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2024 Santa Lucia Highlands: It’s Complicated
featured, United States: California
, May 2026
On paper, 2024 looked like a return to normal in the Santa Lucia Highlands, but the wines tell a different story. After a string of extreme vintages, the growing season in the SLH seemed relatively straightforward. However, thick skins, compact clusters and a stop-start harvest produced something more complicated: thrilling whites, deeply structured reds and a slew of wines that don’t follow the usual script.
Cellar Favorite: 2016 VHR, Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
United States: California, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, May 2026
Now approaching its tenth birthday, the 2016 is every bit as stunning as it always has been.
Cellar Favorite: 2013 Rhys Vineyards Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard
United States: California, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Apr 2026
The 2013 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard is a bit of a stylistic outlier for Rhys, but it’s drinking beautifully today.
In the Sweet Spot: Paso Robles 2023s and 2024s
featured, United States: California
, Apr 2026
Paso Robles is enjoying a stylistic revolution while remaining true to its core principles of power and grace, moving away from heavy-handed extraction and toward fresher, livelier wines. From the Goldilocks perfection of the 2023s to the promising 2024s, this report dives into the estates and varieties that are redefining one of California’s most exciting frontiers.
Cellar Favorite: 1978 Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled
United States: California, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Apr 2026
Mount Eden’s 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled is dripping with old-school cool, clearly a wine from a different era. What an enjoyable snapshot of the glory days of California Cabernet it is.
Michel Rolland Remembered
featured, United States: California, Vinous Remembers
, 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
United States: California, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, 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, United States: California, sonoma
, 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
United States: California, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, 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.