($50): This big and bold Napa Cabernet is surprisingly harmonious and not over the top.  Full-bodied and robust, it remains balanced with a texture that alternates between chewy and suave.  There’s a captivating savoriness and a lush, but not sweet, finish. … Read more

($32): With more creaminess than bite, Merry Edwards’s expression of Sauvignon Blanc is reminiscent of white Bordeaux rather than Sancerre.  Long and refined, it’s a seductive wine with a glossy texture accented by a touch of electricity that reminds you it is, in fact, Sauvignon Blanc. … Read more

($29): Who knew that Duckhorn, well known for their brilliant red wines, made such an invigorating Sauvignon Blanc.  Tension filled, it combines a pleasing bite with a hint of creaminess.  A great ying and yang wine.
92 Michael Apstein May 17, 2016… Read more

($43): Grgich Hills Estate consistently produces superb Chardonnay.  And even the release of their super-duper Commemorative bottling has not detracted from their “regular” bottling.  The team at Grgich Hills has managed to combine ripeness with enormous energy in this Chardonnay.  It’s balanced, long and refined, with a hint of spice in the finish. … Read more

($42): This straightforward Pinot Noir is bright and full of cherry-like fruit.  A hint of savory herbal notes adds complexity.  Mild tannins allow for immediate consumption.  It would be a good choice for grilled salmon.
88 Michael Apstein May 17, 2016… Read more

($40): One of the reasons I admire MacRostie’s Chardonnays is that their single vineyard offerings are sufficiently different from each other to make separate bottlings actually meaningful. They are unique wines.  Contrast that approach with wineries whose “single vineyard” bottlings reflect a marketing strategy, not a difference in site.… Read more

($35): Presqu’ile (pronounced press-KEEL) is already making a name for itself despite being founded less than a decade ago.  This, their “basic” Chardonnay (though hardly basic at all), is energetic and refined, finishing with uplifting, lip-smacking citrus notes instead of sweetness. … Read more

($45): This, Presqu’ile’s single vineyard Chardonnay, is truly a singular wine.  In a word, it’s graceful.  There’s a luxurious creaminess, but it’s not in your face or over the top and it’s balanced by perfect lemon-y notes.  Long and lacey, it reveals itself slowly in the glass. … Read more

($46): MacRostie is on a roll with their Chardonnays.  Despite a stated alcohol of 14.6%, the wine is restrained, but not lacking in flavor or energy.  There’s a touch of spice that adds interest.  The overall impression is one of harmony and balance. … Read more

($28): This ripe (14.5%-stated abv) and toasty Chardonnay delivers plump melon-y flavors on a soft-ish background, even finishing a touch sweet.  It’s fine as a stand alone — “I’ll have a glass of Chardonnay” — or to accompany spiced Asian fare. … Read more

($32): With California Chardonnays and white Burgundies commanding high prices, it’s a delight to find an excellent one at a reasonable price.  Jordan makes two wines, a Cabernet Sauvignon and this Chardonnay.  Both are consistently excellent.  In a word — Okay, two words — Jordan’s 2014 Chardonnay is bright and rich. … Read more

($93): Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, as much as anyone, is responsible for the world taking California wines seriously.  In 1976, while he was winemaker at Chateau Montelena, he made a Chardonnay that astonished the world by beating out a bevy of white Burgundies for first place at a comparative tasting in Paris. … Read more

($35): Ever since J Vineyards produced its first sparkling wine, it was clear that it was serious about the category.   Extremely impressive, this cuvée is as distinctive as the label — J Vineyards’ stylish yellow J.  The overall impression is that you are drinking a creamy green apple-like custard. … Read more

($100): Hanzell, one of the pioneers in California with Pinot Noir, sometimes gets lost among the hoopla of the bolder wines made from that grape.  Hanzell’s Pinot Noir is a study in how a delicate wine can convey extraordinary excitement.  Savory elements are a wonderful counterpoint to the elegant fruitiness and by contrast, actually accentuate it. … Read more