Chateau Ste. Michelle is--trust me--among the handful of wine producers in the United States that is esteemed most highly by...
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Valley (Washington) 2009
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Michael Franz
Beaulieu Vineyard, Napa Valley (California) 2009
I confess that I have somehow managed to lose touch with what is going on at Beaulieu Vineyard lately. But am I ever starting to...
Fields Family Wines, Lodi (California) Tempranillo 2010
This is one of the most compelling examples of this great grape that I’ve ever tasted from the USA, showing dark cherry...
Benziger Family Winery, Sonoma County (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
A very strong, strikingly complex wine, this Cabernet shows the level of concentration, intensity and structure typically...
Twisted Sister (Calcareous Vineyard), Paso Robles (California) 2010
A blend of 69% Syrah, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Zinfandel, this is a bit puzzling at first glance because it seems to be a...
Calcareous Vineyard, Paso Robles (California) Syrah 2009
A remarkable wine that I know from past experience that continues to become more remarkable still with additional time in...
Rodney Strong, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2011
Very pretty but also packing a flavorful punch, this shows expressive aromas and flavors of dark cherries and berries, with...
Beaulieu Vineyard, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
One of the most famous bottlings in the history of American wine, this carries such high expectations with it that it is almost...
Barrel Oak Winery, Virginia (United States) Cabernet Franc 2010
A highly expressive, varietally-true example of Cabernet Franc, this shows leafy, herbal aromas that are expressive but not...
Stemware Sanity–and a Little Magic
I opened a column here on WRO earlier this year with the observation that wine temperature is a crucial factor in wine...
Wildhurst Vineyards, Lake County (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
A remarkable achievement at this price level, this wine is packed with flavor and structure, and yet it manages not to seem...
Project Paso, Paso Robles (California) 2010
A pretty wine, but one that still shows plenty of flavor underneath its sleek, soft exterior, this proves that Paso can produce...