Q Vineyards
Critics Silver 2005 Zinfandel Sonoma County $15.99 A bit of chocolate cake in the nose. Flavors are more about black cherry or chocolate dipped cherries, with plenty of juicy intensity. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Gold 2005 Chardonnay Napa Valley $17.99 Delicate nose with attrsctive apple and apricot fruit. Medium-bodied and silky with a slight toastiness in the background. Balanced and stylish. – Stephen Brook
Quady Winery
Critics Silver 2007 Elysium Black Muscat California $24.99 A really delicious, sweet red, a great dessert wine with chocolate – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Critics Silver NV Palomino Fino California $30.00 Dry and nutty, great with soup – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Critics Gold NV Vya Vermouth Aperitif, Extra Dry California $20.99 Complex herbal and floral notes, compelling. Flavors linger. Lots of personality – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Critics Gold NV Vya Vermouth Aperitif, Sweet California $20.99 High herbal notes, an exotic vermouth – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Quail Ridge Cellars
Critics Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $19.99 Creamy and bright cassis scents. Black cherry flavors give way to a nice acidity. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Gold 2005 Chardonnay Napa Valley $19.99 A compelling bouquet, showing oak but also a mineral-tinged character, along with ripe, rich fruit. The complexity extends on the palate,and the finish is long and layered. Very nice! – Paul Lukacs
Quinta Do Vesuvio
Critics Platinum 2005 Vintage Port Douro Valley $58.00 A Powerhouse port that is beautifully balanced and incredibly deep, this is a supremely promising wine that is already thoroughly satisfying and sure to improve for at least two decades. The fruit shows great purity along with its very deep–almost bottomless-ripe depth of flavor. – Michael Franz
R & B Cellars
Critics Gold 2006 Cabernet Franc, Counterpoint El Dorado $24.00 Succuelnt! This medium-weight wine doesn’t overwhelm your senses but instead sduces and entrances them. It’s a delight to just hold it on your palate. – Paul Lukacs
Critics Gold 2006 Zinfandel, Swingsville Zin California $11.00 Marrying the wild side of Zin with polish, this first-class red delivers the best of both worlds. Smooth tannins, balanced sweetness and alcohol all combine to effortlessly. – Leslie Sbrocco
Rancho Zabaco Winery
Critics Silver 2005 Zinfandel, Toreador, Monte Rosso Vineyard Sonoma Valley $60.00 Big and tawdry but with some appealing pepper spice. – Jon Bonne
Critics Silver 2005 Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vineyard Sonoma Valley $45.00 Firewood, roasted plum and a slight stemmy note. Lots of structure, a touch rough-edged. – Jon Bonne
Critics Gold 2005 Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley $18.00 Pleasantly pungent, slight earthiness; good acid, long and lively, with some complexity and grapefruit-like edginess. – Michael Apstein
Ravenswood Winery
Critics Platinum 2004 Merlot Sonoma County $14.99 Shows hints of subtle, appealing earthiness that will only evolve with age. – Nick Passmore
Critics Platinum 2004 Syrah Sonoma County $14.99 Plush fresh, ripe fruit nicely balanced by a soft, well-defined tannic structure followed by a lingering, dry finish touched with hints of spice. – Nick Passmore
Critics Silver 2005 Zinfandel, Old Vines Sonoma County $14.99 Deep, spicy. Soapstone and currant. Touch bitter on the finish. – Jon Bonne
Critics Silver 2005 Zinfandel Napa Valley $14.99 Plump and fleshy, awash in fruit – Marguerite Thomas
Re del Castello
Critics Gold 2006 Chianti Classico Tuscany $9.99 Dry; lean; complex – Ed McCarthy
Recoleta
Critics Silver 2007 Malbec Bonarda Argentina $2.99 Leathery red cherry and blueberry with those floral, soapy overtones. Solid, ripe tannins, with clear fruit and definition. – Jon Bonne
Red Bicyclette
Critics Silver 2005 Merlot Vin De Pays D’Oc $12.00 Marked by an appealing, zesty fruit personality. – Nick Passmore
Critics Gold 2006 Rose Vin De Pays D’Oc $12.00 Delightful balance of rich strawberry flavors and a surprisingly earth minerality. – Nick Passmore
Red Lava Vineyards
Critics Gold 2005 Syrah, Red Hills Lake County $25.00 Very ripe but just short of jammy, this is a wine that was pushed right to the New World brink of excess–but held just short of that line. The result is very impressive in its depth and breadth, with vivid blackberry and black cherry fruit notes. – Michael Franz
Redwood Creek
Critics Silver 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Frei Brothers Vineyards California $7.99 Dark fruit, spicy flavors, big structure – Elin McCoy
Critics Silver 2006 Merlot, Frei Brothers Vineyards California $7.99 Aromas of plum jam. Flavors are a touch sweet and jammy with bright, assertive fruit. – Patrick Comiskey
Reflexion
Critics Gold 2003 Reserva Rioja $9.99 Sweet cherry fruit notes are very appealing, and the spicy oak notes stay just below the threshhold at which they might become distracting. Fresh and pure but complex and interesting, this is a very tasty, very versatile Rioja. – Michael Franz
Rene Florancy
Critics Silver NV Brut Champagne $26.99 Soft and rounded in flavor and texture, with a very pleasant baked apple fruit note. Despite the overall impression of softness, there’s enough acidic structure to keep this fresh and focused. – Michael Franz
Robert Hall Winery
Critics Platinum 2005 Meritage, Hall Ranch Paso Robles $48.00 Great structure and staying power. Perfectly ripe red and black fruit, pleasant underbrush and cedar notes, and a brisk, refreshing finish. Fine balance and integration. – Linda Murphy
Critics Silver 2006 Rhone de Robles Central Coast $20.00 Aussie in style with a dark chocolate oak note to accent raspberry flavors. For all its forwardness, refreshingly lean on palate. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Silver 2005 Vintage Port Paso Robles $32.00 This shows lots of impressive depth and dimension, with lots of meaty fruit and lots of interesting little nuances around the core of sweet fruit. – Michael Franz
Critics Platinum 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles $20.00 Ripe black fruit, with polished tannins. Some minerality in the finish. – Michael Apstein
Critics Silver 2006 Merlot Paso Robles $20.00 Has lovely depth and a subtletly of fruit expression – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Critics Gold 2007 Rose de Robles, Hall Ranch Paso Robles $14.00 A serious rose, realtively full bodied with a good crisp finish – Marguerite Thomas
Critics Silver 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Paso Robles $14.00 Juicy, tropical fruit aromas are backed up with a balanced touch of acidity in this easy-sipping SB – Leslie Sbrocco
Robert Mondavi Private Selection
Critics Gold 2006 Pinot Noir California $11.00 Nicely balanced Pinot, not overtly sweet, lots of personality – Marguerite Thomas
Critics Silver 2007 Chardonnay Central Coast $11.00 YEAST, LIME, SALT ON NOSE, FRESH; BASIC AND LINEAR BUT EDGY ACIDITY LINGERS – Jon Bonne
Critics Silver 2007 Pinot Grigio California $11.00 Sweet almondy nose, marzipan. Rich, firm, full-bodied and weighty, plenty of extract, and a long nutty finish. – Stephen Brook
Rodney Strong Vineyards
Critics Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Sonoma County $50.00 Big, powerful, with thick rich texture – Elin McCoy
Critics Silver 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Vineyards Alexander Valley $25.00 Dry and medium-plus bodied with concentrated flavors of dark berries, cassisó very typical of Cabó and serious tannin on the rear palate that will suit a rare steak. – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Critics Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County $19.00 Savory and balanced, with dusty overtones – Elin McCoy
Critics Gold 2004 Merlot Sonoma County $19.00 Soft, plummy, altogether satisfying – Marguerite Thomas
Critics Gold 2006 Pinot Noir, Estate Vineyards Russian River Valley $22.00 A meaty nose, with loam, copper and sweet nutmeg amid dense black cherry and strawberry compote. Gets hotter and a bit grainy towards the end. – Jon Bonne
Critics Gold 2006 Chardonnay, Chalk Hill, Estate Vineyards Sonoma County $20.00 Notable especially for bigu huge bouquet – Marguerite Thomas
Critics Gold 2007 Chardonnay Sonoma County $15.00 Something wonderfully summery about this–maybe it’s the aroma of sunny hayfields, ripe juicy fruit. – Marguerite Thomas
Rosenblum Cellars
Critics Silver 2006 Zinfandel Contra Costa County $18.00 A pebbly mineral note and lively, rustic plum. Firm on the end. – Jon Bonne
Critics Silver 2006 Zinfandel Paso Robles $18.00 Flashy oak and polished red cherry. A sweet core, with the wood echoing heavily at the finish. – Jon Bonne
Critics Silver 2006 Zinfandel, Richard Sauret Vineyard Paso Robles $25.00 Big ripe wine, pretty typical of the best of the genre – Marguerite Thomas
Critics Platinum 2005 Zinfandel, Maggie’s Reserve Sonoma Valley $45.00 Delicate, chamomile and sweet black cherry. A focused, claret-like effort with firm, well-wrapped structure.** – Jon Bonne
Critics Gold 2006 Zinfandel Reserve, Monte Rosso Vineyard Sonoma Valley $45.00 Red rasberries, plums and other red fruits , a big buxom wine – Marguerite Thomas
Critics Silver 2006 Roussanne, Fess Parker Vineyards Santa Barbara County $18.00 Clean, pure expression of roussanne’s simple fruity pleasures – Nick Passmore
Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate
Critics Silver 2004 Meritage Malibu-Newton Canyon $75.00 Fresh deep fruit. Bit much heat. Fine, massive structure underneath. – Jon Bonne
Critics Silver 2006 Chardonnay Malibu-Newton Canyon $25.00 WHITE STONE AND RIPE APPLE, A SAVORY PROFILE, THOUGH FALTERS TOWARD FINISH – Jon Bonne
Rotta Winery
Critics Gold 2004 Zinfandel, Giubbini Vineyard Paso Robles $27.00 Almost angular, but charming campfire, roasted cherry and cranberry. – Jon Bonne
Roza Ridge
Critics Gold 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake Hills $15.00 Expressive fruit recalling blackberries and dark cherries, with a nice herbal note and a well-measured dose of oak. – Michael Franz
Critics Silver 2004 Merlot Rattlesnake Hills $15.00 Smoky aromas layered with dark berry fruit flavors and a smooth texture make Merlot an all-around winner. – Leslie Sbrocco
Rutherford Vintners
Critics Silver 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $12.99 An almost citrusy scent gives way to black cherry flavors, with fine grained tannin. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Silver 2005 Merlot Napa Valley $12.99 Light nose, simple cherry fruit. Fresh and clean, reasonably concentrated, highly drinkable with a long finish. Straightforward but enjoyable. – Stephen Brook