2022 Clos du Mont-Olivet Chateauneuf-du-Pape France

2022 Clos du Mont-Olivet Chateauneuf-du-Pape France

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Clos du Mont-Olivet

Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Rhone Valley, France 2022

2022 Clos du Mont-Olivet Chateauneuf-du-Pape France

Clos du Mont-Olivet tells a vivid story of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Founded in 1932, the estate has long pursued a holistic vision, assembling vineyard holdings across multiple lieux-dits to express the region’s full breadth in a single wine. The 2022 vintage carries this philosophy forward, offering a composed, layered portrait shaped by the collective voice of the region, where complexity emerges from diversity, balance, and an understanding of the terroir.

 

That vision is grounded in decades of thoughtful vineyard acquisitions, guided by traditional farming practices. By working parcels across the appellation, Clos du Mont-Olivet has built a living archive of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s soils and exposures, allowing each site to contribute its own nuance. The result is a style defined by continuity and clarity, one that privileges harmony over immediacy.

A standout at our recent tasting, the 2022 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape distinguished itself through balance and composure. Built around Grenache and supported by a full spectrum of traditional Rhône varieties, it carries depth without heaviness, unfolding with measured structure and confident authority.

Clos du Mont-Olivet
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Rhone Valley, France 2022

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“The effusive nose of ripe raspberries and sour cherries pulls you into this concentrated and well-structured Chateauneuf. Firm core with plenty of licorice, black olives and spices, and a long, complex finish that’s beautifully supported by the expertly crafted tannins. A cuvee based on grenache made since 1932. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.”

94 Points

2022 Post & Beam Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2022 Post & Beam Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

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Post & Beam

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2022

2022 Post & Beam Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

For generations, Far Niente has set a benchmark for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, defined by precision, balance, and enduring quality. Post & Beam emerges from this celebrated lineage with a clear purpose, offering a refined yet accessible expression of Far Niente’s winemaking philosophy, rooted in measured experience.

The name Post & Beam draws inspiration from the historic barns at Nickel & Nickel, where lasting craftsmanship has long defined the Far Niente family’s approach to winegrowing. That same sense of strength and simplicity carries over into the 2022 vintage, which brings together fruit from multiple Napa Valley AVAs to form a Cabernet Sauvignon that speaks to both the region’s diversity and harmony.

The hallmark of the 2022 Post & Beam Cabernet Sauvignon is its texture. Ten months in French oak lend gentle structure and polish, allowing supple tannins and layers of dark fruit to unfold with ease. It offers immediate pleasure while retaining the structure and depth that define truly memorable Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Post & Beam
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2022
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“Richly appointed, with dark blue and purple fruit and a plush mouthfeel. Notes of plum liqueur and fresh roasted coffee grace the palate. Dark chocolate and anise entwine in the wine’s well-defined structure and satin-lined tannins. Spiced red tea and sandalwood engage with chocolate notes on the finish.”

95 Points

2023 Sans Liege The Offering Central Coast Red

2023 Sans Liege The Offering Central Coast Red

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Sans Liege

The Offering 2023
Central Coast Red

2023 Sans Liege The Offering Central Coast Red

Sans Liege captures the lively energy of the Central Coast through a Rhône-inspired lens, presenting itself as a conversation between worlds. Rooted in Rhône tradition and shaped by California terrain, the wine reflects a deliberate pursuit of balance, texture, and expression.

At the center of this dialogue is Curt Schalchlin, whose time in France fostered a strong respect for Rhône varietals and their expressive range. Rather than replicate Old World formulas, Schalchlin applies those lessons locally, sourcing fruit across Paso Robles and Solvang with an eye toward nuance and harmony. His approach is guided by observation and nuance, allowing each site to contribute its distinct element to the blend.

In the 2023 vintage, these harmonious flavors come together with notable brilliance. Bright acidity carries layered flavors, while soft tannins provide shape without weight. The Offering moves seamlessly from lift to depth to savory resonance, finishing with a sense of balance that invites another sip and rewards time in the glass.

Sans Liege
The Offering 2023
Central Coast Red
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“The Offering 2023 Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre blend by Sans Liege is bright, fresh, and concentrated, beginning with aromas of rose petals, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, vanilla, white pepper, and black tea leaves. On the palate, the wine has a balanced complexity of flavors, including red cherries, plums, mixed berry pie, cured meats, peppercorns, and dark chocolate, that glide on the palate. The wine has silky tannins, creating a smooth mouthfeel, and the concentration of the flavors carries into the finish, ending with a crisp, rocky minerality.”

94 Points

2021 Emeritus Pinot Noir Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley

2021 Emeritus Pinot Noir Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley

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Emeritus

Pinot Noir 2021
Hallberg Vineyard
Russian River Valley

2021 Emeritus Pinot Noir Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley

Emeritus Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir doesn’t tiptoe into the room; it announces itself without apology. This is a Pinot built on grand presence, yet it never loses its balance. That tension is the magic of Hallberg Ranch in Green Valley: dry-farmed vines digging deep into Goldridge soils, yielding fruit with both volume and shape.

Green Valley doesn’t dilute richness; it sculpts it. Cool coastal influence slows ripening enough to preserve definition, even as the fruit reaches full phenolic maturity. In the 2021 Pinot Noir, that balance is unmistakable: a deep, expressive core framed by freshness and natural tension, allowing generosity without tipping into heaviness.

Guiding that expression is Keith Hammond, whose familiarity with the Russian River landscape has shaped Emeritus since 2007. His approach favors continuity over reinvention, allowing the vineyard’s character to come through with confidence and clarity. The result is a wine that rewards attention and is a vivid reminder of what can be achieved when vineyard, vintage, and vision align without compromise.

Emeritus
Pinot Noir 2021
Hallberg Vineyard
Russian River Valley
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“Classic Russian River character from a dry-farmed vineyard is on display here, with a nose full of cherry, raspberry and cola spice aromas. The palate has a charming balance between crushed raspberry, mint and floral flavors and the grip of some ageworthy tannin. Drink 2028–2040.”

93 Points

2023 Matthew Wallace The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2023 Matthew Wallace The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

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Matthew Wallace

The Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2023

2023 Matthew Wallace The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Great Cabernet is born from an intimate understanding of place, and Matthew Wallace’s The Estate is a pure expression of that philosophy. Sourced from a carefully selected set of rows within Hardin’s estate vineyard, this wine reflects a rare convergence of site, judgment, and restraint. It is an estate wine in the truest sense, shaped by a grower with generational knowledge of his land and a winemaker whose influence is measured, intentional, and never intrusive.

In the cellar, Thomas Rivers Brown works with precision rather than imprint, allowing the vineyard to speak with clarity and confidence. Renowned for crafting wines of power and poise, he builds depth through thoughtful extraction and disciplined élevage, preserving balance at every stage. The result is a Cabernet defined not by excess, but by control, its structure and texture unfolding seamlessly rather than asserting themselves.

The 2023 The Estate Cabernet is beautifully proportioned, carrying weight without heaviness, richness without excess, and intensity without strain. Each element feels purposeful, guided by decisions that favor precision over excess. Its impact comes not from force, but from the confidence of perfect balance.

Matthew Wallace
The Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2023

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“The 2023 Matthew Wallace The Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a deeply colored, full-bodied red that reveals a nose of blackberry cobbler, graphite, boysenberries, cassis, violets, and sweet pipe tobacco. On the palate, it delivers sultry, sweet black fruits with satiny tannins, showing rich and opulent textures balanced by firm structure. The wine finishes long and penetrating, with subtle vanilla hints from oak integration. This is a well-made Cabernet Sauvignon with deep concentration and purity, capable of improving over the next 8-12 years but approachable now. It will pair nicely with grilled red meats or aged cheeses.”

96 Points

2021 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

2021 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

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Paradigm

Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville 2021

2021 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

Paradigm’s Cabernet has long been a wine for those paying close attention. Its broader recognition did not arrive through marketing or spectacle, but through discovery, when a respected critic encountered it unexpectedly and recognized something exceptional. That moment confirmed what insiders had long known: Paradigm is an estate that has been producing Cabernet of uncommon poise and remarkable quality.

Paradigm’s estate sits just south of the famed To Kalon Vineyard, surrounded by some of Oakville’s most revered names. This privileged position, defined by alluvial soils and ideal exposure, yields fruit of natural concentration and balance. The vineyard expresses itself clearly, capturing Oakville’s signature tension between power and elegance, richness balanced by freshness, and without excess.

In the cellar, the skilled hand of Heidi Barrett brings composure to the wine, shaping it with the precision that has defined many of Napa Valley’s most celebrated bottlings. The result is a Cabernet of depth and structure, expressive yet beautifully balanced. In a landscape where acclaim often drives excessive richness, Paradigm remains grounded, offering an Oakville Cabernet that stands confidently among its storied neighbors while retaining a rare sense of authenticity and approachability.

Paradigm
Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville 2021

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“This blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot was fermented in stainless steel with a small percentage of whole berries included. Winemaker Mark Fasi explains that pressing off the wine before it goes dry helps to soften the tannins. The wine is then aged 18–20 months in approximately 50% new French oak. The Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignons are medium-bodied and exude utmost elegance, showcasing soaring tannins that are assertive yet beautifully integrated and framed by crisp, juicy acidity. The palate reveals pure and gorgeous red berry fruit, complemented by a panoply of brown spices, wild herbs like sage, and floral notes of lilacs and violets. This wine is absolutely pure, brimming with energy and tension, and delivers a stunningly refined expression. A remarkable effort, embodying balance, vitality, and sophistication. Truly impressive. The winemaker is legendary Napa icon Heidi Barrett. Mark Fasi, who joined the winery in 2010 and has worked hand-in-hand with Barrett, takes the helm as winemaker with the 2023 vintage.”

97 Points, #18 Top 50 US Wines 2025

2021 PureCru Sangio Vetta California

2021 PureCru Sangio Vetta California

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PureCru

Sangio Vetta
California 2021

2021 PureCru Sangio Vetta California

Sangio Vetta reflects a lifetime of study distilled into a single bottle. Crafted by Mitch Cosentino, a winemaker with more than four decades of experience, the 2021 release bears the mark of someone who understands Italy’s great reds not as an admirer, but as a practitioner. Shaped with the structure, restraint, and age-worthy balance associated with Brunello, it is driven by a deliberate pursuit of elegance rather than excess.

That depth of understanding has earned Cosentino rare international respect. His invitation from the Italian government to speak at the World Conference for Nebbiolo is a distinction seldom granted to non-Italian winemakers, reflecting mastery rooted in substance rather than style. Sangio Vetta benefits directly from this rigor, guided by a philosophy that values precision over spectacle.

The 2021 vintage is composed with intent, built on a Sangiovese core and supported by carefully measured additions of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Petite Sirah. Each component is vinified separately, then seamlessly integrated through extended oak aging. The result is a wine whose balance feels natural and resolved, revealing depth, lift, and clarity without sacrificing its identity.

PureCru
Sangio Vetta
California 2021
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“The PureCru 2021 Sangio Vetta offers an Old World take on California, a Sangiovese-dominant blend with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Petite Sirah. The nose is bright and aromatic with dried flowers, rose petals, Morello cherries, pomegranate, dried oregano, cloves, and a dusty, clay-like minerality. On the palate, the wine has vibrant flavors of cherries, cranberries, cloves, savory spices, carried by lively acidity, depth, and complexity. The tannins are well integrated, and the finish is long, weaving through a range of flavors. This wine has excellent aging potential, though it’s already beginning to show off.”

96 Points

2022 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles

2022 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles

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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
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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

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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

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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