Our food-friendly, velvety-smooth Frei Brothers Sonoma Reserve Dry Creek Valley Merlot offers a full-bodied style with flavorful ripe fruit characteristics and complex structure. Layered notes of dark plum, black cherry and baked blackberry are accented on the robust, well-balanced palate by hints of chocolate, black pepper and spice-roasted nuts. Oak aging adds subtle touches of nutmeg, vanilla and toasted oak on the long, supple finish. Pair this versatile Merlot with roasted chicken or turkey, slow-cooked beef stew or a grilled lamb burger topped with cheese.

Lively aromas of lemon citrus, pineapple and orange blossom with hints of tropical fruit, caramelized honey and toasty vanilla. On the palate, this wine has an refined texture with a silky, smooth mouthfeel and medium acidity. Notes of Meyer lemon, golden apple and fresh cut pear, combined with delicate notes of toasty oak and creamy minerality, lead to an elegant long finish. <br><br> The winter rainfall was slightly below average, but we were able to compensate with early spring irrigation to fill soil profiles before budbreak. Warm spring temperatures aided vine growth and they were able to reach max canopy height. Summer temperatures heated up and slowed down vine growth as vines transitioned into fruit development. Weather leading into harvest was relatively cool and uneventful, which allowed for gradual ripening of the fruit. It was another remarkable growing season in the Santa Lucia Highlands, resulting in wines with beautiful color, concentrated flavors, great structure and naturally balanced acidity. <br><br> After being carefully picked and precisely sorted for quality, the fruit was destemmed, sent direct to press and fermented entirely in small French oak barrels. The wine was hand-stirred on its lees every three weeks for the 10 months it aged in barrel. When the wine was ready to be blended, our winemaker selected only the finest barrels that best express the aromas and flavors of the Santa Lucia Highlands

Vivid red ruby in the glass, this wine opens with aromas of red fruit, cherry, blackberry and hints of earthiness, delicate toast and vanilla spice. The palate is rich, with refined silky tannins, medium acidity and flavors of cherry, red plums, raspberry and subtle notes of allspice on a long elegant finish. <br><br> The winter rainfall was slightly below average, but we were able to compensate with early spring irrigation to fill soil profiles before budbreak. Warm spring temperatures aided vine growth and they were able to reach max canopy height. Summer temperatures heated up and slowed down vine growth as vines transitioned into fruit development. Weather leading into harvest was relatively cool and uneventful, which allowed for gradual ripening of the fruit. It was another remarkable growing season in the Santa Lucia Highlands, resulting in wines with beautiful color, concentrated flavors, great structure and naturally balanced acidity. <br><br> The 2021 vintage was crafted using small-lot winemaking techniques to capture a true expression of each vineyard block. Only estate vineyard lots with consistent superior characteristics were selected to ensure exceptional quality of this blend. The grapes were harvested during cool mornings, brought to the winery, destemmed into open-top stainless-steel tanks, cold-soaked and fermented on the skins for 10 days. The wine was then pressed off, settled and racked into a selection of small 60-gallon French oak barrels where it was aged for 14 months. When the wine was ready to be blended, our winemaker selected only the finest barrels that exemplify the aromas and flavors of the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Our 2021 Hahn Appellation Series Arroyo Seco Pinot Noir is ruby red in color, with aromas of black cherry, ripe red berry and subtle hints of vanilla and warm spice. On the palate, soft and delicate flavors of cherry and raspberry are followed by creamy nuances and spicy minerality, culminating in a pleasantly long finish. <br><br> <b>VINEYARDS</b><br> Grapes for this wine are sourced from Ste. Philippe Vineyard – our certified sustainable estate vineyard in the Arroyo Seco appellation of Monterey County. Located south of the Santa Lucia Highlands, Ste. Philippe sits in an ancient, dry riverbed with well-drained, sandy loam soils. Coastal influence and cool winds from Monterey Bay contribute to an extended growing season which ensures complexity and intensity of the fruit. <br><br> <b>WINEMAKING</b><br> Picked in early morning, the Pinot Noir grapes were destemmed into stainless steel tanks and fermented for about two weeks. During that time, the wine was pumped over several times daily to maximize color, aromatics and flavor extraction. After the juice was pressed on the skins, it was settled and racked into French oak barrels to age for 11 months

Estancia Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautifully balanced red wine from the coastal influenced vineyards of California. Aromas of dark cherry, plum and vanilla lift from the glass, revealing a sense of berry compote. Layers of dark berries create a velvety mouthfeel, underscored by threads of lightly toasted oak, caramel and a drop of raspberry on the finish. <br><br> <b>Winemaking Notes:</b><br> The grapes for our Cabernet Sauvignon enjoy longer time on the vine to develop complex flavor characteristics and ripe tannins. We harvested the grapes early in the morning, then destemmed and crushed them to tank where they were fermented on the skins. We then pressed the wine off of skins before aging on oak.

The 2022 Kali Hart Pinot Noir is a most fruit-forward expression of California's Central Coast. Notes of crushed blackberry and cherry meld with warm notes of caramelized vanilla and clove. The mouthfeel is silky with hints of wild strawberry and a touch of dried lavender. This wine finishes smooth with a touch of minerality.

Classic Napa Valley Cabernet aromas of ripe blackberry and red currant are underpinned by an alluring dark forest floor earthiness and a high note of red licorice/candy shop. Valley floor fruit brings mouth-filling plushness to the palate, while concentrated mountain fruit drives through the core. Focused black fruit –cherry, plum, and raspberry –surge long and deep with hints of black olive and freshly cracked pepper. Polished tannins frame and lengthen the palate as a balancing acidity provides a magnifying lift. The finish is long, juicy, and plush with a thrust of grippy tannin, persisting with notes of vanilla bean, warm spice, and toasted hazelnut

It's rare to find a wine from the Napa Valley composed of all five Bordeaux-style varietals, but for many years, that has been Papillon's focus. The raw strength and prestige of Cabernet Sauvignon buttressed by the opulence of Merlot, the spiciness of Cabernet Franc, the depth of Malbec and the sheer unctuousness of Petit Verdot come together seamlessly. The 2021 Papillon is sourced from Napa Valley growers we've worked with for decades-Stagecoach Vineyard, Indian Joe, Morisoli Vineyard and even a touch from the Monte Rosso Vineyard over on Moon Mountain, just to name a few. <br><br><i>Our good friend and fellow winemaker, Greg Gorman, photographed the label.</i><br><br> The 2021 Papillon fills the glass with an unmistakable dark crimson, a flash of neon purple and a ruby rim. Tears move glacially and the wine opens with aromatics of boysenberry jam, violets, chocolate covered blueberry and hints of Cara Cara rind, graphite and brioche. The entry and mid-palate are bright throughout with considerable weight-tones of cassis, blackberry and baking spices flourish. Enveloping texture, chalky, drying tannins and an enduring finish bows out the wine.

Our 2023 Chardonnay is a bright white wine with hints of tropical fruit a whisper of toasted oak and toffee. Aromas of banana and lemongrass meet layers of crisp apple and pear. The finish is clean with a touch of Meyer lemon zest. <br><br>The grapes for this wine were harvested at optimum ripeness. To create vibrant flavor characteristics, we conducted fermentation at low- to moderate temperatures from 55°-62°F with carefully selected aromatic yeast. Post fermentation, the wine was stored in stainless steel tanks to preserve brightness and balance.

The 2021 Jayson Red Wine is rich and fleshy, with our mountain-grown Merlot at its core. Expressive aromas of crushed black cherry, mushroom, and leather lead to a ripe, focused palate of black cherry and black currant laced with mocha and toasty spice. The mid-palate is mouth-filling and plush with caressing polished tannins that guide the interlaid flavors long through a pure, persistent finish. – Katie Vogt

Our 2021 Jayson Chardonnay offers a captivating interplay of richness and finesse, with a soulful complexity revealing itself with each sip. The nose is greeted with aromas of orange blossom and honeysuckle, lemon oil, and crushed Marcona almond. Notes of preserved Meyer lemon introduce the bright, finely detailed palate, the integrated oak profile lending a complementing mid-palate richness. Interwoven notes of butterscotch, marzipan, and grilled pineapple slowly emerge and sustain through a long, layered finish.

Our 2022 Appellation Series Grenache, Syrah and Mourvédre is a symphony of deep and tart berry layers. Aromas of lavender and white pepper echo on the palate with notes of cherry, blackberry and blueberry with a subtle ribbon of warm spice. The mouthfeel is velvety with a long, lingering finish.

At Edna Valley Vineyard, we craft balanced and elegant expressions of California. The cooling coastal influence extends our growing season, creating concentrated flavors. Our luscious and complex Pinot Noir has notes of plum and pomegranate that are nicely complemented by hints of spicy oak.

To craft our Clos du Bois Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay, we looked to the premiere, cool climate vineyards of the Russian River Valley, known for elegant Chardonnay of exceptional character. This wine is bright and juicy with refreshing notes of ripe pear and citrus, leading to a luscious and creamy finish with hints of oak and spice.

Our 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold expression from Paso Robles, where ideal growing conditions produce intense flavor characteristics in wine. A bouquet of black plum, dark cherry and rich cassis meet notes of roasted fig and shaved chocolate. The mouthfeel is decadent with a creamy texture and touches of plum leading to a lasting finish.

The 2023 vintage offers a very pure expression of Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, a captivating balance of weight and intensity with bright, fresh acidity. Aromas of lemongrass, orange blossom, pink grapefruit, and Key lime pie are mirrored on the focused, layered palate. A dynamic interplay of ripe fruit, rich sur lie texture, and brisk acidity amplifies and extends through the mid-palate, introducing hints of white pepper and crushed rock. The finish is long and mouthwatering, the bracing high notes slowly melting into an echo of candied grapefruit peel.

Our Sentinel Cabernet Sauvignon is named for the shield-shaped block that casts a watchful eye over the entrance to Monte Rosso Vineyard. Sentinel opens with aromas of dense, dark fruit, Crème de cassis and bay laurel, Sentinel is rich and full-bodied, offering hints of blackcurrant, blueberry, and black cherry with layers of soft leather and wood smoke. The wine's acidity and tannins are in perfect balance adding texture and depth on the smooth, layered palate, finishing with suggestions of ripe wild blackberry.

Rattlesnake Zinfandel is a tribute to the crest called Rattlesnake Hill, the highest point of the Monte Rosso Vineyard. It’s famous for the rattlesnakes living among the vines, seeking sunshine by day and coiling around the vines at night. This Zinfandel is bold and boisterous, with intense layers black cherry, raspberry, licorice and Sichuan pepper. Vanilla and graham cracker undertones linger on the long finish this wine lives up to its name in every way, possessing a power that strikes with intense force.