California

Country: US / SLH Variety: Pinot Gris California Winery: Hahn / Santa Lucia Highlands There’s a tropical touch to this wine’s mellow and light nose, but that opulent fruit is cut by lemon, red apple and mandarin zest. Fresh pluot and tropical candy notes show on the zippy palate.

Country: US / Variety: Chardonnay California Winery: Franciscan / Napa Valley Oaky butterscotch and baked pear notes give this lushly composed white equal parts heat and body. The apple flavor seems baked and warming on the palate, lending additional richness on the toast-laced finish.

Country: US / Monarch Mine Vineyard Variety: Barbera California Winery: Easton / Sierra Foothills This very good, well-balanced wine combines savory, smoky elements with tasty, bright fruit flavors recalling red cherry and plum. It’s medium bodied and has enough concentration to be interesting.

Country: US / Variety: Chardonnay California Winery: Portola Vineyards / Santa Cruz Mountains A strong hazelnut aroma meets poached pear and cotton candy on the nose of this bottling, giving a rich yet tightly woven impression. The palate is oily in texture, with walnut, dried apricot and browned apple flavors.

Country: US / Irick Vineyard Variety: Malbec California Winery: Opaque / Paso Robles The age on this bottling is starting to show, so drink up. Slightly sour plum scents meld with rose petal, violet and dried blueberry notes on the nose. The palate is quite interesting, with dried strawberry, mocha and cappuccino flavors, culminating in […]

Country: US / Variety: Chardonnay California Winery: Old Cannery Row / Monterey County Slightly browned apples, crisp nectarine and salted white peach aromas show on the nose of this easy-to-like bottling from the Wagner family. Apple, peach and guava flavors arise on the palate, where they’re lightly spiced with clove and nutmeg. A very approachable […]

Country: US / Lone Oak Vineyard Variety: Chardonnay California Winery: Lucienne / Santa Lucia Highlands Fairly reserved on both the nose and palate, this bottling begins with roasted apple, peach and chalk scents. The palate offers lemon and grapefruit peel and Gravenstein apple flavors.

Country: US / Highland Vineyard Variety: Chardonnay California Winery: Joullian / Santa Lucia Highlands This Carmel Valley-based winery has modernized its label without losing its classic appeal. It’s reserved on the nose at first, with tightly wound seared lemon peel, Gravenstein apple and marmalade aromas. Rounded lemon curd, browned butter and orange cream flavors show […]

Country: US / Winery Block Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Balletto / Russian River Valley Soft red fruit adorns this light-bodied take on the variety. From the heart of the appellation, it has moderate acidity and a flavor profile characterized by rose petal, orange and cherry.

Country: US / Variety: Sauvignon Blanc California Winery: Webster Cellars / Dry Creek Valley Having spent time in both oak and stainless steel, this wine offers intense golden toast flavor and focused acidity, the fruit recalling grapefruit pith and melon.

Country: US / Estate Variety: Zinfandel California Winery: Rusack / Ballard Canyon From century-old grapevines found on Santa Cruz Island, this bottling offers concentrated raspberry and a touch of strawberry, lifted by eucalyptus and lavender notes. The palate is enlivening, with tight cranberry fruit, elderflower and pencil-lead flavors.

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Mansfield-Dunne / Santa Lucia Highlands A quite dense and brooding nose of boysenberry jam, caramel whiskey and black plum opens this powerful bottling. The palate is also composed of dark, nearly syrupy fruit, with solid grip, bright acid, crushed herbs and a peppery spice holding it all […]