Our Take: Wowzers, the 2023 Los Meganos Carignane is bursting with juicy blue and red fruit, from boysenberry and dark raspberry to tart cherry and plum. White peppercorn, dried sage, and a touch of bittersweet chocolate add a savory edge, while the lovely acidity keeps everything crunchy and energetic. The tannins bring a dusty, chalky grip, balanced by a velvety finish that keeps you coming back for another sip.

95 points Vinous Media
Drinking window: 2026 - 2035
The 2023 Carignane Les Meganos offers up an exotic mix of blue fruits, leather, licorice, lavender and cloves. Ample in its breadth, with palate-staining intensity, the Meganos is a rich, heady Carignane. Whereas the Spenker Ranch is on the delicate side, the Meganos is a very much an extrovert. I loved it.

There are a ton of highlights in these new releases from Mike Schieffer and Kara Maraden. The 2023 reds in particular show just how special this vintage is in the right spots, for example, Lodi and Contra Costa, where typically warm microclimates fared especially well in a cool vintage. Carignane, Grenache, Mataro and Syrah all shine in this range. I was also intrigued by the Chenin Blanc from Chalone, one of the truly great vineyards in the United States, and the Sémillon from Bedrock Vineyard. Readers will find wines that are all about capturing the essence of variety, site and vintage. - Galloni January 2025