United States

Lower ABV Nestled in Oregon’s Costal Range, Airlie makes fine Pinot Noir and an exciting set of whites from less common grapes. And here they bang together seven of them to create a fruit-filled white with excellent volume... Read More

As the winery writes, Andrew Murray has been singularly and nearly maniacally focused on crafting Syrah for 25 years. His Everyday (in French Syrah “Tous les Jours”) Syrah from Santa Ynez gives you a good idea of how... Read More

Organic/Bio A tribute from Stephen to his wife and partner, Niki. As he explains, “The night Niki and Stephen met, they half-jokingly agreed to move to Oregon to start a family and farm. Eight weeks later they stood on the... Read More

Organic/Bio As usual, one taste and you'll think, Ah, so THIS is what Willamette Valley Pinot Gris is supposed to taste like! From an organically farmed vineyard south of Salem, it's fermented and aged 50/50 in stainless... Read More

Organic/Bio From a farmer who works his own way, a unique take on Pinot Gris - from a solera begun with the 2018 vintage and added to every year (except the 2020 smoke harvest). As Stephen writes, The core of Perpetual Album begins... Read More

Organic/Bio The wine formerly known by Stephen’s son’s name “Juel” now goes by his nickname, Little Bud. But it still tells the story of this wild vineyard in overview, combining fruit picked from all four... Read More

Organic/Bio There’s something joyfully incongruous about a bearded outdoors guy who wears flannel, farms his vineyard with horses, chickens, sheep, geese and (his own) children, and waxes on passionately about the quality... Read More

Organic/Bio There’s something joyfully incongruous about a bearded outdoors guy who wears flannel, farms his vineyard with horses, chickens, sheep, geese and (his own) children, and waxes on passionately about the quality... Read More

Organic/Bio In the past, Passiflora was the Antiquum Farm wine that made Willamette Valley Pinot Noir fans scratch their heads and mutter, Wait - what? There’s some of that in the 2021 edition, but just a touch more restrained,... Read More

Organic/Bio The edges of Antiquum Farm’s “Big Field” vineyard are kind of the far edge of what Pinot Noir can do. The winemaking is simple enough – fully de-stemmed fruit, open top fermenters, a bit of... Read More

Organic/Bio The edges of Antiquum Farm’s “Big Field” vineyard are kind of the far edge of what Pinot Noir can do. The winemaking is simple enough – fully de-stemmed fruit, open top fermenters, a bit of... Read More

As always, a benchmark interpretation of Virginia's most prominent red wine grape made in a rich but balanced and highly drinkable style. The 91 point review from JamesSuckling.com gives you a great idea of what to expect:... Read More

As always, a benchmark in Virginia wine for both immediate enjoyment with food and many years in cellar to come. In 2020, a blend of Merlot 62%, Cabernet Franc 34%, Petit Verdot 4% with the Cab Franc giving extra lift.... Read More

Morgan Twain-Peterson crafts this bold, gutsy, California red from a mixture of vines growing in some of the country's most famed old-vine sites. The base is Bedrock Vineyard (planted 1888), Nervo (1896), and Sodini (1905)... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV As always, one of the best values in top-notch Willamette Valley Chardonnay. It's from vines planted 1977-1999 on the estate, picked ripe and fresh (13.1% abv), and fermented and aged in French oak. Definitely... Read More

Organic/Bio As Wine Advocate says in the 97 point rave, The 2021 Chardonnay Casteel is complex and alluring, offering dynamic aromas and flavors as it unfurls with oxygen over several days. The nose offers lemon peel and panna... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV Ben Casteel just keeps cranking out great Chardonnay and Pinot from his family estate in the Eola Hills. As always, this is sleek and darkly fruited with just a touch more body/richness than usual. Delcious... Read More

There aren’t a lot of “great” California Pinot Noirs at this price point; this is one of them. From a vineyard at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains first planted in 1910 and then replanted with cuttings from... Read More

From all estate fruit fermented and aged in French oak, this is richer, deeper and more ripe-tasting than many Willamette Valley Chards. As Suckling says in the 92 point write-up, “A substantial and well-balanced wine that... Read More

Wine Enthusiast captures the fun and tasty personality of this barrel-aged, Oregon, Chardonnay nicely in the 90 point review: “The aromatic set of lemon, lime and lychee is a tropical Chardonnay paradise. A wisp of plumeria... Read More

Lower ABV Off and on through the early 20th century, Gamay grew in the Cote d’Or alongside Pinot Noir, so it’s not surprising it can shine in Bjornson’s estate vineyard next to Pinot in the Willamette Valley.... Read More

A tremendous bottle of Eola Hills Pinot made from estate fruit with just a little whole cluster and a lot of style, charm and power. We love the silky feel to the spiced red berry fruit and an enlivening twist of orange peel at... Read More

Just a delightful, ready to love, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from a blend of Estate and Van Duzer Vyd fruit. The dark raspberry and red cherry fruit are delicious and fun and buoyed by a lift of red berry acidity and fine, light,... Read More

One of the longest-running high-quality “value” Pinots we know of. As Robert Parker said of the 2013 edition: An authentic tasting Pinot Noir that sells for a song. Aromas of sweet red and black cherry fruit intermixed... Read More

Bouchaine releases its Chardonnays late so they have a chance to really flower in bottle. Like here, where the oak has integrated with the rich pear fruit and acids come up to keep things fresh and highly drinkable. As Suckling... Read More

Natural winemaker Chris Brockway and importer Tim Elenteny created Brea to bring low-intervention winemaking to traditional Cabernet grapes, making something authentic (but not weird!). They crush it with this Cabernet from a... Read More

Brick & Mortar is really a California sparkling house, meaning they grow a lot of cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. When Pinot gets a bit too ripe for fizz, it’s perfect for elegant, pure, juicy still wines like this... Read More

If you love California Cab’s rich blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, dash of chocolate, sweet spice, full body and fine and firm tannins that are ready to party with a steak, then you’ll definitely enjoy drinking this.... Read More

Unless you taste a lot of California Chardonnay, it can be hard to realize how big an accomplishment Bartholomew Broadbent has pulled off here. It's 100% Chardonnay, picked ripe and full of pear and stone fruit flavors perfectly... Read More

Winemaker Neil Koch has worked with superstar Philippe Melka at benchmark Napa Cab houses like Seavey Vineyards, Bryant Family and Vineyard 29 and helped make the bold whites and Chardonnays of Lewis Cellars as assistant winemaker... Read More

Locally founded and crafted in small batches by Peter Pastan and Kat Hamidi, the vermouth is striking. It starts with a burst of cranberry and orange zest and is quickly followed by an exotic spicy bouquet. It masterfully combines... Read More

Peter Pastan and Kat Hamidi’s creativity and tinkering knock it out of the park again. Take a base of quality Santa Barbara AVA wine and aromatize it with 15 different botanicals and you get Capitoline's new addition,... Read More

We're not sure why you'd start a Willamette Valley winery to make wines in the style of Friuli, Italy. But it works! This is a classic Friuli skin contact-style Friuli Pinot Blanc with crisp white orchard fruit, a steely/minerally... Read More

Even though it's just a Napa red, this gains structure and complexity from the boost of a little Pritchard Hill fruit. In 2023 it's more than half Cabernet Sauvignon plus Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and a full 10% Petit... Read More

Winemaker Morgan Lee calls his value line “City Limits” to reflect his deep connection to both Washington vines in the east and his urban community and winery near Seattle. This is a juicy fun realization of that,... Read More

Normally this needs a lot of patience, but the 2019 is nicely open and delicious already. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 24 months in French oak (75% new). 793 cases made.

Red Mountain minerality is all over this beautifully intense... Read More

A big, bold, super-rich, Cab that's very fun to drink. As Wine Advocate says in the 92 point review, The Crane Assembly's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Disciples is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from an unnamed vineyard in Saint Helena... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV A great example of a quality Pinot Noir from the Eola-Amity region when put in the hands of iconic winemaker Steve Doerner, pioneer of whole cluster ferments in Oregon. Cristom Vineyards predominately works... Read More

A welcoming, generous and fully-fruited California Pinot Noir from this old-vine site just outside the town of Sonoma. Fully destemmed and aged in French oak (a little new), it’s bursting with dark black cherry and raspberry... Read More

Darby English calls his 800 case production Purple Haze Cabernet Sauvignon blend a “cult wine” because it sells out so quickly every year. It’s a rich and deep blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah and Merlot... Read More

If ever there was a perfect marriage between a winemaker’s desire and what a site has to give, it happens here between Costanzo and Caldwell Vyd. It’s a stunning site, perched on the rim of Coombsville looking north... Read More

From anywhere in Napa Valley between Napa and Calistoga, head west and up the Mayacamas mountains. Crest the peak and look down over the red-to-purple volcanic rocks and soil towards Sonoma. See those vines at 2,200 feet down... Read More

Napa Cabernet grown to full ripeness and flavor but slowly enough and in a cool enough site to retain vivacity, purity and style. Then turned into Cabernet by an Italian-American winemaker who combines our USA preference for generous... Read More

A terrific Chardonnay with just the right balance of creaminess of texture, fresh fruit and golden butter caramel spice. Fine with food, fine solo - really, just very fine! As Jeb Dunnuck says in the 92 point review, Dierberg... Read More

A winery that wants everyone to know: Oregon’s Willamette Valley is about more than just Pinot! This is from Yamhill-Carlton Viognier planted in 1999 and thought to be the oldest in the Willamette Valley. Fermented on the... Read More

Randy Dunn makes timeless, nearly ageless, benchmark Howell Mountain Cabernet. Here he's showing off his skill and style in a more open, ready to love now, way. It's 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Cabernet Franc done in... Read More

The winery says, “We like to say our approach to Cabernet Franc is more Burgundy than Bordeaux, meaning we look for silky rather than tannic structure and favor the aromatic potential of the grape over the flavor of the... Read More

Jean Case and husband Steve (of AOL fame) keep going from strength to strength at this top Virginia estate. A blend of 43% Petit Verdot, 23% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 11% Tannat and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon gives a medium-bodied... Read More

Not content to make some of the best wines in the Commonwealth, Early Mountain makes some of the best values, too. Like here in this blend of 65% Petit Manseng, 31% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Chardonnay and 2% Malvasia done all in steel.... Read More