United States Wine

While the movie Sideways kicked off the California Pinot Noir boom in 2004, it was the anointing of Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2009 as Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year in 2011 that really kicked things into high... Read More

A throwback to 1980s Zinfandel – big, ripe, peppery, spiced with a bit of American Oak but not at all sweet or heavy (despite the bold 14.9% alcohol). An upgrade cookout red par excellence, this is 100% old-clone Zinfandel... 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 very different take on Willamette Valley Pinot Gris even beyond the depth, richness and character imparted by Stephen Hagen’s very different grazing-based viticulture. Here the wine spends 40 days on the skins... Read More

Organic/Bio My note for this is pretty much the same every year: 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... 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 Grazing-based viticulture seems to unlock the wild side in Willamette Valley grapes. Like with the westernmost 24 rows of Stephen Hagen’s Pinot Gris, which starting in 2010 started giving berries in a wild range... Read More

Organic/Bio While Stephen Hagen and his team are fine winemakers, the real story here is winegrowing. Stephen’s unique “grazing based viticulture” replaces herbicides, mowing, plowing and fertilizers with something... 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 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

Big. Rich. Dark. Smooth. If that's what you look for in California Cabernet, no need to look further - it's what this intense Paso Cab delivers in spades. As Wine Enthusiast said a few years ago, The experience of this... Read More

Barboursville helped make Cabernet Franc Virginia's red grape and still makes some of the best. Wine Enthusiast describes the new 2023 edition well in their 90 point review: Enveloping on the palate, with supple fruit, Barboursville... Read More

As always, a benchmark in Virginia wine for both immediate enjoyment with food and many years in cellar to come. In 2021 it's a blend of Merlot 64%, Cabernet Franc 21% and Petit Verdot 15% all aged 12 months in 40% new French... Read More

The old-vine specialists at Bedrock craft this bold, highly drinkable, California Syrah mainly from Bien Nacido and Bedrock vineyards with 15% Viognier co-fermented for even more freshness and fruit. The blend of rich, dark, fruit... 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

Brian Marcy and Claire Carver make some of the most purely delicious wines in the Willamette Valley. This is a barrel selection from all 7 vineyards they work with, it’s a true portrait of the outstanding 2023 harvest. Whole... Read More

In 1969, George Besson planted these Chardonnay vines in an abandoned plum orchard at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains. He and his son have farmed it ever since, and here artisanal producer Birichino captures the magic of... 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

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