This delicate but intensely flavored Pinot from J is a welcome alternative to richer, riper, more robust Pinots that get most of...
MacMurray Estate Vineyards, Central Coast (California) Pinot Noir 2013
The rise in quality of inexpensive California Pinot Noir is nothing less than stunning. This 2013 MacMurray from California's...
J Vineyards, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2013
J's 2013 Nicole's Vineyard strikes an exquisite balance between Old World sensibilities and New World realities. Made in a...
Silverado Vineyards, Coombsville (Napa Valley, California) Merlot 2012
Silverado's Mt. George Vineyard in the recently designated Coombsville sub-appellation in the Napa Valley is treasure trove of...
Rutherford Hill, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2012
Rutherford Hill has a long and distinguished history with Merlot going back to the days of ace winemaker Jerry Luper. This...
Liberated, Monterey (California) Pinot Noir 2013
The most common issue with inexpensive Pinot Noir is unbearable lightness. There is nothing thin or insipid about this earthy...
Goldeneye, Anderson Valley (Mendocino County) Pinot Noir 2012
I sense a shift in the Goldeneye Pinots away from the power and voluptuousness of past vintages to a more refined, elegant...
L’Ecole, Walla Walla (Washington) Merlot 2012
Washington has been slowly building its reputation for top-notch Merlot production, and L'Ecole is a big piece of the puzzle...
Matanzas Creek, Sonoma County (California) Merlot 2012
Matanzas Creek was among the first of the California wineries that came to embrace Merlot and treat it as something other than a...
Folie a Deux, Alexander Valley (Sonoma County) Merlot 2012
This supple Merlot from the Alexander Valley exhibits ripe red-fruit aromas with hints of dried herbs and spice. On the palate...
Napa Cellars, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2012
Merlot continues to offer the best value of any red wine made in the Napa Valley and this 2012 from Napa Cellars is an excellent...
Duckhorn Vineyards, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2012
This is the wine that made Duckhorn famous and it's still going strong. The 2012 vintage was superb in the Napa Valley and...