Best Wines Tasted in 2023

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2023 continued to be a busy year tasting, judging and evaluating wines. Typically I have the opportunity to taste or enjoy between 1400 to 1800 wines a year. This list roughly represents the top 15% of those wines. I have broken it out by price point, those $50 and under and those $51 and up—-something for everyone! They are sorted by varietal, then a listing of miscellaneous wines (Timorasso, Picpoul Blanc, Assyrtiko, Lagrein, etc.) and finally foreign wines. The picks come from almost the entire California AVA’s and sub-AVA’s, several states and various countries.  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 with my highest ratings. Once a wine makes this list I put my money where my mouth is and stock these wines in the cellar. Most of these wines have been written up and you can do a search for the story on the right hand side on a PC or laptop on my website.

 Cabernet Franc
<$50  $50+
2020, 2022 L’Autre Cote Blanc2012,2013 Detert Vineyards
2018, 2020 Wood Family2013 Keenan
2019 Kautz & Kramer2020 LXV Wines
2019 Mineral Wines2019 Brick Barn Wine Estate
2017 Granite Heights2019 Titus Vineyards
2017 Shale Canyon2019 Ledson Winery “Moon Mtn”
2019 Pearmund2013 Croker & Starr
2020 Terra Vina2019 Diamond Mountain Vineyards
NV – Dracaena Phoenix2019 pureCru Reserve
2018, 2019, 2020 Villa Vallecito2017 Selin Cellars
2019 Kenefick Ranch2019 Middle Oak
2020 Ancient Peaks2018 Oakville East
2021 Dracaena Reserve Plummer2020 Ancient Peaks
 2016 Vinoce Mt Veeder
 2016 Aridus Barrel Select
 2019 Gundlach Bundschu
 2019 Brecon Estate
    Cabernet Sauvignon
<$50$50+
2018 Hindsight 20/202012 O’Shaughnessy Howell Mtn
2021 Barra Reserve2010 Robert Mondavi
2020 Wood Family “Viva”2010 Buccella
2020 Ancient Peaks Estate2009,2010 Entre Nous
 2009, 2011,2014 O’Shaughnessy Mt Veeder
 2009 Kelly Fleming
 2020 Bennett Lane Reserve
 2010 Hewitt
 2013, 2014 Meyer Vineyards
 2011 Crocker & Starr Stone Place
 2019 VJB Dante
 2013 YoungInglewood Estate
 2011 Outpost Howell Mtn
 2018 McKenzie-Muellar
 2019 Titus Vineyards
 2019 Justin
 2009 Lineage
 2012 Sarocka Spring Mtn
 2019 Wood “Clone 30”
 2017 Hindsight Napa Estate
 2014 Arkenstone NVD
 2016 Charles Krug Limited Release
 2020 Robert Craig Howell Mtn
 2018 Duckhorn Howell Mtn
 2015 Laura Michael Rutherford
 2019 Smith Madrone
 2016 deLorimier Warm Springs
 2009,2010 Larkmead Solari
 2020 Patrimony
 2020 Ancient Peaks Oyster Cuvee Pearl
 2021 LXV Meso
 2018,2019,2020 J.Lohr Cuvee St E
  Carménère
<$50$50+
2018, 2019 Cuda Ridge Wines 
2020 Cuda Ridge Wines Insel 
  Chardonnay
<$50$50+
2021 Wood Family2019 Ledson Dutton Ranch
2018 Tenbrink Family2019 Maritana La Rivière
2018,2020 Iron Hub2019 Maritana Dutton Ranch
 2014 Peter Michael Mon Plaisir
  Grenache
<$50$50+
2017 Villa Vallecito2020 Optio Grenache
2017 Zuidema 
  Malbec
<$50$50+
2020, 2021 Wood Family2016 Crocker & Starr Casili 9
2020 ROX Naked Wines2017 Titus Vineyards
 2021 Austin Hope Cellars Select
            Meritage/Blends
<$50$50+
2019 S.P. Drummer Naked Wines2018 Justin Isosceles Reserve
2021 Wood Family “El Loco Rojo”2019 Cuda Ridge Mélange d’Amis
2018 J.Lohr Cuvee St E2016 Madrigal Sonet #63
2020 3 Steves Zig’s Blend 
2021 Prospect 772 Black Tie Charlie 
2020 Lavender Ridge “Anniversaire Blanc” 
2021 Dracaena Cinnabari blend 
  Merlot
<$50$50+
2019 Acre Wines2016 MadoroM
     Negroamaro
<$50$50+
2018 Gossamer Cellars2019 VJB Cellars
           Petit Verdot
<$50$50+
2021 Wood Family 
2018 Cuda Ridge Wines 
Pinot Noir
<$50$50+
2018 Beresini “Black Dog”2018 Taddei Wines Indinoli Vineyards
   Roussanne
<$50$50+
2018 Lavender Ridge 
2019,2021 Acquiesce 
   Sauvignon Blanc
<$50$50+
2021 Dave’s Porch Wine 
2020 Hindsight Wines 
2020 deTent Wines 
2022 Cuda Ridge Wines 
2019 Cooper’s Hawk 
2019 Cooper’s Hawk 
     Zinfandel
<$50$50+
2019 Iron Hub “Clock Spring”2016 Ledson “Old Vine” Howell Mtn
          Miscellaneous Wines
<$50$50+
2022 New Clairvaux Assyrtiko2018 Tobin James Lagrein “Silver Reserve”
NV Jazz Cellars Blanc de Blanc2019 J.Lohr Saint Macaire
2013 Paoletti Nero d’ Avola2018 VJB Aglianico
2016 Allegorie Tempranillo2021 LXV Meso Syrah
2019 Mineral Wines Tempranillo2021 Optio Tempranillo Estate
2018 Borjon Primitivo Reposado2021 Optio Petite Sirah Estate
2020 Oddero Derthona Timorasso2019 VJB Cellars Montepulciano
2019 Aridus Graciano 
2020 Wood Family LVVC 
2020 Jessie’s Grove Alicante Bouschet 
2020 Barra Petite Sirah Reserve 
2021 Acquiesce Picpoul Blanc 
2019 Smith Madrone Riesling 
Foreign Wines (not by price listing)
2015 Puligny-Montrachet Les Perieres 
2020 Mendel Malbec 
2016 Montunal Chardonnay 
2013, 2016 Vatan Tinta de Toro 
2009 Ettore Germano Parpo Barolo 
2016 Monteagrelo Cab Franc 
2015 Koyle Carménère 
2020 Cantna Zaccaemini Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo 
2019 Clos d’ Angel Malbec 
2019 Clos d’ Angel Halo Carménère 
2020 Colome Estate Malbec 
2012 Casado Morales Rioja 
2014 Mendel Finca Remota 
2017 Corti Bros Canzoniege Cab Franc 
2017 Sino Da Romaneira Blend 
2021 Norton Malbec Reserva 
2022 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 
2009 Chêne Bleu Abelard Blend 

Sláinte,

Michael

https://californiawinesandwineries.com

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