Supple and rich, this Aaron Pott-made Napa Cab has velvety cassis, red currant, graphite and vanilla notes. It's a very impressive, utterly delicious wine, but I don't think it has as much focus and structure as the 2018 vintage from Hoopes, but that's consistent with all appraisals of the vintage, so just think of this one as better suited for shorter-term enjoyment within the next ten years or so. (93 Points)
- Tim Teichgraeber
I have to say that I kind of marvel at the price of some California sparkling wine. So much of it is incredibly well-made, quite affordable, and often at least as good as any foreign competition at the price point, most of it clocking in at $20 to $25 a bottle, sometimes less on sale. Paula Kornell's wines are some that I find myself recommending to friends more and more. They're technically tight and precise, they deliver all of the tart, fine bubby nature that you want from sparkling wine, and they have a little depth and richness that sets them apart. I won't go into depth on the descriptors here. Let me just say that this is DELICIOUS bubbly at a great price. This brand delivers. (91 Points)
-Tim Teichgraeber
This vineyard block is named for the family dog, Dante. The wine is dark and concentrated in the glass, with rich cassis, sage, chocolate and vanilla aromas. It comes on like a Napa Cab freight train, but it actually has a remarkable freshness and grace on the palate that's a pleasant surprise. It isn't sappy, sweet, or blundering. It doesn't speak of the minerally higher Oakville bench or the hillside, but it has that undeniable signature of the Oakville strike-zone climate. Hoopes' wines are made by esteemed winemaker Aaron Potts, and there's some serious craftsmanship at work here. It might not be a value proposition, but this is a damn good Cabernet by any standard. It is also worth noting that Lindsay Hoopes is a second-generation Napa grower and a very successful lawyer, who is working very hard to defend the rights of similarly-situated small growers and wineries in Napa Valley to do business freely in the very restrictive Napa Valley. (95 Points)
- Tim Teichgraeber
Pure class. The nose is minerally, almost Chablis-like, but a bit sunnier and richer. Aromas of wet stone, apricot and green apple give way to generous, savory stone fruit on the palate. There's no pronounced new oak flavor, which is just fine with me. There's just a whiff of smoke and vanilla on the finish. Just a lovely, very versatile, food-friendly Chardonnay. (94 Points)
- Tim Teichgraeber
This gorgeous Chardonnay from Jonathan and Susan Pey (formerly known for their cool-climate Marin County wines) is a steal. It's bursting with pineapple and apricot fruit with lemon curd, orange zest and subtle vanilla notes. It's a sunny, juicy California Chardonnay with great acidity and brightness as well as a satisfying roundness. Highly recommended. (92 Points)
- Tim Teichgraeber
I've been fortunate enough to try a handful of Kosta Browne's red offerings from Burgundy, which they have been making for several years. This is the first white that I've had the pleasure of trying. Yes, Kosta Browne's wines are expensive, and yes, this wine is probably 90% sold to wine club members. It's still worth a note, because it's very, very good. Suffice it to say that I am now a BIG fan of Kosta Browne and winemaker Julien Howsepian, who makes wines that truly respect the terroir of the grapes. I write primarily about California wines, so I don't get a lot of French samples these days. In 30 years of writing about wine, I seldom received samples of Burgundy at all, so a bottle of wine hailing from that esteemed region is always appreciated. What I love about this chardonnay is, not surprisingly, that it tastes purely of Chablis. That Kimmeridgian clay and limestone soil full of sea shells delivers a mineral note that you just can't really find in California. It's in the nose, it's in the finish, it's everywhere in this wine. The rest is white peach, orange zest, green apple, and thyme. It's essential, beautiful Chablis. (94 Points)
- Tim Teichgraeber
This is a bewitching, nervy wine with tart cherry, pomegranate, blueberry, raspberry, coriander spice and paprika notes that persist through a curiously spicy finish. It's 100% recognizable as California pinot noir, but it is also impeccably elegant and nuanced. The brightness, tension, and freshness of the wine really speaks to the Petaluma Gap origins. The Petaluma Gap refers to a gap in the Coastal Range where the daily influx and outflow from from the Pacific Coast marine layer can be particularly intense, windy, and chilly. And if you want to dig deeper into the Calera clone story, you can follow the link. (94 Points)
- Tim Teichgraeber
