($37):  Though based in Yountville in Napa, Stewart Cellars, a family-run winery established only in 2000, finds growers in Sonoma with whom to work.  I, for one, am glad they did.  This fine Chardonnay, for example, comes from the cooler Sonoma Mountain area, which likely explains, at least in part, its finesse. … Read more

($13):  One of the great things about New World winemakers is their willingness to experiment because they are not constrained by regulations. This blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer (roughly 60/40) is a case in point.  Where else in the world would you find a blend of those two grapes? … Read more

($32):  Arguably, Kendall-Jackson is largely responsible for Americans’ love of Chardonnay.  So, it’s not surprising that they should expand their portfolio with site-specific bottlings of that variety.  This one, from Santa Maria Valley, delivers fruity, spiced pineapple-like flavors along with the opulence for which KJ is known.… Read more

($38):  The uniqueness of Santa Maria Valley, as a whole, stems from its east-west orientation, instead of the usually north-south orientation of most California valleys.  This orientation allows the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean direct access to the vineyards.  Indeed, vineyards just a few miles inland are considerable warmer, producing grapes and wines with different flavor profiles, than ones further west. … Read more

($31):  It’s hard to understand how one producer can master so many different wines.  But Grgich Hills does.  Their Chardonnays are iconic, certainly among California’s best.  Their Cabernet Sauvignons are thrilling and develop wonderfully with bottle age.  Even their Zinfandel charms. … Read more

($30):  A big step up from Edna Valley’s regular Sauvignon Blanc, this one, part of their Winemaker Series level, has more depth and a richer texture while maintaining vibrancy.  It enlivens the palate without being aggressive.  A balanced wine, it has a Sancerre-like sensibility. … Read more

($14):  This refreshing and straightforward Sauvignon Blanc delivers a tingling bite without being aggressive.  Clean and bright, it’s a well-priced go-to kind of wine for the heat and humidity that is about to descend.
86 Michael Apstein Jun 19, 2018… Read more

($33):  As with their splendid Cabernet Sauvignon, Jordan produces refined Chardonnay.  Crisp and creamy with a display of citrus, their 2016 Chardonnay caresses, rather than assaults, the palate.  It’s an elegantly styled Chardonnay whose charm reveals itself as it sits in the glass. … Read more

($18):  Roussanne is a grape grown in the Rhône Valley and often, along with Marsanne and Viognier, is used with to make white wines from that region.  Similar to their Syrah, what’s in the bottle is far superior to what’s on the bottle, so don’t be put off by the name. … Read more

($19):  Many people in the wine trade tell me that they avoid Cabernet Franc because it can deliver vegetal flavors if not entirely ripe.  It can.  But it can also be the basis for a spectacular wine — think Bordeaux’s Château Cheval Blanc — by providing a needed savory component. … Read more

($45):  So much Merlot is consumed thoughtlessly as a pre-dinner drink — as in “I’ll have a glass of Merlot” — that consumers could be excused if they think grape is incapable of producing serious wine.  Chappellet’s 2015 Merlot should dispel that idea. … Read more

($18):  I was predisposed to dislike the wine because of its cutesy name.  But, just as you can’t judge a book by its cover, you need to taste to fairly evaluate a wine.  This is a well-proportioned Syrah that brings black fruit, smoky and peppery notes together seamlessly. … Read more

($56):  I admire Jordan because they have never veered from their style of making refined and polished Cabernet Sauvignon.  They’ve avoided the “bigger is better” trap, and have remained focused on elegance and refinement.  Take this 2014 Cabernet.  From the moment you smell it, you know you’re in for a treat. … Read more

($34):  John Loeb, Jr, former Ambassador to Denmark, businessman and philanthropist, established Sonoma-Loeb in 1990.  The wines had always been made at Chappellet Vineyard and Winery, so when Chappellet purchased the property in 2011, nothing really changed — the wines are still top-notch. … Read more

($30):  Jed Steele has a long history of making fine wine in California so my enthusiasm for this wine is not surprising.  Steele purchases grapes from the Goodchild Vineyard which is located just across the river from the famed Bien Nacido vineyard (He also makes a Pinot Noir from grapes grown in that vineyard.) … Read more

($68):  Migration, yet another label of the Duckhorn Wine Company, focuses on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Their first wine was the 2001 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.  Now they have ‘migrated’ to other regions of California, showing that the French do not have a monopoly of terroir — the concept that the place where the grapes grow determines the character of the wine. … Read more

($68):  This one, from a different vineyard in the Russian River Valley, is the boldest of this trio of Pinot Noir and delivers more black, rather than red, fruit character.  Similar to Migration’s other offerings, its suave texture makes it extremely appealing for current consumption, though its balance suggests it will develop nicely with bottle age.… Read more

($68):  Migration’s Pinot Noir from the famed Dutton Ranch in Russian River Valley has more oomph than their Sta. Rita bottling, no doubt from slightly warmer climate.  Still, it has a lovely lacey, almost, red fruit delicacy, which to my mind is another key component of Pinot Noir — its ability to deliver flavor without weight.… Read more

($40):  Ben and Jake Fetzer, grandsons of famed Barney Fetzer who made Fetzer Vineyards a household name in the 1990s, founded Masút Vineyard and Winery in 2009 to focus on Pinot Noir.  Their father had purchased 1,200 acres in Mendocino County, which the sons planted — they have 35-acres devoted to Pinot Noir — and eventually established the Eagle Peak appellation.… Read more

($14):  Unbelievable.  My first and second — and third — reaction to this wine.  Wine with real Pinot Noir character at $14 a bottle.  Fresh and clean, it’s a delicate, but flavorful wine that finishes ever so slightly sweet.  But fresh acidity keeps it balanced. … Read more