USA

Ruby black color. Aromas of watermelon candy, strawberry candies, blueberry jam, and dill with a satiny, vibrant, fruity medium body and a seamless, interesting, medium-length red licorice, peach scone, and baking spices finish with moderate oak flavor. A somewhat ostentatious Cabernet with bold candy-fruit aromas and easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing style.

Dusty garnet color. Aromas and flavors of stewed prune, ripe strawberry, and fennel seed with a velvety, lively, dry medium-to-full body and a warming, medium-length finish with notes of cherry compote and fresh blackberries with well-integrated tannins and a suggestion of oak flavor. A simple choice for a casual weeknight dinner.

Rich aromas of ripe black cherry, Mission fig, and dark chocolate mingle with a spice box of clove and nutmeg. The palate is filled with flavors of juicy blackberry and boysenberry that are enveloped in silky tannins, showing complexity beyond its years. Enticing flavors of fresh vanilla bean and hazelnut carry through a velvety richness that lingers on the finish. Enjoy now after decanting for 45 minutes or cellar through 2038.

A warm and welcoming flavor profile from an unexpected combination of ingredients that have played a role in Kristen's story. A delicate balance of sweet, sour, and salt from licorice and sour cherry, accented with the fruity heat of pink peppercorns.

This is a bold and aromatic Orange Muscat, offering a rich essence of grape, apricot and orange peel. A smooth and full bodied texture users in notes of fresh pineapple, mango and pasion fruit, softly finished by hints of toast. Pairs perfectly with creme brulle, peach cobbler or sharp cheeses.

For over 35 years, the Herzog and Watts families have worked together to grow spectacular Zinfandel in the Mokelumne River region of Lodi. This Zinfandel is crafted from vines up to 80 years old, capturing intense flavors and rich texture. The wine is balanced and not overly sweet, a style modeled after some of the most historic Late Harvest wines of France.

This 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a clear California favorite displaying fruit-forward, smooth characteristics. The No Fine Print Cabernet Sauvignon is concentrated but not jammy, with aromas of blackberries, cherries and spice with flavors of plums, currants, dried herbs and toasted oak.

What a back-to-back pair of vintages! I assume one would have to go back to 2002 and 2001 to find two Screaming Eagles this compelling. The 2013 appears set for 25-30 years of longevity. There is something magical about this Oakville parcel on the valley floor just under the looming hillsides of such wineries as Phelps, Bacchus and Dalla Valle's Maya, and across the street from the Rudd Estate, Plumpjack, etc.

The 2018 Reliquus Cabernet Sauvignon is generous and fleshy, with a delicious nose of red cherry, black plum, leather, roasted red pepper, pot pourri, and dried violets. The palate is round and sublimely textured, with flavors of red fruits, black fig, cocoa powder and baking spices in an effortless balance. This wine pairs beautifully with food and is perfectly accessible now, and will also continue to integrate and develop with time in the cellar.

The 2020 Screaming Eagle is one of the great surprises of the year. Energetic and vibrant in the glass, the 2020 offers a bit more energy than most readers are likely used to. All the elements are so well balanced. Dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, menthol, spice, leather and a soft touch of all fill out the layers effortlessly. In 2020 Screaming Eagle is not as immediately alluring as it so often is, so a measure of patience is warranted.

The Fog Monster Bedrock Red is an heirloom field blend of 27 different grape varieties, including Zinfandel (55%), Carignan (15%), and Mataro (10%), sourced from the eponymous Bedrock single vineyard planted in 1888. These exceptionally old vines are planted on deep alluvial riverbed soils which produce a particularly dense and complex wine with a core of plush red berry fruit, citrus peel and clove spice, structured by tightly knit tannins and a signature freshness. On the nose there are notes of white pepper, fennel, coriander and dark fruit. The palate is firm, dense and dry, with a tight, fresh finish.

This is the fifth vintage to come exclusively from the Martinelli Charles Ranch, two miles in from the Pacific at 1,115 ft elevation. Coming from a special vineyard site, our Sonoma Coast Chardonnay show great depth of flavor, length of finish, aromatic complexity, and a fine balance between richness and delicacy. This vineyard has a typically cool climate, low vigor soil, and a vine selection that generates small berries, small clusters and inherently low yields.

50% Marsanne, 50% Roussanne
Alder Springs Vineyard (Mendocino County AVA)
Grown on the steeply terraced part of the vineyard
Pressed and fermented together in stainless steel tanks
No malolactic fermentation
Aged 80% stainless steel and 20% French oak
5 barrels – 100 cases produced
13.6% abv

• 88% Zinfandel, 12% Petite Sirah
• Zinfandel from The Terraces Estate (Rutherford AVA)
• Petite Sirah from Dollar Ranch in Chiles Valley
• Hand-harvested and hand-destemmed
• Each lot put into small tanks as whole berries
• Mix of punch-downs, pump-overs, and racking several times a day to influence different kinds of extraction
• Gently pressed in a basket press
• Aged 20 months in 35% new French and American barrels
• 809 cases produced
• 14.6% abv

Ashes and Diamonds Rouge No.5 is a multi-vintage Bordeaux blend from select vineyards across Santa Cruz. Each release showcases a cuvée-grade vineyard, representing a majority of the blend.