Spicy and savory rather than merely sweet, this is a standout California Pinot that proves enduringly interesting to smell and...
Hooker RFC, Knight’s Valley (Sonoma County, California) Syrah 2011
Made entirely from Syrah, this shows a lot of oak charring on both the nose and the palate, and yet the sheer strength of...
Dutcher Crossing Winery, Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County, California) 2012
A Rhône-style blend of 51% Grenache, 32% Mourvedre, 8% Cinsault, 4.5% Counoise and 4.5% Syrah, this shows lots of...
Houdini, Rutherford (Napa Valley, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
This delicious Napa Cab over-delivers for its $40 price tag, showing excellent aromatic complexity and a host of subtle...
Cougar Crest Estate Winery, Walla Walla Valley (Washington) 2010
This blend of 40% Merlot, 25% Malbec, 20% Petite Verdot and 15% Cabernet Franc is strikingly expressive in aroma and...
August Ridge Vineyards, Paso Robles (Central Coast, California) 2009
This interesting blend of 62% Sangiovese, 18% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon shows impressive complexity--especially in...
La Rochelle Winery, Santa Lucia Highlands (Monterey County, California) Pinot Noir 2010
Admirably complex, with a delectable streak of sweetness braced by a bright beam of acidity, this is a Pinot that is at...
Marziano Abbona, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2010
I’ve loved this wine for years, but I’ve never tasted a rendition that could match this stunningly beautiful 2010,...
Stroppiana Oreste, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2010
I’ve had my eye on this producer for several years, as the quality of the wines has been impressive and consistently...
Josetta Saffrio, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2010
This is just a straight village Barolo DOCG rather than a wine designated as being sourced from a particular cru, but it would...
Fontana Livia, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2010
This wine was so intensely expressive in aromatic terms that I wondered whether the scents had been juked up with wood, and...
Bava, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2010
I blind-tasted newly-released, Nebbiolo-based wines in Piedmont in May, and for me the primary point of the effort is to find...