United States Wine

Intensely aromatic, this wine shows typical ripe Riesling characteristics, including honey, apricot, and white flowers. Tangerine, jasmine, and coriander seed appear in the nose, as the palate turns to tropical flavors evocative of guava and pineapple. Mild sweetness is balanced by a bright core of tangy citrus for a mouth-watering, sweet and sour finish. 

Winery notes:  Our rich and luxurious Riesling shines with sun-kissed apricot, jasmine, and sweet honey notes. The fragrant flowers and tangerine zest bring you in, but the lush guava and pineapple flavors keep you there – all the way through the tangy, fruity finish.

Pair with scallops, your favorite cheeseboard, Szechuan seafood, or jerk chicken. If you’re goin' spicy and creamy, this wine’s goin' with you.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 90 Points  | The 2022 Sangiovese Love You Bunches is 100% Sangiovese done with carbonic maceration, Chianti Classico meets Beaujolais if you will. Bright acids drive a core of red-toned fruit in a wine that offers tons of harmony, precision and sheer appeal.  Drinking 2023 to 2028.  - Vinous 90

Erin Brooks of the Wine Advocate writes | The 2022 Stolpman So Fresh Sangiovese Love you Bunches, a carbonic style meant to be served chilled, is scented of wild berries, charcuterie, dried herbs and leather. The light-bodied palate is bright and juicy, with firm, chalky tannins, somewhat dilute flavors and a simple finish. Drink it at the table over the next year or two.  Drinking 2024 to 2026.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Winemaker Description

Bright red raspberry, red currant, rhubarb, and violet. Refreshing to the max but bone dry with just a kiss of fine tannin. Just enough of a riper profile behind the bright "ray of sunshine" energetic cut. Candied cherries and red jolly ranchers bring home the deliciousness quotient. A floaty, foamy layer bordering on frothed cappuccino milk marries to the zip and tang.

So Fresh wines include the Love You Bunches lineup & Crunchy Rôastie Syrah. The grapes destined for these wines are natively fermented whole, un-crushed, for a delicately high-toned profile. Harvested early for lighter mouthfeel and higher acidity, wines go to bottle early to capture purity and freshness without added sulfur.

Serve cold.

Winemaker Description

Our 2021 MC² transports us to an Italian kitchen, homemade spaghetti sauce (the recipe passed from ancestor to ancestor) simmering on the stovetop.  The nose and palate harken the mind to dried herbs and a fresh garden, but not in the way one would usually imagine.

The expected berry notes differ from the usual and instead give the impression of heirloom tomatoes like Black Cherry (the tomato kind), Mr. Stripey and the Chocolate Stripe as well as the beloved hybrid Sungold, with just a flirt of actual black cherries as well.  Sips conjure oregano, black pepper, thyme, and black currant, rubbing elbows with those luscious tomatoes and cherries.  Tannins satisfy our desire for grip while leaving us wanting more.

Overall, another feather in the cap of our much-loved MC² collection.

Vintage Notes: Winter of 2021 gave us some surprisingly warm days and just enough snow to be protective when the temperatures dipped low. Early spring was lovely - sunny and mostly dry with undisturbed flowering and fruit set. Beginning in June, the summer rains arrived and persisted through August. Once into September and more so in October, we were blessed with warm and dry weather, allowing us to round out our harvest season in good conditions. 

The abundant moisture during the summer months resulted in a smaller crop but yielded very fruit-driven and expressive reds and sparkling and bright and refreshing whites and rosés. 

Expert Review 

James Suckling 90 points | Aromas of redcurrants, pitted cherries and grated nutmeg. Medium-bodied with silky tannins and a juicy texture. Fresh and bright with berry characters. A blend of merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Drink now. 

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

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

This bright Sauvignon Blanc leaps out of the glass with aromas of honeysuckle, white peach, and Meyer lemon. Tropical notes of lychee and guava meld into notes of key lime and a touch of grapefruit with a vibrant acidity on the palate balanced by a rich mid-palate weight. This zippy wine finishes long and clean with a beautiful roundness at the end. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 91 Points | This shows vivid and crunchy stone fruit character with hints of spicy herbs, pear skins and guava. Medium-bodied and textural with crunchy acidity and vivid juiciness in the middle, toned up with notes of citrus peel and mint. Drink now. Screw cap.

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | This ripe tasting and round textured wine blends soft peaches and melons with tangy lemon notes for a mouthfilling yet well-balanced and lively expression.

Winemaker Description

This classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon reveals aromas of ripe blackberry and boysenberry with hints of dark chocolate and sweet oak. On the palate, the dark fruit is balanced by fresh acidity and lush tannins that carry all the way over a lingering, elegant finish—with just a kiss of minerality.

Enjoy this wine now, with everything from lamb burgers to filet mignon and fire-roasted portabello mushrooms—or lay the wine down and watch it continue todevelop complexity in the bottle for years to come.

Blend: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 4% Petite Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Our classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon reveals aromas of ripe blackberry and boysenberry with hints of dark chocolate and sweet oak. On the palate, the dark fruit is balanced by fresh acidity and lush tannins that carry all the way over a lingering, elegant finish—with just a kiss of minerality. Enjoy this wine now, with everything from lamb burgers to filet mignon and fire-roasted portabello mushrooms—or lay the wine down and watch it continue to develop complexity in the bottle for years to come.

Napa Valley is known the world over for fine cabernet sauvignon. Vineyards here are blessed with a great diversity of soils and microclimates and express their distinct personalities through remarkable wines. We blend our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from special spots throughout the region, including the renowned cab appellations of Rutherford and Oakville, which impart classic Napa Valley bold fruit intensity, as well as the warmer Calistoga area to the north and the cooler southern reaches of the Suscol watershed, which contribute layers of complexity and depth of flavor. 

93 Points Robert Parker | The 2020 Chardonnay was released in October 2022. As usual, it's a non-malolactic fermentation wine, matured in a relatively small proportion of new French oak, and so it reveals hints of apple, tangerine and lime on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it's sappy, a bit linear and vibrant on the palate, finishing crisp and long.

Bright gold in the glass, the wine opens with green apple, honeysuckle and orange blossom. The citrus in particular seems to be most evident, as lime leaf and lemon zest at this stage. This vintage was more classic rather than overly ripe, so it's not surprising. There's a hint of fresh wood and vanilla as well, adding some nuance without overshadowing the beautiful floral character. The parade of citrus marches on, although the midpalate turns more tropical with starfruit and pineapple. And while there's still plenty of green apple, the texture and juiciness of Asian pear adds complexity and depth. The acid is consistent and winds its way through the profile, lifting the texture and balancing the suppleness from barrel. This will be a long-lived wine. The transition to the finish is still somewhat abrupt due to the wine's youth and dynamism. This will change over time. But here, the character is dominated by lemon curd and pie crust, along with chalk and fresh apricot. The acid is still mouthwatering, although it has mellowed somewhat. Despite its young age, the overall length of this Chardonnay is impressive.

Expert Ratings 

Wine Advocate 93 Points | Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select gives up intense cassis, stewed plums and cedar chest notes with hints of licorice and wild sage. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, the palate has a taut, grainy texture supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing long and mineral tinged.

James Suckling 92 Points | Ripe blueberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, spearmint, cocoa and walnut on the nose. Full-bodied with firm, fine tannins. Supple, flavorful finish. Drink or hold. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2016

Decanter 92 Points | Powerful and rich with luscious blackcurrant compote, wood smoke, cedar and leather. Grippy tannins and wonderfully balanced toasty oak leads to a delightful finish.

Winemaker Description 

A wine with all the hallmarks of the legendary Cabernets of Rutherford: deep, cassis currant aromas, the classic notes of Rutherford Dust, earthen flavors of cedar and black olive and a velvety, plush mouthfeel.

91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot

Rich, creamy flavors of pear and butterscotch with a delicate touch of oak.

Enjoy with jumbo prawns or roasted chicken. Serve chilled. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

The most traditional style sake. Perfect pair with Mildly seasoned dishes. Character: Smooth, well balanced and full body. Dry/Sweet: +3 (medium dry) Texture: hard, crisp Aroma: mild, complex Suggestions: Serving: room temper to warm Pairing food: mildly seasoned Alcohol: 16%

Winemaker Description 

The Saint Georges Old Vines Zinfandel was first planted on gravelly loam soils by an Italian bootlegger in 1922 in the lee of the Santa Cruz Mountains, on the wrong side of the law and the road, and 50’ too low to qualify for what became the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation in 1981.

Yet the mountain and marine influence of Monterey Bay 12 miles west is undeniable- the acidity is mouthwatering, enhanced by a stone fruit spectrum of flavors and alpine herbs overlaid on the brambly sapidity of zinfandel.

Winemaker Description

A Bordeaux-obsessed blend featuring layer upon layer of ripe fruit - think boysenberry, cranberry and pomegranate - followed by a hint of toasty oak. Gundlach Bundschu Mountain Cuvée is a medium-bodied, red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot packed with juicy red fruit, black currants and and a dark chocolate finish. We’re getting silky tannins. Hints of oak and cedar. And an elegant structure with a finish that’s a real crowd-pleaser.

Enjoy it on its own or paired up with something as perfectly unassuming as the wine (Gundlach Bundschu especially loves it with backyard burgers).

Expert Reviews

Tasting Panel 92 Points | This blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and small portions of Cab Franc and Malbec offers standout scents of dark chocolate and blackberry cobbler. It's rich and round, with supple tannins and a dusty mouthfeel. Coffee and wildflowers combine to create an expansive array of aromas and flavors as plum and oak enter midway, tan- gling with good acidity to affirm the wine's fine food-pairing abilities. (2021). 

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | Velvety in texture and full in body, this moderately tannic wine is packed with milk chocolate, black cherries and vanilla flavors. It is quietly powerful, and its rich chocolaty character lingers on the finish. (2021). 

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 Description

7 Deadly Zins Old Vine Zinfandel is full-bodied and seductive. Heaps of jammy berry fruit are followed by aromas of leather, oak and spice notes. On the palate the wine is round and layered showing flavors of dark fruits, currants and toffee through a lingering spice-touched finish. 

Expert Rating

89 Points Wine Enthusiast | A Zin classic that never goes out of style. Rich, jammy black fruits are backed by the elevated (15%) alcohol and plushy tannic structure and complemented by oaky vanilla and nutmeg. (2019).

Critic Notes

Tim Fish writes:  Sleek yet luxurious, this impressive white offers rich Asian pear, nectarine and lemon zest flavors that gather richness and flesh on the long finish. Drink now through 2026.  - Wine Spectator 94

Eric Guido writes:  The 2022 Chardonnay Willamette Valley impresses with its fruit-forward yet beautifully balanced personality, blending yellow apples with chamomile, ginger and hints of white smoke. This is soothingly round with a balance of saline minerals and ripe pears, all guided by brisk acidity. It finishes with admirable length and gentle tension, leaving minty herbal tones to linger on.  Drinking 2024 to 2029.  - Vinous 91

Erin Brooks writes:  The 2022 Chardonnay Willamette Valley, which contains fruit from vineyards across the appellation, including Koosah, Découverte and Witness Tree, is tense and shimmery. It's scented of yellow apples, lemon peel, bread dough, cashews and beeswax. The light-bodied palate balances concentrated, nutty fruit with vibrant acidity, and it has a long, silky finish.  Drinking 2024 to 2034.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91

Clive Pursehouse writes:  A core of lemon driven intensity the Résonance Willamette Valley bottlings are nearly as impressive as the single vineyard designates. This wine is a combination of the estate vineyards and some of the Willamette Valley's top sites. Aromas of sweet Meyer lemon blossom, fragrant gardenias, and smoky grilled lemon peel. The palate showcases a real vibrance of fruit, early season stone fruits, lemon curd and bright mineral elements. Crisp acidity yet richly balanced.  Drinking 2024 to 2034.  - Decanter 93

James Suckling writes:  A structured, golden apple-scented wine with hints of toasted almonds, light toast and subtle caramel. Well-balanced, rounded and composed. Drink now.  - James Suckling 92

Audrey Frick writes:  A pale straw/silver color, the 2022 Chardonnay Willamette Valley offers notes of lemon pith, lime oils, delicate smoke, and savory melon rind. Medium-bodied, it offers a kiss of sweet fruit, with delicate baking spice and a clean finish. It’s a charming wine to enjoy over the next few years.  Drinking 2024 to 2027.  - Jeb Dunnuck 

Producer Description 

This delightful, crisp and refreshing wine represents Alfredo’s family winemaking tradition rooted in northern Italy. The pale straw color is derived from fermentation in 100% stainless steel tank. Lime, delicate white flower and just a hint of lychee aromas are rounded out by fresh apple, pear and mineral notes on the palate.

The finish is long and zippy, slightly chalky with lemon peel. Excellent pairing for seafood, chicken and pasta. 

Winemaker Description

We embraced the structure up front when making this wine because we wanted a strong phenolic profile to bind with and stabilize the tannin. Baking spices (clove and cinnamon) with a kiss of oak.

Ripe black fruit on the palate, black currant and blackberry. A hint of vanilla and smooth tannins on the plush finish.

Winemaker Description

Vivid notes of black raspberry, fresh pomegranate juice, with wild blueberry, sassafras, subtle licorice, toasted oak an earthy backbone, and grippy tannins. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review 

90 Points James Suckling | Aromas of strawberry pie and cherries follow through to a medium body with nice fruit and an easy finish. Remains fresh at the end. (2022).

Winemaker Description

The result of a nearly perfect, long and cool ripening season (and oblivious to the Covid chaos swirling around it), the 2020 was picked and in the barn fully two and a half weeks before the Glass Fire broke out. Industrial-grade air filters kept smoke out of the winery as the wines went down to barrels. We are so grateful, and relieved, to present the lovely 2020.

This wine is wildly complex with tart cherry, blueberry, red and black currants, raspberry, plum and boysenberry fruit, fleshed out with notes of baking spices and peppermint. The tannins are characteristically polite yet grippy. Mineral notes add lift and the evolving violet perfume is so pretty. - Cathy Corison.

Expert Ratings 

Decanter 96 Points | Medium to full-bodied beautiful and restrained with savoury aromatics of fennel black liquorice cedar and black currants. Soft satiny blackberry fruits are lifted by fine-grained yet supple tannins while a purity of fruit guides the palate to a long tobacco-tinged finish marked by a mineral-freshness that beckons sip after sip. 100% Cabernet aged 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels. (Drink between 2023-2035. (2020).

Wine Spectatpr 93 Points | Distinctive, with a vivid display of mulberry, pomegranate and plum fruit aromas and flavors that glide through easily, carried by a silky but persistent structure. Reveals nice floral nuances through the finish, with a late twinge of iron, too. (2020). 

James Suckling 92 Points | Quite fruit-expressive and floral with spiced dark cherries rust baked plums hibiscus and violet extract on the nose. Rich and fruity with tart cherries cassis and dried herbs on the palate. Full-bodied and juicy with silky tannins that smoothen it out. Drink or hold.

"Corison fans should enjoy the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon. Gentle herbal streaks run through the wine's classic black cherries and cassis fruit. Medium-bodied sleek and streamlined it shows vibrant energy and ample length framed by gentle silky tannins."
The Wine Advocate - 91 points

"The base 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is pretty with a medium-bodied elegant style as well as lots of sappy herbs flowers and currant-driven aromatics fine tannins and nicely integrated acidity. Drink this balanced satisfying old school Cabernet over the coming 10-12 years or so. This Cuv e spent 18 months in 50% new oak."
Jeb Dunnuck - 91 points

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.

The Scallop Shelf has evolved over the last 15 years into the most mineral-driven and understated of our Pinot noirs. The 2021 is perfectly proportioned and harmonious with aromas of sassafras, wet slate, and apple skin with a floral and savory note popping in and out. The elements of the wine are already remarkably well-integrated with notes of cedar, forest floor, and ras el hanout spice framing the fruit. The finish is bright and the flavors go on and on. A wonderful Scallop Shelf from a superb vintage.

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 Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points | More mineral aromas emerge in the 2021 Pinot Noir Scallop Shelf, with notes of wet stone, black raspberry, and fresh herbs. Medium-bodied and more tension driven, it’s taut with orange zest, clove, and gravelly, saline earth. It’s going to need time to unpack. Drink 2026-2046. (2021). 

Robert Parker 96 Points | The 2021 Estate Pinot Noir Scallop Shelf is delicate and perfumed this year. Pale ruby-purple in the glass it has pretty scents of red licorice and raspberry lavender and saline with mushroom undertones. The medium-bodied palate has a frame of chalky tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity. Despite its lifted character it's bursting with floral fruit and has a long perfumed finish. Give it a couple of years in bottle to unwind. (2021). 

Vinous 96 Points | I tasted many Peay wines during my last visit and the months preceding. The Peay team led by brothers Andy and Nick Peay and winemaker Vanessa Wong turned out an absolutely brilliant set of 2021s. Every wine is a joy to taste. The 2021 Pinot Noir Scallop Shelf offers a more linear mineral-driven expression of the estate. Most of this fruit is Pommard clone but that is not especially evident. Red-toned fruit chalk mint white pepper and slate lend brightness. This linear focused Pinot bristles with saline energy and tension. Give it time.

Our Chardonnay grapes come primarily from California's Central Coast vineyards, prized for producing pure, bright fruit. The cooling influence of coastal Pacific breezes temper ripening and help the grapes retain acidity, ensuring deep, concentrated flavor in the glass.

Our classically styled Chardonnay has a rich and creamy palate of baked apples, poached pears and pineapple. Balanced and elegant with threads of baking spice and citrus, the majority of the wine is aged in French oak, lending a toasty, creamy note to the finish. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description

Made for sharing. Crafted using unique growing techniques and state-of-the-art technology for winemaking, this California wine is made with high-quality grapes from the Lodi region. With a well-balanced acidity, this red merlot wine features beautifully integrated tannins that create complexity and structure. 

Rich aromas of blackberry, cherry, chocolate and red berries complement an enticing ripe plum, toasty mocha oak and cherry cola flavor. This full-bodied Woodbridge merlot wine has a soft and versatile style that pairs well with hearty pasta with Bolognese sauce, grilled steak, lamb, pork chops and hamburgers.

For best taste and quality, store this bottle of wine at room temperature and chill before serving. Please enjoy our wines responsibly. © 2021 Woodbridge Winery, Acampo, CA

Winemaker Description

Crafted from both mountain and valley floor vineyards, this alluring wine embodies the rich diversity of great Napa Valley Merlot. From its velvety tannins and lively acidity to luxurious layers of plum, candied black cherry, red licorice and sweet baking spices this gracefully structured Merlot glides to a lush, lingering finish. 

Expert Review

James Suckling 93 Points | A well-rounded, velvety and flavorful merlot with dark cherries, grilled bell peppers and some baking spices. Supple with a caressing texture to the medium body and melty tannins. Polished and mellow. (2021).

Winemaker Notes

Critics Notes

Decanter 96 Points |  A beautifully compact wine that delivers complex and nuanced aromas of Bing cherry and black raspberry with tobacco, currant leaf, and cedarwood laced with dried sage. Cool raspberry, cherry, and blackberry fruit are perfectly represented, and the lengthy finish is crisp, lively, and energetic. (2019).

Jonathan Cristaldi writes:  The 2019 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet shows a deep, ruby colour. It is a beautifully compact wine that delivers complex and nuanced aromas of Bing cherry and black raspberry with tobacco, currant leaf, and cedarwood laced with dried sage. Focused and linear on the medium to full-bodied palate, showing expressive dark berry character and exotic oak spices with a firm backbone of fine-grained structured tannins. Cool raspberry, cherry, and blackberry fruit are perfectly represented, and the lengthy finish is crisp, lively, and energetic. No doubt, this is one to cellar. Exhaustive oak seasoning experiments led by winemaker Nate Weis resulted in the discovery that the American oak they age Silver Oak in when seasoned for 24 months and toasted for 90 minutes, marks the point at which the oak imparts more vanillin character and delivers better tannin integration. By contrast, the 2018 vintage was aged in American oak, seasoned for 16 months and toasted for 60 minutes. Weis explains that their experiments showed that underseasoned American oak imparts a dill character, while overseasoning results in coconutty notes, but finding a sweet spot delivers that vanillian quality winemakers look for in French oak. Taste the 2018 and 2019s side by side if you can, and note the subtle differences and shift to a more savoury profile in the 2019 vintage, with a very precise integration of oak tannin. It will be exciting to follow their progression in the cellar and see how subsequent vintages shape up in healthy and challenging harvest years.  Drinking 2024 to 2038.  - Decanter 96

James Suckling writes:  So elegant, supple and silky, this vintage is a dream to drink now, but should also have plenty of life ahead of it. Aromas of blueberries and dark chocolate meld with luxe black fruit, mint and cocoa on the palate. A blend of 77% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot and dashes of cabernet franc and petit verdot. Drink or hold through at least 2030.  - James Suckling 95

Winemaker Description

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Merlot is a full-bodied red wine that possesses well-balanced acidity, complexity, and structure.

This red wine's soft, versatile style complements grilled meats, especially steak, lamb, pork chops, and hamburgers. Enjoy this savory wine with hearty pasta with Bolognese sauce. 

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.

92 Points James Suckling | A chardonnay with excellent quality for the money with a phenolic tension and mineral and flint undertones. Serious and dry.

The 2022 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is bright, forward, balanced and approachable. Enticing aromas of red apple, spice, nectarine, and baked bread lead into a broad textured, and creamy palate. With its cool-climate influences, this chardonnay has remarkable varietal intensity, balanced acidity and mineral notes that complement the flavors of fresh peach and honey. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description 

Connects the melody in a pleasing chorus that satisfies the whole audience. Leaves no one behind, sweeping the crowd into the cheer.

A harmonious blend of tropical fruit, toasty texture, and minerality. It seemlessly melds the different faces of northern and southern vineyards for a quaffable staple that will make you all warm inside.