California Wine Advisors

The Raphet Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2019 is another triumph for this humble vigneron! Consistent with the top tier 2019 vintage reds, this majestic new import will provide flashy thrills tonight (after decanting) and mature into sublime pleasure over the next decade. This bold red features a luxuriously smooth texture plus a captivating...

Another supremely delicious bottling from these geniuses. The ethereal experience driven by deeply complex red fruit and uniquely exotic spices once again proves why Marcassin is in a league of their own in California. Enjoy now through 2025.

Simply, WOW! Flashy, succulent, and satisfying, this is easily one of the most awe-inspiring Pinot Noir of 2017 or any other vintage for that matter. Paul Lato is a truly master of balance and finesse, with ripe cherry and raspberry perfectly mingling with lifted, fresh acidity and assertive yet silky tannins establishing a firm backbone....

A beautifully expressive nose opens with well-integrated oak layered over wild strawberry and ripe raspberry. On the palate, the fruit is bold yet impeccably balanced and remarkably harmonious. Notes of balsamic reduction, vanilla, and cinnamon weave through bright red berries, all framed by fine minerals and umami. The texture is elegant and polished, and the...

Simply superb! 100% Velvetty cashmere like texture. Valhrona milk cocoa from oak. Supremely well-balanced dark cherry, cranberry, and exotic baking spices lead to a delightful finish featuring hints of creamy oak. complex. The bold fruit is pure Russian River charm while the ethereal finish reminds me of hints of Valrhona chocolate. This guaranteed thriller may...

Leans into a bold, brooding character with savory aromas of black cherry, smoky bacon, and a hint of stew-like intensity. The palate is dark and intense, with a touch of ash and grilled herbs adding to its earthy, iron-rich profile. Velvet-like texture contrasts with the deep, smoky complexity, making it a bit more niche and...

Vibrant and spice-laced, with a silky, coastal elegance. The nose is an exotic mix of dark red fruit, cranberry, candy apple, and cherry cola, layered with rosemary, apple skin, peach, and floral lift. On the palate, it’s nervy and tangy with herbaceous red fruit, blood orange, black tea, and a hint of tomato and rhubarb....

An incredibly complex and seamless wine, this opens with a savory, meaty nose layered over bright red fruit, marine air, fresh herbs, and coastal salinity. Aromas of red apple skin, black cherry, tomato, mushroom, and potpourri swirl with notes of baking spice and black soil. The palate is silky and velvety, delivering cranberry, red plum,...

Opens with a flashy, deeply complex nose of black cherry, fresh plum, pomegranate, and floral red-blue tones laced with toasty spice, mint, and earthy depth. Hints of cooked meat, tobacco, and stone add savory intrigue, evoking a Vougeot elegance with a Barolo-like tannic grip. The palate is powerful yet refined, meaty and tangy, with vibrant...

Offers a layered nose of cherry cola, blood orange, plum, and floral red fruits, accented by earthy tones of mushroom, black olive, and deep black soil. The palate is silky yet grounded, with a grainy texture and flavors of dark cherry, cranberry, grilled herbs, and a touch of mint. Vibrant yet savory, it carries umami...