Gary’s Top 10 Napa Valley Wines of 2025
By Gary Fisch
Editor’s note: Gary Fisch, a familiar and respected figure in the wine industry, shares his Top 10 Napa Valley Wines of 2025. Although he closed his St. Helena store in 2023, his ties to Napa Valley’s wine community remain strong. His 2023 and 2024 lists have been reader favorites. This year’s selection builds on that success, offering more than just a ranking — it reflects Gary’s deep knowledge of Napa Valley wines and his continued engagement with the region.
When I opened the first Gary’s Wine & Marketplace in Madison, New Jersey, in 1987, it was just a small neighborhood shop with a big dream. Since then, we’ve grown into one of the largest fine-wine retailers in the New York metropolitan area, with three stores across northern New Jersey.
What’s stayed the same over all these years is our commitment to friendly, knowledgeable service and our love of sharing great wine with our community. Our events, tastings and classes have become a huge part of who we are.
Every year, my team and I travel throughout the world’s top wine regions. These trips give us the chance to meet winemakers, walk vineyards, hear the stories behind bottles and discover wines we can’t wait to bring home to our guests. Some of our favorite finds become our “Discoveries” — wines that may not yet be on the critics’ radar but are too good to keep to ourselves. Because of our long-standing partnerships and strong buying power, we’re able to offer both those hidden gems and your favorite classics at great prices.
As online wine shopping has taken off, we’ve worked hard to make sure the experience feels just as personal as visiting our stores. Whether you’re shopping from across the country or down the street, you can always reach out for recommendations or advice — just like you would if you were standing at our tasting bar.
Even though our stores are rooted on the East Coast, Napa Valley has always been at the heart of our wine selection. Over the decades, I’ve built lasting relationships with many of Napa’s winery owners and winemakers. Thanks to those connections, we’re able to offer some of the region’s most sought-after bottles and continue to grow our Napa-focused Fisch Family wine collection — especially our Go Figure Lot Series.
This year, I’ve chosen ten Napa Valley wines to spotlight, listed below in alphabetical order. They range from customer favorites to exclusive offerings to rare collector pieces, and I’ve included a few notes on why each one made the cut.
All of these wines are available through our National Shipping Store at garyswine.com. Some are in limited supply and may sell out quickly.
Cheers to the great wines of Napa Valley.
Note: All prices listed below reflect those through Gary’s website, which are often at a discount from standard retail.
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Gary Fisch’s Top 10 Napa Valley Wines of 2025 - Tasting Notes:
2022 Barnett Merlot Spring Mountain — $74.99
We’ve always loved and stayed loyal to merlot at Gary’s, and this one is particularly special. Rich and concentrated with loads of berry fruit, spice and mineral all wrapped in silky tannins, it’s a wine that will reward those who cellar it for years.
2021 Eleven Eleven “XI” Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District — $89.99
Eleven Eleven is a beautiful winery situated on the edge of the town of Napa. We’ve been fortunate to carry wines directly from Eleven Eleven for several years and always get positive feedback from guests discovering them for the first time. This cabernet wows with layers of dense blackcurrant, plush dark plum and wild berries, intertwined with a sophisticated touch of new oak that adds depth and polish.
2021 Gemstone Facets Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley — $64.99
My team and I discovered the Facets line by Gemstone during a Napa visit in early 2025, tasting with winemaker Julien Fayard. We immediately brought in both the Facets chardonnay and cabernet. Bursting with boysenberry, black currant and mineral notes along with alluring floral detail, this is a “gem” of a cabernet that overdelivers.
2023 Frog’s Leap Jeremiah Cabernet Sauvignon — $37.97
I’ve known Frog’s Leap founder John Williams for decades. A true trailblazer, Frog’s Leap was among the first to champion organic and biodynamic viticulture in California, and today all its vineyards are 100% organic and dry-farmed. Jeremiah is an exclusive wine we’re proud to offer. Made from estate fruit, this 100% cabernet blends grapes from two prized Rutherford vineyards rooted in classic dusty soils. It’s a pure expression of Napa cabernet that shows why Frog’s Leap remains a collector favorite.
2022 Gallica Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Ranch — $184.99
Rosemary Cakebread, Gallica’s founder, crafts elegant, single-vineyard wines that capture the essence of Napa Valley. This 2022 cabernet from the Oakville Ranch Vineyard — sitting at elevations from 800 to 1,400 feet — is powerful yet refined, offering red cherry, herb, pepper and floral notes.
2015 Go Figure Lot 95 Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena — $49.99
For the Go Figure series, I began sourcing wines crafted by industry-leading winemakers who had a little extra left over from their own bottlings. The results are stellar wines, hand-selected by my team and me at prices well below what you’d pay at the winery. Because of these arrangements, we’re not always able to disclose which wineries certain lots come from.
Each series has its own “Lot Number” depending on the vintage, vineyard sites and winemaker. Lot 95, from the acclaimed 2015 vintage, is cabernet-based and now hitting its stride at 10 years old. It’s full-bodied, with aromas of black cherry, crème de cassis, leather, violet and espresso. On the palate, it’s rich and layered, with beautifully integrated tannins and remarkable depth. Enjoy now or over the next few years.
2023 Honig Sauvignon Blanc Napa — $20.99
Sauvignon blanc continues to gain popularity with our guests, and one of my favorite Napa versions is Honig’s. I love its balance — bright citrus and grapefruit notes with grassy accents. It’s crowd-pleasing yet sophisticated, a go-to wine for nearly any occasion.
Paula Kornell Brut Rosé NV — $26.99
My dear friend Paula is undoubtedly California’s queen of sparkling wine. Much like her, Paula’s wines sparkle with personality. We recently brought in her new brut rosé, and it’s fantastic — juicy red currant, cranberry and pomegranate balanced by tart cherry, with a creamy texture from fine bead and lees aging.
2022 Simon Family Estate “Golden Ore” Sauvignon Blanc — $89.99
My team and I first tasted Simon Family Estate wines in Napa earlier this year with winemaker Maayan Koschitzky, whose résumé includes Screaming Eagle and Atelier Melka. We knew immediately they were something special. We brought in both the bold Cabernet Napa Valley and the exceptional Golden Ore Sauvignon Blanc. Sourced from Rutherford vineyards, this sauvignon blanc is electric on the palate — vibrant and fresh yet silk-textured.
2023 Teeter-Totter Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley — $39.99
The 2023 Teeter-Totter Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a limited, winery-exclusive bottling we’re thrilled to carry. Founded by 100-point winemaker Benoît Touquette, Teeter-Totter shows the playful side of Napa’s elite winemaking. In the glass, it bursts with blackberry, cassis and dark plum accented by mocha, spice and violet. Silky yet powerful, with a long cocoa-dusted finish, this wine reminds us that great cab doesn’t have to take itself too seriously — it just has to be delicious.
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