A Domestic Wine Gift for Every Type of Wine Drinker
Even though Labor Day seems like just yesterday, we’re now deep into the holiday shopping season, and if you’re anything like me…you’ll still have plenty of gifts you need to figure out! Well, Team K&L is here to help! This year I decided to break down my list of holiday buying picks by the type of person you’re shopping for. Are they that person who’s the big-time wine aficionado that you never know what to get for them? Perhaps you’re looking to impress someone with a deep cellar with a nice bottle to add to their collection? Or a friend who is very “granola” and you have to find them a small-production, hand-crafted wine that fits the vibe? Well we’ve got something for everyone so read on and fill up that basket!
For the Aficionado Who Knows Everything
Many of us have that friend or relative who always seems to know about the newest wines and under the radar gems. Here’s a few wines that will hopefully impress:
2020 Anonymous Wine Collective "Manchester Ridge Vineyard" Mendocino Ridge Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine $29.95 (Elsewhere $50) I’m starting out with one of our own house labels from the Anonymous Wine Collective range. This tiny production sparkler has a great story behind it and less than 120 cases were made. It hails from a 2,400ft high elevation, coastal mountain vineyard in Mendocino. This 100% Chardonnay based Blanc de Blanc spent 5 years maturing on lees picking up lots of toasty depth and complexity. It was then entirely hand-riddled the old school way in wooden racks. The wine had such great flavor intensity and texture that we chose to go with zero dosage at disgorgement keeping the wine bone-dry with beautiful focus and minerality. I’m so excited about this wine and the QPR is incredible.
2023 Samuel Louis Smith "Double L Vineyard" Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir $64.95 98WE 95JD Samuel Louis Smith is a phenomenal young winemaker who is amongst the most talented of his era. After working at Morgan Winery for many years, Sam took the leap to go out on his own and build his own boutique, eponymous label. He refers to himself and a micro-negociant, all his wines are very small production, sourced from a plethora of hand-selected sites that have something special about them. The Double L Vineyard Pinot Noir comes from an old block of organically farmed vines planted in the 1990s. It’s in the cooler, more western part of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, and has a wonderful balance of fruit and freshness. At just 12.8% ABV, this is a supremely elegant, refined expression of Pinot Noir that can be enjoyed tonight or 10 years from now. Only 600 bottles, 50 cases made. Sam also paints the water colors that adorn the labels…apprentlley his skills have no bounds!
2021 Far Mountain "Fission" Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $49.95 94DC 94JD While not exactly new, I feel like the Far Mountain wines are still way more under the radar than they should be! I guess that’s why the pricing has stayed remarkably reasonable, but the wines are so great they deserve to be on people’s dinner tables. Far Mountain is a husband and wife project owned and operated by Rodrigo Soto and his wife Mai. Rodrigo was the longtime Estate Director at Quintessa in Napa Valley where he was instrumental in transforming the farming to a mix of organic, biodynamic, and regenerative practices, taking the wines to a whole new level (including 100-point scores)! Now Rodrigo is solely focusing on his own project, Far Mountain, that works with some very special vineyards primarily on Moon Mountain high above Sonoma Valley. The 2021 Fission Cab is from Alta Vista Vineyard, where 50-year-old heritage clone Cabernet vines grow on steep hillsides, in red, rocky, volcanic soils. Rodrigo’s wines combine the power, richness, and structure of mountain-grown Cabernet, with his deliberately more classical style with less overt ripeness, less extraction or big oak flavors. I think it’s one of the very best bottles of Cabernet you can buy anywhere on the planet for $50.
2022 ALH Wines (Hobbs) Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon $74.95 94DC You probably noticed the Hobbs in parentheses there, yes, this is a new project from Paul Hobbs’ daughter, Augustina. If her inaugural release is anything to go by, you might say that evidently the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree! Sourced from Hobbs’ Nathan Coombs Estate in Coombsville, this wine is one of the freshest, most vibrant expressions of 2022 Napa Cabernet I’ve come across thanks to this sub-regions significantly cooler climate than further up the valley. Stunning purity of fruit and varietal expression, some lovely underlying volcanic minerality, and a modest use of new oak, makes this new project one to watch for sure. It’s also an exceptional value especially when compared to the legendary Paul Hobbs “Nathan Coombs Vineyard” Cabernet that sells for $350!
The Bargain Hunter
There’s few things I like more than a bargain. My colleagues will attest that I’m probably one of the most shrewd shoppers at K&L. My customer profile is built largely around inexpensive bottles of rosé, crisp whites, top value Pinot Noir, and frequent bottles of gin and tequila. I also know that holiday shopping can get expensive fast, especially when you’re buying for so many folks. So, I wanted to put together a quick list of some of the very best domestic wine deals that we have right now for the bargain shoppers out there. But fear not, you’re not sacrificing quality here, I would (and do) happily gift or drink all of these bottles myself.
2022 Lasseter Estate "Voila" Sonoma Valley Sauvignon Blanc - Semillon $14.95 (Elsewhere $50) 93JD The value here is simply astounding. This is a lovely white Bordeaux inspired wine from Lasseter Estate in Sonoma Valley. The estate vineyards are farmed organically by renowned viticulturist Phil Coturri. The wines are made by Danielle Langlois (previously at Kamen and Mark Herold) and consulting winemaker Tony Biagi (who also makes the wines at Hourglass, Amici, Patria, To Kalon Wine Co., The Vineyard, and previously Cade, Plumpjack, Duckhorn, and Clos Du Val). So, in short, Lasseter has beautiful, organically farmed, estate-grown fruit and winemaking pedigree in ample supply!
Voila is a blend of 58% Sauvignon Blanc and 42% Semillon. The Sauv Blanc is a massale selection from Peter Michael in Knights Valley. The Semillon is another massale from the ancient Semillon block at the famed Monte Rosso Vineyard on Moon Mountain. The wine is fermented in neutral French oak with extended lees contact for texture and complexity.
The flavors are driven by fresh white peach, juicy citrus, wet river stone minerals, hints of flint and a freshly opened new book. Vibrant and racy, but with great body and texture, too. Fantastic length on the palate. Very enjoyable as a young energetic wine, but that has the potential to age beautifully also. All this for $14.95!?
2021 Mallea (Tyler) Santa Barbara County Rhône Red Blend $9.95 (EW $25) This has to be a top three contender for the most under-priced wine in our inventory right now. I got an absolutely screaming deal on this wine that I was previously carrying and selling for its already extremely reasonable $25 retail price. Now at under $10 a bottle, this is a must purchase wine for anyone who loves Rhône blends or simply versatile red blends of any kind.
The wine is made by winemaking luminary Justin Willet of Tyler fame. Mallea is a side project collaboration between Justin and Erik Mallea (a renowned vineyard manager at Sanford & Benedict in the Sta Rita Hills). A classic southern Rhône blend of 44% Grenache, 42% Syrah and 14% Mourvèdre. The fruit is sourced from vineyards Erik controls and are farmed using organic and sustainable practices. The wine is fermented with native yeast, partial whole-cluster, in oak tanks. The wine is matured in neutral oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Lovely spiced red fruits, dried flowers, some cracked pepper, brambly tones, dried herbs. Medium bodied with a modest 13% ABV. Such a great versatile, food friendly wine. Unbeatable at this price. Buy a case and thank me later.
2023 Method California Cabernet Sauvignon $14.95 94WE ***Wine Enthusiast’s No. 1 Best Buy of 2025***A huge best seller for us this past few weeks has been the Method California Cabernet. We have been working with Precision Wine Co. and the Method wines for several years and were already believers. So it wasn’t a huge surprise when Wine Enthusiast Magazine made this bottling their No. 1 Best Buy of 2025. Basically this bottle delivers everything you want in a nicely polished, fruit-forward, well proportioned Cabernet. What it avoids nicely is tasting manipulated or over-worked like so many Cabs in the sub-$20 category do. This is a lovely wine for a very modest price, and classy packaging to boot (because it matters when you’re gifting to someone).
2023 Evesham Wood Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $19.95 (Elsewhere $30) 93DC This is a great pick if you’re looking for an inexpensive wine that still checks a lot of boxes for a more artisanal, hand-crafted style from top notch vineyard sources. Evesham Wood is a leader in traditionally made, terroir driver wines from great sites. This Willamette Valley bottling is made in the exact same fashion as their more expensive wines, it’s simply a blend of lots that didn’t end up in the single vineyard bottles. Sources include: Evesham’s estate, Mahonia, Temperance Hill, Sojeau, and Koosah vineyards. The style is very much a more savory, earthy, old-world type experience. Decanter Magazine wrote: “One of the best deals in American Pinot Noir…Evesham continues to make some of the Valley’s best wines and definitively produces the best values in the region.” I must say it’s hard to disagree with that!
2023 Stewart Cellars Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (Price Hidden) 93JS We have a screaming deal on this beautiful, aromatic, expressive Pinot Noir from Stewart Cellars for a fraction of its typical SRP. The wine comes from two small vineyards in the Petaluma Gap sub-region of the cool Sonoma Coast. This wine is just so pure, with lifted aromatics of rose petal, ripe strawberry, baking spices, and raspberry coulis. The wine is silky, soft, supple and so quaffable. I’ve been through several bottles and it’s hard to put down the glass. A very safe bet if you don’t know someone’s exact tastes in wine, this bottle is a crowd-pleaser for sure.
2023 Stolpman Santa Barbara County Grenache $19.95 (Elsewhere $35) 93VN 93JS An amazing wine from Stolpman, and a wine that once again is very crowd-pleasing and easy to love. Top quality fruit from a source that must remain nameless, but is a close by neighbor of Stolpman Estate. This wine represents an exceptional value given the pedigree in the bottle. Made in a deliberately fresh, bright, quaffable style that is perfect for parties or gifting to folks when you don’t know exactly what they like. It’s simply a delicious, eminently drinkable bottle of wine packed with soft, ripe, red berry fruits, wild cherry, and some exotic Asian spice tones. Dusty earth notes and vibrant acidity really make this a winner with fingerfoods and cheese selections. Homerun!
2021 Kenwood "Six Ridges" Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $19.95 97DC Here’s another top seller that continues to impress - Kenwood’s Six Ridges Cabernet took out the Best in Show Trophy at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards this year. That’s no joke when you consider that every wine is tasted blind and there were tens of thousands of wines submitted for judging. Having enjoyed this wine on numerous occasions, it’s clear to see why it did so well. It’s a rocking bottle of Cab for an exceptional price. Kenwood has a long history of producing excellent wines from Sonoma and Alexander Valley at that longstanding pedigree shows here. It’s packed with bold, dark fruit, plum, blackberry, hints of tobacco, loamy earth, plenty of exotic barrel spices and hints of vanilla. This wine does a pretty darn good impression of an expensive Napa Cult Cab at a very low price point.
Artisanal Authenticity
For some people it’s all about the story and people behind the gift. So I thought I'd suggest a few wines that are small production, artisanal, hand-crafted wines that are defined by the people who make them; wines of soul, passion, and a dedication to the craft.
2023 Matthiasson "Estate - Cressida Vineyard" Carneros Vermentino $34.95 94DC Steve Matthiasson is one of the most thoughtful grape growers/winemakers that I’ve had the pleasure to work with. Everything with Steve is deliberate and purposeful. From his dedication to regenerative organic farming, to his small-lot, intimately crafted wines, Steve’s passion and life force is evident in his wines. Earlier this Fall we visited Cressida Vineyard with the NorCal sales team and had the chance to taste some Vermentino grapes off the vine. Cressida vineyard runs along a thin ridgeline of ancient marine shale tailing off of the Mayacamas mountains into Carneros. This is a wine full of vitality, crystalline citrus fruit, saline minerals, vibrant acidity and ethereal texture.
2023 Walter Scott "Freedom Hill Vineyard" Mt. Pisgah Chardonnay $79.95 96VN 96DC 96JD The Walter Scott wines are redefining what Chardonnay looks like in Oregon. Focused on the very best sites across the Willamette Valley, husband and wife team Ken Pahlow and Erica Landon make world-class Chardonnay (and Pinot Noir) that will blow your mind. Freedom Hill is a flagship site for Walter Scott. The vineyard is considered of Grand Cru status by many; the ancient marine sedimentary soils and meticulous farming produce intensely flavored wines with textural finesse and seemingly endless length on the palate. If you know someone who likes more refined Chardonnay, white burgundy etc, give them a bottle of Walter Scott and watch the smile spread across their face!
2023 MarBeso "Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir (Price Hidden) 97WE 95JS I love the wines that Colin is making at MarBeso. This tiny winery based in an industrial unit in Buellton is making some of the finest wines in Santa Barbara County. Everything is done by hand, very small production, often just a few barrels of each wine, but the attention to detail and dedication to the craft is second to none. This Pinot Noir comes from the relatively young Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard that sits in the very western end of the Sta Rita Hills, next door to Domaine de La Cote. The very cool climate and white diatomaceous earth soils combine to make a unique wine that has a powerful sense of place. Colin desteems the fruit, does a native ferment in small open-top tanks. The wine is aged in largely neutral oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered. A wild nose of brambles, black raspberry, dark cherry, earthy spices, even some peppered meat savory aspects that are almost reminiscent of cool climate Syrah. A very complex wine that balances brooding fruit with savory earthy tones and coastal chaparral. With some huge critical acclaim starting to land, grab these gems before they're highly allocated and unobtainable!
2023 Arterberry Maresh "Old Vine" Dundee Hills Pinot Noir $39.95 95VN 95JS An old favorite making a return with a new vintage and a slightly sharper price! Arterberry Maresh is one of the most historic producers in Oregon with vines dating back to the 1970s. The wines are now crafted by second generation winemaker Jim Maresh who has a natural gift for making some of the most profound wines in the region. The Old Vine bottling combines the oldest, own-rooted, dry-farmed vines at Maresh Vineyard and neighboring Weber Vineyard. The clones are heritage selections with 65% Pommard and 35% Wadenswil. Very hands-off winemaking, minimal intervention, and 22 months in neutral oak means this wine is all about capturing the natural essence of these incredible old vines.
2022 Madson "Ascona Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Syrah $44.95 98JD 95WE A beautiful story here, viticulturist Ken Sweggles lives on and farms Ascona Vineyard high up in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This remote site sitting at 2,500ft elevation is a very special place with calcareous sandstone soils and coastal redwoods surrounding the immaculately farmed blocks of vines. Ken selects just a few specific rows for this miniscule bottling from a particular section of the vineyard with very rocky soils. Madson winemaker Cole Thomas employs 100% whole-cluster fermentation that adds to the beguiling nose of this benchmark cool-climate Syrah. Dried flowers, cracked pepper, and charcuterie mingle with forest berries, dusty spices, petrichor, and forest undergrowth. A lithe, savory expression of Syrah that can hold its head high amongst the finest from the northern Rhône.
Show Me the Points!
Despite the ongoing mantra that scores don’t matter in the wine world, I’ll happily tell you that many people love to seek out highly rated wines. So many things about wine can be quite confusing and even intimidating. A great score from a talented wine critic you respect can be a very useful handle to grab ahold of when in need of guidance. This becomes even more imperative when trying to buy a gift for someone and you don’t know their specific tastes. It’s often a safe bet to get a bottle with plenty of third party acclaim and put your trust in wine professionals who taste thousands of wines a year. And, let's be honest, who doesn’t love getting a nice bottle that has a big score to make it feel even more special!? Here are a few of my top selections that have huge scores that are sure to impress:
2023 Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay $34.95 95DC 95RP In my opinion, Ramey is a benchmark producer especially when it comes to Chardonnay. This Russian River Valley bottle comes from exceptional sites across the region and is a perfect example of Ramey’s house style at a more affordable price point than their single vineyards. With dual 95-point scores from the Wine Advocate and Decanter, there’s not many wines that can boast this much pedigree and critical acclaim anywhere near this modest price point. Sheer class as always from Ramey.
2023 Wayfarer "Estate - Wayfarer Vineyard" Fort Ross-Seaview Chardonnay $89.95 98JD 97JS 95RP 95DC While the Pinot Noir from this incredible estate gets most of the attention, I think the Chardonnay is equally spectacular. A dramatic mountainside vineyard, just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, produces tiny yields of intensely flavored fruit. I love the combination of explosive flavors, liquid sunshine, but also very vibrant acidity that’s as fresh as the ocean air flowing over the vines. A wine of contrasts, that magic knife edge balance of richness and restraint. Totally deserving of the monstrous critical acclaim.
2023 Ridge Vineyards "Lytton Springs" Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel $49.95 98JD ***Wine Spectator’s #3 Wine of 2025*** Before Ridge’s 2023 Lytton Springs was awarded Wine Spectator’s #3 Wine of the Year in 2025, it had already picked up a casual 98-point score from Jeb Dunnuck! As one of the most historic vineyards and wineries in the state, the team at Ridge never take their status and success for granted. They’re always looking for ways to improve their farming and winemaking, and take their role as stewards of these 100+ year-old vineyards very seriously. The 2023 Lytton is truly magical. The very cool growing season and late harvest in 2023 really played to the strengths of these historic, heritage vineyards. The wine possesses a natural old vine concentration, great depth and layered complexity from the field blend, but also wonderful purity and freshness from the pristine fruit. A legend in the making here.
2022 Bethel Heights "Lewman Vineyard - Estate" Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir $49.95 97JD 96RP 96DC 95VN This a very rare find, Bethel Height's "Lewman Vineyard" Pinot Noir is not often seen outside of the winery's mailing list and tasting room. This neighboring vineyard was purchased by Bethel Heights a number of years ago and is now essentially part of their larger estate. The block was planted in 1993. It’s a very high density planting of mostly Pommard Clone. The soils are rocky volcanic basalt. The wine is dark and brooding with black raspberry, spiced cherry, sandalwood, leaf litter, and truffle. There are also some amaro like alpine herbs and dried citrus peel qualities. A very classy and serious wine. A darker, more sensuous side of Pinot Noir with beautiful balance and completeness.
2021 Smith-Madrone Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon $59.95 97DC 97WE An astoundingly affordable bottle of ageworthy, estate-grown, Spring Mountain Cabernet. We’ve been huge fans of Smith-Madrone for decades here at K&L. The wines from here always have a more old-school, savory profile with powerful tannins and plenty of potential for developing in the cellar. The 2021 vintage however, has plenty of accessible fruit, lovely mid-palate plushness, and a good deal of refinement to the tannin profile, making it totally drinkable as a young wine. No doubt the best is still to come for this wine, but it’s certainly a fun one to have on hand anytime over the next 20+ years when you want a high quality bottle of Napa Cabernet without breaking the bank.
2022 Horsepower "High Contrast Vineyard" Walla Walla Valley Syrah $174.95 100JD 99IWR Christophe Baron, the founder of both Cayuse Vineyards and Horsepower, rocketed to cult status for his almost obsessive dedication to hands-on farming and maniacal attention to detail in the cellar. His wines have come to define the Rocks District and Walla Walla as a whole. The wines are largely only available via the winery mailing list, however every year we get a small allocation of 3pks from each of the vineyards and cuvées that Christophe crafts to offer to our customers. With just a handful of bottles available in most of our stores, don’t snooze on this one if you have someone in mind that might appreciate a 100-pointer from one of the most celebrated vignerons of a generation. A classically, meaty, savory, mineral driven, gravelly style of Syrah reminiscent of the best wines of Côte Rôtie.
Big Name Recognition
When in doubt go with a big, iconic name. During the holiday season many customers are looking for gifts that will leave no doubt in the recipient's mind that they got something really nice and luxurious. If you’re buying for someone who loves iconic luxury brands then this is the section for you!
2023 Sea Smoke "Ten" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir $109.95 I’m thrilled this year to have some Sea Smoke available as we run into the holiday season. Often this wine comes and goes very quickly. However, each year we’ve been working hard to secure extra allocations and finally we have enough stock for me to include it in the holiday gifting guide. Few California estates are as iconic for stunning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This vineyard has been instrumental in raising the bar for all Santa Barbara Pinot Noir and has long maintained its legacy and reputation of excellence. I recently tasted our staff on the wines (a very rare treat) and everyone was thoroughly impressed. Limited availability, get it while you can!
2023 Paul Hobbs "Katherine Lindsay Estate" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $109.95 97JS 96RP Similarly to Sea Smoke I managed to get a nice assortment of Paul Hobbs’ high-end bottlings this holiday season and they’re seriously worthy of all the hype. Amazing vineyards, no expense sparred, high precision winemaking means these wines are surefire winners as gifts. These limited production, single vineyard wines are consistently amongst the highest scoring, most coveted wines of the vintage.
2019 Bevan "Ontogeny" Oakville Bordeaux Blend $99.95 (Elsewhere $125) 98JD 96TWI We previously sold out of this wine, but managed to secure another parcel of the rockstar 2019 Ontogeny from Russel Bevan. This Bordeaux style blend takes ultra-premium Oakville fruit (including Tench and To Kalon) and wraps it all up with a nice little bow for a remarkably affordable price. The biggest “problem” we have with this wine is that it’s almost as impressive as the much more expensive single vineyard wines. If you have someone who loves bold, modern, explosively rich Napa Cab, this is the one for them.
2021 Realm "The Bard" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $149.95 98JD 97DC 97JS 97TWI Similarly to the Bevan Ontogeny above, Realm’s “The Bard” Cabernet gives you 90% of the Realm magic for 50% of the single vineyard price tag! This bottling combines an unbelievable list of top vineyards up and down the valley including Moonracrer Estate in Stag’s Leap, Houyi Estate on Pritchard Hill, plus a list of the most highly regarded growers in the valley: Beckstoffer To Kalon, Beckstoffer Bourn, Larkmead, Farella, Bettinelli - Upper Range and more. The winemaking is similarly luxurious taking all this incredible fruit into a state of the art winery, maturing it in the best oak money can buy…and it shows. This is luxury Cabernet done to perfection. The folks at Realm have this style in lock and their reputation precedes them.
2022 Far Niente Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $99.95 96JS For decades Far Niente has been synonymous with top quality Napa Valley wines. Their strength and consistency is rooted in the fact that they own a plethora of incredible vineyards that span the length and breadth of the valley. From Howell Mountain, to Oakville, to Coombsville, they have invested in great vineyards and are able to control the quality of their wines from the ground up. Winemaker Nicole Marchesi is immensely talented in the cellar and has now been with Far Niente for 20 harvests. She quietly makes some of the best Cabernet in the valley letting her wines do the talking. You can’t go wrong here.
The Serious Collector
Finally, perhaps you have to try and buy a bottle for that person who has a huge cellar of wines, a serious collector who loves to have world-class wines at their finger tips for when the right time presents itself to pull a nice bottle. Well, here are a few things that I consider worthy of a spot in anyone’s collection:
2022 Ramey "Rochioli Vineyard" Russian River Valley Chardonnay $79.95 98JD 97RP The second wine from Ramey I’m suggesting this holiday season, but this time their remarkable single vineyard bottling from the iconic Rochioli Vineyard. This wine is up there with the very crème de la crème of Chardonnays. It captures the wonderful richness and power of the Westside Road sub-region of Russian River, but also maintains plenty of verve, vibrancy, phenolic cut and tension throughout its rambling journey across the palate. Absolutely world-class and with the critical acclaim to prove it.
2023 Peter Michael "Ma Belle-Fille" Knights Valley Chardonnay $139.95 95-97RP Peter Michael’s Chardonnays are amongst the most highly sought after white wines in the domestic category. Highly allocated and revered by collectors. Thankfully I managed to secure a decent parcel of the newly released Ma Belle-Fille this past week so we have some to offer going into December. From the highest elevation parcel of Chardonnay on the spectacular Knights Valley estate. Power and precision personified.
2023 DuMOL "Estate" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $119.95 98-100VN 98JD 98TWP 97RP DuMOL’s 2023s are absolutely spectacular. Across the board I think it may be the strongest vintage for DuMOL in my 15 years of tasting the wines. The Estate Pinot is a perfect example of what this team has achieved. From DuMOL’s high-density plantings in the Green Valley sub-region of Russian River with powdery, moondust-like Goldridge soils. Largely Calera selection Pinot Noir that produces tiny clusters of fruit with berries not much bigger than a peppercorn. The intensity of flavor combined with the textural elegance this wine possesses is simply remarkable. DuMOL’s pursuit of excellence in all they do is clearly paying off with staggeringly beautiful wines like this.
2021 Cayuse "God Only Knows" Walla Walla Valley Grenache Blend $129.95 98IWR 97JS 97VN 97WE Another wine from the legendary Christophe Baron. This time the rarely seen Grenache dominant blend - God Only Knows. This wine is highly allocated and often only available through auction. What I love about this wine is that it captures the magic of Grenache and all its explosive aromas and flavors, but without being high octane or heavy on the palate. There’s a drive and focus to this wine that I really admire. The ripe raspberry, alpine strawberry fruit is complimented with toasted spices, hot stone, agar wood fragrance, and graphite minerals. As with all the Cayuse wines it is quite unique and idiosyncratic but I absolutely love it just for that reason!
2019 Greer Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon $199.95 99JD 99TWI 98JS 97RP One of my absolute favorite producers in 2025 has been Greer. I tasted the wines at Premier Napa Valley back in February and was immediately smitten. I think they were my favorite wines out of the several hundred we tasted in that 3 day marathon of tastings. Coming from a tiny jewel of a vineyard in the heart of Rutherford’s western bench. Greer’s neighbors include Scarecrow, Bella Oaks, Staglin, Inglenook, and Morisoli. This is without doubt one of the most magical places on the planet to grow Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are artfully crafted by Aaron Pott. I can think of no other wines at present that are a better example of why Napa Valley is considered home to world-class Cabernet. A benchmark property.
2019 Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon $179.95 97VN 96JD 96WS One of the greatest and most historic properties in Napa Valley, renowned across the world and for good reason. For many decades Mayacamas has set the bar for classically styled, mountain-grown Cabernet with the perfect combination of structure and finesse. There’s no ego surrounding the wines or people here. The team is in total deference to the magical terroir that informs the wines and the legacy that they uphold with each vintage release. Every year the wine is a beautiful reflection of season and place. Time and time again the wines prove that it was indeed a great place to establish a vineyard back in 1889! If you’re looking for something timeless and with a proven ability to age gracefully for many decades, look no further.
2022 Quintessa Rutherford Bordeaux Blend $249.95 99DC 97JS I really love the wines from Quintessa. The estate is a spectacular property that combines many diverse blocks with starkly contrasting soil types and aspects. The whole idea of the wine is to make one proprietary blend that incorporates these different facets and to craft them into the most complete and complex expression of the estate in a given season. The quality of the farming here is probably amongst the very best in Napa with regenerative organic methods and the holistic health of the estate guiding all that they do. Winemaker Rebekah Wineburg consistently makes one of the top wines of the vintage and the 2022 is no different. The health of the vines, no-till farming, and ability to blend across the diversity of the estate, meant that Quintessa was able to produce a much more balanced, vibrant wine than many folks who were more negatively impacted by the extreme heat right before harvest. This is hands down one of the wines of the vintage.
2021 Philip Togni "Estate" Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon $229.95 100DC 99VN 98RP And last but certainly not least…This wine was out of stock for some time after Antonio Galloni named it his No. 1 Wine of the Year! However, we managed to get a few more cases from the winery, and are able to offer some to lucky folks this holiday season!
Philip Togni’s wines need little introduction to most folks who collect Napa Valley Cabernet. They are some of the most ageworth, classically styled wines in the region. This stunning property, now largely under the stewardship of Lisa Togni (Philip’s daughter,) has long produced structured, yet refined, old school, savory, very much Bordeaux inspired wines from the eastern facing slopes of Spring Mountain. The wines are redolent with red currant, mulberry, briary patch notes, cigar box, cedar, wintergreen and leather. The afternoon shading from the Mayacamas Range, and relatively early picking of the fruit, means the wines from here retain a lot of Cabernet’s more savory varietal characteristics. A 20-30 year wine with an incredible life ahead of it.