Browse using the new Vinous website now. Launch →
Michel Rolland Remembered
featured, Vinous Remembers, United States: California
, Mar 2026
Everyone who loves wine, and everyone who works in wine or in a related field, owes Michel Rolland a tremendous debt of gratitude for his life’s work. Some people gain influence because of their accomplishments, but a few others completely reshape the landscape of their industry. Michel Rolland falls squarely into the latter category.
Cellar Favorite: 1985 Philip Togni Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, United States: California
, Mar 2026
Like many, I have a penchant for mature Californian wines from the 1970s and early 1980s. The 1985 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon Estate attests to the longevity of this California classic.
Moon Mountain Bounces Back with the Exceptional 2023s
featured, sonoma, United States: California
, Feb 2026
The 2023s from Sonoma’s Moon Mountain District are exceptional. A long, cool growing season with no shock events gave producers ideal conditions to turn out intensely aromatic, layered, structured wines. That’s a far cry from 2022, when intense heat and drought challenged these sites severely to the degree that some selections were not bottled at all. Readers will delight in exploring the 2023s, wines that represent Moon Mountain at its very finest.
Cellar Favorite: 1970 Hanzell Vineyards Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, United States: California
, Feb 2026
The 1970 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Hanzell Vineyards are an extraordinary testament to the quality and ageability of the wines from this pioneering Moon Mountain estate.
Going to California: Sonoma’s 2024s & 2023s
featured, United States: California
, Jan 2026
January is always such an exciting time in Sonoma, heavy rains and flooding excepted. The promise of the new year lies ahead. Many estates are releasing their latest wines. This year’s new releases are mostly from 2024 and 2023, two strong back-to-back vintages that provide fascinating contrasts, as the growing seasons were diametrically opposite. The best wines from both vintages are superb.
The Marcassin Mystique
featured, United States: California
, Jan 2026
There are few wineries in the United States, or the world for that matter, with the level of mystique that surrounds Marcassin. “Have you heard anything about Marcassin?” I am asked regularly. “When is the next release?” inevitably follows. A recent visit and tasting provided some answers during a wide-ranging conversation that ran the gamut from wine to vineyards to jazz.
Napa Valley Soars: The 2023 & 2024 Cabernet Sauvignons
napa, featured, United States: California
, Nov 2025
After three very challenging years, Napa Valley soars with the 2023 and 2024 Cabernet Sauvignons. The two vintages are quite different in style, and yet quality is very high in both years. In 2023, a long, cool growing season yielded young wines of exceptional finesse. Not to be outdone, the warmer 2024 vintage has a lot to offer as well. At some properties, the 2024s will challenge or surpass the 2023s.
New Releases: Ridge, Rhys and Centennial Mountain
featured, United States: California
, Oct 2025
This update contains reviews of the latest releases from two of the reference-point producers in the Santa Cruz Mountains—Ridge and Rhys—plus additional coverage of Rhys' Centennial Mountain project based in Sonoma County.
Santa Barbara: Out of Many, One
featured, United States: California
, Aug 2025
The refrain that kept running through my head over the course of two weeks of extensive tasting in and around Santa Barbara County was, “Is there anywhere else in the world that can do this many things this well?” The tapestry that makes up the Santa Barbara wine landscape is easily one of the most dynamic in the United States, if not the world. Through the lens of a long, auspicious growing season in 2023, Santa Barbara yielded an embarrassment of riches.
Beyond Expectations: Twenty-Three Years of Tablas Creek’s Esprit de Tablas
featured, United States: California
, Jul 2025
Constantly evolving while always staying true to its Rhône roots, Tablas Creek’s Esprit de Tablas remains one of the most ageworthy, dynamic red blends in the United States, Since 2000, the Esprit de Tablas (formerly Esprit de Beaucastel) has aimed to mirror Château de Beaucastel’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape through a Paso Robles lens, honoring the pioneering partnership between the Hass and Perrin families.