Barbour Vineyards 2002 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Barbour Vineyard 1.5 L

Bedrock 2018 Sonoma Bedrock Vineyard Heritage Red

The Heritage Red from  Bedrock Vineyard is from a Zinfandel-based blend composed of 22 inter-planted varieties planted in the 1880s in Red Hill  clay-loam soils, using no-till cover crop farming, and native yeast fermentation. Zinfandel really shines from these old, gnarled vines. The concentration of flavor that you get from the very low yields adds richness to the wines without having to pick them late and overripe. The nose shows a mix of violet, minty eucalyptus, and ripe, but not syrupy, purple plum. The palate shows additional complexity with a touch of cocoa powder, black tea, and black cherry. Rich and comforting, this will be excellent in the colder months! Michelle DeWyngaert

Bedrock NV North Coast Shebang Red Wine

55% Zinfandel blended with Carignane, Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Alicante Bouschet, Grenache, Syrah, Barbera and a touch of whites for aromatics from old vine plantings (up to 100 years old) around Sonoma County, fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel and raised in a nice bit of French oak for a bold, bright-fruited, silky, and satisfying wine that is unbeatable at this price. 

Brick House 2017 Willamette Valley Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 'Dijon

Doug Tunnell would most likely call himself a farmer before he called himself a winemaker, as he takes his role as steward to the land very seriously. When he and his wife took over the Brick House property in 1990 it had been beaten down with industrial chemicals and they immediately halted all chemical treatments and began the conversion to organic, and then Biodynamic farming. As the name would suggest, the 'Dijonnais' bottling from Brick House comes from their eight acres of Dijon clone Pinot Noir planted on a south facing slope. Despite this being on of the warmest spots in their vineyard, this wine is light, ethereal, and elegant. Notes of dried earth, dusty rose petals, red plum, and shitake mushroom on the nose. On the palate are bright, crunchy red fruits, currant, red apple skins and freshly turned soil with gentle, velvety tannins. I enjoyed every drop of this bottle, but will certainly put a few away to see it evolve over the next five years or so. Michelle DeWyngaert

Broadside 2017 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

Broadside is a project of very talented winemaker Chris Brock. The Cabernet is fermented with wild yeasts and aged in barrels, 10% of which are new. The resultant wine is remarkably fresh and full bodied with an interesting spicy character and plenty of bright, tangy dark fruit.

Broc Cellars 2019 Solano County Green Valley Le Clairet "The Perfect Red"

Deemed "The Perfect Red" for its supreme drinkability and sheer "yumminess", the 'Le Clairet' is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Carignan (145 year old vines!) sourced from the iron-rich Wirth Vineyard in Solano County. Most of the Cabernet is destemmed, with a small amount left as whole clusters to line the bottom of the tank. Fermented spontaneously and pressed off the skins early to minimize the tannins, though there is still some good structure here. The Carignan , fermented carbonically to add freshness, is blended in right before bottling. Chewy red fruits and a touch of soft herbs with a medium-to-full body, it really is the perfect California red for just about any occasion. Michelle DeWyngaert

Cameron 2017 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge

The Abbey Ridge Vineyard sits at one of the highest elevations in the Dundee Hills at ~600ft. These 40+ year-old vines are farmed organically and without irrigation; relying instead on cover crops to maintain the moisture/health of the soil. 2017 was a very successful and classic vintage for Oregon with no disease pressure. The winemakers describe this wine as having both rose petal and red fruit aromas as well as more savory notes of salumi, black pepper, and olive.

Camp 2018 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

From the folks who run Hobo Wine Co., here we have the delicious new vintage of one of our favorite inexpensive Cabernets from California! Tart blackberry and ripe cassis mix with herbal hints and wildflower on the nose while broadly gracing the firm, rich, powerfully tannic palate. Sourced from many lesser known but sustainably or organically farmed vineyards throughout Sonoma county. Aged for nine months in neutral oak barrels.

Cayuse 2012 Walla Walla Valley Syrah Special #4 1.5 L

Cayuse 2013 Walla Walla Valley Syrah Special #5 1.5 L

Cayuse 2014 Walla Walla Valley Syrah Armada

Cayuse 2014 Walla Walla Valley Syrah En Cerise

Cayuse 2015 Walla Walla Valley Syrah Armada

Cayuse 2016 Walla Walla Valley Syrah En Cerise

Cayuse 2016 Walla Walla Valley Syrah En Chamberlain

Cayuse 2016 Walla Walla Valley Syrah Special #10 1.5 L

Cayuse 2017 Walla Walla Valley Syrah Armada

Cayuse 2017 Walla Walla Valley Syrah Cailloux

Cayuse 2017 Walla Walla Valley Syrah En Cerise

Cayuse 2017 Walla Walla Valley Syrah En Chamberlain

Cayuse 2017 Walla Walla Valley Syrah Special #11 1.5 L

Cayuse 2018 Walla Walla Valley Syrah Cailloux

Cayuse 2018 Walla Walla Valley Syrah En Cerise

Cayuse 2018 Walla Walla Valley Syrah En Chamberlain

Cooper Hill 2019 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Cooper Mountain Vineyards started in 1978 when Dr. Robert Gross and his wife, Corrine, planted the first Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines in the unique soils of Cooper Mountain in the Chehalem Mountains of Oregon's Willamette Valley. Today, the estate has more than 100 acres  dedicated to organic and biodynamic farming and winemaking. A great value and classic Oregon Pinot with notes of dried leaves, black cherry, macerated raspberries, and freshly turned earth. This vintage is a bit darker and denser than the previous vintage, but by no means overripe or heavy. A great pairing with roasted butternut squash with sage! Michelle DeWyngaert

Corison, Cathy 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Cathy Corison's wines eschew the bold, heavy-handed flavors and dollops of massive French oak embraced by her Napa Valley counterparts, instead focusing on teasing deeply concentrated, ripened fruit from the deep, stony alluvial soils of her vineyards in Rutherford and St. Helena.

Crowley 2017 Willamette Valley Entre Nous Pinot Noir

'Entre Nous' is a blend of fruit from La Colina Vineyard in Dundee Hills and the Four Winds Vineyard in the McMinnville Coast, all 100% Pinot Noir. This blend brings the ripeness and juiciness of the more inland vines, and the lift and elegance from the coastal influence. A small portion of new oak barrels and the rest neutral, frames this wine with a touch of baking spice, nothing dramatic, that will only continue to integrate as it ages. The nose has a beautiful floral, rose water aroma with notes of freshly picked white cherry, raspberry, and a sense of the volcanic soils that line the Willamette Valley. The palate is perfectly clean, almost austere with powdery tannins, but balanced by ripeness and power from the La Colina fruit. Michelle DeWyngaert

Dashe 2018 California Zinfandel Vineyard Select

This is the newest release of Dashe's Vineyard Select, meant to be a food-friendly, "bistro wine". The blend is 80% Zinfandel, 9% Teraldego, 5% Tannat, 3% Mourvedre, and 3% Petite Sirah. The fruit for this bottling is sourced from a variety of vineyards Sonoma County, Contra-Costa, and Clarkesburg  to create the perfect balance of ripeness and complexity. Each variety is fermented separately then aged for 14 months in 1-year-old French oak. Though I have not yet tasted this vintage, the Dashe wines have been a staple at Chambers Street for their consistently tasty Zinfandel. Michelle DeWyngaert

David Hill 2019 Willamette Valley Estate Pinot Noir

An incredible value from some of the oldest vines in the Willamette Valley! This vineyard (previously named the Charles Coury Vineyard) was actually first established as the Rueter family homestead in 1883, but because Prohibition the vines were ripped out and eventually replanted in 1965 from a handful of Alsatian and Burgundian vines. Today the estate, which sits on the northern border of Willamette at an elevation of 360-625ft elevation on Laurelwood soil, is organically and dry farmed amongst an array of beehives and cover crops. The fruit is separated by block/clone, blended together for the perfect balance and then aged for 11 months in 10% new French oak. The 2019 estate Pinot Noir is incredibly satisfying; sapid, luscious, blackberry bramble, dusty soil, soft herbs and just a kiss of sweet spices. Yum! Michelle DeWyngaert

Division 2019 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir "Un"

Meant as a snapshot of the Willamette Valley, the "Un" is a blend of Pinot Noir from six vineyards, with the bulk of the blend this vintage from one of my favorite, and abundantly expressive sites, the Johan Vineyard. The wine from each site is fermented separately with varying amounts of whole-clusters included depending on the site. The wines are aged  in a selection of French or Austrian barrels, ~15% new, for nine months before being racked into concrete to settle for a month before bottling. Earthy, brambly forest floor notes jump out first, followed by stewed black cherry and rosemary. The palate is lush and concentrated, just gentle tannins, and the mix of fresh and stewed red fruit gives this wine the perfect balance. Michelle DeWyngaert

Drew Family Cellars 2019 Mendocino Ridge Mid-Elevation Mendocino Ridge

Drew Family Cellars was established in 2000 with a mission to create age-worthy, cool climate California Pinot Noir. They settled in the coastal appellation of Mendocino Ridge and planted their own estate in what was once an orchard, at 1250ft elevation.  This bottling is a blend of fruit from their organically farmed estate and lots from like-minded farmers at the Valenti, Fashauer, Perli, and Wendling vineyards. The grapes are fermented with 20% whole-cluster bunches and aged in 10% new French oak, with the rest in neutral oak barrels. Upon opening the wine was a bit leaner and more red fruited than the previous vintage, but with some  air/time open it became richer and plummier as I had come to love from the Drew Family. Notes of dried violet, anise, dried herbs, purple plum, and cassis, with gentle tannins, and a nice balance of acidity and concentration that makes me think of pomegranate juice. Michelle DeWyngaert

Edmunds St. John 2015 El Dorado County Syrah North Canyon Road

We love Steve Edmunds and everything he stands for - he's a nice guy, a great winemaker and a talented musician (I once did a campfire duet with him of Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried," a memory I'll treasure forever). But let's get back to his wines, and in particular this 2015 North Canyon Road Syrah. It is sourced from two vineyards in the Sierra Foothills: Fenaughty, planted in the late 1990s, and Barsotti, with vines quite a bit older. The volcanic clay of Fenaughty contributes rather dramatic floral notes and silky texture, while the ancient granite of Barsotti gives brightness and tension. The result is truly classic Syrah, with notes of violet, blue and red fruit, a dash of white pepper and cool freshness at the back end and generally evocative of the Northern Rhone wines that first inspired Steve. This already has five years of age but will continue to improve for another ten years and likely beyond. Sam Ehrlich

End of Nowhere 2019 Amador County Phantom Limb

Let me start by saying this is not your parent's Zinfandel. This is a delightfully refreshing, 100% carbonic maceration of Zinfandel from  the high elevation, Baldinelli Vineyard in the Shenandoah Valley. The vines here are roughly 30 years old, grown on sandy-loam soils, which comes through  on the palate with powdery tannins. The juice goes through a long 21 day fermentation, then age for eight months in tank to preserve its freshness.

Etude 2002 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 375ml

Eyrie Vineyards 2016 Willamette Valley Roland Green Pinot Noir

Drinking a Pinot Noir from Eyrie Vineyards is all the proof you need that these wines of the Willamette Valley deserve a place on the world's list of the most expressive and age-worthy wines. This single vineyard bottling from Roland Green stuck out the most to me in a tasting of five different Eyrie Pinots for its intense and captivating aromas. The Roland Green vineyard is positioned at about 550ft elevation planted over 30 years ago on rich volcanic soils, and like all their vineyards, the vines are own-rooted, non-irrigated, and certified organic. The nose is a powerful blend of ripe red and black cherry, tree bark and damp moss, a bit of salt and on returning to the wine, a touch of something smoky, like peat. The palate is concentrated with flavor and acidity. A beautiful wine that I cannot wait to revisit! Michelle DeWyngaert 

Folk Machine 2019 Central Coast Pinot Noir

Another stellar vintage of Folk Machine Pinot Noir showcasing the best of Central Coast fruit. More on the leaner side of Pinot Noirs rather than some of  the fuller, higher octane wines from further inland. Kenny Likitprakong blends fruit from the Mission Ranch and Cedar Lane in Arroyo Seco, and a bit from the Brosseau and Tom Ritchie Vineyards in the Sonoma Coast. The grapes were fermented whole cluster with native yeasts and then kept on the lees with just occasion stirring to enhance the texture of the wine. On the nose are notes of ripe strawberry, red currant, sweet basil, and a bit of fresh potting soil. The palate is lean and fresh, with the softest tannins, finishing as a decidedly earthy example of California Pinot Noir. Serve this with a chill and pair with nearly any dish! Michelle DeWyngaert

Folk Machine 2020 Central Coast Gamay Noir Rose

This is the 5th vintage of the Gamay Noir Rosé from Kenny Likitprakong as he waits for these young vines to mature enough to make red wine. Harvested early to maintain the brightness of the grapes, and then pressed with very little time on the skins before aging in stainless steel.

Franchere 2017 Willamette Valley Havlin Vineyard Syrah

I can't say that I've had much Syrah from Willamette, and indeed the Havlin Vineyard is relatively young (planted in 2009), but I'm already intrigued to find more. The vineyard is 100% dry-farmed and LIVE sustainable certified. The soil here is silt loam over ironstone bedrock, which not only helps keep the yields low on these younger vines, but also imparts a distinct mineral backbone to this wine. 20% whole cluster in the fermentation, aged for 18 months in neutral French oak, and then bottled with just a bit of SO2 in accordance with Mike Hinds' minimalist philosophy. The nose is rich with a touch of dark, bitter chocolate, and the palate presents a really beautiful, concentrated texture with black pepper and dried herbs. Perfectly savory, this wine is calling to be paired with something roasted. Michelle DeWyngaert

Franchere 2019 Willamette Valley Cascadia

A perfect embodiment of crisp fall air and crunchy leaves, this is one of my favorite "chillable reds." The 'Cascadia' is a co-fermented blend of 84% Pinot noir, 10% Syrah, 4% Grüner Veltliner, and 2% Gamay from a selection of vineyards in the Willamette Valley that Franchere winemaker Mike Hinds either leases and farms himself or works closely with the vineyard owners to insure organic practices, low yields, and no irrigation is used. The grapes are crushed by foot with 50% whole clusters and then aged for nine months in tanks. The nose shows notes of forrest floor, savory herbs, cranberry, wild raspberry, and cracked pepper, and the palate is light, refreshing, and with powdery tannins holding it all together. Michelle DeWyngaert

Ghostwriter 2018 Santa Cruz County Pinot Noir

For the first time, the Ghostwriter Pinot Noir was bottled entirely from  Ahlgren Vineyard  fruit. Winemaker Kenny  Likitprakong described this vintage as more high-toned and a bit leaner than previous vintages. The grapes are fermented with 50% whole clusters and then aged in neutral barrels. This wine is a tribute to the late Dexter Ahlgren who had lovingly planted and tended this nearly hidden vineyard in 1976.

Kelley Fox 2019 Willamette Valley Mirabai Pinot Noir

I rarely suggest judging a book by its cover, but in this case the label speaks so well to its contents! The 'Mirabai' from Kelley Fox blends fruit from two neighboring vineyards, 75% from the Maresh Vineyard and 25% from Weber. The Dundee Hills parcels were both planted in the 1970's so the vines are fully mature, and sit on Jory soil. The quality of the farming coupled with Kelley's intuitive sense and strict aversion to additives in the cellar allows the land to shine through in this bottle. The grapes are crushed as whole clusters, fermented in small lots, and aged  ~7 months in neutral French oak. The nose is a delicious perfume of turned soil, freshly shaved beets and rhubarb, wild cherry, ripe strawberry, and wild flowers. The palate is vibrant, with light-to-just-medium body and powdery soft tannins that linger between sips. I hardly wanted to share any of this bottle with my colleagues! Michelle DeWyngaert

La Clarine Farm 2018 Sierra Foothills TCB

Inspired by the blends of Northern Rhone, the winemakers of La Clarine created this co-fermentation of Syrah from the Fenaughty Vineyard, and Viognier from Sumu Kaw, both situated along the same volcanic ridge in the Sierra Foothills. The grapes are fermented together whole cluster, then racked into flextanks to settle until bottling.

Maître de Chai 2017 Lodi Stampede Vineyard Zinfandel

One of the first wines I ever loved was old-vine California Zinfandel, so I was very excited to taste this expression from Maître de Chai. The Stampede Vineyard was planted in the early 1920s with own-rooted Zinfandel on decomposed granite. Inspired by the wines of the famous Ridge Vineyards, this bottling is a field blend of mainly Zinfandel, with a bit of Mission and Carignan. The fermentation is done with 50% whole cluster bunches in open-top neutral oak and then aged for one year. The wine is a classic Zinfandel mix of fresh, ripe, and also dried red plum and raspberry. The tannins are present and driving, but not aggressive, well balanced by its fresh acidity, and a peppery finish. This wine will be excellent with flavorful game meats, and I look forward to trying it again in several years to see how it has progressed. Michelle DeWyngaert

Maître de Chai 2018 Clements Hills Red Table Wine

As the name suggests, this is designed (and absolutely succeeds) as a perfect companion to your dinners at home, of which we are enjoying a lot of these days. This is their first blended wine and it hits all the right spots. A mixture of Grenache and Barbera, with a bit of Zinfandel and Cabernet blended in for backbone. The grapes are destemmed, fermented with native yeasts and then aged in neutral barrels for a year and a half. On the nose are perfectly ripe black cherries, squashed raspberry, star anise, and rosemary. The color is a light, transluscent ruby, but on the palate is more body and concentration that it would lead you to believe with notes of juicy red plum, cranberry, and a slight grip of tannin to keep you from drinking the whole bottle in one go. Michelle DeWyngaert

Matthiasson 2016 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Dollar per ounce this is one of the best values for Napa Valley fruit that you can find! Steve Matthiasson is a dedicated organic farmer and low-intervention winemaker. This is old-school California Cabernet Sauvignon at its finest. The blend for 2016 is from six different Napa vineyards; 85-90% Cabernet Sauvignon with a small percentage of Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The wine is gently extracted with minimal pump-overs and fermented at a low temperatures. It is aged for 20 months in mostly used and less than 20% new French oak which adds just a touch of baking spice to the aroma and a silky texture to the tannins. This wine has a beautiful nose of freshly cut cedar, ripe purple plums, a touch of graphite and black tea, and the palate brings just a squeeze of lemon, fresh potting soil, savory herbs and raspberry. All signs lead to this being incredibly age worthy, but if you can't wait to open it, I recommend decanting for at least an hour. Michelle DeWyngaert

Matthiasson 2018 Napa Valley Village No.2 Cabernet Sauvigno

A beautiful, classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon from a selection of vineyards making this an incredible value for Napa fruit.  The idea was to take lots of Cabernet that didn't quite make it into the higher end bottling and blend them together without too much extraction, for a fresher "table wine" offering that you don't feel guilty opening right away. The fruit is fermented at cool temperatures, low and slow, then aged for 20 months is mostly older oak with a just a few new barrels for a kiss of spice. Notes of plums, black cherries, and sage, with a touch of hoisin and baking spice. What is most exciting about this bottling is the general sense of energy - it's snappy and bright with a slightly gravelly texture. The oak influence is hardly noticeable, just delicious Napa fruit that has obviously been well-looked after.

Methode Sauvage 2019 California AVA Iruai 'Giallo' Red

The name Giallo is a reference to the pulpy Italian films to come out in the 60's and 70's and speaks to the intention of this fun blend of Teroldego, Refosco, and Nebbiolo, all originally from the Italian alps. The grapes are fermented whole cluster, going through two weeks of carbonic maceration, and then almost two months of daily foot-treading for extraction, then aged for eight months in neutral barrels. The result is surprisingly light but with firm, tongue-coating tannins to give it structure. On the nose are brambly black fruits, crushed violets, dried rosemary, and a touch of VA (in true Italian style), and the palate shows a brighter, crunchier side with red currants, cranberry, and fresh herbs. Serve just slightly chilled with a plate of sausage and peppers! Michelle DeWyngaert

Minor, Sean 2018 Central Coast Pinot Noir

Sean Minor is a negociant production working with high quality vineyards throughout the central and north coast of California to create fresh, easy drinking, great value wines like this classic California Pinot Noir. Fermented with 100% de-stemmed grapes to emphasize the ripe fruit and aged in oak barrels to give it those quintessential sweet oak spices. 

Mount Eden 2016 Domaine Eden Cabernet Sauvignon

Mount Eden Vineyards have been the standard bearers of quality California fruit since the 1940's, and have remained focused on healthy winegrowing as the key to making great wine. Positioned near the coast of the Santa Cruz Mountains up at 2000ft elevation, they are perhaps more well known for their cool-climate loving varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but their Cabernet Sauvignon is just as compelling. Because of the high altitude and ocean wind this wine does have great acidity, but being positioned above the fog line gives their vines abundant sunlight and drier conditions leading to a complete ripeness, even for the Cabernet. It was a very low-yielding year, but that made the fruit all the more concentrated. The blend is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc & 1% Petit Verdot aged in 100% new French and American oak for two years. The extended time in barrels and subsequent years resting in bottle mean have allowed the oak flavors and tannins to fully integrate. Notes of blackberry, ripe purple plum, cassis, rosemary, thyme, cacao nibs and forest floor mingle on silky, powdery tannins. This still shows vibrant fruit now, but should also mature beautifully with another 5+ years in the cellar. Michelle DeWyngaert

Nathan K. 2020 Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc

I fell head over heels for this luscious Cabernet Franc from the very first sip! Until this season, Nathan Kendall has focused on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling for his eponymous line, but decided to attempt a no-sulfur Cabernet Franc primeur and we are so glad he did. The fruit comes from the Tuller Vineyard located on the west side of Seneca Lake on loamy-silt soils, the berries are destemmed but left uncrushed for the short fermentation. After pressing the wine rested for just three weeks in neutral French oak, and then was bottled unfined and without any additives. Because it was a very warm, dry vintage, and crop size was low, the resulting wine is concentrated, silky, and delicious;  not at all the light, fruity,  nouveau I would have expected. On the nose are notes of brambly raspberry and black currant, rosemary, roasted pepper, and a hint of cedar plank and violets. The palate has such  a nice weight and structure to it, with soft, velvety tannins. This reminds me of some of my favorite Cabernet Franc's from Saumur! Michelle DeWyngaert

Newton 2008 Spring Mountain The Puzzle

Peay Vineyards 2018 Sonoma Coast Scallop Shelf Pinot Noir

Planted 25 years ago on a former seabed that had been uplifted millons of years ago (but which is still littered with seashell fossils!) the 'Scallop Shelf' bottling is a blend of  different clones and plots from the Peay estate vineyard. The vineyard is certified organic, and nearly dry-farmed (except for an occasional need in the hottest points of August), they remain untilled, and fertilized by their own compost made from leftover pomace. This blend is created to highlight the cool, coastal climate and elevation of the vineyardl intended to be the most floral, elegant of the three estate bottlings.

Pied a Terre 2015 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Richard Luftig, one of New York's best sommeliers, has made a Cabernet known for phenomenal quality and price: Pied a Terre Cabernet! Always one of our best-selling American reds, 2015 is a deep, ripe, and focused vintage for Pied a Terre. This is a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon that has classic California character but more structure and reserve than a lot of riper wine. The tannic structure is tightly woven, with fine acid backbone and lush cassis, blackberry, and slightly redder berry fruit. This is a California Cabernet meant to be consumed with food, and will pear excellently with New York strip steak, pork loin, or coq au vin. Andrew Farquhar

Ponzi 2011 Willamette Pinot Noir Aurora

Porter Creek 2017 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

Ridge 2011 Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello 3 L

Sandlands 2018 Contra Costa County Red Table Wine

Schneider & Bieler 2018 Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc 'Le Breton'

Soter Vineyards 2011 Yamhill Pinot Noir Mineral Springs Ranch

Stolpman Vineyards 2018 Santa Barbara Ballard Canyon Estate Syrah

This is the flagship wine for the Stolpman Vineyards which best represents their vines and the greater Ballard Canyon each year. The Stolpman Estate Syrah is helping to define what a California Syrah really is with its ripe, sun-kissed fruit, that remains concentrated without becoming jammy or "hot" with alcohol. Thankfully the 2018 vintage only saw one heat spike, and it came in early July so the vines had a chance to recover, and allowed for a prolonged hang-time. The grapes were fermented with 50% whole clusters and aged for ten months in neutral French puncheons with sulfur only added at bottling.

Turley 2018 California Zinfandel Old Vines

Turley has long been regarded as one of the benchmark estates for old vine Zinfandel, and this bottling is made from a blend of fruit from vines aged 41-129 from parcels that were either two small for their own vineyard designate bottle, or new to the Turley family.

Turley 2018 Contra Costa County Zinfandel Duarte

This Turley Bottling is an homage to Joe Duarte, a grower who first introduced the Turley's to the incredible vineyards of Contra Costa. The blend consists of fruit from the Evangehlo, Mori and Salvador vineyards; all with a vine age of 100+ years! The winemakers describe this one as having the "softest, silkiest tannins" in the lineup!

Turley 2018 Contra Costa County Zinfandel Dusi

This is a single-vineyard bottling from the Dusi Vineyard, on the west side of Paso Robles, which consists of own-rooted, head-trained vines planted in 1945 on mostly alluvial soils. The warm climate and dense soils lead to this fuller-bodied, richer style Zinfandel.

Turley 2018 Lodi Kirschenmann Zinfandel

This is a single-vineyard bottling of the Kirschenmann Vineyard which is owned and farmed by the Turley winemaker, Tegan Passalacqua.The vines were planted in 1915 on their own roots in silica-rich sandy soils of the east side of the Mokelumne River AVA. The proximity to the river keeps these vines cool which brings more freshness to the wine.

Turley 2018 Napa Hayne Petit Syrah

The Hayne vineyard is home to some of the oldest in Napa Valley, planted in 1902 and 1903 on the west side of St. Helena. This is classic Napa Zinfandel balancing power and elegance.

Turley 2018 Paso Robles Ueberroth Zinfandel

From one of the oldest vineyards in the Turley repetoire, the Ueberroth Vineyard was planted in 1885! The proximity to the Pacific, and the limestone soil makes this one of their most vibrant, high acid bottlings of Zinfandel. The vines are own-rooted, head-trained, gnarly vines that create concentrated, flavorful berries for this highly allocated wine.

Turley 2018 Sonoma Fredericks Zinfandel

The Fredericks Vineyard was planted in 1937 on a hillside up at 900 feet elevation, a rare find indeed. The vines are head-trained on steep terraces and certified organically farmed. The wine is aged in 80% neutral, 20% new oak (of which 80% is French oak) for 15 months before bottling.

Two Shepherds 2016 Mendocino Trimble Vineyard - Carignan

The fruit for this Carignan comes from the 75 year-old vines of the Trimble Vineyard in Mendocino, which Two Shepherds shares with Porter Creek. As this is one of their coolest sites it is the last to be picked, somehow managing to be both rich and flavorful, but also light on it's feet and only 13% ABV. The grapes are foot-stomped and fermented whole cluster going through carbonic maceration, which gives it lift and freshness, then aged for ten months in neutral barrels. On the nose are notes of crunchy red currant and cherry, plum skins, some dried red fruits, dried herbs, and touch of leather as well. The palate is juicy and plump with soft, lingering tannins. Perfect with the slighest chill right now, but this will surely improve even more in the next 5-10 years. Michelle DeWyngaert