“This is a ‘wow’ wine at any price point, but especially this one.” – Jeb Dunnuck

Ironically, Jeb was talking about the full price. NOT the $24 you’ll spend on the best such blend ever put together on this planet, according to Agent Noir.

Maybe your palate isn’t fully aligned with his. That’s exactly how wine tastes go. So there are those 94-95 point reviews to carefully read, for comparison.

Amongst the all-superstar Caraccioli/Private Property lineup, we all agreed that their Pinot Noir is the best introduction to reach more Ops. Who on earth would blindly jump into a half-and-half blend of two unsung heroes of the wine world anyway? Not even them! Per Wine Enthusiast, “Caraccioli never heard of this blend, but thought the granite-grown varieties would work well together when tasting in the cellar, and he was right.”

Rarely in wine, there’s that MAGIC synergy between an equal-parts marriage in varieties. It’s the kind that lets BOTH shine through. That leaves room for a third dimension to open up and go where no math has been before: 1+1 =3.

Stunning poppy ripe berry streaks of whole-cluster Gamay lay the foundation down with just a peck of carbonic. Backing vocals of peppery, earthy Syrah get louder through the mid-palate chorus. They bring chordal harmonies that feel like not two but four hands on a keyboard.

All that jazz aside, there’s truly that unmistakable irresistibility few wines can achieve. The elephant in the room begs for you, sip after sip, to finish the bottle with ease. You’ll wonder where your reasoning went to claim otherwise.

Send your cerebral self on a vacation, and let your senses guide you to vinous ecstasy.

As Vinous pointed out, “Caraccioli Cellars’ wines are the best they’ve ever been. Chalk that up to a relatively challenge-free growing season, a maturing vineyard, ever-improving winemaking practices and a company-wide dedication to quality at any cost… 2023 is just a stellar vintage for Caraccioli.”

But who is Caraccioli, you may wonder, and how come these wines all blow your mind??! Vinous continues to explain, “Scott Caraccioli oversees his family’s 124-acre estate vineyard, Escolle, selling fruit to several large and small outfits. Caraccioli Cellars is the house label, focused on Old-World-style wines with an emphasis on the estate sparkling program, a function of the influence of the late Michel Salgues, former Head Winemaker for Roederer Estate in Anderson Valley. Salgues developed the property with the Caraccioli family beginning in 2006. His legacy lives on in the quality of these wines.”

Famous father and son winemaking consultants Greg and Chris Vita carry on Salgues’ heritage. They make sure this special vineyard truly shines in the bottle. Per SF Gate, “Greg Vita is a wizard of winemaking. He is asked to consult for more wineries than he can take on, so he looks for winemakers who are willing to try new things, invest in top equipment and listen to his judgment.”

Lying between Sleepy Hollow and Rosella’s, the Escolle Vineyard surely sits in a special spot in the breezy Santa Lucia Highlands. Which in itself is a “Burgundy” in California, with the benefits of the high elevation and the oceanic corridor. That gives a stark contrast between day and night temperatures.

This wide diurnal shift results in small berries with a much higher-than-average skin-to-juice ratio. That means wines with oomph, balance, and complexity.

Open your mind, or look elsewhere. The choice is clearly yours.

95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “A 50-50 split, the 2023 Syrah+Gamay is made from declassifying barrels from the Caraccioli program but is just as impressive as those wines (the grapes all from the Escolle Vineyard, though not labeled as a vineyard-designate), showing a core of granitic texture adorned in blue and purple fruit. The white pepper and garrigue only make it more lovable. This is a “wow” wine at any price point, but especially this one. Drink now and for another 5-7 years. Drink 2025-2032.”

94 Points – Wine Enthusiast “Winemaker Scott Caraccioli never heard of this blend, but thought the granite-grown varieties would work well together when tasting in the cellar, and he was right. Sharp aromas of peppercorns, from sansho to black, meet with brisk elderberry on the intriguing nose. The palate is tightly wound, offering a similar pairing of wild, fresh berry and a variety of pepper, finishing on hints of lavender.”