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

2021 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay Rrussian River Valley

2021 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay Russian River Valley

with No Comment $70-$80ChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

Shibumi Knoll

Chardonnay 2021
Corazon del Río Vineyard
Russian River Valley

2021 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay Rrussian River Valley

Shibumi Knoll occupies a rare place in California Chardonnay, guided by intention rather than scale and shaped by the skilled hand of Thomas Rivers Brown. The result is a wine that speaks in a higher register, focused, precise, and alive with detail, offering a clear counterpoint to the estate’s more mature expressions.

Within the renowned Buena Tierra Vineyard, one small block behaves differently. Its younger vines yield fruit with sharper edges, brighter energy, and a natural tension that demands restraint. The 2021 Corazon del Rio Chardonnay is drawn from this block and shaped to emphasize clarity and lift. What emerges is a wine with nerve and definition, alive rather than polished into submission.

Nothing here feels accidental. Time in barrel brings texture and dimension without dulling the wine’s natural edge, keeping tension at the core of the experience. The palate is persistent and finely tuned, delivering intensity through precision rather than force. It is a Chardonnay that rewards attention, unfolding gradually and revealing its depth with patience, not haste.

Shibumi Knoll
Chardonnay 2021
Corazon del Río Vineyard
Russian River Valley

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“The 2021 Chardonnay Corazon Del Rio Vineyard is another brilliant Chardonnay (these are all made by Thomas Rivers Brown) from the Russian River Valley. Bright citrus, honeyed flowers, and subtle toasty oak notes define the aromatics, and its medium-bodied, has a fresh, focused mouthfeel, terrific balance, and a great finish. I’d be thrilled with bottles in the cellar.”

95 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

2019 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

2019 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

La Jota

Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain 2019

2019 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

On Howell Mountain, beauty is earned. The soils are thin, the slopes unforgiving, and the climate cool; yet from this adversity comes the soul of the La Jota Cabernet. Each cluster ripened under intense sunlight and cooled by high-elevation breezes, developing a structure both formidable and refined. The result is a wine that speaks fluently of its origin: dark, resonant, and built for the long arc of aging.

La Jota’s roots run deep into this mountain as well. Founded in 1898 by Frederick Hess, the estate has weathered booms, busts, Prohibition, and rebirth, all while maintaining its foothold on Howell Mountain’s most expressive soils. Today, under Chris Carpenter’s guidance, the estate channels more than a century of resilience into each vintage. His approach honors the site’s original philosophy: let the mountain speak first, then shape its voice with precision and patience.

After several years of unhurried evolution in bottle, the 2019 now shows a harmony that only time can create. The fruit has deepened and integrated, while the tannins have relaxed without losing their mountain backbone, creating a wine that is open, expressive, and beautifully layered. It retains all the hallmarks of great Howell Mountain Cabernet, but with a charm and accessibility that make it stunningly enjoyable right now.

La Jota
Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain 2019
Retails at: $185

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“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is another superb wine from La Jota. Rich and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous density and plenty of mountain power. A rush of black cherry, blackberry, licorice, spice and menthol builds into the huge finish. This is a fabulous vintage for the La Jota Cabernet.”

96 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

2023 Ehlers Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley

2023 Ehlers Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Ehlers

Cabernet Sauvignon
Estate Napa Valley 2023

2023 Ehlers Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley

From the northwestern edge of St. Helena, where gravelly soils meet long afternoon light, Ehlers Estate Cabernet Sauvignon emerges with authority. This is a site where nuance is earned and restraint rewarded, and the wine carries that discipline in every detail. Farmed organically under the direction of Mike Wolf, each decision in the vineyard is shaped by patience and intention. The result is a wine firmly grounded in its place and unmistakably its own.

What defines this wine is not sheer weight, but precision. Built on Cabernet Sauvignon and supported by Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the blend favors clarity over excess. The palate moves with purpose, structured yet supple, with finely woven tannins and a line of freshness that brings lift and focus. Balance here feels natural and assured, the product of thoughtful farming and measured craft rather than force.

Though firmly structured, the 2023 already shows a harmony that invites exploration now. Fruit, tannin, and freshness align seamlessly, delivering immediate pleasure. With time, added nuance and depth will emerge, but even in its youth, this is a complete and compelling expression of St. Helena, one that lingers with poise and a strong sense of place.

Ehlers
Cabernet Sauvignon
Estate Napa Valley 2023
Retails at: $80

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“The Ehlers 2023 Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a plush richness and notes of black cherry, plum compote, wild berry bramble, warm spices, and dried herbs. On the palate, the wine is supple yet finely structured, with a velvety texture and juicy fruit, before unveiling deeper nuances of cedar, mocha, and baking spices, along with savory undertones. The tannins are polished but firm, providing a strong backbone that carries the wine through a long, harmonious finish.”

96 Points

2023 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon One Liters Napa Valley

260116 2023 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon One Liters Napa Valley

with No Comment $80-$90Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Caymus

Cabernet Sauvignon
One Liters 2023
Napa Valley

2023 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon One Liters Napa Valley

Few names in Napa Valley command the same immediate recognition as Caymus, and the 2023 Napa Cabernet reaffirms why. Shaped by more than five decades of family stewardship, this wine arrives with a confidence that only time can earn. It reflects a philosophy built on consistency, intuition, and a belief in Napa Valley’s capacity to produce Cabernet of unmistakable richness and presence.

That confidence is rooted in a lineage that began in 1971, when the Wagner family set out to craft Cabernet that captured the valley’s character with purpose. Generations of hands-on experience have refined that vision, sharpening decisions around vineyard selection, harvest timing, and balance. The 2023 vintage carries that accumulated wisdom, translating tradition into a wine that feels both instantly recognizable and freshly composed.

Harvested at peak maturity, the 2023 release delivers the signature richness that defines the Caymus style. Full-bodied and expressive, it unfolds with depth and assurance, honoring more than half a century of dedication while continuing to capture the bold, sunlit spirit of Napa Valley. This is not simply a vintage, but a continuation of a story that has secured its place among Napa’s most enduring classics.

Caymus
Cabernet Sauvignon
One Liters 2023
Napa Valley
Retails at: $110

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“This clear and dark ruby red colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Caymus opens with a shy black licorice and cherry-cola bouquet with hints of tobacco leaf, violet, and chocolate. On the palate, this wine is full bodied with integrated medium plus acidity. The mouthfeel is balanced, round, smooth, and a little lush. The flavor profile is an extracted black cherry and cedar blend with notes of cola and licorice. We also detected hints of toffee, clove, and menthol. The finish displays friendly and fine-grained tannins that linger nicely. We would pair this Cab with a beef bourguignon or with a pan-seared duck breast. Enjoy”

93 Points

2014 Chateau Gazin Pomerol Bordeaux France

260115 2014 Chateau Gazin Pomerol Bordeaux France

with No Comment $100 and overBordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin Vogt

Château Gazin

Pomerol 2014
Bordeaux, France

2014 Chateau Gazin Pomerol Bordeaux France

Greatness in Pomerol is often measured in meters, not miles. Château Gazin stands beside Pétrus on the revered Pomerol plateau, occupying one of the appellation’s most privileged positions. Its vineyard stretches across a rare, single contiguous parcel on the high terrace, a setting long associated with Pomerol’s most profound expressions of Merlot.

Beneath the vines lies a complex mosaic of blue and green clays layered with gravel and iron-rich deposits, a terroir synonymous with Pomerol’s most age-worthy wines. These soils provide both structure and natural balance, regulating water supply and sustaining the vines through variable seasons. In 2014, this advantage proved decisive, allowing the fruit to ripen with freshness, clarity, and poise.

Now with a decade in bottle, the 2014 Château Gazin is entering a particularly expressive phase. The wine shows depth without heaviness, its structure softened into a supple, seamless frame while retaining the freshness that defines great Pomerol. It is generous yet composed, offering immediate pleasure alongside the promise of continued evolution.

Château Gazin
Pomerol 2014
Bordeaux, France

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“The soy-sauce and savory aromas really make this stand out, but behind it are some very nice fruit and elegant tannins. This is a very well-made modern Pomerol with a lot of potential that needs some time to reveal its full class. Give it five or six years of bottle age.”

95 Points

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