A delicious, fruit-forward, Cabernet with plenty of rich texture, a dash of chocolate, and fine tannins lifting a smoke, tobacco and black fruit finish. Excellent value.
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
Perhaps the benchmark interpretation of Virginia's most important white grape, the 2022 Viognier from Barboursville is ripe and aromatic and finishes dry and fresh. Suckling's 93 point rave for the 2020 still applies:... Read More
The kind of Merlot that reminds us why Merlot was America’s favorite red (before that stupid Sideways movie). A very long, slow, fermentation and moderate new oak aging brings up lovely and lush black fruit and gives the... Read More
A big snoot- and mouth-ful of crushed berries and cherries with some cocoa dust, a touch of acidic/tannic bite, and a “I dare you to stop drinking me” finish that keeps you coming back for more. Like an Italian Chianti... 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
From a foggy vineyard near the Pacific (and one that stayed smoke-free in 2020), this is classic California Chardonnay in a fresh, almost mineral, style and just 13.7% alcohol. Bright green and yellow apple and stone fruit aromas... Read More
From a California Sparkling wine specialist, this is elegant, nicely textured, Chardonnay of fine freshness and length. In 2022, it’s all Russian River fruit from a vineyard next door to Kistler and Ritchie Vineyards and... 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
Grown just north and east of Napa, most Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon ends up as part of the allowable 20% of non-AVA fruit in “Napa” Cabernet. Here it shines mostly solo as the main component in this delicious, ripe,... 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
Jean Case and husband Steve (of AOL fame) keep going from strength to strength at this top Virginia estate. A blend of 46% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot, 7% Petit Manseng, 3% Cabernet Frac 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 57% Petit Manseng, 36% Sauvignon Blanc, 6% Chardonnay and 1% Pinot Gris done all in... Read More
Lower ABV From their vines at the west end of the Chehalem Mountains, Elk Cove creates Pinot Gris that reachest towards white Burgundy levels of complexity. There's plenty of ripe pear and stone fruit on the nose and palate,... Read More
One of the best values in Willamette Valley Pinot we’ve tasted in a long while, this has enough texture for solo sipping and enough style to shine at table, too. You’ll find rich, dark, black and Bing cherry fruit... Read More
Look, we’ve yet to find a Zin that was both satisfyingly ripe (i.e., not toughly tannic and herbal) and under 14.5% alcohol. The grape needs hang time and that means alcohol. But it turns out you can make 15% abv Zin that... Read More
Lots to talk about here, starting with the pretty absurd notion of a seven year-old Willamette Pinot Noir being a) the winery’s current release and b) selling for <$20. Willy Gianopulos has been growing Pinot on the Laurelwood... Read More
These guys make just one wine, a Lodi blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah and Merlot brought in rich and ripe at 13.5% alcohol and given plenty of French oak spice and toast. It’s richer and more ripe than the modest... Read More
The Model M tractor was the first tractor purchased by the Dusi family in the early 1900s, and now that they've moved from selling fruit to folks like Turley to making their own wine, this red blend is now the backbone of... Read More
A review of a previous vintage started off, “This is a boomer of a wine,” and that gets right to the heart of Petit Sirah in general. This is a wine that “booms” with intense blackberry, boysenberry and... Read More
Lemberger (aka Blaufränkisch in Austria) came to Washington via Canadian vineyards in the 1940s and played an important part in the state’s early wine history. While “serious” Lemberger is possible (they... Read More
There’s nothing subtle here in a robust North Coast Chardonnay that’s redolent of ripe fruit with plenty of buttery richness. From vineyards in Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Carneros and the Russian River Valley and aged in... Read More
Under $30 Napa Cabernet has gotten to be a tough place to find good wine, which is why we're glad Master Sommelier Fran Kysela was able to pull this one together! Rich, concentrated, aromas of red and black currant, black... Read More
Another great release of this, our all-time best-selling premium California Chardonnay. As always, it blends fruit from across the Sonoma Coast AVA including Carneros, the southern Russian River and cooler sites to the west. Serves... Read More
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