The Best of California in 2023

As is true every year, there were many fine wine releases from California in 2023.  Here are some of the top producers and their wines that we reviewed in our articles.  In addition, we reviewed numerous excellent producers and their wines in Report 96 The Wines and Vineyards of the SLO Coast.

Smith-Madrone wines from Spring Mountain above Napa Valley:  Chardonnay, Riesling, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Whitehall Lane makes rich Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley.

Argentine winemaker Santiago Achával at The Farm Winery in Paso Robles makes rich Bordeaux and Rhone blends.  Blue Rock makes some very good Bordeaux variety wines in Sonoma County.

Adam Lee makes outstanding Clarice Pinot Noir in the Santa Lucia Highlands; Testarossa also makes several excellent Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from this AVA.

Excellent Pinot Noirs are made by Gary Farrell, Morét-Brealynn and Papapietro in the Russian River Valley.

Dutton-Goldfield makes several superb Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs in Green Valley in Sonoma County as well as in Marin and Mendocino counties.  Three Sticks is also making some very very good Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Sonoma Coast and the Russian River Valley.

Rhys Vineyards of Santa Cruz Mountains makes outstanding Pinot Noir and recently also began making California wines from the grape varieties of Sicily’s Mt. Etna, Carricante and Nerello Mascalese.