($60): This wine shows you can’t rely on vintage charts.  The 2011 vintage in Napa was terrible for Cabernet Sauvignon, the valley’s signature grape.  Unusually cool wet weather made it a struggle for Cabernet vines to fully ripen their fruit during the growing season. … Read more

($35): Davis Bynum was a visionary in the Russian River Valley when, in 1973, he was the first to bottle a single vineyard Pinot Noir.  Forty years later, the winery is still focused on and making excellent Pinot Noir there.  Though pure clean red fruit flavors is the initial message from the 2012 Jane’s Vineyard bottling, lovely herbal nuances appear over time, creating a harmonious wine. … Read more

($15): Edna Valley Vineyard has hit the bull’s eye with their 2012 Cabernet.  Concentrated without being aggressive or overdone, it conveys both fruit and savory notes.  It has the complexity — not just fruit flavors — that makes Cabernet Sauvignon so revered. … Read more

($10): This Chardonnay is about as good as it gets for the price. McManis Family Vineyards has been — and continues to be — a leader in well made inexpensive wines.  River Junction, essentially McManis Family’s personal AVA since they are the only commercial winery there, is located west of Modesto at the junction of the San Joaquin and Stanislaus Rivers and is cooler than the rest of the Central Valley. … Read more

($18): Most rosé is an afterthought.  Most of it results from a technique called  saignée or bleeding, used to enhance red wine (once a tank of red grapes has been macerated briefly and the liquid has taken on a bit of color). … Read more

($28): It should come as no surprise that J Vineyards makes easy-to-recommend, stylish Chardonnay since they’ve been using that grape — along with Pinot Noir — for their stunning sparkling wines.  This Chardonnay has the richness and opulence often associated with California wines without being overdone. … Read more

($20): Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are two names for the same grape.  Nonetheless, wines labeled Pinot Gris are typically denser and riper than those labeled Pinot Grigio.   MacMurray Estate Vineyards has split the difference nicely with their Russian River bottling. … Read more

($30): Jordan is one of California’s iconic wineries lauded for their stylish Cabernet Sauvignon, which evolve splendidly with bottle age, as last year’s 40 year vertical tasting showed.  Jordan released their first Chardonnay in 1979, three years after their first Cabernet. … Read more

($34): Here’s another example of a renowned Napa Valley winery that has made their reputation on red wines turning out a fine Chardonnay.  In 1996, more than two decades after Warren Winiarski founded Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, he purchased the Arcadia Vineyard, which had originally been developed by Grgich Hills and was the source for some of their fine Chardonnays. … Read more

($14): Unoaked Chardonnay is all the rage.  Sadly many are vapid and paradoxically wind up reinforcing the virtue of a little bit of oak aging.  In contrast, Toad Hollow manages to pull it off.  A delicate but distinct crisp green apple fruitiness is apparent in this appealing unoaked Chardonnay.  … Read more

($60): Wow is the first impression after tasting this wine.  Judging from this Chardonnay, Merry Edwards is as talented with that grape as she is with her exceptional Pinot Noir.  Although she’s made small quantities of Chardonnay from the Olivet Lane vineyard for a few years, the 2011 is only the second year it’s been available outside of the tasting room. … Read more