2023 Aaron Sand And Stone Paso Robles Red

2023 Aaron Sand And Stone Paso Robles Red

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

Aaron

Sand & Stone
Paso Robles Red 2023

2023 Aaron Sand And Stone Paso Robles Red

The 2023 Sand & Stone shows the raw side of western Paso Robles that Aaron Jackson refuses to polish away. Steep hillsides, limestone soils, dry-farmed vineyards, and constant coastal winds all leave their mark on this wine. With only 276 cases made, it carries a rare sense of focus and purpose. This is Paso Robles seen through the eyes of a winemaker who values identity far more than excess, and that approach earned the wine two separate 94-point scores.

Aaron Jackson blends with the patience of someone building structure instead of chasing impact. Grenache brings the drive and energy, Petite Sirah adds depth and backbone, Syrah layers in savory spice and texture, and Graciano sharpens the lift. Eighteen months in French oak puncheons lets everything settle gradually, preserving the mineral edge and freshness that the limestone soils naturally supply.

The name Sand & Stone is more than clever branding. It is the very blueprint for the wine. Paso’s sandy soils keep the brightness and aromatic lift alive, while the rocky limestone hillsides give the blend its structure and mineral core. Jackson works directly with that contrast, letting the vineyards shape the wine far more than the cellar does. That honest connection to place is what makes this 2023 vintage feel so complete, with every element perfectly balanced.

Aaron
Sand & Stone
Paso Robles Red 2023
Retails:$56

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“Deep purple-hued, the 2023 Sand & Stone reveals meaty red, blue, and black fruits intermixed with asphalt, graphite, and peppery herbs. Based on 40% Grenache, 27% Syrah, 21% Petite Sirah, and 14% Graciano aged 18 months in 35% new French oak puncheons, it’s medium to full-bodied, broad, layered, and seamless on the palate, with ripe tannins and a beautiful finish. This is a ripe, sexy, opulent blend to drink over the coming 7-8 years. Drink 2025-2033.”

94 Points

NV Sherwin Cellar Scraps #19 Napa Valley Red

NV Sherwin Cellar Scraps #19 Napa Valley Red

with No Comment $70-$80Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedSpring MountainUSA

Sherwin

‘Cellar Scraps’ #19
Napa Valley Red

NV Sherwin Cellar Scraps #19 Napa Valley Red

Cellar Scraps #19 is one of those wines that catches your eye even before you open it. The packaging pulls you in, but what’s inside holds your attention. From one of Spring Mountain’s most respected producers, this is Sherwin giving the reins a gentle loosen. It is a multi-vintage blend drawn from serious Napa sites, offering a level of creativity and playfulness you rarely encounter at this quality.

The concept is straightforward, yet the execution is anything but simple. Sherwin selects fruit from top vineyard sources across Napa and builds the blend barrel by barrel. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone, while the supporting varieties are woven in with real precision, adding texture and dimension. The multi-vintage approach gives the team the freedom to fine-tune every detail, and it shows in the final wine.

It opens with immediate charm, but there is real depth beneath the surface. Dark fruit and spice lead the way, followed by a smooth, layered texture that unfolds across the palate. Structure keeps everything neatly in place, maintaining focus and composure through a finish that lingers longer than you expect. Polished, expressive, and genuinely complex, this is the kind of Napa blend that confidently overdelivers.

Sherwin
‘Cellar Scraps’ #19
Napa Valley Red
Retails: $85

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“The Cellar Scraps #19 Napa Valley Red Wine has an exciting array of complexity on the nose with juicy red and black cherries, boysenberries, hints of cedar and black tea leaves, balsamic glaze, and savory spices. On the palate, the wine has a smooth texture with a bit of a bite from tannic structure. The flavors match the aromas on the palate with a mélange of red and black fruits, spices, and a finish of hot cocoa. This wine is very well balanced and very easy to drink, with potential for aging as well.”

94 Points

2023 Napanook by Dominus Napa Valley Red

2023 Napanook by Dominus Napa Valley Red

with No Comment $70-$80Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSAYountville

Napanook

by Dominus
Napa Valley Red 2023

2023 Napanook by Dominus Napa Valley Red

A beautiful entry into the wines of Dominus Estate, the 2023 Napanook captures the essence of a vineyard that has shaped Napa Valley for nearly two centuries. Drawn entirely from the historic Napanook Vineyard in Yountville, first planted in 1836 by George C. Yount, the wine reflects the authority of a site whose gravelly valley-floor soils have long proven ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine takes inspiration from the classic structure of Left Bank Bordeaux while remaining unmistakably Napa in character. The vineyard is farmed with an unwavering focus on balance and site expression. Dry-farmed vines send their roots deep into gravelly clay-loam soils threaded with volcanic material, while meticulous cane pruning and careful cluster thinning ensure each vine yields fruit of concentration and purity.

In the cellar, the philosophy is one of moderation and transparency. The 2023 Napanook matures for twenty months in French oak barrels, about twenty percent of them new, a measured approach that frames the wine without overshadowing it. The emphasis remains firmly on allowing the voice of the Napanook Vineyard to come through with precision.

Napanook
by Dominus
Napa Valley Red 2023

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“Aromas of blueberries, ash and stones with hints of blackberries, orange peel and chocolate. It’s medium-bodied with medium-round tannins that are polished and velvety but always in check. Cedar and baking spices like nutmeg on the palate. Lovely soft and silky texture with a long finish. Enchanting and delicious. 92% cabernet sauvginon, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. From organically grown grapes. Drink now or hold.”

97 Points

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 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

2019 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny Red Napa Valley

2019 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleProprietary RedUSA

Bevan Cellars

Ontogeny Red
Napa Valley, 2019

2019 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny Red Napa Valley

Jeb Dunnuck’s Top Value 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet, Bevan’s Ontogeny delivers a rare convergence of elite Napa pedigree, undeniable power, and genuine accessibility. It performs comfortably at the level of the valley’s most coveted Cabernets, yet does so without spectacle or excess. With time in bottle, the 2019 vintage has settled into a composed, expressive phase, offering depth and polish that feel assured rather than forced.

At the core of Ontogeny’s identity is its primary fruit source, the storied Tench Vineyard, located directly across the road from Screaming Eagle in Oakville. From this privileged site, the wine draws its concentration, translating elite terroir into layers of dark fruit, texture, and mineral-driven intensity.

The 2019 vintage shows Ontogeny at a point where power and precision are fully aligned. Dense fruit is framed by polished tannins and steady freshness, creating a profile that feels complete without sacrificing tension. It is generous without excess, confident without weight, and deeply satisfying right now, with the structure to continue rewarding patience.

Bevan Cellars
Ontogeny Red
Napa Valley, 2019

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“A blend put together by Bevan from the single vineyards, the Ontogeny cuvée is year-in, year-out one of the greatest values in Cabernet Sauvignon. His 2019 Ontogeny is no exception, revealing a dense purple hue as well as rock star notes of crème de cassis, violets, tobacco leaf, and chocolate. It’s a big, classic Bevan wine and has remarkable purity, silky, polished tannins, and not a hard edge to be found. Don’t miss it!”

98 Points, #1, Top Values In 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2023 Frisson Proprietary Red Toucher Vineyard Napa Valley

2023 Frisson Proprietary Red Toucher Vineyard Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

Frisson

Proprietary Red
Toucher Vineyard
Napa Valley 2023

2023 Frisson Proprietary Red Toucher Vineyard Napa Valley

Frisson’s 2023 Toucher Vineyard Proprietary Red captures a more refined side of Napa Valley, one defined by balance, nuance, and drinkability rather than sheer force. Built on a Cabernet core and shaped by careful blending, it delivers immediate appeal while retaining the structure and detail serious Napa reds demand. The result feels both current and timeless, polished yet expressive.

That refinement begins in Toucher Vineyard, a valley-floor site where gravelly loam soils provide natural concentration and control. Thoughtful vineyard design and modern trellising promote even ripening, allowing the fruit to build depth while preserving freshness. The vineyard’s inherent balance comes through clearly in the glass, grounding the wine’s elegance in its true origins.

In the cellar, a patient, measured approach carries that balance forward. Twenty months of aging in French oak adds texture and cohesion without overshadowing the fruit, allowing each component to settle into harmony. Generous yet composed, the wine unfolds with ease, finishing with confidence and an effortless pull toward the next glass.

Frisson
Proprietary Red
Toucher Vineyard
Napa Valley 2023
Retails at: $82

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“An easy-drinking, medium-bodied red dominated by Cabernet and Merlot, balancing blackberry and black cherry fruit with spiced plum and lighter touches of apricot and ripe fig. Elegant cedarwood spice weaves a blanket around the bright, lifted fruit, while the palate offers a soft, supple, and smoothly textured feel. The fruit source is Toucher Vineyards, a valley floor site on gravelly loam soils.”

93 Points

2023 Sans Liege The Offering Central Coast Red

2023 Sans Liege The Offering Central Coast Red

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

Sans Liege

The Offering 2023
Central Coast Red

2023 Sans Liege The Offering Central Coast Red

Sans Liege captures the lively energy of the Central Coast through a Rhône-inspired lens, presenting itself as a conversation between worlds. Rooted in Rhône tradition and shaped by California terrain, the wine reflects a deliberate pursuit of balance, texture, and expression.

At the center of this dialogue is Curt Schalchlin, whose time in France fostered a strong respect for Rhône varietals and their expressive range. Rather than replicate Old World formulas, Schalchlin applies those lessons locally, sourcing fruit across Paso Robles and Solvang with an eye toward nuance and harmony. His approach is guided by observation and nuance, allowing each site to contribute its distinct element to the blend.

In the 2023 vintage, these harmonious flavors come together with notable brilliance. Bright acidity carries layered flavors, while soft tannins provide shape without weight. The Offering moves seamlessly from lift to depth to savory resonance, finishing with a sense of balance that invites another sip and rewards time in the glass.

Sans Liege
The Offering 2023
Central Coast Red
Retails at: $33

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“The Offering 2023 Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre blend by Sans Liege is bright, fresh, and concentrated, beginning with aromas of rose petals, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, vanilla, white pepper, and black tea leaves. On the palate, the wine has a balanced complexity of flavors, including red cherries, plums, mixed berry pie, cured meats, peppercorns, and dark chocolate, that glide on the palate. The wine has silky tannins, creating a smooth mouthfeel, and the concentration of the flavors carries into the finish, ending with a crisp, rocky minerality.”

94 Points

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

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