Banshee 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

A classic Cabernet Sauvignon for lovers of Napa wines! Blended from vineyards throughout the Napa Valley appellation for balance, this vintage is comprised of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot. The nose is deep and intense with stewed blackberry, plum, and eucalyptus and French vanilla and cinnamon from their use of 50% new French oak.  The palate is rich and voluptuous, with those stewed black fruits, and the freshness of raspberry and red plum. An excellent pairing for the classic American steak dinner! Michelle DeWyngaert

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. 

Bloomer Creek 2019 Finger Lakes Half Moon Rosé

This is a rosé of terroir; aromatic and earthy. Bloomer Creek Vineyard is lovingly cared for by Kim and Debra Engle using organic methods, no herbicides, and no irrigation. The blend for 'Half Moon' is 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Cabernet Franc for that touch of herbal savoriness. The Pinot Noir spends six hours on the skins and is then blended with the Cabernet Franc. The juice is fermented in stainless steel and then bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with just a dash of SO2. The color is a deep, orange-y red, more of a pale red than a rosé. On the nose you get dried rose and bing cherry, and as it opens up notes of dried and fresh herbs, red currant, and a bit of forest floor begin to unfurl. The palate is clean and vibrant with just a touch of tannin; it conjures big bags of fresh summer cherries and red currants. Michelle DeWyngaert

Bow & Arrow 2019 Willamette Valley Gamay

The creators of Bow & Arrow have long been inspired by the wines the Loire Valley (which might be one of the reasons they are so near to our heart), creating balanced, food-friendly wines that are unadulterated and unpretentious. The 2019 Gamay is made from fruit from the Hughes Hollow and Walnut Ridge Vineyards in the Willamette Valley and goes through a semi-carbonic maceration before aging for 10 months in neutral oak barriques. Though we have not yet been able to try this vintage, the winemakers description has us very excited, "the 2019 Gamay feels like crunchy red fruit locked inside a savory, herbal shell...with miniature lightning bolts coming out the sides."

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 2017 Solano County Valdiguie Green Valley

This wine is from the Green Valley of Solano County, located just over the Vaca mountains from Napa. This wine comes from two vineyards, the Frei Vineyard and the Wirth Ranch Vineyard, both of which are dry-farmed and have average vine ages over 65 years. This style of wine was formerly known as Napa Gamay, and for good reason; the taste is reminiscent of Beaujolais with medium tannin and great energy, though more purple in color and with darker fruit.  Partial carbonic maceration gives the wine a light and lifted character. Pair with pork chops, veal, branzino, or carnitas tacos. Andrew Farquhar

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 2019 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Ceritas 2017 Peter Martin Ray Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet

Ceritas 2018 Sonoma Coast Hellenthal Vineyard 'Old Shop Block'

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

Day Wines 2017 Willamette Valley Johan Vineyard Pinot Noir

A beautiful example of Pinot Noir from the Demeter certified Johan Vineyard in the Willamette Valley.  Exposed to cooling winds from the Van Duzer Corridor, it is the last picked of the Day Wines giving it a delicate freshness. The grapes are left 30% whole cluster during fermentation and then the juice is aged for 18 months in 15% new French oak, the rest neutral. This wine feels like Oregon to me; simultaneously lush and juicy, and also crisp and vibrant. Notes of freshly turned soil, wild raspberries and currants, dried leaves and herbs unfurl with time in the glass. On the palate it begins with crunchy red fruit,  follows with the earthy sweet and savoriness of roasted beets, and finishes with lingering gentle, but present tannin. While the vibrancy of the fruit is fully enjoyable now, this should continue to improve for many years to come. 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

Edmunds St. John 2018 El Dorado County Bone-Jolly Gamay

There is always something so compelling about the Gamay Noir grown on the decompossed granite soils of the Barsotti Ranch. The 2018 vintage in El Dorado was fairly cool at the end of the season, which meant the grapes could spend a little extra time on the vines, which Steve tells us led to a "more tender wine, both flavor-wise and texturally."The grapes are destemmed and punched-down twice daily to release color and tannin, and then pressed into stainless steel. 

Edmunds St. John 2020 El Dorado County Bone-Jolly Rosé

One of our favorite rosés each year is this joyful rosé of Gamay Noir from Steve Edmunds! This year's fruit comes from a blend of the Barsotti Ranch and the Witter Vineyard in El Dorado County. 2020 was a frightful year for many reasons, not least of which were the devastating wildfires that destroyed many vineyards, but thankfully these high elevation sites were spared. Unusually for this bottling, the wine went through full, natural malolactic fermentation which lends this vintage a bit more weight on the palate, but remains bright and crisp. A perfectly refreshing rosé with notes of fresh strawberries sprinkled with salt, lime zest, and pink grapefruit! Michelle DeWyngaert

Eminence Road 2017 Finger Lakes Elizabeth's Vineyard Pinot Noir

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.

Enfield Wine Co. 2018 Sierra Foothills Pretty Horses Tempranillo Blend

This vintage of "Pretty Horses" is actually a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 10 % Grenache, 10% Pinot Noir and a small amount of Graciano creating a unique and perfectly food-friendly California red. Enfield Wine Co. sourced most of the fruit for this vintage from the famous Rorick Heritage Vineyard, with the rest from Shake Ridge in Amador County, and a bit of the Pinot Noir from the Heron Lake in the Wild Horse AVA. Inspired by the wines of Rioja Alavesa, this wine is designed to be drank young, though shows great structure for short-term aging. The nose shows a melange of red and blue fruits, stewed cherry, blueberry, cedar, and fresh tobacco leaves. The palate is fresh and on the fuller side of medium-bodied with easy-going tannins and opened up nicely after a few hours (even a few days) with air. Michelle DeWyngaert

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

Forlorn Hope 2020 Queen of the Sierra Rosé

This bright blended rosé is from the Rorick Heritage Vineyard that sits up at 2000ft elevation in Calaveras County, CA. This vintage is a mix of Zinfandel, Grenache Noir, and Tempranillo, whole-cluster pressed into stainless steel, fermented with native yeasts, racked after a few months on the lees, then bottled two months later with minimal SO2. Notes of ripe strawberry, concentrated watermelon, and orange blossom on the nose. On the palate is juicy strawberry, cherry juice, hibiscus, and tiny touch of tannin to keep it from going down too easy. Exactly the rosé you should take with you to a BBQ! Michelle DeWyngaert

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.

Hope Well 2018 Amity Hills Pinot Noir

It is Mimi Casteel's incredible dedication to 'regenerative agriculture' that makes this wine from the  Willamette Valley so special and sought-after. Her farming practices go beyond organics and work to actively restore the health of the soil and the land surrounding the vineyard, creating a living, breathing ecosystem. She believes, and I can't help but agree, that this unlocks more flavor and complexity in the grapes because more nutrients and biodiversity is available to the vines. Positioned along an east-facing slope of the Eola-Amity Hills, the Hope Well vineyard experiences an intense diurnal shift that helps maintain freshness even in this warmer vintage. This year she destemmed the grapes completely, with very gentle extraction, and then aged the wine in 10% new French oak, with the rest in neutral barrels for 10 months. Michelle DeWyngaert

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

Killer Quail 2019 Dry Creek Valley Carbonic Zinfandel

This is juicy, layered, carbonic, old-vine Zinfandel from Sara Morgensten. The fruit comes from the certified organic, Grist Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley. The fruit was placed in steel anaerobic tanks for five days before being pressed into neutral barrel, aged, and then bottled with no additions and no SO2.

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

Martha Stoumen Nero d'Avola 2017 Mendocino County Benson Ranch

This vintage of Nero d'Avola is a blend of two Mendocino vineyards; 14 year-old vines in Benson Ranch Vineyard and 33 year-old vines, the oldest in the state, in Fox Hill Vineyard. Martha Stoumen was inspired by her time working with COS in Sicily when she sought out these inland vineyards with Nero d'Avola. The nose is a compelling mix of damp soil, dried savory herbs and black cherry, and on the palate is nice balance of tannic tension and acidity with notes of black currant and plum, finishing with a lingering taste of amaro and medicinal herbs. Pair this with something briny like a puttanesca sauce! Michelle DeWyngaert

Martha Stoumen Nero d'Avola 2019 Mendocino County Benson Ranch Rosato

The 2019 Rosato comes entirely from the non-irrigated, organically farmed Benson Ranch Vineyard in Ukiah and is made in the old Italian style referred to as "vino di una notte", which is made by pressing the grapes whole-cluster and leaving them on the skins and stems overnight. Because the berries are small they pack in a a lot flavor, and the maceration adds color and texture making this wine a bit of a cross between a rosé and a red. Only a tiny quantity of the rosato was made this year so we only have six bottles! Martha describes this wine as having, "enticing aromas of dried flowers, cranberry, and agave; surprising high elevation characteristics with lean acidity and appealing texture."

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.

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

Pearl Morissette 2017 Niagara Escarpment Metis Rouge

Pearl Morissette wines are proof that if you can grow it organically (and deliciously) in Niagara, you can do it anywhere. Typically the Metis Rouge is all Cabernet Franc, but this vintage Francois Morissette decided to add in a bit of Gamay and Pinot Noir, all fermented whole cluster, vinified separately, and then blended together. The nose leads with earth and garrigue, and follows with juicy raspberry and currants. The palate is structured and concentrated without being heavy, and just enough vegetal undertone to let you know it's Cabernet Franc dominant, but not enough to take away from how approachable this wine is. I'll be drinking this with grilled vegetables or salmon filet. Michelle DeWyngaert

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

Populis 2020 Mendocino Rosé

This is a refreshing, savory rosé with fruit from a handful of excellently farmed vineyards in Mendocino and Sonoma. The blend is predominantly old-vine Carignane from the Venturi Vineyard, with about 17% Zinfandel from Venturi and Hawkeye Ranch, with a splash of Pinot Noir for fruit, French Colombard for freshness, and a little Muscat for aromatics. Each variety was fermented separately, whole cluster pressed and left on the skins overnight (except the Muscat which was destemmed and saw five days of skin-contact) then blended together and aged for five months on the lees before bottling unfined/unfiltered with just a tiny amount of SO2.

Porter Creek 2017 Sonoma County Old Vine Zinfandel

A classic example of Sonoma County Zinfandel. Aromatically, it has explosive cherries and berries, and on the palate it is rich and textured on the finish. Produced from hillside grown vines and blended with 5% Carignane for texture and overall harmony.

Porter Creek 2019 North Coast Rosé

80% old vine Carignan from the Trimble vineyard in Mendocino and 20% Zinfandel from Porter Creek's own vineyards, this dry rosé is one of my favorites each year. This is not just a light, quaffable "summer water"; this is a serious, age-worthy wine that happens to be a rosé. The biodynmically farmed Zinfandel lends bright red fruit, and the old-vine Carignan gives the wine depth and savory notes. By fermenting and aging the wine in neutral barrels, the crisp acidity is softened around the edges, and the time spent on the lees gives this wine a creamy, luscious feel on the palate as well as food-friendly salinity. Though this wine has so much to offer now, my experience with 2-3 year old bottles of Porter Creek rosé convince me to stash a few bottles in the cellar. Michelle DeWyngaert

Ridge 2011 Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello 3 L

Sandlands 2018 Contra Costa County Red Table Wine

Sandlands is a project by acclaimed winemaker Tegan Passalacqua to explore the unsung, lesser-know grapes thriving in California. This blend comes from a century-old vineyard in Contra Costa County on 'Delhi blow sand' (decomposed granite that was blown into the area)  and is a mix of 55% Carignane and 45% Mataro.  Tegan describes this wine with notes of "sun ripened peach, plum, orange rind, with a chalky acid driven finish. "

Sky 2013 Napa Valley Zinfandel Mt. Veeder

A classic vintage for Mt. Veeder, with all the hallmarks we love about Sky Vineyards, brightness, elegance, and prominent minerality. Currently being offered at an incredible value, if you have never had a Zinfandel from the Sky Vineyards now is absolutely the time to try one!

Soter Vineyards 2011 Yamhill Pinot Noir Mineral Springs Ranch

Turley 2018 Zinfandel Juvenile

The 'Juvenile' is a great way to taste the classic and enduring style of Turley Zinfadel without paying a fortune for one of the single vineyard bottlings. This is a blend of grapes from the youngest vines on 18 different vineyards.

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 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