California

Country: US / Tumbas Vineyard Variety: Viognier California Winery: Legendre / Amador County Opening with a pretty honeysuckle nose, this Viognier is completely in balance, with layers of lime and pineapple and restrained weight. Enjoy with Thai papaya salad or ceviche.

Country: US / Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon California Winery: Groth / Oakville There’s a lot of rich, ripe blackberry, blueberry, black currant and cassis flavor in this Cabernet, but it’s still finding its balance. The fruit is primary in nature with strong tannins and oak that’s not yet integrated. The wine lacks subtlety now, but on […]

Country: US / Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon California Winery: Jericho Canyon Vineyard / Napa Valley Tough and gritty now, due to a combination of hard skin and seed tannins and unintegrated new oak. The intensely concentrated blackberry fruit has a slight edge of raisiny overripeness that adds to the sweet, fruity richness. Seems perfectly capable of […]

Country: US / Reserve Variety: Chardonnay California Winery: Bennett Lane / Carneros A beautiful Chardonnay, creamy, dry and elegant. There’s a tangy minerality underlying the rich tropical fruit, apple, pear and buttered toast flavors. This is an elegant and sophisticated wine from the Carneros region.

Country: US / Erwin Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Clos La Chance / Santa Cruz Mountains This is made in a lighter, breezier style, but there’s nothing light about the flavors, which suggest raspberries, grilled Canadian bacon, softened cola and smoky sandalwood. Gentle and easy, with a silky feel, this shows lots of class […]

Country: US / Langley Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Baxter / Anderson Valley With tangy acidity and complex flavors, this is easily the best of Baxter’s three 2009 releases. The raspberry and cherry flavors vie with an earthier note of mushroom, and there’s a savory edge of balsam and cola. The oak is evident, […]

Country: US / Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon California Winery: McManis / California A nice Cab for the price due to the full-bodied richness and ripe fruity flavor. It’s big in blackberry jam and spices, with a coating of smoky oak. Easy to find, with 115,000 cases produced.

Country: US / Variety: Chardonnay California Winery: Inception / Santa Barbara County A modern, popular Chardonnay made with very ripe tropical and pear fruit flavors and a strong oaky influence. Not very subtle, but will satisfy fans of the style.

Country: US / Variety: Zinfandel California Winery: Tamás Estates / Central Coast A little sharp in acidity, and the white pepper spice adds to the impression of zippiness in this bone-dry Zin. It’s deep and likeable in raspberry, cherry, blackberry and sandalwood flavors.

Country: US / Variety: Merlot California Winery: Beringer / Napa Valley Soft and forward, with jammy flavors of cherries, berries and herbs. Tastes a bit overripe toward the finish, with some raisins. Drink now.

Country: US / Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon California Winery: Beaver Creek / Rutherford Made in a leaner, drier style than many, this Cabernet’s blackberry and cherry flavors have an edge of mint and tobacco. Turns quite tart on the finish. Drink now.

Country: US / Variety: Chardonnay California Winery: Three Saints / Santa Maria Valley This pretty good everyday Chardonnay shows slightly sweet flavors of peaches, pineapples and mangoes brightened with crisp acidity. You could even make a summertime wine cooler with it.