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

2023 Hawk and Horse Cabernet Franc Red Hills Lake County

2023 Hawk and Horse Cabernet Franc Red Hills Lake County

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet FrancKevin VogtNapaUSA

Hawk & Horse

Cabernet Franc 2023
Red Hills Estate

2023 Hawk and Horse Cabernet Franc Red Hills Lake County

Dick Peterson helped shape Napa Valley history, which is part of what makes Hawk & Horse so compelling. Instead of chasing modern trends, the estate remains committed to something increasingly rare: site-driven wines built around farming, measured winemaking, and longevity. Sourced entirely from organically and biodynamically farmed volcanic vineyards in the Red Hills AVA, the 2023 Hawk & Horse Cabernet Franc delivers remarkable depth while preserving the freshness, precision, and aromatic lift that make great Cabernet Franc so captivating.

What stands out most is how unapologetically authentic the wine feels. Nothing here seems engineered toward trends or critic formulas. The structure feels natural. The freshness feels earned. Volcanic minerality, crushed herbs, dark fruit, and floral notes are allowed to speak clearly rather than being polished into sameness. In a market crowded with interchangeable luxury reds, this wine still feels deeply connected to a vineyard, a farming philosophy, and the people behind it.

Very few wines at this price point put together a resume like this. Estate grown. Biodynamically farmed. Volcanic soils. Dick Peterson and Scott Harvey are behind the winemaking. A 96-point score from Tasting Panel. Yet none of those details would matter if the wine itself did not deliver emotionally, and this absolutely does. The 2023 Hawk & Horse Cabernet Franc carries the kind of energy and personality that makes you stop after the first sip and immediately go back for another.

Hawk & Horse
Cabernet Franc 2023
Red Hills Estate
Retails: $65

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“Cab Franc grown on rocky soils at an elevation of 2,200 feet has quite the impact. Focused, with melting dark chocolate cherries, roasted coffee, blackberries, layered with candied violets. The palate is long, with exquisitely balanced tannins and a fine mineral tonality on the clean finish.”

96 Points

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

2023 Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel Napa Valley

2023 Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel Napa Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSAZinfandel

Robert Biale

Black Chicken Zinfandel
Napa Valley 2023

2023 Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel Napa Valley

Some wines are born of soil, while others are born of story. Black Chicken is both. Conceived on the Biale family farm in the 1940s as a code whispered over a crackling party-line phone, this Zinfandel has grown into one of Napa Valley’s most revered gems. The 2023 vintage carries that history forward with fresh intensity, a wine that unites heritage with the precision of modern craftsmanship.

Black Chicken is shaped by the Oak Knoll District, where the Biale family has tended their home ranch since the 1930s. This cooler pocket of Napa lends the wine its hallmark freshness and balance, characterized by bright acidity, supple tannins, and fruit that sings with clarity, giving Black Chicken its unmistakable voice.

From vineyard to cellar, every detail of the 2023 vintage was shaped with purpose, yielding a Zinfandel of extraordinary character. Vibrant fruit, supple tannins, and an enduring finish make this release one of the most complete Black Chickens to date. This is a Zinfandel that transcends trend or time, standing proudly as one of Napa Valley’s enduring treasures.

Robert Biale
Black Chicken Zinfandel
Napa Valley 2023

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“A big but cool and well-balanced wine that is full-bodied but fresh. Made from vines averaging 40 years old and from mostly cool parts of Napa Valley, including the Biale family’s vineyard planted in 1937. Moderate tannins lift the vivid raspberry, blackberry, black pepper and umami flavors. Drink or hold.”

94 Points

2023 Sentium By Continuum Sauvignon Blanc Mendocino

2023 Sentium By Continuum Sauvignon Blanc Mendocino

with No Comment $70-$80Kevin VogtMendocinoMendocino RidgeSauvignon BlancUSA

Sentium

By Continuum
Sauvignon Blanc
Mendocino, 2023

2023 Sentium By Continuum Sauvignon Blanc Mendocino

Sentium stands apart for one clear reason: it treats Sauvignon Blanc as a wine of structure and longevity, not just freshness. Drawn from old-vine fruit in Mendocino, it delivers a rare combination of mineral precision, layered texture, and power. As the white wine expression of Continuum Estate, it carries that same uncompromising pursuit of precision into an entirely different register.

Its character takes shape in Redwood Valley, where cooling Pacific influence meets ample sun, creating a natural balance between ripeness and moderation. This steady pace slows ripening, preserving tension while allowing the fruit to reach full phenolic maturity. In 2023, that equilibrium comes through cleanly, where freshness and concentration move in seamless alignment.

The cellar work reinforces that balance through a deliberate, multi-vessel élevage. Concrete, stainless steel, and neutral oak each add dimension, while extended lees aging builds texture and density through the mid-palate. The result is a Sauvignon Blanc of uncommon shape and persistence, expansive yet precise, leaving a lasting impression that extends well beyond the variety’s expected limits.

Sentium
By Continuum
Sauvignon Blanc
Mendocino, 2023

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“The 2023 release totals approximately 188 cases. This vintage delivers beautifully luscious fruit, marked by lemon-leaf pithiness and notes of crushed Marcona almonds. There’s excellent tension and grip here, with the wine showing its hallmark medium-bodied richness and silky, satiny fruit character. Laced with vibrant acid tension, it finishes long with flinty minerality, a kiss of tarragon, and a lingering saline edge. Chiara Mondavi set out to find older, organically farmed vines cared for by family growers. Her search led her to Mendocino’s Redwood Valley, where vineyards planted between the 1940s and 1970s provided the perfect fit for her vision of crafting textured, ageworthy Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.”

96 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

2023 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2023 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

Favia

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2023

2023 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

With a 98-point affirmation, Favia’s 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet stands as a clear statement of intent. Andy Erickson’s aim is direct: to bring Coombsville and Oakville together not as opposites, but as complements. Coombsville contributes freshness and mineral tension; Oakville delivers depth and structure. The result is a composed expression that captures Napa in full scale and proportion.

This is not blending for effect. It is calibration. Coombsville’s edge tightens the spine, carving a clean line through the wine’s core, while Oakville provides weight and gravitational pull. The structure feels deliberate and exact, with each element measured and placed with precision. Nothing drifts beyond its frame.

The proportions reinforce that design. Seventy-six percent Cabernet Sauvignon establishes foundation and breadth. Twenty-one percent Cabernet Franc introduces lift, definition, and structural tension, with Petit Verdot completing the architecture. After careful tannin extraction, the wine matures for twenty months in French oak, building depth without softening its lines. The final impression is complete and resolved, powerful yet controlled, undeniably Favia.

Favia
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2023

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“In a new beginning for Favia, an equal blend of Coombsville and Oakville represents the best of both appellations—the fresh, savory, mineral edge of the former intertwining with the deep flavor and floral lift of the latter. Layers of fruit, supported by graphite, dried herbs, flowers and spices, lead to a luscious yet refined palate with finely tuned tannins and a bright line of acidity. A complete, balanced expression of Napa. 75% cabernet sauvignon, 21% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. Excellent. Drink or hold.”

98 Points

2023 Idda Etna Rosso Sicily Italy

2023 Idda Etna Rosso Sicily Italy

with No Comment $70-$80ItalyKevin VogtRosso

Idda

Etna Rosso
Sicily, Italy 2023

2023 Idda Etna Rosso Sicily Italy

Great wines are often born from a singular vision. Rarely are they shaped by two that move in complete accord. IDDA unites Italian icon Angelo Gaja with the Graci family, whose work has helped define Etna’s modern ascent. The 2023 Etna Rosso proves this is more than collaboration. It is convergence, capturing the volcano’s raw mineral force and refining it through discipline.

Etna is anything but passive. Its soils, layered with ancient lava and ash, are mineral-rich and naturally free-draining, compelling vines to root deep into volcanic stone. In Biancavilla, on the southwest slope, IDDA farms at an elevation where light is intense and ripening deliberate. The 2023 reflects that terrain with precision, offering red-toned fruit, savory nuance, and a structural spine that feels inseparable from the black earth beneath it.

The architecture points toward longevity. Acidity remains vivid, tannins composed, fruit tightly knit within a persistent mineral core. Time will bring further dimension, yet even now the wine carries authority. It presents Etna as one of Italy’s most serious and distinctive terroirs, rendered with intent.

Idda
Etna Rosso
Sicily, Italy 2023

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The aromas of cranberries, pears, honeysuckle and other white flowers are enticing. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins and a fresh, bright finish. A little closed now but already very enjoyable. Drink or hold.”

94 Points

2023 Beaux Freres Chardonnay Willamette Valley

2023 Beaux Freres Chardonnay Willamette Valley

with No Comment $80-$90Kevin VogtOregonUSAWillamette Valley

Beaux Frères

Chardonnay 2023
Willamette Valley

2023 Beaux Freres Chardonnay Willamette Valley

The 2023 Beaux Frères Chardonnay reads like a topographic map of the Willamette Valley, each line drawn with intention. It captures the region’s cool poise and underlying energy in a distinctive way, translating site into sensation. This is a Chardonnay defined by articulation, where freshness and depth move together without compromise.

That articulation emerges from a deliberate mosaic of vineyards rather than a single voice. Fruit from Doration, the Beaux Frères Estate, and Star Mooring spans the Chehalem Mountains and Ribbon Ridge AVAs, uniting elevation, exposure, and soil nuance into a coherent whole. Each site adds its own inflection, creating a wine that feels layered and dimensional while remaining firmly centered.

In the cellar, the same approach guides every decision. Whole-cluster pressing and ambient yeast fermentation set the tone from the outset, while time in French oak builds texture without softening the wine’s edges. A final period in stainless steel sharpens line and preserves lift, carrying the Chardonnay to a finish marked by poise, persistence, and confidence.

Beaux Frères
Chardonnay 2023
Willamette Valley

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“So layered, textural, minerally and savory in character. This offers brilliant acidity, lemon zest and chalky minerals with light almond and toast nuances. A slight flinty, reductive aroma adds an enticing edge, then the palate delivers lemon curd, marzipan and hazelnuts that expand on the finish. Drink now or hold.”

97 Points

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