2019 Erikson & Caradin Archer & Thorn Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2019 Erikson & Caradin Archer & Thorn Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCalistogaKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSAYountville

ERIKSON & CARADIN

ARCHER & THORN
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Erikson & Caradin Archer & Thorn Proprietary Red Napa Valley

Erikson & Caradin proprietors are keenly aware that soil, elevation, and climate play crucial roles in fine wine production; however, expertise and ambition can take wine to the next level. Erikson & Caradin began in 2013, selling their small production to friends, and continue to remain craft-focused, with only around fifty barrels produced across eight different designations.

Their specialty is producing terroir-driven wines, which aligns with winemaker Kevin Morrisey’s skillset after interning at Chateau Petrus in Bordeaux before Stags’ Leap Winery, Etude, and Ehlers Estate. 

Based around a core of Cabernet Sauvignon, balanced with Merlot and Petite Sirah, the winery’s 2019 Archer & Thorn Proprietary Red, from Calistoga, Yountville, and Oakville, captures the essence of Napa Valley, delivered with penetrating fruit framed by firm tannins and remarkable balance. 

At $90, this wine earned well-deserved scores, but at $30, I’ll let you decide…

ERIKSON & CARADIN
ARCHER & THORN
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $90

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“Aromas of black cherries, plums, fresh herbs and fresh mint. Medium-to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Succulent black fruit with light dried-citrus character. Earthy herbal notes as well. Best after 2025.”

93 Points

2019 Bodegas Bianchi IV Generacion Single Block Malbec

2019 Bodegas Bianchi IV Generacion Single Block Malbec

with No Comment $40-$50ArgentinaKevin VogtMalbecUco Valley

BODEGAS BIANCHI

IV GENERACIÓN | SINGLE BLOCK
GRAN MALBEC 2019
VALLE DE UCO, ARGENTINA

2019 Bodegas Bianchi IV Generacion Single Block Malbec

Bodegas Bianchi’s roots trace back to 1928 when Valentin Bianchi achieved his dream of acquiring a vineyard in Argentina. Enzo, Valentin’s son, served as a visionary winemaker at the Estate for over fifty years, and his passion and unwavering commitment to continually elevating the quality of the estate created a lasting legacy. Notably, the family heritage and involvement in winemaking have contributed significantly to the quality and success of Argentine wines.

The IV Generación celebrates the fourth generation of the Bianchi family. The Gran Malbec comprises grapes from a single block in the Los Chacayes estate vineyard, producing a powerful expression of high-elevation Malbec. 

The final blend differs yearly as specific barrels are selected to represent each harvest. The 2019 vintage impressed our panel by perfectly balancing power and finesse with intense fruit concentration, elegant spice, and a silky finish.

BODEGAS BIANCHI
IV GENERACIÓN | SINGLE BLOCK
GRAN MALBEC 2019
VALLE DE UCO, ARGENTINA
Retails at: $55

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“One tremendously exceptional red. Spiced cedar, mulberry, and black tea join garden herbs and violets for an intense, yet juicy, red. Tannins are plush and a dot of white pepper seasons generous blackberry jam notes.”

97 Points

 

2021 Marietta Angeli Zinfandel Alexander Valley Estate

2021 Marietta Angeli Zinfandel Alexander Valley Estate

with No Comment $40-$50Alexander ValleyKevin VogtSonomaUSAZinfandel

MARIETTA

ANGELI ZINFANDEL 2021
ALEXANDER VALLEY ESTATE

2021 Marietta Angeli Zinfandel Alexander Valley Estate

A pioneer in crafting high-quality California Zinfandel, Chris Bilbro established Marietta in the late 1970s, collaborating closely with his sons, Scot and Jake. In 2012, Scot and Jake took over the winery, carrying on their father’s legacy of producing exceptionally balanced, varietally expressive Zinfandels.

For decades, the Bilbro family meticulously sourced top-quality fruit from trusted local growers, fostering connections that eventually led to the co-ownership of some vineyards. The Angeli Zinfandel, for instance, draws its unique character from vineyards nestled at the entrance of a narrow canyon, where gravel channels interweave with terraced hillsides, shaping the land’s distinctive terroir.

The 2021 Angeli Zinfandel belongs to the Estate Series, a collection celebrating the winery’s deep-rooted connection to the land. This exceptional vintage was aged for 15 months in neutral barrels, seamlessly blending with a touch of Petite Sirah and Syrah for added spice and complexity.

MARIETTA
ANGELI ZINFANDEL 2021
ALEXANDER VALLEY ESTATE

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“…a gorgeous Angeli in 2021 that is incredibly expressive and perfumed. Blueberry, boysenberry and blackberry give way to wafts of graphite, gobs of violet and even touches of tangerine. The medium to full-bodied palate explodes with concentrated fruit and expansive layers of floral perfume and spice. It has a powdery frame, bursts of mouthwatering acidity and a very long, nuanced finish.”

96 Points

2020 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains

2020 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains

with No Comment $30-$40Central CoastKevin VogtPinot NoirSanta CruzSanta Cruz MountainsUSA

DOMAINE EDEN

PINOT NOIR 2020
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS

2020 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains

One of Santa Cruz Mountains’ most esteemed producers, Domaine Eden, was modeled after Mount Eden Vineyards and specializes in crafting exceptional Pinot Noir from a selection of Dijon clones 777, 667, and 828, alongside historical California clones like Mount Eden, Calera, and Swan.

Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the winery thrives in a cool climate with diverse soils ideally suited for nurturing Burgundian varieties. The vineyard team adheres to rigorous sustainable farming practices, yielding limited yet intensely concentrated fruit that embodies the region’s identity. 

With a commitment to purity and site expression, the wines of Domaine Eden undergo fermentation with indigenous yeast, remaining unfined and unfiltered. The 2020 vintage emerges as a standout expression, capturing the region’s essence and delivering a beautifully harmonious fusion of fruit, earth, and minerality.

DOMAINE EDEN
PINOT NOIR 2020
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
Retails at: $45

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“Fresh, with raspberry, damson plum and blood orange notes, carried by finely beaded acidity and backed by rooibos tea and savory notes through the lively finish. Shows taut underlying grip too, giving this a touch of old school. Drink now through 2030.”

91 Points

2022 Zialena Sauvignon Blanc Geyserville

2022 Zialena Sauvignon Blanc Geyserville

with No Comment $30-$40Alexander ValleyKevin VogtSauvignon BlancSonomaUSA

ZIALENA

SAUVIGNON BLANC
GEYSERVILLE 2022

2022 Zialena Sauvignon Blanc Geyserville

Our tasting panel was immediately enamored by this wine and wondered how we’d never heard of it before. The winery sits on a 120-acre property in Alexander Valley that dates back to the early 1900s when Giuseppe Mazzoni immigrated from Carrara, Italy, and became a grape farmer and winemaker after joining the Italian Swiss Colony. 

The vineyards are situated in a prime location with exceptional terroir, including a combination of soil types, microclimates, and elevation changes that contribute to the unique characteristics found in Zialena wines.

The Winery is committed to sustainable farming practices and employs environmentally friendly methods in the vineyards, focusing on handcrafted, small-lot production wines. The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is the second vintage fermented in custom concrete eggs using the egg’s natural convection to stir the lees and create an elegant structure with a soft texture and ultimate concentrated flavor complexity.

ZIALENA
SAUVIGNON BLANC
GEYSERVILLE 2022

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“The Zialena 2022 Geyserville Sauvignon Blanc opens with beautiful aromatics, including elderflower, gardenia, ripe citrus and tropical fruits, and a creamy lemon custard. On the palate, the wine has zippy acidity balanced with concentrated flavors of Meyer lemon, grapefruit, passion fruit, melon, and wet stone minerality. The wine has a touch of creaminess on the mouthfeel and a long, dynamic finish.”

94 Point

2021 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Red Blend

2021 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Red Blend

with No Comment $30 and underAtlas PeakKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

VISTA

ATLAS PEAK RESERVE
RED BLEND 2021

2021 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Red Blend

Back and better than ever before, Vista’s 2021 Atlas Peak Reserve Red Blend is another paradigm-shifter for superior quality, value-priced Mountain wines. This stunner has the concentration, depth, complexity, and balance you’d expect from an exceptional $50+ Napa wine, but at $25, it’s almost unfathomable how great it is for this low price.

Harvested at 2,000 feet elevation on Atlas Peak, Vista’s 2021 Reserve Blend was wrought from the rocky red Aiken soils that perfectly display the deep, concentrated flavors that make this region famous.

Predominately Cabernet Sauvignon at 61%, balanced with Merlot and Malbec, the 2021 vintage has the power of a thoroughbred, tamed by the skilled hand of winemaker Grant Long Jr, whom you might know from Aonair, Reverie II, Steps, and James Joseph. If you’re looking for a fabulous wine that tastes like it should be double or triple the price, look no further.

VISTA
ATLAS PEAK RESERVE
RED BLEND 2021

Your Price: $25

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“Unparalleled in their ability to create rich, powerful, high-quality Napa Valley wines at an exceptionally low price, Vista continues to raise the bar with the release of their 2021 Reserve Atlas Peak Red Blend. This beautiful creation begins with a vibrant nose, including crushed Blackberries, blueberry cobbler, lavender, and hints of wood spice. The powerful palate continues with concentrated red currants, mixed berry compote, Bing cherries, pipe tobacco, saline minerality, and cocoa powder. The firm volcanic mountain structure beautifully balances the intense fruit with a style, grace, and energy, leading to a long finish that simply satisfies.”

95 Points

2019 Walter Hansel The South Slope Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2019 Walter Hansel The South Slope Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

WALTER HANSEL

THE SOUTH SLOPE
PINOT NOIR 2019
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2019 Walter Hansel The South Slope Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Consistently exceptional, Walter Hansel’s Pinot Noirs mirror qualities that you’d expect from California’s most elite Pinot Noir producers, doing so at a price that’s drawn many admirers. 

Walter Hansel had a penchant for horticulture early on and enlisted the help of his son, Stephen, to plant a half-acre of vines in the 1970s. During the next decade, the Hansel family would harvest their tiny vineyard, and produce two barrels, making about 50 cases of wine. 

The Estate now farms 80 acres of contiguous vineyards. The South Slope is at the highest elevation and southernmost plot, planted to Clone 777, known for giving wines a distinct earthiness. The 2021 South Slope Pinot Noir was fermented in stainless steel and aged 12 months in oak before release, earning 96 points from Vinous and highlighting “knock-out” qualities.

WALTER HANSEL
THE SOUTH SLOPE
PINOT NOIR 2019
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

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“The 2021 Pinot Noir The South Slope is a classic Steven Hansel wine. A rush of dark cherry, plum lavender, rose petal and licorice are all dialed up. This boisterous, exuberant Pinot Noir has a ton of character. Plush contours wrap it all together in style. The 2021 will be nearly impossible to resist on release. What a knock-out!”

96 Points

2019 Dievole Petrignano Chianti Classico Tuscany Italy

2019 Dievole Petrignano Chianti Classico Tuscany Italy

with No Comment $30 and underChiantiChiantiKevin VogtTuscanyUSA

DIEVOLE PETRIGNANO

CHIANTI CLASSICO
TUSCANY, ITALY 2019

2019 Dievole Petrignano Chianti Classico Tuscany Italy

Dievole is a renowned winery in the heart of Tuscany in the Chianti Classico region near Castelnuovo Berardenga. Celebrated for exceptional wines and a commitment to sustainable winemaking practices, the estate has a rich history dating back to the 11th century.

The winery’s flagship wine, Dievole Chianti Classico DOCG, is outstanding and hails from the 2019 vintage, a year the Wine Spectator describes as producing “fresh, balanced reds with finesse and the structure to age.” 

Dievole’s Chianti Classico wines effortlessly showcase the region’s quintessential characteristics; combined with an outstanding growing season and the DOCG’s aging regulations, this wine is already shining brightly.

DIEVOLE PETRIGNANO
CHIANTI CLASSICO
TUSCANY, ITALY 2019

Your Price: $28

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“Petrignano is a new wine for Dievole, the result of the estate’s collaboration with Chilean soil specialist, Pedro Parra. It comes from a recently planted 15ha site between 300 and 330 metres above sea level, distinguished by an abundance of limestone near the surface. The nose is flinty and iron-speckled, giving way to sun-soaked wild berries. It balances the generous warmth of the south with freshness and long, chalky tannins, sneaking some vibrant acidity in there too.”

91 Points

2021 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon San Luis Obispo

2021 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon San Luis Obispo

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonCentral CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesUSA

MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SAN LUIS OBISPO 2021

2021 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon San Luis Obispo

In 2001, Eric and Lisa Jensen purchased 100 acres in Paso Robles, founding Booker Vineyards, followed by My Favorite Neighbor, initially focusing on farming high-quality grapes for nearby wineries. Eric started making wine on the side with his friend Justin Smith of Saxum and neighbor Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure before he and Lisa decided to create wines that would rival the best out of Napa Valley in their categories. 

Established with unwavering commitment and a refusal to compromise, My Favorite Neighbor strikes a balance with impeccable ripe fruit, intense flavors, and sumptuous textures, presenting a formidable challenge to some of the finest $100 New World Cabernets. 

Eric has consistently crafted wines from successive vintages that have garnered impressive mid-90-point scores, and his 2021 vintage stands as a remarkable successor, propelling his wine toward widespread recognition as a premier name in San Luis Obispo-area Cabernet Sauvignon.

MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SAN LUIS OBISPO 2021
Retails at: $55

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“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is smoking good, with a full-bodied, rich, opulent wine that has classic cassis and darker blue fruits as well as leafy tobacco, baking spice, and bouquet garni notes. This textured, ripe, sexy wine stays nicely balanced, has ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s another awesome value.”

94 Points

2021 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2021 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $50-$60$60-$70Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaSonoma CoastUSA

KANZLER

PINOT NOIR 2021
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2021 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

In 1996, the Kanzler family was the first to plant vineyards in the chilly Sebastopol Hills in western Sonoma County, just eight miles from the Pacific Ocean. Steve Kanzler immersed himself in viticulture, taking classes at UC Davis, and sought advice from neighbors, winemakers, vineyard managers, and soil experts all around the county to perfect his knowledge and understanding of grape growing. 

Kanzler’s Vineyard has a legacy highlighted by Pinot Noir icons Lynmar, Rivers-Marie, and Kosta Browne, who’ve all produced a single-vineyard Pinot from Kanzler for around 20 consecutive vintages, ranking among their best wines produced. 

Striving to create intensely exquisite Pinot, winemaker Alex Kanzler crafted this Russian River Valley Pinot Noir around a core of Estate fruit, layering in Mes Filles, Marshall, Walker Station, and Wild Horse Vineyards for increased nuance. Their winemaking is gentle, precise, and skilled, and the results are simply stunning.

KANZLER
PINOT NOIR 2021
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

Your Price: $60

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“Ripe, with deliciously succulent waves of plum, boysenberry and mulberry fruit rolling through, laced with iris and hibiscus notes and ending with light anise and apple wood hints on the finish. Packs a nice finishing kick of fruit at the end, too, while keeping a racy edge. Best from 2024 through 2032.”

94 Points