Sign In

Bucket List Wines

California "cult" wine gained popularity in the 1990s when riper fruit made for bigger bolder wines. The wines are usually limited production, highly rated, good investments and include many Cabernet Sauvignons. Here are ten great producers.

1997 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; signs of past seepage; light label condition issue

RP  95   
ST  95   
WS  91   

2001 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light signs of past seepage

WS  97   
ST  94+    
RP  90   

2003 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

RP  99   
ST  97   
WS  95   

2004 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light label condition issue

RP  100   
ST  95+    
WS  93   

2004 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

Signs of past seepage

RP  100   
ST  95+    
WS  93   

2004 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

RP  100   
ST  95+    
WS  93   

2005 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light label condition issue

WS  94   
RP  93   

2005 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light signs of past seepage; light label condition issue

WS  94   
RP  93   

2005 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

WS  94   
RP  93   

2005 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

Label condition issue

WS  94   
RP  93   

2009 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light capsule condition issue; light label condition issue

RP  97+    
WS  97   
WS  #36 of 2014   

2009 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

RP  97+    
WS  97   
WS  #36 of 2014   

2010 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; light label condition issue

RP  95   
CT  95.1   
WS  94   
VN  91   

2012 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

Lightly depressed cork; light label condition issue

RP  97   

2012 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

Lightly depressed cork

RP  97   

2013 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light label condition issue

RP  94+    
JD  94   

2013 Sloan Asterisk

Lightly depressed cork

VN  92   

2001 Sloan Proprietary Red

Light label condition issue

RP  99   
WS  96   
ST  92   

2003 Sloan Proprietary Red

RP  96+    
WS  94   
ST  91+    

2000 Sloan Proprietary Red

3-bottle Lot, Wood Case

WS  93   
RP  92   

2002 Sloan Proprietary Red

3-bottle Lot, Wood Case

RP  100   
WE  100   
WS  99   
ST  94   

2005 Kongsgaard Chardonnay

RP  95   
ST  93-96   

2003 Kongsgaard Syrah

Light label condition issue; light writing on label

RP  94   
ST  94