Lillian Syrah 2014

Leading off the reds, the Pinot Noir reveals a semi-translucent ruby hue to go with classy notes of spiced cherries, flowers, and loamy earth. With beautiful up-front fruit as well as some classic, Burgundian earthiness and complexity, it's a little gem of a Pinot Noir to enjoy over the coming 3-4 years. Rated 93 Points Lisa's Staff.

The Antithesis of most California zinfandel. Birichino deliveries a classicaly styled wine of brambly, red, berry fruit, with bright acidity and roasted herbs de Provence. Great with BBQ, tomato based pasta sauces, and roasted pork.

This is a second label from Stephen Ross winery based in San Luis Obispo. Stylistically, Flying Cloud wines are hearty and balanced with pleasing aromas and flavors characteristic of the variety, with a sense of place or terrior and has supple fine tannins. Dark, clear ruby red color. Aromas of mulberry, boysenberry, cedar, and clove on the nose. With medium body and fine, silky tannins, this wine is all about impeccable balance and powerful elegance. Made from organically grown grapes.

Bigger and bolder than the previous Appellation Series Cabernet, this vintage will please most people at the table. You'll find plenty of sweet, ripe black cherry, black currant, framboise and plum, accented with just a touch of barrel spice. Tannins.

Hometown is an early bottling of the Santa Barbara cuvee and showcases the delicious fruit of young Pinot Noir. This three valley blend is made from grapes we source from vineyards near Los Alamos, Santa Maria, and Sta. Rita Hills. Commentary: The 2021.

John Lockwood has slowly but surely been redefining what California wine is about. His "Stained Glass" Grenache is so aptly named that it almost feels predestined. Made from 100% Grenache grown organically in several vineyard sites around the winery, this wine is all about red-fruited drinking satisfaction. Brambly/red fruits like raspberry and strawberry mix with kirsch, rose petal, black pepper, blood orange, iron, and dusty open road with a lipsmacking intensity and a fancy but refreshing finish that just begs to be served with a bit of a chill.

From the expansion of grape varieties featured in this vintage to the flavors and textures up for exploration in the glass. The 2022 is mostly Valdiguié and Carignan with Zinfandel, Grenache Noir and Barbera – several new varieties to the Love Rosé blend. The grapes remained on the skins and stems for up to 24 hours. All varieties, excluding the Grenache, were gently pressed into stainless steel tank to naturally ferment. The Grenache underwent carbonic maceration before it was pressed, fermented and aged in concrete tank. Sulphur was not added during fermentation and aging. Once fermented to dry, the wine aged on the lees for four months. All were blended at bottling with a small amount of sulphur addition. Fresh-picked strawberries & savory herbs on the nose. Watermelon aqua fresca, dried thyme, strawberry smash & sea salt on the palate.

Stolpman Vineyards is situated in the hills of Santa Barbara's Coast, on a perfectly sculpted limestone outcropping that protects their vines from the Pacific Ocean winds. Committed to preserving this incredible natural environment through organic farming, dry farming, & sustainable employment, the winery also uses native fermentation & minimal manipulation. This 100% Sangiovese is indeed so fresh! Fermented carbonically, the Love You Bunches offers notes of crunchy red berries, tart cherries, and pomegranate, while remaining beautifully balanced with mild tannin making for an easy going yet wonderfully complex red wine. Best served with a slight chill, this light-bodied, zippy red is remarkably approachable, joyful, and just plain fun.

Part & Parcel Pinot Noir 2021

The Central Coast of California continues its run of making some of the best value Pinot Noir in California. Valle de Inez is 100% Pinot Noir from vineyards in and around San Luis Obispo that showcase the cool climate and distinct soil types of the region. This expressive wine offers layers of Bing cherry, dried cranberry, and allspice, leading to a supple palate of cranberry, bay leaf, and integrated tannins that carry into a soft, refined finish.

Populis Rose

The Bassi Vineyard is located 1.2 mies from Avila Beach, just west of the Topotero Vineyard, tucked up in the hillsides of Avila Valley, facing due south. The vineyard was planted in 2001 to 29 acres on an 112 acre ranch. The soils are composed of sandstone, ranging from rock outcropping to sand deposits, a reminder of the close proximity to the sea. In the glass, this Blanc de Blancs shows a pale golden color and lively fine bubbles. First, the nose reveals bright citrus zest with hints of sea salt and levain dough. These notes reflect the coastal soils and slow bottle aging. On the palate, Meyer lemon and key lime flavors are balanced with a creamy texture and mineral backbone. Moreover, the finish is clean, refined, and long, with subtle oyster shell and saline hints that evoke the ocean breeze.

Situated five miles from the Pacific on the edge of Edna Valley, Le Fenil is shaped by winds flowing through the Los Osos-Morro Bay. Planted entirely to own-rooted Champagne clones of Pinot Noir, the early-arriving afternoon fog and steady ocean winds moderate heat accumulation, preserving the natural acidity essential for precision sparkling wine. Brilliant pale straw in color with a fine mousse. Lifted aromatics of stone fruit, citrus blossom, and tangelo zest. The palate is defined by vibrant acidity and crystalline purity, finishing bright and lime-driven with a hint of coastal salinity. Fruit-forward and acid-driven upon release, with aging potential through 2038.

Topotero Vineyard is a family-owned, 5-acre site in Avila Beach, planted in 2000. Situated just 1.3 miles from the Pacific, where the maritime climate has a profound influence on the vines. Their ranch is alive with gardens, orchards, pigs, guinea fowl, and the watchful eyes of hawks and owls. Foggy mornings and sunny afternoons preserved freshness and acidity while achieving full fruit maturity. Pale pink with a fine mousse. Aromas of wild strawberry, white nectarine, and citrus peel lead to crystalline flavors of finger lime, watermelon, and sea spray. Bright and elegant upon release, with aging potential through 2030+.

Stolo Vineyards is located less than 3 miles from the ocean, just south of Big Sur and west of the Santa Lucia mountain range in Cambria, California. Lucas and Nicole have helped to plant and farm this vineyard since 2010. The powerful cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean through fog and wind make this an extremely cool climate grape growing region. The nose exhibits an orchard fruit core with subtle tropical hints, pleasantly complicated by almond paste and pastry cream nuances. It is broad and textural on the palate, combining a subtle, layered richness with mouthwatering acidity that runs through the delicate and understated finish. A slightly more powerful wine from the Haliotide lineup.

The Lieu Dit Sauvignon Blanc beckons you in with a rich, tropical nose, then kicks down the door with a wash of lively, zippy acids that dance across the palate and tickle the tongue. Pineapple, mint, green apple and tarragon unfurl with ample weight, counterbalancing the wine's boundless verve and energy.

The Lieu Dit Sauvignon Blanc beckons you in with a rich, tropical nose, then kicks down the door with a wash of lively, zippy acids that dance across the palate and tickle the tongue. Pineapple, mint, green apple and tarragon unfurl with ample weight, counterbalancing the wine's boundless verve and energy.