United States Wine

Expert Review - Vintage 

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | This wine is dense, complex, with aromas of black currant, black cherry, black plum, pink grapefruit, dried potpourri, cardamom on the nose. The palate is red plum, strawberry, pomegranate, mulled spice, mandarin orange, wafting into cracked black pepper, clove, bittersweet chocolate, and sweet cigar.

Winemaker Description 

Dark briary fruit of mulberry, white pepper, cigar box, ripe strawberry, grilled steak, spicey, cherry tobacco, sage, and plum lead to an extractive fleshy structure with firm tannin and a balanced long lingering finish.

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 chille

Producer Description 

This brush will not scratch, chip or mar your valuable crystal champagne, prosecco and sparkling wine flutes, nor will it harbor bacteria.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 93 Points |  A bright and racy pinot with lots of strawberries, raspberries, hibiscus, spices and dried lavender. Tense and agile with a medium body and a crunchy feel to its tannins. Fresh and minerally. Drink now or hold.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Plush and elegantly structured, this red unfurls raspberry and cherry flavors accented with forest floor, black tea and savory spices as this builds tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032.

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Crisp, mouthwatering acidity is but one of many highlights here. Pretty dried rose-petal and dark raspberry aromas are flanked by a loamy soil note. The flavors are fruit-driven, with raspberry and lemon flavors uniting with tiny bits of sugar cookie and walnut behind a curtain of silky tannins. — Michael Alberty

Winemaker Description 

The 2022 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir touts all the hallmarks of our storied appellation. It begins with hints of ripe plum skin, ocean air, baking spices, and cocoa powder dustiness on the nose. The palate is just as expressive, with fresh, juicy red fruit backed by graceful tannins, a complex brininess, and a mouth-watering acidity. Finishing with spiced oak and a mouth-coating basalt minerality, this wine is great now and will be for years to come.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | This ripe and generous wine smells like a cherry pie and tastes like warm raspberries and cherries dusted with cinnamon and ground cloves. It’s a welcoming, almost-sweet Pinot that is comfy in texture and alluring in flavor.

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Juicy and elegant, with a savory edge to the mix of gently mulled raspberry and cherry fruit flavors, revealing a sous-bois accent as they move through the finish. Drink now through 2027. 342 cases made.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Pouring a deep youthful red hue, the 2021 Pinot Noir Reserve is ripe and expressive on opening, offering loads of black cherries, sweet herbs, forest floor, and cola. Medium-bodied, it retains good levity on the palate while keeping a ripe feel, with ripe tannins and a clean finish.

Winemaker Description 

Ripe cherry and plum aromas open to a complex mix of rhubarb, forest floor, creamy oak and exotic dark floral tones. The fruit flavors continue a smooth, full bodied palate with forest floor, vinous and dark cherry flavors, finishing with supple volume and balance acidity.

Enjoy this wine now with sweet and spicy Moroccan roasted carrots, truffle risotto or cellar for enjoyment over the next few years.

Expert Review

James Suckling by Andrii Stetsiuk 96 Points |  Joyful and juicy but also concentrated and very precise, this is a stunning cool-climate chardonnay. Brimming with sliced pear, white peach and white flower aromas. The delicate oak is already beautifully integrated on the mouth-filling yet only medium-bodied palate. Then comes a wave of toasted hazelnut flavor in the very long and super-silky finish. Drink from release.

Producer Description 

• 100% Chardonnay
• The Knoll, Lahoma Vineyard
• small sandstone hill
• Umbrella training system – results in more shading
• Cold soak overnight
• Fermented in 3 French oak large format puncheons
• Aged 10 months in the puncheons, stirred regularly
• 13% abv

As a Harvard educated Economist, Kelby made the unusual transition to wine in pursue of his passion. He also brought with him his deep love for music as a way to inspire his winemaking approach. For well over a decade, he patiently perfected his art while working at another winery. Finally in 2023, Kelby and his also-winemaker wife Julia, embarked on the adventure of their dreams and launched Apollo’s Praise. Despite the wait, the musical influence is as strong as it has ever been. Every bottle suggests an unusual pairing. Turn the bottle around to find a recommended song to listen to while enjoying a glass!

Kelby and Julia produce complex, yet approachable wines by carefully merging art and science. Every single one of them is the reflection of vintage variation, site specificity and unique varietal characteristics. Unsurprisingly, critics regard their highly-sought-after Lahoma Vineyard series as some of Finger Lakes’ best wines.

Apollo’s Praise philosophy in Kelby’s and Julia’s words: “The Best Wines are Art. They are an expression of culture and speak to where they come from, when they come from, and who they come from.”

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Decanter 93 Points | The first time specific blocks have been used for this wine. Dark forest berry notes on the nose with perfumed elements and notes of milk chocolate. Supple and agile, generous with textured, slightly grainy tannins that are so pleasant - expansive and round in the mouth. It's well built and very approachable with blackcurrant and black cherry flavours on the palate. 

Winemaker Description 

In 2021, the vineyards experienced unseasonably dry conditions with the second lowest rainfall in Opus One’s history. The vineyard team took advantage of the dryness to cultivate early to avoid unnecessary competition for the limited water available. Cooler temperatures prevailed, and rains in late March arrived just in time for the slightly delayed bud-break on April 7th.

Warmer weather in April and May allowed for ideal shoot growth and flowering began on May 17th. Reduced water led to lower-than-average yields, which gave the fruit exceptional concentration and flavor at harvest. The summer months were very warm; however, there were no prolonged periods over 100 degrees. Harvest began on August 31st and was steady and brief, with completion occurring on September 24th.

Producer Description 

Our 2023 Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of grapefruit, lime zest, white flowers, white peach, lemon grass, and orange peel. On the palate are aromas of pineapple, guava, tropical fruit, Asian pear, candied lemon, and green melon. The wine has a bright acidity and wonderful texture on the mid-palate.

 While the core of this wine is Sauvignon Blanc, the Musqué, Sémillon, and Viognier add a lot of floral notes and viscosity to this vintage. We captured these wonderful floral notes by fermenting each variety separately in concrete eggs, stainless steel drums, and tanks.

The French oak barrels, in which 10% of the wine aged in, were very lightly toasted to preserve the delicate fruity aromas and provide a creamy texture to the mid-palate of the wine.

Winemaker Description

Varietal Composition 66% Pinot Noir, 34% Chardonnay

Schramsberg Brut Rosé is fruitful, complex and dry, making it both versatile with food and delicious by itself as an apéritif. The character of the wine is most strongly influenced by bright, flavorful Pinot Noir grown along the coast from southern Mendocino County to northern Marin County. A few small lots of Pinot Noir are fermented in contact with their skins to add depth and subtle color to this vibrant sparkling wine. Chardonnay gives spice, structure and length on the palate.

Hand picking, careful handling and gentle pressing produce a wine of delicacy, aromatic purity and depth. Following the fall harvest and fermentation of the base wines, extensive tasting trials are carried out in the spring to create a polished blend reflective of the vintage. The finished blend undergoes a second fermentation in bottle before aging on its yeast lees for about two years, just enough to achieve refined effervescence and toastiness without diminishing its refreshing, vibrant appeal.

Enjoy this rich, delicious sparkler on almost any occasion: at your favorite restaurant, a special dinner at home, at a beach picnic or a backyard barbecue. A very versatile wine; try it with sushi, salmon, rock shrimp, pizza, roast chicken, BBQ ribs, caprese and Panzanella salads, red berry tarts, and an array of cheeses, charcuterie, nuts and fresh fruit.

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Generous yet steely at the core, with fragrant raspberry, rose petal and gingerbread accents that dance on the long, zesty finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. (2020). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

James Suckling 96 Points | A full-bodied cabernet sauvignon that’s fruity on the nose with notes of crushed raspberries, berries and herbs. Some bark and stones. The palate is fresh with velvety tannins and a generous, savory finish. One for the cellar. Try after 2023.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Townsend Vineyard has a similar herbal/classic Cabernet nose of red and black currants, green tobacco, bouquet garni, sandalwood, and spring flowers. Also beautiful on the palate, it’s full-bodied and has a concentrated, layered mid-palate, building tannins, and just an all-around classic, age-worthy style. Give bottles 2-4 years in a cold cellar and enjoy over the following 20 years or more. The blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This is richly layered, with cassis, crushed plum and blackberry puree flavors moving through slowly but steadily, while warm earth, ganache and black licorice notes follow along. Picks up a tarry edge on the finish as the fruit takes an encore. For fans of the muscular, fruit-driven style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2036. (2018). 

Wine Advocate 97 Points | The 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard sources this year include: 30% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District),18% Yountville (Oak Knoll District), 13% Banca Dorada (Rutherford), 18% Suscol (South Napa Valley), 14% Home Ranch (St. Helena), 12% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 7% Barboza (Stags Leap District). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy. (2018).

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Very much in the style of the vintage with its pure, concentrated, yet also elegant and focused style, the 2018 Insignia offers up a vivid purple hue to go with lots of red and blue fruits, menthol, tobacco, graphite, and distinct minerality. With an almost Bordeaux-like style, medium to full-bodied richness, present tannins, and a great finish, it's a beautiful, classic Cabernet Sauvignon blend from this team that's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more. (2018). 

James Suckling 99 Points | Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now. (2018). 

Winemaker Description

The 2019 Adaptation Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous expression of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from a superb vintage. Revealing blackberries, black currants, crème de cassis, with hints of espresso, cocoa powder, and fine gravely undertones, this seamless full-bodied wine carries remarkable freshness and purity, delivering up front appeal with long-term potential.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Coming mostly from the Oso Vineyard in Pope Valley, but with fruit from sites throughout the Valley, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 2% Petite Sirah that spent 18 months all in French oak. Red and black fruits, spicy herbs, chocolate, and hints of leather all shine here, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel. (2019).

Robert Parker 91 Points | An offering from Odette, Adaptation's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon features a nice mix of red and black fruits—cherries and cassis—plus hints of vanilla and cedar. It's medium to full-bodied but easy to drink and not overly rich or textured, but it's nicely balanced, with a long, mouthwatering finish. 

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Adaptation is a rich, bombastic wine from vineyards in Pope Valley. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice, new leather and tobacco are front and center. A dollop of Merlot adds mid-palate pliancy and juiciness. This full-throttle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon delivers the goods.  - Vinous 91

Winemaker Description

The wine has a brilliant light straw color with beguiling aromas that scream chardonnay such as Gravenstein apple, wild sage, and Meyer lemon. The flavors are bright and racy with a beautiful array of apple, tarragon, nuts, lemongrass and a lovely richness that remains fresh and lifted. The wine is complex, inviting, seductive, and vibrant all with a long lingering finish.

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.

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | This is a widely available, nonvintage blend of 54% Syrah, 15% Petite Syrah, 14% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and 7% Zinfandel. Aromas of cara-melized black fruit, oak and black pepper lead into an extremely rich palate that's loaded with vanilla, caramel, fudge and black cherry.

Winemaker Description

Chateau Ste. Michelle crafts this wine to be their complex yet approachable Merlot. The wine offers aromas of black cherry, leather and spice with layers of rich dark red fruit flavors and a long, smooth, sweet finish. A touch of Syrah adds a jammy fruit character. 

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 

Woodbridge Chardonnay White Wine unveils aromas of pear complemented by subtle oak and cinnamon. This California chardonnay wine's light to medium body and vibrant acidity showcase characteristic flavors of peach and apple, leading to a toasty finish with vanilla oak notes. Grapes in this California white wine are sourced from vineyards where warm days and cool breezes permit the grapes to mature fully for nicely balanced, well-rounded flavor. Oak aging on the lees further enriches the texture and complexity of this Woodbridge Wine by Robert Mondavi, conveniently packaged in four single-serving mini wine cans that are ideal for sharing. 

Pair this fresh yet silky chardonnay wine with light appetizers, as well as hearty dishes like roast chicken with white truffle risotto, or take time to indulge, enjoying a glass of wine on its own. For best flavor, chill these 187 mL cans of wine for two to two and a half hours before serving at approximately 50 degrees. Winner of multiple Wine Enthusiast BEST BUY awards since 2011, Woodbridge is Wine Your Way. Please enjoy our wines responsibly. © 2022 Woodbridge Winery, Acampo, CA

Deeply tropical and inherently aromatic, the wine holds all the niceties of skin maceration without losing freshness. Tension is brought about by ripeness and lift on the palate without losing the fundamental operative of being delicious. The swiss army knife of skin contact wines.

The Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer were de-stemmed and fermented on the skins for 15 days, then pressed and finished both primary and secondary fermentation in neutral French oak. The Riesling came in five weeks later with a kiss of noble rot, and it went direct to press, and was fermented in stainless steel before being moved to neutral oak for secondary fermentation. Both lots were aged sur lie and only racked once for blending/bottling. 100% native yeast and the only addition was S02. Winemaker Description. 

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

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.

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

The Grapes of Roth is Winemaker Roman Roth's private label, and a true testament to his classic, yet adventerous, wine-making style. Wonderful dark cherry fruit with well integrated oak, classic graphite and great minerality is complimented by a very savory and elegant finish.

Dark red brick in color. Elegant aromas of cassis and fine toasted sandalwood fill the glass. The mouth-feel is rich and concentrated, yet balanced with wonderful fruit of plumbs, prunes and amazing minerality. The finish has layers of ripe tannins and nicely toasted oak with fine classic earthiness, leather and iodine notes. The fruit and alcohol provide great length and make this a very special Merlot that possesses great aging potential and is the perfect partner with food.

This is a wine to be aged. It has a huge maturation curve ahead and will gain many more nuances and facets. Serve just at room temperature. Pair this Merlot with dishes you might think of for big, bold wines: steak, cassoulet, duck and decadent dark chocolate desserts. 

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.