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, 96 points: As always, the 2016 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard is the most masculine and mineral-driven, with an exotic bouquet of white flowers, iodine, crushed rocks, and stone fruits. Reductive, concentrated, and powerful on the...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: (96+Points) This Chardonnay comes from a single Wente selection clone planted on the Estate Vineyard on Los Carneros Avenue. The wine undergoes a very long, gentle pressing before being 100% barrel fermented with native...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: Leading off the Chardonnays, the 2016 Chardonnay Ma Douce (which translates to “My Sweet”) is a rich, full-bodied, blockbuster effort that still stays incredibly pure, seamless, and elegant. Heavenly notes of crushed...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: The 2016 Chardonnay Anderson Valley from the team at Rhys knocks it out of the park, and I suspect it’s a screaming value. White peach, apple blossom, spice, and some white flower notes all flow to a medium-bodied...
Vinous, 94 points: The 2016 Chardonnay Golden Slope shows the more potent, rich side of the Sta. Rita Hills. Candied orange peel, mint, hazelnut, vanilla and tropical overtones give the wine breadth. The Golden Slope is the most overt and...
Wine Spectator, 90 points: Rich and well-spiced flavors of ripe apple, peach pastry and almond tart feature buttery accents. Hazelnut cream and clove notes linger on the finish. Drink now through 2022. 1,290 cases made. — KM
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points: This is entirely barrel-fermented and French-oak aged, making for a generous, full-bodied lushness on the palate. Creamy tropical fruit, pear and melon are met by sublime texture and well-integrated oak, finishing in a...
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: The nose on this bottling blends savory depth with floral lightness, combining sandalwood, seared Meyer lemon peels, butterscotch, hot sandstone and flashes of honeysuckle on the nose. Sea salt and nectarine lead toward...
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points: Very chalky and tight on the nose, this bottling from the extremely challenging vineyard on Catalina Island is a powerful success, also showing Meyer lemon sorbet and Asian pear aromas. It's tightly woven on the palate...
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points: Vivid oaky, earthy aromas lead to ripe firm flavors of apple and citrus in this assertive and well-structured wine. The char and wood-smoke nuances carry over to the palate, along with a nice nip of tannin and firm...
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Excellent selection and prices. Found my favorite winery with their exclusive wines at a fraction of the cost of a club member. Unreal. Customer service was also top notch, thank you Seth!
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