Vinography Unboxed: Wines to Discover the Week of October 25, 2026

This week’s tasting lineup ranges from an uncommon California Picpoul Blanc to cold-hardy La Crescent from New York, alongside new releases from producers in Sonoma, Washington, and Napa.

Picpoul Blanc is more familiar in southern France than in California, but San Simeon’s Paso Robles version makes a lively case for the grape. It combines fresh apple and lemon with grapefruit and brisk, mouthwatering acidity. New York’s Champlain Valley offers a different kind of white wine: Rolling Hills Estate’s La Crescent, a hybrid grape bred to thrive in cold, wet conditions, is bright and juicy, with citrus, apple, pear, and a hint of celery.

Two wines from Two Shepherds stand out. The Grenache Blanc opens with struck-match and yogurt notes before moving toward melon, Asian pear, and tropical fruit. Their Cinsault comes from Lodi’s Bechthold Vineyard, whose vines were planted in 1886. Crunchy, fresh, and lightly tannic, it’s a good fit for fans of chillable reds.

Washington’s Orr Wines offers a muscular Royal Slope Red blend, with proceeds supporting a mobile health clinic serving vineyard workers. The Columbia Valley Grenache is more approachable, balancing strawberry and herbs with lively acidity and soft tannins.

The Napa selections include three wines from Girard. Its Cabernet Sauvignon pairs dark cherry and blackberry with cola and mocha, while the Old Vine Zinfandel leans ripe and dark, with blackberry, licorice, raisin, and pepper. The Artistry red blend is the most polished of the trio, bringing bright berry fruit, supple tannins, and juicy acidity.

From Clos Pegase, the Napa Cabernet Sauvignon combines cherry, tobacco, cola, and cocoa with firm tannins. The flagship Hommage Cabernet is bigger and more powerful, but remains polished and balanced, with dark fruit, graphite, cassis, and dried herbs.

Tasting notes

2025 San Simeon Winery “Reserve” Picpoul Blanc

Paso Robles, California · $48 · Score: 8.5–9

Pale greenish gold, with aromas of fresh apple and lemon peel. Apple, lemon pith, vanilla, and pink grapefruit meet bright, juicy acidity. 13.7% alcohol; certified sustainable.

2025 Rolling Hills Estate Winery “Old Schoolhouse Vineyard” La Crescent

Champlain Valley, New York · $45 · Score: around 8.5

Candied lemon peel and yellow apple aromas lead into Meyer and Eureka lemon, apple, pear, and a hint of celery. Bright and juicy, with excellent acidity. The wine includes 15% Frontenac Gris. La Crescent is a cold-hardy hybrid developed in Minnesota from several grape species. 12.7% alcohol; 70 cases produced.

2022 Two Shepherds “A Tribute to Saralee – Cate’s Corner Vineyard” Grenache Blanc

Russian River Valley, California · $28 · Score: around 8.5

Struck match, yogurt, and melon aromas give way to melon, Asian pear, jackfruit, and guava. Good acidity and a faint chalky texture. Fermented with ambient yeasts, with minimal sulfur, and aged in stainless steel and neutral oak. 12.9% alcohol; 75 cases produced.

2023 Two Shepherds “Ancient Vine – Bechthold Vineyard” Cinsault

Lodi, California · $30 · Score: 8.5–9

Cherry, boysenberry, and crushed-stone aromas lead to berry fruit and fresh and dried herbs. Leathery tannins and excellent acidity give the wine a crunchy feel, with floral notes on the finish. Made from organically farmed vines planted in 1886; fermented with ambient yeasts and whole clusters, with minimal sulfur, then aged in neutral oak. 12.6% alcohol. Find the wine

2023 Orr Wines “Royal Slope Red”

Royal Slope, Washington · $27 · Score: around 8.5

Cherry and black plum aromas carry through to flavors of plum, cola, cherry, and earth. Thick tannins and good acidity give this muscular blend structure; it may benefit from time in the bottle. 14.1% alcohol. All proceeds benefit the Columbia Basin Health Association Mobile Clinic for vineyard workers.

2024 Orr Wines Grenache

Columbia Valley, Washington · $30 · Score: 8.5–9

Strawberry, chopped herbs, and road dust on the nose, followed by juicy strawberry and herbal flavors. Cottony tannins firm up with time, and a faint vegetal note lingers on the finish. Fermented in open-top bins, then aged in old oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered. 14.42% alcohol. Find the wine

2022 Girard Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley, California · $36 · Score: around 8.5

Black cherry, cola, and mocha aromas lead into sweet black cherry, cola, and blackberry, framed by soft, substantial tannins. Oak lingers on the finish. Aged 16 months in French oak, 45% new. 14.5% alcohol; 7,500 cases produced. Find the wine

2022 Girard “Old Vine” Zinfandel

Napa Valley, California · $31 · Score: around 8.5

Ripe and dark, with aromas and flavors of blackberry, black licorice, raisin, and prune. Freshness from the acidity and a lingering black-pepper note help balance its richness. 15% alcohol. Find the wine

2022 Girard “Artistry” Red Blend

Napa Valley, California · $60 · Score: 8.5–9

Black cherry and dark-berry aromas lead into bright blueberry and cherry, with supple tannins and juicy acidity. A ripe, full-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, aged 18 months in French oak, 45% new. 14.5% alcohol; 1,010 cases produced. Find the wine

2022 Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley, California · $51 · Score: around 8.5

Black cherry, tobacco, and cola aromas are echoed on the palate, with cocoa, firm tannins, and a mocha-oak finish. Aged 15 months in French oak, 45% new. 14.9% alcohol; 1,792 cases produced. Find the wine

2023 Clos Pegase “Hommage” Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley, California · $111 · Score: 8.5–9

A powerful, polished Cabernet with aromas of black cherry, graphite, mocha, and blueberry. Dark fruit, cassis, and dried herbs meet firm tannins and very good acidity. Balanced despite its 15.5% alcohol, with a little warmth on the finish. Aged 18 months in French oak, 50% new; 120 cases produced. Find the wine

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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!