articulation at every stage.

Compelling from the outset, the 2021 Pirouette is nevertheless built with time in mind. Its balance and structure suggest a long, graceful evolution, as layers continue to knit and deepen. It is a wine that offers immediate pleasure while promising greater complexity for those willing to follow its arc in the cellar.

Pirouette
Proprietary Red
Columbia Valley 2021
Retails at: $75

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“The otherworldly 2021 Long Shadows Pirouette Red Wine is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon with 36% Merlot and the remainder Malbec and Petit Verdot. Very dark in the glass, this offers alluring black florals on the nose with tar, tobacco leaf, mocha, anise and shades of dark chocolate shavings. The stunning aromatics are simply head-turning. The palate is ultra-refined offering a seamless drinking experience. This is the finest edition of this wine that I have tasted since its inception back in 2003.”

98 Points

2021 Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley

2021 Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Columbia ValleyKevin VogtMerlotUSAWashington State

Pedestal

Merlot 2021
Columbia Valley

2021 Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley

Washington State has proven, time and again, that Merlot thrives here, but Pedestal captures the variety at a particularly high register. The 2021 release reflects an approach centered on site expression, precision farming, and patient élevage, yielding a wine that delivers depth and polish. It is a Merlot built to command attention rather than chase it.

Pedestal is a product of the Long Shadows philosophy: pairing world-class vineyard sources with a singular, disciplined vision. In 2021, that vision comes into focus through a carefully assembled blend of Columbia Valley Merlot drawn from vineyards prized for consistency and character. The result is a wine that feels deliberately shaped to emphasize clarity, depth, and longevity.

Guiding the final expression is Michel Rolland, whose influence appears not through excess, but through control. Trained in Bordeaux and refined through decades of working with Merlot at the highest level, Rolland brings a philosophy rooted in balance, texture, and age-worthiness. The 2021 Pedestal reflects that sensibility at every turn: expressive, composed, and built to evolve with understated confidence.

Pedestal
Merlot 2021
Columbia Valley
Retails at: $75

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“A blend put together by the incredibly talented Michel Rolland, the 2021 Merlot Pedestal is based on 80% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Petit Verdot that spent 22 months in 75% new French oak. Its deep plum/purple hue is followed by a brilliant, full-bodied, unctuous beauty that has loads of darker currant and black cherry fruits, some chocolate and leafy herbs notes, velvety tannins, and a layered mouthfeel that just begs to be drunk. It’s easily one of the finest expressions of Merlot in the state, and it would stand up just fine to some of the top Merlot releases from France and Napa. Drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years.”

96 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 Lancaster Estate Winemakers Cuvee Alexander Valley

2021 Lancaster Estate Winemakers Cuvee Alexander Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Alexander ValleyKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaUSA

Lancaster Estate

Winemaker’s Cuvée
Alexander Valley 2021

2021 Lancaster Estate Winemakers Cuvee Alexander Valley

High above the valley floor, where gravelly loam and warm afternoons shape Cabernet into something both powerful and poised, Lancaster’s Winemaker’s Cuvée takes root. This wine is the purest expression of the estate’s hillside benches, sites where vines dig deep into fractured soils and the fruit emerges with remarkable concentration, lift, and unmistakable character.

At the core of the 2021 blend is Cabernet Sauvignon, commanding in both presence and structure, supported by Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot in thoughtful proportions. Each variety contributes its own dimension: Franc with aromatic lift, Merlot with mid-palate breadth, and Petit Verdot with richness. Together they create a cuvée that feels seamlessly layered and shaped by a winemaking vision grounded in precision.

In the cellar, the wine is guided with the same clarity of intent that defines the vineyard work: fermentation is kept exacting, oak is used to frame rather than dominate. What emerges is a wine that marries depth with refinement, with tannins firm yet polished and a finish that is long and resonant. Impressive now, the 2021 Winemaker’s Cuvée is crafted for the long view, promising years of unfolding nuance for those who choose to follow its evolution.

Lancaster Estate
Winemaker’s Cuvée
Alexander Valley 2021
Retails at: $125

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“The 2021 Winemaker’s Cuvee Red Blend is composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot. A saturated red color, it opens in the glass to reveal a luxurious and layered profile with notes of cassis, menthol, polished leather, and mocha. Full-bodied and velvety on the palate, it’s generous, offering a balanced and ripe feel without feeling weighty, and it has an elegantly rich and tapered finish. It’s going to age gracefully over the coming 10 years. 5000 cases were produced.”

94 Points

2020 Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli Tus cany Italy

with No Comment $60-$70BrunelloBrunelloItalyKevin VogtTuscany

Siro Pacenti

Brunello di Montalcino
Pelagrilli 2020
Tuscany, Italy

From the slopes of Montalcino, the Pelagrilli vineyard tells a story that few Brunellos can match. Rooted in the land Giancarlo Pacenti’s father purchased in 1970 and shaped over decades into a modern icon, the 2020 release channels this lineage with singular precision. It reflects the focus of a winemaker who has devoted his life to shaping Sangiovese into something unmistakably his own.

At the core of the wine’s character are vines that have matured over decades, their roots threaded deep into Montalcino’s varied soils. These older plantings lend natural concentration and a purity of fruit that only time and thoughtful farming can produce. Pacenti captures their voice with uncommon finesse, crafting a wine that feels both grounded and vibrant.

As the wine settles on the palate, it becomes clear why Pelagrilli remains a cornerstone of the Pacenti legacy. The interplay of red fruit, savory spice, and cool mineral depth leaves a lasting imprint that resonates long after the final sip. This is Sangiovese articulated with precision and heart, shaped by a vineyard that speaks with uncommon vividness and a winemaker who has spent a lifetime learning how to listen.

Siro Pacenti
Brunello di Montalcino
Pelagrilli 2020
Tuscany, Italy
Retails at: $80

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“A round and juicy red with berry, cherry, mushroom and wet-earth character on both the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied with integrated tannins that are soft and luscious. Long, flavorful finish. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years.”

96 Points

2022 Facets Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2022 Facets Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSAYountville

Facets

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 20222022 Facets Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Precision is the language Julien Fayard speaks fluently, and in Facets 2022, he’s written a love letter to Napa’s diversity. The wine captures the essence of Napa Valley, standing as a polished reflection of the region’s diverse terroirs, revealing balance over excess. It’s a wine that captures the power of California sun and the restraint of French discipline in perfect, seamless motion.

For Fayard, crafting Facets is less about blending fruit than sculpting dimension. Sourced from the cool precision of Oak Knoll and the structured gravitas of Yountville, the 2022 vintage draws on contrasting terroirs to create harmony. His training at Château Lafite Rothschild and Quintessa informs a philosophy of finding an equilibrium between opulence and restraint, ripeness and poise.

Aged for 20 months in French oak, the 2022 Facets reveals depth without heaviness. It is a modern Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that’s refined, confident, and enduring. For collectors and casual enthusiasts alike, it’s a wine that defines where Napa Cabernet is headed: elegant, deliberate, and undeniably world-class.

Facets
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2022

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“The Gemstone estate vineyard spans 6.5 hectares (16 acres) on the western benches of Yountville. Still, Facets is Gemstone’s non-estate wine, crafted from carefully selected vineyards in Yountville and Oak Knoll by winemaker Julien Fayard, who took the helm in 2021. The 2022 Facets is a crowd-pleaser with upfront appeal, offering heady aromas of violets, rose petals, sweet candied red berry fruit, and dusty minerals. The velvety, fine-grained tannins are seamlessly integrated on the palate, giving the wine a polished texture. Full-bodied and rich, it features expressive, balanced cedarwood sweetness and finishes with notes of crushed cacao nibs. Grapes are gently pressed directly into barrels for fermentation and aged up to 18 months in 40% new French oak. The 2022 vintage is approachable now and perfect for drinking, while the more structured 2021s continue to develop, delivering a harmonious balance of richness, elegance, and immediate gratification.”

95 Points

2021 M. Chapoutier Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine Rhone Valley

2021 M. Chapoutier Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine Rhone Valley France

with No Comment $60-$70Chateauneuf-Du-PapeFranceKevin VogtRhone ValleyRhone Valley

M. Chapoutier

Châteauneuf-du-Pape
La Bernardine 2021
Rhone Valley, France

2021 M. Chapoutier Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine Rhone Valley

At the intersection of tradition and innovation, Chapoutier’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine captures over a century of expertise in a single glass. Guided by Michel Chapoutier’s visionary approach and commitment to biodynamics, the 2021 vintage achieves a rare balance: power without heaviness, purity without austerity.

The wine draws its character from the Rhône’s storied terroir: ancient quaternary soils strewn with massive pebbles, remnants of a long-lost glacial river. These galets, mingled with clay and sand, form a natural oven by day and a cool haven by night, yielding fruit of remarkable intensity and elegance unique to Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The 2021 vintage is a masterclass in restraint and clarity. A Grenache-driven blend rounded out with Syrah and Mourvèdre, and raised for fifteen months in concrete, preserving purity of fruit and the unadorned voice of the vineyard. Elegant, concentrated, and profoundly expressive, La Bernardine 2021 is an eloquent reminder of why Châteauneuf-du-Pape remains one of the world’s great red wines.

M. Chapoutier
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
La Bernardine 2021
Rhone Valley, France

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“A textural, refined and velvety Chateauneuf-du-Pape with aromas of forest berries, wet stones, roasted meat, wild herbs and some bark. It’s medium- to full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. There is a refined texture here, silky at the center, with a delicate core of dark cherries challenged by an intense array of spices that provide verve and energy. Lively and focused finish with length. Try after 2026.”

93 Points

2022 Teeter-Totter Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2022 Teeter-Totter Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Teeter-Totter

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2022

2022 Teeter-Totter Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Teeter-Totter’s 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon harmonizes prestige with approachability, blending exceptional winemaking and meticulous farming with remarkable value. Crafted under the guidance of Benoît Touquette, a winemaker renowned for producing numerous 100-point wines, this bottling demonstrates that world-class craftsmanship can remain accessible without sacrificing quality.

The philosophy behind Teeter-Totter is elegantly straightforward: apply the same rigorous attention to detail that Benoît employs in his most celebrated wines to a bottling designed for wider appreciation. The 2022 Cabernet embodies this vision, crafted with the same barrel-by-barrel precision as his acclaimed triumphs, yet priced to invite immediate enjoyment.

In the end, Teeter-Totter is exactly what its name suggests: a perfect balance, achieved through vision, precision, and heart. The 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers richness without excess, elegance without austerity, and value without compromise. A reminder that true artistry lies in creating wines that resonate deeply, across tables and time.

Teeter-Totter
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2022

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“…intensely perfumed with ripe blackberry, violets, and rich cedarwood accents. Silken dark berry fruit is plump, juicy, and generous, framed by polished tannins that glide to a long, wet-slate, mineral-driven finish. It’s the kind of wine you want to drink on its own, yet it has the structure to carry a meal—especially hearty pastas, braised meats, or your favourite smash burger.”

97 Points