The parent winery, Duckhorn, almost single-handedly put California Merlot on the wine map, so it should come as no surprise that...
Decoy, Sonoma County (California) Merlot 2010
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Robert Whitley
Patz & Hall, Sonoma Coast (California) Pinot Noir 2010
Patz & Hall built its reputation on vineyard-designate wines, making it all too easy to ignore the appellation wines in its...
Decoy, Sonoma County (California) Pinot Noir 2011
This is another of the ever-increasing number of “value” Pinots on the market. From the Duckhorn family of wineries,...
Grgich Hills Cellars, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Grgich is one of the true giants of Napa Valley Cabernet and the current vintage, 2009, is living proof. This is an exquisitely...
Patz & Hall, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2010
There is always much talk in the wine industry about the benefit of old vines. Patz & Hall's Chenoweth Ranch Pinot Noir...
La Rochelle, Sonoma Coast (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Meunier 2010
Winemaker Tom Stutz, after a long and distinguished career at Mirassou, is beginning to hit on all cylinders at La Rochelle, the...
Feasting Wines
It is about to begin, the long, hedonistic march through the holidays, beginning with Thanksgiving. No other time of year...
Frogtown Cellars’ Shotgun Approach
I must admit I was surprised when I first saw the Frogtown Cellars wines pop up in one of my wine competitions a few years back....
America’s Finest Sauvignon Blanc
Once upon a time in American viticulture, Sauvignon Blanc was the noble grape least likely to inspire or mesmerize. California...
Good Bordeaux on the Cheap
Who says you can't drink good Bordeaux on the cheap? The weather has changed and the night air was crisp, so I reached for a...
Some Things I Think I’d Like to Drink: III
Finally, as I search for very high class but affordable red wines to serve this holiday season I can’t help but be...
Kuleto, Napa Valley (California) 2009
Under new ownership but with the same winemaker (David Lattin) Kuleto has embraced the concept of terroir in this red blend that...