6/10/26 - 

Today we have some exciting new arrivals from a few of our favorite producers in California, including new vintages from the old-vine gurus Sandlands, beautiful spring releases from modern Rhône Rangers Âmevive, and some incredible wines from Raj Parr’s Phelan Farm and his négoce project Brij. Additionally we’ve received the (sadly) last shipment of 2025 Helios Chenin Blanc from Pax Mahle, one of the best values in the shop and an all-around great wine, and from his colleague and cellarmaster Rosalind Reynolds at Emme Wines a delightfully refreshing Colombard that’s a perfect way to beat the heat this summer. While each of these wines come from a unique place and perspective, they all share a common thread which is to showcase California’s long history of winemaking and wildly diverse microclimates and terroirs, featuring many of the state’s lesser-known varietals. Whether it’s the classically Mediterranean grapes like Colombard, Grenache, Assyrtiko or Mourvedre (aka Mataro), or more Alpine varietals like Trousseau and Mondeuse, there’s a bit of everything here which is reflective of the sheer breadth of unique wines coming from California.

Raj Parr has become something of a force in the natural wine world, gaining notoriety as a sommelier before branching out to craft his own wines, which include (with partner Sashi Moorman) Sandhi, Evening Land and Domaine de la Côte, and (with Abe Schoener) Scythians. In 2019 Raj decided to focus his time on farming and seeing the full winemaking process from the vines to the glass, and Phelan Farm was born in the coastal town of Cambria along the Central Coast. It’s a cool, windy and rocky area that can be difficult to farm—harvest can often go into November—but with the right amount of care can produce ethereal and vibrant wines that will defy any preconceived notions about wine from California. Now part of the San Luis Obispo Coast (SLO Coast) AVA, which was only recently established in 2022 (thanks to some other great winemakers in the area such as Scar of the Sea, Outward and Dunites, among others), it’s a region that can vary drastically one mile to the next in terms of climate. Here, Raj focuses on Alpine varietals like Mondeuse, Poulsard, and of course Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which thrive in the cool and breezy conditions where grapes like Syrah may struggle to fully ripen. His 2024 Chardonnay was particularly eye-opening when I tasted it recently: full of energy and tension, a beautiful wine that will age gracefully over the next five to ten years. Another standout is the Autrement, a blend of Pinot, Gamay and Mondeuse inspired by Savoie legend Jacques Maillet. It’s lithe and weightless with a perfect combination of mountain fruit and mineral cut, a wine that can be contemplative but still eminently drinkable. Raj has also started a project using purchased fruit from friends in the area who also farm organically called Brij Wines, made with the same care as his Phelan Farm bottlings but with a more diverse set of varietals. The 2024 Brij Grenache from Rancho Arroyo Grande Vineyards (also in the SLO Coast AVA) is full of 100% whole-cluster goodness: buoyant and lively with amazing purity and focus. 

I had the chance to taste the lineup of new releases from Âmevive recently and was again blown away by the precision and balance that winemaker Alice Anderson and partner Topher de Felice are able to achieve. Alice spent time working with Justin Willett at Tyler and with Angela Osborne at A Tribute to Grace before taking over the historic Ibarra-Young Vineyard to focus on Rhône varietals like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier. These are incredibly pure and soulful wines that are able to achieve outstanding balance and lift through regenerative organic and biodynamic farming practices and a minimal intervention approach in the cellar. The Péripherie has always been one of my personal favorites, a blend of the outermost rows from Ibarra-Young which are part of the original planting by Charlotte Young in 1971. It is a co-fermented field blend of about 55% Marsanne, 35% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, resulting in a uniquely complex but seriously quaffable light red. The 2025 vintage is outstanding, with a combination of vibrant aromatics and hints of dark fruit along with layers of spice and minerality. While Âmevive are known for championing Rhône varietals, there is a sneaky good Gamay in the mix that was a highlight while tasting the new vintages. It is a joyous and ebullient wine that combines juicy bright fruit with just enough underlying structure to feel like a “serious” wine. While drinking wonderfully now, it has enough substance to age if you’re inclined to save some, although it’s so delicious it might be hard to keep your hands off! The Grenache Blanc is a stunner yet again in the 2024 vintage, a favorite last year for its profound texture and levity. 

We’re always excited to get a new drop from Sandlands, and this release is particularly fun in that it includes the rare Assyrtiko and Trousseau, which have been standout wines in the past and always show well in any setting. The Cinsault from Bechtold Ranch comes from ancient vines planted in the 1800s, and shows characteristic depth and complexity while remaining fresh and lively—an incredible wine that we never seem to get enough of. For a brief overview, Sandlands is the project of winemaker and old-vine afficionado Tegan Passalacqua of Turley, who has a knack for finding some of California’s oldest vineyards and rehabilitating these historic vines to produce some of the most exciting and increasingly sought-after wines in the state. While quantities are small, these are always such an amazing value and punch well above their weight in terms of complexity and aging potential. The Mataro in particular can easily age ten to twenty years, as evidenced by one of the most mind-blowing bottles of wine I’ve had the pleasure of trying which was a 2010 Sandlands Mataro, tasted last year and still going strong but with an additional dimension of spice, leather and dried herbs. In addition to the 2024 Mataro we have a few bottles of 2023 left from both Contra Costa County and San Benito—a standout vintage and already a year further along!

To round out today’s offer are some unique and singular wines including the aforementioned deliciously refreshing Emme Wines 2024 Amando El Sol Colombard, a fun skin-contact Malvasia Bianca from Erggelet Brothers in Contra Costa, and a light and juicy co-fermented Pinot Noir / Sauvignon Blanc from Caleb Leisure in Sebastopol. Again we are offering a special 10% off on six bottles, and feel free to mix and match! Most wines are in stock with some arriving Friday, so please allow until next week for shipping or delivery.

-Jeff DiLorenzo

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