UnwindWine: Search results for Robert Craig Affinity

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Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Robert Craig Affinity Duo with Grilled Beefsteaks

Robert Craig Affinity Duo Mini-Vertical with Grilled Beefsteaks

We were invited to son Alec’s and D-in-law Vivianna’s for midweek dinner of grilled beefsteaks, roasted potatoes and grilled onions - a chance to enjoy family including our grand-daughters.

Prior to dinner, we enjoyed some artisan cheeses with crackers and fresh grapes, and Linda brought a mixed green Ceasar salad.

For pairing with the grilled beefsteaks, I pulled and brought from our home cellar an aged vintage Red Blend - Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007.

This label is the Bordeaux varietal blend from Robert Craig. We have a long history with this producer and their numerous Napa Valley Cabernets dating back to their inaugural release in 1993, and they represent one of the largest and longest holdings in our wine cellar collection.

Notably, Alec had just received a recent release of this same label which allowed the opportunity to do a mini-vertical comparison tasting of the 2007 and 2022 releases. He shared, and I took home a bottle of this release extending my vertical collection to nearly two dozen vintages.

We first tasted the 2007 vintage of this wine from a barrel sample, and acquired this label release during the Robert Craig Harvest Party, at the Winery and Vineyards estate high atop Howell Mountain back in 2009 as featured in this blogpost - Robert Craig Howell Mountain Harvest Party 2009.

Linda, Robert and me
With Bill and Beth C and Rachel,
Robert Craig Hospitality Ambassador

I’ve written about Robert Craig and their Cabernet Sauvignon portfolio and this label numerous times in these pages, which are excerpted here - as last featured March 2, 2025 - Robert Craig Affinity Napa Cabernet 2007, and previously January 25, 2022 Robert Craig Affinity 2007.

We hold more than two decades of this label dating back to the inaugural release in 1993. This is part of a case we acquired of this label at the release party at the winery high atop Howell Mountain, so it is one we know well.

I have written about Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in these pages many times including this detailed blogpost back in 2019, and again in 2021 in this post - Tomahawk Rib-eye Dinner features Robert Craig Affinity Duo, both partially excerpted below.

Robert Craig is one of our favorite Napa Valley producers and represents one of our largest holdings in our cellar. We've held many wine dinners with Robert and Lynn Craig and attended many events at the estate and winery. We have many fond memories of those dinners, lunches and other tasting events, and hearing Robert talk about this label.

We visited Robert Craig's site high atop Howell Mountain several times, as shown here with wine buddy Andy, sister Jan and bro-in-law Bill, and wine buddy Bill and Beth C. One of our memorable trips featured a picnic lunch at the site overlooking the valley below shown below. It was during that trip that Bill discovered and subsequently sourced Howell Mountain Cabernet, Affinity and Robert Craig Zinfandel which they served at daughter Krista's wedding.

With Robert Craig at the estate high atop Howell Mtn
back in 2008.

As mentioned above, we hold as many as two decades of Robert Craig’s portfolio of labels’ vintages dating back to the inaugural vintage release in 1993. This label, Affinity, represents the Robert Craig Cabernet Sauvignon based blend of Cabernet Sauvignons and other Bordeaux varietals sourced from the various Napa Valley appellations.

Robert Craig flight of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons

Affinity is the Bordeaux Blend of the Robert Craig portfolio such that Robert always took immense pride in this label, as the entry level introduction to his 'three mountains and a valley' appellation select Napa Cabernets, referring to his appellation designated premium labels from Mt Veeder, Howell Mtn and Spring Mountain. There were also bottlings from Atlas Peak and Mt George and in later years he would say ‘five mountains and a valley’. He took pride in this providing early gratification quality drinking at an early age, yet as shown tonight, it has some longevity for aging for a decade or more.

I recall many times, Robert speaking fondly of this label and the QPR - quality price ratio it provided, as he strived to hold the price point of this wine to provide excellent value and be a draw to the Robert Craig brand. The appellation designated labels sold for twenty to thirty percent more. I wrote recently about the discontinuation of the Mt Veeder label after two decades of being one of the flagship labels. This was especially poignant as this was Robert's favorite label of the portfolio, having started his career on Mt Veeder.

Sadly, Robert passed away in 2019 and I wrote about him in a Tribute Blog at that time. I opened a 2007 vintage of his favorite label, Robert Craig Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon that evening.

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/09/robert-craig-tribute.html

I wrote back in 2019 about Robert's passing in a Tribute to Robert Craig, when the business turned over to new leadership.

Robert never promoted or played up the fact this label was a carefully crafted Bordeaux Blend comprising all the Bordeaux varietals, rather he focused on it as an introduction to the portfolio of Robert Craig Napa Valley Cabernets.

Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2007

This release was awarded 96 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and 92 points Wine Enthusiast.

As noted above, we first tasted this wine from a barrel sample and acquired this release during the Robert Craig Howell Mountain Harvest Party '09 back in 2009.

Robert Parker wrote in 2009, "Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the next 15 or possibly 20 years. This is the best group of wines I have ever tasted from Robert Craig Winery. Not only is there not a single disappointment in this portfolio, but these are all noteworthy wines, with thrilling levels of quality. Moreover, they are moderately priced for Napa Valley as well as ageworthy. I think these are the finest wines that I have ever tasted from Robert Craig Cellars."

Wine Enthusiast wrote of this release, 'Craig has produced his best bottling since the late 1990s'.

This year’s blend is heavier on the petit verdot, with a composition of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec.

Back in 2022 I wrote, “this exceeded my expectations for this label and indeed was one of the best drinking Affinity's in memory. At fifteen years, this seems to reaching the apex of its drinking profile. Tonight, this 2007 release was as good as any Affinity I recall ever having - a perfect accompaniment to the grilled tenderloin beefsteaks. At eighteen years this was at the apex of its drinking window, not likely to improve further with aging, but available for pleasant drinking for several years yet to come.”

Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2007 vs 2022

Tonight, at eighteen years, the label, foil and most importantly, the cork and fill level of the 2007 were pristine, ideal for the age. However, the 2007 was starting to show its age, most notably in the color, which has started to take on a slight hazy brownish rust hue, when compared to the bright garnet color of the recent release (as shown 2022 on left, 2007 on right).

Furthermore, while the two vintages showed amazing similarity in the overall tasting profile, the 2007 was starting to take on notes of dusty, earthy leather. The 2007 showed more depth, weight and concentration than the lighter and slightly more austere 2022.

Historic notes for the 2007 release - Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, elegant, polished and smoothly balanced, black berry and black currant fruits with notes of mocha chocolate and spice, hints of cassis, smoke and cedar with smooth silky tannins on a lingering cloying finish.

Tonight, based on these tasting results, I reduced my rating from RM 93 points to RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=802059

I rate the 2022 release at 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=5119384

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Robert Craig Affinity Napa Cabernet 2007

With grilled beef tenderloin I pulled from the cellar this aged vintage Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend.

We visited Robert Craig's site high atop Howell Mountain several times with sister Jan and bro-in-law Bill, and wine buddy Bill and Beth C. One of our memorable trips featured a picnic lunch at the site overlooking the valley below shown below. It was during that trip that Bill discovered and subsequently sourced Howell Mountain Cabernet, Affinity and Robert Craig Zinfandel which they served at daughter Krista's wedding.

With Robert Craig at the estate high atop Howell Mtn
back in 2008.

Robert Craig flight of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons

This is the Bordeaux Blend of the Robert Craig portfolio that Robert always took immense pride in this label, as the entry level introduction to his 'three mountains and a valley' appellation select Napa Cabernets, referring to his appellation designated premium labels from Mt Veeder, Howell Mtn and Spring Mountain. There were also bottlings from Atlas Peak and Mt George and in later years he would say ‘five mountains and a valley’. He also took pride in this providing early gratification quality drinking at an early age, yet as shown tonight, it has some longevity for aging for a decade or more.

He used to speak fondly of this label and the QPR - quality price ratio it provided, as he strived to hold the price point of this wine to provide excellent value and be a draw to the Robert Craig brand. The appellation designated labels sold for twenty to thirty percent more. I wrote recently about the discontinuation of the Mt Veeder label after two decades of being one of the flagship labels, and was Robert's favorite.

I wrote back in 2019 about Robert's passing in a Tribute to Robert Craig, when the business turned over to new leadership.

Robert never promoted or played up the fact this label was a carefully crafted Bordeaux Blend comprising all the Bordeaux varietals rather focus on it as an introduction to the portfolio of Robert Craig Napa Valley Cabernets.

Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2007

This release was awarded 96 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and 92 points Wine Enthusiast.
We first tasted this wine from a barrel sample and acquired this release during the Robert Craig Howell Mountain Harvest Party '09 back in 2009.

Wine Enthusiast wrote of this release, 'Craig has produced his best bottling since the late 1990s'.
This year’s blend is heavier on the petit verdot, with a composition of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec.

Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, elegant, polished and smoothly balanced, black berry and black currant fruits with notes of mocha chocolate and spice, hints of cassis, smoke and cedar with smooth silky tannins on a lingering cloying finish.

RM 93 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=802059

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Robert Craig Affinity 2007

Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - at or approaching its peak with a decade of more enjoyment to go.

For casual midweek dinner I took BYOB to Angelis Italian, our favorite neighborhood Italian Trattoria, from our cellar, this Napa Bordeaux Blend from one of our favorite producers, a known label from a good vintage for a dependable good selection for the evening.

This release of this label was awarded 96 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and 92 points by Wine Enthusiast.

With Robert Craig at the estate high atop Howell Mtn
back in 2008.

Robert Craig represents one of our largest holdings in our cellar. We've held many wine dinners with Robert and Lynn Craig and attended many events at the estate and winery.

We visited Robert Craig's site high atop Howell Mountain several times with sister Jan and bro-in-law Bill, and Bill and Beth C.

One of our memorable trips featured a picnic lunch at the site overlooking the valley below shown below. It was during that trip that Bill discovered and subsequently sourced Howell Mountain Cabernet, Affinity and Robert Craig Zinfandel which they served at daughter Krista's wedding.

Sadly, Robert passed away in 2019 and I wrote about him in a Tribute Blog at that time. I opened a 2007 vintage of his favorite label, Robert Craig Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon that evening.

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/09/robert-craig-tribute.html

My Cellartracker record for this label shows a half dozen tasting notes for this release going back from 21 to 2010 as shown below.

6/28/2020 - Consistent with earlier tasting notes.

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/06/robert-craig-affinity-napa-valley.html

2/10/2019 - Earlier tastings of this label cited this release being "a bit tight and slightly closed on opening, but after an hour opened up to show wonderful black and blue berry fruits". 92 Points

5/9/2013 - 90 Points

A bit tight and slightly closed but after an hour opened up to show wonderful black and blue berry fruits, red currant and slight hint of mocha - complex, polished, velvety well integrated smooth silky tannins on a nice lingering soft finish.

3/27/2010 - 93 Points - Initially a bit tight and closed but after an hour opened up to show wonderful black and blue berry fruits, red currant and slight hint of mocha - complex, polished, velvety well integrated smooth silky tannins on a big long soft finish.

Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2007

In 2009, Robert Parker wrote, "I think these are the finest wines that I have ever tasted from Robert Craig Cellars."

Wine Enthusiast wrote about this release, "Craig has produced his best bottling since the late 1990s." In 2010 they wrote, "Enjoy now or hold up to 20 years."

Tonight this was delightful, perhaps approaching the apex of its drinking profile and window. Knowing I have about half the case left, I'll need to be patient to enjoy watching this mature and age over the next decade.

Consistent with earlier tasting notes, tonight, "Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, elegant, polished and smoothly balanced, black berry and black currant fruits with notes of mocha chocolate and spice, hints of cassis, smoke and cedar with smooth silky tannins on a lingering cloying finish.

RM 93 points

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=802059

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2021/04/tomahawk-rib-eye-dinner-features-robert.html

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/06/robert-craig-affinity-napa-valley.html

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/02/robert-craig-affinity-napa-valley.html

http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2015/04/napa-vs-sonoma-2k-cabernet-duo.html

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/09/robert-craig-tribute.html

https://robertcraigwine.com/

@RobertCraigWine

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Twice this week Linda prepared dinners that called for a hearty red wine. Both times I pulled from the cellar Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Monday night she prepared baked pork chops with baked sweet potatoes and asparagus spears. Then, for Sunday dinner she prepared a beef roast with carrots, onions and mashed potatoes.

Robert Craig is one of our favorite Napa Valley producers and represents one of our largest holdings in our cellar. We've held many wine dinners with Robert and Lynn Craig and attended many events at the estate and winery. We visited Robert Craig's site high atop Howell Mountain several times with sister Jan and bro-in-law Bill, and Bill and Beth C. One of our memorable trips featured a picnic lunch at the site overlooking the valley below shown below. It was during that trip that Bill discovered and subsequently sourced Howell Mountain Cabernet, Affinity and Robert Craig Zinfandel which they served at daughter Krista's wedding.

With Robert Craig at the estate high atop Howell Mtn
back in 2008.

We hold as many as two decades of Robert Craig vintages dating back to the inaugural vintage release in 1993. This label, Affinity, represents the Robert Craig Cabernet Sauvignon based blend of Cabernet Sauvignons and other Bordeaux varietals sourced from the various Napa Valley appellations.

Robert Craig flight of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons

Robert Craig offers at least five different Cabernet labels from what he used to refer to as 'three mountains and a valley', referring to his appellation designated premium labels from Mt Veeder, Howell Mtn and Spring Mountain. He used to speak fondly of this label and the QPR - quality price ratio, as he strived to hold the price point of this wine to provide excellent value and be a draw to the Robert Craig brand. The appellation designated labels sold for twenty to thirty percent more. I wrote recently about the discontinuation of the Mt Veeder label after two decades of being one of the flagship labels, and was Robert's favorite.

In recent years, as Robert and co-owner wife Lynn retired and stepped down from running the daily business, the new owners have raised the price point of this label from the mid to high forty dollar range to mid to high sixty dollars, splitting the difference in the entry level price and the price point of the higher premium price appellation designated labels.

Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Earlier tastings of this label cited this release being "a bit tight and slightly closed on opening, but after an hour opened up to show wonderful black and blue berry fruits".

This week this was more approachable on opening and even appealing in the couple of following days, better than when young. It showed the same profile as earlier, garnet colored, medium full bodied, complex black berry and black currant fruits with slight hint of mocha - nicely balanced and polished with velvety well integrated smooth silky tannins on a nice lingering soft finish.

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=802059

For Sunday dinner, after church, Erin and Johnnie joined us for Sunday dinner and Linda's beef roast. I pulled this 2008 vintage of the Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to compare with the 2007 we drank earlier in the week.

Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Tonight this was consistent with my earlier tasting when I wrote of this wine back in 2011, "Dark inky color, medium-full bodied, black berry, black cherry, and ripe plum fruits with hint of spice and cedar on smooth moderate tannin finish."

RM 92 points.

Fellow Cellartracker,sums up this wine well in his tasting note, "At 10 years of age, this is drinking very nicely right now! Blackberry, wild berry, and black cherry fruit up front. Notes of espresso, dark chocolate, licorice, with subtle spice and minerals on the mid-palate. Still has some firm, supple tannins with a nice long finish. The extra age has really done this wine justice."

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=980053

https://www.robertcraigwine.com/index.cfm

@RobertCraigWine

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Tomahawk Rib-eye Dinner features Robert Craig Affinity Duo

Tomahawk Rib-eye Dinner features Robert Craig Affinity Duo and perhaps the best Affinity ever

With son Alec and daughter-in-law Vivianna staying with us, Linda prepared spectacular grilled tomahawk rib-eyes for dinner, carefully prepared 'Pittsbugh style', with grilled onion rings, haricot verts and whipped potatoes. I pulled from the cellar this duo of aged vintage Robert Craig Affinity's from the 2000 and 2007 vintages as a mini-vertical tasting of this label, one of our favorites.

We hold many fond memories of dinners, lunches and other tasting events with Robert Craig and partner and wife Lynn during many of our Napa Valley wine tours, and hearing Robert talk about this label.

This is the Bordeaux Blend of the Robert Craig portfolio that Robert always took immense pride in as his entry level introduction to his 'five mountains and a valley' appellation select Napa Cabernets. He took pride in holding the price point on this level which provided great QPR - quality price ratio value. He also took pride in this providing early gratification quality drinking at an early age, yet as shown tonight, it has some longevity for aging for a decade or more.

I wrote year before last, after Robert's passing in a Tribute to Robert Craig, when the business turned over to new leadership, the price of the Affinity label understandably crept up to 'market' pricing, a not insignificant increase. Current 'published price' for this at several merchants is $89. I used to try to buy it at sub-$50 prices.

Robert never promoted or played up the fact this label was a carefully crafted Bordeaux Blend comprising all the Bordeaux varietals. He did promote it as an introduction to the portfolio of Robert Craig Napa Valley Cabernets.

I've written often that Robert Craig wines are one of the largest holdings in our cellar collection. We hold more than two dozen vintages of this label dating back to the inaugural release in 1993, as well as several of the single appellation designated selections. I question how those earliest vintages have held up and need to consume them, both as part of cellar management and thinning our collection. This tasting was part of that effort.

Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2000

This showed more fruit, balance and complexity than recent earlier tastings, perhaps due to its ideal complementary pairing with the grilled beefsteak.

Still holding its own, and while it won't improve further, its probably at the end of its apex, but still well within the acceptable drinking window, again showing the age-ability of Robert Craig and other carefully crafted Napa Valley Cabernets.

At two decades this is still holding its own, past its prime perhaps and not likely to improve with further aging, but drinking nicely and no need to hurry consuming any remaining bottles.

Dark purple/garnet colored, medium to full bodied, this initially opened to a slight funkiness that revealed its age, which soon burned off to a complex, polished, nicely balanced sophisticated Cabernet with forward black berry and black raspberry fruits with a layer of pleasant, sweet, spicy oak accented by hint of tobacco leaf, black tea and leather, turning to tones of black cherry on the lingering moderate tannin finish.

RM 92

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2365862

Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2007

This release was awarded 96 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and 92 points Wine Enthusiast.

We first tasted this wine from a barrel sample and acquired this release during the Robert Craig Howell Mountain Harvest Party '09 back in 2009.

Wine Enthusiast wrote of this release, 'Craig has produced his best bottling since the late 1990s'.

This year’s blend is heavier on the petit verdot, with a composition of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec.

This exceeded my expectations for this label and indeed was one of the best drinking Affinity's in memory. At fifteen years, this seems to reaching the apex of its drinking profile.

RM 93 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=802059

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/06/robert-craig-affinity-napa-valley.htm
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2015/04/napa-vs-sonoma-2k-cabernet-duo.html

https://robertcraigwine.com/

@RobertCraigWine

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Pistache Bistro dining in Palm Beach

Visiting Palm Beach with friends, we dined at Pistache French Bistro for authentic French bistro cuisine and surprisingly, also an authentic French Bistro atmosphere, setting and vibe!

The ambiance of Pistache exceeded our expectations in its authenticity, warmth, comfort and setting.

Despite the chic and fun dining room (s), we opted to dine al fresco, outside on the patio, overlooking the nearby park and inter-coastal waterway in the distance.

What fun! It felt like we were in San Tropez on the Côte d’Azur in the south of France, sans the men playing bocci in the park!.

And the menu was equally authentic!
.
The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winning winelist featured a selection of French as well as American labels, with selections in each wine group, at the range of price points from budget to ultra-premium.

I spent a fair amount of time studying the wine list on-line before hand, and selected a Champagne, a white and a red wine considerations for our dinner accompaniments/pairing.

Not knowing what which entrees and thus associated pairing would be selected, or whether the wines would be available, I took along two bottles, BYOB, just in case, as back-ups. Notably, I selected, and took along, somewhat moderately priced, but high QPR labels in deference to our friends.

In the end, each of my preferences were no longer available, and with the blessing and consent of our server, we opened both of my BYOB bottles. Typically, I would purchase a bottle from the winelist, in addition to opening a BYOB label, not offered on the winelist. The corkage fee (s) more than compensated for my bottles.

I can’t help but partake of French fine cuisine delicacies, I started with the PATÉ DE CAMPAGNE, with House Made Pickles, Mustards, Petite Salad, Toasted Crostini, along with the SEARED FOIE GRAS, with Roasted Apple, Grapes, Cranberry Reduction and Brioche Toast. Both were delicious although the Foie Gras would’ve been better had it been served warmer, or hot.

For our entrees, our friends selected the Coq Au Vin and the Roasted Chicken entrees.

Linda selected the Branzino, which was by far the selection of the evening.

For my entree I selected the Beef Borgogne.

The white wine was an ideal pairing all the others’ selections, aside my Beef Borgogne.

Lloyd Cellars Carneros Chardonnay 2023

I challenged Bob at Total Wine in Palm Beach Gardens for a rich, full, round Chardonnay, in a forward but ‘well behaved’ or balanced style - a poor man’s version of two recent Chardonnays featured recently in these pages - Kosta Brown One - Sixteen, and the David Arthur Carneros Chardonnay. He without hesitation pointed me to this top seller favorite, from a notable Winemaker.

Winemaker Rob Lloyd and his wife Bonnie Lloyd founded Lloyd Cellars in 2009 with the mission: “to make the wines we love – big, flavorful, and deeply connected to California’s best vineyards”. They partner with leading growers in Napa Valley Carneros, Sta. Rita Hills, Clarksburg, and the North Coast to source grapes to craft expressive, small-lot wines that “punch way above their weight”.

Rob Lloyd became one of California’s most respected winemakers, honing the craft over decades working from the lab to the vineyards in several notable wineries including La Crema and Rombauer.

Rob earned his Master’s degree in Enology from the University of California, Davis in 1999.

He began working at La Crema in Sonoma working as an Enologist and Assistant Winemaker, where gained invaluable experience producing exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Rob worked at well known Rombauer Vineyards from 2001-2008, progressing from Assistant Winemaker (2001-2003) to Associate Winemaker (2003-2006) and eventually Head Winemaker (2006-2008).

Since 2008 when Rob and his wife, Bonnie Lloyd, founded Lloyd Cellars, they have pursued a shared vision to produce rich, full-bodied wines, specializing in expressive Chardonnays and balanced Cabernet Sauvignons, sourcing from the best vineyards across California.

From 2009-2014, Rob worked as Co-Founder and Winemaker of JaM Cellars, becoming one of the best-selling wine brands in the country.

Since 2009 Rob served as Executive Winemaker at Handwritten Cellars, and Jessup Cellars, and since

2014, as Owner and Winemaker at Prescription Vineyards, crafting wines that showcase the unique terroir of the Clarksburg region, with a focus on Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

This Lloyd Cellars 2023 label is 100% Chardonnay sourced from the Sangiacomo Vineyard in the Los Carneros AVA (appellation). Spanning the southern end of both Napa and Sonoma counties, down near San Pablo Bay, the area’s cool growing conditions produces some of California’s best-known Chardonnays.

It was barrel-fermented, 100% malolactic fermentation, aged 10 months left on the lees in American oak barrels.

It was rated 94 points by Tasting Panel Magazine.

Winemaker’s rating notes - “ This is a white wine for people who drink red. Big, rich, and unapologetically bold, with tropical pineapple and toasted coconut on the nose and ripe apple and pear bringing the acidity that most Chardonnays in this style never find. Full malolactic and generous oak aging build a creamy, full-bodied palate, but the acidity runs underneath the whole thing and keeps it alive from the first sip to the last. That's the balance. That's what makes it worth finishing the bottle.”

Golden straw colored, medium plus bodied, rich, creamy, and buttery, bold, expressive, aromas of yellow apple, butter, toast, pineapple, lemon, grapefruit, brioche, with notes of oak and vanilla and hints of spice, caramel and butterscotch, with moderate acidity on a long finish.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?5177069

https://www.lloydcellars.com/

For my Beef entree I took BYOB this Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend.

Robert Craig Affinity 2022

This label is the Bordeaux varietal blend from Robert Craig. We have a long history with this producer and their numerous Napa Valley Cabernets dating back to their inaugural release in 1993, and they represent one of the largest and longest holdings in our wine cellar collection.

I wrote about our long history with and collection of Robert Craig wines, and this label in this earlier Robert Craig Affinity Duo with Grilled Beefsteaks, blogpost, (https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2025/09/robert-craig-affinity-duo-with-grilled.html)

excepted here.

Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2022

With Robert Craig at the estate high atop Howell Mtn
back in 2008.

Robert Craig flight of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons

Sadly, Robert passed away in 2019 and I wrote about him in a Tribute Blog at that time. I opened a 2007 vintage of his favorite label, Robert Craig Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon that evening.

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/09/robert-craig-tribute.html

I wrote back in 2019 about Robert's passing in a Tribute to Robert Craig, when the business turned over to new leadership.

Producer’s note - “The 2021/2022 bottlings of Affinity marks our departure (at least for the next few years) from the La Londe Vineyard in Coombsville. For this vintage, we looked to our mountain estate vineyards on Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder to provide the backbone of the wine, rounded out by a handful of longtime Napa Valley growers who have long contributed to this hillside Bordeaux blend. We continue to produce a wine that is powerful and ageworthy, yet supple enough to be enjoyed upon release. More so than ever, Affinity provides savvy Craig lovers with a Napa collectible at a tremendous price point.”

This is sourced from numerous Craig Vineyards: Winery Estate Vineyard, Candlestick Ridge Vineyard, Amentet Vineyard and Temple Vineyard in the Napa AVA’s (appellations):Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, Pope Valley, and Napa Valley

The blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 3% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc

Producer’s tasting notes - “ The 2022 vintage of Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon is marked by an increase in power and complexity over more forward-fruit driven wines from Southern Napa in previous vintages. For this vintage, we looked to our mountain estate vineyards on Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder to provide the backbone of the wine, rounded out by a handful of talented Napa Valley growers who have long contributed to this mountain and hillside sourced Bordeaux blend. We continue to produce a wine that is powerful and ageworthy, yet supple enough to be enjoyed upon release.”

“A powerful yet slightly restrained wine with sweet spices on the nose and generous dark-fruit flavors on the palate. A full body and fine-grained tannins support black cherries, star anise, black licorice, iron and blackcurrants. Drinkable now but best from 2028.”

James Suckling awarded this 93 points and Vinous gave it 92 points.

Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, bright, expressive, round concentrated black berry, black plum and black currant fruits accented by notes of black tea, anise, hints of tobacco leaf and leather with polished fine grained tannins on the lingering finish.

RM 91 points.

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/5119384

https://robertcraigwine.com/

To close out the delightful dinner we shared the profiteroles …

https://www.pistachewpb.com/