The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Ynez Valley) captures all the intensity of Cabernet from this part of Santa Barbara County in a cooler vintage that yielded wines built more on savory intensity rather than volume. Elegant and... Read More
Brooding and deeply structured, this retains a sense of focus and vibrancy, with flavors of wild berries, clove, savory anise and green peppercorn that build tension and zestiness toward medium-grained tannins. Zinfandel, Carignan... Read More
The 2019 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County brings more up-front fruit, with lots of ripe framboise and strawberry notes as well as flowers and spice. Pure, up-front, wonderfully balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has nicely... Read More
The 8,000-case 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley goes largely to distribution and has to be one of the great values in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon out there. Classic darker currants, tobacco, chocolate, and some gravelly... Read More
A juicy, plump style, laden with dark cherry and mulled blackberry notes and infused with dark tea and singed anise. The toasty finish seems aimed at the hedonist crowd. Drink now through 2026. 1,029 cases made.
Aromas of crushed blackberry, plum, blackcurrant and menthol. Full-bodied with powdery tannins. Succulent and fruity on the palate with a core of black fruit and berries. Ground spice, too. Focused. Best after 2026.
There are an impressive 50,000 cases of Faust's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. Featuring upfront notes of Ribena-like cassis fruit accented by hints of cedar and vanilla, it's a full-bodied, generous effort that is softly dusty,... Read More
There are 15,000 cases of Honig's affordably priced 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. While it may not make you see stars, it's a solid value play (for Napa Valley), matching mixed cherries with mocha and cedar shadings and some... Read More
Fragrant and vibrantly structured, with expressive raspberry, green peppercorn and roasted sage flavors that build richness and tension toward briary tannins. Drink now through 2031.
The 2021 Game Trail Cabernet Sauvignon is crunchy, refreshing and easy to drink. It's scented of fresh blackcurrants and cherries, plus nuances of garrigue and charcuterie. The full-bodied palate is light on its feet with... Read More
The 2019 Zinfandel Oakley Road is bright and effusive, with tons of character. Sweet red berry fruit, rose petal and mint are beautifully layered together. Creamy and resonant in the glass, the Zinfandel is quite expressive today,... Read More
The 2021 Zinfandel Dickerson Vineyard is a deep, intriguing wine. Zinfandel screams out of the glass. Sweet red cherry, spice, black pepper, leather, tobacco and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. This mid-weight, vibrant... Read More
The 2019 Left Bank Red Cuvée is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% each Cabernet Franc and Merlot, all aged 20 months in 60% new French oak. Gentle herb nuances bump up against cherries and raspberries on the nose, while the... Read More
The 2019 Bellis Noir checks in as a Syrah-dominated blend that includes 16% Grenache and 9% Pinot Noir, all aged in 30% new oak. Sporting a deeper ruby, almost opaque hue, it's a rich, medium to full-bodied beauty revealing... Read More
A youthful deep ruby and all from West Sonoma Coast fruit, the 2021 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is highly floral and aromatic and offers more lift, with pure red raspberry, wild rosemary, and spice. Medium-bodied, it’s bright... Read More
The 2019 Merlot is a fabulous wine that punches well above its weight, and its modest price, too. Inky, deep and savory, with tons of cool-climate finesse, the 2019 Merlot is fabulous. It's not too often that a wine so clearly... Read More
A briar patch in a glass, this zesty red shows spirited blackberry, grilled anise and
green peppercorn flavors as it builds richness toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032.
A earthy and attractive nose of forest berries, wild currants, dried leaves, cedar and baking spices. Medium body with firm tannins. Powdery texture at the end. A little hollow now should fill in with a few years of bottle age.... Read More
Tasted from tank prior to botting, the 2022 Syrah Estate Grown is super-promising. It shows the intensity of the year, and yet also remains light on its feet. The 2022 might be one of the best ever here. Best of all, it should... Read More
The 2021 Syrah Estate is bright and approachable. Tarry touches give way to blackberry, blueberry, violet and bitter chocolate aromas. The palate is full-bodied and powerful with a youthfully dense core of fruit, finely grained... Read More
Notes of ripe strawberries and raspberries with spicy herbs and citrus peel. Full and fruit-forward with a succulent fruit character and spicy edge to it. Polished tannins and a linear finish. Drink or hold.... Read More
Classic red and black fruits, leafy herbs, orange blossom, and damp flower notes all emerge from the 2020 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vineyard, another Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir with a supple, layered, medium-bodied mouthfeel, terrific... Read More