Edna Valley Vineyard, Central Coast (California) Pinot Noir “Paragon” 2011 ($20): Confusingly, though the name of the wine is “Paragon,” it does not come from the famed and vast — 875 acre — Central Coast Paragon Vineyard planted by Jack and Catharine Niven in the early 1970s. … Read more
($165, Martine’s Wines, Inc.): This pretty wine shows the grace and beauty of some 2007 red Burgundies. Floral and delicate, it’s long and balanced. But don’t for a minute think that delicate means light. No, this is classic Burgundy: flavor–savory leafy notes–without weight. … Read more
($34, Martine’s Wines, Inc.): Château Rayas is on everybody’s short list of the top producers in the southern Rhône. They are best known for their exquisite Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but you can get a glimmer of their grandeur with this Côtes du Rhône. … Read more
($3, Down Under Cellars): Yes, three dollars. Let me repeat: three dollars! There is nothing remotely complex about this wine, but it does display pure red berry flavor in a medium-bodied package. No oak, no subtle secondary notes, no layered nuances. … Read more
($17, Eric Solomon Selections): This aromatic blend of Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer–it’s like a flower shop in a glass–is deceptive. The nose makes you think it’s going to be sweet, but it’s not. It is exuberant and refreshing. If you could bottle springtime, this would be it. … Read more
($11, Eric Solomon Selections): This 100% Garnacha (Grenache) delivers a delightful array of spice and fresh strawberry-like flavors. It’s an everyday kind of wine–at a very attractive price–that manages to provide a balanced, almost sweet savory, mixture of flavors. Mild tannins mean it takes a chill nicely, so remember it for the summertime.… Read more
($19, Eric Solomon Selections): The grapes–100% Godello–come from younger vines in a separate and distinct part of the vineyard from which Palacios produces his iconic As Sortes. Much more aromatic than his As Sortes (reviewed previously), Louro do Bolo has an engaging floral quality atop a hint of minerality and shows the range of wine made from the Godello grape. … Read more
($21): Consumers unfamiliar with the Godello grape are in for a treat. Naturally high in acidity, its palate cleansing ability makes it an obvious choice for highly flavored dishes. Pena das Donas’s rendition, from the small, relatively new DO of Ribera Sacra, undergoes lees-aging in tank, which adds complexity while still preserving the inherent fruitiness of the grape. … Read more
($9, Eric Solomon Selections): Regular WRO readers know that I fail to embrace the Rosé craze, almost always preferring a chilled light red wine (see this week’s review of Celler Espelt’s Garnatxa). Well, here’s an exception. This Rosé, made entirely from Garnacha, has real character and alluring nuances of wild strawberry-like flavors. … Read more
($24): Acacia specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, producing several single vineyard bottlings of each. This one–not one of their single vineyards offerings, but rather a blend from several sites–should not be overlooked. Most Pinot Noir selling at this price can’t compare with this one for complexity and enjoyment. … Read more
($15, Martine’s Wines): You’d be hard pressed to find a more promising partnership in the 
southern Rhone. This négociant firm, founded in 1998, is a partnership of two of the very best producers in Châteauneuf du Pape, Laurence Feraud, whose family owns Château Pegau, and André Brunel, owner of Les Cailloux. … Read more
($30, Eric Solomon Selections): Priorat is known for its great red wines. But distinctive whites can be made there, just as in other great red wine areas, such as the Côtes de Nuits and Pessac-Léognan. Made entirely from Garnacha Blanca, it leads with a gorgeous floral–almost peachy–nose followed by an engaging earthiness and bracing minerality, all amplified by vibrant acidity. … Read more
($11, Eric Solomon Selections): Looking for great value in a brisk, lively summertime wine? You’ve found it with this blend of Garnacha Blanca (65%) and Macabeo from one of Spain’s less well-known DOs, Empordá-Costa Brava, located in the country’s northeastern corner near the French border. … Read more
($12, Eric Solomon Selections): Although Sauvignon Blanc comprises only 15% of the blend–the remainder is Verdejo (60%) and Viura–it is the primary note in the nose. Fortunately, the Verdejo and Viura take over on the palate to produce a clean fresh zesty white wine with surprising complexity and body for the price. … Read more
($20, Eric Solomon Selections): Bierzo is an up and coming DO in the northwestern part of Spain where the Mencia grape reigns. Made entirely from Mencia, this wine delivers a marvelous combination of earth, herbs and fruit, supported nicely by moderate tannins.… Read more
($14): Wine from where, New Mexico? And high class bubbly to boot. 
Although wine aficionados know that Gruet has a track record for making excellent sparkling wine, most people are truly amazed when I suggest a sparkling wine from New Mexico. … Read more
($23, Eric Solomon Selections): This family-run winery makes consistently impressive Albariño. Their 2009 is no exception. They achieve a hint of roundness to this otherwise edgy wine by aging it on the lees for four months. It’s a classy wine with considerable body without sacrificing the quintessential zippy character of Albariño.… Read more
($45, Eric Solomon Selections): 
With Alvaro Palacios in Priorat and Rioja, Ricardo Palacios in Bierzo, and now with Rafael in Valdeorras, a DO in northwestern Spain, the Palacios family is one of the locomotives that continues to pull Spanish wine onto the world’s stage. … Read more
($53, Martine’s Wines): Although the 2006 red Burgundies were far less consistent than the more acclaimed 2005s, many producers delivered excellent wines. Michel Gay’s Beaune Grèves is one of them. Grèves is on most producers’ short list of the best vineyard sites in Beaune. … Read more
($39): There are a plethora of Pinot Noir clones, each of which produces grapes with slightly different characteristics. Although the Dijon clone originated in Burgundy, this wine emphasizes the ripe, fruit-driven style of Pinot Noir rather than the savory component often found there. … Read more
($15, Ex Cellars Wine Agency): This wine remains my benchmark for red Cotes du Rhone. I am
continually impressed by Guigal’s ability to make 250,000 cases of this high-quality wine year in and year out. Of course, he is a great producer. … Read more
($16): As this Chardonnay demonstrates, Washington’s Columbia Valley is a fabulous source of wine. It delivers subtle creaminess and good intensity without hitting you over the head. With good vivacity, it’s suave and balanced–and a very good value. 90 Michael Apstein Mar 30, 2010… Read more
($26): Of all their excellent Chardonnays, this one is Ste. Michelle’s most powerful one. That said, it still shows restraint and balance. Its exotic nose of toasty nuances leads into a rich and creamy mid-weight wine. A long stylish finish shows just how classy it is.… Read more
($22, Ex Cellars Wine Agency): Guigal, perhaps the Rhône’s best producer overall, made his reputation with his stellar wines from Côte Rôtie. But since he purchased two estates that gave him vineyards in Crozes-Hermitage, the less steeply sloped land adjacent to Hermitage, he has been making wonderful wines from there as well. … Read more
($16, Frederick Wildman): Hugel is one of the undisputed leaders in Alsace so it’s not surprising that their Pinot Blanc–a wine that can be innocuous–is so full of character. Delicate notes of white flowers grab your attention, but it’s the bracing character of this unoaked wine that keeps it. … Read more
($24): This classic California Cabernet is easy to recommend and explains why that category remains so popular. Herbal elements balance the fresh ripe fruit flavors. Polished tannins and good acidity lend support without being intrusive. It’s a lovely choice for grilled or sautéed beef.… Read more
($10, Vineyard Brands): Porcupine Ridge is one of four labels produced by Boekenhoutskloof, one of South Africa’s finest producers. (As a point of trivia, Boekenhoutskloof means ravine of the boekenhout [pronounced book-n-howed], a tree unique to the area, the wood of which is prized for furniture). … Read more
($8, Wine Associates, Inc.): The Bobal grape is indigenous to Manchuela, a newly created DO in southeastern Spain that was formerly part of La Mancha. Both the grape and the region had been known for producing bulk wine, but recently producers having been aiming higher. … Read more
($10, Wine Associates, Inc.): The Bobal grape is capable of producing fine wine if the vines natural proclivity for high yield is kept in check. The winemaking team must have done that with this wine. It’s pleasantly rustic with a nicely balanced array of black fruit, spice and herbal notes. … Read more
($19, International Cellars): This wine is a no-brainer. Nobilo is one of Marlborough’s leading producers. Their best wines are bottled under the Icon label. And 2009 is a great year for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, according to David Strada, the US representative of New Zealand wine. … Read more
($70, Ex Cellars Wine Agency): There are many wines that claim to be ready to drink now, but will age beautifully. Few deliver on that promise. This is one of them. It has all of the lovely peppery components that young Syrah delivers when grown in cooler climate, such as the Côte-Rôtie. … Read more
($16, Icon Estates): Kim Crawford is one of Marlborough’s best and most reliable producers of Sauvignon Blanc. Their 2009, an excellent vintage according to David Strada, the US representative of New Zealand Wine, maintains that track record. It has unusually good concentration and complexity to accompany the electrifying edginess we’ve come to expect from Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. … Read more
($28, Negociants, USA): 
This wine demonstrates that Central Otago and Martinborough are not the only districts in New Zealand capable of producing distinctive Pinot Noir. The Marlborough region, long renown for its riveting Sauvignon Blanc, is also a good locale for Pinot Noir. … Read more
($16): Chardonnay grown on the East Coast rarely achieves the ripeness of its West Coast counterpart, and hence, the wines are sleeker and more vibrant. This racy Chardonnay from Truro, on Cape Cod and a site better known for its beaches than its wine, fits that mold. … Read more
($20): Areas within Washington State, with cooler climate, are emerging as excellent sites in this country for Riesling. This beautifully balanced one exemplifies why Riesling is gaining in popularity. A subtle and intriguing interplay of minerality, fruitiness–hints of pear and grapefruit–and just a bare hint of sweetness set off by vibrant acidity makes it an ideal choice as an aperitif, with spicy fare or Asian food. … Read more
($30): A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (88%) and Merlot, this classy wine has silky tannins that make it a joy to drink now. Tobacco and spice notes accompany its ample fruit flavors and prevent it from coming across as a “fruit bomb.” … Read more
($22, Vineyard Brands): Like the Perrin Rasteau (also reviewed this week), the Vinsorbes, from another named village in the southern Rhône, is a marvelous example of what the much touted 2007 vintage delivered in the Rhone Valley. The blend is flipped–Syrah, with 65%, dominates the Grenache–but the results no less enjoyable. … Read more
($25, Vineyard Brands): Rasteau, one of the villages in the southern Rhône Valley, has the
potential to produce distinctive wines and hence, the village name appears on the label. With a blend of Grenache (80%) and Syrah, the Perrins have fulfilled that potential with this wine. … Read more
($16, Wilson Daniels): 
This excellent example of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc shows why the category has become so popular. Aside from the quintessential zing and pungency that seem essentially natural to the grape variety, this has depth and nuances of minerality. A long and cleansing finish makes it ideal for the dinner table.… Read more
($18): Consumers often forget that Oregon producers exceptional Pinot Gris. This wine should remind them. Full and rich, it has hints of melons and nuances of apricots and other stone fruits. Enlivening acidity refreshes the palate and keeps you coming back for more. … Read more
($20, Vineyard Brands): Neil Ellis produces consistently high quality wines at all price levels. This, an upper tier Shiraz, is well worth it not because it is more powerful, but because it’s more complex. Not over-the-top, it’s a lovely balance of layers of spice and black fruit. … Read more
($18): Pinot Blanc can be vapid and boring. Not this one. Fuller than most,
this lovely example has a stone fruit kind of richness balanced and invigorated by lively acidity in the finish. It’s an excellent choice as an aperitif that could easily be carried to the table to match with grilled fish, a seafood stew or even roast chicken.… Read more
($12, Vineyard Brands): This wine is a little deceptive, in a nice way. With the floral aroma reminiscent of Muscat, it temporarily tricks you into thinking it will be sweet. But, it’s not. Racy acidity enlivens the palate. This versatile wine is equally at home as a before-dinner drink, to offset the heat of spicy Asian cuisine, or to complement roast pork. … Read more
($33): They’ve hit the mark with this full-sized Syrah–in only their second vintage. Lush but not over ripe, it manages to capture both the meaty and black fruit sides of Syrah. This full-bodied wine has hints of licorice and other dark flavors that suggest that it be matched with a hearty winter stew.… Read more
($50, Ex Cellars Wine Agency): 
Guigal is the Rhone’s most talented producer. His array of wines—from inexpensive Cotes du Rhone to single vineyard Cote Rôtie priced in the triple digits—is unmatched. Take this Châteauneuf-du-Pape for example. He owns no land there and has no vineyards.… Read more
($15, Vineyard Brands): If New Zealand continues to turn out Riesling like this one, it will become known for that varietal in addition to its Sauvignon Blanc. It delivers a marvelous combination of earthy minerality, lively fruity notes, good concentration and bracing acidity. … Read more
($19, The Sorting Table): Zind-Humbrecht is straying from French tradition by making wine from Chardonnay in Alsace. A blend of one-third Auxerrois and two-thirds Chardonnay from the famed Clos Windsbuhl vineyard, this appealing wine carries no appellation—it’s labeled solely as a “vin de table”—because Chardonnay is not an allowed variety in Alsace. … Read more
($18, Louis Dressner Selections): Michel Tête, one of the top Beaujolais producers, uses the name Domaine de Clos du Fief for the vineyards he owns in Juliénas, one of the 10 villages in Beaujolais allowed to carry the village name. Wines from Juliénas typically display a charming rusticity and true to form, this one combines that engaging quality with an earthy—almost briary—character that melds nicely with the bright red fruit flavors. … Read more
($18, Michael Skurnick): Chenas is one of the 10 villages in Beaujolais whose wines are distinctive and are allowed to carry the village name—instead of the more generic Beaujolais-Villages—on the label. The name, Quartz, comes from a vein of quartz running through the vineyard and is responsible for the wine’s earthy minerality, which acts as a lovely complement to its red cherry fruit-like flavors. … Read more
($80, Hess Imports): When I first tasted this wine–their current release–I immediately was reminded of what Louis Latour (the father of the current head of that renowned Burgundy firm) once told me, “Great wines always taste good.” Those who love young vigorous Shiraz are in for a treat because this one has all you’d expect, plus elegance and refinement–two words not usually used to describe Barossa Shiraz. … Read more