($42): If you see a wine from Presqu’ile (pronounced “press-keel”) on a wine list or in your retailer’s shop, buy it.  You’ll likely be very happy.  Take this Pinot Noir, for example.  The Santa Maria Valley is a superb locale for the so-called “cool climate” grapes, such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay because the valley runs East-West. … Read more

($72): As usual and as expected, Grgich Hills’ current release Cabernet Sauvignon is outstanding.  I guess the question really is whether this producer can ever do anything wrong.  Year after year, the team at Grgich Hills produces stunning, balanced wines from a slew of different varieties of grapes, even Zinfandel. … Read more

($20): This is a wine that presents a problem for a wine critic.  I personally do not care for the in-your-face character, which favors power over elegance.  But it is well made and an excellent example of that style of Chardonnay, which I know many people adore. … Read more

($40): I had no familiarity with Stewart Cellars until I tasted this Chardonnay.  The winery is clearly now on my radar screen.  It should be on yours.  This is a show-stopping Chardonnay — not because of its power, but because of its stylish elegance. … Read more

($25): Founded in only 2000, Stewart Cellars buys grapes from growers they respect.  This Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Stanly Ranch Vineyard in Napa Valley.  A judicious use of oak imparts a hint of creaminess that balances the bite of Sauvignon Blanc without eviscerating it.… Read more

($25): Who knew that Freemark Abbey made excellent Sauvignon Blanc?  Of course, they are an iconic producer of Cabernet Sauvignon and some incredibly lush sweet wines.  It’s crisp and laser-like, with a snappy bite that is not aggressive.  Plenty of body and depth balances its knife-like cutting edginess. … Read more

($14): Consumers looking for wines that over deliver for the price should embrace Jed Steele’s Shooting Star label.  Steele, known for nuance rather than over the top opulence in his Chardonnay, maintains that style with this one.  A hint of pineapple-like tropical fruit flavors are kept in check and balanced by wonderfully racy acidity. … Read more

($14): Renowned California winemaker Jed Steele is behind the Shooting Star.  Steele buys grapes and wines from others, blends, ages and bottles them under this label.  His talents at blending shine in this well-priced Sauvignon Blanc.  It’s a nicely balanced compromise combining the lively bite of Sauvignon Blanc with the barest hint of fleshiness, which tames the potentially aggressive nature of the grape.  … Read more

($28): As regular WineReviewOnline readers know, I’d usually prefer a chilled light red wine to the vast majorities of innocuous rosé on the market.  Here’s an exception — perhaps because it tastes like a light red because of a touch of tannin in finish.… Read more

($27): This is a nicely balanced Chardonnay that expresses both a subtle fruitiness and spice.  Bright acidity keeps it lively and fresh.  The location of the vineyards in a cooler area — the Sonoma Coast — helps account for the refined, not overblown, style. … Read more

($32): Jordan makes just two wines, this Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon, which may help explain why they are so consistently excellent.  It also helps that they have never strayed from their style — favoring elegance and finesse over shear power. … Read more

($25): J. Lohr’s October Night Chardonnay is riper compared to the Arroyo Vista bottling — but still not too ripe — with a pronounced floral component, which would allow you to drink a glass before dinner.  But, similar to the Arroyo Vista, it, too, has vibrancy in the finish that makes it a good choice at the dinner table.… Read more

($25): J. Lohr was one of, if not the first, to embrace Arroyo Secco appellation of Monterey County when he planted vines there in 1972.  His experience has allowed him to differentiate vineyards within the appellation.  This Chardonnay from Arroyo Vista vineyard is clearly different from the one labeled October Night — it’s not just a marketing gimmick. … Read more

($40): For this zesty Chardonnay, Sweetzer purchased grapes from Presqu’ile Vineyard.  They aspire — and have achieved — a Chablis styled wine that is both slightly creamy and steely.  It’s a hard combination to master, but Sweetzer has.  The uplifting finish belies the 14.4 percent stated alcohol. … Read more

($32): This wine represents a dilemma for wine critics.  It’s not a style of Chardonnay that I like personally, but it is well made and will appeal to a broad range of consumers, especially those who prefer bold Chardonnay.  The wine making team used the usual techniques for amping-up the profile:  Ripe grapes translating to a 14.5 percent-stated alcohol, fermentation and aging in the barrel, and malolactic fermentation (which converts harsher malic acid to a creamier lactic acid). … Read more

($42): Norm Yost, owner of Flying Goat Cellars, was either crazy or a visionary when he was the first to make a sparkling wine in Sta. Rita Hills in 2005.  Now there are more than 30 producers who have followed him, so you can draw your own conclusions. … Read more

($42): Norman Yost, owner and winemaker of Flying Goat Cellars, acquired detailed knowledge of the vineyards of Santa Barbara County when he worked for Foley Estates, one of the region’s largest producers.  Now, making his own wine, he knows from whom to buy grapes. … Read more

($30): It’s worth keeping your eyes out for wines from this new small producer in the Sta. Rita Hills of Santa Barbara County.  Sweetzer, like many producers in the Sta. Rita Hills, buys grapes from growers as opposed to owning their own vineyards — a set-up that is similar to a small Burgundy négociant. … Read more