Hello and welcome to my weekly dig through the pile of wine samples that show up on my doorstep asking to be tasted. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of Vinography Unboxed, where I highlight some of the better bottles that have arrived recently.

This week I’ve got a couple more wines from Starfield Vineyards in El Dorado County to recommend. Their Viognier and their Mourvèdre are both worth checking out as higher-elevation renditions of these two Rhône grapes. The Mourvèdre, in particular, has a nice dark fruited complexion that I enjoyed.

I received three bottles of Rosato from the venerable Masseria Li Veli, one of the best-known and celebrated estates in the Puglia region of Italy. Some of my favorite rosés come from the Salento region of Italy, but most people have never heard of this wine region. These three bottles from Masseria Li Veli are a great doorway into the fresh, nerve-tingling, citrusy berry brightness that is Salento rosé. Of the three, my favorite is usually the Susamaniello, made from an obscure grape of the same name. These are all good grabs anytime you see them, but frankly, if you see any light pink bottle of wine from Salento, it’s almost always a good bet.

Closer to home, I have two more single-vineyard wines from Pali Wine Co. to recommend. Both are made in a classic, richer style that conveys their oak elevage, but thanks to the cooler climate, manage to stay fairly restrained in terms of their alcohol levels.

The folks at Dutton-Goldfield sent through some current releases this past week as well, and, as usual, I really enjoyed them. Their two single-vineyard Pinot Noirs are juicy and ageworthy, and their Morelli Lane Zinfandel is a refreshingly ethereal take on the grape, making it a real pleasure to drink.

Lastly, for those who enjoy Syrah on the more savory end of the spectrum, I can recommend the bottle that Ted Kizor sent me from Sonoma Mountain. Kizor Family Cellars is a small project from Ted and his wife, Gabriella Steyl. Though they live in Napa, they don’t make Cabernet (or any wine from Napa). Instead, they focus on Riesling and Syrah. Their Syrah has a nutty, earthy quality, and tannins burly enough that a few years in the bottle wouldn’t hurt, but I suspect this is a wine that will improve with time.

Notes on all these wines below.

Tasting Notes

2024 Starfield Vineyards Viognier, El Dorado, Sierra Foothills, California
Pale gold in color, this wine smells of peaches and orange peel. In the mouth, orange peel, apricot, and pear flavors have decent acidity and a faint baking spice note that leans bitter in the finish. I’d like a little bit more zip here. 13.7% alcohol. Closed with a screwecap. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $36. click to buy.

2025 Masseria Li Veli “Torrerose” Rosato of Negroamaro, Salento, Puglia, Italy
Palest baby pink in the glass, this wine smells of citrus peel, rosehips, and berries. In the mouth, crisp watermelon and berry flavors are shot through with citrus pith and wet pavement. Crisp and lean, and zippy with excellent acidity. 12% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $20. click to buy.

2025 Masseria Li Veli “Askos” Rosato of Susumaniello, Salento, Puglia, Italy
Palest baby pink in color, this wine smells of watermelon and watermelon rind, wet chalkboard, and a hint of red berries. In the mouth, zippy redcurrant and hibiscus notes mix with watermelon rind and grapefruit pith, as juicy acidity makes the mouth water. Crisp, bright, and delicious. 12% alcohol. Score: around 9. Cost: $30. click to buy.

2025 Masseria Li Veli “Sybar” Rosato of Primitivo, Salento, Puglia, Italy
Palest pink in color, this wine smells of bubblegum and unripe blackberries. In the mouth, silky textured flavors of unripe blackberry, raspberry, and redcurrant have a nice tangy brightness and juicy acidity. There’s a faint bitterness in the finish. 12.5% alcohol. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $??

2022 Pali Wine Co. “Pali Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, California
Medium garnet in the glass with ruby highlights, this wine smells of cherry, raspberry jam, and brown sugar. In the mouth, cherry and cranberry fruit have a supple, seamless tannic texture and slightly less acidity than I would like. There’s a harmonious quality to this wine that is compelling, but I’m missing a bit of zing. Mocha notes linger in the finish. 14% alcohol. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $85. click to buy.

2022 Pali Wine Co. “Rancho la Viña Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, California
Medium garnet in the glass with ruby highlights, this wine smells of cherry and baking spices, brown sugar, and dried herbs. In the mouth, cherry and brown sugar flavors are wrapped in fine, powdery tannins as notes of mocha and herbs linger in the finish. Decent acidity. 13.7% alcohol. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $85. click to buy.

2023 Dutton Goldfield “Docker Hill Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Mendocino County, California
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cherries and raspberries and a hint of raspberry leaf. In the mouth, bright raspberry, pomegranate, and redcurrant flavors are zippy with fantastic acidity. Fine-grained but muscular tannins coat the mouth and stiffen slightly as notes of sweet oak linger in the finish. Likely to age well. Fermented in open-top fermenters with thrice-daily punchdowns. Aged in 45% new French oak for 17 months. 13.5% alcohol. 202 cases made. Score: around 9. Cost: $80.

2023 Dutton Goldfield “Dutton Ranch – Emerald Ridge Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Green Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of raspberry pastilles and candied sour cherries. In the mouth, raspberry and sour cherry flavors are bright with juicy acidity and shot through with the faint vanilla sweetness of oak. Excellent acidity and faint grippy tannins round out a boisterous and, likely, ageworthy mouthful. Fermented in open-top fermenters with thrice-daily punchdowns. Aged in 50% new French oak for 18 months.14.1% alcohol. 308 cases made. Score: around 9. Cost: $75. click to buy.

2023 Dutton Goldfield “Dutton Ranch – Morelli Lane Vineyard” Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Light to medium garnet in the glass with ruby highlights, this wine smells of blackberry pie and sour cherries. In the mouth, juicy blackberry and sour cherry flavors mix with raspberry leaf, black pepper, and a hint of licorice. Faint tannins add some grip, and excellent acidity make this a very lighthearted and bright rendition of the grape. Fermented in open-top fermenters with twice-daily punchdowns. Aged in 40% new French oak for 18 months.14.1% alcohol. 153 cases made Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $55.

2023 Starfield Vineyards Mourvèdre, El Dorado, Sierra Foothills, California
Medium garnet in the glass with purple highlights, this wine smells of blueberries, licorice, and black cherries. In the mouth, sweet oak brightens flavors of blueberries and black cherries, as barely perceptible tannins hang in the background. I find myself wishing for a bit more acidity. 14.3% alcohol. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $42.

2023 Kizor Syrah, Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma County, California
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of wet iron, ink, and dark berries. In the mouth, blueberry and blackberry flavors are wrapped in thick fleecy tannins as white pepper and earth flavors take on a faint salinity. Leans quite savory, with hints of crushed hazelnuts in the finish. I’d give this one a couple-few years in the bottle. 12.8% alcohol. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $48. click to buy.