Agent Cru

CEO

“Finds the perfect pairing for danger and deliciousness.”

I cut my teeth as a cellar rat, scrubbing barrels at my family’s winery Deerfield Ranch, eventually working my way up to General Manager. I started by own brand, Jurassic Wines before going on an epic mission here at Wine Spies.

I love the wine industry because it’s so multi-faceted. Wine is heavy, fragile, perishable and highly-regulated. It’s subjective art at the mercy of critics and writers. It’s a commodity with a great deal of price sensitivity. It’s an industry deeply about relationships and connections. It’s a business steeped in traditional practices. It’s an agricultural business and it’s a high-tech business.

I love wine because it’s delicious. You’ll usually find me kicking back with a Zinfandel in some random Dry Creek cave.

I love Wine Spies because we’re the best in the business (and have the most fun doing it).

Top Varietals

Cabernet Sauvignon

Pinot Noir

Zinfandel

Top Regions

Napa Valley

Rockpile

Sonoma County

Recent Picks

Lussier

2023 'Côte de Boont' Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

When discoveries get massive recognition (like 94-97 points) it gets harder to bring Ops the best deals we can.

Lussier 2023 'Côte de Boont' Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 750ml Wine Bottle

This is my favorite Pinot producer of all time. Pinots are supposed to be pretty? This one's an A-lister. — Agent Cru

Detailed Review

$29.00

$45.00

Beau Vigne

2022 'Myth' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

95 point culty Cab made heralded as “powerful, robust, muscular Cabernet…” by the much-loved Julian Fayard

Beau Vigne 2022 'Myth' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml Wine Bottle

Simply the bomb! — Agent Cru

Detailed Review

Singer

2021 Baker Lane Estate Sonoma Coast Syrah

Imagine discovering icons like Guigal, Chapoutier, Jamet, or Thierry Allemand before they soared past $500 a pop.

Singer 2021 Baker Lane Estate Sonoma Coast Syrah 750ml Wine Bottle

We rarely sell domestic Syrah because no one seems to be interested. Once I tasted this ethereal liquid, I knew that we were going to commit and try to convince the world to give it a look. It was just that damn good. — Agent Cru

Detailed Review

Buccella

2021 'Mica' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

In our best Michael Scott impersonation, here to frantically announce: “OMG it’s happening!! IT’S BUCCELLA DAY!

Buccella 2021 'Mica' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml Wine Bottle

The cat is out of the bag now, but this was absolutely one of our best "finds" ever. Just superb balance and fruit in an elegant little package for a great price. It's what you hope for every time you pop a Cab. — Agent Cru

Detailed Review

Sei Querce

2018 Miller’s Orchard Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is beyond our wildest dreams. 100 Point Winemaker, single vineyard mountain fruit, for how much!?

Sei Querce 2018 Miller’s Orchard Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml Wine Bottle

Jesse Katz has officially taken the crown for me as my favorite Cabernet winemaker. I snatch up a bottle of each and every single one of these. This is in the running for my all-time favorite wine. — Agent Cru

Detailed Review

Mazzocco

2021 'Florence Reserve' Rockpile Zinfandel

Every Mazzocco Zin we have ever featured flew out the door so don’t sit around today. This one will do the same!

Mazzocco 2021 'Florence Reserve' Rockpile Zinfandel 750ml Wine Bottle

Dry Creek Paradise. Yum, yum, yum, yum. If every single time I pulled the cork on a bottle of Zinfandel this is what I received, I'd be a happy man. — Agent Cru

Detailed Review

Post & Vine

2019 Testa Vineyard Old Vine Field Blend

And the best part? Aside from how dang delicious the wine is?

The price.

Post & Vine 2019 Testa Vineyard Old Vine Field Blend 750ml Wine Bottle

What a quirky little under-the-radar pick. Probably the best value I've seen in a very long time. Just approachable, fun, delicious, but complex at the same time. — Agent Cru

Detailed Review

Florence Vineyard

2021 Rockpile Estate Reserve Zinfandel

From a Godfather-like figure in the world of Zin. And arguably one of the best Zin origins: ROCKPILE’S CRADLE.

Florence Vineyard 2021 Rockpile Estate Reserve Zinfandel 750ml Wine Bottle

Another solid workhorse Zin. I added this to the list just so you can get a sense of my Zinfandel tastes. — Agent Cru

Detailed Review

Pezzi King

2021 'Row 22 Reserve' Dry Creek Valley Estate Zinfandel

Per Wine Spectator “Pezzi King was influential in creating the modern style of Zinfandel” as this one proves it!

Pezzi King 2021 'Row 22 Reserve' Dry Creek Valley Estate Zinfandel 750ml Wine Bottle

I'm a huge Zin fan and this one just delivered. I tend to like it when there's a dinstinctive Earl Grey tea leaf quality, and this just had it in spades. — Agent Cru

Detailed Review

Vultour

2021 Rutherford 'Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon

By former oenologist from Opus One and winemaker at Clos du Val. Don’t need a magic 8 ball to see it sell out.

Vultour 2021 Rutherford 'Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml Wine Bottle

This was one of those truly cult-y wines that absolutely delivered. I thought the label was a little bit tongue-in-cheek at first, but once you find out what's in the bottle, you see why they could get away with it. — Agent Cru

Detailed Review

Beekeeper Cellars

2018 'Hidden Hillside' Reserve Zinfandel

There’s more of your favorite RESERVE beauty than the other two Zins but will it BEE enough? The buzz says no.

Beekeeper Cellars 2018 'Hidden Hillside' Reserve Zinfandel 750ml Wine Bottle

Beekeeper was our all-time best score for Underground Zinfandel. There's not a lot of people making Zinfandel at this level of cost and quality that actually delivers. — Agent Cru

Detailed Review

Öömrang

2022 Puget Sound Estate Siegerrebe

A rare find and already a Spy favorite! Discover this unique food friendly white.

Öömrang 2022 Puget Sound Estate Siegerrebe 750ml Wine Bottle

What a joy these were to taste the entire line-up. You'd swear you were in Germany. It's just absolutely crazy these are coming from Washington State. Kudos to these bold winemakers. — Agent Cru

Detailed Review

Westwood

2019 Sonoma County Pinot Noir

From the 100-point winemaking portfolio of Atelier Melka, this (93 points by Jeb Dunnuck!) Pinot OVER DELIVERS.

Westwood 2019 Sonoma County Pinot Noir 750ml Wine Bottle

This was just a tidy little Pinot Noir that you could tell someone put some actual care and thought into. Absolutely great price for honest wine. — Agent Cru

Detailed Review