GUINIGI

Wine Reviews

94

Daou Vineyards 2023 Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles ($40)

A notable inky black opaque hue leads to a bloom of violets. Black plum and bittersweet chocolate are sumptuous, ripe, and rich. This is a driving force of a wine: muscular and seamless.

94

Daou Vineyards 2023 Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles ($40)

A notable inky black opaque hue leads to a bloom of violets. Black plum and bittersweet chocolate are sumptuous, ripe, and rich. This is a driving force of a wine: muscular and seamless.

90

David Finlayson 2021 Camino Africana Chardonnay, Shale Terraces, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($20)

Flinty and bright, with chamomile, mango, and burnished orange peel.

93

David Finlayson 2024 Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($20)

Aromas of banana and crème brûlée lead to a beautifully balanced white. Notes of tropical fruit, orange cream, and brioche are set against a backdrop of well-placed acidity, for a long and complex finish.

93

Decoded 2025 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley ($29)

Lemon drop whets the palate, tart and precise. A hint of thyme and cut grass are anchored by searing acidity. A salty sea breeze rushes in, clinging to notes of crushed stone.

98

Delectus 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bear Crossing, Atlas Peak, Napa Valley ($165)

Sage, mint, espresso, and graphite team up for a concentrated, textural furry plushness. Cocoa dusts the palate and blackberries reach deep into the wine’s intensity; wildly powerful, with a poetic soul.

93

DeLoach Vineyards 2025 Pinot Gris, CA ($16)

Sourced from CSWA-certified sustainable vineyards in the Clarksburg Delta and fermented and aged in stainless steel, without ML. With a focused, saline mineral base, this delicate white shines with bright acidity. Honeyed pears, jasmine, lemon ice, and green tea are delivered with grace.

94

Domaine Della 2023 Pinot Noir, Earl Stephens Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($90)

A spicy beginning showcases cinnamon stick and white pepper seasoning dried rose petals, red tea, tomato leaf, and tart cherries. Frisky acidity maintains freshness.