United States Wine

Winemaker Description

Caymus has a signature style that is dark in color, with rich fruit and ripe tannins – as approachable in youth as in maturity. Since its founding in 1972, Caymus has become renowned as a consistent leader in the production of Napa Valley Cabernet. 

Grapes for this wine are farmed in 8 of Napa’s 16 sub-appellations, with diversification enabling us to make the best possible wine in a given year. Their Cabernet offers layered, lush aromas and flavors, including cocoa, cassis and ripe berries. 

Winemaker Description

100% Pinot Noir. The only kosher Pinot from Willamette Valley! Cherry on the nose, with flavors of blackberries, dried herbs and roasted coffee beans. Aged 12 months in neutral Oak barrels.

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

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. (2022). 

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.

90 Points James Suckling: If you like sauvignon blanc, then you should enjoy this strikingly original, aromatic dry white. Plenty of herbal and crisp pear and blackberry character. Interesting interplay between juicy fruit and pithy structure. Moderate acidity for the region, but attractive, sappy freshness at the long finish.

Winemaker Notes

Tropical fruit aromas of guava and pineapple with hints of toasted marshmallow and lavender. Flavors of pear, white peach and key lime. A weighty entry that is balanced by lively acidity brings complexity and elegance to this lovely wine. Enjoyable upon release and over the next six to seven years. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Notes: The Atom California Chardonnay is a super-collision of hand-selected fruit, sourced from key growers throughout the coastal shoals & rocky foothills. The ‘Half-Life’ moniker adorning our dulcet, golden elixir is representative of our passion for concise & scientific winemaking met with nucleic intensity; explosive aromas & flavors that yield over time in the glass & on the palate.

Aromatics ignite the senses with mineral notes of soapstone & flint. A balanced coalescence of ripe stone-fruit, apple blossoms, lemon zest & toasted coconut greet the palate & dissolve to rich caramelized sugar, baking spices & a touch of smoke. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

Wine Spectator 96 Points | Ripe and very juicy, with a youthfully compact set of plum, boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors wrapped in licorice and violet notes. This is both racy and grippy, showing serious power but with the freshness and drive to match. Delivers a long, iron accent that scores the fruit through the finish. Best from 2024 through 2040.Wine Advocate 95 points The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a typically long-term proposition, coated in dusty tannins and cedary oak. It will take time for the cassis, blueberry and slightly pine-scented backbone of this wine to emerge, as for the moment it's almost difficult to taste. Yes, the concentration is present, the tannins are almost silky-ripe, but the structure of this medium to full-bodied wine is unassailable. Hands off for at least five years, and probably more, to judge by how past vintages have evolved.

Vinous 97 Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is elegant, deep and classy. Inky dark purplish fruit, savory herbs, menthol, licorice and spice. The purity of the fruit is remarkable today. There is plenty of youthful Howell Mountain tannin, so readers will have to be patient. Bright floral accents lift the red/purplish berry fruit nicely. This is such an expressive, alluring Cabernet. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling 92 Points | A blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 8% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, Girard's 2021 Artistry Red Wine constitutes a solid value in the realm of Napa Valley. There's an attractive mix of cherries and black cherries on the nose, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate and the tannins are supple, making the wine easy to drink already. There's plenty of fruit character, some loam-like earthy scents and decent length, framed by soft, dusty tannins.

Wine Spectator, 93 Points | Attractive nose with wild berries, currants, mulberries, dried herbs and hints of tar. It’s medium- to full-bodied with chewy tannins. Textural with a rich core of creamy blackberries and some chocolate flakes, too. Focused finish with excellent length.

Winemaker Description 

The 2021 Artistry is a complex and sophisticated wine. The nose reveals aromas of cassis, black cherry swirling with aromas of vanilla, espresso and tobacco. The palate is rich and full-bodied with flavors of ripe, lush black fruits, hints of chocolate and savory spice. Firm and refined tannins framed by well-integrated oak provide structure and balance leading to a lingering finish.

Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 8% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 93 Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is bright, focused and nuanced, with lovely energy and tons of glass. Perfumed floral and spice accents lift the red-toned fruit nicely. This exquisitely beautiful, vivid Cabernet is all class. Like the Chardonnay, the Cabernet Sauvignon is on the lighter side, even for this style. It will be interesting to see if Heitz also pursues a bit more richness for this wine in future vintages.  Drinking 2025 - 2035.

Joe Czerwinski of the Wine Advocate writes 91 Points |  Heitz's regular 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon features a slightly minty-eucalyptus edge, cherries and a hint of leather. Medium-bodied and concentrated, this is silky and fine, finishing a bit tart. Personally, I'd prefer to see more mid-palate richness, but that's not the style being pursued here.  Drinking 2024 - 2035  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91

James Suckling writes 94 Points | A pure, balanced and fresh Napa cabernet that is not just showing heady concentration and dark fruit. Here you get some violets, nimble flowers, redcurrants, graphite and fine spices. Some oranges, too. Fragrant and nuanced. Medium to full body with tight yet refined tannins. Rather linear, tense and elegant, but lacking neither power nor definition. Better to give it a few years to deliver more complexity. 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 91 Points | Lots of ripe blue fruits, sappy herbs, and some background minerality as well as a touch of oak emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, a medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant Cabernet from this estate that's drinkable today yet will evolve for 15-20 years in cold cellars. It's one for the old school Cabernet lovers out there.  Drinking 2023 - 2043.

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description

Violet in hue, the 2021 vintage entices with pomegranate, dark cherry, and black tea. The voluptuous texture fuses with layered notes of boysenberry, bergamot, and hints of sage. As it moves across the palate both acid and fine-grained tannins are flawlessly integrated, accentuated by a red clay minerality. This is a refined and graceful wine with lively acidity, leading to a long finish.

Expert Reviews

Vinous 95 Points | The 2021 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) is dense, heady and explosive. All the classic Russian River exuberance comes through, but amplified in all of the good ways and none of the bad. Even with all of the richness and intensity, the 2021 retains good freshness as well as energy. A touch of whole clusters brightens the finish nicely. (2021).

James Suckling 93 Points Plenty of dried strawberry with black cherry and hints of chocolate. Full and very fresh with orange-peel and floral undertones. Vivid fruit. Tangy. About 15% whole cluster. Drink or hold. (2021).

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Bright and punchy, with a host of delicious mulberry and pomegranate notes, carried by crunchy acidity and backed by light anise and potpourri accents on the finish. Shows nice racy energy underneath. (2021). 

Robert Parker 92 Points | The 2021 Pinot Noir is composed of 94% estate fruit. It was crafted with about 15% whole clusters and matured in 33% new oak. It has broody scents of blueberry, cranberry, rhubarb, cured meats, lavender and allspice. The medium-bodied palate has generous, juicy fruit, a soft, grainy frame and a long finish. This is very easy to drink! (2021). 

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

Peay Vineyards is a first-generation family winery. Husband and wife, Nick Peay & Vanessa Wong, grow and make the wine and brother, Andy Peay, and his wife Ami, sell the wine and run the business.

All wines are made from grapes grown on our 53-acre estate vineyard located above a river gorge in the far northwestern corner of the Sonoma Coast, 4 miles from the Pacific Ocean at Sea Ranch. We sit in the chilly inversion layer with fog and wind from the Ocean maintaining cool temperatures with plenty of sunlight.

Winemaker Vanessa Wong left her position as winemaker at Peter Michael Winery in 2001 to launch Peay Vineyards. Formerly she worked at Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Domaine Jean Gros and Hirsch Winery.

We farm organically and maintain our licenses for fish friendly farming and integrated pest management. The health of our vineyard dictates these approaches to farming and making wine. We also run on bio-diesel at the vineyard and solar power at both the vineyard and winery.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2021 

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | The 2021 Pinot Noir Ama is dark ruby, with notes of red cherry and apple skin. The palate is full-bodied and has great structure, with a broad texture, ripe tannins and notes of dark cherry, tea leaf, and forest earth. It’s long on the palate and has a good finish. (2021). 

Robert Parker 94 Points | The 2021 Estate Pinot Noir Ama is powerful and perfumed this vintage. It offers aromas broody aromas of red and black cherries and aniseed with top notes of saline and citrus peel. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and refreshing with generous berry fruit and floral accents, and it has a long, spicy finish. (2021). 

Winemaker Description

Aromas of ripe green and golden apple, accented by fresh white peach and light oak notes. Across the palate, this golden wine is silken in texture with flavors of apple, citrus and pear balanced by refreshing acidity. The long finish is clean, with underlying hints of minerality, vanilla and lemon. Winemaker Description. 

92 Points Wine Enthusiast | Brilliant in apples, vanilla, butter and pineapples, this full-bodied and silkytextured wine grabs attention with its sunny aromas. It follows up with a generous palate of fruits, mild spices and a melted texture that’s so easy to sip. (2021).

Aromatic and inviting, this Estate Chardonnay opens with the alluring aroma of freshly baked cardamom buns. The palate is fresh and complex, layering flavors of lemon zest, beeswax, and lemon verbena that delightfully linger on the palate. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | This earthier Pinot Noir is a deep garnet color, with flickering hints of a darker edge glint as the glass swirls. The nose is a woodsy affair, with aromas of cedar, black tea and tart black cherry emerging. Savory, lithe and balanced, the palate has a woodsy tannic grip at the finish.

Winemaker Description 

The wine has a beautiful vibrant red color, and a deep brooding aroma reminiscent of dried herbs, toasted hazelnuts, and blood orange peel. The flavors are bright from acidity, and deep from concentration at the same time having flavors of shiitake mushrooms, bay laurel, lavender, and cooked red and blackberries. The wine is amazingly complex, bright, rich, and inviting. Winemaker Description. 

Flavors of pear, apple, and ripe tropical fruit. Well-balanced with vanilla and oak notes. Pair with grilled chicken or fish.

Beringer is known for establishing many 'firsts' as leaders in the wine industry. We were one of the first gravity fed facilities and among the first to operate using hand-dug caves and cellars. We were the first to give public tours in 1934, starting a Napa Valley hospitality tradition. We are the first and only winery to have both a red and a white wine named #1 Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator Magazine.

Winemaker Description 

With crisp, bright, refreshing citrus and tropical aromas and flavors, our Sauvignon Blanc is a fruit-forward wine that shines alone and alongside food.

A lovely accompaniment to seafood and light chicken dishes, our Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect complement to seared scallops over linguine. The wine’s bright style also pairs nicely with warm-weather dishes such as fresh spring salad with chèvre, and fresh appetizers such as oysters and crab cakes. Enjoy our Sauvignon Blanc slightly chilled. 

Winemaker Description

Vibrancy of fruit is focal point of this wine. Featuring aromas of plum and blackberry with a hint of olive. Flavors of black stone fruit, clove, and dried herbs with solid tannin structure result in a flavor-forward Cabernet Sauvignon with balanced acidity. Producer Description. 

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description 

Aromas of cassis, clove, and Christmas spice jump out of the glass while notes of blueberry pie filling and toasted mocha continue on the palate. Structured tannins lead to a long and elegant finish, making this an instant seasonal classic.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Tasting Panel 95 Points | Richly appointed, with dark blue and purple fruit and a plush mouthfeel. Notes of plum liqueur and freshly roasted coffee grace the palate as dark chocolate and anise entwine with the wine's well-defined structure and satin-lined tannins. Spiced red tea and sandalwood engage with more chocolate on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

The 20th vintage of Klinker Brick's flagship Zinfandel, where it all started! This wine 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 aromas of dark cherry and spices on the nose. Barrel fermentation provides additional structure to a thin skinned varietal. 

The extremely low yields of century old vineyards bring notes of plum 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.

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."

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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