Wine Reviews

95

Centennial Mountain 2022 Carricante, Sonoma County ($49)

An indigenous white grape from Sicily’s Mt. Etna, it displays excellent character high atop Centennial Mountain Vineyard’s schist soil, at 2,000 feet. Mineral tones gleam, with electrifying lemon verbena and honeyed Golden apple.

95

Centennial Mountain 2022 Nebbiolo, Sonoma County ($79)

In a blind tasting, this red could fool the best palate into believing it hailed from Piedmont. Dusky tannins are refined and elegant, with rose petals and vibrant cherries. Crisp acidity accents its freshness. Cinnamon unites with tilled soil, displaying a distinct, earthy minerality.

95

Centennial Mountain 2022 Nerello Mascalese, Sonoma County ($59)

With spice lining a bevy of fruit – from plum to cherries and quince – and enveloped by angelic floral tones, the wine shows a balance of backbone as much as it does a linear finesse. Mineral tones go earthy, with exotic incense and cardamom. Dry-farmed and planted at 2,000 feet in elevation.

92

End of the Day 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles ($40)

Ripe and juicy, with energy and stamina. The flow of red berries wash over white pepper, calming any edges. Vanilla and red plum team up on the gratifying finish.

94

End of the Day 2024 Albariño, Paso Robles ($30)

With five months of barrel aging in 77% neutral French oak, along with the expected stainless-steel barrels, the outcome is a salty sea breeze with a caress of lemon chiffon and pear tart. White jasmine rice adds a clean note along with fresh linen and candied pineapple. Crisp, with a vanilla coating on the palate.

93

Gehricke 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Valley ($29)

Alluring notes of honeysuckle and wispy lime chiffon, with a base of meringue and guava. All stainless steel fermented, this aromatic gem is lithe with a balanced acid structure.

92

Hall Ranch Winemaker’s Reserve 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles ($25)

Ripe and rich, with graphite and earth tones. Blackberry-espresso is deeply knit into the fabric of the wine, its suede tannins making way for a juicy flow of vanilla-cedar on the finish.

92

Isabel Estate 2025 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ ($20)

Intensity meets poise in this estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc. Notes of grapefruit and wet stone come seasoned with savory herbs like thyme and oregano plus a dash of white pepper on both the nose and the palate, which is decidedly crisp with lemon and orange zest but not without some gloss and weight thanks to partial fermentation in French oak. The tang of green tomato on the finish is subtle but no less seductive for that.