California

Country: US / Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon California Winery: Forefront / California A nice, soft Cabernet to drink now. It’s mainly from Napa County, and the blend includes Merlot, Syrah and Grenache. Easy to like for its spice and fruit. From Pine Ridge.

Country: US / Variety: Zinfandel California Winery: Deaver / Amador County A still-closed, tannic, mountainous Zinfandel giant from the great grower, Deaver. It’s marked deliciously by tobacco and dark plum.

Country: US / Spinning Red Lot #3 Variety: Red Blend California Winery: Curveball / Sonoma County Teriyaki chicken and Chinese roast pork are just two umami foods that come to mind to pair with this spicy, fruity and exuberant young red wine. A Merlot-based Bordeaux blend with Sangiovese, it’s rich in cherry, bacon and pepper […]

Country: US / Cool Climate Variety: Syrah California Winery: Cline / Sonoma Coast A brisk Syrah, dry and tart, with some notable tannins. It’s so rich and sweet in blackberries, beef jerky, carob and spices, you can forgive a few faults, such as excessive acidity.

Country: US / Floodgate Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Cartograph / Russian River Valley This Pinot is gigantic in raspberry, cherry and cola fruit, and its silky texture and crisp acidity make it particularly drinkable. On the other hand, it’s rather forward and one-dimensional. Give it a good, long decant, and you might even […]

Country: US / Larry Venturi Vineyards Variety: Syrah California Winery: Simaine Cellars / Mendocino Smelling of fig, sweet plum, raspberry syrup and vanilla, this is a meaty, thick Syrah.

Country: US / Variety: Merlot California Winery: Pacific Coast / Paso Robles The Yiddish word zaftig describes this Merlot perfectly. It’s fleshy, with a soft, fat mouthfeel framing ultraripe cherry pie filling, milk chocolate, anise and sandalwood flavors that finish jammy-sweet and spicy.

Country: US / Single Vineyard Variety: Sauvignon Blanc California Winery: Maroon / Napa Valley An easy-drinking, sophisticated Sauvignon Blanc, very ripe in pineapples, oranges and kiwi fruit, but balanced with crisp acidity. A touch of new oak adds smoky creaminess. The single vineyard referenced on the label is in a warmer part of Napa Valley.

Country: US / Variety: Sauvignon Blanc California Winery: Lake Sonoma / Dry Creek Valley Another fine, food-friendly Sauvignon Blanc from Lake Sonoma. It’s vibrant in mouthwatering acidity, with a clean, minerally scour that frames ripe flavors of lemons, limes, oranges and honey.

Country: US / Enz Vineyard Variety: Zinfandel California Winery: Kenneth Volk / Lime Kiln Valley A big, bold Zin, with a kick of peppery spices. Really front-loaded with wild berry, currant, cherry pie and sweet tobacco flavors. Nothing subtle about this barbecue-friendly powerhouse.

Country: US / Barrel Select Variety: Zinfandel California Winery: Lorenzi Estate / California From this Temecula producer, a barrel selection of plum and black cherry Zinfandel with good depth and structure that’s still got some tannins to work out but is ready to drink now.

Country: US / Variety: Syrah California Winery: Leonesse Cellars / California This Temecula Valley producer designated this bottling California but it’s just as good as many of its single-vineyard designates and Temecula Valley appellation Syrahs, perfumed with violet and blackberry jam and fleshy in mouthfeel with tastes of plum and tobacco.