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: Starting with the 2017 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, which comes from multiple sites in the Anderson Valley and spent 16 months in 60% new French oak, it has a juicy berry-fruited nose as well as ample violets, candied...
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: Starting with the 2018 Pinot Noir Estate Sta. Rita Hills, which comes from vines around the estate and saw 40% stems, it reveals a medium ruby hue as well as a great bouquet of ripe cherry and raspberry fruits intermixed...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: Moving to the reds, the appellation 2018 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast was just about completely destemmed (2% stems) and spent 10 months in 18% new French oak. Lots of spice box, earthy forest floor, cherries, and redcurrant...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: This has very complex aromas of primary fruit, wild herbs, blue fruit and a spicy, meaty edge. Assertive oak meets rich fruit. The palate is impressively pure, supple and richly flavored with blueberries and cherries...
Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: Lively aromas of hibiscus, raspberry, cherry, star anise and the slightest gamy funk show on the nose of this bottling. There is a more hearty tone to the complex palate, where riper strawberry and raspberry flavors meet...
jamessuckling.com, 92 points: This has a vibrant, raspberry and dried red-cherry nose with earthy and spicy complexity. The palate has a sleek and fluid channel of ripe red cherries, carrying even and fresh. Drink or hold.
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: Readers looking for a textbook Russian River Pinot should check out the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley. Offering up a medium ruby hue as well as lots of spiced red fruits, cola, leafy herbs, and flowery incense...
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points: Fresh boysenberry and cranberry aromas are wrapped in a rusty iron note on the nose of this bottling. There's a tarry tone to the sip, which is firm in tension and offers flavors of black plum, lavender and cracked pepper.
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...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: 93+ The 2017 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict is pale to medium ruby and slowly reveals spiced cranberry, crushed raspberry, orange peel, tree bark and amaro hints with savory notions of peppered meats, dried rose petals...
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: (94+ points) A vibrant, pure, and precise style of Pinot Noir from this region, the 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley sports a vivid ruby hue as well as a beautiful array of redcurrants, wildflowers, sappy underbrush...
Vinous, 96 points: The 2018 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 43 shows the more floral, lifted side of Bien Nacido, especially to the Block 8. Red berry fruit, chalk, mint, rose petal and white pepper give the Block 43 a distinctive...
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: Another pure, elegant wine from this estate, the 2019 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast offers beautiful framboise and dark strawberry fruits to go with complex notes of forest floor, leafy herbs, spice, and damp earth. These carry...
jebdunnuck.com, 98 points: The 2018 Pinot Noir Far Coast Vineyard comes from a site not far from the Pacific Ocean, in the Sonoma Coast AVA, and it's one of the bigger, richer wines in the lineup in 2018. Deeper ruby-hued, with a stunning nose of...
jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: The 2016 Pinot Noir comes from a great site on the western side of the SCM and was fermented with 40% whole clusters and spent 11 months in 25% new French oak. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with a rocking bouquet of ripe...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: Extremely beautiful aromas of strawberry, ginger, smoke and dried meat. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that are very well integrated and intense, yet there’s a linear feel through the wine that gives it tension and...
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: An attractive array of brambly wild-cherry aromas lead to a palate that has a succulent, restrained and vibrantly elegant texture with juicy, lithe red cherries. Impressive structural detail. Drink or hold.
Wine & Spirits, 94 points: Camp Meeting Ridge was the first vineyard Walt and June Flowers planted on the far Sonoma coast, on a ridge southwest of Hirsch. In the early 1990s, the area was still largely unexplored by vines, and Camp Meeting Ridge...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: The 2016 Pinot Noir Estate is the larger production red from this team, yet it certainly gives a good view into the quality coming from the Hilt wines. Black cherries, black raspberries, graphite, peppery herbs, and...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Fog Veil has very pretty notes of cranberries, Bing cherries and pomegranate with touches of black pepper, lavender and cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied and...
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points: Showcasing the Pisoni signature of huge, bold fruit, this wine has ripe and savory flavors of raspberry, cherry, pomegranate, persimmon. The wine tastes of oak, too, in the form of vanilla and smoky butter. It's a...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: The 2017 Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard is slightly deeper colored (it's still translucent) and offers a gorgeous nose of ripe redcurrants, cherries, spring flowers, sappy forest floor, and ample spice nuances. With medium to...
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: Intense aromas of dried strawberry with stone and mineral undertones. Medium to full body with tight, firm tannins and beautiful length and depth. This needs three or four years to come together. Try after 2023.
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: Aromas of dried cherry, dark-red flower, smoked meat and black plum pudding come together in subtle ways on the nose of this bottling. The palate picks up more spice in the form of star anise and gingerbread, with...
Wine Spectator, 94 points: Mouthfilling flavors of dark cherry, dried currant and raspberry tart are plush and loaded with spicy richness. Cream and white chocolate elements flood the long, rich finish, along with hints of forest floor and a subtle...
Decanter, 91 points: Ripe raspberry, strawberry, and Bing cherry debut with swirls of vanilla and vibrant acidity. Bright, complex and brimming with fresh, forward fruit and easy-going spice, this bottle brings the best of four distinct Santa...
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I had such a great experience here, and so appreciate the professional, courteous, and personal support offered by Noah H. that this is my new go-to for wine orders. This model offers the same level of care you receive when you join a wine club, but without limiting you to the wines made by that particular vineyard.
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