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.
jebdunnuck.com, 90 points: The 2016 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley sports a medium ruby color to go with a classic Anderson Valley bouquet of ripe cherries, dried blueberries, forest floor, and dried flowers. It's silky, seamless, and elegant on the...
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points: Red cherry, dried rose petal and cinnamon-spiced melon show on the unique and alluring nose in this bottling. The palate offers a complex blend of earth and fruit, combining sour cherry with wild thyme, red flowers and...
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points: This appellation blend is plummy on the nose, with additional aromas of wet campfire, elegant violets and turned earth. There is great energy on the palate, with flavors of tart pomegranate and snappy raspberry, as well...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: A stunning Russian River Valley pinot noir that’s earthy and smoky with beet and herbal notes. This is ripe yet beautifully balanced. The precisely crafted tannin structure gives the wine positive warmth and a complex...
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points: A tangy plum aroma meets turned soil on the rustic and rugged nose of this appellation blend by the historic winery, now owned by Duckhorn. The turned earth component shows on the palate as well, with additional flavors...
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: The 2014 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is more fresh and lively, with a sappy note in its tart cranberry, pomegranate, rose petal and forest floor aromas and flavors. This beauty shines on the palate where it’s...
Vinous, 95 points: The 2014 Pinot Noir Vanguard is deep and implosive, naturally within the Hilt's generally restrained style. Plum, sweet cherry, spice and menthol are all fused together in a pliant, textured Pinot loaded with textural...
Vinous, 91 points: The 2013 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) is a wonderful introduction to the vintage. Plump, juicy and forward, but with good underlying energy, the 2013 is impeccably balanced from start to finish. Dark red cherry...
Wine & Spirits, 93 points: From the team at Domaine Anderson, this is a blend of fruit from nine estate vineyards. After tasting it with our panel, I later tasted it with Darrin Low and Arnaud Weyrich, who worked together on the blend, and who...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 90 points: The energy and focus that is typical of the cooler sites within the Santa Lucia Highlands comes through in the 2010 Pinot Noir Rosella’s. Dark red cherries, flowers, mint and spices are woven together nicely as the wine...
Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: Rusty red cherry, wild mint, turned earth and rainbow peppercorns show on the lovely nose of this bottling by Chad Melville from his family's property. The palate is extremely fresh and vibrant, with Bing cherry and plump...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: The pale ruby-purple colored 2015 Pinot Noir TBH Vineyard has a very perfumed nose of potpourri, violets and warm raspberries with a core of Provence herbs and pepper-laced wild strawberries plus a touch of garrigue. The...
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Very attractive baking spices and gently toasty oak across ripe raspberries and strawberries with light savory baking spices and bergamot. The palate has a bright crunchy red cherry-berry core. Tannins are succulent and...
Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: Cellar Selection. Youthfully flippant, this block of the Wayfarer Vineyard is sitting largely in sandstone, where the grapes pull remarkably revealing minerality from the soil. Racy and flinty, this medium-bodied...
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