California
Winemakers across California predict that the 2021 vintage will be one of the best in recent memory, while the Golden State’s winegrowers enjoyed a smooth harvest following a moderate and consistent growing season. California produces about 80% of the nation’s wine, making it the world’s fourth-largest wine producing region. More than 80% of California wine is made in a Certified Sustainable California Winery and over half of the state’s 637,000 vineyard acres are certified to one of California’s sustainability programs (Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, Fish Friendly Farming, LODI RULES, Napa Green and SIP-Certified).
2022 Cambria - Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley Katherine's
The 2022 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard is a very pretty, gracious wine. Light tropical accents, tangerine peel, white pepper and chamomile all grace this airy, lifted Chardonnay. In 2022, winemaker Jill Russell opted for more lots aged in steel and l...
2022 Cambria - Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Santa Barbara
A lush and ripe-tasting but also bright and balanced wine that's mouthwatering to sip. It offers sour cherry and red cherry aromas followed by good baked cherries, red currants and dried cranberries on the palate. Moderate tannins and tangy acidity give i...
2023 Cambria - Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard Santa Maria Valley (750ml)
The 2023 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard is another fabulous entry-level wine, if you can even call it that. Bright, rich and forward, the oak is front and center, but it frames and braces the wine nicely. Spice tones and dark red cherry fruit form the co...
2022 Carol Shelton - Zinfandel Mendocino Wild Thing (750ml)
2021 Carol Shelton - Rhone Blend Mendocino County Coquille Rouge
The red wines of the Rhône Valley were the inspiration for this blend, in which Carignane and Grenache Noir
bring tangy red fruit, Mourvèdre fills in with savory gaminess, Alicante Bouschet adds spicy blueberry fruit (and
color!), and Petite Sirah gives peppery backbone. These century vines in Oakley in the sands on the San Joaquin
delta demonstrate the true meaning of teamwork, producing a rich and spicy mouthful of deliciousness.
*Coquille is pronounced “ko-keel” and it is French for shellfish or scallop, like the scallop shells on the Shelton
family coat of arms.
-Winery notes
2022 Caymus - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
A creamy, forward style, with a core of warmed raspberry and boysenberry preserves infused liberally with mocha and melted licorice. Shows a late flicker of chaparral. This is meant for near-term hedonism. Drink now through 2034.
2019 Cervantes - Red Blend Napa Blacktail
"We don't have anything in mind about what the final blend will be each year," winemaker Andy Erickson said about this Blacktail blend. "We want to create something that is unique to the place this year." The 2019 Blacktail Proprietary Red Blend MMXIX is ...
NV Chandon - Brut Napa
Chandon was sparked into life in 1973 by the visionary spirit of Robert-Jean de Vog?? and California pioneer John Wright. As one of the first French-owned sparkling wine ventures in the U.S., Chandon carefully selected its vineyards and are now considered...
2023 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee
The Wine
Blended from the traditional Bordeaux varietals, including our own coveted grapes,
the Chappellet Mountain Cuvée Proprietor’s Blend builds on our more than five
decades of experience crafting great mountain-grown wines. Each grape variety in
the cuvée contributes nuances that complement each other. The result is a complex
array of aromas and flavors that deliver pure pleasure in a glass. Made for more
near-term enjoyment, this is the wine to choose when you’re looking for vivid,
mouthfilling fruit flavors.
Growing Season & Harvest
With early season rains saturating soils and a cool spring and summer that ensured
generous hangtime, 2023 offered perfect weather that took the grapes to another
level. To provide airflow and light on the grapes during a cool vintage, we pruned
and leafed early and often. Though later than normal, both budbreak and bloom
were excellent with overall yields up slightly. The weather stayed cool into fall,
with only one September day above 90° F, before things warmed up in October,
providing a final push to ripeness. Though harvest was compact, we were able to
pick everything at the ideal moment, yielding impeccably balanced red wines with
concentrated color, seamless tannins and an abundance of fruit and spice.
Tasting Notes
This beautifully aromatic wine leaps from the glass with effusive aromas of
dark cherry, blackberry and plum, as well as French oak-inspired hints of clove,
cardamom and cedar and notions of black pepper and fresh herbs. On the
richly textured palate, lush ripe berry layers echo the aromas, with fine-grained
tannins framing the luxurious flavors as they glide to a lingering dark chocolate
and anise finish
-Winery notes
