During 2015, I have tasted over 1,000 wines. The stand out “best wines” are listed below from my perspective. My preferred varietals are big and bold Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay. But a few blends and even a Grenache and Merlot made the cut. None of these will disappoint. Michael Kelly’s Best Wines of 2015 (alphabetical order)
| Winery | Year/Varietal | Rating | List Price | Winemaker | Website (click on text) |
| Coup de Foudre | 2012 Cab Sauv Estate | 98 WE | 95 | John Schwartz | coupdefoudrewine.com |
| Crocker & Starr | 2012 Cab Franc | NYR | 80 | Pam Starr | crockerstarr.com |
| Crocker & Starr | 2012 Malbec & Cab Franc Blend | 94 RP | 80 | Pam Starr | crockerstarr.com |
| Detert | 2012 Cab Franc | NYR | 80 | Tom Garrett | detert.com |
| Entre Nous | 2012 Cab Sauv | NYR | 155 | Philippe Melka | entrenouswines.com |
| Husic Vineyards | 2010 Cabernet Sauv | 99 WE | 110 | Michael Hirby | husicvineyards.com |
| Keever | 2012 Cab Sauv | 95 WS | 110 | Celia Welch | keevervineyards.com |
| Lail Vineyards | 2012 Cab Sauv Blueprint | 94 WS | 80 | Philippe Melka | lailvineyards.com |
| O’Shaughnessy | 2012 Cab Sauv Mt Veeder | 97 RP | 120 | Sean Capiaux | oshaughnessywinery.com |
| Outpost | 2012 Cab Sauv True | 99 RP | 125 | Thomas Rivers Brown | outpostwines.com |
| Peter Michael | 2013 Chardonnay La Carrière | 92 RP | 95 | Nicolas Morlet | petermichaelwinery.com |
| Shadybrook | 2012 Cab Sauv | 93 W&S | 85 | Rudy Zuidema | shadybrookestate.com |
| Shafer | 2010 Hillside Select | 100 AG | 300+ | Doug Shafer | shafervineyards.com |
| Tate | 2014 Chardonnay Spring Street | NRY | 32 | David Tate | tatewine.com |
| Trespass | 2012 Cab Franc | NYR | 80 | Kirk Venge | trespassvineyard.com |
| YoungInglewood | 2012 Cab Sauv Estate | 91 WS | 90 | Scott Young | younginglewood.com |
| Note: NYR==Not Yet Rated | |||||
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| Unique & Worthy of buying | |||||
| Top Wines 2015 | Year/Varietal | Rating | List Price | Winemaker | Website (click on text) |
| Alyris Vineyards | 2013 Cab Sauv Audition Take 1 | NYR | 85 | Rudy Zuidema | alyrisvineyards.com |
| Blackbird | 2012 Cab Franc & Cab Sauv Blend “Contrarian” | 93 WS | 125 | Aaron Potts | blackbirdvineyards.com |
| Conn Creek | 2013 Cab Franc | NYR | 50 | Mike McGrath | conncreek.com |
| Coup de Foudre | 2012 Cab Sauv Estate | 98 WE | 95 | John Schwartz | coupdefoudrewine.com |
| Crocker & Starr | 2013 Sauv Blanc | NYR | 30 | Pam Starr | crockerstarr.com |
| Hill Family Estate | 2013 Chardonnay Reserve | NYR | 65 | Alison Doran | hillfamilyestate.com |
| Incendium | 2013 Cab Sauv Premiere | NYR | 65 | Vince Kalny | incendiumwines.com |
| Larkin | 2013 Cab Franc | 92 RP | 75 | Jack Larkin | larkinwines.com |
| Mer Soleil | 2013 Chardonnay Reserve | NYR | 35 | Charlie Wagner | mersoleilvineyard.com |
| Meyer Vineyard | 2012 Cab Sauv | NYR | 60 | Jeff Gaffner | hestanvineyard.com |
| Mia Nipote | 2010 Cab Sauv | NYR | 39 | Chad Alexander | mianipote.com |
| Mountain Terraces | 2012 Cab Sauv “Lex’s” | NYR | 90 | Steve Ledson | mountainterraces.com |
| O’Shaughnessy | 2013 Chardonnay | NYR | 50 | Sean Capiaux | oshaughnessywinery.com |
| O’Shaughnessy | 2012 Cab Suav Howell Mtn | 95 AG | 90 | Sean Capiaux | oshaughnessywinery.com |
| Outpost | 2013 Grenache | NYR | 65 | Thomas Rivers Brown | outpostwines.com |
| Steven Kent | 2012 Cab Sauv “The Premier Series” | NYR | 100 | Steven Kent Mirassou | stevenkent.com |
| Switchback Ridge | 2013 Merlot | 95 RP | 58 | Bob Foley | switchbackridge.com |
| Switchback Ridge | 2013 Cab Sauv | 96 RP | 90 | Bob Foley | switchbackridge.com |
| Wood Family | 2013 Cab Sauv “Especial” | NYR | 52 | Rhonda Wood | woodfamilyvineyards.com |
| Wood Family | 2014 Chardonnay “Para Mas Amigas” | NYR | 28 | Rhonda Wood | woodfamilyvineyards.com |
| Note: NYR==Not Yet Rated | |||||
California Wines & Wineries 