Sonoma County Wines Make Their Mark in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 List

More than 10,000 wines were carefully assessed to create Wine Spectator’s annual Top 100 list, which features the most exciting selections of the year. Among these, Sonoma County wines made a remarkable impact, with four landing in the top ten and a total of ten making the full list.

The wines highlighted were chosen from over 5,500 that were blind-tasted by the magazine’s editors within the past year and rated 90 points or higher. They were judged based on quality, value, availability, and an undefinable quality that captivates the palate.

Ranking second is the Aubert Wines 2023 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay from UV-SL Vineyard priced at $100, known for its impressive combination of flavors including crème brûlée, orange curd, and peach preserves, accented by nutmeg and Saigon cinnamon.

Ridge Vineyards 2023 Lytton Springs from Dry Creek Valley, priced at $56, comes in at third. This complex Zinfandel, along with its blends, is described as deeply structured with bold notes of blackberry, savory anise, and dark Asian spices.

At number four is William Selyem’s 2023 Pinot Noir from Eastside Road Neighbors, retailing for $72. Its floral character and luscious energy embody the vintage’s purity with flavors of boysenberry and loganberry.

Wayfarer’s 2023 Pinot Noir from Fort Ross-Seaview, priced at $100, takes number eight with its rich blend sourced from multiple estate parcels showcasing various mutant clones.

Additional notable mentions from Sonoma County in the Top 100 include:

• No. 12: Bedrock Wine Co. 2023 Bedrock Vineyard Heritage Red Wine, Sonoma Valley – $60
• No. 22: Patz & Hall 2022 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast – $35
• No. 24: Dry Creek Vineyard 2033 Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg – $18
• No. 39: Hartford Family 2022 Old Vine Zinfandel, Russian River Valley – $50
• No. 42: Ravenswood 2023 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley – $27
• No. 46: Dehlinger 2023 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley – $50
• No. 98: Platt Vineyard 2023 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, West Sonoma Coast – $165

For the full list, visit Wine Spectator’s Top 100.

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!