Camelot
Critics Silver 2003 Merlot California $8.99: Juicy fruit, plenty of texture, good structure – Elin McCoy
Critics Silver 2005 Chardonnay California $8.99: An elegant, restrained style of Chardonnay that will work well from cocktail hour to the dinner table – Leslie Sbrocco
Campo Viejo
Critics Silver 2003 Reserva Rioja $12.99: Toasty, spicy oak notes are well attuned to the fruit, with fine-grain tannin offering some firmness but no astringency in the finish. – Michael Franz
Candelaria
Critics Gold 2006 Carmenere, Reserva Maule Valley $9.99: Rich cherry and plum nose, oaky, minty. Medium-bodied, less concentrated than the nose, but fleshy and structured, with plenty of spicre and vigour. Good length. – Stephen Brook
Capel Vale
Critics Silver 2005 Shiraz, Debut Western Australia $16.00: Red currant scent with a hint of violets and caramel from oak. Flavors are youthfully dense and chewy with a bright core of sweet red fruit. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Platinum 2005 Shiraz, Regional Series Mount Barker $22.00: Complex aromas of anise, crayon wax, dried meat, blackberries. The palate flavors are deep and inky, with a peppery scrum of crushed blackberries and violets. The wine is juicy and powerful, never ponderous; the acids keep the wine buoyant. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Gold 2007 Chardonnay, Debut, Unwooded Western Australia $16.00: Intense, ripe notes of pineapple and tropical fruit. Beautifully balanced. – Robert Whitley
Carlsbad Coastal Winery
Critics Gold 2006 Syrah Alexander Valley $19.00: In an oaky style, but wears the oak well with scents of redwood bark and a warm oaky spice. Flavors are of black cherry and the spice reminds of bourbon. – Patrick Comiskey
Carmichael Vintners
Critics Silver 2005 Sur le Pont Monterey County $17.99: Generous in an oaked style. Big and chocolatey in the aroma, and chocolate covered cherries on the palate. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Silver 2004 Sur le Pont Monterey County $17.99: Big, round and rich with enticing hints of chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla. – Nick Passmore
Critics Gold 2005 Sa Vini Monterey County $18.99: A big smoky wine in a ripe style, with scents of black plum and tea smoke. It’s rich and generous on the palate with flavors of black cherry marked by expensive oak. – Patrick Comiskey
Cedar Creek Winery
Critics Silver 2007 Vidal American $8.50: Clean and ffesh- — a very lively rendition of Vidal, with just a hint of sweetness in the finish. – Paul Lukacs
Chaddsford Winery
Critics Silver 2005 Merlot Pennsylvania $16.99: Cherry aromas with a savory note; lean cherry, berry fruit in the mouth. A leaner style merlot well suited for food. – Rebecca Murphy
Critics Gold 2006 Pinot Grigio Pennsylvania $16.99: Very complex nose of thai pineapple, soy sauce, and sea air. The flavors have a savory quality to go with tropical pineapple and a neat salinity to the finish. – Patrick Comiskey
Chalone Vineyard
Critics Gold 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Monterey County $14.00: A less ripe, elegant style — bravo. Black fruit is vine-ripe but not sweet, tannins are mature yet sturdy, and the complexity comes from subtle notes of vanilla, cedar and a touch of fresh herbs. Then the price is revealed — amazing value! – Linda Murphy
Chandelle Of Sonoma
Critics Platinum 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County $28.00: The real thing. Vinous, cedary scents with plum and cassis. The flavors are deep and mentholated, with a juicy black plum flavor, but it’s elegant and fine — nice to see real balance in a Cabernet. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Silver 2006 Chardonnay Sonoma County $25.00: Well balanced, showing ripe yellow fruits and freshness. – Robert Whitley
Chanson
Critics Gold 2005 Nuits St. George Burgundy $54.00: Lovely fruit; delightful and delicious – Ed McCarthy
Critics Silver 2005 Savigny-Dominode, Premier Cru Burgundy $46.00: Soft and appealingly open in flavor and texture on entry, this then firms up with a well-measured dose of fine-grained tannin in the finish, suggesting that it will stand up well to moderately robust foods. – Michael Franz
Critics Silver 2005 Volnay Cote de Beaune $74.00: Dried cherry fruit is delicate and nicely balanced by fine-grained tannin. – Michael Franz
Critics Platinum 2006 Meursault Cote d’Or $74.00: Similar to ’04; rich and creamy without being overdone. Long finish with great bright acid and some minerality. Finely focused. Lemon cream. Essence of great white Cote d’Or Burgundy. Long and refined, luxurious. Quite ripe but balanced. – Michael Apstein
Critics Gold 2005 Pernand-Vergelesses, Les Caradeux 1er Cru Cote d’Or $45.00: Earthy, trufflle-y aromas carry over to the palate, which expands to moderately fruity pear and green apple flavors. Enters with a soft juiciness and finishes with firm acidity. Tons of complexity and interest. – Linda Murphy
Chateau Chevalier Winery
Critics Gold 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District $24.99: A delightful blend of rich earthiness and bracing, zesty fruit. – Nick Passmore
Chateau des Laurets
Critics Platinum 2004 Puisseguin Saint-Emilion Bordeaux $27.00: Initial scents of plum and newsprint ink, with an almost red apple brightness. Palate however is deep, concentrated and rich, with notes of ink and black cherry, a fine persistent texture, posh and elegant. Definitively Right Bank in style and aspect. – Patrick Comiskey
Chateau Frank
Critics Platinum 2000 Blanc de Blanc Finger Lakes $29.99: Depth; complex; long finish – Ed McCarthy
Chateau Lafayette Reneau
Critics Silver 2005 Chardonnay, Barrel Fermented Finger Lakes $14.99: Ripe and seductive peachy aromas. Soft and plump, fully ready to drink. – Stephen Brook
Critics Silver 2006 Dry Riesling Finger Lakes $14.99: A slight CO2 tingle enhances the freshness of this crisp, vibrant, fairly dry Riesling with citrus flavors – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Chateau Laroque
Critics Platinum 2001 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux $59.99: All smoke and cedar in the nose, accenting red cherry. Palate is rich and suave, big shouldered, with a fine deep foresty flavor. Inky tannins. Long and mouth-coating finish. Beautiful and stylish in a Pomerol style. – Patrick Comiskey
Chateau Lassegue
Critics Gold 2004 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux $50.00: Very oaky in the nose, with a good smoky backnote. Posh, mostly oak-driven wine. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Silver 2004 Chateau Vignot, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux $35.00: Sumptuous, coffee’d oak aromas. Dark and smoky oak flavors dominate to complement black plum. – Patrick Comiskey
Chateau St. Croix
Critics Silver 2006 Frontenac Ruby Port American $22.00: All black cherry, almost like fruit syrup. Very intense, thick red cherry flavor with a bottom note of chocolate, like a sacher torte. – Patrick Comiskey
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Critics Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Indian Wells Columbia Valley $18.00: Structured and thick textured, with lots of potential; serious. – Elin McCoy
Best of Show Dessert 2006 Riesling Ice Wine, Eroica Columbia Valley $75.00: Lovely nose, pears and apricots. Delicate. Sweet, not syrupy. Stylish, balanced.Great nose, rich, not cloying. – Michael Apstein
Critics Gold 2006 Chardonnay, Canoe Ridge Estate Horse Heaven Hills $24.00: Lovely nose, pretty pear and baked apple fruit notes, and good balance throughout. – Robert Whitley
Critics Gold 2006 Late Harvest White Riesling, Ethos Columbia Valley $39.00: Light melon and apricot nose. Intensely sweet, silky, but has fine balancing acidity, stylish though the sweetness does dominate the finish. – Stephen Brook
Critics Silver 2007 Dry Riesling Columbia Valley $12.00: Very floral nose, and with perfectly ripened pear and apple fruit. It’s a softer, fruitier style, very flavorful and with keen acidity to carry the fruit. A crowd-pleaser, really delicious – Linda Murphy
Critics Gold 2007 Riesling, Eroica, Dr. Loosen Columbia Valley $22.00: Lean, vivacious, citric nose. Bright, lightly sweet, quite concentrated, plenty of ripe citrus fruit and a long tangy finish. – Stephen Brook
Chilcas
Critics Silver 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Reserva Casablanca Valley $9.99: A powerful Sauvignon Blanc with herbal notes as well as grapefruit; very expressive – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Chilensis
Critics Gold 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserva Colchagua Valley $8.99: This wine bespeaks its origins, displaying the tell-tale note of gren leaf and dried herbs in the bouquet that so distinguishes fine Chilean Cabernets. That initial impression might lead one to suspect that the wine will be dry and become harsh on the palate, but just the opposite proves true as it tastes rich and lush. Lovely stuff. – Paul Lukacs
Cinnabar Vineyards
Critics Silver 2004 Cabernet Franc Lodi $35.00: Herbal notes are followed with dark plum flavors in this medium-full bodied red. Nibble on a piece of dark chocolate and enjoy. – Leslie Sbrocco
Critics Silver 2006 Late Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains $34.00: Caramel and dates on the nose. Caramel and butterscotch flavours, light acidity, has some zest on rhe finish. – Stephen Brook
Critics Silver 2006 Merlot Paso Robles $20.00: Fruit bowl — all things red: berries, plums, cherries – Marguerite Thomas
Critics Silver 2006 Pinot Noir Central Coast $26.00: Oak on the nose underscores basic black cherry and a grainy tannic structure. Straightforward, with dusty mineral hints struggling through the oak. – Jon Bonne
Clay Station
Critics Silver 2007 Viognier Lodi $12.99: In a riper style with candied peach aromas and a leaner peach fruit flavor. Classic Rhone flavor, on the rich side. – Patrick Comiskey
Clayhouse Vineyard
Critics Gold 2005 Hillside Cuvee, Estate Paso Robles $32.99: Seamless, sweet spice cake and blue plum. Buoyant and boldly structured. – Jon Bonne
Critics Silver 2006 Adobe Red Central Coast $15.00: Rich cocoa-tinged black cherry, cracked pepper edged with dusty tannins. Robust and burger-friendly. – Jon Bonne
Critics Gold 2006 Late Harvest Petite Sirah Paso Robles $25.00: Inky. Thick plummy nose. Sweet, juicy, supple, peppery, has some acidity and tannin to give some complexity and personality. Long robust finish. – Stephen Brook
Critics Silver 2005 Petite Sirah, Estate Paso Robles $22.99: Loamy chocolate and blackberry. A jammy mouthful, with strong but fine grip. – Jon Bonne
Clif Bar Family Winery
Critics Silver 2007 The Climber White Wine California $12.95: Nice herbal notes work very nicely with white melon fruit, and a dash of citrus acidity in the finish provides lift and definition. – Michael Franz
Cline Cellars
Critics Silver 2006 Cashmere California $15.99: Sachertorte scent of chocolate, raspberries. It’s rich and cocoa-ey on the palate with a lot of bright jammy fruit. – Patrick Comiskey
Clos Du Val
Critics Platinum 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District $70.00: What draws you into this stunning wine first is the herbal complexity layered with perfectly ripe fruit flavors and integrated oak notes. Curvaceous and supple, the texture is pure velvet. – Leslie Sbrocco
Clover Hill
Critics Gold 2003 Brut Sparkling Tasmania $32.00: Toasty and developed, this mature wine shows lots of interesting secondary complexities, yet retains a fresh, vibrant character. The golden color suggests a fully mature wine, and yet the acidity remains quite energetic, as does the mousse. – Michael Franz
Cockerell Family Wine Estates
Critics Gold 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Terroir Coquerel Napa Valley $48.00: An oaked style, with great textural richness and yet the zingy, fresh acidity of the Sauvignon Blanc grape, and nuanced honey and lemon flavors. – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Columbia Crest Winery
Critics Silver 2005 Merlot, Grand Estates Columbia Valley $11.00: Leads with a hint of smoke and cherry jam. Smoky, with creamy, sweet cherry flavors. Undemanding, easy to drink. – Patrick Comiskey
Concannon Vineyard
Critics Silver 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Livermore Valley $25.00: Plush and ripe with chocolatey notes, grab a glass of this comfort wine and kick off your evening – Leslie Sbrocco
Critics Gold 2005 Grenache, Reserve Livermore Valley $24.00: Fleshy-textured and dry with provocative fresh raspberry flavor. – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Critics Silver 2006 Merlot, Selected Vineyards Central Coast $10.99: Nice fruit balance and soft tannins – Marguerite Thomas
Critics Silver 2004 Merlot, Reserve Livermore Valley $24.00: Solid, pretty plum and well-honed tannins. – Jon Bonne
Critics Silver 2004 Petite Sirah, Reserve Livermore Valley $36.00: Wood notes bolster deep, raisined fruit. Too much of everything, but manages some balance and fine grain. – Jon Bonne
Critics Silver 2005 Syrah, Selected Vineyards Central Coast $10.99: Slightly less ripe than most, but still,straightforward simple fruit. – Michael Apstein
Critics Silver 2005 Syrah, Stampmaker’s, Limited Release Central Coast $15.00: Plummy fruit, better balance. Not hot Straightforward fruit. Nice supporting tannins. Slightly hot finish. – Michael Apstein
Critics Gold 2006 Tempranillo, Reserve Paso Robles $25.00: Cherries and sweet oak on the nose. Rich, quite dense, has plenty of grip, but therre’s enough red currant and cherry fruit to balance the tannins. Invigorating. – Stephen Brook
Critics Silver 2006 Zinfandel, Reserve Livermore Valley $25.00: A somewhat restrained Zin. It seduces your taste buds rather than beating them up. – Paul Lukacs
Critics Silver 2006 Chardonnay, Selected Vineyards Central Coast $10.99: Intense, but lighter, a style that wears well – Elin McCoy
Critics Silver 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Selected Vineyards Central Coast $10.99: Round and honeyed. – Elin McCoy
Conn Creek Winery
Critics Silver 2004 Anthology Napa Valley $54.00: Perfumed, subtle nose. Fresh currant and charred plum, with fine grain. Moderate, tapered finish. – Jon Bonne
Cooper’s Hawk Winery
Critics Silver 2006 Shiraz American $17.99: Light, fruity and approachable. – Nick Passmore
Cooper’s Oak Winery
Critics Silver NV Cabernet Sauvignon American $15.00: Not an overly serious wine but one that’s seriously fun to sip. Juicy, fruit-driven and succulent, pour it with pizza, burgers and ribs. – Leslie Sbrocco
Cosentino Winery
Critics Gold 2004 Cabernet Franc Napa Valley $50.00: The wine’s blueberry, rose petal, and violet aromas are seductive, but it’s the plush texture that makes this delicious red stand out. – Leslie Sbrocco
Critics Gold 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa County $45.00: An unabashadly rich style of Cabernet with powerful tannins and ultra-ripe fruit. If you like them big, this is your wine. – Leslie Sbrocco
Critics Silver 2006 Pinot Noir Sonoma County $40.00: Light and somewhat earthy – Marguerite Thomas
Critics Gold 2007 Pinot Grigio Solano County $20.00: Very ripe nose, peaches and tropical fruit. Deft and fresh, with attractive acidity to balance the evident ripeness, mineral and bracing, with good length. – Stephen Brook
Covey Run Winery
Critics Silver 2006 Riesling Columbia Valley $8.00: Apricot and orange peel aromas. Lean, fresh, delicate, just a touch of sweetness thanks to its acidity, plenty of extract and vigour, with a long nutty finish. – Stephen Brook
Crossing Vineyards and Winery
Critics Gold 2006 Cabernet Franc Pennsylvania $21.00: A very elegant rendition of this particular varietal, without any of the irritating vegetal qualities that mar so many others, and without seeming over-ripe or heavy. Wonderfully long, layered, and sophisticated fruit and earth-tinged flavors. (The wine would score even higher if it offered more in the way of bouquet.) – Paul Lukacs
Critics Silver 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Pennsylvania $22.00: A bit soft, but pleasant – Ed McCarthy
Critics Silver 2006 Chardonnay Pennsylvania $17.00: Bruised apple nose with quite a lot of power. Rich, lush, and creamy, a crowd-pleaser with more opulence than elegance, and a touch of heat on the finish. – Stephen Brook
Critics Silver 2006 Riesling Pennsylvania $16.00: Heady floral nose, apple, apricot, and a touch of honey. Rich, full-bodied, a bit heavy for Riesling but has impressive weight of fruit; baked apple on the finish. – Stephen Brook
CRU
Critics Gold 2006 Pinot Noir, Two Vineyards Monterey County $19.99: Soy, dried strawberry and coriander. Finely tannic, with a nuance to the texture and a well-cloaked structure. – Jon Bonne
Critics Silver 2006 Pinot Noir, Chualar Canyon Monterey County $29.99: Reduced, but some bright boysenberry and a tangy soy note on the end. – Jon Bonne
Crystal Valley Cellars
Critics Gold 2005 Merlot Napa County $18.00: Earthiness with well integrated ripe fruit – Marguerite Thomas
Critics Silver 2006 Tempranillo, The Temp Lodi $25.00: The aromas are subtle, showing a bit of black fruit, but in the mouth the flavors are layered and complex, taking time to reveal themselves. Full bodied with burnished tannins. – Rebecca Murphy
Critics Gold 2006 Zinfandel, The Zin California $30.00: Almost kirsch-like on the nose, with lifted raspberry and blackberry, and a tangy grip. Nuanced, pretty stuff. – Jon Bonne
Cupcake
Critics Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast $9.99: Rich cherry and blackberry flavors well balanced by soft dry tannins. – Nick Passmore
Critics Silver 2006 Chardonnay Central Coast $9.99: Floral, with delicate notes of pear. Very restrained. – Robert Whitley
Cycles Gladiator
Critics Gold 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast $9.99: Deep plum scent. the palate is fine and forward, nice creamy black cherry fruit with a vanilla topnote, balanced, with a long finish. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Gold 2006 Syrah Central Coast $9.99: Attractive nose of black fruits and spice. Finely balanced, witth black pepper and subtle leather adding interest. Very young and tight now, yet with a promising future. – Linda Murphy