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.
The 2019 Pickett is the second vintage of Eisele Vineyard's "third" label. A bit less was made this year than in 2018, since more of the production was used in the Cabenrnet Sauvignon and Altagracia labels. Deep...
This is so aromatic with redcurrants, flowers and crushed stones. Some bark and rose stem, too. Full-bodied, yet so refined and textured with a lovely finish of fruit and hints of berry and light chocolate. So delicious...
Another St. Helena release, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Ceanda checks in as 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Merlot, all brought up in French oak. Black fruits, chocolaty herbs...
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is every bit as magnificent as it was last year. A heady, statuesque wine, the 2019 captures all the pedigree of the vintage. Inky red cherry fruit, mocha, licorice and spice race across the...
Wonderful aromas of fresh herbs, such as sage and mint. Currants. Extremely aromatic. Full body. Fantastic tension and focus. Reminds me of the 1974. Really exceptional. Gorgeous. Cool and sleek. Try after 2023, but...
Breathtaking. Exceptional integration of super ripe blackberries and the very finest oak. The tannins build up beautifully, forming wave upon wave as the wine flows across the palate. Then the wave breaks on your palate...
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper is a huge, dense wine packed with black fruit, chocolate, leather, grilled herbs and earthy tones. This potent, virile Cabernet offers tons of character. I would...
Aromas of terra cotta, chocolate and hazelnut with iron and ink. Dusty. Full-bodied and round. Layered. Flamboyant and juicy. Rather soft and gorgeous. Some walnut and chocolate at the end. Persistent. Always there...
Lifted nose showing aromas of créme de cassis, plums and hints of mint and vanilla. Full-bodied with grainy tannins, ending in a stony finish.
Lots of sweet tobacco, chocolate, and earth as well as plenty of dark fruits emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Generations. This stunning 2018 is full-bodied, concentrated, and light on its feet, with perfect...
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Details is stunning. Vibrant and explosive in the glass, the Details Cabernet shows just how compelling Cabernet can be beyond Napa Valley. Gravel, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice, plum and...
Blackberry, blackcurrant and mint with some sage and crushed-stone undertones. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that are in-check and nicely polished. Smoke, toasted oak and bark at the end, complementing the fresh yet ripe...
This wine shows aromas of black fruit and sweet vanilla, as well as some minty undertones. Full-bodied with quite an overripe-fruit character, yet balanced. Warm and delicious. Drink now.
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Project 18 offers classic Napa Valley cassis and darker, almost blue fruits to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of graphite, tobacco, leaf, and crushed stone. It’s deep, rich, and...
Lots of cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as classic Mount Veeder notes of lavender, violets, bouquet garni, and rocky, mineral-like notes emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. A deep, full-bodied mountain...
This wine vastly overdelivers on its price point—a rarity in its category and peers. Made from grapes throughout the appellation, the majority from St. Helena, it blends in small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec...
Aromas of ripe blackcurrants, blackberries, licorice, cloves and tobacco. Hints of crushed stones and nut shells, too. Firm and chewy with full body and layers of fine, velvety tannins. Compact and muscular with an array...
A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain was aged for 22 months in oak barrels, 84% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it...
Dark and dense, with plum and blackberry compote notes forming the core while licorice root, juniper and sassafras notes fill in through the finish. There's ample fruit in reserve here and a nice buried minerality. Just...
Wild blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, tobacco and dark spice on the nose. Dried violets, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins and a creamy texture. Intense, yet restrained and refined, with a...
Including 5% Merlot and checking in at 14.2% natural alcohol, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Cuvee sports a semi-opaque ruby hue to go with a classic, almost old-school Cabernet nose of red and black currants...
There’s purity and focus to this wine with blackberry, blackcurrant and spices, such as nutmeg. Ink pot, bark and asphalt, too. So long and polished. Chewy tannins. Hints of stone and ash. 88% cabernet sauvignon. 7%...
(93+ points) The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Juliet is composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, notes of pencil lead, cedar and tapenade waft over a core of crème de cassis, baked...
Blackcurrants and flowers, such as roses and lilacs, together with some pine needles. Medium-to full-bodied with firm tannins that are linear and creamy. Wonderful length, focus and intensity. Racy and intense. Incredible...
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall is more supple and elegant, with terrific up-front charm and complexity already present. Revealing a deep purple color, it's full-bodied and concentrated, with classic Napa...
From clay soils, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari is borderline perfection and reminds me of a young Montrose with its deep cassis and currant fruit, graphite and lead pencil nuances, full-bodied richness, and a...
Very polished and refined with plum, light chocolate, coffee and mahogany aromas. Medium-bodied with medium tannins and a savory and juicy finish. Hard not to drink now. Will improve with age. Drink now or hold.
This packs in some serious plum compote and cassis flavors, liberally wrapped in dark licorice and finishing with a swath of sweet toast and tobacco on the broad finish. Nice mineral underpinning keeps it honest. Fairly...
Showing results from page 1 of 7 pages total.
- Verified Buyer, May 2022 “JJ Buckley has the best selection of the wines I’m interested in. The service is excellent and the knowledge of their team is second to none”.
“JJ Buckley has the best selection of the wines I’m interested in. The service is excellent and the knowledge of their team is second to none”.
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