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Third Place finisher in our 2023 Wine Of The Year blind taste off!

Sustainably farmed Grenache 44%, Syrah 42%, Mourvedre 14% from four vineyard sites in Los Olivos and the greater Santa Ynez Valley - Rolling Vines, Bernat, Coteaux de Clair, and TTT Roblar. The Syrah and Grenache are fermented partly with whole clusters, while the Mourvedre is 100% destemmed. Fermentation is with native yeasts in open-top oak tanks. The wine is matured for 14 months in neutral barrique and bottled without fining or filtration.

Mallea is a collaboration between viticulturist Erik Mallea (director of viticulture at Sanford & Benedict and a co-founder of Willett-Mallea Farming) and winemaker Justin Willett (of Tyler Winery and Lieu-Dit Winery). After working together in various capacities for over a decade, Erik and Justin have started this exciting new project to highlight Santa Barbara County’s potential with Rhône grape varieties. They are farming four small vineyard sites clustered around Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara.

Third place was a nice surprise because it is a brand new wine on the scene, Mallea GSM Santa Barbara County 2021. This is a traditional Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mouvedre (GSM) but from Santa Barbara County California. The pedigree of the guys behind it is first-rate but what impressed us was the juice in the bottle! If you enjoy Cotes du Rhone or Southern French reds you are going to love Mallea. This is a wine of subtlety and not as flamboyant as our number two wine. Clearly, the wine is masterfully blended as each component adds complexity, and yet the wine is seamless on the palate. Fresh jovial fruit dances on the tongue with its lively acidity while pepper and Mediterranean spices come out in the finish. Mallea GSM provides a ton of pleasure for a very reasonable price.

The labels reference Erik Mallea’s Basque heritage, depicting 19th & 20th-century aspen tree carvings by Basque shepherds in the American West. Erik’s father, Joxe Mallea-Olaetxe, is a respected scholar of this cultural tradition.

A broad-shouldered red, with a potent structure but expressive blackberry, savory dill and white pepper flavors that speed toward medium-grained tannins. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet. Drink now through 2033.

Third Place finisher in our 2022 Wine Of The Year Taste-Off!

A sensational California red blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane and Malbec.Old Soul is a little different with every vintage?€?translating the story of Mendocino County?€?s unique terroir straight to your glass. In winemaker Alex?€?s words, the 2019 vintage was ?€?a dream,?€? with early replenishing rains and a long, even growing season. Look for savory wild herbs and blackberry cobbler notes on the nose. The palate is rich but not too dense, with ripe tannins that wrap around a core of blue and black fruits which linger on the long, slightly toasty finish.

Saracina is located along the Upper Russian River in northern California's wine country. The 250-acre ranch which includes a winery and sustainably farmed vineyards, is also home to a 140-year-old olive trees, vegetable gardens, beehives, and local birds and wildlife. The handcrafted, limited production Saracina wines reflect a conscious sense of this beautiful place in Mendocino County. Founded by husband and wife team John Fetzer and Patty Rock in 2001, Saracina has always been defined by a strong sense of family. In 2018, Marc Taub took on stewardship of Saracina, upholding the spirit of family ownership that has defined this iconic Mendocino County winery since its inception.

The Zinfandel hails from the certified-organic Chapman Vineyard (head-pruned vines on an alluvial bench in Redwood Valley) and the Sawyer Vineyard (perched at 1,000 feet overlooking Lake Mendocino and planted with head-pruned vines on St. George rootstock). The Malbec is estate grown in vineyards rich in black clay/gravel at the base of the foothills. The Petite Sirah is from our own steep hillside vineyards and the Niemi Vineyard (20 year-old vines which have been dry-farmed for 15 years).

The wine was aged in both Burgundian and American four-year-seasoned oak (10% new) for 18 months, which included five months of native malolactic fermentation.

This Rosé has a lovely balance between the fresh fruit, fine tannins, good minerality, and graceful acidity. It is the visual and taste portrait of Hampton's high summer. Serve chilled, solo or as a complement to almost any food.

Bright shiny light copper in color. The glass is filled with ripe pear, fresh papaya, and rose petal aromas. The mouth-feel is rich and elegant with great structure and wonderful layers. This Rosé has a lovely balance between the fresh fruit, fine tannins, good minerality, and graceful acidity. The wine is very savory and has a long finish with creamy yeast and nice classic chalk notes. It is the perfect summer wine.

40% Merlot, 22% Chardonnay, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Gewürztraminer, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Pinot Meunier, 4% Pinot Blanc, 3% Riesling, 2% Sauvignon Blanc

The Wine Spectator's Top Value Wine Of 2024!

93 points Wine Spectator
Vivacious and briary, this Zin is generous with personality, offering blackberry, licorice and orange peel accents that zip along the zesty finish. Drink now through 2032.

The history of Seghesio dates back more than a century. The winery planted its first vineyard in Sonoma County in 1895 and endured both Prohibition and the Great Depression, staking its reputation on good-value reds. The brand went upscale in the mid-1990s, transforming itself from a jug-wine factory into an elite Zinfandel specialist. The Seghesio family sold the winery in 2011, yet quality remains stellar. This bottling is not only a bargain, but also a tribute to old-school Zin-based field blends, with winemaker Andy Robinson culling from vineyards in Sonoma, Russian River, Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley, including juice that didn’t make it into single-vineyard wines like Home Ranch and Montafi.

93 points Wine Advocate
The 2021 Christo is a blend of 68% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 8% Petite Sirah and 4% Viognier. The nose features fresh blackcurrant and blueberry aromas with tones of cast iron, violet, sagebrush and conifer. The full-bodied palate is chalky and refreshing with restrained, mineral-driven fruit and a long, perfumed finish. Give it 2-3 years in bottle or a couple hours in a decanter.

60% Syrah, 24% Grenache, 12%Petite Sirah, 4% Viognier

Winemaker's Notes:
"Dark purple ruby core, slightly lighter at the rim showing light staining on the glass. Aromatic with bright ripe black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, baking spice, savory dried autumn leaves, subtle violet floral notes with a hint of caramelized barrel sweetness.
Dry, moderate plus bodied, with ripe red and black cherry, and blackcurrant fruit joined by vanilla and cinnamon spice notes on the entry. The mid-palate is fresh with sustained ripe fruit, toasty oak notes, and softly textured tannins. The finish is moderately long with notes of cherry candy and blackcurrant fruit matched with subtle classic Cabernet savory elements."

#47 On The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2024!

92 points Wine Spectator
Taut and vibrant, with a steely core of acidity and tannins that drives the flavors of raspberry, cranberry and dusky spices toward the firm finish. Best from 2025 through 2031

93 points Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pinot Noir Estate is bursting with strawberry, raspberry and orange peel aromas, and with time it reveals touches of cinnamon, bitters and wildflowers. The light-bodied palate is finely astringent and refreshing with complex, bitters-laced flavors and a long, spicy finish.

93 points Vinous
More savory than sweet, the 2022 Pinot Noir Estate wafts up from the glass with a blend of shaved cedar, rose, ground cloves and dried black cherries. This is lifted and refined with juicy acidity and crisp red fruits, taking on a crunchy, tart cranberry concentration toward the close. Well-formed tannins frame the finish as violet inner florals resonate throughout. This is not only a spectacular entry point to the Bethel Heights style, it's also a fantastic value.

#20 on The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2024!

93 pts Wine Spectator
Dynamic yet sleekly elegant, with rich strawberry and apple flavors that are accented by spiced cinnamon and yeast roll as this dances toward the vibrant finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Drink now through 2026.

94 points James Suckling
A mix of red and black fruits with lavender and fresh herbs followed by vanilla, blanched almonds and a hint of black ink and pencil lead. Full-bodied, firm and juicy tannins with good acidity backbone. Sound and harmonious wine with beautiful drinkability. Terrific quality. This needs two or three years to take the edge off

#66 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

91 points Wine Spectator
Offers good energy and refined flavors of blackberry, dusky spices and black olive that build structure toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2031.

A neatly cut array of refined red and black cherries in a pristinely cast style. The palate has an elegant and neatly defined core of supple, long and ripe fruit flavor and carries a wealth of crisp, fresh, cherry-soaked tannins at the finish.

Winemaker's Notes:
As this wine is poured into your glass, you will notice its beautiful, dark ruby red color. This is a classic Russian River Pinot Noir that expresses aromas and flavors of dark fruit. The first impression starts in the nose with aromas of intense blackberry, cola and black raspberry followed by a touch of vanilla and hints of rhubarb, baking spice, licorice, dark chocolate and earth. The wine is richly textured and balanced with a beautiful brightness. Flavors of black cherry, tobacco and sweet barrel spice shine throughout. Fine tannins round out the long, juicy finish.

Organic

Review is on the previous vintage.
94 points Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pinot Noir Vino de los Ranchos comes from two vineyards, one planted in the 1970s and one in the 1990s, and was vinified using 30% whole clusters. Stone and gravel dust give way to raspberry and cranberry on the nose, plus accents of dried herbs and Earl Grey tea leaves. The light-bodied palate is finely chalky and super fresh, with notable concentration, complexity and spiciness, and it has a long, ethereal finish.

Winemaker Notes
"On the nose, delicate pear and floral notes are backed by toasty almond. On the palate, one finds lively citrus, toast and apple flavors overlaid with persistent effervescence, a creamy mid-palate and a toasty finish."

The Sonoma Brut has been carefully crafted entirely from hand-harvested Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. This brut is dominated by Pinot Noir, a stylistic decision enabling the complex aromatic and palate profile that this red-skinned grape contributes to brut cuvees. Sonoma Brut shows the quality and diversity of our vineyards that allow us to consistently produce cuvees with complexity and clear fruit expression. Aged for a minimum of 18 months, this wine shows delicate pear and floral notes with persistent effervescence and an effortless finish, making it a tremendously versatile sparkling wine.

Organic / Biodynamic

91 points Wine Enthusiast
Aged for 10 months in French oak of an undisclosed age, this medium-bodied Pinot Noir feels round and smooth in the mouth, with ample tannins supporting gobs of dark raspberry and sweet mulberry fruit flavors. The wine's aromatics are a wall of dark fruit accented by chalk and orange pekoe tea.

90 points Wine Spectator
This generous version is full of energy, with appealing raspberry flavors laced with blueberry, toasty spice and vanilla tones that zip along the finish. Drink now through 2030.

We sourced our grapes from vineyards throughout Napa Valley, collecting fruit from several locations to show the diversity and depth of this world-renowned wine region. A portion of the wine comes from Rutherford, where the famous Rutherford Dust gives distinctive notes of cocoa powder, juicy fruit and complex tannins. The mountain vineyards provide rich aromatics, briary intensity and a bright pop of boysenberry. The northern Napa Valley floor vineyards complement the profile, providing rich texture and luscious tannins. - Winemaker's notes

Sleek and fresh, with elegant, juicy flavors of cherry, cinnamon and toasty spices that zip along the snappy finish. Drink now through 2029

91 points Wine Spectator
A briar patch in a bottle, this hearty red abounds with bold raspberry, roasted anise and smoky black pepper flavors that build tension and structure toward broad-shouldered tannins. Drink now through 2031

Unshackled Red Blend opens with aromas of raspberry, blueberry, and crushed violets. Flavors of spiced dried cherries, florals and a hint of white pepper translate to a balanced red blend wine supported with a generous mouthfeel. A blend of Zinfandel, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Grenache is barrel-aged in French and American oak casks for 11 months before bottling. Serve just below room temperature by refrigerating this wine bottle for up to 30 minutes. Pair this red wine blend with BBQ Pork Ribs or a Portobello Mushroom burger.

92 points Vinous
The 2022 Chardonnay Luminus is a rich, dynamic white. Orchard fruit, white flowers, mint and a kiss of French oak are front and center. Theres terrific texture and depth. Lifted floral overtones add character to the finish.

Simple nose comprised of corn and oak notes with slight honey influence. Palate is of equal sublet sweetness, with wood and spice predominating its flavor profile, only to fade into a sweet, long finish.

This wine is as black in color as the darkest night! It displays notes of black currants, black cherries, and plums with a hint of vanilla and a waft of pepper. The full-bodied mouthfeel is accompanied with a chewy finish.

The House Cabernet Sauvignon Batch #18 was crafted with minimal interference in both the vineyards and the cellar. Traditional winemaking includes extended skin maceration, aerating pump-overs and nearly 2 years of French Oak aging.

Organic

The review is on the previous vintage.
92 points Wine Advocate
The 2021 Chardonnay Vino de los Ranchos, matured for 19 months and sulfured only for bottling, takes some time to reveal scents of lemon peel, beeswax, gravel dust and herbal undertones. The light-bodied palate is bursting with crunchy citrus flavors reminiscent of Chablis. It has stony mineral character, a razor-like spine of acidity, and a touch of textural breadth lends an expansive feel that extends the finish.

"This "crazy value" Napa Cab was sourced from a couple of top "Cult" wineries in the Valley (SHHH...their wines sell for between $75-150/bot!). Deep, rich and plush with classic Napa Cab fruit, it drinks like a wine costing 2-3 times as much! The Hardin Cabernet Sauvignon is a combination of top valley floor and hillside sites, it's a blend of 98 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2 Cabernet Franc aged in French oak (20 new) for about 22 months. A wine that displays the outright richness and power of the vintage. Deep, intense, plum, dark cherry and spice are prevelant right away on the nose and palate. But the signature of the vintage is then on full display with minerality, balancing structure and a vibrant, fresh core that lifts the fruit and carries the wine. A classic Napa Cab that will drink well for many years."~Distributor Notes