California Wine

Winemaker Description

Mevushal. This wine is a blend of Central Coast and Russian River Chardonnay grapes. This blend has produced a very lush and complex wine. Baron Herzog Chardonnay displays notes of tropical fruit, citrus, and apple, with a hint of vanilla on the finish.

Kosher for Passover. 

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description

Rich and beautifully focused from top to bottom. Deep, and vibrant red fruits and baking spices aromas inform the palate which is supple, serious, and wonderfully fresh. Although charming now, it will continue to improve over several years.

Expert Review

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills leads with composed red cherry, rhubarb and spice box aromas. The palate is pure, fresh and well-balanced, leading to a straightforward, understated finish that beautifully summarizes the two stellar vineyard sites it hails from.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Fresh mulberry and cherry fruit brings nice lift, with light iris and rose petal notes darting through on the racy finish. Drink now through 2026. 8,700 cases made.

Winemaker Description

Boastful ripe aromas of Mirabelle plums, raspberry, and nuances of sweet anise and toffee on the nose. This Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied with blended flavors of blackberry jam, chocolate, and ripe Bing cherries. Aged in French oak, vanilla and toasted hazelnut notes complement the velvety tannins, bringing a rich, voluptuous mid-palate that extends out into a silky finish.

Expert Rating

James Suckling 94 Points | Expressive and lush nose of creamy berries, dark cherries, vanilla, cassis and sweet oak spices. Full body with fine, creamy tannins. Rich and full of generous creamy berries and an equally demonstrative and dense finish with excellent length. (2020). 

Winemaker Description 

Layered aromas and flavors. Hints of citrus on the nose, with brown spice and honeysuckle. Round and creamy, featuring notes of lemon squares and baked croissant. A refreshing, clean finish.

Taking its name from the sea and sun – the two forces of nature that shape its exotic character – this wine is as dramatic as the place where it is sourced. With morning fog, bright sunshine and gusting winds, the Santa Lucia Highlands (40 minutes south from Monterey, California) has an extended growing season. Grapes stay on the vine longer, leading to the development of intense aromas such as custard and toasted almonds, rich fruit flavors and enlivening lemon/lime.

Winemaker Description

Cabernet's classic aromas and flavors star in the 2021 Faust Napa Valley. Delicate violet notes lift the dark fruit on the nose—black currant and briary blackberry—layered with pungent forest botanicals, leafy tobacco, graphite, and toasted spice. The velvet of fine-textured tannins backs expressive red fruit flavors on a complex palate, both sweet and savory with mocha and minerality, juicy ripe fruit and freshness.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling 95 Points | Inviting aromas of ripe blackcurrants and blackberries as well as crushed walnuts, cedar and bark. Full-bodied, creamy and structured with firm, polished tannins. Balanced and even with a lingering finish.

Wine Spectator 94 Points | Packed and broad in feel, with a ganache note draped over black currant, blackberry and steeped cherry. Licorice root and alder smoke flavors check in on the finish as the fruit pumps through, ending with a flash of violet. Hard to resist now, but this has some development ahead.

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Hefty and grippy, this full-bodied wine is sturdy in tannins, deep in black and blue fruits, and will come around nicely with more aging. Blackberries, blueberries, cocoa and hints of oak char make a good, complex expression on the palate.

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is terrific, as well as a terrific value. Cassis, ripe blackberries, tobacco, and some chocolate oak notes all flow to a medium-bodied, supple, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon with terrific purity as well as balance.

Robert Parker 91 Points | There are an impressive 50,000 cases of Faust's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. Featuring upfront notes of Ribena-like cassis fruit accented by hints of cedar and vanilla, it's a full-bodied, generous effort that is softly dusty, plush and easy to drink now, but it has enough tannin to hold for at least another decade. It's a solid value.

Winemaker Description

Cooper & Thief’s bourbon barrel-aged Red Blend offers notes of warm toasty vanilla, with dark fruit and a gentle hint of classic bourbon spice. Blackberry and jammy dark currants lead to a rich finish, with the elegance of a fine-sipping bourbon.

Cooper and Thief Bourbon Barrel Aged Red Wine Blend is aged in bourbon whiskey barrels for three months, giving it a velvety mouthfeel with subtle heat. Merlot, syrah, zinfandel, petite sirah and cabernet sauvignon collide in one bourbon barrel to create this dark and jammy wine, which features true bourbon flavor. Crafted by Cellarmaster Jeff Kasavan, each taste of this California red wine gives way to aromatic hints of fruit and toasty vanilla.

This dark red wine garners its unique taste thanks to varietals found all across California's prime winegrowing regions. Bring this red blend along on your next picnic and enjoy it on its own, or stack this rich, bold taste up against lamb or poultry. The bourbon barrel aging gives this wine soft tannins that deliver a full-bodied and lingering finish in each sip. For a devilishly good taste, keep this red wine blend stored at room temperature, and chill it before serving. Born from mischief, Cooper and Thief Wine celebrates doing things differently. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Stacy Briscoe of the Wine Enthusiast writes 88 Points - Best Buy | This full-bodied, hardy red maintains an element of freshness throughout. An underlying herbaceous and earthy tone balances out the rich, ripe fruit structure. Find notes of black cherry, black plum, licorice, cacao, fresh fennel, dried tobacco, cumin and black tea.

Winemaker Description

Aromatics of bing cherries, sassafras and hints of pipe tobacco. Supple red fruits on the entry give way to touches of cedar and sweet herbs. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Tasting Panel 93 Points | Whole cluster-pressed and fermented in French oak, this impeccably balanced wine delivers indulgent notes of lemon bar, honeyed pear, lychee, and gardenia with reined-in richness.

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The 2022 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills is a solid snapshot of Sanford's modern winemaking pure, precise and balanced. The nose is driven by pretty, straightforward orchard fruit and breakfast cereal aromas, leading to a balanced, clean palate and a refreshing finish with accents of creamy richness.

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description

At the heart of a river junction at a special estate in California lies McManisFamily Vineyards, where five generations of family farmers have perfected the art of growing fruit with outstanding depth of flavor. McManis Family Vineyards' winemaking team then crafts that fruit into beautiful wines for everyday enjoyment.
This Chardonnay showcases bright aromas of pear, melon, and peach. The palate is driven by notes of stone fruit, banana, vanilla, and a hint of buttered popcorn.

Rich and decadent, this Chardonnay can be enjoyed on its own or with a delicious meal.

Winemaker Description

Classic Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir. It is a deeply colored, fruit forward Pinot with a nose of spiced cranberry, strawberry and hibiscus. The abundance of fruit continues on the palate showing plum, dark cherry, and cranberry with nuances of anise, tea and clove. It is a powerful Pinot at a great price point.

Easily matched with barbecued ribs, oak grilled chops, a juicy burger or spicy Asian cuisine. Enjoy with salmon, spicy Indian dishes, or even oak grilled burgers.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | This vibrant wine is zesty with aromas of lemon curd, papaya, citrus blossoms, and green bell pepper on the nose. The flavors on the palate are white grapefruit, guava and lime zest, layered with dried fennel, sedimentary rock, and lemon cream. Great acidity gives the wine a dry mouthwatering finish. A great example of an industry leader producing wine with organic grapes and doing it with a neutral footprint. Pair with fried calamari. (2023). 

Winemaker Description

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 this Sauvignon Blanc a fresh vibrancy enhanced by flavors of grapefruit, lime zest and sweet meadow grass, closing with flavors of melon and a pleasing tart finish.

Winemaker Description 

The nose is fresh with aromas of honeysuckle and citrus fruit. This medium bodied California Chardonnay is food-friendly with bright acidity and creaminess on the palate. Ripe pear, lemon curd, and vanilla flavors lead to a clean and lively finish. 

Winemaker Description 

The 2023 Far Niente Chardonnay enchants with a bouquet of citrus, white floral, and hints of honeydew melon and nectarine. Its silky texture and bright, refreshing palate dance with flavors of lemon/lime zest and lemon verbena, culminating in a long, juicy finish that leaves the palate yearning for more.

Winemaker Description

Bright with a deep ruby core that lightens at the rim of the glass, with moderately thick, slow forming tears. Aromatic with ripe black cherry, red berries and blackcurrant fruit with spice notes of vanilla and cinnamon with fresh sage, subtle dried rose petal, and toasted oak. Nearly full-bodied with red plum, ripe bing cherry, and blackberry on entry with savory dried herbs, baking spice and toasted oak on the midpalate supported with balanced, fine tannins. The complex finish shows sustained ripe fruit and spice mixed with dried flower and camphor elements.

The 2020 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon is remarkably balanced and complex, with a fresh palate that not only invites another sip on its own, but also pairs well with a wide variety of dishes. Try this wine with grilled chicken or burgers at your next cookout or with a classic filet mignon at your favorite steakhouse.

Winemaker Description 

An initial impression of rich, buttery cream quickly turns to aromas of honey and lightly toasted almonds, followed by tropical aromas of pineapple, citrusy lemon and crème brulee. The wine is refreshing on the palate, with a minerality that is both bright and clean, drawing you into a vibrant tartness and lemon zest that is absolutely, positively Bonterra Chardonnay, vintage after vintage. 

Winemaker Description

The Austin Hope Cabernet displays a beautiful ruby hue. Enticing aromas of fresh black cherry, burnt sugar and a slight smokiness fill your glass. On the palate, flavors evolve with vanilla foam, ripe dark fruit, roasted coffee & nuances of spice. This full-bodied wine is rounded out with smooth supple tannins that are brightened with a touch of acidity to balance this crowd pleasing Cabernet Sauvignon.

Deep ruby in color, the 2020 Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon expresses aromas of fresh black currants and cherries accompanied by subtle smoky notes and dried spices. On the palate, this lavish powerful wine is layered with juicy blackberry, ripe cherry, vanilla bean and brown butter. It’s full-bodied and rich, balanced by a touch of bright acidity and firm polished tannins. 

This Zinfandel is a bold wine grown from some of the oldest vines in California. Gnarly Head’s untamed vines produce full-flavored grapes, dense with aromas of blackberry bramble, juicy plum, and toasted oak. This medium-bodied wine boasts a balanced acidity and supple tannins for those who like unique, big wines with a little eclectic edge.

Enjoy this wine with chili, mini stuffed peppers or with rich and tangy BBQ. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description 

Our Chardonnay is medium-bodied with a hint of oak. Aromas of lemon and citrus combined with flavors of apple and pear lead to a delightfully crisp finish. 

Winemaker Description 

Pretty aromas of ripe boysenberry, dark cherry and cassis, coupled with scents of sweet oak and herbal spice, introduce plush, deeply concentrated, black fruit flavors bolstered by bright acidity and well-structured tannins. This classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a long, lovely finish featuring savory fruit, spice and mineral tones.

An excellent companion to beef, rich pork dishes and game.

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description

This is a quintessential Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with pronounced aromas of blackberry, cassis, and vanilla that welcome you into the glass. Flavors of black plums, nutmeg, dark chocolate, and a touch of espresso enhance the wine's complex and full-bodied structure, with a core of elegant acidity from start to finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Winemaker Description

Aromas of juicy plums marry Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine is a fruit-forward California wine that opens with enticing aromas of cherries, berries, rich cedar, brown sugar, and toast.

This delicious red wine imparts flavors of blackberries, dark cherry, spice, toasted marshmallow, graham cracker, and chocolate to each glass of wine. Medium-bodied and with a pleasing complexity of flavors, this cabernet sauvignon wine pairs deliciously with grilled meats, tomato-based pasta dishes, and chili. 

Winemaker Description

Grgich Hills Estate Fumé Blanc will tantalize your senses with notes of green pepper, snap pea, lime and star fruit. On the front palate, enjoy the fresh fruit flavors of lemon, lime, and green apple supported by an undertone of sea salt.

This wine's chiseled texture, linear acidity, and long finish make it the perfect pairing with filet of sole, pork loin and savory goat cheese.

Expert Review

91 Points James Suckling | Aromas of wet stone, sliced peach and fresh flowers. Medium- to full-bodied with citrus acidity and fresh stone fruit. A little phenolic tension here, too, with refreshing tannins at the finish. 

Bright and clear with moderate tears and a pale straw core and green highlights in the glass. Aromatic with ripe green apple, lemon zest, peach, white flowers, and limestone. Medium-bodied with lively lime and Granny Smith apple on entry, and flavors of ripe peach, tart pineapple, and lemon balm on the midpalate. The moderately long finish is lean and layered with notes of fresh citrus, limestone, and white flowers.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 91 Points | A fresh and herbaceous style of sauvignon with aromas of blueberries, gooseberries and cut grass. The palate is medium-bodied with focused acidity, a generous texture and notes of white nectarines, preserved lemons and orange sherbet.

89 Points Wine Enthusiast | Light lemon peel, wet stone and nectarine aromas make for a classic nose on this bottling. Green apple and honeydew flavors arise on the palate, where the texture is more smooth than zesty.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020 

90 Points Wine Spectator | Impressive for the bright, fresh core of pineapple, honeysuckle and tangerine flavors, with a touch of dried lemon zest and green cardamom on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Produced in a vintage that brought us intensely concentrated fruit, the 2020 Chardonnay is lush and bright, inviting you in with warm notes of baked apple, pear and honeysuckle. Expansive across the palate with hints of lemon chiffon and apricot, the 2020 vintage enjoys a rich and unctuous finish of warm vanilla and brioche. 

Winemaker Description

Savvy, succulent, salubrious and scintillating sums up our oak-less Chardonnay. Just picked apples, wildflowers and apricots fill your senses. Flavors of young peaches, juicy pineapple, citrus, white figs and hints of flint lace your palate. Complex, balanced and ready for a party of one or one hundred. 

Winemaker Description 

Our Pinot Grigio is a light-bodied wine that bursts with flavors and aromas of citrus, melon and apple. With a clean, crisp finish this versatile wine is a perfect partner with seafood and stands up to spicy Latin and Asian cuisine. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Wine Spectator 93 Points | 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. (2022).

Winemaker Description 

This Zinfandel captivates with a complex fusion of blackberry, black currant, plum, cherry, and baking spice aromas. Its lively palate showcases succulent fruit interwoven with supple tannins, persisting from mid-palate to a gratifying finish.

Its intricate depth perfectly complements indulgent dishes like hearty short ribs, velvety pork belly, or luxurious gnocchi gorgonzola, enhancing the dining experience with robust yet nuanced harmony. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews 

Erin Brooks writes of the Wine Advocate 90 Points | The NV Mirabelle Brut features baked yellow apples, toasted brioche, beeswax and floral aromas on the nose. Medium-bodied and dry, it has vigorous mousse and a gentle roundness to its texture. It balances savory and toasty flavors with youthful fruit and has a long, crisp finish.  Drinking 2022 - 2027.  

Tim Fish of the Wine Spectator 91 Points |  Plush and generous, with refined pear and cherry flavors accented with yeast roll and hazelnut as this glides on the silky finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Drink now.   

Winemaker Description 

A sparkling wine with great body. Just a touch of biscuit notes on the body, almost a touch of a savory quality, solid acidity. Can be enjoyed with or without food. Traditional method. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Varietal aromas of plum, currant, and violet are elevated by a light barrel signature of baking spices and toasted pastry. The addition of Malbec contributes notes of pomegranate and hibiscus flower. Cabernet Franc brings layers of cocoa and peppery spice. The mouth-watering palate transitions to a lingering black cherry finish.

This versatile wine pairs well with grilled sausage and vegetable shish kebabs or creamy spinach and tomato tortellini. 

Winemaker Description 

Our Pinot Noir grapes were primarily grown in the Arroyo Seco appellation of Monterey County, which sits on a gravelly alluvial plain beneath the Santa Lucia Mountains. Cool winds from Monterey Bay ensure gradual ripening and development of vibrant flavors. The rocky soils allow excellent drainage, enhancing intensity and promoting balanced ripeness and acidity.

Vibrant aromas of red and dark cherry, raspberry and plum with subtle touches of vanilla and toasted oak. On the palate, silky tannins and excellent acid balance are joined by delicate flavors of red cherry and raspberry, culminating with notes of earthiness on a long and lingering finish. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Tom Capo of the Wine Enthusiast writes 95 Points | Bright and aromatically compelling on the nose, this Chardonnay vibrates with aromas of green apple, lemon balm, orange blossom and river rock. The palate is energetic, giving flavors of apricot and Meyer lemon peel. A massive streak of acidity rips from front to back.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | A bright yellow color, the 2022 Chardonnay Wester Reach is a textbook example of this vintage, with a lot of elegance and a wide drinking window. From the Russian River Valley and aged in 25% new oak barrels for 11 months, it takes on more glycerol richness and a rounded profile. A great wine out of the gate, it captures the sunny feel of the region, but it’s light on its feet and closes with a great finish. This is a crowd-pleaser of a wine, and I would be happy to have this on my table at any stage. Drink 2024-2032.

James Suckling 94 Points | So much Meyer lemon and apple character with some pears on the nose and palate. It’s medium-bodied. It’s like tasting out of a fermenter full of crushed must. Such unadulterated purity. A tight palate with bright acidity and lovely fruit. Drink now.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points |  The 2022 Chardonnay Wester Reach is sourced from several vineyards, including Flax (40%) and Dumol Estate (15%), and grapes were harvested from August 18–September 7. It sits low in the glass at this stage, with understated notes of peach, mushroom powder, flint and cheese rind. The light-bodied palate is soft and rounded with saline-tinged fruit and a gently flinty finish. 3,500 cases were made.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | An expressive version, offering notes of mango, nectarine and dried apricot on a succulent and fleshy frame, with juicy accents of ginger, lemon balm and orange zest lingering on the finish. Drink now. 3,500 cases made.

The Wine Independent 92 Points | Notes of juicy pears, apple sauce, and fresh nectarines pop from the glass of the 2022 Wester Reach Chardonnay, leading to wafts of honeycomb and cashews. The medium to full-bodied palate is filled with orchard fruit flavors supported by a racy backbone, finishing with a compelling tangy lift.

Winemaker Description 

Great aromatic intensity—citrus and nectarine fruits, jasmine and orange blossom, briny/flinty sea spray edges. The flavors center upon lemony green apple then deeper stone fruits with honeysuckle and ginger richness. The wine’s texture is deep, oily, and layered. Fresh mineral, grapefruit acidity cuts through the richness giving a pinpoint focus to the wine’s long echoing finish.