($11): This Viognier is an unbelievable bargain.  Viognier is notoriously difficult to get right because it often comes across as a heavy wine.  McManis got this one right.  It leads with a delicate whiff of white flowers and then dances delicately on the palate, finishing with a bright and racy signature. … Read more

($92): Miljenko “Mike” Grgich put California wines firmly on the world’s wine map in 1976 when a Chardonnay he made when he was Chateau Montelena’s winemaker beat out a bevy of white Burgundies for first place at a comparative tasting in Paris. … Read more

($60): The Nickel & Nickel Harris Vineyard Merlot, though similarly floral to their Suscol Ranch bottling, is firmer with more backbone and structure at this stage.  The tannins are more apparent, but still not aggressive or astringent.  It delivers a marvelous leafy character that compliments and reinforces its dark, warm fruit and dense minerality. … Read more

($42): If all Merlot tasted like this one from Grgich Hills Estate, the varietal would not be lampooned but rather lionized.  This one manages to be plush and seductive without be flabby.  Indeed, its structure shows it’s serious wine, not to be confused with the “I’ll a glass of Merlot” category. … Read more

($60): Nickel & Nickel specializes in single vineyard wines — not as a marketing tool, but because the wines are different and unique.  Their two 2012 Merlots, sourced from Suscol Ranch and Harris Vineyard, show, in clear relief, the value of their approach. … Read more

($40): One word describes this wine — graceful.  Truchard Vineyards has resisted the temptation to join the crowd with an over-the-top blockbuster Cabernet.  Instead, they’ve chosen the graceful path with a wine displaying an alluring herbaceous quality without being under-ripe.  There’s plenty of power here, but it doesn’t scream or overwhelm your palate — or the food for that matter. … Read more

($20): Beckman, known best for the stylish red and white Rhône blends, also produces a Sauvignon Blanc, a grape not known to the Rhône Valley, from their own grapes.  The 2014 is a balanced version with a touch of expected bite offset by a hint of creaminess. … Read more

($40): Matanzas Creek, a pioneering Sonoma County winery founded in 1977, produces five different and distinctive Sauvignon Blanc, each reflecting the origin of the grapes.  You can practically taste and feel the volcanic soil in this Helena Bench bottling, which gives the wine individuality rarely found with this variety in California. … Read more

($32): Matanzas Creek has always had a reputation for top-notch Sauvignon Blanc.  With this Bennett Valley bottling, they maintain their exceptional track record.  It’s a beautifully balanced wine with an innervating bite you’d expect from Sauvignon Blanc couple with a suave richness. … Read more

($60): Jayson, Pahlmeyer’s second label, offers an introduction to the luxurious style for which Pahlmeyer has become known at a lower price.  The wines are typically released earlier — the 2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is Pahlmeyer’s current release — because they are more approachable. … Read more

($65): The Pinot Noirs from EnRoute (a winery started by the same talented people who founded Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel and Dolce) just get better and better.  The 2013, only the 7th release, shows considerably more complexity and suaveness than previous vintages. … Read more

($53): I am an enthusiastic fan of Jordan’s Cabernets because the team there has, thankfully, resisted the California trend toward super ripe, super rich, bombastic wines.   Although much has changed at Jordan since their founding — the grapes no longer come solely from their vineyards — they continue to focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and continue to produce harmonious wines. … Read more

($38): Kristy Melton, Clos du Val’s new winemaker, has achieved her stated goal of making a bolder style of wine with the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon.   Though the texture is still silky and suave, some will complain about the diminished subtly in the flavor profile. … Read more

($38): Comparing Louis Martini’s Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with its stable mate from Alexander Valley shows that the French do not have a monopoly on terroir.  These two wines made from the same grape from the same vintage made by the same winemaking team truly reflect their respective sites. … Read more

($35): Kristy Melton, who joined Clos du Val in 2010 as assistant winemaker and is now its winemaker, is aiming for a bolder style that reflects the California sunshine. Though there’s no question that this 2012 Merlot is richer and lusher than past vintages, she’s managed to retain the silky finesse that characterizes Clos du Val’s wines.… Read more

($32): The Carneros region of Napa, its southern end abutting San Pablo Bay, has always been a prime locale for grapes, such as Pinot Noir, that thrive in cooler climates.  This lacey Pinot Noir reflects its origins with a subtle dose of earthiness that balances the bright fresh fruit profile for which the new winemaker, Kristy Melton, is aiming. … Read more

($34): Louis Martini was one of the pioneering giants of California wine.  Although the Martini family is no longer involved with the label, the wines bearing the Martini name still express the best in California wine.  This Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, has a harmonious mixture of bright dark fruit flavors offset by subtle herbaceous notes that add complexity. … Read more

($25): Beckman has a knack for making excellent wines, such as this one, from traditional Rhône grapes.  Unlike many California rosés, this one is truly dry, actually with a touch of pleasant bitterness in the finish that complements and amplifies the spicy wild strawberry-like flavors. … Read more

($25): From the first whiff, this typical Rhône blend (Grenache [43%], Syrah [34%], Mourvèdre [15%] and Counoise) is immediately engaging.  It delivers a seamless combination of spice and fruit flavors — both black and red — supported by black cherry-like acidity that keeps it fresh and lively. … Read more

($42): Talbott Vineyards has been one of the leaders in Pinot Noir in Santa Lucia Highlands with their wines from their Sleepy Hollow Vineyard.  The 2013 is a powerful, yet balanced, Pinot Noir with great energy and freshness.  Ripe cherry-like fruit flavors dominate, while savory nuances add complexity. … Read more

($65): Grgich Hills Estate gets my vote for Napa’s most consistently excellent Cabernet that’s widely available.  Though not inexpensive (although it is considering the price of top Napa Cabernet), you don’t need to be a hedge fund manager to buy it. … Read more