About the California wine region
Though less than half a century old, and remarkably young compared to its European counterparts, the wine industry in California has managed to enchant the country’s wine buying public as well as receive accolades from “across the pond.” This may be because of two realities. First is the undeniable quality of the wines—remarkably fruity, full and satisfying, rarely too austere or tannic to be savored from the first day. The second is the “buy American” angle. A very high number of American wine buyers simply prefer domestic to foreign wines.
The state plays host to an enormous range of microclimates and soils as well as a lot of sunshine, hot summer days and dry harvests. All these factors contribute to healthy ripe fruits that make European producers, in less dependable climates, green with envy. More than three out of every four years, California’s best sites produces excellent wines.
The U.S. is not protectionist when it comes to taxing imported wines compared to many other countries, but the California wine industry is inherently protected because of consumers wanting to buy American.
To most people, the Napa Valley is the home of California wine, and Cabernet is the clear king in Napa. Burgundy varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have moved to cooler areas, for the most part closer to the Pacific. This includes the western stretches of Sonoma County, the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, and the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez valleys of Santa Barbara County. In regions as contrasting as Mendocino County, the Sonoma coast, Carneros, Paso Robles, and Santa Maria Valley, Syrah vines have yielded interesting wines. Excellent Zinfandel is also produced all over the state and may be the only California wine emulated abroad.
Bright, fresh and focused, with red berries, blackberries, spices, crushed stones and an earthy undertone on the nose. The palate is mid-weighted with fine-boned tannins and a juicy yet dry finish. Drink or hold.
Red and black cherry and raspberry preserve notes are nicely coiled together, with subtle dark tea, wood spice and floral elements forming a pretty backdrop for the finish. Drink now through 2029. Tasted twice, with...
The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Concrete Aged emerges from mostly older vines and sees a bit of skin contact on the press. Apricot, chamomile, dried flowers, mint and a kiss of tangerine peel are beautifully amplified in the...
A ripe and rich nose of cherries, baked plums, warm spices and hints of prunes. Full-bodied with plush tannins. Lush and opulent with a rich core of baked berries and a flavorful finish. Attractive now, but better after 2025.
The only one of the Dominus wines to show more than a hint of wood, the 2023 Dominus matured in 40% new French oak, leaving it marked by caramel and cedar overtones. Yet that oak aging is balanced by plenty of black...
Fresh and vibrant satsuma tangerine, Meyer lemon, pear pastry and ginger notes mingle with Honeycrisp apple and lemon sherbet, with accents of brioche, sweet cream and spices on a supple, elegant frame. Drink now through...
This is deep and winey, with cassis, plum paste and linzer torte notes leading the way. Structured but succulent, offering singed apple wood, bay and cast iron accents that support the fruit through the long and focused...
A supple, flavorful, sleek and densely fruity wine on a full body. The tannins seem to build on the palate, giving a little textural grip to raspberry and red and black cherry flavors and attractive oak spices like...
Herbal in cedar, this medium-bodied wine is simply layered, with a thickness of tannin and oak, its mouthfeel substantial yet smooth. Black fruit speaks loudest—a mix of black cherry, blueberry and blackberry jam. —...
A bright platinum/yellow hue, the 2023 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard has classically more depth, more phenolic structure, and more flesh, with fresh apricot fruit tones, great length, and broader depth. It offers full-bodied...
The nose of this old vine Zin brings concentrated cherry, raspberry liqueur, and cinnamon aromas, while the palate brings plush tannin, supple acidity, and flavors of roasted cherries, berry compote, plum, and licorice...
This takes a graceful tack, offering supple, cedar-lined notes of gently mulled red currant and black cherry fruit that glide through the tobacco-, mint-, licorice- and sandalwood-accented finish. Offering charm rather...
95+Minty herbs come together with hints of mocha, then dried violets, stone dust and finally wild blueberries as the kaleidoscopic 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Patrimony reaches up from the glass. Cool and collected, this is a...
Offers beautifully rendered notes of hibiscus, rose petal, damson plum and mulberry that stretch out lengthily thanks to the fine-beaded acidity and taut, precise tannins. The sapid finish lets in tea and incense hints...
98+ The 2023 Pinot Noir DuMOL Estate Vineyard is a real head-turner, just as it was in barrel. Dark, sumptuous fruit, leather, incense, tobacco, dried herbs and graphite open first, buffered by brisk acids and beams of...
One Point Five is full of tension, offering red and black cherry fruit, dusty minerality, and unsweetened cocoa powder. Full-bodied and driven by fleshy cherry and spiced plum fruit, it’s balanced by velvety tannins that...
This is stylish, with tarragon and verbena notes leading the way for Key lime, yellow plum and green almond flavors. Offers a fresh, delineated finish. Drink now through 2031. 4,356 cases made.
Based on 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and a splash of Merlot, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Peak is a similar deep purple hue and has lots of cassis, graphite, and darker herb notes in a more medium-bodied, concentrated, elegant...
There's a touch of plushness here, but this is otherwise in an understated style, with very refined structure that carries black currant and blackberry preserve notes along with ease. As it stretches out, singed vanilla...
The 2021 Cardinale is an absolutely breathtaking wine that instantly impresses, opening with a stunning bouquet of ripe blueberries, blackberries, and dark cherries, beautifully intertwined with sweet spices, mocha...
All Cabernet Sauvignon (Clones 4 and 337) from this southern Oakville site on the western side of the valley, Carte Blanche's 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard easily combines ripe cherries with...
Juicy raspberry, cherry and cocoa aromas waft on the nose of this Pinot while the palate delivers more salty plum, pithy orange peel and dusty cinnamon flavors with an earthy spiciness that dominates the finish and...
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a little broody and closed to start, unfurling to deliver notes of cassis, baked plums, and kirsch, giving way to hints of eucalyptus, crushed rocks, and...
Excellent quality, fresh and full of personality. Black cherry, sandalwood, rose bud, liquorice root, crayon, graphite, totally delicious. Love the expansion through the palate and the juicy finish, this is concentrated...
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Carmenere, and 2% St. Macaire. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes tearing out with powerful...
(94+ points) The 2022 Pinot Noir MacIntyre Estate Vineyard was harvested on August 24 before the Labor Day heat wave. It has intoxicating aromas of pomegranate, rhubarb, hibiscus tea and iodine. The light-bodied palate is...
(98+ points) You can safely put the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select up with the top vintages of this cuvée, yet it's much more in the style of say, the 2010 or 2018, than a more opulent year, and is going to...
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