California

Country: US / J.D. Hurley Cabiolo Variety: Rosé California Winery: Martin Ranch / Central Coast Heavy and jammy for a rosé, with strong flavors of cherry, oranges and raspberries. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Nebbiolo.

Country: US / Variety: Chardonnay California Winery: Bench / Russian River Valley The majority of this wine was stainless-steel fermented, with just 20% given time in new French oak. Together it makes for a taste of apple with a twist of caramel, a fresh, medium-bodied style with vibrant, lengthy acidity and an edginess of bread […]

Country: US / CAB Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon California Winery: Avalon / California This wine has a vivid spicy, oaky aroma and the same powerful woody character dominates the flavors. It also has full body and enough blackberry flavors to complete a tasty picture, along with a very reasonable price tag.

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Weather / Russian River Valley This bold, round and supple wine manages to remain bright and light, offering supple streaks of cranberry and cherry that take on some of the appellation’s inviting cola spice. Brick tar in color, it gets better in the glass and offers good […]

Country: US / Variety: Sauvignon Blanc California Winery: Kenwood / Sonoma County For a large-scale offering at this price, this wine hits it out of the park. It honors the winery’s early days with the variety and shows off a great vintage. Grapefruit, peach and tangerine spark atop a subtle minerality and crisp mouthfeel.

Country: US / Anthem Variety: Meritage California Winery: St. Francis / Sonoma County This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc offers licorice and soft layers of red and black fruit. Intense and full bodied, veering into a leathery texture, it finishes long and ripe, dusted in mocha.

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: The Mountain Winery / Santa Cruz Mountains Intriguingly unique scents and flavors highlight this wine from the estate started more than a century ago by the legendary Paul Masson. Aromas of pomegranate juice, sour plum and elderberry jam meet with juniper, wet tobacco and spearmint on the […]

Country: US / Fiddlestix Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Summerland / Sta. Rita Hills Light notes of cherry cola, rose petals and cinnamon show on the nose of this bottling from an iconic vineyard in the middle of the appellation. The palate is more complex, with cranberry and raspberry juice notes spiced up by […]

Country: US / Variety: Chardonnay California Winery: Stephen Ross / Edna Valley Classic Edna Valley Chardonnay; it’s crisp and bright in acidity, with brilliantly-etched orange, lime and tropical fruit flavors that are laser-like in their intensity.

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Sojourn / Sonoma Coast A simple but by no means unattractive Pinot, dry and silky, with pleasant cola, cranberry and sandalwood flavors. Shows the sophistication of the winery’s single-vineyard bottlings, minus the concentration.

Country: US / Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon California Winery: Robert John / Napa Valley Rich flavors of blackberry jam, cassis and toasty oak mark this dry, tannic young Cab. It’s not showing much subtlety or grace, but that may be a function of youth. Give it six years and see what it does.

Country: US / Jespersen Vineyard Variety: Albariño California Winery: Niner / Edna Valley The tart acidity, clean minerality and intense citrus, green apple, kiwi, honey and gooseberry flavors immediately suggest a cool growing area. Edna Valley it is, with excellent results. The wine has no trace of oak, so what you get is brisk, mouthwatering […]