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.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: The 2015 Dancing Hares Proprietary Red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, is very deep purple-black in color with a nose of spice cake, plum pudding, crème de cassis, cigar box...
Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: This is made from a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon from the famous historic site, with 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. It startles in beauty and grace, with plenty of power and concentration. It's a charismatic...
jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: In the same mold as the 2014 only slightly deeper, more concentrated, and backward, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon offers loads of blue fruits, cedar, lead pencil, and scorched earth aromatics, full-bodied richness, and...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: (92-94 points) A killer effort is the 2015 Zinfandel Papera Ranch, from a vineyard planted in 1934, and made from 96% Zinfandel and 4% Carignan. This is a good-sized wine, given its 15.4% alcohol, but like all of Mike...
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...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: This is a solid cab with a backbone of ripe and chewy tannins and lots of wet earth, black currant and autumnal leaf character. Full and powerful. This needs a few years to soften. Better in 2019.
Vinous, 94 points: (AG92-94 points) Orange peel, smoke, spices, mint and apricot pit flesh out in the 2013 Chardonnay Camp Meeting Ridge Vineyard. Bold and textured in its flavors but classically mid-weight in style, the 2013 captures a...
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: The 2016 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Block UU comes from a great vineyard located just east of the town of Santa Maria and was brought up in 20% new French oak. A classic Bien Nacido bouquet of honeyed orchard fruits, crushed...
Wine Spectator, 93 points: Bold blueberry and smoky meat aromas lead to complex, expressive flavors of dark plum, crushed stone and licorice that linger toward big but ripe tannins. Drink now through 2027. 175 cases made. –TF
jebdunnuck.com, 99 points: The 2016 Avoyelles is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, and I suspect it will merit a triple-digit rating in 5-7 years. A wine of both power and poise, it offers full-bodied...
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points: This wine offers remarkable value for the quality—a stellar commingling of cranberry, cassis and black cherry. With a robust mouthfeel of plump juicy fruit, gun smoke and firm tannin, it shows integrated oak flavors and...
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