United States Wine

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

91 Points Wine Enthusiast| The wine's dominant tart pineapple aroma is tempered by bursts of brown sugar and chalkboard dust. The tropical theme continues on the palate, with tangerine, coconut and orange-cake flavors gliding along a creamy texture. This is a lighter bodied Chardonnay with energetic acidity and a nice finish.

Winemaker Description 

A blend of chardonnay from select Willamette Valley vineyards chosen for complexity, fermented and aged in small French oak barrels for depth and longevity. 

Winemaker Description

There is so much perfume in this wine: fresh flowers and lavender are bolstered by ripe plum, sandalwood and cherry compote. There’s also an incredibly appealing note of Earl Grey or bergamot that lifts the entire aromatic profile. Lingering behind the fruit is where the action starts as black pepper, vanilla, crushed rock and soy are revealed.

Farming requires optimism. That’s especially true in viticulture, given the timeline to transition bare ground into a finished wine.

At a minimum, it takes three years from gently hand-planting each individual vine to the first harvest. However, that initial crop is quite small and it will be another two to three years before the vines really hit their stride. After harvest, fruit destined for the Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon will spend an additional two years in barrel before bottle aging in our cellar prior to release. At best, it’s six solid years of farming, winemaking and cellaring before we can pull that first cork. That type of commitment requires a fundamental belief in ourselves, our work and our mission.

We have to believe that going the extra mile, pushing a little harder and accounting for every small detail is not only worth it, but will be appreciated years from now. Moreover, we have to be curious, creative and daring for the future of each wine and the land we steward. In short, we have to believe that the future will be better and we cherish our small contribution.

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description 

This Pinot Grigio has aromas of wildflowers, peaches and pears. It has fresh, tropical flavors, that combined with a touch of spice in this medium-bodied wine provide a lovely finish that is crisp and refreshing on the palate.

Winemaker Description

Sea Sun Pinot Noir has aromas of cherry, light toasted wood, dry earth, clove and a hint of s'mores. The flavors echo the cherry on the nose, with raspberry on the finish. Bright and fruit-driven, with lush cherries and a strikingly soft texture. 

Winemaker Description

This new bottling is from a vineyard site on old, deep volcanic soils and an elevation of 2900’. Tightly spaced, head trained vines planted on an old apple orchard just east of Placerville. Whole cluster fermented and aged in a combination of puncheons and tanks. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with a mere 20ppm of sulfites.

The aromatic character of this wine shows what are, for me, classic El Dorado County Mourvèdre plum & citrus peel aromas. There’s a note of freshly tilled soil in there as well, common from these volcanic soils. Plum skin flavors, savory, thyme, mushroom and a bright acidity.  Everything wraps up in a long finish with fine tannins. Suitable for a wide variety of meals.

Winemaker Description 

Our Chardonnay is crafted with care to ensure that no single flavor overpowers another, creating a delicate, bright glass filled with subtle sweetness and a hint of oak.

Well-balanced, with bright citrus, honey, and juicy peach notes rounded with a hint of oak to bring a light complexity.

Pairs well with shrimp, steamed mussels, creamy pasta, roasted chicken, and grilled vegetables.

Winemaker Description

Woman Winemaker 

#3 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2025

#71 James Suckling Top 100 Wines of the USA 2025

Nose of raspberry, pepper, licorice and a hint of vanilla. Black cherry and plum on the palate with supple tannins, minerality and present acidity. Long, layered finish with notes of garrigue and black tea.

Blend: 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Mataro

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2023

98 Jeb Dunnuck: Blending 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro from an estate vineyard in Dry Creek Valley purchased in 1972, the 2023 Zinfandel Lytton Springs exhibits initial chewiness that leads to fine tannins, with a good heft and underlying acidity. Well-woven oak supports a moderately ripe, medium-bodied frame of structured elegance, aged in 100% air-dried American oak. Enjoy now through 2033.

96 Decanter Magazine: A much cooler growing season delayed the start of harvest by about a month, resulting in a wine with greater restraint than the previous vintage. The 2023 is a more elegant take on this wine, with less fruit intensity, but still unmistakably Ridge. Fresh aromas of herbs from a bouquet garni mix with earthy tones and subtle sweet notes from baking spices. The fruit profile oscillates between ripe red and black berries, with a touch of plums and ripe cherries. Tannins are firm yet polished, and there's a soft creaminess to the palate. A wine that is balanced and quite enjoyable now, with many years to evolve in the bottle.

95 Wine Spectator: Deeply structured and full of tension, this polished red displays a distinctive personality, offering bold blackberry flavors accented with savory anise, black pepper and dark Asian spices. Ends with big but refined tannins. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Alicante Bouschet and Mataro. Drink now through 2035.

95 James Suckling: A lovely release with lots of freshness from a cooler vintage. Bright and perfumed aromas of red cherries, raspberry coulis, confit plums, licorice and spice. The palate is full-bodied with finely tuned tannins and vibrant, crunchy acidity. Made from 76% zinfandel, 14% petite sirah, 7% carignan, 2% alicante bouschet and 1% mataro.

95  Vinous: The 2023 Lytton Springs is powerfully aromatic and expressive from the jump. It explodes from the glass with dark blue fruit, lavender and blood orange peel, framed by mocha-like richness and a wave of exotic spice. The texture is pure silk, wrapping the palate with seamless contours and lifted freshness courtesy of the cool growing season. A blend of 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro, the 2023 shows remarkable persistence and poise. If you know Lytton, you know these wines can age for decades—this one is clearly built for the long haul.

Winemaker Description

Deep dark purple in color. Leather on the nose. Black plums with tannins and a little heat on the palate. It's medium-bodied with a cleaner finish than you expect it to be. Let it open up a little for the most enjoyment. Pair with grilled meats.

Winemaker Description

Smoke, tar, and char on the nose along with stewed plums, blackberries, and figs. The palate is softer on the tongue than the nose might suggest. Berries and figs come through with a little black pepper and cinnamon. Woody tannins settle into the sides of the tongues and linger a little with a background of umami. Pair with game meats, bbq, honeyed hams, and dark chocolate.

Winemaker Description 

Delicate & refreshingly sweet with flavors of honeydew, lemongrass & peaches. Great with spicy or sweet fare - rolls made with hot peppers or chile oils, or those with fruit - a great finisher - refreshing - not too sweet!

Winemaker Description 

ZERO SUGAR. LOW CARB. ALL WINE

The Simple Grape uses high quality, sustainably grown California grapes to craft wines without added sugars or artificial ingredients. The Simple Grape aims to be radically transparent. All the information you need is on the front label, so you can feel good enjoying a glass while knowing exactly what is in the bottle.

Per 5oz glass: Sugar - 0 .05g | Carbs - 2.5g | Calories - 118 | Alcohol - 13.5%

Delicate notes of floral, green apple and stone fruit (apricot, pear) evolve into fresh, clean finish with beautiful concentration and balanced acidity.

Ideal for afternoon sipping, this wine is a great match for salads, crudité platters, sushi, oysters or chilled shellfish. It also is sturdy enough to work with roasted chicken and pan seared fish.

Pinot Grigio yields fresh, crisp, supple wines with genuine charm. The long, cool California growing season is ideally suited for the development of delicate aromas and fresh acidity. Pinot Grigio yields fresh, crisp, supple wines with genuine charm.

The long, cool California growing season is ideally suited for the development of delicate aromas and fresh acidity. 

Winemaker Description

Our popular, estate-grown Saracina Chardonnay is a beam of pure sunshine in the glass. Made in an ultra-refreshing, unoaked style (that’ll have you and your friends reaching for a second pour), it offers up a complex nose of Asian pear and fresh nectarine. On the palate, you’re in for lively citrus zest/orchard-fruit character with a seam of mouthwatering minerality running through the long, elegant finish.

You’ll love how versatile it is with food—pair it with everything from fresh, white-fleshed fish to chicken. 

Clos Saron’s Home Vineyard Pinot Noir is a rare and soulful expression of California Pinot Noir, grown biodynamically in the rugged foothills of North Yuba in the Sierra Foothills of California. Farmed from low-yielding vines rooted in volcanic soils, this wine reflects a hands-off philosophy that prioritizes purity, balance, and a true sense of place. The 2012 vintage shows beautiful maturity, offering layered aromatics, refined structure, and an elegant interplay of fruit, earth, and spice—an outstanding example of age-worthy, terroir-driven Pinot Noir from the USA.

Medium garnet in color, this wine smells of cranberry, raspberry, and redwood bark. In the mouth, bright acidity brings a zippy juiciness to flavors of raspberry, cranberry, and mulberry. Crushed stone and redwood bark mix with the darker earth flavors that linger in the finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 97 Points | Rich, powerful and gorgeous, drenched in fruity, savory, mushroomy flavors on a full body and super-smooth tannins. It is deep in black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar and pine character that expands on the palate and lingers in the finish. Drink or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | A touch more saturated red in color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Laurène is deeper and more layered in the glass, with notes of pine, sage, ripe cherries, fresh leather, and pressed floral perfume. It has a refined and plush texture, with ripe tannins and elegant notes of dark earth. Drink 2025-2040. 

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Precise and vibrant, with sleek flavors of cherry and raspberry highlighted by stony mineral and black tea accents as this gathers richness toward refined tannins Drink now through 2034. 

Winemaker Description 

The Drouhin Oregon Experience features our 100% Estate cuvées from two of Willamette Valley’s most exciting sub-appellations: the Dundee and Eola-Amity Hills. Privately hosted by one of our valued wine professionals, you will be guided through a seated explorative tasting of six wines, including our flagship wine, the Cuvée Laurène.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Vinous 92 Points | The 2023 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) is a good bit lighter and brighter than last year, unsurprising given the conditions of this long, cool growing season. Layers of rose petal, sweet black cherry, asphalt, crushed rocks and blood orange unfurl in a nicely focused, elegant wine with sweet tannins and a sexy finish.

James Suckling 92 Points | A racy beam of acidity runs through raspberries, cranberries and red cherries. That mouthwatering fruit is wrapped up in anise, grilled sage and tilled earth. Balanced, rich and full of life. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Description

New World precision meets Old World Soul for a “Right Bank” of Napa claret with unparalleled deliciousness, depth and complexity. The 2018 vintage of POV makes its presence known in an emphatic way.

Summer-fresh tart bing cherry, ripe raspberry and blackberry bramble lend a crispness from first sip to last. Secondary notes of rose petal, fresh oregano, forest floor and mocha nod to the terroir of the Mayacamas foothills in the northern reaches of Los Carneros, rich in red soil and farmed with organic, regenerative practices.

The wine is framed in elegant, understated French oak with a savory core that will continue to open and evolve as the wine ages. 

Practicing Organic • 100% Chardonnay (Mt. Eden Selection) • Sanford & Benedict Vineyard (Sta. Rita Hills AVA) • Sourced from the original 1971 own-rooted vines • Elder Chert and shale over clay soils • Whole cluster pressed to tank • Native yeast fermentation • Racked into barrels and puncheons (15% new oak) • No battonage and full malolactic fermentation • Aged 10 months sur lies before going back to tank for an additional 3 months • 222 cases produced   • 13.1% abv  

WINE ADVOCATE:96 The 2023 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard opens with aromas of golden apple, white chocolate, fennel and citrus rind, delivered with the omnipresent combination of class and restraint that defines the site. The palate is dense, supple and concentrated, before springing into a driving, prescient finish grounded by a waxy richness and a phenolic grip. While the La Rinconada bottling offers a touch more intensity and invigorating energy in this vintage, this is one of the most definitive renderings of the vineyard, and it should evolve fantastically in bottle.

Practicing Organic • 100% Chardonnay (Wente, 15, 76, and 4 clones) • Mae Estate Vineyard (Sta. Rita Hills AVA) • Planted in 2017 • Elder series and Tierra complex sandy loam soils • Hand-harvested • Whole cluster pressed to tank to settle overnight • Native yeast fermentation in barrique and puncheon • No battonage • Fermented and aged 10 months in French barrique and puncheon (20% new) • Additionally aged 8 months in stainless steel before bottling • 398 cases produced • 12.8% abv   

VINOUS 95 The 2023 Chardonnay Mae Estate Vineyard pours a very light, crystalline yellow color, yet its weight and depth belie that translucent hue. Chalky and powdery in texture, it's a wine of excellent harmony and nuance that sings in perfect resonance all the way from start to finish. A fleshy, rich stone fruit profile leads the charge but, highlighted by shades of salty minerality and an almond-oil-like richness that lends a viscosity to the mouthfeel. Another excellent 2023 Chardonnay from Justin Willett. 

WINE ADVOCATE 93 The 2023 Chardonnay Mae Estate opens with a lovely bouquet of citrus curd, fennel and pastry cream, followed by a spongey, pure and succulent palate. The finish is understated and driven by an even-keeled finish that lingers with bright, chiseled acidity. This is a stellar example of the northern corridor of Sta. Rita Hills, and it will be an increasingly formidable presence in the Tyler roster as the vines mature.

Aged 18 months in 228L French barriques (20% new) and 500L neutral puncheons • Ony 153 cases produced   

Wine Advocate 96+ :  Always a centerpiece of the Tyler range, the 2023 Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard is distinguished by an additional layer of high-resolution clarity in this vintage, elevating what is routinely one of the region's finest Chardonnay expressions. It combines a sumptuous, textural power with an equal measure of incredibly focused, mineral-driven energy throughout. Radiant, pure, herbal and honeyed on the nose, the palate exudes a broad, powerful muscularity that glides smoothly into a seamless, measured and mouthwatering finish that lingers with chalky grip.

VINOUS 96: The 2023 Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard is an alluring, incredibly textural wine, with a generous, ample personality and impressive delineation of flavors. Mint, toasted spices, yellow apple, chamomile and chalk embrace a sumptuous, creamy mid-palate, leading to a finish of great precision. This is a beautifully balanced white with tons of suaveness and a clear mineral accent.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

James Suckling 93 Points | Generous aromas of preserved lemons, flint, grapefruit and brioche. The palate is full-bodied with a creamy, medium-bodied mouthfeel and bright acidity, giving flavors of yellow apples, sliced pears and baking spices. Well balanced, with underlying power. 

The Wine Spectator by MaryAnn Worobiec 89 Points | Fresh pear, apple and citrus notes are elegant on a light and sleek frame, with elements of citrus zest and ginger lingering on the finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

The Wine Enthusiast by Michael Alberty writes 90 Points | This modest Pinot Gris offers uncomplicated refreshment for a modest price. The show begins with outdoorsy aromas of Asian pear, honeysuckle and fresh-cut grass. The flavors are just as pleasing, with lemon curd uniting with notes of ginger, thyme and a touch of green tea. 

Winemaker Description 

The 2024 Acrobat Pinot Gris is refreshing and approachable, offering flavors of pear, guava, and honeydew melon with a touch of minerality. Bright acidity lifts this medium-bodied wine, imparting energy and length on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Sea Sun is a California Chardonnay whose character speaks to the state's unique coastal regions. Our diverse vineyard sites span several hundred miles, and even subtle differences in temperature and the strength of the wind leave their mark on the grapes. The result is a wine of broad appeal, a perfect balance of lush and crisp — featuring scents of lemon zest and flavors of peaches and apricots.

Led by winemaker Charlie Wagner, Sea Sun focuses on sourcing grapes from California’s "premier coastal regions" where the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean (the "Sea") balances the heat (the "Sun"). This results in wines that are generally fruit-forward, widely appealing, and accessible in price.