2021 Waypoint Sauvignon Blanc Ritchie Vineyard Russian River

2021 Waypoint Sauvignon Blanc Ritchie Vineyard Russian River

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtRussian River ValleySauvignon BlancSonomaUSA

WAYPOINT

SAUVIGNON BLANC
RITCHIE VINEYARD 
RUSSIAN RIVER 2021

2021 Waypoint Sauvignon Blanc Ritchie Vineyard Russian River
New Frontier Wines produces Waypoint with a keen focus on single vineyard wines from sustainably farmed vineyards with unique characteristics. Founder Alejandro Bulgheroni, an Argentinian-Italian businessman, farmer, winemaker, and conservationist, has been active in several ecological endeavors since the 1960s and continues to promote his ideals in every bottle produced.
 
Kent Ritchie’s Russian River Valley Vineyard is renowned for producing expressive fruit with incredible aromas and flavors. This particular bottling is 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Ritchie Block “C” fermented before maturation in a selection of the finest French barrels from top producers. The exceptional winemaking team of Philippe Melka and Matt Sands carefully vinted this beautifully aromatic Sauvignon Blanc from the 2021 vintage, describing it as “akin to a powerful Sancerre.” 
 
WAYPOINT
SAUVIGNON BLANC
RITCHIE VINEYARD 
RUSSIAN RIVER 2021
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“The Waypoint Ritchie Vineyard Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021 begins with a bright, citrusy nose, with white flowers, fresh sage, and white pepper. It continues with a beautifully balanced palate of lemon-lime, white peach, quince, and liquid minerals. It seamlessly combines the best traits of rich American, complex French, and bright New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, leading to a crisp, fresh, and long finish.”
93 Points
2021 Apsara Chardonnay Petaluma Gap

2021 Apsara Chardonnay Petaluma Gap

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtPetaluma GapSonomaUSA

APSARA

CHARDONNAY 2021
PETALUMA GAP

2021 Apsara Chardonnay Petaluma Gap
“Apsara” is a Sanskrit word that translates to an angelic dancer with balance, purity, and expression and accurately describes each of Apsara Cellars’ exquisite wines, vinified with precision by co-founder Robin Akhurst. Robin and Aneeta met over 20 years ago, studying biology and environmental science in Indonesia. Their travels piqued their interest in preserving the ecosystem with organic, biodynamic, and sustainable vineyard and winery practices.
 
Robin obtained his degree in Enology and spent the next four years working alongside some of the world’s top winemakers, including Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy, Two Hands Wines in the Barossa Valley, as well as Schrader, Outpost Cellars, Myriad, and Carter Cellars in the Napa Valley. Robin sourced his 2021 Chardonnay from the Petaluma Gap in Sonoma County, then matured it in French oak barrels. The resulting wine is a refreshing, light-natured, beautifully aromatic, and layered Chardonnay with delectable flavors. 
 
APSARA
CHARDONNAY 2021
PETALUMA GAP
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“The Apsara 2021 Petaluma Gap Chardonnay opens with elegant aromas of acacia and honeysuckle blossoms, fresh Meyer lemon, golden apple, croissant, and crushed rocks. On the palate, the wine has flavors of apricot, lemon custard, cream, and a hint of vanilla. The bright acidity carries through to the finish, and the moderate to low alcohol level allows this wine to be enjoyed independently.”
96 Points
2021 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2021 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

BLACK PINE

PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021

2021 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Roger Roessler spent more than four decades in the restaurant business, and through the years, he naturally found his true passion in life: wine. Roger’s Black Pine Pinot Noir encompasses dedication and a love for the varietal at an affordable price without compromising quality. 
 
This Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir comes from hand-selected sites blended to bring a consistent wine, vintage to vintage, and showcases the talents of the winery’s grower partnerships. The 2021 release has a silky, smooth texture with bright fruit and spice and over-delivers for a wine in this price range.
 
BLACK PINE
PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021
Retails at: $38
 
 
 
“The Black Pine Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021 begins with a nose of bright pomegranate, dried cranberries, cola bean, cardamom spice, and fresh violets. The concentrated, ripe palate continues with tart/sweet cherry juice and powerful intensity, projecting baking spices, fresh florals, and a silky smooth mouthfeel. These textures, flavors and aromas build to a long, supple, rich finish.”
93 Points
2021 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley

2021 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtOld Vine ZinfandelRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

GAMBA

ZINFANDEL 2021
STARR ROAD RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2021 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley
Gus Gamba farms some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in California, planted by pioneering immigrants from the turn of the 20th century. The winery’s vineyards are farmed organically and rely solely on rainwater for irrigation, just as they did over 100 years ago. 
 
Planted in 1920, the Starr Road Ranch Vineyard produces tiny yields of highly-concentrated Zinfandel fruit with stunning depth of flavor and remarkable complexity. The grapes are double sorted by hand, ensuring only the highest quality fruit is selected to make this profound expression of Old Vine Russian River Valley Zinfandel.
 
GAMBA
ZINFANDEL 2021
STARR ROAD RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“The Gamba 2021 Starr Ranch Road Zinfandel begins with notes of Christmas spices, red licorice, clove, marzipan, and red cherry. On the palate, the wine has a bright red fruit accented by nutmeg, allspice, and fresh acidity. This wine is perfect for a casual afternoon and makes an excellent match for barbequed foods.”
94 Points
2021 Harvey & Harriet White Blend San Luis Obispo

2021 Harvey & Harriet White Blend San Luis Obispo

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary WhiteUSA

HARVEY & HARRIET

WHITE BLEND 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO

2021 Harvey & Harriet White Blend San Luis Obispo
Eric Jensen of Booker Vineyards in Paso Robles created Harvey & Harriet to honor his hardworking parents, who raised a large family in a small home on a tight budget and loved wine. Eric’s parents wouldn’t have been able to afford the best quality wines at today’s prices, so this label intentionally brings delicious wines to the table that everyone can enjoy.
 
This White Blend is a new addition for Harvey & Harriet, comprised of Chardonnay, Albariño, Viognier, and Pinot Grigio. The Chardonnay contributes incredible richness and body, while the other varieties bring complex citrus and orchard fruits and a beautifully aromatic, floral lift. The wine is bright, fresh, and soft-textured, making it a delight to drink.
 
HARVEY & HARRIET
WHITE BLEND 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO
 
 
 
“The 2021 White Blend, a blend of Albariño, Chardonnay, Viognier and Pinot Gris, has intense aromas of peach, lemongrass, fresh citrus, honey and flint, opening to new aromatic nuances with each return to the glass. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with perfumed fruit, loaded with juicy acidity, and it finishes with a touch of anchoring texture. It’s a delicious yet serious white with alluring generosity that keeps you coming back for more.”
95 Points
2021 Edict Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2021 Edict Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaSonoma CoastUSA

EDICT.

PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021

2021 Edict Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
“Truth, generosity, and love” are the three words that guide Edict’s winemaking approach, led by ardor and attention to detail that begins in the vineyard and is transferred to the winery, ensuring premium quality in every bottle. Edict’s Vineyard Manager has over 30 years of grape-growing wisdom. He collaborates with some of Napa Valley’s and Sonoma County’s foremost growers, overseeing that only top-quality fruit is selected and vinified.
 
The meticulous selection of fruit with the purest varietal expressions gives their winemaker the ingredients to craft memorable wines. The 2021 Sonoma County Pinot Noir was sourced from vineyards in the Sonoma Coast AVA and the Russian River Valley AVA and matured in 50% new French oak, creating an intrinsic balance between Sonoma’s bright fruit character and Pinot Noir’s innate spice rack.
 
EDICT.
PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021
Retails at: $54
 
 
 
“The Edict 2021 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir has juicy fruit aromatics with ripe cherries, strawberries, and plums balanced by sweet baking spices, earthy undertones, and savory mushrooms. On the palate, the wine has flavors of cherry cola, ripe berries, cinnamon, and toast. The wine’s ultra-smooth texture and friendly approachability make this wine pretty easy to enjoy any night of the week.”
92 Points
2021 Far Niente Chardonnay Napa Valley

2021 Far Niente Chardonnay Napa Valley

with No Comment $50-$60ChardonnayCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSA

FAR NIENTE

CHARDONNAY 2021
NAPA VALLEY

2021 Far Niente Chardonnay Napa Valley
John Benson founded Far Niente in 1885, and the winery was a notable stronghold in Napa Valley until Prohibition closed the gates in 1919. Sixty years later, Gil Nickel purchased and restored the property with a vision to create a quintessential Napa Valley Chardonnay of sophistication, balance, and stature. He released the first vintage of Far Niente in the modern era, an estate-bottled 1979 Napa Valley Chardonnay that has been a namesake of the winery for over four decades.
 
The fruit for the Estate Chardonnay is grown in Coombsville, which has a similar climate to Carneros, but with less wind and well-drained gravelly loam and volcanic soils that give the wine its signature stone and tropical fruit flavors with a distinct minerality. Malolactic fermentation is avoided in the winemaking process to preserve the malic acid for a fresher sensation on the palate, increased longevity in the bottle, and a celebrated style long associated with the winery.
 
FAR NIENTE
CHARDONNAY 2021
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $73
 
 
 
“The Far Niente Napa Valley Chardonnay 2021 opens with concentrated notes of green apple, ripe pear, exotic tropical fruits, and spring florals. The palate follows suit, bringing vibrant acidity, levity, and intense, ripe flavors. This wine blends the perfect balance of power and elegance in a way that brings you back for sip after sip. It’s an outstanding Chardonnay, thrilling to drink now and over the next decade.”
95 Points
2021 Sonoma Bench Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2021 Sonoma Bench Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

SONOMA BENCH

PINOT NOIR 2021
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2021 Sonoma Bench Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
The Green Valley AVA, nestled within the larger Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, is renowned for producing exceptional Pinot Noir. It benefits from the unique climate that brings in fog during the evenings and dissipates slowly, making it one of the last areas in the region to see sunlight. The cool temperatures and extended hangtime provide ideal conditions for the fruit to mature slowly and develop nuanced flavors with a refined complexity.
 
With twenty years of winemaking experience in Sonoma, David Sayre has established enduring partnerships with talented growers from the county’s finest vineyards. The grapes for Sonoma Bench’s 2021 Russian River Pinot Noir underwent meticulous hand-sorting and destemming before fermentation. The wine aged for nine months in 30% new French oak barrels, resulting in a flawlessly balanced Pinot Noir that’s an absolute delight.
 
SONOMA BENCH
PINOT NOIR 2021
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
 
 
“Beautifully reflecting the true essence of the Pinot Noir grape, the Sonoma Bench Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2021 begins with an elegant nose of red cherries, light florals, fresh sage, and subtle baking spices. The palate continues with bright cherry cola, dried mushrooms, and sassafras combined with a saline minerality. This lighter-styled offering has a beautiful, balanced, complex finish that will make any Pinot Noir purist smile.”
94 Points
2021 L'Objet Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Comstock Vineyard Dry Creek Valley

2021 L’Objet Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Comstock Vineyard Dry Creek Valley

with No Comment $30 and underDry Creek ValleyKevin VogtSauvignon BlancSonoma

L’OBJET BLANC

SAUVIGNON BLANC
COMSTOCK VINEYARD
DRY CREEK VALLEY 2021

2021 L'Objet Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Comstock Vineyard Dry Creek Valley
L’Objet is the creation of winemaker/owner Danny Glover. Danny spent several years writing and producing in the artistic Los Angeles music culture before discovering a captivating Pinot Noir that inspired and drew him into the winemaking world. He honed in on his new passion by working for Clos du Bois, Armida, and Dutcher Crossing before launching his brand and pursuing the finest fruit quality from conscientious, hardworking growers.
 
Danny sources Sauvignon Blanc from the Comstock Family Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, valuing Bob and Sandy Comstock’s meticulous attention to detail that pays off each vintage with exceptional quality—the 2021 growing season experienced warm days with cool, foggy nights and a lengthy hang-time, perfect for complex flavor development that jumps out of the glass in this fresh and lively Sauvignon Blanc.
 
L’OBJET BLANC
SAUVIGNON BLANC
COMSTOCK VINEYARD
DRY CREEK VALLEY 2021
 
 
 
“The L’Objet 2021 Comstock Family Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley opens with pronounced aromas of acacia, jasmine, Meyer lemon, passion fruit, and cantaloupe. On the palate, the wine has a smooth texture with fresh tropical fruit flavors, pink grapefruit, and jasmine. The wine has a crisp finish that balances the depth of flavors in quite a delightful drinking experience.”
94 Points
2021 Raen Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert Cuvee Sonoma Coast

2021 Raen Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert Cuvee Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $60-$70Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

RAEN

PINOT NOIR
ROYAL ST. ROBERT CUVEE
SONOMA COAST 2021

2021 Raen Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert Cuvee Sonoma Coast
The Mondavi family is one of the most well-known names in American viticulture, and their innovation continues to influence the wine industry worldwide. The family began planting Pinot Noir over 100 years ago, and Tim Mondavi pioneered the variety in the early 1970s, later transferring his passionate endeavors to his sons Carlo and Dante. The boys grew up at Opus One estate and learned keen winemaking techniques from their father at his cult winery Continuum.
 
RAEN Royal St. Robert Cuvée Pinot Noir is a tribute to their grandfather, who has been the most valuable mentor in the wine industry. It is a blend of hand-chosen selections of coastal vineyards that give a flavorful depiction of the Sonoma Coast. The 2021 release is 100% whole cluster, natively fermented, and bottled without fining or filtration, creating a super-pure style of Pinot Noir with a powerful core and a vibrant finish.
 
RAEN
PINOT NOIR
ROYAL ST. ROBERT CUVEE
SONOMA COAST 2021
 
 
 
“Extremely spicy with iron, forest flower, black tea, and dried strawberry aromas, following through to a medium to full body, with lovely velvety tannins that are integrated and refined, with a long and flavorful finish. Yet it always remains refined and poised in a exemplary way. Needs three or four years still to show it’s true self. Drink or hold.”
97-98 Points