Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold red wine with an impossibly smooth profile. Layers of blackberries and black currant reveal a dark fruit presence while aromas of vanilla deliver a silky texture that rolls across the palate, smooth as silk."

Winemaker Notes:
"Apothic Red reveals intense fruit aromas and flavors of rhubarb and black cherry, complemented by hints of mocha, chocolate, brown spice and vanilla. The plush, velvety mouthfeel and the smooth finish round out this intriguing, full-bodied red blend."

Inspired by the "Apotheca", a mysterious place where wine was blended and stored in 13th century Europe, Apothic Red offers a truly unique wine experience.

The brambly spice of Zinfandel, dark fruit flavors of Syrah, the bold notes of Cabernet Sauvignon and the smooth elegance of Merlot unite to create this captivating red blend.

The deep ruby color indicates a luxe complexity, while aromas of black cherry, cassis and rich earth are abundant in this classic Cabernet Sauvignon. On entry, currants and black plums generously lead to a plush mouthfeel. There are ample tannins carrying the fruit to the long lingering finish. Aging for 12 months in 1-year-old American oak barrels created notes of baking spices, nutmeg and hints of caramel. - Winery

"Bogle winemakers have sourced fruit from the best growing regions in California for the varietal. The terroirs of the cool Russian River Valley, coastal Monterey hills and the unique Clarksburg Delta all grow fruit of character and distinction. Combined, the resulting wine is elegant, classic Pinot Noir.Floral notes of violets and fragrant strawberries resonate throughout this wine, while touches of green tea add complexity and nuance. The sophisticated mouthfeel is vibrant with layers of cherry fruit, yet balanced by comforting leather and pipe tobacco. A combination of French and American oak makes quite an impression, leaving lingering earth tones and graceful tannins behind." Winemaker notes

Winemaker Notes:
The deep, dark color of this wine creates an expectation of weight and purpose, however the Essential Red’s first impressions are subtle and nuanced. Faint notes of sweet garden mint and eucalyptus tantalize the senses, while hinting at the complexity yet to come. Upon the first sip, the rich, juicy mouthfeel takes over, expressive with flavors of blueberry and blackberry. After aging in American oak for 12 months, the wine finishes with round, plush and succulent flavors of baked cobbler the perfect dessert to end any day. Food pairing The Essential Barbecue Burger. Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese. Dark Chocolate Macarons.

"Head-trained, dry farmed vines are prized for their production of small, concentrated clusters of grapes that produce incredibly rich and intense wines. For years, Bogle has sought out these gnarly old vines to create our Old Vine Zinfandel. Greeted with the viscous, ripe fruit of jammy blackberries hanging on sun warmed vines, this Zinfandel is enticing and aromatic. Weightier than previous vintages, there’s a sturdy structure that is saturated with dark fruits, laced with hints of lavender and savory herbs. Cracked peppercorns and spicy juniper round out the finish, tempered by 12 months
of aging in two-year old American oak.
" Winemaker notes

Winemaker Notes:
"There is no mistaking the New World style of this wine. Intense aromas of grapefruit, citrus, kiwi and fresh cut grass greet the nose. As you drink, the crisp acidity gives the wine a fresh vibrant feel with flavors of grapefruit, lime zest and grass. It closes with flavors of melon and a nice tart finish."

Our Sauvignon Blanc celebrates the fresh lively spirit of organic viticulture and the crafting of this wine truly begins in the vineyards. This fruit comes from exceptional organic growers who share our philosophy and care deeply about the land they farm. For each vintage, we blend fruit from two distinctive, yet complimentary, growing regions in Mendocino and Lake counties. We pick fruit at a variety of sugar levels and add a touch of Muscat and Chardonnay to get a complex layering of flavors, then cold ferment in stainless steel to preserve the crisp fruit aromas.

Pronounced aromas of blackberry, plum, cedar, and sexy toasted oak. A me´lange of black fruits on the palate wrapped in a cherry pie filling core. Melting tannins leave the impression of bittersweet chocolate in the back of the mouth. There’s a solid seam of acidity that suspends the flavors well into the finish.

Winery Notes:
Butter Chardonnay is rich, bold and luscious. Made in the tradition of qualityCalifornian winemaking, the grapes we select are juicy, ripe and bursting withflavor. We cold ferment this easy-to-love Chardonnay to a lush creaminess andage it in our unique blend of oak. Butter brims with stone fruit and baked-lemonnotes and has a lovely, long, vanilla finish.

Winemaker Notes:
Cline Old Vine Zinfandel is a challenging and rewarding wine to make. Amazing old vine fruit, detailed selection criteria and master blending show in the final wine. A wide array of jammy strawberry and plum aromas followed by black cherry, strawberry and vanilla flavors lead to a smooth and lengthy finish.

This varietal comes to us from the Northern Rhone Valley in France. Presumed to have arrived from Dalmatia and transported to the Rhone 1,700 years ago by Romans. There are only 2,000 acres of this variety in California at this time. - WINEMAKER’S NOTES

"This lush and inviting Merlot displays flavors of ripe blackberry, black cherry and cassis, underscored by hints of sweet spice, cocoa and leather. On the palate, balanced acidity adds poise and elegance, while silky, refined tannins carry the wine to a fruitful and concentrated finish." Winemaker notes

88% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc Cooperage 10 months 100% French Oak 40% New, 60% Neutral.

For more than three decades, Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting exceptional Napa Valley Merlot reflecting the rich diversity of the valley’s many appellations Drawing on our winemaking team’s expertise working with this varietal, Decoy Sonoma County Merlot is a lush and inviting wine highlighting the elegance of the varietal from another exceptional growing region.

Organic

Write up is on the 2019 vintage:
I’m pretty picky about sauvignon blancs from California. Too often, I find, they are heavy and just sweet enough to make them fatiguing. But this bottle, made from organically grown grapes, is well-balanced, lively, dry and pungent, almost in a New Zealand style. - Eric Asimov of The New York Times

Organic / Natural

55% Zinfandel, 17% Grenache, 17% Carignane, 17% Mataro

Brothers Julian and Sebastian were raised in the wine country of southern Germany, but moved to California after finishing school, and have been making wine together there since 2015. Working with some ancient vines (the Mataro & Carignan vines were planted in 1893!), they have quickly developed a dedicated following. This “red blend” is a festival of red berries, pomegranate, plum, mint and lilacs: bright and juicy with some chalky, dark tannins for structure.

Organic / Natural / No Sulfites Added

Lot # 1 – Direct press of destemmed grapes to tank for 24h settling off gross lees, transfer to neutral burgundy for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation over 30 days.(50% of final blend)

Lot # 2 – Destemmed to holding tank, 48h of skin maceration in reductive environment and cooling, press to racking tank for 24h settling off gross lees, transfer to neutral burgundy for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation over 30+ days (20% of final blend)

Lot # 3 – Destemmed to stainless tank, full fermentation over 8 days with full skin contact and punch down protocol, kept very reductive, press directly to neutral burgundy for ageing. (30% of final blend)

All lots aged for 11 months in neutral burgundy with regular topping on full lees and reductive environment.

Unfiltered w/o sulfur addition. 10% abv

Organic

The 2022 is a blend of Grenache from Mangels Ranch in Suisun Valley, Cedar Lane in Arroyo Seco, and Waddington Ranch in Mendocino, Carignane from Lolonis, Maria Martinson, and Casta??on all in Organic

Mendocino, and Syrah from Vecino in Potter Valley. There is a good amount of whole cluster and carbonic maceration through the lots keeping everything fresh and fun. As always, the blend was made immediately after harvest and the wine was aged in a combination of French oak foudres and stainless steel tanks. 12.4% abv

Intensely ripe, jammy and toasty aromas and equally effusive fruit flavors make this full-bodied wine easy to enjoy. It seems to overflow with boysenberry and blackberry, and has a touch of wood smoke from oak.

Winemaker's Notes:
"Our Sauvignon Blanc is produced from grapes grown in various microclimates of the Napa Valley. The warmer Napa Valley microclimate gives us grapes with melon and citrus characteristics in both aroma and flavor. The cooler areas of Napa Valley provide fruit with a solid, crisp backbone that gives the wine an exciting liveliness and balances the rich creaminess from "sur lie" aging."

Winemaker Notes:
A rich, dark garnet color in the glass with vibrant purple shimmer, this Merlot displays aromas of ripe plum, rich cocoa, blueberry, and violet with hints of juicy black cherry. A luscious mouthfeel full of dark fruit, hints of sweet spice, and restrained astringency lead into a delicious, lingering finish filled with toasty oak undertones.

Pair with Italian style sausages, jambalaya, seared blackened salmon.

Features juicy plum and black cherry flavors, with a weave of anise and earth details. Falters a bit on the finish, where the wood plays a more prominent role. A very appealing Pinot. Drink now.

"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

In a word... Ripe. Dense purple in color, this wine opens with aromas of ripe red fruits, cherries, anise, cedar, savory spice, roasted coffee, and tobacco. The wine is velvety and lush presenting delicious flavors of raspberry, cherry and plum with warm baking spice, earthy undertones, and a hint of vanilla. The flavors are complemented by lively acidity and fine tannins that lift the wine suggesting a long life. The finish is long, supple and mouthwatering. This Paso Robles Cabernet is the perfect match for local almond wood grilled chicken with a side of stone ground grits, roasted poblano chiles and pepper jack cheese

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

91 points Wine Spectator
Aromatic, juicy and fragrant, with Key lime pie, tangerine, lime sherbet, fresh-cut green apple and fresh-grated ginger all singing on a mouthwatering frame. Ends with a long, expressive finish. Drink now.

Winemaker Notes:
Cabernet Sauvignon was the first wine Josh Cellars made. This is the wine that started it all, setting the exacting standards that they hold themselves to for all of their varietals. Round and juicy, our Cabernet Sauvignon has flavors of blackberry, toasted hazelnut and cinnamon.

Winemaker Notes:
Aromatic blue fruits and brown spices delight the nose, yielding fresh plum and blackberry fruit. The wine is juicy with the plum and blackberry flavors prominent, layered with smoky roasted almonds and hazelnuts, finishing long with fine, elegant tannins and white stone fruits that linger, finishing with a fresh and clean acidity. A rich, red wine crafted in honor of Josh. Pairs well with his favorite meal: a thick, juicy steak and potatoes. 45% Merlot, 45% Zinfandel, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Sirah.

Lava Cap’s Cabernet Sauvignon has long been recognized for producing age-worthy wines that showcase vibrant fruit and rich texture. The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon holds true to this, with a dark purple color, and dark black fruit on the nose. On the palate, vibrant fruit mingles with allspice and clove, framed by vibrant acidity and well integrated tannins.

Winemaker Notes:
Our Sauvignon Blanc opens with vibrant aromas of grapefruit and lemon with subtle grassy characters and a crisp clean finish. This wine is a fine accompaniment to shellfish or on its own after a long day.

Winemaker Notes:
The original. Medium-bodied with black cherry, cola, strawberry, plum, and soft tannins. No wonder this Pinot is a favorite.

Pairs well with pastas with light tomato-based sauces, a juicy cheeseburger, grilled salmon, roasted pork tenderloin, or if you're not a cook, drink it on its own.

Quickly becoming one of Michael David’s most sought-after wines, this brute of a Cab is midnight in color and medium in body. A myriad of French oak influenced aromas fill your glass, accompanied by toasted hazelnuts and blackberry cobbler. Flavors of ripe Mission figs and hints of clove and cinnamon give way to velvety tannins, balanced acidity and dark ripe fruits.

The review is on the previous vintage.

92 points Wine Enthusiast
#4 Top 100 Best Buys of 2023
Currently showing oak-forward notes of fresh cedar, vanilla and toasted wood. This is followed by earthy tones of capsicum, black currant, bramble, fresh black cherry and boysenberry. Elevated acidity keeps the wine alive from start to finish; chalky tannins coat the palate.

Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah

Dave Phinney's new red blend! If you like the Prisoner you are going to love this!!!

A mix of Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Grenache. Mixed raspberries, blackberries and blueberries appear on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, ripe and supple, yet with just enough softly dusty tannins, a velvety texture and no suggestion of raisined fruit. With its amiable nature and fresh, lingering finish, it should win lots of fans.

I love white wine, sometimes I think it would be nice to only make white wine. If I had to white or red forever I would choose white. It has been fun to make various varietal wines, seeing my techniques through the various lenses that varieties provide. But when you think of Santa Barbara County as a region we grow a lot of different things, this wine wine is inspired by that diversity. Mudflows are a big part of the local geology and you can see them in cuts made across topography for roads and such all over the area. These “Pockets Full of Stones” came to mind when Jenn showed me some of the watercolor studies she has been working on. This blend of chardonnay and sauvignon blanc is my attempt to show the region and my technique more than variety. Neutral French oak fermented and aged. - Winery

Winery Notes:
"There's 20 degrees difference between our northern and southern vineyards, though it's only 40 miles. So, whether grapes like it cool or warm, like our Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon, they all grow up delicious. Color: Deep cherry red. Smell: Red berry and spice. Taste: Cherry, blueberry, vanilla. Pair: Grilled steak, pasta."

Winemaking Notes:
Fresh, bright and crisp, this Sauvignon Blanc is a wine of balance, richness and aromatic complexity. Leading with zesty citrus notes of grapefruit, Meyer lemon and a light grassiness, this wine gives way to more tropical fruit and melon characteristics. This classic Sonoma County style Sauvignon Blanc ends with clean, refreshing acidity and pairs beautifully with toasted brie, seared scallops, oysters with mignonette and fresh pasta with sweet peas and a lemon cream sauce.

Food Pairing:
This classic Sauvignon Blanc pairs wonderfully with oysters, salads, vegetable quiche and a variety of seafood dishes.

Organic

94 points Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills comes from declassified fruit grown at Domaine de la Côte, plus purchased fruit from three other vineyards, including La Rinconada. It's a particularly complex and expressive iteration of Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir from Sandhi. It has an alluring perfume of raspberry, strawberry, tea leaves, tobacco, potpourri and gravel dust, and it reveals botanical undertones as it spends time in the glass. The light-bodied palate has a deep core of spicy, herbal fruit, a frame of chalky tannins, energetic acidity and a long, layered finish.

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.

Natural

Inspired by the fresh and lively nouveau wines of Beaujolais, this bottling is the first glimpse of this year’s vintage and its vibrant energy naturally accompanies the celebrations of the season. This wine goes through 100% carbonic fermentation with native yeast and is bottled unfined, unfiltered and without sulfur. It’s alive and ephemeral – meant to be enjoyed right away. 12 % abv

Winemaker Notes:
A minimalist winemaking style, free of over-manipulation, keeps the fresh, bright fruit flavors of the Pinot Noir grape intact from vineyard to bottle. The wine was carefully aged in small oak barrels, providing just the right balance between delicate varietal flavors, crisp acidity and complementary oak character.

Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauv., Petite Sirah, Syrah, Grenache and Charbono.

"Aromas of briar fruits and dried cherry are accented by hints of vanilla and toasted oak. On the palate, tiers of blueberry, ripe mulberry and boysenberry give way to an edge of espresso, cracked pepper and a seasoning of fall spice. These dense aromas and flavors culinate in a lingering finish framed by refined tannins." ~ Prisoner Wine Co.