Dancing Bull
Critics Silver 2004 Merlot California $12.00: Light, lively and juicy, perfect for current drinking. – Nick Passmore
Dellatorri Winery
Critics Gold 2006 Chianti Tuscany $13.99: Rich; complexly flavored – Ed McCarthy
Critics Silver 2007 Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie $11.99: Savory and lifted, but it has a flavor of tart apples and an almost saline quality with good firm acids – Patrick Comiskey
Diablo Creek
Critics Silver 2006 Chardonnay, Vineyard Selection California $5.99: Richness, with weight and power on the palate without being heavy. – Robert Whitley
Dog House
Critics Gold 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Checkers’ Cab California $9.99: Lovely complexity, fruit, earth. Balanced. Nice structure. Firm, not astringent tannins. Great nose, floral, cedar, tobacco. They’ve turned the volume down and you can hear lots of notes. – Michael Apstein
Critics Silver 2005 Chardonnay, Charlie’s Chard California $9.99: Integrated notes of spice and toast on the nose are complemented by softness on the finish – Leslie Sbrocco
Critics Silver 2006 Pinot Grigio, Patches’ Pinot California $9.99: Light, crisp and fresh. Well balanced – Nick Passmore
Domaine Coteau
Critics Gold 2006 Pinot Noir Eola – Amity Hills $29.00: A bold Pinot with a come hither swagger that delivers ripe fruit flavors and velvety texture. – Leslie Sbrocco
Domaine De Nizas
Critics Silver 2007 Rose, AOC Coteaux de Languedoc Languedoc-Roussillon $16.00: Slight sulfur note, but then leafy strawberry and a limpid peach note. On the lighter side, with grip adding some texture at the finish. – Jon Bonne
Domaine Laroche
Critics Silver 2006 Chablis, Saint Martin Burgundy $29.99: A wine with great energy and synergy. Firm and brisk, it has just enough ripe fruit to reward now and the structure to improve in the cellar. – Linda Murphy
Critics Gold 2005 Chablis Premier Cru, Les Vaudevey Burgundy $41.99: Lovely nose, creamy, lemony, stylish, with restrained minerality but long, attractive smokiness, maybe even flinty; great balance and length. – Michael Apstein
Critics Platinum 2004 Chablis Premier Cru, Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes Burgundy $43.99: Vine-sweet citrus fruit combines with great structure in a complete, rewarding wine. Great nervosity, balance and a very long finish. Utterly delicious. – Linda Murphy
Critics Silver 2005 Chablis Premier Cru, Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes Burgundy $53.99: Full-flavored and intense in puckery citrus fruit. Lemon and lime notes, with a super-tangy finish. – Linda Murphy
Critics Silver 2005 Chablis Grand Cru, Les Blanchots Burgundy $86.99: Lean and tight, with bracing acidity to go with Meyer lemon and green apple fruit. A bit of harshness on the finish keeps it from getting a higher score, yet the structure and balance are there. – Linda Murphy
Domaine Laurier
Critics Gold 2003 Merlot, Reserve Sonoma County $12.99: A powerful, high-alcohol Merlot – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Critics Silver NV Brut, Méthode Champenoise California $9.99: Quite acidic, a bit short; – Ed McCarthy
Critics Silver 2005 Sauvignon Blanc, Reserve Sonoma County $12.99: Richly ripe flavors of peach, full body and creamy texture, plus high acidity to keep it all in balance – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Domaine Ste. Michelle
Critics Gold NV Blanc de Blancs Columbia Valley $13.00: What you expect in a Blanc de Blancs, freshness and liveliness, with lovely citrusy flavors and great depth – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Critics Platinum NV Cuvee Brut Columbia Valley $13.00: Excellent; great acidity; complex; young – Ed McCarthy
Critics Silver 2001 Luxe Columbia Valley $23.00: A rich, dramatic wine, this shows lots of ripeness and depth of fruit. – Michael Franz
Don Ernesto
Critics Gold 2003 Crescendo! Napa Valley $24.00: Subtle herbaceousness rides atop perfectly ripe black cherry and cassis flavors. Integrated tannins and keenly balanced. Long, mouth-watering finish. – Linda Murphy
Dow’s
Critics Platinum 1994 Vintage Port Douro Valley $105.00: Showing some maturity and lots of impressive complexities, this is ready to enjoy, and eminently enjoyable, as the sweetness has receded enough to permit secondary aromas and flavors to emerge while still being sufficiently present to make for a thoroughly satisfying experience. – Michael Franz
Critics Gold 2005 Vintage Port, Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira Douro Valley $60.00: Excellent – Ed McCarthy
Dry Creek Vineyard
Critics Silver 2004 The Mariner, Meritage Dry Creek Valley $40.00: Complex black chedrry, cedar and spice nose. Firmly tannic and slightly astringent now, yet with plenty of bright red fruit and a long life ahead of it. – Linda Murphy
Critics Gold 2005 Merlot Dry Creek Valley $19.00: The wine’s deep purple hue gives an indication of what’s to follow: rich, ripe layers of fruit flavor, cocoa notes and a hint of minerality combine seamlessly. – Leslie Sbrocco
Critics Gold 2006 Heritage Zinfandel Sonoma County $17.00: Black cherry and cassis aromas, with a hint of vanilla. The flavors are a deep, dark woodsy cherry, with lots of peppery tannin. A lot of wine. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Gold 2005 Old Vine Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley $28.00: Aromas here are juicy ripe plum. Straightforward, full-on Zin with a little lift from bright red cherry flavor, lifted and clean – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Gold 2005 Chardonnay Russian River Valley $20.00: Attractive nose of toast and citrus. Sleek and stylish, ample fruit here with nicely judged oak and a long tangy finish. – Stephen Brook
Critics Silver 2006 Fume Blanc, Dry Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County $14.50: Fresh, a touch herbal, and packed with grapefruit and green apple tang, this is a white ideal for outdoor entertaining. – Leslie Sbrocco
Drytown Cellars
Critics Gold 2007 Viognier Sierra Foothills $17.00: This wine proved very hard to spit out. An intense harmony of ripe fruit and flinty acidity. – Nick Passmore