2010 - Present Wine

District 7 Chardonnay is a focused, elegant wine that strikes the perfect balance between rich and refreshing. Aromas of vanilla, orange blossom, and yellow delicious apple complement the judicious use of oak. Lush and ripe flavors of pineapple, Asian pear, vanilla and citrus finish with a hint of creamy, honeyed oak. Winemaker Description. 

This elegant wine presents butterscotch, baked apple and orange blossom aromas before bright flavors of D’Anjou pear, fresh apple, almond and Meyer lemon zest emerge. The creamy mouthfeel is balanced with refreshing minerality on the finish. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Ratings

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain offers a slightly darker, earthier profile that carries beautiful black and blue fruits, charcoal, bouquet garni, and some obvious minerality as well as a whiff of espresso. It's rich, full-bodied, concentrated, and beautifully done. Drink it over the coming two decades. Based on 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% each of Merlot and Malbec, and the rest a mix of varieties, it spent 21 months in 80% new French oak.

James Suckling 94 Points | This has a very attractive, fresh array of ripe dark-berry and cherry aromas with notes of purple olives, stones and iodine. There are such fine tannins here with a very fluid, concentrated build of pure, fresh dark berries. Impressive. Drink or hold.

Tasting Panel 94 Points | Exceptionally generous and rich, with velvety texture and concentration. Elegant and layered with fine balance and savory style; complex, sophisticated, and long.

Winemaker Description

Bright ruby in color, with generous aromas of black cherry, red berry, and a touch of violet and white pepper. On the palate, enticing flavors of raspberry, strawberry, violet and hints of blueberry and spice enhanced by a broad, rich mid-palate, pleasant mouthfeel and a well- composed finish.

Pair with BBQ beef, Italian sausage with sweet and sour peppers, grilled mushrooms, aged or hard cheese.

Winemaker Description

Chocolate profile with cherries and plum hints.  The wine is large to medium bodied but yet soft at the back end.  

A grand cru with great concentration and keeping freshness. Matter and elegance. 

Winemaker Description

This, Klinker Brick's flagship zinfandel, is made from vineyard blocks up to 120 years old. Delta Breezes and the associated fog allow us to retain above average acidity for the region, providing notes of dark cherry and spices. Barrel fermentation brings additional structure to thin skin varietal. The extremely low yields of century old vineyards bring notes of rhubarb and cranberry, with a hint of black pepper. The result is a balanced and complex Zinfandel perfect for both Summer barbecues and Fall fire pits.

Winemaker Description 

The wine has a dark, ruby ​​red color. Its aromas offer a savory impression of candied fruit. The taste is harmonious, concentrated with a strong tannin content that allows good storage. When it comes to grape varieties, there is a clear predominance of Merlot grapes, which are complemented by Cabernet Franc and a little Cabernet Sauvignon.

A wine to accompany game and red meat with sauce.

Year’s Best US Chardonnay - Wine & Spirits Magazine

James Suckling 94 Points | Grilled pineapple, apricot, hawthorn, burnt lime and flint on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with bright acidity and a sleek, creamy texture. Balanced, fresh and long. Beautiful expression. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now or hold. 

The 2019 'Dundee Hills Chardonnay' is a regional blend showcasing the best of the Dundee Hills AVA. Refined aromas of nectarines, honeysuckle, and bee pollen ascend from the glass, coalescing with notes of citrus peel. Layers upon layers of richness extend across the palate and crescendo to a seamless, persistent finish with lingering notes of lemon drop candy. 

This wine has the energy and drive to drink young or over the next decade. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered showing our commitment to minimal intervention winemaking. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description 

This area bears a name that immediately evokes the main character of the terroir: heat. Rocky outcrops increase temperatures by reflecting the sun's rays during the day and releasing heat at night. The steep slope allows the sun's rays to strike the ground perpendicularly, thus increasing the solar radiation. A good amount of soil allows the Nebbiolo to mature in terms of sugar content, but above all in terms of polyphenols.

Ruby red hue tending to garnet; pronounced, layered nose with top notes of cherry, ripe plum and sweet spice (cinnamon and cloves) and a tinge of sulphur; dry, mineral and austere but harmonious on the palate, with an elegant slightly bitter finish of roasted hazelnut. Serve with roasted red meats, lamb, game, and mature cheeses.

Expert Review

San Francisco Chronicle | Brendel likes to say that they have a secret ingredient: dirt. Their range of wines are made from some of the best sites in Napa’s most renowned regions, including the eastern side of Rutherford (the main component here), the highest elevations of Howell Mountain, two diverse sites in St. Helena, and a steep plot in Oak Knoll. Each vineyard is chosen for its quality and unique aptitude, with soil types ranging from volcanic to clay to bring out the best in each grape in their array of wines. It’s, as they put it, good dirt.

Winemaker Description 

The 2021 Brendel Cooper’s Reed Cabernet Sauvignon is a fresh and vibrant take on Napa Valley’s famed grape varietal. Harvested under moonlight, the fruit is crushed at cool temperatures and then thoughtfully monitored throughout fermentation. After a 7-10 day fermentation, the wine is gently pressed to oak casks where it is allowed to mature for 9 months prior to bottling. Fruit is sourced from prized vineyards in Napa and Sonoma, giving the wine its mouthwatering structure, and elevage in upright oak casks preserves the bright red and black fruit characteristics.
– Brittany Sherwood, Director of Winemaking

Our mission at RCW is to be stewards of our tremendous vineyards while welcoming each successive generation to our wines and our culture ... without requiring a ridiculous price of entry. To that end, we are thrilled to present another vintage of this affordable and amazing introduction to the wines of The Craig, for those not familiar with what we do ... as well as a reward to our current customers.

Predominately Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, and Malbec, our 2020 edition was produced from our very best estate fruit that was declassified due to the fires and the reputation of the vintage rather than the quality of the fruit that came in early. This wine is profoundly dark and deep and presents the thrilling, racy nature of Howell Mountain minerality and sense of place. I cannot tell you what a great buy this all-estate Howell Mountain Bordeaux blend represents. Open it now and give it some air, or stash in the cellar for the brown bag victory in ten years. 2020 is a tiny but wonderful vintage in certain pockets of the Napa Valley."

Winemaker Description 

Intense, impenetrable ruby. Pervasive and complex with nuances of morello cherry, kirsch and ripe blackberry as well as hints of rain-soaked earth, ground coffee, tobacco and licorice. An intense, rounded mouthfeel highlights the good structure provided by the corpulent tannins which leads to a lingering juicy finish.

Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2018 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs Gain is showing nicely, exhibiting notions of white currant, fresh peach, almond paste and ripe citrus. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, open-knit but incisive, with good underlying tension and a mouthwatering finish. I suspect it will come together further with additional élevage.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2020 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes unwinds in the glass with aromas of sweet cherries, cassis and rose petals, framed by a discreet patina of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and vibrant, with lively acids, powdery tannins and a saline finish, it is very promising. (2020). 

Barrel Sample: (91-93)+Burghound 90 Points |  Very Vosne-like aromas blend nose of clove and anise with those of black cherry, violet and cassis. The plush and lavishly rich medium weight flavors possess fine punch before culminating in a relatively robust, indeed even slightly chewy finale. This is certainly attractive in its fashion but it's not typical for Chaumes. (2020).

Winemaker Description

Savory notes of fennel and sage are backed by deep aromas of mountain blackberry, black raspberry, and cassis. Woven into this complex profile are notes of wet limestone and gravel. On the palate: black raspberry and black currant, balanced by sage and anise notes. The dark fruit finish is complemented by balanced tannins, minerals and a touch of cedar. 

Winemaker Description

Xynisteri is the main white-wine variety of Cyprus. Covering a large portion of the island nation's vineyard, the variety is used to make both light, refreshing white wine. 

Graupert – "wild" in the local Burgenland dialect – is the name given to Meinklang Estate's orange wine. Made from Pinot Gris, it takes its shade from a 17-day skin maceration. Raised on fine lees in stainless steel tanks for 8 months, it is unfiltered and vegan.

The wine baffles by its colour, but captivates by its tension, its notes of dried apricot, candied orange zest, mandarin and flowers. The perfect bottle to accompany a poke bowl or tuna tataki.

Winemaker Description

Certified organic. 65% Mourvèdre, 35% Cinsault. The terraced vineyard faces the sea on the top of a hill that reaches 300m, forming a great natural south-east-facing bowl. Highest elevation in Bandol.

The soil is made of clay, limestone and white chalk. Fermented at low temperatures slowly for 20 days. Indigenous yeast. Aged in tank for 6 months. 

Expert Review

Wine Advocate 92 Points | A blend of 65% Mourvèdre and 35% Cinsault, the 2023 Bandol Rosé from Château de Pibarnon offers up a delicate, complex bouquet of spices, licorice, red berries, lemon, spring flowers and herbs. Medium-bodied, enveloping and beautifully structured, it’s round and juicy with a delicate, lively core of fruit and a mineral, calcareous finish. This is a classical rosé wine from Bandol. (2023). 

Winemaker Description

Champagne Palmer & Co concentrates its vineyard holdings in the Montagne de Reims: in the grand cru villages of Mailly and Verzenay and the premier cru villages of Trépail and Villers-Marmery. While they also have holdings in the Marne Valley, the Côte de Sézanne and the Côte des Bar, their prestige cuvée Grands Terroirs, channels those north- and north-east-facing slopes with power and precision.

The 2015 vintage is blended from 50% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay and 12% Pinot Meunier, sourced from Mailly and Verzenay as well as Trépail, Villers-Marmery, Ludes, Chigny-les-Roses and Rilly-la-Montagne. Palmer & Co refers to the vintage as “exceptional” because it combined high temperatures and little rainfall – spelling little disease pressure and even ripening. Sunny days and cool nights in August, they say, allowed for “perfect” ripening.

The nose, subtle and charming, opens with notes of orange blossom and acacia, mixed with notes of yellow fruits, then it evolves towards lovely and delicately spiced aromas of fried pineapple and tonka bean. The palate is characterized by freshness, with citrus fruits sublimating the notes of brioche and dried fruits. Its creamy texture stretches deliciously into a persistent finish. 

Expert Reviews

92 Points Wine & Spirits | Markedly youthful in its smoky reduction, this wine sees its sulfur blow off quickly, leaving a flinty scent and an impression of clarity. It’s bright with pretty scents of black tea and herbs, firmed up by strong acidity.

92 Points James Suckling | A chalky and mineral Champagne with aromas of blanched almonds, chalk, seashells, biscuits, lemon pith and dried apples. Creamy mousse. Dry and bright, with a rounded finish. Drink now or hold.

Expert Ratings 

Wine Spectator 96 Points | This has the ripe, intense, racy feel of the vintage, with cassis, plum and blueberry compote flavors, carried by a long graphite spine. A textbook 2018 and a textbook St.-Julien.

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | Beautifully textured and rich in blackcurrant flavors and tannins, this is a generous wine. The fruits and the dusty tannins partner each other well giving structure, concentration, a sense of poise and final freshness. Drink this wine from 2026.

James Suckling 94 Points | Currants, cloves, graphite and cigar box on the nose. Some pine and citrus zest, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Structured and vivid with plenty of tension. Lovely sweet fruit at the finish. Try from 2025.

Our Professional Review

July 27, 2024 -  Dinner tonight was at a friend's house out of the City.  We had Salad, great dressing (Salt, Pepper, Sugar, Olive Oil, lemon, Sherry Vinegar), which amazed us because everyone was tempted to drink it 😀, sirloin steak, and creamy roasted small potatoes.  The first sips of the Malartic were just wonderful.  Fresh fruit flavors enveloped our mouths, pure and delicious.  This is a wine so well made it felt uncomplicated because of the impact of pure fruit, of course that is the art, complicated made to taste uncomplicated.  Over dinner the Malartic developed into a richly complex and layered wine; flavors began to appear: herbs, spices, and background oak and tobacco, yet always fruit driven.  If you want to have something really special we recommend this with 10 glasses! 

-Dorothy & Bernie, Follow the Drinker®

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The 2019 Château Malartic-Lagravière showed brilliantly, with an elegant, pure, flawlessly balanced style. Giving up ripe black cherry, currants, tobacco leaf, and spicy oak, with textbook Graves scorched earth, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a beautiful layered, seamless mouthfeel, great tannins, and one heck of a great finish. It's not a blockbuster, but it excels on its elegance, balance, and complexity. Readers will love to have this in the cellar, and it will keep for 20+ years.  Drinking 2022 - 2044.

Robert Parker William Kelley 92+ Points | Aromas of raspberries, blackcurrants, charcoal and forest floor preface the 2019 Malartic Lagravière, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and charming wine that's lively and elegant, built around bright acids and fine, powdery tannins. This has turned out nicely in bottle and shows good potential for improvement in the cellar.  Drinking 2025 - 2045 .

Decanter Georgina Hindle 94 Points | Lovely vivid bright red pink in the glass. Pronounced nose, rich and vibrant. On the palate, this is crunchy with density and chew, a nice combination of texture and bright fruit. Lively with blackcurrant, strawberry and red cherry flavours alongside soft hints of dark chocolate and perfume. Delicate but also layered with flavour. I like this a lot. Bright energy with a density that is bold yet refined and sculpted. The texture and overall balance is excellent and this will provide great drinking for the long term. Such a long length. Purity and power. Elegant with finesse, purity and power.  Classic and well made.  Drinking 2024 - 2039 

James Suckling 96 Points | Very complex aromas of dark berries, mushrooms, earth, flowers and incense. Crushed stone, too. Full-bodied with very fine, refined tannins that are caressing and beautiful. It’s very, very long and persistent in the finish with subtle and complex flavors. This will deliver beauty with age. Drink after 2025. 

Jane Anson writes:  A successful and accomplished vintage at Malartic Lagravière, this is concentrated and upfront in its dark berry fruits, great control from the tannins, and tons of Pessac character and finesse. An estate that has become a serious heavyweight in the appellation, showing here gourmet, saline, precise character.  Drinking 2026 - 2042  - Decanter 95

James Lawther MW writes:  Darkest crimson. Inviting, somehow warm aroma of ripe cassis and black plum with a light stone-dust mineral quality to lift it above just fruit. Richly fruited, the tannins slightly thick, but generous and full in the mouth and then fresh on the finish.  - Jancis Robinson 16

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description

The 2019 vintage of G d’Estournel overcame extreme weather and less rain, benefiting from the age and deep roots of its vines, enhanced ploughing, and the fresh air from the nearby Gironde Estuary. This vintage delivers a vivacious and balanced profile, combining freshness and richness with a vigorous yet discreet character. It is vibrant, with peppery notes and a long, silky finish. The nose features blackcurrant and violet, complemented by aromas of eucalyptus, thyme, and rosemary.

Expert Reviews

Winemaker Description

Purple-ruby in color, this wine is dark and rich even to the eye. A plethora of aromatics greet you from the glass, beginning with blueberry and black currant, and leading to cinnamon, mocha, lavender and clove. The final aromatics to reveal themselves are cigar box and wet gravel. When tasting the wine, the first impression is the fine tannin and balanced acid, which then leads to boysenberry, blackberry and ripe plum skin. The finish is seamless and smooth — the hallmark of a Groth Reserve Cabernet.

Expert Reviews

96 Points Wine Spectator:  This has the vivid, driven cassis, boysenberry and blackberry fruit of the vintage, but it's well-harnessed, with streaks of racy anise, alder and sweet bay leaf providing focus and precision. There's a long echo of iron and savory through the finish as the fruit lingers, leaving a mouthwatering feel. Understated in style compared with its colleagues, but no less complex. Best from 2022 through 2038.

94 Points  James Suckling:  Aromas of ripe blackberries, blueberries, plums, earth, lavender and bark. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Balanced and juicy with a caressing texture and a bright core of spiced fruit. Elegant. Drink from 2023.

La Fête Wine Company Founder & CEO Donae Burston was first introduced to the wonders of Cotes de Provence rose while celebrating his 30th birthday at the world famous Nikki Beach Club in Saint Tropez. Burston and his friends were surrounded by people from mourned the world drinking what he thought was white Zinfandel, but was in fact rose from the surrounding Provence region. From that very first taste, the seeds for La Fête du Rosé were planted.

Farming Methods: Organic

Produced in the heart of St. Tropez, this delicate wine has a beautiful, bright golden color with silvery reflections. Expressive nose of ripe yellow fruits and hints of apple. The palate is full bodied, developing into a tangy finish and revealing notes of pear and fresh pineapple. 

Fresh green apple and pear flavors headline this coastal white. Clean, linear acidity is featured along with refreshing notes of citrus and salinity.

Blend: 71% Hondarrabi Zuri, 19% Mune Mahatsa, 10% Txori Mahatsa

Perfect as an aperitif, with any raw bar or shellfish, or with mild cheeses 

Winemaker Description

The vineyards for this wine are located in Soria which is in the far Eastern portion of Ribera del Duero. This area is not the "norm" for most wines from Ribera. The vineyards in this area tend to be very old and "ungrafted".

A mixture of limestone, decomposed granite and clay. A majority of the blend is comprised of grapes grown on the granite and clay sites with some limestone used to create structure and depth.

Bertrand Sourdais, the head of the project is working with the vineyard owners to work biodynamically and organically.

15 day macerations in Inox. Temperature controlled. Spontaneous fermentation. No fining and No filtering. 6 months in used French barrique. 

Critic Notes

James Suckling writes:  A vivid and crunchy pinot with lots of sea salt, strawberries and hibiscus with hints of violets and sandalwood. Notes of fresh flower stem. it’s medium-bodied with pretty fruit and a long, bright finish with plenty of energy. Drink now.  - James Suckling 94

The 2020 Dogliani San Luigi is fruity, open knit and delicious, with plenty of red cherry/plum fruit character. Bright floral notes perk up the finish.  -  Vinous 90, Antonio Galloni

Winemaker Description

Golden color with emerald rims. First aromas deliver toasted and mineral notes of flint and nectarine followed by a bouquet of roasted dry hazelnut. The palate is fruity and soft, with green coffee flavors and Anjou Pear notes. Elegant and with a fresh finish, like a sour candy or a spicy apple purée. 

Winemaker Descripton

A blend of certified organic 55% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre. Complex aromas of red and black berries, revealing an elegant wine, deep with silky tannins. 

Producer Description 

A modern style emphasizing the softer Pinot Noir-like characteristics of Pinotage. The wine is ruby-garnet red with a hint of purple. This Pinotage shows pleasing aromas of mocha and roasted coffee beans, followed by juicy flavors of red berries, nutmeg and vanilla spice on the palate.

The sweet fruit flavors of this medium-bodied Pinotage make it an ideal match for spicy food, pizza, smoked pork and flavorful venison dishes.

Blend: 91% Pinotage, 7% Grenache, 2% Cinsault

Winemaker Description 

Domaine Jean-Paul Balland Sancerre 2023 presents a brilliant pale straw color with green highlights. On the nose, it exudes vibrant aromas of citrus fruits, green apple, and white flowers, interwoven with subtle mineral notes. The palate is lively and refreshing, featuring flavors of lemon zest, grapefruit, and ripe pear, complemented by a crisp acidity and a lingering, mineral-driven finish.

Expert Review

Decanter 89 Points | Pretty nose of pear drop, lemon and white blossom; apple and citrus on the palate. (Bronze) - DWWA 2024

Critic Notes

Jason Millar, Sara Bachiorri, Bruno Besa write:Bright aromas of blackberry and forest fruit with some wild herbs. Expressive and juicy with fresh acidity. Dark cherry and crunchy mulberry fruit. Full-bodied and balanced with a clean, layered finish. A lovely, versatile Italian red suited to a wide variety of dishes.  Drinking 2024 to 2027.  - Decanter 93

Eric Guido writes:  Crushed blackberries and confectionary spice introduce the 2021 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Le Murate. It soothes with its silken textures and ripe wild berry fruits as zesty citrus adds contrast. Inner violet florals and autumnal spice linger as the 2021 finishes lightly structured and remarkably fresh. This is almost too easy to like.  Drinking 2023 to 2027.  - Vinous

Winemaker Description 

Intense ruby hues segue into a nose of ripe cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant followed by rose petals and a touch of black pepper. The velvety tannins accompany a plush palate. 

The rich flavor partners perfectly with the acid backbone to bring freshness and length. Recommended with mature cheeses and with first courses with savory meat-based, carbonara sauces. Also delightful with mains of roast or barbecued meat.