California Wines & Wineries

Best Wines Tasted in 2021

Posted on December 15, 2021 Updated on December 16, 2021

2021 continued to be an unusual and strange year with fires and Covid-19 especially in California. While I am generally fortunate enough to taste and appreciate over 1600+ wines, this year with Covid 19, fires, etc., I was only able to taste a little over 1400+ wines. This list roughly represents the top 5.5% of those wines. I have broken it out by price point, those $50 and under and those $51 and up—-something for everyone! The picks also span almost the entire state AVA’s and sub-AVA’s. I believe whole heartily and stand by these picks. There were many other very good and solid wines, but these “stood out” in the crowd.

No matter which category, each wine listed will enhance your tasting experience. These wines represent some of best quality for California wines. Most can be purchased at the winery only and are based upon availability. On the California Wines and Wineries website (not blog) you can put the name of the wine/winery in the search engine and most have stories associated with each wine for a deeper dive.

During the year I have kept meticulous notes on each wine tasted and hope you enjoy these selections in the coming year. Wishing you a wonderful holiday and that your New Year be prosperous, meaningful and find you in good health.

Sláinte,

Michael

https://californiawinesandwineries.com

$50 and less

Vintage	Winery	Varietal
2016	3 Steve’s	Carmenere
2018	Acquiesce	Roussanne
2018	Acquiesce	Picpoul Blanc
2018	Acquiesce	“Ingenue”, Blend
2019	Acquiesce	Clariette Blanche
2019	Acquiesce	Bourboulenc
2017, 2018	Acre Wines	Zinfandel
2018	Acre Wines	Merlot
2015	Alyris	Chardonnay, The Audition
2017	Borjon	Petite Sirah
2019	Cellar 13	Chardonnay
2017	Cuda Ridge	Cabernet Franc
2019	Cuda Ridge	Carmenere
2019	Dave’s Porch Wine	Sauvignon Blanc
2017	Dracaena Wines	Cabernet Franc, Reserve
2017	Hindsight	Cabernet Sauvignon, 20/20
2020	Hindsight	Sauvignon Blanc
2018	Iron Hub	Chardonnay
2018	Lavender Ridge	Roussanne
2016	MadoroM	Sauvignon Blanc
2016	Mineral Wines	Meritage
2019	Prospect 772	“Black Tie Charlie”, Blend
2017	Rosa Fierro Cellars	Primitivo
2018	Smith-Madrone	Riesling
2019	Tenbrink	Chardonnay
2016	Tobin James	Nebbiolo
2016	Tobin James	Legrein, Silver Reserve
2016	Twisted Oak	Mourvedre, River of Skulls
2016	Twisted Oak	Graciano
2018	Wood Family	“Against the Grain” Blend
2018	Wood Family	Malbec
2019, 2020	Wood Family	Chardonnay
2016	Zuidema	Grenache

Add 2015, Shale Canyon, Cabernet Franc to Below $50.

$51 and up

Vintage	Winery	Varietal
2014	Arkenstone	Cabernet Sauvignon, NVD
2018	Austin Hope	Cabernet Sauvignon
2013	Barnett Vineyards	Merlot
2014	Blackbird	Contrarian, Blend
2016, 2018	Brecon	Cabernet Franc
2016	Calla Lily Estate	Cabernet Sauvignon
2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015	Crocker & Starr	Cabernet Sauvignon, Stone Place
2014, 2015	Crocker & Starr	Cabernet Franc
2011	Detert Family	Cabernet Franc
2013	Duckhorn	Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mtn
2017	Duckhorn	Merlot, 3 Palms
2017	Hawk & Horse	Cabernet Sauvignon, Block Three
2017	Hawk & Horse	Petit Verdot
2010	Hewitt	Cabernet Sauvignon
2015	Hindsight	Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mtn
2011, 2017	Justin Vineyards	Isoceles, Blend
2009	Keenan	Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mtn
2013	Keenan	Cabernet Franc
2017	L’Autre Cote	Cabernet Franc, Sachau
2008, 2017	Lineage	Bordeaux Blend
2016	MadoroM	Cabernet Sauvignon
2016	MadoroM	Merlot
2018	Maritana	Chardonnay, La Riviere
2014	Meyer Vineyards	Cabernet Sauvignon
2010	Nickel & Nickel	Chardonnay, Branding Iron
2008	Oakville East	Cabernet Sauvignon, Exposure
2007, 2011	O’Shaughnessy	Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt Veeder
2010	Outpost	Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mtn
2012	Outpost	Cabernet Sauvignon, True Vineyards
2013	Peter Michael	Chardonnay, Mon Plaisir
2009	Progeny	Cabernet Franc, Mt Veeder
2016	PrueCru	Cabernet Franc
2010	Robert Mondavi	Cabernet Sauvignon, Private
2012	Sarocka	Cabernet Sauvignon
2005, 2006	Silver Oak	Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2010	Skipstone	Cabernet Sauvignon, Faultline
2018	Smith-Madrone	Cabernet Sauvignon
2017	Summit Lake	Cabernet Sauvignon,” Emily Kestrel”
2012	Tate Wines	Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt Veeder
2015	Tate Wines	Merlot, Spring Mtn
2019	Titus Vineyards	Cabernet Franc
2019	Titus Vineyards	Cabernet Sauvignon
2012	Trespass Vineyards	Cabernet Sauvignon, Rendezvous
2013	Villa Vallecito	Sagrantino
2010	Vineyard 29	Cabernet Sauvignon
2018	Vinoce	Cabernet Franc
2017	VJB Cellars	Aglianico, Estate
2015	YoungInglewood	Malbec

Also $51 and up are:

2017 Diamond Mountain, Cabernet Franc

2016 Palazzo Wine, Cabernet Franc

2017 Shadybrook Estate, Cabernet Franc