Sojourn Cabernet Sauvignon 'Atlas Peak'

Sojourn was founded in 2001 by two Napa vets who built their name chasing down the best single vineyards in Sonoma and Napa rather than owning any of their own — and Atlas Peak is exactly that kind of site. It sits above the fog line on volcanic soil, with nights up to 30 degrees cooler than the valley floor below.

Sojourn Cabernet Sauvignon 'Moon Mountain'

Moon Mountain is entirely volcanic ground, iron-rich red soil tracing the rim of an ancient caldera above Sonoma Valley. Kistler and Kamen both source fruit from the same hills. It's still flying under the radar next to Oakville and Atlas Peak — which means the price hasn't caught up to the quality yet. Get it before everyone else figures that out.

Sojourn Cabernet Sauvignon 'Oakville'

Oakville is home to To Kalon, Harlan Estate, Screaming Eagle, and Opus One — about as blue-chip an address as exists in American wine. The benchland soils toward the Mayacamas foothills are coarse and free-draining, which is exactly what gives Oakville Cabernet its structure and staying power.

Sojourn Pinot Noir 'Riddle Vineyard'

Riddle sits in the same stretch of West Sonoma Coast that put Hirsch Vineyard and Littorai on the map for California Pinot — this is grand cru neighborhood, even if Riddle itself is a quieter name. It's a ridge above Occidental, 750 feet up, gentle north-facing slopes where the fog barely burns off some afternoons.

Sombrero Cabernet Sauvignon

Over four generations of winemaking, the Vellas family have slowly assembled a strong group of properties in Languedoc and Roussillon. In beautiful sites like Mas du Pont they have created not only a vast set of vineyards but also farmlands, bull breeding, equestrian centers, olive groves and more. With Cabernet spread out across these sunny and Mediterranean climes, ripeness and aromatics are both in strong supply.

T. Solomon

I am willing to put my professional reputation on the line here and tell you that this may be the best sub $40 Pinot Noir you are ever going to try. Ever.

Tatiana Guillot Beaujolais

Most Americans have no idea how great the Beaujolais region has become. The last two decades have seen it grow, crafting some of the most intriguing AND affordable wines of France. It’s important to understand not all Beaujolais is the same, if you think Beaujolais Nouveau represents the character of Beaujolais, you’re dead wrong. Like the best Beaujolais, Julienas is firm, intense, tannic and nothing at all like the simple fruity wine from past.

Tenuta di Arceno Chianti Riserva

Located in the Chianti Classico, Arceno is both traditional and modern. Here the region’s grape, Sangiovese, has 10% Cabernet added to it, gaining both some muscle and power but also a sense of flavor familiarity from that grape too. This is one of those wines that we recommend not only because of Arceno’s excellence and the great reviews but because the 2019 vintage is universally considered to be an ideal vintage.

The Palace Thief #2

Most of the Napa OGs have been bought out or at least changed hands numerous times. The winery behind Palace Thief Napa, starting in 1969, has remained owned and run by the same family. Now, it’s a third-generation project but the critical piece, the vineyards, is really what has allowed this family to achieve such demonstrated excellence. The Cabs are firm, powerful and very classically Napa-esque.

The Palace Thief #4

The Pessimist

When the Daou Brothers took their tech dollars a-shopping in Paso Robles they only bought the best: the old Hoffman Mountain Ranch. Founded by Dr. Stanley Hoffman in 1964, this was the site of some legendary wine. I can tell you about the 1976 and 1977 HMR Cabernet, but then that would be rude bragging. Let’s just say that Daou wines have an excellent and established pedigree; this one is a powerful Syrah blend.

The Prisoner

You may know that The Prisoner is a very lush blend of Zin, Cab, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Charbono, and Grenache. You may not know is that this is what your friends called you when you were dating your ex.