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

Your Price: Insider Club Members Only

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“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 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

251229 2023 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

Gamba

MCM Estate Zinfandel
Russian River Valley 2023

2023 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

Most wines draw their character from climate and soil; Gamba MCM Zinfandel draws as much from time itself. A century of growth rings lies within those vine trunks, and the depth of the fruit reflects that history. The wine is bold but not brash, structured without rigidity, carrying a personality shaped by decades of vines pushing through hardship and flourishing because of it.

Gus Gamba allows that legacy to speak without interference, relying on indigenous yeast and gentle handling to preserve every nuance the vineyard offers. In the 2023 vintage, the site’s voice comes through with uncommon precision. Nothing in the cellar seeks to sculpt the wine’s natural character; instead, the winemaking reveals the vineyard’s imprint with striking clarity.

Each element of the 2023 MCM Zinfandel feels deliberately tuned, from the fruit’s natural richness to the subtle oak framing. The wine moves with layered dimension, velvety at the start, expansive across the palate, and confident in its lingering finish. It is the product of a vineyard that has endured for generations and of a winemaker who knows how to translate continuity into something undeniably alive.

Gamba
MCM Estate Zinfandel
Russian River Valley 2023
Retails at: $69

Your Price: Insider Club Members Only

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“The Gamba 2023 MCM Russian River Valley Old Vine Zinfandel opens with vibrant notes of juicy cherries, cranberries, and wild blackberries with underlying notes of Christmas spices and toast. On the palate, the wine has a silky smooth approach with flavors of bramble fruit, dark cherry, and boysenberry compote, complemented with savory undertones of tobacco leaf and dried herbs. The wine has supple tannins and finishes with a finely textured, velvety mouthfeel.”

94 Points

2023 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

2023 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

Gamba

MCM Estate Zinfandel
Russian River Valley 2023

2023 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

Born from one of California’s oldest dry-farmed vineyards, the 2023 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel delivers a striking tribute to a century of continuous heritage. Rooted in a delicate balance of soil and climate, Gamba’s Estate Vineyard stands as a benchmark for sustainable viticulture, producing intensely concentrated Zinfandel from impossibly small yields.

With the 2023 MCM Zinfandel, Gamba masterfully celebrates a vineyard that has become a cherished symbol of Russian River Valley viticulture. Known for producing grapes brimming with lively, succulent fruit, this historic site imparts layers of complexity accentuated through indigenous yeast fermentation.

Aged gracefully in American and French oak, the 2023 vintage exemplifies Gamba’s signature style: richly textured yet impeccably balanced. Carefully crafted, it reveals astonishing depth, intricate detail, and a lingering finish that echoes its remarkable lineage, offering an homage to one of Sonoma’s oldest vineyards.

Gamba
MCM Estate Zinfandel
Russian River Valley 2023
Retails at: $69

Your Price: $49.99

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“The Gamba 2023 MCM Russian River Valley Old Vine Zinfandel opens with vibrant notes of juicy cherries, cranberries, and wild blackberries with underlying notes of Christmas spices and toast. On the palate, the wine has a silky smooth approach with flavors of bramble fruit, dark cherry, and boysenberry compote, complemented with savory undertones of tobacco leaf and dried herbs. The wine has supple tannins and finishes with a finely textured, velvety mouthfeel.”

94 Points

2022 Bethel Heights Estate Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills

2022 Bethel Heights Estate Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirUSAWashington StateWillamette Valley

Bethel Heights

Estate Pinot Noir
Eola-Amity Hills 2022

2022 Bethel Heights Estate Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills

The 2022 Pinot Noir from Bethel Heights reveals the Willamette Valley’s distinctive terroir with striking clarity and allure. This exceptional vintage unfolds with vibrant complexity, showcasing flawlessly ripened fruit and a layered depth that delights. As one of the valley’s original trailblazers, Bethel Heights played a key role in shaping the region’s worldwide acclaim, channeling the intricate nature of its hillside soils and the subtle pull of cool ocean breezes into every bottle.

Rooted in family ownership since its founding, Bethel Heights remains devoted to sustainable stewardship of the land. Through organic and biodynamic practices, they nurture wines of remarkable character. The winery’s 80 acres of estate vineyards—Bethel Heights, Justice, and Lewman—stretch across a diverse terrain, sculpted over time by ancient volcanic activity and lava flows. This rich foundation yields wines with a rare and compelling nuance.

The Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir unites fruit from these three vineyards, blending their individual traits into a harmonious whole. What emerges is a wine that captures a fleeting convergence—of the season, the soil, and the artistry that singularly defines Bethel Heights.

Bethel Heights
Estate Pinot Noir
Eola-Amity Hills 2022

Your Price: $36

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“A delightful wine that punches so far above its price point. Black tea aromatics are married to freshly churned topsoil, dried lavender and sun-baked blackberries. The palate is distinguished in this well-priced wine. Chinese five spice, black tea and white pepper make room for ripe black bramble fruits and red plum skin. This wine is distinguished and complex, so refreshing to see such deference paid to a wine priced under $40.”

94 Points

2023 Rochioli Estate Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley

2023 Rochioli Estate Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley

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

Rochioli

Estate Sauvignon Blanc
Russian River Valley 2023

2023 Rochioli Estate Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley

Rochioli’s Estate Sauvignon Blanc embodies the essence of one of California’s most celebrated vineyards, enticing the palate with its stunning concentration, precise linear focus, and enchanting freshness. Emerging from one of California’s most outstanding vintages, this release is a wine that inspires genuine excitement.

For over 85 years, the Rochioli family has been the proud steward of their cool-climate estate—a site revered as one of California’s Grand Cru vineyards. Rochioli’s pedigree is undeniable; each bottle stands as a testament to the masterful craftsmanship of winemaker Tom Rochioli, whose profound connection with the land resonates through every captivating expression.

Sauvignon Blanc is acclaimed for its luminous character, buoyant acidity, and effortlessly approachable drinkability. The exceptionally high-scoring 2023 release from Rochioli brings these cherished qualities to life with a sculpted clarity that leaves the palate yearning for another sip.

Rochioli
Estate Sauvignon Blanc
Russian River Valley 2023

Your Price: $49.99

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“A bright silver/straw color, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is a single vineyard blend with 64% Old Vine Selection, 23% Clone 376, and the rest Hillside planting. Coming from other-worldly looking old vines, Sauvignon Blanc doesn’t get much better than this in California. Lovely flinty reduction frames this wine with a gorgeous, refined, floral perfume of wet stone, white currants, white pepper, grapefruit, and delicate baking spice. Medium-bodied, it has fantastic concentration, driving, mouthwatering, fresh acidity with a linear feel, and a fantastic, long finish with a chalky mineral texture. Exceptional and age-worthy, it deserves another couple of years in bottle to show its best. Drink 2026-2038.”

96 Points

2021 Lingua Franca Estate Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

2021 Lingua Franca Estate Pinot Noir Eola-Amity-Hills Willamette Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtOregonPinot NoirUSAWillamette Valley

LINGUA FRANCA

ESTATE PINOT NOIR
EOLA-AMITY-HILLS 2021
WILLAMETTE VALLEY

2021 Lingua Franca Estate Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

A rising star in Oregon’s prized Eola-Amity Hills region, Lingua Franca winery is the brainchild of Master Sommelier Larry Stone. Collaborating with legendary Burgundy icon Dominique Lafon, Lingua Franca’s organic and biodynamically farmed vineyard neighbors iconic sites, Argyle’s Lone Star, Domaine Serene’s Jerusalem Hill, and Evening Land’s Seven Springs vineyards.

The winemaking team produces world-class wines that balance New World intensity with Burgundian finesse, and for the 2021 Estate Pinot Noir, winemaker Thomas Savre consulted with Lafon and fermented 20% whole clusters for added complexity. 

Aged in primarily neutral French oak barriques to preserve the fruit’s natural essence and reflect the region’s terroir, this stunning example of Pinot Noir beautifully showcases a harmonious blend of concentration, balance, and a strong sense of place reminiscent of Burgundy but grown in Oregon.

LINGUA FRANCA
ESTATE PINOT NOIR
EOLA-AMITY-HILLS 2021
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
Retails at: $60

Your Price: $55

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“A compelling, multilayered red, with lilting raspberry and cherry flavors that expand to reveal fresh violet and earthy mineral accents, which build tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032.”

95 Points

2021 Ernest Estate Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2021 Ernest Estate Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

ERNEST

ESTATE PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021

2021 Ernest Estate Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Making a splash in Sonoma County’s Pinot Noir scene, Ernest Vineyards sources grapes from seven cool-climate sites in Sonoma County, artfully blending the diversity of this wondrous AVA from the Pacific coastline to the rolling coastal ranges. 

Ernest Estate nestles within the Freestone Valley, a region profoundly influenced by the Pacific Ocean, with cold temperatures and fog consistently enveloping the vineyards, reaping ideal fruit with robust structure and elegant restraint.

Winemaker Joseph Ryan prefers neutral oak barrels to highlight the essence and finesse of Pinot Noir with vibrant acidity and a nearly endless finish. The 2021 vintage yielded a limited 325 cases and was aged in French oak, enabling the exquisite transparency and pristine purity of the terroir to shine through.

ERNEST
ESTATE PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021

Your Price: $58

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate is a blend from the Cleary and Michael Vallentine ranches, both in Freestone. Bright and effusive, with striking depth, the 2021 is deep and beautifully layered right out of the gate. A rush of dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, mint and blood orange build into the rich, heady finish. The 33% stems are not especially evident. This is the best wine I have tasted from Ernest so far. It would be great to see more wines here in this direction.”

95 Points

“The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate pours a rich ruby and offers pure, ripe aromas of fresh pine, black cherry, and toasted sage. This continues to the palate, with gorgeous ripe fruit that fills the palate with plush wild raspberry, smoky earth, and baking spice. Medium-bodied and long on the palate, with supple fruit up front and an excellent underlying structure, it’s drinking beautifully now but will benefit from another 6-12 months in bottle. It offers both immediacy and longevity. Drink 2023-2035.”

95 Points

2021 Rochioli Estate Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2021 Rochioli Estate Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

ROCHIOLI

ESTATE PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 2021

2021 Rochioli Estate Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

From a vineyard synonymous with excellence and terroir expression, the Rochioli family understood the potential of their land from very early on. Tom Rochioli’s deep interest in producing terroir-driven wines with little human intervention helped make his grapes some of the most valuable in the Russian River Valley. 

In 1968, Tom’s father, Joe Rochioli Jr., planted Pinot Noir clones from France in the Russian River Valley and began selling fruit to Davis Bynum and Williams-Selyem. Tom took over as the business manager of the winery in 1983 and soon after became the winemaker, convincing his father they needed to release their first estate-bottled Pinot Noir under the Rochioli name. 

The 1985 Pinot Noir debuted in 1987, and the wine was immediately honored as the “Best Pinot Noir in America” by Wine Spectator. The 2021 Estate Pinot Noir is a blend of estate sites, including Little Hill, Sweetwater, West Block, Big Hill, and East Block, aged for 15 months in French oak, and showcases the charm of the Russian River Valley with a rich body and complex spices.

ROCHIOLI
ESTATE PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 2021

Your Price: $95

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“A deep transparent ruby, the elegant 2021 Pinot Noir Estate displays a refined, classic appeal in its notes of wild raspberry, fresh roses, and forest herbs. Medium-bodied, it reveals fine tannins and remarkable purity throughout its fresh, well-balanced layers of orange peel, ripe red cherry, and floral, spicy notes that continue long on the palate. A beautiful Pinot with a lot of immediate appeal, it will continue to drink well over the next 6-8 years. This stunning wine far exceeds its entry-level status. It’s absolutely gorgeous.”

96 Points

2019 Kelly Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley

2019 Kelly Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSA

KELLY FAMILY VINEYARDS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE NAPA VALLEY
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT 2019

2019 Kelly Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley
Kelly Family Vineyards is one of our most exciting boutique wine discoveries this year, and their 2019 vintage embodies everything we look for in superior-quality, small-lot Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. For years, they’ve sold fruit to some of Napa’s top Cabernet producers, and if I told you which ones, I’m confident you’d jump straight to the order button. 
 
Vineyard Manager Mario Bazán immigrated to Napa in 1973 and was charmed by Napa’s beauty, so he carefully honed his viticultural skills as a laborer and today runs one of the most respected vineyard management companies in Napa and Sonoma counties.
 
Winemaker Bob Pepi works closely with Gene and Mario to craft Kelly Family Vineyards’ limited production of premium quality wines. The depth and complexity of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon release reflect the undivided attention of the small, intimate team and the glorious vintage.
 
KELLY FAMILY VINEYARDS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE NAPA VALLEY
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT 2019
Retails at: $95
 
 
 
“Coming from another fantastic vintage in Napa Valley, the Kelly Family 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits notes of wet stones, petrichor, black currant, savory spice, and a hint of cinnamon. On the palate, the wine has bright acidity that enhances the flavors of dried herbs, menthol, black plum, cherry, and allspice. The finish lingers on the palate and portrays the complexity of the flavors as it envelopes your taste buds. This wine has the structure to age and will continue to develop.”
96 Points
2018 Kelly Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley

2018 Kelly Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley Oak Knoll District

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSA

KELLY FAMILY VINEYARDS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE NAPA VALLEY
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT 2018

2018 Kelly Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley
Harold Kelly was a founding member of the Land Trust of Napa County, and the Kelly family has been a massive part of Napa Valley’s agricultural land preservation for over 40 years. Harold’s son,Gene Kelly, is the proprietor of Kelly Family Vineyards, and he works closely with winemaker Bob Pepi to create a “wine worthy of being shared with close family and friends while you tell your family story.”
 
Mario Bazán was charmed by Napa’s energizing beauty in the early 1970s and is the Vineyard Manager of Kelly Family, placing emphasis on sustainable agriculture resulting in wines with greater depth and personality. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon speaks volumes from this small production, typical of the winery, whose quality is maintained by the undivided attention of a small, intimate team.
 
KELLY FAMILY VINEYARDS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE NAPA VALLEY
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT 2018
Retails at: $95
 
 
 
“The 2018 Kelly Family Vineyards Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 begins with focused aromas and flavors of blackberry pie, sweet black cherry, savory black olive, boysenberry jam, dusty minerals, sweet vanilla spice, and dried herbs. This offering from the fabulous 2018 vintage is an intensely concentrated wine on the palate with a beautiful balance of deep fruit and a bright, fresh, elegant style combined with a long, lingering finish.”
94 Points